| Planet Raid | |
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| |
| Developers | Activision (original) Retrofan (hack) |
| Publishers | Activision (original) Freeware (hack) |
| System | Atari 2600 |
| Release Dates | 1982 (original) 2004 (hack) |
| Modes | Single player Two players alternating |
| Media | Cartridge (original) ROM file (hack) |
Background[]
In River Raid, players controlled a series of jets flying over a scrolling "River of No Return", destroying multiple types of targets of various sizes and attack patterns.
Planet Raid is a hack of River Raid, giving the graphics a total makeover, as well as some of the sounds.
Gameplay[]
Players control a jet that is constantly stationed at the bottom of the screen and can only move left and right as an unending planetary landscape scrolls downwards. Players must avoid or destroy various enemy craft and bridges and avoid colliding with any land mass, enemy vehicle or bridge or they will lose a jet; lose all jets and the game will end. Once a player's jet approaches various enemy craft, they will invariably start to move, although most are confined within borders of the land masses, except for enemy jets, which fly overhead without pause.
Players’ jets are also constantly draining fuel, although they can be replenished by docking with onscreen fuel depots. Running out of fuel will also cost the player a reserve jet.
Bridges are also encountered during a game, which, upon being destroyed, the player will start off at the last bridge they destroyed prior to losing a jet.
As the game goes on, the difficulty level is raised by having the planetary masses become more and more congested with enemy craft, there is less space to maneuver, and less fuel depots appearing onscreen.
There is also a variation for two players.
Hack changes[]
The player's craft and all of the enemy vehicles were given new looks, as well as the bridges, walls, general background (black instead of blue) and fuel depots. The fuel gauge was also given a numerical indication as to how much fuel is left, rather than with letters ('E' and 'F'). The sound effects of shooting and acquiring a full fuel tank were also changed.
Controls, startup[]
- Select game–Game Select switch
- Start game–Game Reset switch
- Fire straight missiles–Difficulty switch (A position)
- Steer missiles–Difficulty switch (B position)
(in-game)[]
- Move jet–left/right
- Speed up–up on joystick
- Slow down–down on joystick
- Fire–button
- Resume game with reserve jet–joystick or button
Scoring[]
- Blue vehicle–30 points
- Orange vehicle–60 points
- Fuel Depot–80 points
- Jet–100 points
- Bridge–500 points
- Extra jet awarded–every 10,000 points
Trivia[]
- What was formerly the enemy jet now very closely resembles the ship on the fellow Atari 2600 game Subterranea.
- The original game came with two label variations, being the original release and one with a blue label. This version comes as a ROM file only to be played on Atari emulators or flashcarts.
Links[]
Planet Raid Atari Age page