Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Swoop (video game)

Swoop is a clone of Namco's Galaxian programmed by David Elliot for the BBC Micro and published in the UK by Micro Power. It was ported to the Acorn Electron the game's launch in 1983 and the Commodore 64 in 1984.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
186 w
Citations
2
Source
Swoop
Acorn Electron cassette cover
PublisherMicro Power
ProgrammerDavid Elliot1
PlatformsBBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Commodore 64
Release1983: BBC, Electron
1984: C64
GenreFixed shooter
ModeSingle-player

Swoop is a clone of Namco's Galaxian programmed by David Elliot for the BBC Micro and published in the UK by Micro Power. It was ported to the Acorn Electron the game's launch in 1983 and the Commodore 64 in 1984.1

Gameplay

Aliens in formation with one diving toward the player's ship (BBC Micro) source ↗

The invading aliens take the form of wing-flapping Birdmen. Swoop differs from other Galaxian clones in that the Birdmen will lay explosive eggs if they successfully reach the bottom of the screen. If the eggs are touched by the player's laser base then a life is lost, so they effectively confine the movement of the laser base until they disappear after some pre-set time.

There are a total of eight levels (called "phases" in the cassette inlay instructions), each successively more difficult than the last. The most difficult level has a total of two Birdmen and eight missiles raining down on the player simultaneously.


References

References

  1. Swoop at Lemon 64
External links