ROBOTRON survival guide

[mohrt]

Not having played Robotron since childhood, I decided to fire it up on my new cab and see how I well I can play... I was immediately hooked

After three evenings of practice, I can typically make it beyond the first tank wave, but after that I'm just getting my --- kicked within the next few waves. Maybe some Robotron'ers out there can help me out with some strategies. Here's what I've been able to gather thus far:

The brain waves are a good place to pick up extra lives (I've only seen the second one once thus far), grab as many humans as possible. Although the brains are a lot of trouble, it seemed to help me the best to go after the spheriod first, then the brains, picking up humans as quickly as possible along the way.

Enforcers seem to be a big problem with dying, so killing Spheriods early seem to be a good idea... but I'm not sure about the best way to approach a new wave to kill them. They seem to stick in the corners, so should I try to stay in the middle of the screen and kill them with diagonal shots, or work my way to a side then shoot at them headlong? It also looks like Enforcer shots slide along the walls, so watch for that.

Tanks are also too deadly, so I'm shooting the Quarks as quickly as possible. Since the tank shots bounce off walls, it seems to be a good idea to stay away from corners. Other than that, I don't have much strategy, just shoot the tanks as quickly as possible. I usually lose several lives here.

As for waves of about 100 grunts, I'm also dying over and over. Staying in the middle seems to be sudden death, so I mostly try to pick an easy (hah!) path to a corner, then try to circle around the grunts/enforcers and stay alive. This is where I'm not sure how to handle the Spheroids, it seems I can't get to them before way too many Enforcers start their onslaught. So typically the boards after the first tank wave, I just die and die and die... any strategy that could help here?

TIA!

[paigeoliver]

Hmm, try reading this one.

http://www.everything2.net/index.pl?node_id=56436

This one might be good for a laugh.

http://www.everything2.net/index.pl?node_id=937422

[)p(]

so I mostly try to pick an easy (hah!) path to a corner, then try to circle around the grunts/enforcers and stay alive. This is where I'm not sure how to handle the Spheroids, it seems I can't get to them before way too many Enforcers start their onslaught. So typically the boards after the first tank wave, I just die and die and die... any strategy that could help here?

TIA!

i think you are on the right track...circling is the strategy by choice of most players...with some practice you will learn to take out the spheroids as well as blasting the cirlce path free...
if you managed that...try upping the difficylty...the game is real insane with on max difficulty setting  

[Lilwolf]

Turn it on cheat mode..

Sit back, cross you eyes, and listen to the force...

kinda... really...

Robotron is a zen game.  You have to act before you can really think.  So getting into the mood is better then specific tactics.

But getting humans first is by far the best...

[REBIRTH]

so I mostly try to pick an easy (hah!) path to a corner, then try to circle around the grunts/enforcers and stay alive. This is where I'm not sure how to handle the Spheroids, it seems I can't get to them before way too many Enforcers start their onslaught. So typically the boards after the first tank wave, I just die and die and die... any strategy that could help here?

TIA!

i think you are on the right track...circling is the strategy by choice of most players...with some practice you will learn to take out the spheroids as well as blasting the cirlce path free...
if you managed that...try upping the difficylty...the game is real insane with on max difficulty setting  

I agree, circling is the way to go.  I love Robotron.  It is my 2nd favortite game, after Defender - and I just read a book about arcade games and found out the same dude created both.  In fact, that dude created about 15 games, and I love about half of them (of course, my mind has been melted by my arcade so I can't remember some of his others, I think Tempest was one of them).

Anyway, I can usually get up around 300,000 in a game.  The tank boards are the hardest.  I don't have much of technique for those other than (a) try to shoot as many as the tank pod things before they hatch - and - (b) once they hatch and the tanks start shooting at you, stay away from the corners.  That is the only level you have to stay away from the corners, the tank balls bounce way too much and it is certain death to get caught in the corner cross fire.  What I usually do is stand against one wall, in the middle and dodge the balls and shoot like heck.

Brain level - I try to shoot all the brains before picking up the people.  They capture the people fast, so wasting time by picking people up first is going to lose you a lot of points

Other levels - As you said, I try to hunt down the spheroids as fast as I can.  Once the enforcers come out, stay off the walls.  Circling with them works as well.  With the 100 grunt levels, as you say - as the board comes up look for the asiest way out of the middle and go for it - then circle around and around shooting the mass of grunts following you.

Good Luck

[)p(]

tempest is made by that other god dave theurer...but somehow theurer's  and jarvis's games have indeed a very simillar manic feel to them  

yeah the 100 grunts level is a question of finding a way out of the middle fast...if you survive that..the remaining is easy...just circle and shoot the gunts also in a circle pattern...they way they  home in on you in a spiral pattern make them easy to take out...


peter

[steve_pss]

I got 189K the other night.. lame as it is I considered to be a supreme accomplishment.

