Scramble

Overview

Before Gradius, before R-Type, there was Scramble. Konami’s 1981 arcade game established side-scrolling shooter conventions: horizontally scrolling terrain, bombs for ground targets, lasers for air threats, and fuel management adding strategic depth. Every side-scroller that followed owes it a debt.

Fast facts

• Developer: Konami.
• Release: 1981.
• Genre: Side-scrolling shooter.
• Innovation: First side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling.

Core mechanics

Element	Function
Laser	Destroy air targets
Bombs	Destroy ground targets
Fuel	Depletes constantly
Terrain	Collision kills

Fuel system

Revolutionary resource management:

• Fuel depletes continuously
• Destroy fuel tanks to refill
• Adds urgency beyond enemies
• Strategic target prioritisation

Stage progression

Stage	Environment
1	Open terrain, rockets
2	City with UFOs
3	Fireballs
4	Narrow caves
5	Maze-like passages
6	Base (destroy target)

Enemy types

Enemy	Behaviour
Rockets	Launch from ground
UFOs	Aerial threats
Fireballs	Rise from below
Meteors	Fall from above

Technical achievements

Feature	Innovation
Forced scrolling	Continuous movement
Dual weapons	Air and ground attacks
Varied terrain	Multiple stage types
Final objective	Destroy the base

Influence on genre

Scramble established:

• Horizontal scrolling shooters
• Weapon differentiation
• Resource management
• Stage-based progression

Home versions

Platform	Quality
C64	Good adaptation
Spectrum	Playable port
Vectrex	Unique vector version
Various	Many clones

Sequel

Super Cobra (1981):

• Same engine
• Helicopter theme
• Additional stages
• Similar gameplay

Legacy

Scramble directly influenced:

• Gradius (Konami’s spiritual successor)
• Defender (different approach, same era)
• Entire side-scrolling shooter genre

See also

• Konami
• Gradius
• R-Type
• Defender