Lunar Rescue

Lunar Rescue is a cooperative maze shooter for two players, released by Taito in 1979. Players pilot a small lander craft on a mission to rescue astronauts stranded on distant platforms amidst asteroid fields. The gameplay alternates between navigating through hazardous asteroid formations to reach a landing platform and then returning through dense waves of enemy saucers, all while managing precious fuel resources. Successful rescues earn points, with the value increasing as players progress further into the game; docking safely with the mother ship is essential for scoring. A brief intermission featuring characters from Space Invaders appears between stages, adding a quirky touch to this lesser-known title that followed Taito’s immensely popular breakthrough hit.