1981 Atari Tempest Arcade Video Gameplay HD

Gameplay of 1981 Atari Tempest Arcade. The game is a tube shooter, a type of shoot 'em up where the environment is fixed and viewed from a three-dimensional perspective.
It was fairly popular and had several ports and sequels. The game is also notable for being one of the first video games with a selectable level of difficulty (determined by the initial starting level).
CPU 6502
Sound POKEY x 2
Display Vertical orientation, Vector (color), size: 19 inch
Song played during the beginning of the video:
Snakadaktal - Are You Here (SITW B Side)
• Snakadaktal - Are You ...

[@MsCubbies23]

I played this game at the local store every day as a kid...I loved Tempest!

[@gyakuten7411]

i am in love with this game's visuals, specifically the way the player moves.

[@charlienyc1]

I remember the heavy wheel controller.

[@alexanderteuman7273]

@@charlienyc1 The Atari buttons, wheel driver or the big and small ball was the best in Arcade-History, also the Multiple- Joyboard for StarWars, Return of the Jedi, Peter the Rat, Marble Madness and so on; Atari was the best ever of "Multiple-Joy-Stick".

[@alexanderteuman7273]

Babies liked Nintendo One finger wipping. Buuuh. My best friends hate me for that.

[@prodogtwodogman3857]

It’s very satisfying

[@Nonamearisto]

For 1981, this was amazing, especially the moving stars part.

[@Perforu]

The moving part is still awesome in 2023. Also the general vibe, colors... so good

[@Asw0rd]

THE LAST PARZIVAL´S GAME

[@shaaaakezula]

guess we've all read the book lol

[@tonysamosa1717]

I swear this book had me going back and forth to the internet to get an idea of what the hell was going on.

[@Kenoji8]

You and me both. A lot of references I got except for early Atari games and maybe Black Tiger and a few films, but I was geeking so bad on the book. I wish the Oasis were real. I would KILL to be on that planet where all the old arcades were. I'd be lost in there for years. :D

[@SrgtKillerSpark]

AGREED

[@01dixieforever01]

The book is so much better than the movie

[@Mianroca]

Ready Player One's last gate.

[@stevdawizard392]

Mianroca dude I am literally at that part in the book again and I wanted to see what the actually gameplay looked like, you're awesome man!

[@Mianroca]

That is one of the best dystopian novels ever

[@catandcaboodle6492]

Mianroca I cannot wait for the film! I'm so excited for it! I just hope they don't ruin it the way they did Eragon. This movie has the chance to be epic if it's done right! And I'm also here to see Tempest gameplay before Wade starts playing it in the book. One of the best books ever!

[@Tigerman1138]

Seems I am NOT the only one!!! Awesome!

[@YashagoroPlaysGames]

I literally just picked up the book Sunday morning and I have been reading it non stop and I just got to the part where he is about to play tempest and I wanted to see the game play to lol I can't wait for the movie

[@analogsynthplayer]

I managed an arcade and worked on the games. The best of times. Tempest was my fave!!! A level called "blackout" is the coolest. You cannot see what is coming after you. A button inside can take you straight there or get you past it. I miss the games and music of the 80's

[@drinklords8453]

One of my favorite games..

[@drinklords8453]

Name of arcade? Where? Here in Corpus Christi tx we had Games people play. Tilt and Diamond Jim's. Also Aladdins castle. The 80s were so COOL.

[@nunya7027]

I thought it was called "Invisible mode". I mastered it quickly after exploiting the "Cheat codes". You could start in invisible mode to get a shit ton of points once you broke through that first level, once you were in that level. That was a great feeling.

[@norakat]

​@@drinklords8453 - Cool name, Wonder if it was named after Curtis Blow's record - Games People Play? Probably..

[@mssucks3462tommy]

Hell yea...actually rush's 1981 song subdivisions brought me here. Love this game...I build arcade cabinets for a hobby and that one in this video has super cool artwork! My designs are much more basic but I make up for it with top quality hardware. Oh yea....these were the days dude..When the TMNT movie wasn't some BS cartoon.

[@WAQWBrentwood]

My favorite arcade game of all, I was in High School when it came out, Tempest and Missile Command were the only ones I really played. If I had my quarters back that I put in, I could buy a restored machine! Good Times!

