SDI: Now The Odds Are Even

The Star Wars program is happening!

It's incredible how quickly time passes, as I've not played this since I got my first Atari ST. The Sega shooter was converted by Alaric Binnie for Activision and released in 1988. I remember being impressed and unimpressed in equal measure - probably because I liked what I saw but was absolutely terrible at playing it!

As most of us, older gamers might remember, SDI stands for Strategic Defence Initiative and is "based" on the original Star Wars concept by President Regan, devised during the Cold War. This technology was supposed to defend Earth from the inevitable Soviet attack. Yeah, it never happened... shocker, right?

The game is an action shooter set within the darkness of Earth's space. As it turns out, the defence initiative is just a lone satellite armed with a laser gun! Use that to protect mankind from a legion of Soviet nuclear missiles, fighters, and more. Why only one satellite, I don't know, but that's the game, so let's crack on.

Okay, let's take the first break from reading with two sexy screenshots...

The Soviets are sending everything they have. Well, in stages, thankfully.

At first, it was distracting to see the moon moving by. I should have been concentrating!

The fate of mankind...

Our quest begins with the Space Shuttle dropping us off, just as a barrage of Soviet missiles appears. The game is split into two separate modes, depending on your performance: offensive and defensive. The first is not unlike other horizontally scrolling shooters, attacking everything that swarms onto the screen. The second is like a 3D Missile Command and a final chance to save everyone from the previously missed missiles.

You'll soon discover that SDI isn't a complex game at all. It's a frenzied shooter battling squadrons of enemy artillery. Shoot everything as quickly as you can physically move the mouse. Each stage gets more aggressive, right up until the point my hand-to-eye reactions simply cannot cope anymore.

No need to fret, you're not alone, as allies will periodically send power-ups. Sadly, during the heat of battle, these look similar to everything else! Especially when you're in a mindset of blasting everything as quickly as possible. This means they’re destroyed before having a chance to collect their cargo! Sigh...

The damage meter at the bottom of the screen shows your performance’s current state. Survive, and the Space Shuttle reappears to whisk you off to safety, where that performance is rated on a scale. Anything less than perfect and you're sent through to a defensive stage to help defend from the attack. A perfect score gets you lots of extra points with a blue dancing duck. (And that makes it all worthwhile!!)

Are you bored with reading this? Chill. Take five. Look at these screenshots...

The blood-red moon looks awesome. Don't admire, concentrate on the killing!

I let some missiles get through, so now I'm defending the base Missile Command style!

Input

SDI might seem tricky because you need to do two things simultaneously: keep the satellite safe and select its firing direction. Arcade games can sometimes lose functionality when converted to a home computer. Not here; all controls are fully configurable using a combination of mouse, joystick and keyboard.

It is possible to use only the mouse, but I wouldn't advise it. I use the keyboard to direct the satellite and my mouse to aim/shoot. A joystick would also be a good idea, but only if it has good suckers to stick onto your desk. The keyboard/mouse method is kinda like the WASD/mouse combo as used in FPS games.

This plays great, but that doesn't mean we don't want screenshots. So, here you are...

It's not long before things get crazy with lots to shoot at. Trigger-happy heaven!

Ignore the asteroid shower because it's time to shoot more of that Ruskie hardware.

Output

Space is mostly empty, but the good thing about this Cold War is that it has celestial objects for backgrounds. All graphics are by Bryn Redman, who treats us to images of the Earth, its Moon and an asteroid field - I believe later levels feature the Death Star? My gaming skills won't allow me to witness it!

The darkness of space dictates a sombre palette, which suits the Cold War scene, but there are brighter moments to behold. I love the red moon that stands out boldly; it looks amazing. There is some slowdown in the later levels, which are bombarded by tons of enemies. I can live with that as it's not too bad.

Paul Summers is responsible for the audio, and he did a stellar job (see what I did). The title features a grungy sample, but nothing compares to the in-game chiptunes. These are subtle and suit the ambience whilst also complementing the zappy effects. To say I adore these tunes would be an understatement!

Breathe and relax as it's the final screenshot break before the gripping conclusion...

Come on, the defensive stages really are Missile Command. Rip-off but brilliantly done!!

Do well and make the high-score table. Hang on, this feels like a game in itself? ;-)

The CryptO'pinion?

SDI could easily have been a bust due to the control system and visual demands. Alaric Binnie has done a fantastic job, not only aesthetically speaking but also in migrating the arcade's control system to the ST by using its keyboard/joystick and mouse. This combination works a treat, a commendable effort.

I usually find something to moan about, so here we go: I failed to see the logic in having a dark blue cursor on the dark backgrounds. Also, the power-ups are so difficult to catch. No, impossible (for me) to catch!! Finally, why aren't we treated to a nuclear explosion at Game Over? Oh, how I wanted to see that...

