Rescue

Purchased December 15, 2002
Derek's Classic Top 50 Ranking: 20th All Time
Originally Released 1982

Page updated December 25, 2002

No question Stern made some of my very favorite games and Rescue would have to rank right up there. Rescue has a simple premise, to save the paratroopers from enemy sharks, submarines and patrol boats, while you are dodging enemy helicopters and fire from the water. Once you pick up the required number of paratroopers you land on the island and continue on to the next mission. Missions are divided into morning, evening and night with a bonus round after each three. You rise through the ranks after each bonus round from Private to ??? The game gets very hard, but I love it. Reminds me of a cross between Defender and Space Dungeon... OK that's a bit of a stretch but the elements are there...

The Control Panel,  Marquee and one of the most unique aspects of this cab, the headphone jack and volume knob. Out of all the Stern cabs in this style it is the only game with this feature. Look for this if you are trying to discern whether the cab is an original dedicated one or not. All dedicated Rescues came in the Gray cab but Stern was known to do factory conversions as a yellow cab with the headphone/volume existed till it was accidentally jettisoned off a truck...

Close ups of both sides artwork. This guy is bumming big time as he parachutes into the sea with a shark awaiting him...

Side-by-side with Rescues sister game, Minefield, both programmed by Chris Oberth. Need to replace the marquee light as the original's ballast melted through the plastic housing... Another thing you will notice about the Rescue cab which is different is the lip under the marquee. Notice the different shape. All other Stern cabs of this kind have the more straight Minefield lip...

Full side by side along with the front tray pulled out containing the PC board and power. Much easier to work on and it is a wonder more companies did not take this approach...

A few screen shots....

This game is awesome and it was the number one want on my list for a good year plus. Glad my search came to fruition and I have added yet another dual joystick game to my collection!