<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> BBBB AAA TTTTT TTTTT L EEEE BBBB U U L L B BB A A T T L E B BB U U L L BBBB AAAAA T T L EEE BBBB U U L L B BB A A T T L E B BB U U L L BBBB A A T T LLLL EEEE BBBB UUU LLLL LLLL <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ** BATTLEBULL ** -- A Forgotten Videogame Classic -- ** Developed by Jorudan, published by SETA 1990 ** ______________________________________ | | | --- CONTENTS --- | | | | Intro..........................[INT] | | | | Story..........................[STR] | | | | Controls.......................[CTR] | | | | Enemies........................[NME] | | | | Power-ups......................[PWR] | | | | Password List..................[PWD] | | | | Level Guide....................[LVL] | | | | Credits........................[CRD] | | | | Useful Links...................[LNK] | | | | Outro..........................[OUT] | | | |______________________________________| _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Intro : Welcome to Adventure! [INT] | |_____________________________________________________________________| BattleBull is "Old-Skool". An obscure game released in Japan in 1990 and North America in 1991, by a group of Japanese developers called Jorudan who never quite made it big but produced work of consistent quality, including the science fictional classic Xardion for the SNES in 1992. The game was published by SETA (an acronym that stands for Super Entertainment and Total Amusement). SETA closed in 2009 but also made Project Sylpheed for the XBOX 360, which was also set in the 27th Century. Could there be a link between the two games? BattleBull has the qualities most associated with games for the original Gameboy; simplicity and addictiveness. It didn't exactly set the world alight when it was originally released (I remember my parents picking it up for me from the bargain bin in Makro) but it's one of the few Gameboy titles that I'm still playing. This guide is an attempt to collect everything I've found out about this game. Gameplay revolves around crushing killer robots by pushing blocks into them with your 'BattleBull'; a special bulldozer designed for combat. Each level consists of a floor in a mining complex where you must destroy a set number of insane robots within a time limit. If the time runs out then sealing crews appear, and begin to fill the screen with ordinary grey blocks, destroying anything they run into, be it the robots or even you. The evil robots will try to crush your BattleBull by pushing blocks into you or by colliding with you, even destroying themselves in the process. Later in the game you may purchase the 'Jump' which enables you to avoid collision by launching yourself up into the air. Alternatively there are a series of weapons which launch explosives that destroy your opponents. While the latter are nessecary to finish the game, they cheapen the experience somewhat; later levels can be completed solely by shooting your enemies. Completing the game without them is the ultimate challenge! _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Story : In the Future... [STR] | |_____________________________________________________________________| Taken from the BattleBull Manual: 'Disaster has struck the deep space mining operation on Perseus VI. Remote control mining robots in the Mondo Oro 8 mine have been infected with a computer virus that has caused them to go beserk, attacking anything that enters the mine. The Company has enlisted you services to clear up this messy little problem. What's in it for you? Well the "Bugs", as they are called, not only mine the ore but also process it in their "bodies". Bash a bug, bag the bullion. That's right, you get to keep all the gold inside the bug when you crush it. No problem, right? Not so fast, Bud. You see, there are 48 levels to this mine and every level is littered with ore blocks. Also the bugs have destroyed all the elevators and you'll have to watch out for the open shafts. The elevator repair crews won't enter a level until you have cleared it so you will have to clear all the bugs before they can lower you down to the next level. Some of the bugs have buried themselves beneath the floor and will come out of hiding when they need reinforcements. After you clear a stage you can return to the surface and shop for equipment to mount on the Battle Bull, your specially modified combat dozer. You have a set amount of time to clear each stage before The Company sends in the Reclamation Units to seal of the level.' _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Controls : Back in the Day [CTR] | |_____________________________________________________________________| Modern control schemes are complicated, BattleBull comes from an era where analog sticks were a dream and shoulder-buttons were still a novelty, and so the control scheme is simple: D - Pad = Move your BattleBull up, down, left or right A - Button = Push Blocks away from you B - Button = Activate Secondary Item, either the 'Jump' or 'Weapon' Notes: * The D - Pad is also used on menu screens to move between options. * If a block cannot be pushed (i.e. it is against a wall or another block) then pressing A will crush it and cause it to disappear. * Initially no secondary items will be installed on your BattleBull, you may purchase them from the Shop between levels.. _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Enemies : Here Come the Drums [NME] | |_____________________________________________________________________| As stated in the story section, enemies can be divided into three groups; those who try to crush you, those who try to collide with you, and those who try to shoot you. There are 11 different types of robot in total. In my experience, the Colliders are the more dangerous, although the Crushers can be quite ruthless as they slam blocks into your BattleBull and send it helplessly careening across the screen. The Shooters are easy enough to destroy, as long as you avoid attacking them head on! Anyway, onto the enemies: -- CRUSHERS -- These Bots are mainly the one type, and you'll know it when you see a small vehicle with two large shovels at the front and prominent wheels at the back. They keep there distance and try to push blocks into you. You'll notice that they move in such a way that they are almost always touching a block. Attack quickly and target them from the side before they have a chance to push blocks into you! -- COLLIDERS -- There are four types of colliders: Mentalists, Bugs, Screamers, and Cybots. They all have the same strategy; they will try to kill you by colliding with you. Mentalists are to be feared most, these are black blobs that zip around in reasonably predictable patterns, occasionally crushing blocks if they are between you and them. Don't try and outrun them, plan your attack, be patient, wait for them to pass and then crush them! Bugs look like, well bugs, they walk in straight lines, and when they reach a wall they will stop, turn, wait and then walk again. They will crush and push any blocks that are between them and you. These enemies are fairly slow and very easy to predict. Be careful though, when you're in front of them they can easily surprise you. Screamers are similar to Mentalists, they are lighter in colour and have two pointed spikes at the front. Ordinarily Screamers will