PULSOIDS
========

Reflect and deflect laser pulses as they flash around the arena, breaking down barriers. 
Collect Bonus Batteries, clock up the points and you just might survive all 32 chambers 
of PULSOID.

Designed and programmed by Silhouette Software

Throughout the galaxy, as humanoid lifeforms evolved, activities that were once vital to 
survival were performed for recreation and exercise. Competitive sports took the place of 
many tribal rituals as species attained Grade Two civilisation — on Planet Earth, for 
instance, a game called football allowed the mass of creatures to enjoy tribal 
allegiances under the conditions of a Grade Two civilisation. The thrill of watching 
the leading group of hunters in the social group compete on the hunting grounds with 
food-gatherers from other tribes was replaced by organised ‘football’ contests conducted 
in specially-designed arenas.

Abstract forms of competitive exercise also evolved on most planets that supported 
lifeforms, including games that one or two players could enjoy as they exercised control 
over a projectile - commonly a spheroid of resilient material.

As lifeforms on the planets in the Galaxy evolved, their control of technology improved. 
Gradually, they learned to travel between planets and eventually the entire Galaxy became 
a unified territory. Several thousand years ago, when most lifeforms in the Galaxy had 
attained Grade Thirty civilisation status, the laser-based game that is now called 
Pulsoid first came into being. It quickly became the ultimate sporting challenge, 
adopted by all sentient species in the galaxy as the ultimate challenge.

A NOVICE’S GUIDE TO THE ART OF PULSOID

Use the Energy Mirror to deflect laserpulses back into the body of the arena, and to 
collect falling bonus batteries released after mirrorblocks are destroyed.


Bonus Batteries and Their Effects on Gameplay:

E - warps the Energy Mirror, increasing its width.

S - timebomb: distorts the player’s perception of time, apparently slowing down playspeed.

C - allows the Energy Mirror to absorb most of the energy contained in a laser pulse as 
    it is deflected. Energy thus absorbed is added to player bonus score.

X - autoclones the Energy Mirror, increasing the player’s stock of Energy Mirrors that may 
     be called into play during the current game.

B - activates a temporary plasma barrier across the back wall of the arena. (The plasma 
    barrier deflects a laser pulse if ‘fire’ is pressed on the player console.) 

N - temporarily deactivates the reflective powers of mirror blocks in the play arena, 
    allowing pulses to pass through and destroy blocks rather than bounce off.


Mirrorblocks and Their Properties when hit by a Laserpulse:

+/- increase/decrease length of laser pulse as it bounces off.

RED blocks have to be hit twice before they are vapourised. 

GREY blocks are immune to laser vapourisation.

Hitting a LIGHTNING block activates a time warp that distorts the player’s perception of 
time, apparently increaseing playspeed until a Bonus Battery is collected. 

The Activation of Dormant Pulses:

Pulse capsules are fed into the play area from a hopper at the top of the play area - an 
active laser pulse destroys a capsule on contact, activating a clone pulse in the process.

Dormat pulses are trapped between mirrorblocks in some chambers. They may be released by 
creating an exit in the wall of mirrorblocks, and are activated by contact with the Energy 
Mirror.

LOADING INSTRUCTIONS 
SPECTRUM Load””

Joystick or keyboard control - a game for 1 or 2 players 


Designed and programmed by Silhouette Software

A MEMBER Of THE VIRGIN MASTERTRONIC GROUP Of COMPANIES 

The program code, graphic representation and an work are the copyright of Mastertronic 
and may not be reproduced stored, hired or broadcast in any form whatsoever without the 
written permission of Mastertronic. All rights reserved. 

© Mastertronic Limited 1989