Warhawk (1986 video game)

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Warhawk
Warhawk Coverart.png
Developer(s) Proteus Developments
Publisher(s) Firebird
Composer(s) Rob Hubbard
Platform(s) Commodore 64, [1] Atari 8-bit, [2] Amstrad CPC, [3] [4] Atari ST
Release1986
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Warhawk is a vertically scrolling shooter published in 1986 by Firebird software. It was released for the Commodore 64, [1] Atari 8-bit computers, [2] Amstrad CPC, [3] and Atari ST.

Contents

The 8-bit versions of the game were budget-priced releases on Firebird's "Silver 199" sub-label.

Gameplay

The player must dodge and destroy obstacles along a vertically scrolling screen. The end of each level has a large number of ships flying at the player from many angles. [5]

Reception

Computer and Video Games reviewed the Atari version which they compared to Uridium . They admired the asteroid graphics but thought those of the aliens were a little weak though "they swoop around fast enough to keep you on your toes". The game was awarded a 7/10 score. [6]

Commodore User praised the game's presentation, graphics and enemy AI which was considered to be superior to Uridium's. It was given an 8/10 overall score. [7]

Legacy

The following year, Proteus Developments developed Tanium, published by Players Software in 1988. The version for the Commodore 64 was declared to be Warhawk II on the title screen [8] and the link was mentioned in reviews, [9] but was not indicated in versions for other platforms.

A re-envisioning of the game was written for the Nintendo DS. [10] While not a complete remake of the original game, it retains the same graphical feel and gameplay mechanics as the original. This project also involved Michael Ware from the development team of the 1986 release. Warhawk was remade for the ZX Spectrum Next with a version coded by Michael Ware and Jim Bagley. [11] It received a physical release in spring 2020.

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References

  1. 1 2 Warhawk, gamespot.com. Article retrieved 2007-03-16
  2. 1 2 Warhawk, atarimania.com. Article retrieved 2007-03-16
  3. 1 2 Warhawk, cpczone.net. Article retrieved 2007-03-16
  4. ↑ Warhawk on www.c64-wiki.com
  5. ↑ Commodore 64 - Warhawk Page
  6. ↑ "CVG Magazine Issue 072". October 1987.
  7. ↑ "Commodore User (November 1986) Reviews - Amiga Magazine Rack".
  8. ↑ "Tanium Screenshots for Commodore 64". MobyGames. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  9. ↑ "Tanium Review - Zzap 64". www.zzap64.co.uk. May 1988. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  10. ↑ The Official Warhawk DS Page
  11. ↑ "Warhawk ZX Spectrum Next". www.spectrumnextgames.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
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