Menace (video game): Difference between revisions

Menace
Menace
	Cover art by Ian Craig
Developer(s)	DMA Design
Publisher(s)	Psygnosis
Designer(s)	David Jones
Programmer(s)	Russell Kay
Artist(s)	Tony Smith
Composer(s)	David Whittaker
Platform(s)	Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS
Release	Amiga; October 1988; Atari ST; December 1988; Commodore 64; January 1989; MS-DOS; December 1989;
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

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Menace is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis. It was released for the Amiga and Atari ST in 1988, and for the Commodore 64 and MS-DOS in 1989. The game is set on the planet of Draconia, where players are tasked with destroying the planet's defence mechanisms in order to kill the harmful creatures.

The game was designed by David Jones, and was the first game developed by his company DMA Design. First developed in his bedroom at his parents' house, Jones began seeking an official development studio and publisher when the game was nearing completion. He eventually settled upon a publishing deal with Psygnosis, who first published the game in 1988 to positive reviews; praise was given to the game's graphics, sound and gameplay, while criticism was directed at its ports to inferior hardware. The game sold over 20,000 copies.

Gameplay

The player controls an alien space fighter, moving through six stages on the planet of Draconia to advance through the game. Players use the ship's weaponry—lasers and cannons—to attack all advancing enemies,^[1] and defeat the level's boss: a guardian of Draconia.^[2] The six bosses act as Draconia's living defence mechanisms—the planet was created to habituate gruesome and harmful creatures,^[1] of which there are over sixty,^[3] participating in unlawful tasks.^[1] In the game's levels, players discover space debris, which can be converted into upgrades for the ship.^[2] The debris appears as tokens, and grants players additional weapons and upgrades, such as lasers, cannons, and improved ship and weapon power.^[1] The ship also has a shield, which provides temporary protection from enemies; contact with enemies and walls depletes the shields, increasing players' vulnerability to death.^[2]

Development

Game development studio Acme Software was founded in 1987 by David Jones, Russell Kay, Steve Hammond, and Mike Dailly, in Dundee, Scotland. Jones began developing Menace under the working title CopperCon1 in his bedroom at his parents' house^[4] while attending the Dundee Institute of Technology at the time. Jones approached Hewson Consultants to publish the game in 1988; after playing, Andrew Braybrook recommended it to Hewson. When Jones was informed Hewson wanted the game to be the "Amiga version of Zynaps ", he realised sales would be limited and refused to sign the contract. Hewson had already promoted the game in Popular Computing Weekly before the deal was dropped.^[5] After signing a publishing deal with Psygnosis, Acme Software was renamed DMA Design.^[6]

Tony Smith worked on some of the game's backgrounds and graphics,^[5] while Jones designed the levels.^[6] Jones made Menace a side-scrolling game after playing arcade games such as Nemesis (1985) and R-Type (1987).^[7] Smith often re-designed the player ship as Psygnosis could not decide a preference.^[6] The development team faced difficulty porting the game to the Atari ST, due to the hardware's limitations with smooth scrolling. Brian "Biscuit" Watson, who the team met at a computer club in 1984, discovered a technique to overcome this difficulty. Other limitations included the fewer colours available with the hardware, for which Smith adapted his designs.^[6] After completing his own game, Kay was assigned to port Menace to PC.^[8]

During development, the sound effects temporarily consisted of noises by Jones, before being replaced with sounds from Salamander (1986), which Jones recorded as Hammond and Dailly played.^[5] The final sound effects were designed by musician David Whittaker.^[9] Menace's cover art was designed by Ian Craig.^[10]^: 2 The game was known as Draconia until shortly before release, as it was considered too similar to Draconus.^[9]^[11] Psygnosis began distributing Menace in late September 1988;^[12] it was released for the Amiga in October 1988,^[13] the Atari ST in December 1988,^[11] the Commodore 64 in January 1989,^[14] and MS-DOS in December 1989.^[15]

