INSTALLATION
* NOTE: This is an MS-DOS based game. It is not Windows compatible. If you
are running Windows, you must exit to DOS before installing or running the
game.
To install the game onto your computer's hard drive ( drive "c" ), insert
diskette #1 into the 3.5" disk drive ( drive "a" ) and type the following
line at the c:\> prompt:
a:install
Your computer will install the files for the game in a new directory off
of your root ("c") directory, named "chemwar". This process may take several
minutes to complete. At some point during the installation process, your
computer will prompt you to insert diskette #2 and press any key to continue.
After all of the files have been copied to your c:\chemwar directory, your
computer will take another moment to uncompress the files. When this process
is completed, the prompt should read: c:\chemwar.
STARTING THE GAME
* NOTE: When you are starting from the c:\> prompt in MS-DOS, you must first
change to the c:\chemwar directory by typing: cd chemwar
To start the game from the c:\chemwar> prompt, type the following line:
rungame
** IF A MEMORY CONFIGURATION MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN, DON'T PANIC!! **
When you type the "rungame" command, your computer may display a message
screen about memory configuration with 4 options. In most cases, simply
choosing option #2, "Try the game anyway" will allow you to run the game
on your computer with the existing memory configuration.
If, however, you experience error messages or the game does not appear
to be running properly, try choosing option #1, "Make a bootable diskette".
Follow the on screen instructions to create a diskette that you can use to
"boot" (restart) your computer with a maximized memory configuration.
With some computers, you must restart, then wait for the "Boot from
diskette" option to appear during the boot sequence before inserting the
diskette. With others, you just restart with the diskette in the disk drive.
Check your computer manual or watch the screen during the boot sequence to
determine which procedure you should follow.
* Note: To start the game from the a:\> prompt after booting from a diskette,
type the following lines:
c:
cd chemwar
rungame
Do not try to reconfigure your computer's memory by changing config.sys
or autoexec.bat files (unless you really know what you're doing). If you are
unable to get the game running by choosing options #1 or #2, check the
directory structure of the c:\chemwar directory on your hard drive. Make
sure that the "data" subdirectory was created when you installed the files.
One way or another, you should be able to get the game up and running on
your computer as long as it meets the minimum system requirements.
At this point, assuming that the game has been installed properly and you
have typed the rungame command at the c:\chemwar> prompt, you should see an
animated title screen, follwed by an opening credit screen, and finally, a
"Menu" screen.
MENU SCREEN OPTIONS
START GAME - Choose this option to begin a new game.
LOAD GAME - Use this option to load a previously saved game. Use the arrow
keys to move through the selections then hit the "ENTER" key to start.
SAVE GAME - This option allows you to save a game in progress. Use the arrow
keys to move to the appropriate line and type any name or description for
your saved game then hit the "ENTER" key.
EXIT TO DOS - Select this option to return to the c:\chemwar> prompt.
Type: cd c:\ to return to the c:\> prompt.
SOUND - Use this option to "toggle" sound on or off. If your computer does
not have a sound card, this option is automatically set to "NO".
MUSIC - Use this option to "toggle" music on or off. If the SOUND option is
set to "NO", this option is automatically set to "NO".
MOUSE - Use this option to enable\disable the mouse or other pointing device
during the game. (The keyboard functions are always enabled, regardless
of which setting is selected for this option).
JOYSTICK - Use this option to enable\disable joystick during the game. This
option is automatically set to "NO" if your computer does not have one.
THE GAME SCREEN
When you start a game by choosing the "START GAME" or "LOAD GAME" options
from the Menu Screen, the Game Screen appears, and the computer takes a few
seconds to load the necessary files for the current 3-D level.
3-D VIEW - The large "Window" in the top half of the screen displays a 3-D
view of the current level.
COMPASS - Located at the top center of the Game Screen, use this to help you
navigate through the 3-D world.
WEAPON INDICATOR - Located in the center of the screen, just below the 3-D
View Window, displays the name and a picture of the currently "active"
weapon, as well as the number of ammunition rounds left in that weapon.
(Use the number keys across the top of your computer keyboard to change
weapon selection).
