Battlestations

Battlestations is a first-person anti-aircraft shooter developed by Alligata Software and published by Addictive Games for the Commodore 64 in 1988. You control a fixed twin-barreled artillery position on a stationary battleship moored in port, defending it from enemy aircraft. The first-person view shows a seascape with nearby islands and clouds, while your weapon and ship remain unseen. Your gun can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up and down, with the viewpoint scrolling as you aim. Enemy planes approach in formations of five from all directions. If even one plane from a squadron survives, the ship is bombed. A radar below the view shows enemy positions and your current orientation. Surviving enough squadrons advances you to new levels with different enemy types: planes that fly horizontally circling the ship, and helicopters that drop mines.

Commodore 64

Released in 1988 by Addictive Games, programmed by Mick Lister and Gary Antcliffe, published as a budget title. The game features smooth 360-degree rotation controlled via joystick. Enemy AI is basic—planes fly in direct lines toward the ship, requiring quick reflexes. The difficulty ramps up quickly as later waves introduce circling planes that are harder to track and helicopters dropping mines. When the ship receives too many hits, crewmen abandon the sinking vessel by diving overboard. Critics found the game mediocre, citing repetitive gameplay and the same seascape background across all levels. A basic but playable budget shooter.