Reception

Review scores
Publication	Score
Computer and Video Games	(ST) 73%^[2]
ACE	(AMI) 678/1000^[16] (PC) 625/1000^[17]
The Games Machine	(AMI) 78%^[18] (PC) 78%^[19] (ST) 75%^[20]
ST/Amiga Format	(AMI) 90%^[3]
Zzap!64	(C64) 49%^[21]

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics upon release, particularly for its gameplay, graphical design, and sound. Criticism was also directed at the game's ports, and the limitations met with the inferior hardware.^[22] Jason Holborn of ST/Amiga Format wrote that the game "provides some of the best arcade action" in an Amiga game.^[3] The game generated a considerable amount of money for DMA Design,^[9] allowing the company to develop more games.^[23] The game sold 20,000 copies,^[24] reportedly generating around £20,000.^[25]

Holborn of ST/Amiga Format called the gameplay "exceptional" and "addictive", stating that players will be "hooked for hours on end".^[3] Ciaran Brennan of Computer and Video Games praised its replayability, writing that it has "enough depth built in to make it last".^[2] Conversely, Zzap!64's Kati Hamza wrote that the gameplay is "rather poor", disliking the pace and level design, and Maff Evans in the same review called it "dull and unrewarding", pointing out the lack of excitement and reward.^[21] The Games Machine condemned the "jerky scrolling" of the PC version,^[19] while Rod Lawton of ACE called the gameplay of the Amiga version "stubbornly 8-bit".^[16]

The game's graphics received positive reactions. Lawton of ACE called them "attractive",^[17] and Holborn of ST/Amiga Format named them "beautifully stomach churning", calling Menace "one of the best presented games available".^[3] While Zzap!64's Hamza felt that the Amiga version was "blessed with nice graphics", she wrote that the Commodore 64 version has "surprisingly weak presentation"; Evans similarly called the graphics "half-baked".^[21] The Games Machine was disappointed by the graphics,^[18] particularly identifying the limited colour capabilities of the Atari ST version.^[20]

Reviewers praised the game's use of sound. ST/Amiga Format's Holborn lauded the soundtrack's appropriation to gameplay, calling it "brilliant", and writing that the game's speech and sound effects enhance the feel of the game.^[3] The Games Machine favourably compared the soundtrack to Xenon (1988),^[18] but noted that the sounds in the Atari ST version are "less clear",^[20] and the PC sound effects are "pathetic".^[19] Zzap!64 called the soundtrack "average", and wrote that the "pathetic [sound] effects add little atmosphere".^[21]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Menace : DMA Design : Free Streaming". Archive.org. Internet Archive. 28 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Brennan, Ciaran (November 1988). Lacey, Eugene (ed.). "Menace". Computer and Video Games (87). Future plc: 40. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Holborn, Jason (November 1988). Taylor, Ben; Williams, Simon (eds.). "Menace" (PDF). ST/Amiga Format (5). Future plc: 48–49. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 3". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 4". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ Wallis, Alistair (21 December 2006). "Playing Catch Up: GTA/Lemmings' Dave Jones". Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 5". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ DMA Design, ed. (1989), Menace Instruction Booklet (PDF), Liverpool: Psygnosis, p. 2, retrieved 5 October 2015
^ ^a ^b "Menace Spring Again..." The Games Machine. No. 13. Newsfield. December 1988. p. 76. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ "News". Enigma Amiga Run. Vol. 2, no. 9. October 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 8. November 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ Leinecker, Richard C. (January 1990). "Menace". Compute!. Vol. 12, no. 116. pp. 106–107. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 8, no. 10. January 1990. p. 22. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ ^a ^b Lawton, Rod (December 1988). Cooke, Steve; Kidd, Graeme (eds.). "Menace". ACE (15). Future plc: 53. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b Cooke, Steve, ed. (November 1989). "Menace". ACE (26). Future plc: 98. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rose, Jon, ed. (December 1988). "Menace Spring Again..." The Games Machine (13). Newsfield Publications: 76. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kean, Roger, ed. (November 1989). "Version Updates: Menace". The Games Machine (24). Newsfield Publications: 85. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rose, Jon, ed. (February 1989). "Menace: Version Update". The Games Machine (15). Newsfield Publications: 28. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hamza, Kati; Evans, Maff (March 1989). Houghton, Gordon (ed.). "Menace". Zzap!64 (47). Newsfield Publications: 20–21. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ McLaughlin, Rus; Thomas, Lucas M. (6 May 2013). "IGN Presents The History of Grand Theft Auto". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
^ Hammond, Steve. "Scottish Games NET 1st Column". Steve Hammond. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 4, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ "Grand Theft Auto V: Games visionary behind Scotland's biggest cultural export". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[Emulator-1] "Menace : DMA Design : Free Streaming". Archive.org. Internet Archive. 28 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[CVG_Review-2] Brennan, Ciaran (November 1988). Lacey, Eugene (ed.). "Menace". Computer and Video Games (87). Future plc: 40. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[STAmiga_Review-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Holborn, Jason (November 1988). Taylor, Ben; Williams, Simon (eds.). "Menace" (PDF). ST/Amiga Format (5). Future plc: 48–49. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[History_1.1-4] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[History_1.3-5] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 3". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[History_1.4-6] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 4". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[Catch_Up-7] Wallis, Alistair (21 December 2006). "Playing Catch Up: GTA/Lemmings' Dave Jones". Gamasutra. UBM plc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[History_2.1-8] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[History_1.5-9] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 5". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[Booklet-10] DMA Design, ed. (1989), Menace Instruction Booklet (PDF), Liverpool: Psygnosis, p. 2, retrieved 5 October 2015

