NOTE: I uploaded the complete playthrough on YouTube as well. YouTube version is PC-8801, the screenshots are from the PC-9801:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpHsy-9LODY&t=941s
Recently I was playing through all the Scott Adam's Adventures, taking notes, preparing for posting on each of those text-adventures. Mr. Adams was a significant part of the early home computing market, becoming an early pioneer of gathering games under a software house. His Adventure Intl. company was one of the big players for a few years there in the early 80's. But it all started with his first game called "Adventureland", which was in-turn inspired by the famous "ADVENT" that swept through college campuses lucky enough to own a mainframe computer.
What I want to do here, though, is to talk about Scott Adam's Graphic Adventure #1. Naturally, this is also called Adventureland - but this time includes a graphic engine on-top of the original text-only game. His first graphic version of Adventureland came out on the Apple II in 1982. The Atari 8-bit machines got their version in 1983. There was also a Commodore 64 and Spectrum ZX version in 1985. What I never knew about until just recently was that a Japanese company, Starcraft, also did their own version of Adventureland for the three top Japanese home computers of the era. I had to take a look at those:
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| Booting up the game lands you "In the forest" |
Once I figured out an emulator and found the game, it felt special to boot up a game I didn't even know existed. Lo and behold, the graphics looked better than all previous versions I'd seen! I'm sure they stuck closer to the original designs, in part because of the higher resolution of NEC systems. Japanese text demanded higher resolution to be able to display complex Japanese text (katakana, hiragana or kanji.) But this was certainly worth exploring more! Only one problem... being entirely in Japanese, I couldn't even figure out how to "go east" or "climb tree" to see even one additional screen. I was stuck... tantalized by graphics lying a few kana characters away.
I decided it was high time for me to learn some Japanese. Before playing this game, I didn't even know about the different writing systems. The game was presenting some strange symbols -- I didn't even know yet they were called "katakana". I learned, too, that there is no easy way to "screenshot" and translate any of this, as these computers from 1982 are not displaying katakana as a modern visual translator would recognize. So it sent me down a path of comparing the wikipedia for each letter and slowly figuring out the romaji (a roman letter spelling of the word).
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| Katakana charaters "a, na, ta, ha" = romaji "anataha" = you (English) |
Shortly then, it started to be a guess the noun or verb game, and seeing if the system recognized any of my commands. I found some helpful website lists of verbs & nouns, and started to have success!
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| Success! I went UP the tree. It worked! |
Exciting! I was off and running. 2 weeks of intensive katakana translation, lots of google translations, and searching the web... I eventually played through the entire game. Nowhere online could I find any kind of walkthrough for this game. I thought here's my chance to help others along this path by publishing my own walkthrough. Basically, to me the NEC PC-8801 and PC-9801 versions are the best versions of this game anywhere... I hope more people get to explore it now via this walkthrough.
VARIANTS:
SAGA #1 - initial version.
Characterized by items being drawn on screen that were present. Picking up an object redraws that part of the screen to "remove" the object, and vice-versa.
Apple II (1982) - preferred
Atari 8-bit (1983) - not as bad as it looks from screenshots on MobyGames, etc. You DO have to adjust colors considerably from emulator defaults.
SAGA #1 - Japanese import (by Starcraft)
This fascinating version has the best graphics of any version! Looks like the exact same graphic source as initial version. It also continues to draw all objects on screen that are present. There were modifications made as well, the graphics never drop from view... all text is contained in the 5 text-rows at bottom of screen. Sometimes, you'll have to "look room" and "look objects" to learn more.
Fujitsu FM-7 (1984)
NEC PC-8801 (1984) - either NEC computer has same graphics & play
NEC PC-9801 (1984) - same as PC-8801
SAGA #1 - 2nd English version.
Simplified version for the C64 and Speccy, this version doesn't bother with any objects drawn to the screen. It simply has one background image for a location, and doesn't display any objects on it. You have to read the text to even know that items are present.
Commodore 64 (1985) -
ZX Spectrum (1985) - preferred (more vibrant color in the graphics, full load off cassette one-time)
WALKTHROUGH / SOLUTION
Here now is the walkthrough. First is the romaji input (if your emulator allows romaji, it is by far the easiest way to type & play)... after that is the keyboard keys to input straight kana characters . Finally is of course is the action you're performing described in English.
