Micro Prose X-COM-TERROR FROM THE DEEP User manual

GAME PLAY
MANUAL
®
STRATEGY
™
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TERROR FROM THE DEEP TERROR FROM THE DEEP
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
For X-COM: Terror From The Deep to
work, there are a few things your
computer must have.
The processor has to be an 80386 with
a system speed of at least 33MHz
(megahertz). Basically, any computer
with “386,” “486” or “Pentium” in its
name should do just fine. For best play,
we recommend at least a 486 with a
speed of 50MHz.
You must have a version of DOS
numbered 5.0 or higher. Almost all 386,
TM
486 and Pentium computers include
DOS in the standard software package.
There have to be at least 520K (532,480
bytes) of free conventional memory. The
nice thing is, you don’t even have to know
what a K is. (It’s a “kilobyte”—1024 bytes.
Never mind what a byte is.) To find out
whether you have enough, at the DOS
prompt type mem/c and press r.
Somewhere in the mess of information
that pops up will be a line something like
“Largest executable size.” That’s what
tells you how much free conventional
memory you have.
TECHNICAL SUPPLEMENT
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There also has to be at least 4MB of
memory installed in your system, at least
3MB of which should be free (3072K). The
“mem/c” report should also tell you the total
amount of memory installed in your system.
The graphics must be VGA quality or
better (SVGA is better).
You must have a mouse attached to
the computer. (We mean the input device;
please do not glue or staple helpless little
animals to the keyboard.) The mouse
driver must be Microsoft mouse version
8.01 or higher or something fully com-
patible with this.
COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
Please note that this list includes only
the known conflicts and incompatibilities.
Since no test procedure can ever be
totally comprehensive, you may run into
undiscovered problems. Please contact
Customer Support if you do.
We strongly recommend that you do
not run this game under Microsoft
Windows 3.1 or Windows 95.
We strongly recommend that you not
have any terminate-and-stay-resident
programs (TSRs) other than memory
managers loaded into memory when
playing X-COM: Terror From The Deep.
Not only will they decrease the amount of
free memory available, thus slowing the
game, but there may be unpredictable
interactions.
OPERATING DIFFICULTIES AND
LOADING PROBLEMS
Q. Why can’t I install the game to my
hard disk?
1. You must check all of the system re-
quirements, especially the amount
of hard disk space required.
2. Try installing the program to an
uncompressed partition on the
hard drive in case Drivespace or
Doublespace or a similar utility is
conflicting in some way with the
installation program.
Note: If your hard drive is compressed with
the Drivespace or Doublespace program from
Microsoft, you must double the amount of hard
drive space needed during installation: not
every file will compress at the normal ratio of 2
to 1. For example, installation of the game
usually takes 16MB, but with Doublespace it
could take up to 32MB.
3. Finally, try installing the game on
another machine to see if the
problem recurs.
Q. What is a boot disk?
This is a startup disk for your
computer that contains alternate
startup files to those on your hard
drive. Using a boot disk will leave
more conventional memory free.
Using a Boot Disk
Insert the boot disk into your floppy
disk drive, then switch on the computer.
You should leave the disk in the floppy
drive during play.
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CONTENTS
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Slow Running
If you are not running from a boot
disk, you can try using SMARTDRV.SYS
or SMARTDRV.EXE loaded into your
CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT. This
might speed up the game a bit.
If you are using MS-DOS 5.0, make
sure you have the following line in your
CONFIG.SYS file:
devicehigh=c:\dos\smartdrv.sys
If you are using MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2,
make sure the following line is in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
loadhigh c:\dos\smartdrv.exe
However, you might need to remove
this line if memory problems occur.
Q. Can I run my game through
Windows?
No. This is not recommended; it is
likely that you will not have
sufficient memory to do so.
Q. Does this game run with DR DOS,
Novell DOS 7 or OS/2?
Success is not guaranteed. Micro-
Prose games are currently designed
to run with MS-DOS 5.0 or any
100% compatible DOS.
Q. What is base memory?
This is the original 1MB (1024K) in
your machine. It is divided into
conventional memory (640K), where
MS-DOS and all PC programs load,
and upper memory (384K), where
system programs reside.
