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Illustration of Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom

Overview

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom is a single player science fiction themed obstacle race, where the player controls Buck Rogers' space ship and must guide it through multiple pairs of pylons throughout the game. Controlling the ship involves side scrolling to the left or right, stop, moving forward (and faster), and moving backwards/break (and slower). Additionally, the spaceship can also fire its weapon to unleash a pair of energy bolts.

The player starts in sector 1.0 and will finish this level after the player successfully goes between an allocated number of pylons, indicated at the top left side of the screen; the first requirement is 9 pylons and will gradually increase with each new sector. In sector 1.1., with the addition of having to complete the pylon requirement, a group of flying saucers, ranging from 1 to 4 (per group), fly in a pattern. The player must avoid these flying saucers by maneuvering out of their way or by shooting them down. In sector 1.3., a new type of robot spaceship (at least one) will fly erratically and attempt to crash into the player's space ship (due to the marvel of technology of that era, enemy ships that disappear from one side of the screen, will emerge on the other side of the screen). Later sectors will gradually introduce more difficult challenges.

The game ends when the player loses all three lives by crashing into (or being crashed by, it seems sometimes) pylons or enemy space ships. Although there is no penalty in avoiding pylons altogether, the game will also end if the allocated amount of time (indicated by a long bar at the top center screen) runs out. The player may increase speed to move faster, which will present maneuverability challenges in itself. The overall score increases by distance traveled, pylons traveled through, and enemy spaceships shot down. The latest score and the high score are saved and shown in the main menu.

Platform
Atari 800
Genre
Shooter
Alternate Names
  • Buck Rodgers

Media

Box - 3D

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Box - 3D (North America) - 325x600
North America -  325 x 600

Box - Back

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Box - Back (North America) - 800x1157
North America -  800 x 1157

Box - Front

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Box - Front (North America) - 600x881
North America -  600 x 881
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Box - Front (North America) - 800x1156
North America -  800 x 1156

Cart - Front

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Cart - Front (North America) - 753x1217
North America -  753 x 1217

Clear Logo

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Clear Logo (null) - 1600x300
1600 x 300
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Clear Logo (North America) - 2400x426
North America -  2400 x 426

Screenshot - Game Title

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Screenshot - Game Title (null) - 336x240
336 x 240

Screenshot - Gameplay

Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Screenshot - Gameplay (null) - 336x240
336 x 240
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Screenshot - Gameplay (null) - 336x240
336 x 240
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom - Screenshot - Gameplay (null) - 336x240
336 x 240