** SPOILERS AHEAD **
Starting Location:
Forest
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| So many things begin in the forest... |
ue / 45 (up) - TOP OF TREE
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| Just wanted to take in the view! |
shita / dq (down) - FOREST
higashi / vt`d (east) - MEADOW with dragon
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| miru doragon / n. s`ob`y (look dragon) |
higashi / vt`d (east) - SHORE of a LAKE (contains axe and golden fish)
toru ono / s. 6k (take axe) - picks it up
kita / gq (north) - QUICKSAND BOG
toru ushi / s. 4d (take ox) -
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| miru ushi / n. 4d (look ox) |
BUNYON iu / BUNYON e4 (say BUNYON) - items disappear
mochimono / mamk (inventory... "belongings" in Japanese) - see what you are holding
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| I got nothing... |
oyogu / 69h` (swim) - exits quicksand, back to shore
minami / nun (south) - BOTTOMLESS HOLE
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| Ironic, the "read me" would not be read by Japanese audience |
shita / dq (down) - LEDGE IN HOLE
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| I suggest not going down any further! |
toru hiuchiishi / s. v4aed (take flint)
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| miru hiuchiishi / n. v4aed (look flint) |
ue / 45 (up) - Bottomless Hole
nishi / id (west) - DISMAL SWAMP
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| It has a "tick" instead of chiggers. And an oily cloth. |
toru doro / s. s`(softkey _) (take mud) -
nishi / id (west) - PAUL'S PLACE (read sign = "Paul's Land")
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| Not for sale... this be Paul's! |
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| miru kudamono / n. hq`mk (look fruit) |
toru kudamono / s. hq`mk (take fruit)
toru ushi / s. 4d (take ox)
toru ono / s. 6k (take axe)
higashi / vt`d (east) - DISMAL SWAMP
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| miru dani / n. q`i (look tick) |
* YOU MIGHT DIE AFTER THIS... but it's worth it to never have to deal with this creepy creature again. If you die... some quick commands are listed after:
toru dani / s. q`i (take tick)
nishi / id (west) - PAUL'S PLACE
otosu dani / 6sr q`i (drop tick) -
higashi / vt`d (east) - DISMAL SWAMP
ue / 45 (up) - TOP OF CYPRESS
toru kagi / s. tg` (take key)
shita / dq (down)
ki kiru / g g> (cut the tree)
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| Timber! |
** IF YOU DIE**
(otherwise skip this section)
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| I see you're in limbo... |
ue / 45 (up) - Top of Oak
shita / dq (down) - FOREST
higashi / vt`d (east) - MEADOW with dragon
minami / nun (south) - DISMAL SWAMP (and keep going from there)
*RESUME Walkthrough*
fe. glt2` / hairu kirikabu - (enter stump) - INSIDE STUMP
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| I can read that! |
otosu kudamono / 6sr hq`mk (drop fruit)
otosu ushi / 6sr 4d (drop ox)
shita / dq (down) - ROOT ROOM
toru tsubo / s. z-` (take pot) -
ue / 45 (up) - INSIDE STUMP
otosu tsubo / 6sr z-` (drop pot) -
toru ranpu / s. oy2[ (take lamp) -
toru bin / s. v`y (take bottle) -
shita / dq (down) - ROOT ROOM
shita / dq (down) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
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| hope you didn't chop the tree down before you got the key! |
kagi akeru / tg` 3:. (unlock) -
akeru doa / 3:. s`3 (open door) - OPEN!
otosu kagi / 6sr tg` (drop key)
hairu doa / fe. s`3 (enter door) - too dark!
ranpu tsukeru / oy2[ z:. (lamp on) - LONG HALLWAY
shita / dq (down) - BIG CAVE
minami / nun (south) - KING'S WAITING ROOM
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| They made this "leather bag" instead of wine bladder! |
toru kawabukuro / s. t02`h(soft-key _) (take bag) - leather bag taken
kita / gq (north) - BIG CAVE
ue / 45 (up) - LONG HALLWAY
ranpu kesu / oy2[ :r (lamp off) - you want to conserve or you run out!
ue / 45 (up) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
ue / 45 (up)
ue / 45 (up)
ue / 45 (up) - DISMAL SWAMP
toru gasu / s. t`r (take gas) - "You put gas in a leather bag"
hairu kirikabu / fe. glt2` (enter stump)
shita / dq (down) - ROOT ROOM
shita / dq (down) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
hairu doa / fe. s`3 (enter door) - too dark!
ranpu tsukeru / oy2[ z:. (lamp on) - LONG HALLWAY
shita / dq (down) -
minami / nun (south) - KING'S WAITING ROOM
ue / 45 (up) - BRICK DOOR
otosu kawabukuro / 6sr t02`h(soft-key _) (drop bag)
gasu tsukeru / t`r z:. (gas on) - BOOM!