I threw about 250 games in my cab and I almost always play nothing but Robotron.

[mohrt]

I've also noticed strange sound effects when hitting the player one coin drop, it's almost like random sounds from other games (crowd cheering, etc.) Did the original do this, or is my setup whacked?

Also, twice now in heat of battle the game has reset with no warning, I get the colored static just like a game reset, and one time it even reset all the high scores. I'm not sure what happened there, has anyone else experienced this? I'm using the latest windows command line version (0.71)

As for high scores, after three nights of practice I've managed to hit 173,000. I've been to 160,000+ countless times, but that's about the time my men are systematically executed

[mohrt]

yeah the 100 grunts level is a question of finding a way out of the middle fast...if you survive that..the remaining is easy...just circle and shoot the gunts also in a circle pattern...they way they  home in on you in a spiral pattern make them easy to take out...

It's easy if there isn't an enforcer sitting in each corner spitting asterisks at you! Especially the ones opposite corner, they shoot fast and always seem to find a path to me. They have an advantage of being able to shoot any angle, where as I can only shoot eight directions. So somehow you have to shoot the middle but at the same time take those guys out.

[REBIRTH]

I've also noticed strange sound effects when hitting the player one coin drop, it's almost like random sounds from other games (crowd cheering, etc.) Did the original do this, or is my setup whacked?

Also, twice now in heat of battle the game has reset with no warning, I get the colored static just like a game reset, and one time it even reset all the high scores. I'm not sure what happened there, has anyone else experienced this? I'm using the latest windows command line version (0.71)

As for high scores, after three nights of practice I've managed to hit 173,000. I've been to 160,000+ countless times, but that's about the time my men are systematically executed

I am still on .70 and do not have any of those oddities.  Maybe a .71 thing or just you?

[steve_pss]

Not to get to far off track, but Looping crashes on me after like 2 minutes of play time. Like clockwork.

Anyone else?

[Dave_K.]

There are a couple guides out there for how to play Robotron (and exploit the bugs).  I'm lucky enough to own a real robotron cabinet, and have logged many many hours.  I usually play on difficulty 10 (with the other settings as default).  If I don't do this, I can litteraly play one game for an hour.

The first brain wave (and some of the brain waves after that) have a bug where all the brains run to Mikey.  They will not assimilate anyone else until Mikey has been assimilated first.  So what you do is protect mickey, while killing all the brains and robots, but DO NOT shoot the enforcer sphere.  Only when all the brains and robots are gone, do you go after the enforcers, and then just leave ONE enforcer left, and swoop around picking up all the people while avoiding his fire.   You get mega points, and enough extra lives to last through almost a complete cycle to the next brain level (where you do this again).  Some brain levels don't have a mikey and you are screwed.  Or sometimes the brains just don't go after mikey...its a bug...so its hit or miss.

There is another bug in the tank level where if you can avoid getting hit by the first volley of fire from the tanks for long enough, they all just stop firing, and you clean house.  I have never seen this happen personally because its almost impossible not to get hit.  I usually just kill them before they spawn.

Lastly as others have pointed out, the rest of the time you are circleing around enemys always moving, and usually prioritizing your kills (spheres, then enforcers, while killing robots that get in your way).  All the while prioritizing which humans you can save first (sometimes you get great groupings of humans in one clump, try to go for these first over killing spheres).

I could go on forever about Robotron.  The AI is so unique, I'm constantly amazed at the logic that must be in such a small assembly program.  Just watch how the enforcers lead you with their shots, or shoot at humans thinking thats where you are going.  The slight cheating that goes on with shots that curve back on themselves sometimes.  This is the only game that makes me end up screaming foul obscenities whenever I'm done.

[Aceldamor]

It saddens me to admit I've only been 1 level past the first brain level....I get rolled on that damn game....I love to play it though, I guess i'm a glutton for punishment

[Smittydc]

After becoming re-addicted to this game a couple months ago, I think my record is somewhere in the 600,000+ range, though that is with the difficulty turned down.

There's definitely a zen component to playing -- especially at the beginnings of levels.  Sometimes you just know you're going to clear the level without dying -- others you know you're going to lose 5 lives.

[hyiu]

I have to say.... I'm no good with this game... but very addictive.... especially those "whale... whale... whale... " sound.....

my girl friend finds the sound VERY annoying....

I always tries to establish some strategy.... (like run in 1 direction... shoot perpendictularly....) etc....

but my eye-hand-brain co-ordination is a little lacking haaa haa haa....  

will keep trying....  

