Summary

Release Year: 1984
Genres: Arcade, Shooter
Platforms: Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS
Publishers: Funsoft

Flak (1984)

Flak is a vertical scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game developed and released by Atari, Inc. in 1984. The player controls an AGX Hypersonic Fighter and must bomb flak batteries and other defenses to reach a fortress containing a rogue CPU called Computer Control, which is trying to take over the universe.

The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls constantly. The player controls their ship with a joystick, and must use a sight in front of them to bomb various buildings and defenses. These defenses include flak batteries, anti-aircraft guns, and missiles. The player’s ship can be destroyed by enemy fire, and they lose one of four lives each time this happens. The game can be played by one or two players, each taking it in turn when the other player loses a life.

Flak was a critical and commercial success, and was praised for its challenging gameplay, addictive action, and impressive graphics. It was one of the first arcade games to use a trackball for player input, and its use of 3D graphics was groundbreaking for the time.

Gameplay

The player controls an AGX Hypersonic Fighter and must bomb flak batteries and other defenses to reach a fortress containing a rogue CPU called Computer Control. The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls constantly. The player controls their ship with a joystick, and must use a sight in front of them to bomb various buildings and defenses.

The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including bombs, missiles, and lasers. The player can also collect power-ups that give them additional weapons and abilities, such as the ability to fire homing missiles or to create a shield around their ship.

The game is divided into several levels, each with its own unique set of challenges. The player must defeat all of the enemies in each level in order to progress to the next one. The game becomes increasingly difficult as the player progresses, and the later levels are filled with challenging enemies and obstacles.

Development

Flak was developed by Atari’s Advanced Research and Development (ARD) division, which was responsible for some of Atari’s most innovative and groundbreaking games, such as Star Wars and Missile Command. The game was designed by Dave Theurer, who was also the lead designer on Star Wars.

Theurer wanted to create a game that was both challenging and addictive, and he drew inspiration from classic arcade games such as Space Invaders and Galaga. He also wanted to create a game that took advantage of the Atari System 1 hardware, which was capable of producing impressive 3D graphics.

Theurer and his team spent over a year developing Flak, and the game was finally released in 1984. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time.

Legacy

Flak was a major influence on the development of the shoot-em-up genre, and it helped to popularize the use of 3D graphics in arcade games. The game’s challenging gameplay and addictive action have made it a favorite of gamers for over 30 years.

Flak has been ported to a variety of home computers and consoles, and it is still available to play today on modern platforms such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game has also been included in several retro game compilations, such as the Atari Flashback series.

Flak is a classic arcade game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. Its challenging gameplay, addictive action, and impressive graphics make it a must-play for fans of the shoot-em-up genre.

Tips for playing Flak

Use the trackball to control your ship precisely.
Stay close to the ground to avoid enemy fire.
Use your bombs to destroy flak batteries and other defenses.
Collect power-ups to give your ship additional weapons and abilities.
Don’t be afraid to use your hyperspace ability to get out of tight spots.
Practice makes perfect! The more you play Flak, the better you will become at it.

Trivia

Flak was one of the first arcade games to use a trackball for player input.
The game’s 3D graphics were groundbreaking for the time.
Flak was developed by Atari’s Advanced Research and Development (ARD) division, which was responsible for some of Atari’s most innovative and groundbreaking games.
Flak was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Summary

Release Year: 1998
Genres: Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat ’em up, Role-playing game (RPG)
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation
Developers: Conspiracy Entertainment, T&E Soft
Publishers: Funsoft, THQ

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest (1998)

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest is a dungeon crawler action RPG developed by AM7 and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. The game was released in Japan in 1998 and in North America and Europe in 1999.

The game follows the story of two adventurers, Blaze and Blade, who are searching for the legendary Eternal Quest, a powerful artifact that is said to grant its wielder eternal life. The game is set in a fantasy world filled with dungeons, monsters, and traps.

Blaze and Blade must travel through the dungeons and collect the four magical gems that are needed to activate the Eternal Quest. Along the way, they will fight monsters, solve puzzles, and overcome traps.

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a great deal of replay value. The game’s dungeons are large and complex, and there are many different ways to complete them. The game also features a variety of weapons and items that can be used to customize the player’s experience.

Gameplay

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest is a dungeon crawler action RPG. The player controls one of two characters, Blaze or Blade, as they explore dungeons, fight monsters, and solve puzzles. The game is played from a third-person perspective, and the player can use a variety of weapons and items to defeat enemies.

The game’s dungeons are large and complex, and they are filled with a variety of monsters and traps. The player must use their wits and skills to overcome these challenges and reach the end of the dungeon.

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest features a variety of weapons and items that can be used to customize the player’s experience. The player can equip different weapons and armor to improve their stats, and they can also use items to heal themselves or buff their abilities.

Characters

There are two playable characters in Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest:

Blaze is a male swordsman who is skilled in close combat. He is the more aggressive of the two characters, and he is best suited for players who prefer to get up close and personal with their enemies.
Blade is a female archer who is skilled in ranged combat. She is the more defensive of the two characters, and she is best suited for players who prefer to keep their distance from their enemies.

Story

The story of Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest follows the two adventurers as they search for the legendary Eternal Quest. The Eternal Quest is a powerful artifact that is said to grant its wielder eternal life.

The game begins with Blaze and Blade being hired by a wealthy merchant to find the Eternal Quest. The merchant believes that the Eternal Quest is hidden in a dungeon deep beneath the earth.

Blaze and Blade set out on their journey, and they soon find themselves in a world filled with danger and adventure. They must fight their way through hordes of monsters, solve puzzles, and overcome traps.

Along the way, Blaze and Blade learn more about the Eternal Quest and its power. They also learn about the dangers that await them if they fail to find the artifact.

In the end, Blaze and Blade reach the dungeon where the Eternal Quest is hidden. They must defeat the dungeon’s guardian and claim the artifact for themselves.

Reception

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest was released to positive reviews from critics. The game was praised for its challenging gameplay, its large and complex dungeons, and its variety of weapons and items.

The game was also a commercial success, selling over one million copies worldwide.

Legacy

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest is considered to be one of the best dungeon crawlers ever made. The game’s challenging gameplay, its large and complex dungeons, and its variety of weapons and items have made it a favorite among fans of the genre.

The game has also been cited as an influence on other dungeon crawlers, such as Diablo and Torchlight.

Conclusion

Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest is a classic dungeon crawler action RPG that offers a great deal of replay value. The game’s challenging gameplay, its large and complex dungeons, and its variety of weapons and items make it a must-play for fans of the genre.