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Squad Challenge - Battlezone vs Robot Tank Double Feature! (Atari 2600)

Justin

By Justin
in High Score Squad

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BATTLEZONE vs. ROBOT TANK - Which is better?  

8 members have voted

  1. 1. BATTLEZONE vs. ROBOT TANK - Which is better?

    • BATTLEZONE!
      4
    • ROBOT TANK!
      4

This poll is closed to new votes


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Justin Gold Key Member

Justin

Posted
Posted

 

squad_challenge_text_purple_flat_w_logo.

 

 

Battlezone & Robot Tank Double Feature!
Atari 2600
Play on: Real Hardware / Dedicated Console / MAME / Emulation OK! ✔
Squad Challenge ends 11:59 pm PST November 30, 2024
Nominated by @RickR

 

Battlezone
Controller: JOYSTICK / CONTROL PAD / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
Difficulty Level: Game 3

 

Robot Tank
Controller: JOYSTICK / CONTROL PAD / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
Difficulty Level: Default

 

 

Objective

Play for the highest possible score using the difficulty settings defined in the challenge. Post a photo or YouTube video of your score in this thread. Scores must be achieved between November 1st through November 30th, 2024. Screen captures are not allowed as they are more easily manipulated for falsified scores. Multiple submissions are permitted. The player with the highest score at the end of the competition is the victor!

 

Eligibility

Anyone can join in. All players are welcome!

 

Play Rules

Games may be played on real hardware, Flashback / Mini console, FPGA or emulation, using any controller or keyboard, following all rules and game settings defined in the challenge. Choosing between real hardware or emulation, and choosing which controller to play on is part of formulating your strategy. Enhancements, rewinds, save states and hacked versions of this game are not allowed.

 

Difficulty Level

Battlezone: Game 3. These settings are for an advanced level of gameplay in Battlezone, suitable to an adult player.
Robot Tank: Default. Game Select and Difficulty Switches are not used in this game.

 

Fair Play

Your integrity is everything. Players should play fairly, be honest, and have fun! Falsified scores will result in your immediate removal from the site. It goes without saying that we will not allow cheats, hacks, cartridge frying, enhancements, rewinds, deceitful photo manipulation, subterfuge, or any other unfair advantage. Everybody hates a cheater.

 

More

To review detailed rules on how to play, please visit the High Score Squad page here: 

 

 

Message

Welcome to our 164th Squad Challenge! This month, we’re bringing you a special “Double Feature” with Battlezone and Robot Tank for the Atari 2600! Both games pit you against enemy tanks in intense, first-person battles. Battlezone brings the arcade experience home, while Robot Tank, created by Activision’s Alan Miller, offers a similar but unique twist. This dual challenge promises double the action! Big thanks to @RickR for nominating these games as part of a Double Feature. PDF Instructions for both games are attached below. Get ready for November’s double-feature showdown, and good luck to everyone!

 

large.atari_league_world_championships_150.gif

 

 

Robot Tank (1983).pdf Battlezone (1983).pdf

Justin Gold Key Member

Justin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Playing these games side by side, they both feel like excellent 2600 games. Battlezone feels a bit more like arcade action and Robot Tank feels slightly more like a simulator. Battlezone has colorful sci-fi tanks, and Robot Tank has a more detailed tank but without any color, just black. Robot Tank also has that signature Activision sunset, and I really enjoy the Enduro aspect of the game, where you have to battle against elements like fog, rain, and the darkness of night time. Robot Tank also allows your tank to take damage that affects gameplay. Alan Miller and Activision clearly put some thought into this game and I truly appreciate what they did. I feel like there’s more strategy that goes into Robot Tank, especially being able to hide in the cover of night and snipe off these tanks at a distance. Very cool. I find both games to be pretty awesome, and still too soon for me to cast my ballot on which one I enjoy playing the most.

