Air-Sea Battle Review – An Early Fixed Shooter on the Atari 2600, but Is It Any Fun Today?

In our exploration of Atari titles, we’ve looked at Pong (Review) and Breakout (Review) thus far. We now come to the first title I have that was developed exclusively for the Atari 2600. It’s a Fixed Shooter called Air-Sea Battle, and is one of the first nine launch games available for the system when it released in September, 1977.

Like other Atari 2600 titles, it includes multiple game modes. Some of these are single player, but many require two players to play. It’s a rather simple game where you often control a turret that shoots upward at different angles to hit planes, obstacles, or targets at a fair. Although it wasn’t intended to be funny, I laughed when I noticed that your cannon looks the same in the different modes. I say this because expectations should be tempered before playing.

Sometimes you’re able to move the turret to the left or right. Other times you’re able to change the angle of your gun. It can be straight up at 90°, 45°, or 70°. Most game modes allow you to move your cannon across the screen or change its angle. There is one mode that allows you to do both, though.

Speaking of modes, all of them last about 2 minutes and 15 seconds and then end. That is, unless you can score 99 points before the time runs out.

Enemy AI and Limitations of the Single Player Games

As I’ve already alluded to, Air-Sea Battle is primarily a two-player title. Most of the two-player games have a mode where you’re able to use your joystick to move your bullets in the air as they fly toward their target. Sadly, the AI in this game is so basic that this feature is not available in two-player modes.

Speaking of dumb AI, your opponent in the single-player games always fires at the same rate of speed and angle. Nor does it slow down or speed up when controlling a jet or boat. Basically, the “AI” is just a set rate of fire that has been programmed into the game. Even my kids noticed the simplicity of the title. While they enjoyed it, they didn’t think it was that exciting to play.

Graphics

This concept of simplicity is especially noticeable in the graphics, where there is almost no definition of the different shapes and objects on screen.  The only thing I really like about the graphics is the gradation of the sky in some of the modes. Perhaps one reason for this is because the banding is found in lots of Atari 2600 games. It’s something that I remember from when I played the system as a kid. I am nostalgic for that part of “the Atari look.” Also, the gallery mode where you’re shooting targets of bunnies and objects has the best graphics in the game. Not that it was impressive, but I mildly enjoyed its look more than most of the other game modes.

Music and Sound Effects

As is typical of many 1970s games, there’s no music in Air-Sea Battle. When it comes to sounds, my favorite part of the game are the explosion sounds when you destroy a target and when you fire your gun. Again, not that they are impressive, but I kind of liked them. Similar to the banding that I  mentioned in the graphics section, some of my enjoyment of them is based on nostalgia.

Summary

Beyond these aspects, there’s not a lot more I could say about the game. Frankly, as I was playing the different modes, the weight of boredom as I went through them was almost tangible. I couldn’t care less about moving my turret left or right or changing the angle up or down.

The AI is dumb, and trying to earn the highest score in a shooting gallery setting just isn’t compelling to me anymore. While I have fond memories of playing the game when I was younger, and enjoyed it then, now I don’t have any real desire to come back to it.

The game wasn’t very much fun, and I don’t recommend it.

Title: Air-Sea Battle (Price Charting)
Genre: Fixed Shooter
Year Released: 1977
Developer: Atari
Available On: Atari 2600 and Steam through Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
Price Paid: $0.19, or $20 for a game bundle

Remember, we can have different opinions about the games we play. If you like something more (or less) than I do, both of our perspectives are valid.