Crazy Climber High Score Save Kit

It's something I have been hoping would come to pass for quite some time. For many many moons now I have been just about begging someone… anyone… to take on a high score save kit for Crazy Climber. Short of M. Spaeth bragging about how he's had one (of his own creation that he refused to sell) and a webpage promising one "coming soon" from another source… there was nothing. So, anytime someone brought up Crazy Climber on KLOV, I mentioned the need for a high score save option. Anytime Crazy Climber came up for discussion at Grinkfest… I lamented over the lack of a Crazy Climber high score save kit. FINALLY… my prayers have been answered by the good folks the www.highscoresaves.com.

This is a very simple to add high score save kit that adds quite a bit of additional functionality as well.  In addition to saving separate high score boards for each "lives" setting… it also adds freeplay (with attract screens), moves all dip switch functionality to a nifty software front end (complete with retro 'wave' and digital music!)… and even includes the ability to turn on the 10-digit initial "hack" (ie the Japanese setting) or stick with the 3 digit US high scores.  What more could you ask for?  Oh,  how about the option to purchase a version that will communicate with a website and upload your scores automatically (see the www.highscoresaves.com website for more information on this functionality… the version I picked up was the plain version without this functionality).

How easy is it to install? I would say it's probably the easiest "kit" of any sort that I have ever installed.  If you purchase the separate Z80 CPU (which you WILL need as the one that is on the PCB is part of a security module and is inaccessible… if you don't have one handy,  make sure to order one when you order the kit),  they will even install the CPU for you… which is exactly how I received my kit.  The "kit" consists of a single PCB with the IC's on one side and an connector on the other.  To install,  you remove your PCB.  remove the nuts from the two posts holding the CPU module.  Remove the CPU module.  Remove the two posts by separating your board stack a little.  Install the kit by mating the two connectors… one on the kit and one on the PCB where you just removed the CPU… the kit will install only one way.  Once it presses in to place you have the option of re-installing one of the posts through the connector on the high score kit.  I recommend doing so … just in case.  Now you're done.  That simple.  Put the PCB back in your cabinet and fire it up.  Upon power up press P1 start and you're in the front end where you can set your game up.  It really is THAT SIMPLE.

Thus far, I've managed to only find a single "issue" with the kit… which may or may not be addressed.  If you have the startup screen set for "ARCADE"… it includes a message for the www.highscoresaves.com website… upon power up the screen "pushes" the Crazy Climber off the top of the screen and down to the bottom (over the credits).  It only does this on power up… all future attract screens are fine… and it only does this on power up with the ARCADE message setting on.  If it's set to stock it looks as it normally would if the kit wasn't installed.

I can also say that the kit does work with the current FREEPLAY hack that is out there… there doesn't seem to be any conflict.  That said,  it's recommended you remove the freeplay hack before you install the kit.  I didn't… and it worked.  I also didn't remove the 3 ROMS that this kit make unnecessary,  though I probably will before I button up the cabinet … evidently it saves a little power and any help I can five the PS I will.

Bottom line:  I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!  This is EXACTLY what I have been waiting years for… and then some!  Not only is it a functional high score save kit… it's easy to install and includes a few nifty features to boot.  I enthusiastically recommend it! 

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