Crossbow Review!

[gorfcadet]

This game is so freaking quirky, but I love it. Hope everybody is having a great weekend!

 

 

 

Exidy had other arcade gun games from the era, but Crossbow was the only one to get a 7800 release. Chiller did make it to the NES, but Cheyenne and Clay Pigeon never were never ported. Was it some kind of Exidy rule that zapper games start with "C"?

 

What are your favorite zapper games on the 7800?

[Trebor]

What are your favorite zapper games on the 7800?

 

Regarding the few 7800 light gun games, one is actually a 'top ten' title for me, Alien Brigade; although, like Crossbow (which is worthy of an honorable mention), the device is optional.

The remaining light gun compatible games, all require the device. Barnyard Blaster is good for a round or two but is too easy. Sentinel, I just never really enjoy that much; last (and least), Meltdown is horrible.

A shame Crack'ed does not at least support a light gun controller as optional. Although not a 'top ten' title, there are days where I could state it is near favorable as Crossbow.

Spoiler below contains a plethora of paths I've put together for playing Crossbow. From the "quickest" (4 steps) through "covers all areas - no repeats" (8 steps), if interested.

 

 

4 STEPS [QUICKEST]:

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Green Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

6 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Green Path (River/Lake)

Red Path (Volcano)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

6 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

6 STEPS [uSED AFTER "4 STEPS [QUICKEST]" COVERS ALL AREAS WITH ONLY UNAVOIDABLE REPEATS]:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

7 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Green Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

7 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

8 STEPS [COVERS ALL AREAS - NO REPEATS]:

Green Path (Desert)

Green Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern}

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

8 STEPS [COVERS ALL AREAS - NO REPEATS]:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

The next spoiler contains a video that provides a playthrough highlighting how to 'cover every danger area without repeating'.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNpVz8SuXkM

 

 

[gorfcadet]

 

Regarding the few 7800 light gun games, one is actually a 'top ten' title for me, Alien Brigade; although, like Crossbow (which is worthy of an honorable mention), the device is optional.

The remaining light gun compatible games, all require the device. Barnyard Blaster is good for a round or two but is too easy. Sentinel, I just never really enjoy that much; last (and least), Meltdown is horrible.

A shame Crack'ed does not at least support a light gun controller as optional. Although not a 'top ten' title, there are days where I could state it is near favorable as Crossbow.

Spoiler below contains a plethora of paths I've put together for playing Crossbow. From the "quickest" (4 steps) through "covers all areas - no repeats" (8 steps), if interested.

 

 

4 STEPS [QUICKEST]:

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Green Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

5 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

6 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Green Path (River/Lake)

Red Path (Volcano)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

6 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Blue Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

6 STEPS [uSED AFTER "4 STEPS [QUICKEST]" COVERS ALL AREAS WITH ONLY UNAVOIDABLE REPEATS]:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

7 STEPS:

Green Path (Desert)

Green Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

7 STEPS:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Blue Path (Desert)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Red Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

8 STEPS [COVERS ALL AREAS - NO REPEATS]:

Green Path (Desert)

Green Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern}

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

8 STEPS [COVERS ALL AREAS - NO REPEATS]:

Red Path (Village/Town)

Red Path (Volcano)

Red Path (River/Lake)

Green Path (Jungle)

Green Path (Desert)

Blue Path (Cave/Cavern)

Blue Path (Castle Drawbridge Entrance)

Red Path (Inside Castle Hall)

 

 

 

The next spoiler contains a video that provides a playthrough highlighting how to 'cover every danger area without repeating'.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNpVz8SuXkM

 

 

Now I definitely need to pick up Alien Brigade!

[+save2600]

Now I definitely need to pick up Alien Brigade!

 

YES! And the sooner the better. Prices have really creeped up on this game, but is still worth it at $50 or so bucks.

[DracIsBack]

Alien Brigade is one of my fav games on the 7800. Some of the best graphics on the system, plus five side scrolling levels, intermission scenes etc. Even a decent use of TIA.

Back to the original topic, Crossbow grew on me over time. I liked the XE one better because of the voice synthesis, though I thought they copped out by not including it on the 7800. Atroblaster and Jinks more than showed this was possible on TIA as well

Edited January 13, 2019 by DracIsBack

[gorfcadet]

I know this is stupid. I get really angry when I lose the blonde barbarian. Sometimes I just play to see how long I can protect her at the detriment of the others.

[+-^CrossBow^-]

This game along with Xenophobe were the main reasons I wanted the 7800 back in the late 80s. Of those two, Crossbow was the only one I was able to actually get as I never saw Xenophobe for sale anywhere back then. But yes I go to be really really good at this game and have actually found that I'm much more accurate with an original painline controller for this game than any other included the light gun.

[+cvga]

Another great review! Now I need to pull Crossbow out and give it a few plays. I sense a 7800 weekend coming up in my near future.

[maxdrive]

I always felt these kind of games would work better with a flight stick since in the arcade they were not light gun games this and games like operation wolf had more in common with after burner with the controls then somthing like duck hunt

[imstarryeyed]

Trebor, great walk through. I used hate trying to figure it out going back to the same places over and over haha

[+Mitch]

If you want a quick cheat sheet. https://www.atari7800.org/hints/cbmap.jpg

 

Mitch

[Jinks]

Trebor, great walk through. I used hate trying to figure it out going back to the same places over and over haha

Yeah I play till I get bored and then turn it off. Doing the same areas over and over blah... I let all my friends die and just save myself. Screw em! Edited January 15, 2019 by Jinks

[King Atari]

For a game I bought pretty much just the heck of it (roughly 15 years ago), Crossbow has really wound up becoming a personal top ten favorite of mine on the 7800. I have an affinity for medieval-themed games, so that adds an extra element for me to love, but even without that, I think this is just a really, really entertaining entry in the library. I've never even played it with a light gun (though I do have one boxed away), but with a joystick (well, Sega pad), I find it to be a lot of fun. I don't know how many times I've taken the "visit each area without losing a life" challenge. Not sure if I've ever beaten that goal, but I know I've come pretty close (at least until I get inside the castle; then it's every man for himself - though I always give preference to the introductory characters as they seem like the "stars" of the game to me).

 

This is one that always looked too blocky and, frankly, sorta ugly to me when seen via static screenshots, BUT when played in-person on a real TV, I actually like the graphics quite a bit. Maybe it's that good ol' CRT TV resolution? Or maybe it's just me. I think the volcano stage is my favorite, though I love all the details in the village scene, too.

 

There's a few mildly-annoying sound effects, and some more actual music would have been nice; the lack of any real score lends an almost languid feeling to some scenes, particularly the desert and bridge areas. For the most part though, I like both the audio/video presentation and gameplay of Crossbow. Like I said, one of my top ten favorites on the console!

[Jinks]

I wonder why no one has ever made a homebrew zapper game?? What about duck gunt?

[+save2600]

What about duck gunt?

[Jinks]

Thats it! Lol!!!!