385 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
385 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
'_____________________________________________________________________
|
||
:default
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!MERITOUS HELP FILE
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
To navigate this help file, use the up and down arrow keys. Press
|
||
ENTER to activate links. Press ESC to return to the game. You can
|
||
access this help file at any time by pressing 'H'.
|
||
|
||
!Table of Contents
|
||
|
||
?intro?Introduction
|
||
?background?Background
|
||
?controls?Controls
|
||
?wuss?Wuss Mode
|
||
?dungeon?The Dome
|
||
?circuit?Your PSI Circuit and You
|
||
?cred?Credits
|
||
:intro
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Introduction
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
" Far below the surface of the planet is a secret.
|
||
A place of limitless power. Those that seek to
|
||
control such a utopia will soon bring an end
|
||
to themselves. "
|
||
|
||
MERITOUS is a top-view dungeon crawl action/adventure game. As MERIT,
|
||
a PSI user, your task is to investigate the Orcus Dome, an ancient
|
||
underground shrine.
|
||
|
||
In your way are the shadowy creatures that wander the shrine. Using
|
||
your PSI circuit, you must cut through any that come between you and
|
||
your goal.
|
||
|
||
?background?Background
|
||
?controls?Controls
|
||
?dungeon?The Dome
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:background
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Background
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!-- PSI --
|
||
|
||
PSI is a powerful, imprecise force. Often viewed as a form of modern
|
||
magic, PSI can be weilded to a limited extent by beings (see PSI
|
||
users) that have an unusual level of mental awareness. PSI exists as
|
||
a flow that can be fashioned into a single-use tool for the weilder to
|
||
use.
|
||
|
||
As PSI is very difficult to shape precisely, PSI users often
|
||
settle for crude, uneconomical solutions to problems. For example,
|
||
using PSI as an attacking weapon by draining off a large amount of it
|
||
from the surrounding area and unleashing it in one go. Or using PSI
|
||
as a protective shield by concentrating a large amount of it in one
|
||
area.
|
||
|
||
Where PSI actually comes from is unknown, however there seems to be
|
||
only a limited amount in the atmosphere at any one time. While PSI is
|
||
generally used by gathering it from the area around the PSI user, some
|
||
advanced PSI users have worked out ways of gathering and storing large
|
||
quantities of it.
|
||
|
||
Some areas are naturally much richer in PSI than others. PSI seems to
|
||
be found in greater quantities when one is underground, for example.
|
||
|
||
!-- PSI users --
|
||
|
||
PSI users are beings that have the mental capacity to consciously use
|
||
PSI. Any species is capable of producing PSI users, though by far
|
||
human PSI users are the most common.
|
||
|
||
PSI users vary wildly in ability, with the rarest and most powerful
|
||
able to accomplish great feats. It is also not uncommon for PSI users
|
||
to become more or less powerful over time. Theories exist that
|
||
continual exposure to and use of PSI increases one's competence, while
|
||
disuse can cause it to stagnate.
|
||
|
||
!-- Orcus Dome --
|
||
|
||
The Orcus Dome is a structure located deep within the planet's crust.
|
||
The internal structure seems to be both crafted and organically grown.
|
||
It is made up of a number of tightly-woven rooms. The structure is
|
||
unusual in that it seems to have been made for the precise purpose of
|
||
gathering and concentrating PSI. The walls that divide the rooms
|
||
carry PSI gathered from the planet and channel it into a single, very
|
||
strong flow of PSI.
|
||
|
||
The discovery of the Dome has been a point of contention among PSI
|
||
users, most of whom want to use the large reserves of the Dome to
|
||
enhance their own PSI usage.
|
||
|
||
Eventually, the majority of PSI users agreed to ration out use of the
|
||
Dome to both ensure the existing reserves would last as long as
|
||
possible and to make sure that each PSI user would receive a fair
|
||
allocation.
|
||
|
||
!-- Strange events --
|
||
|
||
For several years, there was no problem with the ongoing use of the
|
||
Orcus Dome to provide PSI. However, for some reason, the PSI extracted
|
||
from the Dome began to behave strangely. It worked unpredictably, and
|
||
made controlling the PSI very difficult. After one PSI user was killed
|
||
as a result of this, a decision was made to abandon using the Orcus
|
||
Dome for PSI.
|
||
|
||
Not happy with this decision, one PSI user, MERIT, decided to use his
|
||
own reserves of PSI to ethereally warp into the Dome itself to find
|
||
out what the problem was and restore the Dome to its original state.
