Ex-Mutants

From Sega Retro

n/a

ExMutants title.png

Ex-Mutants
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Licensor: Malibu Comics
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9559.95[2] 1074
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1074
Sega Mega Drive
EU
(Classic)
1074-50
Sega Mega Drive
DE
DM 99.9599.95[7] 1074
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[6] 1074
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
044240

Ex-Mutants is a Sega Mega Drive action game based on the Ex-Mutants comic book series by Malibu Comics. The game was set to be published by Sage's Creation[8] but was instead published by Sega, presumably after that company folded.

Story

Ex-Mutants, Introduction.png

Ackroyd and Shannon

In 2055, Earth is a wasteland and humanity has been transformed into mutants in the aftermath of World War III. Survivors now live underground, in forests, and in ruined cities. A cyborg named Professor Kildare has transformed six mutants back to human beings with the intent of restoring the planet's mutants in the same way.

The mutant ruler Sluggo, wishing to eliminate every last human, has captured four of the Ex-Mutants. He has kept them alive in order to lure the remaining two, Ackroyd and Shannon, to him so he can kill them all at once. Ackroyd and Shannon must rescue their teammates and then fight Sluggo.

Gameplay

Ex-Mutants, Character Select.png

Character select

The game is an action platformer played as one of the Ex-Mutants, Ackroyd or Shannon, who are trying to rescue their teammates. Ackroyd is armed with a battle axe. He starts with more health and his attacks do more damage. Shannon is armed with nunchaku. Her attacks are faster and have more reach. Most levels require finding a battery cell to keep Professor Kildare operational and then exiting. The other teammates (Bud, Tanya, Piper, and Dillon) are recovered after defeating bosses.

Characters move with Left and Right. They kneel with Down and jump with B. They can jump down from some platforms with Down+B. They climb ladders and ropes with Up and Down. Both characters are equipped with a melee weapon, which is swung with A. They can swing their weapons directly above them with Up+A. Most enemies require multiple hits to destroy with the standard weapons. Special items add projectile shots to each melee attack. The characters can also acquire secondary weapons, such as grenades and landmines, which are used with C. These weapons can destroy enemies as well as barriers such as rock walls or steel beams to find hidden items. Only one secondary weapon can be held at a time; picking up another replaces the currently held weapon. Projectile shots and secondary weapons are both limited in quantity.

Characters have a health meter at the bottom of the screen that is reduced each time they take damage from a foe or a hazard. Hidden items can be found that permanently extend the health meter. The character loses a life when the meter runs out and must restart the level from the beginning. Extra lives can be gained by collecting coins in the levels. Losing a life costs the player any coins found in the level as well as any projectile shot, secondary weapon, or battery cell acquired. The game ends if the player runs out of lives. Levels have an invisible timer, and the character's health meter drains if the player spends too long on a level.

There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, and Hard). The difficulty affects the number of continues given (unlimited on Easy, 8 on Medium, and 3 on Hard). The player's weapons do less damage as the difficulty increases and items are less effective. Extra lives are earned after collecting 50 coins on Easy and after collecting 100 coins on Medium and Hard. The Easy difficulty can only be played up to the Forest level.

Items

Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Crate
Destroy to find an item.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Food
Restores 3 points to the health meter on Easy, 2 points on Medium, or 1 point on Hard.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Heart
Fully restores the health meter.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Extend
Permanently extends the health meter by 2 points.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Battery Cell
Must be found in each level to complete. Exceptions include the first level, boss levels, and speed levels.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Super Shots
Enhances the character's main weapon with knives for Ackroyd and shurikens for Shannon. They are fired three at a time in a spread. Gives 75 uses on Easy, 50 uses on Medium, or 25 uses on Hard.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Special Shots
Enhances the character's main weapon with throwing axes for Ackroyd and bamboo for Shannon. They are thrown forwards in an arc one at a time. Gives 75 uses on Easy, 50 uses on Medium, or 25 uses on Hard.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Grenades
Equips 25 Grenades for a secondary weapon, which are thrown in an arc and explode when they hit an enemy or a hard surface.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Bouncing Bombs
Equips 20 Bouncing Bombs for a secondary weapon, which bounce off surfaces or explode when they hit an enemy.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Landmines
Equips 25 Landmines for a secondary weapon, which are dropped on the ground and explode when touched by an enemy.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Explosive Charges
Equips 25 Explosive Charges for a secondary weapon, which are dropped on the ground and explode after a short timer.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Homing Orbs
Equips 25 Homing Orbs for a secondary weapon, which seek out nearby enemies.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Coin
Worth 250 points. Collect 50 for an extra life and 12,500 bonus points on Easy or 100 for an extra life and 25,000 bonus points on Medium or Hard. Coins are lost after losing a life.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Bag of Coins
Collects 10 coins at a time (worth 2,500 points).
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Star
Worth 500 points.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
Diamond
Worth 1,000 points.
Ex-Mutants, Items.png
1-Up
Awards an extra life.

