Demons of Topaz

The Good
Demons of Topaz is one of the few games made by Firebird that were released only on the Commodore 64 only, and some of them were great. This game was meant to be the first in the series called Ozzy Versus the Universe, but for some reason the series never made it to Part II.

I was the person who added Demons of Topaz to the MobyGames database seven years ago, and I already outlined your overall objective as well as the gameplay mechanics. What I didn't tell you was this: there are no enemies when you start the game on the surface. Below the surface are six underground passages, which you can access through gaps. Basically, no enemies mean that you can venture through these underground passages and get a feel of what they look like without any trouble.

Once you get that one diamond (they look so obvious), that's when the enemies – the demons in the title – appear. The demons themselves come in all shapes and sizes, and each one of them is animated nicely. Actually, they don't look like demons at all, but things that we see in real life. Some of the demons are quite bizarre, like the letter S that rotates and makes its way across the screen, as well as the walking Commodore logo. As you make your way further below, new demons start to appear, but they aren't any more aggressive as the ones from above – they can be dealt with by using an unlimited supply of boomerangs.

I find it funny that after collecting seven diamonds one at a time and then returning them to his ship, Ozzy takes off (you actually see him enter the atmosphere), only to beam down to the surface again. There is no real ending to this game. Having said that, this is a score-attack game where you have to blast as many aliens as you can and bring back many diamonds in order to score points.

Navigating both the surface and the underground passages is a challenge. Starting from the surface, there are white platforms that disappear under your feet, making it difficult to get to the next platform nearby at each end. Furthermore, there are sloping platforms or conveyor belts that go in one direction. A little bit of strategy is needed before tackling them.

The graphics are okay, with the surface being a lot detailed than the underground passages that you have to venture through. The animations are smooth as well. There is no music during the game, although I didn't expect there to be. Sound effects are very basic, and are heard when you throw your boomerang and hit enemies. The most obvious sound effect is when you collect a diamond and when you go up or down underground passages.

The Bad
There is a famous music piece you hear on the title screen. I don't remember the name of it, but it is slightly out of tune.

The Bottom Line
Demons of Topaz is an okay game that features little or no music and basic sound effects. Unlike other games that were made from Firebird, don't think that you can finish the game in under ten minutes or less, as you have to make seven trips, exploring each underground passage fully to find one of the required diamonds then return it to your ship. There is no ending or high score table, but this was common at the time of the game's release. I wouldn't say that this game is addictive, just a game that is worth a go every now and then.