Tempo
↘ 4.7%
🙂 6.3/10
(Sega 32X - US, Action & Adventure)
.png)
Complete
$154.33
Loose $85.92
Manage Collection
Developed_By:
Red Company Corporation
Published_By:
Sega
Released On:
01 Jan 1995
Tempo , a grasshopper who lives on Planet Rythmia, the world of music, is under attack by the malevolent King Dirge. The king's sinister plan is to steal all the rhythm from the planet, leaving it a dull and lifeless place.
The game follows Tempo as he navigates through 7 levels, fighting his way through hordes of enemies to stop King Dirge's evil scheme. Along the way, players can collect "dance" power-ups that allow them to call upon a butterfly friend for assistance in defeating their foes with killer dance moves.
UPC-A:
010086845044 (United States)
EAN-13:
7891196152078 (Brazil)
Sega Region Code:
84504 (United States)
ASIN:
B0009W8TKM (United States)
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Media Type:
Cartridge
Save Game Methods:
Password
Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $145.00–$154.33 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Market activity: active · about 74 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 an arcade-style rhythm platformer where players guide Tempo and Katy through various themed stages, dancing, dodging enemies, and collecting power-ups to win a dance contest and thwart King Dirge's schemes. Players must master rhythm-based challenges and defeat unique bosses to claim the coveted Major Minor Trophy.
Story
Welcome to Rhythma
Welcome to Rhythma, a place where all the world's a stage. Once a year, Major Minor, Dance Master of Rhythma, holds a huge music festival, with weeks of concerts and events. The highlight of the festival is the Major Minor Show, a dance contest that anyone can join.
First prize is the Major Minor Trophy, the most coveted award in Rhythma. The favorites of this contest are Tempo and his friend Katy. Surely they'll win first place this year...
King Dirge's Scheme
But the curtain rises on a new and dangerous opponent. The scheming King Dirge wants that trophy, and will do anything to get it. He knows he doesn't stand a chance against this young couple's superb sense of rhythm and dazzling dance moves, so he has rounded up his performance company, Mussi Productions, and placed them on every stage.
The Mussi members will stop at nothing to get Tempo and Katy out of the contest. Can Tempo dodge Mussi Productions, thwart Dirge's dirty schemes, and take home the trophy? Maybe... with your help.
Gameplay
Travel from stage to stage, dancing, dodging and grabbing points and power-ups. Play extra games for bonuses, and gather up all the strength you can. You'll need it!
Stage 2: Hi Fi Performance
You've wound up inside a giant entertainment system. Race along the revolving belts and cassette tapes, and battle the video game icons for extra points. Watch out for the sparks rampaging free of their circuits.
•
Level Boss: Headcase.
Stage 3: Indigestion Performance
Looks like you've found one sick puppy. Hop among this critter's choppers, then get ready for a stomach-churning journey through the innards. Watch the area around you and avoid getting into a tight squeeze. And beware of the occasional heart attack....
•
Level Boss: K.O.
Stage 4: Circus Performance
Life's a circus, and you must get past the clowns. Here's where things get tough. You're lost within a maze of building blocks, with bikers and stunt bugs flying all over the place.
Dodge the musicians astride their psychotic pianos, and take a wild ride through vent pipes to secret rooms and big bonuses.
•
Level Boss: Baff da' Clown
Stage 5: Jungle Performance
Welcome to the jungle! Jitterbug through a jungle full of hostile flora and fauna. Smash the honeycomb for surprises—either freebies or free Bees. Bounce off drums and ride along leaves.
•
Level Bosses: The Buzzelles
Stage 6: Winter Performance
Merry Christmas! These Santas won't give you presents, so you'll have to seek the goodies out on your own.
Stage 7: Final Performance
Will you dazzle your rivals in the final confrontation? Will there be an encore? Will you get the Major Minor Trophy and all the fame and fortune that goes with it? There's only one way to find out....
Stage Clear
Receive points for completing each stage in the shortest period of time, for the number of Note Items you pick up and the number of Dance Performances you make.
How to Play
STARTING UP
•
Set up your 32X System as described in its instruction manual.
