Power Pete is a CD-ROM game from MacPlay and Pangea Software. It will be released in April 1995. This demo version includes the first level of the first world of the game.
Most important tips: Power Macintosh users can run in an expanded, full-screen mode if they have 7000K free memory. Other Macintosh users can reduce the "Preferred" size of the game to 4900K with no reduction in game speed or quality. See below for the game controls.
The Story
Toy Mart has closed for the evening. The clerks have long since turned off the cash registers, and the midnight janitor has left. Suddenly the store comes alive as dolls, action figures, and game pieces jump to their feet. Within moments cities are formed: in the Bargain Bin, race tracks become islands of action surrounded by a sea of onlooking toy robots. In the Clown Department thousands of insane clowns initiate a massive pie fight. Throughout all of the departments, life arises...
Suddenly there is a commotion in the Doll Department! One of the cages in the Stuffed Animal Zoo has broken open — hundreds of Fuzzy Bunnies hop out of the cage and scatter. The Fuzzy Bunnies, with their limited intellect, do not realize the danger they are in. The new metropolis of Toy Mart can be a very dangerous place for Fuzzy Bunnies to wander alone, and without help they stand little chance of surviving until morning.
The peaceful inhabitants of the Doll Department cry out for the Fuzzy Bunnies to return...but to no avail. What will they do? What will become of the Fuzzy Bunnies?
“I WILL HELP YOU!” storms a deep, resonant voice from one of the shelves. A hush crawls over the crowd of Fuzzy onlookers. A large package tumbles from the shelf onto the floor...a package which reads: “POWER PETE.” The package bursts open and a figure emerges. Yes, it's Power Pete — the most powerful action figure money can buy!
“Fear not, my fellow merchandise! I will rescue the Fuzzy Bunnies!” he exclaims. Armed only with his single-shot suction-cup gun, Power Pete trots gallantly off into the aisles of the Toy Mart Metropolis.
Luckily for Pete, the Metropolis is scattered with additional accessories. All Power Pete needs to do is to equip himself with better weapons and power-up accessories, and then he should have no problem rescuing the Fuzzy Bunnies, right? Wrong. There are many toys which would love to see Power Pete “recalled” since his sales have increased and caused their sales to plummet. Power Pete will have a very difficult time finding all of the Fuzzy Bunnies since almost every toy in the store is out to get him...
The Game
Power Pete consists of five store departments, each containing three areas for a total of fifteen levels in the entire game. The following are the five departments:
1.) Prehistoric Plaza (lots of cavemen and dinosaur toys)
2.) Candy Cane Lane (gingerbread men, mints, and other sugary treats)
3.) Fairy Tale Trail (fairy tale creatures and books)
4.) Magic Funhouse (killer clowns, jack-in-the-boxes, and evil rabbits)
5.) Bargain Bin (cars, tops, robots, etc.)
There are a certain number of Fuzzy Bunnies that you must to rescue on each level. When the game begins, you will see a “Bunnies” counter in the status bar, to the right of your screen. This shows you how many bunnies are remaining in the area to be rescued. Power Pete is equipped with a bunny-locating radar system. Press the ‘R’ key to activate or deactivate the radar. This radar screen shows the locations of all the bunnies within a limited distance from Power Pete. To rescue a bunny, just walk Power Pete over it to pick it up.
When you rescue the last Fuzzy Bunny, the level is completed and you'll then proceed to the next area or department.
This demo version of Power Pete contains only the first level of the first world (Prehistoric Plaza). The full game contains all the levels described above.
Whenever an enemy is destroyed, jawbreakers and confetti pop out. (Hey, they're only toys! What did you expect, blood?) When the player collects 500 jawbreakers, Power Pete gets one more heart added to his maximum health. Power Pete starts with 4 hearts and can end up with up to 8.
Sometimes you get an extra perk: a weapon or a power-up. The weapons which are left behind from destroyed enemies range from toy guns to toothpaste to exploding cake grenades. The special power-ups range from speedy shoes to enemy freezers to firebursts. You might also find food lying around – grab these snacks to bring your life points back up a bit. You cannot pick up food if you are already at full health.
To collect any of the above, just walk Power Pete over it. If a power-up begins to flash, that means you have only a few more seconds before it disappears. Power-ups are activated immediately upon pickup. You'll see what we mean.
Weapons are automatically added to your weapon inventory; press the Command () key to toggle through your weapon choices. The icon and ammo count of the current weapon is displayed in the status bar. You will begin with a mere suction-cup gun, but don't despair: the best is definitely yet to come. Different weapons have different destructive capabilities, and some weapons may be too weak to harm a certain enemy. If a bullet hits an enemy and does no damage, you will hear a “tink” sound as the bullet bounces harmlessly off of the enemy. Either switch to something more powerful or turn around and RUN!
Each level has either doors or barriers, and each door is color-coded for the key color that must open it. You will see colored dots in front and in back of each door; the color of these dots tells you what color key you must find to open the door. Keys are strewn around the levels. Pick up a key like any other power-up. When a key is collected it appears in a special section of the status bar, and when the key is used it disappears from the status bar. A key can only be used once. Keys on various levels are hammers, tickets, bombs, keys, or radio controls.
