Atari CX-2600 Video Game Console User Manual


 
Press the fire button to use the active weapon. You may have to zap an alien a number of times to
destroy it.
Each weapon has a strength and energy value. Stronger weapons do more damage to the aliens. When
you use a weapon, you lose energy units.
The following chart shows the strength and energy depletion value of each weapon type.
Weapon Strength Value Energy Used
Energy Sword 2 1
Sonic Blaster 4 2
Particle Beam 8 4
Oxygen Bottles and Energy Pods
Each time you destroy a room full of aliens, an oxygen bottle or energy pod appears. Touch these
objects to replenish lost oxygen and energy. Fighting aliens depletes energy and/or oxygen. Exploring
depletes oxygen at the rate of one oxygen bottle every minute. The game ends if you run out of oxygen. If
you run out of energy, the game continues, but you will not be able to use any weapons until you find more
energy.
Indicator bars at the bottom of the screen show how much energy and oxygen you have. Each mark on
the indicator equals 16 units of energy or one bottle of oxygen.
Sonic Keys
Sonic doors appear throughout the space stations. In order to open a sonic door, you must have a sonic
key. These keys are scattered around the stations. When you come to a sonic door, make sure the sonic key
is active, then press the fire button to open the door and reveal a secret stairway. Activate a sonic key from
the status screen as explained under Active Object in the next section. Each sonic key can only be used
once.
Status Screen?
You can look at the status screen any time during the game by pushing the [TV Type] switch on the
2600 console up and down. To return to the game screen, push the [TV Type] switch up and down again.
The status screen shows the following:
Current Station When you destroy a station, it disappears from the status screen. The current
station flashes.
Current Level A stack of bars indicate how many levels the current station contains. The current
level flashes.
Active Object The active object is either a weapon or a sonic key. To change active objects, press
the fire button until the object you want appears.
Re-entry Code If you want to exit the game so you can return later at the same station, write down
this code so you can restart at the status screen. (See Saving a Game for more information.)
Destroying a Station
Your secret orders specify the following procedure for destroying a station. The procedure is
dangerous and risky, but it's the only known way to destroy these evil space stations.
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