Tomcat
BBC/Electron cassette cover
Developer(s)Nigel Speight (Amstrad),[1]

Adam Polanski (BBC/Electron),[2] Darron M Broad (C16, Plus/4),[3] Ian Denny (C64),[4]

Steve Burrows (Spectrum)[5]
Publisher(s)Players Software
Platform(s)Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 16 / Plus/4, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1989
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Tomcat (also known as F14 Tomcat [2][5][6]) is a video game published in 1989 in the UK by Players Software.[7] The game was released on the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum[5] as a budget title.[8][9] It was also on a Your Sinclair magazine cover tape.[10][11] Tomcat is a vertically scrolling shooter in which the player takes control of an F14 Tomcat fighter aircraft, shooting at both air and ground targets whilst flying over four levels.[12]

Plot

ZX Spectrum screenshot

The game is set in the future, some time after the first half of the 21st century. Materials science has progressed such that human civilisation has found a way to cheaply build many artificial islands. The game is set on one such island, called ARTROCK 6 which is a completely automated defence installation. Due to a freak storm damaging the controlling software, the island has turned against its own side and has started attacking local shipping. The player's task is to fly in and completely destroy the rogue island.[2][6]

Reception

Reviews are generally negative, citing a slow running speed, an overly high difficulty level and a lack of originality. Reviewers independently agree that the game has a major flaw in that the enemy bullets are incredibly difficult to see, being the same colour as the background graphics in many versions. The game has also been criticised for having a weak aeroplane theme as it is simply a fixed-speed vertical scroller which could just as easily have a spaceship or any such sprite in its place.

The game scored 24% in Crash magazine.[8][9][13][14][15]

References

  1. ↑ Jennings, Malc. "Tomcat by Players for the Amstrad CPC/GX 4000". CPC Zone. Retrieved 2010-10-12. At address 93F6 poke A7 for infinite lives - submitted by Malc (CPC Zone Staff)
  2. 1 2 3 "BBC/Electron cassette inlay". TOMCAT. Players. 1989. F14 TOMCAT from Players places you in the cockpit of a specially adapted version of this devastating aircraft.
  3. ↑ Broad, Darron M (1989). "tomcat". Players. Retrieved 2010-10-12. this version coded by darron m broad.
  4. ↑ Lemon, Kim. "Tomcat". www.lemon64.com. Retrieved 2010-10-12. Tomcat 1989, Players Software
  5. 1 2 3 van der Heide, Martijn. "Tomcat". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2010-10-12. This title was also advertised for and/or published on the Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64 and Commodore Plus/4
  6. 1 2 "F14 TOMCAT SPECTRUM LOADING INSTRUCTIONS". Players. Retrieved 2010-10-16. F14 TOMCAT from players places you in the cockpit of a specially adapted version of this devastating aircraft.
  7. ↑ "Tomcat for Commodore 64". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2010-10-12. Publisher: Players, Software Genre: Shoot-'Em-Up, Release Date: 1989
  8. 1 2 "BUDGET BUREAU". Crash (issue 61 page 67). Retrieved 2010-10-12. Only marginally better is Tomcat (24%) from Players.
  9. 1 2 "BARGAIN BASEMENT". Your Sinclair (issue 39 page 40). Retrieved 2010-10-12. Try as I might, I could get nowhere on this blasted game
  10. ↑ "Tomcat". Your Sinclair (issue 37 page 21). Retrieved 2010-10-12. Your Sinclair brings the high octane thrills to your trusty Speccy.
  11. ↑ "TOMCAT". Your Sinclair (issue 37 page 153). Retrieved 2010-10-12. Tomcat is another wing-dinging, zapp-kapowing, shoot 'em up
  12. ↑ "CPC GAME REVIEWS - T". www.cpcgamereviews.com. Retrieved 2010-10-12. A vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up which sees you flying a fighter jet over four levels, shooting targets in the air and on the ground.
  13. ↑ Douglas, Jim. "TOMCAT". Sinclair User (issue 84 page 45). Retrieved 2010-10-12. First appearances imply that Tomcat is a rather special vertical shoot-out.
  14. ↑ Davies, Jonathan. "The Cheapo Side of Things". Your Sinclair (issue 58 page 30). Retrieved 2010-10-12. The aeroplane theme is a bit weak too, as you could easily replace it with a spaceship or something and not notice the difference.
  15. ↑ "Ready64, Dedicato al Commodore 64 - Tomcat" (in Italian). ready64.it. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-10-12. Un v-shooter più giocabile della media del suo genere, ma realizzato con poca cura e graficamente irrilevante..
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