Journey to the Planets





Object of the game

You find yourself on a planet with a gun, a spaceship, and a
fountain that can restore your hit points.  You have to journey to
the other planets to collect a treasure from each, and then return
to your home planet.  You earn points each time you collect a
treasure and you lose points every time you have to use the fountain.

If you 'die' on a planet or in space, you return to the starting
planet.  The only exception to this rule is when you have all 
treasures.  At this point you must reach your home planet or else.




Dying

Before you collect every treasure, you will die if:

* - You touch an enemy or an enemy projectile.
* - You fall into a 'radioactive' lake or touch 'radioactive' rain.
* - You crash into a comet, a planet, or land.

You must have 1000 energy left to return to the starting planet,
otherwise the game will be over.  If you have all treasures and
you die at any point, the game is over.



Controls

You use a standard joystick for this game.

On a planet, left and right moves the player left and right.  The
fire button shoots your gun or makes you enter your spaceship.  
When you hold it down, you can aim using up and down.  The three
angles you can aim at is up, forward, and diagonally up.  Up
and down has no other purpose, save for one exception. If you 
are carrying an item, you can put it down by the fire button.

In your spaceship, while "Anchors Away" plays you move your ship
by moving in any of the eight directions.  Every time you move your
ship, it costs energy.  You can tap your joystick or you can hold
it down to go in the right direction.  Tapping will make you move
very slowly, but will save you more energy in the long run.
Holding the joystick down will make your journey faster, but you
run the chance of running into a planet too quickly or a comet.
In space, the fire button will let you view the map.




Map

Every time you start the game, the map is different.  The map is a
eight by eight grid that shows you your position and the position
of each planet.  There are four symbols:

. - A dot means that there is nothing interesting in the area.
* - A asterisk means that there is a planet in the area.
+ - A cross is the area that you are at.
? - An unknown area.  

You must be adjacent to an area before your map will reveal what it
is.




Landing

You must learn how to correctly land on a planet before you can get
the treasure.

The top of the screen is either green, yellow, or red based on your
speed while you are maneuvering your spaceship.  When you see a 
new planet, you must slow down to at least yellow when you enter it.
Otherwise, you'll die and return to the main planet.  Planets with 
two colors (one circle within another one) are ones that you haven't
completed.  Solid color planets are ones that you are done with.

When you enter the planet, you get a screen where your ship is
slowly being pulled downwards.  It's best to tap upwards to keep 
your ship from gaining too much momentum.  After you reach the 
bottom, you'll see a new screen which is where you must land.  The
landing strip is a different color than the rest of the ground.
You must reach the landing strip while the top color bar is green, 
otherwise you will crash and you will return to the starting planet.
Sometimes you will have to avoid touching randomly placed blocks,
but for most planets you have to worry about just landing properly.





Planets

Each planet has 5 screens.  On the top of the screen is the name of 
the treasure that you must get.  You must solve the puzzles of each
screen or of the entire planet to get the treasure.  Some planets
require you to shoot your enemies, but most require you to use 
the various items left around.  You can only carry one item at a
time.  You get points based on how well you do on planet to bring
the prize to your ship.  




First Planet

This is the planet where you start, plus the planet that you will 
return to every time you die (with one exception).  The fountain is
in the screen farthest to the left.  The gun is at the screen
farthest to the right.  When you start the game, collect the
weapon first.  After this, enter your ship and take off.







The Planets
1 - Snake Plant
2 - Diamond
3 - Ruby Chain
4 - Money Bag
5 - Magic Accordion
6 - Candelabra
7 - Fountain*

* Not to be confused with the restorative fountain on the main
planet.





Snake Plant Planet

None of these planets have names, so I'll just name them after the 
prize.  Although a good alternate name for this planet is 'Bowling
for Aliens.'  The landing strip is a little to the right of the
landing screen.  You'll land in the middle of the planet; there
are two screens to the left and two to the right.  Your main problem
is the second screen from the right.  There are two aliens - one
big and one small - who are impeding your progress by constantly
shooting to the left.  You can not shoot these aliens at all.  You
must find another way to get by them, and the solution is at the two
leftmost screens.

When you go to these screens, you will see a ball fly over your head.
If you shoot it, you will be able to pick it up and use it against
the aliens.  Your best bet is to go to the leftmost screen.  Here,
the balls are bigger if you shoot them at the right time.  If you
get a small ball, it's best to throw it away after collecting it.

When you get back to the aliens, you need to get rid of them by
rolling the ball down the steps.  The best way to do this is to
get to the step above the one that the aliens shoot at, and to time
the roll so you could hit one of the aliens.  Repeat this process
until you hit each.