[TGM_13-11] "Menace Spring Again..." The Games Machine. No. 13. Newsfield. December 1988. p. 76. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[Enigma_2-88-12] "News". Enigma Amiga Run. Vol. 2, no. 9. October 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[Computer_7-8-13] "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 7, no. 8. November 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[Compute_C64-14] Leinecker, Richard C. (January 1990). "Menace". Compute!. Vol. 12, no. 116. pp. 106–107. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[Computer_8-10-15] "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer. Vol. 8, no. 10. January 1990. p. 22. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[ACE_Review_AMI-16] Lawton, Rod (December 1988). Cooke, Steve; Kidd, Graeme (eds.). "Menace". ACE (15). Future plc: 53. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[ACE_Review_PC-17] Cooke, Steve, ed. (November 1989). "Menace". ACE (26). Future plc: 98. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[TGM_Review_AMI-18] Rose, Jon, ed. (December 1988). "Menace Spring Again..." The Games Machine (13). Newsfield Publications: 76. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[TGM_Review_PC-19] Kean, Roger, ed. (November 1989). "Version Updates: Menace". The Games Machine (24). Newsfield Publications: 85. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[TGM_Review_ST-20] Rose, Jon, ed. (February 1989). "Menace: Version Update". The Games Machine (15). Newsfield Publications: 28. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[Zzap_Review-21] Hamza, Kati; Evans, Maff (March 1989). Houghton, Gordon (ed.). "Menace". Zzap!64 (47). Newsfield Publications: 20–21. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[IGN_History-22] McLaughlin, Rus; Thomas, Lucas M. (6 May 2013). "IGN Presents The History of Grand Theft Auto". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.

[DMA_Hammond-23] Hammond, Steve. "Scottish Games NET 1st Column". Steve Hammond. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[History_4.1-24] Dailly, Mike (2004). "The History of DMA - Chapter 4, part 1". Mike Dailly. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

