Taz in Escape from Mars

n/a

Mega Drive Game Gear Master System
Taz in Escape from Mars
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega Tec Toy
Developer: HeadGames Nu Romantic Productions Al Baker & Associates Tec Toy
Distributor: Ballistic (US Mega Hit Series)
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-08 $59.9959.99 1546 US (ESRB rating) 199x 1546 US (Mega Hit) 1997-09 $19.9919.99 EU 1994-09 1546-50 PT 1994 MDJ1546 UK 1994-09 £39.9939.99 1546-50 AU 1994 FTAZ01SMC BR 199x US 1994-11 2538 EU 1994 2538-50 BR 199x 077170 BR 1997-03 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, makes Taz perform various actions when applicable, makes Taz spin, and makes Taz jump. The controls can be changed by going into the options at the Title Screen, and pressing either , or to rotate the controls around.

Taz plays almost exactly the way he did in his previous game. By jumping while holding , 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 include: flipping a switch, spitting a rock, breathing out a flame, or picking up something. Unlike Taz-Mania, pressing 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.

	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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

• Developed for Sega of America by: HeadGames, Inc.
• Producer: Bert Schroeder
• Director: Jonathan Miller
• Design: Joshua Singer, Steven Ross, Doug Nishimura, Jonathan Miller
• Art: Doug Nishimura, Steven Ross, Yongki Yoon
• Lead Programmer: Joshua Singer
• Programming: David Eader, Meilin Wong, Alex Tyrer, Jonathan Miller
• Music and SFX: Neuromantic Productions, Mark Steven Miller, Jim Hedges
• Lead Tester: Ben Szymkowiak
• Assistant Lead Testers: Joe Cain, Tony Lynch
• Testers: Tim Spengler, Jeff Junio, Matt McKnight, Chris Lucich, Fernando Valderrama, Rachel Bristol, Jason Kuo, John Amirkhan, Gregg Vogt, Aaron Hommes, Renato Alferez, Maria Tuzzo, John Melchior, Derek Carmichael, Siegie Stangenberg, Alex Fairchild, Christine Watson, Mike Baldwin, Ilya Reeves, Arnold Galano, Ben Cureton, Bob Lee, Xen Lang, Alex Villagran, Mike Williams, John Jansen, Dave Martin, Marc Dawson, Mark Griffin, Darin Johnston, Greg Fleming
• Additional Design Support By: Keith Higashihara, Mark Lindstrom

Source:

In-game credits

• Producer: Bert Schroeder
• Assistant Producer: John Pedigo
• Design, Art & Programming: Headgames, Inc.
• Director : Jonathan Miller
• Design: Joshua Singer, Steven Ross, Doug Nishimura, Jonathan Miller
• Art : Doug Nishimura, Steven Ross, Yongki Yoon
• Programming: Joshua Singer, David Eader, Meilin Wong, Alex Tyrer, Jonathan Miller
• Music & Sound Effects: Neuromantic Productions, Mark Steven Miller, Jim Hedges
• Product Marketing Manager: France Tantiado
• Associate Product Marketing Manager: Ami Blaire
• Marketing Assistant: Jaime Wojick
• Additional Design Support: Keith Higashihara
• Lead Tester: Ben Szymkowiak
• Assistant Lead Testers: Siegie Stangenberg, Tony Lynch
• Testers: Tim Spengler, Jeff Junio, Matt McKnight, Chris Lucich, Fernando Valderrama, Rachael Bristol, Jason Kuo, John Amirkhan, Gregg Vogt, Aaron Hommes, Renato Alferez, Maria Tuzzo, John Melchior, Derek Carmichael, Joe Cain, Alex Fairchild, Christine Watson, Mike Baldwin, Ilya Reeves, Arnold Galano, Ben Cureton, Bob Lee, Xen Lang, Alex Villagran, Mike Williams, John Jansen, David Martin, Marc Dawson, Mark Griffin, Darin Johnston, Greg Fleming
• Manual: Carol Ann Hanshaw
• Special Thanks: Clint Dyer, Joe Owens, Catherine Sollecito, Sonya Sigler, Thom Abramson, Holly Stein, Christine Bertoglio, Sutton Trout, Diane Fornasier

Source:

Manual credits (US)

Magazine articles

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

Promotional material

FI advert (1994)

Mega Drive/Game Gear print advert in EGM² (US) #2: "August 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:

• Sega Visions (US) #21: "October/November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
• Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #62: "September 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Game Gear print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #38: "Noviembre 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #20: "Noviembre 1994" (1994-1x-xx)

Print advert in Super Juegos (ES) #33: "Enero 1995" (199x-xx-xx)

Merchandise

• 

  Badge

Artwork

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  Mega Drive US prototype box art

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 75 Consoles + (FR) 88 Cool Gamer (RU) 70 Computer & Video Games (UK) 68 Digitiser (UK) 61 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 83 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 70 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5 (RU) 60 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 85 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 83 Gamers (DE) PAL 47 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 69 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 77 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 72 Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2 (RU) 56 Joypad (FR) PAL 80 Joypad (HU) 83 Mega (UK) PAL 74 Mega Force (FR) PAL 80 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 70 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 70 Player One (FR) 79 Play Time (DE) 70 Power Up! (UK) 81 Secret Service (PL) 70 Sega Power (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 83 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 70 Todo Sega (ES) 77 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 83 Video Games (DE) PAL 50 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 70

	72
Based on 34 reviews

Taz in Escape from Mars

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, US (newer)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series) (Alt)
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, EU (CE mark)
Cover

Mega Drive, FR
Manual

Mega Drive, ES
VHS

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR (newer)
Cover
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 84 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73 Gamers (DE) PAL 40 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 78 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 59 Player One (FR) 67 Play Time (DE) 65 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 62 Sega Power (UK) PAL 61 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 63 Video Games (DE) PAL 51

	64
Based on 11 reviews

Taz in Escape from Mars

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, BR
Cover

Technical information

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-07-06					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-24					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-20					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-18					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-14					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-10					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-07					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-06-02					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-05-23					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-05-18					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-05-09					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-04-18					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-03-09					Page
?	CRC32 11ce074c MD5 5f170677dc0d0229ec3ec7f306bb6303 SHA-1 36a67210ca9762f280364007fcacbd7b1416d6ee	512kB		Cartridge (BR)
?	CRC32 eebad66b MD5 6db88ab8c4ddcf3caf5424a993a79521 SHA-1 1d19306b7dbcb37fd1ab62021b5054efd2d04889	512kB		Cartridge (US/EU)
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-13					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-10 B					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-10					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-09 B					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-06 D					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-05 C					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-05 B					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-09-02					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-30					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-29 B					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-23					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-19					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-14					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-12					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-08-10					Page
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1		1994-05-11					Page