English
FrenchNEMESIS
The beginning of the MSX Saga !
Useful link : Complete map
(text initially written by Erikrom, restructured and completed by mars2000)
Nemesis, a peaceful planet, similar to the Earth, is in serious danger, as it is attacked by its amoeboid enemies of the Galaxy Bacterion. To save the planet, the Big Council of Nemesis has decided to send a prototype of spaceship, the Vic Viper or Warp Rattler. James Burton, a 17 year old pilot, is choosen and his goal is Xacrous, the Bacterions vessel.
By releasing this first Megarom of 128 kb in 1986, Konami starts a brilliant serie of shoot ‘em up and , imposes a new standard of quality and gameplay. On the other hand, the SCC soundchip will make its appearance only with Nemesis 2 to give a remarkable sound to this saga. However, there is a Nemesis 1 version with additionnal SCC fun; you can find it in a Konami compilation, only released in Japan : GAME COLLECTION 3. Hackers have succeeded to extract Nemesis to create a Megarom with SCC musics.
From time to time, a saving blue capsule enables you to eliminate in a wink all the enemies present on the current screen. A multitude of weapons is available by the famous system of power ups, which is still used today for all the good shoot’n ups and are materialized by red capsules.
Another characteristic of this shoot ‘em up is the addition of hidden passages, they are not easy to find and require to explore all the so twisted corners of the game.
Their access allows to play very cool bonus levels, full of points, materialized by yellow capsules, and lives, materialized by green capsules.
In the absence of any save system, these gratis lives become essential to enjoy the end of the game. This end remains nevertheless very difficult to reach as the difficulty level is so high.
If you want to play this game by giving him a rather comic look, think of inserting Twinbee in slot 2: your Vic Viper will be transformed into Twinbee and the various pastilles will become bells! Incredible ! Alas, this trick does not work with the SCC version …
The weapons
Thanks to the power-ups system, your shooting can be doubled (DOUBLE) or replaced by a powerful LASER.
Besides, missiles (MISSILE) and two options (OPTION) can reinforce your fire power and you can acquire a protection shield (? or SHIELD). Your SPEED can also be modified.
In the ROM versions of the game, you can enter passwords in pause mode (F1). Instructions dor most of them : F1 + password + ENTER + F1. Note that you can combine 2 or more passwords at the same time and that they can’t be used only once, with exception for SPEEDUP and DOWN
All the weapons in extended mode : HYPER
+1 Speed : SPEEDUP
+1 Missile : MISSILE
+1 Double : DOUBLE
+1 Laser : LASER
+1 Option : OPTION
+1 Shield : SHIELD
Decrease the speed : DOWN
Suicide 1 : BAKA
Suicide 2 : AHO
There are also passwords that give all the weapons in a specific stage, they are indicated here below.
The walkthrough
Here’s a walkthrough that describes each of the 8 normal stages and 4 bonus stages. Note that each normal stage starts with a pre-stage, which allows to upgrade your spaceship.
Stage 1
Stage 1 is full with volcanos in full activity and includes the first obligatory passage to access in stage 4 to the 3rd bonus stage.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : MOMOKO
Each normal stage ends in a fight against a boss. For stages 1 to 6, it’s always the same enemy spaceship. If you use the secrets passages, you can avoid the bosses of stages 2 to 4.
Stage 2
Stage 2 is full with clumsy rocks and includes the passage towards the 1st bonus stage.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : CHIE
Bonus Stage 1
The 1st bonus stage allows to avoid enemies at the end of stage 2.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : KINOYO
Stage 3
In stage 3, you’ll meet aggressive Easter Island statues and find a passage towards the 2d bonus stage.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : AKEMI
Bonus Stage 2
The 2d bonus stage allows to avoid enemies at the end of stage 3.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : HISAE
Stage 4
Back to volcanos with stage 4, actually stage 1 upside down ! You’ll find here the 2rd and 3rd passages towards the 3rd bonus stage.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : SYUKO
Bonus Stage 3
The 3rd bonus stage allows to avoid enemies at the end of stage 4.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : MIYUKI
Stage 5
All things get worse with stage 5 and its broken loose skeletons.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : CHIAKI
Stage 6
Stage 6 is haunted by strange space tentacles.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : NORIKO
Stage 7
Stage 7 is intriguing with its disturbing cells and includes the passage towards the 4th bonus stage.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : SATOE
Bonus Stage 4
The 4th bonus stage is your last opportunity to get additionnal points and lives.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : YOHKO
Stage 8
The game culminates with stage 8, where you attack the Bacterions vessel.
Password to get all the weapons(can be used only once) : YASUKO
The end
After you have defeated the last boss, your mission is finished, you get out fastly from the Bacterions spaceship that is going to explode.
Nemesis is saved and the Vic Viper has proved its power of fight.
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