Lunar Leeper
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Chuck Bueche (creator of Lunar Leeper) |
| Products | Lunar Leeper |
Lunar Leeper, also referred to as Lunar Leepers, is a side-scrolling shooter created by Chuck Bueche for the Apple II platform and released under the SierraVision label of Sierra On-Line in 1982. Subsequently, it was adapted for the VIC-20, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64. The Apple II edition incorporated copy protection through Sierra's proprietary Spiradisc technology.
The character of Lunar Leeper was later featured in the 1983 educational software Learning with Leeper.
Gameplay
Players control a spacecraft on the planet Opthamalia within the Valley of the Leepers, tasked with rescuing crew members stranded amidst hostile, carnivorous creatures known as Leepers. Upon completing or losing all rescues, the gameplay transitions to maneuvering through a laser-guarded cavern inhabited by "trabants," culminating in the destruction of a massive eyeball.
Reception
Upon its debut, Lunar Leeper garnered favorable critiques. The premiere issue of Personal Computer Games commended the title, while Softline labeled it as "highly addictive." The VIC-20 port was highlighted by Ahoy! for its originality and difficulty; however, the Commodore 64 version was regarded as lacking notable advancements in graphics or gameplay despite maintaining a certain appeal.