1978-1983 arcade shooter countdown.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:11 am

The List

#102 Battle Cross (1982) - page 1                      JAV - 80,050
#101 Zoar (1982)                                       NIM - 93,790  
#100 Exerion (1983)                                    RUL - 207,200  
# 99 Dead Eye (1978)                                   NIM - 41,825 
# 98 Commando (1983) - page 2                          NIM - 12,100
# 97 Astro Chase (1982)                                NIM - 13,320 
# 96 Funky Fish (1981)                                 ROB - 43,350
# 95 Super Bond (198?)                                 ---
# 94 Gravitar (1982)                                   ---
# 93 Dark Planet (1982)                                NIM - 36,400
# 92 Super Zaxxon (1982)                               ---
# 91 Zaxxon (1982)                                     ---
# 90 Cosmic Avenger (1981)                             ROB - 8,080
# 89 Ambush (1983)                                     ROB - 72,350
# 88 Space Duel (1980) - page 3                        ---
# 87 Major Havoc (1983)                                ---
# 86 Asteroids (1979)                                  ---
# 85 Asteroids Deluxe (1980)                           ---
# 84 Armor Attack (1980)                               ---
# 83 Cosmic Chasm (1983)                               ---
# 82 Solar Quest (1981)                                ---
# 81 Zektor (1982)                                     ---
# 80 Omega Race (1981)                                 ---
# 79 DevilZone (1980)                                  ---
# 78 Space Firebird (1980)                             ---
# 77 Borderline (1981)                                 ---
# 76 Star Trek (1982)                                  ---
# 75 Star Castle (1980)                                ---
# 74 Eliminator (1981)                                 ---
# 73 Azurian Attack (1982)                             ROB - 22,610
# 72 Cloud 9 (1983)                                    ---
# 71 Kozmik Kroozr (1982)                              ROB - 340,600
# 70 Bio Attack (1983)                                 ---
# 69 Clay Shoot (1979)                                 ---
# 68 Battle of Atlantis (1981)                         ROB - 54,930
# 67 Colony 7 (1981)                                   ROB - 274,575
# 66 Eyes (1982)                                       ROB - 182,240
# 65 Pleiads (1981)                                    DAL - 19,960
# 64 Phoenix (1980)                                    ROB - 12,670
# 63 Dark Warrior (1981)                               ROB - 56,100
# 62 Defend the Terra Attack on the Red UFO (1981)     ROB - 10,200
# 61 Cosmic Alien (1979)                               ROB - 15,640
# 60 Gorf (1981)                                       ROB - 12,570
# 59 Vastar (1983) - page 4                            ROB - 47,050
# 58 Tranquilizer Gun (1980)                           ROB - 9,140
# 57 Blue Shark (1978)                                 EAH - 22,000 
# 56 D-Day (1982)                                      ROB - 31,670
# 55 Space Fury (1981)                                 ROB - 35.920
# 54 Demon (1982)                                      ---
# 53 Challenger (1981)                                 ROB - 73,800
# 52 UniWar S (1980)                                   ROB - 12,540
# 51 Cosmo (1979)                                      ROB - 13,750
# 50 A.D. 2083 (1983)                                  ROB - 87,000
# 49 Aztarac (1983)                                    ---
# 48 Krull (1983)                                      EAH - 63,500
# 47 Tac/Scan (1982)                                   ---
# 46 Tempest (1980) - page 5                           ---
# 45 Gyruss (1983)                                     --- 
# 44 Espial (1983)                                     ---
# 43 Red Alert (1981)                                  ---
# 42 Demoneye-X (1981)                                 ---
# 41 Mariner (1981)                                    ---
# 40 Black Widow (1982)                                ---
# 39 Vanguard (1981)                                   ---
# 38 Helifire (1980)                                   ROB - 25,130
# 37 Black Hole (1981)                                 ROB - 17,360
# 36 Space Invaders (1978)                             ---
# 35 Space Invaders Part II (1979)                     ---
# 34 Space Invaders II (1980)                          ---
# 33 Galaxy Wars (1979)                                ROB - 19,750
# 32 Astro Fighter (1979)                              ROB - 10,570
# 31 Sinistar (1982)                                   NIM - 100,310
# 30 Moon Cresta (1980) - page 6                       ROB - 19,690
# 29 Astro Blaster (1981)                              ROB - 28,090
# 28 Carnival (1980)                                   ROB - 20,390
# 27 Mega Zone (1983)                                  ROB - 77,950
# 26 Xevious (1982)                                    PRF - 159,660
# 25 Satan's Hollow (1981)                             ROB - 154,855
# 24 Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom (1982)                ---
# 23 Blaster (1983)                                    ---
# 22 Bosconian (1981)                                  INC - 240,100 (new ver.)
# 21 Scramble (1981)                                   EAH - 43,610
# 20 Super Cobra (1981)                                ROB - 31,200
# 19 Rescue (1982) - page 7                            ROB - 47,025
# 18 Missile Command (1980)                            ROB - 25,085
# 17 Galaxian (1979)                                   ROB - 12,610
# 16 Centipede (1980)                                  ROB - 32,471
# 15 Millipede (1982)                                  NIM - 98,356 
# 14 Balloon Bomber (1980)                             ROB - 17,400
# 13 Astro Invader (1980)                              DAL - 32,650
# 12 Robotron (1982)                                   NIM - 312,775 
# 11 Enigma II (1981)                                  ROB - 8,060
# 10 Moon Patrol (1982)                                ROB - 55,000
#  9 Pooyan (1982)                                     ROB - 200,450
#  8 Cosmic Guerilla (1979)                            ROB - 5,560 
#  7 King & Balloon (1980)                             DAL - 50,850
#  6 Time Pilot (1982)                                 ROB - 242,900
#  5 Galaga (1981) - page 8                            ROB - 111,620
#  4 Stargate (1981)                                   >_<
#  3 Defender (1980)                                   ---
#  2 Mad Planets (1983)                                ROB - 86,066
#  1 Juno First (1983)                                 ROB - 382,770

