Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Combat
Certified classic
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1977 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Atari |
| Publisher | Atari |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 13 |
Developed by Atari, Combat arrived on the Atari 2600 in 1977 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It belongs to the 2600's earliest wave of games. Other notable 2600 releases from 1977 include Air-Sea Battle and Blackjack. Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #5 by legacy score.
Atari also made E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Asteroids and Klax for the 2600.
Combat supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
- you want to experience one of the 2600's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Combat is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Combat walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Combat.
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Playing 2600 games today
Most 2600 games are built for short, score-chasing sessions, which makes them perfect for a quick nostalgia hit. Original hardware is cheap and plentiful, the Atari 2600+ reissue plays original cartridges on modern TVs, and official collections such as Atari 50 bundle many first-party classics.
Combat FAQ
When did Combat come out on the 2600?
Combat was released for the Atari 2600 in 1977.
Who made Combat?
It was developed by Atari.
Is Combat multiplayer?
Yes. Combat supports up to 2 players.
How long does Combat take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Combat typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Combat on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.