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Countdown (Countdown_forward.txt)

COUNTDOWN 
by Ken Fletcher
Forward Software
Spectrum 48

This game appears to have been written by Kevin Fletcher, possibly for Carol 
Bradbury, hence the reason it is listed as an alternate version in the World 
of Spectrum text adventures games site when you check out her Countdown 
game. It is quite different from her game.

It is also listed as a separate game in WoS.

There is no introduction, so you don’t really know what you are to do, nor 
why. The game suffers from far too many locations. To its credit, hints are 
available at several locations. 

Hints:

There are a few red herrings – the rope, the hammer. 

You cannot turn the torch off, so stop worrying..

You cannot EXAMINE objects, so stop trying.

CRAWL at the alarm beams.

Check out the television.

The door is too narrow for you to pass through? DROP some items, pass 
through, DROP a few more, and go back and retrieve what you need.

HELP is available at the start location, the dark room, switch room, gym(n), 
lever room, strongroom, at the dog, at the compuer terminal, and at the 
launch complex. 

Solution: 

INVENTORY (nothing), HELP (pick and (s)poke), TAKE BICYCLE, REMOVE SPOKE, 
PICK LOCK (door opens), DROP BICYCLE, DROP SPOKE, TAKE LADDER, N, N, N, E, 
S, S, S, TAKE TORCH, N, N, N, N, W, N, TORCH ON N, TAKE  UNIFORM, WEAR 
UNIFORM, N, N, N, TAKE CROWBAR, E, S, S, E (you see a TV), SWITCH ON TV (you 
see 9235), S, E, N (you see bars on the walls), HELP (this is driving me up 
the wall), UP BARS, (you see a button), PRESS BUTTON (you see an open door 
to the north), N (you see a notice to “press nine”), S, S, S, W (in the 
switch room), HELP (this is a pressing problem), PRESS SWITCH (which one?).

PRESS NINE (you hear a creaking noise in the distance), N, W, W, S, S, E, E 
(the door is now open), E (the guard assumes your are his relief and 
leaves), E, E, N, W (you see an alarm beam), CRAWL  (you hear a phone 
ringing), N, N, E (you see a panel), HELP (I don’t want to crow about it, 
but there is a way through), USE CROWBAR, N, ANSWER PHONE (the pass code is 
fear), DROP CROWBAR, S, W, S, S, CRAWL, E, S, W, S, S, S, S, HELP (don’t be 
afraid to type), TYPE FEAR (the wall has slid back), E, TAKE BOTTLE, N, N, 
E, N, N, N, N, N, E, E, N, W, TAKE CARD, E, S, W, W, N, N, E, E (you see a 
dog blocking the way east).

HELP (let lying dog sleep), DROP CHEMICALS, E, S, S, S, S ( it’s too 
narrow), DROP LADDER, S, DROP CARD, N, TAKE LADDER,  S, TAKE CARD (you see a 
dial), HELP (our number could be up), DIAL 9235 (you create a passage 
south), S, W, W (you see a key), TAKE KEY (it’s too high), UP LADDER, TAKE 
KEY, DROP LADDER, E, E, S (you see a locked door to the south), OPEN DOOR, S 
(you see a slot), INSERT CARD (you see another locked door), OPEN DOOR, S, 
W, W (in the launch control centre), HELP (what did we come here for?), 
CANCEL (you have deactivated the missile, but have to leave by the shortest 
way), E, E, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, 
W, W, N, N, N, N, W, W, W, W, S, S, S, S. You are finished.

Score: 100%.

Terri Sheehan
2010-08-17

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