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SYSTEM: Nintendo Entertainment System
GENRE: Action
Balloon Fight 1984 Nintendo.  All rights reserved.
This document 2001 Steve Penninipede.  All rights
reserved.  Do not distribute without the author's
consent.  If you are viewing this on a web site other
than GameFAQs, please notify the author via e-mail
(tgfbohh@optonline.net) with the subject line
"Balloon Fight."

CONTENTS
I. About This FAQ
II. Basic Premise
III. In-Depth Info
 A. Controls
 B. 1-Player Mode
  1. The Enemies
  2. The Stages
 C. 2-Player Mode
 D. Balloon Trip
IV. Other Bits Of Info
V. Be A Cheater
VI. Shameless Plugs
 A. How This Works
 B. Stuff Of Cool People
VII. Contact The Author

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I. About This FAQ
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

6-15-01: added 2 more bits of info for section IV.  Reworded/reformatted
various sections.

5-13-01: Added more info to add to section IV.  Added new section, Shameless
Plugs (details in section VI).  Renovated a bit.  Corrected minor errors.

5-8-01: FAQ was first submitted to GameFAQs.  Author believes this section to
be a waste of time since no one cares when updates occur.

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II. Basic Premise
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Balloon Fight is an action game similar to the classic Joust.  If you've never
played Joust, you've been missing out on an incredible gaming experience.  It
combines fluid, realistic physics with balanced gameplay and a two-player mode
well worth your time.

In Balloon Fight, you play as some guy with balloons on his helmet who fights
other guys wearing balloons on their helmets.  Sound like fun?  Maybe, maybe
not.  Although the story leaves something to be desired(even Asteroids had a
plot), it's definitely a good game. In the 1- and 2-Player modes, you earn
points by attacking one of three enemies: A pink guy, a green guy, and a yellow
guy.

There is also another mode in Balloon Fight, and it sets Balloon Fight apart
from Joust: it is Balloon Trip.  And boy, is it ever.  This mode has you
traversing an infinite ocean avoiding huge sparks.  Move over, Stephen King!
Nintendo has another winner!  Again, the plot(or lack thereof) doesn't affect
amount of fun you'll have playing Balloon Fight.

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III. In-Depth Info
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--------------------
A. Controls
--------------------

Control pad: Use left and right to move while on the ground or in the air.  If
you are in the air, you must hold the direction while flapping your arms to
move left or right.
A button: Press to flap your arms once.  Good when you need precise control.
B button: Hold to flap continuously.  Good when you need a lot of speed.

The physics in this game(momentum, inertia, and other big words) are what make
it so much fun.  When you take off, hold B for a second.  Notice how you keep
going up for a bit before falling. Now move left or right.  You will keep
moving at the same speed until you land or try to move in another direction. 
Note that you will be bounced farther by obstacles/enemies if you only have one
balloon.  Take a minute to get used to the physics of the game before you
start.

Also note that the stage "wraps around," so you can walk or fly off of the left
side of the screen and appear on the right side.

--------------------
B1. 1-Player Mode: The Enemies
--------------------

As stated in section 1, this mode has you attacking three different types of 
enemies. When you start out, they'll all be inflating their balloons.  After a
second or two, the balloons will fill and the enemies will take off.  Notice
that they only get one balloon.  Feel free to openly mock them.  A good way is
to stick your tongue out like this: :

You attack them by hitting their balloons with your body(make sure their bodies
don't touch your balloons or they will pop.  After the balloons are popped, the
enemies will float to the ground wearing parachutes. If they land, they will
rest for a second before inflating their balloons again.  Once they do, they
will "upgrade" themselves to a higher level; pink turns to green, which will
then turn to yellow if given the chance. Each enemy gives different amounts of
points depending on what they're doing at the time.  Note that it doesn't
matter what _you're_ doing; you'll get the same amount of points regardless of
how you hit the enemies.  Below is a point chart which breaks down the
different point values.

