fRaBs single player
Main - Updates - Single Player - Deathmatch - Level Editing - FAQ - Credits - Links

`I. The Basics`
`II. Cheats`
`III. Enemies`
`IV. Weapons`
`V. Powerup Items`
`VI. Episodes/Levels`
`VII. Maps`

`The Basics`

`Controls in Abuse are fairly simple. You aim a cursor`
`around the screen that determines what direction you`
`fire in with the mouse. Clicking the left mouse button`
`fires. You move the player with the keyboard direction`
`keys. 'Up' climbs up ladders and also functions as the`
`jump button. 'Down' works with switches and moves you`
`through doors and teleporters. You will eventually find`
`powerup items that will allow you to fly or run faster.`
`These are activated with the right mouse button.`

`There are a number of weapons to be found in the game.`
`Either use the number keys to toggle between weapons or`
`the CTRL and INS keys to cycle to the left and right.`
`The player starts with 100 health, and there are hearts`
`and medkits that will replenish your energy.`

`There are hidden areas throughout the single-player and`
`multiplayer levels that are accessible by shooting`
`walls, or sometimes by shooting an invisible trigger`
`either on or off screen.`

`If it doesn't look like you, kill it quickly. :)`

`Throughout the game there are several save-positions that`
`are activated by pressing 'down'. You can save over one of`
`five slots. These files are named 'Save000X.spe' where X`
`equals the numbers 1 through 5 (the number of the slot you`
`saved over). These files can be renamed if you want to free`
`your save slots, and still keep your older savegames. You`
`can also load these files in the level editor.`

`Before playing the single-player game, make sure you run`
`the setup file and configure your sound card's settings.`

`Cheats`

`By running the single-player game in edit mode, you have`
`access to the god mode cheat (Shift+Z). You can also use the`
`'J' key to 'jump' your player to the position of your mouse`
`cursor, and use any of the other editor functions to aid you.`
`If you're not careful though, you can save over the original`
`levels... so make sure you're either playing from a savefile,`
`or a backup copy of the level.`

`Normal restart positions always restart the player with 100`
`health. However, in fRaBs there is a new variant which`
`remembers the player's health that may be used in some`
`levels, so don't depend on this.`

`In edit mode, you can press SHIFT to save the game. This`
`acts like your personal, invisible save point machine. :-)`

`Enemies`

`ANT: Very plentiful little alien creatures that shoot you with`
`a variety of weapons. Here's a guide of their attributes,`
`which vary depending on their color. I may add some new`
`colors to fRaBs in the future, namely green. Thanks to`
`Leon's new addons, the Ants have a variety of different`
`behaivor routines, death sequences, and even new weapons`
`to kill you with.`

`Maroon - Very common ants that fire short-range yellow`
`lasers that are similar to your original gun.`

`Blue - Also common. These guys fire orange lasers that`
`are stronger and slower than those of the maroon`
`ants. They also have extremely long range.`

`Brown - In groups and on ceilings, these guys can be a`
`pain with their grenades.`

`Yellow - IMO these guys are slightly less dangerous than`
`the grenade ants. Their rockets are easier to`
`dodge in many instances, unless you're close.`

`Orange - These ants fire plasma gun. Kill them quickly or`
`they'll make their mark.`

`Gold - BEWARE! Their firebombs can kill you in one hit,`
`even if you have full life. One is dangerous, and`
`a group is nearly unstoppable.`

`Red - Very rare. These guys fire the death frisbee, and`
`they can't aim them too well. Not a big problem.`

`Purple - Lightsaber ants will roast you if you try to shake`
`their hands, but if you keep your distance they are`
`harmless.`

`Green - Green is my favorite color, so I had to make a new`
`green ant for fRaBs. It doesn't shoot anything at`
`the moment, and it might not ever. It's just a cute,`
`agressive little bug that will jump on you for fun.`
`This has been taken out for now because of errors.`

`DarkBlue - This one shoots plasma bullets like the flyers do,`
`but for some reason he makes the game crash, so you`
`probably won't be seeing him in levels anytime soon.`
`Removed due to errors.`

