Desert Falcon
Desert Falcon is a 1988 scrolling shooter video game developed by General Computer Corporation and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. It was initially announced in 1984, prior to being named Desert Falcon, as one of the planned launch titles for the 7800. A version for Atari 8-bit computers, with XEGS-styled packaging, followed in 1989.
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Desert Falcon is a 1988 scrolling shooter video game developed by General Computer Corporation and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. It was initially announced in 1984, prior to being named Desert Falcon, as one of the planned launch titles for the 7800. A version for Atari 8-bit computers, with XEGS-styled packaging, followed in 1989.
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wikidata · Q56353878 · wikipedia · Desert Falcon
In this article
The object
The object
Designed by Bob Polaro, who also programmed the Atari 2600 version, Desert Falcon is loosely based on ancient Egyptian mythology. The diagonally-scrolling isometric graphics had reviewers comparing it to Zaxxon from 1982.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Desert Falcon • Developer — General Computer Corporation • Publisher — Atari Corporation • Designer — Bob Polaro • Programmer — Atari 7800 Mike Feinstein Bob Kakura John Mracek Chris Fitch Atari 2600 Bob Polaro Atari 8-bit Ken Rose • Platforms — Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit • Released — Atari 7800August 1988 Atari 2600December 1988 Atari 8-bit • Genre — Scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player • Illustration — Gameplay of Desert Falcon
Plot
Plot
Players take on the role of a falcon, striving to collect the Pharaoh's scattered treasures in the desert to earn points.
Gameplay
Gameplay
The game uses a scrolling, isometric perspective. Vultures, warriors, flying fish, and other creatures guard treasures and try to stop the player. At the end of each level, the player faces a large, howling sphinx before moving forward. The falcon can shoot arrows to eliminate foes and defeat the sphinx. Throughout the game are hieroglyphs in the sand. Landing and hopping over three hieroglyphs unlock what are labeled "super powers" in the manual. The specific combination of collected hieroglyphs determines the acquired ability, including invincibility, teleportation to a level's end, bonus points, a decoy to mislead enemies, and an air bomb that annihilates all airborne opponents.
Development
Development
The game was revealed in 1984 as part of the Atari 7800 announcement. It was referred to as both Sphinx and Nile Flyer.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
Desert Falcon is associated with United States.
Country
Reception
Reviewing the Atari 8-bit version for ANALOG Computing in 1989, Matthew J.W. Ratcliff wrote, "Desert Falcon has good graphics, cute sound effects, and a tired, boring theme." He cited Zaxxon several times, calling Desert Falcon a visually different spin on the same gameplay. New Atari User wrote, "The scrolling in Desert Falcon isn't quite as smooth as it could be," but complimented the animation of the falcon and the use of shadows. In Antic, David Plotkin wrote, "The manual describes a wide variety of enemies. Unfortunately, except for some flying triangles, they all looked pretty much alike". He still concluded with "It has excellent graphics and is very playable." After playing the 7800 cartridge, Len Poggiali of Current Notes described it as "an average arcade game with a below average plot and above average visual appeal."
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Availability Update. Computer Entertainer. 7. 6. 13. September 1988.
- 2.Atari VCS game release dates. Atari Archive.
- 3.Availability Update. Computer Entertainer. 8. 2. 14. May 1989.
- 4.Hague, James. The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers.
- 5.Ratcliff, Matthew J.W. Review: Desert Falcon. ANALOG Computing. 73. June 1989.
- 6.Rixon, Paul. Fly Me to the Pyramids. New Atari User. 41. 36. December 1989.
- 7.Poggiali, Len. The 7800 Game Cart: Desert Falcon. Current Notes. 62–63. July 1989.
- 8.Davidson, Steve. Introducing the Atari 7800. Electronic Games. 2. 14. 28–29. September 1984.
- 9.Desert Falcon. AtariOnline.org.
- 10.Plotkin, David. Newest Game Cartridges from Atari. Antic. 7. 12. 10–11. April 1989.
- 11.Desert Falcon. Atari Protos.
- 12.Atari Corporation. Atari XE Desert Falcon Manual. archive.org.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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