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Gyruss - Parker Brothers - Atari 5200    Manual Scan icon HTML Manual   


GYRUSS

BY PARKER BROTHERS


  • Three billion miles is a long way from home. But there's no shorter route from outer Neptune to Earth. As if that weren't enough...it's got to be a shoot-out all the way. You alone in your rapid-firing spaceship, swirling in a circular flight pattern...orbiting to the right...arcing to the left...trying to mow down wave after wave of enemy plane formations, rocketingmeteors and run-away satellites. Stops at Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will mark your progression towards Earth. Each one's a short visit, though. Then it's off again to the next planet--and the next wave of enemies. Reach Earth in one piece and maybe you'll think twice about leaving home. Then again...maybe not!

    SETTING THE CONSOLE CONTROLS

    1. Place the cartridge firmly into the cartridge slot on your game unit.

    2. Plug the joystick controllers firmly into controller jacks #1 and #2. For a one-player game, use the #1 jack.

    3. Turn the ON/OFF switch to ON. The title screen will appear showing the planet Earth.

    4. Press START to begin a one-player game. Press * to begin a two-player game.

  • At any time during the game, you may press RESET to begin again. Also, you may freeze the action by pressing PAUSE. To restart the action, press PAUSE again.

    THE JOYSTICK CONTROLLER

  • The joystick controls your spaceship's circular flight pattern through space. Simply move the joystick in a circular motion to do so. Press any FIRE button quickly to rapid-fire your spaceship's ammunition.

    OBJECT

  • To make the journey from beyond Neptune to the sanctuary of Earth, defeating enemy planes, avoiding meteors and satellites, and reaching interim planets along the way.

    PLAYING

    At the start of the game, the screen shows:

    - your score in the upper center
    - the number of remaining spaceships in the upper left
    - the stage number in the right corner
    - your spaceship in the lower center

    Warps

  • The first screen also tells you "2 WARPS TO NEPTUNE." A warp is one stage of battle against the enemy planes that guard the planets of your destination. It takes 2 warps to reach Neptune and 3 warps to reach each of the subsequent planets. There will be a brief pause between each warp at which time your spaceship speeds towards the next planet...and its next encounter. Also at this time, the screen gives you teh remaining number of warps to go.

    Enemy formations

  • Within each warp you'll face FOUR different formations of enemy planes. The formations might emerge from the center of the screen where the planes band together--or form off screen where they can create a surprise attack. In either case, shoot down as many planes within the formation as you can and don't let them hit your own ship. Planes fire missiles, too...your only option is to avoid them...or be shot down. After the last formation appears, all the planes NOT shot down will regroup in the center and attack again. They will continue to do so until you've eliminated the last one--unless, of course, one eliminates you first.

    BUT PLANES ARE NOT ALL YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. THERE ARE SWIRLING AND DEADLY SATELLITES AND METEORS, TOO.

    Satellites

  • There are two types of satellites. One type appears in threes--two that look like giant molecules on either side of a glowing ball. Try to shoot them down for points. SHOOT THE MIDDLE SATELLITE, AND YOUR SHIP WILL FIRE DOUBLE BULLETS. THE SHIP WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL IT GOES DOWN. Electromagnetic wave-emitting pairs are the other type of satellite. Shoot them down to break the wave that can cathc your spaceship and destroy it. And rack up points while you're at it!

    Meteors

  • Meteors are a third type of enemy to watch out for. Meteors look like giant rocks and CANNOT be destroyed. So stay clear of them!

    COME OUT ALIVE AFTER COMPLETING THE TWO OR THREE WARPS NECESSARY TO REACH A PLANET, AND THAT PLANET APPEARS ON SCREEN. AFTER A BRIEF BREATHER, YOU'LL ENTER THE CHANCE STAGE.

    The Chance Stage

  • The Chance Stage occurs upon reaching a planet. During this stage, you get a chance to rack up points. One at a time, four different enemy plane formations will appear on screen...BUT THEY HAVE NO POWER TO DESTROY YOU. SO position yourself for maximum firing accuracy. Bonus points are awarded for shooting down an entire formation and Super Bonus points for wiping out all four formations.

    WHEN THE CHANCE STAGE IS OVER, IT'S OFF TO THE NEXT PLANET AND THE NEXT BARRAGE OF WARPS.

    The Planets

  • In case you need to be reminded...the planets along your journey through our solar system appear in this order: Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Earth.

    The Music

  • You're listening to Johann Sebastian Bach's "Toccata and Fuge in D Minor."

    Bonus spaceships

  • Score 60,000 points and you're awarded with an additional spaceship. Every 100,000 points thereafter awards you another one.

    END OF GAME

  • The game ends when you lose your last spaceship. If you should reach Earth with at least one remaining spaceship, you'll continue the game with Neptune as the first stop once again.
    To play again, press START for a one-player game; * for a two-player game.

    TWO-PLAYER GAMES

  • In a two-player game, the left player goes first; players alternate turns. Your turn ends when you lose a spaceship.
    
    SCORING
    Points accumulate at the top of the screen 
    throughout your turn.
    
    Targets                              Points
    
    Enemy plane.............................100
    Entire formation:
    1st....................................1000
    2nd....................................1500
    3rd....................................2000
    4th....................................2500
    
    Molecular satellites:
    1st destroyed...........................500
    2nd destroyed..........................1000
    3rd destroyed..........................1500
    With double bullet fire:
    1st destroyed..........................1000
    2nd destroyed..........................1500
    3rd destroyed..........................2000
    
    Electromagnetic satellite...............200
    
    During Chance Stage:
    Enemy plane.............................100
    Entire formation:
    in Stage 3.............................1000
    in Stage 7.............................1500
    in Stage 11............................2000
    in Stage 15............................2500
    in Stage 19............................3000
    Super Bonus for all four formations..10,000
    
    END

    Typed by T.J. Rappel

    for Atari Gaming Headquarters

    Used with permission from Atari Gaming Headquarters