GODS
Intruction Booklet


This game is licensed by Nintendo(R) for play on the SUPER NINTENTO
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.
(C)1991,1992 The Bitmap Brothers. (C)1992 Mindscape Inc. All rights
reserved. GODS is a trademark of Bitmap Bros.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

STARTING UP...........................1
GAME CONTROLS.....................2
GAME PLAY.........................3
INVENTORY.........................3
TO PASS AN OBSTACLE...............4
MENU OPTIONS......................4
TO USE THE GAME OPTIONS...........5

THE STORY.............................6

SUMMARY...............................8
STATUS............................8
COMBAT............................9
MONSTERS..........................9
KEYS.............................11
MONEY & SHOPPING.................13
WEAPONS..........................14
POTIONS..........................14
TRAPS & PUZZLES..................15
CLUES............................16
LEVELS & GUARDIANS...............16
SCORING..........................17
LOSING LIVES & RESTARTING........17
PASSWORD.........................17

TECHNICAL SUPPORT....................18

LIMITED WARRANTY.....................19


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GAME CONTROLS

[picture of standard SNES control pad]

Control Pad

Use the arrow keys to make your hero walk and climb:

[up] Climb up ladder, or turn to wall (used with B to pull a lever)
[down] Climb down or crouch.
[right] Move to the right.
[left] Move to the left.

Start Button

* Start the game.
* Pause a game in progress; press again to resume play.

Button A

* Jump (select the direction with [right] or [left]).

Button B

* Fire a weapon.
* Pull a lever (first press [up] to face the wall).
* Move highlight.
* Pick up or drop objects (first press [down] to crouch)


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GAME PLAY

Press the arrows to walk and climb. Press [up] [right] or [left] and
buttons to operate levers and jump.

To use a lever or button:

1. Press [up] to face the wall lever, or button.
2. Press B

To jump:

1. Press [right] or [left] to select a direction
2. Press A
Note: When the hero walks off an ledge, he jumps down. If the jump is
too far down, uh oh!

To get off a ladder:

1. Press [right] or [left] to select a direction.


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INVENTORY

You may only carry up to three objects in your inventory. If
you try to get a fourth object, you will lose one of the others.

To pick up an object:

1. Press arrows to stand on object.
2. Hold [down] to crouch.
3. Press B once to pick up item.
4. Press B again until you highlight a blank square or unwanted
item in inventory.
5. Release [down] to stand up again.

To drop an object:

1. Hold [down] to crouch.
2. Press B until you highlight the inventory item you want to drop.
3. Release [down] to stand up again.

To open treasure with a key:

1. Pick up the key.
2. Press arrows to walk over the treasure chest.

To shop for weapons, health, and potions:

At the end of the last one world in each level, you must go
shopping. You need food to increase your energy. You may
have a total of three objects for your inventory.

1. Walk over the shop token to call the shopkeeper and the
shopkeeper will appear.
2. Use arrows to select a weapon, health, or potion.
3. Click B to view a description of your selection.
4. Click B again to buy it.
5. When you are done, use arrows to select Exit and press B.


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TO PASS AN OBSTACLE:

1. Jump over it, if you can.
2. If you can't jump an obstacle, press a lever to turn it off,
remove it, open it.

MENU OPTIONS

Starting from the main menu, you can choose -Begin Quest- or
-Enter Password-.

To select a level:

1. Press [down] to Enter Password, the press B.
2. At the -Enter A Password- screen, press arrows to select a letter,
then press B.
3. When you finish spelling the password, select the end icon and
press B.

Hint: select the back arrow icon on the screen to correct spelling
mistakes.

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THE STORY

A city lost in legend

An unconquered warrior seeking reward

A challenge laid down by the Gods

The greatest prize of all - immortality

4 great events combine to bring forth
a burning legend

Relive that legend


Who would have thought that a man would be so foolish or so
daring as to accept a challenge set down by the Gods? And yet
one came forward to claim the right to test his skills and
strengths against a city so legendary its name alone struck fear
in the hearts of all who heard it spoken.

Firstly, let us talk of this city.

