Let's Compare ( Zaxxon )

Description Source:
en.wikipedia.or...
Zaxxon is a 1982 arcade game developed and released by Sega. Some sources[1][2][3] claim that Japanese electronics company Ikegami Tsushinki also worked on the development of Zaxxon. The game gives the player the experience of flying a fighter craft through a fortress while shooting at enemy entities (missiles, enemy gunfire, etc.) The object of the game is to hit as many targets as possible without being shot down or running out of fuel-which can be replenished, paradoxically, by blowing up fuel drums.[4]
At the time of its release, Zaxxon was unique as it was the first game to employ axonometric projection, which lent its name to the game (AXXON from AXONometric projection). The type of axonometric projection is isometric projection: this effect simulated three dimensions from a third-person viewpoint. It was also one of the first video games to display shadows,[5] and it was also the first arcade game to be advertised on television.[6]
The world record on Zaxxon is 4,680,740 points scored by Vernon Kalanikaus of Lā'ie, Hawai'i, on March 15, 1982, according to the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard.[7]
A bootleg of the game was released in the arcades in 1982 called Jackson.
Ports
A popular game, Zaxxon was ported to almost all home computer and video game console systems between 1982 and 1985. Among them were DOS (as a booter), Apple II, Atari 400/800, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari XL, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Dragon 32, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Sega SG-1000 and TRS-80 Color Computer.[9] Unauthorized adaptations of the game were published for the TI 99/4A (as Arcturus), Amstrad CPC (as Zaxx), BBC Micro (as Fortress), and the TRS-80 Color Computer (as Zakssund).
The Atari 2600 and Intellivision ports were noticeably different because they used a 3rd person, behind the ship 3D perspective instead of the isometric graphics of the other versions. This is probably due to technical limitations of these consoles. The ColecoVision version, designed by Coleco staffer Lawrence Schick, was the first home version to use the isometric graphics.
In 2006, Zaxxon games were included as bonus game on the Sega Genesis Collection for Sony's PlayStation 2 and PSP consoles. The original Zaxxon is the game included on the PS2, and Super Zaxxon is the one available on the PSP. It was also included as an unlockable game in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The arcade version was released on the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on December 15, 2009,[10] the PAL region on March 5, 2010 and North America on April 12, 2010.
[edit] Legacy
Due to its success, Zaxxon spawned an arcade sequel, Super Zaxxon. It did not do as well as the original.
In 1987, Zaxxon 3-D was released for the Sega Master System. This console variation made use of its 3-D glasses add-on for extra depth perception.
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 was released for the Sega 32X in 1995. It is the only Zaxxon game to use full 3D graphics. The game bore the Zaxxon brand only in the United States, as the Japanese version was named Parasquad and the European version was named Motherbase.
1. Zaxxon (1982)
2. Super Zaxxon (1982)
3. Zaxxon 3D (1987)
4. Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 (1995)
Zaxxon was the first game reviewed on the KZbin show Classic Game Room HD on February 20, 2008.
[edit] Board game
In 1982, Milton Bradley made a Zaxxon board game.[11][12]
[edit] Tabletop and handheld games
In 1982 Sega released Zaxxon as a tabletop game and a handheld version as well.[13] Bandai[14] and Coleco[15] also released Zaxxon handheld games.
[edit] Remakes and clones
In 1987's Panther one had to rescue men and avoid enemy ships in a same isometric 3d-view game.[16]
The 2003 Retro Remakes competition produced clones for Linux and Windows.[17]
[edit] Similar games
* Future Spy was created by Sega in 1984. This game uses the same hardware as Zaxxon and has very similar game play but with a more realistic military theme.[18]
* Hostile All Terrain Encounter (H.A.T.E.) is a Zaxxon clone developed by Vortex Software for several 8bit and 16bit computers and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1989.
* Viewpoint was released by Sammy in 1992 for the Neo-Geo system. This game features the same 3/4 view perspective and similar gameplay as Zaxxon.[19]
* Blue Max, a World War I flying game for the Commodore 64 and 8-bit Atari computers, had a similar isometric perspective and similar gameplay, and was described by one reviewer as "a souped-up version of Zaxxon

[@Dan-ww8to]

I’m 60 years old and this just brought me right back. Thank you

[@GamingHistorySource]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Just turned 50 myself. :D

[@johnnyxsi]

HAHA, I remember being late for school showing my friends the colecovision port of Zaxxon. I got into so much troubhle

[@patsfan4life]

johnnyxsi that’s totally justifiable

[@bakersmangos2402]

I played a lot of the c64 version back when I was a kid. Loved this game.

