A Boy and His Blob(tm) - Trouble on Blobolonia(tm)
Another Extraordinary Adventure from David Crane
---
David Crane, the designer of A Boy and His Blob, is the author of many of the
best known video games of the past decade.
Pitfall is the best selling video game cartridge of all time in the United
States and Canada. Pitfall maintained the number one spot on the Billboard
magazine video game chart for 64 consecutive weeks.
Other Crane-designed games include Pitfall II, Ghostbusters, Little Computer
People, and The Activision Decathlon. A Boy and His Blob is David's first game
for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
---
Look! He likes them!
Likes them? The boy's Blob loves them! Jellybeans, that is. In every flavor
under the subway. Like Vanilla. Apple. Tangerine. Cinnamon. Cola. Coconut. And
more.
Like many boys in the twenty-first century, the boy has a buddy from outer
space. This one's from Blobolonia - a place where an evil emperor makes every-
one eat only marshmallows and chocolate. In fact, for the emperor, healthy
things like vitamins are poisonous.
Blob (his full name is Blobert) came to Earth looking for someone to help him
defeat the evil emperor. That's how he met the boy.
To defeat the evil emperor they boy and Blob will need a goodly supply of
vitamins. And to get the vitamins, they'll need money. To get money, they'll
search the underground caverns for hidden treasures and diamond stones.
So what's a boy to do? Just whistle! (That'll call Blob.) Then feed him jelly-
beans.
You see, the boy miraculously discovered that not only does Blob love jelly-
beans - but that different jellybeans turn Blob into different shapes. And that
those shapes can be used to get through many otherwise impossible situations!
With his repertoire of shapes, Blob can help the boy overcome even the most
outrageous obstacles - as long as Blob gets the right flavored bean. In fact,
with enough jellybeans in enough flavors, anything is possible.
---
To move right or left - Press the Right or Left arrows.
To call Blob (Just whistle!) - Press Button B.
To turn a shape back into Blob - Press Button B. Note: After turning him back
into the Blob, wait a second before tossing him a jellybean.
To select a jellybean flavor - Press the Select button repeatedly until the
desired flavor is listed at the bottom of the screen.
To reverse the order of the flavors - Hold down the Down arrow and press the
Select button.
To feed Blob jellybeans - Make sure the boy is facing Blob and press Button A.
Note: You'll be feeding Blob the flavor that's indicated on the screen.
To shoot the Vita Blaster - First select the type of vitamins you want to
shoot (A, B or C) by pressing the Select button. Then press Button B. Note:
The VitaBlaster is needed only on Blobolonia and will not perform properly if
you have not purchased the necessary ammunition: vitamins.
To pause - Press the Start button.
To continue - Press the Start button again.
---
Other worlds
A Boy and His blob takes place in two very different worlds.
The first world lies in the caverns deep beneath the streets of the city in
which the boy lives. The second world is on the planet Blobolonia, where Blob
is from.
In the boy's world (Earth) you'll search for hidden treasures, giant diamonds,
bags of extra jellybeans and more. The more treasures you find, the more
vitamins you can purchase to fight the evil emperor on Blobolonia. The display
"TR" at the top of the screen tells you how many treasures are left to be
found.
Finding your way through the underground caverns won't be easy. There are many
dangerous turns - and tumbles. As well as deadly enemies. So it may be wise to
keep a map of where you've been - and what's there.
In the Blob's world (Blobolonia) you'll find orchards, farms, a candy factory
and the dangerous home of the evil emperor. You'll also find the sparkling
peppermint candies - invaluable when it comes to creating extra lives.
To get from the Earth to Blobolonia (or vice versa), the boy must employ a
special type of transportation. And unless he's armed with a VitaBlaster and a
good supply of vitamins for ammunition, he'll be quite helpless on Blobolonia.
Though the boy's world and the Blob's world may appear to be very different,
they do have one thing in common: constant surprises!
---
Seen on the screen
Once you press the Start button, you will se most of the following information
across the top or bottom of the screen. What's not there now will be added
as the game progresses.