None can be sure that the city even exists for no one has ever
seen it. It was build by the Gods, a plaything, great temples,
hidden underworlds, fiendish labyrinths and soaring towers.
It is a city stolen by the forces of darkness, the abode of
nightmare hosts, the dwelling of fearsome monsters, the
dominion of four great guardians.

Secondly, who is the hero?

Has anyone matched him in battle? No. Has he ever turned
aside from his sole quest? Never. Is he not therefore a hero
among heroes? Undoubtedly.

In his travels our warrior has become skilled in all the weapons
of war; he is strong and unflinching. What of all the prizes of
the world does he seek? He wishes to join those fickle masters
of the human race - the Gods themselves.


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Thirdly, I shall recount the challenge of the Gods.

Were the Gods only joking when they laid their challenge?
Uncaring and unthinking on Mount Olympus, they thought
that no one would hear their rash words.

Any man may earn through skill and courage a single favor of
the Gods, if he will face the fear of the ancient city and slay the
four great guardians who have stolen our citadel from us.

Through their contempt for man did they not bring about their
own undoing? For never before had such an untamed reward
been offered to the mortals. But who from the ranks of man
would face destruction at such odds? Surely none.

Only One.

Finally, what did the hero ask of the Gods.

Immortality breeds contempt and the Gods, so long uncaring
for the events of man, know nothing of the exploits of our hero.
He stands before them showing neither fear nor disdain and
asks the Gods that should he return, fulfilling completely their
quest, he will join them as an equal and a brother.

The horror, the impertinence, the mistake realized too late, the
gateway lies open to their domain where no mortal man has
ever trod before.

But the world of the Gods may not be broken and only the hope
of the hero's failure comforts them as the warrior departs for
the City of Legends, preparing to carve one more story on its
walls...


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SUMMARY

Gods is a game of exploration, combat, and adventure. You
assume the role of a classical hero who has taken up the
challenge of the Gods. In order to gain the ultimate prize of
immortality, you must slay the four guardians of the city and
return to Mount Olympus.

The four guardians rule over an ancient city full of chaotic
beasts. The city was once the citadel of the Gods and consists
of four levels, each protected by one of the guardians and their
many minions. The levels are: the city, the temple, the
labyrinth, and the underworld. Each level is split into three
sections referred to as -worlds-. At the end of at least one world
in each level, you meet the guardian. Avoid the
guardian and his weapons. Press B to fire at him.


STATUS

To determine your play status, check these screen features:

* Lives - See the upper left corner.

* Energy - Yours is in the far lower left corner; the guardian's
is in the far right corner.

* Inventory - Up to three objects are shown in the four boxes
in the lower left of the screen.

* Score - See the lower right corner.

* Bank account - Your account balance is listed below your score.

* Message scroll - Appears with hints or clues when you solve
puzzles, avoid traps, or collect bonus gems.


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COMBAT

In order to fulfill your quest, you must venture through the
levels of the city, these are now the home of chaotic hordes of
monsters which must be overcome. To do this, you must fight.
Scattered throughout the city are many weapons, some of these
will be powerfull and others weak. These weapons are essential
if you are to defeat the creatures you will face. As well as
weapons that you may find, it is possible to purchase others at
shops located within each level.

Different weapons have different strengths and qualities,
discovering the nature of each weapon will help you succeed.

MONSTERS

Over the years since the Gos abandoned it, the city has
become the home of many chaotic beasts. These are ruled by
four gigantic guardians who use them to protect their fortunes.
The monsters you will meet are by no means stupid; some will
be stronger than others and some will be more deadly, but all
are united in their cause to thwart your quest. Some of the
inhabitants are able to avoid your attempts to destroy them.

Collecting several of the same weapon will make your shots
more effective.

Several weapons may be used at the same time, find out which
are compatible for ultimate fighting ability.

Then strike with precision. Whatever monster you meet, it is
wise to study its behavior and from this knowledge learn the
nature of all your adversaries.

Within the first level the monsters you will meet will have only
one aim - to destroy you. As you press into the temple and
beyond, you will meet creatures who will try to steal the few
precious items you found.