[@infinitecanadian]

I remember playing it on my Atari 800XL. Quite a memorable game.

[@mwcool87]

Now that was a great computer!

[@TurboPikachu]

Slanted altitude bar for Atari 5200 = freaking legit for the early 80's

[@peterlamont647]

To match the keyboard, of course :D

[@Fastbikkel]

I loved the C64 version back in the day and when i see it now, i can imagine i loved it again!

[@statinskill]

That's why you should be keeping up with the Commodore, because the Commodore is keeping up with you!

[@gillygilbs2187]

Holy crap, that seriously bright me back to the 80's. My parents used to bowl on Friday nights and they would give me countless dollars/quarters and zaxxon was always in the alleys arcade. What did it was the "wuwuwuwuwuwuwuwu" sound of the electric fence... Memories....

[@lkb3rd]

I used to walk a half a mile to an ice cream shop that had this game, just to play it.

[@patsfan4life]

Len Baird totally worth it

[@eternalhalloween1]

I'm tempted to say I like the 2X Spectrum. Yea. It's different from the arcade. But the black background makes it easier to see where you are and you can see your enemies faster.

[@SlightlyDeath]

Surprisingly I really like the 5200 port.Never thought this machine could be capable of such decent gfx and scrolling...

[@manuelbrown8733]

Shame this doesn't have the TRS-80 versio,which looked bettan the Atari 800/C-64 versions.

[@twcoursolle]

MIND=BLOWN

[@nateword]

the 2600 version should have just been River Raid 2

[@Z64sports]

How does a river get into space?

[@1983parrothead]

Before Sonic the Hedgehog, Fantasy Zone and Alex Kidd, most people knew Sega for creating Zaxxon.

[@darthsidious1485]

Why would you have a seperate category for Wii Virtual console - since it IS the arcade version? Same thing for the PS2 which is the ARCADE version being emulated

[@TonimanGalvez]

Thanks for the video, awesome work. The Amiga version of Zaxxon is an Unoficial port, the game was made by fans, like the C64 version.

[@buzzclikverifyme]

And holy crap, that 5200 version moves!

[@WyreWizard]

Back in the 90s, a game similar to Zaxxon was made. It was called Viewpoint.

[@reinerbergkamen7852]

for ps1

[@shaggydog9789]

@@reinerbergkamen7852 Viewpoint was originally a Neo Geo game from 1992, was even on the Genesis before the PS1 version came out a few years later.

[@thomascampr]

Zaxxon is and always be awesome. Way ahead of its time. No copy compares to the original. Just like pacman and donky Kong. Original is always the best .

[@jojos08]

I had the CPC version and used to be one my favourite games :-) still remember playing it! Thanks for this video.

[@neophytealpha]

The one I had for Commodore 64 sounded better than the feed you shared. Close to arcade is how mine sounded. Nothing like the audio you shared.

[@Luxatos]

I recall playing the DOS version a lot. It was almost exactly like the arcade version. Thinking back, I can't recall any differences although I imagine there probably were some.

[@MetalSonicodraco7342]

DOS port is actually one of the best in my opinion

[@IMDRanged]

I have the Atari 800 version by Datasoft. I am impressed by the Atari 5200 version that follows it. The 5200 wasn't popular in my State. Certainly a system seller. Too bad the 5200 controller was a broken prone.

