Ludography
Desert Falcon cover

1987 · Shooter

Desert Falcon

Timed Atari exclusive

Desert Falcon is a 3D (isometric) flying shooter game that was developed and published in 1987 by Atari. The game was released for the Atari 2600, 7800, and XE Game Systems of the Atari 8-bit family.

Released
1 December 1987
Platforms
Atari 2600Atari 7800Atari 8-bitAtari XEGSWindowsXbox 360
Genres
Shooter
Developers
—
Publishers
—
Perspective
Bird view / Isometric
Themes
ActionScience fiction
Country
United States
Age ratings
ESRB E

About

Desert Falcon is a scrolling shooter video game developed by General Computer Corporation and published in 1988 by Atari Corporation for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. It was initially announced in 1984, prior to being named Desert Falcon, as one of the planned launch titles for the 7800. A version for Atari 8-bit computers, with XEGS-styled packaging, followed in 1989.

Designed by Bob Polaro, who also programmed the Atari 2600 version, Desert Falcon is loosely based on ancient Egyptian mythology. The diagonally-scrolling isometric graphics had reviewers comparing it to Zaxxon from 1982.

Keywords

  • retro
  • flight
  • classic
  • bonus stage
  • vertical scrolling

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game uses a scrolling, isometric perspective. Vultures, warriors, flying fish, and other creatures guard treasures and try to stop the player. At the end of each level, the player faces a large, howling sphinx before moving forward. The falcon can shoot arrows to eliminate foes and defeat the sphinx.

Throughout the game are hieroglyphs in the sand. Landing and hopping over three hieroglyphs unlock what are labeled "super powers" in the manual. The specific combination of collected hieroglyphs determines the acquired ability, including invincibility, teleportation to a level's end, bonus points, a decoy to mislead enemies, and an air bomb that annihilates all airborne opponents.

Story

Players take on the role of a falcon, striving to collect the Pharaoh's scattered treasures in the desert to earn points.

Development

The game was revealed in 1984 as part of the Atari 7800 announcement. It was referred to as both Sphinx and Nile Flyer.

Reception

W. Ratcliff wrote, "Desert Falcon has good graphics, cute sound effects, and a tired, boring theme." He cited Zaxxon several times, calling Desert Falcon a visually different spin on the same gameplay. New Atari User wrote, "The scrolling in Desert Falcon isn't quite as smooth as it could be," but complimented the animation of the falcon and the use of shadows.

In Antic, David Plotkin wrote, "The manual describes a wide variety of enemies. Unfortunately, except for some flying triangles, they all looked pretty much alike". He still concluded with "It has excellent graphics and is very playable."

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Atari 26001 December 1987North America
Atari 8-bit1 May 1989North America
Windows22 December 2010Worldwide
Xbox 36022 December 2010Worldwide

Editions and related releases

Included in
Atari VaultAtari Collection 1Atari Collection 2Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 1Atari Flashback ClassicsAtari Retro Handheld Console: Pac-Man EditionAtari Greatest Hits: Volume 2Atari Flashback XAtari Retro Handheld ConsoleAtari Flashback 4Atari Flashback X DeluxeAtari Flashback 3Atari Flashback Blast! Vol. 1Atari Flashback 4: 40th Anniversary - Deluxe EditionAtari AnthologyAtari Flashback 8 Gold: Activision Edition
Ported as
Desert Falcon
Built on it
Desert Falcon

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Platform libraries

Licensing

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.