Warrior

Two players control knights locked in combat within an overhead arena in Warrior, released by Vectorbeam in 1979. Using eight-way joysticks and a single button for attacking, each player maneuvers their knight to strike the other while navigating a field with a castle backdrop. The game’s unique visual presentation combines a vector graphics monitor with a mirror and plastic display elements to create an illusion of depth, making it appear as though the action is occurring directly within the background scenery. Warrior was initially distributed in dedicated upright cabinets, featuring white side panels adorned with artwork depicting the two knights clashing swords before a castle. Its control panel houses robust joysticks designed for durability, reflecting the game’s substantial weight of 280 pounds. The design and programming were handled by Tim Skelly. Notably released around October 1979, Warrior represents an early example of a one-on-one fighting game experience within arcades. Vectorbeam, originally an independent company that later became part of Cinematronics, published the title before its subsequent shutdown.