TaleSpin

Guide for game TaleSpin

 

 TALESPIN FAQ/Walkthrough

 Author......................Raging_DemonTEN
 Console.....................Nintendo Entertainment System
 
 "TALESPIN" Copyright 1992 Capcom
 FAQ/Walkthrough Copyright 2002 Raging_DemonTEN
 
 E-Mail Address..............eagle25_100@yahoo.com 
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

----- Copyright Information -----
 ________________________________________________________________________
| |
| This FAQ is copyrighted by Raging_DemonTEN in the year 2002. It is for | 
| private use only, and cannot be reproduced or sold without strict |
| permission from the author. Permission can be asked for by e-mailing |
| me with the title "TS Permission" at: eagle25_100@yahoo.com. | 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 | Version History |
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 
 
 Version 1.0 - FAQ/Walkthrough Completed

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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 | Table Of Contents |
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 ===========================================================
 | 1).......| Introduction |
 | 2).......| Overview And Controls |
 | 3).......| Item Values |
 | 4).......| Walkthrough |
 | a.) Over The Sea |
 | b.) The Baseball Stadium |
 | c.) In The Stormy Sky |
 | d.) The Haunted House |
 | e.) High Above The City |
 | f.) The Mining Tunnels |
 | g.) Jungle Junket |
 | h.) The Snowy Alps |
 | 5).......| Tips |
 ===========================================================

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 1. Introduction 
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 Back around 1992, Capcom and Disney worked together to produce a set of 
NES games dealing with the then popular animated shows Disney was producing.
The games produced included Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, 
Ducktales, and the game this guide is about, TaleSpin. Surprisingly, the 
games were of good quality, and actually were fun to play. Unfortunately, 
Capcom completely missed their target audience, children who watched the 
shows, by making the games extremely difficult for that age group.
 
 With this guide, you can hopefully have an easier time through this game
than without. I've written some general level strategies, bonus level 
locations, and boss strategies. Good luck!


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 2. Overview And Controls 
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 In case you've never seen the show before, this game involves the 
adventures of Baloo and Kit, two bears delivering cargo for Rebecca, another 
bear. However, Shere Khan, the evil tiger tycoon, wants to put Rebecca out of 
business, so he hires pirates, led by Don Karnage, to do his dirty work. 
Baloo has to deliver his cargo across the world while fighting the pirates 
who are trying to stop him. Anyways, the game usually has you control Baloo 
in the Seaduck, his plane, except for when you enter a bonus level, where you 
then control Kit on his airfoil.

 ------------
| Controls |
 ------------

Seaduck
---------
D-Pad - Controls the Seaduck
B Button - Fires weapon
A Button - Turns plane around
START Button - Brings up status screen
SELECT BUTTON - Pauses game

Airfoil
---------
D-Pad - Controls the Airfoil
START Button - Brings up status screen
SELECT Button - Pauses game


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 3. Item Values
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 Unlike most other games, collecting some items to get points doesn't 
just serve as points. When you collect certain items, such as moneybags or 
loads, you gain money to spend on upgrades for the Seaduck. These upgrades 
are essential for completing the game, as it is next to impossible to do 
without them. Below is a list compiling how much each item is worth, in 
points or money.

 Points Money
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cherry..............| 100 points | Load.........| $1000 per load
Grapes..............| 200 points | Moneybag.....| $3000 per bag
Bananas.............| 500 points |
Strawberry..........| 1000 points |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Extra Life - 10000 points
 Perfect Score - 100000 dollars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ---------------------------
| Achieving A Perfect Score |
 ---------------------------

To receive the perfect score bonus of 100000 dollars, you must do the 
following:

1.) Get all loads and all moneybags located in the level.
2.) Enter the bonus level. You do not have to collect every balloon.


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 4. Walkthrough
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 Before I begin, I want to list in what order I prefer to power-up the 
Seaduck, which I believe makes the game much easier. Along with the power-ups
below, be sure to pick up any Continue Memos if you can spare the cash.
 
