At any time during the game, you may press RESET to begin again. Also, you may freeze the action by pressing PAUSE. To restart the action, press PAUSE again.
The joystick controls your spaceship's circular flight pattern through space. Simply move the joystick in a circular motion to do so. Press any FIRE button quickly to rapid-fire your spaceship's ammunition.
To make the journey from beyond Neptune to the sanctuary of Earth, defeating enemy planes, avoiding meteors and satellites, and reaching interim planets along the way.
At the start of the game, the screen shows:
- your score in the upper center
- the number of remaining spaceships in the upper left
- the stage number in the right corner
- your spaceship in the lower center
Warps
The first screen also tells you "2 WARPS TO NEPTUNE." A warp is one
stage of battle against the enemy planes that guard the planets of your destination.
It takes 2 warps to reach Neptune and 3 warps to reach each of the subsequent
planets. There will be a brief pause between each warp at which time your spaceship
speeds towards the next planet... and its next encounter. Also at this time,
the screen gives you the remaining number of warps to go.
Enemy formations
Within each warp you'll face FOUR different formations of enemy planes. The
formations might emerge from the center of the screen where the planes band
together - or form off screen where they can create a surprise attack. In
either case, shoot down as many planes within the formation as you can and
don't let them hit your own ship. Planes fire missiles, too... your only
option is to avoid them... or be shot down. After the last formation appears,
all
the planes NOT shot down will regroup in the center and attack again. They
will continue to do so until you've eliminated the last one - unless, of
course, one eliminates you first.
BUT PLANES ARE NOT ALL YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. THERE ARE SWIRLING AND DEADLY SATELLITES AND METEORS, TOO.
Satellites
There are two types of satellites. One type appears in threes - two that look
like giant molecules on either side of a glowing ball. Try to shoot them
down for points. SHOOT THE MIDDLE SATELLITE, AND YOUR SHIP WILL FIRE DOUBLE
BULLETS. THE SHIP WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL IT GOES DOWN. Electromagnetic
wave-emitting pairs are the other type of satellite. Shoot them down to break
the wave that can catch your spaceship and destroy it. And rack up points
while you're at it!
Meteors
Meteors are a third type of enemy to watch out for. Meteors look like giant
rocks and CANNOT be destroyed. So stay clear of them!
COME OUT ALIVE AFTER COMPLETING THE TWO OR THREE WARPS NECESSARY TO REACH A PLANET, AND THAT PLANET APPEARS ON SCREEN. AFTER A BRIEF BREATHER, YOU'LL ENTER THE CHANCE STAGE.
The Chance Stage
The Chance Stage occurs upon reaching a planet. During this stage, you get
a chance to rack up points. One at a time, four different enemy plane formations
will appear on screen... BUT THEY HAVE NO POWER TO DESTROY YOU. SO position
yourself for maximum firing accuracy. Bonus points are awarded for shooting
down an entire formation and Super Bonus points for wiping out all four formations.
WHEN THE CHANCE STAGE IS OVER, IT'S OFF TO THE NEXT PLANET AND THE NEXT BARRAGE OF WARPS.
The Planets
In case you need to be reminded... the planets along your journey through our
solar system appear in this order: Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars,
and Earth.
The Music
You're listening to Johann Sebastian Bach's "Toccata and Fuge in D Minor."
Bonus spaceships
Score 60,000 points and you're awarded with an additional spaceship. Every
100,000 points thereafter awards you another one.
The game ends when you lose your last spaceship. If you should reach Earth
with at least one remaining spaceship, you'll continue the game with Neptune
as the first stop once again.
To play again, press START for a one-player game; * for a two-player game.
In a two-player game, the left player goes first; players alternate turns. Your turn ends when you lose a spaceship.
Points accumulate at the top of the screen throughout your turn.
| Targets |
Points |
| Enemy plane | 100 |
| Entire formation: | |
| 1st | 1000 |
| 2nd | 1500 |
| 3rd | 2000 |
| 4th | 2500 |
| Molecular satellites: | |
| 1st destroyed | 500 |
| 2nd destroyed | 1000 |
| 3rd destroyed | 1500 |
| With double bullet fire: | |
| 1st destroyed | 1000 |
| 2nd destroyed | 1500 |
| 3rd destroyed | 2000 |
| Electromagnetic satellite | 200 |
| During Chance Stage: | |
| Enemy plane | 100 |
| Entire formation: | |
| in Stage 3 | 1000 |
| in Stage 7 | 1500 |
| in Stage 11 | 2000 |
| in Stage 15 | 2500 |
| in Stage 19 | 3000 |
| Super Bonus for all four formations |
10,000 |
| Ozyr's Atari 5200 Instruction Archive |