You may save your game at any time by pressing "ESC." You are also given the option to save a game when between levels. Saving the game only saves your progress as it was at the beginning of the current level.
The Controls
You can play Power Pete with the mouse, with keyboard controls, or with a game pad that can simulate keyboard control. For those with an Advanced Gravis GamePad, we've enclosed a control set.
To switch between mouse control and keyboard/game pad control, walk Power Pete over to the joystick icon on the main menu and press the space bar. You will be able to use the arrow keys to choose between the mouse and the keyboard. (If you are going to use a joystick or game pad, choose the keyboard.)
If you want to play using the keyboard, you can move around using the arrow keys, using the numeric keypad, or using the nine keys centered around the "K" key. The darkened keys on the chart below are the movement keys.
Here's a list of the other key commands. You can use them whether you use mouse control or keyboard control.
Switch Weapon: Command
Shoot Weapon: Space Bar
View Rabbit Radar: R
Toggle Music On/Off: Command-M
Toggle Effects On/Off: Command-S
Raise / Lower Volume: +/-
Quit: Command-Q
Pause: P
Return to Menu or Save Game: <ESC>
The Departments
Prehistoric Plaza
Dinosaurs AND cavemen? What a mess!
This department has turned into a thick prehistoric jungle. Beware of the bubbling tarpits – once you’ve entered one, you’re as good as dead. There are clear rivers to swim across and clay mesas to explore. Avoid the caves, for that’s where the cavemen like to lurk.
The Bad Toys
Nongo The Neanderthal: When angered, these toys will throw bones at you. (It's only fair – after all, you're SHOOTING at THEM!) Not to worry, though; they’re pretty cheap plastic, so breaking them doesn’t take much. Just one shot from Power Pete’s suction cup gun should do the trick – if you can hit them. They're smarter than they look.
Dino Eggs: Scattered around the Prehistoric Plaza are dinosaur eggs. Normally these eggs are harmless, but if disturbed they’ll hatch and spawn a whole squadron of little red lizards. They won't attack you but don't get in their way; their sharp teeth can do as much damage to you as a blow from a caveman!
Radical Rex: This hot-selling toy has his own definition of fun, and it consists of eating action figures like Power Pete. Rex is fast and durable. Low-power weaponry will do you no good with this toy – he’s got an extended warranty.
Action-Figure-Eating Plant: Ravenous foliage which fires seedpods at anyone who gets too close. That means you. It's also dangerous to touch when it opens up, so steer clear if you can.
Triceratops Tom: These quick blue critters like to hide in thick brush and charge out at you when they are disturbed. Only the mightiest of weapons can do damage to these armored beasts. Lucky, they're usually too dumb to follow you around.
Hopping Henry: This slobbering, overweight lizard likes to bounce on his prey. Be careful of Hopping Henry since he can jump over almost anything when he sees something he wants to squash.
Wind-Up Turtle: Turtles are mostly harmless. They protect their terrain, but not very well. The most they’ll do is push you out of the way if you invade their space. So don't.
Other Hazards
Tarpits: Dangerous? What do YOU think? Deadly every time, no matter how many lifepoints you have stored up.
Weaponry
Scattered throughout the store are various weapons which will help you survive the game and bring the Fuzzy Bunnies safely home. Here's a sampling of what you can find strewn about the levels or swipe from the baddies you take out.
Rocks: Don't knock 'em – they work just fine for cavemen!
Double-Barreled Gumball Blaster: For those tight spots when two shots are better than one. Gives you twice the power and twice the distance of Pete's own trusty sucker pistol.
Musket: Another weapon far superior to the one you start out with, but of course, you already guessed that. If it wasn't "bigger and better," why would the toy manufacturers bother putting it on the shelves?
Triple Bubblegum Blaster: Shoots...you guessed it, three balls at a time. A little more powerful than the double blaster.
Summer Fun™ Backyard Flamethrower: Fires REAL red-hots... Whoops! What's THAT still doing on the shelves? This toy was supposed to have been recalled but it a few boxes were overlooked in the mess following this year's Christmas rush. Too dangerous for the kids but perfect for Pete.
Toothpaste Gun: Clean up your enemies...pun intended. Short range, fairly
powerful, but doesn't work on everything...
Exploding Cakes: Just what they sound like – the perfect way to blow the other toys into confetti. You might even be able to take out several at once with these edible explosives.
Pies: Finally! This is your chance to splatter the clowns on their own terms!
Rubber-Band Shooters: Comes in two varieties, one better than the other. We'll let you figure out which one is which.
There might be other weapons for you to use, but you'll have to find them yourself -- for all we know, there could be anything shoved back into those shelves and forgotten behind this week's "fad" toy...
Remember, your key (next to the space bar) will toggle between your weapon choices. And make sure to seek out new ammo when the numbers next to the weapons' pictures on the status bar start getting low. You can pick up ammo the same way you pick up weapons: by blasting the stuffing out of the bad guys.
Have fun!
-- The crew at MacPlay and Pangea Software
Power Pete will be available in April 1995. You'll be able to get it at your favorite retailer, or direct from MacPlay at 1-800-4-MACPLAY (that's 1-800-462-2752).
