DESCRIPTION

Leprechaun is nearly identical to Game Plans' Pot of Gold, though it has a smaller cabinet and lower difficulty setting. Players control the "Sleuth," who must touch the pot of gold placed on each level. While finding the gold and running over to claim it is not particularly difficult, especially early on, the player can earn a much higher score by first running through the trees that are scattered across each stage. Touching a tree causes it to change color, and the pot of gold is worth more points for each tree the Sleuth has marked in this manner. The Leprechaun is always there to give chase; if he catches the Sleuth a life is lost. He also returns trees to their original green when he touches them, lowering the potential level-end bonus. He'll move the pot of gold occasionally, as well.

Some screens are open, allowing the characters to scroll horizontally or vertically, but others are framed to prevent such evasive tactics. Each screen is set in an Irish woods, taking place "Somewhere in the Forest of Cork," for example, or in Limerick, or Munster, or others. Many levels feature two small houses, which serve as warp points that allow the Sleuth to jump from one to the other. After playing through each forest, a small graphic of the Sleuth running down a rainbow is displayed, then the level progression begins again with a significantly faster, more relentless Leprechaun pursuer. A bonus Sleuth is awarded at 30,000 points. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide