Difference between revisions of "Growl"

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{{Bob
 
{{Bob
 
| bobscreen=Growl MDTitleScreen.png
 
| bobscreen=Growl MDTitleScreen.png
−
| publisher=[[Taito]]
+
| bobscreen2=Runark MDTitleScreen.png
 +
| tab1=NTSC-U
 +
| tab2=NTSC-J
 +
| publisher={{company|[[Taito]]|region=JP, FR}}
 +
{{company|[[Taito America]]|region=US}}
 +
{{company|[[Samsung]]|region=KR}}
 
| developer=[[I.T.L]]
 
| developer=[[I.T.L]]
 +
| distributor={{company|[[Samsung]]|region=KR}}
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
−
| sounddriver=
+
| sounddriver=[[SMPS Z80]]
 
| peripherals=
 
| peripherals=
 
| players=1
 
| players=1
−
| genre=Action
+
| genre=Action{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}
−
| originalpublishers=
 
 
| originaldevelopers=[[Taito]]
 
| originaldevelopers=[[Taito]]
−
| consolescompilation=Taito F2 System
+
| originalsystem=Taito F2 System
 
| releases={{releasesMD
 
| releases={{releasesMD
 +
| md_date_jp=1991-11-15{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}
 +
| md_rrp_jp=6,800
 +
| md_code_jp=T-11153
 
| md_date_us=1991
 
| md_date_us=1991
−
| md_date_jp=1991-11-15
 
 
| md_code_us=11076
 
| md_code_us=11076
−
| md_rrp_jp=6,800
+
| md_date_us_sc=199x
−
| md_code_jp=T-11153
+
| md_rrp_us_sc=sub
−
| md_date_kr=?
+
| md_rating_us_sc=
 +
| md_date_kr=199x
 
| md_code_kr=GM4016JT
 
| md_code_kr=GM4016JT
 +
| md_date_fr=199x
 +
| md_code_fr=11076
 
}}
 
}}
 +
| otherformats={{NonSega|Arcade}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known as '''''Runark''''' (ルナーク) in Japan, is an arcade beat-em-up by [[Taito]] developed in 1990 and released in 1991. The game was ported to the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in 1991 and released only in the US and Japan (though the arcade version was also released in Europe).
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', known in Japan as '''''Runark''''' (ルナーク), is a [[Sega Mega Drive]] beat-'em-up game developed by [[I.T.L.]] and published by [[Taito]]. A port of the publisher's titular 1990 arcade game ''[[wikipedia:Growl (video game)|Growl]]'', it was first released in Japan in November 1991{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}, and was later brought to the United States in the following months. The American release would eventually be officially distributed in France with a French-language manual{{ref|http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/RunArk/#v290}}, and ''Growl'' would even be published in South Korea by [[Samsung]].
 +
 
 +
==Story==
 +
{{ScreenThumb|Growl, Introduction.png|width=200|Introduction}}
 +
A worldwide craze to own exotic pets has led to many species being hunted to near-extinction by the poaching and smuggling ring calling itself the Rendow Animal Protection Organization (RAPO). The Protector of Animals' World Society (PAWS) has committed itself to ending this trade and defeating RAPO.
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
−
You play as one of four early-20th-century rangers trying to stop a group of poachers from making many species of wild animals extinct. {{A}} punches, {{B}} jumps. If an enemy drops a weapon, {{A}} picks it up and uses it, and {{C}} lets it go. If you don't have a weapon in your hand, {{C}} performs a spinning kick, {{Up}}+{{C}} performs a spinning jump kick, and {{Left}}+{{C}} and {{Right}}+{{C}} performs a leaping kick in the appropriate direction.
+
{{ScreenThumb|Growl, Character Select.png|width=200|Character select}}
 +
The game is a belt-scrolling beat-'em-up. The player begins the game by choosing from one of four different forest rangers, each with a different amount of health, attack strength, and jumping height. The character walks with {{left}} and {{right}} and moves in and out of the plane with {{up}} and {{down}}. He jumps with {{B}} and attacks with {{A}}. He can perform a variety of different attacks (punches, kicks, and finishing blows) depending on the position of an enemy. Without a weapon equipped, he performs a spinning kick with {{A}}+{{B}} or with {{C}} or a leaping kick with {{left}}+{{C}} or {{right}}+{{C}}, though these special moves cost a small amount of health and cannot be performed if the player does not have enough health remaining.
  
