Tempest Game Play Questions

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I would like to know about how Tempest plays.

-Should the shooter button continuous shoot or is there a slight delay between rounds to keep you from sitting in one spot.

-Is there a way to kill the fuse ball once it gets up to where your "man" is other than the super zapper?

-Is there a limit to the save points? It looks like it will save after 3 levels. Is there a point where it will not save? I was playing a game and got out and it took away my save point.

-Any tips about playing?
 
Man, when was the last time someone actually asked for gaming tips around here. Great question.
 
1. You can fire off a handful of rounds by holding the button in, but then you won't be able to fire again until they have dissipated. There are times to be conservative.

2. No, that fuseball is a bitch. I usually save the second super-zapper to kill any that get to the top, it seems that it has a preference for killing them.

3. It will "save" every odd level that has been beaten. If you beat level 13, then you can continue on level 13 on your next game, but if you don't beat level 13 again, you'll go back to starting on level 11. After you get to the red levels, it only lets you continue after every 4th level I believe. I'm not sure, but I think it goes back to continuing at every second level somewhere after that.

Here's a tip. You can kill the flippers if they're on the top and right next to you and you fire. What I've found is that the larger the angle between the segment you're on and the segment that the flipper is on, the easier they are to kill this way.

For instance, on level 9, go to the very end (90º angle) and wait for a flipper to get close and hold the fire button for rapid fire. Play around and you will see that it's hard to get 100% of the time. Next, on level 11 (the flat one), do the same thing. This time the angle is 180º and it is much easier.

Try the level that's shaped like a plus sign. Go to the very bottom where there are two adjacent segments with right angle segments next to each. Stay on either of the horizontal ones and wait for a flipper to arrive on the adjacent segment and kill it. Then try it when a flipper is approaching from the right angle, it will be harder. The difference is kinda subtle but you can get a feel for it.
 
I would like to know about how Tempest plays.

1-Should the shooter button continuous shoot or is there a slight delay between rounds to keep you from sitting in one spot.

2-Is there a way to kill the fuse ball once it gets up to where your "man" is other than the super zapper?

3-Is there a limit to the save points? It looks like it will save after 3 levels. Is there a point where it will not save? I was playing a game and got out and it took away my save point.

1: I think you fire 8 shots, and you fire them rapidly, so if you hold the button down, you'll have gaps in your shots where you might get hit by the little fireballs the enemies shoot at you (if you change lanes while all your shots are still in one lane)

2: I don't think there is, but you get one "hail mary" super zapper that kills one enemy after using it the first time. It'll kill the fuse ball if it's out there, so I always make sure I save that "hail mary" until the end of the level when he comes all the way out in your lane. This doesn't work on higher levels though (upper red and yellow) as you get tons of fuse balls (the pink tankers spawn them) and the go back and forth to the edge of the lanes.

3: I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but I think you mean the starting levels it'll let you start at when you press player 1. There's a couple machine settings. One ties it to the high score, another ties it to the previous game. Either way, there's preset levels that you can start at. If it's based on the previous game, then you have to clear whatever preset level in order to start there on the next game (for example, on that setting, the highest level you can start at with no previous game is 9. The next level is 11. If you clear level 11, the next game, level 11 is available to start at. The preset start levels are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, and I'm not sure after that.)

(note: I see Bungy posted almost the same stuff as I did, but I'll keep my post as is :) )
 
I don't think the 'save' level is every odd level.

At least in the upper yellow levels, it is harder to 'ratchet' it up to the next save point.

I move around a good bit, trying to clear out a region I can feel safe in. Don't waste a bunch of shots down empty columns- shoot along the rows that have a bunch of spikes in them to kill the enemies above the spikes and get your shots back quicker.

I find myself holding down the fire button a lot and releasing it when nothing is close. Don't shoot at nothing, you know?

I'm not a wizard by a long shot, but can usually get to the yellow levels with a couple of continues.
 
Usually, if the fuse ball comes out to the end of the tube and rides along the edge, it means your almost done with that tube. If you hit the super zapper at that point it will kill the remaining enemies and warp you to the next tube.
 
