| Fatal Run | |
| Developer: | Sculptured Software |
| Publisher: | Atari Corporation |
| Platforms: | Atari 2600, Atari 7800 |
| Genre: | Vehicular combat |
| Modes: | Single-player |
Fatal Run is a 1990 post-apocalyptic-themed vehicular combat game developed by Sculptured Software for the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. It was published by Atari Corporation simultaneous by Atari for both platforms.[1] [2] Along with Klax, this was the last game Atari officially released for the Atari 2600.[3] At 32kB of data, the game was also the biggest ever released for the Atari 2600.[4] The game was only released in Europe.[5]
The player is tasked with driving an anti-radiation vaccine through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game centres around destroying other cars that attempt to stop the player and avoiding obstacles. The game has 32 levels, each of which has a password meaning that progress could be saved. Depending on how quickly each level is finished, a number of onlookers at the end of each level will explode due to the late arrival of the vaccine. Various power-ups may be collected in each level, including additional weapons, deployable oil-slicks, nitro speed-boosts, and 'death crystals' which make the player's car immune to crash-damage when colliding with other cars. Money earned in each level can be spent on repairs and upgrades.
A review in the March 1991 edition of GamePro Magazine was positive about the gameplay but neutral about the graphics, stating that "the scenery is incredibly boring".[6] Reviewing the game for November/December 2000 issue of Atari 2600 Connection, Al Backiel criticised the lack of an end cut-scene for the Atari 2600 version, but praised the cut-scene of the 7800 version.[7] Andy Slaven writing in the book Video Game Bible, 1985–2002 said of the game that "the first few minutes are great, but after that it just gets old".[8]
Writing for the Daily Dot website, Jean-Michael Bond included it a list of the 30 best Atari 2600 games ever. Brett Weiss in Classic Home Video Games, 1985–1988 A Complete Reference Guide praised the password-saving system and the cut-scenes. Writing in 2016, Retro Gamer magazine stated that the game was similar to RoadBlasters, and said "by far the most impressive part of this game ... are the cut-scenes...".[9] Matthew Lippart reviewing the Atari 7800 version for the Atari HQ website criticised the controls, found the sound "bad" and the gameplay "repetitive", but praised the password and upgrade systems.[10]