For Windows® 95 ©1996 Parallax Software. All rights reserved. Descent II is a trademark of Interplay Productions. All rights reserved. All other copyrights and trademarks are property of their respective owners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 INSTALLING DESCENT II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Automap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Secret Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Energy Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 RUNNING DESCENT II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Force Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TM TM REQUIRED: IBM /Tandy or 100% compatible 486-DX50 or faster with 8 Megabytes of RAM (16mb if running under Windows 95 ), hard drive and Windows 95. INSTALLING DESCENT II TM • TM TM STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Pentium processor, 16MB RAM, stereo 16-bit sound card with General MIDI support, a quality joystick and lots of spare time.
INSTALLING DESCENT II TM • The default subdirectory for the installed files is \GAMES\DESCENT2 on the chosen drive. You can change the sub–directory name by entering a new name in place of this. RUNNING DESCENT II TM From Windows 95: If you’re running Descent II from Windows 95, double-click on the Descent II icon, or click on the “Run Descent II” gadget on the Autorun menu that appears when you first insert your Descent II CD. Descent II will start and play the introductory movie.
RUNNING DESCENT II RUNNING DESCENT II TM Movies and Music Descent II offers full-motion cinematic cutscenes with driving digital soundtracks. They can be displayed in 640x480 VESA, or 320x200 (see install notes at the start of the manual). Based on the install tests, it should suggest which resolution is best for your system. If you experience playback problems during these movies, consult the Troubleshooting section near the back of this manual.
THE MAIN MENU OPTIONS Takes you to the Options Menu (see below). CHANGE PILOTS Allows you to change the current pilot or create a new one. All control configurations and saved games are stored in your pilot file. VIEW DEMO Lets you play a recorded demo file. HIGH SCORES See Descent II High Scores. CREDITS See the list of people who created Descent II. QUIT This will return you to DOS/Win95. OPTIONS MENU FX VOLUME Changes the volume of sound effects.
CONTROLS MENU CONTROLS MENU Select the device you plan to use by pressing . After choosing your device, you can select the Customize Above option to change the function of the various buttons and other controls on that device. Note that your keyboard will always be available. To reassign key functionality, choose the Customize Keyboard option. If you have a Thrustmaster WCS, Gravis Phoenix, or other programmable device, see the README.TXT for more information.
DETAIL LEVEL MENU TOGGLES MENU Select one of the five detail level settings. Lower settings will give faster screen updates in the game; higher settings will give better graphics quality. You may also chose the Custom Settings option. There are six different settings you can adjust in the Custom Details menu: OBJECT COMPLEXITY: This affects the number of polygons used by objects like robots, player ships, and other 3D objects. Lower values will increase speed but simplify the shape of many objects.
TOGGLES MENU KEYS ESCORT ROBOT HOT KEYS: When this is turned on, you may command the Guide-Bot using the -1 through -0 hot keys instead of selecting a command from the Guide-Bot menu. KEYS This section describes keys that are active during game play. Many of the keys can be reconfigured in the Options/Controls/Customize Keyboard screen. For information of key usage in menus, see above.
KEYS KEYS A/A A A A0 1 2 G G F5 Toggle display of player names on HUD F6 Change player name display on HUD Drop flag (Capture the Flag games only) The following keys can be reassigned in the Options/Controls menu. The defaults are shown here: Reverse Bank left OR OR Bank right Afterburner (with Power–up) slide Weapons: Flying controls: WX 46 UV 89 WA !# -+ a OR OR Turn left, right C Z b f SG SG .
KEYS KEYS Weapon Selection: Each selection key will switch between the two weapons assigned to that key. Descent II will remember which of the two weapons you last selected, and will return to that one when you return to that entry.
KEYS PLAYING DESCENT II TM The following keys are active when using certain VR devices. See below for information on using these devices. A A A A A A G G G G G G F5 Toggle VictorMaxx mode F6 F7 Cycle VR resolution Following is a description of the features and gameplay options in Descent II. When you play Descent II, you find yourself thrown into alien worlds populated by deranged robots, determined to destroy you. It is your mission to fight through the robot hordes to each mine’s Main Reactor.
PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM New to Descent II is the Guide-Bot. He’s an automated scout robot that has been smuggled into the mines to help you. He’s small, blue, and can be found on all of the regular levels though not on the secret levels. He’s usually imprisoned in a little cell near the entrance of each mine. You can choose to free him by blasting open the door to his cell and use his help, or leave him be (you will not be penalized).
