142 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

Important Note: This weeks competition is over and no further scores will be accepted.

Over scorching deserts, through dark, icy caverns, around a fiery volcano, and under the leafy cover of a steamy jungle, you and five brave friends set out to retrieve the treasures stolen by the Evil Master. Your goal is his castle, far, far away.

Your friends are unarmed, but you carry your trusty crossbow. By shooting swift arrows you can save your companions from the dangerous attacks of the Master's Evil Creatures - scorpions, ants, vultures, man-eating plants, bats, monkeys, and other horrible beings.

When you reach the castle, the Evil Master's expert archers await you, ready to test their aim with deadly swords and arrows. Inside the castle a fierce dragon also waits, guarding the treasure with his fiery breath.

Few adventurers have dared to make this trek. No one yet has come back alive.

Which Way to the Castle?

Game Information

Game Name: Crossbow Released By: Atari, 1988 Left Difficulty: B / Novice - Slower Shots Right Difficulty: N/A Game Mode: Game 1 (Visible Site, No Friendly Fire) Post your scores right here in this thread, and I will add them to the list. Remember to play the game with the recommended game mode and difficulty settings as shown above so that your scores will be consistent with everyone elses. The deadline for posting scores is Wednesday March 30th at 1:00 AM (Central Time, UTC-6).

Challenges

Expert Arbalist - Score 75,000 points or higher, and you get 2 bonus points. Level Designer - Design a new level for the game, distinct from the existing ones and you get 3 bonus points. This can be either a rough drawing or a mock-up screenshot, and should include a short explanation of how the level would work, and maybe some backstory. JacobZu7zu7 [+3] Amstari [+3] Vocelli [+3] pis [+3] Gorfy [+3] oyamafamily [+3] toymailman [+3] Miss 2600 [+3] classicgamer_27330 [+3] Frostbite76 [+3] Deteacher [+3]

Current High Scores 1,000,000 (JacobZu7zu7) [+11][+2] 897,850 (toymailman) [+10][+2] 801,200 (Gorfy) [+9][+2] 488,350 (oyamafamily) [+8][+2] 436,650 (Frostbite76) [+7][+2] 342,500 (pis) [+6][+2] 148,550 (Deteacher) [+5][+2] 143,050 (SpiceWare) [+4][+2] 110,400 (keilbaca) [+3][+2] 86,500 (Miss 2600) [+2][+2] 86,200 (Vocelli) [+1][+2] 76,950 (classicgamer_27330) [+1][+2] 60,950 (Amstari) [+1] 32,900 (Curious Sofa) [+1] 27,450 (zylon) [+1] 24,900 (littleman jack) [+1] 19,350 (Scrabbler15) [+1] 14,850 (roadrunner) [+1] 9650 (SeaGtGruff) [+1] 4350 (atariUCLA24) [+1] Best Tips JacobZu7zu7 [+2] TwinGalaxies Top 3 (Game 1, Difficulty B) 1,156,950 (Douglas C Korekach) 478,900 (Stephen Knox) 468,950 (Tom Swingle)

Current Standings oyamafamily [43] Vocelli [37] JacobZu7zu7 [32] toymailman [31] Frostbite76 [28] Deteacher [19] pis [19] SeaGtGruff [18] SpiceWare [15] keilbaca [12] Miss 2600 [11] Gorfy [10] classicgamer_27330 [7] Scrabbler15 [6] HatefulGravey [6] Amstari [5] bennybingo [4] zylon [3] roadrunner [3] Curious Sofa [3] LarcenTyler [3] Mister VCS [2] Krytol [2] SpaceDice2010 [2] atariUCLA24 [2] Wickeycolumbus [1] rmaerz [1] Cream147 [1] MIKE5200 [1] theKLT [1] DickNixonArisen [1] leematari [1] littleman jack [1]

Scoring Points in Crossbow

Across the Desert Snake - 200 points Vulture - 100 points Scorpion - 50 points Ant - 50 points Through the Caverns Bat - 100 points Falling stalactite - 50 points Hanging stalactitie - 50 points At the Volcano Burning lava - 100 points Falling rock - 50 points Resting rock - 50 points In the Jungle Monkey - 100 points Coconut - 100 points Voracious plant - 50 points Outside the Drawbridge Vulture - 200 points Archer - 100 points Arrow - 50 points Inside the Castle Hall Statue's staff - 200 points Dagger - 100 points Arrow - 100 points Dragon's fire - 100 points Torch - 50 points In Every Danger Zone Evil Master's Eye - 1000 points When you get all your friends through the trap door in the Castle Hall, you earn 10,000 bonus points and gain another friend (unless you already have four friends).

