From: youngj4@sage4a.its.rpi.edu (Jeffrey 'Taldin' Young)
Subject: X-men
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 23:48:54 GMT


Awhile ago I posted an X-men overview and strategy guide, after playing
around with the game shortly after it came out.  Since then there's
been one in my local arcade for about a month, so I'm posting an updated
guide plus some tips and tricks....

FAQ:  "Are there two versions of the game?" 
  Yes.  There's the large version, 6 players fixed position-
   in order from left to right, Cyclops, Colossus, Wolverine, 
      Storm, Nightcrawler, Dazzler. (Might have Co and Wo swapped, not
      100% positive.)  Has two screens to run around in.  Nightcrawler
      really has the biggest advantage because that jump kick of his
      crosses the screen(s) for the most part, plus his mutant power
     has a lot more range, if I remember correctly.  Wolverine's
     and Storm's mutant powers are really nice if you're standing on one
   end of a screen and fly it all the way across.  Note that there
   isn't much REAL distance added, they made the graphics slightly bigger
   and wider, and you do see a bit more screen.  Also, throws are
    a LOT more dangerous....
    
    The small version has 4 player sticks, and you select who you want to 
   play on dropping in credits after dying/starting.  You may only have
   one of each hero(ine) on the screen, tho.  

FAQ: "Are there different difficulty settings?"  
   Yep.  The more mutants you have in play, the harder the game gets. 
   Some areas you have a constant amount of enemies:  other places you get
   more for your money.   Either you want to be playing alone, or you 
  want to be playing with 2 or 4 people on the small version.  
   Two noteworthy places where the enemies remain constant is
    on the first and third screens, where they send a bunch of 
    green and purple robots at you who walk in a column and fire,
  and the multiple Pyro mess on board 6.   They can also set the number 
 of lives you get on a quarter,  I've seen as many as 4 to as little as 1,
   with 2 being average.   Standard setup seems to be that health gets
  used up first on mutant power, and then the balls if you have any. 
   Someone mentioned a version where they give powerups, but I don't
   see anyplace they could give you any..   Also, one thing to be aware of:
    Boss monsters take a variable number of hits to knock down:
   1 mutant:  3 hits, generally, the Blob excepted.
   2 mutants: 4 hits.
   3 mutants: 5 hits. 
   4 mutants: It might be 6. Not sure, generally I don't know four people
     who like to play different characters and not whale on everything that
     moves.
  5 and 6:  Finding five or six people who want to play at the same time
    I've never had happen.         
   They also take more knockdowns to kill....that's the main disadvantage
   of having multiple players.
  --But you can mutant power like crazy.

NFAQ: "Why does Storm walk when she can fly?"
    I wish I knew.  *laugh* Just game mechanics, I guess, because a Storm
  player could pretty much walk over the chasms and the robots would have
  a real hard time getting her.

NFAQ: "When it says, 'MOVE ON!!' what does it mean?"
    Since X-men is made by the same people who made TMNT, it stands to 
   reason if you hang around long enough, something's gonna fall from the
   sky and hit you.  I've never stood in one place more than 20 seconds.
   It also means there are no enemies lurking off the corner of the screen.

NFAQ: "How come THEY get unlimited use of mutant power and we take damage?"
   Game mehcanics.  Otherwise your computer opponent would keel over after
   1 hit.

FAQ: "I see people attacking opponents that are knocked down.  How do they
 do this?" 
    Walk so your mutant is overlapping your 'unconscious' foe, and hit the
    attack button.  I think pulling down/pushing up might help.  Note
   that you are still vulnerable to attack: if an opponent walks up to you,
   there's a CHANCE that your mutant will do something funky looking to
   get rid of that opponent.  
       
FAQ: "Can we hurt each other?"
   For the most part, no.   You are, thankfully, immune to each other's  
   mutant powers, and basic attacks.  BUT:  Thrown oppoents WILL hurt
  you, to the tune of two bars worth.  The flipside of this is that
   your opponents can't hurt each other, moreover, shots by guntoting
   robots will pass through their buddies harmlessly, only to hit you.
  Windigo, Blob and the robot whose name nobody seems to know, 
   will pick you up by the face (ow) and throw you.  You can get hit
   by this attack.  (Use Other Player as Weapon. Aiee.) And an amusing
  (but painful) result is if one of them grab throws you while standing
  on the side of the screen, when you bounce off the wall you knock THEM
  over.  ("Congrats. You threw and hit yourself.")  (Astute X-men fans
   will note the Cannonball Express -- Colossus throwing Nightcrawler or
    Wolverine -- cannot be done in this game. Sorry.) 

