Zzap


Eliminator

Publisher: Players
Machine: Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #71

Eliminator

Naughty naughty Players! The C64 packaging for this old Hewson game quotes Zzap! as saying "Brilliant gameplay" and giving it 89%. Quite accurate - for the *Amiga* version - but the C64 only got 74% and a distinctly mixed reception in Issue 48.

The game is basically an all-out blast-'em-up. The eponymous eliminator craft is racing along with plenty of stuff designed to stop him reaching the end of a level. There's indestructible walls to avoid, or leap over, bouncing and homing baddies, and barriers which can be blasted.

To begin with, your craft is armed with a single shot laser, but this can be upgraded by collecting revolving pyramids. Dual-fire, side-fire and rapid-fire cannons plus bouncing bombs are all available along with vital ammo. Once collected, you can swap between the weapons as the situation demands.

Eliminator

It's simplistic, but passwords every so many levels lessens repetition. On the Amiga, the speed made for an impressive game (in those days), but the C64 version sadly isn't quite so fast.

Kati thought the action bits were good fun, but there were too many long stretches of nothing much to do. Gordon agreed, "the whole thing doesn't move fast enough to give it that extra edge".

Maff didn't deny these problems, but praised a "truly convincing feeling of movement" and gave it the thumbs up. Certainly the game still looks pretty good, fast with good, swooping hills, and attractive sprites, plus a good Maniacs of Noise tune.

It's ultimately repetitive, of course, and the objects can be tough to distinguish in the distance, but speed freaks will like it on budget.