Big K


Psytron

Publisher: Beyond
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Big K #5

Psytron

A slick, complex and damnably difficult turnaround in which you, dear hacker, become the computer. Become the mighty Psytron computer, that is, the system in sole charge of the vast and intricate Betula 5 installation. You remain ever-vigilant for intruders, of which, needless to say, there are many. Your pursue flying saucers across a panorama of ten screens, chase inset-like alien saboteurs along narrow tunnels, trying to hit them before they knock off an airlock or blow a hole in the pleasure dome or something. When they do cause damage, you have to assess it, allocate resources to effect repairs and generally juggle supplies to keep the whole place going.

As I said, damnably difficult. So difficult that if you manage to keep the place going for over an hour at the final level, you stand to win yourself a QL. To do that, you have to know the thing inside out, match the strategy of a military tactician with the coordination of a concert pianist and probably have a fair bit of luck as well.

For myself, despite much beavering away into the night, I've only managed to master Level 1 (chasing the saboteurs). Popping off the saucers before they zap the power plant or knock out the fuel dump (Level 2) is, as yet, beyond me.

All of which, I suppose, augurs well. Psytron is certainly not the kind of game you master, exhaust and discard in a couple of afternoons. It's graphically superb, nicely-priced and does seem to match Beyond's claim to provide "challenging software". My only quibble is that the initial training levels could be a bit more encouraging. But then, I'm lazy.