ZOO Digital Publishing Presents... Buggy © 2004 ZOO Digital Publishing INTRODUCTION Buggy racing: Fast, furious and fun. Take on all-comers to unlock new tracks, find new buggies and finally conquer the vast Hub System. Use and abuse the buggies, tracks and gates, to win all that lies before you. Learn the tracks and learn the gates, just perfect for some wild buggy power-ups and essential for first class racing! You don't have to race all of the time. You might want to beat your best time, or locate the shortcuts, but you could find a bit more than you bargained for: Some tracks have unbelievable secret areas all of their own. Brains will be needed as well as skill... What are you waiting for? Go and get amongst `em! MAIN MENU Once the game has loaded the Main Menu will be presented. This will allow you to either start the game or adjust the options. Use the mouse to highlight an option, then press the left mouse button to select. To exit a menu and return to the previous screen, highlight and select the Exit icon. If you highlight and select this icon from the Main Menu screen, the game will request confimation before exiting to Windows® 95. START Continue The Continue option will continue with a previous game, should you have just exited to the Main Menu, or loaded a previously saved game position. New Game Start a fresh game, with the entire Hub System just waiting to be conquered. Load The Load option will recall your previously stored game data, ready for you to continue through the game. The Load menu will present you with a list of the available Buggy game slots. Highlight and select the game slot that you wish to reload. The game will then allow you to continue from the previously saved position. Once you have finished with this menu, press the ESC key to exit. OPTIONS The Options screen presents you with a series of different settings, for your own personal preferences: Sound The first two options allow you to adjust the FX Volume and the Music Volume. These volume levels appear as two slider bars. To change a volume level, highlight and select a new position on the slider bar. As you do this, the slider will change position accordingly. The last option allows you to set the CD Audio to either play in the `Normal' running order, or in a `Random' order. Highlight and select this option to toggle between the available options, either Normal or Random. Video There are two options available to change the graphic settings of the game. To adjust these options, highlight and select the option to toggle through the available settings. If you have a compatible 3D graphics accelerator card, then you can select this using the Display Driver option. This will enable the game to use the additional features provided by this hardware. The Screen Resolution option will allow you to adjust screen resolution displayed in the game. The screen resolutions available will vary depending on the setting of the Display Driver setting. By using the More option, you can access two further video options. These will allow you to adjust the amount of detail presented during the race. The View Distance option will adjust how far into the distance you can see, while the Lighting Effects can be turned On or Off. The Lighting option will have no effect while running the game in "Software" mode. Once you are satisfied with the changes, highlight and select the Exit icon. Best Times Using the left/right mouse buttons, you can toggle through the best times recorded for each track. If you wish to clear and reset one of these tables, highlight and select the Clear option. Remember, you must store the Best Times using the Save option, otherwise they will be lost once the game is turned off or reset. NUMBER OF PLAYERS When you have started a game, you will be able to select the number of players: One Player Highlighting and selecting this option will start the game for one player, teleporting you straight to the Buggy Selection room. Two Player Highlighting and selecting this option will start the game for two players. Each player will be able to select a buggy from the Buggy Selection room. Player One will control all of the menu screens and the buggy movement throughout the Hub System. When you start a race, the screen area will split horizontally, into two halves. Player One's buggy is displayed in the top half of the screen, while Player Two's buggy is displayed in the lower half. Network Game The Network Game option allows several players to compete in the game, each using their own computer. Refer to the Network Multiplayer Racing section later in the manual for further details. BUGGY CONTROLS There are several different control devices that can be used throughout the game. The default controls for Player 1 and Player 2 can be adjusted using the Settings option, found in the Gremlin Interactive/Buggy menu. Refer to the Buggy Settings section earlier in the manual for further details. Keyboard Controls Left Right Up Down Forward Reverse Back Clear (Player 1) A D W X Left Shift CTRL ESC ALT Enter ESC +F8 F9 F10 (Player 2) J L I M Space Right Shift ESC Back Space Additional Controls Select In-Game Options Menu View Distance Transparency On/Off Gouraud Shading On/Off Lighting Effect On/Off Note: Certain graphic options will not operate in "Software" mode. To Operate The In-Game Options Highlight Option Toggle Current Option Select Current Option Exit Current Menu Up/Down Cursor Keys Left/Right Cursor Keys Enter ESC THE BUGGY SELECTION ROOM Once you have selected the number of players, you will enter the Buggy Selection room. Use the Left/Right directions on your controller to toggle through the available buggies. As you do this, four dials will display the different attributes of the buggy: SPEED ACCELERATION GRIP WEIGHT A measure of this buggy's top speed. How quickly the buggy can get to its top speed. Will the buggy slide off the track on