Anyone who survived the first wave of twitch video games of the '80s will remember Yars' Revenge. It was one of the best and most popular games available for the legendary Atari 2600 console, and many a sore thumb can be attributed to hours in front of the TV battling the evil Qotile Armada. Now a new generation of gamers can see what all the fuss was about with Yars' Revenge for the Game Boy.
The premise and gameplay have not changed. You pilot a ship that looks like a housefly, blasting your way through the barrier that shields the Qotile mothership so you can destroy it and progress to the next level. Homing missiles and the Qotile itself hinder your progress and keep you on the move at all times. As the game progresses, the shields become more difficult to penetrate and the obstacles harder to dodge.
That's it. Yars' Revenge is reflex gaming at its most basic level. The graphics stink and the sound effects are laughable, but this isn't the type of game that relies on cutting edge technology to deliver great gameplay. If you prefer more steak than sizzle, Yars' Revenge should deliver hours of old-school fun. --T. Byrl Baker
Pros:
A gaming classic
Furiously paced gameplay Cons:Gets repetitive
Dull graphics