"So baby, talk to me like lovers do. Walk with me like lovers do. Talk to me

"So baby, talk to me like lovers do. Walk with me like lovers do. Talk to me
like lovers do." - Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics

+-------------------------------------+
| |
| Aquaventure |
| For the Atari 2600 |
| FAQ/Walkthrough |
| By T. Jackson (see section 4.03) |
| Started: 9/11/04 |
| Finished: 9/11/04 |
| Last Updated: 9/11/04 |
| Version 1.0 |
| |
+-------------------------------------+

This guide is best viewed in 800x600 or 1024x768 resolution with the Courier
New font on your browser's "small" text setting (CTRL + -). It was composed
in Metapad.

Table of Contents:

I. Introduction
1.01: Table of Contents
1.02: Introduction
1.03: Dedication
II. Basics
2.01: Story
2.02: Controls
2.03: The Screen
III. Walkthrough
3.01: The Goal
3.02: Scoring
IV. Last Words
4.01: Copyright Information
4.02: Revision History
4.03: Contact Information
4.04: Credits
4.05: Cannonball!

If you need to find anything in this guide, press CTRL + F and type in the
numerical code of the section you want to find (i.e. 4.01 for copyright
information).

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I. Introduction

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 1.01: Table of Contents |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

Crazy people.

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 1.02: Introduction |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

Hey everybody! It's been awhile, but now I'm back on my Atari crusade. Like
you care! The ultimate goal of this is to complete at least one guide per
every letter of the alphabet for the Atari 2600. I thought I had already done
the A game, but apparently Asterix is better known as Taz. But anyway.

Like most Atari 2600 games, Aquaventure is a very simple game. It loops
around, but if you appreciate older games, Aquaventure can keep you entertained
for a few hours. The basic idea is to spear fish (HARPOON GUN!) and collect
treasures from the depths of the ocean. It can get pretty dark, so pack your
swim trunks, flash lights, and Toaster Strudels and let's get this show on the
road!

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 1.03: Dedication |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

This guide is dedicated to the Pet Shop Boys. They're an awesome 80s band with
songs like West End Girls and What Have I Done to Deserve This?. I highly
recommend listening to their songs.

And to two FAQers who have passed on, Chris "Kao Megura" MacDonald and Elliot
"Ny0Cloud" Long, may they rest in peace.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/85.html
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/17228.html

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

II. Basics

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 2.01: Story |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

I honestly couldn't find an instruction manual for this game, so the basic
story as far as I know is this: You are a diver, diving off the coast of Alaska
(because, you know, that's why you have a spear gun). Your goal is to avoid
the deadly fishes, grab the treasures that lurk beneath the surface, and return
to the surface for air.

Lots of plot depth here, folks.

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 2.02: Controls |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

Gotta love the Atari 2600.

--------------------------
| Button | Function |
|--------|-----------------|
| Fire | Shoot a harpoon |
| Up | Swim up |
| Down | Swim down |
| Left | Swim left |
| Right | Swim right |
--------------------------

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 2.03: The Screen |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

Note: I'm going to include all three necessary elements to this. Be aware,
though, that the mermaid and the treasure never appear on the same screen nor
can you go down any further after the treasure. Basically, the mermaid is on
the surface and the treasure is on the bottom; I'm showing the middle screen
with both of them on it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diagram 2.03a |
--------------

-------
| Air |
==o -------
'' (1) | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)
} o {
} -|/ {
} (2) w (3) {
}}} {
}}}}} {
}}}}}}} >o (4) {
}}}}}} {
}}}}} {
}}} {
} {
} {
} \. {
} | | (6) {
} (7) {

----------------------------------------
1 - The turtle heading for the air sign |
2 - The mermaid |
3 - Poisonous coral |
4 - A basic fish |
5 - Go to the previous screen |
6 - Treasure |
7 - Go to the next sceen |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For an explanation, read on.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

III. Walkthrough

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 3.01: The Basics |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

Now to finally explain the stuff. The goal of this game is to get from the
surface where you start to the bottom of the ocean. In the meantime, you have
to avoid fish. The fish come from the sides. Additionally, once you go down a
level, you'll have to deal with poisonous coral -- not unlike what surrounds
the Dead Sea/Sea of Eden, if you get the reference -- which kills you upon
contact. Everytime you advance a level, an extra "layer" of ocean is added,
and the fishies get faster and bigger, which of course mean that they're worth
no more points than any normal fish.

Don't get too distracted with trying to get points, though. At the top of a
screen is a turtle who is slowly and steadily marching towards a sign that says
"Air." If it hits the air sign, you die (as such, in the later levels, if the
turtle gets past halfway or so and you're not at the bottom, go ahead and
ascend -- the mermaid will be there). When you reach the bottom of the ocean
and grab your trinket, head up to the surface. You'll see a weird looking
mermaid awaiting you. Swim over to the mermaid, grab her, and you'll float up
above the water to the next level.

