Swagman
↗ 4.5%
🙂 7.2/10
(Playstation - US, Action & Adventure)
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Complete
$34.49
Loose $16.91
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Developed_By:
Core Design Ltd.
Published_By:
Eidos
Released On:
01 Jan 1997
Also available on:
The Swagman , a villain from The Territories, has captured the Dreamflight fairies so that no one can wake up from their nightmares. His plan is to unleash his army of minions and take over the world. However, two young heroes, Zac and Hannah, might just be able to stop him if they can stay awake long enough.
The game is a character-based adventure with puzzle and platform elements. Players control either Zac or Hannah as they navigate through various environments, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles to reach their goal: stopping the Swagman and saving the world.
eBay Product ID:
1470 (United States)
UPC-A:
743175952872 (USA)
ASIN:
B00002SUK1 (United States)
Sony PN:
SLUS-00151 (United States)
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Input Devices Required:
Gamepad
Number of Offline Players:
1 Player
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $37.50–$37.50 (last 90 days)
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Market activity: active · about 60 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a fantasy adventure game where players control Zack, a young boy, as he embarks on a quest to rescue his sister, Hannah, and the Dreamflight from the villainous Swagman and his Night Terrors. Players will navigate a dream-like world, battling monsters and solving puzzles to restore peace to the sleeping world.
Story
The Story
Late one night, Zack and Hannah read a poem about the Swagman and his gruesome gang of Night Terrors. These sinister characters emerge from The Terrortries, their twisted, bad-dream landscape, to spread nightmare-inducing Dream-Ash on sleeping folk.
As they read, a rush of wind and a noise from the window freezes them in alarm. A soft light illuminates the room, and they see a Dreamfly sprinkling Dreamdew into their room. The kids rush to the window, watching her fly back across town.
Hunched in the darkness on a tree bough is the Swagman. He reaches his crooked hand toward the Dreamfly, capturing her in a swarm of Dream-Ash. She is fated to imprisonment in one of his bell-jars, just like the other eleven members of the Dreamflight.
With them imprisoned, the Swagman can safely send his Terrors through portals between his world and ours to extend the boundaries of the Terrortries. Without the Dreamflight to neutralize the bad dreams coiling through sleepers' minds, they will never waken from his nightmares.
As Zack and Hannah witness this, a loud splintering sounds from the landing, and the kids hide in fear. The landing floor fractures open, a red glow rising from the pit within as the green skull of a Skallywag peers out triumphantly.
A gang of these Night Terrors invades Zack and Hannah's room, stealing their favorite possessions, including Zack's bug collection. One Skally, however, senses Hannah hiding in the wardrobe and wrenches the door open.
Conjuring a greasy silver ball from his hand, he rolls it hypnotically over his fingertips, then hurls it into Hannah's face. The ball breaks into a smoky cloud around her. To Zack's horror, his sister is shrunk under the spell, imprisoned within their toy bird-cage, dolefully hanging on its perch as the Skallys tumble, snickering out from the room.
As they leave, the box of Zack's bugs falls from one of their sacks, and the beetles scuttle away across the floor.
Zack knows now that he and Hannah are the only people awake in the entire town. They are the only ones who can fight the Swagman and his invading army of Night Terrors. It's up to him to free Hannah and then discover the whereabouts of the Good Great Dreamfly and the eleven members of her Dreamflight. He must rescue them from the clutches of the Swagman and his terrifying Night Terrors, so that we can all sleep in peace again.
Setting Up
•
Set up your PlayStation™ game console according to the instructions in its Instruction Manual.
•
Insert the Swagman disc and close the disc cover.
•
Insert a game controller and turn the PlayStation™ game console on. Follow the on-screen instructions to start a game.
Memory Card Slot 1
Memory Card Slot 2
Top View
•
SONY
•
RESET BUTTON
•
POWER INDICATOR
•
POWER BUTTON
•
CONTROLLER PORT
Front View
•
OPEN BUTTON
•
DISC COVER
•
CONTROLLER PORT 1
•
CONTROLLER PORT 2
Controls
Up (Real World)
moves the character up the screen.
Down (Real World)
moves the character down the screen.
Left (Real World)
moves the character to the left.
Right (Real World)
moves the character to the right.
Triangle Button (Real World)
push or pull an object when held next to it.
Square Button (Real World)
use whichever item is currently in Zack or Hannah's left hand.
Circle Button (Real World)
use whichever item is currently in Zack or Hannah's right hand.
X Button (Real World)
jump (tap for small, hold for higher).
