Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Arcade, Sport
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Game Boy Color, Nintendo Entertainment System, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Atari Games
- Publishers: Atari Games, Midway Games, Mindscape, U.S. Gold
720 Degrees (1986): The Original Extreme Sports Video Game
Released in 1986 by Atari Games, 720 Degrees is an arcade skateboarding game that holds a unique place in gaming history. Not only is it one of the first extreme sports video games, but it also has a distinctive timed structure that requires players to score points in order to keep the game going.
Gameplay
720 Degrees is played from a third-person perspective, with the player controlling a skateboarder in a half-pipe. The goal of the game is to score points by performing tricks, such as ollies, kickflips, and 360s. The player has a limited amount of time to score points, and the timer can only be extended by successfully landing tricks.
The game’s controls are simple: the player uses the joystick to move the skateboarder left and right, and the buttons to perform tricks. However, mastering the controls is challenging, as the player must time their button presses precisely in order to land tricks successfully.
Graphics and Sound
For its time, 720 Degrees had impressive graphics and sound. The game’s visuals are colorful and detailed, and the animation is smooth. The sound effects are also well-done, and the music is catchy and upbeat.
Reception
720 Degrees was a critical and commercial success. Critics praised the game’s innovative gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics and sound. The game was also a hit with arcade-goers, who enjoyed the fast-paced action and the challenge of trying to beat their high scores.
Legacy
720 Degrees is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarding video games of all time. It helped to popularize the sport of skateboarding, and it inspired a number of other extreme sports video games. The game’s unique timed structure has also been imitated by other games, such as the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.
720 Degrees Today
720 Degrees is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic arcade game. The game is available on a number of retro gaming platforms, and it can also be played online.
Conclusion
720 Degrees is a groundbreaking skateboarding video game that helped to define the extreme sports genre. The game’s innovative gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics and sound make it a must-play for fans of skateboarding and retro gaming.
Additional Information
Development
720 Degrees was developed by Atari Games, a subsidiary of Atari, Inc. The game was designed by Ed Logg, who is also known for designing the classic arcade games Asteroids and Centipede.
Release
720 Degrees was released in arcades in 1986. The game was later ported to a number of home computers, including the Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
Cultural Impact
720 Degrees was one of the first video games to feature skateboarding, and it helped to popularize the sport. The game also had a significant impact on the development of other extreme sports video games, such as the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.
Trivia
- The name “720 Degrees” refers to the number of degrees in a full circle. This is a reference to the fact that the player can perform 360-degree spins in the game.
- 720 Degrees was one of the first video games to use digitized sound effects.
- The game’s soundtrack was composed by Brad Fuller, who also composed the soundtracks for other Atari Games classics, such as Paperboy and Gauntlet.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
