Table of Contents
- Place the Laser Arena CD into your CD-ROM drive and Setup will automatically begin.
- Follow the instructions on screen to complete installation.
- To run Laser Arena, select the Laser Arena icon from the Windows Start Menu.
To highlight the different menu options, use the ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrow keys. To adjust a particular selection, use the ‘left’ and ‘right’ arrow keys. You can always bring up the menu from within the game by pressing the ‘Esc’ key. To exit a menu at any time, simply press the ‘Esc’ key.
Ladder
In Ladder mode, you will face computer opponents in a challenging
series of levels that will take you through all the different game types.
Only when you defeat the last level can you call yourself a true champion.
Quick Game
In this mode, you can play a round of any game type. You have the choice
of how many computer opponents to include, as well as which level you would
like to play on. Great for practicing, or when you just want to jump in
and kick some tail.
Multiplayer
In Multiplayer mode, you have the ability to play against other people that have bought Laser Arena, either on a Local Area Network (LAN) or over the Internet. To play on a LAN, one player needs to select New Game in the Multiplayer menu to create a game server that others can join. All the other players then need to select Join Game in the Multiplayer menu, and then select the appropriate game from the list of LAN games that appear to join the game.
Options
The Options menu gives you the ability to adjust various game settings
to your liking.
Exit
This will quit the game and return you to Windows.
Laser Arena uses rules that are very similar to Laser Tag. Each player is equipped with a laser gun that is used to tag targets, laser turrets, and other players.
When a player is tagged, they deactivate (can't shoot, or be tagged) and reactivate after a few seconds, just Laser Tag. Unlike Laser Tag, though, each player has three energy containers, which are drained one at a time when tagged. When all of a player's energy containers are drained, they are considered "tagged out", and are teleported out of the arena. When tagged out, you are shown the current score board for the game. You are teleported back into the game when you press you "fire" key or "jump" key. Careful not to let opponents tag you out too much, because they get points each time they do.
To win each game, your team (or just you in Duel or Free-For-All) has to accumulate a certain number of points before the opponent team (player in Duel or Free-For-All) does. The number of points needed to win is set according to the type of game being played by the game or the person who started the game.
In team games, players win as a team, meaning that the team score is what matters, not the players' individual scores. Other players on the same team can not be tagged out by you with your laser blaster, but you can accidentally tag them out with laser grenades, so make sure you're careful with them.
Points can be earned in several different ways, some of which are only available in certain game types. Here's a list of all the various different ways you can get the points you need to beat the competition.
- 100 points are awarded each time you tag an opponent player, draining one of their energy containers, and deactivating then for a few seconds.
- 400 points are awarded when you tag out an opponent player, draining their third and last energy container and causing them to be teleported out of the arena.
- In Mega Target, 500 points are awarded for tagging a neutral base target.
- In Mega Target, 1000 points are awarded for tagging the enemy base target.
- In Mega Target, 5000 points are awarded for tagging the Mega Target.
- In Domination, 100 points are awarded for capturing a domination point.
- In Domination, 100 points are awarded for each domination point you control each second.
Throughout the game information will be displayed on your screen that will let you know how you're doing and what's going on in the game.
- Energy level – This is represented by three power canisters in the lower right of your screen. When all the canisters are empty, you will be transported to your own base in a team game, or to a random point in the level for a non-team game. Your power canisters are then refilled.
- Powerup - When you have a power-up, its icon and time remaining will be displayed just above your energy canisters. When the power-up time runs out, its display will go away, and you will lose the power-up.
- Laser Grenades – If you are carrying any laser grenades they will be displayed as icons along the right side of your screen. The maximum you can carry is three.
- Score – Your personal score will be displayed in the top center of the screen represented by the big number.
- Points Left - The number of points left to get to win for the player or team that is in the lead.
- Team Score – In team games, both team scores will be shown in the upper left area of the screen, with the winning team on top.
- Crosshair - The crosshair in the center of the screen will change to an X shape when you are deactivated. This is usually the easiest way to tell if you've been hit and are deactivated. While deactivated, your gun will also lower down and turn off. Remember that while you're deactivated you can't fire your laser blaster or be tagged.
- Name Display - When your crosshair passes over another player, their name will be displayed just below it in a box the color of the team they are on.
- Game status – The name of and information about the current game type is displayed in the lower left of your screen. This information will be different depending on the game type you are currently playing. In team games, the backdrop box for the game type name matches the team that you are on, meaning it's green if you're on the Green team, and red if you're on the Red team. This makes it easy to always know which team you're on no matter how chaotic the game gets.
Laser Blaster
This is the standard issue Laser Blaster used in the
game of Laser Arena. When fired, it emits a beam of light (default is the
left mouse button to fire). When an opponent (or yourself) is tagged with
the beam, it will drain one canister of their energy. The tagged player
will then power down for a few seconds. In that time they cannot shoot,
or be tagged. After a few seconds, that player will then power back up
and be able to play as normal again. If the player's last canister is drained,
they are teleported out of the arena, and then teleported back in at an
appropriate teleport in location with full energy.
Laser Grenade
When thrown, the Laser Grenade will bounce around a few times before
floating into the air and emitting its barrage of blue lasers. Great care
should be taken when using grenades, as you can accidentally tag yourself,
or your fellow team members if they are hit by it. To use a grenade, press
the grenade key (default is ‘g’).
The following items may be found throughout the arenas
to enhance your abilities. Some last only a short time before running out.
| Power Canisters
Power Canisters will replenish one canister of your energy. |
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| Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire allows your Laser Blaster to shoot twice as fast. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. A chaotic swirl of purple particles will circle around a player that had rapid fire. |
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| Double Points
While in effect, the Double Points power up will double the amount of points you are awarded. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. Two rings of blue will waver around a player while they posses double points. |
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| Double Blaster
When you have this power up, any opponent you tag will have two Power Canisters drained instead of one. This power up will last for 30 seconds before running out. Two rings of yellow particles will spin a player in an X formation while they have double blaster. |
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| Laser Grenades
This will give you one laser grenade to carry. You can carry no more than three at any time. When you throw a laser grenade with the grenade key, it launches out in the direction you're looking and bounces around for a few seconds before popping straight up a bit and then blasting everything around it with a barrage of lasers. Be careful when using these, as they will also tag you and your teammates. |
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There are five different types of games you can play in Laser Arena.
Each has different goals for winning, and different ways to earn the most
points to come out on top.
Free for All
Team Match
Duel
Domination
Mega Target
- Constantly move. A moving target is always more difficult to hit.
- Grab power-ups, gameplay tends to revolve around control of the power-ups.
- Be cautious with grenades, you can hurt yourself and your teammates with them.
- Always beware of the turrets in Mega Target games.
- Make sure to listen. Sounds you hear in the game can tip you off to what's going on before you can actually see what's going on.
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