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SWAMP THING
FAQ/WALKTHROUGH, v0.9
Written and maintained by SubSane
Last updated April 05, 2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Game Details
1.2 Story
2.0 THE BASICS
2.1 Game Start
2.2 On-Screen Display
2.3 Controls
2.4 Items
3.0 WALKTHROUGH
3.1 The Swamp
3.2 Skull Village
3.3 Graveyard
3.4 Chemical Factory
3.5 Dark Forest
3.6 Junkyard
3.7 Toxic Dump
3.8 Arcane's Lab
4.0 CODES & SECRETS
5.0 LEGAL / MISC.
5.1 Version History
5.2 Guide Credits
5.3 Contact Information
5.4 Legal Stuff
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===== 1.0 INTRODUCTION ========================================================
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1.1 Game Details
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Here we have another of the many licensed side-scrollers that Imagineering Inc.
developed in the early '90s. It's not a bad little game, but it's also not the
greatest. The dark backgrounds should please those who favor dark and dreary
games. :)
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1.2 Story
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Deep in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana... Dr. Alec Holland, a bio-chemist,
created a formula that would revitalize and revive plant growth in the barren
areas of the Earth. His hope was to be able to eliminate world hunger.
But, the evil and twisted Dr. Anton Arcane had other plans... to steal the
formula and use its bio-restorative properties to achieve immortality! The
twisted doctor snuck into Holland's lab one night and planted a bomb, stealing
the formula in the resulting explosion. Dr. Holland was trapped inside as
some of the formula exploded and saturated his body with it.
As Holland threw himself into the swamp outside something strange began to
happen -- the organic matter in the murky water interacted with the formula
in his body, changing him into the massive Swamp Thing!
Now the Swamp Thing is angry... and hungry for revenge.
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===== 2.0 THE BASICS ==========================================================
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2.1 Game Start
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Press Start to begin the game.
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2.2 On-Screen Display
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Life Points
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Those white bars represent life points. Each hit takes one away.
Batteries
=========
The number next to the life points represents the number of batteries you've
collected. Collect 50 to get one 1 extra life.
Sludge balls
============
When you get sludge balls they will appear in the upper left corner. They
are used as weapons.
Points
======
Press Start to view the number of points up to that point.
Lives
=====
Press Start to view the number of remaining lives.
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2.3 Controls
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Command | Action
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Start | Begin the game, pause
Select | Get out of trees
Control pad | Move left and right, duck down
Control pad Up | Press Up in a tree, apple, or flower enter inside them
B button | Punch, use sludge balls
A button | Jump, shake the trees when you're inside
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2.4 Items
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Item | Purpose
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Sludge balls | Get 10 sludge balls - used as weapons
Beakers | Small cups with lines - used to refill life points
Batteries | Collect 50 to gain 1 extra life
1UP | 1 extra life
Flower | Press Up to enter the flower and recharge life points
Apple | Press Up to enter the apple and roll into small pipes
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===== 3.0 WALKTHROUGH =========================================================
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3.1 The Swamp
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Enemies: Brain tossers, robo-fish, robo-hornets, robo-mice, falling cans,
knives, floating cans
You, as the Swamp Thing, start off in the dank and smelly swamp. You've just
been turned into a big green plant guy and you're pissed off, so what do you
do? Why, go nuts and fight robots along the way of course!
Head left to grab the beaker and then right to begin. The brain tossers can't
be killed, so jump over and proceed. Jump over the can as well and jump up to
punch the robo-hornet as it flys by. All of these basic enemies die with one
hit from you or a sludge ball, but try your best to avoid them anyway. You can
kill the robo-mice by standing in the water and hitting them as they get near
you.
Trudge through the water and get to the wooden house while jumping over the
fish. Jump to the top and use the height to jump onto the concrete poles, but
wait for those falling cans to pass before you go on. Keep fighting and
collecting batteries and you head to the right. Be careful near the next house
because small knives will come out flying when you approach.
After you pass the next chunk of mud you'll be at a large wooden structure.
Jump up onto the first set and get to the house at the top. Avoid the knife
and hop onto the concrete poles to collect all of the batteries, then move on.
Ahead you'll find some green floating platforms, but just walk through the
water to make it easier. Also watch for robo-fish and plenty of falling cans.
