Game progression[edit]
This game is played linearly, through four stages. There are no warps or level skips. You must proceed to the end of each stage and defeat the boss in order to advance to the next stage, culminating in the fight against the final boss at the end of the fourth stage. The game is over when all three selectable characters have become captured or arrested. After returning to the title screen after a game over or reset the "continue" option appears which allows you to the beginning of the most recent stage you started.
Captured or arrested[edit]
During the adventure, players may become captured or arrested. Players can only become arrested when attacked by Zenigata, otherwise they will be captured. Jigen and Goemon will become captured if they are; hit by a bullet, hit by an enemy, fall into a pit, or fall into water. In Lupin's case, he will be captured if he is hit by a bullet or an enemy without any bullet-proof vests, falls into water without an oxygen tank, or falls into a pit without a balloon. Once captured, that player cannot be selected for the rest of the stage unless the other characters explore a room and happen to find the capture character tied up. Running to the character frees him from the chair and enables him to be selected again. However, if a character is knocked out by Zenigata, they are arrested, and will be inaccessible until the next stage begins. There is no way to rescue an arrested character.