Twin Distress

The object of the game is to remove all of the blocks from the screen before
the
time runs out. 
Two blocks are removed at a time, and must be of the same color. 
After completing a level, you will be rewarded with a bonus point for every
tick
left on the clock. 
For each level thereafter, the time to complete the the level will be shorter.


Shortcut Keys Used During the Game

b - change the block set
c - change the corner style of the blocks
f, F4 - toggle between full screen/window mode (can be used anywhere)
h, F1 - display the help screen
m - turn background music on/off (can be used anywhere)
n, F2 - start a new game (highscores won't be saved ending a game this way)
p, Pause, F3 - pause/unpause the game
q, Esc - quit the game
s - turn sound effects on/off (can be used anywhere)
0 - 9 - toggle the L & R colors on Insane mode (can be used anywhere)

                    Moving in the Menu

To move in the menu, you have several options besides highlighting with the
mouse and clicking the menu/option with the left mouse button.

moving up - Up arrow, TAB key or the mouse wheel
moving down - Down arrow, Shift-TAB or the mouse wheel
choosing a menu/option - Enter or middle mouse button
changing options - left or right arrow keys
exit a menu/sub-menu - Esc key or right mouse button

                      Skill Levels

Kids - Match two blocks of the same color. Where they are doesn't matter.

Easy - The path used to connect the blocks can only be up, down, left or right
(no moving diagonally). As well, you can't go through other blocks to get to
the
one you are looking for. The path can turn a maximum of three times in this
skill. Examples are shown in the help in the game.
       
Normal - This is the standard mode of play. Same rules as Easy, except a path
can only take two turns to get to the other block.

Hard - Same rules as Normal, except that when you choose two blocks that can't
be removed, you will lose a point from your score & one tick of time from the
clock. Two blocks already eliminated will also be put back on the screen. If no
blocks have been removed yet, you will lose three points and three ticks on the
clock. As well, if you click on a location where a block has been removed, and
you currently have a block highlighted, it is considered a wrong move.

Very Hard - Same rules as Hard, except the blocks will randomize in color
several times throughout the game.

Insane - Same rules as Very Hard, except you must now use both the left & right
mouse buttons to remove blocks. The blocks will have an L or an R. It isn't
necessary to match two L blocks or two R blocks. All that matters is that you
must hit the block with the correct mouse button.

                      Bonus Scoring

In addition to receiving a point for every tick left on the clock at the end of
a level, there are also two other ways to receive bonus scoring.

If you remove sets of the same color in a row, you will receive bonus points.
For the first two sets, you get 5 points. The third set will get you 10 points,
the fourth will be 15 points & all five sets will be 25 points. If you do the
same thing again with another set of five, the points will be the same as
above, plus an extra 10 points. The third set of five will get you 20 points &
so on. Up to 1000 points can be received for clearing the whole level this way.
Making a wrong move won't erase your bonus, but your chain will be broken.

If you don't make any wrong moves during the level, you will receive 50 points.

Do it again for the next level & you will get 60 points. It will keep
increasing
by 10 points for every level & will be reset if you make a wrong
at any point in a level.

                      Other Options

There are two unique modes of game play for the game. You can choose to have
the
gravity either off or on. When two blocks are removed from the screen with
gravity on, all the blocks above them will fall into the empty spot. Blocks
won't move at all when this is turned off.

When pausing the game, you can have it minimize the game by changing it in the
Options menu.

By default, the menu system & screen changes will have a fading effect. If you
don't like the option or it doesn't work, it can be turned off in the Options
menu.

                      Tips & Notes

For Hard, Very Hard and Insane; if you highlight a block and realize that a
move
can't be made; you can un-highlight the block and you will not be penalized in
any way.

It is possible to have a game that can't be finished.

Even though there is plenty of time in the beginning levels to complete it, you
are better off trying to finish it as quickly as possible to obtain a higher
score with the bonus points.

If you have any ideas for new features for the game, let me know & I'll see if
it can be added. Several new ideas came from players like you. You'll be given
credit for ideas implemented on the last page of the help screen.