Atari 7800 Hints and Tricks
Asteroids Hints
Hidden Credits
Using the second controller:
1) On the main title screen.
2) Press the fire button.
3) Hold 'Up' and press 'Pause'.
4) Hold 'Down' and press 'Pause'.
5) Hold 'Left' and press 'Pause'.
6) Hold 'Right' and press 'Pause'.
Thanks to Bob DeCrescenzo.
Commando Hints
For a map to Commando, check here.
Crossbow Hints
For a map to Crossbow, check here.
Dark Chambers Hints
For maps to Dark Chambers, check here.
Dig Dug Hints
Continue game play:
Repeatedly tap Left Fire after the last life is lost.
Obtained from Gamegenie.com
Double Dragon Hints
Defeating the Shadow Boss:
Avoid fighting the Shadow Boss' companions during that battle.
They will automatically disappear when the Shadow Boss is defeated.
Obtained from Gamegenie.com
Practice the reverse jump kick (Down+away from enemy+Right button)
until you are good at it. This is the highest scoring move (Except for throwing
the knife) that you can use and it is also one of the most effective.
If you stand in the lower left corner of the screen and use the reverse jump
kick it is almost impossible for the enemy to get you.
Fatal Run Hints
Checkpoint Passwords:
Enter these passwords to get to the corresponding checkpoint:
1- Eagle1
2- Zebra
3- Lynx
4- Hornet8
5- Dolphin
6- Gorrilas
7- Turtle
I wouldn't recomend starting from the last checkpoint unless you're fairly
good. The enemy drivers are pretty tough near the end, and when you start a game
with a password you get the same wimpy car that you get at the start of the
first level.
Thanks to Aaron Orman for these.
Food Fight Hints
Hidden Credits
1. Play one game up to at least level 23.
This is easy if you set the skill to beginner and start on level 16.
2. After that game, on the level select screen, select level 23.
3. Hold the pause button on the console and do the following sequence with the joystick:
Up, Down, Right, Left, Up, Down, Right, Left.
Thanks to Dan Boris.
Ikari Warriors Hints
For a map to Ikari Warriors, check here.
Impossible Mission Hints
For the lowdown on the truly impossible Impossible Mission, check out this
article from Digital Press.
For a map to the first level of the PAL version, check here.
Joust Hints
Hidden Credits
Power console on and press select.
Press joystick 1 down 53 times and then left 41 times.
Wait for hidden credits.
Thanks to Fandal.
Meltdown Hints
Passcodes
Level Novice Expert
2 - 7967 8015
3 - 9682 8429
4 - 2728 5232
5 - 4149 0469
6 - 2909 9549
7 - 3063 3738
8 - 5229 2531
9 - 9030 3823
10- 0779 1735
11- 2955 3368
12- 5829 2891
13- 3212 1020
14- 6652 7402
15- 8692 2245
16- 1416 6157
17- 4761 1024
18- 0844 5485
19- 7571 4264
20- 8735 7192
Midnight Mutants Hints
For a complete walkthrough of Midnight Mutants see this article
from Digital Press.
Ninja Golf Hints
Hidden Joystick Test:
Turn on Ninja Golf while holding down Pause. Screen will be black.
Then let go of pause, hold down Select, and toggle the right-difficulty
switch.
Note:
This will not work with a Devsystem 7800 or one with a non-original OS.
Thanks to John K. Harvey for this one.
Planet Smashers Hints
Hidden Credits and Invincibility mode:
Set the left difficulty switch to the right position and right difficulty switch to the left position.
Hold the Pause button and power the console on.
Release the Pause button and wait for the High Score screen to appear.
Wait for 4th best score to appear.
Then simultaneously you must set the left difficulty switch to the left position and right difficulty switch to the right position.
If done correctly, the text "Planet Smashers... Programmed by: James V. Zalewski Datafast Computer Services 1989" should appear
and hidden invincibility mode should be active.
Thanks to Fandal
Scrapyard Dog Hints
For maps to Scrapyard Dog, check here.
Three Free Cans on Eisenhower Lane:
To get three extra cans, get onto the second level 1-2.
You will be standing under a ledge. Go to the end of the ledge.
DO NOT GO ONTO THE NEXT LEDGE. If part of your head is still under it,
jump up three times for your cans.
Obtained from Gamegenie.com
Change background music:
Move the Left Difficulty switch.
Completing level 2-3:
There is a large gap in level 2-3 that Louie must cross. Jump on the middle
sewer pipe, then jump on the pipe to the left. Walk to the left edge of this
pipe and, then run to the right. Continue running until Louie reaches the
edge of the third, and lowest, pipe in the series. Then, jump to cross over
the sludge gap.
Obtained from gamewinners.com
Sentinel
Turn On/Off Sound:
Move the Left Difficulty switch to the left for sound, move it to the right
for no sound.
Sirius Hints
For a map to Sirius, check here.
Tank Command Hints
For maps to Tank Command, check here.
Tower Toppler Hints
Tower Maps:
Maps of the various towers are available here.
Maps courtesy of John K. Harvey.
Level select:
Move the Left Difficulty switch to the left during game play to
display other towers. Move the switch back to the right to select
the currently displayed tower.
Unlimited lives:
Use the "Level select" code to choose the tower immediately before
the desired tower to be played with unlimited lives. After moving
the switch back to the right, intentionally lose all lives. Move the
Left Difficulty switch to the left after the last life is lost, but
before the game over screen appears. The next tower will appear.
Move the switch back to the right to begin game play with unlimited
lives.
Obtained from Gamegenie.com
Quick win:
Use the level select trick to go back to level 1.
Then play the game as normal but when level 1 is completed, you will get
the game completed message as if you had beaten the entire game!
Thanks to Edwin Nelson for this trick.
Water Ski Hints
For maps to Water Ski, check here.
If you have a tip or trick for the Atari 7800 send it to me
and I will post it and give you credit for it.
©2000 by Mitchell Orman