Ghost Mine
By Albert Baggetta
(Shareware Game 1990)
"Ghost Mine" is my first game in STOS. I wrote it with the
hopes of becoming familiar with the basic power of STOS BASIC.
Production in the fruitful alabaster mines of Septeebo have
been brought to a screeching halt. It seems that during
excavation in the lower pit of the mine an ancient tomb was
ruptured releasing a deadly mirror ghost and a fleet of spider
guards. The combination has made it impossible for miners to once
again work the catacombs for precious jewels.
You, the bravest miner of the lot, have volunteered to drop
into the mine with a special vaporizing weapon. If you can
vaporize all of the spiders before your energy supply runs out the
mirror ghost will be destroyed and the mines can again reopen.
A word about the mirror ghost. It is really only one demon,
but it sends out an image in front of it, on the other side of its
prey. Both the image and the ghost close in on its target, hoping
to embrace it in a deadly gnawing feast. If you are caught in the
middle the flesh is flayed from your body, leaving only a limp
skeleton hanging from the mine's ladder. If you are fast enough
you might be able to maneuver up or down the ladder, avoiding the
razor sharp teeth of the ghost and its reflection.
As you work to destroy all of the spider guards that keep
appearing in the mine's tunnels, your energy is used up. Your
friends up above work furiously to get you more energy.
Unfortunately they are only able to supply you with one extra
energy pod that hangs precariously from the rope ladder in the
mine. You may use this pod only once to replenish your power.
Hopefully you will have enough strength to last the fight.
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GHOST MINE -- GAME PLAY
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"Ghost Mine" is a low resolution game. You must boot up your
computer in LOW RESOLUTION for the game to work and end properly.
On boot you will be presented with a title screen and a musical
background. Select a ard or asy game by pressing either
of the respective letters. You will need a joystick, plugged
into port #1 to play the game.
You will drop down the rope ladder to the floor of the mine.
A spider guard will appear somewhere in one of the mine shafts and
the mirror ghost will hone in on you from the start. Move your
man up or down the ladder by pressing the joystick forward or
back, which ever is called for at the moment.
Line up with a spider guard and press the joystick left or
right to fire your weapon. Some spider guards are stronger than
others, so you might have to fire several times before you score a
hit. Do not hold the fire stick because the projectiles will keep
repeating, not going very far. Just push the stick and wait for
contact to be made. Sometimes, at close range, holding the stick
in the fire position is effective.
Be sure to keep an eye on the mirror ghost, because he always
knows where you are and will set on your path as soon as he
travels a shaft in the mine. Also keep an eye on your energy. As
it gets near the end you will want to replenish it. Remember, you
can only do this once.
To replenish your energy, move up to the E pod, when it
appears. Then, while on the pod, hold the fire button in. Your
energy will be restored to full (100) when this process is
completed. After this you must work fast. Even though the pod
remains, it is drained of all its force.
If you selected the ard option at the beginning, you will
have to defeat 20 spider guards. If you selected asy you will
only have to take on 10 spider guards. The indicator at the top
of the screen tells how many spider guards are left to get.
Either way, win or lose, you will be brought to a final
screen which tells you of your success or failure. You will then
be given the option to play again or end.
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Ghost Mine -- Tips
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1. Take the Easy game if you are new at playing.
2. To gain time, set your man in a tunnel above or below a spider
guard until the mirror ghost appears, then move to the spider's
tunnel. This distracts the ghost and gives you time to shoot
at the guard.
3. Save your energy. Wait until the meter gets as slow as
possible before going for a refill.
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This game is offered as shareware so if you would like to make
a donation $5.00 to sponsor further work on the ST, send it to:
A. Baggetta
P.O. Box 351
Feeding Hills, MA 01030