Combat (video game)

Combat
Developer(s)	Atari, Inc.[1]
Publisher(s)	Atari, Inc.[1]
Programmer(s)	Ron Milner Steve Mayer Joe Decuir Larry Wagner
Platform(s)	Atari 2600
Release	1977
Genre(s)	Multidirectional shooter
Mode(s)	2 player competitive

Combat is a multidirectional shooter developed and published by Atari, Inc. as a launch title for the 1977 Atari Video Computer System (later called the Atari 2600). Two players, controlling either tanks, biplanes, or jets, fire missiles at each other for two minutes and sixteen seconds. Points are scored by hitting the opponent, and the player with more points when the time runs out wins. Variations on the gameplay introduce elements such as invisible vehicles, missiles that ricochet off of walls, and different playing fields.

Based on Atari's 1974 arcade video game Tank, Combat was initially developed by Steve Mayer and Ron Milner. Joe Decuir tested it on the in-development Atari VCS hardware. Larry Wagner completed the game and added the two plane variations.

By the early 1980s, Combat's the graphics and gameplay were seen as being out-of-date. A sequel titled Combat Two was planned for the Atari 2600, but never completed. A prototype of the sequel was later released in various formats. Retrospective reception by publications such as Classic Gamer Magazine and AllGame have praised the game, while PCMag and Flux considered it to be one of the best Atari 2600 games and one of the greatest video games of all time.