FAQ: "Why does it say, 'The game is not over yet.' when I finish the game?"
  As you probably found out shortly after, when the credits finish rolling,
  or you hit a button, the game starts over.  In SLIGHTLY harder mode.
  Your points roll over, too. And your mutant power.

FAQ: "Does anyone do more damage than anyone else?"  
   Alas, no.  In general, any 'bot will take three hits by any player to 
   knock down.  Though Colossus does have the grab and hit moves.
   Reverse attacks will knock down an opponent, but only count as one hit.
   Jump attacks count as one or two hits. Not quite sure, but they also
   knock down normal opponents.

End notes:
  
---------------The Mutants:------------------
Statuslike things are followed by parentheses based on a 1 high, 6 low ranking.

The opinions that follow are mine.  Take them as you will.
CYCLOPS:(5.5) 
 Mutant in a blue costume with yellow boots, gloves and trunks. Yellow
face visor.
  Speed: Medium.
  Forward Attack : (6/3): Cyclops's normal attack is this really short
    roundswing fist.  However, he's also got a medium to long range high kick
    that's fast...getting it out is the problem.   He also doesn't have
    much vertical range.   Basically has sorta bad range.  I can play him 
    with some difficulty.  However, if you land two punches, the third 
    attack is his spinaround kick..
  Reverse Attack: (1): A funkylooking roundhouse wheel kick that hits opponents
  on both sides, and leaves you facing forwards.
  Two Button Attack: (5) A leaping kick with the leg swing sorta to the side.
    Really bad. You have a long hangtime and you're vulnerable if you miss.
  Jump, then Attack: (3) A flying kick that's fast and fairly long distance.
  Throw: (2): Walk up to your opponent, range 0, and hit the attack button.
    Cyclops grabs his opponent by the head, whirls away from the viewer and
    tosses him behind, low. DON'T stand behind Cyclops!  The second most
    'reliable' throw, though.
  'Finish Him' move: A kick while down. 
  Mutant Power: (6) Aieeee.  Cyclops fires this beam that crosses the screen:
   when it hits someone, it makes a nice explosion that covers what looks
   like 1/3d the screen it's on, and nearly the entire vertical plane.
   BUT: If you miss, it flies harmlessly off the side of the screen.  And you
   just wasted a mutant power.
        
 Decent mutant to play.  Not many people play him, but he's good(?) for
   multiplayer games where YOU want to survive. (Heh.) 
--------
COLOSSUS:(5)
 Big. Tall.  Red boots and costume.  Metal.  SLOW. 
 But impressive looking.
 Speed: Slow.
 Forward Attack:(4) A reaching jab punch at distant opponents.   Close
    SMALL robot opponents get one of two things:  a grab and bash over the
    knee, or a headlock with noogies.  Note that while having the guy in
    a headlock, Colossus is IMMUNE to attacks aimed at him, tapping the
    attack button noogies.  3 noogie hits and the opponent drops.  If you  
    hang in the noogies too long, the robot WILL break free. (You can tell
    I experiment a lot.) 
 Reverse Attack: (6)  This is Colossus's THROW as well.  Sorta reaches
   back behind him, grabs the guy and throws him over his head.  High
   throw, if I remember correctly.   Works at medium range only.  Otherwise,
    you WILL get hit.  The main reason I don't like playing Colossus.
 Two Button Attack: (4)  A slow, shortrange, jump with one foot out. 
   Better than Cyclops's attack because you can hit more than once with 
   it, and it doesn't leave you TOO defenseless.
 Jump, Then Attack: (3)  Colossus leaps in the air, slowly, and then
  gains an AWFUL lot of momentum as he flies at an opponent in a balled
   up twohanded fist.  Looks impressive, has decent range.
 'Finish Him:' Bashes an opponent with his fist.  Nothing spectacular.
  Mutant Power: (1.5) Colossus goes, "AAARRRRGHHH!" and this pretty big
    aura blast blows up everthing out to ALMOST Far range.  Probably 
    the best mutant power; you don't have to aim.  This is the reason
    why a lot of people like to play Colossus.
 I've played Colossus a few times.  I prefer a character who can dodge..

