Communist Mutants from Space
Defend Earth Against the Alien Horde
Get ready for a chaotic battle in Communist Mutants from Space. You stand at the bottom of the screen, controlling a cannon that must protect Earth from an invasion by aliens from the communist planet Rooskee. The enemy is led by a Mother Creature who fuels her forces with irradiated vodka, creating a horde of mutants that hatch from eggs and swarm your position.
The gameplay is fast-paced and intense. Mutants drop from eggs moving along the top of the screen, forcing you to react quickly. You must aim and shoot to destroy them before they reach your cannon. The difficulty ramps up as waves progress, requiring sharp reflexes and strategic use of your special abilities.
One of the most unique aspects of this game is the in-game menu that allows you to customize your defense. Before each wave or during play, you can select various powers to help you survive:
- Shields: Become temporarily invincible to pass through enemies safely.
- Time Warp: Slow down the movement of enemies and eggs for easier targeting.
- Guided Fire: Move your laser beams with the joystick to hit multiple targets.
- Penetrating Fire: Your shots will pass through enemies, hitting multiple mutants in a line.
Mastering these powers is key to advancing. Destroy the Mother Creature to complete a wave and face increasingly difficult enemy patterns. The game supports up to four players using two joysticks, making it a great choice for competitive play where you can watch your friends struggle against the alien onslaught.
If you enjoy this intense shooter experience, you might also like Attack Of The Mighty Aliens From Outer Space, which offers a similar classic arcade challenge.
Keep an eye out for a special easter egg: hold the fire button during power-on to change the high score initials to 'SHL', honoring the game's programmer, Stephen H. Landrum. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.