HOVER FORCE
Cartridge Instructions
(For 1 Player)
TOP SECRET
TO: HOVER FORCE PILOTS
FROM: COL. N.K. NEWCOMBE
RE: MISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Terrorist forces have taken over the island city of New Seeburg.
Luckily, civilians have been evacuated from the city, but the enemy
is destroying buildings and bridges, causing millions of dollars in
damage. Fires are burning out of control throughout the island.
Our intelligence reports show that their troops are well equipped
with heavily armed combat helicopters. The only way to fight 'em is
in the air, so we're sending you up in the top secret JAF-3000
helicopter. This copter is equipped with laser cannons to blast the
enemy out of the sky, water cannons to put out fires, and a
sophisticated radar system. This baby is highly maneuverable, with
advanced jet air-brakes that stop you with change back for your
dime.
You have the fire power, but you'll need brains. The enemy isn't just
going to sit pretty waiting for you to blow him to bits. You'll have to
watch for his patterns to outsmart him. And of course, he'll be
gunning for you.
You'll be flying a series of missions, each more difficult than the one
before. Every mission, though, has the same goal -- eliminate the
terrorists! You must also put out as many fires as possible. You can
return to home base twice -- and only twice -- per mission to repair
your chopper and refuel.
One last warning. This isn't some game, this is combat. None of this
"three lives" foolishness. Crash your copter and it's all over -- you're
finished.
So watch your tail out there. Now, let's scramble!
TO BEGIN
Note: Always turn the POWER switch OFF before inserting or
removing the cartridge.
THE BRIEFING SCREEN
Press any key to go from the HOVER FORCE title screen to the Briefing
Screen. The Briefing Screen outlines the controls you will use to
operate your copter. Now press any key to go to the radar screen.
THE RADAR SCREEN
The numbers on the top row of this screen show, from left to right,
the amount of damage done so far by terrorists (in millions of
dollars), the number of fires you have extinguished, and the number
of terrorist helicopters you have shot down.
On the right side of the screen are the systems indicators and gauges.
These will tell you the status of your helicopter. At this time, they
are off.
On the left side of the screen is the radar window. When your
helicopter is in flight, this window will show your position relative to
the terrorist helicopters over the city. At this time, radar is off.
Currently in the radar window are your Qualification Levels: CADET,
RANGER, and ACE. The difficulty of your missions will depend on
your selection. Press the number key corresponding to your
qualification (1 = CADET, 2 = RANGER, 3 = ACE), then press ENTER.
SCRAMBLE!
In the radar window you will see the flight sequence begin. Your
indicators and gauges blink on. You are airborne!
AERIAL VIEW
Once aloft, the screen automatically switches to your aerial view. In
the center of the screen you see your gunsight. Below you is your
home base -- Hover Force Headquarters on Force Island. Notice the
two helipad targets. You will need to land on one of these helipads
for repairs or at the end of a mission.
You're ready to head into New Seeburg to engage the enemy!
THE JAF-3000 HELICOPTER
(Jet Assisted Fighter)
CONTROLS
Familiarize yourself with the hand controller. To fly your copter, you
will use the WHEEL, the SIDE KEYS, and the bottom row of keypad
buttons (CLEAR, 0, and ENTER):
NAVIGATION
Use the WHEEL to control the direction of your flight. The longer you
travel in one direction, the faster you go, up to your maximum speed.
LASER CANNONS
Press UPPER SIDE KEYS to shoot. Use lasers to blow up terrorist
helicopters. Warning: if you miss the copters, your shots can damage
buildings and bridges.
WATER CANNONS
Press LOWER SIDE KEYS to shoot. Use water to put out fires. Water
cannons have no affect on terrorist helicopters and do not damage
the city.
AIR BRAKES
Press CLEAR to stop your helicopter in mid-air. Use air brakes when
you need to maneuver quickly.
SCREEN DISPLAY
Press 0 (ZERO) to switch between radar screen and aerial view.
Switch to radar screen to see radar map, systems status, and damage
reports. Switch to aerial view to shoot terrorists and put out fires.
LAND
Press ENTER to land when over home base. You must have gunsight
aligned over one of the two helipads or your copter will not respond.
You can only land twice per mission! If you try to land a third time
without eliminating all terrorist helicopters, you will crash! When
you land after successfully completing a mission, you are given a
mission rating (from 1 to 100, 100 being PERFECT) that takes into
account the total amount of damage to the city, the number of fires
you put out, and the skill level of the terrorists you shot down.
To PAUSE the action, press 1 and 9 on the keypad at the same time.
Resume by pressing any button, side key, or the wheel.
ENGINE SYSTEM AND FUEL LEVEL
Your fuel level on take-off is 300 gallons. When the fuel level drops
below 50 gallons, the gauge will start flashing red. This is your
warning to return to home base -- when your fuel level drops to
zero, your helicopter will crash!
While your engine system is fully operational, its status indicator
blinks green. Terrorist hits suffered by your helicopter while it is
traveling southeast (towards the bottom right of the screen) will
damage your engine. When hit, its indicator will blink yellow or red,
depending on the severity of damage. Return to home base for
repairs!
When the status indicator becomes solid red, the engine is destroyed.
Your helicopter will crash!
Your engine is fully repaired and refueled whenever you successfully
return to home base.
