FIRST SAMURAI DOCS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- THE STORY. ---------- IN TINY VILLAGE OF ANCIENT JAPAN,LORD AKIRA AND HIS YOUNG SAMURAI WERE COLLECTING TAXES FROM THE LOCAL PEASANTS WHEN THE DEMON KING ASCENDE FROM THE MOUNTAIN. THE VILLAGE WAS DESTROYED,ALL THE INHABITANTS MURDERED, BUT THE DEMON KING PAID SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WARRIOR LORD. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THE YOUNG SAMURAI WAS ALONE WITH THE DOMON LORDS FINAL WORDS.`TELL THEM ABOUT ME,TELL THEM I AM READY TO TAKE EVERYTHING BACK THAT IS MINE BY RIGHT.TELL THEM THEIR TRUE MASTER HAS RETURNED....`. ON THE COLD MORNING,THE YOUNG SAMURAI SWORE REVENGE FOR HIS FALLEN MASTER. FOR YEARS THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE HILLS FOUGHT THE DEMON AS BEST THEY COULD,UNTIL THE WIZARD-MAGE ARRIVED FROM THE SEA AND CHALLENGED THE DEMON. THEY FOUGHT HARD AND LONG ATOP THE DEMON KINGS MOUNTAIN,LIGHTNING AND FIRE KEEPING THE NIGHT AGLOW,UNTIL THE DEMON,FEARING DEFEAT,ESCAPED IN TIME,HURLING HIMSELF FAR INTO THE FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE HAD FORGOTTEN THE MAGIC AND WHERE HE NEED FEAR NO OPPOSSITION... THE GOOD PEOPLE WERE SAFE,BUT FOR THE YOUNG SAMURAI THERE WAS NO REST,FOR HIS SOUL COULD NOT BE AT REST UNTIL HE AVENGED HIS MURDERED LORD. SO HE BEGGED THE MAGE THAT HE MIGHT FOLLOW THE DEMON INTO THE FUTURE TO BRING THE DEMON KING BACK SO THAT HE COULD BE DESTROYED AT THE FOOT OF HIS OWN MOUNTAIN THRONE... THIS WAS HOW IT BEGAN. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A 1MEG OR MORE MACHINE THE GAME WILL RUN WITH ENHANCED FEATURES. NOTE; THE SHEER SIZE OF THE FIRST SAMURAI`S MAP MEANS THAT IT IS BROCKEN DOWN INTO A FEW CAREFULLY COMPRESSED BITE SIZED CHUNKS WHICH ARE STORED ON DISK 2.FOR THIS REASON,THE FIRST SAMURAI DISK 2 SHOULD REMAIN IN THE COMPUTERS INTERNAL DRIVE FOR THE DURATION OF PLAY. THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH THE FIRST SAMUARI DISK ONE,UNLESS OF COURSE,YOU WISH TO REVIEW THE SCENE SETTING SEQUENCE. PLAYING THE FIRST SAMURAI. -------------------------- THE JAPAN OF THE 24TH CENTURY IS FAR REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY WE KNOW TODAY,THE DEMON KING HAS RAVAGED THE COUNTRYSIDE AND CITIES AND NOW HIS MINIONS INHABIT THE RUINS. OUR HEROS MISSION UNFOLDS THROUGH 4 SECTIONS OF THE TORTOUS COUNTRYSIDE OF FUTURISTIC JAPAN AND CONTINUES WITH A THRILLING HIGH SPEED JOURNEY ON A SUBWAY TRAIN.THE TRAOINS DESTINATION IS THE DERILICT SUBURBS OF THE DEMON KINGS CITY BENEATH WHICH HIS SUBTERRANEAN HORDES ROAM IN THE COMPLEX SEWER NETWORK. BEYOND THE GRIME LIES A NEAR ALL-CONSUMING BATTLE THROUGH THE CLASSIER SIDE OF TOWN BEFORE THE BASE OF THE DEMON KINGS CITY SKYSCRAPER IS REACHED. THE COUNTRYSIDE OF FUTURISTIC JAPAN LOOKS SERENE BUT HIDES MANY DANGERS SUCH AS BATS AND RATS,FIERY PITS AND FALLING ROCK(SOME OF THEM LESS OBVIOUS THAN OTHERS). SLUGGING OT OUT ON(AND IN) A SPEEDING SUBWAY TRAIN IN A SCENE VAGUELY REMINISCENT