[@alexanderteuman7273]

In Germany i must put in 1 Mark, that was 50 Cent. Mmmuuuuaaaah!

[@econogate]

God these games seem more realistic and natural then games today, i can't explain why but as a kid growing up nothing has ever come close to these original experiences.

[@dakar8993]

Well said! Absolutely agree.

[@w108dab1]

AMAZING TECHNOLOGY FOR 1981........

[@brood5184]

Not even close to beating Halliday's score.

[@allend433]

Wayward Swagabond he didnt do the exploit to get the 40 extra lives tho.

[@JoonieWoods]

This was my all-time favorite game out there in my younger years! This is the game I spent all my money on!

[@P4OE]

This game was one of my favorites . The spinning knob control is classic .

[@fonzo2525]

Awesome game,I remember the day they added this one to the arcade that was in the bowling alley we went to as a kid,loved it right away,the speed of the game,visuals, and the sound effects were incredible,kids used to stand around just watching people play this game,man those were some of the best times.

[@thorodinson7996]

Tempest, Defender, Robotron, Joust....just to name a few of my favorites from back in the day at the local arcade.

[@lucasp5848]

Yes for sure!!

[@norakat]

Robotron.. Defender was too hard

[@Theshark15z]

What about Centipede and Missile Command??

[@Godric_71]

Ohhhhh i miss Joust

[@warbossgegguz679]

I'm here because I love Vector graphics.

[@jeffcrane1136]

Great trip back down memory lane, 35 years ago. I loved this game. It's one that you really can only play on the original arcade machine.

[@robroy5573]

In 1981, I was only 8 yrs old when this game first came out at the arcades. Had fun times there. Miss my youth!

[@TheBreezus]

Ready Player One brought me here! Excellent game it seems like and I am going to need to download it and play it!

[@lexus4tw]

Me too :D

[@dominicfiorino7463]

Same😄

[@irishsolar]

And me as well lol

[@GMOTP5738]

trash movie

[@acorahil]

Ready Player One...amazing game, amazing book

[@dtiydr]

Amazing movie.

[@GMOTP5738]

trash movie

[@tims.2717]

I'm 28 and Tempest has to be one of my top favorite 80's arcade games.

[@Adri4n0]

Ready Player One brought me here.

[@yohanalexander2850]

same!

[@frolicols]

+Adriano Guerreiro Me too!

[@mauer594]

+Adriano Guerreiro lol same amazing book

[@Adri4n0]

+IBM 5150 I truly loved the book. One of the most immersive I've ever read. Really hoping the movie (expected in 2018) stays true to it.

[@frolicols]

+Adriano Guerreiro There's gonna be a movie?! Awesome!!!

[@alm5966]

Greatest arcade game ever. Without peer, simple as that.

[@pz2736]

Al M p

[@carolleslie517]

Agreed!

[@bartfanatic8188]

I can't decide between this or Qix

[@markmelo2779]

Mario bros? Donkey kong? Pacman?

[@keasyman]

Apart from Defender.

[@Rincewindl]

Doesn't matter the system or era. Intelligent and Hardworking developers can always make something impressive in the medium.

[@NoahNobody]

Never saw this one before. Mindblowing for 1981!

[@tdrewman]

I cant listen to Rush's song Subdivisions with out thinking about this game or play the game without Subdivisions playing in my mind.

[@Theshark15z]

In the high school halls, in the shopping malls be cool or be cast out!!

[@ThePiantanida31]

I have listened to that song 50 times in the last month.

[@drinklords8453]

It was METALLICA for me. Ride the lightning. And Kill em All. The 80s arcades rocked.

[@roman9013]

@@Theshark15z SUBDIVISIONS

[@polygonwrangler]

One of my favorite games. So many of my quarters were fed into Tempest.

[@stevejay5503]

My video game addiction as a teenager.

[@roniv6362]

Back when u had to go to an arcade....that sound makes me happy!

[@hunterchavez9229]

“got the idea from a nightmare he had isn’t that cool parzival?” “yeah that is cool artie”

[@TellerWest]

Massive respect to your Tempest gameplay, sir! I own a Tempest, and you are better than average!

[@cjc363636]

I'm old now and this brings back the nostalgia! Thanks for posting! Saw cap of the new 4000 coming out soon, and, while it's modern and looks like a 4K iTunes visualizer, something about the sequel games misses the simplicity of the 1981 original.