In MS-DOS 5.0, the bulk of the
operating system and associated
drivers (such as the mouse driver)
are normally loaded into upper
memory. Other drivers held in the
area of conventional memory will
reduce your 640K available for
the program.
It is important to have as much free
conventional memory as possible.
Q. What is extended memory (XMS)?
Further memory, beyond the 1MB
of base memory on your PC is
called extended memory. XMS can
be used to free more conventional
memory so that bigger games can
be run. XMS can also be used to
simulate expanded memory.
Q. What is expanded memory (EMS)?
EMS was originally designed to give
PC compatibles more memory to
run programs. It has been around
longer than XMS, so many older
programs take advantage of it. The
DOS command EMM386.EXE can
be used to turn XMS into EMS and
should be in your CONFIG.SYS.
Remember that hard drive space is
also measured in megabytes (MB).
Don’t confuse this with memory—
the two are completely different!
Memory Managers
If the program is occasionally freezing
or crashing to DOS, the game might have
a conflict with your current memory
manager. MicroProse recommends only
the drivers that come with MS-DOS (i.e.,
HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE). Try
using the memory managers that come
with MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, MS-
DOS 6.0 or MS-DOS 6.2, in that order.
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Mouse Drivers
Another common cause of the program
freezing or crashing is a conflict with
your current mouse driver. MicroProse
recommends the Microsoft driver,
MOUSE.COM or MOUSE.SYS version
8.01 or higher. See the MS-DOS manual
for full details. To check which mouse
driver you are using, run the MSD
program which comes with Windows 3.1
and MS-DOS 6.0/6.2.
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1
TERROR FROM THE DEEP TERROR FROM THE DEEP
X-COM: TERROR FROM THE DEEP™
©1995 MicroProse Software, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by mimeograph or photocopy or other means without permission, with the
exception of quoting brief passages for the purpose of review.
TM
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BACKGROUND
On the morning of November 28, 1998, top
officials from the world’s most economically
powerful countries congregated secretly at
the UN. The reason for the meeting:
increasing terrestrial UFO activity. Over the
previous 6 months there had been numerous
confirmed sightings, landings and hostile
contacts with super-intelligent and
unpredictable aliens.
After much debate, the decision was made to
establish an independent body to combat,
investigate and defeat the alien threat. This
elite organization was equipped with the
world’s finest pilots, soldiers, scientists and
engineers, working together as one multi-
national force.
This organization was named the
Extraterrestrial Combat Unit — X-COM.
2039.
The last scarred sites of the alien war of 30
years ago are healing and, for all intents and
purposes, the threat to the Earth might never
have happened. Humans sleep easier in their
beds knowing that the evil has gone…
But in the oceans long-silent forces have been
aroused by the conflicts. Forces that have
from time to time made themselves known to
man, but for the most part have remained
hidden. Separated from their stellar cousins
for millennia, these aliens are now aware of
their brethren’s former battles culminating in
the final conflict on Mars.
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INTRODUCTION
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Under the ocean lies the remains of a vast
interstellar colonization ship; 400 billion tons
of metal that plummeted to the Earth some 65
million years ago. Now, the waiting is at an
end, the powerful computers begin to stir, the
ancient technology readies itself for the
coming storm. When the alien base on Mars
shuddered in its death throes, a powerful
Tachyon beam darted out to a long dormant
receptor.
Thirty years ago, awakened by the cosmic
emissions of their brothers, the vast
chambers of innumerable species began their
re-animation cycle. X-COM must now face a
new terror, an army of aliens that is already
here, but in an environment more deadly than
deep space. The aliens of the depths are well
prepared to take on man in all the oceans,
even bringing the war onto the land.
X-COM: Terror From The Deep lets you enter
into combat in a strange and alien world, use
new technology to enable the war to be taken
under the seas, arm your troops for an
encounter the likes of which man has only
dreamed of in his worst nightmares…
GAME OVERVIEW
A vast sleeping enemy has awakened. When
the colonization vessel crash landed on Earth
some 65 million years ago, the emergency
systems placed the aliens in suspended
animation. A distress call was sent, but was
never received by the aliens’ homeworld. Over
the eons the computers awakened small
groups of aliens to attempt colonization, but
the strategies and devices were imperfect. The
aliens have also sunken ships, destroyed
planes and devastated remote ports over the
centuries — to what end we know not.
