A FAQ for the Concentration Game of Legend of the Mystical Ninja
   on the Super Nintendo console

This is an ASCII art-less walkthrough by David Riley
(Dave [at] frontbeat.com).
 
Compiled by Gregory Guffanti, Jon Levy and David Riley



Concentration is, in essence, a very simple game and the best money
maker that Legend of the Mystical Ninja has to offer. While the mole
bashing game can provide for more money in a shorter amount of time
($600-$700 in 30 seconds, given a perfect), Concentration is ideal 
for extended sessions, as it requires less effort and none of the 
frantic button mashing of the mole game.

A perfect game of Concentration awards you with $720. Your best money
making will be with 2 player games, as once a player discovers a match
you can quickly achieve a perfect score and $520 in your pocket. Playing
against the computer is also feasable, but profit margins tend to be a bit
slimmer as the computer tends to get one or two matches if it gets the first
turn, and it's harder to find out what pattern is being used if you don't have
two people working at it. Due to hours of playtesting, we can say with
confidence that these patterns are the only ones that exist. Be aware that the
three on the left (wth the "*" markings) can have slightly varied patterns.
"Tight Ls" and Big Ls turn on their side. "Rows" shifts one to the right.



Tight Ls *                     Diagonal
=================              =================
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |              | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
=================              =================
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |              | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
=================              =================
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |              | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
=================              =================
| 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 |              | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
=================              =================

Rows ("Rose") *                Stinky
=================              =================
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |              | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
=================              =================
| 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 |              | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
=================              =================
| 1 | 7 | 3 | 7 |              | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
=================              =================
| 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 |              | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
=================              =================

Big Ls *                       Poo
=================              =================
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |              | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
=================              =================
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |              | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
=================              =================
| 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |              | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
=================              =================
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |              | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
=================              =================


The way one goes about checking for each pattern is pretty simple and efficient.
Follow the graph below, with each set of numbers being the tiles you'd flip over
in any turn (Keep in mind which tiles you've seen, as the selection builds on
itself):

=================
| 1 | 4 | 4 | X |              
=================              
| X | 1 | 3 | 4 |              
=================              
| 2 | 2 | X | X |              
=================              
| X | 3 | X | X |              
================= 


Turn 1: Checks for Stinky and Diagonals. These are normally the two most
frequent patterns

Turn 2: Checks for Rows and Tight Ls. Tight Ls are the second most
 frequent pattern.

Turn 3: Checks for Big Ls and Sideways Tight Ls. Not common, but moreso
than the last set.

Turn 4: The last move looks for Sideways Big Ls, Poo and "Inverted" Rows.
  The rarest patterns, but they DO show up.


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In Closing
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We certainly hope this is helpful to you. With this information Kid Ying and
Dr. Yang should have more grass skirts, pizza and straw sandals than your
heart could ever desire.

www.fan-service.org
Anime... for your FIST!!