Zzap


Star Pack
By Prism
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #81

Star Pack

That's right, just one of four Prism packs offering four games for a budget price, even on disk! The four titles on this particular pack are all old Gremlin products of varied quality.

Artura

The appalling Artura earned a measly 10% in Issue 45. Yes, it really is that bad. It looks like a very unfinished program that should never have seen the light of day. The armoured hero hobbles slowly through dull flick-screens, throwing axes at the unvaried baddies. The aim is to collect runes, but go through the wrong door and you end up in a deep pit with seemingly no escape. It's all very confusing and totally unplayable.

Dark Fusion

In total contrast, Dark Fusion is an extremely playable shoot-'em-up, made more interesting by the three varied phases of each level. The main phase is the Combat Zone where your little astronaut runs along the horizontally scrolling level, shooting swarming aliens and cannons with his R-Type style, power-meter gun. Icons are collected for extra jump power and weapons, and three fusion pods must be found to enter the Alien Zone - single-screen superbaddy time!

Two huge aliens must be defeated before you get to the Flight Zone. It's all very tough as you need to memorize the various alien movement patterns, but slickly presented with attractive, if a little Spectrummy, graphics and a nice title tune. Qualty stuff and easily the best thing on this compilation.

Future Knight

Future Knight isn't of the same quality, but a worthwhile inclusion nonetheless. The simple platform-and-ladders action is spiced up by the fact your cute little hero (who waves when he first appears - aw!) is armed. New, more powerful weapons are found as you explore the huge multi-directional spaceship. Trouble is, it all looks very samey and plays that way too. Fun for a while, though.

H.A.T.E.

The same can't be said of the aptly named H.A.T.E. (24%, Issue 52), a real disappointment from designers Vortex, creators of so many good 3D games. The isometric 3D here is glitchy, and the game is a dull Zaxxon-style shoot-'em-up.

Once you collect a few plasma cells you can cruise through the sector - when your ship is destroyed you just go back to the previous sector. A disaster on full-price it's just about passable as filler on a budget pack like this.

Recommendation

Forget its poorer games - the Star Pack is worth the meagre price for Dark Fusion alone, especially on disk.