Sam’s Journey

Starting a Game

Press the Fire button on the joystick to skip the intro until the journey status screen is shown, then select the Play option to begin the game.

Gameplay

Sam’s Journey tasks the player with controlling Sam on an unexpected journey to find a way home! Sam can Jump, climb, swim, and use powerful ability-granting items to help him along the way.

Sam begins each level at the starting door, and must make his way to the glowing end door - move the joystick up when next to a door to enter it. When Sam enters the exit door, he is awarded a yellow star on the map for the level.

Move the joystick up, or press the Jump button to make Sam jump. Push up and left or right at the same time to jump diagonally - the faster Sam is moving, the further he jumps. Hold up when landing on enemies, switches and trampolines to jump off them.

When Sam is stood in front of a climbable object, move the joystick up or down to begin climbing it. Press the Fire button and move the joystick left or right to jump off of the climbable object in the specified direction.

Press the menu button while in-game to open the menu interface, displaying overall score, time played in this save, and the ability to quit to the main menu.

The map

At the beginning of his journey, Sam finds himself at the bottom of a huge island.

There are three sections to the island - The Lowlands, The Midlands, and The Highlands containing 30 levels in total.

When Sam stands on an access point, you can see the level’s name, it’s current status, and the best score achieved in the level on this save.

The map contains various level access points which can be unlocked in order by completing levels. Move Sam between unlocked access points using the joystick and press the Fire button to begin playing the level.

Each level also displays a star - a black star indicates that Sam hasn’t completed the level yet. A yellow star indicates that Sam has completed the level at least once. Completed levels can be replayed by moving to their access point and pressing Fire on the joystick.

Costumes

Sam can collect costumes in some islands, granting him the appearance of the outfit he finds, and unique abilities to help him progress. Sam loses his current costume if he is hit by an enemy.

Ninja Sam

Ninja Sam can cling to to walls and jump his way up narrow passages. Press Fire on the joystick to cling to a wall, then press Fire again to drop from the wall - move the joystick in a direction while pressing Fire to jump from from the wall instead. Push the joystick down to slowly slide down the wall.

Pirate Sam

Pirate Sam can attack enemies using his cutlass! Push fire to swing the cutlass in the direction Sam is facing. The cutlass can be used to open chests.

Pitcher Sam

Pitcher Sam can perform targeted throws of held items using a crosshair. While holding a rock or chest, push the joystick down to prepare a power pitch. Move the joystick to change the position of the crosshair, and push fire to throw! To cancel a throw, stop moving the joystick down. Objects thrown by a pitch can collect any collectables they hit.

Disco Sam

Disco Sam can perform his signature twist, allowing him to remain in the air for longer after a jump. Press Fire on the joystick while in the air to perform a twist - move the joystick left or right to steer Sam’s dance. If Sam collides with an enemy while twisting, he’ll deal double damage!

Disco Sam’s cool shades can reveal secret passages - use the Peeking function to activate them!

Space Sam

Space Sam can use his jetpack to stay in the air for much longer! While in the air press Fire on the joystick to activate the jetpack and thrust upwards.

Vampire Sam

Vampire Sam can transform himself into a bat, allowing flight for a short duration. Push the joystick down and hold fire to transform into a bat. While in bat form, push Fire again to flap Bat Sam’s wings and gain height. To turn back into Vampire Sam, touch the ground, or push the joystick down and hold Fire. If Bat Sam touches any collectibles, the time he can stay as a bat is increased!

Interactables

There are a variety of items which sam can interact with throughout the island:

Doors

Doors connect various parts of each level. Some doors are locked and require a key to be opened. Keep an eye out for a flashing door - that’s the level exit!

Checkpoints

Checkpoints can be found in every level of Sam’s Journey, and appear initially as red flags. When Sam moves over a checkpoint, the flag will turn green. After Sam takes lethal damage, he can respawn at the latest checkpoint in the level that was activated.

Rocks

Large, boulder-like rocks can be picked up by Sam by pressing the Fire button on the joystick while near enough. While Sam is holding a rock, press Fire again to throw the rock in the direction he’s facing, destroying the first creature it hits. If Sam doesn’t hit anything, the rock can be picked up again.

Chests

Chests can contain Outfits for Sam to wear, as well as a variety of other items and collectables. Throw a rock at a chest, break it using Pirate Sam’s cutlass, or throw it at an enemy to reveal the contents.

Keys

Keys can be used to unlock locked doors in certain levels - indicated by a padlock on the door. Move Sam over a key to begin carrying it - move to a locked door with a carried key to use it.

Switches

Switches are attached to specific platforms and blocks in a level, toggling their state between active and inactive (for instance, a platform leading to a new area) Move sam over a switch to activate it.

Collectables

In each level, Sam can find up to 40 diamonds, 10 coins and 3 trophies. The more collectables Sam finds in a single play-through of a level, the higher the score. Replay levels and find them all to get a perfect score!

Diamonds

Diamonds are the most common collectible, often found scattered along the path Sam takes through the level. Each diamond is worth 1 percent of the level’s total score.

Coins

Rarer than diamonds, coins are often found in hidden areas away from the main path of the level or in chests. Coins usually require Sam to use a specific costume to reach them. Each coin is worth 3 percent of the level’s total score.

Trophies

Trophies are the most rare collectible, often dropped by specific monsters when eliminated. Find these Trophy Keepers in each level and eliminate them! Each trophy collected is worth 10 percent of the level’s total score.

Transportation

Trampolines

Trampolines can be used by Sam to jump higher, and can also be picked up - move on top of a trampoline and make Sam jump to use it.

Moving platforms

There are several types of moving platforms throughout Sam’s Journey - some follow a specific path, moving between a start and end point, some sink as Sam lands on them, and some will fall off the screen after Sam touches them!

Cannons

Sam can use cannons to blast himself across large distances in the direction the cannon is facing. To use a cannon, land inside its barrel and press Fire on the joystick. Be careful - some cannons fire automatically!

Owls

Sam can jump on top of Owls to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the level.

Interface

The lower-section of the gameplay screen displays the amount of collectables Sam has found in the current level:

1. Diamond count
2. Coin count
3. Trophy count