Elevator Action (USA, Europe)

Elevator Action stands as one of the most innovative and influential action games of the early 1980s arcade era, offering a unique spy-themed experience centered around infiltration and escape. Released by Taito in 1983 before appearing on numerous home systems, Elevator Action follows the adventures of a secret agent codenamed Agent 17 as he infiltrates a high-rise building to collect secret documents and escape with the valuable intelligence. What makes Elevator Action particularly noteworthy is its distinctive vertically-oriented gameplay that revolves around navigating elevators and escalators while engaging in gunfights with enemy agents. The game's multi-floor building setting created a dynamic environment where players could use doors for cover, ride elevators to avoid enemies, and strategically shoot out lights to create advantageous shadows. With its perfect blend of action and strategy, distinctive visual style featuring the silhouetted protagonist, and escalating challenge that rewarded both quick reflexes and tactical thinking, Elevator Action delivered an experience unlike anything else in arcades at the time. Among the pantheon of influential retro games that established enduring gameplay concepts, Elevator Action remains a standout example of innovative design that successfully captured the essence of spy fiction in interactive form.

Elevator Action was developed and released by Taito in 1983, first appearing in arcades before receiving ports to home systems including the NES, Sega SG-1000, and various computer platforms. The game was designed by Takashi Fujisawa, who created a unique gameplay concept that stood out in arcades dominated by space shooters and maze games. Upon its arcade release, Elevator Action quickly gained popularity for its innovative vertical gameplay and spy theme that resonated with players during the Cold War era when espionage fiction was particularly popular. The NES version of Elevator Action, released in 1987, introduced the game to a new generation of players and is often cited as one of the more faithful arcade-to-console conversions of its time. Elevator Action's success led to a sequel titled Elevator Action Returns (also known as Elevator Action II) in 1994, which expanded on the original's concept with new characters, weapons, and two-player cooperative gameplay. The franchise has seen periodic revivals over the decades, including Elevator Action EX for Game Boy Color and Elevator Action Deluxe for PlayStation 3. Among collectors of retro games, original Elevator Action arcade boards and home cartridges remain popular acquisitions, representing an important title in action game evolution. The game's influence can be seen in numerous titles that followed, particularly those featuring infiltration elements and vertical level design. For many gaming historians, Elevator Action represents a perfect example of how arcade games of the early 1980s could create compelling experiences with relatively simple mechanics but deep strategic possibilities.