Zaxxon

Zaxxon was groundbreaking because it was the very first arcade game to use an isometric perspective, giving it a pseudo-3D look. This unique viewpoint allowed players to experience a sense of altitude and depth as they navigated their spaceship. It stood out massively against the standard 2D vertical or horizontal shooters of the era.

Players control the ship using a flight stick that features a unique fire button on the tip. The stick allows you to move left and right, but you must also use it to change altitude to dodge obstacles and navigate the fortress. An altitude indicator on the side of the screen helps players gauge their height relative to incoming lasers.

Zaxxon was originally developed by Ikegami Tsushinki and published by Sega. It hit Japanese arcades in late 1981 and saw a worldwide release in 1982. The game was such a hit that it was later ported to almost every major home console and computer system of the 1980s.

The objective is to navigate through an enemy space fortress, shooting enemies while dodging walls and missiles. At the end of the fortress, players must battle the robot enemy named Zaxxon. Players have a limited number of missiles to destroy Zaxxon's homing projectiles before facing the robot itself.