=============================================================================== Armed Police BatRider FAQ Version 0.97 (c) 2000 Steven Ives saives@gameoverdude.com =============================================================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS: 01) Legal Crap 02) Version History 03) What is Armed Police Batrider? 04) The Characters 05) Game Play 06) Some Tips 07) The Pillory 08) Shout-Outs 09) Disclaimer =============================================================================== 01 LEGAL CRAP (Terms & Conditions) This FAQ is Copyright (C) Steven Ives 2000. All rights reserved. It may be posted only on the following sites: www.gameoverdude.com GameoverDude.com, the author's web site. www.gamefaqs.com GameFAQS www.gameadvice.com Game Advice vgstrategies.about.com Video Games Strategies IF YOU SEE IT ON ANY OTHER SITE, please tell me pronto. If you are hosting my FAQ, it is to be in the original unaltered plain text form- no changes, no deletions, and no HTMLization. At this moment, you can check GameFAQs for the latest version. Eventually, GameoverDude.com will host this FAQ when we get our FAQ section up. At this time, this FAQ is to be exclusive to the four sites listed above. No profit is to be made from this FAQ. This includes but is not limited to magazines, commercial strategy guides, COP-DN or other for profit sites, selling the FAQ, or giving it as a gift. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden. Permission is required for the use of any information found herein. If permission is granted, then you are to give credit to the author. If the author uses any copyrighted material or receives information from a user of this FAQ, credit will be given in the SHOUT-OUTS section. Violating the terms and conditions listed herein is grounds for possible legal action. Applicable copyright laws will be enforced. SPAM: I do not put up with any Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail (UCE). If you send me any UCE, your E-Mail will be filtered and forwarded to SpamCop. Spamming is a good way to get yourself into some deep you-know-what. All right, now that this is out of the way... =============================================================================== 02 Version History 2000 December 7 Work is started on the FAQ for Armed Police BatRider. Info on the hardware and the game design is put in. 2000 December 8 The 9 main characters are added. The Battle Garegga and presumably Mahou Daisakusen ships are in the game, but I will leave this for a later revision. The game story and powerup info are added. 2000 December 11 Some stage tips added. The FAQ is ready for first release. 2000 December 28 Arttu Ylärakkola mentions the version of BatRider that had a 1997 date. I've not yet noticed a difference between the two but we'd really like to know. Info on the High-Way stage is added, and it's time for another release of the FAQ. =============================================================================== 03 What is Armed Police BatRider? Armed Police BatRider is a vertical-scrolling shooter from Raizing, one of the best shmup producers who has also brought us titles like Mahou Daisakusen, Battle Garegga, and Soukyugurentai among others. It runs on the same hardware as Battle Garegga, and there are some similarities in the two games. However, this is not the sequel to BG. While BG uses warplanes, BatRider has a more futuristic theme with Anime-style characters and airbikes. In 2014 A.D., terrorists have turned their war machines loose upon Manhattan City. The police force has sent three of its best, and they have help from three Psychic warriors and three criminals. They fly out on airbikes and other vehicles to stop the terrorists. GiganTech Corporation is behind the siege of Manhattan, and they are to be stopped. It is urgent that the boss of GiganTech be captured. Retake Manhattan City, and then strike out at the enemy's hideouts- a sewer system, an airport, and high in the sky. Take the battle to Zenobia City, where the GiganTech Building is located. The hardware for this game is: PROCESSORS 68000 (16 MHz) + Z80 (4 MHz) SOUND YM2151 (4 MHz) + 2 OKI6295 (24242 Hz) RESOLUTION 320 x 240 (standard resolution vertical) at 60 Hz with 2,048 colors Game Rom Size: 162 Megabits (20.25 Megabytes) BatRider uses an 8-way joystick and three buttons- FIRE, BOMB, and OPTION (OPTION is for use with the Battle Garegga planes which are somehow available- I've gotten one using Random Select.). NOTE: There are two versions of BatRider- the original one and also "Version B". Arttu Ylärakkola mentioned that the original has a 1997 release date (Mon Dec 22, 1997 is shown during the system startup), yet the game is copyright 1998. Version B has a release date of Fri Feb 13, 1998. So... there's a MAJOR question here that we need to know the answer to. It is in regard to the differences between the original and version B. If you have spotted a difference, then please let me know at saives@gameoverdude.com. =============================================================================== 04 The Characters There are three different teams with three characters each. NOTE: Using a Bomber leaves you invincible while it is in effect. It additionally will destroy enemy projectiles. POLICE TEAM D.D. --------------------- Machine: Flying Killer Weapon: Wide Shot Bomber: Hyper Gravity. A Gravity Hole appears on screen