Hints and Tips

The Manual

As always, you really should read the manual. In case you don't have the manual, AtariAge has a typed copy available online. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide any specific hints, though it does provide some useful descriptions of some of the hazards.

We played this game once before in the High Score Club, you might want to check out that thread for more hints.

oyamafamily

Extensive tips in his post here.

JacobZu7zu7

Extensive tips in his post here.

Deteacher

My tips for the cave and the drawbridge levels:

Find the line that the birds fly to attack your friends and get your cursor on that line. Then it's just a matter of moving your cursor left and right to fend off everything. Your cursor will be high enough to hit the icicles/arrows from hitting you, and on the right line to pick off the birds that attack you left/right.

--Zero

[Scrabbler15]

5050

I seem to remember playing this before, long ago. I seem to remember it being irritating then, too. Ah well, such is the nature of the Atari challenge.

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[JacobZu7zu7]

I have some experience with this game... bonus should be easy to get. Although I forgot the path to the castle but should be easy to figure again.


Made the mistake of trying the BLUE path after the RED path (lava). It sent me to that monkey level, which I lost 3 people.


51,200

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[Vocelli]

I was knee deep in Mario and Zelda when this came out.
I bought this a few years ago but never got into it.
Looks like a good challenge.

[HatefulGravey]

Back to the emulator for me on this one. I have this for the 7800 I think but not the 2600. From what I'm seeing this should be fun. A good break from Mario Bros and the NES HSC this week.

[JacobZu7zu7]

Hit the bonus, but barely...

76,900

Solved through it once, almost twice.

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[Gorfy]

JacobZu7zu7, on Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:46 AM, said:

Hit the bonus, but barely...

76,900

Solved through it once, almost twice.

You made quick work of that bonus!
Were you able to get past those damn monkeys?

[Gorfy]

Cool game! I can sink my teeth into this one.
First posted score: 31,050

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[Vocelli]

Yea, I never really played this one before.
This will be my downfall.
Vocelli:
Pathetic Score: 4450

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[Gorfy]

51,950

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[oyamafamily]

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR STELLA EMULATOR USERS (Version 3.1.2) ABOUT THE GAME "CROSSBOW":
The Left Difficulty switch works inversely: "A" position means Slower Crossbow, and "B" means Faster Crossbow. The manual says that the Left Difficulty Settings are: "B" position for Slower Shot, and "A" position for Faster Shot.

ATTENTION!! The game mode changes each time you move your Joystick before starting the gameplay. So, be careful!!!

Edited by oyamafamily, Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:19 PM.

[JacobZu7zu7]

206,650

Probably a personal best... ! I probably should share my knowledge soon.

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[keilbaca]

110,400

After a few games I figured out the right path. This game is easy once you figure it out, its just endurance from there.

Unfortunately I had a few to drink so its not there tonight...

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[Vocelli]

Ok... Yes, I can play this game.
Just figuring out the zones.
Better scores coming soon!
Vocelli: 12550

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[oyamafamily]

OYAMAFAMILY'S STRATEGY / WALKTHROUGH:

1. To start, position your crossbow on the green bar, and shoot it to go to desert. At the desert, always position the crossbow near the friend; destroy the scorpions, ants and vultures which can archieve and kill your friend. You can't die in the first seconds after each friend appears. Also, you don't die when each friend reaches the right edge of the screen.

2. Once you complete the "Desert Level", position your crossbow on the green bar, and fire it to go to the Cavern. At the beginning of this stage, position the crossbow on the hanging stalactite and press Fire button immediately to minimize the risk of death. Then, always position the crossbow above your friend and destroy the falling stalactites and bats which reach and kill your friend.

