ASTEROIDS (7800, XE)
For better protection from UFO's, break up all the large aster oids into tiny ones. Only use hyper- space in real emergencies, because you can easily die upon re-entry. For a longer game and more fun, don't play for a high score, but play like you are on a mission. Jeremy Wilburne Elverta, CA
CHOPLIFTER! (7800)
You can sometimes get rid of the tank by flying to it (fly left), then returning to the barrier of Atari logos (fly right), and then go get the hostages (fly left). Patrick Johannes
Rockton, IL
On the second sortie, I found the best way to avoid the aerial mines that home in on your chopper is to fly at a slow speed in the middle to top of the screen. Tarik Hogarth Los Angeles, CA
When rescuing hostages, don't land in the bombing position because it slows your takeoff which must be as fast as possible if a fighter is about to bomb you. Jeremy Wilburne Elverta, CA
CRYSTAL CASTLES (XE)
If you are fast enough, you can make Bentley go up and down an elevator in one trip.
Rob Armitage Los Altos, CA
DESERT FALCON (7800)
From the sixth level on, the distance between the starting point and the Howling Sphinx increases drastically. Trying to get through these levels can be murder. When you get to these levels, use warp speed to quickly get to the Howling Sphinx and bonus round. You can activate warp speed with the hieroglyph combination Bird-Cane-Bowl (or any of five other combinations on page 18 of the May/Jun '89 Atarian —ed.). Jerry Faust San Antonio, TX
PAC-MAN FAMILY (ALL)
You can sometimes evade pursuing ghosts by running down a passage in which the dots have been eaten because you go faster in these empty corridors. Eric Lambeth Springfield, MO
Although it is possible to develop a pattern to clear each board, my approach is to mentally divide the playing field into four quarters and clear each one completely before moving to the next one. Never, never leave one or two uneaten dots behind. If you save the power pill until you have almost finished the quarter, the four goblins will tend to group together and you have a good chance of getting three or four of them. Mike Hudson Albany, NY
NECROMANCER (XE)
I found it easiest to plant seeds around Illuminar and start moving outward in circles. (Ed. note: In the May/Jun issue of Atarian, we recommended a strategy of planting trees in the four corners of the screen first. Try both ways, and see which works best for you.) Andrew Gosselin Staten Island, NY
BALLBLAZER (7800, XE) To recover the ball more often, move around the screen in several directions to confuse your opponent. Jeremy Wilburne Elverta, CA
TOWER TOPPLER (7800)
On the third tower, get out of your sub and destroy the green cannonball. Then go through the door, up the elevator, and step out onto the ledge to the right. Wait for a mutant molecule to knock you down to the path below. Then destroy the pink cannonball and you're on your way to topple the tower. Zach Patten Cranbury, NJ
When starting a new game, you can skip the towers you have already completed and practice on ones you have not yet toppled by moving the right difficulty switch to the left. When you get to the tower you want, move the switch to the right and play. Maynard Engler Paducah, KY
HAT TRICK (7800)
At the face off, when the puck is released, move your stick in one direction and then the opposite way to confuse your opponent. Always block the puck from your opponent. When your opponent is trying to steal the puck from you, move around in circles to make it more difficult. Jeremy Wilburne Elverta , CA
SPACE INVADERS (2600) You can double your firepower by having two shots on the screen at the same time in Game 1 by holding down the reset button when you turn on your system, then releasing it when the game screen appears. Vic George Westfield, MA
KUNG-FU MASTER (2600)
To get by the thugs on the last level, use these moves: Hit the fist fighter with a low kick, the boomerang thrower with a low punch, the high kicker with a high kick, the thunder thrower with a low punch, and the Gang Master with everything!
When the balls fall on the second level, don't wait for the dragon to blow his fire. Instead, walk through him while he is still forming and you won't lose any energy. Danny Phillips San Ramon, CA
XEVIOUS (7800)
As soon as a Xevious mothership appears, quickly bomb it. When the red energy bomber explodes, it releases all kinds of other weapons. The best way way to destroy it is to continuously fire while moving from side to side in the middle of the screen. Tarik Hogarth Los Angeles, CA
Unless you are used to the arcade version, keep the difficulty switch in the right position so the single fire button will do the work of two. For maximum kills, shoot into the middle of a group of land targets. Keep moving; never get trapped in one position on the screen. Jeremy Wilburne Elverta, CA
It is easier to play with a 2600 joystick which uses just one button to both fire and drop bombs. With it, your fingers won't get tired so fast. Kenny Shawver Columbus, OH
STAR RAIDERS II (XE)
To conserve fuel and energy, go to a space station before warping to the Procyon Star System. When you get there, attack whatever you can before your energy drops about half way. Of course, if any important weapons or defenses are destroyed, you must quickly warp back to a space station. Andrew Gosselin Staten Island, NY
Readers: Keep those tips and tricks coming! Send
vours to Editor, The Atarian, 7 Hilltop Road, Mendham,
NJ 07945.
2008 ben langberg, all rights reserved.