Jerry's favorite patterns for Tron (arcade)

                  Scott "Jerry" Lawrence ([email protected])
                        Rob Reay ([email protected])
                           Tim Oertel ([email protected])

                        These are for default settings.

Note: buy-in is disabled -- after "Basic", it is useless anyway.

These are not the only ways to solve the puzzles... just the way
I do it... unless I screw something up...  My current high score is
136,000+

reference the other pages from Joystik magazine for what some things mean,
like the "backwards p"

General:
  Cycles:      "diagonals" (zig-zags) and notches with space for only
               one cycle will invariably trap enemy cycles.  When all
               else fails, trap yourself in a fairly large area - this
               will keep enemies from getting to you.  remember to let
               go of the trigger!
  Gridbugs:    Leaving 15 or less on the timer will give better odds
               on getting Bit on the later levels. (maybe?)  Always clear
               out an opening to the exit, and hang out by it.  Shoot at
               clumps or lines of gridbugs for better chance of hitting
               more of them.
  MCP Cone:    a width of 2 blocks, 3 if its rotating very fast is all
               you need to get through to the cone.
  Tanks:       As long as your tank is not covering the blue trace
               perpendicular to it, in front of it, tanks on that trace
               cannot see you... but they can crash into you.  Hanging
               out by the transporter, half into it is a decent safe
               spot to hang out in...

Level 01: "RPG"
  Cycles:    1 cycle
               Backwards p
  Gridbugs:  1 top, 1 on each side
               Take out 4 on either side, run in
  MCP Cone:  3 rows, rotates to right, slow (possible to get all blocks)
               take it all out
  Tanks:     1 tank
               go to top of transporter, shoot down through it

Level 02: "Cobol"
  Cycles:    3 cycles
               go up 2 squares, then left 1 square
               then to top of screen, over to right
               cut down, then cut off the 1 remaining cycle
               then just weave back and forth until he dies
  Gridbugs:  3 on each side
               take out bottom while moving to one side.
               take out that side & top
               go to other side, and clear a path to the circle
  MCP Cone:  4 rows, rotates to right, slow (possible to get all blocks)
               take out a big chunk, move into it, and weave
               up & down to take out the rest of the cone
  Tanks:     3 tanks
               move to left then up. move 1/2 into notch there.
               take out top tank.  rotate around block.  take out
               right tank. rotate around block. take out bottom tank.

Level 03: "Basic"
  Cycles:    3 cycles faster
               go up 2.5 squares.  cut to right.  go until room for 1
               cycle to fit between your traces and the right wall and
               cut down.  go to bottom row. cut to left.
               once you pass the cycle right above you (coming towards
               player) slow down so you dont' crash into the sipralling
               guy. he dies, you pass through the space.  weave until
               the other guys die.  If spiralling guy does not spiral,
               cut up right to inside the box you're making, and the
               "spiralling guy" to the left will trap himself in.
  Gridbugs:  Lots (2 rows)
               shoot up to right, contiuously firing.  clear an opening
               on the right side to get through.  use it.  shoot them
               below you until you're happy.
  MCP Cone:  4-5 rows, To left, fast, non-repeating!
               clear a notch/hole in the blocks.  shoot out top 2 rows
               and move into it.  shoot as many pieces out of the cone
               until time runs out, or you flubble and trip on a block.
  Tanks:     5 tanks
               start (before the screen appears) moving upwards.  take
               first right, then first up. shoot as much as possible.
               make first right. rotate turret down.  shoot as much as
               possible.  shoot to left as much as possible.  move to
               right side.  get the remaining tanks

Level 04: "Fortran"
  Cycles:    3 cycles fast
               start (before screen appears) moving fast to right.
               move to just to the right of the rightmost cycle.
               move up.  go up until top edge.  hang left. trap in
               the remaining guy by cutting down just to the left
               of the leftmost trail.
  Gridbugs:  "Z" of bugs, optional "Bit" dropped off by solar sailer
               move out of the bottom section of the Z.  (while shooting
               of course).  clear a path to bit if it exists.  take out
               bugs near circle exit, and optionally top of screen
  MCP Cone:  6 rows, slowish (possible to get all blocks... maybe?)
               clear out a notch to go into.
  Tanks:     5 tanks
               move a little to below where you start.  aim diagonally
               south-east.  take out that tank, and occupy its space.
               move to right. take out as much as possible

Level 05: "Snobol"
  Cycles:
               start (before screen appears) moving fast to right.
               move to just to the right of the rightmost cycle.
               move up.  go up until 2/3 up.  (when upper right
               cycle is starting to cut across to the right) and go
               to the right until you get to the wall.  cut down.
               slow down.  he'll trap himself in.
               as you are moving down, do a quick jog to the left
               to trap in any other cycles that did not get killed
               already. (quick to left, then back down)
  Gridbugs:  Criss-cross "Z"'s (optional "Bit" as above)
               bugs hesitate to form.  take out the ones next to you
               on the right.  there is not really enough time to take
               out the ones on the other side. run though that hole QUICKLY.
               collision detection seems to be loose here, but be
               careful anyway.  clear pathways and use them.
  MCP Cone:  rotating to left slow, moving down really fast
               run up and take out rightmost blocks and very very
               quickly, make a hole and go through it
  Tanks:     Many Recognizers, not tanks
               start moving up.  the closer they are, the more shots
               you can fire at them - 3 shots on screen maximum.
               they will not fire at you. take out the ones closest
               to you first.  duh.
               Go up to top, cut over to right. take out that recognizer.
               spin turret to left, take out those 3 recognizers. then move
               as right as you can, aim down and take out the remaining
               recognizer.... or just wing it.  it's a rush!

Level 06: "PL1"
  Cycles:    3 cycles very fast
               start (before screen appears) moving fast to right.
               move to just to the right of the rightmost cycle.
               move up.  go up until 2/3 up.  (when upper right
               cycle is starting to cut across to the right) and go
               to the right until you get to the wall.  cut down.
               As you are moving down, do a quick jog to the left
               to trap in any other cycles that did not get killed
               already. (quick to left, then back down)
  Gridbugs:  H-like pattern
               just clear a path to an entrance.
  MCP Cone:  rotating to right slow, moving down really fast
               run up and take out leftmost blocks and very very
               quickly, make a hole and go through it
  Tanks:     5 blue tanks.
               go down, and to the right a little.  shoot the pillar
               below and to the right - rebound will hit tank below
               you.  take his place, then shoot the other 2 in that
               area.  move up into the notch you just came down in,
               and shoot the guy who just went below that pillar.

Level 07: "Pascal"
  Cycles:
               Same as 6/5
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:
               recognizers again

Level 08: "Algol"
  Cycles:
               Same as 6/5
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:

Level 09: "Assembly"
  Cycles:
               go up 2 lines, cut LEFT, to edge of board, then down, then
               right (box yourself in)
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:
               ?

Level 10: "OS"
  Cycles:
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:

Level 11: "JCL"
  Cycles:
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:

Level 12: "User"
  Cycles:
  Gridbugs:
  MCP Cone:
  Tanks:

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