Finally, A Serious Zaxxon Thread...

[Brentradio]

Ok, so let's keep this a professional discussion about one of the most talked about arcade games ever made...Zaxxon!

This discussion revolves around one simple question.

Would Zaxxon have been a better game if instead of being played in a quasi-3D
45 degree view, it was the same game but at a normal 90 degree vertical veiw?

I personally think it would be better and would love to try it that way.

(ok, so we all know this is bullshit so let the meme's fly, but at least answer the question...)

 

[TSB]

Ok, so let's keep this a professional discussion about one of the most talked about arcade games ever made...Zaxxon!

This discussion revolves around one simple question.

Would Zaxxon have been a better game if instead of being played in a quasi-3D
45 degree view, it was the same game but at a normal 90 degree vertical veiw?

I personally think it would be better and would love to try it that way.

(ok, so we all know this is bullshit so let the meme's fly, but at least answer the question...)

...Man, right after I drop the ZaxxonMemeBomb elsewhere. lol


I still remember going to Chuck E. Cheese and being drawn to Zaxxon as a kid because of how cool the game looked. It always sucked in one of my tokens before I remembered how difficult it was, muttered under my breath, then moved on to Ms Pac, Qbert, Moon Patrol, and others.

The only thing that could save that game, would be a floating reticle that projected where your energy blast would hit & where your ship was going to collide with the wall.


https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showpost.php?p=3927768&postcount=65

.

 

[TOK]

It might have been a better playing game, but that was something that had already been done... Probably better in games like Scramble if Zaxxon was going to stick with a single fire button and no bombing.

Much of the Golden Age era was about gimmicks, and that view was Zaxxons gimmick. I can remember being roped in by the metallic looking plates in Xevious, the way the shade changed as they rolled making them look like metal. That was all it took at the time, and it remains one of my go-to games to this day. One of the other things was the cool parallax scrolling of the background in Moon Patrol. It seems silly now, but the first time you saw something like that in an arcade was incredible.

No internet, it just showed up un-announced and blew your mind.

PS: I know Zaxxon gets the beating almost as a joke, but I find it way more playable than another game using the same isometric view... Congo Bongo.

 

[FrizzleFried]

Y'all wanna hate on Zaxxon, have at it... but the reality is that Zaxxon was a COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. Hell, it probably could be called a MASSIVE commercial success. The arcade game sold well. The game was ported to countless home systems. It had it's own BOARD GAME for crying out loud. How many arcade games can you think of had their own Milton Bradley board games? A handful at best.

So you haters can hate all you want... Sega laughed all the way to the bank.

 

[Tubular Gearhead]

I loved playing Zaxxon when it first came out. I could play for quite a while on one quarter. All the haters just never took the time to look at the elevation indicator I guess??? That was one of the first things I paid attention to, and then once you learned a few heights to be at in different situations, and a few simple maneuvers, the game is not hard at all.

And as was stated, it was a super popular successful game. Not recognizing that now is kind of silly.

 

[GreaseBall]

Y'all wanna hate on Zaxxon, have at it... but the reality is that Zaxxon was a COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. Hell, it probably could be called a MASSIVE commercial success. The arcade game sold well. The game was ported to countless home systems. It had it's own BOARD GAME for crying out loud. How many arcade games can you think of had their own Milton Bradley board games? A handful at best.

So you haters can hate all you want... Sega laughed all the way to the bank.

For whatever reason it's become popular to shit all over. It's not a bad game.

 

[ElectricDreamz]

because OP is trying to keep things serious ... let it be settled once and for all (or not heh) on KLOV ...

https://www.strawpoll.me/17198027

(just a preview for those that may be wary to click ...)

 

[SnakeRake]

Ok, so let's keep this a professional discussion about one of the most talked about arcade games ever made...Zaxxon!

This discussion revolves around one simple question.

Would Zaxxon have been a better game if instead of being played in a quasi-3D
45 degree view, it was the same game but at a normal 90 degree vertical veiw?

I personally think it would be better and would love to try it that way.

(ok, so we all know this is bullshit so let the meme's fly, but at least answer the question...)

I think without the Isometric angle it would be pretty close to Xevious. I picked one up last year for $150 and cleaned it up, its not as exciting as I remember from the old days, but not deserving of the amount of flack it gets.

Its a frustrating game to play casually, you have to get into for 10 minutes or so and let your brain adjust to the pseudo 3D, then its fun weaving in and around the bases and walls to pick off ships.

 

[VectorCollector]

Zaxxon is perfect the way it is.
Could have had a nicer custom cabinet though ...