RickR Gold Key Member

RickR

Posted
Posted
On 11/3/2024 at 12:29 PM, Justin said:

Playing these games side by side, they both feel like excellent 2600 games. Battlezone feels a bit more like arcade action and Robot Tank feels slightly more like a simulator. Battlezone has colorful sci-fi tanks, and Robot Tank has a more detailed tank but without any color, just black. Robot Tank also has that signature Activision sunset, and I really enjoy the Enduro aspect of the game, where you have to battle against elements like fog, rain, and the darkness of night time. Robot Tank also allows your tank to take damage that affects gameplay. Alan Miller and Activision clearly put some thought into this game and I truly appreciate what they did. I feel like there’s more strategy that goes into Robot Tank, especially being able to hide in the cover of night and snipe off these tanks at a distance. Very cool. I find both games to be pretty awesome, and still too soon for me to cast my ballot on which one I enjoy playing the most.

I hope people see there is a poll at the top of this thread to vote for your favorite!

I personally prefer Robot Tank. 

They are both really good games and really well done.  Especially the graphics.  Both have a really good (and similar) death screens.  Looks like a TV losing reception.  Beautiful. 

Battlezone really captures the arcade feeling.  Games are difficult and over pretty quickly.  Luck plays a part.  Those saucers are super annoying and it sure feels like the fighters produce instant death unless you get a lucky shot.  It just doesn't have that "I can do better with a little more practice" feel IMO.

Robot Tank has a lot more going for it.  I really like how the radar is used for long-range attacks.  I like how you CAN dodge enemy shots with good timing.  I love all the text used in the game (are there any other 2600 games that look so polished?)  The damage is well done and reminiscent of "Blue Max" on the XE.  The game is hard, but it is much more "fair" in its difficulty.  For the 2600, there is a lot going on here, which is amazing.  It 100% holds up today.  How many other systems had strategic games like this (like 7800 Gato or Tomcat) that are boring and tedious?  This one is all action.  A+

 

Justin Gold Key Member

Justin

Posted
  • Author
Posted
9 minutes ago, RickR said:

I hope people see there is a poll at the top of this thread to vote for your favorite!

I'll be sure to remind them! ☺️ I encourage everyone to vote, and to get some gametime in with both games first so you have enough time to form an opinion. This should be an interesting one!

 

11 minutes ago, RickR said:

They are both really good games and really well done.  Especially the graphics.  Both have a really good (and similar) death screens.  Looks like a TV losing reception.  Beautiful. 

Battlezone really captures the arcade feeling.  Games are difficult and over pretty quickly.  Luck plays a part.  Those saucers are super annoying and it sure feels like the fighters produce instant death unless you get a lucky shot.  It just doesn't have that "I can do better with a little more practice" feel IMO.

Robot Tank has a lot more going for it.  I really like how the radar is used for long-range attacks.  I like how you CAN dodge enemy shots with good timing.  I love all the text used in the game (are there any other 2600 games that look so polished?)  The damage is well done and reminiscent of "Blue Max" on the XE.  The game is hard, but it is much more "fair" in its difficulty.  For the 2600, there is a lot going on here, which is amazing.  It 100% holds up today.  How many other systems had strategic games like this (like 7800 Gato or Tomcat) that are boring and tedious?  This one is all action.  A+

Totally agree! Robot Tank has been the game that I've been going back to. I'll share more thoughts on this next week. I grew up with Battlezone on the 2600 and Robot Tank is relatively new to me, but Robot Tank has truly impressed me and in my opinion it's one of the best Activision titles.

Marco1019 Pretzel Member

Marco1019

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Justin said:

I'll be sure to remind them! ☺️ I encourage everyone to vote, and to get some gametime in with both games first so you have enough time to form an opinion. This should be an interesting one!

 

Totally agree! Robot Tank has been the game that I've been going back to. I'll share more thoughts on this next week. I grew up with Battlezone on the 2600 and Robot Tank is relatively new to me, but Robot Tank has truly impressed me and in my opinion it's one of the best Activision titles.

Spoiler Alert: I voted for Robot Tank.

What is telling about the difficulty levels in Battlezone is that the high scores I've seen on Difficulty 1 are over 1 million points. We're playing Difficulty 3 and struggling mightily. Sure, I posted a new PB last night but that was largely good fortune. I'm convinced the tanks were driven by the Keystone Kops.

To @RickR's point - I was just firing away & hoping I'd hit my target quickly because I knew I'd be toast in a matter of seconds.

2600 Battlezone is a really good port but I can see how it can get lost in the shadow of Robot Tank.

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