Some might say it's an alternative to Missile Command, and I get that; the similarities are there. SDI is an exciting shooter and utterly addictive, though I'm shockingly bad at it. Make sure you choose the control method that suits you to prevent the catastrophic demise of Western civilisation (oops, too late!)

> Let me know in the comments what you think about SDI (download for hard drive or floppy disk)

Sophélie

Bums and Boobs!

Sophelie was once a goddess of heaven, but has since been vanquished and left to roam the lands in search of her body. What? Why? Well, some kind soul has turned her into an albatross, so she now spends time flying through worlds looking to find her original appearance. As storylines go, this is silly, to say the least!

This is a horizontally scrolling shooter, not too dissimilar to Menace. This time, we're not killing monsters or aliens, but some of the weirdest things you might never have expected: planets, snowmen, wolf heads, eyeballs, and even trees. The landscapes are lush with colour, and even angels will regularly appear to help.

Sounds great, right? Well, let's take a look at some screenshots from the first level...

Yep, giant eyeballs are coming for you and are actually tough to kill, too!

Now, this is getting silly! What have the trees ever done to you?

Let's kill the planet? No, literally by shooting down the rotating planet Earth!!

Spit, don't shoot!

We begin with the hand of God safely delivering us, ready for battle. The levels are split into segments, with each having its own brand of baddies all too eager to see you dead. The controls are fast and responsive, and a joy to control without any lag. The gameplay is fast and exciting, as each enemy will swarm the screen with its unique attack pattern. Some shoot at you, like the Earth enemies firing mini-planets. Cool.

Some of the nasties are easy to kill, whereas others are impossible, thanks to the slow rate at which we can shoot. This makes killing certain enemies tough because they move too quickly in comparison to our fire rate. Dying can be a bit troublesome, especially when you materialise close to an enemy and therefore instantly die once again. A simple invulnerability effect could have been utilised for a second or two!!

Angels visit after each segment with power-ups, which are essential from the start. Miss them, and the following swarm of enemies is quite impossible to defeat. Also, dying baddies might sometimes throw out an extra power-up, but these fall off the screen before you've had a chance to even think about collecting them. Finally, a time limit is ticking down to kill each wave of baddies. Very peculiar, to say the least.

Let's end the whining and take a look at some screenshots from the second world...

Some of the sprites are freaky... freaky-cool!

I can't make out whether these are balloons or floating severed heads!

Damn snowmen, they all deserve to die!! O_o

Aesthetics?

Visually, I like the colourful palettes, funky sprites racing across the screen, and smooth parallax scrolling running at a brisk pace. I love the level of detail that's gone into the sprite's artwork. Sophelie's animation is superb, and I've never played a game with such a wacky variety of enemies. They're insane!!

Sadly, the audio is disappointing with a fuzzy tune and near-silent gameplay. Well, apart from the death-killing sound effect and a strange background whistle. It's shocking because the YM is far more capable.

Well, that was a mixed bag, alright, so let's take a peep at the third world...

These are insanely difficult to kill, if not impossible, without losing all your lives!

He's big. He's bad. He's about to be brown bread!!

Hey, a power-up appears from a dying beast, yet you have no chance of collecting it!

CryptO'pinion?

This isn’t a terrible shoot 'em up. The colourful levels and impressive baddies zipping across the screen create a constant action-packed experience. Plus, the occasional appearance of angels with gifts to boost your chances of victory adds a nice touch. Sadly, it’s also one of the most boring shooters I’ve played. While the graphics might change, the gameplay constantly remains the same. And then there's the audio... Ugh, terrible!

Technically superb, but it’s an understatement to say there are better Atari ST shooters. Sophelie looks nice, but sounds awful and is very repetitive. While there are boobies, I’m not convinced it’s worth playing.

> If you're curious, then grab the floppy disk at Atari Legend. Enjoy...

Oh no, another grisly death beautifully laid out. Interesting artwork!

Zynaps

Just a freebie?

Zynaps is a Nemesis-Esque shoot 'em up that spookily reminds me of another Hewson title, Slayer. We pilot the Scorpion Mk1 Fighter through the heavens in search of a secret alien base. Greeting you are hordes of alien scumbags: in ships, a variety of ground-based defences, and even motherships. Original, right?

Update: You know, to this day, I have still never played Slayer. How odd is that!

Hewson released Zynaps in 1988, and it was developed by Howard Ball of Microwish Software. I've always felt this was a game coded by someone who knew the Atari ST hardware very well, but Howard only ever made this shooter and nothing more. Lost potential there, I fear. At least his only game is quality!

