Zavala

For the Bullet Hell Jam of 2023.

If you're looking for an exciting new way to test your game-playing skills, then the Zavala game is the answer. Your survival instinct is challenged immediately as you find yourself in the 21st Century on a dark and mysterious trail threatened by an invading hoard of monsters. These villainous creatures live off of only three things — cash and grass.

It's up to you and your prairie schooner to stop the monsters before they infest the earth. In accomplishing this goal: 

• Score points by destroying enemies. Your schooner is equipped with a particle-projection cannon. When fully charged, the cannon fires a blast of concentrated energy. Hold the button for sustained fire. However, over time your cannon's fire will become weaker. When you stop firing, your cannon will automatically recharge. Your cannon's charge will last longer and will recharge faster when your schooner has more power. White-hot fire does the most damage to the monsters, while green fire does the least.
• As an enemy takes damage, it will shift red in color, until it eventually explodes. All enemies take damage from your cannon's fire. If it's taking too long, consider waiting for your cannon to recharge. Full-power shots are much more effective against the hardier monsters.
• Earn score multiplier. You can increase your multiplier by "grazing" enemy bullets (brushing close to them but not letting them strike your command module). Your multiplier will decrease when monsters get past you. Using a screen-clearing bomb will reset the multiplier back to the start! There are secret methods to raise the multiplier, too. Can you find them all?
• Increase your power. You can absorb power-ups by picking them up with your schooner's command module.  More power will increase your cannon's recharge speed, so you can shoot longer for greater effect. If you can gain enough power, your cannon fire will display even more unusual properties. Try it and see!
• Your schooner is equipped with an exciplex stabilizer to deflect damage, but colliding with enemies and projectiles will deplete your energy. If you run out of power, it's all over! As the shield becomes unstable, your schooner will shake and rattle. Avoid enemies and their projectiles until your shield re-stabilizes.
• Use your screen-clearing bomb to damage enemies and to remove their projectiles from the screen. You begin with one bomb. You can pick up more bombs when they appear on the screen as glowing spheres.
• Authentic to the hardware of the TI99/4a. Being first is our tradition!

Note: Be sure the module is free of static electricity before inserting it into the television computer.

Gameplay, visuals, and presentation by Xin Jin  Meng. The Zavala theme song was composed, arranged, and produced by Moult. All other music was arranged by Tyler Two.  Special thanks to Jim Dramis, Dave Lindsay, John Linnell, John C. Plaster, Paul Urbanus, and the staff members of the Texas Instruments Education and Communications Center.