Gridrunner (1982)

by Nish
written by Nish 5 minutes read

Summary

Gridrunner (1982)

Gridrunner is a classic arcade game that was released by Atari in 1982. It is a single-player game in which the player controls a spaceship that must navigate through a grid of obstacles and enemies while shooting at them. The game is similar to Atari’s earlier arcade hit, Centipede, but with a few key differences.

Gameplay

The player controls their spaceship with a joystick and a single button. The joystick moves the ship up, down, left, and right, and the button fires the ship’s laser. The ship can move in any direction, but it cannot stop moving.

The goal of the game is to navigate the ship through the grid of obstacles and enemies while shooting at them. The obstacles include walls, mines, and other objects that can damage the ship. The enemies include spiders, scorpions, and other creatures that will attack the ship on sight.

The player must use their skill and strategy to avoid the obstacles and enemies while shooting at them. The ship can only take a few hits before it is destroyed, so the player must be careful not to get hit too many times.

Levels

The game consists of 100 levels, each of which is more difficult than the last. The levels are procedurally generated, so they are different every time the player plays the game.

As the player progresses through the levels, the obstacles and enemies become more difficult to avoid. The player must also contend with increasingly difficult bosses at the end of each level.

Power-ups

The player can collect power-ups throughout the game that will give them special abilities. These power-ups include:

  • Speed: Makes the ship move faster.
  • Shield: Protects the ship from damage.
  • Laser: Makes the ship’s laser more powerful.
  • Bomb: Destroys all enemies on the screen.

Reception

Gridrunner was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its addictive gameplay, challenging difficulty, and innovative graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

Gridrunner is still considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time. It is a challenging and rewarding game that is sure to please fans of classic arcade games.

Legacy

Gridrunner has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. It is one of the first games to use procedurally generated levels, and it is also one of the first games to feature a boss at the end of each level. These innovations have been adopted by many other games since then.

Gridrunner has also been ported to a number of different platforms, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the PC. It is still available to purchase and play today, and it remains a popular choice for retro gamers.

Conclusion

Gridrunner is a classic arcade game that is still a blast to play today. It is a challenging and rewarding game that is sure to please fans of classic arcade games. If you have never played Gridrunner before, I highly recommend checking it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Review Score

7/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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