Kosmos & Moontorc

The graphics are great in this game. The load screen less so

KOSMOS

(Atlantis, 1989)

Atlantis' fortunes took a turn for the better when they accidentally employed 3 people with the same surname - Shaws Graham, David and Adrian. It's just lucky they got along great and worked well together, producing the awesome, if unreleased until much later, Hop 'N' Chop, amongst others. In your face Oliver Twins, feel outnumbered!

You've picked up all 4 Skwibbles, their health shown at the top right

Save the Skwibbles! That's the point of Kosmos in case you're wondering, as there's some serious Trouble With Tr... er, Skwibbles. Cruel aliens have colonised the planet Kosmos and hunted these poor fluffballs to near extinction, and sadly they don't breed like their Tribbly near-namesakes. A mere four of them remain and you must save them, keep them alive, repair your crashed spaceship and return them safely to live on Earth. Where the atmosphere will probably kill them.

A quick tourist trip to Jodrell Bank breaks up the action nicely

What a fun plot. Shame the Kosmosians are a-holes and want to kill you. So begins a pseudo Magic Knight type of arcade adventure in space (Knight Tyme then?) as you have to use objects as you go, while constantly watching your back as the enemies don't let you rest for long. You've only got so much oxygen too before you kick the bucket, literally in a nice little animation come game over time.

Probably the oddest message in the game!

This is a very presentable budget game with bags of character and cute colourful graphics. Most actions produce a bizarre little comment at the bottom of the screen to keep you amused, such as suggesting 'Pickling a Skwibble' which is surely not quite the idea! It's playable but still challenging and charming enough to draw you in for one more go.

Ah good, this screen is a bit more like it, Shaws!

MOONTORC

(Atlantis, 1991)

Two years later in 1991, which was surely just the other day, the Shaws made another one for Atlantis, called Moontorc. Dragontorc in space maybe? "Get your spacesuit on, Maroc. For an adventure that's out of this world..." I know Hewson did Astroclone but my idea is definitely better.

Open the blue door if you have a key, kill the fairies then hang with the wizard

Nah, this is more like a 'hey nonny no' frolic in the forests of merry old England. It even plays Greensleeves on the menu screen, like so many games of yore (like Hunchback I think, but I'm not prepared to play it again just to check), only this rendition is actually pretty tuneful, so props for that.

Our hero is tripping balls after chewing a piece of the enormous 'shroom he's standing on

It's the oldest tale in the book. You have to rescue a princess from an evil Dark Lord. 3 Moontorc pieces have to be obtained on each of 4 levels, to give to a tollman at the end of each (like the Mersey Tunnel). You can buy keys, weapons and spells from traders here and there. Yes, this paragraph is quite dull.

Urgh, quick, go out of the screen again to avoid that flying snot ball

But it's the execution and presentation where Los Shawses really excel. Everything looks so purty, with great sound and colour to the fore. And it's highly playable and full of more fun than is reasonable for such a cheapo game. It's like a cute mini version of Firelord meets Exolon meets Robin Of The Wood. And no, I can't explain any of that, it's just a feeling I get. Good work for Shaws!

THE LOST CITY OF THE SCORES

KOSMOS 84%

MOONTORC 83%