`Gray - These guys come in a few varieties, and they tend to`
`be very difficult. Their new weapon may be shared by`
`flyers and whatnot as well. There are three different`
`types of gray ant at the moment.`

`1) Fires single, white laser.`
`2) Fires three white lasers.`
`3) Fires five white lasers.`

`They tend to be smarter than normal ants, and also`
`have more vitality. The new ones that fire five lasers`
`will kill you very quickly, but the other two aren't`
`pushovers unless you have lots of weaponry at your`
`disposal. Thank Leon for these little buggers.`

`ALIENS: Straight from the famous horror flicks (and originally`
`from the Aliens Doom TC). They are faster than Ants and`
`tend to pack more of a wallop, not afraid to come in`
`close and tear you apart.`

`Drone - They're small, dark green, and fearless. They're`
`able to shoot acid, and are hard to see in the`
`dark. In groups they will jump you quickly, so`
`make sure you have your heavy weapons ready.`

`Face - Tiny yellow spider-like creatures that come out`
`Hugger of eggs and jars. Again, they're deadly in groups.`

`Warrior - Bigger and badder than the drone, but they act`
`similarly. Flamethrowers or plasma does the trick.`

`FLYER: Another common enemy. They fly and most of the time`
`they shoot little plasma bullets. There are three`
`distinct varieties. Sometimes you can catch them`
`carrying ants or boulders.`

`Who - Brown and flat, they follow you and are easy targets.`
`They can only shoot the plasma bullets.`

`Flyer - These guys look cool, with their miniature helicopter`
`mechanical look. Watch it though, as they can fire`
`any one weapon at any speed, and they're tough to hit`
`because of their compact size. The new ant weapons`
`apply to flyers as well, so be on the lookout.`

`Green - Bigger and a tad slower, but otherwise they're not any`
`Flyer different then their smaller counterparts. Most of the`
`time in fRaBs they will be harder than their smaller`
`bretheren, with faster firing rates and tougher weapons.`

`Walking - It's a tossup where this guy goes in the enemies list.`
`Rob Head It usually shoots rockets at a brisk rate, so take out`
`the heavy weapons when you see one.`

`LARGE FLYERS: Behemoth ships that will make you hurt.`

`Death - They look like UFOs, and there's one right at the`
`Umbrella beginning of fRaBs. Shoot it more and it will hit`
`you with heavier firepower. It will shoot firebombs`
`if you provoke it enough.`

`Ant Ship - A huge ship piloted by a tiny ant. I'll probably`
`make them tougher to kill than the Death Umbrellas,`
`with more life and more firebombs. Otherwise they`
`act the same.`

`Death - Notable for the interesting sound they make, they`
`Skull aren't large, but they have the same attributes.`
`Unlike the other larger flyers, a Death Skull`
`starts exploding before it dies, so make sure`
`you shoot them until you know they're dead.`

`ROBS: Various enemies with different properties.`
`I grouped them together because they all act`
`in predictable fashions.`

`Droid - Shoots a barrage of any bullet type, and then`
`walks towards the player. They're small, grey`
`robots that look similar to you.`

`Jugger - Big, fat green guys that shoot grenades at`
`different velocities. There's also a variety`
`of Juggers that look like Droids.`

`Rob1 - Cleaner robots with big blades. They'll chase`
`you down corridors at varying speeds. You'll`
`sometimes face these robots double-decked on`
`top of each other, and in one level there is`
`a grenade turret tacked on one's back. These`
`variations are sure to cause trouble.`

`T-Rex - These dinosaurs will chomp you up at close range.`

`WalkRob - They act like Droids, but are generally bigger`
`and stronger.`

`TURRETS: These are circular, wall-mounted guns that fire`
`in nearly any direction, with any of the weapon types`
`that ants and flyers can use. You'll find them in`
`various situations and positions. When they're not`
`firing, they serve as platforms. When they are firing,`
`you may be able to take advantage of their killing`
`power... generally, a turret does not discriminate`
`friend and foe. However, there are a separate`
`variety of turrets which track your position.`

