Rescue Raiders
{{Short description|1984 video game}}
{{refimprove|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Rescue Raiders
|image = Rescue Raiders cover.jpg
|caption =
|developer =
|designer = Arthur Britto
Greg Hale
|publisher = Sir-Tech
|engine =
|released = 1984
|genre = Scrolling shooter, Real-time tactics{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}
|modes = Single player
|platforms = Apple II
}}
Rescue Raiders is an Apple II scrolling shooter published by Sir-Tech in 1984.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=45wrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F_wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7024,2083251&dq=rescue+raiders+sir-tech&hl=en|title=New York Computer Software Company Takes Off In Japan|last=Reagan|first=Jim|date=10 October 1985|work=The Telegraph|page=32|accessdate=2 May 2013}} It was designed by Arthur Britto and Greg Hale.
Gameplay
The game is played on a two-dimensional side-scrolling playfield, where two players start at main bases on opposing sides of the field. The player operates a Choplifter-esque helicopter defending a string of advancing units, which the player purchases throughout the game. The objective is to create and defend a force that can escort a van filled with explosives to the enemy base at the other end of the playing field.
Along the way a series of smaller bunkers act as obstacles by flying balloons which, when operating for the opposing team, will destroy the player helicopter (the cable will severely damage the helicopter). The bunkers may be taken over by delivering enough infantry units, which may reach the bunker either by walking all the way from a main base without being killed, or by being carried there more quickly in the player helicopter.
The helicopter begins with three weapons: heat-seeking missiles, machine guns, and bombs. As the game progresses, additional weaponry is introduced.
Reception
In 1996, Next Generation listed it as number 36 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", citing the strategy required to succeed in the game.{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=September 1996|pages=56, 59}}
Reviews
- The V.I.P. of Gaming Magazine #5 (Sept./Oct., 1986)
- Jeux & Stratégie #34{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-34/page/44/mode/2up | title=Jeux & stratégie 34 | date=August 1985 }}
- Jeux & Stratégie HS #3{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-hs-3/page/98/mode/2up | title=Jeux & stratégie HS 3 | year=1986 }}
Legacy
In 1991, Three-Sixty Pacific released Armor Alley, a recreation of Rescue Raiders{{cn|date=July 2016}} for Classic Mac OS and MS-DOS with four-player network support.
These games subsequently inspired Super Army War for the Game Boy Advance and its Nintendo DS sequel, Glory Days 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/retail-biz/recommended/read/glory-days-2|title=Glory Days 2|last=Parfitt|first=Ben|date=3 September 2007|work=MCV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112705/http://www.mcvuk.com/retail-biz/recommended/read/glory-days-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
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Category:Helicopter video games
Category:Real-time tactics video games
Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Single-player video games
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