With 60 levels and 20 different endings, there was quite a bit of replay value.
The game was incredible in the number of possible endings, and the fluidity of the storyline based upon the player’s choices of where to guide the Phantom. With 60 levels and 20 different endings, there was quite a bit of replay value. Phantom had a veritable arsenal of weapons available and new weapons would be added to it as the game progressed. The coolest weapon was an inductance rope (think bionic arm from “Bionic Commando” for the NES), which allowed Phantom to latch onto to almost anything, and swing to ledges, cross gaps, etc. In order to make proper use of the numerous weapons, the enemies were nearly limitless, as they usually are in side-scrolling adventures.
Because there were so many levels and endings, the password feature was a nightmare. In progress games couldn’t be saved on the cartridge, so a password would be created to allow the player to return to the level he stopped at. The password was a series of letters, numbers, and special characters, in a grid 12 across and 4 down. Because many televisions in the mid-90s, when “Phantom 2040” was released, didn’t have the greatest resolution, it was difficult to discern some of the characters of the password, because such a blocky font was used.
With the exception of the horrendous password feature, “Phantom 2040” was an incredible game, but unfortunately, like the cartoon upon which it was based, it was largely under-appreciated, and soon forgotten.