Board Game / Board Game - Miscellaneous · 1987
Archon
Published by Atari · Developed by Free Fall Associates
atarimania.com — atari-400-800-xl-xe-games-archon-315
Information
- Genre
- Board Game - Miscellaneous
- Language
- Machine Language
- Controls
- Joystick
- Players
- 1, 1 vs. 2, Demo
- Programmer(s)
- Westfall, Anne, Freeman, Jon, Reiche, Paul
- Graphic Artist(s)
- [n/a]
- Sound
- [n/a]
- Cover Artist(s)
- McMacken, Dave
- Year
- 1987
- Publisher
- Atari
- Developer
- Free Fall Associates
- Country
- USA
- License
- Commercial
- Medium
- Cartridge
- Rarity
- 5
- Serial
- RX8092
Votes / Statistics
Rating: 7.6/10 · Votes: 1,939 · Downloads: 9,950 · Hits: 40,056
Additional Comments
Screenshots (5)
Cover Art (3)
Instructions (8)
Book / Magazine Reviews (2)
Electronic Games · January, 1984
The ultimate object of Archon is to place a game icon (a character representing either the Dark or Light side) on each of the five power points symmetrically placed on a checkerboard-like playfield. The army of Light, under the guidance of the wizened old Wizard, consists of knights, amazon archers, unicorns, valkyries, golems, a phoenix and a djinni. The Sorceress commands the Dark Forces, an intimidating crew made up of goblins, banshees, trolls, manticores, basilisks, a shapeshifter, and a dragon. Each side is slightly different, but with equal might.
The innate skills of the individual "soldier" influences the way each icon moves across the black, white or gray squares (banshees can fly over occupied squares, while goblins are more earth-bound). The particular character's abilities influence how far it can move, which direction it moves in, and the sort of attack mode it uses when challenged for the rights to a square.
Unlike chess, having the "dominant" piece does not automatically guarantee possession of a square. The idea behind Archon is that even the lowliest of character types can win a battle, given a little luck and a lot of skill. In this game, whenever one character challenges another for squatting rights to a square, the territory in dispute enlarges to encompass the entire playing screen and the two "game pieces" pit their unique abilities against each other in a fight to the finish. The survivor keeps possession of the square - for the time being, anyway.
An example of the types of attack modes the characters use is the evil, wailing banshee. To damage an opponent, the spirit must get close enough to catch her enemy in a piercing cloud of sound. The virtuous knights depend on their trusty swords, while the unicorns hurl small missile weapons.
An important factor influences the actions of Light and Dark alike - the ever-shifting color of the squares beneath the armies' feet. While some of the black or white squares remain fixed in their original shades, many key squares cycle through hues of black, white and gray in a predictable, fixed pattern. The color of the square an icon stands on influences the outcome of any combat it engages in.
If a character stands on a square of its own color (Dark on dark or Light on light), the icon draws extra strength from the territory and has a longer lifeline in battle situations (the lifelines of respective combatants are shown at the sides of the screen during the battle sequence; the longer the lifeline, the more injury a character can sustain without dying). Characters forced to do battle for a square of the opposite hue have a distinct disadvantage. Gray squares offer varying degrees of protection. The color-shifting squares cycle slightly with each turn, a strategic challenge considering that three of the five power points are located on unstable territory.
The Wizard and the Sorceress begin each game standing on power points that match their own color (well, almost... the forces of Light are actually yellow, while the Dark side is blue). Each mage has the ability to cast up to seven different spells, each affecting the game in a different way. For example, magic can be used to "heal" a wounded icon, "revive" a dead one or "teleport" a character to a different square. Each spell can be used only once per game.
In its two-player variation, Archon is one of the most satisfying, innovative, mentally stimulating games available for the Atari computer. Its one-player option, which pits the gamer against a computer opponent, is a bit too hard for the average player, though. In this option, the only way to win is to convince the computer that you're an idiot by making stupid moves at the start of the game. Then, when it lets down its defenses, go in for the kill. To beat the computer, players have to learn to shoot diagonally.
Archon is a beautifully crafted game that pleases both the mind and the body. To win, both its strategy and its action elements must be mastered. The graphics and animation are good, as are the sound effects that accompany each character's movement. And, as with all of Electronic Arts' releases, it's attractively packaged in a record album-box, with detailed, well-written instructions. Chalk up another winner for Electronic Arts - and Free Fall Associates.
Atari User · July, 1988
Comments (19)
vulcanphil — 26 Mar 2025
Excellent battle-chess game, making it a great combination of strategy and arcade duel.
dirtyvu — 31 Mar 2024
shocked that this game is only rated 7.6! it's a top 10 level game. it's similar to arcade chess but with a lot more strategy. even if you're a lowly piece, you still have a fighting chance against a superior opponent.
AbbotKinneyDude — 6 Jun 2021
I wouldn't call the ATARI version the "original prototype" because it is not, it is a released version. Call it "original", "original release", "first release of the game" but not a prototype. In comparison, the C64 version can be called a "port" because all the logic code, design came from the A8 and was ported over. This is the same for many titles of the era from US publishers such as EA, Microprose, Datasoft.
