Shining on in Starglider It's difficult to work out what to do with the CPC version of Starglider. If you compare it with the standard 8-bit space operas it comes off very well, but there's always the nagging feeling that it's completely outclassed by the original version on the Atari ST.    
The game itself is fairly simple - a lot simpler than the absurd novella attached to it would have you believe Your planet, says the script, has been invaded by an alien race which has fashioned its ships into the shape of a sort of giant intergalactic seagull to get past your Greenpeace-oriented (Save the Stargliders, man) planetary defences. You're piloting the last defence ship and must - etc. etc Once you've got the script out of the way you find the game boils down to 'if it
moves, shoot it' with refuelling and rearming options attached As such it's not at all bad on the Amstrad - you're placed on a planet surface and presented with a variety of shapes to shoot, and it's at least as entertaining as other 'state of the an" games you'll find on the machine. But comparing the Amstrad game with the ST version tells you a lot more about both implementations. The scripts are equally basic, but the graphics on the ST are better - albeit not as good as they ought to be - and compared to the ST's, the Amstrad's sound is primitive, to say the least. The point here is that the ST allows the same game to be given a more elaborate treatment. It's still the same game, it |ust gives the impression it isn't. Not that you should let that put you off - if you want a good space opera for the Amstrad. Starglider is an excellent buy - it's just a lot more spectacular on the ST. John Lettice, PCW
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