Wizball

Wizball is a wonderfully strange arcade game built around a simple but unusual mission: restore color to a world that has apparently decided that monochrome is fashionable. You control the titular wizard, bouncing and flying through scrolling environments while collecting ingredients, dealing with enemies, and gradually bringing color back to the landscape. The gameplay combines shooting, movement, exploration, and resource management in a way that feels distinctly different from more conventional arcade shooters. The colorful concept gives the game a playful personality, while the increasing difficulty provides plenty of challenge once the initial novelty wears off. The controls can take a little practice, particularly when several things are happening at once, but mastering the movement is part of the fun. Wizball is a fine example of creative 1980s game design: odd premise, simple presentation, addictive mechanics, and just enough chaos to make you wonder why restoring the colors of the world requires quite so much shooting.