Defender

Defender - the 1983 arcade shooter for Commodore 64 from Atarisoft.

Protect humanoids across a wraparound landscape while juggling radar,
reverse thrust, and risky hyperspace as alien waves escalate.

Core loop
- sweep the horizon blasting invaders and rescuing colonists
- catch falling humanoids and return them to the ground
- clear waves to advance - lose the planet if all ten are lost or mutated

Systems and items
- landers - abduct humans - escape turns them into mutants
- bombers and pods - lay mines - pods split into swarmers
- baiters - fast interceptors that spawn if you dawdle
- smart bombs - emergency screen-clear with limited stock
- hyperspace - random jump that can kill you - use sparingly
- scanner - top-band radar shows threats off-screen

Level design and feel
Side-scrolling action with a simple mountain skyline and tight controls.
The scanner compresses the world so you can react before enemies
reach your colonists. Pacing is steadier than the arcade original.

Why it is notable
- official Williams arcade adaptation on C64 via Atarisoft cartridge
- early 1983 release with two-player alternating mode
- unusual on C64 for using joystick in port 1

Tips
- hover above abductees, reverse thrust, then scoop the falling human
- save smart bombs for pods or mutant swarms near your ship
- keep moving to prevent baiters from spawning

At a glance
Year - 1983
Developer - Atari, Inc. (Atarisoft)
Design and programming - Joe Simko
Publisher - Atarisoft
Genre - Shoot ‘em up
Players - 1 or 2 alternating
Controls - Joystick in port 1 + keys (F7 hyperspace - Space smart bomb)