335:. However, the circuits have been removed by the invading aliens and distributed around the starship. The main objective of the game is to collect the correct circuits and return them to their respective locations before the starship reaches its destination. The circuits are variously shaped as cubes, pyramids, domes or cylinders.
342:
rooms (which trace the outline of a large starship). There are a total of 129 rooms and most are filled with various objects, such as moveable platforms, static hazards such as spikes and hostile aliens. As well as executing well-timed manoeuvres and jumps, the player is able to use starship props to
286:
The ship is launched towards a new solar system and Alien 8 performs his task for thousands of years during the journey. However, as the ship nears its destination, it is attacked and boarded by hostile aliens. The cryogenic life support systems were damaged during the attack and Alien 8 must restore
34:
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praised the new additions to the game, in particular the time limit and various collectable items. The reviewer wrote that the new features were "compelling and exciting", as it differs from its predecessor. A reviewer of
296:
551:. Kelly praised the game's extra puzzles and the animation of enemies, heralding them as "brilliant". Bourne similarly praised the 3D animation, writing that every extension of the game improved over
510:
praised its graphics and presentation, stating them to be "excellent" and more "imaginative and pleasing" compared to its predecessor, despite regarding it as "only having a slight difference".
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On a dying planet in a distant galaxy, the last of the creatures known as the "guardians" stored all of their libraries, records, and knowledge on a single starship together with
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267:. The game was critically acclaimed upon release. Reviewers praised the game's graphics and innovation, while minor criticism was directed at its similarities to
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members of their race. A single robot, Alien 8, is tasked with keeping the occupants of the vessel alive for the duration of its journey.
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home computers. However, the
Amstrad release exclusively displayed dual-colours. In 2019 an unofficial Commodore port was released.
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similarly praised the graphics, citing them as "amazing", "brilliant" and having "great" colour combinations. A reviewer of
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similarly praised its innovation, stating that it has "wonderfully" original ideas, despite criticising it similarities to
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stated that the general quality of graphics were "higher" than its predecessor, although it used an identical system.
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them to an operational status before the ship's automatic thrusting systems manoeuvre it into planetary orbit.
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stated that the visuals were "breathtakingly stunning" and improves on its predecessor. David Kelly of
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As with its spiritual predecessor, the environment of the game takes the form of a series of isometric
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entered the Gallup Top 30 sales chart at number one for the week ending 19 February 1985, replacing
240:. In the game, the player takes control of a robot, Alien 8, whose job is to ensure that all of the
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technology in other games. As with its predecessor, the
Stamper brothers developed the game in
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preserving the biological crew are re-activated. The core of this system is a series of
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The game was written by Chris
Stamper, and graphics were designed by Tim Stamper.
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drones, which can be directed by Alien 8 into inaccessible or dangerous areas.
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frozen passengers on board a starship remain viable during the ship's voyage.
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971:. No. 105. Argus Specialist Publications. 19 March 1985. p. 42
945:. No. 103. Argus Specialist Publications. 12 March 1985. p. 43
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stated the game was a "little" disappointing due to its similarities to
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919:. No. 102. Argus Specialist Publications. 5 March 1985. p. 51
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game engine. As with its spiritual predecessor, the game is rendered
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after 13 weeks. After a second week at the top, it was replaced by
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The game was critically acclaimed upon release. A reviewer of
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block or defend themselves. Another feature is the use of
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Game review, C+VG magazine, issue 42, April 1985, page 84
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the starship is from its destination (ZX Spectrum).
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1422:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
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648:"The Ultimate Hero: A History of Sabreman"
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1407:Video games about extraterrestrial life
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359:began immediately after the release of
623:from the original on 24 September 2006
236:, which was lauded by critics for its
206:video game developed and published by
7:
965:"Top 20 Software Compiled By Gallup"
939:"Top 20 Software Compiled By Gallup"
913:"Top 20 Software Compiled By Gallup"
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752:
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571:The game was first released for the
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1412:Video games with isometric graphics
663:: 24–28. March 2009. Archived from
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1387:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games
14:
871:(1). Future plc: 55. October 1985
759:Kelly, David (21 February 1985).
85:
863:"Alien 8 and Knight Lore review"
299:The interface displays how many
893:, issue 15, April 1985, page 16
731:. Sinclair User. Archived from
1:
889:Game review, Crash magazine,
379:to avoid visual overlay and
315:. Taking on the role of the
307:The game is presented in an
1402:Science fiction video games
791:"Games Index – Knight Lore"
703:. Future plc. 15 April 1985
697:"Alien 8 review - Crash 15"
1443:
1005:at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
613:"Looking For An Old Angle"
311:format and set on board a
210:. It was released for the
1427:Single-player video games
458:
455:
407:
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799:(1): 102. November 1985.
