Battle Squadron on AmigaOS 4

Hi and welcome to a brand new series of posts here on Old School Game Blog. This new series will dive into the world of AmigaOS 4.1 and look at all the games that are available to play on this platform. Needless to say it’ll be a great excuse to play some games and I’m looking forward to get cracking at this. ;)

Battle Squadron (Cope-Com)

The first game I’d like to write about is Battle Squadron, a real Amiga classic from 1989. It is, however, not the old game I’m going to talk about, but the new version that were released for AmigaOS 4 in 2013/2014. I was initially going to purchase this one when it came out, but it never happened. I will now though, that’s for sure, after having had a go at the demo version again.

Title screen (screenshot by Old School Game Blog)

For those not in the loop, Battle Squadron is a shoot’em up game where you are in control of a space-ship. The background story and the aim of the game is as follows:

Attention Commanders: Incoming Earth Defense Fleet message….

Your mission code C61-178DE is to rescue Commander Berry D. Mayers and Commander Lori Bergin and their starship. The E.D.F. inter-track scanner picked up signatures from a huge Barrax alien enemy object moving towards the hollow planet Terrainia. Data indicates that the hollow Planet Terrainia is their home-base and is much feared due to cloaked enemy ships and the deep unfriendly subterranean worlds with frightening alien species.

We have equipped your ships with our new universal ultimate weapon: The NOVA missile.

On behalf of Earth Defense Fleet… Engage and terminate Commanders!

I tested the game on my SAM 440 running AmigaOS 4.1 Update 6. Installation was a matter of unpacking a LHA archive, which I let Dopus handle for me. The game itself loaded quickly and without any problems. Before it started a wide selection of screen-modes was available and I selected a common one.

The game supports both one and two player modes. If you like to play with a partner you can both be on the screen simultaneously. The latter option is my favorite, since playing with a partner doubles the fun.

Two-player mode (screenshot by Old School Game Blog)

Visiting Options will give you many possibilities of changing various aspects of the game and the game-play. If you are not happy with the default controls, these can be changed to suit your needs. You can also play in full-screen or window-mode.

Options, options, options (screenshot by Old School Game Blog)

Contrary to modern games it does not take 20-30 minutes of tutorials and/or watching cut-scenes to get started – you just select start and the action is on right away. This is something I cherish with older/retro styled games. If you just want to have a 10-15 minutes of action, you can do that with ease. I’m not talking mobile games (Android) here, but desktop ones.

Once the game has started you are engaging enemies and blowing them to pieces, but beware, they are trying to destroy you too. The difficulty is OK and the game is easy to get into and later on master.

In-game (screenshot by Old School Game Blog)

On your way you’ll find plenty of bonuses to pick up. Be sure to grab them all!

There is also something new with the AmigaOS 4 version and that is achievements. Have a look here:

Battle Squadron Achievements (screenshot by Old School Game Blog)

This is something I hope will find its way into more Amiga games in the future, as it makes playing a bit more interesting. Always fun with a reward, right? ;)

My impression of Battle Squadron for AmigaOS 4 is positive. It runs smoothly, it is fun and engaging and it looks bloody good. I’m definitely going to buy this game now and I’m not just saying that.. ;)

If you are interested in giving Battle Squadron a go, please head over to Cope-Com where you can find a free demo to try on your AmigaOS 4 setup!

Thanks for reading my first post in the new series about gaming on AmigaOS 4. Stay tuned for more games and more posts in the future!