PrinceWatercress plays Air-Sea Battle - Part 1 of 7

It's time to play one of the Atari 2600's launch games...and boy, does this still hold up.

Next | End

Air-Sea Battle is a fixed shooter game for the Atari 2600 from 1977 and is one of the launch games for the system. It was one of the first games developed for Atari by Larry Kaplan, and in this game, you shoot down various targets with a gun to earn points. There are quite a few different ways on how to do this - anti-aircraft guns, submarines, a shooting gallery, naval ships, and bomber jets - and these ways encompass six different gameplay modes. 

There are twenty-seven (27) different types of game types encompassing these six different modes, and some of them allows for one player to compete against the computer. All game end after two minutes and sixteen minutes (2:16) of play, with the score at the top of the screen flashing during the last sixteen seconds to dictate that the game is about to end. Games also end when one player reaches ninety-nine (99) points.

Believe it or not, the difficulty switches change the sizes of your shot. A/Expert makes the shot a quarter of the size that it is in B/Novice, and since I do not touch on this in any of these videos, I will do so here.

Anti-Aircraft Games

In the anti-aircraft game modes, you'll be stuck in a fixed position, holding Up and Down on the joystick to aim at 30 degrees and 90 degrees (straight up), respectively. The fire button, of course, fires a shot, and you can only have one shot on the screen at any time.

Multiple targets will move from left to right, and you'll want to shoot them all down as quickly as possible to get new ones as well to achieve as high a score as possible. Timing is key to shoot down as many targets as you can in addition to your firing angle.

In the first three game modes (1-3), all objects award one point when shot down.

All game modes are two-player simultaneous unless otherwise indicated.

Game 1

This is the standard game. Shots are fixed, so the angle that your gun is at when you fire dictates where your shot will go, and that direction will not waver.

Game 2

In this game, you have guided missiles. After firing, you can control with Up and Down on the joystick to make it move at different angles in case you're going to miss, which can be fun.

Game 3

This is much like Game 1, except the left gun is controlled by the computer and the right gun is controlled by the player on Controller Port 2. The computer will keep firing at one angle, though, so it's pretty easy.

In the second three game modes (4-6), small jets are worth four (4) points, large jets are worth three (3) points, helicopters are worth two (2) points, 747 planes are worth one (1) point, and the observation blimps with the "A" on them give you nothing and are just there to be in the way.

Game 4

In this mode, you'll have fixed shots that go in one continuous direction, just like Game Mode 1. The only difference is that different things are worth different points. It's easy to hit 99 and end the game earlier in modes 4-6 if you know what you're doing.

Game 5

Here, you'll have guided missiles that you can move around with Up and Down on the joystick. Just like in Game Mode 2, you'll be having fun with trick shots while scoring higher than ever before.

Game 6

Much like Game Mode 3, this is one player vs. the computer. Score more than the computer that keeps firing at the same angle to win.

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 8 of 8

In this entry, we finally beat the Zod Gang, who caused all the ghosts to wreak havoc on the city and send them packing for good. Metropolis is safe again...for now...

First | Previous

Freedom Island is all the way to the west. Head to the building west of Metropolis Park to farm up on pick-ups and health, because you're going to need them. Since there is a phone booth near the building, you can easily do both here. Of course, this assumes that you didn't use the "dying and continuing" trick like I did. Since this refills all your abilities, you can just fly to Senneville and then fly to Freedom Island from there. It's not like you're going to need that ability once you're at Freedom Island, anyway.

When you land, enter the door. You'll face robots that move towards you pretty quickly as you make your way up the stairs. At each floor above the entry floor, you'll need to go left and use your powers to defeat the members of the Zod Gang, who have the same powers that you do. You'll have to punch them multiple times, as your powers will have no effect against any of them. There are three enemies at all, and once you beat the third one at the top floor, you'll beat the game.

The first is Ursa. Get away from her when she jumps and avoid her Heat Vision blasts, then start punching away as she approaches.

The second is Non, who has the Super Breath. Just stand there and keep punching when you see him, and he will go down super easily.

You'll then finally face Zod, who has both the Super Breath and the Heat Vision attacks. He also has a sword. Avoid him as he jumps, and punch him when he lands on the ground or when he approaches you. He'll go down just as easily as his subordinates, and when you beat him, you'll see a cutscene where Ursa, Non and Zod are thrown into a portal into space. 

You'll then meet The Statue of Liberty, who tells you that the Zod Gang will be cast into space and that the Earth will remain at peace. Superman will then be told that he must protect freedom and justice forever, then the game goes back to the title screen. You just beat Superman for NES!

