Ludum Dare #1compo
Cthulhu vs. Your Computer
To play: Just run CTH.EXE! No fancy installers here, folks. This -should- run on any Windows system with DirectX, (the allegro DLL is included) but who really knows?
Who knows why the minions of darkness selected your computer to infest? More importantly, who cares? The important thing is that you have to fight back, and that's exactly what you're going to do!
Fortunately, of all the extradimensional realms Cthulhu could teleport into, he just happened to stumble into the Acme Very Dangerous Objects(tm) factory, giving you a fighting chance at recovering your data and your peace of mind!
There are two sorts of characters on the screen, Geeks, and Minions of Cthulhu. The way to pass each round is to get a Geek safely to the computer, without any Geeks dying. You lose (and must restart the round) if a Geek dies, or if the Minion of Cthulhu reaches the computer first. In addition, you may get stuck in a situation where the round is unsolvable. Pressing 'q' will allow you to start over.
The tools of your trade are selected by the number keys, or by clicking on them. They are activated by choosing the location where you wish to use them (the mouse pointer will turn green) and left-clicking. Right-clicking will put a retrievable item back into your inventory. Here is a list of the 10 items you will use to protect the Geeks and destroy the evil Minions of Cthulhu, and the keys they are bound to.
1 - Jackhammer (One time use) The jackhammer will obliterate a single concrete block. It can also be used to destroy other brittle structures, such as those that have been frozen...
2 - Magic Wand (Retrievable) The Magic Wand will produce a shimmering block sold block out of thin air. The one caveat is that it must be activated on a metal wall.
3 and 4 - Fans (Retrievable) Creates a strong air current which can be used in guiding Geeks to their goal, or in guiding Minions of Cthulhu to their untimely deaths.
5 - Springboard (Retrievable) The Springboard is bouncy, and launches you high into the air, for getting aroud bothersome obstacles.
6 - Liquid Nitrogen Spray (One time use) The Liquid Nitrogen Spray will freeze a creature into a solid block, (a very brittle one, so if they're in mid-air, they probably won't survive the trip back down). Don't use this on Geeks.
7 - Bomb (One time use) When you don't want to mess around, and just blow stuff up, put down a Bomb. It's simple, it's effective, and it makes a big boom.
8 - Mad Bomber (One time use) Why not let Cthulhu's minions do YOUR work for once? Merely use this on them, and the Minion will transform into a walking bomb. If it is killed by any means other than freezing or disintegration, it will explode like a bomb, instead of just like a splat.
9 and 0 - Mirrors (Retrievable) Occasionally you may run across lasers in your travels. These are the quickest way to keep your Geeks safe and instead deflect the deadly beams onto a target more deserving.
The Minions of Cthulhu are your biggest hazard. In addition to trying to get to the computer first, if a Minion touches a Geek, that's the end of that Geek, and the round. However, you should also watch out for spike traps, lasers, and disintegrators (which look like metal cylinders). These are just as deadly to the Minions of Cthulhu, though, so take advantage of the situation.
Remember, all Geeks must survive a round, if there are more than one, but only one has to reach the computer.
It's not necessary to kill Cthulhu's Minions, but it makes your job easier.
This game was made for a 48 hour game programming competition. Thus, it's been tested even less than a normal program. So it's even more likely to screw something up.
Introduction
Who knows why the minions of darkness selected your computer to infest? More importantly, who cares? The important thing is that you have to fight back, and that's exactly what you're going to do!
Fortunately, of all the extradimensional realms Cthulhu could teleport into, he just happened to stumble into the Acme Very Dangerous Objects(tm) factory, giving you a fighting chance at recovering your data and your peace of mind!
How to Play
There are two sorts of characters on the screen, Geeks, and Minions of Cthulhu. The way to pass each round is to get a Geek safely to the computer, without any Geeks dying. You lose (and must restart the round) if a Geek dies, or if the Minion of Cthulhu reaches the computer first. In addition, you may get stuck in a situation where the round is unsolvable. Pressing 'q' will allow you to start over.
The Controls
The tools of your trade are selected by the number keys, or by clicking on them. They are activated by choosing the location where you wish to use them (the mouse pointer will turn green) and left-clicking. Right-clicking will put a retrievable item back into your inventory. Here is a list of the 10 items you will use to protect the Geeks and destroy the evil Minions of Cthulhu, and the keys they are bound to.
The Items
1 - Jackhammer (One time use) The jackhammer will obliterate a single concrete block. It can also be used to destroy other brittle structures, such as those that have been frozen...
2 - Magic Wand (Retrievable) The Magic Wand will produce a shimmering block sold block out of thin air. The one caveat is that it must be activated on a metal wall.
3 and 4 - Fans (Retrievable) Creates a strong air current which can be used in guiding Geeks to their goal, or in guiding Minions of Cthulhu to their untimely deaths.
5 - Springboard (Retrievable) The Springboard is bouncy, and launches you high into the air, for getting aroud bothersome obstacles.
6 - Liquid Nitrogen Spray (One time use) The Liquid Nitrogen Spray will freeze a creature into a solid block, (a very brittle one, so if they're in mid-air, they probably won't survive the trip back down). Don't use this on Geeks.
7 - Bomb (One time use) When you don't want to mess around, and just blow stuff up, put down a Bomb. It's simple, it's effective, and it makes a big boom.
8 - Mad Bomber (One time use) Why not let Cthulhu's minions do YOUR work for once? Merely use this on them, and the Minion will transform into a walking bomb. If it is killed by any means other than freezing or disintegration, it will explode like a bomb, instead of just like a splat.
9 and 0 - Mirrors (Retrievable) Occasionally you may run across lasers in your travels. These are the quickest way to keep your Geeks safe and instead deflect the deadly beams onto a target more deserving.
Hazards
The Minions of Cthulhu are your biggest hazard. In addition to trying to get to the computer first, if a Minion touches a Geek, that's the end of that Geek, and the round. However, you should also watch out for spike traps, lasers, and disintegrators (which look like metal cylinders). These are just as deadly to the Minions of Cthulhu, though, so take advantage of the situation.
Hints
Remember, all Geeks must survive a round, if there are more than one, but only one has to reach the computer.
It's not necessary to kill Cthulhu's Minions, but it makes your job easier.
Disclaimer
This game was made for a 48 hour game programming competition. Thus, it's been tested even less than a normal program. So it's even more likely to screw something up.