travel slowly but when you are in front or behind of them, they will speed up and try to either rush into you, or run away from you. Attack them from the side! Cybots move in a what appears to be a totally random zig-zag pattern, and yet they always seem to come closer to you. They look like a ball with two prominent arms, and do not push or crush blocks, but they can be tricky to crush, so timing is key. -- SHOOTERS -- The third type of enemy, and the one which neither Crushers or Collides. For some reason military grade Tank-Bots are in these mines, how mysterious... They move fairly slowly, in highly predictable patterns, but they fire a continious stream of grenades! Be wary when pushing blocks into the front of these Bots, often they will open fire, destroy the block and then come after you. It is best to attack from the side and avoid head-on clashes. -- SEALERS -- Although not strictly an enemy, Sealing Crews are quite capable of destroying your BattleBull. When the timer reaches zero, the music will change, and a sealing vehicle will blast from one side of the screen to the other in a straight line, while laying down blocks behind it. Anything caught under those blocks will be crushed, including you! These machines are sent in by the company and piloted by humans, but they don't show you any mercy. Return the favour; Sealers can be stopped by shooting them. -- BONUS TYPE! -- About halfway through the game the designs of the Colliders will change, they still behave in the exact same way though, so don't be intimidated! _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Power-ups : By the Power Vested in me... [PWR] | |_____________________________________________________________________| There are 5 different sets of upgrades for your fearsome BattleBull, and each of these has 3 distinct levels, as explained hereafter. Each robot that you crush will increase your savings of gold by roughly $600 to $800. As the number of robots you must destroy to progress increases as the game goes on you can make a decent amount of money in in later levels. Money which can only be spent on upgrades! ENGINES: Whilst your actual engine cannot be changed, it is possible to add on a turbocharger to spice things up a bit, the 3 levels are: * TURBO - Cost: $500 This is only a slight improvement over the original engine. However, it is almost certainly the best initial purchase. * TWIN TURBO - Cost: $15000 Now you're playing with power! This is an absolute necessity to complete the final levels; I never leave the house without mine attached. * JET TURBO - Cost: $40000 It may be eye-wateringly expensive but this is a ferocious piece of kit. After equipping this you will be able to outrun even the fastest missile. Be warned though; its speed is so extreme that it can be difficult to control your vehicle. To be used only with caution! SHOVEL: Unlike with the engine upgrades, an entirely new shovel will be attached to the front of your machine. Each upgrade offers sharper blades made of superior alloys. Upgrading your shovel reduces the recovery time after pushing or crushing a block. * SIMPLE - Cost: $3000 A low price but not much of an upgrade. * SHARP - Cost: $10000 It's worth ignoring the simple shovel and buying this; instead it offers a significant advantage and it's considerably cheaper than the final upgrade. * STRONG - Cost: $25000 The ultimate form of block destruction technology! There is no pause after pushing or destroying a block. Consequentially, if you hold down the A-button you can disintegrate whole rows of blocks instantly. A must have. JUMP: The jump is very much an optional upgrade; skilled players probably won't need to use it at all. It may be worth buying the first jump but after that you're best saving your money for the weapons. * SHORT JUMP - Cost: $500 Cheap and cheerful, this springy thingy will allow you to leap up into the air, very briefly. This is a worthy purchase that will confound rushers by providing an emergency evasion. * HIGH JUMP - Cost: $8000 More Springs mean More Bounce! This will allow you to jump 5 body lengths but it's not really worth it. * SUPER JUMP - Cost $20000 Reach for the stars, or maybe the ceiling. The final option will let you jump 7 body lengths but for this sort of money you should consider looking at the weapon upgrades WEAPON: I have mixed feelings about the weapon upgrades, on the one hand they make the game much easier and it would be almost impossible to complete the last levels without them, but their inclusion removes the tactical element of the game; after buying the final weapon it is no longer necessary for you to push blocks at all, so the final stages become a shoot-out. If you're going to go for these upgrades then you are advised to focus on saving for the final upgrade; by the time you reach the final levels the price difference is not significant. * VULCAN - Cost: $30000 It may be expensive and you'll have to sacrifice your Jump to equip it, but the Vulcan puts pure explosive power at your fingertips. Its capabilities are somewhat limited though; only enemies will be destroyed. * GRENADE - Cost: $40000 A substantial improvement over the Vulcan, it has both a faster reload rate and the ability to destroy blocks, albeit one at a time. * MISSILE - Cost: $50000 The Game Changer. Each missile will destroy everything in its path, that means multiple bugs and blocks. You need never shovel again and may annihilate your opponents at will. 1-UP: The final section of the shop is perhaps the most interesting. Your BattleBull has been equipped with Von Lessinger Equipment. This sophisticated technology allows you to travel through time. If the system detects a dangerous drop in your life-signs (such as may occur after the destruction of your BattleBull) then it will transport you through time and space to the last safe place you had reached, which is most likely to be the shop. Unfortunately time-travel requires a great deal of energy and so your BattleBull is only equipped with two Von Lessinger units at any time. Further units (or 1-UPs) may be purchased from the shop. _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Password List : Do you know the Secret Code? [PWD] | |_____________________________________________________________________| As discussed in the previous section, your BattleBull is equipped with Von Lessinger equipment, by entering various time-coordinates into the equipment you may transport yourself into the future. To see your current coordinates press the Select button while on the Shop screen, or the Start Button while playing. To access the different levels of the mine, just enter these coordinates on the password screen, which features the mysterious, yet beautiful Password-Lady, who is she? Where does she come from? Is she an ally or an enemy? It's impossible to tell at this stage, but as you type in the password and begin the game, these are the questions that are running through your mind. Lv 1 : LGBC Lv 19: XQM7 Lv 37: G4M* Lv 2 : LLBC Lv 20: XVM7 Lv 38: G8M* Lv 3 : LQBM Lv 21: XOM* Lv 39: RBM* Lv 4 : LVBM Lv 22: X4M* Lv 40: RGM* Lv 5 : LOGM Lv 23: X8M* Lv 41: RLM* Lv 6 : L4BM Lv 24: 7BM* Lv 42: RQM* Lv 7 : 48BP Lv 25: 7GM* Lv 43: RVM* Lv 8 : CBBP Lv 26: 7LM* Lv 44: ROM* Lv 9 : CGB7 Lv 27: 7QM* Lv 45: R4M* Lv 10: CLB7 Lv 28: 7OM* Lv 46: R8M* Lv 11: CQB7 Lv 29: 74M* Lv 47: 2BM* Lv 12: CVB7 Lv 