Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page i ™ THE RIDGE CHIPPING SODBURY SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BS17 6BN Manuals © 1997 MicroProse Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Game © 1997 Mythos Games Ltd. and MicroProse Ltd. X-COM Universe and other elements © 1997 MicroProse Ltd. All Right Reserved. MICROPROSE and X-COM are registered trademarks and X-COM APOCALYPSE is a trademark of MicroProse Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. MADE IN THE UK.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page ii CONTENTS INTRODUCTION X-COM® Background Game Overview Special Note to X-COM Veterans Finding Out Where Everything Is Installation And Loading This Manual The Point And Click Interface Game Screens 1 2 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 THE GAMEPLAY TUTORIALS Starting A New Game 13 14 Tutorial One: Using the Cityscape Exploring The City The Central Information Panel Game Time Controls The Alert Screen Tracking X-COM Vehicles 16 17 18 19 20 23 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat Sav
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page iv Introduction iv p. 1 p.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 2 Introduction X-COM® BACKGROUND Dear Section Commander Welcome to X-COM (Extraterrestrial Combat unit). You are now part of a tradition that spans back to the late 1990’s. Let me appraise you of X-COM’s activities to date and, more importantly, the activities of the Aliens we have encountered. Back in the mid 1990s it became evident that “we were not alone”.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 4 Introduction Unfortunately, the last four years have seen this comfortable, low-cost lifestyle rapidly deteriorate. The social and physical fabric of our society has decayed at an alarming rate; sociologists have been, as yet, unable to explain the cause of decay. Statistics clearly demonstrate increases in physical and cyberspace violence, family breakdowns, crime, ethnic unrest and strange cult group involvement.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 6 Introduction X-COM must recover all Alien artefacts and technology from Alien encounters, in order to research and develop new weapons and craft. The results of your investigations will be published in the UFOpaedia, so that both you and your Agents have the most up-to-date information. Without this information we will not know of the Aliens’ intent or, more importantly, a means by which we can defeat them.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 8 Introduction FINDING OUT WHERE EVERYTHING IS The Technical Supplement is where you’ll find detailed information about hardware requirements, installation, start-up instructions and any late changes to the game. Since it was written later, this information is more up to date than anything in the manual.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 10 Introduction simply move the cursor over the item and press the Left-Mouse-Button (LMB), unless otherwise stated. Note: we will cover these in more detail later. MOUSE CONTROL - ‘DOUBLE CLICKING’ Move the cursor over the item and ‘click’ the LMB twice in quick succession. X-COM Funds MOUSE CONTROL - ‘DRAG AND DROP’ A ‘Drag and Drop’ system is also used in many parts of the game. • To ‘Drag’ - click and hold the LMB over an item.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 12 THE GAMEPLAY TUTORIALS 12 p. 13 p.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 14 The Gameplay Tutorials Welcome to X-COM Apocalypse. The following section is designed to help you get into the game with the minimum of fuss. The two main sections of the game are covered here: the Cityscape, where you deploy your Agents to investigate Alien activity; Tactical Combat, where your Agents combat the Alien menace face to face. In the final Tutorial, we will return to the Cityscape to buy equipment, Recruit and Equip Agents.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 16 TUTORIAL ONE: USING THE CITYSCAPE In this first Tutorial we will take a look around Mega-Primus, introduce the basic controls of the Cityscape, focus on Alerts and deploying your Agents on Tactical Missions. Cityscape Display In the Control Panel you will see the Message Bar, a group of Cityscape Options, a display of the Game Time, the Time Controls and the Central Information Panel (more on the use of this later).
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 18 Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape • Click on the X-COM Vehicles Tab (to the right of the Bases Tab), it will turn Blue. All functions that relate to X-COM Vehicles are coloured Blue. THE CENTRAL INFORMATION PANEL The Central Information Panel is very important in the game and it is this that we will look at next.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 20 Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape Investigate Incident Look at the Game Time. You will see that it is passing at a very slow rate, allowing you time to plan your strategy and look around the city. To control the rate at which time passes, you can click any of the Time Controls. • Click . Time will pass at an increased rate (as time passes, you will eventually see day change to night). You can use the Time Controls to speed up the pace of the action.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 22 Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape • Highlight an Agent’s name (from the left-hand list). • Click and hold the Left-Mouse Button with the cursor over the Agent Icon. ‘Drag’ that Agent (from the left-hand list) to the Valkyrie Interceptor icon and release the LMB. The Agent should now appear underneath it. The number ‘1’ should appear in the corner of the Valkyrie icon showing that one Agent is now assigned to that vehicle.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 24 Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape TUTORIAL TWO: TACTICAL COMBAT • Click the X-COM Vehicles Tab and then select the Valkyrie Interceptor from the Vehicle List. The icon will highlight and the display will centre on the Interceptor. The display will automatically scroll with the Vehicle as it heads towards the Alert Site. This, the second Tutorial, guides you through Tactical Combat; the section of the game where you fight hostile units face-to-face.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 26 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat • Click to go straight into the Real-Time game. • Or, click to start a Turn-Based game. Save Game The Squad Assignment Screen will now open. From here you can assign your Agents into different squads. It is possible to have up to six squads each containing up to six Agents (for full details, see Squad Assignment Screen in the Tactical Game section of the Reference Guide).
