Video Game Vintage Title: Tac/Scan

Tac/Scan

Tac/Scan is a 1982 space combat shooter video game originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to the Atari 2600. It was also included as an unlockable game in the PlayStation 2 version of Sega Genesis Collection. It was developed by Sega Japan and published by Sega America.

The game was notable for its 3D vector graphics that switched between an overhead and third-person perspective, and for its tactical elements, putting the player in command of seven units in squadron formation through waves of attacking enemies; the player can gain reserve units, while being able to command the units to perform various actions, including firing at enemies, getting into formation, or a "tac" maneuver.

Tac/Scan Gameplay

Tac/Scan is a unique game in that the player controls just how many resources (in this case, ships) are put into play. He starts with seven individual ships in play. Those ships can be lost in any of the three stages by hitting a tunnel, getting shot, or colliding with an enemy, the laser-firing Ahmins composing the superfleet from the planet of Ahm. The player is able to "collect" and earn these ships back as the game progresses. He can drop down to one ship in the game, but still have four "back-up" ships. If he loses the one ship in play however, the game is over. This is different from other games that give the player ships sequentially.

In the first stage, the player pilots his ships through waves of attacking enemies. He can either fire upon them, or "tac" his ships around them. The second stage is much like the first, except that it is from a 3-D third-person perspective from behind the player's ships. In the third stage, the player pilots his ship down a space warp tunnel, and will lose any ships that touch the side of the tunnel.