Wreckers

It's time once again to save... the ship!

Wreckers is an isometric adventure released in 1991 by Audiogenic. It's the only game I own by them and was developed by Denton Designs. Those old enough to have lived through the 80s and used 8-bit computers will remember them for games like Gift From The Gods. Ignoring Bandersnatch/Brataccas... ugh... from me, it's The Great Escape, which I feel is one of the best 8-bit games ever. Yep, I said that.

Enough trivia! For Wreckers, we're aboard the interestingly named space station Beacon 04523N in the loneliest part of deep space. With a crew of three held in cryogenic stasis, automated robots handle the day-to-day care and maintenance of the station. However, the computer has decided to wake you when it detects the threat of Plasmodians, a lifeform that frantically seeks to consume the ship and everything in it.

Okay, let's take a little break for an animated GIF of this wonderful game...

Let's play

In some respects, I'm reminded of the brilliant Escape From The Planet Of The Robot Monsters, but there is far more to this game than simply running around shooting green blobs of plasma, albeit great fun! From the very start, you discover that the alien attack is underway and, once they make physical contact with the outer hull, it's only a matter of time before they begin wreaking havoc on the computer's systems.

The station has its defence capabilities in the form of a space hoover that sucks up the aliens before they get on board. The droids can be controlled to help, or you can suit up and head outside to play Jetman with a can of bug spray. Beacon 04523N is hardly Babylon 5, but at least these options are available. Oh, remember to use the Zippway Shuttles and elevators to travel the Beacon. Don't dawdle, as the main computer has decided one hour is enough to eradicate the threat before self-destruct is activated!!

Graphically, I love the 80s feel, and whilst it doesn't look very 1991, it has a retro charm I appreciate. Scrolling is adequate, but I sure love the station's attention to detail and the colourful sprites. The title music is just awesome, and the box loves to gloat about who made it: Warren Cann of Ultravox!

Control is handled via keyboard and joystick, but the latter might disappoint as I actually found myself holding it sideways. This usually works, but some might find it weird! Also, the user interface will take time to get the hang of. I found it quite unusual and sometimes a little clumsy in the heat of the moment.

Let's now take another break for a screenshot of three dodgy fellas...

My Opinion

Wreckers will keep you on your toes; they require an urgent attitude, the ability to juggle tasks, and the ability to think ahead while enduring a constant alien onslaught. Running around zapping them is one aspect of this game, but with so much going on, it's sometimes hard to keep up with the situation. Don't get me wrong, Wreckers is a very good game, but one that requires a lot of time, patience, and commitment.

Have you got the requirements? If so, brace yourself for an incredible adventure!!

• Floppies can be found via Old Games Finder with a hard disk version by 8BitChip.
• Hall Of Light has a superb map of the space station which sure comes in handy!!