1. Copyright
2. Contact
3. Version History And Date
4. Introduction
5. The Game
5.1 Goal
5.2 Game Types
5.3 Controls
5.4 Gameplay
5.5 Combos
5.6 Atomic Bomb
5.7 Bonus Molecules
5.8 Chromium Atoms
5.9 Bio Hazards
5.10 Special Rounds
5.11 Scoring charts
6. Tactics And Tips
7. Ranks and Easter Eggs
8. Credits
1. Copyright:
=============
This FAQ is copyright (c) 2003-05 Vlada Peric (Gallavant). It's for personal
and private use only. It may not be reprinted in part or in whole,
or reproduced in any way or in any form (written or otherwise).
This document is free, and thus cannot be used in any commercial transaction.
You must get my express written consent to reference, alter or post FAQ.
This FAQ can be found at:
www.gamefaqs.com
www.neoseeker.com
If you find it anywhere else please tell me.
2. Contact:
===========
If you have any contributions, questions or suggestions for this FAQ you may
contact me at vlada.peric@gmail.com. Make sure to put "Atomica" or
something similar in the subject or the e-mail might be ignored.
3. Version History and Date
===========================
1.3 24.11.2003.
- Minor format changes
- Allowed neoseeker.com to host the FAQ
1.4 03.12.2003.
- Added ASCII art
1.5 22.06.2004.
- Changed my e-mail
1.6 06.04.2004
- Added some new tips
- Minor reformating
4. Introduction
===============
This is a great game that is neglected. It is easy to learn and tough to
master. With this FAQ I will try to change that to simple to master.
UPDATE: I will probablly make some charts for points as suggested by some
FAQ writers a long time ago. The update will be done prolly when i finish
school (17th) or maybe several days before. UPDATE 1.2: I was on holiday
right after school so I couldn't finish the FAQ then. I'm now adding the
charts as I promised and Shawn Macleod told me about the fifth bonus
molecule, the LIGHTING molecule. Thanks Shawn, that helped a lot.
5. The Game
===========
5.1 Goal
--------
(Taken from the game readme)
The goal of Atomica is to create MOLECULES by moving ATOMS around
the Game Grid. New atoms will continue to appear, and when you
can no longer make any moves, the game will end.
5.2 Game Types
--------------
You can play strategic mode or action mode.
- In strategic mode when you move an atom more spawn (usually three) and
the board clears when you level up.
- In action mode atoms allways spawn. And the level is always the same.
On the right of each bar is a small button reading "Click Here for Expert
Mode." This will let you play Strategy or Action in an advanced mode,
suitable for experienced players. The game is much more difficult, but
you will also score many more points.
5.3 Controls
------------
(Taken from the game readme)
Atomica is controlled entirely with the mouse. To move an atom, simply
click on it, then click on the square you want to move it to.
An arrow will appear connecting the two squares if it is a valid move.
You can move atoms anywhere on the board, but they cannot pass through
other atoms... so some areas of the board will be blocked off as the
game progresses and more atoms appear.
If you decide you want to move a different atom than the one you've
selected, just click on the other atom and it will be selected.
Bonus Molecules can be moved like other atoms, but they must be
DOUBLE-CLICKED to activate their special powers. Doing so will destroy
the Bonus Molecule, however.
5.4 Gameplay
------------
To build molecules you must place atoms in a group of four (must be 2x2). You
can also create double molecules with a group of 3x2 atoms. When you form a
molecule it will disappear from the board.
You receive 80 (160 pts in Expert) pts for each Molecule you create.
In strategic mode new atoms will appear on the board every time you move and
DO NOT complete a molecule.
You can tell where these new atoms are going to appear by looking
for the symbols on the board. These glowing shapes indicate
where new atoms are about to form, and what color they will be.
A molecule meter is located at the top of the screen. Whenever you complete
a molecule, it will fill up a bit. To progress to the next level, you
must fill it all the way up.
In Action mode the meter fills up on its own, and when it is completely
filled, a new color of atom is added to the grid, making the game more
difficult.
5.5 Combos
----------
A combo is created when you finish two or more molecules in a row.
That is, you complete a molecule and then with your very next move,
complete another. At the top, a geiger counter will show you your combo
level. The levels are:
1x chained: Combo
2x chained: Super Combo
3x chained: Mega Combo
4x chained: Ultra Combo
5x chained: Hyper Combo
6x chained: Giga Combo
7x chained: MAX Combo
8x, 9x, 10x...: MAX Combo
NOTE: When you have a 7x, 8x... combo the voice will say MAX Combo, but the
geiger counter will stay at Giga Combo.
Combos will increase this by the level of the combo. A basic combo is
worth 80 additional points. The next combo in the sequence is worth an
additional 160 points, the next 240 and so on (everything is double in
expert)
Combos will charge up your Atomic Bomb.
5.6 Atomic Bomb
---------------
(taken from the game readme)
At the bottom of the screen you will see the Atomic Bomb button and
meter. When the Atomic Bomb is charged, the glass cover on the button
will slide up, allowing you to press the button and detonate the bomb.
Detonating the Atomic Bomb will destroy a number of random atoms on
the grid. The higher the Bomb's charge is, the more atoms will be
destroyed.
