Ballblazer is a 1984 computer game created by Lucasfilm Games . It was originally released for computers of the 8-bit Atari family , such as the Atari 800 and Atari 5200 . It was also ported to other popular platforms of the time, such as Apple II , ZX Spectrum (ported by Dalali Software Ltd), Amstrad CPC , Commodore 64 , Atari 7800 and NES . The version for Atari 800 during the development period was called Ballblaster . Under this name, pirated versions of the game were also distributed. [2] The main designer and programmer of Ballblazer was David Levine.
| Ballblazer | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Lucasfilm Games |
| Publisher | Atari (Atari 5200, 7800) , Activision (CPC, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum) , Epyx (Apple II, Atari 8-bit) , Mr. Micro (MSX) , Pony Canyon (NES) |
| Date of issue | March 1984 [1] (Atari 5200, Atari 800) |
| Genre | action sports simulator |
| Game designer | David levine |
| Technical details | |
| Platforms | Amstrad CPC , Apple II , Atari 8-bit , Atari 5200 , Atari 7800 , Commodore 64 , MSX , NES , ZX Spectrum |
| Game modes | single-user and two players |
| Carrier | compact cassette , cartridge , diskette |
| Control | keyboard , joystick and gamepad |
In 1990 , LucasArts and Rainbow Arts released a remake and addition to the game called Masterblazer . It was released for Amiga , Atari ST , and DOS . Ballblazer also inspired the creation of a similar game, Space Football: One on One , which was developed and released by Triffix for Super NES in 1992 . On March 31, 1997 , a remake of the original called Ballblazer Champions was released for the Sony PlayStation .
Content
Gameplay
Ballblazer is a simple two-player sports-style game similar to basketball and football . Each side is represented by an apparatus called “rotofoil”. It can be controlled by a player or a computer controlled “droid” having 10 levels of intelligence . Thus, a game of man against man, man against droid and droid against droid is possible. The main goal of the game is to score points. This can be done by throwing or transferring a flying ball into the opponent's goal area. The game takes place on a flat chessboard . The screen is divided into 2 parts (one for each player). The field is displayed in first-person view.
The player can grab the ball simply by running towards him, after which he begins to be held by the force field in front of the machine. The opponent can hit the ball from the player by pressing the attack button, and the player who owns the ball can send it to the goal area. When a player does not have a ball, his device automatically rotates with an interval of 90 degrees to the ball, and when he owns the ball, to the opponent's goal area. The bars marking this area are shifted from one side to the other after the end of each game. The more goals scored, the already becomes the area in which the goal counts.
Criticism
Computer Gaming World described the game as “fast and intense”, highly noting the graphics, “squeezing everything from the Atari 400/800 to the last drop” [3] .
Zzap! 64 gave an enthusiastic review for the Commodore 64 version, criticizing only weak sound effects. The magazine called the game "the best sports game of the existing ones for Commodore 64", giving it a rating of 98% [4] .
Notes
- ↑ LucasArts Entertainment Company | 20th Anniversary . Date of treatment January 8, 2013. Archived on April 28, 2006.
- ↑ Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts pg. 54
- ↑ Williams, Gregg . Lucasfilm Enters Home Gaming, Computer Gaming World (June – July 1985), p. 22.
- ↑ http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=009&page=013&magazine=zzap