[@221b]

Too bad you didn't show the CoCo port. I had that one as a kid and it was one of my favourite games, and one of the best contemporary Zaxxon ports available. The scrolling was perfectly smooth and the zoom-level was basically the same as the arcade's (unlike the extremely zoomed-in C64 port.) It was missing some graphical detail from the arcade version but everything important was carried over extremely well.

[@jrmb242]

"the atari 8-bit version could have been much better, the hardware is capable of so much more :(" Like was the case for 90% of A8 games. Using A8 hardware with all DLI/PMG to its fullest was difficult and with C64 dominating the market no one bothered anymore.

[@rdkarlov]

The Amiga version isn't at all that bad. It's a direct port from the Commodore 64. The original disk came with two versions: one with the same Commodore graphics, the other with enhanced graphics. Still, the same 8-bit game.

[@chanolongo]

Does Zaxxon from Colecovision or other platforms really support 3D information? I mean is it a simulation of axonometric with just overlapping layers or does it work with real (X,Y,Z) axes? Sorry about my english

[@homeelectricco]

a couple of these that look really good are like shooting galleries ...... nothing is shooting back while going through the city

[@stephenlozano2816]

We have come a long way in video game graphics

[@retrosuperguy3362]

Great game, a true classic 😊

[@wingnut4427]

@thatguywhogames1 Yes it does ! :D I wish I had every quarter that I plunked into that machine now. lol

[@danaralston6688]

SG-1000 music reminded me of Choplifter. Amiga version, it looks like the fuel tanks say "FU" on them...LOL

[@MattMcIrvin]

I have a friend who argues that the rear-perspective view in the 2600/Intellivision versions makes it a better game. (I don't have much opinion on this myself since Zaxxon was never my thing...)

[@FrameRater]

I look at them as two different experiences... essentially different games, with clear inspiration from one another. I feel like if they weren't weighed down by the original perspective, they would have been better received.

[@MrBriza5731]

need a coco 3 version plus coco 1,2 version in the comparison

[@lurkerrekrul]

Two things: The C64 actually had two versions of Zaxxon, the disk one (shown here) by Synapse and a cartridge one by Sega. The Cartridge had more faithful graphics, but the disk version played better. Also, the "Amiga" version is an unofficial port of the C64 version with the option of different graphics. Besides leaving out the explosion when you die, the levels after passing Zaxxon are completely different and look like they were designed by Beavis and Butthead. Toasters, giant toilets, etc.

[@petrahansen7067]

The 2600 &Intellevision ports aren't even the same game! Imagine the 80's TV commercials for these. "Hey Kids! If you LOVE the awesome 2D action of Zaxxon, you'll FLIP for the horrible, unrecognizable blocky pixel 1D version of THIS game we'll PRETEND is sort of like Zaxxon. Even though it isn't even REMOTELY the same game!" The excitement of saving quarters &still being able to play a certain game must have made kids just insane w/delusion back then. But it was a GOOD kind of delusion.

[@MetalSonicodraco7342]

+PETRA HANSEN Coleco almost do this class intentionally

[@odysseyovideogamedaphilips]

+PETRA HANSEN See Space Raid Intellivision game

[@dnjj1845]

they did this with nintendo games too. They'd have pictures of the arcade versions on the box of the game

[@alisterbaker-lowe]

If it was more of an isometric game then it wouldn't be as bad.

[@mcorleonep]

I had the Colecovision one back in the day and it was da bomb! I was always curious to play the 2600 version. In this video, the Intellivision version looks no better than the 2600. :-/

[@TheUncleshady]

I had both. The colecovision version was amazing and the atari version also wasn't bad for the system it was on, but basically nothing beat the Coleco version.

[@wingnut4427]

You are correct but the 800 was often sold for about 350 to 400 bones at the time. Most parents wouldn't be willing to shell out that kind of money for a game console at that time. I believe at that time when the 5200 came out it was selling for $250.00. The Atari 5200 was composed mostly of the same components found in the 800. Pretty much the same thing. But You are indeed correct.

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

That ZX spectrum port is so SLOOOOOWWWW.

