Canyon Bomber

With just a press of a button, you’re in control of unloading bombs into the canyon. Careful now. An itchy trigger finger may cost you the war.

In Canyon Bomber, play against the computer or another player. Blast away the boulders with either a set or an unlimited number of bombs.

In Sea Bomber, blow away the carriers, tankers and ships. Your goal is to reach 1000 points before your opponent.

About the Game

Famed programmer and game designer David Crane created the Atari VCS version of Canyon Bomber. After working for Atari, he would go on to establish Activision and create games such as Pitfall!.

Canyon Bomber was based on the popular arcade version of its namesake. Sea Bomber, meanwhile, has reported roots in Depth Charge by Gremlin and Atari’s own Destroyer.

Object of the Games

For Canyon Bomber games, press the red button on the paddle controller to drop bombs from the plane into the canyon. Note that the controller knob is inoperable during Canyon Bomber games.

For Sea Bomber games, turn the controller knob to move the dashed depth indicator up and down the playfield. This sets the depth at which the charge explodes. Press the red controller button to release the bomb.

In one-player games, play continues until six misses are recorded against you. Or, you (or the computer) score 1000 points in a game with unlimited bombs. In two-player Canyon Bomber games, play continues until both players miss six times in games with unlimited bombs. Or, one player scores 1000 points in games with unlimited bombs.

Game 1: Canyon Bomber (One Player)

Test your skill against the computer. It’s not an easy task. You have six chances to match wits with the computer for a higher score. Each time the bricks in the canyon are hit, the remaining bricks “fall” to a lower level rather than remain stationary in their original position. Bricks that fall to a lower level are worth the points designated for that level.

Keep an eye on the solid bar beneath your score on the upper-right side of the screen. It is a “miss indicator” and gradually decreases in length each time you miss until six misses are recorded and the game ends. The bar is also color-coordinated with your planes and score.

Set your sights for 1000 points. Although the game will not end if you reach that total, it’s an excellent goal to set since it will be very difficult to obtain.

Game 2: Canyon Bomber (Two Players)

This game differs from Game 1 in that you compete against another player rather than the computer. Play ends when six misses are recorded against both players. The player with the highest score wins. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your opponent’s “miss indicator” as well as your own.

Game 3: Canyon Bomber (One Player)

This game variation is the same as Game 1 with one exception. Rather than falling to a lower level, the bricks in the canyon stay “suspended” in their original position when the surrounding bricks are hit.

Game 4: Canyon Bomber (Two Players)

You compete against another player in this game variation. This time, however, the bricks remain suspended instead of falling to a lower level.

Game 5: Canyon Bomber (Two Players)

Prepare for a test of your endurance and concentration. The first player to score 1000 points wins. There is no time limit and no constraints on the number of bombs or misses. Falling, as opposed to suspended bricks, are programmed into this game. Also, there isn’t a “miss indicator” on the screen in games with unlimited bombs.

Game 6: Canyon Bomber (Two Players)

This game variation is identical to Game 5, except that the bricks stay suspended.

Game 7: Sea Bomber (One Player)

Set the level, release the bomb, and you’re ready for action against the computer. Although it sounds easy, the computer’s a real steady competitor. If you score 1000 points before the computer, you win!

Game 8: Sea Bomber (Two Players)

This time you compete against another player in a race to the 1000-point mark.

Game Options

To choose the game type, depress the game select button. The number for each game is displayed in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Features

Falling Bricks (FB)

When bricks as destroyed, bricks from the layers above fall down to fill in gaps.

Suspended Bricks (SB)

Bricks remain in their original layer until destroyed.

Limited Bombs (LI)

The game ends after six misses. Misses are recorded for bombs failing to strike a brick and when your aircraft crosses the screen without dropping a bomb.

Unlimited Bombs (UN)

There is no bomb limit, regardless of the number of misses.

Difficulty Options

When the difficulty button is in position A, you must wait until a bomb runs its course before firing again. Change the button to position B and it’s possible to recover and fire a bomb again by pressing the red fire button. This allows you to correct a bad shot or fire at a different target, if your opponent hits the original target. There is no limit to the number of times you can recover and launch a bomb again while your plane is making one run across the screen. Additionally, the computer plays much tougher when the game is set to the B position.

Scoring: Canyon Bomber

In one-player Canyon Bomber games, you compete against the computer for the highest score. A miss is recorded each time you fail to hit a target in the canyon. A miss is also recorded if your plan travels across the canyon without dropping a bomb.

There are eight bars of bricks that extend across the canyon. Each brick in the first two bars is worth one point, while the bricks in the third and fourth bars are worth two points. The bricks in the fifth and sixth bars are worth three points and the bricks in the bottom two bars are worth four points.

If a player (or the computer) eliminates all of the bricks in the canyon, a new canyon appears and play continues.

Scoring: Sea Bomber

In both Sea Bomber game variations, the game ends when a player (or the computer) scores 1000 points. In general, the lower the ship is positioned on the screen, the more points you score. Point values for the five levels are 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 points.