The Atari ST version of Argonaut Software‘s pioneering 3D shooter, Starglider, first came out in 1986 – a year before the Amiga version (for some reason – I don’t know why).
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X, Game Boy
This game – called simply “X” – was a Japan-only release, in 1992, on the original black and white Game Boy, but its conception and development would later have a profound effect on Nintendo‘s confidence in producing 3D-based games.
X was created by British developer Argonaut Software (specifically, by Dylan Cuthbert, who was later infamously ‘poached’ by Nintendo from Argonaut), and was a demonstration of their ability to produce 3D-based games on home video game systems. This impressed Nintendo, who then tasked Argonaut with creating a new 3D game on their Super Nintendo console, which eventually became the classic Star Fox. And the rest is history… Sort of.
Krakatoa, ZX Spectrum
Written by Paul W. Reynolds and published for the ZX Spectrum by Abbex Electronics in 1984, Krakatoa – also known as “Escape From Krakatoa” – is a scrolling action game with multiple objectives in which you fly a helicopter in order to rescue people from the infamous erupting volcano.
Yellow Submarine, MSX
It’s not often you get a game that’s based on a Beatles song, and Yellow Submarine for the MSX is one such rare example. Published by Takeru in 1987 Yellow Submarine is of course not an official license and was slipped out to the Japanese MSX market – on cartridge – in the hope that no one at Apple Records would notice. If they did, it appears that nothing was done about it.
Zarlor Mercenary, Atari Lynx
Zarlor Mercenary is a single or multiplayer vertically-scrolling “bullet hell” shooter that was developed by Epyx and released exclusively for the Atari Lynx in 1990. The game plays in landscape (horizontal) format, and the background scrolls horizontally too.
Zzoom, ZX Spectrum
Written by John Gibson and published by Imagine Software in 1983, Zzoom is a simple first-person shoot ’em up where the aim is to protect refugees from attacking enemy forces.
Radar Lock, Atari 2600
Radar Lock is an air combat shoot ’em up written by Doug Neubauer and published by Atari Corporation in 1989. The game is basically an After Burner derivative that uses a modified version of the engine used in Neubauer‘s previous Atari 2600 game, Solaris.
Missile Command 3D, Atari Jaguar
Missile Command 3D is an Atari Jaguar exclusive remake of Atari‘s classic 1980 arcade game, Missile Command, and it was developed by Virtuality Entertainment and first published by Atari Corporation in 1995.
Strike Fleet, Commodore 64
Strike Fleet is a naval combat simulation developed by Lucasfilm Games and first published by Electronic Arts in 1988. It is the unofficial sequel to the game P.H.M. Pegasus* and it received rave reviews at the time of its original release. * = You can even take control of a Pegasus class craft if you want, which is a classy nod to the game’s predecessor.
P.H.M. Pegasus, Commodore 64
P.H.M. Pegasus was developed by Lucasfilm Games and first published by Electronic Arts in 1987. It is a naval combat simulation where the player uses helicopters, convoy ships and hydrofoils to patrol and survey the sea, to clear areas of enemy forces, and escort friendly ships through risky waters.