Summary
- Release Year: 1985
- Genres: Quiz/Trivia, Strategy
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, BBC Microcomputer System
Blockbusters: Gold Run (1985)
Blockbusters: Gold Run is a classic arcade game released in 1985 by Atari. It is a maze game in which the player controls a character who must collect gold bars while avoiding enemies. The game is notable for its simple but addictive gameplay, and its use of a trackball controller.
Gameplay
The player controls a character who must navigate through a maze, collecting gold bars and avoiding enemies. The maze is made up of a series of rooms, each of which contains a number of gold bars. The player must collect all of the gold bars in a room in order to advance to the next room.
Enemies in the game include ghosts, spiders, and bats. These enemies will chase the player and try to touch him. If the player is touched by an enemy, he will lose a life. The player has a limited number of lives, and if he loses all of his lives, the game is over.
The player can use a variety of weapons to defeat enemies. These weapons include a gun, a bomb, and a shield. The player can also use the trackball to control the direction of his shots.
Development
Blockbusters: Gold Run was developed by Atari’s coin-operated video game division in Sunnyvale, California. The game was designed by Ed Logg, who was also the designer of other classic arcade games such as Asteroids and Centipede.
Logg was inspired to create Blockbusters: Gold Run after playing the maze game Pac-Man. He wanted to create a game that was similar to Pac-Man but with more action and excitement.
Logg decided to use a trackball controller for Blockbusters: Gold Run because he felt that it would give the player more precise control over their character’s movement. He also wanted to create a game that was easy to learn but difficult to master.
Release
Blockbusters: Gold Run was released in arcades in 1985. The game was a commercial success, and it was ported to a number of home computers and consoles.
Reception
Blockbusters: Gold Run was well-received by critics and players alike. The game was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, its use of a trackball controller, and its challenging difficulty.
Blockbusters: Gold Run has been ranked as one of the greatest arcade games of all time. It is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic of the genre.
Legacy
Blockbusters: Gold Run has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay has been imitated by many other games, and its use of a trackball controller has become a standard feature in many arcade games.
Blockbusters: Gold Run is also credited with helping to popularize the maze game genre. The game’s success led to the development of many other maze games, including Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong.
Blockbusters: Gold Run is a classic arcade game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay, its use of a trackball controller, and its challenging difficulty make it a timeless classic.
Review Score
7.5/10
