Ziona Quest X

             WELCOME BRAVE SOUL!            

The year is 2039, the world is awash with fear as deluded overlords unleash chaos in an attempt to save themselves from an incoming phoenix event.

The Earth's inhabitants, locked down in smart cities pacified by a merciless barrage of mocking bird media, are in trouble.

The call went out for brave souls to come help humanity free themselves and ring in a new age of peace and prosperity...  you answered.

Introducing Ziona Quest X

The original version of Ziona Quest (an early BETA of this game) was released in May 2023 and proved popular here on itch. Since then the labour of love continued in a quest to improve and expand the game into the ultimate ZQ experience.
I hope the result presented here, a tight, old-school action platformer sculpted to test even the most skilled player, lives up to that and delivers many hours of fun and enjoyment.

Willie, IAMAI Creation        

ZIONA QUEST X FEATURES:

• 15 Blistering levels of increasing challenge (30 when including ZQY)
• Detailed colourful graphics and animation
• Finely tuned, balanced and varied gameplay
• Great longevity and replay value
• Quality soundtrack by NQ - king of the AY
• The chance to help free humanity!
  

Ziona Quest X runs on any device using a ZX Spectrum emulator as well as on a real ZX Spectrum 128K computer.

Included downloads:

Ziona Quest X

Ziona Quest X Training Mission: Here you will learn the ropes and hone your skills ready for your mission. It is recommended you complete this first!

NOTE: 

The FINAL version of this game can be found on the cassette release (coming soon).

The cassette release also includes an exclusive full game 'Break Space'.

The Training Mission will help you get the hang of things. You can also check out the detailed guide below as required...

HOW TO PLAY

EACH LEVEL FEATURES THREE PHASES:

PHASE 1: WIN TRUTH BOMBS  

Collect a ROCK, throw at TV, collect TV 'CORE' and deliver it to the TEMPLE.       Take 3x 'CORES' to the TEMPLE and enter to win your 'TRUTH BOMBS'

PHASE 2: GUIDE HUMANS TO THE TEMPLE      

Drop 'TRUTH BOMBS'  in HUMANS path . They will react by freaking out or getting angry. Shoot FREAKERS and FIGHTERS  with your arrows then guide WAKENED to the TEMPLE

PHASE 3: ZAP REMAINING NEEDLERS AND RESCUE BROTHER

NEEDLERS are despatched by a number of ARROW hits or one hit by a 'GOLDEN ROCK'

During this phase your BROTHER escapes the MONARCH BEAM and starts wandering the level. Hit your BROTHER with arrows until he turns GOLD, then touch him and he will give you a special 'GOLDEN ROCK' before he ascends to freedom. The 'GOLDEN ROCK' will take out NEEDLERS with ONE HIT!

=  

Instead of using the 'GOLDEN ROCK' to despatch NEEDLERS you can take it to the TEMPLE (When falshing RED) to gain an EXTRA LIFE

COMPLETING THE LEVEL   

When the TEMPLE FLASHES RED you can ENTER to reach the NEXT LEVEL

TIME LIMIT         

THE SUN / MOON represents your time limit for each level. When it reaches the peak of the TEMPLE time is up and you LOSE A LIFE. Keep moving brave one!

CONTROLS

Ziona Quest X is designed to be played using a keyboard for optimal play

Alternate controls may be used at your own risk!

Control Keys:

Q - UP 

A - DOWN

O - LEFT

P - RIGHT

SPACE - FIRE

H - PAUSE GAME - press any key to resume

M - MUSIC OFF - current tune will stop

PLAYER MOVES:

WALK LEFT / RIGHT- press  LEFT or RIGHT 

JUMP - press UP 

DUCK - press DOWN 

ROLL - hold DOWN and press LEFT or RIGHT   

FIRE ARROW / THROW ROCK - press FIRE

DROP 'TRUTH BOMB'  - press DOWN and hold FIRE

PICK UP 'TRUTH BOMB' - press UP when touching  

LADDERS - press UP or DOWN to use ladders   

ENERGY BAR    

Your ENERGY BAR indicates how much ENERGY you currently have

ENERGY is depleted by unconscious HUMANS    (except when DUCKING or ROLLING)

BOOST ENERGY by touching DISABLED NEEDLERS

ENERGY is wiped out when SHOT by ENEMIES  (DUCK / ROLL to AVOID)

When ENERGY is wiped out you turn GREEN, SLOW down, LOSE your current WEAPON and will be UNABLE TO JUMP

To REGAIN FULL ABILITIES  you can MEDITATE - to meditate simply find a safe place and do nothing!

Whilst meditating the GOLD ENERGY BAR will increase until your FULL ABILITIES are RESTORED   = 

WARNING! If SHOT when GREEN you will die!      = 

 
WEAPONS

ROCKS:       

Collect a ROCK from the pile on top of the LEVEL COUNTER by pressing 'DOWN' 

You can only carry one ROCK at a time. Throw wisely!         

