Jungle Hunt is an arcade game produced and released by Taito in 1982. The original version of the game, Jungle King, was the subject of a lawsuit levied against Taito by the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs for copyright infringement for using a likeness of the Tarzan character. Jungle King featured a long-haired feral man in a fur loincloth swinging from vine to vine in the jungle, and most damning of all, an unauthorized reproduction of actor Johnny Weissmuller's famous Tarzan yell. As a result, the hero of the game was replaced with a stereotypical Victorian era "gentleman explorer", the vines were changed to ropes, and the Tarzan yell was replaced with a short tune. On a technical note, Jungle Hunt is one of the first games to feature parallax scrolling. And the music has a rousing jungle beat! Jungle Hunt was later adapted for the various home gaming platforms of the day, including the Commodore 64 and the Atari 2600.
Game Objectives
- Emulator used: MAME-RR v0.139 v0.1-beta
- Aims for fastest game completion
- Aims for maximum score without sacrificing Frames
- Abuses programming errors
- Entertains without sacrificing Frames
- Is not Tarzan. We want to be clear about this.
Tricks and Glitches
Rope Wraparound:
During a Rope Stage, it is possible for Jungle Hunter to wraparound to the right edge of the screen if he grabs a rope at the far left edge of the screen. It is of no benefit to do so, and doing so generally causes a loss of Frames, but in certain situations it is possible to wraparound without penalty.
Faster Transition To River Stage:
During a Rope Stage, when Jungle Hunter enters the "dive" posture, vertical movement is stopped for 5 Frames, and vertical momentum is lost. It is possible for Jungle Hunter to avoid entering the "dive" posture before he lands in the water at the end of a Rope Stage. This saves a minimum of 17 Frames.
Faster River Stage To Boulder Stage:
During a River Stage, it is possible to briefly move beyond the left boundary of the playfield by using Knife, but Jungle Hunter is then quickly pushed back within the playfield boundary. However, at the end of the Stage, Jungle Hunter can use Knife to move beyond the left boundary of the playfield and touch the edge of the shore before he is pushed back, thus triggering the transition to the next Stage. This saves 8-11 Frames, depending on the current difficulty level.
Backward Jump:
During a Jungle Princess Stage, turn Jungle Hunter to face the opposite direction. Now press the joystick in the other direction while pressing the Jump button. Jungle Hunter will jump in one direction while facing the opposite direction.
Comments
Completion Requirement:
This TAS completes 1 loop of each of the 4 difficulty levels. Beyond the 4th loop, the game repeats the same loop at difficulty level 4. The game's color palette indicates the current difficulty level.
As a bonus, the input for this TAS also works with Jungle King!
During a River Stage, if Down or Up is pressed in combination with Left being pressed during the first several Frames of input, Jungle Hunter will be delayed by 1-3 Frames. Wait until Jungle Hunter has full momentum before moving up or down in the water.
During a River Stage, if Knife is used on the first Frame of input, Jungle Hunter will be pushed backward several pixels after the Knife animation has completed.
During a River Stage, changing direction from diagonal to horizontal on certain Frames can cause Jungle Hunter to lose a few pixels of travel.
When Knife is used, Jungle Hunter will continue to move in the direction that the joystick had been pressed on the previous Frame. Using Knife causes Jungle Hunter to instantaneously move 7 pixels to the left.
During a River Stage, the playfield extends horizontally from X 111 to X 223 and vertically from Y 22 to Y 151. Note that it is possible to briefly move beyond X 111 by using Knife, but Jungle Hunter is then quickly pushed back to X 111.
During a River Stage, when a Crocodile's mouth is open, attacking the Crocodile's head kills Jungle Hunter. Note that when a Crocodile's mouth is open, the Crocodile's body can still be safely attacked.
During a jump, Jungle Hunter moves at a rate of 3 pixels per Frame.
During a Super Jump, Jungle Hunter moves at a rate of 4 pixels per Frame.
During a Rope Stage, pressing left on the joystick while pressing the button causes Jungle Hunter to jump farther. The apex of such a jump is 4 pixels less than that of a normal jump, so it can cause a rope to be grabbed at a lower Y location. Though a Super Jump does not jump quite as high as a normal jump, it is timed such that either type of jump would land on the ground on the same Frame. Note that this only works when jumping from the tree branch to the first rope, or if the rope that Jungle Hunter is jumping from is swinging to the left.
If Jungle Hunter is on a rope that is swinging to the left, and the next rope is swinging to the right, it is possible to jump on a later Frame and still grab the rope on the same Frame, but at a higher Y location.
It is possible for Jungle Hunter to jump to the last Rope above the water and then screen wrap to the right edge of the screen as he dives. Though he lands on the jungle floor, he is unharmed.
