Description of Uridium
Uridium is a fun, original fast scrolling shoot-'em-up that is much better known on the Commodore 64.
In one of the "stock" sci-fi plots that we have heard a hundred times before, the plot is just another variant of overused defend-the-Earth premise: a squadron of formidable enemy Super-Dreadnought ships, needing mineral fuel to power their interstellar unit, is draining the mineral resources from all 15 planets in your galactic sector. Each Super-Dreadnought, in orbit around one planet, is mining a special metal. This irreversible mineral depletion must be stopped immediately, or it will destroy all planet life.
Your mission is to repeal the enemy attack with your special Manta fighter. The odds against you are enormous because you are the lone remaining defender (naturally) of this planetary sector. Your ultimate goal is to annihilate all 15 Super-Dreadnoughts and accumulate as many points as possible. If you complete all 15 levels-and only the best pilots will even come close-you qualify for a special offer for a Uridium emblem from Hewson (if anyone has a picture of this, let me know).
Flying on top of their surface structure at extremely high speed, you must use your cannons to blow the flying fortresses' defenses to smithereens whilst weaving around avoiding obstacles, mines and waves of alien fighters sworn to protect it. Once you have taken out these out, you are able to land and engage the ship's self-destruct sequence and can move onto the next target.
A very difficult but enjoyable challenge which runs beautifully with good sound and music, it's largely let down by the monochrome graphics.
Review By HOTUD
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
The Boz 2022-07-27 0 point Commodore 64 version
This appeared on the cover tape of Commodore Format in the first half of 1991. The thing I remember the most was the animation of the spaceship when turning and the speed of the scrolling. At the time I didn't appreciate it as much as many others do, but one of the most memorable games Commodore Format gave away.
MarkTheMorose 2020-08-23 0 point DOS version
CHRISTOPHER SALEM: it runs fine in EGA here, maybe it's DosBox settings.
Trelard 2019-09-17 0 point Commodore 64 version
The C64 version of this is a great example of developers pushing the machine to do things not thought possible previously. The C64 was unique in the fact that from the start to it's finish, people were constantly doing things not even Commodore themselves thought possible (and they built their own hardware). Today, there are still people out there creating new titles and trying to push the limits even further. If you are truly a gaming historian and haven't gone in depth with the C64, your knowledge is severely gimped.
Christopher Salem 2018-03-19 0 point DOS version
I'm disappointed with this DOS download. The screenshots show the EGA version which is the one I played on my IBM compatible. This download, however, is the CGA version. Why this ZIP file has an FILE_ID.DIZ in Spanish, I don't know; the original game never came with a DIZ file.
OM 2013-02-05 0 point DOS version
...The 64 version was the superior one. Andrew and Steve milked that machine for everything it had to give, and even invented some new sprite routines that surprised even Commode-Door. And they did it without making the 6502 melt in the process!
The PC version...not as good, but nowhere near as bad as some other highly-touted C64 to PC ports. ISTR it ran a bit better on a decked-out PC Jr than an XT or an AT at the time, tho...
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DOS Version
Amstrad CPC Version
- Year: 1987
- Publisher: Hewson Consultants Ltd.
- Developer: Graftgold Ltd.
BBC Micro Version
- Year: 1987
- Publisher: Hewson Consultants Ltd.
- Developer: Graftgold Ltd.
Commodore 64 Version
- Year: 1986
- Publisher: Hewson Consultants Ltd., Mindscape, Inc., Rack-It
- Developer: Graftgold Ltd.
ZX Spectrum Version
- Year: 1986
- Publisher: Hewson Consultants Ltd., Rack-It
- Developer: Graftgold Ltd.
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