View source for Arcticfox

{{Short description|1986 video game}}
{{other uses of|Arctic Fox}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox video game
| title      = Arcticfox
| image      = arcticfox box.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Cover art by John Mattos
| developer  = [[Dynamix]]
| publisher  = {{vgrelease|NA|[[Electronic Arts]]|EU|[[Ariolasoft]]}}
| producer   = [[Joe Ybarra]]
| programmer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Damon Slye]]
* Richard Hicks
* [[Jeff Tunnell|Jeffrey Tunnell]]
* Kevin Ryan}}
| artist     = John Burton
| engine     =
| platforms  = [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[MS-DOS]]
| released   = 1986
| genre      = [[Vehicle simulation game|Vehicle simulation]]
| modes      = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Arcticfox''''' is a [[science fiction]] [[tank simulation]] video game developed by [[Dynamix]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]] in 1986. It was published in Europe by [[Ariolasoft]]. A sequel to Dynamix's ''[[Stellar 7]]'', it was released on [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[MS-DOS]], and [[Apple II]]. A third game was released in the series in 1991 titled ''[[Nova 9: The Return of Gir Draxon]]''.

The game is set in a fictional 2005 where aliens have taken over [[Antarctica]] in an attempt to steal the Earth's [[oxygen]]. The player is sent to eradicate the intruders using a new super tank codenamed ''Arcticfox''.

''Arcticfox''{{'}}s design team at Dynamix went on to produce ''[[The Incredible Machine (video game)|The Incredible Machine]]'' and ''[[Red Baron (1990 video game)|Red Baron]]''.{{fact|date=June 2017}}

==Gameplay==
[[File:Arcticfox_Atari_ST_screenshot.png|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot (Atari ST)]]
The [[Player character|player]] must pilot the tank into enemy territory with the goal of knocking out the alien base. The player uses the tank's abilities to destroy the aliens' ships and equipment. The Arcticfox tank is equipped with a [[cannon]], [[guided missile]]s, [[land mine]]s, and is outfitted with [[radar]], a [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] device, and fore and aft viewscreens. The player fights a variety of enemy units including planes, tanks, bunkers and [[Radio masts and towers|communication towers]].

The vantage point for the game is the [[cockpit]] of the Arcticfox tank. The player can see out of the main viewscreen as well as the tank's sundry features such as the radar screen. The view also shows the character's hand on the [[joystick]] which moves in accordance with the tank's movements. Enemy targets are visible on the view screens and on radar.

==Reception==
''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' called ''Arcticfox'' "the first original ''new'' [EA game] that uses the distinctive features of the Amiga", calling the graphics and sound "Sensational!". It advised using a joystick instead of the mouse.<ref name="wagner198605">{{cite magazine |title=Amiga Preferences |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=28 |date=May 1986 |last=Wagner |first=Roy |page=42 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1986&pub=2&id=28 |access-date=16 April 2016}}</ref> In 1996, the magazine ranked the Amiga version of ''Arcticfox'' as the 138th best game of all time, calling it "the seminal 3D polygon-based shooter".<ref name="cgw199611best">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 |title=150 Best Games of All Time |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1996 |access-date=25 March 2016 |pages=64–80}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' also praised the Amiga version, and stated that the game would appeal to those who enjoyed both strategy and arcade action.<ref name="stumpf198610">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/1986-10-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_077_1986_Oct#page/n65/mode/2up |title=ArcticFox For Amiga |magazine=[[Compute!]] |issue=77 | date=October 1986 |access-date=9 November 2013 |last=Stumpf |first=Robert J. |page=64}}</ref> ''[[Antic (magazine)|Antic]]'' praised the gameplay for Atari ST version, and concluded that it was a game that the players will return to play time and time again.<ref name="antic198807">{{Cite magazine |last=Manor |first=John |date=July 1988 |title=ST Games Gallery: Hunt For Red October, Arctic Fox, Oids, Police Quest, Space Quest II, Slaygon, Beyond Zork |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/v7n3/stgamesgallery.html |magazine=Antic |access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref> ''[[Info (magazine)|Info]]'' magazine gave the Commodore 64 version four-plus stars out of five, praising its "great 3-D graphics", "intuitive control interface", and control over missiles.<ref name="info198701">{{Cite magazine |last1=Dunnington |first1=Benn |last2=Brown |first2=Mark R. |last3=Malcolm |first3=Tom |date=January–February 1987 |title=64/128 Gallery |url=https://archive.org/stream/info-magazine-13/Info_Issue_13_1987_Jan-Feb#page/n13/mode/2up |magazine=Info |pages=14–21}}</ref> The staff of [[Crash (magazine)|''Crash'']] magazine were critical of the [[ZX Spectrum]] version of the game, giving it an overall score of 41%.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=August 1988|title=Arcticfox|magazine=[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]|publisher=[[Newsfield Publications]]|issue=55|pages=20–21}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Skyfox (1984 video game)|Skyfox]]'' (1984), EA's first game with the "fox" suffix. The sequel, ''[[Skyfox II: The Cygnus Conflict|Skyfox II]]'', was developed by Dynamix.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/arcticfox ''Arcticfox''] at [[MobyGames]]
* {{abime|id=3302}}
* {{atarimania|id=11085}}
* {{lemon64 game|name=Arcticfox|id=139}}
* {{WoS game|id=0000245}}

{{Stellar 7}}
{{Dynamix}}

[[Category:1986 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Apple II games]]
[[Category:Ariolasoft games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Tank simulation video games]]
[[Category:Video games set in 2005]]
[[Category:Video games set in Antarctica]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Dynamix games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]