Sarge

Sarge is a multi-directional shooter arcade game which was released by Bally Midway in 1985; it runs on their MCR-3 hardware but without the two General Instrument AY-3-8910s. Both players must use two (vertical) 2-way joysticks, with two buttons for firing and bombing, to take up control of a blue (1P) or red (2P) tank - and there is also a third button for switching between the two vehicles. The baseball stadium jingle "Charge" is heard at the start of each round as the player (and enemy) soldiers get into their tanks (the latter of which are purple); when in the tank, it's possible to fire off shells at the enemy tanks and missiles up at the enemy helicopters, and when in the helicopter it is possible to fire bullets at the enemy helicopters and drop bombs down on the enemy tanks. You can also score extra points by destroying the buildings, staff cars and bombers which are present upon some of the rounds - and whenever one of your shots hits an enemy vehicle, a flashing "X" shall appear on it and you will have to shoot it again to destroy it (however, this holds true for the enemy shots and your vehicles as well). If either of your vehicles is destroyed in any round, you will be forced to switch to the remaining one - and the game will be over if the remaining one should get destroyed as well. This game has fourteen rankings: Private, Corporal, the eponymous "Sarge" (Sergeant), 2nd and 1st Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant and full Colonel, Brigadier, Major, Lieutenant and full General, and General of the Army; if you should take too long over a round, an enemy bugler shall put up a tent and blow his trumpet, which means you will have to shoot him before he can do so (in order to extend the time for that round). If you can't shoot him in time, you shall proceed to the next round but will not move up in rank - and you'll then have to kill all the enemies on the next round, in order to receive the promotion you missed out on. A port of the game was also planned for release on the Atari 7800, but cancelled.