Difference between revisions of "Taz in Escape from Mars"

From Sega Retro

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{{company|[[Al Baker & Associates]]|system=GG}}
 
{{company|[[Al Baker & Associates]]|system=GG}}
 
{{company|[[Tec Toy]]|system=SMS}}
 
{{company|[[Tec Toy]]|system=SMS}}
 +
| distributor={{company|[[Ballistic]]|system=MD|region=US Mega Hit Series}}
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Sega Master System]], [[Sega Game Gear]]
 
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Sega Master System]], [[Sega Game Gear]]
 
| romsize={{MD}} 2MB
 
| romsize={{MD}} 2MB

Revision as of 12:41, 2 February 2020

n/a

TEfM Title.png

Taz in Escape from Mars
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega
Sega Master System
Tec Toy
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Ballistic (US Mega Hit Series)
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9959.99[2] 1546
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Mega Hit)
$19.9919.99[3]
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1546-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ1546/ 1546-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Game Gear
US
2538
Sega Game Gear
EU
2538-50
Sega Game Gear
BR
077170
Sega Master System
BR
028620

Taz in Escape from Mars, also known as Escape from Mars Starring Taz, is a platform game developed by HeadGames and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. The Master System version of the game was ported from the Game Gear version by Tec Toy, and was released in March 1997, exclusively to Brazil. It is a sequel to Taz-Mania that follows Taz escaping from Mars, and his captor: Marvin the Martian.

During development it adopted the longer title of Tasmanian Devil in Escape from Mars.

Story

Marvin the Martian visits his Martian zoo and finds an empty cage. He looks in his book for Earth creatures and finds Taz, the Tasmanian devil. Marvin gets the idea of capturing Taz for his zoo and heads to Earth to capture him. Meanwhile, Taz is minding his own business, when suddenly, Marvin beams Taz up into his flying saucer and takes Taz to his Martian zoo, where subsequently Taz escapes.

Gameplay

Controls

The control scheme is identical to Taz-Mania. By default, A makes Taz perform various actions when applicable, B makes Taz spin, and C makes Taz jump. The controls can be changed by going into the options at the Title Screen, and pressing either A, B or C to rotate the controls around.

Taz plays almost exactly the way he did in his previous game. By jumping while holding Down, Taz can jump straight down through certain platforms. Jumping and spinning in mid-air can allow for a somewhat further jump, and doing so in between two close walls bounces Taz back and forth, sending him upwards in a sort-of "wall jump" type of maneuver. Spinning into slopes while holding a directional button allows Taz to move in an almost Sonic-like fashion, spinning along walls and even ceilings! Taz can also dig into certain patches of soft ground by spinning while holding up or down.

The other various actions performed by pressing A include: flipping a switch, spitting a rock, breathing out a flame, or picking up something. Unlike Taz-Mania, pressing A does NOT animate Taz.

Enemies

Most enemies take one hit, others take two. Most bosses take 6 to 8 hits. Only one non-boss enemy takes more than two hits to destroy. Taz takes one point of damage by touching an enemy while not spinning, or being hit by an enemy attack. Taz can sustain 12 hit points. Some boss enemies take two hit points and Marvin's dog, K-9, takes four hit points. Some enemies, like the fly or armored soldier (in the haunted castle world) cannot be defeated by the spin, but only by rocks or the flame. Others, like Yosemite Sam, cannot be defeated at all.

Completing Levels

Taz can complete a level in one of two ways. In levels without a boss, Taz will reach an EXIT sign. When approached, Taz eats the EXIT sign, thus ending the level. In the final level of each world, Taz fights a boss. After defeating the boss, Taz finds an ACME crate. Entering the ACME crate will end the level and the current world. This is almost similar in some respects to how Acts and Zones end in Sonic the Hedgehog, with a signpost and a capsule, respectively.

Power-ups/downs

The most common type of power-up is food. Food replenishes Taz's health. By spinning into the food, the food is destroyed. Food items include burgers, bread, fruit, ham, and cakes. The medical pack is a special power-up which replenishes 6 hit points if eaten, half of Taz's health. Other power-ups include boxes of rocks, and gas containers. By eating the box of rocks, Taz can spit out rocks at his enemies. By eating the gas container, Taz can breathe fire. Each gives ten shots. Extra lives and continues are scattered around in the levels.

Also, there are various power-downs that take away health. The most common of which are small black bombs. Others include a time bomb, and a cake with dynamite. When eaten, the object explodes making Taz lose one hit point and become black momentarily.

Other objects include shrink and grow potions. While enlarged, Taz can destroy any enemy by simply touching it and enemy attacks do not damage Taz. While shrunk, Taz cannot destroy anything, but can get through narrow passageways. By contacting these items in a spin, they are destroyed, useful on the explosives, but bad on the healing items.

