Infestation

HINTS

SAVE ME! Yes it's one of those games. Save the game regularly, particularly if you have successfully carried out some major operation. If you don't you just know the dog's going to come in and stick it's paw in the plug socket, frying itself and screwing up the whole electrical system as soon as you've solved some important bit of the game. Dogs are like that. Not all dogs go to heaven.

Unfortunately, how to save a game in Infestation isn't explained in the instruction manual. This adds an extra element of challenge, I suppose. This is what you have to do. First, pause the game (HELP key) and then press ESC. It will look as though you have quit the game as you are then presented with the game credits - Not so. Wait for the main menu to come up and have a blank disk ready. Format it with the option from the menu. The game uses a custom format so you must format the disk from this menu rather than a standard workbench AmigaDOS format.

Next choose the Save Game Position option and enter a file name at the prompt. Then choose the Resume Game option. It's a bit of a pain I know but at least it gets you there.

GETTING TO LEVEL ONE

This is for all those stuck on the moon surface at the start of the game - strolling around wondering what the hell they're supposed to be doing. As soon as you land you'll be attacked by a load of insect-like droids and robots. You can shoot them but it's best to ignore them and attempt to get off the planet's surface as fast as possible.

First, turn the navigation HUD on and head for coordinates 54,53 which is where you'll find the entry to the first level. The easiest way to find it is to head towards the sunrise which begins a few seconds after the game starts. After a little while you'll arrive at another radar, this time with a terminal which looks like a rectangular lump of rock and a transporter that looks like a futuristic telephone booth. Move right up to the terminal and log on by pressing F2 and type KAL SOLAR when prompted to identify yourself before logging off. Next, go to the transporter and you'll find yourself miraculously transported to level one.

MAPPING

As soon as you arrive at level one start making a map of the level. The map terminal mentioned in the manual is obviously very useful for this but it'll be quite a while before you get there. Making a rough plan of the blueprint of the levels will make it a lot easier to get around without getting lost and will tell you where the alien eggs are to be found. It'll also let you know where other important stuff like oxygen cylinders and batteries can be found when you are in desperate need later in the game. You'll need to pick up all the objects early in the game in order to identify them and then figure out how best to use them later on. As certain things, like alien eggs, kill you as soon as you approach them it's best to save the game before you pick anything up.

KEYING IN

The main elevator key is situated in air vents on level one that don't have an alien's egg. After travelling through the transporters, take the first right in the vent. Keep going and eventually you should find it. The key to the quarters on level two can be found on level six, in the control room. Initially there will be a force field stopping you from getting to it but by solving the simple puzzle on the terminal you will be able to deactivate it.

COOLING DOWN

When you begin the game the cooling system is inactive, which means that things hot up pretty quickly and Xelos will reach critical mass before you've even had a chance to find out how unwelcome a fart in a space suit is. To activate the cooling system go down to level six and head into the air vents. They're situated in the room at the top left of this section, so go up or left at every opportunity. Once you reach the room find the switch on the wall, flick it and voila - one completely operational cooling system.

You may find that your suit gets a bit "brass monkey" on this level and you end up freezing to death with startling regularity. Not advisable, that. To avoid it, make sure that you complete a small section of level two before you go down there. This will make the temperature a bit warmer. Don't waste too much time messing around though because every second is critical.

OXYGEN

If you're in an underground section where normal pressure applies or in a zone where there's no cyanide in the air you can conserve oxygen by taking the helmet off. Remember though, that radiation will take effect much more quickly without the helmet on. Switch the suit's power off, particularly when you have the helmet off, unless you require some vital information. This will make the power last much longer.