Summary

• Release Year: 1981
• Genres: Arcade
• Platforms: Atari 2600
• Developers: Apollo, Inc.
• Publishers: Apollo, Inc.

Shark Attack (1981)

Shark Attack is a classic arcade game released in 1981 by Bally Midway. It is a simple but addictive game where you play as a diver in an underwater maze, collecting diamonds and avoiding the deadly shark.

The game is played on a single screen, which shows the underwater maze, shark cage, diamonds, and shark. You control the diver with a joystick, and you can move in all directions. To collect a diamond, you simply swim over it. To return to the shark cage, you must swim back to it and press the button to close the doors.

The shark is constantly swimming around the maze, and it will eat any diamonds or divers that it encounters. If the shark eats you, you will lose a life. You have three lives, and if you lose all of them, the game is over.

You can avoid the shark by staying close to the shark cage, or by swimming through the narrow passages in the maze. You can also lead the shark into one of the caves located in the corners of the screen. If you can trap the shark in a cave, it will be stunned for a short period of time, giving you a chance to collect more diamonds.

The game gets more difficult as you progress, as the shark swims faster and the maze becomes more complex. However, you can also earn extra points by collecting bonus items, such as treasure chests and gold bars.

Shark Attack was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered one of the best arcade games of all time. It has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, and Nintendo Entertainment System.

Gameplay

The goal of Shark Attack is to collect as many diamonds as possible without being eaten by the shark. You can collect diamonds by swimming over them, and you can return to the shark cage to earn points. The shark is constantly swimming around the maze, and it will eat any diamonds or divers that it encounters. You can avoid the shark by staying close to the shark cage, or by swimming through the narrow passages in the maze. You can also lead the shark into one of the caves located in the corners of the screen. If you can trap the shark in a cave, it will be stunned for a short period of time, giving you a chance to collect more diamonds.

The game gets more difficult as you progress, as the shark swims faster and the maze becomes more complex. However, you can also earn extra points by collecting bonus items, such as treasure chests and gold bars.

Development

Shark Attack was developed by Bally Midway, which was one of the leading arcade game manufacturers of the time. The game was designed by Steve Ritchie, who is also known for designing other classic arcade games, such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

Shark Attack was released in arcades in 1981, and it was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, and it quickly became one of the most popular arcade games of the time.

Ports

Shark Attack has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, and Nintendo Entertainment System. The home versions of the game are generally faithful to the arcade original, but they may have some minor differences in terms of graphics and sound.

Legacy

Shark Attack is considered one of the best arcade games of all time. It is a simple but addictive game that has stood the test of time. The game has been praised for its innovative gameplay, and it has inspired a number of other games, such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

Shark Attack is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is available on a variety of platforms, including mobile devices. If you are a fan of classic arcade games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Shark Attack.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

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