Previous Next

You can learn a lot about this game from the title screen - it's copyright 1983! It baffles me how Ariolasoft think such dated US merchandise can still hope to compete today.

Imagine a series of differently-contoured grids, narrowing at the top of the screen in a (poor) attempt at a 3D effect. Racing up and down each grid are a range of poorly drawn creatures: 'xterminators', 'mutant guards', 'kamikaze hunters' and the like. While, at the top, perches a big fat spider, the 'master arachnid'.

The idea is that you are caught in this spider's web and must blast your way out by zapping everything that moves. Unlike Tempest, you're able to move up and down the grid, as well as around the top. If you succeed in shooting enough creatures, there are more than 100 other webs for you to die of boredom in.

For me, the only interesting part of the game comes at the end of each grid when, if you hit a smart-bomb key at the right moment, you get transported to 'the Nest' where you have the chance to earn yourself an extra life. In a time period of about fifteen seconds, you have to destroy a number of aliens, shoot through a box and link up with a captured ally.

This requires fast, precise action and is satisfying when achieved. The same can't be said of the rest of the game, which, although certainly fast, is devoid of intelligent content.

The graphics, apart from the grids, consist simply of small, non-animated creatures drawn in outline only, moving very rapidly up and down the grids. Sound is made up of the usual blasting noises. There's no music.

The game may have limited sentimental value to the small band of Tempest cultists, but for the rest of us there's little of interest.