A Classic Reimagined: Missile Command Delta’s Disappointing Journey
Missile Command Delta offers a fresh interpretation of the beloved 1980 arcade classic by Atari. Upon viewing a trailer, I was eager to dive into what appeared to be a clever reimagining of the original’s gameplay mechanics. However, my excitement quickly faded as I found myself navigating a lackluster first-person narrative, wandering through a deserted bunker, solving monotonous puzzles, and engaging in superficial conversations with one-dimensional characters. Only sporadically did I experience the joy of playing an engaging new version of Missile Command.
Missile Command: A Cold War Icon
The original Missile Command stands as a quintessential representation of Cold War-era gaming, capturing the essence of its time. Players are tasked with defending six cities from a barrage of incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles, utilizing a trackball to launch their own missiles in an attempt to intercept the threats. The gameplay immerses players in a frantic state of defense, skillfully constructing a fragile barrier against the impending doom of nuclear devastation.
A Challenge for Modern Revivals
Despite its status as a classic from the early days of video gaming, Missile Command has proven more challenging to revive compared to contemporaries like Pac-Man. This difficulty arises, in part, from its unique control scheme that does not translate effectively to standard buttons or joysticks. While mouse controls, such as those used in an Apple Macintosh version, offer an alternative, they may also simplify the experience too much. In tackling the modern remake, developers 13AM Games and Mighty Yell found an innovative approach by transforming the game into a turn-based tactical puzzle experience.
Hexagonal Warfare
In Missile Command Delta, the gameplay unfolds on a hexagonal grid. Each turn, players are faced with enemy missile paths and have the opportunity to launch up to three defensive missiles from their inventory. Various missile types are represented as cards, each with distinct ranges and energy costs. Single-stage missiles explode upon launch, while two-stage missiles take an additional turn to reach their target. Upon detonation, these missiles create a circular fireball encompassing seven hexes, capable of destroying any enemy missiles within range, as well as any friendly fire.
A Missed Opportunity for Storytelling
Regrettably, the developers felt compelled to weave a narrative into this clever homage to a minimalist arcade game. The plot revolves around a group of teenagers who trespass into a seemingly deserted military bunker decades after its last use, coinciding with the outbreak of a vaguely defined geopolitical conflict. This storyline is presented in the well-worn format of a first-person puzzle mystery, where players search for essential items and sift through scattered memos for clues.
Struggling to Connect the Past and Present
While I appreciate the attempt to create a contemporary context for Missile Command’s Cold War themes, the execution falls flat. The idea of uncovering and playing the game on vintage computers with bulky CRT monitors in an old bunker is intriguing. However, it is the only idea the game truly requires. The tactical design speaks volumes on its own, and a more defined historical setting would have enhanced the experience, especially given the narrative’s nods to 1980s films like The Goonies and WarGames, where a young hacker unwittingly pushes the world to the brink of nuclear conflict.
The Pitfalls of Narrative in Game Design
The real shortcoming lies in the uninspired execution of the first-person mystery element — a far cry from the engaging storytelling of games like Blue Prince. By incorporating a derivative narrative into a compelling and original gameplay experience, 13AM Games and Mighty Yell risk diluting the essence of their creation. This choice reflects a troubling lack of faith in the core concept of the game.
Not every game design benefits from a narrative overlay, nor does every story demand the complexity of a mystery box. The original Missile Command, despite its simplicity, conveyed a powerful message about the pervasive fear of apocalypse during the late 20th century, a resonance that will likely endure far longer than this new iteration.
