Release date(s) 1988 (1989) Initial release date 1988 | Genre(s) Scrolling shooter Developers Factor 5, Manfred Trenz | |
Platforms Commodore 64, Amiga, AmigaOS, iOS Publishers Rainbow Arts, Elite Systems Modes Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game Similar Manfred Trenz games, Shoot 'em up games | ||
Katakis tracks 3 5 7
Katakis is a side scrolling shooter style arcade game developed for the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Arts in 1987, and converted to the Commodore Amiga by Factor 5 in 1988. It was re-released as Denaris in 1989. The name Katakis has a Greek origin and was found in a phone book in Gütersloh, Germany. The name Denaris was created by a random name generator, and by coincidence, matches a Greek name as well.
Contents
- Katakis tracks 3 5 7
- Katakis commodore amiga 1988
- Introductory plot
- Gameplay
- Controversy
- Hardware platforms
- Current status
- References
Katakis commodore amiga 1988
Introductory plot
The game takes place on the planet Katakis, a human colony in deep space. There, scientists developed machinery with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. However, the machines eventually evolved beyond the control of their human creators and overtook the planet. The humans attempted to retaliate through the use of nuclear ballistic missiles, but the machines survived.
The colonists' remaining plan is to use a series of DS-H75 Eagle Fighter space gliders to attack the machines and retake the planet.
Gameplay
Katakis has a very similar theme as the game R-Type, with multiple levels, power-ups and various end-bosses. Players must eliminate enemy opponents to reach various end bosses. One major innovation is the fact that the two-player mode features the second player controlling the Force module. This creates an unusual play strategy of the attacker and the defender, since the main ship is vulnerable to enemy fire and hazards.
Controversy
Activision objected to the similar style of Katakis to their side-scroller arcade game, R-Type. Due to the game's obvious similarity to R-Type, rights holder Activision Europe delivered an ultimatum: either Factor 5 accept a contract to perform the official R-Type conversion for the Amiga home computer, or receive a lawsuit for rights infringement. According to Julian Eggebrecht, this was because "Activision couldn't find any programmers" but the opportunity was "a dream come true".
Hardware platforms
Originally developed for the Commodore 64 platform, the game was also ported to the Commodore Amiga. Note that the Commodore 64 version of Denaris should not be confused for the similar space game Denarius, a top-down space scroller game.
Current status
Factor 5 has released the Amiga version of Katakis as freeware as follows:
"Katakis, R-Type and BC KID are not provided for the public domain. You are entitled to download and use these games only for non-commercial purposes. All copyrights are retained by their owners. Any distribution of this data through any medium unless specifically permitted by the copyright owners is not allowed."