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FAQ/Walkthrough
Arcade 1983
Version: 1.01 released on the 2nd of August 2009
Author: odino
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/47976.html
This guide is EXCLUSIVELY available at GameFAQs.
============================================================================.
| .========================================================================. |
| | TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
| '========================================================================' |
|============================================================================|
| 01.) Introduction | G0100 |
| 02.) Basics | G0200 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------|
| 03.) Rounds | G0300 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------|
| XX.) FAQ | GXX00 |
| YY.) Version History | GYY00 |
| ZZ.) Credits & Thanks | GZZ00 |
'=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-'
===============================================================================
01.) INTRODUCTION G0100
===============================================================================
Welcome to 'Congo Bongo' for the Arcade, released by Sega in 1983. The game is
also known as 'Tip Top' in Europe.
The game was published on many platforms but they tend to have small
differences in both gameplay and control. For example, having written for the
SG-1000 port before, I had noticed these two are very different.
Suggestions, comments or errors - email me about it. Enjoy!
===============================================================================
02.) BASICS G0200
===============================================================================
The aim of the game is to catch the gorilla at the end of a level. You have to
dodge several enemies and obstacles along the way.
You start out with 2 extra lives. Losing a life means the that you need to
restart the current level. Running out of time also loses the current hunter.
Controls:
`````````
The machine only has one joystick and one button, one for each player. The
joystick is shared, however, as one never plays at the same time.
The joystick controls the directions you walk.
The button is used for jumping. Control the jump direction with the joystick
before you jump off or you will simply jump up in the air.
You can play the game alternatively with another person. There is no difference
in which player does what. Once a hunter dies, the second person will have his
or her turn.
Score:
``````
You receive 10 points for each step you take in the level. This does not have
to be in any advancing way, you can simply walk left and right for a while, but
you are on a timer to complete the level and the points for this are just not
worth it. Advance instead of thinking of padding your score in this way.
Jumping on a moving object, such as a hippo, lily pad, or fish, is worth 100
points in the first level. Later on it is worth 50 points more with each level,
i.e. in level 2 you will gain 150 points for the jump. Again, padding your
score like that is not worth it.
There is a 5,000 point bonus that will decrease with each second you do not
finish the game. If you play for high score then you may want to complete it as
fast as possible. When the time runs out you lose a life. The bonus is
increased by 1,000 as you play a higher level, i.e. the second level has a
6,000 point bonus.
There are also other random score bonuses given when performing a task in the
game.
Display:
````````
The top displays the current top score, the bonus points / time left for this.
On the left and right is the player's current score. The 'L' below the bonus
time is the current level you play, starting from 1 and looping indefinitely.
The small face icon in the bottom left is the amount of hunters (lives) you
have left to play with. Finally, "Credit" is your amount of credits left in the
game, naturally. Dump more coins in the machine to increase this, easy enough
to say.
Hazards:
````````
Pretty much everything in this game kills you. It is simpler to point out what
is NOT hazardous to the hunter's health.
*The monkeys in the first scene only slow you down, thus they indirectly cause
your death, but you can shake them off by jumping.
*While you start the level and have not moved yet, you are invulnerable. This
means you can doze off for a couple of seconds and then start playing without
any harm to the hunter, but you would not really want to do that! I assume
this is a safety feature as sometimes the scorpions in the second scene start
nearby mighty close.
*The hippo does not harm you unless it is submerged, but then it is actually
the water that kills you. Water kills you all the time, and the clipping in
the game is quite bad so even if you think you will not touch the edge of the
ground you will often die anyway.
*Leaves always float, no matter how long you stay on them. Good to know, huh?
===============================================================================
03.) ROUNDS G0300
===============================================================================
The sneaky gorilla sets fire to the hunter's tent at night, and it is time to
get revenge!
*********
*Level 1*
*********
Scene 1:
````````
The aim of this level is to reach the same platform the gorilla is standing on
at the very top of the level. There is no need to actually touch him. He throws
coconuts in multiple directions which is just to the left and right off him but
also down towards the platform below. If one of the coconuts hits you then you
are dead. Do not fall into the water.
If one of the monkey's grabs your back, simply jump to shake them off. If you
do not, then jumping is made a lot harder and you cannot even cross a simple
You want to climb up the ledges on the left first, this is the easy part. Next
up, slide down towards the right, knocking off the monkey there (you can see
all this in the demo the machine plays). Of course I should not need to mention
that you want to look out for coconuts all this time!! Turning north, jump
across the chasm, meaning that the block will drop as you do and there is no
way to return. This also means a 500 point bonus for no reason whatsoever.
Try to avoid the monkeys here, or shake them off if they attach themselves. The
next ledge leads to more dangerous territory again, be careful with the next
few ledges to the gorilla. It is better to cross left first and then climb up
on that side.
Scene 2:
````````
The gorilla doesn't do anything in this level. The only hazards are snakes
which will hunt you down when they see you, and the scorpions on the near side
of the water. You can lure the snakes away by standing on one side of the
island, away from where you want to go. Be clever about this and make sure they
do not just walk back after you move as well. The other danger on this level is
the water, which you cannot fall into.
Each nearby island can be reached from land. Jump on one of them, preferably the
corner on the left, then let the snakes come over to you. Before they reach,
quickly jump back to land and walk towards an island that is not occupied by a
snake. You tend to have luck on your side that this works out, else you may
need to quickly jump to one and back for more to be lured. The big island in
the center tend to work out for that.
