Fatal Run



by Al Backiel



Fatal Run (by Atari) has a save-the-world scenario that has you racing in your car to deliver a radiation vaccine to a rocket launch site. Among the obstacles in your path, every other car on the road. They must be passed or destroyed. A sort of futuristic "road rage" takes place. At any rate, the furthest that I could ever get in the 2600 version was reaching the third letter of the password. An additional letter up to 7 letters is awarded for each 4 levels completed. Realizing that I had no hope of getting any further, I decided the only thing to do was cheat. I took the three letters I knew and tried every additional letter one at a time until I had the fourth letter. I knew if the letter was right or wrong immediately, because it would show me the initial screen and not the highlighted password. I reset the game and repeated the process using the four letters until I got the fifth and so on to the last. The highest password is TC1LE9H. I am not "giving away the ranch" here. The instructions state that there are 32 screens. So, you must complete 4 additional screens to finish the game.

After much struggle and experimentation and at least a hundred attempts, I was able to make it through the last four screens. Now here is where you are supposed to see a rocket launching. I waited with much anticipation. Then I got the totals and lives saved screen. Waited again, nothing. Hit fire, got repairs screen, nothing. Did what repairs I could, hit fire, went back 4 screens I think and started another run. First I was shocked. Then disappointed. There was no ending! I was hoping to see a spectacular rocket launch! I thought it was a fluke or something. Once again, I struggled to the same point. Again no ending! Screw this! This was supposedly one of Atari's largest games. There should have been room to put in an ending sequence. If anybody out there comes up with a different result, please contact me and tell me about it. Another thing that appears to be missing is the bonus icon mentioned in the instructions. It is supposed to appear when you destroy another car. I recommend playing the 2600 game with the 7800 joystick. It can take the torque of going constantly forward without too much strain. Besides it makes you feel like you are using a gearshift lever.

It was then that I turned to the Atari 7800 version of Fatal Run. There are more options. More detailed damage. More repair shop possibilities and more power ups. The password system works differently here. It does not build upon itself. All passwords are completely unique for each level and vary in length. You have to go through each 4 levels to get the next password. But, it is not impossible. Here are a few pointers I can offer which I found out to be the best strategy:

Wait until a few cars are on the horizon. You can take out multiple cars with one missile.

After running out of bullets, use your front bumper. Avoid side contact.

If any part of the car diagram turns red, avoid any more contact with that area. Pass a car by decelerating. Then accelerating. Side slipping off the road if necessary.

In the repair shop, cash in your money in this order: full tank of gas, front bumper, armor, general, other.

If you have any money leftover after repairs (they overcharge just like in real life), buy missiles.

I managed to complete the 7800 version. This one does have an ending. Your car parks on the side of the screen. You get to watch the final countdown and launch of the space shuttle. The final screen was like déjà vu all over again, as Yogi used to say. It reminded me of the one space shuttle launch that I saw many years ago. My wife and I happened to be on vacation in Florida. After hearing about it on the news we drove to Cape Kennedy, but it was closed off. Just like hundreds of other cars we had to park and watch from the distance in Titusville. It was worth the wait, we got a clear view of the launch. It was beautiful! An orange flame and a rising tower of smoke. It gave you a lump in your throat. Just before going out of sight you could vaguely see it separating from its booster rockets. It was quite an impressive sight. A few of the other 2600 games that feature rocket launchings are: Shuttle Orbiter, Space Shuttle, Missile Control, Cosmic Commuter, and Survival Island. Fatal Run for either system in PAL might still be carried by Telegames UK.







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