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 7 of 8

In this entry, we finally beat Lex Luthor, but now ghosts are running amok in Metropolis. It's not going to be long before we reach the end of the game!

First | Previous | End

From the Metro Police Station, you'll need to the CBD area. Thankfully, we can fly there from Teaboro. From there, head to the left of the building you land near and use Super Spin to go down the funny look tiles. 

Once you're underground, head all the way to the right and go down the ladder. From here, head right and go down another ladder. At this point, you'll have no choice but to head left and go down the ladder. Then, you'll need to head right and go up until you reach the end, where you'll find Lex Luthor. Hit him with the Heat Vision and stay away from him and his club while also taking out the gangster. When you beat Lex Luthor, he will be arrested, but a gang of monsters will soon be on the loose.

Interestingly, enemies do not move until you're completely off the ladder onto the ground. Weird.

When you beat Lex Luthor, monster gangs will be on the loose. Welcome to the last chapter, where your attack, defense and health will be as high as they can go.

Level 5

Back at the Daily Planet, Lois Lane will you that The B.G. Bros are waiting for you at Battery Park in Senneville. The B.G. Bros (B.G. being short for bubble gum) are actually the F.B.I. agents that you've been seeing throughout the second half of the game. 

When you leave the Daily Planet, turn to Superman and use your X-Ray screen on every screen you enter so you don't get your butt handed to you by ghosts. The ghosts will be every single place you go from this point on.

Take the subway near the Daily Planet, then head east towards Senneville. Move to the left past the Metropolis Bank area, and you'll find the park and The B.G. Bros. They will tell you that the monsters' boss may be hiding beneath Metropolis Park. You'll also find out that this is the last time you will see them, as their work here is done.

Once you reach the park, keep heading right until you find the blocks you can go through with Super Spin.

When you go down the dig point at Metropolis Park with Super Spin, use your X-Ray Vision to see the enemies before going down the first ladder you see. Keep using X-Ray Vision at every screen. Go left and go down the ladder, then head right and head down the first ladder you see. Go left, then go down the next ladder. Head right, then go up the next ladder you see. From here, head left (right is a dead end), jump over the water, then go up the ladder. Head right from the ladder and go up the next ladder you see, then head right again and go up the next ladder. When you beat up the purple ghost in this room, it will tell you that their boss is waiting for them at Freedom Island.

Go back down the ladder, then head left and go down the next ladder. Head all the way to the left and go up the ladder, then go right and go up the ladder. Finally, head left and jump up the opening to end up back in the park.

Of course, that's if you want to do things that way. I take the quick and dirty route, and that's taking damage on the ladder from an invisible ghost and continuing to end up back at the Daily Planet.

If you die while climbing a ladder and return to the Daily Planet, you'll be in the ladder climbing animation when you come back. If you punch, you'll be standing in mid-air. You can also press and hold Down to get back on the ground.

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 6 of 8

We'll need to take down a few fire beasts that Lex Luthor has unwittingly unleashed before we can Luthor himself.

First | Previous | Next | End

Level 4

Head down to the Art Museum in McKeesport. On the way there, you'll see the red zombies, which are the weakest of the three types of zombies that you'll face. When you enter, you'll meet the two guys from the F.B.I. They will tell you that Lex Luthor has failed in making a monster, which has turned into fire beasts that you'll need to defeat. You'll need to defeat these monsters, then return to the Metro Police Station in Teaboro.

The first fire beast is in University Plaza near Staunton, which is going to be quite the trek. You'll want to head right from the Art Museum until you see a subway station, then take it to Staunton. University Plaza will be right there, so go in and make your way all the way downstairs. Watch the blue as it jumps around and punch it when it lands. Beating it nets you the final Super Breath II extension of the game. Watch out for enemies, and use X-Ray Vision to see the enemies at the top half of the building.

The second fire beast is at the Palace Disco in Andersonville near the subway station that leads to Centennial Park. Thankfully, you just have the one room, and the fire beast here fights just like the one in University Plaza. Beating will net you the final Heat Vision extension.

The third fire beast is in front of the Civic Center. To get there, you'll need to take the subway to Teaboro, then keep going to the right until you no longer can. The fire beast will be right outside, and beating it will net you the final X-Ray Vision extension, which is the final power-up extension in the game.

Make your way back to the Metro Police Station and go inside. The F.B.I. will tell you that Lex Luthor is hiding under Central Station.

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 5 of 8

In this entry, we reprogram the computer - by force - and beat down Jay Falk to stop Ross Webster's plans before getting ready for the fourth chapter of the game.

