
                                   %%%%%%%%%%%                               
                                %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%                             
                                %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%                             
                               M%%%XMMMMX%%%%%%%%             %%%%%          
               %%               MM"     "M%%%%%X              %%%%%%%%%      
            %%%%%%              "         M%%%%M             %X""??? %%%%%%  
         %%%%%%%%%%                       ?%%%X"            %%M      ""%%%%%.
      %%%%%%%%%%%%%%                      %XMM"             %M          %%%X"
  %%%%%%%%XXXX%%%%%%                      XMM"             MXM          %%X" 
 X%%%%%%X"   "M%%%%%%                   %MMM"              MMM         %%X"  
 "X%%%X"      "MX%%%%%                 %MMM"               MM          %%M   
  "XX"         "MMXX%%                %MMM"               MMM         %%M    
   "            MMMMMX%              XMMM"                MMM        XXM     
                 MMMMM%             MMMMM                 MM        .MM"     
                  MMMMM%           MMMMMM                .MM        MM"      
                   MMMM%          MMMMMMMMMXXXX%         MMM       MMM       
                   "MMMM%         "MMMMMMMMMMMMM         MMM..    .MM        
                    MMMMX          """""""""""""         MMMMMM...MM         
                     MMMMM                                ""MMMMMMM

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

                                 720 FAQ (NES)
                   Version 1.2 - Last Revised on 03/07/2001
                        By Dallas (sdallas19@yahoo.com)

             http://www.gamefaqs.com - http://www.dallastm.cjb.net

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

Legal Disclaimer

 This document is Copyright 2000-2001, Dallas (sdallas19@yahoo.com) and may
 not be reproduced nor retransmitted in any form without advance permission
 from the author.  It may not be altered, edited, sold, given as an incentive
 to buy, published, etc. without prior consent from the author.  If the above 
 terms are broken, legal action will take place on account of Copyright 
 Infringement.  This document is unofficial and is in no way affiliated with 
 any company.  Logo is Copyright 1986, Tengen.

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

Table of Contents

   i.  Introduction and Revision History
   I.  Basic Controls
  II.  Top Menu
 III.  Gameplay Map
  IV.  Classes
   V.  Levels
  VI.  Shops
 VII.  Skate or Die
VIII.  Information

===============================================================================
                    i.  Introduction and Revision History
===============================================================================

Introduction
------------
720 is a game that was devolped in 1986 by Atari Games Co. and Tengen. Although
very old, it's still a pretty fun game.  It is a skateboarding game consisting
of 4 different levels to play and do tricks on with several different class
levels ranking from easy to normal to hard. You can also buy and upgrade 
new pads, helmets, boards, and shoes if you have enough money.  Should you find
any mistakes in this guide, please let me know.


Revision History
----------------
v1.0 (04/05/2000): Initial Release. All Data added.
v1.1 (05/11/2000): Reformatted the FAQ.
v1.2 (03/07/2001): Reformatted and re-submitted this guide.


===============================================================================
                             I.  Basic Controls
===============================================================================

    START - Pause; Confirm

 A Button - Jump

 B Button - N/A

       Up - Move Up

     Down - Move Down
 
     Left - Move Left

    Right - Move Right

   Select - N/A


===============================================================================
                                II.  Top Menu
===============================================================================

While playing you will notice a little menu at the top left hand corner of the
screen. This is the Top Menu. It contains all the information you will need to
know while playing the game. I have explained what each is and what it means.


BOXES - On the very top of the menu you will see several or a minimum amount of 
        colored boxes. This is your timer. Whether you are skating or not, the 
        timer is still running. The only time it is not running is when the 
        game is placed on pause. Once the timer reaches the end of it's limit, 
        a little sign will show up with the words "Skate or Die" which is 
        exactly what it means.  When this sign is on the screen, it means a 
        little Death Man or Death Skull is looking for you. Soon it will appear 
        on screen and all you can do is: a.) Let it hit you  OR  b.) Run!  My 
        suggestion is to just let it hit you. You _can_ try and out run it but 
        eventually it will turn into a hypodermic needle and chase even faster 
        after you and there really is no escape. You can, however, escape death 
        even if the "Skate or Die" sign is on by entering an event before it 
        finds you.


