12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890


Jumpin' Kid - Jack to Mame no Ki Monogatari FAQ
Written by Shane Griffin (ChichiriMuyo)
[email protected]


This FAQ is for Jumpin' Kid (also known as Jack the Giant Slayer), the story of
Jack and the beanstalk.  Or what you'd expect from an NES version of the story,
anyway.  This game, released by Asmik Ace Entertainment for the Famicom, is a
challenging platformer that controls similarly to the original Mega Man series
of games.  Much like those games, the word challenging is also synonymous with
frustrating.  Play at your own risk.



Controls:

Left/Right - Move left or right
A - Jump
B - Shoot

Power-ups:

Beans - These increase the strength of your attacks.  This is only relevant for
boss fights. You may earn up to three levels of bean power.

Springs - These increase your jump height.  They are absolutely invaluable for
any stage in which you have to climb the beanstalk.  You can earn two levels of
spring power.



Stage 1

Start by heading right.  When you reach the stairs just in front of your
starting point you won't be able to walk through them, but if you jump through
them you can get to the area below which contains a few money bags.  Watch out
for the dripping water, though, it hurts just as much as any enemy does.

Afterwards you'll find yourself facing a very large mouse.  This big guy is
also capable of sending much smaller mice, even smaller than the regular ones
you face, out to get you.  Thankfully, the tiny mice are stunned by your shots
despite them being too small to be hit, and the big mouse dies to them unlike
everything else so far.



Bonus Area

Bonus Area Controls:
Up/Down - Move the cloud up and down
B - Shoot

I know what you're thinking; "A bonus area already?"  Yep, it's true, and it's
not a hidden area, either.  The goal is to shoot down the mice before they chew
through the rope.  Kill 30 of them and an Angel will appear at the top where
the chest is located.  At this point you will revert to normal controls, so you
should quickly get to the angel at the top to double up your bonus score.



Stage 2

Right from the start you will have to work your way up, and it's a lot more
challenging than the side-scrolling in the previous level.  Having maxed out
springs helps a lot, allowing you to skip several platforms.  Watch out for
the beetles and white birds in this stage, as both will dive at you.

The shaking platforms will fall out from under you after only about a second.
If you didn't fill up on jump springs they, combined with the enemies, will
make climbing quite difficult.  About three-quarters of the way up you'll be
met by enemies that look somewhat like dismembered eyeballs.  They follow you
whenever you move left or right, and will fall on you.  Make good use of the
platforms above you to avoid being hit.  Stick to the left when you can, as
there will be white birds coming from the right side of the screen as you
approach the boss.

The big frog, your boss for the stage, is a big pushover.  The only real
dangers here are the regular enemies that will occasionally fly at you and the
risk of falling.  Of course, that won't kill you, it'll only cause you to start
the boss fight over.



Stage 3

Shortly after the beginning of the stage there will be two walls that split
the area.  If you take the path to the left you will be able to access the
money bags in-between the two walls, but if you don't care about them the path
to the right is easier to clear.

Much like the end of the previous stage there is a door on a raised platform,
this one however isn't guarded by a boss, just a couple of eyeballs, a beetle,
and the white birds that fly out from the right side of the screen.



Stage 4

Early in the stage you will find a doorway which, as indicated on your map,
takes you into a sub-area.  The bats in the sub-area fly erratically but mostly
stay out of your way, so don't bother trying to predict where they will be for
you to shoot them.

After you exit the sub area if you drop down a little bit you will find two more
hearts, allowing you to fill up pretty easily if you've taken much damage up to
this point.

Once you start heading back up you will see a pipe to the left.  Be cautious, as
it shoots out what looks like snail shells that practically fly off the screen
compared to most enemies.  It is, however, easier to climb up on the left side
of the screen, so just watch the pipe until you get the timing down.  Be
careful as you approach the second pipe as there is a ladybug flying around here
that dives at you, which is a dangerous departure from it's kin.

