ROCKINGROLL Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 I picked up a copy of this recently at a flea market. I had never played it before & didn't think that it would be any good. Boy, was I wrong! This game kicks! I can't believe how fast-paced it became after just a few levels. This cart was really a pleasant surprise. Are there any tips that you folks have for this game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 Yeah, I enjoyed that one when I was growing up. I can give you a few hints for the game, but they're not great ones. Here goes: 1. The flashing enemies are worth more than the normal ones. 2. A small fleet of cruisers isn't necessarily a bad idea... this gives your enemies fewer targets to hit, and you'll be able to score plenty of reserve ships in case one of your fighters is hit. There's really no reason to fly with all five ships, so if you lose a couple don't sweat it. Just try to keep the remaining ones in a tightly packed triangle formation (ie two on the bottom row and one on the top). So, hey, I remember seeing Paramount's logo on the back of the Tac-Scan box... what was their involvement with the game anyway? I always thought it was related in some way to the Star Trek series. JR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted September 19, 2001 Share Posted September 19, 2001 I think Paramount owned SEGA at one point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nostalgic Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 There's another Michigander on the list? We must be spreading! Anyhow, I picked up Tac-Scan at the most recent CCAG and was pleasantly surprised. I've never played the arcade game, so I can't make comparisons. (From what I've seen on other sites, it's dangerous to do so, as it will breed disappointment.) My advice, beyond what was already said, is to never fly straight for long. It usually puts you right in the line of fire since the enemy ships only shoot straight. Also, since the ships are usually in a diagonal line, flying on a diagonal will normally make them all miss your fleet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 quoteThere's another Michigander on the list? We must be spreading! We're everywhere! Now I know why the best places are always picked over... Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooterb23 Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 The arcade version of Tac-Scan is actually pretty good. I do prefer the 2600 version however. The arcade version has a very sweet pseudo-first person level that shows up evey once in a while (I don't remember the frequency right now) download it with mame and try it, you'll be surprised. And PS, don't any of you Michigan people even think of coming down here to Ohio and dry up my shops too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain King Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 I bought Tac Scan when I was younger. I got it after playing Star Trek (Which I also really liked) I figured Sega made a good game. And for a while it was my favorite paddle game. It was one of the few paddle games that broke away frome the pong/night driver genre. But tight formation seem to work the best especially in the high, fast pace levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubersaurus Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 I'm from Michigan too. Cleaning out the detroit area... Tac-Scan was one of those games I never figured out as a kid. I sucked really bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 Well, there were a couple of 2600 games that actually IMPROVED on the original arcade formula by making it the gameplay more simple and streamlined, and I'd say that this was one of them. Solar Fox is the same way... the arcade version was a convoluted mess, but the 2600 translation's fewer gameplay elements made it a much more intense, focused game. JR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ze_ro Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 I wouldn't go as far as to say that the 2600 version of Tac-Scan is better than the arcade version... but it's a very well done game, and is a credit to Sega. Personally, I think I just love vector graphics (Dammit, I want a Vectrex!) --Zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted September 20, 2001 Share Posted September 20, 2001 ARRGH!!! No! Paramount couldn't have owned Sega! I refuse to believe that Sega was allied with the same people who brought us UPN and Star Trek: Voyager!!! But seriously, I thought Sega was a Japanese company. Was it just the US branch that was owned by (shudder) Gulf & Western? How did they break free from its evil clutches? Heck, why isn't *Paramount* owned by Gulf & Western anymore? And just what the heck IS Gulf & Western anyway? I ask dumb questions like this all the time. JR Since we're on the subject... http://grblitz.overclocked.org/archives/viacrush.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolenta Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Inky: I think Paramount owned SEGA at one point. Actually it was Gulf & Western, the parent company of Paramount, that owned Sega. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 I loved Tac-Scan. Started easily enough, but just after 5 levels starts to become frantic. I love how the instructions say there is "16 theoretical levels. Theoretical because nobody here has gotten that far." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted September 22, 2001 Share Posted September 22, 2001 You explained that perfectly, Ben. Thanks! JR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROCKINGROLL Posted September 24, 2001 Author Share Posted September 24, 2001 Did Tac-Scan appear on any other systems? If so, was it any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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