Seiddab Trilogy#3D Seiddab Attack
{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Seiddab Trilogy
| image = 3D Lunattack Inlay.jpg
| caption =
| developer = Graftgold
| designer = Steve Turner
| publisher = Hewson Consultants
| series = The Seiddab Trilogy
| released = 3D Space-Wars: 1983
3D Seiddab Attack: 1984
3D Lunattack: 1984
| genre = Shoot 'em up
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = ZX Spectrum
}}
The Seiddab Trilogy is a series of video games designed by Steve Turner (as Graftgold) for the ZX Spectrum and published by Hewson Consultants. It consists of 3D Space-Wars (1983),{{WoS game|name=3D Space-Wars|id=0004686}} 3D Seiddab Attack (1984),{{WoS game|name=3D Seiddab Attack|id=0004393}} and 3D Lunattack.{{WoS game|name=3D Lunattack|id=0002955}} All three games were later published together as The Seiddab Trilogy by Hewson for the Rotronics Wafadrive.{{WoS game|id=0019031}} The series name is derived from the word "baddies" being spelt in reverse.
Astroclone (1985), also written by Turner, is part of this series.{{WoS game|id=0000299}}
''3D Space-Wars''
{{Main|3D Space Wars}}
3D Space-Wars was released in 1983 by Hewson Consultants.{{WoS game|name=3D Space-Wars|id=0004686}}
''3D Seiddab Attack''
3D Seiddab Attack was released in 1984 by Hewson Consultants.
=Critical reception=
Your Spectrum's review highlighted the realistic 3D effect and split-screen display, but criticized the monochrome graphics and slow game speed.{{Cite journal|journal=Your Spectrum|title=Spectrum Soft|issue=4|pages=54|date=June 1984|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr04/yr04_52.htm}} Sinclair User awarded 5 out of 10, criticizing the unclear, flickering display but praising a sophisticated concept and satisfying explosions.{{Cite journal|journal=Sinclair User|url=http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/024/softwre.htm|issue=24|date=March 1984|pages=47|title=Spectrum Software Scene}} Personal Computer Games were unimpressed with the 3D effect and felt that the enemy ships were indistinct and the action unexciting.{{cite journal|date=April 1984|issue=5|pages=81|journal=Personal Computer Games|title=Screen Test: Spectrum}}
''3D Lunattack''
3D Lunattack was released in 1984 by Hewson Consultants, and is the only game of the series that was also published for the Commodore 64. The player takes control of a Z5 Luna Hover Fighter in an attack against the Seiddab command base. The Z5 must be piloted through three rings of defence before destroying the base.{{Cite news|title=3D Lunattack Review|newspaper=CRASH|date=May 1984}}
= Gameplay =
The game requires the player to attack the Seiddab base, which is protected by three rings of defense. The first consists of robotically controlled tanks which fire missiles; these tanks can be destroyed by laser fire. The second ring is an area of mountains protected by mines, which are set to explode when the player gets too close. They may be shot using the Z5's lasers, or dodged. An exploding mine rocks the players craft altering its course. The third ring of defence is studded with missile silos, which may be attacked with the Z5's lasers. If the player manages to penetrate the command zone, the base must be repeatedly strafed while avoiding its defensive firepower.
At any time the player may be attacked by Seiddab fighters. The Z5 is armed with air-to-air missiles that can be used to destroy the enemy fighters before they come into range. Once they are visible, the lasers must be used. Weapon selection is automatic - if the target is below the horizon lasers will be used, but if the target is above then missiles will be fired.
The screen displays a cockpit with a horizon of mountains, and enemy craft displayed, and crosshair sights of the Z5's weaponry. There is also a radar display which switches on automatically when an enemy hover fighter is detected, and places a small box near the enemy location indicating the range to the fighter. At this stage missiles may be fired and forgotten.
Below the main display are indicators for fuel, armament type in use and hull temperature, which increases to a critical point with each enemy strike.
An additional audio track was included on the cassette tape. 3D Lunattack also supported Currah Microspeech.
= Reception =
{{Video game reviews
| SUser = 6/10{{Cite news|title=3D Lunattack Review|newspaper=Sinclair User|date=June 1984}}
}}
Reviews were mixed. While Sinclair User only gave the game 6/10, CRASH awarded it a CRASH Smash at 90%.
Sinclair User said that "the controls are difficult to handle and of the type where you lose position rapidly through having to over-correct continually", while CRASH decided that "the display is wonderful, the best three dimensional Battlezone-type game yet... Really excellent, most playable and addictive too".
''Astroclone''
{{Infobox video game
| title = Astroclone
| developer = Graftgold
| designer = Steve Turner
| publisher = Hewson Consultants
| series = The Seiddab Trilogy
| released = 1985
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = ZX Spectrum
}}
Astroclone was published in 1985 by Hewson Consultants. Its working title was Seiclone, but was changed to avoid confusion with Vortex Software's Cyclone.{{Cite journal|journal=CRASH|title=Mardoc Meets the Seiddab|issue=21|pages=44–45|author=Robin Candy|publisher=Newsfield}} The game combines shoot 'em up sections with arcade adventure elements that Turner had developed with Avalon (1984) and Dragontorc (1985).
References
{{reflist}}