Software:Fatal Run

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Short description: 1990 Driving game for Atari 2600 & 7800
Fatal Run
Fatal Run cartridge.jpg
Atari 7800 cover art
Developer(s)Sculptured Software
Publisher(s)Atari Corporation
Platform(s)Atari 2600, Atari 7800
Release
Genre(s)Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player

Fatal Run is a 1990 post-apocalyptic-themed vehicular combat game developed by Sculptured Software for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. It was published by Atari Corporation simultaneous by Atari for both platforms.[1][2] Along with Klax, this was the last game Atari officially released for the Atari 2600.[3] At 32kB of data, the game was also the biggest ever released for the Atari 2600.[4] The game was only released in Europe.[5]

Gameplay

The player is tasked with driving an anti-radiation vaccine through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game centres around destroying other cars that attempt to stop the player and avoiding obstacles. The game has 32 levels, each of which has a password meaning that progress could be saved. Depending on how quickly each level is finished, a number of onlookers at the end of each level will explode due to the late arrival of the vaccine. Various power-ups may be collected in each level, including additional weapons, deployable oil-slicks, nitro speed-boosts, and 'death crystals' which make the player's car immune to crash-damage when colliding with other cars. Money earned in each level can be spent on repairs and upgrades.[2][1]

Reception

A review in the March 1991 edition of GamePro Magazine was positive about the gameplay but neutral about the graphics, stating that "the scenery is incredibly boring".[6] Reviewing the game for November/December 2000 issue of Atari 2600 Connection, Al Backiel criticised the lack of an end cut-scene for the Atari 2600 version, but praised the cut-scene of the 7800 version.[7] Andy Slaven writing in the book Video Game Bible, 1985–2002 said of the game that "the first few minutes are great, but after that it just gets old".[8]

Writing for the Daily Dot website, Jean-Michael Bond included it a list of the 30 best Atari 2600 games ever.[4] Brett Weiss in Classic Home Video Games, 1985–1988 A Complete Reference Guide praised the password-saving system and the cut-scenes.[1] Writing in 2016, Retro Gamer magazine stated that the game was similar to RoadBlasters, and said "by far the most impressive part of this game ... are the cut-scenes...".[9] Matthew Lippart reviewing the Atari 7800 version for the Atari HQ website criticised the controls, found the sound "bad" and the gameplay "repetitive", but praised the password and upgrade systems.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Weiss, Brett (2012). Classic Home Video Games, 1985–1988 A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland. ISBN 9781476601410. https://books.google.com/books?id=F01wiUr9LKQC. Retrieved 19 February 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hawken, Kieren (3 September 2018). The A-Z of Atari 2600 Games: Volume 3. Andrews UK. ISBN 9781785389092. https://books.google.com/books?id=nS5iDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Fatal+Run%22+%22Atari+2600%22&pg=PT42. Retrieved 19 February 2021. 
  3. ↑ Lapetino, Tim (November 2017). Art Of Atari. DK Games. pp. 290–291. ISBN 9780744018868. https://books.google.com/books?id=Z50oDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Fatal+Run%22+%22Atari+2600%22&pg=PA349. Retrieved 19 February 2021. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bond, John-Michael (26 January 2021). "The 30 best games for the Atari 2600". The Daily Dot. https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/atari-2600-games/. 
  5. ↑ "Fatal Run – Red label – Atari 2600". https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareID=2217. 
  6. ↑ "Fatal Run". GamePro: p. 76. March 1991. https://archive.org/details/game-pro-issue-20-march-1991/page/76/mode/2up?q=fatal. 
  7. ↑ Backiel, Al (November–December 2000). "Fatal Run". Atari 2600 Connection (63). http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/9260/fatal.html. 
  8. ↑ Slaven, Andy (2002). Video Game Bible, 1985–2002. Trafford. p. 44. ISBN 9781553697312. https://books.google.com/books?id=PnPRd6QwvbQC&dq=%22Fatal+Run%22+%22Atari%22&pg=PA44. Retrieved 20 February 2021. 
  9. ↑ "Fatal Run". Retro Gamer (121): pp. 86–87. September 2016. https://issuu.com/michelfranca/docs/retro_gamer____121. 
  10. ↑ Lippart, Matthew. "AGH Atari 7800 Review: FATAL RUN". http://www.atarihq.com/reviews/7800/fatal_run.html. 



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