Metro-Cross/Getting Started

Controls

• Joystick: Use the 8-way joystick to direct the Runner through each of the game's thirty-two rounds. Pushing it to the right increases the Runner's speed, while pushing it to the left decreases his speed. Pushing it vertically adjusts his 2.5-dimensional position on the ground - and this game was released four years before Konami Industry Co.'s Crime Fighters.
• Jump Button: Use this button to make the Runner jump in the air - allowing him to leap over enemies and obstacles. Hold it down while approaching a Springboard to launch off it.
• 1-2 Players: Push these buttons to begin a one or two player game.

Characters

Runner

This man, wearing a white crash helmet with a blue stripe down it, a pair of black sunglasses, an orange jumpsuit with a white collar and cuffs, and a pair of red boots with yellow laces, is the protagonist of the game. He is given a preset time limit to make it to the goal at the end of each of the game's thirty-two rounds and the player can adjust his running speed and 2.5-dimensional positioning on the grounds by using the eight-directional joystick. If he kicks one of the Aluminum Cans that appear to be sitting on the ground in some of the rounds, he will receive extra points (from 100 to 5000 as he proceeds through one round), but if he jumps on one of them, it will temporarily stop the timer. If he jumps on one of the Special Cans, it will temporarily stop the timer as well - but if he kicks one of them, he will receive an increase in speed. Contact with any enemies or obstacles will temporarily stun the Runner (unless he is in mid-jump), but he will get back on his feet and continue onward, and if he runs out of time before he manages to make it to the round's goal, he will be electrified and the game will immediately be over, so you should not let that happen.

Enemies

Jumbo Can	Jumbo Tire	Hurdle	Wall
Jump over these overgrown Coca-Cola cans, or they will flatten you to the ground. But pay close attention to the way that they're moving later on.	These overgrown monstertruck tires will attempt to flatten the Runner, as they are bouncing along the ground. You must move out of their way if you can.	The Runner must cleanly jump over these Hurdles, or they will trip him up and make him land on his face - it's costing him time.	These emerge and recede in ground - and will stop the Runner from passing if he runs into them or trips over them.
Cube	Mouse	Chess King	Chess Knight
These three-dimensional red squares rotate through a particular column of tiles, and will cause the Runner to fall if he runs into them.	These green rodents love to run up to the Runner and cling to him, weighing him down and reduce his speed. Wiggle the joystick back and forth to shake them all off.	The Chess Kings bounce from one tile to asecond, attempting to interfere with the Runner's progress, (unlike in real chess).	As with the Kings, the Knights bounce around from tile to tile - but only in the same way that they can in real chess.

Obstacles

Slip Zone	Pitfall	Cracker
The Runner's speed will slow to a crawl if he tries to run over any Slip Zone. But if he happens to be riding a Skateboard, it will not.	Landing in a Pitfall, which will break under the Runner's weight, will cost him precious time as he climbs out of it.	Running onto a "Cracker" will launch the Runner straight up into the air, and cause him to come falling down on his back.

Items

Item	Name	Description
	Almican	Looking somewhat like a smaller, static and vertically-oriented version of the Jumbo Cans, these cans can often be found sitting on the ground. If the Runner kicks one of them, he will receive 100 extra points; however, if he kicks that can for second time, he will receive 200 extra points. He will then receive 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 extra points for each consecutive kick he gives it, as it will disappear off the bottom of the screen after the seventh.
	Special Can	As with the Almicans, jumping on top of these cans (which are slightly fatter than the Almicans), will stop the timer as well. However, if you kick one of them, the Runner will receive an increase in speed, indicated by the text "SPEED UP". But he can still be slowed down by running over any Slip Zone.
	Skateboard	If the Runner runs up to one of the Skateboards that he finds, he will instantly begin riding it. While riding a Skateboard, he can travel over Slip Zones just as quickly as regular floor tiles. However, if he crashes into an enemy, falls into a Pitfall or jumps into the air, he will leave the Skateboard behind.
	Springboard	When the Runner encounters a Springboard, press the Jump Button to launch off it and propel him through the air. You will maximize the distance that the Runner can spring by holding the Jump Button as he runs up to, or bounces onto, a Springboard. But try not to propel him onto Pitfalls or Crackers.