Battlezone retro arcade game review

Battlezone: The Original Tank Game That Changed Everything

Battlezone was a truly unforgettable game from the early days of the arcades, that saw you in control of a tank in a 3D battle against enemy vehicles and space ships, set in a dali-esque landscape of cubes and pyramids. This wasn’t just another quarter-muncher. When Atari dropped this bad boy in 1980, it was like nothing we’d ever seen before.

You’re sitting in what feels like a real tank. The controls are weird. The graphics look like something out of a sci-fi movie. And somehow, it all just works.

The Tech That Made Battlezone Possible

Vector Graphics: Why Everything Looked So Cool

Battlezone used wireframe vector graphics technology, the same technology that was used in the classic Asteroids, and perfected in the original Star Wars Arcade game. Rather than using a matrix of dots on the screen to make up an image, as used in more common “raster” screen technology, vector screens drew lines directly onto the screen using the cathode ray. The phosphor on the screen glowed just long enough for the line to appear solid and the ray had a chance to redraw the next frame, hence the slight flicker associated with the technology. Due to framerate issues it was impossible to draw solid blocks of colour, hence the characteristic wireframe look to all vector games.

OK, let me break this down without getting too nerdy. Most arcade games back then used regular TV-style screens that painted pictures with tiny dots. Vector games were different. They drew actual lines on the screen, like someone was sketching with light. That’s why Battlezone looked so sharp and clean, even if everything was just green wireframes.

The downside? That slight flicker you’d notice if you stared too long. But honestly, it just added to the whole futuristic vibe.

Atari’s Vector Game Streak

Atari was on fire with vector games. They’d already scored big with Asteroids in ‘79. Then came Battlezone. Later they’d blow us away again with Tempest and that incredible Star Wars game. Each one pushed the tech further.

The monitor they used was this Electrohome thing with green phosphor. Green wasn’t just a style choice – it lasted longer on screen, which meant less flicker. Smart move.

The First Real 3D Game We Could Actually Play

How They Made a World You Could Drive Through

Whereas Asteroids was a 2D experience, Battlezone created a 3D world where objects were continually redrawn based on the relative position of the tank, allowing you to drive towards and past them. Through clever use of parallax scrolling, where wireframe 3D objects in the foreground moved at different speeds to the mountains in the background, the Battlezone playfield also had a sense of depth and distance.

Think about it. In 1980, “3D” meant those red and blue glasses at the movies. But here was a game where you could actually move around in three dimensions. Drive toward a pyramid and watch it get bigger. Turn around and drive away from it. The mountains in the background moved differently than the stuff up close.

It sounds simple now, but back then? Mind-blowing.

What Else Was Out There in 1980?

Not much, honestly. If you wanted real 3D graphics, you needed a million-dollar computer that filled a whole room. The Apple II could barely handle Pong. The Atari 2600 was all squares and rectangles.

Some games tried to fake 3D. Tail Gunner had ships that got bigger as they came at you. But that wasn’t real 3D – just clever tricks. Battlezone was the real deal.

Even years later, when home computers started getting better, they couldn’t match what Battlezone was doing. The Commodore 64’s Encounter was cool, but it ran like molasses. Battlezone was smooth as butter.

Those Crazy Controls Actually Made Sense

Tank Tracks for Tank Combat

The control system was unique in that you had two parallel joysticks which controlled the two tank tracks, so pushing both forwards moved you forwards, push one to turn left or right, or opposite ways for a fast turn. The cabinet also featured a periscope-like hole through which you viewed the screen. This combined with the 3d had the effect of making the game very immersive, for a while you really were driving a tank.

First time you played, you probably thought someone broke the joysticks. Two sticks? What’s the deal? Then it clicked. Left stick controlled the left track, right stick the right track. Just like a real tank.

Push both forward? Go straight. Push one forward, one back? Spin in place. It took practice, but once you got it, you felt like a tank commander.

The Periscope Thing Wasn’t Just for Show

That little viewing hole made all the difference. It blocked out the arcade noise, the other players, everything. You were in your own little world. Plus it hid the screen’s flicker better than looking at the whole monitor.

Some people thought it was gimmicky. Those people were wrong.

How to Actually Win at Battlezone

The Strategy Game Inside the Shooting Game

How do I beat Battlezone? The trick was to use the terrain to hide behind objects whilst waiting for the enemy to drift into your sights. To help with positioning you had a radar that showed the location of enemies, and due to the slow pace of the tanks, you often found yourself in a race with your opponent to rotate to the correct firing position and get your shot in first – too early on the trigger and you might miss, too late and you would be hit. Being shot yourself resulted in your tank being destroyed, indicated by an explosion and the screen being “cracked”, much better than just saying “game over”.

This wasn’t Space Invaders. You couldn’t just hold down the fire button and hope for the best. You had to think. Use those pyramids and blocks for cover. Watch your radar. Plan your moves.

The tanks moved slow on purpose. It wasn’t a bug – it was the whole point. You’d see an enemy tank on radar, start turning toward it, and they’d be doing the same thing. First one to line up the shot wins. Miss? You’re probably dead.

