From: mandel@dms.agames.com (Glenn Mandelkern)
Subject: Re: Star Wars
Organization: Atari Games Corp.
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:33:13 GMT


The key to getting a high score on the coin-op version of Star Wars, i.e., 
above 3,000,000 is to recognize patterns that come up during the rest of 
the game past waves 12 and 21 in particular.  

Back in high school in 1984, I noticed this after playing a machine that was
set on the best settings for learning the game (9 Starting Shields,
3 awarded).  This will allow you to make mistakes and recover in addition
to forming your own plan of attack. 

For a high score, it's best to always start on WAVE 5.

The STAR WARS game consists of three rounds which each have their own
particular patterns and strategies:


TIE Fighters Round
	The TIE Fighters (always Darth Vader plus 2 TIE Fighters)
	select 1 of 2 starting formations from waves 5 to 31, depending
	on whether the wave is even or odd.  After wave 32 the formation
	is the same as on even waves.  I find it best to start with the
	cursor on the right edge of the screen.

	At any one time, one of the three enemies is after you.  It is 
	usually obvious who it is because it shoots the most at you.
	Try getting this enemy first.  

	If Darth Vader is after you, try to get him when another 
	TIE Fighter is around.  After you get him, he may linger in 
	the background.  That will allow you to take easy shots at
	him worth 2,000 points.  Unless fireballs get massive from
	the new TIE Fighter chasing you, continue getting more points
	by nailing Darth Vader.

	The three enemies take turns going against you--they cycle
	as you destroy or shoot them.

	The best way to avoid losing shields in the TIE fighter phase
	is to shoot fireballs in the order that they appear.  Most of
	all, do not panic, just keep shooting.


Towers Round
	The towers layout from waves 3 to 11 are the main tower layouts.
	In waves 12 to 20, you will see the exact same layout as nine 
	waves before, but with four more towers added.

	On WAVE 21 and up, you are presented with any one of the layouts
	found from waves 14 to 20.  When you are past WAVE 20, you 
	should be able to immediately recognize the layout and
	eliminate tower tops and bunkers just like in the waves 
	you first saw them.

	For beginners, I usually recommend that they stay to one side of 
	the Death Star "planet" surface in order to destroy all
	tower tops.  Since the Death Star is "round" like the Earth, 
	you can cover all points by flying in one direction. 


Trench Round
	The force may be used to substantially decrease your play time
	in order to get a higher score.  (When Obi says, "Use the force,
	Luke", this means to go through the trench without shooting until 
	the exhaust port appears.  At first, you will see the words
	"USE THE FORCE" near the top.  If at any time you stop using the
	force the words disappear.)


	I highly recommend that players use the force, even if they are 
	about to lose their last shield if they want to learn the most 
	about maneuvering in the trench.  But if you are low on cash,
	then strive to build back your shield up.

	Each trench consists of catwalks.  Catwalks fall into groups.
	There are 8 groups per trench.  When you hear Obi saying,
	"Let go, Luke!", this lets you know that only two more catwalk
	groups are left.  A catwalk itself consists of 8 sections
	as shown below:

		 ---------------	
		|	|	|
		 ---------------
		|	|       |	
		 ---------------
		|	|	|
		 ---------------
		|	|	|
		 ---------------

	The catwalks can be drawn with up to 7 of the sections, 
	since at least one must be open to let you through. 

	It is somewhat difficult to explain when and how to make 
	your moves around and through the catwalks.  At best, I would
	say to time your move at the moment that you enter it.
	It is as if you can sense the catwalk out of the corner of your
	eye.  Try to travel as smoothly as possible, it is not
	necessary to make jerky motions.

	You must master waves 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 in order to go
	beyond WAVE 12.  After WAVE 12, the trench is constructed by
	selecting 8 catwalk patterns from a total of 16 possible
	ones from waves 6-11.  You may see the same pattern repeated
	in these trenches.  Most of the patterns come from 
	WAVE 8 and 9.  If you can fly through these two waves, 
	then you will have no problem on WAVE 12 and up.


	If you can look ahead and plan your strategy by seeing what
	catwalks are coming, you will have an edge over the most
	difficult stage of the game.  Most of all, do not try to 
	compensate for crashes by playing past catwalks.  Once you 
	hit a catwalk, concentrate on the ones that are coming up.

	The turrets on the side shoot when they detect your X-wing
	fighter is headed in their direction.  You can fool them into
	shooting by pretending to fly to where they are before getting
	to their location.  Then when arriving closer, you pull to a 
	safe area.  In other words, if you see 4 turrets on the bottom
	half, point your fighter down from a distance, see the turrets
	fire and when you make it there, head straight up where no
	fireballs are.

	Also, you need not be at the very end of the trench to shoot
	the exhaust port.  When you are done using the force a message
	will come on such as
			100,000 FOR USING THE FORCE

	At this point, go ahead and shoot the exhaust port from a distance.
	This will stop all shooting of the turrets, so you will not 
	carelessly lose a shield.


The highest level on STAR WARS is WAVE 99.  Once you complete 99, you
stay on 99 until you lose all your shields.  Like the previous waves above
WAVE 32, 
	the TIE Fighter starting formation is always the same as on 32,
	the Tower layout is always one from WAVE 14 to WAVE 20,
      & the Catwalks are those from WAVE 6 to WAVE 11. 


As far as the writing on the Death Star is concerned, odd waves from
WAVE 1 to WAVE 31 have "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU" written on it.  Even 
waves and those from 32 up have "HALLY RIVERA MARGOLIN AVELLAR VICKERS DURFEY"
engraved, which are the names of the game's engineers.  As a previous 
poster wrote, it is necessary to have the game turned up bright in order
to see these words and names.

My record on STAR WARS is 56,550,195 on an upright which took me approximately 
8 hours by using the force on every wave.  

REMEMBER, THE FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS   :-) !
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