Summary
Raid Over Moscow (1984) served Cold War panic as an arcade sampler platter: launch the interceptor, dodge defences, blow the silos, then head for the Kremlin like you'd lost a bet. It was tense, fast and wonderfully unfair - one sloppy move and the timer kept ticking while you respawned in shame. Threading flak on the final run felt heroic… until you clipped a pixel and exploded. The multi-stage structure kept you saying 'one more go' even as your hands disagreed. Politics aside (it was controversial), it bottled white-knuckle coin-op energy at home.
What it does well
Great pacing, strong sense of urgency, satisfying skill curve, memorable set-pieces, and top-tier 8-bit presentation.
Where it falls short
Brutal difficulty spikes, harsh precision demands, repetitive restarts, and subject matter that can feel cartoonishly provocative now.
Verdict
A brilliant multi-stage adrenaline rush that still thrills, even if its theme feels loudly of its time.