I used to be underneath the impression {that a} black version of the Trojan Phazer Gentle Gun for the Amiga by no means existed. In truth, even discovering dependable details about the white/gray model has been difficult. Nevertheless, in 2022, I lastly got here throughout an entire field set on a Danish Amiga Fb web page. I knew I had to purchase it, however there was one challenge—the vendor both wasn’t keen to ship overseas or wasn’t eager on coping with the effort and further prices of transport to Norway.
SHE GAVE ME THAT LOOK!
I’ve been led to consider that there by no means was a black version of the Trojan Phazer Gentle Gun for the Amiga. Heck, discovering details about the white/gray gun has confirmed troublesome, however I lastly discovered an entire field set in 2022 on a Danish Amiga Fb web page. I simply had to purchase it, however there was one drawback, the vendor didn’t need to ship overseas or a mixture of that and the fee.
buddy of mine in Denmark (Hello Povl) helped me with shopping for the merchandise, it was shipped to him and he saved it protected for a very long time, as we had already deliberate that I’d go to him that yr, in good custom – I forgot all about shopping for this and once we visited my buddy Denmark I obtained a bit stunned as I remembered among the video games he had purchased for me, however not this massive Trojan Phazer field and my girlfriend naturally gave me the seems and a face that stated ” EVEN MORE GAMES? ”
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
The journey again from Denmark took a bit longer than I had hoped—not due to my girlfriend’s response, however just because I used to be desperate to take a more in-depth have a look at the video games I had picked up. There have been loads of price range titles I barely remembered him deciding on for me, together with some extremely uncommon Danish-exclusive releases. And naturally, the Trojan Phazer massive field, nonetheless unopened and ready to be explored.
The following few days have been principally full of household actions—it was summer season trip, in any case. Nonetheless, each time I discovered a uncommon second alone (which wasn’t usually), I couldn’t resist sneaking a peek on the field of video games. Surprisingly sufficient, regardless of glancing on the Trojan Phazer field numerous occasions earlier than I even obtained house, I by no means actually stopped to consider what it truly contained. So, after I lastly opened it, the shock was monumental…
IT’S BLACK, A BIG BLACK MAGNUM GUN!
That is odd—the Trojan Phazer weapons I already personal are white, and I distinctly bear in mind studying in outdated magazines that black mild weapons have been not going to be offered. Up till now, I had all the time believed there was by no means an Amiga or 16-bit model of the black Magnum mild gun. But, right here it was, wanting an identical to the white one—although I’ll get into that extra quickly.
My preliminary response was that this needed to be a mistake—maybe a earlier proprietor had swapped out the unique white gun for a black one. However then I observed one thing curious: each picture on the field, handbook, and even the again of the packaging featured a black gun.
May or not it’s that the field and handbook are from the 8-bit period and that’s why the gun is black in all the photographs? Each sure and no, the bottom of the field exhibits 16-bit unique video games and the handbook can be not screaming multiformat or reuse of outdated materials.
One other factor that was nice to lastly put in stone was that each Orbital Destroyer and Skeet Shoot have been pack-in titles with The Trojan Phazer (as seen on the field and inside).
THE TROJAN PHAZER AKA THE MAGNUM PHASER AKA THE SEGA LIGHT PHASER…
From the restricted data I’ve been capable of collect, the Magnum was initially launched in 1987 as the primary mild gun for the Spectrum, branded because the Sinclair Magnum Gentle Phaser. It was later rebranded for the Commodore C64 underneath the identify Amstrad Magnum Gentle Phaser.
Curiously, it bears a hanging resemblance to the Sega Grasp System Gentle Phaser, which debuted a yr earlier in 1986.
One other element price noting is that the unique Magnum mild gun makes use of an RS232 connector. Moreover, the Atari ST/E model incorporates a white gun and connects by way of a Serial port, not like the Amiga model, which makes use of a 9-pin joystick connector.
Whereas I can’t say for sure, it appears seemingly that somebody acquired Sega’s Gentle Phaser mould and rebadged it—almost certainly Amstrad, as they seem to have been the producer from round 1987.
Virgin Mastertronic additionally seems in each commercial I might discover, suggesting they might have been the distributor for all variations. Piece by piece, the puzzle is beginning to come collectively.
TESTING THE MAGNUM PHASER, AND THE TROJAN PHAZER…
At this level, my fundamental query was—if this isn’t the unique gun, does it even work with the Amiga and its video games?
To seek out out, I began with Skeet Shoot, one of many bundled video games. Inside seconds, the gun was calibrated and labored precisely as anticipated—or extra precisely, similar to the Trojan Phazer.
I hoped to search out not less than some variations between the 2 fashions, however after testing each, the one noticeable distinction was the colour and stickers. Functionally, they have been an identical.
