| Blue Lightning | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Blue_Lightning_(1989_video_game)_(Cover).png) Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Epyx |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | John Skruch Sean Patten |
| Designer(s) | RJ Mical Stephen Jungels |
| Programmer(s) | Brian Bowhay Chuck Sommerville Stephen H. Landrum |
| Artist(s) | Arthur Koch |
| Composer(s) | Alex Rudis Robert Vieira |
| Platform(s) | Atari Lynx |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Air combat simulation, shoot 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Blue Lightning is a 1989 combat flight simulation video game developed by Epyx and published by Atari Corporation in North America and Europe for the Atari Lynx. It was also released in Japan on December 1 of the same year, where it was instead distributed by Mumin Corporation.[1][2] It was one of the launch titles that were released along with the system in North America and was jointly written by Stephen Landrum, lead programmer Brian Bowhay, who also developed the Lynx hardware and Chip's Challenge creator Chuck Sommerville.
Assuming the role of a chosen rookie aircraft pilot from the United States Air Force by the Flight Command squadron, the player takes control of the titular prototype fighter aircraft in a desperate attempt of The Pentagon to penetrate multiple enemy territories and aid the allies in order to win the war against the enemies. Conceived as a commission to create a pseudo-3D combat flight game by Landrum and graphic artist Arthur Koch, Blue Lightning was heavily inspired by Sega's 1987 Super Scaler arcade game After Burner, in addition of also bearing similarity with the feature film and TV series Blue Thunder.[3]
Upon its release, Blue Lightning was well received by critics who praised the visuals, gameplay and for being a showcase of the capabilities of the Lynx, although some criticized the lack of in-game music and repetitive nature of the missions, with many also comparing it with After Burner. In 1995, a remake developed by Attention to Detail, was released as one of the pack-in games for the Atari Jaguar CD peripheral when it launched and received mixed reviews.
- ^ "LYNX Soft > 1989-1991". GAME Data Room (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ Philippe, Jean (2002). "La console lynx au Japon - La LYNX ce fait japonaise". pageperso.aol.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
- ^ Hawken, Kieren (March 2016). "The Making Of: Blue Lightning". Retro Gamer. No. 152. Future Publishing. pp. 52–55. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-08.