Monk — 5 Jun 2021
This is a fantastic, original idea made into a brilliant, superbly playable game. Who among video game players DIDN'T imagine epic battles when playing chess? Isn't it unfair that when a piece 'eats' another piece in chess, the victim piece can't fight back? Even if the fight is against all odds, you can still fight back in this game, and yet there is a tactical element making this chesslike in that regard. The tactical and action elements are perfectly balanced, and the gameplay couldn't be tighter. There are amazing details that rise this above 'great', like the 'brightness/darkness' determining how much power you have at any given place on the board. Even as a kid, I always loved the variety of attacks, the ability to conjure spells and use elementals. The Shapeshifter was always my favorite, as it could adjust to anything else. They even made the dragon properly powerful, but you can still beat it (even as a knight - but you have to be skilled). There are many versions of this game, and in my opinion, the C64 and Atari versions are the best. Atari version is amazing being the original prototype, the C64-version is slightly refined version (Atari's multiple shades of green make it hard to know what position the 'brightness' is -exactly-', the battlegrounds have slightly less variety, the pieces don't have outlines around them, etc.) I think Atari version might play slightly faster, though, and of course features the unimitable Atari sound effects that are so inspirational. All in all, this game is proof that Electronic Arts DID employ people with actual original ideas and then they even greenlight those ideas. Hard to imagine nowadays, isn't it? I wish more ideas like these could be turned into wonderful games, like this one.
rave.N — 15 Jul 2015
More about Electronic Arts "exploding out of the gate in 1983", I'd like to see Atarimania make a duplicate entry for "Music Construction Set" here in the Games section because when you do searches like on 'music' it doesn't show unless you start from Utilities.
rave.N — 15 Jul 2015
Computer opponent was so easy to beat I narrowed the objective to where I had to not loose any pieces and get this, I would have all my pieces arranged in their start position when I won, so it looked like the entire opposing force was swept away at once without me even moving. I guess I must have summoned an elemental to complete my trick so as not to end up out of position. Yes one of the Top Ten games.
Jeff Fulton — 29 Mar 2015
I wrote up an article on game design using Atari 8-bit Archon as my model. Called Digesting Archon. http://www.8bitrocket.com/2011/09/15/the-8-bit-game-digesting-archon/ Great game, we played it a lot. Two player was the best.
Daniel Thomas MacInnes — 9 May 2011
It's amazing how Electronic Arts just exploded out of the gate in 1983. Archon I & II, Murder on the Zinderneuf, MULE, Seven Cities of Gold, One on One, Pinball Construction Set...How I wish EA today could capture just a fraction of that magic.
MalcolmM — 10 Feb 2011
For fans of Archon, you should try the remake Archon Classic on the PC. It has a classic mode that is faithful to the original. It also adds multiple AI levels, and four campaigns, plus lots of other extras.
1man — 30 Jan 2011
for those of you who are using Facebook: i created a fan page for the ol' Classic ARCHON: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Classic-ARCHON/115144945167519 hope to find you there, before the masters intervene, lol.
stefan berner — 31 May 2010
Great Game !! Archon and MULE are my most played games on this time. Both are fantastic multiplayer titles we played this games so many night´s
Scott Wozniak — 15 Sept 2008
MASTERPIECE. MIND-BLOWING. INFINITELY REPLAYABLE. I wonder how many hours of my life were spent on this one? Paul Reiche III made a game called "The Unholy War" in 1998 for the Playstation that is a spiritual successor to Archon. My highest recommendation. 10/10.
Wesley Connally — 19 Jan 2008
Archon was actually available on diskette. I still own it. It still works. You do have to use Translator though.
Greg B. — 21 Oct 2007
Yep, another all-time classic. Loosely inspired by the 3d-chess game in Star Wars, Archon is a masterful combination of chess-like strategy and arcade action. And yes, once you learn how to beat the computer, only another player will do. And, like Chess, you only get better at the game when you get clobbered at it (at least in my case). Sigh...it's really apparent that this game is from another time, back when software companies weren't afraid to try something NEW. Those were the days...
Pengwin — 23 Jul 2007
This was the first disk game I purchased, and remains to this day, one of my favourites. The idea of chess with arcade combat was genius. The computer opponent was a little easy to beat, once you'd worked out each characters strengths and weaknesses, but against a human, this game was utterly fantastic.
Jim Kuchera — 30 Dec 2006
There is no question that this is one of the 'top ten' for the 8-bitter. It's not often that strategy plus quick eye/hand coordination are fused together with such beauty. The computer is actually easier to beat than a quick-handed flesh and blood opponent. I always hated chess, but this game showed me that chess can live effectively in a new form. A little aside: the game is available not only on disk but cartridge as well. It was 'blue boxed' and still available at a reasonable price on eBay. I still play this one on my old 800 tank, and love it.
Jeff — 12 Dec 2006
This has to be one of the greatest games of all time, on any platform. 2 player mode is fantastic and there is no game more pure than this. 10/10
Deathdealer — 5 Oct 2006
Great mix of strategy and action. Hard to beat a game like this.
Thomas Smailus — 17 Jan 2006
This was one of THE classic Atari games that I played over and over again. Many afternoons, after school in the computer lab. Its sequel even pulled in my English teacher for some gameplay.