The explanations behind the Trojan Phazer’s lack of success are multi-faceted, however the largest challenge turns into clear each time I exploit it: it’s simply not satisfying. The gun feels awkward to carry, and it lacks the standard you’d count on from a well-made product. Whereas Nintendo had Duck Hunt and a well-designed mild gun, the Amiga obtained Skeet Shoot. The idea appears good in principle, however in execution, it falls brief. The simplistic gameplay, paired with irritating graphics that hinder aiming and hit detection, makes it exhausting to get pleasure from. There’s no attraction or humor to carry the expertise—only a repetitive cycle that loses its attraction nearly immediately.
Which Video games Are Appropriate With The Trojan Phazer?
The massive query I all the time get after I discuss Gentle Gun video games on the Amiga is after all – Which Video games does it help?
- Aliex (Trojan, 1990)
- Cyber Assault (Trojan, 1991)
- Die Exhausting 2 (Grandslam, 1992)
- Enforcer, The (Trojan, 1991)
- Firestar (Trojan, 1991)
- Operation Thunderbolt (Ocean, 1989) *
- Operation Wolf (Ocean, 1988) *
- Orbital Destroyer (Trojan, 1990) (This was the second pack-in title with the Trojan Phazer!)
- Skeet Shoot (Trojan, 1991) (This was the primary pack-in title with the Trojan Phazer!)
- House Gun (Ocean, 1992)
I examined all of those over the weekend and may affirm that they work flawlessly with WHDLoad. Nevertheless, Operation Wolf and Operation Thunderbolt require the newest WHDLoad replace and fan-made installs from 2022 to perform correctly. I additionally examined a lot of the video games from floppy on the A1200, however sadly, most wouldn’t run with out RELOCKICK. For the very best compatibility, it’s greatest to make use of both an actual Amiga 500 or WHDLoad.
Which Video games Do Not Work With This then?
I don’t personal the Actionware Phaser, the Loriciel Westphaser, or the Golem Gentle Gun, however right here’s what I do know:
The Actionware Phaser bears a robust resemblance to the Sega Grasp System Gentle Gun—very similar to the Trojan Phazer and Magnum Phaser. Nevertheless, there are compatibility points with sure video games. I distinctly bear in mind taking part in P.O.W. and Capone with the Trojan Gentle Phazer years in the past, however they not appear to work. There could also be a WHDLoad patch or one other repair, and if I come throughout extra particulars, I’ll replace this put up.
The Golem Gentle Gun is one other intriguing case—it seemingly appeared out of nowhere in 2019.
Then there’s the West Phaser (often known as the Loriciel Phaser), designed to resemble a revolver. I’ve by no means encountered one in individual, and just like the Golem Gentle Gun, data on it’s scarce.
Listed here are the video games out there for the non-Trojan Gentle Gun fashions:
Actionware Phaser
Golem mild gun
Loriciel (West Phaser) mild gun
I hope that help will finally be added for all mild gun video games. I haven’t regarded into the precise adjustments wanted to make them work, however contemplating that somebody managed to get Operation Wolf and Operation Thunderbolt operating, there’s actually hope.
The Trojan Phazer / Magnum Phaser verdict, 12 years later…
You’re most likely acquainted with my outdated article—not a lot has modified since then, except for a number of new video games and this newly found gun. Nevertheless, throughout my analysis, I did come throughout some attention-grabbing particulars that have been new to me, and I’ve tried to incorporate all of them right here. Sadly, there are nonetheless many gaps within the data, and I really feel there’s rather a lot left to uncover. I haven’t been capable of observe down anybody who labored at Trojan Merchandise again then, and the identical goes for AMSTRAD.
The spotlight of my analysis into Trojan Merchandise has been elevating consciousness about mild gun help for the Amiga. What’s even crazier is that I’ve come throughout 4 totally different options, and plenty of of you most likely didn’t even know one existed—not less than, not till my first article on the topic. Whereas it wasn’t precisely a significant milestone for the Amiga within the late 80s, it might have been if the weapons had supported extra video games and acquired higher protection in magazines and elsewhere.
Was the Magnum Phaser ever formally launched for the Amiga? Who is aware of. It does work, and it differs from the Spectrum and C64 variations when it comes to the cable, connector, and aspect stickers, however past that, there’s little concrete data.
The spotlight of writing this text, although, was discovering that the WHDLoad workforce had added help for different video games. As anticipated, these two video games are far superior to the complete Trojan Merchandise sport library.
PS:
Supply Materials: A few of the Photos are loaned from Flickr, Corridor Of Gentle and eBay, with no intention of stealing or taking credit score. Photos of the field are from my very own assortment. Compatibility lists are from Wikipedia.
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