Developer: Spectravision

Cross Force (1983)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 4 minutes read

Summary

Cross Force: A Retrospective

Introduction

Cross Force is a classic arcade shooter game released by Konami in 1983. The game is notable for its unique gameplay mechanic, which allows players to control two spaceships simultaneously and fire lasers that cross the entire screen. This creates a devastating crossfire that can destroy multiple enemies at once.

Gameplay

The player controls two spaceships, one on the left side of the screen and one on the right. The ships can move up, down, and fire lasers. The lasers of the two ships will connect across the entire screen, destroying anything that gets caught in the crossfire.

The player must use their lasers to destroy waves of enemy ships and other obstacles. The enemies come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and some of them can fire back at the player. The player must also avoid running into the obstacles, which can damage their ships.

As the player progresses through the game, they will encounter increasingly difficult waves of enemies. The player must use their skills and strategy to survive and defeat the final boss.

Graphics and Sound

Cross Force’s graphics are simple but effective. The game’s backgrounds are colorful and detailed, and the sprites are well-animated. The game’s sound effects are also well done, and they add to the overall atmosphere of the game.

Legacy

Cross Force was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its unique gameplay mechanic, its challenging difficulty, and its impressive graphics and sound. Cross Force has been ported to a number of home consoles, and it is still enjoyed by retro gamers today.

Gameplay Tips

Here are a few tips to help you succeed in Cross Force:

  • Use short bursts of fire to avoid overheating your lasers.
  • Shoot down the fuel pods to replenish your fuel supply.
  • Be careful not to run into the obstacles.
  • Use the crossfire to your advantage to destroy multiple enemies at once.
  • Practice makes perfect! The more you play Cross Force, the better you will become at it.

Conclusion

Cross Force is a classic arcade shooter game that is still enjoyed by retro gamers today. The game’s unique gameplay mechanic, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics and sound make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

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Master Builder (1983)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Master Builder (1983): A Retro Construction Simulator

Released in 1983, Master Builder is a unique and challenging construction simulator that tests your memory, reflexes, and spatial reasoning skills. The game was developed and published by Bally Midway, and was one of the first arcade games to feature 3D graphics.

Gameplay

The objective of Master Builder is to build a series of structures from memory, while avoiding obstacles and hazards. Each level begins with a five-second countdown, during which you are shown a blueprint of the structure that you need to build. After the countdown, the blueprint disappears and you are left to build the structure from memory, using bricks that you can find on the left and right sides of the screen.

As you build your structure, you will need to be careful to avoid a number of obstacles and hazards. These include a dog that will run into you if you don’t dodge it, a child who will steal your ladder, and bolts of lightning from a thunderstorm. If you are hit by any of these obstacles, you will lose a life.

Once you have completed building the structure, you will need to climb to the top and touch the flagpole. If you are successful, a helicopter will appear and carry you off to the next level.

Levels

Master Builder features a total of 100 levels, each of which is more difficult than the last. The early levels are relatively simple, but as you progress, the structures become more complex and the obstacles become more challenging.

Some of the later levels are extremely difficult, and require a great deal of skill and patience to complete. However, the sense of accomplishment that you feel when you finally reach the top of a particularly challenging level is well worth the effort.

Graphics and Sound

For its time, Master Builder’s graphics were quite impressive. The game used a unique 3D engine to create a realistic and immersive construction site environment. The bricks, ladders, and other objects in the game were all rendered in 3D, and the game even featured real-time lighting and shadow effects.

The sound effects in Master Builder are also very good. The sound of the bricks being placed, the dog barking, and the thunder crashing all help to create a realistic and immersive atmosphere.

Legacy

Master Builder was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, challenging levels, and impressive graphics. Master Builder is still considered to be one of the best construction simulators ever made, and it continues to be enjoyed by gamers of all ages.

Tips for Playing Master Builder

Here are a few tips for playing Master Builder:

  • Pay close attention to the blueprint during the five-second countdown. This is your only chance to see the structure that you need to build.
  • Start building from the bottom up. This will help you to avoid making mistakes and wasting bricks.
  • Be careful not to run out of bricks. If you do, you will have to start the level over.
  • Dodge the dog and the child. If you are hit by either of these obstacles, you will lose a life.
  • Be aware of the lightning bolts. If you are struck by lightning, you will lose a life.
  • Don’t give up! Some of the later levels are very difficult, but they are all possible to complete with patience and skill.

