Tac/Scan

Space combat color vector shooter arcade game from 1982

Tac/Scan (夕ック/スキャン) is a space combat shooter released as an arcade video game in 1982. It was developed by Sega Electronics An Atari 2600 version was released in 1983. The game uses 3D vector graphics The player commands seven units in squadron formation through waves of attacking enemies; the player can gain reserve units, while being able to command the units to perform various actions, including firing at enemies, getting into formation, or a "tac" maneuver.

The game starts with seven individual ships in play. Those ships can be lost in any of the three stages by hitting a tunnel, getting shot, or colliding with an enemy, the laser firing Ahmins composing the superfleet from the planet of Ahm. The player is able to "collect" and earn these ships back as the game progresses. The squadron can drop down to one ship in the game, but still have four "back up" ships. If the final ship in play is lost, however, the game is over (even if the player has unused "back up" ships). This is different from other games that give the player ships sequentially. In the first stage, the player pilots their ships through waves of attacking enemies. The player can either fire upon them, or "tac" their ships around them. The second stage is much like the first, except that it is from a 3 D third person perspective from behind the player's ships. In the third stage, the player pilots their ships down a space warp tunnel, and will lose any ships that touch the side of the tunnel.

In Japan, Game Machine listed Tac/Scan on their July 1, 1983 issue as being the twenty second most successful table arcade unit of the month.