Two Stick Games

For some reason, I have an affinity for early arcade games, especially those that made use of two joysticks for player control. I fondly remember walking into an arcade and seeing Crazy Climber for the first time. I was simply amazed by how this game was made even better by its inclusion of two joysticks for the movement of the on-screen avatar. I also have fond memories of playing Battlezone in its vector graphics glory in a laundromat my family frequented (yes, we were poor), and thoroughly loving the reality of the game, especially its twin sticks for the left and right tracks of the player's tank.

With that in mind, here is my short list of two-stick arcade classics:

Battlezone
Robotron 2084
Space Dungeon
Crazy Climber

Each fun in its own right. If anyone comes up with any others, please add to the list.

Not on arcade, but Stargate (Defender II) on the 2600 also requires two joysticks to play.

I am curious to know if arcade Stargate used two sticks. I think it did.

Also, they sell a foot pedal controller on ebay that I have heard works well for VCS Stargate for the second controller functions.

sloan wrote:I am curious to know if arcade Stargate used two sticks. I think it did.

Also, they sell a foot pedal controller on ebay that I have heard works well for VCS Stargate for the second controller functions.

A foot pedal controller? I'd get that if it works with Stargate!

Right here. One of these days, I may spring for one.

Cool, thanks! It doesn't appear to be that expensive.

I was curious, so found this picture



Arcade Stargate only had one joystick, but look at the slew of fire buttons for various functions. No wonder it needed a second controller for the VCS port.

That's what I thought. On the Vectrex, Protector is a port of Defender and you use all four buttons on the controller in addition to the joystick. Not really surprising that the 2600 needs the extra controller either. Though they could have taken the Omega Race approach. By the way, I just ordered that foot controller as it will make it much easier to use the smartbombs.

Cool foot pedal!

Also not an arcade game but Raiders of the Lost Ark for the vcs used both controllers.

How are the two controllers used on Raiders?

One controller moves you and the other is used for your inventory. Drop and pick up things.

onthinice wrote:One controller moves you and the other is used for your inventory. Drop and pick up things.

Cool! Is the game any good? I've never played it but I do know it has a very nice title screen!

For me it has held up well. Always thought it was a neat concept to use two controllers. I beat it years ago. Not sure if I could now without hints.

onthinice wrote:For me it has held up well. Always thought it was a neat concept to use two controllers. I beat it years ago. Not sure if I could now without hints.

Nice! Well, that'll keep you going back to it!

Dang nabbit TrekMD. Now I am thinking about that foot pedal instead of DK2.

onthinice wrote:Dang nabbit TrekMD. Now I am thinking about that foot pedal instead of DK2.

The foot pedal controller is only $20 right now on ebay. I'd snag one if I were you since they normally go for more than that. Nevermind that these are boxed!

They really look nice!

onthinice wrote:They really look nice!

They sure do!

Planning a review for foot control in the tidbits section?

LOL maybe. Check out my review of the Overdrive Controller when it gets posted next week on RVG and let me know what you think.

What is the Overdrive Controller?

sloan wrote:What is the Overdrive Controller?

The Overdrive Controller is a new hombebrew made driving controller for the Vectrex that Fury Unlimited is selling. The buttons can be customized to all red or red and green. I got mine with red and green buttons. This is what it looks like:

I will and you are such a tease!

TrekMD wrote:By the way, I just ordered that foot controller as it will make it much easier to use the smartbombs.

You never reported on how the foot pedal controller enhances Defender II/Stargate. Can you elaborate? I am thinking I will pick one up in the next week or two.

Stargate requires use of two controllers to play the game. Here are the instructions:

Insert the STARGATE cartridge as explained in your 2600 Video
Computer System owner's guide, and turn on your system.

Use Two Joysticks! Plug a joystick controller into BOTH
controller jacks for this one-player game. Use the left
controller for manuevering your ship and firing on the aliens.

Use the right controller to activate SMARTBOMBS and INVISO,
and to jump to HYPERSPACE. Press the fire button to activate
SMARTBOMBS. Move the joystick forward to activate INVISO;
move it back to activate HYPERSPACE. If you run out of
SMARTBOMBS, pressing the fire button will activate INVISO.
Once you run out of INVISO, pressing the fire button will send
you into HYPERSPACE.

You can use the foot pedal controller as joystick 2 so you don't have to worry about how to hold two controllers at once.

Thanks for the update!