Difference between revisions of "Kaboom!"
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| Genres = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Ball and paddle|Ball and paddle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Catcher video game|Catcher}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Single-screen video game|Single-screen}} | | Genres = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Ball and paddle|Ball and paddle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Catcher video game|Catcher}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Single-screen video game|Single-screen}} | ||
| Themes = {{MediaTheme|Law Enforcement}} | | Themes = {{MediaTheme|Law Enforcement}} | ||
| − | | Multiplayer = {{GameMultiplayer|Alternating versus}} | + | | Multiplayer = {{GameMultiplayer|Alternating versus}}, {{GameMultiplayer|Simultaneous versus}} |
| Distributions = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}} | | Distributions = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Kaboom!''''' is a [[catcher video game]] developed and published by [[Activision]] in 1981 on the [[Atari 2600]], and in 1983 for the [[Atari 8-bit]] and [[Atari 5200]]. | + | '''''Kaboom!''''' is a [[catcher video game]] developed and published by [[Activision]] in 1981 on the [[Atari 2600]], and in 1983 for the [[Atari 8-bit]] and [[Atari 5200]]. The game's designer, [[Larry Kaplan]], admitted that he based the game on ''[[Avalanche]]''. A sequel called ''Kaboom!: The Return of the Mad Bomber'', was planned for the SNES, but never published. |
In the game, the Mad Bomber is on top of a building throwing bombs down on the public. Your job is to catch the bombs in a stack of buckets in order to extinguish their fuses. If you miss a bomb, it explodes, and you lose a bucket. If you lose all your buckets, the game ends. | In the game, the Mad Bomber is on top of a building throwing bombs down on the public. Your job is to catch the bombs in a stack of buckets in order to extinguish their fuses. If you miss a bomb, it explodes, and you lose a bucket. If you lose all your buckets, the game ends. | ||
| − | Despite pretty repetitive game play, ''Kaboom!'' sold | + | Despite pretty repetitive game play, ''Kaboom!'' sold over a million copies putting it among the top 30 best selling titles on the Atari 2600. It also helped revive the [[Atari 2600 Paddle Controller]] which saw very few games being made for it by 1981. The Atari 8-bit and 5200 ports included a 2-player versus mode where one player controlled the Mad Bomber. |
==Personal== | ==Personal== | ||
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| CantOwn = | | CantOwn = | ||
| Won = | | Won = | ||
| − | | CantWin = No. The game doesn't have a proper ending, but it does have a planned game over at 999,999 points. | + | | CantWin = No. The game doesn't have a proper ending, but it does have a [[planned game over]] at 999,999 points. |
| Finished = | | Finished = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| Programming (Atari 8-bit and 5200) || [[Paul Willson]] | | Programming (Atari 8-bit and 5200) || [[Paul Willson]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Graphic Programming || [[David Crane]] |
|} | |} | ||
Latest revision as of 13:37, 18 April 2024
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Atari 2600 - USA - 1st edition. |
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Kaboom! is a catcher video game developed and published by Activision in 1981 on the Atari 2600, and in 1983 for the Atari 8-bit and Atari 5200. The game's designer, Larry Kaplan, admitted that he based the game on Avalanche. A sequel called Kaboom!: The Return of the Mad Bomber, was planned for the SNES, but never published.
In the game, the Mad Bomber is on top of a building throwing bombs down on the public. Your job is to catch the bombs in a stack of buckets in order to extinguish their fuses. If you miss a bomb, it explodes, and you lose a bucket. If you lose all your buckets, the game ends.
Despite pretty repetitive game play, Kaboom! sold over a million copies putting it among the top 30 best selling titles on the Atari 2600. It also helped revive the Atari 2600 Paddle Controller which saw very few games being made for it by 1981. The Atari 8-bit and 5200 ports included a 2-player versus mode where one player controlled the Mad Bomber.
Contents
Personal
| Own? | Yes. Atari 2600 cartridge and manual. |
|---|---|
| Won? | No. The game doesn't have a proper ending, but it does have a planned game over at 999,999 points. |
The second batch of Atari games I bought from my friend in middle school had a copy of this game. I played it for a little while, found it quite dull, and gave up on it. I have never even come close to reaching the planned game over at 999,999 points.
Review
 |
 |
 |
 |
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| 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Best Version: Atari 8-bit
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The premise is cute, and the mad bomber graphic is pretty good.
- There is a minor, but silly, change in the face of the Mad Bomber when you read 10,000 points.
Bad
- The game is too difficult. The twitchy turns of the Atari 2600 Paddle Controller paired with the erratic movements of the Mad Bomber result in a very steep difficulty curve. And, with very little in the way of incentive, becoming a skilled player isn't very rewarding.
- While the game attempts to make losing a bucket not quite so catastrophic by dropping you down a level, it still becomes measurably more difficult when your bucket stack gets smaller.
- The game has a difficulty setting, which is nice, but it only makes the game harder than it already is, which isn't very helpful. An easy mode would have been nice.
Ugly
- There just isn't enough game here. You see everything the game has to offer within the first few minutes of game play.
- The game's difficulty tops out at level 8, which only takes about 1 minute to reach, and, after that, you're just playing the same level over and over again until you lose, or, you hit the planned game over with a score of 999,999, which takes over 3 hours.
Media
Box Art
Kaboom! - 2600 - USA.
Kaboom! - 2600 - USA - Revision 2.
Kaboom! - Atari 8-bit.
Kaboom! - 5200 - USA.
Documentation
Manual - Atari 2600 - USA.
Manual - Atari 8-bit - USA.
Manual - Atari 5200 - USA.
Bucket Brigade patch.
Atari 5200 advertisement with River Raid.
Screenshots
Playing level 2.
Videos
Play Online
Representation
| Strong female character? | Fail | There are no women. |
|---|---|---|
| Bechdel test? | Fail | There are no women. |
| Strong person of color character? | Fail | There are no people of color. |
| Queer character? | Fail | There are no queer characters. |
Ports
| Port | Released | Porter | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atari 2600 | 1981-07-?? | Activision | Activision | Original release. |
| Atari 8-bit | 1983-10-?? | Activision | Activision | More detailed graphics. |
| Atari 5200 | 1983-11-?? | Activision | Activision | Nearly identical to the 5200 port. |
Credits
| Role | Staff |
|---|---|
| Design | Larry Kaplan |
| Programming (Atari 2600) | Larry Kaplan |
| Programming (Atari 8-bit and 5200) | Paul Willson |
| Graphic Programming | David Crane |
Links
- atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=630 - AtariAge - 5200.
Categories:
- Video Games
- 1981 Video Games
- Video games developed by Activision
- Video games published by Activision
- Atari 2600 Games
- Atari 5200 Games
- Atari 8-bit Games
- Video Game Genre - Action
- Video Game Genre - Ball and paddle
- Video Game Genre - Catcher
- Video Game Genre - Single-screen
- Media Theme - Law Enforcement
- Multiplayer
- Multiplayer Alternating versus
- Multiplayer Simultaneous versus
- Software Distribution Model - Commercial
- Video Games I Own
- Video Games That Can't Be Beaten
- Video Games I Haven't Beaten
- Video Game Rating - 2
- Video Game Graphics Rating - 2
- Video Game Sound Rating - 2
- Video games which can be played online
- Video games without a strong female character
- Video games that fail the Bechdel test
- Video games without a strong person of color character
- Video games without a queer character
- Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy
- Game Mechanic - Planned game over
