Spaceway Pirates | Objectives | In Play | Verdict
Computer: Commodore 64
Price: £6.90 (Cassette)
Publisher: Taskset
Reviewer: Piers Letcher
Rating: 2/5
Cosmic Convoy (Commodore 64)
Cosmic Convoy (Commodore 64)
Cosmic Convoy (Commodore 64)
Cosmic Convoy (Commodore 64)
Cosmic Convoy (Commodore 64)

Spaceway Pirates

It could be any game with big graphics, and large moving objects lumbering across the screen. Escort your fleet of cargo transporters from one planet to another and become a hero - or an unreal, whatever that is.

From sea to air to space the World War II ideas have percolated, but they're the same ideas.

Objectives

The aim is to get to the next planet and get your slow cargo transporters there in one piece. To stop you doing this fighters appear, and you have to ward them off by blowing them off course. You can choose your level, but it strikes me that level 0 is too hard.

You have three goes at making the crossing, but after three hours' non-stop play I still hadn't managed to reach the next planet.

Others who have done so assure me that the procedure thereafter is much the same, i.e. go on to the next planet in the system.

Considering that my high screen is now 5,600 it's a bit silly to have a reward for getting to the 50,000 mark to aim for.

In Play

It's not easy because of several rather irritating factors: turning your craft round is just too slow - a more responsive craft would make a world of difference.

A scanner gives you some warning of impending doom, but because the graphics are so large the enemy are upon you before you have a chance to do anything about it.

The overwhelming feeling I got while playing was that I'd wasted my time sitting in front of a rather blank-looking C64 for the ten minutes it took to load!

Considering that Taskset has put some very good and worthwhile features into its program, the game is somewhat disappointing.

Cosmic Convoy has such advantages as keyboard or joystick option, a menu option for instructions, and clear instructions when you want them. However, the way to hell is paved with good intentions, and these have been poorly implemented.

Verdict

I'd think twice about spending a hard-earned seven quid on Cosmic Convoy, but someone else might easily be enthusiastic - the most hardened computer game addicts perhaps.

Rating

Lasting Appeal 2/5
Playability 2/5
Use Of Machine 3/5
Overall Value 2/5

Spaceway Pirates | Objectives | In Play | Verdict