Levels

There are 6 worlds, each with 2 or 3 levels, followed by a boss at the end. Each world has a set of unique challenges, many of which closely related. The enemies, though with different shapes and appearances, commonly have the same action for the same type (such as a space ship shooting light rays). There are numerous enemies and powerups.

Notavailable.svg

Mars
Taz begins on Mars in the Martian zoo Marvin brought him to. The first level sees Taz navigating through zoo cages and busting through walls. Scattered around are teleporters to teleport Taz to different parts of the level. The second level sees Taz navigating a multitude of obstacles, including moving platforms hovering above spikes, and metal pipes that Taz can spin along, allowing him to move across walls and ceilings in a style similar to Sonic the Hedgehog. The boss is an alien resembling an elephant. The alien swings its long spines around in circles, then shoots exploding mines that bounce around. Dodge the first attack by spinning along the walls and ceiling in a circle. Then avoid the mines. The alien will then open his eyes. Spin into him to defeat him.

Notavailable.svg

Moleworld
Moleworld has hunters in the form of moles. There is also dirt that Taz can dig into, often littered with spiky mines. The second level involves a underground mine with a mole hunter driving a large tunnel boring machine that constantly moves forward and takes Taz's life away instantly. The boss is one of the mole hunters in a large spaceship in an area where Taz constantly falls with rocks along the way.

Notavailable.svg

Planet X
Planet X involves some flying, and a little water. The first half of the first level involves land exploration with sliding along waterfalls and fast-moving rivers at the last half. The second level is entirely extensive waterfalls with many octopus and its tentacles. The third level is entirely flying. The boss is a large green centipede-like creature with spikes covering its body making several curves and zigzags each time it comes out of the ground.

Notavailable.svg

Mexico
Having arrived back on Earth, Taz is placed on a long, fast-moving wagon train pulled by mules with occasional cows and bulls along the pathway. Falling off this causes Taz to lose health and get dragged back slowly. Yosemite Sam sometimes appears here as well with a bird flying along that drops sticks of dynamite from the air, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner also appear. The second level involves Taz exploring a Mexican town. Yosemite Sam fires his guns wildly in two places and it is the first level that introduces going indoors. The boss is a bull fight with Toro the bull, of which Taz needs to trick Toro into slamming into the walls of the stadium.

Notavailable.svg

Haunted Castle
The haunted castle is the last world visited while Taz is on Earth. The first level is outdoors. The last two levels are both indoors. The last indoor level is in a laboratory. The boss is an evil scientist with Gossamer.

Notavailable.svg

Marvin's House
Taz visits Marvin's house to confront him. The first level is outside where the level is drifting along the stars. The dog, K-9, is seen in two occasions as is even twice as powerful than any boss. The second level is a laser maze where Taz must shut off four lasers in order to access Marvin. Touching the lasers causes Taz to take damage. Gravity in the laser maze level is also varies on any of four basic directions: the usual straight down, but also up, left, and right. The final boss is Marvin himself.

After defeating Marvin, Taz jacks a space ship and pilots it back to Earth. The game ends when the animal eats a pile of fruit on the way home and went away spinning all the way.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Source:
In-game credits [5]


Source:
Manual credits (US)
Taz Escape From Mars MD US Manual.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Taz in Escape from Mars/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Mega Drive ES print advert 1
Mega Drive ES print advert 2
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive/Game Gear print advert in EGM² (US) #2: "August 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #62: "September 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Game Gear print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #38: "Noviembre 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Merchandise

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 [9]
68 [10]
70 [11]
85 [12]
69 [13]
77 №5, p14
80 [14]
70 [15]
74 №25, p54-55
79 №45, p84-85
90 №59, p44-46
83 №37, p64-65
70 №35, p10-11
Sega Mega Drive
77
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[16]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[17]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[18]
Consoles + (FR)
88
[19]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[20]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
68
[10]
Digitiser (UK)
61
[21]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
83
[22]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[11]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5 (RU)
60
[23]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
85
[2]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[24]
Gamers (DE) PAL
47
[25]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
69
[13]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
77
[26]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
72
[27]
Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2 (RU)
56
[28]
Joypad (FR) PAL
80
[14]
Joypad (HU)
83
[29]
Mega (UK) PAL
74
[30]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
80
[31]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
70
[32]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
70
[33]
Player One (FR)
79
[34]
Play Time (DE)
70
[35]
Power Up! (UK)
81
[36]
Secret Service (PL)
70
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
83
[39]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
70
[40]
Todo Sega (ES)
77
[41]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
83
[42]
Video Games (DE) PAL
50
[43]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[44]
Sega Mega Drive
72
Based on
34 reviews

