Guzzler (SG-1000) (English) Creation Date: 1 July 2018 Version: 1.0 File number: SG-1000-F-004 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table of Contents =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- 1- Introduction 2- Display 3- Basics 3.1- Controls 3.2- Features and points 4- Strategies 5- Mazes 5.1- Maze 1 5.2- Maze 2 5.3- Maze 3 6- Codes and Cheats 7- Frequently Asked Questions 8- Version History 9- Legal Section 10- Credits/Thanks/Other Stuff 11- Donations =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1- Introduction =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Guzzler is my 14th FAQ. This game, originally made for the arcade by Tekhan, was ported over to the SG-1000 in 1983 by Tsukuda. Prior to writing this FAQ, I had no knowledge of this game. I did, however, proceed with a quick search on the internet and learned that this game is not well-regarded in a number of aspects. So I guess that we’ll take a good look at this title and discover just what its limits are. The manual is available online. However, it is in Japanese. Seeing as how my proficiency with that language is next to nil, I’ll simply describe things as I see them. On to the game… Guzzler is a game where your character has the task of putting out fires. Apart from the game title, the intro screen indicates the TOP SCORE, the SCORE of the last game played and an option between Level 1 and Level 2. I am assuming that these are difficulty levels. I chose (hopefully) Level 1 by pressing Button 1. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 2- Display =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The display is divided into two sections. The left-most section displays the action. It includes the following: - Maze: This is the area that Guzzler must travel through in order to gather water and put out the fires. Pretty basic stuff. - Guzzler: See that purplish critter with red eyes? That’s Guzzler – i.e. YOU. When Guzzler is full of water, he is completely purple. His color acts as a gauge as he squirts the water from his body. A full Guzzler contains three squirts of water. When Guzzler is a simple outline, he is empty. - Puddles: Obviously, this is the water that Guzzler must gather. The small puddles restore two squirts and the big ones restore three squirts in Guzzler’s body. Avoid walking over the puddles if Guzzler cannot accommodate the full amount of squirts provided. The excess water will disappear, effectively wasting it. - Fires: These look like huge campfires and need to be extinguished in order to end the level. Complicating the task is the fact that the fires will occasionally generate smaller fireballs that will make their own way through the maze. Coming into contact with a fireball or walking into a fire will result in the loss of a Guzzler. - Center space: The center space of the maze will, at regular intervals, be occupied by various objects that can be picked up for extra points. The right-most section indicates the following information: - TOP SCORE: The top score achieved during the present playing session. The top score is reset when the game is turned off. The default score is set at 10,000 points. - SCORE: The present score of the game in progress. - ROUND: The round being presently played. - BONUS: This is a bonus amount which also seems to act like a timer. The bonus amount starts at 5,000 points and progressively decreases as the seconds tick away. Each second that passes diminishes the bonus by 100 points. - Guzzlers: Each outline represents an extra Guzzler. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3- Basics =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ============================================================================= 3.1- Controls ============================================================================= DIRECTION PAD: The D-Pad is used to direct Guzzler through the maze. Make sure you are facing in the direction of either the fire or fireball before squirting. Overall, the direction controls can be iffy. You need to press the wanted direction a fraction of a second before Guzzler needs to go that way. Buttons 1 and 2: Pressing either button permits Guzzler to emit a squirt of water. Take into consideration the fact that the squirt, which looks like a small blue wave, only travels two squares ahead of Guzzler. So some of those hazards that you don’t want up close will need to be much nearer than you’re prepared for in order to eliminate them. SELECT: Does not appear to have a use. START: Pauses and unpauses the game. Bear in mind that the game will only be paused for a few seconds before it automatically unpauses. Yeah, I don’t understand the programming challenge on that one either. ============================================================================= 3.2- Scoring ============================================================================= There are two ways to score points in the game. The first involves eliminating the fires and fireballs. The second requires picking up the items that appear at the centre space of the maze. Fire: (1,000 pts) The number of fires to be extinguished is predetermined at the beginning of the level. Only one squirt of water is required to put out a fire. Fireball: (200 pts) These originate from the fires that are present in the maze. The more time it takes you to put out the fires, the greater the number of fireballs you’re likely to have to deal with. They have the nasty tendency of jumping out of the fire right as you approach the latter. So be extra careful when near a fire. One squirt of water is required to eliminate a fireball. Center space items: - Wine bottle (1,000 pts) - Martini glass (400 pts) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 4- Strategies =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Maze-based games are fairly straightforward, especially this one. Regardless, here are a couple of hints to keep in mind while playing Guzzler: - Be wary of the fireballs as you approach a fire, since the former have a tendency to show up as you get next to the latter. - If left alone, the fireballs tend to congregate in a particular location within the maze. - Demonstrate some patience. The fireballs seem to have a set pattern that only gets interrupted as you approach them. So keep your distance and they will most likely go about their business. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 5- Mazes =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The game is divided into mazes. There are three different mazes which keep looping. It was quite common for the games of the early 1980s to have only three levels that kept looping. Think Popeye, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., etc. ============================================================================= 5.1- Maze 1 ============================================================================= The outline of this maze appears to be lily pads. There are three fires to put out. Two are located in the top center of the maze and the third is in the bottom center. Your water supply includes three big puddles and three small puddles. So, in essence, you have 18 squirts at your disposal, including what you start with. Start by taking out the bottom fire, then the top right. By this time, there should be at least one fireball wandering about. If you leave it alone, it will probably wander to the lower left of the screen. This gives you a clear shot at the last fire. You may want to pick up the object that appears in the center space. This maze shouldn’t take more than 10 seconds to complete. ============================================================================= 5.2- Maze 2 ============================================================================= The outline of this maze seems to be blue blocks. There are three fires to put out. Two are located at the bottom of the maze and the third is in the top corridor. Your water supply includes three big puddles and three small puddles. So, in essence, you have 18 squirts at your disposal, including what you start with. No matter how you play this one, some water will be wasted. I suggest starting with the bottom fires, thereby minimizing the number of fireballs which will eventually be roaming about. By the time you’ve taken care of the bottom fires, there should be 3 fireballs up top. You should have the opportunity to take out two of them while making your way back through the center and up to the top part of the maze. An item will appear in the center space after you passed that spot. Ignore it, since backtracking simply gives more time for the proliferation of fireballs. Just push ahead to get to that big puddle and eliminate the fireball that is occupying the top-right corner. At this point the two other fireballs should be in the top-left corner. Race them to the last fire. If you’re quick enough, you may need to only squirt one fireball before putting out that final fire. ============================================================================= 5.3- Maze 3 ============================================================================= The outline of this maze is green blocks. There are three fires to put out. They are located on the left side of the maze, which is pretty much wide open. Your water supply includes three big puddles and three small puddles. So, in essence, you have 18 squirts at your disposal, including what you start with. Refill using the small puddles behind the fires before going for the big ones, since any time spent away from the fires gives more time for fireballs to appear. Start by shutting down the fire to your left. Then, since a fireball comes out of the top fire first, divert your attention to the bottom one. Two down in less than five seconds. Carefully move up to the last fire. Let the two fireballs that are there move to the top-right corner. Get to the fire before a new fireball, which should be in the top-left corner, heads back to the right. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 6- Codes and cheats =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= There are no cheats or codes that I know of which are available for this game. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 7- Frequently asked question =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This section will be developed as readers send in some feedback and need more information on specific aspects of the game. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 8- Version history =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Version 0.5 - Started FAQ/Walkthrough on July 1, 2018. Version 1.0 - Completed the FAQ/Walkthrough on July 2, 2018. Submitted to GameFAQs and Neoseeker on July 2, 2018. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 9- Legal section =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This document may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. This document should only appear on GameFAQs and Neoseeker, if you find this FAQ on another website, please inform me about this by e-mail at joselaflamme@gmail.com . This document is Copyright 2018 Jose Laflamme. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 10- Credits/Thanks/Other stuff =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -Thanks to Joni for writing the Alien Syndrome FAQ from which the format for my first FAQ was derived. -Thanks to the game and its producers, Tsukuda, for making the game. -If you think anything is missing in this document then please e-mail about it with the heading "Guzzler FAQ contribution". I'll give you credit, of course. If you don't want your name mentioned then I'll just put "anonymous contributor" in place of your name. -If you're gonna e-mail me any comments (good or bad) or questions about this document then have the heading be "Guzzler FAQ comment". =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 11- Conclusion/Donations =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I do hope that you’ve enjoyed reading and using this FAQ to get you through the game. I did my best to make it as informative and precise as possible, all the while keeping it entertaining. However, I cannot deny that preparing a document of this type is quite a task. Therefore, here is something that I’ve seen in some other FAQs. Below is an email address for people who wish to make a donation to further my efforts in drafting future FAQs. For everyone who used this FAQ, thank-you for trusting my work and don’t be shy about giving me any feedback. Paypal address: joselaflamme@gmail.com THE FUN NEVER, EVER STOPS. ==========================