First | Previous | Next | End

If you have no idea that there is a computer center, you'll be looking all over for it. Thankfully, it's easy to find, as we have passed it before: it's at the "E" in Metropolis Park on the map. When you reach it, go inside and fight the enemies as you make your way to the lowest level.

Beating all the enemies on the entry floor will net you a Super Spin extension, while clearing the first floor below that will give you a Super Flight extension. Two floors down, you'll find the computer. When you see it, avoid the lasers as you jump into the computer and punch at the core. This will reprogram the computer to act as it normally did. Make sure you defeat all the gangsters on this floor so you can get a Heat Vision extension, too. After that, make your way back up and get out of here, and watch out for the zombies and ghost cats that have taken over the building on your way out.

From here, you'll want to head to the Metro Tower, which is to the east of the Computer Center. If you need to, use the nearby phone booth to turn back into Clark Kent and get your health refilled, then turn back into Superman and enter the Metro Tower.

Once inside, take out the gangsters and enter the elevator to go down. There are no pickups on the first two floors, but there will be a Super Breath II extension on the third, an X-Ray Vision extension on the third, a Super Spin extension on the fourth, a Super Flight extension on the fifth, and a Super Breath I extension on the sixth.

Always wait on the top of a stairs and keep punching if an enemy is below you; they'll eventually jump your way and into your attacks.

When you reach the bottom-most floor, equip Heat Vision. You'll eventually face Jay Falk himself. If he jumps, run under him and hit him with Heat Vision from floor level as he makes his way down, and punch him when he gets close in case you run out. You'll eventually beat Jay Falk, and you'll complete the third chapter before being sent to the fourth, where the museum is robbed courtesy of Lex Luther, who has posed a challenge for Superman.

At the Daily Planet, Lois Lane will tell you to go to the Art Museum in McKeesport to start the chapter off.

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 4 of 8

After just four videos, we're about 50% of the way through the game...already!

First | Previous | Next | End

If you headed straight to the stock market west of Senneville and talk to the people there, you would have found out from one of the people there that the people at the Fish Market in the Old City are worried about their stock. That is your one clue that you need to go there. Of course, when you head there, you'll be simultaneously getting extensions for your abilities as well as advancing the plot for the game at the same time. In the first chapter, getting more energy for your powers and advancing the plot were independent of each other; in this chapter, they're not. You'll also find out that Glernmorgan Square is also in a slump.

The two people in sunglasses all the way tot he right at the Stock Market are F.B.I. agents. They will tell you that the Dragons Gang (or "Dragon's Gang") has caused the stock slump.

From here, you'll need to head back to Teaboro and head east to China Garden. Enter China Garden and equip Heat Vision, then take out the gangsters. When you see the big guy, hit him with Heat Vision, and punch at him when you get him close to the wall. When you beat this guy, you'll head to the next part of the game. No sooner do you beat the Dragons Gang and save the stocks that a professor and top scientist is kidnapped.

Level Three

You'll be back at the Daily Planet with more health, attack power and defense power. Talk to Lois Lane, and you'll find out that there are two universities to go to: Nordham University around Mt. Royal, and Metropolis University around Andersonville. Jimmy Olsen will tell you that ghosts have been seen at both universities.

We took care of the ghosts around Nordham University at the start of the game while searching for ability extensions, so we only have Metropolis University to head to. Leave the Daily Planet, take out the gangsters and turn into Superman, then take the nearby subway north. Head left towards Andersonville, and when you reach Metropolis University after continuously heading in that direction, you'll meet the F.B.I. agents again. They will tell you that can use X-Ray Vision to see the ghosts, and that the police seem to know something about the kidnapped professor.

This is your cue to head to Teaboro and head to the Metro Police Station. At this point, you'll notice that some enemies will take fewer punches to defeat. The one person who is there will tell you that a man who looked like the kidnapped professor was spotted at Centennial Park. Refer to your map, and you'll see a help signal on the map. You'll need to head east from Andersonville until you find a subway station, then take it north to Centennial Park. When you get to the general area of the park, keep heading to the left, then go down the ladder by standing on top of it and holding Down. Keep in mind that the only way to get off a ladder is to climb all the way up or down it, and you have to be on the ground in order to use them, so keep that in mind as you fight the enemies around here.