PLAYING DESCENT II TM PLAYING DESCENT II TM Weapons 6 Concussion Missile Flash Missile 7 Homing Missile Guided Missile Your Pyro-GX is equiped with Primary and Secondary weapon systems. There are 10 weapons of each type. When you are first inserted into Level 1, you are equipped with Laser Cannons and Concussion Missiles. As you explore the mines, you will find more powerful weapons and powerups to use. See the Powerups section for a complete description of each weapon.
PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM TM ENERGY BOOST: This will give your energy banks a boost, up to 200 units max. Energy Centers can deliver recharges up to 100 units. SHIELD BOOST: This will give your ship’s shields a kick. By getting shield powerups, you can get your shields up to a maximum of 200 units. CLOAKING DEVICE: Cloaks your ship a limited time.
PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM SPREADFIRE CANNON This fires a spread of TM GUIDED MISSILES: These missiles are guided by the pilot (using normal flying controls) until detonated or until the fire key is pressed again. At that point, they become normal homing missiles. PROXIMITY BOMBS: These bombs are launched behind your ship, waiting to explode when something gets near. Can be armed as a secondary weapon, or dropped directly with Drop Bomb key (by default).
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:01 PM Page 32 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM TM Doors Control Panels There are a variety of doors that can be found in the PTMC mines. Most can be opened by either bumping into them or shooting them. There are some, though, that can only be opened if you have the appropriate access key. Others can only be opened if certain actions are performed or the Reactor is set to self-destruct (e.g. the emergency exit). Hostage doors must be destroyed by repeat fire.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:01 PM Page 34 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM Main Reactor TM hostages, be sure to leave the mine alive. If your ship is destroyed, any hostages on board will die as well! The Automap The Reactor is the power generator of the whole mine. It’s usually located in a secluded place away from day-to-day mine mishaps. When the reactor is severely damaged, it will initiate a sequence ending in the destruction of the entire mine.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:01 PM Page 36 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM TM Exit from a secret level is also via teleporter. You may exit at any time even if the level has not been destroyed. Unlike normal levels, secret levels may be visited repeatedly, even if you die there. However, once the reactor on a secret level has been destroyed, you cannot return. Secret levels do not conform to the rules of normal levels. Be prepared for anything to happen.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:01 PM Page 38 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM Force Fields TM Robot Generators Automated centers that determine a mine’s needs and assemble robots from surrounding minerals and metals. Very dangerous. Force Fields are energy beams used to block access to parts of the mine. They will repell and damage your ship upon contact, and reflect energy weapons. They have been placed in the mine to guard the keys or powerups.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:01 PM Page 40 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM Markers will appear on the Automap screen as a red dot with the marker number inside. You can see the text for a marker by using 1-9 keys to select a marker. The text for that marker will be displayed on the screen. To delete the selected marker, press Ctrl-D. In multiplayer games, you can use the - and - keys to select camera views from your markers.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:02 PM Page 42 PLAYING DESCENT II PLAYING DESCENT II TM 7) Enemy missile lock alarm 8) Access key indicator 9) Current score 10) Ships remaining 11) Afterburner energy indicator 12) ProxBomb/SmartMine counter Missile Views TM window. In the largest window size, the status bar is not available. Smaller window sizes will provide faster graphics updates. Rear View To look out the rear of your ship, press (you can change this key in the Controls menu).
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:02 PM Page 44 DEMOS & SCREENSHOTS Sorry, DESCENT 1 Demos are incompatible with DESCENT II playback. Descent II has a fully integrated demo recording and playback system. This recording will work in single or multiplayer games, so you can have a permanent record of blasting your friends to pieces. Hitting in the game will turn on recording. Hitting it again will turn it off and prompt you for a filename.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:02 PM Page 46 MULTIPLAYER GAMES This section contains information specific to multiplayer games. Descent II supports multiplayer games over a modem, direct serial connection, or IPX network. Special Keys There are several keys that perform special functions in Multiplayer games. ACCEPT PLAYER ENTRY : Available only in Restricted games.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:02 PM Page 48 MULTIPLAYER GAMES MULTIPLAYER GAME INFO (PAUSE): Pressing PAUSE in a multiplayer game will bring up an information window describing various properties about the netgame, such as game mode, packet loss, and who is currently master of this game. Press to leave this window. Note: You will still be vulnerable to attack while you are viewing this window. Special rules/features Some special rules and features apply to Multiplayer Descent II Games.