WALKTHRU FOR COUNTDOWN TO DOOMSDAY Countdown to Doomsday is a SSI game in the Gold Box style in a science-fiction setting. It is the first of two Buck Rogers games in this series. This is a very linear game. While there are some options as to the order of areas to explore, the sequence of steps within each area is usually a very precise order. Also, as you complete the tasks within an area, you are exited from that area automatically. So, if you like to explore and find all the details, keep a back-up saved game so you can replay the scenario. If you play on Novice level, the majority of combats can be played on Quick setting, and will present no challenge. Only specific items of combat booty are even worth mentioning. There is a wide variety of weapons. If you want to be meticulous, certain weapons are effective against certain opponents. If you choose the most powerful weapons, they are effective against all enemies. There is no reason to edit characters or items. You will easily over equip the party, and will early in the game be advanced enough to survive the game. When creating a party, you have a wide latitude. You can choose any race and skill you wish. Of course you will need a pilot and a medic, but all characters can advance in all skills. Just try to get a good mix of all skills. One important note... as a character advances, he can only learn one new skill. Initially, try to cover as many skills as you can. When you advance, you will have more areas in which to distribute skill points. Ship to ship combat is a new option for this game engine. You can destroy the enemy ship by ramming or destroying its hull. This will win you credits and salvage. However, you may also board the enemy ship if you get close enough. Enemy ships come in 3 different classes and may have 3 different crews. Attack these according to your advancement levels. The combat items from these boardings are superior to those found in the normal course of the game. The rocket launcher and plasma launchers are very powerful weapons. They do area effect damage to all enemies. You will need at least one of these to survive attacks by combat robots. Pay attention to text messages. While the messages may seem like a 'babysitter', you will have to follow their instructions in many places to get through an area. THE GAME You begin the game at Earth Station Salvation. Your task is to disable the enemy defenses. Combat is continuous as you explore. When you defeat the enemy in the control room, you are removed from this area to HQ. There is a Medical facility if you need it. The items gathered are minimal quality, but you may gather them to sell for initial cash. At HQ you are given a scouting assignment. You may wish to shop and train first. Then you launch to begin your assignment. You will find a derelict spaecraft. Explore it. There are 10 levels. There is a specific order of events to follow. Also, your party will become infected and individuals will become disabled and then attack the rest of the party. You will have to complete this mission without a lot of aimless wandering, or your party will be destroyed. First you must find 'Scot.dos' (a computer personality who will guide you throughout the game). He is located on level 9. Using the air shaft saves a lot of movement, since it goes all the way up and down. The elevators are limited to certain floors. Go to level 7 to get personnel dossiers. Then go to level 6. When you enter the medical facility, Scot.dos will inform you of gas canisters. They are in the basement level. Take them to level 3 and introduce them into the air filtration system. Then go to level 1 to shut down the controls. Now you can go to level 10. Finish off the enemies and exit the ship. The med lab computers will heal you if you found the passwords in the personnel dossiers. I could not disable the security on level 9. It is probably a waste of time to try. Now you will be given 3 new assignments. Find a RAM base in the asteroids, find a base on Mars, and find a base on Venus. I recommend fighting a few ship-to-ship combats at this time. Gain a level or two and get some goodies before trying to enter these bases. The asteroid base is the easiest task. Your mission is to rescue a group of children and escort them to safety. Take any elevator down. There is no working elevator going up. There is one elevator shaft that will allow you to climb using a rope. Explore as much as you wish. You will be told to hurry, but it doesn't matter in this area. There is a lot of plot background info scattered throught these two levels. Scot.Dos will give you the more important co-ordinates. You may also find some demo charges and other neat items. Combats aren't terribly difficult, but you won't automatically win them. There are med labs on level one if you want to heal. The kids will give you the password for the computers. Put them on their escape ship and head to your own ship. I recommend saving before you enter your ship. As soon as you exit this area, you will be immediately sent into the next scenario. You will encounter Talon, a space pirate. You might win the initial combat, but as you begin to move, you will be captured and placed in a cell. Escape from the cell. Buck Rogers will appear and help you with equipment. Get the extra stash he mentions. There are twelve levels on this