30: 78M* Lv 48: N/A Lv 13: COB7 Lv 31: GBM* Lv 14: C4B7 Lv 32: GGM* Lv 15: M8M7 Lv 33: GLM* Lv 16: XBM7 Lv 34: GQM* Lv 17: XGM7 Lv 35: GVM* Lv 18: XLM7 Lv 36: GOM* Notes: * The password system appears to be quite simple; the first two letters code for the level, while the last two code the combination of power-ups you have purchased. * Your score and the amount of gold you have is not saved. Upon loading the password the score is set to zero and the gold to 500. * When loading with a password none of your power-ups will be installed. Remember to enter the relevant shop screen and attach them before starting the level! _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Level Guide : It's Adventure Time! [LVL] | |_____________________________________________________________________| A guide to each level of the mining complex that you must successfully navigate is provided in this section. I've also included some tips on when to purchase specific upgrades but this is based on you playing through in one go; as mentioned earlier, ending the game and restarting using a password will wipe out your savings, so to get the best upgrades you need to play a decent number of levels in a single sitting. The first 15 levels are, in some ways the most varied and interesting. Levels 16 - 30 are largely filler, while the final 18 levels are more of a challenge. == LEVEL 1 == Target: 5 You begin your mission with $500. I recommend that you purchase the 'Turbo' engine upgrade from the shop before beginning the level by selecting the 'Game Start' option. For the first time you hear the thrilling blare of the trumpets that will herald the start of your battles throughout this adventure. For the first time you find yourself locked in combat with the insane army of lunatic robots that inhabit the space mines of Perseus VI. For the first time, the true scale of the challenge you face becomes apparent. Well actually, the first level is quite easy, as tradition dictates. First, go left, then move down three blocks, and then go right. Push the grey block out of the way and then prepare to push the block above you upwards. If you time it right you can crush two robots at once. Next, move left and then up. Use the block between the two pillars to crush the Cybot on your right. Use the block on your left the destroy the enemy that will appear. If you time it well you can crush two at once again. And with that you've cleared the first level! Huzzah! == LEVEL 2 == Target: 5 I would suggest saving the money you earned in the previous level. Although you could buy the Simple shovel now, if you save your money you will have enough for the Sharp one after the next two levels. When you begin you will see a new type of block. The lighter grey blocks with arrows (or 'arrow-blocks' as I like to call them) only move in the direction that the arrow points. Pushing them from any other direction will automatically crush them. Destroy the bug in the top left corner first with the arrow-block that points up. Remember that timing is key! Next, go right, pushing away the blocks in your path. Keep going all the way to right of the level and you will find a Collider trapped in a small area. Use the arrow-block to crush it. Bear in mind that this is a Screamer so it will move faster when you are in line with it. Consider your approach carefully. Go left and crush the tank that appears. This will cause a Collider will to appear. Go back to the right and move the grey blocks so that you can push one of them into the Collider as it moves past you. Next, a Cybot will appear. Ignore it; there are easier targets. Instead go down to the bottom right of the level where another tank is trapped. Alternatively on the bottom left hand side of the level, there is a bug with lots of grey blocks around it. I destroyed the bug but the choice is yours; crush either to clear the level. == LEVEL 3 == Target: 5 Immediately go left and up, and position yourself between the grey blocks and the Cybot. Depending on where it travels, either push the block above you or to your right to crush it. A Collider will appear on your left. Destroy it using the grey blocks around you as well. Next go right. There will be 5 grey blocks arranged in a cross. Use them to destroy the bug that comes from the right. Two Colliders will appear. You can destroy these two with the grey blocks next to you without having to move far. I only managed to get one but that was still enough to clear the level. == LEVEL 4 == Target: 6 I recommend that you buy the sharp shovel before this level. You'll notice the difference. Crikey! You start with two robots trapped in the same area as you. Quickly go right and escape by pushing the second grey block from the top. Pushing the first will probably allow the Cybot enough time to collide with you. Turn back around and use the remaining grey block to destroy the Cybot. Return to the area where you started and destroy the remaining bug. Your next objective is to destroy the Collider that comes towards you. Try going down and making your way to the left (in other words improvise!). Go to the left-hand side of the level, a Collider will appear in a spot that's easy to crush, surrounded by lots of grey blocks. Attack it from the side. If you are in front of it then it will rush towards you and destroy your BattleBull. Two tanks will appear, in different areas, on the left and right side of the level. Take out the one on the left first, then enter the area it was in and destroy the one on the right. == LEVEL 5 == Target: 7 This is tricky level. There are lots of bugs around. Remember to stay away from their front and attack them from the side. Also, watch out for the mine shafts that open and close around you. It's best to treat them as a solid block and stay away from them entirely. To start, go directly down, destroying all the blocks in your path. You'll find two bugs on either side of you. Attack the one on your right (not the one trapped by the arrow-block). It's safest to push some blocks out of the way so you can attack it from the side. Another bug will appear in the area below it. You can easily get that one too. By now the bug on your left will have pushed some blocks around and brutally murdered one of its fellows, (see how crazy these strange future machines are?) ignore it, go right, and then up. At this point lots of other bugs will start appearing so things can get very unpredictable. Think on your feet and stay alive. I crushed two bugs fairly quickly. After a while a Collider will appear on the left side of the level. It's easy to crush if you get to it quickly but it can sneak up behind you if you're not careful. A Cybot will appear in the bottom left corner of the level. Destroying these enemies should be enough to allow you to complete the level. == LEVEL 6 == Target: 9 Demolish the middle of the three grey blocks on your left and then take out the Cybot. Make sure you time it carefully so it doesn't push a block into you. A tank will move in on you from the right, you can destroy this one easily too. Move into the area where the tank was. Two more robots will be moving around below you. Wait by one of the grey blocks and then destroy either one when they move past. I destroyed the Collider. Move down and use the arrow-blocks to destroy the Crusher or the Tank that will appear. If you time well you may get both