Spelunker / game / commercial
From: Michael Current (aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 08/25/92-08:26:44 PM Z
From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Spelunker / game / commercial
Date: Tue Aug 25 20:26:44 1992
Reprinted from Atari Interface, Vol. 4, June 1992
Spelunker from Broderbund
---------
Revisiting a 1983 Atari 8-bit Game
Dale Wooster (NWPAC)
Webster's Dictionary says a Spelunker is "one who explores caves."
Well, you can try to find the treasure at the bottom of this cave and
not even get dirty.
Of the thousands of games that have come along for the Atari 8-bit
over the past 10 years or so, only a few can truly be called _classics._
Spelunker from Broderbund is one of those near the top of the list. It
is a tough and challenging game for one player, with super scrolling
graphics, some unique sound and positive crisp play action.
Listen to the patter of the Spelunker's feet as he/she scurries
throughout the cave picking up all the flares, picks, keys, dynamite and
a couple items I'm not too sure about--but get them anyway as their
point values count towards your point total.
You learn where to use the items you find as you get farther down
into the cave, so _never leave anything behind!_ You can use the
elevator to start at any level you wish, but I found it's best to start
from the top and _never go back up the elevator._
Spelunker requires a _good_ joystick.
There are also a few keyboard commands you will need to use. The
spacebar, for instance, is used to kill the Ghost. You will hear the
eerie sounds of the ghost approaching. It can come from _any_
direction, so don't get caught on a rope or near the screen edge. Turn
to face the ghost while standing on the dirt floor, and when he is a few
inches away, hit the spacebar.
A blast from your air tank will blow him away. Use this sparingly
as it reduces your air supply faster.
Another key fires a flare above your head. You use this when you
hear and see the vampire bats flying above you. They live in the dark
and hide from the flares. I think they are dropping "acid bat guano" on
you because if it touches you, _you are dead._ Sending off a flare
gives you enough time to run safely under them. If you feel _daring_
you can run under most of them without a flare.
You set off dynamite charges by pressing yet another key. Get
close to one of the mounds you can't jump over, set your charge, and
then _turn_ and _run like heck_ the other way! If you place the charge
in the right place, the mound will be gone and you can continue along
that passage.
The lower left corner of the screen shows the items you have picked
up along the way. At the bottom of the screen, a red "thermometer"
gauge shows how much air you have left. There are plenty "air pump
bellows" throughout the cave, but you will have to watch the gauge and
move about carefully to avoid running out of air.
As you play, you will learn where the dead end tunnels are.
Sometimes, you can pass by one of the pumps if you have plenty of air
and you know you are coming back that same way, anyway.
You also must watch our for the smaller mounds that shoot out puffs
of steam that can kill you. Some of the small holes will also kill you
if you step in them.
In Spelunker, you earn extra lives by scoring points. As you get
deeper into the _Ropes,_ and then the _Falls,_ the points you earn
increase.
This game is so challenging that you will keep coming back to it as
you learn all the twists and turns. I suppose you think I am going to
tell you how to get through the Ropes and the Falls? Guess what!
You're wrong. Have fun with this one.
Oh, one more thing. The disk will run a demo if you just let it
load and go (boot without BASIC).
--
Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp -->> go atari <<--
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the Central Atari Information Network
Internet: currentm@carleton.edu / UUCP: ...!umn-cs!ccnfld!currentm
BITNET: currentm%carleton.edu@{interbit} / Cleveland Free-Net: aa700
-----------------------------------------
Return to message index
