Type Attack(Atari 800) FAQ/Walkthrough
version 1.0.0 by [email protected]

================================

           OUTLINE

 1. INTRODUCTION

 2. CONTROLS

 3. STRATEGIES

 4. WALKTHROUGH

 5. MAKING YOUR OWN LEVELS

   5-1. IN-GAME

   5-2. HEX EDITING

 6. VERSIONS

 7. CREDITS

================================

 1. INTRODUCTION

Type Attack is a very creative game that helped me learn to type quickly. It
was also fun to cheat at, but more importantly, it combined Space Invaders
with typing. I played it a lot. It gave you 39 waves of combinations of
letters, and you could fire away at the letters by pushing them. You had 3
sub-waves where the letters were in reasonable order, then scrambled. Then
you had a word wave and a possible bonus wave where you had to type in words.
Looking back I see it was a decent vocabulary builder, too, as many of the
words you had to type in the bonus waves were unusual. They had to be. How
much can ASDF JKL; spell?

TA also had a good learning curve. You started with the ASDF keys and moved
to the JKL; before using the next rows up and down, and eventually you got to
shift-number keys, which were a pain. But you could slow the game down and
get less potential points, too. There was also a level editor. You could make
sixty! They could contain lower-case letters if you wanted, or all A's if you
wanted to run the score up. The calibration here wasn't seen much in early
games except maybe for Lode Runner, which was even more awesome.

Sadly the Apple emulator version had its data files chopped off in the Asimov
version, so it does not work. But the Atari 800 version works okay, with a
hole in one level. You can fix that with hex editing if you want. Also, the
Atari 800 does not have all the dancing characters the Apple does, nor does
it have quite as good sounds effects.

 2. CONTROLS

[F4] on your emulator brings up the screen for starting a game.

(1) select speed determines your speed, which is your score multiplier. Speed
correlates roughly linearly to words per minute you can handle.
(2) select level determines your first lesson. Choosing 1-39 gives you a
computer generated level. Choosing 40-99 gives you one you made yourself.
(3) Make Lesson lets you make a lesson from 40-99.
(4) Start New Game
(5) Restart Old Game are self-explanatory. I'm not sure how to save a game,
but you can, which is nice.

Other than that you can use the keys to shoot whatever is on the board. The
enemies come down in a 8x8 block in the character wave, and you can shoot any
letter on the bottom of each column. The computer looks from left to right.
You get 5 points for shooting a letter but -5 for missing one.

In the word wave, you get 15 words you need to type, and (speed)*(# of
letters) for each word shot. If a word makes it to the other side, you lose
(# of letters) energy but if you shoot it, you gain that energy. You can hit
backspace, and to shoot a word, push space or return.

If you won all 3 letter waves and the word wave without mistakes, you get a
bonus wave where you can recharge further.

End of level bonus = (speed) * (words per minute). I'm not sure how WPM is
calculated but the Atari seems a bit more stringent than the Apple. You
shouldn't worry if you are an accomplished typist and don't do so well.
You'll go quicker when you are typing words you actually want to type.

Holding down a key doesn't cause rapid fire, so that does not work so well.

 3. STRATEGIES

For most early levels you can work up to a whopping word bonus just typing in
a pattern of letters on the first wave. If you are using an emulator, you can
slow things down to get a big bonus, but that is cheating.

Also you can look at certain patterns in the first wave that can make it a
breeze to get through.

I like to try to pick off letters on the right on the early levels. Just keep
pushing that letter until it disappears on the right. That way you can get a
row done easily. Then you can pick off the column on the left after, if you
want, and things can go quickly. Don't worry about making a mistake or two.

If you want to play for safety, just let the curtain come down on #3 in later
levels and then get things back on the word round. You can wait for an easy
level to really refill, or you can just clunk along. Use this FAQ to see what
all the words are, too.

Regular Space Invaders tactics apply. Pick off whatever is on the bottom or
sides so that the letters do not bounce back and forth so quickly.

Short term, it may be good to cheat heinously by placing your fingers on the
only letters found in this round, but you need to get better.

F9 pauses so you can figure what to type, which is kind of cheating. Oh well.

