Last modified 6/14/2002.
NOTE: These games are rated in comparison to
other Vectrex games. The main criteria is based on how fun the game is to play,
although control, graphics, and sound also play a role.
Mine Storm (GCE 1982) A
9/2/2001
This brilliant Asteroids
adaptation, which is built into the system, is really reason enough to pick up a
Vectrex. The smooth graphics, non-stop action, and high level of challenge will
keep you coming back for more. The buttons are used to fire, thrust, and engage
hyperspace. But instead of asteroids, you shoot at floating mines. You can shoot
rapidly, and the screen is often filled with star-shaped explosions. When
certain types of mines are shot, they will send a secondary object your way, so
you have to stay alert! Also beware of the flying saucers, which make a beeline
right for you! Hyperspace is often the only option. The only problem with this
game is a programming bug that causes it freak out after level 13. But to make
it that far would be a major accomplishment.
1 or 2 players
Patriots (John Dondzila 1996) C+
4/27/2002
Ever wonder what
Missile Command would look like with vector graphics? Me neither. But Patriots
is just that. The game’s title refers to the Patriot missiles that were used to
shoot down offensive missiles during the Gulf War. Compared to the original
arcade game, the missile animation here is a bit choppy, and the explosions
don’t stick around for very long. On the other hand, you can still unleash a
wall of bombs and produce some cool chain reactions. The sneaky satellites need
to be hit dead-on or trapped between explosions. Don’t ignore the UFOs or planes
that rain missiles from down low. For some reason there are only two missile
bases, despite the fact that the Vectrex controller could easily have supported
three (there are enough buttons). The aiming cursor is responsive but I wish I
could move it closer to the sides of the screen. Patriots has its share of
slowdown when the action gets intense, but otherwise the graphics and sound
effects are quite faithful. Patriots a respectable effort, but in terms of fun
doesn’t approach the level of the original game.
1 or 2 players
Pole Position (GCE 1983) B-
9/2/2001
Here's a racing game you
might not expect to see on the Vectrex, but it plays surprisingly well. Your car
looks very impressive, especially when it turns or explodes. Too bad the other
cars look like total crap! They look like boxes in the road! The track itself
conveys movement fairly well, although the only thing actually moving is the
striped line in the center. The mountains in the background look fine, but the
signs displaying odd symbols on the side of the road look silly. The game uses
the first two buttons to shift, and the others to accelerate. The precise
control makes it easy to weave your way through the traffic. Pole Position has
the same musical tunes as the arcade version, and the engine sound effects are
pretty good also. This is a nice change of pace from all the shooters on this
system.
1 player
Rip Off (GCE 1982) C
9/15/2001
Rip Off is a shooting game that's
remarkably simple but still entertaining enough. There are a series of fuel
cells (triangles) in the middle of the screen that you need to protect from
scavenging pirates. The pirate ships approach from the edge of the screen and
attempt to drag your cells away. You control a large, rapid-firing "tank" that
looks more like a space ship. The controls are your standard rotate, thrust, and
shoot. Unlike other shooting games, you have an unlimited number of ships; the
game ends when all of your cells are gone. The problem with Rip Off is that
there's no real strategy. What saves it from total mediocrity is the ramping
challenge and a nice two player mode. Otherwise it's just another forgettable
shooter.
1 or 2 players
Rockaroids Deluxe (John Dondzila 1999) A
4/27/2002
For some
reason, vector graphics really lend themselves to Asteroids-style games. My
theory is proven once again with this frenetic, turbo-charged Asteroids clone.
While all the elements of Asteroids are included, this game is MUCH faster. Each
round begins with a collection of large rocks hurling around the screen at a
high rate of speed. If you didn’t have a few seconds of invincibility at the
beginning of each round, you’d never even have a chance. It also helps that your
ship is so tiny. Once you start breaking up the rocks, slow-down begins to creep
in, bringing the game down to a more manageable pace. Like Minestorm, Rockaroids
is relentlessly addictive, and you’ll keep coming back to beat your high score.
I like how buttons one and two are used to turn (instead of the joystick) – it
feels more like the old arcade game. The other two buttons are used for thrust
and fire, and pulling down on the joystick activates your hyperspace. If you’re
looking for shooting excitement, Rockaroids is all that!
1 player
Scramble (GCE 1982) B+
9/2/2001
This is one of my all-time
favorite classic shooters, so I was pretty curious to see how it would turn out
as a vector game. I'm very happy with it. Actually, the game plays almost
exactly like its arcade counterpart. Scramble is a side-scrolling space shooter
where you fly through caverns, shooting missiles and bombing fuel silos. The
explosions are represented by flickering asterisks, which look slightly cheesy.
Avoiding incoming missiles while navigating narrow corridors requires a great
deal of skill (which I happen to possess, by the way). I noticed that the game
tends to be fairly lenient when it comes to collision detection. Your wing can
overlap the wall a little bit without causing your ship to blow up. This game
has three difficultly levels. It's pretty tough, and it's unlikely you'll ever
reach the enemy base at the very end.
1 or 2 players
Spike Hoppin' (John Dondzila 2000) B
2/10/2002
With Spike
Hoppin', John Dondzila (patron saint of Vectrex games) has effectively brought
Q*bert to the Vectrex. Besides different character designs, this is basically
the same game, and it's a fine adaption. You won't find Coily or Ugg, but there
are other zany characters here to take their place. The first thing that struck
me about Spike Hoppin' was the voice synthesis! When I first heard it, I was
like, "did this game just talk?!". Yes it did, and these cute samples really add
something. The graphics are smooth, the objects are easy to make out, and the
gameplay is challenging. Moving the Vectrex joystick diagonally takes a while to
get used to, but the controls are fairly responsive overall. There are even some
cheats and hidden goodies locked away in this game. My biggest problem with
Spike Hoppin' is its leisurely pace. The action is a little on the slow side,
and there are long pauses between levels and lives. There's not much originality
here, but if you've ever wanted to play Q*bert on your Vectrex, this should do
the trick.
