This is a little, slightly incomplete rewrite of Cylon Attack (an old
game for the BBC micro, you might be able to download the original
somewhere). It's been sitting around on my hard disc for far too long
now, so I thought I'd let it out for a breath of fresh air. It is
currently known to run on a StrongARM Risc PC, RO3.7, YM will probably V
with anything else.
I'm releasing this software under the GPL. Read the licence.
Credits (and apologies) must go to A&F Software, assumed long since
defunct, and Doug Anderson, the original author of Cylon Attack for the
BBC Micro. I hope I haven't caused too much offence.
HOW TO PLAY
I have shamelessly nicked the instructions from the original, to save
writing any myself; they probably evoke more atmosphere than I could
muster anyway...
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INSTRUCTIONS
You are the only interceptor
pilot on board an earth supply
ship. The Cylons, determined
to stop your ship at any cost,
are sending wave upon wave of
their attack fleets to blast
you out of the sky!!
It is entirely up to you to
defeat them!
Method of Play
As each wave of Cylon ships
approaches, you are launched
from your Mother-ship into
battle.
When (and IF!!) you manage
to destroy them all, you must
return and dock onto your
Mother-ship where you will be
refuelled before the next wave
of Cylons comes to resume the
attack!!
Your Instruments
The main view screen fills
most of your "cockpit"s area,
with the Long Range Radar sat
directly above. This shows the
position of nearby ships which
are just out of direct view.
Below the main screen, there
are five instruments showing:
1: Amount of Shields left
2: Amount of Fuel left
3: Rate of Climb
4: Rate of Turn
5: Amount of Laser left
Movements
There are two different key
layouts (left or right-handed)
and a joystick option.
Up Down Left Right
Option1: A Z < >
Option2: + > Z X
Option3: - Joystick -
The keys/joystick control your
rate of Turn/Climb.
( H - Hold key )
Firing the Laser
Your laser is fired by the
Space-bar on keyboard options
or the Fire-button on the
joystick option.
Each shot uses up some of
your laser energy, which takes
a short time to recharge.
The laser will not fire if
there is insufficient energy
to do so.
Using the Sights
When you are lined up with a
Cylon ship, your sights will
change shape, indicating a
good chance of a hit.
If they change a second time
(to a large "X"), then you
are close enough for the
targetting system to lock on
to the enemy Cylon, guiding
your laser bolts to their
target.
Shields
Your shields will protect
you from the Cylon's missiles
for a while, but quickly
become depleted if you are not
careful.
You start each wave with a
full quota of shields, but if
you run out then you are
destroyed and the game is over
Fuel
Your fuel tank is full at
the start of each wave, but
will steadily approach empty
during the game.
If you run out altogether
then you will be deemed "Dead
in space" and the game is over
However you may return to
your Mother-ship for extra
fuel (if available) at any
time during the game.
A low-fuel warning bell will
sound when your fuel level
falls below a safe margin.
Your Mother-ship
Your Mother-ship's status
(shown top/right of cockpit)
displays the amount of shields
left, and the number of fuel
tanks available for emergency
refuelling in the middle of a
wave. There are NO extra
shields available!
The Mother-ship will only
come under direct attack when
you are refuelling, and will
be destroyed if her shields
run out.
Docking
You must dock back on to
your Mother-ship at the end
of every wave. You may also
dock during a wave for extra
fuel, but not for shields.
To dock, simply line up the
Mother-ship (coloured Yellow)
with your sights, and hold
position until she comes close
enough for the automatic
landing sequence to be
activated. Be careful not
to shoot her accidentally!!!
High Score table
Cylon Attack features a 50
name high score table, which
can be saved on disk at the
end of a game, and reloaded
the next time you want to play.
To save the table at the end
of a session, press BREAK and
insert a score disk in your
drive 0. Then follow the
instructions on screen.
You may make as many copies
as you like.
Competition
There is a £200 first prize
for the highest score reached
on Cylon Attack.
If you think your best score
is good enough to win, fill
in the entry form enclosed
with the cassette, and return
it to A&F Software Ltd with a
Floppy disk containing your
saved high score table.
Only original entry forms
will be accepted. NO COPIES !!
Closing date: 1/3/84
And Finally..
Would you like to see the
Instructions again before
loading the main program?
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The controls for "The Onslaught Continues!" are:
Z - move left
X - move right
' - move up
/ - move down
space - fire
There is no joystick control, as I don't have the necessary hardware to play with. Your joystick may come with software to emulate keypresses (didn't it used to do that? I'm not sure...). Maybe that'll work.
There are a couple of alterations and enhancements, but I'll leave them for you to find. Needless to say, there is not much point in sending a disc with your highscores on to A&F Software in the hope of winning the big prize (sorry!). Don't send them to me either, I'm just a poor student and I don't have £200 spare...