+++++++++++++++|               |               |
+++++++++++++++|    Floating   |   Standing    | Parachute open
+++++++++++++++|               |               |
---------------------------------------------------------------
               |               |               |
     Pink      |      500      |      750      |     1000      
               |               |               |
---------------------------------------------------------------
               |               |               |
     Green     |      750      |      1000     |     1500
               |               |               |
---------------------------------------------------------------
               |               |               |
     Yellow    |      1000     |      1500     |     2000
               |               |               |
---------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------
B2. 1-Player Mode
--------------------

  Obstacles and oddities.
-Platforms: There are different shapes and sizes. Nothing can go through them
(except bubbles), so use them to hide from sparks if need be.
-Clouds: One or two of these will be placed about the star-filled sky in every
stage except the bonus stages.  When they start flashing, look out -- They're
preparing to shoot out deadly sparks.
-Sparks: Bounce off of the boundaries(they don't wrap around) without aim, and
will begin to speed up in later stages, or if you have remained in the same
stage for a while.  They're pretty easy to avoid as long as you keep an eye on
them.  If you touch one, you will automatically lose a life, even if you have
two balloons.
-Spinny things: Things that spin. :)  Once hit, they start to spin for a while.
If you touch one while it's spinning, you will fly off a ways, so keep an eye
out.
-Water: If either you or an enemy gets too close, a sea monster will come to
the surface, open its mouth, and make a meal of anything and everything it can
reach.  And don't even THINK about going for a swim.
-Bubbles: Occasionally, these will rise from the water.  Pop them for a quick
500 points.

  Bonus stages.
Every three stages, you will be treated to a bonus stage where you can earn big
points.  Twenty balloons will float from one of four tubes.  The idea is to pop
as many as possible.  You get a Super Bonus for getting all twenty.

--------------------
C. 2-Player Mode
--------------------

2-Player Mode is basically the same as 1-Player Mode.  The only thing that
changes is the way you play.  You play the same game, except with another
person.  This mode is what you make of it; you can compete for the most points,
or you can team up with a friend, OR(lotta options) you can be a backstabbing
nono-word and attack your partner(who just so happens to give 1000 points per
balloon) to make your game interesting. >:)

From WolverineJon(6-15-01):
 "In the bonus stage, you cannot lose a life.  In 2-player mode, if the other
player pops both of your balloons, you fall to the bottom of the screen, but
after a couple of seconds both of your balloons come back and you can continue
with the bonus stage.  Also, upon *exiting* the bonus stage (as well as
entering it) your second balloon is restored if you were missing it. 
Therefore, the bonus stage is a safe place to pop your partner's balloons for
the 1000-point bonus without costing them anything."

--------------------
D. Balloon Trip
--------------------

This is an entirely different game from the standard mode, so it's good for a
change of pace.  The physics work the same, so don't worry about that.  The
object of this game is simply to survive.  You get points just for having
progressed in the stage, and you can also earn 300 bonus points for popping
balloons scattered about.  Bubbles also make an appearance in this mode,
allowing you to stop the progression of the stage for a few seconds so you can
take a breather, or collect some balloons.

Your main nemesis in this mode is the spark.  At first, sparks remain dormant
in clusters, providing a safe "path" through which you can pass safely.  Don't
get too comfortable; they will start to disperse and bounce up and down, and,
after a while, every other direction.

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IV. Other Bits Of Info
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 5-8-01
 -If you get into a scuffle with an enemy at the top of the screen, just back
away until he comes down.  Otherwise, you risk having a balloon popped.
 -You will get a second balloon upon entering a bonus stage, provided you were
missing one beforehand.

