A straightforward adaptation of Williams' cult arcade classic, Atari's Moon Patrol for the Apple II is a somewhat stripped-down, no-frills experience which concentrates on the action of the game, rather than getting the visuals or the sound right.

The game offers either joystick or keyboard control (and fair warning: the keyboard control scheme is nearly impossible). Moon Patrol manages to give justice to most of the visuals, though some of the graphic nuances -- the lunar cities in the background, the shading on the triple-sphere ships which lob crater-making bombs at you -- is sacrificed, probably due to the Apple II hi-res mode's limited color range. Completely absent is that jaunty little tune which accompanied the arcade Moon Patrol and even home versions like Atari 2600.