Taz-Mania

For the Sega Master System game, see Taz-Mania (Master System). For the Sega Game Gear game, see Taz-Mania (Game Gear).

n/a

Taz-Mania

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Recreational Brainware

Supporting companies: Nu Romantic Productions (audio), Sega of America (assistance)

Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Hent Gruppen (SE rental), Tec Toy (BR), Samsung (KR)

Licensor: Warner Bros.

Sound driver: GEMS

Genre: Action^[1]^[2]^[3]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-12-25^[2]	¥6,8006,800	G-4089
US	1992-07^[4]^[5]	$49.9549.95^[5]^[6]	1032
US ▼ (Sega Channel)	199x	SUBsub
EU	1992-07^[7]^[8]		1032
EU ▼ (Sega Channel)	199x	SUBsub
PT	1992		MDJ1032
UK	1992-07^[9]^[7]^[8]	£39.9939.99^[10]^[11]	1032
SE (Rental)	199x
AU	1992
CA	1992
BR	199x		043180
KR	199x		GM4085JG
AS	199x

Taz-Mania (タズマニア) is a 1992 platform game developed by Recreational Brainware and released by Sega in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive. It is based on the cartoon series with the same name, and stars Taz the Tazmanian Devil on the search for seabird eggs. It is unrelated to the Super Nintendo and Game Boy games with the same name, aside from the Taz-Mania license.

Taz-Mania was a fairly popular game, and received favorable reviews when it was released for being one of the first games to look like a Warner Bros. cartoon (previous attempts had been held back by hardware restraints). The game was followed by Taz in Escape from Mars.

Ironically, although the game was made by Sega of America and released in most countries in time for the Christmas season in 1992, it was first released in Europe in the summer of that year.

Story

Introduction

One evening, Hugh Tazmanian Devil was telling a story to his three children (Taz, his sister Molly and his brother Jake):

Once there were huge Giant Seabirds that laid giant eggs which could feed a family of Tazmanian devils for over a year. There are also legends that somewhere along the island of Tasmania, there is a Lost Valley where the Giant Seabirds still nest. Fascinated by the prospect of a potentially large omelette, Taz leaves in search of the Lost Valley.

Gameplay

Map

The game is a platformer where players control Taz as he searches for the giant egg. Taz moves with and . He is able spin into a tornado with and jump with . Spinning into a tornado allows Taz to defeat most enemies, gain extra jump distance, knock away items, and get past certain obstacles unharmed.

Taz can also eat various objects by walking into them, including health recovering food items, extra lives, and continues. Other items, such as bombs and weed killer, can be thrown at enemies but damage Taz if he eats them. Pressing when next to an item picks it up and throws it. is also used to operate switches when next to them.

Taz has a health bar that goes down as he takes damage from enemies and hazards. He loses a life if he runs out of health. The game ends if Taz runs out of lives, but it can be continued from the beginning of the level as long as the player has continues remaining.

Items

Taz eats items by walking into them.

	Chili Peppers
	Allows Taz to breathe fire with to defeat stronger enemies.
	Water Jug
	Recovers health and awards points.
	Roast Chicken
	Recovers health and awards points.
	Frozen Fish
	Recovers health and awards points.
	Fruit Plate
	Recovers health and awards points.
	Bomb
	Bombs can be thrown at enemies to attack them but harm Taz if he eats them.
	Star
	Grants Taz temporary invincibility.
	No Weed
	No Weed can be thrown at Weed-Ola in the Jungle to attack it but harms Taz if he eats it.
	Photo 1
	Gives the player an extra life.
	Photo 3
	Gives the player an extra continue.
	Milestone
	Checkpoint where Taz is revived after losing a life.
	Signpost
	Indicates the end of the level.

Levels

	The Badlands
	The boss is a truck driven by Bull Gator and Axl Gator.
	The Factory

	Iceland

	The Jungle
	The boss is Francis X. Bushlad.
	The Mine

	The Jungle

	The Taztec Ruins

	The Giant Seabird Nest

History

Development

“	I was very excited about Taz. We knew that we had a lot to live up too with that license. We all worked in the same room, and the room was filled with Taz merchandise. Taz was so well defined that we didn’t have to guess how to make him fun, we just had to convey that in the limitations of the hardware. Taz has attitude, and is a brute. That means you can get away with a lot of character traits that don’t have to be so subtle. The toughest part of Taz was coming up with a way to have over two hundred frames of animation and still fit in a cart. This led to a layered sprite tool where we could use the same arm in several frames, the same head, etc etc, and just move them within the tool to get the animation. This saved a ton of space on the cart, and allowed for eight and twelve frame animations, giving the character a lot of fluidity. The other trick we did was to build different levels with the same artwork, and just use different palettes. You’ll notice the ice level and the sand level use the same tiles.	„
— David Foley^[12]

