Intellivision HSC Season 16 - Game 5 - Night Stalker

[Rickster8]

[ Intellivision HSC Season 16 ]

 

(Game 5)

 

Night Stalker

 

Night Stalker by Mattel 1982
Your man is trapped in the maze. Robots relentlessly track him down. Keep him away from the spiders and bats. Watch out for robot fire! React quickly. The key to survival is to destroy them --- before they get the man! Rack up as many points as you can! It's you against them...to the end!

 

 

ROM Download Link

https://www.romnation.net/srv/roms/21564/intellivision/Night-Stalker-1982-Mattel.html

 

Game Manual Link - Click link below then go to 'Games' then 'Manuals' and scroll down for Night Stalker

http://www.intellivision.us/intvlibrary/index.htm

 

 

High Score Club Record

707,500 felson42 (SET NEW RECORD +3)

 

Game Setting

PRESS DISC

 

 

Game Objective

Destroy as many robots as you can. Try not to get shot and avoid the critters. Score the most points in the process.

 

Game Scoring

+13 [1st place], +12 [2nd place], +11 [3rd place], +9 [4th place] down to +1 pt for participation. +2 Game Winner Incentive. 

 

Extra Score Bonus: Get a score of 50,000 pts or more and earn +1 bonus point; Get a score of 100,000 pts or more and earn +2 bonus points; Get a score of 150,000 pts or more and earn +3 bonus points; Get a score of 200,000 pts or more and earn +4 bonus points; Get a score of 250,000 pts or more and earn +5 bonus points. Max-out Extra Score Bonus points earned is +5.  

 

Season Theme: Maze Craze and Critters. This game falls into both the 'Maze Craze' and the 'Critters' category.

 

 

Contest Ends
SUNDAY MARCH 6TH 11:59:59 PM EASTERN TIME

 

 

 

 

 

(FINAL SCORES)

 

 

335,500 - Rickster8 [+5 Bonus Points][+13][+2 GAME WINNER INCENTIVE]

174,200 - CParsley [+3 Bonus Points][+12]

157,800 - Mark Griff [+3 Bonus Points][+11]

----------------------------------------------------

129,600 - Popsicle [+2 Bonus Points][+9]

  80,600 - IntyFanMatt [+1 Bonus Point][+8]

  52,600 - Gar0u [+1 Bonus Point][+7]

  38,700 - Crade [+6]

  33,900 - jimblargh [+5]

  28,600 - Lupovax [+4]

  18,100 - wolfy62 [+3]

  16,400 - fakecortex [+2]

 

 

 

 

Overall Rankings (POINTS)

After Buzz Bombers

 

 

59 - Mark Griff

52 - CParsley

51 - Rickster8

42 - Crade

41 - Lupovax

34 - jimblargh

22 - Fakecortex

21 - Popsicle

21 - IntyFanMatt

21 - Wolfy62

16 - Gar0u

14 - Mr_Me

  4 - Player One

  1 - Jblenkle

 

 

 

 

 

Games Won

 

 

2 - Mark Griff - Tutankham / Mouse Trap

1 - IntyFanMatt - Shark! Shark!

1 - Popsicle - Buzz Bombers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sneak Preview:

Super Cobra

 

Edited March 7, 2022 by Rickster8
Added in scores

[Rickster8]

First Night Stalker Entry: Good game, but they really missed the boat letting the robots annihilate you as you respawn. Not kidding, I lost 10 guys SUPER QUICK in this game cuz the invisible robot would kill me right as I respawned again and again and again and again. ?

 

 

NIGHT STALKER - DISC LEVEL - 105,500 POINTS!!! 

 

 

[popsicle]

First (and probably last) salvo - 81,000

 

[Rickster8]

2nd Entry faired much better, but the most important thing here is that Monk is exceedingly happy with my nice round even score.... ?

 

 

 

 

NIGHT STALKER - DISC LEVEL - 200,000 POINTS!!! (cuatro puntos de bonificación) ?

 

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by Rickster8
Wording

[mark griff]

I'm getting there but Rick you will always be the man like Ric Flair woohoo!!

157800

[Rickster8]

47 minutes ago, mark griff said:

I'm getting there but Rick you will always be the man like Ric Flair woohoo!!

157800

Lol isn't that invisible robot a pain in the neck? How about when they put the gun on the bottom left side of the maze and you have NO IDEA where he is? ??

 

I wish they set it up so the gun appeared in the same place every time. Like say maybe under the cage. This way you could atleast prepare for it and always know that's where it will be. ?

