This help file is designed to be viewed from within Atari Arcade Hits 2’s configurations.  To get help on a topic, click the ? on the upper-right corner of the Configurations dialog and then click on the item within the dialog.

If you are accessing the Configurations via the Arcade, use the arrows to highlight an item, then press F1 for help on that item.


Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Millipede, and Warlords can display their messages in English, French, German, or Spanish.  Select the language you prefer for these games using this option.


Use this option to select the maximum video resolution a game may use.  Note: not all games will go to the full resolution selected.  Crystal Castles, Millipede, and Warlords never go above 800x600 regardless of this setting.


Double-clicking on the Atari Arcade Hits 2 Icon on the Windows task bar can either resume the last game you played, or take you to the Arcade according to your choice for this option.


When this option is enabled, you will get advice on how to improve performance in the event that a game’s graphics are slow or choppy.


Selects whether or not you see the art that surrounded the screen of the original arcade machine.


When this option is enabled, instead of playing the games you will be able to see the original arcade games’ Test Modes, which arcade operators used to diagnose problems within the games.  (This option will automatically turn off when you reset your computer.)


Enable this option to show the Atari Arcade Hits 2 Icon on your task bar.  When present, you can right-click on the icon for quick access to the games and elements of Atari Arcade Hits 2.  You can also left double-click on it to either go straight to the Arcade, or to resume the last game played according to the “Double Clicking Atari Icon” option on this page.


Clicking on this button will reset all options on this page to its defaults.


Use this box to change the game being configured, or to select General configurations.


Selects the number of ships that you start with at the beginning of each game.


Selects the number of tanks that you start with at the beginning of each game.


Selects the number of lives that you start with at the beginning of each game.


Selects the score at which you earn a bonus life.  In some games, you will also earn additional lives at multiples of this score.


Selects the difficulty level of the game.  Increasing the difficulty can make enemies more aggressive and obstacles more challenging.


Enabling this option allows you to play an alternate version of Asteroids Deluxe, featuring the reflected background art that appeared in some models of the arcade game.


Enabling this option puts Asteroids Deluxe in a fun mode unique to Atari Arcade Hits, in which the game generates colorful trails and the ship drifts minutely by itself.


Enabling this option puts Battlezone in a fun mode unique to Atari Arcade Hits, in which the game the game generates colorful trails.


Enabling this option puts Gravitar in a fun mode unique to Atari Arcade Hits, in which the game the game generates colorful trails.


Enabling this option adds more color to Battlezone, in a mode unique to Atari Arcade Hits 2.


Once the score passes the number selected, enemy cruise missiles are then allowed to appear in the game.


Crystal Castles had four color schemes.  It would occasionally change the color scheme after many games had been played.  Use this control select a different color scheme yourself.


Selects special graphics for Crystal Castles with enhanced detail, unique to Atari Arcade Hits 2.


Selects special graphics for Millipede with enhanced detail, unique to Atari Arcade Hits 2.


Enabling this option adds a background to scenes in Gravitar, unique to Atari Arcade Hits 2.


This option allows you to select how quickly the millipede heads increase their aggressiveness in Millipede.


This option allows you to select how quickly the beetles increase their aggressiveness in Millipede.


This option allows you to select how quickly the spiders increase their aggressiveness in Millipede.


When this option is enabled, Millipede may present a screen allowing you to select a starting bonus.  The maximum starting bonus will be determined by the last game played, but the minimum will never be less than the value specified here.  The minimum is expressed in multiples of the score needed to achieve a bonus life.  Note: you must earn at least one bonus life in order to be allowed to enter your initials into the high score board.


When this option is enabled, you will be invincible to everything but spiders.  You will not be allowed to enter your initials on the high score board when this option is enabled.


When this option is enabled, Millipede will be rotated 90° on your monitor.  This simulates the original arcade machine which had its monitor installed sideways so that there was more height to the screen than width.  WARNING: Many monitors do not operate properly and may even be damaged by being used while tipped on their sides.  If you use your monitor in this fashion, do so at your own risk.


Enabling this option allows you to play an alternate version of Warlords, featuring the reflected background art that appeared in some models of the upright game.  When this option is disabled, you will play the 4-player color “cocktail-version” of the Warlords arcade game.


Selects whether Warlords plays music after every game, or else only after a game in which a high score is achieved.


Selects the key you wish to use to exit the games.


Selects the key you wish to use to start a new 1-player game.


Selects the key you wish to use to start a new 2-player game.


Selects the key you wish to use to fire shots at enemies.


Selects the key you wish to use to apply engine thrust to move your ship.


Selects the key you wish to use to activate your ship’s shields.


Selects the key you wish to use to rotate your ship counterclockwise.


Selects the key you wish to use to rotate your ship clockwise.


Selects the key you wish to use for the “slam switch” in this game.  The slam switch is a switch found in the original arcade machine that tells it that someone has kicked or punched the game.  It is also used to access special features in the game’s Test Mode.


