Game Review: Space Walk (MSX, Mastertronic)

After the two versions of Space Walk for the Commodore 64, the game also saw versions on both the ZX Spectrum and the MSX.  This conversion is thankfully based on the second version released for the Commodore 64, which in theory should mean a playable game. Reassuring, the instructions mention the sixteen levels of ice cold with low pressure, and also mentions how you as the astronaut need to watch out for the satellites, retrieve them and then carry it back to the launch pad where the shuttle is. All of this, of course, while you avoid the asteroids, alien cosmonauts, robo-destructors, lunar pods and robots.  The fact it mentions fire to hold the satellite and fire the laser immediately does seem reassuring.

Small and Nicely Formed

The game also loads relatively quickly, with no loading screen needed. Having tested it, it also does work on MSX machines with 32KB of RAM as well as 64KB, so that is something useful for those machines with lower memory. It does go straight into the action so if you are not ready, this does mean that you would end up losing a life or two whilst the game action unfolds in front of you. Maybe having a simple option of pressing fire to continue may have sufficed, but the original release also did have this same problem, so in some respects, it is a faithful conversion.

As per the Commodore 64 version, if the satellite crashes on the surface of the planet, which at least is relatively flat here and next to the space shuttle – that is immediately game over, no matter how many lives that you have left. There are plenty of different enemies to shoot along the way which includes planets, astronauts and later also other spaceships, rockets and what supposedly is the robot actually looks more like a pair of pliers, which again is faithful to the original version in terms of definition.

Ground Control to Major Tom

As you start off, your astronaut is well defined, and the satellite comes down from the top left of the screen. You need to steer well clear of any enemies or shoot them, but note only one laser can be fired on screen and you have to wait for it to hit an enemy or go off screen before you can shoot another one. Once you get close to the satellite itself, holding down the fire button (or space if on keyboard, using the cursor keys to move) means that you are able to carry the satellite with you, and this does mean automatic fire too. However, this is a sensible design decision which means that you can at least keep hold of the satellite and guide it properly.

To land it on this version, line up with the middle rear of the shuttle and gently lower down. A sound effect will play if you do, and the screen’s mountain range flashes to indicate the next level. You will need to do the same, but the patterns of different enemies change. For example, in one later level the planets come down from above towards you and are best avoided, and in another, more enemy astronauts make their appearance, becoming quite hard to hit accurately and need some careful firepower, or even a momentary release of the button and satellite to get yourself in range before grabbing it once again.

Lost in Space

The satellite does not drop too quickly, which does mean that with the thrust upwards, and careful steering, you can get to it easily before it hits the ground. Once you get it, the controls are fair and responsive, with one small but slightly annoying caveat. If you shoot one of the enemies, there is aa graphic showing an explosion. However, if you walk into that explosion, you are deemed to have hit the enemy and lose one of your three lives. I did think this was unfair and it may be because the explosion, like the other characters, are sprites, and the game is just checking for collisions without realising what sort of collision it is.

Progression does happen once you get to learn the different enemies and layouts of each level and after a few plays I was getting to around the ninth level of the sixteen. I definitely think with more practice and skill, I could complete all sixteen levels, but the difficulty curve at least is fair and does mean you need to have your wits about you. An extra life after reaching a certain score may have helped, and possibly slightly different level layouts in terms of the backgrounds too, but at least what is there does at least work.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Space Walk are pleasant enough, with some well-defined sprites for your astronaut and all alien craft and enemies, especially the other astronauts roaming around. The backdrops have a static starfield with the mountain range and ground below simply defined, along with the shuttle. They do their purpose fine. The sound effects are relatively standard blasting fare, although there is a weird and fun sound effect when you do complete a level, along with the graphical effects of the stripes happening too. It is perhaps not the best but it certainly at least does the job.

Final Thoughts

Space Walk on the MSX is an admirable conversion of the better Commodore 64 version of the game, and despite being the same in terms of the look and feel, scores that little bit higher in terms of playability. The controls are responsive, with good use of the cursor keys and space if you do not have a joystick, and this means that getting out of a tight spot intact, even with thrusting up and out, does work well. The fact you can hang on to the satellite with holding down the fire button or space bar means that you have some level of control. The only minor niggle for me is that you can walk into an explosion and lose a life, which does seem a little unfair. Put that aside and work with it, and you will be rewarded with a limited but solid and playable little game, that also works on lower end MSX models with 32KB of RAM.

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