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The physical appearance of a monster indicates its nature and objectives.

DESTROYER

These are very intelligent. Their objective is to destroy you, and
they will pursue you throughout the level in order to do so.

FLIER

As well as trying to destroy you, these monsters are able to avoid
your shots; the more intelligent ones will prove very elusive.

THIEF

These monsters try to steal objects from you. They will also try
to grab and run away with any objects not yet acquired. Because
of this tendency, it is possible to delay them by leaving treasure
scattered throughout the world. If there is no treausre available,
they will try to destroy you.

Because of their varying objectives, monster can be used to help you.


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KEYS

In order to protect their city from unwelcome intruders, the
Gods placed many doors to block their progress. These doors
are extremely strong and can resist all attempts to demolish
them. To open them, it is often necessary to have the correct
key in your inventory.

As well as doors the inhabitants have entrusted their valuables
to locked chests. These containers may be only opened by using
the correct key. These are smaller than the keys used to open
doors are coloured to correspond with the chest they open.
Like their larger relatives, these keys are not easy to obtain and
are usually well protected by monsters, traps, or puzzles.
The treasure within the chests may be used to purchase weapons
or potions at the shops that are found throughout the city.

When a key has been used it will be discarded automatically.

Doors can lead to rooms, teleport you to new locations, or let
you progress along passages.

Special gems are also able to teleport you.

To open a chest, collect the key and walk past the chest.

To open a door, pick up the key and walk to the door. Press [up]
to face the wall and press B to pull the lever.


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The color and shape of a key indicates what type of door or
entrance it will open:

Vertical Keys:

There are three vertical keys:

Gold - teleport
Bronze - room
Iron - trapdoor/moving block

Horizontal Keys:

There are three horizontal keys:

Gold - end of level or world
Bronze - treasure room
Iron - door


The colour of a chest and its corresponding key are indicative of
the value of its contents:

Gold chests - greatest value
Bronze chests - normal value
Iron chests - lowest value


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MONEY AND SHOPPING

The city is fabled to be rich in treasure and gold, though no one
has ever returned to confirm it. For the best chance of success,
you need to collect as much of this treasure as possible. The
money can then be used to buy weapons, potions, and health
in the shops dotted throughout the levels. These shops are
reached by walking over a special token, which calls the
shopkeeper to escort you to his store.

The description of the item and price are displayed in a
window below the arches. Your cash is displayed at the
bottom of the screen. To leave the shop, press arrows to move
to the arch labeled -Exit-, then press B. All the items you have
purchased will be available as soon as you leave the shop.

If you buy a weapon that replaces one you are already
carrying, half the value of the lost weapon will be added
to your cash.

Treasure may be revealed by killing monsters or solving
puzzles.

Shields and starbursts will be removed when you confront the
guardian at the end of each level.

Potions can be collected either by finding them in the city or
buying them in a shop. If a potion is collected, it takes
immediate effect. Certain potions that are bought in the shop
can be carried and only take effect if they are dropped from
your inventory.


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A guide to weapons and potions:

WEAPONS

Dagger - one of the weakest weapons you may come across.
Shurikans - stronger then daggers, these travel through monsters.
Fireballs - can be used at the same time as a conventional weapon,
such as a dagger or shurikan.
Spears - pass through monsters and platforms to cause great damage.
Wideshot - one of three shot-directing tokens, this spreads the shot
for maximum effect against fliers.


POTIONS AND DEFENSES

Attract - causes all monsters to attack you.
Freeze - Puts monsters into suspended animation temporarily,
so you can destroy them.
Jump - Lets you jump higher. Found in certain places in
the game.
Large Shied - can be bought or collected; it lasts for the whole of
the current world and reduces your damage by half.
Small Shield - can be bought or collected; it lasts 15 seconds and
protects you from damage and also destroys any monsters
who run into it.
Food - comes in several forms; it replaces lost energy but is
not as powerful as the health potions.
Shop - step on a token to call the shopkeeper.


