Presenting for your enjoyment, the definitive, the ultimate, the only:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
* *
* [][][] [] [][] [][][] [][] [][] [] [] *
* [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [][] [] *
* [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] *
* [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] *
* [][][] [] [][][][][] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] *
* [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] *
* [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [][] *
* [] [][][] [] [] [] [][] [][] [] [] *
* *
* *
* Author: Joe Smoke *
* E-Mail Address:
[email protected] *
* Version: 1.0 *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Platoon is a game that is based on the movie of the same name. It is
hard to classify into a specific genre, so I would call it an "action-
platformer with maze elements and an adventure twist." Sound confusing?
Well, it is. But don't worry, as it makes a lot more sense once you
play it.
This game gave me fits when I was a wee child of seven or eight, but now
that I am fifteen it only gives me mild electric shocks. Seriously, I
was fourteen the first time I beat this game, and I am by no means a
chump in the world of gaming. The sheer difficulty that this game poses
is what prompted me to write this, which, by the way, is my first
FAQ/Walkthrough. Anyhoo, let's get to the meat of this, shall we?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* TABLE OF CONTENTS *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1) Revision History/Updates
2) The Legal Stuff
3) Story
4) Controls
5) The Combat Zone
6) The Sewers
7) The Bunker
8) The Jungle Confrontation
9) Frequently Asked Questions
10) Enemy Listing
11) Conclusion
12) Credits
13) How to Get in Touch With Me
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 1) REVISION HISTORY/UPDATES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 1.0 (08/04/00):
----------------------------------
First release. I suppose that covers everything in the game, but all
additions are welcome. See Section 13 for contact information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 2) THE LEGAL STUFF
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The only place that can use this FAQ without my express written consent
is:
www.gamefaqs.com
Nothing worse than being E-Mailed for updated version of your FAQ (or so
I've heard), so just count on Gamefaqs for the latest versions.
If you are going to link to this FAQ then simply link to
www.gamefaqs.com. It isn't kosher to link directly to the FAQ's
themselves.
Remember: No hosting this FAQ on your own site unless you have my
express written permission. The only site that is exempt to this rule
is www.gamefaqs.com.
All characters, games, companies, etc. are all copyright by their
respective companies. I have nothing to do with Nintendo, Sunsoft, or
the Vietnam War, and I never purported to have an affiliation with them.
This document is copyrighted by Joe Smoke in the Year of our Lord 2000.
All rights reserved.
Void where prohibited.
Copy at your own risk (Read: My lawyers will hunt you down so fast your
head will spin).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 3) STORY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hrmmm... Not too sure about this. The best that I can figure is that
your army platoon has been abandoned somewhere in the jungle during the
Vietnam War. You must fight your way back to a chopper to get you out
of there.
I've never seen the movie, nor have I read the instruction booklet, so
there may be some more clarification in there. If anyone wishes to fill
me in on the stories, please do so.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 4) CONTROLS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each level has different controls, so I'll split this section into a
different part for each level.
The Combat Zone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A- Fire gun
B- Throw grenade
Start- Pause
Select- No use
Left and Right-Move that direction
Up- Jump; Go through passage that leads up; Examine objects in huts
Down- Duck; Go through passage that leads down
Sewers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A- Fire gun; Examine object in a room
B- No use
Start- Pause
Select- No use
Directional buttons- Move body in tunnels; Move cursor in rooms and
confrontations
Bunker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A- Fire gun
B- No use
Start- Pause
Select- No use
Directional buttons- Move Cursor
Jungle Confrontation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A- Fire gun
B- No use
Start- Pause
Select- No use
Directional Buttons- Move your character
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 5) THE COMBAT ZONE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
An evil place teeming with the Viet Cong. You will have to dodge
bullets, jump booby traps, find explosives, blow up a bridge, and find
the entrance to the sewers.
You will have five chances to complete the level. It takes four
bullets, the loss of all your morale, or you walking over one booby
trap to kill you. You will start a new life from the same spot you last
died.
