Crash


Exterminator

Categories: Review: Software
Author:
Publisher: Silver Soft
Machine: Spectrum 16K

 
Published in Crash #1

Exterminator

As the Exterminator your task is to rescue life, the universe and everything from no less than seven types of crazed robot in this Berserk type game. Learning the robot types is rather important as they all have different attributes; Block robots aren't bright but they' re indestructible, standard robots don't fire anything but home in on you, Brains (looking more like skulls) are intelligent and fire homing missiles, Circles despatch Saucers, and Saucers zip around firing non-homing missiles, Squares despatch Tank Robots which follow you about also firing nonhoming missiles.

After a few moments playing the screen becomes alive with moving robots. Level promotion occurs automatically when you reach sufficient points.

On pressing C before or after any game you can change the keyboard positions. There are two options, the first allows for slightly simpler control by having two rotation keys, W/E, a moving key, L, and P to fire; the second option uses Z/X left/right and K/M up/down with L to fire.

Comments

Exterminator

Keyboard positions: flexible
Joystick options: Kempston, AGF and Protek
Keyboard play: very responsive
Use of colour: average
Graphics: very good
Sound: average
Skill levels: 3 speeds
Lives: 3
Screens: multiple

Comment 1

If you enjoy Berserk/Frenzy type games then this is a good and interesting variant. There ' s an element of strategy involved as it becomes very important to shoot up the robots in the right order, most dangerous ones first, dumb ones later.

Comment 2

It seems a pity that Silversoft should have had to make a copy of a game which already has several versions, although this happens to be a fairly good one. It becomes difficult to judge them fairly. I think it's best to say - good program - too familiar a game to be entirely interesting. I did like the totally different keyboard options, as it does make for two games, since the Exterminator behaves quite differently when he's rotating and moving from when he's under the compass point movement.

Comment 3

Very well animated, large graphics, and smoothly moving in this game. 8- directional movement and good fire rate. I found it highly addictive and it certainly has lasting appeal.

Overall Summary

General Rating: Very good.

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