Summary

• Release Year: 1980
• Genres: Arcade, Shooter
• Platforms: Arcade, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Xbox 360
• Developers: Atari
• Publishers: Atari, Atari Corporation, Atari, Inc., Sega, Taito

Missile Command (1980): The Grandfather of Shoot-‘Em-Ups

Missile Command is a 1980 arcade game developed and released by Atari, Inc. It is a single-screen, fixed shooter game in which the player controls three anti-ballistic missile (ABM) batteries to defend six cities from an endless hail of ballistic missiles. The game was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the most influential video games of all time.

Gameplay

The player controls three ABM batteries, which are located at the bottom of the screen. Each battery can fire one missile at a time, and the player must use them to intercept incoming missiles before they reach their targets. The missiles are launched from off-screen, and the player must use the radar at the top of the screen to track their trajectory and determine when to fire.

The game is played in waves, and each wave consists of a set number of missiles. The missiles become faster and more numerous as the game progresses, and the player must use increasingly quick reflexes and strategic thinking to defend their cities.

In addition to the standard missiles, there are also several other types of threats that the player must contend with. These include:

• Smart bombs: These bombs can evade a less than perfectly targeted missile.
• Bomber planes: These planes fly across the screen and launch missiles of their own.
• Satellites: These satellites orbit the Earth and launch missiles from space.

The player can earn bonus points by destroying enemy missiles and aircraft, and by completing waves without losing any cities.

Development

Missile Command was developed by a team led by Dave Theurer. Theurer was inspired to create the game after reading an article about the threat of nuclear war. He wanted to create a game that would simulate the experience of being a commander in charge of defending a city from a missile attack.

The game was originally called “The Last Battalion”, but the name was changed to Missile Command before its release. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize the shoot-’em-up genre.

Legacy

Missile Command is considered to be one of the most influential video games of all time. It was one of the first games to use a trackball controller, and it helped to popularize the use of radar in video games. The game has been ported to numerous platforms, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Critical reception

Missile Command was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, its challenging difficulty, and its realistic graphics. The game was awarded the “Game of the Year” award by the Arcade Awards in 1980.

Cultural impact

Missile Command has had a significant cultural impact. The game has been featured in numerous films and television shows, and it has been referenced in popular culture. The game’s iconic sound effects have been used in numerous other works of media.

Conclusion

Missile Command is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. It is a simple but challenging game that will test your reflexes and strategic thinking. If you are a fan of shoot-’em-ups, then you owe it to yourself to check out Missile Command.

Additional information

• Missile Command was the first arcade game to use a trackball controller.
• The game was inspired by the threat of nuclear war.
• Missile Command was a critical and commercial success.
• The game has been ported to numerous platforms.
• Missile Command is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Review Score

9/10

Art

Cover Art

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