Armor Attack

Navigate a war-torn cityscape in Armor Attack, a 1980 maze shooter from Cinematronics designed for two players. Taking control of a jeep via button inputs – no joystick here! – you must strategically maneuver and destroy tanks and helicopters that populate the screen. The game’s monochromatic vector graphics were enhanced by an overlay on the arcade cabinet, creating the illusion of color within its simple visual presentation. The gameplay mirrors classics like Asteroids in its control scheme; movement ceases when buttons are released. Scoring is earned by destroying enemy vehicles – tank bodies are worth 20 points, turrets 30, and helicopters a significant 100. Accumulating bonus points awards an extra jeep, resetting the bonus counter to zero. Adding intrigue, some believe subtle Morse code sounds embedded within the game's audio actually convey a hidden message, reportedly reflecting a protest against draft registration at the time of its creation. Armor Attack was licensed for distribution in Japan by Sega and also saw ports to the Vectrex console and a Mattel handheld LCD game.