Taz in Escape from Mars

Mega Drive, US
TazEscapefromMars MD US cover.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD US Cart Alt.jpg
Cart
Taz Escape From Mars MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (newer)
TiEfM MD US Box Alt.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
TEfM MD US Box Back MHS.jpgTEfM MD US Box Front MHS.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD US Cart MegaHit.jpg
Cart
Taz in Escape from Mars MD US Manual (Mega Hit Series).pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
(Mega Hit Series) (Alt)

TiEfM MD US Cart MegaHit Alt.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
TiEfM MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
TiEfM MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
Tazescape md br cover.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
TiEfM MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
TiEfM MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, FR

Taz in Escape from Mars MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual

Master System version

Master System, BR
TiEfM SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
TiEfM SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR (newer)
TiEfM SMS BR Box Alt.jpg
Cover
TiEfM SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
84 [45]
78 №8, p23
59 [46]
67 [47]
62 №12, p96
61 №63, p77
63 №41, p56
Sega Game Gear
68
Based on
7 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
84
[45]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
73
[48]
Gamers (DE) PAL
40
[49]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
78
[50]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
59
[46]
Player One (FR)
67
[47]
Play Time (DE)
65
[51]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
62
[52]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
61
[53]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
63
[54]
Video Games (DE) PAL
51
[55]
Sega Game Gear
64
Based on
11 reviews

Taz in Escape from Mars

Game Gear, US
TiEfM GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTiEfM GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
TazEscapefromMars GG US cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, EU
TiEFM GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTazEscapefromMars GG EU cover.jpg
Cover
TazEscapefromMars GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, BR
TazEscapefromMars GG BR Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-07-06 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-24 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-20 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-18 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-14 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-10 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-07 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-06-02 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-05-23 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-05-18 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-05-09 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-04-18 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-03-09 Page
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 11ce074c
MD5 5f170677dc0d0229ec3ec7f306bb6303
SHA-1 36a67210ca9762f280364007fcacbd7b1416d6ee
512kB Cartridge (BR)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 eebad66b
MD5 6db88ab8c4ddcf3caf5424a993a79521
SHA-1 1d19306b7dbcb37fd1ab62021b5054efd2d04889
512kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 132
  2. 2.0 2.1 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 106
  3. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 11
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJhaVvKIx4k
  5. File:Taz Escape From Mars MD US Manual.pdf, page 9
  6. Sega Visions, "October/November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 111
  7. Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 11
  8. Consoles +, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 122-123 (122)
  9. 10.0 10.1 Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 102
  10. 11.0 11.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 36
  11. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 104 (106)
  12. 13.0 13.1 GamesMaster, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-22), page 66
  13. 14.0 14.1 Joypad, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 112
  14. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-08-xx), page 92-93 (92)
  15. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 105
  16. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 237
  17. Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1994-12-05), page 30
  18. Consoles +, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 122
  19. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 219
  20. Digitiser (UK) (1994-09-30)
  21. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 82
  22. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5, "" (RU; 200x-xx-xx), page 221
  23. GamePro, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 52
  24. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 23
  25. Games World: The Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 14
  26. Game Informer, "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 36
  27. Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2001-08-27), page 351
  28. Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 12
  29. Mega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 54
  30. Mega Force, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 92
  31. Mega Fun, "10/94" (DE; 1994-09-21), page 66
  32. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-08-xx), page 92
  33. Player One, "Septembre 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 84
  34. Play Time, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-05), page 107
  35. Power Up!, "Saturday, October 01, 1994" (UK; 1994-10-01), page 1
  36. Secret Service, "Listopad 1996" (PL; 1996-11-01), page 69
  37. Sega Power, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-01), page 44
  38. Sega Pro, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-08), page 64
  39. Sonic the Comic, "September 30th 1994" (UK; 1994-09-17), page 10
  40. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 62
  41. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 196
  42. Video Games, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-26), page 96
  43. VideoGames, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 74
  44. 45.0 45.1 Consoles +, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 157
  45. 46.0 46.1 Mega Fun, "02/95" (DE; 1995-01-18), page 102
  46. 47.0 47.1 Player One, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 114
  47. GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 162
  48. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 25
  49. Games World: The Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-xx), page 23
  50. Play Time, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 106
  51. Sega Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 96
  52. Sega Power, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 77
  53. Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 56
  54. Video Games, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-23), page 109


Taz in Escape from Mars

TEfM Title.png

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Looney Tunes games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
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)
Sega Game Gear
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)
Sega Master System
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)
Sega Saturn
Space Jam (1996)
Sega Dreamcast
Looney Tunes: Space Race (2000)
Unlicensed Looney Tunes games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Tiny Toon Adventures 3 (1996)