Games Computing


Moon Raider

Publisher: Micro Power
Machine: Acorn Electron

 
Published in Games Computing #8

Moon Raider (Micro Power)

Scramble, Defender, call it what you will but here it is again as Moonraider, one of the classic arcade implementations for the home computer since the ZX81. The Electron, despite its high profile, is not immune to such games.

All the usual features are in evidence as your craft speeds over the sideways scrolling rugged terrain, pitted with radar stations, missile bases and flak guns. The display is as good as ever and the Electron's hardware seems to have forced no compromises from the BBC version.

The Moonraider itself has a laser to parry the rain of missiles and bombs to knock out the ground stations. The controls are very responsive but should your reactions fail, there is a nice line in crashes. The plane acts as though it has run up against a brick wall and the resultant disintegration fills the screen with flying debris.

The action actually takes place in a central window with the scores, lives and laser power indicated above the window and down the right hand side of it. From the Hi-Score table it is possible to access any stage of the game at a difficulty level of your choice so you can avoid the easy bits if you want, though the bouncing mines quite early on, coming off the cavern roof as they do, are not what I would call easy!