Reviews

This is one of Activision's earliest releases for the Spectrum, one of a number of conversion from its cartridge games for Atari consoles.

On the Spectrum, River Raid is as minimal as it was on the Atari 2600 - your plane, which flies on a bombing run along a river (hence the name), is only one UDG wide, and the scenery is made up with a blue twisted line on a green background.

It is a rather average game, but it plays pretty well even nowadays, and conveys some sort of 'retro' flavor even for a Spectrum user.

1984 Activision (UK)

One of the first games I played, and what good memories it brings me.
Super simple, both graphically and in terms of gameplay, but highly addictive and one of the best conversions made to the spectrum. It's one of those games that I would definitely play on a mobile phone. So, go Activision, go!

Early shmup from Activision and not a bad one too. Pretty simple really, I breezed through the level like nothing but I'm sure the later levels will provide a challenge. Maybe if I start on Level 20 then I'll get a challenge. Still it's rather nice.

There's nothing very spectacular about River Raid. The graphics are very basic as is the gameplay. It's all good fun though, if a bit on the easy side.

This Atari conversion was, even by 1984 graphical standards, all about the playability and never mind the looks. It was a good game with poor graphics then and it is a good game with poor graphics now, and so it will remain.
The premise is simple, shoot the enemy craft whilst flying your tiny plane upriver, with 48 bridges (levels) to pass. You have to monitor fuel levels throughout.
The game selection allows you to drop in at level 20, and I can see why. I reached this level losing just a couple of lives on my first go. Soon after that I completed River Raid. Its not a tricky game although the last levels the route narrows, more ships block your way, more helis fire back and more planes pass across. But best of all the fuel is scarce and going faster uses proprtionately less, so finally from around level 35 you are forced to play the game full tilt, slamming on the brakes to pick up fuel.
All in all a satisfying experience that might be prolonged with a friend to high score against.
One unanswered question, why does a plane crash into a river bank?

Good conversion of the classic Atari game by Activision.

Pilot a plane and fly down (up, to be precise) a river valley in order to destroy all the enemy bridges (there are 48). The game has a lot of classic arcade features: different enemies like ships, helicopters, tanks next to the river shore or even ballons; collect fuel or you'll run out and crash; extra points if a bridge is destroyed while a tank is crossing, two-players option, ... besides, the game lets you start at certain bridges.

In spite of its poor graphics, the game is really addictive.