Monday Morning MAME Club [4/26/04] - Elevator Action

[Flack]

Howdy fellow MAMErs! This week's game is one of my personal favorites, partially because it was the first videogame cabinet I ever owned. If flickering lights, mysterious briefcases, and lots of gunplay sound like fun then get ready for a week of action, because ...

ELEVATOR ACTION is Flukkake's MAME Club pick of the week!
Link to rom will be posted shortly.

http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/screens/E/xElevator_Action.png

This week's contest: Post your high scores and the highest level you've reached!

Download the ROM if you don't already have it, give it a spin, and respond to this topic with your review! Have you played this game before, or is it brand new to you? Do you like the genre? How did it run on your computer? Did you beat it? If so, how long did it take? What was your high score? How far can you get?

Did you have any problems emulating the game? When writing your review, post it right here in the sticky topic and include any thoughts you have about the game. Remember, YOU are the reviewer. Let us know anything and everything you think about the game!

Note: I have updated the member list to include what ROMs have been selected! N/A means I couldn't find an entry from that person. If someone else stumbles across one, let me know and I will update the list.

Club Members:

Gamereviewgod (ESP Ra.De.)
Wisesalesman (Waku Waku 7)
scooterb23 (I'm Sorry)
ddockery (Penguin-Kun Wars)
AlanD (Dr. Micro)
digitalpress (N/A)
IntvGene (Strike Force)
NE146 (Portman)
jonjandran (Bronze Adventure)
Flack (Rollergames, Yie-Ar Kung-Fu)
IGotTheDot (N/A)
zektor (Battle Bakraid, Haunted Castle)
buttasuperb (Blazing Star)
chadtower (Berkerk)
Sotenga (Caliber 50)
Stark (Mighty! Pang)
christianscott27 (Darius Gaiden)
ECWSandmanECW (League Bowling)
TripppsK (Lady Bug)
vespertillio (Rampart!)
ghsqb (N/A)
TheSmirk (Bomb Jack)
Flukkake (Elevator Action)
BHvrd (NARC)
ManekiNeko
MarioAllStar2600
Ze_ro
slip81
Qbert
k8track
Hamsnibit
Lady Jaye
Sofa King Gud
jgenotte
Schenley
Kaine23
Arqueologia_Digital

BHvrd did me a favor a few weeks ago and went early when I needed a choice, so next week's entry will come from ManekiNeko! Now let's change into our spying trenchcoats, grab a briefcase, and ...

... MAME On!

[Flack]

Alright, I guess I'll kick this one off!

As most of you know, in Elevator Action, you play Agent 17, aka Otto. The goal is to acquire all the secret documents (hidden behind red doors) and make it to the ground level without getting shot. Along the way you'll face wayward elevators and enemy spies with guns.

Controls are pretty simple. You can move left and right, and use the two buttons to jump and shoot. When inside elevators you can override their direction by pressing up and down. You can ride escalators by standing in front of them and hitting either up or down, depending on the direction you wish to go. You can also shoot out the lights, if you prefer playing in the dark.

To rid yourself of enemy agents you can always shoot them, but that's pretty boring. You can also jump kick them, crush them with an elevator, or if you're really good, shoot out a light fixture and drop it on them.

I believe the first light you shoot out nets 300 points. Killing agents gets you 150 points, each secret document is worth 500 points and completing the level before the alarm goes off gets you 1000 bonus points. As the levels go on, enemies begin firing faster and appearing and worse times and places.

I only got to play for about 15 minutes today, and was only able to crank out a score of 22,000 points. Can you beat it? Let's see it!

[ManekiNeko]

I've got to admit, I was much more satisfied with Elevator Action Returns than the first game. It's got a more cohesive storyline (plot twists are brilliantly integrated into every stage) and the more serious atmosphere translates into more intense gameplay. The control is sharper, too... you don't have to worry about getting stuck to the floor every time you duck. I guess Elevator Action was an important step forward for video games, but the sequel is a whole lot more enjoyable.

JR

[Flack]

It doesn't surprise me that the sequal would have improved controls, it came 11 years later.

By the way, here's the picture of my kitchen, circa 1995.

http://68.12.156.214:533/temp/elevator.jpg

[IntvGene]

I like them both, for different reasons.

The original is just a great game, simple but fun. I like how the building is laid out a little different each time. The game has a nice difficulty too. It looks real easy, but it's a little deceptive. I also like the game because it doesn't take terribly long to complete a building. The problem is that I am not the most patient player, and die often because I am rushing. I've played it a couple of times today, but I can't break 20,000 yet. The controls are alright, but not perfect. I don't mind that ducking makes me stop moving.

The sequel is also fun, but the games can't really be compared to much though, as ManekiNeko pointed out, as it has a plot, different characters, etc. I've been meaning to get the Saturn version sometime. How is the translation? I also like the SG-1000 version of the original. It's not arcade perfect, but I still like it. I've been meaning to try the 2600 version sometime too.

Nice cabinet, Flack! Do you still have it?

[Flack]

Nice cabinet, Flack! Do you still have it?

Unfortunately no. I paid $100 for that cab (found it listed in the local newspaper) and sold it for the same amount when I moved out of town to Spokane.

[Flack]

There are 40 people in the MAME Club and only two have responded. Where is everybody? Is Elevator Action that unpopular? If so, why? I always liked it myself. There's something addictive about it, I think it's because the game is so deceptively simple. It seems like you should be able to beat it on one quarter or something, but I always end up making a dumb mistake that costs me.

BTW, I had the scoring wrong. That 300 pts comes from dropping a light on an enemy. It's 100 pts for shooting them, 150 pts for kicking them, and 1000 bonus pts for finishing the round before the alarm goes off.

