Player reviews: 100% positive6 reviews
Runs on: Windows
Price: US$4.99

Where to get it

Steam

1990 · Epyx · Action · Shooter

Zarlor Mercenary

Atari console exclusive

Zarlor Mercenary is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up in which the player controls a spacecraft destroying enemy spaceships and buildings in order to earn money which can be used to buy upgrades between levels. At the end of each level there is a boss ship or landing craft that needs to be destroyed. Up to four players can play simultaneously using the Comlynx. Noted in the game manual you don't start with life but a fleet of ships.

Released: 1990
Platforms: Atari Lynx Windows
Genres: Action Shooter
Developers: Epyx
Publishers: Epyx
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: United States
Languages: English
Time to beat: 0.5hmain story4hcompletionist

About

Zarlor Mercenary is a 1990 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed by Epyx and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Lynx.

›Story

The war had been going on for years between the Mendicant and the Zarlor races. It wasn't going anywhere so the Zarlors decided to hire outside help. There are six key installations on the Mendicant's home planet of Yorith. The first mission is the Cadmar Desert where you are to locate and destroy a super weapon.

The second mission Mesort Swamp holds a secret base. Third mission is in the Docrit Sea where you have to destroy the Mendicant Navy. Forth mission titled Sedimor Domes is to attack a moon in the sector. Mardic Ice is the fifth mission where you fly to the ice caps of Mardi Koldavia, these ice caps are described as radioactive and here the Mendicants have built nuclear reactors, power plants and weapons factories.

The sixth and final mission is Cedmite City the only city on the Mendicant planet, the Zarlors have ask for everything to be destroyed, all to be cleared out for colonisation.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

In single-player you start off with four ships, in two player mode you start off with three ships each. With three and four players you only start the game with two ships each.

Development

Peter Engelbrite at Epyx who was known for including easter eggs and mini-games in Atari Lynx games also included a version of the cellular automata, Conway's Game of Life in Zarlor Mercenary.

Reception

Zarlor Mercenary received mixed reviews from critics.

In Computer and Video Games, Paul Glancey called Zarlor Mercenary "a decent-looking shoot 'em up, but quite difficult and not overly exciting to play." Clayton Walnum wrote in STart, "As you struggle to destroy the attacking aliens and blast the ground targets, you'll begin to understand what people mean by the term 'control pad ache'. This blastathon will please all players with a thirst for destruction."