Archon returns to PC

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 9th October 2009
Comments (17) Stumble
Archon returns to PC

React Games has announced it will be bringing the classic strategy game Archon back to PCs after 26 years away.

Retro classic Archon will be returning to the PC after more than 26 years of drifting, forgotten through the miasma of license and development troubles, according to React Games.

Archon, for those not in the know, is a highly regarded strategy-action game which combines a Chess-like strategy element with simple one on one action battles between different pieces.

React Games previously bought the game to the iPhone too, with a second Archon game on the way called Archon: Conquest. The new iPhone title will include four singleplayer campaigns, 60 quests and support for Ngmoco's Plus+ service as well.

The new PC game will update the classic gameplay with a graphical overhaul, four player multiplayer, new boards and a series of achievements and leaderboards. Players will be able to switch between a retro and modern tileset too.

Originally released 26 years ago on IBM PCs and Macs as Archon: The Light and The Dark, the first game has stood as an influential hybrid of gameplay types.

You can get more details on the game over at the React Games site, or you can let us know what you think of the game in the forums.
Quote kornedbeefy 9th October 2009, 13:18
Awesome nostalgic memories from this one. <a tear wells up in the corner of my eye> Archon was the "first" computer game. God, its been 26 years. :)
Quote Evildead666 9th October 2009, 13:46
First PC game maybe, but not THE first game ;)
Intruder alert was around for the Dragon 32 and The ZX 81 had a few around....

The first PC game I remember was A horrible green screen adventure game.....then came Battle of Britain 1940 in mCGA and colour was beautiful.
Quote proxess 9th October 2009, 13:46
Wow. Older than me. Also I've never heard of it but hey.
Quote azrael- 9th October 2009, 14:14
It's also worth noting that Archon originally was developed for the Atari back in 1983. PCs weren't really thought of as suitable for gaming back then, and neither were Macs. Gaming on the PC didn't really come into its own until the late 80s/early 90s. The graphics were just too shoddy.
Quote DaMightyMouse 9th October 2009, 14:22
Sweeeet :)
Quote Flibblebot 9th October 2009, 16:07
I definitely remember playing Archon on the Commodore 64 too...
Quote KayinBlack 9th October 2009, 16:13
Had it for Nintendo. Classic.
Quote mikeuk2004 9th October 2009, 16:57
I can see where the 21 year old Battlechess got its idea from.
Quote Pieface 9th October 2009, 19:59
Never heard of it either, being born 8 years later than this was released.
Quote NightrainSrt4 9th October 2009, 20:30
I still have it for NES. Freaking awesome game.
Quote B3CK 9th October 2009, 22:35
So many hours playing this on Commodore 64, and 128, I am def getting this!
Quote Star*Dagger 10th October 2009, 01:14
Archon was far from the first computer game. Akalabeth was before that, along with many many others.
I have been PC Gaming since 1981, there were always games on the PC and their always will be.

Yours in "There at the Start" Plasma,
Star*Dagger
Quote thehippoz 10th October 2009, 01:32
never liked archon.. now battle chess =]
Quote Otto69 11th October 2009, 01:47
I swear, I am going to petition new stories to stop posting how old, old things like this, are :) It makes me realize I'm old.
Quote quake1-rules 13th October 2009, 12:07
As much as I love the original Archon and the PC is my only gaming platform, Archon on the consoles is probably a better audience. Maybe they'll do that too. The music on the Atari8bit version was really good. Loved how fast the unicorn shots were. :)
Quote Star*Dagger 13th October 2009, 19:49
I loved that age of PC gaming, as well as subsequent ages. I will say though that the best ages of PC gaming are ahead of us, EVE is going to blur the lines of many genres soon and take off in directions few imagined.
Quote Maven 23rd October 2009, 01:06
Definitely one of my old favorites. I played so much I found a bug where I could finish with 19 pieces.
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