NAVIGATION SYSTEM
While your navigation system is fully operational, its status indicator
blinks green. Terrorist hits suffered by your helicopter while it is
traveling southwest (towards the bottom left of the screen) will
damage your navigation system. When hit, its indicator it will blink
yellow or red, depending on the severity of damage.
When the status indicator becomes solid red, the navigation system
is destroyed. When your navigation system is damaged or destroyed,
the helicopter will not respond properly to the wheel control,
although it is possible to compensate for the damage and still fly.
Your navigation system is fully repaired whenever you successfully
return to home base.
LASER AND WATER CANNONS
Your laser cannon charge on take-off is 300 units. When the charge
drops below 50, the LASER gauge will start flashing red. When your
laser charge drops to zero, you can no longer attack terrorist copters.
Your water cannon charge on take-off is 300 gallons. When the water
level drops below 50, the H2O gauge will start flashing red. When
your water level drops to zero, you can no longer put out fires.
While your cannon system is fully operational, its status indicators
blink green. Terrorist hits suffered by your helicopter while it is
traveling northeast (towards the top right of the screen) will damage
your cannon system. When hit, its indicators will blink yellow or red,
depending on the severity of damage.
When damaged, the cannons will fire intermittently, no matter what
the laser and water levels are. Note that as the cannon system
becomes damaged, both the laser and water cannons are affected
together.
When the status indicators become solid red, the cannon system is
destroyed. You can no longer shoot laser or water.
Your laser and water cannons are fully repaired and recharged
whenever you successfully return to home base.
RADAR MAP
While your helicopter is in the air, the radar window shows a map of
the island with major landmarks (bridges, parks) and your location
over the city (indicated by the small white helicopter).
As the radar sweep (the vertical white line) passes over the map,
blips will appear briefly showing the location of terrorist helicopters
(yellow blips) and fires (red blips).
Your wheel control can be used to pilot your helicopter while viewing
the radar map. While you view the map, however, terrorists can still
fire at your helicopter, but you cannot fire at them!
Terrorist hits suffered by your helicopter while it is traveling
northwest (towards the top left of the screen) will damage your
radar system. After a certain number of hits, fires will no longer
show on radar. After more damage, terrorist helicopters will not
show. Finally, after severe damage, your position will no longer
appear onscreen.
Your radar system is fully repaired whenever you successfully
return to home base. Note: your home base is on Force Island,
highlighted on the map above.
ENEMY COPTERS
Intelligence reports estimate there are 20 different enemy copter
types of varying skill levels. Some have been identified by their skill
and patterns and are listed below. The success of your missions
depends upon you identifying and reacting to the enemy patterns!
LOW SKILL LEVEL
SEEKERS -- Yellow copters that fly toward you, shoot, then fly away.
(Perhaps trying to lead you into an ambush!)
SLOW TROUBLE -- Purple copters that stay over one location in the
city, but ascend and attack as you draw near them.
BORDER PATROLS -- Copters that fly the perimeter of the city,
starting fires at diverse points. Some will fly faster than you -- think
ahead to lie in wait for them.
MEDIUM SKILL LEVEL
SPIRALS -- Two types of low-flying copters that fly in spiral
patterns, making them difficult to line up in your gunsight.
TEASERS -- Purple strafers that home in on you, shoot, then do their
best to stay JUST OUTSIDE your gunning range.
HIGH SKILL LEVEL
SCORPIONS -- High-flying yellow copters of several types that have
one thing in common: they are persistent, aggressive fighters.
FLYING TOADS -- Red copters that do nothing at all...until you draw
near. Then they become VERY destructive.
PARK RANGERS -- Copters that fly from park to park looking for
something -- or someone -- to shoot at. Usually found in pairs.
TACTICS
� Navigate using the radar map as much as possible. Switch to the
aerial view when directly over a red or yellow blip. (If you switch to
the aerial view when over a yellow blip and don't see an enemy
copter, its best to switch back to radar immediately.)
� Terrorist helicopters are easier to shoot down if you aim at their
main rotors.
� Whenever possible, engage the enemy over water, streets, or
parks, so you don't damage structures if you miss.
� Terrorists shoot at buildings even when you can't see them
onscreen. Not every shot that hits a building starts a fire, but if you
hear an explosion without seeing one, it means that a shot has
started a fire somewhere on the island.
� Some of the copters are impossible to catch if you simply try to
chase them. Use strategy! Watch their movements on the radar map
to see what patterns they follow, then lie in wait!
� You cannot fly beyond the island due to the mission instructions
programmed into your navigation system. Some terrorist copters can
fly beyond your range. Lie in wait for them to return.
� When one or more of your copter's systems is heavily damaged, fly
in a direction that will affect a stronger system in the event you are
hit until you can land for repairs.
� You should familiarize yourself with the landmarks of New Seeburg
as you fly over the island, such as the location of the parks, of
industrial areas, and of Force Island. If your radar is knocked out,
you can still navigate visually.
� Highest ratings are achieved by destroying enemy helicopters in
the least amount of time with the lowest overall amount of damage
to the city. Concentrate on destroying low-flying enemy copters (that
shoot at buildings) before destroying higher flying copters (that
shoot at YOU). Fires should be put out as quickly as possible.
WHEN YOU CRASH
Your overall rating (1 to 100, 100 being PERFECT) based on total
damage to the city, number of fires you put out, and the skill level of
the terrorist helicopters you shot down, will appear in the radar
window.
Press any SIDE KEY to start over.
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�1986, 1998 Intellivision Productions, Inc.