The Basics:
- Original Release Date: 1983
- Publisher: Quicksilva
- System: ZX Spectrum
- Format: Cassette Tape
- Genre: Adventure
The Game:
While the Commodore 64 was the dominating home computer in the United States, the UK home computer of choice was the ZX Spectrum. Not only was the Spectrum the first economically priced computer in the UK, but was surprisingly powerful capable of delivering higher quality graphics and sounds than its predecessors. The Spectrum's amazing abilities were quickly taken advantage of by the gaming marketing. The Spectrum spawn hundreds of innovative and ground breaking games which established the video game culture in the UK.
One of the more groundbreaking titles for the ZX Spectrum was Ant Attack. Inspired by the giant killer insect movies of the 1950s and the art of M.C. Escher, Ant Attack has you play as a boy or girl journeying into the city of Antescher (Ant-Escher…get it?), which has been overrun by a colony of giant killer ants. To win you must find your trapped significant other and escape the city all while battling the overgrown anthropoids.
Created by Scottish sculptor tuned video game designer Sandy White, Ant Attack is credited as being the first truly 3D Isometric game. Although the first 3D-style game in an isometric perspective was Zaxxon, White never considered it a true 3D isometric game, as Zaxxon is a side-scroller, allowing the player to move in only one single direction. Ant Attack is pretty much a free-roaming game.
White used his brother's Spectrum computer to design a new technique to display 3D environments within a video game. He then sent a video tape showing a demonstration of the tech to Spectrum game developers/publishers Quicksilva. Upon seeing the tape Quicksilva quickly flew White to their headquarters in Southampton and within 24 hours they signed a deal to put the game into production.
When released Ant Attack was a financial and critical success. Although it suffered from an overly complex and confusing control system, the gameplay, design and high quality graphics blew gamers away. The success of Ant Attack generated a sequel the very next year, Zombie Zombie, which is credited as the first Zombie video game.
Gameplay:
Ant Attack features running, jumping and the ability to toss grenades (your only weapon). If the ants get close or surround you, the'll bite until you croak. Another way to fail is accidentaly blowing yourself up with grenades, which happens more often than you'd think.
If you idle or jump into the city streets the ants will quickly be upon you. The one thing the ants can't do is climb the walls, so the game has been designed with safe zones where you can be surrounded by walls the ant's can't get past, but the longer you sit in safety, the more giant ants gather and wait for you to try and make your escape.
Ports, Remakes and Sequels:
- Ant Attack – 1984 – Commodore 64 (port).
- Zombie Zombie – 1984 – ZX Spectrum – A sequel to Ant Attack, replacing the ants with a flesh eating zombies.
- Ant Attack PC – In Development – PC - A fan made remake of the original for PC computers, featuring the same gameplay as the original but now in color with slightly upgraded graphics and special water filled safety zones. Although this homebrew has been in development for 6 years, a work-in-progress version is available for download off its official site.
- 3D Ant Attack – 2006 – Urban Interactive Software – A re-envisioning "remix" of the original game, now with full 3D graphics. Not just the environment, but with detailed 3D modeled playable characters and realistic giant ants. A fan made endeavor that is available to download for free from their official website.
