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PSP
Tama-Run
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NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
Guide a shimmering blob of mercury around a mélange
of platforms and levels by moving the play board
instead of the blob. The mercury is subject to the
laws of motion when the board is moved and follows
the direction of each tilt and swerve. For example,
pivot the platform to the left and the mercury
slithers to the left like an obedient dog. However,
tilt it too much and the blob will likely fly off
the ledge of the platform in expedient fashion. The
laws of physics rule the world of Tama-run but there
are other troubles to be encountered as well. Once
the motion of mercury is mastered in the Training
Mode of the game, players can look forward to
assault by swinging hammers, hot flames that burst
from pipettes, bladed choppers, and shoving
mechanisms.
Passive obstructions include bridges that rise up and down,
directional conveyers, and toroids that must be
maneuvered around by hugging them as closely as
possible. The concept of mercury color mixing also
returns where seven colors (blue, cyan, green,
purple, red, silver, yellow) may be mixed and
matched. For example, some gates only allow the
passage of yellow mercury. If you have separate red
and green blobs, you can join them to create yellow.
Tama-Run features over 160 stages of screen moving action and five
mini-games to enjoy. In addition to the single
player mode, players may enjoy a wireless Versus
Mode where two players compete and a Ghost Mode
where an ephemeral twin shadows each blob of
mercury.
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NCS
Game Notes & Spoilers
» Only the analog nub may be used for control of the
play board. Pushing and holding the analog nub in a
direction will cause acceleration of the mercury. The face buttons
are used to control the camera as follows:
TRIANGLE.....Pan overhead
SQUARE.......Pan lower
O-BUTTON.....Focus in
X-BUTTON.....Focus out
R-TRIGGER....Rotate clockwise
L-TRIGGER....Rotate counterclockwise
» The goal post on each board is a checkerboard with
a checkered dancing lasso-loop above it.
» In the second stage, the solution is to split the
mercury into two blobs. Move one blob under the
green light and another blob under the red light to
change their colors respectively. Once the two blobs
are colored, join them so they'll create a yellow
blob. Move them over the yellow ring to open the
gate and then go back out to change the blob back to
silver and exit the level.
» When the blob travels near the edge of a platform,
it will drip globules from its main bulk and lose
some of its volume. However, as long as roughly half
the volume of
mercury reaches the goal, you're still good. Less volume results in a
lower percentage score at the end of the level. A meter on the left side of the screen keeps
track of remaining volume of mercury. If a portion
of mercury is leaked but stays on screen or on a
platform when your main portion reaches the goal,
you'll get points for the portion that's
disconnected.
» There are gates in some levels which only allow
the passage of mercury that matches its color. A
color wheel at the upper right corner of the screen
shows the different hues and colors that may be made
by combining the primaries of red, green, and blue.
» Early levels allow 30 seconds for completion but
later levels allow 45 seconds, and 60 seconds.
» Players are prompted to enter their initials after
the successful completion of each other. A default
initial entered once can be used for all subsequent
entries to avoid repetitive entries.
» One particularly devious level starts off with
four separate blobs of mercury inside a maze.
They're all colored differently from each other. The
solution is to create two blobs that are colored red
and green. Maneuver them to create a single blob
that's colored yellow and then move it to the finish
line. However, the remaining blob must have enough
volume and weight to trigger the door which leads to
the exit.
» Ignition's pre-screen animation before the game begins is a
simulation of the Commodore 64 boot screen
except its colored green instead of blue.
» There's a mode for every level where the platform
shudders on its own volition to the twirling of a
gyroscope. Fight against it to control the platform
and move the mercury against its overpowering force.
» After each level is completed, its corresponding
vial in the level select screen shows your progress
and how full it is along with stats on the level,
bonuses collected, best score and highest completion
level. If you complete a level with 100% mercury
volume, the vial will be filled to the top. Finish
it at 50% and the vial is only half full.
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This document and photos are ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
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