Battlezone is something unusual for an arcade game. Of course there are plenty of features that help make the game stand out, from being the first arcade game with 3-D rendered graphics and a first-person perspective, to being housed in a unique cabinet designed to deepen the illusion of controlling a tank from the inside. What really makes the game unusual, however, is that progress often comes very slowly. Unlike most arcade games which rely on fast action that rewards quick reactions and quicker reflexes, Battlezone requires a bit more strategy and even some patience. The best result may come when you take a moment to figure out what the enemy is up to, instead of simply trying for a quick kill. This is not to say the game drags, or that you can ever let your guard down. Battlezone can and will kick you to the curb in short order if you don't know what you're doing. But knowing what to do includes knowing when to flee instead of fire, and when to hide behind an obstacle until a better opportunity presents itself. That is a quality seldom seen in arcade games, and here it works quite nicely.
Of course there isn't much that can be said about Battlezone's graphics and sound. The art of 3-D has far eclipsed what even the most state-of-the-art hardware and software could do in 1980. Still, game play is solid, and remains engaging even decades later. Updated sequels and modern tank simulators may offer a better experience to some players, but to fans of the classic arcade, Battlezone does not disappoint.
Grade: A.