[Daily_Record-25] "Grand Theft Auto V: Games visionary behind Scotland's biggest cultural export". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 | artist     = Tony Smith
 | composer   = [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]]
+| released   = {{ubl|'''Amiga'''|October 1988|'''Atari ST'''|December 1988|'''Commodore 64'''|January 1989|'''MS-DOS'''|December 1989}}
-| released   = {{Unbulleted list
-| '''Amiga'''
-| October 1988<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/thegamesmachine-11/page/n13/mode/2up |title=MENACE/Psygnosis |magazine=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=11 |date=October 1988 |publisher=[[Newsfield]] |page=14 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
-| '''Atari ST'''
-| December 1988<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/thegamesmachine-13/page/n75/mode/2up |title=Menace Spring Again... |magazine=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=13 |date=December 1988 |publisher=[[Newsfield]] |page=76 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
-| '''Commodore 64, MS-DOS'''
-| 1989
-}}
 | genre      = [[Scrolling shooter]]
 | modes      = [[Single-player]]
@@ Line 24: / Line 17: @@
 }}
-'''''Menace''''' is a [[Scrolling shooter|horizontally scrolling shooter]] developed by [[DMA Design]] and published by [[Psygnosis]]. It was originally released for the [[Amiga]] in 1988, and was ported for the [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], and [[MS-DOS]] in 1989. The game is set on the planet of Draconia, where players are tasked with destroying the planet's defence mechanisms in order to kill the harmful creatures.
+'''''Menace''''' is a [[Scrolling shooter|horizontally scrolling shooter]] developed by [[DMA Design]] and published by [[Psygnosis]]. It was released for the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]] in 1988, and for the [[Commodore 64]] and [[MS-DOS]] in 1989. The game is set on the planet of Draconia, where players are tasked with destroying the planet's defence mechanisms in order to kill the harmful creatures.
-The game was designed by [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]], and was the first game developed by his company DMA Design. First developed in his bedroom at his parents' house, Jones began seeking an official development studio and publisher when the game was nearing completion. He eventually settled upon a publishing deal with Psygnosis, who first published the game in 1988 to positive reviews; praise was given to the game's graphics, sound and gameplay, while criticism was directed at its ports to inferior hardware. The game was commercially successful, selling over 20,000 copies.
+The game was designed by [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]], and was the first game developed by his company DMA Design. First developed in his bedroom at his parents' house, Jones began seeking an official development studio and publisher when the game was nearing completion. He eventually settled upon a publishing deal with Psygnosis, who first published the game in 1988 to positive reviews; praise was given to the game's graphics, sound and gameplay, while criticism was directed at its ports to inferior hardware. The game sold over 20,000 copies.
 ==Gameplay==
@@ Line 34: / Line 27: @@
 == Development ==
-[[DMA Design]] was founded in 1987 by [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]], Russell Kay, Steve Hammond and [[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]], in [[Dundee]], Scotland. Originally working under the name Acme Software, they began developing games for the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Amiga]]. Jones began developing ''Menace'' under the working title ''CopperCon1'', in his bedroom at his parents' house.<ref name="History 1.1"/> He was attending the [[Abertay University|Dundee Institute of Technology]] at the time. To publish the game in 1988, Jones first approached [[Hewson Consultants]], where [[Andrew Braybrook]] played the game and recommended it to Hewson. When Jones was informed that Hewson wanted the game to be the "Amiga version of ''[[Zynaps]]''", he realised that sales would be limited, and refused to sign the contract; despite this, Hewson had already promoted the game in ''[[Popular Computing Weekly]]'', before the deal was officially dropped.<ref name="History 1.3"/> After signing a publishing deal with [[Psygnosis]], Acme Software was renamed DMA Design.<ref name="History 1.4"/>
+Game development studio Acme Software was founded in 1987 by [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]], Russell Kay, Steve Hammond, and [[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]], in [[Dundee]], Scotland. Jones began developing ''Menace'' under the working title ''CopperCon1'' in his bedroom at his parents' house<ref name="History 1.1"/> while attending the [[Dundee Institute of Technology]] at the time. Jones approached [[Hewson Consultants]] to publish the game in 1988; after playing, [[Andrew Braybrook]] recommended it to Hewson. When Jones was informed Hewson wanted the game to be the "Amiga version of ''[[Zynaps]]''{{hsp}}", he realised sales would be limited and refused to sign the contract. Hewson had already promoted the game in ''[[Popular Computing Weekly]]'' before the deal was dropped.<ref name="History 1.3"/> After signing a publishing deal with [[Psygnosis]], Acme Software was renamed [[DMA Design]].<ref name="History 1.4"/>
