tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28724157404422960552024-03-18T19:06:23.350-05:00StarBlogStarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-70257903955134029622024-02-14T00:00:02.829-06:002024-02-14T00:00:00.139-06:00Tomb Raider (Saturn) Secrets Guide<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">🪙 <b>Written: January 29th-February 7th, 2024</b> 🪙</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">🪙 <b>Published: February 14th, 2024</b> 🪙</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxLhM6eAu_t2RlAODdzQmCTU2KxlbiShQVJirFL5gY6kshUMBJQ3bXAVKPHlWAzbfGldYxKDLvB5PeSJikhfn8uY3TnnyPAz6pGXJUrjC1vywA_nW3tVJVdq9Mm1oeIhjtQCXiCobYqBjWIDOAjc_Pa4WKtKrUVIPyjRtbi6vUw4LFU6An66kFGaFqg54/s221/TombRaider_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="221" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxLhM6eAu_t2RlAODdzQmCTU2KxlbiShQVJirFL5gY6kshUMBJQ3bXAVKPHlWAzbfGldYxKDLvB5PeSJikhfn8uY3TnnyPAz6pGXJUrjC1vywA_nW3tVJVdq9Mm1oeIhjtQCXiCobYqBjWIDOAjc_Pa4WKtKrUVIPyjRtbi6vUw4LFU6An66kFGaFqg54/s1600/TombRaider_Title.png" width="221" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><u>Secrets Guide</u></span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog, thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it! 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Today is February 14th, usually a date associated with Valentine's Day. In this case, however, it's got to do with something else that is important and significant (at least as far as video games are concerned): it marks the birthday of Lara Croft* from Core Design's iconic 1996 3D platforming classic <b><i>Tomb Raider</i></b>. 🥳 For this reason I wanted to celebrate by doing something <i>Tomb Raider</i>-related, and I figured that perhaps I would make a pictorial walkthrough of how to access this game's Secrets.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* For those who've never been acquainted with the game or series, need a refresher if they <u>have</u> been acquainted, genuinely don't know, or never bothered opening up the instruction manual (presuming they had it): Lara Croft was born on February 14th, 1968, thus making her 28 years old back when her first game came out</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijbG5BxXqYqXdt3G6likRCltt9rW6pPmZ6t4569LEBE18O7sd5unXiBPU1zJofrWhpDaURpMsWdMqsunvjkPwIjHpJz14YDaNmjpSrDpTyT_HGBzE6YQ9Mfk3x-RXvGyLewANnChyphenhyphenDoE0UI_OwGEyLJ4OFrMIOoGXmqfYJaSMA463Qf7stmc1SkbTyMkR/s359/TombRaider_LoadingScreens.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijbG5BxXqYqXdt3G6likRCltt9rW6pPmZ6t4569LEBE18O7sd5unXiBPU1zJofrWhpDaURpMsWdMqsunvjkPwIjHpJz14YDaNmjpSrDpTyT_HGBzE6YQ9Mfk3x-RXvGyLewANnChyphenhyphenDoE0UI_OwGEyLJ4OFrMIOoGXmqfYJaSMA463Qf7stmc1SkbTyMkR/s16000/TombRaider_LoadingScreens.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">All 45 Secrets strewn across 15 levels, from Peru to Greece to Egypt to Atlantis. Specifically, the Secrets where upon having access to them would be accompanied by this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HU5qxyMANQ">cue</a>, which the end of level stats keep track of. Now, if we were to devolve into semantics talk, there are <b>far more</b> Secrets than the game's official number claims there to be (which can be found by exploring thoroughly), but for this sake I'll just explore the ones with the musical cue.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I apologize ahead of time when it comes to the occasional screenshot quality, sometimes there's so much movement and I tried to limit that as much as I could manage and there are certain ones that were affected by the dark to light exposure contrast. I just hope it will be alright in the end. 😔 But more importantly I hope this will be very helpful and fairly entertaining and enlightening to read whether you're a fan of the first <i>Tomb Raider</i> or not.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">But anyway, without further ado, here is my <b>Secrets Guide</b> for my favorite 3D platformer on the Sega Saturn:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 1: Caves</u></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><span><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1bZ8EL33b4buqloQ3vWGVqNc5lU2rstIf6gOf44uhGwX7NjsSXFQeEz6mVQYPpOYPbMj9B3hpULyACVk35_sAe1B_f0y55gt_ujCk2uz4r2egj0pZZRiM-DKnIxwCFR9cAHsCRvIMkyKj7HTh1TVBYK1VxpWDbGBWEdf1Za9CwsSJJ7pyy_ywYptw5PE/s376/TombRaider_Caves-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1bZ8EL33b4buqloQ3vWGVqNc5lU2rstIf6gOf44uhGwX7NjsSXFQeEz6mVQYPpOYPbMj9B3hpULyACVk35_sAe1B_f0y55gt_ujCk2uz4r2egj0pZZRiM-DKnIxwCFR9cAHsCRvIMkyKj7HTh1TVBYK1VxpWDbGBWEdf1Za9CwsSJJ7pyy_ywYptw5PE/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OlZ3urnh5LJIuAiod0-L65E6XpEWYpIexbDA9ZY_84A4lu76uo1QUfqijAqGjOtSmCsyV7H_qzM2J8eDsrpmU0GN1yWUbOFFh8w4h_Gy64Aqn4MzQYwBYVUC8sxH0-wTRabt0ptt8T7qmclgq3MJsN-5VJWPsFuMjoSdfRRgRD-FRpaXwma05TRnd8_1/s376/TombRaider_Caves-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OlZ3urnh5LJIuAiod0-L65E6XpEWYpIexbDA9ZY_84A4lu76uo1QUfqijAqGjOtSmCsyV7H_qzM2J8eDsrpmU0GN1yWUbOFFh8w4h_Gy64Aqn4MzQYwBYVUC8sxH0-wTRabt0ptt8T7qmclgq3MJsN-5VJWPsFuMjoSdfRRgRD-FRpaXwma05TRnd8_1/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After having ran all the way to the end from the start of the Peruvian cave entrance, turn right. Along the way the camera will briefly focus on the path you must take to continue on with your journey. Ignore it for now and keep running all the way to the end until you get to the right side of the lone climbable structure with a steep incline.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabmHNBRiRpQKZoQ2O0UH3q9QE5KGw7vXgNz748yymLA0e6PNIynXPv8cEE0-m9WnCAoWS0bKwV07_1A3kg79pX-dMwFPQWOcT4c_7aDRtUn6ArJtDOlr7p1KQOZsv0HypgzFCyk5f7VsiHx-IJ-H5Jtv3rwdDBF4OQK8owM0TFmBy1hSNNojHJ8eW81UQ/s376/TombRaider_Caves-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabmHNBRiRpQKZoQ2O0UH3q9QE5KGw7vXgNz748yymLA0e6PNIynXPv8cEE0-m9WnCAoWS0bKwV07_1A3kg79pX-dMwFPQWOcT4c_7aDRtUn6ArJtDOlr7p1KQOZsv0HypgzFCyk5f7VsiHx-IJ-H5Jtv3rwdDBF4OQK8owM0TFmBy1hSNNojHJ8eW81UQ/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bR5MQXeNeVkh2aM8WtHM8eQ7wFIUQZ-wDz1Gn7vqF1z4zZnXqwNqQifXdw9wz9aaJYMH6LJokewmijLFF6C-WXFdVqlSDFXudbKS5on7UBTJ0cXndCtDxxW-OybTyw67BRqAI1DtgRsdEYBvFTQgnBryZ9aFfzhyphenhyphenjHgPPPi3CsgY4lztJVtQ_LhRFm7P/s376/TombRaider_Caves-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bR5MQXeNeVkh2aM8WtHM8eQ7wFIUQZ-wDz1Gn7vqF1z4zZnXqwNqQifXdw9wz9aaJYMH6LJokewmijLFF6C-WXFdVqlSDFXudbKS5on7UBTJ0cXndCtDxxW-OybTyw67BRqAI1DtgRsdEYBvFTQgnBryZ9aFfzhyphenhyphenjHgPPPi3CsgY4lztJVtQ_LhRFm7P/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once you're there, face its wall and jump upward while holding down the action button to grab on to its ledge. Climb up and immediately you'll find yourself sliding downward.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIloyH8im8FLNUbPXQMC2gKCyuMrigJRvp1L3G7MfHDOT6I6idggU5Pd3N_ntzjGjxWPvMR7ClIhalUOVHfMWt0fvy1EnjfOUmndG7FmxV2kfRd6xRYTBoDfpfI_gnWFvsATUmFWTZw7TCj308zxFI8rT-l6wXGkywNOFyOK8Gq12gFB60YYW1WmEHjHft/s376/TombRaider_Caves-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIloyH8im8FLNUbPXQMC2gKCyuMrigJRvp1L3G7MfHDOT6I6idggU5Pd3N_ntzjGjxWPvMR7ClIhalUOVHfMWt0fvy1EnjfOUmndG7FmxV2kfRd6xRYTBoDfpfI_gnWFvsATUmFWTZw7TCj308zxFI8rT-l6wXGkywNOFyOK8Gq12gFB60YYW1WmEHjHft/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ITqsv4YI7I3A2FORkMGLeRk-kw6Ct82n6fUfT-UpmH0YtkqTSopQ-hzuceDNUhyV83BygcpTb5EfiZybDBemIAz38KUHt7TDUYQ0uLeoBfiI5K-iM9ALwy8HomXP-01QcoXE3B4P3fLAAxz4edXy5ua2rvGg-8K2wCiZ91H2DT2nFte9xDW_NzT89A8q/s376/TombRaider_Caves-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ITqsv4YI7I3A2FORkMGLeRk-kw6Ct82n6fUfT-UpmH0YtkqTSopQ-hzuceDNUhyV83BygcpTb5EfiZybDBemIAz38KUHt7TDUYQ0uLeoBfiI5K-iM9ALwy8HomXP-01QcoXE3B4P3fLAAxz4edXy5ua2rvGg-8K2wCiZ91H2DT2nFte9xDW_NzT89A8q/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Just as you're on the bottom end of the incline press the jump button and hold down the action button to grab onto the ledge of the wall. Climb and walk through to find <b>Secret #1</b> to your right, the first item you'll find and pick up being a small Medipack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx9KL5DVTza2xfhpe5YfDld4c8vXE7QEC5JjjxwMGL2xpeGdOtRsEEwgWKnp-UeISsS2hSTlNrnBGfVmIebIAKFOMFDQscw-szoOqj3EnsyL9zo8gW1F6t7hFwoj5O5F7oNM0krxhFqQQ8HcFfmpgyU_vFj2G0XKJ1DwkAUq2CJ-LZT04Vk6Yo4j2uPt-/s376/TombRaider_Caves-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx9KL5DVTza2xfhpe5YfDld4c8vXE7QEC5JjjxwMGL2xpeGdOtRsEEwgWKnp-UeISsS2hSTlNrnBGfVmIebIAKFOMFDQscw-szoOqj3EnsyL9zo8gW1F6t7hFwoj5O5F7oNM0krxhFqQQ8HcFfmpgyU_vFj2G0XKJ1DwkAUq2CJ-LZT04Vk6Yo4j2uPt-/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5VtC50R-7UYdqMaI5IVI72vdlm9xcXszGqY-43IwuOOTrTTtnUC0M8jt075Z-ZXVb873yl_6Sp-m4CpMWsJRjyLnjNT_U59AnFJH0FPgxgULOUefWzuZ6IlsqsSqy3OI-xDlPNLuQNcBFaciwOiHM9QJmhDGhUgAHSLAOu2_ctdIQSfctnyGkKje6hhv/s376/TombRaider_Caves-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5VtC50R-7UYdqMaI5IVI72vdlm9xcXszGqY-43IwuOOTrTTtnUC0M8jt075Z-ZXVb873yl_6Sp-m4CpMWsJRjyLnjNT_U59AnFJH0FPgxgULOUefWzuZ6IlsqsSqy3OI-xDlPNLuQNcBFaciwOiHM9QJmhDGhUgAHSLAOu2_ctdIQSfctnyGkKje6hhv/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Partway through after making your way up to higher ground (the one I told you to ignore earlier) and disposing of pesky bats along the way, turn left and walk toward the large space of the caves where there is plenty of light. Now this next part is very particular how you go about it, but have Lara walk to the right side of it and while walking keep the action button held down throughout until you get to the leftmost corner, facing the snow in its wall.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRtgzjHj6IyhGDCgRIfQ2dohi_tZVOJ54gQtYruDfyhXf6EbnNxKB6bXk_l6K7DfGzkYNnUxVh-BHQCKMLgqM7P3dziny6wu8_SckTxz7XafH5XNJmLahn5RQH1q0eb_7JX3LXialVKPr_B3UjQ2YsDQbFTFZd0q7giQsH0Y3YSgqK_SuOUtvOQ-cLr5e/s376/TombRaider_Caves-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRtgzjHj6IyhGDCgRIfQ2dohi_tZVOJ54gQtYruDfyhXf6EbnNxKB6bXk_l6K7DfGzkYNnUxVh-BHQCKMLgqM7P3dziny6wu8_SckTxz7XafH5XNJmLahn5RQH1q0eb_7JX3LXialVKPr_B3UjQ2YsDQbFTFZd0q7giQsH0Y3YSgqK_SuOUtvOQ-cLr5e/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oLWizo8w2gYe36Yy6ENFzwKN0hgWmG2gkOWp1n04I1pSSNt3P309oO7v1INgjapXN8nqv1gDjhj-l4O5p9sjeS99zsc_10GN-JUYjZe4q1gZXTFArDM4UNnaBnH4z1tC2fPXTPuqERiiEwa0lgxEwQIoGf-ISOBWpwuhfx2LLxqooeWzwK4W76daI0ol/s376/TombRaider_Caves-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oLWizo8w2gYe36Yy6ENFzwKN0hgWmG2gkOWp1n04I1pSSNt3P309oO7v1INgjapXN8nqv1gDjhj-l4O5p9sjeS99zsc_10GN-JUYjZe4q1gZXTFArDM4UNnaBnH4z1tC2fPXTPuqERiiEwa0lgxEwQIoGf-ISOBWpwuhfx2LLxqooeWzwK4W76daI0ol/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">If you kept the action button held down at that point, you'll immediately jump up and grab on to the ledge which you can climb. If you only stopped at that point, had Lara jump up and only thought of pressing and holding the action button then and there, it won't work. Anyway, dispose of the lone bat residing there,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnrULSQ8HgR629ssd66TQdCMOsiOxDWSS_BE-oSNA79oNRhdnTc080Kwx65Abyr1n_BY1btdQBoMgIkoPQuJiCNhGVAWDFKGEcUCBa_NDlmV-Hy1nvmnu3DTipj3kqIbYC8ngJXsqY1T9GQMvUtjgH_wJHzrv_xO7yVUCXYHSYZEOHWIB4HOJBiJ2LCME/s376/TombRaider_Caves-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnrULSQ8HgR629ssd66TQdCMOsiOxDWSS_BE-oSNA79oNRhdnTc080Kwx65Abyr1n_BY1btdQBoMgIkoPQuJiCNhGVAWDFKGEcUCBa_NDlmV-Hy1nvmnu3DTipj3kqIbYC8ngJXsqY1T9GQMvUtjgH_wJHzrv_xO7yVUCXYHSYZEOHWIB4HOJBiJ2LCME/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5krSrRylbwZIx_bKmn7CXz_IFlZM8hSLEAhSzQwcVLN9FWd5_gQkdfeXmYcQJ-2LWCu24ZdRY2BpJoXYwonZmqHCtHy0F0-u-87fs966f-Viiv4Y57GRoz0Fkaw0G7JynFJNfY8mWR-s4FfBjUM7M1N25fqOTI4cFGiWta0HHm4jlj3gVoEo536gWtlE/s376/TombRaider_Caves-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5krSrRylbwZIx_bKmn7CXz_IFlZM8hSLEAhSzQwcVLN9FWd5_gQkdfeXmYcQJ-2LWCu24ZdRY2BpJoXYwonZmqHCtHy0F0-u-87fs966f-Viiv4Y57GRoz0Fkaw0G7JynFJNfY8mWR-s4FfBjUM7M1N25fqOTI4cFGiWta0HHm4jlj3gVoEo536gWtlE/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and enter the interior all the way to the left to find <b>Secret #2</b>, your second item as well as second small Medipack.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on you will find yourself in a large vacant spot where there are two wolves who'll attempt to attack you the moment you step inside. After having dealt with them, walk until you find yourself standing at the edge facing the wall completely decorated with green foliage. Even though it's considerably obscured, you'll notice that there's a platform sticking out. That's where you want to go.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFTFUN5yCYbrGXzr2KZqL1zuGpt4BDl8Hp31KT7jOAwPbFNG9P55QbaenCpgo46xJvYS6R9GafbM0KQrurifJF3hwjJcKNIZh62rS6liOb_nK-01bQVDRCpxLVng1TXut_2b_H3zICNY1VnKFAgsjdQW6IB0LHh_CO1cmj8s_BM1_VXcZ7iEGJPFWdD_k/s376/TombRaider_Caves-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFTFUN5yCYbrGXzr2KZqL1zuGpt4BDl8Hp31KT7jOAwPbFNG9P55QbaenCpgo46xJvYS6R9GafbM0KQrurifJF3hwjJcKNIZh62rS6liOb_nK-01bQVDRCpxLVng1TXut_2b_H3zICNY1VnKFAgsjdQW6IB0LHh_CO1cmj8s_BM1_VXcZ7iEGJPFWdD_k/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOuDePOKP7Is0-mVVefHWxwCiDVLi6Ow-pFtW5S_OihyphenhyphenVd_g_CWho07X0p1OGTDfJ6IOxcBBolb1GYJgiyIDNRw1w7OqsR2zYfONkG2LvrMvy3_blbNJcz09GpYJUTZgBzGOvDq68MsGq4lVmFLnD6MXBBvdnVMxFWOhrbkmV1Swq4bffng7gQlYuYUMJ/s376/TombRaider_Caves-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOuDePOKP7Is0-mVVefHWxwCiDVLi6Ow-pFtW5S_OihyphenhyphenVd_g_CWho07X0p1OGTDfJ6IOxcBBolb1GYJgiyIDNRw1w7OqsR2zYfONkG2LvrMvy3_blbNJcz09GpYJUTZgBzGOvDq68MsGq4lVmFLnD6MXBBvdnVMxFWOhrbkmV1Swq4bffng7gQlYuYUMJ/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Tap backward and make a running jump, you should be able to land on that platform. Now immediately make your way to the left</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSGz5D51I_srQW8gHIoTPyIjKdHHX_gwgzXa6KvMsEoQ95ZSp9yXMdiKJMbRL5BfrKIa4eF39HKIPo1cTiHPYdSiY5_ARjVYekLCfaLIgY3gRAdMp8afgP8B4m48N-u7fCAdtUa3azA4vbNctOdl7UNHmX0pU1XrouaJBlp1CjuMq7Ovvwherp_9hbvqY/s376/TombRaider_Caves-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSGz5D51I_srQW8gHIoTPyIjKdHHX_gwgzXa6KvMsEoQ95ZSp9yXMdiKJMbRL5BfrKIa4eF39HKIPo1cTiHPYdSiY5_ARjVYekLCfaLIgY3gRAdMp8afgP8B4m48N-u7fCAdtUa3azA4vbNctOdl7UNHmX0pU1XrouaJBlp1CjuMq7Ovvwherp_9hbvqY/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocCS5Xq5n3M8gDwMlxYBh70aBaACXjSJnvhtOcZfuDJxQ2nQYyhDsgVxjY8CEo_7nvJj_i6ET_rlKQisNX0h1beNsbPyqp9Z-H3IcFdXGEuUjWBNMS2KPmKdvUh0MPTa3vFMj6mQYH062dZJ20CVBbLFOBSCa3forQ0gx6F9zmHKjXkB_FgHz7i8GEwjD/s376/TombRaider_Caves-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocCS5Xq5n3M8gDwMlxYBh70aBaACXjSJnvhtOcZfuDJxQ2nQYyhDsgVxjY8CEo_7nvJj_i6ET_rlKQisNX0h1beNsbPyqp9Z-H3IcFdXGEuUjWBNMS2KPmKdvUh0MPTa3vFMj6mQYH062dZJ20CVBbLFOBSCa3forQ0gx6F9zmHKjXkB_FgHz7i8GEwjD/w200-h158/TombRaider_Caves-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">where you'll find yourself entering a secret chamber obfuscated by overgrown plants. Once inside, turn around to the right until Lara faces the back corner where you'll find <b>Secret #3</b>, a large Medipack. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Caves!!!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 2: Village of Vilcabamba</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><span><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEfZfXzj2qnuqRN01KZwbpvk-GWRzmDgRaIKWDftb5PKhcyhgOsz24Dcu_k_TmPr_EU978V4aSbd-qe2YENq6e4NgiY7p74BdxCvPEKFmJnxKs6uF6ilCH_GTEAPS3WiJuTICrlJ9396S9vvsx-zpGexXkocSR2AzvUag4MkMMNmYZ2KbxRWiEk6v4R9p/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEfZfXzj2qnuqRN01KZwbpvk-GWRzmDgRaIKWDftb5PKhcyhgOsz24Dcu_k_TmPr_EU978V4aSbd-qe2YENq6e4NgiY7p74BdxCvPEKFmJnxKs6uF6ilCH_GTEAPS3WiJuTICrlJ9396S9vvsx-zpGexXkocSR2AzvUag4MkMMNmYZ2KbxRWiEk6v4R9p/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1uu_TNZ_LFPbJVhTa95Q_IBielF2IHopxbUN0_B4-aAjQlaQyoLYG5lY6E2JTVEWRE_g7G44Fj76H6QEz1nLZbsM6b40Zcy9JQvl9fZoLPyd6-SQ4wsKsZ3jfxLyJEbfyElJr2x283XQWUhzm0FI2vNmYQMgVpUGzHCIuHWQdaLTehWvpiZ1zPpeRwDC/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1uu_TNZ_LFPbJVhTa95Q_IBielF2IHopxbUN0_B4-aAjQlaQyoLYG5lY6E2JTVEWRE_g7G44Fj76H6QEz1nLZbsM6b40Zcy9JQvl9fZoLPyd6-SQ4wsKsZ3jfxLyJEbfyElJr2x283XQWUhzm0FI2vNmYQMgVpUGzHCIuHWQdaLTehWvpiZ1zPpeRwDC/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the center of the portion you start in is a small pool. Before proceeding I recommend taking care of the enemies (regardless which angle you come from), be it the pack of wolves and bats and even the bear inside the stable so you won't have to worry about it later. However you go about it, once you've done that dive into the water and swim through the downward path, then once you reach the end of that turn right and swim upward.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS_6a6Tl2_FCcGA6LEkX_0AbqVpB9PCzkqsa5VmaUJuLkXHvK3nQC_Z89R0zmCK5KZZME_KGezWFWkNBLTXeinkIuexgrN0ynzb41gZ28Anp79-ixgmeDITtgcPIVMMd23MpPGnuuErAPSkCKzkJpM12LS8aSyqlwfbLNfAox6shyG276zs4lPkT2Df4o/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS_6a6Tl2_FCcGA6LEkX_0AbqVpB9PCzkqsa5VmaUJuLkXHvK3nQC_Z89R0zmCK5KZZME_KGezWFWkNBLTXeinkIuexgrN0ynzb41gZ28Anp79-ixgmeDITtgcPIVMMd23MpPGnuuErAPSkCKzkJpM12LS8aSyqlwfbLNfAox6shyG276zs4lPkT2Df4o/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpC9NW8b1U0V4q3xkug_IFJN-Kj5FWXUSPSNy4NGCsvcnWaSu8lSXBcFu-7kpffxj53tEW0NRL9NKA4hqXD9RxzOQzh4EzxWVF58DpVBdQx-gIakjaH15-QHcSu2HXhQ9dbP1FEqt5-UkY1Vz8B_cuDxLh7BmcI-JVX1Vb3JI7XRFo1f2gjPO9x3WHHMc/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpC9NW8b1U0V4q3xkug_IFJN-Kj5FWXUSPSNy4NGCsvcnWaSu8lSXBcFu-7kpffxj53tEW0NRL9NKA4hqXD9RxzOQzh4EzxWVF58DpVBdQx-gIakjaH15-QHcSu2HXhQ9dbP1FEqt5-UkY1Vz8B_cuDxLh7BmcI-JVX1Vb3JI7XRFo1f2gjPO9x3WHHMc/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Continue to swim diagonally upward until you're close to the wall, then swim right and straight into the light.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4QJW-16koVK0X3btnbqeiQJibV1NZFnKbgq_kAMTGYWdEQqLc8AYh5nfLuE0ruf0Nko66-RA1Wwh67P9jPLJ_LLiMa0EUBOIIA7J9S2xz2ipQy82NdohsGebvAPhO_ufCUPmi3a8aGAWsolFeV-QhWFtrPTkbGVeNI3q-YUJ4z0mgv9ghzIB5MVffyG/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4QJW-16koVK0X3btnbqeiQJibV1NZFnKbgq_kAMTGYWdEQqLc8AYh5nfLuE0ruf0Nko66-RA1Wwh67P9jPLJ_LLiMa0EUBOIIA7J9S2xz2ipQy82NdohsGebvAPhO_ufCUPmi3a8aGAWsolFeV-QhWFtrPTkbGVeNI3q-YUJ4z0mgv9ghzIB5MVffyG/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFl90HobexmOHUSUMoLhyaSnEcc-DwFssgyszFLpkFTijQPYJpBtGxB03ASWmvQMQnbaM_W_2Ouepmtyjpd-13J6jV4z9qh3VJWCPfKiCMk-l0xszjYnAxTjfOL7MCLUIfy7w-i6oQ_JvwMea4BUpaaglaaiDAZkTxkDTMHrErj_Ro8hPpzDALmF9YIsI/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFl90HobexmOHUSUMoLhyaSnEcc-DwFssgyszFLpkFTijQPYJpBtGxB03ASWmvQMQnbaM_W_2Ouepmtyjpd-13J6jV4z9qh3VJWCPfKiCMk-l0xszjYnAxTjfOL7MCLUIfy7w-i6oQ_JvwMea4BUpaaglaaiDAZkTxkDTMHrErj_Ro8hPpzDALmF9YIsI/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Right by the corner to the left is a switch, have Lara pull it and the trapdoor will open above you. Swim towards the surface to regain your breath.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mrsr01H-b4qsLA8m0DpHxi3EPQlnf4RSMZ71X2LjyOaKdBtgke6xfw7xdYtuwzFYl6YJYOc5l_S5B6k2PZCs5uG1kI9XWCr3YSlJz-a8J4aDC_IKBeOZ2fNguJcLuMxY2_8TsGeUKUdAEaWq5jVU-tZiRntxJCrspQMMWW9-G6pvTgj-RDk5d28_shsX/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mrsr01H-b4qsLA8m0DpHxi3EPQlnf4RSMZ71X2LjyOaKdBtgke6xfw7xdYtuwzFYl6YJYOc5l_S5B6k2PZCs5uG1kI9XWCr3YSlJz-a8J4aDC_IKBeOZ2fNguJcLuMxY2_8TsGeUKUdAEaWq5jVU-tZiRntxJCrspQMMWW9-G6pvTgj-RDk5d28_shsX/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oLcRSmer8MjLRORrBw00otCrnCpcSZbBNxjyTeyEuYjqBIPyesNB2ESwHJ1fmjppotKeDLRZe1VHd4WAnL5jVYNin1pPmm97hEPmN6MmMopuM15BRFLhgkBr6jgzoEy67lbPRa7QpOliCTcpZAxWxItv7r-ffXSk6BJPi6w7W6EmGcbQVcoVA1x0pw86/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oLcRSmer8MjLRORrBw00otCrnCpcSZbBNxjyTeyEuYjqBIPyesNB2ESwHJ1fmjppotKeDLRZe1VHd4WAnL5jVYNin1pPmm97hEPmN6MmMopuM15BRFLhgkBr6jgzoEy67lbPRa7QpOliCTcpZAxWxItv7r-ffXSk6BJPi6w7W6EmGcbQVcoVA1x0pw86/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Climb out of the water to access <b>Secret #1</b> and pick up the small Medipack by the darkened corner. Inside the same room is a lever which you can pull down to open up the door to lead you back into the center region with the small pool.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fal9VATUs0MmYlhGZe69IqMCr9wGoES1QT_3fNd6RTY8paFZOU2onHt9Lfm0nl3bxDUw35ixPdAaZ4HtlDmb8Q6IOrpEevAvF5_0Aq9Srf4D40E6zWk9fkRjZKdaGI7u5WlOZI-9YgIhTF8gZcD1jCerl2Wkpp_I8jrTpVTsUfXL__JhuLOppg-aSip4/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fal9VATUs0MmYlhGZe69IqMCr9wGoES1QT_3fNd6RTY8paFZOU2onHt9Lfm0nl3bxDUw35ixPdAaZ4HtlDmb8Q6IOrpEevAvF5_0Aq9Srf4D40E6zWk9fkRjZKdaGI7u5WlOZI-9YgIhTF8gZcD1jCerl2Wkpp_I8jrTpVTsUfXL__JhuLOppg-aSip4/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_49HnN8Rc_ZmF5kw3WUNDrpUlKcIFeUHrAgM6bcy13qt0yXZMrAfAkmeW4010yjQ0xZFtoMt8X8ZipF50bySbUOKyWh-Q621XfY9Irq9xTT2daUBnS0lnCavtu4gRwO0kokYPWxR73qhkgXM2yoaZpIZCUIjvfjTOVQM66Ni6qRw1WgpH9YUffmDHvZd/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_49HnN8Rc_ZmF5kw3WUNDrpUlKcIFeUHrAgM6bcy13qt0yXZMrAfAkmeW4010yjQ0xZFtoMt8X8ZipF50bySbUOKyWh-Q621XfY9Irq9xTT2daUBnS0lnCavtu4gRwO0kokYPWxR73qhkgXM2yoaZpIZCUIjvfjTOVQM66Ni6qRw1WgpH9YUffmDHvZd/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You <b>could</b> go out that way, but I recommend going back into the water in this very same room. Have Lara swim to the opposite corner, and once there have her swim to the left in the back wall until you come across a switch. Pull the switch</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dNEpmJq9UB_OzqxRwqhVNm552QsKRym6Gg8EM5xrWx95dW5dc0p-wCpO5kDnH8ZtOsUdpq6j9pfIRQq8v-h8de4n1CZBud0tyuS6uYyVbfbHThP1zOUogYJsWHwgZv4R63Un1S-SUlcoqtexLQD2w-NSbZT8oyDqlLB9jUP_MpISfORwWXlGRvnmgEYw/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dNEpmJq9UB_OzqxRwqhVNm552QsKRym6Gg8EM5xrWx95dW5dc0p-wCpO5kDnH8ZtOsUdpq6j9pfIRQq8v-h8de4n1CZBud0tyuS6uYyVbfbHThP1zOUogYJsWHwgZv4R63Un1S-SUlcoqtexLQD2w-NSbZT8oyDqlLB9jUP_MpISfORwWXlGRvnmgEYw/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvfCb0krVXSKvC9PdEkz471PzbjKw_2hrCqYh14Ctesc0ZRQPe5ngfEX9PvHQdQksguHAIRC8Fuinpy376lMxyoPnoVuU8OsGeozz9ZOciQsR8Oz3tofFli6vzy1xE5xj2V1WG1yqKURm_lxjhi9UG-agEAIWLzOGe80HTxesG2tjQEk1C7W4tDIngGo/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvfCb0krVXSKvC9PdEkz471PzbjKw_2hrCqYh14Ctesc0ZRQPe5ngfEX9PvHQdQksguHAIRC8Fuinpy376lMxyoPnoVuU8OsGeozz9ZOciQsR8Oz3tofFli6vzy1xE5xj2V1WG1yqKURm_lxjhi9UG-agEAIWLzOGe80HTxesG2tjQEk1C7W4tDIngGo/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-12.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and the camera will briefly cut to another room showing a secret door open up to the right of that face structure. From where you pulled the switch immediately swim toward the long pathway you came from originally, ignore the hole in the middle on the left (that will lead you back to the center), and keep swimming straight until you reach the end. At that point, turn left</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9jBJEP-L0doKsfgDJq5PmACLP1vbI9eo-50ULlJb7tzjgxVtzP4RWAK9Fnm6LzrYlbj_RqrMsJ1LrLrvjSLk-g8c9cZMP4ipsc7wqH79sPn9zw-axAvJPdZZ1awwwyjClDuLhoKsSUYKEUq4RW3vE3aomFENyIdNR51_q5INvTtTRAqxDXd5hJFI229u/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9jBJEP-L0doKsfgDJq5PmACLP1vbI9eo-50ULlJb7tzjgxVtzP4RWAK9Fnm6LzrYlbj_RqrMsJ1LrLrvjSLk-g8c9cZMP4ipsc7wqH79sPn9zw-axAvJPdZZ1awwwyjClDuLhoKsSUYKEUq4RW3vE3aomFENyIdNR51_q5INvTtTRAqxDXd5hJFI229u/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqe92ktzuux9Q6jqZqL6bytk7YoRst_YDqm4bxzGa1u4uV2yXmogvHSB-nGtnga1p4I1iuX0_gMJjrj7TTUTJkulqdr7Uwf1RtoQzjy4up1OFzOjiYwNzqKJyxm29AhGWEAYs4tAItq0P9ssdPpSlLmIEry1JZccT_pY5tR4Q8uF7cPUKNZQD5LZdeTUu/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqe92ktzuux9Q6jqZqL6bytk7YoRst_YDqm4bxzGa1u4uV2yXmogvHSB-nGtnga1p4I1iuX0_gMJjrj7TTUTJkulqdr7Uwf1RtoQzjy4up1OFzOjiYwNzqKJyxm29AhGWEAYs4tAItq0P9ssdPpSlLmIEry1JZccT_pY5tR4Q8uF7cPUKNZQD5LZdeTUu/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and swim upward through the nicely patterned hall until you reach a large pool area. You should have <b>just</b> enough air in your gauge by the time you reach the surface. Swim closer to the region with the face structure on the right and enter the secret compartment to its right.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ORQj0Y2BMrIgk9nO8Kd3cTjZrdL-adqXpujNrS9QWHCXexBVR1FFIBs3GZPivqPfMKpkLuHZNOHvDq6z2je9VpPWzYozOoLLAkfOySSlhbgaLX8srdENTMQl-fgkyv-9MLbGq76LLuERE6DiucQj_No8g7tmYMRhEo2evfnjEENB81lYMHeiyzZqxQT4/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ORQj0Y2BMrIgk9nO8Kd3cTjZrdL-adqXpujNrS9QWHCXexBVR1FFIBs3GZPivqPfMKpkLuHZNOHvDq6z2je9VpPWzYozOoLLAkfOySSlhbgaLX8srdENTMQl-fgkyv-9MLbGq76LLuERE6DiucQj_No8g7tmYMRhEo2evfnjEENB81lYMHeiyzZqxQT4/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikY2yemuAGdGry3Xt-WlHKnvkrXtuvrzUR28GnN_jJzoceFRozzrDsCmvuYBaNOQvRw84EM_nbWw_1IrDsssEAmQT_7ZvCcmNZn82IPgCKbdHI86GC8B2_aQENkZmMLNCO7GU_kzpQDwHSeV0pE35r-R22rvb6sfQgZgFzd5u5hZftx-KmadPY_uGD1nEX/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikY2yemuAGdGry3Xt-WlHKnvkrXtuvrzUR28GnN_jJzoceFRozzrDsCmvuYBaNOQvRw84EM_nbWw_1IrDsssEAmQT_7ZvCcmNZn82IPgCKbdHI86GC8B2_aQENkZmMLNCO7GU_kzpQDwHSeV0pE35r-R22rvb6sfQgZgFzd5u5hZftx-KmadPY_uGD1nEX/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You've found <b>Secret #2</b>, help yourself to the small Medipack by the rocky corner and the Magnum clips in the middle of the room (even though you do not have the Magnum guns at your disposal) and swim out of there.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You are almost at the end of the Village of Vilcabamba, for you will find yourself in the final room. First things first, kill the bear roaming around so it won't bother you from the upper level where it won't reach you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_izWB0uVB4zitrm8NhQpyjr6FkN9_f5nSgxa5W2X0Q2R_bm3dTXCZf-5F2twUJonN93Lf_d_otznCit3ZjJCYwl2jsnL_LLshSmS_rmt_f9hSTxFwVQpjYX9gqMTMJlwafsehuw_N4QS8Xrm8vs-lZGzv8uPxvFx1nObqVEiRQj8T2fvQxsSzKabiqKIy/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_izWB0uVB4zitrm8NhQpyjr6FkN9_f5nSgxa5W2X0Q2R_bm3dTXCZf-5F2twUJonN93Lf_d_otznCit3ZjJCYwl2jsnL_LLshSmS_rmt_f9hSTxFwVQpjYX9gqMTMJlwafsehuw_N4QS8Xrm8vs-lZGzv8uPxvFx1nObqVEiRQj8T2fvQxsSzKabiqKIy/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFAg2RxvdtCALLo5x3_zW9RCgThq5yhyphenhyphenGW4zXFKmYknigrcl2skfa4PM-cjaq7mIp_4cI-SOJIkYrSFlc3bJkBNPoHJimfMNXjCIY9r6PZsemCajcoWZtb-Il_0KLKW5HbQ6T7aEhGFXeZ-DtwWprIaSMnrOl4zjVf71K7l6HKo0wCBIbJUwITMvTeT4Z/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFAg2RxvdtCALLo5x3_zW9RCgThq5yhyphenhyphenGW4zXFKmYknigrcl2skfa4PM-cjaq7mIp_4cI-SOJIkYrSFlc3bJkBNPoHJimfMNXjCIY9r6PZsemCajcoWZtb-Il_0KLKW5HbQ6T7aEhGFXeZ-DtwWprIaSMnrOl4zjVf71K7l6HKo0wCBIbJUwITMvTeT4Z/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-18.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Make Lara turn left and run towards that direction until you come across a lever. Face the lever and pull it down to open up a gate that leads to the exit beside the nearby slot where the Gold Idol must be inserted.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NTCprj9RZvgGYCR3Ll85KBU_sIfDebHIg3ij04PQWL8qAcHvqMQUUMWhg5-pz7XIw5b7PCq8D3RnhdJ4Kn-XOn677fVwKAR2IX6PB_DyvZ3jgVcprxCXiBYIK5B0TCB8eAYE8I-lJs7S3OJm9am9I3mbycWCpY19gG92SClHM_wAN5o6mNp0swnl035y/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NTCprj9RZvgGYCR3Ll85KBU_sIfDebHIg3ij04PQWL8qAcHvqMQUUMWhg5-pz7XIw5b7PCq8D3RnhdJ4Kn-XOn677fVwKAR2IX6PB_DyvZ3jgVcprxCXiBYIK5B0TCB8eAYE8I-lJs7S3OJm9am9I3mbycWCpY19gG92SClHM_wAN5o6mNp0swnl035y/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBk1V0f1cc6ovchI5c58hReLbMiLR7vvXUHhXEIRJYWqnXoayP_MtvXeLlJokLd2V87quozm-ohcfw-cC6ARg5-4fDReLkOpUvODitcE9sG5mvGCixPuG6Gvog1yiSkOXgBn8Ppj30J2miRZTJ-s2jO89K0AY8IVLl6q4qy_ZCN8pKA-15di_BDNwGwLN/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBk1V0f1cc6ovchI5c58hReLbMiLR7vvXUHhXEIRJYWqnXoayP_MtvXeLlJokLd2V87quozm-ohcfw-cC6ARg5-4fDReLkOpUvODitcE9sG5mvGCixPuG6Gvog1yiSkOXgBn8Ppj30J2miRZTJ-s2jO89K0AY8IVLl6q4qy_ZCN8pKA-15di_BDNwGwLN/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-20.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Carefully make your way down from the upper level (by either jumping in the water below or by tapping backward, grabbing the ledge, and letting go) and run towards the open corner in the right that will take you to a series of steps. Go forward</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-3OQEXa4jQ5OsNzfHYT4MH_71sCIDirZFMIkyuPO_60mw8RzyHKL3iapRlCrcn4OOKLXZZO3czyaglomCCdrYBeVPYpAbMMDDjf0oBHn56H6RU6xmmZa-P-HIy_U7zcPkKb7XXnu0Etc-nqwXu-t-0m3hLqMr080OQuVBonGfYrQgDiKAP8L2-6LheGq/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-3OQEXa4jQ5OsNzfHYT4MH_71sCIDirZFMIkyuPO_60mw8RzyHKL3iapRlCrcn4OOKLXZZO3czyaglomCCdrYBeVPYpAbMMDDjf0oBHn56H6RU6xmmZa-P-HIy_U7zcPkKb7XXnu0Etc-nqwXu-t-0m3hLqMr080OQuVBonGfYrQgDiKAP8L2-6LheGq/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MzUvP_ZOGc5Mz6dS1fpNXQCxNhNp116wKAcO9An-w-NajwFEXrXcryuy0LKCfomGw3tfTdC3CRUD-oOOV6NvVgkUVC1iAH7nDEXQh4S0B4gm_9-wj1UzWYDI0v2DRQ3Nz8qirHgX_L1F3X8LjTbCz9CW7OamIMN-rhOPk32_e03CWBYqPp_IG-tNfCWK/s375/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="375" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MzUvP_ZOGc5Mz6dS1fpNXQCxNhNp116wKAcO9An-w-NajwFEXrXcryuy0LKCfomGw3tfTdC3CRUD-oOOV6NvVgkUVC1iAH7nDEXQh4S0B4gm_9-wj1UzWYDI0v2DRQ3Nz8qirHgX_L1F3X8LjTbCz9CW7OamIMN-rhOPk32_e03CWBYqPp_IG-tNfCWK/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-22.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and then turn left, running up some more. You will find yourself in a room where across from you is a lever in the wall (which will cause the pendulum blades from the hall you came from on the way here to stop swinging).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7kh8BUKKhE36hjcSd0sEQDtSvZexrh-uRxe1EC9CKuQDgWKK8IP3qFibF0M-g7RjVPVG_zpSR4buaQHZObYzdsadyVijN1PzGAhMiFde747D-MZ-R0sUXUI7CK9PFXynaIgkCYQuGuCyFdJuKW7Lb-UIe5az_vWtQggw2RnV0Yjgvc9WcR__m6jgcb8n/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7kh8BUKKhE36hjcSd0sEQDtSvZexrh-uRxe1EC9CKuQDgWKK8IP3qFibF0M-g7RjVPVG_zpSR4buaQHZObYzdsadyVijN1PzGAhMiFde747D-MZ-R0sUXUI7CK9PFXynaIgkCYQuGuCyFdJuKW7Lb-UIe5az_vWtQggw2RnV0Yjgvc9WcR__m6jgcb8n/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-23.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWUuYFgvgNvhI-dRJWDBzwg12XU_UKeL7oHXhsX0SE9QaD8-N3OU3KawmEgjoR1wIPPP9FEk0KftJuBvtqQDtESkb7zdiyhRgUjIZB6VKW2K3XBrWZ1k_BVCZraAS4n_j-Nzd97I9WOsR_0BT1EvKoxm4KHqoQhOnuEU5RRKYhPg-WgNfREF21oVesQFl/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWUuYFgvgNvhI-dRJWDBzwg12XU_UKeL7oHXhsX0SE9QaD8-N3OU3KawmEgjoR1wIPPP9FEk0KftJuBvtqQDtESkb7zdiyhRgUjIZB6VKW2K3XBrWZ1k_BVCZraAS4n_j-Nzd97I9WOsR_0BT1EvKoxm4KHqoQhOnuEU5RRKYhPg-WgNfREF21oVesQFl/w200-h158/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-24.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">However, once you reach the lever, turn right and run straight through the darkened red room, and once inside turn left where there are two steep block-like steps leading into a basement. A quicker way down there would be to drop down from running, but if you do that you won't die but will lose a chunk of your health. If you wish to err on the side of caution, you could turn Lara facing away from the edge, tap backward, grab the ledge, and then let go, rinse and repeat one more time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nIEgttUJE9DckM1wj-11xKaJ3lI9B3FAw3KGpg1fmMlgxezhsoXcP1n1ack4yVQJixfGabaZUe7geu55RkTjNk-8OrbbtY-nWZq1QIcnb_1lC3QAehyrLP1PkKMxTcY6vuVLEhkdAtl6beFszy6dmKeRP7TEDKtAHLMNOLRZGRpjcd7Tn8qmh7rMI7CQ/s376/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nIEgttUJE9DckM1wj-11xKaJ3lI9B3FAw3KGpg1fmMlgxezhsoXcP1n1ack4yVQJixfGabaZUe7geu55RkTjNk-8OrbbtY-nWZq1QIcnb_1lC3QAehyrLP1PkKMxTcY6vuVLEhkdAtl6beFszy6dmKeRP7TEDKtAHLMNOLRZGRpjcd7Tn8qmh7rMI7CQ/s16000/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba-25.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You will find yourself in a secret compartment which houses <b>Secret #3</b>, where in the center of the room is a pair of Uzi clips (even though you're not yet in possession of those). Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Village of Vilcabamba!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 3: Lost Valley</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 5</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn49zxZZ5RZAzPMGaIkH0ILN7O0l5fwSksACt14g_bKjAt5SOroPIX8MGKhfDsC6u7O6MDbTgPCt3pT-NI_Y6-L2lMjP01LLLnmo-a7LRt8bY9b2ydBrr7wOSeJMXaU6tG3IaHLtRT1VxFl3BEDVMTvGkH8rTxWCV13lXMVl391RnRPu7cwyeV9JQ2Wvz7/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn49zxZZ5RZAzPMGaIkH0ILN7O0l5fwSksACt14g_bKjAt5SOroPIX8MGKhfDsC6u7O6MDbTgPCt3pT-NI_Y6-L2lMjP01LLLnmo-a7LRt8bY9b2ydBrr7wOSeJMXaU6tG3IaHLtRT1VxFl3BEDVMTvGkH8rTxWCV13lXMVl391RnRPu7cwyeV9JQ2Wvz7/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Y0rxqt401aMyrG0L-SyFV0lGO8OxQEce3BDgHRPbbKW_6okpI8bmPKcDlf0zpVJMw9eMEAt85xDl03Lxbvzn0HJLIetBPySqhpxBUMdTepPaWUNAdTsV9cL1QJBQyUkKxqJa1pySa7aD8AssJ7fix6MvjhlWOC29jNm8n2aAlGE3gcqrAcTqzUC6jR2V/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Y0rxqt401aMyrG0L-SyFV0lGO8OxQEce3BDgHRPbbKW_6okpI8bmPKcDlf0zpVJMw9eMEAt85xDl03Lxbvzn0HJLIetBPySqhpxBUMdTepPaWUNAdTsV9cL1QJBQyUkKxqJa1pySa7aD8AssJ7fix6MvjhlWOC29jNm8n2aAlGE3gcqrAcTqzUC6jR2V/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">A large chunk of this level takes place in a lost valley with dangerous Raptors, including the towering Tyrannosaurus Rex. 🦖 Life, uh, finds a way. Be sure to dispose of them before proceeding to find the Secrets so you won't have to worry about them later. One of the Secrets is inside the opening above where the waterfall is streaming from. Make your way to the closest rock beside it and climb.