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                            T I T A N U S   B A T T L E
                         ZX Spectrum 128K  -  @ LAWLORD, 2026
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Two transforming robots clash: the heroic TITANUS and the merciless BLACK
SCORPHEX. Win two rounds to take the match -- then, in one-player mode, climb
the ladder to the warlord boss and his war machines.


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 LOADING
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Requires a 128K machine (128K / +2 / +3) or a 128K emulator. 48K will NOT work.

  Tape (.tap):  start the 128K BASIC, then LOAD ""  (most emulators auto-run
                the tape). The loading screen appears, then the extra graphics
                banks load, and the title screen comes up.
  Snapshot (.sna):  load it directly -- it boots straight to the title.

Press FIRE at the title to enter the menu.


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 MENU
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Press 1-4 (or move the cursor and press FIRE):

  1  PLAYER    - you vs the computer. Choose a difficulty, then fight a ladder
                 of opponents ending with the WARLORD boss.
  2  PLAYERS   - two human players, both on the keyboard.
  3  DEMO      - attract mode: the computer fights itself. FIRE returns here.
  4  CONTROLS  - view and redefine every key for both players.

One-player difficulty:  1 NOVICE   2 WARRIOR   3 MASTER
(higher = faster, more aggressive computer opponent).


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 DEFAULT CONTROLS                       (all keys can be changed in CONTROLS)
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                        PLAYER 1            PLAYER 2
        UP / JUMP          Q                   R
        DOWN / CROUCH      A                   F
        LEFT               O                   Z
        RIGHT              P                   X
        PUNCH / FIRE       SPACE               ENTER
        KICK               M                   L
        BLOCK              N                   K
        TRANSFORM          T                   Y
        SPECIAL 1 / 2 / 3  1 / 2 / 3           7 / 8 / 9

FIRE (the PUNCH key) also confirms menus.


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 FIGHTING
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Move with LEFT/RIGHT, JUMP with UP, CROUCH with DOWN. You always face your
opponent. You can jump over them, but you cannot walk through them.

  PUNCH / KICK   - basic attacks.
  BLOCK          - hold to guard. Stops standing and high attacks, and the
                   overhead. Blocking still leaks a little "chip" damage.
  CROUCH         - ducks under high attacks... but loses to the overhead.
  SWEEP          - KICK + DOWN. A low attack that goes UNDER a block and
                   knocks the opponent down. Slow and punishable -- not a
                   spam button.
  OVERHEAD       - PUNCH + UP. Beats a crouching opponent and ignores block.
  JUMP-KICK      - KICK while in the air. A committed aerial attack.

THE GOLDEN RULE (rock-paper-scissors):
  BLOCK beats highs/mids  ->  SWEEP beats block  ->  ...
  CROUCH beats high pokes ->  OVERHEAD beats crouch.
Mix your attacks; leaning on one move lets a smart opponent counter it.


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 ENERGON, SPECIALS & TRANSFORMING
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The magenta bar under your HP is ENERGON. It refills slowly over time and
powers your specials and your transformation.

  SPECIAL 1 / 2   - ranged shots (one is a returning boomerang). Cost Energon.
  SPECIAL 3       - a powerful special that can also destroy incoming shots.
  TRANSFORM       - switch between ROBOT and VEHICLE form (costs Energon). The
                    change leaves you briefly immobile and is uninterruptible,
                    so pick your moment. Vehicle form has its own attacks and a
                    different movement speed; press TRANSFORM again to revert.


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 THE FIGHTERS
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  TITANUS   - 100 HP, blocks 25% of damage, regenerates Energon faster (its
              specials come back sooner).
  SCORPHEX  - 110 HP, blocks 20% of damage. Tougher, but slower to recharge.

Both have near-identical movement and attack speed -- the difference is in
HP, guard and Energon. Pick the style that suits you.


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 THE WARLORD (one-player boss)
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Beat the first opponent and the WARLORD enters: 160 HP and a war machine.
He transforms into the ALFA tank with the OMEGA jet flying above it, and can
launch an arm-drone that strikes from behind.

  - The ALFA tank fires a slow, heavy LOW shell  ->  JUMP over it.
  - The OMEGA jet fires a fast HIGH laser         ->  CROUCH under it.
  - You CAN hit the OMEGA jet -- damaging it hurts the warlord.
  - He only transforms from a distance, and a limited number of times per
    round, so close the gap and punish him while he is a robot.


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 WINNING
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Matches are BEST OF THREE: a knock-out wins a round, first to two rounds wins
the match. In one-player mode, defeating the WARLORD shows YOU WIN; losing
shows GAME OVER. Press FIRE to return to the menu.


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                       @ LAWLORD, 2026  -  good luck, pilot.
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