Zaxxon was a revelation for video game graphics. The 1982 Sega hit had a stunning 3D, isometric perspective that created a virtual reality onscreen. As one of the earliest 3D games based on raster graphics, Zaxxon had graphics advanced beyond any other video game of the day.
From a third person perspective, players must navigate a fighter plane through an enemy fortress. The fortress walls, electrified force fields, gas tanks, missiles, radar dishes, and other obstacles come alive with the 3D graphics. The realism of the game is also evident in the inclusion of shadows and a built environment that actually functioned. Players have to be aware of colliding with walls and other objects of the background. After penetrating the fortress, players continue the battle in space against an enemy alien fleet. The robot boss Zaxxon appears once the enemy aliens are defeated.
Zaxxon was ported to nearly every home console and home computer at the time of its release. The ColecoVision cartridge had especially high-quality 3D graphics. The graphics of Zaxxon were a great leap forward for the video game industry. The development of new technology- like Zaxxon's- has been essential for the development of the industry into its present state.