Now, deep in the vast hulk of the mother ship
the battle computers have become fully on-
line. The systematic awakening of the aliens
and their technology has begun.
Across the globe are sites where age-old alien
advance assault squads have been attempting
to contact their distant brothers. The sites
contain powerful artifacts that they need to
conquer the planet and transform it into an
aquatic paradise for aliens.
X-COM: Terror From The Deep puts you in
command of X-COM. You control the force to
stop the alien terror. First, you’ll intercept the
alien subs and shoot them down. Then, you’ll
command a sub-aqua mission using the
‘Battlescape’ display. This view will display
only what your aquanauts can see, allowing
danger to creep up on the unsuspecting.
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Successfully completing Alien Submarine
Assault missions allows X-COM scientists to
clear the sites of artifacts and begin
researching alien technology. On completion,
Engineers can reproduce superior weapons to
better attack subs. Soon you will be fighting
the aliens with their own technology.
A special UFOpaedia will contain all the
information gathered from your missions.
Special Note to UFO Enemy
Unknown
Veterans
This manual is organized in the same way as
X-COM: UFO Defense. Except for specific
changes in the technology used, X-COM: UFO
Defense veterans will be familiar with the
interface and will only need to scan this
Gameplay manual. However, you are advised
to read the X-COM notebook provided in your
Terror From The Deep package in order to
increase your enjoyment and understand
more of the X-COM world.
THIS MANUAL
This manual is split into two main sections:
Section 1: The Gameplay
Tutorials
Designed to get you playing X-COM: Terror
From The Deep as soon as possible. We
recommend that you complete each tutorial
before you begin to play the game on your own.
Section 2: The Reference
Guide
For the player who is familiar with how to play
X-COM: Terror From The Deep and needs to
find out more about particular game features.
The Controls
The Mouse
You need a Microsoft-compatible mouse to
play X-COM: Terror From The Deep . This
manual will refer to ‘clicking’ on buttons,
icons or highlighted text. To do this, simply
move the cursor over the option and press the
Left Mouse Button (LMB), unless otherwise
stated.
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Welcome to X-COM: Terror From The Deep .
The following tutorials are designed to help
you begin playing with the minimum of
trouble. The three main sections of the game
are covered here: the Geoscape, the
Battlescape and the Bases Screen.
For extra information on particular game
features, please see the Reference Guide
section later in this manual.
STARTING A NEW GAME
1. Install and load X-COM: Terror From The
Deep by referring to your installation
booklet.
2. The Language Screen appears. Select a
language.
The screen changes to the Main Game
Options menu.
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SECTION 1
THE GAMEPLAY
TUTORIALS
BEFORE WE BEGIN...
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3. Move the mouse pointer over the New
Game option and click on the Left Mouse
Button (LMB), the Difficulty Level Screen
appears.
4. Click on Beginner to move to the Main
Game screen, The Geoscape. The first thing
you must do is position your first X-COM base
in one of the Earth’s oceans.
Note: You cannot place a floating base
anywhere on land.
SETTING UP A NEW X-COM
BASE.
5. The message Select Site for New Base
appears at the top of the screen.
At the bottom of the screen are three blue
spheres surrounded by arrows. These are
the Geoscape View Controls which allow
you to rotate, zoom-in and zoom-out from
the Earth display.
■Click on the icon. The Earth display is
magnified to see the ocean beds in better
detail.
6. Click again on the icon. The dis-
play is again magnified — Ports, Islands
and Funding Zones will now appear.
7. Click twice on the icon. The Earth
display returns to its minimum view.
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8. The icon allows you to rotate the
Earth horizontally or vertically.
■Click a few times on the Up arrow, the
Earth display tilts towards you. Hold down
the LMB and the globe will spin.
9. Click a few times on the Left arrow, the
Earth rotates from the left.
10. Position the Mouse pointer over the Earth
and click on the Right Mouse Button
(RMB) to center the Geoscape on that
location.
By using a combination of these controls,
you can manipulate the Earth’s display to
show any part of the planet in detail.