[ManekiNeko]

The sequel is also fun, but the games can't really be compared to much though, as ManekiNeko pointed out, as it has a plot, different characters, etc. I've been meaning to get the Saturn version sometime. How is the translation?

Eez good, comrade. Actually, it's better than the arcade version in that you can assign the grenade attacks to their own button (rather than having to press jump and fire simultaneously! Yeech!). There's also a conversion of the first Elevator Action on the disc, but you have to reach the end of the game to unlock it, and it has a weird tendency to fill the bars on either side of the screen with junk. Sometimes you'll get the Elevator Action logo, other times it'll be something completely different. It like the game chooses the sidebar artwork on a whim, and there's nothing you can do to permanently set it.

Still, it's a good, solid translation. I like it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the arcade game. You won't be able to tell the difference between the two games, aside from occasional access time in the Saturn version.

JR

[Jorpho]

(May I?)

This is perhaps the game I've played the most in MAME, although that's probably not saying much. Good fun, and an interesting challenge... I never knew there was an alarm, though.

I played through Elevator Action Returns on RAINE, back when it wasn't in MAME. I didn't much care for it, as it seemed kind of slow and needlessly complicated. Still, I imagine the emulation now is less buggy than it was then.

(You may enjoy the "They Only Live Twice" video available here (http://www.cinemarcade.com/movies.html).)

[Hamsnibit]

I really loved this game. I use to play it in the arcade all the time. It's not really great gameplay wise, just a fun time waster.

[Flack]

Updated score: 22,200. That was dying on floor 10 of level 3.

Oh, and IntvGene, I don't know if you've noticed or not, but actually the building layout is the same each time -- it's the red doors that appear in random spots.

I did a lot better on my MAME cabinet than with my crappy Gravis pad. My MAME cabinet has an original Nintendo control panel, and that joystick works pretty good for Elevator Action.

One trick I figured out is, wait to jump until they draw their gun. If you jump before it seems like they always shoot you on your way down. If you jump when they draw their gun you'll always clear the bullet. Also, you can jump a bullet while running away -- your jump has such an arc that the bullet will just travel underneath you.

Also on floors 10-1, stay in an elevator. This gives you more mobility. In the upper levels sometimes I let bad guys go, but on the final 10 I shoot everyone since they seem to get on elevators to come back and haunt you.

Great pick this week, Flukkake! This is what the MAME club is all about -- getting people playing MAME!

[scooterb23]

Never knew about the plans behind the red doors...

That explains why I've never finished the first building...

Will try to play some more later.

[Ze_ro]

What would you guys say is the best console version of this game (era consoles that is, not counting remakes)? I know there's a NES version, there's a prototype 2600 version that's mostly finished, and I think there's a Gameboy version as well. I wouldn't mind finding that one some day.

Also, is there any advantage to shooting out the lights aside from points, and the possibility of hitting someone with it? Does it delay the alarm, or impair the enemies aim?

--Zero

[IntvGene]

27,000 is my new high... Level 2 of the third building.

Ya, Flack, you're right. The building doesn't change, just the layout. I just meant that it's a different game each time you play it. :)

What's with the weird pastel colors in this game. That 2nd building is especially messed up. I've always wondered why it isn't harder to see the enemies when the lights are out, as it's really no harder. Even the doors are still visible. I wonder if it was always that way when they designed the game, or if the change came later on.

@Ze_ro: The Sega SG-1000 version is impressive considering the hardware limitations at the time. The NES one is good too, but came out 2 years later.

[AlanD]

High score here is 35,900. Got to the beginning of the 4th building. Scored that last night playing on the PC with a HotRodSE controller. Should have been better but the sound emulation is all crackly on my PC on this game for some reason. Keeps making the game stutter when I walk and fire three bullets at once. Maybe it is just the built-in sound card and I never noticed the problem before on other games.

I love this game enough that I own the cabinet. Unfortunately I was not able to get to the cabinet to play since I have stuff stored in front of it right now. My record score is in the 60s but that has been a few years. It is a little on the plodding side in the beginning but once you get to the second building it gets faster. One tip is when you get around floor 10 where the elevators are 7 wide and you are waiting on an elevator to come up so you can make your run to the bottom, be sure to stand in the elevator on the far left/right so it doesn't go back up and pick up more guys for you. It also gives you more maneuverability if anyone comes up from the bottom also. Also in the multiple elevator areas don't forget that if needed you can jump across an empty elevator shaft. Just don't hit one with a cable in it :)

[QBert]

Man! For the longest time growing up I played Elevator Action and I sucked. I could see the car, but never touch it. :(
I didnt get much of a chance to play as the olny place that had it was across town and wasnt an arcade. Anyways, I think the furthest Ive gotten is just at the top of the 3rd level, and that is recently.


Off to play it now thou.
I got a new monitor BTW - MAME lives again!


Qbert

[kainemaxwell]

EA Returns is on MAME, right? Back on topic EA is one those games you can sit downa nd play for hours due to loosing track of time.

[Jorpho]

So, what is this alarm, exactly? Does it make much of a sound? Does it have any other effect aside from depleting one's bonus?

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Oh man, Elevator action IS A GAME!!!, i love this game since i had played the NES version a few years ago...unless i´m not good at all...it´s a hard me in my opinion

[Flack]

So, what is this alarm, exactly? Does it make much of a sound? Does it have any other effect aside from depleting one's bonus?

The alarm comes on when you've spent too much time in the building. When it goes off the spies get really hard. They begin lying down on the ground and shooting, and there's no way to shoot them when they do that. Also, if you die, it doesn't reset the alarm. The only way to turn the alarm off is to exit the level.