 

[TOK]

I loved playing Zaxxon when it first came out. I could play for quite a while on one quarter. All the haters just never took the time to look at the elevation indicator I guess??? That was one of the first things I paid attention to, and then once you learned a few heights to be at in different situations, and a few simple maneuvers, the game is not hard at all.

And as was stated, it was a super popular successful game. Not recognizing that now is kind of silly.

I use the elevation indicator to kill the robot (Zaxxon?) but thats about it, just keep shooting any other time. The game shoots so fast using the fire button, like almost triple what you can do with the trigger.

 

[HighScoreSaves]

For whatever reason it's become popular to shit all over. It's not a bad game.

Super Zaxxon does truly suck...or, I do at it.

 

[IdahoFarmer]

I played Zaxxon at Malibu Grand Prix in Northridge California. It faced to the south and was right around the corner from Time Traveler. It was difficult to get used to the iso but overcoming that was part of the fun.

 

[Tornadoboy]

Personally I don't get some people's animosity toward Zaxxon, seriously.

Is it the best game ever? No of course not, but it's not TERRIBLE even if it's not everyone's taste, it's certainly unique for its time and was a commercial success. I can't stand Pacman, Ms Pacman and find them boring as hell, but do I hate them or want to pretend they sucked? No.

Spy Hunter II is a terrible game... Logger is a terrible game... but Zaxxon? Hardly.

Oh and oddly enough I like Super Zaxxon more than the original, but I can understand people getting frustrated by it. I remember when MAME first started supporting it and they thought there was a bug in the emulation because it was so fast, then they realized that's how it's supposed to be.

 

[jacklick]

I haven't played it recently but wouldn't mind picking one up to master a bit more.

I do remember playing it as a kid and thought I was having a good game if I got past the first wall. edit>> i think that is like 2 seconds into the game

 

[norCal4Life]

I love my Zaxxon. The metal flight stick looks like it belongs in an F-14, and getting the LED working on the flight stick makes it even better. I sucked at it as a kid, but I agree with TOK, just keep a steady stream of shots going and use that to gauge if you are lined up with a particular item or not. And make sure you hit all the red radar dishes! It is honestly one of my favorite games to play at 4:20.

 

[Samelak]

I think the biggest problem with Zaxxon is the flight stick, not the isometric view. The control is cumbersome and clumsy. I have a modded panel with a Happ Pro and I can get almost three times as far. The game just reacts better. As for the isometric, keep shooting to see were you are at and use the meter for the boss (2 & 1/2 bars up). Yes, the game repeats and gets more difficult, but that can be said about 90% of classics arcades. At least there are 3 somewhat different phases to each level. I always try to get the 20 jets shot down for the bonus. Only done it a few times...tough.

 

[FrizzleFried]

I think the biggest problem with Zaxxon is the flight stick, not the isometric view. The control is cumbersome and clumsy. I have a modded panel with a Happ Pro and I can get almost three times as far. The game just reacts better. As for the isometric, keep shooting to see were you are at and use the meter for the boss (2 & 1/2 bars up). Yes, the game repeats and gets more difficult, but that can be said about 90% of classics arcades. At least there are 3 somewhat different phases to each level. I always try to get the 20 jets shot down for the bonus. Only done it a few times...tough.

I agree the flight stick sucks... at least a "worn" flight stick sucks and I've not played a game with a rebuilt or new one ... ever. I also play Zaxxon WAAAY better with my Wico than I do with the flight stick.

 

[FrizzleFried]

I think the biggest problem with Zaxxon is the flight stick, not the isometric view. The control is cumbersome and clumsy. I have a modded panel with a Happ Pro and I can get almost three times as far. The game just reacts better. As for the isometric, keep shooting to see were you are at and use the meter for the boss (2 & 1/2 bars up). Yes, the game repeats and gets more difficult, but that can be said about 90% of classics arcades. At least there are 3 somewhat different phases to each level. I always try to get the 20 jets shot down for the bonus. Only done it a few times...tough.

HINT: If you shoot the "planes/spacecraft" in the first level, however many you shoot will be deducted from the 20 you need to shoot when you start level 2...

 

[Backyardace]

I think Zaxxon is the best arcade game that starts with Zaxx!

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

I didn't hate the game, but admit that the 3D view gave me some headaches and ate plenty of quarters.

I am not sure what changing that view would do - if it would better or worse for it. I could see it both ways, as people have already explained previously in this thread.

Summary:
Don't hate Zaxxon
Not sure it would better if we changed the view.