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 28 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat Note : if you are playing the Turn-Based game the Time Controls will be replaced by four new buttons. These are used to reserve Time Units for shooting and kneeling (more on this later). There is also an End Turn button. THE TACTICAL SCREEN The Tactical Screen is split into two sections, the Tactical Display and the Control Panel.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 30 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat SELECTING SQUADS Squad Icons Agent Icons the centre of the markers. The Agent’s present state of health is shown by the health bar positioned along the top of the marker. In the lower half of the marker, the Agent’s Attack Mode is indicated by a coloured bar. Blue represents Safe Mode, Green is Cautious Mode and Red indicates Aggressive Mode.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 32 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat After selecting a squad, you can move it in single file, or in a ‘Group’-Formation. Group-Formation is selected as the default movement mode because it allows your Agents to cover a wider area and explore more in a shorter space of time. In the Tactical Game, the cursor is accompanied by a green box as you move it around the Tactical Display.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 34 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat • Click the button once more to return the display to the original Level Mode 2 setting. USING SPLIT LEVEL VIEWS The Tactical Area is built-up of several levels. These may be viewed individually or assembled into a complete 3-D picture. Splitting the Tactical Area into levels allows you to see behind walls and inside rooms (if you have already explored them).
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 36 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat SELECTING INDIVIDUAL AGENTS Squad Icons MOVING INDIVIDUAL AGENTS Agent Icons After selecting an Agent (see above) you are now ready to move that Agent. • Click on a destination a short way in front of the Agent. • A single yellow arrow will appear to mark the Agent’s new destination. • Click . • The Agent will now move to the new destination. There are two ways to select an Agent from the current squad.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 38 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat • Click • Click You will see Yellow arrows on the Map; these are X-COM Agents. Any Red arrows are hostile units and any Purple arrows represent neutral personnel. . to activate the Overhead Map View. The Overhead Map View allows you to see more of the Tactical Area on screen. The diamond shape outline, shows the area of the map that will be displayed when you return to the Isometric Map View.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 40 Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat When one of your Agents sees an Alien, a small Alien indicator will appear above the icon of that Agent in the Control Panel. Clicking on the ‘Alien Sighted’ Indicators will cause the display to be centred on the relevant Alien. Agents will open fire automatically on any Aliens sighted. They will also use any cover available (within a one square radius). Grav Lift • To use a Grav Lift, move your Agents to the Lift.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 42 TUTORIAL THREE: TACTICAL COMBAT (ADVANCED MOVEMENT) In this, the Third Tutorial, we will replay the Tactical Mission we started in Tutorial Two. Here we will learn to use some of the more advanced movement options available to you during Tactical Combat Missions. RUNNING Agent movement is not restricted to walking. Sometimes your Agents will need to cover ground very quickly, when they are retreating or moving into cover.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 44 Tutorial Three: Tactical Combat (Advanced Movement) CRAWLING Kneeling functions differently to Walking, Running and Crawling as it is a position that your Agents will adopt once they have reached their destination. • Click In X-COM Apocalypse, it is essential for Agents to use cover. You must learn to position and move your Agents strategically within the Tactical Area.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 46 TUTORIAL FOUR: TACTICAL COMBAT (ATTACKING THE ENEMY) Tutorial Four continues where Tutorial Three left-off and concentrates on the Attack Modes and Shot-Type controls available to you in Tactical Combat Missions. If you want to reload your Saved Game, you can do so now otherwise you will need to continue walking around the Tactical Area until you encounter some Aliens.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 48 Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy) In conjunction with Attack Mode, you should also give Agents weapon orders. • Click to make your Agent favour an Aimed-Shot. The Aimed-Shot is more accurate than the Snap or Auto-Shots but the rate of fire is slower. • Now, select and give your other Agents different orders. Experiment with different combinations and see what happens. • Clicking will prevent your Agents from firing.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 50 Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy) • To select a weapon, click on one of the Agent’s ‘hands’. The cursor will change to a white Target Cursor. Move the Target Cursor over the hostile unit - it will turn red indicating that it is positioned over a potential target. FIRING IN THE TURN-BASED GAME If you encounter a hostile unit, you should use a weapon against it before it gets a chance to fire.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 52 Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy) 2) The Agent hits the hostile unit with the shot. Aliens can be very tough, so don’t be surprised if they don’t die from the first hit. • Click on the grenade to bring up the Prime Grenade ‘window’. 