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXXj_dY7yNtSD_7e3ICPtMR4iw3HU28tkXP_ImOrWqHq2BGmF_tGNx4YpNh8stkIlKxogbEShEjku5kVFPao6ndJGZXcEZhkQFBzjiq4IgfMR2xaWkW8j-Po2J4Y8YaciP3opiJX3OEmi1IHdYQdk9BGJu9yd34S_RgQh5eNgWfnzI1pjCelWYqffvKLo/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXXj_dY7yNtSD_7e3ICPtMR4iw3HU28tkXP_ImOrWqHq2BGmF_tGNx4YpNh8stkIlKxogbEShEjku5kVFPao6ndJGZXcEZhkQFBzjiq4IgfMR2xaWkW8j-Po2J4Y8YaciP3opiJX3OEmi1IHdYQdk9BGJu9yd34S_RgQh5eNgWfnzI1pjCelWYqffvKLo/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVV6fjohs7nvqh-HOH0jXXzWX7HMYib7gWBNQQ5rJ2Epc4CmsI89SQt5J867xCW9jZAwnzhv01JbVhy24OMZzcIQau0ptwAv51__1Op_RCBgT3U-qUAgg7WbSSlRxXa9j4ua-bLc-9un6qiltyGemB2CaxfwibbjBzaPd_yfQnTYAabGgFrAoSBxWwxtp/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVV6fjohs7nvqh-HOH0jXXzWX7HMYib7gWBNQQ5rJ2Epc4CmsI89SQt5J867xCW9jZAwnzhv01JbVhy24OMZzcIQau0ptwAv51__1Op_RCBgT3U-qUAgg7WbSSlRxXa9j4ua-bLc-9un6qiltyGemB2CaxfwibbjBzaPd_yfQnTYAabGgFrAoSBxWwxtp/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">From there, walk to the wall of the tall rock just ahead, jump up and grab on so that way you can climb <b>it</b>. Aim Lara slightly to the right where there's a rocky structure that is close to the waterfall below the massive amounts of green foliage. Tap backward and make a running jump towards it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOXWjmDktIk8A4-iIDhaVvrpdfbIm5EhkRwbQLdM4_2h1pKt_MXO2LvEn-L_732k0Jrglv200WR_xVhh6uj5NrW0_pjeGxggBjYNR8ueM3La4sykMasRtEeHRzI_zEVHNm9DbK_Mcb2sierdcRM7iAAwJK2eLS6vaLKhbcrAH9LzrPIbAfIBDhAcHUUx4/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOXWjmDktIk8A4-iIDhaVvrpdfbIm5EhkRwbQLdM4_2h1pKt_MXO2LvEn-L_732k0Jrglv200WR_xVhh6uj5NrW0_pjeGxggBjYNR8ueM3La4sykMasRtEeHRzI_zEVHNm9DbK_Mcb2sierdcRM7iAAwJK2eLS6vaLKhbcrAH9LzrPIbAfIBDhAcHUUx4/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR37Erzd3-PoFaj_hgXX323ttCMAh8TtqhbNjHJ9K9gSXJ6Re-jqaQV1Fx6CfVGi6JqqjtHmuYEdyNO6DzSj-bmIpKPyVuM4qUCLWMYm_t9uutOti8K5KP5a_a5WroTkeOMCJBwFy5cR6rS_doD4LlcTJITu2jo5ONp5J2G08phPidBWDQpifOopFg27fl/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR37Erzd3-PoFaj_hgXX323ttCMAh8TtqhbNjHJ9K9gSXJ6Re-jqaQV1Fx6CfVGi6JqqjtHmuYEdyNO6DzSj-bmIpKPyVuM4qUCLWMYm_t9uutOti8K5KP5a_a5WroTkeOMCJBwFy5cR6rS_doD4LlcTJITu2jo5ONp5J2G08phPidBWDQpifOopFg27fl/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Now walk towards the wall beside the waterfall, and have Lara jump up so that she can grab the ledge. While still holding the action button, shimmy yourself to the right until you more or less arrive at the center of the waterfall.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEASzDfMkxQF1k85CnNXpZACeJE6WodO8wWgyTHlEAKFSZLt7fR8GzU0N3WFWKIF3Or-9zzFG0UI66sKPr7-6WOLpnmagQeUIAOnxe-pBqEhFJOqMnS06cDJxoRjZ2b3VPwO0_39Z1gbQTElD47oT1-bB8-qXPavWPQcZcc2QWv3QzfPEPRKB1lmonHKy/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEASzDfMkxQF1k85CnNXpZACeJE6WodO8wWgyTHlEAKFSZLt7fR8GzU0N3WFWKIF3Or-9zzFG0UI66sKPr7-6WOLpnmagQeUIAOnxe-pBqEhFJOqMnS06cDJxoRjZ2b3VPwO0_39Z1gbQTElD47oT1-bB8-qXPavWPQcZcc2QWv3QzfPEPRKB1lmonHKy/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxIpUHvrptvEM4oRZdqud7rninW-zx6F8hnlDRn1r5l3Zu7LQHE_sp34zi02nftzn25OppLoSNnPzHVeFMTQ627_4mq8H44FlhU_EEI-mMJ6gPqGcCRkPD6__HEKkirUQKsY1gi0NWACmB2qG9sgtC7RfdFlGTjH_51eMocsw9G_1YnF8PPj1F9fx_B4A/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxIpUHvrptvEM4oRZdqud7rninW-zx6F8hnlDRn1r5l3Zu7LQHE_sp34zi02nftzn25OppLoSNnPzHVeFMTQ627_4mq8H44FlhU_EEI-mMJ6gPqGcCRkPD6__HEKkirUQKsY1gi0NWACmB2qG9sgtC7RfdFlGTjH_51eMocsw9G_1YnF8PPj1F9fx_B4A/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Because there is just enough ceiling space above you here, you'll be permitted to climb up. Now run through the cave until you arrive at a dead end, then go to the right to find <b>Secret #1</b> where there for the taking are Magnum clips and Shotgun shells.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOqU697BW-ymJu26c5_2zJAoaMLhOzjUVxjxHZzNA0rHi_kaKl23E8TPXEQjAHTZIjfd9KYMq7RiYUpyVTme59sPVr2gWS03k8_muInfVzii1UH5lFQZztrt0xinvBAc74ai6uzitmsLvt8mhqE0tBY6PvG2DA1ovn9QGtsvl2c2G8ZKErTUdQOOFX_80/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOqU697BW-ymJu26c5_2zJAoaMLhOzjUVxjxHZzNA0rHi_kaKl23E8TPXEQjAHTZIjfd9KYMq7RiYUpyVTme59sPVr2gWS03k8_muInfVzii1UH5lFQZztrt0xinvBAc74ai6uzitmsLvt8mhqE0tBY6PvG2DA1ovn9QGtsvl2c2G8ZKErTUdQOOFX_80/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHOwtIaXpg9cc5IXp4ky-3zKq4lEUxtsfEoCqsC9ZH9c6Ql57JPvD2IMzrjHRbCeUqFxBzCJxLi4Hn1vmZbPn6y7I3IAQXTqvEMwShmxwqJqSgEgWYf6INIjLRf2NJAO8Qm_KuZlWYK5YCwsbCOCG_-xjLVdBIVJKzb_yBoi2cI9zyzfjunGq_6z3cWgz/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHOwtIaXpg9cc5IXp4ky-3zKq4lEUxtsfEoCqsC9ZH9c6Ql57JPvD2IMzrjHRbCeUqFxBzCJxLi4Hn1vmZbPn6y7I3IAQXTqvEMwShmxwqJqSgEgWYf6INIjLRf2NJAO8Qm_KuZlWYK5YCwsbCOCG_-xjLVdBIVJKzb_yBoi2cI9zyzfjunGq_6z3cWgz/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-10.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This can be a bit easy to miss, but on the ground level to the right of the waterfall you'll notice there's a small entrance. Run towards the wall and climb up the hole, enter it and then make a turn to the right. You've found <b>Secret #2</b>, take the Shotgun shells and depart the cave.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZEzQdV6IJ5wAGPSKRyq8U25-gziWEZ-WCKS0yZk2_Pk1p1KuUuqkd4QBhN3AsMGNpVWHVQP5JcOVkz0nDbB0u5f4_wchRHlFpK1fSx_plhTK68tcjrPKyglSN3mVXQquYzrlC8jzhwzYKKbogad4pbF4Z4D0kwJ7Gh0fITq42b-dj-WeJiUqulJ48pk2/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZEzQdV6IJ5wAGPSKRyq8U25-gziWEZ-WCKS0yZk2_Pk1p1KuUuqkd4QBhN3AsMGNpVWHVQP5JcOVkz0nDbB0u5f4_wchRHlFpK1fSx_plhTK68tcjrPKyglSN3mVXQquYzrlC8jzhwzYKKbogad4pbF4Z4D0kwJ7Gh0fITq42b-dj-WeJiUqulJ48pk2/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlSEXr5Zhyphenhyphen8KhLtfoLCZCX4-oLy3EgHKO0kmjvDiCX7kJ4YlZm_WdEwicF7HyognHykx3yMCyMGEJUfEXo1KduFVGEtZSWshFzKgj367qY3J2hJHD8HUtD8OETH7z7Na7PBg62IYYr867rdVyNaH4tn0pN7zEHu4UGyfndp3QKNXA51HKycig15yXwJAv/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlSEXr5Zhyphenhyphen8KhLtfoLCZCX4-oLy3EgHKO0kmjvDiCX7kJ4YlZm_WdEwicF7HyognHykx3yMCyMGEJUfEXo1KduFVGEtZSWshFzKgj367qY3J2hJHD8HUtD8OETH7z7Na7PBg62IYYr867rdVyNaH4tn0pN7zEHu4UGyfndp3QKNXA51HKycig15yXwJAv/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">At the far end of the lost valley is an abandoned architecture, where the roof above it is where the next Secret is. Kill the two Raptors before you proceed further so they don't become a threat to you later. Head to the right from where Lara looked and climb the nearest rock (the one that is slightly crooked at the top). Turn left.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIODVj3QiCiKGq1kyaKim0IwdyTcsSpWQr96gzWCywlhJPzmZA1i1_1YAtYdGH5LyshsjDosuM197I2fCaFTHt16RLCNTNntlbknV7b4o0eXd8b3mE5BZMwvgWF-txwC8Zq2alex2_JqmR5VGXRjsSSVgtFu25vDiHaYGh6_ugZug_7h9mWnftcXuJ21fb/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIODVj3QiCiKGq1kyaKim0IwdyTcsSpWQr96gzWCywlhJPzmZA1i1_1YAtYdGH5LyshsjDosuM197I2fCaFTHt16RLCNTNntlbknV7b4o0eXd8b3mE5BZMwvgWF-txwC8Zq2alex2_JqmR5VGXRjsSSVgtFu25vDiHaYGh6_ugZug_7h9mWnftcXuJ21fb/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Rb0TBS_uOmc5NksN9TacqvL9NKZ656ZpdjNZG0x9nJp25lhVL7I-POzoIJIdX66lqI6xhILaRCLQH5jAkdI5JPWoiuhZuPaclGi5FxlxEIFm9SrkJJJGdhQnpAMKsYkx39qZK7-lWW9cpZBYqGRdpeFgW2Dob5HV9qQWkmGjvc4lxxT-bDCHDjznJWk/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Rb0TBS_uOmc5NksN9TacqvL9NKZ656ZpdjNZG0x9nJp25lhVL7I-POzoIJIdX66lqI6xhILaRCLQH5jAkdI5JPWoiuhZuPaclGi5FxlxEIFm9SrkJJJGdhQnpAMKsYkx39qZK7-lWW9cpZBYqGRdpeFgW2Dob5HV9qQWkmGjvc4lxxT-bDCHDjznJWk/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-14.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">From there make a normal jump towards the next climbable surface, get on top of it. Now aim Lara a tiny bit to the left for the foliage-textured platform and get on top of it. After that make a running jump towards the next foliage-textured platform above and ahead of you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmjjQRC4y0PGCc2jrN5bsaoJkI8R3ipKlhHUEIY0LODgCTZiwH6eYa3K3XcxLPMmcwoZhEaovQ0UHQMY6F2JaD9Hmykj4JVatNb1IM1Qhs4HtbGpy1ACe-cG7gKWhAyjxE0fFHwdlt4xrpKFrNA8EpyMV5gxJ-zPUDFNmwXQoP59wwCqRLXz5dCOUOELZ/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmjjQRC4y0PGCc2jrN5bsaoJkI8R3ipKlhHUEIY0LODgCTZiwH6eYa3K3XcxLPMmcwoZhEaovQ0UHQMY6F2JaD9Hmykj4JVatNb1IM1Qhs4HtbGpy1ACe-cG7gKWhAyjxE0fFHwdlt4xrpKFrNA8EpyMV5gxJ-zPUDFNmwXQoP59wwCqRLXz5dCOUOELZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVSkIT3HCHiVvucZDJfacVW6NliRdiiZyoRL49Nx9mWJWmFvZP73sumtGplckVPWTbHv51-L91tG13cULXtQz_hIkZpcOeeVT-OzImjmoyCK8fdBxc7Sxvpdql2rMkqIF78LiVfOrrIBlYk4NB5NjPRyN3yJQ34FCZWSLU_ML4o2KOMprxlHiY2nsKrbG/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVSkIT3HCHiVvucZDJfacVW6NliRdiiZyoRL49Nx9mWJWmFvZP73sumtGplckVPWTbHv51-L91tG13cULXtQz_hIkZpcOeeVT-OzImjmoyCK8fdBxc7Sxvpdql2rMkqIF78LiVfOrrIBlYk4NB5NjPRyN3yJQ34FCZWSLU_ML4o2KOMprxlHiY2nsKrbG/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You're almost there. From here, tap backward if you need to and then make a running jump to the roof that's across. You've uncovered <b>Secret #3</b>. On the right side of the roof are the large Medipack and Magnum clips for you to collect,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthARaFDI1-bKJB0Powrol1YE_MGnqGA_QZZHu8F8TCtLwX9LKgk0VY2_JnrNWDw1k043_fD5oXa8el_hyPPsNoEoPOP3xMdDa5nh6NtJz_89Ndf8EYvOjMBWzbfbTBPND0W040FXSIAqaG2s-Jo7phFBziXogDaO1d2Dx0krC3-KzJskuJOVUj_3Oic42/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthARaFDI1-bKJB0Powrol1YE_MGnqGA_QZZHu8F8TCtLwX9LKgk0VY2_JnrNWDw1k043_fD5oXa8el_hyPPsNoEoPOP3xMdDa5nh6NtJz_89Ndf8EYvOjMBWzbfbTBPND0W040FXSIAqaG2s-Jo7phFBziXogDaO1d2Dx0krC3-KzJskuJOVUj_3Oic42/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur_z8pCWbaFftZ5cFgm5R85ZwygW03r2RDHLZUCMpKTdSEvvCKlHtGZAWcBVAYKcGPYJdULKdf-aZALH9J8einQYrkFzPaFf9W_C96wZ-UxrWAR_oXYC_y7W5Qoocm0NhddMk2Dq9BDG4NMr-Sju4xe-uhAO8GFPG8Z63WJhunTM0AxfU2eKa2GKNU5CL/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur_z8pCWbaFftZ5cFgm5R85ZwygW03r2RDHLZUCMpKTdSEvvCKlHtGZAWcBVAYKcGPYJdULKdf-aZALH9J8einQYrkFzPaFf9W_C96wZ-UxrWAR_oXYC_y7W5Qoocm0NhddMk2Dq9BDG4NMr-Sju4xe-uhAO8GFPG8Z63WJhunTM0AxfU2eKa2GKNU5CL/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-18.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then in the central upper tip of the roof close to the edge are Uzi clips, and finally on the left portion of the roof are Shotgun shells.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJtyKWdl1ZEESo-D1HFdCooxBPxHg0x1_nlgTBhqyPiauFYZhyBBfjyiIBPqPFafwjoT2QcWU85I4LLdrLjfNH9d2ILZSu-YjW_6Sp1Rv8LqPwxt9ZvmJeubaA3rNG0lks8mTjhQztPXMHzudauGkMOLH-pH8763uaW7khrcFw3PryIepCpW7oH6T00TZ/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJtyKWdl1ZEESo-D1HFdCooxBPxHg0x1_nlgTBhqyPiauFYZhyBBfjyiIBPqPFafwjoT2QcWU85I4LLdrLjfNH9d2ILZSu-YjW_6Sp1Rv8LqPwxt9ZvmJeubaA3rNG0lks8mTjhQztPXMHzudauGkMOLH-pH8763uaW7khrcFw3PryIepCpW7oH6T00TZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0zutbWbC0RPttYi_TVA5qnGkR4Z9tSKHQXkUov6MDSePpLTctiPIRhh3b3XZkOjfkQViioen0o6xuovm2ZTYwdsK9DQApNLBvfz_SdRpwET4yH-cP-EDyrSsjQIX5qtLy6A3Z5WuuZALoVN5HJKQhbsWsoLAkT_QHacySX8r-5eOhz7l6xPZ4VLJPjfE/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0zutbWbC0RPttYi_TVA5qnGkR4Z9tSKHQXkUov6MDSePpLTctiPIRhh3b3XZkOjfkQViioen0o6xuovm2ZTYwdsK9DQApNLBvfz_SdRpwET4yH-cP-EDyrSsjQIX5qtLy6A3Z5WuuZALoVN5HJKQhbsWsoLAkT_QHacySX8r-5eOhz7l6xPZ4VLJPjfE/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-20.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">By this point I hope you got all three Machine Cogs, otherwise you'll have to backtrack to get them all for it is the only way to clear the level. Once you've placed them all in the missing slots and pull down the lever to its left, the machinery will operate and block the water with a large open door so that it will only flow partway. It's not exactly pertinent for you to do it for this Secret, but it will definitely come into play for the one after that. Anyway, have Lara face away from the ledge, tap backward until you fall off it on the left side of the bridge you just came from, and grab hold of the ledge.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWVxOe8paeQ3Fa1DekORQzoGzFWWbDGaJf6eM43iZbThHlTC21LkkEsNuP6sRAHEnedlB5HnYL0iQDE61pYVkyixDgUAllArRbFgam1cf34lbpW7CWTwq8vNgsUNB8PXZO3heCd0hhGkvqVf51FQOVpn6WuuVgajpo4Y0PhgF8ki7Ippi90UNFmLz2h6c/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWVxOe8paeQ3Fa1DekORQzoGzFWWbDGaJf6eM43iZbThHlTC21LkkEsNuP6sRAHEnedlB5HnYL0iQDE61pYVkyixDgUAllArRbFgam1cf34lbpW7CWTwq8vNgsUNB8PXZO3heCd0hhGkvqVf51FQOVpn6WuuVgajpo4Y0PhgF8ki7Ippi90UNFmLz2h6c/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYQpJuDhvuQjfeqjWyOomqFXX5Cq6e1B3xSIBpqxsLc250jmMruhLUSVN9stMS1AENywccPnSJY6c3bdv1J8dnmmwQC0qJj3JjrwQLMALy5fZ7GXh8uHDl8SitDsdSd1TCN4o5Lewi7hJIuLAIkwPgkx1iFsZPa7m12I1k4xmZSvXK4_fqhuU1DydzgWm/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYQpJuDhvuQjfeqjWyOomqFXX5Cq6e1B3xSIBpqxsLc250jmMruhLUSVN9stMS1AENywccPnSJY6c3bdv1J8dnmmwQC0qJj3JjrwQLMALy5fZ7GXh8uHDl8SitDsdSd1TCN4o5Lewi7hJIuLAIkwPgkx1iFsZPa7m12I1k4xmZSvXK4_fqhuU1DydzgWm/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-22.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Now shimmy yourself to the left until you can't anymore, or until you're at the spot where below you are large rocks bathing in water.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uklBwHgWaXV7NE3COZ3RvFhX5PBI4pSNgT1Lf5Fd57nNcUhqR1XZaj8m8ezlRKFy-x6rEe4B0OmkpGH4iL8yV4JkzZnSji55SnD3YiZMIF2zDHxVoZi2AM0Yaz2m9dZq9oRlMi98O_50BRyYuzGPwf6D0HDG00Pw64hUwW4Ivyv-_Xi_PIy6alQwKnio/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uklBwHgWaXV7NE3COZ3RvFhX5PBI4pSNgT1Lf5Fd57nNcUhqR1XZaj8m8ezlRKFy-x6rEe4B0OmkpGH4iL8yV4JkzZnSji55SnD3YiZMIF2zDHxVoZi2AM0Yaz2m9dZq9oRlMi98O_50BRyYuzGPwf6D0HDG00Pw64hUwW4Ivyv-_Xi_PIy6alQwKnio/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-23.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NNrfStLbCtWjQAOHm-1gR6T2mfGrdGhbXgLhIG-RqciFQiUdQXOh5NwzCDnx95qquGCwdc6GDmO8KDOtBJ037bgfviwM3oQVDV8XG6HZUYGNzh7VbzaBvehrlwbVFA_46o21Ee0uv2jM-EUggRhLu0_t88gouixHjF6C4bCJg7v9JcGtmhZ2wyVXnvH/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NNrfStLbCtWjQAOHm-1gR6T2mfGrdGhbXgLhIG-RqciFQiUdQXOh5NwzCDnx95qquGCwdc6GDmO8KDOtBJ037bgfviwM3oQVDV8XG6HZUYGNzh7VbzaBvehrlwbVFA_46o21Ee0uv2jM-EUggRhLu0_t88gouixHjF6C4bCJg7v9JcGtmhZ2wyVXnvH/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-24.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Let go of the action button, drop down, walk a little to the left and then immediately turn right, and you'll come across <b>Secret #4</b>, a large Medipack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBc7k3446q-KqsHDIzyFOThbg5k0jUTGht7ODWJcQqXQUG-_tJjkgbaH25UUhcdluK6ovfXUCx8V5qz81poUUMGpa6KfuyGPv3W8Kx2m-kHM7uQe0Yd5n4APOU8ESEC-zPJB2OJVY3fork5E2G6ABsk9MD1zlNzR6v9d11ka5ty9UgCbQTWuARdkklbh9/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBc7k3446q-KqsHDIzyFOThbg5k0jUTGht7ODWJcQqXQUG-_tJjkgbaH25UUhcdluK6ovfXUCx8V5qz81poUUMGpa6KfuyGPv3W8Kx2m-kHM7uQe0Yd5n4APOU8ESEC-zPJB2OJVY3fork5E2G6ABsk9MD1zlNzR6v9d11ka5ty9UgCbQTWuARdkklbh9/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-25.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslpWRF54Gk-3UwMnOb5PR6bzhBHciYEFby4VUbMVR-DfzAgO4dlv6UfGLZrj0WMkpphJckE_ZBidjrEb_P0WQqgNka4rZG91_gvN38u1vdXgJ2a48XysyLi1rJJ1G02FG3xjPrjRdWqgJ8xrWpgNC9PmDKsSbuipK-Ysi5koPntLEg01oVmeWo3QIBpNc/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslpWRF54Gk-3UwMnOb5PR6bzhBHciYEFby4VUbMVR-DfzAgO4dlv6UfGLZrj0WMkpphJckE_ZBidjrEb_P0WQqgNka4rZG91_gvN38u1vdXgJ2a48XysyLi1rJJ1G02FG3xjPrjRdWqgJ8xrWpgNC9PmDKsSbuipK-Ysi5koPntLEg01oVmeWo3QIBpNc/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-26.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">If you did like I told you and collected all the Machine Cogs, placed them, and pulled the lever, the large door will block the water so that it will be redirected towards a thin corridor. I suggest starting from about here for it is a long swim to get there with a winding path. Grab the Shotgun lying by the unfortunate skeletal corpse, and dive into the water. From here, swim downward and straight, turn right and swim straight, turn right again at the end, keep swimming straight until you reach the end and turn right once more, swim a little ahead then immediately turn left and swim upward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RXHx87uxpUt5WaHBYnPlMQbkbOlW7NpIPk3eeXad2nScnNNdUikH8tSl3XJXQuRI6ypI7CxInp6OmSZ-mc1tY_P1E6tX2ZEirCCO3kqmJoJALSUJos8YpvHGDVXkA9M3W_Q419B1Nxwlj0IKQpFdPH4T5Lx18TxtJsLNv9rPbKeykUxg7OkYZT2gzpy5/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-27.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RXHx87uxpUt5WaHBYnPlMQbkbOlW7NpIPk3eeXad2nScnNNdUikH8tSl3XJXQuRI6ypI7CxInp6OmSZ-mc1tY_P1E6tX2ZEirCCO3kqmJoJALSUJos8YpvHGDVXkA9M3W_Q419B1Nxwlj0IKQpFdPH4T5Lx18TxtJsLNv9rPbKeykUxg7OkYZT2gzpy5/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-27.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_cyiqmEacoP6n0O5CRWrDog1t16tcWoZMMKcAoIihCm4Z2B2Q4KRTovytqgGTmV7-E15g4Crag7ABiI_WSdJJ7DBDyylkMpDyoV2sQlGFsKTRJaZ8yNc3mXPyJxv-VvonhGya9K080YEEk2UnTjcuxt-0d4TSr2qQjoUC2mz45DFyUgNYPRAI4TvDUxn/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-28.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_cyiqmEacoP6n0O5CRWrDog1t16tcWoZMMKcAoIihCm4Z2B2Q4KRTovytqgGTmV7-E15g4Crag7ABiI_WSdJJ7DBDyylkMpDyoV2sQlGFsKTRJaZ8yNc3mXPyJxv-VvonhGya9K080YEEk2UnTjcuxt-0d4TSr2qQjoUC2mz45DFyUgNYPRAI4TvDUxn/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-28.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then at the end turn left and swim upward again, now keep swimming straight until you reach a large room. In the middle of it proceed to swim upward to reach the small square-shaped surface. You're now at <b>Secret #5</b>. There is one item each in each of the three corners up here for you to grab: one small Medipack</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEHmDNxkdVTW8vXqTK-y5Xh8sfRUeYfFHSmwg8tJb7_qJ9IxODkjnfABe3V5Jc-mStv3QEpqAU_WFe1qE8hO3w71INMZhYBMBOuOmehg4pUx7wFi8b-Kae_gipkFUEJQrLK507iv-cAsTUu6jLSfl163mXAtXQX6uJLu_jwKSU_v-EheuEiOqsxi3JjYM/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-29.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEHmDNxkdVTW8vXqTK-y5Xh8sfRUeYfFHSmwg8tJb7_qJ9IxODkjnfABe3V5Jc-mStv3QEpqAU_WFe1qE8hO3w71INMZhYBMBOuOmehg4pUx7wFi8b-Kae_gipkFUEJQrLK507iv-cAsTUu6jLSfl163mXAtXQX6uJLu_jwKSU_v-EheuEiOqsxi3JjYM/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-29.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjYDmfLRB4PPzt9qwbFyXbQABtTKFcpm_zDInREopop1EMcNfkLFwH6ZfQMU4Dse0q5BPaHfmb6-X0f2R6Vm8n7LnBVB4jBTg6Mk3H0_UiE9xLpOyYOdWIlVbtAEJqZiXxwP6XEBmUZXczZDL9m0HJ2f7d5FBMlueWIX2bexGZ7zNFSnSAGBuiMqZvMJL/s376/TombRaider_LostValley-30.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjYDmfLRB4PPzt9qwbFyXbQABtTKFcpm_zDInREopop1EMcNfkLFwH6ZfQMU4Dse0q5BPaHfmb6-X0f2R6Vm8n7LnBVB4jBTg6Mk3H0_UiE9xLpOyYOdWIlVbtAEJqZiXxwP6XEBmUZXczZDL9m0HJ2f7d5FBMlueWIX2bexGZ7zNFSnSAGBuiMqZvMJL/w200-h158/TombRaider_LostValley-30.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and in the two opposing corners some much needed Shotgun shells for your newly obtained Shotgun. Congratulations, you've found all five Secrets of the Lost Valley!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 4: Tomb of Qualopec</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRwIZ6AQ65A-eWSKtOWkWMZ2zdiOSPgyJ8MEzyG2EUWsPAbXnydrvhiJvRYKE2374S_OEYu41JjnoxrUBKrBYsNg6RDIuIhsTpB7Jhrbh4SAOJ5l1SLzkolv5BKogHgUKjGofOXDC5WjZuLbUnKq_XwxcOJ6TyKCqmi-SSikFlSFxSrCkHIARKT6TPK4E/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRwIZ6AQ65A-eWSKtOWkWMZ2zdiOSPgyJ8MEzyG2EUWsPAbXnydrvhiJvRYKE2374S_OEYu41JjnoxrUBKrBYsNg6RDIuIhsTpB7Jhrbh4SAOJ5l1SLzkolv5BKogHgUKjGofOXDC5WjZuLbUnKq_XwxcOJ6TyKCqmi-SSikFlSFxSrCkHIARKT6TPK4E/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOV9I_ex_jlf0XLaWTBMpO7AVf4u4UoS4VtR3aptSfEvFwXE4eWetN5FUOpRNNEdACvGdOCoxkQ6wpNj7zNJjoOzAnLfgwF1y9QkHcdSlMqS3FsrXoE9TAUMb83hiHcLy1TV_4AWgdkLi7RuweaO39bQ3CdYjV0mFcG-mJHJSkQUcV6jRDEpEf3hMJ9Ti/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOV9I_ex_jlf0XLaWTBMpO7AVf4u4UoS4VtR3aptSfEvFwXE4eWetN5FUOpRNNEdACvGdOCoxkQ6wpNj7zNJjoOzAnLfgwF1y9QkHcdSlMqS3FsrXoE9TAUMb83hiHcLy1TV_4AWgdkLi7RuweaO39bQ3CdYjV0mFcG-mJHJSkQUcV6jRDEpEf3hMJ9Ti/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This level is among the shortest ones in all of the game. After having unlocked all three gates, you'll have access to a long corridor where at the end of it is a Save Crystal. Save there, turn right, and then run straight through as you narrowly avoid getting hit by the poison-tipped darts being shot from the walls left and right. Run until you get on the first step of the stairs. Walk towards the wall, stay on the right side of the poison dart trap so that you don't get hit.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPueVAhH3_3P3AV96BdxNeneSPI3vyo-kg3lBwsX77-dYCV-OXwnhmJbuIr9blpXub7EwJmYpiGhC62qHLGgLZcGHRl899iJ9Y7BlOZ5FkO8ZFKGC-w9kqJW86OdZR6sYazj3gg3aQbmO1Un3mIYt6zlsy9gTYFsabh3buAH4cofTck9qkFAaMtIz8ZWb/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPueVAhH3_3P3AV96BdxNeneSPI3vyo-kg3lBwsX77-dYCV-OXwnhmJbuIr9blpXub7EwJmYpiGhC62qHLGgLZcGHRl899iJ9Y7BlOZ5FkO8ZFKGC-w9kqJW86OdZR6sYazj3gg3aQbmO1Un3mIYt6zlsy9gTYFsabh3buAH4cofTck9qkFAaMtIz8ZWb/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3flPW7KiBTDbGf8ywCYxNoof9ojNO03_ML1udPbBvQVaNJ2NnyyDVIq7ElleXgjjD7Tr0V11njtcEfl8xHrSLYiuRKul2AWsGaXiEUDI_q_09btSTLBwe69yxPMpI7m9iHm6Ud27M5XgsrG7hVHNwJOmm-yLFhS1GoN7FtFubYBHvgQl4CmYAY24HjpG/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3flPW7KiBTDbGf8ywCYxNoof9ojNO03_ML1udPbBvQVaNJ2NnyyDVIq7ElleXgjjD7Tr0V11njtcEfl8xHrSLYiuRKul2AWsGaXiEUDI_q_09btSTLBwe69yxPMpI7m9iHm6Ud27M5XgsrG7hVHNwJOmm-yLFhS1GoN7FtFubYBHvgQl4CmYAY24HjpG/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After having aligned yourself with the wall, jump up and grab the ledge. Climb up it, run past the statue, and a door at the end will open up for you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR-Fs7E32LfgMkBYuXHAYDegR9l4jeOVPJKlK_i3kakQ2mrIhReBY_6_xjYjZjwfuw73hGGC9D2dsHBtn4y0thQ_1Qk43608GmfEQiv9A1GZOFVHL_A6H4qr0wqZCSvjwPgzhTD5bnPJ7xWrtJyvxVvHyYLMU6yDBXsuFmp0cjKkRrDWhg1lTeOSvooz3/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR-Fs7E32LfgMkBYuXHAYDegR9l4jeOVPJKlK_i3kakQ2mrIhReBY_6_xjYjZjwfuw73hGGC9D2dsHBtn4y0thQ_1Qk43608GmfEQiv9A1GZOFVHL_A6H4qr0wqZCSvjwPgzhTD5bnPJ7xWrtJyvxVvHyYLMU6yDBXsuFmp0cjKkRrDWhg1lTeOSvooz3/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzAPXALWgWwPJczTsGtXbj9iWBss5NWY1XTyPCB47fToxFc30ot3IsxwEYFstyvzspJv4bm0tHDBtoLfAcjRdyVNtZjTag0qaGdiIvv3rLRXfjdhUHniAB5FjkJLxkr013g1p6nJfdBnZY0H9eeKyxwbC42gqW6Hn8UhaP90R3tqoIAfKIjouhigQWCwP/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzAPXALWgWwPJczTsGtXbj9iWBss5NWY1XTyPCB47fToxFc30ot3IsxwEYFstyvzspJv4bm0tHDBtoLfAcjRdyVNtZjTag0qaGdiIvv3rLRXfjdhUHniAB5FjkJLxkr013g1p6nJfdBnZY0H9eeKyxwbC42gqW6Hn8UhaP90R3tqoIAfKIjouhigQWCwP/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Inside is a compartment almost replete with collapsible platforms that will break down and fall upon stepping on them, all except for one on the back corner of the left. Now I want you to be very strategic about how you approach it because you'll need to leave the room once you're done here, for below the collapsible platforms are beds of deadly spikes. However you go about it, once you've reached the solidly structured corner you're now at <b>Secret #1</b>, for there are Shotgun shells for you to obtain. </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">From here, have Lara face the left side of the corner away from the ledge, tap backward, hold the action button to grab on, shimmy all the way to the right,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQt26Fn5awTa0ZdJsxBuZn05TdPXCgDFKcLyb4cLe1AQLjYFJXB2jZyjjvmK0lEKy8-cT7mIeuEoblh2PRhG3OQq8WmQHNK3IOzkUHPNQXbH7DvtnyrNOpa1Lv8KdkGT6ZkxxYEzhpYzZMWKlcl6ldY32D0cDOAukguNy-_cUzq9xlqxDu3X-RrXVwaQm/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQt26Fn5awTa0ZdJsxBuZn05TdPXCgDFKcLyb4cLe1AQLjYFJXB2jZyjjvmK0lEKy8-cT7mIeuEoblh2PRhG3OQq8WmQHNK3IOzkUHPNQXbH7DvtnyrNOpa1Lv8KdkGT6ZkxxYEzhpYzZMWKlcl6ldY32D0cDOAukguNy-_cUzq9xlqxDu3X-RrXVwaQm/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIiaVAgXLHV0m4Ca7KGjF4MnxHb4wmnd-WlnvCxUkSwad-3UCQeYUvW8L6xYQfwd27avpzhDACcjp32fUM5X_taOlC6of4jBvZo3ZIFx5rlLMlxc4PcSRB8NZ38a8Rst4LJk8A8Xl8Be7Q39pyGIOX_ESfuOnHIRJsHHZpI3zLJcbeBo79vVMYN5u-u-C/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIiaVAgXLHV0m4Ca7KGjF4MnxHb4wmnd-WlnvCxUkSwad-3UCQeYUvW8L6xYQfwd27avpzhDACcjp32fUM5X_taOlC6of4jBvZo3ZIFx5rlLMlxc4PcSRB8NZ38a8Rst4LJk8A8Xl8Be7Q39pyGIOX_ESfuOnHIRJsHHZpI3zLJcbeBo79vVMYN5u-u-C/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">drop down and you should be spared from being impaled. And just like that you've found <b>Secret #2</b>, for below the solid platform you were just on are Magnum clips for the taking.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssv4cxZ2Lsqo3asK2dSWE2BNzK_4EFrfD_viuh1MX9AJzXztbgttT-7wYIbsvPl9OCMuFFXb9Yg77XIo5VZPbXW1miwcEYTDDIFndkNCFmleqDNSgJ6MlMKQ7NhU-P7npulGfbyYmtEYqOE9eB8z9Wrw31apIA_zdgQCxyulZXEg8mvaDxDJhfkeKZ_-e/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssv4cxZ2Lsqo3asK2dSWE2BNzK_4EFrfD_viuh1MX9AJzXztbgttT-7wYIbsvPl9OCMuFFXb9Yg77XIo5VZPbXW1miwcEYTDDIFndkNCFmleqDNSgJ6MlMKQ7NhU-P7npulGfbyYmtEYqOE9eB8z9Wrw31apIA_zdgQCxyulZXEg8mvaDxDJhfkeKZ_-e/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiRBl562KO0IL42TJ7dRFAC-FoAHnzWZF4XyzCwHUK6ZN5-bb7HQra3omdr974PMSqU3kLhGxN4dH4eKPadO0p8TmNlPJDrMWrOh4lhtvpIO-tzq4ZXmrevF5mkkZJVi1lKcGvUHm8CX_wi7jF0uU0YLoCbvZR9ABxSYPxlxBYpDdhrlHfIppCUevrbBD/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiRBl562KO0IL42TJ7dRFAC-FoAHnzWZF4XyzCwHUK6ZN5-bb7HQra3omdr974PMSqU3kLhGxN4dH4eKPadO0p8TmNlPJDrMWrOh4lhtvpIO-tzq4ZXmrevF5mkkZJVi1lKcGvUHm8CX_wi7jF0uU0YLoCbvZR9ABxSYPxlxBYpDdhrlHfIppCUevrbBD/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once you've acquired the first part of the Scion you'll find yourself heading back towards where you started, with the way back to the lost valley being open. Approach the Save Crystal and save just in case. Now dive in the water, and depending where you swim you'll notice that you're suddenly losing health, and that's because Larson is shooting at you. Before engaging in your first shootout with him, however, swim downward from where you just came from and then once you're a little forward turn right and swim through a small opening.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12oy9yoSxBsxHIW58gkY62fOmhEeTnieQBXutN5jdP-lc4VXKh633rj7_1psKHHhlQSC33D2nM1yN__f4nzVfwDsWGpn35vkxW6w7zEeI_TokQzDFXcufXyZynbBs7t1HkcHhGN_leZ3xl6v4mDmdwIP0tWRICBS4AZ2GoX3d9_-IZLUeEahfakyFfzcM/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12oy9yoSxBsxHIW58gkY62fOmhEeTnieQBXutN5jdP-lc4VXKh633rj7_1psKHHhlQSC33D2nM1yN__f4nzVfwDsWGpn35vkxW6w7zEeI_TokQzDFXcufXyZynbBs7t1HkcHhGN_leZ3xl6v4mDmdwIP0tWRICBS4AZ2GoX3d9_-IZLUeEahfakyFfzcM/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kgXz_U8KmBAjfd0SQT2OViX83X689SFv9CnxPaP-Auxc7JKjjxyKLi1UgzXZeffgwlq_EZkMng0PXBk3HDxBzBbeOURFuG2gt0QtIQ1EqIkQSYz8T9h4sVPUGUWhaXFAiswnHM8pY4chagdNoghFtBtaj6qAN55NH8dNsf-uyxtkQgxYKSgfU3g5hgif/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kgXz_U8KmBAjfd0SQT2OViX83X689SFv9CnxPaP-Auxc7JKjjxyKLi1UgzXZeffgwlq_EZkMng0PXBk3HDxBzBbeOURFuG2gt0QtIQ1EqIkQSYz8T9h4sVPUGUWhaXFAiswnHM8pY4chagdNoghFtBtaj6qAN55NH8dNsf-uyxtkQgxYKSgfU3g5hgif/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Follow the path a little downward and then immediately proceed to swim all the way up to the large body of water where you can regain your breath.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojvdsH1TWBa_QQLbnWbKRLdhhVtHTojJAsQswr2ZaLEqVbX_CL8zCZRXXOtF7EYUDwEmBUWRlLIV2_AfXjGK_V5XtZBBSmqZlnNtZW3DI1RjhUCiTR_mou769yRqm8AamUwLlRybI9AW1jnE7RBGirPwcD9S3SdMi4K1H0BV2Bs-Wmjm1CDJlBc20cRL_/s376/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojvdsH1TWBa_QQLbnWbKRLdhhVtHTojJAsQswr2ZaLEqVbX_CL8zCZRXXOtF7EYUDwEmBUWRlLIV2_AfXjGK_V5XtZBBSmqZlnNtZW3DI1RjhUCiTR_mou769yRqm8AamUwLlRybI9AW1jnE7RBGirPwcD9S3SdMi4K1H0BV2Bs-Wmjm1CDJlBc20cRL_/s16000/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec-13.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Swim closer to the ledge, climb out of the water, and you'll have come across <b>Secret #3</b>. Pick up the Magnum clips and large Medipack and then swim back to where you came from to face off against Larson. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Tomb of Qualopec!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 5: St. Francis' Folly</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 4</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZekXMEsS5FAKsPNMDaWsbP_7Vi7vaK4boS5MTWg_gAD1D7hF5bWX1Q5dx2QZaiZW7bs1OSVDi8Og-occIDcr9bNtrjUWbpkAkPTee73ZBff1rWYrXQoCbsC7JNtMTTn42ab_X1bINoFI7Ym97kP5cTonJYhyOgH89i_58WkhD75CXaDvJuGN7C7we3wj1/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZekXMEsS5FAKsPNMDaWsbP_7Vi7vaK4boS5MTWg_gAD1D7hF5bWX1Q5dx2QZaiZW7bs1OSVDi8Og-occIDcr9bNtrjUWbpkAkPTee73ZBff1rWYrXQoCbsC7JNtMTTn42ab_X1bINoFI7Ym97kP5cTonJYhyOgH89i_58WkhD75CXaDvJuGN7C7we3wj1/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdarX91P0muFcUdz1jVqsA4sJo_6VWBU13D7JpIAmltnlxUlnc-aWZ2zRWkfw9dA9dldRdWbCIsSE3RF9f_hUdkInl1sZnkp6Kty20rm-ND0xGQ5UwOcqth05hckfxn7yIzOXgaCjI1ggfYs0nhtS1JR-u_JodNdoI2BAlQlR6ssSgg6bi57-ETR2pXFp7/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdarX91P0muFcUdz1jVqsA4sJo_6VWBU13D7JpIAmltnlxUlnc-aWZ2zRWkfw9dA9dldRdWbCIsSE3RF9f_hUdkInl1sZnkp6Kty20rm-ND0xGQ5UwOcqth05hckfxn7yIzOXgaCjI1ggfYs0nhtS1JR-u_JodNdoI2BAlQlR6ssSgg6bi57-ETR2pXFp7/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Welcome to Greece! After having killed the two lions roaming the entrance, make your way to the center right region of the room where a movable block is sandwiched between two Omega floor switches. Face the block and push it forward so that it is right on top of the farthest floor switch. A door up ahead will open but ignore it for now.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eY5LVv2t74Ghc5UqnQP-88YvkMG3ROLIFfRkxy5mACByErZSzMrXKL__Ss0w_9YplFHOU2AE4XRv4Qn3WYYYuvGXNrozj1nzujzogcqr8SWyV0bYaZSzNBA3X7w2op4So-qUmE1b2Iz3f0NsFVSDFz4GRIGK5yWoHjCIb3qIprHUZ0kghi89D-DNZ0of/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eY5LVv2t74Ghc5UqnQP-88YvkMG3ROLIFfRkxy5mACByErZSzMrXKL__Ss0w_9YplFHOU2AE4XRv4Qn3WYYYuvGXNrozj1nzujzogcqr8SWyV0bYaZSzNBA3X7w2op4So-qUmE1b2Iz3f0NsFVSDFz4GRIGK5yWoHjCIb3qIprHUZ0kghi89D-DNZ0of/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdAUgndooQygVSrDNUaRtx2gzOm-Yk2q8LBmJQ4lYaN4o934pxRQOVPOq5FH9r7q81eG1u8FNmfrO8-A5GW808282eX5LTaJ3jdSxYhx-PqveSzYhNduO0TyR4Gx_hiZ1Ii2aCjYQ3kjNSmB5-aIUTZI5vGy8NStZNjfljxU0aUv491e2fY00tnOrd6lB/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdAUgndooQygVSrDNUaRtx2gzOm-Yk2q8LBmJQ4lYaN4o934pxRQOVPOq5FH9r7q81eG1u8FNmfrO8-A5GW808282eX5LTaJ3jdSxYhx-PqveSzYhNduO0TyR4Gx_hiZ1Ii2aCjYQ3kjNSmB5-aIUTZI5vGy8NStZNjfljxU0aUv491e2fY00tnOrd6lB/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Get yourself on top of the block, walk towards the farthest edge, and aim Lara so that you'll be able to reach the upper ledge of the tall structure. Climb up it, and properly position yourself facing the left side.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhNFxFygb89Y6ITdWcliO3xV4avfygPUO17D0l2lv56J-n_gBxRbk-j3Bavh7O3FkAuD_ofprd3VaLbetPuxrLMWZmjoYZEGMTP_4NNlKr0upFv-Nm-HspU7EFLbUrgmUpgudj8qrHHtECxMUyN0LfqxjNk_pmtkVR6SNJtCFFqzki3K0cZmECRzF1BKD/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhNFxFygb89Y6ITdWcliO3xV4avfygPUO17D0l2lv56J-n_gBxRbk-j3Bavh7O3FkAuD_ofprd3VaLbetPuxrLMWZmjoYZEGMTP_4NNlKr0upFv-Nm-HspU7EFLbUrgmUpgudj8qrHHtECxMUyN0LfqxjNk_pmtkVR6SNJtCFFqzki3K0cZmECRzF1BKD/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbv-z4y74YdRV7pnADkdzLk9myliWCpGKqp-ylJathaBuC5p_VP2zMCrOpWqrziyrP7sKmXDMDxKHb0BqPiqnPVYzQzH6oCcj7Th3rWHx4D3FU1p0cyRAs8aXSuz6KPcb_fE4MczgEoITlVMZOX_2w6gdtoujOLq2VcE_vswPah2JCFv5BlG0tM7_3yGx/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbv-z4y74YdRV7pnADkdzLk9myliWCpGKqp-ylJathaBuC5p_VP2zMCrOpWqrziyrP7sKmXDMDxKHb0BqPiqnPVYzQzH6oCcj7Th3rWHx4D3FU1p0cyRAs8aXSuz6KPcb_fE4MczgEoITlVMZOX_2w6gdtoujOLq2VcE_vswPah2JCFv5BlG0tM7_3yGx/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Tap backward and make a running jump towards the even taller structure, and be sure to hold down the action button to grab on to the ledge. Climb up, and then position Lara to her left where a platform is sticking out of the wall. Aim for that platform, tap backward, and make a running jump toward it to land there safely.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO3Q4Ty-VfOO08krPrbXv5ThQ2Db3GkEa1CJ8DekO9TKREOha2a7rVIhmlhHVPx6DZhlP2Mz-rsBDmagXR1aL7wwLZWalVM4ipteq5wMdC0yBlbXGRqzfxnmr5ccux2z3VV04TgFdavzp1DLm1M9jCK0R7wwt7TiDL1ntx4hPt4HbMKdz0kb4x1hyphenhyphenb9ds/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO3Q4Ty-VfOO08krPrbXv5ThQ2Db3GkEa1CJ8DekO9TKREOha2a7rVIhmlhHVPx6DZhlP2Mz-rsBDmagXR1aL7wwLZWalVM4ipteq5wMdC0yBlbXGRqzfxnmr5ccux2z3VV04TgFdavzp1DLm1M9jCK0R7wwt7TiDL1ntx4hPt4HbMKdz0kb4x1hyphenhyphenb9ds/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKMyPDibgKAK_07hx3DLTocw9YWmOAfCEzalGXJVW1WgbxUJDpvXNq50ZvYE17u_SvyosGTIX0hP1qUNFu5LPkXRx7yFWEQLgzzXmvaKmbrM15HSS9_eCPeU24kkdxgz2oQaamF6F07xzuK75IqXtplryu4ea9iRWgfT6AtJRD-Pf2lR04oWQjcspPP13/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKMyPDibgKAK_07hx3DLTocw9YWmOAfCEzalGXJVW1WgbxUJDpvXNq50ZvYE17u_SvyosGTIX0hP1qUNFu5LPkXRx7yFWEQLgzzXmvaKmbrM15HSS9_eCPeU24kkdxgz2oQaamF6F07xzuK75IqXtplryu4ea9iRWgfT6AtJRD-Pf2lR04oWQjcspPP13/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Walk a little inside and step right in front of the steep incline on your left. From here make a sideways leap to the left, and while sliding jump to the slightly higher incline on the right side of the room, and from there immediately jump up to the platform above you. Because you'll only be able to leap to the leftmost side of the ledge this may take a few tries (if not several) for you to accomplish but should you have done it properly you'll securely grab on to the ledge after holding down the action button.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IsNdoduhfjmSTlgkfJ4VDiFdnYl9SoOu73Jt4Tc5-MDFnLRLLlnlWichX7ruJHBHI-bBsSAw_L3FNpSGU8t_m4_aQehruhpxxsyoYbqL4ck76kqhWgl1sreXMRi38-ZN8V48YK3MXmZN_PBYX8wMVx-vN90k8TQ3ONBHk7wINKOfDbwJVYtbNaYrZa7k/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IsNdoduhfjmSTlgkfJ4VDiFdnYl9SoOu73Jt4Tc5-MDFnLRLLlnlWichX7ruJHBHI-bBsSAw_L3FNpSGU8t_m4_aQehruhpxxsyoYbqL4ck76kqhWgl1sreXMRi38-ZN8V48YK3MXmZN_PBYX8wMVx-vN90k8TQ3ONBHk7wINKOfDbwJVYtbNaYrZa7k/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizKYSk9XM1J_eDXYcejUfLXid4e6iAEziSeQKqDs5sT7VmwLD0qWyJQMZUCvvMt6JOF99w5UbS8b5FFsAZzfU8ND3soQEygjXgFpNV98a_QQ4fAJyG3dqbX8oqrFm19o6f1hyphenhyphenu03VBXJjfafwEP-FVi01KI9JIG7We3-rYw6VAaTfKQRWrq2eHaRwiJl8/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizKYSk9XM1J_eDXYcejUfLXid4e6iAEziSeQKqDs5sT7VmwLD0qWyJQMZUCvvMt6JOF99w5UbS8b5FFsAZzfU8ND3soQEygjXgFpNV98a_QQ4fAJyG3dqbX8oqrFm19o6f1hyphenhyphenu03VBXJjfafwEP-FVi01KI9JIG7We3-rYw6VAaTfKQRWrq2eHaRwiJl8/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Climb up, then face the left, and back up as much you can until Lara faces away from the larger wall. Once you've done that, jump forward and while holding down the jump button you'll immediately jump backward to the incline behind you,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtahP_rYSSTU4JDV96c0Js6anzh86hj6kdzuVSqo8kD1EQtxF6IPdKcKKDJUar-9mlK-Jcje8ztnCay3B3b1l55xidLDWgzmtm0VMtOnNoAvW1HAvfCkznYe5HPb1zZarzjfkl1zLfNcPeKXPMXTOo9X-vXNjKy12P_Ngsw-Fiz4yXBxfy1wbFgmPYxl3m/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtahP_rYSSTU4JDV96c0Js6anzh86hj6kdzuVSqo8kD1EQtxF6IPdKcKKDJUar-9mlK-Jcje8ztnCay3B3b1l55xidLDWgzmtm0VMtOnNoAvW1HAvfCkznYe5HPb1zZarzjfkl1zLfNcPeKXPMXTOo9X-vXNjKy12P_Ngsw-Fiz4yXBxfy1wbFgmPYxl3m/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0DrkyDrB6dLVCW2VU9zFS9XiN25hbQGLVOtovz0IPj0-AXwLuJuR5C2dj-t08S_y2eL7FgDS1Vy_UQHlrdmFe_MXm54Db4_Az5DG9tOX54BhmLavMU8_49i1PJd5X_pmOjAz7IOSlyqkXN5OdQwoWOfQfY2wPvep43XjC7s_p83_UJWMpELlAX4xj0g-/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0DrkyDrB6dLVCW2VU9zFS9XiN25hbQGLVOtovz0IPj0-AXwLuJuR5C2dj-t08S_y2eL7FgDS1Vy_UQHlrdmFe_MXm54Db4_Az5DG9tOX54BhmLavMU8_49i1PJd5X_pmOjAz7IOSlyqkXN5OdQwoWOfQfY2wPvep43XjC7s_p83_UJWMpELlAX4xj0g-/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-12.