Tutankham(Atari 2600 version) FAQ
by Andrew Schultz schultza@earthlink.net
version 1.0.0

This FAQ is part of my efforts to preserve old games.  Please do not 
reproduce for profit without my permission.  However, a specific request 
addressing me by name(not Email) will probably get a favorable response.

A color Tutankham map is available at the following fine location:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/2762/games/tutankham_2600.gif
Check out my small Atari page at:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/2762/games/atari.htm
If I get organized I may even link to the PICTURE from the PAGE!  Woo!

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INTRODUCTION, CONTROLS AND GENERAL TIPS

MONSTERS

TREASURES

WALKTHROUGHS

  LEVEL 1

  LEVEL 2

  LEVEL 3

  LEVEL 4

QUIRKS

VERSIONS/CREDITS

================================

INTRODUCTION, CONTROLS AND GENERAL TIPS

  You can never fire vertically.  However, if you hold the fire button 
and push up, you smart-bomb everything on the screen.  You can also move 
during the smart-bombing.
  You can fire the opposite direction you move;  tap the joystick right, 
hit the button, and tap the joystick left to see this.
  You cannot stop your guy unless he runs into a wall.  If you are going 
horizontally down a narrow corridor, you cannot stop, but if you can 
move down, push down and he will stop.  Up/down corridors are easier to 
stop in.
  Monsters have a specific AI for pursuing you in open areas.  If they 
are below and to the right of you, they move up in a zigzag pattern.  If 
they are below and to the left, they move up and then right.  If they 
are above and to the left, they move right and down.  Same for above and 
to the right.

If you are above a monster, and each of you is to the left of a vertical 
corridor, you may have to bait it for it to come up.  Try to get above 
the corridor and quickly pull back.  The monster will "bite," and you 
can fire away.

  If a monster disappears off the screen, you've ditched him.  He's 
vanished.

  There can't be more than two monsters on the screen, and if one is on 
the screen, another is much less likely to appear.

  Hitting select and reset at the same time after you've lost your last 
life will get you another life even though it doesn't show up on the 
screen.  After you lose that life, you are back to three lives and three 
smart bombs, but you'll need to pull the trick again if those lives run 
out.

  Time, which regenerates when you solve a level, isn't much of a factor 
until level four.  When it runs out, you can't shoot, but you can use 
smart bombs.

  You can't get any extra lives, but if you finish the fourth level with 
fewer than three smart bombs, you get one back.

  You can't sneak through a hole with a height of two stripes(i.e. color 
changes)--this is relevant on the fourth level.

  Don't be scared to shoot continuously.  Also make sure that, if you 
are pulling up quickly, that you lay off the fire button, or you'll use 
a smart bomb you didn't need to.

  Sometimes monsters seem to get to you when they shouldn't.  However, 
you can get the better of them.  If you are running by a port that 
spawns monsters, just fire continuously.  Even if you are on top of the 
monster when it appears, you will kill it.  Knowing this is very useful.

  Vertical corridors around monster spawning grounds can be dangerous, 
as monsters can come at you.

  Use "bunkers" in wide-open areas and let the monsters come to you.  
Preferably use bunkers with walls to the right(most important) and 
below.

  Quick moves are best done just after you've killed a monster--new ones 
won't appear for a while.

MONSTERS

Each level has three different monsters.  They are worth 1, 2 and 3 
respectively, and the more points, the faster one is.  The one-pointers 
are half as fast as you, the three-pointers are as fast, and the two-
pointers are 75 percent as fast(no, I didn't have a stopwatch or even a 
sundial, but that's what I guess.)  I believe the manual has different 
names for the monsters, but I prefer to describe 'em as I see 'em.  Tho' 
sometimes I imagine I've tried to look at 'em a bit funny.

By the way, if you want to know the real names of the monsters and 
treasures, check out Greg Chance's History of Home Video Games page at 
http://208.240.253.18/.  You might find some other interesting stuff 
there, too.

Level 1
  1.  snake, light green
  2.  piranha, brown
  3.  skinny bird, salmon

Level 2
  1.  spider, green
  2.  crocodile, brown
  3.  fat bird, purple

Level 3
  1.  snake, green
  2.  big mouth, brown
  3.  weird mask, pink
Level 4
  1.  eyeball/blob, green
  2.  babboon, brown
  3.  pinwheel, purple
Each level has a bunch of different treasures that are worth more or 
less random points.  Most are worth picking up if you wish to add to 
your overall point total.

You can pick up up to fifty points for finishing a level, and this 
decrements by tens as time runs out down to zero.

TREASURES

These are not all the names in the manual, but I had such fun guessing 
that I decided to share my speculations.

I am presenting the treasures in the order they are seen, top to bottom.  
Two stars means that the treasure is probably not worth itif you are 
just trying to get through the level.  One star means it's rather tough.

