Codename MAT II

Codename MAT II Developer Brian Jobling Company Publisher Domark Musician None Release 1985 Platform(s) CPC, ZX Spectrum Genre Shoot-em-up OS Game Modes 1 Player Controls Media Language Information

Following on from the success of the previous game in the series, Codename MAT II pushes a greater emphasis on to the strategy element that made the first game so popular with mixed results.

Inlay Text

The red planet Vesta contains the most precious lift-giving substance in the universe: Karillium. For many light years the inhabitants of the planet have peacefully mined and despatched Karillium to the free colonies of the Solar System, but now the evil Myons have returned to destroy Vesta and its Karillium mines. MAT is sent in his sophisticated fighting machine to defend the planet and its satellites from attack and restore law and order in space.

Loading screen

In-Game Screenshot

Videos

None

Ratings

CMII still received fairly good reports from the reviewers of the time. Amstrad Action were clearly impressed that Domark had improved the failings of Micromega's earlier game stating that "this is certainly an improvement on the original MAT, with better combat graphics and more ship functions. There still isn't much out there in space but this war of attrition is pretty testing"

Amtix bemoaned that the game was "not the fresh new idea that its predecessor was, in fact there are quite a lot of similarities between the two games... but the gameplay is pretty good. The player is under quite a lot of pressure, especially when the enemy numbers start to increase and you have to repair damage to your ship. Well worth buying if you are a space strategy shoot-em-up fan without Codename Mat the first."

AA:	Issue 02 (Nov '85)	Page 47-48	74%
Amtix:	Issue 02 (Dec '85)	Page 41	72%

Cheat Mode

None

Prequels / Sequels

• 1. Codename MAT (1984)
• 2. Codename MAT II (1985)

Compilations & Re-releases

• Re-released as a budget title on the Bug-Byte label (1987)
• Appeared on Now Games 3 from Virgin Games in 1986
• Appeared on The Thriller Pack from Paxman Productions (1987)

Trivia

• As with its predecessor, Codename MAT II was originally written by Derek Brewster. The game was converted to the CPC by a then 14 year-old Brian Jobling who would go on to form Zeppelin Games with Brewster.

Downloads & Materials

• Codename MAT II
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  Cover

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  Re-Release Cover

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  Playing Manual

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  ACU Review

Links

• Codename MAT II at CPC-Power
• Codename MAT II at The Amstrad CPC Games Resource
• Codename MAT II at the English-language Wikipedia
• World of Spectrum: Link to World of Spectrum