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Badlands (video game)
Encyclopedia
Badlands is a 1989 arcade game
published by Atari Games. It was later ported by Domark
under the Tengen
label to a number of home computers. It is set in the aftermath of a nuclear war
and races around abandoned wastelands with many hazards. Three gun-armed cars race around to win prizes.
Badlands is effectively the spiritual successor to Atari's previous racing games Super Sprint
and Championship Sprint
. Similarly to the Sprint titles, Badlands pits three cars against each other in a three lap race around a small, single-screen circuit. Bonuses are present in the form of wrenches which can be traded for goods such as extra speed, extra acceleration or better tires
Unlike the Sprint games, Badlands expands upon the formula, taking place in a post-apocalyptic environment and equipping each of the players with cannons. In reality, the cannons do little except to slow cars down by repeatedly shooting at them, but the shop between levels offers the possibility of arming the car with missiles which will destroy the target car, placing it at a severe disadvantage as a replacement is brought onto the track, taking a few seconds.
The tracks also featured a number of new obstacles, including mines and retractable barricades.
. All of the versions were accurate in gameplay terms, with graphical compromises being necessary depending on the system. The Amiga and Atari ST versions of the game were the most faithful to the original, although the C64 version was graphically very similar, in spite of more blocky graphics.
The Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions were virtually identical as a result of direct porting.
and CRASH
awarded average marks, both claiming in reviews of the original and rerelease that the title's contemporary Super Off-Road was superior. Sinclair User
expressed more enthusiasm for the game, but made the same comparison to Super Off-Road.
for the PlayStation 2
, GameCube and Xbox
. It was also re-released in 2006 as part of Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition
for the PC
, on the third disc.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
published by Atari Games. It was later ported by Domark
Domark
Domark Software was a video games software house based in the United Kingdom. The name was derived from the given names of its founders, Dominic Wheatley and Mark Strachan...
under the Tengen
Tengen (company)
Tengen was a video game publisher and developer that was created by arcade game manufacturer Atari Games.-History:Atari had been split into two distinct companies. Atari Corporation was responsible for computer and console games and hardware and owned the rights to the Atari brand for these domains...
label to a number of home computers. It is set in the aftermath of a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
and races around abandoned wastelands with many hazards. Three gun-armed cars race around to win prizes.
Gameplay
Super Sprint
Super Sprint is a 1986 arcade game by Atari Games. The player drives a Formula One-like car on a circuit that is viewed from above.-Gameplay:...
and Championship Sprint
Championship Sprint
Championship Sprint is an arcade game that was released in 1986 and was the sequel to Super Sprint. It was later ported to ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64...
. Similarly to the Sprint titles, Badlands pits three cars against each other in a three lap race around a small, single-screen circuit. Bonuses are present in the form of wrenches which can be traded for goods such as extra speed, extra acceleration or better tires
Unlike the Sprint games, Badlands expands upon the formula, taking place in a post-apocalyptic environment and equipping each of the players with cannons. In reality, the cannons do little except to slow cars down by repeatedly shooting at them, but the shop between levels offers the possibility of arming the car with missiles which will destroy the target car, placing it at a severe disadvantage as a replacement is brought onto the track, taking a few seconds.
The tracks also featured a number of new obstacles, including mines and retractable barricades.
Versions
The home computer versions of the game were released by Domark under the Tengen label. Development was carried out by Teque under the leadership of Matt FurnissMatt Furniss
Matt Furniss is a video game sound artist. Matt's music and sound effects can be found in many computer and console video games.-Video Game Audio Credits :...
. All of the versions were accurate in gameplay terms, with graphical compromises being necessary depending on the system. The Amiga and Atari ST versions of the game were the most faithful to the original, although the C64 version was graphically very similar, in spite of more blocky graphics.
The Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions were virtually identical as a result of direct porting.
Response
Response to the Spectrum version was mixed. Your SinclairYour Sinclair
Your Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
and CRASH
CRASH (magazine)
Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...
awarded average marks, both claiming in reviews of the original and rerelease that the title's contemporary Super Off-Road was superior. Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
expressed more enthusiasm for the game, but made the same comparison to Super Off-Road.
Re-releases
The game was re-released in 2005 as part of Midway Arcade Treasures 3Midway Arcade Treasures 3
Midway Arcade Treasures 3 is a compilation of arcade and racing games for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. It is the third and final installment following Midway Arcade Treasures and Midway Arcade Treasures 2.-Games:...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, GameCube and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. It was also re-released in 2006 as part of Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition
Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition
Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition is an arcade compilation released exclusively for the PC on February 17, 2006 in North America, and on March 17, 2006 in PAL regions. It is a compilation of Midway Arcade Treasures 2 and Midway Arcade Treasures 3, which had both been previously released on...
for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, on the third disc.