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View Full Version : Random Game O' the Day: Rescue on Fractalus



digitalpress
06-09-2003, 11:24 AM
The DP Random Fractal Generator (tm) has chosen the game Rescue on Fractalus, specifically for the Atari 5200 but the game was also available on several 8-bit computers so let's open discussion to any and all versions.

I remember when the game came out, two things that had a major impact on me as a gamer: the smooth 3D environments, I had never seen anything like this before on a home game; and the alien that appears out of nowhere, right in front of your dash! EEP!

So what were/are your thoughts on the game? Is there a "best version" of it? What did you like or not like about it? In your opinion, how do the revolutinary fractal graphics hold up by today's standards? Write your own mini-review here.

DP Guide sez:

Rescue on Fractalus (Atari 5200, by Atari) $20/R5 +
Designed by David Fox, Loren Carpenter, Charlie Kellner, Peter Langston. Contributions and support by Gary Winnick and David Levine. According to sources at Atari, the working titles for this game were "Star Mission" and "Rescue Mission". One of only two Atari released games that came in a white box (Ballblazer was the other) instead of the standard issue gray and blue box. This was to denote that the games were actually programmed by Lucas Arts. This game is also one of the few Atari titles that has no name on the cartridge label. Also see "Behind Jaggi Lines" in the prototype section. #CX5254.

http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari5200/rescueonfractalus.gif

NoahsMyBro
06-09-2003, 01:55 PM
That was a very, very cool game! When it came out, I read about it and wanted it, but never managed to get a copy until a few years ago. And yeah, it is startling when the alien jumps up right in front of you!

Now I'm going to have to go home and play this thing some more later tonight!

kainemaxwell
06-09-2003, 04:40 PM
I had this for the Commordore 64 actually, I probably still do somewhere too.

digitalpress
06-09-2003, 04:47 PM
I had this for the Commordore 64 actually, I probably still do somewhere too.

Um... AND?

JasonMewes2001
06-09-2003, 04:58 PM
I had this for the Commordore 64 actually, I probably still do somewhere too.

http://www.pluh.com/members/juggatard/kings-arrival.jpg

IntvGene
06-09-2003, 05:17 PM
I had a semi-legal copy of this game for the Atari 8-bit. And, because we didn't have a copy of the manual, we really didn't know how to play it. We didn't even know there were aliens in the game, until we found one and it scared the bejesus out of us. It turned into a sort of urban legend, and my other friends wouldn't believe us, until we finally showed them.

It was a pretty freaky game, but I actually liked the flight aspect of the game, it was handled well, keeping the arcade feel, but with some realism. I remember trying to play it on the highest levels, and just getting fried by those laser turrets all the time. And then, there was that ship that attacked you if you went too high. Fun game, and how could you not like any game with a mothership in it?

zmeston
06-09-2003, 05:28 PM
I not only love the game, but the packaging, which features actual photographs of human beings and Star Wars-styled (before Star Wars sucked) spacecraft models. Game packaging is all CG imagery now, and was all cheesy cartoons then, but Rescue on Fractalus's packaging remains unique.

-- Z.