Zarlor Mercenary

About

Zarlor Mercenary is a fast paced vertical shooter where you pilot a spacecraft through waves of enemies blowing up ships and structures to earn cash for upgrades. The goal is to destroy bosses at the end of each level while managing a fleet of ships starting with four in solo mode fewer in multiplayer. The game lets up to four players team up or turn on each other using the Comlynx cable blending co op and sabotage as you battle through six missions on the war torn planet Yorith. What stands out is the fleet based progression system where losing ships doesn't mean instant failure but forces strategic spending. Each of the seven playable mercenaries brings a distinct weapon or ability and the backstabber mod lets you target other players directly. Released in 1990 it offered co op multiplayer on PC and Atari Lynx long before it was common. The missions range from desert wastelands to radioactive ice caps keeping the action varied across space and terrain.

Storyline

The war had been going on for years between the Mendicant and the Zarlor races. It wasn't going anywhere so the Zarlors decided to hire outside help. There are six key installations on the Mendicant's home planet of Yorith. The first mission is the Cadmar Desert where you are to locate and destroy a super weapon. The second mission Mesort Swamp holds a secret base. Third mission is in the Docrit Sea where you have to destroy the Mendicant Navy. Forth mission titled Sedimor Domes is to attack a moon in the sector. Mardic Ice is the fifth mission where you fly to the ice caps of Mardi Koldavia, these ice caps are described as radioactive and here the Mendicants have built nuclear reactors, power plants and weapons factories. The sixth and final mission is Cedmite City the only city on the Mendicant planet, the Zarlors have ask for everything to be destroyed, all to be cleared out for colonisation.