You have some charts at the bottom of the screen. The bullet cartridges
represent how much ammo you have. The little dots over the cartridges
are your grenades. The yellow and pink bar (which I suppose is a
cigarette :D) represents your morale, which will go down each time you
kill a villager.
Seeing as how this level is a maze I will give step-by-step instructions
on getting to your next objective.
FINDING THE EXPLOSIVES:
------------------------
-From your starting position go right and take the first down you come
to.
-Go right and take the second or third down (they both end up at the
same place).
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right. You see that package on the ground? Pick it up, for those
are the explosives. Huzzah!
FINDING THE BRIDGE:
--------------------
-From where you found the explosives go left and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first down.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go left and take the second up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go right and take the second down.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the fourth down.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the second up.
-Go right and take the first down.
-Go right and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go left and take the first up.
-Go right. You see that bridge? It's time to blow it up!
BLOWING UP THE BRIDGE:
-----------------------
-Heh. I don't even know why I made a section for this. All you have to
do to blow up the bridge is walk across it. Hard, eh?
FINDING ITEMS TO GAIN ACCESS TO SEWERS:
---------------------------------------
-After blowing up the bridge continue right and take the first up.
-Go left. You should come across some huts that you can enter.
-Remember: Do not kill the villagers. They can be distinguished from
the Viet Cong by the blue clothes they wear and the lack of bullets they
fire at your person.
-Go to the fourth house from the right. Examine the table in it and you
will find a map of the sewer system.
-Go to the last house from the right. Examine the jar to find a torch.
FINDING ENTRANCE TO SEWERS:
---------------------------
-Go to the fifth house from the right. Examine the hole on the right to
find the entrance to the sewers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 6) THE SEWERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pits of Vietnam. Where gooks and defacations are as common as Bill
Cosby at a Jell-O convention. To escape this Hellhole you must find two
boxes of flares, a compass, and a clear exit.
But things aren't going to be as easy as all that. Gun-toting maniacs
and knife-wielding fools will try to stop you with their lives. As if
that wasn't enough, the sewers are a maze. What luck!
Your person can withstand four bullets/knife wounds before dying. You
will have one more chance to complete the level should your first man
die.
MAP OF THE SEWERS:
------------------
________________________________________________________________________
! l-----A l-----l-------------------------------------------G !
! l l l !
! l--------------l l F H l !
! l l l l-----l l l I !
! B l-----l l l l l l l !
! l l l-----l l---------l----l l !
! l--------l l l l l l !
! l l-----l l--------------l l !
! l l l l !
! l----l l --------l l !
! l l---------------l l l !
! l l l J---------l------------l l !
! l l----l l l l !
! l l l l----l------l l E l----------l !
! l l l l l l l l !
! l----l l----------l----l l------l l l !
! l l l l l l l l !
! l l l l l l l l D !
! l l l----------l----l---------l---l------l l l !
! l l l l l l l l !
! l l l l l l l l !
! l l----l C------l-----l------l---l------l l----------l !
! l l l l l l l l !
! l----l l------------l-----l l----------------l l !
!______________________________________________________________________!
KEY TO THE MAP:
---------------
- and l = paths open for you to take
A = Room A
B = Room B
C = Room C
D = Room D
E = Room E
F = Room F
G = Room G
H = Room H
I = Room I
_ and ! = boundaries of map
WHAT IS LOCATED IN EACH ROOM:
-----------------------------
A: Documents, flares, weapons
B: Food
C: Medical suppies x 2, weapons, flares
D: Medical supplies, weapons, ammo, exit
E: Nothing
F: Weapons, ammo, medical supplies
G: Ammo x 2, medical supplies x 2
H: Medical supplies, documents, compass
I: Medical Supplies x 2, weapons x 2, ammo
J: Nothing
WHAT THE ITEMS DO:
------------------
Medical Supplies: Heal one wound.
Weapons: Beats me. I suppose it gives you points, but I'm not too
sure.
Ammo: More bullets (which you will probably be needing sorely).
Rotten Food: Extra points.
Secret Documents: Extra points.
Flares: Required to finish level.
Compass: Required to finsh level.
