Intellivision Lives! on DS - Hover Force

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Intellivision Lives! on DS - Hover Force

On 05/10/2014 at 04:05 PM by KnightDriver

Hover Force is a helicopter game with a top down view of a city and its surroundings. You are tasked with protecting New Seeburg against terrorists (boy was that theme over used in the 80’s). You fire your laser cannon at enemy helicopters and fire your water cannon to put out building fires until the mission is complete.

I was able to jump right into this game and get a sense of it without reading instructions, but to get the full experience, it’s wise to read up and figure out all the things you can do and your objectives.

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One thing I didn’t know, because I didn’t read the instructions, was that you have an island base just to one side of the city where you can refuel and repair yourself up to two times.

This game was originally created to show off 3D effects using a specific kind of 3D glasses, but when it was finally released in 1986, the glasses were dropped from the packaging. Apparently the glasses were then used for Crayola’s 3D Chalk Toy, and if you can get a hold of one of those, you can use the glasses and see the 3D effect in this game. I’d love to see this in 3D on the 3DS.

This from Space Invader on the Atari Age Forums on using the glasses from the Crayola product:

"Y'all are in luck because those 3D glasses are currently available from Crayola with their 3D sidewalk chalk. I picked up a set. It set me back about five bucks, but it works. The effect in Hover Force does have quite a "wow" factor. Especially on the title screen. In game, the buildings do have a nice appearance of depth. Their odd shapes help to accentuate this. But the 3D is mostly a gimmick as the enemy helicoptors do not have the effect. So the 3D doesn't really enhance gameplay. It's mostly in the background. But the status screen looks neat. It is kind of neat seeing the game in 3D for the first time since it was in development. "

Comments

Super Step Contributing Writer

05/10/2014 at 08:05 PM

Reminds me of that Sniper Scope arcade game.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 07:18 PM

This one I guess. It's like Hover Force but from the ground up.

Super Step Contributing Writer

05/11/2014 at 09:54 PM

That looks right, only maybe I'm remembering a sequel or something, cause I remember the game being from your vantage point in a helicopter and most being you looking down from above, though still in first person.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 10:50 PM

Maybe it was later levels of the game or maybe you meant Silent Scope? I think there's some sniping from a helicopter in that one.

Super Step Contributing Writer

05/11/2014 at 11:24 PM

It had Sniper in the title, was an arcade game with a giant fake light gun, and involved a copter.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 11:30 PM

I had some trouble finding info on Sniper Scope, but the net is swimming with info about Silent Scope. Both had that arcade machine with the sniper gun periferal. There is mention of an Air Combat segment in the first Silent Scope on wiki.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 11:36 PM

Never mind. I just watched a playthrough of Silent Scope and there's no chopper segment. Shooting from rooftops and moving vehicles is about it.

Cary Woodham

05/10/2014 at 11:17 PM

This was one of the Intellivision games I played that I thought was ahead of its time.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 07:31 PM

Now I think of it. Hover Force reminds me of being in a helicopter in Crackdown 2 looking for orbs.

The games I played back in the day would've had to have been released between 1979 and 1982. I switched high schools in '82 and stopped going to my neighbors for Intellivision playing. Hover Force was 1986, so this is the first I've seen of it.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

05/11/2014 at 01:22 PM

wow.

KnightDriver

05/11/2014 at 07:55 PM

They were trying out 3D tech all the way back in 1984. This game was playable in 3D at a games show that year. 3D seems like such a good idea for games, but it really hasn't caught on even in 2014. Most people don't even use the 3D slider on the 3DS. I mean, I use it all the time, but I've heard most people turn it off.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

05/11/2014 at 08:08 PM

I use it.

goaztecs

05/12/2014 at 02:00 PM

I don't know if you have it already, but check your local Toys R Us. A lot of their DS games are in the their big clearance sale and the local spot has the Atari comp for $20 but it's 60% off.

KnightDriver

05/13/2014 at 03:00 PM

hum. . . may have to run over there tomorrow and see what they got. Thanks.

C.S.3590SquadLeader

05/15/2014 at 03:54 PM

That looked like it'd be pretty fun to play, though I probably wouldn't be that good at it.

KnightDriver

05/16/2014 at 12:16 PM

It's pretty simple although the targeting is a little strange. I think the enemy does damage to you if they hit your cross-hair. That's kinda weird. What's weirder though is the video I found of Intellivision programmers doing home movies. The frist game they talk about at 40 sec is Hover Force.

Jamie Alston Staff Writer

05/19/2014 at 08:03 AM

Wow. Filming has come a long way.

KnightDriver

05/20/2014 at 12:12 AM

The days of video tape cassetts. I remember it well.

NSonic79

06/22/2014 at 12:47 PM

Give it time. Since Sega is release 3D variants of some of their classic titles I would not be shocked if this game made an appearance on the 3DS VC line up.

KnightDriver

06/22/2014 at 02:17 PM

It uses a special 3D thing. Apparently it's a little different than the one used for DS or the color based ones used for movies. Still, they should be able to do something with it.