Tempest 2000

When a neon web of geometry lights up the screen and a techno soundtrack starts pumping into your ears, it is clear that this is no ordinary shooter. Tempest 2000 is an absolute star of the Atari Jaguar library and for many players to this day the one truly unforgettable reason to even own this troubled console.

The game builds on the classic arcade machine Tempest by Atari from 1981. The principle remains: you move along the edge of a tubular, geometric arena and shoot down into the depths at enemies who crawl up toward you. But Tempest 2000 wrapped the original concept in an ecstatic layer of modern sound, dazzling effects and addictive upgrades. You collect bonuses, activate jumps, gain more powerful firepower and sink deeper into the hypnotic trance the game is able to induce.

Behind the game stands Jeff Minter and his studio Llamasoft, a developer renowned for his love of abstract, psychedelic shooters and his idiosyncratic humor. Tempest 2000 was released in 1994 as one of the first and at the same time best titles for the Jaguar. At a time when the console suffered from a lack of quality software, this game was shining proof that the machine could be fun.

Tempest 2000 earned exceptionally strong reviews and became a cult title that is regularly ranked among the best games for the Jaguar ever. Its soundtrack etched itself deep into players' memories, and the game later inspired further titles in Minter's work, among others his later Tempest projects. For the Jaguar it was one of the few moments of true glory.

The gameplay is addictive to the point of danger. Once you get caught in the whirl of the rotating arena and the synaptic music, you lose track of time. It is an experience so musically and visually tight that the game could easily be likened to an interactive form of music, where every hit and every dodge fits the rhythm. Tempest 2000 is proof that a brilliant idea does not age; it just needs to be amplified correctly.

Why play: For a hypnotic cocktail of neon geometry, pumping techno and perfectly tuned arcade action. One of the few titles for which it makes sense to switch on the Jaguar at all.