tricky corners, or will it hold on tightly? The lighter the buggy, the further and higher it will jump. This will also have a dramatic effect on the stability of the buggy. To help you get a better look at the buggies, use the Up and Down controls to zoom the camera. Once you have decided which buggy to use, press Select to enter the Game Selection room. As you play through the game, it's possible to find new buggies! These just get funkier and groovier, with each showing their own qualities. While you are in the level hubs, you can return to this room using the teleporter found in the Game Selection Room. GAME SELECTION ROOM You will teleport into a selection room where you can choose the type of game you wish to play. To make a selection, drive your buggy into a teleporter underneath one of the large floating symbols. If you want to return to the Buggy Selection room and change your buggy, drive back into the teleporter at the bottom of the ramp. Track Attack (Exploration) The Track Attack (Exploration) mode will become available when the first hub of Challenge-1 has been completed. As you complete each level hub in Challenge-1, they will become available in the Track Attack (Exploration) mode. This is your chance to explore the deepest recesses of a track, searching for shortcuts and secret areas. The secret areas provide you with a new challenge and can only be accessed using the Track Attack (Exploration) mode. This mode also gives you the chance to race the circuits, without the added complication of other buggies. Practice and learn the best route around the tracks and through the gates, recording your best race times. These can then be viewed in the Best Times screen. Challenge-1 Entering this teleporter will transport you to the Track Selection area for Challenge-1. To complete Challenge-1, you must complete every level hub. To complete each level hub you must win a Gold Medal for every available track! Challenge-2 This can only be accessed when Challenge-1 has been completed. The second Challenge contains all of the original tracks, plus several new ones. All of these have new gate sequences allowing you to find some new secrets! THE HUB SYSTEM The Hub System connects all of the race tracks and rooms, throughout the game. This consists of four circular level hubs, each containing several Access Teleporters. The type of game selected in the Game Selection room will be indicated by a flashing symbol in the top corner of the screen. Your location in the Hub System is indicated by the large floating numbers, showing the level hub number. You must win a Gold Medal from every available track to complete a level hub. Access Teleporters Each level hub contains several teleporters, which will transport you to the different tracks and locations. These display pictures depicting the destination, but driving close to an Access Teleporter will show additional help text. To use a teleporter, just drive your buggy into it! There are two types of Access Teleporter: Track Teleporter - Teleport to a specific race track Game Selection Teleporter - Teleport back to the Game Selection room "No Entry" Doors The glass doorways displaying "No Entry" signs, cannot be entered immediately. Many of these doorways separate the different hubs. To open these, you will need to win a Gold Medal for every track within the current hub. Other "No Entry" doors require slightly different tactics, such as activating switches or using clever gate sequences! Save Room The Save Room gives you quick and easy access to the Save Game screen. If you drive into the Save Room, you will be asked if you would like to exit to the Save Game screen. Highlight and select YES to proceed, or select NO to cancel. The Save Room will store your current position within the game, the best times and any extra buggies that you may have collected. If you do not save your data, it will be lost once the game is turned off or reset. As you enter the Save menu, you will be presented with a list of the Buggy save game slots. To save your current game data, highlight and select one of the game slots. You can either save the game into a free save game slot, or highlight and select a previously used save game slot that can be over-written. Once you have selected a slot, you can enter a name using the keyboard. Use a memorable name, as this is for your own reference when you reload the data. Once you have finished with this menu, press the ESC key to exit BUGGY RACING As you race, useful information will be displayed about your current progress: 2 1 3 4 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Lap Number Race Map Position/Race Time Power-up Icons Active Power-ups 5 To complete a race, you must finish a set number of laps around the track. The race map located at the top centre of the screen will display the relative distance between each buggy in the race. At the end of a race in a Challenge mode, Prize Trophies will be awarded depending on your finishing position. To earn a Gold Medal, you must win the race. Second place will earn you a Silver Medal and third place will earn you a Bronze Medal. Cross the line any later and all that will remain is a bruised ego! Remember, you must win a Gold Medal on every track, if you want to progress into further levels of the Hub System. Racing and thrashing your opponents is the key to buggy racing, but learning the tracks and topping the Best Times table can also prove to be a tough challenge. Once you've completed the first hub, you can enter Track Attack (Exploration) mode, which will give you plenty of time to practice and race without your opponents getting in the way! There's nothing stopping you from exploring a track, even if you have won the Gold Medal. Explore, investigate and conquer all that lies before you. Just don't expect it to be easy! The Gates Throughout the levels and race tracks you'll find many coloured