Take Defender, add the graphic and audio power of the Jag, some intuitive features and Protector is the result. You may be thinking "Well, we already have Defender 2000, so why would we possibly want Protector?" Personally, I feel Protector is more fun than any of the D2K play modes. Rather than in the D2K "2000" mode, where you constantly look at the radar or die, Protector allows the player to focus on the main screen most of the time, and rely on the Radar only when necessary (looking for a humaniod in danger, for example). While the Plus mode in D2K allowed this too, Protector is, IMHO, far more playable and enjoyable than the Defender Plus mode.

So what else differentiates Protector from D2K? The first thing you will notice is that your ship can take 3 "hits" before dying. This allows for more involved gameplay, whereas in D2K you had to focus on getting shields right away in order to stay alive for any length of time. Speaking of shields, Protector has those too...along with a few other nice powerups. Via a shop screen, you can purchase powerups with credits collected when certain enemies are defeated. Powerups you can purchase include Smart Bombs (wipe out all enemies visible on-screen), Shields, and extra ships. The shop feature alone increases the playability of this title by allowing the gamer to develop a more strategic approach to "Protecting" the humanoids and defeating the baddies.

Enemy characters are quite diverse throughout the games different levels. Most notable, however, are the nice, big pre-rendered bosses. These characters are impressive visually, and can get tough! The inclusion of boss characters are another way in which Protector stands out from other Defender clones and updates. Just wait 'till you see these guys in action...

The game itself moves along at a speedy pace, only slowing down when there's a plethora of enemies and explosions occurring at once on-screen. It's only one screen "tall", unlike 2000 mode in D2K, giving it a feel more like the original Defender. After defeating all the enemies on certain levels there is a meteroid shower that you have to survive in order to make it to the next level. It's tough to do at first, but with practice (and some shields), you can make it through unscathed. Most of the time :-)

The one song currently in the game is your usual Jaguar techno fare. It's not at all repetitive, though, and does not interfere with enjoyment of the game. It's pretty good, actually, but a larger variety would be good. Hopefully Carl can squeeze in a few new tunes before the game is finished. Sound effects include a cool announcer who says "Get Ready", "Extra Ship Awarded", "Game Over", and other appropriate clips. Humanoids scream for medics when they get blasted, and yell for help when captured by an enemy ship. Nice explosion sounds accompany pixel-shatter-like effects when you blow your way through a barrage of enemies. Good stuff here.

Protector is a game that I feel everyone will enjoy. Screenshots don't do it justice...wait until you see the game in action and you'll be impressed by it's speed, impressive sounds and graphics, and balanced gameplay. I'm having a hard time putting it down, and it's not even the final version! Definitely put this one on your "to-get" list.

E-Mail Kevin Manne at: KevinManne@wycol.com