New Friend Request
SHOLLY'S TIP SHEETS, CHAPTER IV: Big Bang 8/14/07 12:06 PM
The fourth installment in my Tip Sheet series deals with a King.com original, as far as I know. Big Bang reminds me of a game I got out of a computer magazine back in the mid-80's, back when just about anyone could write his own programs if he knew BASIC. The game involved adding bombs to squares, which would explode and occupy the surrounding squares when the target square reached critical mass, though this game was for two players, and very basic.
In Big Bang, the objective is to destroy all the atoms on the screen in each of five levels by overloading them with electrons. You have limited time and electrons to do this, and Levels 4 and 5 feature atoms of two different colors.
Each level consists of a 6x6 grid containing 26-30 atoms, some of which bear special features that I'll get to in a bit. You control an electron gun with 12 shots (the game instructions incorrectly say 10). Move the pointer to any square containing an atom and click to fire the gun, which will add an electron to the atom. If the atom hit already holds three electrons (as evidenced by the number of orbits around it), it will explode and launch an electron (or two, or a positron, depending on if it's a special atom) in each of the four cardinal directions. This may result in other atoms being overloaded and exploding as well, causing a chain reaction (not to be confused with King.com's Chain Reaction game, which is completely different and contains no chain reactions per se).
For every three atoms destroyed in one chain reaction, an electron will be added to the gun. If the first atom destroyed sets off a chain reaction that destroys every atom on the screen, you've made a Big Bang. Making at least one Big Bang in a game will get you an achievement point. For each level you clear, you will receive bonus electrons equal to the level number you just cleared.
On Levels 4 and 5, there are both pink and green atoms. All atoms will absorb an incoming electron regardless of color, but a pink electron can't destroy a green atom, or vice versa. This makes Big Bangs nearly impossible on Levels 4 and 5, except when there are Charged (lightning) atoms present. Even then, it's extremely difficult and not always possible.
You have four minutes to complete all five levels. The game continues until you complete them all, or run out of electrons or time. If you complete all five levels, a bonus is added to your score, as discussed below.
There are three special features that atoms can carry: They can be Charged (pictured with a lightning bolt), Unstable (pictured with a cross of electrons), or have a score multiplier of 2 or 3. Let's talk about them a bit:
Charged (lightning) atoms behave like any other atoms until they're exploded. When a Charged atom is blown up, it sends positrons instead of electrons in each direction. A positron will blow up the next atom it touches, regardless of size or color. These are very useful for clearing atoms with few electrons, and are a big aid in setting up a Big Bang. They are also the only way you can destroy atoms of two colors with one shot.
Unstable (or Multi) atoms behave like normal atoms until they're blown up, at which point they release two electrons in each direction instead of one. These are useful for cutting down electron use.
X2 and X3 atoms do exactly as they suggest: The score for destroying this atom is double or triple what it would normally be.
Let's talk about the scoring:
Destroying an atom with the electron gun is worth 100 points. If one shot destroys more than one atom, each successive atom destroyed is worth 10 points more than the last one. This means that the key to scoring big is to form long chain reactions, preferably Big Bangs.
Destroying a X2 or X3 atom doubles or triples the score for that atom only. To get maximum value for these, you want to destroy them as late in your chain as practical.
If you complete all five levels, you receive a bonus of 100 points for every electron remaining in the gun, and 10 points for every second left (measured to the nearest tenth of a second, though the screen doesn't show that).
There are two points to keep in mind to achieve the maximum possible score, and speed isn't one of them. Think before you click! They are: Making Big Bangs and chains as long as possible using the fewest possible number of electrons, and destroying X2 and X3 atoms as late in those chains as possible. After all, a X3 atom destroyed late in a Big Bang is often worth over 1000 points.
To build your chains, you need to know some basic atom formations that will yield chains. In my examples, a number refers to the number of electrons the atom is holding, and an L is a lightning (Charged) atom.
Starting with straight-line combinations...I will put the atom to hit in parentheses:
3 (3) 2 The most basic chain of three. The 2 atom will receive an electron first from the center atom, then the left atom.
3 3 (3) 1, 3 3 3 (3) 0 These are extensions of the basic chain. With a string of 3s, destroy the one closest to the atom that's not a 3.
