Introduction

Times are hard for Horatio Vickers-Point, the part-time back end of a pantomime camelopard. Fortunately, his grandfather left him a magical ocean-going coracle in his Will and he has taken to using this wondrous vehicle to engage in a spot of fishing to make ends meet. The coastal waters of The Wash are a bounty of exotic creatures, and he has devised a rather cunning method of capturing them with the use of a blowpipe and table tennis balls.

What's more, the magical powers of his primitive craft summon up the treasures of King John from the deep, 800 years after they were first lost.

Unfortunately, due to the UK's tropical climate, most of the sea water evaporated over the summer months. Poor old Horatio needs to make it rain to top up those falling sea levels before wildlife will return.

The Mission

The coracle is subject to tides, and can move left and right across the screen. While you are able to change direction, you can influence the speed of your craft.

You are also equipped with a blowpipe and a limited supply of ping pong balls. Rotate the blowpipe left and right into position before firing. Shooting clouds causes them to release raindrops, which raise the sea level.

When the sea has reached the optimum level, marine creatures will return. These will be found in bubbles floating across the sky in much the same way as the clouds. Shoot the bubbles and they will burst, usually revealing a sea creature inside. Catch sea creatures in the coracle to fill a grid of sixteen and progress to the next level. Fill the grid with fourteen or more of one particular creature to access the bonus stage and score more points.

Some bubbles will reveal shells when shot. Collecting shells will give a bonus, turning everything on screen into diamonds or extra ammunition. Diamonds can be collected for extra points. Occasionally, extra table tennis balls will drop from the sky, these can be collected to top up ammunition.

Hazards

Rubbish is often dumped from the sky. This pollutes the environment, and reduces the sea level so should be prevented if at all possible.

Aeroplanes also fly overhead. Shooting down an aeroplane will also pollute the sea, so avoid hitting one with table tennis balls or the sea level will drop.

On later levels bombs appear. Avoid letting these reach the water at all costs.

Ducks start to make an appearance a few levels in, and contact with these is deadly.

Game Controls

9 - Left, 0 - Right, 2 - Faster, W - Slower, M - Fire
Press H to toggle pause on/off

The game has a control menu where you may define your own keys, or select Sinclair, Cursor or Kempston joystick if preferred.