=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A Mysterious Thief For the Atari 2600 General FAQ Last Updated 2/21/05 Version 1.0 Written & Compiled by "TestaALT" Email address TestaALT@aol.com This file is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All rights reserved. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ================== Table of Contents: ================== 1. Version History 2. Introduction 3. Dedication 4. Controls 5. Overview 6. Strategies 7. Frequently Asked Questions 8. Credits 9. Legal Disclaimer 10. Contact Information ============================================================================= 1. Version History ============================================================================= Version 1.0 (02/21/05): Initial version of document - it's complete. ============================================================================= 2. Introduction ============================================================================= Interestingly, GameFAQs doesn't have any information on "A Mysterious Thief" besides the game's name and genre. The company' name is "_No Company" and release date in "N/A." With that in mind, I've decided to write a walkthrough for all the people who have this game and don't know who they bought it from or when it was released. A Mysterious Thief is a pretty short coin-waster that gets dull pretty quickly. It's short, tedious, and tough - three qualities that make a good "hi-score" game. ============================================================================= 3. Dedication ============================================================================= I decided to dedicate this guide to all Atari 2600 gamers out there. They really keep this system alive, even though it seems "dead." Atari 2600, in a lot of people's minds, was the first gaming console ever created. This really isn't true, as there were other obscure systems before it. However, this was most people's first video game system. This is the system that brought them into gaming. And so, I dedicate this guide to the Atari 2600 gamers that still play this old system and keep it alive. This guide is also dedicated to Brian P. Sulpher and AboveAverage. Brian for showing me that you can write for very old systems. AboveAverage for showing me which system to write on... the Atari 2600! ============================================================================= 4. Controls ============================================================================= Fire Button: Makes the thief jump in the air. Joystick: Used to move the thief. ============================================================================= 5. Overview ============================================================================= The basic layout of the game: ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ============================================================================ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ============================================================================ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ============================================================================ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ============================================================================ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ============================================================================ The "="'s are land that you can walk on and the "-"'s are boxes that the ducks are inside. On each "=" you'll find a small dash of purple. This is the opening that will allow you to get to higher land levels. If you jump under it the thief will grab ahold of it and somersault to the next level. These openings change when you use them so you can't just go down a floor if an enemy is near. The goal of the game is to get the items (they give you points) in the boxes without getting hit by the enemies. The two enemies are the dogs and the ducks. The dogs are on the land while the ducks are in the boxes. One dog and duck reside on each level. The items randomly spawn inside the boxes and look different, but they are normally a light shade of blue. Only one item spawns at a time, so you have to get to a certain level, dodge all the enemies, and get the item, only to find another item spawn a couple levels away. This, all being done in five minutes with three lives. If you get hit once by the enemies you will die. There is no way to kill these enemies, however, even if you jump on them you will die. In addition to the randomly spawning opening, there is an opening on one end of each level. Nothing happens if you reach the top - it's more of a safe haven than anything. Your points will be displayed in white at the top of the screen. So, in short, cycle between levels, dodging monsters along the way and picking up items that are worth points. ============================================================================= 6. Strategies ============================================================================= Some key strategies to scoring points in A Mysterious Theif. Most of these strategies are just pointers on how to dodge enemies and get items quickly. * You only have three lives, so the number one strategy is to dodge the enemies and try not to get too "gutsy." The dogs are easy to dodge - merely jump over them when you are a little ways away from them. As a thief, you jump pretty far (almost like you are using a pole) and can easily jump over the dogs. * The ducks are a little harder to dodge, however. Since you cannot crouch in this game, there is NO way that you can evade them besides changing levels or standing in between boxes. See, the ducks can only hurt you while they are inside the green boxes. * This should go without saying but wait until the right opening is open. Don't go in when a dog is close to it because he WILL change course and get you. * To collect an item, make sure the opening is fairly close to it and the duck is fair away from it. You don't really have to worry about the dog when collecting items because you can just jump over it. Ducks, however, have to be evaded in more intelligent ways. * Use the side openings to your advantage. If you see an item on one side of the screen, use the opening there to quickly collect the item and leave through the same opening. * The safe haven on the top should only really be used if there is an item one level below it. Rather than it, it's pretty useless and a waste of time. * If you don't see a duck on a level don't be fooled, one will spawn when you are on the level. * The openings usually spawn somewhere in the middle. Just wait a few seconds for one to respawn if you don't get one you like. * Dodging both the duck and dog at the same time is an artform. It's fairly tough to do, but if you take advantage of both the duck and dog strategies by jumping over the dog and immediately switching levels, you should be fine. * The dog and duck change course a few seconds after you reach their level. * Sometimes, you will spawn in a new level on the box itself - make sure a duck isn't near when you spawn. * Jump under the opening (the "dash") to get to the above level. * Press down while on an opening to descend a level. * There are also openings on each side of the level. They are a lot smaller than the regular openings and are pretty tough to see. * The ONLY way to get points in this game is obtained the items, so they should be one of your highest priorities. ============================================================================= 7. Frequently Asked Questions ============================================================================= Question: Can I crouch in this game? Answer: No, it would make the game way too easy because you would be able to dodge the ducks by simply crouching. Question: How many levels are in this game? Answer: It's all the same level - you don't advance to other places. Question: What is the best way to get points? Answer: Being lucky, really. You have to do this fast and hope an enemy doesn't spawn right on top of you. Question: How do a jump over the dog correctly? Answer: The thief jumps pretty far, so jump and hold the joystick to the direction the dog is at to jump over it. Question: Can I play this with a friend? Answer: No, no one can be a dog or a duck. Question: Why did they make the top level? Answer: As a safe haven if you are tired of dodging stuff. ;) Question: My game doesn't work, how do I get it to work!? Answer: You might have a corrupted version of the game, or perhaps the old 2 K version, which doesn't work very well. Question: Where can I get this game? Answer: The Atari 2600 hasn't had any new games made for years, so you can't buy it from them. You can get the game at a garage sale or ebay, if you like. ROMs also work, if you have the game and it is broken, that is. ============================================================================= 8. Credits ============================================================================= * CJayC for creating GameFAQs. * Brian Sulpher for referring me to a good ROM site. ============================================================================= 9. Legal Disclaimer ============================================================================= This document is Copyright (c) 2005 Andrew "TestaALT" Testa. All Rights Reserved. This document may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any form and under any circumstances without the complete consent of the author. It may not be sold, altered, or published in any way without the advanced permission of the author. All sources, which have contributed to this document, are cited and/or credited in some form. The only sites I allow this document to be viewed at are: GameFAQs IGN If you see this document at any other site please email me as I do not allow this document to be published at any other sources. Please do not ask me if you want this document on your website, as the answer will most likely be no. These terms have become binding once the recipient (or reader) opened this document. Violation of these terms are strictly prohibited and will result in a lawsuit. Please do not take these terms as threats and/or not read them as they are all very much true. I can sue you for an act of plagiarism and will not hesitate to do so. Thank you for reading this legal disclaimer and have a nice day! =) ============================================================================= 10. Contact Information ============================================================================= Contact me via email (TestaALT@aol.com) or AIM (TestaALT) if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this guide. Just make sure that you put the game name in the subject line. If you don't, I'll probably delete you're email thinking it's spam. Also, make sure that the question isn't answered in the latest version of the document, which can be found at GameFAQs. Try to ask me legibly, as I can't decipher chickenscratch. For AIM, just beep me whenever you like. Thanks for reading, and check some of my other work at: -> http://gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/23249.html <- -- EOF --