Unbalanced columns are less of a big deal than unbalanced rows, as you have
plenty of room to move back and forth. It's easier to chop a column than a
row because keys may repeat and you may chop to the side of a letter in the
bottom row first.

 4. WALKTHROUGH

Level 1 data:
First Wave:
FASDFASD
DFASDFAS
SDFASDFA
ASDFASDF
FASDFASD
DFASDFAS
SDFASDFA
ASDFASDF

Words:
AS|FA|AS|AAA|DAD
FAD|ADA|SAD|ADD|SASS
ADS|DADA|DAFF|FADS|DADS

For this and the next you can type A, 2S, 3D, 4F, etc., or you can ASDFASDF
then SDFASDFA etc.

Level 2 data:
First Wave:
;JKL;JKL
L;JKL;JK
KL;JKL;J
JKL;JKL;
;JKL;JKL
L;JKL;JK
KL;JKL;J
JKL;JKL;

Words:
JK|KL|JL|LLL|K;K
KLK|LKL|J;K;|JLJ|K;J
K;LL|J;L;|L;J;|JKL;|J;K;L

Level 3 data:
First Wave:
FASD;JKL
DFASL;JK
SDFAKL;J
ASDFJKL;
FASD;JKL
DFASL;JK
SDFAKL;J
ASDFJKL;

This is still easy, but you need to use the left hand, then the right hand.

Words:
JAL|AS;|JFK|AFL;|KAKA
LAKS|ALKA|KLAD|KAFKA|A LAD
JA JA|SKALD|SF; LA|JAL AD|ALASKA

Level 4 data:
First Wave:
EUJDEUJD
DJUEDJUE
EUEUEUEU
DJDJDJDJ
EUJDEUJD
DJUEDJUE
EUEUEUEU
DJDJDJDJ

Use middle and index fingers for E-D and J-U if you like. Let yourself take a
few errors to get through quickly.

Words:
DE|AU|USE|USA|LAKE
JUJU|KEEL|JUDE|FUEL|JUKE
A DUEL|FUSED|KULAK|DUE US|JED; ED

Level 5 data:
First Wave:
RIKFRIKF
FKIRFKIR
RIRIRIRI
FKFKFKFK
RIKFRIKF
FKIRFKIR
RIRIRIRI
FKFKFKFK

Words:
IF|LI|IRE|SIR|IRK
JAIL|RISK|JILL|SIRED|RIDER
IF ILL|SIRIUS|DIRE AS|JR; SR|USER IS

FR and IK, then when near the end, RF and KI.

Level 6 data:
First Wave:
EURIEURI
DJFKDJFK
EURIEURI
DJFKDJFK
EURIEURI
DJFKDJFK
EURIEURI
DJFKDJFK

DE, UJ get 2 columns. Then FR and IK. Then repeat.
Words:
URALS|KEFIR|FUSIL|FLUKE|DRIED
UKASE|JESUS|JERKED|JAILER|SERIAL
SIERRA|JILL IS|US; FED|EUREKA|JELLIED

Level 7 data:
First Wave:
QP;AQP;A
A;PQA;PQ
QPQPQPQP
A;A;A;A;
QP;AQP;A
A;PQA;PQ
QPQPQPQP
A;A;A;A;

AQ and ;P. One combo will be there. At the end you will need to go with QA
and P;.
Words:
PI|PAP|JAPE|QUIP|QUAD
QUID|JALAP|PIQUE|QUILL|P; Q;
QUIRK|QUEUE|I QUAKE|PULL UP|PURPLE

Level 8 data:
First Wave:
WOLSWOLS
SLOWSLOW
WOWOWOWO
SLSLSLSL
WOLSWOLS
SLOWSLOW
WOWOWOWO
SLSLSLSL

Just type "Slow" 16 times.

Words:
OW|POW|OWL|WOK|WOOF
SLOW|JOKER|JAWS;|I OWE|FLOWS
WORLD|WOULD|I WILL|WORKER|POWWOW

Level 10 data:
First Wave:
GTOTGTOT
FFLFFFLF
GTOGGTOG
FFLFFFLF
GTOTGTOT
FFLFFFLF
GTOGGTOG
FFLFFFLF

FGFT etc. Alternate FGLO and FTLO.

