UNDERWURLDE
(c)1984 Firebird - Ultimate Play The Game (ACG)
AUTHORS: Chris and Tim Stamper
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CATEGORY
Arcade Adventure

AIM OF THE GAME
Sabreman, fresh from his adventures in SABRE WULF, is trapped
within a haunted castle. It's your job to help him escape...

INTRODUCTION
Underwurlde is a fast, action packed arcade adventure platform
game.  The game is set deep underground in the Underwurlde.
Creatures attack from every angle and rather than kill you they
merely bounce you around.  This makes the game sound easy,
but oh no!  The enemies bounce you off cliffs, off ropes and into
deep chasms, dropping to your doom.

The object of the game is to guide Sabreman out of the
Underwurlde and back onto the surface.  This is easier said than
done.  The game features 256 screens and also large monsters
blocking your way.  These need to be destroyed by a particular
weapon before you can continue on your journey.

GAME PLAY
Lots of running and jumping, basically. There are lots of
unpleasant creatures around as usual but they don't kill you, 
merely knock you off your feet. The only thing that can kill you 
in this game is long falls. Unfortunately, there are a lot of 
long drops in UNDERWURLDE, so the creatures are more dangerous 
than they might at first appear.

You do however have some defence against the creatures - there 
are several different types of weapon scattered around the maze. 
These will kill most creatures. However, there are three 
guardians covering the three exits from the castle which can only 
be killed with specific weapons. If Sabreman is to have any 
chance of escape, he must find at least one of these weapons and 
kill a guardian with it so that he can pass.

There are many very, very long drops, particularly in the lower
regions of the castle. Sabreman can climb down these by jumping 
onto the rope that often swings from the ceiling of these very 
long drops; by pressing the down key he can lower himself down 
to the floor several screens below. However, one collision with 
a creature is enough to knock him off the rope, in which case he 
will almost certainly plummet to his death far below. To get back 
up the very long shafts, Sabreman can use the volcanic bubbles 
which emerge from craters at the bottom of the shafts - the 
bubbles are strong enough to take his weight and carry him back 
up. Again, though, a collision with a creature is enough to make 
him fall to his death or burst the bubble.

As usual, there are various bonuses to be collected. The most 
useful are, of course, extra lives but there are other things - 
for example, a temporary immunity to long drops can be gained 
from magic gems. With one of these, Sabreman can fall any 
distance without dying. The only problem with these is that their 
effect can expire in mid-fall...


CONTROLS (SPECTRUM - Some may apply to C-64 version)

KEYBOARD CONTROLS

LEFT - move left using the Q key.        |
RIGHT - move right using the W key.      |
UP - move up and jump using the R key.   |   or JOYSTICK
DOWN - move down using the E key.        |
FIRE weapon with the T key.              |

DROP FROM ROPE with the CAPS SHIFT, Z, X, C or V key.
PICK UP/DROP a weapon using the B, N, M, SYMBOL SHIFT or SPACE.
PAUSE The whole game with the ENTER key.


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INLAY CARD TEXT

THE BLACK VOID
Long dark paths have I travelled, through caverns and hidden
labyrinths, my path grown darker...  Deathly chill as I approach
the "Well of Evil"...  guarding the UNDERWURLDE.

I approach, fix my rope, and with a firm leap, swing down into
the depths of THE BLACK VOID.  The air rushes past as I descend
down into the dark dank hollow, disturbing the dust, a debris of
long-since fought battles and struggles.

WINGED HARPIES AND GARGOYLES
Silent fossilized creatures stir, emerging from centuries of
hibernation, awakened by my echoing gropes and thuds. Their
dormant evil, hungry from ages past sparks itself into life.

Suddenly the whole cavern erupts into a scurrying slithering
sadowy grave of beating wings and desperate gnashing jaws.

Winged Harpies soar and swoop down with beakswide and talons
spread. Hungry monsters and reptiles desperate not to lose their
first meal in eons, batter and punish me until I can take no
more, waiting for me to fail.

SIRENS OF THE UNDERWURLDE
All about are strange sparkling plants "Sirens of the
Underwurlde", waving their poisonous gnashing deadly tendrils,
beckoning me on toward them, their stifling odors a prelude to
their vision of hideous ugliness.  To touch their sticky putrid
foliage would mean certain death.

                          BEWARE

             ALL YOU NEED IS THERE TO TAKE
            LOCATE THE WEAPONS, THEN TO MAKE
             A JOURNEY ON IF YOU WOULD DARE.
             TO FIND THE DEVIL IN HIS LAIR,
          THE LONG DARK PALACE, SEEK YOU WILL
          THE GEMS YOUR POCKETS WILL NOT FILL.
           THO' ENERGY THEY'LL MAKE YOU FAST
          AND GARGOYLES THEN YOU WILL GET PAST.
            UP AND DOWN, THE JOURNEY'S SLOW
            SO DOWN IS FIRST THE WAY TO GO.

The old traveler's words still singing in my head.

UNDERWURLDE VOLCANOS
In the distance the low rumbling of UNDERWURLDE volcanoes can be
heard. Huge plumes of poisonous sulphurous devilish gases roll
along the cavern roofs.  As the enormous bubbles of inert plasma
ascend the natural chimney stack causeways, eroded and forged
from centuries of ancient fires and flames.  My journey has only
just begun.  I must travel on through this deadly labyrinth of
the UNDERWURLDE to find the ULTIMATE place of darkness, in which
lies the way to my escape.


UNDERWURLDE FEATURES
--------------------

Sabreman            Chest Of Drawers
Volcanic Bubbles    Caves
Rocks               Castle
Poisonous Plants    Guardians
Eagles              Falling Stalactites
Bows                Gremlins
Arrows              Multi-Lives
Catapult            Superb Graphics
Daggers             Statues
Torches             Extra Lives
Fireballs           Explosions
Magic Gems          Weapon Select Button
Volcanic Craters    Realistic Jumps
Rope Swings         Continuous Pause
Ledges              Amazing Animation
Jumps               Keyboard/Joystick Select
Ducks               Bookshelves
Pictures            Pick Up/Drop
Tables

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SEQUELS/PREQUELS
Underwurlde is the sequel to Sabre Wulf. Once Sabreman reaches 
the cave in Sabre Wulf he finds himself in the Underwurlde. 
There are 3 exits out of the Underwurlde. One takes the player 
to Knightlore, the other to Pentagram, and the third was 
supposed to take you to Mire Mare, but as most Spec-Chums know, 
this was never released.

Comments
"Definitely Ultimate's best game yet."

Now
A simple but highly enjoyable game.

SCORES/REVIEWS
Crash, Issue: 12, Page: 17, January 1985, Percentage: 92%

GENERAL FACTS
Underwurlde, and Knightlore, released at the same time, were the
first Ultimate games to feature the fast but hard to run,
hyperload. This was introduced to speed up loading times and
reduce software piracy.

Underwurlde was featured in a Crash "Map the Game" competition.
The prize for the best map was a fantastic pickaxe and shovel
trophey.


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