L1/L2 Buttons (Real World)
toggle control between Zack and Hannah.
R1/R2 Buttons (Real World)
slow down and walk when held in conjunction with Directional buttons.
Select Button (Real World)
access/return from inventory screen.
START Button (Real World)
pauses/resumes game.
Up (Dream World)
moves the Dreambeast up the screen.
Down (Dream World)
moves the Dreambeast down the screen.
Left (Dream World)
moves the Dreambeast to the left.
Right (Dream World)
moves the Dreambeast to the right.
Button (Dream World)
controls Zack's Fire-breath attack and Hannah's Laser Eyes. When held, left and right Directional buttons turn the beast's head.
Square Button (Dream World)
delivers Zack's Power Punch and Hannah's Claw Ripper.
Triangle Button (Dream World)
used for Zack's Mega-butt and Hannah's Pirouette.
X Button (Dream World)
jump (tap for small, hold for higher). Hannah can perform a super-jump if pressed twice in succession.
L1/L2 Buttons (Dream World)
No function.
R1/R2 Buttons (Dream World)
No function.
SELECT Button (Dream World)
No function.
START Button (Dream World)
pauses/resumes game.
Up (Menus)
navigate.
Down (Menus)
navigate.
X Button (Menus)
select. Also quits FMO sequences.
START Button (Menus)
quits FMO sequences.
Right (Menus)
toggle through individual category options.
Left (Menus)
toggle through individual category options.
Triangle Button (Menus)
take you back to the previous screen until you arrive back at the Title Screen.
How to Play
STARTING THE GAME
It is advised that you do not insert or remove peripherals or Memory Cards once the power has been turned on.
Following the Sony, Eidos and Core Design screens, you will then be shown a short introductory FMO sequence. Following this sequence, you will be presented with the Title Screen.
TITLE SCREEN
The options available to you here are:
•
START GAME: Takes you to the Game Slot Screen
•
OPTIONS: Takes you to the Options Screen
GAME SLOT SCREEN
Here you may highlight and select the game you wish to load from one of eight game slots.
If you are playing the game for the first time or do not have a memory card, the first time you arrive at this screen all eight slots will read New Game.
If you have Saved Games, they will be displayed as a location description.
OPTIONS SCREEN
The options available to you here are:
•
SOUND OUTPUT: Stereo (default) / Mono
•
SFX VOLUME: Off / Low / Medium / High / Full (default)
•
SFX TEST: Select effect number to test
•
MUSIC VOLUME: Off / Low / Medium / High / Full (default)
•
MUSIC TEST: Select track number to test
•
CONTROL SETTING: Select and you will be presented with 5 pre-set control configurations. Selecting your desired setting will return you to the Options Screen.
•
EXIT: Select to return to the Title Screen
SAVE GAME
Make sure that there are enough free blocks on your Memory card before commencing play.
Please note that if you do not have a Memory card you will not be able to save your game.
Opening the Scarab Cheats throughout the game will not only provide you with invaluable information vital for completing the game but also certain chests will include Save Game prompts. If you have a Memory card inserted, you will be asked if you would like to save your game at that point.
Please note that if you do not have a memory card inserted you will lose all Saved Game information when switching off your console. Your full game configuration will be saved within the Save Game.
QUITTING THE GAME
While playing the game, you can return to the Title Screen by pressing the Start Button (to pause the game) then by pressing the Select Button and following the on-screen prompts.
THE GAME
The game is basically split into two main areas: the Real World and the nightmare lands of the Terrortries. You must explore both lands if you are to free the Dreamflight and return the Real World to normal.
The Terrortries can be accessed via the Mirror Warps. The Mirror Warps look very similar to normal, everyday mirrors and are normally found in the same places, e.g. in a bathroom.
SOURCES OF DREAMDEW
Sources of Dreamdew will be scattered throughout the game, here are some examples:
•
Dreamdew Flowers & Ashplants: Dreamdew Flowers provide you with the main source of Dreamdew. Ashplants however will spray ZackHannah with Dream-Ash, depleting your bar of precious Dreamdew.
•
Dew Pockets: These float in the air and pop dew out when ZackHannah jump at them.
DREAM LIFE & DREAM REVIVAL
The twins' Dream Life is measured in Zees. Zees can be collected at many points in the adventure as they are emanated from the sleeping folk of Paradise Falls. If ZackHannah takes a hit from a Terror, usually only one Zee is lost.
Zack and Hannah's dream life is shared, therefore the Zees are shared also. This will force the player to look after both characters, rather than choosing one. After all, they are brother and sister.
