Mystery Quest/Gameplay

Controls

 * : Use the direction pad to guide Hao through each stage. Press left or right to make Hao run in either direction.  Press up to make Hao face into the screen, allowing him to fire above him.  Press down to make Hao crouch, or in some cases to duck down into pipes.
 * : Press the A button to make Hao jump. Most of the time, Hao will jump higher on a second consecutive jump than he will on the first jump.  Also press the A button when jumping between two columns of spring blocks to jump off the sides and climb higher.
 * : Press the B button to make Hao fire. In Mystery Quest, you start out with this ability but in Hao Kun no Fushigina Tabi, you must first collect the Roll of Magic, which appears early on.  Tapping the B button also allows Hao to run slightly faster.  Again, you start out with this ability in Mystery Quest, but you must first find the speed boots in Hao Kun no Fushigina Tabi to activate this ability.
 * : Press the start button to begin a new game, or to pause the action mid-game.
 * : In Hao Kun no Fushigina Tabi only, when the game is paused, press Select to see a list of yoru current inventory.

Player
You control Hao throughout the game. Your one and only mission is to make it all the way to the end of each world, and explore both of the castles that the worlds contain. Hao has the ability to jump, and the ability to fire projectiles at his enemies, although most enemies require more than one hit to be defeated. Hao also has a life meter at the top of the screen. The game will end whenever Hao's life meter is completely reduced, or if Hao falls in water, as Hao can't swim. Throughout the game, Hao's life meter slowly drains. There are items such as stars and moons which can be collected to restore Hao's health, as well as little Hao dolls which can be used to extend his life meter up to four times. To accomplish his goal, Hao will need to collect several items which will give him greater ability to affect the environment around him, and destroy blocks that would otherwise prevent him from proceeding through the game.