Defender II (originally known as Stargate) is a side-scrolling shooter game and a sequel to the popular Defender, released for arcades in 1981 by Williams Electronics. The Atari 2600 port was initially sold under the name Stargate but was later renamed to Defender II for legal reasons.
In Defender II, the gameplay is similar to its predecessor, with players controlling a spaceship tasked with defending humanoids from various alien invaders. The sequel introduces new enemy ships, including Firebombers, Yllabian Space Guppies, Dynamos, Phreds, Big Reds, Munchies, and Space Hums, adding variety and challenge to the game.
The player’s Defender ship is now equipped with an Inviso cloaking device, which makes the ship invulnerable for a short period when activated, but has a limited charge. A Stargate feature is also introduced, allowing the player to teleport to any humanoid in danger.
The game features two special stages: the Yllabian Dogfight, which first appears at wave 5 and recurs every 10 waves, and the Firebomber Showdown, which first appears at wave 10 and also recurs every 10 waves. These stages add extra excitement and challenge to the game, making Defender II an engaging and enjoyable experience for fans of the original Defender and new players alike.