Mech Massacre
Released in 1993 by Howard Tilley, the Darklyte games are turn-based tactical affairs that will feel right at home for fans of classics like Space Crusade or Hero Quest. You're in control of a squad of four droids, battling a rival enemy team on an isometric grid reminiscent of Shadow Sorcerer. Your squad starts at the top of the screen, with the enemy team at the bottom, and your primary goal is straightforward: destroy them.
You control each droid one at a time, indicated by a white arrow pointing to the active unit. Right-clicking cycles through your droids (you can click them directly in the second game). Each droid has a set number of action points (displayed as a green number) and an energy bar representing its health. Movement around the board is simple: click the arrow buttons to step around the grid, but remember that different terrain, obstacles, and other droids might block your path. A secondary challenge is to safeguard your Commander droid. Losing this unit means game over, regardless of the status of your other droids - so protect him!
When it's time for a fight, position your droid next to your opponent, then click the attack icon. Combat is resolved using specific stats for the current action: your droid's attack number versus the enemy's defending number. The difference is dealt as damage, chipping away at their energy bar until "kaboom!!". I do have one minor gripe: sometimes your droid isn't facing the enemy. To successfully attack, you *must* first tap the correct directional arrow before choosing attack. Your robot's stance doesn't visually change, but he can now successfully strike his opponent. It's a minor gripe, alright, but still rather peculiar.
There are power-ups, such as gloves for stronger attacks, shields for extra defence, and injections to restore energy. Darklyte II even adds a super-strong lightning attack, amongst other new additions. You can also scan enemies to reveal their stats, which is invaluable for planning your next move. Gold and experience are earned with each kill, which can be spent at shops and repair stations. You can transfer gold between droids to support a weaker unit, though I feel a pooled wealth system would have made more sense.
The Darklyte games are tremendous fun for fans of turn-based combat. Each game is similar, but different enough to warrant playing both. I love their interesting battlegrounds and balanced gameplay that progressively gets harder as you gain experience. Both games are absolute gems and must-plays for turn-based nutters. However, Darklyte II feels like the completed product, so it scores a Metal Mickey rating of 90%.
Stop what you're doing, and play Darklyte II. Yes, right now. It's blummin' great!!
- The official disks for both games are at Atarimania.
- If you prefer a menu disk, then Atari Legend has a couple of great disks.
- I've become a fan of turn-based games <~~click here to see some more.
Darklyte (1) is excellent, but it feels like an early release?
Yep, Darklyte II feels like the finished product.
[Darklyte 1] Strategically position yourself and check your equipment for goodies.
[Darklyte II] The interface has transformed with a spanky new design!
Sooner or later, my robots die... Plus, the game (Darklyte II) insults you!
You knew this was coming, right? Darklyte II scores an AtariCrypt SMASH!!