•
Plug in Control Pad 1.
•
Make sure the power switch is OFF.
•
Insert the Tempo cartridge into the console.
•
Turn the power switch ON. The Sega screen appears, then the Title screen.
If the Sega screen doesn't appear, turn the power switch OFF. Make sure your system is set up correctly and the cartridge is firmly inserted. Then turn the power switch ON again.
Press Start when the Title screen appears.
Important
Always make sure the power switch is OFF before inserting or removing the cartridge.
Note
Tempo is for one player.
•
Genesis 32X cartridge (sold separately)
•
Genesis 32X
GETTING STARTED
The Tempo introduction and Title screen follow the Sega logo. Wait a moment to see the game demo, or press Start at any time to bring up the Title screen. Press again to see the Game Menu.
Make your selections by pressing the D-Pad UP or DOWN, then press Start.
Start the game by pressing Start, or enter your Password (select PASSWORD) or look at the Options menu (select OPTIONS). For more about passwords, see page 17.
SETTING THE TEMPO (OPTIONS)
Select an option by pressing the D-Pad UP or DOWN. Make choices within the selected option by pressing LEFT or RIGHT.
Exit the Options menu by pressing Start. Or highlight EXIT and press Button A, B or C.
•
Difficulty: Select between Easy, Normal and Hard.
PAD TYPE 3
•
SHOT
•
JUMP
•
KICK
Control Pad
This customizes the button functions on your Control Pad. Select this option and press Button A, B or C to see the Control Pad screen.
Press LEFT or RIGHT to cycle through the six configurations available. To return to the Options menu, press Start.
Sound Monitor
This lets you sample the music tracks, voices and sound effects used in the game. Select this option and press Button A, B or C to bring up the Sound Monitor screen.
•
MUSIC 10
•
SOUND MONITOR
•
Selection Previous Track Play Next Track Pause Stop
The box in the lower left corner displays the track number. Press the D-Pad UP or DOWN to cycle through Music, Voice or S E (Sound Effect) categories.
Then press the D-Pad LEFT or RIGHT to select a function button, and press Button A, B or C to perform the function. Highlight EXIT and press Button A, B or C, or press Start to return to the Options menu.
THE CURTAIN RISES
After you select START or enter your password, the Major Minor tower appears. There are four levels on the tower—three levels of normal stages, and one level of Bonus Games.
You start the game at the first level, and can select any of the three stages on that level. Once you complete a level, the pedestal before the entrance disappears and the stage can no longer be entered. You must successfully complete all stages on a level before you can enter any of the stages on the next level.
Press the D-Pad UP or DOWN to travel from level to level, and press LEFT or RIGHT to select a stage within that level. To enter the stage, press Button A, B, C or Start. Tempo hops onto the pedestal to the cheers of the crowd, and the stage begins.
THE GAME SCREEN
•
Strength Gauge
•
Score
•
Lives Remaining
Strength Bar
Grab Notes to fill this bar up, and grab a Headphones Item to make the bar grow. The Strength Bar empties every time Tempo takes damage, and when it runs out, you lose a Life.
Lives Left
A Tempo icon appears for every Life you have remaining in the game. If you get more than three Lives, a number replaces the icons. Whenever Katy joins you on the screen, a Katy icon appears here as well.
You start the game with three Lives, and get a 1UP with the first 5,000 (Easy mode), 10,000 (Normal mode) or 15,000 (Hard mode) points you score.
Press Start to pause the game and see how many Gold Coins you have (for information on Gold Coins, see page 11).
SNAP ATTACKS
Press Button A, and snap a note that stuns any enemy it touches. While an enemy is stunned, it's harmless, and you can finish it off with a kick or jump attack.
At first, Tempo can only use one hand for a Snap Attack. Pick up Snap Items to use more hands (Tempo has four to snap with) and extra power. Whenever Tempo takes a hit, he drops the Snap Item he is carrying and goes back to using one hand. But fear not—you can pick the Snap Item back up later... unless it's in a very dangerous spot.
