Zzap
1st March 1988
Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Starvision
Machine: Commodore 64/128
Published in Zzap #35
Mach
An evil robot calling itself Nektron has enslaved three peaceful planets and forced their inhabitants into sub-servience. As a member of the Manoeuvrable Armed Computer Humans - or MACH team - the player is sent to destroy the tyrant.
The action starts with the player hovering above a multi-directionally scrolling skyscraper-filled screen into which the Nektron's allies rapidly enter. There are 23 different types of enemy vessel to be destroyed, specifically Vacillators, Gryphons, and the Motherships which guard each planet. Only when a specified number of Vacillators and Gyphons have been destroyed does the Mothership finally appear, elimination of which allows MACH to progress to the next, more difficult, planet.
MACH's energy is indicated by a variable bar at the bottom of the screen. Energy is lost on contact with enemy ships and missiles, but is replenished by shooting the Green carriers and collecting the POW symbols released.
In addition to forward-firing lasers, MACH is also equipped with up to nine smart bombs (replaced from Red Carriers) and is able to carry additional hardware, which is gained upon the destruction of a formation of Scout ships. The POW symbol thus collected activates one of the four icons at the bottom of the screen, giving Mega Blasters, Repeat Fire, Super Shield or the highly destructive Penetrator Beam.
The player continues in this fashion until after the third and final panel, Nektron himself is faced. Completion of the game is rewarded with a password which may be returned to Starvision in order to enter their Amiga competition.
SJ
I'm afraid that Starvision's Last Mission variant is a rather tepid affair. It's technically polished and quite addictive at first, but the gameplay is iincredibly repetitious. Blast, blast, blast - collect a few symbols then off you go again.
The alien attack patterns are all rather similar and progress has been made difficult in order to increase the enormity of an otherwise simple task. The backdrops are neat, but the reat area is quite small so you tend to see the same section time and time again. I never got past the first planet, but I didn't lose much sleep over the fact.
PS
Oh dear! Yet another save-the-world-from-the-alien-hordes blast 'em game. At first I enjoyed playing MACH, but as time wore on my patience grew very thin.
I'm all for shoot-'em-ups, but I found this one frustratingly hard to play, and even after several sessions hadn't got much further than the end of the first planet. Graphically the game is merely average, with smart but blocky backgrounds and a couple of clever sprites. The main character is an odd little chap who moves around well, but doesn't look much like a matey in a spacesuit to me.
MACH isn't terrible, but I can think of better things to do with ten quid.
JR
Although it's polished and looks quite nice, this Last Mission clone isn't very stimulating. The difficulty level is set very high, and my first couple of games were very short affairs.
After (begrudingly) spending a lot of time getting to the second level, I was mightily peeved to find a rubbish backdrop and a completely over-the-top target of 125 aliens to destroy!
I can see why Starvision haven't put in more than three levels -you'd be hard pressed to get past the second! At £10, MACH can hardly be called a worthy investment.
Verdict
Presentation 68%
Documentation is slightly lacking, but there is a simultaneous two-player mode.
Graphics 59%
Tastefully coloured, but somewhat bland smooth-scrolling backgrounds. Alien sprites are poor.
Sound 62%
Good title tune, but the jingles are effects are standard fare.
Hookability 67%
A good blast for the first few goes.
Lastability 39%
Tedium soon sets in and doesn't go away.
Overall 48%
An overly difficult shoot-'em-up lacking the necessary variety to sustain interest.