Battlezone
by Atari Released 1 Nov 1980 0 views
Quick facts
- Developer
- Atari
- Publisher
- Quicksilva, Atari Corporation, Atari
- Released
- 1 Nov 1980
- Platforms
- Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, ZX Spectrum
- Game modes
- Single player
- Age rating
- ESRB: E
6.9/10
Our verdict
Battlezone is an essential arcade classic.
Battlezone is Atari’s 1980 arcade tank game, designed by Ed Rotberg. Its green vector-graphics battlefield made it one of the first 3D games, and it was ported to many home computers, including DOS, the C64 and ZX Spectrum.
Gameplay
You command a tank on a vector-graphics plain, using a radar to find enemies:
- Enemies: Tanks, supertanks, missiles and flying saucers.
- Twin-stick controls: The arcade version uses two joysticks to control the treads.
- Periscope: The arcade cabinet had a periscope-style viewer.
- Radar: Track enemies around you.
It’s often called the first successful first-person shooter. The US Army even commissioned a training version.
Verdict
Battlezone is a landmark of video game history. Its simple gameplay is still tense and fun.
The Good
- Landmark 3D game
- Tense tank combat
- Iconic vector graphics
The Bad
- Very simple
- Repetitive
- Home ports vary
Trailer
Screenshots
