Summary
- Release Year: 1982
- Genres: Adventure, Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade
- Developers: Atari
- Publishers: Atari
Gravitar: A Gravity-Defying Classic
Released in 1982 by Atari, Inc., Gravitar is a color vector graphics arcade game that quickly became a classic. The game is set in a fictional solar system with several planets to explore. The player controls a small blue spacecraft that can move freely around the overworld. However, gravity plays a fair part in Gravitar: the ship will be pulled slowly to the deadly star in the overworld, and downward in the side-view levels.
The goal of Gravitar is to destroy all of the planets in the solar system. To do this, the player must first move their ship into a planet. This will take them to a side-view landscape where they must destroy all of the red bunkers. The bunkers are constantly shooting, so the player must be careful to avoid their fire. The player can also use the tractor beam to pick up blue fuel tanks. Once all of the bunkers are destroyed, the planet will blow up, and the player will earn a bonus.
Once all of the planets in a solar system are destroyed, the player will move onto the next solar system. The difficulty of the game increases with each solar system, as the planets become more heavily defended and the gravity becomes stronger.
Gameplay
Gravitar is a challenging game that requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The player must constantly be aware of their surroundings and the effects of gravity. The game’s physics are very realistic, and the player must take into account the momentum of their ship when moving around.
In addition to the main game, Gravitar also features a number of bonus rounds. These bonus rounds are designed to test the player’s skills in different ways. For example, one bonus round requires the player to fly through a series of hoops without crashing. Another bonus round requires the player to destroy a number of asteroids in a limited amount of time.
Legacy
Gravitar was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and challenging difficulty. It was one of the first games to use vector graphics, and its use of gravity was groundbreaking at the time.
Gravitar has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the PC. It is still considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time.
Tips for Playing Gravitar
Here are a few tips for playing Gravitar:
- Be aware of your surroundings and the effects of gravity.
- Use the tractor beam to pick up blue fuel tanks.
- Destroy the red bunkers as quickly as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to use the bonus rounds to practice your skills.
- Be patient and don’t give up!
Conclusion
Gravitar is a classic arcade game that is still fun to play today. With its unique gameplay, beautiful graphics, and challenging difficulty, it is a must-play for any fan of shoot ’em ups.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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