website/content/software/targ.md

title, tags, years, params

title	tags	years	params
Targ	maze shoot them up	1980	image specs screenshots machines company oc_id source /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0000.png label value year of release 1980 label value companies Exidy label value type game label value media arcade cabinet label value systems Arcade label value number of players 1 - 2 players (alternate) title subtitle text image title screen /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0000.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0003.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0001.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0005.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0006.png title subtitle text image 1000 points for finishing first level /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0007.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0009.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0011.png title subtitle text image level 2 /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0012.png title subtitle text image destroy the blue Spectar Smuggler /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0014.png title subtitle text image you've been destroyed /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0013.png title subtitle text image game over /media/museum/software/arcade_exidy_targ_ss0008.png title subtitle text image arcade cabinet /media/museum/software/arcade_targ_cab_1.jpg /museum/misc-arcade-video-games /companies/misc 712 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230328011755/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=712 2023-03-28

The success of Gremlin’s Head-On in 1979 turned the industry’s attention toward maze games. In 1980 new maze games included Pacman, Rally-X, and Berzerk, as well as Targ, by Exidy.

Targ is a 1 or 2-player shooter game released by Exidy in 1980. Your town is invaded by Targ riders, you must maneuver the heroic vehicle Whummel to destroy them. From time to time, a Spectar comes into screen, and can be destroyed for extra bonus.

Action takes place into a 9x9 grid, 'Crystal City', where the player's vehicle must avoid and chase down 10 enemy wedge-shaped vehicles. When all enemies are destroyed, you are awarded an extra bonus and can access the following level

The heroic "Wummel" in the player's green spaceship travels in columns and rows created by the squares of the Crystal City. His mission is to destroy the shrewd blue Spectar Smuggler (who rarely raids the city) and to dodge and destroy the angry red Targs, who defend the secret hiding place of the Spectar.

Gameplay begins with 10 hostile Targs attempting to ram the Wummel. As the game progresses, Targs become smarter and faster, increasing the threat and challenge for the player.

The player controls the Wummel's direction and speed with a four-way joystick and fires at the Targs and the Spectar Smuggler by pressing the fire button.

Wipe out all Targs, and new game screen is presented. Targs become smarter and quicker to create an even greater challenge for advanced players.

Targ was largely inspired by "dodge them" style videogames where you car is moving constantly into a maze, chased by another car which you must avoid at all cost. But here Exidy pushed the concept further by turning it into a real shoot them up with a more complex scenario.

In turn, Targ inspired many other games.

Targ was quite a success for Exidy and a sequel, Spectar, was released in 1981.