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Roll Away

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  • Demo One Version 6 and 7 contain an early version of the game.
  • PCPX-96121 is a standalone demo of KulaQuest with some unique levels.
  • SLPM-80106 also contains an extended KulaQuest demo, this might be the same as above.

In Roll Away, you assume the role of a beach ball on a quest for fruit while avoiding the elements and various pointy objects. Notably one of the earlier games to make use of the DualShock rumble, allowing you to feel the ground break under your poor ball.

File Load Error#

KulaFileError.png

If the game can't load a file from the CD, this error screen appears.

Custom level loading via serial port#

Entering the cheat Left, Up, Down, Right, Square, Triangle, Circle, X allows a custom level to be uploaded via the PlayStation's serial port. It is not known if this refers to the Link Cable port or a specific port available only on debug units. According to a developer interview, this was used during development to quickly try out level designs. While the code for this is present in the final build, it is unknown whether it actually still functions.

Regional Differences#

Level Changes#

European to North America#

Visiting every level is only possible on the Japanese version, due to Level 132. In the European version, the hidden exit that should be on this level, isn't. It was forgotten about and not placed. In the North American version this was fixed so it does appear in the level... but the block it's on isn't reachable after the hidden exit is activated. The Japanese version solved this catastrophe completely by moving the hidden exit to Level 134 instead.

Adding the exit to the unreachable block is the only level difference between the European version and the [https://hiddenpalace.org/Kula_World_(Jun_3,_1998_prototype) Hidden Palace Jun 3 US Prototype].

Hidden Exit 9

Europe

The last arcade bonus level, Bonus30, also changed between regions. In the European version:

  • The fingers are arranged in three rows in a 3-4-3 finger pattern.
  • Only the inner two fingers of the middle row have collectibles.
  • You start on the outside finger in the middle row.
  • Unlike all other bonus levels, there's a fruit present, and it's on a block face which cycles between textures.

In the others:

  • The fingers are arranged in three rows in a 2-3-2 pattern.
  • Most fingers have collectibles on them.
  • You start in the outside finger in the top row.
  • The fruit has been removed and the face fixed.

Hidden Exit 9

Bonus30 - Europe

Levels in "The Final" contain no fruit, or at least they shouldn't. This rogue apple on level 3 was subsequently removed in the North American and Japanese versions, rendering the blue transporter pointless.

The Final Level 3 - Europe

The Final Level 3 - North America/Japan

North America to Japan#

The Japanese version added a completion percentage for picking up point items to each level - most changes in this section are cleanup to ensure 100% pickups in all levels is achievable.

For instance, an unreachable coin was removed from Level 102.

Level 102 - North America

Level 102 - Japan

The solid ice block on Level 131 had a face 'un-iced' and replaced by a force arrow. Bizarrely, this new force arrow is unreachable. An unreachable coin on the same block was also removed.

Level 131 - North America

Level 131 - Japan

A gem on Level 133 was made slightly less 'certain death' by plonking it on a rather more benign tile.

Level 133 - North America

Level 133 - Japan

The coins on the corners of the bottom level on Bonus Level 4 were removed. In the North American version, the level has the option of collecting those coins or collecting the gems on the inside face of the cubes. Removal of the coins means there is no longer an either/or choice and 100% completion is possible.

Bonus 4 - North America

Bonus 4 - Japan

Bonus Level 16 was redesigned to remove the 'gem surrounded by spike traps' section.

Bonus 16 - North America

Bonus 16 - Japan

The four solid blocks at the ends of the cross on Bonus Level 17 had their lethargy pills and coins removed, replaced by a single gem on each.

Bonus 17 - North America

Bonus 17 - Japan

Bonus Level 26 had three gems removed. If you thought that was because they were inaccessible, you'd be correct.

Bonus 26 - North America

Bonus 26 - Japan

Coins? Deletion? Say it ain't so Bonus Level 28! Unfortunately, it is.

Bonus 28 - North America

Bonus 28 - Japan

Another inaccessible coin was removed from the underside of the exit block on Hidden Level 2.

Hidden 2 - North America

Hidden 2 - Japan

Breaking news! Hidden Level 6 kills accessible coin. Also taken out in the hit were two moving platforms. Witnesses state that these platforms made it easier to get to and from the coin, but weren't the only way.

Hidden 6 - North America

Hidden 6 - Japan

And finally, that pesky unvisitable Hidden Level 9 had a fruit removed, not that anybody could legitimately notice.

Hidden 9 - North America

Hidden 9 - Japan

Items#

The red and yellow lethargy pills were recolored gray and white in the Japanese version.

Europe/North America

Japan

The Exit square icon in the Japanese version was changed from an X to 出口.

Europe/North America

Japan

Features#

Free Rotate Camera#

Pressing Select in the Japanese version toggles the camera from its fixed position behind the ball to being freely rotated around the level, like a controllable version of the pause camera. The North American and European versions require a GameShark code to re-enable this feature.

 European Version |  US version
   800B9D3E 0001  | 800BA296 0001

Ball Designer#

KulaQBallDesigner.png

The Japanese version has an exclusive feature that allows you to pick which ball to use and to customize its colors between worlds.

Lesson Level#

The Japanese version adds a Lesson option to the main menu, which takes you to a training/test level that contains all of the obstacles and mechanics found in the game. This level is on the data for the North American and European versions, but is inaccessible without GameShark codes.

Europe

North America

Japan

  • The Load Game option was moved to the main menu and the Scores option was moved into the Options menu in the Japanese version.

North America/Europe

Japan

  • The Japanese version shows you what percentage of items you collected in a level.
  • A sound effect upon completing a level was added in the Japanese version.
  • The button prompt is different.

North America/Europe

Japan

  • The copyright info is always on-screen in the Japanese menus.
  • The options were renamed.

North America/Europe

Japan

  • The CopyCat mode was shortened to Copy.

North America/Europe

Japan

  • The Japanese version lacks the option to adjust the screen or turn delay.
  • CD was changed to BGM.

Ending#

Each version not only received its own title, but different ending movies, as well. The Japanese version went above and beyond by having not one, but three ending movies.

Europe

North America

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Japan - Normal

Japan - All Fruits

Japan - Clearing "The Final"

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube