Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Atari 2600
- Developers: CommaVid, Inc.
- Publishers: CommaVid, Inc.
Stronghold (1983): A Retro Shoot-Em-Up Classic
Stronghold is a classic shoot-em-up arcade game released in 1983 by Sega. It is notable for its challenging gameplay, 16 game variations, and intense action.
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship that is on patrol in deep space. The ship encounters an abandoned base whose self-defense mechanisms are still functional. Upon detecting the player’s presence, the base launches several drones to destroy the ship.
The player must shoot down the drones and avoid being hit by their fire. After conquering three of these attack waves, a force field containing of three layers will form at the bottom of the screen protecting a SAM crawler.
The player’s objective now is to shoot a gap into the horizontally moving force field in order to eliminate the SAM crawler while still being under attack by hostile drones. As soon as the player breaches the force field, they must pay attention not to be shot down by the SAM crawler, which will exploit the fact that the player has destroyed the force field.
The game comes with 16 game variations, some of them allowing the player to use rapid fire while others make the attack drones invincible to the player’s missiles or produce drones that clone themselves. Still, some variants create a force field that will descend from above and minimize the space the player can move in.
Development
Stronghold was developed by Sega AM2, a division of Sega that was responsible for developing some of the company’s most popular arcade games, including Out Run, Space Harrier, and After Burner.
The game was designed by Yu Suzuki, who would later go on to create the Virtua Fighter and Shenmue series. Suzuki was inspired by the 1982 film Tron, which features a scene where a spaceship flies through a force field.
Release
Stronghold was released in arcades in Japan in 1983. It was later released in North America and Europe in 1984. The game was a commercial success, selling over 100,000 arcade cabinets worldwide.
Reception
Stronghold was well-received by critics upon its release. The game was praised for its challenging gameplay, innovative use of force fields, and intense action.
In a review for Computer Gaming World, Bill Kunkel wrote: “Stronghold is a fast-paced, exciting shoot-em-up that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.”
The game was also a hit with players. In a 1984 survey by the arcade industry magazine RePlay, Stronghold was ranked as the 10th most popular arcade game in the United States.
Legacy
Stronghold is considered to be one of the classic shoot-em-up games of the 1980s. The game has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation 2.
Stronghold has also been included in several retro video game compilations, such as the Sega Ages 2500 series and the Sega Genesis Collection.
The game’s innovative use of force fields has been influential on other shoot-em-ups, such as the Gradius series and the R-Type series.
Conclusion
Stronghold is a classic shoot-em-up game that still holds up today. With its challenging gameplay, 16 game variations, and intense action, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
