Yars' Revenge

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North American box art.

Yars' Revenge is an action game designed by Howard Scott Warshaw and published by Atari for the Atari 2600 in 1982.

My family got this game at a garage sale with a large collection of Atari 2600 games and I first played it around 1986. It took awhile before any of us got decent at the game, but around 1988 my older brother was the first to reach the part where the shield changes color from red to blue and then to gray and pink. I remember being amazed by it, and it took me years to get to the point where I could do the same.

Status

I own this game for the Atari 2600. I have elapsed the 999,999 score with 9 lives remaining and can play indefinitely.

Review

  • Overall: 6/10
  • Best Version: Atari 2600

Good

  • Over all, the game is well-made. You can play safe, but are rewarded for more aggressive behavior, and the challenge continues to improve as you get better.
  • The game makes good use of the Atari's poor audio capabilities. Though there isn't any music, the constant buzzing background sound, spin of the swirl, crash of attack, full screen explosion, and buzz of death are all distinct. They also help keep the game play aggravating.
  • The color-changing shield wall is a nice indicator of your progress and what you can expect from the Qotile.
  • The additional comic that came with the game was a nice addition.

Bad

  • While I get the importance of wanting to add an Easter egg into the game, I have accidentally triggered it on more than one occasion and ruined a good high score run.
  • Although giving out a free guy for hitting the Swirl mid-flight seems like a good idea at first, those players who discover a fairly easy tactic for doing so are guaranteed unlimited play.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Gallery

Links