How to play Fatal Run online
- Accelerate / brake: up arrow / down arrow
- Steer: left and right arrow keys
- Use the current weapon: Z (left button)
- Switch to another weapon: X (right button)
- Pause: F4
- Back to the title screen: F2 (Select) or F3 (Reset)
Both the USA (NTSC) and Europe (PAL) releases are on this page; use the switch to pick one.
Gameplay
The year is 2089. A comet has struck the Earth and radiation is poisoning the survivors. You set off from the fortress of Albagon with a vaccine, driving it to one city after another. On the way you also gather secret code words, because the final goal is a rocket base: reach it, and the rocket launches a satellite that saves the world.
The road is not empty. Henchmen in enemy cars try to steal the vaccine and force you off the road, sometimes working together. Roadblocks, oil slicks and other obstacles also damage your car. The status display tracks your fuel, engine, tyres, armour and remaining shots. There are eight weapons and gadgets, including dynamite, rockets, guns, oil, smoke, nitro, a shield that blocks collision damage for a few seconds, and the death crystal.
Between runs you spend your money on fuel, weapons and repairs, from new tyres to a full overhaul. There are 32 levels in all, each made up of several runs, and finishing a level earns 5,000 bonus points. A level code appears after every fourth run. Write it down: entering it later lets you continue from that level instead of starting over.
Tips
- Note every level code. The emulator has no save states on this page, so the codes are your only way to keep progress.
- Repair before you upgrade. Worn tyres and a damaged engine will end a run faster than a missing weapon.
- Check the status display before each run. Top up fuel and armour in the shop while you still can.
- Save the shield for crowded moments. When several enemy cars close in at once, a few seconds of protection from collisions can save the run.
- Use the right button between fights. Switch to the weapon you need before the enemies arrive, not while they are ramming you.
The story behind Fatal Run
Sculptured Software made Fatal Run for Atari, and it appeared on both the Atari 2600 and the 7800 at the very end of those consoles’ lives. The 2600 version is remembered for its size: at 32 kilobytes it was the largest game ever released for that console. With its shop, upgrades and level codes, it was an unusually ambitious racing game for these consoles.
Reviews have been mixed. Later reviewers liked the password and upgrade systems and the cut-scenes of the 7800 version, but found the driving repetitive and the controls and sound weak. In May 2024 Atari brought the 7800 game back on a new cartridge, alongside Food Fight and Ninja Golf, designed for the Atari 2600+ but also playable on an original 7800.
