The Atari 2600 version of the classic arcade shooter, Gorf, was programmed by Alex Leavens and first released in 1982 by CBS Video Games. It is a cut-down version of the arcade original*, with graphics and scenes that barely recreate it.

* = Yes, it doesn’t have the fifth ‘Galaxian‘ stage, which most commercial ports of the game are missing due to rights issues. Enhanced homebrew ports of the game have since re-instated it.

There are four different stages: a Space Invaders-like “Astro Battle” wave, where you have to clear the aliens before they reach the bottom of the screen; a “Laser Attack” stage, where you have to shoot a certain number of alien craft that are trying to zap you; “Space Warp“, where you must destroy five Gorfian Attackers in succession, and finally the “Flag Ship” stage, where you have to put a bullet in the exhaust port of the Gorf mothership.

What makes Gorf, really, is the fact that you shoot a new bullet (and the previous one disappears) whenever you press fire. This prevents you from firing multiple bullets at the same time, and makes successful hits more about timing and luck, than skill or aim.

The game offers nine levels of difficulty, but precious little in terms of spectacle, authenticity, or longevity.

If you want to play Gorf now, the arcade original is still the best option, or one of the newer 2600 re-makes. The original 1982 Gorf on the Atari 2600 is for completists only.

More: Gorf on Wikipedia