 5-13-01
 -Gamefreak1 from the message boards had this to say about "annoying the shark"
and flying in the water:
   "Going through your FAQ I remembered something.  I never play Balloon Fight
to win anymore: I only play it to annoy the shark.  It's possible with some
effort to tempt the shark without getting eaten (but I still get eaten quite a
bit) but that's not the main reason I sent the e-mail.
   It's possible to actually fly UNDER the land in the first level.  A long
time ago some freak incident occurred where I flew into the water (but not
enough to drown) and I found a splash (indicating I drowned) underneath the
land!  It's very tricky, especially with the shark, but with the right angle,
enough momentum, and a little luck, you can re-emerge alive on the opposite
side of the water.  Just remember that once you're under to fly as fast as
possible and hold B to continually fly."
   
 6-15-01
 -WolverineJon sent in some stuff about the score resetting, and about playing
the bonus stage in 2-player mode:
   "In the regular game, if you manage to break 1,000,000 points, the score
wraps back around to 0.  The high score, however, will remain at whatever
its last value was before 1,000,000; in my case, this value was 999,550.
My wife and I managed to accomplish this playing the 2-player mode
cooperatively."
   *The bonus stage stuff is in section III, part C.


...More to come!   If any cool people would like to add to this list, be my
guest(you will be credited).  My e-mail is at the bottom.

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V. Be A Cheater
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  Game Genie codes from Galoob.
SUNNIZVI        Infinite lives
AENYPPZA        Start with 1 life
IENYPPZA        Start with 6 lives
AENYPPZE        Start with 9 lives
PEUYTLZA        Start with only one balloon
AVXTNYKA        Balloons are unburstable
GENNIPAA        Start on level 5 (2 players only)
PENNIPAE        Start on level 10 (2 players only)
TENNIPAE        Start on level 15 (2 players only)
...Anything you'd like to contribute?  Send it in!  My e-mail's down there.

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VI. Shameless Plugs
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--------------------
A. How This Works
--------------------

A "plug," or free advertisement (usually given by a guest of a talk show) is a
way to promote anything for free.  If you'd like, you can include one thing
you'd like to have plugged AS I SEE FIT('cause it's my FAQ).  Most people have
probably never thought of this so just shut up :)

A few rules to help yourself get plugged:
 -Don't keep rewording the same info (or adding slightly) to get multiple
plugs.  "Add-ons" are welcome, though, and will be credited, but won't grant
another plug unless I think it's pretty significant.
 -I know there's not a whole lot to say about Balloon Fight, so don't worry if
you can't think of anything; there are many ways to advertise.
 -Little stuff regarding spelling ("you spelled a word wrong") or formatting
("you made two section II's") will most unlikely grant a plug (or credit, for
that matter), but is greatly appreciated nonetheless.
 -And I will definitely not accept "BALLON FIGHT IS COLL IF U HOLD DON THE b
BUTON YOU WILL GO FAST HEER IS MY SIGHT:"

--------------------
B. Stuff Of Cool People
--------------------

---First, my stuff (I get as many as I want 'cause I'm special)
   Game-Hit Radio (http://www.live365.com/stations/217122)
An online radio station hosted for free by live365.com.  GHR plays video game
tracks 24/7 for no charge.  You must have a Cable/DSL connection or higher to
listen.  (Sorry to all you guys with dial-up, but, come on, what are you
waiting for?  How much faster do you want it to get?
   My Sonic the Hedgehog fanfics ("fan-made fiction") at teamartail.com
I use my mad writing skillz for the good of many communities.  I'm so special.
Look under the general fanfic page (GENERAL! I only have one on the site right
now; not enough to warrant my own section like the other great writers and
artists who regularly submit)for Steve Penninipede (that would be me). I'm near
the bottom of a lot of fanfics, so keep looking.  I started way back last
summer, but when school started I got a life, and didn't get to finish the
three stories I was simultaneously working.  But I assure you they ARE almost
done, just as it says in the fanfic, which was submitted on 8-14-00 (hehe,
oops).


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VII. Contact The Author
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If, for any reason, you have something to say about either Balloon Fight or
this FAQ, feel free to send me an e-mail(tgfbohh@optonline.net) with the
subject line "Balloon Fight."