Heiankyou Alien FAQ

Copyright Meldac/Live Planning 1989
Written By Brian P. Sulpher
E-mail: [email protected]
Version Final
Dates Written: December 18th to December 19th, 2002

I dedicate this to my brother Michael.  Without him being a cheap jerk and
buying this for me, I never would have even heard of this game.  I hope you
know I am goofing bro and I appreciate this game greatly!

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.

-----------
Version 1.0
-----------

-Submitted guide on December 19th, 2002

-----------
Version 1.5
-----------

-Submitted guide on March 27th, 2003
-Added information on the Bowl Boat
-Reformatted FAQ
-Spelling corrections

-----------
Version 1.6
-----------

-Submitted guide on September 24th, 2003
-Altered the format
-Added/altered some of the FAQ

-----------
Version 2.0
-----------

-Submitted guide on March 9th, 2004
-Altered format slightly

-----------
Version 2.1
-----------

-Submitted guide on February 9th, 2005
-I added in Honestgamers as a site allowed to use my FAQs

-----------
Version 2.2
-----------

-Submitted guide on January 4th, 2010
-Added in some info on the old game (thanks to Kristina Potts for the
painstaking research on this game mode)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------Table Of Contents-------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Introduction
2) Story
3) Controls
4) Enemies
5) Objects
6) Points
7) Game Differences
8) New Game
9) Old Game
10)Two Players
11)Strategies
12)Final Word

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------Introduction----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) You are the onyl one who can stop an Alien invasion!  You will have to
  fight your way through 12 stages of Alien fighting, and you are the one
  that will save or doom your fellow countrymen and countrywomen.  Gather
  your courage to go out and face the bloodthorsty invaders from beyond the
  stars!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------Story--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) The following is directly quoted from the instruction booklet, and it is
  in no way a direct work of Brian P. Sulpher (the previous paragraph gives
  my take on the game).

The time is 1,000 years ago, way back in the Heian Age.  The peaceful city
of Kyo is suddenly invaded by Aliens.  A Kebiishi (knight of the past) is
entrusted to defend the city.  He decides to confront the terrible Aliens in
a bold plan to bury the dreaded beasts alive.

People are being horribly devoured bite by bite by the Aliens as they
ravages down Miyako Ooji (The city's main street).  Without even a hinawaju
(type of firearm) to shoot the Aliens, the Keibiishi has no choice but to
try and bury the Aliens alive.  He sets himself to the task, digging a hole
on the road where the Aliens are headed.

Then he hides and waits.  Should any Alien fall into a hole, he must quickly
bury it before it can climb back out.  In this game, you are to play the
role of the Kebiishi trying to defend the city.

  You now know that you fight not only for your own survival, but also for
  the people of your city of Kyo.  Take your shovel, and go do battle with
  the people-eating Aliens!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------Controls------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) This section will take a look at the controls for the game.


D-Pad   : The game has an overhead view, so you are looking down on the
         action.  What this means is that UP will move your character up,
         RIGHT will move your character right, DOWN will move your
         character down, and LEFT will move your character left.

SELECT  : Switched cursor on start-up screen between OLD and NEW game.

START   : Confirms choice between OLD and NEW game on start-up screen.  This
         will also pause-unpause the game during play.

B Button: Holding this button down will cause your character (the kebiishi)
         to fill in a dug hole.

A Button: Holding this button down will cause your character (the kebiishi)
         to dig a hole on the road.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------Enemies------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) This section will list the types of Aliens you will face, what they look
  look like, and what their behaviour patterns are.


                          o----------------o
                          | Regular Aliens |
                          o----------------o

Appearance: Two legs, large head, big mouth, and two Antennae.

Behaviours: These dummies will run around the same area frequently, even
           when they could change direction to grab you for a snack.  They
           are only dangerous once they are the last enemy remaining in the
           level.


                           o--------------o
                           | Super Aliens |
                           o--------------o

Appearance: Four legs, wide stance, large head, big mouth, and no head
           adornments.

Behaviours: These guys will be much more agressive in their efforts to get
           you.  They will often travel in groups of two, and they will
           use this method to break the other out of holes.  They will also
           stop short of holes if they see them ahead of time.  Definately
           the more dangerous of the two Aliens, they will cause you great
           distress on your mission to save your fellow countrypeople of
           the city of Kyo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------Objects------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) This section will list a few objects that appear along the path to
  destroying the Aliens.


