Atari has officially announced that Missile Command: Recharged will be released as a launch title when the Atari VCS Home Gaming and Entertainment Platform drops later this year. Missile Command: Recharged will be optimized for the all-new Atari VCS’ Wireless Classic Joystick, and will include a number of key 21st-century gameplay upgrades.
Missile Command: Recharged is based on the classic Missile Command arcade hit from the 1980s. The Atari VCS version, developed by indie devs Nickervision Studios, will be accentuated with a retro neon art style, modern-day gaming aspects, and challenging gameplay mechanics. The Atari Wireless Classic Joystick will help pull these designs together to bring you an immersive experience unlike any other Missile Command before.
In Missile Command: Recharged, you are tasked with defending your cities from an increasing torrent of incoming missiles. By utilizing your own missile arsenal and precision targeting, you have to blow up the incoming missile barrage before they hit and destroy your cities.
This gameplay premise is exactly the same as it was for the OG Missile Command, but in Recharged, you’re given access to some contemporary upgrades the arcade version didn’t have. Occasional power-ups will present themselves, and shooting them will speed up your own missiles, or deploy defensive measures (such as shields) to protect your cities. There’s even a special power-up that will instantly clear all incoming enemy missiles from the screen.
Successfully shooting power-ups will add points to your gameplay. These points may be used to upgrade multiple in-game aspects to assist in your survival and help you increase your total game score. Achievements may also be unlocked the longer you survive and the better you defend your cities. Additionally, Recharged will have online leaderboards available, so you can compare your skill as a missile commander to other missile commanders around the world.
“Missile Command: Recharged is coming home to the Atari VCS where it belongs! It’s the perfect game to help kick-start our growing game and content library thanks to its retro roots and pulse-pounding gameplay that appeals to today’s gamers,” said Michael Arzt, COO of Atari VCS & Connected Devices in the official press release. “Utilizing the special features of the new Atari Wireless Classic Controller, Missile Command: Recharged will offer players an exciting arcade-like experience, complete with immersive rumble and LED effects that can only be experienced on the Atari VCS.”
If you don’t want to wait for the Atari VCS launch, you can try out Missile Command: Recharged now on Windows PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices. The Atari VCS is scheduled to launch fall 2020, and is currently available to pre-order at AtariVCS.com, GameStop.com, and Walmart.com.
Source: Press Release