GREMLINS

The "Gremlins" game for the Atari XL, developed and published by Atari, Inc. in 1984, is an action game tied to the iconic film of the same name. This adaptation into the video game realm is part of a significant merchandising effort around the movie's release, aiming to bring the Gremlins' world into the interactive sphere of video gaming​​.

The gameplay on the Atari 2600, which shares similarities with the XL version, involves two primary screens. The first screen draws inspiration from the 1981 game "Kaboom!", where players control the protagonist Billy Peltzer, maneuvering him side-to-side to catch falling Mogwai to prevent them from eating hamburgers. The second screen is reminiscent of "Space Invaders", where Billy shoots at descending gremlins. This game design offers an engaging experience that combines elements of speed and strategy, allowing for both single and two-player modes​​.

It was also notable for being the final game released for the Atari 5200, showcasing Atari's dedication to its gaming consoles through the development of movie tie-in titles. Despite its planned simultaneous release with the film, the distribution of the game was affected by the company's reorganization in 1984, making it a moderately rare title​​.

The game has received mixed retrospective reviews, with some critics calling it "derivative" and lacking in originality, and others criticizing its premise of defending hamburgers from gremlins. Despite these criticisms, the game holds a unique place in the history of video game adaptations of films, representing a fascinating cross-section of 80s pop culture and video gaming​​.