![Instructions for]()
Pyracurse
Hewson, 1986
Written by Chris Owen, HTML'd by Arnt Gulbrandsen.
Controls
Keyboard, Kempston
Note: This game is best played using a joystick rotated clockwise
by 45 degrees.
Aim of the game
Pyracurse features the adventures of a team of three people and
a dog called Frozbie who explore an ancient Sinu city based in the
forests of South America in search of the missing archaeologist Sir
Pericles Pemberton-Smythe. There are a host of fearful creatures for
them to meet and match but with your help they can overcome all...
Game play
You will see a view of the entrance to the ruined city, in
front of which are standing the four characters, each of which have
their own personalities and abilities. These are:
- Daphne Pemberton-Smythe (good at finding things)
- Professor Roger Kite (good at using things, but rather naive - may
need to be resuced from time to time)
- Patrick "Legless" O'Donnell (strong, but rather clumsy)
- Frozbie the dog (good at digging up buried objects)
At the top of the screen is a window showing your current mode. You
start in Mobile Mode. To the left a coloured band indicates the energy
status of your current character; if this falls to zero your character
will die. At the bottom centre of the screen is an information window
which initially reads
ANTECHAMBER
O'DONNELL
SOLO
This shows you that you are in the Antechamber of the tomb and that
your current character is O'Donnell operating in Solo Mode. At the
bottom right is a window which displays your current character or
object. Initially O'Donnell is displayed there. At the bottom left is
a picture of Xipe Totec, the ancient god of the Sinu people. Other
Sinu items are displayed as a border round the edge of the screen.
If you press the fire key whilst you are stationary in Mobile Mode
the display in the information window changes to show the Selection
Menu which consists of:
- Solo - control only the current character
- Character - select a character
- Inventory - display inventory of current character
- Lead - lead characters; they must be in the immediate
vicinity to be led by the current character
There are many items for you to collect and use scattered around the
tomb. To pick up an object select Mobile Mode and walk up to the item
you require. As you collect it the graphic window will flash and show
a picture of the item. Each character may carry up to three items at
a time. Not all characters can pick up all objects.
If you wish to unlock a chest or activate a key plate with a key
collected previously select the character who has the correct key and
place him adjacent to the chest or plate. Select the appropriate key
or item from the inventory part of the Selection Menu.
Later in the game you may come across weapons which can be thrown at
monsters to destroy them. To use such a weapon you must first collect
it and then make sure it is highlighted in the information window when
the inventory is selected. Return to Mobile Mode; if you now press
fire whilst you are moving the weapon will be flung in the direction
of travel. You will find that Daphne cannot throw as far as the
Professor or O'Donnell. Pressing fire whilst moving in Mobile Mode is
also the way to discard an ordinary object such as a key; such an
object will not be thrown but instead simply dropped.
Comments
"A rewarding arcade adventure."
Rating
90% (CRASH #31, August 1986)
Now
A nice, but very tough, game.
Keys
A to G - Up/Left - Joystick left
H to L, ENTER - Up/Right - Joystick up
B to M, SPACE - Down/Left - Joystick down
Z to V - Down/Right - Joystick right
Y to P - Fire - Joystick fire
0/9 - Pause/Unpause
Fire while moving - Throw/Discard object
Fire while stationary - Display menu
Nettverksgruppa, 5/10-94, sinclair@nvg.ntnu.no