PocoMan
TM
21st Century Super-Hero of Microscopic Proportions!
Copyright 1996-2004 Sleepless Software Inc. All Rights Reserved
Software License
By installing this software, you have agreed to the license.
Please read the software license carefully by clicking
here
Introduction
Welcome to the world of PocoMan! A logic and strategy game featuring the clever and funny character “PocoMan”. A 21st century super-hero of microscopic proportions!
Your job is to assist PocoMan in moving all of the treasures to the marked floor positions (see the example below) allowing him to escape to the next level. Sounds simple, right? Don’t be too sure!
Even with his super powers, PocoMan can only push the treasures around the maze. He can’t pull them or push more than one at a time. But try to overlook these shortcomings, because after all, he is a super-hero.
PocoMan’s latest adventure has landed him in real trouble. He’s caught in one of his enemy’s most cruel traps. This one has 50 of the most difficult mazes he has ever come across. His only hope of escaping back home is to solve all 50 mazes! The difficulty of each maze increases as he progresses through them.
Rules of the Game
The rules of PocoMan and the object of the game are simple (as they always seem to be in the best very games).
Object of the Game
Push all of the treasures onto the floor positions marked with an “X”.
Rules
- PocoMan is only allowed to push treasures, not pull them.
- Only one treasure may be pushed at a time.
- Treasures can only be pushed if PocoMan can get behind them.
- Every level must be solved in order to achieve victory.
- You must solve a level completely before proceeding to the next.
Using the Mouse to Play PocoMan
Using a mouse to play PocoMan is easy and intuitive. You may be able to figure it out on your own even without reading these instructions.
Left Button
The left mouse button is used to move PocoMan around the maze normally in the empty floor spaces. Simply position your mouse pointer over an empty square and hold down the left button. PocoMan will transform into SUPER-POCOMAN and will begin hurtling in a very super way toward that target position. Note, however, that if all paths to that position are blocked, SUPER-POCOMAN will just hurtle in place.
To push a treasure, position PocoMan next to it and click on the treasure. Also, if you click on a square farther away that isn’t empty (e.g., a treasure or wall), and that square is directly in line with PocoMan horizontally or vertically, then PocoMan will attempt to move in that direction, pushing any treasure that might happen to be in his path.
Right Button
Clicking the right mouse button will undo PocoMan’s last treasure push. However, note that you can only undo the last push, and not any of the pushes before that. If you get yourself tangled up too badly, you’ll have to restart the level.
Playing PocoMan With the Keyboard
The arrow keys can be used to move PocoMan around the maze as well as the mouse. The following additional keys perform special functions:
‘A’
About PocoMan: Displays a picture of SUPER-POCOMAN along with some mundane copyright and credit information.
‘?’
Quick Help: Displays the Quick Help screen, which provides a summary of the keyboard commands available.
‘U’
Undo: This will undo the last push of a treasure. Pressing the right mouse button will do the same thing.
‘R’
Restart Level: Redraws the maze with all the treasures in their original places. You’ll have to do this when you realize that you’ve positioned the treasures in such a way that the maze is no longer solvable.
‘P’
Previous Level: Switches to the previous maze in the sequence so you can replay levels you particularly enjoyed, or keep your skills up on levels you found especially tricky. Note that the Level menulevelmenu can also be used to switch to a particular level.
‘N’
Next Level: Moves to the next level in the sequence. However, don’t think this will get you past that maze you’ve been floundering in for the last three hours; the ‘N’ and ‘P’ keys will only get you to levels you’ve already solved! (Rumor has it that there may be a secret way to skip levels… But then, what kind of monster could continue to live with himself after cheating?)
‘Q’
Quit: Exits the game.
Helpful Hints
Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind if you want to maximize your Poco-Pleasure.
- Schedule your PocoMan play-time to avoid interfering with appointments, meals, or important chores. (Alternatively, you may want to schedule these things to avoid interfering with play.)
- Make use of PocoMan as a diet aid (this sometimes happens unintentionally).
- Learn to live with fewer hours of sleep.
The Game Menu
The Game menu contains the following items:
Latest Version
Displays information about the latest version of PocoMan and how to get it.
(Make sure your Internet connection is active before selecting.)
Exit
Exits the game.
The Level Menu
The Level menu contains the following items:
Restart Level
Redraws the maze with all the treasures in their original places. This item does the same thing as the ‘R’ keykeyboard.
Undo
This will undo the last push of a treasure. This menu item serves the same purpose as the right mouse buttonmouse and the ‘U’ keykeyboard.
Next Level
Moves to the next level in the sequence. This option does the same thing as the ‘N’ keykeyboard.
Previous Level
Switches to the previous maze in the sequence; this is the same as the ‘P’ keykeyboard.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
These pop-up menus allow you to switch to any level instantly, simply by clicking on the appropriate icon. The icon displayed for each level is the treasure graphic for that level. Levels you don’t yet have access to are displayed as blank boxes, and selecting them has no effect.
If you have installed any of the Add-On Level Packs for PocoMan, those levels will appear on this Level menu as well. Please visit www.sleepless.com for more information about Add-On Level packs for PocoMan.
The Options Menu
The Options menu contains the following items:
Player Name
This item displays a dialog box allowing you to enter a different name. PocoMan can keep track of scores and finished level information for different players if each person uses a different name.
Magnification
This pop-up menu allows you to choose the size of the PocoMan window. It can be magnified 1X, 2X, or 3X; the default is 2X.
Speech/Sound
When this item is checked (the default), PocoMan will occasionally make brief comments or play short sound clips on various notable occasions, such as the successful completion of a level.
Motion Sounds
This option can be used to enable or disable the ‘move’ and ‘push’ sounds PocoMan normally makes as he moves about the maze.
The Internet Menu
The Help menu contains the following items:
PocoMan Website
Selecting this option will start your default web browser and display the PocoMan web page. Naturally, this will only work if your machine is connected to the Internet.
Sleepless Software Inc. Web Page
Selecting this option will start your web browser and display Sleepless Software Inc.’s home page.
Recent News About PocoMan
Selecting this option will start your web browser and display Sleepless Software Inc.’s home page.
The Help Menu
The Help menu contains the following items:
Quick Help
This option displays in the main PocoMan window a sort summary of the keys used to play PocoMan. Press any key or click the left mouse button to return to the game.
Help Contents
Displays this help file, providing more detailed information about PocoMan.
Level Solutions
Displays the PocoMan "hint book" if it is installed. Otherwise, it displays
information about how to get it!
About PocoMan
Displays a picture of SUPER-POCOMAN along with some mundane copyright and credit information.
Credits
Produced by Sleepless Software Inc.
Design: Joe Hitchens and Ron Hitchens
Programming: Ron Hitchens, Bryan Ford, Sunny Kim, Joe Hitchens
Artwork: Joe Hitchens
PocoMan Voice: The Amiga Narrator
Contact Info
For more information about PocoMan and other Sleepless Software Inc. products, visit our Internet Web site at:
www.sleepless.com
To contact Sleepless Software Inc., send email to:
receptionist@sleepless.com
For information about orders/purchases:
accept-orders@sleepless.com