Atomica Deluxe for PC FAQ version 1.5 by Gallavant (Vlada Peric) _____ | _ | _____ ____ _ _ _ ____ _____ | (_) ||_ _|| || \ / || || __|| ___ | | _ | | | | || || \/ || || | | _ | | | | | | | | || || |\/| || || |__ | | | | |_| |_| |_| |____||_| |_||_||____||_| |_| ___ | \ ___ _ _ _ __ __ ___ | |\ || _|| | | | | |\ \/ /| _| | || || |_ | | | | | | \ / | |_ | |/ || |_ | |_ | |_| | / \ | |_ |___/ |___||___||_____|/_/\_\|___| Contents: ========= 1. Copyright 2. Contact 3. Version History And Date 4. Introduction 5. The Game 5.1 Goal 5.2 Game Types 5.3 Controls 5.4 Gameplay 5.5 Combos 5.6 Atomic Bomb 5.7 Bonus Molecules 5.8 Chromium Atoms 5.9 Bio Hazards 5.10 Special Rounds 5.11 Scoring charts 6. Tactics And Tips 7. Ranks and Easter Eggs 8. Credits 1. Copyright: ============= This FAQ is copyright (c) 2004 Vlada Peric (Gallavant). It's for personal and private use only. It may not be reprinted in part or in whole, or reproduced in any way or in any form (written or otherwise). This document is free, and thus cannot be used in any commercial transaction. You must get my express written consent to reference, alter or post FAQ. This FAQ can be found at: www.gamefaqs.com www.neoseeker.com If you find it anywhere else please tell me. 2. Contact: =========== If you have any contributions, questions or suggestions for this FAQ you may contact me at vlada.peric@gmail.com. Make sure to put "Atomica" or something similar in the subject or the e-mail might be ignored. 3. Version History and Date =========================== 1.0 03.01.2003. - First release 1.1 03.06.2003. - Added some new ranks 1.2 07.07.2003. - Added scoring charts - Added the fifth bonus molecule 1.3 24.11.2003. - Minor format changes - Allowed neoseeker.com to host the FAQ 1.4 03.12.2003. - Added ASCII art 1.5 22.06.2004. - Changed my e-mail 4. Introduction =============== This is a great game that is neglected. It is easy to learn and tough to master. With this FAQ I will try to change that to simple to master. UPDATE: I will probablly make some charts for points as suggested by some FAQ writers a long time ago. The update will be done prolly when i finish school (17th) or maybe several days before. UPDATE 1.2: I was on holiday right after school so I couldn't finish the FAQ then. I'm now adding the charts as I promised and Shawn Macleod told me about the fifth bonus molecule, the LIGHTING molecule. Thanks Shawn, that helped a lot. 5. The Game =========== 5.1 Goal -------- (Taken from the game readme) The goal of Atomica is to create MOLECULES by moving ATOMS around the Game Grid. New atoms will continue to appear, and when you can no longer make any moves, the game will end. 5.2 Game Types -------------- You can play strategic mode or action mode. - In strategic mode when you move an atom more spawn (usually three) and the board clears when you level up. - In action mode atoms allways spawn. And the level is always the same. On the right of each bar is a small button reading "Click Here for Expert Mode." This will let you play Strategy or Action in an advanced mode, suitable for experienced players. The game is much more difficult, but you will also score many more points. 5.3 Controls ------------ (Taken from the game readme) Atomica is controlled entirely with the mouse. To move an atom, simply click on it, then click on the square you want to move it to. An arrow will appear connecting the two squares if it is a valid move. You can move atoms anywhere on the board, but they cannot pass through other atoms... so some areas of the board will be blocked off as the game progresses and more atoms appear. If you decide you want to move a different atom than the one you've selected, just click on the other atom and it will be selected. Bonus Molecules can be moved like other atoms, but they must be DOUBLE-CLICKED to activate their special powers. Doing so will destroy the Bonus Molecule, however. 5.4 Gameplay ------------ To build molecules you must place atoms in a group of four (must be 2x2). You can also create double molecules with a group of 3x2 atoms. When you form a molecule it will disappear from the board. You receive 80 (160 pts in Expert) pts for each Molecule you create. In strategic mode new atoms will appear on the board every time you move and DO NOT complete a molecule. You can tell where these new atoms are going to appear by looking for the symbols on the board. These glowing shapes indicate where new atoms are about to form, and what color they will be. A molecule meter is located at the top of the screen. Whenever you complete a molecule, it will fill up a bit. To progress to the next level, you must fill it all the way up. In Action mode the meter fills up on its own, and when it is completely filled, a new color of atom is added to the grid, making the game more difficult. 5.5 Combos ---------- A combo is created when you finish two or more molecules in a row. That is, you complete a molecule and then with your very next move, complete another. At the top, a geiger counter will show you your combo level. The levels are: 1x chained: Combo 2x chained: Super Combo 3x chained: Mega Combo 4x chained: Ultra Combo 5x chained: Hyper Combo 6x chained: Giga Combo 7x chained: MAX Combo 8x, 9x, 10x...: MAX Combo NOTE: When you have a 7x, 8x... combo the voice will say MAX Combo, but the geiger counter will stay at Giga Combo. Combos will increase this by the level of the combo. A basic combo is worth 80 additional points. The next combo in the sequence is worth an additional 160 points, the next 240 and so on (everything is double in expert) Combos will charge up your Atomic Bomb. 5.6 Atomic Bomb --------------- (taken from the game readme) At the bottom of the screen you will see the Atomic Bomb button and meter. When the Atomic Bomb is charged, the glass cover on the button will slide up, allowing you to press the button and detonate the bomb. Detonating the Atomic Bomb will destroy a number of random atoms on the grid. The higher the Bomb's charge is, the more atoms will be destroyed. The Bomb gets charged by completing Combos! 