[@saigokun]

Thanks for posting this. It was a great clip. For some reason the MSX got two version of the game. A direct port from the Collecovision, and a reprogrammed version (1985) shown in your clip. The reprogrammed version is superior in my opinion.

[@KenMasters.]

What Sega should've done is take about 15 of their arcade classics such as: *Astro Blaster, Borderline, Congo Bongo, Deep Scan, Eliminator, Future Spy, Head-On, Pengo, Space Fury, Super Locomotive, Super Zaxxon, Tac/Scan, Turbo, Zaxxon and Zektor.* And make it into a 15-in-1 cartridge/disc titled *Sega Coin-Op Collection Vol. 1* that's ported to their Master System, Genesis/MegaDrive, Game Gear, Sega CD, 32X, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast and Game Boy Advance instead.

[@wingnut4427]

Unauthorized adaptations of the game were published for the TI 99/4A (as Arcturus) that's the only reason I mentioned it. :)

[@dallase1]

Wow, even the powerful for it's time Amiga could not do this game Justice.

[@DracIsBack]

Also possible it’s just a shitty port on the Amiga vs a technical problem ...

[@aFewBitsShort]

Shoddy console to computer ports have always been a thing it seems.

[@peterlamont647]

"What?!?! recode the entire game for 68000 processor in 1 month?? Okay...but the results may not be what you expected." Every game programmer.

[@jamesmcashan]

information controllers tried to make Sega 3D disappear from history, because it worked well, and it revealed that in 1982 there was already an LCD stereo 3D lens system, not colored, for public use and industry. they still hide 3D. in the 1970s, theaters were showing 3d color movies with paper polarized 3D eyeglasses, not color anaglyph. they hid that also. -james mcashan for the US Senate

[@thatguywhogames1]

Zaxxon kicks so much ass :)

[@marcelocunha4379]

Awesome!

[@Halbared]

Never played this, but I did play Captain Skyhawk which looks similar. Rare were the kings of the iso game on the Nes.

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Amazingly enough, the arcade version reminded me of Sigma 7 on the Amstrad!!!!!!!

[@wildsmiley]

I'm disappointed that the Apple II version isn't in this video. That's a really great port, probably my favorite version outside of the Colecovision one.

[@rdkarlov]

Yes. The Intellivision and Atari 2600 had very low RAM so that's not a surprise. I think if they were titled differently people would swear by them as one of the greatest games in those platforms, but since they went for "Zaxxon" the reactions were very different. I tend to disagree, they are very great games except that they are *not Zaxxon*, they're something else. Still fun.

[@bernhardwall6876]

I had the 2600 port, and it wasn't great. The computer had trouble registering hits, so you could blow up unexpectedly. The 2-player game had a major glitch. If you lose a life during the part of a level after the space battle, you literally couldn't play anymore, as the score display took away the time you needed to get past an electric barrier.

[@jasongarnes]

Colecovision for the win

[@SimmeringPotpourri]

You state that the Atari Computer version and the 5200 version are the same in every way but they aren't. For one, they don't have the same title screen. In open space, the 5200 planes just fly in one direction and they also don't offer upward-firing rockets.

[@Twilight902101701]

I like the tandy version :)

[@YayAkiba]

There was no TI-99/4A version.

[@Lightblue2222]

Genesis32X version is my fav. You don't have to navigate up and down but you do get a jump mechanic

[@gjc82071]

@cosine303 Same here (C64 version). Although, I am biased towards the C64. It's 1 of my all time favorite systems. Also, isometric graphics/3D were not easy back then. BTW, are you into retro gaming at all? Emulators and ROMs, etc? I am a huge retro gamer and have nearly every emulated classic/vintage system and all the ROMs/games for them. Certain emulators offer free online game play. MAME, Atari, C64, etc. If your interested, let me know. Maybe we could get a game going sometime.