My board is getting stuck at save level 9. I can get to 14 and have the saves go up, but when I power off the machine it goes back to 9. I think mine saves after the flat level (11?) and then again after the figure eight level (13?). I have not gotten to the red level yet, but I can see it on the save screen.

I was wondering if that is normal for it to go back to level 9 save after power off.

Could it have something to do with "free play" or the pcb being on 'hard'?

Thanks for the tips on the fire button. It makes since about if firing a certain number of shots and having to wait until they disappear. I have been trying to figure out the best spots to be when a line of flippers are all on the playing field.

Also does anyone know what causes the level to change? Is is a certain number of flippers, or score?
 
The "continue" feature is only good for a set amount of time after the last game is played and where you can start at on the next game is based on what was the last level that was completed. Once you get to the yellow ones it takes more levels between continue points and it is possible to start a game, die on the level you started at and then the next game the best you can start at is the save point before the one you just died in! So if you don't continue after a set amount of time after the last game, the best you can start at is level 9. It you turn off the game it won't remember the last level you played and the best you can do is level 9.

The superzapper "second shot" will destroy the enemy that is the biggest threat to you, which will always be the fuseball on the edge of the level if it is out there but if you use it at another point, the game will pick whatever the biggest threat is with fuseballs always getting the priority.
 
I got out the manual last night looking for answers and it says the same until you get to a really high score. Thanks for reply. I am new to this game and kept reading about people starting from level 81 so I figured it should save levels.

I switched the board to MED instead of HARD and got to the red levels. A very long way to go.

Thanks for all the game play tips to those who replied.
 
I use the stay and peek mentality and don't wander much, meaning I stay in an area and peek out to shoot down adjacent tubes when applicable. I never hold the button down at a constant rate, only enough to kill my target to conserve shots.

I've watched the best player in the world, Lazlo Takacs play at Richie's during events before (including this past weekend at the Kong Off) and try to emulate him as much as possible but obviously he's on a whole different level.
 
I use the stay and peek mentality and don't wander much, meaning I stay in an area and peek out to shoot down adjacent tubes when applicable. I never hold the button down at a constant rate, only enough to kill my target to conserve shots.

I've watched the best player in the world, Lazlo Takacs play at Richie's during events before (including this past weekend at the Kong Off) and try to emulate him as much as possible but obviously he's on a whole different level.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So Mr. Takacs is still active on Tempest, eh? I have always wanted to pit my skills against him someday :D .

I am definitely out of practice, though...but I can still get in well past a million on a decent game. My all time high (back around 1983 or so) was 1.8 million on factory settings.

Lazlo: If you're out there and able, come to the CA Extreme show this summer so we can have some friendly competition :) .

Jon
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So Mr. Takacs is still active on Tempest, eh? I have always wanted to pit my skills against him someday :D .

I am definitely out of practice, though...but I can still get in well past a million on a decent game. My all time high (back around 1983 or so) was 1.8 million on factory settings.

Lazlo: If you're out there and able, come to the CA Extreme show this summer so we can have some friendly competition :) .

Jon

I'm sure he told me he'd see me at Funspot in June so there's always that.
 
I've never scored a million points, but I just made a video earlier today with some basic tips.
If it looks like my hands have been sewn on backwards, it's because I play Tempest 'cross handed'.
Filmed with a Kodak Zi8 set on 720p at 60fps, mounted on top of a pinball machine and pointed down at the screen.
 
I've never scored a million points, but I just made a video earlier today with some basic tips.
If it looks like my hands have been sewn on backwards, it's because I play Tempest 'cross handed'.
Filmed with a Kodak Zi8 set on 720p at 60fps, mounted on top of a pinball machine and pointed down at the screen.

That's some good playing and thanks for the tips!

I think I have been playing it way too risky, jumping back and forth and not maintaining steady fire.
 
This thread keeps getting better. Thanks for the video! I was able to get to level 29 tonight. Could not reach the 1st red level last night.
 
This thread reminds me I really need to get my Tempest machine running again because it inspired me to want to play again!
 
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