After the third pipe you'll be faced with another frog boss.  This one is quite
a bit larger than normal enemies, but he isn't much harder to incapacitate. Just
stick to the platform on the right-hand side of the screen to avoid the pipe.
Stay on the right side of the platform and you will be safe from all attacks,
including the boss's tongue attack.



Bonus Stage

This bonus stage is just like the first, except now you have snails to shoot
instead of mice.  This bonus stage will also take you a little longer to
complete as the snails only come out of their holes at a much slower rate than
the mice for the first half of the stage.  They also have a tendency to switch
back and forth between the top hole and the bottom hole making you "work" for
your big bonus.



Stage 5

Oh, so you thought you were done once you reached the top of the beanstalk, did
you?  Well, it wouldn't be much of a game if you were (it should take you about
ten minutes to make it to this point) so let's get ready for some cloud hopping,
shall we?

The first two enemies you will see appear to be a cloud and a blue creature that
looks more alien in nature than any badies you've faced so far.  Be careful, as
the clouds will recover from stun quickly and both the clouds and the blue guys
will dive at you making life tough.

Once you've crossed the chasm you will be met by a blue man riding a cloud doing
his best Raiden impression.  Just shoot him once to stun him, like any other
regular enemy, and watch out for the rain clouds as you make your way out of the
stage.



Bonus Stage

So soon?  Yes, yet another bonus stage has popped up.  This time the aim of the
game is to collect the coins as they are being dropped.  The control in this
level are like the normal controls, so no more trying to line up and shoot from
all the way across the screen.  Once you've collected them all run back to the
beanstalk on the left side of the screen to reach the angel.



Stage 6

The enemies here are quite surreal.  They include a walking bean; a small, pink
guy on a thunder cloud; a green bean that flies; and a little white bird with a
really large head compared to the rest of the body.  Traversing this stage is
made difficult, as the bean stalk has fewer platforms and the white birds that
come from the right side of the screen are very persistent.  They will recover
from being hit very quickly and their flight pattern (zigzagging up and down)
also means that they will suddenly be in your way if you make a mistake.

About half way you'll see a green streak fly down the left side of the screen.
This indicates both that you're almost there and that you're going to be faced
with some extremely difficult platforming.  Don't bother shooting the white
birds unless you cannot help it, they recover too quickly and will take you out
fast.

Once you see the door at the end of the stage make your way to the upper left
hand platform,  it's the only way you'll be safe from the enemies that come from
the right side of the screen.  This enemy, that looks a lot like a peanut, jumps
whenever you shoot at him and he shoots back.  It's best not to shoot at him
when he is shooting at you, if you do he will jump and this will enable him to
get more shots in and makes dodging a bit more difficult.  You shots will also
go right through him if you don't hit his feet.  When you shoot at him you can
use the clouds in the background to help insure you hit the mark.



Bonus Stage

This bonus stage plays out a lot like the first and second one.  This time you
have to contend with beanmen instead of mice or snails, and after the first half
of the bonus stage they start to show themselves in some heavy numbers.  Move
fast, and don't miss.



Stage 7

So, every once in awhile, you just find yourself out in the middle of space
falling into floating money bags and landing on rainbows.  This isn't the Jack
and the Beanstalk I remember, but it does look like things are really heating
up.  All you have to do is evade all these... diamonds and money bags?  There's
not a single enemy in the stage, not even a boss.  I guess Jack just climbed too
high this time.



Bonus Stage

After Stage 6, I think most people need a nice long break to not break their
controller in frustration.  This, however, may be excessive.  The mouse is back
from the stage before last and it's your job to drop the money before it hits
the ground to save the angel.  It doesn't make sense, but that's what bonus
stages are all about.  Not making sense.



Stage 8

Alright, time to act fast, the pressure really is on and you haven't got a
second to waste at the start of the stage.  The enemies here all move faster
and have the birds have a flight pattern that make them very hard to hit.  Just
shoot the turnip and run through him to dodge the bean and the bird.  Don't do
this often, though, as the turnips will run faster once shot.  The stage is
incredibly short, even for this game, and at the end you'll fight what looks
like a walking bamboo shaft or oil barrel.  It doesn't shoot, it doesn't jump,
and as long as you stay on the cloud to the right hand side nothing can hit you.

