Machine Guides

Game History

Badlands is a top-down racing arcade game released in 1989 by Atari Games. It represents the final installment in Atari's Sprint series of racing games, evolving from earlier titles like Super Sprint and Championship Sprint. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic future where nuclear disaster has transformed the world, and sprint racing has become a ruthless battle between armed vehicles.

Unlike its predecessors, Badlands introduced vehicular combat to the racing formula, equipping each player's car with cannons to shoot at opponents. The game features three cars competing instead of the four found in earlier Sprint titles, with the larger car scale making tracks feel smaller and more cramped. Players can collect wrench bonuses to upgrade their vehicles with improved speed, acceleration, or tires.

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of Atari's Badlands is to win races by finishing first in a post-apocalyptic combat racing environment. You must navigate through hazardous tracks while battling against armed opponent vehicles. The game combines racing with vehicular combat, where both speed and combat skills are essential for victory.

Controls

• Dial Control: Use the dial to steer your vehicle left and right
• Gas Button: Press to accelerate and increase speed
• Fire Button: Press to shoot your cannons at opponent vehicles

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin your post-apocalyptic race.

• Track Navigation: Navigate through various tracks filled with obstacles and hazards in a top-down view.

• Racing Competition: Compete against two other computer-controlled vehicles in each race.

• Combat Mechanics: Shoot at opponents to damage their vehicles and slow them down, giving you a racing advantage.

• Power-Up Collection: Collect wrenches scattered on the track to upgrade your vehicle's speed, acceleration, or tires.

• Lap Completion: Complete multiple laps around each track to finish the race.

• Damage System: Avoid taking too much damage from opponent attacks or track hazards, as this can affect your vehicle's performance.

• Race Progression: Advance through different tracks with increasing difficulty and more aggressive opponents.

• Victory Conditions: Win races by finishing in first place to progress through the game and achieve the highest score.