DarkMan
Game Boy
Developer: Ocean Publisher: Ocean
By: GammaBetaAlpha
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Table of Contents
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DarkMan is a common jump-and-shoot game - in other words, a
platformer with some fighting action action, though the fighting is fairly
primitive and sloppy in execution. Darkman's most common actions are to run
and drop-kick somebody, normal punches and kicks, and grabs, with the only
deviance being able to jump onto swinging hooks and climb ladders. Other than
that, his movements are fairly restricted.
Please note: If you are using an emulator, this game will likely be nigh
upon unplayable. There appear to be some anti-protection measures: enemies
have three times the life, and Boss 2 cannot be defeated.
Controls
--------
A: Punch (Facing right)
Kick Right (Facing left)
Kick (while jumping through the air facing right)
Grab an enemy (Facing right)
B: Punch (Facing left)
Kick Left (Facing right)
Kick (while jumping through the air facing left)
Grab an enemy (Facing left)
A + B: Jump
Start/Select: Pause
Left/Right: Move around
Down: Slip down a single surface set (Note: If there is nothing below you,
you shall end up losing a life)
Checkpoints
-----------
When walking around, you will occasionally have your time refilled and
your Power Bar filled up completely. These are basically checkpoints that are
fixed at static positions throughout each of the levels.
Score
-----
Every 20,000 extra points you accumulate gives you an extra Heart below
your Power Bar. Power Bar refers to your health. If you run out of Power, you do
not have to restart a level or go back toa checkpoint, instead your used-up
Heart will merely restore your Power Bar where you stand.
Kicking
-------
Kicking is a little bit of a weird mechanic, as you will never kick
right in front of Peyton. Instead, using the Kick button causes Peyton to kick
the direction opposite him, then turn him around to face that direction, and you
can press the same face button as before to continue fighting through punches.
Peyton can also kick straight foward in front of him when he jumps up.
However, he cannot kick right away - there is a short lag time, so you can only
execute the kick with the A or B button in the air (the reverse of on the
ground) near the apex or your jump and then when coming down. Jump-kicking will
be incredibly useful as it is a quick way to lay your opponents to the ground,
stopping them from hitting you until they get back up.
Landing
-------
If you knock over an enemy from a jump-kick, you can jump up into the
air and land on the goon while he is on the ground and cause more damage, giving
you a period of time where you are free from damage (as the foe is on the
ground) and also saving a bit of time from your level completion time as the
enemy still gets up in a regular time period.
Grappling
---------
You can grab an enemy and carry him around and then toss him. How
precisely this is done is a bit tricky. First, you need to be facing the
opposite direction of the enemy and kick him once he gets in close to stun him,
then use your punch button as normal to grab him. Specifically, the enemy needs
to be in very close to you before punching him to pull this off (you can either
kick him close or then kick him and move in a bit closer once you turn around).
To throw him, you need to use the button opposite the punch button for
the direction you are facing - specifically, if facing left you need to use the
A button, and the B button if facing right. You can throw a goon into another
goon and knock them both over, making grappling, throwing, drop-landing onto a
pair of enemies a nice tactic.
Move right to start the beginning of the game. Once the first gang thug
comes out of the door, strike him with a jump-kick, then jump again and strike
him on landing to knock him out.
Head right until you encounter another goon. Jump-kick him, then head
left to encounter a third thug. Jump-kick him as well, and alternate between the
two until both are finished.
Continue right where you will have to counter two enemies at the time.
Jump-kick one of them away, then draw the other one left and then jump-kick him
left to split the two up so they cannot regroup and gang up on you.
Proceed right again, but watch out: once you get past the door another
thug will come out, this one somewhat stronger as he can counter-attack jump-
kicks. Take him out, then continue on.
Once you approach a ninja throwing a shuriken, quickly press the Up
button to move towards the top of the street and dodge the ninja. Drop-kick him,
then head left and drop-kick a normal approaching foe. Drop-kick the both of
them until they are both down, then continue left.
You should encounter a thug carrying a weapon. Drop-kick him and pick up
the chain he drops with the B-button and use your normal punch button to attack
him.
