Sqrxz GB

Sqrxz
General
Author	Icarus Productions
Type	Platform
Version	0.95
License	Freeware
System	CGB, DMG
Last Updated	1999/08/12
Links
Download
Website

Sqrxz is an almost ordinary jump'n'run game for the Nintendo Game Boy. The goal is to help Sqrxz, a bug, to find his way home. There are, of course, several obstacles on the way. The main difference between other games in the same category is that Sqrxz is more a problem solving game than an action game.

It is originally a PC game made by Marcus Westerlund and John Holmvall. The 12 levels have been modified to fit the smaller screen size, and the graphics have been worked with to make it fit in 8 palettes.

Features

• 12 levels filled with action and "puzzles".
• Lots of graphics.
• Breaks the 56 color limit.
• More than 10 tunes!.

User guide

On the title screen, press Start to start the game. If the B button is held down while starting the game, there will be no visual sky in the game (CGB only). If you let the text scroll by once, you may watch the Game Boy playing through the first level.

While in game, pressing Select in Pause mode restarts the level (losing one life). This is needed if you're trapped and can't commit suicide.

If you walk (or run) at normal speed, you will walk above chasms that are one tile wide. If you want to easily fall down into these, use the B button to walk slowly, and you will fall down.

Enemies

Blob	An ugly thing. Just jump on it and it will die easily.
Hedgehog	A nasty enemy which you can't kill by jumping on it. Just avoid it.
Bat	Simply jump on it (if you reach it from above) to kill it.
Fish	Looks more like ghost fish. You can't kill these either.
Green man	A coward running around with a helmet on his head. Jumping on him won't kill him, as he hides under his helmet for a while.

Important - When you jump on an enemy (Blob, Bat, Green man), you can jump from the enemies, thus reaching one level higher. This technique is necessary in almost all levels.

Objects

Apple	Sqrxz loves apples! And for some reason, there are plenty of apples on Sqrxz' way home. Eating 20 apples in the same life will give you an extra life. There is a counter at the bottom right of the screen.
Extra life	The extra life looks like a small Sqrxz.
Lever	Pull this lever, and you'll restart at this position if you die later on the level.
Portcullis	Walking below a portcullis will make it close once you leave the square.
Bridge	Walking on these will make them crunch below your feet...
Spikes	Avoid these...
Spike traps	Impossible to see, so remember where they are!!
Water	Sqrxz cannot breath in water. The blue bar at the bottom of the screen indicates how long time before Sqrxz drowns...
Sea urchin	Avoid these! They'll kill you if you touch them!
Exit door	This is your goal!! Entering the door will bring you to the next level.

There are also a lot of background graphics (much more if playing on the CGB): trees, fences, signs, letters, mushrooms, fossils, etc.

Color

Sqrxz takes full advantage of the Color Game Boy, and uses almost all 512 tiles during gameplay. Therefore, you'll miss a lot of graphics if playing on an old Game Boy. No objects are missing though - only background graphics.

During gameplay, the top of the screen consist of a sky, fading from blue to black. By starting the game with B+Start, the sky is removed.

Controls

Left/Right - Move Sqrxz to the left/right

Up/A - Jump

Down/B - Walk/Run at half speed

Start - Pause (press Start again to continue)

Screenshots

Compatibility

Supports both the Game Boy Color, as well as the classic Game Boy.

Known issues

The music engine isn't perfect. Sometimes when playing effects, it affects the tune currently being played.

Changelog

0.95

• MAJOR update. Color support, LOTS of more graphics, 8 new level, a real end, demo mode + much more.

0.85

• Changed sausages to apples. Scrolls screen earlier to avoid stupid/annoying enemy collisions.

0.80

• First public release of the Gameboy version. All features not yet implemented. Mainly, levels are missing (only four levels in this version).

External links

• Official website - http://icarus.ticalc.org/sqrxz.html