shooting out some destructive blasts. Shorty --------------------- Machine: Carry Carry (slow) Weapon: Search Missile (it homes in on enemies) Bomber: Lightenning Blade (sic). This is basically a wide beam with kick. Jyuji --------------------- Machine: Sangerer 5280 Weapon: Satori Beam Bomber: Burning Hou-Oh. This sends a firebird up the screen. It travels somewhat slowly. I'd like to remind you that using a Bomber leaves you temporarily invulnerable while it is still in effect. PSYCHIC TEAM Maria --------------------- Machine: Clitter IV (Fast) Weapon: Help Pod (this pod sweeps its aim back and forth) Bomber: Psyco Attack. Maria sends a stream of orbs at the enemy. The Psyco Attack homes in on enemies- like a super-charged version of "Hunter" from the Thunder Force series. Golden --------------------- Machine: Razer Back (sic) (Fast) Weapon: Rapid shot. Good rate of fire, but it is in a straight line. Bomber: Strike Shot. Four options line up by Golden and fire away, creating a wide swath of death. Strawman --------------------- Machine: Beyond 8570 (slow) Weapon: Psyco Beam. This weapon tracks enemies somewhat. Bomber: Wind Slayer. Basically it is a spread chaingun. You can alter its aim by moving to the left or right. CRIMINAL TEAM Birthday --------------------- Machine: Mad Romero (Slow) Weapon: Spread Shot. On impact, it creates a plasma burst. Bomber: Dynamic Saw. Four buzzsaws jut out from the vehicle. Has short range. Tag-T --------------------- Machine: Grizzly VSE Weapon: Homing Laser. Perhaps this guy is a fan of RayStorm. Bomber: Brutal Knife. "The Blue Pinwheel of Terror". It has sorry range, and you have to run the enemies over with it. Adam --------------------- Machine: V-Twin Bogiyman (sic) Weapon: Sharp Cutter. Bomber: Sonic Dagger. Sonic booms litter the screen. =============================================================================== 05 Game Play When you start the game, you are given these choices: BEGINNER- You play 3 stages at an easier difficulty. NORMAL- You play 5 stages. ADVANCE- You play 7 stages. Slightly harder than the NORMAL game. SPECIAL- This is a boss only course, where you remain at full power. It must be unlocked. Once a player beats the game on Advance Course, this is made available for all players until the machine is powered down. It doesn't matter if the unlocker uses continues. Next, you can choose one of three modes: Team Play- You choose either the Police, Psychic, or Criminal team. Team Edit- No explanation needed if you've played King of Fighters '95. Instead of selecting a team of three characters together, you can select three characters INDIVIDUALLY. You can mix and match between teams. Roulette- Three characters are randomly chosen for you. The game has seven stages: NORMAL Course: Manhattan City, Sewer System, Zenobia Airport, Sky High, High Way ADVANCE Course: All of the NORMAL stages & Zenobia City, Building Here is the game progression for each mode: Stage 1: Manhattan City Stages 2,3,4: Sewer System, Zenobia Airport, Sky High (see NOTE below) Stage 5: High Way (NORMAL Course is over after this one) Stage 6: Zenobia City Stage 7: GiganTech Building BEGINNER Course is over after Stage 3. NOTE: If the operator has Stage Edit turned off, the order of stages 2-4 is random. Otherwise, the player can select the order. STAGE EDIT: If it is enabled, you have three choices: Yes, No, or ???. Yes- If you don't like the order shown on screen for stages 2-4, here is where you can change it. No - What you see is what you get. Accepts the order that has been selected by the computer already. ???- Lets the computer select the order of stages 2-4 in a secret, random order. This is the way it is for all players if the Stage Edit is not enabled. During the game, here are the various items you'll be able to pick up: Bomber (small): As you collect these, bullet icons will line up by your Bomber count. Get a certain amount of them and you will hear "Bomber Level Up". That means you have accrued another full Bomber attack. If you don't have a full Bomber available, you can use the partial one but it will not be at its full duration. If you have 4 full Bombers already, you get 1,000 points instead. Please KIM that when you're using a Bomber, you are invincible until its effects wear off. Bomber (large): An instant Bomber Level Up. You do not lose any small bullet icons that you have built up. Worth 5,000 if you are completely full of Bombers. Option: A green triangle with a pod symbol in it. The first and second ones will give you an option- the first one on the left, the second on the right. The third and fourth ones will level up the attack power of your options. Subsequent ones give you 500 points. Shot Level Up (small): Collect a few of these to raise your shot power. Shot Level Up (large): Instant Shot Level Up. If you are at the maximum level, it will be worth 5,000. Sometimes, a Shot Level icon will give you a Shot Special Level Up. Medals: The Medal collection system of Battle Garegga is featured in BatRider. As you keep picking them up, the point value continues to rise. Do what you want- as long as you don't let one fall off the screen. 1st 100 When you collect a medal, the value of 2nd 200 the next available one goes to the next 3rd 300 step. You will be able to recognize a 4th 400 medal's point value by its appearance. 