Impossible Mission II
Encyclopedia
Impossible Mission II is a 1988 computer game for the Commodore 64
, ZX Spectrum
, Amstrad CPC
, Enterprise 64 and 128
, Nintendo Entertainment System
, MS-DOS
based PCs, Atari ST
, Apple IIe
with at least 128K, Apple IIc
, Apple IIGS
and Amiga
computers, developed by Novotrade
and published by Epyx
. In 2004, it was one of the games featured on the C64 Direct-to-TV
.
Impossible Mission II is a direct sequel to Epyx's 1984 game Impossible Mission
. The game follows directly from the same plot, with Elvin Atombender seeking revenge, and the player having to stop him. The overall game structure and basic gameplay is mostly similar, but there are a few differences and new features.
The game takes place in Elvin's fortress, which consists of nine tower
s. Each of the eight outer towers has a specific theme, such as computer
s, automobile
s, furniture
and so on. Each tower consists of several rooms connected by two vertical corridors with elevator
s and two horizontal corridors leading to other towers. This time, the corridors leading between different towers are locked, and can only be unlocked by figuring out a numerical puzzle.
Each tower contains the numbers zero through nine in three different colors. The computer interface will allow you to try various number combinations to see if they are correct.
The elevator to the central tower is unlocked by finding a password
, which is encoded in a piece of music
. Each of the eight outer towers has a musical piece locked inside a safe. The final password consists of six distinct musical pieces. Two of the pieces you find in the towers are duplicates. If you find that you have a duplicate, you must rewind the tape so that the next musical piece records over top of a duplicate, effectively erasing it.
s and devices for the player to use.
Whereas the original game only included security bots and a special flying ball
robot, Impossible Mission II offers the following types of robots:
The "ball" type robot is no longer present.
As well as snoozes that temporarily freeze the robots and lift resets, the player can now collect bomb
s and mines that can be used to blow up holes in the floor, or to open safe
s. Bombs explode after a specific time, whereas mines explode if the player or an enemy robot touches them.
, this time for the Amiga only. Impossible Mission 2025 abandoned the corridor layout of different rooms and instead included one big room. The player also had the choice of three different characters: the normal secret agent, a female gymnast
, and an android.
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Enterprise 64 and 128
Enterprise 128
The Enterprise is a Zilog Z80 based home computer first released in 1985. There are two variants, the Enterprise 64 with 64 kB of RAM, and the Enterprise 128 with 128 kB.- Hardware :- CPU, memory and ASIC chips :...
, Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
based PCs, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
, Apple IIe
Apple IIe
The Apple IIe is the third model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The e in the name stands for enhanced, referring to the fact that several popular features were now built-in that were only available as upgrades and add-ons in earlier models...
with at least 128K, Apple IIc
Apple IIc
The Apple IIc, the fourth model in the Apple II series of personal computers, was Apple Computer’s first endeavor to produce a portable computer. The end result was a notebook-sized version of the Apple II that could be transported from place to place...
, Apple IIGS
Apple IIGS
The Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
and Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
computers, developed by Novotrade
Appaloosa Interactive
Appaloosa Interactive is a corporation, founded in 1983 in Hungary, that produced numerous console games, computer programs and Hungarian TV-commercials during the 1980s and 90's. The company's headquarters are currently in Palo Alto, California, and it is the parent company and owner of two...
and published by Epyx
Epyx
Epyx, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. The company was founded as Automated Simulations by Jim Connelley and Jon Freeman, originally using Epyx as a brand name for action-oriented games before renaming the company to match in 1983...
. In 2004, it was one of the games featured on the C64 Direct-to-TV
C64 Direct-to-TV
The C64 Direct-to-TV, called C64DTV for short, is a single-chip implementation of the Commodore 64 computer, contained in a joystick with 30 built-in games. The design is similar to the Atari Classics 10-in-1 TV Game...
.
Impossible Mission II is a direct sequel to Epyx's 1984 game Impossible Mission
Impossible Mission
Impossible Mission is a platform computer game for several home computers. The original version for the Commodore 64 was programmed by Dennis Caswell and published by Epyx in 1984.-Description:...
. The game follows directly from the same plot, with Elvin Atombender seeking revenge, and the player having to stop him. The overall game structure and basic gameplay is mostly similar, but there are a few differences and new features.
The game takes place in Elvin's fortress, which consists of nine tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
s. Each of the eight outer towers has a specific theme, such as computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s, automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s, furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
and so on. Each tower consists of several rooms connected by two vertical corridors with elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s and two horizontal corridors leading to other towers. This time, the corridors leading between different towers are locked, and can only be unlocked by figuring out a numerical puzzle.
Each tower contains the numbers zero through nine in three different colors. The computer interface will allow you to try various number combinations to see if they are correct.
The elevator to the central tower is unlocked by finding a password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
, which is encoded in a piece of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Each of the eight outer towers has a musical piece locked inside a safe. The final password consists of six distinct musical pieces. Two of the pieces you find in the towers are duplicates. If you find that you have a duplicate, you must rewind the tape so that the next musical piece records over top of a duplicate, effectively erasing it.
New features
The main addition over the previous game is the addition of new types of enemy robotRobot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s and devices for the player to use.
Whereas the original game only included security bots and a special flying ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
robot, Impossible Mission II offers the following types of robots:
- Security bot, like in the previous game.
- Shovel bot, tries to push you over the edge of a platform.
- Suicide bot, like a shovel bot, but also jumps off the edge itself.
- Mine bot, lays deadly land mineLand mineA land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s on the floor. - Pest bot, is harmless to the touch, but rides around on the lifts, foiling your designs.
- Squat bot, springs up from the floor, sending you onto a floor above you or crushing you against the ceiling.
The "ball" type robot is no longer present.
As well as snoozes that temporarily freeze the robots and lift resets, the player can now collect bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
s and mines that can be used to blow up holes in the floor, or to open safe
Safe
A safe is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal or formed out of plastic through blow molding...
s. Bombs explode after a specific time, whereas mines explode if the player or an enemy robot touches them.
Sequels
Impossible Mission and Impossible Mission II were followed by Impossible Mission 2025Impossible Mission 2025
Impossible Mission 2025 is a side scrolling platform and action game for the Amiga computer system. It was released by MicroProse in 1994 as 2 different versions. One for the Amiga 500 and 600 systems, and a version for the AGA enhanced Amiga 1200, 4000 and CD32 systems.-Characters:The player can...
, this time for the Amiga only. Impossible Mission 2025 abandoned the corridor layout of different rooms and instead included one big room. The player also had the choice of three different characters: the normal secret agent, a female gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
, and an android.