Level 1

key(20) crown # 1(15) decoder ring(25) rhombus(25) cup(20) crown # 2(45)

Level 2

door knocker(30) comb(25) key() green slime(40) shrub(20) boxing 
glove(20)

Level 3

tuning fork(35) door knocker(30) balloon(25) traffic sign(30) key(60) 
menorah(5)

Level 4

key(55) door(40) knocker(25) bush(80)** coffin(20) rhinestone(40)* 
letter opener(35)


WALKTHROUGHS

  These walkthroughs attempt to pick up treasures but note when that is 
not adviseable.

  LEVEL 1

  This is a good introduction.  The most obvious thing to do is to go 
down and left and pick up the key.  You shouldn't have to worry about 
monsters as you go left, but you might as well rapid-fire.  This is a 
good general strategy.  Pick up the key and move down quickly--if the 
monster hasn't appeared it will now.  Left, down, and right through the 
first portal.  You may need to wait to get to the crown--shuffle 
horizontally a bit until a monster passes you by below or you can shoot 
it.  Then move down via the right corridor and wait until a monster 
comes out and shoot it--then pick up the ring.  You don't want to get 
trapped at the bottom of a vertical corridor with a monster bearing down 
on you.  From there go up, right, down, and all the way left.  Check for 
monsters before going down to get the crown.  The curved passageway down 
next is a bit tough, but don't be scared to camp out at the spot before 
it turns left.  Then run past the left port, firing, and go down where 
you will find another treasure to the side of the corridor.
  Now for the final and toughest treasure to get.  This is a two-step 
plan.  First, move down untit you are at the second place where the 
corridor opens up.  Go hard right and wait for a monster to be produced, 
and shoot it.  Then move down, and go left while firing all the time.  
Dip down to get the second crown after checking for onrushing monsters, 
shoot your way past the port, and from there it's no problem to find the 
next portal.  Just be prepared to go down and shoot your way through to 
the left after going through the portal.  The first lock is in the 
vertical column to the left.  It will reveal the letters "MAP," the 
screen will flash, your guy reveals some dance steps to accompany the 
strobe-lighting, and you'll get a tougher challenge the next round!

  LEVEL 2

  Move along the corridor until it opens up.  Then move quickly up and 
down to stabilize your guy.  Fire at the spider(my they're fat) and wait 
for a crocodile/alligator to come by, and shoot it.  Go left and down 
quickly.  You can fire right while going to get the treasure at the 
right end of the corridor(safer than getting the comb immediately) and 
then come back to get the comb.  Wait for a monster to appear and shoot 
it before going down if you're insecure.  Then go down the corridor to 
the right.  Again if you are nervous, wait where the corridor curvesfor 
a monster to appear and run up at you before shooting and going down.  
There's a wide corridor in the center, so take that down.  Again use 
timing when you're halfway down.  To get the key in the hallway with 
ports at each end, fire left until you hit a monster.  I find that 
killing a couple makes it easy to go up quickly, grab a key, and get 
out.  The trick is to avoid using a smart bomb(i.e. moving horizontally 
with the fire button held down, releasing fire, and moving up quickly) 
if you can.  From there you may need to be accurate getting into the 
portal, and you'll have your first really tough treasure to pick up.  
One solution is to go straight down until you're near a wall, go west, 
and wait for a spider to appear before outmaneuvering it to get the 
emerald.  This is not the worst place to use a smart bomb to get by a 
port, but camping out on the right is the best strategy if you want to 
save.  Beware that getting the emerald can be very deadly;  if a bird 
comes out from the port, it will wait below and to the right of you, and 
if you back yourself into a corner, you are giving up a life or a bomb.
  The rest of the level has two easy treasures followed by a brutal 
gauntlet of a stretch run.  The detour to get the cloud looking thing is 
worthwhile, and you should be able to out-race the two slower monsters 
down the vertical corridor.  If a bird appears, bait it to come up and 
shoot it.  Run by the port while firing, and then go down and left and 
down--here you'll need a little fancy footwork and to jiggle the 
joystick, to mix a metaphor, but you have enough time if a non-bird is 
coming at you.  If it doesn't worth the first time, some practice should 
nail it.  Now the tough part is the last. When going down the corridor, 
wait as usual for the monster to come, and then go left, down, left, 
being sure to fire left in the meantime.  This is not a trivial move, 
even when you know what to do.  I still sometimes, before running past 
the two ports, push right to get my bearings before the final race.  
After that, you find the second lock, which reveals some awkward looking 
trophy.  The manual says it's a vase.

