Explanation of modes

Snake360 represents one of the best values on all of Xbox LIVE! The classic gameplay and multiple control schemes combine with one of the deepest feature sets imaginable. You will easily get 5-10 hours of gameplay (or more) for your purchase.

Main game mode ("Play Snake360!")
Choose a course and difficulty level. Try to clear all stages in the course before you run out of lives. Initially, you may choose from 3 courses and 3 difficulties. 3 more courses and 2 more difficulties can be unlocked (unlocks not available in Snake360 Lite). There are a total of 300 unique stages. If you clear a course, your score can be registered on Internet Ranking.

Survival mode
Choose one stage, then survive on one life for as long as possible. You may choose from 6 stages, and can unlock 6 more (unlocks not available in Snake360 Lite). Your scores and times can both be registered on Internet Ranking.

Marathon mode
Select a difficulty, then attempt to clear all 60 of its levels in one sitting. This mode must be unlocked before it can be played. If you finish, your score can be registered on Internet Ranking. Not available in Snake360 Lite.

Practice mode (version 1.1)
Select a stage from any course you've unlocked. If you have reached the Extra Stages in that course, you may select those as well. You can then practice that stage freely. Not available in Snake360 Lite.

Kid mode
If the snake hits an obstacle, you have 3 seconds to turn before a crash actually occurs. Great for kids!

Battle Mode
For 2-4 players. Select a stage, set preferred options, then try to force your opponents to crash. The last player alive wins the round. You may choose from 6 stages, and can unlock 6 more (unlocks not available in Snake360 Lite).

Suffocation Battle
For 2-4 players. This variant of Battle Mode delays crashes for 3 seconds, so to defeat your opponents, you must completely trap them. Insanely addictive...great at parties!

Co-op Mode
For 2 players. Select any unlocked course from the main game mode, then try to clear it with a partner. Your teamwork will be tested! Not available in Snake360 Lite.

Competition Mode (version 1.1)
For 2 players. Select any unlocked course from the main game mode, then compete against an opponent for the highest score. All 10 levels are played regardless of your performance. Highest total score wins. Not available in Snake360 Lite.


Explanation of gameplay

In the main game mode, your goal is to complete courses, each consisting of 8 stages. There are over 200 unique stages in the game.

You begin by choosing one of the currently unlocked courses, and one of several difficulty levels. Initially, there will be 3 courses and 3 difficulties available. Harder difficulty levels add more walls, increase the snake's growth rate when targets are collected, and lift restrictions on where targets can be placed. Gameplay begins once your selections have been made.

To complete each stage, you must collect 9 targets. Two targets will be present onscreen at once, until only one is left. This allows you a bit more freedom in choosing your path. When you collect the 9th target, the stage is cleared and you proceed to the next. If you crash into a wall--or yourself--one life is lost and you'll have to retry the current stage.

If you complete the 8th stage, the course is cleared. If you run out of lives, the game is over. Extra lives may be earned at specific score targets (see Scoring). If you clear the course, you can receive a code for Internet Ranking.

The game will keep track of what courses you've cleared and will display your progress as a percentage on the Course Select screen. This percentage is called the Clear Rate.

You may play the courses by yourself or with a partner in Co-op mode, working as a team. In Co-op mode, either player may collect targets; a stage is cleared when the team has collected all 9 targets. Each player has their own stock of lives. If a crash occurs, only the player that crashed loses a life. The stage is then repeated. (If both players crash simultaneously, both players lose a life.) If either player runs out of lives, the game is over.

If all 8 stages are cleared without losing any lives ...

Explanation of control schemes

Snake360 offers very flexible control schemes. You may want an alternative to the Xbox 360 Controller's D-Pad. Snake360 offers several!

By default, you may use the D-Pad, Left Stick, Right Stick or ABXY buttons to control the snake. The ABXY face buttons are the recommended method, for the most precise control.

If you turn them on in the Options menu, you may also use the LB/RB buttons to turn 90 degrees left or right. You may also turn off the control methods you are not interested in using.

About scoring

There are two ways to score points in Snake360. The first is collecting targets; the second is the end-of-level bonus.

When you collect a target, you will score points depending on the snake's current length. Since the snake's growth rate increases on higher difficulty levels, you will score points more quickly when playing these levels. You can further increase your score with Quick Move bonuses (described below).

At the end of a level, you will receive an end-of-level bonus, which is composed of two separate bonuses:

• Time Bonus: based on how quickly you completed the level.
• Survival Bonus: this bonus will increase with each level you complete without crashing. If you lost a life on the current level, the bonus will be zero.

You will receive an extra life at 100,000 points, a second at 300,000 points, and another at every 300,000 points thereafter.

About Quick Move

The Quick Move bonus is essential to getting the highest possible scores in Snake360, and battling for the top spots on the Internet Ranking.

If you turn directly into a target, you will receive a Quick Move bonus of 20% in addition to the points you normally earn. Consecutive turns into a target multiply this bonus by the number of turns you made. For example, if you perform a 180-degree turn directly into a target, you will receive a Quick Move x2 bonus of 40%.

Be careful when performing Quick Moves. If you crash, the loss of the Survival Bonus will offset--many times over--any points you would have earned from Quick Moves.

The maximum possible bonus from a single Quick Move chain is 100%.

About Internet Ranking

Over 50 ranking boards are available here at www.snake360.com. After the game is over, you will have the option of displaying a code (1-player games only). Enter the code on the Internet Ranking page, along with the initials you entered when you created your profile, your desired nickname and your e-mail address. Your results will be registered and you will be able to see where you rank among the world's best!

You may compete for the following:

• Course mode, highest score (All course and difficulty combinations have separate boards)
• Survival mode, longest time (All levels have separate boards)
• Survival mode, highest score (All levels have separate boards)
• Marathon mode, highest score (All difficulties have separate boards)

Click here for the "Early FAQ" document.