DESCRIPTION

In a decent Atari 5200 port of Williams' all-time arcade classic, players defend the skies above a planet (and that planet's population) from alien landers and other attackers. Atari's adaptation of Defender is a pleasing mix of the arcade game's complexity and the simplicity of the joystick-driven Atari VCS edition of the game, althought it looks and sounds better by light-years. While the 5200's keypad controller offered the game's programmers the opportunity to replicate the coin-op's button overkill, the emphasis is on the joystick and the two action button clusters on either side of the controller, making this version of Defender smooth and instinctive. ~ Earl Green, All Game Guide