''Crosswize'' is a

shoot 'em up Shoot 'em ups (also known as shmups or STGs ) are a sub-genre of action games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of chara ...

released by Firebird in 1988 for the

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as the ''ZX81 Colou ...

home computer. It was the sequel to ''

Sidewize ''Sidewize'' is a horizontally scrolling shooter released by Firebird in 1987 for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum home computers. It was followed by a sequel, ''Crosswize''. Plot The four worlds of Omicron, Nu, Delta and Iota are under siege by ...

''.

Plot

The planet Luna is under attack by Mutants and must be defended.

Overview

The game is very similar to its predecessor, with a lone warrior battling waves of alien enemies. A notable difference is the ability to fire in both directions, as in '' Side Arms''. Again, power-ups may be collected for improved weapons and firepower.

Development

''Crosswize'' was published by

Firebird Software Telecomsoft was a British video game publisher and a Division (business), division of British Telecom. The company was founded by Ederyn Williams, Dr. Ederyn Williams in 1984 and operated three separate labels: Firebird, Rainbird, and Silverbir ...

. A sequel to ''

'', it was programmed by

Steve Wetherill Odin Computer Graphics were a Liverpool-based computer games developer who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a variety of titles for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC home computers. History Odin consisted of Managing Director P ...

and

Colin Grunes Odin Computer Graphics were a Liverpool-based computer games developer who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a variety of titles for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC home computers. History Odin consisted of Managing Director Pa ...

, who designed the previous game.

Reception

*''

Your Sinclair ''Your Sinclair'', or ''YS'' as it was commonly abbreviated, was a commercially published and printed British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was in circulation between 1984 and 1993. History Th ...

'':

"Addictiveness? Is this game addictive? We are talking fail your exams, lose your job, break up your marriage, and even don't wash your hair-type addictiveness. You keep pounding the joystick, trying to get past that building to see what will kill you next. Have another go, and another, just one more, and another, one more time..."

*''

Sinclair User ''Sinclair User'' was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum (while also occasionally covering arcade games). Initially published by ECC Publications, and later EMAP, it was pub ...

'': "A terrific shoot-em-up and classic blast. Violent escapism at its best."

References

External links

* * ZX Spectrum games ZX Spectrum-only games 1988 video games Shoot 'em ups Telecomsoft games Video games developed in the United Kingdom {{8bitcomputer-game-stub