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and right from there while holding down the jump button you'll be leaping across to the ledge of a higher platform. Hold down the action button to grab on to the ledge and climb up it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJC3rp-1OX3Br2usrrRnyx-6pPXrH7xEKAe-jT9GzeFoT1R4mJNmnbOkc30wW3KJ_hVFxONz0uU7eekSKDA1sgOug9HEhXq_3McZ92oiFKHVvPDZGPnabFmX1zVVX6wj5HX2gQigyZ_RuzkQcl5UUFyClm2ndVh1bHrTpkVdvZzttHQZyw7S9ZEQ_PyzK/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJC3rp-1OX3Br2usrrRnyx-6pPXrH7xEKAe-jT9GzeFoT1R4mJNmnbOkc30wW3KJ_hVFxONz0uU7eekSKDA1sgOug9HEhXq_3McZ92oiFKHVvPDZGPnabFmX1zVVX6wj5HX2gQigyZ_RuzkQcl5UUFyClm2ndVh1bHrTpkVdvZzttHQZyw7S9ZEQ_PyzK/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMl5fEk4UmP_5E6z8XQ78Xo-bYpZF0ggRvZZGKLWlcdmxy0qRTTKJGFCyvVGdCwgKmg__xdpVXrv61DTkcIKCi1l9uJNTGm70SEJMev3wR_-3BGy0_Ao9Sn93WqcxHqRzhKfmPdQyZWBofYwvmz-emX4Lkzrkx4VFZO323M2jldEPj2zPIzCBRBdS1ghR/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMl5fEk4UmP_5E6z8XQ78Xo-bYpZF0ggRvZZGKLWlcdmxy0qRTTKJGFCyvVGdCwgKmg__xdpVXrv61DTkcIKCi1l9uJNTGm70SEJMev3wR_-3BGy0_Ao9Sn93WqcxHqRzhKfmPdQyZWBofYwvmz-emX4Lkzrkx4VFZO323M2jldEPj2zPIzCBRBdS1ghR/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You've made it to <b>Secret #1</b>, walk precariously to the left to grab the Shotgun shells and the large Medipack sitting in the corner. I'd suggest to stay away from that crumbling platform if you wish to not die.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This next Secret is among the most annoying in the game to obtain (maybe <b>the</b> most). 😣 It's not <b>im</b>possible, but you've only got one shot at it and if you fail to get it you'll have no choice but to restart the level all over again and have to go through that again (particularly if you're in a completionist mood) for the Saturn and PlayStation console versions only allow you to save through the Save Crystal. Anyway, make your way to the door you just unlocked at the top, you'll go through a small corridor to the left. Once there, have Lara face away from the ledge,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD8JEzrUupEgZdsnXwoENQgy6G0iU0-D7XqvrYLFMxq2UuZx073XKx_32_l92x7QyB4FWgzjLZB4XU8By7latvE5o3kA_GZjiSe4zsZeu7rdxI8RIbgsQOFr9CbW5H1tCBtLZIZqgl0rlt7UVA4gaIH10BbdecGPReyTpK0T3ytBe_09p2m1_iuddefvf/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpD8JEzrUupEgZdsnXwoENQgy6G0iU0-D7XqvrYLFMxq2UuZx073XKx_32_l92x7QyB4FWgzjLZB4XU8By7latvE5o3kA_GZjiSe4zsZeu7rdxI8RIbgsQOFr9CbW5H1tCBtLZIZqgl0rlt7UVA4gaIH10BbdecGPReyTpK0T3ytBe_09p2m1_iuddefvf/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDciEMw3QfBuyDUrqWt9pwF0f6yTVh0QjnRSYn-pyc7rW9Mb5dhoa4LWP7va4lH8k9uzHWiwBIHFM5Cm1jadB1FIiA9OfnHg4dX-CuAVA65BpMOutDGfjMBguR5QVneHAEUzm0EJpVUbJuqNpcmWIb_hJKKd4tks9N_YEm_vl_ItTq7jpTsddJRFhGR8zz/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDciEMw3QfBuyDUrqWt9pwF0f6yTVh0QjnRSYn-pyc7rW9Mb5dhoa4LWP7va4lH8k9uzHWiwBIHFM5Cm1jadB1FIiA9OfnHg4dX-CuAVA65BpMOutDGfjMBguR5QVneHAEUzm0EJpVUbJuqNpcmWIb_hJKKd4tks9N_YEm_vl_ItTq7jpTsddJRFhGR8zz/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then tap backward to fall down and slide all the way down the long steep incline. Hold down the action button by the time to reach the bottom to grab on to the ledge below it. It doesn't matter which angle you fall down from, you'll still drop down to the slanted platform with the water below it. Now this requires precise timing but drop down and <b>just</b> when you're at the bottom edge of the rocky-textured slide press jump to leap backward. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiBFnjsSmc5gHyew4dJxUrB0-fz34KpXBELKhQLeNm0ld7QLWe9R2s-MgCUqFru2jRMtwgTfET11dSq2ZakYa0nViM5D4GJLf4voKkZvbj-TMKhbQ0B_qtZ6fAkxE7Hhzb3IdkOFTupi6VuCwIb46OytIavCkO5sSv9v-t7u786dl2jgO2Uge_wxxQkkP/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiBFnjsSmc5gHyew4dJxUrB0-fz34KpXBELKhQLeNm0ld7QLWe9R2s-MgCUqFru2jRMtwgTfET11dSq2ZakYa0nViM5D4GJLf4voKkZvbj-TMKhbQ0B_qtZ6fAkxE7Hhzb3IdkOFTupi6VuCwIb46OytIavCkO5sSv9v-t7u786dl2jgO2Uge_wxxQkkP/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cqNHEEO3wRY13eh4o8rX0ODSVNgoOPW-4EJq312i3WXZvr8keLMwUI4MNThNkuUhnOksHGVTuumprGT1w77G1fXUKY_hrFewO_7BFxpH7_TGNCf0CMDzUoSi1Tkx7lCZwm_ibhqXMLr6nyG9qVh7AtZucwx5PvH6VFXdoCNIW_VvDsxr_p18iv0KslsO/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cqNHEEO3wRY13eh4o8rX0ODSVNgoOPW-4EJq312i3WXZvr8keLMwUI4MNThNkuUhnOksHGVTuumprGT1w77G1fXUKY_hrFewO_7BFxpH7_TGNCf0CMDzUoSi1Tkx7lCZwm_ibhqXMLr6nyG9qVh7AtZucwx5PvH6VFXdoCNIW_VvDsxr_p18iv0KslsO/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-18.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>If</b> you did it accordingly, you should be able to land in the compartment. It may take you several tries to get it right. After that's done and over with, have Lara walk deeper into the room to find <b>Secret #2</b> where in the nearest corner to the left you'll find a small Medipack,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMgNjN0P_I8HnlOFoiioZqxXf_PzvHdahd0BAeEnKJHeyuOJWYcXt-lUVdlHCs-eUKfvlIgZEg9F0oHwc6LFaNSBSNsURAclY1jveMvZr8QYv0Y7GchNsipKiGnOmNzHKD_6HWww_sqo6C5uEGI7nfRJ87t3IGBdCPaEswPvi1tc9YJfA8ylLAWO4udPA/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMgNjN0P_I8HnlOFoiioZqxXf_PzvHdahd0BAeEnKJHeyuOJWYcXt-lUVdlHCs-eUKfvlIgZEg9F0oHwc6LFaNSBSNsURAclY1jveMvZr8QYv0Y7GchNsipKiGnOmNzHKD_6HWww_sqo6C5uEGI7nfRJ87t3IGBdCPaEswPvi1tc9YJfA8ylLAWO4udPA/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVK6QH59yWCVzRTCXw6xLXjdRRhU4KORGqJwLoHXizkBqaf2dvm9xyZbhWSPPsZBODMLVevaftZ_J2LQRPlX8OugAw8eHe5ELHVde_uLOdzXU0-bn6pIEZ7rbcUwim9186TEs5kmIPDiugz9Tg-xkpaeRGT_bLuk6dJgGD76q8fFKs0gVJb60g6vtbEgv/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVK6QH59yWCVzRTCXw6xLXjdRRhU4KORGqJwLoHXizkBqaf2dvm9xyZbhWSPPsZBODMLVevaftZ_J2LQRPlX8OugAw8eHe5ELHVde_uLOdzXU0-bn6pIEZ7rbcUwim9186TEs5kmIPDiugz9Tg-xkpaeRGT_bLuk6dJgGD76q8fFKs0gVJb60g6vtbEgv/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-20.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and in the opposite corner to the distant right you'll find Shotgun shells. Now it's okay to get into the water, where a crocodile roams, you can exit down there from where you came from or you can drop down to the opposite end where there's a lever in the back. Do not pull the lever yet or the water will be completely drained and you won't be able to reach the Secret. In the middle of the water-filled corridor there is a small square opening for you to swim up towards.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AYkXadDnIhbDsJXZ-kRs7cBGdAVNbUeJBGlct9kOioi40pAhHL8eT3_4uZLfERDGMrnmvzR9J8KZGi2iCBkJ7PvRLQ6bKFoE7vLpkk0j4pfjSsfB-ezQYUwqrN9KCQXjQbUZ-VZ7jPCxptcd4oeFQIZQldvuepoqabsvibA-zE_F6YtUrQRpWgrS_o58/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AYkXadDnIhbDsJXZ-kRs7cBGdAVNbUeJBGlct9kOioi40pAhHL8eT3_4uZLfERDGMrnmvzR9J8KZGi2iCBkJ7PvRLQ6bKFoE7vLpkk0j4pfjSsfB-ezQYUwqrN9KCQXjQbUZ-VZ7jPCxptcd4oeFQIZQldvuepoqabsvibA-zE_F6YtUrQRpWgrS_o58/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-LeJOKkWE85Mdg1Un6U26493wBxXfIWsHbUDnrn-xo949Fsuk7F6ppOoXSNbGjzq1WVO1tAptPxeQm7zUT4fRkRkKwz7ERrS9s1rutDgunjauPA_q5IQ8xfMtLAoYikeaj0zQuxai3_rRjZ5c_PSopAFX-ATn2JdjWCuUpXisamdetfJ29qyz19wUjWk/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-LeJOKkWE85Mdg1Un6U26493wBxXfIWsHbUDnrn-xo949Fsuk7F6ppOoXSNbGjzq1WVO1tAptPxeQm7zUT4fRkRkKwz7ERrS9s1rutDgunjauPA_q5IQ8xfMtLAoYikeaj0zQuxai3_rRjZ5c_PSopAFX-ATn2JdjWCuUpXisamdetfJ29qyz19wUjWk/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-22.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Get out of the water, regain your breath, and you'll find yourself in <b>Secret #3</b>. Pick up the Shotgun shells and proceed with your business.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">On the way down the towering basement of St. Francis' Folly, you'll notice that one of the surfaces connected to the wall has got a floor switch on top of it. Aim for it, tap backward, and make a running jump toward it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOt7aiSJKue1_6eliq-IdpcWmx5REUCUVlAZkg41rNrlL1RQ86R431Y32GhTyCcPhsesuHC5WecJoJSKQ22K1l8gYeyOsXT_L-i_oyT3pVZgHFV_aOcPWgSNxgzexyyFDksbYHNHRWUvZ-HgnTsuN6v4q026Fq77LhkTZ9_aaEGhyVCLaW7qYo_d3auYV/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOt7aiSJKue1_6eliq-IdpcWmx5REUCUVlAZkg41rNrlL1RQ86R431Y32GhTyCcPhsesuHC5WecJoJSKQ22K1l8gYeyOsXT_L-i_oyT3pVZgHFV_aOcPWgSNxgzexyyFDksbYHNHRWUvZ-HgnTsuN6v4q026Fq77LhkTZ9_aaEGhyVCLaW7qYo_d3auYV/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-23.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9hIKAXiizqkYFPq43FNTViFNJVcaePODIi0dcdPBkhqSSO54As44Tpo03eV4jsogezC1LmRrCcWv5C5aLiB16O1SjfmUNudngNsv6DUTYj84lOhcizzGUyrNIvlD25iD4BjvKSsA0av5R7kcexBBl542RvpSTrrAuU7aziQr2FhenV4eTzCOJ0amPMUW/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9hIKAXiizqkYFPq43FNTViFNJVcaePODIi0dcdPBkhqSSO54As44Tpo03eV4jsogezC1LmRrCcWv5C5aLiB16O1SjfmUNudngNsv6DUTYj84lOhcizzGUyrNIvlD25iD4BjvKSsA0av5R7kcexBBl542RvpSTrrAuU7aziQr2FhenV4eTzCOJ0amPMUW/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-24.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Step on the switch, seemingly nothing will happen, but in actuality it opens up a covert door. The catch here is that it is all the way at the bottom in ground level. Because it is a timed switch you have one of two choices: you daredevil your way down there to get there on time <b>or</b> there is a safer and more convenient way of accessing it. Strewn throughout are Save Crystals from top to bottom, with the last one being accessed in ground level. Approach the Save Crystal, save when given the prompt, and then I want you to pause the game and select the passport icon to load your current progress.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B33qedlnmfpXIYZZb6D_XdVhsQzq1lbDI8wf9n__A2NxweNDglc7TticX3Dj8Sx4vlprl58ZEMJfFFRQ5lavluY7kXn7M1QCCZNfUPFTWQr06f4CTBSBurJ5YthKbGs1HaWFT7oqrwmej_RyB8LAP9Jbu8Aa9Wj5xai-uZrz1HvNcd_qrdewptX7uUvH/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B33qedlnmfpXIYZZb6D_XdVhsQzq1lbDI8wf9n__A2NxweNDglc7TticX3Dj8Sx4vlprl58ZEMJfFFRQ5lavluY7kXn7M1QCCZNfUPFTWQr06f4CTBSBurJ5YthKbGs1HaWFT7oqrwmej_RyB8LAP9Jbu8Aa9Wj5xai-uZrz1HvNcd_qrdewptX7uUvH/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-25.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5rILTfSQr2q_RXB_fB-jVKcOAcWc1rC43SIJLOeO54LTOrhLTFN7xCET4IYQ9gczsK2ZjK9kY8SP6K2PtziGU7kYWkfPWJTBwbsww5xpz0mbH3rw5NbkIRCJgaiYCx59bWfgjBTQ_LGtjz8v2tyzvnsyB7lJeGEEYc03YirFiqNBOsuIaqsvkCnwULE4/s376/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5rILTfSQr2q_RXB_fB-jVKcOAcWc1rC43SIJLOeO54LTOrhLTFN7xCET4IYQ9gczsK2ZjK9kY8SP6K2PtziGU7kYWkfPWJTBwbsww5xpz0mbH3rw5NbkIRCJgaiYCx59bWfgjBTQ_LGtjz8v2tyzvnsyB7lJeGEEYc03YirFiqNBOsuIaqsvkCnwULE4/w200-h158/TombRaider_StFrancisFolly-26.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After a successful loading session, you should hear a distant budging sound effect. Make your way to the corner with an open doorway to access <b>Secret #4</b>, where inside the room is a large Medipack in one corner and Magnum clips in the other. Congratulations, you've found all four Secrets of St. Francis' Folly!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 6: Colosseum</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnRMkMYcdhrYR7w75gR7BuPJE7oJxqzQXcUfKe2uClbMkgI61LqkK2fpN8UhQPbyEGo-ddo0UWXOCvnpCO8ckPWoj3FCCazUP3uhx41-ooLqinS0N6LKC25Bdq1r1fvp8AyGIQ8GigYuS-W-i9UqpQYaT1cGU4LJphdCuLoV1fHbseoEPPI_P_OQav_44/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnRMkMYcdhrYR7w75gR7BuPJE7oJxqzQXcUfKe2uClbMkgI61LqkK2fpN8UhQPbyEGo-ddo0UWXOCvnpCO8ckPWoj3FCCazUP3uhx41-ooLqinS0N6LKC25Bdq1r1fvp8AyGIQ8GigYuS-W-i9UqpQYaT1cGU4LJphdCuLoV1fHbseoEPPI_P_OQav_44/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN3YJE8YEgg-RrKoe0VWLanTLsBZyawsVsVIXR1s6YEJEmCZUiKYp28QBfb-h2Mb2MV_NfF5dJjqSjjYhwCsJWUMrHBw1P2lkw2ymK9A_pCz7knb9F4LP_IEr2PdbEWoiQ-90WYwIPpc8KhzPO1AMjyUZh-_5Yz-oa-Bh51jtiCWCy66Zx9xFhzd5wSyg/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN3YJE8YEgg-RrKoe0VWLanTLsBZyawsVsVIXR1s6YEJEmCZUiKYp28QBfb-h2Mb2MV_NfF5dJjqSjjYhwCsJWUMrHBw1P2lkw2ymK9A_pCz7knb9F4LP_IEr2PdbEWoiQ-90WYwIPpc8KhzPO1AMjyUZh-_5Yz-oa-Bh51jtiCWCy66Zx9xFhzd5wSyg/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The first Secret is located in that far rocky wall over there, which you can look at from the upper region of the temple entrance. You'll have to come up here anywhere to progress further into the story. Once you walk all the way to the left, I'll need you to jump to the flat-surfaced platforms all the way across and avoid to the best of your ability jumping on slanted surfaces that will cause you to slide down; the first flat stop will be by the entrance into the deeper cave (which you can ignore for now). Tapping backward and making running jumps are a must.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD93r5o7ndA5Jf8cy2EWR3cxwVi4SuCnWKi-a_iddl51rbFfcbKk4Pc6ApM5VNF9mfYhy8zBQkft1Bi9INhUnxFCmcTEnVUqRoitGP4yHVvam0WooKTHNGyZkNRcyAH9XX8kaBNoOBeLQ3gwFZCMB577FLX86dqj2EkvaGLgXlpC8SuqskXRiYtJdcelrU/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD93r5o7ndA5Jf8cy2EWR3cxwVi4SuCnWKi-a_iddl51rbFfcbKk4Pc6ApM5VNF9mfYhy8zBQkft1Bi9INhUnxFCmcTEnVUqRoitGP4yHVvam0WooKTHNGyZkNRcyAH9XX8kaBNoOBeLQ3gwFZCMB577FLX86dqj2EkvaGLgXlpC8SuqskXRiYtJdcelrU/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJkGVAiitGIlY0iqc-K9-XAonJqyvEK-Aj_CLpd_jv3_paI_Qz0SCtfy2NHbo0PVHNJ39VsCfpOkyXOCXOOapC7mtLXXQYV4dICn5_L3WTLaCV6NrblRIJEHIR_g0-WtlvuFQt4seDqJysw_IIdnQxgldI1kwhpLyEyu132y9R6133U897wp9VQE2DDun/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJkGVAiitGIlY0iqc-K9-XAonJqyvEK-Aj_CLpd_jv3_paI_Qz0SCtfy2NHbo0PVHNJ39VsCfpOkyXOCXOOapC7mtLXXQYV4dICn5_L3WTLaCV6NrblRIJEHIR_g0-WtlvuFQt4seDqJysw_IIdnQxgldI1kwhpLyEyu132y9R6133U897wp9VQE2DDun/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You're almost there, aim for the small cave entrance, tap backward, and make a running jump toward there. Walk in and you'll come across <b>Secret #1</b> which houses Shotgun shells.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPF_XcBB8xqne7fGFh3MLRjL8Q-qtmNDgL18NYhZE7BE9_EqtSXK3u8W6aqRfAlMl-m52fWUmLvjIQMVV_PI6vpMx2-UN-8GoDs1wCyw89fjij-HUzApwgLr6IJsBLl7hiToRG_wmmBN_cf94HnbPX-HDBZoT-JH1qfqvfFFuDcfuPllSq9KaOaGomlR4/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPF_XcBB8xqne7fGFh3MLRjL8Q-qtmNDgL18NYhZE7BE9_EqtSXK3u8W6aqRfAlMl-m52fWUmLvjIQMVV_PI6vpMx2-UN-8GoDs1wCyw89fjij-HUzApwgLr6IJsBLl7hiToRG_wmmBN_cf94HnbPX-HDBZoT-JH1qfqvfFFuDcfuPllSq9KaOaGomlR4/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZGoq4Pc8l2_AEm-KANxflDyK7w6svTl7h2lMvXu1WktlKofX-YVO0WRVcQYGwTpx6D9lAzBDmG-KFn-iuorpqrHErcsdQ2UHCAztt35Ab9mQCE97WGHApt63r8rWdn666VoHtxSCSOJ9jaTEVNf2ho3eUen7ZbSXeYgbiTmCTD1kLYW420GbH8q5-CAV/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZGoq4Pc8l2_AEm-KANxflDyK7w6svTl7h2lMvXu1WktlKofX-YVO0WRVcQYGwTpx6D9lAzBDmG-KFn-iuorpqrHErcsdQ2UHCAztt35Ab9mQCE97WGHApt63r8rWdn666VoHtxSCSOJ9jaTEVNf2ho3eUen7ZbSXeYgbiTmCTD1kLYW420GbH8q5-CAV/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Make your way back to the deep cave entrance I told you to ignore earlier (either the short way by making carefully planned out running jumps or the long way by climbing all the way from the bottom). Just as you've cleared the entrance turn left, walk to the ledge (kill the two crocodiles below if you want to), and then turn left again until you're facing the wall. Jump upward and hold the action button to grab on, and start shimmying your way to the right.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXle397a7aKNkaEdz9ygWWCapON-cHcVbQyJn8TciXVBR97tA5DXTeV_k1gmUebwEqkm51bRgZ1RemnuJKlQ3_MTMRBDQ7hnzOhIAEhC1yKxNPbfpRiROV70i5v2HSyB3YreKKULhY9lI8C9LuxPgtRTFoJHzoVdcUSXiEggpcZnRYH5l1aF_6HZ7DYqDX/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXle397a7aKNkaEdz9ygWWCapON-cHcVbQyJn8TciXVBR97tA5DXTeV_k1gmUebwEqkm51bRgZ1RemnuJKlQ3_MTMRBDQ7hnzOhIAEhC1yKxNPbfpRiROV70i5v2HSyB3YreKKULhY9lI8C9LuxPgtRTFoJHzoVdcUSXiEggpcZnRYH5l1aF_6HZ7DYqDX/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JoDRsfjixAPm-oIRC462FriBzfFaHbJf5cNJsEKYdL-yc0prwRYa5vKTRTBGAo2fxhCCeUlbURZsyQEp3rmmOOEfjS1xiOYN84479Tt8qZlSPNGQ73QbB0Buixu40tC4p5XZCcmKPzOd1ZBg57vZ-TGvssBrdrq1h2OXi976-0u0AagvHncqr34VMgg_/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JoDRsfjixAPm-oIRC462FriBzfFaHbJf5cNJsEKYdL-yc0prwRYa5vKTRTBGAo2fxhCCeUlbURZsyQEp3rmmOOEfjS1xiOYN84479Tt8qZlSPNGQ73QbB0Buixu40tC4p5XZCcmKPzOd1ZBg57vZ-TGvssBrdrq1h2OXi976-0u0AagvHncqr34VMgg_/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Shimmy in that direction until you're right at the spot where the ledge is slightly measured lower than the rest of the path. There should be enough ceiling space for Lara to climb up.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKZWGtTWqbrVJptGVagJpxQintTv837bZeMFTvcocjydX1pasFd_cNcKKeam2slDJROvRxsybEdlQtElF72vBFSCi5RgDFtIhV6xlotYcYc6O8VSI60gbdcaImza1lT-qqwkZxSYiWirAppNOypwarUV0bOVDUygehYb8UzjrMxH2dhObIJdkvym5SHbF/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKZWGtTWqbrVJptGVagJpxQintTv837bZeMFTvcocjydX1pasFd_cNcKKeam2slDJROvRxsybEdlQtElF72vBFSCi5RgDFtIhV6xlotYcYc6O8VSI60gbdcaImza1lT-qqwkZxSYiWirAppNOypwarUV0bOVDUygehYb8UzjrMxH2dhObIJdkvym5SHbF/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y9rp7_i01bhZ2d6HqFVTpo_PHeAmzp42YHunZJ5nvBSYfiyGJkbTEFsQE4jQVA_YXIu0Gps6NXyjTQHmV9-IbqBcU7SbFUBUdk4POLwvZvFY7uJp8k_GpCs7IPcCSLSvwDUpAKit6S_h8SKtJOVzjtppRsUPQ9sQp8_qg4ZeCMbx_lWTJ1XLV0E2u4lH/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y9rp7_i01bhZ2d6HqFVTpo_PHeAmzp42YHunZJ5nvBSYfiyGJkbTEFsQE4jQVA_YXIu0Gps6NXyjTQHmV9-IbqBcU7SbFUBUdk4POLwvZvFY7uJp8k_GpCs7IPcCSLSvwDUpAKit6S_h8SKtJOVzjtppRsUPQ9sQp8_qg4ZeCMbx_lWTJ1XLV0E2u4lH/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Enter the small opening and further inside you'll stumble across <b>Secret #2</b>, more Shotgun shells for you to carry.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on into the level you'll be required to enter a room with two tall Grecian columns located in the leftmost corner of the Colosseum's auditorium section. Be sure to shoot enough bullets at Pierre Dupont to make him go away, and kill the roaming lion as well, before entering. In front of the left column is a floor switch that will open a secret door that is located at the top of the room. If you position yourself properly you should be able to do this without a hitch simply by holding down the jump button: step in front of the column, then from there jump forward, leap sideways to the right, jump backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfMuf5HV8lLm-T3wuyDkAHRPkAFiZZVGx-n72vONIj0Q9vAcIj07oO1LjOtb9_w3-hT7xr8kOY2v6u_2v1uTzCpe7j-NXXAtWdiAkTrbzb2cKbY-tBjdHBv7O4qK2GuRNDx68YSbdiU7jDxxhTcC9kvHPs1mljruTzzxQH6TR8CJNEISlHCddUJe4gCyr/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfMuf5HV8lLm-T3wuyDkAHRPkAFiZZVGx-n72vONIj0Q9vAcIj07oO1LjOtb9_w3-hT7xr8kOY2v6u_2v1uTzCpe7j-NXXAtWdiAkTrbzb2cKbY-tBjdHBv7O4qK2GuRNDx68YSbdiU7jDxxhTcC9kvHPs1mljruTzzxQH6TR8CJNEISlHCddUJe4gCyr/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSFa2sR5ifZ1Ej_2GlQzV1BmXvsH_GAJJuEQFPcZBA6-IrJVD122rTkuJ6odrSOFKcrh8Oeq4EbIlByODCkuw0N1MNDs0achxc7aEZhLiKRUHw82HlU0t5akT8gJaxAhW_doPIAPIUWXmPT08srrTs5vn1uRWA8MjgLsbISRX-2QDyKZCj9NDI12TW6Gg/s376/TombRaider_Colosseum-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSFa2sR5ifZ1Ej_2GlQzV1BmXvsH_GAJJuEQFPcZBA6-IrJVD122rTkuJ6odrSOFKcrh8Oeq4EbIlByODCkuw0N1MNDs0achxc7aEZhLiKRUHw82HlU0t5akT8gJaxAhW_doPIAPIUWXmPT08srrTs5vn1uRWA8MjgLsbISRX-2QDyKZCj9NDI12TW6Gg/w200-h158/TombRaider_Colosseum-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">leap sideways to the left, and jump across so that you'll be able to enter the room before it closes on you. If you don't make it on time, don't worry, you have unlimited attempts (you just have to carefully make you way down to the left column). If you've successful, you've made it to <b>Secret #3</b>, which has got a large Medipack by itself, a large Medipack with Uzi clips that you can pick up all at once, and a pair of Magnum guns. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Colosseum!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 7: Palace Midas</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FTQ-CYJ_OeyhuVPmc_GJtP0wbTZ9HZbNghd4DC9qh4xTM1Z5mZ39en6m6aeYMchcLXWwMEQ9RMhZVbHbLIFH9WYifxphBPslIOciTUnICJWGH2pZGaH54WHwYJnUQlX2ofeKz8joQqlvhg1YkBqDdhgKmpdEgO4ZYeAtojI-T2KLVQ8qdsYoMcA0Kpvj/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FTQ-CYJ_OeyhuVPmc_GJtP0wbTZ9HZbNghd4DC9qh4xTM1Z5mZ39en6m6aeYMchcLXWwMEQ9RMhZVbHbLIFH9WYifxphBPslIOciTUnICJWGH2pZGaH54WHwYJnUQlX2ofeKz8joQqlvhg1YkBqDdhgKmpdEgO4ZYeAtojI-T2KLVQ8qdsYoMcA0Kpvj/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS987Josdkdm1Vd5aKun-YsvoHwSEydtDLEp6qltigazzbm32VLHJDRHoHc7LkoSYISHy0hPII7NzCeeqo_nZWvUQTdAf7qnEGcbbu9Rcz9_T9NJSjSvMGUneLaTe2uuhDnGjP-1Q83najCYljzMwsU0HdBw44Z8MhKJS9Lfpe8pmslTy07qB0FYYgLlsZ/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS987Josdkdm1Vd5aKun-YsvoHwSEydtDLEp6qltigazzbm32VLHJDRHoHc7LkoSYISHy0hPII7NzCeeqo_nZWvUQTdAf7qnEGcbbu9Rcz9_T9NJSjSvMGUneLaTe2uuhDnGjP-1Q83najCYljzMwsU0HdBw44Z8MhKJS9Lfpe8pmslTy07qB0FYYgLlsZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You will eventually come across a Save Crystal situated at an opening where there is a wide gap and a pool across. Save just in case things go wrong. Walk to the edge and shoot at the two gorillas and the crocodiles until they're dead. Once that's done, tap backward and make a running jump to clear the gap.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RAcBOtsnpyVr1DGl1FKuJeb3psFyTTnSShx9PpPiiaqXpC2mmb9tjuRyMZVApMz7gWOH1qiXwHgZnpmZkNGDiauh7G4XgyOCp9_pOPchoet9pubQS0wudefMLIqEKwjbE4YXwFzXVsiU1oOR2PO6DucK_MS1Q4UKfMJd9Z3hgnme18nfFseO4XSr4hPZ/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RAcBOtsnpyVr1DGl1FKuJeb3psFyTTnSShx9PpPiiaqXpC2mmb9tjuRyMZVApMz7gWOH1qiXwHgZnpmZkNGDiauh7G4XgyOCp9_pOPchoet9pubQS0wudefMLIqEKwjbE4YXwFzXVsiU1oOR2PO6DucK_MS1Q4UKfMJd9Z3hgnme18nfFseO4XSr4hPZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj475G3qPdE1MvzMhCUA-YTk3Qcvc7XbhEinQJye8l95sCOOTYRlw7-RF7vKXtWLeENX7R8LJQ92E4_yN1stp2ntQ8ilnSi9cnjIsjrWCG-nYSEA6s-AjTViWAU9OvEFLlKep5JRhXwpArTM_kHZM24d0iM7a31_5J1T2PTD53McfK07bu-mCo9BnwI_d_2/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj475G3qPdE1MvzMhCUA-YTk3Qcvc7XbhEinQJye8l95sCOOTYRlw7-RF7vKXtWLeENX7R8LJQ92E4_yN1stp2ntQ8ilnSi9cnjIsjrWCG-nYSEA6s-AjTViWAU9OvEFLlKep5JRhXwpArTM_kHZM24d0iM7a31_5J1T2PTD53McfK07bu-mCo9BnwI_d_2/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Follow the stream of water all the way to the right, jump in the water to swim below, and resurface on the other side to a spacious rocky chamber. Kill the second crocodile so you won't have to worry about it later. Swim to the right corner and approach the ledge to get on land, and from there make your way to the farthest corner. Once you've hit the wall, face the left and climb up.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UGEAQSZDJj2DibGL9VyxVPpqmUtyo6mHS7zcFkWBKXvb-MOZHocmvAvFf6li85OZhYlaMP_0L_0THAkre339Cmg9jOeSwNKInjgIKzeFmIgrgmNB0gi8GYBJrAe1ljhpv8eVaaGB17KbPt2xIfZ39Un7CivaThHdnuMStcdXzwO0oRVGWOYvI3AMCbE/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UGEAQSZDJj2DibGL9VyxVPpqmUtyo6mHS7zcFkWBKXvb-MOZHocmvAvFf6li85OZhYlaMP_0L_0THAkre339Cmg9jOeSwNKInjgIKzeFmIgrgmNB0gi8GYBJrAe1ljhpv8eVaaGB17KbPt2xIfZ39Un7CivaThHdnuMStcdXzwO0oRVGWOYvI3AMCbE/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kEHqSYuyzq-nfu0WidjxC4LUaQIGM7PKKDnafTzNNp_NiS8X_zLmw2LS9ICcJV1inE6MKXQHmjwtRCbzEK0XryoSAt6UP1YFJbsSjTsGJCmQbN2YveHj5eNgGu6wm3cXXYormyiGTjqKKAe1-mO7SDUbHc3pWPCecha8MeThYYDE3RVxS_dcYPKBlpIB/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kEHqSYuyzq-nfu0WidjxC4LUaQIGM7PKKDnafTzNNp_NiS8X_zLmw2LS9ICcJV1inE6MKXQHmjwtRCbzEK0XryoSAt6UP1YFJbsSjTsGJCmQbN2YveHj5eNgGu6wm3cXXYormyiGTjqKKAe1-mO7SDUbHc3pWPCecha8MeThYYDE3RVxS_dcYPKBlpIB/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You may want to consider running so you can perform a running jump across the steep incline facing towards you so you can land on</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPzdpkjR-aHtQO5tEyK8lORu5-8SXyGCG9_2Cf5UPw5c9YP9PaYBzBaQa3RlYh4HOwelcy-3qOEG23DsGn6h4ctbyE5IYg1iEo5IMz6ROM9_xrv2EaHDBT8vR7hyEXETq0eBWgUQro5ATyZ6IPcqXQoDO3EyWd7ZaoOus_DuyTGzLfsCOV8gR45tSiPPb/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPzdpkjR-aHtQO5tEyK8lORu5-8SXyGCG9_2Cf5UPw5c9YP9PaYBzBaQa3RlYh4HOwelcy-3qOEG23DsGn6h4ctbyE5IYg1iEo5IMz6ROM9_xrv2EaHDBT8vR7hyEXETq0eBWgUQro5ATyZ6IPcqXQoDO3EyWd7ZaoOus_DuyTGzLfsCOV8gR45tSiPPb/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNqqanMIarKNxfERWTb9eVzIs9wTUW0Yw02-DOHpnR5PhE5lhXJdlTa7S_LXQvwGteKDxTRBkdhQ5pfqhSKuqrnVUeG5Kr1ki6VeQPga2F2WEkYqzW8IaRp3isoMg-xoya_YnsSQmbXQEPz5FLikHHig9U9z3rcWUtUISmc1wiAd9cle35_7ftvJ3vmyw/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNqqanMIarKNxfERWTb9eVzIs9wTUW0Yw02-DOHpnR5PhE5lhXJdlTa7S_LXQvwGteKDxTRBkdhQ5pfqhSKuqrnVUeG5Kr1ki6VeQPga2F2WEkYqzW8IaRp3isoMg-xoya_YnsSQmbXQEPz5FLikHHig9U9z3rcWUtUISmc1wiAd9cle35_7ftvJ3vmyw/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">the steep incline facing the opposite direction, and just as you slide to the bottom tip make a jump from there to the back corner where you'll land on a flat surface. Now turn left and make a run for the corner on the other side, where you'll slide yourself down to <b>Secret #1</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GHhaHVONVNuPGNkorJA2ul6SoBsJzp6fZz9s2gTzNv0IcUCkIxwzSmV3uJ8MXB-nGVzAsJrt_yNsNv3Q8I9bTOq_oIXgBd1Qa0Pm3KLI6lkWIScjRoEXafRx1lFbmPqp6AqSUJlhMy5dipfstZP8WpSuTr8hUWEd15Tqc8UmZV1x8iBJ404et2k4jT-I/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GHhaHVONVNuPGNkorJA2ul6SoBsJzp6fZz9s2gTzNv0IcUCkIxwzSmV3uJ8MXB-nGVzAsJrt_yNsNv3Q8I9bTOq_oIXgBd1Qa0Pm3KLI6lkWIScjRoEXafRx1lFbmPqp6AqSUJlhMy5dipfstZP8WpSuTr8hUWEd15Tqc8UmZV1x8iBJ404et2k4jT-I/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzICbDo8da9CDZkV8QAbOF_QEdwR1cPQsFbGRjFVf597QVASyF4SULyzMnG36UJNB5faBY3YYXsOtFpuoQgF2GWYA7PvUO8DHQtevyX5_qP4mecImGu5FUYD7gUMgFf8szlfgXzI2G2WeeHP2ySwbQUzeIjB1fZpm3F2Ls0E2v62HXVvG0fdzLwEwhqMEQ/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzICbDo8da9CDZkV8QAbOF_QEdwR1cPQsFbGRjFVf597QVASyF4SULyzMnG36UJNB5faBY3YYXsOtFpuoQgF2GWYA7PvUO8DHQtevyX5_qP4mecImGu5FUYD7gUMgFf8szlfgXzI2G2WeeHP2ySwbQUzeIjB1fZpm3F2Ls0E2v62HXVvG0fdzLwEwhqMEQ/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-10.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Now you can pick up the small Medipack and Magnum clips all at once. From there swim back and go back to the ledge across from the large pool of water. Walk to the left corner and look down to see some items. Have Lara face away from the ledge, tap backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68JLYU_4OXXry20Htlzlhl6tK2Mjoe3NgvGtepdz0GFqg2zUFq85Od68y2zYzaFwhC0-_UeGrmiMvcc23aA_scIiXxkqZGpSLifhGq3UYR4Q3K1x68BVaxLiGx9a3Nho9wY_oARtpV2IpJGHLmM15lXozT3t3TpvYFtv7586EDAc1xZj7DW78tx29Ioxv/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68JLYU_4OXXry20Htlzlhl6tK2Mjoe3NgvGtepdz0GFqg2zUFq85Od68y2zYzaFwhC0-_UeGrmiMvcc23aA_scIiXxkqZGpSLifhGq3UYR4Q3K1x68BVaxLiGx9a3Nho9wY_oARtpV2IpJGHLmM15lXozT3t3TpvYFtv7586EDAc1xZj7DW78tx29Ioxv/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMmEYl0Vt6LfNsB4wPB7Uf-lN5I27mNSUEmczBw3hEOsBPsTeI07xIDt5nek5WjNEm9ut9Wn8rKld2JIaM0WE83gHp7pumkZkQiwBdj7FzYWdwhqsczDTnyJkDbXqldHYgeQN3PvSNYG5zOHrsSxMLVvy4F_HFa5_-gJAbjnNip67DxUI3ovqoSLfJyGg/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMmEYl0Vt6LfNsB4wPB7Uf-lN5I27mNSUEmczBw3hEOsBPsTeI07xIDt5nek5WjNEm9ut9Wn8rKld2JIaM0WE83gHp7pumkZkQiwBdj7FzYWdwhqsczDTnyJkDbXqldHYgeQN3PvSNYG5zOHrsSxMLVvy4F_HFa5_-gJAbjnNip67DxUI3ovqoSLfJyGg/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">hold the action button to grab the ledge, and then let go to fall down. Once you hit the ground immediately have her roll to mitigate the amount of damage taken. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZadBUWg8XMPO2ywCy-BQbolQw_LWrbCDq1K3HDeKknghl8dO_5varJlm6ft4Bx7Y-EktD8ywnjWqi6Plx3QOQ2f-MjpdU1Vhehrp6CQsvESj72u1qPxTH1VWMmkF-QzJQVuu8WAGjIX7XFWl74UVUeitMc6eSLIn_fUlYtFe4TD7K8fu64pm_qIE0AS7w/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZadBUWg8XMPO2ywCy-BQbolQw_LWrbCDq1K3HDeKknghl8dO_5varJlm6ft4Bx7Y-EktD8ywnjWqi6Plx3QOQ2f-MjpdU1Vhehrp6CQsvESj72u1qPxTH1VWMmkF-QzJQVuu8WAGjIX7XFWl74UVUeitMc6eSLIn_fUlYtFe4TD7K8fu64pm_qIE0AS7w/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdrErx7CgXrc3zq8M3jlIRpQbZXKAejoHkRI4KUGIC0UjxHJy-9ttf9ZUVB1oaEyPDX_iNZsFYEW6fjQZxyUZY7RhH1IDruQ2wqX8UQ7NUeCWS7XCZ94d99bja0inU3QjdqMXdwFEf-mIFNNrHqJfb2A5eSWKn6PawDDdbUNWsr6Ef3lkTBgk4pVZmfBY/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdrErx7CgXrc3zq8M3jlIRpQbZXKAejoHkRI4KUGIC0UjxHJy-9ttf9ZUVB1oaEyPDX_iNZsFYEW6fjQZxyUZY7RhH1IDruQ2wqX8UQ7NUeCWS7XCZ94d99bja0inU3QjdqMXdwFEf-mIFNNrHqJfb2A5eSWKn6PawDDdbUNWsr6Ef3lkTBgk4pVZmfBY/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-14.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You are now at <b>Secret #2</b> which has got Shotgun shells, Uzi clips, and a small Medipack that can be picked up all at once.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once you've opened the gate in the back, make your way there and kill the gorillas that inhabit the zone so they won't bother you anymore. Once inside, head toward the left side</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0F9U7zJCkKvUyXVdnw1w4WPfEaJg0AXkbK3ZK-KyTM08C0HtondjpGg-pPcQiCbtMwhwQN90EdpeQJloaCZwb-9NMcOf-VVoqygFjf4mC6Ld1M05RknJtv4uUEq8XJvOe_Q_zKRdOtLMA5TNOOgJawQuo3qqITBy5s4IQx1_krIYUK0_DAkFn5EI_esy/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0F9U7zJCkKvUyXVdnw1w4WPfEaJg0AXkbK3ZK-KyTM08C0HtondjpGg-pPcQiCbtMwhwQN90EdpeQJloaCZwb-9NMcOf-VVoqygFjf4mC6Ld1M05RknJtv4uUEq8XJvOe_Q_zKRdOtLMA5TNOOgJawQuo3qqITBy5s4IQx1_krIYUK0_DAkFn5EI_esy/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G1OgnfQ2gs1rzLnbcjmrWgsLvIZZZLG6BRNnbyU-m7Y1_LGD5dBxIvcal4VgBy1vUoHnrNHJyKEraiAarWoh5oaYHpQraLDfxjzOvb6zegX7wUgG3b-C90XdyDce4alI8o3FRBbYhevsO0YN9ml_-QgkCjvFDlH8LFgycOQ0ktLweV7ngu571OJ9zfx_/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G1OgnfQ2gs1rzLnbcjmrWgsLvIZZZLG6BRNnbyU-m7Y1_LGD5dBxIvcal4VgBy1vUoHnrNHJyKEraiAarWoh5oaYHpQraLDfxjzOvb6zegX7wUgG3b-C90XdyDce4alI8o3FRBbYhevsO0YN9ml_-QgkCjvFDlH8LFgycOQ0ktLweV7ngu571OJ9zfx_/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">right where you see a fountain in the adjacent corner. Behind the last tree on the right is a lever deliberately hidden from view, walk toward it and pull it down. You will hear the sound of a gate open, now head right until you're in the center region of the room</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiRSivOhTQwEbR2fUsb4IlBMaiKboDPGtB6tzeKvPJehTuAzVDqv6F_u5-q-JTDlqgSWY_TUtiS1A5F2YhgyAC7hzSkSM4xAgikKf3cR2J-rKGfyUOrf1aUPgAz7Y9P9pZq2-uMymJ1ShxT_92j_4ge3bDO6bk3zN3PZAysqUV5CezDrnb303xiPujdYy/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiRSivOhTQwEbR2fUsb4IlBMaiKboDPGtB6tzeKvPJehTuAzVDqv6F_u5-q-JTDlqgSWY_TUtiS1A5F2YhgyAC7hzSkSM4xAgikKf3cR2J-rKGfyUOrf1aUPgAz7Y9P9pZq2-uMymJ1ShxT_92j_4ge3bDO6bk3zN3PZAysqUV5CezDrnb303xiPujdYy/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJbfwsgrA9KJSqzOiPD0j0lyGJXSsASl3tVls6Tz6o1KAmXNgiOmMSXbwBqFFFj1pBkisu3QxEteD9z0uhSJsX-ZXQYBaAU3EGfOVgtl7WKrBGmmXNuX5IyYNAegViIrZdMv8OeH_ERpODe_HV55q4jZGaT59LzsVStsCYFiE_uYzWpwOMEjnSdq28aUu/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJbfwsgrA9KJSqzOiPD0j0lyGJXSsASl3tVls6Tz6o1KAmXNgiOmMSXbwBqFFFj1pBkisu3QxEteD9z0uhSJsX-ZXQYBaAU3EGfOVgtl7WKrBGmmXNuX5IyYNAegViIrZdMv8OeH_ERpODe_HV55q4jZGaT59LzsVStsCYFiE_uYzWpwOMEjnSdq28aUu/w200-h158/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-18.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then turn left to go inside the gate you just opened. Once inside turn left to trigger the cue for <b>Secret #3</b>, and you'll find that that you'll have to go across to the end but along the way you must time your movements accordingly for there are two crushing traps with a collapsable platform in the middle. You'll have to do the same on the way out, but with a perfectly timed running jump.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bNuKyFJov92f1aIgL4b4lPAMXUR_HzuBcOa1Bh6gH2KKshST-MqQKRwiq8aod-DYX8vfF0ODgeJLITKg66JtXeD927oo3-SAwcyomB0WANCQmjaVbHCwiYmWqmnHthUb56eX5_oYATu9FXQpcbKO1orWnxWAwJpAuB1dE5mmV6tcJPLOSP_q90jCzfHT/s376/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bNuKyFJov92f1aIgL4b4lPAMXUR_HzuBcOa1Bh6gH2KKshST-MqQKRwiq8aod-DYX8vfF0ODgeJLITKg66JtXeD927oo3-SAwcyomB0WANCQmjaVbHCwiYmWqmnHthUb56eX5_oYATu9FXQpcbKO1orWnxWAwJpAuB1dE5mmV6tcJPLOSP_q90jCzfHT/s16000/TombRaider_PalaceMidas-19.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once inside you may claim the Magnum clips in the middle, the Shotgun shells behind the tree in the far right corner, and the small Medipack behind the tree in the corner across from it. Since there is a probability of this going south if you misstep, you may want to consider entering the room with the golden hand of Midas and use the Save Crystal there so you won't have to go through too much hassle to get back here. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of Palace Midas!