Total Eclipse

Total Eclipse
First release	1988
Also known as	N/A
Developed by	Incentive Software, Major Developments
Published by	Incentive Software
Distributed by	Incentive Software Cinemaware Corporation, MicroProse Ltd.
Platforms	DOS, Amiga, AtariST, Commodore64, ZX Spectrum, AmstradCPC
Resolution	320x200, 16 colors (DOS, EGA)
Engine	Freescape
Support	Since ScummVM X.X.0
Available for Purchase	No

Total Eclipse is an action/adventure game featuring scaling and rotating polygon graphics. The protagonist is an unnamed archeologist who learns that October 26, 1930, a total eclipse will obstruct the sun above Cairo, and the protagonist realized that the curse will cause the Moon to explode, devastating Earth with its debris.

Installation

For more information on how ScummVM uses game data files, see the user documentation.

Total Eclipse was released in a number of platforms over the years. Depending on release you have, you need to extract and/or copy different files.

DOS releases

For the DOS release, copy the following files:

• total.exe (also called s.exe in some releases)
• tote?.EXE
• scn1?.dat

So far, only EGA rendering mode is supported.

ZX Spectrum releases

If the ZX Spectrum release is from a tape, it should be saved first from the original cassette into a tzx file. Make sure you save the complete disk, not just a single program from it. Once the tape is saved, install tzxtools you will need to extract three files:

• The title screen image, which should be renamed as "totaleclipse.zx.title" and has exactly 6912 bytes.
• The game data, which should be renamed as "totaleclipse.zx.data" and is around 36 kbytes.
• The border image, which should be renamed as "totaleclipse.zx.border" and has exactly 6912 bytes.

For instance, for the original Incentive release (1988), you can inspect their files using the tzxls command:

$ tzxls totaleclipse.tzx

...

5 Turbo Speed Data Block 6912 bytes of bogus header

6 Turbo Speed Data Block 36055 bytes of bogus header

7 Turbo Speed Data Block 6912 bytes of bogus header

In order to extract these files, use the tzxcat command:

tzxcat totaleclipse.tzx -b 5 > totaleclipse.zx.title

tzxcat totaleclipse.tzx -b 6 > totaleclipse.zx.data

tzxcat totaleclipse.tzx -b 7 > totaleclipse.zx.border

Amstrad CPC releases

All the Amstrad CPC releases should be saved first from the original cassette/disk into a Extended dsk file.

Once the data is saved, use Disk Image Manager to open the image and extract the following files:

• tescr.scr

• tecon.scr

• tecode.bin

Make sure the files are extracted with header.

AtariST/Amiga releases

For getting the files for playing the AtariST/Amiga releases, the files should be copied from the disk. One way to do it is to dump the disk and then use deark to extract them. Copy the following files:

• 0.tec
• 1.tec

Keep in mind that some releases are protected with Copylock, which is some kind of encryption. In that case, follow the instructions here to obtain decrypted versions of the games.

Other releases and demos

Other releases are unsupported right now (e.g. C64), but we are working to support all of them. Some demos are also supported, following the corresponding instructions. We collected all the supported Freescape demos, in case you want to test them. If you find an unsupported demo, please open an issue or contact us.

Bugs

This is an incomplete list of bugs in the original implementation, indicating if the bug is already fixed (✓) or not fixed (✗) in ScummVM:

✗ Running out of water does not decrease health during resting.

✓ Moving from an area to another resets the standing/crouching state. This changed from Driller/Dark Side.

✓ You can rest in the desert (Amiga/AtariST). To reproduce just press the R key in the first level and you will not have the "Too host to rest" message.

✓ The ILLUSION-E special effect will affect the menu colors even if the game is paused (ZX Spectrum).

✗ Total score is not counted nor resetted when replaying the demo. To reproduce:

1. Start a new game

2. Collect some points

3. End game

4. Wait for the demo to play. The score is not updated at all.

Guides and Walkthroughs

Total Eclipse is not exactly the same in different platforms. While the areas are the same, they feature puzzles with different solutions. We compile a list of walkthroughs for different platforms:

• ZX Spectrum
• DOS
• C64
• AtariST

External links

• MobyGames entry for Total Eclipse
• Wikipedia article on Total Eclipse