Accepted [+] [X] Dracula the Undead [Model PA2087] Update submitted by Arcadehero
Dracula the Undead (c) 1992 Atari Corp.
It's a Tough Way to Make a Living!
You are Jonathan Harker, a young English solicitor, sent to Transylvania to see Count Dracula. You have with you the legal documents for Dracula to buy a mansion in London, where he plans to take up residence. The house is Carfax, which meets his strange requests to be centuries old, with its own graveyard and a disused chapel!
And so it is that on a dark, rainy night filled with the sounds of howling wolves, you are welcomed to Dracula's dark castle. You immediately realize it is a sinister place, full of lurking danger--and the worst danger is the Count himself. You try to leave, but all the exits are locked.
You must explore the castle and learn its secrets, then find a way out so you can destroy Count Dracula. But you must hurry. Dracula's three brides wish to invite you for dinner. The main course: Blood of Harker!
- TECHNICAL -
Model PA2087
- TRIVIA -
A faithful, interactive retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula
This game infamously was much longer, but Atari allegedly refused to foot the bill for the larger 512K cart space+battery save. While screenshots exist of the longer version, no code for it has ever been located.
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
* Do not neglect the notebook. Use it whenever anything important happens. Miss one note and you may miss your chance to rid the world of Dracula forever.
* Keep a map. It may be the only way you will survive some parts of the game.
* Some rooms are found by pressing down on the joypad, as if Jonathan were walking out of the screen toward you.
* Listen closely to what others tell you. Carefully watch action sequences. You may find important clues. If you think you've found a clue, use the notebook.
* Examine everything. If it is important, it will appear as an object. Open everything that can be opened, and look wherever you can--in fact, try it everywhere.
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Hover Strike - Unconquered Lands [Model J9086E] Update submitted by Arcadehero
Hover Strike - Unconquered Lands (c) 1995 Atari Corp.
You fear the worst for the missing colonists. Terrakian Pirates have taken over the distant planet, with their deadly machines patrolling every inch of surface. Your vehicle is a state-of-the-art armored hovercraft, equipped with rapid-fire cannon and powerful missiles. Anti-grav units enable it to float over any terrain. Knock out key targets and make way for the federation armada. Save the colony before it's too late!
* Enhanced game controls over the cartridge version
* Full motion video sequences
* Ten new missions
- TECHNICAL -
GAME ID: J9086E
- TRIVIA -
Released in October 1995.
The CD version features dynamic lighting effects and animated textures not present on the cartridge version.
- STAFF -
Programming, Game Design: Denis L. Fung, Cary Gee, Craig Suko, Eric Smith
Additional Programming Support: Robert Zdybel, Hans-Martin Kröber
Producer: Leonard Tramiel
Music & Sound Design: Brad Wait, Robert Wait
Computer Voice: Erin Carson
Lead Artist: Chris Thompson
Artists: Ed Pearson, Ken Saunders, Keoni Los Baños, Jennie Birch, Donald Wang
FMV: Donald Wang
Lead Test, World Design Coordination: Lance J. Lewis
Additional Test, World Design: Hank Cappa, Tal Funke-Bilu, Scott Hunter, Harry Kinney, Ken Saunders, Joe Sousa, Chris Thompson
- SOURCES -
See Goodies section.
Accepted [+] [X] Alien vs Predator [Model J9008E] Update submitted by Arcadehero
Alien vs Predator (c) 1994 Atari Corp.
Alien Vs. Predator is a tactical simulator depicting the events following the fall of Camp Golgotha Colonial Marine Training Base to a group of xenomorphs (aliens) not yet fully classified. Limited data from the incident also allow for reasonably extrapolated simulations from the viewpoints of the two alien groups believed to have participated in the incident. The data contained herein is considered top secret as of this release, and any duplication, distribution or display is punishable by court martial with a maximum penalty not to exceed seven years imprisonment in the Yuggoth penal colony, SYS Aldeberan IV. (USCMC, 53622a).
Players can be a Colonial Marine, a Predator, or a Xenomorph. The gameplay changes up depending on which you go with, the Colonial Marine being the most extensive since you can unfold the story by accessing computers and you have to find your way through the base using both the air ducts and elevators.
Xenomorphs cannot use the elevators, so must navigate the game using air ducts; Predators cannot use the air ducts due to their size. The other trade-offs here are that Xenomorphs have little health and must cocoon humans to save their progress, while Predators are tanks and can take a lot of damage while they also "save" medkits to use for health regen whenever the player wants.
