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- Drain Storm
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- (c) Copyright 1997 by Dave Horner
- .................................
-
-
- [Introduction]
- Beneath this easy-to-learn strategy game lies a
- sophisticated and deadly puzzle.
-
- This short document will help you prepare to take
- on all of the challenges that you'll face on your
- way to the ultimate battle.
-
- This text is divided into 2 sections:
- 1) Things everyone should know.
- 2) Cheats.
-
- The first section is recommended to all players.
- It gives fundamental playing tips to help players
- get the most out of the game, and become as competitive
- as possible. Some of these will be obvious to those
- who've played a few rounds.
-
- The second section is more along the lines of "cheats".
- Don't look here unless you're stuck and can't get to
- the final showdown. Even here I don't give away all
- the answers, so it's safe to look, and still face
- a formidable challenge. If things get too easy, you
- can always try a higher difficulty level. Personally,
- I can't win on level 4 (and I made the darn game).
-
- NOTE: This information assumes you've read the basic game
- instructions (pressing [F1] key while playing).
-
-
- [Section 1]
- THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW about Drain Storm
-
- 1) Using the proper weapon...
- The most effective weapon early in the game is
- the bubble. For best effect, don't wait until
- monsters are right next to you. You have an
- unlimited supply, so start shooting in the
- direction of the monsters immediately. Knock off
- as many as you can before they're right next to
- you. Use the "3-shot bubbler" when you find it.
-
- Tip: lining up monsters diagonally will give you the
- best odds of hitting them from long range.
-
- Bombs are good when you're trapped behind rows of
- engulfed monsters, or when you're fighting sewer
- demons.
-
- Don't neglect to use DECOYS. They're incredibly
- helpful if you're facing more monsters than you
- can fight off. Drop a decoy and move away. Many
- monsters will stay with the decoy.
-
- Using a decoy requires some anticipation. If it
- looks like you'll be overwhelmed in a few rounds,
- drop a decoy and plot your get-away. Try laying a
- few mines near a decoy, but not too close.
-
- Missiles are useful when a dense group of monsters
- is approaching. They explode like cluster bombs.
-
-
- 2) Treasures and Treasure Chests...
- You should constantly replenish your arsenal by
- gathering "treasures", which can be found scattered
- around every board. You'll find lots of new and useful
- weapons and items this way.
-
- To open treasure chests, use a key (by "shooting"
- the key at the treasure chest from an adjacent square).
- You can also open a treasure chest (forcefully) with a
- bomb. However, this method may destroy some or all of
- the contents.
-
- 3) Using '5' key to let monsters come to you...
- Sometimes it's worthwhile to wait for monsters to come
- to you. For example, you've laid some mines and want
- to lure them near. Simply press the middle number-pad
- key. You won't move, but monsters (and projectiles) will.
-
- 4) Read fortune cookies...
- These contain hints and clues (and it's part of the game,
- so you're not cheating!). To read them, select them in
- the arsenal, then shoot in any direction. Press 'M' if
- there's more text than will fit in the text window.
-
- 5) Forget the mouse...
- You can play the game with the mouse, but this is really
- a good old-fashioned keyboard game. I use the following
- fingers:
- * Left ring-finger: Shift key (to select "shoot" mode)
- * Left middle-finger: 'A' key (to select weapon)
- * Left index-finger: 'Z' key (to select weapon)
- * Right hand: number pad keys (to move/shoot in any direction)
- Obviously, use what works best for you.
-
- 6) CASINO...
- If you haven't found it yet, see below in the "Cheats"
- section.
-
- The casino takes bets of just about all item types with
- some exceptions: It does not take artifacts (such as
- the emerald), it also does not take bubbles, which you
- have no need to wager anyway.
-
- The game is five-card draw, and a special "Wild" symbol
- appears on the table if the next hand uses wild cards.
- If you win, the house pays out the weapon type you
- wagered. The amount you bet is multiplied according to
- the strength of your hand. Basically, it works like video
- poker games.
-
- This is obviously an incredible chance to improve the power
- of your arsenal. An arsenal with several dozen "8x missiles"
- will take you a long way toward solving Drain Storm.
