Ashkeron!

Ashkeron is a 100% machine code adventure featuring a unique Walk-Thru Graphics System - where you go is what you see! It really does give you an instant feel for where you are, and can provide some interesting clues as well.

The Story So Far

The time is the dim and distant past, the place: the principality of Ashkeron. Princess Zeraphina lies weeping. Her forthcoming marriage will be cursed if it proceeds without the customary dowry of the five treasures, bequeathed for the well-being of the people of Ashkeron and their rulers.

The people, concerned for their Princess's future, elect Stephen the Blacksmith to reclaim the stolen treasures from the evil Wizard's castle. Stephen is a powerful and resourceful man. He vows to return and place the crown upon the head of the Princess, and to claim his prize.

At the crack of dawn on the day of the Spring Equinox, the people accompany Stephen to the gates of the Wizard's castle. Suddenly the sky darkens, lightning flashes, and a clap of thunder bursts immediately overhead. A wave of panic runs through the people. The sky clears, and Stephen is alone...

Make haste, Blacksmith, for time is limited and a valuable price awaits you on your successful return.

Playing Ashkeron

Two game options are available. In the standard game, the objects always start out in the same place. In the randomised game, the objects are scattered randomly and the game will be different each time, although always solvable.

To proceed on your mission, you can talk to the computer, either in simple English, for example: GO NORTH, in complete sentences, or, in some instances, with a single letter. During the course of your quest, you will come across various characters who may or may not help you. You can talk to them by saying, for example, SAY TO THE MAID "HELLO".

Some other useful commands might be:

SCORE ... Lets you know how you are progressing
QUIET ... Turns off the sound effects
SOUND ... Turns them back on
HELP ... May provide some (rather cryptic clues)
SAVE ... Allows you to save your current position to tape for later recall (the tape must be running in the record mode first)
LOAD ... reloads a saved position
QUIT ... ends the game
A (AGAIN) ... Repeats the previous instruction
JOYSTCK ... Starts joystick operation (keys still operate as well)

Ashkeron is a real-time adventure so events will progress, even if you do nothing.

Game Controls

Pressing CAPS SHIFT and 0 together will allow you to edit any incorrect entries.
Pressing CAPS SHIFT and 9 together will repeat the previous command.

Joystick Control

If you have a joystick connected via a Kempston-compatible interface, directional commands can be given by using the eight compass point positions. Up and Down commands are achieved by moving the joystick forwards or backwards with the Fire button depressed.

Loading

LOAD"" (ENTER)

128K owners should use 48K Basic and issue the above command.