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Datastorm

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Datastorm
Developer(s)Visionary Design Technologies
Publisher(s)Visionary Design Technologies
Programmer(s)Søren Grønbech
Composer(s)Timm Engels
Platform(s)Amiga
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Datastorm is a Template:Vgy scrolling shooter video game for the Amiga home computer. It is similar to the arcade game, Defender. Written by Søren Grønbech, it was inspired by Dropzone for the Commodore 64. As such, the exact gameplay deviates from Defender in that the task on each level is to carry the 8 pods through a portal, with points on completing a level for each one saved. The amount of points increases for each level: on levels 5, 9, 13 and so on, the player gets a new set of eight and the scoring resets.

Like Grønbech's Sword of Sodan, it made full use of the Amiga's hardware at a time when most games were direct ports from the Atari ST; the number of sprites moving smoothly around the screen is noteworthy. Some, including the Datastorm itself, cover almost the entire length of the screen.

Gameplay

Trivia

  • Pressing F10 during play displays a hidden message or Easter Egg from the author.
  • Destroying all eight pods unleashes four waves of tougher enemies. Destruction of all four waves reverts the game back to normal, but allows collection of extra powerups, and increased points.
  • DataStorm is an infamous member of LemonPunch, a Garry's Mod Half-Life 2 Roleplaying community. He has been permanently banned multiple times and then unbanned, thus creating his legacy.

Development

Reception

References