The official successor of Delta shoot 'em of up on the Commodore 64 set new standards of ‘shooting’. With its' beautiful and detailed graphics, great sound and a very good level of playability and innovative game developers Thalamus enabled the entire community of gamers with his sixth game, baptized in the name of Armalyte or Delta 2 work almost a marvel. Until the final expiry date of the glorious C 64 era, no other shooter more approached to this precious gem. The technical implementation of Armalyte is without any doubt could be called perfect in terms of how it looks coupled with the long-term motivation to keep playing. Although here the very distinctive nature of the predecessor is missing and the entire game design is much more oriented towards known shooters like R-type, Armalyte slightly lags behing the 'newer' models. The high level of difficulty and the somewhat monotonous feel in the exceptionally long levels that the designers are responsible for. But first a brief look at the storyline of the game so that you can do a comprehensive picture of Armalyte.

Since the fifty-year war between the piracy baron (in the manual of Delta, the alien race that was still around.) and alias Earth where as Delta known part of space Terra Empire 200 years now. The large group ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES, which seized power in itself was created in the confusion of the post-war period. Now the memories are at the war faded and resumed the old trade routes through the Delta sector. Five years ago, a patrol on an old research outpost stumbled on the ruins of which built their own ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES because of little existing resistance of the lightly armed research station. Four months ago a great breakthrough there employed AI scientists, contact became extinct but shortly thereafter. It is assumed that the station was occupied by enemy forces, what is further emphasised by the last delivery, according to which they had discovered a virtually unlimited source of energy. ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES decides to hire an independent force then go to the events in the Delta sector to the bottom. This also prevents the public from the military developments of the group learns what could damage its reputation.

And at this point the game starts. In the role of a mercenary it is now in the player's hand to clean the Delta sector from the excessive power of H and recover the collected research station. Equipped with the latest military developments of ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES you must venture alone or as a couple on the eight relatively long levels. The game seems rather to be set for 2 players, because the difficulty has been set so high that you will need to be very skilled to master this task alone and be a shoot em up enthusiast. Should you nevertheless venture alone on this difficult endeavour you get provided a free-floating and indestructible drone to the page as a replacement for the missing fire power of the second player after all. It imitates the movements of the space ship and is how the force, use in R-type as a shield. One moves towards the rear, the front is protected, controls you forward up or down, then covered the stern, the bottom or the top. Very innovative, but not quite easy to handle. With the space key you can decouple the ‘floating’ drone from the spacecraft and drift to a desired position through space. Very useful for the medium and final opponents in particular. Crystal-like space formations called munitions pods serve as power up ´s for Armalyte. It absorbs it, to become invulnerable for five seconds and can fly through even through all obstacles such as e.g. thick walls. One shells, you can get to additional armament. These must be rebuilt by the way, in each level. Life loss does not lose it however it and is allowed to proceed to exactly same place with the next extra ship. Depending on how much you shells the munitions pods, following power up ´s come to light:

Extra forward fire: extension of the main protected.
Tail fire: Additional guns
Vertical Cannon: Additional floors up and down.
Trident: Complement the main weapon to two more accompanying guns.
Converge: Redirect to forward the guns. The frontal offensive is even stronger. Required, however, two additional extensions of the main protected.
Battery: Additional energy cell for the use of the super weapon.

Despite this large number of extra weapons Armalyte spacecraft power is pretty limited even with full power and modest as essential. Solution ensures the super weapon which comes in three different variations and can be changed using the Commodore or the question mark button in the second player upon request. The three types are marked with the letters A, B or C and to the scoreboard. The generator must always only be fully charged for their efforts. The super weapon does the following:

Type A: A narrow but interfere all laser beam. Short recharge of the generator.
Type B: A wide laser Salve that at the same time protecting the spacecraft from all sides. Player secure choice for less. Medium recharge of the generator.
Type C: A strong laser beam. Long recharge of the generator.

After the game mechanics are now explained, I would like to focus somewhat with the technical and playful sides of Armalyte. As mentioned at the beginning of the programming team has Cyberdyne systems in this respect and given everything. The two only real negatives are in the really very strange explosions of downed spaceships, which still follow the theoretical and pre-programmed flight of the downed space ships. This can can cause confusion which is something to be avoided at this point, especially when you need the constant fire to quickly take out opponents. The second peculiarity consists in the choice of the star background before the game starts with the F3 key. There are three levels available. The first, the stars are on the spot what conveys a very static game play without foreground images and is therefore not to be recommended. The second, the stars fly along slowly and at the third quickly, what accordingly simulates a higher speed. Playful Armalyte provides a really solid space food, but one that is not very easy to swallow because the degree of difficulty is twice as hard already. Without real devotion and dogged determination to get to see the last boss and the end of Armalyte you probably never will. The game can appear quite de-motivating after a short time, because your just not making any headway. But players who love a real challenge and always seek new thrills they will love this game, albeit if they enjoy the constant frustration of dying pitifully. I for one have eventually abandoned it and seek cheat codes just to get to see the final credits. I hope you will forgive me. For the reason, that this game is virtually impossible to beat I can just 9.5 points, but it should technically be considered a ten.


Armalyte Description: In the Delta region of space, the remnants of a long forgotten war remain - far beyond what those in the Terran system were used to. This technology is potentially valuable, but retrieving it from the 8 sectors will involve a lot of blasting and dodging.

Viewed from the side and scrolling horizontally, the game is in a similar vein to R-Type and Life Force / Salamander. Extra weapons are gained by shooting crystals and then collecting the resultant pod. Weapons on offer including lasers firing vertically and outwardly, as well as faster weaponry recharging.