Zaxxon - NDSK Commodore 64 game

Design: Zaxxon utilizes a unique perspective design with detailed shading, resulting in a virtual 3D effect. Notably, the programmer Peter Adams also employed a similar visual technique in his previous work, "Blue Max."

Hints:

• Energy Barriers: In the early game levels, players must navigate over walls and through energy barriers. As the game progresses, the openings become smaller and are protected by energy barriers. Firing lasers at these barriers helps determine the player's position relative to the openings.
• Asteroid Towns: Destroy enemy space fighters, fuel tanks, radar towers, gun emplacements, and missiles in the asteroid towns to raise your score and fuel supply.
• Free Space: Engage and destroy hostile space fighters and satellites in free space. The size of space fighters indicates their flying height, and destroying all hostile fighters grants a bonus of 1,000 points.
• End Fight: Survive open space to face the deadly robot ZAXXON in another asteroid town. To defeat ZAXXON, players must hit his missile launcher three times.

Controls:

• Start Screen:
  • F5: Switch between 1 or 2 players (turn-based play)
  • F7: Start the game
• In-Game:
  • F7: Pause the game; move the joystick to continue
  • Joystick Backwards: Ascend
  • Joystick Forwards: Descend
  • Joystick Left/Right: Move left/right
  • Fire Button: Shoot
• An altitude indicator on the left of the screen helps determine flying height, especially when navigating wall openings and energy barriers. The fuel display indicates remaining fuel, which can be replenished by destroying fuel tanks.

Points: Various game elements grant points, including radar towers, fuel tanks, gun emplacements, missiles, enemy fighters, satellites, robot missiles, and ZAXXON.

Reception: Zaxxon garnered mixed reviews from various sources:

• The Rombachs C64-Spieleführer praised the game's graphics and visual technique but found the gameplay only moderately motivating.
• Other reviewers, such as Sledgie and Robotron2084, noted both positive and negative aspects of the game, with varying levels of enjoyment.
• Overall, Zaxxon was considered technically solid with its innovative graphics but garnered criticism for its gameplay depth and repetitiveness.

Please note that the information in this text might not be accurate or up-to-date, as my knowledge is based on information available up until September 2021.