765:Popular Computing Weekly
617:Crash Magazine, Issue 51
524:Popular Computing Weekly
584:The Amstrad version of
281:cryogenically preserved
226:in 1985. The game is a
1066:Ultimate Play the Game
891:Newsfield Publications
824:(1): 26. November 1985
304:
208:Ultimate Play the Game
62:Ultimate Play the Game
969:Home Computing Weekly
943:Home Computing Weekly
917:Home Computing Weekly
298:
50:Tim and Chris Stamper
1397:Rare (company) games
1155:The Staff of Karnath
588:was not released in
325:life support systems
265:isometric projection
230:to the best-selling
452:
401:
228:spiritual successor
997:at Ultimate Wurlde
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238:isometric graphics
1417:ZX Spectrum games
1382:Amstrad CPC games
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670:on 4 October 2015
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345:remote controlled
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1377:1985 video games
1339:Stamper brothers
1312:Jetpac Refuelled
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816:"Alien 8 review"
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761:"Alien 8 review"
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735:on 24 March 2013
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204:action-adventure
180:Action-adventure
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844:"Alien 8 V1.20"
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868:Amstrad Action
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619:. Newsfield.
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242:cryogenically
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1109:Lunar Jetman
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973:. Retrieved
968:
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947:. Retrieved
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921:. Retrieved
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873:. Retrieved
866:
838:
826:. Retrieved
819:
794:
785:
773:. Retrieved
768:
764:
737:. Retrieved
733:the original
705:. Retrieved
700:
672:. Retrieved
665:the original
654:
625:. Retrieved
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57:Publisher(s)
45:Developer(s)
18:
1355:Rare Replay
1282:Other games
1265:Martianoids
1148:Knight Lore
1141:Underwurlde
656:Retro Gamer
573:ZX Spectrum
553:Knight Lore
549:Knight Lore
528:Knight Lore
469:Crash Smash
456:Publication
405:Publication
367:Knight Lore
362:Knight Lore
351:Development
340:flip-screen
301:light years
269:Knight Lore
257:Knight Lore
233:Knight Lore
220:Amstrad CPC
212:ZX Spectrum
142:Amstrad CPC
114:ZX Spectrum
98:Amstrad CPC
88:ZX Spectrum
81:Platform(s)
1371:Categories
1304:Sabre Wulf
1201:Blackwyche
1180:Nightshade
1134:Sabre Wulf
661:Future plc
600:References
590:monochrome
377:monochrome
1392:MSX games
1349:U.S. Gold
1334:Filmation
1290:Mire Mare
1247:Pentagram
1187:Gunfright
1116:Atic Atac
1015:MobyGames
975:4 October
949:4 October
923:4 October
875:2 October
828:2 October
775:2 October
739:2 October
729:"Alien 8"
707:2 October
674:3 October
627:3 October
479:Star Game
396:Reception
391:Reception
373:Filmation
309:isometric
261:Filmation
216:BBC Micro
128:BBC Micro
93:BBC Micro
74:Filmation
38:Cover art
1329:Sabreman
1194:Entombed
1095:Tranz Am
1030:magazine
621:Archived
333:circuits
331:-shaped
313:starship
291:Gameplay
175:Genre(s)
1322:Related
1272:Bubbler
1240:Cyberun
1215:Outlaws
1208:Imhotep
1173:Alien 8
1021:Alien 8
1010:Alien 8
1002:Alien 8
994:Alien 8
771:(8): 47
586:Alien 8
487:Alien 8
357:Alien 8
321:Alien 8
249:Alien 8
199:Alien 8
186:Mode(s)
111:Release
27:Alien 8
1307:(2004)
1102:Cookie
1081:Jetpac
1023:review
821:Amtix!
659:(73).
519:Amtix!
451:Awards
439:Amtix!
370:'s
202:is an
69:Engine
1088:Pssst
1028:CRASH
796:Amtix
701:Crash
668:(PDF)
651:(PDF)
559:Notes
540:Crash
507:Crash
465:Crash
459:Award
415:Crash
408:Score
385:8-bit
317:robot
1344:Rare
1257:1987
1225:1986
1165:1985
1126:1984
1073:1983
977:2023
951:2023
925:2023
877:2015
830:2015
777:2015
741:2015
709:2015
676:2015
629:2006
475:C+VG
275:Plot
222:and
166:1985
152:1985
138:1985
124:1985
1025:at
1013:at
444:92%
432:96%
420:95%
224:MSX
156:MSX
103:MSX
1373::
967:.
941:.
915:.
865:.
852:^
818:.
805:^
793:.
767:.
763:.
749:^
717:^
699:.
684:^
653:.
637:^
615:.
555:.
501:.
319:,
271:.
218:,
214:,
162:UK
148:UK
134:UK
120:UK
1058:e
1051:t
1044:v
979:.
953:.
927:.
879:.
846:.
832:.
779:.
769:4
743:.
711:.
678:.
631:.
592:.
164::
150::
136::
122::
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