TAZ Mania

Straight from toon town comes a terrifying tornado of temper, a toothy Tazmanian twister, a tricky trial of tender timing. Taz-Mania will toss you into a tizzy as you search for a delectable Seabird egg snack.

Taz You Like It

Taz-Mania for the Game Gear is a nine stage, side-scrolling fur-fest of frustration for one that tries to reproduce the excitement of the Genesis version of Taz-Mania, but doesn't quite make it. Although the game play is similar to the Genesis version, the game is much shorter, with each stage a one-level journey that's more cumbersome than fun.

As Taz, the original type-A mammalian monster, you whirl and twirl through each level, avoiding such obstacles as rolling bombs, mine-shaft barricades, icy waters, and abominable snowmen. The game's control's are easy to master, but the obstacles you'll encounter pose a nasty threat. Plan to be fast on your paws. In addition to walking and jumping, you can hold down the A button for a burst of dizzying, whirling speed that makes Taz invincible for a short while.

Although you begin with five lives, you don't have any continues, which makes this game hander than Taz's head. To keep his strength up and replenish his temper, the whirling dervish gobbles blue health bottles, turkeys, and fish.

Who Does Your Fur?

Taz's graphics are kinda hairy. The sprites are well animated but small. Taz does his trademark hungry-man gobble. When he spins, he's really just a blur on the screen. The backgrounds are well done but not impressive, and the other characters in the game are either too small to notice or so fast you don't see them.

Looney Tunes

The sounds in this cart are pretty simplistic with effects that never go beyond mechanical squeaks and squawks. The music is positively dis-Taz-trous. It's so repetitive and annoying that it'll make you tear your fur out.

Taz You Were

If you loved the Genesis version, you may not want to dabble with this small fry. Taz does offer plenty of challenge, but it's of the frustrating variety. If you take on Taz, your temper will soon be devilish.

Who's the growling, grumpy, whirling dervish king? Look no farther, cartoon fans, because that ferocious furball, the Tazmanian Devil, is back in action on your SNES.

FanTaztic Journey

Taz-Mania is the manic new game from Sunsoft, starring the hungriest mammal on the planet. This single-player, first-person perspective chase game plays like a fast-paced auto racing game, only you get to guide Taz down the road with a behind-the-Devil view. The game features all the colorful cartoonish backgrounds and goofy-looking characters that made Warner Bros. cartoons a 'toon empire.

It appears that it's Kiwi bird mating season in the land down under, where Taz makes his home. Kiwis are Taz's number one favorite food. The object of the game is to race down a road through each act and collect your quota of Kiwis before time runs out. You can run forward and backward, jump, skid, grab, and screech to a halt. You also have the patented Tazmanian tantrum, which lets you whirl through obstacles.

You're gonna need some beastly reflexes to handle all the running and grabbing, plus a quick thumb to avoid such roadhog opponents as Axl and Bull Gator (the notorious hunting team), Wendal T. Wolf (a neurotic wolf who hops on your back and wraps his fingers around your eyes to obscure your vision), and the amorous She Devil (one kiss, and you're history). Along the way you must also sidestep obstructions like telephone poles, trees, cars, deep water, oil slicks and buses. There's even a pterodactyl, who'll carry you back to the beginning if you're not careful.

To keep your feet movin', you've got to chow down. You can eat blue birds to partially fill your life meter, red birds to give you extra time on the clock, and bonus meats that are thrown from the Acme delivery scooter. The Acme delivery person will also give you such goodies as roller skates, springs, and other treats.

Good-looking Grump

Taz-Mania is a colorful, well-animated, smooth-moving game. All the SNES Mode 7 rotation and scaling stops were pulled out for this one, so hold on! You also get to see Taz's great-looking, grumpy, growly, hilarious facial expressions when he turns around or he gets hit. Additionally, all the enemies are well drawn, and they move quickly without flicker or slowdown.

Some folks will find the music too cartoonish. The familiar Warner Bros. opening theme is well represented, though, and that's all the music you'll pay attention to.

Devil May Care

On the surface, Taz seems to have pretty basic, one-dimensional game play, but don't toon this game out. The later stages are difficult and challenging. They'll keep you on the run for hours. Children will be entertained by the cartoon graphics, but they may find the tough action frustrating. Taz-Mania is a fast-moving, good- looking Devil of a game.

