Spider Fighter

Spider Fighter is Activision’s answer to Centipede (by Atari). However there are no elongated enemies in this game that move back and forth as the centipede does. The enemies in Spider Fighter are the spiders, and they’re trying to steal your fruit located at the top right of your screen. The spiders scurry around the screen. It is your job to shoot them from the bottom of the screen and protect the fruit. Once the game begins, the master nests come out from the left and release more bugs: Green widows act as shields for the master nest and Stingers dump eggs over your ship.

There is also a banana level, where the borders of the screen turn purple and everything seems to double in speed. Shots are fired and the critters move at a fast and frantic pace.

Spider Fighter borrows some elements from Megamania (shoot from below) and Missile Command (protection). It is strange that this game was not very popular. I believe hot sellers such as Pitfall and Megamania overshadowed this gem. It packs plenty of action for a shooter. The "turbo" banana level in Spider Fighter probably features the fastest-moving enemies of all games in the 2600 library.

Bonus points are added to your score for completing a wave without losing a ship or a fruit.

Spider Fighter was Larry Miller’s (any relation to Alan Miller is unknown) first game for the 2600. He later programmed Enduro, an excellent - if not the best - racing game for the 2600.

Back in the 1980s, Activision used to give out embroidered game club patches if you got a high score, took a picture of your TV screen, and mailed it to them. Here is the high score to shoot for:

• Return to Spotlight on Activision main menu

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