Realm of Zaroc_ The
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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The Realm of Zaroc

Features:

Programming: Completion in December 1989; code: machine language, size 9495 bytes; startup command: SYS 21579
Credits: Mr. Jouni Väisänen created the stunning graphics and also contributed a great deal to the design of the game.

Playability: 1 player mode without the other player hanging around, 2 player mode where players can compete each other or play co-operatively (great fun); initially, 5 lives per game; 5 distinct enemy types each with a unique behaviour; 39 different stages until you engage in a final battle with Zaroc on stage 40; the game also has music which can be switched on/off at startup

Instructions: You have a team of 5 men set out on a journey to the unexplored realm of Zaroc. As you wander ever closer to Zaroc's presence, you must collect all pearls from a stage you are on. This is not as easy as it sounds as there are vicious enemies that do their best to destroy you. Your weapon against them are the mines that you are carrying. The mines only detonate on contact killing the unfortunate being (including your men) that has set it off. As soon as all the pearls have been collected, the energy gate transporting all the enemies to that stage dies away. You can then enter the next stage through the gate.

The game has the following symbols to make the game play more intriguing (all visibile in pictures on the left):
Z-symbol. These are areas you cannot lay any mines on. Move quickly over these areas as you are vulnerable to any enemy attack.
Lightning symbol. These symbols kill everything that touches them. Lightnings kill enemies in large numbers but this way also speed up the changing of enemies so that new enemy types can appear to tease you. Also, there is an enemy type wise enough never to touch the lightning.
Striped box symbol. This is the mine box that replenishes your mine supply by 24 mines. Usually a symbol that you have been waiting for.

Big black pearl. These symbols typically only block your way on a stage. Later in the game, however, there is a special enemy type that can collect these pearls and use the powers within to withstand the blasts from your mines.

Tips:
You will get another life every 20 000 points.
Although not explicitly stated during the game, the level of difficulty changes every 5 stages. This can be noticed as the graphics on the stage changes.
Do not collect the last pearl until you are sure that you can safely make your way to the energy gate.
Although the mine counter only advances to 99 it is internally capable of counting mines up to 255 (it will not wrap to 0 after that either).

The game may seem pretty difficult at first, but once you learn to get a hang of the mining system, you will notice that the game really is not all that difficult.
Especially in two-player mode, the strategy you choose will make a big difference.
Try to learn the characteristic behaviour of each enemy type. This will help you to beat them. I could have described how each of the enemy types behaves (much like I did for the game symbols) but then again, I think you'd like to find that out for yourself...

Comments: This game is a lot of fun. It has enough of variables and it is easy enough to keep the game play interesting all the way through.


http://my64prgs.byethost31.com/?i=1#The Realm of Zaroc