Words:
GO|TO|IT|GET|GOT
TAG|RAG|GOTO|GLUT|TRAIL
GET AT|GOUT|GARTER|GIGGLE|GO WEST

Level 11 data:
First Wave:
ZMJAZMJA
AJMZAJMZ
ZMZMZMZM
AJAJAJAJ
ZMJAZMJA
AJMZAJMZ
ZMZMZMZM
AJAJAJAJ

AZ's, JM's, then switch MJ and ZA for the rest.

Words:
OZ|ME|ZOT|ZIP|ZIG
ZEAL|MAZE|ZOOM|MIZAR|MEZZO
ZIRAM|MAIZE|MUZZLE|TO ZAP|IF ZERO

Level 12 data:
First Wave:
GTMTZMJA
FFJFAJMZ
GTMGZMZM
FFJFAJAJ
GTMTZMJA
FFJFAJMZ
GTMGZMZM
FFJFAJAJ

Repeat FGFT, JMFG, AZJM, JMZA.

Words:
ZIT|ZAG|MOOG|TIME|MAGS
GUAZE|GIZMO|TIGER|GOLEM|FAZED
TOTEM|GAMETE|ZIGZAG|TO ZORK|IT GAMES

Level 13 data:
First Wave:
HYEYHYEY
JJDJJJDJ
HYEHHYEH
JJDJJJDJ
HYEYHYEY
JJDJJJDJ
HYEHHYEH
JJDJJJDJ

JHJY a bunch. DEDE when the structure seems imbalanced.

Words:
MY|HE|HAM|YOU|THY
THEY|HYDRO|THEIR|THE Y|TIGHT
HE HID|HYADES|A MYTH|ZITHER|WHY YES

Level 14 data:
First Wave:
V,KFV,KF
FK,VFK,V
V,V,V,V,
FKFKFKFK
V,KFV,KF
FK,VFK,V
V,V,V,V,
FKFKFKFK

Words:
V,|EV|TV,|VIA|V, W
GIVE|V, Z|HIVE|I, IF|V DAY
VIDEO|EVE, I|HE, US|I, THY|MY JIVE

Bottom 2 rows are easy, then go up the side. ,VFK 3 times, then repeat the
first 4 rows.

Level 15 data:
First Wave:
HYVYV,KF
JJFJFK,V
HYVHV,V,
JJFJFKFK
HYVYV,KF
JJFJFK,V
HYVHV,V,
JJFJFKFK

J pairs with H,Y for the first two columns, then FV *2, JHJY, k, FVk, in some
order works next.

Words:
Y,H|H,V|V,Y|HYPO|HYDE
HYLA|VARY|HYPER|THIS,|THAT,
HEAVY|HOMELY|VALLEY|VAT DYE|YES, HE

Level 16 data:
First Wave:
CNJDCNJD
DJNCDJNC
CNCNCNCN
DJDJDJDJ
CNJDCNJD
DJNCDJNC
CNCNCNCN
DJDJDJDJ

DC JN clears two rows, then several DJs, then a bunch of CNs. One or the
other of these pairs will work, until you zap a pair on the right. Then use
the other.

Words:
CN|NO|CON|NICE|NECK
NICK|CYAN|CHIN|ACNE|NACHO
CHANT|NIACIN|HE CAN|NICHE|SHE CAN

Level 17 data:
First Wave:
B.LFB.LF
FL.BFL.B
B.B.B.B.
FLFLFLFL
B.LFB.LF
FL.BFL.B
B.B.B.B.
FLFLFLFL

A continual FL B. solves this level.

Words:
B.|B,|BIN|CAB|E.B.
B.C.|BACK|N.Y.|NBC,|BYTE
I BUY.|U.S.A.|B.B.C.|OH BOY|A BABY

Level 18 data:
First Wave:
XMJSXYYS
SJMXSJJX
XMXMXYXJ
SJSJSJSY
XMJSXYYS
SJMXSJJX
XMXMXYXJ
SJSJSJSY

Words:
EX|XI|HEX|COX|POX
VEX|XMAS|TEXT|XYLEM|WAXY
TOXIC|X RAY|MOXIE|EXTRACT|TO EXIT

SX, JM, JY are the pairs here. Be prepared to go through with JM to start,
then SX. Clear the left columns(JM) then the right(JY).

