Title: Zaxxon

Release Date: 1982

Developer: Sega/Gremlin

Class: Wide Release

Genre: Sci-Fi

Maximum number of players: 1

Number of simultaneous players: 2

Game Controls:

• Joystick: 4-Way
• Total Buttons: 1
• Actions:
  Fire

Overview:

Zaxxon is a unique isometric perspective, in which you find yourself piloting an 'attack-shuttle' spacecraft, strafing the enemy's asteroid city in an attempt to destroy fuel tanks, gun emplacements, missiles, fighters and the dreaded Zaxxon enemy robot. With the aid of an altimeter that constantly monitors your height, you control your ship with an aircraft-style joystick, barnstorming your way through wall openings, under electronic barriers, dodging rockets, and in a later round, duelling with Zaxxon, the insidious enemy robot. A successful attack-run across the first platform leads us to a deep-space dogfight with enemy planes. As you climb, turn and dive, a 'cross-hair' appears on the screen to indicate exact positioning for a laser hit on incoming craft. Notice the buffeting as you fly near 'proximity explosions'. In addition to your altitude, a running count is displayed of your score, number of ships remaining to you, number of enemy ships remaining to be destroyed, and fuel remaining. Fuel bonuses, as well as points, are awarded for destroying fuel tanks, but your ship crashes if you run out of fuel between rounds.

Facts & Trivia:

Released during January 1982. At the time of its release, Zaxxon was unique as it was the first game to employ isometric projection, something of a three-quarters viewing perspective. This effect simulated three dimensions (albeit from the viewpoint of a second person).

In the game, Zaxxon is the name of the enemy robot who you must destroy. Milton Bradley turned this and other Sega titles into board games. 'Can You Complete Your Mission Before Zaxxon Zaps You?'.

Vernon Kalanikaus holds the official official record for this game with 4,680,740 points on 03/15/1982.

A Zaxxon unit appears in the 1983 movie 'WarGames'.

A bootleg of this game is known as "Jackson".

For more facts and trivia check out www.arcade-history.com and www.arcade-museum.com

Game Ports:

Colecovision (1982)
Atari 2600 (1982)
Mattel Intellivision (1983)
Atari 5200 (1984)
Atari XEGS
Sega SG-1000 (1985)
Sony PlayStation 2 (2006, "Sega Genesis Collection")
Sony PlayStation 3 (2009, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection) [unlockable]

Tandy Color Computer (1983)
Apple II (1983)
Atari 800 (1984)
PC [Booter] (1984)
Commodore C64 (1984)
MSX (1985)
Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1985)
PC [MS-DOS] (1985)
Amstrad CPC (1986, "Zaxx")

Tips & Tricks / More info:

* To kill Zaxxon, fly at 2 1/2 units (in other words, with two blocks of your altimeter filled in and one at halfway). Shoot 6 shots at Zaxxon's missile, and you will kill it quickly. If you miss, either dodge the missile, or keep firing and you can still blow up the missile. However, you get less points for hitting the missile while it's in the air.

* Flying at an altitude of 1 1/2 will allow you to hit ground targets while making their shots go harmlessly under you.

* Shoot airplanes on the platform : it will reduce the number you need to kill in the space scene. If you shoot all the airplanes in space you will get a bonus.

* On the levels in outer space, start up the highest point on the upper left and start shooting immediately. You should be able to hit the satellite right away. If you miss, keep moving to the left and keep firing. This works for the second satellite also.

For more tips and tricks check out www.arcade-history.com and www.arcade-museum.com

Screenshots

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Gameplay Video