[{"TitleName":"Cyrox","Publisher":"The Power House","Author":"Grant Jaquest, Tim White","YearOfRelease":"1987","ZxDbId":"0001212","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 40, May 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-04-30","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":148,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nAssistant Editor: Ciaran Brennan\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Richard Eddy, Ian Phillipson\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Philippa Irving\r\nTech Tipster: Simon Goodwin\r\nContributing Writers: Jon Bates, Brendon Kavanagh, John Minson\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Gordon Druce\r\nIllustrator: Oliver Frey\r\nProduction: Tony Lorton, Mark Kendrick, Tim Croton, Seb Clare\r\nProcess and Planning: Matthew Uffindell, Jonathan Rignall, Nick Orchard\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Nick Wild\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nEditorial and Production: [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order and Subscriptions: [redacted]\r\n\r\nADVERTISING\r\nBookings [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistributed by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return any written material sent to CRASH Magazine unless accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material which may be used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©1987 Newsfield Limited\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: The Power House\r\nRetail Price: £1.99\r\nAuthor: Grant Jaquest\r\n\r\nA consignment of priceless crystals has been stolen by Silas Maximillian, the most wanted man in the galaxy. Only Lutherlrontooth has any chance of retrieving them from Maximilhan's headquarters on a far-off, dead planet.\r\n\r\nThe crystals are held in three storage vaults deep in a labyrinth of corridors. Two vaults are readily accessible, but one is locked, and entry to it can only be made by finding and using five keys.\r\n\r\nIrontooth teleports down to the planet clad in full battle armour - here he's able to move left, right, up and down. However, once moving, momentum keeps him going until he hits an obstruction, or uses his blaster-pack to change direction. Luther possesses nine freeze bombs to help him avoid the lethal embrace of vicious robots.\r\n\r\nCreated in the form of jellyfish or flop-eared bunnies, they're simply programmed and only move in basic patterns- but particular care needs to be taken in the two open vaults, as the guard robots move a lot faster than Luther. Using a freeze bomb gives Luther five seconds in which to dodge the stunned robot and continue on his way.\r\n\r\nRemaining freeze bombs are displayed on screen, along with Luther's score.\r\n\r\nDiminishing energy puts a time limit on the quest, and Luther's energy level is also shown on screen, with one of four lives lost when it reaches zero.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: Q up, A down, O left, P right, M Freeze Bomb\r\nJoystick: Kempston, Cursor, Interface 2\r\nUse of colour: reasonably clash free, if a bit tasteless\r\nGraphics: small characters and jerky scrolling\r\nSound: varied spot effects\r\nSkill levels: one\r\nScreens: three scrolling screens","ReviewerComments":["This takes me back. Some time ago most Spectrum games were similar to this - playable enough then, but not now. Did the graphics have to be as simplistic, undetailed and uninteresting as they have turned out? The sound, too, is well below average with no tunes and generally dull effects. Even with the addition of a free game this represents poor value for money.\r\r\nBen Stone","Budget games are all the rage this month, so Cyrox has a lot of competition. Run-of-the-mill graphics offer fairly smooth animation, a few nicely drawn characters and lots of tasteless colours. However, despite Cyrox's many primitive aspects, I quite enjoyed playing it for a while. POWER HOUSE have had a good go at producing a decent shoot 'em up, and they're providing as much as you can expect for £1.99.\r\nGareth Adams"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: A below average budget title.","Page":"25","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Ben Stone","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Gareth Adams","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Clad in his battle armour, Luther Irontooth resembles the robot from Poppysoft's classic oldie, Factory Breakout - and indeed, the game harks back to that period."