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Dalek Attack

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Dalek Attack
An illustrated cover shows a silver Dalek firing its energy weapon, which appears as a blue-grey beam extending from the shorter of the two central protruding rods. The words "DALEK ATTACK" are in jagged silver letters across the upper part of the image. The background of the image shows the skyscrapers of an urban skyline; surrounding the Dalek (clockwise, from upper right) are: a tyrannosaurus (standing on a building's roof); a hulking simian humanoid figure holding a gun; a blue police box; the multicoloured diamond Doctor Who logo; a superimposed banner with the flags of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Italy; a crumpled sign reading "I LOVE NEW YORK"; a logo reading "ADMIRAL SOFTWARE"; a figure with a Dalek base and a wizened, humanoid torso and head; the Statue of Liberty, broken and fallen at an angle; and a red Dalek flying on a disc and shooting its energy weapon.
Developer(s)Alternative Software
Publisher(s)Alternative Software
Platform(s)MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST[1]
ReleaseOctober 1992
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Dalek Attack is a 1992 computer game based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which the player controls the Doctor and fights recurring adversaries, the Daleks and other enemies. In most versions of the game, the player can choose between playing as the Fourth, Fifth or Seventh Doctor; in the MS-DOS and Amiga versions, the player can play as the Second, Fourth or Seventh Doctor, and in the ZX Spectrum version only the Seventh Doctor was available.[2] A second player may play as the Doctor's companion (Ace or a UNIT soldier, although in the Spectrum version only Ace is available). K-9 also makes appearances later in the game as does Davros, creator of the Daleks in the TV series, as the final end of level boss.[2] The game is set in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Skaro.[3]

The game was released on all major formats of the time except for the Amstrad CPC, which was announced but never released. It was designed and storyboarded by 221B Software Development. Graphics were by John Gyarmati and Wayne Dalton. Nick Kimberley programmed the PC, Spectrum and (unreleased) Amstrad versions.[4] The Amiga and Atari ST versions were programmed by Richard Turner. Jason Heggie was in charge of the Commodore 64 version. Music was by Paul Tankard.[3] On the PC and Amiga versions, there was a secret room behind some blocks. The room gave some of the programming credits for each game, in particular the graphics and music. The credits were hidden in this way due to the BBC not wanting individual credits for the game development team to be included in the game.

The ZX Spectrum version was released in 1993 after a successful campaign by Your Sinclair readers as Alternative Software were unsure whether the Spectrum release would be commercially viable.[5][6] Dalek Attack became the last full-price licensed game to be released for the machine.[2] It differed from all the others in its first level; in all the other releases the first level involved the Doctor on a hoverboard going along the sewer. The Spectrum version had the Doctor on foot running around collecting hostages and avoiding globes. The Spectrum version also lost out on other features such as different enemies; only the Robomen, Ogrons and standard Daleks featured.[7] The end-level guardians were also different. Before its release Spectrum owners who wrote to Alternative Software pressing for a release received a letter back stating that the game was in production, and were sent a sticker depicting the game's box front emblazoned with the legend "I've Been Exterminated!"[citation needed]

Other versions of the game featured special Daleks such as hovering Daleks from the TV Century 21 comics strips of the 1960s. 1960s "movie" Daleks also made an appearance, as did the special weapons Dalek from Remembrance of the Daleks. Another special Dalek also featured, based on a sketch by Dalek designer Ray Cusick in an article from the 1989 Doctor Who Magazine 10th Anniversary Special showing how a Dalek might look in the 1990s.[8]

The game was later re-released, first in a three pack compilation set called the Sci-Fi Collection with two other titles (Galactic Warrior Rats, Suburban Commando) for the PC. The front cover was in a "Y" shape with Dalek Attack in the bottom right and the instruction booklet was photocopied. This was followed in 1994/95 by another re-release, which was the same as the original except for a purple and black border added to the front and back covers.

References

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  1. ^ Stryker, B.L.; Smith, Martin. "Dalek Attack". MobyGames. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Walker, James (8 July 2009). "Greatest Games You've Never Played: Dalek Attack". Binge Gamer. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b "The CURSE of WHO: WHY has there never been a decent videogame with the Doctor?". theregister.co.uk.
  4. ^ Smith, Tony. "The CURSE of WHO: WHY has there never been a decent videogame with the Doctor?". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  5. ^ Nash, Jonathan, ed. (May 1993). "Dr Who Needs You!". Your Sinclair (89). Bath: Future Publishing: 10. ISSN 0269-6983. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  6. ^ Nash, Jonathan, ed. (June 1993). "Wheezing, Groaning Sound". Your Sinclair (90). Bath: Future Publishing: 7. ISSN 0269-6983. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  7. ^ Nash, Jonathan (July 1993). "Doctor Who: Dalek Attack". Your Sinclair (91). Bath: Future Publishing: 8–9. ISSN 0269-6983. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  8. ^ "The New Daleks". Doctor Who Magazine. 1989. p. 41. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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