 Rapid Shot
 Engine Power
 Super Rapid Shot
 Armor
 
 Hopefully, you should have all four before you reach Level 8. If you 
are just beginning, I might switch around the order of the power-ups to 
Armor first than Super Rapid Shot, since you will probably be getting hurt
a lot your first few times playing the game. 
 
_____________________________________________________________________________
 a. Over The Sea
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Bonus Level Location 
- Near the beginning of the level, when Don Karnage first appears, turn 
 around and fire at the bottom cylinder on its right side.
=============================================================================

* You'll first meet Don Karnage here, not too far into the level. He's 
 invulnerable right now, so don't waste your time firing at him and instead
 dodge his shots. 

* You can find a hidden Moneybag right after you reach the bottom of the
 waterfall. Fire at the second set of clouds in the sky to find it.

* When you reach the set of helicopters that rise from the water, make sure
 they are horizontal to you before you shoot. Since you can only fire one
 bullet at a time...um...at this time, a miss could cause you to lose a 
 Heart.

 -----------------
| Boss: Submarine |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The only vulnerable part on the submarine is the periscope that stays |
| above water at all times. Fire at the periscope from the water line until |
| its deck shows above water. Rise up to avoid the bullet that comes right |
| at you, and the spread of fire will miss you. Next, watch out for the |
| missiles which it will shoot out right after it fires its volley. When |
| only the periscope is visible again, go back to firing at it from the |
| water line. Continue this pattern until it is destroyed. |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 b. The Baseball Stadium
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Bonus Level Location
- Again at the beginning of the level, turn around and fire at the right side
 of the first baseball billboard, right after the words TaleSpin.
=============================================================================

* As soon as you begin the level, don't miss the two Load boxes right in the
 stands if you want a perfect score.

* When the giant baseball makes a hole in the ground, shoot the mines before
 they start to glow red. While non-glowing mines won't hurt you if you touch
 them unless you directly hit them, glowing ones will hurt no matter what.

* Also in the underground area, you'll encounter a series of tight paths. Use
 the A Button frequently to avoid being crushed by the screen, as it has 
 happened to me many a time.

 ----------------
| Boss: Baseball |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The giant baseball will bounce from one side of the screen to the | 
| other, firing a spread shot when it reaches each side. Fly high when it's |
| still bouncing, as it takes a high bounce in the middle of the arena. |
| When it unfolds, fire at the gun, being sure to avoid the bullet that |
| comes directly at you from the spread. |
| |
| I've noticed that when the baseball is on its last legs, it won't |
| unfold until you hover above the location where it usually unfolds. For |
| example, if the ball is moving left to right, you would usually stay to |
| the left, so you could fire right away when it unfolds. When the ball is |
| on its last legs, stay to the right. When it unfolds, move out left, and |
| then fire to destroy it. |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 c. In The Stormy Sky
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Bonus Level Location
- When you see the third mountain peak, fly past the clouds preventing access
 to it from the top, then turn around so you're flying right towards it. 
 Fire near the peak to uncover it.
=============================================================================

* This level has NO hidden moneybags or loads, so receiving a perfect score 
 is a cinch. The only tight spot you might encounter is the moneybag right
 before the boss fight. Move to the right side of the screen, grab it, and 
 quickly swoop back to avoid the Torpedoes.

* When you run into the lightning minefield, you can avoid the bolts by 
 positioning yourself so that the Seaduck is not diagonal from any mines.

