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Threshold

ColecoVision

ColecoVision

Threshold is a simple shoot'em up game. You are in control of a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and have to shoot several formations of enemies at the top of the screen. To make things more difficult you have limited time in form of a fuel tank which will get refilled after you cleared a...

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Developer
Sierra On-Line

Released on
1983

Size
1–2 Players

Version
ColecoVision

Requirements
ColecoVision

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Threshold is a simple shoot’em up game. You are in control of a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and have to shoot several formations of enemies at the top of the screen.

To make things more difficult you have limited time in form of a fuel tank which will get refilled after you cleared a number of waves. Besides that, your spacecraft is equipped with a laser that tends to overheat. Every shot makes the heat bar of the laser increase a bit. Once it reached its maximum you can’t fire anymore and are forced to wait until it cools down while slowly running out of fuel.

Threshold

Overview & History

Released in 1983 by Sierra On-Line and ported to the ColecoVision by On-Line Systems, Threshold is a fast-paced, vertically scrolling sci-fi shooter that pushes the hardware's graphical capabilities. The storyline casts the player as the pilot of an advanced fighter craft navigating through perilous alien sectors. Your mission is to eradicate the rogue mechanized swarms and organic monstrosities threatening the galaxy. Unlike standard fixed-screen shooters of the era, Threshold utilizes a continuous scaling effect, giving a striking illusion of depth as enemy squadrons swoop down from the distant background to engage your ship in close-quarters dogfights.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Gameplay revolves around surviving increasingly hostile alien sectors while managing your ship's energy levels, which act as a combined shield and time limit. Players must constantly balance aggressive offense with evasive maneuvering across multiple distinct planetary zones. Your ship's primary weapon is a forward-firing plasma cannon capable of disintegrating incoming threats, but you must also utilize directional thrust to dodge erratic enemy formations, laser barrages, and kamikaze interceptors. Destroying specific enemy flagships yields temporary power-ups, upgrading your firepower or restoring vital energy reserves. As you clear each sector, the scrolling speed increases dynamically, culminating in intense boss encounters that demand precise timing and rapid-fire reflexes to survive the onslaught.