Hebereke (released in Europe as Ufouria: The Saga) is an exploration-based action platformer released for the Famicom/NES in 1991 by Sunsoft. Often recognized as an early and charming example of the “Metroidvania” genre, the game puts you in control of Hebe, a small, snowman-like creature. As you explore the interconnected, maze-like world, you will locate and defeat three other quirky charactersโO-Chan, Sukezaemon, and Jenniferโwho then join your team. You can switch between them on the fly to use their unique abilities, such as walking on ice, floating across gaps, or diving underwater, which are necessary to access new areas and progress.
How to play
Your objective is to explore the world, recruit your three friends, and defeat the alien Unyohn to restore peace. You can switch characters at any time from the pause menu to utilize their distinct movement abilities. The default NES controls are mapped to your keyboard: use the Arrow Keys to move, Z or X to jump, and the other to attack. Press Enter to pause and access the character select menu. To defeat enemies, jump on their heads to stun them, then pick them up and throw them as projectiles.
Tips
- Stun and throw: Jumping on an enemy does not defeat it right away; it stuns it. Pick up the stunned enemy and throw it to deal damage to other enemies or clear obstacles.
- Use character strengths: Switch to O-Chan for swimming or moving safely across slippery ice, and use Sukezaemon’s floating jump to cross wide gaps that Hebe cannot reach.
- Map your route: The game world is a large, nonlinear labyrinth, so pay attention to areas you cannot pass yetโyou will need to backtrack to them once you unlock a character with the right ability.
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