−
==History==
+
The player can procure weapons by destroying barrels and wooden crates or disarming certain enemies. There are a total of eight weapons which can be obtained: three melee weapons (a pipe, a sword and a whip), two throwing weapons (knives and hand grenades), and three firearms (a revolver, an M-16 assault rifle, and a four-barreled rocket launcher). The barrels and crates can be picked up and thrown at enemies as well. When the assault rifle or rocket launcher runs out of ammunition, they are still wielded by the player as melee weapons. The revolver, on the other hand, is thrown by the player after all of its bullets are used. The player can drop the current weapon with {{C}}. If a weapon lies on the ground after a certain period, it vanishes completely.
−
===Versions===
+
 
 +
Some of the stages have animals that help out the player after they are rescued from a poacher, such as an eagle, a herd of deer, and an elephant.
 +
 
 +
The character has a limited amount of health, indicated in the status area at the bottom of the screen, which is lost by taking damage from enemies or using special moves. The player can pick up apples to restore some health. If the player runs out of health, the game ends, but it can be continued as long as there are continues remaining.
 +
 
 +
===Characters===
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=50|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Gen
 +
| sprite={{sprite | Growl, Characters.png | 1.5 | crop_width=32 | crop_height=56 | crop_x=0 | crop_y=0}}
 +
| desc=He has good health and attack and a high jump.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Burn
 +
| sprite={{sprite | Growl, Characters.png | 1.5 | crop_width=32 | crop_height=56 | crop_x=32 | crop_y=0}}
 +
| desc=He has high health and a good jump but low attack strength.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Khan
 +
| sprite={{sprite | Growl, Characters.png | 1.5 | crop_width=32 | crop_height=56 | crop_x=64 | crop_y=0}}
 +
| desc=He has high health and a high jump but low attack strength.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Jack
 +
| sprite={{sprite | Growl, Characters.png | 1.5 | crop_width=32 | crop_height=56 | crop_x=96 | crop_y=0}}
 +
| desc=He has the highest attack strength and a good jump but the least health.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Battlefields===
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=320|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Machanga
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 1-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 1-2.png
 +
| screenshot3=Growl, Stage 1-3.png
 +
| screenshot4=Growl, Stage 1-4.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=The Unwelcome Passenger
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 2.png
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Bonus Stage
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Bonus Stage.png
 +
| desc=Destroy the cages to set the birds free.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Down on the Docks
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 3-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 3-2.png
 +
| screenshot3=Growl, Stage 3-3.png
 +
| screenshot4=Growl, Stage 3-4.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Cargo of Death
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 4-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 4-2.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Jungle Battle
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 5-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 5-2.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Daggers in the Dark
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 6-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 6-2.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=The RAPO Base
 +
| screenshot=Growl, Stage 7-1.png
 +
| screenshot2=Growl, Stage 7-2.png
 +
| screenshot3=Growl, Stage 7-3.png
 +
| screenshot4=Growl, Stage 7-4.png
 +
| screenshot5=Growl, Stage 7-5.png
 +
| tabs=yes
 +
| desc=
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Versions==
 
Even though the arcade machine supported up to four players simultaneously, the Mega Drive version of ''Growl'' is a one-player only game. All sampled speech has been removed in the Sega conversion, and is substituted with captions at the bottom of the screen.
 
Even though the arcade machine supported up to four players simultaneously, the Mega Drive version of ''Growl'' is a one-player only game. All sampled speech has been removed in the Sega conversion, and is substituted with captions at the bottom of the screen.
 +
 +
===Localised names===
 +
{{aka
 +
|us_name=Growl
 +
|jp_name=ルナーク
 +
|jp_trans=Runark
 +
|jp_rom=
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Production credits==
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*Princess Sana, F/A-18 Otaku, K Kobayashi
 +
*Yuji Takasu, H Ichisumi, Tomo, Funky Miyagi
 +
*K Asakura
 +
*Gota Goto
 +
*Bugtori-no Y, Mystery Hunter, Kanna, Steed Sasapi!, Celica Kunipi!, Kiyotaka Akaza, Izumi Katoh, F Hayashi
 +
*Kenichi Hiza
 +
| source=In-game credits
 +
| pdf=Runark MD credits.pdf
 +
| console=MD
 +
}}
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
Line 34: Line 163:
  
 
==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
−
{{gallery
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Promotional material}}
−
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
−
|GamePro US 031.pdf|gamepro|31|45
 
