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Loadstar 128 42
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q42.d81
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t.fluster
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2022-08-28
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F L U S T E R
A Game to Test Your Spatial Reasoning Powers
Program and Text by Kate and Ron Slaminko
NOTE: This is a compiled program and when you quit it, you get a white
screen and exit message. To continue, press STOP-RESTORE then enter RUN and
you'll return to LOADSTAR 128.
OVERVIEW
--------
Think fast! FLUSTER requires you to fill 4x4 grids with colored
diamonds. Fill 3 grids (more at higher levels) to move on to the next
level. Here's the catch: all the diamonds in a grid must be the same
color.
The game screen is divided into two main sections: the upper and lower
grids. The upper grid contains a series of columns, each of which has four
elements, which could be an empty square, a diamond, a bomb, or a color
shifter (question mark). New columns are added periodically to the upper
grid and the game ends when the upper grid is full (24 columns). You can
shift the upper grid left or right to position the desired column over the
drop chute (the downward pointing arrow). The lower screen contains five
4x4 grids - the one in the center is the 'Active' grid and is a duplicate
of one of the other 4 grids that are shown in reduced scale. All activity
takes place on the active grid. The active grid can be shifted left or
right, and rotated clockwise or counter clockwise. You can select any of
the four smaller grids as the active grid.
Once you have shifted both the upper and active grids to where you want
them, you can drop the column above the drop chute into the corresponding
location in the active grid. The dropped objects land in the column of the
active grid which is directly below: the top item interacts with the top
position in the active grid, the 2nd item with the 2nd row, etc.
INTERACTIONS
------------
The result in each square of the active grid is a function of the
current contents of the square and of the corresponding square being
dropped.
Generally, the interaction between the two objects is independent of
which is the current occupant and which is being dropped. The results are:
Empty + Anything else = The 'anything else'
Bomb + Anything else = Empty
Color Shifter + Color Shifter = Color Shifter
Color Shifter + Diamond = Diamond of dominant color of active grid
Diamond + Diamond = Empty square. This costs a bonus point (see below)
and is only permitted if you have a Bonus Point to spend.
BONUS POINTS
------------
Earn 1 Bonus point for each level completed. Lose 1 bonus point each
time you drop a diamond onto another diamond. At higher levels when the
upper columns contain mixed colors, you'll really need your bonus points so
don't throw them away too soon. Use bombs or color shifters to eliminate
wrong colored diamonds if possible. By the way, it only costs 1 bonus point
to drop a column with a diamond-to-diamond conflict, regardless of how many
conflicts occur. And if you don't have any bonus points, the move will be
disallowed (Buzz!)
THE INTERFACE
-------------
FLUSTER starts with you selecting a 1351 mouse in port 1 or the
keyboard, and the desired starting level (1-9). The keyboard commands are
designed so that you use your right hand on the numeric keypad for
movement, and the left for hand for other actions. Select Help (press h or
click on the menu bar) during the game to see a display of available
commands.
Commands: Keyboard Mouse
--------- -------- -----
Shift upper columns left: 7 Click anywhere to their left
Shift upper columns right: 9 Click anywhere to their right
Shift Active grid left: 1 Click left of Active Grid
Shift Active grid right: 3 Click right of Active Grid
Rotate Active Grid clockwise: 4 Click upper left corner of A.G.
Rotate A.G. Counterclockwise: 6 Click upper right corner
Drop a column: <space> Click on Drop Arrow
Change Active Grid: a, b, c or d Click on desired grid
Force a new column to appear y Right Button
Pause game: p Menu Bar
New game: n Menu Bar
Quit: q Menu Bar
Scoring - score 10 points for each diamond you place in a grid. Lose 10
for every diamond you erase (via bomb or diamond-to-diamond conflict). Get
500 points for finishing a level. A top-ten scores list is maintained. If
you qualify, you'll be prompted for your name when the game ends.
STRATEGY AND TIPS
-----------------
The work grids are not cleared between levels, so it's a good idea to
leave them as close to complete as possible - this will make the next level
a bit easier than starting from scratch.
Rotating the Active grid can move an empty square to a more desirable
position. For example, an empty square in column 2, position 1 will move to
column 4, position 2 with a clockwise rotation, and you just might have a
single position 2 diamond available but not one for position 1.
Good luck and don't get FLUSTERed!
FENDER'S POSTMUMBLE: It took me a while to figure out how to play FLUSTER
but once I did, I was hooked. At the early levels you will have some time
to think while waiting for the next set of tiles to appear in the top grid,
but later on, there won't be much time for thinking, especially when there
are changers and bombs to consider.
I used the mouse interface but for this particular game I wouldn't be
surprised if the keyboard mode is the faster, depending on your finger
dexterity. But ultimately it's your brain and eyes that will determine what
kind of score you get, with a dash of luck thrown in.
Speaking of luck, have a good one!
\\\\\ R - Run RETURN - Menu \\\\\