[mohrt]

After becoming re-addicted to this game a couple months ago, I think my record is somewhere in the 600,000+ range, though that is with the difficulty turned down.

How do I change the difficulty? When I go to dipswitches it doesn't give me a menu... is it somewhere else?

[steve_pss]

good observation man, I tried the same thing and noticed no Dip Switch menu...

Is it a version conflict?

[paigeoliver]

I've also noticed strange sound effects when hitting the player one coin drop, it's almost like random sounds from other games (crowd cheering, etc.) Did the original do this, or is my setup whacked?

Also, twice now in heat of battle the game has reset with no warning, I get the colored static just like a game reset, and one time it even reset all the high scores. I'm not sure what happened there, has anyone else experienced this? I'm using the latest windows command line version (0.71)

As for high scores, after three nights of practice I've managed to hit 173,000. I've been to 160,000+ countless times, but that's about the time my men are systematically executed

I believe the reset is a real Robotron software bug and not a Mame bug. It has something to do with shooting into the corners of the screen. It has happened to me about 3 times over the last several years (each one was a different Mame version).

Now about Robotrons setup. It is a software setup. Press tab in the game to see the list of the keys. it is either auto up or advance, or one of those keys that turns on the setup.

[Xiaou2]

 My current strategy  (after recent discovery of how much better Robotron is than Smash Tv ...

  As the screen starts to drop objects... note the placements of humans, circle bombers, and the density of robots arround around the center.

 Immediately start to clear the least dense area and work your way to the outside edges of the screen.

 In the process... when you get free enough to be safe... start to hunt down the circle bombers immediately before there are too many projectile shooting bots.  

  Collect as many humans as possible per life.  Each time you save a human,  your next human doubles in points... and after like 5 humans in a row - you get an extra life.
 
  Try to collect all the humans on each level before blasting the final bot.  This does get risky at times... esp if ther last bot it a nasty one - like a brain.

  One the robo-tank stages... shoot the egg-layers down right away... dont chase after the humans.   When the bots start to grow...  do not to retreat.   They usually dont shoot for a second or two upon entry.   Charge at them fast and kill them.     Also... Try not to retreat!   The projectiles will bounce off the walls right into you a lot quicker this way.   Instead... do the unthinkable and Charge in twords most of them.   It really works most of the time!  : )    When you get good.. try shooting the bullets they shot at you that slipped past you - before it bounces and hits you.

    Have Patience.  Sometimes you have a lot longer time till impact than you imagine... thus you move forward right away... and walk right into a bot.  Instead... stay for that extra 1/2 second till your sure that youve completely cleared the path before charging on.

  Dodging:  To help from getting crucified by the crosses that fly at you... make sure to keep changing your speed and direction... otherwise the enemies will catch on and shoot ahead of you... marking your demise.   Charging these can also yeild good results at times.   In swarms of these... use the green bots as shields ( I think I remember that they cant shoot thru these?).

  Clean up -  Sometimes its easier to shoot thru those nasty electro-blocks to cut a path instead of walking arround them... or blasting thu a batch of bots.   It also keeps you from running into them later... and finally gives you more running room.

  Emotions:  Try not to get angry, agressive, fusterated, depressed, ect.   Instead..  just try to enjoy the darn game ; )   ((Tho - a little positive Glee laugh is acceptable ; ))Emotions will slow your thought process down.. and you cant have that in this game!  heh   Become a robot!

  Soft-Focus - Instead of just focusing on the area arround your bot... try to be aware of the entire situation by shifting the focus of your eyes to encompass the entire screen.  Youll lose a bit of clarity all arround... but youll notice impending doom a lot quicker - before its too late.  THis can be dome every few seconds..  rather all the time- which
would leave you too unaware to handle the close proximity attackers.

 Circles?   Yeah... you dont want to backtrack too often... nor stay in one place too long.  Either will lead to being targeted very quickly.   Not that it has to be a circle... but keep moving in a genral direction rather than a back/forth method.  

 Mechanical - Very short throw sticks are a good bet ; )   Robotron originals are just beautiful.  

 Bigger! - Bigger display?! or sit closer to catch all the details... as youll be dodging death by a mere pixel very frequently.

  Suicide? - I havnt extensively tested this... but in the brain stages sometimes you simply cant get to all the humans before they are turned into enemies... so:  Collect like 5 (to cover your loss)  eaily reachable humans... then quickly die.   When the level restarts... many of the humans are still alive, and you may have a better shot at collecting more of them this time arround.  

  Thats about all Ive found out so far.   : )

 

[Dave_K.]

good observation man, I tried the same thing and noticed no Dip Switch menu...

Is it a version conflict?