OF WESTERNS OF OLD. THE ROUGH SIDE OF TOWN IS HOME TO MANY A RUCK-AND PLENTY OF RUNNING AND JUMPING ACROSS ROOFTOPS TOO. BENEATH THE STREETS,STRANGE CREATURES ROAM THE SEWERS AND DEADLY WATER FOUNTAINS GUSH. THE INHABITANTS OF THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF TOWN ARE NO BETTER THAN THEIR NEIGHBOURS. WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE,DURING PLAY. BOTTOM LEFT OF SCREEN; THE STATUS PANEL...NEXT TO THIS IS THE PHYSICAL ENERGY.. NEXT TO THAT IS THE `MYSTICAL ITEM OR WEAPONARY HELD`...AND AGAIN NEXT TO THIS IS THE PLAYERS SCORE...NEXT IS THE PLAYERS LIVES REMAINING..NEXT THE `BELL` AND BOTTOM RIGHT IS THE MYSTICAL ENERGY. (THAT WAS PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND WAS`NT IT...NO...) THE CONTROLS. ------------ ALL ACTION TAKES PLACE ON THE `PLAYFIELD`. A CAMERA FOLLOWS THE FIRST SAMURAI`S MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ENVIROMENT. NOTE; BACKWARDS. MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THE ONE YOU ARE FACING.ie IF YOU ARE FACING RIGHT - BACKWARDS IS LEFT. UNARMED COMBAT. --------------- WALK LEFT/RIGHT (PUSH LEFT/RIGHT) PUNCH FORWARD (PUSH FORWARD AND PRESS FIRE) LOW PUNCH FORWARD (PULL DOWN JOYSTICK AND PRESS FIRE BUTTON) LEG SWEEP (PULL JOYSTICK DOWN DIAGNALLY LEFT OR RIGHT) FLYING KICK FORWARD (PUSH UP AND PRESS FIRE BUTTON) TURN AND PUNCH (BACKWARDS WITH FIRE BUTTON) HIGH KICK BACKWARDS/FORWARDS (UP DIAGOONALLY LEFT OR RIGHT WITH FIRE BUTTON) ARMED COMBAT (WITH SWORD) ------------------------ FLYING SLASH (UP AND FIRE BUTTON) SLASH (HOLD DOWN FIRE BUTTON AND PUSH LEFT OR RIGHT) CROUCH SLASH AND DIG (PULL DOWN DIAGONALLY LEFT OR RIGHT WITH FIRE) OVERHEAD SLASH (UP DIAGONALLY LEFT/RIGHT WITH FIRE BUTTON) TURN AND SLASH FORWARD (FIRE BUTTON AND BACKWARDS) THE FOLLOWING MOVES CAN BE MADE WHILST `UNARMED` OR `ARMED` ----------------------------------------------------------- JUMP (PUSH UP) CROUCH (PULL DOWN) CLING TO WALLS (JUMP INTO THEM) CLIMB WALLS (PUSH UP ONCE YOU HAVE STUCK TO A WALL) FALL AWAY FROM WALLS (PULL BACKWARDS) JUMP AWAY FROM WALLS (PUSH UP BACKWARDS) THROW MISSILES (PRESS FIRE BUTTON) USE SPECIAL ICONS (HOLD FIRE BUTTON WHILST STATIONERY) USE BELL (HOLD FIRE BUTTON AND PULL DOWN OR PRESS `SPACE` AMIGA AND ST -FREEZING THE ACTION- ---------------------------------- PRESS THE `P` KEY TO FREEZE THE ACTION.PRESS THE FIRE BUTTON OR ANY OTHER KEY TO RESUME PLAY. QUITTING THE GAME. ------------------ PRESS THE `Q` KEY WHILE THE GAME IS PAUSED. BAD CREATURES. -------------- THE DEMON KINGS MALEVOLENT MINIONS. THEY ARE MANY AND VARIED AND EACH HAS ITS OWN CHARACTERISTICS AND STRENGTHS.NOTE THAT AN ADVERSARY WHICH HAS BEEN HIT WILL FLASH BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT ILL DIE AS NOT ALL MINIONS CAN BE KILLED. POINTS ARE GIVEN FOR EACH KILL. THE STATUS PANEL. ----------------- THE PHYSICAL ENERGY IS THAT OF THE HERO AND IS REPRESENTED BY AN ARM. THE SHORTER THE ARM THE WEAKER THE HERO. WHEN THE HERO`S PHYSICAL STRENGTH RUNS OUT, HE