Space Dungeon - MAME software

Atari 5200 cart. published 42 years ago:

Space Dungeon © 1983 Atari, Incorporated.

As the Commander of the expedition, your goal is to score as many points as possible by collecting the treasures of the planet and by destroying the enemies who get in your way.

The space of the destroyed planet is divided into a series of antechambers, or connecting rooms -- the 'space dungeon' -- through which you travel on your search for these treasures. Some rooms are filled with treasure, some with enemies, some with both, and some with nothing but space itself.

You guide your ship through the doorways of each room, looking for treasure and destroying enemies with your laser cannon. You pick up treasure by flying directly over it. As you do, a distinct sound will signal you that the treasure has been automatically scooped up into your Treasure Box.

TECHNICAL
Model CX5232

SCORING
Iron Cross: 500
Copper Piece: 1000
Silver Star: 2000
Golden Fleece: 4000
Platinum Ark: 8000
Piker (ship): 100
Piker (shield): 10
Corner Zapper: 25
Deathsquare: 25
Thief: 50
Guard: 125
Executioner: 125
Enforcer: 250
Spore Case: 500

TIPS AND TRICKS

• There are a variety of strategies you can use -- some active, some passive. You can aggressively scour through space, fighting off enemies as you store treasure in the Treasure Box. Or you can isolate yourself in one of the rooms and blast to smithereens, all those enemies who dare approach.
• You can cash in the collected treasure without completing the entire level. Or you can try to visit all the rooms, collecting as much treasure as possible before you decide to cash in your treasure for points. Of course, you can use any combination of these strategies, as the circumstances of the moment dictate.
• In the beginning, try moving your ship around the rooms without shooting to get familiar with the maneuverability of the ship and its speed in relation to the enemies.
• Familiarize yourself with the eight different directions in which your ship can go and where your laser cannon can fire. This will help you from backing yourself in a corner or trying to shoot an enemy along an angle that will not touch it.
• When you exit a room, the doorway you pass through will 'glow' for a few seconds. This indicates that the doorway has become temporarily impenetrable, preventing you from immediately passing back through it.
• You can seal off portions of the wall by exiting a room, then returning to that room through a different doorway, while the doorway you exited is still 'glowing'.
• You never know what you'll see in the next room, but you can be sure that if it moves, it won't be friendly. SPACE DUNGEON, therefore, is one game where the "Shoot first and ask question later!" tradition of the Old West will sever you well. It is best to have your laser cannon firing in front of you as you enter a room; it will help clear a path for your ship as you navigate through the rooms. Laser fire will not penetrate nearby rooms.
• Although the Corner Zappers always fire at random intervals, there is a detectable pattern in any one shooting session. Sense the rhythm of the Corner Zappers and watch that you don't cruise right into the middle of their line of fire. If one Corner Zapper is left alive when you exit a room, the other three will spontaneously regenerate themselves to greet you if you decide to return.
• You can't kill a Thief. When you shoot him, he will drop any treasure that he might be carrying. He will also leave behind Guards who will try to prevent you from picking up the treasure he dropped when you caught him red-handed.
• For an interesting variation in game play, try playing SPACE DUNGEON with one person guiding the spaceship while another is operating the laser cannon.

STAFF
Programmers: Eric Knopp, Allen Merrell
Graphics: Alan Murphy

CONTRIBUTE
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