NIGHT GUNNER

NIGHT GUNNER is an action-packed arcade-style game
based on a Second World War scenario. You are the
gunner and bomb armer whose task is to defend your plane
against enemy attack and destroy the ground targets in 30
different missions. The rewards are high for the expert
marksman, but beware, the going get tougher on each
new mission!

LOADING

LOAD "ng"

When the program has loaded the user is prompted for a
Softlock security code. The response code is found in the
table on pages 4 and 5 of the instructions, and the reply is
entered using keys 0 - 9 and ENTER. The program allows
3 attempts for the number to be entered correctly. The
game is now ready for playing.

OPTIONS

The game options on the menu page are controlled using
keys 1 - 7.
1: Number of players 1 or 2.
2: Player 1 difficulty level, 1 to 4.
3: Player 2 difficulty level, 1 to 4.
4: Control type
- Keyboard
- Joysticks: Sinclair interface 2, Kempston, AGF
5: Number of joysticks 1 or 2.
6: High score table, blank or DI challenge.
7: Demonstration title page sound ON or OFF.

CONTROLS

Top row of the keyboard - Move sight/plane UP
Left five keys on second row - Move sight/plane LEFT
Right five keys on second row - Move sight/plane RIGHT
Third row of keyboard - Move sight/plane DOWN
Caps shift or space - Fire guns/release bombs
Symbol shift, B and N together - Hold
Symbol shift, X and C together - Reset

SCREEN DISPLAY

The score and number of lives left for each player is shown
at the top of the screen, player 1 on the LEFT, player 2 on
the RIGHT. The highest score of the day is displayed at the
center.
The plane's status panel at the bottom of the screen
displays the following information:
TT: Time to Target or end of mission,in seconds
BT: Time remaining during ground attack, in seconds
HIT: Illuminated when your aircraft is hit by enemy aircraft
or flak
CAPTAIN'S REPORT: Messages from the pilot during
mission
DAMAGE: Indicated by the aircraft symbol. GREEN - all
clear, YELLOW = damaged, RED = destroyed
WEAPONS: Ammunition, bombs and rockets shown to the
right of the aircraft symbol.

PLANE DEFEND

You must defend your plane against the attacking fighters
on the flight to and from the bombing target by shooting
them down. The gun sight is moved using the keyboard or
joystick movement controls and guns fired using the fire
buttons. Just like a real gun, there is a time delay from when
the bullet is fired to when it hits the target. This has to be
allowed for by aiming the gun in front of the moving target.
This is called deflection shooting.
The bullet delay can be seen by moving the sight and
firing the guns. The centre point of the bullets will be seen
outside the centre square of the sight.
Your score will increase each time you shoot down an
enemy plane, a barrage balloon or the bonus plane that
occasionally crosses the sky.

BOMBING OR ROCKET GROUND ATTACK

All 30 of the ground attack missions are different, alternat-
ing between high level bombing targets and low level rocket
attacks. The bombing/rocket sight allows for your plane's
movement when aiming at the targets but you have to make
an allowance for moving targets. The amount your score is
dependent upon how close to the centre of the target your
bomb or rocket hits and if the character is worth double
score.
Flak will be fired at you during ground attack missions, its
accuracy dependent upon how much you weave about the
sky. Long periods of straight and level flight during
bombing mission will result in you being illuminated by
searchlight. The will obscure your target and put you under
very heavy fire from flak. Escape frmo the searchlight by
manoeuvering your aircraft.
During high level bombing, control your plane using the
left, right, up and down controls. Climbing and diving will
affect your aircraft speed. During rocket attacks, the pilot
continually gives your height. Climb to get sufficient height
and then dive onto your target, release a rocket and pull out
of the dive. If you hit the ground you will lose a life.
The sight on the ultimate mission is different from all the
others. Adjust your height so that the two spots on the
screen for a figure 8, line up the two bars onto the centre
of the towers and release your bomb.

PLANE DAMAGE

This is caused by attack from the enemy planes or being hit
by flak on the bombing runs, the amount of damage being
indicated by the aircraft status symbol. Yellow areas on the
status plane indicate where the plane has been damaged
and red areas where it has been destroyed. If the damage
is serious you will crash and lose a life. The damage can be
divided into five areas: the flight deck, engines, wings,
tailplane, and gun turret.
Flight deck: Damage will result in random movement of
the plane during ground attack missions, making bomb and
rockte aiming difficult. When the flight deck is destroyed the
plane will crash.
Engines: If enough engines are destroyed or damaged
before the bombing run the bombs will be dropped. If 3
or more engines are destroyed then the plane will crash.
Wings or tailplane: If these are damaged it has no effect
on the performance of the plane, but if they are destroyed
then the plane will crash.
Gun turret: If this is damaged the sight will not move as
quickly as normal. When it is destroyed the sight has no
movement but the guns can still be fired.

Although the concept of NIGHT GUNNER is based upon
the Avro Lancaster four engined bomber, it is not intended
to be a simulation.