gates. Every time you pass through a gate, a coloured icon will be generated. By passing through a series of gates, you can collect a chain of icons. Collecting these in a specific order can earn your buggy a special power-up. As you collect the first colour of a sequence, the next required colour will flash at the bottom of the screen. The last icon in the chain will also indicate the type of power-up you are collecting. Try these power-ups for starters: > Yellow Red = = Orange SPEED UP - A sparkling burst of speed! Speed Up can be improved through three levels! > Green MEANIE MODE - Forget over-taking, just barge your way through! When you've got to grips with those, why not try collecting the other power-ups: TIME STOP - Freeze time, space, and more importantly, your opponents! MEGA-GRIP - Bigger Wheels means Better Grip. Perfect for slippery slopes and muddy bogs. You'll also have immunity against a certain power-up used by your opponents, but which?! GHOST - Becoming a ghostly figure can have its benefits: who needs a key when you can gently drift through? COPTER - Take to the air, like a bird in the breeze... with some full-on, neon style, quad-blade action! If you go through the wrong coloured gate while trying to collect a chain of icons, then a fresh chain will be started. Alternatively, if you wish to cancel a sequence yourself use the Clear control. Learning to collect these power-ups is vital to winning the races, as they can give you an extra advantage over your opponents. There are many secrets and puzzles that are also impossible to solve without the clever use of the power-ups. Some of the gates will be in unusual places: Hiding behind barriers, floating in the air - You may have to earn a different power-up before you can even access these awkward gates! There is one extra special gate that can be used. The Rainbow gate can be the key to unlocking the secrets of a track. Spotting a Rainbow gate is the easy part. Activating it can prove to be a wild ride! Teleporters As with the teleporters found in the level hubs, the tracks also contain a few teleporters. These will give you access to areas that are normally impossible to reach. Driving straight into these will teleport your buggy to a new area. This can reveal shortcuts and secret areas, but for certain tracks, it can be the only way to win the race! More Buggies Serious exploration and careful use of the power-ups can reveal those secret areas, where the grand prize is a slick, new four-wheeler! Can you really fill every platform in the Buggy Selection room and complete the collection?! Do The Buggy Slide... As you master the controls of your buggy, you'll find yourself speeding around the tracks and solving puzzles to find the bonus buggies. Advanced drivers should be able to master the BIG buggy slide. This is perfect for hammering around corners without losing your place to the opposition. As you approach a corner, start the turn and hit the brake, while still holding the accelerator. This will flip the back end of the buggy into a slide, where you can release the brake and tear away... It may take a little time to perfect, but it will prove ideal for the tight hairpins! Fun With The Scenery It's not always necessary to use the gates when trying to access those secret areas: Look out for switches and moving platforms as well! Use the Track Attack (Exploration) mode to spend time solving the puzzles. A Big Dirty Clue... Fungal Freeway - The Stone Wall. Is there more to this wall than first meets the eye? Could that be the shape of a door? But how does it open? Crossing The Finish Line As you cross the finish line and complete all of the laps, the race will end and the overall results will be displayed. If you didn't finish the race in first position, you will be given the option to race again without returning to the level hub. Alternatively, you can leave the track and return to the level hub, where any trophies will be displayed. When you complete a race in Track Attack (Exploration) mode, you have the chance of winning a position in the Best Times tables. If your time is good enough, you can highlight a letter using the left/right cursor keys, then press the down cursor key to select. You can delete a letter by pressing the up cursor key, then the Enter key to confirm. Once you have entered three letters, you will then be given the chance to either race again or return to the Hub System. 18 IN-GAME OPTIONS Pressing the ESC key during a race will enter the In-Game Options menu. Highlight the options using the up/down cursor keys, then press Enter to make a choice. Highlighting and selecting the Continue option will exit out of the In-Game Options menu and continue with the race. The Sound FX and Music volumes can be adjusted within the game. As you highlight and select one of the volume options, you will be presented with an indicator dial. Use the left/right cursor keys to adjust the selected volume level. Once the level is set correctly, press Select to confirm the changes. To toggle the currently selected language, highlight and select the Language option. If you wish to quit the race and return to the Hub System, highlight and select the Quit Race option. NETWORK MULTIPLAYER RACING To play a multiplayer game, you must first decide whether you are to host a multiplayer game (Setup Game), or whether you are to join an existing multiplayer game (Join Game). If you only have one copy of Buggy, it is still possible for several people to connect and play a multiplayer game. Ensure the game is installed onto each computer, following the instructions detailed earlier in the manual, then return the CD-ROM to the host computer. Before you can proceed any further, you must specify the type of connection to be used for DirectPlay. Toggle between the available connection types using the Server option. This can be set to either IPX or Internet (TCP/IP).