In the eighth episode of Deep Cuts, BastichB delves into two often-overlooked Commodore 64 shoot’em up games: Wavy Navy and Insects in Space.
Wavy Navy, designed by Rodney McAuley and published by Sirius Software in 1983, was originally released for the Apple II, with versions for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64 following shortly after. Set against a nautical backdrop, this fixed shooter stands out with its unique mechanic of controlling a PT boat that moves not only horizontally but also vertically, as it rides dynamic ocean waves that change in direction and speed with each level. While some praised this wave mechanic for adding a fresh twist, others felt it was too reminiscent of games like Galaxian.
Insects in Space, released by Hewson in 1991, is a side-scrolling shooter similar to Defender. In the game’s bizarre and darkly humorous premise, a race of insects has wiped out nearly all human life on Earth, sparing only a few babies. The player takes on the role of St. Helen, the mystical leader of motherhood, who embarks on a mission to save the remaining infants from the insect invaders.
