Subject: Under the Lynx Microscope #7

Newsgroups: rec.games.video.atari,alt.games.lynx

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           <<<< Under the Lynx Microscope >>>>



                Edition #7, Date 03/06/98



          By: Carl Forhan (forhan@millcomm.com)



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// FEATURED GAMES:  Turbo Sub                         //

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ULM is a periodic feature that will be posted to alt.games.lynx and

rec.games.video.atari.  The purpose is to generate some interest and

discussion around the Atari Lynx portable video game system, especially

for game titles that have been "under-exposed" on the internet.  



Contact forhan@millcomm.com for information on contributing to ULM.



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| Turbo Sub                  |

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Turbo Sub by HandMade Software has all the trappings of a fine game.  It

features fast 3D action in the tradition of other great sprite games on

the Lynx, like Blue Lightning and STUN Runner.  You can go above and below

the sea level, collect power-up gems, fight hordes of enemies, and even

purchase new equipment for your ship after each level.  The sounds, music,

and animation are sufficient, if not phenomonal.



About the only drawbacks to this game are the relative shortness of the

game and the repititiveness of the enemies.  There are some variations in

which enemies you can destroy and how they attack you, but for the most

part the game plays the same throughout.  If anything, this could be

considered the "Zero 5" (a Jaguar game) of the Lynx, as it's a simple,

fast-paced shooter and doesn't pretend to be anything else. 



Still, I do believe the game can be a lot of fun.  Once I got the hang of

a few levels, I was hooked until I managed to beat the game.  There are a

wide variety of power-ups, and it's both fun to try different ones out as

well as determine the best configuration to increase your chances of

survival.



And the game supports a comlynx mode, although unfortunately I have not

been able to try it out yet.  But some human competition would be a

welcome addition to this unusual Lynx game!



Strategy Tips: 



1) Watch for debris from some of the flying ships; it can damage you.

2) Purchase the rapid fire and tracking and mega-bombs with any

   leftover gems.  Purchase an extra life if you're running low.

3) Avoid the underwater "lasers" by skimming just above them but

   below the surface.  Ignore the gems for now; you'll still have 

   plenty of chances to pick up enough gems later for power-ups.

4) Learn the shot pattern of the underwater turrets.  You should

   be able to weave through them while their shots pass harmlessly

   on your side.  If you have tracking, you can also easily destroy

   them while dodging their shots.

5) Tracking can be a disadvantage on the airborne levels because your

   guns will auto-lock onto an enemy, even if it's very far away and other

   enemies are closer.

6) You'll fight bosses every few levels.  The easiest way to take them out

   and dodge their shots is to just hold your ship to the right and shoot

   them periodically as they weave across the screen.  Again, tracking is

   an immense help!

7) Save some mega-bombs for the final level against the mother ship!



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|  Carl Forhan    <><   | For Atari, Breeders, HeroQuest, and more:

|  forhan@millcomm.com  | http://www.millcomm.com/~forhan/games.html

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