Level 19 data:
First Wave:
CNB.CNBX
DJFLDJFS
CNB.CNBX
DJFLDJFS
CNB.CNBX
DJFLDJFS
CNB.CNBX
DJFLDJFS

Words:
EX.|BOX|NIX|JINX|BING
P.X.|BONG|MING|NOBLE|XEBEC
BANZAI|N.B.A.|XENON|NIXON|BIG BANG

DC, JN, FB, L., SX Emphasis on the lower row here. There are a fwe more pairs
to hanle than usual, but cut off the SX and DC first.

Level 20 data:
First Wave:
1S3F1S3F
A2D4A2D4
1S3F1S3F
A2D4A2D4
1S3F1S3F
A2D4A2D4
1S3F1S3F
A2D4A2D4

Words:
A1|S2|D3|F43|R4S2
E3A1|Q1 F4|HGR2|1 END|2 POP
GOTO 4|12 STOP|LIST 14|CALL 214|1ST BASE

A1 2S D3 4F. You can cheat here and use one hand for the top number row.

Level 21 data:
First Wave:
7K9;7K9;
J8L0J8L0
7K9;7K9;
J8L0J8L0
7K9;7K9;
J8L0J8L0
7K9;7K9;
J8L0J8L0

Words:
J7|I8|L9|K87|U7P0
J7O9|I8 P0|ON 9|7 UP|RUN 8
HTAB 7|VTAB 8|7 CONT|8 TEXT|9TH ONE

J7 K8 L9 ;0. You can cheat here and use one hand for the top number row.

Level 22 data:
First Wave:
R56UR56U
4FJ74FJ7
R56UR56U
4FJ74FJ7
R56UR56U
4FJ74FJ7
R56UR56U
4FJ74FJ7

4R F5 J6 7U make this easy to start.

Words:
R4|F5|J6|Y6|T5J6
Y6R4|R4 T5|IF 6|TO 5|6 HGR
DEL 5|A 6TH|5 HOME|6 STOP|ONE 5TH

Level 23 data:
First Wave:
73175195
J3A7F1L5
5D9J3A7F
F1L5D9J3
3A7F1L5D
D9J3A7F1
1L5D9J3A
A7F1L5D9

A1D3F5J7 or some rotation gets you the first column. Then you need to tinker
a bit. Push 7 and proceed with the same finger as before for the next row.
Repeat as needed. Note 5 follows F almost always, and same for L-9 etc.

Words:
Q1|E3|F5|U79|J7A1
D3J7|L9 T5|5 DEF|9 GET|7 FOR
3 READ|9 WAIT|5 NEXT|7 DATA|5TH ONE

Level 24 data:
First Wave:
84286206
K4S8J2;6
6F0K4S8J
J2;6F0K4
4S8J2;6F
F0K4S8J2
2;6F0K4S
S8J2;6F0

Similar to 23. SJF; and 8260 are on pretty much any row, or you can go with
S2 etc(same finger) for the top column. Half the columns are like that, and
the other half reqire you to move around a bit. I'd advise going by column at
first for the four columns, then by column left to right.

Words:
W2|R4|Y6|K89|R4J6
W2I8|P0 S2|4 DIM|8 LET|ON 62
24 REM|THEN 80|GOTO 20|STEP 40|60 TRACE

Level 25 data:
First Wave:
,.Q.,.Q.
KLALKLAL
,.Q,,.Q,
KLAKKLAK
,.Q.,.Q.
KLALKLAL
,.Q,,.Q,
KLAKKLAK

AQAQ then put your fingers in a square for KL,.

Words:
R.|,X|CA.|A,B|2.3
I, A|S.F.|8,9|1,000|F.B.I.
I GO.|2, OR|AND...|2,499|THE END.