Selects the key you wish to use for the “utility switch”.  The utility switch is a switch found in the original arcade machine that is used to access special features in the game’s Test Mode.


Selects the key you wish to use to make your tank’s left tread move forward.


Selects the key you wish to use to make your tank’s left tread move backward.


Selects the key you wish to use to make your tank’s right tread move forward.


Selects the key you wish to use to make your tank’s right tread move backward.


Selects the key you wish to use to make Bentley Bear jump.


Selects the key you wish to use to make Bentley Bear move toward the upper right corner of the screen.


Selects the key you wish to use to make Bentley Bear move toward the upper left corner of the screen.


Selects the key you wish to use to make Bentley Bear move toward the lower right corner of the screen.


Selects the key you wish to use to make Bentley Bear move toward the lower left corner of the screen.


Selects the key you wish to use to activate your ship’s shield and tractor beam.  The tractor beam is used on planets to collect fuel cells.


Selects the key you wish to use to move your shooter left.


Selects the key you wish to use to move your shooter right.


Selects the key you wish to use to move your shooter up.


Selects the key you wish to use to move your shooter down.


Select which player’s controls you want to modify here.

Selects the key you wish to use to move your shield left.


Selects the key you wish to use to move your shield right.


Selects the key you wish to use to catch the fireball.  You must hold the key down to catch and hold the fireball.  This key may also be used to join a game.


Selects the key you wish to use to allow this player to join the game.


Specifies the mouse button used to start a 1-player game.


Specifies the mouse button used to start a 2-player game.


Specifies the button used to fire a shot at your enemies.


Specifies the button used to apply engine thrust to move your ship.


Specifies the button used to activate your ship’s shields.


When this option is enabled, pressing the mouse’s left and right buttons together will simulate the press of Button 3 (the middle button).


Sets your mouse sensitivity.  A higher sensitivity means smaller motions are needed to move your on-screen player.


Specifies the button used to make Bentley Bear jump.


Specifies the button used to activate your ship’s shields and tractor beam. The tractor beam is used on planets to collect fuel cells.


Use this option to enable the mouse to control the player selected.  The mouse may control more than one player’s shield at a time, and you may specify whether the horizontal or vertical motion of the mouse controls the shield.  Select “no axis” to stop the mouse from controlling this player.


Specifies the button used to catch the fireball during game play. You must hold the button down to catch and hold the fireball.  This button may also be used to join a game.


Select the joystick you wish to use to control the game.  To disable the joystick, select “no device”.


Select the joystick you wish to use to control the left tread.  To disable the joystick, select “no device”.  To use one joystick to control your tank, disable the “use two joysticks” option.


Select the joystick you wish to use to control the left tread.  To disable the joystick, select “no device”.  To use one joystick to control your tank, disable the “use two joysticks” option.


Sets the joystick sensitivity.  The greater the sensitivity the less you will need to move it to control your on-screen player.


When this option is enabled, Battlezone uses two joysticks to control your tank, as was done in the original arcade game.  The first joystick controls the left tread and the second joystick controls the right tread.


Select the game theme that contains the components you wish to apply.  You can choose to apply only certain elements of a theme (e.g. wallpaper only) by selectively checking the checkboxes to the right.  If you do not wish to apply a theme, set this box to “No change”.  To restore your desktop to Windows’ default theme, select “Windows default”.  To apply your selection, click “Apply” or “OK”.


Check this box if you wish to apply the desktop icons from the theme you have selected.


Check this box if you wish to apply the wallpaper from the theme you have selected.


Check this box if you wish to use the screen saver from the theme you have selected.  Screen savers have further options.  After you have applied a screen saver, right-click on your desktop, select Properties, select Screen Saver tab, and then click on “Settings…” to see these options.


Check this box if you wish to use the Windows title bar font from the theme you have selected.


Check this box if you wish to use the mouse cursors from the theme you have selected.


Check this box if you wish to use the sound scheme from the theme you have selected.


Click this button to uncheck theme elements that are currently checked, and to check theme elements which are currently unchecked.


Chooses between sub-options that may be configured for each game.  Choices are Game Play Options, Keyboard customization, Mouse configuration, and Joystick configuration.


When Vector Flare is enabled, the vector graphics in Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, and Gravitar will appear smoother.  This effect demands greater performance from your computer.  If you are finding game play slow or choppy in these three games, you should turn off Vector Flare and/or reduce the maximum video resolution.


This setting adjusts how fast your shield will move when you hold down a key.


When this option is enabled, your shield position will be determined by the joystick position.  So, when the joystick is all-the-way left, the shield will be at the leftmost corner of your castle.  When this option is disabled, your shield will move left when you push your joystick left, move right when you push your joystick right, and not move when your joystick is centered.


This window shows a preview of some of the elements associated with this theme.


Use these tabs to select the game being configured, or to select General configurations.