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 8: The Cistern</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5WwSO4GTGGd-jzw27ovA-baBL8aUdcgWRkP5Z_rZAkab2-A19iUV1QGiUyYCLfth45Bq6PODxnNX8TTEsh3M0Cj54IcxdCwf8pBQGgF2oQYvN1f8mQmz7Qm_7Pzac-cDnWZfox73jwRB_Y_M6PVKxUYlqhHxr27YCqGGNmAGAgRWbY2hkFbFYCT750nL/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5WwSO4GTGGd-jzw27ovA-baBL8aUdcgWRkP5Z_rZAkab2-A19iUV1QGiUyYCLfth45Bq6PODxnNX8TTEsh3M0Cj54IcxdCwf8pBQGgF2oQYvN1f8mQmz7Qm_7Pzac-cDnWZfox73jwRB_Y_M6PVKxUYlqhHxr27YCqGGNmAGAgRWbY2hkFbFYCT750nL/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSZ3sWHbPVzVrFq8zzWxL1uNpIhuXqgl0KMJYfQD2IGnZ2ld8p0Og69IXHD43jYMgW65o5O85pEIh4B7NuhjD4KNFvihfWTM8PrqC8s7DBm6Y4KnnO1aS4FF_LbxPPdZSD3kbxb_XYl_qY8N0osKk1M4YG6HMaFCHv5z8rf4Lc_80x2-vR10c-C2yuLJi/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSZ3sWHbPVzVrFq8zzWxL1uNpIhuXqgl0KMJYfQD2IGnZ2ld8p0Og69IXHD43jYMgW65o5O85pEIh4B7NuhjD4KNFvihfWTM8PrqC8s7DBm6Y4KnnO1aS4FF_LbxPPdZSD3kbxb_XYl_qY8N0osKk1M4YG6HMaFCHv5z8rf4Lc_80x2-vR10c-C2yuLJi/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Make your way to the room on the right, and before you do anything else shoot enough bullets at Pierre Dupont to make him go away (what, you thought you were done with him two levels ago? <b>Oh no</b>, Palace Midas was a welcome break from having to deal with <b>his</b> French nuisance arse again! 😖). Once Pierre is gone for the time being, make your way to the upper platform</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIRfoNozVyc1IObIzu7OiYshwlkcdhRC4ABmn6BiXPlnPFmhw9bAmUj-Um8QFjECSP4vS6pBuFq6bGL5qYracdGbpbPdIPSg2MoEPUQ5kBrIUm5hGqncDdt-dJZ_Z3op4Uq8vO1OVfs2X9taEGFTkfucgQNpeQyjNIyKPHhCvUMsZ-Fbbb0VrjK8qOnex/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIRfoNozVyc1IObIzu7OiYshwlkcdhRC4ABmn6BiXPlnPFmhw9bAmUj-Um8QFjECSP4vS6pBuFq6bGL5qYracdGbpbPdIPSg2MoEPUQ5kBrIUm5hGqncDdt-dJZ_Z3op4Uq8vO1OVfs2X9taEGFTkfucgQNpeQyjNIyKPHhCvUMsZ-Fbbb0VrjK8qOnex/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzK6TebEdkzuFXo3B779ew4aZDzvi_gHxxoxHT_iRokT4QdiT16C56toPtGx00r226l6QgU7U1en6aNjaeWGJ-Y8p9uVLPW-ZVKVnK5OedtGpv2puhh9pC3FUiyByi56y_WH8KmEU17uCiirpgv3rp361h41e7UgvmPIMzJNtmF-nfzuSbbrVwnu68B-y/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzK6TebEdkzuFXo3B779ew4aZDzvi_gHxxoxHT_iRokT4QdiT16C56toPtGx00r226l6QgU7U1en6aNjaeWGJ-Y8p9uVLPW-ZVKVnK5OedtGpv2puhh9pC3FUiyByi56y_WH8KmEU17uCiirpgv3rp361h41e7UgvmPIMzJNtmF-nfzuSbbrVwnu68B-y/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and climb up it in any way you can. After that align yourself to the wall and jump up and grab the ledge above you, then climb up and grab the small Medipack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Re6LlFcFvqEgmK1zZ7ipW2b7yks8vf6fEEy715QNJfzFaUNQa3Nv0xSXnZHAMF-AHTViw98q5Pcmi_FnUxxNJNkI44lm0J6-YZ2qtLmWrAo6a1Va4exi0MXitgn50dXsl-8wmu0iWShrqaOEtI2lZu9cTov197yV8gPgT9SM3VWxRi3M9dUPGk_dUsZF/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Re6LlFcFvqEgmK1zZ7ipW2b7yks8vf6fEEy715QNJfzFaUNQa3Nv0xSXnZHAMF-AHTViw98q5Pcmi_FnUxxNJNkI44lm0J6-YZ2qtLmWrAo6a1Va4exi0MXitgn50dXsl-8wmu0iWShrqaOEtI2lZu9cTov197yV8gPgT9SM3VWxRi3M9dUPGk_dUsZF/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb0V3JtTsG-RDkMH33yOx_HbnQMu4aGh9LQdiJWkIbHlqc9r6nZzx4994Kg3Shpk39ZG_H_JGGtb2mvw7YxrWtbArr_GDiHN5T9yp0J251MOZdjKLWCJoeRi7uWuW-aFzA9WaF5GJEHFJHczzFNU5_VDRgb6ialM6j9c2sk26kost3V3t1k30H5w-587D/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb0V3JtTsG-RDkMH33yOx_HbnQMu4aGh9LQdiJWkIbHlqc9r6nZzx4994Kg3Shpk39ZG_H_JGGtb2mvw7YxrWtbArr_GDiHN5T9yp0J251MOZdjKLWCJoeRi7uWuW-aFzA9WaF5GJEHFJHczzFNU5_VDRgb6ialM6j9c2sk26kost3V3t1k30H5w-587D/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Now this next part is visually dark on the Sega Saturn (at least partway through), and I really hate to do this, but for this sake I'll adjust the gamma settings to its brightest so you can get a good look (and so my camera won't go crazy with the exposure contrast). Walk to the right then turn left to face the wall,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU-l06WiaiXc-5USN0GdZdqizvjL-DJS7PC9knm9GAIZxJ6oEWC6wJcFBEOCD9F2tkPOtVTRllcv6sV_GfU-bvKoJwTbZF9-IM5Cw2rOC05qjBdK5kstrJrIiIhTrZOsVH9Guc1m-zKXQvJ4lroRqmOGM78XjnvWiflYNepV2h0iaQEdisIanZBC_IrNB/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU-l06WiaiXc-5USN0GdZdqizvjL-DJS7PC9knm9GAIZxJ6oEWC6wJcFBEOCD9F2tkPOtVTRllcv6sV_GfU-bvKoJwTbZF9-IM5Cw2rOC05qjBdK5kstrJrIiIhTrZOsVH9Guc1m-zKXQvJ4lroRqmOGM78XjnvWiflYNepV2h0iaQEdisIanZBC_IrNB/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_jbELMKeVlA6Am2pNrw1h1DVOoPSvpvK3LmIaLu_rAzQeCvdIUDkshEkmT0BAZmRSW4sWguasb42AaQ2RWJly43z9QLIy7SApuB0Rl7T40RTjkpuFiFTa7UY_Hjfpofl4ctwSxKhaOrZondGaaULGHdm1PpHHOwpmcs_fxVPyuUp3dg5KqpcsmeQNqoy/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_jbELMKeVlA6Am2pNrw1h1DVOoPSvpvK3LmIaLu_rAzQeCvdIUDkshEkmT0BAZmRSW4sWguasb42AaQ2RWJly43z9QLIy7SApuB0Rl7T40RTjkpuFiFTa7UY_Hjfpofl4ctwSxKhaOrZondGaaULGHdm1PpHHOwpmcs_fxVPyuUp3dg5KqpcsmeQNqoy/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then get ready to jump up and grab the ledge, climbing it up, initiating <b>Secret #1</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVoxJOwZ1oN_LTmc9FMRL5ulzc3M1F0xzu1e7dt69v3lizh-eT7CydjytSvP_414uWE6yV0qEk7C-Pdxvb6EvTWfpGfYK3N6ooJ4QleIX4YTgaklEz95SP1mie2yFxeuFrWj2u3qOrkUyPN34VSIhCkYt_xpslolxhjZNWpMNnqzg5Oj7gkb1cf16PuYT/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVoxJOwZ1oN_LTmc9FMRL5ulzc3M1F0xzu1e7dt69v3lizh-eT7CydjytSvP_414uWE6yV0qEk7C-Pdxvb6EvTWfpGfYK3N6ooJ4QleIX4YTgaklEz95SP1mie2yFxeuFrWj2u3qOrkUyPN34VSIhCkYt_xpslolxhjZNWpMNnqzg5Oj7gkb1cf16PuYT/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1jK65qWjT0P5aOaZDAhn1JJlHuyzCl_UTDreoeUr-fOYky8Mn6lz1CCCSTr9eb96tUA0Tx6XarBkGGW8HolJ0WVcbD6UFXQxrbB7dmBvnhEN27sz2BDv-k0hoz4MT7oMB_0XIubf0qyazjFDH_XsKTEcw1zPeErwzooV-jorKU9s4fEFm9eh883zLJip/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1jK65qWjT0P5aOaZDAhn1JJlHuyzCl_UTDreoeUr-fOYky8Mn6lz1CCCSTr9eb96tUA0Tx6XarBkGGW8HolJ0WVcbD6UFXQxrbB7dmBvnhEN27sz2BDv-k0hoz4MT7oMB_0XIubf0qyazjFDH_XsKTEcw1zPeErwzooV-jorKU9s4fEFm9eh883zLJip/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Walk forward and grab the ledge to climb up the block-shaped step, then align yourself to the left side so that you can climb <b>it</b>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lHUXVoT_wDQZY3LNY4lLVKFBwpCO2ScZfNI3prs-9ESBSvxRK9nGTnqIG8nqqtYUN7YUwtkvLxM4S47n47Bi7e-O9loPVTR3WRIvrL2TcuCyxIh1c_W8b9-NkET2udxmDS0CGOsurxDuhIU5KI4vxdWZ3dujjj2Z8b8rtekAtyKJRZDTWwDszGe1KduC/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lHUXVoT_wDQZY3LNY4lLVKFBwpCO2ScZfNI3prs-9ESBSvxRK9nGTnqIG8nqqtYUN7YUwtkvLxM4S47n47Bi7e-O9loPVTR3WRIvrL2TcuCyxIh1c_W8b9-NkET2udxmDS0CGOsurxDuhIU5KI4vxdWZ3dujjj2Z8b8rtekAtyKJRZDTWwDszGe1KduC/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE4lLZtsRsHKAt2b1AX8TdaO4nqcLjwS2hWkSzGCfRcbleDtSGQ_qgrRY-7OSvnlU0_-UcAcdrSBa2rFOHie30ON-11xSB0twvehPO47Iay4Ie5XruFPpcoeeRUMJZ_-fNfjU6cXyHDfjp5mn1B3fO8fRLHiKWMDHeIVW6xAZKbdHXZY2yWqHD58aR3IN/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE4lLZtsRsHKAt2b1AX8TdaO4nqcLjwS2hWkSzGCfRcbleDtSGQ_qgrRY-7OSvnlU0_-UcAcdrSBa2rFOHie30ON-11xSB0twvehPO47Iay4Ie5XruFPpcoeeRUMJZ_-fNfjU6cXyHDfjp5mn1B3fO8fRLHiKWMDHeIVW6xAZKbdHXZY2yWqHD58aR3IN/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then move forward and climb one more time to find Shotgun shells for you to pick up. Walk forward and you will find yourself sliding down a steep incline, and just as you arrive at the bottom edge jump across</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6lH5P1DXrfpF3ETk-0Eqm5LoolmwMyv_2ILUu6XFecSaay5ffPyPc-3RuYTJRJy_6_zLIjCjX7uLR8mXk1ALl0DykCZ3G-zpviqPBWVc9LGuR-ctOTZjmCpBgNT3bmEJSCkHx10mwAQ9gtQUiEh_nvrYDs8ZlvYdfZUy5WjcsbfM27SzWer-WTXFQnmS/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6lH5P1DXrfpF3ETk-0Eqm5LoolmwMyv_2ILUu6XFecSaay5ffPyPc-3RuYTJRJy_6_zLIjCjX7uLR8mXk1ALl0DykCZ3G-zpviqPBWVc9LGuR-ctOTZjmCpBgNT3bmEJSCkHx10mwAQ9gtQUiEh_nvrYDs8ZlvYdfZUy5WjcsbfM27SzWer-WTXFQnmS/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJKUa-uCAkxXkkd04dVQUDpcPfjPyFBI98rg4lMBqPla4b3exSriWJJhbLdb00Za56f4jGo_YkQvTvLwqCquJwKk_LWYXk5nBAd7tZSAYWIHAca9VtQuaTt3hmrJJeSlNJ8UXtHlKjhyoUMkKEQEEUJ6Jd7uc3bEDmnIFIA0S8h-TKkXx1B7camRFxgy7/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJKUa-uCAkxXkkd04dVQUDpcPfjPyFBI98rg4lMBqPla4b3exSriWJJhbLdb00Za56f4jGo_YkQvTvLwqCquJwKk_LWYXk5nBAd7tZSAYWIHAca9VtQuaTt3hmrJJeSlNJ8UXtHlKjhyoUMkKEQEEUJ6Jd7uc3bEDmnIFIA0S8h-TKkXx1B7camRFxgy7/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-14.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and hold down the action button to grab the ledge ahead of you, then climb up to collect two extra sets of Shotgun shells.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGm6DllErgDQIvK7vPqYZwa80e5_pVCZUpux0fxOBHoRjAYWa_dA-5wiedbU8H6M-lFuG3s0qDS31Wah2pVsvNiqj6Mr8N1FzBVsJ_TNIVojGLiY5iN865THN-rg29JC_cD4jc5ec-aCLjm7Ac_ioESA1bE98so9FtjwX7DmAwftYLivJfwQJpuY2YfcjA/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGm6DllErgDQIvK7vPqYZwa80e5_pVCZUpux0fxOBHoRjAYWa_dA-5wiedbU8H6M-lFuG3s0qDS31Wah2pVsvNiqj6Mr8N1FzBVsJ_TNIVojGLiY5iN865THN-rg29JC_cD4jc5ec-aCLjm7Ac_ioESA1bE98so9FtjwX7DmAwftYLivJfwQJpuY2YfcjA/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LHECoORjIjX0aFRVqYfRLOCC2J2J8FM0j2R-DWXU-EkvNK6tupb95_txpDqE679v6bfMXtFq17W_CizeLcwBRXf0m-vCk4kzXGghdazpqkBxosh8WWDZysAN7tAiQPNVpf5aq0V0qUhq1UG5aQGBZUqqgHwGhj0Z6Gv5N1e-YHixbtls2TNfkgBvBg29/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LHECoORjIjX0aFRVqYfRLOCC2J2J8FM0j2R-DWXU-EkvNK6tupb95_txpDqE679v6bfMXtFq17W_CizeLcwBRXf0m-vCk4kzXGghdazpqkBxosh8WWDZysAN7tAiQPNVpf5aq0V0qUhq1UG5aQGBZUqqgHwGhj0Z6Gv5N1e-YHixbtls2TNfkgBvBg29/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-16.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This next Secret can be accessed regardless whether you decide to pull the lever to fill the room with water or not, but either way jump into the water in the direction across.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOdQw-6GiKAxDNlfky4R3avvkZNd3oDel2C-O3w-Tes0HBkv15_LvgnRdd06hUUvoxZtNUGHbkIGRmYl584FQ5GSoKPglEnI8P2ia7Hz3kYrDSEYXriwz4ehJGSTU1v62pnIqazI5ZhnAVmRSWeZfqW47QUzwpsdAS563jAmFgkKv3Jkmu9As9iIek4PQ/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOdQw-6GiKAxDNlfky4R3avvkZNd3oDel2C-O3w-Tes0HBkv15_LvgnRdd06hUUvoxZtNUGHbkIGRmYl584FQ5GSoKPglEnI8P2ia7Hz3kYrDSEYXriwz4ehJGSTU1v62pnIqazI5ZhnAVmRSWeZfqW47QUzwpsdAS563jAmFgkKv3Jkmu9As9iIek4PQ/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshyvWXc97K4wdW3GyKSqHhItfquqqPf_Ek5aePfKHskK1qS9cde8UkHt8M6ICEAscpW0Uy0gFldoeEnPvw2zUaHr2QAfcCfEBwJka0rqHpoxNGXS4rSCzfeu1PS7ASq_imNaw4dXrUe6MqkvjYPN5QjDJXOhFY4jj58j_bRprgjvPpXq2WyoBSNjoTD3/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgshyvWXc97K4wdW3GyKSqHhItfquqqPf_Ek5aePfKHskK1qS9cde8UkHt8M6ICEAscpW0Uy0gFldoeEnPvw2zUaHr2QAfcCfEBwJka0rqHpoxNGXS4rSCzfeu1PS7ASq_imNaw4dXrUe6MqkvjYPN5QjDJXOhFY4jj58j_bRprgjvPpXq2WyoBSNjoTD3/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-18.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Alas, once again I have to adjust the gamma settings for your benefit (and my camera's) so you can get a good look.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1YzdL-vKjzv_LpoHF65hPKV8NrUhJBMAd5sXOelXNldbxxwe6ggldtrqfzcXx8OmTUZTcZ8sJ-VgsbCe5iQrrNpxEi6iCsxjkWrjDK1x7hyTG3BdkIhDClLOCmSgrZeoA3vTSIGhC6_YnEfZVFDJGR_GvU89nvqbSH8J25VskqZnr1loNL08ygWXMNJa/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1YzdL-vKjzv_LpoHF65hPKV8NrUhJBMAd5sXOelXNldbxxwe6ggldtrqfzcXx8OmTUZTcZ8sJ-VgsbCe5iQrrNpxEi6iCsxjkWrjDK1x7hyTG3BdkIhDClLOCmSgrZeoA3vTSIGhC6_YnEfZVFDJGR_GvU89nvqbSH8J25VskqZnr1loNL08ygWXMNJa/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M5StDQpa2QV9HDfA1MIU2dhLnrruhTOaNAfBK1W63DAquA_LOuEBaEvQ3dKpxTx8lfGJ9Z-UHoEREvcPYE2PJdNrwEeZ_YyFNj8e04xv3oYoCjha6O5f9mzsqe_a8aMyXVuOBwUbSBl2t2l9uOQdY72lwPvnyqNpdUYD2FbnlqP38Cv8Fz5wRseUBhbF/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M5StDQpa2QV9HDfA1MIU2dhLnrruhTOaNAfBK1W63DAquA_LOuEBaEvQ3dKpxTx8lfGJ9Z-UHoEREvcPYE2PJdNrwEeZ_YyFNj8e04xv3oYoCjha6O5f9mzsqe_a8aMyXVuOBwUbSBl2t2l9uOQdY72lwPvnyqNpdUYD2FbnlqP38Cv8Fz5wRseUBhbF/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-20.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Swim toward the bottom pool region and you will find a small rectangular hole on both the left and the right side.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CXn2Bxt_giR5wzjYLFN-qF5MmviXNFWvXfXD8fo0RudWUxQ-KML3ve9PYqz2DRAwXOyP96moyxZVWpLg8d9eOT64Ne_4HZ1Pe6DK1sZBxlDPZ2cjlZqOmTNeFKEQMQfkW9tfa9ZYYKQkV4c2Z0TG5K6TT35u76FJ5UR8FWDSgC5E05TEpB_Y1KT-W31c/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CXn2Bxt_giR5wzjYLFN-qF5MmviXNFWvXfXD8fo0RudWUxQ-KML3ve9PYqz2DRAwXOyP96moyxZVWpLg8d9eOT64Ne_4HZ1Pe6DK1sZBxlDPZ2cjlZqOmTNeFKEQMQfkW9tfa9ZYYKQkV4c2Z0TG5K6TT35u76FJ5UR8FWDSgC5E05TEpB_Y1KT-W31c/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GwPgcpRi03Qo3ep8y8X-X50_XQFrxia2qtla8qfoCfNFZHu3xGjXkxi0uSkDYT14ObdkJ6n6PM2Z6jEPbVaLwRgej7RXV3iJgYP6VCoXJZ1Rbcp7N2G-s_W0PFogM2EVoFadcYJcsbgKkaF4IbZEAphjLiyrZJKcrNyY06YtfIYIs2MlNdCaz3t6XTvE/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GwPgcpRi03Qo3ep8y8X-X50_XQFrxia2qtla8qfoCfNFZHu3xGjXkxi0uSkDYT14ObdkJ6n6PM2Z6jEPbVaLwRgej7RXV3iJgYP6VCoXJZ1Rbcp7N2G-s_W0PFogM2EVoFadcYJcsbgKkaF4IbZEAphjLiyrZJKcrNyY06YtfIYIs2MlNdCaz3t6XTvE/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-22.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Swim through either one to unlock <b>Secret #2</b>, and after turning to the center swim down to collect Magnum clips.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u2B5Iq84HhHh0vUI-jZU07b2AuksqJ96NFmDBgJwjOQx2SSzHLVcQLjYa1fMFfDydo7DD3mcPX00d_E0hyphenhyphenK2ANIaeAKkqZZSrsXi1obTWtjJ1Y1WAyYIcfKxNv8NoYmxXZyOz8MkOGoC_qdAaIcITcHmO-1R6Nxauv2POqVeiEYztzNiYHcuVr3cldGm/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u2B5Iq84HhHh0vUI-jZU07b2AuksqJ96NFmDBgJwjOQx2SSzHLVcQLjYa1fMFfDydo7DD3mcPX00d_E0hyphenhyphenK2ANIaeAKkqZZSrsXi1obTWtjJ1Y1WAyYIcfKxNv8NoYmxXZyOz8MkOGoC_qdAaIcITcHmO-1R6Nxauv2POqVeiEYztzNiYHcuVr3cldGm/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-23.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPIFBCctwn1JaIiz0KW0NNO1-qQjcvguS5gSHmnDshOyN5wjC0TZnaShbS2gbn6GN6zFd3UFSTc2cjK7cRHZR1dpJ-zuMQur940jNz5wbYx7C6Q1zGLl3kOTE1IYCbe8HA73fUFiIj7bHf6A3qAfrxXcn2lcaRSEa0ZmAy07wbWJI9teJGvZLQVxMwWQV/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPIFBCctwn1JaIiz0KW0NNO1-qQjcvguS5gSHmnDshOyN5wjC0TZnaShbS2gbn6GN6zFd3UFSTc2cjK7cRHZR1dpJ-zuMQur940jNz5wbYx7C6Q1zGLl3kOTE1IYCbe8HA73fUFiIj7bHf6A3qAfrxXcn2lcaRSEa0ZmAy07wbWJI9teJGvZLQVxMwWQV/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-24.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Be sure the room is flooded with water, then get into the water and swim to reach the platform leading you to a block to climb up.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTuT-QKpFKLF1fHKKyilwzAtU-zzE3p_p07fbuMHVkaG1WQcjfWcC2lpqAWJRV4wQy5ya-8BaKDIfUEfJeoqgIpM1x9aharq56zCB1daQh0lpmksl8yOwk2MVHvcYw6-7FNuHITfG_YmdWbj2MQtpGM9QTBMXcMuPpgL_zacOcMoPoMZ8UmlZIbSe7QN4/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTuT-QKpFKLF1fHKKyilwzAtU-zzE3p_p07fbuMHVkaG1WQcjfWcC2lpqAWJRV4wQy5ya-8BaKDIfUEfJeoqgIpM1x9aharq56zCB1daQh0lpmksl8yOwk2MVHvcYw6-7FNuHITfG_YmdWbj2MQtpGM9QTBMXcMuPpgL_zacOcMoPoMZ8UmlZIbSe7QN4/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-25.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxv3eMarGJw_uf4WLdCSDY7TMVxGX3MmeqkUo3-44P_iqNkQgQ9gliI738odqIKJZ45EKNao_Nj7kQsdv_VKyMK2xSjvpbXubXofaLZHg0sPvAb_FURZA9EEwPMNodmNpNBNYSbraw3su5AOgM5tgV1d2ue_dCkTgLWf1LJ4P8Cc7Xl52ElMK6x2O4cOL/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxv3eMarGJw_uf4WLdCSDY7TMVxGX3MmeqkUo3-44P_iqNkQgQ9gliI738odqIKJZ45EKNao_Nj7kQsdv_VKyMK2xSjvpbXubXofaLZHg0sPvAb_FURZA9EEwPMNodmNpNBNYSbraw3su5AOgM5tgV1d2ue_dCkTgLWf1LJ4P8Cc7Xl52ElMK6x2O4cOL/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-26.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Run all the way up those stairs, by this point you should have both Silver keys and the Gold key in your inventory. Before reaching the door, have Lara turn left and walk toward the darkly textured face block.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr54IeTzbf-C_Ej4k7Nbiuk4NFGHvY3qb2vF2h7XHhNlWSQIstkSKP1LTXjjc3xt5ksZLP_kHTlnU6Kk4-VOyaLgG3yTwlrQrhaPK20YOVjDRV0T3VJn8XcydZ3LCcYUZmD3jThnpXnGIXMLtTAzYhJH6Vxh745xogO_XyU9SaqEpn6xTT84aQutk9AT0/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-27.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr54IeTzbf-C_Ej4k7Nbiuk4NFGHvY3qb2vF2h7XHhNlWSQIstkSKP1LTXjjc3xt5ksZLP_kHTlnU6Kk4-VOyaLgG3yTwlrQrhaPK20YOVjDRV0T3VJn8XcydZ3LCcYUZmD3jThnpXnGIXMLtTAzYhJH6Vxh745xogO_XyU9SaqEpn6xTT84aQutk9AT0/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-27.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCqyUEkjBVQdrIwGFIpkhj5AN_rtxuWCLZC25hs8RaOZrbanPRW7PH8eGRhZK7t8B1OkyfAojiXC1WwwaWHyjXzl-c6ZrjRNihyphenhyphenVdyGS_MrICtxTZhr56jRkV0kaYsk1PepZvmLQjBrzy8XweL1nB6vyGPLo09eDiT0XuiT9VtTloORsVy9QYUk_yhCfT/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-28.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCqyUEkjBVQdrIwGFIpkhj5AN_rtxuWCLZC25hs8RaOZrbanPRW7PH8eGRhZK7t8B1OkyfAojiXC1WwwaWHyjXzl-c6ZrjRNihyphenhyphenVdyGS_MrICtxTZhr56jRkV0kaYsk1PepZvmLQjBrzy8XweL1nB6vyGPLo09eDiT0XuiT9VtTloORsVy9QYUk_yhCfT/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-28.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Hold down the action button and push it forward, then enter the hidden room to your right to access <b>Secret #3</b>. Run toward the steep incline on the left, face away from it,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8u24eAqa0YAL6RjyJJzekFbYXj8WyHwOWdQPwGJcUQwT4xn9vPb59AlxFKVwK2Luso8MzY-c4Yh7NGw6qp5gMgxWRCm-vfHnLVA4HPbDCHWYPKwFHsCc8V0RiivgV6W8d6E4afd_YOyPTEWPnyxA86dCf9_bNi2pxpfZrSeV1pEbYyJihnLaNJS-YbFe/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-29.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8u24eAqa0YAL6RjyJJzekFbYXj8WyHwOWdQPwGJcUQwT4xn9vPb59AlxFKVwK2Luso8MzY-c4Yh7NGw6qp5gMgxWRCm-vfHnLVA4HPbDCHWYPKwFHsCc8V0RiivgV6W8d6E4afd_YOyPTEWPnyxA86dCf9_bNi2pxpfZrSeV1pEbYyJihnLaNJS-YbFe/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-29.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Wt5zTUyveVjxWx-LGyRHSSNydUuu2DJuL2MUZVFI3RlffVAvOu_wkZhwxp71sLrZQmNixJXmwve6GOhyphenhyphen1NZLpmZDtkBHU8tgaMRxGWQ-hfFCVZNlqQ87rT8no-VMq7CsFHvXo3YpRU9VsRkVa-ARxdXKF-ichj30XGYOUlLWyDF0MJJ_997z5MzggvD/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-30.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Wt5zTUyveVjxWx-LGyRHSSNydUuu2DJuL2MUZVFI3RlffVAvOu_wkZhwxp71sLrZQmNixJXmwve6GOhyphenhyphen1NZLpmZDtkBHU8tgaMRxGWQ-hfFCVZNlqQ87rT8no-VMq7CsFHvXo3YpRU9VsRkVa-ARxdXKF-ichj30XGYOUlLWyDF0MJJ_997z5MzggvD/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-30.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">jump backward, then while sliding down jump in the air and hold the action button to grab the ledge above you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRN2aNReOH-IpYA8nfD8lRoa1sg3GHRQfo8J65m14bF8OBYuq1huyjJd4O0hDNzsmhG3qsYffJETNSNswOzMD_GLvQymOtm0OCmwsgLscRzaMVYtEuvTxAh4LdppsdOgVx37aztHGXjrUj5zcNswE7_mBwG8lhiQfK7lJs69leBPMQ0jp1uY1naNtGymc1/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-31.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRN2aNReOH-IpYA8nfD8lRoa1sg3GHRQfo8J65m14bF8OBYuq1huyjJd4O0hDNzsmhG3qsYffJETNSNswOzMD_GLvQymOtm0OCmwsgLscRzaMVYtEuvTxAh4LdppsdOgVx37aztHGXjrUj5zcNswE7_mBwG8lhiQfK7lJs69leBPMQ0jp1uY1naNtGymc1/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-31.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccxRjWpadMAAr49QjT9KCD2npjchIUZQkksfV4o-c-uyrW2EqUcNpAX3G57t0hgB127kDC-_Q3GSTjOoXm25AAtnUX0ARzMWi0I-gjH_kabzP5nR5juJfaYUGkaGlFeCWILaBZk_WSF7yaaaFMD1XefZ8ebnKMPPfUM0eSypUYVCL8KT73sBjKkSQEyDx/s376/TombRaider_TheCistern-32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccxRjWpadMAAr49QjT9KCD2npjchIUZQkksfV4o-c-uyrW2EqUcNpAX3G57t0hgB127kDC-_Q3GSTjOoXm25AAtnUX0ARzMWi0I-gjH_kabzP5nR5juJfaYUGkaGlFeCWILaBZk_WSF7yaaaFMD1XefZ8ebnKMPPfUM0eSypUYVCL8KT73sBjKkSQEyDx/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheCistern-32.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Climb up and make your way to the back to gather the two sets of Magnum clips and the large Medipack. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets the Cistern!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 9: Tomb of Tihocan</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 2</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxj41QIzvTVi8LyAjaiaKxx7ajswtMM2Yl5yYrTfmUW28KEfOVlPuV9xCsvz27vnjXEoNO7i1uXUbbqWNd_s9a8ph2BVixJF8Qi6GigouU7var3bQEBnHIJaRnkgiE21aeiffanRFrkkPSYmFatP-DUGyoTr2Wmq_fj6CshSF0iOybSti5fGp9UiVpDLy/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxj41QIzvTVi8LyAjaiaKxx7ajswtMM2Yl5yYrTfmUW28KEfOVlPuV9xCsvz27vnjXEoNO7i1uXUbbqWNd_s9a8ph2BVixJF8Qi6GigouU7var3bQEBnHIJaRnkgiE21aeiffanRFrkkPSYmFatP-DUGyoTr2Wmq_fj6CshSF0iOybSti5fGp9UiVpDLy/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQelYLt0Ivh-SwFxkNU5R0BQvf-ij_PwCoxjmWP0Ew6XemT_HdZN3NO0FURgqAtCOyp2lNm1Yt2WNZq3QMuGtkJa53IilbndLyddoBCURDBEGr7P_OABJ4GN_ITeP69VThPeq4RF0anb-LXcs4KreZYC0coxbCWrbGlJjVnsjZn91LSXj_MqAAPoQQDr7S/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQelYLt0Ivh-SwFxkNU5R0BQvf-ij_PwCoxjmWP0Ew6XemT_HdZN3NO0FURgqAtCOyp2lNm1Yt2WNZq3QMuGtkJa53IilbndLyddoBCURDBEGr7P_OABJ4GN_ITeP69VThPeq4RF0anb-LXcs4KreZYC0coxbCWrbGlJjVnsjZn91LSXj_MqAAPoQQDr7S/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You will find yourself in a room with two large square holes for you to enter. Jump toward the right hole and you'll be forced to deal with Pierre Dupont again cursing out his existence for the umpteenth time. Shoot enough bullets at him to make him leave, then run down the winding corridor but be sure to stop by the time you see a crushing trap.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_2XeoZFHpqKquw4V9fYiztc2THVCOhT_ITFuBagUH_xHGH9eYu34AZL3UKqaVqJeTCWF42-jCbLDkGt9k7UfNNsYbzbiQZ_WV6XB4j8RgSo8CVq5-i0HyUe0z5-NK24MIU9GSdYcfV9DA_TSEpU5OEeK1ZaABuOVmYmzJb0ikT_NGYyqC-r8sDFiSgbc/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_2XeoZFHpqKquw4V9fYiztc2THVCOhT_ITFuBagUH_xHGH9eYu34AZL3UKqaVqJeTCWF42-jCbLDkGt9k7UfNNsYbzbiQZ_WV6XB4j8RgSo8CVq5-i0HyUe0z5-NK24MIU9GSdYcfV9DA_TSEpU5OEeK1ZaABuOVmYmzJb0ikT_NGYyqC-r8sDFiSgbc/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBOdavA-N_OX6dvGYilcCKAiBIp1V9tMtIrCHfydb732wMIctvpt8UMI2TE9_ELRveH79K3bXmjjceuaqv8efTEzP7Fcq5Yfvyl3IRhGbRERk0_W171UE_mUwIjpygYW8M0fT-P7aEm2JBUN3YX-hncrZQ11coA__L_tdC_Muo-fiXycde7kkSUdUm3Ih/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBOdavA-N_OX6dvGYilcCKAiBIp1V9tMtIrCHfydb732wMIctvpt8UMI2TE9_ELRveH79K3bXmjjceuaqv8efTEzP7Fcq5Yfvyl3IRhGbRERk0_W171UE_mUwIjpygYW8M0fT-P7aEm2JBUN3YX-hncrZQ11coA__L_tdC_Muo-fiXycde7kkSUdUm3Ih/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">With ample timing run past it, look back if you want to see what you narrowly avoided, then keep going until you drop down. Kill the crocodile inside the large area before proceeding any further.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KZE65OGgyuwrvrFJ5i09JvVzhBt9jFTpTWOn7JW3G0C49z-zwv-myTtnyBw0nTpsvQA0K5T4ieylPbwNl7ngl0DGJynYyJsXxt_KIAY5UHk_uw9rCTyCIjsQ5eevmo9kfHc4RzQMbo0QwFsOhFsVsKUL1gbSM7NHO-N5D15VW9FJxdHNkUPsSAcarAzJ/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KZE65OGgyuwrvrFJ5i09JvVzhBt9jFTpTWOn7JW3G0C49z-zwv-myTtnyBw0nTpsvQA0K5T4ieylPbwNl7ngl0DGJynYyJsXxt_KIAY5UHk_uw9rCTyCIjsQ5eevmo9kfHc4RzQMbo0QwFsOhFsVsKUL1gbSM7NHO-N5D15VW9FJxdHNkUPsSAcarAzJ/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq5L7tjPaOQeTnd47im17-uS4klLzU32x34LFgyXBoYwEeblQWojXoGMltWKfvNgeG1gj5nOsif1rONCBUNeHvYuuwG8MzlqCUlsTtxkWmV4rJ25eMMfCzLiFnszwf6nVI94CYM_Gi3qxe4Fb2GlmEbXVrLBxURZfjkA6vFVdxVOBhUi7F5CXtsowBboM/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq5L7tjPaOQeTnd47im17-uS4klLzU32x34LFgyXBoYwEeblQWojXoGMltWKfvNgeG1gj5nOsif1rONCBUNeHvYuuwG8MzlqCUlsTtxkWmV4rJ25eMMfCzLiFnszwf6nVI94CYM_Gi3qxe4Fb2GlmEbXVrLBxURZfjkA6vFVdxVOBhUi7F5CXtsowBboM/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Do you see that blood scrawl in that wall? Behind it is a hidden room which can be opened through three floor switches. <b>Ugh</b>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLJ3Mh7dltdsjYVLKTxyHSeouVie7dMD8VCTCW92_cEB5vH-e9n4xmMJserSA5Ks1B3KDx2qiTJFCwroO4l2ddWxVllqZ20BRGoZRSZH86-fLWexcnuxHCm5xY4OYoHm_uV7kR8j8Zt_7bYQgE4bQ1z_ScgFIG9zWkoyS8oPXGZIuFRCG6F6oj0fYKZyw/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLJ3Mh7dltdsjYVLKTxyHSeouVie7dMD8VCTCW92_cEB5vH-e9n4xmMJserSA5Ks1B3KDx2qiTJFCwroO4l2ddWxVllqZ20BRGoZRSZH86-fLWexcnuxHCm5xY4OYoHm_uV7kR8j8Zt_7bYQgE4bQ1z_ScgFIG9zWkoyS8oPXGZIuFRCG6F6oj0fYKZyw/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23u5ci2rTLX0_kgrqIi4fkixBRsef-FJZUuKfj9rSIjWp00Sro-WAA8md9yh08wAK19JE7TjQ6HUT6_hwQn3ja09OrUd4QkrWa2VHfUQTARnky84qw_Bafs1Z20xh2IFSBvQOktkiaPpMUNEjT9MSao0E2GhNnlGFAx3RMvs1vgZYibeKDwD_8qzv4_rU/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23u5ci2rTLX0_kgrqIi4fkixBRsef-FJZUuKfj9rSIjWp00Sro-WAA8md9yh08wAK19JE7TjQ6HUT6_hwQn3ja09OrUd4QkrWa2VHfUQTARnky84qw_Bafs1Z20xh2IFSBvQOktkiaPpMUNEjT9MSao0E2GhNnlGFAx3RMvs1vgZYibeKDwD_8qzv4_rU/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">stop making me ruin this precious game by adjusting its gamma settings! 😩 This is the <b>last time</b>!! The floor switches in question are subtle in design, but if you look closely you'll notice that they are mismatched compared to the rest of the tile set. Now then, there is one by the far left corner after descending the stairs,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPTdG1CQ8eZ5vodhp5t0u0sVRjikSnCaiGoCH2Se7f-WdQo6CPQG69TI1n6TrQurLYqCsLETdmu9VIMpEHTACtrYINHimquWEQZsBlrrDl4UTpdplcwldQY7jmwSfp3SzKwRykpEOdEvbYS_iXgxFj47_T0pnCueEcwWoJ1tsy41av9kDYHaiq_yQJVbI/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPTdG1CQ8eZ5vodhp5t0u0sVRjikSnCaiGoCH2Se7f-WdQo6CPQG69TI1n6TrQurLYqCsLETdmu9VIMpEHTACtrYINHimquWEQZsBlrrDl4UTpdplcwldQY7jmwSfp3SzKwRykpEOdEvbYS_iXgxFj47_T0pnCueEcwWoJ1tsy41av9kDYHaiq_yQJVbI/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbRXfAdfAzLNtybIqOc9yfD_CEFOank8KLgd4Ivs_5NFNugu1cvm7cpqc1KlimW9MMmYJo_2Xxo5Aq-5w_QJ6VK9DsDDyOktJMESrVqNWTJx5WIhK8YRkmqPquGByeL4xaQdyvExqcBp8zjP0mgvieDXX5AAbYoXCBuLZc8ygHsIjFTcKDavySS4uSKuo/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbRXfAdfAzLNtybIqOc9yfD_CEFOank8KLgd4Ivs_5NFNugu1cvm7cpqc1KlimW9MMmYJo_2Xxo5Aq-5w_QJ6VK9DsDDyOktJMESrVqNWTJx5WIhK8YRkmqPquGByeL4xaQdyvExqcBp8zjP0mgvieDXX5AAbYoXCBuLZc8ygHsIjFTcKDavySS4uSKuo/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then roll and jump across the opposide side to land on one sitting below the left side of the stairs, and finally turn left and jump across to reach the last one. If you did it right, make your way to the wall that has just opened up to you to access <b>Secret #1</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvtdpPA0dbVPA6ApNsn04CvBqECuXntb234VWVKUPRMzX5HbSKx1sYHgETMsiI3XSE2JEa3NcA-dkTOB07zmtziJ3PdH3MjcuZaz-naNPMv1O7MtmElbskwETA02kmCqHurSDIAdZL1tpED3LPqqyQcSzVNS9S24NAOmCtl5V0UzKdyVtotVirLU4xzw0/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvtdpPA0dbVPA6ApNsn04CvBqECuXntb234VWVKUPRMzX5HbSKx1sYHgETMsiI3XSE2JEa3NcA-dkTOB07zmtziJ3PdH3MjcuZaz-naNPMv1O7MtmElbskwETA02kmCqHurSDIAdZL1tpED3LPqqyQcSzVNS9S24NAOmCtl5V0UzKdyVtotVirLU4xzw0/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0qy_IhNyGOVeuMlMO1Nx77yR5nFCnab3QFG_yrZ7Tq_KsZDlQQPiNHVOc0JfBDbDtJt3Tk371QWwnQJgaPrWMlHlLFHHAp3nA03duEnhDRO47bKxZcQEy1lBSJezW746XNJQADjFXr1lDMHrp8K9IeD01LuhclapddqY1XV0qfZCufHBjx50u5S3Dkpj/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0qy_IhNyGOVeuMlMO1Nx77yR5nFCnab3QFG_yrZ7Tq_KsZDlQQPiNHVOc0JfBDbDtJt3Tk371QWwnQJgaPrWMlHlLFHHAp3nA03duEnhDRO47bKxZcQEy1lBSJezW746XNJQADjFXr1lDMHrp8K9IeD01LuhclapddqY1XV0qfZCufHBjx50u5S3Dkpj/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-12.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There are four ramps, with each subsequent one being slightly higher and facing the right direction. Jump on the smallest ramp, then jump from ramp to ramp until you're up top with a ledge for you to grab by holding down the action button. Climb up,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYsmwvlJW0z6y7zvnINtgxzTwesVtiZeaUmLzoHhQskXBbPYRkX0aMohCTFSNG_eZAipNKWyGaW8OXdnqc_j_ohCPpI8YWxhBLgv5SeypRnxtU2GUjYvVnqG7Yv-T0cztMnsNNTxHdxAtEj-9L5wXMkD-CY2w2EOBV0HydwtoIWctrnYAusd2iBt2Zfyg/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYsmwvlJW0z6y7zvnINtgxzTwesVtiZeaUmLzoHhQskXBbPYRkX0aMohCTFSNG_eZAipNKWyGaW8OXdnqc_j_ohCPpI8YWxhBLgv5SeypRnxtU2GUjYvVnqG7Yv-T0cztMnsNNTxHdxAtEj-9L5wXMkD-CY2w2EOBV0HydwtoIWctrnYAusd2iBt2Zfyg/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y2a3oHgATcYqOgPBqqK8QDsNQzQcps112KYEDudZS1AFtQ4GgbJA00kKWFfbInsZdkF3rwLpG2owoyHR0p8-IuRCAdGl-rBb_mYoKqtuVtorEGPfE71BiKLVNIG0SBFVl8v97dzWxwDvTmmx0BFt-Z3TFxfBKpdZtCdCA8y3H5jRYD4uu32mGRnVt570/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y2a3oHgATcYqOgPBqqK8QDsNQzQcps112KYEDudZS1AFtQ4GgbJA00kKWFfbInsZdkF3rwLpG2owoyHR0p8-IuRCAdGl-rBb_mYoKqtuVtorEGPfE71BiKLVNIG0SBFVl8v97dzWxwDvTmmx0BFt-Z3TFxfBKpdZtCdCA8y3H5jRYD4uu32mGRnVt570/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and you may now grab the large Medipack and Shotgun shells simultaneously.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once using both keys (that are suspiciously unlabeled 🤔) on the locks of either side of the door, it will open taking you to a Save Crystal. Save there.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KWydWMKUJwHOlbVCTBm3cmxX4qzCzzmzYDJctVfSiP7z-tZEwU9Pinr1eWh0l9Mw_HgqeQJSu-FS7X8se9G79Tx2jiUCzTMQAx2M510b-i4FCxE7aCKWYoVKRfXUmSOVVjMXvJaq4Zl-E7SIQW_lXT1dHYQdUGg133f2djd007N6BvxKqE1iq98gvPD3/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KWydWMKUJwHOlbVCTBm3cmxX4qzCzzmzYDJctVfSiP7z-tZEwU9Pinr1eWh0l9Mw_HgqeQJSu-FS7X8se9G79Tx2jiUCzTMQAx2M510b-i4FCxE7aCKWYoVKRfXUmSOVVjMXvJaq4Zl-E7SIQW_lXT1dHYQdUGg133f2djd007N6BvxKqE1iq98gvPD3/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00mH9aOCGGFHhv_UukYdW9ZkzR6DO1aWd_9ibK6pWd0KntDsZv6CvN4NJoCh8EXdIGcaEeAbVfk99qFjXgQorpeM5GyLMrSG8Vp-zAdx_k-TakrDiaAiXsdMmvLSZxrk_uNl4K3p665E2z29AU0u9rmwC88LJrb0VEKLwKmDqeQ8r_5KL2MoM1U35wR-X/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00mH9aOCGGFHhv_UukYdW9ZkzR6DO1aWd_9ibK6pWd0KntDsZv6CvN4NJoCh8EXdIGcaEeAbVfk99qFjXgQorpeM5GyLMrSG8Vp-zAdx_k-TakrDiaAiXsdMmvLSZxrk_uNl4K3p665E2z29AU0u9rmwC88LJrb0VEKLwKmDqeQ8r_5KL2MoM1U35wR-X/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-16.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There's one of two ways to go about it, and which method you choose is up to you. The first is if you slide down a considerable amount while the camera is momentarily fixed at the mouth motif, and then when you're at a certain point jump to the left to reach the flat surface. Another way to go about it is by making a running jump from the door to the right side of the inclined pathway making you slide down at which point you can jump enough times until you make it to</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj9nnuk_5nU1GfTGTC8cWBBLfBRpbF6C4xjkyR6drkDmspjL3zgyMhxp4x-Sq7kOSq_xxw2Y_lFkKTz3_7uuSu-OTVDAuzh7VDE_Qh7pGO8RhVCu_q-3nQmeo7vM4s_5jchtQ6qMYPmYMPxBB5xC8o3YZaNcpmCG4jGHt6bldeqOudjdGVUR_qOxOEdeU/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj9nnuk_5nU1GfTGTC8cWBBLfBRpbF6C4xjkyR6drkDmspjL3zgyMhxp4x-Sq7kOSq_xxw2Y_lFkKTz3_7uuSu-OTVDAuzh7VDE_Qh7pGO8RhVCu_q-3nQmeo7vM4s_5jchtQ6qMYPmYMPxBB5xC8o3YZaNcpmCG4jGHt6bldeqOudjdGVUR_qOxOEdeU/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7_XnjHoVFHhPhMC26FXS63MFNJ3Bl5DEt3HTzk6PXVh47rTwi779l0meP1DdY1LL7sXiyXyTj4peWbIfbNglV3j6MVyqSstjE704Bd2oBjM5SRqYiWmu6bFHx8vrlbZdVnxo9BMYOvD1Rebg2xYVXp7su8H1xJ12Cv91RGc_9UN0A45Gi_KUHONitaKn/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7_XnjHoVFHhPhMC26FXS63MFNJ3Bl5DEt3HTzk6PXVh47rTwi779l0meP1DdY1LL7sXiyXyTj4peWbIfbNglV3j6MVyqSstjE704Bd2oBjM5SRqYiWmu6bFHx8vrlbZdVnxo9BMYOvD1Rebg2xYVXp7su8H1xJ12Cv91RGc_9UN0A45Gi_KUHONitaKn/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-18.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">the flat surface on the bottom left. From there, walk to the left until you stand at the ledge of the entryway to a big room. Inside are five (two on your right, and three to you left) platforms that will crumble and fall apart the moment you step on those. The trick is simple once you've got it down, but from the ledge you're standing jump forward, and while still holding down the jump button leap sideways to the left, then jump forward, jump forward one more time, then leap sideways to the right,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Eoq0Pq8f-eBIkZWowzuZ08ZyptF7j8Vnzy13gWWBvmrzGSqRq9Kj7g9xTdbMFdsJUrgkhqUyBP8dRreT9Iv-Zm2PgfqfHpDkHqQ44KFuNQKangO6Sx6V0fnxkUb5EyaN7CBLkMeKroms0_mHadhD7uQfMhRx6a8diMLSfurAVTHM1o5zCkxhvPXIOFgy/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Eoq0Pq8f-eBIkZWowzuZ08ZyptF7j8Vnzy13gWWBvmrzGSqRq9Kj7g9xTdbMFdsJUrgkhqUyBP8dRreT9Iv-Zm2PgfqfHpDkHqQ44KFuNQKangO6Sx6V0fnxkUb5EyaN7CBLkMeKroms0_mHadhD7uQfMhRx6a8diMLSfurAVTHM1o5zCkxhvPXIOFgy/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24bjg6WCFrrzRuEbm7BvvjmnGYyKsQqUtpypYrqpLMkvH9FSfQtcoclGEbSim6CDsmGc5pRCnv-QV2_HvDLT2MyKcMQ_Ay9Atj5OEFTds3NW7u2in7MYUQllG2xuWKQbq4zpwGo77hajPg7pPCghvBUKqiAI84r5GLbzqtQ9DS97DD1air3TLw8iIF8MO/s376/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24bjg6WCFrrzRuEbm7BvvjmnGYyKsQqUtpypYrqpLMkvH9FSfQtcoclGEbSim6CDsmGc5pRCnv-QV2_HvDLT2MyKcMQ_Ay9Atj5OEFTds3NW7u2in7MYUQllG2xuWKQbq4zpwGo77hajPg7pPCghvBUKqiAI84r5GLbzqtQ9DS97DD1air3TLw8iIF8MO/w200-h158/TombRaider_TombOfTihocan-20.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and finally walk or jump forward from there to reach <b>Secret #3</b> which has got Magnum clips and Uzi clips for you to pick up. Congratulations, you've found all two Secrets of the Tomb of Tihocan!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 10: City of Khamoon</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZwu2X7BI0aPVuEGfRZzn1B5XhgKgVSjLn_90W6M-k4nFJhAD2nj2b7D2-bph4meWqnmQAOJXmpkjrohdg7Y-ZdpurDVEupu6BbqhRVLqCGLLGteIp_v75nM9odegTs5LRq1f2A0mtg3N4QTzj_WlOJPsGF0IvpAJKfPJSYn2TdXMbc9G5hhXaeAloSLN/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZwu2X7BI0aPVuEGfRZzn1B5XhgKgVSjLn_90W6M-k4nFJhAD2nj2b7D2-bph4meWqnmQAOJXmpkjrohdg7Y-ZdpurDVEupu6BbqhRVLqCGLLGteIp_v75nM9odegTs5LRq1f2A0mtg3N4QTzj_WlOJPsGF0IvpAJKfPJSYn2TdXMbc9G5hhXaeAloSLN/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7RSRH1u5eXWjnNm21Pe-hXgqlPiSMIhuIwiKxFtuLQ1Z4R_vyLatFZ5r6JNmodL0fhQAO700_h5_GR6DKiErWKZwhtD-4UipWKrkqYdOBHypkm6tEsJeZEu4kY8u2sOMKG6ubpygKCQoYv075JpQzba2Xamxe8uQkM7rCp4pcEoNT7gtrxyjQ8I2FiLc/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7RSRH1u5eXWjnNm21Pe-hXgqlPiSMIhuIwiKxFtuLQ1Z4R_vyLatFZ5r6JNmodL0fhQAO700_h5_GR6DKiErWKZwhtD-4UipWKrkqYdOBHypkm6tEsJeZEu4kY8u2sOMKG6ubpygKCQoYv075JpQzba2Xamxe8uQkM7rCp4pcEoNT7gtrxyjQ8I2FiLc/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Welcome to Egypt! You will find yourself in a massively spaced sand-filled environment, be sure to kill the crocodile once you get down (or while you're still on the upper ledge) before proceeding further. Make your way to the back in the right corner past the half-buried pharaoh statue.