48: Apidya

Number 48
(119.8 points)
Apidya
1992: 25 (15.2)
1993: 13 (35.2)
1994: 11 (54.0)
1995: 98 (2.4)
1996: 88 (13.0)

Now, it may look like a bunch of insects firing lasers at each other, but in fact it's a bunch of aliens that just happen to look like insects, firing lasers at each other, which is an important distinction.

Horizontally-scrolling shooters haven't featured so often in this list, but Apidya is a European attempt to emulate the smooth and stylish Japanese shoot 'em ups on the 16-bit consoles. Despite the Japanese writing and the numeral 'II' on the title screen, this is a one-off European game, but boasts excellent graphics and music, in addition to fast and tight gameplay. It uses a Gradius-style power-up system, but gives you three options to choose your upgrades: use a second joystick button, push left and right quickly, or let the computer decide when to upgrade.

There were later games on the Amiga that showed how the platform can compete with Sega and Nintendo, but this one came right as those two consoles were new and hot in Europe, and it's honestly right up there with the best. I'd recommend using a CD32 pad since pressing left and right is just going to happen accidentally in a fast-moving shoot 'em up, but if you like the genre you have no reason not to try this.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Apidya (1992)(Play Byte)(Disk 1 of 2)[cr QTX]
Apidya (1992)(Play Byte)(Disk 2 of 2)[cr QTX]