THE NEVERENDING STORY OCEAN SPECTRUM 128K "A BOY WHO NEEDS A FRIEND FINDS A WORLD THAT NEEDS A HERO" The Story --------- The computer game follows the main theme of the film and is set in "Fantasia", a world of the imagination facing extinction by the "All consuming Nothing", eroding its very fabric and condemning it to oblivion. It is in desperate need of a hero from the "Real World", someone to believe in it and thus renew its life. That someone is a small boy, Bastian Balthazar Bux, who discovers a dusty old book on the shelves of an antique bookshop. The title is "The Neverending Story" and it chronicles the ever changing fortunes of the people of "Fantasia". Bastian takes the book and blowing the dust from its jacket reveals the front cover depicting "Auryn" the silver and gold medallion symbolizing the strength of "Fantasia". On reaching school he avoids his teachers, climbs into an abandoned attic and setting himself down on an old rug begins to read the compelling tale. The many peoples of "Fantasia" are gathered to seek audience with their Empress, but are dismayed to find her ill and weak. "Cairon", the physician gives them encouragement, telling of a hero, a small boy from the plains by the name of Atreyu - the only person who can find the saviour of "Fantasia". In the game you take the part of Atreyu and only through your endeavours will the kingdom be restored to its former glory! The main characters that you will encounter are listed below and you must judge whether they will help you or hinder your quest. The Three Travellers - Rockbiter, Teenyweeny and Nighthob, these three friends are on their way to the Ivory Tower, home of the Empress, to see her. Gmork the Werewolf - The main servant of the "Nothing". He will use all his powers to catch the one person who can stop his master from destroying "Fantasia" - so don't dawdle. The Empress - The eternal, ever youthful, ruler of Fantasia. She lives at the very top of the Ivory Tower. Morla - The Ancient One - The oldest inhabitant, Morla is an enormous earth covered tortoise who lives in the "Swamps of Sadness". The Gnomes - Engywook and Urgll, live in the Southern Lands. Falkor - The Luckdragon, a huge white dragon who will lend assistance to anyone who carries Auryn. Artax - The faithful steed of Atreyu. The Game -------- "The Neverending Story" is a graphic text adventure with illustrations for some locations, some "Events" and all objects. Experienced Adventurers may not wish to read the following explanation but for all others it will enhance the understanding and enjoyment of the game. If you haven't played an adventure game before, don't be put off, it's not difficult and will give hours of enjoyment. You are embarking on a voyage of discovery with problems to solve, obstacles to avoid, characters to meet and an ultimate goal (in this case to save Fantasia from the "Nothing"). The computer will describe to you, in words, your current location, the characters and any objects that are there. Once you have decided what to do (in this game you take the role of the hero, Atreyu) you instruct the computer by typing in your request in a limited form of English. The format of the words that the computer understands is explained later in "The language", but it has been deliberately kept simple to allow more room for game data. If the computer can understand what you have typed it will perform the required action and describe the results to you. The game is split into three parts which must be played in order, you cannot begin Part II until you have completed Part I and so on. The three sections are divided up by storyline and any objects that you are carrying when you finish a part will be retained for possible use in the next one.It is important to remember this if you come across an object, but can find no use for it in the current part. The use of graphics in this game is quite different to some adventure games. Firstly every object has a small illustration; up to five can be carried at one time and they will be displayed at the top right-hand of the screen. If at any time, you have a companion with you (either Falkor or Artax) then their picture will appear at the bottom of the object display area. Larger illustrations for locations or depicting events appear in the top left of the screen and approximately one third of these are of the "Event" type. It should be noted that none of the graphics are designed to replace the text but to enhance it! ------------------------------------ - (BACKGROUND SCENE) - - - - ^ ^ - - | COMPANION | - - | | - - OBJECTS YOU ARE CARRYING - ------------------------------------ - - - - - (MAIN TEXT AREA) - - - - - - - ------------------------------------ The Language ------------ You control Atreyu by instructing the computer in a restricted form of plain English, however there are a few simple rules to bear in mind:- (i) Every instruction must have a verb. Some of the "verbs" that the computer understands are not strictly English verbs, so it is helpful if you regard a "verb" as a word which causes an action. (ii) Some "verbs" need a "noun" to operate on - e.g. GET AURYN "Get" is the verb and "Auryn" is the noun. (iii) The program will pick out the words it "understands" from a sentence and if it finds a word that isn't in its vocabulary, the computer will tell you what it is. (iv) If you wish to type in more than one sentence at a time you can separate them with the word "and" e.g. Get the apple "and" go East. (v) You need only type the first three letters of a word for it to be understood. The following is a list of "Verbs" (Action Words) which the computer will understand. Acceptable "Verbs" GO NORTH NORTHEAST EAST SOUTHEAST SOUTH SOUTHWEST WEST NORTWEST UP DOWN DROP ATTACK LIGHT ENTER IN PULL LOOK GET TAKE INVENTORY EAT FLY CLIMB BLOW RIDE SMASH HIT OUT READ REMOVE LOCK OPEN CUT UNLOCK SAY CLOSE TIE FASTEN Special Verbs WAIT - Use if you want to just let time pass. PAUSE - To pause the game, if you leave the game unattended without doing this "Time" will still continue. SAVE - To save the current state of play. LOAD - To restore a saved game. QUIT - To end the game in progress. We wish you many hours of enjoyment with "The Neverending Story". Here are the most commonly used words to get you started. Look (or L) To look around. This redisplays the description of the current location (it is done automatically if you move to a new location). North (or N) North East (or NE) East (E) South East (or SE) South (or S) South West (or SW) West (or W) North West (or NW) These are movement verbs that are used most often. You can type just the direction or place the word "Go" in front, (it makes no difference). Of course the program will only let you move in a specified direction if it is possible. Get/Drop - For picking up or dropping an object. Inventory - This instruction displays in text format a list of the objects that you are carrying. (You can also see this on the objects illustration display). Time ---- If you spend too long contemplating your next move (and the game is not on pause), then "Time" will pass and anything which you have typed in will be acted on. General Advice -------------- (i) Draw a map - Unless you have an unusually good memory it will be enormously helpful to chart your progress. (ii) Everything you come across in the Adventure will have a use - you only have to find out what it is! GOOD LUCK Loading ------- Insert the game tape into your tape deck, select Tape Loader from the main menu on the Spectrum 128 (for further instructions consult the section on loading in your manual), and press play on the tape deck. The game will now load automatically. When it has finished loading the credits page will appear and the theme tune will begin to play. Press space to enter the game properly. The computer will now ask you wheter you want to restore an old game or not. If you do then press the "Y" key and then follow the procedure for loading as below. If you wish to start a new game then press "N". Saving/Loading a Game: Insert the tape you wish to use into the tape deck and then follow the on- screen instruction. THE NEVERENDING STORY The program code, graphic representation and artwork are the copyright of Ocean Software Limited and may not be reproduced, stored, hired or broadcast in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Ocean Software Limited. All rights reserved worldwide. The Neverending Story (C) Neue Constantin Filmproduktion GmbH 1984. Licensed to Ocean Software Limited by Licencing Corporation of America (U.K.). Game design and programming by Ian Weatherburn. (C) 1985 Ocean Software Limited. Produced by Jon Woods