Reviews

After having brightened up the budget games scene considerably for a while, Firebird software launched their Gold range of full price titles for the Spectrum with this game.

It's essentially an on-rails 3D shooter; you launch from an orbiting spacecraft, drop down into a corridor running along the surface of a planet, and blast away at some alien Lurgons until your energies are exhausted and you have to return to your ship. A system of "cycredits" allows you access to higher levels.

There are a variety of enemies that you need to take out; the lurgons themselves are fairly easy to deal with but Time Dimensional Spinners and Orbital Saucers can do serious damage to you. At all costs you've got to avoid the deadly Doomships and Argon Magnets which can destroy your buggy with a single hit.

Whilst having a pleasing graphical effect and some great sound effects - the beeper has rarely delivered more satisfying zaps and explosions - the game does get dull fairly quickly. The added complexities of dealing with things like Doomships and Spinners interfere with the twitch blasting and the docking sequence can also be a bit of a pain.

So, not bad for a first effort from Firebird Gold, but this would probably have made a better addition to their budget range whilst they'd have been better off waiting for the more substantial Gyron in the full price stakes.

A feeble attempt to a race-maze game in 3D perspective with some shooting.

Sparse visuals and action won't make your attention last for long. Not badly done, just too bland.

I liked the game a lot, but looking back compared to newer games, it does loose some points.. comparing it to other games that are 3d are different as it's a shoot em up, pretty much.. compared to say things like elite / starglider etc that are more involved.

did remind me a bit parallel wise of rescue on fractulus on atari 8 bit meets star wars in the arcade.

it did launch firebirds gold range.. I'd have rated it 80's now.. but at the time I do think it deserved the mark it got.

Nice subjective shoot'em up riding some alien roads.

1985 Firebird Software (UK)
by Paul Hibbard & David Lowe

I think this was the first game Firebird released at full price for their Gold label. Nowadays looks and plays like a straight budget game.
It starts however with an incredible well done screen full of special fx's, nicely designed and with engaging sounds.

Those sounds are then transported to the actual game, but that's it, all that color is turned into a black and white 3D maze corridor, where alien machines, flying saucers and orbs, all with proper names, appear for you to destroy them.

The action happens too fast to allow accuracy and I feel that I'm depending more on luck than actual play.
Still, even with a slighter more playable speed I don't this game as enough gaming longevity to be given more than a rate of 3.