Word Zapper
{{Short description|1982 Atari 2600 game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Word Zapper
| image = Word Zapper (Cover).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer = James Wickstead Design Associates{{cite web |last1=Stilphen |first1=Scott |title=Interview with Todd Marshall |url=http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/todd_marshall/interview_todd_marshall.html |website=Atari Compendium |year=2014}}
| publisher = U.S. Games
| designer = Henry Will IV{{cite web|title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers|url=https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ |last1=Hague |first1=James}}
| released = 1982
| genre =
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = Atari 2600
}}
Word Zapper is an Atari 2600 game written by Henry Will IV and published under the Vidtec label of U.S. Games in 1982. Word Zapper combines spelling exercises with action gaming, as the player must shoot letters that scroll across the top of the screen to complete words.
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship-like "Zapper" which can move about the screen and shoot up, left, and right. The objective is to shoot the letters that spell the current word, in order, while shooting or avoiding asteroids in the lower portion of the screen.{{cite web |title=Word Zapper Manual |url=https://archive.org/details/Word_Zapper_1982_US_Games |website=archive.org |year=1982 |publisher=U.S. Games}} There are four types of asteroids, and each has a different effect if it comes into contact with the Zapper. The "Doomsday" asteroid ends the game. The "Scroller" asteroid mixes up the scrolling letters for five seconds. The "Zonker" and "Bonker" asteroids knock the Zapper to the side.
The game ends after being hit by a doomsday asteroid, after the 99 second timer runs down, or the ultimate goal of completing three words.
Reception
Richard A. Edwards reviewed Word Zapper in The Space Gamer No. 59.{{cite journal|last=Edwards |first=Richard A. |date=January 1983 |title=Capsule Reviews|journal=The Space Gamer|publisher=Steve Jackson Games|issue=59|pages=46, 48}} Edwards commented that "It is difficult to make a statement concerning recommendation. Word Zapper is innovative enough to draw attention at first, but it will depend on the individual gamer whether another arcade shooting match with letters is worth the price tag."
In the 1983 Arcade Awards, Word Zapper was one of two runners-up for the "Most Innovative Videogame" category.{{cite journal |title=1983 Arcade Awards |journal=Electronic Games |date=January 1983 |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=23–24 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_01_Number_11_1983-01_Reese_Communications_US/page/n21 |last1=Katz |first1=Arnie |last2=Kunkel |first2=Bill}}
=Reviews=
- Game Freaks 365 July 5, 2010http://www.gamefreaks365.com/review.php?artid=1774 {{dead link|date=March 2023}}
- Woodgrain Wonderland Dec 9, 2018https://woodgrainwonderland.com/2018/12/09/atari-2600-game-reviews-winter-games-through-words-attack/ {{dead link|date=March 2023}}
- The Atari Times April 25, 2014{{cite web | url=http://www.ataritimes.com/index.php?ArticleIDX=618 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628184710/http://ataritimes.com/index.php?ArticleIDX=618 | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 28, 2014 | title=Word Zapper - the Atari Times }}
- All Game Guide 1998http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9284&tab=review {{dead link|date=March 2023}}
- HonestGamers (Staff reviews only) Aug 9th, 2008{{cite web | url=http://www.honestgamers.com/systems/content.php?review_id=7319&platform=Atari+2600&abr=Atari+2600&gametitle=Word+Zapper | title=HonestGamers - Word Zapper (Atari 2600) }}
- The Video Game Critic February 25, 2005{{cite web | url=http://videogamecritic.com/2600uz.htm?e=55420#rev486 | title=Atari 2600 Reviews U-Z by the Video Game Critic}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{atarimania|id=7546}}
- {{internet archive game|atari_2600_word_zapper_word_grabber_1982_u.s._games_corporation_henry_will_iv_-_v}}
- [https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Fun_with_Computer_Games_Vol_01_No_02_1982-12_Fun_Games_Publishing_US/page/n61/mode/2up Review] in Electronic Fun with Computers & Games
Category:Atari 2600-only games
Category:Single-player video games