Difference between revisions of "Mr. Bones"

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| developer=[[Zono]], [[Pacific SoftScape]]<ref>K Horowitz (2016). ''Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games''</ref>
 
| developer=[[Zono]], [[Pacific SoftScape]]<ref>K Horowitz (2016). ''Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games''</ref>
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| support={{company|[[Angel Studios Interactive Entertainment]]<ref>K Horowitz (2016). ''Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games''</ref>|role=cutscenes}}, {{company|[[SegaSoft]]}}, {{company|[[T.L.A. Developments]]|role=some stage programming}}
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| support={{company|[[SegaSoft]]}}, {{company|[[Angel Studios Interactive Entertainment]]<ref>K Horowitz (2016). ''Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games''</ref>|role=cutscenes}}, {{company|[[T.L.A. Developments]]|role=some stage programming}}, {{company|[[Metropolis Digital]]|role=some animation}}
 
| distributor={{company|[[Zegetron]]|region=GR}}, {{company|[[Sega-Ozisoft]]|region=AU}}, {{company|[[Tec Toy]]|region=BR}}
 
| distributor={{company|[[Zegetron]]|region=GR}}, {{company|[[Sega-Ozisoft]]|region=AU}}, {{company|[[Tec Toy]]|region=BR}}
 
| system=[[Sega Saturn]]
 
| system=[[Sega Saturn]]

Latest revision as of 02:11, 18 November 2024

n/a

  • Sega Saturn
    NTSC-U/PAL
  • Sega Saturn
    NTSC-J

MrBones title.png

MrBones Saturn JP SSTitle.png

Mr. Bones
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor: Zegetron (GR), Sega-Ozisoft (AU), Tec Toy (BR)
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (9/11 tracks)
Genre: Action[3][4]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP 		¥5,8005,800 GS-9127
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US 		$49.9949.99[6] 81016
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU 		MK81016-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE 		MK81016-50
USK: 12
Sega Saturn
PT
Sega Saturn
UK 		£39.9939.99[7] MK81016-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL 		229zł229
Sega Saturn
AU 		FMRB01SSC
OFLC: G8
Sega Saturn
BR 		193126
Tectoy: Todas as Idades

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Mr. Bones (ミスター・ボーンズ) is a Sega Saturn experimental action game developed by Zono and published by Sega. Conceptualized by Ed Annunziata, the game is an eccentric and surreal experience combining numerous gameplay styles and mechanics, ranging from action platformer to rhythm game to Tempest-like, and was first released in the United States in October 1996 - two weeks before Halloween.

The game is notable for being composed by famed American guitarist Ronnie Montrose, and for being one of the few Western games of the era to receive a published soundtrack in North America.

Story

The immortal DaGhoulian has discovered Skeletism (shorthand for "Skeletal Magnetism"), a form of vampirism controlled by rhythm that can reanimate the dead, and has summoned an army of skeletons with glowing red eyes to lay waste to the world. Mr. Bones, a skeleton animated with good Skeletism (blue), is the only one who can stand in his way.

Gameplay

In platforming levels, the player can move Mr. Bones with Left and Right, crouch with Down and jump with C. When he grabs on to a ledge while jumping, the player can press Up to have Mr. Bones pull himself up. As a form of attack against other skeletons, the player can press B to make Mr. Bones fire a Plasma Beam from his hands to absorb evil Skeletism and convert it into good Skeletism.

Mr. Bones' vitality is measured by how much Skeletism he has in his body, which is measured by the Skeletism Meter (the word "BONES") in the top-right corner of the screen. When he takes damage from enemies and hazards, the Skeletism holding his body together will weaken, and having low magnetism will cause his body parts to fall off from attacks or from jumping and falling, reducing his mobility and abilities. By pressing AAAAA, the player can reassemble bones that have been dropped as well as temporarily strengthen Mr. Bones' Skeletism. Some parts can only be reassembled if the player has a "Prerequisite Part" - for example, the player must have collected a rib cage in order to reassemble an arm, or a hip bone to reassemble a leg. Skeletism is replenished with the Plasma Beam or by collecting items.

The player can also reconfigure Mr. Bones' limbs using the X, Y and Z buttons. The X and Y buttons will enable a Long Legs and Long Arm configuration respectively, while pressing Z will enable the "Slim Jim" configuration that reduces Mr. Bones to a skull and spine, dropping all other parts.

If all the letters in the Skeletism Meter are gone, the game is over, and the player will be returned to the title screen. The highest level reached will become available in a level select accessible via the options menu, allowing the player to continue the game from the beginning of the last level they left off at.