`Weapons`

`At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the weapons you`
`have available. All you need to do is find some ammo, and`
`viola! You will gain some fun new toys.`

`Laser - The classic laser, reminiscent of the blasters from`
`Rifle Star Wars. You get ammo for this to make it fire`
`faster, but even if you don't, your gun will still`
`shoot. Your gun will shoot at the same rate with 999`
`ammo as with 15... just as long as you have some`
`ammunition, you'll get the same faster firing rate.`

`Grenade - A grenade launcher can clear rooms fairly quickly.`
`Death from above!`

`Rockets - Heat-seeking rockets chase various objects around.`

`Napalm - AKA Firebomb. The ultimate room clearer, this kills`
`nearly everything in it's path.`

`Plasma - Plasma guns send an instantaneous charge to your`
`happy target that doesn't end until you let the`
`trigger loose.`

`Light - Another Star Wars throwback, this is a gun with a`
`Saber short beam that you can hold down and swing around.`
`About as strong as napalm at close range.`

`Frisbee - Similar to rockets, you can aim these around with`
`your mouse. Try firing a bunch of these in the air,`
`and sending them towards a target...`

`Death - The 'New Weapon'. It's a tossup whether this clears`
`Ray rooms better than the Firebomb, but when you fire a`
`blast, it will shoot out little lasers that attack`
`whatever enemies are in the vicinity. This is taken`
`from Profound's excellent Twisted Minds addon.`

`Powerup Items`

`These items will give the player special abilities. The`
`current ability icon will be located in the upper-right`
`corner of the screen when you pick it up. All power up`
`items are lost at the end of a level, or if the certain`
`level has an area that takes your powerup away.`

`Speed - A chip with a thunderbolt on it. It will make you run`
`faster and jump higher as long as you hold the right`
`mouse button.`
`Flight - A chip with a wing on it. This item will allow you to`
`fly as long as you hold the right mouse button.`
`Stealth - A chip with some ovals on it. Useless in the normal`
`single-player game, it's enveloping invisibility is a`
`handy tool in a heated deathmatch.`
`Health - This handy item will give you 100 health and allow you`
`to obtain a maximum of 200 health. On varying modes of`
`difficulty, this item will give less benefits.`
`Lamp - This is a tiny little scope object. It creates a light`
`around the player. Sadly it isn't quite working right`
`at the moment.`

`Episodes/Levels`

`The very first single-player level in fRaBs is a`
`transition level. It is arranged so that there are`
`three 'rows' of teleporters that take you to each`
`episode/single level. On the top level, where`
`the player starts in the forest, there are two`
`teleporters. Here is the order, from left to right.`

`---`

`1. Abuse Shareware Episode`

`These are the original five levels that came with`
`shareware Abuse. If you're a newbie to the game, these`
`are a good place to start. The first level is a`
`training level to get the player acquainted wit the`
`controls, and the other four are all quality levels.`

`2. Abuse Custom Level Project Pak / Cypress' Levels`

`This project was started by Cypress, and eventually me`
`and EitanTal contributed as well. However, with fRaBs`
`the levels have been rearranged and now I probably`
`should just call this 'Cypress' Levels'... the last`
`level here also uses his new custom artwork. :)`

`1. ACLPXX (Level06.spe) by Cypress`
`A fairly easy starting level... it gets tougher as it`
`goes on though. Be sure to look for all of the secrets`
`because you'll need them to get through. At one point`
`you will have to find a hidden wall and blast it with`
`grenades to keep going.`

`2. AB2DTH02 (Level07.spe) by Cypress`
`This is a maze-type level. Very non-linear... make sure`
`you try every teleporter. This was originally part of`
`another one of Cypress' projects, 'Abused to Death'.`