He's loud. He has a wicked temper. He slobbers everywhere. He eats anything he can get his paws on, but you can't help but love him for every last obnoxious vice. Who is he? Hint: he's Bugs Bunny's favorite beast to burden with cruel tricks.

The Tasmanian Devil -- Taz for short -- comes to 16-bit technicolor life thanks to Sega. This awesome looking adventure is entitled appropriately, Taz-Mania.

Word has it that a single seabird egg will feed a family of TD's for a long time. We all know how grouchy Tasmanian Devils get when they're hungry... which is always! In this crazy, one-player, action- packed game, Taz sets out to find the legendary Tasmanian Seabird's nest in order to snag an egg for his hungry family.

A Loveable Beast

Taz-Mania has six stages -- each with multiple parts. Taz hunts through the Badlands (a nuclear-esque wasteland), the Acme Factory, the Jungle, Iceland, a Mine, and the Taztec Ruins.

Each stage has its own set of biz- zaro creatures and quirky (though cool) tunes. For example, in the Jungle, Taz comes face-to-face with grass-skirted, spear-chucking pink mice. Weirder still are the Rock Monsters he encounters in the Badlands. These creatures attempt to entrap Taz with their slimy tongues, which make an incredible annoying guitarish twanging noise as they unfurl.

Until Taz reaches the eggs, which isn't ‘til the bitter end, it's more or less a game of survival. The more enemies Taz tackles and the more power and food items he collects, the better his chances are of staying healthy enough to beat the stage, the bosses and, ultimately, the game.

Appetite for Destruction

Taz's appetite makes him his own worst enemy. If it isn't too big or anchored down, Taz will slip it down his gullet. For instance, when Taz chows down on fire power items, such as Chili Peppers, it gives him dragon's breath that's guaranteed to incinerate any enemy. However, if he chomps on Bombs or No Weed, he gets a rip-roaring tummy ache, that can cost him a life if his life meter is running low!

An Offering to the Gods

Options are a gamer's best friends and Taz has a lion's share to offer. The Jump, Spin, and Action button commands (which enable Taz to breathe fire and lift items) can be adjusted to correspond to any button sequence. There's also a practice mode that enables you to explore five different stages with minimal enemy pestering. In addition, there are two difficulty settings, Easy and Hard. Lastly, when the local hoodlums sap your life supply (three lives), you can tap into three continues.

So, what good are options if the game control stinks?! Rest easy, Taz-masters, this devil won't let you down. Animated toothy snarls and impatient foot tapping are a part of Taz's graphic repertoire. However, as any Warner-watcher knows, the good-looking Tasmanian spin is Taz's forte, and it's more than just a whirlwind way to make fast tracks. Taz can use it to wipe out everything in his path. However, watch yourself when you launch into a spinning frenzy. At full speed, you scorch the dirt. Unless you know what's ahead, you probably won't be able to put the breaks i on fast enough to save yourself from disaster, like flying off an unseen cliff!

A Fine Furry Friend

A major thumbs up to Sega (and Warner Brothers) for a job well done. Taz-Mania rates an A+ for the crystal clear graphics and smooth animation alone. Taz truly looks as if he's stepped right out of a WB cartoon. More importantly, Taz-Mania has the fundamental elements that make a game worth its asking price: great game play, worthy challenge, and a good story line. The one thing Taz could use is an extra level or two. Perhaps a sequel could take care of that?!

Overall, Taz-Mania is a solid Genesis title that any Taz fan should seriously consider adding to his or her game library. It's devilishly good fun.

WELL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL!

The Taz is back with an appetite that won't quit. Luckily, a legend says that giant seabirds may live in the lost valley on the island of Tazmania. The giant seabirds happen to lay giant eggs - so large they could feed Taz's huge appetite as well as his whole family's! The U.S. National Video Game Team has blown through this great cart just for you. Here are some of the best techniques and tips to help you discover the hidden rooms in each level. Keep your mouth full, and win big!

LEVEL ONE

LEVEL SEVEN

LEVEL EIGHT

LEVEL EIGHT: BOSS TWO

This boss is even easier than the first. With or without the star, all you have to do is spin while moving back and forth through him. You'll be invincible to his arrows as long as you are spinning!

LEVEL NINE

Sega is releasing a hot action game based on the popular cartoon series. Taz is in search of a mysterious giant egg that could feed Taz's family for a year! Now, Taz has set his feeble mind to the task of braving the rough terrain and retrieving this special egg! Cartoon-like backdrops and sound effects heighten the overall game! Tazmania also features perfect animation to complement the game play!