with one push. A Collider and a Crusher will appear above you. Move down to avoid them and stay safe. Go right and you'll find another Collider trapped in a small area. Wreck it. Then go up and left around the edge of the level until you find yourself back where you started. It's easy to push a grey block into the Crusher that appeared earlier from this place. A Cybot is trapped in the bottom-left corner of the level. Carefully time you approach and destroy it. A tank will appear on your left. Go back up and push a grey block into it. == LEVEL 7 == Target: 11 At this point I had enough money to buy the Twin-turbo. This upgrade is good enough to get you through the rest of the game. I recommend that you get it. The next upgrade to aim for is the missle; it costs $50000, so you're going to have to save your loot for a while! This is a very unpredicatable level that is difficult to complete in the time limit. You start in a square made of arrow blocks and pillars with a Cybot next to you. Go straight down and push the arrow block ahead of you to immediately destroy one Collider. Enter the square to your right. A bug will stop next to one of the arrow blocks and wait for you to crush it. Do so and a Collider will then appear next to you (scary!), travel up, and then return so that you can crush it with the remaining arrow-block. Go down and then travel left. After moving a few blocks you should have an opprtunity to crush either a Shoveller or a bug. I crushed the bug and then went up. Another Collider appeared and after going left around the edge of the level I had a chance to crush the Shoveller from earlier using a grey block. Go down again and you should be able to crush another Collider using an arrow-block. In the bottom-left of the level a Shoveller is trapped with lots of convenient blocks around for you to destroy it with. A bug will appear from above you and provide you with another easy kill. Watch out for the Collider that comes from your left. You should be able to destroy it using one of the arrow-blocks near you. At this point the Sealers entered my level. The lack of decent opportunities made it hard to destroy enough robots in time. To survive the sealers remember to stay in open space. They head directly for you in a straight line but now that you have the twin turbo you can easily avoid them. Listen for the distinctive wheezing sound they make and dodge their attacks. You can use the trail of grey blocks they leave behind to destroy the last few robots you need. == LEVEL 8 == Target: 11 Destroy the Cybot on your left first. Then move to your right and destroy the tank, carefully avoiding travelling over the mine shaft when it's closed. Alternatively you can try pushing a block into the tank head-on but be prepared to move away quickly if it just blasts it out of the way. Another tank will appear below you. Destroy it and then go down so that you can destroy the Shoveller on the left. Followed by the Collider which will be on your right. Another Shoveller will appear beside you. Take evasive action by positioning yourself with a block between you and your enemy, then destroy the demented robot. Next, you can destroy the tank on your right. You should now see a Collider above you. Move up and annihiate it; you will need to push a few blocks around to line things up in your favour. Another Collider is trapped in a tight space towards the top right of the level. You can destroy it easily and then make your way down to the tank that is trapped in the bottom right of the level. Another tank is trapped on the bottom edge of the level. While destroying them you may have a chance to crush the Collider that should be circulating around the centre of the level. == LEVEL 9 == Target: 11 This is one of the most unusual and memorable levels of the game; it consists entirely of arrow-blocks in a checkered pattern. Most of the enemies on this level are bugs. This level is very unpredicatable, so I'm not going to try to give you a step by step account, instead I'll offer some tips; be careful not to place yourself in front of any bugs as they will push arrow-blocks ahead of them or just charge at you. To start I moved down. To crush your first bug you may need to carefully break it out of the space it's trapped in so that it will move in front of an arrow-block facing the correct direction for you to crush it. After destroying your first bug they will start to appear everywhere. Stay alert and keep moving. It's fairly likely that you will run out of time and have to deal with the sealers in this level. Clear a space for yourself to avoid their attacks and use the grey blocks that they leave behind to crush your remaining opponents and finish the level. == LEVEL 10 == Target: 12 This is a pretty easy level, only the tanks which appear at the very end will present a potential banana skin. Move fast and you should clear this level easily. Go up and then destroy the Cybot. Then move to the left hand corner to line yourself up with a Collider. Destroy it then go after the tank on your right. Another Collider will appear further right. Use the grey blocks beneath it to crush the robot. You will see another tank trapped between a load of grey blocks below you. Destroy that too. Next you can go after the Shoveller that appears on your right. Another Shoveller will be moving around in the same area as you. Carefully avoid it before crushing it to remove the threat. Another tank will appear to your left. Crush that one too and then destroy the Cybot near to it. Go down and then left to find a trapped Collider. Move back up to find another Collider that is also easily destroyed. Watch out for all the tanks that will appear now. Remember that their projectiles only have a limited range. Keep your distance and attack from the side when you can. Crushing one should clear the level. == LEVEL 11 == Target: 15 Another quick level. Destroy the Cybot on the left of the starting area. Go right and destroy the Collider that appears, another Collider will appear to your left. Destroy it then travel back to your right and you will see two bugs. Destroying either causes a Collider to appear. Avoid it and then crush it. Then go back and destroy the other bug. Another Collider and a Shoveller will appear on your left. I managed to crush them both with one block. Yet another Collider and a bug will then appear, both are easily destroyed. On the left of the level you will find a trapped bug that can also be easily crushed. After this, destroy the Collider that is circulating around on your right to prompt a Cybot to appear and another Collider. After destroying them both a bug will appear and another Collider. Destroy either one to clear the level. == LEVEL 12 == Target: 29 This is where it all changes. 