Flyover

FLYOVER is a simple yet compelling action/strategy game for the Commodore64, C16, Vic20, PET, Atari400/800, ZX Spectrum, MSDOS, or Windows/Linux (via SDL2). It is small, and can run on a 5k unexpanded Vic20.

The executables (and source) are in the "flyover" sub-folder.

Controls (or use Joystick):

SPACE/SHIFT/FIRE = Drop bomb.

S = Toggle sound on/off.

M = Toggle fast/slow.

X = Quit game.

(WIN/DOS: ESC quits game, then to OS from title screen)

The object of the game is to eliminate the (Yellow) Special targets and progress to the next level. As your plane flys across the screen, you can drop bombs onto the numbers in the rocky cavern below. You loose a life if you miss the targets and hit the rocks, or if you dont drop a bomb during a pass.

The height/direction of the plane is random, you do not control that. The bombs descend at an angle, then travel vertically down through the numbers and targets. If the bomb hits a column sideways-on, then numbers above the hit point collapse down. The higher a bomb is dropped from, the deeper it penetrates. The plane colour indicates the height of the plane. You start with 5 lives, and get a bonus life every 2 levels.

The top line shows the score, the number of targets left, the level, and number of lives left. The maximum score possible is 65535.

Special targets score more on higher levels.

During play hit M to change speed, S to toggle sound, X (or ESC) to quit.

For C64, C16 & ZX, you can select Joystick #1 or #2.

For the ZX the first joystick is Sinclair i/f #1, the second the Kempstone joystick.

The ZX sound uses the AY8912 chip in the Spectrum 128, running the program in 48K mode.

(c64 version)

 HINTS

As you play, you will find that single isolated targets are difficult to eliminate. It is much easier to remove them if numbers are left on top, so try to hit columns sideways (in the middle) to achieve this. Try to eliminate central targets first, and work outwards, leaving a crust of numbers on top of the targets. Since you do not control height/direction, its is important to keep a balance of targets on both sides of the cavern. This is a "one button" game, so careful choice of targets is a key strategy.

The source code is included. For more details on compiling Flyover, and on VTDL, see "vtdl.txt" in the tdl folder.

My original Basic version of Flyover was published in Dec 1982 "Vic Computing" magazine, you will find that version as "bas/Flyover.tap", in the bas folder

(1982 Vic20 version)