THE DREADNAUGHT FACTOR
BY ACTIVISION
by Tom Loughry
ON DEVASTATING DREADNAUGHTS: A GUIDE
OVERVIEW: Dreadnaughts dwarf stars. They are huge. They are rude,
intruding where they are least wanted. Dreadnaughts can destroy
fleets, planets, solar systems and entire galaxies.
OBJECTIVE: DISABLE AND DESTROY ALL DREADNAUGHTS. Failure will
result in the negation of this galaxy.
Your mission ends when you destroy the entire Dreadnaught convoy,
when any Dreadnaught reaches the Stargate with at least one
missile silo intact, or when all Novary Hyperfighters have been
destroyed.
IGNITION
* Insert cartridge. Turn power on.
* To select one of seven missions:
Press Reset on left controller. Press 1-7 on controller pad.
* To begin:
5200: Press Start on left controller, then press any side button.
* Turn power off before removing the cartridge.
HYPERFIGHTING BASICS
Piloting:
* To accelerate: Push Joystick forward.
* To decelerate: Pull back on Joystick.
Weaponry:
Press either top side Joystick button to drop strontium
bombs.
Press either bottom side Joystick button to fire laser bolts.
Hyperfighter Reserves Status: You will begin each mission with
10 Novary Hyperfighters. While fighting missions 1-4, 2 additional
Hyperfighters will be added to your squadron for each Dreadnaught
you destroy. Receive 4 additional Hyperfighters for each Dreadnaught
destroyed on missions 5-7.
CLASSIFIED PRIORITY ONE
What follows represents all existing intelligence on the Dreadnaught.
Read it carefully.
STATUS SCREEN. Consult your status screen before takeoff. Your Novary
Hyperfighter appears at the Stargate. Behind you are reserve
Hyperfighters, lined up in attack sequence in front of the Galactic
Unstable Energy Field.
At the top of the status screen you will see the total number of
Dreadnaughts destroyed on this mission, the outline of the
Dreadnaught you will attack, and that Dreadnaught's distance from the
Stargate, as measured in parsecs.
PLAN OF ASSAULT
Launch your Novary Hyperfighter from the Ground Zero Stargate.
Proceed on course for the Dreadnaught. Bomb or strafe Dreadnaught
targets. Once beyond the Dreadnaught, you will return to the Stargate
and prepare for another attack pass. The Dreadnaught advances on the
Stargate when an attack pass is completed.
SCORING DIRECT HITS. You earn points for destroying each Dreadnaught
target and prematurely detonating in-flight tracking missiles
launched from the Dreadnaught. Score bonus points for each
Dreadnaught you destroy.
STRONTIUM BOMBS destroy the following targets for these point values:
Energy Vent......................20
Engine...........................25
Silo.............................50
LASER BOLTS destroy the following Dreadnaught weapons for these point
awards:
WEAPON POINTS
Small Cannon 1
Large Cannon 5
Drone Launcher 5
Tower 5
Queen Launcher 10
Bridge 10
BOMBING PRIORITIES
* Destroy all BRIDGES to reduce Dreadnaught firing rate by 50 percent.
* Destroy each ENGINE to slow the Dreadnaught's approach velocity.
* SILOS house anti-matter missiles which can detonate the Unstable
Energy Field. Destroy them.
* In order to destroy a Dreadnaught, bomb all ENERGY VENTS.
MISSION VARIATIONS
Level Difficulty No. of Dreadnaughts
1 Basic 1
2 Novice 1
3 Intermediate 2
4 Challenge 5
5 Advanced 10
6 Expert 15
7 YGTBK^ 100
(^ You've Got To Be Kidding)
* Rate of fire increases as level of mission advances.
JOIN THE ACTIVISION "DREADNAUGHT DESTROYER" CLUB
Defeat the entire fleet of Dreadnaughts on mission level 4 or
higher and you will earn galactic acclaim, a place in stellar
history, and a membership in the prestigious "Dreadnaught Destroyer"
Club.Send us a picture of your TV screen and we'll mail you the
Dreadnaught Destroyer emblem, along with our heartfelt thanks.
Be sure to write "The Dreadnaught Factor" on the bottom left corner
of the envelope.
TACTICAL TIPS FROM THE TOP
Tips from Tom Loughry, designer of The Dreadnaught Factor, and
Eric Nickell, adaptor of this version.
"Keep track of the Dreadnaught's distance from the Stargate. As
it gets closer, it's a good idea to slow down its velocity by
bombing the engines. If it gets really close, destroy all the
missile silos. That way, the Unstable Energy Field is safe
even if the Dreadnaught reaches the Stargate. Unless you lose
all your Hyperfighters, that is.
"Destroy those Dreadnaught weapons which give you the most
difficulty. But keep in mind that the only way to destroy a
Dreadnaught is by bombing all its energy vents. Don't waste
time or attack passes trying to destroy every target.
"Let us hear from you between missions. We'd like that. May
the grace of God be with you."
END
Typed by Robert "Ferg" Ferguson
for Atari Gaming Headquarters
Used with permission from Atari Gaming Headquarters
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