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<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/3/30116/1333656-1_3967_2.png" data-ref-id="1300-1333656" data-size="small" data-ratio="0.75" data-width="640" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 640px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:75.0%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/3/30116/1333656-1_3967_2.png" data-ref-id="1300-1333656"><img alt="It's Santa! " src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/3/30116/1333656-1_3967_2.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/3/30116/1333656-1_3967_2.png 640w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/3/30116/1333656-1_3967_2.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" data-width="640"></a><figcaption>It's Santa! </figcaption></figure><p>Daze Before Christmas is a <a href="/christmas/3015-6522/" data-ref-id="3015-6522">Christmas</a>-themed side-scrolling platformer developed by <a href="/funcom-productions-as/3010-575/" data-ref-id="3010-575">Funcom</a> and published by <a href="/sunsoft/3010-19/" data-ref-id="3010-19">Sunsoft</a> for the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a> and <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Mega Drive</a> in some PAL regions in 1994.</p><p>The game puts players as the legendary holiday figure <a href="/santa-claus/3005-6960/" data-ref-id="3005-6960">Santa Claus</a> as he sets out through the <a href="/north-pole/3035-1385/" data-ref-id="3035-1385">North Pole</a> to save <a href="/christmas/3015-6522/" data-ref-id="3015-6522">Christmas</a> after the childrens' <a href="/present/3055-1291/" data-ref-id="3055-1291">presents</a> were stolen, his worker elves were imprisoned in presents, and his reindeers were missing.</p><p>Much of the game is traditional platforming, with Santa using his magic to eliminate enemies and recover the presents they drop. Santa also encounters several other presents he can unwrap, which can can either free an elf for points, reveal a power-up, or spring a <a href="/trap/3015-609/" data-ref-id="3015-609">trap</a>. By drinking <a href="/tea/3055-321/" data-ref-id="3055-321">certain magical potions</a>, Santa can temporarily transform into the evil "Anti-Claus" for <a href="/temporary-invincibility/3015-266/" data-ref-id="3015-266">temporal invincibility</a>. In addition, the game includes bonus <a href="/auto-scrolling-levels/3015-2299/" data-ref-id="3015-2299">auto-scroller</a> faux-shoot-'em-up sections where players guide Santa in his sleigh as he drops presents down chimneys.</p><p>The game is one of the rarest games for both systems, due to its limited release. The Mega Drive version is notable for only being released in <a href="/australia/3035-292/" data-ref-id="3035-292">Australia</a>. A North American release was planned, but was cancelled prior.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>In Daze Before Christmas, players control Santa throughout a series of levels. In each level the goal is to rescue the various elves and reindeer by opening boxes and cages they are trapped in. Santa has magic powers that allows him to turn enemies littered across environments into Christmas gifts, which he then collects. Santa also has the ability to open up different gifts to find power-ups which will aid him, but gifts will sometimes contain items that can harm him such as bombs. One of the power-ups that is most prominently featured is Santa's ability to turn into the Anti-Clause, and this power up is gained by finding a cup of coffee. As the Anti-Clause Santa is invincible and able to eliminate enemies on a level, but is unable to open gifts during this transformation.</p>