| Laser Hawk | |
| Developer: | Andrew Bradfield |
| Artist: | Harvey A. Kong Tin |
| Publisher: | Red Rat Software |
| Platforms: | Atari 8-bit |
| Released: | 1986 |
| Genre: | Scrolling shooter |
Laser Hawk is a horizontally scrolling shooter published for Atari 8-bit computers by UK-based Red Rat Software. It was created in Dunedin, New Zealand by programmer Andrew Bradfield[1] and artist Harvey A. Kong Tin.
A sequel, HawkQuest, also from Bradfield and Kong Tin, was released in 1989. Andrew Bradfield died in 2001 at age 35.
Work on Laser Hawk started in 1985 and took about a year to complete.[2] Laser Hawk was originally called Hot Copter by Bradfield. Red Rat Software came up with the name Laser Hawk.[2]
A review of Laser Hawk in the January 1987 issue of Atari User concluded, "While the game concept is perhaps getting a little long in the tooth, Red Rat has tweaked it nicely, treating it in a thoughtful and refreshing way. What it may lack in originality it makes up for in finesse." The overall score was 8 out of 10.[3]
Laser Hawk was later included in the 4 Star Compilation, Volume 1 published by Red Rat, along with Escape from Doomworld, Domain of the Undead, and Panic Express.[4]
The same team created the sequel, HawkQuest, released in 1989.[5] Harvey Kong Tin was responsible for the overall design.[6] Development started in 1986 with the finished game using four floppy disk sides at 90K apiece.[2]