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

I so remember playing this back in 1981-1982 at Patony's Pizza! I love this game!

[@moonbubbles3046]

This was my FAVORITE game way back when. ❤❤ thanks for the nostalgia.

[@mcsilustrador]

I'm 42 and never heard about this one 'till now! I was reading something about Polybius and found this! This game looks amazing!

[@tiwantiwaabibiman2603]

That's because you would have been just born or 1 years old when it came out. I started playing it in 82 when I was in my 20s. Still luv it wish I could find the game to play it now...

[@72seeker72]

Definitely one of my favorite games of the early 80s! Classic!

[@paulv2394]

Wow. I recall playing this game when it was first introduced. I was in high school. Awesome times. One day, I'd like to own an original arcade setup.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

An original cabinet? You lucky man! Enjoy... The purity of Tempest draws me back constantly. I am currently living with the Typhoon 2001 T2k PC clone. It's great on its own merits.

[@southpaw578]

I’m so jealous of your tempest cabinet.

[@DanielBuentello]

Just beautiful!!! Good memories, thanks for sharing

[@brooklynknightss]

Loved that game as kid growing up

[@spiderxcat6124]

Thank you for taking me back to that bowling ally a long long time ago ... WOW this was GREAT!!

[@videointercepter]

Man I loved this game at the arcade. 🤘 Thanks for the upload.

[@mcwalton6721]

I miss playing this game so much!

[@dewfall56]

Probably my most fav video game from the era.

[@aadaesro]

I am here because of Polybius.

[@christinaknight1412]

Aada Esro me too

[@confetti_kisses427]

Me too!

[@velidtumenci5290]

We're onto something

[@chryosolite9397]

Is it everyone

[@Alan_One1]

I made a Arcade1up Atari 12 in 1 cabinet into a Polybius one.

[@miamimercenary]

One of the hardest games in the 1980s

[@jetboy33]

My all-time favorite arcade game! I would love to play it again.

[@nicolascuevas2935]

Increíblemente avanzado para la época! Me encanta su estética!

[@Kazar2020]

was looking for a long time for this game i played a lot 40 years ago.

[@seal8341]

fricking legend man, I salute you for playing this

[@esmooth919]

My barcade had this game several years ago. It's before even my time, but I found myself having an awful lot of fun with it.

[@erikorcutt1802]

I used to play this bad boy all the time back in the Windows95 days. Such a sleek and bad-ass looking game, thanks for the upload!

[@lasvegasloner4621]

Yup... it was my favorite as well, and when I first saw it I was mesmerized. Some people didn't get the chance to see only what was before it because they were born well after games because far more complex and advanced... but not in character and style, or "feel". Tempest was right after most games looking flat, audience style as if a picture or stage was in front of you. I like those games but if anyone wasn't old enough or even alive yet back then they would have to imagine only the games before Tempest to know just how interesting it was to see for the first time. Suddenly, it was "first person" involvement. The lines were simple but defined, the little demon like two-legged spider critter could run like the wind across the grooves you shot down, and the graphic shapes were actually quite pretty as they sucked you down to the next shape. Yes I know the earth was full of us naive 80's humans screwing up the environment, but we were totally clueless and hoping for some of the simplest pleasures for entertainment. Being about 13 years old and mowing lawns, etc.. to make a lousy 5 to 10 bucks, then spending sometimes most of it on quarters after luckily catching a ride to the only place with an arcade when you lived in a small town, was heaven. Then you might see some girls that were definitely from schools you didn't know, so of course that took us away from any worries as well. Ahhh yes the early 80's. EARLY 80's were definitely a magic time.

[@michaelherzog7094]

My buddy's Dad had this cabinet back in the day. We use to play the shit out of it. I wish there I could play it again.

[@docsolammen]

How wonderful it would be to own one's own "Tempest" arcade game! My terrible envy notwithstanding, I wish you many happy hours of play.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

I played it on the Super Nintendo. Something about the controls felt wrong.

[@alanduncan3710]

I worked for an arcade distributor back in the 80's as a board repair tech. Had one of these and an Af-tor pinball game in the house we rented. I remember going to bed and my eyes would still be twitching back and forth after a night of playing. I traded them both for a snowmobile.