                             o----------o
                             | Lanterns |
                             o----------o

Known as "Karakuri Tourou", these are placed on the roads, where they turn
on and off at regular intervals in the NEW GAME.  If the lamp is off, both
the kenbiishi and the Aliens can pass over.  However, only the kebiishi can
stand on the lamps when they are on (he has to step on when the lamp is off
though).


                            o------------o
                            | Iron Plate |
                            o------------o

Known as "Kurogane No Ita", these are found along the roads in the NEW GAME.
They are often placed at points that make it more difficult for your
character, as these Iron Plates will not be dug up regardless of how much
you try.


                             o-----------o
                             | Bowl Boat |
                             o-----------o

Known as "Owan No Fune", These appear in Rounds seven, eight, and nine of
the NEW GAME.  These boats move back and forth between the two docking areas
in the level at regular intervals.  You must get on/get off the bowl boat at
the docking areas.  They are safe though as Aliens can not board them to get
you.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------Points------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) This section will look at how your points are totaled.


Digging A Hole.........: 0 points.

Filling A Hole.........: 0 points.

Killing A Regular Alien: 800 to 1800 points.

Killing A Super Alien..: 1000 to 2500 points.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------Game Differences------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) This section will look at the main differences between the two game
  types.


                               o--------o
                               | Aliens |
                               o--------o

Regular Aliens: OLD and NEW.
Super Aliens  : NEW only.


                            o--------------o
                            | Hole Digging |
                            o--------------o

OLD: five stages.
NEW: three stages.


                            o--------------o
                            | Hole Filling |
                            o--------------o

OLD: five stages.
NEW: three stages.


                                o-------o
                                | Speed |
                                o-------o

Aliens  : faster on OLD game, slower on NEW game.
Kebiishi: slower on OLD game, faster on NEW game.


                              o------------o
                              | Level Size |
                              o------------o

OLD: Larger.
NEW: Smaller.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------New Game----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8) This section will look at the New Game level designs, and the enemy
  totals for each level.


-You get an extra man for every multiple of 30,000 points reached.

-Aliens move the same speed as you.

-quicker digging/burying of holes.

-Also remember that you have an easier time if you cut off chunks of the
level.


                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~ LEVEL ONE TO LEVEL THREE ~~~~
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----------------+
Key              |
                |
II \Iron         |
II /Plate        |
                |
BR \Barriers     |
BR /             |
                |
LA \Lanterns     |
LA /             |
                |
BB \Bowl         |
BB /Boat         |
                |
WT \Water        |
WT /             |
                |
-----------------+

    +--------------------+
    |IIBR    LA          |
    |IIBR    LA          |
    |  BR    BR  BRBR  BR|
    |  BR    BR  BRBR  BR|
    |                    |
    |                    |
    |BR  LA  BRBRBR  LA  |
    |BR  LA  BRBRBR  LA  |
    |BR        BR        |
    |BR        BR        |
    |      BR        BRBR|
    |      BR        BRBR|
    |  BR  BR  BRBR      |
    |  BR  BR  BRBR      |
    |          BR        |
    |          BR        |
    |    BRBR          II|
    |    BRBR          II|
    +--------------------+

=================
=== Level One ===
=================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 0

=================
=== Level Two ===
=================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 1

===================
=== Level Three ===
===================

Regular Aliens: 2
Super Aliens..: 2


                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~ LEVEL FOUR TO LEVEL SIX ~~~~
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----------------+
Key              |
                |
II \Iron         |
II /Plate        |
                |
BR \Barriers     |
BR /             |
                |
LA \Lanterns     |
LA /             |
                |
BB \Bowl         |
BB /Boat         |
                |
WT \Water        |
WT /             |
                |
-----------------+

    +--------------------+
    |II  LA            BR|
    |II  LA            BR|
    |    BR  BR    LA    |
    |    BR  BR    LA    |
    |BR  LA  BRBR  BRBR  |
    |BR  LA  BRBR  BRBR  |
    |    BR    BR  LA    |
    |    BR    BR  LA    |
    |  BRLA        BRBR  |
    |  BRLA        BRBR  |
    |    BR  BR    LA    |
    |    BR  BR    LA    |
    |BR  LA  BRBR  BR  BR|
    |BR  LA  BRBR  BR  BR|
    |BR  BR    BR  LA    |
    |BR  BR    BR  LA    |
    |              BRBRII|
    |              BRBRII|
    +--------------------+

==================
=== Level Four ===
==================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 1

==================
=== Level Five ===
==================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 2

=================
=== Level Six ===
=================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 3


At the halfway point of the game, you are treated to your kebiishi performing
a digging dnace ritual, and then four Regular Aliens show up.  Your character
will put the run on them immediately, and he will once again dive back into
the fray in an attempt to save Kyo's citizens from the crazed man-eating
Aliens!