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:controls
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Controls
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Arrow keys - Move around. To walk through doors, simply walk up to
|
||
them and push against them.
|
||
|
||
Space - Charge your PSI circuit.
|
||
|
||
Escape - Exit the game.
|
||
|
||
H - View the help file.
|
||
|
||
Tab - View the map (you can then use the arrow keys to scroll
|
||
around the map.
|
||
|
||
Enter - Activate a trigger tile that you are standing on.
|
||
Enter is also used for various other things, such as
|
||
for reading in-game dialogue.
|
||
|
||
P - Pause the game.
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:dungeon
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!The Dome
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
The Orcus Dome is made up of a series of rooms, connected with short
|
||
passages. The rooms are mostly uniform in design, however, there are
|
||
some points of interest to look out for.
|
||
|
||
!----------------------------------
|
||
!Trigger tiles
|
||
!----------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Trigger tiles are special tiles that cover the floor of the dungeon,
|
||
and can be activated by standing on top of them and pressing Enter.
|
||
|
||
!Checkpoint tiles
|
||
|
||
Checkpoint tiles automatically record your genetic makeup when you
|
||
enter the room that they are in, and, at the cost of some of your
|
||
natural vitality, will restore your being if you perish within the
|
||
Dome.
|
||
|
||
The process can also be used to warp yourself between tiles with no
|
||
cost, by pressing Enter while on one of them.
|
||
|
||
!PSI Enhancement tiles
|
||
|
||
These tiles will, at the cost of some of your PSI crystals, enhance
|
||
your PSI abilities in one of three different areas.
|
||
|
||
More on PSI abilities can be found in the chapter 'Your PSI Circuit
|
||
and You'
|
||
|
||
!Crystal Magnet tiles
|
||
|
||
These tiles, upon activation, pull loose PSI crystals into the room
|
||
that the tile is in.
|
||
|
||
!Compass tiles
|
||
|
||
These tiles point out useful places for you to go to. If nothing
|
||
appears when you stand on the tile, there is nothing for you to do
|
||
at the moment until more shadow creatures are destroyed.
|
||
|
||
!Save tiles
|
||
|
||
These tiles use their own supply of PSI to record your current
|
||
state, allowing you to come back to the Dome if you decide to leave
|
||
for a while. They do this upon activation with the Enter key.
|
||
|
||
?circuit?Your PSI Circuit and You
|
||
|
||
!----------------------------------
|
||
!PSI Artifacts
|
||
!----------------------------------
|
||
|
||
There are a number of artifacts constructed with PSI lying around the
|
||
Dome, and some of these will be crucial to your success. You can
|
||
locate these with the compass tile.
|
||
|
||
!Mystical Enhancement Tools
|
||
|
||
These artifacts will assist you in exploring the Dome by enhancing
|
||
your current abilities. With the right artifacts, you can move faster,
|
||
regenerate your shields in less time, see shadow creatures through
|
||
walls, increase the power of your PSI attack and several other things.
|
||
|
||
These artifacts are usually found in chests, and are often well
|
||
protected, but you can find them with the compass tiles.
|
||
|
||
!PSI Keys
|
||
|
||
In the shape of famous weapons, the Keys are responsible for filtering
|
||
and controlling the flow of PSI throughout the Dome. They are placed
|
||
at the points where ley-lines intersect, and it is unknown what will
|
||
happen if they are moved. You can find them, even if they have been
|
||
moved, with the compass tiles, but you will not be able to touch them
|
||
if they have been corrupted with darkness.
|
||
|
||
!Ancient Seal
|
||
|
||
One of the artifacts, in the shape of a pendant, must be kept at the
|
||
centre of the Dome at all times to keep the PSI free of malign
|
||
influences. The Ancient Seal can also be found with the compass tiles,
|
||
but will only be visible while the PSI Keys are in place.
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:circuit
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Your PSI Circuit and You
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Your PSI ability has two main purposes in the game--offence and
|
||
defence.
|
||
|
||
!Offence
|
||
|
||
By holding down the spacebar, you can charge your offensive PSI
|
||
circuit and unleash it on surrounding foes. Creatures made up of PSI
|
||
that are hit by this force will crystallise and break down into PSI
|
||
crystals that can be collected.
|
||
|
||
There are two different targeting reticles used while the PSI circuit
|
||
is charging. The circle will appear over enemies that are in range
|
||
of your attack. The cross will appear over enemies that your PSI
|
||
circuit is charged enough to destroy. Both of these should appear over
|
||
your intended enemies before you release the charge. Only then can you
|
||
ensure that they will be hit.
|
||
|
||
Beware, however--some enemies can take more than one hit from the PSI
|
||
circuit before they are destroyed. Some more powerful creatures may
|
||
not show a targeting reticle at all. In those cases you will have to
|
||
experiment to find out how much power you need to destroy them.
