Beamrider
| Beamrider | |
|---|---|
| File:Atari2600Beamrider.png | |
| Developer(s) | Activision |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Designer(s) | David Rolfe |
| Platform(s) | Atari 2600, Atari 5200 |
| Release | n/a |
| Genre(s) | Scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Beamrider is a scrolling shooter for the Atari 5200 designed by Activision programmer David Rolfe. The game was also ported to the Atari 2600, with less features than the 5200 version.
Beamrider takes place above Earth's atmosphere, where a large alien shield called the Restrictor Shield surrounds the Earth. The player's objective is to clear the Shield's 99 sectors of alien craft while piloting the Beamrider ship. The Beamrider is equipped with a short-rage laser lariat and a limited supply of torpedos. The player is given three at the start of each sector.
To clear a sector, fifteen enemy ships must be destroyed. A Sentinel ship will then appear, which can be destroyed using a torpedo (if any remain) for bonus points. Some enemy ships can only be destroyed with torpedos, and some must simply be dodged. Occasionally during a sector, Yellow Rejuvenators (extra lives) appear. They can be picked up for an extra ship, but if they are shot they will transform into ship-damaging debree.
Activision offered special Beamrider patches to players who could get to Sector 14 with 40,000 points and sent in a screenshot of their accomplishment.