General:

Date of Release: 6^th January 1988

Model Nr: JB-63
Acronym: Jail Break or Junk Bomb
Rating: DC3V 0.0002W
Battery: Alkali-Manganese batteries LR44 (or SR44) x 2
Manufactured: Japan
Sold: Between 250,000-1,000,000 (USA & Europe Only)
Nr. of players: 1
Lives: 3
Modes: Game A & Game B
Controls: Left and Right Buttons.
Other Buttons: Game A, Game B, Time, Alarm & ACL

Game-Play:

In Safe Buster you as a diligent bank guard is trying to protect the safe from the attacks of Willy Bomber. You move the guard left or right to catch the bombs as they fall. Since you can only hold 3 bombs at a time you have to get rid of them by dumping them in the left or right corner as they start piling up. Throwing them in the left corner sets flaming torches flying from the blast and if you get enough bombs in the left corner, the flaming torches will finally blow up the bomber's arsenal and finish off the bomber.

Game differences:

In Game B there is a cover on the left which stays open for five seconds and closes for one second. You cannot get rid of any bombs while the cover is closed.

Trivia:

Highest possible score is 999. When the score reaches 200 any penalties displayed are cancelled.

Cheats and tricks:

Can't think of any at the moment.

Points:

You score 1 point for every time you catch a bomb. 20 bonus points are awarded if you manage to get enough bombs into the left corner and get the flaming torches to reach the bomber's arsenal, blowing it up and finishing the bomber.

Misses:

You score a miss if you try to catch a fourth bomb when you are already holding three. Also, if you miss a catch, you score a penalty. With 3 misses (shown by 3 bank guard's in the top left corner of the upper screen), the game is over.

Other notices:

If you hold in Game A or Game B key the highest previous score will be displayed. If the unit is left as it is after game is over, time display will appear in about four minutes. A game is not interrupted even if TIME key or other game keys are depressed during game playing. Pressing ACL switch or removing batteries erases high score from memory.

Issue Differences (click to enlarge pictures)

The table will show how to tell the different Issues that were made:

The battery covers seem to have a number on the back, but they seem to vary a lot and I won't even speculate what the difference is.

Box Variations (Click to enlarge):

Game Variations:

Shipping Box:

Fits 10 games

Instructions (English):

Instructions (Japanese):

Pictures Wanted