Moonsweeper is an ambitious multi-phase action shooter developed by Imagic for the Atari 2600 in 1983. In this technical showcase, you command a rescue vessel diving from deep space orbit down to hostile lunar surfaces. Your mission is to survive the debris fields of Star Quadrant Jupiter, touch down on various moons, rescue stranded miners, and make a daring escape back into space.
How to Play
The game cycles between two distinct phases. First, you must survive the orbital approach by dodging or shooting flares and space bullets until you can reach a passing moon. Once on the surface, your objective is to navigate the terrain, avoid defensive towers, destroy hostile surface units, and collect six miners. After securing your crew, you launch back into orbit by successfully steering through a sequence of accelerator rings.
| Joystick control: | ||
|
Player 1: |
Player 2: | |
| joystick |
ââââ | TGFH |
| trigger | Spacebar | A |
| turbo | Del | . |
| RESET | F12 | F12 |
| SELECT | F11 | F11 |
| Pause | Alt+P | Alt+P |
| black-white / color mode: F2 | ||
| paddle / joystick mode: Alt+L | ||
Tips
- Guide your shots: You can steer your missiles mid-flight after firing, which is essential for taking out hard-to-reach surface destroyers.
- Watch your shield: Using the shield protects you during the space approach, but it rapidly drains your points while active.
- Mind the escape route: On higher difficulties, the accelerator rings you need to hit for takeoff are arranged in complex, winding paths that demand precise maneuvering.





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