Vanguard for the Atari 2600 is a scrolling shooter game inspired by the arcade original. Released in 1981, players navigate a spacecraft through various scrolling environments, such as tunnels filled with enemy ships, obstacles, and terrain features. The game uniquely scrolls in multiple directions—vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. Players can shoot in four directions to clear a path and acquire power-ups for enhanced abilities. Boasting colorful graphics and a memorable soundtrack at that time, Vanguard remains notable for its early innovation in the shooter genre on home consoles.