COMPUTER VERSION OF THE BEST SELLING ARCADE GAME Road Blasters, the computer version of the Coin-op sensation is ready to explode onto your computer screens! Prepare for a fast paced driving shoot 'em up that's half road race and half battle. Set in the distant future, speed your way through, blasting enemy cars off the road as you pass through different countries and register at checkpoints. Look out for the support jet that will fly over your car, and once docked on the roof will supply you with extra weaponry and fire power. Get ready for an exhillarating fast action game and the race is on! SCENARIO The ultimate race of the future, Road Blasters is part road race and part combat-zone survival exercise. Following the road, you travel through a progression of countries, alternating checkpoints and rally points. As you race past checkpoints (mid point goals) you are awarded additional fuel. Rally points are similar to the finish line in ordinary race games as they indicate the completion of a race section. A scroll up video display evaluates player performance at each rally point. The game ends when the player runs out of fuel, by driving too slow, being destroyed by opponents or crashing too often. GAME PLAY Placed along the roadway are green and red fuel globes for obtaining fuel. (Due to colour restrictions of the Spectrum the globes will appear as shaded or clear and the colours change according to the scenery presented on each level). By tagging these the players cars are refuelled. As a reward, when you reach each checkpoint and rally point you recieve extra fuel. Four unique computer-controlled opponent vehicles challenge players. These are: * Sleek, fast STINGERS. Score 50 pts. * COMMAND CARS are heavily armoured. Score 100 pts. * RAT JEEPS are evasive and unpredictable. Score 50 pts. * CYCLES are very quick and dart everywhere. Score 100 pts. These vehicles join forces to try to prevent the players from reaching the next rally point. Scores equal the points scored x multiplier. In addition the following elements conspire to destroy you: * Mines - these are placed in the road. * Gun Turrets are placed on the side of the road and shoot at the players. * Spikes are thrown by opponent vehicles. * Toxic Spill - to be avoided as much as possible. The player can acquire special weapons by docking with the special attribute pack dropped by the support jet. Special weapons include: Cruise missiles that destroy everything in the parth of the player, that is visible on the screen; Nitro Injectors that boost the speed of the player's car: U.Z. Cannons that rapid-fire; Electro Shields that protect the player's car from shots, collisions, mines and spikers. HIGH SCORE MODE When the game ends, if players are among the top scorers recorded on the game, they may enter three initials. Players select their initials by steering to select and firing to enter. Players can correct their initials by selecting the arrow that points to the left, then repeating the procedure for entering initials. High scores remain throughout each session. SCREEN DIRECTIONS RALLY STATS There are 50 stages to be completed in order called Rally Stats. These are loaded as 5 blocks of 10 stages. The Rally Stat selector screen appears after loading each block of 10 stages. By steering left or right determines which route you take. The lower the stat number the easier the route. Press fire button to begin play. Upon completing the 10th stage of any block, the next block 0f 10 stages is loaded and the Rally Stat screen re-appears to enable you to continue your journey. The Rally Stat block options you are given are as follows: Levels: Rookie (easy) - Veteran (hard) - Expert (very difficult) Block 1: 1 - 4 - 7 Block 2: 11 - 14 - 17 Block 3: 21 - 24 - 27 Block 4: 31 - 34 - 37 Block 5: 41 - 41 - 41 An expert can complete the game in 26 stages. THE VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT This screen appears after each stage is completed. In the top right hand corner is the total score up to the end of the last stage. In the top left hand corner is the highest previous game score. KEYBOARD CONTROLS CTRL = Left Z = Right 1 = Accelerate Left Arrow = Activate special weapon SPACE BAR = Fire Main Gun Release key 1 to decelerate JOYSTICK CONTROL Move joystick left or right to steer. Move joystick forward to accelerate. Move joystick to centre position to decelerate. Move joystick backward quickly to ignite special weapon. Fire button = fire main gun. Your car: GWB 68 Turbo 2 door Capacity 5942 cc Maximum speed: 222 mph normal. With Nitro Injector 298 mph Maximum Power: 600 bhp 0-100 mph (secs): 2.1 With Nitro Injector 0-298 mph Tyres: Road Blasters customised. Overall con (mpg): 10.3 Touring con (mpg): 17.0 Breaking from 80 mph: 230 ft Compression ratio: 10.7:1 Cost approx: 243,000 CREDITS: Programming: Amazing Products Ltd (CBM 64/128) DJL Software (Spectrum/Amstrad) Probe Software (Atari ST) Artwork created by Camel Advertising, Sheffield DUPLICATION: Ablex Audio Video MASTERING CO-ORDINATOR: D. Partington DIRECTOR: Geoff Brown, U.S. Gold MARKETING CO-ORDINATION: Tim Chaney, U.S. Gold PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY: Richard Tidsall, U.S. Gold PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATION: Bob Kenrick, U.S. Gold (C) 1986. Atari Games Corporation. (P) 1988 U.S. Gold Ltd. Licensed to U.S. Gold Ltd., Holford Way, Holford, Birmingham Copyright subsists on this program.