Next up is a whole bunch of houses on stilts. Hop up to the top of the first
two houses and collect everything as you go, then get to the right and jump on
the wooden platforms on the far right. Use them to jump up and use the left
platforms to get to the top of the structure. Once you're on the far top
platform, make a large jump to the right and grab the 1UP for an extra life.
Continue along until you get to the final patch of dirt where the level ends.
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3.2 Skull Village
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Enemies: Stone skulls, natives, flying skulls, skull piles, green skulls,
cauldrons, snakes, running skeletons, knives
The first and most common enemy in this level will be those large stone skulls
that throw out eyeballs. They can't be killed, so just wait until they are
about to throw the eyeballs and quickly jump over to proceed. As for those
little natives... meh. Just jump past them.
As you get to the pits some flying skulls will emerge from their dark depths.
Wait for a gap between skulls and quickly jump over to get past them. Next up
is a pile of skulls. These are much like the stone skulls in that they can't
be killed and toss out a bouncing object. Jump over them just like the stone
skulls.
So, la la la... next up is a hut. Huts will usually have green skulls and a
cauldron near them, and both are easy to avoid. Walk under the skulls and wait
for the cauldron bubbles to rise before going over it. The flying skulls on
the fence ahead can also be avoided by jumping over as they return to their
spiky resting place.
The next pit is guarded by a snake, but this thing is a pretty cheap enemy.
Wait for that white whatever-it-is to fizzle out and punch the snake to kill
it. Now, you could jump over the pit... but let's go spelunkin'! Carefully
slip by the skulls and fall down the pit.
Hop on the small platforms and collect all the batteries and the one beaker,
then head right. Avoid all skulls and skeletons and jump over the next pit
then wait for the running skeletons to rise up and run at you before you jump
over. Jump down the next pit (you can't get the extra life, so don't try) and
stick to the left to land on a platform. Continue on to the right and jump over
all of the stone skulls, then jump into the gap on the right. There will be a
battery and 1UP waiting for you in that small alcove. Get out of there and jump
up to the top of the pit to return to the surface. Light, horrible light!
Over the cauldron and past the stone skulls, look out spikes cuz here you come.
Feel free to walk on the flaming hot coals, but jump if you see any flames
flicker up. After you pass the hut you'll get to some wooden beams. Walk along
them and kill or avoid the native dudes, and as always make sure to collect
anything you can get.
Kill the snake at the end, jump straight down to collect the battery, then jump
over the stone skulls to complete the level.
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3.3 Graveyard
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Enemies: Green ghosts, pink flyers, flying busts, fire, green bats, Dr. Deemo
Head right and the first enemy will appear. Those green ghosts only move in
a straight line, so duck down to avoid them. The pink flyers, however, move
up and down as they fly. Wait until they are at their high point before passing
under them. Third up are the flying busts. These flying statues can move up
and down or from side to side. The up-down ones will usually be on a single
pole while the side-to-side busts tend to be on low platforms.
Get to the small mausoleum and use that floating gravestone to get over it,
then enter the door to the second mausoleum. Walk along past the ghosts and
slow flames, then over the coffins and green bats. Get to the end of the
chamber and hop on that skeleton hand to return to the surface.
Run past the many flying busts and over the mausoleum and get to the end of
the short path and into another mausoleum.
This one's not too tough either. Avoid the flames and jump onto the ledges
with dead bodies on them. Some ledges will be smaller than the full ones,
but still easy to see. Get down to the bottom ledges and go to the right to
get to the giant wall of skeleton hands and leave this pit of death.
The next stretch above ground is not difficult or any different from the last
ones, so go ahead past the flying busts and gravestones. Enter this last
mausoleum to be done with the graveyard...
Boss: Dr. Deemo
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Oh, except now you must enter a life-or-death battle with the evil Dr. Deemo
(remember, that snake dude from the beginning?) As if being a red man-snake
isn't enough, he can also defy the laws of gravity. Wait for Deemo to
materialize and then quickly jump and punch him. If he appears too far away
just get some distance and avoid his flying snakes, then try again. It only
takes five hits to kill Deemo and piss off Arcane even more.
