Robotron: 2084

Personal Computer GamesPCG Hit

Graphics 9/10

Sound 7/10

Originality 0/10

Lasting Interest 8/10

Overall 8/10

Bob Wade 8/10

Peter Walker

Richard Boniface

Tony Takoushi

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K CONTROL: Keys, Kemp, Curs FROM: Atarisoft, £9.95 AMAZING ROBOTICS Robotron tans are going to be in seventh heaven over this game, and the uniniated will discover why it's still wowing the zappers in the arcades. You are the human race's last hope and must save small groups of people from the the robots who have rebelled against their former masters. These hapless humanoids wander around a single screen with you, deadly mines and a whole host of rampaging robots for company. Materalising in the middle of the screen you are immediately surrounded by hordes of Grunts. You move rapidly around the screen shooting in your direction of movement. You have to zap the robots before they can touch you and try to pick up the humans for large bonuses. The hardest initial task is to get away from the centre by firing 360 degrees all around you. Having got some breathing space you can move to the sides and pick the droids off easily. The second wave introduces large green Hulks which are indestructible but slow moving. These kill your bonus-providing family and all you can do is avoid them. As if all that were not enough there are red pulsing Spheroids which after a while mutate to produce little blue robots. These home in on you and shoot With unnerving accuracy, so if you do not shoot Spheroids quickly you are in big trouble. A more sinister opponent, Brains, appears on the fifth wave and can turn your family's mother against you and into a deadly flashing android. They're slow though and as long as you are careful you can pick them off. A cool head is called for in tight spots and even the most impossible-looking trap can be escaped from with rapid and accurate fire. The game is an absolute masterpiece of programming and is amazingly close to the arcade original. The action is fantastically fast and furious though you will notice it speed up as you destroy robots so that the processor has less to deal with. You can start on any of the first 9 waves but be prepared for a rapid end on the higher levels if you have not got some practice in. A nice point is that the robots de-rez beautifully when hit and disappear in a myriad of little pieces. The game is a brilliant copy even down to the title screens and high score tables and will be a worthy addition to any mega-blaster's collection.

Frenzied zapping in Robotron.