Llamatron

Llamatron is a computer game written by Jeff Minter of Llamasoft for the Amiga, Atari ST and PC (DOS). It is a clone of the 1980s arcade game in Jeff Minter's distinctive style. The player controls a llama which can move on a single-screen playfield. The llama constantly fires a stream of white energy bolts in the direction it is moving. The player can 'hold' the fire direction, so that the llama can move freely whilst firing in a direction. A large flock of enemies attempt to attack the llama, and must all be destroyed in order to end the wave (level) and progress to the next wave. Contact with any enemy causes instant death. The player's secondary goal is to save the various ruminants (referred to as 'beasties') that wander each level, by collecting them into a docile herd. This is not necessary except on certain special waves called Herd Waves, but saving all the beasties before the end of a wave gives a point bonus. When a beastie is saved, the player momentarily gains 'hard bullets' - highly penetrating orange bolts that can tear through flocks of enemies. As well as the main flock of 'normal' enemies, there can also be any number of other 'special' enemies and hazards on a level, including:
  • Green 'hedgehogs' with white spikes that are more resilient than normal enemies. When destroyed, they explode into four diagonally-moving spikes.
  • Blue 'Brains' that turn the beasties into green 'Zombeasts', which then advance on the llama, firing some kind of homing projectile.
  • Pulsating purple-yellow blobs that split into smaller and smaller blobs when shot.
  • Laser guns that float freely throughout the level. They come in two types - horizontal or vertical - and periodically fire a deadly laser beam across the full width or height of the screen, instantly obliterating the llama if it is lined up with the laser gun at the wrong time. On later levels, there can be both horizontal and vertical lasers in a single level, which fire simultaneously.
  • Blue raindrops that fall diagonally through the level. To stop them, a number of umbrellas must be erected in the level, but the player has to catch them first.
  • A large sixteen-ton weight that hovers at the top of the level and attempts to crush the llama when it passes underneath.
The player can collect various bonus items which give extra lives, weapon improvements, smart bombs, and so on. Like most of Jeff Minter's games, the graphics and sounds are rather psychedelic, with bright colours, strobing flashes and bizarre audio effects.

 

<< PreviousWord BrowserNext >>
timmy mallett
it's my life
s ic
g4 (television)
telesto
the colour of spring
telesto (mythology)
s ii
living wage
wtvt
h&r block
carme
lysithea
tauromachy
henri rousseau
spirit of eden
reginald edward manningham buller, 1st viscount dilhorne
natural history (album)
magistrate's court
marine le pen
aglon
lothlann
exponential tree
charro
prior art
maglor's gap
himring
giles corey
lou piniella
umbriel
himlad
pacific coast hockey association
aldburg
candour
edgar martinez
folde
list of lieutenant governors of california
cedar river (iowa)
british 6th infantry division
office depot
the great gig in the sky (band)
hemotoxin
maria imelda marcos
generator (computer science)