•
2 Hand Snap
•
3 Hand Snap
•
4 Hand Snap
BONUS GAMES
Between stages, you can use the Coins you collected during your previous stages to play one or more of the Bonus Games and pick up extra points.
Place Tempo in front of the Bonus Game you want to play, and press Button A, B, C or Start. If you have enough Coins, Tempo will enter the game. An introduction screen appears. Press Start to begin play.
TASTY VITTLE SESSION (2 COINS)
Press Button A to sneak a slice of pizza. How many slices can you grab before you get caught? Timing is everything
Controls
D-Pad
Moves Tempo around the screen
D-Pad DOWN
duck/scroll down the screen
D-Pad UP
look up/scroll up the screen
Start
Starts the game
Button A
Kick
Button B
Jump
Button C
Snap Attack
Button B (hold)
higher jump
D-Pad LEFT or RIGHT (in middle of jump)
stylish somersault
D-Pad UP or DOWN
Traverse Ladders
D-Pad DOWN (on top rung of ladder)
descend a ladder
Tips & Maps
Fly
Hold Button B while in midair to maneuver through tricky traps.
Dash
Press the D-Pad twice in the same direction and hold to make Tempo dash until he hits something or you press the D-Pad in the opposite direction.
Spring Jump
In the middle of a dash, press Button B to sprint high into the air for extra altitude.
Sliding Kick
In the middle of a dash, press Button A for a stylish sliding kick that can take out groups of enemies at once.
Back Kick
Hold D-Pad DOWN and press Button A to hit hard-to-reach enemies.
Wall Kick
Get next to a wall, jump toward it, and just as you're about to hit the wall, press Button A to kick off, propelling you back and up.
Password
Pick up a password by ending a game at any stage besides Stage 1 and requesting one, then select PASSWORD from the Game Menu to enter it.
Piano Keys
These select the notes you want to enter on the Password Bar.
Play Button
This plays your password.
Rest Key
Select this and press Button A to put a Rest on the Password Bar.
Erase Key
This erases anything entered previously on the bar.
Style counts!
Snapping enemies from a distance is safest, but a stylish bounce or sliding kick gets you more points.
Save your music notes and DANCE Items
Save these for when you really need them, but be sure to use them before you leave each level.
Search for Headphones Items
Search for Headphones Items first, then use the Notes to fill up your Strength Gauge.
Don't overlook Katy's abilities
Let Katy help you with her long-range attacks.
Enemies & Characters
Katy
Katy is Tempo's friend and dance partner. She knocks down walls, defends Tempo from certain attacks, and can help get rid of an enemy once Tempo stuns the enemy with a Snap Attack.
Treble Clef
Touching this sends Tempo cartwheeling across the screen. Tempo is invincible as long as he's spinning.
Minor Teleporter
This sends Tempo to another part of the stage, sometimes to a secret room. Just jump onto the Major's hat.
Flower
Defrost this poor little plant to dissolve all the crystals in the area. When the crystals melt, they leave you Notes.
Items & Weapons
Gold Coin
Collect these for chances to play the Bonus Games. Pause the game to see how many Coins you have so far.
Power Notes
These fill up your Strength Gauge. The more notes grouped together, the more power you get.
Song Notes
These pop out of midair when you reach a certain spot, and play a tune when you grab them in succession. Song Notes don't fill up your Strength Gauge, but they're good for extra bonus points.
Giant Note
This not only completely fills your Strength Gauge, but gives you bonus points as well!
CD
This makes you invulnerable for a short period of time. And cows fly. No, really.
LP
This makes you mega-powerful! Not only can you fly anywhere on screen, you can also fire devastating LP attacks. Too bad this only lasts a short time.
Cassette Tape
This gives you twice the score for each enemy you defeat within a short period of time.
Headphones
This makes your Strength Gauge bigger.
DANCE
Step over this icon to launch into a dance of such magnificent skill, that your friend Katy joins you and defeats all enemies on screen. If Katy is already with you when you come across one of these, your double dance turns all enemies on screen into Gold Coins.
KATY
Katy has to be with you before you can use this. Her super spin opens passageways for you.
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