If you’ve ever played a Gradius-style game, or at least a sidescrollin’ shooter on the Amiga; it’s a sure-fire bet for what you’re getting yourself into, retrobates. But most importantly? It’s bladdy good stuff! Fair, addictive and supremely enjoyable. Super responsive and a decent pace is exactly where the game sets you off, with the difficulty level obviously progressing with you as a player. Never does it feel cheap, never does it feel ‘off’. Exactly what a good blaster should be! Speaking of Gradius and the like, the power-up system is very much based directly on such. Thus only seconds in a seasoned shooter fan knows what’s up, but entry-level enough for those coming in completely fresh. Kill an enemy, collect the flowery remains. Boom, done. The playability is freakin’ immense, which is always something difficult to put across in words for a written review. To play, is to know. This is a good’un, y’all. Haphazard clone, this is not.

Graphically speaking, the game is the complete package. Super cool sprites, smooth scrolling…It’s all here as you want and need it to be. The art of the game is impeccable. That simple. With remarkable use of the Amiga’s amazing colour palette and expertly crafted, highly-detailed sprites (with a surprising sense of realism, even) is just enough to get any gamers heart racing. Easily one of the most awesome looking shooters of the 16-bit era and a prime example of the system being used correctly. Literally, you can show this off to your friends and feel all snide. In fact, I remember just doing that as a kid. I loved this game, much of that coming purely from the look and feel. It was unique. Yes, there’s been a fair few nature/eco-shooters over the years, but Apidya is just something wholly special. Absolutely beautiful from start to finish. As you buzz and blast your way through the fields on the opening stages, fighting bosses such as a mole and a mantis; to rocking it in more surreal and roboticised fantasy environments towards the games close. Amazing. Also, while Kaiko were obviously leaning to that ‘unreleased’ Japanese effect, this is still a title that you can feel is Euro. The sensibilities remain.

I really shouldn’t have to explain how good the music is on this one, as its freakin’ Chris Huelsbeck. The man is a pure master of his craft and the star of the start-up studio that created this gem. However, if you really need me into pressuring you to play this with the volume way, way up (preferably through the Aux of a 90’s HiFi lead out from your Amiga/TV set up in the living room, standard) then…Gawsh. You’re in for a treat. If you love his soundtracks for Turrican, you’ll love this right here. Again, do I really have to say anything? It’s got that old school, upbeat, thumping’ sound that the Amiga was the king of, with Huelsbeck its chief advisor. Just. So. GOOD. The soundtrack was in fact released in 1992 on CD (if you can find it these days) and has since been performed live in more recent years. It’s one of those games were a standout track is hard to pin down, but from the opening you know you’re in good hands. Just listen to that if you need a pre-play confirmation. Glorious stuff.