Written by Graeme Baird, Ian Oliver and Andrew Onions, 3D Starstrike was the hit-outta-nowhere* from Realtime Software, in 1984. Well, actually, that was the ZX Spectrum version, which came out the year before this – the Amstrad CPC port. Which was released in 1985.

*= Aided somewhat by the success of Atari‘s famous Star Wars arcade machine.

The Amstrad version goes for the chunkier multi-colour graphics mode look, which compromises resolution for extra colour, but I think this was probably the right decision.

The frame rate is reasonable for an 8-bit cockpit shooter, although don’t expect it to reach double digits.

The gameplay is repetitive, but rewarding, gradually becoming more and more difficult with each cycle. There are also enough special sequences (like lightspeed, and the final attack on the trench/exhaust port/whatever it is you’re attacking) to keep your average sci-fi fan entertained.

While not quite as dazzling as it once was, 3D Starstrike remains an interesting and playable 8-bit relic from times long past.

More: 3D Starstrike on cpcwiki.eu