Inferno (Williams)

Navigate twisting maze pathways in Inferno, a two-player shooter from Williams released in 1984. Players control their characters with eight-way joysticks, maneuvering through a series of interconnected chambers rendered in a distinctive three-quarter perspective. The goal is to eliminate enemies by shooting them, but the challenge doesn't end there: each defeated foe releases a shadowy “soul” that attempts to reach a monster’s mouth at the top of the screen. To prevent tougher enemies from regenerating, players must touch these escaping souls before they complete their ascent. While sharing a structural similarity to Crystal Castles, Inferno's mazes feature relatively subtle variations in height, accessible through small stairways. The game presents a simple control scheme – joysticks for movement and a single button for firing – allowing for focused action as players work together or compete against each other. With an estimated production run of around fifty units, Inferno represents a rare glimpse into 1980s arcade design from Williams. The game’s visuals utilize a palette of over one thousand colors and runs at sixty frames per second creating a dynamic experience for up to two players.