Stampede
Round Up the Herd
Get ready to ride into the wild for Stampede, a fast-paced cattle round-up action game. You take on the role of a cowboy riding a horse across a horizontally scrolling landscape. Your main goal is simple but challenging: rope as many cattle as possible before they slip past you and escape off the side of the screen.
The gameplay revolves around timing and quick reflexes. Cattle appear from the right side of the screen, moving leftward toward your position. You must swing your lasso to catch them. However, not all animals are created equal, and knowing which ones to prioritize is key to scoring high points.
The cattle come in different colors, each worth a different amount of points. The most valuable target is the Black Angus calf, which is worth 100 points. These calves are described as stubborn because they remain motionless for periods, making them tricky to catch but highly rewarding. Next are the Light Brown Jerseys, worth 25 points, followed by the Medium Brown Guernseys at 15 points. The least valuable are the Dark Red Herefords, which only give you 3 points each.
Because the Black Angus calves are stationary and high-value, they require your immediate attention. If you ignore them to chase faster, lower-point cattle, you might miss out on big scores. The game features eight distinct difficulty levels or 'games,' each with varying patterns and speeds. As you progress, the cattle move faster and appear in more complex formations, testing your ability to rope even faster.
There is a strict limit to how many mistakes you can make. You must prevent three cattle from slipping past you. If a third cow escapes off the left side of the screen, the game ends. This creates a tense atmosphere where every swing of the lasso counts. You need to balance speed with accuracy, ensuring you do not let any animal get away.
Another hazard to watch out for is the trail itself. Bleached skulls appear on the ground as obstacles. If your horse runs over one, it will rear up, causing you to lose control momentarily. This adds an extra layer of challenge, forcing you to dodge surprises on the trail while keeping an eye on the incoming herd.
Scoring is crucial for survival. You can earn extra free passes by accumulating points. For every 1,000 points you score, you are granted one extra pass, giving you a chance to continue if you fail to round up all of the cattle within the initial limit. The potential score cap is 99,999, so players often aim for high scores rather than just survival.
The game was designed by Bob Whitehead and published by Activision. It captures the essence of a classic cattle drive with its straightforward controls and increasing difficulty. The horizontally scrolling action keeps you engaged as you try to rope even faster through the herds.
If you enjoy Stampede, you might also like to check out Stampede Trainer for practice tips. Alternatively, you can explore other classic titles in the Smash Hit Pak Frogger Boxing Seaquest Skiing Stampede collection.
Overall, Stampede offers a nostalgic and challenging experience. It tests your reaction time and strategic thinking as you decide which cattle to lasso and how to avoid obstacles. Whether you are aiming for the highest score or just trying to survive the herd, this game provides a fun and engaging round-up adventure. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.