Know Your Enemies

The game threw different stuff at you:

• Regular tanks like yours, but dumber
• Super tanks that moved faster and hit harder
• UFOs that flew around being annoying
• Guided missiles that you had to dodge quick

Each one needed different tactics. Regular tanks? Easy. Super tanks? Better find some cover. UFOs? Good luck hitting those things.

What the Magazines Said Back Then

Everyone Went Crazy for It

Electronic Games called the graphics “revolutionary.” Play Meter said it was the biggest thing since Pong. Even the suits running arcade locations loved it because it made serious money.

But the best reviews came from us players. This was the game everyone was talking about. You’d hear people at school describing the graphics to friends who hadn’t played it yet. “No, you don’t understand – it’s like you’re really in a tank!”

The Army Wanted In

Reputedly used by the American military for tank training, this game was an instant classic. Turns out the U.S. Army was paying attention too. They hired Atari to make a special version called the Bradley Trainer for teaching tank gunners.

Only made two of them. Probably sitting in some military warehouse somewhere, worth a fortune now.

Bringing Battlezone Home

The Atari 2600 Version: Pretty Good, All Things Considered

Battlezone was converted into home ports for the Atari 2600 and also for PC (DOS) amongst others. The 2600 couldn’t do real vector graphics, obviously. But they did a decent job faking it.

You needed both the joystick and paddle to control it properly. Weird setup, but it worked. The graphics were simpler, but the gameplay was still there. Not bad for a system that was already showing its age.

Computer Versions: Hit and Miss

Every computer got a version eventually:

• The PC DOS one looked pretty close to the original
• Commodore 64 version had better sound and some color
• Apple II version was solid, as usual
• Atari’s own 8-bit computers did the best job, naturally
• Even the Spectrum got one, though it was pretty rough

Each version had to work around different limitations. The C64 couldn’t do proper vector graphics, so they faked it with raster. The Spectrum barely had enough memory. But they all tried to capture what made the original special.

The Modern Stuff (And What We Lost)

I recently downloaded a great ipad port called VectorTankX which was well worth checking out. Dec 2011 – Atari did eventually notice the similarity between Battlezone and the VectoTankX game, and have had it removed from the ipad store. Shame as this was a great app.

That whole VectorTankX thing still bugs me. Here was someone who really got what made Battlezone special, and the lawyers shut it down. Sure, protect your copyright, but come on.

At least we’ve got official versions now through various Atari collections. Not the same as the original cabinet, but they’ll do.

Why Battlezone Still Matters

It Started Everything

Every tank game you’ve ever played owes something to Battlezone. World of Tanks, Steel Beasts, even those modern VR tank games – they all trace back to this green wireframe pioneer.

The basic ideas are still there: use terrain for cover, manage your positioning, make your shots count. Battlezone figured out the formula and everyone else just added prettier graphics.

The Tech Breakthrough That Changed Gaming

Battlezone proved 3D graphics weren’t just for research labs and movie special effects. Regular people would pay quarters to experience them. Lots of quarters.

The math and techniques they used became the foundation for everything that came after. Sure, we’ve got fancy shaders and realistic lighting now, but the core concepts? Still the same.

How to Play Battlezone Today: Your Best Options

The Real Deal: Original Arcade Hardware

Nothing beats the original cabinet if you can find one. The periscope, the dual sticks, that green vector glow – it’s the only way to get the full experience. Problem is, working Battlezone cabinets are getting rare and expensive.

If you spot one at a retro arcade or game museum, drop everything and play it. Seriously. It’s worth the trip.

MAME: The Next Best Thing

For home play, MAME is your best bet. The emulation is spot-on, and you can set up dual joysticks pretty easily. Won’t have the periscope view, but the gameplay is perfect.

You can even find people who’ve built custom Battlezone cabinets using MAME. Some folks go all out with the periscope and everything. That’s dedication.

Official Re-releases

Atari keeps putting Battlezone in their various collections:

• Atari Vault on Steam has it with decent controls
• Atari 50 collection is probably the best modern version
• Various console collections over the years

These are fine for casual play, but the controls never feel quite right with a gamepad. You really need those dual sticks.

VR: The Future Meets the Past

Some VR versions have popped up that try to recreate the original experience. The immersion is incredible – being inside that wireframe world in VR is something else. But they’re not always faithful to the original gameplay.

Still worth trying if you’ve got VR gear. It’s wild seeing those green wireframes surround you completely.

What to Avoid

Skip the old home computer versions unless you’re feeling nostalgic. They were impressive for their time, but they’re pretty rough compared to what we can play now. The mobile versions are usually terrible – touch controls just don’t work for this game.

The Bottom Line

Battlezone wasn’t just a great game – it was a glimpse into the future. While everyone else was making variations on Pac-Man and Space Invaders, Atari was building virtual worlds.

The controls were weird until they weren’t. The graphics looked like blueprints until you realized that was perfect. The gameplay was slow until you understood it was supposed to be tactical.

Looking back, it’s amazing they pulled it off. 1980 hardware, crazy ambitious ideas, and somehow they made it work. Not just work – they made it addictive.

You can play it today on pretty much any platform. The graphics haven’t aged a day because they were never trying to look realistic. They were trying to look cool. Mission accomplished.