SCORE - When you start the game your score obviously starts out as "0".  There 
        are two different ways to get points added to your score.  You can get 
        them both in _and_ out of obstacles. In the park, you don't get many 
        points, but the one way you can is to do jumps off of the mini-ramps 
        located all over the outside of the park.  It can be very tough to land 
        but you'll get a good 200 points if you pull it off.  The big points 
        come from the obstacles inside the park.  You can get thousands of 
        points depending on which medal you get plus bonus points.


MONEY - Right under the score, your total amount of money is listed in US 
        dollars [$]. You begin with $100, just enough to allow you to upgrade 
        some of your equipment. There is only one way to earn cash, and that is 
        competing in the obstacle courses. Depending on how well you do in each 
        course is the determining factor of how much money you get.  You can 
        also get bonus cash for getting better medals. You use the money to 
        upgrade equipment. Each class has higher prices than the previous 
        class, so start saving up!


LIVES - The little "T" shaped things form your life meter. You are allowed 3 
        lives to begin with and when they are all gone you get a Game Over sign 
        for good. Each time you crash about 3-4 times you will lose one life 
        and receive a "Game Over & Continue" sign, this uses up one of your 
        lives [T's]. When all 3 are gone you get a "GAME OVER" sign and you 
        won't have the choice of continuing, so keep a watchful eye on this 
        meter.


ITEMS - Lastly on the very bottom of the Menu is your equipment stock. You can 
        see all of the items you currently own and upgraded items you have 
        bought. There are 4 different pictures for the 4 types of equipment. 
        Skateboard is your board, The Helmet and Shoes can also be upgraded and 
        lastly your pads. This little part of the Menu is to keep you on track 
        of what you own and what you don't.


===============================================================================
                             III.  Gameplay Map
===============================================================================

The Map is accessible from various locations inside the park. Usually it's
around each corner you turn on, but note that your time meter does not stop
when you stop on the map. I have listed the map diagram below.


                        DOWNHILL      HELMETS      RAMP

                         .<!!:        :!!h.        :!!:.     
                      .:!%   `4h.  .<!`   `!:.  :!%`  '%!:.  
                      `%!:   .<!!!!(        '!!!!!:.   :!%`  
                         `4!!!!!% '%!:..:..:!% `%!!!!!%`     
                            `!!.     `%!!!%      .!!`        
                           .<!`%!:.  :!!!!!:  .:!%`!:.   SHOES    
               BOARDS   .:!%     `!!!!%  `%!!!!     '%!:.    
                      :!%      .<!!!`       ```!:      `4!:  
                       `4h.     '%!!!:     ::::%      :!%`   
                          `!:.  :!%`%!!h:!!!%`4h.  .<!`      
                            '!!!`     `!!!`     `!!(         
                          .:!!!:    :!%!!!4h.    :!!!:.   SLALOM
               JUMP    .:!%``!!!!h<!`       `!:!!!!!``%!:    
                     :!%`     .!!%`!:.     .<!`%!!.     `%!: 
                    '%!:.  .:!%     '%!:.:!%     `%!:   .:!% 
                       `%!!%`          `%           `%!!%    
                                
                                      PADS


===============================================================================
                                IV.  Classes
===============================================================================

There are a few (I use the term lightly) different class levels in 720.  You
start out on Class 1, which is the easiest and you progress one level higher
from there. You start out on the easiest possible mode which is Class 1, once
you complete that, you move on to a harder class, which is naturally given the
title "Class 2", and so on and so forth. I'm not exactly sure how many classes
there are, but not very many, maybe about four or so.

In order to fully complete a class, you must finish ALL of the obstacles in the
park. At first [on class 1] they will be rather easy to accomplish. Once you
complete all 4 obstacles you move on to the next class.  However, you don't
have to actually get a medal in a particular obstacle in order to complete it.
Medals are explained below. Make sure you buy all of your equipment BEFORE
completing all of the obstacles because you won't be able to go back.

In each obstacle you are rewarded either a Bronze, Silver, Gold or no medal.
Each medal is placed on the back of your skateboard for showing off.  In order
to actually complete an obstacle you DO NOT have to collect a medal.  When no
medal is collected, a tongue sticking out icon will appear in place of the
medal on the back of your skateboard. Whether you get a medal or not, the
obstacle will be closed and therefore it is completed for you to move on to the
next.


===============================================================================
                                 V.  Levels
===============================================================================

Downhill -  As the name suggests, this entire obstacle course is basically just 
            going down a long hill with twists, turns and jumps. If you get up 
            enough speed and time all of your jumps correctly you will be 
            eligible for a Gold medal.  On the sides of the hill is a very 
            large body of water which is very easy to fall into if you are 
            going to fast or not being careful. If you can pull off some jumps 
            in between landings, you'll score some extra points at the end.


