Katakis
Hi there!
Move over R-Type, here comes:
Katakis (1988):
Programmer: Manfred Trenz
Graphics: Andreas Escher
Musician: Chris Hülsbeck
Ratings:
Zzap! Rating: 93%
Lemon64 Rating: 8.4
So, the Rainbow Arts series continues with a title I still love today. Shortly after doing the Giana Sisters graphics, Manfred Trenz switched from artist to programmer. Teaming up with Andreas Escher, the two should create a series of legendary shoot'em ups on the C64, the first being talked about now, Katakis.
Again will anyone with a little knowledge about popular late-80's Arcades immediately notice what Katakis is all about: An R-Type clone.
Unlike Giana Sisters though, Katakis outdoes R-Type in several ways. Chris Hülsbecks music is certainly better, no surprise. But the game is also better. Katakis has 12 levels, that's 4 more than R-Type. And I think the levels are much better designed as well. I think overall it's fairer than R-Type, which is making it easier. It also has more randomized elements (that still allow you a chance to react to!) and so it requires less memorisation than R-Type.
There's also slight differences in the weapon systems, though nothing groundshaking. For example does Katakis not have the mini top/button satellites, but will give you an occasional shield instead. Also the satellite will only connect on the front of the fighter, not on the back - but the levels are designed accordingly, so there's nothing bad about that.
The pace is also different. Katakis will deliver more and faster extra weapon bubbles, so a death ain't as fatal as in R-Type, since you can quickly return to strength. Another difference is that there's often small destructable parts in a Katakis level. It's rarely really needed, but it will often make your life easier, when you know that you can get rid of certain bits and pieces, thus making your path a little easier.
About the only point of critic are the endbosses. While mostly impressive and very cool looking, they are a bit too easy to defeat, as they rarely require a certain strategy: Hiding behind your satellite and constant fire aiming at certain hotspots will finish most of them quick.
BTW: Unlike Amiga Giana is Amiga Katakis no 1:1 conversion. I never played it though, so I can't detail the differences. The Amiga version also marks the debut of Factor 5, who would later immigrate to the U.S.A., creating the all those "Rogue Squadron" games for Nintendo!
BTW²: Just like Giana caught the attention of Nintendo, so did Katakis get noticed by Activision UK. Being the official licensor of R-Type, they must've been really pissed when Rainbow Arts came out earlier - especially with such an excellent clone. They didn't force Katakis off the market though, instead they somehow forced the Katakis teams to do the official conversions. I'm not sure though if Rainbow Arts did it for free, but rumours say that Trenz/Escher/Hülsbeck did the C64 version of R-Type in 6 weeks only, while Factor 5 created the Amiga version.
Fun in 2007:
Still loving it. It's great fun, great music, great graphics, adrenalizing - yet nowhere as frustrating as R-Type can get 
Greetings,
Manuel
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