PASTFINDER

The Year:8878

     You are a member of an elite legion of planetary explorers know as 
the Pastfinders.

The Mission:

     Collect artifacts from the mysterious, radiated planet below and 
drop them off at bases distributed across the lifeless terrain.

The Obstacles:

     Searing radiation and a deadly, mechanized landscape defense: the 
only remnants of an extinct civilization.

MAP SCREEN:

     To choose a direction, move the blinking pointer with the joystick, 
then press the red button. Red areas are high in radiation, yellow are 
moderate, and green are low.

     As you uncover more of the map, BASES(white ovals)and 
STATIONS(blackened squares)will appear. These are where you deposit your 
artifacts.

     You begin with one ship in use and four in reserve. Pairs of arrows 
below the map point the way to extra ships.(A dot instead of an arrow 
indicates you are already in the right row or column.)

     As you successfully complete each map sector, more of the map will 
be revealed.

SUPPLY STATUS SCREEN:

     This screen displays your current status(rank and number of 
artifacts delivered) and lists supplies available for use. It will 
reappear after each sector is explored.

SUPPLIES:

     Active supplies by moving the arrow to the ones you want with the 
joystick and press the button. Supplies (except deradiator)remain in use 
until you deactivate them after clearing a sector. However, if your ship 
is destroyed, all supplies are lost.

LIST of SUPPLIES:

     HEAVY METAL-Slows the rate at which   your ship absorbs radiation
BEAM SHIELD-Protects your ship from enemy fire
SCRAMBLER-Prevents enemy craft from tracking your ship
DERADIATOR-Eliminates accumulated radiation(gauge drops to zero)

THE PLANET:

     Your ship only moves forward. To veer right or left, move Joystick 
in that direction. To leap over obstacles, tap the Joystick forward. To 
slow down, pull Joystick back.

     To fire laser, press red button. Points vary for each type of enemy 
mechanism and dron ship destroyed.

     A radiation gauge is at the bottom of the screen. When levels get 
to high, you lose a ship. Destroy the small hovering crystals to reduce 
radiation!

     Pick up artifacts(plate-shaped objects that do not explode when 
hit)with your ship and deposit them at bases or stations. BASES are 
rectangular; for each artifact delivered to a station you will get a 
second of invulnerability.

     Also watch for the box-like time capsules. These, buried by 
history-conscious members of the plant's extinct race, contain five 
artifacts each.

     The counter at the bottom right of the screen keeps track of the 
artifacts you've recovered.(Note:Every time you lose a ship, you lose 
half your artifacts.)
Pick up extra ships and supplies strewn across the plant's surface. An 
extra ship is awarded every 5, 000 points.

     When you finish a sector, you automatically return to the map and 
status screens.