Andes Attack

About

Andes Attack is a fast paced arcade shooter that reimagines the Defender formula with a comically absurd twist. You control a rescue craft patrolling a vertically scrolling battlefield fending off aliens that kidnap llamas. Your goal is to eliminate threats before they drag their camelid captives offscreen let them reach the top and they transform into relentless pursuers that trigger instant death. Each saved llama rewards you with points adding a tense layer of risk management to the chaotic shoot em up action. Jeff Minter’s signature eccentricity shines through in this 1982 release turning a straightforward shooter into a bizarre yet addictive challenge. The game’s legacy is cemented by its clever inversion of Defender’s premise paired with frantic two way scrolling gameplay that tests reflexes and split second decisions. With its retro charm and punishing difficulty curve it’s no surprise that Andes Attack remains a cult favorite among classic arcade enthusiasts. Llamasoft LTD’s early work here helped establish Minter as a pioneer of quirky high energy game design long before his later hits.