For the purposes of this Tutorial, you are
advised to select a base in an area around
the Sea of Japan.
11. Click on the Sea near Japan (but not the
land) to position your first base.
12. A window containing the prompt Base
Name? appears. Type in a name using the
keyboard and press r. You have now
set up a new X-COM Floating Base and are
ready to start playing X-COM: Terror From
The Deep.
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This tutorial will guide you through the
Geoscape’s basic controls and the process of
intercepting Alien Attack subs.
1. The Geoscape is the main screen for
playing X-COM: Terror From The Deep.
Your base is represented on the 3-D view of
the Earth as a Hollow Blue Square. Alien
Subs are Solid Red Crosses, Alien Bases are
Hollow Purple Squares and X-COM flying
subs are Solid Yellow Crosses.
On the right hand side of the screen is a list of
Menu Options, a display of the Game Time,
the Time Controls and the View Controls.
The Time Controls are very important in the
game, and it is these that we will go through
next.
Note: If you wish to pause time at any stage
during the game, simply click on any of the
Menu Options.
THE TIME CONTROLS
2. Look at the Game Time. It
is currently passing in 5
second increments. The
Time Controls, below the
Game Time, allow you to
control the rate at which
this time passes.
■Click on the 5 Mins button. Time now
passes at the increased rate. The Game
Time rapidly changes and you might see
night and day sweep around the Geoscape
model of the Earth.
You should use the Time Controls to advance
the game through any time-consuming
section (e.g., waiting for craft to arrive at their
destination or waiting for Alien Subs to be
detected).
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DETECTING ALIEN FLYING
SUBS
3. We will now advance time to the the point
that the first Alien Sub is detected (if this
has not already happened).
■Click on the 1 Day button in the Time
Controls. Time passes at the maximum rate.
4. Eventually, a window appears over the
Geoscape with the message Alien Sub-1
Detected. Information regarding the Sub
(size, depth, heading, speed) is shown in
this window.
■Click on the button marked Centre on Alien
Sub-Time=5 Secs. This will center the
Earth display on the Alien Sub and reduce
the passage of time to 5 seconds. The Alien
Sub appears as a red cross moving slowly
in the center of the Geoscape.
INTERCEPTING ALIEN
FLYING SUBS
5. Position the Mouse pointer on your base
and click the LMB. A window appears with
the title Launch Interception and a list of
the Subs available at that base.
6. Move the Mouse pointer to highlight
Barracuda-1 and click the LMB.
7. The window containing the message
Select Destination appears in the top of
the screen.
■Click on the Alien Sub (represented as a
red cross) to select this as the Barracuda’s
target.
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8. The window containing the confirmation
message Target: Alien Sub-1 will appear.
■Click on the OK button.
9. The Barracuda (represented by a yellow
cross) will launch from its floating base
and attempt to intercept the Alien Sub.
Note: Remember, if you need to pause the
game, click on any of the Geoscape Menu
Options.
If the Alien Sub lands, it appears as a Green
Cross. Barracuda’s are only interception subs
and cannot carry out ground attacks; so, you
will have to wait until the Alien Sub lifts off
again — click on the 5 Mins Time Control
button to accelerate the passage of time.
10. At this point, one of two things could
happen:
A. If your Barracuda catches the Alien
Sub, the Sub Combat window appears.
Skip the rest of this section and go to
step 19 of this tutorial.
B. If your Barracuda loses contact with the
Alien Sub, the window Alien Sub-1
Tracking Lost will appear. This might
happen several times before you actually
get into combat; most Alien Subs can out-
perform Barracudas.
■Click on OK. Continue to the next step of
this tutorial.
11. The Craft Status window appears, allowing
you to redirect the Barracuda .
12. Click on the Go To Last Known Alien Sub
Position button.
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13. While the Barracuda is on its way to the
last known Alien Sub position, it uses its
onboard sonar to scan for the Alien Sub.
If the Alien Sub Detected window reappears,
go straight to step 14 of this tutorial.
If the Barracuda reaches the last known Alien
Sub position without detecting the Alien Sub,
the following window will appear:
If this happens, the Alien Sub has disappeared
from all X-COM tracking devices. The
interception mission has failed.
