Summary
- Release Year: 1989
- Genres: Platform, Shooter
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, MSX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Creepsoft
- Publishers: Dinamic Software
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps (1989)
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps is a sideways scrolling shooter released in 1989 for the Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS. The player controls a member of the Astro Marine Corps who must blast their way through various alien-infested levels.
The game is known for its challenging difficulty, fast-paced action, and variety of enemies and power-ups. It was developed by The Bitmap Brothers, who would go on to create other classic Amiga games such as Speedball 2 and Xenon 2.
Gameplay
The player controls a member of the Astro Marine Corps, who is armed with a powerful laser gun. The player must blast their way through various levels, which are filled with aliens, turrets, and other hazards.
The player has three lives, and each life has an energy bar. The energy bar is depleted by contact with aliens and can be replenished by picking up the ‘E’ powerup. Other powerups include three-way fire and an overhead shield.
There are various instant death hazards that the player must avoid, such as a plant that smothers the player and a dragon that devours the player and spits out their bones.
The game is divided into five levels, each with a different environment and敌人类型. The levels are:
- Level 1: The Jungle
- Level 2: The Caves
- Level 3: The Factory
- Level 4: The Spaceship
- Level 5: The Alien Base
Development
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps was developed by The Bitmap Brothers, a British video game development company founded in 1987. The game was designed by Steve Lycett and Eric Matthews, and the graphics were created by Simon and David Perry.
The game was originally developed for the Amiga, but was later ported to the Atari ST and DOS. The DOS version was published by Psygnosis.
Reception
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its challenging difficulty, fast-paced action, and variety of enemies and power-ups. The game was also praised for its graphics and sound.
The game was a number one best-seller in the UK and sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. It was also nominated for the Golden Joystick Award for Best Arcade Game in 1989.
Legacy
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps is considered to be one of the best sideways scrolling shooters of all time. It was influential on the development of other games in the genre, such as Turrican and Contra.
The game has been re-released several times, including on the Amiga CD32, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It is also available on GOG.com and Steam.
Conclusion
A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps is a classic sideways scrolling shooter that is still enjoyed by gamers today. It is a challenging and fun game with plenty of action and variety. If you are a fan of the genre, then you owe it to yourself to check out A.M.C.: Astro Marine Corps.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