My own scores included for special shame. Play along if you want.

---
FIRST GAME

#102 Battle Cross (1982)
The ship speed is so bad that I have to question whether or not the emulation is accurate. I would be very disappointed if it is not since this is what makes it special. Even if it is slow motion emu, you simply can't keep pace with the enemies and must play very defensively. Things are bad when you have to remember to move a certain way to avoid dying to the first wave of enemies in seconds. There is no explaining the ship design, in combination with the speed of your ship and speed of the enemies. I can enjoy the precision required by only having one shot every 1-2 seconds, but in this game it's half that and the game expects even greater precision with those shots. Putting aside those technical details, the levels. Not sure what they want me to do in the third screen. There is an ant crawling around a ball. Am I supposed to wait this out or try to kill the ant that is always out of reach?

Beat my hot score of 12,000.

Long, long ways to go.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:45 am

#102 Battle Cross (1982) - page 1:

RGC - 19,010

See forthcoming blog about my WR attempt...

Edit: I imagine the hive planet crosses the screen a limited number of times. Never got to find out.

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:52 am

Rob's era and system specific runthrough threads will always be the best thing about these forums. This is destined to be another epic. We should take bets on top three.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:33 am

About 80% of the list is tentatively ordered while the top of the list is just a group, so I don't even know yet. There will be some really cool lesser known games with the usual. I'm enjoying these a lot.

RGC wrote:See forthcoming blog about my WR attempt...

lol. As far as I'm concerned that is the new world record. At least the highest Battle Cross score this decade.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:04 pm

Oh yes!

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:59 pm

RGC wrote:RGC - 19,010

That's hardcore.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:05 pm

A new countdown from Rob? Best news of the week!

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:25 pm

You know, I'm still pretty new to these forums but Rob... you rule.
Rob's threads are a part of what makes this community so much better than any other shmup/arcade forums.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:32 pm

Battle Cross - CBC - 9090

Fuck me this game is bad, the firing speed is truly staggeringly slow. Got to the odd planet with the ant and died rather swiftly.

Post by **Ghegs** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:34 pm

Oh, sweet. Christmas started early this year.

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:43 pm

Momijitsuki - 44,170

Simple games have simple strategies. I could have done better had I not become impatient. What is the world record? I can't find it.

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:52 pm

I bet Galaga wins it.

(great idea with the high-scores Rob)

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:15 pm

Battle Cross (1982)

ZOM - 9420

This game reminds me of Mushi - tap...tap...tap...

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:25 pm

Momijitsuki wrote:http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll65 ... ecross.jpg
Momijitsuki - 44,170
Simple games have simple strategies. I could have done better had I not become impatient. What is the world record? I can't find it.

Sick score there, Momiji.
Can you enlighten us on what happens after the hive planet(3rd screen)?

EDIT: Sorry for double post.

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:27 pm

ZOM wrote:
Momijitsuki wrote:http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll65 ... ecross.jpg
Momijitsuki - 44,170
Simple games have simple strategies. I could have done better had I not become impatient. What is the world record? I can't find it.

Sick score there, Momiji.
Can you enlighten us on what happens after the hive planet(3rd screen)?

EDIT: Sorry for double post.

I dunno, I never got that far.

