ZYBEX 25D Commodore 64 game

Zybex, a one or two-player horizontally scrolling shooter, thrusts players into the roles of Cassalana and Rinser, fugitives desperate to evade the death penalty. Their mission: to secure the elusive Zybex crystal, the key to their amnesty.

Spanning 16 immersive worlds, gamers must collect teleport crystals at each world's core to unlock subsequent levels. The coveted Zybex crystal remains shrouded in mystery at the final world's end.

The adventure commences on Arcturus, the initial world. Post-conquest, players can tackle the next eleven worlds. Alien clusters emerge as obstacles, quelled only by five distinct weapon types: Bullet gun, Eight-way, Pulse, Wall, and Rail, each boasting four escalating power levels. Unceasing firepower reigns, with weapon selection at the press of a button. Additional lives accrue every 10,000 points or by seizing a floating suit.

The game's designers have expertly balanced its difficulty, offering a tantalizing blend of challenge and compulsion. The result is sheer addictiveness. Zybex dazzles with its top-tier graphics, parallax-scrolling starfields, intricate backdrops, and vividly animated sprites. Player customization even extends to choosing your character's color.

Zybex, Zeppelin's budget debut, delivers intense two-player shooting action, setting new standards in the budget shoot 'em up genre. Its surreal graphics feature meticulously crafted backgrounds, a kaleidoscope of colors, and nuanced shading, evoking a professional touch. The game serves up relentless shooting action, featuring four distinct weapons to collect (the most potent isn't always the best, a clever twist), and an abundance of levels that beckon players for more. At its price point, it's an absolute steal.

In the fiercely competitive budget gaming arena, Zeppelin Games stands tall, supplying Mastertronic and Codemasters with their latest creations.

Their Q4 gem, "Zygnoid," stands as a formidable addition to their portfolio.

Zygnoid unabashedly draws inspiration from classics like Gradius. This horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up gradually intensifies the challenge while granting players the power to upgrade their ship's armament.

Gameplay adheres to the familiar formula of collecting power-ups and weapons while confronting ever-more menacing adversaries. The pacing occasionally wavers, but it's a minor quibble in the grand scheme.

Yet Zygnoid compensates with a unique asset: a two-player mode. You and a comrade can tackle the trials together. Strategic options are constrained, echoing Gauntlet's cooperative gameplay, where you can warn each other of impending threats from various angles.

Though its storyline won't win awards for originality, it serves its purpose. Players embody Rinse and Cassalsine, rebels condemned to roam the cosmos, battling extraterrestrials and uncovering uncharted realms.

To break free from this narrative monotony, they must dispel the "death curses" plaguing them. This requires breaching the defenses of planetary systems and securing a Zybex crystal from each. The zenith awaits in obtaining the mighty ZybeM crystal – the ticket to freedom. Rinse and Cassalsine can finally savor carefree moments at the local pub.

A standout feature of Zygnoid is its two-player mode. You and a friend can join forces on one screen, strategizing against the alien onslaught, a refreshing twist from the solitary survival norm in most shoot 'em ups.