Miracle of Arumana fds

[Graham Mitchell]

Hey gang. Have any of you played this game? It's an import famicom disk system game by Konami. I don't think it's very well-known.

I picked it up recently and it's got me scratching my head a bit. Basically, I can totally see why it wasn't released overseas. The jumping mechanic is totally broken. The simplest, most obvious jumps do not work, especially anything involving moving platforms. Even if the laws of physics say you will make this jump, the game will glitch and push your character off the platform.

However, you are provided with a grappling hook, similar to bionic commando. You can find some pretty crazy workarounds for these jumps. It takes practice and a lot of mental effort, but it can be done.

In that regard, I like the game because of the challenge it provides. I'll get stuck for 20 minutes on a jump that you could do effortlessly in another platformer. Thing is, I don't know whether the game was designed to he played this way or not. If it was then its brilliant. If not, then the game is horribly broken, and you have to take advantage of sloppy programming to advance.

Anybody else try this game and have similar feelings?


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.927978,-118.229322

[FoxNtd]

I brought a brand new copy of this game a while ago. On the first day I didn't win the game. On the second day... I won the game without dying and continued to play to see how high of a score I'd get. I think I looped the game 4 or 5 times. You aren't really supposed to do regular jumps much, since the character's jump is rather pitiful. Once you master timing that grappling hook you will be evading everything. :)

Unlike other Konami games, the difficulty did not increase after Loop 1.

The only thing that's bullshit is the final boss. Make sure you collect all the holy balls that you can thoroughout the game. (I'm just translating the item's name from the game's manual. Holy balls. Yeah, go ahead and laugh.) :roll:

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I love that game. A FDS gem for sure, probably my favorite FDS exclusive (I believe it's exclusive).

Konami should have brought it over to the US, there were plenty of games on NES with crappy platforming mechanics so that can't be the reason that they didn't.

[Graham Mitchell]

I'll keep working with it. Have you guys played al senshi Nicol? That's another great Konami fds game we never saw.

[FoxNtd]

Also have, and finished, Nicol, too. It was great. Reminded me a little of Guardic Gaiden, and a little of Metafight. Though the last boss was a jerk. °д°

[Dire 51]

I'm a fan of Almana no Kiseki, and not just because it's Konami's version of Indiana Jones. I've owned the FDS game (which I bought new - it remains my only CIB FDS game) for a while, and I recently bought the repro (http://www.thenesdump.com/New%20Website/miracle%20of%20almana.htm) being offered by the NES Dump, just because it's nice to not have to dig out my FDS if I want to play it. As far as the gameplay is concerned - while I do sometimes wish regular jumps were more effective, I feel that figuring out how to properly use the grappling hook (nice homage to Roc 'N Rope there) is what gives the game its challenge. I'd have loved to seen it officially released here.

[StealthLurker]

I've had this game since the 80s, however not in disk format but a pirate cart (although I have the legit disk now). Picked it up on a summer vacation overseas.

Like everyone says, the jumps are worthless for traditional use... just a way of adjusting your position to use your hook.

Overall I thought the game had great music, sound effects and graphics for it's time. Played it quite a bit back in the day.

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[FoxNtd]

This game does make use of the FM synth which is nice. Generally, the jump is useless by itself, but it's good for use in conjunction with the grappling hook. You can do some slick manuevering and get through areas quicker, safely, in some parts of the game.

Also, did anyone clear the final stage of the game without passing through a wall? I don't know if it's a wall glitch I've been using or if you are truly required to go through that wall. Maybe I should check a map of the stage... Still curious though if anyone does go through the wall. :)

[Greg2600]

Hmm, the translation I downloaded awhile ago named it Almana no Kiseki - Miracle of Almana. Personally I found the inability to kill the snakes while kneeling really stupid, and found it a waste of time to keep playing. Konami would have had to polish this game if they had tried to release it in the US.

[Graham Mitchell]

Hmm, the translation I downloaded awhile ago named it Almana no Kiseki - Miracle of Almana. Personally I found the inability to kill the snakes while kneeling really stupid, and found it a waste of time to keep playing. Konami would have had to polish this game if they had tried to release it in the US.

I must be mistaken on the title. Thanks for the correction.

And yeah, I agree with you. It needs some work. Everybody is talking about how you need to take advantage of glitches to complete it. I personally think that's kind of cool, and I feel pretty good about myself every time I pass a tough part :)



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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.928539,-118.226998

[FoxNtd]

It's アルマナ。There's nothing wrong with saying "Arumana" since it is merely the romanization of the name. I was curious what this word is supposed to be, so I took a look at the story in the manual. It's a mysterious stone with the power to make miracles happen. :)

Also I could not find a map of the game's stages anywhere...

[InsaneDavid]

Konami should have brought it over to the US, there were plenty of games on NES with crappy platforming mechanics so that can't be the reason that they didn't.

Yup, could have titled it "Super Roc 'n Rope" and I'm sure it would have done fine stateside.