Beamrider

• Title — Beamrider • Developer — Action Graphics • Publisher — Activision • Designer — David Rolfe • Platforms — Intellivision, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200, ZX Spectrum, MSX • Released — IntellivisionSeptember 1983 ColecoVisionMarch 1984C64June 1984 2600July 1984 Atari 8-bit, 5200August 1984 ZX Spectrum • Genre — Fixed shooter • Modes — Single-player

• Illustration — Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit) Beamrider takes place above Earth's atmosphere, where a large alien shield called the Restrictor Shield surrounds the Earth. The player's objective is to clear the Shield's 99 sectors of alien craft while piloting the Beamrider ship. The Beamrider is equipped with a short-range laser lariat and a limited supply of torpedoes. The player is given three at the start of each sector. To clear a sector, fifteen enemy ships must be destroyed. A "Sentinel ship" will then appear, which can be destroyed using a torpedo (if any remain) for bonus points. Some enemy ships can only be destroyed with torpedoes, and some must simply be dodged. Occasionally during a sector, "Yellow Rejuvenators" (extra lives) appear. They can be picked up for an extra ship, but if they are shot they will transform into ship-damaging debris. Activision offered a Beamrider patch to players who could get to Sector 14 with 40,000 points and sent in a screenshot of their accomplishment.