- Release Date: 1980
- Genre: Shooter
- Style: Fixed Screen Shooter
- Similar Games: Heavy Barrel (Nintendo Entertainment System), Ikari Warriors (Nintendo Entertainment System), Smash T.V. (Nintendo Entertainment System), Frenzy (Arcade), Frenzy (Commodore 64/128), Front Line (Arcade), Ikari Warriors (Commodore 64/128), Robotron: 2084 (Commodore 64/128), Front Line (Atari Video Computer System), Ikari Warriors (Atari Video Computer System), Heavy Barrel (Arcade), Ikari Warriors (Arcade), Ikari Warriors (Arcade), Smash T.V. (Arcade), Front Line (Nintendo Entertainment System), Frenzy (ColecoVision), Ikari Warriors (Atari 7800), Super Smash T.V. (Sega Game Gear), Smash T.V. (Commodore 64/128), Ikari Warriors (IBM PC Compatible), Front Line (ColecoVision)
Game Description
The layout of Berzerk is quite simple. You are a human. You are trapped in a 2D world surrounded by deadly robots looking to kill you. You have a laser to destroy said robots. They have lasers to kill you. The walls can kill you. So can an evil bouncing smiley face appropriately named Evil Otto. Escape a level to advance to harder ones where robots will shoot multiple shots and move about faster. Advance very far in the game and robots will move insanely faster and so will their shots.Fortunately, the robots must be running a relatively basic program because they are not too smart and can be fooled into killing themselves by running into walls, running into each other, or shooting each other while trying to shoot you.
Evil Otto cannot be killed, however, and is only there to discourage you from lounging on any one level too long.
The controls are an eight-directional stick and fire button, and on most machines an extra man is available to you at 5,000 points, but this is an adjustable setting.
One of the most notable characteristics of the game is its early use of voice synthesis. Classic arcade phrases such as "The human must not escape," "Intruder alert, intruder alert," and "Chicken, fight like a robot" all emitted from Berzerk.
~ Michael Schwartz/Joan Dykman, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
Berzerk is set in what appears to be a dystopian future where robots rule mankind, which was the basis of many science-fiction novels and films that predated the game. Its style of game play, however, was unique at the time.~ Brad Cook, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Named after a series of Fred Saberhagen novels called the Berserker Stories, Berzerk was the first game of its type, putting players in the role of a robot-blasting humanoid running through a series of mazes. Designer Alan McNeil interjected humor into the game by including hilarious voice effects ("Chicken! Fight like a robot!") and clumsy robots that run into walls and shoot one another in the head. Also impressive is Evil Otto, an indestructible smiley-faced creature who bounces onto the scene if the player lingers in a maze for too long. A great game that is immensely challenging and imminently replayable, Berzerk spawned a sequel, 1982's Frenzy.~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide
Production Credits
Created by: Alan McNeil
~ Brad Cook, All Game Guide
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
