40 years ago, the video game industry looked much different than it does today. In 1983, the infamous video game crash began, leading to the bankruptcy of many companies, while few survived the crash’s worst effects. Nevertheless, 1983 would also see a steady rise for several companies who would become incredibly important to the industry post-crash.
While Nintendo was still years away from revitalizing the video game medium with the NES, their Game & Watch systems were bestsellers, while PC gaming and consoles would see further advancements during this year. Though 1983 wasn’t the strongest era of video game history, these titles would become influential in the years to come.
8Mario Bros.
Nintendo’s now-iconic mascot first made his debut inthe 1981 arcade gameDonkey Kong. However, the 1983 arcade releaseMario Broswould flesh out the character only known back then as “Jumpman.” The game was also designed for two players, allowing control over Mario and his identical twin brother, Luigi, for the first time in gaming history.
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Most of the gameplay of the originalMario Broswas inspired by arcade classicJoustfrom 1982, which allowed players to seamlessly move from one side of the stage to the other. Although the game was primitive and simplistic, it would become the bedrock upon which Nintendo would continue to develop their soon-to-be most popular character.
7Punch-Out!!
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The arcade version, however, included the bare essentials of what made the series successful. Although the character of Little Mac had yet to be developed, players would take on futurePunch-Outseries legends like Glass Joe and Bald Bull. Furthermore,Punch-Out!!was the first Nintendo title featuring music by legendary game composer Koji Kondo.
6Pole Position II
Pole Position IIreleased in arcades in 1983, one year after the release of its predecessor. By 1984,Pole Position IIhad become one of the highest-selling arcade games, even in the middle of an industry-wide recession. Nonetheless, it was a simple concept that appealed to many: a racing game complete with a built-in steering wheel and four different tracks.
By 1983, the company Namco, who developed bothPole Positiongames, were already legendary for creating the endlessly replayablePac-Man. However, the inclusion ofPole Position IIin arcades was incredibly easy, only requiring the replacement of certain software chips, making its success a guarantee in 1983.
5Tapper
One memorable arcade title from 1983 was oddly appealing to children, which was the tavern simulatorTapper. Players control the titular bartender, serving customers while also collecting their empty mugs after their thirsts are quenched. Though the arcade title was successful worldwide, it was especially a hit in bars during the 1980s.
Nevertheless, a version made appropriate for kids was released in 1984, titledRoot Beer Tapper, replacing its alcohol themes with root beer.Tapperremains an iconic arcade cabinet from the early 1980s, with its titular character even making a cameo appearance in the 2012 arcade-themed Disney movieWreck-It Ralph.
4Dragon’s Lair
Dragon’s Lairis certainly one of the most memorable games to release in 1983.The iconic game centers around the clumsy knight Dirk the Daringas he attempts to rescue Princess Daphne from a tower guarded by an evil dragon. What was unique aboutDragon’s Lairwas its art style, featuring hand-drawn animation by Disney veteran Don Bluth.
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The art ofDragon’s Lairwas incredibly ahead of its time, especially in a video game market populated by sprites. Thankfully,Dragon’s Lairutilized the processing power of LaserDisc, allowing players to interact with a fully-animated world. Nevertheless, its gameplay was still simplistic, involving perfectly-timed button presses to advance the story.
3Space Ace
In a similar vein toDragon’s Lair, the sci-fi adventureSpace Acealso released in late 1983, once again featuring animation courtesy of Don Bluth. Its gameplay was identical toDragon’s Lair, involving joystick movements and button presses at specific moments of time. This made both of these Cinematronics titles incredibly replayable and difficult for arcade gamers.
UnlikeDragon’s Lair,Space Acerevolves around the dashing space hero Dexter, alongside his sidekick Kimberly,facing the evil Earth invader Borf. AlthoughDragon’s Lairbecame the more iconic of the two titles,Space Acewas no less a commercial success in North American video game markets, briefly reviving a financially ruined video game industry in 1983.
2Bomberman
Although theBombermanseries would see many changes over the years, Hudson Soft’s first entry in the franchise debuted on various home consoles in 1983. The core game mechanics would remain the same throughout the series' history:players control the titular Bomberman, defeating enemies and breaking walls by setting bombs in place and hiding.
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It wasn’t until 1985 thatBombermanmade its way to the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan, waiting even longer to reach western markets. However, it was a solid entry on personal computers like the MSX and FM-7, soon making Hudson Soft a profitable company. Unfortunately, their prime has passed by, as the company was absorbed by Konami in 2012.
1Star Wars
The top-selling arcade game in 1983 for Atari wasStar Wars,based on the blockbuster movie franchisewhich debuted in theaters in 1977. This game, which incorporated vector graphics and emulated voice acting, allowed players to re-enact the iconic Death Star takedown from the end ofA New Hope, from the perspective of Luke Skywalker.
Despite its primitive state,Star Warshas been considered one of the greatest games ever made for its technological advancements. It didn’t compromise its action for its graphical capabilities either, offering a thrilling experience even in arcades. Even hearing the digitized Imperial March by John Williams send a nostalgic thrill up video game players' spines.
