 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(November 2021) |
| Quasar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Aristotle Software |
| Publisher(s) | Aristotle Software |
| Designer(s) | Jonathan Dubman [1] |
| Platform(s) | Apple II |
| Release | 1983 |
| Genre(s) | Snake |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Quasar is a snake game written by Jonathan Dubman for the Apple II and published by Aristotle Software in 1983. [1]
The objective of the game is to earn points by surrounding and eliminating opponents, the "light-cycles". The player control's an orange line with a "cycle" in front of it that can move up, down, left, or right. Wherever they go, they leave an orange trail.
If the player crashes into anything, their cycle is "zapped", even if they crash into their own trail.
The other cycles: violet, green, and blue, also move in a similar way. They are like the player except for that the computer controls them. Likewise, if they crash into anything, they disappear. They also leave trails, . If one cycle crashes, the others remain until they are trapped and crash, one by one.
To make them disappear, the player must restrict the area in which they move by surrounding them. If they get boxed in, they will spiral to their own demise.
Some points are awarded for mere survival, but many more are awarded for such things as eliminating opponent cycles, completing a level, and eating apples,
Every 5000 points, the player will get a bonus cycle, which means they will get one more chance to play before the game ends.
There are six different speeds that the game can be played at. Inexperienced players are best off at the lower speeds (1,2) and experienced players are best off at the medium speeds (3,4). The upper speeds (5,6) are for very experienced players.
Every eighth level there is a "bonus board" in which the player can earn many bonus points by lasting long and then killing off their opponents. In the bonus board levels, they and their opponents are snakes. The player can only last so long before they run out of air.
When all of the players cycles crash, the game is over and a finale tune is played. If the player then hear 3 sirens, they have a new high score. The player can then type there name letter by letter and press RETURN.
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