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Atari Moon Patrol -Atari 5200
Retro Gaming Review
 |
| Title: | Moon Patrol |
| Manufacturer: | Atari |
| Platform: | Atari 5200 |
| Release Date: | 1983 |
| Part #: | CX5241 |
| Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 |
| ESRB Rating: | N/A |
Rating: 
Atari Moon Patrol Screenshot:
Moon Patrol for the Atari 5200 was quite faithful to the arcade version and a big improvement over the 2600 version. The iconic soundtrack is a blast and the scrolling background graphics are great - especially in the cityscape area. Moon Patrol is tons of fun! Who hasn't hummed the Moon Patrol ditty when driving down a bumpy dirt road? Just me? Shit!
So, anyway....
area that's graphically lacking is the lunar vehicle itself. It's animation, while appreciated, looks like a series of pixels jiggling around. Some have said the buggy looks more like an Aardvark than a lunar rover. Lets just say the artwork on the game box is phenomenal but didn't translate well to the game itself. :)
Aside from Fast or Slow via the joystick, your 2 other options are Jumping and Shooting. These functions are relegated to the 2 fire buttons on the controller. For me, it was a little awkward to use these buttons when right next to each other. I never cared for the side-placed buttons on either the 5200 or 7800. This prompted me to build my own joysticks for the 5200. The 2 buttons were easier to access and differentiate with Moon Patrol's arcade controls.
Moon Patrol Story Arc
Having signed on with the Luna City Police Department, you've been assigned the toughest district in town - Sector 9. There you will have to rely on your sophisticated all terrain vehicle (which reminds me of those Max ATVs) complete with anti-gravity jumping and laser bullets. Navigating the rough terrain is a bitch when you have to monitor the skies for hostile UFSs, but that's why you were hired - you're the best pot-hole jumping alien blaster this side of LUna City.
This side-scrolling shooter is divided into 26 sections grouped into 5 waves. You receive bonus points based on your time at the end of each of the 5 waves. You begin with 4 patrol cars and receive another at 10,000, 30,000 and 50,000 points. Your forward firing laser bullets have a limited range and faster speeds will allow you to jump farther. Adjusting these variables will help you take out UFOs and boost your score.
Should all your lunar buggies meet their untimely fate, you have the option to pop the fire button and venture on from where you left off. You'll see "Continue?" on the bottom of the screen during the time in which this is possible.
Less frantic than other William's Electronics games, Moon Patrol keeps you engaged in defending and navigating your moon buggy through the rough terrain. I love playing this game and recommend it highly to anyone with a 5200 console!
Final Judgement:
Atari Moon Patrol
is a ton of fun and always makes me smile. I'm not sure if it's the catchy theme song or the relentless scroll towards the next onslaught, but this is a great game.« Return to Retro Video Game Reviews
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