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Panic Bomber for Virtual Boy FAQ
by BHodges
Version 1.0
Created 09/18/08
This document Copyright 2008 by Brian Hodges. This FAQ is not to be posted
without explicit permission by me.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Adjusting the Virtual Boy
III. Automatic Pause
IV. Background Story
V. Getting Started
A. Start
B. Password
C. The Rules
D. Options
1. Boss Battle
2. Contrast
3. BG Scroll
VI. General Gameplay
VII. Strategies
VIII. Items
A. Blocks
B. Bombs
1. Unlit Bombs
2. Lit Bombs
3. Scorched Bombs
4. Decker Bombs
C. Power Ups
1. Level Up
2. Flame Up
D. Skull Items
1. Interfering Bomber
2. Speed Blocks
3. Joystick
4. Stop
5. Next
6. Brick to Bomb
7. Bomb to Boom
8. Block to Blank
E. Other
1. Bricks
2. Rocks
IX. Characters
A. Bomberman
B. Drifty
C. Kraken
D. Zach
E. Toran the Ghost
F. Cecil the Tiger
G. Partz
H. Amorphous Man
I. Toral the Etheral
J. Rahtut
K. Count Dracu-Boom
L. Ms. Flashy
X. Passwords
XI. Game Review
XII. Version History
XIII. Contact Information
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I. Introduction
This is a FAQ for the Virtual Boy game Panic Bomber. It contains a list
of controls, strategies, passwords, and a mini-review.
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II. Adjusting the Virtual Boy
If you have never used a Virtual Boy before, here is how to adjust the
screen. On the screen that says 'Virtual Boy' and has squares in the
corners, turn the dial on top until you can see all four squares. Then use
the sliding bar until the screen is in focus.
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III. Automatic Pause
If you turn this on, the game will automatically pause after playing against
a boss and remind you to take a break.
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IV. Background Story
Background story from the instruction book:
The dark island of Ever-Mist permanently enshrouded in a deep, dreary fog.
Many adventurers have traveled there in quest of the lengendary Golden
Statue of Bomberman, but none have returned...
The legend states, "He or she who gathers together the three celestial
medals of power, which lie on the island of Ever-Mist, shall open the gates
and gain access to the statue."
Learning this, Bomberman sets off on another great adventure!
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V. Getting Started
After pressing start on the title screen, you are presented with four options:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Start
Select this option to begin the game. You will first choose from one of four
difficulty levels, then choose which set of blocks to use.
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B. Password
Press up or down on the control pad to change the number, press left and right
to switch to another digit. When you are finished, press A to enter the code.
If it is accepted, you will then choose your set of blocks and begin the game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. The Rules
Select this option to view a brief tutorial on how to play the game. To end
the tutorial, just press A.
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D. Options
There are three different options to choose from:
...............................................................................
1. Boss Battle
You can choose between SKULL and NORMAL mode. If you choose SKULL, then bricks
will appear instead of the usual scorched bombs. If you blast a brick with a
bomb, a SKULL item will appear. SKULL items affect gameplay in various ways.
...............................................................................
2. Contrast
This lets you choose the brightness level (1 - 10).
...............................................................................
3. BG Scroll
This toggles scrolling for the backgrounds during gameplay. Since these are
among the best 3D graphics available for the Virtual Boy I would recommend
leaving scrolling on unless you find it too distracting.
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VI. General Gameplay
Gameplay is pretty straight forward. Blocks will drop down from the top of the
playing field in groups of three. Your goal is to line up three of a kind
vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. This will cause the blocks to vanish
and make unlit bombs appear at the bottom of the screen.
Sometimes a lit bomb will drop down. Upon landing it will shoot out flames
up, down, left, and right. The length of the flames depends on your current
flame level. Any unlit bombs hit by the flames will explode causing them to
vanish from your field and to reappear as scorched bombs on your opponents
screen.
As you clear blocks, the meter beside your field increases. When it is filled,
a Decker Bomb will drop. Upon landing it will clear a large area of your field
and send scorched bombs to your opponents field.
You win the game when your opponents field is completely filled.
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VII. Strategies
The secret to winning is very simple, wait as long as possible to explode
your bombs! That's it!
