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 Go-Go BunnyGun
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by Jason J. Railton

Choose your favourite BunnyGun Pilot and take on the countless hordes of the Elil-Hrair invaders across six thrill-packed stages!

A bold and fun new shoot-'em-up for the 48K Sinclair ZX Spectrum from Ionian Games.

Initial Release Copyright (C) Jason J. Railton, 22 January 2026, codebase version 20.04

Note that this game is designed to run on the original 48K model of the ZX Spectrum from 1982.
It will run on later 128K, +2, +2A and +3 models, but does not contain any additional content for those machines.


Instructions
------------

To load the game, insert the tape and type LOAD "" and press ENTER, or select TAPE LOADER from the menu if you have one.
Then press PLAY on the tape. STOP the tape once the game has loaded.

Control is by:
(i)   Kempston (or compatible) Joystick
(ii)  Sinclair Joystick in Port #1
(iii) Keyboard Keys Q/A = Up/Down, O/P = Left/Right, Space or M = FIRE
(iv)  Keys may be redefined by pressing R once the game has loaded.

Press H (Hold) to pause the game.
Control mode is selected automatically when the player presses FIRE to start the game.

On the title screen, press C to switch between BunnyGun mode (Normal) and CottonTail Mode (Hard).
Press FIRE to start the game.

Repeatedly tap the FIRE button to shoot in the forward direction.
Hold the FIRE button for rearward fire, or whatever alternate shooting mode the current pilot has.

Collect coloured TOKENs to switch pilots. The 3 pilots taking on this mission are:
* Amy *   - Multi-direction forward fire, Bunny-Butt-Shot 3-way reverse fire.
* Heidi * - Her circling pet HOON provides a shield; hold FIRE to lock it in place and fire diagonally.
* Miya *  - Her outrigger Kill-Enhancement Field (KEF) Teddies provide additional forward firepower (note, they do not shield).
            Hold FIRE to deploy them outward. Release then quickly hold FIRE again to lock position.

Collect a coloured TOKEN to switch pilot: Red = Amy, Magenta = Heidi, Yellow = Miya.
Collect another TOKEN of the SAME COLOUR to power-up, up to two more times.
Note that collecting a DIFFERENT COLOUR TOKEN will only swap pilot, NOT power-up.

Collect FUDGE sweets for bonus points. Collect 5 FUDGE for an extra bonus and an extra life, awarded at the end of a stage.
Note that there are no FUDGE bonuses on the 6th and final stage.


The Beginning
-------------

They struck without warning. Without threat, without build-up, but with terrible force.
Far out beyond known space, no-one believed that the Hraka Expanse could sustain any sort of life,
torn apart as it was by the gravitational shear of collapsed stars and blasted by pulsar radiation.
But the life there similarly assumed nothing could exist outside their expanse.

When our first probes revealed our existence, their response was not wondrous curiosity, no welcome.
It was outright hostility. Nothing could exist outside their realm, so nothing could be allowed to exist.

Their Elil-Hrair forces swept through our outer systems, destroying everything in their path,
until finally they learned of the location of our Prime Homeworld, of Earth itself.
And so they came.

This notice to all forces under the command of the Earth-Prime Directorate:
STAND DOWN
Repeat:
STAND DOWN all defence units and automated systems
DO NOT ENGAGE the approaching forces

The combined Directorate Presidents Council have agreed to submit our complete and unconditional surrender
to the approaching forces known as the Elil-Hrair of the Hraka Expanse.
This is the only way we can minimise loss of life and property and ensure our continued existence.

All forces are to stand down immediately.

Is that all of them?
Wait, what's that indicator? Damn those BunnyGuns.

[WARNING: QUANTUM INTERFERENCE DETECTED. TRANSMISSION SUBJECT TO CORRUPTION]

STAND DO#N, repeat S#AND DOWN. DO#N#T ENGAG#.

S#### ###N. DO N#T #TAN##. S###D DOWN. ## ### ENGAGE.

##### ##### DO NOT ####### STAND DOWN. ## ### ENGAGE.