-
- BETTING:
- To wager a weapon, select it from your arsenal using 'A'
- and 'Z'. Then position your vehicle on top of the '$' square
- found below the poker table. Simply shoot in any direction.
- Any shot fired from this square is considered a bet. WARNING:
- This means you should not attempt to fight monsters while
- standing on this square!
-
- Once you've placed your bet, move the vehicle to the animated
- lever on the right side of the betting square. Your cards will
- be dealt. Select the cards you wish to keep by moving the vehicle
- to the flashing red squares found below the cards.
- When you've selected all the cards to keep, move to the lever again
- and draw your new cards. Wins and losses are reported immediately.
- If you win, the winnings are added automatically to your arsenal.
-
- 7) Different types of monsters...
- Aside from Sewer Squids and Bulldozers, you'll encounter other beasts
- including Xoids and variations of Sewer Demons. Bubbles do NOT work
- on Sewer Demons, and they are often clever enough to side-step bombs
- and missiles hurled at them. One type of Sewer Demon is especially
- nasty: when it gets hit by a bomb, it explodes into multiple lesser
- monsters which attack immediately. These are preferably destroyed
- from long range.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Cheats follow....
-
-
-
-
-
-
- [Section 2]
- CHEATS. Read here for help on solving the Drain Storm puzzle.
- WARNING: This may reveal elements you would otherwise
- discover on your own, thus lessening some of the surprise.
- However, if you're stuck, these hints may get you going again.
-
- 1) Finding the casino...
- The casino is one level below the City. (The City is the first special
- board, which can typically be found 4 to 8 levels below the top.)
- Once in the City, locate the down-drain near the upper-right corner,
- and go down... voila- the casino!
-
- 2) Abyss...
- Several special boards lie within the bottomless levels of the abyss.
- These special boards may contain artifacts which are required
- to solve the game. The abyss is entered through the down-drain near
- the lower-left corner of the City.
-
- Beware, the abyss can be nasty. Boards in the abyss contain several
- monster portals, including reinforced portals and portals which
- deliver Sewer Demons into the attack. Although entering the abyss
- is required to finish the game, do not enter until you are properly
- armed. It is helpful to have a smart bomb or some repellent before
- entering the abyss.
-
- 3) Treasure room...
- There is a secret treasure room found below the Breakout Board.
- This room is packed with treasure chests, wall to wall.
- The Breakout Board is found 2 levels below the city. You can enter
- from the Idol Room or the Moon Room. The down-drain to the treasure
- room is blocked behind walls. However, as the Bulldozers of the
- Breakout Board clear away crud, a lever will be uncovered. This lever
- opens a passage to the down-drain to the treasure room.
-
- WARNING: The treasure chests of the Treasure room are booby trapped
- in a potentially deadly way. Be ready for a big fight.
-
- 4) Moon Key...
- The Moon Key can be found in the labyrinth. This gives special access
- to the treasures in the Moon Room. The labyrinth has many levels and
- the passages get narrower and narrower. Be patient and well-equipped.
-
- 5) Smart Card...
- This card is required to gain entrance to Gorloth's fortress, and the
- power plant. It can be found in a special room within the layers of
- the abyss.
-
- 6) Emerald...
- This artifact is required to get beyond the force field in the Idol
- Room. The idol is missing one of its eyes, which are giant emeralds.
- The emerald is being held captive in the Xoid fortress. Enter via
- the Moon Room.
-
- 7) Getting extra treasure chests at the City...
- A useful trick for gaining more treasure is to "create" treasure
- chests. This can be accomplished by destroying all 3 regenerating
- portals located in the center of the City. Occasionally when they
- reappear, a treasure chest will also appear.
-
- 8) Destroying Gorloth...
- In order to Destroy Gorloth, he must be lured out into the open.
- This is accomplished by destroying the energy core of the power
- plant. This is heavily guarded and booby-trapped. Lots of missiles
- and repellent are helpful here. Radio bombs are also extremely useful.
-
- Once Gorloth attacks (and he won't be alone), get ready to unleash
- a massive assault. He takes several hits before he's destroyed, and
- bombs, bubbles and mines have no effect on him. He surrounds himself
- with hoards of his minions. Unless you're equipped with devastating
- firepower, you will regret you ever woke him...
-
-
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