ZX Computing
1st January 19872000AD comic hero, Rogue Trooper, blasts into action
Rogue Trooper
You are Rogue Trooper a genetically engineered infantryman created to withstand the poisonous chem-clouds of Nu Earth. You are also the sole survivor of the Quartz massacre when your regiment was betrayed and wiped out by the Norts.
Now your only thought is to find the traitor responsible for the slaughter and revive our three buddies that are now mere bio-chips mounted on your gun, helmet and backpack.
These three chip buddies advise you during your mission as well as stir you on to more heroic deeds. Gunnar helps your firing but has a distinctly psychotic side to his nature and will constantly urge you to "blast some more Nort scum!" Helm gives you the odd hint and points you in general direction of medi-kits and ammo stores and gets very excited when you find one of the eight vid tapes that wil prove the identity of the traitor. Finally Badman reports on current levels of ammo, kits and tapes and applies the medi-kits if you're getting weak.
The war-torn planet of Nu Earth is represented by 3D graphics (illustrating the ruined cities, radiation deserts, graveyards, fuel dumps, nu forests and glass zones that are now swarming with Nort troops.
Rogue Trooper is controlled by joystick or redefinable keys and can explore the "real" landscape. This is obviously a development of Ultimate's original Knight Lore system tailor-made to the ruins, trees, graves and barbed wire of Nu Earth.
Charging around with guns blazing will only have short lived success as you will be quickly cut down by the Nort troopers, auto-firing pillboxes and mines that have a nasty habit of exploding if you get too close to them.
The way to success and a longer life is to use the scenery as cover, only rushing into the open when you can get first shot. Gunner might not like these tactics but you don't have to take all the avice the chip buddies hurl at you.
My best so far is seven of the eight vid-tapes so the shuffle will have to wait a little longer before taking me to victory.
The Norts may have finally gunned me down, but I took plenty of them with me. One thing's certain, I'll be back for more.
A Monster Hit.