Neither the score nor the progress are saved automatically.
o 'Load Game':
Allow you to load a game from the disk.
o 'Save Game'
Allow you to save a game to the disk.
Note: If you've finished a game and your score is one of the ten bests', it is inserted in the highscores table.
If you load the same game from the disk and you finish it again, the new score replaces the old one if it is greater. If it is less than the old one, the highscores table will point on that old one.
o 'Hide'
Close the main window and flush every possible ressources to allow the execution of other programs. The game can be restarted exactly where it was left by reactivating the program and selecting this menu again.
When the program is hidden, it is iconified or added to the programs menu list.
o 'Quit'
Finding this menu's goal is left as an exercice to the reader.
'Settings' menu:
o 'Graphics'
Open a dialog window to change graphical options. Each option has an impact on the game's smoothness, i.e. the number of time a second the processor is able to refresh the screen. If the game is regulary hashed, it is a good idea to decrease some values. Also, it is recommended to test the settings in a complex game as the first level of the chaos usually doesn't cause speed problems. The faster your computer is, the higher values you can use.
Buttons' description:
'Autoconfigure':
When activated, every options are configured automatically at the program start based on the capabilities of your computer; else, the following options can be set manually.
'Explosions':
Set the density of fog and dust in explosions. Use 'Low' to improve the smoothness.
'Rendering':
Choose between a dithered black&white or a color display. The game is smoother in black&white. The mode 'Colors x2' uses two layers to draw and scroll the backgrounds and requires a 256 colors display (instead of 16).
'Size':
Set the game's size in multiple of 320x240. 1 yields 320x240, 2 yields 640x480, 3 yields 960x720, etc.
o 'Sounds'
Open a dialog window to change the sound options.
Buttons' description:
'Autoconfigure':
Same as above (for the graphics settings).
'Sounds'
Enable or disable sound effects.
'Stereo'
Sound effects are in stereo (actived) or in mono (unactived).
'Number of channels'
Set how many sound effects can be produced simultaneously (from 1 to 8). A too high number can slow down the game or be rejected if it is over the capabilities of your computer. With a low number, only the most important sounds are produced.
o 'Language'
Open a dialog window that allow you to choose the language in which messages are displayed. If <default> is choosen, the program will try to use the system's language, or english if the former can not be found.
Notes:
The 'Save' button from the tree above dialog windows save the three settings together.
If the program can not fit the requested settings (e.g. because of memory lack), it will try to use the minimal settings (black&white, 320x240, without sounds) instead of quitting.
o 'Misc...'
Allow you to change some settings which are specific to the Macintosh version of ChaosCastle. These settings are described separatly in the file 'InstallMac'.