Atari 2600: Battlezone
October 6, 2008 - 8:36 pm - Posted by Sean R.
This amazing first-person tank game looks and plays flawlessly. In fact, this Atari 2600 edition is arguably more playable than its 3D arcade cousin.
The action is fierce. Enemy tanks turn on you quickly, and the “super tanks” are fast and elusive.
Flying fighters approach in zigzag patterns, forcing you to shoot or be shot.
The slow red flying saucers don’t present a threat, but being worth 5000 points, they’re a constant distraction.
Like the UFO’s in Space Invaders, you just can’t resist taking a shot at them.
Although this version of Battlezone offers no vector graphics or barriers to hide behind, the game is still played in a 3D space.
If a tank fires on you from the side and you back up in time, you can actually see his missile whiz by your windshield.
It’s even possible for enemy tanks to unintentionally shoot each other.
A useful circular scanner at the top of the screen indicates the position of your enemies.
Graphically, you couldn’t ask for more. Your moving treads are visible on the bottom of the screen, and the mountainous backgrounds are plain but colorful.
Your enemies are blocky but well defined and easy to identify. The action is fast and smooth, and the controls are dead-on.
In terms of challenge, few 2600 games match Battlezone’s intensity level, and it will give your wrist a serious workout.
4 Responses to “Atari 2600: Battlezone”
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This looks pretty impressive for the 2600. When in the console’s lifespan did it come out?
@Luke: Amazingly Battlezone for the Atari 2600 came out in 1983, which was still pretty early in the 2600’s lifespan.
My neighbor has this game in his garage, but it’s the full size coin-op version. It’s really cool. He collects arcade games.
@Eric: That’s cool. The arcade coin-op version is really big from what I remember. It also has vector graphics and the scope you look through when you play the game.
Ask your neighbor if you can get some pictures of the machine. I’d love to see it.
I also own a few full size arcade machines and a couple cocktail table versions too.