Matrix
arcade shooter game for Commodore 64, 1983
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It is 10 years after the infamous Grid
wars. You, one of the few survivors of
the Gridrunner squadrons, are sitting
watching TV when suddenly an
announcement breaks in:
"All pilots with Gridrunner experience
report to base immediately. This is an
emergency!" Arriving at base, you are
shown into a briefing room, already
thronged with pilots. The briefing
begins:
We have brought you here because once
again Earth is in danger. The droids
have returned - with superior weapons
and tactics! We intend to form a new
squadron - Codename MATRIX - of the
best pilots to combat this menace!
You will be flying the latest fighters -
capable of operation on or off the power
matrix and with improved firepower and
manoeuverability.
However, the droids have better weapons,
too... Scouts have reported droids
dropping bombs and flying at crazy
angles, and areas out in space with
forcefields which are liable to hurl
your fire straight back at you!
We also believe the droids are
attempting some kind of bizarre
psychological disorientation tactics -
some pilots have reported sighting what
appeared to be camels running down the
matrix...
We can only advise you to be prepared
for anything to happen. You will be
assigned twenty sectors each - Please do
your best to clear all sectors!
The Earth depends on your success!......"
So now you find yourself seated in your
fighter as the Power Matrix slips
gently by below you, every nerve taut
as you wait to unleash a stream of white
hot death on the enemy....
CONTROLS
1) SKILL LEVELS
There are 20 zones (skill levels). The
first 6 only are selectable before play.
To achieve levels above 6, you must do
battle. Press any function key to
select.
2) SHIP CONTROL
This is achieved by joystick. You can
move anywhere but the top four lines.
Press the red button to fire. Hold it
down for continuous fire.
3) PAUSE
Press C= and any key to pause the action
Press any key again to restart.
GAME FEATURES
1) DROIDS
These attack in squads which fragment
when hit. They may drop bombs if
feeling nasty. They will begin diagonal
tracking on reaching the matrix base.
2) COSMIC CAMELOIDS
These appear in two situations:
a) TARGET WAVES - Cameloids on their
own. Your score counts down during these
waves. Blast Cameloids fast to keep the
score level from decreasing.
b) IN NORMAL WAVES - Cameloids mix with
droids, confusing the player and causing
droids to descend faster.
3) DEFLEXORS
On waves with Deflexors, your bullets
can be deflected into different paths.
Watch out for ricochets, and learn how
the deflexors change.
4) DIAGONAL WAVES
These appear only above wave 6. Droids
are liable to begin their attack in
diagonal tracking phase.
5) ZAPPERS
Beware the Y BEAM!!
6) THE SNITCH
The snitch is a traitorous humanoid who
appears in zones after zone 2. He runs
along the top of the Matrix and, if he
finds you, waves to the aliens to point
you out. If he is waving when the Y
Zapper goes by beneath you, it will zap
and destroy you.
Note that as you continue up the levels
any or all these features can combine in
any one wave!
MYSTERY BONUSES
There are seven bonuses from 2000 to
8000 points. It is up to you to discover
how to score them!
MATRIX - SCORING
For a LEADER DROID 400 pts
For a DRONE DROID 100 pts
For a CAMELOID 106 pts
For a POD 10 pts
For CLEARNING A ZONE 1 extra ship
High Score is kept and displayed. Look
for over 150,000 points.
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Some useful keyboard shortcuts
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[PAUSE] - stop/continue game
[F9] - quick load game state
[F12] - quick save game state (still stored after leaving the site)
[F11] - toggle fullscreen mode
[ScrollLock] - quick switch control ports
[PageDown] - make a screenshot (320x200)