1st January 1985
The cassette insert describes Warp 1 as "a strategical space adventure", which is handy as I can't think of any other way of describing it. It's like no other game I've played, a cross between Battleships, Space Invaders, an adventure and Lunar Lander.
You're commander of a Federation Starship, your mission to seek out a fellow captain who is lost in space. As you work your way through the six quadrants and 48 sectors of deep space, the Klingons attack.
When you engage your phasers, the Klingons appear on the starship's viewing screen. As you fight them off inevitably you incur damage and use precious energy, necessitating a risky docking manoeuvre with the nearest starbase.
If it sounds complicated that's because it is. Despite three full pages of excellent instructions in the cassette inlay, it took three games before I understood Warp 1 fully. Having said that, the controls are easy to use and the screen layout is excellent - once you get used to the amount of information coming at you.
It's very easy to forget that you're running low on energy, and docking can be tricky. So if you are tired of space action but don't want a game that's too hard on your brain, then you have to look at Warp 1. It's different.
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