Saigon Combat Unit is a sideways scrolling game in a similar mould to Green Beret, and was a budget release due from Zeppelin games. A C64 version was actually being developed, and this was confirmed by instructions from the released Spectrum version from the World Of Spectrum website.
We also have credit details for the C64 version, which lists Craig Wight as the developer and graphic artist. Music was being done by Sonic Graffiti, so likely to have been done by Gerard Gourley – sadly nothing in HVSC which resembles the Spectrum tunes also done by Sonic Graffiti.
The game got a mixed reception on both the Spectrum and Amstrad, but still this would be good to try and find and recover. What exactly happened to the C64 conversion? Did Craig hit any problems?
We hope to find out more soon!
Contributions: Marco, World of Spectrum
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Instructions from Spectrum version, which detail the story and bits for the C64:
SAIGON COMBAT UNIT
In a daring suicide mission the evil Viet Cong, have destroyed the US marine Corp Headquarters in Saigon.
Most of your comrades and many innocent civilians were killed or wounded in the terrible attack, worse still your C.O. has been captured by the enemy. You must rescue the officer before he is forced to reveal our plans to his captors.
This mission will be extremely difficult. But when you signed up for the SAIGON COMBAT UNIT no one told you it would be easy.
Suitable for 48K,128K,+2,+2a and +3
(C)1989
SAIGON COMBAT UNIT
LOADING THE GAME
SPECTRUM 48K: Rewind the tape to the beginning of side A. Type LOAD “” (ENTER) then press play on the tape deck.
SPECTRUM 128K: Rewind the tape to the beginning of side A. Select the LOADER option from the menu then press play on the tape deck.
AMSTRAD CPC 464: Rewind the tape to the beginning of side A. Hold down CTRL and tap the small ENTER key then press play on the tape deck.
AMSTRAD CPC 664, 6128: Rewind the tape to the beginning of side A. Type | (Shifted @) TAPE (ENTER) the type RUN*(ENTER).
COMMODORE 64/128: Rewind the tape to the beginning of side A. Hold down SHIFT and tap the RUN/STOP key then press play on the tape deck. 128K owners ensure that your machine is in 64K mode.
Once you have completed the first part of your mission you will be provided with a password. When this occurs reset the computer and load the game from the B side of the cassette. You will then be prompted to enter the password. You can not play this second ‘city’ mission until part one has been completed.
THE STORY
In a daring suicide raid the evil Viet-Cong have destroyed the Hard Core United States Marine Corp headquarters in Saigon. Most of your comrades and many innocent civilians were killed or wounded In the terrible attack, worse still your C.0 has been captured by the enemy.
Your mission is to rescue the officer before he is forced to reveal our plans to his captors. This mission will be extremely difficult. But when you signed up for the SAIGON COMBAT UNIT, no one told you it would be easy.
THE GAME
You must rescue your commanding officer, from the clutches of the evil Viet-Cong. In each stage of your mission you will be awarded coins for each VC soldier you kill, which must be collected. These coins may be traded for additional weaponry, grenades, extra ammunition or first aid kits at the trading posts dotted around the picturesque Vietnameese country side. Avoid enemy mines (they remain invisible until you are next to them), water and holes. Contact with enemy bullets or soldiers will drain your strength.
CONTROLS
KEYBOARD: JOYSTICK:
Q : JUMP UP : JUMP
A : CROUCH DOWN : CROUCH
O : WALK LEFT LEFT: WALK LEFT
P : WALK RIGHT RIGHT : WALK RIGHT
SPACE : FIRE WEAPON FIRE : FIRE WEAPON
RETURN : SMART/ BOMB GRENADE
H : HOLD/PAUSE
X : QUIT GAME
Use the following combinations to obtoin these additional moves:
UP/FIRE : JUMP and FIRE WEAPON
DOWN/FIRE : CROUCH and FIRE WEAPON
WALK/UP/FIRE : FIRE WEAPON DIAGONAL UP and WALK
WALK/DOWN/FIRE : FIRE WEAPON DIAGONAL DOWN and WALK
UP/WALK: DIAGONAL JUMP
SAIGON COMBAT UNIT CREDITS
ORIGINAL CONCEPT: SIMON DANIELS
Z80 VERSIONS: OPTIMUS SOFTWARE
CODE: NEIL HILL
GRAPHICS: ADRIAN LUDLEY
C64 CODE AND GRAPHICS: CRAIG WIGHT
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE: SONIC GRAFFITI
AY MUSIC CONVERSION: ANDY SEVERN
STORY, TEXTUALS AND SHOTS: SIMON DANIELS
ARTWORK & LOGO: JON CLARK
INLAY PRODUCTION: SI & STEVE T
MASTERING: KEVIN PARKER
MAIL ORDER: BELINDA
THIS PRODUCT WAS DUPLICATED, PRINTED AND ASSEMBLED, BY THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE OF THE INTERCEPTOR GROUP, ALDERMASTON, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND.
Check you local stockist for future titles.
(C) 1989 Players Premier.
All unauthorised copying, hiring, lending or public hanging of this software or packaging is extremely illegal, so don’t do it. Okay!
Just in case you didn’t know. Players Premier is a division of the Interceptor Group.