[@wingnut4427]

@r4tftube I didn't know there was another version. I intend on remaking this video in the future. I'll make note of it. :) Thanks for the tip. BTW.. If You have a direct download link for the rom I would be appreciative :D

[@BearCubster]

Enjoyed watching. Apart from the arcade version being the best, the Commodore64 and Commodore Amiga was the better versions. Both almost identical. Bloody good video and a good idea!

[@benandres9627]

Both the atari 2600 and intellivision ports kept what was the most revolutionary aspect of zaxxon intact which was being able to change altitude. They do not deserve the hate I see them getting.

[@1983parrothead]

Before Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega was known for Zaxxon.

[@carolafelicio87]

The Amiga version is disapointing!! indeed like most of arcade and console conversions to this computer! What is hard to understand because the Amiga had an absolutely powerful hardware ( for that time) and had graphics and sound capability enough to provide virtually identical conversions to any arcade machines title of that time. I think that the reason for this was the lack of professionalism in European softhouses, specifically with 16 bit microcomputers , ( unlike what occurred in the previous times , with 8 bits) which makes me believe that the reason for this discrepancy were the small budgets for development, very modest when compared to the budgets of major Japanese developers at that time, which resulted in very small and inexperienced teams , basically (almost) amateurs programmers and the result could not be different : games with ugly looks and bad gameplay. Indeed, in those years it was very common to see commercial products worse than the alternative versions and freely available -the famous " public domain " software (a.k.a "PD")

[@AmbersKnight]

To be fair, it wasn't the computer but the programmers. Zaxxon in this case was a fan port of the Commodore 64 version rather than an official release. And when you see games like the Lotus series and its easy to see if the programmers had actually taken the time they could have done a far better port of Outrun than what we got.

[@Fenrisfil]

Oh man, yeah the Lotus games were classics. I don't even like racing games and I played them all the time. I still remember the theme tune. When people could be bothered to put the time in the Amiga could blow the competition away without breaking a sweat. I guess none of the programmers really cared much for ports. Show's what a lack of passion can get you.

[@gjc82071]

@lurkerrekrul Same with Donkey Kong & Congo Bongo. There were/are 2 versions of each for the C64. Odd thing is that for Congo Bongo, BOTH versions were made by Sega. ! in 1983, the other in 1985. THe 1985 version has all 4 boards.

[@demoandcustomerservicevide4223]

Arcade still the best

[@ratclowncar]

there's two versions for MSX, both ports from other consoles (the SG-1000 and the Colecovision versions) and you can barely tell which one you're getting from the box art i'm sure it was very confusing for people that weren't paying attention

[@tron3entertainment]

I anxiously awaited the TI-99/4A port and it never showed up. Some rumors say it exists (at least in part) somewhere.

[@zippymufo9765]

I had it on 2600 and man was it shitty, though I give them credit for trying.

[@jaysmack7445]

Had the C64 version.

[@wingnut4427]

because it was billed as a personal computer and the 2600 was just a console.

[@loudenvier]

The first version shown runs on the Intellivision, which had roughly 1KB of RAM (yes KB) and 2KB of ROM for Graphics and 4KB of executive RAM. It would be very hard for you or anyone else send an email with less than this amoung of memory in payload, can you imagine fitting a whole game inside? Still the ports could have been a lot better (at least on the Intellivision) as some classic, great games show...

[@wingnut4427]

I believe at the time I had not altered The settings in camtasia to 30 fps. I believe it was recording 15 fps. The game ran smoothly on My PC. Didn't look jerky to me but then again. I'm not a perfectionist. These videos are just a hobby after all.

[@equid0x]

Not sure what was up with this video. The 800 version should have perfectly smooth scrolling. You can find other videos of the 800 version on youtube and the scrolling is perfect.

[@buzzclikverifyme]

Wow, the sound on the Amstrad version is really obnoxious!

[@JasonPaul576]

I remember the C64 version being very good at the time. Both Atari versions were pretty bad. The 2600 version screamed "Why did they even bother?" and the 5200 version goes way too fast. Then again, Coleco had the rights to Zaxxon, and you're asking them to make a game on their competitors' systems good, which they often didn't do. See also: Donkey Kong and especially Donkey Kong Jr.

