Zogging Hell!!!

Better Dead Than Alien (Starring Brad Zoom)

Absolutely stonking Space Invaders/ Galaxian clone. It's a bit of a B-movie piss take, but the game benefits greatly from the humour. Infuriatingly difficult on the later stages, and lacking any depth, but it's one of those games that you just can't help but like. The graphics are a bit 8bit in style, but well executed, and sound is minimal. After facing two waves of aliens with varying degrees of weirdness, you then have to face either an asteroid field or a boss alien. The bosses are equally variable, ranging from giant heads that you can literally shoot a path through to the other side for your ship to go through, to tentacled monsters. The normal aliens are such a mixed bunch, watch out for the 'Swatch' aliens and the 'knife and fork' aliens, plus many more. Finally B.D.T.A. also contains the classic line "What the Hell is That!!!!!!" just before you face one of the numerous bosses.

Zogging Hell Rating: 8/10

Atari St User Rating:

Sound: 7
Graphics: 9
Playability: 10
Value for Money: 10
Overall: 9
'Second Sight': 'This is not just another space invader type game, but a lot more besides. I doubt if you will find a better development of the same theme on any home micro. The variation between the levels is outstanding. Better Dead Than Alien is an essential buy for any self-respecting arcade addict.' Jayne West

Cheats

Go to input options and set both player 1 and player 2 to use the same keys. Start a two player game and move either to the left or right edge until both the 'Brads' are aligned on top of each other. Congratulations you now control a ship with twice the energy and twice the fire power.
Also, and we must say that this one doesn't seem to work, Zero says pressing ESC to pause and then moving your ship out of the danger area (unpausing by pressing N) will help you out. It would be nice if it worked though wouldn't it you clots!

Finally, the ultimate cheat (though you won't be able to see the end sequence) type 'ELV' (or 'CHAMP' and press help) while playing the game F1 to F8 now activate the different weapons while F9 and F10 adds energy bars and skip levels. Typing 'ELVIE' is a further cheat apparently (though it's up to you to work out what it does).
The Level Passwords are: Level 1 = ELEKTRA, 2 = SYZGY, 3 = DRAMBUIE, 4 = PLUG, 5 = SOPRANO, 6 = MAYONNAISE, 7 = FAUCET, 8 = POTATO, 9 = WOOMERA, 10 = NARCISSUS, 11 = DEBUTANTE, 12 = FIRKIN, 13 = ACOUSTIC, 14 = TRIPTYCH, 15 = JABBERWOCKY, 16 = WHIMSICLE, 17 = CORNUCOPIA, 18 = PUNJABI, 19 = TIDDLY POM, 20 = KEWPIE DOLL, 21 = SEPULCHRE, 22 = EUPHENISM, 23 = GRAMMERIAN, 24 = CROSSWORD, 25 = QUARANTINE.