|
||
|
||
The further you charge your PSI circuit, the longer it will take for
|
||
your circuit to recover enough to use it again. For this reason it is
|
||
rarely a good idea to keep your circuit fully charged.
|
||
|
||
Most enemy attacks can be stopped prematurely using the PSI circuit,
|
||
and enemy bullets can be knocked out of the air.
|
||
|
||
Your 'Circuit charge' and 'Circuit refill' skills affect how quickly
|
||
your offensive PSI circuit charges and recovers respectively. In
|
||
addition, upgrading these values also increases the maximum charge
|
||
possible for your circuit, necessary for destroying the most powerful
|
||
enemies. These can be upgraded by standing on the necessary enhance
|
||
tiles and pressing Enter when you have sufficient PSI crystals.
|
||
|
||
!Defence
|
||
|
||
If your 'Reflect shield' skill is 1 or higher, you will automatically
|
||
use your PSI to form a physical shield around yourself, which can
|
||
block out attacks to a limited extent. For every point of skill you
|
||
have, your shield will be able to block out one enemy bullet before
|
||
it recharges. The higher your skill, the faster the shield will
|
||
recharge. Note that particularly powerful attacks, such as lasers,
|
||
are able to blast through multiple levels of shield in one go.
|
||
|
||
A shield is absolutely necessary for facing the more powerful enemies
|
||
in the Dome, so it is advised that you upgrade your shield when you
|
||
can.
|
||
|
||
!Further notes on enhancing skills
|
||
|
||
Because it costs more crystals to enhance a skill when you have more
|
||
ability in that skill, it is more efficient to keep your three skills
|
||
balanced rather than trying to maximise one of them.
|
||
|
||
On skill display at the top of the screen, the name of the skill will
|
||
glow when you have enough crystals to upgrade that skill on an enhance
|
||
tile.
|
||
|
||
!PSI recollection
|
||
|
||
Your PSI also enhances your ability to recall facts and visualise them
|
||
accurately. As a result of this, you will remember the layout of the
|
||
portions of the Dome you have explored so far, and can visualise this
|
||
information by pressing Tab. This will show a map that you can scroll
|
||
around, and can be very useful for finding your way around the Dome.
|
||
|
||
!PSI vitality
|
||
|
||
Last, but not least, your PSI also maintains your body vitality.
|
||
In the top-right corner, the three hearts represent this. If you lose
|
||
all three you will die and be regenerated at the last checkpoint.
|
||
|
||
Unless you are playing on Wuss mode, you will also have a limited
|
||
number of lives. This represents your physical vitality, and it will
|
||
be damaged each time you die. When you run out, your body will be
|
||
permanently destroyed and you won't be regenerated.
|
||
|
||
You can improve your vitality by collecting PSI crystals that have
|
||
formed into a heart shape. One of these will restore one of your
|
||
three hearts. If you already have three hearts, they will go towards
|
||
improving your physical vitality. Collect enough and your number of
|
||
lives will increase.
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:wuss
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Wuss Mode
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Available from the title menu, Wuss mode is a reduced-difficulty
|
||
gameplay mode. When playing Wuss mode, you will be able to attack
|
||
faster, enemy bullets will be slower and you will never permanently
|
||
die. However, a victory in Wuss mode is not considered to be an
|
||
actual completion of the game, and as a result the game will not end
|
||
the same way that it would normally.
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top
|
||
:cred
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
!Credits
|
||
|
||
!---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Concept: Lancer-X/Asceai
|
||
|
||
Game design: Lancer-X/Asceai
|
||
|
||
Graphics: Lancer-X/Asceai
|
||
|
||
Programming: Lancer-X/Asceai
|
||
|
||
Sound Effects: Various sources
|
||
|
||
Beta testing: Quasar
|
||
|
||
Beta testing: Terryn
|
||
|
||
Beta testing: Wervyn
|
||
|
||
Music:
|
||
"Ambient Light" Vogue of Triton
|
||
"Battle of Ragnarok" Frostbite
|
||
"Dragon Cave" TICAZ
|
||
cavern.xm Unknown
|
||
"Caverns Boss" Alexis Janson
|
||
"Forest Boss" Alexis Janson
|
||
"Catacombs Boss" Alexis Janson
|
||
"Fear 2" Mick Rippon
|
||
"The Final Battle" Goose/C<>DA & iNVASiON
|
||
"Ice Frontier" Skaven/FC
|
||
"KnarkLoader 1.0" Rapacious
|
||
"RPG-Battle" Cyn
|
||
"Metallic Forest" Joseph Fox
|
||
|
||
?default?Return to top |