Hysteria is an action video game developed by Special FX Software and published by Software Projects for the ZX Spectrum in 1987. The game was re-released by Alternative Software in 1989, with other releases published by EDOS, Erbe Software and IBSA.
Gameplay
It is a side-scrolling action game in which the player controls the last surviving member of the Time Corps. The objective is to travel through different periods of history and eliminate the enemies responsible for disrupting the timeline. The adventure takes place across three different eras: Ancient Greece, the Dark Ages and the distant future. The hero is also equipped with an Energy Conversion Kit, which can transform certain enemy projectiles into weapons and useful equipment.
The player must fight numerous hostile creatures and avoid traps and environmental hazards. Throughout the game, different weapons and special powers can be acquired, while pieces of a jigsaw puzzle are collected. Once enough pieces have been assembled, the final enemy is revealed and must be defeated before progressing to the next era. The game requires careful movement, precise jumping and effective use of the player's weapon. As the game progresses, the levels become increasingly difficult and introduce new enemies and obstacles.
Plot
Humanity is threatened by an unknown force. The Time Corps is almost completely destroyed during the first attacks, leaving only one surviving agent. Armed with advanced technology, the player travels through different historical eras to destroy the source of the temporal disturbances. He must restore the original timeline before history is permanently changed.
Development
The ZX Spectrum version was developed by Jonathan M. Smith, Karen Davies, Tony Pomfret and Stephen Wahid.
Reception
Crash magazine awarded Hysteria an overall score of 78%.
References
External links
Hysteria at The King of Grabs