3) The hostile unit fires back. If this happens, pray that it does not hit your Agent and that your next shot kills it.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 54 Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy) • Click next to the hand containing the grenade. • Click a target in the Isometric Map View. The grenade will now be thrown there. After three seconds (or at the end of the Turn, in the Turn-Based Game) it will detonate, clearing whatever is in that area. If an Agent already has a grenade in his/her hand and you need him/her to throw it quickly, simply select the grenade with the RMB in the Hands Area.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 56 Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy) • Click If Agents are injured you may well want them to leave the Tactical Area in order to seek medical attention. to end the Turn. COMPLETING TACTICAL COMBAT MISSIONS • Select the Exit Point as the destination for your Agents and they will walk out of the Tactical Area automatically.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 58 TUTORIAL FIVE: RETURNING TO THE CITYSCAPE In this, the Final Tutorial, you will learn how to Buy Equipment, Hire and Fire Agents and Assign Research. How you manage your Base’s resources will define how well you will be able to deal with the Alien threat. If you are continuing from any of the previous Tutorials and have lost Agents, don’t worry, we will show you how to purchase and recruit right now.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 60 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape Note: time is paused whilst you are in the Bases Screen. Time will resume only when you return to the Cityscape. • The Base List displays all of X-COM’s current Bases. When you buy items they are delivered to the selected Base. As you have only one Base at the beginning, it will already be selected. Any items you buy will be delivered here. BUYING EQUIPMENT You will need to choose the item type from the Menu Bar.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 62 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape • Drag the Slider Bar to the right until the number ‘4’ is displayed in X-COM’s stores. We have now ordered four M4000 machine guns from Marsec. Repeat the same process for the Marsec M4000 Gun Clip, but this time order ‘8’. Next to the Base List you will see a bar showing you how much storage capacity you have used. • Click OK when you have finished, to accept all of your choices and return to the Bases Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 64 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape You can select the type of personnel that you wish to hire, from the Menu Bar. We will recruit more X-COM Agents - in your fight against the Aliens, it is likely that you will sustain casualties. • Click on the different icons in the Menu Bar. Potential X-COM Agents and scientists will now appear in the Civilians List on the right-side of the screen. • Click . • Move your cursor over the Civilians.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 66 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape • Click on the Biochemistry Tab in the Central Information Panel. Clicking any of the Biochemists will reveal their names and the details of any project they are currently working on. As we have yet to assign any of our Biochemists to a project, they will be flagged as ‘Free’. • Click and you will be taken to the Research and Manufacture Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 68 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape • Click all of the scientists in the Available Personnel List to Assign them to the new project. As you select them, they will appear in the Assigned Personnel List (bottom-right of the screen). facilities. For the moment we will want to build Stores, Living Quarters and another Biochemistry Lab. This way we can accommodate more scientists and have somewhere to store new weapons and equipment.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 70 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape • Drag and drop the Stores to the desired location on your Base Display (in the middle of the screen). WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Note: you can only build a Base facility over an existing corridor. • Click The new facility will now be shown on the Base Display, displaying the number of construction days remaining before it is completed.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 72 Tutorial Five - Returning To The Cityscape These Tutorials form a basic guide to X-COM Apocalypse. Use the Reference Guide section of this manual for details of specific menu options or game features. There may be further game enhancements documented in the Technical Supplement. For atmosphere and background, browse through the X-COM Rookies’ Guide included in your package.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 74 REFERENCE GUIDE 74 p. p.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:57 Page 76 Reference Guide After the Intro Sequence has finished playing, you will be taken to the Main Menu Screen. Position your cursor over the required option and click. STARTING A NEW GAME MAIN MENU Select Start Campaign Game from the Main Menu Screen. You will be taken to the Select Difficulty Screen. The Main Menu Screen allows you to select between: Start Campaign Game Load Game Quit 76 p. 77 p.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 78 Reference Gude CITYSCAPE SCREEN This allows you to change the way the game plays to suit your own ability. Difficulty levels range from Novice to Superhuman. It is recommended that you complete the game at one of the lower levels before attempting to play at Superhuman level. The Cityscape Screen allows you to manage X-COM’s resources and develop your long term strategy.