Escape Velocity - (Browser Version)

A stolen ship, two fleets, one way out.

You were sentenced for something you didn't do, so you stole the only ship you could reach and went **down**. The colony is at war and the war is in the canyon. The enforcers are behind you, the fleet they have been fighting for a decade is coming down the rift from the other end, and neither of them cares who you are.

The rock their crossfire shakes loose is falling as fast as you are. The walls are closing in. The only way out is further in.

**Escape Velocity: Crossfire** is a vertical canyon shooter for the **Atari 2600**: one player, one joystick, a 4K cartridge. Play it right here in your browser, or download the ROM.

### How it plays

- **The throttle is the difficulty.** Push up and the canyon scrolls faster and the fleets get busier. Pull back and the rift slows around you.

- **The canyon is the first enemy.** The walls are jagged, and touching one costs a ship. Read the ledge above you to see how much room you have.

- **Twelve shapes to learn.** Falling rock, weaving waves, divers, dashers, lurkers, orbiters, bombers, gunners and the gems of the deep stages.

- **Pods change the fight.** Shoot one or fly into it for a shield that soaks a hit, or a wide shot, for about eight seconds.

- **Four rotating breaker bosses**, each tougher than the last. The canyon pulses when one is nearly dead.

- **Extra ships** at 300, 600 and 900 points, plus one for every breaker you finish. Nine is the ceiling.

Hold fire and steer. The game opens paused on purpose: your first press of fire is the launch.

### Controls

| Atari 2600 | Keyboard (browser) | Does |

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

| Stick left / right | Arrow keys or A / D | Slide along the rift |

| Stick up | Up or W | Faster scroll, busier fleets |

| Stick down | Down or S | Slower scroll |

| Fire | Space, Z or Enter | Shoot (hold it) |

| TV Type | P | Pause / resume |

| Game Reset | R | Back to the title |

Touch controls appear on phones and tablets. Gamepads work too. Press F for fullscreen and M to mute.

### What's in the download

- **Escape_Velocity_V40.bin**: the 4K Atari 2600 ROM, for Stella, RetroArch or a flash cartridge

- **Strategy-guide manual (PDF)**: enemies, power-ups, boss hulls and eight tips for staying alive

### Coming later

This is the original Atari 2600 version, so you can play it before the upgraded Atari 7800 follow-up to *Breakaway Burn* comes out.

### AI disclosure

For full disclosure: Escape Velocity: Crossfire was developed using batari Basic, the DASM assembler and 8bitworkshop. AI tools were used throughout for debugging, troubleshooting and help with portions of the code. Overall development, direction and testing are my own work, with community testing.

A Classically Trained Games release.*