[mark griff]

I agree. Just like they do in Ms . Night stalker where the gun starts right above you.  I lost 4 men in 10 seconds when my house was destroyed and they were swarming around me like bees on honey. Still a great game but there was room for improvement maybe someone will make a Rom for the LTO with those changes

[Rickster8]

7 hours ago, mark griff said:

I agree. Just like they do in Ms . Night stalker where the gun starts right above you.  I lost 4 men in 10 seconds when my house was destroyed and they were swarming around me like bees on honey. Still a great game but there was room for improvement maybe someone will make a Rom for the LTO with those changes

Yeah on the development side they REALLY messed this up. The guy should atleast respawn in a safe area, not have him respawn and get obliterated the same second he comes back, that's just STUPID. If they had the gun re-appear under the cage and maybe the guy respawn in the Spider web those both would have been far better gaming development decisions in my opinion. ?

[mark griff]

I agree Rick

[mr_me]

The intent of the programmer was to end the game, first with the bunker busting robot.  When that didn't work they came up with the invisible robot.  Programmers didn't want to hear about that one kid complaining the game is too easy.

[Rickster8]

34 minutes ago, mr_me said:

The intent of the programmer was to end the game, first with the bunker busting robot.  When that didn't work they came up with the invisible robot.  Programmers didn't want to hear about that one kid complaining the game is too easy.

I get the harder, faster, tougher to beat robots, it's the re-spawning sites that suck in this game...... 

[Rickster8]

Quick Night Stalker Update: (Up to post #11)

 

 

200,000 - Rickster8 (Monk SPECIAL) ?

157,800 - Mark Griff

  81,000 - Popsicle

[crade]

6 minutes ago, Rickster8 said:

I get the harder, faster, tougher to beat robots, it's the re-spawning sites that suck in this game...... 

Respawning site is in the safe zone..  Until you have played too long and gotten too far, then they take away your safe zone so you die faster!  die already!

[lupovax]

NIGHT STALKER - DISC LEVEL - 19,700

 

[Rickster8]

My Final Entry for this one. Just got my Night Stalker PB!!! ??

 

 

 

 

NIGHT STALKER - DISC LEVEL - 335,500 POINTS!!! (cinco puntos de bonificación) ?

 

 

[mark griff]

You are the man Rick wow great score

[Rickster8]

4 hours ago, mark griff said:

You are the man Rick wow great score

Thx. The crazy thing is it's not even half of Felson's HSC record score...... ?

[popsicle]

13 hours ago, Rickster8 said:

My Final Entry for this one. Just got my Night Stalker PB!!! ??

 

 

 

 

NIGHT STALKER - DISC LEVEL - 335,500 POINTS!!! (cinco puntos de bonificación) ?

 

 

Ok, your turn to spill the beans. How are you scoring this high? When I get to around 60-70k the invisible robot appears, and I'm dead soon after. Are you killing him 10, 20, 30 times? 

[Rickster8]

50 minutes ago, popsicle said:

Ok, your turn to spill the beans. How are you scoring this high? When I get to around 60-70k the invisible robot appears, and I'm dead soon after. Are you killing him 10, 20, 30 times? 

This is best answered by Felson a few years ago. [Actually I killed him (invisible robot) around 60 times]. ?

 

"Some info/tips about my favorite inty game.

 

The highest/disc setting is really the only playable version, as the lower difficulties slow down not only the enemies, but the entire game (as others have noted). (Also it's the version we are playing for the club, so there's that)

 

You are pursued by robots that get tougher on a graduated scale. We start with the lowly white robot, which moves semi-randomly and takes one shot to kill. At 5000 we get the blue robot, which follows a more direct course to you and takes one shot. At 15k the yellow robot, which is a bit smarter, and takes 3 shots to kill. At 30k the black robot with white bullets. The black robot takes 3 shots to kill, and shoots bullets that can absorb yours (unless you shoot at the very edge of the wall and pass around them). Then at 50k the black robot shoots yellow bullets. These bullets absorb yours, and also can destroy your bunker. Finally, at 80k the game really begins. At 80k the robot is invisible and can only be spotted by its gunshots or if it passes over the spider or other robots.

 

It is true that both controllers can be used at once, but I've never done this. I have to think it would be way too awkward and I really don't run into situations where I try to run and shoot at the same time.

 

I have an original inty and an inty 2. I prefer the original controller, but either are quite functional. You do need a controller without any dead spots though. There are some vids on youtube about how to clean controllers. Luckily I've never had a problem with my original inty controllers. Also, the controller inlays for this game are absolutely useless as you just need the four shooting directions. I never use them as i like to be able to feel the buttons.

 

The key to the entire game, and if you ask me, what makes it also a strategy game and not just action, is the fact that only one enemy bullet (and only one of your bullets) can be on the screen at a time. So, if an enemy from across the screen shoots at you, you are safe from other shots until that bullet exits the screen. You must use this fact if you want to score well. I've read that this aspect of the game was a bit of an accident. The programmers realized that the way they coded the game they would not have enough memory to keep track of more bullets at once. I am glad it turned out this way, as it really makes the game more strategic, especially after the invisible robot appears.

