Amstrad Action


Agent Orange

Author: Bob Wade
Publisher: A 'n F
Machine: Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Amstrad Action #19

Agent Orange

Don't worry: this isn't a tacky game about the Vietnam war or anything like that, it's well and truly removed from reality, in fact. You play an intergalactic flying farmer (we've a few of those round here at closing time on a Friday) out to make some cash and to find a deadly alien weedkiller hence the name Agent Orange.

You start by landing on a planet also occupied by alien farmers. You can launch one of your ships to battle the aliens and plant your crops. The planet surface scrolls horizontally and is viewed from above. You are armed with bullets;a number of hits on an enemy craft will destroy it. The aliens can shoot back. You have only a limited number of ships, and initially their shielding is very light.

You also have a limited number of seed pods that can be planted in clear areas of the planet surface. These must cope with competition from the alien crops and the natural vegetation. Destroy an alien and it leaves behind a seed pod which you car. pick up and use. Once all the aliens on a planet are destroyed you can get down to harvesting your crop.

Agent Orange

You can destroy the alien crop, but not the natural vegetation, and harvest your own crop to return to the mothership. After this is loaded up you can return to home base. Here you can buy better ships if you make enough money and then progress to the next planet. The aliens get tougher and come in greater numbers as you try to get to the eighth planet, where the weedkiller you need to collect is found.

The graphics are detailed but once again A'n'F has failed to use the CPC's glorious colour capabilities. The gameplay alternates between blasting and harvesting and is fairly addictive.

Second Opinion

I enjoyed Agent Orange. The detail is phenomenal but badly let down by lack of colour. This makes playing the game rather a bind: it's difficult to distinguish between buildings and alien ships. The saying "If it moves..." would be apt if you could see anything move! Still, pounding madly at the Fire button is fun.

Green Screen View

Agent Orange

Clearer in green.

First Day Target Score

5,000 points.

Verdict

Graphics 61%
P. Detailed ships and background.
N. A n F's usual very mono outlook on things.

Agent Orange

Sonics 55%
P. Nice title tune.
N. A few pitiful in-game effects.

Grab Factor 71%
P. Blasting and harvesting combine well.
N. Good ideas like seed pods, growth cycle, trading ships.

Staying Power 57%
P. Both stages become very repetitive.

Overall 65%
Nice idea but where's the colour and the depth?

Bob Wade

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