''Word Zapper'' is an

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...

game written by Henry Will IV and published under the Vidtec label of U.S. Games in 1982. ''Word Zapper'' is a mixture of spelling and arcade gaming, in which a word appears at the bottom of the screen and then letters scroll across the top which can be shot to spell words.

Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship-like "Zapper" which can move about the screen and shoot up, left, and right. The objective is to shoot the letters that spell the current word, in order, while shooting or avoiding

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

s in the lower portion of the screen. There are four types of asteroids, and each has a different effect if it comes into contact with the Zapper. The "Doomsday" asteroid ends the game. The "Scroller" asteroid mixes up the scrolling letters for five seconds. The "Zonker" and "Bonker" asteroids knock the Zapper to the side. The game ends after being hit by a doomsday asteroid, after the 99 second timer runs down, or the ultimate goal of completing three words.

Reception

Richard A. Edwards reviewed ''Word Zapper'' in ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...

'' No. 59. Edwards commented that "It is difficult to make a statement concerning recommendation. ''Word Zapper'' is innovative enough to draw attention at first, but it will depend on the individual gamer whether another arcade shooting match with letters is worth the price tag." In the 1983 Arcade Awards, ''Word Zapper'' was one of two runners-up for the "Most Innovative Videogame" category.

References

External links

''Word Zapper''
at Atari Mania *{{internet archive game, atari_2600_word_zapper_word_grabber_1982_u.s._games_corporation_henry_will_iv_-_v
Review
in

Electronic Fun with Computers & Games ''Electronic Fun with Computers & Games'' was a video game magazine published in the United States from November 1982 to May 1984. For the last two issues it was renamed ''ComputerFun''. Content The magazine was split up into the following sect ...

1982 video games Atari 2600 games Atari 2600-only games Single-player video games U.S. Games games Video games developed in the United States Word puzzle video games