5.7 Bonus Molecules ------------------- After you have created a number of atoms, you will see the Bonus Molecule window swing out on the left sidebar. This will display a special molecular configuration you can complete to get a Bonus Molecule. You must arrange atoms on the board so that they match the configuration shown in the Bonus Window. If you do so, they will merge into a brand new Bonus Molecule. Bonus Molecules do not combine with other atoms, but they can be moved around the board like a regular atom. To trigger a Bonus Molecule's powers, DOUBLE-CLICK on it. This will destroy the Bonus Molecule in the process. There are 5 different types of Bonus Molecule. Each has a different effect. In addition, if you keep the Bonus Molecule on screen for a while, you'll get the chance to combine it with other atoms into a Level 2 Bonus Molecule. For creating Bonus Molecules, you receive 100pts multiplied by the level of the bonus molecule (double in expert). Molecules effects: FIRE Molecule: Creates and explosion that destroys nearby atoms WIND Molecule: Creates a tornado that swirls and destroys nearby atoms ICE Molecule: Stops new atoms from appearing for several turns ETHER Molecule: Lets you move atoms through other atoms LIGHTING Molecule: Creates a bolt of lighting that destroys nearby and far atoms 5.8 Chromium Atoms ------------------ Sometimes a colorless atom will appear. That is a chromium atom. They act as jokers and can be used to create any molecule. You cannot create a molecule containing only chromium atoms. Chromium atoms cannot be used to create Bonus Molecules. 5.9 Bio Hazards --------------- (Taken from the game readme) Occasionally you will see Biohazard atoms appear on the grid... these pulsating atoms will have a countdown printed on their side. Biohazards are very dangerous, because they replicate. With each move, the countdown will tick down, and when it reaches zero, the Biohazard will duplicate itself, spawning a new Biohazard atom in an adjacent square. This new Biohazard will also begin counting down... if you're not careful, they can quickly choke off the board! Biohazards can be eliminated by making them into a molecule, as with any normal colored atom. 5.10 Special Rounds ------------------- - Radiation Round (a bonus round where you are challenged to remove all the atoms from the screen. If you can do so, you'll receive a bonus.) For completing the first Radiation Round, you receive 500 points. You get 1000 points for the second, 1500 for the third, and so on. (everything is worth double in expert). - Magnet Round (These are special levels that occasionally occur, in which the atoms will all "fall" to one side or another of the grid, drawn by a powerful magnet. This artificial "gravity" makes your job much trickier. 5.11 Scoring Charts ------------------- The chart says how much bonus points do you get from every combo. Number of chained molecules| Normal Mode | Expert Mode | --------------------------------------------------------- 0x chained: Normal Molecule| 80 | 160 | --------------------------------------------------------- 1x chained: Combo | +160 | +320 | --------------------------------------------------------- 2x chained: Super Combo | +240 | +480 | --------------------------------------------------------- 3x chained: Mega Combo | +320 | +640 | --------------------------------------------------------- 4x chained: Ultra Combo | +400 | +800 | --------------------------------------------------------- 5x chained: Hyper Combo | +480 | +960 | --------------------------------------------------------- 6x chained: Giga Combo | +540 | +1080 | --------------------------------------------------------- 7x chained: MAX Combo | +620 | +1240 | --------------------------------------------------------- 6. Tactics And Tips =================== - Radiation rounds. When a radiation round starts count the number of atoms of each color, then divide them into groups of four and six. If you cannot make a group you will have to use chromium atoms (there ain't many of those) For better score you can arrange all the atoms and then make a giant combo. Allways remember that you can move the atoms as much as you want. 7. Ranks and Easter Eggs ======================== The game will give you a rank. I will try to list them. If you notice incorrect information or have new info mail me and I will credit you. The ranks are: 00000 pts - 01000 pts = Test Tube Baby 01000 pts - 02000 pts = Atomic Mutant 02000 pts - 03000 pts = Lab Accident 03000 pts - 04000 pts = Guinea Pig 04000 pts - 05000 pts = Experimenter 05000 pts - 06000 pts = Drop-out 06000 pts - 07000 pts = Undergrad 07000 pts - 08000 pts = Grad Student 08000 pts - 10000 pts = Research Assistant 10000 pts - 12000 pts = Associate Professor 12000 pts - 15000 pts = Professor 15000 pts - 20000 pts = Professor Emeritus 20000 pts - 30000 pts = Rocket Scientist 30000 pts - 40000 pts = Nuclear Physicist 40000 pts - 60000 pts = Particle Man There is an Easter Egg in the game (I have found only one). When you click on the picture of the proffesor you will be able to see his biography. 8. Credits ========== Thanks to Robin Chesterfield for contributing some ranks and reminding me about this FAQ. Thanks to Shawn Macleod for telling me about the fifth bonus molecule. Thanks to CWall for critiquing the format of this FAQ. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------