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:02 PM Page 50 MULTIPLAYER GAMES better to choose a 38400 baud rate in the menu. This will allow Descent II to spend less time communicating with the modem, and will increase game performance. Modem Descent II requires at least a 9600 baud modem with an error correction protocol (preferably v.42). Data compression is also helpful, and should be enabled in the modem (v.42bis is preferable). The modem should respond to a drop in the DTR control line by hanging up.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 52 MULTIPLAYER GAMES Another feature of the modem game is the ability to send messages back and forth between connected players before they are in the game. You can do this by selecting Send Message from the Serial Game menu. This option is only available once a connection has been established. This is useful if you do not have an extra phone line for voice communication while playing and you need to negotiate the terms of the game.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 54 MULTIPLAYER GAMES Starting a Netgame MULTIPLAYER GAMES ROBO-ANARCHY: Same as Anarchy, but with robots thrown in. The goal is still to kill your human opponents; however, the robots have their own agenda... Robots are also a good source of powerups. COOPERATIVE: Humans vs. the robots. Save humanity! Start Netgame Menu: DESCRIPTION: The name of the game, literally. This is the name other people will see when they are choosing a game to join.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 56 MULTIPLAYER GAMES RESTRICTED GAME: This new Descent II mode operates the same as Open games with one change. When a new player attempts to join a Restricted game, one of the current players will be sent a message, giving him/her the option of hitting to accept that player. If the acceptance isn’t given within five seconds, the player is denied entry. Denied players may attempt to join as often as they wish.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 58 MULTIPLAYER GAMES SET OBJECTS ALLOWED: This screen allows the person starting the game to disallow any Descent II weapons and objects. Disallowed objects will be replaced with shield powerups. NETWORK SOCKET: This allows you to start the netgame on a different socket number. NOTE: joining players must change to the same socket number in the Join Netgame menu. MULTIPLAYER GAMES colored BLUE and Team 2 ships will be RED.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 60 MULTIPLAYER GAMES OPEN: This means the game is in progress, and you may join at any time. MULTIPLAYER GAMES deaths would have a 71% Efficiency. Players with no kills will show N/A in this field. CLOSED: The game is playing, but closed to new players. RESTRICT: The game is Restricted. When a player attempts to join the game, one player already in the game will be given the choice of accepting the new player or not.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 62 TROUBLESHOOTING & COMMON PROBLEMS TROUBLESHOOTING & COMMON PROBLEMS Regardless of configuration, you should have no trouble running Descent II. But in the unlikely case you do have problems, consult this section. Also consult the README.TXT file for up-to-date questions and answers. Q: DESCENT II DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE SOME OF THE COOL SOUND EFFECTS IT USED TO. FOR EXAMPLE, MY FLARES MAKE LASER FIRING SOUNDS.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 64 TROUBLESHOOTING & COMMON PROBLEMS Q: I HAVE A SMALL GAME WINDOW AND A LOW DETAIL LEVEL, BUT DESCENT II STILL LOADS AND RUNS SLOWLY. A: Check your sound card settings in SETUP. Incorrect settings can cause significant slowdown. Modem/Serial Problems Q: MY MODEM GAMES ARE MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL ONE-PLAYER GAMES. A: Try using a higher baud rate in the Com Settings menu.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 66 TROUBLESHOOTING & COMMON PROBLEMS TROUBLESHOOTING & COMMON PROBLEMS A: While Descent II isn’t really designed for slow connection games such as these, you may be able to improve them. One thing that may help is starting the netgame with a lower Packets per Second value (under Multiplayer/Start Netgame/More Options). You can also try enabling the Short Packets option under Multiplayer/Start/More Options.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 68 CREDITS CREDITS DESCENT II BY PARALLAX SOFTWARE Original Design MIKE KULAS MATT TOSCHLOG Programming MATT TOSCHLOG MIKE KULAS JOHN SLAGEL JASON LEIGHTON SAMIR SINHA MARK ALLENDER CHE-YUAN WANG Art & 3D Models ADAM PLETCHER JASEN WHITESIDE DOUG BROOKS MARK DINSE DAN WENTZ Level Design JASEN WHITESIDE MARK DINSE DAN WENTZ CHE-YUAN WANG Multiplayer Programming ROBERT HUEBNER JASON LEIGHTON JOHN SLAGEL Cinematic Sequences ADAM PLETCHER DOUG BROOKS Midi Mus
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 70 CUSTOMER SUPPORT LIMITED WARRANTY If you have any questions about this, or any other Interplay product, you can reach our Customer Service/Technical Support Group at: INTERPLAY LIMITED 90-DAY WARRANTY Interplay, 17922 Fitch Avenue, Irvine, CA 92714 Attn: Customer Service.
Descent II PC 6/23/00 4:05 PM Page 72 INTERPLAY’S WORLD WIDE WEB SITE Welcome to the Interplay Web! As a company dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality interactive entertainment software, we are always striving to stay as close as possible to the leading edge of technology. This Web site is the latest example of our ongoing effort to provide a wealth of information and opportunities to you.
