"Take on me..."

Revenge. It's something that can drive us past the brink of our moral beliefs, a desire and obsession to right some wrong. It causes you to throw away whatever inhibitions you might have, just to see your foe punished for whatever they did to you. Once you've gotten that desire to get even, you'll spend countless hours pondering the ways to exact your perfect comeback. It can come in many forms, like humiliating some random bully or manipulating others to do your bidding. But for others, the direct approach seems a little more fitting. There's something wonderful about gathering up all your hatred, approaching your foe, and kicking his ass. Sure, it may be illegal, but there's still something satisfying about watching your hated enemy howl in pain or frustration as you dish out some well-deserved punishment.

But for those of you that don't necessarily want to get arrested for assault, try letting off some steam with Yar's Revenge. The evil Qotile force has invaded, leaving nothing but a hazy wasteland of death and sorrow in its wake. These powerful beings have annihilated anything that stood in their path, a bloody quest of domination reaching throughout the cosmos. However, this massacre won't be forgotten. Climbing out of the rubble, a lone survivor named Yar is ready and willing to take action. With nothing but pure determination and an impressive amount of courage fueling his actions, this lowly and unlikely hero is going to take on the deadly Qotile and make them wish they had never stepped foot on his former homeland.

However, this quest for vengeance won't be easy. Though Yar may have all the motivation he needs to see the fight through the end, he's only a tiny bug going up against a monumental enemy force. The only things he has going for him are his decent maneuverability and a dinky laser beam to get him through the battle unscathed. Once Yar enters the battleground, he'll have to fly to and fro, slowly whittling down the enemy's shields with his single-shot beam. He'll have to cross from one end of the screen to the other, crossing over a hazy Neutral Zone to get his shots to hit their desire targets. And once he's finally shattered his foe's defenses, he can fly in and activate the Zorlan Cannon, a weapon powerful enough to wipe out the Qotile ship and restore peace to the world. At least, until the next ship arrives and starts the battle afresh.

Though the process of shield breaking and Zorlan Cannon launching seems simple, the Qotile are prepared to give you a considerable challenge. While Yar comes with just a few decent weapons, this evil force comes with an arsenal of truly lethal proportions. While the Qotile dominates the playing field with a massive shield of blocks, a guided missile roams about the screen, slowly tracking our hero and forcing him to constantly maneuver around it. If Yar manages to stay away from this ultimate smart bomb, he'll have to deal with a charged attack that looks like a spinning swastika. Even if he manages to break through the defenses and weapons, he can commit unintentional suicide by getting hit by the Zorlan Cannon. Also, the speeds of all the weapons will continually rise through the progression of levels, the ultimate test of your control and dodging abilities as a gamer. Considering that Yar can be killed with a single hit, you'll have to stay on your toes, your eyes constantly on the watch for an impending doom.

However, this dance of life, death, and vengeance is not without its beauty. Though Yar may be a pathetic insect, his wings are constantly flapping to show off his vitality and undying spirit. The Qotile is practically overflowing with energy, the ships giving off the glows of a wide spectrum of neon lights. Even the shields come with the faint glow of a powerful force. Also, the guided missile will flash intermittently, letting you know how close you are to being vaporized. Even the Neutral Zone is clearly marked with a haze of multicolored game coding, showing exactly where our hero needs to be before he can take out his ruthless foes. There's a constant hum of static and energy flowing through the battlefield, an occasionally painful and annoying distraction from the task at hand. Thankfully, the Qotile will always start sounding an alarm before it launches its charged attack at you, a turbulent sonic boom following the deadly attack. It's this epic clash of good and evil that will have you coming back for more.

What will ever become of this tale of revenge and victory? Yar's Revenge has become a classic of Atari enthusiasts, a game that many will look back with fond memories. The appeal of this game has nothing to do with the idea of revenge that it tries to condone. Instead, many gamers will fall in love with this primitive shooter, its continual challenge beckoning generations new and old into the battlefield. Its blend of simple shooting, dodging, and timing create an ideal mix to make some quality gameplay. Though we have our Ikarugas and Radiant Silverguns, Yar's Revenge lets us look back into the basics of shooters and reminds us what we love about the genre. So if you're in the need of some vintage shooting and a surprising amount of difficulty, look no further than this game. Revenge way be a dish best served cold, but it can be a tasty treat if served correctly.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/22/05