"Art Show/ Vindicator" Review.
By Michael Prosise.
September 1983.


This is an excerpt from a review first published in "The Game Player" column 
#11 by Michael Prosise in ARCADIAN 5, no. 11 (Sep. 28, 1983): 165.  This review 
covers Tiny Arcade Tape 3, which has two programs: and "Vindicator" and "Art 
SHOW."


VINDICATOR, by The Tiny Arcade

VINDICATOR is very similar to the coin-op DEFENDER, and although not as lavish 
as the coin-op, VINDICATOR provides essentially the same type of play action 
and entertainment.

In this one-player game from Tiny Arcade, the player has six "lives," in the 
forms of star fighters that must shoot down five orbiting robot ships, avoiding 
their lasers and the ground-to-air missiles.

Using the joystick skillfully, one is able to guide his star fighter up or 
down, fast or slow, and shoot left or right, as he moves across the landscape, 
just like in DEFENDER.

We liked playing VINDICATOR, and one reason is that it is not a fast-paced 
game.  Things do not go "flying" around the screen at high speeds, and thus the 
player does not find him/herself frantically shooting wildly and becoming 
frustrated.  As in the excellent game OMEGA RACE (see ARCADIAN Vo1. 5, #1, pg. 
19), also by Tiny Arcade, the player is given time to think and plan ahead.  We 
think this is an important part of any game if it is to be enjoyable and 
satisfying. Sound effects and graphics are quite satisfactory, although there 
was an annoying, high-frequency buzz in the background at all times.

VINDICATOR is one of the better games to come from Tiny Arcade, but it is 
apparently no longer available by itself.  It is currently being offered in a 
package deal with five other programs for $16.95.  Along with VINDICATOR, this 
one tape includes GAMMA WARS (see ARCADIAN Vol. 5, #1, pg. 127), VIPERIAN 
(unavailable for review), ART SHOW (review follows), ASTRO TERROR (see ARCADIAN 
Vol. 5, #1, pg. 19) and CRUNCHER (unavailable for review).

ART SHOW is one of the finest graphic-display programs available for the 
Astrocade unit.  It contains seven separate and most excellent, full-color 
graphic programs.  What a great way to show off the power and ability of your 
Bally Astrocade to others.

Since the GAME PLAYER is not able to include reviews of VIPERIAN and CRUNCHER, 
it would not be fair to the Tiny Arcade to rate this $16.95 tape overall.  But 
at less than $3.00 per game, this $16.95 tape of six games looks like it might 
be a good bargain.

[The review is "Candy Man" is not included here.]