Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Intellivision
- Developers: Cheshire Engineering
- Publishers: Activision, Digiplay
The Dreadnaught Factor (1983): A Classic Space Combat Game
The Dreadnaught Factor is a space combat game released in 1983 for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, and ZX Spectrum. The game was developed by CRL Group and published by Cinemaware.
The player takes control of a Stargate, a powerful space station, and must defend it from waves of enemy Dreadnaughts. The Dreadnaughts are large, heavily armored ships that are armed with a variety of weapons. The player must use the Stargate’s weapons and shields to defeat the Dreadnaughts and protect the space station.
The Dreadnaught Factor is a challenging game that requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The player must constantly monitor the battlefield and make quick decisions in order to survive. The game also features a variety of power-ups that can help the player defeat the Dreadnaughts, such as improved shields, weapons, and speed.
The Dreadnaught Factor was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics. The game was also a pioneer in the use of cinematic cutscenes, which helped to create a more immersive experience for the player.
Gameplay
The Dreadnaught Factor is a top-down space combat game. The player controls a Stargate, a powerful space station, and must defend it from waves of enemy Dreadnaughts. The Dreadnaughts are large, heavily armored ships that are armed with a variety of weapons. The player must use the Stargate’s weapons and shields to defeat the Dreadnaughts and protect the space station.
The player’s Stargate is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player can also use the Stargate’s shields to protect it from enemy fire. The player must carefully manage the Stargate’s energy reserves in order to keep its weapons and shields powered.
The Dreadnaughts are armed with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The Dreadnaughts are also protected by shields. The player must use a variety of tactics to defeat the Dreadnaughts, such as using the Stargate’s superior speed to outmaneuver them, or using the Stargate’s powerful weapons to overwhelm their shields.
The Dreadnaught Factor features a variety of power-ups that can help the player defeat the Dreadnaughts. These power-ups include improved shields, weapons, and speed. The player can collect power-ups by destroying enemy ships or by finding them hidden in the environment.
Development
The Dreadnaught Factor was developed by CRL Group, a small development team based in the United Kingdom. The game was designed by Chris Roberts, who would later go on to create the Wing Commander series.
The Dreadnaught Factor was one of the first games to use cinematic cutscenes. These cutscenes helped to create a more immersive experience for the player and set a new standard for space combat games.
Release
The Dreadnaught Factor was released in 1983 for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, and ZX Spectrum. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish CRL Group as a leading developer of space combat games.
Legacy
The Dreadnaught Factor is considered to be one of the classic space combat games of all time. The game’s innovative gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics helped to set a new standard for the genre. The game also pioneered the use of cinematic cutscenes, which helped to create a more immersive experience for the player.
The Dreadnaught Factor has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the Amiga, MS-DOS, and Windows. The game is still available for purchase on digital distribution platforms such as Steam and GOG.com.
Conclusion
The Dreadnaught Factor is a classic space combat game that still holds up today. Its simple but addictive gameplay and challenging difficulty make it a must-play for fans of the genre. The game’s impressive graphics and use of cinematic cutscenes also help to create a more immersive experience for the player. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding space combat game, then The Dreadnaught Factor is definitely worth checking out.
Review Score
7/10
