Atari revives a rare and lost game once described as too difficult for widespread release

Jeff Minter, the reclusive developer of surreal and psychedelic arcade games like tempest 2000, space Giraffe, Y Polybiushas announced his next project: a “hypnotic new wave shooter” (surprise!) called According to ArrhAvailable early 2023 for Atari VCS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

According to Arrh reunites Minter with Atari, a company with which he collaborated on tempest 2000its dazzling 1994 reimagining of the 1981 vector graphics arcade game Storm. Later, Minter and Atari fell out, with the company effectively blocking the release of its spiritual sequel. TxK on some platforms. But it looks like current Atari boss Wade Rosen has patched things up with the legendary scrambler.

According to ArrhDescribed in the press release as “a chaotic explosion of synthwave madness” and “a frenetic kaleidoscope of neon madness,” it’s an adaptation of an incredibly rare 1982 Atari game cabinet: a prototype that was tested but never found. it was fully released after players found it. too hard. only three originals According to Arrh Cabinets are known to exist, but the game only recently became available as part of the 2022 build. Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.

Living in a remote area of ​​rural Wales and having been creating games since he was a teenager in the early 1980s, Minter seems to have supercharged this vintage curio with his trademark blurry visual effects, mischievous humor and chaotic energy. . It’s not the first time he’s adapted a legendary lost arcade game, either, although the inspiration for Polybiushis 2017 virtual reality shooter, was in fact a completely fictional urban legend.