OBJECT INDICATOR - Located in the lower left portion of the screen, displays
an image when you are within range of a weapon or an object that can be
"picked up". (Use the "I" key to pick up objects or weapons).
KEY INDICATOR - Located on the left side of the screen, next to the Radar
Screen, displays an image when you approach a door that requires a
color key. (If you are carrying the appropriate key in your inventory,
the door will open automatically when you approach).
RADAR SCREEN - Located on the left side of the Game Screen, displays a
"radar" image of the current 3-D level. The Radar Screen is only active
if you are carrying a radar pack in your inventory. ( Use the "Z" key to
zoom in and the "X" key to zoom out).
INVENTORY BOXES - Located across the bottom of the screen, contain the
objects and weapons that you "pick up" during the game. When all of these
boxes are full, you will be unable to pick up any additional objects.
(Use the "S" key and the arrow keys to select objects or weapons in the
inventory boxes. Hit the "ENTER" key to discard a weapon or an object, or
to use a first aid pack to restore health).
HEALTH INDICATOR - Located in the bottom right corner of the Game Screen,
displays an image and a % value to indicate the amount of damage the
player has sustained. When this value reaches "0 %", the Game Screen
fades to red and the game is automatically ended.
STAT SCREEN - Located on the right side of the screen, next to the Health
Indicator, displays numerical readouts which represent 4 catagories of
statistics that are continuously updated during the course of the game.
"ELAPSED TIME" represents the amount of time in minutes that has elapsed
since the game started. When this value reaches "60" (1 hour), the time
expires and the game is automatically ended.
"ENEMIES KILLED" represents the total number of enemy characters that you have
have killed since the game started.
"SHOTS FIRED" represents the total number of ammunition rounds that you
have fired with all of your weapons since the game started.
"LEVEL #" indicates the current (active) level that the player is located
in. (Level 1 is the surface level and level 7 is the deepest level).
KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS
* NOTE: A "HELP SCREEN" listing all of the keyboard functions can be called
up at any time during the game by hitting the "F1" key.
SPACEBAR - Fires weapon
LEFT MOUSE BUTTON - Fires weapon (same function as spacebar)
KEYPAD UP - Move forward
KEYPAD DOWN - Move backward
KEYPAD LEFT - Turn left
KEYPAD RIGHT - Turn right
KEYPAD "1" (End) - Slide left
KEYPAD "3" (Pg Dn) - Slide right
KEYPAD "0" (Ins) - Jump (hold and release) This function is not available
on levels 2 and 4 due to low cielings.
"B" KEY - Detonate bomb (detonates all bombs that are placed in the current
3-D level)
"I" KEY - Pick up object or weapon that appears in the Object Indicator box
"S" KEY - Enter selection mode - use with arrow keys to select objects that
are contained in the Inventory Boxes. Hit "ENTER" to select object
"ENTER" KEY - Discard an inventory object or clear screen message
"Z" KEY - Radar zoom in
"X" KEY - Radar zoom out
"P" KEY - Pause game
"ESC" KEY - Exit to Menu Screen
WEAPON SELECTION KEYS:
"1" - Kick
"2" - Slime Gun
"3" - Grenade
"4" - Machine Gun
"5" - Gas Grenade
"6" - Rocket Launcher
"7" - Shotgun
OBJECTS
When you approach an object that can be picked up and carried in your
inventory, an image of the object is displayed in the Indicator Window on
the Game Screen. Hit the "I" Key to pick up an object and add it to your
inventory. Use the "S" Key and the arrow keys, followed by the "ENTER" Key
to discard an object from your inventory.
BOMB - These can be placed anywhere in the 3-D world and be detonated by
hitting the "B" Key (Make sure that you are a safe distance away when you
detonate a bomb or you will be killed by the blast). Place a bomb by
selecting it from your inventory with the "S" Key, then hit the "ENTER"
Key to place it in the desired location.
ARMORED VEST - When you have this object in your inventory, damage from
enemy shots is cut by 30 %.
GAS MASK - If you throw a Gas Grenade and you don't have one of these in
your inventory, you will become extremely disoriented!
RADAR PACK - When you pick up this object, the Radar Screen is activated.
If you discard this object, the Radar Screen is disabled.
FIRST AID KIT - These are used to restore the players health during the
game. If you approach a First Aid Kit when you are seriously injured, it
will automatically be activated and your health will be restored by a
set amount. If you approach a First Aid Kit when you have only minor
injuries, you must hit the "I" Key to activate it and restore health.
If you approach a First Aid Kit when you have no damage (100 % health),
you can use the "I" Key to pick it up and carry it in your inventory.
To use a First Aid Kit from your inventory, select it with the "S" Key,
then hit the "ENTER" Key to activate it and restore health.
DOOR KEYS - These are needed to open locked doors. The keys are color coded.
When you approach locked door, the color key needed will be displayed
in the Key Indicator Window on the Game Screen. If you are already
carrying the correct key, the door will open automatically when you
approach.
CROWBAR - This object is needed to gain access to level 7.
COMPUTER DISK - This is the object that you must find to complete your
mission.
WEAPONS
The currently active weapon is displayed in the Weapon Indicator Window
on the Game Screen. Use the number keys across the top of your computer
screen to change the weapon selection. Weapons are aquired by picking them
up with the "I" Key, just like any other objects. When you pick up a new
weapon, it automatically becomes the currently active weapon. When you pick
up a weapon that you are already carrying in your inventory, ammunition is
added to that weapon (it is not added to your inventory as a seperate
object).
MACHINE GUN - A long range automatic weapon.
SHOTGUN - A powerful medium range weapon with a wide angle of dispersement.
SLIME GUN - A short range chemical weapon that immobilizes enemies.
SLIME GUN AMMO - Re-loads Slime Gun. Loads automatically when you approach
if you are carrying this weapon in your inventory.
ROCKET LAUNCHER - A powerful long range weapon that explodes on impact.
ROCKET LAUNCHER AMMO - Loads automatically when you approach if you are
carrying a rocket launcher in your inventory.
HAND GRENADE - A weapon that explodes when thrown. Be careful when using it
in tight spaces. This weapon can be lethal to the player when in range
of the explosion.
GAS GRENADE - This weapon emits an invisible cloud of toxic gas when it
explodes, incapacitating all guards within the affected area. If you are
not carrying a Gas Mask in your inventory when you use this weapon, the
3-D View Screen will become highly distorted, simulating the effects of
the gas on the player.
KICK - A non-lethal Karate-style kick that can render enemies unconcious for
a short period of time, or destroy objects at close range.
ENEMIES
Each level of the game contains a number of "enemy guards" (up to 30).
These guards have 2 different modes of behavior. Some of them are stationery
guards; they stay in one place and only react when the player comes into
range. The vast majority, however, are "roaming" guards; they move around in
random patterns within certain rooms or areas. This makes it hard to
anticipate exactly where these guards will be encountered at any given time
and makes the game slightly different each time you play. The guards become
increasingly more difficult to kill as you move from one level to the next.
The ones on levels 1 and 2 (green uniforms) have no protective armor and can
be killed by one blow from the shotgun or a couple of rounds from the
machine gun. The guards on the deepest level have maximum armor protection
and can sustain several direct blows from the shotgun or a dozen or more
rounds from the machine gun. All guards, however, are equally susceptible
to gas, explosions, and chemical slime.
LEVELS
The game contains a total of 7 "levels". If you play the game to it's
successful conclusion, you will have to travel down through all 7 levels,
then back again through the same 7 levels to reach the surface. You will
encounter new enemies and obstacles on the way back. Each level contains one
or more wall panels that represent stairs going up or down. When you
approach these panels, you will be "transported" to the next level, as if
you had walked up or down the stairs. Each time you move from one level to
another, the computer will take a few seconds to load the necessary files
for the new level.
For more detailed instructions and suggestions on how to play the game,
read the file HINTS.TXT in the c:\chemwar directory.
*******************
This is a shareware game. If you enjoy this software and intend to
continue using it after 30 days, a modest registration fee of $5.00 would
be greatly appreciated. Send to:
DREW COSTIGAN
8 WYNDMOOR WAY
EDISON, NJ 08820
Thank you.
