A true classic that deserves a place alongside Asteroids and Pac-Man
The premise for Missile Command is rather basic: you launch missiles to destroy incoming nuclear warheads and UFOs, with the goal of protecting the surrounding buildings. Gameplay in Missile Command is simple, yet quite enjoyable as you move your cursor around the screen to select your target and launch missiles to destroy any threats. If you fail to stop a warhead, it may destroy one of the buildings that you are defending and if you lose all six buildings, you lose the game. Thankfully, every eight rounds your buildings are replenished. The game starts out fairly easy but the difficulty builds up at the perfect speed, providing a good challenge without getting frustrating very quickly. Another thing worth noting is the fact that there is no lag or slowdown in the gameplay, and there are no problems with collision detection between the warheads and explosions.
Graphics:
The graphics in Missile Command are pretty good with decent sprites representing the buildings, warheads, and UFOs. The trails that the incoming warheads leave is a nice touch which makes up for the simple visuals.
Sound:
Surprisingly, the sound effects in Missile Command are great, most notably the sounds used for the incoming UFOs and explosions. Nothing sounds too abrasive and overall it's some of the best I've heard in any 2600 game.
Value:
In terms of replay value, Missile Command is one of the strongest titles from the Atari age providing many hours of amusement and plenty of enjoyment.
Tilt:
Overall, Missile Command is one of the most fun classic games I've ever played and will invoke fond memories for years to come.