Head-On 2(Arcade) FAQ/Walkthrough
version 1.0.0 by
[email protected](anti spam spoonerism)
Please do not reproduce for profit without my consent. You won't be getting
much profit anyway, but that's not the point. This took time and effort, and
I just wanted to save a memory of an old game and the odd solutions any way I
could. Please send me an email referring to me and this guide by name if
you'd like to post it on your site.
================================
OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
Head-On 2 is a sequel to Head-On that features the same driving in circles
and avoiding the enemy, but you now have side tracks that allow you to change
the direction you run around the center part of the track. You can still
accelerate and slow down and swerve between lanes, and you still need to
avoid opposing car(s). OK, it's not much of a sequel now, but back when it
came out in 1979, this was a pretty big deal. And you know what? It's a
pretty good game, fast-paced and exciting, with enough strategy and
difference between games(it's hard to repeat a pattern due to the split-
second timing, whereas something like Pac-Man allowed you to run into a wall
and re-assess.)
I originally played Head-On on the Apple, where you fought only one car and
you could often get it swallowed up by a near-collision. I had a terrible
time trying to win on the opening level back then, and while the loops made
Head-On 2 easier, only MAME save states helped me figure this game out as
much as I did.
Amusingly, this game was made by Sega, who have had their ups and downs since
then.
2. CONTROLS/POINTS
Push the [ctrl] button to get moving faster.
Move the joystick in the direction you want, to shift lanes. You can shift 2
in the center, or 3 to/from the outside, due to where the walls are. However,
if you are going fast, you can only shift 1 lane.
On level 1, a dot is worth 5 points, and sometimes enemy cars leave smoke
behind, which quintuples(x5) the dot points. You get a 200 point bonus for
winning.
On level 2+, the points for level 1 are multiplied--except the bonus is
100+100x. Bonus car at 5000.
3. STRATEGIES
The cars all start counterclockwise, but if you swing around in the loops,
then they try to turn at the first available opportunity--though if one is
ahead of you, it may just sit there at slow speed and block you while another
one rams you from behind.
Enemies can cooperate a bit--they know to go in different lanes--but they
cannot collide. One will go to the side before making a head on collision.
This can work to your advantage as frequently enemies can get distracted from
where they want to go.
Slow down before an intersection to see which ways the enemies will go, then
turbo through once you know none can swerve into you.
If you stay on the inside, you may have temporary safety, but don't make a
habit of it.
While it's possible to clear things out in any order, the outside part is the
area that is most important.
Enemies get more organized and closer to you the more you loop around, and
the side lanes are the only real way to disrupt that. It causes them to go
into the side lanes, even the ones on the other side, and then you can sneak
back to the inside.
Enemies can tell when you fake things, and they can often swerve back when
they start to swerve.
Having an enemy right behind you is safe short term. It is one less you need
to crash into. But if enemies are ahead, then go to the side, where you will
shake the enemy.
Most of the early game will be spent looking for a break where you can
complete 3/4 or all of a loop.
The inner loop is best to complete last, because it is harder to duck enemies
by moving out(you take longer to loop( than moving in.
When in doubt, go slowly--you have more time to react to enemies. Especially
in the loops. Cars may slam into you from the side. You can always make up
ground, or more usually swerve out of the way of an oncoming car(2 lanes if
necessary,) but if you get stuck between two cars, then you have problems.
Be ready to swerve in and out of the loops. You can accelerate to move past
the other car coming at you if you do it right when it moves in--your
graphics go through each other, but you are safe.
The best place to get 2 enemy cars to hit each other is the very UR(or any
diagonal, but this is most likely early on.) The one car would like to move
back left, but the walls are such that he can't.
Trying to juke the enemies by going right and left never works.
Smoke trails are nice, but they are a distraction.
4. LEVELS
One basic level looks like so:
+---+-------------------+---+
| . | . . . . 2. . . . | . |
|.+.|.+-----+ +-----+.|.+.|
| | | | . . . . . . | | | |
|.|.|.|.+---+ +---+.|.|.|.|
| | | | | . . . . | | | | |
|.|.|.|.|.+-+ +-+.|.|.|.|.|
| | | | | | . . | | | | | |
|.|.|.|.|.|.+---+.|.|.|.|.|.|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| |.|.|.| |.|.|.| |
| | | |
|3 | | |
| | | 4 |
| | | |
| |.|.|.| |.|.|.| |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|.|.|.|.|.|.+---+.|.|.|.|.|.|
| | | | | | . . | | | | | |
|.|.|.|.|.+-+ +-+.|.|.|.|.|
| | | | | . . . . | | | | |
|.|.|.|.+---+ +---+.|.|.|.|
| | | | . . . . . . | | | |
|.+.|.+-----+ +-----+.|.+.|
| . | . . . .1 u. . . . | . |
+---+-------------------+---+
For level 1 I can almost give a precise walkthrough--go fast 3/4 of the way
around and go left into the side loops. The enemy will turn around and come
at you, so cross over again and exit when going down. You can get the rest of
the outside. Now go 2 in and circle around until he is level with you, then
go back to the outside. Go into the right loop when you have the chance, fake
him out, and go to the 2nd-outer loop. Tear around there and then go to the
very inside loop.
Level 2 is a bit more difficult. You need to fake the enemies out so they are
going the wrong way. Turbo to start. Turn right when you are at the right
intersection and then loop around. Slow down when the enemy is near, then
accelerate right if he comes(if not, keep looping,) then go back to the main
loop. Take out the outer loop(note how enemies kick themselves to the outer
loops--this is a pattern for future levels,) and the 2nd-inner, moving 2 at a
time when you can. Don't strand yourself on the very inside. The enemies can
play a prevent defense of sorts where each takes one lane and sits around,
and you don't stand much chance. You will want to clear out the left loops
and sucker someone in before making a turbo run around the second-outer
circle, and then you just need to finish the inner.
A few details here: you can always flip lanes to get around. You only flip
orientation when you leave a different way from when you came. The basic
pattern for any level should be: get the right loop, get 2 circles, outer and
2nd-inner, get the left loop, and get the other loops in the confusion.
On later levels you need to be more precise, but the starting pattern and the
idea are the same.
End of FAQ Proper
================================
5. VERSIONS
1.0.0: sent to GameFAQs 12/12/2007, complete
6. 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.
Thanks to War Doc because his list of FAQs had Head-On in it. And I
remembered how I enjoyed the game on the Apple. So I gave this a try.
