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Eliminator

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Eliminator (エリミネーター) is an arcade game developed by Sega/Gremlin, and published by Sega in Japan and Sega/Gremlin in US for the G80 vector arcade hardware. It was released in 1981. It is a top-down space shooter set within a bounded playfield, where the player maneuvers a ship using rotation, ...

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Developer
Sega/Gremlin

Released on
1981

Size
1–4 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Eliminator (エリミネーター) is an arcade game developed by Sega/Gremlin, and published by Sega in Japan and Sega/Gremlin in US for the G80 vector arcade hardware. It was released in 1981.

It is a top-down space shooter set within a bounded playfield, where the player maneuvers a ship using rotation, thrust and forward-firing controls (much like Asteroids or Space War). Each stage is populated by autmated drone ships (or by competing players), and dominated by the titular enemy: a moving, rotating space fortress surrounded by a lethal force field.

This circular force field instantly destroys anything that smacks against it. Shots fired by the player (and the drones) are non-lethal: the target is simply kicked back across the playfield, bouncing off the walls. The exception is the enemy ship hidden inside the Eliminator – it can (and must) be destroyed by sneaking a shot through the structure’s narrow opening. If this isn’t done quickly enough, it will emerge and start pursuing the player with deadly fireballs.

Eliminator

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1981, Eliminator is a fascinating relic of the golden age of arcade gaming, blending top-down multi-directional shooting with futuristic, sci-fi vehicular combat. Unlike the prevalent space-invader clones of its era, this obscure title tasks players with piloting an armed hovercraft across hazard-strewn alien grids to eradicate aggressive space marauders and biological anomalies. Though overshadowed by SNK's later blockbusters, its unique grid-based perspective and relentless pacing established a blueprint for early twin-stick style combat long before standard dual-lever setups became commonplace.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core objective of Eliminator revolves around clearing tightly enclosed arenas of hostile ships while dodging a barrage of enemy projectiles and localized environmental hazards. Players navigate a high-speed hovercraft that maintains momentum, requiring precise steering around obstacles. Offensive capabilities include a standard directional cannon and limited-use smart bombs capable of wiping the screen of lower-tier threats. The game introduces a tense time-attack element; linger too long in a single sector, and indestructible pursuers spawn to hunt the player down, forcing constant aggression and strategic routing through the mazelike playfields.