Rod-Land (World, set 1)

Arcade Video game published 34 years ago:

Rod-Land (c) 1990 Jaleco.

Rod-Land is a cute and colourful platform game for one or two players in which two fairy sisters - 'Tam' and 'Rit' - must rescue their kidnapped mother from the 'Maboots Tower' fortress.

The fairies are armed with the 'Rods of Sheesanomo' - two magical rods that enable the fairies to catch enemies in a force-field and slam them into the platforms to kill them - and must clear each level of enemies to move onto the next and eventually reach and infiltrate the Tower.

As well as the magical rods used for attacking enemies, the fairies can also create a magical ladder - in a fashion very similar to that used in Taito's "Rainbow islands" - which can be utilised anywhere on a level and allows players to reach other platforms or escape from pursuing enemies. Each player can utilise only one magically-created ladder at any one time and the creation of a new ladder removes the previously-created one.

A level is only completed when all enemies have been killed. Some defeated enemies drop bonus items, such as fruit, missiles and bombs.

Each of the game's levels features brightly coloured flowers. If players manage to collect all of these, the 'Extra Game' mode begins. During this time-limited mode all of the level's enemies turn red and move much faster. If the enemies are killed in time, they drop an alphabetic letter that can be collected to spell the word 'EXTRA' and earn players an extra life.

- TECHNICAL -

Jaleco Mega System 1-A hardware

Main CPU : Motorola 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Motorola 68000 (@ 7 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2151 (@ 3.5 Mhz), (2x) OKI6295 (@ 30.303 Khz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 2 (Catch, Create magical ladder)

- TRIVIA -

Released in April 1990.

This game is known in Japan as "Rod Land - Haha wo Motomete 30 Kai".

Rod-Land contains a second episode (see 'Tips And Tricks' section) known in Japan as "Rod Land - Tozasareta Sekai". This time, the storyline has an alien pyramid landing in Fairland and in this episode, it is the girls' father that must be rescued. The gameplay is identical to that of the first episode, with only graphical differences separating the two.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Rod-Land - PCCB-00028) on 21/05/1990.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* One feature unique to Rod-Land is that the game's sequel is already included and becomes available upon completion of the first game. While the graphics, enemies and level layouts have been changed, gameplay is identical to the first game.

- How to access 'Part 2 : The Unknown Pyramid', the Second Episode (note : this can also be unlocked via the dip switches settings)...
English version : after inserting a coin, press DOWN three times, then START.
Japanese version : after inserting a coin, press UP three times, then START.

- How to access 'Part 1 : Rescue My Mom', the first episode, when the second is enabled (via dip switches settings)...
English version : after inserting a coin, press UP three times, then START.
Japanese version : after inserting a coin, press DOWN three times, then START.

* The game has 3 endings, depending on the following:
- Enable the default 1st Story (Rescue My Mom) through the Arcade's DIP Switches and beat the 31 levels.
- Enable the 2nd Story (The Unknown Pyramid) through the Arcade's DIP Switches and beat the extra 31 levels.
- Enable the 1st or 2nd Story (depending on which is enabled as the default one) through the secret code and beat the extra level 32.

- STAFF -

Music composed by: Tsukasa Tawada

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
Nintendo Famicom (1992) "Yousei Monogatari Rod Land [Model JF-39]"
Nintendo Game Boy (1993)
Sony PlayStation (2003) "Jaleco Collection Vol. 1 [Model SLPS-03562]": Port of the Famicom version.

* COMPUTERS:
Amstrad CPC (1990)
Commodore C64 (1991)
Commodore Amiga (1991)
Atari ST (1991)