Marius Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Ok! I got this game for 20 years now, and I still do not have ANY clue how to play this game. I read the manual a zillion times, and I really don't get it. The manual is (imho) too much full of 'insiders language' ... there are so many 'fantasy'-related words, that it is impossible for me, to understand. But... the games looks good, reacts fast, and I can't stand the fact that I don't understand. Is there anyone here willing and able to explain me in normal words, what to do. I have the original manual here, so you could point to that, and perhaps explain something. Any help is appreciated. If there are more people like me not knowing how this game works, please respond too I feel a rather DUMB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+CyranoJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Grab the ball. Shoot it through the goal at the other end. When you don't have the ball, your view will always face the ball. When you have the ball, your view will always face the goals. That's about it, other than listening to possibly the best musical score on the a8 ever created. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 OK. Thanks for your fast response! That is great! What I don't understand... the goals are these 2 blinking bars right? Is there any clue how to find them? I keep moving and moving, and then suddenly I find them. I guess there must be some direction to go to? Although the music is cool, and very well fitting the game, I don't think it is the best musical score on the a8 ever created. Perhaps in games Atari released on Cart yes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+CyranoJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 They track horizontally along the edge of the play field. You score more points for a goal the further away you are ('over the horizon shots' score the most) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) The blinking bars ARE the goalposts, they constantly move back & forth on both ends of the field, so you may not always see them immediately. You can blindly blast the ball toward them (3 pts), shoot the ball in for 2 pts, or run it in for 1 pt. Every time you score, the goal shrinks & it's harder to score. The game is from LucasArts, IIRC this & Rescue on Fractalus (also a great game) were their 1st efforts in computer/games software- so understandably the manuals try to immerse you in the game world. Fractalus' manual is like that too. Ha, CyranoJ got in just before me. I forgot those blind shots are called OTH shots. Edited January 30, 2013 by RJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Android8675 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 How can you not know how to play this game? (Kidding, took a bit of trail and error for me. Now I can score from no-look distance (can't see the goal, blindly shoot it and hope for the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Thank you all!!!! Have played it now with this knowledge! Appears to be a very nice game. Very addictive if you would ask me. Now time for bed.... But tomorrow; BALLBLAZER! Thank you again for some needed help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 A complete guide to Ballblazer and some info on Ballblaster http://atariteca.blogspot.com/2009/12/ballblazer.html - Y - Thank you all!!!! Have played it now with this knowledge! Appears to be a very nice game. Very addictive if you would ask me. Now time for bed.... But tomorrow; BALLBLAZER! Thank you again for some needed help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) And an easter egg Watch the video at the bottom of the article... http://atariteca.blo...ballblazer.html Edited January 31, 2013 by Yautja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+David_P Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 That's about it, other than listening to possibly the best musical score on the a8 ever created. I can think of a few better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Ballblazer.txt My small contribution.. I never played this very much because I didn't often have a second player to play against, and against the computer it is not a lot of fun.. Edited January 31, 2013 by rdea6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I prefer Rob Hubbard's "Thalamusik" featured in The Extirpator: And of course, the Ballblazer (feat. Beastie Boys) by Romeo Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Although the music is cool, and very well fitting the game, I don't think it is the best musical score on the a8 ever created. Perhaps in games Atari released on Cart yes... You gotta play it on PAL! On NTSC the score comes off as busy and a bit agitated. But on the slower clock speed of PAL it sounds sleazy like some corner jazz bar in Chicago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Tackle by ramming into them with and pressing fire when the ball is in front of you - keep the stick forward until you find the goal - if you can, back up and score an 'over the horizon' shot for 3pts, if you're under pressure just walk the ball into the goal for 1pt! When we played Ballblaster in the HSC a while ago, there were a few players who could beat all the droids but I couldn't get them to squeel on how to do this? I can beat a few of them but after a while it just gets too tough I seem to remember the unofficial Ballblazer being much easier... