Genre: Action / Arcade
Publisher: Mastertronic
Year: 1986
System: Atari 8-bit
Despatch Rider is a side-scrolling arcade game in which the player takes on the role of a city courier tasked with picking up and delivering packages over the course of a single in-game day, from 7:00 to 19:00. The objective is to earn as much money as possible by successfully completing deliveries while navigating through traffic and managing limited resources.
The game screen is divided into several sections: a city map displaying current weather conditions, a road view where the riding takes place, and a panel showing key indicators such as fuel level, remaining time, and total earnings. Driving conditions can change dynamically—rain, for example, reduces braking efficiency, requiring the player to adjust their speed accordingly.
Fuel management is an important element, as the player must locate and use one of four gas stations, which appear briefly and require payment. Crashing into kerbs incurs a time penalty of 30 minutes, while hitting skips results in losing the package in transit. To collect packages, the player must catch them mid-air as they’re tossed from buildings. Delivery is completed by accurately throwing the package through open doors at the recipient’s location.