`3. AB2DTH04 (Level08.spe) by Cypress and /Messiah\`
`Many of the 'Abused to Death' levels were just outlines,`
`with fully drawn maps but no objects or enemies. Cypress`
`sketched the map and I added in the objects. There are`
`two distinct routes to the exit, just like the following`
`level, only here you choose your path from the outset.`

`4. Figure8 (Level09.spe) by /Messiah\`
`This level is a step up from the previous in difficulty`
`and like many of my single player levels, the fun comes`
`from just blasting all the stuff that comes at you.`
`There are two distinct paths that you can take to the`
`exit after the second savepoint, so if you have trouble`
`with one, try the other.`

`5. Untitled (Level10.spe) by /Messiah\`
`Short level, centered around a final showdown with a`
`powerful foe. Check out the artwork... :)`

`---`

`If you fall below the forest line, you'll go into a`
`cave with some ants. Here, there is one teleporter.`

---

`3. Justin's Levels`

`This is going to be a vantage point for most of the rest`
`of the single player levels I make... I may make others`
`whose purpose is to start off other episodes, but my plan`
`is to concentrate my efforts here.`

`1. Trench II (Level11.spe) by /Messiah\`
`A tough level centered around long vertical fallaways. At`
`the bottom of these are firebomb turrets that will rip you`
`apart. Bottom line: Keep shooting, don't fall, and remember`
`that the firebomb ammo is there for a reason. :)`

`2. Entrenched (Level12.spe) by /Messiah\`
`This level acts as a sort of intermediary hub to my levels,`
`as well as to the Aliens Abuse episode. It dwarfs most of`
`my other levels, and has some very cool features, like`
`underwater lakes. Keep in mind that the first exit you`
`see may not be the best exit for you; this level has a`
`total of five exits. Keep in mind that on harder levels of`
`difficulty, the water may be impossible to move through, so`
`you may be forced to take one of the earlier exits.`

`3. Unfriendly Skies (Level13.spe) by /Messiah\`
`This is the first exit in Level12 that I warned you about.`
`It's a short level, and if you can get the hang of how it`
`works then it will be fairly easy. You start out with a fly`
`powerup, and the idea is to follow the 'path' of pillars and`
`hit all of the switches. The only problem is that you are`
`followed by firebomb turrets which will easily incinerate`
`you if you aren't careful, or get off the 'path'.`

`4. Pancake (Level14.spe) by /Messiah\`
`If you make it all the way through Level12 to it's intended`
`end, then you will skip the evil Level13 and go here. This`
`level has tons of flying objects, and it's horizontal, like`
`a pancake. You'll end up facing plenty of difficult foes,`
`from gray ants to ANT_SHIPs and UFOs.`

`5. (Level15.spe) by /Messiah\ and MJF`
`There are two ways to make it here. Firstly, there is a`
`secret exit in Level12 near the beginning of the level that`
`will take you here. I won't tell you how to find this exit,`
`but I will just say that it has to do with the first four`
`save points in Level12. The other option is to beat Level14,`
`of course. :)`

`My roommate and good friend got the ideas for this level.`
`His initials are MF. The layout of this level is his, and I`
`populated it with new artwork and some enemies and whatnot.`

`6. (Level16.spe) by /Messiah\ **Not Finished Yet**`

---

`There is a little section of Level12 that tapers off into`
`a green cave. This is actually the beginning of an entirely`
`new episode not accessible from the main hub - the Aliens`
`Abuse episode.`

---

`A. Aliens Abuse`

`This episode is named for it's special enemies derived`
`from the Aliens Abuse addon by Michael Moss. Eventually`
`some of the levels in this episode will use those little`
`alien guys.`

`1. Leon1_2 (Level30.spe) by Leon`
`The old Level30 sucked and I accidentally included an`
`incomplete version. So, out went that level and in came`
`an excellent level by Leon. I added in a secret exit`
`somewhere, so if you can find it you're good. The secret`
`exit is not shown on the map JPEG so you'll have to be`
`sharp. :-)`

