Polaris (arcade game)

Polaris
Developer(s)	Taito
Publisher(s)	Taito
Platform(s)	Arcade (original) Atari 2600, VIC-20
Release	1980
Genre(s)	Fixed shooter
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players, alternating turns
Cabinet	Upright
Display	Vertical, standard; Raster graphics

Polaris is a 1980 fixed shooter arcade game by Taito.

In Polaris, players control a submarine which can only shoot missiles upward. The goal of the player is to destroy all of the planes in each level while avoiding bombs dropped from the aircraft, as well as mines launched by enemy submarines and depth charges dropped from boats that speed by.

The number of points gained by destroying a submarine or large aircraft varies.

Players gain a bonus life at 5,000 points, and none thereafter.

Every three levels, the player is awarded a bonus. After Level 3, the player gains 1,000 points, and each bonus that follows is worth 1,000 points more than the previous, until Level 27 is completed, at which point the bonus maxes out at 9,000 points.

Polaris was ported to the Atari 2600 and Commodore VIC-20 by Tigervision. There is also a mobile phone version and the arcade version included on Taito Memories 2 Gekan available.

Polaris was well received, gaining a Certificate of Merit in the category of "1984 Best Action Videogame" at the 5th annual Arkie Awards.

...
Wikipedia