3. After completing this stage, position your crossbow on the blue bar, and fire it to enter the Drawbridge. Firstly, shoot through the two ropes holding up the drawbridge. Then, position the crossbow near your friend and shoot the vultures and arrows which can reach and kill your friend instantaneously. If at least one of remaining friends reaches the right edge safety in this scene, you will able to enter next level. I often try to avoid shooting the archer at this stage.

4. After passing the "Drawbridge" level, position your crossbow on the RED bar, and shoot it to enter the Castle. Once you enter this scene, position the crossbow near or above your friend. SHOOT the daggers, arrows, dragon's fires and torches which can reach and kill your freind. Once the character reaches the trap door (at the center of the screen), QUICKLY shoot the statue's flashing staff to open it. If at least one of remaining friends exit from the Castle safety, you will get a special bonus of 10,000 points + 2,000 for each remaining friend + extra friend (the maximum number of friends is FOUR).

5. Once you return to the Paths screen, position your crossbow on the RED bar, and fire it to enter the Volcano. Firstly, shoot IMMEDIATELY the resting rock to decrease your risk of death. Then, position the crossbow above the character; always shoot the rocks which fall towards you.

6. Once you complete the "Volcano Scene", position your crossbow on the RED bar; then, shoot it to enter the Cavern Scene. Proceed according to Step 2. Then, repeat Steps 3 and 4 (Drawbridge and Castle, in sequence).

7. My strategy is to repeat all thses steps described above once you complete sucessfully Steps 1 to 6 until you finish your gameplay, i.e., reach "Game Over" screen. These steps are helpful to avoid the "Jungle Scene", which is more difficulty to complete (in my opinion). I always avoid this scene.

8. In every danger zone, try to shoot Evil Master's Eye to earn 1,000 points.

Edited by oyamafamily, Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:34 PM.

[JacobZu7zu7]

CROSSBOW TIPS / MAP


Quickest path to "castle/drawbridge"

Click the colors in this order,

Red, Blue, Red...

or

Green, Red, Blue, Red... a longer but (better) path for novice players. (NO CRAZY MONKEYS WITH THIS PATH!)

to get to the FINAL zone, "the treasure room"
(bottom right screen) click path "RED" again.

When you become better at playing, you can mix the path order up anyway you want. RED always brings you to Treasure zone! Remember (red) to reach the final level.

FREE MEN = You get a Bonus guy every zone you cross effectively (except the Castle Drawbridge) however, once you collect him, you wont get any more men! Unless you win the Final area the Treasure room, after completing this you get 1 Bonus guy EVERYTIME, you finish. After that, you begin at starting point again.
(4) is the total amount of men you can have in the game.

Bonus Evil Eyeball, they appear randomly during any zone, and are worth 1,000 points BUT, as they appear, one of the two forces will STOP attacking on you!, so by NOT hitting the eye, you are safter for
(full seconds) untill it disappears.
(Some evil eye, it makes the game easier!)

I AVOID getting the Bonus on these levels
(Desert/Cave/Monkey Jungle/Drawbridge/Treasure room. It's not worth losing a guys life over a 1ks. It just 'aint! It takes the cursor too far off, and leaves you unprepared!
Get the bonus, only if you KNOW it's safe to.

DIFFICULTY B GAME 1, Since we're playing an easy setting you can hit your guy with the cursor by "accident" anytime you want, it wont hurt him!


Tips on gameplay,

BIG TIP, = Keep the cursor (square) "closely" above your guys head while he's walking (every level but the desert), since only ONE guy walks across each zone at one time, there's no need to be moving your cursor all over, just right above his head, and side to side to blast ice or arrows etc.

BIG TIP 2, = The Monkey/Jungle level, instead of trying to knock them down, it's probably better to keep the cursor just BARELY above your guys head, and SHOOT when you see the Monkeys "coconuts"?? nearly reaching you. The flowers below are DEADLY, shoot them when they are near your feet! Then bring that cursor back right above your guys head! KEEP an eye on the Monkeys, I have been hit by them, at the FARTHEST right part of the screen!! Keep your cursor above your head at this part.