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 80 Cityscape Screen In the Control Panel you will see the Message Bar, a group of Cityscape Options, a display of the Game Time, the Time Controls and the Central Information Panel (more on the use of this later). EXPLORING MEGA-PRIMUS Mega-Primus is a vast Megalopolis. The Cityscape Display shows only a small area of the city at any one time. To see more of the city, we can scroll this Display: • Move the mouse cursor to the left edge of the screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 82 Cityscape Screen 4. Menu Bar - This allows you to select Investigate Building For Alien Activity, Raid Building, Equip Agents and Equip Vehicles. • Click on the Agent names you wish to select, from the Agent and Vehicle Lists. The Buildings Screen can be used for the following purposes:- Note: click the Agent names again to deselect them.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 84 Cityscape Screen MESSAGES Located beneath the Cityscape Display is the Message Bar which informs you of all events in the city. MESSAGE BAR Message History Message Bar Centre-On This screen contains a list of messages. • Click to return to the Cityscape Display. The display will now be centred on the source of the selected message. All messages received by X-COM will appear in the Message Bar.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 86 Cityscape Screen MESSAGE PANEL • Click the Tick from the Message Panel, a Cross will appear indicating that the Message Panel is now disabled. The game will no longer pause every time this particular message arrives (the message will still appear in the Message Bar). • You can also disable specific messages from the Options Screen (For full details see Options Screen later in this chapter).
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 88 Cityscape Screen THE ISOMETRIC AND OVERHEAD MAP VIEWS The Cityscape Display always defaults to the Isometric Map View. This view shows real life objects within Mega-Primus: X-COM vehicles, Buildings, UFOs and Dimension Gates. • Click to change to the Overhead Map View. The Overhead Map View is an important strategic tool; it allows you to see a larger section of the city.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 90 Cityscape Screen • Click the organisation of your choice to see how far it has been infiltrated; the percentage of Alien Infiltration is displayed on the graph. Use the colour Key at the bottom of the screen to see which organisations are displayed on the graph. If the line rises above the critical level (indicated by a line half way up the graph) then the organisation is at risk from Alien take-over. • Click OK to exit this screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 92 Cityscape Screen • Click any of these buttons to access the section you require:- UFOpaedia Data Screens Organisations - Details on organisations in the city and their role in city affairs. Vehicles - X-COM, police and any other civilian vehicles. Vehicle Equipment - Details on vehicle weaponry, engines and general equipment. Equipment - Details on guns, grenades, Psionic weapons and general equipment.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 94 Cityscape Screen THE OPTIONS SCREEN The Options Screen allows you to: Saving A Game • Click Save Game. • • • • • • • Save Games Load Games Delete Saved Games Abandon Game Quit X-COM Apocalypse Set Sound Options Set Game Preferences • Click • Select any one of the 10 slots to save your current game. Type in the name for your saved game using the keyboard and press Return. You should receive the message ‘“Saving Game” followed by “Save Successful”.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 96 Cityscape Screen Abandoning Games Preferences • Click Abandon Game to abandon your current game and return to the Main Menu. Messages At the top of the Preferences Panel there is a list of messages. Quit X-COM Apocalypse • To switch a message off, click on the Tick, a Cross will appear in its place indicating that the message is now disabled. Disabled messages will only appear in the Message Bar and will not pause the game.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 98 Cityscape Screen The advantage of changing the speed of time, is that you can play the game at a rate which suits you. You can also pause the game to evaluate your strategy when Alien activity is frantic. GAME TIME DISPLAY X-COM Apocalypse begins at 12.00 noon on the 7th March 2084. • Click on any of the Time Controls on the right-hand-side of the Control Panel, to set the rate at which time passes. Note: the game clock is a 24 hour clock, meaning that 5.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 100 Cityscape Screen BASES TAB This panel provides you direct access to all of your resources, allowing you total control over X-COM forces. The panel consists of eight tabs, each containing further options.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 102 Bases Tab The Bases Tab contains the following features: The Bases Screen consists of six main areas: 1. Base List - This area shows all X-COM Bases. You can buy a maximum of eight Bases. To select a Base, simply click the one you want (click again to centre the display on the selected Base). 2. Base Name - The name of the presently selected Base will be displayed below the Base List. 3. - Click this icon to take you to the Bases Screen. 4.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 104 Bases Tab INFORMATION PANEL Moving the cursor over the Base facilities in the Base Display, or Facilities Menu, will display the name of the facility in the Information Panel, along with all relevant facility information. Note: as the game progresses, you will be able to research new technology that can be incorporated into your Bases.