Tempest

Gameplay

The player controls a claw-shaped shooter positioned on the rim of a three-dimensional geometric tube. Enemies — Flippers, Tankers, Spikers, and Fuseballs — emerge from the far end of the tube and crawl toward the rim. The player moves around the rim using a spinner knob and shoots down the tube. A Superzapper weapon can clear the screen once per level. Each level features a different tube shape — circles, squares, figure-eights, open lanes — with 16 unique designs that cycle with increasing difficulty and new color palettes.

Historical Significance

Tempest was the first game to use Atari's color vector display hardware, painting vivid multi-colored lines on the screen. It was also the first arcade game to allow players to select their starting level (up to level 9). Dave Theurer's design created a game of extraordinary visual and kinesthetic intensity — the combination of the spinner control, the sense of depth, and the vibrant color vectors made Tempest a sensory experience unlike anything else in the arcade. It is consistently ranked among the greatest arcade games of all time.

Fun Facts & Legacy

Dave Theurer reportedly got the initial concept from a nightmare about monsters climbing out of a hole toward him. The spinner control was integral to the experience — the proportional speed of the knob allowed both precise positioning and rapid traversal. The game's 16 level shapes and increasing color cycles meant players kept encountering new visual experiences. Tempest inspired numerous sequels and remakes, including Tempest 2000 by Jeff Minter for the Atari Jaguar (1994), which became a cult classic in its own right.