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"40%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"49%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"42%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"36%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"50%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"46%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 17, May 1987","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1987-04-16","Editor":"Teresa Maughan","TotalPages":100,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Teresa Maughan\r\nSenior Art Editor: Hazel Bennington\r\nProduction Editor: Sara Biggs\r\nAssistant Editor: Phil South\r\nStaff Writer: Markus Berkmann\r\nDesigner: Darrell King\r\nContributors: Chris Donald, Mike Gerrard, Ian Hoare, Gwyn Hughes, ZZKJ, John Molloy, Rick Robson, Rachael Smith, Terri Wise\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Mark Salmon\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Julian Harriott\r\nProduction Manager: Sonia Hunt\r\nManaging Editor: Kevin Cox\r\nPublisher: Roger Munford\r\nPublishing Director: Stephen England\r\n\r\nPublished by Dennis Publishing Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England.\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Sinclair ©1987 Felden Productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Sinclair is a monthly publication."},"MainText":"Power House\n£1.99\nReviewer: John Molloy\n\nYep, it's another multi-screened, get-the-bits-you-need-and-get-out-alive-game. You are Luther Irontooth (!), droid bounty hunter, and you're after the Cybor crystals, stored under heavy security on the planet Cyrox. It's fast, and at first, it's confusing. I tried all sorts of intricate manoeuvres to try and escape from the first screen without being zapped by the marauding meanie. Then I found that if I pressed fire the screen froze and escape was suddenly a cinch! I'd discovered the infamous freeze bombs, your only weapons in this bitter battle. However, with perseverance I finally got to explore the planet further (mind the feet!) There are components to collect as you whizz round that'll allow you to enter the vaults, collect the Cybor crystals and then teleport back to the beginning for another go.\n\nThe upper part of the display shows the status line. There's all the usual stuff, such as energy units, how many freeze bombs you have available, how many men are left  and, of course, your score. The main part of the screen gives you a view of the vault you're in. You have left, right, up and down movements, but I couldn't help thinking, as I trundled round, that I'd been here before.\n\nIf you're into these types of game, you'll get some pleasure out of Cyrox and it's worth the two quid you'll pay. However, it is a leetle bit out of date, so if you've moved on to higher things, you'll probably not want to bother.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"45","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"John Molloy","Score":"6","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"6/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 62, May 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-04-18","Editor":"David Kelly","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: David Kelly\r\nDeputy Editor: Graham Taylor\r\nStaff Writer: Jim Douglas\r\nArt Editor: Gareth Jones\r\nAdventure Help: Gordo Greatbelly\r\nZapchat: Jon Riglar\r\nHelpline: Andrew Hewson\r\nContributors: Richard Price, Andy Moss, Gary Rook\r\nHardware Correspondent: Rupert Goodwins\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Louise Fanthorpe\r\nDeputy Advertisement Manager: Mike Corr\r\nProduction Assistant: Alison Morton\r\nAdvertisement Secretary: Linda Everest\r\nSubscriptions Manager: Carl Dunne\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nTelephone [redacted]\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by EMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: John Higgins\r\n\r\nTypeset by PRS Ltd, [redacted]\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1987 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nABC 90,215 July-Dec 1985"},"MainText":"Label: Power House\r\nPrice: £1.99\r\nJoystick: various\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nReviewer: Andy Moss\r\n\r\nCyrox is a game of such abject mediocrity that, frankly, even to try to see the entertainment value is beyond me.\r\n\r\nOK its a cheapie Big deal. Twelve months ago I would have said you get what you pay for. Today it's a different ball game the quality of budget software has risen dramatically, and no longer can price be the only mitigating factor.\r\n\r\nCyrox looks dated, plays dated and the only saving grace its got is the rather pleasant introduction sequence which takes you through the instructions displayed in an eye-catching variety of colours £1.99 for an introduction? Not on.\r\n\r\nIt's a platform variant with a slight difference. The crystals you need are located in three vaults, however, one is behind a closed door which needs five different components to unlock. You also have some freeze bombs which last around five seconds each, but careful, as there are a limited supply.\r\n\r\nThat's it really. Old hat stuff. The inlay says 'stupidity leads to death' - wrong. Stupidity is buying this game in the first place!","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Dated platform space game that is pretty dire stuff playwise, sound wise, and otherwise. Don't bother.","Page":"55","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Andy Moss","Score":"1","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"1/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]