Imagic Demon Attack -Atari 2600
Retro Gaming Review

Atari 2600 VCS console Classic Retro Gaming Video Game Review

Imagic Demon Attack for Atari 2600 Classic Retro Gaming Video Game Review

Title:	Demon Attack
Manufacturer:	Imagic
Platform:	Atari 2600
Release Date:	1982
Part #:	720101-1
Rating:	4 out of 5
ESRB Rating:	N/A

Rating:

Imagic Demon Attack Screenshot:

Imagic Demon Attack for Atari 2600 screenshot Classic Retro Gaming Video Game Review

Remember when those shiny mylar Imagic box covers arrived on store shelves? Real eye-catchers and they often contained great games like Demon Attack. It's a simple game that's both engaging and fun. It's simple look is misleading because it gets progressively harder as you advance levels. It's reminiscent of Phoenix - so much so that Atari sued Imagic, who settled out of court.

Demon Attack Story Arc

Marooned on the ice planet Krybor, you watch legions of eerie creatures fly overhead. They hover momentarily then shift direction trying to avoid your attack. They are relentless and come until you meet your demise. Your goal is to survive!

Demon Attack Game Play

In this 1 or 2-player game, you command a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen and fire on flying bird-like aliens that rain down destruction. The graphics are quite detailed, colorful and nicely animated.

Demon Attack offered the familiarity of a single cannon shooter with enemies that flapped, gyrated and evaded your missiles. They looked large and easy to hit, but their motion was a constant distraction. The "birds" gave this game a motion I hadn't seen in too many games at the time. The "birds" would materialize on screen through a slick effect that seemed to assemble them from bits racing in from the sides of the screen.

Holy shit! Check this out...
Demon Attack was published on several home gaming consoles, including the Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey2, Atari 800, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, PC (booter), TRS-80 and TRS-80 Color Computer. There was also a port to the TI-99/4A titled Super Demon Attack. It was originally programmed to end after the 84th wave, no one was expected

to "wrap" the game. 2 days after its release, a kid beat the game. After the 1st run of cartridges, they changed one line of code so that the game never ends, but also never gets harder after the 84th wave.

New enemies with different weapons and characteristics would appear every few waves. Some rained bombs down on you others had dual lasers striking in an instant. Some levels contained "birds" that split in two when hit and both would hone in for an attack. Good stuff!

With unlimited fire power - one shot at a time - you begin the battle 3 lives. Another life is awarded at the successful conclusion of each wave up to maximum of 6. It looks easier than it is as the waves begin to offer more challenging aliens in smaller forms and different motion patterns.

Difficulty Switch Settings for Demon Attack

Each player has the option to choose Basic Bombardment with the "B" setting or Aggressive Action via the "A" setting. This allows players of different skills to even the odds.

Game Variations for Demon Attack

10 game variations are available for 1 and 2 players. Options include tracer fire, advanced Demon attack, advanced tracer fire as well as 2 co-operative games. Despite being a 4K game it really shines in the innovation for 2 players. Aside from the traditional 2-players taking turns, the co-op modes allow players to control a single laser cannon during the same wave - watch for your cannon to change color every 4 seconds!

Final Judgement: