Assault Rigs

Assault Rigs
Developer(s)	Psygnosis (PS1, PC) Perfect Entertainment (Saturn)
Publisher(s)	Psygnosis
Platform(s)	Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Release date(s)	1996 (PS1, PC) 1997 (Saturn)
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single-player, Two-player (PS1 version)

Assault Rigs is an Action game by Psygnosis, released in 1995 for PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The game is based in the future, where real sport has been overtaken in favour of virtual sport. And everyone's favourite is Assault Rigs. The game runs through like a tank simulator, set inside a 3D virtual environment.

The goal of the single player game is to collect all of the gems in a level, while destroying or avoiding enemies, ultimately reaching the end exit. There are 42 Levels (Plus 15 levels for Playstation two player) featuring jump ramps, elevators, sky ways, trenches, movable blocks and push rods. There are also 20 weapon power-ups, viruses and Dolby Surround sound.

Assault Rigs also has the capability to utilize the Playstation Link Cable, enabling two players with two playstations to play head-to-head with full screens. A unique feature of the Serial link cable usage is that there are 15 additional levels that are only available for play using the cable.

Level Order (PC and Playstation 1 Versions)

Wel come, Nextgen, This Way, Joy Joy, Noddy, Wastelands, Vertigo, Gem Tower, Bridge, Obliterate, Arena, P B M, Ramps, Oasis, Halls, Coaster, Mine, Look Up, Deadline, Fort, Stairway, Park A Lot, Zamcam, Shoot Me, Wild, Oil Rig, Right Way, Waste Two, Dodge, Air, Jump, Room 101, Firepower, Wave, Push Off, Perimeter, Spiral, Bounce, Castle, Fortress, Lifts Ahoy, Push Me.

Sega Saturn Version

In the Saturn version of Assault Rigs, all of the levels were the same as the Playstation 1 and PC versions physically but they were given different names. For example, the 1st level is called Practice and the 2nd is called Four Rooms on the Sega Saturn version.

Weapons

Weapons appear in floating blue cubes. They are opened by shooting them once. These cubes might also contain Power-ups. Here is a list of weapons:

• Standard ammo - You have an unlimited supply of this ammo.
• Bounce ammo - This ammo comes in rounds of 30 and bounces off walls. Can bounce back and damage yourself, useful for attacking enemies without exposure!
• Shattershells - Similar to bounce ammo and starts as 25. These red rounds only split upon contact or when the fire button is pressed a second time.
• Homing Missiles - Comes in rounds of 6. Locks on to anything that moves.
• Guided Missiles - Comes in rounds of 3. After shooting, you gain control of missile and guide it where you want.
• Laser - Comes in rounds of 15. Trades rapid fire for a long-range highly damaging laser.
• Mini Gun - Comes in rounds of 250. Like a quick fire version of standard ammo. Powerful at short distances. Doesn't reach far.

Power-ups

Power-ups appear in floating blue cubes. They are opened by shooting them once. These cubes might also contain Weapons. Here is a list of Power-ups:

• Drop And Forget Mines - Like ordinary mines but you lay them. Arms after a few seconds and explode and fragments when touched.
• Shield Deck - After activated, a red shield will appear around your rig rendering it invincible. This goes after a short period of time.
• Warp Deck - After activated, you are taken to a certian place in the arena.
• Push Block Deck - Disguises you as a push block so enemies ignore you. Remains until a certain amount of time passes or the player fires.
• Auto Turret - Only works with rigs that have a movable turret. The turret will point at the direction of the closet enemy. Stops after a certain period of time.
• Sentry Gun Pods - Dropped like mines. However once activated after a cetain amount of time they will attack anything, harmless to you, harmful to enemies.

Game Screen

• 1) Shield Indicator. If one indicator turns black, you explode.
• 2) This is where your power-up and ammunation left is shown.
• 3) Gems collected/Gems needed.
• 4) Time left to complete the level.
• 5) Score.
• 6) Weapon selector. The current weapon has a little red rectangle above its icon.

Enemies

In every level you'll find enemies. They can be either mobile or static defenses. Each have a variety of weapons that you'll need different approaches too.

Turrets

These are stationary and scan based on their sight. They'll only attack once you enter their sights.

• Double: The Most common turret, basically fires a pair of Standard Rounds that can do double of a single round. Quite simple
• Single: A standard turret with a single cannon, quite accurate.
• Missile: Launches a homing missile, Takes some time between firing. Rocket is high damaging and can attack any other enemy
• Mortar: The only turret that can aim vertical. This fires a large shell in a arc that can pass over walls. Be careful when it lands as it fragments upon impact.
• Auto Gun: Quite a useless turret. Goes up or down, firing sequently. But blocks your way.

Mobile

Mobile enemies look similar to your rig. They can pursue you as long as they can see you. Their weapons are variable. They make a strange noise when they attack you.

• Standard: A very common enemy. They'll pursue and shoot you with standard ammo. Easy to destroy.
• Shatter: These attack with the same Shatter Ammo and are very resistant when you first encouter them. Luckily they don't shatter their shots it on command but be careful when they hit any surface
• Rocket: A lot like the rocket turret. Missile can attack any moving vehicle. They're high priority
• Melee: Enemies armed with either a drill or shovel. They attack by speeding towards your vehicle and further shove into the rig, causing damage. Their melee weapons makes them invulnerable from the front but cannot survive being shot at the back or the sides. Keep an eye on them, they make sneaky attackers.
• Minelayer: A harmless quiet vehicle that periodically drops mines, creating a vast minefield over time. They'll keep coming until you destroy the layer or the maximum number is reached.
• Spinner: Chaotic, trouble makers, that career around the arena shooting aimlessly when it sees you. Can be dangerous when it fires in a large area. It moves randomly so it's unpredictable.

Viruses

These aren't invited into the Net. They appear as robotic, flying heads which unfortunaly makes advantage over your lack of y-axis. Missiles are best against them, even from turrets or Mobile Launchers, there are 3 types. They can chase you much longer than Mobile enemies. Virus enemies greaten your current score.

• Basic: A grey head with yellow spikes for eyes. Their cannons can fire in quick bursts. Irritating.

• Minigun: Attacks with a Minigun, fired in bursts, destroy them before they chew up your shields.

• Laser: Highest value enemy. Attacks with laser gun similar to yours. This weapon can wreck your shields unless you take action.

Arena Elements and Hazards

You'll find numourous things apart from those that shoot.

Elements

• Push Block: A multi-purpose block that is pushed by nudging the rig into the crate. Other mobile enemies can push it. Used for bridges or helping bypass a ledge

• Gems: Generally your best bet for escape, these purple, yellow or red crystals are needed to get to the exit.

• Exit: Generally not to be described heavily. It's simple, collect all gems, the exit lights up allowing access to the next arena.

• Elevator: A moving platform of various speeds. These platforms follow a straight path and allow access to different islands, ledges or others. They may also be needed to ingress deeper into the arena. Can carry push blocks.

Hazards

Hazards are toxic to your tank and can do damage if you move into them.

Electric Gate: A zapping pair of red emitters display a sizzling, blue line across the hallway. They turn off and on sequently. Bypassing the electricity firing through to the other side can harm your shields. Bypass when the emitters are off.

Mines: Not dropped by your rig or Mine Layers but part of the arena. But they follow the same rule: These explode into four fragments and harm your rig if you touch them. Avoid these yellow and black sneakers.