''Datastorm'' is a
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
for the
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
published by Visionary Design in 1989. Written by Søren Grønbech, it was inspired by the horizontally scrolling ''
Defender'' arcade game and the ''Defender''-like ''
Dropzone
''Dropzone'' is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Archer Maclean (under the name Arena Graphics) for the Atari 8-bit family and published in 1984 by U.S. Gold. It was ported to the Commodore 64, then later released for the Ninte ...
'' originally released for the
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...
.
Gameplay
''Datastorm'' allows for a single player to play or two players to play simultaneously or one after the other.
The game takes place on planets in a side scrolling format that wraps around with the player flying above in a spacecraft. The player must protect and rescue the 8 survival pods that roll around on the surface of the planet and take them to a warp gate.
An onslaught of enemies try to destroy the spaceship so constantly destroying these enemies and their missiles is necessary. There is also a special type of enemy called an alien lander that captures the pods and whisks them away to the top of the level.
In addition to standard enemies, there are also
mother ships, which act as bosses within the game. These mother ships come in the form of a fleet of fast luminous ships, a large squid or a large skull.
A radar scanner, which is essentially a mini-map is presented along the bottom of the screen and gives a complete view of the entire planet to help keep track of what is going on.
The game also features autosave, a highscore table, on-screen instructions and level select.
In terms of weaponry, the ship has lasers, smart bombs, cloaking technology that makes it invincible for a period of time.
The points increase for each level: on levels 5, 9, 13 and so on, the player gets a new set of eight and the scoring resets.
Plot
The game takes place after the planet Xerxes exploded causing its 8 orbiting colonies to drift into deep space. The inhabitants of these colonies must locate a new home planet so they each send a survival pod out into space to achieve this mission.
Development
The game was announced in May 1989.
Reception
Julian Rignall, writing for ''
Computer and Video Games
''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') was a UK-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot website ...
'' in 1989, called ''Datastorm'' "the best shoot 'em up yet seen out of a coin-op cabinet."
The overall review score was 95%.
References
External links
''Datastorm''at Lemon Amiga
1989 video games
Amiga games
Amiga-only games
Horizontally scrolling shooters
Video games developed in Denmark
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