Speak & Rescue

In Speak & Rescue, released in 1980 by Sun Electronics, players cooperatively defend Earth from an alien invasion in a vertical-screen shooter. As pilots of defense moon spaceships, two players work together to destroy waves of approaching alien spacecraft and prevent the abduction of humans. Points are awarded for destroying enemy saucers, with bonus points given at the end of each round based on how many humans remain uncaptured. The game utilizes synthesized voices—a notable feature in early arcade games—to add a unique element to the gameplay experience. Players control their spaceships using two-way joysticks and a single button for firing, maneuvering through the screen to eliminate threats before they reach Earth. Speak & Rescue was originally released under license from Taito as Stratovox, and later became known as “Space Echo” in some unauthorized versions. It marked Sun Electronics’ debut into the arcade market, predating their subsequent rebranding as Sun Corporation and then Sunsoft.