About

Armor Alley: Remastered is a modern, browser-based version of a classic Mac + PC game.

Armor Alley™ was released for Macintosh and IBM PC® and compatible computers around 1990.

The gameplay is a real-time strategy format: you fly a helicopter and build and escort convoys, with the goal of getting a van to the enemy base. Meanwhile, the enemy is doing the same.

You can play the game at play.armor-alley.net in a desktop or mobile browser.

This remake is free and open source, and can be found on GitHub.

Overview

Game features:

• 10 original game levels
• 12 network game levels
• Three game difficulties
• All original game units + buildings
• Network multi-player
• Level editor
• Mobile + touch-screen support

Ground Units

Units are ordered using funds, which you earn over time.

• Missile Launcher
  

  Self-destructs, deploying a heat-seeking smart missile when the enemy helicopter is nearby. Vulnerable to all munitions.

• Tank
  

  The most heavily-armed ground unit in the game, capable of neutralizing super-bunkers, taking out turrets, and all other ground units. The only threats: Enemy helicopters, opposing tanks — and sometimes — turrets.

• Van

  Key to winning the game. Jams opposing helicopter radar when within range. No offensive capabilities, highly vulnerable.

• Infantry

  Ordered in groups of five. Great for capturing [super-]bunkers, taking out vans and missile launchers. Armed with rifles.

• Engineers

  Ordered in groups of two. Capable of capturing and rebuilding turrets, and repairing bunkers. Armed with rifles.

Buildings

There are a number of structures to be found on the battlefield, serving different needs.

• Bunker

  Good for strategic defense. The more you own, the merrier. Can be claimed by infantry. Typically includes a balloon. Can be destroyed.

• Super Bunker

  Can be neutralized by tanks; dangerous to both sides when neutral. Infantry can claim and arm these units, manning the guns. Super bunkers hold up to five infantry. When armed, these fire at all units except tanks.

• Turret

  A weapon that fires at air and/or ground units, and which can be captured and repaired by engineers. They can be quite powerful.

• Base

  Each end of the battlefield has a base, the target for vans. They fire missiles at nearby opposing helicopters.

• End Bunker

  The "bank" which holds funds for each player, next to the base. One infantry arms the guns, which fire at most opposing ground units. Like super bunkers, end bunkers can be neutralized by tanks.

Airborne Elements

• Clouds

  Subject to the wind, these elements can be helpful—and, on occasion—dangerous.

• Balloons

  When not anchored to a bunker, balloons and chains are dangerous to all airborne units.

• Paratroopers

  Dropped from helicopters, these airborne infantry can be deployed strategically and to great competitive advantage.

Guides, Strategy, Tips and Tricks

The game has a built-in tutorial which introduces the controls, units and game mechanics.

There is also an extensive YouTube video which covers most aspects of the game. Below are timestamp links to key chapters.

Version History

Nostalgia

If you're new to Armor Alley, I hope that you find it both fun and challenging. For some, it may be both a distant and fond memory.

I played the hell out of this game as a kid, and I knew that I wasn't alone: “Y'know something that never gets old? …Nostalgia.”

A few kind words from YouTube commenters over time:

• You are my favorite person for making this. I used to play Rescue Raiders to death on my Apple II. —@jubsy

• Oh my goodness, I am absolutely loving this. I about died laughing at the new "engineers" -- especially when they started talking about the weather. This is an absolute gem, and I can hardly believe how much effort and care you've put into this. Armor Alley was one of my favorite games growing up (I had copies that I purchased for both my PC and my Mac and tried to play them together with a null modem cable -- not sure I ever got it to work). WELL DONE!! This is truly a love letter to our childhood, and I can't thank you enough. —@Clint Herron

• Thanks for putting this video up, this game is legendary I am about to play it for the first time since about 1992. —@dana6677

• Wow ... thanks for doing this ... transported right back to my hiding out in the IT room at school and playing this multiplayer ... still love it. Super awesome. —@heiroglyph321

• Beautifully done - I've had this repo starred for some time and still find myself going back and playing once and a while. —@stu3131

• Just played this now, first time since since I was 10 I guess. Awesome! Thanks heaps! —@Chris Blackman

Source Code

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This is an open-source project. You can see how the sausage is made–for better or worse 😅–at github.com/scottschiller/ArmorAlley.

Contact

Comments, bug reports, and feedback are welcome via GitHub, or idliketowork@yahoo.com (yes, really.)