[@silviomogno6752]

Too fast is not a flaw... Atari 8 bit has the most fluid scrolling among all versions. Compare it with slow cpc, msx, and Sega version

[@kenbauer6793]

Some of you are absent minded flakes. In that day, Colecovision claim to fame games were "zaxxon" and "smurf", those 2 games sold the master systems.

[@Koexistence13]

Colecovision was great! Should of shown the Adam super game version. Mastersystem was fun with the 3d glasses and fm sound but my favorite is the coleco port

[@TheOnlyToblin]

No DOS port? O_o Apparently the DOS port must've been rare because no one I know who is into retro games have ever heard of the DOS port, but I'm 100% sure I played it on our IBM 5150 when I was about 6-7 years old.

[@traida111]

Yeah we had the dos version in our family. One of our favorite games as a kid.. I just remember the space part being hard, and always dieing to the rugby ball

[@NormanLy101]

I had it for the Atari 2600. I was disappointed because graphics are poor and the angle of the point of view was not the same as the arcade's. I had a lot of fun with it anyway!!! Coleco's version was far superior and faithful to the arcade. Thanks for the video!!!

[@Cp-71]

Say whatever you want, but I like the ZX Spectrum port.

[@ReBITMAGAZINE]

The Colecovision and Sega 100 version are also on MSX1, because has idem hardware.

[@MetalSonicodraco7342]

The AMIGA, ATARI (ALL), MATTEL INTELLIVISION, COMMODORE 64 & COLECOVISION VERSION'S Are ''The Great translation of The Arcade Version (Q=10)'' The SEGA-SG 1000 & MSX VERSION'S Are ''Great (Q=9)'' The ZX SPECTRUM VERSION Are ''The Hurt Ears, if you dot not ear more, play this version (Q=0)'' The SEGA MASTER SYSTEM VERSION Are ''Another Style of the game (Q=9) The AMSTRAD CPC are good but a little simple (Q=8)

[@scottbreon9448]

There were actually two official C64 ports of Zaxxon (one by SynSwoft/Synapse and the other was by US Gold)

[@stringanime]

Love the Atari 2600 version. WOW the Atari 5200 is nuts fast! I realize the SEGA SG-1000 had Zaxxon, but a SEGA Master System version would have been cool. Strange that the original Zaxxon didn't make it onto SEGA master system, instead they had to go 3D, I still somewhat enjoyed it as a kid, but I was disappointed.. A 3 compilation disc would have been awesome on SMS having Close to perfect versions of Zaxxon and Congo Bongo, and maybe toss in Pengo for good measure.

[@cant1rac]

because it was a computer designed to go against the apple. ironicaly steve jobs approached nolan bushnel with the design for the apple, but said atari wasn't intrested in a computer & gave him the names off some people who would be able to help him. the atari 800 released in 1979 has better ablities than the c64, higher resolution, more colors, as good a sound chip a 1.7mhz mos cpu rather than 1mhz in the c64. it wasn't the comercial succes it should have been, to see game development

[@bjbell52]

I'm not sure. I can see them being the exact (or reasonable so) copies for the 5200, the Atari xe, xl, 400, 800 and probably the 1200 (what ever number is was) because they all had the same graphics chip and sound chip but the ST had a 68000 processor that would take and entire port to make it work. With it's superior graphics, I hope it didn't look just like the others.

[@zedalphus]

Lest we forget....

[@mjjack389]

AMIGA is the best port !!!! by 1000%

[@Fortuna1]

zaxxon arcade use samples (downloable), sound is good

[@chanolongo]

I´m looking closely and it seems to me that the spaceship does hace this vertical axis data included, because the game is rendering its shadow, but when it flies over objects and architecture there´s no shadow, so maybe all the environment is fake axonometric except floor-to-spaceship height...I think Knight Lore or Alien from Spectrum do have real XYZ info, not Zaxxon, but I´m just not sure

[@wingnut4427]

I have all the samples. It was in the right place. But there was a problem with Mame at that time. I have since reloaded the emulator & haven't tested the New install with Zaxxon as of yet.

