Intruder Alert!
Description
Intruder Alert! is a 1-player science fiction themed arcade game for the 8-bit Atari
The player must escape from the Dreadstar with its plans, or the Rebellion is doomed. Game consists of 2 screens of robots, with the goal to reach the second screen and escape in the shuttle. The player can move and fire in the 4 cardinal directions, and must avoid droids. There are a total of 5 difficulty levels, from Sand Scout to Gamma Knight. On the easiest level, droids are stationary, and can only fire in 4 directions. On more difficult stages, droids approach the player, and can fire on angles. The player receives a score based upon the time for escape and the number of droids destroyed.
Screenshots
Credits (Atari 8-bit version)
Reviews
Players
Average score: 0.8 out of 5 (based on 1 ratings)
The Good
I recall seeing this in the various magazines, although most of the ads I saw were the Artex version, which I assume is identical. In any event, it was clear that this was a Berzerk take-off, and thus I wanted it! That lasted until I got to a store and one of the guys that worked there mentioned it was written in BASIC and seemed to be suggesting I shouldn't bother.
And that is all I liked about it.
The Bad
So yeah, it's "Berzerk inspired", but... yeah. Everything is in character graphics, but in spite of that it takes an age to draw the screen, so you're bored even before the "action" begins.
Oh, that action... so the enemies do not move, they just sit and shoot whenever you get in line with them (no diagonals). You sort of move, but the delay between joystick input and actual movement makes Brataccas look like the paragon of controller design.
And then there's the map. You start in a room with two exits, but they both go to the same second room, and then that's it. There are two rooms in the entire game. So the gameplay lasts about two minutes while you try to kill the guards - challenging only because you flail all over the place while trying to move - and then you're done.
And the replay is exactly the same. It doesn't even move the guards between runs!
The Bottom Line
Something a kid whipped up on a rainy weekend and Artex was dumb enough to think was worthy of selling to people.
Atari 8-bit · by Maury Markowitz (266) · 2021
Analytics
Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by hoeksmas.
Game added April 12, 2019. Last modified February 22, 2023.