■Click on the Redirect Sub button. The Sub
Status window will reappear. Click on
Return to Base. The Barracuda will return
to its base.
Go back to step 3 of this tutorial.
14. Click on the Centre on Alien Sub-Time=5
Secs button in the Alien Sub-1 Detected
window.
15. At the moment, the Barracuda is still
heading for the last reported position of
the Alien Sub. Now reassign the Alien Sub
as the Barracuda’s target.
■Click on the Barracuda . This brings up
the Sub Status window.
16. Click on the Select New Target button.
17. The message Select Destination appears
in the top of the screen.
■Click on the Alien Sub to reselect it as the
target.
18. The message Target: Alien Sub-1 will
reappear.
■Click on the OK button.
Go back to step 10 of this tutorial.
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SUB COMBAT
19. If the Barracuda gets within range of the
Alien Sub, the Geoscape automatically
increases magnification and the Sub
Combat window appears over the center
of the Geoscape.
Note: You cannot intercept Alien Flying Subs
over land.
■Click on the minimize window icon in
the top left of the Sub Combat window.
The Sub icon will appear in the top left of
the screen.
21. Click on the Sub icon. This brings back the
Sub Combat window, ready for you to
attack the Alien Sub.
22. Click on the icon to carry out a Stan-
dard Attack on the Alien Sub. The progress
of the attack is displayed in the left-hand
side of the Sub Combat window. The
message box in the bottom of the window
relays the pilot’s messages to you.
If the Alien Sub outruns the Barracuda, return
to step 10 of this tutorial.
If the Barracuda destroys the Alien Sub, you
have failed in your objectives; there is no
useful debris to investigate. Return to step 3
of this tutorial.
If you succeed in your objective the message
“Alien Sub downed!” appears in the pilot’s
message box. The crash site is marked with a
white cross. The Alien Sub is now vulnerable
to an aquanaut assault, allowing you to
investigate the wreckage.
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Craft Icon
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SAVING THE GAME
23. Now would be a good time to save your
current game.
■Click on the Options button.
24. Click on the Save Game button.
25.The Select Save Position screen
appears.
■Click on any of the ten numbered buttons
to select the slot into which your current
game will be saved.
26. Type in the name for your saved game
using the keyboard and press r.
When the game has saved, you return to the
Geoscape.
INVESTIGATING THE
CRASH SITE
27. You will need to assign a Triton Sub
transport to take a squad of aquanauts
from your base to the Crash Site.
■Find your base (you may need to rotate the
Geoscape to bring it into view). Click on
your base: the Launch Interception
window appears.
28.Move the mouse pointer to highlight
Triton-1 and click the LMB.
29. The message Select Destination appears
in the top of the screen.
30. Click on the Alien Sub Crash site (the
white cross) to select this as the Triton’s
target.
31.The message Target: Crash Site-1
appears.
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■Click on OK.
32. The Triton (represented by a yellow cross)
will launch and make its way to the Alien
Sub Crash Site.
■Click on the 5 Mins button if you want to
increase the passage of time.
33. When the Triton arrives at the Crash Site,
the Alien Sub Crash Recovery screen
appears. Read the instructions on this
screen.
■Click on OK to enter the next section of
X-COM: Terror From The Deep — The
Battlescape.
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Tutorial 2 guides you through the close
combat Battlescape — the section of the
game where you fight the aliens face-to-face.
ARMING YOUR SQUAD
1. The eight members of your squad
automatically arm themselves with the
weapons that are available. This screen
allows you to adjust the weapons your
squad will carry into action.
■Click on the left/right arrows in the top right
of the screen to check the armament of
each of the eight members of your squad.
2. You will see that six of your aquanauts
have Jet-Harpoons, one has a Dart Gun
and one has a Gas Cannon. The aquanauts
carry extra ammunition and grenades on
their belts.
Full details on this section of the game are
given in the Alien Submarine Assaults
chapter of this manual.
■Click on the OK button to exit this screen.
3. The ‘Turn’ screen appears.
Note: All Battlescape action is turn-based.
This means it is like a 3-D game of chess —
you move your pieces, the aliens move theirs!
■Click the LMB to continue.
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TUTORIAL 2: THE BATTLESCAPE
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