Atlantis (video game)
Defend Atlantis from the invading Gorgon fleet.
Atlantis is a fixed shooter video game that Imagic put out for the Atari 2600 in August 1982. The action takes place in the legendary city of Atlantis, where invading Gorgon ships are trying to level the place. Players take charge of sentries and launch a counterattack. The game was a hit for Imagic, bringing in the second-highest sales for the company, only behind 1982's *Demon Attack*.
Dennis Koble designed and coded the game. He had a much better time making *Atlantis* than his previous game, *Trick Shot*, which he said gave him anxiety because he struggled to get the physics right. Koble called *Atlantis* a pleasure to work on, praising the team's cohesion. He had long wanted to make a game set in Atlantis and said the final product matched 95% of his vision. He credited *Missile Command* as an unconscious influence and thanked Bob Smith for a coding trick that let the Atari 2600 display more moving objects than usual.
The game was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, VIC-20, Intellivision, and Magnavox Odyssey 2. The VIC-20 and Odyssey 2 versions stay close to the original, but the Intellivision port—designed by Pat Ransil—adds new features like crosshairs, launchable pods, and a day-night cycle that forces players to use searchlights. That version also swaps simultaneous two-player for alternating turns. Ransil, who joined Imagic at the invitation of his former classmate Brian Dougherty, said he preferred games that demand quick reflexes over complex strategy. The Odyssey 2 version was handled by Jeff Ronne, with some graphics help from Mike Becker.
In the game, players defend Atlantis from waves of Gorgon vessels. Smaller, faster ships are worth more points. After each wave, bonus points are awarded for every part of the city still standing. For every 10,000 points earned, a destroyed section gets rebuilt at the end of a wave. Each city district has a force field powered by the Acropolis post, though some game modes disable it. Other modes make enemy waves faster or offer a two-player setup where one joystick fires and the other controls the sentries.
*Atlantis* and its ports got positive reviews from outlets like *The Video Game Update*, *Video Games*, and *The Logical Gamer*. In 1983, *Video* magazine gave it a Certificate of Merit as a runner-up for Video Game of the Year.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Atlantis
- Developer
- Imagic
- Designer
- Atari 2600 / Dennis Koble / Intellivision / Pat Ransil
- Platforms
- Atari 2600, Intellivision, Magnavox Odyssey 2, VIC-20, Atari 8-bit computers
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game was designed by Dennis Koble, who said he had wanted to do a game themed around Atlantis for a long time and that the game turned out to be 95 percent of what he imagined. Koble credited Bob Smith for a coding technique that allowed more moving objects on screen than the Atari 2600 hardware originally intended. The game features waves of Gorgon vessels attacking city districts; the player fires from the Acropolis Command Post or sentry posts. Smaller, faster ships are worth more points. At the end of each wave, points are awarded for each part of Atlantis not destroyed, and for every 10,000 points a destroyed part is restored. Some game modes disable the Acropolis post, adjust enemy speed, or offer a two-player mode. The Intellivision version, designed by Pat Ransil, adds crosshairs, launchable pods, a day-to-night cycle affecting gameplay, and searchlights, but only allows alternating two-player play. The Odyssey 2 version is pared down with only five city parts to defend.
Reader's Guide
Atlantis was a defining game for Imagic, cementing its reputation as a talented third-party developer. It received positive reviews from publications such as The Video Game Update, Video Games, and The Logical Gamer. Reviewers praised the Atari 2600 version for its arcade-quality graphics and original gameplay, though some found it too easy. The Intellivision version was considered superior by some, including Brett Alan Weiss in his book The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-1987. The game won a Certificate of Merit as a runner-up in the Video Game of the Year category from Video magazine in 1983. A follow-up titled Atlantis II was created as a grand prize for winners of a video game competition, featuring the same general gameplay but with higher difficulty. The game's end sequence, where survivors escape in a giant spaceship, was intended to connect to Imagic's Cosmic Ark, as suggested in the manual. Imagic closed in 1986; Koble later worked on games such as Sonic Spinball and the PGA Tour Golf series.
Did You Know?
- Atlantis was the second highest-grossing game for Imagic after Demon Attack (1982).
- The Intellivision version of Atlantis was designed by Pat Ransil, who said he preferred games requiring quick reaction over complicated strategy.
- A competition in 1982 led to the creation of Atlantis II, a harder version given to winners.
- The game's end sequence showing survivors escaping in a spaceship was intended to tie into Imagic's Cosmic Ark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Atlantis (video game)?
Atlantis is a fixed shooter for the Atari 2600 published by Imagic in August 1982. You play as a sentry defending the legendary city of Atlantis from an invading Gorgon fleet.
How do you play Atlantis (video game)?
You control a stationary sentry position and fire at waves of Gorgon ships trying to destroy Atlantis. The goal is to hold off the enemy fleet as long as possible while managing your defensive fire.
What platforms was Atlantis (video game) released on?
Originally an Atari 2600 title, it was later ported to Atari 8-bit computers, the VIC-20, Intellivision, and the Magnavox Odyssey 2.
How well did Atlantis (video game) sell and what recognition did it earn?
Dennis Koble recalled the game moving roughly two million copies, making it Imagic's second-best seller behind Demon Attack. It also earned a Certificate of Merit as runner-up for Video Game of the Year from Video magazine in 1983.
Who designed Atlantis (video game) and how did it compare to his other work?
Dennis Koble both designed and programmed the game, and he noted it was a much smoother experience for him than his earlier title Trick Shot, where he struggled with the physics.
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