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Judge: Digital Prawn [Official Site]

Un-Space Invaders
Author	Apenao
Filename	unspace.tzx
Year	2008
Position	24
Format	ZX Spectrum 48K
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Description	This is an interesting twist on the usual Space Invaders genre. Your goal is actually to save the invading alien civilisation from destruction by humans. The loading screen is reminiscent of a secret dossier smuggled out of Area 51, as commonly seen in the X-files. According to the author, there are three different possible endings to the game, depending on the decisions you may take. The first decision is whether or not to redefine the keys. I recommend that you do this even if you want to keep the default QAOP layout. The reason is that the "define new keys" option in itself gives vital clues as to the operations of your ship. I somehow managed a feeble score of minus 20 just trying to grab the screenshot. The screenshot required precise timing to grab because the game contains a near flawless textbook example of a "crap game" graphics routine, and should be studied carefully by budding crap game authors everywhere.
Comments	Quite a respectable crapness rating for this one. The player is initially left confused as to what to do apart from moving aimlessly around the screen in the midst of the ongoing interplanetary battle and the frame rate is suitably low for an invaders game written in BASIC. What really pushed this game up the scoreboard though is the graphic routine which only allows you to see the alien sprites for about half the time, as they are rubbed out during the other half. Well done! Nice "alternative" game concept also. At least the UDGs are finely detailed and gleefully colourful.