At some point the player may lose all of his/her Zees. When this happens, a brief animation sequence will show ZackHannah plummeting through the blackness towards the yawning maw of the Swagman.
As he/she falls, digits will count down from 10 to zero and the Scarab will appear, offering a Dream Revival to allow you to continue the adventure. Pressing the START Button before the digits reach zero will allow the player to continue from the last Save Game point. Not pressing the START Button before the digits countdown to zero will return you to the title screen.
Items & Weapons
Dreamcharged Flashlight
This is Zack Hannah's main/default weapon. It can be used to attack Night Terrors, cut through undergrowth, and open curtains.
Zack's Flying Disc
Works like a boomerang and homes in on any on-screen Terrors.
Hannah's Yo-yo
Hannah can use the yo-yo to bash Terrors, grab out-of-reach items, or flip-switches in hard-to-get places.
Cherry Bombs
These explode on impact and can be used to blow up crumbling walls/floors and some Terrors. They can also damage Zack/Hannah if they are too near when they explode.
Zack's Jet Sneakers
These give Zack extra speed and jumping power.
Hannah's Lightning Glove
This weapon harnesses the power of the elements, destroying everything on screen, and protects Hannah from the effects of electricity.
Zack's Fire Breath
This blasts out a stream of white hot flames.
Hannah's Laser Eyes
These emit a concentrated beam of retinal energy, toasting any Terror in sight.
Warping Circles
Warping Circles allow the player to Warp Hannah to Zack's present position or vice-versa.
Warping Marble
The Warping Marble icon must be selected to use Warping Circles.
Keys
Certain interiors will have locked doors which can only be opened by finding and using keys.
Pressure Pads
Some areas contain doors that cannot be opened by finding a key.
Enemies & Characters
LIMBO
Limbo is the yawning void which surrounds the Swagman's Terrortries. It is littered with chunks of earth, some of which will crumble away underfoot, plummeting you into the abyss below.
Zack
Zack is our hero. He's eight years old, cute and cool, and transforms into a powerful Dreambeast whenever he goes through a Mirror Warp into the Terrortries.
Hannah
Hannah is our heroine and also Zack's twin sister. Although she may look sweet as pie, underneath lies her dream persona which she too transforms into when going through the Warps.
The Dreamflight
The Swagman has imprisoned the twelve members of the Dreamflight beneath an ash-crystal belljar in various locations throughout Paradise Falls and the Terrortries. It's the twins' job to defeat the Night Terror Guardians, smash the belljars and release the Dreamflight members.
The Dreambeasts
When the twins enter the Swagman's Terrortries through the mirror warps, they are unleashed as potent Dreambeasts with enhanced strength and special powers.
The Scarab and his Bug Army
Throughout the game, you must collect Zack's bug army which the Night Terrors have stolen. The Scarab is the leader of this army, who, with his knowledge of nightmare terrain, is able to give crucial advice at key points of the adventure.
Green Skallywags
Wandering green skeletons who sling bones out when they get near ZackHannah. Be wary of the flames that result from the bones' impact.
Red Skallywags
Tiny scurrying skallys who will attempt to steal your bombs and take off with them.
Candle Skallywags
Wandering red skeletons are found lighting their way through some of the darker areas. Keep your distance as they will billow out their candle flame if you get too close.
Pumpskins
A bouncy, fire spitting, mutant Pumpkin that bounces around his patch until you get close. Then he attacks, scorching you with his dragon breath.
Steam Demon
First found in the Basement, they will float around, homing in on the twins before expiring in a big puff of scolding steam.
Fire Slug
Every so often a fire Slug will also be spewed out, it will then uncurl and sleuth toward Zack and Hannah.
Sheet Thing
If you get too close, these will reveal their true form, a nasty spectre with sharp claws and a whipsnap tail.
Zombie Kid
These will either burst out from their grave or clamber from an open standing coffin to attack you.
Swag Spikes
They dart out of walls and floors, hoping to impale you, before liquefying and retracting back for another attempt. Some Swag spikes are used as a level puzzle, requiring a pressure pad to be found before the spikes will retract.
Trash Scallys
Some Scallywags hide in the trash, armed with a pile of bins, kicking them back and forth between each other. The best way to deal with these is by simply dodging them.
Cactus Spies
At first glimpse normal cacti, but when you turn away from one, he'll scuttle after you, if he gets too near to you, Cactus spikes erupt from his torso, slashing those vital Zees away.
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