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| Destructive power of gas. |
toru renga / s. +yt` (take brick)
shita / dq (down) - KING'S WAITING ROOM
kita / gq (north) - BIG CAVE
shita / dq (down) - MAZE (UN)
yomu kabe / 9] t'` (read wall) - says "Turn off opposite of turning on"
kita / gq (north) - MAZE (no word on wall)
nishi / id (west) - MAZE (AL)
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| Al... was here |
yomu kabe / 9] t'` (read wall) - says "Aladdin is here"
shita / dq (down) - MAZE (arrow down)
yomu kabe / 9] t'` (read wall) - says "in the direction of the arrow …"
toru juutan / s. d`*4qy (take carpet) -
shita / dq / shita (down) - LAVA ROOM
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| miru yougan / n. 94t`y (look lava) |
renga oku / +yt` 6h (put bricks) - asks you where you want to put them?
yougan / 94t`y (lava) - msg. says "Firestone is here"
toru ami / s. 3n (take net) - only after the lava has been bricked up
mizu sosogu / nr` cch` (pour water) - again, asks you where?
faiasuto-n / 2#e3rs-y (on firestone) - message shining red light goes out
NOTE: You actually have to type the - character for this one. Strange.
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| Dam lava |
toru faiasuto-n / s. 2#e3rs-y (take firestone) -
hikou / vb4 (flying) - this lets you escape to the maze
hikou / vb4 (flying) - fly to DRAGON MEADOW
ranpu kesu / oy2[ :r (lamp off) - gotta conserve
minami / nun (south) - DISMAL SWAMP
hairu kirikabu / fe. glt2` (enter stump) - INSIDE STUMP
faiasuto-n otosu / 2#e3rs-y 6sr (drop firestone)
ue / 45 (up) - DISMAL SWAMP
kita / gq (north) - DRAGON MEADOW
higashi / vt`d (east) - SHORE of a LAKE
kumu mizu / h] nr` (draw water) - refills that bottle to carry the fish!
toru sakana / s. xtu (take fish) -
minami / nun (south) - BOTTOMLESS HOLE
nishi / id (west) - DISMAL SWAMP
hairu kirikabu / fe. glt21 (enter stump) - INSIDE STUMP
otosu sakana / 6sr xtu (drop fish)
otosu ami / 6sr 3n (drop net)
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| Treasures accumulating! |
HONEY AND BEES:
ue / 45 (up) - DISMAL SWAMP
toru doro / s. s`(soft key _) (take mud)
hairu kirikabu / fe. glt2` (enter stump)
shita / dq (down) - ROOT ROOM
shita / dq (down) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
hairu doa / fe. s`3 (enter door) - too dark!
ranpu tsukeru / oy2[ z:. (lamp on) - LONG HALLWAY
shita / dq (down) - BIG CAVE
kita / gq (north) - BUZZ HALL
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| Lightyear? |
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| Background bees... honey... and the clump of "takeable" bees |
toru hachimitsu / s. fanz (take honey) = (must be holding the mud or you die)
minami / nun (south) - BUZZ HALL
minami / nun (south) - BIG CAVE
otosu hachimitsu / 6sr fanz (drop honey) - we'll be back for you in a bit
kita / gq (north) - BUZZ HALL
kita / gq (north) - BEE HIVE
suteru mizu / rw. nr` (pour water) - empties water to have space for bees
toru hachi / s. fa (take bees)
hikou / vb4 (flying) - this lets you escape to the maze
otosu doro / 6sr s`(softkey _) (drop mud) - (sometimes it takes awhile to get rid of the mud)
hikou / vb4 (flying) - fly to DRAGON MEADOW (must make sure mud has dropped off)
otosu hachi / 6sr fa (drop bees) - They attack and chase off dragon
ranpu kesu / oy2[ :r (lamp off)
toru tamago / s. qjb` (get egg)
minami / nun (south) - DISMAL SWAMP
hairu kirikabu / fe. glt2` (enter stump)
otosu juutan / 6sr d`*4qy (drop carpet)
otosu tamago / 6sr qjb` (drop egg) -
sukoa / rb3 (score) - (8 items so far… score 65)
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| Score - 8 items, 65 points. Few more things to grab. |
JUMPING CHASMS:
shita / dq (down) - ROOT ROOM
shita / dq (down) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
hairu doa / fe. s`3 (enter door) - too dark!