---

`Fall further and there's a flat area with caves going`
`both left and right. On the left-hand side, there is one`
`exit, and on the right there are shafts with room`
`for 10 (!!) exits. However, at the moment there are only`
`three exits total on this bottom floor. Starting from the`
`left-hand side:`

---

`4. Eitan's Levels`

`Here you can find many of EitanTal's best levels. They`
`tend to be long, with lots of enemies and puzzles. This`
`episode is definately only for the hardened Abuse veteran.`
`You might want to go through the other levels first, in`
`order to pick up extra ammo in order to tackle this one.`

`1. Untitled (Level17.spe) by /Messiah\`
`This level is similar to some of Eitan's, so I put it in`
`the same little episode. There are two exits on this one,`
`and both are fairly hidden. One is only accessible via a`
`secret passage that takes you back through the first part`
`of the level, and the other is found by blasting your way`
`through the catacombs and cleaner robots and finding the`
`fly powerup. If you're too greedy then the previously`
`mentioned secret passage will be blocked off.`

`2. Eitan2 (Level18.spe) by EitanTal`
`A fairly easy level in comparison to the former, although`
`it still takes quite a bit of practice. Lots and lots of`
`respawning ROBs in this one.`

`3. Eitan3 (Level19.spe) by EitanTal`
`This level is a bit tougher, and you never seem to quite`
`have the exit in reach, and oftentimes you're tricked into`
`a sense of false security. Another level that requires you`
`to have quick thinking and reflexes.`

`4. Eitan6 (Level20.spe) by EitanTal`
`If you find the secret exit in Level17, you end up here.`
`Eitan doesn't make very many subterranean levels, but this`
`is a bit of an exception. Lots of different paths to the`
`exit in this level.`

`5. Eitan4 (Level21.spe) by EitanTal`
`This used to be Level08.spe in the second episode, but I felt`
`it was best placed here instead. This level began as a tiny`
`unfinished fragment of a level by me, and Eitan made it into a`
`huge floating fortress-type level. The only problem was that`
`there were a few sections that were obnoxiously difficult, so`
`I made a few slight 'modifications' in the gameplay so that I`
`didn't have such a hard time. That said, this level is still`
`very difficult, just like the rest of this episode.`

`5. Abuse!`

`The whole level spells 'Abuse!' and there's all sorts of`
`cool gimmicks. Another tough puzzler by EitanTal, its`
`big enough and it's Abuse 'theme' makes it deserve its own`
`episode.`

`1. Abuse! (Level70.spe) by EitanTal`
`There is one section with these 'switches' that you need`
`to turn on and off and find the right combination in order`
`to pass. Without the answers, it is a very annoying trial`
`and error procedure. The answers will be included in the`
`next version of fRaBs... as I'll need to go and ask Eitan`
`for them (or do the switches myself).`

`6. Justin's Old Stuff`

`These three levels are older single releases by me, all`
`packed into a short-running three-level episode. It's`
`a little tough, but shouldn't take long to finish for the`
`average Abuse player.`

`1. Jungle Underground (Level71.spe) by /Messiah\`
`Named for the Jungle in the beginning, and the underground`
`hideout that ends the level. Plasma and grenades are the`
`weapons of choice here. The trick to getting through the`
`area with the cleaning robot with the grenade turret on top`
`of it is to stay between it and the grenades it shoots. It`
`can provide useful cover against the hordes of blue ants that`
`spew forth from the walls.`

`2. Orange Ant (Level72.spe) by /Messiah\`
`There's two ways to the exit in this level, but only the one`
`to the right has a save point. The left exit is for the real`
`brave souls, but you'll be rewarded with lots of extra weapons`
`if you take this route. Also, there are plenty of orange-colored`
`ants to take care of, but you probably figured as much.`

`3. DDBoulder (Level73.spe) by /Messiah\`
`The first area is full of ammo for the laser rifle. Don't be`
`greedy here or you'll be sorry. The rest of the level is a`
`fairly straightforward romp. Don't be afraid to let the wall`
`turrets help you.`

Justin Cassidy
messiah15@dog.com