ship. On many levels, Buck will warn you not to enter. Don't enter these levels, as you will face unwinnable combats. There is a med lab on level seven if you wish to heal. Find Talon's cabin on level 12, and the armory just south of his cabin. Go to level ten and place the explosives. Go to level one and disable the engineering controls. Go to level eleven to exit to your ship. You may explore the outer ring of asteroids for side quests. Each port in these areas contains a port and different shops. You might check them out if you wish to buy some items to fill out your arsenal. All of these side quests are short and sweet. They are usually 8x8 with very straightforward mazes. Not all of these will be available initially. Some require completing a task before you can find them. Probably it is best to finish the Mars and Venus scenarios before starting asteroid exploration. Train and save at this point. If you find that your party isn't prepared to face the Ram Base forces, you can go back to this saved game and fight some ship-to-ship combats to get experience and equipment. Once you land on a planet and initiate its scenario, it is not recommended to leave before completion. NPC's won't leave with you, so if you leave, you lose part of the game. On Mars you will encounter a tribe of Desert Runners. Enlist one and go to their village. Help defend the village from Ram forces. When you defeat the Ram re-inforcements, you are finished here. You should find a red, green, and blue passcard as you explore. Next go to the secret entrance to the Ram Base. Your goal is to destroy the laser on level three. In the basement, just find the elevator. You should have the passcard to operate the elevator. Check out the southwest corner of level one and then proceed to the elevators. On level two you should surrender your weapons. Find the white passcard and proceed to the vault to recover your equipment. Now go to level three. There are several approach options, but you are guided to the laser regardless of which route you choose. Destroy the laser and exit the base. Return to your ship and return to HQ for training and breifing. Next go to Venus. Enlist Lowlander NPC. Go to Lowlander village. You can frre acid frogs to get frog food. Get the keys from Ram officer. Meet villagers in northeast corner. Retreive the medkit for them. Go down trap door to find baby Zane. Add him to party. Go to Ram base. The secret tunnel is the preferred entrance. This will take you to the glider base. Find the two keys. Set the explosives and exit through the northeast tunnel. The Ram base has four levels. You will enter on level two from the glider base or on level one from main entrance. Go to level four and meet Leader of lowlanders. He will thank you for returning his child. Zane will leave your party. You will be given several tasks to complete in order. Find the lockpick (it will be necessary to finish the game). Talk to scientists in lab. Find the secret door. When you finish all the tasks, the lowlanders will escape and you have finished this part of the game. You may try to find the Frog King. You will need a character with high skill level in 'befriend animal' to succeed. (I succeeded in the c-64 version, but had no luck in the PC version). Return to your ship and back to HQ. You will be urged to hurry to Mariposa Three on Mercury. However, you should tie up loose ends first. Finish all the asteroid bases. Rhe bases are at Psyche, Hygeia, Thule, and Juno. Juno has some really tough combats. Be sure to view your characters and equip rocket launchers and plasma throwers after each combat. When you finish all the asteroids, proceed to Mariposa Three. Mariposa Three is the end game sequence. Your first step is to find your way to the core. You are advised to avoid the securty gates. You can fight your way through if you wish. You probably can't win the battle at the stock exchange. Eventually you will join a troop of dancers to get to the next section. Then you can slip away and get to the core. Work your way up the core. You will need to find three coins. As you exit the core on each level, you will see a bird. The Eagle, Owl, and Hawk levels contain a coin. When you have the three coins, exit on the jeweled bird level. Play chess in the southeast room. The password is 'bastille'. Now go to the Sun King's palace. Answer 'oui' to all his questions. Go back to the core and ascend to the top level. You will be on a limited number of moves at this point. If you wander around, the timer will expire and your party will be destroyed. Go immediately to the stairs in the northwest corner. Go up to the weapons level. Go to the second room south and disable the power to stop the countdown. Proceed southeast. Use the retinal lockpick to open the door. Go to the southern doors and defeat the guards to destroy the laser controls. Fight your way through the Sun Kings guards. Check for good booty. Make your way directly back to the stairs and to the escape pod level. You are on a countdown again at this point. I was successful at blasting through an escape pod door. You can go the control room and have Scot.dos override the pod doors. Get to a pod before the countdown expires. Escape and watch the fireworks. Return to HQ for congratulations. Remove your characters if you want to use them in the sequel "Matrix Cubed".