-------------
 WOLVERINE: (4)
  The mutant with the claws that go 'snikt!' Brown and yellow costume, big
  boots, and the claws that he'll retract and draw continuously during the game.
  Speed: Medium.
  Forward Attack: (2) Varied medium and long range slashing attacks, 
    fairly quick, too.  Be careful!  If you're standing too close
    to your opponent, the third attack in a combo is a spinning roundhouse
    that's SLOW and leaves you vulnerable to people who snuck up behind you.
  Reverse Attack: (5) A sorta spinaround attack, but he keeps his claws
   in, and it doesn't seem too effective. (Short range.) Also doesn't 
    show up very often.  You are better off turning around.
  Two Button Attack:(3.5) A slow, slightly longer than shortrange,
    feetfirst attack that has been known to hit more than once. 
    It's not a bad attack, even if he does look kinda odd leaping with
    his claws/arms splayed out.  But it does give your opponents lots of 
    setup time, if they're still standing.
  Jump, then Attack:(3) A leaping attack similar to Colossuses, but
    it has a longer range and it's FASTER.  As in, I'm not quite sure
    WHAT he's hitting his opponents with. 
  Throw: (3.5) A 'fork 'em over' move with the claws, looks painful,
    medium range.  He does it unpredictably, unfortunately.
  'Finish him!'  : A claw down attack.  
  Mutant Power: (3) This laser arc thing that looks kinda nice, covers
    nearly the entire vertical plane, and flies all the way across the
    screen.  I have a feeling that it doesn't do as much damage, though.
    And, naturally, you can fire it off the wrong side of the screen
    and waste it.
             
 A lot of people are Wolvie fans.  He's a decent all around sorta character,
  but his speed is a problem sometimes.   People like playing him anyway.
----------------
STORM: (1)
  Ororo, the not so flying mutant, in her OLD costume.  Armed with a 
   scepter .  My SO thinks that she's got a whip, but it's her cloak
    whipping out and around when she attacks.
 Speed: Medium.
 Forward Attack: (1) Whip with the scepter, backswing, and another backswing
   if at medium or long range.  At point-blank, she does that roundhouse
    kick thing, too, like Wolvie, which leaves her vulnerable.   BUT
    she's got the longest range in the game, a must on some of your opponents.
    Thing to be careful of is her 'handspeed' is not too fast.  Miss an 
    attack and you could get hit.
 Reverse Attack: (4) A backhand with the sceptre.  Not reliable.
 Two Button Attack: (3) A leaping kipkick attack with a decent range,
   and she comes down fairly quick, too. 
 Jump, Then Attack: (2) Storm flies head first across the screen,
   able to hit multiple targets, AND avoids those gun things shots 
   80% of the time.  Fast, too. 
 Throw: (3) Storm does the over-the-head alley-oop thing, 
   if you're standing RIGHT behind (on top of) Storm, you get hit, 
   or out at Medium to Long range.  Nicelooking.  Hit the attack button
   at medium/long range (her attack range is the best guide.)
   I can throw with her fairly reliably because she's got the same
   throw range as Dazzler.
  'Finish Him!': IMHO, the cooolest looking takedown.  Storm bends down
     and electrocutes her opponent smoothly. You still need to tap the 
    button, and it's one of the slower recovering ones-- I've gotten 
    trapped in the pose and whapped because my opponent got up as I 
    hit the button. 
 Mutant Power: (3.5) 'Lightning Tornado', similar to Wolvie's 
   laser attack, looks like the same vertical and horizontal range.
    Not quite sure.  It's expensive to play with mutant powers. 
    Big drawback is that while it's travelling, Storm's standing there
    with her arms out, pretty much saying, 'Hit me from behind!!'
    But it makes this really impressive WHOOOOOOOSH noise...
 