 

Once you are up to the invisible robot, you need to find where the relative 'safe zones' are in the maze. These are the spots where the our invisible pal will almost always shoot at you far enough away that you have time to react. Use these in combination with the twists and turns. When the robot approaches, shoot it before it gets to the corner and it can absorb your bullet. Lead it after you to the next corner, rinse and repeat.

 

I tend to stay on the right side of the maze most times. Your ammo reload gun has 5 possible places to appear. One on the left, two in the middle, and two on the right. So, if you hang out on the right, there is a better chance of the gun appearing close to you. Also, the robots come in from the bottom left. The only drawback of hanging out on the right and blowing away anything that comes near, is when your reload appears on the bottom left. Sometimes that can be a bitch.

 

One more tip. Since the robots always appear at the bottom left, if you are near the bottom of the screen when you finish off a robot, loose a shot towards the bottom left corner and then move up so no robots shoot back at you, and you'll destroy the robot as soon as it appears (if it is a one shot kill bot) or tick off one of the three required shots.

 

Anyways, give this game a chance. It is addictive and a whole lot of fun."

[popsicle]

Mildly better. Thanks for the tips above

129,600

 

 

[IntyFanMatt]

Here’s my one and only Night Stalker entry:

 

80,600

I know this is a classic, but I find this game to be way too slow, tedious, and frustrating to control. The way the running man slowly stutters across the screen when moving is aggravating, especially since he gets caught on corners a lot. They really needed to make him move much more smoothly. And once the game starts getting a little difficult, I find myself sitting in my bunker FOREVER just waiting for the right moment to go get my gun. I could take a nap while sitting there waiting, and it gets soooo boring. I know I’m not great at this one either…once the black robot starts disintegrating my bunker, I’m toast. And I stand ZERO chance against the invisible robot.

 

Edited February 27, 2022 by IntyFanMatt

[popsicle]

9 minutes ago, IntyFanMatt said:

Here’s my one and only Night Stalker entry:

 

80,600

I know this is a classic, but I find this game to be way too slow, tedious, and frustrating to control. The way the running man slowly stutters across the screen when moving is aggravating, especially since he gets caught on corners a lot. They really needed to make him move much more smoothly. And once the game starts getting a little difficult, I find myself sitting in my bunker FOREVER just waiting for the right moment to go get my gun. I could take a nap while sitting there waiting, and it gets soooo boring. I know I’m not great at this one either…once the black robot starts disintegrating my bunker, I’m toast. And I stand ZERO chance against the invisible robot.

 

I never go back into the bunker after I respawn. Too busy chasing down points and the next gun! Try using two controllers - one to move and the other to fire. You can then move and shoot at the same time, which is surprisingly helpful. I play Tron Deadly Discs like this too for the same reason.

 

[IntyFanMatt]

8 minutes ago, popsicle said:

I never go back into the bunker after I respawn. Too busy chasing down points and the next gun! Try using two controllers - one to move and the other to fire. You can then move and shoot at the same time, which is surprisingly helpful. I play Tron Deadly Discs like this too for the same reason.

 

Yeah I’ve tried that before, and I know that can work with this one and Tron, but I still don’t prefer that. I recently held the world record for Tron DD at 16 million using only one controller. And I just don’t want to go back to this game again, lol. I do appreciate it though!

[Rickster8]

1 hour ago, IntyFanMatt said:

Here’s my one and only Night Stalker entry:

 

80,600

I know this is a classic, but I find this game to be way too slow, tedious, and frustrating to control. The way the running man slowly stutters across the screen when moving is aggravating, especially since he gets caught on corners a lot. They really needed to make him move much more smoothly. And once the game starts getting a little difficult, I find myself sitting in my bunker FOREVER just waiting for the right moment to go get my gun. I could take a nap while sitting there waiting, and it gets soooo boring. I know I’m not great at this one either…once the black robot starts disintegrating my bunker, I’m toast. And I stand ZERO chance against the invisible robot.

 

Yeah this game has many good points AND many bad points. I find it fun, but yes it can be very boring as well, especially when you are waiting for a somewhat clear path to the gun. And there's also the rash of deaths that you can face if the robots are all huddled around where the orange man respawns. ?

 

As far as the cornering goes, you kinda have to feel out where your guy is with the disc and make sure he will fit thru, but sometimes it's just a lost cause and you get screwed. I hate the spider and the two grey robots are SOOOOOOOOOOO ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?

 

It's funny how some of us are awesome at some games and then not that good at others and vice versa..... ?‍♂️?

 

I did finally kill ONE 100k Shark though, HAHAHAHAHAHHAA!!!!!

Edited February 27, 2022 by Rickster8
Wording

[popsicle]

1 hour ago, IntyFanMatt said:

Yeah I’ve tried that before, and I know that can work with this one and Tron, but I still don’t prefer that. I recently held the world record for Tron DD at 16 million using only one controller. And I just don’t want to go back to this game again, lol. I do appreciate it though!

Whoops, lol. I'll stop 'educating' you on the intellivision controller now