Pomping World (Japan)

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago:

Pomping World (c) 1989 Mitchell Corp.

One or two players control safari-suited characters armed with harpoon guns, who must destroy the numerous different-sized balloons that litter each stage. When hit by a harpoon, the balloons break down into smaller fragments, in a similar fashion to Atari's 1979 classic, "Asteroids".

Players can only fire the harpoon guns virtually upwards, but can move left and right, as well as climbing the ladders that appear on many of the levels. Each of the game's fifty levels is played against a backdrop of one of seventeen famous world landmarks. All balloons must be destroyed before players can advance to the next screen.

The game's levels each contain a different layout of blocks. While most of these are permanent fixtures, some disappear when shot, while others reveal hidden bonuses. Food item bonuses occasionally appear that can be collected for bonus points.

Player start each stage armed with only a single-shot harpoon, but some balloons, when popped, release special weapons that drop down to the bottom of the screen. Players then have a few seconds to collect the power-up before it disappears. Available power-ups are:
* A twin harpoon that allows two shots at once.
* A grappling hook that will stay attached to the ceiling or block for a short period of time.
* A rapid-fire gun.

Other non-weapon bonuses include:
* A force field.
* An hour-glass that slows the balloons' movement.
* A clock that freezes the balloons for a short time.
* An extra life.
* Dynamite, that will pop all remaining balloons down to their smallest size.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 8 Mhz)
Sound Chips : OKI6295 (@ 7.5 Khz), YM2413 (@ 4 Mhz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Pomping World was released in December 1989 in Japan.

This game was an updated version of a game by Hudson Soft originally released in 1983 in Japan and UK for the Sinclair ZX-Spectrum. The game was called 'Canon Ball' in Japan and Sinclair Research limited released Canon Ball in the UK as 'Bubble Buster', under license from Hudson Soft.

Export releases:
[US] "Buster Bros."
[EU] "Pang"

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

Balloons are popped even when they run into the side of the harpoon and trailing chain. A good strategy for destroying low bouncing balloons is to shoot a harpoon near the balloon and move away from the balloon as you wait for it to run into the trailing chain.

- SERIES -

1. Pomping World (1989)
2. Super Pang (1990)
3. Pang! 3 - Kaitou Tachi no Karei na Gogo (1995)
4. Mighty! Pang (2000)

- STAFF -

Planning : NDA
Programmers : Hospitel Masa, Mamichan Otona
Music compose : Tamayo Kawamoto
Character designers : Hiramattyo, Oyuu
Direction : Yoshiki Okamoto (Kihaji Okamoto)

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] NEC PC-Engine CD-ROM² (may.31, 1991) "Pomping World [Model HCD1019]"