MAXIMILLIAN B.››ACTION/STRATEGY GAME BY JD CASTEN››Hey, kids! Help the intrepid duck›Max (Slyvester Biffdrop's clever›cousin) conquer the mechanical›monster that's making mouse lives›miserable. This BASIC program›works on Atari 8-bit computers with›at least 32K memory, disk or›cassette››Maximillian B. approached the large›oak doors slowly and cautiously. As›he drew ever closer, the doors›creaked open, revealing an office the›size of a basketball court and barren›except for a large desk.››"Hurry up, Maxy babe," echoed a voice›from behind the desk. "My oh my,›what a beak you have! You know,›plastic surgery can do wonders these›days." Max's bill began to clatter.›Aunt Icked, the family's wealthy›oddball, always gave him the chills.››"You asked to see me?" gagged Max.›Aunt Icked rarely summoned him just›to make fun of his long beak.››"Yes Max, I have an assignment for›you. This is big-time, Max." Aunt›Icked pulled a few documents and a›train ticket out of her desk and›handed them to Max.››"Shouldn't cousin Sly handle matters›of this sort? I'm an inventor, not›an inspector." But Max's heart began›to pound harder: this was a dream›come true for him.››"No," replied Aunt Icked, "this job›requires someone with extra›brain-power -- but you'll do. You›and your Clijum-9 aircar are perfect›for this mission. Besides, Sly has›had terrible nightmares lately, and›he needs all the rest he can get."››"What's the mission?" questioned Max.›Max swelled with pride: he had become›an inspector.››Aunt Icked sighed gravely. "A›Mechanical Electrical Operational›Weapon manufactured by Icked›Industries has gone haywire. The›contraption took off in the middle of›the night and holed up somewhere in›the Rodentential section of Burger›city. Evidently the machine has been›terrorizing the mice and other rodent›residents. Your mission is to enter›the fortress and destroy the›Mechanical Electrical Operational›Weapon. The details are in those›documents. Get your little ducktail›moving."››THE MISSION››On the train ride to Burger City, Max›studied the material. Apparently›the mechanical menace had built a›fortress in a large mountain of›deadly vampire vegetation. Max would›have to climb and jump on the›framework of the fortress, but could›he avoid the vampire vegetation?››The fortress has nine rooms, most of›them isolated from one another by›locked doors. The only way for Max›to unlock a door is to overload the›power pulsar in each room by feeding›all the power charges from the room›into the pulsar. The power charges›move in straight paths until›something blocks their way, making›them turn counter-clockwise. The›charges are lethal, so Max will need›to move special blue inso-cubes›around to change the paths of the›charges.››Once Max finds the Mechanical›Electrical Operational Weapon, he›must neutralize it with charges to›complete his mission.››CLIJUM-9 OPERATION››In his amazing Clijum-9 micromini›aircar, Max can move horizontally,›jump, climb walls and pick up and›deposit inso-cubes.››To move, push the joystick left or›right. To jump, push the trigger.›To climb, hold the joystick in›direction of the wall (this makes the›Clijum-9 grasp the wall) and press›the trigger (this moves it up). To›pick up an inso-cube, push the›joystick up, and to put one down,›push the joystick down. Combinations›of operations can (and must) be used›by pushing the joystick in diagonal›directions.››To pick up an inso-cube, the cube›must be in front of Max's aircar.›When he picks it up, Max carries it›on his back, so there must be space›behind Max before he can grab an›inso-cube, or else it might be›destroyed. If a power charge hits›the inso-cube while Max is carrying›it, the cube will be destroyed.››Max begins with nine lives in Room›One of the fortress. If Max loses a›life, he'll have to start over at the›room entrance. This "room restart"›can also be activated at any time›without losing a life by pressing any›key. The game ends when Max destroys›the Mechanical Electical Operational›Weapon or when he loses all nine›lives.››HINTS››First, get thoroughly familiar with›the Clijum-9 aircar. Remember that›left and right motion in jumps can be›controlled continually with the›joystick. Max is tough and can take›falls from any height. He can't fly,›but he can glide down in any›direction. Inso-cubes can be put›anywhere -- even in mid-air -- but›not where they won't fit -- say, down›a small hole.››Maximillian B. is just as much a›logic game as one of action.›Completion of the game rests heavily›on strategic positioning of the›inso-cubes. It only takes one cube›to change the direction of a charge.›In some cases (such as room one --›this is a hint) the charges will be›trapped by inso-cubes, and Max must›set them free. On these screens, it›is wise to set up a path for the›charges to follow before letting them›free.››There are many ways to solve each›screen, and it is possible to›complete the mission. Good luck to›you and Max.›