Nicky II WHDLoad Pack

README
Short : HD Installer for Nicky II / Nicky Boom II
Author: MiCK, Wepl, DJ Mike (djmike@crystalmike.com)
Version: 1.2
Type: game/patch
Requires: WHDLoad 19, 512k chip mem, 512k any mem

This patch applies to "Nicky II" © 1993 Microids.

Two versions are supported:
- Original disk release
- "Jump" compilation release

REQUIREMENTS

- Original disk or compatible disk image
  (Cracks have not been tested and are not supported)
- Slave requires WHDLoad 19+
- Game requires 512k chip memory, plus 512k any memory
  (+ approx 655-710k other memory for preload option)

FEATURES

- Game loads fully from HD
- Quit game at any time (default key F10), including on 68000 machines
- Manual protection removed (original release)
- OS calls + disk accesses removed
- Color bit fixed in copperlist
- Music player fixed (byte write to audXvol registers)
- Highscores saved on HD (can delete 'SCORE.DAT' to reset)
- Invalid blit fixed (wrong bltapt address)
- Stack+game code moved to fast memory if available
- Keyboard controls fixed (game didn't register multiple keys held)
- Trainer/other options added - set CUSTOM1 with any of the following:
  + 1 for infinite lives
  + 2 for infinite energy
  + 8 to enable cheat keys (screen flashes blue for on, red for off):
    * BACKSPACE to skip level
    * L to toggle infinite lives
    * T to toggle infinite energy
    * F1 to give a temporary shield
    * F2 to give 9 firecrackers
    * F3 to give 9 keys
    * F4 to give 9 whistles
    * F5 to toggle infinite lives
    * F6 to toggle infinite energy
    * F7 to toggle infinite firecrackers
    * F8 to toggle infinite keys
    * F9 to toggle infinite whistles
    * R and T set different jump heights/speeds (part of game's own cheat)
- Joypad buttons supported - two different modes:
  * Set CUSTOM2=1 for 2nd button/blue to jump
  * Set CUSTOM2=2 for Enhanced CD32 controls:
    - RED to Fire weapons/items, and Mount
    - BLUE to Jump
    - GREEN to Enter Doors, and Dismount when Flying
    - YELLOW to use Firecrackers
    - FORWARD/REVERSE to use Whistles
- Color/New/Rom Icons included (created by Frank & DJ Mike)
- Manual included
- Source code included

NOTE: When Enhanced CD32 controls are used, holding Fire(+Down) button to
use firecrackers and whistles, go through doors, or dismount, is disabled.

HISTORY

Version 1.2 (2024-10-23) by DJ Mike
- Patch rewritten, updated to use WHDLoad 19 with splash screen options
- 2nd version supported (Jump compilation release)
- Protection screen fully removed on original release
- OS calls patched / KickEmu removed - fixes music playing too fast
  (Mantis issue #6194), also some graphics glitches (Mantis issue #5696)
- Fixed game bug where scenery spawned if up+down+right pressed together
  (Mantis issue #5895)
- Color bit fixed in copperlist
- Invalid blit fixed (wrong bltapt address)
- CD32 controls supported
- Keyboard controls fixed
- More trainers added
- Extra icons added
- Manual + source code included

Version 1.1 (2006-06-29) by Wepl
- Taglist termination fixed to work with WHDLoad v16.6
- OSEmu replaced with KickEmu
- Uses fast memory now
- New install script

Version 1.0 (2000-11-04) by MiCK
- Initial release

Thanks to Chris Vella for the original disk image.

PASSWORDS

              Level B.......DRACO       Level F.......PALET
              Level C.......ATIKH       Level G.......MIURA
              Level D.......FIRAM       Level H.......SLORY
              Level E.......LURNA

Original cheat: type DRINN for infinite lives and ingame keys
(most of the listed cheat keys above, except F5-F9)

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR

There were some reports about this game behaving strangely, with corrupt
graphics and music playing too fast. Most of the issues are due to the game
really not working with the OS at all (not even to allocate memory), so I've
patched the small number of calls and removed KickEmu, which fixes these.

However there was one other bizarre bug: the game acted strangely if you
pressed up+down+right at the same time, spawning random scenery all over the
place. You might think that impossible on a joystick, but because the game
also has arrow key controls, it is possible to use both together and thus
trigger the bug!

The cause is two adjacent jump tables in the code, the first based on the
input control bits (where each control combination maps to a routine), while
the second is a gameplay effect table called later. I guess the dev figured
the player could never possibly hold up+down at the same time and didn't
worry about those entries. But the code still tries to call them! So it
jumps right into the second table and mayhem ensues (since registers are set
wrong, etc.). Quite strange, and hard to reproduce, but I've patched this so
up+down (and left+right) can never be pressed at the same time now.

The protection screen is now fully removed so you won't see it. Plus there
are the usual extras like various trainers, and CD32 controls that help make
the game easier to play.

Interesting tidbit: the protection never chooses the last of the 12 images,
or the last of the 5 correct codes for each image, or the digit '9' in the
generated 'wrong' answers. The random number generator takes a maximum value
in d0 but only returns a random number between 0 and d0-1. The programmer
clearly thought this was 0 to d0, and passed the highest value they wanted
accordingly. So if you see '9' in an answer, it is always the right one!

Greetings and thanks to casper30 for the bug reports, Pascal and stx2199 
at the EAB forums for testing, and to the WHDLoad team.

Enjoy! :-)

--- DJ Mike (23rd October 2024)

         Bug report form, full WHDLoad package and other installs:
                          http://www.whdload.de

THIS PACKAGE COMES WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO USE, RESULTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE PACKAGE IS ASSUMED BY YOU AND IF THE PACKAGE SHOULD PROVE
TO BE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
REPAIR OR OTHER REMEDIATION.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, CAN THE AUTHOR BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE
CAUSED IN ANY USUAL, SPECIAL, OR ACCIDENTAL WAY, ALSO IF THE OWNER OR A
THIRD PARTY HAS BEEN POINTED AT SUCH POSSIBILITIES OF DAMAGE.