Dynamite Headdy

Dynamite Headdy is a video game released in 1994 by Sega and produced by Treasure.[1] It was released on the Sega Mega Drive system, with ports to the Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System.

Headdy, the central protagonist of the game, arrives in North Town to find that the evil puppet King Dark Demon is in the midst of attacking the puppet town to select which of the peaceful toys should live and which should be converted into his evil minions. Headdy is captured by Toruzo-Kun and rejected by D.D.'s forces, and is dropped into the dust cargo to be thrown into the incinerator. However, Headdy escapes the clutches of Dark Demon's minions and sets off to defeat the evil king.

However, trouble is afoot. Not only is the puppet world filled with Dark Demon's minions, but to reach the evil overlord's castle Headdy must defeat Dark Demon's Keymasters, who serve as the king's elite guard. To make matters worse, Headdy is followed by Maruyama, a puppet jealous of Headdy's success. Maruyama wants to be the star instead of Headdy, and will stop at nothing to get rid of him.

The game is played over a series of "scenes" and "acts" like Sonic the Hedgehog, the end of which is often typified by a big boss battle. Headdy's special ability is his launchable head. This can be fired in eight directions: up, down, left, right, and the four diagonals in-between. Launching it at enemies can damage or destroy them.

His head can also be used to hold on to a "HangMan", a character that acts like a hook. By grabbing a HangMan with your head, the player can then use it to hurl themselves in its direction, as if connected by an elastic band. Headdy can also swap his head for a special head, if he attacks a HeadCase. Depending on the symbol that the HeadCase is showing, Headdy will get a different head with a different special power. Some of these powers include making Headdy's attacks stronger, becoming temporarily invulnerable, shrinking in order to reach smaller spaces and sucking up all items and enemies on screen. During flight stages, Headdy can switch between three types of flight head. Collecting a Bonus Head enters a bonus stage which, if cleared, gives the player part of a keycode which, when inputted at the end of the game, grants access to a secret ending.

Scattered across the levels are a number of Secret Bonus Points. These can be collected by performing a strange or skilled action, such as finding a hidden item or defeating an enemy using a certain tactic.

Headdy - The protagonist. His head is able to be sent flying from his body, and can be exchanged for all kinds of different heads with different powers.
Heather/Fingy - A girl with floating hands. She has an interest in collecting the keys left behind by the Keymasters Headdy defeats.
Dark Demon - An evil emperor wanting to take over the world of puppets.
Trouble Bruin/Maruyama - A bounty hunter who wants to defeat Headdy and upstage him. In the US/European version, he is brown with cross (angry) eyes, while in the Japanese version he is purple with wide eyes. He appears in various colours with wide eyes in the Game Gear version, where he represents nearly all of the bosses instead of the Keymasters.
Headcase/Mokkun - One of Headdy's friends. He walks around areas with a revolving selection of heads that Headdy can use by hitting him.
Hangman/Fukkun - Another one of Headdy's friends, who hangs off various platforms. By grabbing it, Headdy can launch himself upwards. He can also be used to pull some obstacles like floating platforms.
Beau/Yakkun - The third of Headdy's friends, who shows up during boss fights, pointing to a boss's weakness and yelling 'Target'.
Bino - An odd person with big ears who appears from time to time. Hitting him often rewards a secret bonus point.
Mad Dog/Bounty Boundy - The first Keymaster. A huge toy like dog. He attacks with a basketball, a caterpillar, and a ball of dogs.
Wooden Dresser/Jacqueline Dressy - The second Keymaster. A huge wooden puppet figure that has the ability to become any costume it wants to be.
Spinderella/Motor Hand - The third Keymaster. A giant floating ball with extendable arms.
Baby Face/Mitsuru - The fourth Keymaster. A baby head on a pole. After taking enough hits he changes into the boys head, the man's head, and finally an old man's head.
Gatekeeper/Nasty Gatekeeper (Yazoyoi/Izayoi) - An evil robot that guards Dark Demon's castle. She becomes angrier and whacks you wildly with her extendable claw.
Twin Freaks/Rever Face - A monkey-like head. When he's green, he's happy, but when he's red, he's angry.
Smiley - A medallion who claims to belong to the greatest puppet in the world.