There are no real dip switches on Robotron (or other Williams games for that matter).  There is an "advance" button inside the coin door you press which cycles through the test screens, book keeping screen, and settings menu.  I believe in mame this is F2.  Keep hitting that until you get to the config menu.

[telengard]

So typically the boards after the first tank wave, I just die and die and die... any strategy that could help here?

TIA!

Ahh, I have a 2 way tie for my fav game.  This game and Defender.  Williams games just kicked butt.  I have a few tips that might not have been mentioned although I haven't read all the responses yet.

Keep moving and try to shoot the opposite way you are running if there is nothing in front of you.  I know this sounds obvious but most of my friends don't seem to do it.

I think there is a cheat on the brain wave involving Mikey, I'm not 100% sure what it is but I don't use it.  I just run for the biggest clumps of humanoids in the beginning.

One thing I learned after playing for a while is that while circling the board clearing it,
don't walk along the edges of the board because the Enforcer's guided mines will "ride" the edge.

On the tank wave I just run and shoot in a circle.  I'm not sure how to describe what I
do but for the most part it protects me from a lot of the tank's shots.  How well it works usually depends on how many end up spawing.    

The wave I have the hardest time is is the one with 10 bazillion grunts closing in on you.
If I don't find a window, I'm done for.  I'd like to hear some tips for this wave.

I haven't beat my high score in almost 6 months ( 450,000 ) although I haven't played much at all ( working on new panels ).  I would have to agree with the other poster who said it is a "zen" game.  I find my best games are usually my first few games and my last few.

Also having leaf spring joysticks makes a big difference for me.  I tried playing with Happs
microswitch joys and did awful.  I also do awful if the diagonals aren't "just right".  Gotta
be able to pick off those Enforcers.

I'm hoping at some point to get the longer shafts that Robotron had and create a panel
that is laid out exactly like the arcade.

Great game and good topic!!

[mohrt]

Is there any significant difference between the Solid Blue Label and Yellow/Orange Label ROMS? (specifically, game play?)

[REBIRTH]

Tank wave idea - I've been playing this game a lot lately now that my cab is finally just about done.  On the tank waves I've realized that when the wave starts, the tank pods are always along the top and bottom of the screen, and then drift across to the opposite side of the screen (top level drifts down, bottom drifts up).  What I do now is run to one side (left or right) while shooting straight across the middle of the screen.  What this does is as the pods are crossing the middle of the screen, they run right into my bullet stream.  I still aim a bit to try and hit more, but generally in that first 5 seconds I am shooting more or less across the middle of the screen.  Between that and just getting better, I can now usually make it out of the tank wave without dying.

[KevSteele]

Is there any significant difference between the Solid Blue Label and Yellow/Orange Label ROMS? (specifically, game play?)

I think there isn't any gameplay differences, just mainly a bug fix that gets rid of the hard game crash you would sometimes get if you shot an enforcer in the lower right corner.

Apparently, what happens is that the explosion routine tries to write to a memory region outside the screen area, and overwrites something important. Instant Hard Lock.

I can't really add anything to this discussion -- everyone's got great tips and the big ones (the Mikey bug and the Tank shot bug) have been mentioned.

Only one other thing -- Robotron is a game best played standing up, with real joysticks (although I got pretty good on the keyboard!)

I'm not a Robo-pro by any stretch -- my best score is 795,000 (forgot what level, I think it was around 20-25).

Run 'n gun, and never give up until you're sure you're dead, because you may actually just get out of the most impossible looking situations.

Pure video adrenaline.

Kevin

[RacerX]

I could go on forever about Robotron.  The AI is so unique, I'm constantly amazed at the logic that must be in such a small assembly program.  Just watch how the enforcers lead you with their shots, or shoot at humans thinking thats where you are going.  The slight cheating that goes on with shots that curve back on themselves sometimes.  This is the only game that makes me end up screaming foul obscenities whenever I'm done.

I agree about the AI.  The thing that always impresses me is how sometimes if I'm leading one of the spheres with my shots, it will suddenly stop to avoid being hit.  

[REBIRTH]

I just noticed that Robotron seems to kill off 1 high score from the all-time high score list every time I start it up.  So if I have the top 5 all-time scores, the next time I start it up I only have the top 4 with the number 1 high score killed off.  I never noticed it before, but the other day I had some people over and my friends were downstairs playing this game for a while.  One guy came up and said he beat my high score.  Knowing my high score was about 350,000 I was very impressed, but then saw he "only" got about 130,000.  Since then I've taken note of the high score list and sure enough, every time I go into it the #1 score gets bumped off.

Is this happening to everyone?  If not, what could possibly be doing that in my settings?

Thanks