• Tag Archives Activision

  • Spider Fighter (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    ‘Spider Fighter’

    [2600] [USA] [MAGAZINE] [1983]

    • Electronic Games, March 1983 (Vol. 1, #3)

      • Scanned by Jason Scott, via The Internet Archive
      • Illustration by Graham Wilson

    Spider Fighter, released in 1982 for the Atari 2600 (VCS), is a pretty average game for that system. By Activision standards this means it is below average. The game could best be described as a cross between Space Invaders and Centipede and is pretty typical for its time.

    The goal in Spider Fighter is to kill various vermin in an effort to save your fruit crop. Your weapon is a can of insecticide. Graphics are decent and colorful for the Atari 2600 but the sound is mediocre and the game play is pretty derivative. Once you figure out your opponents patterns, it becomes pretty easy (and boring) also. It is by no means a terrible game by Atari 2600 standards but it just isn’t up to what you would have come to expect from Activision which generally produced outstanding games at the time.

    Spider Fighter showed up later on in 1998 for the PlayStation as part of “A Collection of Activision Classic Games for the Atari 2600”. This isn’t a great conversion though as many of the games in this collection were slow or laggy. Since then, there have been various editions of Activision Anthology published between 2002 and 2012 for various systems including Windows, Mac, PS2, Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS and PlayStation Portable. These are much better conversions (or emulations) and are worthwhile alternatives to tracking down and original cartridge.





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  • Activision (1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Activision (1985)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/167733251267/retrocgads-usa-1985-activision-1985

    The mid 1980s was one of the best times in the early days of home computers. There were a relatively huge number of options available if you wanted a computer, none of which were compatible with anything else for the most part. As this ad by Activision indicates, major computers included the Commodore 64, Apple II, Atari 8-bit and Coleco ADAM. In 1985, even though Activision may not have been developing games for them, other viable computers included MS-DOS based PCs, TI-99/4A (though recently discontinued at this point), Macintosh and the newly introduced Atari ST and Amiga among others.

    The ad is a little misleading though as not all of the games were available for all the systems mentioned. To be fair, the Coleco ADAM, for example, would shortly be discontinued (if it hadn’t been already when this ad appeared) but it was compatible with most ColecoVision games. It had some questionable design decisions and early high failure rates doomed its chance for success.

    The games in this ad are all Activision classics. Space Shuttle was a space flight simulator that was quite detailed and complex for the time. An incredible achievement but not a game for someone looking for a quick shoot-em-up. It was available for the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Atari 5200, and Atari 8-bit computers.

    Zenji was a puzzle game in which you controlled a smiling face through a maze while avoiding obstacles. Your goal is to turn the maze green while connecting each section and avoiding obstacles. It was available for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Atari 500, and ColecoVision.

    Beamrider is a shooter that could be described as a pseudo 3D version of centipede. It is relatively simplistic but well done. It was originally developed for the Intellivision then ported to the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Commodore 64 and others.

    Finally, there is H.E.R.O., my personal favorite of the bunch. H.E.R.O. stands for Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operation and in this game you use a helicopter pack and other items to rescue trapped miners. You navigate through various tunnels with your helicopter pack blasting obstacles with dynamite and zapping ill-tempered creatures such as spiders with your helmet mounted laser in your attempt to find and save trapped miners. It was available for the Atari 2600, Apple II, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision and others.

    All of these games are quality games that are worth playing still today. Some or all have seen various compilation pack re-releases but if I had to pick one platform to play them all on, it would be the Commodore 64. Screenshots above are from the Commodore 64 versions.


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  • Ghostbusters (Sega Genesis)

    Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment


    The original Ghostbusters movie is one of THE classic action comedies of the 1980s. So if you haven’t seen it go do that now. The Ghostbusters game I remember best is the one based on the original movie and created by Activision in 1984 for the Commodore 64 and various home consoles of the time. While the Sega Genesis version still bears an Activision copyright, it is newer (1990) had completely different developers and is a completely different game. It also isn’t based directly on the original movie but is more of a sequel of sorts. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad game though.

    The Sega Genesis iteration of Ghostbusters is a pretty standard side-scrolling platform/run and gun type game. In terms of gameplay it is not quite as original as, well, the original, but it is fairly well done and the graphics are certainly improved. I would say it’s slightly above average for the genre but I find the Ghostbusters theme appealing. Oddly, you can choose from only three of the four original Ghostbusters as playable characters (Winston is missing for some reason).

    While the original Ghostbusters game has a variety of ports for the Atari 2600, Sega Master System and others, this particular iteration of Ghostbusters is unique to the Genesis. There are no remakes, ports or direct sequels so if you want to play this version you’ll need a Genesis and cart or you’ll have to resort to emulation.

    Ghostbusters (Sega Genesis)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/165978968437/creaturesofnight-who-you-gonna-call


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