Atlantis (Intellivision game)

Gameplay

Atlantis features gameplay similar to that of the arcade game Missile Command. The player takes control of two mirrors standing on either side of a valley, where several cities sit. The game takes place in the land of Atlantis, which it is under attack by the Gorgons (not related to the Gorgons of mythology). The mirrors reflect beams of light at their attackers, and the beam projectiles explode when they reach the targeted area, similar to the warheads in Missile Command.

The goal of Atlantis is to protect the cities as long as you can. Unlike Missile Command, the player has infinite shots, but the cities are not restored after each round. Also, the player can summon a flying saucer located on a platform in the middle of the valley which can fly around freely and fire lasers out of both sides. If it crashes into a Gorgon or is hit by a Gorgon beam, however, it is destroyed and will not be restored until the start of the next day's day shift.

The basic strategy involves leading the Gorgons so that they crash into the light beams. The player has to hurry as the Gorgons will fire a beam downwards and strafe the valley until it hits a city.

The game becomes increasingly difficult as it progresses, culminating in the player facing down Gorgons against a pitch-black sky. Since the Gorgons are also black, they are invisible and can only be seen by spotlights deployed that slowly scan the screen. They can also be seen when they fire their lasers, but by then it's usually too late.

There is no endgame to Atlantis; the player plays until the last city is destroyed and the goal really is to rack up as high a score as possible. But, like in the Atari version, after the final city goes down, the Cosmic Ark flies off with the civilization's survivors. The Ark's adventure continues in the sequel Cosmic Ark. However, due to a glitch in the game, most copies of Intellivision Atlantis ends on Day 12 displaying a purple / and & sign rotating through the screen display.