The story

Stevedore works at the docks, loading and unloading ships in a small coastal town.

He is in love with the beautiful lighthouse keeper.

Today is the annual summer party, and Stevedore is hurrying up to finish the job and go to the party with her.

Suddenly…
the floor cracks under his feet…

Help Stevedore find the keys to get out of the abandoned warehouse. The lighthouse keeper is waiting for him at the lighthouse.

Or isn't she?
What other adventures might happen!?

Good luck, Stevedore!

Preparations

  • First make sure your computer and your video monitor are hooked up correctly. Refer to the instruction manual of your computer to make the appropriate connections.
  • Make sure your computer is switched off, then insert the ROM cartridge with the picture side facing you. Make sure that the cartridge is inserted all the way in and makes complete contact.
  • Switch on your computer.
  • Switch on the TV monitor and tune to the channel which will display the computer-generated image.
  • This game can be played with an optional joystick. Connect the lead from the joystick to terminal A before begin to play.

How to play

This game is designed to be played by one person with either the keyboard or a joystick.

Press space key or the trigger on the joystick to start the game.

You control the actions of Stevedore. At the beginning of the game you have five lives.

In order to procees, you must get the key and enter the exit door of each room.

You can get a key by passing directly in front of it. If you get the key, the door to the next room will open.

If an enemy touches Stevedore, if Stevedore walks onto spikes, or if Stevedore falls into the water, you will lose one life.

The game ends when all lives are lost.

If you can no longer proceed in the game as the result of mistakes you have made in play, press the STOP key. This will start you once again at the beginning of the same room in which you stopped. You will lose one life by doing this, however.

Controls & Keys

Control Effect
 
  • Walk left or right
  • Push box left or right (in front of a box)
 
  • Go up or down ladders (in front of a ladder)
  • Enter the exit door (in front of an open door)
Space key
Trigger A
  • Jump
STOP key1
Trigger B held
  • Restart the current room
  • Return to the title screen (when losing one life)

1 In the digital edition, ESC and RETURN keys can be used instead of STOP key.

When played on MSX2, hold the following keys during the game start-up:

Key Palette
(none)
  • Enhanced palette
1
  • Default MSX palette (TMS9918 approximate)
2
  • Default MSX2 palette (V9938)

Once you know a password, you can progress directly to the stage following it (even if you have turned off your MSX):

Key Effect
SELECT key2
Trigger B
  • Skip tutorial stages (at start-up sreen)
SELECT key2
Trigger B
  • Enter password (at title screen)

2 In the digital edition, TAB and BS keys can be used instead of SELECT key.

Hints

You can get some items by passing directly in front of them:

The keys will unlock the door to the next room.
Grandma says the fruits are good for the memory (and delicious too!)
These little stars are quite rare, and nobody knows for sure what they are for.

There are several animals that live around the abandoned warehouse. Each animal has a characteristic type of movement. Figure out as quickly as you can how to avoid them!

The bats simply fly around. Grandma dislikes them for no apparent reason.
The spiders hide quietly in the dark. But they won't miss any opportunity to bite someone.
The snakes wander around aimlessly, getting in everyone's way.

Jellyfishes are armed with stinging tentacles. Fortunately, they live under water…
Sea urchins don't move too much, but can push themselves with their spines. on't get too close to them!

Grandma used to tell stories about the beligerant tribe of Pantojos… but it's been a long time since the last Pantojo was seen ashore in Stevedore's town.
Nowadays, nobody remembers where their island is.

And, as grandma says, "think before you act". There is no time limit, so carefully plan your movements in advance. Otherwise, you are likely to get stuck.

Cautions

  • Use only with home computers bearing the MSX mark.
  • Be sure that your computer is turned off when inserting and removing the cartridge.
  • Do not touch slot connections.
  • Do not attempt to open or disassemble the cartridge.
  • Avoid extreme temperatures, humidity, and impacts.

Stevedore
© theNestruo & Wonder 2020

Concept, code & GFX: theNestruo
Music & SFX: Wonder
Cover art: Sirelion



Stevedore physical cartridges available now at MSX Cartridge Shop!

