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The forest has suddenly dropped it's peaceful atmosphere,
something is afoot. The smell has changed, the birds
have vanished, even the soft grass has a new texture.
What is this fearful place you have stumbled across?
Something awesome has happened in the forest and you
are just about to find out what.
So
the scene is set for a journey -- a journey Beyond
the Forbidden Forest.
You
are set alone in the middle of the forest with only
a bow and a quiver of arrows to protect yourself. You
can move left and right, and also in and out of the
screen in a pseudo 3D fashion. Raster lines in the border
indicate the elevation of the arrows which you fire
at the oncoming nasties.
Suddenly,
from the cluttered undergrowth there is a rustling sound
and a huge scorpion appears, it's sole motivation appears
to be your destruction. Hastily you run into the distance
to get a better view of this odious creature, you see
this weak spot and aim . . . The arrow penetrates his
hide and blood ejaculates from his armoured shell. Unfortunately,
it is only stunned and is soon rampaging after you again.
The second accurate shot should kill him, but if you
fail you will be subjected to a brutal death by poison.
Once
dead, the scorpion vanishes in a glistening cloud of
colour, and then -- a mystic occurrence; an ethereal
fanfare strikes up from the lofty heights and a glowing,
spinning orb descends and releases a golden arrow to
assist you in your quest. It leaves, and once again
you are alone -- a mere mortal in this inhumane forest.
The
next inhabitant you will encounter is a Verme. The ground
rumbles, announcing it's presence, and then a grotesque
wormlike creature erupts from the ground, jaws open
wide. Five direct hits are required to kill the beast,
hut if you miss it five times then it will locale you
and drag you down into it's lair . . .
Once
you have rid the forest of the creature from the ground
you think yourself safe, but a humming noise is heard
overhead as an enormous flying creature appears -- a
monstrous dragonfly with a long proboscis capable of
sucking you dry of blood, if not killed instantly. Lure
the winged menace down to eye level, then launch one
of your arrows and watch the dragonfly disintegrate
in a cloud of noxious fumes.
The
heavenly body once more descends and presents you with
another sacred arrow to add to your life sustaining
collection.
The
fourth and final variety of beast you will encounter
in the forest is the Megatherium, a foul smelling lizard
which pounces from the undergrowth with the sole intention
of crushing you to death.
Killing
the bloated reptile gives you another golden arrow.
When you have amassed a minimum of six arrows you can
enter the Underworld and attempt to dispose of the evil
Demogorgon.
Swept
up in a surge of powerful evil the forest vanishes and
a warning appears . . .
You
arrive in a system of bat infested caverns. The bats
are the guardians of evil and killing one allows you
to access a cave to the far left where there lurks the
horrific Hydra. Luckily your quantity of arrows is double
on entering the caves. The Hydra is a huge, four-headed
fire breathing beast, and your only hope in defeating
it is to shoot each head. Doing this transforms the
Hydra into grey, motionless stone.
Now
you encounter the biggest evil of them all -- the Demogorgon,
a snake-like creature whose eyes shoot lightning bolts
at those who dare to oppose him. Your only hope is to
locate the chink in his armour and destroy him with
a well placed arrow. If you manage to shoot him in his
weak spot, he explodes with a monstrous roar as the
whole screen begins to resemble a slaughter house. The
evil has been defeated once and for all, and the forest
has once again become a good and happy place. You are
transformed onto a cloud as the sun rises on a new world,
a world of happiness, peace, and best of all, no meanies!
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