Full Docs for MYTH by System 3 Software. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MYTH AN INTRODUCTION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In an age not remembered by men, the forces that governed all life met in a council to decide the fate of their respective creations. These beings are only known to us as the PAGAN ones and play no part in our lives today, but aeons ago no man was free of the attention of these malignant spirits. His life was govered and manipulated according to their whims and his death, usually prematurely, was but entertainment to them. A handful of these Pagan spirits did however take a genuine interest in Mankinds affairs and actually aided him on his tortuous journey into the light of civilisation. These wise spirits divided the races of men between them and applied their influences to the development of several great peoples. The seven races of man rarely encountered each other in those golden times, their repective cultures flourished within their own borders and their numbers were small. The story of Man would have been very different had things remained in this blissful state, but it was not to be. The Seven Spirits of Wisdom kept their Earthly dominion a secret from the other more malignant forces that roamed the universe, these others delighted in destruction, hurling Sons together, smashing planets and tearing huge holes in the fabric of creation. One of these terible spirits was known as Dameron the Lord of all that is darkness. This evil creature lurked in apart of the universe where no stars shone, his brooding thoughts spread inky blackness outwards to enshroud the minds of lesser beings. This malignant horror gathered the other spirits around him, even six of the Seven Wise Ones converged on his black realm to pay homage to his ever increasing power. The weaker spirits became bound to Dameron their heads forming a hideous crown from which poured a fiery retribution for those that would not succomb to his influence. The six remained in council with Dameron for many hundreds of years, slowly falling into evil thoughts and deeds. Whilst they converged with their new master, their peoples on earth multiplied and expanded, sivilisations clashed, war broke out and the one remaining Wise Spirit gathered his own people to an island to protect them from the bloodshed abroad. The Six returned after a thousand years, they found their peoples in conflict and were amused. It was decided to pit each race against the other in a fight to the death that would last generations. The one Wise Spirit gathered his high preists at the standing stones of their land and showed them a vision of the wars abroad. The preists wailed in dismay as an image of Dameron appeared to them. `What can save us?' they cried to the skies. A shimering light appeared at the centre of the stone temple and within it they could see the figure of a man. A disembodied voice shouted `Behold Ankalagan, the Spitit Hunter, not yet born but soon to be amongst you. Slayer of Dameron and all unholy Spirits, liberator of mankind. His quest is already written in the stars!'. As the voice faded away three stars converged to form the belt of a warrior, others took the shape of a sword in his hand and their light caused the great stones to glow. A legend was born.. KEYBOARD CONTROLS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Cursor keys left/right: Cycle through icons in windows. Space bar: Select weapon to use from the middle window. P: Pause the game. JOYSTICK CONTROLS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Basic movements. Without fire: Left- Run left. Right- Run right. Up- Contollable vertical jump. Down- Kneel/Pick up object. Up/Left- Diagonal/Running jump. Up/Right- Diagonal/Running jump. Fighting movements. All fighting moves are performed by holding down FIRE. Down- Kick. Left/Right- Punch. Sword torch. Facing left: Left- Stab. Right- Back slash. Up/Left- Neck slash. Facing right: Right- Stab. Left- Back slash. Up/Right- Neck slash. Fireballs, Trident, Medusa`s Head, Daggers. Left/Right- Fire Left/Right. Shield. Left- Defend. Down- Kick. Axe. Left/Right- Chop. Down- Chop upwards. NOTE:- At certain stages in the game it will be necessary to have previously selected the weapon you want to use next in the status area. This then allows you to press the SPACE BAR when you need to use that weapon in a split second at certain stages in the game. GENERAL TIPS ^^^^^^^^^^^^ The first aspects of the game you should master are the Joystick controls. The highly interactive nature of the game is required because of some of the complex moves the main charecter has to perform. A high level of competence at the controls will enhance your gameplay CONSIDERABLY. Because of the adventure elements our second suggestion is that you should get into the habit of RECORDING what happens on each screen. This will enable you to obtain HIGHER SCORES with repeated play. The last point is, NEVER TAKE ANYTING FOR GRANTED, some things are not as they appear. Be curious and nosey, examine eveything. STATUS AREA DEFINITION. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | SCORE | COLLECTED ITEMS | ENERGY | LIVES | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SCORE Current score. ITEMS Shows what items have been collected (Use cursor keys left/right to cycle through them). Space Bar selects item in middle window to use. ENERGY Shows your energy as beads which change colour as it is drained. Resets to maximum once life is lost and game restarted. LIVES Appear in number form (up to nine). PLAYING GUIDE TO LEVEL ONE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. Kill harpies (small green flying dragons) throught the game which drop EXTRA ENERGY and valuable FIREBALLS. 2. Use fireballs to kill skeletons until one of them drops a SWORD. 3. Use sword with various moves shown in `JOYSTICK CONTROLS' to fight your way deeper into the game. CUT DOWN HANGING SKELETON. 4. Make your way down to the bottom of the cavern where the now freed skeleton has to be killed and his skull must fall into the flames. 5. A DEMON then rises from the flames and can only be destroyed with FIREBALLS. 6. Pick up Demons TRIDENT for use later in the game. Note:- The Trident is only ONE SHOT so care must be taken to use it wisely. 7. Make your awy to the top right in the cavern where you will be confronted by the CHIMERA (A three headed demon). This can only be killed by using the TRIDENT and it is advisable that the trident is already selected just before you confront the CHIMERA. 8. Continue your adventure by slaying enemies with the sword until you each the feminine NYMPH. Approach her ONLY when sshe beckons or when her hand is flat. Be very cautious and when close enough, KNEEL down, this changes the Nymph into an extra energy bead, vital for later stages of the game. Note:- When she holds her hand up in front of you, move back again until she beckons you to try again and move in. 9. On reaching the ACHILLES statue, attack the HEEL with either fireballs or sword and this will eventually cause ACHILLES to crumble, leaving only his shield which, when picked up, allows you to run past all remaining enemies at this particular stage. 10. At this stage of the level, extra care must be taken with the joystick controls. Once these are mastered gameplay should become easier. MEDUSA is around here, and her EYE BOLTS are lethal and will turn you to stone. Make sure you have selected the SHIELD prior to running into Medusa and then use it carefully to deflect her eye bolts as you make your way across the platforms to stand alongside her. Note:- The shield must be RAISED to deflect her shots, not just held. 11. When she looks away, quickly select SWORD and attack her neck. 12. Pick up the MEDUSA HEAD to use in your final confontation in this level. The huge three headed HYDRA stand between you and level two. Use MEDUSA`S HEAD in conjunction with the FIRE BUTTON and aatack each HYDRA head individually. On destroying the HYDRA, Level One is complete and you should now be capable of confidently tackling the ever increasing hazards that will now greet your every turn throught the rest of the game. GOOD LUCK YOU`RE GOING TO NEED IT! End..............