Scarabaeus
3D adventure game for Commodore 64, 1985

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Search the labyrinth
find the medicine
seek for information
I started my search for SCARABAEUS the myth smaragd of the pharaos and
went through the deadly portal only to be bitten by an poisonous
spider! My heart is now less healthy and I may not live long enough
to search the big labyrinth. If I do, I may have not enough force
to defeat the zombies and catch the ghosts. In the labyrinth I must
find hieroglyphic codes to find the pharaoh's tomb, different
poison and medicine and to collect zombie traps. Without full health
it is up to me to find these codes to stay alive. The next
morning seems so far away, now when I step down into the dark horror
of the pharaoh's tomb to find the great SCARABAEUS.
Select the sound
Use M to select between music and sound effects.
Level 1: Object
The idea is to gather 9 hieroglyphs to complete your key. Your key is
displayed by pressing the 'FIRE' button. Hieroglyphs are collected by
tracking down and touching ghosts in the maze. These ghost don't kill
you.
In level 2 this complete key allows you to recognize poison and
bad zombie traps. You need the medicine to survive the spider bite
at the portal. If the key is complete, then go to the elevator on the
outside of the labyrinth.
Controlling in level 1
FORWARD - move, enter elevator
BACK - show map
LEFT/RIGHT - turn around
FIRE - show key
Level 2: Object
Your task is to identify 8 medicines and 4 good zombie traps. This is
done by examining places as shown on the map and also reading the
hieroglyphs on the wall. Potions are shown as bottles and traps as gas
masks and are good or evil. If the 9 hieroglyphs are in the key match
those on the wall in any order these are useful in later levels. To
select the trap or potion to take to level 3 push joystick right. You
should collect all 8 potions. This makes it easier to complete the
puzzle at the Pharoah's Tomb.
If you are selecting a wrong trap then your health goes down. The
selection of the 8th medicin kills all spiders automatially. Watch out!
Some Potions are poisoned. If you make a mistake during comparing the
symbols, then you may take a poison. This may have fatal
[consequences]!
The puzzle of the Pharaoh
After finding thr key to Pharoah's Tomb you are able to move though the
walls of level 3. To solve this puzzle move the joystick to the LEFT
or the RIGHT to position the cursor. Use FIRE to move the pieces. If
all pieces are viewing the key to the Pharoah's Tomb, you'll get it.
Controlling in level 2
FORWARD - move, enter elevator, view hieroglyphs
BACK - show map and key
LEFT/RIGHT - turn around
Level 3: Object
Enter the Pharoah's Tomb and there for complete your task. To enter the
tomb you must complete the puzzle at the entrance. To achieve this you
must visit the medicine niches and take the potions. As you take each
potion it will open up new parts of the entry puzzle.
Entry to the Tomb
You must move the center hieroglyphcs so that the four columns exactly
match the side columns which will only be completly visible if you
have collected all eight medicines. Remember! You must set the zombie
traps for each monster, and have 40 moves in which to complete the
entry puzzle.
Controlling in level 3
FORWARD - move, enter elevator
BACK - show map
LEFT/RIGHT - turn around
FIRE - drop Zombie trap
Using the Elevator
To go to another level locate the elevator entrance by refering to the
map. Turn the stick against the clock to drive to the last level. Turn
it with the clock to reach the next level. Make sure that you start
with joystick UP. Don't miss any position! The elevator colors change
from grey/red to brown/red to indicate a new level. Press FIRE to leave
the elevator.
Status indicators
Position within the labirinth - Shows the number of the current level
Tickertape - Indicates state of exhaustion.
WARNING over-exertion kills.
Health - The current state of health is shown
by the door raising and lowering.
Time - Expiry of time is shown by the hour
glass.
Direction - This indicator show the view
direction.
Labyrinth-Map
The maps contents - A dead head indicates the position of an ghost.
- The elevator is shown at the outer side.
- 5 different symbols are viewing information
places and medicine niches as follows:
- Place with monster - visited
- not yet visited
- Place without monster - visited
- not yet visited
Monster movement
In the first level the ghosts are moving away. The spiders in the
second level are waiting at the information places. If you pass
these places the spiders are following, becuse there slower. You
should lead them into the labyrinth, so you have time to
examine the hieroglyphcs, before they return. A warning sound is
reporting a returning spider. If a spider hits you from behind this
lowers your health and the spider is [dead]. In Level 3 the Zombies
are comming on the shortest way direct to your position.
Points
Level1: Each taken hieroglyph - 500
Level2: Each selection between medicin or Trap - 1000
Finding the key of the Pharao - 5000
Level3: Each taken medicin - 10000
Medicin-bonus - depends on health when
taken the last medicine
Time-bonus - depends on the time,
when taking the last
medicin.
SCARABAEUS - 10000
Pharao-Bonus - depends on the time,
when finding SCARABAEUS
To view the points press H. Press the joystick to front to continue the
game. Die Points are automatically shown at game end. Press S to start
a new game.
Pause
Press RUN/STOP to restart the game.
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Some useful keyboard shortcuts
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[PAUSE] - stop/continue game
[F9] - quick load game state
[F12] - quick save game state (still stored after leaving the site)
[F11] - toggle fullscreen mode
[ScrollLock] - quick switch control ports
[PageDown] - make a screenshot (320x200)