Dasher - Atari 2600

The MalVexis Corporation Master Runner Trials

You are a D.A.S.H. unit (Dynamic Automated Security Handler), the pinnacle of synthetic speed and precise movement, engineered by the unforgiving MalVexis Corporation. Indistinguishable from a human in form and behavior, a D.A.S.H. unit is a bioengineered android, designed to endure MalVexis Corporation's most punishing performance trials.

You haven't been deployed for rescue or defense; this is the final, grueling phase of your Peak Performance Certification within the colossal Mega-Conveyor Facility 9. Your entire operational existence is now dedicated to proving your absolute value against MalVexis Corporation's relentless, maximum-difficulty stress test. The purpose of this 112-room trial is to demonstrate maximum operational efficiency.

Your final efficiency rating (your score) is directly tied to the amount of time remaining on the timer when you clear the entire facility. Every wasted second is a decay in your unit's worth, proving you are less than the cutting-edge machine MalVexis Corporation designed.

Failure to complete the trial before the timer hits zero results in a rating of "Minimum Acceptable Standard," leading to a costly re-calibration and loss of status. Only a D.A.S.H. unit that endures the ultimate test, the Black-Box Protocol, with an outstanding efficiency rating, can claim the coveted title of MalVexis Corporation's Master Runner.

Gameplay

Your purpose is to prove your worth by traversing all 112 unique obstacle rooms as quickly and precisely as possible. Your score is your Efficiency Rating, which begins high and counts down continuously. The final score is the amount of time remaining when you clear the entire facility.

Maximum Performance: Completing the final room (Room 112) before the timer hits zero earns you the coveted MalVexis Corporation Master Certification and a massive Efficiency Bonus (your remaining time).

Minimum Acceptable Standard: If the timer reaches zero before you finish, your performance is rated as "Barely Functional." You will face mandatory recall for re-calibration. 

The Environment

The Mega-Conveyor Facility 9 is currently running a live-fire simulation. Every element in the environment is a calculated risk designed to stress-test the D.A.S.H. unit.

Environmental Hazards (Squares & Shapes): These are Active Calibration Traps and Safety Overrides-piston presses, plasma emitters, and high-voltage barriers. They are not malfunctioning; they are running maximum-tolerance simulations. Contact with these engineered hazards results in an immediate System Fault and loss of Structural Integrity.

Decommissioning Pits (Open Gaps): The large, open gaps are drops into the facility's recycling matrix. These pits are designed to instantly decommission failed synthetic units for raw material reclamation. Falling into one is an instantaneous and unrecoverable failure.

Operational Backtracking (Movement): While the trial's goal is linear progression, MalVexis Corporation permits backtracking between rooms, which is tracked as an operational delay. This may be necessary for precision realignment or recovering from a movement error, but remember: every second spent moving backward increases your Efficiency Rating Decay.

Special Red Cartridge!

The first 100 copies of Dasher will include a red cartridge shell at no extra cost.  The red shell looks great with the label artwork and makes for a stunning version of the game cartridge.

Dasher Poster

Included with Dasher is a 10" x 14" poster, featuring William Thorup's Dasher artwork that graces the box, manual, and labels!

Screenshots

Couch Compliant

Dasher is a Couch Compliant game.  What does that mean?  A Couch Compliant game allows you to choose game options and start the game using the controller, meaning you don't have to interact with any switches on the console to do so. When your game is over, you can then return back to the title screen (if applicable) and start a new game without having to touch the console.  You can view all Couch Complaint games here.

Additional Information

Included with Dasher is the game cartridge, full color, 12-page manual, professionally printed box, and a poster featuring the game's cover artwork created by William Thorup.

Number of Players	1
Controller	Joystick
Cartridge Size	64K
Designer and Programmer	Steve Engelhardt
Artwork and Packaging Design	William Thorup