They've "taken the spirit of the original" and then "re-imagined" the Yar's home world using our fancy current gen technology. It's all third-person shooter.
It originally released back in 1981 on the Atari 2600 and was created by Howard Scott Warshaw. It became their best selling original creation for the game system. Now Yar's Revenge is become all high def and heading for XBLA, PSN and PC.
"In the modern version, we've taken the spirit of the original game and re-imagined the Yars' homeplanet as rendered by current gen technology. It is now a third person arcade shooter experience in which Yar flies through visually stunning Miyazaki-inspired landscapes while fighting a wide variety of memorable enemies," said Atari's Michael Fahrny.
"Whether hovering close to the ground in jungle-inspired environments, or flying high above futuristic cities, Yar is constantly under attack from her vicious Qotile captors as she attempts to save her people from extinction."
Gameplay details are a little scarce when it gets to specifics but we're told the "infamous Zorlon Cannon will be making a triumphant return." It will also support local co-op with one player controlling flight and the other manning the weapons.
"If you like games like Panzer Dragoon or Star Fox," said Fahrny, "then Yars' Revenge is right up your alley." Yar's Revenge releases on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC in "early 2011," say Atari. Have you even heard of 1981, videogamer?