Gyruss
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Description 

Originally, this space shooter was a pretty successful video game. You have to shoot all the ships you encounter on your way to the next planet. Furthermore, you have to avoid space debris, meteorites (which can even appear unexpectedly at the end of a level) and enemy ships that leave their formation. Your own ship is flying towards the centre of the screen and can be moved around in a circle. 

Every level is sub-divided into two stages: 
 Firstly, all enemy ships enter the screen and assemble at the centre of the screen. 
 After all ships which haven't been shot in stage 1 have entered the screen, they move in a circle around the centre towards the outside. Especially shooting satellites results in extra score and a double shoot weapon upgrade. 

After the completion of a level, you warp to the next level. A counter tells you how many warps you still need to reach the next planet. A so-called 'chance stage' starts, a bonus level in which you can't die, but collect score by eliminating enemy formations as completely as possible. If you have completed Earth (level 24), the game is restarted at level 1 again. 

 Design 

The three-dimensional effect is supported by an animated starfield background. If you consider the early release date, the whole animation such as the warp or the explosions look pretty good. The FX are not bad either. 

The lively ingame music was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach. During the bonus level that music is replaced by a drum solo. 

 Hints 

F1 Start game with 5 lives 
F5 1 / 2 Players 

Bonus lives at 60,000 140,000 220,000 points. 

Score: 
 stationary space ships: 50 
 moving space ships: 100 
 satellites: 1,000 + 
 squadron bonus: 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 etc. 

Bonus level 
 100 for each destroyed ship 
 10,000 for a 'perfect' performance, i.e. destruction of all enemy sprites

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Description from the packaging:

Number of players: 1 or 2.
For use with: Atari 400, 800 Home Computers.
Joystick required.
From the far reaches of Neptune, to the safe haven of Earth- battle your way across the Universe in this exciting adventure based on the popular arcade game.
Suspense builds with every beat of thrilling and dramatic music- perhaps unlike any video game music you've ever heard before! To these compelling strains, you'll fend off unremitting waves of spiraling, swirling, alien ships. Piloting your spacecraft is a circular flight pattern, blast these fiendish intruders with your rapid-fire lasers- before they vaporize you. And watch out for killer meteors and deadly satellites along the way!
Reach one planet and you'll have just enough time to catch your breath for the next- and more difficult- wave of enemy attacks that separate you from eventually reaching the sanctuary of Earth!


http://www.c64-wiki.com/index.php/Gyruss