In the far right room is the treasure.  This is guarded by a beam
that starts at the left of the screen, teleports to the middle,
then to the right, and then repeats this pattern.  This is easy to
get passed as long as you take your time.  Once you grab the plant,
exit this room and return to your spaceship.






Diamond Planet

You'll have to dodge some blocks to land.  When you do, you'll be on
the far left screen of the planet.  On this planet, your goal is to 
defeat all enemies with your gun.  This is the planet for those who
crave some action.

The first screen to the left has three aliens who go back and forth
while shooting downwards.  Dodge their fire while shooting up.  When
you get rid of them, the barrier will disappear and you can move on.
The next screen has two aliens that move up and down in front of the
barrier, while shooting to the left.  They are much more dangerous, 
and you may need to go back to the previous screen to avoid their
fire.  The best way to get rid of them is to sneak under them and
to shoot upwards.  After you defeat them, the barrier will
disappear and leave behind a cannon.  It's best to leave this 
behind for now.  The next screen has one more alien like on the
first screen, but this one is much faster and unpredictable.
Again, dodge it's fire and shoot upwards to try and hit it.

Once it's gone, the barrier will disappear and leave behind what
looks like a ice cream cone, but is actually a torch.  Bring it
and the cannon to the last screen on the right.  When you carry 
the torch and touch the cannon on that screen, you will destroy
the final barrier and reveal the diamond.  Return to the ship with
your prize.





Ruby Chain Planet

This planet took me years to figure out.  I played this game long
after the Great Crash of 1984, so I couldn't even contact the game
company for a solution.  The solution is really annoying, too.

When you land, you'll see a door to your right.  Enter it, and
you will enter a screen with two doors and a canyon in the middle.
You will be on the right of the screen, and you need to get to
the door on the left to complete the level.

For now, go right and enter a screen where squares and balls
constantly appear on the top.  Whenever you shoot either, it will
move to the center of the screen and a lightning volt will shoot
down.  Avoid this, and you will be able to collect the block or
bowling ball.

What you need to do is bring the block to the next screen to
your right.  Here is a conveyor belt that moves around in a square
pattern, and constantly goes through a 'radioactive', vertical
rectangle.  If you touch this rectangle, you will be teleported
to the first screen.  Instead, place the block where the conveyor
belt and wait for it to return.  It should return as...something.
I have no idea what this stick shape thing is suppose to be.
The important thing to know is that it points left when you pick
it up.  Bring this back two screens to the left to the screen with
the two doors.

Put it down, and return to the lightning screen to get the bowling
ball.  Walk back to your stick thingie, and push up while standing
over it.  You will teleport to the left of the canyon screen.  
(This is why this puzzle is so annoying.  The stick, which I'm
guessing is a broom or a rocket, doesn't look like anything.  In
fact, since it was animated, I assumed it was the ruby chain, and
tried forever to bring it pass the conveyor belt screen.  Of course,
you can't bring an item with you when you use either door.)

Now that you are at the other side, go left.  Use the bowling ball
to remove the barrier, and collect the chain.  Go right till you 
reach the door, and then enter your spaceship and leave this 
annoying planet.




Money Bag Planet

When you reach the landing screen, you have to maneuver around a
thin, vertical passage way before you reach the landing strip.

Once you land, you find yourself on the second screen to the
right.  The rightmost screen is the key to this planet.  The two
blocks that move back and forth alternate between grey, pink, 
green, and brown when you shoot them.  They must both be the
same color to activate an event.

The first event that you want to activate is the brown one.  Go
left to the center screen with the stairs.  A brown stick should
fall.  Pick it up and bring it to the next screen to the left.
Here, you must build a bridge over the 'radioactive' lake.
(I call it this because it reminds me of the radioactive lake
from the sixth level in Miner 2049er.  It has the same glow.)
When you get to the edge of the bridge, press the button to
make the bridge longer.  Repeat this until you can cross the
bridge.

Once you are done doing this, you can go right to the screen
with a wand.  Pick it up and bring it back to the center screen
with the stairs.  Drop it and go all the way back to the right-
most screen.  Shoot the blocks until they are both grey.

Return to the center screen and catch the falling object.
It is a trunk that contains the money bag.  Put it down, 
and return right.  Now, shoot the blocks until they are both
green.  This is the second most annoying puzzle of the game,
after the Ruby Chain planet. Return to the center screen to 
see a key falling down.

Now, what you need to do is to catch the key with the wand.
This will allow you to hold the key so you can open the trunk.
However, you have to have the right color key.  After you see
the green key, you must return to the rightmost screen and
make the blocks grey.  Return one last time to the center screen
and you will see a grey key now.  Grab the wand, walk off screen,
return and catch the key.  Open the trunk by walking over it with
the key and you should be able to collect the money bag.  Leave
this planet.





