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In this excerpt from the book “The Sega Arcade Revolution: a History in 62 Games,” Ken Horowitz looks at the troubled journey of Sega’s arcade hit Zaxxon to the C64 computer. A web of lies and deception caused Sega a major headache, as well as a financial loss to its parent company, Paramount.
Zaxxon is a true Sega classic that broke ground on many levels. From its innovative isometric perspective to its pioneering use of television promotion, the game redefined the space shooter genre in 1982. Decades removed from its historic debut, it’s still a blast to play, proving that great games never lose their shine.
The 32X tried really hard to impress with its 3D visuals, and to be frank, it didn’t really succeed all that often. Sega also tried hard to attract gamers with innovative gameplay ideas, and they even resurrected a long-forgotten franchise in the attempt. Zaxxon’s Motherbase 2000 didn’t exactly do its namesake justice, but didn’t exactly fall on its face either. Check out our full report for all the flat-shaded details!