−
}}
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==Physical scans==
 
==Physical scans==
−
{{ratings
+
{{ratings|MD}}
−
| icon=MD
 
−
| gamesx=70
 
−
| gamesx_source={{num|32}}
 
−
| gen4=70
 
−
| gen4_source={{num|40|page=138|pdf=Generation4 FR 040.pdf|pdfpage=138}}
 
−
| joypad=62
 
−
| joypad_source={{num|4}}
 
−
| joystick=70
 
−
| joystick_source={{num|23|page=114|pdf=Joystick FR 023.pdf}}
 
−
| megatech=50
 
−
| megatech_source={{num|2|page=50/51|pdf=MegaTech UK 02.pdf|pdfpage=50}}
 
−
| segapro=70
 
−
| segapro_source={{num|3|page=60/61|pdf=SegaPro UK 03.pdf|pdfpage=60}}
 
−
| segapro_1=58
 
−
| segapro_source_1={{num|18|page=67}}
 
−
| supergame=84
 
−
| supergame_source={{num|12|page=17|pdf=Supergame BR 12.pdf}}
 
−
}}
 
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=JP
 +
| cover=Growl MD JP Box.jpg
 +
| cart=Runark MD JP Cart.jpg
 +
| carttop=RUNARK MD JP CartTop.jpg
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=US
 
| region=US
Line 68: Line 181:
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
−
| region=JP
+
| region=FR
−
| cover=Growl MD JP Box.jpg
+
| cover=
−
| cart=Runark MD JP Cart.jpg
+
| cart=
−
| carttop=RUNARK MD JP CartTop.jpg
 
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
Line 78: Line 190:
 
| cart=Runark MD KR Cart.jpg
 
| cart=Runark MD KR Cart.jpg
 
| cartback=Runark MD KR Cart Back.jpg
 
| cartback=Runark MD KR Cart Back.jpg
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=Mega Drive
 
−
| region=SE (Rental)
 
−
| cover=
 
−
| cart=
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Technical information==
 
==Technical information==
−
===ROM dump status===
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}
−
{{romtable|
 
−
{{rom|MD|sha1=63a08057fe9fd489590f39c5c06709266f625ab0|md5=3152ebc067925b0ca35d20290de0985a|crc32=f60ef143|size=512kB|date=1991-11|source=Cartridge (US)|comments=|quality=good|prototype=}}
 
−
{{rom|MD|sha1=25a0322db3b82e3da6f1dab550b3e52f21be6b58|md5=5a41a9e23515f2a6097fcb279e345ba8|crc32=0894d8fb|size=512kB|date=1991-11|source=Cartridge (JP/KR)|comments=|quality=good|prototype=}}
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
{{GrowlOmni}}
  
 
[[Category:Sega Channel games]]
 
[[Category:Sega Channel games]]

Latest revision as of 22:53, 20 November 2024

n/a

  • NTSC-U
  • NTSC-J

Growl MDTitleScreen.png

Runark MDTitleScreen.png

Growl
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Taito (JP, FR)

Taito America (US) Samsung (KR)

Developer:
Distributor: Samsung (KR)
Original system(s): Taito F2 System
Developer(s) of original games: Taito
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,8006,800 T-11153
Sega Mega Drive
US 		11076
Sega Mega Drive
US ▼
(Sega Channel) 		SUBsub
Sega Mega Drive
FR 		11076
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM4016JT
Non-Sega versions

Growl, known in Japan as Runark (ルナーク), is a Sega Mega Drive beat-'em-up game developed by I.T.L. and published by Taito. A port of the publisher's titular 1990 arcade game Growl, it was first released in Japan in November 1991[1], and was later brought to the United States in the following months. The American release would eventually be officially distributed in France with a French-language manual[2], and Growl would even be published in South Korea by Samsung.

Story

Growl, Introduction.png

Introduction

A worldwide craze to own exotic pets has led to many species being hunted to near-extinction by the poaching and smuggling ring calling itself the Rendow Animal Protection Organization (RAPO). The Protector of Animals' World Society (PAWS) has committed itself to ending this trade and defeating RAPO.

Gameplay

Growl, Character Select.png

Character select

The game is a belt-scrolling beat-'em-up. The player begins the game by choosing from one of four different forest rangers, each with a different amount of health, attack strength, and jumping height. The character walks with Left and Right and moves in and out of the plane with Up and Down. He jumps with B and attacks with A. He can perform a variety of different attacks (punches, kicks, and finishing blows) depending on the position of an enemy. Without a weapon equipped, he performs a spinning kick with A+B or with C or a leaping kick with Left+C or Right+C, though these special moves cost a small amount of health and cannot be performed if the player does not have enough health remaining.

The player can procure weapons by destroying barrels and wooden crates or disarming certain enemies. There are a total of eight weapons which can be obtained: three melee weapons (a pipe, a sword and a whip), two throwing weapons (knives and hand grenades), and three firearms (a revolver, an M-16 assault rifle, and a four-barreled rocket launcher). The barrels and crates can be picked up and thrown at enemies as well. When the assault rifle or rocket launcher runs out of ammunition, they are still wielded by the player as melee weapons. The revolver, on the other hand, is thrown by the player after all of its bullets are used. The player can drop the current weapon with C. If a weapon lies on the ground after a certain period, it vanishes completely.

