How to play Hole Hunter online
The game does not start by itself: while the clock shows 0:00, press F12. The clock then jumps to 20:00 and starts counting down.
- Walk around the field: arrow keys
- Swing the hammer: Space bar
- Start a new game: F12 (the consoleās Reset switch)
- Choose a game (1ā3): F11 (the consoleās Select switch)
Gameplay
Rats come out of the holes in a sandy field and run around, and you hit as many as you can with your hammer. According to the Topy manual, a rat is easiest to hit just as it comes out, which you can tell from the noise it makes. Now and then a snake appears too; hit it before it bites you.
You lose a life if you fall into a hole or the snake bites you. Sometimes you lose your hammer and have to pick it up again when it reappears. Your lives and the number of rats hit are shown at the bottom, your score and the clock at the top.
| Target | Points |
|---|---|
| Rat | 100 |
| Snake | 500 |
The three games differ only in what happens when a rat runs into you. In Game 1 it costs nothing, in Game 2 you lose 5 points, and in Game 3 you lose 10.
Tips
- Start with Game 1, where bumping into rats costs nothing.
- Watch your feet. Walking into a hole costs a whole life, so move along the gaps between the rows.
- Keep the sound on. The noise before a rat appears tells you where to stand.
- Go for the snake. It is worth five rats and it is also the main threat to your lives.
About this cartridge
Little is known about who made the game, and no programmer is credited. Hole Hunter carries the code TP-606 from a series of Taiwanese cartridges, and AtariAge lists it under the label Ariola. Topy was made by Taiwan Gem International and distributed from Brussels, with a manual in six languages.