-Tony Smith worked on some of the game's backgrounds and graphics,<ref name="History 1.3"/> while Jones designed the levels.<ref name="History 1.4"/> Jones decided for ''Menace'' to be a side-scrolling game after playing arcade games such as ''[[Gradius (video game)|Nemesis]]'' (1985) and ''[[R-Type]]'' (1987).<ref name="Catch Up"/> Psygnosis could not decide a preference for the design of the player ship; as a result, Smith often re-designed the ship with many variations.<ref name="History 1.4"/> The team found difficulty porting the game to the [[Atari ST]], due to the hardware's limitations with smooth scrolling. Brian "Biscuit" Watson, who the team met at a computer club in 1984, discovered a technique to overcome this difficulty. Other limitations included the fewer colours available with the hardware; Smith adapted his designs accordingly.<ref name="History 1.4"/> After completing his own game, Kay was assigned to port ''Menace'' to PC.<ref name="History 2.1"/> During development, the sound effects were temporarily replaced with those from ''[[Salamander (video game)|Salamander]]'' (1986); Jones recorded the sound effects from the game, as Hammond and Dailly played. Prior to this, the temporary sound effects consisted of noises by Jones.<ref name="History 1.3"/> The game's final sound effects were designed by musician [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]].<ref name="History 1.5"/> The cover art was designed by Ian Craig.<ref>{{citation |title=Menace ''Instruction Booklet'' |editor=[[DMA Design]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |location=[[Liverpool]] |year=1989 |page=2 |url=http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_Amiga/manual/Formated/Menace_-_1988_-_Psygnosis_Limited.pdf |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> At the end of development, the game was known as ''Draconia'', before being renamed to ''Menace'' shortly before release, upon discovering that another game had the same title.<ref name="History 1.5"/>
+Tony Smith worked on some of the game's backgrounds and graphics,<ref name="History 1.3"/> while Jones designed the levels.<ref name="History 1.4"/> Jones made ''Menace'' a side-scrolling game after playing arcade games such as ''[[Gradius (video game)|Nemesis]]'' (1985) and ''[[R-Type]]'' (1987).<ref name="Catch Up"/> Smith often re-designed the player ship as Psygnosis could not decide a preference.<ref name="History 1.4"/> The development team faced difficulty porting the game to the [[Atari ST]], due to the hardware's limitations with smooth scrolling. Brian "Biscuit" Watson, who the team met at a computer club in 1984, discovered a technique to overcome this difficulty. Other limitations included the fewer colours available with the hardware, for which Smith adapted his designs.<ref name="History 1.4"/> After completing his own game, Kay was assigned to port ''Menace'' to PC.<ref name="History 2.1"/>
+During development, the sound effects temporarily consisted of noises by Jones, before being replaced with sounds from ''[[Salamander (video game)|Salamander]]'' (1986), which Jones recorded as Hammond and Dailly played.<ref name="History 1.3"/> The final sound effects were designed by musician [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]].<ref name="History 1.5"/> ''Menace''{{'}}s cover art was designed by Ian Craig.<ref name="Booklet"/>{{rp|p=2}} The game was known as ''Draconia'' until shortly before release, as it was considered too similar to ''[[Draconus]]''.<ref name="History 1.5"/><ref name="TGM 13"/> Psygnosis began distributing ''Menace'' in late September 1988;<ref name="Enigma 2-88"/> it was released for the [[Amiga]] in October 1988,<ref name="Computer 7-8"/> the Atari ST in December 1988,<ref name="TGM 13"/> the [[Commodore 64]] in January 1989,<ref name="Compute C64"/> and [[MS-DOS]] in December 1989.<ref name="Computer 8-10"/>
 == Reception ==
 {{Video game reviews
+| CVG        = ({{abbr|ST|Atari ST}}) 73%<ref name="CVG Review"/>
-| CVG        = (ST) 73%<ref name="CVG Review">{{cite journal|title=Menace |page=40 |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=87 |date=November 1988 |last=Brennan |first=Ciaran |editor-last=Lacey |editor-first=Eugene |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-087/CVG_087_Jan_1989#page/n39/mode/1up |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319125722/https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-087/CVG_087_Jan_1989 |archive-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 | rev1       = ''[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]]''
+| rev1Score  = ({{abbr|AMI|Amiga}}) 678/1000<ref name="ACE Review AMI"/><br />(PC) 625/1000<ref name="ACE Review PC"/>
-| rev1Score  = (AMI) 678/1000<ref name="ACE Review AMI">{{cite journal |title=Menace |page=53 |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |issue=15 |date=December 1988 |last=Lawton |first=Rod |editor-last1=Cooke |editor-first1=Steve |editor-last2=Kidd |editor-first2=Graeme |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-15/ACE_Issue_15_1988_Dec#page/n52/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref><br />(PC) 625/1000<ref name="ACE Review PC">{{cite journal |title=Menace |page=98 |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |issue=26 |date=November 1989 |editor-last=Cooke |editor-first=Steve |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-26/ACE_Issue_26_1989_Nov#page/n97/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 | rev2       = ''[[The Games Machine]]''
