Shoot'em Up! / Shoot'em Up! - Zaxxon · 1984

Blue Max

Published by SynSoft · Developed by Synapse Software

atarimania.com — atari-400-800-xl-xe-games-blue-max-5977

Information

Genre: Shoot'em Up! - Zaxxon
Language: Machine Language
Controls: Joystick, Keyboard
Players: 1, Demo
Programmer(s): Polin, Bob
Graphic Artist(s): Polin, Bob
Sound: Polin, Bob
Cover Artist(s): Boxell, Tim
Year: 1984
Publisher: SynSoft
Developer: Synapse Software
Country: United Kingdom
License: Commercial
Medium: Tape, Disk
Rarity: 6 (Tape), 6 (Disk)
Serial: -

Votes / Statistics

Rating: 7.8/10 · Votes: 728 · Downloads: 3,557 · Hits: 17,502

Additional Comments

Missing original disk image!

Screenshots (5)

Cover Art (4)

Instructions (4)

Book / Magazine Reviews (2)

Electronic Fun · March, 1984 · Rating: 4 / 4

This is an aerial combat game with more nice touches than the king's party crown. It proves that wartime flying is never easy but when played on a TV screen can at least be entertaining.

As a World War I flying ace, you have the assignment of taking to the air in your biplane and making war hell for the enemy by strafing and bombing everything in sight along the three-quarter Zaxxon-esque view scrolling landscape. Some targets are necessary to gain you access to the big time in the city but everything both moving and nailed down is absolute kicks to blast. Not that wholesale destruction is a socially acceptable idea of a great time but if you can keep this plane in the air long enough to run up a decent score, you deserve to feel good about it.

Few games give a player so many problems to worry about and overcome at the same time. Beside an enemy that flies at you from both ends while shooting anti-aircraft barrages from the ground, the player must keep a constant eye on the plane's sensitive instrument panel to make sure there is enough air space between the craft and the ground so the biplane doesn't end up plowing furrows. Yet the plane should remain low enough - about 24 to 27 feet - to be able to strafe, bomb effectively and dogfight.

Landing is perhaps the touchiest maneuver called for in Blue Max and requires that the plane be at an altitude of 25 feet when the pilot is alerted to lower the landing gear by pushing the firing button. When the airstrip materializes, the plane must land quickly but carefully on the friendly - but inconveniently short - runway leaving enough room for the next take-off.

While all this is occupying your thoughts, you must save room for something else, too - don't let the plane drop below 20 feet or it's curtains.

It is debatable whether the gameplay or the graphics is the crowning achievement of this excellent 32K disk but both are enhanced by a score of "Rule Britannia" and fine combat sound effects. All things considered, designer Bob Polin has made this a high-flying piece of programming that is pleasantly frustrating, intensely rewarding and, for hours on end, fun.

Try flying in the reverse control mode. This gives the joystick the same guiding functions as an actual airplane.

Atari User · July, 1988

Originally released by Broderbund Software in 1983, the game is based around the flying exploits of Max Chatsworth, a World War I fighter ace. You control Max – using a joystick – in his fighter-bomber biplane as he seeks revenge for the annihilation of his squadron. Your mission is to shoot down aircraft, bomb ground installations and penetrate the enemy city. Once there, you must bomb the three red or blue flashing targets and land on the next runway to complete the game. Don't worry if you miss a target – you can land and prepare for another assault. The main play area scrolls diagonally from right to left. This, coupled with the shadow of your aircraft, gives an illusion of depth to the screen. Enemy planes constantly buzz you and added to this hazard are anti-aircraft gun emplacements which fill the sky with a hail of flak – survival isn't very easy. Your biplane is very maneuvrable, allowing you to adjust your altitude at any time. This means you can shoot enemy aircraft at any level or reduce your height to between 21 and 25 feet for air-to-ground strafing runs. Be very careful when doing this – if you drop below 19 feet, it's kaboom! Unlike most shoot'em up games, you only have one life. However, your plane can survive hits by enemy fire or flak a number of times before it crashes. A status line at the bottom of the screen reports the plane's condition. For example, F indicates that you have a fuel leak and G means that your machine gun is damaged and will only fire intermittently. Blue Max is a fun game to play and is very addictive. I played it first time around and now it's available on ROM, I can recommend it to everyone.

Comments (12)