If Jungle Hunter holds onto a rope for 10 swings, he is forced to fall. This is to prevent an infinitely long game.
During a Boulder Stage, a jump requires 64 Frames.
During a Boulder Stage, Jungle Hunter may receive 50 points instead of 100 points for ducking under a Boulder. This can be corrected by ducking at a different X location.
If Timer reaches 0, Game Over occurs, regardless of any lives a player may have remaining.
After all 4 Stages have been completed, each unit of Timer remaining is worth 10-30 points, depending on the DIP switch setting. This bonus can also be disabled entirely. Timer is then set to 5,000.
Boulder Stage ends on a fixed Frame, regardless of the distance that Jungle Hunter has traveled.
Completing Rope Stage is worth 500 points.
Completing Boulder Stage is worth 500 points.
Completing River Stage is worth 500 points.
Completing Jungle Princess Stage is worth 1,000 points.
As the game progresses, there are 4 levels of difficulty, indicated by a change in the color palette. When the 4th level of difficulty is completed, the game repeats the 4th level of difficulty.
Stage By Stage Comments
Loop 1:
Rope Stage 1:
Delay 8 Frames from Frame 1060 to Frame 1068 for better position on Rope 9
By delaying the jump from Rope 8 to Rope 9 for 8 Frames after the earliest possible Frame from Frame 1060 to Frame 1068, Jungle Hunter can jump more quickly from Rope 9.
River Stage 1:
The playfield extends horizontally from X 111 to X 223 and vertically from Y 22 to Y 151. Note that it is possible to briefly move beyond X 111 by using Knife, but Jungle Hunter is then quickly pushed back to X 111.
Jungle Hunter must be at Y 143 or higher in order to breathe.
During River Stage 1, if Knife is used from the left edge of the screen, Jungle Hunter will be pushed backward to X 111 after the Knife animation has completed. This prevents the screen from scrolling for 6-10 Frames, depending on the Frame on which Knife is used. While Jungle Hunter will is being pushed backward, he can swim up or down, but he can not swim right or left or use Knife. The fastest technique to destroy a Seeker Crocodile in this Stage is to simply use Knife on the appropriate Frame.
Use Knife on Frame 3008 to reach land on an earlier Frame. This saves 8 Frames compared to the next fastest alternative.
Boulder Stage 1:
The playfield extends horizontally from X 108 to X 220.
Running underneath a boulder is worth 50 points. Ducking underneath a boulder is worth 100 points. Jumping over a boulder is worth 200 points.
A Boulder Stage can only be completed on every 4th Frame.
On this Boulder Stage, there are 18 Small Boulders and 2 Large Boulders.
If the joystick is not held Left for the last Frame of input, the transition to the next Stage begins 4 Frames later.
Jumping up on the last possible Frame (Frame 6321) causes the transition to the next Stage to begin 4 Frames later. However, jumping on the last possible Frame while holding Left on the joystick does not cause a delay.
Jungle Princess Stage 1:
On the final jump, Jungle Hunter must jump from X 78 or farther right in order to avoid colliding with the cauldron.
At the beginning of a Jungle Princess Stage, joystick control is unlocked 1 Frame before jump control.
After a jump, joystick control is unlocked 1 Frame before jump control. If the joystick is held to the left on this Frame prior to any jump, Jungle Hunter will end up too close to the cauldron, and he will collide with it when he attempts the final jump.
Loop 2:
Rope Stage 2:
Starting with this Stage, on each Rope Stage, there is a Monkey on Rope 7 and Rope 10. A Monkey can move up or down on a Rope. The Monkey on Rope 10 will move to Rope 9 if Jungle Hunter delays for too long. A Monkey will knock Jungle Hunter off of the Rope if he collides with it. If Jungle Hunter lands within range of a Monkey, there is a 2 Frame window during which Jungle Hunter may safely jump again. It is possible to grab the Rope either above or below a Monkey. If Jungle Hunter also occupies the Rope, the Monkey can no longer move. Note that a Monkey can not kill Jungle Hunter, he can only knock Jungle Hunter off of the Rope. As such, it is possible for Jungle Hunter to be knocked off of Rope 10 but fall safely into the water, starting the next Stage.
River Stage 2:
The playfield extends horizontally from X 119 to X 223 and vertically from Y 22 to Y 151. This leaves slightly less room horizontally than River Stage 1, but it also allows for a faster method for destroying a Seeker Crocodile. Note that it is possible to briefly move beyond X 119 by using Knife, but Jungle Hunter is then quickly pushed back to X 119.
On this River Stage, there are 3 Seeker Crocodiles.
Starting with this Stage, on each River Stage, certain Seeker Crocodiles can evade Jungle Hunter's attacks.
