Then Terry and Jim tell me that "Gravitar" is known as one of the hardest classic arcade games. So hard, in fact, that Atari converted it into an easier game called "Black Widow."
Anyone who thinks
Black Widow is an easier game than
Gravitar has never been out of the early, slow waves that are there solely to teach you how to play the game. The game doesn't really begin until you get well into the 20s at least, and it can take you an hour or more of trying to get past wave 58. There are even worse sticking points after that. When playing with friends in the later waves, even highly skilled, high score types like John McAllister (5-man
Robotron world record holder), I regularly see games of
Black Widow over in less than 15 seconds. Despite the merciless brutality it's still one of the most fun golden era arcade games, IMO.
They have fixed shockingly inappropriate games, like a game for children called "Budweiser Tapper," where the objective is to serve as many beers to customers as possible, and then chug a brew when you win a round. You will be shocked to learn the game eventually got changed to "Rootbeer Tapper."
Shocked, I tell ya! Shocked! Won't somebody protect the children from seeing beer?!?!
Kids today are raised to be p*ssies. I played Tapper as a kid and it didn't warp my mind or distort my values. It just took my quarters because it was cool and fun.
I am so glad I grew up in the '70s and '80's. I feel like I'm part of the last generation that wasn't coddled to death and got to have fun experiencing new things on my own.
Disclosure: I grew up in Missouri and my dad is from Ashland, Nebraska.
Cool article though.