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3.4 Chemical Factory
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Enemies: Bouncing orbs, orange robots, steam, sewage drops, gray robots,
ground robots, Weed Killer
Part 1
======
Swamps, villages, graveyards, and now a chemical factory. Get going and avoid
the bouncing orbs, steam from the red pipes, and the flying orange robots. This
is all the same stuff you've seen in the last three levels. When you get to the
sewage drops give them a second to disappear or the small drops on the ground
may also hurt you.
Eventually you'll get to a pit. You can get across by jumping on the hooks and
quickly jumping onto the circular grates before the hooks collapse. Continue
along avoiding all bad guys jumping over the land mines, and be careful around
those gray robots because they fire low and high laser beams. Cross the next
few pits by using the grates and as always wait for any falling sewage drops
to pass before jumping.
Hold Up to ride up the platform on the far right and keep going up until you
see two sewage drops on the right. Jump between them to grab a 1UP and then
return to the left. Cross the next pits by jumping from the very edge of the
platforms and holding A to speed up. Hey, there had to be a jump-heavy level,
right? Keep going and hop up the gray pipe with that circular grate to get
over it, and look out for the sections of gray pipe that collapse. They have
dark round spots behind them.
After more jumping to the left you'll reach another elevator to the top. Ride
up and jump to the right some more to reach a dark door to the next area.
Part 2
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It's more of the same thing except there will now be some machines that spout
sewage and lots more jumpin'. CAREFULLY hop along to the right and ride up
the first long elevator, then head left. Eventually you'll see some circular
grates leading down. Follow them and collect all of the items along the way.
Continue to the left until you reach the next dark door.
Part 3
======
Head left and go up the first elevator, then right and up the next elevator.
Head to the far right and collect the 1UP between the sewage drops and return
to the elevator you passed on the way there. Go right on this next floor and
ride up one more elevator to find a flower. Press Up to enter it and recharge
your life points.
Go down two floors (the second floor from the bottom) and head left to find
another elevator. Ride up and keep going left-up until you get as far as you
can. Go right from there and keep riding up elevators until you get to an
elevator with some circular grates next to it. Ride up the elevator first
and go left to find some batteries and life points, then return to the circular
grates and follow them to the top. Enter that dark door to finally get out of
the main area and face the boss.
Boss: Weed Killer
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Now it's just you and the Weed Killer. Watch out for his (very slow) orange
blasts and jump on the grates to reach him. The best spot to wait is the
second from the top grate where you can duck to avoid the high blasts and jump
over the blasts at an angle. Punch him 5 times to defeat Weed Killer and escape
the chemical factory.
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3.5 Dark Forest
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Enemies: Flying monsters, traps, ground robots, bouncing robots, turret guns
This level is (thankfully) free of large and annoying jumps. Grab the beaker on
the left then head to the right and punch all flying monsters that appear, or
duck if possible. Jump over the small blue robots and traps as well.
Stop when you see the thick, gnarled tree stop in front of it and press Up.
This will transport you inside it allowing you to move up and down and shake
the tree. Press A to shake that tree and get a free 1UP, then move on.
The next tree with vines will be free of leaves along the top. Get inside and
move up to find a bunch of items, including a flower. Get the sludge balls on
the left and then fall to the right to land on those vines. Get in the flower
if you need some life points and then continue to the right.
Grab the batteries on the way down and go along until you find the next thick
tree. Enter inside and shake it to make an apple fall. Now, this next thing
is probably the coolest move in the game. Press Up in front of the apple to
enter inside it and roll into the gray pipe on the right. Inside you'll find
sludge balls, beakers, and another 1UP. Grab it all and jump over the blue
robots to get to the end and return to the surface.
Destroy that turret gun at the end by punching it quickly and walk past it to
end the level.
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3.6 Junkyard
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Enemies: Red robots, bouncing robots, ground robots, flying turret gun
Sure the forest was dark, but it was nicer than this depressing place. Walk to
the right and run past the pistons by crossing immediately after they slow
down. Some small red robots will also appear, but all you have to do is jump
as it passes by.
Continue along and avoid the car sparks and bouncing robots. Further ahead
you'll see some red rocks hanging from metal scaffolding. Get close and allow
the rocks to fall, then jump over them. They'll still hurt you if you touch
them. Keep going and jumping over obstacles as they appear.
Fight the flying turret gun to move on to the next level.
