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Assault

Arcade

Arcade

In Assault, the player's homeland is invaded by aliens. The next course of action is clear: manning a tank and blasting them away! The goal of each of the eleven levels is to reach the end (occupied by a fortress) and killing the opposition while avoid being hit by their projectiles - at first...

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Developer
Namco

Released on
1988

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Atari

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

In Assault, the player’s homeland is invaded by aliens. The next course of action is clear: manning a tank and blasting them away!

The goal of each of the eleven levels is to reach the end (occupied by a fortress) and killing the opposition while avoid being hit by their projectiles – at first the player only has to worry about ground forces, but in later stages the tank is also being shot at from above. The game is shown from an overhead perspective, but the tank is always the center of attention: the level rotates around the tank when it is moved. Because of this, it is possible to move in the wrong direction, but when that happens an arrow pops up and shows the right way.

The controls use two four-way joysticks and are similar to Battlezone: the tank moves forward when pulling both joysticks forward and it turns when moving one of them to the side. However, there are two additional moves available: a sideway roll (pushing both joysticks to the side) and a grenade attack (when pushing both joysticks apart, the tank stands on its rear and the player can unleash a powerful but slow attack with crosshairs). In each level there is also a jump pad which lifts the tank in the air which means the player gets a bigger view over the level. This is not only useful to get an overview, but it is also possible to shoot grenades while in the air. It can be used three times per level.

Assault

Overview & History

Released by Namco in 1988, Assault is a groundbreaking run-and-gun arcade shooter that broke away from traditional vertical and horizontal perspectives by utilizing an innovative scaling-sprite pseudo-3D engine. Set in a futuristic sci-fi military universe, the storyline thrusts players into the treads of an experimental hover-tank navigating hostile alien landscapes to overthrow a rogue mechanical regime. Unlike its contemporaries, Assault captivated arcade-goers with its unprecedented sense of depth, massive sprite scaling, and unique multi-directional combat physics that predated the true 3D polygon era.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Players control a heavily armored tracked vehicle capable of traversing scrolling, multidirectional battlefields packed with turrets, enemy mechs, and subterranean bunkers. The defining gameplay mechanic is the tank's inertia-based movement system; momentum dictates turning speed, making precise positioning vital for survival. Players can adjust their cannon's trajectory to aim independently of the chassis movement, allowing for advanced hit-and-run tactics. Power-ups scattered across the terrain upgrade the primary vulcan cannon into high-intensity plasma lasers or devastating homing missiles, while smart bombs clear the entire screen of encroaching threats during frantic boss encounters.