Genre: Maze / Fixed-Screen Shooter
Developer: Joe Hellesen
Publisher: CBS Electronics
Year: 1982
Platform: Atari VCS
Wizard of Wor is a port of the arcade maze shooter originally developed by Dave Nutting Associates and released by Midway. The Atari 2600 version was developed by CBS Electronics and published in 1982. Players navigate through maze dungeons as a “Worrior,” battling monsters that emerge in waves while coordinating with or competing against a second player.
Gameplay involves clearing each maze of enemies, such as Burwors, Garwors, and Thorwors. When all regular monsters in a level are defeated, a bonus creature known as the Worluk appears; defeating it grants extra points. Occasionally, the Wizard of Wor—the boss enemy—appears to challenge the player with teleportation and other hazards. Movement through tunnel passages and watching the radar display are essential strategies, especially when enemies turn invisible in later stages.
The game supports both single-player and two-player simultaneous modes. In two-player mode, players can either cooperate to clear levels or compete for higher scores, including the possibility of shooting each other. The complexity increases as the player proceeds, with more aggressive enemies, less protective maze structure, and more open layouts.
