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      This game requires an Apple //e or //c with 128K & double hi-res graphics
    capabilities. It is also helpful to have a COLOR monitor since the graphics
    are so totally awesome!!
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                           THE STORY OF AIRHEART
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 Long ago, the grand old King of a high civilization found himself in a war he could not win. Seeking to preserve the hopes of his watery world, he used the last of his power to safeguard his newborn son. And so it was that the infant Prince came to be placed in suspended animation in a glass dome hidden in the wildest wastes of the ocean.

 The old stories tell of the sleeping Princeling who will one day return to lead his people into a new golden age. They warn of the deadly Robot Defenses left by the ancient King to ensure that the royal Babe can be awakened only by a true hero, one fit to protect a young Prince in a perilous world. And they promise the coming of that hero, who shall be called Airheart, even as they whisper of the three Spirit Guardians who watch over the Prince, first guiding, then mourning the long succession of warriors who have attempted the old King's
trials.

 Could YOU be the legendary hero who will earn the name of Airheart? You must pilot the jet-sled and defeat ingenious defenses to bring the Spirit Guardians three proofs of fitness - the Sword (strength), the Goblet (generosity), and the Harp (harmony). Only then will you earn the right to fight the final furious battle. And only as the victor may you awaken the sleeping Prince and restore him to his rightful realm.

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                          G E T T I N G    S T A R T E D
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 Put the disk in the drive. Make sure your joystick is connected and turn on your computer and monitor. The title sequence will be followed by a self running demo. When you are ready to play, press any key or joystick button to start the game.

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                                C O N T R O L S
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 MANEUVERING
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 The joystick controls the movement of your jet-sled as well as shooting its weaponry. To get a feel for your craft, move the joystick around, without pressing the buttons, and observe how the jet-sled responds.

 Holding down button 1 will activate the jets, which will increase your speed and allow the jet-sled to climb or dive. With button 1 held down, leaving the joystick centered will allow the jet-sled to accelerate forward; pulling the joystick back will cause the sled to climb; moving the joystick left and right will turn the sled; and pushing the joystick forward will cause the sled to dive under water.

 You can move around under water the same way you can above. To resurface, pull back on the joystick while your jets are on, or simply press button 0.


SHOOTING
---------

 When you are above water, pressing button 0 fires your weapon. The range of your shots can be controlled by tilting the sled forward or backward with the joystick.

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                           C O N T R O L    P A N E L
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 At the bottom of the screen you will se the jet-sled's control panel, with its various informational devices. Starting with the leftmost instrument and proceeding to the right, here is an explanation of what each instrument does:

  LIFE METER: Indicates how many extra lives you have. A red light will go on                 for each extra life you earn.

  TREASURE COUNTER: Shows which treasures you have successfully retrieved.

  COMPASS: When you are above water, the jet-sled's directional heading is                 displayed. When you are under water, arrows appear directing you to 
           the current combat area.

  SLED METER: Indicates how many extra jet-sleds you have earned.

  CLOCK: Shows elapsed time in your adventure. Time is a major factor in                 determining your high score.

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                               T H E     G A M E
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STARTING YOUR ADVENTURE
------------------------

 You start the game at the Home Islands with one life, one jet-sled and instructions from the Spirit Guardians to retrieve a magical item. Each item is held within a Treasury located somewhere across the ocean. To reach the Treasury, follow the bright Glimmer that appears when you shoot the Bubbles emanating from the Home Islands.

FIGHTING THE ROBOTS
--------------------

 You must defeat the various Robot Defenses that surround the white Treasury
island before you can enter and retrieve the item. To eliminate the Robots, shoot them and quickly maneuver your sled to "pick up" the small Pod that is left behind when a direct hit is scored. If you wait too long to get the Pod,
it will regenerate into a fully functional Robot. When all the Robot Defenses
have been eliminated, you can enter the Treasury by bumping your sled up against it.