Hey, why aren't you watching the video above? Ah well, perhaps a couple of screenshots then...

The first level is cool, but it isn't long before a guardian appears!

That thing bounces around the screen like an old-school demo!

Shoot! Kill! Shoot some more!!

Our Scorpion spaceship is snazzy with different levels of propulsion and weapon upgrades. However, we start off limited, with sluggish movement and firing, so shoot the first wave of bad guys to collect their loot and get a speed-up. Then look to improve lasers or even bombs and missiles. It's simple - pimp your ship!

Activating these power-ups is a little strange. When a group of baddies snuffs it, they leave behind a pod. Collecting that changes the power-up being displayed in the status bar. So when something appears that you like the look of, hold down the fire button during the next pick-up to be granted permission to use it. To be fair, this is rather naff - especially during the heat of battle. Surely this could have been designed better.

The enemies attack in predictable formations, which, oddly enough, reminds me of Wizball. At first, firing accuracy is difficult, so hitting the baddies feels a lot harder than it should be. This learning curve is massive - it took many attempts before I started to destroy an entire wave (and begin collecting the pods!).

That's annoying, isn't it? Well, let's cheer ourselves up and see some more screenshots...

Woo! What's happened to the landscape backgrounds on the next level?

Getting past the asteroids is tough, but now it's a boss fight, and he's a bit weird...

Practice makes perfect!

Most levels take you through beautiful environments, whereas others are a bleak asteroid field. No matter where you are, watch out: the slightest collision can cost a life, which can easily be done. This is made worse by ultra-cramped areas thanks to the bulk of that scenery. Fly like Buck Rogers... or die.

Eventually, you reach an end-of-level boss, and most are tough - so it's doubtful you will be victorious right away! The first boss hops around the screen like a sprite from an old skool-styled demo. Rarely did I see the end of the second level (without using a trainer), but YMMV. Don't give up, you wimp and keep playing!!

Wimps only ever see the first level, so practice, and you might see more! Screenshot time...

Things get freaking on level 3, but it's a good kind of freaky :-)

Well, except for the boss(es). Very lame!

Graphics

Zynaps is a gorgeous shoot-'em-up. Sure, games like Xenon 2, Magic Boy, Gods, Deathbringer, and others blow it out of the water, but this old shooter (from 1988) holds its own thanks to the efforts of Pete Lyon!! The title screen is wonderful - pure art - and many levels feature a Menacing array of beautiful environments.

That's not all, the sprites move fast and very smoothly, following those incredibly difficult flight patterns. But what about the scrolling? Programmers without talent tell us the ST cannot scroll. Well, don't worry because it's nigh-on perfect and very smooth, so feels just dandy. Yep, this is another quality Hewson product.

For me, Hewson were consistent, without resorting to lame ports...

Things get a little Menacing for the fourth level.

It looks stunning - if deadly. I never beat it...

Sounds

The theme tune is outstanding thanks to the talent of a favourite musician, Dave Rogers: a man responsible for many of my ZX Spectrum memories, not to mention ST beauties like Ranarama and Cybernoid.

The sound effects might pale in comparison to the music, but they're excellent and offer an arcade-like style which I really admire. I love that sharp "zing-zing" when you shoot, the crunchy death effect, and how you are mocked when it's game over. Like the visuals, a lot of love went into the audio, which is brilliant.

Yep, the audio proves what the Atari ST can sound like. Wanna hear it...

The Crypto'pinion

This is one of those games that has it all, but many give up after a few goes because of its extreme learning curve. The action is relentless, so you're always on the edge of your seat. The use of power-ups might be flawed, but they're essential for enhancing the Scorpion's firepower and manoeuvrability.

Zynaps is yet another corker from Hewson's incredible library. Sure, I've moaned about a few things, but nothing is perfect, and it has a massive "one-more-go" factor. What an extraordinary shoot 'em up, and it's a great feeling to end my Super Pack series on such a huge high. You need to play this shooter.

Grab the floppies if you have the skills

I recommend these excellent HD versions by Klaz and PP.

Supa Zazai Da!

Super... what?

Supa Zazai Da is another Gamopat conversion by Templeton, the same genius who graced us with the stupendous Crash Time Plumber. I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on this after reading the superb review by ST Graveyard on Atari Legend. Sadly, I admit to being disappointed with it. I failed to play more than a handful of frustrating games before rebooting my Atari STe with a massive portion of dismay.

I'll never knock anything powered by Maria Whittaker (yeah!), but this is rock solid and difficult!! Having only one life didn't help, especially when the enemy could fill the entire screen with bullets! Yep, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing and seemed like a bad joke. Dang, I was incredibly bad at it and genuinely gutted.

I know, I know, those first impressions of a weak gamer. Sigh, but read on...