Once the screen scrolls right, continue and take out another goon coming
out of a cafe door, and you will be double-teamed with a second villain from the
left side. Hit both of them several times using your new chain to take them out.
Climb up the ladder to the left of the restaurant, losing your weapon in
the process, and your time will recharge. Eliminate the foe here on the ledge,
then continue up the next ladder. Take out another thug and move right, and jump
over the gap to the roof of the next building over.
On the top of this building, move up: if you go too far down, you will
falll off the building and lose some of your Power. Take out the first enemy
here, then go right. While pressing up against the top of the roof street, fall
down and knock over the goon on here with a drop-kick, then quickly run over the
head of the goon coming from the left once he drops down a set of roof-tops.
Stand next to the edge of the roof (not right at the edge, but slightly
to the edge), and constantly punch right to send the goons flying back down once
they get punched while they are in mid-jump. Repeat ad nauseum to damage them
without taking any damage in turn, then go back down. You will have to deal with
a second set of thugs in the same method.
Once you have cleared out all the gangsters up top, head down to the
right, then down the ladder in front of the building, replenishing some time in
the process. A chain-wielding thug will come along. Drop-kick him to knock the
chain out of his grip and grab the chain, then hit him with the chain several
times until he is done for.
Proceed right and alternate using your chain on two more thugs. Once
both are down for the count, move left a little bit, then immediately move up or
down once another ninja shows up throwing a shuriken at you. Eliminate him, then
continue on where another thug will come out of a shopfront.
Head right past the shopfront to take on a couple of more thugs in front
of the backdrop with all the crates. Once both gang members are down for the
count, head up to where the crates are, and make your way up and to the left
using the crates.
Up on the rooftop, after a time replenishment, you will face two more
foes: one from the left, one coming up the crates. Knock the one on the crates
down back to the crates (the brass knuckles he drops do not appear to be capable
of being picked up) while focusing on the one already up on the rooftop, then
turn your attention once the rooftop goon is dead.
Move up the ladder once complete and head right where you will have to
take on another pair of thugs. Hammer away at the both of them until they are
both defeated, then head right a bit before turning left to encounter two more
goons coming from that side. Kill them as well. Once you have wrapped up on this
rooftop, hop onto the crates from the side (not from below) and take the ladder
up to a higher roof area.
Up top, head right and leap over a shuriken from a ninja before drop-
kicking him away. Turn around and eliminate another chain-wielding thug from
your left side. Once both are down for the count, head right and drop down one
level to the right. Eliminate a thug here, then proceed left and this time drop
down to your left, defeating another thug.
Head down and to your right, defeating a third thug. Rinse and repeat,
go down to your left, take out goon number four. Continue with a fifth goon, and
then drop down the left side to the ground floor finally, where you will have to
take out a Boss goon.
BOSS ONE
--------
Overall, this boss is not that difficult, though the timing may be
awkward to get used to. Jump in the air and drop kick the boss as soon as he
gets out the door. Once he lands, jump in the air immediately once he first
picks himself up into his halfway position. Once he stands up completely, he
moves blazingly fast: his movement speed should coincide with the down-fall of
your jump, so take the time to kick again once he gets in close to knock him
away again.
Keep your distance, and repeat jumping and drop-kicking him until he
takes enough hits to be defeated.
Once the boss thug is down, go up to the door to move to the next stage.
---------
STAGE TWO
---------
Head right to start the stage and take out a long thug. Move right along
some more and you will have to deal with another pair of goons, one from the
right, one from the left. Once they are both down for the count, continue right,
where you will encounter two more enemies, including one who hols a bat.
Press Down + B in front of the bat to pick it up and swat away both of
the goons, then continue right to an area in front of some industrial fans,
eliminating another set of gangsters that will swarm Peyton.
Once you have the freedom to move around again, proceed right, and jump
over a bullet from a gunner. Take down the sniper, then head right to the next
section of the stage. Eliminate a threepack of goons here, then head north up to
where the crates are and climb up left.
