A.E. (video game)

Did You Know?

• A.E. was the first of several games Broderbund partnered with Japanese developer Programmers-3 to produce.
• According to Broderbund co-founder Doug Carlston, the Atari 8-bit version was the first Atari computer game written in Japan.
• Programmers-3 became Compile in 1982.

Gameplay

Your missile battery slides side to side at the screen's base. A held fire button launches a missile that explodes when released. Enemy chains swoop in curving paths, weaving before and behind scenery for a 2.5D look, always moving like Galaga but never forming up. They fire downward. Any hit from an enemy or its projectile destroys your battery.

Reception

Arnie Katz of Arcade Express praised the swirling flightpaths of attackers across eight playscreens, noting the background images have little bearing on gameplay, and gave a score of 8/10. InfoWorld's Essential Guide to Atari Computers called it 'another winner' for Broderbund. Computer Games magazine awarded the Atari and Apple versions an 'A' in its 1985 Software Buyers Guide. Susan Levitan of Videogaming and Computer Gaming Illustrated recommended the game for its challenging difficulty and mesmerizing serpentine movement.