Descpription:
The object of Tempest is to survive as long as possible
and score as many points as possible by clearing the screen of enemies that
have landed on the playing field. The game takes place in a closed tube or open
field which is viewed from one end and is divided into a dozen or more segments.
The player controls a claw-shaped spaceship that crawls along the near edge of
the playfield, moving from segment to segment. This ship can rapid-fire shots down
the tube, destroying any enemies within the same segment, and is also equipped with
a Superzapper, which destroys all enemies currently on the playfield once per level.
Enemies swirl around at the far end of the playfield, then enter the playfield and move
toward the player. When all enemies in a level are destroyed or reach the near end
of the playfield, the player "warps" to the next level by traveling down the playfield.
The player must avoid or shoot down any spikes left behind while warping. The player
loses a ship when an enemy comes into contact with their ship, shoots it or otherwise destroys
it, or if the ship hits a spike while warping. If an adequate point threshold is reached, the player
can earn a new ship. The game is over when the enemies destroy all of the player's ships.