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 106 Bases Tab existing facilities. There are a range of reasons why you might choose to do this: you no longer have a need for some facilities or, you have completed research into better facilities and you wish to upgrade the existing ones. Whatever the reason, the demolition process is very simple: • Click on the facility you wish to destroy, in the Base Display. You will then be prompted to confirm whether you wish to destroy the facility or not.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 108 Bases Tab The screen contains:- • Click OK to hire your chosen personnel and return to the Bases Screen. 1. Base List - Click any of the Bases to change your Base selection. 2. Information Panel - Agent stats and information will be displayed here. 3. Civilian List - Displayed on the far right of the screen, this lists available personnel for X-COM to hire. 4. Agent List - A list of currently employed X-COM Agents. 5.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 110 Bases Tab BUYING AND SELLING ITEMS • Click from the Base Display, to open this screen. From here you buy everything to equip your vehicles and Agents. • Click on the Base of your choice from the Base List. To change your Base selection, simply click on another Base. Base List Menu Bar The Buy and Sell Screen consists of:1. Base List - Located on the left of the screen, these icons show all of your Bases. 2.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 112 Bases Tab Next to the Base List you will see a bar showing you how much storage capacity you have used. Watch this bar. As your stores fill-up, you should consider building another Storage Facility. The Total Funds available to you are displayed in the top-right corner of the screen. Fund Adjustments, as a result of buying and selling items, are displayed in the top left corner.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 114 Bases Tab 3. Item Menu - This displays a list of equipment, the number at each Base and a Slider Bar. 4. Information Panel - Located on the left-side of the screen, this panel will display the currently highlighted item (from the Item Menu), and any information about it. TRANSFERRING ITEMS Before transferring items, you must first select the two Bases to transfer goods between. • Click on the Base of your choice from the left-hand Base List.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 116 Bases Tab X-COM VEHICLES TAB To buy a new Base you must first go to the Cityscape Screen. • Click the Bases Tab from the Central Information Panel. • Click . You will be shown the Overhead Map View of Mega-Primus. Available sites for new Bases will be shown with a flashing white box. Existing Bases will be highlighted with a flashing green box. • Click on an available building to select a site for your Base; you will be taken to the Buy Base Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 118 X-COM Vehicles Tab The X-COM Vehicles Tab consists of:1. Vehicle List - This shows all of X-COM’s vehicles. Use the Scroll Arrows to look through the list of vehicles. Click on a vehicle icon to select that vehicle; click a second time to centre the display on the selected vehicle. You can select more than one vehicle by holding down the Control key (on the keyboard) and clicking on the vehicle icons. Click the vehicle icons with the RMB to deselect them. 10.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 120 X-COM Vehicles Tab The Equip Vehicle Screen consists of these main areas:1. Vehicle List 2. Vehicle with Arming Areas 3. Information Panel - Moving the cursor over any of the vehicles in the Vehicle List, or any of the items in the Item Menu, will display corresponding information in this panel. 4. Item Menu - This area lists either: Weapons, Equipment or Engines. 5.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 122 X-COM Vehicles Tab This screen allows you to drag and drop Agents to and from vehicles to assign and de-assign them GO TO BUILDING Orders a vehicle towards a selected building. • Use the Vehicle List to choose a vehicle. VEHICLE ORDERS • Click on the vehicle to select it. With your vehicle equipped and ready for action, you can send it out on a mission. To give your vehicles orders, you must be in the Cityscape Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 124 X-COM Vehicles Tab • Use the Vehicle List to choose a vehicle • Click on the vehicle to select it • Click . The vehicle will make its way back to Base where it will wait for further orders. ATTACK HOSTILE UNIT See Intercepting Hostile Vehicles later in this chapter. INTERCEPTING HOSTILE VEHICLES When UFOs appear in the city, you may order X-COM vehicles to intercept them. Attack Hostile Unit orders an X-COM craft to intercept a vehicle selected by you.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 126 X-COM Vehicles Tab RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Whenever your vehicles are executing orders in Mega-Primus, you can control their behaviour by setting the Rules of Engagement. Attack Mode Aggressive Standard Weapons On/Off Often your vehicles are armed with an array of weaponry, some of which might be too powerful for the mission in hand.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 128 X-COM Vehicles Tab A waypoint is a fixed map position that a craft will travel through before moving on to the next waypoint or the final destination. However, this is not always possible, so here are a few tips for you when you engage UFOs in the city: Note: it is best to add waypoints and plan strategy whilst you are in the Overhead Map View. • If possible, use multiple attack vehicles.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 130 X-COM Vehicles Tab Alien technology as possible and the only way to do that is to capture Aliens, their weapons and their UFO technology. You should therefore aim to down UFOs rather than destroy them. SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER When a UFO has crash-landed, you should send your Agents out to investigate the crash site, before the Aliens destroy the evidence (to protect the secrets of their technology).
