Title – うにょん? (Uniyon?)
System – MSX
Author – 北川 光一 (Koichi Kitakawa)
Publication – LOGiN – September 1986
Page Scans – 1
Preserved By – Dustin Hubbard (Hubz)
Recommended Emulator – openMSX
Special thanks to eientei for creating a self booting disk iamge.
Loading the Game –
– Run BlueMSX
– Insert Uniyon Disk file.
– Boot Machine, game should autoload
Game Instructions –
You control a wizard named Crin and the goal of each level is to get the crystal on to the pedestal. You do this by rotating the screen around while avoiding getting crushed by the crystal or touched by the enemies.
To enter a password, press the SELECT key and space key at the same time on the title screen. When “Say jump spell” is displayed, input it from the keyboard. If you mix up uppercase and lowercase letters or add extra spaces, the computer will judge it as a different word and won’t accept it, so be careful and don’t rush when entering it.
Controls –
Left arrow – Move Crin Left
Right Arrow – Move Crin Right
Left or Right Arrow + Spacebar – Rotates screen in that direction
Article Translation –
English Translation provided by Google Gemini and may not be fully accurate just FYI –
Entry No. 24
Grand Prix
Uniyon?
A slightly unusual puzzle game has appeared. Its name is “Uniyon?”. Just from the name, it sounds like a weird game, right? But, it’s a Soft-Con Grand Prix winning work. It will by no means leave you bored. Now, let’s Uniyon!
¹Translator’s Note: “Uniyon?” (うにょん？) is a quirky, sound-effect-like word that doesn’t have a direct translation. It’s the name of the game and the unique screen-rotating magic within it.
²Translator’s Note: “Soft-Con” (ソフコン) is short for “Software Contest.”
Congratulations on the first Soft-Con Grand Prix!!!
It takes a great deal of effort to win the Grand Prix
Whoa, it’s finally here, it’s finally here. I was really waiting on pins and needles for this one. Huh? What’s here, you ask? It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s first prize, first prize!
Eight months after the Software Grand Prix was revamped into the Software Contest, a program worthy of the honor of “Grand Prix” has finally appeared. This is a first since the Soft-Con began, so the editorial department is in an uproar. Every day from early morning, a huge crowd gathers around the PC. And to play the game, you have to get a numbered ticket and wait a whole three hours.
After all that commotion, what kind of game is it, you ask? It’s “UNIYON.” Excuse me, “Uniyon?”. It’s a wacky puzzle game with a strange name, that’s what it is.
Speaking of puzzle games, it’s a genre where people’s preferences vary greatly, but with “UNIYON,” there’s no need to worry about that at all. It’s such an interesting game that even the lazy, puzzle-hating people in the editorial department have become hooked on it. So, if you have an MSX, you absolutely have to play it. Don’t have one? Hmm, well, buy the “tape-login” (the program on tape) and go play it at an electronics store or a manufacturer’s showroom where they have an MSX set up. But even if the store clerk gets mad at you, this editorial department takes no responsibility.
The topic suddenly turns serious, but this software is a must-see for anyone hoping to enter the Soft-Con. I wrote a little about this in the July issue, but carefully analyze what makes the software from Takahara-kun and Kitagawa-kun win and what your software is lacking. If you do that, you should definitely be able to create a good piece of work. We’re waiting for your submission!!
Let’s toast to the excellent idea of rotating the screen!
To win the Grand Prix, a game needs a certain level of polish! This masterpiece of a puzzle game is living proof of that. Above all, the idea of “rotating the entire screen” captivated the editorial staff. The impact was so great it even created the new phrase, “Wanna Uniyon?”. The game’s name, its catchy BGM, its great controls—it’s an impeccable Grand Prix winner. (Muroya)
Use these keys
(Left/Right arrows, SPACE)
To do “UNIYON”
Just Looking at the Screen Could Make You Dizzy
Once upon a time, there was a small, nameless country. It was a peaceful place where warm sunlight shone year-round and beautiful flowers bloomed in profusion. This was because a great gift from the gods, the “Pifty-Crystal,” protected the country and brought peace to its people.