[left to right, top to bottom. -tsr]
- score (based on treasures collected)
- number of treasures left to find
vitamins left
number of peppermints collected
- lives left
- jellybean flavor selected
---
Fourteen fabulous flavors
You'll start the game with twelve jellybean flavors. And throughout your
adventure you'll be able to pick up a couple more.
In the beginning you'll have to experiment to see what shape each flavor
makes. But you'll quickly find you have them memorized. Because each flavor
name corresponds somehow to the shape it creates - either in the sound of the
word or in its meaning.
Here is the list of flavors you'll find. If you like, make a list and jot down
the shapes formed next to each flavor:
Licorice Apple Ketchup *
Strawberry Vanilla Grape
Coconut Tangerine Punch
Cola Root Beer Orange
Cinnamon Honey Lime
* There is one jellybean flavor that Blob detests: KETCHUP! In fact, if he
accidentally ate one, he'd be petrified.
More about the amazing jellybean
In addition to feeding Blob jellybeans, you can also use jellybeans to scout
out unknown areas. Here's how:
If you want to know what lies beyond a ledge (on earth) or beyond the edge of
a screen (on Blobolonia), simply toss a jellybean in the unknown direction.
The "camera" will follow the jellybean and you'll momentarily be able to see
what lies ahead.
---
Collector's corner
Throughout your adventures - both on earth and in Blobolonia - you'll be
constantly collecting things. Treasures and diamonds to raise your money
stash. Jellybean bags to increase your jellybean stash. Vitamins to operate
your VitaBlaster. And peppermints - for a special bonus.
Treasures
Many treasures are protected by the Subway Serpent. A most deadly beast.
Jellybean bags
Here's where you'll find the two new jellybean flavors. As well as extra
jellybeans of all flavors.
Diamonds
A blob's best friend.
Peppermints
Scarf up enough of these - like five - and you'll earn an extra life.
Vitamins
There are three different kinds of vitamins: A, B, and C. And each one fires
a different kind of trajectory. You'll quickly learn which vitamins are most
effective in which situations.
---
Menacing meanies
Some of the characters and situations you'll run into both on earth and on
Blobolonia will not be too nice. In fact, some will be downright nasty. Others
even deadly!
Here's a brief introduction to just a few of the many adversaries you can
expect.
On Earth
Subway serpents
Sorry. These guys are indestructible. But they will leave you some headroom.
Falling rocks
You do know how to protect yourself from the elements, don't you?
Stalactite and stalagmites
These freaky formations seem to be reaching out to touch you. Don't let them.
On Blobolonia
Magic marshmallows
Tough and rubbery, these gooey globs are hard to shoot. Better to avoid them.
Cherry bombs
Don't let them hit the ground. Or else.
Popcorn
It'll just keep coming. So clear a path through this stuff and keep on going.
Chocolate kisses
Don't get kissed by one of these - it's the kiss of death.
Evil emperor
Use his own hoard of vitamins against him. If you can find a way to make him
take them.
---
Five lives to live
At the beginning of each game you get five lives. When you lose all five of
them, the game is over.
There are three ways in which you can lose a life:
1.) If you fall more than 1 1/2 screens unaided.
2.) If you drown. (Try a flotation device)
3.) If you're hit by an enemy (like a subway serpent, falling rock, cherry
bomb, sweet tooth and more.)
Added lives-
You get an additional life for every five peppermints you pick up on Blob-
olonia. Look high and low for them - because you can never have too many
treasures or too many lives.
---
Tempting tips
- To put a little distance on a tossed jellybean, take a step while tossing
it.
- Be careful where you carve your holes. It could be a long way down!
- Whistling is one way to bring blob closer to you. But if you're trying to
position him in a critically precise spot, change him into a blow torch so
he can easily be picked up and moved.
- Never go too far without letting Blob catch up. If you lose him, you're out
of luck. Unless, of course, you can make him ketchup.
- To increase the height of a jump on your trampoline, press the Up arrow. To
decrease the height, press the Down arrow. To jump off, move to the side at
the pinnacle of your jump.
- Remember: after you've collected all the treasure, you'll still have to
return to the street, get to the health food store and purchase the vitamins.
- There's more than one way to stop a candy machine.
