Defend or Die Hack

[XeNoMoRPH]

The classic "Defend Or Die" by Alligata (1985) is the magnificent version that we can enjoy in Amstrad CPC of the arcade "Defender" developed by Williams Electronics in 1980. The distribution in Spain for microcomputers was made by Amsoft/Indescomp in 1985.
The programming (in assembler) was carried out by Nick Vincent (CPC), achieving a very fast scroll through almost full screen software, excluding a marker line at the top and an area for the radar or map. He achieved a great rate of fire, enemies, particles on the screen, despite using the firmware for everything (slower) and even so Vincent gives the game the freneticism that has little or nothing to envy of the arcade.
Personally, the only "downside" I find with this game is the great difficulty of the chosen controls. In the original arcade, the Joystick only moves the ship up and down, having a button to accelerate and another to reverse direction. We also have the fire button, the bomb button and hyperspace to teleport to other areas of the map.
These same controls have been retained and have been implemented in Amstrad on fixed keys located in very convoluted positions. At least for a one-armed person like me, I never got used to it. In Joystick we can change direction and accelerate with Right-Left. but the 2nd fire button only duplicates the 1st. With which we are capable without the bombs. As if the game wasn't difficult in itself.
Therefore, the machine code has been disassembled, analyzed and support for the two Joystick buttons has been added. The 2nd fire button now throws the bombs.
Also in the menu, the Keyboard Redefinition option has been programmed. You can also redefine a Joystick-Keyboard mix, e.g. bringing Hyperspace (H) closer to the SPC. Now the redefinition calls for the Left-Right actions, instead of the ship's Shift and Direction Change (SPC), in the original. That behavior has been reprogrammed.
I hope that now this fantastic game is more accessible and enjoyable!👍
All the best! 😀

Author text and Hack by Enrique Buzón

Download: https://www.mojontwins.com/cepeceros/?ddownload=1965
 

[poulette73]

Hello, and thank you José !

But the download link do not concern "Defend Or Die", but "Who Dares Win 2" keys.

The correct link is : https://www.mojontwins.com/cepeceros/?ddownload=1964
Defend Or Die with redefine keys is wonderfull !! Thanks !!

[Shaun M. Neary]

Wait? Defend Or Die had hyperspace and bomb controls???

No wonder I sucked so badly at that game, I should RTFM more often...

[XeNoMoRPH]

Hello, and thank you José !

But the download link do not concern "Defend Or Die", but "Who Dares Win 2" keys.

The correct link is : https://www.mojontwins.com/cepeceros/?ddownload=1964
Defend Or Die with redefine keys is wonderfull !! Thanks !!

sorry, you're right

@Gryzor can you fix link please ?