@msxti.meA #KingsValley2 map is composed in a set of discrete steps: RLE-compressed map is decompressed into RAM, then overlays (ladder, secret) are applied to the unpacked map. After that, background is drawn, then walls, floors and ladders, then stamps (jewels, tools, etc.), and finally sprites. #MSX
@msxti.meKonami released the #MSX and MSX2 #KingsValley2 cartridges together in 1988. The MSX2 version still carries the MSX picture code, including defunct chunks written for MSX1 hardware that the cartridge never runs. Map data is identical; homemade stages work on either, and play is the same.
@msxti.meMSX2 #KingsValley2 pauses on weapon changes, because it rebuilds Vick's whole unarmed/armed sheet inside VBLANK. The handler has ~17ms before the next frame; each swap RLEs and copies the sheet and overruns, so later VBLANKs skip screen updates.
@msxti.me#KingsValley2 contains a number of levels that form patterns out of blocks and ladders. Most of them are words in English and Japanese (Incl. "Konami" in kana), but also shapes (Konami logo), numbers ("9" and "IV") and names ("Nagae"). #MSX
