Zaxxon

[bdog_147]

Anyone here a fan of this game? I used to play this alot when I was kid on the Atari 800. I just loved this game even though I found it hard. I have this now on the sega genesis collection (ps2) and still like this game and still find it hard . I would like to see sega bring this game back. Either a remake or a sequel. Thoughts?

[deadmeow]

The Atari 2600 version of Zaxxon looks really bad, but its fun. The Intellivision version is like a pure port of the Atari 2600 version, which is really funny. Zaxxon is one of the all time classics.

[AussieAtari]

I used to play it a lot on my Colecovision and still have the cart around somewhere.

 

I used to struggle a bit with the 3D perspective when missiles came up right under my ship and that frustrated me a hell of a lot. Now that I have learnt the art of (some) patience, maybe it is time to try it again?

[Gregory DG]

Heh, I remember when the arcade version was the pinnacle of video games. It was all the rage like Street Figher II, Mario 64, Halo, Half-Life, etc. Everyone wanted to play it. Anyone who had a home version was worshipped.

 

It's still a fun game, but it has aged quite a bit. And I never liked the outer space levels.

 

I wish someone could hack 2600 Desert Falcon into Zaxxon...

[Bill Brasky]

The Coleco ADAM version was really cool. It's a "Supergame" version that has some features from Super Zaxxon arcade but is a unique version. It's not insanely hard like Super Zaxxon. I wonder what the deal is with SEGA. They have all these legendary classic games like Zaxxon, Pengo, Up'n'Down, Star Trek and others but whenever they put out any kind of Sega Ages compilation it's always the same 4 or 5 crappy games over and over(Out Run, Space Harrier, Hang On, AfterBurner). It's like they won't acknowledge anything they made pre-1985.

[bdog_147]

there was a super zaxxon?? I never knew that....I've heard of a Zaxxon Motherbase or something. a sega 32x game. never played it. never had a 32x system either.....

[bdog_147]

I used to play it a lot on my Colecovision and still have the cart around somewhere.

 

I used to struggle a bit with the 3D perspective when missiles came up right under my ship and that frustrated me a hell of a lot. Now that I have learnt the art of (some) patience, maybe it is time to try it again?

 

I sometimes have trouble getting threw the walls with those wavey things....lol i don't know if i'm explaining it right..sometimes i crash into the fuel tanks or those statallite (sp?) dishes..

 

That robot that appears at the end of some of the levels, i have trouble getting past that. sometimes i can destroy the missile it shoots at me then it backs off. but there have been a few times i would shoot the robot and it would explode and i get lots of bonus points for that.

[bdog_147]

The Coleco ADAM version was really cool. It's a "Supergame" version that has some features from Super Zaxxon arcade but is a unique version. It's not insanely hard like Super Zaxxon. I wonder what the deal is with SEGA. They have all these legendary classic games like Zaxxon, Pengo, Up'n'Down, Star Trek and others but whenever they put out any kind of Sega Ages compilation it's always the same 4 or 5 crappy games over and over(Out Run, Space Harrier, Hang On, AfterBurner). It's like they won't acknowledge anything they made pre-1985.

 

SEGA seems to be more intrested in pushing out more Sonic games....and not very good ones to boot....

[Video]

I love the 2600 version of the game, and the INTV version (which is just a smoother version)

 

A lot of people will diss it's 3rd person 3D perspective, but I think it looks better (perspective wise) than the original game did. And it sur as hell is more accurate in the hit detection area (some of the other versions are so far off in this reguard as to be pretty much unplayable)

[Vic George 2K3]

I was somewhat disappointed with the ColecoVision port, which in the latter half of the level eschewed putting the player through a maze of force fields in favor of having to fight off a bunch of mobots. I couldn't get Super Zaxxon for the ADAM, partly because of its lack of availability in the local areas (Fall River and Springfield) from when I bought the ADAM (late summer 1985) to around 1986, when ColecoVision and ADAM stuff was completely dried up.

[chuckwalla]

I think Zaxxon is near the top of the list when you mention 'classic video/arcade games'.

A revolutionary concept in graphics and gameplay for the early 80's.

 

Seeing the Colecovision port for the first time blew my mind (I thought the enemy radar lock-on with its buzzing sound and crosshair visual was awesome back then); after, when the C64 version came out it I thought that was good too.

 

Why the HELL Sega increased the speed rate on Super Zaxxon is still beyond my understanding today - TOTALLY ruined the game

[NE146]

I have this now on the sega genesis collection (ps2) and still like this game and still find it hard .

 

Is it Zaxxon on the ps2 version? Or is it Super Zaxxon..

 

I know on the PSP version it's Super Zaxxon

[jboypacman]

I just got both the Colecovision and 2600 versions and i like them both.The Colecovision one is so much better looking than the 2600 one but the 2600 is not a bad game from what i played of it.By the way did anyone have the electronic table top version of Zaxxon when they were younger?I did and i thought it was pretty good.

[Kripto]

From Zaxxon MotherBase on 32X-

 

 

 

I guess the forced 3D perspective allowed programmers to avoid have to load polygon faces for the backs of some objects, speeding up the game. What ugly 'jaggies' on the 32X...

[RickHarrisMaine]

The only thing I don't like about the Colecovision version is the shaky framerate. The screen looks a bit jerky. I think I would like the 5200 version though, especially because of the analog controller, which, if I remember correctly from the feel of it, was just lke the arcade version....

[Lord Helmet]

The only thing I didn't like about Zaxxon was that it was hard as shit and I sucked at it.

 

Cool game though

[Tempest]

From Zaxxon MotherBase on 32X-

 

 

 

I guess the forced 3D perspective allowed programmers to avoid have to load polygon faces for the backs of some objects, speeding up the game. What ugly 'jaggies' on the 32X...

 

I read somewhere that this was really a sequel to Viewpoint and they tacked on the Zaxxon name for better name recognition.

 

Tempest

[PressureCooker2600]

want to see really ugly 'jaggies' on the 32X......just play a game of 'MetalHead'

 

.......wow........

[Murph74]

Zaxxon was indeed the game 24 years ago. We got it with our ColecoVision for Christmas 1982-- the memories! CV games at the time were about $29.99 on average new, but not Zaxxon-- it was $49.99 because it was in 3-D! Who knew! lol

 

Great game though, especially trying to get thru the thing on level 3 or 4 on teh CV. Never played it on any other system.

 

Also, there is some clarifying to be done here I think. Coleco offered Zaxxon on cart for the CV, and Zaxxon Supergame for the Adam-- I don't recall the differences off the to of my head beyond being on tape and having a hall of fame (Edit: Ecoleco says A stunning 3-D Space Game that takes you across alien asteroid fortresses. Like the Cartridge Game version, except added screens, animation, and Hall of Fame Score Keeper. Face the evil robot Zaxxon and his fierce armies trying to enslave the galaxy. Save game and restart at same point).

 

There was also the Sega Arcade follow up Super Zaxxon, http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9976 which gave a dragon instead of the robot to beat at the end. Never played SUper Zaxxon, though-- so there's probably more different than just that.

 

Super Zaxxon was ported to at least the c64 to my knowledge, but dont' recall seeing it on consoles.

 

Point being, there IS a difference between Sega's Super Zaxxon and Coleco's Zaxxon Supergame.

[Tempest]

Super Zaxxon was ported to at least the c64 to my knowledge, but dont' recall seeing it on consoles.

 

It was also ported to the Apple II and Atari 8-bit. The Apple II port is alright (lots of pink for some reason), but the Atari 8-bit port blew. Odd considering the Atari 8-bit port of the original Zaxxon rocked!

 

Tempest

[BrianC]

I have this now on the sega genesis collection (ps2) and still like this game and still find it hard .

 

Is it Zaxxon on the ps2 version? Or is it Super Zaxxon..

 

I know on the PSP version it's Super Zaxxon

 

The PSP version has a different set of unlockable games. The PS2 one has the original Zaxxon, Tac-Scan, Altered Beast arcade, Future Spy, and Zektor.

 

I read somewhere that this was really a sequel to Viewpoint and they tacked on the Zaxxon name for better name recognition.

 

Tempest

 

Zaxxon's Motherbase 3000 was originally made by SEGA, not Sammy (well, they are merged now, but they weren't back then), so I doubt it. However, the game was originally called Parasquad. The Zaxxon name was definitely tacked on to the US version, though.

Edited March 5, 2007 by BrianC

[JamesD]

Zaxxon was one of the most widely ported titles at the time.

It was one of a handful of officially licensed titles for the Tandy Coco... not a bad port either.

It was also on the Spectrum but I hope it played better than it looked.

 

I loved the arcade game but I sucked at it.

[PressureCooker2600]

I was always partial to the C=64 version, myself.

I played that till my eyes bleed.

[Pixelboy]

Coleco offered Zaxxon on cart for the CV, and Zaxxon Supergame for the Adam-- I don't recall the differences off the to of my head beyond being on tape and having a hall of fame (Edit: Ecoleco says A stunning 3-D Space Game that takes you across alien asteroid fortresses. Like the Cartridge Game version, except added screens, animation, and Hall of Fame Score Keeper. Face the evil robot Zaxxon and his fierce armies trying to enslave the galaxy. Save game and restart at same point).

Zaxxon Supergame had a series of enemy bases with radically different landscapes, most of which were not found in the cartridge version. The outer space scenes were a tad different too if I remember correctly... It also had a very nice ending, I know because I finished it on the easiest skill level.

 

Ah, the memories...

[jboypacman]

Heres some Zaxxon links check them out....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mDnZGGFRDc