Laser Squad MSX

If you like turn-based games such as X-COM: UFO Defense, you'll probably also like Laser Squad MSX, as they were both developed by Julian Gollop. Originally made for the Spectrum homecomputer system, this game was later converted for MSX. Then translated to Italian and lately rediscovered in a misty torrent.

Since most of us don't speak Italian other than cappuccino, cicolina and buon giorno, we have the luck that well-known MSX user SLotman decided to translate the only known copy (or should I say copies?) of the game back to English. Sadly, as with most Spectrum conversions, this game was of course bugged as well. In a sense that this game became more of a working restoration than a translation. But now work has been completed and these are the main changes:

• All texts translated into English
• MSX2 loading screen removed
• Original Spectrum loading screen converted to MSX to replace MSX2 one
• Controls changed from Q/A/O/P (usual Spectrum control keys) to MSX cursor keys
• Changed RAM detection routine and slot changing routine to increase compatibility. Now game works on turbo-R and many other machines… but not all. Unfortunately, to achieve this, the game needs a very big rewrite.
• One word on the game info screen “FORZA” had its original position altered, so it would align correctly on the Italian version. The word was translated to “STRENGTH” (as in the original) and placed in the correct position
• Correct mapper initialization on MSX1

Grab the game and read the whole story at SLotman's hideout.

Relevant link: Laser Squad MSX