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 date(s) Famicom: MSX:
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Binary Land (バイナリィランド Bainaryi 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 Kuma Computers Ltd in 1984.

While the Famicom version has a grand total of 99 levels; there is no ending screen implemented in the game.[3]

Gameplay

Players encounter more complicated levels as they progress in the game.

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] The game features many different stages. 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.

External video
Video of the Famicom version of Binary Land

A top-down view is utilized 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 the player reach a high enough score, the player is asked to put his name on a list of the five highest scores of that session.[4]

Unofficial versions

This video game has been unofficially translated into Chinese. Another unofficial version of this video game translates this game into a Final Fantasy experience with chocobos and levels that have been translated into one of the early Final Fantasy dungeons.[5]

External links

References

  1. "Binary Land Famicom version". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  2. "Binary Land MSX version". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  3. "Ending information (Famicom version)" (in Japanese). FC no Game Seiha Shimasho. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Top score list/basic gameplay information" (in Japanese). Geocities.jp. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  5. "List of existing NES video games" (in Russian). Emu-Land. Retrieved 2013-01-23.