Video Game Collecting

Berzerk is a perfect video game for many reasons.  It’s influence on the video game industry still exists to this day, and sadly the newest generation of gamers would probably dismiss this title for being “simple and unimaginative… maybe even boring”  But the truth is quite the opposite.

Sure, your character is a simple stick figure who can run and shoot in 8 directions.  You can die if you are hit by a bullet, wall, robot, or Otto (smiley face).  The robots are not very bright and there is a pattern to the mazes.  So what is so great about that?  Plenty.

First of all the Berzerk inspires the imagination.  I’ve said it a million times that less is more, and in the case of Berzerk the possibilities are limitless.  With almost no story to go by the player cannot help but create their own.  Is the maze a prison, or perhaps a space station?  Was your character sent there, or left behind?  Did you create these robots or did someone else?

Also consider this formula for game design:  Simplicity + Randomness = Infinite Gameplay.  What does this mean exactly?  Well consider a game such as “The Legend Of Zelda”.  I mention this game specifically because the dungeon levels are very similar to playing Berzerk (up to four possible exits per room, random obstacles in the room, enemies try to kill you, and you can shoot (stab) enemies).  But the game play is linear.  You have a very specific story to follow.  Complete a dungeon, obtain items that will help you with the next dungeon, kill the boss, pick up the next piece of the Triforce.  Is there a randomness to The Legend of Zelda?  A little.  The enemies move in random patterns.  So does this mean that The Legend of Zelda has Infinite Gameplay?  No, because you have a specific objective to complete the game.  Berzerk on the other hand is so simple, and the randomness of the robots guarantee that no two games are going to be exact.

Berzerk in design was probably a precursor to many other games that fit a similar gameplay.  Robotron.  SmashTV.  Xybots.  Even Wolfenstein is basically Berzerk, but ’3D’.  Suppose Berzerk was simultaneously multi-player… then it might be considered a precursor to many of the modern FPS’s that are so popular today.