Take out another pair of gangsters, one from your left, one climbing up
the crates. When you finish both of them, move left to almost immediately be
thrown into another encounter with two more thugs. Defeat the both of them, and
after the arduous battle, climb up the ladder.
You will receive a time regeneration once you finish climbing. Eliminate
the enemy to your left, then move right and knock another enemy coming from the
right down through the platform gap for an instant kill. Hop over the gap to the
next segment of the rooftop, and kill another enemy just shy of a ladder. Climb
up once you are finished with him, and take two more enemies out up top,
including one with a baseball bat.
Take the left ladder to move down and go left, slaying another gunman.
Hop over the gap to execute another thug. While you are fighting him, a second
goon will come from the right side: ward him off with a drop-kick sending him
down through the platform gap.
Once both foes have been dealt with, climb up the ladder, than jump up
and to the right onto one of the high ledges, then jump up again to go up
another level. Hop up and to the left, then take the next ladder up even higher
and onto a solid, wide rooftop.
Eliminate two gang members up top, then head right and drop down to a
lower part of the rooftop. Continue right and two more enemies shall drop down
from the left end. Execute the both of them, then take the ladder to your right.
Walk right and take a leap of faith to the platform opposite you, where you will
encounter another goon. Get to the right of him and drop-kick him down the
platform gap for an instant kill.'
Take the ladder up, receiving a time regeneration checkpoint, and finish
off the first enemy to come at you, and then a second and a third which come one
after another. Move right from here afterwards to take two more enemies on, one
from either side, then approach the down-hill path to get double-teamed by two
more goons still.
Continue right after to take out a gunner. Move right a little bit more
and you will get hit by two more goons, again one from both sides of the screen.
Head right and hop onto the platform with white-and-black stripes (or pea-green
and black stripes as the case may be) while pushing the Up button to actually
land on the ledge. Two enemies will hop onto your platform from the right side.
Drop-kick the both of them down the gap to your right.
Take a running jump over the gap, then drop-kick another enemy coming
from the left side down the platform gap. Head right and drop down. Knock down
the gangster with the baseball bat and take possession of his weapon. Lay into
him with the bat to finish him, then head right and do the same to a second gang
member.
Proceed right again and take out still another gang member. Once he is
down for the count, head right to the end of the level with some stairs. Take
out the first gang member to show up, then knock down the second goon to
repossess his baseball bat. Move up the stairs and into Stage Three.
-----------
STAGE THREE
-----------
Drop-kick or grab the enemy at the start approaching from the right,
then move right and wait for a second foe to approach you, and try to knock him
off the side to the gap to your right. Once both thugs are down for the count,
climb up the ladder and start walking left.
Take out a second set of thugs, then take the ladder up to the rooftop.
Walk right where you will encounter a gunman. As always, jump over his bullet,
then eliminate him with a single hit. Take out the next enemy that approaches
from your left, either through a drop-kick or grabbing him and throwing him over
the side of the roof.
When the screen scrolls over to the right, take a running jump onto a
slightly higher rooftop. Of the two enemies that show up to start, one of them
is carrying a baseball bat. Take him out to grab his weapon and lay into the two
thugs, along with a third foe that shows up shortly thereafter.
Proceed right from here and take a leap of faith along a longer gap to a
lower rooftop. Drop-kick or grab and throw the two enemies her down the gap to
kill both of them. Continue right and drop down to another lower rooftop to
encounter two more enemies. Grab these two and throw them over the side or drop-
kick them until they are down for the count.
Dash right and hop over another platform gap to a lower rooftop still.
Take out two more thugs waiting for you below. Move right after finishing them
off and up slightly to encounter two more goons still. Take both of the gang
members out to be able to climb the ladder to the high rooftop.
Up here, eliminate the thug, then walk right and down the ladder for a
time regeneration checkpoint. Take out the goon waiting for you down below, then
slowly make your way right, killing many stragglers in the process. Once you get
to the gap in the rooftop, move back left a little and kick the thugs jumping
across back into the gap to finish them off quickly. Leap over the gap and knock
the goon coming over back into the pit as well. Finally, move right and take out
another baseball-wielding enemy.