Starting with this Stage, on each River Stage, certain Seeker Crocodiles are worth 300 points.
On this River Stage, there are 5 Bubble spawn points.
Using Knife causes Jungle Hunter to instantaneously move 8 pixels to the left.
During River Stage 2, if Knife is used from the left edge of the screen, Jungle Hunter will be pushed backward to X 119 after the Knife animation has completed. This prevents the screen from scrolling for 4-7 Frames, depending on the condition during which Knife is used. While Jungle Hunter will is being pushed backward, he can swim up or down, but he can not swim right or left or use Knife. The fastest technique to destroy a Seeker Crocodile in this Stage is to swim diagonally up or down until the Seeker Crocodile is within range, press Left for 1 Frame, and then use Knife on the next Frame.
Boulder Stage 2:
On this Boulder Stage, there are 19 Small Boulders and 3 Large Boulders.
Starting with this Stage, on each Boulder Stage, certain Large Boulders move differently.
Jungle Princess Stage 2:
Loop 3:
Rope Stage 3:
On this Rope Stage, Jungle Hunter moves so far left, it causes him to briefly wraparound to the right side of the screen.
River Stage 3:
The playfield extends horizontally from X 127 to X 223 and vertically from Y 22 to Y 151. This leaves slightly less room horizontally than River Stage 2.
This Stage begins with a Super Seeker Crocodile that moves twice as fast as any other Crocodile. This Crocodile is worth 300 points.
Starting with this Stage, on each River Stage, certain Seeker Crocodiles can evade at twice the previous speed.
On this River Stage, the current is faster, so Jungle Hunter swims more slowly. Maximum screen scroll speed is reduced by 25% from 1 pixel per Frame to .75 pixels per Frame. Scrolling an entire screen requires 341 Frames.
On this River Stage, there are 7 Seeker Crocodiles.
On this River Stage, there are 7 Bubble spawn points.
During River Stage 3, if Knife is used from the left edge of the screen, Jungle Hunter will be pushed backward to X 119 after the Knife animation has completed. This prevents the screen from scrolling for 4-7 Frames, depending on the condition during which Knife is used. While Jungle Hunter will is being pushed backward, he can swim up or down, but he can not swim right or left or use Knife. The fastest technique to destroy a Seeker Crocodile in this Stage is to swim diagonally up or down until the Seeker Crocodile is within range, press Left for 1 Frame, and then use Knife on the next Frame. Note that for River Stage 3 and beyond, this technique becomes much more difficult (or even impossible, if a Crocodile's mouth is open) to execute unless a Seeker Crocodile is approaching from directly above Jungle Hunter.
Boulder Stage 3:
On this Boulder Stage, there are 15 Small Boulders and 11 Large Boulders.
Starting with this Stage, on each Boulder Stage, Small Boulders may spawn in a cluster.
Starting with this Stage, on each Boulder Stage, certain Small Boulders move differently.
Starting with this Stage, on each Boulder Stage, certain Large Boulders move differently.
It is not possible to jump over the Large Boulder at about Frame 20850 if the previous Large Boulder is also to be jumped over. As such, this Large Boulder is ducked instead.
Jungle Princess Stage 3:
Loop 4:
Rope Stage 4:
Starting with this Stage, on each Rope Stage, a Monkey will also appear on Rope 4 if Jungle Hunter delays for too long.
Starting with this Stage, on each Rope Stage, the Monkey on Rope 10 will move to Rope 9 if Jungle Hunter delays for too long.
By delaying the jump from Rope 2 to Rope 3 for 2 Frames after the earliest possible Frame from Frame 24502 to Frame 24504, Jungle Hunter can avoid waiting for 2 additional swings of Rope 2, saving 260 Frames.
River Stage 4:
The playfield extends horizontally from X 135 to X 223 and vertically from Y 22 to Y 151. This leaves slightly less room horizontally than River Stage 3.
On this River Stage, there are 12 Seeker Crocodiles, including 3 Super Seeker Crocodiles.
On this River Stage, there are 9 Bubble spawn points.
Boulder Stage 4:
On this Boulder Stage, there are 21 Small Boulders and 5 Large Boulders.
Jungle Princess Stage 4:
After a jump, joystick control is unlocked 1 Frame before jump control. As such, it is possible to change the direction that Jungle Hunter is facing and then Backward Jump to the left without sacrificing any Frames. For entertainment purposes only.
feos: Judging for claimant.
feos: Thanks to the submission notes, we know that this game is trickier than it looks, so good job optimizing it all. The ending is also clear. Little to no feedback indicates that while this game was popular, novel and memorable, it doesn't quite stand against our current entertainment standards, allowing only 4 kinds of repetitive gameplay over the course of almost 9 minutes. Accepting to Vault.
fsvgm777: Processing.