The Predator earns weapons by honorable kills (tracked with your score); dishonorable kills are when you kill anyone while cloaked and those will detract from your score. Melee kills earn more points than ranged.
The Marine must find weapons spaced through the facility, which are often locked behind security doors, so you must also located all 10 security cards to gain access to certain areas of the base.
The quests for each character are also different:
MARINE: Set the self-destruct mechanism and escape the base in under 2 minutes.
PREDATOR: Reach the Xenomorph ship and kill the Alien Queen as the ultimate hunter prize.
ALIEN: Reach the Predator ship and free the Queen from prison.
- TECHNICAL -
Model J9008E
4MB cartridge
- TRIVIA -
Released on October 20, 1994 in North America.
This was one of the first "open world" first-person shooters that did not use a linear level structure like DOOM. Instead, you can go to any open sublevel via the elevators or air ducts. It also contains a storyline in the Marine mode, which you can reveal by accessing the computers around the base and reading the log.
Atari contemplated doing a straight port of the SNES game Alien vs. Predator for the Atari Jaguar, but changed direction after designers realized they did not have the legal rights to the Dark Horse comic series on which the SNES game was based.
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
As the Marine, you can obtain the Motion Tracker relatively fast by heading down to sublevel 5. The tiny room with the tracker is fairly close to the elevator that takes you there (go right, then left, then first room on your right), which is the same one you need to use to get from the Command Center to the Escape Pod at the end of the game.
* Activate 'Hold that Fuji!' (during game play): (Pause + Option) + (1+3, 2+5+7+9) Predator laugh confirms
Commands:
Security Clearance = Raise:Option+6; Lower:Option+9
Motion Tracker Toggle = Option+8
Recharge all weapons = Option+1+2+3+4
Shotgun toggle = Option+1
Pulse Rifle toggle = Option+2
Flame Thrower toggle = Option+3
Smart Gun toggle = Option+4
* Activate 'Banana Stops' (ST=STar, PO=POund) (during game play):
Pause,Option,6,1+3
B,A,9,A,9,A 'BANANA'
ST,Option,6 'STOPS'
PO,ST 'POST'
ST,Option 'STOP'
2,Option 'TOP' (Predator laugh confirms)
Commands:
- All commands from 'Hold that Fuji!'
- Level Select = Option+A (Up), Option+B (Down) (Up = 5,4,3,2,1, Pred. Ship, Alien Ship, Airducts)
- God mode = Option+5 (Invincible and auto weapons power-up. Must have ammo first)
* Freeze Alien Queen (just outside the Queen's Lair): Save game, then reload. Queen will be frozen and can be damaged. She'll die when you unfreeze her by walking through entrance.
* Shoot Predators first (in the Predator ship): Before collecting the smart gun, use the pulse rifle or shotgun to shoot around (or at where you know Predator(s) will appear when you get the smart gun). You'll see the blood, and if you've used enough ammo, the Predator(s) will die as soon as you collect the smart gun.
* Shortcut to Alien Ending: Enter the 'Banana Stops' cheat. Make a cocoon and when it is mature, get your alien killed (don't enable God mode, obviously). As the screen fades dark and the cocoon is hatching, press Option+A/B (for level up/down) and the screen will fade to the Alien Ending.
* Easter Eggs: Global Positioning (during game play): (Pause) + (Option, 1+3, Option) Shotgun sounds confirms.
- dec(xx,yy) = your X/Y Coordinates 'course' position
- hex(aaaa,bbbb) = your X/Y Coordinates 'fine' position
- l(01) through l(05) = Sublevels 1 through 5
- l(06) through l(13) = Airducts 1B,2B,3B,3C,4B,4C,5B,5C
- l(14) = Alien Ship
- l(15) = Predator Ship
- STAFF -
Producer: James Purple Hampton
Programmers: Mike Beaton (Rebellion), Andrew Whittaker
Additional Coding: Mike Pooler
Art: Tony Harrison-Banfield (Rebellion), Stuart Wilson (Rebellion), Jeffery Gatrall, Keoni Los Banos
Sound Effects/Music: James Grunke, M Stevens, Nathan Brenholdt, Will Davis, Paul Foster, Tom Gillen, Alex Quarmby (Rebellion)
Level Design: Hank Cappa, Hans Jacobsen, Andrew Keim, Lance Lewis, Dan McNamee, Sean Patten
Testers: Hank Cappa, Tom Gillen, Scott Hunter, Hans Jacobsen, Andrew Keim, Lance Lewis, Dan McNamee, Martin Muellar, Sean Patten, Joe Sousa
Continuity To Films & Technical Advisor: Sean Patten
Writer: Chris Hudak, Lance Lewis
Intro text: Chris Hudak
Computer Text: Lance Lewis
Box Art/Title Screen: Andrew H. Denton (on Lightwave 3D)
Image Touch-Up: Jeffery Gatrall
Special Thanks To: Terry Bratcher, Mat Clayson, Tom Gillen, David Johny, Scott Marcus, Susan McBride, Sandra Miller (& Baby), Lena Tan Cheng Im, Phil O'Pray, Ed Sicard, Kathie Sleeper, Tom Sloper, James Sposato, Carrie Tahquechi, Ted Tahquechi, Tabitha Tosti, Sean Yew, The Whittaker Family, 46 Western Rd.
