After the success of the Intellivision, Mattel decided it was time to invest in home computers. But what kind of computer do you get from a toy maker? A toy computer, pretty much. The Aquarius was a machine right out of the previous decade, even lacking programmable graphics: everything on the screen had to be assembled from a built-in set of glyphs. So all games in its meager library, mostly Intellivision ports, looked even worse than those on the then-aging console. Realizing it was a dud, Mattel gave it back to Radofin (the contractor that actually produced it), who used aggressive price cuts to extend its life a few months. But, even as a super low cost machine, it could not compete with the likes of ZX Spectrum, so it was soon discontinued.
The list[]
Box Art
Title
Genre
Description
Screenshot
Astrosmash
Arcade/Shmup
The Intellivision classic Astrosmash comes to the Aquarius with predictably worse graphics and isn't as much fun. Shoot the incoming asteroids and bombs as they descend using your ground cannon.
BurgerTime
Puzzle
Quite possibly the ugliest official port of BurgerTime ever still manages to play surprising decently. Form the burgers by walking over the buns, patties and lettuce, while avoiding the sentient food trying to kill you.
D-Fenders
Shmup
The mandatory Defenders clone on Aquarius. Shoot the aliens attempting to abduct the humans, being careful not to shoot the humans by mistake or allowing them to fall to their death. Be prepared for hand-cramps if you're playing this on keyboard.
Disco Fever
Action/maze
A game with a really odd concept: you are a hotshot DJ, but your wino girlfriend is in the club tonight too. So you score by getting her drinks, but you must also run to the record store across the street and get something new to keep the party going. Just be careful not to bump into a mugger. Man, the 80s were rough.
Nightstalker
Action/maze
A surprising good version of Nightstalker. Wander the dungeon shooting the bats, spiders and robots using your limited supply of bullets, and try to survive as long as possible.
N-Vaders
Shmup
A perfectly fine Space Invaders clone. Shoot the invaders as they descend down the screen.
Snafu
Arcade
It's Surround. Manoeuvre your square clockwise/anti-clockwise and use the formed trail to cause your opponents to crash.
Tron: Deadly Discs
Action
Fight an unending horde of disk-throwing programs using your own light disk.