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuX6-fompoAs66ItWdTd75-XI5axjEb7nqx2hYPdnPYAddrNvwHxprcXp-0NT1gGHkAJUwxNNbUQ0-OzH6R0lqMEeBzmRWhP-KfZ87wFSh98bfSATGx1x6h6szRlHRLK84Ocv9x7sPjCOcrkqAyJ1x6tpYRt4ENzvPeLnph7HDXJLRNkPHa_va0jgxa73/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuX6-fompoAs66ItWdTd75-XI5axjEb7nqx2hYPdnPYAddrNvwHxprcXp-0NT1gGHkAJUwxNNbUQ0-OzH6R0lqMEeBzmRWhP-KfZ87wFSh98bfSATGx1x6h6szRlHRLK84Ocv9x7sPjCOcrkqAyJ1x6tpYRt4ENzvPeLnph7HDXJLRNkPHa_va0jgxa73/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita1Xf14jRw50Poalp1eM9BpEqcHPsvp6mTXcWePCX88AjEFm0vfKUh-uqJdb3-Hj2480rdoQmBomjmhfzP0q_FEn0xAvMXG6yfVAXqerqEnoTouuMVlQ1H_0EWQuSHZgVKEjcM3XLl30w7NcZR1EmpMWD6THe7-c2mr_fhY_nqjlaMJHgzri0KE7cM1UQ/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita1Xf14jRw50Poalp1eM9BpEqcHPsvp6mTXcWePCX88AjEFm0vfKUh-uqJdb3-Hj2480rdoQmBomjmhfzP0q_FEn0xAvMXG6yfVAXqerqEnoTouuMVlQ1H_0EWQuSHZgVKEjcM3XLl30w7NcZR1EmpMWD6THe7-c2mr_fhY_nqjlaMJHgzri0KE7cM1UQ/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Secret is located behind the golden wall. Walk until you're at the bottom edge of the sandy incline, tap backward, and make a running jump over it. Turn left, and you will come across <b>Secret #1</b>, where you can pick up the Magnum clips and large Medipack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9YH65fsr3M9TtGX4YbFpsiiBk2kc07Ehnv17iXX7I6zH32LWp90V0mNLTMxIeZwsV5gG7olW70rOEXWrMQhOtBcUvo5gQB3RTZh9UP8Ps1q1bdAdUPTqwZiv-fvtWcACKqKKe-pfCiU_pCnqC2k5C4KaOWiCUPUXh7ZLbatKAxNaxZPNnHlkPPn-8eWa/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9YH65fsr3M9TtGX4YbFpsiiBk2kc07Ehnv17iXX7I6zH32LWp90V0mNLTMxIeZwsV5gG7olW70rOEXWrMQhOtBcUvo5gQB3RTZh9UP8Ps1q1bdAdUPTqwZiv-fvtWcACKqKKe-pfCiU_pCnqC2k5C4KaOWiCUPUXh7ZLbatKAxNaxZPNnHlkPPn-8eWa/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_zNOQkRuedrFFu2N3v03pcyAQo9Bq4wHqrWjTt1zRumLYmVeSRU-s4VkGLlRAKut2JUWahLVuv3Y85Y3XYC5LTRDCw9q9VwNzUKBETjBCDmpCU9HxYC2A_PwoRQCowwGOpidG0sI1vQXHAO2Tfr2qmoBmVE4MQAghdGzj6togkxvA8bBDlZM8L3zjUam/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_zNOQkRuedrFFu2N3v03pcyAQo9Bq4wHqrWjTt1zRumLYmVeSRU-s4VkGLlRAKut2JUWahLVuv3Y85Y3XYC5LTRDCw9q9VwNzUKBETjBCDmpCU9HxYC2A_PwoRQCowwGOpidG0sI1vQXHAO2Tfr2qmoBmVE4MQAghdGzj6togkxvA8bBDlZM8L3zjUam/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-6.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later down the line you'll find yourself at the top of the room. If you walk beside the mirror and look down you can just make out the Secret resting on top of the gate. You <b>could</b>, in theory, face away from the ledge, tap backward, grab the ledge, and let go to drop down from there, but if you'd like to know a safer alternative that won't result in you losing a large chunk of your health (if not die altogether from such a crucial fall): turn left, walk just enough, and face the rocky platform.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwFMlLGyQBxD9ozYmQuAhJD2cZncIMc2Lkfj8n6tH4fDRUoy_3PlpGg0KdpVEFLc8Y30ORmmC-mGuSsoMQtssdDtgnKutXgxnrb9kHj6rLxzZAYxmK3qK7CXx_g20PPdv-iRhEfvjAv3UoAMucMc8fRzOMkVFXSHQeJGCZTRT0Ujv2csWw2azM7OF7Ioh/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwFMlLGyQBxD9ozYmQuAhJD2cZncIMc2Lkfj8n6tH4fDRUoy_3PlpGg0KdpVEFLc8Y30ORmmC-mGuSsoMQtssdDtgnKutXgxnrb9kHj6rLxzZAYxmK3qK7CXx_g20PPdv-iRhEfvjAv3UoAMucMc8fRzOMkVFXSHQeJGCZTRT0Ujv2csWw2azM7OF7Ioh/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFHekrie72N-xEwOZ6rNXpZITiX4XWAkIyZ7ZVwuUPZtBnYvWdI_c6xzjUdX2L9ochIwP5dUgocJ4xOTJ97V9ggEfJOGeozQl_TUviA0OMQXsYqlJD2zWgKxiN9U9vmAsSsF_mEXPnIrAo-qoBjV_Uw4piIAguL7j-enz4o_F73Z2x5AG9Ll2FFuspQeR/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFHekrie72N-xEwOZ6rNXpZITiX4XWAkIyZ7ZVwuUPZtBnYvWdI_c6xzjUdX2L9ochIwP5dUgocJ4xOTJ97V9ggEfJOGeozQl_TUviA0OMQXsYqlJD2zWgKxiN9U9vmAsSsF_mEXPnIrAo-qoBjV_Uw4piIAguL7j-enz4o_F73Z2x5AG9Ll2FFuspQeR/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Tap backward, and jump toward the platform on the right (with minimal midair controls required). Now walk to the right edge of that platform, tap backward, and clear the gap by making a running jump where ahead of you is a steep incline.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7dQAp6C1j8XG9y7VRKHrGf5JZEA2sq8CgOQ13W89UDtBOh0ORd42m8VIyx7zrHmN83qsKY8fWPTE2-O_vU3MafCq2da9Lo1QHGqwEIJ6T5mdZpdJ6SRIiOit0WDLs8zmCCMyfqzJUb6XMhnqqddh7wJ1nCw849qtKI7p014whj9pjG4y3-mDWWYlgQqQ/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7dQAp6C1j8XG9y7VRKHrGf5JZEA2sq8CgOQ13W89UDtBOh0ORd42m8VIyx7zrHmN83qsKY8fWPTE2-O_vU3MafCq2da9Lo1QHGqwEIJ6T5mdZpdJ6SRIiOit0WDLs8zmCCMyfqzJUb6XMhnqqddh7wJ1nCw849qtKI7p014whj9pjG4y3-mDWWYlgQqQ/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtT76HHxN2KanLnBtZYmcu1-HcXzUDwgcjOkp4_VA-SBRWsU3D4B0-sxpzUVo_ZBJf_cSH43ex9OSeZDEP2jYns8upUxRbHzohEIxQbCId66W01Y3wmjBqAnkyi47ajFBF9Anv9gZh2S00OZPt2qV0cv2wu-bKwSBlS5cUWp3sezff1qy3aX_dHQTQS5g/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtT76HHxN2KanLnBtZYmcu1-HcXzUDwgcjOkp4_VA-SBRWsU3D4B0-sxpzUVo_ZBJf_cSH43ex9OSeZDEP2jYns8upUxRbHzohEIxQbCId66W01Y3wmjBqAnkyi47ajFBF9Anv9gZh2S00OZPt2qV0cv2wu-bKwSBlS5cUWp3sezff1qy3aX_dHQTQS5g/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You could face forward or backward, but either way, jump on the other side and slide down. Grab the small Medipack along the way.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AHfBwZ7UUuqzMhhSGigUzdpXXPMe9bkmOE42N600dmb0yFHLw4N3palyZ-SC7LY1mBmkKRXAAvhqdudm2sQf4HBuluUpIHBBOYNuHwb7gLUYbanUIxv2kchpWlygIVurfPjpTPX8zY2pS_PYs-vy9WMp6wnMHhyl38semcwirQZlqggH-DS9ibjGgsOe/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AHfBwZ7UUuqzMhhSGigUzdpXXPMe9bkmOE42N600dmb0yFHLw4N3palyZ-SC7LY1mBmkKRXAAvhqdudm2sQf4HBuluUpIHBBOYNuHwb7gLUYbanUIxv2kchpWlygIVurfPjpTPX8zY2pS_PYs-vy9WMp6wnMHhyl38semcwirQZlqggH-DS9ibjGgsOe/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WvSOYyz28GqRua-C64oORV2qg8ead7Q1CQCE-9d4A9K4V8RuuuX5PlItTgbe3nQxpvNl5Kh4LbSTHxkYYMic-QjMNZg0ZE4Zo2BRZ52IRR3ZSXVHIV_usjPLD2Xt5wVbN3nHVXjyMy2NnxjqQhui0JAK1KzE7uodlL1PqMe5PJhdSbWjNXA3uetueHym/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WvSOYyz28GqRua-C64oORV2qg8ead7Q1CQCE-9d4A9K4V8RuuuX5PlItTgbe3nQxpvNl5Kh4LbSTHxkYYMic-QjMNZg0ZE4Zo2BRZ52IRR3ZSXVHIV_usjPLD2Xt5wVbN3nHVXjyMy2NnxjqQhui0JAK1KzE7uodlL1PqMe5PJhdSbWjNXA3uetueHym/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Turn a little to the right, walk to the edge, and aim for the sandy platform sticking out to the left. When you're ready, tap backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireHoICagirIpgT74YczinFkSu8bG2czrRHvHLxtbjYDEBCKWQSqAfiH2TcCl47vaEgeWDszPiZ0LdtFec8D3yGPS-2JNhTEGqcVamuOsc8Ag_Sm79WxZeOlxqow_ZkVf3NO42GNx2fGcynSrh1npdeXv7M2cTagSmCfYT0csF54bjfXyhgXsUs6o1kSLd/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireHoICagirIpgT74YczinFkSu8bG2czrRHvHLxtbjYDEBCKWQSqAfiH2TcCl47vaEgeWDszPiZ0LdtFec8D3yGPS-2JNhTEGqcVamuOsc8Ag_Sm79WxZeOlxqow_ZkVf3NO42GNx2fGcynSrh1npdeXv7M2cTagSmCfYT0csF54bjfXyhgXsUs6o1kSLd/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaBoGuNMjkgWjtFQD0zbUctHGRZEJYt7CSZ5wXXtlzbjbFQMbWLRsSiuSMwqN7xv5c0gJZ-cfJcA76-ixu0hvPuKp2BGapb0JOjS87pgn0tET2w4xRQ1BfnNcX1tW3_HLGbyNliF75BNs_PM9ifWXF6JDmmskwuJwSQcxJpZQPNGYjXfDUPJNBDrRJ1lu/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaBoGuNMjkgWjtFQD0zbUctHGRZEJYt7CSZ5wXXtlzbjbFQMbWLRsSiuSMwqN7xv5c0gJZ-cfJcA76-ixu0hvPuKp2BGapb0JOjS87pgn0tET2w4xRQ1BfnNcX1tW3_HLGbyNliF75BNs_PM9ifWXF6JDmmskwuJwSQcxJpZQPNGYjXfDUPJNBDrRJ1lu/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-14.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and perform a running jump to safely make it to the other side. From there, walk all the way to the left edge until you can't anymore, tap backward, and make another running jump toward the green roof with the triangular corners. Walk on top of the nearest right triangular corner, tap backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AZQ9H_IgommbAy6KmmKr7upAkmj0AkJleL85I8FXfxxoq3AhfD6dChTgqEiCIPv6EOBlvAgnQmiDB11Ggon8nHfqBRgoiq1ml6gv4Ks-aIIe8Sa5gCmj77JzklvJqk_lvKO1woyTRV0PLdIJFUDPWY0v98ZEFFEyC5Cp_Ijeo25iNPIB6neJ3MGZWS8e/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AZQ9H_IgommbAy6KmmKr7upAkmj0AkJleL85I8FXfxxoq3AhfD6dChTgqEiCIPv6EOBlvAgnQmiDB11Ggon8nHfqBRgoiq1ml6gv4Ks-aIIe8Sa5gCmj77JzklvJqk_lvKO1woyTRV0PLdIJFUDPWY0v98ZEFFEyC5Cp_Ijeo25iNPIB6neJ3MGZWS8e/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp7P_MxQsc-r9F5WrtzbFsIdzPcJFz0vekgr_2tVqNsy3opkxeq_l8nnGB2t3H1BJ3Ujv39MTlJ63X5h4tpDt4XG1cqN9cI-ChRdfyqogVE_owDFkk6E93VCtrlTnFo6Sr7mwjVZpppUAqXuGzgqTLx922805D4UVjrcLlqsGfZpohooeysOkrKbn0aR_/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp7P_MxQsc-r9F5WrtzbFsIdzPcJFz0vekgr_2tVqNsy3opkxeq_l8nnGB2t3H1BJ3Ujv39MTlJ63X5h4tpDt4XG1cqN9cI-ChRdfyqogVE_owDFkk6E93VCtrlTnFo6Sr7mwjVZpppUAqXuGzgqTLx922805D4UVjrcLlqsGfZpohooeysOkrKbn0aR_/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-16.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and make a running jump toward the top of the gate to gain access to <b>Secret #2</b>, where you can make your way to the right side to pick up Uzi clips.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJDYwIvkWxIeKGjZPRFiLuxk2Z3GodRzWHvA5S3P_jz6EDnTnTtcLaJKWXQGsQ7MlVrqkuNQdR4XMrH-_YIjyHc1xUSdBAwMiB_E_wsPke1mZ6Sp7ZV4x1zMlr7ZBzBVhSqpoOv7I-3ChCQT0g3cygrtvn6SioMaIcKHbzTmT9WWt4Y0V2yxtPOcTsh3k/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJDYwIvkWxIeKGjZPRFiLuxk2Z3GodRzWHvA5S3P_jz6EDnTnTtcLaJKWXQGsQ7MlVrqkuNQdR4XMrH-_YIjyHc1xUSdBAwMiB_E_wsPke1mZ6Sp7ZV4x1zMlr7ZBzBVhSqpoOv7I-3ChCQT0g3cygrtvn6SioMaIcKHbzTmT9WWt4Y0V2yxtPOcTsh3k/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwe4_6Zv5M8fVQzMExbgTf6iFXqqTYmBAMlIUHqM2J9q0dBBN4chKaWHoB00Npeyl6HCMiChaUJDsTNMECSYELKQ7GTBg3Db-Ggmnf82F2rX3y3O56shgjKLE5O6q-3Jfgdv1NZXVMlykjR1hG8ZJe4BLy6Tu7fwE57cXY-m39oFqzE9ZRnq4yCvSLpsl/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwe4_6Zv5M8fVQzMExbgTf6iFXqqTYmBAMlIUHqM2J9q0dBBN4chKaWHoB00Npeyl6HCMiChaUJDsTNMECSYELKQ7GTBg3Db-Ggmnf82F2rX3y3O56shgjKLE5O6q-3Jfgdv1NZXVMlykjR1hG8ZJe4BLy6Tu7fwE57cXY-m39oFqzE9ZRnq4yCvSLpsl/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-18.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the deepest basement walk across the bridge to the central platform (thereby triggering the release of two panthers below), get on the left side, walk to the ledge, tap backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRmOEHxV1XtDhLQVQl2pYNx8q9iSJN5vZJOqBskJMKQ6JI2LghvZ3b1gOcMgrK0ETuy7KS5DcB8zwvpIBiCWfZoMFiL3zXWTaQ63H0fgkwEIxSbRGyB-2F07kpNAGk9Mc7zKCBWoSO1D53NQ1JFUSDJMozs1g3jiPZpuazd0BfgAT7bkD15InmWiaV0sN/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRmOEHxV1XtDhLQVQl2pYNx8q9iSJN5vZJOqBskJMKQ6JI2LghvZ3b1gOcMgrK0ETuy7KS5DcB8zwvpIBiCWfZoMFiL3zXWTaQ63H0fgkwEIxSbRGyB-2F07kpNAGk9Mc7zKCBWoSO1D53NQ1JFUSDJMozs1g3jiPZpuazd0BfgAT7bkD15InmWiaV0sN/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjv2zTC5hk-WmYucujSoVY7q2BuHfWkCMr6mLnFagYW1sfXUQJmBxqq_v70gRvha99xewgG4_Uh_8lL9ZRteVTpUUKqPDZbGV-mVpFYDAu1WhX2047foQOFiAoEd_DFIBFHXNwgtsv33GsYceC4lP77xkYQHrHX2PP7WLCtF9ZM-fg6w8w503skFVBf0o/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjv2zTC5hk-WmYucujSoVY7q2BuHfWkCMr6mLnFagYW1sfXUQJmBxqq_v70gRvha99xewgG4_Uh_8lL9ZRteVTpUUKqPDZbGV-mVpFYDAu1WhX2047foQOFiAoEd_DFIBFHXNwgtsv33GsYceC4lP77xkYQHrHX2PP7WLCtF9ZM-fg6w8w503skFVBf0o/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-20.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">perform a running jump, hold down the action button to grab the ledge, climb up, then climb up the spot by the corner to grab <b>Secret #3</b> where there are Shotgun shells.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmEBzqrAre_h94GOU-rEOtFCtyXVhmWWYWYFAQa07TKgVTKlq1TEbgceiYBnNUjpJonS0PpXbNjTAYDFmIgmnEkjSgck2JT9EEJZJyDxdICktMvfT7OLLg43KJOwF4Wp6z9EIvfZzusU-cgHETpyiJn80AwZlzTephNvk1QUG-PaaOOVs-5FzSJpD9Dp-/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmEBzqrAre_h94GOU-rEOtFCtyXVhmWWYWYFAQa07TKgVTKlq1TEbgceiYBnNUjpJonS0PpXbNjTAYDFmIgmnEkjSgck2JT9EEJZJyDxdICktMvfT7OLLg43KJOwF4Wp6z9EIvfZzusU-cgHETpyiJn80AwZlzTephNvk1QUG-PaaOOVs-5FzSJpD9Dp-/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH73arzBTSmz4DQ5nq1vHH9gYUO3FCBQaXIcmOY3XIsKTtOU-Y02zK7NdeCnWlxECStCKFlRblXjeFVa6LeHOir4Bx2vYlcBiW4oLnHWqQuqBODAiVkMrfkyx4q4DYM8Oo0dfN-WFP_Qq_66OPR0vR_HMstMnuknO3JESkeIS3FYQp7zcxP5wlyb8W7oUZ/s376/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH73arzBTSmz4DQ5nq1vHH9gYUO3FCBQaXIcmOY3XIsKTtOU-Y02zK7NdeCnWlxECStCKFlRblXjeFVa6LeHOir4Bx2vYlcBiW4oLnHWqQuqBODAiVkMrfkyx4q4DYM8Oo0dfN-WFP_Qq_66OPR0vR_HMstMnuknO3JESkeIS3FYQp7zcxP5wlyb8W7oUZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_CityOfKhamoon-22.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">A thing of note here is that on the other side of the entrance to this basement area (close to the corner) is a lever. <b>It is not mandatory</b> to pull it down for all it will do is open up a panel at the top to let the light in, it is perfectly manageable to play through this room while it's completely dark. What also happens if you pull the lever is that it will make three cat statues appear which were not present before when it was dark. <b>Creepy</b>! 🙀 The main reason I bring this up is that if you jump toward the left corner the first time <b>while</b> there is a cat statue (at least as far as the Saturn version I'm playing is concerned) the Secret cue will not play, but if you get there while it's dark it <b>will</b>. Maybe it was an oversight on the programmer's part, who knows. But anyway, congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the City of Khamoon!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 11: Obelisk of Khamoon</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3mhDFLYZfVt5gzN08N2jaVZCcwBM4NBDoUmITsn1bVTV__9XmRUnOL4I3ZevPI2ZdoDihZRwtwQLJTafjxMpYfPq3PFKIPaXWtxNiNzln0YDI3YMHCZp5OJzS1fvOqmCpOJO5w4c3bO6jYkD216Z-vNhyphenhyphenvQd877zMl-Ggf2w792k9yBY5WFMprO4Je6k/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3mhDFLYZfVt5gzN08N2jaVZCcwBM4NBDoUmITsn1bVTV__9XmRUnOL4I3ZevPI2ZdoDihZRwtwQLJTafjxMpYfPq3PFKIPaXWtxNiNzln0YDI3YMHCZp5OJzS1fvOqmCpOJO5w4c3bO6jYkD216Z-vNhyphenhyphenvQd877zMl-Ggf2w792k9yBY5WFMprO4Je6k/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgCiwCgXZF0Qg2g24h7jMHlYq_qcjRyAeoOD4CzviTFbmtvDnLqCWSvfuE5OVNzVxnqBkTX1ulohgPi9fwQOzo7DUKahyRqAbQ2yP0r8ruGUFTRmoe3V9P_j-5phrG83uObBuoqKQEGbpe9Ao1KpLUsgVC0qp7va6pWD7w2S8xN9jVPnp8r0vqh71fm6L/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgCiwCgXZF0Qg2g24h7jMHlYq_qcjRyAeoOD4CzviTFbmtvDnLqCWSvfuE5OVNzVxnqBkTX1ulohgPi9fwQOzo7DUKahyRqAbQ2yP0r8ruGUFTRmoe3V9P_j-5phrG83uObBuoqKQEGbpe9Ao1KpLUsgVC0qp7va6pWD7w2S8xN9jVPnp8r0vqh71fm6L/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The neat thing about this level is that all three Secrets are relatively close to one another, which is a huge plus. Once you've reached the large stairs at the top of the room, be sure to kill the mummy first so it won't cause trouble for you later. Start turning left and across the step adjacent to the green surface, and once there turn left again and tread lightly past those Egyptian columns until you're at the part of the surface sticking out from the wall.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hem_kH4p_-IR_K22S57vA6mTULpobGm5DNMV2Oo8NhGdLtztlpC5bG9lgmi8BZiNphYrZba-uNdCMqEqUAyXeSQ9-vijpKvTUZOFlVx3puX0DrUENiyolmBG_pjagolRjCcwDxMSo43TDNTYcgOX02MRZp2Pl0TMAqlKc8926bh2Od_kDhTe64KiExSq/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hem_kH4p_-IR_K22S57vA6mTULpobGm5DNMV2Oo8NhGdLtztlpC5bG9lgmi8BZiNphYrZba-uNdCMqEqUAyXeSQ9-vijpKvTUZOFlVx3puX0DrUENiyolmBG_pjagolRjCcwDxMSo43TDNTYcgOX02MRZp2Pl0TMAqlKc8926bh2Od_kDhTe64KiExSq/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDjAKrcTCH61cMDYPcuPgfRoPyUlE0ixTiKP0n3NlUf-2q8JaeckyHspqbt6bTca5_o_MllhIrkztsgVVXLn0o5umZ7V37yTfOdaDy4nTlqO5c8uIFTvq3UH2qoPUOQ58M7GxqOWtzqdntmKqehjGvMf5pcDICZJtyYz5NCYlIIEUVh_9vOHhz0odw5Vb/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDjAKrcTCH61cMDYPcuPgfRoPyUlE0ixTiKP0n3NlUf-2q8JaeckyHspqbt6bTca5_o_MllhIrkztsgVVXLn0o5umZ7V37yTfOdaDy4nTlqO5c8uIFTvq3UH2qoPUOQ58M7GxqOWtzqdntmKqehjGvMf5pcDICZJtyYz5NCYlIIEUVh_9vOHhz0odw5Vb/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the center of the room is a tall pillar which is where you'll want to go. Stand at the edge, aim for the pillar, tap backward, and perform a running jump toward it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZHF15YyGSjnMCF9Al81fXGvS3h5kSVF8n4cIGLp_oPAZiZLUXLFJKCwLGB4SUBr0YFJImHNaYz74BIe_ZsCVWGUP3QXgoYMIm3HX4uxDc-pDRwL1nahD2JJALjCMmcooyGiFSLfLPK5qe3vQYmWLtUgiRwWmUf5ew_9uMlhRI4yJ48YircijrswNpGkB/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZHF15YyGSjnMCF9Al81fXGvS3h5kSVF8n4cIGLp_oPAZiZLUXLFJKCwLGB4SUBr0YFJImHNaYz74BIe_ZsCVWGUP3QXgoYMIm3HX4uxDc-pDRwL1nahD2JJALjCMmcooyGiFSLfLPK5qe3vQYmWLtUgiRwWmUf5ew_9uMlhRI4yJ48YircijrswNpGkB/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUdtLUBvx_Fo9dio6h3CAWd1Oi7_Oro99pnDRDkLu_-tZMEt_Wr0LmDOzQVEBzaY2Y9UnhmhGjhcI2ltnfBEeWhDz4QnJyD8SvyIo9rZPs8TOJEh5DodfhfnM07fJ30slc_lMQE3nFElnHu_wMV9l1aSt6ccvbnR2I_iJgLhZeX2RAs6WllY62zBxM6Qf/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUdtLUBvx_Fo9dio6h3CAWd1Oi7_Oro99pnDRDkLu_-tZMEt_Wr0LmDOzQVEBzaY2Y9UnhmhGjhcI2ltnfBEeWhDz4QnJyD8SvyIo9rZPs8TOJEh5DodfhfnM07fJ30slc_lMQE3nFElnHu_wMV9l1aSt6ccvbnR2I_iJgLhZeX2RAs6WllY62zBxM6Qf/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-6.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">If you're successful you should make it to the top of <b>Secret #1</b>, where a small Medipack and Uzi clips await to be simultaneously picked up in the middle. From there, walk towards the left corner and have Lara positioned diagonally with the point in the middle.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfg8ZwVOuOA6qaRJBg5txBPxvzkTAo-8pyw79-_NrKijIjEYBwPHIn4HgfRLdDpZ5Out5N8PULHM8x6FSxb97gNu9Snn2fQBjIDIBYXL7ZYva5CSzxSKu1FOdXbqYt0GYUBhse9uTQwyBsmCuWO_gc5nasWfMZAbtLRRyp40dgFG1e3o-O99hbkDwpxOq/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfg8ZwVOuOA6qaRJBg5txBPxvzkTAo-8pyw79-_NrKijIjEYBwPHIn4HgfRLdDpZ5Out5N8PULHM8x6FSxb97gNu9Snn2fQBjIDIBYXL7ZYva5CSzxSKu1FOdXbqYt0GYUBhse9uTQwyBsmCuWO_gc5nasWfMZAbtLRRyp40dgFG1e3o-O99hbkDwpxOq/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVnE6L0t_k8c9ZOhjUl3Xrxjz7kacN5ocB53oOXN1TgSxyWat5hlcMVlKg1bufg6KlYiV60A0Q-bJK5UFJS-DiZWjNJftlWcWT4QN4m2K5LODXNPZNKQGh5LgHRx-LIkx9wF_b3ncyhSGwJRYoeXCWihtF7ZSKMlA-KqK1-75rDCTzXDnxSEZ_xKmXesn/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVnE6L0t_k8c9ZOhjUl3Xrxjz7kacN5ocB53oOXN1TgSxyWat5hlcMVlKg1bufg6KlYiV60A0Q-bJK5UFJS-DiZWjNJftlWcWT4QN4m2K5LODXNPZNKQGh5LgHRx-LIkx9wF_b3ncyhSGwJRYoeXCWihtF7ZSKMlA-KqK1-75rDCTzXDnxSEZ_xKmXesn/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">At the far wall in the back is a mirror. 🪞 If you haven't already, aim for it, and when you're all set tap backward and prepare to make a running jump toward where the mirror is located.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJIv-obCtutXSHbz26P2BWboqnDmVgoTGbvb1f-sc0OHB4E_chvrCTk9TbH1-wYjw97zZReDW3kSMrubTYXYnLaERojvewxw03fQt4X_8KyqJgRshgNPt_nXGPwSZMxqUsgaLzuO9FEY-rOMu_RcpvP88fxKN47ZcuO29qMO8xm-n_XFdE8qEulDc1dcP/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJIv-obCtutXSHbz26P2BWboqnDmVgoTGbvb1f-sc0OHB4E_chvrCTk9TbH1-wYjw97zZReDW3kSMrubTYXYnLaERojvewxw03fQt4X_8KyqJgRshgNPt_nXGPwSZMxqUsgaLzuO9FEY-rOMu_RcpvP88fxKN47ZcuO29qMO8xm-n_XFdE8qEulDc1dcP/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigivZSNgchI7n-cSLGBclAKcepXErrpp2RCfRVA8zKQdbXbzTdC1psZL5TNScouyuQobC8ZShfjYs3yqT9I3-0xU_GmbEyRpV_BKIsfw_Hfax_YuHImrQbXyxLEOeGf-0eHAzq_186HL7JM2p2WK5lzSlnAMdJjDk_pdvCOLjJfJgL32eGNGtB1-6N9o_M/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigivZSNgchI7n-cSLGBclAKcepXErrpp2RCfRVA8zKQdbXbzTdC1psZL5TNScouyuQobC8ZShfjYs3yqT9I3-0xU_GmbEyRpV_BKIsfw_Hfax_YuHImrQbXyxLEOeGf-0eHAzq_186HL7JM2p2WK5lzSlnAMdJjDk_pdvCOLjJfJgL32eGNGtB1-6N9o_M/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-10.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You'll lose a tiny fraction of your health as you land behind the mirror, however your consolation prize is that you've made it to <b>Secret #2</b>. Feel free to pick up your large Medipack and two sets of Uzi clips all at once. When you're done, go toward the direction where you see that lever at the end.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_UKXdtfPhz78QghW3KTP3Nxqis918GbMAwcMFkJPJYBkMIKyJW59VVKwjmZJsYRfdnzfFKk2I4XCWY3JUgun63LOvhpBOZcbMVSaiB3xu_FnX8GXJ9FMYIt6wTn9QFNJjb_cvG7qVKH4vzIGOdEBfLPH_VLLZ95vYdp0AWGi1QBjqOXOshYXH-qLHWqq/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_UKXdtfPhz78QghW3KTP3Nxqis918GbMAwcMFkJPJYBkMIKyJW59VVKwjmZJsYRfdnzfFKk2I4XCWY3JUgun63LOvhpBOZcbMVSaiB3xu_FnX8GXJ9FMYIt6wTn9QFNJjb_cvG7qVKH4vzIGOdEBfLPH_VLLZ95vYdp0AWGi1QBjqOXOshYXH-qLHWqq/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio5ztrAFLqYYATMUWeFuvUhcnPaZPmE_8QqCWecmbVOmfsYww8DQjLv51Vd4sNltl644No9zFlLvmKv6ZH-l0Ug6S4tSyuEe8555-tZtJ6EY_qYjCclR0InCwVH8HHb7K2s7bNXmyj3UQnJZHhhPshvmGruGcMloIAuuo4VJph1cjUlAYiA0gvjGcjJUe/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio5ztrAFLqYYATMUWeFuvUhcnPaZPmE_8QqCWecmbVOmfsYww8DQjLv51Vd4sNltl644No9zFlLvmKv6ZH-l0Ug6S4tSyuEe8555-tZtJ6EY_qYjCclR0InCwVH8HHb7K2s7bNXmyj3UQnJZHhhPshvmGruGcMloIAuuo4VJph1cjUlAYiA0gvjGcjJUe/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-12.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Face away, tap backward, grab, and let go if you don't want to lose any damage on the way down. Turn Lara around (or tumble to make her 180 degree turn go quicker) and walk until you're at the part of the ground that is green.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UuHHL22PjreUovnJRktFHV-v08mhyAZ5i4wRsP0V80y7tapMnvEl6YBEtixHZ7Bd9gz0Jy-SdmZvPvOtQHwYUT7DSnHwS4mIoNDe4F1Pnlv8nBdq7Uv-K7mIj4b7VX1WjKYVWm-mGR0HAr-3Eb62CRdSipilaAJIKAsDEVwX8YS2lPyonKy8WQLX-M2T/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UuHHL22PjreUovnJRktFHV-v08mhyAZ5i4wRsP0V80y7tapMnvEl6YBEtixHZ7Bd9gz0Jy-SdmZvPvOtQHwYUT7DSnHwS4mIoNDe4F1Pnlv8nBdq7Uv-K7mIj4b7VX1WjKYVWm-mGR0HAr-3Eb62CRdSipilaAJIKAsDEVwX8YS2lPyonKy8WQLX-M2T/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO4fO2A5aZ2pK9crXpS__Bu7oThUO-7wFd0F883YKX5rCKSmKuD6KddQJSN81m0nxyM0NbY9bHsxpUydG4iKWACvdzQueyXfwmbkb0wVPH4bdNQS8JiIy-KwzTgu-o3ULs-MbF1dUlXmd8O-e7QxpzIjFLZIDYeZN5OHJoOCaiJXRhOuK1gUvXS7YT9p3/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO4fO2A5aZ2pK9crXpS__Bu7oThUO-7wFd0F883YKX5rCKSmKuD6KddQJSN81m0nxyM0NbY9bHsxpUydG4iKWACvdzQueyXfwmbkb0wVPH4bdNQS8JiIy-KwzTgu-o3ULs-MbF1dUlXmd8O-e7QxpzIjFLZIDYeZN5OHJoOCaiJXRhOuK1gUvXS7YT9p3/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-14.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once reaching there, turn left and walk straight across for a bit, then turn left again and run up those stairs until you reach the wall at the end.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNclPW8KoHeFt3MPfLQinuSQoTOubgJG-ur5vTGDgSQikrlUdtDI9g4fd3BThFP-J1BmQcAxkVI7uunfgp-uwyOE45k31k4kw_3olNVjfDGFELRwh7N9H1OVOC46YjeBIaFoMzihBWrqw8vxvLAjQs3yZyZGoLUlZK5aVlXkkdHqI_kUsQsZl8qH5cBt4/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNclPW8KoHeFt3MPfLQinuSQoTOubgJG-ur5vTGDgSQikrlUdtDI9g4fd3BThFP-J1BmQcAxkVI7uunfgp-uwyOE45k31k4kw_3olNVjfDGFELRwh7N9H1OVOC46YjeBIaFoMzihBWrqw8vxvLAjQs3yZyZGoLUlZK5aVlXkkdHqI_kUsQsZl8qH5cBt4/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuppZpZkezJpTOdl-YG25OrsU0VA2DO5plifNrtdfgSwOq7a1KaX_5dSfYFZSNF1Oh3_9U4d87851suECLWNLjaCISp_JBETM-b48hi1lHcxLddLguVu_jj-c5l6i6HXDACxVLBnRGFD_YGRU6vxyJK_WYhCYCir3iEZdBvTQ6I-EGCrO8oC74JCplY2W/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuppZpZkezJpTOdl-YG25OrsU0VA2DO5plifNrtdfgSwOq7a1KaX_5dSfYFZSNF1Oh3_9U4d87851suECLWNLjaCISp_JBETM-b48hi1lHcxLddLguVu_jj-c5l6i6HXDACxVLBnRGFD_YGRU6vxyJK_WYhCYCir3iEZdBvTQ6I-EGCrO8oC74JCplY2W/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-16.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jump up and grab the ledge above you, then shimmy sideways to the right until you're at the right side of the wall.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2atJVwlQhJq8lPDXXs6wp2N-P8-zOLo82RnzElMnzJ5xZY5o0k8W3BfQrtEp1PYGQzmD2yJK2DnRqlMAY3ta4zLMwtrU1V1KlJoinO0Z0gfyyPFbqGoVvbv4cdaHWZv4lzWtMWBV3XHxRch6Mwribf4rxki8V7SPz7t3C17fLG555dMjdtJx8UdGrdDzH/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2atJVwlQhJq8lPDXXs6wp2N-P8-zOLo82RnzElMnzJ5xZY5o0k8W3BfQrtEp1PYGQzmD2yJK2DnRqlMAY3ta4zLMwtrU1V1KlJoinO0Z0gfyyPFbqGoVvbv4cdaHWZv4lzWtMWBV3XHxRch6Mwribf4rxki8V7SPz7t3C17fLG555dMjdtJx8UdGrdDzH/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgzqmgR2cwJbZ30zofARrWNXHthtAiKK0R2vNkkjWFtQOiBl-SdAd0RFCFRVxXP8jEyRh-wwBWhk1MJ3W8vPI4UH7wKb3xEKirauuUn03lna_iFzySQdXvwgT9v1FZof09WsIU02wqbD1Bk7i25U9rLmCxi39CrXHh46aiAZTRelMYXK0ifafR1j2vdF1/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgzqmgR2cwJbZ30zofARrWNXHthtAiKK0R2vNkkjWFtQOiBl-SdAd0RFCFRVxXP8jEyRh-wwBWhk1MJ3W8vPI4UH7wKb3xEKirauuUn03lna_iFzySQdXvwgT9v1FZof09WsIU02wqbD1Bk7i25U9rLmCxi39CrXHh46aiAZTRelMYXK0ifafR1j2vdF1/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-18.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once past it climb up, then turn right, back up against the wall, and make a normal jump forward to grab the ledge that is above you. Climb up,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWUnjYo8-UsrLtQ965157P2QQnfiqYGY__0cnCl4hy67tiwJinCHGdMMFcGR_TNt3vuFQ-TB697s8mcpipaYoEJHmWjnX2x6NVQSfUurCUhAbJD2e9bLd0vhhPWrSyARUgEDkBofFim0G4rPKgeAxGR2b9kH2BSNmz4XlFNd8214iwmBN67XOqtLlo6IR/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWUnjYo8-UsrLtQ965157P2QQnfiqYGY__0cnCl4hy67tiwJinCHGdMMFcGR_TNt3vuFQ-TB697s8mcpipaYoEJHmWjnX2x6NVQSfUurCUhAbJD2e9bLd0vhhPWrSyARUgEDkBofFim0G4rPKgeAxGR2b9kH2BSNmz4XlFNd8214iwmBN67XOqtLlo6IR/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4P6rPUjfVPbuCWcaMCHYgMypJahIGAoTCj-kFMiTdlZ-ZDWEcyI4EWiUJirhI1HKzk5kYDuk5o9MXPQ2k3TYDFMlakUmK2ajGtmMlDSs7pFC-zaf0wVW3XMzIEWCbnoob3aWDX0PEy5YR3krDurKz3CaoLfvCW6ez516BuKlm83keY23JKq5AbO-Qu5K/s376/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4P6rPUjfVPbuCWcaMCHYgMypJahIGAoTCj-kFMiTdlZ-ZDWEcyI4EWiUJirhI1HKzk5kYDuk5o9MXPQ2k3TYDFMlakUmK2ajGtmMlDSs7pFC-zaf0wVW3XMzIEWCbnoob3aWDX0PEy5YR3krDurKz3CaoLfvCW6ez516BuKlm83keY23JKq5AbO-Qu5K/w200-h158/TombRaider_ObeliskOfKhamoon-20.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">then turn left so you can enter the small U-shaped interior where walking at the end of the left corner will trigger the cue for <b>Secret #3</b> which houses a large Medipack on the left corridor and at the tip of the U are Magnum clips to pick up. Considering you're likely to come here anyway to progress further in this room I find it rather odd that <b>this</b> is considered a Secret. 🤨 Oh well, I didn't make the game, I'm just playing it. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Obelisk of Khamoon!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 12: Sanctuary of the Scion</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 1</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9zWY2sCHm7Uzyp9mxYalOK7wjiD9Ubj_ENGme8VX06q9kRE9uotIbsZHMA_5F0kZPTFVJ6ojLxe3PKcGPdjS20tHDuMWGIgFkDOoTmfcsvNm1mhObVFf56GPfRk-a1rjGFYpONhGFLNHSQ8p9vmPiaWeowtJwkb6ohbgTnlRp1lUHm9edo2_4c4FCcFv/s376/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9zWY2sCHm7Uzyp9mxYalOK7wjiD9Ubj_ENGme8VX06q9kRE9uotIbsZHMA_5F0kZPTFVJ6ojLxe3PKcGPdjS20tHDuMWGIgFkDOoTmfcsvNm1mhObVFf56GPfRk-a1rjGFYpONhGFLNHSQ8p9vmPiaWeowtJwkb6ohbgTnlRp1lUHm9edo2_4c4FCcFv/w200-h158/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVh70uEv-XhWIIthVWOI3RE2Or4NzLQYD-zzJySb6RABvZPDU0D5C-hT6zCxoKs93mw7dVPCOvKXTH8iAvC0JfrQrUSMXh53kAQ_a1j_9aEBOCwZLN9GHBloHpxrKgMUYDyp5ByJ9KVlAQqMzZEr79EDvUeKrxprnuDktqpIrWH6wLWM_xAjVLpVnhF3H/s376/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVh70uEv-XhWIIthVWOI3RE2Or4NzLQYD-zzJySb6RABvZPDU0D5C-hT6zCxoKs93mw7dVPCOvKXTH8iAvC0JfrQrUSMXh53kAQ_a1j_9aEBOCwZLN9GHBloHpxrKgMUYDyp5ByJ9KVlAQqMzZEr79EDvUeKrxprnuDktqpIrWH6wLWM_xAjVLpVnhF3H/w200-h158/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There is only one Secret in this level, and it is situated on the left side of the Great Sphinx. You'll have to make your climb your way up on the left side of the environment until you step on a platform where you're more or less in the center of the side of the Great Sphinx. The catch here is that the Secret is sitting on a small invisible platform, it's hard to see the item from the normal view but if you use your look option you can see that item impossibly staying in the air.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C5sm3zjx9ypKUIUbFm6ajx5C3SpswSSJaXN1JUUc24c9VcX7K1J5weeP2absStGakaWNJSS0aywTQSJUPSsJKloJjqtRrDo8lZZujgMNUPbrqxHHFWwBiqPKLJMaj39prNOS0lGQiVxuamjb6YKPsAlzJ9RsRDutUtbAYGe_knNcoAVdrUTtjpM0P6rS/s376/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C5sm3zjx9ypKUIUbFm6ajx5C3SpswSSJaXN1JUUc24c9VcX7K1J5weeP2absStGakaWNJSS0aywTQSJUPSsJKloJjqtRrDo8lZZujgMNUPbrqxHHFWwBiqPKLJMaj39prNOS0lGQiVxuamjb6YKPsAlzJ9RsRDutUtbAYGe_knNcoAVdrUTtjpM0P6rS/s16000/TombRaider_SanctuaryOfTheScion-3.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Be sure you're close to or near the right corner of the flat surface (because this could easily go wrong if you misplace yourself), and when you're ready tap backward, make a running jump across, and hold down the action button so that you can save yourself from a nasty fall by hanging on to seemingly nothing. Climb up and grab your <b>Secret</b>, a pair of Uzis and some Uzi clips. Be forewarned that should you jump back to where you came from, you'll have to contend with two winged humanoid monstrosities so you best make good use of those Uzis once you've equipped them. Congratulations, you've found the Secret of the Sanctuary of the Scion!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 13: Natla's Mines</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvwTZRnMPTmMlwdq1xjt5KVj_VBAYx-x5g_8KGlNg7vrUtjEoUyzsLuMeAhrojjm-X7jzCEIkxcgKGQLdsgRobbroyzC-c5FJ5_MlcDGDwX5xtXKxv6MRWyCeh8zF7uY13vE56PrIzSQ28Ab9Qm7zkDcinatSJjsvVPWh1W9hUT_bsYuwXojZiX39XXpu/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvwTZRnMPTmMlwdq1xjt5KVj_VBAYx-x5g_8KGlNg7vrUtjEoUyzsLuMeAhrojjm-X7jzCEIkxcgKGQLdsgRobbroyzC-c5FJ5_MlcDGDwX5xtXKxv6MRWyCeh8zF7uY13vE56PrIzSQ28Ab9Qm7zkDcinatSJjsvVPWh1W9hUT_bsYuwXojZiX39XXpu/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0trH4A7T_hNhVA1ldLaC3OyJ5EF_Qb-43dCwWEcDgxjNT4CJXDAywBP8x5g4JYY3tjwbt8HL60B2NKi51hByN_DCueRH5UkrR6grr8UbCx2_Mvl9g0jj-AmnmSw9a8zlg6qgrodYt6MIeGZqmyBdBArK9QXUCXrnRoPLAZX0t7IZvSQzX8GNbWVnNjhZ/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0trH4A7T_hNhVA1ldLaC3OyJ5EF_Qb-43dCwWEcDgxjNT4CJXDAywBP8x5g4JYY3tjwbt8HL60B2NKi51hByN_DCueRH5UkrR6grr8UbCx2_Mvl9g0jj-AmnmSw9a8zlg6qgrodYt6MIeGZqmyBdBArK9QXUCXrnRoPLAZX0t7IZvSQzX8GNbWVnNjhZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After dropping down the building, you can now reclaim Lara's twin Pistols after finding them inside. Exit the building, climb to the top, and walk to the ledge on the other side. You'll notice an opening in the wall ahead of you. Tap backward and make a running jump toward it while holding the action button to grab the ledge leading to it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ66veyhTsf8ws3OUxaDFnbtAZgNyXv39RFgc6l55msByxDYEqzDtvvjYVOhCKUyfbXJbS2GBrya4aGWfrZ_toV7JfL52TySYj1uCxIyiNjtjfs8nfwWNVBpOCHOoZwAXab1PoybcGlofFNRI7uEn2UeXARo8WXkg2maAjemhQsIkba1siI7X9Clgx4SyE/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ66veyhTsf8ws3OUxaDFnbtAZgNyXv39RFgc6l55msByxDYEqzDtvvjYVOhCKUyfbXJbS2GBrya4aGWfrZ_toV7JfL52TySYj1uCxIyiNjtjfs8nfwWNVBpOCHOoZwAXab1PoybcGlofFNRI7uEn2UeXARo8WXkg2maAjemhQsIkba1siI7X9Clgx4SyE/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx50V06p44d_9VPVWgcM26hK0xIf3K_8d2w-9qjuXbiO7kNflhiJfYMX8z1cvmUs_5lF9YwY45BtXnIf2GSQgH5oC3k7xTQbHVhahyj5f5QSjeGH1PN1R0uL6GKuC5iSupmA1QkQDJ7u1N-7h4PUgq1nX4eXgl2SyRdVLe1Lt-6R5MN4Vthzp9cxu5ZMF/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx50V06p44d_9VPVWgcM26hK0xIf3K_8d2w-9qjuXbiO7kNflhiJfYMX8z1cvmUs_5lF9YwY45BtXnIf2GSQgH5oC3k7xTQbHVhahyj5f5QSjeGH1PN1R0uL6GKuC5iSupmA1QkQDJ7u1N-7h4PUgq1nX4eXgl2SyRdVLe1Lt-6R5MN4Vthzp9cxu5ZMF/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Climb up and make your way through the corridor.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEFTrP8m707x3UBx0gBUlICCPSfZDZ6UgfRvVU8Tl4SlPhiuPD_aKrUFCy38Tj_CmNHBvU5cQsaFFKmCwFGZqnOoG1g2SxdmiD2TNk6gW7Q79gtfM6TDWz7dZ0YCKaL_4xIZ8Ibw1eAa9SwZtrgFhOm6TtAgfCw2js36dFb7VCeF61r8SlfkU4R4U9zgN/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEFTrP8m707x3UBx0gBUlICCPSfZDZ6UgfRvVU8Tl4SlPhiuPD_aKrUFCy38Tj_CmNHBvU5cQsaFFKmCwFGZqnOoG1g2SxdmiD2TNk6gW7Q79gtfM6TDWz7dZ0YCKaL_4xIZ8Ibw1eAa9SwZtrgFhOm6TtAgfCw2js36dFb7VCeF61r8SlfkU4R4U9zgN/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB05dkxEJtpkOmCn_jgL0YtAA-lyNnIdqdCOb1CmatGeTjUFuU1PkhTHjhGJZlUAplgEi2_6B-8u09lalPZ5pj2KUpxc6THobhXz_RKzGY_s1cBIUFAMa5ben48nMiYzXhJLw5DGA1_2mLMr-phZ-3NhnwwGxXy4A9W42Wn_YJQ8KePUAimz0xVUdSKb0/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB05dkxEJtpkOmCn_jgL0YtAA-lyNnIdqdCOb1CmatGeTjUFuU1PkhTHjhGJZlUAplgEi2_6B-8u09lalPZ5pj2KUpxc6THobhXz_RKzGY_s1cBIUFAMa5ben48nMiYzXhJLw5DGA1_2mLMr-phZ-3NhnwwGxXy4A9W42Wn_YJQ8KePUAimz0xVUdSKb0/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Partway through, make Lara face the right side for above you should be a ledge for you to grab. Jump up and hold the action button to grab on the ledge, then climb up it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQINIcEEmejq4TnfLPH8Ehoz-HdzFh6LH6g3rNYIyhrsHnxzLLWZ1UUfjCM9MyhDSg1YbWiiT0CCVZm3j9Jq42_HjUhbhQZrjD8-x0yWano4NLrzvVeeayeaapuioUs7UMdjknBdM0iYcn5PtOhz2u5rN08OMWqHj15jxJ5vJEmCZA-LspJJiOCwZLGg3/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQINIcEEmejq4TnfLPH8Ehoz-HdzFh6LH6g3rNYIyhrsHnxzLLWZ1UUfjCM9MyhDSg1YbWiiT0CCVZm3j9Jq42_HjUhbhQZrjD8-x0yWano4NLrzvVeeayeaapuioUs7UMdjknBdM0iYcn5PtOhz2u5rN08OMWqHj15jxJ5vJEmCZA-LspJJiOCwZLGg3/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dJ1HL68jg4wzpYhWexYGI23lgdOYTYLS8G6vcJk22CBNoN1L8Eyk7z4uUwaSP4Cnfcnu2bjDe_jK-_5QI3SNlEtT6ZezH8yUSeAVOF_rSyRSFDktpyUmZQZvc3fc0CGVrMm_d2Epuv5Wce_scVqzMFWeb4uj_0ZzhmuyKKnVVXbpPtOB0xc912ogPlG-/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dJ1HL68jg4wzpYhWexYGI23lgdOYTYLS8G6vcJk22CBNoN1L8Eyk7z4uUwaSP4Cnfcnu2bjDe_jK-_5QI3SNlEtT6ZezH8yUSeAVOF_rSyRSFDktpyUmZQZvc3fc0CGVrMm_d2Epuv5Wce_scVqzMFWeb4uj_0ZzhmuyKKnVVXbpPtOB0xc912ogPlG-/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Run toward the door and it will open up for you which will close the second you enter. From there walk until you're at the edge for below you is a trapdoor sandwiched between two steep inclines of opposing positions.