                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~ LEVEL SEVEN TO LEVEL NINE ~~~~
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----------------+
Key              |
                |
II \Iron         |
II /Plate        |
                |
BR \Barriers     |
BR /             |
                |
LA \Lanterns     |
LA /             |
                |
BB \Bowl         |
BB /Boat         |
                |
WT \Water        |
WT /             |
                |
-----------------+

    +--------------------+
    |IIBRBBWTWTWTWTWTWTBB|
    |IIBRBBWTWTWTWTWTWTBB|
    |IIBRII    BR      II|
    |IIBRII    BR      II|
    |II    BR  BRBR  BRII|
    |II    BR  BRBR  BRII|
    |  BR  BR  BR        |
    |  BR  BR  BR        |
    |        IILAIIBRBRII|
    |        IILAIIBRBRII|
    |BR  BR  BRII        |
    |BR  BR  BRII        |
    |        BR  BR  BRII|
    |        BR  BR  BRII|
    |IIBR  BRBR  BR  BRII|
    |IIBR  BRBR  BR  BRII|
    |II    IILAII      II|
    |II    IILAII      II|
    +--------------------+

===================
=== Level Seven ===
===================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 3

===================
=== Level Eight ===
===================

Regular Aliens: 2
Super Aliens..: 4

==================
=== Level Nine ===
==================

Regular Aliens: 1
Super Aliens..: 5

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~ LEVEL TEN TO LEVEL TWELVE ~~~~
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----------------+
Key              |
                |
II \Iron         |
II /Plate        |
                |
BR \Barriers     |
BR /             |
                |
LA \Lanterns     |
LA /             |
                |
BB \Bowl         |
BB /Boat         |
                |
WT \Water        |
WT /             |
                |
-----------------+

    +--------------------+
    |II              BR  |
    |II              BR  |
    |  BR  BRIIBRBR      |
    |  BR  BRIIBRBR      |
    |      IILAII    BR  |
    |      IILAII    BR  |
    |IIBR  BRIIBRBR    II|
    |IIBR  BRIIBRBR    II|
    |LABR            BRLA|
    |LABR            BRLA|
    |II    BRBRIIBR  BRII|
    |II    BRBRIIBR  BRII|
    |  BR    IILAII      |
    |  BR    IILAII      |
    |      BRBRIIBR  BR  |
    |      BRBRIIBR  BR  |
    |  BR              II|
    |  BR              II|
    +--------------------+

=================
=== Level Ten ===
=================

Regular Aliens: 3
Super Aliens..: 3

====================
=== Level Eleven ===
====================

Regular Aliens: 4
Super Aliens..: 3

====================
=== Level Twelve ===
====================

Regular Aliens: 0
Super Aliens..: 7


After successfully navigating the twelve harrowing levels, the Aliens will
be forced to abandon their attack!  Congratulations on saving the city
kebiishi!  All the people now look like this => ^_^!  However, one Alien was
left behind!  What does this mean...  We may never know as this is THE END!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------Old Game----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

9) This section will give a brief look at the Old Game.


In the Old Game, there a few keys to remember:

 i) You are a smaller character in a larger environment.

ii) You are slower here than in the New Game.

iii) Holes are dug and filled in slower than in a New Game.

iv) The enemies (all Regular Aliens) will be faster than you.

This makes for a much harder challenge, and you will need to be aware of your
opponents locations.  Try to put as many holes as you can in the ground as
fast as you possibly can or you may end up losing all of your lives really
quickly.

You only get one extra life in this game.  It is at 30,000 points.

The Old Game is designed for a more hardcore gamer in mind.  It is also much
better suited for Two Player gaming action, so try a multiple player round
to get the hang of this play mode before you ever seriously attempt to reach
the highest rounds!

