Play Scramble-mame Online

Scramble was one of the early games Konami put out for arcades in 1981, a side-scrolling shooter that felt different from the space invaders clones that were everywhere. You flew a small ship through a horizontally scrolling landscape that was full of obstacles, and the goal was simply to survive as long as possible while destroying ground targets.

You control a ship that automatically scrolls forward, forcing you to react quickly to incoming terrain and enemies. Your main weapons are a forward-firing laser for air targets and bombs you drop on ground installations and fuel depots. The game is split into distinct sections, each with its own hazards, like a cavern filled with stalactites or a cityscape with anti-aircraft guns. It's brutally difficult, with limited fuel adding a constant pressure; running out means an instant game over. Navigating the narrow passages while timing your bomb drops creates a tense, almost claustrophobic feeling.