1 player
Spinball (GCE 1982) D-
4/27/2002
Some types of games simply
don’t translate well to the Vectrex. Add pinball to that list. Without the
colors and flashing lights, pinball just doesn’t have the same attraction. And
Spinball has a host of other problems. First of all, there aren’t many targets,
and what’s here is pretty dull (mainly boxes and dashes). The table is extremely
unbalanced. You can keep the ball going in the top half for long periods of
time, but once it falls into the bottom part you always lose it very quickly.
The physics is terrible - the ball seems to have a mind of its own. The
collision detection isn’t too hot either, and the ball sometimes seems to get
caught up within objects. But the worst part is that you can’t see your score
during play. As far as I’m concerned, part of the fun of pinball is being able
to see your points rack up as you play. The constant flicker of the table also
gets to you after a while. The one thing that Spinball does right is control.
The flippers are responsive, and the joystick can be used to nudge the table.
The game won’t hesitate to call a tilt on you if you get carried away. But
overall Spinball left me with an empty feeling, like having a small salad for
dinner.
1 player
Star Castle (GCE 1982) B
9/25/2001
You won't find this old
arcade game on many other video game consoles. You control a small ship like the
one from Asteroids (rotate, thrust, shoot). The star castle is at the center of
the screen, surrounded by a multi-layered, rotating shield. You can shoot away
sections of the shield, but don't destroy an entire layer or it will regenerate
along with an additional layer. This is an extremely difficult game. Even if you
create enough holes to have a shot at the star castle, it takes a pinpoint
accurate shot to destroy it. You'll also need to keep an eye out for guided
missiles that chase you around. The edge of the screen is your best escape
route. Try this game if you want a challenge.
1 player
Vector Vaders (John Dondzila 1996) D
2/10/2002
You can tell that
this was one of John's early efforts. Vector Vaders tries to reproduce the
arcade classic Space Invaders on the Vectrex. It does manage to capture the look
of the game. Your cannon has that "shoe box" look, and although these aliens
aren't the same as those in the arcade game, they look like they could at least
be cousins. Unfortunately, this attention to detail takes its toll on the
framerate. The screen flashes so much it looks like an old silent black and
white movie. Your missiles move like snails up the screen. It does get better as
you thin out the alien fleet, and the aliens keep things interesting by dropping
TONS of bombs. There are four barriers to hide behind, but they don't take any
damage. I did like how two buttons are used to move side-to-side, making the
control scheme identical to the original arcade game. And I also enjoyed trying
to hit the slow UFO that moves up across the top of the screen. But overall,
Vector Vaders is just too sluggish. Apparently John recognized this problem and
addressed it in a sequel.
1 player
Vector Vaders 2: The Director's Cut (John Dondzila 1999)
B
2/10/2002
The first Vector Vaders was a fair rendition of Space
Invaders, but it was way too slow. This remake completely fixes that problem.
The first thing you'll notice is that the various alien shapes have now been
replaced with animated "V" characters. These simpler objects allow the game to
move at a much faster pace, and as a result it's a lot more fun. John Dondzila
even took this opportunity to incorporate classic Space Invaders audio effects,
which sound excellent. You can now make the barriers disappear if you shoot them
enough. Fast, challenging, and fun, this is the Space Invaders that Vectrex fans
were waiting for.
1 player
Vectrexian (Kristof Tuts 1999) B
4/27/2002
Here’s a nifty little
version of Galaxian for your Vectrex machine. It does a fine job of capturing
the same classic gameplay, and the sound effects are surprisingly faithful. You
get a full fleet of alien invaders, and there’s very little flicker. I love how
the aliens rotate as they peel off the sides of the formation. The mother ships
depart with two escorts giving you a chance for big points if you can nail all
three. This game is tough – tougher than the arcade game, which is probably why
you start with five lives. Vectrexian is fun, but I have a few minor complaints.
First of all, the cannon looks pretty rough compared to the rest of the
graphics. The collision detection fails every now and then, and your score
doesn’t appear on the screen as you play. But overall this is an addictive
little arcade adaptation.
1 player
Web Wars (GCE 1983) C+
6/14/2002
Web Wars is visually
compelling. You control the “Hawk King”, and much like Tempest, you fly down a
wire-frame half pipe. The camera angle shifts automatically throughout the game,
giving you a feeling of vertigo. Enemy “drones” emerge from the distance, which
you can easily take out with your rapid-fire gun. A “Cosmic Dragon” periodically
flies overhead and drops bombs, and the scaling is impressive as he flies
overhead. Then there are the “fantasy creatures” that you collect with your
“capture rod”. For some reason, your rod doesn’t always stick out straight,
which can be problematic (that’s perfectly normal for a game this age). Each
creature captured is stored on the “trophy screen”, which you access by flying
through square portals. The fantasy creatures are tiny but imaginatively
designed. This idea of collecting creatures is a unique element that I found
appealing. The game begins slow but gradually reaches breakneck speeds. The
gameplay is somewhat marginal, but nice visuals and a dash of originality push
this game above the average mark.
1 or 2 players
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