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In 1981 Tempest introduced the gaming world to an extra-sensory visual and futuristic play experience that went beyond any video game concept ever developed. With never-before-seen QuadraScan Color video graphics, Tempest set new standards for 3D animation and challenge, and became the first arcade game to be a guaranteed hit. Play an interdimensional guardian tasked with defending the spacelanes from marauding alien monsters. The unique spinner controller merged well with the vector graphics to create a truly well known classic.

This XBLA version of the classic features a full suite of 12 achievements, support for all Xbox 360 high definition resolutions up to 1080p as well as full-screen anti-aliasing and digital surround sound.

Genre: Shooter

Publisher: Atari

Developer: Atari

Online Play: 2 Versus

Local Play: 2 Versus

December 20, 2007 –
Atari isn’t the least bit shy about letting gamers know that they have a full stable of classic titles in their hallowed library. XBLA has been flooded with plenty of Atari classics, each with a standard template menu design and the obligatory “evolved” mode which is never anything more than updated visuals to go along with the classic game, 1980s visuals and all. So for your five bucks you get two game modes, one of which has been around for more than 20 years. Is it worth it? We’re here to fill you in.

As we said, the gameplay in both modes hasn’t changed a whole lot with time. You still inhabit the same spaceship and you still circulate around a bunch of panels, fighting off oncoming ships and spikes and other oddly shaped baddies. Let any of them get to the top of the stage or run into their weapon blasts and you’re in for some trouble, but luckily you will have your trusty Superzapper at your side to clear the screen for a time. There are a handful of enemies and the shapes of the level do change a bit here and there, but all in all there isn’t a whole lot of variety to be found from this ancient relic.

Pretty colors.


The translation to Xbox 360 hardware seems to have been fairly painless and we actually do get a functioning “evolved” version of Tempest which is more than we can say for other classic Atari releases. The updated visuals don’t hamper the gameplay in any way and they do make you feel like you’re playing an updated version of the same game rather than some cheap rip off (we’re talking about you Asteroids Deluxe).

One negative that we can say for Tempest is that the Xbox 360 controller doesn’t feel all that great when you’re trying to make precise movements. Trying to hop one panel to the right or left proves to be more of a challenge than it should which then gives the enemy more time to inch their way towards you. It’s not game ruining, but it can be frustrating at times.

The Xbox 360 controller does allow for one feature beyond what the trusty mouse or keyboard could offer and that’s vibration. The “evolved” version of Tempest throws in a hearty vibration each time you kill an enemy and while it might suck the battery of your controller a bit, it’s still a cool effect.

Every Atari release prior to Tempest has had a “throttle monkey” mode for both the “evolved” and classic editions and this release is no different. You can select throttle monkey and you’ll instantly have the difficulty settings pumped up to the max. While I don’t consider this a true standalone game mode, the option is there if you want it.

Closing Comments
If you?re a fan of Tempest or arcade classics in general than it might be in your best interest to pick up this latest release from Atari, but if you?re expecting to get a new rendition of an old classic in the same vane as Pac-Man Championship Edition you?ll need to look elsewhere. Tempest is functional, and for five bucks you really shouldn?t expect much more.

IGN Ratings for Tempest (X360)

Rating Description

out of 10
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6.0
Presentation
Standard Atari XBLA menu systems. It?s clean but fairly unattractive overall.

6.0
Graphics
The ?evolved? version has some nice colors to look at, but that?s about it. The Superzapper could be more impressive. Classic version looks, well, classic.

5.0
Sound
Pretty vacant for the most part. A techno beat plays over all of the menus and gameplay. Sound effects are decent but unimpressive.

7.0
Gameplay
Classic tempest action. It?d be nice if the Xbox 360 controller was more accurate.

5.0
Lasting Appeal
As with most Atari classics there isn?t a whole lot do beyond the standard offline one or two-player modes. Why nothing beyond leaderboards on Xbox Live?

6.0
Passable
OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

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