Hades Nebula

Hades Nebula is a 1987 vertically scrolling shooter for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Atari ST by Paranoid Software and published by Nexus Productions. The player controls an upgradable fighter that must battle its way through thousands of enemy ships before it confronts the final boss, Emperor Hades. There are fifteen levels.

Hades Nebula
C64 box cover
Developer(s)Paranoid Software
Publisher(s)Nexus Productions
Platform(s)Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release30 April 1987 (C64), 21 May 1987 (Atari ST/Spectrum)[1]
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot

Enemies are face-like ships or bug-like ships that materialise at certain points in the game. Upon appearance they immediately seek out the player's ship and collide with it unless evasive action is taken. Also, every one or two levels or so, 'mother ship' bosses are encountered that take a considerable amount of bullet dodging and incisive shots to destroy.

There are two sound options while playing the game; either sound effects or the musical soundtrack by Ben Daglish. The latter is the default mode, and changes depending on whether you are fighting a boss or charging through a level.

Development

Hades Nebula was developed by Paranoid Software: Darren Melbourne, Mark Greenshields and Ned Langman.[2] Ben Daglish provided the music for the Commodore 64 version, while John Brozovski made the sound effects for the Atari ST.[1]

Reception

A review of the Commodore 64 version in Zzap!64 criticized the game's immense difficulty, citing the unwieldy ship as the primary factor. Although the graphics and presentation were considered well done, the game was considered unplayable, receiving a rating of 55% from the magazine.[8] A review of the ZX Spectrum version in Your Sinclair described it as "another standard shoot-em-up", giving it a 7 out of 10 rating.[7]

References
  1. "Screen Seen". Computer and Video Games. No. 68. June 1987. p. 117.
  2. Hewison, Richard (10 June 2021). "From The Archives: Nexus Productions". Retro Gamer. No. 222. Future plc. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. "Reviews". Crash. No. 43. August 1987. p. 32.
  4. Metcalfe, Tim (August 1987). "Reviews". Computer and Video Games. No. 70. p. 36.
  5. "Reviews". Computer and Video Games. No. 72. October 1987. pp. 84–85.
  6. Howard, Tamara (August 1987). "Arcade Review". Sinclair User. No. 65. p. 78.
  7. "Your Sinclar review : Hades Nebula", Your Sinclair, 1987
  8. "Zzap! Test: Hades Nebula", Zzap!64, p. 96, Aug 1987
  9. "Hades Nebula, Nexus". ST Action. Vol. 1, no. 1. May 1988. p. 18.
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