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 132 AGENT TAB At the beginning of the game, X-COM has a small number of Agents capable of carrying out investigations; generally these will be rookies. As the operation expands, these Agents will gain more experience and be promoted. • Select the Agent Tab from the Central Information Panel in the Cityscape. Agent Tab Agent List 2. Agent Name and Orders - This information area shows the presently highlighted Agent’s name and current orders. 3.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 134 Agent Tab EQUIPPING AGENTS Equipment Areas Information Panel • Look through the Agent List using the Scroll Arrows. Agent List Menu Bar Agent Service Record Agent List Item Menu The Equip Agent Screen consists of these main areas:1. Agent - Centrally located, the Agent’s body diagram is used to fit Armour. 2. Equipment Areas - These relate to areas on the Agent’s body where equipment and weaponry can be carried. 3.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 136 Agent Tab • To locate the desired item, cycle through the Item Menu at the bottom of the screen. • Drag and drop items from the Item Menu to the Equipment Area of your choice (on the Agent). To remove an item from an Agent, simply drag and drop the item to the Item Menu. The item will now be returned to the stores. You can equip multiple Agents with the same item to avoid unnecessary time spent in the Equip Agent Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 138 Agent Tab Note: for further details see Buildings Screen in the Cityscape section of this manual. Agent Tab THE ALERT SCREEN Whenever there is an Alert in Mega-Primus, X-COM will be informed via the Alert Screen. Alerts warn of Alien activity in all its guises. Alert Information • Click to highlight your Agents, then click Menu Bar . Agent List • Select the building you wish to investigate by clicking on it in the Overhead/Isometric Map View.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 140 Agent Tab 3. Vehicle List - The right of the screen gives a list of all vehicles, the Agents assigned to them and the vehicle’s present location. 4. Menu Bar - You can select to Investigate Incident, Equip Agent, Equip Vehicle or click OK to ignore the Alert and return to the Cityscape. Note: click an Agent or Vehicle icon to equip any of your Agents or vehicles.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 142 Agent Tab TRAINING X-COM Agents, although the best in the city, are still able to improve their abilities. They achieve this through dedicated training at the Base gyms. There are two ways in which an Agent can improve themselves:• Combat Training • Psi-Training The process for putting an Agent into Psi-Training, is the same as putting one in for Combat Training.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 144 BIOCHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING AND QUANTUM PHYSICS TABS When you first start the game X-COM will already have a small number of quantum physicists, biochemists and engineers. You will need these to succeed against the Aliens; only with a dedicated group of scientists and engineers carrying out quantum research, biochemistry research and manufacturing will this be possible.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 146 Agent Tab The Research and Manufacture Screen consists of these main elements:1. Base List - This shows all of your Bases. 2. Menu Bar - There are two options: Assign Project and Stop Project. 3.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 148 Biochemistry, Engineering and Quantum Physics Tabs • Click to assign personnel from the Available Personnel List. They will now be repositioned in the Assigned Personnel List. Research on this project will now begin. • Click OK to close this screen. Stopping Projects You may wish to reassign personnel to a more important project. In this case, you can temporarily stop one project, in favour of another.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 150 HOSTILE VEHICLES TAB ORGANISATIONS TAB • Select the Hostile Vehicles Tab from the Central Information Panel in the Cityscape. • Select the Organisations Tab from the Central Information Panel in the Cityscape. This Tab contains a scroll list of all hostile vehicles in Mega-Primus. The Hostile Vehicles Tab allows you to select and track hostile vehicles when they appear in Mega-Primus.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 152 THE TACTICAL GAME X-COM Apocalypse offers the X-COM Commander more scope for action than either of the previous X-COM games. Tactical combat can be initiated in many different scenarios. Raids - X-COM Agents can raid buildings, steal equipment, attack security guards and inflict structural damage causing economic difficulties for the owning organisation.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 154 The Tactical Game The Briefing Screen allows you to choose between Real-Time and Turn-Based modes of play. • Click to start a Real-Time Game. This mode provides a much more realistic simulation of individual combat. It is more challenging than the TurnBased Game. • Click SQUAD ASSIGNMENT SCREEN This screen allows you to assign Agents into squads. Equip Agent this to start a Turn-Based Tactical Game.