Getting started

To begin with you must complete "Training".
In order to access the main part of the game, you have to complete the training course in 1 minute, or less.

You have one Kayak type and one choice of paddle. The challenge begins with a countdown, after which it's just you and your kayak against the flow of water!

(Hint: You can return to the training route as often as you wish. After completing it once, your progress is recorded so that the next time you take the challenge you can race against your previous best time, visually, as a "ghost" of your former run will be retained for you to compete against.)

Every course consists of a set number of "gates" (Starting at #1), through which the kayak must pass in order to avoid a penalty. The number varies for each challenge, but the rules are the same - gates must be navigated in numerical, ascending order, #1, then #2, etc. There are two types of gate: Green & Red (identified by the horizontal coloured bars that run down their length). See the images below for more information.

To pass a Green gate successfully, the kayak should go through the gate facing forward. To pass a Red Gate, the kayak must first pass the gate, on either side, and then turn to re-enter the gate, so that the craft is facing back up towards the start.

Hint: Above each gate is a number. If this number has a diagonal line through it, then it's a reverse (red) gate.

If a gate is missed, then a five second penalty will be incurred when the Kayak reaches the subsequent gate. Hence if you miss gate #1, you'll get a penalty when you negotiate gate #2. If a reverse gate is missed, this penalty is increased to 15 seconds. There's nothing to prevent the player returning to a missed gate and negotiating it correctly, provided that they have passed no later gate before doing so. Time is of the essence, however, and often it's better just to take the penalty if it's going to cost you more than five seconds to return to the gate you missed.

The course is complete when the player crosses the finish line. Any penalties incurred will be added to your overall time for the route. If your time (with penalties) exceeds the target set for the challenge, then you fail the level and cannot proceed to the next course.

To begin with, the times required are quite easy, but become harder as you progress. There are three levels of difficulty, and therefore three decreasing amounts of time in which you must navigate the route. The positions of the gates also vary, to provide more of a challenge as your skill increases.

In addition to opening new courses, your successful completion of some levels will open up new Kayaks and paddles. The performance of each craft differs, and it's up to you to choose the kayak and paddle combination that suits you best. What works for you once, may not necessarily suit you again.

Controls

There are TWO sets of controls available - Control set A and Control set B

Control Set "A"

Hold down both left (1) and right (2) cursor buttons to move the Kayak forward - alternate oar strokes will occur provided both keys are held down.
Holding the right cursor (2) only, will stroke the left oar, thus turning the Kayak gradually right.
Holding down the left cursor (1) only will stroke the right oar, thus turning the Kayak gradually Left.
Using left Ctrl (3) with the left cursor key will turn the Kayak sharply left
Using right Ctrl (4) with the right cursor key will turn the Kayak sharply right

Control Set "B"

Hold down both left and right shift to move the Kayak forward - alternate oar strokes will occur provided both Shift keys are held down
Holding the right shift only, will stroke the left oar, thus turning the Kayak gradually right
Holding down the left shift only, will stroke the right oar, thus turning the Kayak gradually left.
Using left Ctrl will turn the Kayak sharp left
Using right Ctrl will turn the Kayak sharp right

In either control mode, pressing the Space bar (7) activates Turbo Mode.

Using either control set, you can execute special tricks:

Eskimo Roll - executed by pressing the 'A' or ';' keys (5). This move can help you through the back flowing rapids, and can be used to roll under obstacles blocking your path.

Pirouette - executed by pressing the 'Z' or '/' keys (6). Executing a pirouette speeds you through water flowing against you.

When engaging the "turbo", a power bar appears on the right of the screen as an indicator to the player of the remaining time for the stroke.
When this bar is exhausted, the effect of the turbo disappears. The power meter will then recharge itself, during which time it cannot be activated.

F8 = Invert paddle keys

ESC = Pause menu

With the game paused, the user has the choice of:
CONTINUE - Carry on with the current level
RESTART - Start the current level again
EXIT TO MAIN MENU - Quit the current level and return to Main Game menu.

NB: Users with Microsoft Natural Keyboards - Using control setup 2 you may find that the shift key fails to function as normal. We advise users with these devices to use control setup 1.

Gamepad

Please ensure your gamepad is correctly configured under Windows before starting the game:

• Click on "START" on the Windows Desktop
• Select "SETTINGS" from the menu that appears
• Double-click on CONTROL PANEL
• Double-click on GAME CONTROLLERS
• There are two "tabs" to the panel that now appears: General & Advanced.
• On the "General" tab, ensure that your device is reported and identified as working "ok".
• To add your device, click on ADD and select the controller from the list that appears.
• If your controller does not appear in the drop-down list then you need to install the drivers that came with your device in order for Windows to recognize it.
• On the "Advanced" tab, ensure that your device occupies the first available slot (ID 1). To change the order of any device in this list, simply click on the "change" button and type a new ID number at the flashing cursor position.
• Click on "OK" to finish and return to the Windows Desktop.