Cross ForceMemories rarely fade away like rust when they have had a poignant effect on someone. People always says time is the best medicine to pain, but it is not always true. People may say, at one point or another, it is time to put the box of toys in the closet, and leave them there to breed their own version of tears which slowly encloses them, and to move on with life. Despite dust accumulating and burying these toys, we will always return and inevitably dust off that old teddy bear we used to cuddle at night, or that toy airplane you would fly and imagine yourself flying. Perhaps, even among those memories, you may find a lonely, neglected video game console with its wood finish faded, but showing signs of an old pride. This memory, is the Atari 2600.
To many modern gamers, the Atari 2600 is a relic that deserves to be left in the closest to fade away and die due to inferior graphics and a lack of online multiplayer. However, to anyone with honest memories of the Atari, and its glory days, it would be unthinkable to leave it to fade away and not ride its last days out. To most people digging through their memories, they would haul out that beast, clean her and give it a spin. Perhaps one of the games that would be played is Berzerk, or a pitfall game. Maybe you would ride the lightning in Enduro or a more obscure one such as Reactor. However, one game that has a rather humble status is Cross Force;
a game that deserves a place in every Atari collector's home.
Cross Force
is a game in which the player's objective is to use their laser beam to destroy incoming gyroscopic-style enemies. However, what makes this game stand out from a game like Space Cavern are two factors that are quintessential for the game-play. The first is that you are firing a single, continuous beam across the screen to try and hit an endless supply of evil gyroscopic forces compared to an unlimited supply of shells or bullet type projectiles being blasted relentlessly. The second key element is that you simultaneously controls two characters, from which the beam forms between.
Due to the fact that you control two characters,multitasking is a requirement in order to avoid the gyroscopic firepower barraging the platforms on the top and bottom of the screen where your characters are running. Depending on the mode of game, the characters either moves so the laser formed between them is always perpendicular to the platform, or move inversely (as the character at the bottom of the screen moves left, the one at the top will move right at the same speed). Whichever mode of play you select, the game will act as most arcade games did at the time by starting off easy then getting exponentially harder as time would pass. Thus, it is difficult to adequately convey the exact level of difficulty, but the single best phrase to describe it would be that it is easy to pick up and play, but hard to master.
As you destroy the gyroscopic adversaries bent on your complete and utter destruction, you will likely notice the bars at the bottom of the screen decreasing. The yellow bar with the F and E on either end is your fuel meter...that's right, you need to collect fuel. Whenever you see the red can of gas, you are to shoot it to refuel. That begs the question whether you are actually shooting to destroy the gyroscopic enemies, or absorbing them with some sort of proton accelerator. If it is to destroy fuel...it is like running over gas cans in a game like Ghostbusters. One way or another, someone has figured out a way to transfer the fuel so your weapons need not leave their posts. Once your fuel runs out, you will lose a life. If you lose all your lives, it is then game over.
Fortunately, one thing that is on your side is the controls. Since you're only moving from left to right using the arrow keys and using the space bar for attacking, the controls are very straightforward and easy to pick up. One thing that you need to play a game is adequate controls, and these controls are very simple, and responsive which helps distinguish its an Atari game.
The game is visually competent for an Atari game, but it do have the almost signature black background. To some, this may be a deterrent, but that is one of the trademarks of a vintage Atari game and adds to the feelings of isolation: You're all alone in fighting off the onslaught of enemies, with only your trusty laser turret to protect you. The layout of these graphics are functional, and there have never been any real problems in trying to identify objects. Sometimes there is flickering with the laser, but nothing major. The audio also has that distinctive Atari feel, and works well. There is no "music" of such, with only a droning vibration, but it again adds that feeling of isolation: after all, wasn't it Alien that coined the term "in space no one can hear you scream" and that is so true. The explosions and laser sound effects are pure class. If the style of sound effects that the Atari generally provides does not appeal to you, then these will not either. Thus, turn on some Rush or Pink Floyd, and that should suffice.
To conclude, this is doubtlessly a game that provides a twist to the classic Atari2600 game but maintains the charm. It is simple, but eloquent. An addictive game, and an excellent choice for a casual gamer looking for some entertainment.
Graphics
8 Sound
7 Addictive
9 Depth
2 Difficulty
5
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