MadScientist · Post by **MadScientist** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:42 pm

Somebody on MARP counter stopped the game at 999,990. There's a replay too if anybody cares that much.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:51 pm

Once you get the very simple patterns down, it's just a case of staying awake. I fell asleep on the third loop:

RGC wrote:#102 Battle Cross (1982) - page 1: RGC - 51, 590

I recommend cranking the volume on stage 3 (hibachi's lair), for added insanity. Stage 4 is just a bunch of larger space ships and missiles coming from the planet. Destroy the biggest ship and you've looped the game (indicated with a little insect in the lower right). I really need to find a job.

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:57 pm

RGC wrote:Once you get the very simple patterns down, it's just a case of staying awake. I fell asleep on the third loop:

RGC wrote:#102 Battle Cross (1982) - page 1: RGC - 51, 590
I recommend cranking the volume on stage 3 (hibachi's lair), for added insanity. Stage 4 is just a bunch of larger space ships and missiles coming from the planet. Destory the biggest ship and you've looped the game (indicated with a little insect in the lower right). I really need to find a job.

My method's easier. Finish the first stage, then keep looping the second stage. You get extends every 5000 points, so kill all of those things on the asteroids, and die right before the stage ends. You usually get around 8000 in one playthrough of stage 2. Just keep racking up extends and keep looping the stage.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:00 pm

But stage 3 is my favourite.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:00 pm

Quick work, guys, so here's another. I think this one is more torturous than boring.

#101 Zoar (1982)
A game brazen enough to dizplay itz landing zequence on itz title zcreen (will ztop now), but the runway is only long enough to skid across for a small amount of bonus points. I guess as a reminder of its 101-worthy partial altitude control (will zoar on its own). It is nearly impossible to judge what can hit you from an overhead perspective or what you can hit. Ships are flying by so quickly that it would be hard to hit half of them even if they were at the same height as you.

Setting the bar so low with the score. I, I just can't play this again.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:13 pm

Code: Select all

#101 Zoar (1982)                                       RGC - 27,940

Bad.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:26 pm

Zoar

CBC - 32,560

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:34 pm

Zoar (1982)

ZOM - 51,000

Horrible horrible game.
Is it possible to crash into tiny islands in this game? I think i got killed by an island. lol

javel · Post by **javel** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:44 pm

#102 Battle Cross (1982) - page 1: JAV - 80,050

44 minutes. The frequent extends feels like a punishment in this game.

http://pici.se/pictures/NHDoOkyQg.png
This is where I stopped playing.

RGC wrote:I really need to find a job.

+1

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:55 pm

#101 Zoar (1982) NIM - 93,790

the game gets pretty boring after awhile, i think i coudve kept on for a long while, i made dumb mistakes and lost my last 2 lives.

if someone beats it ill give it another cred

edit: I think it would be a good idea to include Gaplus to the list, since it's a classic shmup from the Golden era and was relased very early in 1984 (april 1984).

javel · Post by **javel** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:07 pm

#101 Zoar (1982) JAV - 63,100

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:47 pm

I'll take my world records being smashed as a sign that you can all handle at least two more gaming gems today.

#100 Exerion (1983)
I remember this as a bad NES port, but it isn't just the port. This has to be a contender for worst control in a shooter. It is honestly hard to believe anyone ever thought control this indifferent to player input was a good idea. And they ported it years later. This game must have a few fans. This has to be, just has to be, for the graphics. Even with your topsy-turvy ship and rapidly-scrolling school play background layers, I still survived far too long by letting the current carry me around the screen's edge. Some of the enemies split in half when you shoot them, which is worth a 0.5 out of 10 at least. Recommended if you like: ice skating in tennis shoes, thick horizontal stripes.

#99 Dead Eye (1978)
Better than the above games since you can't die from horrible design choices. You just can't do much of anything. Toss a coin in the air and start shooting at it to keep it in the air, or anything else that flies by. Hot damn. Get bonus points when it hits the wall or a wheel. Strike a dashing cowboy pose and use that six shooter like a machine gun. Simple and stupid. Absolute worst music, but they were probably just excited to get three successive off-notes in a game back then. This is what shooting games were like before Space Invaders changed things.

If you don't already know, you'll probably want to adjust the analog sensitivity and auto centering. And for your own sake, no rapidfire. There would be no way for the coin to fall.

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:27 pm

Exerion is actually quite enjoyable in a shit kind of way, reminds me of a crapper, harder to control Phoenix.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:16 pm

I can see Moais in that last Exerion thumbnail. Sure this adds another 0.5?

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:57 pm

[random]

Moai are awesome, I bought one for my fishtank.

[/random]