29 robots is a difficult target to meet, but it is possible provided that you attack this level with a bit of pace. Most of the level is filled with grey blocks, apart from the very edge and a clear ring around it. Move around the ring quickly destroying all the enemies as they appear. Don't be caught out by the fact that the speed of the Colliders has increased. Keep on searching out new enemies and crushing them as quickly as you can. If you don't finish the level before the Sealers arrive then don't forget to clear yourself some room to avoid them. When the chimes begin you should start opening up a space for yourself. If you're finding this level really difficult then you could buy the strong shovel to help. If you can get through without it, then you should have enough gold to purchase the missile, which makes the rest of the game much easier. == LEVEL 13 == Target: 13 Funky music, don't you think? Attack the Cybot on your left and then quickly go after the bug on your right by pushing some blocks around, or alternatively just shoot it with missiles if you were able to purchase the upgrade. In the centre of the level are a load of grey blocks in the shape of a cross within a circle, a tank is in the lower right-hand section for you to destroy. Next, you can take out the Cybot at the bottom of the circle. A bug will appear on the right by a mine shaft. After destroying it a Collider will appear in the top right quarter of the circle. It will probably break out. A tank will also appear in that area. I shot both with the missile, and then went to the left of the level and moved down, where a Collider charged at me. I shot it using the missile (see why I said it was a game-changer in the intro?) and then destroyed the Cybot that had appeared in the lower left-hand section of the circle, followed by the bug that was to it's immediate right. A tank and another Collider were in the top right of the level, waiting to be destroyed. After visiting them I immediately went left again and shot the tank that was patrolling there to complete the level. == LEVEL 14 == Target: 13 Provided that you have the missile, this is another easy level. It's filled with a large number of pillars which can make it somewhat difficult to get around as they block your path. Without the missile you will have to be a bit more strategic, however there are plenty of grey blocks around and lots of enemies, so finishing before the time limit shouldn't be too difficult. Use the missile to destroy the bug on your left; a single missile will go through all the blocks in its path until it reaches an enemy and explodes. Don't bother pushing the blocks in front of the bug, just shoot a missile in line with it. After this, I destroyed the Crusher in the centre of the level. Next, I went up and shot the Collider that appeared and then went to the very top of the level and right to destroy the two bugs hiding there. This caused another Collider to appear which was also easily shot. A Crusher then appeared in the centre and another Collider appeared at the top of the level. After destroying them I attacked the bugs on the left side of the level. This caused more bugs and Colliders to appear which were easily disposed of to clear the level. == LEVEL 15 == Target: 13 Take out the Cybot on you left and then go for the bug to your right. Your next target is the tank which is straight down from the bug. As usual, attack it from the side. Another bug will appear on your left and a tank will be above you. Destroy the bug first then go for the tank. If you go right you will find a Cybot trapped in a small space. After crushing it go up again to find two Colliders hanging out together. The quickest way to destroy them both is to fire a missile. This will cause another tank and a Collider to appear. I was able to crush them both and then destroyed the Cybot that had appeared in the top-right corner of the level. Finally, I destroyed the tank trapped in the bottom-left corner of the level. == LEVEL 16 == Target: 14 You should now have enough Gold saved up to buy the Strong shovel. This is the last upgrade that you really need to finish the game. Although you can buy the Turbo Jet engine I find a little too fast to accurately control. Destroy the Collider and the bug that appear and then watch out for the Collider that appears from the bottom of the screen. Avoid it and destroy it while being careful of the mine shaft. Go down and you'll see another Collider appear. Crush it and then go to your right to find a bug and a Crusher. They can be a little difficult to destroy quickly but after doing so another Collider will appear on your left and another Crusher will appear in a small area to your right. Take out the one on the right first; it's trapped and is easy to destroy. I destroyed the Collider with a missile and then attacked another Collider that appeared to my right. Two bugs are in the top right corner of the level waiting for your attention. More Colliders appear after your visit. Another bug will appear at the top of the level after you take out two Colliders. Destroy it to complete the level. == LEVEL 17 == Target: 14 This is a straight-forward level with nothing particularly noteworthy to report other than the fact that there are a large number of tanks. Destroy the Cybot that appears in front of you. Then take out the next one that appears below you. A bug and a tank are in the bottom left corner of the level. After destroying them you will probably encounter a Collider. I used the missile to destroy it and then went right where I was able to crush another Collider that appear followed by a tank which appeared to its left. Another tank appeared almost directly above it which was easily dispatched using a block. A bug then came out in the top left hand corner of the level, and then another in the top right corner. After crushing theright-hand side one I attacked the tank that appeared below it and then theCollider that had appeared directly below that. Next I destroyed the bug that appeared to the left and the tank below that. After this I destroyed the Cybot in the bottom left corner of the level. == LEVEL 18 == Target: 14 This is a slightly more interesting level; all the blocks are arranged in a rectangular grid pattern. Many of the blocks have arrows and there are a few mine shafts to watch out for. Most of the enemies are Colliders that move at quite a pace. This is probably the first level where a weapon is really necessary but you should definitely have had a chance to save up for one by now. It can be a little tricky to clear this level before the time runs out so you will need to keep up the pace. Destroy the Collider on your left first, then move on to the bug on your right. In both cases there are arrow blocks pointing in the correct way. Take note of the Collider zooming around below the bug you destroyed. See how fast it's going? That's the power of the turbo-jet! Move down and destroy it using an arrow block. There's another Collider for you to destroy towards the bottom right corner of the level. Don't hesitate to shoot it if you find it hard to time pushing a block to crush it. Another Collider will appear at the top of the level. After destroying it head for the bug in the bottom left corner of the level and destroy that too. Then go right and crush the Crusher. Another bug will appear to your left, crush it as well and then go up to the centre of the level and keep a watch on your right; a bug and a Collider are both travelling around there. When you destroy either of them another Collider will appear next to you. Move away quickly and attack the Crusher on your right. Another Collider is trapped in the bottom left corner, make it an offer it can't refuse. The Collider that appeared earlier should approach you now but you should be in a good position to easily crush it. A bug will appear on your right. Destroy it to clear the level. == LEVEL 19 == Target: 15 At this point I had lots of