Jump -      The funnest obstacle, IMO. This is somewhat similar to the Downhill 
            obstacle with the difference that you will be catching some major 
            air time in between jumps. As you go down the hill, jump as high 
            and far as you possibly can without crashing and you grab some 
            major points. This obstacle should be a breeze to win the Gold in, 
            just speed down the hill, jump at the jumps and grab the gold.


Slalom -    This is similar to skiing games you've seen on the computer.  You 
            head down the hill, only you will be maneuvering your way a number 
            of flags placed down the hillside. This can be tough to do on a 
            skateboard. Just don't miss any flags and if you do, go back and 
            pass it because you pick up extra time for each set of flags you go 
            through, thus increasing your maximum medal capacity.


Halfpipe -  You know these things. A narrow little 'U' shaped ramp where you 
            start on one side, go down into the 'U' and up onto the other side 
            and do a cool trick to impress the judges for brownie points.  Here 
            it's like that only there are no judges, not many tricks, but lots 
            of points. For some reason I can not pass this course with even a 
            bronze medal. There are only about two possible tricks you can do 
            here, a hand stand and a 360 degree spin.


===============================================================================
                                 VI.  Shops
===============================================================================

Throughout each obstacle is a shop. There are a total of 4 shops in all each
supplying useful equipment to help you complete the game.  I have listed each
shop, what it sells, and why to buy their products.


Helmets -  The Helmet shop is the closest shop near you when you first start 
           the game.  Helmets start at about $45 in Class 1 and really are the 
           most irrelevant item in the game. I suggest you don't buy the helmet 
           because you will very rarely, if ever, actually use it. You don't 
           really fall on your head in this game, rather on you limbs, and 
           that's when the pads come in.


Boards -   Obviously, the most important item in the game. I STRONGLY suggest 
           you pick up a board in each class BEFORE heading into any obstacles. 
           You will have greater odds of winning higher medals if you buy new 
           boards in each class. The board shop is located to the Northwest of 
           the map.


Pads -     The Pads Shop is all the way south of the map from where you firs 
           start the game. You don't really _have_ to buy pads, but it is 
           recommended because you will need them for all the future crashes 
           you will have.  I suggest you at least pick up 1 or 2 pairs of pads
           throughout the game.


Shoes -    Another necessity are the shoes. No skater could be good without the 
           proper footwear, right? So, what do they have...Vans?  DCs?  
           Airwalks?  Not in a 14 year old game!  They have NES shoes, yes... 
           NES shoes.  All the shoes look the same, but they really do become 
           more powerful with each upgrade.


===============================================================================
                              VII.  Skate or Die
===============================================================================

I think this saying was used for the later skating game [possibly a sequel to
this one] called "Skate or Die."  Basically, when your timer runs out, a little
death guy or skull, whatever you want to call it, goes on a scavenger hunt
looking to kill you with it's magical killing powers.

There is no escaping death, but you _can_ try.  If you manage to keep running
from this skull, eventually it will morph into a hypodermic needle and go 10
times faster and eventually kill you. However, if you happen to be nearby an
obstacle course entrance, by all means go inside, this is your ONLY possible
chance of escaping this crazy death skull.


===============================================================================
                             VIII.  Information
===============================================================================

Credits and Sources
-------------------
Jeff "CJayC" Veasey - http://www.gamefaqs.com
  For hosting this FAQ on his site.


Contact Information
-------------------
Have any comments, questions, suggestions, complaints, contributions, praise,
constructive criticism, or anything else about this FAQ (or any of my others?)
Please contact me via one of the following, and I'll get back to you as soon
as I can.  All questions asked that have already been answered in the guide
will be ignored:

E-mail Address:  sdallas19@yahoo.com
ICQ Number:      100893080


Webmasters
----------
Want to host this FAQ on your website?  Please contact me via one of the above
methods and send me the URL of your site, and I'll give you the terms I have
for webmasters hosting my guides.  If you post this (or any of my other FAQs)
guide on your site without asking first, your host and/or ISP will be contacted
and notified of your illegal actions.

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

          The latest version of this document can always be found at:

                      GameFAQs - http://www.gamefaqs.com
                      DS-99 - http://www.dallastm.cjb.net

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

Copyright 2000-2001 Dallas Scott.  All Rights Reserved.

-EOF-