Sentinel (1990). Play Free Online

Summary

Sentinel, often just called Sentinel, is the only official light‑gun game ever released for the Atari 2600, and it later resurfaced on the 7800 with sharper graphics. The game asks you to guard a hovering Sentinel orb on four alien worlds, firing the XE light gun at swarms of foes and even incoming missiles; hitting the orb itself triggers a smart bomb. Developed by David Lubar of Imagineering, it mirrors the arcade classic Crossbow but never achieved the same fame. When the upgraded 7800 version hit Europe in 1991, it became the final official European release for that console. Critics were merciless, labeling it a novelty with uninspired graphics and bland gameplay, and it still earns an “F” from retro reviewers today.

Storyline

In the Atari 7800 game Sentinel, you play as a scientist who pilots a glowing orb he invented called the Sentinel, capable of absorbing and storing energy. When alien forces launch an invasion of Earth, the scientist launches the Sentinel on a daring counter‑offensive. He journeys to four hostile worlds—Alptaurus, Ceruptus, Vulnavium, and Asceptron—each defended by a powerful alien lord and a vital power station. By destroying each station, the Sentinel cripples the alien network and forces the lords into retreat. After the four worlds fall, the scientist finally confronts the mysterious entity that commands the alien lords and defeats it, ending the extraterrestrial threat.

Edited by Maya Carter