Daze Before Christmas

From Sega Retro

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DBC Title.png

Daze Before Christmas
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sunsoft
Developer:
Distributor: Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2 (alternating)
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
AU
$89.9589.95[1][2] FDAZ00SMC
OFLC: G
Non-Sega versions
No results

Daze Before Christmas is a Christmas-themed platformer developed by Funcom and published by Sunsoft for the Sega Mega Drive in 1994 and later for the Super NES. It is notable for being the only Mega Drive game on record to be released exclusively in Australia.

According to interviews with with Funcom programmer Carl-Henrik Skårstedt[3] and Sunsoft developer David Siller[4], manufacturing was actually cancelled shortly after the first run had shipped due to quality issues. It had been originally planned to release in North America in November 1994.[5]

Story

A gang of miscreants (the Evil Snowman, the Timekeeper, Louse the Mouse, and Mr. Weather) has colluded to steal Christmas. They have kidnapped the elves, stolen the parts from their toy-making machines, and stolen the kids' presents and cursed them with a spell. Santa must stop them and save Christmas.

Gameplay

Daze Before Christmas, Anti-Claus.png

Anti-Claus

The game is a platformer where the player guides Santa Claus through 24 levels as he races to save Christmas. Santa faces foes such as giant rats, evil toys, and living snowmen using his magic powers to turn them all into harmless Christmas presents. He moves with Left and Right and ducks with Down. He jumps with B and stomps to defeat enemies and open presents by pressing B again in midair. He can also throw magic dust, a ranged attack, with A or C.

Santa can find and open Christmas presents scattered around the levels, which may contain items, enemies, elves, or bombs. By drinking a cup of tea, Santa transforms into a blue-suited, devilish looking version of himself. As "Anti-Claus," Santa is invincible but unable to use his magic or open presents. His primary method of attack is swinging his sack of toys at enemies with A or C, replacing his magic dust.

The game is divided into sections of six levels, which end with a boss fight followed by a flying section. Santa flies in his sleigh over a city around the world and uses the presents he collects to drop them down chimneys with A, B, or C. The player is given a password after these sections for continuing the game.

Santa's health is represented by Santa hats. If he loses all of his hats, he can take one more hit before losing a life. He can collect more hats to replenish lost energy.

Items

Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Presents
Blue presents are dropped by enemies and collected for points. The other presents are found in the levels and contain items, enemies, elves, or bombs.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Hat
Restores one hat of health for Santa.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Bomb
Explodes and harms Santa if he does not avoid it.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Lightning Bolt
Changes the magic dust to shooting fireballs instead, which can melt some barriers to rescue reindeer.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Cup of Tea
Transforms Santa into Anti-Claus for a duration, during which he is invincible but cannot open presents.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Santa
Gives the player an extra life.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Bell
Checkpoint where Santa is revived after losing a life.
Daze Before Christmas, Items.png
Star
Goal at the end of the level.

Levels

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 1 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 1.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 1 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 1.png

Santa's Hallway

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 2 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 2.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 2 Opening.png

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Let It Snow

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 3 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 3.png

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  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 3.png

Ice Cave

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 4 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 4.png

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  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 4.png

Blue Magic

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 5 Boss.png

The Evil Snowman

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 6 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 6.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 6 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 6.png

Over England

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 7 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 7.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 7 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 7.png

Before the Flood
Password: G8WTK3A 

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 8 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 8.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 8 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 8.png

Wood Factory

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 9 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 9.png

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Magic Cave

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 10 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 10.png

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Steel Factory

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 11 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 11.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 11 Opening.png

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The Timekeeper

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 12 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 12.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 12 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 12.png

Over Russia

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 13 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 13.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 13 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 13.png

Winter Waters
Password: X6THTWG 

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 14 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 14.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 14 Opening.png

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Steel Elevators

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 15 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 15.png

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Gift Wrapping

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 16 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 16.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 16 Opening.png

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Magic Bubbles

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17 Boss.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 17 Boss.png

Louse the Mouse

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 18 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 18.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 18 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 18.png

Over Japan

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 19 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 19.png

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  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 19.png

North Pole
Password: KW3TKH4 

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 20 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 20.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 20 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 20.png

Deep Down

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 21 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 21.png

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Busy Basement

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 22 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 22.png

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Santa's House

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 23 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 23.png

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Over U.S.A.

