Passive obstructions include bridges that rise up and down, directional conveyers, and toroids that must be maneuvered around by hugging them as closely as possible. The concept of mercury color mixing also returns where seven colors (blue, cyan, green, purple, red, silver, yellow) may be mixed and matched. For example, some gates only allow the passage of yellow mercury. If you have separate red and green blobs, you can join them to create yellow.

Tama-Run features over 160 stages of screen moving action and five mini-games to enjoy. In addition to the single player mode, players may enjoy a wireless Versus Mode where two players compete and a Ghost Mode where an ephemeral twin shadows each blob of mercury.

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

NCS Game Notes & Spoilers
» Only the analog nub may be used for control of the play board. Pushing and holding the analog nub in a direction will cause acceleration of the mercury. The face buttons are used to control the camera as follows:

TRIANGLE.....Pan overhead
SQUARE.......Pan lower
O-BUTTON.....Focus in
X-BUTTON.....Focus out
R-TRIGGER....Rotate clockwise
L-TRIGGER....Rotate counterclockwise

» The goal post on each board is a checkerboard with a checkered dancing lasso-loop above it.

» In the second stage, the solution is to split the mercury into two blobs. Move one blob under the green light and another blob under the red light to change their colors respectively. Once the two blobs are colored, join them so they'll create a yellow blob. Move them over the yellow ring to open the gate and then go back out to change the blob back to silver and exit the level.

» When the blob travels near the edge of a platform, it will drip globules from its main bulk and lose some of its volume. However, as long as roughly half the volume of mercury reaches the goal, you're still good. Less volume results in a lower percentage score at the end of the level. A meter on the left side of the screen keeps track of remaining volume of mercury. If a portion of mercury is leaked but stays on screen or on a platform when your main portion reaches the goal, you'll get points for the portion that's disconnected.

» There are gates in some levels which only allow the passage of mercury that matches its color. A color wheel at the upper right corner of the screen shows the different hues and colors that may be made by combining the primaries of red, green, and blue.

» Early levels allow 30 seconds for completion but later levels allow 45 seconds, and 60 seconds.

» Players are prompted to enter their initials after the successful completion of each other. A default initial entered once can be used for all subsequent entries to avoid repetitive entries.

» One particularly devious level starts off with four separate blobs of mercury inside a maze. They're all colored differently from each other. The solution is to create two blobs that are colored red and green. Maneuver them to create a single blob that's colored yellow and then move it to the finish line. However, the remaining blob must have enough volume and weight to trigger the door which leads to the exit.

» Ignition's pre-screen animation before the game begins is a simulation of the Commodore 64 boot screen except its colored green instead of blue.

» There's a mode for every level where the platform shudders on its own volition to the twirling of a gyroscope. Fight against it to control the platform and move the mercury against its overpowering force.

» After each level is completed, its corresponding vial in the level select screen shows your progress and how full it is along with stats on the level, bonuses collected, best score and highest completion level. If you complete a level with 100% mercury volume, the vial will be filled to the top. Finish it at 50% and the vial is only half full.

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