Howarth Games

Sky Shark is one of the best vertical scrolling shoot-em-ups released for the Commodore 64. Originally based on the arcade game Flying Shark by Toaplan, the C64 version appeared in 1987 in Europe under the name Flying Shark and later in the United States as Sky Shark. Although the two versions were slightly different, both offered fast arcade action and a level of excitement that stood out among many shooters on the machine.

The player controls a small fighter plane flying deep into enemy territory. The story is simple and hardly matters, because the game is all about survival. Enemy aircraft, tanks, gun emplacements and armoured vehicles fill the screen from the very start. The action scrolls steadily upward, forcing the player to keep moving while firing constantly. Like many arcade shooters of the time, the challenge comes from avoiding huge numbers of bullets while trying to destroy as many enemies as possible.

One of the reasons Sky Shark works so well is the balance between simplicity and difficulty. The controls are easy to learn. You move the plane with the joystick and fire with the button, while a second button or key can be used to launch powerful bombs. These bombs clear large sections of the screen and are often the only way to survive when the action becomes overwhelming. Throughout the game, power-up icons appear which increase the strength of your guns. At first the plane fires a single weak shot, but after several upgrades it becomes capable of spreading fire across much of the screen.

The game contains five main levels, each with a different setting. You fly over jungles, military bases, railway yards and coastal areas, all filled with enemy forces waiting to attack. The scenery changes enough to keep the game interesting, and many players remember the detailed backgrounds and the variety of enemies. Tanks hide among the trees, trains move along tracks and enemy planes swoop in from the sides of the screen in carefully planned formations.

Sky Shark is not an easy game. Even experienced players often struggle to survive beyond the first few stages. The enemies fire quickly and there are moments when the screen is packed with bullets. Unlike some other shooters, there are very few safe places to hide. The game was designed in the style of an arcade machine, where the aim was to challenge the player and encourage repeated attempts. Many Commodore 64 owners spent hours learning enemy patterns and trying to improve their score a little further each time they played.

Graphically, the Commodore 64 version is impressive. The scrolling is smooth and the sprites are colourful and well drawn. The European version in particular looked very close to the arcade machine, which was quite an achievement for the hardware. The American version, programmed by Martin Howarth with music by Tim Follin, is especially remembered for its excellent soundtrack. Tim Follin's music gives the game a dramatic atmosphere and helps make the action feel even more intense.

Although there are many shoot-em-ups available for the Commodore 64, Sky Shark remains one of the most enjoyable. It may not have the complexity of later games, but its combination of fast action, tough challenge and strong presentation has helped it remain popular with retro players. For fans of arcade-style shooters, it is still well worth playing today.

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