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 24 Opening.png

Daze Before Christmas, Stage 24.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 24 Opening.png

  • Daze Before Christmas, Stage 24.png

Mr. Weather
Password: XAHGK9A 

History

Development

Daze took about 1 year in total, but the problem was I didn't start until 6 months into the project so I had a lot of art and the code from A Dinosaur's Tale to combine, the SNES version was converting the same code that was already on Genesis so it took me about 6 months (I was on the Genesis version and there was one programmer on the SNES version). Unfortunately Sunsoft USA ran out of money and went bankrupt about the same day the SNES version was finished.

Carl-Henrik Skårstedt[6]


Production credits

  • Inspired By: Rita Zimmerer
  • Executive Producers: David Siller, Erik Gløersen
  • Producers: Sam Patel, Henning Rokling
  • Main Programming: Carl-Henrik Skārstedt
  • Additional Programming: Olav Mørkrid
  • Engine Coding: Roar Flølo, Morten Ofstad
  • Environment Programming: Eivind Eklund, Ivar Just Olsen, Johan Køhler
  • Data Crunching Program: Eivind Hagen
  • Technical Manager - Sunsoft: Al Artus
  • Music and Sound Effects: Kim M Jensen, Geir Tjelta
  • Main Graphics Artists: Joachim Barrum, Tore Blystad, Ole-Petter Rosenlund
  • Main Character Animation: Ole-Petter Rosenlund
  • Additional Graphics: Lars Petter Anfinsen, Erik Bakken, Torkell Bernsen, Christophe Branche, Ronnie Jensen, Glenn Kristoffersen, Colin McMahon, Tommy Svensson
  • Level Editing: Jack Kristoffersen
  • Game Design: Gaute Godager, Bjørn Røstøen, Tommy Sydsæter
  • Play Testing: Sam Patel, Steve Rizor, Rene Boutin, Steve Gehrke, Dan MacArthur, Justin Siller, Mario Zavala
  • Chairman, Sunsoft: Masami Maeda
  • Vice Chairman, Sunsoft: Tad Shimamoto
  • Director, Sunsoft Japan: Kiharu Yoshida
  • General Manager and International Development Coordinator: Kenji Yoshioka
  • Marketing Director: Karen Shadley
  • Game Play Manual: Alison Quirion
  • Executive Assistant: Nanette Hyssong
  • Customer Service: Kaz Harman, June Eckert, Connie Perez, Julie Williams, Jamie Jorgenson, Erin Berry, Jaupale Laster
  • Best Regards To: Mari, Sonja, Merethe, Marte, Tone, Silje, Karoline, Maria + Pusen, Endre, Heidi, Alta, Walt, Trond, Skynet, Mack, Cheese & Inger, Roar, Andre, Anders, Tommy, Lisa, Erik + Janne, Super GB, Vebjørn, Thomas, Stein, Supergei, Jens-Harald, Kælliførd & Pāl, Vegard Og Gjengen, Kølla, Badla, Øks, Zumo, Antimon, Richard & Marius, Spacey, Tomten, Sonrop Ad, Jonathan Skārstedt, Sebastian Skārstedt, Martin Ranang, Diderich Buch, Slumsøstrene, Bruce Reilly, Cathy Juby, Darin Horgan, Mark Luszcz, Toko Okano, Kazuaki Goto, Masato Kawai, Akito Takeuchi, Karen Lillie, Sherry Ross
Happy Holidays from Sunsoft and Funcom
Source:
In-game credits
Daze Before Christmas MD credits.pdf
[7]

Magazine articles

Main article: Daze Before Christmas/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
59
[8]
(RU)
50
[9]
(RU)
50
[10]
(AU) PAL
58
[11]
(AU) PAL
52
[2]
Sega Mega Drive
54
Based on
5 reviews

Daze Before Christmas

Mega Drive, AU
DBC MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
DazeBeforeChristmas MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Daze Before Christmas MD AU Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Daze Before Christmas/Technical information.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 File:NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf, page 8
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sega Megazone, "December 1994" (AU; 1994-1x-xx), page 45
  3. https://www.sega-16.com/2011/04/interview-carl-henrik-skarstedt/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-02-04 04:17)
  4. https://www.sega-16.com/2007/07/interview-david-siller/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-02 17:41)
  5. Sunsoft US catalogue (Summer 1994), page 19
  6. http://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0121 (Wayback Machine: 2022-11-28 02:47)
  7. File:Daze Before Christmas MD credits.pdf
  8. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 54
  9. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 86
  10. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 304
  11. Hyper, "January 1995" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 77


Daze Before Christmas

DBC Title.png

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