Vectrex UFO!
Vectrex ROM (.bin file) for PC emulation or writable cartridge play on the Vectrex Console (CGE / Milton Bradley).
Full Cartridge, Box and Color Manual Published and sold by Good Deal Games!
Get the ROM file — version 1.3
SCREENSHOT
Game Documentation
John A. Reder Presents — Vectrex UFO! v1.0.2
My Vectrex take on UFO draws its inspiration from the original UFO! released for the Magnavox Odyssey² in 1981. Designed by Ed Averett, the game was a standout title of its era, combining fast-paced action with a distinctive style that left a lasting impression on me.
Rather than creating a direct port, I approached this version as a reinterpretation—adapting the core ideas of UFO! to better fit the unique capabilities of the Vectrex. The result is something that stays true to the spirit of the original while offering a different visual and gameplay experience shaped by the Vectrex’s vector display.
I also developed a separate version for the Atari 2600, which takes yet another approach to the same source material. That version is available in cartridge form through 2600 Connection for those interested in experiencing it on original hardware.
What started as admiration for a classic has grown into multiple interpretations across different systems—each one a tribute to a game that helped define an era.
Controls:
- Joystick — Move Player's spaceship
- Button 1 — Shoot laser (also serves as shield when not fired)
- Button 4 — Game Menu / Pause (Press [1] Return or [2] Reset)
UFO Types:
- Drifts randomly in space
- Hunter-killer with search and destroy capability
- Light-speed starship armed with computer-guided buzz-ball energy missiles
All three types disintegrate if hit by your lasers or if they come in contact with your force field.
Scoring:
- Bomb UFO — 1 point
- Hunter-Killer — 3 points
- Light-Speed Starship — 10 points
Skill Levels:
| Level | Trigger | Bombs | Hunter-Killers | Starship Buzz-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 4 normal | 1 | Short range |
| 2 | 3 Starships destroyed | 5 normal | 1 | Short range |
| 3 | 6 Starships destroyed | 5 normal | 1 | Middle range |
| 4 | 9 Starships destroyed | 6 normal | 1 | Middle range |
| 5 | 12 Starships destroyed | 5 normal + 1 fast | 1 | Long range |
| 6 (max) | 15 Starships destroyed | 5 normal + 2 fast | 1 | Long range |
Strategy Tips:
- Stay away from edges — if your shields are down you could die from a UFO entering the screen!
- You cannot shoot down buzz-balls fired by Killer UFOs. Run!
- If you shoot a Killer UFO its buzz-ball dies with it — get to the Killer UFO first!
- Hide behind a UFO to shield you from buzz-balls fired by the light speed starship!
- Your shield is strongest relative to the laser dot circling it when not fully charged
- Your shield is down when you fire, and won't start recharging until the bullet runs its course
- UFOs explode when shot and can cause chain reaction destruction if other UFOs are nearby!