2 (3) 3 2 You can actually destroy either 3 in this symmetrical arrangement. As pictured, the left atom will absorb two electrons as above, then will send one to the 2 on the right, which already absorbed an electron from the 3 on the right.
1 (3) 3 3 2, 0 (3) 3 3 3 2 Again, extensions of the theme.
This is the basic idea. To list all such chains would make this Tip Sheet impossibly long--besides, who would go to the trouble to memorize them all? It's best to discover the other patterns on your own.
I won't go too much into two-dimensional chains, except to say that a square or rectangular arrangement of four atoms must have 3s at each corner, except that one corner can be a 2 as it will absorb an electron from each adjacent corner.
Charged atoms should be used to destroy small atoms whenever possible, in order to conserve electrons. It's not always a good idea to start your chain by blowing up the Charged atom:
2 0 (3) L 0 (the Charged atom is a 3)
If you were to blow up the Charged atom here, it would take out the 3 and the 0 on the end. These two atoms would each contribute an electron to the other 0, leaving a pair of 2s. However, if you blow up the indicated atom, it will send an electron to each side and blow up the Charged atom, which will now take out both 0s. Each of those 0s will send an electron to the 2, blowing it up and taking out the whole chain.
Again, think before you click! Take a while to study the screen before you start firing electrons, and see where you really need them and where you don't. Picking your starting point wisely is also very important, as it determines how many electrons you'll need to make a Big Bang or massive chain. It also determines how much your X2 and X3 atoms will be worth. You should usually pick your starting point where one of the above formations is, or can be formed with few electrons.
For Levels 4 and 5, if there are no Charged atoms, it's usually best to see which color is dominant on the screen, then blow up atoms of the other color in the way (making chains whenever possible, of course) in order to set up a big chain in the dominant color.
If you do have any Charged atoms, you may be able to set up a chain involving both colors. An in-depth look at how to do that is beyond the scope of this Tip Sheet, but practice and you'll figure it out.
I hope this helps. It's hard to come up with truly useful material for this game, as it's easier for you to see for yourself how it works. As always, comments, questions and feedback are appreciated. Take care and good luck!
This concludes the series for games in which I am ranked Warrior King or higher. The next batch of Tip Sheets will get into games I'm a King in as of this writing.
In Big Bang, the objective is to destroy all the atoms on the screen in each of five levels by overloading them with electrons. You have limited time and electrons to do this, and Levels 4 and 5 feature atoms of two different colors.
Each level consists of a 6x6 grid containing 26-30 atoms, some of which bear special features that I'll get to in a bit. You control an electron gun with 12 shots (the game instructions incorrectly say 10). Move the pointer to any square containing an atom and click to fire the gun, which will add an electron to the atom. If the atom hit already holds three electrons (as evidenced by the number of orbits around it), it will explode and launch an electron (or two, or a positron, depending on if it's a special atom) in each of the four cardinal directions. This may result in other atoms being overloaded and exploding as well, causing a chain reaction (not to be confused with King.com's Chain Reaction game, which is completely different and contains no chain reactions per se).
For every three atoms destroyed in one chain reaction, an electron will be added to the gun. If the first atom destroyed sets off a chain reaction that destroys every atom on the screen, you've made a Big Bang. Making at least one Big Bang in a game will get you an achievement point. For each level you clear, you will receive bonus electrons equal to the level number you just cleared.
On Levels 4 and 5, there are both pink and green atoms. All atoms will absorb an incoming electron regardless of color, but a pink electron can't destroy a green atom, or vice versa. This makes Big Bangs nearly impossible on Levels 4 and 5, except when there are Charged (lightning) atoms present. Even then, it's extremely difficult and not always possible.
You have four minutes to complete all five levels. The game continues until you complete them all, or run out of electrons or time. If you complete all five levels, a bonus is added to your score, as discussed below.
There are three special features that atoms can carry: They can be Charged (pictured with a lightning bolt), Unstable (pictured with a cross of electrons), or have a score multiplier of 2 or 3. Let's talk about them a bit:
Charged (lightning) atoms behave like any other atoms until they're exploded. When a Charged atom is blown up, it sends positrons instead of electrons in each direction. A positron will blow up the next atom it touches, regardless of size or color. These are very useful for clearing atoms with few electrons, and are a big aid in setting up a Big Bang. They are also the only way you can destroy atoms of two colors with one shot.