the big m — 15 Sept 2023
I remember playing this on my Commodore back in the day. The diagonal scene scrolling was eye popping. The C64 has the nicer biplane sprite and better audio effects. However, the Atari seems to be more fun to play. The ground enemies are less cluttered in this version. Recommended!
Elric — 20 Jan 2023
As a select few from back in the day know, this is a TOP 5 Atari 800 game, play it and be astounded it is not better known. Leaps and Bounds better than the C64 version!
Gildahl — 16 Jul 2022
This one got quite a bit of gameplay back in the day, and did the 3/4 perspective thing much better than the system's Zaxxon translation. I played it recently in emulation and it still stands-up pretty well and ranks fairly high on my nostalgia meter. I think, perhaps for the music in particular. Anyway, I was never very good at it and lining up shots was tough (in the good way), but it was a fine title with excellent play value. Not a full-fledged classic, but close.
Monk — 30 Apr 2015
Now that I can play these games with a real Atari 800 XL, I feel more confident in giving these little comments. So let's go. What an excellent game. This is one of those cases where the glory of the eight-bitters really shines fully. The simple gameplay that still demands your full attention, the excessively amazing sound effects, the wonderful and colorful screen flashes, and even the good rendition of the "Rule, Britannia!" in the beginning really make this immediately a memorable experience. This game cannot really be faulted with wisdom - there are no real downsides whatsoever, generally speaking. Everything is well done, polished and beautiful - and the world of the game creates a deeper immersion than any modern movie can. Having played the Commodore 64-version a lot, coming to this Atari version, I of course noticed obvious differences. A few details are different, and comparison is inevitable. The houses are more colorful, variable and better-looking to my eyes in the C64 version. On the C64, the airplane also is drawn to the proper perspective, and as more detailed, bigger and higher resolution sprite, it looks better on the C64. Same can be said about the airplane's bullets - on the Atari, it looks like the bullets are flying SIDEWAYS. It looks quite weird, and is hard to get used to. The C64's airplane sound is better, and varies more. The C64 version lacks some of the beeps and notice sounds that the Atari version has, though. The explosion sounds are different in both versions, but I have to say I prefer the really impacting, piercing and expressive Atari explosions that also properly flash the screen. On the C64, it's still all good, but on the Atari, an explosion just seems that much more of an EVENT, like something really happens! It's exciting and I can't get enough of that Atari noise wave. There is no title screen or intro in the Atari version, except a flashing "Blue Max" text right on the actual game screen. Landing is more difficult on the Atari, as you have to actually extend the landing gear before landing. I'd say Blue Max as a game is a bit more tricky on the Atari side, but that could be because the gameplay is slightly different, and I have used to the C64 gameplay too much. Both versions are immensely enjoyable, and provide the player with different treasures. Atari's trees look bigger and better, but the graphics seem to be a bit lower in resolution, and a bit more grey and dark sometimes. I haven't completed the Atari version yet, so I can't do a -full- comparison, but I can still express my joy that I got from playing this magnificent Atari version. I think the versions are pretty much equal, because each one brings things to the player that the other version doesn't have. They are 'better than each other' in different ways. A great game in both platforms, I seriously recommend playing both on real machines. If you get ONE game for both platforms, if you get only ONE game to play on either of these eight-bitters to take with you on a deserted island, this should be one of the very top choices to select from.
Jomar Machado — 7 Nov 2008
I've dreamed weeks about this game...but I was never able to finish it...;) Great Game!!!
Jonny EOL — 12 Feb 2008
This diagonal-scrolling fighter plane shooter remains one of the finest games the 8-bit Atari ever saw. The whole thing is just so well designed, from the 'Rule Britannia' opening theme to the smooth scrolling graphics and addictive gameplay. A mixture of enemy planes and ground targets, and a raid on the enemy city for those who make it that far. I actually completed this game on the highest level once - perhaps my greatest moment of gaming?
eppy2000 — 7 Oct 2007
This game is also on my top ten list of greatest Atari 8-bit games. Synapse really cared about Atari computers. Polin took a Zaxxon concept, and made something quite original out of it. Top notch graphics & sound, smooth gameplay, and entertainment value makes this a winner all around. My favorite parts of the game is going into the inner cities and the final bombing runs. It took practice to get it done quickly and accurately! Like Star Raiders, I always wanted to play again to see if I could get a higher ranking. To date, my best is Blue Max, Class 3.
steve — 25 Jul 2007
This has to be one of the top ten greatest games on any platform in modern history! The graphics are functional and attractive, the sound is realistic and spot on, and the gameplay well. The gameplay is beautifully curved from mastering the altitude, shooting in coming planes and landing, through to reaching the city level. Gameplay is what it is all about and Blue Max is as perfect as they come.
ZombiE — 9 May 2007
One of the best games on Atari! Great playability and fast shooter. If anyone want to try my own 3D version of Blue Max, then look at: http://gad.art.pl/opis.php?i=352&kat=0&od=0&srt=1 The site is in Polish, but "Wersja instalacyjna" link is a download and game is in English. This is a beta release.
Jim Kuchera — 19 Dec 2006
As with nearly every Synapse title, this one has extreme playability to the max. What a wonderful side-angle scroller. Far more fun to play than the Zaxxon translation, this little block graphics game really draws you in. However, it does take some practice with the stick, and gauging your altitude. I remember the first time I tried to take off, I pulled back on the stick and immediately crashed. Yikes, the stick is in REVERSE. Push forward to take off. Well, small complaint aside, the one is great fun, and well worth looking for on The Net. It's out there somewhere.
Jeff Sidlosky — 26 Jun 2005
I remember playing this game alot as a child (5 - 8 years old), it was one of the primary games I remember playing! I always found it difficult to land after I completed a level, which was frusterating to say the least. It wasn't exactly my favorite game, that was probably BoulderDash.
MIH — 6 Mar 2005
One of my private "BIG TEN" of ATARI games...:)