Traxxion

Traxxion - the 1987 h-scrolling shooter for Commodore 64 from CRL.

Ride a gun-tank along reactor service rails, pick routes at junctions,
and blast through blockades before the meltdown timer catches you.

Core loop
- follow the track and shoot drones, turrets, and gate blocks
- choose left or right at junctions to find the sector exit
- use limited reverses to correct dead-ends before time runs out

Systems and items
- reactor countdown - each sector is on a strict time limit
- reverses - a finite backtrack trigger mapped to the keyboard
- track nodes - branching junctions gate faster or safer paths
- joystick fire - forward cannon only, no autofire

Level design and feel
Side-view rails shooter with sharp direction changes and dense obstructions.
Sparse but readable sprites, constant scroll, and a chugging SID track by
coder-composer Jay Derrett keep the pressure up.

Why it is notable
- CRL release with code and music by Jay Derrett, graphics by Jon Law
- reviewed in 1987 mags; CVG ⁷⁄₁₀, Commodore User ³⁄₁₀, Lemon average 54%

Tips
- practice the reverse control so you can bail instantly at bad junctions
- pre-shoot gate blocks as they slide on-screen to avoid last-second crashes
- learn the quickest branch per sector; the timer is tighter than it looks

At a glance
Year - 1987
Developer - CRL Group PLC
Design and programming - Jay Derrett
Graphics - Jon Law
Music - Jay Derrett
Publisher - CRL
Genre - H-scrolling shoot ‘em up
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2 + a key for reverse