Requested by LogrusUK
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http://www.vintageisthenewold.comDeveloped by Daisysoft and published by Rainbird in 1988
A budget shmup along the lines of R-type, Gradius et al, Scorpius was a pretty competent shooter for the time. It boasts some decent artwork (which improves in later levels), and the variety of power-ups on offer keeps things fresh. It's notable for being one of, if not the first commercial games that brothers John and Steve Rowlands (of Creatures fame) worked on.
The one sticking point I have with the game, however, is the hitbox detection around enemy sprites, which makes it difficult to land hits on target successfully; unless the shot hits the enemy dead centre it passes through with no effect. This is less of a problem when you have the auto-fire/rapid fire upgrades and can hose the screen with plasma, but you'll really struggle with taking enemies down until you've beefed up your guns to a sufficient level.
Credits
Coding: Delvin Sorrell, Michael Smale
Graphics: John Rowlands, Steve Hall, Steve Rowlands
Music: Steve Rowlands, John Rowlands
#scorpius
#c64
#retrogames
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdznJJVA74