Gravitar

Gameplay

Gravitar combined the thrust-and-rotate ship controls of Asteroids with planetary exploration and gravity physics. Players navigated a solar system map, chose planets to visit, then descended to the surface where gravity constantly pulled the ship downward. Each planet had gun emplacements to destroy and fuel depots to collect. Running out of fuel meant death. Players had to master the delicate art of thrusting against gravity while dodging enemy fire.

Historical Significance

Gravitar was one of the most ambitious vector games ever made, incorporating a solar system map, multiple planet types, gravitational physics, and fuel management. However, its extreme difficulty made it commercially disappointing — Atari produced approximately 5,427 units. The game is often cited as a classic example of a brilliant design that was too hard for the average arcade player.

Fun Facts & Legacy

Gravitar's core mechanic — fighting gravity while navigating terrain — directly influenced later games like Thrust (1986) and arguably the entire "cave flyer" genre. The game offered a hidden bonus planet and an "invisible" universe where terrain disappeared, leaving only enemy fire visible. It was the color vector counterpart to Lunar Lander's gravity-based gameplay.