Play Assault Online

Assault, released by Namco in 1988 and playable today through MAME, is a top-down arcade shooter from an era when games were built to challenge and absorb quarters. It doesn't try to be anything more than what it is: a straightforward, demanding test of reflexes and pattern recognition.

You control a tank with unique twin-stick mechanics; one joystick moves your vehicle while the other independently aims your cannon in any direction. Your goal is simply to survive through each stage, destroying enemy tanks, helicopters, and fortifications that pour onto the screen. The signature mechanics involve this free-aiming system and the ability to run over smaller enemies with your treads, adding a layer of tactical movement to the constant shooting. The pacing is relentless, and the difficulty is unforgiving, with enemy fire coming from all sides. It feels like a constant, frantic scramble to keep your bearings and not get surrounded.