Games of TRON

[NeoZeedeater]

Video games and movies have had a long history together, dating back as far as the 1968 Kubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey which had a video version of chess in it.

The first movie that was built completely around the concept of video games was Disney's 1982 release TRON. While I don't think the movie has aged well, it was revolutionary for its time in terms of theme and computer graphics. As a kid, I was in awe of it when I first saw it in theatres. Naturally, such a movie was destined for video game adaptations.

Mattel released a handful of home versions for their Intellivision console and the Atari 2600. The first two were in development simultaneously with the movie.

TRON Deadly Discs - This is my favourite console game from the early '80s. The object is to launch discs at oncoming enemies. I'm not a big fan of the Intellivision controller but I must say that it is perfect for this game. The different numbers on the keypad shoot in different directions. Emulation can't do this game justice unfortunately since modern controllers don't resemble the Intellivision's.


The 2600 port was simplified due to the controller limitations(only one button) and isn't as good as the InTV version. Still, the 2600 version makes good use of the speedier processor and is much faster than the InTV original. I definitely recommend this game, even to those who own the InTV version as it's a different experience and one of the best games on the 2600.

There's also an Aquarius version of Deadly Discs; I assume it's pretty much identical to the Intellivision one.

TRON Maze-A-Tron - This was the second Intellivision TRON game. I honestly don't know how to play this one. I bought it used without the instruction book. It doesn't seem very fun anyway.


Adventures of TRON - Not a bad platform/dodging game for the 2600. An Intellivision port was completed but never released.

TRON Solar Sailer - This one used the Intellivoice adapter for voices. A voice tells you codes which you have to enter to get past certain parts. It's basically an action game with a voice gimmick.


Tomy released a table-top TRON game. I haven't played it.


On the arcade front, Midway released two excellent TRON games.

TRON - This game has four different modes: light cycle(where you avoid your opponent), bugs(shoot and escape), tank(take out the other tanks), and a Break Out-ish level.
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Discs of TRON - This was originally supposed to be one of the games in the first TRON arcade game but it wasn't completed in time. Not only does Discs stand on its own, it is superior to TRON. It consists of disc-throwing duels. It's a brilliant game, probably the best one ever based on a movie.



TRON 2.0 - Almost two decades have passed since the last TRON game was released. The franchise will soon be resurrected with Monolith's PC FPS TRON 2.0. Let's hope this game's quality is closer to No One Lives Forever than Blood 2.
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Those are all the offical Disney-licensed TRON games I know of. What are your thoughts on the TRON games?

[Joust Williams]

Yeah...Deadly Discs and DoT were awesome. CAn't say I was a big fan of the original TRON game, though...

[Diff-chan]

While I respect and enjoy all those games, this is easily my favorite:

[NeoZeedeater]

Heh, yes that is indeed the best one.

[Roufuss]

Someone should send this thread to Tommy Tallerico from G4, he'd probably bust about three nuts over it.

[teenwolf]

Discs of Tron owned. Had the chance to buy the cab around 6 years ago but waited and the arcade went out of business and the owner liquidated all the assets. Called like 2-3 weeks after it happened too... :/

[StriderKyo]

Somehow, Deadly Discs is the only one I;ve ever played, and it did indeed rock the cazbah. Although that one diff has looks totally badass.

[sedition]

my next door neighbor used to have discs of tron... that game is hard... ugh... it rules so much when you get to the harder levels and start to throw the discs on the verticle axis...

the only thing that was rough for me was no continue... and with limited play... didn't get to get very good at it.

[adol]

That Tomy tabletop game friggin' rules. I wish I still had it.

And the Discs of Tron cabinet is a fucking work of art.

[MonsterMash]

What's the name of the Intellvision light cycle-ish game? When did that come out in relation to the TRON one? I've never played the TRON light cycle game, but this one (which I have played) is very fun.