 ---------------------
| Boss: Fighter Twins |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Dealing with one fighter with spread shots is tough, but dealing with |
| two is murder. However, there is an easy way to avoid their attacks. The |
| two fighters occupy the left and right side of the screen, so you will be |
| stuck in the middle. The fighters have two attacks: they will fire a |
| spread shot from both sides of the screen, or will connect and fire a |
| single shot which will explode into shrapnel. |
| |
| The twins are only vulnerable when they are connected, so you'll have |
| to avoid the spread shots. An easy way to avoid damage to fly towards the |
| top of the screen. When they descend and ascend from the clouds, the |
| right twin will have to fire before the left twin can. As soon as the |
| right twin appears, descend to the bottom of the screen. Both twins will |
| miss you completely, and you can rise to the top again once they go back |
| into the clouds. |
| |
| When they connect, get parallel and on the opposite side of the |
| screen before you start to attack. You can usually get one, maybe two |
| hits in before they disengage. The shot will miss you completely as long |
| as you are on the opposite side of the screen. |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 d. The Haunted House
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Bonus Level Location
- When you reach the first vertical part of the level, where you first meet 
 the ghosts, you'll see a door on the screen blocked by a backwards L-shaped
 barrier piece. Quickly fly into the lone entrance and fire diagonally down
 to the left at the door.
=============================================================================

* Chandeliers in the first are won't fall unless you fly directly underneath 
 them, so get as low as possible before you do so. However, the Chandeliers
 near the fireplaces will fall as soon as one pixel goes underneath them,
 so swoop in and then quickly out.

* Ignore ghosts, and definitely don't shoot them. Shooting one ghost results 
 in you having to deal with eight tinier ghosts, which are more likely to 
 cause damage to you.

* After the set of fireplaces, stay low to the ground to avoid the hands
 punching out the brick wall, as being low gives you more time to react.

 ---------------------
| Boss: Invisible Man |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The only vulnerable spot on the Invisible Man is his bowtie. However, |
| his right fist protects it. The Invisible Man's right fist will never |
| touch you as long as your plane touches the floor. Also, the right fist | 
| will never touch you in the left corner. So, stay in the bottom left |
| corner. When the fist moves down diagonally, you move up, fire at the |
| bowtie, then move down to your original spot when the fist retracts. Fist |
| never comes close. You win. Just be sure not to move up unless the fist |
| is moving diagonally down. |
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


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 e. High Above The City
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Bonus Level Location
- See that yellow building in the background to the left when you first start
 out? We're going to look for that to appear again in the background. When 
 it does, next to a tan building, swoop down, turn around, and fire at the 
 bottom of the tan building.
=============================================================================

* Run away from the little things that are shot out all through this level.
 Wasting your shots on them isn't worth it, and you'll just end up getting
 hurt in the long run.

* When you reach the second vertical part of the level, while climbing up
 the girders, don't miss the 1-UP conviently tucked away beside a Cargo Box.

 ---------------------
| Boss: Wrecking Ball |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| This boss seems almost impossible at first. However, it becomes ten |
| times easier once you realize YOU CAN DESTROY THE WRECKING BALL! As soon |
| as the battle begins, fire at the wrecking ball. When it comes towards |
| you, quickly fly under it, turn around, and fire again at it as it drops |
| and returns to attack again. Once it falls off, shoot diagonally down |
| near the pulley above the cockpit to get easy hits without getting hit by |
| the balls. |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 f. The Mining Tunnels
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Bonus Level Location
- As soon as the level starts, turn around and fire at the upper corner.
=============================================================================

* A lot of the loads/moneybags are actually in the walls instead of on top of
 them, so be sure to keep your eyes sharp while searching at the texture of
 the walls.

* Snakes are only vulnerable at the tip of the heads. Either get lucky with
 a diagonal-up shot or go parallel to them before you shoot.

 ----------------------
| Boss: Mining Machine |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Easiest boss fight in the game, hands down. First, count over three |
| rocks from the left side of the screen. It's the third rock from the left |
| and just to the left of the pipe below the gauges on the mining machine. |
| Stay below this rock the entire time. Moving up and down only, fire |
| diagonally-up at the rabbit when the shield opens to show his face. Fire |
| when your plane is just below the fourth rock from the left. You will not |
| even come close to getting hurt. Scratch this one off to bad bug testing. |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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 g. Jungle Junket
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Bonus Level Location
- When you come down from the clouds and go deep underground, wait until you
 reach the bottom. Destroy the Bear Turret, then continue to fire at the 
 space behind it to unveil this.
=============================================================================

* When you first start to go into the clouds, quickly grab the two Loads on
 the left. The time it takes for you to miss them passes by quickly, and
 soon makes them unreachable.

