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WarpMan [Model NWM-4500]

Nintendo Famicom cart. published 39 years ago by NAMCOT

Listed in MAME

WarpMan [Model NWM-4500] screenshot

WarpMan © 1985 Namcot (Namco ltd label for home releases).

WarpMan is a fixed-screen action game by Namco ltd and likely sequel to the arcade game "Warp & Warp", originally released in July 1981.

The player assumes control of a little astronaut and the game starts out in space, complete with floating asteroids and a large black hole at the center of the screen. All kinds of mysterious, yet cute aliens constantly appear and the goal of the game is to zap them to oblivion with the help of a ray gun (a counter located on the left of the screen shows how many aliens are left to defeat in that round).

However, when the black hole at the center flashes and changes color, the player can enter it and warp to a maze-like world. During this phase, the small astronaut swaps his ray gun for powerful bombs controlled by 3 timed fuses (cobalt blue - 5; cyan - 12 and green - 20 beeps).

WarpMan also features power ups, but they come with a little twist - they only upgrade the opposite weapon that the player currently uses, and this for the duration of one level. For instance, if the player collects a power up icon in the space level, it will upgrade the bomb for the next maze phase, and vice versa.

Interestingly, power ups also open warp portals allowing the player to instantly access a new level, thus implicitly activating the upgrade. Furthermore, shooting three enemies of the same kind usually brings special bonus aliens into the action - they come in three flavors and although they award bonus points, some of them occasionally carry bonus letters and spelling out EXTRA awards an extra life. WarpMan also includes a simultaneous cooperative two-player mode.

TECHNICAL

CART ID: NWM-4500

Players: up to 2 (simultaneous)
Controls: d-pad 4 ways
Buttons: 1
[A] or [B] = fire gun (when in space levels) or plant a bomb (when in maze): press to plant a short-fused (cobalt blue) bomb, hold for a short while to plant a medium-fused (cyan) bomb, hold for a long while to plant a long-fused (green) bomb

TRIVIA

WarpMan was released on July 12, 1985 in Japan for 4500 Yen.

The 1981 copyright year is a reference to Warp & Warp, published in July 1981 for coin-op machines.

Stage 49 isn't counted - 4 red flags with '10' will show on the right side of the screen along with 8 regular, red flags adding up to 48.

Outer space levels feature 9 patterns.

TIPS AND TRICKS

* When you're playing a space level, you may encounter a green power-up opening the black hole leading to a maze. But if you forget to take it, the hole will open itself after a longer session. You have 5 seconds to enter the black hole.
* When you're in maze and you complete the level, unlike in coin-op original, you're not directed to outer space. If you want to get out of the maze section, collect a diamond, detonate the hole and return to outer space. If you forget to take the diamond, the hole won't appear itself.
* When you own the powerful shot, keep distance: when the bullet hits the wall, any enemy or meteorite, you'll lose a life if you're too close.
* Don't shoot your co-player in 2-player mode: the astronaut will be frozen for 1 second.
* A pig-like enemy (rounded, with antenna) stops every few seconds and closes eyes, making it invincible both in outer space and in mazes. Wait 1 second, then kill it.
* One extra life is awarded after earning 30000 points, then you have to spell 'EXTRA' (in any letter order) to get the next ones.
* A ring played after a longer session on a stage warns you the enemies are going faster. The music isn't sped up though.
* You have to defeat 24 enemies at all the stages.

SERIES

1. Warp & Warp (1981, Arcade)
2. Warpman [Model NWM-4500] (1985, Famicom)

SOURCES

Game's ROM.