Defender Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up
Great Escape
Deep cut
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1983 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Bomb |
| Publisher | Bomb |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 2 |
Developed by Bomb, Great Escape arrived on the Atari 2600 in 1983 as a shoot 'em up.
It landed about 6 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1983 include Mario Bros., E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Halloween.
Bomb also made Assault, Wall-Defender and Z-Tack for the 2600.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
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've played the 2600 hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Great Escape 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.
Great Escape walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Great Escape.
If you like Great Escape, the Matrix also picks…
Assault Deep cut
Phoenix Classic
River Raid Classic
Space Invaders Classic
Demon Attack Classic
Gravitar Classic
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.
Great Escape FAQ
When did Great Escape come out on the 2600?
Great Escape was released for the Atari 2600 in 1983.
Who made Great Escape?
It was developed by Bomb.
Is Great Escape multiplayer?
No. Great Escape is a single-player game.
How long does Great Escape take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Great Escape 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 Great Escape 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.