So you said: I WANNA PLAY THIS GAME, MOMMY!
And you got the Sony MSX 
right? 
>>hyper-olympic 1 (cart) <-- we now call it RSI holocaust<<
I'd say that the current way was the best way back then.. and perhaps even today.
Yup, I totally agree w/ wolf. I still like these 'sports'-games. IMO those games rule 
Have seen some newer ones, but there you have to press buttons in a certain order to gain e.g. speed... those are too lame 
IMO, the best way to control a runner is with motion capture on a tredmill.
Though jumping would be a problem... hmz
Hmmm... first game? I think it was Yabyum 
Just kiddin' 
Can't remember exactly... Think it was Yie Ar Kung-Fu 1 or Monkey Academy.
yabyum is the best msx porn game!!!
Topple Zip: just fly .. I never used my manual anyway.. since the 'cartoon versions' of the objects/enemies really don't match the sprites on the screen
There's a few things to remember:
In the pills: there's a yellowish/white item, try to get that one always.. it's a weapen that kills your enemies with a single blast.
Try to pickup a radar item .. (looks like some antenna) .. that'll show you the destinations of the tunnels on your radar-screen.
level 1,2,3,4 are 'earth' levels, 5 and beyond are 'space' levels. Try to get to level 8, somehow you can finish the game there.. the 2 times I finished the game I sortof didn't know how I did it I prolly picked-up some special item, or flew through a special tunnel or so ..
For the rest, just experiment with the game, in a short while you know all the items. Graphically one of the better msx1 games imho..!