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKUAW2Q5-cD5_Y6BqO8hkQgxsFAtDLewM3xiypvyhjRLSuQ_EBjUW2IIUMnHqWk516TjQiRmF_R0R57izl9ps2vXxHcqH60My_NvYjtI7i3qbINRvMuxIaTfQENhcuDuBFAhXqcNRqd3MWrPrUb446SPcb1kbT48xA2OR0Aqn8scee3Ce-_thzBg9HgOU/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKUAW2Q5-cD5_Y6BqO8hkQgxsFAtDLewM3xiypvyhjRLSuQ_EBjUW2IIUMnHqWk516TjQiRmF_R0R57izl9ps2vXxHcqH60My_NvYjtI7i3qbINRvMuxIaTfQENhcuDuBFAhXqcNRqd3MWrPrUb446SPcb1kbT48xA2OR0Aqn8scee3Ce-_thzBg9HgOU/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-9NmJmcwCwHWL8F7wsCyezy28brFR_JgOLA2A_zjulBloMW-E1G3HO3yN91wzZk3w8c6BDeCzyDyaHpKoCOsq1AM6uU7NjEwkYi1JPQcAcJp-TMJjxMbQ4ctlSAObNex1OepfAwOPpHjC_bt88pQoKJUw6deYbGAmvnd0ZYz4tFtMOLM7Xy_O3nPsj6m/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-9NmJmcwCwHWL8F7wsCyezy28brFR_JgOLA2A_zjulBloMW-E1G3HO3yN91wzZk3w8c6BDeCzyDyaHpKoCOsq1AM6uU7NjEwkYi1JPQcAcJp-TMJjxMbQ4ctlSAObNex1OepfAwOPpHjC_bt88pQoKJUw6deYbGAmvnd0ZYz4tFtMOLM7Xy_O3nPsj6m/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Once you slide, for the next few seconds, I want you to hold down the jump button to have Lara jump to and fro for in this short amount of time a trapdoor will open revealing a small pool of lava. Once those few seconds have expired it should be safe to slide down for the trapdoor should be closed again by this point. Have yourself face the wall with trickling lava on the left side, then jump up and grab the ledge above.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibL8NbHnP4eb0Ji_cPXD98BeXvY3GH0QJqRhcUC4FuCfdztHCLOYZ6t3M40z5QCOGyG7a7sdB7WpIrnYY1YVF_MpZ2Uj7THJTy5RSbTYb3fWcxjitSzpwv7g64Gge6ybeN4ggH42lcNY1fApyB9bTmoIeqnpB5xOSTSTwiii3TwRrigErdec-uh0AJDz5o/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibL8NbHnP4eb0Ji_cPXD98BeXvY3GH0QJqRhcUC4FuCfdztHCLOYZ6t3M40z5QCOGyG7a7sdB7WpIrnYY1YVF_MpZ2Uj7THJTy5RSbTYb3fWcxjitSzpwv7g64Gge6ybeN4ggH42lcNY1fApyB9bTmoIeqnpB5xOSTSTwiii3TwRrigErdec-uh0AJDz5o/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9zSgMJYRwvhtj4QNAZOq4YGaig5bv29PsSR7vfsj49DyJ_YZ8UmQq0w0wJrboYf_3ozixr1PJyV9hYuzmHe-uoYrsqj-MOQdw5HZtmGKfDrczZaK325NRluJIgkAIlkqpE3G0LaxFn99Ky1Jj1u2b2Ic_hHfEgcaJp-Q-aivoQbt1xzz2av-WvUsppx/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu9zSgMJYRwvhtj4QNAZOq4YGaig5bv29PsSR7vfsj49DyJ_YZ8UmQq0w0wJrboYf_3ozixr1PJyV9hYuzmHe-uoYrsqj-MOQdw5HZtmGKfDrczZaK325NRluJIgkAIlkqpE3G0LaxFn99Ky1Jj1u2b2Ic_hHfEgcaJp-Q-aivoQbt1xzz2av-WvUsppx/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-12.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Climb up and enter the room with the lever on the side to find <b>Secret #1</b> where there's a large Medipack and Uzi clips waiting for you to pick them up.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on down the line you'll be required to jump from flat surface to flat surface in a large pathway with deadly lava below you. Jump to the platform that appears slightly slanted but is otherwise safe to stand in.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9utG69WveZNdeIBDJnSIvVBUqmthS4GGX1hwesBUJg3YD1chadm0Tg-gR79Kf82s2URVDiz0dFNmnkbl9EXQsbFI7pxR8oyXvqodGZMLb4fkU5rp9X-TzEgDX2pGbsWjZDq0kqxmBtbeaxvQ0e-rzb-SVFPMVvwc16SDzA3xix90WUAolpXCjkmSF2IC/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9utG69WveZNdeIBDJnSIvVBUqmthS4GGX1hwesBUJg3YD1chadm0Tg-gR79Kf82s2URVDiz0dFNmnkbl9EXQsbFI7pxR8oyXvqodGZMLb4fkU5rp9X-TzEgDX2pGbsWjZDq0kqxmBtbeaxvQ0e-rzb-SVFPMVvwc16SDzA3xix90WUAolpXCjkmSF2IC/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUJ5crIQvdlshFuzSFGYYAGR9b0QoFgH-Q28D9_EEUOypw3z0CpKWHunFYQq3xap-yd7LNrf7CHzjGxNlLFAdWJbHSH9QuCICqlShhjLq0gSlhETdqZWdj4BgeQ8DvpasfhrINCBMFxA8s7zZGUhSgQtx5pKyfQKM4mkwAfivLUu5nZfGclWUZlu6oMfW/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUJ5crIQvdlshFuzSFGYYAGR9b0QoFgH-Q28D9_EEUOypw3z0CpKWHunFYQq3xap-yd7LNrf7CHzjGxNlLFAdWJbHSH9QuCICqlShhjLq0gSlhETdqZWdj4BgeQ8DvpasfhrINCBMFxA8s7zZGUhSgQtx5pKyfQKM4mkwAfivLUu5nZfGclWUZlu6oMfW/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">From there, look to the right wall where you'll see to the left of the lavafall is an entrance with a moveable crate in the distance. Have Lara face that position, walk to the edge, tap backward, and make a running jump. Be sure to hold down the action button for you'll immediately need to push the block ahead of you to narrowly avoid being crushed by an incoming boulder, thereby accessing <b>Secret #2</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXONpUpItxW9EzbHhr7d2MtRkDdH2Ha803jxw_OaFB_OhLcgwue6FetE80gyNEWdh4dR61If7Pk1f959sGmGNJmuuiKj11Cl94atTexQbf6VS9Jv_0QACqkyibYBeBvrHjS3aM9N_qoHyPNm9J8laXjFP8v0foS87iT9CR062o_phU7MLQMnmXCtVav8i/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXONpUpItxW9EzbHhr7d2MtRkDdH2Ha803jxw_OaFB_OhLcgwue6FetE80gyNEWdh4dR61If7Pk1f959sGmGNJmuuiKj11Cl94atTexQbf6VS9Jv_0QACqkyibYBeBvrHjS3aM9N_qoHyPNm9J8laXjFP8v0foS87iT9CR062o_phU7MLQMnmXCtVav8i/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lMc_-xIWJgSxZs6vK9NPk85BBoXGT1JRIuyO00XJGGciXY3pFtG0W_AeUSEhF9xhi-UJqg6p-q5hqsa8EiO-8Y2Q28PACAY3Sa6U8xl2hmiuPLWarc0fDibTOL__8wvXTuVCNfcmwmH_gqWxCkFPFNTZwGMK3X88Hw3ou_d_tv4qgganbaEnWGbNsAC4/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lMc_-xIWJgSxZs6vK9NPk85BBoXGT1JRIuyO00XJGGciXY3pFtG0W_AeUSEhF9xhi-UJqg6p-q5hqsa8EiO-8Y2Q28PACAY3Sa6U8xl2hmiuPLWarc0fDibTOL__8wvXTuVCNfcmwmH_gqWxCkFPFNTZwGMK3X88Hw3ou_d_tv4qgganbaEnWGbNsAC4/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-16.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Run to the right side of the block, then hold the action button and press down to pull it toward the middle. Now go to the left back corner, position yourself properly and jump up to grab the ledge above you where you'll come across Uzi clips and a large Medipack. Jump across the small gap</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtUr8iFsd4t-pt-wXfUvV3yiqzjvHabWkn7pt5YiOIKolGvICnnPFZugAyVTE1HfRoL79k2ySGYLWubhlC4n3Ts45P4yLVNRkA-umS37R-NnX0rAuKRNr33OYoCSkIfqwcAy92MNur9anhShOcVxrDHyZKltOx7Viad_esjFduXaOVxKNH6eTpQkrOfdD/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtUr8iFsd4t-pt-wXfUvV3yiqzjvHabWkn7pt5YiOIKolGvICnnPFZugAyVTE1HfRoL79k2ySGYLWubhlC4n3Ts45P4yLVNRkA-umS37R-NnX0rAuKRNr33OYoCSkIfqwcAy92MNur9anhShOcVxrDHyZKltOx7Viad_esjFduXaOVxKNH6eTpQkrOfdD/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-18.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqfO66xFectQMfvxs5qXCQ_bduHNTuRqAMgg_T9wm0LpK9wi5JHa0vq88ipmLnaB5afmf1QpFICjL6Kab7Joz856rzxBmFZpki4bZTkxSFtaNPgYRIg5NVp2NBsKUGKNwWkhyphenhyphenDn-pdr2dqvbCvyibJPRTVMIplPE5pfiIZEziKo8s_oQn4I0ZS5DXXK5E/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqfO66xFectQMfvxs5qXCQ_bduHNTuRqAMgg_T9wm0LpK9wi5JHa0vq88ipmLnaB5afmf1QpFICjL6Kab7Joz856rzxBmFZpki4bZTkxSFtaNPgYRIg5NVp2NBsKUGKNwWkhyphenhyphenDn-pdr2dqvbCvyibJPRTVMIplPE5pfiIZEziKo8s_oQn4I0ZS5DXXK5E/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-17.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">to make your way through all the way to the end, then turn left and make your way through there.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj661yLcOMcJ7R3uH16TTRtDce8mw6kZmF-YmeeRX_6PrM_N0EDWSWJVLqHyHl26jORNVIxfKfC-iCcCnMGTSLPXwL8ac6RkWlvwL-WEDIK9I_hMk9uK6ASMVpqai2GQUQwGrZUqOXIMWO-ksqK2WJbPDm445cxQxJgHdgYTf3HtyhYJGSlRlUhJOOQDySz/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj661yLcOMcJ7R3uH16TTRtDce8mw6kZmF-YmeeRX_6PrM_N0EDWSWJVLqHyHl26jORNVIxfKfC-iCcCnMGTSLPXwL8ac6RkWlvwL-WEDIK9I_hMk9uK6ASMVpqai2GQUQwGrZUqOXIMWO-ksqK2WJbPDm445cxQxJgHdgYTf3HtyhYJGSlRlUhJOOQDySz/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-19.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmziD3pELg7fJ0J2Zo6j5wT-ClyoXT2XYjwoXmDsmraHO1vjAr3-NAvQyNdU-B5NuYXL-JoN1K1StD7bn3G8hP2y8-1OqPy8bFp91Q5vPybZPIQ_m-w42KCHHf9AaY26v-czpsfbmwq4pf1hFZCg2ujoBXOIGqzjyvlsc6BgrQ4Em09PYs7O0hDldSs6z/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmziD3pELg7fJ0J2Zo6j5wT-ClyoXT2XYjwoXmDsmraHO1vjAr3-NAvQyNdU-B5NuYXL-JoN1K1StD7bn3G8hP2y8-1OqPy8bFp91Q5vPybZPIQ_m-w42KCHHf9AaY26v-czpsfbmwq4pf1hFZCg2ujoBXOIGqzjyvlsc6BgrQ4Em09PYs7O0hDldSs6z/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-20.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Face away from the ledge, tap backward, grab the ledge, and let go to find yourself on top of rail tracks. From there make your way to the right until you're partway through.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3TTnyrCYE2QSAwhzKLbWIxOV5FKkdoeQppJVdWRmJdDilpxWlGDDIk25MTPidfsoHHynObf7XGgJIy_OkX7c2vM9ZaOPXcwTB424rXBXnm1EhT_izEFscIuIUWDN3X7d7vTZCaWRmszpkTxjZBO7W3nqEwynfjNno4v5moG23Ru_byJtm4VjEX2Vnil/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-3TTnyrCYE2QSAwhzKLbWIxOV5FKkdoeQppJVdWRmJdDilpxWlGDDIk25MTPidfsoHHynObf7XGgJIy_OkX7c2vM9ZaOPXcwTB424rXBXnm1EhT_izEFscIuIUWDN3X7d7vTZCaWRmszpkTxjZBO7W3nqEwynfjNno4v5moG23Ru_byJtm4VjEX2Vnil/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-21.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUYw93I5CB1j_sJbZQvxrPfKqyZlG77gp9zxld_B8-WKOGnJygXieGx3BSkuCm54QBbamUXmN0QQyDPFASEPXvneDA-dgaUADEr4Bh7F8VUI8xePCaMKJKxmXWhEdnk0FjPYLzHmgmpp2dxDDDi5kdBwIKSU4ANlTHOi9R3WTYgVovcWkkuM72cPoaeA5/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-22.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUYw93I5CB1j_sJbZQvxrPfKqyZlG77gp9zxld_B8-WKOGnJygXieGx3BSkuCm54QBbamUXmN0QQyDPFASEPXvneDA-dgaUADEr4Bh7F8VUI8xePCaMKJKxmXWhEdnk0FjPYLzHmgmpp2dxDDDi5kdBwIKSU4ANlTHOi9R3WTYgVovcWkkuM72cPoaeA5/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-22.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You'll pick up Uzi clips, a large Medipack, and a Shotgun, now you won't have to kill the last of Natla's henchmen to obtain it (though you could still pick it up after the fact if you want).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QC-oR5b8vsa0XOl9Rd2I6m0b7S8K2aOF2mdbDiXD82f2V9XTZaagTw2kC7uiBOfKcGUKByxXUUBq3A7h9dEu2diJA4LlgChTtvoUMy0aUxTt-GecVMMf15BpiuDvtGejvzZm0-7BessoB4QP46OuvE0KVklLMjwV-PtU7RpFRqBZ9IORju-gcdDPfZ9Z/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QC-oR5b8vsa0XOl9Rd2I6m0b7S8K2aOF2mdbDiXD82f2V9XTZaagTw2kC7uiBOfKcGUKByxXUUBq3A7h9dEu2diJA4LlgChTtvoUMy0aUxTt-GecVMMf15BpiuDvtGejvzZm0-7BessoB4QP46OuvE0KVklLMjwV-PtU7RpFRqBZ9IORju-gcdDPfZ9Z/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-23.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15o5uyZgI2YImQ1OZKmcK_OqlHsdrkshdg0IDJ2dv7U9Cw1yRL42oIPjrRnyM91A8PWC9nHbvdyKSG-3oV28O3GbE2ZZwIc8FJAs9n2lacC6gRUENvLG-27Pzjno3jip8Ack_Yz8tlmScwBlICa1RfBz3lbWbnuRE3KFs28qU1wRtGRZuDPdguNA5ohaO/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-24.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15o5uyZgI2YImQ1OZKmcK_OqlHsdrkshdg0IDJ2dv7U9Cw1yRL42oIPjrRnyM91A8PWC9nHbvdyKSG-3oV28O3GbE2ZZwIc8FJAs9n2lacC6gRUENvLG-27Pzjno3jip8Ack_Yz8tlmScwBlICa1RfBz3lbWbnuRE3KFs28qU1wRtGRZuDPdguNA5ohaO/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-24.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on, you'll come across a large skate park where you must kill the skateboarding punk to reclaim your Uzis. After you did that, run up to the middle of the room and then turn left until you're straddling the left wall. This man is <b>insane</b>, for literally having a skate park situated on top of lava! 🛹 Fortunately, there is a small body of water for you to jump in to.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasViObidMtJ9lHBqVA6fWQ6fN2QNn-RHRvA6tRPtcTNQeEYQf8qLVNgJ8i3TN6YIvWfQxgyVFY2r3LVgBWVpaaZ-z0SLXyGoUTF9i1Y-9smD_s_97_3ylsSRfQE_qN-DdDV5LRvZqwVfDmywPAhblHAmBNeamzYCQsJySfHYs0s_8OwOnuC0EU8zA5YFS/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-25.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasViObidMtJ9lHBqVA6fWQ6fN2QNn-RHRvA6tRPtcTNQeEYQf8qLVNgJ8i3TN6YIvWfQxgyVFY2r3LVgBWVpaaZ-z0SLXyGoUTF9i1Y-9smD_s_97_3ylsSRfQE_qN-DdDV5LRvZqwVfDmywPAhblHAmBNeamzYCQsJySfHYs0s_8OwOnuC0EU8zA5YFS/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-25.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3600Iv8gaEdlV8yhgsORqAh6Ly5c0gPIzEKB04VNfWDLyn_wCaOXulrG7J_MArQF7XmvMIw-RRsK0XhZRSygPoJ8luRvy8bB1sg9kWPb1v1qvGwwLOhmjxlKiOS96WefD_aqcSkKuqm_vFyeipeqrjrGDiJoXFcUoVXIx0z0Xc0I8SvfbkOWgnBEMK_7s/s376/TombRaider_NatlasMines-26.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3600Iv8gaEdlV8yhgsORqAh6Ly5c0gPIzEKB04VNfWDLyn_wCaOXulrG7J_MArQF7XmvMIw-RRsK0XhZRSygPoJ8luRvy8bB1sg9kWPb1v1qvGwwLOhmjxlKiOS96WefD_aqcSkKuqm_vFyeipeqrjrGDiJoXFcUoVXIx0z0Xc0I8SvfbkOWgnBEMK_7s/w200-h158/TombRaider_NatlasMines-26.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Face the hole, dive into the water, and swim across for a door will open up for you, leading to <b>Secret #3</b>. Grab the Uzi clips, small Medipack, and large Medipack, and then immediately swim out of there and back to the surface. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of Natla's Mines!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 14: Atlantis</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2qZmYfXq1xZaMer9McA1eDSp9yYefMWZVdkT4B5EnOOJJuG8aM8j6Fc4z9TI9WtvIkUooIArXZAESnprKyZpVoeB4_23TLJhA_BPDyiF_HsVpscKqJmEPH3XS6WsZYH0l0M162dxsc108wmm5iOvjUiMCENO7SVKGdPuwtk8B9_0I4kij07czIA5IAaZ/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2qZmYfXq1xZaMer9McA1eDSp9yYefMWZVdkT4B5EnOOJJuG8aM8j6Fc4z9TI9WtvIkUooIArXZAESnprKyZpVoeB4_23TLJhA_BPDyiF_HsVpscKqJmEPH3XS6WsZYH0l0M162dxsc108wmm5iOvjUiMCENO7SVKGdPuwtk8B9_0I4kij07czIA5IAaZ/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1t0LSWHCeNx17kI9PXBCY-xf2RvJmA3LY0F0rc-Yq07E89y1fnQOUdRKrAO5P-w-nxRaH7Bwxz59zZzR5Jdrh7nmKOLmGL_IkRwCA7Cd7sM-SgvMil6ZudRaU_u1r3Nf5fBAbhZ17wtSYdam8wiKtb_Fn2SsztKSVnZxK7ZtDEr5NVP-_SPx886hLyDv/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1t0LSWHCeNx17kI9PXBCY-xf2RvJmA3LY0F0rc-Yq07E89y1fnQOUdRKrAO5P-w-nxRaH7Bwxz59zZzR5Jdrh7nmKOLmGL_IkRwCA7Cd7sM-SgvMil6ZudRaU_u1r3Nf5fBAbhZ17wtSYdam8wiKtb_Fn2SsztKSVnZxK7ZtDEr5NVP-_SPx886hLyDv/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After opening up the door will step inside the large room for the first time with the lava below you. Kill the winged creature looming above you first so as to not be put into a position to fall down and get burned. Once you've finished that, walk to the ledge, have Lara face away from it, tap backward, and grab the ledge. You'll notice there's a platform below it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxxIAVlmkI5pwrLrlAspmISjGWiJyONt2T41SD3LCX73Y61R-W3XAC-rGOdOvIH8le7W2z83HnWATyUaUhLZxYhyn8MuDwgguoi2XfAN9_hkauFYqrhdTbGq5805h6_KVb6ns2DC8R8lZdMIip2KbGRyX57FhyaDV3QIcCT4dVf_KkphAXhjL0RlEnHih/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxxIAVlmkI5pwrLrlAspmISjGWiJyONt2T41SD3LCX73Y61R-W3XAC-rGOdOvIH8le7W2z83HnWATyUaUhLZxYhyn8MuDwgguoi2XfAN9_hkauFYqrhdTbGq5805h6_KVb6ns2DC8R8lZdMIip2KbGRyX57FhyaDV3QIcCT4dVf_KkphAXhjL0RlEnHih/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj_pwQmpJ6epCqYtetgKvXW1K6CbYUJMDRZZfcYk2amD503yegjeUspQn7t43mcC2qVZjMJrm6x6FEAoibIoE_7XB6hRk9Q9lXl2XxqeBk2Y2ntYQrGaoRr41Gi9IozQ7bqIwZukijr5-bX-lkTcJFKw0oWFWi9hutCd55MNzI9zHBunOfjpHJvb-J3lu/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj_pwQmpJ6epCqYtetgKvXW1K6CbYUJMDRZZfcYk2amD503yegjeUspQn7t43mcC2qVZjMJrm6x6FEAoibIoE_7XB6hRk9Q9lXl2XxqeBk2Y2ntYQrGaoRr41Gi9IozQ7bqIwZukijr5-bX-lkTcJFKw0oWFWi9hutCd55MNzI9zHBunOfjpHJvb-J3lu/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Drop down by letting go of the action button, then immediately press and hold it again to grab the ledge below it. Climb up and run all the way to the back before proceeding to turn left. Just like that, you've arrived at <b>Secret #1</b> where you can pick up Magnum clips, Uzi clips, and a large Medipack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJTTrrwHsf6wF8YBRiGwB9HAt-Em5eaZtTDp_OeivVGsde2YdAymGNG2uqtW-gvcXWtNRRtQmpilBSTmv_Y0Cg_hIWCQeBDcWuJ54JF7jiEcSDRx0wPz80HUzIMbh-3AqbricAG9mAtIgugOIqTzQMj87HnyQYv3QpSSJCW6tTZoEJ8ut9sFhvTCfE9F/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJTTrrwHsf6wF8YBRiGwB9HAt-Em5eaZtTDp_OeivVGsde2YdAymGNG2uqtW-gvcXWtNRRtQmpilBSTmv_Y0Cg_hIWCQeBDcWuJ54JF7jiEcSDRx0wPz80HUzIMbh-3AqbricAG9mAtIgugOIqTzQMj87HnyQYv3QpSSJCW6tTZoEJ8ut9sFhvTCfE9F/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDwAHiCWZiL228dvDITsvsPfUPH3DwfJ2PqT8Xs8C7FJAb_66oxKc7q9W8DNFlymsjFJrXpt7grb0-kzJiVuFFjwNRA5mscua4iIJr8GmQytjy6EbZ2-Q4ibNrgTxZXGzYRjNSyuoNXh6qSLvgba_JHPK886i0tE9Kb4zFzysp9NtP1ZHUspRd2Eau7fv/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDwAHiCWZiL228dvDITsvsPfUPH3DwfJ2PqT8Xs8C7FJAb_66oxKc7q9W8DNFlymsjFJrXpt7grb0-kzJiVuFFjwNRA5mscua4iIJr8GmQytjy6EbZ2-Q4ibNrgTxZXGzYRjNSyuoNXh6qSLvgba_JHPK886i0tE9Kb4zFzysp9NtP1ZHUspRd2Eau7fv/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-6.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on you'll be at the most normal-looking room you'll be in for a long while where there is a Save Crystal. Save. Climb up the rocky structure, and aim Lara for the flat-bottomed surfaces surrounded by a body of steep inclined surfaces. Jump to the nearest one, then immediately jump to the one in its upper right corner to avoid a boulder rolling over. Face the right edge, tap backward,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC0XUnybcGJ7xAZIxjGBWQU11QZv3w-GnmLD-YOqRlZIJOJyFuBbQkclNKCUJOReLk0ocuEwdYM6tI6fJ5nWr7yrBVjcshO0ZXJiTLQIAtQxnpJ3Hr5N2Gg8FTUqS2tsHMEjIdUUggn256QcKcCPKm3ibHpTaCuoTLJOoHauDwl-zTFOR6GspcxjOstWV/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC0XUnybcGJ7xAZIxjGBWQU11QZv3w-GnmLD-YOqRlZIJOJyFuBbQkclNKCUJOReLk0ocuEwdYM6tI6fJ5nWr7yrBVjcshO0ZXJiTLQIAtQxnpJ3Hr5N2Gg8FTUqS2tsHMEjIdUUggn256QcKcCPKm3ibHpTaCuoTLJOoHauDwl-zTFOR6GspcxjOstWV/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgGxPIIeTJPFOF0wIFy89w_tTZq74pObmtvhhIFiyu_M9IxxfWX4KyOlSOCwGw_rngAKPZtHe2H9ggUHszT5ftcATm9xq2dLQ8ohX8M1NgtP7DTQhEnxBCL9ddk28z4hI9rUDdM6G9dAuv9QGzR5MkOkRs3FwycvMejkseOOYuBJVhAOkwh_zSigpHec-/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgGxPIIeTJPFOF0wIFy89w_tTZq74pObmtvhhIFiyu_M9IxxfWX4KyOlSOCwGw_rngAKPZtHe2H9ggUHszT5ftcATm9xq2dLQ8ohX8M1NgtP7DTQhEnxBCL9ddk28z4hI9rUDdM6G9dAuv9QGzR5MkOkRs3FwycvMejkseOOYuBJVhAOkwh_zSigpHec-/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-8.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and make a running jump across to safely land on top of another flat surface. Face diagonally to the upper right edge,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoxnz6hZjvI53z-iEb9lKD9YxLjxNHUcA890hsK6dhhL0UUnrceDLE5f4K5eUlYvTahCkWXcNlzaVLigf239r_ij0ZdbjXYf1_MUg-Ui_OBjJ1hcRzFXTiZrqJf-NRWBCMMCaXhDrmS8-jfKoIfDMOm6YwiHzWBzVa3shKkUGZYrg5zjf9AcS6EyXIb_7/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoxnz6hZjvI53z-iEb9lKD9YxLjxNHUcA890hsK6dhhL0UUnrceDLE5f4K5eUlYvTahCkWXcNlzaVLigf239r_ij0ZdbjXYf1_MUg-Ui_OBjJ1hcRzFXTiZrqJf-NRWBCMMCaXhDrmS8-jfKoIfDMOm6YwiHzWBzVa3shKkUGZYrg5zjf9AcS6EyXIb_7/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXi6QqIP75HBmCAotHqMBRh-YyFXScrrYA21YVpjH9-9pchi5YsBxsff7MYscjreEp0uv3Z0fq3Xv66t9-QiVakmg6hu9CV-4KliwXRafZTHvC4-KC0mrZGNb_om_hwcBGYSEi4ZIYEhs2FePaDUY8Rq7f7ijQko_00HNzCLMlDZv5skWO57P012OIYdY/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXi6QqIP75HBmCAotHqMBRh-YyFXScrrYA21YVpjH9-9pchi5YsBxsff7MYscjreEp0uv3Z0fq3Xv66t9-QiVakmg6hu9CV-4KliwXRafZTHvC4-KC0mrZGNb_om_hwcBGYSEi4ZIYEhs2FePaDUY8Rq7f7ijQko_00HNzCLMlDZv5skWO57P012OIYdY/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and jump up to the flat surface adjacent to the one you were just on. Now face the upper left corner and jump forward, turn Lara to face the upper right corner,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUlLjDeAIvO3Vphh_u8_CdO9EkwfOXuSmU0VhlUnWhJTC7tp9Z3kK39ngYelqbYuj0ZxLcmWnPxDbO4ku_IEmlSaokokjPUIPw78rfe9A5UJURuR0K4eFyL6Wg4bkm4mwBbsqXMbVu05nI77aOp6fHky7NzWf054wOLA633aS6EIVv4YTGO3YxAoppfle/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUlLjDeAIvO3Vphh_u8_CdO9EkwfOXuSmU0VhlUnWhJTC7tp9Z3kK39ngYelqbYuj0ZxLcmWnPxDbO4ku_IEmlSaokokjPUIPw78rfe9A5UJURuR0K4eFyL6Wg4bkm4mwBbsqXMbVu05nI77aOp6fHky7NzWf054wOLA633aS6EIVv4YTGO3YxAoppfle/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-11.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_akPjCrHQInPEAY40q7PRbtzN1gCUP9AyuEs8LZ0aQXm6zuHh9IPIAsMB_vUrHJG3iqo6Tr1-n5A5hbnJy_S6VRH9SQZFTrXJDa4xgOF8GQH_ZMEVUzxGdyY9hoTnxvKNg0zqyFNJMmHk5PawJ8NscvApWK8MtZJNhDv6P1e4vuFFs3pPnZR6LaXODYf/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-12.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_akPjCrHQInPEAY40q7PRbtzN1gCUP9AyuEs8LZ0aQXm6zuHh9IPIAsMB_vUrHJG3iqo6Tr1-n5A5hbnJy_S6VRH9SQZFTrXJDa4xgOF8GQH_ZMEVUzxGdyY9hoTnxvKNg0zqyFNJMmHk5PawJ8NscvApWK8MtZJNhDv6P1e4vuFFs3pPnZR6LaXODYf/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-12.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">jump across, position yourself properly, and jump across again to make it up to the uppermost corner of the room. Face the wall on the right that is <b>not</b> brown, climb up, and run ahead to find <b>Secret #2</b>:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02AZwT_0g7AAlXDwouOjPtWKELcBhCV-R6XKo4KSAeLo7rmmpVddC7EIfFnAFbUt2b0Z22y12DdTmGj33QnK6Fem8pUCQfTOGFeHzFfCeA_uA5wrFFCXf9Bc8s-KHIO8w-QDiHmVjNm22Lf0p7OyPq9OE4uDE59ci6EUnmzUkZs9M9dFtJXqkfyohfftz/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02AZwT_0g7AAlXDwouOjPtWKELcBhCV-R6XKo4KSAeLo7rmmpVddC7EIfFnAFbUt2b0Z22y12DdTmGj33QnK6Fem8pUCQfTOGFeHzFfCeA_uA5wrFFCXf9Bc8s-KHIO8w-QDiHmVjNm22Lf0p7OyPq9OE4uDE59ci6EUnmzUkZs9M9dFtJXqkfyohfftz/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-13.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKJ_-gLrbcyDbHEH04I7jryBhd4CJP99WKnMNedp3Tm6725_duSJRFwHHmoGxb7oZSPsMnbgFHXzWQnTDOlnQFVj2vZg323AdOlq-lRTcvpE4OryMQY3Hw9pMHovUqDzZKluw77DDFtr161xpoLM3Z4ondnImj9zYnoT293KC9zdJU-wlNZ5Tg0ynDQNw/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKJ_-gLrbcyDbHEH04I7jryBhd4CJP99WKnMNedp3Tm6725_duSJRFwHHmoGxb7oZSPsMnbgFHXzWQnTDOlnQFVj2vZg323AdOlq-lRTcvpE4OryMQY3Hw9pMHovUqDzZKluw77DDFtr161xpoLM3Z4ondnImj9zYnoT293KC9zdJU-wlNZ5Tg0ynDQNw/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-14.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">at the back collect the large Medipack, Uzi clips, and Magnum clips.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Right by the entrance to this later corridor is a basic tile that is mismatched from the rest that is ornately patterned, the penultimate one closer to the room. Kill all three baddies first, then proceed to step on it making sure to bank left and upward.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY2z0Cm0MtyFwpTtloHMWlnco3OcTRDGniv10PD6vruJnRr5AQEVD7IMnDPE3ax160wPisR0nGUZSxBGYNCii7t75ROlL-IwAeTq0aRzR4HI-5a-oyAwjI62zscrr3Wn0kfFho3tGMhH4Nxrh1Taezl5H19aUatF__CZP7tC05xOC8vNaGuNaZyo03YDW/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY2z0Cm0MtyFwpTtloHMWlnco3OcTRDGniv10PD6vruJnRr5AQEVD7IMnDPE3ax160wPisR0nGUZSxBGYNCii7t75ROlL-IwAeTq0aRzR4HI-5a-oyAwjI62zscrr3Wn0kfFho3tGMhH4Nxrh1Taezl5H19aUatF__CZP7tC05xOC8vNaGuNaZyo03YDW/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-15.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdWB_4WzNq_TlgYcTt6e_dVTEqx4b7Hipxz4ck8h8Uc5LhDw0X-bOc16kZZ1BtI9ruK5XA4kU5m1mRNv6a4WMV0Vh7Uj0QupQpPiovfzhqLfx_3qPfPJipIfDoQpuFILLmJ1gNMSezWy9ExDMIYUBg5nuFM9EKabmyiKGfPXFceoGkjYcbFZkn18fygwJ/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-16.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdWB_4WzNq_TlgYcTt6e_dVTEqx4b7Hipxz4ck8h8Uc5LhDw0X-bOc16kZZ1BtI9ruK5XA4kU5m1mRNv6a4WMV0Vh7Uj0QupQpPiovfzhqLfx_3qPfPJipIfDoQpuFILLmJ1gNMSezWy9ExDMIYUBg5nuFM9EKabmyiKGfPXFceoGkjYcbFZkn18fygwJ/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-16.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jump your way across for it is a timed floor switch and if you do not get to it on time you'll have to start over.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGr5aP3asM_0RPvnOCBIRse2aa62DBvfySNZY7QcirPtBojK8Gn79IIIaJBBg2DU8pvefwh3yflVs2f74FvQUnxOiIi-jo9OuxhXtwEVjC8wN8pOqd6kUCxnHApX3rtE_eCjoec_TnVOGVcABx1eRJ4zKqCyeDGK-NqJ8jV8Nrd4eRCN5uj68VxRU1SJSM/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGr5aP3asM_0RPvnOCBIRse2aa62DBvfySNZY7QcirPtBojK8Gn79IIIaJBBg2DU8pvefwh3yflVs2f74FvQUnxOiIi-jo9OuxhXtwEVjC8wN8pOqd6kUCxnHApX3rtE_eCjoec_TnVOGVcABx1eRJ4zKqCyeDGK-NqJ8jV8Nrd4eRCN5uj68VxRU1SJSM/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-17.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNAcJ7iJ_Gunm_6_RwTrMByZgiycbg9LPONJnb3SksUjtcW5ffINXSpNq2NSLrss-AFyT76i258AfXfDDyc6N-yfcYJGlXSQ9MsSBdoUeOMWLYyR8GMJClrEjF9KBgZz87ZgWoDvtelb4rVG57bwmvjvnnLVD3eWFhgNz8x1h4XeCb4zgRuSIXs4yyF_b/s376/TombRaider_Atlantis-18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNAcJ7iJ_Gunm_6_RwTrMByZgiycbg9LPONJnb3SksUjtcW5ffINXSpNq2NSLrss-AFyT76i258AfXfDDyc6N-yfcYJGlXSQ9MsSBdoUeOMWLYyR8GMJClrEjF9KBgZz87ZgWoDvtelb4rVG57bwmvjvnnLVD3eWFhgNz8x1h4XeCb4zgRuSIXs4yyF_b/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis-18.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Continue until you come across an open wall on the right side that leads into <b>Secret #3</b> which houses a large Medipack, Uzi clips, and Shotgun shells. Congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of Atlantis!!!</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Level 15: The Great Pyramid</u></span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b>Number of Secrets: 3</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbEg2BRvdsA60NHXatIiPOVIPnjfL3Rp497LjpVESgtC9FRzSK7XYy0hyjnwtzGHhZLO5C0AdfkOGe-Zh6aOvgFH4eBNP4cWI5LhElMGG9zyHFkf85cw06DFuJKJWRkBGAyG_tC4CNzN4svhv5SVmsry2wYvyXEgehYhiKa87TuBeJLW_eP20k9l8m_Wv/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbEg2BRvdsA60NHXatIiPOVIPnjfL3Rp497LjpVESgtC9FRzSK7XYy0hyjnwtzGHhZLO5C0AdfkOGe-Zh6aOvgFH4eBNP4cWI5LhElMGG9zyHFkf85cw06DFuJKJWRkBGAyG_tC4CNzN4svhv5SVmsry2wYvyXEgehYhiKa87TuBeJLW_eP20k9l8m_Wv/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR3f9Xr7G1ND3NGwCfP9gBeEu-IBhUqYExgnR49ssb1adM4Qwlbwx79uddPhQBsCgY3BtAlNl7vEEXOgWEm_Z5ugtBEwO8aaxIzwL9r19xhjLZyLBdBVDhzbhyphenhyphenpItICFuq76RErxiPd6OWUHybs-hZJM8xGuDRGs1Bxeu41I5vJW0tWZtiGMIbx7nR-_j/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR3f9Xr7G1ND3NGwCfP9gBeEu-IBhUqYExgnR49ssb1adM4Qwlbwx79uddPhQBsCgY3BtAlNl7vEEXOgWEm_Z5ugtBEwO8aaxIzwL9r19xhjLZyLBdBVDhzbhyphenhyphenpItICFuq76RErxiPd6OWUHybs-hZJM8xGuDRGs1Bxeu41I5vJW0tWZtiGMIbx7nR-_j/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You will find yourself inside a cave where to your right is a wide steep incline with three flat surfaces in-between. Face the right and make a running jump toward the first flat surface, then tap backward and make a running jump to the next flat surface, and do so again for the last one. At that point turn around, and start making your way back to notice that a bridge has been extended, but don't take too long to get to it for it is a timed floor switch that you stepped on. If you land on a steep incline after jumping forward, don't worry, you can still save yourself from being burned by the river of lava by jumping from opposing incline to opposing incline until you land on a flat surface.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyYlKfwxvGh5IsAfHqkc-0MFvh6S3Ulcka5Z_MzE3SMHfp4sgSioNyapZ2oEiwmPwhUl_X2COSizfaNeiE7u4OY2E4fcepAmFD1imRJylHRSrphNl4I4RgHQCmzGEB5hfqBky8cCRiMGomAlUJrILE5rvnTjSAt7JN0PsOs5BjCFqP6B32cwKCE0gO_4N/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyYlKfwxvGh5IsAfHqkc-0MFvh6S3Ulcka5Z_MzE3SMHfp4sgSioNyapZ2oEiwmPwhUl_X2COSizfaNeiE7u4OY2E4fcepAmFD1imRJylHRSrphNl4I4RgHQCmzGEB5hfqBky8cCRiMGomAlUJrILE5rvnTjSAt7JN0PsOs5BjCFqP6B32cwKCE0gO_4N/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RnBEGUYw-HCuU4rkJmnjMZVFlZOziNR1o9r4_V9AdKEj34Qoia7u3KtNh_vmMbV90kAfWVkUFQLG1y8j7rpDrrMJTrHLUxUSKsMjLeTCcW-ldTLJ5NGrUIVbAaNiesu0wu5ui-kgr7QFAa90OxGd221eXmKrypl1fAnLUMErR06a_MeqiPHVn4adwPTY/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RnBEGUYw-HCuU4rkJmnjMZVFlZOziNR1o9r4_V9AdKEj34Qoia7u3KtNh_vmMbV90kAfWVkUFQLG1y8j7rpDrrMJTrHLUxUSKsMjLeTCcW-ldTLJ5NGrUIVbAaNiesu0wu5ui-kgr7QFAa90OxGd221eXmKrypl1fAnLUMErR06a_MeqiPHVn4adwPTY/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-4.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">After successfully jumping on the bridge make your way to the right to enter a cave, then turn left to find <b>Secret #1</b> where a lever awaits to be pulled down and in the middle of the corridor are a large Medipack, Shotgun shells, and Magnum clips for you to pick up.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Later on you'll find yourself at a segment that will take you to the penultimate Save Crystal of the game as you carefully make your way down to it. But in lieu of that, walk along the edge as you face the wall and give yourself <b>just</b> enough distance</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgAjcpJ_y1U0G5MQbMbfTVu451eq2GauQ7R5t-reJyJzn3c3Q59_D0Cd5rzQFtD3xjG1e7xjZ_WtJH7Nm559-UqRoJFVDpth_ILKAFtCznNdX0QmbJ73ne6sVKGRcddKYqigv6d0LbrdV75SkV_bW2ZSnmzGix8tscmkfk8k3EA_Gsxnbeh6mngI8Wvh5/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgAjcpJ_y1U0G5MQbMbfTVu451eq2GauQ7R5t-reJyJzn3c3Q59_D0Cd5rzQFtD3xjG1e7xjZ_WtJH7Nm559-UqRoJFVDpth_ILKAFtCznNdX0QmbJ73ne6sVKGRcddKYqigv6d0LbrdV75SkV_bW2ZSnmzGix8tscmkfk8k3EA_Gsxnbeh6mngI8Wvh5/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXzQcIDfuD1rmdGk5xjt3KD2lR09lBamyedr8QOVM_DFjk0mJySrksR-Oba04zBxP-fQxSiNo6MEx2hHldhriEzfJK7wUrKebw4SVc8eDyIgmhHUxe4ukQXAE_zxJxk6A0tATCEkAasQNdLU9D7r6aKPegt7EygJ1hBU_YCYu6Qu8pKxted3cvARA0LHR/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXzQcIDfuD1rmdGk5xjt3KD2lR09lBamyedr8QOVM_DFjk0mJySrksR-Oba04zBxP-fQxSiNo6MEx2hHldhriEzfJK7wUrKebw4SVc8eDyIgmhHUxe4ukQXAE_zxJxk6A0tATCEkAasQNdLU9D7r6aKPegt7EygJ1hBU_YCYu6Qu8pKxted3cvARA0LHR/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-6.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">for you'll want to grab the ledge that is above to the side by jumping up toward it. If you jump too close you'll forcibly get bumped back by making contact with the wall thereby enabling Lara to fall to the scorching lava below. While holding down the action button start shimmying <b>all the way to the right</b> (which will take roughly half a minute for you to do so) until you see a close surface for you to land on upon letting go.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4681xYXNk9KOrhq5t394lgIIdgN_DLtTMfJwXMI0uvSIePyAD3LDR9A0fg5UGWn7CBOyTmhOjA7nXu5oLU4w8wvYdWfkDCCU0N8wEU0qFNwq2mw1PewThEwbgWzhHh1Gz6Wlfz6y4b4Qe_raw_xfzQa9RGWlgO41LsujqgI5LMpAfypc1m7WJK786DpEy/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4681xYXNk9KOrhq5t394lgIIdgN_DLtTMfJwXMI0uvSIePyAD3LDR9A0fg5UGWn7CBOyTmhOjA7nXu5oLU4w8wvYdWfkDCCU0N8wEU0qFNwq2mw1PewThEwbgWzhHh1Gz6Wlfz6y4b4Qe_raw_xfzQa9RGWlgO41LsujqgI5LMpAfypc1m7WJK786DpEy/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-7.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPNXora7mQRvHVzHXqURrAXiXGQZt1mw81CN-yQ4yDJ7yGgW7CkZKzNPtCYuFbk4pZaVl9h1xPC4XtZq9G3f1ftOndz0es8L3qQPXEALU3CmdWhmFbsYsoXeDTtUf_j2ZFW8MArzBVmrU1nrp8NzMRgUPNDEPLgvDO6vVlOkSfyhY5U0v-ZN-oE0gsFyA/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPNXora7mQRvHVzHXqURrAXiXGQZt1mw81CN-yQ4yDJ7yGgW7CkZKzNPtCYuFbk4pZaVl9h1xPC4XtZq9G3f1ftOndz0es8L3qQPXEALU3CmdWhmFbsYsoXeDTtUf_j2ZFW8MArzBVmrU1nrp8NzMRgUPNDEPLgvDO6vVlOkSfyhY5U0v-ZN-oE0gsFyA/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-8.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You are now at <b>Secret #2</b> (which, as far as the Saturn version is concerned, you could see the items from a distance as you stood by that ledge at the top). Pick up the Uzi clips, a solitary large Medipack next to the wall, and in the middle of the room <b>two</b> large Medipacks which you could pick up all at once.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You are nearing the end (just like the Tomb of Qualopec, this is among the shortest <i>Tomb Raider</i> levels overall, at least it is for me). You find yourself in a room where a pendulum blade is swinging left and right atop a crumbling platform, and across from that you can see an entryway. Carefully walk to the ledge until you can't anymore, make a normal jump,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF19sazUcOL9uEE6bZLb62MS9nXXF7kjDO8F6QbTULnI4S_xAgIqIIpmN8lB5Rwrz1iH7Dz9OVcrm9BblJROW1QSOQRjawNx3lIZowz1_BAobNlp1O3gSxkhmlTXNBtWmQHxtgTTWTVbsWg2_3JPnPKdbrHxIguGIBl2iJS88studN0Ey3qyzaggFINSm0/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF19sazUcOL9uEE6bZLb62MS9nXXF7kjDO8F6QbTULnI4S_xAgIqIIpmN8lB5Rwrz1iH7Dz9OVcrm9BblJROW1QSOQRjawNx3lIZowz1_BAobNlp1O3gSxkhmlTXNBtWmQHxtgTTWTVbsWg2_3JPnPKdbrHxIguGIBl2iJS88studN0Ey3qyzaggFINSm0/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-9.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOKAOSLRMIKXUucsohYNGv8lMyHFzrgX0ImsXfrl_Hf7o0FpYv5N7CLZFxWR8C8lYbDptldHNwkA3Rk1KZ1-PdMdGGpxvrWS3r_EkdVYXwv6ZzayKDo8kpq-PavgI6p9WAh_JPl4AheNMEAocxAQFFC1-5VkKGriyX6-iT2Jld6RBktbiYM3dVKiCU2lS/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-10.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOKAOSLRMIKXUucsohYNGv8lMyHFzrgX0ImsXfrl_Hf7o0FpYv5N7CLZFxWR8C8lYbDptldHNwkA3Rk1KZ1-PdMdGGpxvrWS3r_EkdVYXwv6ZzayKDo8kpq-PavgI6p9WAh_JPl4AheNMEAocxAQFFC1-5VkKGriyX6-iT2Jld6RBktbiYM3dVKiCU2lS/w200-h158/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-10.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and while holding down the action button grab on the crumbling platform's ledge and shimmy all the way to the right (don't worry about it toppling on you here and there, it won't fall apart until <b>after</b> you get on top of it). Climb up, and immediately perform a running jump to get to the other side. You might lose a bit of health from the swinging blade, though depending on how you timed it there's a <b>slim</b> chance you might come out of it unscathed. If you want to know already, make a <b>normal</b> jump (or dive) from the ledge to reach the small body of water in the middle down below.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaK-4riioewqUWCa4iWxckWKX9Yprg617SdIf2JNTNjdotJmcAyv_kU03D-xM-yBCb_mlbkXV9kXqkL9waxCfhqNSFAlEyDxwao3VBfhMAz8rjtl7YPrL7rF83rzS8S-_J5_ISK0CdqhLIzp1q6kzuk2p3BPbUAvvkX6BawzgfDei_6fi0Qu0H1OcU1vS/s376/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaK-4riioewqUWCa4iWxckWKX9Yprg617SdIf2JNTNjdotJmcAyv_kU03D-xM-yBCb_mlbkXV9kXqkL9waxCfhqNSFAlEyDxwao3VBfhMAz8rjtl7YPrL7rF83rzS8S-_J5_ISK0CdqhLIzp1q6kzuk2p3BPbUAvvkX6BawzgfDei_6fi0Qu0H1OcU1vS/s16000/TombRaider_TheGreatPyramid-11.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Anyway, enter the small cave to access <b>Secret #3</b> which houses a large Medipack and some Uzi clips for you to add to your inventory count. Alas, I have unfortunate news: due to a bug that is present, no matter how much you scoped the area or explored every inch of it, the game proper will never officially acknowledge that you uncovered this Secret as the cue will not play here in most versions of this game. 😞 Because of that, even though you technically <b>found</b> it, the end level stats will only show that you found two of three Secrets due to the lack of a sound cue. But just so you can make yourself feel better, congratulations, you've found all three Secrets of the Great Pyramid!