Apparently, that scuba tank weighs a ton -- you can't get to the surface
yourself.

Also, the turtle seems to move faster as you go. Maybe it's just a trick of
the imagination, though, since the levels get one screen longer each time. And
turn different colors. Gotta love that pink water at the bottom of the ocean,
huh?

0~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 3.02: Scoring |
0~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

It's pointless to talk about scoring in this game. It is incredibly arbitrary.

For the most part, you'll get 500 points for killing any fish/dragon and for
ascending/descending a screen. Sometimes, however, it will dock you points.
Any common bonds I tried to find with this ended up being incorrect (for
instance, I thought the small fish might be worth less -- they're not). While
it seems like the more fish you kill, the less points you get when you change
screens, the amount of fish needed changes. Furthermore, it seems like the
further down you go, the less fish are needed to lose points, although this is
entirely a theory.

The trinket value, however, seems to go up by 1000 per level, starting at
10000, but even that seems to change sometimes.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

IV. Last Words

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 4.01: Copyright Information |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

Aquaventure and all characters, stages, items, and other related things
are copyright Atari 1983. This guide is copyrighted (c) 2001-2005 to Trace
Jackson, and is the intellectual property of Trace Jackson. This
guide/FAQ/walkthrough is protected under International Copyright Laws. Please
feel free to put this anywhere you like, as long as I get credit for it. And
that the guide isn't for profit. After all, this is to help the readers! It
should be spread around! I WOULD like it if you emailed me asking for
permission, but it's not necessary. Just realize that the latest updates to
this guide can and will always be found at IGN FAQs (faqs.ign.com), GameFAQs
(www.gamefaqs.com), and Meowthnum1.com (www.meowthnum1.com).

The following are sites that can not use my work. If you see these sites using
any of my FAQs, please e-mail me ASAP. Each of these websites are sites that
have plagiarized myself or others in the past, or simply taken our works
without our prior permission. Since they do not have enough respect for the
authors (or an ignorance of the law), I am expressly forbidding them from using
my work. I will not condone such sites that partake in these actions.

911 Codes http://911codes.com
9 Lives http://www.9lives.ru/eng/
Bean's PSX Dimension http://www.bean.dk/psx/index.htm
Cheat Code Central http://www.cheatcc.com
Cheat Index http://cheatindex.com
Cheat Matrix http://cheatmatrix.com
Cheat Search http://cheatsearch.com
Cheatstop http://www.panstudio.com/cheatstop/
CNET Gamecenter http://games.netscape.com/Faqs/
Console Domain http://www.consoledomain.co.uk
Dirty Little Helper http://dlh.net
Dark Station http://www.darkstation.com/
Dreamland http://kirby.pokep.net
Games Domain http://www.gamesdomain.com
Game Express http://www.gameexpress.com
Games Over http://www.gamesover.com/
Mega Games http://www.megagames.com
Square Haven http://www.square-haven.net
Ultimate System http://www.flatbedexpress.com

If you want to use any part of this guide for whatever reason, please ask. I
will probably say yes.

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0
| 4.02: Revision History |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~0

Version 1.0 (07/11/05) - I finished this guide while procrastinating on
revising an essay.

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 4.03: Contact Information |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

Before emailing me, please make sure that whatever question you have wasn't
addressed here in the guide. If it's not a question (i.e. input, suggestion,
correction, etc.), please go ahead and email me. I'm not too picky about
grammar, but if I have no idea what you're saying, I might ask for some
clarification. I'll take emails in Spanish or English. Doesn't matter to
me. No me importa.

I'd appreciate whatever you've got. Questions (again, as long as it's not
answered here), inputs about ideas that I've raised, suggestions or corrections
for the guide, requests for using parts of the guide, problems in life, jokes
(as bad as some of these are in the guide), praise emails (ha!), or whatever
else is on your mind.

Email: meowthnum1 [at] meowthnum1 [dot] com

I wasn't too bad about doing the spam thing at first. Now half of my emails
are virus emails. Just replace the [at] with @ and the [dot] with ..

You could also use AIM. I'd prefer these be quick questions, but I really
can't stop you from long, involved ones. To be honest, I prefer emails. AIM
is still here. That's TracesWritingAIM.

Also, PLEASE be clear about what guide you're talking about. It doesn't help
any of us to ask for help with level one or with "that area."

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 4.04: Credits |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

-Astro Blade - For doing whatever it is he does.
-Zanmoto - For the use of...

0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0
| 4.05: Kudahaphes |
0=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=0

Wow. That word is Bengali for bye. The more you know!

Anyway, it's been fun failing figuring out this game's arbitrary scoring scale.
It's a fun game nevertheless, so have fun!

-Trace Jackson