Instructions for

Earthlight

Firebird, 1988

Written by Chris Owen, HTML'd by Arnt Gulbrandsen.

Controls

Keyboard, Kempston, Cursor

Aim of the game

Slaatn, an alien explorer from Arcturus, is drawn off course by a strong beam of force from Earth and has to make a landing on the Moon. Slaatn's only chance of escape is to neutralise the box-like transmitters and eliminate the force field.

Game play

The mission takes place over four levels, each of which is divided into eight zones to be tackled in any order. Slaatn has managed to steal a spacecraft which begins each zone perched on a platform base. You must collect a specified number of transmitters before returning to base. Alien saucers, spheres and podships do not hesitate to attack! However, your ship is equipped with shields, fuel and missiles to help you. Before entering each zone, you can alter the ratio of these supplies. An increase in fuel, for example, will reduce the number of missiles you can carry. Colliding with aliens or obstacles damages shields, and the longer you take the more fuel you will lose. Should you use up all your fuel or shields, you will lose one of your three lives (and you cannot refuel or recharge your shields!). Instead, returning to base will give an instant breakdown of your performance so far, including the number of transmitters still to collect and the number and type of aliens still alive.

Comments

"Yet another of Pete Cooke's masterpieces"

Rating

90% (CRASH #53, June 1988)

Now

Still a very good game - a nice-looking shoot-em-up with an unusual angle!

Keys

Redefinable

Nettverksgruppa, 10/9-94, sinclair@nvg.ntnu.no