Production credits

Taz-Mania is Brought to You by: Sega of America, Inc. and Recreational Brainware
Concept and Production: Scott Berfield
Design and Programming - Recreational Brainware: Burt Sloane, Jonathan Miller, Dave Foley
Art: Alan Murphy, Marilyn Churchill
Music and Sound Effects - Nu*Romantic Productions: Mark Steven Miller, Jim Hedges
Testing: Steve Patterson, Doug Lanford, Conan Tigard, Vince Nason, Jeffrey Kessler, Vy Nong, Javone Alonzo, Casey Grimm, Scott Rhode
Demos: Adam + Matt Sands

Thank You for Playing Taz-Mania!

Source:

In-game credits^[13]

Magazine articles

Main article: Taz-Mania/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

US TV advert

UK TV advert

AU TV advert

FI advert (1992)

Flyer (RU)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #37: "August 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #4: "Agosto 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1992-02: "2/92" (1992-11-19)
also published in:

Sega Force (SE) #1993-01: "1/93" (1993-01-14)^[14]

Print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1992-02: "2/92" (1992-11-19)
also published in:

Sega Force (SE) #1993-01: "1/93" (1993-01-14)^[15]

Mega Drive print advert in Mega Force (ES) #8: "Diciembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-01: "January 1993" (1992-12-08)

Print advert in Pixel (GR) #96: "Fevrouários 1993" (1993-0x-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

50

^[16]

Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)

85

^[17]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

53

^[18]

Consoles + (FR)

75

^[19]

Cool Gamer (RU)

60

^[20]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

93

^[10]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[21]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

75

^[22]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[23]

Game Mania (UK)

85

^[24]

Game Power (IT)

90

^[25]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

98

^[26]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[27]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

92

^[28]

Joypad (FR)

85

^[29]

Joystick (FR)

90

^[30]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

85

^[31]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

85

^[32]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

61

^[33]

Mega (UK)

PAL

80

^[34]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

81

^[35]

Mega Play (US)

NTSC-U

78

^[36]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

88

^[37]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

78

^[38]

Mean Machines (UK)

81

^[39]

Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[40]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

81

^[41]

Player One (FR)

85

^[42]

Play Time (DE)

76

^[43]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

89

^[44]

Sega Pro (UK)

89

^[45]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

90

^[46]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

93

^[47]

Sega Force (SE)

85

^[48]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

89

^[49]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

96

^[50]

Svet Igara (YU)

82

^[51]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[52]

Supergame (BR)

NTSC-U

89

^[53]

Supersonic (FR)

93

^[54]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

82

^[55]

User (GR)

PAL

91

^[56]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[6]

Video Games (DE)

59

^[57]

Zero (UK)

90

^[58]

	80
Based on 45 reviews

Taz-Mania

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart File:Taz Mania MD JP Manual.pdf Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Alt Cart)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (KA rating)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR

Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover
Cart Manual EU Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; black)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, CA
Cover

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, Asia

Cart

Technical information

Main article: Taz-Mania/Technical information.

References

Taz-Mania
	Main page \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs Prototypes: Prototype

Looney Tunes games for Sega systems
	Looney Tunes: By a Hare (unreleased)
	Taz-Mania (1992) \| Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure (1993) \| Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers (1994) \| Taz in Escape from Mars (1994) \| Tiny Toon Adventures: ACME All-Stars (1994) \| Daffy Duck in Hollywood (1995) \| Desert Demolition Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote (1995) \| Cheese Cat-Astrophe Starring Speedy Gonzales (1995) \| Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (1996) \| Road Runner (unreleased)
	Taz-Mania (1992) \| Desert Speedtrap Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote (1993) \| Taz in Escape from Mars (1994) \| Daffy Duck in Hollywood (1994) \| Cheese Cat-Astrophe Starring Speedy Gonzales (1995) \| Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (1996)
	Taz-Mania (1993) \| Desert Speedtrap Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote (1993) \| Daffy Duck in Hollywood (1994) \| Cheese Cat-Astrophe Starring Speedy Gonzales (1995) \| Taz in Escape from Mars (1996)
	Space Jam (1996)
	Looney Tunes: Space Race (2000)
Unlicensed Looney Tunes games for Sega systems
	Tiny Toon Adventures 3 (1996)