Unstable (or Multi) atoms behave like normal atoms until they're blown up, at which point they release two electrons in each direction instead of one. These are useful for cutting down electron use.
X2 and X3 atoms do exactly as they suggest: The score for destroying this atom is double or triple what it would normally be.
Let's talk about the scoring:
Destroying an atom with the electron gun is worth 100 points. If one shot destroys more than one atom, each successive atom destroyed is worth 10 points more than the last one. This means that the key to scoring big is to form long chain reactions, preferably Big Bangs.
Destroying a X2 or X3 atom doubles or triples the score for that atom only. To get maximum value for these, you want to destroy them as late in your chain as practical.
If you complete all five levels, you receive a bonus of 100 points for every electron remaining in the gun, and 10 points for every second left (measured to the nearest tenth of a second, though the screen doesn't show that).
There are two points to keep in mind to achieve the maximum possible score, and speed isn't one of them. Think before you click! They are: Making Big Bangs and chains as long as possible using the fewest possible number of electrons, and destroying X2 and X3 atoms as late in those chains as possible. After all, a X3 atom destroyed late in a Big Bang is often worth over 1000 points.
To build your chains, you need to know some basic atom formations that will yield chains. In my examples, a number refers to the number of electrons the atom is holding, and an L is a lightning (Charged) atom.
Starting with straight-line combinations...I will put the atom to hit in parentheses:
3 (3) 2 The most basic chain of three. The 2 atom will receive an electron first from the center atom, then the left atom.
3 3 (3) 1, 3 3 3 (3) 0 These are extensions of the basic chain. With a string of 3s, destroy the one closest to the atom that's not a 3.
2 (3) 3 2 You can actually destroy either 3 in this symmetrical arrangement. As pictured, the left atom will absorb two electrons as above, then will send one to the 2 on the right, which already absorbed an electron from the 3 on the right.
1 (3) 3 3 2, 0 (3) 3 3 3 2 Again, extensions of the theme.
This is the basic idea. To list all such chains would make this Tip Sheet impossibly long--besides, who would go to the trouble to memorize them all? It's best to discover the other patterns on your own.
I won't go too much into two-dimensional chains, except to say that a square or rectangular arrangement of four atoms must have 3s at each corner, except that one corner can be a 2 as it will absorb an electron from each adjacent corner.
Charged atoms should be used to destroy small atoms whenever possible, in order to conserve electrons. It's not always a good idea to start your chain by blowing up the Charged atom:
2 0 (3) L 0 (the Charged atom is a 3)
If you were to blow up the Charged atom here, it would take out the 3 and the 0 on the end. These two atoms would each contribute an electron to the other 0, leaving a pair of 2s. However, if you blow up the indicated atom, it will send an electron to each side and blow up the Charged atom, which will now take out both 0s. Each of those 0s will send an electron to the 2, blowing it up and taking out the whole chain.
Again, think before you click! Take a while to study the screen before you start firing electrons, and see where you really need them and where you don't. Picking your starting point wisely is also very important, as it determines how many electrons you'll need to make a Big Bang or massive chain. It also determines how much your X2 and X3 atoms will be worth. You should usually pick your starting point where one of the above formations is, or can be formed with few electrons.
For Levels 4 and 5, if there are no Charged atoms, it's usually best to see which color is dominant on the screen, then blow up atoms of the other color in the way (making chains whenever possible, of course) in order to set up a big chain in the dominant color.
If you do have any Charged atoms, you may be able to set up a chain involving both colors. An in-depth look at how to do that is beyond the scope of this Tip Sheet, but practice and you'll figure it out.
I hope this helps. It's hard to come up with truly useful material for this game, as it's easier for you to see for yourself how it works. As always, comments, questions and feedback are appreciated. Take care and good luck!
This concludes the series for games in which I am ranked Warrior King or higher. The next batch of Tip Sheets will get into games I'm a King in as of this writing.
Great Guide. Big Bang is my favourite game, but I don't think I would have been able to put the strategy into words as well as you did. There are lots of tips, such as watching out for small atoms in the middle or in the corners, but as you said, practice is most important. Thanks for the guide!!
Excellent guide! - but I'm still wary of this game ... When I tried Big Bang for the first time (free), I won 7/10 playing with little thought. Then I started trying to think my way through, preparing big bangs etc; I won just 12/55 (my worst ever?) & gave up, as I was nearly always losing on time.