Games / Gates 'n' Ghouls / Game manual
Game manual
Contents
Introduction
Welcome to Lyrinthia, a realm like no other, where gates take on a life of their own, moving with a willful determination. Elin, our intrepid dungeon raider, embarked on what seemed like a routine exploration, but it quickly evolved into an epic adventure.
As she delved deeper into this mystifying world, the gates became her relentless companions, forever altering the path before her, and introducing an ever-evolving array of challenges. Illuminated by the radiant glow of coins and stalked by eerie monsters lurking in the shadows, Elin's journey became a test of her mettle and resolve.
What started as a simple expedition soon revealed the labyrinth's hidden secrets–secrets that transcended human comprehension. With each gate she crossed, Elin encountered fresh trials and pieced together fragments of a captivating narrative. Her unwavering determination led her to believe that the very heart of this enigmatic realm held the key to a profound mystery–an odyssey that would propel her into the heart of the monsters' lair, where she would etch a new legend into the annals of Lyrinthia.
Pico-8 controls
Gates 'n' Ghouls is made for the Pico-8.
Pico-8 is "fantasy console" developed by Lexaloffle, designed to capture the essence and nostalgia of classic 2D gaming platforms. It features a virtual D-pad and two primary buttons, "O" and "X," reminiscent of old-school gaming consoles. Here's a quick guide to navigating the Pico-8 console on your computer:
D-pad (
): Use the arrow keys (←, →,
↑, and ↓) on your keyboard to maneuver your character within the game world. Elin's
movements are controlled with these keys, allowing you to explore the maze-like labyrinths.
Button: Despite looking like the letter
"O",
this button is mapped to the "Z" key on your keyboard. While it doesn't have a specific in-game
function in this title, can be used when navigating the built in Pico-8
menu.
Button: Bound to the "X" key on your
keyboard. is how
you
select options in the game's menu.
Pause and Menu: To pause the game and access the Pico-8 menu, press the "Enter" key. This crucial function allows you to adjust settings, such as the games volume, resetting the cart or just take a break during your adventure.
With these basic keyboard mappings, you're ready to embark on your adventure through the enchanting world of Pico-8 gaming. Enjoy your journey through the captivating world of Lyrinthia!
Main menu
The main menu screen
a. Game title
b. Cursor
c. List of options
d. Description of selected option
Move the cursor with
and . Press
to select.
Here's
a quick overview of the menu's options:
Arcade: The main mode of the game. Conquer levels, collect keys, outsmart monsters and climb the leaderboard!
High Scores: Check the leaderboard to see where you rank among fellow adventurers.
Level Select: Replay or explore specific levels. Use to choose and
to confirm.
Palettes: Scroll through your unlocked color schemes with and activate
your
favorite with .
Manual: Scan a QR code to access this manual on a mobile device.
Playing the game
Welcome to the heart of your adventure in Lyrinthia! This section dives into the essential elements of gameplay, helping you navigate the maze, control your character, deal with gates, collect keys and coins, outsmart monsters, and aim for a high star rating.
Mazes
Lyrinthia is a world of intricate mazes, each filled with challenges and surprises. As you progress, mazes become increasingly complex, testing your strategic skills. You'll need to think ahead to navigate through the labyrinthine twists and turns.
To progress through your adventure, find every key while avoiding menacing monsters like Slimes, Skeletons, Ghosts, and Demons. The mazes are filled with unpredictable gates, which can open or close at any moment. Timing and strategy are essential to maneuver these ever-shifting labyrinths.
Tip: All mazes are symmetrical, so even if you can't see it all at once on the screen, you can use the visible portion to plan your route.
Controlling Elin
Controlling Elin is easy! Use the D-pad () to change direction. She'll keep running
forward
until she reaches a dead end.
Tip: When approaching a turn, hold down the desired direction to make the turn as quickly as possible.
Gates
Inside the maze, you'll encounter two sets of gates: pink and blue.
The unique feature of these gates is their alternating behavior – they open and close
in a
rhythmic pattern. Every 10 seconds, you can expect the gates to change state, creating new
opportunities and obstacles in your path.
Tip: Internalize the timing of the gates. Strategically slipping through a gate just before it closes is a surefire way to shake off pesky pursuing monsters.
The exit gate and keys
Reaching the exit gate stands as your ultimate goal, serving as the passage to the next level of your adventure. However, unlocking this pivotal gate isn't a simple task. To do so, you must find and collect all the keys scattered throughout each level.
Tip: The exit gate is the same gate you entered through, make a circuit around the maze while picking up the keys to avoid backtracking.
Coins
Coins are scattered throughout the maze, offering you a chance to increase your score. While not essential for completing levels, they add an extra layer of challenge for those seeking higher scores.
Tip: In the bottom right corner of the screen, you can see how many coins you have collected and how many there are in total.
Monsters
Lyrinthia is teeming with menacing monsters. Each creature has its own behavior and challenges, studying their behaviour is key to success!