Jump over to the next gap and take out a regular dark-clothed foe, then
continue right and slay a gunman. Take a leap from here to the next roof. Take
out three more gang members, then head right and knock over a gunner. Take out
one last thug and then go up the stairs into Stage Four.
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STAGE FOUR
----------
This is an incredibly short stage, only considered a stage due to the
fact you are changing screens entirely. From the start, go right, and take out a
gunner. Continue right over a gap to eliminate a second gunner. Continue walking
and hop onto the bottom platform of the helicopter to take on this game's second
boss.
BOSS TWO
--------
There is not really too much that can be written about the second boss.
He is incredibly annoying and will hit Peyton as Darkman multiple times, givin
you little opportunity to strike back. The best way to actually deal damage to
him is to turn away from him and kick him when he gets in close so you are
guaranteed to do at least some damage (the kick has a longer range). You will
probably go through a life in the process as well, eating up one of your hearts
stockpile.
Once the boss is down for the count, drop down and the stage will end.
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STAGE FIVE
----------
Start by eliminating three gang members, one of which holds a baseball
bat handy. From there, continue to walk right, and hop into the elevator, taking
out another goon that may wander in with you as you go up to the top of the
building.
When you make it to the rooftop after quite a good deal of time
travelling, your time will be regenerated. Take out the two enemies that
approach you right away. Eliminate another pair of baseball bat-wielding enemies
that show up later before climbing up the nearby ladder onto metal beams,
immediately encountering two more thugs.
Once they are out of the way, head right, jump onto a swinging hook,
then hop off on the other end. Continue right and drop down onto some more
stable flooring, and mop the floor of the goons and construction workers that
start dropping down and fighting Peyton.
Climb up the short ladder to your right, then walk right a bit more to
find another hook swinging to and fro. Grab onto it and let it carry you over to
the right side, and hop off. Proceed right and take out a gunman, then fend off
the goon coming from the left side.
Once both gang members are out for the count, climb up the ladder for a
time regeneration spot. Beat up a pair of construction workers or throw them
over the gap to your left, and follow it up with a smackdown of another gang
member coming from the right. When they are all cleared out, continue walking
right and take out another construction worker and gang member before climbing
up a ladder back onto some metal beams.
Up top, eliminate two more gang members, then head left. Jump onto the
first of two consecutive swinging hooks, and swing your way across to the left
end onto stable footing. Take out two more foes on this side, one wielding a
baseball bat, then head up the ladder. On higher ground, head right, take out an
enemy, then go up and jump onto the metal beams while pressing Up.
Fend off another goon before jumping right over to some more metal
beams, then deflect multiple gang members coming from the left side. Once they
are not swarming you any more, make a running jump onto some more metal beams to
the right. Take a gunner out at the end and walk right for a time regeneration
checkpoint.
From the checkpoint, grab onto a hook, then swing off once it moves to
the far right of its path. Hit the gunner down below to take him out, then move
right and jump onto the top floor, fighting two more enemies in the process.
Walk right and down, and you will be swarmed by multiple more enemies coming
from left and right.
After you finish off the gang members, hop onto the nearby metal beam,
go right, and latch onto the hook. Swing over to your right side and walk right
on landing to encounter the third and final boss of the game.
BOSS THREE
----------
Compared to the second boss, the final boss is ridiculously easy in
comparison, as he will jump left and right across a more open field, facing the
center and shooting a single bullet before hopping back to the opposite
direction and continuing to fire. Leap over his bulletfire each time and use a
drop-kick to slowly damage the boss and whittle his health down over time until
at last he falls.
Afterwards, go and grab onto one last hook and swing over to watch your
ending.
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Contact Info
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[CONT]
Although I believe I have found everything there is to find in this
game, there is occasionally the possibility of some super secret level in an
obscure game that was never found because it was too obscure, or the like. If
you have anything that you feel needs to be includes, feel free to email me at
gammabetaalphafaqs AT gmail DOT com
If you have any other information to contribute or notice any errors,
again, shoot me a notice at gammabetaalphafaqs AT gmail DOT com
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FAQ semi-public domain: you can host it without asking and derive information
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