Head all the way to the right and climb down the ladder. From that ladder, go right and climb down the next ladder. You'll find a man who will tell you that Jay Falk - a mobster from the movies in the 1980s as well as the comics around the time the movies came out - forced him to put an evil mind in a huge computer, and that something must be done or else Loss Webster (a misspelling of Ross Webster, the main antagonist from Superman III will control the computers of the world. You'll have to destroy the huge computer in order to stop Webster, EVEN THOUGH HE NEVER TELLS YOU WHERE THE COMPUTER IS. From here, you'll need to get back to street level.

PrinceWatercress plays Superman (NES) - Part 3 of 8

When you hit the second chapter of the game, things get a little more interesting...and a little easier.

First | Previous | Next | End

From the Daily Planet, I head back to the Apollo Theater. Since we have enough extensions for Super Flight, I fly straight to Metropolis Park and head right to the theater from there.

This time, I head down to the bottom-most floor. Take down the gangsters, then equip Heat Vision. You'll face Zaora, who runs at you to hit you with a whip. She will also jump around a lot, so hit her with the eye beams from the Heat Vision ability whenever you're able to get a clear shot on her. If you run out of Heat Vision, punch her when she gets in close, and watch out for her jumping!

When you beat Zaora, you'll see a "Daily Planets" newspaper with the headline "Superman defeats Zod Gang." (Whoever that is.) You'll then get another headline stating that the stock market is in a panic and that prices are falling. Now Superman will have to investigate what is going on with the stock market.

Level Two

You'll be at the Daily Planet, and you'll have the subway pass in your inventory, as noted in the upper-left corner of the screen. If you talk to Jimmy Olsen, he will tell you to take the subway pass. At last, you can finally use the subway routes all over the city. If you talk to Lois Lane, she will tell you that you can learn all about stocks at the Senneville Stock Market. This looks like the first place you're going to go.

When you leave the Daily Planet and get to the phone booth, be ready to have Super Breath II equipped, as you'll need it to freeze the zombies in place and beat them up. After you beat up the zombies in front of the Daily Planet, use Super Flight to fly to Andersonville to make it easier to get to Senneville.

After landing at Andersonville, I head left until I reach a subway entrance. I also keep tapping the direction I want to go so that I'm not taken by surprise from enemies. When I reach the subway entrance halfway to Senneville, it takes me to Teaboro. When you arrive, be ready to fight a zombie, then head to the right. You'll find the "Help" alert at the Firemen's Memorial Museum. Equip Super Breath I, go in, and use the ability on the fireball enemies that you see to take them out and get a Heat Vision extension. You're done here, so take the subway back to where you originally were and keep going left to the Old City.

But first...equip Super Breath II and head to the Metropolis Bank, which is further to the west. Go inside and fight the enemies here to get to refill Super Flight if you need to, then fly to the Old City. When you land, fight the enemies on the screen, then enter the building to the right, which is the Fish Market. Defeat the enemies here and get a Super Breath I extension. When you leave, there will be NPC's who will be thanking you for saving them - and their first - from the Dragons Gang. Well, that explains all the kung fu fighters we've been facing recently! Another one will tell you that they are going to set fire to One Lexcorp Plaza in Lafayette. 

Fly to Senneville and refill on Super Flight back at the Metropolis Bank, then fly to Lafayette. When you land, fight the enemies that surround you, refill on health if you need to by going back and forth between this screen and the one to the east by fighting enemies as Clark Kent, then turn back into Superman with the phone booth and enter the building to the west, which is One Lexcorp Plaza. Go inside and equip Super Breath I to take out all the fireball enemies and get a Super Spin extension, then leave to talk to the NPC's. They will thank you before telling you that the Dragons Gang is about to rob Metropolis Bank, where we've just been. That explains the "Help" alert in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Head back to Metropolis Bank. Thankfully, you'll know where the bank will be on the map thanks to the "Help" alert. Go inside the bank and fight the gangsters. One will ask if you like Chinese noodles, while another tells you not to look for the Dragons, because it is useless. You'll also get an X-Ray Vision extension.

When you leave the bank, there will be no more enemies inside or outside of the bank briefly. The guy near the door will tell you to take the criminals you just fought to the Metro Police Station. If you go in and out of the bank, however, enemies will pop up in this area again. This is where you ended up when you took the subway to Teaboro, so take the subway that took you to Teaboro earlier and enter the nearby building, which is the police station. You'll also have a picture of a guy with a hat and sunglasses next to the subway pass in the upper-left corner, which lets you know that you have suspects in custody. 

When you enter the Metro Police Station, the criminals will be taken out of your inventory. Talk to the people there, and you'll be thanked for bringing the Dragons Gang to justice. From here, you'll need to head to Senneville and the stock market.