__ __ ___ __ ______ ___ ____ _ ___ ____ ___ | | | / _] / ] | / \ | \ | | / \ | \ | \ | | | / [_ / /| || || D )| | | || D )| \ | | || _]/ / |_| |_|| O || / | |___ | O || / | D | | : || [_/ \_ | | | || \ | || || \ | | \ / | \ | | | | || . \| || || . \| | \_/ |_____|\____| |__| \___/ |__|\_||_____| \___/ |__|\_||_____| Copyright (C) 2018-2020 NERVEQUAKE SOFTWARE inc. ====================================================================== ====================================================================== I. Introduction a) The Story So Far b) Objective II. Basic Principles a) Controls b) Movement, Dodging i. a note about "iframes" c) Doge & Dash Attacks d) Stamina e) The Void f) Dash Attacks in the Void ( Void Swimming ) g) Dashing Between Platforms III. Your Weapon, Your Heart a) Weapon Slots i. Weapon Sphere Table ii. Ammo Bonus Table b) Health c) Crowd Control IV. The VECTORLORD Platform a) System Modules b) Specials i. Character ii. Totem iii. Attack V. The Overworld a) Running the Map b) Level Mutations c) Death & Corpse Running d) Permadeath e) Deployments & The Economy VI. Inside the INFECTOPHAGE a) Cellulars b) Super Cellulars c) Components d) Volleys e) Scan Turrets f) Laser Fences g) Humanoids h) KeyBois i) JackBois =============================================== INTRODUCTION =============================================== ----------------- THE STORY SO FAR ----------------- In the Kernel Space galaxy, the evil planet VIRULON IX has launched an attack against VECTORON III, home of the PROCESSES and their LIL FORKS. VIRULON IX is known throughout Kernel Space for producing the planet destroying INFECTOPHAGES, which spread throughout the galaxy, burying into the planet's crust and depleting the host of all resources You are VECTORLORD, the only known program which can work quickly and destructively enough to deal with the INFECTOPHAGE. But it aint gonna be easy... The INFECTOPHAGE has a lethal immune system intended to keep programs like you good & dead. Stopping the machine before it destroys VECTORON III is going to take skill, focus and planning. ----------------- OBJECTIVE ----------------- VECTORLORD is a twin-stick shooter with platforming, bullet hell and shoot-em-up mechanics. Fight your way to the end of each level, destroying enemies, bosses and components. Unlock levels by collecting DELTAs - the de-facto currency of the VECTORLORD universe. Work your way towards the top of the machine, and save VECTORON III - and its denizens THE PROCESSES from almost certain doom. =============================================== BASIC PRINCIPLES =============================================== ----------------- CONTROLS ----------------- VECTORLORD has been designed for play with a game controller for the best experience. This manual assumes standard XBOX mapping, but will work with any standard dual-stick controller. Keyboard / Keyboard & Mouse are supported but not reccomended. * LEFT STICK moves VECTORLORD * LEFT STICK + LEFT TRIGGER executes a DASH/DODGE or DASH ATTACK * LEFT STICK + (A) executes a TOTEM WARP * RIGHT STICK aims VECTORLORD * RIGHT STICK + RIGHT TRIGGER makes VECTORLORD shoot * LEFT BUMPER triggers a PATTERN DISRUPTOR (if available) * RIGHT BUMPER triggers a BOMB (if available) * DPAD "LEFT" Trigger CHARACTER special * DPAD "UP" Trigger TOTEM special * DPAD "RIGHT" Trigger WEAPON special * (Y) to SWAP WEAPON (if available) ------------------------ MOVEMENT, DODGING ------------------------ VECTORLORD, being a bipedal sort of thing, is capable of walking on solid ground. Movement speed is maximized when not firing. Moving in a direction and triggering a DASH will cause VECTORLORD to rapidly move along his current trajectory. This technique can be used to DODGE enemy projectiles. * A Note about IFRAMES: - VECTORLORD can become invulnerable through a variety of actions that produce a small number of "invulnerability frames", aka IFRAMES - The activities that produces these iframes are left to the player's discovery, but as a start the player can be aware that dashing, dash attacks, and collecting spheres all provide a temporary invunlerability boost. ------------------------ DODGE & DASH ATTACKS ------------------------ When a DASH is at top speed, VECTORLORD will melee attack enemies in the path of the DASH. The faster the DASH, the higher the damage. This is called a DASH ATTACK. VECTORLORD can also warp to TOTEMs, knobbley looking bits that stick out from the platforms on the INFECTOPHAGE. A TOTEM WARP executes instantly and can be used to safely move between platforms and even warp through LASER FENCES. Beware: A big DASH ATTACK comes with a certain amount of recoil. Be careful not to bounce VECTORLORD into a trap or projectile! *Note: Some special enemies cannot be attacked in this way. ------------------------ THE VOID ------------------------ Instrumental to success is realizing that VECTORLORD is not strictly constrained to standing on platforms. This is referred to as "stepping into the VOID". Stepping into the VOID makes VECTORLORD unstable, and he must return to solid ground before the playfield fades