Space Station Zebra

Crash

Use of Computer 40%

Graphics 60%

Playability 20%

Getting Started 63%

Addictive Qualities 10%

Value For Money 15%

Overall 35%

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Producer: Beyond Software Memory Required: 48K Retail Price: £5.95 Language: BASIC and Machine code Author: Pat Norris Space Station Zebra, apart from being a good name for a science fiction movie, is, as is name suggests, a space station. It is situated at the farthest outpost of the galaxy, spinning quite happily until the aliens come. Now the energy reserves are low, only one lazgun remains operative, and you are the sole remaining survivor. The screen display is seen as if from a control tower of the ring-shaped space station, with the outer rim just visible at the bottom. Beyond that are the outer reaches of space, filled with stars. Below the viewscreen there is a radar, a thrust indicator, and an energy level indicator. The radar screen shows the view around the station unfolded and aliens will appear on the screen. The lazgun only works when there is sufficient energy. The sights are two fine markers top and bottom and left and right of the view screen. When the game starts the station is rotating and the aliens will try to attack the blind side. The spin must be halted before the lazgun can be used, so the radar is employed to bring an alien round to the front. The alien craft appear with a partial 3D effect, to attack the station. Your station's shields will only survive seven hits, but are replenished with every completed phase. There are three phases with meaner aliens each time. COMMENTS Controls keys: 0 and 1 stop/start rotation, M=fire, Q/A up/down on sights Joystick: none Keyboard play: reasonable, but slow on the movement of sight Use of colour: good Graphics: smooth and effective, but poor 3D Sound: fair Skill levels: 3 progressive Lives: 1, shields take 7 hits

Good graphics put to poor use on the fringes of known space. Space Station Zebra.

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 6/10

Memory: 48K Price: £6.95 Space Station Zebra spins silently in space and you, the pilot and sole survivor, look out into the void until your radar screen warns you of approaching craft. As the space wheel shudders from the first alien onslaught, you attempt frantically to slow the spinning speed of the station to aim your lazgun at the approaching extra- terrestrials. Before you can even pinpoint the enemy in your wandering sights the attack is over and the station destroyed. Press any key to continue, the computer suggests, hopefully. The graphics in Space Station Zebra, for the 48K Spectrum, are excellent, depicting the control panel and the starry blackness beyond, dotted with the hulks of dead spacecraft and lifeless planets. The aliens, too, appear suitably fearsome in the brief seconds they take to zoom towards you. Keyboard operation, however, is fiendishly difficult, and firing the lazgun involves the simultaneous operation of five keys, four to aim and one to fire. Destroying the aliens requires more luck than judgment and high scores are difficult to obtain. Space Station Zebra, from Beyond Software, is certainly challenging and not a game for the novice.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

Personal Computer Games

Graphics 8/10

Sound 6/10

Ease Of Use 3/10

Originality 3/10

Lasting Interest 2/10

Overall 3/10

Steve Cooke 3/10

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K JOYSTICK: No CATEGORY: Arcade SUPPLIER: Beyond PRICE: £5.95 Space Station Zebra lies at the furthest outpost of the galaxy. Long may it stay there. A tiresome and tedious shoot-'em-up game with great graphics but not much else to offer.

Your Computer

Overall 3/5

48K Spectrum Shoot-'em-up Beyond £6.95 Coriolis sickness is the least of your problems on this space wheel. The screen display is an impressive view from the hub of the outer rim of the station. You have to spin the station and sparingly use your laser against alien intruders. I found myself going round in circles on this one.