At this point you get to save a girl, and it's not one of the angels from the
bonus stages.  Sadly, it seems that this girl is unimportant, as your journey
will continue.  Such is life.



Bonus Stage

Mouse.  Coins.  Angel.  You know what to do.



Stage 9

As you'll notice right away (and was indicated by the map) there are shrooms
everywhere.  Some of them even fly and drop stuff on you.  If only Jack had
this as an excuse for his previous hallucinations.  You can, if you choose, jump
in the hole on the left side of the screen.  However the rewards for taking this
path are minimal, and making it to the boss this way is actually more difficult
due to the cramped space.

This stage has few platforms than any stage before it, so your path to the top
is almost completely laid out for you. The only changes you'll make in your
course will be to evade the multitude of quick moving fliers in the area.  Once
you see the three money bags next to each other you'll need to be cautious, a
green-topped mushroom will fly down at you from the right.  It's one of the few
surprise attacks, but it can be annoying to work around.

As you approach the boss you will see a shower of green and blue specks falling.
These, apparently, will prevent you from going through the door, though the boss
just being there does that already.  You'll want to shoot the brown-top mushroom
down to keep it out of your way.  Once that's out of the way take up your
position on the left platform and prepare for a rather boring fight.  The boss's
shots will stop yours before they reach their target, but he shoots very slowly.
Wait until you see him shoot in the opposite direction then jump up and shoot
him.  Rinse.  Repeat.



Bonus Stage

This bonus stage is a variation upon the first.  Move up and down and shoot the
falling objects.  Gain bonus points for whichever objects you hit and avoid the
falling skulls.  Gain 3000 points and you go talk to the babe with the wings up
on the clouds.



Stage 10

This sure does look familiar.  It features many of the same enemies as stage
five as well as looking the same at the start.  You'll notice, however, that the
moving platforms go up and down instead of left and right.  After the second
moving platform you'll be greeted by... a pirate ship!?  There's no telling what
it's doing up here, but the cannons still work and the ghost crew doesn't seem
to like you in the least.  Also, while most of the cannons are pointed at a
downward angle, the second one is pointed level with the ship.  You're going to
have to avoid that and the pirates if you want to get out of here unscathed.

After you pass the first three cannons there is a very large hole in the ship.
While there is a platform below it, you're going to want to avoid falling so you
don't have to worry about the cannons above.  What you will want to do is get to
the edge of the gap before jumping over.  There is a small, blue enemy that will
harmlessly walk right off the ship as long as you don't jump right into it.

Once you've reached the tail end of the ship you'll be greeted with several
enemies including one that flies and drops what looks to be snow on you.  There
is plenty of room to maneuver and no more death drops on the ship so dodging
shouldn't be too hard.  Once you clear the ship jump over to the clouds and run
straight to the hole at the end of the stage.



Bonus Stage

This is just like the last bonus stage, except that the items now fall from two
different spots instead of one.  Just don't shoot the skulls before you reach
3000 points and you'll get your love on with an angel.


Stage 11

Dun dun dun!  The giant's castle!  At last, you've reach the last leg of your
journey.  Don't take a break just yet, though, as the castle has plenty of
difficult tasks to overcome.  Just walk forward and jump through the large hole
to the underground portion of the castle.

Like any other segment of the game without platforms, the underground is very
easy.  with so much room to move you shouldn't have any problem getting through
this.  Once you see the heart you're in for a boss fight.  This time your foe is
a succubus.  The only attack she has is to dive down at you, and she can only
do that when you're in line of sight.  To defeat her you must trick her into
diving at you then run behind her and shoot.  Just keep doing this until she
dies and the blockade is removed.  Just watch out for the bats the can spawn
here and don't let the succubus go off screen to reset her life.

After you defeat the succubus there will be a yo-yo in front of the exit.  If
you're already full on life don't worry about it hitting you.  It will not take
your power-ups away and there is a heart on the other side of it.  If you need
that heart, however, it can be stunned, you just won't be able to walk through
it.



