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720°

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Arcade

Skate through a ramp-filled world doing jumps for points in this timed game. Buy equipment at shops or enter tournaments to win cash prizes. When time runs out player must "Skate or Die!" -- run to the nearest tournament! 720 Degrees, or 720°, is a 1986 arcade game by Atari Games. 720°, a skat...

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Developer
Atari Games

Released on
1986

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Sports

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Skate through a ramp-filled world doing jumps for points in this timed game. Buy equipment at shops or enter tournaments to win cash prizes. When time runs out player must “Skate or Die!” — run to the nearest tournament!

720 Degrees, or 720°, is a 1986 arcade game by Atari Games. 720°, a skateboarding game, is notable in that along with BMX Simulator, it is one of the first extreme sports video games, and has a unique timed structure that requires the player score points in order to keep the game going. The game’s name comes from the “ultimate” trick, turning a full 720° (two complete circles) in the air after jumping off a ramp. 720° has the player controlling a skateboarder ripping around a middle-class neighborhood. By doing jumps and tricks, the player can eventually acquire enough points to compete at a skate park.

720°

Overview & History

Released by Atari Games in 1986, 720° stands as a pioneering arcade classic that successfully translated the burgeoning skateboarding culture into digital form. Set within a vibrant, isometric city park, the game offers no traditional linear progression or princess to rescue; instead, players are cast as an unnamed street skater whose singular obsession is earning enough cash and reputation to enter the ultimate half-pipe and downhill competitions. Famous for its innovative "Skate or Die" timer mechanic—where lingering too long in the park summons a relentless, bee-stunting "killer bee swarm" to attack the player—720° combined speedrunning, stunt execution, and economic management into a single quarter-munching package. Its distinct urban aesthetic, complete with boomboxes and neon graffiti, cemented its status as an iconic piece of mid-80s arcade history.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay loop of 720° is divided into the central "City Park" hub and four distinct skate events: Ramp, Downhill, Slalom, and Jump. Players must accumulate points and tickets scattered around the park to unlock these events, which in turn yield vital cash. This money is spent at the local skate shop to upgrade equipment—purchasing better decks, tighter trucks, faster wheels, and protective safety gear—which drastically improves handling, airtime, and speed in subsequent runs. The title's namesake maneuver, the 720-degree aerial spin, requires precise timing off ramps. Mastering the physics engine is essential, as misjudging a curb or landing awkwardly results in a painful wipeout that drains precious seconds from the clock.