Tempest (1981) [Arcade]

Tempest is a 1981 arcade game by Atari Inc., designed and programmed by Dave Theurer. It takes place on a three-dimensional surface, sometimes wrapped into a tube, which is viewed from one end and is divided into a dozen or more segments or lanes. The player controls a claw-shaped spaceship (named Blaster) that crawls along the near edge of the playfield, moving from segment to segment.
Tempest was one of the first games to use Atari's Color-QuadraScan vector display technology. It was also the first games to allow the player to choose their starting level (a system Atari dubbed "SkillStep"). This feature increases the maximum starting level depending on the player's performance in the previous game, essentially allowing the player to continue. Tempest was one of the first video games to sport a progressive level design in which the levels themselves varied rather than giving the player the same layout with increasing difficulty levels.

[@markfoe3187]

The money I spent on this game in the 80's has delayed my retirement by 2 years.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Prolly paid someonelse's in the process.

[@noway165]

Throw a couple of mine in too.

[@franciscoreyes3057]

Just walking in to an arcade back in the 80s and hearing this along with Centipede, Pacman, Donkey Kong and many more. The nostalgia.

[@Angie2343]

By far one of the greatest games. Tempest 2000 made it even better with the music and graphics though.

[@Foxonian]

One of the few video games I used to be really good at back in the day.

[@noway165]

It was almost always open. Have to watch to see if they get to green levels. AI, learned your tactics!

[@frankhuizar9171]

This was my game! I past the last levels and my score went from 999,999 back to 0. Spent many quarters at the bowling alley!

[@Pluto2363]

one my all time favs...dropped many a quarter in the Tempest machine back in the day.

[@RealUnicorn]

I remember this. I couldn’t remember the name and when I saw the American Dad Episode The Vacation Goo, Klaus bought and Atari game off eBay. When I saw he was playing the machine at the end of the episode the game he was playing looked familiar. I asked my mom if she remembers this game and she said yes but can’t remember the name. Glad I finally found this.

[@BroodXindustrial]

Oh man. Turned way up and tuned way out.
Memories. Yessssss!!!!

[@supersmallchibiwolf872]

I have played many arcade games but I haven't played this arcade game the stores have other games but this one. Hopefully one day I get to play this game it looks challenging and I love challenging games. Cool video. ^_^

[@marlonhinton2371]

I Loved this game back in my High School days (SR 83 Rules) I was really good at it too.
I remember once my High School girlfriend got very tired of watching me play. So she stormed off in a huff.
Then got over it, came back and got pissed off again because I never even knew she left. (LOL)
If only we could go back and do it all over again...(All Of It)

[@MegaJCJC]

Thanks for the video. Brought back a lot of good memories

[@mindorokano]

I used to play this all the time in the early 80's. But it was really difficult if you had a Defender next to you, because they used the same sounds.

[@starrynight_reverie]

I played this at an arcade around a month ago. This was the first time I played it but it was a fun game.

[@tooost1886]

I wish there were speedruns of this game because tempest is one of my favorite games

[@yuriguedes4898]

Subdivisions, in the high school halls, in the shopping malls, conform or be cast out

[@mikedski9698]

SUPERZAPPER RECHARGE!
TEMPEST!
The Arcade Hit From Atari!

[@omega311888]

LOVED this game! thanks for posting!

[@davem3789]

Excellent quality! Thanks

[@StarForceBelmont321]

So used to fast paced techno music playing during this

[@bluejay1088]

feels like it should be, but there is none, how does nobody get anxious playing this?

[@StarForceBelmont321]

@@bluejay1088 tempest 2000 and x3 fix the issue

[@steved2656]

This is one game I couldn’t play worth a squat. Defender and Battlezone were my best games.

[@darrelldundee7198]

this was a intimidating game....

[@gochem3013]

My brother played this game back in 2003. And I played in 2011/12.

[@ghetinknotabush8602]

is this game still available for PC?...OMG, i just lost 40 years off my life merely watching a replay!...AWESOME!!!

[@jasondickstein71]

Who tried to get the 40 credits mentioned in Ready Player One?

[@songword3279]

Cool!

[@Zimoct]

Wow! This looks super ancient!

[@robertthomas5736]

One of My, Many Favorite Games -it took a Lot of Quarters,not a lot of mine,but People Would Pay Me, to Teach Them How to Play, in Middle School

[@Scary_Mar0]

Polybius: You and I aren’t so different…

Jogador N °1 me trouxe aqui

[@robertthomas5736]

It's Ataris ,Arcade Game, Tempest!😎

[@Katharsis540]

Netflix: Level Up. Great documentary.

[@robertthomas5736]

Wow,it's Tempest, from Atari Games!

[@Autumnsings98]

Ready player one anyone 😁

[@Rickywestenmn]

I think that may have paid for the machine that I played that game on outright with all the money I dumped into it

[@MrNewhatt]

RUSH Subdivisions music video brought me here.

[@Katharsis540]

Can see the Tool connection..Squaring of the circle. 7empest.

[@anamariaprincepineda3434]

This thing caused lots of children to die

[@rosybumpsnbruises4968]

Dude its Polybius Knockoff

[@galenstone9097]

Danny Mason Keener

[@SimoneMarcolla]

It seems a prequel to gyruss...

[@BlackDiamond2718]

My skills were best on this game

[@reyxxerxen2664]

Polybius, are you?