Trust me, this game will destroy you and any expectations for success!

Don't judge a book by its cover

I returned and anxiously grabbed my creaky old joystick, determined, but expecting the battle of my life. After many embarrassing failures, I eventually beat the first horde of nasties and even gained extra points thanks to the green particles. How I managed to dodge the enemy's bullets, well, it felt like a personal achievement!! The clue is how you navigate through the cloud of bullets; it's easier than you think (watch the video).

Nevertheless, the scary boss gave me a good drubbing, and I was again greeted with the Game Over screen. I defeated him on my next nerve-racking attempt, so I was close to tears and ecstatic!! Once the second level begins, you realise there's a familiar and repetitive pattern, so I hammered it home and battled onto the third and fourth levels, with relative ease. The lesson is to stick with it, as it can be conquered!!

Talk about a massive learning curve. Or at least for me? Wow, this game is so rewarding...

However, nobody said those bosses would be easy. Especially when they can fire so much!!

Pixels and Sonics

The visuals scroll at an ultra-smooth 50fps. It's the outrageously cute sprites, from a wide variety of games, that everyone will adore. Your computer will require a Blitter coprocessor, which is not a problem for the Atari STe and Falcon, but the original ST models are outta luck (unless you have a later revision or a Mega ST).

Musically, Supa Zazai is great but different depending on your hardware: an unnerving chip rattles ST players, whereas the STe gets exhilarating streamed audio (both brilliant). As instructed, pump up the volume!

It looks and sounds fantastic, is what I'm saying about this Blitter-boosted game...

50fps action through, and just look at that huge sprite. Impressive, to say the least!!

The CryptO'pinion?

What a journey!! It's nothing like I initially imagined, yet it lived up to my expectations at the same time, which is weird. Arcade fans are going to drool over their keyboards because this shooter is fast, fun, thrilling, and addictive. Quite simply, Supa Zazai Da is an exhilarating game with gorgeous aesthetics.

I hope Templeton has many more Atari STe games in the pipeline, I really do.

Download Supa Zazai Da! via AtariMania.

Sideways

An unreleased gem!

Sideways was developed by Jamie Woodhouse, but it was unfinished and (obviously) unreleased. Actually, it's close to being a finished product and something of a cross between Uridium and Return To Genesis; a fast-paced shooter with graphics ripping along at 50fps! I'm saddened this was never released, as it proves that the Atari ST can perform brilliantly in the hands of a talented programmer. Yep, no lame port here.

What a shock it was booting this up for the first time. It's impossible not to be impressed by this ridiculously exciting shooter. The controls feel natural and responsive with precise turning and acceleration - better than Uridium!! Each level is stuffed with baddies and power-ups for increased firepower, shields, weapons, etc. However, not everything has been implemented, as this is an unfinished game after all.

Any shoot 'em up needs great control mechanics to deliver a thrilling experience, and Sideways has that by the bucketload. I feel Sideways is far better than either of the above-mentioned games, albeit unfinished. If you favour a shooter to be nothing less than FAST and FURIOUS, this game was made for you!!

Unfinished or not, Sideways is absolutely superb! Get it downloaded right now...

- Download Sideways -

Uridium

C64 rulez

Do you remember the embarrassment of Uridium? The cruel C64 peeps laughing their socks off at our "superior" computer? Rightly so because we have a terrible port with sluggish controls and lifeless scrolling.

You shall be glad to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Atari STe. Peter Putnik has fixed the dodgy parts with responsive controls and also the option to stream sampled music using the DMA coprocessor (hard drive or Ultrasatan required). At last, a version of Uridium we can be proud of.

Uridium has miraculously been transformed from a bummer into an exhilarating, fun shooter!!

Miss this at your peril - download now!!

Z-Out

Enjoying a quickie

I had a free hour today, so I entertained myself with Rainbow Arts' Z-Out. Essentially, this is a bog-standard horizontally scrolling shooter with nice graphics and (familiar) sound effects. The controls work well, but it feels like a clone of Menace or R-Type. There is anifty two-player feature which we enjoyed!!

However, I found it extremely difficult at times, plus it didn't really bring anything new to the table compared to shooters already out. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good game, but there are better shoot 'em ups. Am I right? Well, I think so, but let me know what you think in the comments below. Go on, do it.

Downloads and cheats for anyone wanting to experience more of this shooter...

• 8BitChip has adapted this for hard drive installation with a level skip feature.
• Floppy disks can be downloaded at Atari Legend.
• Here are some nifty cheats:

       > pressing J + K together gives infinite energy.
       > pressing J and a number between 1 - 6 (on the main keyboard) to skip levels.
       > pressing K and a number between 1 - 3 (on the keypad) to jump stages.