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 There's a certain # of squares from the side where if you start each time you'll be in pole position to just move forward and get the ball (experiment for that). Goal values 1-3 depending on distance when ball fired. The trick there is to find the goals from afar (dual benefit of having more side->side vision) then back off so they disappear, after working out what direction they're moving. Then fire for a 3 score. Goalposts move closer together after each score so generally you can do that easily a couple of times then it's more beneficial to just go for the 2 pointers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I found another Ballblazer test file.. BALLBLAZER ^^^^^^^^^^ SOFT-DOX WRITTEN BY )=> THE EXPLOITER <=( -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BALLBLAZER: THE GAME You're strapped in a rotofoil. So is your opponent. The screen is split so you each have your own view of the game. You see your opponet's rotofoil sees yours. You face each other. One of you starts the game and the ball is fired. Go for it and get it before your opponent does. Now find the moving goal last the ball through for a score. It's total speed, power and points--NS out. The one with the most points wins. It's easy to play -- difficult to master. Go to step one and find out for yourself. 1) Boot the disk (or 'BRUN BALLBLAZER). 2) Read the command summary below. KEY DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Option--choose an option (makes game option titles blink) <- Select a choice or setting for blinking option RETURN Starts the game : Demo mode (press any key to exit) SPACE BAR Pause a game--press again to restart ESC Reset option settings SPACE BAR + ESC Stop game--return to option mode - Toggle rhythm sound track on/off SPACE BAR + RETURN Restart game CONTROL-S DURING GAME: Toggle sound on/off CONTROL-S DURING "GAME OVER" or "INTRODUCTION" MODES: Turn off music, reactivates rotofoil control (puts you into the practice mode) CONTROL-K Select 5-key or 9-key game control--toggle two options when human option is blinking KEYBOARD GAME CONTROL SYSTEM ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPLE ORANGE 9-KEY SET MODE D (Turn off thrust) K Z B (Blast) N / 3 4 (Activate one second pushfield) 8 9 W E R U I O \ \ / \ \ / \ \ / \ \ / S ----*--- F J ---*--- L / \ \ / \ \ / \ \ / \ \ X C V M , . ============================================================================= PURPLE ORANGE 5-KEY SET MODE Z B (Activate pushfield) N / D (Turn off thrust) K E I \ \ S --+-- F J --+-- L \ \ C . [Example for using the 5-key method -- Press 'E' to go north, then press "S' once to north east (diagonal). Press 'F' twice to go east] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelmischief Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Ball Blazer, Archon, Mario Bros., Hardball, and Joust - probably a few others - defined my relationship with my little brother. 2 player gaming at the best it will ever be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Wow AtariAge friends!!!!! You are so helpful! Thanks thanks and thanks again!!! I have read a lot of stuff the last 10 hours, and I'm really surprised by all your knowledge about this game. Cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari8warez Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) I can think of a few better... "better" in this context most definitely an expression of personal taste. I personally prefer ballblazer's music 10 times over the ones presented here. Edited January 31, 2013 by atari8warez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari8warez Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) And of course, the Ballblazer (feat. Beastie Boys) by Romeo Knight I vote for the Atari's instrumental version. The original music has nothing to do with this "hiphopized" (sic!) version.... Edited January 31, 2013 by atari8warez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari8warez Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) If there are more people like me not knowing how this game works, please respond too I feel a rather DUMB Don't feel bad, I've felt the same way the first time (actually more than just the first time) I tried to play it, and I haven't had the manual either..... Edited January 31, 2013 by atari8warez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari8warez Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 A complete guide to Ballblazer and some info on Ballblaster http://atariteca.blo...ballblazer.html - Y - Thanks for the link... It will be the first time I ever read the manual.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+kheller2 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I've broken many a joystick playing BallBlazer. Competition was fierce in my family on a 54" projection screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I tend to stare at the screen at amazement for five minutes followed by a minute of bouncing across the playfield then switching games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelmischief Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 The brown Lucas splash screen with the dramatic sound blast and starburst ding on the logo is still one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Ever. Anywhere. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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