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Keystone Kapers
For the Atari 2600
Full FAQ
Last Updated 2/22/05
Version 1.0
Written & Compiled by "TestaALT"
Email address
[email protected]
This file is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents:
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1. Version History
2. Introduction
3. Dedication
4. Controls
5. Overview
6. Strategies
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Credits
9. Legal Disclaimer
10. Contact Information
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1. Version History
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Version 1.0 (02/22/05): Initial version of document - it's complete.
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2. Introduction
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..and this game already has two very well thought out walkthroughs for it
already. Why, that must mean it's pretty good, don't you think? Keystone
Kapers makes all the other Atari 2600 games look terrible in comparison; it
has the graphics, story, and gameplay to even make some Nintendo games look
"meh." It's tedious and short yet addictive and fun at the same time. Don't
ask me how something can be tedious and fun - play the game. ;)
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3. Dedication
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I dedicate this guide to all Atari 2600 gamers out there. They really keep
this system alive, even though it seems "dead." Atari 2600, in a lot of
people's minds, was the first gaming console ever created. This really isn't
true, as there were other obscure systems before it. However, this was most
people's first video game system. This is the system that brought them into
gaming. And so, I dedicate this guide to the Atari 2600 gamers that still
play this old system and keep it alive.
This guide is also dedicated to Brian P. Sulpher and AboveAverage. Brian for
showing me that you can write for very old systems. AboveAverage for showing
me which system to write on... the Atari 2600!
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4. Controls
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Fire Button: Used to jump.
Joystick: Used to move the character.
Joystick (Down): When the going gets tough, use this button to duck.
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5. Overview
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The basic layout of the game:
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<
http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/03/keystone.html>
Like I stated earlier, Keystone Kapers is addictive, fun, and short. You can
see these qualities in the map above. Basically, you have to catch a robber
and the best way to do it is to run him down yourself. Facing obstacles,
elevators, and escalators, you'll slowly but surely take down that crook!
At first, it might not seem like yo're "facing" the elevators and escalators,
but you are. See, the only way you can advance to higher levels (the crook
wants to jump off the roof) is to use these two man-made devices. And both
poor choices, sadly. For the elevator, you have to wait a while before it is
actually at your level - I guess they didn't have buttons back then.
For the escalator, you'll have to run across the whole entire floor! That's a
long ways when you only have fifty seconds to catch him! However, it's the
most reliable way, considering the crook will change course if you use the
elevator.
While running, you'll encounter some obstacles to make things tough. They're
all shop items, keeping real to the premise of the game. Beachballs, Radios,
Carts, and Planes (in that order) will come at you and make your life a
living hell.
If you touch a plane it's adios and you'll exhaust one of your three lives.
If you touch any of the other items you'll get a nine second deduction, which
doesn't help with the crook running away. You can get around all these items,
however, whether it be jumping or ducking. And to make things easier, the
things come in some crackpot pattern.
When you catch up to the crook, it's time to repeat the game. (See, this is
where the tediousness comes in.) However, things become tougher each time you
catch the crook. An item (like the ones listed above) will be added each
level. Once you have all the obstacles in a level, it's time to make the
obstacles faster and bigger.
One last thing: to help mix up the point total in the game, their are items
you can collect throughout each level. These items are usually bags or
luggage, and you should always pick them up. To pick them up, all you have to
do is run by them and touch them in some way. Instant fifty points there.
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6. Strategies
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Strategies to catching that crook!
* The best strategy is to jump before you take the escalator. If you can
jump up about half the escalator before you are even on it, you will
save a substantial amount of time. Right before you hit the escalator
jump! You'll be suprised by how much little stuff like this can help,
but jumping is better than waiting to go up a slow escalator. ;)
* Never take the elevator unless you are way behind in time. Obviously,
this is because it's unreliable - you could wait ten seconds before it
comes to your floor. This is also because the crook will change course
if he sees you in front of him. You'll also miss out on the items on
the floors.
* Always go to the next escalator and don't stop unless an obstacle is
in your way.
