The Central Intelligence
The player-controlled artificial intelligence that oversees Contra while suspended in its control chamber.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
RETURN | Submit a typed text command. Commands are entered through the DOS keyboard interface. |
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Control notes
The game is controlled primarily by typed parser commands; no action-button layout is documented for DOS.
How it plays
How does Suspended play?
Suspended uses a first-person text-parser interface. The player examines the colony through reports and remote robot senses, then enters commands such as looking, asking for status, moving a robot, or assigning it a task. Each robot has different abilities, limitations, and areas of access.
The objective is to diagnose the catastrophe, coordinate the robots, and repair or stabilize critical systems before the colony becomes uninhabitable. Progress comes from combining observations, issuing precise orders, and solving interlocking mechanical and logical problems rather than collecting conventional inventory items.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Suspended?
Begin by requesting status reports and learning what each robot can sense or manipulate. Keep track of locations, system names, warnings, and the exact wording of useful reports; many solutions depend on comparing information from different robots.
Give one clear order at a time and verify its result before proceeding. Avoid treating every robot as interchangeable, and use the robot best suited to the task. When a command fails, examine whether the problem is the robot’s location, access, ability, or the wording of the instruction.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Iris
A robot associated with visual observation and remote inspection.
A
A mobile robot used for physical tasks and access to parts of the colony.
Waldo
A robot designed for manipulating objects and performing delicate mechanical work.
Whiz
A technical robot that provides specialized information and assistance.
Senti
A robot connected with sensing and environmental information.
Poet
A robot with a distinctive personality whose observations can assist the investigation.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Read every status report carefully; apparently minor warnings often identify the next line of investigation.
- 2
Use different robots to cross-check conditions that one robot cannot inspect directly.
- 3
Save before testing risky commands or committing to a major sequence.
Community discussion
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