But one day, an unusually large earthquake struck the country. Thanks to the power of the crystal, not a single person was harmed, but the shaking caused one of the crystals to fall from its pedestal.
Seizing this very opportunity, three “demons,” messengers of hell from the underworld, appeared to make this beautiful country their own. The demons moved the crystals from their pedestals one by one, nullifying their power. Because of this, the country quickly fell into ruin.
This is when the magician Crin appears. As he’s still an apprentice, even though he’s a magician, he only knows one spell. It’s a strange magic called “Uniyon” that twists space. Unfortunately, this magic isn’t an offensive spell that kills enemies, so he must skillfully evade the demons’ pursuit and place the crystals back on their pedestals. Luckily, this spell is completely unaffected by gravity, so if used well, the crystals can surely be returned to their rightful place, and peace will visit the land once more.
This is How You UNIYON
◆ Let’s try to “Uniyon” to the left. This stage is the most basic of basics. Be sure to master it.
◆ Be careful not to get caught by Hintama-kun, and “Uniyon” to the left once more.
★ Let’s try “Uniyoning” to the left one more time… and look! The crystal is on the pedestal.
Revealing the Characters!!
Crin-kun
The game’s protagonist. An apprentice magician. He’ll become a full-fledged magician when he accomplishes this difficult task.
Patapata-kun
Moves left and right unaffected by gravity. It doesn’t chase Crin, so it’s okay as long as you don’t touch it.
Slime-kun
Moves left and right while affected by gravity. In other words, it will fall down if it has no ground beneath its feet. Contact is dangerous.
Hintama-kun
An incarnation of fire that persistently chases Crin. A bit of a strange name, but it’s just a play on “hi no tama” (fireball).
Stone Man
The tragic fate of heroes who fought the three demons and lost. If you’re not careful, the demons will cast a spell on you and you’ll end up like this too.
Shaky Wall
You’ll die if you touch this. It’s the flashing part. Be careful when you “Uniyon”.
?BOX
Something happens when Crin touches this. Which Room is it in? And what happens is a surprise for you to see.
Crystal
You need to place the crystal on the pedestal like this. You must “Uniyon” it onto the pedestal. Pushing it from the side won’t work.
The key controls are really simple. After all, it’s just the cursor keys (right/left) and the space key.
To “Uniyon,” just press a cursor key and the space key at the same time. However, be careful, because you can only “Uniyon” when Crin’s feet are on solid ground (like a Stone Man or a crystal). For those using a joystick, you can “Uniyon” by tilting the stick and pressing the trigger button.
A Treat Every 10 Stages: SHOW TIME!!
◆ “Playing Crin”. Well, you should be able to get through about 10 stages once you get used to it. But don’t get cocky.
◆ “Clever Slime-kun”. If you start getting dizzy during the game, prepare some motion sickness medicine.
◆ “Michael Crin”. It took considerable effort to get this far. But there’s still a long way to go.
◆ “Tired Crin”. Wow, you’ve done well to make it this far. Just a little more!
This game has 50 stages in total, and a password is displayed every 5 stages. Be sure to write this password down somewhere! If you forget it, you’ll have to start over from the beginning.
To enter a password, press the SELECT key and space key at the same time on the title screen. When “Say jump spell” is displayed, input it from the keyboard. At this time, if you mix up uppercase and lowercase letters or add extra spaces, the computer will judge it as a different word and won’t accept it, so be careful and don’t rush when entering it.
Now, how many days will it take you to clear all 50 stages!? I think you can get pretty far by figuring out the patterns, but it’s not that simple. After all, it’s a Grand Prix winning work. Good luck!
You’ve worked very hard. This is the END. But, I wonder if anyone can really make it this far.
And this is the final stage!
The program list for “Uniyon?” is published on page LISTLOG300.