away. Succesfully executing a DASH ATTACK while in the VOID will reset this effect. While in the VOID, VECTORLORD cannot fire his weapon. While in the VOID, VECTORLORD is immune to both enemy projectiles and SCAN TURRETS. Beware: LASER FENCES are stil lethal! ------------------------- DASH ATTACKS IN THE VOID ------------------------- Executing a DASH ATTACK in the void causes VECTORLORD to temporarily re-materialize. Be careful not to rematerialize into an enemy projectile! While in the void it is possible to chain several DASH ATTACKS together in a technique referred to as VOID SWIMMING -- this can be used to succesfully traverse large areas with no solid platforms to stand on. =============================================== YOUR WEAPON, YOUR HEART =============================================== VECTORLORD's health is directly tied to his weapon. The weapon has a MAJOR and MINOR slot. -------------------------- WEAPON SLOTS -------------------------- Each level begins with a random weapon in the major slot. Each slot can hold a WEAPON-SPHERE in one of the following categories: Weapon Sphere Table =================== * FORCE - fast and powerful, inaccurate * REPEATER - rapid fire, precise * SPREAD - many bullets in a wave pattern * EXPLOSIVE - secondary projectiles created on impact With only the major slot filled, the SWAP WEAPON button can be used to cycle between these four categories. When the major and minor slots are both filled, SWAP WEAPON will cycle the spheres in the MAJOR slot. There are 20 possible weapons: 4 x base types + (4^2) combo types When an additional sphere is collected, the sphere in the MAJOR slot rotates to the MINOR slot, and VECTORLORD is provided with a quantity of AMMO with which to fire his upgraded weapon. The amount is random, but based on the BASE BONUS AMMO for each type: Ammo Bonus Table ================ * FORCE - standard bonus * REPEATER - large bonus * SPREAD - extra-large bonus * EXPLOSIVE - small bonus -------------------------- HEALTH -------------------------- When VECTORLORD is hit by a projectile or damaged by a stage-hazard, the sphere in the minor slot is ejected, and all AMMO is lost. Depleting AMMO ejects a sphere, effectively reducing health by 1 HP. If VECTORLORD is hit with only one slot filled, he is considered WEAK. When VECTORLORD is weak, all weapon spheres on the playfield become HEARTS. -------------------------- CROWD CONTROL -------------------------- There are two types of consumables which can make the difference between life & death. PATTERN DISRUPTORS will stop all current enemy projectiles and temporarily stun all enemies on the playfield BOMBS deal a large amount of damage to all enemies on the playfield. DISRUPTORS and BOMBS can be picked up on the playfield, or purchased in the store. =============================================== The VECTORLORD Platform =============================================== VECTORLORD is a customizable creature with slots for additional "plugins" that can improve and degrade certain parts of his performance. These are configurable in the DEPLOYMENT screen prior to starting a level attempt. * SYSTEM MODULES These are modules which have a passive effect on VECTORLORD. * SPECIALS These are modules which can be triggered during gameplay. Each special has an active time and a cooldown during which it cannot be triggered. - CHARACTER SPECIALS apply to VECTORLORD as a character. - TOTEM SPECIALS cause an effect to trigger when a TOTEM WARP is succesfully executed. - WEAPON SPECIALS provide VECTORLORD with offensive bonuses In order to configure these modules, they first have to be unlocked by using CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEYS which can be found on the playfield, or retrieved by destroying KEYBOIS. =============================================== THE OVERWORLD =============================================== -------------------------- RUNNING THE MAP -------------------------- Each attempt at defeating the INFECTOPHAGE is called a "run" When you select "START GAME" your run begins. Your run ends when VECTORLORD has no more lives, or you have beaten the game. When starting a run, you will start by unlocking the first level on the map which costs zero DELTAs. DELTAs are the de-facto currency in the world of VECTORLORD. You gain DELTAs by collecting them from the playfield and destroying enemies. When you beat a level, any connected levels are now available for unlock. However, you may not have enough DELTAs to unlock a new level, in which case you will have to return to a previously beaten level in order to FARM more DELTAs. -------------------------- LEVEL MUTATIONS -------------------------- The INFECTOPHAGE is not a passive beast. Each time you complete a level, enemies become stronger, faster, and more plentiful. This can yield you many DELTAs if you're succesful, or burn through your lives if you are not. -------------------------- THE STORE & THE ECONOMY -------------------------- Before you start a level, you will have the option to purchase items that can aid you in your run. CONSUMABLES * Extra Lives * Disruptors * Bombs * Keys UPGRADES * SYSTEM MODULE: Passive Statuses that are always active * SPECIALS (Character, Totem, Weapon) -------------------------- DEATH & CORPSE RUNNING -------------------------- When you die during an attempt to beat a level, your character will not retain all of the collected resources. * DISRUPTORS - persist * BOMBS - persist * EXTRA LIVES - gone forever * KEYS - left with CORPSE * DELTAS - left with CORPSE As long as you immediately re-attempt the same level you died on, you will have a chance to retrieve these resources (and regain an extra life, replacing the one you just lost) as long as you find your CORPSE. Your CORPSE will drop somewhere on the level near where you died. If you beat the level without finding your CORPSE, or die before finding your CORPSE, or attempt a different level without finding your CORPSE, the life therein and all the resources held on your CORPSE are gone forever. -------------------------- PERMADEATH -------------------------- Once your lives are gone, the run is finished and your character file is physically deleted. You will have to start again at the bottom of the INFECTOPHAGE and work your way back up again. Levels unlocked during Campaign play become available in the FREE PLAY mode available in the main menu. -------------------------- DEPLOYMENTS & THE ECONOMY -------------------------- All consumables scale in price with every purchase. Be careful! You'll need your DELTAs to unlock your way to the top, and Extra Lives can get pricey quickly. Before deployment you will have the chance to assign unlocked System Modules or Specials to your Upgrade Slots. Each upgrade has a cost to deploy. This cost is not subject to inflation. =============================================== INSIDE THE INFECTOPHAGE =============================================== Once you're deployed and on the playfield, you'll have plenty to keep you busy. -------------------------- CELLULARS -------------------------- CELLULARS form the basis of the INFECTOPHAGEs defenses - they fly throughout the machine and will shoot at you, push you around, and form difficult to penetrate barriers. -------------------------- SUPER CELLULARS -------------------------- SUPER CELLULARS are rare, large beasts intent on permanently disrupting your attempts. -------------------------- COMPONENTS -------------------------- COMPONENTS are often found at the end of a level and must be destroyed before the level is completed. -------------------------- VOLLEYS -------------------------- Volleys are emitted from high up in the INFECTOPHAGE. You can discern where volleys are coming from by carefully observing for an orange glow towards the top of the playfield. -------------------------- SCAN TURRETS -------------------------- Scan Turrets form rotating patterns of energy and can often be seen protecting resources that may otherwise aid you in your attack. Their destructive arcs can be dashed through, so it's not as bad as it could be. -------------------------- LASER FENCES -------------------------- Laser Fences are extremely powerful defense which cannot be destroyed. They alternate on a regular timer so they can be predicted, but VECTORLORD cannot dash through their powerful energy. -------------------------- HUMANOIDS -------------------------- Little is known about these creatures. -------------------------- KEYBOIS -------------------------- Occasionally, a module will float into the playfield with a flashing KEY displayed on its screen. These drop a CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY when destroyed. -------------------------- JACKBOIS -------------------------- JACKBOIS form in response to aggressive efforts by VECTORLORD. The HUD will indicate when to watch for a JACKBOI. These produce a huge number of DELTAS when killed, based on VECTORLORD's accumulated JACKPOT BONUS. The JACKPOT bonus drops to zero if they JACKBOI is not destroyed. The JACKPOT bonus also drops to zero if VECTORLORD dies. -------------------------- GLASS -------------------------- Being somewhat analog in nature, the INFECTOPHAGE has a number of vacuum tube like pieces integrated into its structure. These delicate structures cannot be stood on for very long, quickly giving way to the VOID when stressed. -------------------------- SLIME -------------------------- SLIME, whether some kind of neon green fuel, or oily looking lubricant is present in some parts of the machine. SLIME blocks VECTORLORD's weapons. If VECTORLORD is SLIMED, his movement speed will be dramatically slowed. There is, however, one small benefit to being SLIMED - while SLIMED, VECTORLORD is materialized, even when floating in the VOID. This can enable a technique called "Slime Surfing" where large areas can be traversed safely without taking damage from VOID SWIMMING. Beware! The slime will quickly drip off, and VECTORLORD will need to reslime himself or find a nearby safe platform. ------------------ Customer Support ------------------ If you've bought VECTORLORD and are running into any difficulty at all, please contact us at: support@nervequake.com