All the snakes should be on the lower islands by now, which means your path to
the hippo is free. However, they will soon follow your trail again so you have
to quick about it. The hippo has a strange swimming cycle. It will go from left
to right, then submerge on the right, and so on. Try to get on it when is it on
the left side for that reason.
A different tactic to use is to jump over the snakes. They will keep going the
same direction until hitting the end which should give you enough time to get
away the opposite direction. With too many snakes in the same area this can
be very tricky.
Scene 3:
````````
There are several rhinos that wish to hunt you. They will run into you and you
will die if they touch you. To avoid them, simply sidestep them, or even
better, jump over them! The risk with this is that there tend to be more than
one after you at the same time.
The gofer holes will slow you down if you fall into them, but you also get a
1,000 bonus for dropping in. The gofer will open and close the holes as to his
desire. The rhinos can also get stuck in the holes and be slowed down.
This tends to be a run-for-it kind of level, as it is better to finish it
quickly than to try and outsmart the rhinos for too long. You may only need to
jump twice to reach the other end, then hope you have enough time to climb onto
the ledge.
Scene 4:
````````
This is almost like Frogger. You start out one side of the river and have to
jump from object to object to reach the other side.
First off, jump onto the leaf in the center. From here, jump left to the hippo
and stand on its head. Let it carry you to the stone blocks. You now have to
choices, but let me tell to you first, staying on the hippo is not one of them.
It will submerge soon, thus you are dead if you stay on it. Your first and safe
choice is to jump left to the rock and wait for a better chance to cross. What
chance exactly? Your best choice from the hippo is to jump to the rest fish
across. However, sometimes it is not there yet, and often it will turn orange
and that means it is about to bite. Biting equals death to whoever stands on it
at the time).
Once you are on the red fish, quickly jump to the other side. Stay there for
now and wait for the rhinos to run past. Just when once has passed, walk up
right to the ledge and climb it. You should make it easily.
The napping gorilla finally gets what he dished out earlier.
*********
*Level 2*
*********
The scenes simply repeat from now on with higher difficulty. Here is what is
different from the previous scenes:
Scene 1:
````````
There is now a snake on the bridge. Jump over it or walk by it. You may notice
that there is no monkey at the bottom of the ramp to break your speed. This is
important, as you are now in no way stopping as you approach the chasm. Steer
with the path to the top right and jump over the gap when you get to it. It is
more tricky than it looks, but not as bad once you figure out the momentum.
Scene 2:
````````
There are more snakes, nothing else.
Scene 3:
````````
This looks identical to the previous level, but they have added a rhino or two
for good measure.
Scene 4:
````````
Appears to be the same, but the movement speed of the hippos has been
increased. The rhinos are now also faster, making it trickier to reach the
ledge safely.
*********
*Level 3*
*********
Scene 1:
````````
There is two snake on the bridge. You can still walk around them if you do it
carefully.
Scene 2:
````````
Even more snakes, getting very tough to dodge them all.
Scene 3:
````````
Even more rhinos!
Scene 4:
````````
The hippos are now even faster, and the rhinos are really tight to allow you
for a safe passage. It is still possible with good timing, however.
*********
*Level 4*
*********
..and beyond...
The scenes loop from now on, or at least I did not notice any more increase in
difficulty. The last level is already mighty tough to complete, I do not think
that an increase in speed will make it possible to finish it. Also, the game
gives you a different ending screen after the third time, which makes me
believe that you have properly beaten the game! Go tell your friends, "Hey, I
have beaten Congo Bongo in the Arcade!"
CONGRATULATIONS!!
VERY GOOD!!
===============================================================================
XX.) FAQ GXX00
===============================================================================
Q: How do I get the monkey off my back?
A: Sorry, could not resist that question. Simply jump and it will be gone. If
only it were that easy with all burdens...
Q: Why is this game so darn hard?
A: The first level is actually surprisingly easy, and even some fun, but it
goes downhill from there. Without actually writing a review here (read the
one on the GameFAQs' website, it pretty much sums of my feelings too), the
game wants your quarters thus it makes it sheer impossible to play past the
next few stages.
Q: What's the deal with the sound effects?
A: Yeah those are annoying, unless maybe you are a 2-year old...
Q: I am kind of half-stuck in a hole in the third scene, what is going on?
A: You fell into a hole, but are on the edge and holding on. You can now move
joystick to either drop down or climb back out, whatever fits you.
Q: What's the moral of this game?
A: If somebody gets you, get them back...unfortunately.
Q: How is this different that the <insert console> port?
A: I am not sure if any console has an identical port, as I have seen more of
the 2D kind on home machines. The C64 style with its level perspective seems
to be common on other machines too, but not like the arcade version.
Q: What's the high score for this game?
A: 883,400 points, set by Tim Collum on September 3, 1983.
===============================================================================
YY.) VERSION HISTORY GYY00
===============================================================================
v1.0 Complete (9th of March 2009)
v1.01 Updated hazards and Round 2 strategy (2nd of August 2009)
===============================================================================
ZZ.) CREDITS & THANKS GZZ00
===============================================================================
GameFAQs for hosting this file.
Sega for this game.
ArcadeHistory for some info on this game
http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=congo-bongo&page=detail&id=495 (viewed March
2009)
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and a violation of copyright. ,,,
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