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FAQ
SG1000 1983
Version: 1.0 released on the 20th of June 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.) Stages | G0300 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------|
| XX.) FAQs | GXX00 |
| YY.) Version History | GYY00 |
| ZZ.) Credits & Thanks | GZZ00 |
'=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-'
===============================================================================
01.) INTRODUCTION G0100
===============================================================================
Welcome to 'Sindbad Mystery' for the SG-1000, released by Sega in 1983. The
game was also available in the Arcades, with slightly different display and
colors as well as changed stage layouts. The Arcade version is generally better
from a technical point of view, but they are both playable the same. This guide
can be used for both versions. The game is also included in the Sega Saturn
compilation 'Sega Ages Memorial Collection Vol. 2'.
Suggestions, comments or errors - tell me about it. Enjoy!
===============================================================================
02.) BASICS G0200
===============================================================================
Goal:
`````
The aim of the game is to collect all 18 (24 in the Arcade game) question marks
spread around the stage and pick up the magic lamp that is then revealed.
Enemies will be trying to stop you, and if you kill them then they will respawn
shortly afterwards.
Once you pick up the last question mark, a skull will appear on the map. It
will start patrolling as well but is a lot faster than the regular foes. You
also cannot kill this skull. The only way to finish at this point is to quickly
grab the magic lamp.
There are three stages per round before they start looping with increased
difficulty.
Controls:
`````````
D-Pad Move Sindbad
1 Dig/Fill Hole
2 Push Rock
As the list shows, you only have 3 basic functions. Moving around is an
obvious one, it controls Sindbad's movements. The two actions may need further
explaining.
To dig a hole, use the 1 button. This will slow down the enemies. Sometimes
they will ignore that direction and patrol another area instead. Other times
the enemy will simply fill the hole and continue that way. Sindbad is also
blocked by the holes created, thus you either have to go another way or fill
them again. Do not get trapped by your own doing.
The stages will has a rock that blocks the path. You can push it by simply
walking into it, but you can also push it all the way to the end of the path by
pressing the 2 button. This is used for killing enemies, too. Rocks can also be
pushed around the corner manually. This is slightly confusing as you have to
press the direction you want to push the rock, now into the rock from your
position. This sounds a little confusing but once you know how it works you
will probably get used it rather quickly. Rocks will roll back down stairs if
you push them up. This means the wall will come back your direction and, should
you still be standing there, kill you. Watch out not to kill yourself like
this. Rocks also automatically roll down stairs if you come from upstairs.
The game can be played with 2 players by alternating.
Display:
````````
There are two main parts of the screen. Most is taken up by the stage. This
also includes a small life counter in the bottom left corner. The right pane
lists your score, the top score, a map (starts out with ?s), the bonus counter
as well as the round number. The map will eventually reveal where the magic
lamp will be available. This is rather useless because you can see it on the
main screen by the time you pick up all the question marks. However, you may be
able to plan ahead and leave the closer ones for last. The bonus counter is
explained below that.
Scoring:
````````
? 100pts
Kill enemy 200pts, 200pts extra for each additional one hit with the same
rock (i.e. 200, 400, 600)
A stage starts with 5,000 bonus points. This will count down by 50 per second,
leaving you with whatever left by the time the level ends. This counter stops
at 1,000, the mininum amount of bonus you will receive. You can actually score
more points by simply killing enemies as long as you want.
Hitting 20,000 points give you an additional life. I am unsure if there is
another such milestone later on.
General Tips:
`````````````
*The enemies are not so tough early on, but getting stuck in the side of the
path is much worse. This usually happens when trying to turn too early or
late. This generally gets better by just playing more.
*Once you have cleared around half the question marks, check the map for
possibly identifying the location of the magic lamp. It is then vital to plan
the rest of the question mark gathering so you can finish quickly once you
have them all.