ranpu tsukeru / oy2[ z:. (lamp on) - LONG HALLWAY
shita / dq (down) - BIG CAVE
toru hachimitsu / s. fanz (take honey) - told you we'd be back
minami / nun (south) - KING'S WAITING ROOM
ue / 45 (up) - BRICK DOOR
hairu ana / fe. 3u (enter hole) - NARROW LEDGE
 |
| Totally doesn't look far at all... |
tobu sakeme / s2` x:/ (jump rift) - ROCKY LEDGE
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| Japanese version made the bear kinda cute instead. |
sakebu oogoe / x:2` 66b`5 (call out loud) - Bear Falls! (this and the "flying" verb were the two things that kept me stuck longer than anything else in the entire game)
toru kagami / s. tt`n (take mirror)
higashi / vt`d (east) - THRONE ROOM
toru oukan / s. 64ty (take crown)
nishi / id (west) - ROCKY LEDGE
tobu sakeme / s2` x:/ (jump rift) - NARROW LEDGE
nishi / id (west) - BRICK DOOR
shita / dq (down) - KING'S WAITING ROOM
kita / gq (north) - BIG CAVE
ue / 45 (up) - LONG HALLWAY
ranpu kesu / oy2[ :r (lamp off)
ue / 45 (up) - BOTTOM OF HOLE
ue / 45 (up)
ue / 45 (up) - STUMP - ie. The Treasure Room
FINAL TREASURE DROP:
otosu hachimitsu / 6sr fanz (drop honey)
otosu oukan / 6sr 64ty (drop crown)
otosu kagami / 6sr tt`n (drop mirror)
sukoa / rb3 (score) - (11 items so far… score 90)
 |
| We've retrieved everything! Where are the missing two treasures? |
kosuru ranpu / br. oy2[ (rub lamp) - Genie comes out and drops ring
sukoa / rb3 (score) - (12 items so far… score 95)
kosuru ranpu / br. oy2[ (rub lamp) - Genie comes back and drops bracelet
sukoa / rb3 (score) - (13 items - WIN! Score 100)
FINAL MESSAGE:
anataha 13no takarawo mitsukemashita - (You have found 13 treasures)
tokutenha 100 desu - (The score is 100)
anataha 13no zaihouwo subeteteniirimashita - (You got all 13 treasures)
korede anatano daiboukenha owarimashita - (This is the end of your great adventure)
OK
FEW EXTRA COMMANDS
Not necessary for the walkthrough of the game... but some of these are very useful if you're actually learning to play through the game, and trying to learn and/or read the katakana:
miru kanban / n. tyf@y (look sign)
miru heya / n. ^7 (look room) to get full descriptions!
miru kagi / n. tg` (look key) - It's a big old key
miru tsubo / n. z-@ (look pot) - ookina rubiino haitta tsubodesu (It is a pot with a big ruby)
miru kawabukuro / n. t02@h(soft-key _) - It is a leather bag that is likely to contain gas
miru kagami (look mirror) - picture
miru hachimitsu (look honey) - fushigina kinno hachimitsu desu (it's a mysterious gold honey)
miru oukan / n. 64ty (look crown) - ousamaga kabutteita junkinno oukanno youdesu (pure gold crown the King wore)
miru nuno / n. 1k (look cloth) - aburano shimikonda nunogiredesu (piece of cloth soaked with oil)
miru juutan (look carpet) - totemogoukana usui perushimano juutandesu (It ’s a very luxurious thin carpet from Persia.)
miru faiasuto-n (look firestone) - NEW PIC. totemo fushigina ishidesu (it's very strange)
miru tamago (look egg) - It's like a dragon egg
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