Slot Racers is a video game for the Atari VCS (later called the Atari 2600) published by Atari, Inc. in 1978. It was designed by Warren Robinett, who went on to create one of Atari’s most famous games, Adventure.
Game play
Slot Racers is a joystick-controlled game with nine game variations programmed within the cartridge.
The object of the game is to pilot your car through a maze while attempting to fire missiles at your opponent’s car as well as evading the missiles your opponent fires at your car. Each time one of the cars is struck by a missile, the player controlling the other car receives one point. Victory is achieved through the scoring of twenty-five points. The game itself has four different mazes, and options concerning missile speed and other factors, within the context of its nine variants, selectable via the Game Select switch. The difficulty switches control the rate of fire.
Reception
Slot Racers was reviewed by Video magazine in its “Arcade Alley” column where it was described as “a fast-moving head-to-head thriller.” Despite noting that the game’s plot is patently absurd, and that the game has “virtually nothing to do with either slot cars or racing of any kind”, the reviewers called it “a triumph” and ranked it as “the most important of the [Atari 2600]’s classic labyrinth games”.
See also
- List of Atari 2600 games
References
Sources
- Weiss, Brett (2007). Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3226-4.
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Having closely reviewed Slot Racers, the Gamer24h editorial team considers it one of the most noteworthy titles of recent times. The visionary approach of developer Atari, Inc., combined with the expertise of publisher Atari, Inc., has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the Maze, racing 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.