Game Manual
ALIEN99
for ZX Spectrum 48K / 128K
Copyright © 2005 True Video
051212 Rev. D
ALIEN99
Save the planet
Alien alert! Hostile forces from a remote galaxy are
launching a full-scale strike on planet Earth. In order to
intercept the alien fleet on their way to Earth you're
commissioned to lead a squad of elite interceptors.
Engage enemy forces into battle before they reach their
targets and turn your home planet into a lifeless
landscape.
If you fail in your mission, the Earth is doomed!
Getting Started
While on the title screen, press any key to cycle
through one- or two-player game and control set-up.
Press [ENTER] to select.
Default controls are as follows:
[Y] UP
[G] DOWN
[U] FIRE
[A] POW
Playing the Game
The game begins with a reserve force of three
interceptors: one at the line of battle and the others
remaining at the bottom left. Alien squads attack in a
series of waves, moving from the right side of the
screen towards your position. Press [UP] and [DOWN]
to cycle through enemy targets and [FIRE] to wipe
them out.
Lock your targets quick and accurately. There's a
freeze-fire penalty for missing shots that will render
your ship defenceless against incoming enemy waves.
Each shot that doesn't go amiss will destroy all enemy
aliens matching your ship's target configuration, forcing
the rest of the fleet to rush back into formation.
Friendly forces along the front-line will deploy
advanced weaponry on a regular basis. In order to get
these items your ship must be locked in "Flagship
configuration", otherwise they'll get lost in space.
Flagship Friendly forces
Once you've successfully picked one of these weapons
it will be held in reserve at the bottom right of the
screen. Press [POW] to activate it and boost your ship's
fire power for a short period of time.
As soon as you manage to destroy one wave of aliens,
a new one is launched fiercer than before. After every
third wave you enter a special challenging stage. Shoot
down as many ships as you can to earn extra points.
Scoring
You score 100 points for each low rank alien you
destroy. Flagship aliens score 200 points. On bonus
stages hit all 50 ships for 20,000 extra points. For every
50,000 points you score an extra ship will be added to
your squad reserve, up to a maximum of five.
Strategy
Think ahead and concentrate on the waves attacking
your position. Try to hit the foremost ships first as they
pose the greatest threat but always keep an eye on
following aliens that may charge in groups: a precise,
single shot could blast clear almost an entire wave,
forcing the remaining ships to fall back.
While the power-up weapon is active there's no
freeze-fire penalty for missing shots, so there's no need
to lock targets too carefully. Use this feature to secure
the area and take a break before power-up time expires
and aliens strike back in retaliation.
ALIEN 99
A ZX Spectrum computer videogame.
Game programming by JPM.
Sound effects by MK2.
Thanks to T.Brazil for useful input and testing.
Distribution of this videogame is allowed and
encouraged, as long as it remains free.
Copyright © 2005 True Video.
jpm@tinet.org
Release 051212 Rev. D