Updated 19 days ago
StatusReleased
PlatformsHTML5
Release date Oct 19, 2020
Rating
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
(21 total ratings)
AuthortheNestruo
GenrePuzzle
Tags8-Bit, cartridge, MSX, Pixel Art, Puzzle-Platformer, Retro, Singleplayer
Asset licenseCreative Commons Attribution_NonCommercial_NoDerivatives v4.0 International
Average sessionAbout an hour
LanguagesEnglish
InputsKeyboard, Joystick
LinksSource code

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

Stevedore (2020) (theNestruo & Wonder) [v1.2].zip 1 MB
Stevedore OST (2020) (Wonder).zip 23 MB

Comments

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Hi mate, Saverio Russo from SC-3000 Survivors here. I'd like to know if you're interested in a porting of this great game on the SG-1000/SC-3000 platform. Our community needs great production even though it isn't enough developed like the MSX one. It would be nice to have support from great developers. Thanks. 🙏

Hi, Saverio.

I'm afraid I'm not interested in porting the game to SG-1000: code relies on MSX BIOS and requires 8KB of RAM, plus a new soundtrack must be composed. I am already involved into new projects (that are taking too long to be finished), and I don't really want to put them on hold to go back to Stevedore.

I'm sorry this is not the answer you were expecting :/ I wish I had enough free time to be able to finish my projects and also experiment with new platforms (such as SG-1000)...

Hi, no worries. :)

Great job! Some of the puzzles were challenging but the game is very good! I have one question: I have collected the star on level 27 and completed level 30 to get the password. But when the game is over, I can only continue from Ancient Temple Ruins, level 25. If I go all the way back to the start screen and input the password I can begin from The Lighthouse Keeper is Behind this Door world, level 31. But if I just continue at Game Over, the Stage Select screen shows only 5 worlds, not the final 6th one and I have to restart from level 25. It made the game harder before I knew I should use the password. Is this by design or is there a button to press to find the last world at the Stage Select screen? I played the game on itch.io. Thanks!

Hi! Thank you for playing the game until the end! ^_^ And congratulations for reaching the good ending! Yay!

It is like that by design, to "force" the player to go for both the stars and the fruits... but I think now that it was an inadequate decision. So, sorry about that! :(

Really nice game! Our German-language review can be found in our recorded livestream starting at 06:27:21. Automatic subtitles should be available soon (switch on, if necessary). Subscription to our YouTube or Twitch channel is welcome. :-)

(+1)

Thank you very much! Automatic subtitles are not working for me... so I hope you liked the game ^_^

Great game - here is my tribute...

Thank you very much! :-D Very funny video!

Nice game!

Thank you!! :D

Can you make more Cartridge of this game ? I cant order at your site.

I hope that MSX Cartridge Shop will produce more cartridges once the global chip shortage ends (so they can be produced at a reasonable price!) :)

Meanwhile, we have to stick to the digital version

Thank you:)

what type of cartridge is it? What does the cart sell for? cheers

Juegaso. Ju e ga so. 

Gracias FranSX! :D

There is a lot of retro polish here!

Thank you very much!

Que gran juego,gracias

Gracias a ti por jugarlo!! :D

I started it for fun, but I could not come off until I finished it.It's a great game.Do not hesitate to play it.Thank you.

Stevedore (Full Game)

(+1)

Woah! Thank you for playing and recording the entire video!

(1 edit)

Thank you for this Great Game, and i love it.

Thanks! Enjoy!! :)

This was really cool, I didn't even know the MSX was still around and had such a resurgence until I saw this and looked into it. The game is really cool, very well made, has a great retro feel, i loved it.


Thank you very much for your kind words and your review!

Yes! The MSX is still alive and kicking with new games every year, as well as the ZX Spectrum, the Amstrad CPC, the Commodore 64 and many other 8 and 16 bit machines!

That's really awesome! I didn't know that and It's really cool that they keep the old stuff going.

(1 edit)

wait a minute did you just made a physical copy of this game

Actually... the game was released in physical edition one year ago. I just released it for free as a digital edition to celebrate the 1st Anniversary! :)

Thanks Nestruo for giving the whole community this present. Nothing better than a great game like this. In gratitude, I publish this video of your game in your honor. I hope you like it. Greetings

Thank you! :D

Fantastic job. Congrats!

Thank you very much!