𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚

Bought Atari 50 just to own this physically. Tempest 2000 is a more than worthwhile follow-up to the original game with its fluid control, power-up system, greater enemy variety, and superior aesthetic sensibilities.

Basic movement is a joy! Your speed increases depending on how long you hold a given direction on the D-Pad. The sensitivity at the start is perfect for micro-adjustments, and the ramp-up to full speed is natural and thrilling.

Where this game gets nutty is the power-ups. They take the form of green dolphins (awesome!) and upgrade your ship's firepower and movement. Going for them adds a whole new layer to the Tempest formula. Their random nature ensures that the player is always making second-to-second decisions on how to best acquire/avoid them for positioning. Of the upgrades, my favorites are the jump and "Yes! Yes! Yes!". One lets you leap off the board to target enemies in your space, while the other gives you an easy drone if you manage to pick it up during a level transition. Learning each power-up and enemy type is a must if you want to reach Beastly Mode.

Can't recommend this game enough