The LAVA/ICE/CASTLE DRAWBRIDGE ZONES,
These zones start with an obstacle BLOCKING your path in front, shoot them down right away...it's easier to take care of these sooner then later.

VOLCANO LAVA ZONE,
Same thing, this time move the square HIGHER above your peoples heads, this gives you a bit more margin for error. Always move the cursor slightly "in front" of your walking guys head. Sometimes a piece of lava can hit you if your cursor is too far behind your guy...

CAVE ZONE
To Avoid falling ice in the cave zone... keep the cursor (square) closely above your guys head while he's walking, just hit fire when the ice falls at you, and this goes for the bird too. No point in moving the white square away or up and down, just straight across and "just" above your guys head.

DRAWBRIGE TIPS
I always try to position my cursor (close) above my head, and hit away the Archers ARROWS first, then scroll back and "tap" the bird. Since the arrows are more deadly then the bird, its better to get in the method of taking out arrows first. If your cursor is placed too high above your head, you will MISS the bird coming from behind, so be careful! I don't bother to hit the archers from the roof, I also don't get the bonus eyeball here either, it's better/safer to leave 'em.


The final TREASURE ROOM
In the castle, you have to hit the "shiny white cross" in the middle of the screen, to open the trap door in the floor, and after doing that... the game awards 10,000!, and repeats. THE DRAGON in the ceiling, you "can" hit his fireballs. I try to hit the dragon himself, so I don't have to deal with his fire!

When entering the Treasure room, at first, don't worry about the Dragon! Quickly swing your cursor left and ABOVE your guys head, and shoot the arrows that will be falling down at your head. Hit the burning torches (two of them) When you clear them... then hit the Dragon or fireball, when you see him retreat into the hole in the ceiling... go quickly for the cross staff, (held by a black demon guy) keep the cursor firing over the dragon so he doesn't breathe more fire, and when you see the cross start to glow (white), quickly bring the cursor over it, and hit fire button right "on top" of it. You've Won!

Last Tip (A Map)
Mapped out the game. Have a look at it, I hope I got every single path, I think so!

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Edited by JacobZu7zu7, Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:32 AM.

[JacobZu7zu7]

Gorfy, on Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:11 AM, said:

JacobZu7zu7, on Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:46 AM, said:

Hit the bonus, but barely...

76,900

Solved through it once, almost twice.

You made quick work of that bonus!
Were you able to get past those damn monkeys?

Yes!
Just had to remember what to do.
I have played this game many years ago, I had the Commodore 64 version as a kid. I like this game on 2600, nice graphics!

Check my tips, I have a good way of getting "passed" the monkey zone in one piece.

Edited by JacobZu7zu7, Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:05 AM.

[Scrabbler15]

17,500

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[Gorfy]

oyamafamily, on Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:44 PM, said:

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR STELLA EMULATOR USERS (Version 3.1.2) ABOUT THE GAME "CROSSBOW":
The Left Difficulty switch works inversely: "A" position means Slower Crossbow, and "B" means Faster Crossbow. The manual says that the Left Difficulty Settings are: "B" position for Slower Shot, and "A" position for Faster Shot.

ATTENTION!! The game mode changes each time you move your Joystick before starting the gameplay. So, be careful!!!

This doesn't apply to Stella version 3.3, does it?

[Frostbite76]

first effort 15,350

[Frostbite76]

I'm having a real hard time aiming in this game. 21,100 getting better but it's tough to shoot those arrows on the bridge level.

[classicgamer_27330]

11700 no pic

[JacobZu7zu7]

Boy, I'm not procrastinating here in Season 9! See ya next week

My Bonus Idea

... making it across the Flooded land. (water zone)

If this zone existed, you would...
Take the boat across, hit the fish and birds before they can reach you. Avoid the rocks!

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[Frostbite76]

I used OYAMAFAMILY'S Strategy to get 84,150. The Game gets really easy once you get used to the controls and use the great strategy from both Oyamafamily and Jacob. It also helps that this game is very predictable.

[Amstari]

28900

I played this game when it was first released, I cant remember if I finished it then but I'm determined to do it now!