Conclusion

Master Builder is a classic construction simulator that is still enjoyed by gamers of all ages. The game’s challenging levels, innovative gameplay, and impressive graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you are looking for a fun and challenging construction simulator, then Master Builder is definitely worth checking out.

Review Score

8/10

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Planet Patrol (1982)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Planet Patrol: A Retrospective

Planet Patrol is a classic shoot-em-up arcade game released in 1982 by Namco. The game is set in space, and the player controls a spaceship that must destroy the fuel depots of the enemy. The player’s ship flies from right to left, and must dodge oncoming missiles and shoot down enemy ships.

Planet Patrol is a simple game, but it is also a very challenging and addictive one. The player’s ship is constantly under fire from enemy ships and missiles, and the player must be constantly on the move to avoid being hit. The game also features a number of different power-ups that can help the player, such as shields,僚機, and bombs.

One of the things that makes Planet Patrol so challenging is the fact that the enemy ships are not always visible. In the daytime, the enemy ships are easy to see, but at night, they are much harder to spot. The player must use their weapons to fire at the enemy ships, which will make them briefly visible in the muzzle flash.

Planet Patrol was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best shoot-em-up games ever made. The game has been ported to a number of different platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, and Atari 8-bit family.

Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship that flies from right to left. The player’s ship can move up, down, and fire. The player must shoot down enemy ships and dodge their missiles. The player can also collect power-ups that will help them in their mission.

There are a total of 32 levels in Planet Patrol. Each level is more difficult than the last, and the player must defeat a boss at the end of each level.

Power-ups

There are a number of different power-ups that can help the player in Planet Patrol. These power-ups include:

  • Shields: Shields protect the player’s ship from enemy fire.
  • Bombs: Bombs can be used to destroy enemy ships and missiles. *僚機:僚機 are small ships that follow the player’s ship and fire at enemy ships.
  • Speed Boost: Speed Boosts increase the speed of the player’s ship.

Enemies

There are a variety of different enemy ships in Planet Patrol. These enemy ships include:

  • Fighters: Fighters are the most common enemy ship. They are small and fast, and they fire lasers at the player’s ship.
  • Bombers: Bombers are larger and slower than fighters, but they can drop bombs on the player’s ship.
  • Cruisers: Cruisers are the largest and most powerful enemy ships. They are heavily armed and can fire a variety of different weapons.

Bosses

There is a boss at the end of each level in Planet Patrol. These bosses are large and powerful, and they require the player to use all of their skills to defeat them.

Legacy

Planet Patrol is considered to be one of the best shoot-em-up games ever made. The game has been praised for its challenging gameplay, addictive action, and beautiful graphics. Planet Patrol has been ported to a number of different platforms, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Conclusion

Planet Patrol is a classic shoot-em-up game that is still a lot of fun to play today. The game is challenging, addictive, and features beautiful graphics. If you are a fan of shoot-em-up games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Planet Patrol.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

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China Syndrome (1982)

by Nish
written by Nish 5 minutes read

Summary

China Syndrome (1982): A Classic Arcade Game of Nuclear Meltdown

Released in 1982, China Syndrome is an arcade game that simulates the aftermath of a nuclear reactor meltdown. The player controls a robot arm that must grab free-flying particles before they have time to split and raise the radiation level. The game is divided into nine stages, each with its own unique challenges.

China Syndrome was developed by Bally Midway, the same company that created Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man. The game was inspired by the 1979 film of the same name, which depicted a nuclear meltdown at a power plant in California.

China Syndrome was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay and its realistic graphics. The game was also controversial, as some critics felt that it was too violent and disturbing.

Gameplay

The player controls a robot arm that moves up and down the screen. The robot arm can grab free-flying particles and deposit them in a safe zone at the bottom of the screen. The particles come in three different colors: red, blue, and yellow. Each color of particle has a different radiation level. Red particles have the highest radiation level, followed by blue particles and then yellow particles.

The player must grab the particles before they have time to split. If a particle splits, it will create two new particles with a higher radiation level. The player must also be careful not to damage the circulation fans that are located at the top of the screen. If a circulation fan is damaged, the player will lose one robot arm.

The game is over either after the player has lost all of their robot arms or after they have cleared the ninth and final stage.

Stages

The game is divided into nine stages, each with its own unique challenges. The first few stages are relatively easy, but the later stages become increasingly difficult.