[@wingnut4427]

Not too sure. I don't think it does because it doesn't seem to support the scrolling needed to make it smooth.

[@rdkarlov]

Emulating the exact arcade behavior isn't that easy and could come with flaws, so a Virtual Console comparison would be welcome IMHO. Imagine people all excited downloading (paying?) to play that awesome arcade and then the emulation just sucks. Not a modern consoles player here, so excuse if the comments aren't at all valid.

[@lurkerrekrul]

@gjc82071 - I know. It's a shame that most people only know about the cartridge version of Congo Bongo. Are you sure that Sega made both versions? I know they both have a Sega copyright on them, but I always assumed that they were written by different developers, like the other games with two versions. Bionic Commando is another game with two different versions.

[@adroharv9213]

you have to laugh at the hate the 2600 version gets. People see different and immediately conclude. It's typical human behaviour unfortunately. The game itself is fun in it's own sense if you play it with the intention not to mock any obvious differences. Its faithful in other ways. People like to repeat the same tripe like parrots

[@peterlamont647]

I think _most_ people from back then understand how important the 2600 was. It was like having a coin free arcade in your living room. Sure the graphics weren't as good....but it didn't need _any_ quarters!!!

[@scooterahlers6719]

Best port is the Colecovision with the Commodore 64 being a close second. Amiga version is disappointing as it should be arcade perfect!

[@DontrelleRoosevelt]

Colecovision had the best arcade ports, didn't it!?

[@scooterahlers6719]

With MOST games, Yes. Frenzy, Mouse Trap, Space Panic, and Ladybug were near arcade perfect. Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior while BETTER than the Atari 2600 & Intellivision counterparts were FAR from arcade perfect. The Commodore 64 version was far BETTER in that it had ALL FOUR BOARDS. Even the NES version (though lacking the pie factory board) was near arcade perfect with the other three boards plus the sound was arcade perfect. The ColecoVision port did not even have the springs on the elevator level whereas the C-64 & NES ports did - making them more arcade like in difficulty. ColecoVison also gave you complete invincibility when grabbing the hammer making the game MUCH EASIER than the Arcade, NES, or C-64 ports.

[@lesdixon7487]

totally agree with you on c64 and yes disappointed with the Amiga conversion as the machine was more than capable.

[@MetalSonicodraco7342]

I believe the amiga was a fan made doesnt?

[@scooterahlers9666]

+DontrelleRoosevelt until the C-64 came out.

[@33ordie]

ST version same as Atari 8-bit, guess I didn't know that

[@lurkerrekrul]

The Colecovision version had nice graphics, but whoever programmed that beeping whine into the audio should have lost their job!

[@kiwilove007]

Fine scrolling make the game look a whole lot nicer. Some Zaxxons would have had fine scrolling - others not. You had done a fine job with other aspects for sure - but in comparing the various versions, we need to see them, as per their original format showed them to be. So as to correct assess which is indeed the better and fairer version. eg. the C-64 being the best.. the Amiga version is merely the C-64 version running under C-64 emulation on the Amiga? ie. it is the C64 version complete.

[@cartoonfan29]

I know this is pointless to ask but does anyone know what version of zaxxon that apeared in the friday the 13th the final chapter movie just wondering

[@gio048]

Hi fantastic review of all the versions of ZAXXON.Can you tell me where I can get a copy for PC? See ZAXXON was a big part of the 80s for me, and I would love to get a version of the arcade, that's the one I played.So if you can tell me where I can get a copy of the arcade version for PC that would be great.Thanks Gio.

[@wingnut4427]

If You want the genuine arcade version. Mame is the way. OR you can try this one. www.classic-retro-games.com/Zaxxon_70.html

[@scooterahlers6719]

wingnut4427 Or you can download the ARCADE version if you have a Wii (virtual console arcade).

[@DaveMire]

Gio048 an arcade perfect version was included in the Playstation2, "Sega Genesis collection". (but it has to be unlocked first)