Shark

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

Overall 56%

Players Premier Spectrum, C64 £2.99 The Shark of the title is a new super-sub which you have to pilot into the Atlantic 5 seabase to rid it of the cheeky Snake brothers who have moved in without permission. In fact, they're so cheeky that not only have they moved in, they've invited a load of reptilian males round as well! The Snakes aren't the only cheeky ones, though. This is the second game by Players (the first being Task Force) which looks disconcertingly similar to the old Hewson blaster, Cybernoid. The screen layouts are similar, the controls are the same, even the extra weapons are practically identical. But of course the copy isn't as good as the original and Shark is made ridiculously difficult by the heavily armoured enemy ships which populate the corridors and are so tough that they have to be shot at least eight times before they explode!

C64 SCORES Overall: 59% Smart graphics and sound, but the gameplay suffers because of a supernatural level of difficulty.

Sinclair User

Graphics 81%

Playability 89%

Overall 85%

Charles Wood 85%

Label: Players Premiere Author: In House Price: £2.99 Memory: 48K/+2/A Joystick: Various Reviewer: Charles Wood You're small, mean, cute and deadly - you're The Shark. The evil alien snake brothers have taken over the top secret underwater base Atlantic 5. You, as the shark have to find the alien snake brothers and recover Atlantic 5 from them. Your first level mission is to destroy the 3 reactor like doobries before entering the maze like lair of the sanke brothers on level 2. In level 3 you must find the dubious duo and make a pair of shoes out of them. (Actually, you only need to kill them. The game is similar to Cybernoid. Flip screen, selectable weaponry and a familiar feel to the gameplay. The graphics are very good; nice detailed submarines and aliens all moing on a tight background. Sound is excellent with a bouncy tune playing throughout. Shark is very addictive - one of those "just one more go" games. Overall, a very good little game and well worth the cash. EDITOR FOR DAY

Crash

Overall 80%

Nick Roberts 80%

A veritable heap of offerings this month! A Budget Bonanza! And here's DJ Nicko to take a spin through the games coming your away for less than a three quid! SHARK Players Premier £2.99 cass No crowded American beaches or floating heads in this game (awww!): this is a different type of Shark. In fact it's an amazing prototype submersible (a submarine to us mere mortals!), and you're its pilot. The evil Snake Brothers are the source of your troubles as they've overrun the top secret base Atlantic 5. You must now free the base from these slimy customers. The game is played in a Cybernoid sort of way with the Shark moving around each screen in turn, and weapons having to be selected then used against the enemy. All the graphics are excellent. The detailed sprites and good use of colour make the game very attractive. Presentation is also up to the usual Players standard and very slick indeed. There are three levels, each played in a similar way but with different objectives. I found it very difficult to select the weapons and kill some enemy to begin with. You usually end up in a right muddle. Some of the ways weapons explode and fire are excellent, even if most of the time they don't have the slightest effect on the enemy! A good tune on the title screen and plenty of sound effects add atmosphere to the endless shooting. Shark is a good, fun game and will provide all shoot 'em up fans with a reasonable challenge.

Sinclair User

Graphics 82%

Playability 81%

Overall 78%

Garth Sumpter 78%

Label: Players Premiere Author: In House Price: £2.99 Memory: 48K/+2/A Joystick: Various Reviewer: Garth Sumpter What can I say? Charles has said it all. Shark is an okay game. The graphics are tight and the story line, although a little tenuous, gives just enough plot to justify shooting anything that moves. It's a little slow for any of the mega death chappies out there but it might just be worth spending a few bob on. Control is a wee bit difficult with the joystick (in fact I couldn't get it to work with a +3) but the keyboard is straight forward enough for even the most arthritic arcadester.