Phantoms Five (1980)

by Nish
written by Nish 5 minutes read

Summary

Phantoms Five is a vertically scrolling action game written by Nasir Gebelli and published by Sirius Software for the Apple II computers in 1980. The player controls the horizontal movement of a plane and has to bomb various targets beneath him. The game is notable for its smooth scrolling and challenging gameplay.

Gameplay

The player controls a plane that flies across the screen from left to right. The plane can be moved up and down, and the player can drop bombs by pressing the space bar. The goal of the game is to bomb all of the targets on the screen before they reach the bottom of the screen.

There are five different types of targets in the game:

  • Tanks: Tanks move slowly across the screen and fire bullets at the player’s plane.
  • Trucks: Trucks move faster than tanks and drop bombs on the player’s plane.
  • Helicopters: Helicopters fly across the screen and drop bombs on the player’s plane.
  • Jets: Jets fly across the screen and fire bullets at the player’s plane.
  • Missiles: Missiles are fired from the bottom of the screen and home in on the player’s plane.

The player’s plane can be destroyed by being hit by enemy fire or by crashing into the ground. The player has three lives, and the game is over when all three lives are lost.

Development

Phantoms Five was written by Nasir Gebelli, who was also responsible for other classic Apple II games such as Choplifter and Lode Runner. Gebelli was inspired to create Phantoms Five after playing the arcade game Scramble. He wanted to create a similar game for the Apple II, but with his own unique twist.

One of the most innovative features of Phantoms Five is its smooth scrolling. This was a major technical achievement for the time, and it helped to create a more immersive and exciting gaming experience.

Release

Phantoms Five was released in 1980 and was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the first vertically scrolling action games for the Apple II, and it helped to popularize the genre. The game was also ported to other platforms, including the Atari 8-bit family and the Commodore 64.

Legacy

Phantoms Five is considered to be one of the classic games of the Apple II era. It is still enjoyed by retro gamers today, and it has been cited as an influence on later vertically scrolling action games such as Xevious and Gradius.

Conclusion

Phantoms Five is a challenging and addictive vertically scrolling action game that is still fun to play today. It is a great example of early home computer gaming and is a must-play for fans of the genre.

Tips for Playing Phantoms Five

Here are a few tips for playing Phantoms Five:

  • Use the terrain to your advantage. The terrain in Phantoms Five can be used to block enemy fire and to provide cover for your plane.
  • Don’t be afraid to use your bombs. Bombs are your primary weapon in Phantoms Five, so don’t be afraid to use them. However, be careful not to waste your bombs, as they are limited.
  • Be patient. Phantoms Five is a challenging game, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t beat it right away. Take your time and learn the patterns of the enemy attacks.
  • Have fun! Phantoms Five is a great game, so relax and enjoy yourself.

Review Score

8/10

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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