Solar Fox (upright)

Solar Fox is a unique two-player maze shooter released in 1981 by Bally Midway. Players pilot spacecraft through a square playing field bordered by walls equipped with moving cannons that fire unusual torpedoes. The goal is to navigate the ship and collect scattered pellets throughout each level, requiring both precision steering and strategic shooting. Clearing levels quickly can trigger skips, awarding bonus points for bypassing entire sections of the game. The gameplay offers adjustable difficulty; novice players start with a slower speed and can increase it using a dedicated button, while expert players begin at a faster pace, utilizing the same button to decelerate. Every fourth level presents a special “bonus rack” where dying doesn’t result in losing a life. Reaching the "10-Rack Club" after clearing ten levels continues gameplay as normal. Solar Fox features a distinctive upright cabinet design with side artwork depicting a spaceman's head within an arrow logo, and its vertical screen presents a mirrored view to the player. The game’s technical specifications include Zilog Z80 processors and General Instrument AY8910 sound chips, contributing to its distinct audiovisual experience. Ports of Solar Fox were later released for the Atari 2600 and Commodore C64 consoles.