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TRAPS AND PUZZLES

One of the most cunning methods employed by the dwellers of the
city are puzzles and traps. Some of the puzzles are simple,
requiring only the throwing of a switch to advance further;
others are much more complex, involving collecting objects,
finding keys, and acquiring special weapons. Traps take
several forms but most are lethal, their spiked flails causing
to lose a life unless you can escape them quickly.

The puzzles that you will face are many and varied. All
puzzles are one of two types, progression puzzles and reward
puzzles. Progression puzzles need to be solved in order to
complete the world or progress. Reward puzzles are not
essential to the completion of the game; these puzzles provide
rewards that can take the form of extra treasure, shortcuts, or
other benefits.

Hidden rooms are a typical example of a reward puzzle. The
entrance to a hidden room may be found by examining the
background - there may be a platform that cannot normally be
reached or a passage blocked by a wall.

As reward puzzles are not essential they may involve a
considerable amount of danger. Particularly strong monsters
may protect the route that leads to the reward.

Progression puzzles are usually simpler in nature then reward
puzzles; however, these puzzles may contain certain traps if they
are not solved correctly. Progression puzzles often require that
you recover an item, such as a key or teleport gem. These
items will then let you into the next section of the world.

Puzzles may be simple, requiring only one action to solve
them; others require combinations of one or more events to
trigger them. These actions include: throwing switches,
completing sections within a limited time, or finding and
returning objects to a specific location.


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As well as puzzles, there are also many hidden bonuses. These
provide rewards at certain points if you complete a section in a
good time or lose minimal energy or lives. These bonuses take
the form of treasure or potions that will make completing the
next section easier.

Once a puzzle is complete, the objects used to solve it will be
removed from your inventory.

CLUES

To assist you, there are many clues that can be picked up.
Clues take the form of special tokens. Collecting these causes a
message or clue to appear in the Message Scroll. These clues
may help define the quest for the level, provide a hint or a
solution to a puzzle, or reveal the location of an object.

All clue messages will be displayed when you collect the token.
They cannot be redisplayed, so take careful note of their
contents.

THE FOUR GREAT LEVELS AND FOUR GIGANTIC
GUARDIANS

The city has four levels: the city, the temple, the labyrinth, and
the underworld. Each level is split into three worlds. At the
end of each level is an enormous guardian. These are the
monsters you were sent to destroy. All the minions and
treasure belong to these fearsome creatures and each is
determined to retain their power.


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SCORING

As well as completing this great quest there may also be some
honor in having achieved a good score. You recieve points for
destroying monsters, collecting treasure, and solving puzzles.

At the end of each world, a bonus is added to your score. This
bonus is affected by the number of lives remaining and health
as shown by the Energy meter.

At the end of the game, your score will be placed into the hall
of fame.

To input your name, follow the same procedure as entering a
password.

Bonus lives will be awarded for 'landmark' scores.

LOSING LIVES AND RESTARTING

You have three lives in which to complete the game. Each level
consists of several worlds. You return to the world in which
you lost a life with all your weapons.

PASSWORD

When you complete a level, you get a password that lets you
reenter the game at the beginning of that level. You restart the
game inside a shop, which lets you purchase health, weapons,
and potions.


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TECHNICAL SUPPORT

For technical support in the USA:

Mindscape Inc.
A Software Toolworks Company
60 Leveroni Court, Novato, CA 94949
Telephone: (415)883-5157

For technical support in Europe

Mindscape International
P.P.Box 51, Burgess Hill RH15 9FH
West Sussex, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0)444239-600
FAX: (0)444248-996

For technical support in Australia and New Zealand:

Mindscape International
5/6 Gladstone Road, Castle Hill
New South Wales, Australia 2154
Telephone: (02)899-2277
FAX: (02)899-2348


Warning to owners of projection televisions: Still pictures or
images may cause permanent picture-tube damage or mark the
phosphor of CRT. Avoid repeated or extended use of video
games on large-screen projection televisions.


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LIMITED WARRANTY

[Omitted]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mindscape
A Software Toolworks Company
60 Leveroni Court
Novato, CA 94949

PRINTED IN JAPAN

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"GODS Instruction Booklet"
Converted to ASCII text by Andre Kutterer
[email protected]