+| rev2Score  = (AMI) 78%<ref name="TGM Review AMI"/><br />(PC) 78%<ref name="TGM Review PC"/><br />(ST) 75%<ref name="TGM Review ST"/>
-| rev2Score  = (AMI) 78%<ref name="TGM Review AMI">{{cite journal |title=Menace Spring Again... |page=76 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=13 |date=December 1988 |editor-last=Rose |editor-first=Jon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-13/TheGamesMachine_13#page/n75/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref><br />(PC) 78%<ref name="TGM Review PC">{{cite journal |title=Version Updates: Menace |page=85 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=24 |date=November 1989 |editor-last=Kean |editor-first=Roger |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/the-games-machine-24/TheGamesMachine24#page/n84/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref><br />(ST) 75%<ref name="TGM Review ST">{{cite journal |title=Menace: Version Update |page=28 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=15 |date=February 1989 |editor-last=Rose |editor-first=Jon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-15/TheGamesMachine_15#page/n27/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 | rev3       = ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]''
+| rev3Score  = (AMI) 90%<ref name="STAmiga Review"/>
-| rev3Score  = (AMI) 90%<ref name="STAmiga Review">{{cite journal |title=Menace |pages=48–49 |journal=[[ST/Amiga Format]] |issue=5 |date=November 1988 |last=Holborn |first=Jason |editor-last1=Taylor |editor-first1=Ben |editor-last2=Williams |editor-first2=Simon |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/st-amiga-format-issue-05.pdf |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 | rev4       = ''[[Zzap!64]]''
+| rev4Score  = ({{abbr|C64|Commodore 64}}) 49%<ref name="Zzap Review"/>
-| rev4Score  = (C64) 49%<ref name="Zzap Review">{{cite journal |title=Menace |pages=20–21 |journal=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=47 |date=March 1989 |last1=Hamza |first1=Kati |last2=Evans |first2=Maff |editor-last=Houghton |editor-first=Gordon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=047&page=020&magazine=zzap |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 }}
-The game received mostly positive reviews from critics upon release, particularly for its gameplay, graphical design, and sound. Criticism was also directed at the game's ports, and the limitations met with the inferior hardware.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |title=IGN Presents The History of Grand Theft Auto |last1=McLaughlin |first=Rus |last2=Thomas |first2=Lucas M. |publisher=[[IGN]]. [[Ziff Davis]] |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=4 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200207/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jason Holborn of ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]'' wrote that the game "provides some of the best arcade action" in an Amiga game.<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> The game generated a considerable amount of money for DMA Design,<ref name="History 1.5"/> allowing the company to develop more games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmadesign.net/manual-override/scottish-games-net-1st-column/ |title=Scottish Games NET 1st Column |last=Hammond |first=Steve |publisher=Steve Hammond |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194635/http://www.dmadesign.net/manual-override/scottish-games-net-1st-column/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The game sold 20,000 copies,<ref name="History 4.1"/> reportedly generating around £20,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/video-games/video-games-news/grand-theft-auto-v-games-2275673 |title=Grand Theft Auto V: Games visionary behind Scotland's biggest cultural export |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]] |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003021106/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/video-games/video-games-news/grand-theft-auto-v-games-2275673 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+The game received mostly positive reviews from critics upon release, particularly for its gameplay, graphical design, and sound. Criticism was also directed at the game's ports, and the limitations met with the inferior hardware.<ref name="IGN History"/> Jason Holborn of ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]'' wrote that the game "provides some of the best arcade action" in an Amiga game.<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> The game generated a considerable amount of money for DMA Design,<ref name="History 1.5"/> allowing the company to develop more games.<ref name="DMA Hammond"/> The game sold 20,000 copies,<ref name="History 4.1"/> reportedly generating around {{GBP|20,000}}.<ref name="Daily Record"/>