Level 26 data:
First Wave:
!??!!??!
A;;AA;;A
!?!?!?!?
A;A;A;A;
!??!!??!
A;;AA;;A
!?!?!?!?
A;A;A;A;

Hold shift down for the !? and take it off for the rows.

Words:
A!|I?|ME!|EH?|NO!
?SI|!??|NOW!|WHY?|BAM!
HUH?|ZAP!|I AM!|IT IS?|OH NO!

You have to use shifties a lot here, but it's kind of amusing.

Level 27 data:
First Wave:
'*V*'*V*
J;F;J;F;
'*V''*V'
J;FJJ;FJ
'*V*'*V*
J;F;J;F;
'*V''*V'
J;FJJ;FJ

Words:
*W|'S|4*1|A'S|S*T
'82|V*B|I'M|W*F|IT'S
**X**|WE'LL|G * H|BOB'S|B*E*F

Level 28 data:
First Wave:
"++""++"
S;;SS;;S
"+"+"+"+
S;S;S;S;
"++""++"
S;;SS;;S
"+"+"+"+
S;S;S;S;

Shifts characters on alternate rows, so chop it up like that.

Words:
"|A+|1+2|"L"|+41
"GO"|K+J|"80"|P+Q|+3.1
J+1|"OH"|12+3|"NO"|+3000

Level 29 data:
First Wave:
()V)()V)
KLFLKLFL
()V(()V(
KLFKKLFK
()V)()V)
KLFLKLFL
()V(()V(
KLFKKLFK

FVFV then KLKL and use the shift keys, 3 each way.

Words:
1)|A)|()|(F)|(Z)
(2)|1))|(34)|S(A)|(AT)
B(S)|( )NO|((S))|PDL(0)|( )YES

Some Apple calls in here.

Level 30 data:
First Wave:
#::##::#
D;;DD;;D
#:#:#:#:
D;D;D;D;
#::##::#
D;;DD;;D
#:#:#:#:
D;D;D;D;

Note every other row requires a shift, so take care of this by row.

Words:
#3|GR:|LO:|#9|#44
#AJ|J:S|PO#|2:3|PR#1
3:45|IN#2|THUS:|HI:LO|A:B:C

Level 31 data:
First Wave:
&-C-&-C-
J;D;J;D;
&-C&&-C&
J+DJJ;DJ
&-C-&-C-
J;D;J;D;
&-C&&-C&
J+DJJ;DJ

Very messy but you can pick off the DC easily then the J's and &'s to get
relief for two more rows.
Words:
&|C-|E&H|X-Y|C&H
-45|A&W|-2.3|M&M|-4.3
HI-FI|AND &|GO-GO|3 & 4|HI-RES

Level 32 data:
First Wave:
$==$$==$
F;;FF;;F
$=$=$=$=
F;F;F;F;
$==$$==$
F;;FF;;F
$=$=$=$=
F;F;F;F;

$'s are the wrench in the works here. Push F$ at the start, then F;.

Words:
$|A$|2=|I=J|$90
W=4|CHR$|=33|2=2|A=B
$1.11|J = 2|$FFAD|C=$59|GET W$

Level 33 data:
First Wave:
[]E][]E]
KLDLKLDL
[]E[[]E[
KLDKKLDK
[]E][]E]
KLDLKLDL
[]E[[]E[
KLDKKLDK

k[k[ and l]l] get a great start, then eded.
Words:
A]|2]|T[S|[I]|X[[Y
AB[C|J[14|F[]S|[OUT]|J [ 3
IF A[B|W ] 11|OR P[Z|Q ]] T|AND I[J

Level 34 data:
First Wave:
%//%%//%
F;;FF;;F
%/$/$/$/
F;F;F;F;
%//%%//%
F;;FF;;F
%/$/$/$/
F;F;F;F;

Wait to pick off the $ and % if possible. Though to start you can gun down
the 1st column and row rather easily--keep the shift on for the 1st.

