Black Hole

Black Hole is a two-player shooter released in 1981 by TDS & MINTS. Players pilot spacecraft through a vertical playfield, tasked with eliminating terrain obstacles and navigating through designated “point ships” to earn bonus points. The ultimate objective involves destroying a moving figure positioned at the top of the screen, marking the completion of each stage. Gameplay utilizes a simple two-way joystick for directional control and a single button for firing. The game’s visuals present a space-themed environment with a resolution of 224 x 256 pixels and a palette of 98 colors, rendered on a vertical screen. Scoring is based on destroying various elements within the environment, including flying saucers, neutron mines, and specialized mine layers. While featuring straightforward mechanics and a distinctive visual style, Black Hole did not achieve widespread popularity upon its release. The game can be played as an upright cabinet or a cocktail table version that measures 25.5" wide x 67" high x 28" deep for the upright, and 22" wide x 24.5" high x 34" deep for the cocktail table.