Jeff Minter brings back Atari's lost arcade game Akka Arrh, with new version

Atari have teamed up with Jeff Minter’s Llamasoft to create a modern version of Atari’s lost arcade game, Akka Arrh. The game was originally designed by Dave Ralston and Mike Hally in 1982. The game was reportedly completed, but Atari decided not to release it, supposedly as the game had unconventional gameplay and high level of difficulty.

Only three cabinets were produced, and wasn’t emulated in MAME until very recently. (There’s an interesting story about how that happened too) – the prototype of the original game was also originally featured on Digital Eclipse’s awesome Atari 50th Anniversary compilation.

“With Akka Arrh, not only did we get a chance to work with one of the creative minds that helped build the modern video game industry in Jeff Minter, but we also got to release a fantastic new game that is true to our retro-inspired roots,” said Atari CEO Wade Rosen.

A cascade of words, color, shapes and sound flows around your turret as you desperately fight off swarms of inbound attackers. If enemies penetrate your perimeter you need to zoom into close range combat and beat them back, adjusting to a completely different perspective in the blink of an eye. Welcome to Jeff Minter’s Akka Arrh.

Akka Arrh combines the intrigue of an incredibly rare Atari arcade prototype with the unique creative vision of Jeff Minter to deliver a wave shooter that is insanely fun to play.

Akka Arrh drips with Minter’s sense of humor, his love of psychedelic color and light, and his ability to flat-out create games that are a joy to play.

Akka Arrh is the name of your star cannon, which you control from a fixed turret called the Sentinel. Your mission is to keep enemies from penetrating the Sentinel’s perimeter. If any of them slip through, you zoom into the lower field and take them out. Once cleared, zoom back out and continue defending.

Akka Arrh is available now for Xbox, PS, Steam, Switch and Atari VCS