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Discs of Tron

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Discs of Tron
North American arcade flyer
Developer(s)Bally Midway[a]
Publisher(s)Bally Midway[b]
Designer(s)Robert Dinnerman
Artist(s)Brian Colin
Platform(s)Arcade, Xbox 360
ReleaseSeptember 1983: Arcade[1]
February 13, 2008: Xbox
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemBally Midway MCR-III

Discs of Tron is the second arcade video game based on the 1982 Disney film Tron.[2][3] While the first Tron is a collection of four minigames, Discs of Tron is a single game inspired by Tron's disc-battles. It is set in an arena similar to the one in the jai alai–style sequence.

In 2008, a port to the Xbox 360, via Xbox Live Arcade, by Backbone Entertainment was published by Disney Interactive Studios.

Gameplay

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The gameplay of Discs of Tron is based on several scenes in the Tron film, combining the jai alai-like combat between Flynn and Crom with the disc combat between Tron and Sark. The player controls Tron in a one-on-one battle with Sark, presented in a fixed three-dimensional view behind Tron. Using a control scheme similar to that of the original Tron arcade game, the player moves around with a joystick, throws discs using a trigger button, and defends with a thumb button. The player uses a rotary dial to move a targeting reticle around the arena walls, and in later levels the player can also pull up and push down on the knob to aim up and down.

Each match takes place in a closed arena on top of platforms made of concentric disks, like in the jai alai sequence. Tron and Sark attempt to destroy each other by either directly hitting their opponent or causing him to fall off his platform. Tron and Sark can each throw up to three discs at a time. Assuming it is not destroyed, each disc automatically returns to the player (destroyed discs regenerate). Tron can defend himself by hitting Sark's discs with his own or by using a deflector, of which he has a limited supply. Sark can additionally attack Tron with high-speed missiles, chaser orbs, and "super chasers" (which consist of an orb and two orbiting disks), which cannot be deflected.

In later levels, platforms begin to move up and down vertically, requiring the player to aim up and down as well. Tron and Sark can bounce discs off the ceiling (similar to the energy ball in the jai alai sequence) with the goal of hitting one of their opponent's platforms. If successful, the platform flashes briefly and then disappears, reducing the character's movement or possibly causing him to fall and die. The platform reappears after about ten seconds. For some levels, a continuously scrolling wall of blocks appears between Tron and Sark; these blocks must be destroyed to open gaps in the wall before either character can hit the other.

The game has a total of twelve levels, with Sark becoming more aggressive throughout the game. Once the twelfth level is completed, levels repeat from six to twelve until the player runs out of lives.

Development

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The game's concept originated as a fifth minigame in the original Tron, which was cut due to time constraints.[4] The concept was then repurposed for Discs of Tron, using more advanced hardware.[4]

Release

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This game was released just before the video game crash of 1983. In 2004, it was released again in the Game Boy Advance game Tron 2.0. Disney Interactive Studios released an updated port on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 in February 2008.

Reception

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In 1996, Next Generation listed the arcade version as number 87 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time". Calling it "one of the first games to attempt a 3D environment", they remarked that the fast-paced and complex gameplay works due to the responsive controls. They also praised the enemy AI as advanced for its time, though they complained that a head-to-head multiplayer mode was an obvious feature that had not been included.[5]

Xbox Live Arcade

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The Xbox Live Arcade version received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] Official Xbox Magazine gave it a favorable review, while its UK edition gave it a negative review, nearly a year before its release worldwide.[12][13]

Competition

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According to Twin Galaxies, David Bagenski of Syracuse, New York, United States, scored a world record 418,200 points on June 28, 1986, during the 1986 Video Game Masters Tournament.[citation needed]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ported to Xbox 360 and developed by Backbone Entertainment.
  2. ^ Published by Disney Interactive Studios on Xbox 360.

References

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  1. ^ "Manufacturers Equipment" (PDF). Cash Box. February 2, 1985. p. 42.
  2. ^ "Discs of Tron : Bally Midway". Internet Archive. 1983.
  3. ^ "Discs Of Tron". Killer List of Videogames.
  4. ^ a b EGM staff (February 1998). "The Tron Competition". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 103. Ziff Davis. p. 90. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Games of All Time (#87)". Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. pp. 39, 43. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Discs of Tron for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Parkin, Simon (February 13, 2008). "Xbox Live Arcade Roundup (Page 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Francis, Don (February 14, 2008). "Discs of Tron Review (X360)". GameSpot. Fandom. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Sewart, Greg (February 15, 2008). "Discs of Tron - Xbox Live Arcade review". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. ^ David, Mike (February 21, 2008). "Discs Of Tron - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (February 11, 2008). "Discs of Tron Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Review: Discs of Tron". Official Xbox Magazine UK. Future plc. August 2007. p. 103.
  13. ^ a b "Discs of Tron". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. July 2007. p. 79.
  14. ^ Chapman, Davis (February 12, 2008). "Discs of Tron Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
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