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 156 The Tactical Game To change an Agent’s current squad assignment, drag and drop them from one squad, to another. THE TACTICAL SCREEN Note: you can assign and reassign Agents as much as you wish. INFORMATION PANEL As you move the cursor over Agents you will see their statistics displayed in the Information Panel; the boxes below indicate any weapons being carried in the Agents left and right hands.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 158 The Tactical Game EXPLORING THE TACTICAL DISPLAY Note: you can also use the cursor keys on the keyboard to scroll the map. Moving the cursor to the edges of the screen will cause the display to scroll revealing more of the Tactical Combat Area. At the start of each Tactical Combat Mission, time is automatically paused so that you are able to look around and plan your initial moves.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 160 The Tactical Game Solid arrows show units on the present level; large outline arrows show units above the current level; small outline arrows show units below the current level. The direction of the arrow indicates the direction that a unit is facing. 1. Message Bar - Any messages received by X-COM during Tactical Combat Missions will appear in the Message Bar.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 162 The Tactical Game 7. Double Click the Squad Icons to select and highlight squads. Each icon will display the number of Agents in the squad. To deselect squads, simply click on the icon with the RMB. 8. Formations - There are two squad formations you can use: Time Units for Shooting and Kneeling (see Turn Based Tactical Game for details). There is also an End Turn button.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 164 The Tactical Game Remaining Ammo - The vertical bar next to the Agent’s hand, indicates how much ammo is left in the weapon carried in that hand. - Click on this to throw any item currently held in the associated ‘hand’. - Click on this to drop any item currently held in the associated ‘hand’. Level Indicator - Each numbered block in the bar represents a level of the Tactical Area. Click any of these ‘blocks’ to change the level you are currently viewing. 13.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 166 The Tactical Game SELECTING SQUADS In X-COM Apocalypse, you can control Agents individually or collectively as squads. You may have up to six squads in the Tactical Area at any one time. The Squad Icons indicate the number of Agents in each squad; each squad can contain up to six Agents. • Double-click a Squad Icon to select a squad. To deselect the squad, simply click the icon again with the RMB.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 168 The Tactical Game Note: in the Turn-Based Game, if the Agent hasn’t enough Time Units, or if Time Units are reserved for other actions, the Agent will not be able to complete the move until X-COM’s next Turn. If the destination is a long distance away, it may take the Agent several Turns to complete. disappear from the first Agent and now appear above the second Agent.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 170 The Tactical Game • If you want your Agent to move to a square occupied by another Agent, simply hold down the ALT key on the keyboard and click the destination. If the Agent occupying the square is not moved, then the second Agent will move as close as possible. Only when the first Agent moves, can the second Agent move into that position. This is useful for moving Agents strategically along a corridor. travel and the route they are taking.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 172 The Tactical Game To move an entire squad, simply select a squad by double-clicking a Squad Icon. A yellow highlighter box will appear around each member of that squad. As before, just click a destination, and the Agents will move towards it. • Click to return to the Isometric Map View. MAKING AN AGENT JUMP If there is a hole in the floor or some other obstruction caused by an explosion, providing it is not huge, the Agent will be able to jump across.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 174 The Tactical Game • Click on the Motion Scanner in the Hands Area. The Motion Scanner Display will appear in the top right corner of the screen. The Motion Scanner Display shows moving objects as bright white blips. The arrow in the centre of the display shows the current facing of the Agent holding the scanner. Note: the scanner shows moving objects. It does not discriminate between hostile units and X-COM. • Click to pause and centre on the hostile unit.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 176 The Tactical Game Note: to shoot in the Turn-Based Game, simply target a hostile unit and click the RMB (ensure that your Agent is carrying a loaded weapon). To select a specific weapon, when your Agent is carrying two, simply click the LMB on that weapon in the Hands Area. Move the cross-hair cursor over your selected target and click. Alternatively, press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard and click the LMB on the target.