ROCKS have the following effect on:

NEEDLER : Disabled temporarily      = 

FIGHTER : Goes back to sleep          =      

TV : Switches off and releases a 'CORE'           =          

SMARTGUN : W ill be temporarily disabled if hit when flashing        

You will lose the ROCK if your ENERGY hits zero or you pick up ARROWS

ARROWS: Collect ARROWS by visiting your brother

You can fire unlimited ARROWS but will lose them if your energy hits zero or you pick up a ROCK

ARROWS have the following affect on:

HUMAN: Change direction        =  

FIGHTER: Waken      =  

FREAKER: Waken        =  

WAKENED: Change direction       =  

NEEDLER: Disabled for a short period of time.      =  

BROTHER: Raises his vibration and colour until he becomes GOLD

                       

TRUTH BOMBS:   

You will gain your 'TRUTH BOMBS' if you enter the TEMPLE after delivering three TV CORES

Drop 'TRUTH BOMBS' by pressing 'DOWN' and holding 'FIRE'

You have unlimited 'TRUTH BOMBS 'but can only drop ONE at a time  

Pick up dropped 'TRUTH BOMBS' by pressing 'UP' when touching 

TRUTH BOMBS have the following effect on:

HUMAN: Becomes FREAKER or FIGHTER      =     or  

WAKENED: Becomes FREAKER        =  

NEEDLERS will clear any 'TRUTH BOMBS' they encounter      

GOLDEN ROCK:   

Win the GOLDEN ROCK by saving your BROTHER (touch him when he is GOLD)

The GOLDEN ROCK will take out NEEDLERS with ONE HIT!     =  

You only get ONE SHOT so throw well!

If you save the 'GOLDEN ROCK' until NEEDLERS are clear you can deliver it to the TEMPLE to win an extra life!     =  

CHARACTERS:

HUMAN (UNCONSCIOUS)  

Under a spell these obedient, establishment loving drones wander back and forth staring at their phones oblivious to what is going on around them

An ARROW hit will make them change direction        =  

When hit by a TRUTH BOMB they will either become angry and go on the attack or freak out and float around aimlessly.

FIGHTER  

Angry humans who run around in a dissonant rage. If they get you, you die!

Shoot with ARROW to AWAKEN      =  

WAKENED HUMANS will also become FIGHTERS if touched by this guy!

FREAKER   

Float around aimlessly until shot with an ARROW        =  

You can nudge them by touching

If SHOT by enemy will be put back to sleep       =  

(ENEMY SHOTS have NO EFFECT on FEAKERS in ZQY)

WAKENED HUMAN        

Newly WAKENED HUMANS wander the level until they reach the TEMPLE

When YOU DUCK, THEY DUCK and are SAFE from NEEDLERS and SHOTS.

If TOUCHED BY NEEDLER they will be 'INJECTED' and PUT BACK TO SLEEP           =    

If SHOT by ENEMIES the WAKENED BECOME FIGHTERS       =  

(In ZQY ENEMY SHOTS will make WAKENED become either a FIGHTER or a FREAKER)

If HIT BY A FIGHTER the WAKENED BECOME A FIGHTER       =  

Remember to DUCK to SAVE WAKENED from all of the above!

(in ZQY you must ESCORT WAKENED to the TEMPLE personally. SHOOT with ARROWS to turn them around then PUSH in desired direction. Push to ladder, SHOOT with arrow to SEND UPWARD)

NEEDLER   

These A.I. controlled Dr.Bots are heartless, soulless and merciless

The NEEDLER's mission is to keep HUMANS unconscious and take out threats

WAKENED will be 'injected' and put back to sleep if caught        =   

Will kill PLAYER instantly if caught          =   

Will remove any 'TRUTH BOMBS' they find    

If hit by an ARROW or ROCK will malfunction temporarily.    =  

The PLAYER can recharge ENERGY by touching a NEEDLER before it recovers

BROTHER                   

Your BROTHER has been trapped under the MONARCH BEAM but does his best to help you by providing ARROWS

When the MONARCH BEAM is cut (when all humans are liberated) he will break loose and wander around the level

He has a DEEP BLUE colour when he starts wandering. SHOOT him with your ARROWS until he turns GOLD then TOUCH HIM and he will give you a special GOLDEN ROCK       before ascending to freedom

SMARTGUN   

The SMARTGUN is active from LEVEL 4 onwards and fires a SHOT every so often

It switches off during PHASE 3 until your BROTHER is rescued

You can DISABLE THE SMARTGUN by hitting it with a ROCK when FLASHING

  

Eternal gratitude is bequeathed to those who stand ready and join the few who rise to embark upon this noble mission. Be under no illusion brave one, what awaits you will crush the spirit of all but the most enduring of souls. The stakes are high. No less than the very future of humanity is in the balance. Yet, thanks to those such as you, there is hope...

G O O D  L U C K !!!

This game was made using the brilliant AGDX by Allan Turvey which is an improved and expanded version of the original (and also brilliant) AGD for the ZX Spectrum by Jonathan Cauldwell

Music kindly supplied by N.Q.who is one of the Spectrum's premier composers. Thanks again man! 

Many thanks for your support and for playing. I hope you have a great time with the game and a spectacular day!

All the best,

Willie. IAMAI Creation