Capture The Kooky Kiwis!

In the land of Tazmania, eating is everything to Taz and his favorite food is the Kiwi bird. To get our friend a proper meal, you must guide him down the road in search of Kiwis to eat. Once you catch enough Kiwis, you will advance to the next stage. Unfortunately, cars, buses, telephone poles, deep water and many foes and obstacles are here to hinder our hero. Avoid these, and you'll be safe. Jump up to catch blue and red birds for energy and extra time. Use your Tornado spin for instant speed. Great animated fun awaits!

A Long Way For A Dinner

If you are like me and think the tazmanian devil totally rules as a cartoon character, then you too will go crazy over him as a video game. The graphics are incredible! It looks just like the cartoon (except you are controlling the action). The tazmanian devil's patented spin run movement is here, as well as his ferocious appetite (He will eat just about anything!). Most of the game involves your search for giant eggs from birds that lived long ago (you can feed a family for a year on just one). To do this, you must go all over the island, where you will see a desert with fountains shooting up from the ground that you can ride. Also, you'll see (and become part of, if you're not careful) a factory that makes tanks. Pass through coal mine shafts on a rail car that goes up and down to avoid obstacles. There is a cold area with penguins and frozen water to discover. Then, there is the jungle with man (or devil) eating plants to survive. Go get those eggs for your family!

You heard right! Taz, Warner Brothers' cantankerous star of stage, screen, and Saturday morning cartoon shows, is now starring in a unique video adventure all his own.

Devilish Fun

The folks at Sega have taken this whirling dervish and spun him straight into a one-player, 17 levels, action/adventure game. You play Taz, who's searching for a giant, prehistoric, sea bird egg -- a prime delicacy to Tasmanian Devils.

As Taz searches for the prehistoric egg, he journeys through the badlands, an iceworid, a jungle, a mine, and even an Acme Factory. His protagonists include three villains from his Saturday morning cartoon show (Francis X. Bushland, Bull Gator, and Axl) plus a slew of new baddies -- from crabs to mice armed with bow and arrows.

The graphics in this adventure have been carefully crafted in order to give the game an animated look and feel that's straight out of a Warner Brother's cartoon. Taz spins, eats everything in sight, and even growls and snarls in annoyance if you keep him waiting. All of this is accompanied by cool sounds, as our devilish friend whirls to the beat of jungle drums and the thrill of a flute.

More Taz to Come

Sega's showing its stuff one more time as it takes yet another cartoon classic and turns it into a video game classic.

I feel like Kiwi tonight! Taz does. Taz-Mania, a new release from Sun-soft, is taking the Super NES by storm...er...tornado! Taz need food. Capture the right amount of Kiwi birds and Taz takes a nap, then advances to the next level. Whip Taz into a Tornado spin if you're running out of time, but avoid any stationary objects; they'll kill you. Beware of the She-Devil Taz: she is the kiss of death, really!

That wild and crazy Taz has escaped from the Acme Zoo and is looking for a new home. Zoo keepers and big-game hunters are behind him, while lakes, collapsing bridges, and spinning towers are ahead. This two-meg side-view game is spread out over five islands and totals approximately 20 levels. Each island has its own style of game play, with some of the stages (the 3D road scene, for instance) echoing the game play in the SNES version.

The whirly twirly island devil spins onto the Game Boy for a decent hop-n-bopper highlighted by good graphics. But more varied action certainly would've made Taz's tune a bit more Looney.

Time Those Hops

If painstakingly precise jumping sends you into a tizzy, this cart will suit you perfectly. As you steer Taz through five island levels, you'll focus on hopping from one tiny perch to another. The game's challenge lies in figuring out exactly how to leap across an intriguing assortment of gaps.

The enemies in your way rarely impede your progress -you'll use most of Taz's spins for difficult jumps, not subduing bad guys. Imprecise controls intensify the hop-til-you-drop action, and mastering Taz's unique jumping style will require real practice.

Darling Devil

The irrepressibly cute graphics redeem the game's flaws. Just watching the various Taz animations is a thrill. Too bad the backgrounds and enemies aren't imbued with as much detail and personality.

More electric sound effects would've livened up the action. Taz's spin sounds like the flaccid thwacking of a flat tire.

Devotees of hop-n-bop action will find some new challenges in Taz's islands. Beyond that, the cart's worth a quick look to check out Taz in motion, but even the whirling devil himself won't hold you for long.