''Cannonball Blitz'' is a game programmed by Olaf Lubeck for the

Apple II The Apple II (stylized as ) is an 8-bit home computer and one of the world's first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak; Jerry Manock developed the design of Apple II's foam-m ...

and published by

On-Line Systems In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" or ...

in 1982. It was ported to the

VIC-20 The VIC-20 (known as the VC-20 in Germany and the VIC-1001 in Japan) is an 8-bit home computer that was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PE ...

and TI-99/4A computers. An historic military spin on '' Donkey Kong'', rolling cannonballs replace barrels, a soldier stands in for the large ape, and the objective of the first level is a flag rather than a kidnapped girl.

Gameplay

There are three different screens, the third of which is particularly challenging. After completing the third level, the player views a small celebration scene and then restarts at the first level. Repeated levels only differ from those of the first round in the harsher timing patterns of the game.

Development

''Cannonball Blitz'' achieved some notoriety in the Apple hacking community as being difficult to crack. Track 17, sector D of the game contains the message "YOU'LL NEVER CRACK IT".Krakowicz's Kracking Korner: The Basics of Kracking, Part II
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Reception

Ron Brinkmann reviewed the game for ''

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American computer game magazine published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 1993. It expanded greatly through ...

'', and stated that "In the final analysis, ''Cannonball Blitz'' is a game every bit as challenging and fun as the arcade original. It will give you hours (days, months, years) of enjoyment." '' Ahoy!'' wrote that "''Cannonball Blitz'' or the VIC-20 make no mistake about it, is ''Donkey Kong'' in dress blues. Not a bloody thing new here. However, you're going to find it a barrel of fun". The magazine favorably reviewed the animation and the "''unbelievable''" sound effects, and concluded that it was "a very good version of a fine game".

References

1982 video games Apple II games VIC-20 games Platform games Sierra Entertainment games TI-99/4A games Video game clones Video games developed in the United States Single-player video games {{platform-videogame-stub