Gold so I decided to buy a few extra 1-ups. Well you can't take it with you right? This level has lots of grey blocks that are laid out in a tight checkered pattern. Bugs frequently appear in the centre of them. They can be easily destroyed provided that you remember to attack them from the side and never approach in the direction they are facing. At the start, watch out for that bug on your right, it should go straight up and avoid you, but you should be ready to shoot it, just in case. After destroying it then go for the Cybot on your left. Another bug will appear, trapped in the blocks that are arranged in a checkered pattern below you. Another bug will also appear further left. Destroy them both to make two Colliders appear at the bottom of the level. After crushing them head for the tank in the bottom right corner and take it out. This will make another bug appear in the centre of the level in a position that is easy to crush. After crushing it a Collider will appear in the bottom left corner. Slam it into the wall and crush the bug that appears on your right. Go up and you will spot another trapped bug. Crush it then go left to find, yet another, trapped bug that is easily crushed. == LEVEL 20 == Target: 15 You start off trapped with two Colliders near you. Both can be destroyed quickly by crushing them with blocks. Next, go for the bug to your left, provided that it hasn't collided with the mine shafts next to it. A Crusher will appear from the bottom of the screen. Shoot it without hesitation. Move down and wait for the Collider to appear. Destroy it quickly and then go right to spot another bug, a Crusher and another Collider. Destroying any one of them will cause another Collider to appear and destroying that will cause a bug to appear in the bottom right corner. Crush it and then move up. You should see a Collider trapped in a small space in the centre of the level by the mine shafts. It's easiest to shoot it and continue left, where a bug should walk past. Squash it and then go up to find a Collider for you to destroy. Another Collider will appear from the bottom of the screen. Destroy them both and then go down to see another bug. After crushing it you will spot a Collider trapped at the bottom of the screen. Take it out to clear the level. == LEVEL 21 == Target: 16 Immediately destroy as many of the bugs on your left as you can – they will crush each other if you're slow, so be quick! Be careful of the bug and tank that will appear on your right. You may need to go up to avoid them before going back to destroy them, having one of the weapons is handy here. Next, go down, on left there is an Cybot to be crushed and on the right there is a bug. Crushing them will cause another bug, a Collider and a tank to appear. All on the bottom half of the level. None are in a particularly dangerous position as they are all trapped. Go up to find another Collider, a bug, and another tank. You should be close to the target now. Destroy as many of the remaining robots as you need to clear the level. == LEVEL 22 == Target: 16 This is a neat level. The blocks are arranged in a load of straight lines that make it easy to crush your opponents. Take out the Collider on your left, then the one on your right, while keeping an eye out for the Crusher that will appear. Destroy that in turn and then go right to find a bug and a Collider that you can crush easily. Another bug will appear back where you started in the top left corner, make you way for it but watch out for the Crusher that appears in the centre of the level. You may need to destroy the bug that will appear below you before taking out the Crusher, either way there are two Colliders on the right of the level that are best destroyed from the bottom right corner. Another Collider will appear on your left. Destroy it and then make your way to the top left corner to find a trapped bug. Next go to the top right corner to find three bugs and one Collider that are easily crushed to clear the level. == LEVEL 23 == Target: 16 I hope you're ready for level twenty-four! You are now half-way through the game and things will only get harder from here on out. You start off trapped, again, with an Cybot on your left and a bug on your right. Crush them and then deal with the tank in the top right corner. Watch out for the Collider that appears in a slightly awkward position. Destroy it next and then go to the bottom right corner to find another Cybot and a Collider. Go to the bottom left hand corner and destroy the bug there (you may need to wait for it to move into position) and then attack the tank you will have seen on the way. An Cybot will appear near you, avoid it and then crush it. Move to the top right corner now and take out the Collider which is lurking there, followed by another tank. Circle around to the top right corner and then go down to discover another bug. After destroying it you will probably have to deal with the Colliders in the centre of the level. Go down and left to find another tank and a bug to destroy, after which you should clear the level. == LEVEL 24 == Target: 26 Yes, you read did read that correcty, the target for this level is 26! Welcome to the second half of the game! The level has lots of grey blocks arranged in a circular pattern with some clear square spaces in the middle. In each corner there is a smaller area where you can often find trapped enemies. As with all the high-target levels you need to move quickly, make liberal use of the weapon, and prepare yourself for when the Sealers arrive. Start with the Collider in the top left corner, and then work your way around the level in an anti-clockwise direction, sticking to the edges, to quickly destroy as many enemies as you can. Watch out for the Crusher that appears in the top right corner. == LEVEL 25 == Target: 17 Just because the target is lower don't think you can relax! Now that you're in the deepest part of the mine the robot designs have changed to withstand the greater depths, fortunately your BattleBull is already designed to operate in these extreme conditions. Although they look different the enemies around you behave exactly the same, so don't be disconcerted. The robot on your left is a Cybot. That blob with legs on your right is a bug. The square with the X that comes from the bottom of the screen is a Collider. The Crushers that will appear on the right of the level look the same. You can pretty easily clear this level by staying at the top of the stage and working from left to right, destroying all the robots around you. The new-look bugs and Colliders are particularly easy targets. == LEVEL 26 == Target: 17 You know the drill by now, take out the robot on your left and then move right. You'll catch your first glimpse of the new-look Screamers. They are still as easy to destroy as ever. This level is symetrical. There are a load of blocks in the centre and areas around the edge where trapped robots will appear. Circulate around the edge of the level in a clockwise direction and destroy everything in your path. Watch out for the tanks in the botton of the level and the Crushers near to them. The design of these robots hasn't changed. There is also a single mine shaft in the middle of the level on the left. == LEVEL 27 == Target: 17 This is another symmetrical level which consists of a series of concentric rings. Try to stay on the