Mad Planets: Gottlieb’s 1983 Cosmic Chaos!

Mad Planets, launched by Gottlieb in 1983, is a quirky multidirectional shooter that pits you against, well, angry planets! Designed by Kan Yabumoto with art by Jeff Lee and sound by David D. Thiel, you pilot a spaceship using a joystick for movement, a rotary dial for 360-degree shooting, and a trigger for blasting. Your mission? Fend off Earth-like planets that grow, sprout moons, and charge when enraged!

Gameplay is wild: destroy planets before they fully form for big bonuses, or tackle their orbiting moons to make them vulnerable. Watch out for erratic astronauts to rescue and speeding comets worth escalating points. Bonus rounds every three levels let you snag astronauts while dodging comets. The vibrant starfield, rockin’ soundtrack, and responsive controls keep you hooked.

Praised for its “beautiful graphics” and “frenetic gameplay,” Mad Planets shone at 1983’s Amusement Operators Expo. Though never ported, it inspired Commodore 64 clones like Crazy Comets. A Gottlieb gem, its unique premise and intense action make it a retro standout.

Ready to tame the cosmos? Spin, shoot, and save those astronauts