* The spears the Alligators throw are destroyable, so I choose to attack the
 projectile instead of these speedsters.

 ------------------
| Boss: Gator Idol |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| While this boss's attacks are difficult to avoid, there is one, maybe |
| two Heart pick-ups to help you out in case you run into trouble. The one | 
| which will always be there is in the upper righthand corner, above the |
| Gator Idol. Just shoot at the blank space for it to appear. Sometimes, a |
| second one will appear in a flying container if you're lucky. |
| |
| To fight this boss, you're going to fly in a square clockwise pattern |
| in the space in front of the Gator Idol. Starting near the ground, fly up |
| and fire at the jewel at its chest, it's only weak spot. Once at the top, |
| fire at the fireballs coming your way, and then move forward. This is to |
| avoid the spears. Continue to fire at the fireballs until you reach the |
| space right in front of the Gator Idol. Move downwards then, firing at |
| the jewel again and perhaps a Spear Gator. Once you reach the bottom, |
| move back while firing at the jewel. Continue the pattern until it is |
| defeated. |
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


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 h. The Snowy Alps
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NO BONUS LEVEL
=============================================================================

* When you climb any slope and the screen stops for you to move forward 
 again, turn around and fire at the cloudbank for fruit galore.

 -------------------
| Boss: Don Karnage |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Folks, every bullet you have dodged in this game has built up to this.|
| This boss is in everyway tough to beat. There are no secret ways to beat |
| him without being touched at all. You WILL need good reflexes, and you |
| most likely WILL be hit sometime. However, my little strategy may help if |
| all else fails. |
| |
| Don Karnage flies in a circle around you, firing three homing shots |
| at every top he makes. He makes four stops in the circle, and he flies so |
| fast, you may soon be overwhelmed by the number of bullets. Fly in the |
| same pattern he is, clockwise, in the space he provides. Fire at him when |
| he is at 3 and 9 o'clock. By constantly moving clockwise, and with a small|
| amount of bullet weaving, you may have enough Hearts left for the next |
| boss... |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 --------------------
| Boss: Iron Vulture |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| First thing to destroy are the six support propellers. They each take |
| three hits. You can either be attacked by fighters, Torpedoes, or bombs |
| which will show their tip before they drop from the sky. |
| |
| The final boss in the game is the Iron Vulture's main engine. What |
| makes it so tough is that you are extremely cramped in one screen with |
| enemies coming from everywhere. Stay to the extreme left side of the |
| screen, fire away, and just watch for bomb tips and the occasional |
| Torpedo. Sometimes flying Heart containers will appear, so definitely go |
| out of your way to get them. Good luck! |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST BEATEN TALESPIN!


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 5. Tips
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* Turning the plane around not only serves as a method for shooting enemies
 behind you, but also to pick up any cargo that you miss and avoid getting 
 crushed by the scrolling screen. Whenever you are in danger of being 
 crushed, turn around well before, then wait for the screen to scroll until
 you're in danger of being crushed by the opposite screen. Then turn again,
 and you should have plenty of room to maneuver now.

* The fire button is your friend. Just shoot at the air constantly, and you 
 will be bombarded with secret cargo boxes and fruit to boost your score.
 Try to get Super Rapid Shot as soon as possible to make this task easier.

* Practice makes perfect. TaleSpin, like any shooter, involves lots of timing
 and getting to know enemy patterns. While the first few times you play may 
 be tough, replaying the same level will eventually increase your skill in 
 the game.


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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 | Thanks To... |
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

GameFAQs - For continually posting my guides
The Request List Project - For giving me a reason to work on this FAQ. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Have any questions or comments about this guide? Please feel free to 
e-mail me at eagle25_100@yahoo.com. I hope you have enjoyed my guide, and 
good luck in TaleSpin
_____________________________________________________________________________
 (c)2002 Raging_DemonTEN