5th 500 6th 600 I repeat, don't drop any medals or you 7th 700 are back to the 1st step! 8th 800 9th 900 10th 1,000 This is very important if you are going 11th 2,000 for a high score. 12th 3,000 13th 4,000 14th 5,000 15th 6,000 16th 7,000 17th 8,000 18th 9,000 19th 10,000! If you drop a 10,000 point medal, you will hear "Nooooooo!". If you lay off of the fire button, you will notice an aura around the front of your ship. If you let it get full-sized (perhaps a couple seconds), you will be able to "drop off" your options at a certain spot on the screen with the next press of your fire button. They will then fire automatically on their own. If you release and then repress the fire button, the options will be brought back to your ship. They will automatically return after a few seconds. A WORD ABOUT DROPPING MEDALS If you drop a medal and there's another one somewhere on screen, all is not lost yet. Go pick that one up to keep the juice going. =============================================================================== 06 Some Tips MANHATTAN CITY This is always the first stage. At the start, you come across some parked cars which can be trashed for points. Next, some motorcycles come in from the right- and you can pound on them to get the small red Bomber icons. Soon, some flying Jetpack soldiers and a red gunship will intervene. Blow the rotors off of the red gunship for the Option items. When you see the underground train tracks, fire a Bomber over it for a few medals. After this, you will be flying over Dexter's used car lot. Some Jetpacks will continue to harass you, but you should waste the cars as well as them. When you come across Dexter's building, it will have a sign in the front of it. You can knock the sign down onto the building by shooting it, crushing the whole shebang. Sure enough, Dexter and his crooked operation will be out of business. However, there's another way to do it- shoot up the building, then push the sign down onto the rubble. If you go about shutting this hell hole down like THAT, you will hear "WONDERFUL!" and a flock of birds will fly out from there. You can pound on the birds for some extra points. You then come across a 6-lane highway where criminal cars zip along waiting for you to pick them off. Next, you will see a green gunship on your left and a transparent glass floor with a walkway in the middle. If you want some medals, pound on the walkway with your Bomber. The glass tiles will also shatter if your Bomber hits them. What about that gunship? Try to take it out with your bomber as well. You are getting closer to the boss. A small pack of motorcycles comes out, and you can dust them off as well. There are some police cars near the end of the stage. Try not to shoot them, as the boss CONFRICT will come out and run over them- making a few medals for you. SKYHIGH First, a small pack of enemy ships will appear on the left. After that, you see some on the right as well. Soon after that, a flotilla of green planes appears to harass you with blue needle bullets. You should not have too much trouble taking them out. Just keep your finger on the trigger. There will be 7 large bomber-like craft that shoot needles. They take a lot of hits to destroy, so try to pound on them not too long after they appear. More green planes will appear. Deal with them as you did before. Next, two large aircraft- one green, one orange- will get in your way. If you even doubt that you can handle these guys, USE A BOMBER. They use spread shots and the needler. When you are getting closer to the boss, you will encounter a plethora of missiles being fired at you. All you can do to ensure a safe passage through this is to keep your finger on that trigger. After this, the boss BOREDOM will be waiting for you. ZENOBIA AIRPORT A few cars will be parked at the start of the stage. Give 'em the same treatment you did in Manhattan City. Some small purple aircraft will come from the top- one pack on the left, the other on the right soon after. There are a couple gun turrets for you to take out as well. There will be two trucks that will start to move as you approach. It is best for you to aim at the trucks' cabins and pound them before they stop. Why? If you can do this, you can get a Full Bomber item. If you don't, I'd like you to know that the trailer will open up and reveal three gun turrets. Soon, you come across the airport terminal. I hope you like the sound of breaking glass, because there are some windows to be shot out. Some tank-like hovercrafts will glide along the ground. Soon you will find some escalators. What's so important about them? Try using a bomber on them and you'll see what I mean. More medals for you. When you get to the runway, some small green aircraft will pester you. Slam them down before they can get a shot off. Next, you will see a blue gunship. It has 2 wings which will cough up a medal apiece if you pop them off before you destroy the gunship. Two more will emerge. You are now over a HUGE (as in the R-Type mothership) plane. Use a bomber on it to find a treasure trove of medals. Further up the plane, there will be a mounted plasma cannon turret flanked by a bunker which has 7 needlers on each side. You must get rid of the plasma cannon to go any further. If you also can obliterate the surrounding bunker, you will hear "GOOD". Now that you've gotten past the plasma cannon assembly, you will see some small tractors escaping from the plane. Look out for their needle shots. Before you know it, a