Badlands (1990 video game)
{{about|the 1990 Atari video game|the Konami laserdisc video game|Badlands (1984 video game)|the 2013 video game|Badland (video game)}}
{{Ref improve|date=May 2015}}
{{Short description|1989 arcade game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Badlands
| image = Badlands Cover.jpg
| developer = Atari Games
Teque (ports)
| publisher = Atari Games
Domark (ports)
| designer = Kelly Turner
| programmer = Kelly Turner
Norm Avellar
| artist = Kris Moser
Sam Comstock
Bridget Erdmann
| composer = John Paul
Brad Fuller
Matt Furniss (ports)
| released = {{vgrelease|NA/EU|January 1990{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=111|url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n111/mode/2up?view=theater}}{{cite magazine |last=Openshaw |first=Mary |title=ATEI '90: major international show rings in new year with good spread of new products |magazine=RePlay |date=March 1990 |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=126–32 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-14-issue-no.-6-march-1990-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2014%2C%20Issue%20No.%206%20-%20March%201990/page/126}}}}
| genre = Racing, vehicular combat
| platforms = Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
| modes = Single-player
}}
Badlands is a 1990 arcade video game published by Atari Games. It was ported by Domark under the Tengen label to the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The game is a re-themed version of Atari's previous racing games Super Sprint and Championship Sprint with the addition of vehicular combat. Badlands is set in the aftermath of a nuclear war and races around abandoned wastelands with many hazards. Three gun-equipped cars race around a track to win prizes.
Gameplay
Badlands pits three cars against each other in a three lap race around a small, single-screen circuit. Bonuses are present in the form of wrenches which can be traded for goods such as extra speed, extra acceleration or better tires.
Unlike the Sprint games, Badlands expands upon the formula, taking place in a post-apocalyptic environment and equipping each of the players with cannons. In reality, the cannons do little except to slow cars down by repeatedly shooting at them, but the shop between levels offers the possibility of arming the car with missiles which will destroy the target car, placing it at a severe disadvantage as a replacement is brought onto the track, taking a few seconds.
The tracks also featured a number of new obstacles, including mines and retractable barricades.
Reception
Response to the Spectrum version was mixed. Your Sinclair and CRASH awarded average marks, both claiming in reviews of the original and rerelease that the title's contemporary Super Off-Road was superior.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} Sinclair User expressed more enthusiasm for the game, but made the same comparison to Super Off-Road.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
Reviews
- Computer and Video Games{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-108/page/n51/mode/2up | title=CVG Magazine Issue 108 | date=November 1990}}
- Computer and Video Games{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-100/page/n76/mode/2up | title=CVG Magazine Issue 100 | date=March 1990}}
- ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment){{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-41/page/n54/mode/2up | title=ACE Magazine Issue 41 | date=February 1991}}
- Commodore Format[https://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-03/Commodore_Format_Issue_03_1990_12#page/n91/mode/2up Commodore Format, issue 3, 1990]
- ST Format{{cite web | url=http://www.atarimania.com/atari-magazine-issue-st-format-issue-18_1425.html | title=ST Format (Issue 18) - January - 1991: Atari magazine scans, PDF}}
- Sinclair User{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-099/page/n55/mode/2up | title=Sinclair User Magazine Issue 099 | date=May 1990}}
- All Game Guide[http://allgame.com/game.php?id=9583&tab=review All Game review]
- Retro Archives{{cite web | url=https://retroarchives.fr/badlands-atari-games-corporation/#1 | title=Badlands (Atari Games Corporation) | date=14 March 2020}}
- Commodore Format[https://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-25/Commodore_Format_Issue_25_1992_10#page/n47/mode/2up Commodore Format, issue 25, 1992]
- CPC Attack!{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/cpc-attack-magazine-06/page/n28/mode/2up | title=CPC Attack Magazine Issue 06}}
- Your Sinclair{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-60/page/n71/mode/2up | title=Your Sinclair Magazine Issue 60 | date=December 1990}}
- Computer and Video Games[https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-110/CVG110_Jan_1991#page/n93/mode/2up Computer and Video Games January 1991]
- Amiga Games{{Cite web|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=9020|title=Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!|website=www.kultboy.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}
- Power Play{{cite web | url=http://www.kultpower.de/archiv/heft_powerplay_1990-04_seite130 | title=Kultpower Archiv: Komplettscan Powerplay 4/1990}}
- Commodore User{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-77/page/n90/mode/2up | title=Commodore User Magazine Issue 77 | date=February 1990}}
- The Good Old Days (Staff Reviews only){{cite web | url=https://www.goodolddays.net/game/id%2C1482/BadLands.html | title=MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat}}
- Zzap!{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/zzapp_64_issue_068_600dpi/page/n80/mode/2up | title=Zzap! 64 Issue 068 (HQ)}}
- Computer and Video Games[https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-111/CVG111_Feb_1991#page/n61/mode/2up Computer and Video Games February 1991]
- Amiga Power[https://archive.org/stream/Amiga_Power_Issue_01_1991-05_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n104/mode/1up Amiga Power, issue 1, 1991]
Legacy
The game was re-released in 2005 as part of Midway Arcade Treasures 3 for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox. It was also re-released in 2006 as part of Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition for Microsoft Windows.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{KLOV game|id=6993|name=Badlands}}
- [http://www.arcade-history.com/?page=detail&id=164 Badlands] at the Arcade History database
- {{WoS game|id=0000380|name=Badlands}}
- {{lemon64 game|id=197}}
{{Atari Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badlands}}
Category:Post-apocalyptic video games
Category:Top-down racing video games
Category:Vehicular combat games
Category:Video games about death games
Category:Video games developed in the United States