outside edge as you work your way around the level and crush your opponents. Watch out for the mine shafts. You'll be moving in quite narrow spaces on this level so don't be afraid to move a few blocks around and open things up a bit; open spaces should give you and an advantage due to your weapon. == LEVEL 28 == Target: 18 The symmetrical theme continues. This level has few blocks so it is a shoot-out. Watch out for the Screamer that heads straight for you at the start of the level from the bottom of the screen. Also keep an eye out for enemy tanks in the top right corner. This level has few blocks so it is a shoot-out. Be careful of the Crusher in the bottom right corner as well. == LEVEL 29 == Target: 18 An interesting level with lots of bugs in lots of squares. Try to stay in the corridors in between the squares, but watch out for bugs that have the same idea and attempt to charge you down. A crusher will appear in the bottom right corner of the level after a while; take it down quickly so that is doesn't start roaming the corridors to chase you. Colliders will also start to appear on the right side. == LEVEL 30 == Target: 19 The main enemies that you will have to deal with on this level are Screamers and tanks, but there are a few Crushers that might give you some trouble. The far left and far right of the level are divided from the centre by grey blocks and pillars. The Screamers like to hang out in these areas so if you do enter them then they will probably try to charge you down. Make sure you keep a missile handy and be ready to quickly retreat. == LEVEL 31 == Target: 20 The target numbers are creeping up again. You won't find it difficult to complete this level before the Sealers arrive due to the large number of enemies to crush. This level is formed from a set of concentric rings of blocks. Moving around the second ring (not the one on the very outside by the pillars or the one with the mine shafts in it) is a pretty good opening play. Watch out for the Crushers and tanks on this level. == LEVEL 32 == Target: 20 Haven't we been here before? This level is quite similar to level 6, so the same advice applies. There are lots of bugs trapped in small gaps in the grid like structure of this level. However, this time there are lots of Colliders as well, and Crushers and Cybots as well. Remember not to place yourself in front of a bug and you should be OK. == LEVEL 33 == Target: 15 The low target for this level is a good indication of its challenge. You should be able to breeze through this. Most of the enemies are tanks and Screamers. There are a few Cybots trapped in the bottom corners of the level that may catch you out but you can avoid them completely and focus on the top half of the level for an easy victory. == LEVEL 34 == Target: 18 This is quite an enjoyable level. Destroy the robot above you and then shoot the Screamer on your left as it approaches. You can then work your way clockwise around the stage destroying the enemies in the areas adjacent to you. You may find that you spiral into the centre of the level; try to stay on the outside as that is where most of the enemies will be. The time limit here is generous and the target is low so you shouldn't have any problems. == LEVEL 35 == Target: 18 There are lots of blocks organised into a tight pattern on this level, and there are also lots of bugs and Crushers that will try to push them into you! The best strategy here is to open the level up. Push and destroy the blocks around you to create a large open space, after this you can simply use your missile to shoot most of the enemies. == LEVEL 36 == Target: 23 The centre of this level is a good place to be; it offers lots of potential opportunities for crushing your opponents. Be wary of the Colliders in this level, as they've been easy to destroy previously it can be easy to get complacent. However, the layout of this level, with its many corridors and rectangles suits them, and they can be unpredictable. Destroy the Screamer to begin. Then go to the centre of the level and destroy the bug there. Watch out for the Crusher that will appear in the centre after you've taken out the Colliders on the right, and bottom, of the level and the Crusher in the bottom right corner. Things can get tricky after this and you may struggle to meet the slightly higher target before the Sealers show up. Remember that you can destroy Sealers with a missile. == LEVEL 37 == Target: 20 At last! Some fresh tunes! This is another checkered pattern level with lots of bugs that will push blocks at you. Push and crush the blocks to open the level up and then use your missiles to destroy the enemy. The greatest challenge is the tanks, which have had a deadly upgrade! They now shoot missiles at you much faster and further than before. Avoid them! == LEVEL 38 == Target: 20 There's nothing too difficult about this level. Most of the enemies are bugs or screamers. The blocks are laid out quite closely so you should push them around to create some open space for you to operate in - the only ones who benefit from closed, claustrophibic corridors are the Colliders. Shoot to win! == LEVEL 39 == Target: 19 Another level with a quite random pattern of blocks. The best strategy is to work you way clockwise around the level, crushing the robots that appear at the edges. Don't hestitate to move and crush blocks in your path. As with previous levels, you should find that you have lots of open space towards the end of your time here, which is to your advantage. Watch out for all the tanks, they have retained their upgrade from the previous levels and fire their projectiles much further than earlier in the game. == LEVEL 40 == Target: 20 We've almost reached the end! The difficulty level is about to increase so it's time to prepare yourself for the final onslaught of evil insane robots! There are lots of arrow blocks on this level in unhelpful positions. To add to the difficulty you have quite a high target. Your best chance for success is to focus on shooting your enemies, rather than crushing them. Many of the enemies will circulate around the very edge of the level, this is helpful to you as it provides easy sniping opportunities, so try to keep the edge clear to trap the Colliders and bugs into circlng around. == LEVEL 41 == Target: 22 There are lots of tanks on this one, so watch out! Overall this is another fairly simple level. Staying in the central area is a good strategy to begin with, but towards the end you will probably end up just shooting it out with the tanks in empty space as all the blocks are destroyed. Another strategy is to clear out the edge of the level, as in the previous stage. Routinely firing missiles straight down the edges will destroy quite a few enemies. == LEVEL 42 == Target: 20 Whoah, look at that Collider go - clearly someone is keen to destroy you! Be aware of their new found speed. There aren't that many of them so it isn't actually that hard to clear this relatively easy level. Watch out for the wave of bugs that appear once you've crushed a few Colliders and you'll clear this with no difficulty. == LEVEL 43 == Target: 19 There's a big spiral in the centre of this level which will suck all the enemies in. Watch out though, because when they reach the very middle they will all come back out together to get you! Head towards the centre of the spiral, clearing out