Battlezone 2000 saw release on the Atari Lynx in 1995 by Atari Corporation. What is more interesting than a new game for a handheld over half a decade after launch is what is inside that cart. While it has been widely known for years now, there is a hidden game in there. What gamers got at retail was a slightly more complex version of the original Battlezone. Not much “2000” going on there. Input a code at the right screen and suddenly you have filled polygons and other upgrades. Thanks to a modder, you no longer need a code to access the hidden game.
Battlezone was one of those arcade titles.
You took control of a tank and moved around a pseudo 3D game world shooting the enemy vehicles. Graphically, Battlezone featured wire frame visuals that were revolutionary at the time.
Battlezone 2000, the hidden game, on the Atari Lynx takes those graphics and updates them with actual detail. While the basic action is the same, you now must worry about upgrading your tank. You do this on the battlefield, while under attack, and your resources in general are limited.
Access to the hidden game required a button combination on the right menu screen. With this hack, available on ROMHacking.net, you can bypass that minor annoyance and go straight into Battlezone 2000.
There are other niceties available too though. First, Harry Dodgson’s custom loader is included. This helps you get around security measures that Atari Lynx has in place.
If you prefer to play on real hardware then check out eBay for the necessary Atari Lynx items. Thanks to one of our friends for e-mailing this information over. If you have a tip and want to get in touch, please use the contact link at the top of the page.
This article was originally published on Retro Gaming Magazine.
