Manufacturer: Atari
Year: 1980
Class: Wide Release
Genre: Space
Type: Videogame
Monitor:Orientation: Vertical
Type: Vector
CRT: Color
19-inch Wells-Gardner 19K6100
Conversion Class: unique
Number of Simultaneous Players: 1
Maximum number of Players: 2
Gameplay: Alternating
Control Panel Layout: Single Player
Controls:
Rotary: Optical
Buttons: 2
Sound: Unamplified Mono (requires one-channel amp)
DESCRIPTION
Atari's Tempest is a one or two player game with a color X-Y monitor. The player controls a yellow claw-like object thatcan be rotated around the top rim of several different "tubes". Enemies come out of the tubes and attempt to destroy the player. When all the enemies in a tube are destroyed you fly through the tube to the next one. Each tube changes shape until level 16 where they repeat but with a different tube color and harder enemies. There are 16 tube shapes in all.
Tempest is an exciting game and did very well in arcades despite the problematic XY monitor and they can be found very easily around the USA. The cabaret and cocktail cabinets are nice in that they are small and light, but they don't compare to the stylish cabinet of the upright!
CHEATS, TRICKS, AND BUGS
TRICK: On a level that is not a fully enclosed shape, you can often sit at one of the far ends, and when an approaching enemy is right next to you, hold down your fire button, and they will be destroyed.
TRICK: Get a score in the form of XXYYZZ, where XX 16, 29 YY 60, and ZZ is a code. Some codes are:01 - Test mode.
06, 11, 12 - 40 free games.
46 - Start at any level you like (up to level 81).
In the test mode, you can zero the high score table and examine the game parameters, but not modify them.
BUG: Scores beyond 999999 are not possible, as the score will roll-over to 000000.
