S.T.U.N. Runner

Once again Atari offers a pint-sized, yet uncannily accurate version of an ultra-hot coin-op title. S.T.U.N. Runner dishes out all the high speed twists, turns, and thrills of its big arcade brother. The graphics and gameplay are so faithful to the original, that you'll look for a token slot every time you plug in this cart!

No Brakes!

In the year 2492, you take on the ultimate sport-S.T.U.N Running. You pilot a S.T.U.N. sled at speeds over 900 miles per hour through a series of challenging courses filled with deadly obstacles and death-dealing road hogs! You guide your crimson craft from a first-person perspective on a super fast-paced, rollercoaster-type ride. The objective is simple: finish each course within the allot-ed time or you lose!

At the beginning of each course, a detailed overhead map pinpoints every twist and turn plus the location of special items. Speed Boosters are absolutely essential. Running over a Power Boost pad launches your craft to turbo levels and makes it momentarily invincible. Store Shockwaves by running over Shockwave markers or grabbing a specific number of Stars. Your vehicle packs unlimited laser fire, but Shockwaves destroy all enemies on the course.

A S.T.U.N.ning Game!

This cart's awesome graphics deserve special mention! The Lynx unleashes its graphics gusto as it recreates to perfection all the colors and details of arcade S.T.U.N. Runner. The three-dimensional scrolling effects are extremely smooth and dynamic, especially when you break the sound barrier!

S.T.U.N. Runner is an uncomplicated, yet extremely challenging game. The first few levels are easy, but then shrewd driving, lightning reflexes, and strategic planning are absolutely necessary to go the rest of the way! You'll find something new and exciting each time you play S.T.U.N. Runner-the true sign of an excellent cart!

Question: After a hard day of saving the world from destruction, what does the typical hero do to unwind? Answer: Ride an antigravity cycle through 23 levels of futuristic highways and tubular tunnels at speeds of over 900 miles per hour.

Oh, don't worry, there's still plenty of shooting — but this time it's not a matter of life and death. Atari's S.T.U.N. Runner is a game of speed! As a S.T.U.N. (Speed Tunnel Underground Network) Runner, your goal is to travel as fast as possible and complete each race within the allotted time. Naturally, it's not as easy as it sounds. You're racing against the clock, and numerous enemies conspire to prevent you from winning.

You begin by selecting a starting level: Novice (track 1), Intermediate (track 6), or Advanced (track 11). When you climb onto your vehicle, a protective outer shell is bolted around you. The control yoke allows you to steer left and right. Up and down movement aims the roof-mounted laser, and your itchy trigger finger fires it. You don't directly control your speed in S.T.U.N. Runner — you must take the path of least resistance to keep from slowing dow'n.

Next, your on-board computer displays the track, its name, some vague advice, and a key detailing the track types: wide and narrow flats, tunnels, and areas still under construction. Then a pleasant female voice wishes you good luck and the race is on. Track 1 is called Cake Walk, and it simply allows you to familiarize yourself with the controls. Cake Walk has red stars on the surface of the track to show you the best path.

You start on a short stretch of wide, flat track leading to a circular gate. The gate opens like an iris, and soon you're rocketing through a winding tunnel. Follow the red stars on the ground and walls to achieve the best time. A buzzer sounds when your time is almost up, but you should find yourself gliding into the station with no problems. That lovely voice chimes, "You have completed level 1/' and you'll receive a set of outboard shields.

Track 2 — Boost Boulevard — introduces you to Boost Pads. You'd better learn to use them if you want to finish the higher levels in S.T.U.N. Runner. When you drive over the glowing rectangular Boost Pads, you get an exhilarating burst of hyperspeed and a temporary shield of invincibility. The sound effect when this happens says it all: Yeehoooo!

The third track is Blood Alley, and it begins introducing you to the more formidable opponents lurking in S.T.U.N. Runner — in this case, the indestructible Armored Android Drone. Indestructible, that is, except when hit by a Shock Wave. You can pick up the Shock Waves at strategic points along the course and also when you complete a level with the required number of collected stars.

Fire a Shock Wave when you find yourself running out of time and are surrounded by enemies. The Shock Wave blasts off ahead of you, disrupting the molecular structure of everything in its path.

Other enemies you can look forward to meeting are the Orno-Bot, which flies ahead of you, dropping blue oil slicks; the Hover-Bot, a mechanized kamikaze; and, of course, the ChopperBot, which lowers the maddening AttackBots onto the track. These purple punks suddenly slam on their brakes, causing you to collide with them and spin out. (Fortunately, S.T.U.N. Runner has a continue feature that lets you drop in a coin and pick up where you left off.)

Special Challenge Waves give you the opportunity to increase your score by collecting as many stars or hitting as many Boost Pads as possible, without the hindrance of other traffic. The Kill Challenge, on the other hand, rewards a high Botty count. Of the 23 levels in S.T. U.N. Runner, my two favorites are track 6 (Outer Drive) and track 7 (Ramp-Alot). On the Outer Drive, you find yourself hurtling through a transparent, wire-frame tunnel. Outside you can see the universe, complete with stars and galactic spirals. And the Ramp-Alot track is practically wall-to-wall ramps that propel you high into the air with breathtaking changes of perspective. S.T.U.N. Runner has shortcuts, too. Near the beginning of level 9, for instance, there's a warp that transports you straight to the finish line of level 13.

Finally, there's The Ultimate Challenge. This level throws everything at you on a track that zigs and zags like an electrocardiogram. Deep into this level you'll start passing under billboards that display names from the high-score table. And waiting for you at the finish line is a fabulous woman who'll hop onto your cycle for a ride. Just snap on your shields and pretty soon you're flying into the wind as fireworks fill the sky.