The Atari charge continues as they bring Jeff Minter’s lost hypnotic new wave shooter to life, releasing on PC and console. It’s time for Akka Arrh.
Akka Arrh, as a game, has been created on the back of an arcade prototype that was released way back in 1982, a prototype that never really saw the light of day, scrapped due to its difficulty. Delivered via the creative vision of the iconic Jeff Minter (he of Tempest fame), Akka Arrh now hits the modern day audience, releasing on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC and Atari VCS.
It’s the latest game in Atari’s latest world conquering ideals, fitting in alongside the Recharged series of games that has seen the likes of Centipede, Yars, Missile Command and more all brought up-to-date for gamers of this era. On the whole, that Recharged series has been a delight too, with the next instalment – that of Caverns of Mars – hugely anticipated.
But today it’s all about the madness – and honestly, it is madness – of Akka Arrh; a game that plays as a fever dream, throwing colours, of strobe, of neon and of chaos towards the eyes of gamers. Atari are selling this as a ‘frenzied kaleidoscope of neon insanity’ and we couldn’t put it any better than that.
The plan in Akka Arrh is to string together explosions, creating chains of destruction, gathering up points and experience as you go. It is all powered by your single fixed turret – your Sentinel – as you try your best to save your defenses from harm. Our full review is coming and we’ll let you know how Akka Arrh plays out on Xbox Series X|S. That is unless our eyes explode.
The key features of Akka Arrh are pretty solid though, containing all of the following…
- A Whirlwind of Electrifying Color: From the mind of Jeff Minter, players will experience a cascade of words, color, shapes and sound flows as they mount the Akka Arrh and fend off attackers. An explosion of dazzling neon graphics, Akka Arrh is a visually stunning, action-packed arcade shooter.
- Ready, Aim, Fire!: Akka Arrh shares the name with the game’s titular star cannon, in which players control from a fixed turret called the Sentinel. Featuring fast-paced wave-shooter action, players will prevent enemies from penetrating the Sentinel’s perimeter, zooming into close range combat and beat them back if they penetrate their defenses.
- Mystifying Modes to Master: With two modes of play, pilots can start from the beginning and battle their way through 50 unique levels, or pick up where they left off to power through to the end.
- Accessibility is Key: Though Llamasoft is known for mind-blowing and vivid visual effects, not everyone is able to enjoy them. Luckily, in the remake, players are able to toggle the visual effects to a more suitable level.
Up for some colour chaos? Akka Arrh is available from your favourite digital store, with ours being the Xbox Store. Heading over there, splashing some cash and taking in a download will see you able to play this lost experiment on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. You will also find Akka Arrh on PlayStation, Switch, PC and Atari VCS. Expect to pay around £14.99.
Game Description:
A cascade of words, color, shapes and sound flows around your turret as you desperately fight off swarms of inbound attackers. If enemies penetrate your perimeter you need to zoom into close range combat and beat them back, adjusting to a completely different perspective in the blink of an eye. Welcome to Jeff Minter’s Akka Arrh. This modern take from the fine developers at Llamasoft combines the intrigue of an incredibly rare Atari arcade prototype with a unique creative vision that delivers a wave shooter that is insanely addictive. Akka Arrh drips with Minter’s sense of humor, love of psychedelic color, and ability to create games that are a joy to play.
