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Puggsy Case Quote “Puggsy is no ordinary game. Using the unique system of Total Object Interaction (TOI), you have to guide Puggsy through some of the best puzzles and most frantic arcade action ever seen in his quest to retrieve his stolen spaceship. Incorporating graphics techniques never seen before, fantastic game play plus a complete junior section for the younger player, Puggsy is determined to become the next world-wide smash hit!” |
Puggsy was released on the Mega Drive in 1993. It is a puzzle based platformer and one of the early works from Travellers Tales who have since gone on to do some great titles including work for Sonic Team.
Puggsy remains one of the most enjoyable and vibrant games on the Mega Drive with some impressive graphical effects being produced. An enhanced Mega CD version followed later.
This version (cartridge) was also released on PC and Amiga.
Puggsy has become stranded on an alien planet 15 light years away from his space station and home. His spaceship has been stolen by the inhabitants of the planet, the Racoons. Puggsy’s aim is to simply get his ship back and go home.
To reclaim your spaceship and leave planet you must overcome the obstacles traverse most of the levels on the islands. There are multiple paths that can be taken.
Case Quote
“Puggsy is no ordinary game. Using the unique system of Total Object Interaction (TOI), you have to guide Puggsy through some of the best puzzles and most frantic arcade action ever seen in his quest to retrieve his stolen spaceship. Incorporating graphics techniques never seen before, fantastic game play plus a complete junior section for the younger player, Puggsy is determined to become the next world-wide smash hit!”
The game play of Puggsy is that of a general platformer. You move around
progressing through each level generally in a left to right direction jumping on
enemies and platforms using the objects that are around.
This though won’t actually get you through the game. In each level there are puzzles that must be solved in order for you to reach the exit.
For this Puggsy employs a system called Total Object Interaction. It is the core element to the game. The purpose of this is to allow the objects in the game to have basic real world characteristics.
All objects can be moved, thrown, stood upon, stacked and used. They are subject to gravity, bounce and float or sink in water etc. You can use barrels to make a stack to reach higher places you can use guns to shoot enemies. Each object has it’s own weight. If you are carrying a heavy object Puggsy can not jump as high but might stop you from getting blown around by a fan.
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Stacking |
Pushing |
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Floating |
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Objects interact with the elements in the level and with other objects. For
example, some objects may catch fire if used by a source of flames. Sharp
objects can cut other objects. These sorts of happenings are all used to solve
the puzzles and reach the exit.
In some levels there is located a special chest object which serves as a hint. It will show you a pivotal object that is needed to complete the level with. You are not under a time limit for completing a level however an event or trigger maybe missed requiring you to start the level over again.
The D-pad moves Puggsy left and right across the screen. You can slide down
If you are standing on a stack of objects pressing down will make you fall through them one at a time without destroying the stack.
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Sliding |
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Well Hung |
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Lookin' Good |
Button A is action for throwing / using / firing objects that you have picked up.
Button B is for picking up and dropping objects. When you are holding an object you can use the D-Pad up and down to hold it in the air or towards the floor.
You can also stack objects and carry more than one. You can walk with a stack of objects providing your on a flat surface otherwise the stack will collapse. If you have a stack of objects you can use the D-pad and B and select which one to pick up.
You can use objects to hold on to leverages and haul yourself up. This is an essential skill you must master to make it through the game. This skill can also be used in water for basic movement upwards.
Button C is jump. The height of the jump will depend on how hard the button is pressed. Small taps result in small jumps. If you are carrying a heavy object you will not jump as high.
Pressing start pauses the game. Pressing A,B and C when the game is paused will exit the level and return you to the map.
When you are playing a level there are 3 pieces of information on the screen.
The numbers to the top left is your score. Every time you earn points it will bounce up and down. To the right is the number of lives you have. Between these will be an arrow. This will point in the general direction of the exit.
Apart from objects and puzzles each stage is also littered with enemies. Most can be defeated by jumping on them and pressing down. They can also be killed with objects. Guns are easy enough used but other objects may have to be bounced onto an enemy to kill it. For each enemy defeated you will receive points.
Beware that some levels have enemies which can not be defeated. For example, in Dark Blade Forest you are pursued by a hooded creature which can not be killed.
Puggsy ordinarily can not take any hits. If you are touched by an enemy you will be killed. There are some special items which Puggsy can use and will protect him.
