2008 Competition Results: (6:We Like It Retro)

4th Place – Cosmic Prison Commando Demo – Total: 277

Ian:

Right. Review #2. I posted my original review of this game on RR just before it was hacked and died a horrible death. Basically, I couldn’t get this game to run properly on my desktop pc. However, luckily I was able to re-test this game on my laptop. And I’m so glad I did.

Cosmic Prison Commando is a run & gun shooter, heavily influenced by the likes of Dinamic (the Spanish coding company responsible for Game Over, Army Moves etc.) with brilliantly realised and wonderfully chunky CPC style imagery, and a cracking soundtrack.

Gameplay is smooth and fast, albeit very simple, being more brawn than brain: Run, jump and fire being the order of the day. That’s not to say that the game is easy; the smooth scrolling landscape is littered with robots and nasties all out to send you to your maker, so keep your finger on the trigger and go, go, go!

With all that positive praise, there has to be something negative about this game, doesn’t there? Well yes, I’m afraid there is. The game is but a demo and one lacking in many obvious features including some animations, but including numerous bugs. The control scheme is also a little on the odd side for my liking. However, even at this stage, the game is still actually good fun.

Whilst much has been seen of Carnivac’s past works, this is the first actual game I think he’s released to the general public. It’s a shame that the game is so unfinished, but if this is a sign of things to come, then we retro gamers are in for some wonderful times. Carnivac, please continue with this game – it really would be a shame to see this disappear, unfinished.

54%

Geekay:

Before starting this game, I was like WTF?  Why would I want to play an Amstrad Emulator Demo?

Spaz that I am, and serves me right for not keeping an eye out on the forums during the progression of this game.

Cosmic Prison Commando is a fantastic retro shooter in the done in the same vein as, oddly enough, the Amstrad CPC.  It’s a shame that is just a demo and not a complete works, as I think it would fare very well in its full version.

The game is very similar to Gryzor and Turrican, which is no bad thing.  In fact it is a bloody good thing and is a very solid and satisfying play.  Pitched at the right difficulty, it is challenging but not impossible – something of which a lot of shooters are cursed with and makes them forgetful.  It feels more like a remake than a new game.  I mean that in the most complimentary way, as the level design and playability reek of something more professional than most coders are capable of.

The bright and sickly colours will etch into your monitor.  The Amstrad never looked so good.

The scanline look of it is very effective too.  I have to say that the David Whittaker’s Glider Rider tune has found another home.  It suits the game perfectly.

The eventual full version of this is one to keep an eye on.

60%

Oogy:

Although the author submitted this game and entitled it a demo, it’s still got enough gameplay in it for me to ignore that fact and just play it for what it is. A damn good platform shooter.

The game bears alot of resemblence to the Turrican series. Not just the graphics-style itself, but the weaponry and power-ups, and even the way I can jump on top of enemies to destroy them. Not that those are bad things, mind you, it’s still different enough to carry its own weight. The music and sound effects are very good, and match the game’s overall feel. The music however stops after it’s played through once and after that it’s just sound effects.

While playing the screen seems a bit small at times, and unless you have the spray-shot ugrade, it’s best to move slowly. Some enemies home into you until you destroy them, while others follow a pre-declared path. At places there doesn’t seem to be enough room to dodge enemy bullets, and the level design could’ve used a bit more space at times. But there are many power-ups about and even though the game transports you back to the very beginning after loosing a life, it’s not hard to pick up where you left off. it is a shame there aren’t any additional levels though.

Despite these niggles I have with the game, it actually plays very well and is alot of fun. One of the better entries this year, if only it had been finished.

85%

Spray:

Oh boy there are issues with this game. Of the 3 PCs I’ve played it on, it only works on one. The other two crash and burn with variable errors.

I know I’m not alone here either, there are reports of this crashing on some PCs and not others on the forum.

Fortunately I was able to play this on one machine, otherwise it would have been an automatic zero, which would have been a reet shame.

As a demo it’s actually a very playable little beast. It is, however, a very vanilla run around and shoot game.

It’s difficult to fault the graphics, as a retro style game Carn has it nailed and then some but I was left wanting more and different.

With a bit more time and some massive bug testing sessions, this could have be a real contender for the cat 6 title, but I’m afraid it just wasn’t to be…..

58%