QIX FAQ
Copyrighted 1990 Nintendo
Written By: Brian P. Sulpher
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Version 2.1
Date Written: July 25, 2002
I dedicate this guide to my brother Michael. You always loved this game,
and you eventually got me hooked too. I still wish we found this game, but
be assured if I ever do see a copy, I will buy it for nostalgia. I will
finally be better than you at this game, and that will be no idle boast I
assure you!
Also, for Cougar. I miss you, and I hope you are living it up in the
afterlife as you did in this world. You will always be in my memories, and
you will never be forgotten.
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Version 1.0
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-Submitted guide on July 25th, 2002
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Version 2.0
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-Submitted guide on January 23rd, 2004
-Altered format
-Re-wrote a few sections of the FAQ to be more clear and helpful
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Version 2.1
-----------
-Submitted guide on February 9th, 2005
-I added in Honestgamers as a site allowed to use my FAQs
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-------------------------------Table Of Contents----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Introduction
2) Controls
3) Scoring
4) Enemies
5) Strategies
6) Final Word
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----------------------------------Introduction------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) QIX is a very unique game. You must draw lines to form boxes take over
sections of the board until you have taken 3/4 of the board to advance to
the next level of competition. You face a few dangerous enemies along
the way, so you better be aware of their skills. That is where this FAQ
comes in, offering up the goods on how to get through with the high
scores!
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-----------------------------------Controls---------------------------------
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2) This section shall review the controls that help you stay one step ahead
of the relentless enemies.
D-Pad : moves you along any solid line, outside wall, and completed box.
However, once a box covers a portion of the outside wall, you can
no longer go along the outside wall.
A Button: When used in conjunction with the D-Pad, you draw a fast moving
line. This will continue until you reach another wall, and then
a box will form.
B Button: When used in conjunction with the D-Pad, you draw a slow moving
line. This will continue until you reach another wall, and then
a box will form.
START : Pauses and unpauses the game.
SELECT : No apparent use.
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-------------------------------------Scoring--------------------------------
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3) The scoring formula is not too difficult to understand. It is based on
what type of box you attempt to draw into the playing field.
a) If you use the A Button to initiate a line, then you will receive one
point for every pixel contained within your completed box. This line
will draw with great speed (hence the lower score for drawing it), but be
wary of the QIX.
b) If you use the B Button to initiate a line, then you will receive two
points for every pixel contained within your completed box. This line
will draw with half the speed to the A Button line (hence the higher
score for drawing it), so be extremely aware of the QIX's position,
c) Once you reach the level finish percentage of 75% (or higher), you get an
end of level bonus. The bonus is 1,000 for every percent you go over
75%, but if you take 99% of the board, you will receive a bonus of
50,000 points! This is a great way to run your score high, and the next
scoring section will outline how to really cash in on your skills.
d) You will face a level that has two QIX's on it, as opposed to the single
one you begin the game avoiding. If you can split the two apart with a
line, then one will disappear, and you will lose your end of level bonus.
However, this will increase the multiple of your bonus on the next level.
You can increase the multiple up to X5, and this can score an extremely
large bonus.
e) You can get an extra life at the following scoring intervals: 50,000
points, 100,000 points, 200,000 points, and 500,000 points. These are
all of the extra men that I am aware of that exist to be collected.
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-------------------------------------Enemies--------------------------------
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4) This section will tell all about the enemies that are in this game, and
talk about their behavioural patterns. This will help you to not get
caught unawares.
a) QIX : This is the entity that is made up of lines that flies
around the uncaptured area of the board. It is an entity of
pure energy, so whenever you are not grounded (drawing a
line), and it touches the line at any point, you will lose a
life. You will be forced to face two of these as the game
progresses, so you need to be doubly careful when starting
a new line.
b) SPARX : These guys patrol the outside border of the still playable
field. They tend to move slowly, with a fair bit of
predictability. They can only take your life by touching
you directly, so you can draw a small line to go around
them. After a designated amount of time in a level, the
SPARX become...
c) SUPER SPARX: These fellas are smarter, faster, and just plain evil. No
matter what tricks you use to avoid them, they will just
continue to relentlessly chase you (as opposed to wandering
in one direction like SPARX do). They revert back to normal
SPARX before very long.
d) FUSES : These guys only attack you when you are taking too long on
completing a line. They will appear at the start of your
line that was/is being drawn, and they will relentlessly
follow the line till they touch you or you finish the line
you were drawing, causing the FUSE to disappear.
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-----------------------------------Strategies-------------------------------
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5) This section will outline a few strategies to help you get a higher score
in your games.
a) As outlined before in the Scoring section, combine the extra bonus
multiples from splitting the QIX to get a X5. Then, get 99% completion on
a level to score 50,000 X multiple total = large score.
b) A good strategy to score 99% covered is as follows:
i) Start by drawing small lines upwards to about the halfway point:
______________________
| |
| QIX |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|___________|__________|
ii) Then start to build left or right (usually on side up QIX), and get the
QIX trapped underneath the line:
______________________
| |
| |
| |
| |
| ________ |
| | |
| QIX | |
| | |
| | |
|___________|__________|
iii) Then you just keep taking little pieces of the playing field to further
corral the QIX:
______________________
| |
| |
| |
| |
| _______ |
| | | |
| | QIX | |
| |_____ | |
| | |
|___________|__________|
to this
______________________
| |
| |
| |
| |
| _______ |
| | | |
| | QIX | | |
| |_____| | |
| | |
|___________|__________|
iv) Now you just need to trap the QIX a little bit further, and then try to
close it with a B Button box to get a load of points, as well as a huge
bonus (especially if you get 99%).
c) Splitting the Qix is as simple as the following:
______________________
| |
| QIX |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | QIX |
| | |
|___________|__________|
to this
______________________
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| QIX | |
| | |
| | |
| | QIX |
| | |
|___________|__________|
Then you just need to draw the line to finally trap one QIX to get the
bonus multiple increased.
d) Watch the meter along the bottom of the screen carefully to see when it
will deplete. Every time it runs out, the SPARX in the level will become
SUPER SPARX that have increased speed and chaing abilities (they will
actively hunt you). Just avoid these until they return to noraml.
3) Try to draw your enclosed spaces as even as possible because the more
uneven the cut, the harder time you will have negotiating the path with
an enemy on your tail (with no where to cut into because of the lingering
QIX).
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-----------------------------------Final Word-------------------------------
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6) As is the usual, this walkthrough is copyright property of Brian P.
Sulpher, 2003. The only website, group, person, etc. to have access to
post it is www.gamefaqs.com, www.ign.com, and www.honestgamers.com. You
must ask for permission before posting this (go ahead, I am very nice,
and more than likely will say yes).
If you liked it, hated it, have anything to add, then please E-mail me at
[email protected]. You can also contact me through MSN messenger
through the same E-mail address.
A fun game that you should pick up so you can enjoy a cunningly designed
game. If you already have it, then break it out for go for a round or
two. If you do not own it, go find a copy however you can and be sure to
check out a fabulous gem of a game!
