Reviews:
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Though I wouldn’t say that it was among my favorite arcade games back in the day, there’s no question that the original Tempest is an absolute classic. With its distinctive dial controller, vector-based graphics, absolutely iconic sound (that could be heard in the background in just about every arcade), and level of challenge that got rolling quicker than most of its peers it’s in a league of its own. Tempest 4000, for better or worse, definitely takes that particular ball and runs with it, delivering an experience that looks like a vector-based fever dream, full of intense colors and what I’d pretty much call visual cacophony. I don’t doubt that aspect could turn some folks away on its own but if you’re willing to muscle through the crazy, any retro arcade fan will probably get sucked in by the chaotic challenge it offers. This is an example of a game being unapologetically itself, taking the original title and turning everything possible up to 11. It may not be for everyone, but it made this retro fan pretty happy to see a worthy successor to a classic that swings for the fences.
Justin Nation, Score:Nindie Choice! [8.0]