Thrax Lair is a vertically scrolling shooter designed by Randy Turner and published by Rantom Software[1] in 1982 for Atari 8-bit computers.[2] The game is similar in concept to Caverns of Mars from 1981.[3] A version of Thrax Lair for the Commodore 64 was planned, but never released.[4]
| Thrax Lair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher(s) | Rantom Software |
| Designer(s) | Randy Turner |
| Platform(s) | Atari 8-bit |
| Release | 1982 |
| Genre(s) | Scrolling shooter |
Gameplay edit
Viewed from a top-down perspective, the player controls a pterodactyl like creature on a raid into an underground lair of the insects. The player can fire energy bursts in the front, left and right, and the diagonal front directions. Points are scored by shooting enemies and the faster the player flies the more points are earned.
Reception edit
Norman Schreiber reviewed Thrax Lair for Electronic Fun with Computers & Games magazine, and he gave it a 2 out of 5 rating. He concluded: "Thrax Lair certainly is a logical idea for a game. The tragedy is that it's only slightly better than boring."[5]
Bill Kunkel wrote in the July 1983 issue of Electronic Games: "With a collection of fantastic sound effects and first rate, if spare, graphics, Thrax Lair makes for an extremely compelling action challenge".[3] He compared the vertically scrolling gameplay to Caverns of Mars. The 1984 Software Encyclopedia from Electronic Games called Thrax Lair "exciting if ultimately repetitive."[6]
References edit
- ^ "Thrax Lair Manual". archive.org.
- ^ "Thrax Lair". Atari Mania.
- ^ a b Kunkel, Bill (July 1983). "Computer Gaming: Thrax Lair". Electronic Games: 72, 74.
- ^ "Computer Gaming World Thrax Lair Ad". January 1983.
- ^ "Electronic Fun with Computer & Games - Vol 01 No 09 (1983-07)". July 1983.
- ^ 1984 Software Encyclopedia. Electronic Games. 1984. p. 58.
External links edit
- Thrax Lair at MobyGames
- Thrax Lair can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive