Inner Worlds Users Manual
© 1996 Sleepless Software All Rights Reserved

This is the REGISTERED version of Inner Worlds and may NOT be copied; it is commercial copyrighted software, and may only be used by those who have paid the registration fee directly to Sleepless Software.

## Introduction

| Inner Worlds is an exciting game filled with action, adventure and discovery. In it, you play the role of Nikita ... part beautiful woman, part ferocious wolf. Nikita is one of a race of wolf people. Her name was taken from "Nikita the Challenger" whose exploits are spoken of in wolf-people legend. Nikita the Challenger (a male) was a fabulous warrior who first defeated The Claws. Once beaten, The Claws disappeared from the world and went to sleep for one hundred and one years. Now the Evil has returned.

One century later, the female Nikita must finish the job. She is more of a hunter than a warrior, but she has taken on the wisdom and cunning of Lyco the Leader and the power and fighting skills of Nikita the Challenger.

She has taken on the quest-name of Nikita for this adventure. Her true name is unknown.

The game begins as Nikita arrives at castle Drofanayrb where The Claws was last seen after preparing herself for her quest at the village.

## General Information

Overview

Inner Worlds is a 32-bit protected mode VGA game for MS-DOS computers. It incorporates many advanced features never before seen in a game of this kind.

System Requirements

PC with 486 processor or better
VGA compatible display
8MB RAM minimum, 16MB recommended
MS-DOS 4.0 or better, or Windows 95
Hard drive with 10MB of free space (SHAREWARE), 20MB (REGISTERED)
Sound card (optional): Sound-blaster or compatible, or Gravis Ultrasound
CDROM drive recommended

Development

Inner Worlds has been developed in a very unique way. It was cross-developed under the Linux operating system even though the final game runs under MS-DOS. It is written almost entirely in C++, with a few bits of assembly and some other specially designed language elements created just for Inner Worlds and the MEG/CLAWS game engine which Inner Worlds is built upon.

We have made extensive use of programming, art and music talent found and utilized via the INTERNET. All of the music was acquired through a special Internet based "contest" in which composers from all around the world submitted music modules.

The MEG/CLAWS game engine was created by Bryan Ford just for Inner Worlds (though intended to be generic and reusable for future games) along with a custom DOS extender so that the game can run in 32-bit mode for maximum performance.

The list of contributors is LONG and includes people from 3 continents, and 7 countries.

## User Interface

When playing Inner Worlds, the keyboard or joystick are used to move Nikita character around. You can also use a joystick, but since not all game functions are guaranteed to accessible from the joystick, you may still be forced to use the keyboard for some things. Therefore, we recommend playing the game with the keyboard.

The interface to your computer is via simple menus which can be manipulated with the joystick or keyboard.

Main Menu

| The main menu is sort of the interface between the "real" world and the "game" world (where you are supposedly in a state of role-playing suspended disbelief).

Here is a hierarchical listing of the menus and sub-menus.

- Inventory ...
- Return to Game
- Information ...
  - Help
  - Ordering Info
  - Level Story
  - Inner Worlds Story
  - Credits
- Game Control...
  - Load Game ...
  - Restart Level ...
  - Map Screen ...
  - New Game ...
- Options ...
  - Sound & Music ...
  - Sound FX On/Off
  - Sound FX Volume ...
  - Music On/Off
  - Music FX Volume ...
  - Stereo On/Off
  - Mixing Bits 8/16
  - Mixing Rate
  - Turtle Mode On/Off
  - Auto Gem Pickup On/Off
  - Auto Weapon Wield On/Off
  - Joystick On/Off
  - Calibrate Joystick
- Exit Inner Worlds

## Controllers

Normal Game Play

The normal control input is through the keyboard. The joystick can optionally be used as an alternative to keyboard control.

If you turn on the joystick control from the options menu, you will be instructed to calibrate your joystick by wiggling the arrow pad around and pressing the various buttons on you joystick to verify that all is working correctly. It should not be necessary to recalibrate your joystick after this initial calibration.

Main keyboard functions

    	LEFT-ARROW	 Run/crawl left
    	RIGHT-ARROW	 Run/crawl right
    	UP-ARROW	 Climb, enter doorways, flip up
    	SPACE		 Attack, throw, swing, shoot
    	SPACE + UP-ARROW MAUL!!! (when in wolf form)
    	SHIFT		 Jump
    	SHIFT + UP-ARROW Flip-jump
    	DOWN-ARROW	 Duck, crawl, pick-up objects
    	CONTROL		 Operate devices, switches
    	ALT		 Transform from human to wolf form and vice versa
    	i		 Inventory menu
    	t		 Take stuff
    	u		 Take & use stuff
    	F1-F8		 Use item in slot 1-8
    	1-5		 Cast wand-spell 1-5 (if available)
    	ESCAPE		 Display main menu
    	F10		 HELP! Display help information

Shortcut keyboard functions

These keyboard functions duplicate the main keyboard functions but are designed to make the game easier.

    	a		 Inventory menu
    	TAB		 Take stuff
    	g		 Take & use stuff
    	F9		 Turtle mode on/off
    	f		 Main menu
    	d + F1-F8	 Drop one item from inventory slot 1-8
    			 Press 'd' followed by a function key.

Joystick

If you are using a standard PC joystick, your stick will correspond to the arrow keys on the keyboard. Button #1 makes Nikita jump and button #2 makes Nikita attack or shoot. If you are using the Gravis Game-pad, the arrow pads will correspond to the keyboard arrows and the 4 colored buttons are arranged as follows:

      Blue   = Attack/Shoot (SPACE)
      Red    = Jump (SHIFT)
      Yellow = Transform (ALT)
      Green  = SPECIAL

If you hold down the green "SPECIAL" button, and press one of the other 3 buttons, they will do this:

      Blue   = Main menu (ESCAPE)
      Red    = Activate (CONTROL)
      Yellow = Inventory

## Inventory

When you take an object, it appears in your inventory which can be seen in the five boxes along the bottom of the screen or by selecting 'Inventory' from the main menu or pressing the 'i' key.

To pick up an object, first move Nikita into a position where she is touching the object and then press the DOWN ARROW or the 't' key.

Simply taking an object and placing into your inventory does not mean that you have necessarily used the object. To use an object, you press one of the function keys F1 through F8 corresponding to the 8 inventory slots. You can also use an object by selecting the 'Use' sub-menu item from the 'Inventory' menu. You'll be prompted as to whether you would like to 'Use', 'Drop' or 'Toss' the object(s).

The result of using an object is dependent on what kind of object it is. Using a weapon causes Nikita to 'wield' that weapon so that pressing the SPACE key will make Nikky attack with that weapon. Using a potion is the same as drinking the potion. Using a scroll is the same as invoking/reading the scroll/spell. When you use a bomb, Nikita throws the bomb in the direction she's facing.

Using a scroll, prize or potion will cause the object to disappear from your inventory.

You can take and use an object in one operation by using the 'u' key instead of the 't' key.

If you don't want an object anymore, you can drop it from your inventory by selecting the 'Drop' or 'Toss' sub-menu items from the 'Inventory' menu.

## Game Play

The level maps in Inner Worlds are grouped into 3 episodes. Each episode contains 9 levels.

When a level is completed, a map screen for the current episode appears which allows you to select the next level to play. Sometimes you have a choice between two or more levels, sometimes there is only one level which can be selected. Flashing colors indicate the levels which are available for selection. Blue levels are the levels which you've already completed.

If you'd like to replay a level which you've already completed, select it just as you would one of the flashing levels. You might want to do this in case you forgot to find the amulet on a level or if you simply want to try to get a 100% success rating.

If you accidentally select a level which you've already completed, use the 'Map Screen' sub-menu item in the 'Game Control' menu to go back to the level selection screen.

Pressing PAGE-UP and PAGE-DOWN will allow you to select levels from episodes other than the one your are currently playing.

Episode I: Wizard's World

In this episode, Nikita travels to the ruined Castle Drofanayrb to find and destroy the horrible Gralob. A hideous monster created by a misguided genius-wizard and left behind to guard the ruins.

As soon as Nikita arrives at the castle, she becomes trapped in the dungeons. Your goal is to escape the castle and defeat the hideous electric Gralob!

- Level 1 (1): Trapped in the Dungeon
- Level 2 (2): Laboratory of Evil
- Level 3 (3): Crystal Caverns
- Level 4 (4): Dangerous Storage
- Level 5 (5): Echoing Halls
- Level 6 (6): Gallery of Death
- Level 7 (7): Doomsday Corridor
- Level 8 (8): Abandoned Village
- Level 9 (9): Face-off with the Gralob

Episode II: World of Change

In episode II, Nikita discovers the truth of her ultimate lifelong destiny. She is told of her REAL enemy and how the Gralob was simply the first step in finding and defeating "The Claws" ... the most awful creation of the misguided wizard Drofanayrb.

The goal of this episode is to make your way to a scary volcano across a variety of outdoor terrain and landscapes. When you approach the volcano, you'll have to battle the Boonta and his biting snarkies to continue on to the lair of The Claws!

- Level 1 (13): Descent into the Cruel Swamp
- Level 2 (14): Mushroom Forest
- Level 3 (15): Horrible Harpy Hangout
- Level 4 (16): Blue Forest
- Level 5 (17): River Palace
- Level 6 (18): The TARC-Pit
- Level 7 (19): The Sun Caves
- Level 8 (20): Underground Kingdom
- Level 9 (21): Battle With the Boonta

Episode III: Heart of the World

In episode III, Nikita's goal is to go into the volcano, make her way to the earths core and destroy The Evil Claws and all of his demonic minions in order to fulfill her wolf-born destiny.

- Level 1 (25): Entry by Fire
- Level 2 (26): The Vent
- Level 3 (27): Slave Building
- Level 4 (28): Spider House
- Level 5 (29): Cavern of Souls
- Level 6 (30): Death in the Dark
- Level 7 (31): Friends of the Family
- Level 8 (32): Destiny is Near
- Level 9 (33): Nikita's Destiny

## Nikita

Capabilities
In this game, you play the part of Nikita, the wolf-woman. She can run, jump, duck, crawl, throw things, wield weapons, climb ladders and vines, etc. She can also transform into a powerful and ferocious wolf.

Human Form

| When in human form, Nikita appears as an ordinary human female. In this form, she can use weapons such as swords, rocks and wands. Be careful though, if you don't have any weapons, you are DEFENSELESS as a human. She can climb ladders and vines. She can also jump up and grab hand holds. When she does this she can hang from the hand hold or flip up above the hand hold to a higher platform.

Wolf Form

| In wolf form, Nikita can not wield weapons, but she can attack by biting and mauling your enemies. She won't be able to climb ladders and such either. But she WILL have greatly increased strength, speed, and resistance to injury. She'll be able to jump slightly higher and run faster as a wolf. Nikita can only transform when she has a transformation potion or enough mana.

Health gauge

| There is a gauge in the status bar which displays Nikita's health level. The gauge is in the form of a large golden jug filled with a bubbling blue fluid. This is the Seltzer of Life, and its level drops when Nikita is injured. If its level drops to 0, Nikita becomes wolfmeat.

Mana

| Mana is a semi-magical force which semi-human creatures possess. Nikita can collect and use mana. Mana is similar to hit-points but is used for different things. For example, mauling your enemies when in wolf form uses up mana. Controlling the Blood Star uses mana. Invoking wand-spells uses mana too. Mana is acquired from sanctuaries and mana potions. You don't die when your mana disappears completely, you only lose the ability to do certain things.

## Weapons

Standard Weapons

There are several different types of standard weapons ranging from an ordinary rocks, to swords, magic scrolls and even magic wands! You'll just have to try them out to see what they do.

Don't ever be afraid of using weapons, they are never harmful to Nikita.

To wield a weapon, select it from the inventory menu and pick 'Use', or take the weapon using the 'u' key instead of the 't' key.