Tip: Monsters moves in predictable ways. If you keep getting caught, hone your path throughout the maze until you manage to outwit them!
Slime
Slimes move at a deliberate and unhurried pace, allowing you time to strategize your escapes. They are introverted creatures, preferring solitude, and actively avoid encounters with all other creatures, including dungeon raiders like Elin. To outwit them, utilize their shyness to your advantage.
Skeleton
Skeletons are faster and more aggressive than Slimes. These bony adversaries actively hunt humans, however, Skeletons are known to avoid other monsters, making them stand out as solitary hunters. To navigate the labyrinth safely, it's essential to learn their patrol patterns and seize opportunities to slip past these relentless foes.
Ghost
Ghosts are enigmatic beings in Lyrinthia, they possess a unique advantage – they can pass through closed gates. To avoid these spectral ghouls effectively, mastering your timing is crucial. Be careful not to get trapped by gates while these creatures are chasing you.
Demon
Demons are effective and relentless hunters. What sets them apart is their exceptional sense of smell, making it impossible to hide from their pursuit. To navigate their perilous presence effectively, you must employ advanced strategies and quick thinking. The best way to evade these relentless hunters is to remain in constant movement, avoiding their grasp as you navigate the maze. Facing Demons requires a level of skill and strategy above and beyond that of other monsters in the game.
Star rating
Your performance in each level determines your star rating, which can be achieved in three distinct levels of excellence:
★ (One Star):Attaining a ★ signifies reaching the exit gate of a level. This signifies successful progression through the maze.
★★ (Two Stars): To earn ★★, you must exit the maze without ever getting caught by the relentless monsters that lurk within. This level of performance showcases your strategic evasion skills.
★★★ (Three Stars): The highest level of achievement, ★★★, is awarded to those who can exit the maze without ever getting caught while also collecting all the coins. This marks you as a master of the labyrinth.
Reaching high star ratings on all levels in the game unlocks new palettes, allowing you to customize your visual experience. Strive for excellence in each level to earn those coveted stars and discover new ways to personalize your adventure.
Tip: The best way to achieve a high star rating is through the level select mode. There you will also be able to see your current star rating for each level.
Arcade
Welcome to the heart of the action! Arcade mode is the primary gameplay experience, immersing you in a relentless journey through 12 consecutive stages. You start your adventure with a modest 3 lives to conquer the challenges that lie ahead. Your strategic skills and reflexes will be put to the test as you aim for the highest score.
To extend your adventure, you have the opportunity to gain extra lives for every 100,000 points you accumulate. However, be vigilant - your journey may come to an end if you run out of lives or successfully complete all 12 stages. Can you rise to the challenge and secure a coveted spot on the leaderboards by achieving a high score? Arcade mode is where your dungeon exploring skills will truly shine, offering a relentless test of your abilities as you strive to leave your mark on the Lyrinthia legacy.
Entering your initials
Initials entry screen
a. Initials
b. Cursor
c. Score
If your score is high enough, you'll have the opportunity to enter your initials and immortalize
your score on the leaderboard. Use / to change letters and / to move the
cursor. When you're done, press to confirm.
Level select
Level select screen
a. Level name
b. Star rating
c. Cursor
c. Go to main menu
Level Select Mode offers you the freedom to revisit and explore any of the 12 levels of the
game.
Use / to highlight
your
desired level, and the to start the game.
This is your gateway to mastering every facet of this
labyrinthine world and perfecting your skills in the game. Notably, in this mode, player scores
are
not recorded, but your star ratings are, allowing you to focus on earning those coveted stars as
you
tackle each level's unique challenges.
Lose options
Lose screen for Level select mode
a. Keep collected coins and keys
b. Fully resets the maze
c. Back to the select screen
If you lose in level select mode, you have the option to keep your collected coins and keys and
continue from the start of the level, or fully reset the maze and start from the beginning.
If you want a star rating higher than 1 star, you must complete the level in one
go. If this is your goal, then you should pick "Restart" rather than "Continue".
Palettes
Palette select screen
a. List of palettes
b. Description / Unlock conditions
Choose from a variety of vibrant color schemes to create your unique atmosphere. Highlight a
locked
option to see the conditions for unlocking this palette.
To go back to the main menu, select your desired palette with .
Accessing the manual
Embark on your journey through Gates 'n' Ghouls fully equipped with the knowledge you need by accessing the Game Manual. When you pick the "Manual" option in the main menu, a QR code will appear on the screen. Use your phone to scan the QR, it should redirect you to www.arrpii.com/gng-qr.
If you are having trouble accessing the manual, please refer to the manual how to use the manual QR code.
Thank you!
Thank you for your interest in Gates 'n' Ghouls! Hope you find it as fun to play as it was to make it.
To learn more about Gates 'n' Ghouls please visit www.arrpii.com/games/gng.
To explore arrpii's full range of games and creations, head over to www.arrpii.com.