The Bomb gets charged by completing Combos!
5.7 Bonus Molecules
-------------------
After you have created a number of atoms, you will see the Bonus Molecule
window swing out on the left sidebar. This will display a special molecular
configuration you can complete to get a Bonus Molecule.
You must arrange atoms on the board so that they match the configuration
shown in the Bonus Window. If you do so, they will merge into a brand new
Bonus Molecule. Bonus Molecules do not combine with other atoms, but they
can be moved around the board like a regular atom.
To trigger a Bonus Molecule's powers, DOUBLE-CLICK on it. This will destroy
the Bonus Molecule in the process.
There are 5 different types of Bonus Molecule. Each has a different effect.
In addition, if you keep the Bonus Molecule on screen for a while, you'll
get the chance to combine it with other atoms into a Level 2 Bonus Molecule.
For creating Bonus Molecules, you receive 100pts multiplied by the level
of the bonus molecule (double in expert).
Molecules effects:
FIRE Molecule: Creates and explosion that destroys nearby atoms
WIND Molecule: Creates a tornado that swirls and destroys nearby atoms
ICE Molecule: Stops new atoms from appearing for several turns
ETHER Molecule: Lets you move atoms through other atoms
LIGHTING Molecule: Creates a bolt of lighting that destroys nearby and far atoms
5.8 Chromium Atoms
------------------
Sometimes a colorless atom will appear. That is a chromium atom. They act as
jokers and can be used to create any molecule.
You cannot create a molecule containing only chromium atoms.
Chromium atoms cannot be used to create Bonus Molecules.
5.9 Bio Hazards
---------------
(Taken from the game readme)
Occasionally you will see Biohazard atoms appear on the grid... these
pulsating atoms will have a countdown printed on their side.
Biohazards are very dangerous, because they replicate. With each move,
the countdown will tick down, and when it reaches zero, the Biohazard
will duplicate itself, spawning a new Biohazard atom in an adjacent
square. This new Biohazard will also begin counting down... if you're
not careful, they can quickly choke off the board!
Biohazards can be eliminated by making them into a molecule, as with
any normal colored atom.
5.10 Special Rounds
-------------------
- Radiation Round (a bonus round where you are challenged to remove all
the atoms from the screen. If you can do so, you'll receive a bonus.)
For completing the first Radiation Round, you receive 500 points. You
get 1000 points for the second, 1500 for the third, and so on.
(everything is worth double in expert).
- Magnet Round (These are special levels that occasionally occur, in which
the atoms will all "fall" to one side or another of the grid, drawn by a
powerful magnet. This artificial "gravity" makes your job much trickier.
5.11 Scoring Charts
-------------------
The chart says how much bonus points do you get from every combo.
- Radiation rounds. When a radiation round starts count the number of atoms
of each color, then divide them into groups of four and six. If you cannot
make a group you will have to use chromium atoms (there ain't many of those)
For better score you can arrange all the atoms and then make a giant combo.
Allways remember that you can move the atoms as much as you want.
Following are some tips by Erika. Thanks a lot!
- If an atom is incoming that will complete a molecule, no matter what
you move (as long as it's not one of the atoms in the to-be-completed
molecule) you will make a new molecule on that move. This makes it
possible to have a combo while still getting new atoms onto the board.
- The most dangerous atom in my opinion is the Biohazard Black. You
can't see it counting down, and it's very easy to overlook that it exists.
- I never make bonus molecules unless it happens almost by accident.
I'm lazy and it seems to me like it's far better points & clearing
wise to get as many molecules as you can utilizing the fewest moves
rather than waste moves on a bonus molecule which takes a lot of atoms
and artful manipulation of the atoms to power up and be truly
effective.
- Sometimes I like to play with the colorblind fix on because it's easy
to confuse the incoming light green/green/green&lightgreen mix, not to
mention the many many MANY times I've confused an incoming light blue
for an incoming blue. Generally I leave it off, but if confusion is a
problem for you, you may want to experiment with the option to see if
you like it better.
- Radiation rounds. The only way I ever play these is to arrange all the
colors into their own little groups against the walls of the board, being
very careful not to get four of a kind together. Then I figure out which of
the groups can make their own four or six molecules, and which cannot
without a chromium atom. Then I make a giant combo (I also think
you get more points if you save all the six-atom molecules to the end
so that you get 800 instead of 620 on your max combos, but I'm not
sure of this mathematically, and, again, am too lazy to do the
calculations).
- I personally believe that the colors you start out with: purple, red,
blue, green, and yellow are more prevalent than the later colors, such
as white, that green-greygreen mix one, the bright greenish blue one,
and even orange.
- Hot-spot rounds = lots of points. Unless you're a tentative player or
fear losing overly much or if you just happen to be getting too full
of a screen, ignore the hot spots entirely. Just make molecule after
molecule. On a HS round I usually rack up anywhere from 5000 to 20000
points, mostly because there are NO BIOHAZARDS on this round.
7. Ranks and Easter Eggs
========================
The game will give you a rank. I will try to list them. If you notice incorrect
information or have new info mail me and I will credit you.
