Rip Off

In Rip Off, released in 1980 by Cinematronics, two players pilot land craft tasked with defending a field of pulsating fuel cells from waves of attacking alien vehicles. Players maneuver their ships independently using controls to rotate, thrust forward, and fire torpedo bursts at the invaders attempting to steal the fuel canisters. A unique feature allows for both competitive and cooperative play; in team mode, scores are combined as players work together to fend off increasingly aggressive enemies. The gameplay presents a constant challenge with escalating difficulty – bonus levels introduce more numerous and valuable enemy ships. The game continues until all fuel cells have been “ripped off” from the field, offering potentially lengthy playtime dependent on player skill. Distinct scoring options provide individual or combined score displays after each wave. Originally conceived as a defense of watermelons rather than fuel tanks, Rip Off offered an early example of cooperative gameplay and remains notable for its independent ship controls and shared objective between players.