conversion capers

apple ii 1983

While the home computer version for Apple’s machine might have looked just about the part – though its wireframe lines were a mite chunky – the game itself lost a lot of its original pace. As such, this port was more of a slog than expected.

atari 2600 1983

The 5200 port was cancelled, leaving this version the flagship for Atari’s consoles. It was, and is, odd. No wireframe models, a bizarre halfway-up-the-tank viewpoint, no obstacles – it’s fun in short bursts, but BZ on the 2600 will always be remembered as… weird.

c64 1983

Ear-shattering sound and scaling issues aside, the C64 version of Battlezone is one of the best from the initial early Eighties batch. It runs smoothly and quickly, it keeps everything from the arcade original, and it definitely looks the part. A miniature triumph.

vic-20 1983

Unsurprisingly, the Vic-20 version of Battlezone isn’t quite up there with the superior C64 one – but it manages a better job of things than most of the other 1983 versions. It maintains the wireframe look and is, relatively, smooth playing – but otherwise unremarkable.

IBM pc 1983-1993 ■

Originally a decent booter release in the early Eighties, Battlezone on the PC was repackaged as part of an arcade selection for Windows 3.1. The later version is, unsurprisingly smoother and more appealing to the eye, but an odd analogue-ish control system lets it down.

zx spectrum 1984

The Speccy version, published by Quicksilva instead of Atarisoft, is okay – though it does have some gorgeous tank animations. But it was put to shame at the time by clones like 3D Tank Duel, which ended up doing Battlezone better than Battlezone on the ZX Spectrum.

atari st 1986

The 16-bit home computer version of Battlezone takes cues from both the 8-bit and 2600 versions, marrying wireframe tanks and obstacles with ‘full’ scenery surrounding it all. It’s a solid version of the game with a unique look, and the best of Atari’s home versions.

atari 8- Bit 1987

While the 2600 did away with wireframe, the 8-bit family hung on tight, with the result being a version of Battlezone for an Atari machine that actually looks like the Atari game it was based on. Magical. It runs fairly slow, but the skeleton of the arcade original is there.

game BOY 1996

A double pack of Super Breakout and Battlezone arrived in the Game Boy’s later years, and nobody is sure why. The vectors survive, barely, with a constant flickering effect necessary for the game to draw each half of the screen independently. It is a poor version.

lynx 1995

Battlezone 2000 was a straightforward port. Enter a code, though, and you got the true Battlezone 2000. Mixing RTS designs with inventory management and a new look, it was ahead of its time and was nixed by the publishers, who felt it was too complex.