laser will appear slicing open the nose of the plane. Here comes the boss BAZZCOK. SEWER SYSTEM What a gross place. You will see a reservoir full of disgusting green muck which is flanked by two walls. There will be a few gun turrets on the walls. Some subs will start heading up the screen through the muck. You will also encounter a green gunship and a few small planes. These guys have a double 3-way shot, so be careful. As these guys keep coming, you will come across a battery of 5 cannons. They will shoot bullets on Normal level, or laser blasts on Advance. Blast some of these to get full shots. They are mounted on a flipping platform. If one of them is face down and you use a bomber on it, you can get a medal that way. I wouldn't waste a bomber here though. Next, you'll meet up with some red gunships. These are a deadlier kind- they have rota-guns on their wings. You can get medals for taking out the rota-guns. A bit later, you reach a platform with pipelike structures in the middle. Two walkers and some tanks will appear. It is best that you use a bomber on the pipes, because a LOT of medals are hidden there- and the walkers will likely go down under the barrage as well. Next, you chance upon a bunch of parked hover tanks. Two parked trucks are in the area and can be toasted to get 5 small bomber icons. If you find large green crates, KIM that you can get medals by bombing them. All kinds of small tanks and some truly nasty large ones apparently don't want you here. You're not too far from the boss DEVIATE, which is a huge platform tank. HIGH-WAY This is always the fifth stage. Some airbikes with rotating nose guns will harass you as you approach a very large blue tank. This thing has two turrets and multiple portal guns. Once you damage it enough, you will see two more turrets that spin and shoot to lay down a blanket of blue needles. As if this wasn't hard enough to weasel through, some small airplanes will come out to bug you. Some of them have the 3-way shot. Soon, you'll encounter a flotilla of airbikes- some blue ones circling the red one (their leader). Take out the red one to take the whole pack down. After you face some more 3-way shot planes, you encounter 2 red gunships. Soon after this, you face a midsized tank with a twin laser turret that aims at you. Once you destroy that, it will fire a 6-way bullet line shot followed by a 5-way shot. Try to destroy this tank ASAP, because you are rushing right into a gang of armed criminal cars. After this, you meet two of the other kind of red gunships- the ones with the rota-guns. From the earlier encounter with a couple of these, you know that the rota-guns can be busted for medals. In a moment, there are three robots- Sobut, Blunt, and Envy. You will face either one of them- or all three. TO BE ADDED LATER Info on the ZENOVIA CITY, and GIGANTECH BUILDING stages. Maybe even some Boss info. =============================================================================== 07 The Pillory A few guilty parties are here to be subjected to public shame. You may now throw your rotten tomatoes at: Megagames.com - For ripping off more than a few members of the Game FAQs community. ( Ripping en masse) Gamesdomain.com - Ripping en masse. CNET Games Center games.netscape.com/Faqs - Ripping en masse. Fresh Baked Games (fbgames.com)- for their lame way of asking permission to use FAQs. Why do they resort to an automated system? Fresh Baked Spam is more like it. Areaps2.com- they have my Super Puzzle Bobble FAQ without authorization, confirmed by a google.com search on my email address. Cheatmatrix.com- Ripping en masse. www.bean.dk- Ripping en masse. If anyone violates copyrights on my FAQ, they will be listed here as well. Anyone listed in the Pillory may not host my FAQs. =============================================================================== 08 Shout-Outs To Raizing, for producing yet another awesome shmup title and continuing to make more such as Dimahoo (Great Mahou Daisakusen) and Battle Bakraid. To CJayC (Jeff Veasey) of GameFAQs for hosting an awesome site. To Arttu Ylärakkola for mention of the 1997 Version A and a question about the differences between the two versions. To you, for checking out this FAQ. Thanks! =============================================================================== 09 Final Disclaimer This FAQ publication is (C) Steven Ives 2000. All Rights Reserved. Breaking the Copyright is a prosecutable offense subject to applicable civil & criminal penalties. Using this FAQ in an attempt to profit from it is strictly forbidden. Web sites who host it must be accessible without paying fees for the viewing of the FAQ. It is not to be used to aid in the preparation of a commercial strategy guide. The FAQ is NEVER to be altered. If this FAQ is ever ripped, the guilty party will be going into The Pillory above with all the other FAQ rippers. Remember, you are not to host this FAQ on your site without permission. Raizing is the sole owner of all copyrights and trademarks that are relevant to Armed Police BatRider. Any other trade marks are the properties of their respective owners. Last note: If you find something out about the game that I've not covered in this FAQ, I'd like to hear about it. Please give me any comments or suggestions you may have as well. saives@gameoverdude.com www.gameoverdude.com ===============================================================================