Elevator Action - Gameplay

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of Agent 17, codename: "Otto", a secret agent for an unspecified organization or government. As Otto, the player enters a 30-story building from the roof and must collect a series of secret documents hidden inside. Red doors indicate the location of these documents, and Otto must use the building's elevators and escalators to reach them while avoiding or defeating the enemy agents trying to stop him. Once Otto has all the documents, he must reach the basement and escape in a waiting car to advance. Each level contains a section in which the lights are out, making it difficult to see the enemy agents unless they are in an elevator. Beyond this section, the player must navigate a complex series of elevators to avoid agents, retrieve the last documents, and reach the basement exit.

Otto can move left or right and jump; when in an elevator or at one end of an escalator, pushing up or down will move him one floor in that direction. He can fire his pistol at enemy agents, up to three rounds at a time, and duck to avoid their bullets when not in an elevator. In addition, Otto can ride on top of an elevator car (but not have control of it) and, if the car is above him, jump across the empty shaft. He can defeat enemy agents in four ways: shooting them, getting close enough to jump and kick them, shooting out an overhead light so that it falls on them (which temporarily knocks out the building lights), or crushing them with a moving elevator.

On higher levels, the enemy agents will shoot more frequently and their bullets will travel faster. They will duck or assume a prone position to avoid Otto's shots, but cannot jump over low ones. If the player takes too much time, indicated by a hurry-up alarm sounds and sped-up background music, the agents become more aggressive and the elevators become slow to respond to the player's joystick movements. If the player tries to use the basement exit without collecting every document, Otto will be automatically transported back to the highest floor that still has an unopened red door.