HOW TO BEAT THE LEVEL:
----------------------
After all the incredible stuff I just told you about the sewers beating
it is going to be easy-peasy-japanesey, eh? Forget it...
Anyhoo... you start off in -, so just go left and hop into Room A. Get
the flares.
Now head down and right to go to Room C. Hop in for a for a quick
appointment with some flares.
Head up and right and run like Hell (Pink Floyd; The Wall) for Room H.
Get the compass.
Now head to the bottom-right corner to Room D. Check the ladder and say
"Good-bye!" to the sewers.
Of course, you could always head to some other rooms for extra points,
ammo, etc. Feel free to change your strategy as you feel it needed, but
remember that the items mentioned in my startegy are required to beat
the level.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 7) THE BUNKER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is such an insanely easy level. There is no need to give many
details, as the only thing you have to do is look at the dark blobs, put
your crosshairs over them, and fire. Isn't exactly Harvard-worthy, is
it? If you should be having trouble with this level just E-Mail me, and
I will try to help you as much as possible. Just remember to try to hit
everyone on the first shot and perhaps turn the brightness up on the
television.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 8) THE JUNGLE CONFRONTATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you've been itching for battle, eh? Well here's your chance. Bet
ready to slug it out with some of the best-trained (Heheheh) soldiers in
the Viet Cong.
But that isn't all. You are also going to have to avoid snipers. Now
in a normal situation I would laugh in the ugly faces of snipers, but
this is different. How, you ask?
Because this level is a maze. Just when you thought you were done with
the mazes, here comes another one. But this in't a normal maze...
It is a timed maze! You will have four minutes to complete it. Of
course, if your first person dies, the clock will restart.
It seems that you have found some padded fatigues in the bunker because
now it takes a whopping five bullets to put you down! L-l-l-lucky!
IMPORTANT STUFF TO KNOW:
------------------------
Beating the maze: Just alternate taking a left and right paths. If you
take a left first, just take a right next, and so on.
Beating the clock: Just hurry. Not much else I can say.
Beating the enemies: See Section 10.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 10) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course, since this is the first version of my FAQ I have yet to
recieve any questions about the game. So I'll just make up some
questions that I feel will be common.
************************************************************************
Q: I can't change directions in midair? What am I doing wrong? (Level
1)
A: You can't change directions while jumping. Just walk in the
direction you wish to jump and leap. Shouldn't be too hard.
************************************************************************
Q: I kill the soldiers, but my morale goes down. What's the problem?
(Level 1)
A: You are killing villagers. They are recognizable by their blue
clothing and lack of weapons. Stop killing them.
************************************************************************
Q: When I tried to examine an object, it blew up! Huh? (Level 1)
A: Some of the objects in the huts are booby-trapped. Your best bet is
to only examine what I tell you to.
************************************************************************
Q: How could we lose the war when our bullets are so much faster than
the enemies' bullets?
A: Beats me. Must have been the Agent Orange.
************************************************************************
Q: Is your real name Joe Smoke?
A: No.
************************************************************************
Q: I shot the guy with the gun, but I still got hurt. What the dillio?
(Level 2)
A: He must have fired his gun before you shot him. Your best bet is to
try to shoot his bullet out of the air. :D
************************************************************************
Q: I keep shooting at the blobs, but they won't die. Are they
invincible? (Level 3)
A: No, they are just odd. It is better to aim at their head/neck area
than at their lower torso. Don't ask me why.
************************************************************************
Q: Will you tell me your real name?
A: Uhhhhhhh... No.
************************************************************************
Q: I did what you said, but I keep walking around in circles. Where
did I mess up? (Level 4)
A: Granted, much of the terrain looks similar. Don't automatically
assume that you have messed up. Just keep alternating left and right
paths.
************************************************************************
Q: Something blew up under my feet! What in the world? (Level 4)
A: Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that your best bet is to not touch
anything while walking in Level 4. Much of the stuff in that level is
booby-trapped, so don't touch it.
************************************************************************
Q: What is the deal with the ending cutscene?
A: I dunno, but it sure is bizarre. Again, if someone has seen the
movie or has the instruction booklet, I would be ecstatic of you would
share its information with me.