 Storm's rated '1' because that all important range factor really really
helps when it comes to boss monsters.  Her backhand 2nd attack
  hits if the first one does.    However, the 'occupational hazard of
  playing Storm' is that you will get hit from behind.  A lot. 
  I can nearly finish the game on a single quarter, using Storm, now.
-------------------
NIGHTCRAWLER:(2)
  The blue fuzzy elf with yellow eyes, white gloves, two toes, two fingers,
   and a long tail.  
 Speed: Very fast.  The fastest character in the game.
 Forward attack: (2.5)  Nightcrawler has an array of attacks that the
    computer seems to select nearly at random.  Most often though it's
    a 1-2-3 combo of a rounding swing, rounding swing, and either an 
    uppercut or a downward leapslash.   Another attack is this crouched-down
     chip away at your opponent's feet-- shots fired by robots go OVER
    Nightcrawler's head(!)  Also has the fastest hand speed.  Nightcrawler
    has really short range, though, even with his usual hunched over
     attack stance.
 Reverse Attack:(1) A very reliable 'horse' kick, Nightcrawler
   does a handstand and kicks backward.  Neatlooking, too.
 Two Button Attack:(4)  A flip in the air thing, I think it hits to both
   sides, but it also leaves you vulnerable to an attack if you miss.
   I rarely use it.
 Jump, Then Attack:(1)  A flying, feetfirst attack that has the range of
   practically the whole screen, also very fast and near impossible to 
    be knocked out of.   Many NC players do this attack exclusively in
    crowded conditions.
 Throw: (3.5) NC grabs his opponent by the head, and sorta throws him 
  behind, leaping up while doing so.  Has a high arc, and generally won't
   hit anyone on a 'small' game.  Not as reliable as Cyclops's.
   But it's his general defense versus the 'Attack While I'm Finishing A Foe.' 
 "Finish Him!" :  A funky looking 'jump up and down on your opponent' move.
    The second most amusing finish move.
 Mutant Power: (1.5):  Teleports by zipping randomly in a zigzag pattern
   across the screen:  will land you safely (it won't drop you off a cliff)
   and generally NOT in the place where you started.  It doesn't always
    kill everyone on the screen, though... A special note:  When fighting
     Juggernaut for the first time, get Juggernaut to the left side of the
    screen.  While standing on top of him, Mutant power will knock Juggernaut
   down... Nightcrawler zips waaaay off the right side of the screen...
   and comes back to hit him AGAIN as Juggernaut gets back up! 
    The only mutant who gets more bang for the ..well, bang.
   Unfortunately, this is the only screen where NC doesn't bounce off the
   'wall'. 
  
 Myself, I like Nightcrawler for his speed and safe teleport ability.
  Probably one of the better 'group' players.    
-----------------
DAZZLER: (3)
  Allison Blaire, rockstar, dancer, and mutant.  Blue outfit, with
  a headband, floofy hair, brown jacket, pink topped blue boots.

Speed: Fast. (Slightly slower than Nightcrawler.)
Forward Attack: (4)  One of three things: 
   1-2-3 combo of hand-slash, hand-slash, highkick. 
     You CAN jam the joystick in the opposite direction and 
     kick behind you, as I discovered...
   A sorta 'lean into your opponent elbow smash.' Very slow,
    and Dazzler's worst move, even with the range.  And it only 
    comes out when Dazzler's overlapping her opponent.  Not good.
   A kick attack similar to Cyclops, but it's hard to get 
    to execute, similarly.   Dazzler has thusly one of the worst
   ranges, but she's got good hand speed to make up for it.
Reverse Attack: (2) A fairly reliable back elbow which sounds NASTY..
  and has more range than it appears.
Two Button Attack: (4)  Same as Nightcrawler. 
  Leaves you vulnerable, just the same.  I've tried the jump button, 
   and then press both buttons, right before my feet hit the ground, and
   get hit for my trouble...
Jump, Then Attack:(3) A sorta funkylooking spin around lead with one foot
  attack, decent range, fast.  But because one foot hangs down, 
  you can get shot by mobile guns.. ugh.  And I've made the mistake of
   misjudging the distance before, land and get whacked.
   Dazzler only hits the one time, unfortunately.
Throw: (*1*) : IMHO, the coolest throw in the game.  Dazzler does this
   handstand flip, grabs her opponent around the neck with her feet,
   and throws him FORWARD...  Can only be done if you're offcenter
   facing toward the center, though.  Hit the attack button at about
   Medium to long range; it's reliable, (I've gotten as many as 9 throws
   consecutively off), nasty and most importantly, you are immune to attacks
   while in the maneuver, and it MOVES you.  I love watching robots swing
  at where I just was because I threw.  And shots pass through her while
   she's throwing, and the look on a robot's face is priceless. 'Huh?' WHAP!
   Forward throws are generally better than backward throws because
  your opponents tend to clump in front of you, en masse, rather than 
   behind you.  And she's great for the door-opening things on level 2
    - you can throw them into the red rifle robot that tries to nail you
    while you're working on them.
Finish Him!: Kick attack. 
Mutant Power: (2)   A nuclear blast type thing that covers a little more
  distance than Colossuses, and it's directional, too. But be careful!!
  On the slasher statues, I don't know how many times I've gotten 
  hit, turned around and ended up wasting the mutant power by throwing
   it in the wrong direction..  It has one of the longer hangtimes, 
    but I happen to like the way it looks.  And yes, you can be hit
   right after you throw it, and while you're throwing, too.

