Zool: Ninja from the Nth Dimension. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Zool you play the interstellar cosmos dweller from the Nth dimension. You must guide Zool through thousands of screens of surreal and bizarre action in a bid to bring the intergalactic Ninja back to the Nth dimension. You must take Zool to the limits of the Universe, to the outer limits of the known universe, through quite a bit of unknown universe, and beyond the fairly well known but it wouldnt want to walk through it at night on my own universe. Before reaching home Zool has to successfully work through all manner of bizzarre situations, worlds and enemies. The only way to do this is by exploring each world until the exit is found, and progressing onto the next one. It sounds fairly straightforward, sure, but when you add in the enemies, strange features and surreal events, this is one journey thats going to be, well, weird. Protection ~~~~~~~~~~ Obliterated by Crystalk so why bother typing the crap ?!?!!?. The Main Options Screen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To highlight a particular option simply move the joystick up and down. To alter an option, move the joystick right at the highlighted option. To leave the options screen press the fire button. The options will affect the game in the following way: LEVEL - The level of difficulty you select will change the number of bonuses you will need to collect in order to leave a level and progress to the next. On Easy you will need 25%, om medium 50% and 75% on the difficult level. The level of difficulty will also affect how much time you will have to complete a level. MUSIC - This option allows you to select either sound effects, or the tune which will accompany your Zooling, with everything from funk to rock on offer. INERTIA - Does Zool grind to a halt faster than a fly hitting a windscreen, or does he gradually slow down before grinding to a halt? Its up to you!. CONTS - How many 'Continue Game' options are given when you lose your last life. The maximum is five. SPEED - Offering a choice of normal or fast, we recommend that you save the fast level until you have completed the game at normal speed - believe us, its fast enough on that level! Playing Zool ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once you are happy with all the options, pressing the fire button will take you from the options screen to the main screen. From here you press fire again to begin the game. All of Zools actions are controlled using the joystick. He's a very versatile character, but after a couple of tries controlling Zool is simplicity itself! Joystick Controls ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Up : Jump Vertically. NOTE: Zool will spin in the air if fire is pressed again while he is in the air allowing him to kill airborne enemies. Down : Crouch. Left : Run Left. Right : Run Right. Up+Left : Jump Diagonally Left. Up+Right : Jump Diagonally right. Down+Left : Slide left, allowing Zool to crash into some enemies and kill them. Down+Right : Slide Right, allowing Zool to crash into some enemies and kill them. The Main Playing Screen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +------------------------------------------------+ | SCORE | XXX | HI SCORE | +------------------------------------------------+ | ^Health^ | | | | | | | | | | | | | Percentage +--------+ +--------+ of Bonus --> | 00 ^^ | | LI00 | Collected +--------+------------------------------+--------+ ^ ^ Direction of Lives exit Remaining Restart Points. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On each level there are a number of restart points to be found, and if they are triggered, the you will begin your next life from the restart point. They are not easy to spot at first but you will soon be using them automatically. Each one needs to be punched in order to be triggered. On each of the levels they are: SWEET WORLD : A Sign. Punch them, and the jelly bean will change colour. FRUIT WORLD : A half buried banana: The top of the banana will change when they are punched. MUSIC WORLD : A half buried remote control. Punch it and one of the buttons will change colour. TOY WORLD : A sign similar to those on sweet world. FUNFAIR WORLD: Again, a sign. TOOL WORLD : A short stumpy piece of wood with a nail sticking out. Hitting them will cause the nail to change position. Bonus Hearts ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Occasionally, when you destroy an enemy, a small heart will appear and start to fly skywards. If Zool can grab it, then he will boost his health. The Weapons at Zool's Disposal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Throughout each level, Zool will find weapons that will, if only temporarily, assist him in this mission. They take the form of: BOMB - This smart bomb will destroy any enemy on the screen when Zool collects it. TWOZOOL - This bizarre weapon will split Zool in two, creating a shadow Zool which will follow the actions of the real Zool. This allows Zool to fire twice as many bullets as usual and get around on a much niftier manner. Will wear off after a short time. JUMPING ZOOL - Just the thing when Zool needs to scale the heights and theres no convenient method. Again, this one will wear off after a certain amount of time has elapsed. SHIELD - This will give Zool a limited period of invulnerability. Use these carefully, as they generally are situated close to an area where they will prove very useful. TIME BONUS - Just when it seems that Zools goinng to be beaten by the clock, one of these little goodies could prove the saviour of the day. 1UP - Will give Zool an extra liife. Very Useful! OVER 'N' OUT ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thats about all you need to know to play Zool, but it isnt everything you will learn.There are many many things to be discovered, including four hidden bonus levels featuring ... well, we will let you find then for yourself. Its a voyage of discovery and often you will find that everything is not as it seems. Walls that arent walls and speakers that arent speakers just for starters. So, Dont hang about, the timers already running down, just get goung and prepare to Ninja your way back to the Nth Dimension. GOOD LUCK. The Bad Guys ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Its not going to be an easy journey for Zool, what with the various geographical hazards to be encountered. And thats before you even begin to think about all the strange enemies to be faced. Of course, if we gave you details of all the strange creatures you will encounter we would be giving too much away. Just to whet your appetite however, here's some of the strange menaces you will be mixing with. SWEET WORLD ------------ BUMBLE BEE - These huge beasties take to the air and then home in on Zool. Dont leave them for too long though as new ones are generated all the time, and before you know it, Zool has five or six on his tail. JELLY - These nasties are everywhere. Fortunately theyre not hard to destroy and a quick kick, punch, jump or missile will see them off. DODGY JELLY - Similar to a normal jelly only this one homes in on you. SWEET BEASTIE - These beasties are fairly rare, which is lucky because they are the meanest critters you will come across in the sweet world. These not only get in your way, but will launch a whole load of projectiles at you at any given opportunity. END OF LEVEL NASTY - The Hum-bugger. THE MUSIC WORLD --------------- WALKING DRUMS - Not the easiest enemy to defeat by any stretch of the imagination. These guys, as well as being impervious to bullets, actually bounce them off at an angle, making them more dangerous for Zool. VIOLINS - Armed with an infinte supply of bows, the violins will follow you around and fire their bows at you. Difficult to destroy because theyre impossible to get near. CYMBALS - Whizzing round the screen as they go, bumping into one of these could give Zool more than just an ear bashing. END OF LEVEL NASTY - Jimmies Killer Guitar. THE FRUIT WORLD --------------- POMEGRANITE VOLCANO - They may look harmless, but when they begin to spray pips in every direction at every speed, its time for Zool to head the other way. CARROTS - Spitting carrot shrapnel at Zool is just about the nicest thing these mutants do. FLYING PEA PODS - Hurtling across the sky at incredible s-pea-ds (sic!), these not very stealthy bombers could deal Zool a nasty surprise. END OF LEVEL NASTY - Banana and alarm clock. TOOL WORLD ---------- DRILLS - Emerging from walls and then retreating just as fast and unexpectedly, Zool can use these to benefit. How ? You'll just have to find that one out yourself. (Tight bastards eh ? ). SAWS - Slice and Dice!. Emerging from the ground when you least expect them, these could catch Zool when least expected. CHAIN SAW - Hacking through the air as it goes, contact with this meanie could leave Zool with a SPLITTING headache. END OF LEVEL NASTY - Giant Driller Killer. TOY WORLD --------- TANKS - These armour cald killers fire enormous missiles at Zool. They are not as indestructible as they look. BOUNCING BALLS - All colours and all sizes, these rebounding rogues will cause Zool many an injury. PAPER AEROPLANES - Created in the school classrooms, these state of the origami art bombers can cause some tricky situations. END OF LEVEL NASTY - Maxie the Robot. FAIRGROUND WORLD ---------------- TOFFE APPLES - These mutant toffee apples are only too happy to share their toffee with Zool. The only thing is, its still red hot, and not exactly digestible. Avoid!. POPCORN BAGS - More goodies for Zool to savour, but again, its not exactly the sort of goodies he would like. This popcorn does more than pop. HAMMERS - Anyone who needs telling that a blow from one of these is bad for you deserves hitting. Try not to destroy them, as they will prove useful. It'll need some figuring out exactly how though. END OF LEVEL NASTY - The unmentionable, indescribable Two Eyed Thing. No one who has seen this horror has lived to tell the tale. Will Zool ?. X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699 The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674 Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560 "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X