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Sunglasses - These make Puggsy look Mr Cool. These will protect him from one hit. |
Trainers – As well as protection from a hit these will also give you a temporary speed boost and will let you jump a little higher. |
Shield – When used makes you invincible for a short period of time. |
Should you be killed you will respawn at the same place. Loosing all your lives
will naturally result in Game Over. You can continue by starting the game again
from the title screen.
When you exit a stage you will be rewarded bonus points for any objects you take through an exit. The amount varies between objects however hearts earn you extra lives. You can take through as many objects that will fit if you stack them usually about 5 depending on their sizes. Watch the bottom of this screen as it will mention if you are about to face a guardian.
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Level Complete Bonus |
Some levels have multiple exits. An alternative exit will open up a different route on the map and sometimes a secret level. This page shows the secret levels in the game. Some routes may only take you will not take you any further around the island so you will have to replay the stage and take the other exit.
For a compete list of all the levels in the game see this page
At the end of an area you will face a guardian. These guys are huge compared to Puggsy.
There will be a specific way to score a hit on each guardian. It maybe throwing something or activating a switch at a particular time.
In an encounter you will be able to take 6 hits as will the guardian represented by two sets of blocks at the top of the screen.
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Polly Pirate |
World Guardians |
In the Mega Drive version the guardians are:
Polly Pirate
The Emperor’s Old Clothes
So Pharaoh So Good
Flour Power
Halitosis the Dragon
If Looks Could Kill
When a guardian is defeated you will receive a points bonus and their face will be crossed off the list. A cut scene will be played moving on the story and a new password will be given.
Map
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Map |
The map is for moving about the island showing you where you have been and what your destination is next. You select which stage you want to play by moving the Puggsy icon around in the top left box of the screen.
Key
White are levels that have been completed.
Yellow are newly opened levels.
The solid yellow blocks indicate that there will be a guardian when this stage is complete.
? are secret levels. See below for more.
As you move around the magnifying glass will move around the island also to show you which area you are in. The name of the level you are on will be displayed between the boxes.
Pressing A on the map will give a magnified picture of the area in the box to the right. This has no particular use.
Pressing B will reveal the current password in the box. When this is flashing it indicates a new password where progress has been made. This is generally after you have completed an area or a guardian. Passwords are entered in the Options Screen. More detail is below.
Pressing Button C will show the world guardians and your score. The faces with a line through them have been defeated.
Pressing start will enter the level.
Options
Puggsy has a few options. They are accessed via the title screen.
Start - starts a new game or continues from a game over.
Option - takes you to the options screen. Here you can choose the layout of the buttons from 6 presets, increase (max of 7) or decrease the number of lives or enter a password.
To enter a password use the D-pad to highlight the number and button A to select it. Button B moves back a character and button C skips one. The password is activated when you start a game.
Junior - A practice run to get used to the game. You play 5 simple levels and a guardian.
Beach 1 and 2, Lake, Mines and Light House, So Pharaoh So Good 2 hits
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Options |
Password |
The Mega CD version has several enhancements over the cartridge version though the game is essentially the same. The only additional levels are few more guardians you have to defeat.
There are two Extra gameplay modes. Time Trial puts you against the clock as to how fast you can complete the levels and Gurdians allows you to select a guardian to defeat depending on your password and progress through the game.
Game saves can be stored in the Mega CD memory as well as using passwords that work with the Mega Drive version.
The cut scenes are small movie sequences using CGI and the music is done with CD audio.
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Puggsy CD |
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Racklantis Maze - Last Level
Use the following route to reach the last boss.
Left, down through the floor, 2nd down, left, over and up, down right, left, left
Super Passwords
All Levels open except Secret Levels
000 276 007
304 214 763
073 756 534
All levels open and all secret levels open
600 276 007
314 325 663
037 356 576
Complete Aztec games and Pussanoid to receive a special message and some graphics.
Secret Levels
Ultra Secret Levels
There are several links in the game between Puggsy and Wiz N Liz. Likewise this was the same in Wiz N Liz.
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In Dark Blade Forest their names are on tombstones. |
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In Wiz n Liz Puggsy features on the tomato throwing Splat! Sub-game and in the games manual a picture of the island is shown as a description of Wiz N Liz’s world. |
I guess they were all good mates or something. Click here to visit the Wiz 'n' Liz feature.
Since this game there have been no more Puggsy games. A Gameboy Advance version would be good.
