Adventures of Tron is a platform video game produced by Mattel and published under its M Network label for the Atari 2600 in 1983. It is based on the Disney film Tron. The game was originally intended to be a port of the Intellivision video game Tron: Maze-A-Tron, but it became an original title as development progressed. An Intellivision version of Adventures of Tron was also planned, but it was ultimately cancelled and never saw an official release. Following the loss of the Tron license, the game was re-released as Adventures on GX-12.
Gameplay
In the game the player controls Tron, who has to avoid a variety of enemies while navigating a building with four floors. The upper floors are accessible via two elevators on the left and right of the screen. The player can jump down one floor by pressing down, and can jump up in the air by pressing the fire button. A gap with a pole in the center of the floor will drop the player down to the ground level, and must be jumped across in order to get to the other side.
Enemies patrol each floor (all of which are based on aspects of the film), including the Recognizers and Grid Bugs which travel in groups of three, and the Tanks, which are much larger and fire fast moving projectiles. A unique enemy are the Solar Sailers, which fly in the air, and do not kill the player on contract, but rather push them backwards, impeding progress and potentially putting the player into harm’s way. The player cannot fight back, and thus must evade these enemies by jumping over them or dropping down to a lower floor. The player must collect floating Bits which fly near the ceiling of each floor (the higher the floor the Bit is collected on, the higher the point total).
Reception
The game received fairly positive reviews from critics, with praise for its graphics and sound, as well as its controls and platforming design, but the gameplay received some criticism, which was viewed as a bit repetitive and at times even frustrating.
References
External links
- Adventures of Tron at AtariAge
- Adventures of Tron can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Adventures of Tron caught our attention with its unique design and has shaped up to be a must-play masterpiece candidate thanks to the depth of its experience. The visionary approach of developer APh Technological Consulting, combined with the expertise of publisher M Network, has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the Platform genre offers a breath of fresh air for fans of the category. If you're looking for an absorbing world and satisfying mechanics that pull you right in, this game might be exactly what you've been searching for.