Cyclone is a game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum

ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...

 48K computer, released by Vortex Software

Vortex Software

Vortex Software was a video game developer founded by Costa Panayi and Paul Canter in the early 1980s to sell the game Cosmos which Panayi had developed for the Sinclair ZX81...

 in 1985

1985 in video gaming

-Notable releases:* Brøderbund releases Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, the first game of the prolific Carmen Sandiego series* Nintendo releases Super Mario Bros. on September 13, 1985, which eventually sells 40 million copies making it the best-selling video game of all time until 2008.*...

. It was written by Costa Panayi

Costa Panayi

Costa Panayi was a computer game programmer during the 1980s. He founded Vortex Software with Paul Canter, publishing games for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC....

 who also coded Tornado Low Level

Tornado Low Level

Tornado Low Level is a game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC computers, and released by Vortex Software in 1984. It was written by Costa Panayi who also coded Android, Android 2, Highway Encounter, Cyclone and Revolution.-Summary:The player controls a Tornado fighter jet and must...

, Android, Android 2

Android 2

Android 2 is a shoot 'em up maze video game written by Costa Panayi and published by Vortex Software in 1983 for the ZX Spectrum and in 1985 for the Amstrad CPC.It is the sequel to Android 1: The Reactor Run, released earlier in 1983.-Gameplay:...

, Highway Encounter

Highway Encounter

Highway Encounter is a computer game released on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K, Amstrad CPC, MSX, and Commodore 64 by Vortex Software in 1985...

and Revolution

Revolution (video game)

Revolution is an isometric 3D puzzle video game released by U.S. Gold in for the Sinclair Spectrum and Amstrad CPC. It was programmed by Costa Panayi and is a development of the earlier 3D games Highway Encounter and Alien Highway.- Gameplay :...

.

Summary

The player controls a rescue helicopter and must collect people and supplies from a collection of islands, while a cyclone is in the area causing havoc. The primary target is to collect five crates of supplies, while the optional aim is to get the people from the flooded territory, avoiding the heart of the cyclone as much as possible. The game becomes tougher with decreasing fuel levels and air traffic that must be avoided. The view has two aspects of North and South to switch between, which is necessary as some of the crates are hidden behind rocks or terrain. There is also a map view to help locate the cyclone and the islands. An interesting feature of the game was the perspective, which included a shadow of the helicopter on the ground to reinforce the 3D illusion.

Panayi’s game, Tornado Low Level

Tornado Low Level

Tornado Low Level is a game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC computers, and released by Vortex Software in 1984. It was written by Costa Panayi who also coded Android, Android 2, Highway Encounter, Cyclone and Revolution.-Summary:The player controls a Tornado fighter jet and must...

, featured similar graphics.