SYNC SOFTWARE PROFILE
Name: Defender (Version 1.81)
Type: Arcade Space Fantasy
System: Sinclair ZX81, XZ80 (both
8K and 4K ROMs) (UK
television, 625 lines only,
at the moment)
Format: Cassette
Language: Z80 machine code
Summary: Better than any other
arcade game I've seen.
Price: £5.50
Manufacturer:
Quicksilva
95 Upper Brownhill Rd.
Maybush, Southampton, Hants.
United Kingdom
I was absolutely amazed when I saw the Defender program for the first time. Written entirely in machine code, this program is better than any other arcade game I’ve seen.
After loading the game from the cassette, I glanced through the instruction sheet. This sheet tells the player which buttons to press (“6” to move down, “7” to move up, “9” to thrust forward and “0” to fire) and which addresses to POKE to alter the horizontal and vertical hold of the picture.
Entering RUN, the screen goes blank for three seconds, then the display appears: at the top of the screen is the number of Defender spaceships you have and your score, at the bottom of the screen three lines of ‘moving scenery’ give the effect of movement, and on the left hand side of the screen is your spaceship. It should be noted that this program only works on UK 625 line television at the moment, although the author is working on an American 525 line television version. This is because the screen display occupies the whole of the television screen from the very top right to the very bottom.
After a short period of time the aliens appear from the right. The aim of the game is to blast them to pieces without getting blown up yourself. You start with 9 Defender spaceships and lose one when you get hit. The aliens fire from right to left and can have up to six missiles on the screen at once. You get 100 points for each alien. As the game progresses, more and more aliens appear on the screen up to a hectic maximum of 8 aliens, each firing six missiles at you. Your Defender spaceship can have up to six missiles on the screen at once.
The general movement of the aliens is from right to left, and up or down depending upon the type of alien. Unlike the original arcade Defender by Williams, there are no Humanoids, Smart Bombs, Baiters, Bombers, Mutants, Pods or Attack Waves nor are there ‘Reverse’ or ‘Hyperspace’ buttons. There is no provision for high scores either.
Having said that, if you happen to have the Quicksilva Sound Board, this program generates some fantastic sound effects for phasers and missiles, and every time you hit an alien a brilliant sound effect is produced.
Defender is available for 4K ROM machines with UK 625 line television as well as this version for 8K ROM machines.
Defender is a difficult and highly entertaining game that completely fills the screen and produces brilliant sound effects. This program is highly recommended and will keep you and your friends entertained for many, many hours.