DIES(UNLESS HE POSSESSES THE MAGIC SWORD) -SEE MAGIC SWORD. PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS LOST WHENEVER THE HERO IS HIT BY ONE OF THE DEMON KINGS MINIONS.THE HERO BEGINS HIS QUEST AT A MAXIMUM. MYSTICAL TERMS. --------------- THE BELL.....IS THE MOST POWERFUL MYSTICAL OBJECT.USE IT WHEN NO OTHER COURSE OF ACTION CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM YOU FACE. ADDITIONAL WEAPONARY. --------------------- THERE`S NO DOUBTING THE HERO`S UNARMED COMBAT SKILLS - HE`S A LEAN,MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE. BUT OCCASIONALLY HE MAY NEED A LITTLE HELPING HAND IN THE FORM OF AN ADDITIONAL WEAPON. THESE MAY BE FOUND DURING SAMURAIS JOURNEY. BUT SOME TYPES MAY ONLY BE COLLECTED IF THE SAMURAI HAS SUFFICIENT MAGICAL ENERGY. ONLY ONE WEAPON CAN BE HELD AT A TIME;IT IS SHOWN ON THE PANEL BELOW THE BATTLEFIELD. IF THE HERO IS HOLDING A WEAPON WHEN HE PICKS UP ANOTHETR, THE OLD WEAPON IS LOST. ADDITIONAL WEAPONARY IS ACTIVATED BY PRESSING THE JOYSTICK FIREBUTTON WHILE THE HERO STANDS STILL. WHEN THE PLAYER HAS SUFFICIENT MAGICAL ENERGY A MAGICAL ITEM WILL APPEAR AS A SPARKLING STAR.WALKING OVER THE ITEM WILL REVEAL ITS TRUE FORM BUT THE PLAYER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COLLECT IT. DAGGER. ------- THROW OUT A DEADLY DAGGER.BETTER STILL.COLLECT A MAXIMUM OF THREE DAGGERS AND YOU CAN HAVE THREE ON THE GO AT ONCE. SEEKER. ------- A DEADLY STAR ORBITS THE HERO UNTIL ONE OF THE DEMON KINGS MINIONS NEARS.IT THEN INSTICTIVELY ATTACKS THE ENEMY. THE HERO CAN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 3 SEEKERS ON THE GO AT ONCE. BEAR IN MIND THAT A SEEKER WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN IT RUNS OUT OF HIT POWER. AXE. ---- THROW A SINGLE AXE. THERE CAN BE NO MORE. MAGIC. ------ THE SAMURAI IS NOT ADEPT IN THE WAYS OF MAGIC.FORTUNATELY FOR HIM,THE WIZARD MAGE IS HIGHLY SKILLED IN THE MYSTICAL ARTS AND MAY BE SUMMONED THROUGH TIME TO AID THE SAMURAI. NOTE; THE WIZARD-MAGE OCCASIONALLY MAKES A FLEETING APPEARENCE IN TIMES OOF TROUBLE.WHEN HE APPEARS,YOU KNOW ITS TIME TO SUMMON HIM. SPECIAL ITEMS. -------------- THE WIZARD-MAGE IS POWERFUL BUT SOMETIMES THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED ARE NOT SOLUABLE WITHOUT A HELPING HAND. ON EACH LEVEL THE HERO NEEDS TO COLLECT SPECIAL ITEMS.WHEN A SPECIAL ITEM IS COLLECTED,THE WIZARD MAGE APPEARS TO TAKE IT FROM THE HERO.WHEN THE MOVEMENT COMES,THE WIZARD MAGE WILL USE THE SPECIAL ITEMS ON A LEVEL - JUST MOST OF THEM. THE MYSTICAL ENERGY IS THAT OF THE HERO`S MAGIC SWORD(SEE MAGIC SWORD) THE ENERGY OF EVERY CREATURE KILLED IS ABSORBED BY THE MAGIC SWORD AND SHOWN AS THIS BAR,THE GREATER THE BAR,THE GREATER THE QUANTITY OF MYSTICAL ENERGY STORED.THE MYSTICAL ENERGY IS USED TO CHARGEPOTS. THE HERO BEGINS HIS QUEST WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MYSTICAL ENERGY,WHICH IS INCREASED BY DEFEATING THE DEMON KINGS MINIONS IN BATTLE. REGENERATION POTS. ------------------ REGENERATION POTS