Atari 8-bit: Archon

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Erifellen

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Published on September 16, 2021 12:05:59 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZILPwvkS7M

Game:

Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983)

Duration: 4:54

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If you start with chess and try to video-game-ify it, you might end up with Archon. The two sides are comparable but not quite the same, the objective is to occupy five special spaces rather than to checkmate a specific enemy unit, the color of the board spaces give advantages or disadvantages to those occupying them, some spaces cycle between light and dark over time, the wizard and sorceress can choose to cast spells rather than moving... and most importantly of all, units do not simply capture each other but must engage in combat to determine which one takes the space.

Combat takes place in real time in a one-on-one arena, in which any unit, no matter how weak, can (in theory, with enough skill, luck, or both) prevail against any other unit, no matter how strong. And damage taken during combat heals over time rather than all at once, so throwing multiple weaker units at one stronger one can be an effective tactic, too. It's also possible, especially with missile attacks, for two units to take each other out, leaving the space empty.

In short, the game crosses the strategy of a chess match with the action of real-time combat.

Towards the end of the video, I mention Battle Chess, but after looking into it again, that's not a particularly good comparison. Battle Chess may have animated fatalities, but as far as I can tell is functionally no different from standard chess. Archon, with its own unique rules and its meaningful combat between units that either one can potentially win, is a rather different beast.

More information: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-archon_5973.html

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