[:File:Taz_Mania_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:Taz Mania MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200720095133.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)

[:File:TazMania_MD_KR_Box.jpg_p-3] File:TazMania MD KR Box.jpg

[:File:GamePro_US_035.pdf_p60-4] GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 60

[:File:GamePro_US_037.pdf_p41-5] 5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "August 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 41

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_44.pdf_p39-6] 6.0 ^6.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "September 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 39

[:File:SegaPro_UK_10.pdf_p7-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Sega Pro, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-16), page 7

[:File:SegaPower_UK_32.pdf_p10-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Sega Power, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-04), page 10

[9] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-07-27), page 14

[:File:CVG_UK_128.pdf_p38-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Computer & Video Games, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-15), page 38

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p32-11] Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 32

[Interview:_David_Foley_.282007-10-23.29_by_Sega-16-12] Interview: David Foley (2007-10-23) by Sega-16

[:File:Taz-Mania_MD_credits.pdf_p-13] File:Taz-Mania MD credits.pdf

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_01.pdf_p2-14] Sega Force, "1/93" (SE; 1993-01-14), page 2

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_01.pdf_p35-15] Sega Force, "1/93" (SE; 1993-01-14), page 35

[16] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 236

[:File:AlaabAlcomputtar_SA_2.pdf_p72-17] Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-01.pdf_p31-18] Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1993" (JP; 1992-12-08), page 31

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_011.pdf_p78-19] Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 78

[20] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 218

[:File:EGM_US_037.pdf_p22-21] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 22

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p105-22] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 105

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0211.pdf_p44-23] Famitsu, "1993-01-01" (JP; 1992-12-18), page 44

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p80-24] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80

[:File:GamePower_IT_09.pdf_p40-25] Game Power, "Settembre 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 40

[:File:GamePro_US_037.pdf_p40-26] GamePro, "August 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 40

[27] Hippon Super, "January 1993" (JP; 1992-12-04), page 84

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_011.pdf_p16-28] Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 16

[:File:Joypad_FR_011.pdf_p80-29] Joypad, "Août/Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-07-1x), page 80

[:File:Joystick_FR_029.pdf_p202-30] Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 202

[:File:MDAG_UK_02.pdf_p79-31] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-32] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1993-03.pdf_p59-33] Mega Drive Fan, "March 1993" (JP; 1993-02-xx), page 59

[:File:Mega_UK_05.pdf_p79-34] Mega, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-21), page 79

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1992-07.pdf_p36-35] Mega Fun, "07/92" (DE; 1992-0x-xx), page 36

[:File:MegaPlay_US_0304.pdf_p63-36] Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 63

[:File:MegaTech_UK_06.pdf_p24-37] MegaTech, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-20), page 24

[:File:Micromania2_ES_053.pdf_p85-38] Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 85

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_21.pdf_p52-39] Mean Machines, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-28), page 52

[:File:MarukatuMD_JP_03.pdf_p109-40] Marukatsu Mega Drive, "January 1993" (JP; 1992-12-xx), page 109

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p142-41] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_023.pdf_p62-42] Player One, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-09-10), page 62

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-10.pdf_p109-43] Play Time, "10/92" (DE; 1992-09-02), page 109

[:File:SegaPower_UK_33.pdf_p28-44] Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 28

[:File:SegaPro_UK_15.pdf_p66-45] Sega Pro, "Christmas 1992" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 66

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-46] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SegaPro_UK_10.pdf_p58-47] Sega Pro, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-16), page 58

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1992_01.pdf_p10-48] Sega Force, "1/92" (SE; 1992-xx-xx), page 10

[:File:SegaForce_UK_17.pdf_p80-49] Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 80

[:File:SegaForce_UK_07.pdf_p30-50] Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 30

[:File:SvetIgara_YU_14.pdf_p61-51] Svet Igara, "Jun 1996" (YU; 1996-xx-xx), page 61

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-52] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[:File:Supergame_BR_13.pdf_p18-53] Supergame, "Agosto 1992" (BR; 1992-08-xx), page 18

[:File:Supersonic_FR_02.pdf_p6-54] Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[55] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 195

[:File:User_GR_35.pdf_p49-56] User, "Aprílios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 49

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-08.pdf_p88-57] Video Games, "8/92" (DE; 1992-07-22), page 88

[:File:Zero_UK_36.pdf_p32-58] Zero, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 32

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Taz-Mania

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Items

Levels

History

Development

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References