720°
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Atari Games |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | 720° (video game) |
| Parent | Atari Games |
720° is a 1986 sports video game created and distributed by Atari Games specifically for arcade systems. The game centers on skateboarding, where players maneuver a skateboarder through various contests such as ramp jumps and downhill races to accumulate cash rewards.
This title was subsequently adapted and reissued on several home console and computer platforms.
Gameplay
Players begin by guiding a skateboarder cruising through a neighborhood, utilizing common objects as makeshift ramps.
The core gameplay involves collecting "tickets" that grant entry to one of four skate parks or "events" within Skate City, the main hub. Each event requires spending one ticket, which players earn by achieving high scores. Outside of events, a countdown timer runs until a swarm of aggressive bees appears accompanied by the message "SKATE OR DIE!". Players must reach a skate park before the bees arrive; failure to do so results in game over unless additional credits are added. Successfully completing events resets this timer and rewards players with money for upgrading their gear.
Points are closely linked to time management; executing tricks both in events and the hub increases scores, allowing players to obtain more tickets and prolong gameplay. The ultimate aim is to finish sixteen events spread across four different hubs.
The events are categorized as follows:
- Ramp: Riding on a half-pipe to build momentum and perform aerial maneuvers for points before time expires.
- Downhill: Racing down slopes and banks swiftly to maximize scoring.
- Slalom: Passing through yellow flag gates to gain extra time; points depend on finishing speed.
- Jump: Launching off ramps targeting an off-screen bull's-eye, guided by cryptic markings on ramps; ends when time runs out or the finish line is crossed.
Map icons scattered around display roads, parks, shops, and the player’s location. Jumping over hazards offers additional scoring chances.
High scores yield points, cash, and medals (bronze, silver, gold). Earnings fund equipment enhancements that boost player capabilities. Completing every event across all categories concludes the game.
Development
The arcade version was coded using BLISS and operated on Atari System 2 hardware.[1][2]
Other versions
Ports appeared on the Commodore 64 (1987, twice), Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum (1988), Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1989), and Game Boy Color (1999). An unreleased edition for the Atari Lynx also exists.[3][4]
The Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and original Commodore 64 versions were developed by Tiertex Design Studios and published by U.S. Gold, with Sinclair User praising it as "US Gold's finest hour."
The Game Boy Color version was created by Game Brains and released by Midway Games in March 1999 throughout North America and Europe.[5]
Reception
The title was met with favorable reviews from both critics and players alike. In 1995, Flux magazine placed it at number 79 in their "Top 100 Video Games" list, emphasizing its engaging gameplay and distinctiveness for its time.
Legacy
This game has been preserved in digital form through emulated versions included in collections such as Midway Arcade Treasures (released in 2003 and 2004) and Midway Arcade Origins (2012), ensuring its continued accessibility.
External links
- 720° entry at the Arcade History database
- Reviews from the original release period at Solvalou.com
- ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine
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