Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Products | Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters |
Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters is a multidirectional shooter launched by Atari Games in 1989. Drawing inspiration from cheesy 1950s science fiction B movie aesthetics, the title was subsequently adapted for various systems such as the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, SAM Coupé, and ZX Spectrum.
Gameplay
The storyline unfolds on Planet X, an artificial industrial world housing Dr. Sarah Bellum's laboratory. The player's mission involves rescuing Dr. Bellum from the Reptilons, hostile creatures who have captured her and are compelling humans to manufacture a robotic army aimed at Earth's domination.
Gameplay is presented through an isometric viewpoint, with players maneuvering characters using arcade Hall effect joysticks. The core objectives include exploring maze-like environments, liberating captive humans, and triggering levers to unlock escalators leading to new sections. Throughout the game, players gather gems to upgrade their ray guns, break open food containers to replenish health, and collect bombs to inflict area damage on adversaries.
Each stage culminates in an auto-scrolling isometric segment where players pilot a small spacecraft through complex obstacle courses. Successfully navigating this sequence allows progression to subsequent levels. Upon defeating the ultimate boss, players receive bonus points based on leftover bombs and lives before the game concludes.
Controllers
Control is facilitated by Hall effect analog joysticks that support 16-directional aiming with 22.5° increments, offering finer precision compared to conventional 8-way (45°) controls. The control panel features three buttons dedicated to firing, ducking, and jumping actions.
External links
- Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters at Arcade History
- Overview of the Amiga version
- Articles with short description
- 1989 video games
- Amiga games
- Amstrad CPC games
- Arcade video games
- Atari arcade games
- Atari ST games
- Commodore 64 games
- Cooperative video games
- Domark games
- DOS games
- Multidirectional shooters
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- SAM Coupé games
- Video games about robots
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games set in outer space
- Video games set on fictional planets
- Video games with isometric graphics
- ZX Spectrum games