This game is strictly deterministic, without important random elements, so it is possible to give an exact step by step solution. The adventure itself is a classic Scott Adams game and is not too hard.

Be aware that there are many bugged copies of Buckaroo Banzai in circulation for the BBC and the Electron. Currently both the version available from us (and from and from Stairway To Hell) are bugged and will not allow you to progress beyond the car.

This solution therefore cannot be tested. If you have a version of Buckaroo Banzai on which you are able to play this solution through, then please consider donating it to us so we can archive it.

Hints


- To save the game type SAVE GAME. Typing only SAVE will not be enough.
- Use flashlight only when necessary, else you will run out of light very quickly.
- Avoid going to the freeway; there is no way to go back from there, although going there does give you a hint as to what your task is!

Walkthrough

You start in the Yoyodyne office.

  1. MOVE TABLE (You find a safe)
  2. W, E, E, GO HOUSE
  3. GET TOOLBOX, EXAMINE TOOLBOX (A sticker reads "Sam's Service Station")
  4. S, W, W, GO STATION, DROP TOOLBOX
  5. GO BOOTH, EXAMINE TRASH (You find an old car battery)
  6. GET BATTERY, EXAMINE BATTERY (There is no water in it)
  7. N, E, N, N, W, GO CAR, EXAMINE DASHBOARD (The car is out of fuel)
  8. EXAMINE COMPARTMENT, INVENTORY (You find a formula and a jar of glowing fluid)
  9. READ FORMULA (How to make fuel for the car)
  10. GET OUT (of the car), DROP FORMULA, N, GET SAND, GO SHACK, GET RADIO, EXAMINE RADIO (There is a transmit switch but there's no battery and no antenna)
  11. E, N, FILL BATTERY (with the water from the lake)
  12. E, S, W, DROP BATTERY, E, S, S, W, GO SHED
  13. DROP RADIO, CONNECT ANTENNA (to the radio), N, E, GO YOYODYNE
  14. DROP SAND, DROP JAR, W, N, GO STORE, GET PICK, GET PUMP
  15. EXAMINE PUMP (a hose is only 6 ft. long), GET HYDROMETER, GET CABLES, E, N, W
  16. CHECK BATTERY (using the hydrometer - aha, the battery is dead), DROP HYDROMETER
  17. E, S, S, S, E, DIG (using the pick - you dig a hole), EXAMINE HOLE (you see an underground phone line)
  18. CUT LINE, GET LINE (it is still attached), DIG (again - you dig an another hole), CUT LINE, GET LINE (This time you succeed!)
  19. W, N, N, N, N, EXAMINE MOUNTAIN (you see a ledge 15 ft. up with a small peak), DROP PUMP, DROP CABLE
  20. THROW LINE (Now you have a problem: your hands must be empty to climb the line but you will need the pick later; so you must use a trick), TIE LINE, TO PICK, CLIMB LINE (You climb on a small mountain ledge), PULL LINE (Now you have the pick)
  21. GET QUARTZ (using the pick), D, DROP PICK, DROP LINE, GET PUMP, GET CABLE, S
  22. W, GET BATTERY, EXAMINE CAR (You see power terminals, fuel tank and a jet engine connected by a hose)
  23. CONNECT CABLES, TO BATTERY (to prepare for recharging; you will recharge it later), GET HOSE (now you can make the hand pump hose longer)
  24. E, S, S, GO STATION, OPEN TOOLBOX (Something is inside), INVENTORY (You now have a key, a roll of duct tape and a flashlight)
  25. EXAMINE PIPE (locked), UNLOCK PIPE (with the key), DROP KEY, CONNECT HOSE (to the hand pump using the tape), DROP TAPE, E
  26. GO YOYODYNE, GET SAND, GET JAR (The glowing fluid in it is the required catalyst), LIGHT FLASHLIGHT, GO STAIRCASE, DROP QUARTZ, DROP JAR, DROP SAND
  27. EXAMINE STAIRCASE, INVENTORY (You find an empty chemical jug), GO STAIRCASE, UNLIGHT FLASHLIGHT, W, GO STATION
  28. PUT HOSE (Now it can reach deep enough to get the gasoline), PUMP GAS (into the jug, using the hand pump), DISCONNECT HOSE, DROP PUMP
  29. E, N, N, W, GET FORMULA, DROP HOSE, E, S, S, GO YOYODYNE
  30. GO STAIRCASE, LIGHT FLASHLIGHT, DROP JUG, MAKE FUEL, DROP FORMULA
  31. GO STAIRCASE, UNLIGHT FLASHLIGHT, W, N, N, W, CONNECT CABLES, TO TERMINALS (Now the battery is ready for the recharging, but the recharging is possible only when the car engine is on)
  32. REFUEL CAR, DROP JUG, GET HOSE, N, N, WASH HOSE (Very important!)
  33. S, S, REPLACE HOSE (must be washed first, else the car engine will explode due to dirty fuel)
  34. GO CAR, EXAMINE DASHBOARD (fuel gauge now reads full), PRESS BUTTON (Engine is idling)
  35. GET OUT, GET BATTERY (now recharged), GO CAR, CLOSE COCKPIT (You must close it if you want to drive the car, else the engine will only idle)
  36. PRESS BUTTON (you drive to Main Street), PRESS BUTTON (you drive inside the mountain)
  37. LIGHT FLASHLIGHT, OPEN COCKPIT, GET OUT, EXAMINE BOMB (you can see a light marked "RFI shield" is on, a switch and an envelope)
  38. PRESS SWITCH (Something happens), EXAMINE BOMB (RFI shield is now off - the bomb now can get commands using radio waves)
  39. GET ENVELOPE, N, OPEN DOOR (As you go through it closes behind you), UNLIGHT FLASHLIGHT, DROP FLASHLIGHT
  40. W, N, W, GET CABLES, E, S, S, GO YOYODYNE, OPEN ENVELOPE (Something is inside), INVENTORY (You find a key)
  41. DROP ENVELOPE, OPEN SAFE (with the key from the envelope), INVENTORY (You find a sheet of paper)
  42. W, W, GO SHED, DROP BATTERY, DROP CABLE, CONNECT BATTERY (to the radio), READ PAPER (It states how to deactivate the bomb)
  43. EXAMINE RADIO (There is a transmit switch), PRESS SWITCH, TRANSMIT WARFIN
  44. TRANSMIT YOYODYNE (The Earth is again safe, the adventure is over).