The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

GALACTIC PATROL

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Shoot-'Em-Up In Numerous Stages

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1987: GALACTIC PATROL, Mastertronic, £1.99

Compilation Release(s)   : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : MASTERTRONIC, 8-10 Paul Street, LONDON EC2A 4JH

                    Tel: 01 377 6880

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

Instructions

"You are the Commander of a Starfighter in the Galactic Patrol, a hero of the known universe, valiantly transporting colonists to their Starfleet ships. Have you got the courage and skill needed? Keyboard only."

You are the Commander of a Starfighter in the Galactic patrol, a hero of the known universe, valiantly transporting colonists to their Starfleet ships. Your mission consists of five stages, all of which require great daring.

PHASE 1 : While loading the colonists into the Transporter, aliens swoop over the horizon. You must destroy them with the photonic lance to defend the colonists.

PHASE 2 : Here the aliens hurl themselves onto the Transporter in an attempt to deplete its defence shields. Defend it with your Starfighter!

PHASE 3 : The Transporter runs out of energy and you have to dock with it to transfer your colonists.

PHASE 4 : Your Starfighter has to naviagte the Starfleet defences by dodging the force walls and the deadly Red Searcher.

PHASE 5 : Dock with a Starfleet ship to deliver the colonists safely.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   : - Up,   / - Down

<SPACE> - Begin Game and start new level

Instructions' Source   : GALACTIC PATROL (Mastertronic) Back And Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Transported Into Tedium"

As commander of a starfighter in the galactic patrol you duty is to transport colonists to other planets. Behind this clicked theme lies a truly appalling program.

The action is divided into four sections. In stage one a horde of alien spaceships attack the colonists as they flicker across the screen to the transporter. The aliens initially appear as small red dots on the horizon, but steadily grow into flying saucers. You control a photonic lance with your cursor. While the aliens are

still dots the cursor moves slowly, but once they have developed to full size it slows to a snail's pace. The photonic lance uses the DRAW command to connect two points on the screen at which point the alien vanishes - talk about special effects!

Stage two sees the transporter on its journey and the aliens have taken to ramming tactics. You must protect the transporter by shooting the spaceships before they get too close. Once again we have the growing dot routine and the corresponding decrease in speed. Having spent a predetermined length of time potting aliens and cursing the ship's movement, stage two ends.

In stage three the transporter runs out of energy so you must dock to replenish its energy banks. I spent ages unsuccessfully attempting to delicately balance my starfighter on the nose of the swerving transporter. Finally I decided to abandon subtle strategy and simply ram the starfighter into the belly of the transporter - hey presto I had docked.

Stage four involves avoiding the starfleet force walls which move outwards from the middle of the screen, growing progressively larger. Despite being warned about the deadly red searcher - a block of corrupted graphics which slowly trails you - I flew straight through it twice and the collision detection routine never even spotted me.

GALACTIC PATROL is less than impressive. If it is given away with Cornflakes I suggest you buy another brand.

Sound ........................... 4

Graphics ........................ 2

Playability ..................... 1

Value for money ................. 0

Overall ......................... 2

Jon Revis, ELECTRON USER 4. 2