Talon

Name: Talon
Programmer(s): Eric Parker & Eric Robinson
Publisher: Brøderbund Software
Year: 1983

Description:

Talon is one of those lesser-known arcade games that Broderbund published in 1983, developed by Eric Parker and Eric Robinson. While it didn't make the same splash as some of Broderbund's bigger hits like Lode Runner or Choplifter, it's still a solid example of the kind of arcade action games that were popular on the Apple II during the early 80s.

The game falls into the arcade genre, which was Broderbund's bread and butter during this period. Like many games from this era, Talon probably focused on fast-paced action and straightforward gameplay that could keep players engaged without needing complex storylines or elaborate graphics.

What's interesting about Talon is that it came out during a really competitive time for Apple II arcade games. 1983 was the same year as Lode Runner, and Broderbund was putting out some of their most memorable titles. This means Talon had to compete for attention in a pretty crowded market of quality games.

Unfortunately, Talon seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle compared to Broderbund's more famous releases. It's one of those games that probably had its fans back in the day but didn't leave as big a mark on gaming history as some of its contemporaries.

The fact that Eric Parker and Eric Robinson developed it suggests it was probably an independent game that Broderbund picked up for publishing, which was pretty common for the company. Broderbund had a good eye for finding interesting games from smaller developers and giving them wider distribution.

While I can't speak to the specific gameplay mechanics or graphics quality, if it followed the typical Broderbund pattern, it was probably well-made and fun to play, even if it didn't break any new ground. Sometimes the games that don't become legendary are still perfectly enjoyable experiences that capture the spirit of their time.

For retro gaming enthusiasts, Talon represents an interesting piece of Apple II gaming history from Broderbund's productive early 80s period.