GOING HOME
-----------

 To return the item to the Spirit Guardians, find a Green Island and activate its Robot Defenses by hitting the island with a bullet or your sled. All Green
Islands will return you to the Home Area. Once you defeat the Robot Defenses, enter the island by bumping it with your sled, and you will emerge at the Exit Island in the Home Area.


THE SLED CHALLENGE
-------------------

 Before returning the item to the Spirit Guardians, you will find three green Glimmers guarded by three Mini-Robots. Maneuvering your sled so that it touches all three glimmers within the time limit will earn you an extra jet-sled. The timer starts when you first touch a Glimmer, so give some thought to your approach, then be quick about it!

 Each successive Sled Challenge is guarded by different Mini-Robots. On the first challenge the Mini-Robots will try to bump you away from the Glimmers. The second set of Mini-Robots gobble up the Glimmers on contact. The third set have repeller rays which push your sled away. You can shoot the Mini-Robots, but if you hit a Glimmer, even with a ricochet, the challenge is lost.


RETURNING THE TREASURE
-----------------------

 After the Sled Challenge is finished, the Spirit Guardians will be waiting for you at the Home Islands. Anchor your sled on the Glimmer between the islands and the Spirit Guardians will accept the item and bestow upon you an extra life.


FURTHER ADVENTURE
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 After you've returned the Sword, the Spirit Guardians will ask you to retrieve the Goblet and then the Harp. With each new task you will face increasing numbers of Robots.


RESCUING THE PRINCE
--------------------

 Once you have retrieved all three items, you will have an opportunity to rescue the Princeling. When fighting this final battle, you must defeat all seven Robot types.


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        D E S C R I P T I O N    O F    R O B O T    D E F E N S E S
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BUMPER - Fast and loud, this little guy is always trying to push you around.
         No danger, nuisance only.


WHOMPER - Its powerful piston punch will shatter your sled on contact.


BUBBLER - What could be more harmless than a few bubbles floating over the sea.
          ... unless, of course, they can trap and kill you.


SUCKER - Its graceful green funnel creates a vacuum that's particularly lethal
         to your sled.


SPITTER - Its explosive bullets seem to know where to find you, and when they
          do, you pay with your life.


FORCER - This one is no threat to life or sled, but its strong repeller rays
         make approach almost impossible.


ZAPPER - The most dangerous of them all. One touch and you and your sled are
         lost to its devastating microwave assault.


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                         S P E C I A L     K E Y S
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IN DEMO MODE
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     CONTROL-H        Display high scores

     CONTROL-C        Clear high scores


AT ANY TIME
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     ESC              Pause. Press any key or button to resume play.

     CONTROL-S        Toggle sound on or off.

     CONTROL-R        Restart the game.

     CONTROL-X        Flip horizontal control on joystick.

     CONTROL-Y        Flip vertical control on joystick.

     CONTROL-E        Exchange X and Y axes.

     CONTROL-B        Exchange joystick buttons.

     CONTROL-N        Return to normal joystick settings.

     CONTROL-D        During the game, return to the demo mode.

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                        S T R A T E G Y     N O T E S
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 When the sled is under water, the Robot Defenses usually cannot sense or harm you. Of course, you can't harm them either.

 If during a battle, you lose sight of the Treasury, Island or Dome, duck under water and use the compass arrows to reorient yourself. You can then return to the battle and pick up the action where you left off. This technique will also help if you get lost while following a Glimmer, or if you somehow lose your way between the Exit Island and Home Islands.

 If you get lost at any point in the game, you can go to any Green Island, activate and defeat its Robot Defenses, and enter the island to return to the Home Area. When you emerge from the Exit Island, shoot a Bubble and follow the Glimmer to where you need to go. However, if you use this procedure during a battle, you will have to begin the battle over again.


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                          H I G H      S C O R E S
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 High scores are based on the number of tasks you complete, and the amount of time it took you to complete them. If the game ends and you haven't saved the Prince, your score will be based on the time it took to complete your last task.

 If you achieve a new high score, a high score roster will appear on the screen at the game's end. You will then be permitted to enter your name or any word up to six characters long next to your score. Press RETURN to save your high score to the disk.

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