Julian Gollop's Laser Squad (ZX Spectrum, 1988) in Python, for Windows, Linux and MiSTer.

About

Laser Squad is a turn-based tactics game by Julian Gollop, published by Target Games in 1988. This version is written in Python and plays by the rules of the ZX Spectrum original. The scenarios, graphics, font and sounds come from the Spectrum and Commodore 64 releases.

Screens

Title screen
Title screen
The Assassins
The Assassins, Spectrum graphics
The Assassins
The Assassins, C64 graphics
Full screen
Full screen, 1920 x 1080, size 1
1280 x 1024 window
1280 x 1024 window, C64 graphics
Strategic scanner
Strategic scanner
Moonbase Assault
Moonbase Assault, Spectrum graphics
Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley
Scenario editor
Scenario editor

Features

Scenarios
All seven from the original game.
Players
Single player, two players in hotseat, or two players over the internet.
Graphics
Select ZX Spectrum or C64 graphics and sound. Fullscreen support.
Editor
Maps, units, objects, pictures, briefings and computer player routes.
Export
Scenarios as a C64 disk (.d64) or Spectrum tape (.tzx) for the original game.
Controls
Keyboard, mouse or controller. Keys can be redefined.

Internet play

Both players need an internet connection. No configuration needed, the game automatically connects to the server. An account is not needed to play, and no private information is being collected.

Network game
Network game
  1. The first player chooses a scenario and, at HOW MANY PLAYERS ?, presses N for NETWORK GAME.
  2. The game shows a GAME CODE on the briefing screen. The first player sends this code to the second player.
  3. The second player presses J for JOIN NETWORK GAME on the title screen, types the code and presses Enter.
  4. The players take turns. While one player moves, the other waits.

A custom scenario can also be played over the internet, provided both players have the same copy of it in the scenarios folder next to the game.

Download

No installation is needed: download the file for your system and run it.

SystemFileNotes
Windows LaserSquad-windows.exe Windows 10 or later, 64-bit.
Linux LaserSquad-linux 64-bit, glibc 2.39 or later (Ubuntu 24.04).
MiSTer LaserSquad-mister-armv7.zip Enable the framebuffer in MiSTer.ini (fb_terminal=1, or fb_terminal=2 for a CRT on the Analog I/O board). Unpack to the SD card root, run Scripts/lasersquad.sh.

Keys

Q, A, O, P move, Space selects, Escape goes back. F11 switches full screen, F10 leaves a game.

Credits

Laser Squad was designed by Julian Gollop and published by Target Games in 1988. William Fraser's Java version was used as a reference.