the enemies you meet along the way. Open up the level around you by moving the blocks around but don't hang about around the edges - there are lots of tanks on this level that have a nasty habit of sneaking up behind you and sniping you. There are plenty of bugs on this level and these should be the main enemy you target. == LEVEL 44 == Target: 23 This is a nice symmetrical level that is laid out in something like a *star pattern* with blocks and pillars forming the arms of a single big star. The Colliders are back, but they have slowed down compared to the last time you saw them (thankfully). This is another level where it is possible, and advisable, to clear away any blocks from the outermost edge of the level. Doing so will create a large square that most of the enemies will endlessly circle around. Remember: the more the predictable the enemy is, the easier it is to crush. == LEVEL 45 == Target: 23 If you've gotten this far then this level shouldn't hold any challenge for you. The level is filled with a narrow grid of grey blocks. Multiple bugs, screamers, tanks and cybots appear within it. The target is high, but the large number of enemies means that you should find it easy to clear the level in time. The only real issue is the tanks; you may find that a few of them clump together in the top left corner not long after the timer hits 50. == LEVEL 46 == Target: 22 This level is laid out quite randomly with mostly grey blocks and a few arrow-blocks in a variety of grid and checkered patterns. Watch out for the two Screamers trapped in the top right corner and the Crushers hanging around at the bottom of the level. Attack this level with some pace and you should have no problem clearing it. == LEVEL 47 == Target: 22 A mixture of Screamers, cybots, and bugs will appear on this level, plus the occassional tank. The level is quite crowded and has rings with lots of arrow-blocks and narrow corridors between them. You start in one of the outer rings, which is a shame, because the arrow-blocks in the rings are pointing outwards, away from the centre, and towards you. Make your way into the centre and you can turn the tables on your adversaries and crush them with the blocks instead. == LEVEL 48 == Target: 29 Here we go... It's the final level! The deepest level of the mine is a series of narrow corridors made mostly of pillars with some grey blocks between them. The high target means that you will have to face the Sealers, and they can be very hard to avoid if you are in one of the corridors and unable to turn left or right. To succeed on this level you need to prepare the ground for when the Sealers arrive and then survive their assault. To start, crush the Screamer in the top left corner and then go down to trash the bug by the mine shaft. Watch out for the Crusher to your right. You should see two Colliders below you; these are your next targets. After defeating them move down to the bottom of the level and then go right to find another bug. After this things can get quite random. Work your way around the level in an anti-clockwise direction, destroying all the blocks around you, and clearing out the edge of the level so that the Colliders, Screamers, and bugs that appear, all circle around the edge, allowing you to easily shoot them. When the timer begins to reach zero, head for the top right corner of the level; this is the area with the most space and is where you can make your final stand against the Sealers. While they are attacking you, continue to destroy the enemy robots. Eventually you will destroy enough targets to clear the level and complete the game! Congratulations! _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Credits : Who made this thing anyway? [CRD] | |_____________________________________________________________________| After finishing the game you will be treated to a picture of yourself, perched upon the BattleBull with the Password Lady by your side. Yes that's right! It turns out that she is actually your girlfriend! The words: "BATTLE IS OVER! YOU ARE THE CHAMPION", appear on the screen and a great cheer can be heard, after this the scene changes and another picture appears, showing you and the Password Lady gazing into the sunset... aah! The Staff Credits now appear: J. Fujimoto T. Ishikawa N. Nonaka T. Tsuboi T. Kusakabe M. Asakawa K. Watanabe K. Nakabayashi F. Sugiura T. Wada N. Iwabuchi Y. Hayakawa A. Ishiazaka T. Suzuki Lastly, one final message from the Staff members is displayed: "See you Again!" And the game is complete! Congratulations on getting this far, I know that it wasn't easy but I'm sure you'll agree that it was worth the effort to see what is arguably the greatest ending in videogame history. _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Useful Links : Let's Explore the Interweb! [LNK] | |_____________________________________________________________________| Please note: I take no responsibility for the content of these sites. They were operational as of 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorudan A wikipedia page for Jorudan, the game's developers. Jorudan contuinued making games until 2009 when they released a cat-based minigame for Wii. They also made 'The Eigyoudou' (the way of business) for the DS in 2008. Unfortunately neither game was successful and since then they have switched to developing transportation apps for smartphones. Jorudan is a good example of the many small Japanese developers that never made it big but still produced obscure but good titles and provided a route into the industry for a lot of young talent. In my opinion the decline of Japanese developers can be linked to the fact that many of these smaller companies have been forced out of the business recently due to the tough economic climate of recent years. Here's hoping that someday Jorudan will be able to start making games again. http://www.jorudan.co.jp/ This is the homepage of the homepage of Jorudan, the game's developers. It's all in Japanese as you would expect so I have no idea if there is anything interesting here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seta_(company) A wikipedia artice about SETA. Apparently the company developed a number of games after BattleBull, including Project Sylpheed for the XBOX 360, which was set in the 27th Century. Could there be a link between the two games? http://web.archive.org/web/20080508011436/http://www.seta.co.jp/index.htm Sadly SETA closed its doors for the final time in 2009 after 23 years of great games. An archived copy of its Japanese webpage is still available. _____________________________________________________________________ | | | Outro : So long and thanks for all the fish! [OUT] | |_____________________________________________________________________| Thank you for reading this guide, I hope that you found it educational. If you have any suggestions for further content or questions then please feel free to contact me at: idaho@hotmail.com be warned however that I get a lot of spam (seriously, like 50+ emails a day) so if you want a response then I suggest you write: "BATTLEBULL GUIDE" as the subject of your email. I'm also on Facebook somewhere, but you'll have to find me yourself... This guide, and its contents, is not to be replicated or reproduced without the express permission of the author who may be contacted via email as above. Thank you!