Woody Pop

For the version released for mobile phones, see Woody Pop (mobile).

n/a

Master System Game Gear
Woody Pop
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega R&D 2 Shimada Kikaku
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR) Samsung (KR)
Peripherals supported: Paddle Control
Genre: Action, Puzzle
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP (Card) 1987-03-15 ¥5,5005,500 C-519 JP 1991-03-01 ¥2,9002,900 G-3103 US 1991-08 $29.9529.95 2203 EU 1991-11 2203 UK 1991-11-08 £24.9924.99 2203 BR 199x 013530 KR 199x GH0004JG

Woody Pop, known as Woody Pop: Shinjinrui no Block Kuzugi (ウッディポップ 新人類のブロックくずし) in Japan, is a ball-and-paddle game similar to the likes of Breakout and Arkanoid. It was originally released exclusively in Japan for the Sega Master System in 1987, before being given an international release on the Sega Game Gear in 1991.

The Master System version of the game is designed to be used with the Paddle Control, and it does not function correctly with any other controller. It would be the last game released in Japan under Sega My Card Mark III storage media. A US Master System release of the game was planned but cancelled.

Story

In the Japanese version, Woody (ウッディ) is a tree spirit who must venture into the Bizarre Building (ビザール館) to rescue gumballs, destroying the building blocks in the way.

In the Western versions, the Enchanted Mansion is a toy factory that produces magical toys. The Mad Machine, a crazed gumball machine, has taken over the factory and blocked off its rooms. Woody Pop is a wooden toy who must break down the block barriers and free the factory.

Gameplay

Gameplay

Branching paths

Players control Woody, a wooden paddle that must bounce a ball in rooms filled with blocks. Blocks consist of normal blocks, which disappear when they are hit by the ball, special "mystery" blocks that release hazards such as toy soldiers and wind-up robots, and crystal blocks that release items that grant Woody special powers. The ball ricochets off Woody, walls, and blocks, and it speeds up the more it bounces. Other obstructions include a toy train that rides across the tracks in the middle of a level.

Woody is moved with and . At the start of a level, the ball is stuck to Woody, but it can be released and put into play by pressing .

The level ends when all of the blocks are cleared (aside from the mystery blocks, which cannot be destroyed). After completing a level, the player is given the choice between as many as three other levels to choose to play next, letting the player choose a different path through the house with each playthrough. The player can choose a path by moving Woody near the desired arrow and pressing . Different paths award a different number of points, with more difficult levels awarding more points. There are 50 levels, though they are not all played in every game because of the branching paths. There are also hidden bonus rooms that can be accessed by bouncing the ball through certain holes.

The player loses a ball if the ball falls into the big pit at the bottom of the level (but the ball can bounce off the bottom corners of the level surrounding the pit). The game ends if the player runs out of balls (though it can be continued). There are three difficulty levels (Beginner, Average, and Expert). This setting affects how quickly the ball speeds up after bouncing off things and how often extra balls are given (the first extra ball is always given at 20,000 points, then additional extra balls are earned every 40,000 points on Beginner and every 80,000 points on Average; only the first extra ball is given on Expert).

Blocks

	Normal Block
	These are the most common blocks. They are cleared when hit by a ball one time. They come in different colors, which behave the same but have different point values. Red blocks are worth 50 points, blue blocks are worth 60 points, white blocks are worth 70 points, green blocks are worth 80 points, pink blocks are worth 90 points, and yellow blocks are worth 100 points.
	Wooden Block
	These blocks are hardier than the normal blocks and must be hit three times to clear. The Flames item can destroy them in one hit. Worth 100 points each time it is hit.
	Crystal Block
	These blocks behave the same as normal blocks, but they release an item when they are cleared. Worth 100 points when cleared.
	? Block
	These blocks release toy robots or soldiers when they are hit, which wander the level and act as obstructions. The toys are destroyed in one hit (for 100 points each), but the block can only be destroyed using a Diamond item. Worth 1,000 points when cleared.
	Nails
	Nails are not worth any points and cannot be destroyed. They solely act as obstructions.

Items

Only one power-up effect can be active at a time; grabbing another one loses any currently active effect. Items are worth 500 points (except for the Skull, which is worth no points).

	Diamond
	Transforms the ball in a diamond ball that penetrates through multiple blocks without bouncing off (though it still bounces off walls and other hard surfaces such as nails). Diamond balls are also the only way to destroy the mystery blocks that generate enemy soldiers and robots.
	Flames
	Infuses the ball in fire, which sets blocks on fire, causing the blocks above it and below it to also burn, destroying all three. Flaming balls can also destroy wooden blocks in a single hit.
	Weight
	Makes the ball heavier, which slows it down.
	Yellow Potion
	Grows Woody wider, so it is easier to catch the ball.
	Red Potion
	Increases the size of the ball, which makes it easier to catch and easier to hit blocks.
	Double
	Creates a second ball that bounces around along with the first. The player only loses a ball if both balls are lost.
	Extra Ball
	Gives the player an extra ball (equivalent to an extra life).
	Shot
	Arms Woody with a single shot that shoots straight up and can hit blocks and enemies. It is fired with .
	Glue
	Causes the ball to stick to Woody (similar to how it starts at the beginning of the level). It is released with .
	Skull
	Enlarges the size of the pit, making it easier to lose the ball. This is the only item that produces a negative effect.
	Hammer
	Repairs the pit and shrinks it back down to normal size. This item only appears if the pit has been enlarged by the Skull item.

Versions

The Master System and Game Gear versions have the same gameplay (including blocks, items, and level layouts), but the levels on the Game Gear version are truncated to fit in the smaller screen size. The Master System requires the Paddle Control, which replaces the two-dimensional D-Pad with a one-dimensional wheel, and it cannot be played with a conventional control pad.

Production credits

Main article: Woody Pop/Production credits.

Master System version

• Designer: Kotaro Hayashida
• Programmer: Keiichi Yamamoto
• Music: Tokuhiko Uwabo

Source:

Uncredited

Digital manuals

• 

  Judgment manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Woody Pop/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)
also published in:

• Mega Drive Fan (JP) #14: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)

Artwork

• 

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 47

	61
Based on 2 reviews

Woody Pop

Master System, JP
Cover
Card Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score ACE (UK) 90 Ação Games (BR) 88 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 63 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 70 Consoles + (FR) 75 Console XS (UK) PAL 87 Game Power (IT) 74 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 60 Game Zone (UK) 46 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Hobby Consolas (ES) 88 Joypad (FR) PAL 88 Joystick (FR) 70 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 60 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 33 Player One (FR) 70 Raze (UK) 69 Sega Power (UK) 85 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Pro (UK) 86 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 87 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 77

	72
Based on 22 reviews

Woody Pop

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, BR
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, KR
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 315917d4 MD5 1b1b6051027806a98e9947b5ae5f0076 SHA-1 b74078c4a3e6d20d21ca81e88c0cb3381b0c84a4	32kB		Cartridge (JP)
?	CRC32 9c0e5a04 MD5 c017baf7fa0de71219dfab91caa59f8f SHA-1 9e7defda6873b7bca5650fad4426a6fb443522d8	32kB		Cartridge
?	CRC32 b74f3a4f MD5 a23e89266ddad3c856e7401d04a49c6c SHA-1 4efbfa1d3234d8f1800a06ab72b2177fba6914cb	32kB		Cartridge