************************************************************************
Q: So why did you pick the name Joe Smoke?
A: Funny story. If you really want to know, get in touch with me and
I'll tell you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 10) ENEMY LISTING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the place where you can find information and strategies for all
of the enemies in Platoon. I shall refer to all the enemies as Charlie
for obvious reasons.
Level 1:
--------
Standard Charlie: He walks around and fires at you. One shot will kill
him. Don't let him touch you, as that will hurt you as well.
Tree Charlie: These cowards like to hide in the trees above you. They
will try to jump on your head. The best way to avoid this is to keep
moving. After they hit the ground they will transmogrify into Standard
Charlie.
Ground Charlie: They poke their heads and gund out of the ground and
shoot at your ankles. Since they cannot be killed, your best bet is
tojump over their bullets.
Booby Traps: Just jump over them. If you walk over them they will kill
your player.
Villager Charlie: Just ignore them. They cannot hurt you.
Level 2:
--------
Gun Charlie: These easy fools walk up and try to shoot you. They take
a long time, so just peg with one bullet and quit worrying.
Knife Charlie: These guys are a bit harder than Gun Charlie, but only
because it takes them less time to hurt you. Again, one bullet will
take care of them.
Level 3:
--------
Dark Charlie: Dark blobs that shoot at you. They are a bit harder than
anyone else because they will continue firing at you until either you or
they are dead. You should aim at their lower torso. One bullet to kill
them.
Level 4:
--------
Elite Charlie: These bad boys run across the top of the screen shooting
bullets at you. They can shoot anywhere from 3-6 bullets at a time and
do not stop running. The best way to beat them is to stay at the bottom
of the screen avoiding his shots and firing a steady stream of bullets
at him. Five hits and he'll be toast.
Sniper Charlie: They hang out in the bushes near the bottom of the
screen and fire bullets in a staight line. They cannot hit you if you
hug the bottom of the screen, so just avoid them until Elite Charlie is
killed, and then avoid his bluuets whie walking up. You have no excuse
for being hit by these guys. They cannot be killed.
Ho Chi Min Charlie: The big bad boss of the game. He hides out in a
bunker at the end of Level 4. He fires a stead stream of bullets
interspersed with the occasional bomb at you. Just avoid his shots and
hit him with your bomb gun. After numerous hits he will die.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 11) CONCLUSION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, that was my first FAQ. I hope everyone enjoyed it, and that it
wasn't as boring to read as it was to write. Good day, and good gaming!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 12) CREDITS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
God (Do I have to give a reason?)
My parents (They raised me, for Charlie's sake!)
Joe Smoke (I wrote all this, after all.)
"I Me" (Did that kick-ass ASCII art at the top of the FAQ. If only he
could have done the sewers map...)
marshmallow (The king of FAQs. He let me use his FAQ format. Thanks,
again.)
Pink Floyd (I've often commented that "The Wall" is the greatest album
of all time. I still stand by that.)
Everyone at Gamerboards.com (You guys rock! Long live the Holy Galactic
Empire!)
Casmaster (Taught me how to use WinZip)
Gamefaqs.com (They host my FAQ and are one of the greatest sites out
there.)
Malcolm Young (He's the Rythym Guitarist for AC/DC. I always felt bad
for him because his brother Angus [lead guitar] always gets all the
attention. So here's to you Malcolm!)
John Paul Jones (Most unappreciated member of Led Zeppelin. Great job,
John!)
I'm sure I forgot some people. If I did, rest assured that I thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 13) HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you want to talk to me, eh? Sure thing. Here is how you should go
about it: Write an E-Mail to
[email protected] . Sounds easy? Well
it really is. Although I would appreciate it if you put something in
the subject line to distinguish your message from all the other crap I
usually get (not that your message will be crap :D).
Once again, that's
[email protected]
Do not be scared to send me corrections, compliments, or flames. If
they are reasonable enough, I should respond to all messages I get.
Thanks again for reading this.
-FIN
This document copyright Joe Smoke in the Year of our Lord 2000.