  LEVEL 3

  Move down, right and down.  A snake should come out from the right 
port, so run right and fire--you should know the drill by now.  Pick up 
the tuning fork to the right and up and make sure no monsters are 
waiting when you make your return.  You can cop out by going right and 
down although firing left and going down will give you a better chance 
of avoiding monsters produced in the port below.  Things get tricky once 
you try to go down the wide central corridor, as the pink masks seem to 
come out at a distressing rate.  Move down after killing a monster, 
making sure to back up quickly if a mask appears.  Don't be tempted to 
use a smart bomb--there's a more appropriate place later in this level.  
Once you make it, go right, down and left through the portal.  Go up 
quickly to get the treasure, then down, left, down and left;  the path 
to the next treasure should be a free ride.  Look both ways before going 
down the small vertical shaft and after another vertical corridor in the 
center that winds a bit, you'll find yourself in a room full of boxes.
  This room introduces a new dimension.  There are horizontal passages 
too narrow to go throughin the barrier of four boxes on the left-hand 
side.  Which one to go through, and how?  My advice is to note the two 
small boxes horizontally in the middle.  Run into the one that is 
vertically in the middle from above.  You now have a path left to the 
chamber that holds the key.  But a monster may be waiting there, left 
and up.  You will have to bait it by moving left and pulling back.  This 
may have to be done several times.  There's also the first unlabeled 
port to the left, so using a smart bomb may be prudent here once you 
reach the other side and push up.  It'll give you the time you need to 
get in and out.  Once down the vertical corridor, go all the way right 
until you see a dead end and drop down.  There are two bends in this 
corridor;  in each case, wait in ambush for a monster where walls are to 
the right and down.  A random factor may come into play here;  if a 
brown mouth runs up at you, it may not fit, so you'll need to run off 
the screen and come back again.  Once you've shot a monster at the last 
bend, move quickly left, down, and right.  The menorah is only worth 
five points so it may cost you ten bonus points to get it, but it's fun 
to get even if the risk outweights the reward in points.  Simply run 
left after you hit the right edge, firing all the while.  Grab the 
menorah quickly, then move right and down.  If you miss the turn-off, 
wait for a monster to spawn before you move down to the horizontal 
corridor that holds the third lock to the right.  Behind the third lock 
is a triangular mask and the very tough level four.

  LEVEL 4

  You can see the key off the bat, but seeing the solution is not easy.  
Don't go right for it!  You'll get nailed by a weird green thing if you 
do.  You also cannot sneak through the gaps.  Rather, move down to the 
empty room(don't worry about the portal you see to the left of where you 
start.)  Stay near the top wall and shoot to the right and move right.  
Once you've killed a monster and are close to the ring, grab it and go 
back left until you reach the portal.  Now you can move right and up and 
right quickly(don't forget to fire.  Another monster may spawn in the 
portal.)  If you're paranoid/careful you may stay at the right and fire 
left until you hit something and THEN pick up the key.  Once this is 
done, go back and then go down through the center of the room.  You're 
in a short corridor, and monsters may be chasing you.  You may have to 
goad them before you can move down, but once you do, go right and pick 
up the necklace above if you are willing to do some more goading.  If 
not, just go down the shaft, through the portal, and quickly down and 
right.
  Now here is the first and only treasure I don't recommend you take.  
It's easy to see how to get it;  go left, up, down and right very 
quickly.  You are relying on chance here, though;  if a monster comes up 
after you've gotten the treasure, you will need to use a smart bomb to 
avoid death.  Unless you've already conserved bombs or lives and are 
trying to get through the game with all treasures(the computer doesn't 
recognize this apart from giving a higher score) it is in the interests 
of your survival to avoid this.  But the next treasure, down and to the 
right, is easier.  You may have to go down the "stairs" sequentially to 
bait monsters, but once you get to the corridor where the port is, you 
have a choice about picking up the treasure.  This is the second-
toughest treasure to get in the game.  Run left into the wall above the 
treasure(if you entered from the left, go quickly right and left) and 
fire right until you hit something.  Move down and up as quickly as 
possible, and if you can move right and left quickly you'll be able to 
fire until you hit and move down again.
  The last part may be the best place for a smart bomb in the game.  
Down a vertical corridor(from left to right, choose the third of six--it 
has a treasure the far right doesn't) you have a port to the left.  
You're at the animals' mercy a bit, and it may be tough to pull out 
halfway down.  Using a smart bomb eliminates all doubt.  From there, 
zigzags down and right lead you to the final horizontal corridor.  Open 
the lock to reveal King Tut.

Further levels seem to be a repeat of the cycle.  Each cycle should net 
you about a thousand points.

QUIRKS

  Note how your guy, if sticking around the left wall, will actually 
have one pixel of his gun in the wall.

  Once you get to a new level, monsters won't appear until you move your 
joystick.  However, time will tick away.

End of FAQ proper

================================

VERSIONS/CREDITS

1.0.0:  8/8/2001 sent in first version to GameFAQs.

Thanks to Greg Chance's History of Home Games video page for the manual, 
which allowed me to check my work for the point totals.  I was off by 5 
in a few cases.