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Happy birthday, Lara Croft, you are now officially twice as old as you were when you partook in your first adventure!!!!! </b>🎂</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my guide, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-52078992101708391592023-12-07T21:51:00.003-06:002024-01-25T17:08:40.073-06:00QuackShot starring Donald Duck (Genesis) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">🗺️<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Received: October 1st, 2014 </b>🗺️</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">🗺️<b> Written: November 27th-December 7th, 2023 </b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">🗺️</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQj3eWkyOZmwldg3wKDM2ceupwHwwp1UslMVc70Y-L-S_cQi1IDLybzxRSKhyITdyZ3azvbBRj0SrP8e8zQTNoavJ1u_sk4L4GzEahiWine2gRHC4qjhuIyYT7o_m6Hyew_PlrI3QlPnnvc4eiFYrndZpJDCNmdGjYRr8iN9wdbgEcUccav64NMeVWU1c/s319/QuackShot_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="319" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQj3eWkyOZmwldg3wKDM2ceupwHwwp1UslMVc70Y-L-S_cQi1IDLybzxRSKhyITdyZ3azvbBRj0SrP8e8zQTNoavJ1u_sk4L4GzEahiWine2gRHC4qjhuIyYT7o_m6Hyew_PlrI3QlPnnvc4eiFYrndZpJDCNmdGjYRr8iN9wdbgEcUccav64NMeVWU1c/s1600/QuackShot_Title.png" width="319" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;">Alternate Title: <i>I Love Donald Duck: </i></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><i>Guruzia Ou no Hihou</i> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></span></b></span></span></div><b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Year: 1991 | Developed and Published by: Sega</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLx9MtTaTGqGzp4UIsP9XZ28SD14u7-OKFYTfIaCXK42JtcG3UMjYljKOeqSrnDdXojwUOoleimnTe8won8OeTbwvdumhjn7LFvwye9_k_iA0wRQwUFlTBcb34yqmxCLaRxIgLpaUBMuc7uGNNd_KoOcd6_l0HGeWHfq0No3eoFqiSrlM5OKp_fsJyBy7/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Swinging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLx9MtTaTGqGzp4UIsP9XZ28SD14u7-OKFYTfIaCXK42JtcG3UMjYljKOeqSrnDdXojwUOoleimnTe8won8OeTbwvdumhjn7LFvwye9_k_iA0wRQwUFlTBcb34yqmxCLaRxIgLpaUBMuc7uGNNd_KoOcd6_l0HGeWHfq0No3eoFqiSrlM5OKp_fsJyBy7/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Swinging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d1QkrsYYC3M0risVJrDqvWHkb5IXQchkVzNBp3cTvaZ3JyqILm9YjKH6LtgKhQ6WYwNZB10EsgHgQooa2abvTJFskl08Pn5Dn3zhlStpxVp6PsEdk4WD26V_y3Ad2UMkUdIXG6x16b17Wt1ZXmd6JOBEa_ckHJP2Cj8jGPFH3HAO2LUyrHy-IDtH2bWk/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Spiders+Webs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d1QkrsYYC3M0risVJrDqvWHkb5IXQchkVzNBp3cTvaZ3JyqILm9YjKH6LtgKhQ6WYwNZB10EsgHgQooa2abvTJFskl08Pn5Dn3zhlStpxVp6PsEdk4WD26V_y3Ad2UMkUdIXG6x16b17Wt1ZXmd6JOBEa_ckHJP2Cj8jGPFH3HAO2LUyrHy-IDtH2bWk/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Spiders+Webs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">There was also an 8-bit incarnation on the Sega Master System and Game Gear that soon followed</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">1990 saw the debut of <b>Sega</b>'s Disney platformer <i>Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i> on their 16-bit MegaDrive/Genesis console, where it was released in Japan as </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken</i> (for which the subtitle translates to "Mysterious Castle Great Adventure"), which wound up receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews at the time of release (and is still receiving rave reviews to this day) and was the first game in the <i>Illusion</i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqROzavMTRicKgT8IjTst0C27zrBgGw8JO7W7uE3phiOMta4IFDSIOsNbeEDGmvsTnj9oHeDJO_a4i2IGAusvOZDNu27QbEeDuVkbSRPNek65odZ7HZrsY93HEp4c-LSXjVE6aeDUAONt3ffXdI_lUmfNJVWIucXVBLXC0w_Hk9-IjppkHwSb6Uv4u1cZQ/s374/CastleOfIllusion_JackInTheBox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqROzavMTRicKgT8IjTst0C27zrBgGw8JO7W7uE3phiOMta4IFDSIOsNbeEDGmvsTnj9oHeDJO_a4i2IGAusvOZDNu27QbEeDuVkbSRPNek65odZ7HZrsY93HEp4c-LSXjVE6aeDUAONt3ffXdI_lUmfNJVWIucXVBLXC0w_Hk9-IjppkHwSb6Uv4u1cZQ/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_JackInTheBox.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEYFcXi1e6mL5fwL9YtaU7bkTjkUQldoKAfh5P47kyZCJkLSSUmf-70smDDnvrZGvogyyLHNSHhcbsvd6w7sGzbu6YIvdP8Kh0brvX0RHPrgIgClFoi9s1NP4wejfXnGhuIRhkmbddV6UhCCxaByDUPY2pE6zN1aaHBUP8HdlEUo-uTQUyF6x943g2wYn/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Blocks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEYFcXi1e6mL5fwL9YtaU7bkTjkUQldoKAfh5P47kyZCJkLSSUmf-70smDDnvrZGvogyyLHNSHhcbsvd6w7sGzbu6YIvdP8Kh0brvX0RHPrgIgClFoi9s1NP4wejfXnGhuIRhkmbddV6UhCCxaByDUPY2pE6zN1aaHBUP8HdlEUo-uTQUyF6x943g2wYn/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Blocks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">It would also be remade as a 2.5D platformer by Sega Studios Australia in 2013</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">series. The gameplay, music, visuals, and charm have all seen near universal praise even to this day, and even though it's simple compared to all that came after it is often lauded as one of the best Disney games of all time (if not </span><b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">the</b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> all-time best) which just shows the testament of its lasting power and timeless quality. The Disney mascot's Sega 16-bit debut was a big hit during the console's modest success days*, so naturally it would only be a matter of time before a game featuring Donald Duck would follow suit.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Before the arrival of Sonic Team's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> which forever changed the gaming landscape and ensured that Sega's 16-bit console would be a mega success</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrTo3xU5Jmmnz7tSQvbmTS37Abh4JlGl_N9d8u8BKIgDJC_9CyP2rCniRgKeuLZaDmwpbS5aJZshAxp4cpM4KfQost-Hwk4vPKEqEHUTd8KDhXcy3IOLmY71qPano2VL4gJE010l1uG1hp7ENtdz_LPM7MbVt58tHk44OmpuvESHSSwZspz_YsiUjivHv/s919/QuackShot_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrTo3xU5Jmmnz7tSQvbmTS37Abh4JlGl_N9d8u8BKIgDJC_9CyP2rCniRgKeuLZaDmwpbS5aJZshAxp4cpM4KfQost-Hwk4vPKEqEHUTd8KDhXcy3IOLmY71qPano2VL4gJE010l1uG1hp7ENtdz_LPM7MbVt58tHk44OmpuvESHSSwZspz_YsiUjivHv/w139-h200/QuackShot_Cover.png" width="139" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3LJ6G6Pv-KiltssSMb-fw8_Iie054ddhNKWlr5y4t2hRmKLGdEDjFve6Jns-_KCuCeJcgTkw8u48sD-JmPit-kGsLcS6Lzvi1I9MDpVDZ7WEwdZUHvIFrIkmaQIcAjp2cL-YnEKtLN0C5IKPDDvXSjrh6nuv6tSHj7HfnNiUOd9tzbNP4XKLOHBqvw-w/s900/ILoveDonaldDuck_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3LJ6G6Pv-KiltssSMb-fw8_Iie054ddhNKWlr5y4t2hRmKLGdEDjFve6Jns-_KCuCeJcgTkw8u48sD-JmPit-kGsLcS6Lzvi1I9MDpVDZ7WEwdZUHvIFrIkmaQIcAjp2cL-YnEKtLN0C5IKPDDvXSjrh6nuv6tSHj7HfnNiUOd9tzbNP4XKLOHBqvw-w/w143-h200/ILoveDonaldDuck_Cover.png" width="143" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Donald Duck's shot as a video game protagonist on Sega's 16-bit console would arrive a year later with <b><i>QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i></b> which was released on the North American Genesis on December 19th, 1991 and on the European MegaDrive market that same year with Japanese MegaDrive owners receiving it exactly one day later on that December 20th as <i>I Love Donald Duck: Guruzia Ou no Hihou</i> (the subtitle which roughly translates to "The Treasure of the King Garuzia") with Jim Simmons acting as producer in one of only three Disney producing credits to his name (the others being the contemporary video game adaptations of Joe Johnston's <i>The Rocketeer</i> and Code to Go's MS-DOS title <i>Coaster</i>). Donald's 16-bit video game debut was designed and directed by Emiko Yamamoto with Sat Man acting as the main programmer and program coordinator (with additional programming by Muimui, Hiroshi Momota, Masato Ōmori, Keiichi Yamamoto, Ryuuchan, and Tastuyan).</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqnmDAg4soMzFB4vtr70oHgxWdekNKFqbYO2gatazHmdF1Rx4vGrbX6YeZuQuKbXbZ-DqMzQOrEaQ4QXrL-7Jr_vZEroI4hLSRSSIOZMMbBXos8YYcj3Sf3iGPUl6aaZZyoiRahRrWWEN8oed8_EbrIprGA3rABOMCshbe2b306iBUmVZrIWyCA1tW1oo/s122/QuackShot_Story.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="85" data-original-width="122" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqnmDAg4soMzFB4vtr70oHgxWdekNKFqbYO2gatazHmdF1Rx4vGrbX6YeZuQuKbXbZ-DqMzQOrEaQ4QXrL-7Jr_vZEroI4hLSRSSIOZMMbBXos8YYcj3Sf3iGPUl6aaZZyoiRahRrWWEN8oed8_EbrIprGA3rABOMCshbe2b306iBUmVZrIWyCA1tW1oo/s1600/QuackShot_Story.gif" width="122" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">One day while visiting Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, his nephew Donald Duck was perusing through his old books when a map suddenly fell out of one which catches his eye for it pertains to the treasure of the Great Duck Kingdom ruler King Garuzia. The map reveals the location of the king's most prized possession which had been hidden in a secret location before his death. This excites Donald for he believes that in finding this treasure he will be richer than even his Uncle Scrooge, so he begins to head out on a globetrotting adventure searching for clues leading to it with his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie joining him. Just before departing his girlfriend Daisy Duck shows up and is peeved at him blowing her off on their dinner date, but Donald promises that once he's finished he'll bring her something special to make up for it. Unfortunately, he's not the only one after the treasure for unbeknownst to him Pete and his henchmen are after it as well.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwWg96os2ITl_Zu1HJJj-2oxNJeezC0DVGEh9HhvvHOaRKDiodxWey02Bxq7cvmNNjE1n_EmeDiVNMVhpOK6vTNbkZbdzRlS_CZXRTl4P7aIY6KswrJwvJDDHf-ztWlI_pv_nfC6AOUTlpqKQSNajSsnYmBta7xM0OB-6NVyVuBSpNTTD_F90W29zvg82/s374/QuackShot_Duckburg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwWg96os2ITl_Zu1HJJj-2oxNJeezC0DVGEh9HhvvHOaRKDiodxWey02Bxq7cvmNNjE1n_EmeDiVNMVhpOK6vTNbkZbdzRlS_CZXRTl4P7aIY6KswrJwvJDDHf-ztWlI_pv_nfC6AOUTlpqKQSNajSsnYmBta7xM0OB-6NVyVuBSpNTTD_F90W29zvg82/w200-h117/QuackShot_Duckburg.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYeg_At87YYzce3B0Ir_eVNB1vKFH8bJ1JqsEONVGcy_rV7WG8MptZWrKq8trYnohNMenhX4esHmRwSRep_YjczWHpGS3msSXPJ4sfAqf2ssdvvdWAsuyOzIzhu2I3KXmFucso60HVC9n9BkkcTL5ENhTQ6v8GVQwtMSLyXb4tg1Tt3qVj0aMtONPfshg/s374/QuackShot_Temperamental.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYeg_At87YYzce3B0Ir_eVNB1vKFH8bJ1JqsEONVGcy_rV7WG8MptZWrKq8trYnohNMenhX4esHmRwSRep_YjczWHpGS3msSXPJ4sfAqf2ssdvvdWAsuyOzIzhu2I3KXmFucso60HVC9n9BkkcTL5ENhTQ6v8GVQwtMSLyXb4tg1Tt3qVj0aMtONPfshg/w200-h117/QuackShot_Temperamental.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Beginning Donald Duck's adventure in the city of Duckburg | Right: Consuming five peppers will make Donald briefly invulnerable at the expense of being angrily temperamental</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action platformer <i>QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i> you take control of the eponymous adventuring duck whom you can move left and right, duck down, and climb ladders on the way up or on the way down after positioning yourself in front of one which you can also edge little by little to either side. The default controls (which can be altered in the options screen accessed from the title) are C to jump with your altitude based on how lightly or how hard you pressed the button, Donald can slide his body across narrow openings by holding down while pressing C, A which you can hold down to have Donald dash at an</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVPZInB2KZiBWdDrN_khBy13ESMand2_G3usBWV5AA7aWEDU_GTphB8q7a0T4pVnWGcfzt3mU5YgMmAov5YAUIWaqgodsr8yt-e_11pYX77B1iK91rNpgycFCFJVlgU-avqbfIMvEYP1xZwJKOli14QK8uE53asKzqipzxRTSZZLDRdteOAA0sEd5cygU/s374/QuackShot_Airplane.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVPZInB2KZiBWdDrN_khBy13ESMand2_G3usBWV5AA7aWEDU_GTphB8q7a0T4pVnWGcfzt3mU5YgMmAov5YAUIWaqgodsr8yt-e_11pYX77B1iK91rNpgycFCFJVlgU-avqbfIMvEYP1xZwJKOli14QK8uE53asKzqipzxRTSZZLDRdteOAA0sEd5cygU/w200-h117/QuackShot_Airplane.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7iV8-e0O6-u35qUAOVinHzlyNDpkIY9gcISiRI_Afcxb9eh5JtbtLwNER1lLMS7k8SVACR8t4wooG8wFDKN-6M8-LpCyPTuvgsqyZhyphenhyphenGW2mwKTalrjKphUQt8Z73ubQhiLDFJSFM4o1XWwO4LJBMgbkzVk3iODZl3Wbs9V6AhPAXUO1pOfsXM-fGgxnd/s374/QuackShot_Mexico.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7iV8-e0O6-u35qUAOVinHzlyNDpkIY9gcISiRI_Afcxb9eh5JtbtLwNER1lLMS7k8SVACR8t4wooG8wFDKN-6M8-LpCyPTuvgsqyZhyphenhyphenGW2mwKTalrjKphUQt8Z73ubQhiLDFJSFM4o1XWwO4LJBMgbkzVk3iODZl3Wbs9V6AhPAXUO1pOfsXM-fGgxnd/w200-h117/QuackShot_Mexico.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Calling the airplane to fly off to other countries | Right: Be wary of sentient cacti enemies </b>🌵</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">increased speed, and B to shoot non-lethal plungers from his gun (ahead of you, while ducking, while in midair, or above you). Finally, by pressing the Start button you'll be taken to the inventory screen where you can switch guns--be it the default plunger gun which you can use an infinite amount of times during your quest or the popcorn and bubble gun which only gives you limited ammunition to use so they'll have to be operated sparingly and in moments that require it--and select whatever items you've gathered which you can either look at or use in any given situation. Throughout the course of <i>QuackShot</i> are items that will</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN23EnZahKGDdmFi2bj_yjcMj0i2g8sbq_w1yVWvBedwvRRQkIh8ce7yoBynT1FLzgkGj8-qdyqDsiCpv2VfAVh4fvkRrNpfulPo4jggAPBeUqEu7zJ_oX67pGZDADerib4V_C256HWrnKi8RxHej1uFILYvr58wI818a6Pv-Axe7PJuAGCjfVxBtsLPIA/s374/QuackShot_Bird+Cacti.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN23EnZahKGDdmFi2bj_yjcMj0i2g8sbq_w1yVWvBedwvRRQkIh8ce7yoBynT1FLzgkGj8-qdyqDsiCpv2VfAVh4fvkRrNpfulPo4jggAPBeUqEu7zJ_oX67pGZDADerib4V_C256HWrnKi8RxHej1uFILYvr58wI818a6Pv-Axe7PJuAGCjfVxBtsLPIA/w200-h117/QuackShot_Bird+Cacti.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVe7bWkIhI5RODE-1RIIMffMYCaAoE4Y43hUq_2LlAtClL6Um7z9G6SlBaB1QTCor0K6W1gLY13kww59csZnxLKGrXz1fOcXHROqqALfpNcge1ox_cfNdLBEg-i5N9RJLbrLfV5pTASVmxVQOOCtsvG8actxzG8WZeu-gatheWASBru4LBWZj-YPsbikU/s374/QuackShot_Crabs+Platforms.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVe7bWkIhI5RODE-1RIIMffMYCaAoE4Y43hUq_2LlAtClL6Um7z9G6SlBaB1QTCor0K6W1gLY13kww59csZnxLKGrXz1fOcXHROqqALfpNcge1ox_cfNdLBEg-i5N9RJLbrLfV5pTASVmxVQOOCtsvG8actxzG8WZeu-gatheWASBru4LBWZj-YPsbikU/w200-h117/QuackShot_Crabs+Platforms.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Trekking through the desert and across quicksand | Right: Crustacean-propelled platforms</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">be valuable to Donald's aid, whether they're in plain sight or hidden in a spot discovered by thorough searching or dropped by an enemy carrying a bag on their person after shooting a plunger at them: diamonds and bags of money for points, maize to add a little more ammunition to the popcorn gun, bubbles to add ammunition to the bubble gun after the inventor Gyro Gearloose supplies Donald with one, ice cream to replenish your health by one, roast turkey to completely refill your health, and a fedora to gain an additional life to your count. In a handful of continents are also a set of five peppers that you can choose to grab or not, for getting all of them will momentarily render Donald invulnerable as he becomes</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSQjmnuvJHgq2QCwO6tR1bn5vfPTTZnInj0yMhNtJAKytLh6QgSSnk7uJDshURMR2VHraGR9Mv3EAPYLdM7w_XkMlgskPErduqRkBH151O6GC0bVOi-GqQXwvZHmAtny5iBsESyrjSwcxxieYUDdpvomKo9oXgLoz-xrCLRitYI22VG-8WdCmB9zmdxVx/s374/QuackShot_Turtle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSQjmnuvJHgq2QCwO6tR1bn5vfPTTZnInj0yMhNtJAKytLh6QgSSnk7uJDshURMR2VHraGR9Mv3EAPYLdM7w_XkMlgskPErduqRkBH151O6GC0bVOi-GqQXwvZHmAtny5iBsESyrjSwcxxieYUDdpvomKo9oXgLoz-xrCLRitYI22VG-8WdCmB9zmdxVx/w200-h117/QuackShot_Turtle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJOLljhl_na0uKKKMaohLIvreE1-UImkArL24Wsws8_GDCUqE2lE7aYFTV1KaELXdyDWkOxGzDy5GZbhEeb5y0vQqSOp-CcSGogb_n7kjPgGZqEWvlTMrnmO_RFVybpbE-Gi35hmZnsVszK4llO1F9fZ6M0qxmq1ThSPfRCGWjCWLgFR_SJ4uXUVv65o3/s374/QuackShot_PeteHenchman-Canyon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJOLljhl_na0uKKKMaohLIvreE1-UImkArL24Wsws8_GDCUqE2lE7aYFTV1KaELXdyDWkOxGzDy5GZbhEeb5y0vQqSOp-CcSGogb_n7kjPgGZqEWvlTMrnmO_RFVybpbE-Gi35hmZnsVszK4llO1F9fZ6M0qxmq1ThSPfRCGWjCWLgFR_SJ4uXUVv65o3/w200-h117/QuackShot_PeteHenchman-Canyon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Blocking that boxing turtle's vision momentarily | Right: Stun Pete's gang by shooting plungers at them at any opportunity</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">susceptible to his trademark temper tantrum which enables him to do away with any unfortunate foe who just so happens to cross his path while in this state. The only downside is that while he's still in bad temper mode he won't remain still but luckily you can course direct him by pressing the opposite direction without fail. Once you reach a certain portion of the present country for the first time Donald will place down a green flag, for one last thing</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcbLK121eDk8_TlTFygr1y8E4mDTkpqxWNwY_tIn4EWf33Ps365avQa6fFohzLKpm_OMTiJxGb4zVnE6X-aICrYpQrUH3UhSR0ULFRk5FcF82vPL-ciLuXaI14mXHR40i2o2SEVjX3FbOa4vCdGH-w0M9OkAnqVEWiFzbsuYJ_EVrjEc-xArh4ab3NkpI/s374/QuackShot_Senorita.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcbLK121eDk8_TlTFygr1y8E4mDTkpqxWNwY_tIn4EWf33Ps365avQa6fFohzLKpm_OMTiJxGb4zVnE6X-aICrYpQrUH3UhSR0ULFRk5FcF82vPL-ciLuXaI14mXHR40i2o2SEVjX3FbOa4vCdGH-w0M9OkAnqVEWiFzbsuYJ_EVrjEc-xArh4ab3NkpI/w200-h117/QuackShot_Senorita.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4wASL903SpkO9zUplKpFHXKGBcgIEa9IgoAgMZokulBYcYBqJu6w_kOZ-oP5U42ah_1wr6aWEMGJyJyvuo-WgxbsLWfje7uGFodtqiOs8ULMcPQze7gvfdj7WA2IE5GOnaUdQ_ISHoINIKBHFKWlYzd5eqXo0GrAhyzP5MzGWIBGA4vmfZ5PeTkxt6EH/s374/QuackShot_MexicanTemple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4wASL903SpkO9zUplKpFHXKGBcgIEa9IgoAgMZokulBYcYBqJu6w_kOZ-oP5U42ah_1wr6aWEMGJyJyvuo-WgxbsLWfje7uGFodtqiOs8ULMcPQze7gvfdj7WA2IE5GOnaUdQ_ISHoINIKBHFKWlYzd5eqXo0GrAhyzP5MzGWIBGA4vmfZ5PeTkxt6EH/w200-h117/QuackShot_MexicanTemple.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Thank you, Señorita, but how do you know my name?" | Right: Exploring ancient Mexican ruins</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">you could do in the inventory screen (provided you're standing near the flag) is to call the airplane piloted by his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie who will happily fly him to any available part of the world. Another benefit to this is that any time you revisit a country you've been to before you'll be dropped off at the exact spot that the flag has been placed so you don't have to worry about restarting the whole country over from scratch.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGrvEZXc4DC8_Mi26PMhUEOC5LOuPS8fML6hdVZWZes25-c1njJeGPdRizZqq7_H5k_jbub8h5AT-KJat3-tbiT5V0ff4spRNaRIhuQD3JIb1AR3uoBzmaYnkNHXGyuIFELHm_hnZ9sfWd1ilxd3LS-rqEjlFDPoyLh_1Q_zc7s0EeJ9kk8FV7yEfnWdT/s374/QuackShot_BodySlide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGrvEZXc4DC8_Mi26PMhUEOC5LOuPS8fML6hdVZWZes25-c1njJeGPdRizZqq7_H5k_jbub8h5AT-KJat3-tbiT5V0ff4spRNaRIhuQD3JIb1AR3uoBzmaYnkNHXGyuIFELHm_hnZ9sfWd1ilxd3LS-rqEjlFDPoyLh_1Q_zc7s0EeJ9kk8FV7yEfnWdT/w200-h117/QuackShot_BodySlide.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_mlfpv7iaCpQ2oEbxqkKsvgPiw3ssZyD_Ap_jzyO8lLEeUW48KRrz4RPHaaqOsMUYhkiT-bMzYlAvRrJoS35pSMLRH8Ip4n76vVVXDvtvp356cdt4jIGdAGRQ2DLKjQ1J88BJIZO__LfJ6lBbVfuoYxecyKPd4n6n81aCNR-qmiedyi6GyDIv-1SXwHx/s374/QuackShot_PlungingPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_mlfpv7iaCpQ2oEbxqkKsvgPiw3ssZyD_Ap_jzyO8lLEeUW48KRrz4RPHaaqOsMUYhkiT-bMzYlAvRrJoS35pSMLRH8Ip4n76vVVXDvtvp356cdt4jIGdAGRQ2DLKjQ1J88BJIZO__LfJ6lBbVfuoYxecyKPd4n6n81aCNR-qmiedyi6GyDIv-1SXwHx/w200-h117/QuackShot_PlungingPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sliding across narrow gaps will become very useful from time to time | Right: Time your plunger shot properly so that moving duck-faced platform can remain still for a short while</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>QuackShot</i> is a vibrantly colorful and pleasantly likable game to look at, Yonesan, Mikarin Nishida, and Takashi Yuda (who also acted as art director credited as "Thomas Yuuda") have all done a very admirable job at capturing the lighthearted Disney tone and charm while simultaneously ensuring that each country in the world that Donald visits have got their own distinct look, culture, and feel to them. Duckburg looks very solid with the different buildings and has got a pleasant view of the whole city when you venture atop of its skyscrapers,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vd8ux6653S48BpffxcCRhRDdk-snCD466kyeojQA2um3ALmot3lPmSXOKXlvJRj0jf-gYk4jb40wudHuh_Z91CewJfD7YM4Bne8FcDKZ0oudFLTDtZEUb2lkkCPjgY-EWrh4csOo0jW8kQSnfs8tUFr92N5AwsVM193UtAmzoRIO_EVLn4JdPrQ-P9d3/s374/QuackShot_Goofy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vd8ux6653S48BpffxcCRhRDdk-snCD466kyeojQA2um3ALmot3lPmSXOKXlvJRj0jf-gYk4jb40wudHuh_Z91CewJfD7YM4Bne8FcDKZ0oudFLTDtZEUb2lkkCPjgY-EWrh4csOo0jW8kQSnfs8tUFr92N5AwsVM193UtAmzoRIO_EVLn4JdPrQ-P9d3/w200-h117/QuackShot_Goofy.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I3z0136-XlIi8LpdTvZcK7g3MIaEWYYv2iBiiVw-oOKm90vNLei_-XePk_0daXIyf-fUzP8sjgpXfNnCtkDQsR76CROE7MW0BZKSfn8am52kRevR77s1Oqlap5HVoat-KLliK__99rs5lJg8nZVFIxioBgm7Z2pJ8VrXqEBSdMRdRyKgi2Pz2lq_zq96/s374/QuackShot_SlidingPastFlame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I3z0136-XlIi8LpdTvZcK7g3MIaEWYYv2iBiiVw-oOKm90vNLei_-XePk_0daXIyf-fUzP8sjgpXfNnCtkDQsR76CROE7MW0BZKSfn8am52kRevR77s1Oqlap5HVoat-KLliK__99rs5lJg8nZVFIxioBgm7Z2pJ8VrXqEBSdMRdRyKgi2Pz2lq_zq96/w200-h117/QuackShot_SlidingPastFlame.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Hooray, it's Goofy! | Right: Optional style points for sliding past that solitary flame</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Mexico has got an expertly utilized sense of parallax scrolling with the cacti and rocky canyons, Transylvania starts you off in a spooky environment with creepy trees slightly enshrouded in mist, there's an absorbing shade of night blue when venturing onboard the Viking Ship with a pleasant moon in the sky, Egypt's got nice-looking pyramids in the background, the outskirts of India on the way to see the Mahārāja look sweet, and South Pole has got an atmospheric quality with the brightly colored snow, glistening icy waters, and the pretty calming yet beautiful Aurora Borealis in the sky. There's a good sense of</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV66qwh3d0AXCPaQ_wDKiJGvKWvzZzndlxJDE8rvvWJC9fL8Wz6aZk2zvWMwfJKFY2Lo1uQZFJ6egsiQlB6C_CTyZfjl1Bo94fnwN0Nvyj__DJNb9s2EHNgStWjK8z0cp6NjN3ip9a9MnBjadEiUndTChALNZUtU3l6bbmARWiryXhV6wSmMvg1AV_CwS/s374/QuackShot_RedPlunger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV66qwh3d0AXCPaQ_wDKiJGvKWvzZzndlxJDE8rvvWJC9fL8Wz6aZk2zvWMwfJKFY2Lo1uQZFJ6egsiQlB6C_CTyZfjl1Bo94fnwN0Nvyj__DJNb9s2EHNgStWjK8z0cp6NjN3ip9a9MnBjadEiUndTChALNZUtU3l6bbmARWiryXhV6wSmMvg1AV_CwS/w200-h117/QuackShot_RedPlunger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOQw2tMGDwLA-Nh2eHFl7y1UT2cEj7qljz-JNvT-qNnTOoyPBQP4DPYamglBEVj6Rkomh_-Ua6otTNToIJOVpQfoH61mXspaJfr5eYhfOxHlfkpdXwnpREN8Y43Ad47jUyk00cXtlqgBAIeHH5hR1agrSDnb1ET7l-Bm3G1RGD7QbqayI-ZTXTtt-TMNk/s374/QuackShot_Boom.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOQw2tMGDwLA-Nh2eHFl7y1UT2cEj7qljz-JNvT-qNnTOoyPBQP4DPYamglBEVj6Rkomh_-Ua6otTNToIJOVpQfoH61mXspaJfr5eYhfOxHlfkpdXwnpREN8Y43Ad47jUyk00cXtlqgBAIeHH5hR1agrSDnb1ET7l-Bm3G1RGD7QbqayI-ZTXTtt-TMNk/w200-h117/QuackShot_Boom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Donald putting those newly upgraded plungers to good use </b>🪠<b> | Right: </b>📢💥</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">atmospheric depth when stepping foot inside the Mexcian temple and Egyptian pyramid with the looming backdrop of Mayan motifs and Egyptian hieroglyphics adorning its halls respectively, and at one point in Transylvania Donald finds himself in a water-filled room with effective dithering effects. Donald Duck looks very good in his 16-bit debut, setting aside his traditional sailor outfit (except for the opening story cutscene and ending credits) in favor of something adventure appropriate with a green backpack, brown-colored clothing, and a fedora not too dissimilar to what Indiana Jones wears. He animates solidly when he</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraCTQfH3zXatuoUoEBXbCT6xNRlMWHpJw12qbklvwtz0Cww5AtjQ7kQh-XAfDupr77veKxFwnSpBDzy7vzUzJqjPG0TezezN6BYe5Rj6QVHFZ6u7M9l6rK0icWJoJ6noiq_FcnJ7g_5zw38hy4C8Wh8ivi9ZkLRXFEQAA4pXQWZKyFD54SLPwWl3IMA-J/s374/QuackShot_Powerlines.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraCTQfH3zXatuoUoEBXbCT6xNRlMWHpJw12qbklvwtz0Cww5AtjQ7kQh-XAfDupr77veKxFwnSpBDzy7vzUzJqjPG0TezezN6BYe5Rj6QVHFZ6u7M9l6rK0icWJoJ6noiq_FcnJ7g_5zw38hy4C8Wh8ivi9ZkLRXFEQAA4pXQWZKyFD54SLPwWl3IMA-J/w200-h117/QuackShot_Powerlines.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNWpvIm2RH-q9ktBmS81pw104L0Cjrp13BEArq-piUrcIRoQXEB62wZem1G5odZUNtS3EFFDNc6qI_BXSOaxpnROuaT89g-iCBkWFLPNZQcRnTjzzRJSNd9Wc8CKNSym36T0f-RZvdhlMvuwe8lafaYl9nXGtIxFHPJPb4lN9IV2EjOPn7OcjlN3cmPR/s374/QuackShot_GyroGearloose+LittleHelper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNWpvIm2RH-q9ktBmS81pw104L0Cjrp13BEArq-piUrcIRoQXEB62wZem1G5odZUNtS3EFFDNc6qI_BXSOaxpnROuaT89g-iCBkWFLPNZQcRnTjzzRJSNd9Wc8CKNSym36T0f-RZvdhlMvuwe8lafaYl9nXGtIxFHPJPb4lN9IV2EjOPn7OcjlN3cmPR/w200-h117/QuackShot_GyroGearloose+LittleHelper.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Well isn't <u>that</u> a very creative albeit highly impractical mode of transportation | Right: Gyro Gearloose and Little Helper are ready to assist Donald Duck by giving him something important</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">walks, jumps, climbs, and does a body slide, and this game really managed to capture his look and mannerisms to a T with his big expressive eyes and temper tantrums after consuming all five peppers as he flies out of control. I like his exaggerated sense of recoil after firing his gun, his idle pose is amusing as he impatiently taps his foot and occasionally looks at the screen (with one or both eyes open) as his tailfeather shakes for a second in the end, and I like how his entire body becomes all pointy and sharp after having sustained damage. Strewn throughout </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> are familiar Disney faces who largely amount to being cameos but are</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQGHQFQ9uoSqa-C8fvaVxR5FsP4yiuR6HtV6yDz1nCQ_fzGrsfnUtJN6HbK3hni0_h183Fh6jVEXmwjEccF6zzISMHFwurLzGEvApArip4mP4nYnaj-ksHjsfngZ3myB6tocO0oyPjCcRcK9EEJjODMr4RmW9QUWHBw1PtHMtZKx_4mRkiOJizKTQJ9eW/s374/QuackShot_MickeyBlimp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQGHQFQ9uoSqa-C8fvaVxR5FsP4yiuR6HtV6yDz1nCQ_fzGrsfnUtJN6HbK3hni0_h183Fh6jVEXmwjEccF6zzISMHFwurLzGEvApArip4mP4nYnaj-ksHjsfngZ3myB6tocO0oyPjCcRcK9EEJjODMr4RmW9QUWHBw1PtHMtZKx_4mRkiOJizKTQJ9eW/w200-h117/QuackShot_MickeyBlimp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dORFRasdTyKQduZ9qCviKPYLW9OqmDtvjmW5X7PJRculU2OpGZZob5xzAiTNokno7WtNRI6Mth2DPwaB7LAHdtd_uUwU_InSvDUucJMZ8wJx3-o-3SUEbIXb0XUFRJ8c8M7E_rNGirGpCwoaEjkp0MkdgkqKW-GVMvezY8G1kGIuRY-9EiSyJG9frlLN/s374/QuackShot_Transylvania.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dORFRasdTyKQduZ9qCviKPYLW9OqmDtvjmW5X7PJRculU2OpGZZob5xzAiTNokno7WtNRI6Mth2DPwaB7LAHdtd_uUwU_InSvDUucJMZ8wJx3-o-3SUEbIXb0XUFRJ8c8M7E_rNGirGpCwoaEjkp0MkdgkqKW-GVMvezY8G1kGIuRY-9EiSyJG9frlLN/w200-h117/QuackShot_Transylvania.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: What a lovely Mickey cameo (even if it's just his face) | Right: Welcome to Transylvania</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">nonetheless well-designed for the time that they do appear: Goofy in his MegaDrive/Genesis debut looks absolutely on point with his tall and lanky stature, vacation attire, and straw hat, the bespectacled inventor Gyro Gearloose and his sentient lightbulb assistant Little Helper are affably and likably drawn in one of their rare video game appearances outside of a </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">DuckTales</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> license, Scrooge McDuck makes a snoozing cameo sitting on a chair in the background during the story introduction, after finding your way through the Mahārāja's</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ37VbJTDYNbxlZsbkTol4rNF5qqOdTqhJI9aofht9qoukABbdM-Bj1t0Yxz5Vy2vkouNj80_2m7cTkt7Q8SS1z6ftppSrHOGgbwLQJ4uhiUqi0XSCZWvv8nUrMacO0nj075cBXTJ7WnZmAIiJqQy4GJKhutFQIs_-Y22O2D3Wswoe2IYeGQ6SzDXBM4xp/s374/QuackShot_Barrels.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ37VbJTDYNbxlZsbkTol4rNF5qqOdTqhJI9aofht9qoukABbdM-Bj1t0Yxz5Vy2vkouNj80_2m7cTkt7Q8SS1z6ftppSrHOGgbwLQJ4uhiUqi0XSCZWvv8nUrMacO0nj075cBXTJ7WnZmAIiJqQy4GJKhutFQIs_-Y22O2D3Wswoe2IYeGQ6SzDXBM4xp/w200-h117/QuackShot_Barrels.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbr2c-mUFkQqCyKb1iyKOWr_k9pbWzngMib0a1MPkXfFfgafgGBnQOeM7Ztsr2z_40EYqS8NjZZgfMNUcf_W0S3qIW79WALQaUwX8xF6XmkHdXTI14x8NjsAMOhMqsIu8_n5n3BtUX5BLpI_6OipI8LeVC7VxCNRZ-xOkzkYX4_j-eLZGNYMXrZ266GmN/s374/QuackShot_FiringUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbr2c-mUFkQqCyKb1iyKOWr_k9pbWzngMib0a1MPkXfFfgafgGBnQOeM7Ztsr2z_40EYqS8NjZZgfMNUcf_W0S3qIW79WALQaUwX8xF6XmkHdXTI14x8NjsAMOhMqsIu8_n5n3BtUX5BLpI_6OipI8LeVC7VxCNRZ-xOkzkYX4_j-eLZGNYMXrZ266GmN/w200-h117/QuackShot_FiringUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Use the bubble gun to dissipate all those barrels in your way | Right: AGH, did that painting of Count Dracula just blink his eyes?!?</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">palace maze you find yourself battling a tiger who looks so much like Shere Khan if he put on a lot of weight to the point that he's rounder in shape, Donald's girlfriend Daisy Duck is colored and designed solidly during the story introduction and ending cutscene, and while on top of a skyscraper in Duckburg you'll see flying in the distance a blimp decorated with Mickey Mouse's face lifted directly from </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> but with a slightly altered palette (it's such a small detail, but it's so appreciated nonetheless). Donald's enemies are designed</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPLO04DpkZanBvvLaT1jObvH8-Wid-GgORn0czIO-4UGzdj9nrOnFp5OMUToEzIwETAHf914nmhsGK_i3_5Ala-7gNOJaw6xp1WmEkWE0RLhVttgWZVgHccFVbeKR5eDXhGRJt_vgC38RkPhqcE25n8Nbani4hLzQ-1sWtL_9GaX2HniZXAVZD_IfS7Gg/s374/QuackShot_Underwater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPLO04DpkZanBvvLaT1jObvH8-Wid-GgORn0czIO-4UGzdj9nrOnFp5OMUToEzIwETAHf914nmhsGK_i3_5Ala-7gNOJaw6xp1WmEkWE0RLhVttgWZVgHccFVbeKR5eDXhGRJt_vgC38RkPhqcE25n8Nbani4hLzQ-1sWtL_9GaX2HniZXAVZD_IfS7Gg/w200-h117/QuackShot_Underwater.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UxED6SqVm8ekOx-aHYOauqujxrQbo9yyFkzrpmVisMDUIShTyb6enKoCK4qe6nD2NKhw-ho_mtR-PBAs4B5x5vG1h_byWo6yRa8tDq5nLTaMUpAxUlDJ8uHYarhbXnGWrV0ePE7kkXfrfPAGArY2SF8t7utSMSEMWyEngW9zJzOW5WYdAy-F7NWyCkYD/s374/QuackShot_SubmergedItems.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UxED6SqVm8ekOx-aHYOauqujxrQbo9yyFkzrpmVisMDUIShTyb6enKoCK4qe6nD2NKhw-ho_mtR-PBAs4B5x5vG1h_byWo6yRa8tDq5nLTaMUpAxUlDJ8uHYarhbXnGWrV0ePE7kkXfrfPAGArY2SF8t7utSMSEMWyEngW9zJzOW5WYdAy-F7NWyCkYD/w200-h117/QuackShot_SubmergedItems.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Underwater | Right: Collecting soggy food and a bag of money</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">in a solid manner too, like Pete's henchmen (who might occasionally wear different outfits depending on the country you're in), boxing turtles who sometimes hide inside their shell, green-bodied birds (who in the South Pole wear a heavy snow jacket), sentient cacti, expressively goofy snakes (sometimes joined by snake charmers), Mexican temple guards, luminescent ghosts, Viking archers who emerge from inside barrels, stone guardians inside</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqleFYRl_bUQG8rwNq4yoIFMBtJkE9M0NODnlPoRKpt96gm20yeVR0Qb3OBgQt5my64Ab-RO3fb0_i8-tde8eZdpoGtvwdtgELoY6MwWPr_EGN5w8Hu1HiZTuuSUqS5LScW2GiSDw00r3X8kHIebRSVV72zHtbODgJWUDzFV0Gt4JFW-APn6PyxU7x2I84/s374/QuackShot_Cower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqleFYRl_bUQG8rwNq4yoIFMBtJkE9M0NODnlPoRKpt96gm20yeVR0Qb3OBgQt5my64Ab-RO3fb0_i8-tde8eZdpoGtvwdtgELoY6MwWPr_EGN5w8Hu1HiZTuuSUqS5LScW2GiSDw00r3X8kHIebRSVV72zHtbODgJWUDzFV0Gt4JFW-APn6PyxU7x2I84/w200-h117/QuackShot_Cower.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtLY-EQtrwpHnZXXQRkK5J1AspTWk9DdeZWteMXpHt_MsNJvaFfCBapujN4gOmswRcEHzD2WQks0xNLsvZVQC-LuQV2fWg7EiAvUnLmhU26Cmqwzp-bQcFudHdy9kmuCkL4tqZAxfS4SvVaKVCUm_7VVFXrfMU3k1f-3ccyorWW51KU2_sA9-zcyiELGA/s374/QuackShot_Skeletons+Coffins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtLY-EQtrwpHnZXXQRkK5J1AspTWk9DdeZWteMXpHt_MsNJvaFfCBapujN4gOmswRcEHzD2WQks0xNLsvZVQC-LuQV2fWg7EiAvUnLmhU26Cmqwzp-bQcFudHdy9kmuCkL4tqZAxfS4SvVaKVCUm_7VVFXrfMU3k1f-3ccyorWW51KU2_sA9-zcyiELGA/w200-h117/QuackShot_Skeletons+Coffins.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Cower before the ghost as it faces you (otherwise it will split into multiple parts and attack you all at once, and that would not be good for your health) </b>👻<b> | Right: Watch out for skeletons hopping out of coffins</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">the Island's temple who suspiciously resemble Donald's Uncle Scrooge, and the spirit of King Garuzia makes a cool entrance once you finally reach his chamber at the end. If you look closely at the world map you'll notice Thomas Yuuda's name etched in the bottom center of the parchment in such a subtle manner that it doesn't come across as distracting and is an endearing detail to look at once you take notice of it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">The soundtrack to <i>QuackShot</i> was composed by Shigenori Kamiya (as "Kamiya Studios") and produced by Tokuhiko Uwabo (who often got credited and nicknamed as "Bo"). Kamiya</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgQvX4uYWoTJD60B7dSZYvyct9nOmwAsEr3juIZMp63-EOk-B2Qp6BOfl5te3Twg3j5LtC5EBdA0NPLdTPgfi_pN9_YV0yjMejFhBMX04vcZjV14-lVEJ271FIhHpHHt21Erz1pDFhe-9dpOjLNwgy9T1y9IxFbZXF6Q0l4U7cC4PWH6IFZqkWRG-hF9F/s374/CastleOfIllusion_UpsideDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgQvX4uYWoTJD60B7dSZYvyct9nOmwAsEr3juIZMp63-EOk-B2Qp6BOfl5te3Twg3j5LtC5EBdA0NPLdTPgfi_pN9_YV0yjMejFhBMX04vcZjV14-lVEJ271FIhHpHHt21Erz1pDFhe-9dpOjLNwgy9T1y9IxFbZXF6Q0l4U7cC4PWH6IFZqkWRG-hF9F/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_UpsideDown.