Words:
5%|1/2|F%|///|%101
I/O|99%|L/R|45%|X/Y
3/19|F/22|2.3%|HE/SHE|8% TOPS

Level 35 data:
First Wave:
^@T@^@T@
;KFK;KFK
^@T^^@T^
;KF;;KF;
^@T@^@T@
;KFK;KFK
^@T^^@T^
;KF;;KF;

Pick off the non-shifties as you can, then the shifties. (shift-2 and 6)

Words:
^I|@7|J^2|^G|9^4
1@2|W^8|Y@8|X^Y|44^5
8@9|@ $4|FG^4|S @ T|1 @ $3

Well, at least the words aren't long.

Level 36 data:
First Wave:
OVISOVIS
BILGBILG
YFNUYFNU
MHEJMHEJ
KTZRKTZR
CIOOCIOO
AWDUAWDU
PXEQPXEQ

Words:
PACK MY|BOX WITH|LIQUOR|5 DOZEN|JUGS.
QUICK|BROWN|FOX|JUMPED|OVER THE
LAZY DOG|QUICK|WAFTING|ZEPHERS|VEX BOLD

They're making you use all the letters of the alphabet here, pretty much.
Wave 1 = words on first line, repeated twice.

Level 37 data:
First Wave:
REGHGONN
OVATUHOA
CESAOTCT
SSRFRRSN
RDARBOIE
UNEUSFHN
OAYORTTI
FENOEHNT

Words:
4 SCORE|& SEVEN|YEARS|AGO, OUR|FATHERS
BROUGTH|ON THIS|LAND|A NEW|NATION,
MADE IN|LIBERTY|& BELIEF|THAT ALL|MEN ARE

The Gettysburg Address, in the words ad also in wave 1.

Level 38 data:
First Wave:
3J4M3N4I
P6L5F2A2
6Y1E5O9G
X7U7S4U3
5T2H0B8V
R1W4E0C6
4K3T7C1J
Z0A9Q9D2

Work from left to right here.

Words:
96 TEARS|40WHACKS|23SKIDOO|77SUNSET|99BOTTLE
6 OF ONE|UNION 76|TEA 4 2|31FLAVOR|3D GLASS
5TH COL.|ON 1ST|IN 1942|ROUTE 66|3RD WAVE

Lots of catch phrases here--a song, Lizzie Borden, slang, a TV show, another
song, a cliche("half dozen of another,") a gas station(remember those ads
with Murph?), Lawrence Welk, Baskin Robbins, a 50s fad, journalism, Abbot and
Costello, history I guess(why not 1492?) and another tv show then a social
psychological experiment.

Level 39 data:
First Wave:
I(KTRMG?
?P-Y'2]T
%Z1@XBN8
Q/SH*$E!
=+VDJ8:U
L.3!A,)5
["U9;7C#
F40W6O&/

Words:
CURTAINS|ID#45-91|A 130%|YOU & ME|M=$34.95
F=(A+B2)|4@$12.95|"A QUOTE|A*(X+Y)2|I AM10.2
PRINT"$"|COST:$33|1O'CLOCK|[A[B,C]]|2..1..00

 5. MAKING YOUR OWN LEVELS

   5-1. IN-GAME

Choose option 3 from the menu and now (RETURN) sends you up a row in the 8x8
and pretty much any other key sends you 1R, or up and back left, after typing
it in. [delete] sends you back a square in the 8x8, or deletes something in
the word wave. You can use caps lock or shift to edit things.

   5-2. HEX EDITING

0x10090 + 0x100*(level #) is where the level starts. The first 64 bytes are
what you see in the first wave, bottom row 1st and up. Then you have up to 15
words. Spaces need to be at the end of a word. The scrambling is done
differently for different levels, so you can't really control that.

End of FAQ Proper

================================

 6. VERSIONS

1.0.0: sent to GameFAQs 12/4/2007, complete but without all level maps.
Later.

 7. CREDITS

Thanks to the usual GameFAQs gang, current and emeritus. They know who they
are, and you should, too, because they get/got some SERIOUS writing done.
Good people too--bloomer, falsehead, Sashanan, Masters, Retro, Snow
Dragon/Brui5ed Ego, ZoopSoul, War Doc, Brian Sulpher, AdamL, odino, JDog and
others I forgot. OK, even Hydrophant in his current not-yet-banned message
board incarnation. I am not part of his gang, but I want him to be part of
mine.

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