It says in the manual that if you pull off a combo clearing four sets of blocks
at once, you will unleash a massive attack on your opponent. I haven't been
able to pull this off, so I'm not sure what happens.
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VIII. Items
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A. Blocks
These drop down in groups of three from the top of the screen. Lining up three
of a kind vertically, horizontally, or diagonally will cause them to disappear.
This in turn will cause unlit bombs to appear at the bottom of your field.
Blocks are not affected by normal bomb flames nor explosions.
You can choose from five different sets of blocks when you start your game. As
far as I can tell, they have no effect on gameplay other than some are easier
to tell apart than others.
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B. Bombs
You will encounter four types of bombs during play:
...............................................................................
1. Unlit Bombs
These will appear on the bottom of your playing field as you clear blocks.
They will also sometimes drop from the top. Igniting these with a lit bomb
will cause them to disappear and reappear as scorced bombs on your opponents
field!
...............................................................................
2. Lit Bombs
These will drop from the top. Upon landing they will send out flames straight
up, down, left, and right. The length of the flame depends on the flame level
displayed in the top left of your playing field.
...............................................................................
3. Scorched Bombs
These are the exploded bombs that your opponent sends over. They can be
cleared by either a normal bomb blast or a Decker Bomb.
...............................................................................
4. Decker Bombs
There is a meter beside your playing field that will gradually fill as you
clear blocks. This is the Decker Bomb Meter. Decker Bombs are the best bombs
in the game. Upon landing they will clear a LARGE area of your playing field
as well as sending scorched blocks to your opponents field.
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C. Power Ups
There are two types of power ups. A message will appear on screen whenever
you receive one. You don't carry over power ups when you advance to the next
stage.
...............................................................................
1. Level Up
This simply causes the blocks to drop faster.
...............................................................................
2. Flame Up
This will increase your flame level by one. Your current flame level is
displayed in the upper left of your field. You begin each stage with a flame
level of two.
Your flame level is the distance flames will travel from a lit bomb once it
lands. One flame level is equivalent to one block length. Any unlit bombs
hit by a flame will explode.
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D. Skull Items
The instruction manual lists the following eight skull items and says there
are more:
...............................................................................
1. Interfering Bomber
This will float around the playing field disrupting normal play.
...............................................................................
2. Speed Blocks
The will increase the fall rate.
...............................................................................
3. Joystick
This reverses the functions of the control pads.
...............................................................................
4. Stop
This stops everything in the playing field for five seconds.
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5. Next
The next object to drop will be a Decker Bomb!
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6. Brick to Bomb
Turns all bricks to unlit bombs.
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7. Bomb to Boom
Lights the fuses of all bombs in the playing field.
...............................................................................
8. Block to Blank
Removes all blocks from the playing field.
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E. Other
...............................................................................
1. Bricks
These only appear in SKULL mode. When these are blasted, they will release
a SKULL Item.
...............................................................................
2. Rocks
These only appear in SKULL mode. Only a Decker bomb can remove these from
the plaing field!
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IX. Characters
For each opponent I have listed their description from the instruction
book, the introduction and taunt from the pre-match screen, and the
approximate amount of time before they get their first Decker Bomb at each
difficulty level. I have also included notes for other info.
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A. Bomberman
Description from instruction book:
Here is the hero who always fights for justice. His goal is to bring
back the Golden Statue of Bomberman.
Notes:
Bomberman is the hero of the game.
===============================================================================
The Scary Ruins - Star Medal
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B. Drifty
Description from instruction book:
Bomberman's first adversary. He hangs out in the Ruins.
Introduction:
I am Drifty. These ruins are my home.
Taunt:
I'm just floating around. Want to play?
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY 3:15
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Kraken
Description from instruction book:
Do not get too close, he goes for the throat.
Introduction:
The name is Kraken. I go right for the throat.
Taunt:
Keep your distance. Go back home.
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
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D. Zach
Description from instruction book:
The Boss of the Ruins. He is the weakest of the Bosses.
Introduction:
My name is Zach. I am a Were-Bomberman!
Taunt:
Tee Hee, I'll be slashing you up.