 Holborn of ''ST/Amiga Format'' called the gameplay "exceptional" and "addictive", stating that players will be "hooked for hours on end".<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> Ciaran Brennan of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' praised its replayability, writing that it has "enough depth built in to make it last".<ref name="CVG Review"/> Conversely, ''[[Zzap!64]]''{{'}}s Kati Hamza wrote that the gameplay is "rather poor", disliking the pace and level design, and Maff Evans in the same review called it "dull and unrewarding", pointing out the lack of excitement and reward.<ref name="Zzap Review"/> ''[[The Games Machine]]'' condemned the "jerky scrolling" of the PC version,<ref name="TGM Review PC"/> while Rod Lawton of ''[[ACE (magazine)|ACE]]'' called the gameplay of the Amiga version "stubbornly 8-bit".<ref name="ACE Review AMI"/>
@@ Line 61: / Line 56: @@
 == References ==
 {{reflist|refs=
+<ref name="Emulator">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_Menace_1989 |title=Menace : DMA Design : Free Streaming |work=Archive.org |publisher=[[Internet Archive]] |date=28 December 2014 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6c0KKsnZ5?url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_Menace_1989 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+<!-- Development -->
+<ref name="Booklet>{{citation |title=Menace ''Instruction Booklet'' |editor=[[DMA Design]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |location=[[Liverpool]] |year=1989 |page=2 |url=http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_Amiga/manual/Formated/Menace_-_1988_-_Psygnosis_Limited.pdf |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 <ref name="Catch Up">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/103142/Playing_Catch_Up_GTALemmings_Dave_Jones.php |title=Playing Catch Up: GTA/Lemmings' Dave Jones |last=Wallis |first=Alistair |work=[[Gamasutra]] |publisher=[[UBM plc]] |date=21 December 2006 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709143954/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/103142/Playing_Catch_Up_GTALemmings_Dave_Jones.php |archive-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
-<ref name="Emulator">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_Menace_1989 |title=Menace : DMA Design : Free Streaming |work=Archive.org |publisher=[[Internet Archive]] |date=28 December 2014 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6c0KKsnZ5?url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_Menace_1989 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+<ref name="Compute C64">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_compute_1990-01_12_116/page/n117/mode/2up |title=Menace |last=Leinecker |first=Richard C. |pages=106–107 |magazine=[[Compute!]] |volume=12 |issue=116 |date=January 1990 |accessdate=10 July 2024 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
+<ref name="Computer 7-8">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/computer-entertainer-7-8/page/n11/mode/2up |title=Availability Update |page=14 |magazine=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=7 |issue=8 |date=November 1989 |accessdate=10 July 2024 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
+<ref name="Computer 8-10">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/ComputerEntertainerJanuary1990/page/n21/mode/2up |title=Availability Update |page=22 |magazine=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=8 |issue=10 |date=January 1990 |accessdate=10 July 2024 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
+<ref name="Enigma 2-88">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/enigma-n.-9-anno-ii-ottobre-1988/page/n13/mode/2up |title=News |page=12 |magazine=[[:fr:Enigma Amiga Run|Enigma Amiga Run]] |volume=2 |issue=9 |date=October 1998 |accessdate=10 July 2024 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 1.1">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092442/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_1.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 1.3">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_3.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 3 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062006/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_3.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 1.4">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_4.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 4 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062014/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_4.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 1.5">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_5.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 1, part 5 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312235121/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA1_5.htm |archive-date=12 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 2.1">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=5 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062019/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_1.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 <ref name="History 4.1">{{cite web|url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA4_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 4, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200848/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA4_1.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+<ref name="TGM 13">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/thegamesmachine-13/page/n75/mode/2up |title=Menace Spring Again... |magazine=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=13 |publisher=[[Newsfield]] |page=76 |date=December 1988 |accessdate=10 July 2024 |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
