The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

ARENA 3000

Professional, Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Shoot-'em-up With Dual Joystick Option

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1983: ARENA 3000, Microdeal, £9.95

Compilation Release(s)   : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : MICRODEAL, St Austell, CORNWALL

Disc compatibility     : Unknown

Instructions

"It is the year 3000, can you destroy each wave of Killer Robots as they attack and rescue the Humanoid Survivor? Wave after wave of different Robots try to corner you in the Galactic Arena. Will you win? High speed arcade action game. Full colour graphics with sound. Machine language."

It is the year 3000 A.D. The chief form of entertainment is the arena, where humanoids battle with mutants. Your only defence is a death ray, which always fires in the direction of travel.

Usually, the mutants will only die after being hit several times. You die instantly if you touch, or are touched, by a mutant.

As you clear each wave of mutants, they will be replaced by more of a different type. You start the game with three "lives" but gain an extra one for each 20,000 points.

First decide how you are going to control the game. There are three options:

1.  KEYBOARD

    Press the SPACE BAR to start.

    Use the keys as follows:

    Z  -  Left   X  -  Right   *  -  Up   ?  -  Down   RETURN  -  Fire

2.  SINGLE JOYSTICK

    Press a FIRE button to start.

    Use the joystick on which you pressed the FIRE button to control your movement.

3.  DUAL JOYSTICKS

    Press D to start.

    Use the 'left' joystick to move and the 'right' joystick to control direction of shooting. Shooting is continuous so you don't have to worry about fire buttons as well!

With options 1 and 2, you always shoot in the direction in which you last moved. With option 3, the direction of shooting is controlled with the right-hand joystick.

During the game, the S and Q buttons will turn the sound ON and OFF respectively. If you want to answer the phone or draw breath, you can pause the game by pressing the SHIFT LOCK button and continue again afterwards by pressing CAPS LOCK.

Top Ten Scores

If your score is in the Top Ten, you will be asked for your name to identify you in the 'Hall of Fame'.

Instructions' Source   : ARENA 3000 (Microdeal) Back and Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

Imagine that you're suddenly transported forward in time to the year 3000 AD. You find yourself the star of the chief entertainment of the time - the arena - where humanoids battle with mutants. Your only defence is a death ray and you need it. If you're touched just once by a mutant, you die. And some of the monsters take several blasts before they decide to die and leave you in short-lived peace!

A nightmare? No, just a brief description of ARENA 3000. You, of course, play the part of the humanoid, starting with three lives but soon losing them. Each mutant you kill adds to your points score and the cassette inlay tells you that you gain an extra life for every 20,000 points you score.

I wouldn't know as by then I've been swamped by mutants such as The Dreaded Oh Nos or the Jovial Jovian Jumpers. If they're jovial, I don't get the joke. And of course, every time you clear a wave of mutants, along comes
another of a different type.

It's not easy but it is fun. With either keyboard or joystick control, sound on/off and pause facilities and a Hall of Fame, the game is well up to standard. The graphics are very good and the use of sound reasonable. A good version of an arcade classic.

Keith Young, ELECTRON USER 2. 3

Special Feature

This game features a dual joystick option, designed to be used with the VOLTMACE 3B style of joysticks.