When a weapon is used, a glowing rectangle will appear around its image in the status bar.

There is an item named 'Auto Weapon Wield' in the 'Options' menu which you set to ON or OFF. If it's set to ON, a weapon will automatically be used (wielded) when it is picked up.

Wand Spells

Wand-spells can be used at any time (assuming you have enough mana) in either wolf or human form.

Your wand spells appear in the 5 small boxes at the bottom right of the status bar. Nikita acquires new wand spells as she progresses through the game. When an icon appears in one of the 5 boxes, you have 'learned' that wand spell and can invoke the spell by pressing 1-5 on the keyboard.

If you don't have enough mana to invoke the given wand-spell, nothing will happen even though the icon is still there.

## Potions & Scrolls

Nikita will often find magical potions and scrolls in her journeys. Potions always have some magical effect on Nikita herself while scrolls generate some sort of external magic.

Don't be afraid to try potions and scrolls; none of them are harmful.

## Amulets

Throughout the game, Nikita gradually builds up power by collecting amulets. These amulets are a key part of the game. When you save your game, the number of amulets you have of each type is stored. You can never lose amulets. The number always increases.

Red amulets increase strength, blue amulets protect Nikita against attacks from enemies, and green amulets help her use mana more efficiently.

There is exactly one amulet on every level. Throughout the game, the player may collect up to nine amulets of each type.

Amulets are extremely valuable treasures. Never pass one up!

## Gems

Nikita will find many gems. Gems add to her health and mana levels. You should always collect gems whenever you can to keep your strength up.

There is an item named 'Auto Gem Pick-up' in the 'Options' menu which will make collecting gems much easier. If you turn it on, it causes Nikita to pick up a gem automatically whenever she touches one.

## Magic Portals

Magic portals represent victory! Your goal on each level is to find a portal. When you find one, enter it like a normal doorway; you will then have successfully completed that level and will be sent to the map screen so that you can select the next level to play.

## Doors, Gates and Keys

Gates

Gates can be made of wood, iron or stone. They are barriers which may or may not have key. If the gate has a keyhole, then you need to find the key in order to open it. If it doesn't have a keyhole, you have to open it some other way. Sometimes, there is a monster guarding the gate and killing that monster will cause it to open.

Sometimes, you'll find a gate which has a padlock on it. Padlocked gates always have a key which you must find in order to remove the lock.

Doorways

Doorways are very common. They usually appear as an opening on the back wall. You can use the UP arrow to enter a doorway.

Wormholes

Wormholes are glowing, pulsing space-warps which will transport Nikita to a different part of the world when touched.

## Misc. Objects

Hand holds

Hand holds usually look like a white post mounted in the wall. Nikita can jump up, grab them and then hang from them. She can also flip up to a higher level or another hand hold or vine.

Ladders

Ladders are quite common. They allow you to climb to higher areas. Use the up arrow when touching a ladder to climb it. Keep in mind that some ladders look different from others.

Vines, Poles and Chains

These are useful in the same way as ladders. They are a little different in that they are harder to climb. But, on the plus side, they are much easier to descend.

Elevators

A mysterious cloud-like platform of blue sparkles which lifts Nikita up or moves her sideways (or both). Be careful, you can be crushed between an elevator and the ceiling.

Switches, Levers & Controllers

Switches activate things. They may open and close doors, or trip traps, or let loose a horde of angry monsters! Use the CONTROL key to operate a lever.

Platforms

Platforms are moving objects which can be ridden upon. They are a lot like elevators. They are a little more dangerous, however, because you can be crushed between a platform and any wall, floor or ceiling.

Boulders

Boulders come it two sizes, large and small. You can bust them up into smaller pieces if you have crystal hammer.

## Thanks

Thank you for registering your version of Inner Worlds! We hope you enjoy playing the game.

For more information, send email to "receptionist@sleepless.com" or visit the Sleepless Software Web Site at "http://www.xmission.com/~nosleep" .

© 1996 Sleepless Software All Rights Reserved
receptionist@sleepless.com
http://www.xmission.com/~nosleep
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