+<!-- Reception -->
+<ref name="ACE Review AMI">{{cite journal |title=Menace |page=53 |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |issue=15 |date=December 1988 |last=Lawton |first=Rod |editor-last1=Cooke |editor-first1=Steve |editor-last2=Kidd |editor-first2=Graeme |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-15/ACE_Issue_15_1988_Dec#page/n52/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="ACE Review PC">{{cite journal |title=Menace |page=98 |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |issue=26 |date=November 1989 |editor-last=Cooke |editor-first=Steve |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-26/ACE_Issue_26_1989_Nov#page/n97/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="CVG Review">{{cite journal|title=Menace |page=40 |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=87 |date=November 1988 |last=Brennan |first=Ciaran |editor-last=Lacey |editor-first=Eugene |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-087/CVG_087_Jan_1989#page/n39/mode/1up |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319125722/https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-087/CVG_087_Jan_1989 |archive-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="Daily Record">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/video-games/video-games-news/grand-theft-auto-v-games-2275673 |title=Grand Theft Auto V: Games visionary behind Scotland's biggest cultural export |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]] |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003021106/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/video-games/video-games-news/grand-theft-auto-v-games-2275673 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+<ref name="DMA Hammond">{{cite web|url=http://www.dmadesign.net/manual-override/scottish-games-net-1st-column/ |title=Scottish Games NET 1st Column |last=Hammond |first=Steve |publisher=Steve Hammond |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194635/http://www.dmadesign.net/manual-override/scottish-games-net-1st-column/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+<ref name="IGN History">{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |title=IGN Presents The History of Grand Theft Auto |last1=McLaughlin |first=Rus |last2=Thomas |first2=Lucas M. |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=6 May 2013 |access-date=4 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200207/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/06/ign-presents-the-history-of-grand-theft-auto-2 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+<ref name="STAmiga Review">{{cite journal |title=Menace |pages=48–49 |journal=[[ST/Amiga Format]] |issue=5 |date=November 1988 |last=Holborn |first=Jason |editor-last1=Taylor |editor-first1=Ben |editor-last2=Williams |editor-first2=Simon |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/st-amiga-format-issue-05.pdf |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="TGM Review AMI">{{cite journal |title=Menace Spring Again... |page=76 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=13 |date=December 1988 |editor-last=Rose |editor-first=Jon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-13/TheGamesMachine_13#page/n75/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="TGM Review PC">{{cite journal |title=Version Updates: Menace |page=85 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=24 |date=November 1989 |editor-last=Kean |editor-first=Roger |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/the-games-machine-24/TheGamesMachine24#page/n84/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="TGM Review ST">{{cite journal |title=Menace: Version Update |page=28 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=15 |date=February 1989 |editor-last=Rose |editor-first=Jon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-15/TheGamesMachine_15#page/n27/mode/1up |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+<ref name="Zzap Review">{{cite journal |title=Menace |pages=20–21 |journal=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=47 |date=March 1989 |last1=Hamza |first1=Kati |last2=Evans |first2=Maff |editor-last=Houghton |editor-first=Gordon |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=047&page=020&magazine=zzap |access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
 }}
 {{Rockstar North}}
 [[Category:1988 video games]]
 [[Category:Amiga games]]
 [[Category:Atari ST games]]
 [[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
+[[Category:DMA Design games]]
 [[Category:DOS games]]
 [[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
-[[Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker]]
-[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]
 [[Category:Psygnosis games]]
-[[Category:DMA Design games]]
 [[Category:Single-player video games]]
 [[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker]]
+[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]