Summary
- Release Year: 1984
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter, Strategy
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64/128/MAX, MSX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Personal Software Services
- Publishers: Personal Software Services
Battle for Midway (1984): A Classic Arcade Naval Warfare Game
Introduction
Battle for Midway is an arcade game released in 1984 by Midway Games. It is a naval warfare game that puts the player in command of the Pacific fleet during the Battle of Midway. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered one of the best arcade games of all time.
Gameplay
The player controls two task forces of the Pacific fleet, Task Force 16 and Task Force 17. The goal of the game is to destroy or drive off the Japanese carrier divisions and prevent them from taking the island of Midway.
The game is played on a two-screen display. The top screen shows a map of the battle area, while the bottom screen shows a close-up view of the current battle. The player can use the joystick to move their ships around the map and the buttons to fire their guns.
As planes swoop in, the player must shoot them down until they are gone or their gun is destroyed. The player can also man the anti-aircraft guns on the island of Midway to defend it from air attacks.
Development
Battle for Midway was developed by a team led by programmer Jeff Minter. Minter was inspired to create the game after reading about the Battle of Midway in a book. He wanted to create a game that was both historically accurate and fun to play.
The game was developed on the Midway Zeus hardware, which was one of the most powerful arcade platforms of its time. This allowed Minter and his team to create a game with impressive graphics and sound.
Release
Battle for Midway was released in arcades in 1984. It was a critical and commercial success, and it quickly became one of the most popular arcade games of the year. The game was later ported to a number of home computers, including the Commodore 64, the ZX Spectrum, and the Atari ST.
Legacy
Battle for Midway is considered one of the best arcade games of all time. It is praised for its historical accuracy, its challenging gameplay, and its impressive graphics and sound. The game has been influential on a number of other naval warfare games, including the popular Battlestations series.
Review
Battle for Midway is a classic arcade game that is still fun to play today. The game’s historical accuracy, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound make it a must-play for any fan of naval warfare games.
Score: 8.5/10
Pros:
- Historically accurate
- Challenging gameplay
- Impressive graphics and sound
Cons:
- Can be difficult for beginners
- Limited replay value
Overall
Battle for Midway is a classic arcade game that is still fun to play today. The game’s historical accuracy, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound make it a must-play for any fan of naval warfare games.
Review Score
8.5/10
