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Skyfox

Skyfox
Developer(s) Dynamix
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts, Ariolasoft
Producer(s) Stewart J. Bonn
Designer(s) Ray Tobey, Kelley
Lead Programmer(s) Ray Tobey
Lead Artist(s) Ray Tobey, Kelley
Composer(s) Douglas Fulton
Platform(s) Apple II, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST, PC-88
Release(s) 1984: Apple II
1985: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Macintosh
1986: Amiga and Atari ST
1988: PC-88
Genre(s) Action, simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

Skyfox is a futuristic sci-fi action computer game developed by Ray Tobey for the Apple II,[1] and it was published by Electronic Arts in 1984. Ariolasoft published the game in Europe. It was released for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Macintosh in 1985, to the Amiga and Atari ST in 1986, and to the PC-88 in 1988. Dynamix handled the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh versions of the game.

The game was followed up in 1987 with Skyfox II: The Cygnus Conflict, developed by Dynamix without Tobey's involvement.

Story

Aliens have invaded your beloved homeland, and you must help save it. You are flying the Skyfox, the most advanced attack fighter plane available to the Federation, from within the cockpit.

Gameplay

The player pilots the Skyfox, the most advanced attack fighter plane. It is equipped with laser cannons, five radar guided missiles, five heat-seeking missiles, and deflection shields. The plane can also move at a top speed of Mach IV. With fifteen scenarios to complete and a choice of five skill levels, the gameplay consists of finding and destroying enemy tanks, planes and motherships.

The radar is used to locate enemy vehicles, and the long-range scanner is used to ensure that no wave reaches the base before they can take it out. Using fuel and deflection shields can deplete, and they can be recharged by docking at the base.

Credits

Staff Roll

  • Graphic Art and Design: Ray Tobey, Kelley
  • Programming: Ray Tobey
  • Producer: Stewart J. Bonn
  • Reference Card Design: William James Gin
  • Skyfox Theme Song: Douglas Fulton
  • NEC PC-8801 Version: MISI Co. Ltd.

Package Design

  • Comic Strip Script: William Timothy Mantlo
  • Comic Strip Art: Butch Guice
  • Skyfox Logo: Rick Parker

Version Differences

Reception

Skyfox on the Apple II received perfect scores from French magazines TeleMatch and Tilt,[2][3][4] declaring it as the best tactical simulation game for the system.

Zzap! gave the Commodore 64 version of Skyfox a high score of 91%, calling the game "very well thought out and extremely well finished."[5] Info rated Skyfox for the Commodore 64 three-plus stars out of five, praising the graphics but stating that "the gamester finds a much less involving product lying below the surface glitz ... Good run for a few hours".[6] Skyfox was Electronic Arts' best-selling Commodore 64 game as of late 1987.[7] Its sales had surpassed 250,000 copies by November 1989.[8]

Compute! called the Amiga version a game that required "both forethought and quick reflexes ... one of the best available for the Amiga". It concluded that "the designers and programmers have outdone themselves in exploiting the Amiga's powerful features ... a simulation which rivals the best computer games available in any medium".[9] Popular Computing Weekly felt the game didn't quite take full advantage of the Amiga, giving it a 70% while concluding that the port was "as good as you can get over here at the moment."[10] German magazine Aktueller Software Markt shared a similar sentiment, rating the game a 78%. [11]

The ZX Spectrum port was scored a 9 out of 10 by Your Sinclair, enjoying the gameplay and smooth graphics despite only having color for the scanners.[12][13] Crash! Magazine gave an overall score of 84%, calling the title "A pretty hot action flight simulator."[14]

In a 1994 survey of wargames Computer Gaming World gave Skyfox one-plus stars out of five.[15]

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Dadgum, the Giant List of Classic Game Programmers
  2. ↑ Kult Power, TeleMatch, pg. 76-77, Nov. 1984
  3. ↑ Abandonware Magazines, Tilt, Issue #18, pg. 24, Jan.-Feb. 1985
  4. ↑ Abandonware Magazines, Tilt, Issue #18, pg. 25, Jan.-Feb. 1985
  5. ↑ Internet Archive, Zzap! Magazine, pg. 40-41, Sept. 1985
  6. ↑ Internet Archive, Info, Dec. 1985, pg. 4-5, 88-93
  7. ↑ Internet Archive, Compute's Gazette, pg. 18-22, Dec. 1987
  8. ↑ Staff (November 1989). "Chart-Busters; SPA Platinum". Game Players (5): 112
  9. ↑ Internet Archive, Compute!, pg. 62, Jun. 1986
  10. ↑ Internet Archive, Popular Computing Weekly, pg. 15, Jul. 10, 1986
  11. ↑ Internet Archive, Aktueller Software Markt, pg. 31, Sept. 1986
  12. ↑ Internet Archive, Your Sinclair, Issue #4, pg. 59, Apr. 1986
  13. ↑ Wayback Machine, The Your Sinclair Rock n' Roll Years, Your Sinclair, Issue #4, pg. 59, Apr. 1986
  14. ↑ Internet Archive, Crash! Magazine, Issue #27, pg. 29, Apr. 1986
  15. ↑ Computer Gaming World, pg. 194-212, Jan. 1994