Levels

Notavailable.svg

Grave Escape

Notavailable.svg

The Mausoleum

Notavailable.svg

The Valley

Notavailable.svg

Guitar Solo

Notavailable.svg

Night of the Bats

Notavailable.svg

Dawn of the Bats

Notavailable.svg

Day of the Bats

Notavailable.svg

Rolling Logs

Notavailable.svg

Drum Solo

Notavailable.svg

Glass Shards

Notavailable.svg

Big Bones

Notavailable.svg

Vortex

Notavailable.svg

Underwater Ride

Notavailable.svg

Little People Village

Notavailable.svg

Icy Lake

Notavailable.svg

From Beneath the Ice

Notavailable.svg

Shadow Monster

Notavailable.svg

Dry Moat

Notavailable.svg

Hall of Pane

Notavailable.svg

Skeletism Generator

Notavailable.svg

Funny Bones

Notavailable.svg

Los Endos

Production credits

Developed by Zono Inc.
  • Project Leader: Jeff Fort
  • Hero/Core/Stage Programmer: Simon Hallam
  • Core/Stage Programmer: Dave Castelnouvo
  • Stage Programmer: Thibault Lepoutre
  • Stage Programmer: Bob Meissner
  • Hero Animator/Game Artist: Michael Gates
  • Game Artist: Jason Hough
  • Supplemental Sprite Artist: Brian Collins
  • Administrative Coordinator: Marion Fort
  • Managing Producer: Ed Zobrist
  • Game Design: Annunziata, Novak
Art & Cinematics: Angel Studios
  • Creative Director: Jill Hunt
  • Producer: Jennifer Johnston
  • Cinematic Design/Storyboards: Allen Battino
  • Art Director: Daren Bader
  • Animators: Michael Limber, James Polk, Peter Megow, Rod Stafford
  • Lighting: Carlos Cabral
  • 3D Artists: Stacy Curry, Rob Howard, Lisa Mulvaney, Brian Newlin
  • Technical Consultant: Jim McLeod
  • Technical Support: Mark Adan, Scott Vye, Teresa Shaw
  • Motion Capture Programmer: Tim Monk
  • Motion Capture Support: Art Wasem
  • Production Assistant: Glen Hernandez
Live Action Crew
  • Director of Photography: Bill Holshevnikoff
  • Ultimattist: Jim Rolin
  • Key Grips: Jamie Campana, Jim Stewart
  • Gaffer: Daryl Flowers, Greg Davies
  • Swing/Grip: Lana Bernberg, Chris Schellenberger
  • Jib Arm Operator: Maciel Lopez
  • Jib From Northern Lights: Mike Murphy
Additional Crew
  • Costumes & Props: Laura Hazless
  • Fiber Optic Specialist: Richard Dubin
  • Make-Up & Props: Joeann Edmonds
  • Assistants On The Set: David Young, Jennifer Hruska, Joe Cain


Source:
In-game credits
Mr Bones Saturn credits.pdf
[10]
Source:
In-game credits[11]


History

Development

Mr. Bones began development in December 1994 at Zono, but as the project progressed into 1995, producer Ed Annunziata began looking for another company to finish development. Ed Zobrist of Pacific SoftScape reached out to Annunziata about filling that role, which resulted in the game being largely finished by Pacific SoftScape staff. This also resulted in a number of SoftScape staff migrating to Zono. Development concluded in September 1996.[12]

Magazine articles

Main article: Mr. Bones/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in EGM² (US) #29: "November 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-23: "1997-23 (1997-07-11)" (1997-06-27)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-24: "1997-24 (1997-07-18)" (1997-07-04)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 [14]
Sega Saturn
 60
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
89
[15]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
86
[16]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
63
[17]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
70
[18]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
82
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[20]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
72
[21]
Gry Komputerowe (PL)
90
[22]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-U
58
[23]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
26
[24]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
58
[25]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[26]
Player One (FR)
89
[27]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
62
[28]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
75
[29]
Secret Service (PL)
56
[30]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
72
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
66
[32]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[33]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
83
[34]
Ultra Game Players (US) NTSC-U
76
[35]
Sega Saturn
 70
Based on
21 reviews

Mr. Bones

Saturn, JP
MrBones Saturn JP Box Back.jpgMrBones Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
MrBones Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
MrBones Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc 1
MrBones Saturn JP Disc2.jpg
Disc 2
Mr. Bones JP 取扱説明書.pdf
Manual
Mr. Bones (ミスター・ボーンズ) Saturn JP Box jewelcasefront.jpg
Jewel Case
Mr. Bones JP Post Card.pdf
Reg Card
Saturn, US
MrBones Saturn US Box Back.jpgMrBones Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
MrBones Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc 1
Mrbones sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
MrBones Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, PT

Saturn, GR
Mr Bones Saturn GR Box Front.jpg
Cover
Saturn, AU
MrBones Saturn AU back.jpgNospine.pngMrBones Saturn AU cover.jpg
Cover
Saturn, BR
MrBones BR cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Mr. Bones/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
  2. ↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
  3. ↑ File:MrBones Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-27 20:57)
  5. ↑ http://sega-saturn.com/software.htm (Wayback Machine: 1996-12-15 06:01)
  6. ↑ Sega FY 1997 Brand Review, page 10
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Press release: 1997-02-26: Manx TT Leads Sega's Games Line Up For March
  8. ↑ http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html (Wayback Machine: 1998-12-02 14:09)
  9. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1997-03-03), page 29
  10. ↑ File:Mr Bones Saturn credits.pdf
  11. ↑ File:Mr Bones JP Saturn credits.pdf
  12. ↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
  13. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 162
  14. ↑ GamesMaster, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-16), page 72
  15. ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
  16. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  17. ↑ Famitsu, "1997-07-04" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 1
  18. ↑ Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 98
  19. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 5, Issue 1: January 1997" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20
  20. ↑ GamePro, "January 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 114
  21. ↑ Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 76
  22. ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "7-8/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  23. ↑ Intelligent Gamer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 89
  24. ↑ MAN!AC, "01/97" (DE; 1996-12-11), page 91
  25. ↑ Mega Fun, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-20), page 90
  26. ↑ Next Generation, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-17), page 180
  27. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88
  28. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 12" (JP; 1997-06-xx), page 180
  29. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 16" (JP; 1997-08-xx), page 90
  30. ↑ Secret Service, "Czerwiec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
  31. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1997" (UK; 1997-02-12), page 47
  32. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-05-14), page 66
  33. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-22 (1997-07-04)" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 173
  34. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 12
  35. ↑ Ultra Game Players, "Holiday 1996" (US; 1996-12-03), page 88


Mr. Bones

MrBones title.png

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Music: Mr. Bones (1996)

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