PLEIADES / PLEIADS

2 different versions exist.  The original is by Tehkan International Corp. (picture #2), who licensed it to Centuri (picture #1).  Besides the different backgrounds, the player’s ship in the Centuri version moves and fires faster and there’s extra sound effects on the 4th screen (landing corridor – your defensive weapons make noise when they move.  Also, the Centuri version features a warp button that allows you to warp to a random location (left or right). This is available at any time on the first 3 screens.

The game uses a custom sound chip (Matsushita MN6221AA) that isn't emulated in MAME that allows for music to play during the 1st and 4th screens.  With some manual versions, the chip is listed as "Music I.C." in the parts lists, and in others it's listed in the schematic, but not both!  This site lists some of the differing Matsushita MN6221AA, AB, AC, etc. family.  He's still trying to work out what all the various songs are.

Both the game’s manual and cabinet artwork spell the name as “Pleiades” but the game’s title screen spells it “Pleiads”.  The name itself is from Greek mythology, of which there are several different spellings (Pleiads, Pleiades, and Peleiades).  The Japanese version actually misspells it as “Pliades” (picture #3).

On the 2nd screen (Space Monsters), shoot all but one. Move the ship to the far left.  Wait for the monster to be in a firing line, and then shoot. Its bullets will now go through you as long as you keep him in that position. You can quickly dart left and right, shooting it to death, racking up points very quickly. After about three minutes of this, the monster becomes highly annoyed and will hover right below you, and do all kind of crazy moves!

On the 4th screen, the 1st corridor is worth 500-1,500.  The points for each corridor after increase by 500 points (ex: 1,000-2,000) up to a maximum of 4,000.  For every 500 bonus points you get for successfully landing, you see a burst of fireworks.

It’s possible for the Martians to destroy all the lower objects on the first screen (including the buildings)!

BUG: The point values shown in the attract mode for the 1st screen are 30, 80, and 150.  However, killing the last Martian is worth 130 points on round 1, and goes up 100 points for each round after that, up to 800 points on round 8.  Starting at round 9, the point value for the last Martian starts over at 130.  This also applies for killing the last Martian on the 3rd screen.

BUG: When you kill the final Martian on the very first wave, the game says that you will be rewarded x amount of points (130 if it’s a flying Martian, or 180 if it’s a Tripod), but this bonus is never added to your score. You will however get points if your radar shoots it, or if you crash into it (50 points). You’ll also get the 180 for shooting a Tripod if you’re also shot in the process. {Scott Stilphen}

BUG: The point value for the Martian Space Battleship (on the 3rd screen) is 100 points for the 1st chamber on round 1, and is doubled for each additional chamber you knock out.  With each round, the starting point value goes up 100 points. However, on rounds 7 and 8, the value is too high to be displayed – only the last 4 digits are shown.  Starting with round 9, the starting point value resets to 100 points.  {Scott Stilphen}

Round 1: 100 – 200 – 400 – 800 – 1,600

Round 2: 200 – 400 – 800 – 1,600 – 3,200

Round 3: 300 – 600 – 1,200 – 2,400 – 4,800

Round 4: 400 – 800 – 1,600 – 3,200 – 6,400

Round 5: 500 – 1,000 – 2,000 – 4,000 – 8,000

Round 6: 600 – 1,200 – 2,400 – 4,800 – 9,600

Round 7: 700 – 1,400 – 2,800 – 5,600 – 1,200 (11,200)

Round 8: 800 – 1,600 – 3,200 – 6,400 – 2,800 (12,800)

BUG: The point scale shown during the attract mode shows the highest value for the 3rd screen (Martian Space Battleship) is 9,600 should you decide to destroy the battleship by knocking out all 5 of its chambers. The problem is you don’t get the final value for destroying all 5 chambers but rather the value for 4!  When you knock out the 5th chamber, the value shown above the battleship is never added to your score.  {Scott Stilphen}

BUG: On the 4th screen (landing corridor), extra flags will appear as you approach the start of the corridor at round 4 and every 4 rounds from there after.  {Scott Stilphen}

 

 


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