a game by palpalpalpal
Game Guide
(main page is here)
This page is about everything the good Invs player needs to know, from basic game mechanics to hidden bonuses and cheat codes. Feel free to contact me for anything related to this game!
Spoiler-free
Part
You can read this part without worry of having your fun spoiled: no secret is unveiled here. It is mainly useful for people who want to ensure that they've got all basic things properly.
Dust, Shield
and Power Up
The dust that falls from exploding Invs is actually energy for
you to gather. There are two kinds of energy which you get when
shooting different Invs. The two bars in the top right corner of
the screen show your shield energy and power energy status; when
you start the game they are already partly filled. When you warp
your power energy gets resetted.
Your shield is on when your shield energy bar is full, and when
your power energy bar is full you have hipower shots. The shield
allows you to survive one hit (then it disappears). Hipower shots
do not make more damage but can be delivered at a tremendous
rate, making them a real slaughter weapon. Be sure to fill the
bars up as soon as you can!
Attas &
Gorrs
(score 100)
Although easily dispatched with a single shot, Attas and
Gorrs are the main Invs force as they come in overwhelming
numbers. Initially slow, on the latter levels they become so
quick you won't be able to target them while they're attacking.
Attas can drop up to four bombs in a swoop, while Gorrs target
you with homing missiles. You know they're attacking when you
hear their characteristic sounds.
KeeKees (score 10)
KeeKees come in two flavours, both with a kamikaze attitude. They
cannot shoot, but when they hit the ground their large impact can
hit you as bad as any bomb or missile. The purple ones lock on
your position at the time of attack. The red ones are more
resistant but do not target you - they rather just fall straight.
Shooting them while they're moving will bring them down, which
may gain you time; but you'll have to avoid the explosion swiftly.
Peons (&
Dark Peons) (score 10)
Peons actually are the most complex Invs despite their simple
look. Initially they are just harvesting energy from the ground,
to take it home in order to feed their family and friends; but as
you come and demonstrate hostility they will use the gathered
energy to turn into Dark Peons, and come back for revenge. They
will only come back if you're not quick enough to dispatch the
other Invs in every wave.
Prots (score 200)
As the name suggests, Prots are here to protect. Unfortunately
they do not protect you! They ordinarily stay at a high altitude
and randomly drop bombs from there, hoping this will keep you
away. But they can also come down and protect harvesting Peons
with their mighty power beam. Dare not stay close then!
SeeWees (score 400)
These Invs are the most commonly misunderstood. They can be
incredibly annoying when you don't find out how to deal with them.
SeeWees can block your shots by destroying them with a laser;
this way they can protect not only themselves but also other Invs
in their range. However, they cannot block at the same rate as
you can shoot, so the key is to shoot as fast as you can - easy
with the hipower shots. Yet the best way to get rid of them is to
attack before they reach their final position, as they can't use
their laser while moving. Don't get caught by their triple bombs
though!
Bubblers (score 600)
Bubblers are just sent in to let other Invs have enough time to
come in position and attack. They pass by, leaving bubbles behind
them which will get some of your shots in place of worthwhile
targets. They can also detract your attention because of their
high score value.
High Score
When you beat the hiscore, you get the chance to easily score
even more as all current Invs stop moving for a while and a flock
of defenseless bonus Invs pass by. When you eventually die, The
game will give you an authentication code for registering your
best score. Write this code and your score down and email both to me together with your name in order to enter the hall of fame!
Note that the authentication code keeps being displayed until the
next game, on the title screen, below the score. Also, if you are
alterning games with other players and you do not beat their
hiscore but nevertheless score more than 50,000, your will still
get a code even if the game does not explicitly tell you.
Hints
You may read this part if you are looking for more but still don't wish to be told secrets. This part gathers hints that will help you find out secrets that make the game more fun.
Warps
Noticed how sometimes you score zero for warp hits? It's all
about doing your best, nothing more. Also, all warp Invs can be
properly shot, you just have to learn where and when they come.
Note that the first Inv waits for you to cease fire before
appearing.
Skill Bonus
In every first wave there's a skill bonus to find out. Careful
selection of the enemies you shoot is often the way to get it.
Super Warp
Tired of having to get through the too-easy first levels again
and again? There's an alternate way out of level 1 wave 1.
Game Ending
Finishing the last wave of the last level is worth the effort;
you'll get a reward which should have you play Invs again in a
completely different state of mind.
Codes
You can read this part without worry of having your fun spoiled: nothing that can be learned from playing is unveiled here.
Cheat Code
The following cheat code allows you to get instant shield and
hipower whenever you like: up, circle, up, circle, down, select,
down, select.
DJ Mode
It is possible to play Invs with a Konami Beatmania Controller.
Just plug the controller into port 1 then hit all piano keys in
ascending order during a game (a message gets displayed for
acknowledgement). You can then use the turntable to move your
ship.
Spoiler-full
Part
Do not read this part if you like to work your own way through the game and enjoy discovering every reward by yourself. Secrets that can be discovered after extensive play are unveiled here.
Dust, Shield
and Power Up
Shield energy is only obtained by shooting Peons while they're
harvesting. The more energy they have collected from the ground,
the more energy dust they will release when shot. As they always
harvest for the same duration, you can predict and be sure to hit
them when their energy ball is full, just before they absorb it.
Power energy is only obtained by shooting Gorrs and Attas while
they're swooping. Gorrs release four energy points and Attas
release three.
Warps
You score zero when you shoot more than necessary - eg when there
are two Invs, you should fire no more than twice. Shooting all
Invs with no lost shots gets you a 2,500 bonus.
Skill Bonus
Level 1: See Super Warp (below).
Level 2: Shoot the first batch of Gorrs before anything else.
Level 3: Shoot the KeeKees before anything else.
Level 4: Shoot all Peons, before anything else.
Level 5: A Peon appears after a while in the right half of the
screen; shoot it.
Level 6: Shoot them all very quickly.
Level 7: Shoot all Peons, before anything else.
Super Warp
You just have to shoot the Attas in orderly manner on level 1
wave 1. Shoot the rightmost one first, then the next one to the
left, and so on. The order is different when in Trance Mode. Note
that your power energy does not get resetted when super warping.
Trance Mode
When you finish the last wave of the last level, you enter Trance
Mode; and the game gives you the code for trancing in your next
games. Trance mode plays the same as the original game, but with
far trippier graphics - it's also harder.
The code for Trance Mode is l1, r1, l1, r1, l1, r1. You can use
it at any time during a game.
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and images copyright 2002 Philippe-Andre Lorin
Invs copyright 2001 Philippe-Andre Lorin