Xybots
1987 · Shooter · Arcade
Overview
Xybots (1987) is Ed Logg's split-screen 3D maze shooter for Atari Games, which began life as a sequel to Gauntlet.
Deep Dive
Major Rock Hardy and Captain Ace Gunn fight their way through a 3D maze of robots called Xybots, alone or together. The lower half of the screen shows the action and the upper half each player's status and a map of the level. Coins dropped by defeated Xybots buy energy, armour, speed, firepower and maps in shops between levels, and some levels end with a large boss Xybot.
Developer Story
Ed Logg designed and programmed the game with Bob Flanagan, and Atari Games released it in November 1987. Logg recalled in 2005 that it was not a financial success. Home versions followed in 1989 and a Lynx version in 1991.
Did You Know?
- It was first conceived as Gauntlet III: Catacombs, until Atari's marketing department wanted a different name.
- Its joystick rotated the player, which the article cites as one reason for its limited sales.
- GamesTM called it "ahead of its time".
Sources & further reading
- Xybots — Wikipedia