[@merc2dogs]

Back in the 80s, I blew at least $20 to $30 a week playing this game at the local arcade. 2 friends and I would meet up at the arcade to play games. Whenever we hit the highest score, we'd sign it with all of our first initials. Took a couple of years for us to realize what our initials could mean to the general public. (Kelly, Kevin and Kenny)

[@Perilous3D]

This game was way ahead of its time.

[@kslvlkdfhkvhkfviwehbhjhj]

I used to work in a video arcade and Tempest was one of my favorites.

[@johnpatrickmatthewsmusic]

This game was brutal and fast. I dumped many quarters into this game in the 80s and probably still only got as far as this game. Vanguard was my game I mastered

[@doug1863]

This brings back a lot of memories!!!!!

[@josephkissel6062]

One of my favorites games from that era! The gameplay was addictive and the vector graphics so conceptual (especially compared to the cabinet illustations lol)

[@curtisbellah8916]

This is so cool, it took me a long time to remember the name of this game.

[@matthewmohri9990]

I could still play this game today with as much enthusiasm as I did back then.

[@gobofraggel7383]

I had a spiritual experience playing this game almost 40 years ago. I played only occasionally and I was not very good at any video game. One day I found myself able to see the game almost in slow motion. I was playing for the longest time and people started to surround me in the pizzeria and it filled with more people. Everyone one wanted to see the impossible. I become convinced the machine was somehow broken. I handed the controls to the best player I knew. I could hear him lose all 3 lives within seconds. I looked in a mirror as I was walking away and my ears were very red and my pupils were gigantic. I had the strangest feeling that I could understand everyone in the room as if I could read their minds. I am convinced this game somehow activated brain waves or stimulated a state of consciousness by the game play that put me in some altered state. I want to buy a machine but they go for almost $4,000.

[@seal8341]

jesus man your dam epic

[@etin97]

FLOW STATE BABY!

[@ArmyJames]

What were you on? Speeders or LSD?

[@citystyleboxing8234]

Cool story dude

[@Lina-ws3by]

This happened to me playing defender once, then a storm came after hours and had to shut it down. Never ever ever ever did that well again.

[@MelancoliaI]

Tempest is the Storm. And this game brought it. As did Tempest 2000, and especially Tempest 3000!

[@litjellyfish]

Wow this still look as amazing as back then. Few games can claim that.

[@Sauron191]

WOW!! I LOVED this game!!! This is SO COOL!!!! Brings back memories of when the fair came to town!!

[@mosfet51]

One of my favorite games from the 80's

[@joemel2]

Never saw this in an arcade when I was a kid, maybe I'm few years too young but this would've blown my mind back then!

[@Darkcloud2218]

I watched this while listening to the audiobook.... It blew my mind

[@ChaceAlexander]

Had this on a CD-ROM, "Atari Arcade Hits" and played it endlessly on my grandma's windows 98 computer... Nostalgia!

[@CharlesMartel676]

OH, MAN!!! Does this bring back memories!!!!!!!

[@ebiasmusic808]

Thank you so much for my childhood memory!

[@palmvictory]

Tempest, my favorite game of all time.

[@ghostly836]

This game is as old as me. Would love to have this one day.

[@Rickywestenmn]

that was the best video game of all time and still is I dropped alot of money in that machine

[@ArcadeHacker]

can't agree more with you

[@tweakiepop]

Just saw the Futurama arcade animation episode and spotted this, had to have another look. Exhilarating gameplay for its time

[@eberonlett945]

Man 1 of my childhood Favorites

[@tonyarenee531]

I always played Tempest!!! in the 80's Arcades soooo fun

[@RochelletheRealtor]

This brings back so many memories!!!!

[@whitlowjohnonly1_2]

I used to skip out of church after communion, to walk down to the corner store and would play 2-4 hours. Man, I'm old.

[@TheSkyMex]

One of my all time favorite games. Tempest, Galaga, missile command and Battlezone.

[@TheSkyMex]

Oh and Joust

[@matterantimatter5179]

Those were the days. Hanging out at the arcade, checking out the chicks and eating pizza!

