***

QUICK START (If you read this and feel like you have a pretty good idea of what is going on, then go and play the game)

Copy the Sound Manager 3.1 files to your System Folder and then reboot before playing. This is the first Sound Manager to be native for Power Macintosh.

To play, double click on the Marathon 2 Icon. If you want to use ambient sounds or play at a bit depth other than 8-bit you will have to give Marathon 2 more memory (to do this select the Marathon 2 icon and choose Get Info from the File Menu).

In the Preferences dialog, click on "configure keyboard" to configure and learn the key settings.

Choose a difficulty level from the Preferences according to your vid-prowess. If you play action games rarely or never, then stay in Kindergarten or Easy. If you are a vid-master or are under the age of twenty-one, then you should NEVER play below Normal. (Unless, of course, you're a wuss.) That's right. Save Kindergarten and Easy for the older generation! Youth is only satisfied by Major Damage and Total Carnage. We'll be in touch with Big Brother to make sure that nobody is playing below their ability. (Isn't the Internet wonderful?)

Whoops. I wasn't supposed to let you know about Big Brother.

***

Anything else?

Sure there is. Here comes the standard industry plea for all of you to buy our game!! BUY OUR GAME! We don't just want the money, we want to create more people in the world who are good enough for us to play against as worthy opponents, not fodder.

For more information contact:
Bungie Software Products Corporation
P.O. Box 7877
Chicago, Il 60680-7877
(312) 563-6200
Fax: (312) 563-0545
eMail: Bungie1@aol.com

REQUIREMENTS:

TO START A NEW GAME: Copy the Sound Manager 3.1 files to your System Folder and then reboot before playing. Double click on the Marathon application. Use the Preferences to select suitable sound and graphics settings (see performance notes). Then click on the New Game button to start a new game.

PERFORMANCE NOTES: There are a few things you can do if you need to speed up the animation in Marathon 2.

DEFAULT CONTROLS:
Walk Forwards: KP8
Walk Backwards: KP5
Turn Left: KP4
Turn Right: KP6

Dodge Left: Z
Dodge Right: X

Look Up: D
Look Down: C
Look Ahead: V

Glance Left: Shift Key + KP4 or A
Glance Right: Shift Key + KP6 or S

Fire primary trigger: Space Bar
Fire secondary trigger: OPTION
You can switch between weapons using KP7 and KP9. This scrolls through the weapon list. (Weapons are always put into the list in the same order.)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Use the cursor keys to move around. The turning keys don't actually move you, but instead pivot you. The forwards and backwards keys move you, and if the run key is simultaneously held down with a movement key, the corresponding movement is faster.

The dodge keys move you sideways to your view. This is very useful for dodging projectiles. It would be to your benefit to learn how to dodge successfully.

As you look up and down, your weapon will also point in that direction. As you move, your view will shift toward horizontal. The look ahead key will automatically return your view to horizontal.

Everything you see is automatically mapped for you. To access this map, press 'M'. Notice that time has not stopped or slowed down, and that you can explore while looking at the map.

Use the tab key to activate a pattern buffer, computer terminal or switch. The pattern buffer allows you to save games.

After you activate a computer terminal, the screen interface will display the terminal's text, and any map references made in the terminal. Note that some computer terminals activate teleport pads. Use the 'ESCAPE' key to abort a teleport terminal.

Switches are activated in the same way as terminals, but they usually change some physical condition. For example, a switch might activate a platform or a door.

Select a weapon using the KP7 and KP9 keys. You start with only the pistol and your fist. When you collect more weapons, it becomes increasingly important to remember how much ammunition you have for each weapon. Some weapons are better against certain aliens than others. You should experiment. After a weapon is emptied or discharged, it will automatically reload if you have ammunition for it.

As you explore, you will find weapons, ammo and other useful items. To pick them up, simply walk over them.

Some doors work when you activate them with the TAB key. Others are controlled by switches, and some are very mysterious and are controlled by the higher powers of the universe. If a door doesn't open with the activate key, try looking around for a switch. Some doors just may never open.

The red health bar on the bottom left of the interface keeps track of the shield status of your battle armor. If you are hit when your armor is zero or if your armor goes below zero, then your body is rent in twain, and you die. Try to prevent this from happening. In the unfortunate event that death does occur you will be allowed to return to the place where you last saved the game. If you are close to death and need to power up your shields, look for a shield recharge station.

HINTS:

TROUBLE-SHOOTING:

Q: Marathon won't let me select thousands or millions of colors, ambient sound, or stereo sound.
A: Try giving Marathon more memory.

Q: Why does the demo end at level 3? I want more carnage.
A: The demo has only three single player levels. We know it was cruel, but if you want to play more, you need to buy the full game.

Q: Why am I reading this? A: 1. You have played the demo 35 times and you're looking for a hint so that you can find something new.
2. Actually you're not real and right now, you're inside a computer game, where someone else is directing your actions and wearing a virtual reality body suit. That other person is now making you read this instead of playing the Marathon 2 Demo for the 36th time...