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3.7 Toxic Dump
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Enemies: Bouncing robots, radioactive spiders, giant hornets, flying
monsters, turret guns, Skin Man
Another simple head-to-the-right level. Jump over all glowing toxic puddles
and approach them carefully to watch for bouncing robots or spiders. Enter the
red apple when you get to it and roll under the turret lasers and giant
hornets.
Duck under the bouncing spiders and continue hopping from one barrel of waste
to the next. Enter the flower when you see it to refill your life points and
get to the end to find yet another turret gun. Defeat it to enter the boss'
domain.
Boss: Skin Man
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This time your enemy is the evil Skin Man. His wings will keep high in the air
the entire time, so how to reach him? Easy, just enter the thick trees and
shake them to drop sludge balls. Switch trees by pressing left and right and
time it so you drop a sludge ball just as the dude flys by. After 5 hits Skin
Man will cease to exist and Arcane will have one less annoyance to throw at
you.
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3.8 Arcane's Lab
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Enemies: Lasers, robot monsters, falling bricks, flying robots, flames,
monster hands, Dr. Arcane
Bah, not more jumps! Go to the right and immediately start jumping onto the
blue platforms that lead up. Avoid all lasers, robot monsters, and puddles
along the way.
When you get to those gargoyle statues wait for the flames to go down before
jumping onto them, then quickly jump up and get off them. Use the red platforms
top get as high as possible and then jump on the bar window sills to head to
the right. When you reach empty air use the white lamps to continue. You can
find the white lamps by following the long blue poles to which they're
connected. Jump off the last one to find a 1UP in the middle of the air.
Walk along the ground and jump over the robot monsters and pits. Start jumping
up when you reach the next set of platforms and keep it up until you hit the
top, then head to the right. Jump from platform to platform until you see
another red set of platforms, then climb up those. At this point you should
NOT fall down. Keep hopping along until you see the light poles. Jump on the
light poles and jump as far to the right as possible to grab another 1UP.
Fall to the right to reach the doorway to Arcane's inner sanctum.
Boss: Dr. Arcane
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Now then, to begin that orb in the air will not hurt you but its laser bolts
will. Stay on the middle statue to avoid it. Next are the flames that emerge
from the tops of the statues. Once again I'd have to recommend you stay on
the middle statue, either on top or on the bottom. Jump when you see the
flames flicker to get over them.
Arcane has now transformed into a blue shaman of some sort, and along with
the new look comes the power of teleportation. Remain on the middle platform
and if Arcane appears near you jump and punch him. Remember, only if he gets
close enough. Keep carefully punching him and avoiding the obstacles until
Arcane flys off in defeat.
Congratulations!!! You have defeated Arcane and saved the world from his evil.
You can return to the swamps that are now your home, because you are...
...the Swamp Thing.
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===== 4.0 CODES & SECRETS =====================================================
Game Genie codes
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Infinite Health SZNVZVVK
Infinite Lives SZNTIKVK
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===== 5.0 LEGAL / MISC. =======================================================
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5.1 Version History
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April 05: Version 0.9
- - - - - - - - - - -
Guide completed and submitted.
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5.2 Guide Credits
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Thanks to...
1. DC Comics, T*HQ, and Imagineering Inc. for creating the game.
2. Wilson Lau gets mad props for his kick ass 'Bart vs. the Space Mutants'
guide. It is what inspired me to write guides for video games.
3. Macbee gets special thanks for his 'Return of the Space Mutants' game,
which is based on Swamp Thing for NES. It's the only reason I played Swamp
Thing in the first place.
4.
http://www.gscentral.com/ for the Game Genie codes.
5. Thank YOU for reading. After all, I didn't write this for my own health...
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5.3 Contact Information
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The address is:
[email protected]
The issue of too many e-mails isn't a problem, so I'll most likely respond to
any questions (for now). But, I do delete e-mails without a subject. Put
'Swamp Thing FAQ' or something similar in the subject line.
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5.4 Legal Stuff
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1. Swamp Thing and all related elements are the property of DC Comics Inc.
TM and © 1992. Swamp Thing for NES © 1992 T*HQ, Inc.
2. This guide copyright © 2005 SubSane. This guide may be distributed freely as
long as it remains in it's ORIGINAL and UNALTERED form. It is only for private
use and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.
If I discover that this guide has been altered in any way and is being
displayed publicly, I reserve the right to have the guide removed from that
location.
