The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

HOSTAGES

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade

Author             : Peter Scott

Standalone Release(s)   : 1989: HOSTAGES, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Compilation Release(s)   : 1991: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 16, Superior/Acornsoft, £12.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron Side A, BBC Side B

Actual compatibility    : As stated.

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

Instructions

"An urgent phone call from the National Security Minister...an Embassy has been overrun by terrorists. As Head of the Terrorist Combat Squad you are in control of all operations.

First, you must place your crack marksmen in nearby buildings, avoiding infrared lights and the terrorists' deadly aim. Secondly, you must get your team of Specialist Paratroopers onto the Embassy roof.

Then, after descending by rope, and protected by your marksmen, enter the Embassy through the windows and begin your search in silence. But beware each door, each room, could be a death trap!

You must get the hostages, and your men, out of the buildings without any loss of life, and this will depend on the cohesion and co-ordination of your team. NOW IT'S YOUR MOVE!

"BRILLIANT GRAPHICS AND GAMEPLAY...SUPERB SOUND EFFECTS AND TUNES. KEYBOARD OR JOYSTICK/MOUSE CONTROL."

The game consists of three increasingly difficult missions: TRAINING MISSION, QUALIFYING MISSION and ULTIMATE MISSION. Each mission consists of three levels: LEVEL 1 - position snipers, LEVEL 2 - enter Embassy

through the windows, LEVEL 3 - search Embassy for Hostages.

To complete a mission, and hence obtain the password for the next mission, you must rescuse all the Hostages. To start a new mission, you must reload the game.

If you complete the ULTIMATE MISSION, without repeating any levels on that mission, you will be given a special message. If you write to Superior Software, quoting this message, you will be sent a signed congartulatory certificate.

Level 1

On loading the game you will automatically start on the TRAINING MISSION, unless you enter the password (after pressing the P key) for the QUALIFYING MISSION or the ULTIMATE MISSION. (The password for the TRAINING MISSION is 'DEADEASY')

Level Objective

You should try to hide all three of your snipers at the positions marked on the map within the time limit.

You must avoid the terrorists' spotlight, otherwise you will be shot at. Too many shots and your man will be eliminated. If all three men are eliminated. If all three men are eliminated, then you will have to restart the level.

You can select a new man (provided the current man is hidden) by pressing the 1, 2 or 3 keys (corresponding to DELTA, ECHO and MIKE respectively)

Provided at least one man is positioned correctly when the time runs out or when the other men have been eliminated, then you will be able to progress to level 2. However, you are advised to repeat the level until you have all three men correctly positioned, otherwise subsequent levels will be very difficult to complete.

Game Controls

Z - Walk Left,   X - Walk Right,   * - Run In Direction Facing,   ? - Crouch

Z & ? - Crawl Left,   X & ? - Crawl Right,   ? & RETURN - Roll In Direction Facing

RETURN - Hide/Re-appear, 

Joystick control can also be used. Press the joystick FIRE button instead of SPACE in order to start.

Level 2

Level Objective

Three new men (designated 4, 5 and 6) have been landed on the Embassy roof. You should now try to get all three of these roof-top combatants into the Embassy by abseiling down and breaking in through the windows. If all three men fall and are eliminated, then you will have to restart the level.

The men who have survived level 1 (designated 1, 2 and 3) now act as snipers, defending the abseiling men. They can shoot any terrorists who appear at the windows and can also shoot out the windows making it easier for the abseilers to get through. But don't shoot your own men!

Select your combatant by pressing keys 4, 5 or 6. You can only reselect when your current man is at the top of the building. If you have a sniper on that side of the building, he can be selected by pressing the appropriate key (1, 2 or 3). Pressing SPACE takes you back to the abseiler.

Provided at least one man has entered the Embassy when the time runs out or when the other men have been eliminated, then you will be able to progress to level 3. However, you are advised to repeat the level until all three men are in the Embassy, otherwise the final level will be very difficult to complete.

Game Controls for Abseilers

Press the * key to move up the rope and the ? key to move down. The Z key intiates a swing. A note sounds, rising to a maximum, then starting again. This is proportional to the distance you will swing out. Hold down the X key, to hold, when you hit the wall, otherwise you will fall off. To break through a window and enter the Embassy, you must swing out the maximum from well above the window, and hold the down key as you release the swing key. This requires considerable skill and practice.

Game Controls for Snipers

Control the constantly moving cross-hair by using the Z, X, * and ? keys for left, right, up and down and RETURN for fire.

Joystick control can also be used for both abseilers and snipers. Press the joystick fire button instead of SPACE in order to start.

Level 3

Level Objective

You must search the two floors of the Embassy and rescue all the Hostages within the time limit, whilst trying to avoid being shot by the Terrorists. You can only change floors at the lift shaft position. The number of Hostages and Terrorists present varies according to the difficulty level of the mission. You can shoot at the Terrorists until your ammunition runs out.

You start with as many combatants as were successful in breaking through the Embassy windows. They are positioned according to the window they broke through. You cannot swap between men. You start with the lowest numbered combatant who has survived. If he is eliminated, you move onto the next numbered combatant. The level ends either when you have no combatants left, or, when the time has run out, or, hopefully, when you have rescued all the Hostages.

Movement Controls

Z - Rotate Left,   X - Rotate Right

* - Move Forward One Step,   RETURN - Change Floors At Lift Shaft

Gun Controls

? & Z - Gun Aimed Left,   ? & X - Gun Aimed Right

? - Gun Aimed Forwards,   RETURN - Fire Gun

Joystick control can also be used. Press the joystick FIRE button instead of SPACE in order to start.

General Controls

<SHIFT> & <ESCAPE> - Restart Level

P - Pause On/Off,   S - Sound On/Off,   T - Tune On/Off

Instructions' Source   : HOSTAGES (Superior/Acornsoft) Back and Inner Inlay

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