In the first stage, the player must simply grab the particles and deposit them in the safe zone. In the second stage, the player must also avoid damaging the circulation fans. In the third stage, the player must grab the particles in a specific order.

As the player progresses through the game, the stages become more and more challenging. In the later stages, the player must deal with faster-moving particles, more circulation fans, and even earthquakes.

Reception

China Syndrome was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay and its realistic graphics. The game was also controversial, as some critics felt that it was too violent and disturbing.

China Syndrome was one of the most popular arcade games of the early 1980s. It was also one of the first games to deal with the issue of nuclear power. The game’s popularity helped to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear power and the importance of nuclear safety.

China Syndrome is still considered to be a classic arcade game today. It is a challenging and engaging game that will test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills. If you are a fan of classic arcade games, then you owe it to yourself to check out China Syndrome.

Legacy

China Syndrome has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s innovative gameplay has been imitated by many other games, including the popular puzzle game Tetris. China Syndrome was also one of the first games to deal with the issue of nuclear power. The game’s popularity helped to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear power and the importance of nuclear safety.

China Syndrome is a classic arcade game that deserves to be remembered. It is a challenging and engaging game that will test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills. If you are a fan of classic arcade games, then you owe it to yourself to check out China Syndrome.

Review Score

7/10

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Gangster Alley (1982)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Gangster Alley: A Thrilling and Challenging Arcade Classic

Released in 1982, Gangster Alley is an arcade shooter game that quickly became a classic. The game is set in an urban environment, where a gang of gangsters has holed up in an apartment building and taken some hostages. The player takes on the role of a police officer who must shoot the gangsters as they slowly creep up behind the windows, but at the same time must avoid shooting any hostages.

Gangster Alley is a fast-paced and challenging game that requires quick reflexes and sharp shooting skills. The gangsters will often hide behind cover, and the player must be careful not to shoot them when they are in front of a hostage. The game also features a variety of obstacles, such as cars and barrels, that can block the player’s shots.

In addition to the standard gangsters, the player must also contend with Nitro Ed, a particularly dangerous gangster who paces along the top of the roof and throws hand grenades. Nitro Ed’s grenades can instantly kill the player, so it is important to take him out as quickly as possible.

Gangster Alley was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered one of the best arcade shooters of all time. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay, combined with its challenging difficulty, has made it a favorite of gamers for decades.

Gameplay

Gangster Alley is a single-screen shooter game. The player controls a police officer who is positioned at the bottom of the screen. The gangsters are positioned in windows on the upper floors of the apartment building. The player must shoot the gangsters as they slowly creep up behind the windows, but at the same time must avoid shooting any hostages.

The game is played with a joystick and two buttons. The joystick is used to move the player’s character around the screen, and the buttons are used to shoot and to throw grenades. The player can also use the joystick to duck behind cover, which can protect them from the gangsters’ gunfire.

The gangsters will slowly creep up behind the windows, and the player must shoot them before they can reach the bottom of the screen. If a gangster reaches the bottom of the screen, they will shoot at the player. The player can also shoot the gangsters’ windows, which will cause them to fall out of the building.

In addition to the standard gangsters, the player must also contend with Nitro Ed, a particularly dangerous gangster who paces along the top of the roof and throws hand grenades. Nitro Ed’s grenades can instantly kill the player, so it is important to take him out as quickly as possible.

The player has a limited number of lives, and they will lose a life if they are hit by a gangster’s bullet or by Nitro Ed’s grenade. The player can also lose a life if they shoot a hostage.

Development

Gangster Alley was developed by Namco, a Japanese video game company. The game was designed by Toru Iwatani, who is also known for creating Pac-Man. Gangster Alley was released in Japan in 1982, and it was released in the United States in 1983.

Gangster Alley was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, its challenging difficulty, and its innovative use of hostages. Gangster Alley is still considered one of the best arcade shooters of all time, and it has been ported to a variety of home platforms.

Legacy

Gangster Alley has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay has been imitated by many other games, and its use of hostages has become a common feature in shooter games. Gangster Alley is also credited with helping to popularize the arcade shooter genre.

Gangster Alley has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis, and the PlayStation. The game has also been released on mobile devices.

Gangster Alley is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered one of the classic arcade games of all time. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay, combined with its challenging difficulty, has made it a favorite of gamers for decades.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

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