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 178 The Tactical Game SHOOTING FROM THE OVERHEAD MAP To Shoot from the Overhead Map: • Click on the target of your choice, whilst holding Shift on the keyboard. Each Agent will fire a shot in that direction. • Click repeatedly to take more than one shot. Note: some weapons have guided munitions which will adjust their course as they move towards the target.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 180 The Tactical Game Note: proximity grenades will have an extra Slider Bar for distance setting. Sliding the bar left/right will increase/decrease the grenade’s detection range. USING GRENADES Each hand is accompanied by two icons, • Click (throw) and (drop). to take you to the Equip Agent Screen. • Click and Drag a grenade into an empty ‘hand’. • Click • Click OK again to return you to the Tactical Screen.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 182 The Tactical Game Don’t be surprised if your Agents are not always on target, this is dependent on their accuracy rating. Check that this rating is high in their stats when you are recruiting! Grenades are not the only object you can throw; other objects can be thrown in the same way. The distance an object can be thrown depends on the weight of the object and strength of the thrower.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 184 The Tactical Game The Mind Bender window should open in the centre of the Control Panel. There will be four Psi-Attack Buttons for you to use. They are:• Control Body - After using this attack successfully, you will be able to control the target as though it were one of your Agents (you can make Aliens shoot Aliens!). • Panic Unit - This makes the target panic, rendering it useless for a short period of time.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 186 The Tactical Game EFFECTS OF RANK High ranking officers help maintain the morale of your Agents. The amount an Agent’s morale is reduced depends on: • The rank of the most senior Agent in the Agent’s squad. • The rank of the most senior Agent in the Tactical Area. If an Agent takes a direct hit they may well receive critical wounds. These afflict parts of the body as follows:- The higher the rank, the less morale is reduced.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 188 The Tactical Game USING THE MEDI-KIT You can use the Medi-kit to heal critical wounds. In order to use the Medi-kit ensure that it is placed in one of your Agent’s hands. STUNNING Agents or Aliens can be stunned if hit by a Stunning Weapon, caught in an explosion blast radius, or if suffering from smoke or dust/debris inhalation following an explosion.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 190 The Tactical Game In this case, all equipment and Alien corpses left in the Tactical Area are recovered by X-COM. • All Agents leave the Tactical Area using Exit Points. In this case, unconscious Agents and Agents under mind control are considered killed. Any equipment left in the combat zone is lost. Any equipment carried by Agents who have left the Tactical Area is retained. • You can press the Esc key on the keyboard to terminate a mission manually.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 192 The Tactical Game INFORMATION SCREENS Sergeant - There is one Sergeant per four Squad Leaders. If a position is vacant the best Squad Leader is promoted. There are various Information Screens that will appear during your campaign. These include: Captain - There is one Captain per three Sergeants. If a position is vacant the best Sergeant is promoted.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 194 actions can both please and upset the other organisations in the city. Be aware of the ways in which you can upset other organisations: • If X-COM damages buildings belonging to other organisations, either with vehicles or with Agents during a Tactical Mission, then that organisation will become less friendly to X-COM.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 196 APPENDIX A - KEYBOARD AND MOUSE CONTROLS CITYSCAPE DISPLAY General Pause on/off Time Controls Switch Map View Options UFOpaedia Scroll Quit Game 196 p.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 198 CREDITS ‘Hand’ Area Equip Unit Screen Throw (Left Hand) Throw (Right Hand) Drop (Left Hand) Drop (Right Hand) Mythos Games Ltd. ENTER [ ] @ # Note: these keys may differ on non-English keyboards; it is the position that is important, ie the group of 4 keys to the left of the ENTER key.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 200 Additional Art Drew Northcott Paul Truss Gavin Cooper Martin Smillie Eddie Garnier Jonathan Rowe Paul Varney Amanda Roberts Terry Greer Nick Cook Jane Barnett Pietro Lantro Julian Madle Andrew Morriss 3D Scanning Steve Edwards Alien World and Models Designed by Tim White Music and Sound Designed and Produced by John Broomhall Lead Composer Richard Wells Additional Music Dave Punshon John Broomhall Sound Design Steve Cowell for PC Music Ltd.
Apocalypse Manual ENG 8/5/99 13:58 Page 202 Manual © 1997 MicroProse Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Game © 1997 Mythos Games Ltd. and MicroProse Ltd. X-COM Universe and other elements ©1997 MicroProse Ltd. All Rights Reserved. MICROPROSE and X-COM are registered trademarks and X-COM APOCALYPSE is a trademark of MicroProse Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. MicroProse Ltd, The Ridge, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS17 6BN.
