THE SPECTRUM GAMES DATABASE

AMAUROTE

PUBLISHER
Mastertronic

AUTHOR
Binary Design

YEAR
1987

CATGEORY
Arcade Adventure

CONTROLS
Keyboard

 KEYS : Up/Right    - Y to P
        Up/Left     - Q to T
        Down/Right  - H to L
        Down/Left   - A to G
        Fire        - B to M, SPACE
        Radio       - CAPS SHIFT
        Change Colours  - V
 
SCANNER MODES : Nearest Insect  - Z
                Queen         - X
                Bombs         - C


INSTRUCTIONS
The city of Amaurote has been invaded by huge, aggressive insects
who have built colonies in each of the city's 25 sectors. As the
only uninjured army Officer left after the invasion (that'll
teach you for hiding!) the job falls to you to destroy all the
insect colonies.

You have been given some equipment to help you do so: an Arachnus
4 armoured walker, a radar scanner, a two-way radio, 30 bouncing
bombs and $5,000,000 to buy new equipment. You also have a map
to guide you.

You can tackle the colonies in any order you wish. Each district
of Amaurote is represented by a small disc and as you move your
Arachnus across the map the name of each district will appear at
the top of the screen. Select which district you wish to tackle
first by moving the Arachnus to the correct disc and pressing
fire. If you manage to destroy all the insects in that district
you will be returned to the map.

There are three types of insects, all equally mean!

The Queen - being the most important, she is your main target.
You'll have your work cut out fighting your way through her
guards though. She gives orders to the drones and produces more
insects; every time you manage to kill one she will produce
another within a short time.

Scouts - these fly around looking for food and intruders, i.e.
you! If they spot you they will tell the queen - and that means
trouble!

Drones - the most common and the most stupid. They are dumb but
they never give up. Their job is to collect food for the Queen
and defend the colony from intruders.

Your supply of bouncing bombs is limited and should be used
with great care. Pressing fire will launch a bomb in the
direction you last moved. The bomb will bounce in that direction
unless it hits either an insect or a building - except that
you're not supposed to demolish the city!

Only two things cannot be destroyed by the bombs: the perimeter
fence and the Queen. To get rid of her, you need a "supa-bomb".
These can be requested, one at a time, over the radio. They're
very expensive and very dangerous!

Once a bomb has been launched you cannot launch another one until
that one has exploded. The number showing how many bombs you have
left will flash red whilst a bomb is active, even if it is off
screen.

THE RADIO : Your Commanding Officer has supplied you with a
radio.  Activating it will reveal a menu with the following
options:

 1. REQUEST BOMBS
 2. SUPA BOMB
 3. REPAIR
 4. RESCUE (quit)

Bombs are airlifted into the city and you can use your scanner
to locate them. If extensive damage is caused to your Arachnus
4 you may have to purchase a new one. Although you have
$5,000,000 with you, your costs may be high so try not to
overspend.

You can program the scanner to find the nearest insect, the Queen
and airlifted bombs. The operate just select the required mode
and follow the arrows.

SCORES RECEIVED
Crash: "An amazing achievement ... highly playable and
addictive."  RATING : 92% (CRASH #40, May 1987)