Genre: Action
Developer: APh Technological Consulting
Publisher: Mattel Electronics
Year: 1979
Platform: Intellivision
Space Battle is a fixed-screen shooter released for the Intellivision in 1979. Developed by APh Technological Consulting and published by Mattel Electronics, the game challenges players to defend their mothership from five alien fleets of varying sizes. Players control three squadrons of fighters, each consisting of three ships, and must strategically deploy them to intercept and destroy incoming alien attackers.
The game offers two distinct modes: Radar Mode and Battle Mode. In Radar Mode, players utilize a radar screen to monitor alien fleet movements and make strategic decisions about deploying their squadrons. Battle Mode shifts to a first-person perspective, where players engage in direct combat with alien ships, requiring quick reflexes and precise aiming to succeed.
Alien ships in Space Battle are programmed to dodge player attacks and retaliate with photon blasts. This dynamic creates a challenging environment where players must anticipate enemy movements and adjust their tactics accordingly. The game’s design emphasizes strategic planning and timely execution, testing both the player’s decision-making and combat skills.
Space Battle was notable for being the first Intellivision game to utilize sequencing GRAM to create the illusion of more than eight moving objects on-screen simultaneously. This technical achievement allowed for more dynamic and engaging gameplay. The game was initially scheduled for release under the Action Network label and had a limited release in the red box format; some early blue box editions still featured the Action Network branding.
