The threat of nuclear war is maybe an odd concept for a video game. In Missile Command you’re trying to stop your bases being hit by incoming missiles. The year is 1981, and this is the 2600 version.
In true 2600 fashion it’s a high‑score chaser. There’s a story about two opposing planets, it’s in the manual but really doesn’t matter in play. Let’s be honest — the game is a reflection of the Cold War.
I’ve played the arcade version and found the controls awkward, probably because I used an Evercade and later a PS4 controller. The arcade cabinet really needed its trackball.
The 2600 version, though… well, it’s not much to look at. The vector‑style graphics — especially the explosion when you die — remind me of the flashes of colour I get with migraines. The box art is fantastic, but in‑game your imagination is doing the heavy lifting. Look past that and you’ve got a very playable take on the arcade machine. My favourite, actually.
Gameplay is simple: shoot down the missiles before they blow up your bases. They get faster and faster as the game goes on.
Is this up there with Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, and Pac‑Man? I think so. It’s one I came to later in life rather than at release. It’s almost the reverse of Space Invaders — you’re defending your base instead of shooting down aliens.
If you want to play this classic today, it’s easy to find: Evercade Atari 1 (now Legacy), Atari 50 on all major platforms, and the Antstream Arcade service.