Arcade Heroes

This week’s review is going to cover another somewhat obscure but very fun arcade title called Ataxx. I am actually trying to secure a cabinet of this game for myself as I have played it quite a bit at a local arcade. As usual pics throughout the review are clickable and there is more to read after the break. 

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Ataxx by Leland

Players: 1-2

Introduction

It’s a battle of wits against the computer or a friend in this addictive yet forgotten puzzle game from Leland Games! Take over the board by filling it up with your blobs and take over blobs from other players! There is no storyline, but strategy puzzle games like this don’t need them!

Gameplay

Ataxx is a rather interesting puzzle game that has been all but forgotten by time. The object of the game is to take over the board, which is divided into a 7×7 tiled grid. You must take over the board by placing your colored blobs onto the squares. To do this, simply select your blue or red blob (which will be in one of the corners) and then choose one of the tiles right next to your blob. This will ‘clone’ your blob onto the next tile, taking it over. You can also make your blobs jump one tile over if necessary. Each player will take a turn in movement and strategy comes into place where you can take over the opposite players blobs by placing one of yours right next to it. In fact, with the right move you can change several of your opponent’s blobs in one turn by making the right placement – but be careful not to leave a space open to where the opponent can then take over more of yours. The game ends when all of the tiles on the board are occupied and the winner is determined by who has the most tiles occupied with their blobs.

There are many levels to choose from with different board configurations – all of them will be 7×7 but there are boards with blocked tiles that no one can take over. They can be jumped over at the very least, but the varied boards do help with the replay value of the game.

For selection of your blobs, each player has a trackball controller (unless it’s a cheap conversion that instead uses joysticks), which moves a mouse pointer around the screen. Press a button to select the blob and then press the button again when the pointer is placed over the tile you wish to take over.

This game is VERY addictive, but primarily when you compete against another player. Planning out a strategy as you play is helpful and be quick to react to your opponents placement of blobs so you can take advantage of them and gain more points by taking over more of their blobs. Just be careful not to leave yourself open to a quick takeover. 

Graphics

The graphics in Ataxx are pretty interesting and complete the job well for a title that came out in 1990. There aren’t many colors to oogle over (maybe about 16 total) but the resolution is high so you won’t be disturbed by pixellation and there are a lot of nice animations – from the animation of blobs moving around and cloning to taking over other blobs, to the animations in the tiles and in the background. The graphic bitmaps for your character can be rather interesting and surreal, but there is no selection screen for what you want – it seems to be random, but it is not a big deal. Everything is rendered in 2D but thanks to the resolution the graphics have not aged badly.

Sound

Fairly basic. There is no voice and the ‘music’ (if you can call it that) seems to be more of a tribal humming background noise. It’s strangely fitting to this game to be honest. The only other sounds are that of your blobs moving around and taking over other blobs – again it’s nothing special but this game doesn’t need anything fancy to make it fun as the way it plays stands on it’s own merits.

Cabinet Design

The Ataxx cabinet is pretty cool – the first thing you’ll notice is the mega-huge marquee that shows the word “ATAXX” with some artwork of some blobs on a grid where a red (well sort of pink) blob is taking over some blue ones. The monitor is below that and it is slanted in a perfect angle from where the player is standing so the eyes don’t have to work to look at the screen. The control panel is fairly large with enough space between the two trackballs that there should be no cramping together to speak of. Otherwise the cabinet is fairly plain, painted black with no artwork to oogle over elsewhere.

Overall

Ataxx is a cool and very addictive puzzle game that is perfect for two players. It may not be too hard to find at a local arcade that favors older games from the 80’s and 90’s and if one sought to own an Ataxx cabinet, they go for under $300 (typically) and where they are not in large demand, that should make it easier to haul one into your collection. If you do find it, try playing it with a friend and you will be in for a good time.

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