''Marsport'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

computer 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, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

that was released for the

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ...

and Amstrad CPC home computers in 1985. It was published by

Gargoyle Games Gargoyle Games was a British software company founded in 1983 by Roy Carter and Greg Follis in order to publish their first game, ''Ad Astra''. They generally specialized in games for the ZX Spectrum even though the company was originally named wi ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and Dro Soft in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. ''Marsport'' was intended to be the first part of a trilogy called "The Siege of Earth" but parts two and three (''Fornax'' and ''Gath'') were not forthcoming. Because of this, it is often regarded as being part of an unofficial trilogy alongside '' Tir Na Nog'' and ''

Dun Darach ''Dun Darach'' is an arcade adventure developed and published in 1985 by Gargoyle Games for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC computers. It is a prequel to the 1984 game ''Tir Na Nog (game), Tir Na Nog''. The plot has Celtic hero Cuchulainn on a ...

'' (both of which are part of the same official series) due to its having very similar gameplay to these titles. ''Marsport'' also has similarities to the later Gargoyle game '' Heavy on the Magick''.

Story

The year is 2494. For seventy years, the Earth has been under siege by the insectoid Sept. Since the siege began, the Sept have been kept at bay by a huge Force Sphere which surrounds the Earth and the Moon. However, the Sept are on the verge of discovering how to breach the Sphere unless it can be strengthened according to the formulae contained in the original plans. Unfortunately, these plans are concealed somewhere in the Martian city of Marsport, now Sept-occupied and booby-trapped by the city's M-Central computer. One man, Commander John Marsh, has been sent to retrieve the plans in the belief that a determined man can sometimes achieve more than an army.

Gameplay

Development

''Marsport'' was developed and published by

. It was planned to be the first of the "Siege of Earth" trilogy, with its sequels "Fornax" and "Gath" were set for release in January and April 1986.

Reception

''Marsport'' received positive reviews on release.

References

External links

* *{{WoS game, id=0003040 1985 video games Amstrad CPC games Gargoyle Games games Science fiction video games Single-player video games Video games developed in the United Kingdom ZX Spectrum games