Genre: Fixed-Screen Shooter
Developer: Imagic
Publisher: Imagic
Year: 1982
Platform: Intellivision
Demon Attack is a fixed-screen shooter adapted by Imagic for the Intellivision in 1982, originally created by Rob Fulop. The player controls a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen, tasked with destroying successive waves of winged demons descending in intricate patterns. Some demons split into smaller ones when shot, adding strategic challenge across increasingly intense rounds.
After every few waves, a large mothership known as Pandemonium appears. To defeat it, players must erode its shield and fire through a rotating window of vulnerability, introducing a boss encounter not found in the original Atari version. This addition leverages the Intellivision’s graphical capabilities to enhance visual interest and gameplay depth.
Controls are precise and responsive, with lateral movement and firing mapped to the Intellivision controller. The adaptation showcases smoother animation and richer background detail—such as a depiction of lunar or planetary surfaces—compared to other home versions of the time, creating a more immersive playing experience.
Graphics in the Intellivision version are less colorful but more refined, with deliberate enemy movement and detailed backgrounds. These visual enhancements, combined with escalating enemy behavior—such as unpredictable movement and splitting demons—deliver a dynamic and engaging challenge.