*I find that not rolling the rock around is much simpler and quicker. In fact,
I find it more annoying to have it on the stage as it makes your controls
trickier. The less you play with it the better off you are. My 2 cents.
*I am almost certain that digging a hole also picks up the question mark that
was there. This could be an advance technique to use if you do not want to
take a step into that direction or block off the path at the same time. Not
always something to keep in mind, but an advanced technique nonetheless.
===============================================================================
03.) STAGES G0300
===============================================================================
As the enemy movements are random, it is tricky to give precise strategies for
picking up the question marks. A description of the stage layouts and any
particular things to watch out for will be described instead.
Stage 1:
````````
The upper area can be reached by the stairs on all four corners. One can also
reach it by leaving the screen on the left side which results in arriving
on the right. Pay attention to the middle since the tunnels often make it
hard to spot enemies around here.
Stage 2:
````````
Once again, the path to the left will lead to the upper area. This time,
however, only the small corner in the top right is elevated. There is also
nothing going underneath this section, since both tunnels will immediately send
you to the end on the other send. The beginning and endpoints should be
rather easy to spot.
I find there two spots I should mention. The trickiest one is in the bottom
left. Getting trapped there is a big likelihood thus I recommend you do not
leave this to last unless the lamp is there. Keep an eye on the map to spot
this early. The arcade version has an extra path in this part which makes my
concern unnecessary. The other location is the long bridge in the upper section
and what is north of there. This one is not so hard but I still want to point
it out as a potential risk. Lastly, when you enter the long tunnel on the outer
ring, make sure you plan ahead to see what is going on at the other end.
Stage 3:
````````
As you may noticed right away, there are three levels to this stage. The
highest is often annoying to clear if some enemies decide to camp there. This
will probably take you the longest of all the stages. There is once again some
tunnel action involved - do pay attention.
*******************************************************************************
* The game now loops, starting with Stage 1 again. The enemies are faster *
* with each new round. *
*******************************************************************************
===============================================================================
XX.) FAQs GXX00
===============================================================================
Q: I cannot find the last remaining question mark! It is most likely covered by
the rock. Move it to find the last one. I think there is no question mark
under its starting position, thus you must have moved the rock onto one.
Q: What changes from round to round?
A: With each round the enemies get faster. This is the only change that occurs;
however, a pretty big change because the game is so much harder. The skull
alone will move so fast after the first couple of rounds. For the other
enemies you may not notice it right away.
Q: How many rounds are there?
A: There are possibly 99 rounds, or infite and it will simply not display
this correct any more, but the difficulty most likely stops rising judging
from similar early Sega games with looping levels.
Q: Can you gain lifes?
A: You gain one life when you hit 20,000 points. I have not encountered another
such occurance. It may be possible, but the Arcade operator probably did
not want people playing on forever. I have played several rounds and there
was no extra life.
Q: Is the question mark connected with the panel it will uncover?
A: Not such a stupid question, but it appears they are randomly assigned and
it is not possible to strategize which question marks to pick up to see a
particular spot on the map. I also do not think it is worth doing so due
to the short amount of time it really takes to finish the stage.
Q: What is the difference between the SG-1000 and Arcade version?
A: As the introduction says, the Arcade mode boasts better graphics, sound and
also contains slightly different level layouts. There are also 24 question
marks to be picked up instead of the 18 on the SG-1000 which easily fill out
the bigger area.
Q: What's the "Mystery"?
A: Since there is no story with these old games, nobody knows. I suppose the
treasure (magic lamp) is in some way.
===============================================================================
YY.) VERSION HISTORY GYY00
===============================================================================
v1.0 Complete (20th of June)
===============================================================================
ZZ.) CREDITS & THANKS GZZ00
===============================================================================
GameFAQs for hosting this file.
Sega for the game.
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respective trademark and copyright holders.
This guide may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for
personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise
distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on
any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited,
and a violation of copyright. ,,,
(o o)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=oOOo-(_)-oOOo-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