Stage 12

At the beginning of the stage you will see a bat fly into the ground.  It may
look like it will get stuck or continue off screen, but it will actually come
back up.  Don't let it get an easy hit on you by using such a dirty trick.
Afterwards just shoot the blue yo-yo when it's all the way up so that you can
safely sneak under.  As you make your way to the left you'll see and enemy that
looks like a ball of fire above you.  Given the moons that go with them, it's
safe to say these as the giant's suns.  If you stand under them for too long
they will drop right on your head.

The boss of this area is nearly identical to the last in every respect but
appearance.  This angel-looking creature is a lot harder to defeat than the
succubus, however, because more dangerous enemies (and more enemies period) are
flying around with it.  Watch out for the moons and the stuff they want to drop
on you, and if you have to it's better to take a hit from the angel than the
moons so that you won't lose your power-ups.  Also, unlike the succubus, the
angel will dive at you even if you are behind it.



Stage 13

Make your way up and to the left to collect a few money bags, then head off to
the right.  This area is small.  Very small.  Even for this game.  Just dodge a
few enemies and you're at the boss.  Like the last two bosses in the castle,
this one is preceded by a small gap that leads to its chamber.  Don't jump from
the entrance to sneak in a few extra shots.  Just after you enter the chamber a
sun will fly by at the top of the screen and you don't want to run into it.

The boss, once again, flies safely above you until you get into it's range of
vision.  However, getting into this devil's field of vision is a tricky enough
proposition due to the sheer number of enemies accompanying it.  Just be patient
and keep your eyes out for the suns above all else, and eventually you will take
the devil down.

After defeating the devil you have two options.  You can fall down to collect
the hearts and diamonds or you can go up to head onwards to the next area.  If
you choose to fall down you will have to retread stages 12 and 13.  Fortunately,
while the angel and devil do make appearances, it's not necessary to defeat them
again.



Bonus Stage

It's been awhile since we've had one of these.  For this game, anyway.  It's
just like the last one, so there's not all the much to say about it.



Stage 14

Right from the start your life will once more be in danger.  Behind you will be
a green crab, and he moves much faster than the blue ones from the last couple
of areas.  Just move to the left ASAP.  There isn't really a best way to
navigate through this area, and no matter what path you take you will have to
get past a few torches to make it through.  Just be patient, learn the pattern,
and move on.  There is not a boss here, for a change, so you don't need to worry
about having to fight it out.



Stage 15

Right away you'll find the goose that laid the golden egg.  It looks a lot more
like a chicken, but nevertheless it lays a golden egg.  After you grab that
there will be a dragon flying around, it moves in an irregular pattern and
shoots rather quickly so your goal should be to keep moving, and fast.  As you
climb up through the exit occasionally a dragon will get stuck.  This will cause
some severe damage, so if it happens walk left until it is off-screen.

Grab the springs if you don't have max jumping power (chances are you won't)
while dodging the dragon then jump across the pillars.  Watch out as you jump
from the second pillar to the next portion of the castle as a spear will drop
down from the sky.  Don't worry about falling, however, as the only punishment
for that is having to work your way back up.

Once you reach the giant's chamber you will notice there are a lot more spears
than just that first one to hinder you.  They all move at different rates and
come from both the floor and ceiling so keep moving.

The giant himself is a pretty big push over, just stick close to him and time
your jumps to go after his fireballs.  Other than the occasional bat flying
around at you there's not much else to worry about.  Just be patient and take
the opportunities given to you.  After the giant is defeated make your way left
and climb the final distance to meet your Princess.


Credits:

Me, for playing such a frustratingly hard platformer to the end and writing an
FAQ on it.

Board 8 of GameFAQs for wasting so much of my time and bring my back to the site
every day.

You, for reading this even though you'll never play the game.

The NES FAQ Completion Project, for making it so easy to find games write FAQs
for.



This FAQ is property of ChichiriMuyo.  Don't steal it, it's not worth it.

You are viewing proxied material from gopher.endangeredsoft.org. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.