Fathom [Model 03205]

43 Years old Atari 2600 cart. Imagic, Inc. [Los Gatos, CA, USA]

Fathom © 1983 Imagic.

Locate the three missing pieces of Neptune's Trident and free Neptune's daughter 7 times from her prison at the bottom of the sea.

* Switch forms from dolphin to seagull to search the sea and the sky for the three pieces of the Trident.

* Learn to make magical stars appear in the sky and the starfish appear in the sea. They are your key to finding the Trident pieces!

* Once you have the Trident, swing to the bottom of the sea and free the mermaid! Hurry! Time is ticking down!

TECHNICAL

Model 03205

TRIVIA

Release the mermaid on level two, but swim up and leave before her cage fully opens. Transform into a seagull and fly to the left or right to a volcano. The initials of each programmer (Rob Fulop, Michael Becker and Wilfredo Aguilar) will replace the volcano fireballs.

The manual mentions to watch for a 'special surprise' for completing the game. At the end of level 7, 31001 95031 LGCA appears. This is actually Imagic’s old address (P.O. Box 31001, Laguna, CA 95031).

Imagic held a contest in which you could win $1000 by correctly answering how many tridents are hidden in the Fathom ad and on the back of a Fathom box, and having your entry card drawn.

SCORING

* If you free Neptina, you automatically advance to the next level (2, 3 etc.). Your score for the new Level returns to 50.
* When you free Neptina, the points you earn on the Level are added to the point bank with the total number of points earned on all previous Levels.
* The points you earn are multiplied by the Level number you are on. Example	Earn 50 points on Level 2 and 100 points are stored in the point bank (50 x 2 = 100).

TIPS AND TRICKS

Here's how to fin and fly through Level 1. After that you're on your own!

As the dolphin swims down, octopuses and two sea horses appear. Touch both sea horses. Then touch the starfish that appears. A piece of the Trident now shows at the bottom of the screen. Note: You must reach both sea horses and the starfish without leaving that section of the sea. If you don't, return to the surface and try again.

Next dive through lines of seaweed. More sea horses appear. Touch one and a bird symbol shows at the bottom of your screen. Return to the surface now, or try to reach other sea horses for additional points.

Jump out of the water when you reach the surface. Fly to the left or right. Land appears. Flap your wings hard and fly up. Touch two pink clouds in that section of the sky and a star appears. Touch it. You'll have another piece of the Trident. Return to the dolphin. Fly until you reach land on the other side. Repeat the game of tag with pink clouds. Touch one pink cloud and acquire a fish symbol; touch the other and a star appears. Touch the star and the third piece of the Trident is yours. Return to the dolphin, change forms and dive for the bottom. when you arrive, the mermaid's prison will dissolve.

STAFF

👥

Programmer: Rob Fulop
Graphics assisted by: Michael Becker, Wilfredo Aguilar

PORTS

COMPUTERS

PC [Microsoft Windows, CD-ROM] (oct.2003) "Activision Anthology: Remix Edition"

Apple Macintosh [CD-ROM] (2003) "Activision Anthology: Remix Edition"

SOURCES

🔗

ROM dump (MAME).