Katakis
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| Products | Katakis (Amiga adaptation) |
Katakis is a side-scrolling shooter originally created for the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Arts in 1987 and later adapted for the Amiga by Factor 5 in 1988. The title was subsequently reissued under the name Denaris in 1989. The term Katakis, found within a German telephone directory, has Greek roots, while Denaris was chosen at random but also corresponds to a Greek name.
Plot
The narrative unfolds on Katakis, a human settlement planet where sophisticated AI systems gained autonomy and seized control. Attempts by humans to neutralize these machines using nuclear weaponry proved unsuccessful. The remaining option involves deploying DS-H75 Eagle Fighter spacecraft to reclaim dominance over the planet.
Gameplay
Katakis exhibits strong thematic parallels with R-Type, including multiple stages, collectible power-ups, and formidable boss encounters. Players progress by defeating waves of adversaries to reach these bosses. A distinctive feature is its cooperative mode, where the second participant pilots the Force module, establishing separate offensive and defensive roles while the primary ship remains exposed to enemy attacks.
Controversy
Because of its close similarity to R-Type, Activision Europe, holding the original rights, presented Factor 5 with a choice: either sign a contract to produce the authorized Amiga port or face legal proceedings for copyright infringement. Julian Eggebrecht explained this was due to Activision’s shortage of programming staff and their interest in leveraging the opportunity.
Legacy
Factor 5 later distributed the Amiga edition of Katakis as freeware for personal use, maintaining full copyright ownership.
In Turrican II, another title by Manfred Trenz, several nods to Katakis appear, such as a spacecraft resembling Katakis’ fighter and an easter egg displaying a "KATAKIS LIVES!!!" message. Additionally, the Super NES game Super Turrican is set on a planet called Katakis. Both games incorporate visual elements influenced by H. R. Giger’s style, particularly evident in their concluding stages.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1987 video games
- Amiga games
- Cancelled ZX Spectrum games
- Commodore 64 games
- Factor 5 games
- Horizontally scrolling shooters
- IOS games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- Rainbow Arts games
- Science fiction video games
- Video game clones
- Video games developed in Germany
- Video games scored by Chris Huelsbeck
- Video games set on fictional planets