Combat is an Atari 2600 game that features 27 game modes, all of which are variations on the tank, biplane, and jet gameplay.
- Tank game: In the “Tank” game, players control tanks and move around a playing field, shooting the other player until time runs out. The player with the higher score wins. Ammunition is dependent on the chosen level and includes straight missiles, guided missiles, and “Tank Pong,” in which the shots bounce off the walls. There are also “Invisible Tank” and “Invisible Tank Pong” modes. The game also features mazes, including an empty field, a simple maze, and a complex maze.
- Biplanes: Another set of level choices in Combat is “Biplanes”. This mode is played with three types of ammunition (straight missiles, guided missiles, and machine guns). There are several different gameplay modes, including one-on-one fights, each player flying a pair of biplanes, or one player controlling three synced biplanes against one large bomber. The bomber shoots an oversized projectile that behaves like a straight missile. Instead of mazes, there are two clouds in the middle of the stage that players can fly into, temporarily hiding them from view.
- Jet: The “Jets” option is similar to Biplanes, but uses only straight and guided missiles. It uses the same map and squadron options as the biplanes mode, with jets flying singly, in pairs, or in trios.
These 27 game modes offer various challenges and combinations of tank, biplane, and jet gameplay, making Combat an engaging game with diverse experiences for players.
This was one of the nine Atari 2600 launch games (Sears title was Tank Plus).