Blue's Journey

System: Neo Geo	Publisher: Alpha Denshi co.	Release Date: 1990
	Genre: 2D platform

title

Blue's Journey was an excellent offering back in the days of the plumbers. What you found in Mario - the jumping, the item system, the secrets - was included with some original ideas - like the three different weapon types, the item stock system (and "safes" for keeping them), a purchase system ("stores") and other niceties. Simultaneous two player action is always better - and it does not affect the mild story offerred (not that the gameplay should really have anything to do with the story).

Well... you play as Blue, a member of the Leaf Dump special forces. The Daruma tribe has come to your land (Raguy) and wreaked havoc by introducing pollution to the system. Among the adversely affected include your sweetheart - the Princess of Raguy. So, kick Daruma's tail in his own empire, and rescue your people. Yeah, remember the standard kissy scene at the end (did I spoil it?).

Yes! Beautiful graphics proliferated in most stages (even in the early days of the Neo Geo). The control system involved the standard eight way pad (hold directions for jump lengths/duration, like Mario), the A button for using a weapon, the B button for jumping, and the C button for a weird effect - reducing your size.

By using the ability (C), you can become small enough to gain access to special routes, gain some jumping range ("same displacement, but a different projectile length"), and be faster... but you give up your ability to damage enemies. So, you cannot use your weapon or jump on an enemy for control, but you can reduce your size when you have a stock of enemies on your head, for the control advantages.

The interactivity is at a good level in this game. Items exist for several purposes - the keys offer access to the shop in a level, the axe makes the woodsman able to remove the tree, and the five coocoons give a level up. Life boosters, speed enhancements and the like enhance your game. The flowers serve as the money in this game - you can get single pieces (red), five pieces (white), or anti-flowers (purple, -10). The items in the shops may be expensive, unnecessary or indipensable - you have to be careful with the dough, and remember not to fool around (there has to be a code for that! If you find it, email me!).

A "must" in these games is the time feature. The game offers a set time limit for each stage, and you die if it runs out. Most likely, you will die before it reaches zero; when the timer flashes (a count of under twenty five), a new enemy appears. You get to fight him later, as he is invincible now (and so too are those damnable homing-fowls, whatever). To prevent this, the game usually gives you warnings whenever you stay in an area for too long - I always get them in the hidden passages. At the end of a standard stage (determined by your choices in the map), you get a point summary. Destroying enemies (and other activities) give you point increases during the game - I don't think that they offer bonuses at levels.

See the spiderweb? Notice that Blue is Big.

And you thought that one of them was a damned challenge...

The simplified "combat" system is good and fast. Whack the enemies, and watch 'em fall off the screen. However, with your first weapon and the upgrade (adds range) - the "leaf dump" - you can whack them to turn 'em over. Stack up to three of them on your head simultaneously, and press A to send them flying across the screen, for damage to enemies. Note that (as in Mario), they can sometimes return (after a collision) to damage your player. In some cases, you can stand next to a mound and rack up the bodies, which return to full action if they are left too long.

If you wish to play it safe and have a different style of play, choose another weapon. The dump offers a short-range attack, and its upgrade offers a medium ranged attack. The attack is limited to a horizontal trajectory, and cannot effectively handle most of the airborne enemies of the game. It is the only one with the easy-stacking feature.

The boomerang-type weapon (looks like a shell) is very effective, and has a medium range. It can be directed vertically upwards (and therefore is very effective), and immediately sends an enemy off the screen (you can catch them before they hit the ground). It is the fastest weapon.

My favourite is the bomb, which is the slowest but has the longest range. The vertical range is very small (but larger than the dump), and you can add horizontal range to the trajectory by using a timed jump (very effective against bosses and "over-the-mountain" attacks). It appears to be the most effective, but you are weaponless while one is detonated - the crashing animation lasts for about two seconds. This is the most effective attack against the enemies which are otherwise invincible (underwater chains).

When you are in a cinch, using the jump is very effective. For most ground based enemies, you can jump onto them, then wait while they rotate. When you jump off, they will spin off in the direction in which they face. When you are super-big, you are invincible to enemy attacks (not pitfalls, etc.), so jumping on an enemy will send them off-screen. When you are small, you can take a ride on them (if it doesn't kill you).

All the stages in this game are not accessible with a single game due to the system of path taking (near to Golden Axe 3). You choose a path, then fight through several levels in that area (usually about four or five). After completing a last enemy (the boss - there is usually one in the early areas), you head back to the map for another path split. In the end, you wind up at the floating castle... the stages will lead to different characters (you have to converse with some of them), different bosses (specific to the area - choose wisely) and different items. Most likely, you will witness the extent of the "pollution and the practises" of the Daruma in the later stages.

Each stage hides a few secrets. Most of the time in the later stages, you have to blast likely areas and take great risks for the secrets. Some extremely rare items are in the most unlikely places - use that small form for some great abilities! Experiment when you have alot o'time at the end of a stage, and you just might find one. Stack some enemies before you complete the jump for some extra points or *SPOILER* don't jump at all *SPOILER*. Replayability is the key here - the end is... well, you find out for yourself.

Which way? Guess I'll have to play the other trail some day.

Fire burn snowman! Mwee he hee.

The bosses are well designed and come with a good level of challenge (not up to the SMW2 level, though). Look at the snowman here, and his setting. Nice castle... and with my bombs, he isn't lasting very long. At the end of most of these types of stages (the boss section), you are presented with a lottery, which you can take or refuse. Prizes range from one to five(?) (life containers, coocoons, life refills, flowers, and whatever), but you can also miss the ring - be careful. It is entirely random, but getting those life containers has its merits.

Some strategies will require practice, and some will be too easy. A few bosses might give you some dialogue, so watch the pressing of that "A" button.! Good luck with Daruma, and you will get your revenge sometime before that challenge. If you cannot beat Daruma, try to recall the strategies that you used before for the fast bosses. That was not much of a spoiler, was it?

Graphics: ( 7.5 out of 10)	For this type of game, the graphics are adequate. Small splashes, nice colour, acceptably-detailed stages and characters - not much is lacking. More interactivity than Mario games of the same time exists - not that it should really make a difference now.
Sound: ( 7.4 out of 10)	Good overall effects are presented. The tunes are the usual lively doodas that create a more pleasant experience. Sounds are also adequate, with the wind being heard in certain stages - but the different environments do not show much variation in tone. For example, if I throw a bomb in the hidden cavern, it sounds alot like when I use one underwater.
Fun: ( 9.0 out of 10)	As with all these games, putting down the controller is the greatest challenge. The overall gameplay is very good, with the cute sprites and the ever beautiful environments - depending on your own perception, of course. There are some areas which offer a good challenge for two players, and others which are made much more accessible with such co-operation. Any gamer will like spending some time with this, even if it means hiding from peers.
Replay: ( 7.1 out of 10)	There are several routes to choose from - making each try different in some senses. Some secrets are very well hidden, and some stages are only accessible through a specific path. This also leads to the possibility of different bosses being encountered - I remember fighting the Snowman for the first time on my third game. The warp system is not available here (Mario - always remembered) and the items are rather limited, but you will definitely want to play this a few times.
Total	31.0 out of 40


	Review done by LChrysler for Emula Zone exclusively. No part of this compilation may be duplicated in ANY form without permission from the Zone.