Berzerk

created and published by Stern in 1980, running on Arcade

type: maze, shooter
genre: Science Fiction, Arena shooter, Berzerk-like, Twin-stick shooter
perspective: bird's-eye
player options: single player

languages: eng spa other

3.6/5

Find at ADB

Official description

If you think we went crazy developing Berzerk, you're right.
This is the first time we've ever put all of our technology and wit to work in one video game. The result is a video masterpiece that not only drives
players absolutely Berzerk, it drives profits directly to operators

THE BERZERK LINEUP OF INNOVATIVE FEATURES:
- Unsurpassed 30-word vocabulary allows game to communicate to player
- 64,000 random maze patterns appear on video screen for explosive and non-repetitive action.
- Newly designed "Joy Stick" enables player to move image of humanoid in 8 different directions.
- 10 highest scores to-date register on screen after play is over
- Memory also stores 5 highest scores-to-date, even when machine is unplugged
- Attract mode beckons players by voicing "Coins detected in pockets" at timed intervals
- All logic boards housed in accessible pullout drawer in cabinet front
providing easy service for technicians.
- Sophisticated self diagnostic programming routine.

PLAY FEATURES
- Robots pursue humanoid through one of 64000 possible maze patterns
- Humanoid avoids robots by manipulating "Joy Stick, and destroys bots by firing weapon
- "Evil Otto:" an indestructible force, appears randomly on screen to pursue and destroy humanoid. He must be avoided at all costs

# 2019-01-19 17:22:27 - official description

Description

Originally released in black & white, then later retooled with colors. Second game to use synthesised speech, and like Asteroids with vector graphics, the first to use speech effectively. Original gameplay, including a time limit on each level, represented by a mad ball that danced around the screen and killed the player.

This is the first game to actually kill someone. Peter Bukowski suffered a heart attack and died while trying to play this game on April 3, 1982. Oddly no one protested against Berzerk; apparently only imaginary videogame violence is worth protesting. However, the coroner did implicate the game as a cause of stress.

Zerothis - # 2002-11-22 19:37:01