Levels

The game is divided into several areas with multiple levels.

The Minecar and Rapids levels are "speed levels," where the character rides a vehicle through an autoscrolling level and collects bonus items. The Subway level is similar but contains more enemies and does not autoscroll.

Ex-Mutants, Stage 1.png

Laboratory

Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-1.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-2.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-3 Boss.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-1.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-2.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-3 Boss.png

Cave

Ex-Mutants, Stage 2-4.png

Minecar

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-1.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-1 Boss.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-2.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-3 Boss.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-1.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-1 Boss.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-2.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-3 Boss.png

Forest

Ex-Mutants, Stage 3-4.png

Rapids

Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-1.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-2.png

Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-2 Boss.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-1.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-2.png

  • Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-2 Boss.png

Sewer

Ex-Mutants, Stage 4-3.png

Subway

Ex-Mutants, Stage 5.png

Skyscraper

Ex-Mutants, Final Boss.png

Sluggo

History

Development

Programmer Chris Shrigley has released the source code to the game on his web site.[9]

Production credits

  • Program: Chris Shrigley
  • Graphic Artist: Terry Lloyd
  • Producer: Bernie Whang
  • Game Design: Terry Lloyd
  • Intro and Cinemas: Jayne Shrigley
  • Music: Russel Lieblich, Brian Howarth, Bernie Whang
  • Sound Effects: Brian Howarth
  • Additional Design: Chris Shrigley, Bernie Whang
  • Additional Animation: Jayne Shrigley
  • Additional Fluff: Terry Lloyd
  • Voice Talent: Grace Chang, Bernie Whang
  • Digitizing: Bernie Whang
  • Utilities: Chris Shrigley, Andy Green
  • Produced for Sega by: Scott Rohde
  • Play Testers: Eddie Jacob, Bernie, Terry, Sage's Creation, Brenda, Daverin, Dave Forster, Andrew Gacula, Steve Patterson, Unni Pillai, Chris Sinclair, Jeff Todd
  • Special Thanks to: Nobumitsu Kubo, Malibu Comics (Chris Ulm, Tom Mason, Dave Olbrich)
Source:
In-game credits
Ex-Mutants MD credits.pdf
[10]

Magazine articles

Main article: Ex-Mutants/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #45: "April 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[11]
Consoles + (FR)
85
[12]
Cool Gamer (RU)
30
[13]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
85
[14]
Excalibur (CZ)
80
[15]
Joypad (FR) PAL
88
[16]
Joystick (FR) PAL
86
[17]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
81
[18]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
89
[19]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
85
[6]
Player One (FR)
88
[20]
Play Time (DE) NTSC-U
76
[21]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
72
[22]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
69
[23]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
69
[24]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
87
[25]
Supersonic (FR)
88
[26]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
57
[27]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
80
[2]
Video Games (DE)
69
[28]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
20 reviews

Ex-Mutants

Mega Drive, US
ExMutants MD US Box.jpg
Cover
ExMutants MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Ex-Mutants MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
ExMutants MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ExMutants MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Ex Mutants MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
ExMutants MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU (Classic Mega Drive)
ExMutants MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
ExMutants MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Ex Mutants MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
ExMutants MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
ExMutants MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Ex-Mutants MD BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Ex-Mutants/Technical information.

References

  1. Sega Visions, "November/December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 93
  2. 2.0 2.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "December 1992" (US; 1992-1x-xx), page 54
  3. GamesMaster, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 14
  4. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-08-08), page 17
  5. Sega Pro, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-08), page 18
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 80
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sega Pro, "April 1993" (DE; 1993-03-26), page 35
  8. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MALIBU+GRAPHICS+PUBLISHING+GROUP+MERGES+WITH+VIDEO+GAME+DEVELOPER...-a012474890 (Wayback Machine: 2014-08-28 20:42)
  9. http://shrigley.com/source_code_archive/
  10. File:Ex-Mutants MD credits.pdf
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 74
  12. Consoles +, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 56
  13. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 77
  14. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 43
  15. Excalibur, "" (CZ; 1993-09-10), page 32
  16. Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 78
  17. Joystick, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 196
  18. Mega, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-18), page 46
  19. MegaTech, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-20), page 24
  20. Player One, "Mai/Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-05-10), page 80
  21. Play Time, "6/93" (DE; 1993-05-05), page 104
  22. Sega Power, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 32
  23. Sega Pro, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-11), page 40
  24. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  25. Sega Force, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 92
  26. Supersonic, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 13
  27. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 68
  28. Video Games, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-16), page 56


Ex-Mutants

ExMutants title.png

Main page | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: Prototype



Malibu Comics games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Ex-Mutants (1992) | Dinosaurs for Hire (1993) | Firearm (unreleased) | Prime (unreleased)
Sega Mega-CD
Prime (1994) | The Strangers (unreleased)
Sega Saturn
The Incredible Hulk: The Pantheon Saga (1997)