Controls[edit]
- Joystick: This realistic joystick controls the altitude and lateral movement of your plane. It is equipped with a fire button and a red light to signal the firing of each shot.
- Fire Buttons: In addition to the fire button on the joystick, there are two more on the panel. They all serve the same purpose. Using two at once may ensure constant fire. One is located on the left for right-handed pilots and one is on the right for southpaws.
- 1-2 Players: Press either button to begin a one or two player game.
Characters[edit]
Fighter Ship[edit]
The elements of Zaxxon are simple. Once you understand both your own capabilities and your enemies' capabilities the game becomes quite easy to master. High scores depend on your ability to properly maneuver this Fighter Ship. Once you grasp the basic techniques of flight, the obstacles become relatively easy to destroy or dodge.
Basic tip: fly low 90% of the time. The only time to raise your altitude is when you fly over Walls or Forcefields, or through outer space.
Brick Walls[edit]
You must fly through the gaps at the tops of these Walls. Always shoot at the Walls when approaching them. Like a bat using radar, you can then easily judge your altitude by the location of your fire, and adjust as necessary. The more waves you pass through, the harder it is to pass beyond these Walls (the gaps are smaller). But if you're agile enough in technique to navigate the Walls through the first few waves, you'll be able to "thread the needle" in later waves.
Tanks[edit]
You get 300 points and can replenish your fuel reserve for blowing up Tanks. There's little danger of running on empty as long as you blast a Tank now and then along the way (they're the easiest objects to hit).
Guns[edit]
These are shooting enemies, and they're more aggressive on later screens—especially when firing horizontally across your path. They're fairly easy to destroy if you're low enough. But you must avoid their fire. Guns yield a random number of points when destroyed.
Missiles[edit]
These are the most consistently dangerous opponents in Zaxxon. They also earn you 150 points. It's worthwhile destroying Missiles once they've been launched. Do not casually fly over their bases, however. They have a knack for coordinating their launches when you're just overhead.
Forcefields[edit]
Forcefields are dangerous and cannot be destroyed. You can easily fly over them in early waves. But you must learn to successfully fly under them in later waves. The technique becomes somewhat difficult because you must learn to react immediately after passing under them on later waves. Always beware of the Forcefields. It's easy to forget about them when concentrating on the destruction of other objects.
Planes[edit]
Grounded Planes are easy to destroy. You must fly very low. They yield 50 points, and should be bombed when convenient. Planes shot in outer space are worth at least 100 points. Never bomb a Plane when you have to contend immediately afterward with a Forcefield or Wall. Chances are, you'll run smack into it.
Radar Towers[edit]
Radar Towers are position to make them difficult to destroy. However, you'll earn 1,000 points for blowing them up. By all means, learn to fly well enough to destroy them. Beware of brushing them with a wingtip.
Satellites[edit]
Blow them up for 300 points when in outer space. There are two that come across the screen on each wave. They are on the highest level that your plane can reach.
Zaxxon[edit]
Now you face Zaxxon. He is a Robot—and the most dangerous enemy—from the second wave on. It is not the Robot that you destroy, but his Red Missile (which takes 6 shots to destroy). As soon as you're on the hexagonal tiles surface, level off at about 2½ marks on the altimeter and start shooting at the Missile. Once again, fire constantly to see where your shots are hitting and adjust your position accordingly. If you can destroy it, you get 200 points. If you destroy it before it is fired, you get 1000 points.
Scoring[edit]
| Gun Implacements (Green and Gray) | 200 - 500 points |
| Fuel Tank | 300 points |
| Radar Tower | 1000 points |
| Missile (Ground-to-Air) | 150 points |
| Missile (Air-to-Air) | 200 points |
| Planes (on runway) | 50 points |
| Planes (in air) | 100 points + (50 points/level after level 2) |
| Zaxxon (destroyed with missile in launcher) | 1000 points |
| Zaxxon (destroying launched missile) | 200 points |
| Destroying all planes in space | 1000 points |
| Satellite | 300 points |