Magic Accordion

This planet has a very similar landing screen like the Money Bag
planet.  Once you land, you are on the leftmost screen.

On the first screen to your right, you will find a bowling ball
in your path.  You cannot get passed it, so return left.  Here,
a stick will magically appear, and you can use this to knock the 
bowling ball out of your way.

The third screen contains the accordion, but you can not reach
it right now.  Please note that there are parts of the floor that
is thinner than the rest.  At these points you must drop a bowling
ball to move the accordion around.  If you drop a bowling ball
three times from the same part, the accordion will fall through
another thin floor and will be yours to take near your spaceship.

To get the bowling ball however, you have to go right.  The next
two screens contain stairs with blocks that are keeping the 
bowling balls still.  Once you pick up a block, it'll fall down
and then move right.  To stop a bowling ball, you must place
a block on the bottom of the step and then remove another block
that is holding the stair back.  The best way to do this is to
grab a block, move to a new screen, and place the block at the
bottom of the stairs.  Then remove the other block so you can
collect your bowling ball at the bottom of the stairs.  You can
grab a bowling ball on either screen.

Once you make the accordion disappear from the middle screen,
go back to the spaceship.  There, the accordion will fall from
the middle of the sky, and will open a path for you when you leave.
Which you should do right now.



Candelabra Planet

This is my favorite planet.  When you land, you are on the right-
most screen.  Climb the stairs to the left.

Go all the way to the leftmost screen.  You will be able to see the
level below you, and maybe get a feel for what this planet wants 
you to do.  Collect the box here, which is actually a cage.  Go
two screens to the right to the elevator.  Go down (slooowly) and
bring the cage left, to the screen with the lobster or crab
creature.  Drop the cage and head right.  Pick up the circle
object, which is actually a balloon.  Go further right to the
jack thingie, which is actually a pump that will blow up the 
balloon.

Bring the balloon back to the room with the monster.  As soon
as you touch the cage, the balloon will automatically attach 
itself to the cage and it will start flying over the crab.
You must time it so the cage falls on the monster when you shoot
the balloon with your gun.  Aim at a diagonally direction
to do this.  If you fail, go back right to pick up another
balloon to inflate.

Once you cage the monster, go left and you will face some
beams just like the treasure screen on the Snake Plant
Planet.  Avoid these in the same way, and grab the Candelabra.
Avoid the beams going back, and take the elevator (slooowly)
back up and go right to the spaceship.





Fountain Planet

This planet is very weird.  First, land by avoiding the various
blocks in your way.  Walk to the right when you exit.

This is the main screen of this planet.  On the left is a door.
On the right is a pit.  Over the pit, you will see a small block.
It will slowly change between two objects.  When you shoot a
block, it will fall and crash into the pit below it.  You can't
go there, but you can go back to the door behind you. 
Whenever you shoot the smallest block, you go back to the ship.

For now, shoot the slightly larger block, and go to the door.
Here, you will find a room with three guns pointed to another
block.  As soon as you touch this block, the guns will go off.
To avoid this, shoot forward until the block is out of the path
of the guns.  Grab the block and go back left after the guns
go off.

You will be back at the main screen.  Drop the block and it will
slide towards the pit.  Once you do this, go back to the door.

This room is hard.  A possible clone of you is shooting at you.
Luckily, you are behind a barrier and he is behind a moving
barrier.  You must shoot him by shooting through the barrier
without getting shot at.  The problem is that once you shoot
him, his barrier disappears, and most likely after he's gotten
a shot off.  Usually, you'll have to run back behind your
barrier to avoid getting shot.  Pick up the block behind him
and exit right.

Use the block like the last one and enter the last screen.
You will find the fountain here, and some objects that float
overhead.  Walk to the fountain and pick it up.  Now,
it will start raining.  You must avoid the rain by walking
under the protection that floats by.  Exit to the right once
more.

Now back to the main room.  To get back to the spaceship, you
must drop the fountain and shoot at the smallest block over
the pit when it appears.  When you do this, take the fountain
and go left to exit this room and eventually the planet.






Final Planet

Once you collect all treasures, you must avoid crashing
as you exit the last planet.  If you die now, the game is
over.  When you reach space, your map will change.  The
only planet now on the map is your home planet.  Go there,
making sure to not go too fast or too slow.  (Beware of
comets coming out of nowhere!)  When you reach this planet,
you will have to land like any other planet.  There are four
possible landing strips, and you must pick the one that
is a different color than the others.  Land on it like
you would land on any of the other planets, and you win
the game.

If you want, you can play the game over again and try to
get a better score.  Try to use as little energy as possible
while cruising through space, and don't die on purpose
after bringing a treasure to the ship.










Copyright 2004 by Thomas Krug