Vs. Raid On Bungeling Bay

Vs. Raid On Bungeling Bay

Console: Arcade
TV Standard: Region Not Set
Developer(s): Nintendo
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Release Date: 1985-05-01
Players: 2
Co-op: No
Type: Shooter

Apart from offering a 2D overhead view of terrain which was a bit more complex than in other games, Raid on Bungeling Bay is a simple war zone shoot 'em up. The player controls a helicopter launched from an aircraft carrier to bomb six factories scattered across islands on a small planetoid occupied by the Bungeling Empire (the usual villains in Brøderbund games), while fending off escalating counterattacks by gun turrets, fighter jets, guided missiles, and a battleship. There is also a hidden island for the player to reload on. Failure means that the Bungeling Empire develops a war machine to take over the planet Earth. Players have to attack its infrastructure while defending the aircraft carrier which served as home base.

The game offers an interesting insight into the design style of Wright, who would later go on to design SimCity. Over time, the factories grow and develop new technologies to use against the player. There are also visible signs of interdependency among the islands, such as supply boats moving between them. In order to win the game, the player must prevent the escalation by bombing all the factories as quickly as possible, keeping them from advancing their technology. If left alone for too long, the factories create enough new weaponry to overwhelm the player.