* Run right when the escalator stops. I just hold down which direction I
want to go while riding up the escalator.
* To dodge the small beachball, do a run jump over it. They're really easy
to jump over but you'll be doing it a lot so get used to it.
* You can dodge a cart the same way as the beachball. The carts are
faster, though, and are a little bulkier. Still, they are fairly easy
to jump over.
* To dodge a radio, run jump a little ways before it. If you jump too
close you'll hit the radio. I don't know how many times I've done this
just because I cut it too close.
* Beachballs, Radios, and Carts all give a nine second reduction if you
touch them.
* For Planes, it's an instant death. This might seem a little harsh, but
they are pretty easy to dodge - just duck. It's tougher to dodge at the
exact time the Plane goes by, so duck a little before it goes over you.
* The Planes will come in twos and later threes.
* When the beachballs start to bounce higher duck instead of jump. Plan
out when they are going to be highest in the air and duck in that spot.
* Another radio decides to join in later on in the levels. It doesn't make
things much harder, though.
* For Carts, they will get faster and two will fly by on a screen instead
of one.
* The upgrades come in the same order (after completing a level) as the
obstacles.
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7. Frequently Asked Questions
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Question: How many levels are in this game?
Answer: As many as you want.
Question: How much time do you have?
Answer: Fifty seconds.
Question: What happens when the time elapses?
Answer: The crook leaves and you have to restart the level.
Question: How many lives can you have?
Answer: Three and you get one more every ten thousand points. However, you
can't hold more than three at any one given time.
Question: I can't go down from the top floor?
Answer: Nope, it's a one way escalator.
Question: Why is the crook changing courses on me?
Answer: Because you're in front of him and he doesn't want to get caught.
Question: What are the items on the ground for?
Answer: They give you a quick fifty points.
Question: When did this game come out?
Answer: '83.
Question: Who created this game?
Answer: Activision.
Question: Why is the cop wielding a baton but you can't use it?
Answer: No idea.
Question: What are the blue block things?
Answer: I believe those are counters, though you can run right through
them.
Question: My game doesn't work, how do I get it to work!?
Answer: You might have a corrupted version of the game, or perhaps the old
2 K version, which doesn't work very well.
Question: Where can I get this game?
Answer: The Atari 2600 hasn't had any new games made for years, so you
can't buy it from them. You can get the game at a garage sale or
ebay, if you like. ROMs also work, if you have the game and it is
broken, that is. I'm sure Activision made one of their "five hun-
dred games-in-one," too, and you get one from them.
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8. Credits
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* CJayC for creating GameFAQs.
* Brian Sulpher for referring me to a good ROM site.
* Chaz and Crazyeyn for their guides which helped me get good at this
game.
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9. Legal Disclaimer
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This document is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All Rights
Reserved. This document may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form
and under any circumstances without the complete consent of the author. It
may not be sold, altered, or published in any way without the advanced
permission of the author. All sources, which have contributed to this
document, are cited and/or credited in some form. The only sites I allow this
document to be viewed at are:
GameFAQs <
http://www.gamefaqs.com>
IGN <
http://www.ign.com>
If you see this document at any other site please email me as I do not allow
this document to be published at any other sources. Please do not ask me if
you want this document on your website, as the answer will most likely be no.
These terms have become binding once the recipient (or reader) opened this
document. Violation of these terms are strictly prohibited and will result in
a lawsuit. Please do not take these terms as threats and/or not read them as
they are all very much true. I can sue you for an act of plagiarism and will
not hesitate to do so. Thank you for reading this legal disclaimer and have a
nice day! =)
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10. Contact Information
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Contact me via email (
[email protected]) or AIM (TestaALT) if you have any
questions, comments, or suggestions about this guide. Just make sure that you
put the game name in the subject line. If you don't, I'll probably delete
you're email thinking it's spam. Also, make sure that the question isn't
answered in the latest version of the document, which can be found at
GameFAQs. Try to ask me legibly, as I can't decipher chickenscratch. For AIM,
just beep me whenever you like. Thanks for reading, and check some of my
other work at:
->
http://gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/23249.html <-
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