T-MEK

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T-MEK is a 1994 arcade first‑person shooter and mech combat game by Atari Games. Players control a MEK, a hovering tank with special weapons. In arcade mode, up to six players can compete: two players can face off while the rest fight AI, or three arcade cabinets can be linked for a six‑player battle. There’s also a special tournament mode for one‑on‑one play. T-MEK is known for its surround sound called “CAGE Audio,” with four speakers around the player and a subwoofer under the seat. There’s no background music; the sound is used to help locate enemies.

In 1995, an update called T-MEK: The Warlords added a boss MEK, a beginner mode, tutorials, new moves, and more.

Home versions followed for MS-DOS and the 32X. These ports use split-screen for two players instead of linking arcade cabinets. An Atari Jaguar version was planned but canceled in 1995.

Reception was mixed. The arcade version was very popular and praised for its visuals and sound, with reviewers noting it as an exciting update to the Battlezone idea. The 32X port received mixed reviews, with some critics feeling it did not capture the arcade excitement and criticizing performance, while others praised its faithfulness and added arenas. The MS-DOS version was poorly received, criticized for weak visuals, sound, limited gameplay, difficult installation, and the lack of network multiplayer.