QUARTZ 

GAME CONTROLS

QUARTZ is played with a joystick plugged into the joystick port.

A number of keys are also used:

P		- Pause
F1-F6		- Select pod
DEL		- Trash pod
L		- Score for next extra lives
RETURN	- Use smart bomb
O		- (on title screen) Adjust level types

If you prefer, SPACE can be used with the joystick to select the pod required, rather than using the F keys.

PLAYING THE GAME

The action takes place in the lattice layers of a crystal, flying your ship through a cloud of sub-atomic particles. Eventually life forms detect your presence and drag your ship away. Blast through the scrolling section and then destroy the end of level alien to escape back to the lattice.

Each level consists of a lattice level followed by a scrolling level. Use the LATTICE LEVEL to build POWER UPS for the scrolling section.

Any time you die on a scrolling level you may escape back to the Lattice to try and re-equip your ship. When you die, no power ups are lost EXCEPT any multiples. These will be used as SHIELDS allowing you to live a little longer.

YOUR LAST LIFE...

On your last ship, any available Pods will be trashed in exchange for energy diverted to the shields, giving you one last chance to survive. (You can deliberately trash an item during play by pressing DEL).

Lives are given for scoring points (and in some other ways...)


AVAILABLE POWER UPS

Speed		Speed up (up to 2 are effective. Has no effect in
		the Lattice level)
Extra		Multiples (On Lattice Level this acts as an extra
		shield)
Armour		This acts as protective armour
Flame		A flame thrower
Grenade	A grenade launcher (launches 6 grenades)
Octogun	8 way firing
Bomb		3 smart bombs (they destroy everything on screen)
Pod		Adds a new weapon pod (up to 6 pods allowed)
Repair	Adds shield energy (up to 1/2 energy replaced)
Amplify	Improves efficiency of matter synthesizer (leaves
		some neutrinos in the tubes after a power up is
		chosen)
Record	Records the current level number and power ups.
		(You can restart at this level on later games)

YOUR SHIP

Your ship comes with following equipment:

1. REGENERATING SHIELD.

2. MATTER SYNTHESIZER - This creates Power Ups from raw neutrinos. These are released from destroyed quarks or particles in the lattice levels or from destroyed aliens. Neutrinos come in 3 colours. Collect them in the neutrino tubes.

When critical density is reached (when the 3 tubes are full of neutrinos), the synthesizer will convert them into a power up. You have a limited time to choose a power up (push the joystick up or down to go through the available power ups).

3. EQUIPMENT PODS - Pods hold the power ups. Each pod has a small energy store. The contents of each pod disappear when the energy is exhausted. Each pod is numbered and can be switched on/off via the F keys or joystick. (NOTE: Not all power ups can be switched.)

In addition slots can be trashed. This transfers their energy to the shield.

THE SCREEN

The Big Middle Screen - This screen is where the action occurs!

The Little Screens - (on the left side called PODS) You start the game with three pods. Next to each pod is an energy indicator. When this runs out, the power up in that pod will be exhausted.

Shield Energy - This shows how many lives you have left (including the life you are currently using).

Neutrino Tubes - The collected neutrinos will appear in these tubes. When all three tubes are full, you will be able to select a new power up.

Your Score - This shows your current score!