ARE DOTTED ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE IN OPPORTUNE PLACES. A CHARGED REGENERATION POT MARKS THE POSITION ON THE LANDSCAPE TO WHERE THE HERO IS RETURNED WHEN HE IS RE-INCARNATED FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF A LIFE, OR WHEN HE USES A TRANSPORT OPTION. A POT IS CHARGED BY POSITIONING THE SAMURAI OVER IT AND CROUCHING DOWN. THE MYSTICAL ENERGY ACCUMALATED DURING PLAY WILL THEN FLOW INTO THE REGENRATION POT. ONLY ONE POT CAN BE ACTIVE AT ANY ONE TIME,BUT THE HERO CAN RE-ACTIVATE A PREVIOUSLY CHARGED POT AND SO DETERMINE A RESTART FOR THE HERO. POTIONS. -------- PICK UP A POTION AND THE HERO IS TRANSPORTED TO THE LAST RE-GENERATION POT. THE MAGIC SWORD. ---------------- THE HERO BEGINS HIS QUEST WITH-OUT HIS MAGIC SWORD.THE MAGIC SWORD IS ONLY GIVEN TO THE HERO WHEN HE COLLECTS SUFFICIENT MYSTICAL ENERGY. NOT ONLY DOES THE MAGIC SWORD EFFECTIVELY EXTEND THE FIRST SAMURAIS REACH,IT ALSO SPARES HIM INSTANT DEATH. WHEN THE HERO`S PHYSICAL ENERGY REACHES ZERO,THE MAGICAL SWORD IS LOST BUT THE HERO LIVES ON,HIS MYSTICAL ENERGY CONVERTED TO A SMALL PORTION OF PHYSICAL ENERGY. PLAYERS LIVES REMAINING. ------------------------ THE PLAYERS MISSION BEGINS WITH 5 RE-INCARNATIONS OF THE HERO. SEE IF YOU CAN DISCOVER HOW TO AQUIRE EXTRA LIVES. BONUSES. -------- THE FIRST SAMURAI REWARDS THE PLAYER FOR GOOD PLAY IN THE FORM OF MANY BONUSES. THE STATISTICS FOR THE BONUSES AQUIRED DURING A LEVEL CAN BE VIEWED BY PRESSING `B` KEY,HOWEVER,THE ACTUAL BONUSES ARE NOT GIVEN UNTIL THE LEVEL IN QUESTION IS COMPLETED. PRESS FIRE-BUTTON TO RETURN TO THE ACTION. BONUS REPORT. ------------- COURAGE BONUS..........AWARDED FOR THE NUMBER OF DEMON KING MINIONS KILLED. CHEST BONUS............THE NUMBER OF CHESTS OPENED. TREASURE BONUS.........THE QUANTITY OF TRREASURE COLLECTED FOOD BONUS.............THE QUANTITY OF FOOD COLLECTED SPECIAL OBJECTS HELD...THE QUANTITY OF SPECIAL OBJECTS COLLECTED BY THE PLAYER FOR THE WIZARD-MAGE. TIME TAKEN.............HOW LONG A PLAYER HAS BEEN IN ACTION. ADVICE....TRY STRIKING THE SCENERY - HIDDEN BONUSES MAY BE UNCOVERED,SUCH AS FOOD OR EXTRA WEAPONARY.THERE IS AN OBJECT WORTH COLLECTING WHICH SHOULD THROW A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE POSITION OF HIDDEN BONUSES. SOME AREAS OF THE SCENERY ARE DESTRUCTIBLE - DONT BE AFRAID TO HIT OUT AT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS REMOTELY FRAGILE. THE CHEST HOLDS TREASURE. STRIKE THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES TO SCATTER THEIR CONTENTS,SIMPLY WALK OVER THE TREASURE TO COLLECT. THE BASKETS HOLD FOOD WHICH REPLEISHES PHYSICAL STRENGTH. TO COLLECT JUST DO AS WITH THE TREASURE CHESTS.. BEWARE OF LAND MINES...YOU`LL REGONISE ONE HAVING TRODDEN ON ONE! WATCH OUT FOR OPPOONENTS WHO DROP WEAPONS - YOU CAN PICK THEM UP! FINDING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS THE FLAMING PIT OR IN NEED OF SOME MEANS TO REACH SEEMINGLY UNREACHABLE HEIGHTS? THE WIZARD MAGE WILL PROVE USEFUL. END........