reviews

Game: Tron
Platform: Arcade
Year Released: 1982



Finally, it’s here! It wasn’t a trick, or a figment of my imagination—the 1982 arcade game Tron is finally available via Xbox Live. Therefore, my game of choice on this particular Throwback Thursday was very easy to determine. Instead of poring over my stack of PS1, NES, Genesis, and N64 games like I usually do, trying to decide what one to share with the rest of you, I simply decided that Tron would fit the bill.

Now almost 26 years old, this game is definitely a classic. Unlike most games that I review on Thursdays, it’s also much more accessible, at least for 360 owners. You don’t need a long-obsolete console to play this one—just 400 Microsoft points, and a little bit of patience.

Tron is a well-rounded game, especially for 1982, and like most games of the era, it’s very hard. The level of challenge always seems even more apparent in arcade games; after all, if you don’t lose, how are you going to keep pumping it full of quarters to play again? Being able to play this in the comfort of my own home, without losing countless coins (because trust me, I got my share of Game Overs), is well worth the $5 it costs in points.



Tron is divided into four games, all derived directly from the film: I/O Tower, MCP Cone, Battle Tanks, and Light Cycles. Each game has 12 increasingly difficult levels. They’re all difficult the first time you play them and take a few tries to master, even on the easier levels.

I/O Tower and MCP Cone both have you clearing a path in order to get through the level. These are probably the levels you’re most likely to get through on the first try, but they can still be tricky. In I/O Tower, you only have a small amount of time to shoot some nasty creatures out of the way, while in MCP Cone, not clearing the path properly leads to instant death.



Light Cycles is the most fun, but also the easiest to mess up in. The player has control over the speed and direction of his or her bike, but an opposing biker will be looking to take you out in a big way. Hit his trail, circle into your own, or smash into the wall, and it’s all over.

And finally we have Battle Tanks, which sometimes feels a little more like a chore than a game. As the name suggests, you’re in a tank, battling with another, trying to control both the direction of your tank and your gun. It’s sometimes hard to control all of this, and you don’t have many opportunities to destroy the other tank. Even if you get a few direct hits, if he gets even one shot off, you’re done for.



With this much content, you can’t tell me that this game is not worth buying. If you’re a fan of the original movie, an arcade junkie, or just have some MS points to spend, go ahead and download it. With added features that weren’t originally in the arcade version, you’ve got a lot to look forward to.

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