Binary Land
| Binary Land | |
|---|---|
 Japanese Famicom cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Hudson Soft |
| Publisher(s) | Hudson Soft |
| Platform(s) | MSX, FM-7, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8801, Famicom |
| Release | Famicom: MSX: |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Binary Land (バイナリィランド, Bainarī Rando) is a puzzle video game developed by Hudson Soft in 1983 for the MSX, FM-7, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8801, and in 1985 for the Famicom. The MSX version saw release in Japan by Hudson Soft and in Europe by Kuma Computers Ltd in 1984.
While the Famicom version has 99 levels; there is no ending screen implemented in the game.[3]
Gameplay
In the Famicom version of the game, players have to unite two penguins, Gurin (male) and Malon (female), who are in love.[4] The MSX version features a human boy and a human girl; gameplay remains identical to the Famicom version. Players control Malon and Gurin simultaneously; with a timer adding to the difficulty. These penguins move in mirror images of each other.[4] After completing the 17th stage, players have to start over again on stage 1. "Je te veux" by Erik Satie is the background music in the game during the levels. Upon uniting the two penguins, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" is played.
A top-down view is used in the game; similar to the method used in The Adventures of Lolo. Standing in their way are spiders, birds and other creatures which the player must attack with the penguins' spray.[4] Cobwebs occupy some of the cells on the playing field; possibly slowing the player down long enough for a spider to kill either Gurin or Malon. With each level arranged on a 10-by-15 grid and a vertical wall separating the two penguins from each other, only the upper central cell is free for both characters to reach. This "free cell" always holds the caged heart that is required to complete the level. A row of walls surrounding each player in a maze-like environment. In order to make the challenges more difficult; they are unbalanced and offer a different experience for Gurin and Malon. Should Gurin or Malon become trapped in a cobweb, they are helpless until the player navigates the maze, crosses the free cell and then enters the other penguin's side of the maze to free them from the web with their spraycan.
Should the player reach a high enough score, the player is asked to put her name on a list of the five highest scores of that session.[4]
Legacy
Binary Land has been unofficially translated into Chinese as Qì'é Xiānshēng Màoxiǎn Zhī Lǚ (Chinese: 企鹅先生冒险之旅; lit. 'Mr. Penguin Adventure Tour'). Another its unofficial version translates it into a Final Fantasy experience with chocobos and levels that have been translated into one of the early Final Fantasy dungeons.[5]
Binary Land, was one of the videogames based for Manga titled Famicom Rocky published by Comic Coro Coro from 1985 to 1987.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Binary Land Famicom version". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on 2014-08-04. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Binary Land MSX version". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Ending information (Famicom version)" (in Japanese). FC no Game Seiha Shimasho. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ a b c d "Top score list/basic gameplay information" (in Japanese). Geocities.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "List of existing NES video games" (in Russian). Emu-Land. Retrieved 2013-01-23.