Thanks to Kristina Potts, as she did the research that lead to this
paragraph.  The following is true about the OLD Game:

  i) Once stage 10 is reached, the challenge in the game is handed out with
     more speed for the enemies in addition to the extra aliens being in
     play.

 ii) The time in the levels before the swarm arrives starts to become so
     short that you will be unable to kill all of the aliens in time.  This
     means you will need to plan ahead for this rush of foes by digging
     holes for them.

iii) Once stage 20 is reached, the maximum difficulty is achieved, with
     top enemy speed and 8 aliens to deal with!

 iv) Once stage 21 is reached, everything resets to stage 1 levels.  This
     means that the game loops every 20 levels, so if you are a
     completionist, consider this the end of the OLD game.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------Two Players---------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10)This section will look at the options for Two Player modes for both Old
  and New games.


                              o----------o
                              | New Game |
                              o----------o

-Both Players are put into seperate playing fields.
-Each Player will face the same amount of Aliens.
-Every time a Player clears an Alien that was on their screen originally,
they will send that Alien to their oppositions screen as a Super Alien.  If
that Alien is eliminated by the other Player, it will disapear for good.
-The winner is decided by who ever outlive the opposition, or who ever gets
four points ahead of their rival.


                              o----------o
                              | Old Game |
                              o----------o

-Both Players will share a screen.
-Both Players are a team in trying to eliminate the Aliens.
-The best bet for winning is to help one another dig/hury holes because it
can be accomplished much faster in this fashion than the normal one Player
effort.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------Strategies---------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

11)This section will give some tips for the game.  This will be split into
  NEW GAME and OLD GAME sections.


                               o----------o
                               | New Game |
                               o----------o

a) Start the level by cutting off all routes to you, and then expand your
  perimeter.  As you do this, you will make it easier to catch each enemy.
  You do need to follow the next strategy for the higher levels however.

b) If you see two Aliens coming together towards a hole, quickly dig a
  second hole behind the first hole.  This way when the one who fell in is
  busted out by the following Alien, it will walk forward into the next
  hole as the second Alien is walking away.

c) Be ready to run if you are getting overwhelmed by Aliens in a certain
  section of the level.  Take off for the opposite side of the board, and
  just concern yourself with getting away, not with digging holes as you
  go.

d) Sometimes the Super Aliens will walk close to your dug hole, but then
  saunter away.  To bait them into the hole, fill the hole partially, and
  when they charge again, dig it out again just before they would arrive at
  the hole.  This will leave the Super Aliens no time to escape the trap
  you set, so fill it in quickly.

e) Whenever you have an Alien in a hole, and you are starting to fill it in,
  sometimes another Alien will be charging to free it's buddy.  If this
  occurs, you are best to just leave the Alien to get out of the dug hole,
  and concentrate on digging new holes.  The same goes for an Alien that
  has fallen into a trap while you are a fair distance away, you are best
  to leave the Alien to wriggle it's way free.  If you go too late, you
  will end up losing a life.

f) If you are being chased by an Alien, try to find a Lantern or Bowl Boat.
  These things can be used to escape an enemy as it closes in.  The Lantern
  will often flari up as you pass over it, and you can even stand on it
  while it is lit to avoid the enemy!  The Bowl Boat is a safe spot from
  Aliens, and it will zip back and forth along the water to two docking
  spots, which can get you away from the opposition quickly.

g) The Bowl Boat can also be used for a very defensive style of play.  Just
  set your traps near the Bowl Boat docks, and then ride the Bowl Boat as
  needed to finish the level.


                               o----------o
                               | Old Game |
                               o----------o

a) You need to allow yourself some extra time to dig/bury holes.  Aliens are
  faster, and the process of digging/burying holes requires some extra
  time.

b) Two Players will be able to get more holes up quickly, so that is the
  best way to play this mode.  An excellent strategy with Two Players is to
  dig/bury holes as a team when possible as they will get the job done much
  faster than a solo job would do.

c) While in a Two Player game, run towards your partner.  When the two
  touch, they will perform a little dance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------Final Word--------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

12)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 surprisingly fun game (at least the New Game is), and it will give you
  an oddly set game to hook you.  Although a little short, it will still
  require some skill from the player so they can reach the end.  If you see
  it cheap (say Five Dollars), then I say pick it up for a week or two of
  distraction.