
ORIENTATION (FULL VERSION)


Welcome to the amazing world of Megamaze, a unique game that requires 
intelligence, strategy and patience! Megamaze has been created to provide 
you with many hours of incredible challenges that we hope will boggle 
your mind and inspire you to solve all 90 Levels. This short orientation 
will give you enough information and hints to tackle the complex world 
of Megamaze.

The basic goal of Megamaze is to move the Object Ball through the mazes and 
deposit it in the Vortex or the Finish Pit. The ultimate goal is to achieve 
the Mazemaster distinction. This may be accomplished in one of two ways:  
complete a Level within its specific time frame, or deposit four Nasty Balls 
in the Finish Pit before depositing the Object Ball.


DEFINITIONS

Levels -- There are ninety Levels in Megamaze. A Level can consist of one, 
two or three screens. The final screen of a Level is easily distinguished 
because it always has a Finish Pit.

Sections -- There are three Sections of thirty Levels each in Megamaze. The 
Sections become progressively more difficult.

Object Ball -- The Object Ball is the blue ball that you have to maneuver 
through the maze.

Nasty Balls -- The Nasty Balls are the purple balls that will destroy the 
Object Ball or other Nasty Balls if they collide. Nasty Balls may help you 
solve mazes by opening Gates, closing Pits, getting Laser Cannons to fire, 
destroying Laser Cannons and Deflectors, passing through Spark Generators, 
etc.

Nasty Ball Generator -- The Nasty Ball Generator creates new Nasty Balls 
every 5 seconds, beginning when you first move your ball. A new Nasty Ball 
is generated whenever one is destroyed. The Generator will create Nasty Balls 
until there are a maximum of four on the screen. 

Finish Pit -- The Finish Pit is the final destination of the Level. It is 
designated by four green triangles that will light up each time you deposit 
a Nasty Ball in the Finish Pit. When you deposit the Object Ball in the 
Finish Pit you have completed the Level.

Vortex -- The Vortex is the orange pulsing circle that appears on every 
screen without a Finish Pit. You must deposit your Object Ball in the Vortex 
to proceed to the next screen of a Level. The Vortex will not accept Nasty 
Balls, and there may be more than one Vortex on a screen.

Gates -- Gates swivel open and shut on a stationary pivot point. They 
can block your movement through the maze until they are opened. They can 
also protect you from dangers such as Nasty Balls or Laser Cannons.

Pits of Doom -- Pits of Doom are holes in the maze that will swallow balls 
unless a ball is passed over the Pit Trigger. This will close the Pit of Doom 
for enough time to allow a ball or balls to pass over it. The length of time 
the Pit stays closed decreases in each subsequent Section.

Dimples -- Dimples are indentations in the maze paths that will hold a ball 
until enough force or momentum is applied to release the ball.

Mines -- Mines are the orange blocks that will destroy any ball that hits 
them.

Laser Cannons -- Laser Cannons fire a laser pulse that will destroy any ball 
that it hits, as well as Mines and other Laser Cannons. A laser pulse can 
also open a gate in the right direction. The Laser Cannons take time to 
recycle before they can fire a subsequent shot. The Cannon is ready to fire 
when the red light on top of it is lit. The recycle time decreases in each 
subsequent Section.

Laser Deflectors -- Laser Deflectors are the purple triangles that will 
deflect a laser pulse fired from the Laser Cannon. Pay close attention to 
the Deflectors because any ball that passes anywhere in the expanded line 
of fire (due to the Deflectors) will be destroyed unless you move away in 
time. Both the Object Ball and Nasty Balls can destroy the Deflectors.

Spark Generators -- Spark Generators generate a constant electrical current 
that will destroy any ball that hits it. Like the Laser Cannon, the Spark 
Generator will take time to recycle after a ball has been zapped, allowing 
you a moment to pass through unharmed. The Spark Generator also uses less 
time to recycle in each subsequent Section.

Access Codes -- The Access Code is a number that allows you to gain direct 
access to a Level. When you complete a Level you will be given the Access 
Code to the next Level. Be sure to keep a written record of these Access 
Codes.


MEGAMAZE MAIN MENU

The main menu provides you with four options:
1) Setup Megamaze
2) Play Megamaze
3) Direct Level Access
4) Exit

To select one of the options from the main menu move the cursor until the 
selection you want is highlighted on the screen. Then press an action button 
or Enter, and you will go to that selection.

Setup Megamaze
When you select Setup Megamaze you will have the option to engage a joystick 
controller. If you do not have a joystick, this option should be set to OFF. 
You will also have the option to turn the sound effects off.

Play Megamaze
When you select Play Megamaze you will have the option to select Section One, 
Two or Three. After you select a Section you will automatically go to the 
first Level of that Section. 

When you have solved the first Level, you will see a screen that displays the 
Access Code for the next Level and the time it took you to complete the 
previous Level. You will also be given three options:  Play that Level again, 
play the next Level or return to the main menu.  If you finish the Level 
under the allotted time or deposit all four Nasty Balls in the Finish Pit, 
you will see a display that declares you a Mazemaster!

If you fail to solve the first Level in three attempts, you will see a screen 
that will give you two options: play that Level again, or return to the main 
menu.

Direct Level Access
Select Direct Level Access if you want to go directly to a specific Level. 
(You must have the Access Code number for that Level).  To access the Level 
that you want to play, enter the Level number on your keyboard and press 
Enter. Then enter the Access Code number for that Level in the same manner.

Exit
Select Exit when you are finished playing Megamaze or if you want to see the 
production credits.


EXPLANATION OF KEY FEATURES

You will have Three Object Balls with which to complete a Level. When an 
Object Ball is destroyed on any screen, the game will reset to the beginning 
of that screen. If the third or final Object Ball is destroyed, you have lost 
at that Level.

Megamaze consists of ninety Levels, each consisting of one, two or three 
screens. The Levels are organized by difficulty, and are grouped in three 
Sections: Section One contains Levels 1-30; Section Two contains Levels 
31-60; Section Three contains Levels 61-90.

You have an unlimited amount of time to play a Level. The amount of time 
actually used will be displayed after you have completed the Level or used up 
your three Object Balls.

If you are able to deposit 4 Nasty Balls in the Finish Pit before you 
deposit the Object Ball, you will see a special "MAZEMASTER" display. You can 
also earn the "MAZEMASTER" distinction by completing a Level within the time 
frame unique to that Level. A list of the time requirements for each Level is 
included in this guide.

A 4-digit Access Code number will be displayed on the screen after the 
completion of a Level. This Access Code may be used to enter the next Level 
in Megamaze from the Direct Level Access screen.

If you want to start a screen over, press Escape and you will be returned to 
the beginning of that screen. This action will count as one of your three 
chances to solve the Level.


We hope that you enjoy playing Megamaze! The mazes have been carefully 
crafted to provide hours of challenging entertainment. Rest assured that no 
matter how impossible you think a Level may be, there is a solution, and you 
can also reach the Mazemaster Rank for each Level.

We would like to hear your comments or opinions regarding Megamaze. Please 
write us at:


CapDisc
7315 Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 800 East
Bethesda, MD  20814