Some of the stages have animals that help out the player after they are rescued from a poacher, such as an eagle, a herd of deer, and an elephant.

The character has a limited amount of health, indicated in the status area at the bottom of the screen, which is lost by taking damage from enemies or using special moves. The player can pick up apples to restore some health. If the player runs out of health, the game ends, but it can be continued as long as there are continues remaining.

Characters

Growl, Characters.png
 Gen
He has good health and attack and a high jump.
Growl, Characters.png
 Burn
He has high health and a good jump but low attack strength.
Growl, Characters.png
 Khan
He has high health and a high jump but low attack strength.
Growl, Characters.png
 Jack
He has the highest attack strength and a good jump but the least health.

Battlefields

Growl, Stage 1-1.png

Growl, Stage 1-2.png

Growl, Stage 1-3.png

Growl, Stage 1-4.png

  • Growl, Stage 1-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 1-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 1-3.png

  • Growl, Stage 1-4.png

Machanga

Growl, Stage 2.png

The Unwelcome Passenger

Growl, Bonus Stage.png

Bonus Stage
Destroy the cages to set the birds free.

Growl, Stage 3-1.png

Growl, Stage 3-2.png

Growl, Stage 3-3.png

Growl, Stage 3-4.png

  • Growl, Stage 3-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 3-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 3-3.png

  • Growl, Stage 3-4.png

Down on the Docks

Growl, Stage 4-1.png

Growl, Stage 4-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 4-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 4-2.png

Cargo of Death

Growl, Stage 5-1.png

Growl, Stage 5-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 5-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 5-2.png

Jungle Battle

Growl, Stage 6-1.png

Growl, Stage 6-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 6-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 6-2.png

Daggers in the Dark

Growl, Stage 7-1.png

Growl, Stage 7-2.png

Growl, Stage 7-3.png

Growl, Stage 7-4.png

Growl, Stage 7-5.png

  • Growl, Stage 7-1.png

  • Growl, Stage 7-2.png

  • Growl, Stage 7-3.png

  • Growl, Stage 7-4.png

  • Growl, Stage 7-5.png

The RAPO Base

Versions

Even though the arcade machine supported up to four players simultaneously, the Mega Drive version of Growl is a one-player only game. All sampled speech has been removed in the Sega conversion, and is substituted with captions at the bottom of the screen.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English (US) Growl Growl
Japanese ルナーク Runark

Production credits

  • Princess Sana, F/A-18 Otaku, K Kobayashi
  • Yuji Takasu, H Ichisumi, Tomo, Funky Miyagi
  • K Asakura
  • Gota Goto
  • Bugtori-no Y, Mystery Hunter, Kanna, Steed Sasapi!, Celica Kunipi!, Kiyotaka Akaza, Izumi Katoh, F Hayashi
  • Kenichi Hiza
Source:
In-game credits
Runark MD credits.pdf
[3]


Magazine articles

Main article: Growl/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Growl/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[4]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) NTSC-J
30
[5]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
55
[6]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
55
[7]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
78
[8]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[9]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
50
[10]
Games-X (UK)
70
[11]
Génération 4 (FR)
70
[12]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
40
[13]
Joypad (FR)
62
[14]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
70
[15]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
59
[16]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
50
[17]
Power Play (DE)
45
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
70
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
58
[20]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
54
[21]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-J
84
[22]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U
59
[23]
User (GR) NTSC-U
52
[24]
Sega Mega Drive
 57
Based on
21 reviews

Growl

Mega Drive, JP
Growl MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
RUNARK MD JP CartTop.jpg
Runark MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US
Growl MD US cover.jpg
Cover
Growl MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Growl MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, FR

Mega Drive, KR
Runark MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
Runark MD KR Cart Back.jpgRunark MD KR Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Growl/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  2. ↑ http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/RunArk/#v290
  3. ↑ File:Runark MD credits.pdf
  4. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 132
  5. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 197
  6. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1992" (DE; 1992-02-14), page 116
  7. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 38
  8. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  9. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 179
  10. ↑ Famitsu, "1991-11-15,22" (JP; 1991-11-01), page 39
  11. ↑ Games-X, "28th November-4th December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 30
  12. ↑ Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 138
  13. ↑ Hippon Super, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-05), page 89
  14. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 90
  15. ↑ Joystick, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 114
  16. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 89
  17. ↑ MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 50
  18. ↑ Power Play, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-12), page 136
  19. ↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 60
  20. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  21. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  22. ↑ Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 17
  23. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 83
  24. ↑ User, "Ioúlios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 88


Growl

Growl MDTitleScreen.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1991-08-26
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Growl&oldid=1038851"