''Zybex'' is a 1988 horizontally

scrolling shooter Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs) are a subgenre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of character m ...

for the

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

, and

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...

. ''Zybex'' was one of the first games released by

Zeppelin Games Eutechnyx Limited (formerly Zeppelin Games Limited, until 1994, and Merit Studios (Europe) Limited, until 1997) is a British video game developer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since 1997, the company has focused on racing games. They a ...

, a UK-based budget game developer.

Plot

The player takes the role of two convicts, Rinser and Cassalana, escaping from an execution in intergalactic prison. To buy their freedom, the convicts must collect tokens to open later levels by destroying the big end of level bosses. There are 16 levels, with a choice of "open" levels when one is completed. First level, Arcturus, is always the first level to be played. The last level is called ''Zybex''. Two players can play simultaneously in all versions.

Gameplay

Firing is automatic - the fire button changes the current weapon. Collecting a weapon icon increases that weapon's power level, up to the maximum of 4. Dying reduces the current weapon by 1 power level, or removes a weapon if it has only one power level. The players start with level 1 Orbiter (and never lose it), the other four weapons are 8-way (starts as 2-way, upgrades to 4-way, 6-way and then 8-way), Rail-gun (solid beam which gets stronger), Pulse (upgrades to include diagonal fire) and Wall (starts with a narrow field and gets larger).

References

External links

* * {{Eutechnyx games 1988 video games Atari 8-bit computer games Commodore 64 games Horizontally scrolling shooters Multiplayer and single-player video games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games set in outer space ZX Spectrum games