 I play Dazzler probably one of my best characters.  She's hard to master,
  but the art of combat throwing really really helps whether you're playing
  alone or in a group. 

----------------------

Your Opponents:
  The 'Sentinel bots:'  Standard flunkies. 
    Purple: generally 1 knockdown to kill.
    Purple and green: 1 knockdown, but they fire rocket fists. Don't
     stay in front too long.
    Orange and yellow: Generally take 2 knockdowns.  
    White:  Take up to 4 knockdowns to kill.
 Note that any THROWN robot will die, however.  (This is why I like
  playing Dazzler.) Throwing robots into other robots will almost always
   kill purple robots.  Throwing also can blow up gun emplacements...
 Some robots appear holding rocks.   Do NOT attack them until they throw;
  because the rock will fall and hit you. (annoying.)  Walk up or down the  
  screen and try and dodge the throw.

  Red Rifle Bot.  Big.  Nastylooking gun.  Can pistolwhip, or shoot
   across the screen.  They always crouch down before they do, though, 
   so move up or down or jump (if you're daring) to dodge.
   Generally take 2 knockdowns to kill, with a three-attack-combo. 

 Gun Emplacements: Two flavors.  Beige- on tracks. Predictable, slow,
  walk around and hit them in the back.
   Green: Mobile.  I hate these things.  Have the ability to
   nail you just right.  Two attacks to kill, or one jumping attack.
   With two players, they'll home in on one of you.  Play decoy while
  your buddy polishes it off.
 
  Green Rifle Bot.  Big. Nastierlooking gun.  Like the red one, only 
   shoots bombs in an arc-- do NOT jump in on these guys if you can avoid it.

 Lizardmen.  Come in 2 flavors: Beige and grey with green.  Both have
   this wide range leaping tail attack which is VERY hard to block
  (only Storm has it easy) and does two points of damage if it hits you.
   The grey ones, worse, even breathe fire.  They can start a leap from
   off the screen and ambush you, too.

 Big Ugly Beige Things That Spit Blue Fire. (For lack of a better name.)
  They regenerate hits, but they're slowmoving.  If you whale on them,
   they die, as long as you hit them until they go, 'Chirp!!'

  Big Plant Things.  Variant of the above.  Don't fire as much, tho, and
  only appear on Board 3.

The Giant Bee.
   Hard to kill.  Two mutant power direct hits will kill it, though.
    Shoots back, and has all those bees which get in your way, too.

The Metal Dragon:
   If you're playing 1 player, it's cake.  If you know when it comes out.
  It always starts in the upper right corner, and you can just whale on it
  holding it there until it dies.  Nightcrawler has a big problem with
   this critter, tho... because his attacks are too low.
   And it's little dragons are less resilient than bees.

Buzz Bombs: Only appear after you've killed the White Queen.  Stand above
 the hole and attack like mad. 

Tractor Pulls:  Half man, half tractor.  Able to hit you out of the air.
  Generally, wait for them to pass by, and then nail them while they're
   turning around.


Gotta run. Dinner calls.   Tips on killing boss monsters/ winning the 
  game without pumping madly available by email, or I might followup post
  if there are enough requests.


'X-men. Prepare to die... *WHOOOSH!!*'

Taldin

-- 
TTTTT AA    LL DDDD   II   II NN      "I don't believe in a religion
   TT  AA   LL DD  D  II   II NNNN      that doesn't believe in me."
  TT  AAAA  LL DD   D   II II NN NN        Taldin The Blue Unicorn
 TT  AA  AA LL DDDDDD IIIIII  NN  NN          youngj4@pawl.rpi.edu