[@charlessmith263]

Basically - the last time I played Tempest was in 2015 or so at the Logan Arcade in Chicago. The object of the game is this - you have a yellow tube shooter, and you have these blue lanes in a circle or a triangle or even a polygonal shape like a hexagon. Enemies of various kinds try to target your shooter from almost all lanes in the center hole of the lanes all the way to the close ends of the lane, and you need to destroy all of those enemies before the enemies shock or destroy your shooter, which will mean loss of your life. They range from colored balls all the way to those very scary electrified snowflakes and those very tricky red jumping triangles that are great lane jumpers. To add to the challenge, some of the enemies leave long-lines with those teeny balls at the ends of the lines in those lanes - those are spikes, and if you hit them as you try to warp out of the wave, your ship is dead too, so you need to know where the spikes are so you avoid the lanes that have them.

[@charlessmith263]

Your ally in Tempest is the superzapper - a sort of electrified smart bomb that wipes out all enemies in the lanes for only 2 or 3 seconds, but you usually only get one of these zappers per wave, so use it with great caution. Only use them if you are in very grave danger that your enemy or enemies will hit your shooter, but not until then. Wait until the next wave after you use your zapper - you get a new superzapper per new wave, so don't waste them!!!

[@deusexaudi]

Favorite video game in college (1981)

[@NemeanLion-]

Love the cabinet artwork.

[@carolleslie517]

I loved this game so much, and quite often I actually set my initials, if I do say so myself!

[@ethanhennebry8979]

This game was shown near the end of Rush's Subdivisions music video.

[@Edward3DFX]

Beyond words, so cool, still love the sounds

[@norakat]

OOOhhh if I could have only one arcade game at my house it would be Tempest. Now for the kids - Its hard to understand the feeling this game gave when it came out.. for one thing you had to be like 11 or 12 years old. And.. only knew about the other games out there at the time, then this one was on another dimension. Everytime I walked into a place, this would be the first game I looked for. And if they set the game up right then when you warped to another level the sound would vibrate the entire machine (or when you did Super Zapper).. And just the whole concept and the look was out of this world. Anyways It was my dream to own this game as a kid. Also back then (in my neighborhood) the games were in Bodegas, pizza shops, little mini-arcades, and it really had you exploring your neighborhood at a young age and discovering new spots with video games and you would travel all around your neighborhood to seek them out with or without your friends. We def had the best pizza in the world and I remember the smell of amazing pizza on a cold winter day and going in to get a slice and a soda and to play those games. As a kid you didn't have too many quarters so each one you dropped was like gold and you would play your best for each game, and each game meant a lot; not like today where you can play as many as you want for free. Sometimes you would run into these Yoda-like people with supernatural skills and everyone would just surround them amazed. (BTW the iPad version is pretty good.)

[@lauracastles3940]

I Played This At An Arcade Recently. I Stood There For Two And A Half Hours. I Love This Game.

[@dreioo8759]

That's a beautiful machine. Enjoy!

[@nopants4259]

I loved this game. In my small town there was one machine at the swimming pool. I used to get top 10 scores for 10p a go. people often forget the gameplay and response of these early computer games. not like playing fifa 14 and waiting fir ever for your move to activate

[@Kahweekah2o2f]

Our neighbors had this in their basement in the 80’s. I was a happy 8 yr old

[@demonwithglasshand]

So jealous, that's beautiful. Does it have the original Vector screen?

[@MrJimmyRivers]

Get your score between 180,000, and 190,000. Then get your last 2 numbers of your score on 46. Then die. Wait 3 minutes, and start a new game. When you spin the dial, to choose your starting level, you can start way up high in the levels and can get almost a million points when you beat that level.

[@richardmarsh2317]

If you have a machine with the original ROM. The highest starting level is #81 (green circle) with a bonus of 898,000 but it is _extremely_ challenging.

[@MrJimmyRivers]

+Richard Marsh I have Tempest on my mame arcade game. I have it set so I start out with 5 men. I've cleared the highest level a few times, but it is very hard to do.

[@nunya7027]

I've done it a number of times. It wasn't easy, but it's definitely do-able.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

That's a hell of a game for a 1981 release.

[@gimmefuel7268]

Freakin used to LOVE this game!!! 😮😁👍🏻

[@kzbxvz]

Ataris best original game ever made 1981 & the best vector graphics game & it's still as addictive as it was then 36 years ago :)

[@adatshhc]

I loved this game as a kid. I didn't realize that I was so young whilst popular. I could not remember the name, I had to Google "arcade with dial". Halt and Catch Fire led me here.