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Castle of the Winds Update submitted by Arcadehero
Castle of the Winds (c) 1992 Epic MegaGames.
Fantasy role-playing game for Microsoft Windows 3.0 or later.
Your quest begins with A Question of Vengeance, as you try to discover the secret of your mysterious past, and why this has proven so deadly to those you love. It then continues with Lifthransir's Bane, as you attempt to vanquish the dark forces of evil which plague the land and are after your life!
- TRIVIA -
Episode I was released under a shareware license; users had to purchase the second episode. The second episode features many more dungeon levels, items, and enemies.
- TIPS -
Except for the first dungeon, all of the maps and items are randomized with every play. A good trick for finding decent items is to save your game before you descend into a new level, then use the Detect Objects spell to see what items the game spawned.
There are always hidden doors & paths on a level. Moving around the edges of a room and pressing 's' for search is one way to uncover those (and potential traps), or you can use the clairvoyance spell to unveil blocks of the map.
It is best to avoid fighting Gelatinous Cubes in hand-to-hand combat as they can deals dozens of hits at random, thus ending your quest rather quickly. Use attack spells from a distance if you can. The same goes for Smirking Thieves, as they simply need to get next to you to steal items.
Grabbing the Identify spell early on is useful to avoid placing cursed items on your person, and cheaper/quicker than taking the items into town for identification.
Boots of Levitation will help prevent you from falling into a pit trap that will send you down to the next level.
Slime can only be hurt by fire.
- STAFF -
By: Rick Saada
- SOURCES -
Game's pack.
Accepted [+] [X] Geki-Tsui-Oh Update submitted by Arcadehero
Geki-Tsui-Oh (c) 1985 Data East.
A first-person game where you are flying a combat plane. Shoot down attacking enemy planes for points.
- TECHNICAL -
Main CPU : (2x) M6809 (@ 2 Mhz)
Sound CPU : MOS Technology M6502 (@ 1.5 Mhz)
Sound Chips : (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz)
Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 5
- TRIVIA -
Released in September 1985 in Japan.
This is perhaps Data East's most graphically impressive game up to this point in their history.
Export releases:
"Zero Target" (outside Japan)
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Speed Driver 5 Update submitted by Arcadehero
Speed Driver 5 (c) 2019 IGS Co., Ltd.
A technical racing series made to compete with the likes of Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune and Initial D. Players select a licensed, high-end Super Car, then race in a story mode against the in-game rival.
It supports linked play and online rival battles.
- TECHNICAL -
PC-based hardware (unknown configuration)
4K monitor
Steering wheel w/ integrated buttons for N2O boost
Six-speed shifter
Six control panel soft buttons for menu navigation
Built-in camera
- TRIVIA -
Released in November 2019.
This was the first arcade racer to use a 4K monitor, but not the first arcade game to do so (that was achieved by an indie arcade game called Cosmotrons earlier in 2019).
It also used WeChat integration and cloud profiles, but no card system like Maximum Tune uses.
Distributed in the United States by Wahlap and Amusement Source International.
- SOURCES -
Machine's picture.
Arcadeheroes.com story: "IAAPA Expo 2019 #2 – Tournaments; Injustice Series #3; Super Firing; Speed Driver 5; More Taito" - https://arcadeheroes.com/2019/11/23/iaapa-expo-2019-2-tournaments-injustice-series-3-super-firing-speed-driver-5-more-taito/
Accepted [+] [X] Kinasai [Model X-1030-G] Update submitted by ROCKFURY
来なさい! (c) 1983 Hudson Soft.
(Kinasai!)
- TECHNICAL -
GAME ID: X-1030-G
- STAFF -
Produced By: Shinichi Nakamoto
