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Missile Command (USA)

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Missile Command Overview

Missile Command for Game Boy Color is a portable adaptation of the classic 1980 arcade game. Released in North America sometime around 1999, this version was published by Atari and brings the frantic, screen-filling action to Nintendo's handheld. As a direct port of the original coin-op, it sticks closely to the arcade formula without adding unnecessary frills or remixes. The player controls three missile bases at the bottom of the screen, each with a limited supply of counter-missiles. Incoming missiles rain down from the top, and you must move a crosshair using the D-Pad to aim and fire. The goal is to protect six cities from being destroyed by the descending warheads. A single hit on a city turns it into a crater, and losing all cities ends the game. Between waves, bonus points are awarded for remaining cities and ammo, encouraging careful resource management. Today, this Game Boy Color version holds up as a straightforward, no-nonsense port of a timeless arcade challenge. It lacks the trackball of the original but compensates with responsive controls and a clean monochrome display on the original hardware (or colorized on GBC). If you enjoy high-score chasing or retro arcade games that test your reflexes and split-second decision making, this is a solid pick. It is not a groundbreaking transformation of the source material, but it faithfully captures the tension and satisfaction of the original in a bite-sized form.

GAME INFO

Platform: Game Boy Color
Genre: Arcade
Publisher: Atari, Inc.
Developer: Atari, Inc.
Players: 1
Region: USA
Based on: Missile Command (arcade)

How to play Missile Command online

Getting Started

Your objective is to defend six cities from waves of incoming missiles. The screen scrolls automatically, showing the entire battlefield at once. Use the D-Pad to move a crosshair anywhere on the screen. Press the attack button (X by default) to fire a counter-missile from the nearest base to that position. Each base has a finite number of missiles - watch the indicator at the bottom of the screen.

Missiles come in from the top and sides, sometimes in clusters or at varying speeds. You can also destroy enemy missiles with a single well-placed counter-missile, but you cannot shoot through your own explosions. Prioritize threats near your cities and try to conserve ammo for later waves. Bonus points are awarded for any remaining cities and unused missiles at the end of a wave.

A new player should start on the first difficulty setting to get a feel for timing and aiming. Do not waste missiles on distant missiles if they are not heading directly toward a city - focus on the closest dangers. As the game progresses, more aggressive patterns appear, so stay calm and keep moving the crosshair. There is no continue or save feature; each game is a fresh arcade session.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button (jump / confirm)
S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
Enter: Start / Pause
V: Select

Missile Command FAQ

Does Missile Command have a multiplayer or co-op mode?

The Game Boy Color version of Missile Command is strictly single-player. There is no two-player mode or cooperative play available in this port. The original arcade game also lacked multiplayer, so this remains faithful to that design.

In what year was Missile Command originally released?

The original Missile Command arcade game debuted in 1980, developed by Atari and designed by Dave Theurer. The Game Boy Color port arrived much later, with a release likely in 1999, though specific documentation for the handheld version is thin.

Which regions was Missile Command released in?

This particular cartridge is labeled "USA" and was released exclusively in North America. No Japanese or European releases of this Game Boy Color version are widely documented, so it is considered a US-only title.

All Game Boy Color games