Zzap


Moon Shuttle
By Americana
Commodore 64

 
Published in Zzap #15

Moon Shuttle

Lawks oh lawdy! Four different types of slimy alien have invaded our asteroid belt! And, as usual, it's up to you to get rid of them. But what shall we do? Send a reliable old space shuttle armed with a laser gun to sort them out? Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Off you go, and don't bother coming back if you're unsuccessful...

The alien aggressors are being raucous on the opposite side of the asteroid belt, and this must be passed through before your assault can begin. The shuttle starts at the bottom of the screen and drifts slowly towards the mass of rocks above. By moving left and right and firing rapidly, a path can be cleared. Pushing up on the joystick increases speed, but crashing into a rook stops you dead (literally). A bonus is awarded if you pass through unscathed.

The shuttle then appears at the bottom of the screen and can fire and move left or right. The aliens zoom down from the top and sides of the screen and drop deadly missiles. The first wave hangs around the top of the screen and the aliens are quite docile. Progressive waves are more aggressive and harder to kill.

Moon Shuttle

Destroying a certain number of aliens leads to more rock dodging and blasting, followed by yet another alien attack, and so on, until eventually all lives are lost or you get bored and turn off the computer.

GP

As shoot-'em-ups go, Moon Shuttle is awful, antiquated and dull - a bit like a glorified Space Invaders with less aliens to kill. Both graphics and sound are good, but the game itself... well, even at three quid, it's a joke when compared with the likes of Uridium and Dropzone. I'm not impressed in the slightest.

JR

Har har har. I think US Gold are a really jolly bunch of japers indeed! Moon Shuttle - boom! Har har har. The game is really awful, your craft being attacked by crummy aliens who wobble about aimlessly pooping out the occasional missile. The sound is an aural assault and the graphics are just like Margaret Thatcher - bland, dull and totally antiquated. Do yourself a big favour and miss it.

GI

Moon Shuttle

Left right and fire, what a combination! It would seem that Moon Shuttle was designed by someone with the imagination of an imbecile child dropped on his head at the age of six months. To say Moon Shuttle is simple is a gross understatement. To say Moon Shuttle is boring is also a gross understatement. Without being rude there isn't a lot you can say about Moon Shuttle apart from don't buy it.

Verdict

Presentation 43%
Two player option - that's about it.

Graphics 36%
Below average and rather elderly.

Moon Shuttle

Sound 9%
Simple, basic and extremely elderly.

Hookability 29%
May hook somebody...

Lastability 12%
... but they won't become addicted.

Value For Money 18%
Not really a lot.

Overall 13%
Unlucky for some.