Summary
- Release Year: 1981
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari Jaguar, BBC Microcomputer System, ColecoVision, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Commodore VIC-20
- Developers: Dave Nutting Associates
- Publishers: 3D Stooges Software, CBS Electronics, Coleco, Commodore Business Machines, Inc., Doctorsoft, Handic Software, Midway Manufacturing
Gorf: The Ultimate Space Shooter
Released in 1981, Gorf is a classic arcade space shooter that still holds up today. It’s a challenging and fun game with great graphics and sound.
The game consists of five different types of space shooters. The first one is basically a Space Invaders clone. In the second one, a formation of spaceships hovers at the top of the screen while single spaceships disengage from the formation and dive down at you. The third variant is a Galaga clone and is only available in the arcade version. In the fourth mini-game, the enemy comes out of a circular hyperspace field and attacks you. After destroying four of your attackers, the game proceeds to the fifth game stage. Here, a huge mothership drops bombs at you from the top of the screen. You defeat the mothership with a well-placed projectile hitting it between its two major sections. After that, the game starts from the beginning on a higher difficulty level.
Gorf was one of the first games to use synthesized speech. The game’s voiceover provides instructions and encouragement to the player. The voiceover is iconic and has been parodied in many other games and movies.
Gorf was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the top-grossing arcade games of 1981 and has been ported to many home consoles. The game has been praised for its challenging gameplay, great graphics, and sound.
Gameplay
Gorf is a simple game to learn but difficult to master. The player controls a spaceship that can move left, right, up, and down. The player can fire a laser beam to destroy enemy spaceships. The player must destroy all of the enemy spaceships in each wave to advance to the next level.
There are a total of five different types of enemy spaceships in Gorf. The first type is a small, slow-moving spaceship that fires a single laser beam. The second type is a larger, faster-moving spaceship that fires three laser beams. The third type is a spaceship that flies in a formation and fires a spread of laser beams. The fourth type is a spaceship that comes out of a circular hyperspace field and attacks the player. The fifth type is a large mothership that drops bombs at the player.
The player must use different strategies to defeat each type of enemy spaceship. For example, the player can use the laser beam to destroy the small, slow-moving spaceships. The player can use the spread of laser beams to destroy the larger, faster-moving spaceships. The player can use the hyperspace field to avoid the spaceships that come out of it. And the player can use the bombs to destroy the mothership.
Graphics and Sound
Gorf has great graphics and sound for its time. The graphics are colorful and detailed, and the sound effects are realistic and immersive. The game’s voiceover is iconic and has been parodied in many other games and movies.
Legacy
Gorf is a classic arcade space shooter that still holds up today. It’s a challenging and fun game with great graphics and sound. The game has been ported to many home consoles and has been praised by critics and gamers alike. Gorf is a must-play for any fan of arcade games or space shooters.
Tips for Playing Gorf
- Use the laser beam to destroy the small, slow-moving spaceships.
- Use the spread of laser beams to destroy the larger, faster-moving spaceships.
- Use the hyperspace field to avoid the spaceships that come out of it.
- Use the bombs to destroy the mothership.
- Be patient and don’t give up! Gorf is a challenging game, but it’s also very rewarding.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