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY 2:50
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
===============================================================================
The Sinister Forest - Moon Medal
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E. Toran the Ghost
Description from instruction book:
Scary and tenacious, he will not give up without a spirited fight.
Introduction:
I am Toran the Ghost. Boo.
Taunt:
Run for your life!!
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY 2:40
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
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F. Cecil the Tiger
Description from instruction book:
This hard-hitting Tiger will hammer you with chains of up to 16 groups
of blocks.
Introduction:
Cecil The Tiger is the name. I eat intruders, and pizza too!
Taunt:
I'll belt you out of the forest.
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. Partz
Description from instruction book:
This Boss was built to win! Be aware of his organized attacks.
Introduction:
My name is Partz. I was built to win.
Taunt:
My duty is to protect the Medal. Be gone.
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
===============================================================================
Desert of Desolation - Sun Medal
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H. Amorphous Man
Description from instruction book:
He will rock your little world.
Introduction:
I am Amorphous-Man. I will rock your little world.
Taunt:
Find a happy place to cry!
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
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I. Toral the Etheral
Description from instruction book:
This ghost is Toran's powerful cousin. He commands the thunder!
Introduction:
Toral The Eternal. I command the thunder!
Taunt:
I have waited 5000 years for this ...
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Rahtut
Description from instruction book:
Hiding amongst the pyramids and tombs, he will dazzle you with his
royal wizadry.
Introduction:
Here is Rahtut. He will dazzle you with his royal wizadry.
Taunt:
HA HA HA HA HA!
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
===============================================================================
Doom Castle - Gold Bomberman Statue
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K. Count Dracu-Boom
Description from instruction book:
Residing in Doom Castle, he is the ruler of the island of Ever-Mist.
He is both a deadly player and the guardian of the Golden Statue of
Bomberman.
Introduction:
Welcome, Count Dracu-boom is the name. I have a short fuse.
Taunt:
I shall beat you in a three-match. Those Medals are MINE!
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY 1:25
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
This match is best two out of three! Beat him twice in a row to face
Ms. Flashy.
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L. Ms. Flashy
Description from instruction book:
A greedy fellow adventurer who also seeks the Golden Statue of Bomberman.
She is somewhere on the island.
Introduction:
Call me Ms. Flashy! I am very fast.
Taunt:
Hold on! That gold bomber is mine.
Approximate time till first Decker Bomb:
VERY EASY 1:00
EASY
NORMAL
HARD
Notes:
Two words of advice: Work Fast!
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X. Passwords
Difficulty Level
------------------------------------
Medal | VERY EASY | EASY | NORMAL | HARD |
-------------|-----------|------|--------|------|
Star Medal | 4390 | 6835 | 2695 | 8647 |
-------------|-----------|------|--------|------|
Moon Medal | 3281 | 9081 | 1038 | 0538 |
-------------|-----------|------|--------|------|
Sun Medal | 5607 | 2473 | 6934 | 9316 |
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I found the following passwords at www.virtual-boy.org:
1289 Enter this code to play against only the bosses.
9782 Enter this code to make the blocks all be bomberman's head, with
just different shapes.
1000 Start a new game with the difficulty at VERY EASY.
2000 Start a new game with the difficulty at EASY.
3000 Start a new game with the difficulty at NORMAL.
4000 Start a new game with the difficulty at HARD.
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XI. Game Review
This is a very fun puzzle game along the lines of Tetris and Columns. It
has an awesome soundtrack and some of the best 3D of any game for the
Virtual Boy. This is a must own title for anyone with a Virtual Boy.
Pros
- Fun and fast paced gameplay.
- Some of the best 3D graphics of any game for the Virtual Boy.
- The music is good and suits the gameplay well.
Cons
- A two player versus mode would have been great.
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XII. Version History
1.0 09/18/08 Created FAQ
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XIII. Contact Information
You can contact me at Bhodges080@aol.com
I would appreciate hearing what you thought of this guide and any thoughts
you have for improving it. Be sure to let me know if I have missed anything.
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End
Panic Bomber GameFAQ
GameFAQ by Brian Hodges • Last updated: Sep 18, 2008 • Version: 1.0