About This File
2024 marked the 40th anniversary of Jet Set Willy. 🏆
Initially I had planned on something a lot more elaborate to celebrate this however for various reasons I decided a standard game with a few simple changes would fit nicely.
There is a time limit of two hours game playing time enforced. If Willy runs out of time (at 12:00AM), the game is over! This is indicated with the game freezing and the word 'time' flashing for a few seconds, leaving the player in no doubt what has happened.
There are 150 items to collect. Care was taken to place these mostly sensibly without detracting from the original game feeling. Also, some item shapes per room have changed, the main reason being at least one item shape looks like two bottles, so if and when Willy collects one of these it will count as two in his collection.
The main loop was modified (thanks N.S for your guidance) giving a reasonable speed boost during play.
Other changes and small fixes include:
The four original bug fixes were applied with the change of not having an invisible item in The Hall.
The rope top height was altered to prevent Willy leaving via the top of the room when he is not intended to.
Aborting the game displays the Game Over page before returning to the title screen.
The pause bug was remedied by preventing the game auto-pausing
By default on starting a new game, the in-game tune is switched off. Enabling it will be respected so that starting a new game will remember the players choice.
The status area was altered slightly, namely the room descriptor was moved down one row, room names were centred and the lives remaining were moved along one block.
The usual text flicker back to 000 objects / time on losing a life or entering a room was altered to prevent this being so visible.
Some internal changes to sprite location, mainly concatenating them hence no gaps between.
Title screen tune changed a little bit (in-game music used) and in-game music from re-release version (MM in game tune)
Upon reaching Master Bedroom and landing on the bed, the bug whereby Willy could get stuck has been rectified.
There is one additional room that is accessible but its not necessary to visit it. This was done as a way of avoiding a 'teleport' effect , the alternative as seen in the 2015 bug fixed version required some earth tiles adding which I wanted to avoid.
Lastly, it is quite possible within the time limit to complete the game. I have played a few times and averaged around 10 to 15 minutes game time remaining without really rushing around.
I hope my small celebratory 2024 JSW version is welcomed!