The Neverending Story
"A Boy who needs a friend finds a world that needs a hero"

The Story

The computer game follows the main theme of the film and is set in Fantasia, a 
world of the imagination facing extinction by the "All consuming Nothing", 
eroding its very fabric and condemning it to oblivion. It is in desperate need 
from the "Real World" someone to believe in it and thus renew its life.
That someone is a small boy, Bastian Balthzar Bux, who discovers a dusty old 
book on the shelves of an antique book shop. The title is "The Neverending 
Story" and it chronicles the ever changing fortune of the people of Fantasia.
Bastian takes the book and blowing the dust from its jackets reveals the front 
cover depicting "Auryn" the silver and gold medallion symbolizing the strength 
of Fantasia. On reaching school he avoids his teachers, climbs into an abandoned 
attic and settling himself down on an old rug begins to read the compelling 
tale.
The many peoples of Fantasia are gathered to seek audience with teir Empress, 
but are dismayed to find her ill and weak. "Cairon", the physician gives them 
encouragement,, telling of a hero, a small boy from the planes by the name of 
Atreyu - the only person who can find the saviour of Fantasia. In the game you 
take the part of Atreyu and only through your endeavours will the kingdom be 
restored to its former glory!
The main characters that you will encounter are listed below and you must judge 
whether they will help you or hinder your quest.

The Tree Travellers
Rockbiter, Teenyweeny and Nighthob, these three friends are on their way to 
Ivory Tower, home of the Empress, to see her.
Gmork the Werewolf
The main servant of the "Nothing". He will use all his powers to catch the one 
person who can stop his master from destroying Fantasia - so don't dawdle.
The Empress
The eternal, ever youthful, ruler of Fantasia. She lives at the very top of the 
Ivory Tower.
Morla - The Ancient One -
The oldest inhabitant, Morla is an enormous earth covered tortoise who lives in 
the "Swamps of Sadness".
The Gnomes
Engywook and Urgll, live in the Southern lands.
Falkor
The Luckdragon, a huge white dragon who will lend assistance to anyone who 
carries Auryn.
Artax
The faithful steed of Atryu.

The Game

"The Neverending Story" is a graphic text adventure with illustrations for some 
locations, some Events and all objects. Experienced Adventurers may not wish to 
read the following explanations but for all others it will enhance the 
understanding and enjoyment of the game.
If you haven't played an adventure game before, don't be put off, its not 
difficult and will give hours of enjoyment. You are embarking on a voyage of 
discovery with problems to solve, obstacles to avoid, characters to meet and an 
ultimate goal (in this case to save Fantasia from the "Nothing"). In most ways 
it isn't any different from other game types - only in the method of 
presentation and the way you interact with it.
The computer will describe to you, in words, your current location, the 
characters and any objects that are there. Once you have decided what to do (in 
this game you take the role of the hero, Atreyu) you instruct the computer by 
typing in your request in a limited form of English. The format of the words the 
computer understands is explained later in "The language", but it has been 
deliberately kept simple to allow more room for game data. If the computer can 
understand what you have typed it will perform the required action and describe 
the results to you.
The game is split into three parts (there is over 100k of code and data 
altogether) which must be played in order (You cannot begin part II after you 
have completed part I and so on). The three sections are divided up by storyline 
and any objects that you are carrying when you finish a part will be retained 
for possible use in the next one (It is important to remember this if you come 
across an object, but can find no use for it in the current part).
The use of graphics in this game is quite different to some adventure games. 
Firstly every object has a small illustration; up to five can be carried at one 
time and they will be displayed at the top-right hand of the screen. If at any 
time, you have an companion by you (either Falkor or Artrax) then their picture 
will appear at the bottom of the display area. Large illustrations for locations 
or depicting events appear in the top left of the screen and approximately on 
third of these are of the "Event" type. It should be noticed that none of the 
graphics are designed to replace the text but to enhance it.

[Missing illustration of game screen]

The Language

You control Atreyu by instructing the computer in a restricted form of plain 
English, however there are a few simple rules to bear in mind:
1 Every instruction must have a verb. Some of the "verbs" that the computer 
understands are not strictly English verbs, so it is helpful if you regard a 
"verb" as a word which causes an action.
2 Some "verbs" need a "noun" to operate on - e.g. GET AURYN "Get" is the verb 
and "Auryn" is the noun.
3 The program will pick out the words it "understands" from a sentence and if it 
finds a word that isn't in its vocabulary, the computer will tell you what it 
is.
4 If you wish to type in more than one sentence at a time you can separate them 
with the word "and" e.g. Get the apple and go East.
5 You need only type the first three letters of a word for it to be understood.

Here are the most commonly used words to get you started.

Look (or L)
To look around. This redisplays the description of the current location (it is 
done automatically if you move to a new location).
North (or N)
North East (or NE)
East (E)
South East (or SE)
South (or S)
South West (or SW)
West (or W)
North West (or NW)
These are movement verbs that are used most often. You can type just the 
direction or place the word "Go" in front (it makes no difference). Of course 
the program will only let you move in a specified direction if it is possible.
Get/Drop
For picking up or dropping an object.
Inventory
This instruction displays in text format a list of the objects that you are 
carrying (You can also reference this on the objects illustration display).

Time

If you spend too long contemplating your net move (and the game is not on pause) 
then "Time" will pass and anything typed in and "Left" will be interpreted.

General Advice

1 Draw a map - Unless you have an unusually good memory it will be enormously 
helpful to chart your progress.
2 Everything you come across in the Adventure will have a use - you only have to 
find out what it is!

Good Luck

The Neverending Story

It's program code, graphic representation and artwork are the copyright of Ocean 
Software Limited and any may not be reproduced, stored, hired or broadcast in 
any form whatsoever without the written permission of Ocean Software Limited.
All rights reserved worldwide.


Acceptable Verbs
GO
NORTH
NORTH EAST
EAST
SOUTH EAST
SOUTH
SOUTH WEST
WEST
NORTH WEST
UP
DOWN
DROP
ATTACK
LIGHT
ENTER
IN
PULL
LOOK
GET
TAKE
INVENTORY
EAT
FLY
CLIMB
BLOW
RIDE
SMASH
HIT
OUT
READ
REMOVE
OPEN
CUT
UNLOCK
LOCK
CLOSE
TIE
FASTEN
SAY

Special Verbs
WAIT Use if you want to just let time pass.
PAUSE To pause the game if you leave the game unattended without doing this time 
will still continue.
QUIT To end the game in progress.

We wish you many hours of enjoyment with "The Neverending Story".

The Neverending Story
(c) Neue Constantin Filmproduktion GmbH 1984.
Licensed to Ocean Software Limited by Licencing Corporation of America (U.K.).
Game design and programming by Ian Weatherburn.
Produced by D.C. Ward. (c) 1985 Ocean Software Limited.

==========================================================================
Taken from Project 64
Readapted for the Spectrum in 2000 AD by
Alessandro "Gazzosa" Grussu
http://members.nbci.com/gazzosa


==========================================================================
FULL SOLUTION

Part I

(You begin in a camp) NE, E (Auryn falls from the sky), GET AURYN, SW, GET 
STONE, S, GET HORN, BLOW HORN (Falkor flies into view), DROP HORN, W, N, GET 
BRANCH, S, E, N, NE, W, SW, LIGHT BRANCH, NE, E, E, E, E, E, E, LIGHT BUSH, D, 
SMASH BOX, DROP STONE, GET CRYSTAL, U, W, W, W, W, W, SW, S, GET FALKOR, W, SE, 
FLY SOUTH (Falkor flies you across the desert), E, S, E, GIVE CRYSTAL (Engywook 
tells you that the sphinx' may be passed when their eyes are closed), S, S, WAIT 
(till the eyes close), S (you made it!).


Part II

(Falkor flies onwards, but drops you in Spook City) E, N, W, N, GET ROPE, E, S, 
E, GET GLOWGLOBE, W, N, N, REMOVE PLANKS (you find a secret passage), D, SE, W, 
TIE ROPE (to the well), D, D, GET POUCH (a coin appears), DROP POUCH, GET COIN, 
D, U, E, S, GET KNIFE, N, E, E, SE, SW, D, CUT WEB (watch for the spider), W, 
SW, W, DROP COIN (a hole opens in the wall. Watch out for the guard), W, GET 
KEY, E, E, NE, E, U, NE, NW, W, W, NW, U, S, S, S, E, GET AURYN, GET FALKOR (you 
escape from the doomed city).


Part III

(You are standing on an asteroid. Fantasia has been destroyed), NE, E, UNLOCK 
DOOR (to Ivory Tower), E, E, U, E, E, NE, U, W, W, W, SE, U,
E, E, E, U, SAY PLEASE (the doors opens), E, E (you are received by The Empress 
- Fantasia has been saved.)


Jacob Gunness - 12/3-1990

 