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdogL2f0nbi_HxKOEXkk9Ugv1X3Sn0wAK59ZeEqVVeq8TXcPaUPLXcWomGHNdPi7W1Ezf_-b1STqlPMKtQw_sTtdJibVqQD2ff4fiwgFYmBwRSr5xCrZ4WLaEiFJSvF8l7dmsxMhOV0fS7FDkWAyd0Gkv9_jeIlJFtE50-NoIauaRhMVQP1yoTEAMBEIn/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Clown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdogL2f0nbi_HxKOEXkk9Ugv1X3Sn0wAK59ZeEqVVeq8TXcPaUPLXcWomGHNdPi7W1Ezf_-b1STqlPMKtQw_sTtdJibVqQD2ff4fiwgFYmBwRSr5xCrZ4WLaEiFJSvF8l7dmsxMhOV0fS7FDkWAyd0Gkv9_jeIlJFtE50-NoIauaRhMVQP1yoTEAMBEIn/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Clown.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">previously worked on the music to both the 16-bit and 8-bit editions of </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> and also provided music to Aspect's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mouse: Densetsu no Ōkoku</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Legend of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">. Uwabo has got an extensive list of audio credits during his time at Sega, having composed music for </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Fantasy Zone</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> and the Sega Mark III/Master System port of the arcade game </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Space Harrier</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, the first two </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Phantasy Star</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> RPGs, the MegaDrive/Genesis</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3TaaSTSGiyZ2vzJEoHZ-SyJ1QtETwLSm7TH0GZKyN73kwEiwvMyIDxInU2VdrOQgNyqJ1CktKZas55hddFHNoCNmMFntzBPqpbKiV8nxJR4K1FIGU5y6A75L7qz5gWDfEzQje_u1pUDxlpAZt3K2Bt8bMjC-ovPYngQrQ21RQAYejDKbZ7MNkmqqBQJS/s374/SpaceHarrier2_SegaGenesis.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3TaaSTSGiyZ2vzJEoHZ-SyJ1QtETwLSm7TH0GZKyN73kwEiwvMyIDxInU2VdrOQgNyqJ1CktKZas55hddFHNoCNmMFntzBPqpbKiV8nxJR4K1FIGU5y6A75L7qz5gWDfEzQje_u1pUDxlpAZt3K2Bt8bMjC-ovPYngQrQ21RQAYejDKbZ7MNkmqqBQJS/w200-h117/SpaceHarrier2_SegaGenesis.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88uVApNiCE9r70_BO3W7h6T63leEGb-sqZNUNZArlOPZHOYMF7caNx8C8sRFKV9hlrCX4QjoDxavVbQSfV2mfUMrwJQPw7FWMMWnZHcnQZypj7M5pzy3Jsu_6DU5WsmDJpsGrroUcLPREU764pPQjCfXqXDuqG10jKD3LBJGYuDwUXWpyeQQ-WjDjIOnY/s384/TheRevengeOfShinobi_SegaGenesis.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="384" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88uVApNiCE9r70_BO3W7h6T63leEGb-sqZNUNZArlOPZHOYMF7caNx8C8sRFKV9hlrCX4QjoDxavVbQSfV2mfUMrwJQPw7FWMMWnZHcnQZypj7M5pzy3Jsu_6DU5WsmDJpsGrroUcLPREU764pPQjCfXqXDuqG10jKD3LBJGYuDwUXWpyeQQ-WjDjIOnY/w200-h116/TheRevengeOfShinobi_SegaGenesis.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">launch title </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Space Harrier II</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, Sega's port of SystemSoft's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Super Daisenryaku</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, and the </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Super Monaco GP</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> racing games, he also coordinated and programmed the sound to </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">The Revenge of Shinobi</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">The Super Shinobi</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, worked as sound advisor for the Sega 16-bit adaptation of </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Michael Jackson's Moonwalker</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> and as sound director for </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, would be a sound programmer for </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Golden Axe III</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, and was among the Sega Sound Team</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LqOTRx9FjFK0rxd0RPGoCT-73js0vWTKl4OB-8OOsbQZIDrNFF31I0ECe_MoKB5ZKTRrtjLJqKMoRf0OeCgFEDUqjqMWn6j4VfE0xPGrcBRtYWXltZ_0ztOsFabaLhSCdET4lFQ_4ga_outXeqJYN7ses8M3Uux17wa2KZNNJM2KkASQnRx8u7Rpkqs3/s372/SonicTheHedgehog3_KnucklesInterception.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="372" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LqOTRx9FjFK0rxd0RPGoCT-73js0vWTKl4OB-8OOsbQZIDrNFF31I0ECe_MoKB5ZKTRrtjLJqKMoRf0OeCgFEDUqjqMWn6j4VfE0xPGrcBRtYWXltZ_0ztOsFabaLhSCdET4lFQ_4ga_outXeqJYN7ses8M3Uux17wa2KZNNJM2KkASQnRx8u7Rpkqs3/w200-h118/SonicTheHedgehog3_KnucklesInterception.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTlZqMn1BPKEgiWLhE0oSbmO6k-uJU9LFBbXqmAMv17pghzZ9SwDMVmI8-I9jn-4TZgZLa-kMXOgdr4hfc9WLbT9jNq2HUgRR2COTKqRgjjVxmBFhSrZ7pdQSkRCffVkNgWcDOaIiRSOEukFZQfRcdH6nloO6q-desQqZvh3gLJ6EG8Ck1dtxHeMi3WfK/s372/Sonic+Knuckles_MushroomGliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="372" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTlZqMn1BPKEgiWLhE0oSbmO6k-uJU9LFBbXqmAMv17pghzZ9SwDMVmI8-I9jn-4TZgZLa-kMXOgdr4hfc9WLbT9jNq2HUgRR2COTKqRgjjVxmBFhSrZ7pdQSkRCffVkNgWcDOaIiRSOEukFZQfRcdH6nloO6q-desQqZvh3gLJ6EG8Ck1dtxHeMi3WfK/w200-h118/Sonic+Knuckles_MushroomGliding.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">for Sega Technical Institute's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Sonic the Hedgehog 3</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Sonic & Knuckles</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">. Outside of the audio department Uwabo also wrote the scenario for Sega's MegaDrive port of Nihon Falcom's <i>Sorcerian</i> (which he also composed music for), supervised Office I and Sega's <i>Switch</i>/<i>Panic!</i>, and produced System Sacom and Organa LLC's Sega Saturn port of Dada Média's <i>Le Livre de Lulu</i> (known simply as <i>Lulu</i> in Japan).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR8LMic387O0qLkUqspBNEMat15y_znR4yYOZXZPN4bzfJBayFsCix1W4Bv7LIuJiqWk8Lki8sewZsv3mbHL-hGvLiAF9hkKBOyuJUgXAssH5-LvMdLsUpdU15dgNvYSh5ye9MLfCQFSb0pa9DoQd9daM7aTJIlI5z4E7FSUs-IVUr6zRNb_jfJnFKarO/s374/QuackShot_CountDracula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxR8LMic387O0qLkUqspBNEMat15y_znR4yYOZXZPN4bzfJBayFsCix1W4Bv7LIuJiqWk8Lki8sewZsv3mbHL-hGvLiAF9hkKBOyuJUgXAssH5-LvMdLsUpdU15dgNvYSh5ye9MLfCQFSb0pa9DoQd9daM7aTJIlI5z4E7FSUs-IVUr6zRNb_jfJnFKarO/w200-h117/QuackShot_CountDracula.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkqVUT_zLnnNSJww_cA1yyIVVbGTiZnXv1VLHl0EjikD3dk2gDwSKzIzFUNB0K2lYgDE8lJmtCxTuQsu4e3Mvoa9uBnvh6Z2_V4bd9kRiRB7VKJPzpZ7HwjcfdRf_tW36zKlZg-TLJveDauf5wId0Bcxu6BXlt4iR4UCtqAzL-w4VytoAzkdlbvMjsKdc/s374/QuackShot_VikingShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkqVUT_zLnnNSJww_cA1yyIVVbGTiZnXv1VLHl0EjikD3dk2gDwSKzIzFUNB0K2lYgDE8lJmtCxTuQsu4e3Mvoa9uBnvh6Z2_V4bd9kRiRB7VKJPzpZ7HwjcfdRf_tW36zKlZg-TLJveDauf5wId0Bcxu6BXlt4iR4UCtqAzL-w4VytoAzkdlbvMjsKdc/w200-h117/QuackShot_VikingShip.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Forget everything you know about Dracula, his real weakness is plungers (according to this game) | Right: Landed aboard a Viking ship</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>QuackShot</i>'s soundtrack quality does share a bit of similarity to <i>Castle of Illusion</i>'s music in certain spots, which is no surprise given the shared composer, but I think it's got a very good soundtrack all the same with a lot of good numbers and a good sense of variety in terms of the distinctive music for each country. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=117s">Duckburg's theme</a> is pleasantly catchy and has got a fun melody to it, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=203s">Mexico's theme</a> is enjoyably upbeat and complements the landscape,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdeIqTtBRtQFu_Uj5h2ocLoFicaBAz5WWHSQ_zaaUKV1B_nhyphenhyphensTkggYT5gx9Pt_dUEhnjeYzlf8oQFTEx8hjyVe73ClVDsx3gIwsye0ru20ZZNTkJqGakezWdMeGHDuEdKCNs4OynDcG22YqEClsEM6OaBlR-MCPVgr38JVC3iwXntY3H68-A8pNp-f0I/s374/QuackShot_IceCream.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdeIqTtBRtQFu_Uj5h2ocLoFicaBAz5WWHSQ_zaaUKV1B_nhyphenhyphensTkggYT5gx9Pt_dUEhnjeYzlf8oQFTEx8hjyVe73ClVDsx3gIwsye0ru20ZZNTkJqGakezWdMeGHDuEdKCNs4OynDcG22YqEClsEM6OaBlR-MCPVgr38JVC3iwXntY3H68-A8pNp-f0I/w200-h117/QuackShot_IceCream.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeQV2L0eWZjdlWH7y1jxxXapKl6d7iQXrtWtGE-nz_kbAEM0BfNalOpqPZj_oebgjwIpOdnCu4lXV9qu2rYubxEIN_qYI6sYMOKgSSf7fE5thAs6KQhfKkK2-8z_rqCvp9T0yypp8wNQUf1pEwGTNhdUqNOW2OyIcZfCCVpO82GrDV4WMFPh_Bop2R9KG/s374/QuackShot_Rope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeQV2L0eWZjdlWH7y1jxxXapKl6d7iQXrtWtGE-nz_kbAEM0BfNalOpqPZj_oebgjwIpOdnCu4lXV9qu2rYubxEIN_qYI6sYMOKgSSf7fE5thAs6KQhfKkK2-8z_rqCvp9T0yypp8wNQUf1pEwGTNhdUqNOW2OyIcZfCCVpO82GrDV4WMFPh_Bop2R9KG/w200-h117/QuackShot_Rope.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🍦<b> | Right: Walking up the rope holding the mast</b></span></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=501s" style="font-family: georgia;">Transylvania's theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> is fittingly spooky as you venture through the Prince of Darkness Count Dracula's castle, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=649s" style="font-family: georgia;">Egypt's theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> is bouncily exotic and energetically paced, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=731s" style="font-family: georgia;">Viking Ship's theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> is soothingly relaxing and adventurously atmospheric, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=799s" style="font-family: georgia;">South Pole's theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> is so incredibly bouncy and lighthearted that it could also work as a tropical vacation theme if there had been a beach setting, and the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=878s" style="font-family: georgia;">theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> for when Donald arrives in India has got a</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKAm0E4jIPeO0YBF6zVC6lwI_DrQzDsGE5-15PHn86TDYHQtRiN-tKxvA5OaM-8D-8CWX6oynvOnNZ-BWK-vXvG5l-QUhm8WVZ_ODEbPnHZqjpb8IY7-wJHP04sRvO3iRrEwFV8NicENHfwqGKZy59Z2KVq73bisDGKZHl2SCJ1m-Nx0LNw0BZ8MRgl-z/s374/QuackShot_Viking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKAm0E4jIPeO0YBF6zVC6lwI_DrQzDsGE5-15PHn86TDYHQtRiN-tKxvA5OaM-8D-8CWX6oynvOnNZ-BWK-vXvG5l-QUhm8WVZ_ODEbPnHZqjpb8IY7-wJHP04sRvO3iRrEwFV8NicENHfwqGKZy59Z2KVq73bisDGKZHl2SCJ1m-Nx0LNw0BZ8MRgl-z/w200-h117/QuackShot_Viking.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERAaNybYQ3Ln_zCtpXWGsQjwQYBnmMe6p-jFiwwn2iBjBjWXKLwP_l3UiB2wN1OEpa4u_qqO7vDXsB7t4wSbb2zPVsLMTLr-nkyqF-lirgbIF_179vx0A3aMMxihi2h8ScnfprHT8mREoLC2iGRVXQ51r4wtysIDBAmwtD9fmm9hril1lhW5NXvJ_p8O5/s374/QuackShot_SustainedDamage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERAaNybYQ3Ln_zCtpXWGsQjwQYBnmMe6p-jFiwwn2iBjBjWXKLwP_l3UiB2wN1OEpa4u_qqO7vDXsB7t4wSbb2zPVsLMTLr-nkyqF-lirgbIF_179vx0A3aMMxihi2h8ScnfprHT8mREoLC2iGRVXQ51r4wtysIDBAmwtD9fmm9hril1lhW5NXvJ_p8O5/w200-h117/QuackShot_SustainedDamage.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Meeting a friendly but sad Viking | Right: *QUACK*</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">strong Indian aura about it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=263s">One of my favorite themes</a> from <i>QuackShot</i> is heard when you venture inside the Mexican temple and Egyptian pyramid as well as the secret island where King Garuzia's treasure is located for its appropriately foreboding and atmospherically intimidating composition as Donald has set foot on abandoned yet dangerous territory, the </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=987s">Mahārāja palace theme</a> is the most pleasantly unique track in the game for how wondrously meditative it sounds, the minimal instrumentation <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=1111s">island theme</a> does a good job</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPuq0IAzSL_wTdFbSooRFwQyIckS7u-99haz8ZNbIazRstuQUxr4UvfBV7BDjB7uKp2OyEYpRWUPRrUM1dfc73h_r2QMz9ZJBQENf5teyTkA02qUXbKEyXC7pKSxsJrpVEBnNzmO7AkNnY_69u4pbHipE6TjnC5giYwCJ64qxWjjnrtbeGZWBJJEDkFTG/s374/QuackShot_Egypt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPuq0IAzSL_wTdFbSooRFwQyIckS7u-99haz8ZNbIazRstuQUxr4UvfBV7BDjB7uKp2OyEYpRWUPRrUM1dfc73h_r2QMz9ZJBQENf5teyTkA02qUXbKEyXC7pKSxsJrpVEBnNzmO7AkNnY_69u4pbHipE6TjnC5giYwCJ64qxWjjnrtbeGZWBJJEDkFTG/w200-h117/QuackShot_Egypt.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXauChUkAMEefCyNp1amHe0O4lNwD0iATw21rwgTJvyN5ukwBKYbLtAco-gsweZqkRcq965hA_RRfM9raFhk2BCW4Rb_2pp3HXOFx_c3c0Ls6kIT_30ATL8azOGOOKSEqll9GejnmITRgRXaV6GJfLt1aoSaYqFFLI3pCplgrjxJxomxGEoPMnPJC5Lnl/s374/QuackShot_DoorIsClosed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXauChUkAMEefCyNp1amHe0O4lNwD0iATw21rwgTJvyN5ukwBKYbLtAco-gsweZqkRcq965hA_RRfM9raFhk2BCW4Rb_2pp3HXOFx_c3c0Ls6kIT_30ATL8azOGOOKSEqll9GejnmITRgRXaV6GJfLt1aoSaYqFFLI3pCplgrjxJxomxGEoPMnPJC5Lnl/w200-h117/QuackShot_DoorIsClosed.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Huey, Dewey, and Louie dropping off their Unca Donald in the hot land of Egypt | Right: *insert temperamental angry Donald Duck sounds here*</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">at setting up what's to come, and the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=1149s" style="font-family: georgia;">theme</a><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">for when you infiltrate Pete's hideout is engrossing with an energetic tempo. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=82s">theme</a> for any time you access the world map absolutely brims with adventure, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=44s">dialogue theme</a> any time Donald talks to a friendly character has got a delightfully cordial quality to it, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=452s">theme</a> for when Donald rides on a mine cart is bouncily fun, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=590s">boss theme</a> is pressingly hectic, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=1268s">King Garuzia's theme</a> when you face off against his spirit has got a dark vibe to it that makes the final battle effective, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikRDKNZRZdw&t=1353s">credits theme</a> is a very rewarding listen for there's a nice triumphant quality to it as Donald's</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOEeY1dsS_uMp4RpfBmMYlKB5K-eqcaDhpLf9z2Inzck017bUx1pHGufRE_rfoK1yeI2WyR5Oq5Ok_4YqpUDa60ByivCG1v9Gsz5DuYh8pryrF_g_TJeu9r8eIQhvPoBreev2WFuH6wBA5Sripkh7H1ly0Lh8mlEAotugKtMyh4h7_uX2tajjW9qFi6iL/s374/QuackShot_India.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOEeY1dsS_uMp4RpfBmMYlKB5K-eqcaDhpLf9z2Inzck017bUx1pHGufRE_rfoK1yeI2WyR5Oq5Ok_4YqpUDa60ByivCG1v9Gsz5DuYh8pryrF_g_TJeu9r8eIQhvPoBreev2WFuH6wBA5Sripkh7H1ly0Lh8mlEAotugKtMyh4h7_uX2tajjW9qFi6iL/w200-h117/QuackShot_India.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44prCbhjkQ_tXdAm59uUY6lQ3_HoSYfFR4MRucolQP1AdcahwqlNDAwGtReAn9tnKdnprlfBuROERb5Qc-A0bYbNJ2JfRhouHwtItpEqinFOadYULIErthqmMYtQRJzavLmEMDhc2-VWE_lvfMM47VqqoEVPKRLpsFWqWBlJDRfrCC9DPODasV1zjQ83_/s374/QuackShot_BadTemper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44prCbhjkQ_tXdAm59uUY6lQ3_HoSYfFR4MRucolQP1AdcahwqlNDAwGtReAn9tnKdnprlfBuROERb5Qc-A0bYbNJ2JfRhouHwtItpEqinFOadYULIErthqmMYtQRJzavLmEMDhc2-VWE_lvfMM47VqqoEVPKRLpsFWqWBlJDRfrCC9DPODasV1zjQ83_/w200-h117/QuackShot_BadTemper.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Donald's travels now take him to India | Right: Donald also loses his temper here</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">adventure has come to an end. The music in </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> can fortunately all be listened to in all its glory in the sound test when accessing the options screen. The sound effects are solid, I like Donald's repeated "quack" sounds any time he succumbs to his bad temper or how there's a distorted sound when he takes damage, the sound for when a plunger incapacitates a foe is funny, and given the involvement Shigenori Kamiya and Tokuhiko Uwabo I recognized a few sound effects lifted from </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> (like for when certain items are procured and for when Donald takes a fall).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUUFS9EdbNgjwOu6Jeme2kHpk8MgEcBFV_WB2WR0lI7JZhQxM-TWYdXJaSJHgjuxIXi5K2h3Ikk00Wu8Hf0zpGtxsUg6ofAGEBd85q6as6iNq6_pS6gEV6E9qb0efempqhsBxnbNTbH1N9h01rA4hQJUqsAZjPyxoOEbFPjCkSRK-YgS4ZcfA1ESG75e/s374/QuackShot_Maharajah.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUUFS9EdbNgjwOu6Jeme2kHpk8MgEcBFV_WB2WR0lI7JZhQxM-TWYdXJaSJHgjuxIXi5K2h3Ikk00Wu8Hf0zpGtxsUg6ofAGEBd85q6as6iNq6_pS6gEV6E9qb0efempqhsBxnbNTbH1N9h01rA4hQJUqsAZjPyxoOEbFPjCkSRK-YgS4ZcfA1ESG75e/w200-h117/QuackShot_Maharajah.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoatRke8hNPcP9oZBqR8crz-c0nIuED1P7uDjOWhz-slF1AFtv2hcE3cA-NkW3hpMvKBdvpD4JCCAoAG5liBJqEqOkC-3bz98CUOdwfQxLtHrxYf8ZFsLYU-vU77q01Qf3XY-6AOvgobX-bIRyUdQlQxubQMQYJlk5FCuhwpxfOYkDMGYTyqbKN-pBLIEE/s374/QuackShot_SnakeCharmer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoatRke8hNPcP9oZBqR8crz-c0nIuED1P7uDjOWhz-slF1AFtv2hcE3cA-NkW3hpMvKBdvpD4JCCAoAG5liBJqEqOkC-3bz98CUOdwfQxLtHrxYf8ZFsLYU-vU77q01Qf3XY-6AOvgobX-bIRyUdQlQxubQMQYJlk5FCuhwpxfOYkDMGYTyqbKN-pBLIEE/w200-h117/QuackShot_SnakeCharmer.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Holding an audience with the </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Mahārāja | Right: Shoot the snake to stun the snake charmer</b></span></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Each country Donald Duck visits is divided into segments, and the start of each segment serves as a checkpoint in the event that you lose a life (which is also the case in the boss battle sections). Each time the segments reset themselves after losing a life all the items will still be there to obtain in their designated places even after you grabbed them the first time around, which is an important thing to note when life garnering fedoras are involved. Losing all your lives will give you to option to continue your adventure or to return to the title screen, but if you grabbed an important item down the line be sure to clear the present country so that you can keep it otherwise if you lost your last life after the fact you'd have to start that part over (from the world map and nearby flag point to fly the airplane down there).</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBb2YKgwpoO4qfcXs4XDioYdHWPsX4gjYqhwqXqeLJRM-amCqAKzRpjOP-o8E5m60Ui52TSQcVSfKA_Y5fSi-890Fx2nrNvL3biPkiBcjFPju0YQczHluBFJwV9WGxOClOPWTPQ_Tx5O_KCDw82W__vHHVnDY12p8VqxJmCS8BQaKISlwmIU_xTvRcTK6/s374/QuackShot_ShereKhan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBb2YKgwpoO4qfcXs4XDioYdHWPsX4gjYqhwqXqeLJRM-amCqAKzRpjOP-o8E5m60Ui52TSQcVSfKA_Y5fSi-890Fx2nrNvL3biPkiBcjFPju0YQczHluBFJwV9WGxOClOPWTPQ_Tx5O_KCDw82W__vHHVnDY12p8VqxJmCS8BQaKISlwmIU_xTvRcTK6/w200-h117/QuackShot_ShereKhan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C2o4WH_xeFwxs_sVVAIiYLETj2PJP0jWj6S5P_j7-jKdpymGS28pf7Fe_IFw4S-q7wm0f1zP4gQI5d7p3hWXZwIXyTGkVo2G0O1OflUuHexhWtpe_RJ4reMeXYRscMHrVSi1k485DibhcN0E8TWUyTCmp-fH8PUJQ4jKgLDqg_neM3V9MxjEu84AwKVm/s374/QuackShot_FireBreath.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C2o4WH_xeFwxs_sVVAIiYLETj2PJP0jWj6S5P_j7-jKdpymGS28pf7Fe_IFw4S-q7wm0f1zP4gQI5d7p3hWXZwIXyTGkVo2G0O1OflUuHexhWtpe_RJ4reMeXYRscMHrVSi1k485DibhcN0E8TWUyTCmp-fH8PUJQ4jKgLDqg_neM3V9MxjEu84AwKVm/w200-h117/QuackShot_FireBreath.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Wow, Shere Khan sure has gained a lot of pounds, hasn't he? | Right: <u>And</u> he's gained the ability to breathe fire! ...which is ironic given his "red flower" fate in <i>The Jungle Book</i></span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">There were two different versions of <i>QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i> that came out on the same system: Rev 00 and Rev 01. Shortly after it originally came out Sega made and released a revision of it which made various changes, mostly of the optimizing variety. The order of the sound test was adjusted in Rev 01 (with "Duckburg" being the first track on the list as opposed to "Mexico", plus the music to "Hideout" and "The Island" were swapped out) and you stay on the inventory menu after looking at an item (whereas in Rev 00 it took you back to the game afterward), one of Pete's henchmen was positioned a little closer in the Viking</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF_rRWvvwMr1ncW06NK7IH487_yJafVmdYWxnd6t570E4186ap2y_-qkSt43LHgWcJJqbqRP5hRhFdpZ8Mq6L0PSRqpNhaQ2LKPHroqZUpL7NCE6dPHEcov-SP0N-rZjD48cQiOY6Rw3boKUKvaBmuJ6AHs8AtELVSJBURjOkeyunxnj7023FzO-r2Ui0/s374/QuackShot_EgyptianPyramid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF_rRWvvwMr1ncW06NK7IH487_yJafVmdYWxnd6t570E4186ap2y_-qkSt43LHgWcJJqbqRP5hRhFdpZ8Mq6L0PSRqpNhaQ2LKPHroqZUpL7NCE6dPHEcov-SP0N-rZjD48cQiOY6Rw3boKUKvaBmuJ6AHs8AtELVSJBURjOkeyunxnj7023FzO-r2Ui0/w200-h117/QuackShot_EgyptianPyramid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MfPdWuiskuRirV4mErMlWl9vUSV8_aTiFcWK3kL4k6mh2ARwyhe_TvW6in1A-x3bevFjJUSl4txh2ZCg9Q7j1HchaCwGoSdzjAgLHY-tPtmd8VC1y6BjfUwExoztz8lcb3xFk34y2PRMbtauyneq_k2Ca9hYw2ksko3Kkgz7jIanl3n9T5KjzEQgOF7E/s374/QuackShot_SlidingPastSpikes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MfPdWuiskuRirV4mErMlWl9vUSV8_aTiFcWK3kL4k6mh2ARwyhe_TvW6in1A-x3bevFjJUSl4txh2ZCg9Q7j1HchaCwGoSdzjAgLHY-tPtmd8VC1y6BjfUwExoztz8lcb3xFk34y2PRMbtauyneq_k2Ca9hYw2ksko3Kkgz7jIanl3n9T5KjzEQgOF7E/w200-h117/QuackShot_SlidingPastSpikes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Inside the Egyptian pyramid | Right: Body sliding across the narrow gap with spikes above you</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Ship than he was initially, Hideout uses the "Hideout" theme the whole time, and a variety of items was added to the temple's entrance in The Island in Rev 01 (in Rev 00, the "Room2" theme plays throughout The Island). An easy way to identify whether you have </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">'s Rev 00 or Rev 01 edition is in the opening cutscene: if Huey and Dewey's names have got a space between them that means you have Rev 01 but should the space between their names be nonexistent then that means you have the original Rev 00 version. I own the Rev 00 edition, I didn't realize until years after I had gotten it that it came out in two versions.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWKHtqyg3jb8ZCOhyphenhyphen8tYt0rYW68oL3bNfZW3gvQF7fhbKD7m3BSKJMdMLcQtMsRA47pFIfsNRp-TGxJ5fIXhCyUSQLd410rPnasVl2c2mxRjnAiJHHArTsnZoV2VA03w1nZQ2MXckoOv8tcM8Gaub2QhCwwN_WBKdwbepAZeVvOHnSb5CvM3wkopoVAWN/s901/TheDisneyCollection_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWKHtqyg3jb8ZCOhyphenhyphen8tYt0rYW68oL3bNfZW3gvQF7fhbKD7m3BSKJMdMLcQtMsRA47pFIfsNRp-TGxJ5fIXhCyUSQLd410rPnasVl2c2mxRjnAiJHHArTsnZoV2VA03w1nZQ2MXckoOv8tcM8Gaub2QhCwwN_WBKdwbepAZeVvOHnSb5CvM3wkopoVAWN/w142-h200/TheDisneyCollection_Cover.png" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-r0AaT2Dt6OGTzQ99jnDbF1fT6DEsSg-TYzKzccS6LsmdKcxeTYBAgMi4hH5TWCrWZ5xvBhKGOTtmKjcsAvEExc3Y8dBvm6DwizG2rtEO89XOL7gzLqosyqtN25_OusBrpfgAWBP5ZscDlCM-uIypd4JJ8BOMmjYnlV0hKc6ft5lnW3D2Gzh1KjuPzzk/s642/SegaAges-ILoveCollection_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-r0AaT2Dt6OGTzQ99jnDbF1fT6DEsSg-TYzKzccS6LsmdKcxeTYBAgMi4hH5TWCrWZ5xvBhKGOTtmKjcsAvEExc3Y8dBvm6DwizG2rtEO89XOL7gzLqosyqtN25_OusBrpfgAWBP5ZscDlCM-uIypd4JJ8BOMmjYnlV0hKc6ft5lnW3D2Gzh1KjuPzzk/w199-h200/SegaAges-ILoveCollection_Cover.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Both Donald's <b>and</b> Mickey's first Sega 16-bit games would twice be bundled together in the same package later in life: first in 1996 in the cartridge-based <i>The Disney Collection: Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse/QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i> for the MegaDrive in Europe, then <i>I Love Mickey Mouse</i> and <i>I Love Donald Duck</i> would both be made available in the last of thirteen <i>Sega Ages</i> CD releases on the Sega Saturn exclusively in Japan in 1998.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWt67ANca0p7AnOqSKrgsZa-cw1u2D7t-gxumrth4peapDZk2CFiT87OkGKy1dveHMJ2mYxq2d8DKwVFR3XJ-ELOew-L399h1qDl_ESrCcRjhmkLHPWpRxMq-wMbL8kgmhfaYLCvX9eg_f1WVWAy7aFvF4eWm2e4Ck5tpImiIJa738upjn7vy4DggyplG/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWt67ANca0p7AnOqSKrgsZa-cw1u2D7t-gxumrth4peapDZk2CFiT87OkGKy1dveHMJ2mYxq2d8DKwVFR3XJ-ELOew-L399h1qDl_ESrCcRjhmkLHPWpRxMq-wMbL8kgmhfaYLCvX9eg_f1WVWAy7aFvF4eWm2e4Ck5tpImiIJa738upjn7vy4DggyplG/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1uOYhN6ryzdxf6acKIG95NozZHhfZGaC_X5S3CUbljCI5agIacHGAz6sbaPnZm4jw-Xhqze7OP6fBM4EztstyA8-f61h2V3nH59aR9o1zClJ7VRsE-PjqgQzcA35lyWW4eN5KNeDVehxtO8I5Pm83TyRZEP3_hkiHJD9-HHCoWR9sdvlcjOqUsh2F_XU/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Ruins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1uOYhN6ryzdxf6acKIG95NozZHhfZGaC_X5S3CUbljCI5agIacHGAz6sbaPnZm4jw-Xhqze7OP6fBM4EztstyA8-f61h2V3nH59aR9o1zClJ7VRsE-PjqgQzcA35lyWW4eN5KNeDVehxtO8I5Pm83TyRZEP3_hkiHJD9-HHCoWR9sdvlcjOqUsh2F_XU/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Ruins.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Like a lot of the Sega Disney licenses, I never had any experience with them growing up visiting my relatives who had a Sega Genesis and only got to know about most of them through the internet during my teen years in the mid-2000's and would not be able to catch up with them until I got a lot older*, and </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> was no exception. I did not own a Sega Genesis console at the time, so I had no way of playing those games at home anyway (outside of certain video game compilations, that is). That changed in 2012 when Disney Interactive announced that they were going to release DreamRift's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> on the Nintendo 3DS handheld system, and I was excited at</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* There was Eurocom's <i>Disney's The Jungle Book</i> (which I did play on the PC beforehand, but the PC is not the same thing as the Sega 16-bit console) at a built-in Sega Genesis system with six games at the dentist in my preteen to teen years, but that was it</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqXE2An4PJfXbZxnX3r2zciA4S-5K1FZbQUPQxlKKy4pd4pl5gnME7jsit_EqG5EWVY2RBvJB9BIJaGHt4WhJoBmmQihF4wwV63t-3DfFr1l3eWk98RDqGiXfM9p9OxB_Zs7lqCcZLP7DE2r-Dz-__46q6wE627DE-38cC6c-Jc2W4ghqCwsVqygXtKI8/s374/CastleOfIllusion_PastryLand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqXE2An4PJfXbZxnX3r2zciA4S-5K1FZbQUPQxlKKy4pd4pl5gnME7jsit_EqG5EWVY2RBvJB9BIJaGHt4WhJoBmmQihF4wwV63t-3DfFr1l3eWk98RDqGiXfM9p9OxB_Zs7lqCcZLP7DE2r-Dz-__46q6wE627DE-38cC6c-Jc2W4ghqCwsVqygXtKI8/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_PastryLand.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvnlzZisTtCccGoMPuZexHC2Ua4SWgF9-rT5rtqChn0drl6Rfj06LzS2uRB1NY9a_eNW5VN5WnRPxnQTagYCSWfVe2_rndra_Gr3Cjf_KxeMtwQ2iXchV2SFv3ceDr1lMAbOhDGRyj0o7tIKAlCAAiPWwjG5qQieSreZIVsXFq6xaQ9lxVvk5UktLsTB7/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Books.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvnlzZisTtCccGoMPuZexHC2Ua4SWgF9-rT5rtqChn0drl6Rfj06LzS2uRB1NY9a_eNW5VN5WnRPxnQTagYCSWfVe2_rndra_Gr3Cjf_KxeMtwQ2iXchV2SFv3ceDr1lMAbOhDGRyj0o7tIKAlCAAiPWwjG5qQieSreZIVsXFq6xaQ9lxVvk5UktLsTB7/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Books.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">the news that it was a 2D </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> platformer. It had the word "Illusion" in the title, so I figured that perhaps I might want to get acquainted with the other games that had that word before then. I learned of the RetroGen adaptor cartridge that allowed one to play MegaDrive/Genesis games on the SNES console, so I decided to get <b>it</b> along with </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> on October of 2012, it worked like a charm. In retrospect I might have been a bit desperate, but the RetroGen seemed like a very ideal way of having access to Sega's 16-bit games at the time*. In the Summer of 2019, I purchased a model 2 Sega Genesis console after learning that it had yellow, white, and red A/V cables which is how I much prefer to play retro systems than to have to deal with composite cables linking to A/B switchboxes obnoxiously lodged in the back of my TV**. I wish I was smarter when I was younger and knew about that back then, but I'm glad I caught up with <i>Castle of Illusion</i> at all.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* It wasn't without issues: if there was a large body of white on the screen then it would visually fizzle out but outside of that the gameplay functioned very well, and games that had a save file such as Westone's <i>Wonder Boy in Monster World</i> wouldn't work</b></span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>** <u>And</u> having to fidget around with it until the image quality on the display appeared just right? No thank you! </b>😑</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8SiD4TDiwNHMrZ9QeIwrJDzQYba2WcEXv39f6HuHuVp-tsvF-JZIaLLMyvm7FX-U2Jz1YcD0w4HwgSV7oOJC2ZbPYn-2GWKg2rT6SC4lBFPwixAxVyCqjhIoaUXcmaW_vckWflUe0ZSl7gTU4JpOw_lXumc00Tj2HXW-DWT3Z9UggmBppH2mX8XpE_4f/s374/WorldOfIllusion_Mickey.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8SiD4TDiwNHMrZ9QeIwrJDzQYba2WcEXv39f6HuHuVp-tsvF-JZIaLLMyvm7FX-U2Jz1YcD0w4HwgSV7oOJC2ZbPYn-2GWKg2rT6SC4lBFPwixAxVyCqjhIoaUXcmaW_vckWflUe0ZSl7gTU4JpOw_lXumc00Tj2HXW-DWT3Z9UggmBppH2mX8XpE_4f/w200-h117/WorldOfIllusion_Mickey.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0JRSR4L3P7s7kKRhzj5vovjxkMzMClQdNLu8iu962ByfFeFakEl_PgqyEbcmokeWA2o_7EKJcex4jOKyaehzxXfhK9pjJ9deTScXWtQc_KyDGBKK54SAhdqJecEzGdBX4oRhAWQvkOvi8BSPyRLVQv7hvtC9YRpvlU0EzEC0fCAuzuZOCcdsDpTFRgpo/s374/WorldOfIllusion_Donald.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0JRSR4L3P7s7kKRhzj5vovjxkMzMClQdNLu8iu962ByfFeFakEl_PgqyEbcmokeWA2o_7EKJcex4jOKyaehzxXfhK9pjJ9deTScXWtQc_KyDGBKK54SAhdqJecEzGdBX4oRhAWQvkOvi8BSPyRLVQv7hvtC9YRpvlU0EzEC0fCAuzuZOCcdsDpTFRgpo/w200-h117/WorldOfIllusion_Donald.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">World of Illusion</i><b> also features, and I'm not saying it ironically, one of my top favorite credits music for any Disney video game license ever </b>🥰 <b>There's just so much warmth to it</b></span></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">I had a lot of fun with </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> (I genuinely think it's the ultimate 2D Disney platformer) that I thought it would only be logical to follow it up by playing the direct 16-bit sequel </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">World of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> the following month on November 2012 which I also ended up enjoying. I was happy owning two Genesis cartridges in my video game collection that I only had those for the next year.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgqmclomK5gZwTH_4EmI-X92QTNZzeDtgvWpmKiN6vE1WiZMr8uVBO21CtLhWpJEFZx4tMJ-UI0rkablDKjiCnpXTqtqi5XudwwiqQw8CnOvh-d96mC6O0cMnzxx3ETK2Y5yQMN9JL09ipPNdEajFUtDjcV_ZZNwJXvmSn6gssNQ2c2xgYrEY1XxqFkn3/s386/RocketKnightAdventures_SegaGenesis.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgqmclomK5gZwTH_4EmI-X92QTNZzeDtgvWpmKiN6vE1WiZMr8uVBO21CtLhWpJEFZx4tMJ-UI0rkablDKjiCnpXTqtqi5XudwwiqQw8CnOvh-d96mC6O0cMnzxx3ETK2Y5yQMN9JL09ipPNdEajFUtDjcV_ZZNwJXvmSn6gssNQ2c2xgYrEY1XxqFkn3/s16000/RocketKnightAdventures_SegaGenesis.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Then, for my third Sega Genesis cartridge, I decided to check out Konami's rock-solid console-exclusive sidescrolling platformer <i>Rocket Knight Adventures</i> in late 2013 after having been acquainted with Sparkster in his self-titled SNES game less than two years prior. It was the only Sega Genesis game I purchased that year.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw86e-UOVP0DPEaMuQLgXykyKksCnGtVts-J2waRlgl66Rj7N6A0sHjLDTghAp2va-ZaXe1f3rCTYZMTNOo41cbw_n4FB492FxsEi_1cIm5me7dvozPdbl8qFPM-5Bf48SZtjK2tQa_9HIAU2IYyIUMpHz-8SZu66S0u4PCf6lC7kZ6k2Rd-S_dQYoP9wG/s374/QuackShot_RingsOfFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw86e-UOVP0DPEaMuQLgXykyKksCnGtVts-J2waRlgl66Rj7N6A0sHjLDTghAp2va-ZaXe1f3rCTYZMTNOo41cbw_n4FB492FxsEi_1cIm5me7dvozPdbl8qFPM-5Bf48SZtjK2tQa_9HIAU2IYyIUMpHz-8SZu66S0u4PCf6lC7kZ6k2Rd-S_dQYoP9wG/w200-h117/QuackShot_RingsOfFire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRwYkYgq4d-s0ASQELPYG7tE4C-oyBPqPaqTxYOjZ03n0KS5ESQZSq4XXu4JtIR7Ypt9UWdB6-35NzNVJ1CiC7SAu6Q0nSf1onY6IjJT1KUUStDgY7ClMzK0rDx-2Pl4OnyVAvqr-h_CJfRgITXAZ1XtJNbFpgbiQbD7bFM3VRcYsCqgy-88x0eq3x2-2/s374/QuackShot_FallingBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRwYkYgq4d-s0ASQELPYG7tE4C-oyBPqPaqTxYOjZ03n0KS5ESQZSq4XXu4JtIR7Ypt9UWdB6-35NzNVJ1CiC7SAu6Q0nSf1onY6IjJT1KUUStDgY7ClMzK0rDx-2Pl4OnyVAvqr-h_CJfRgITXAZ1XtJNbFpgbiQbD7bFM3VRcYsCqgy-88x0eq3x2-2/w200-h117/QuackShot_FallingBridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Carefully scale up that incline as you time your movements with the open part of the ring of fire | Right: A double whammy of collapsing bridge and raining fire from the ceiling, truly this <u>is</u> a trap-filled environment guarding an important artifact and/or treasure</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">When it came time to decide on what my fourth Genesis game should be, I decided to finally look into </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> on September 2014 which ended up arriving at the start of that October in CIB condition much like I had done with </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">World of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> in 2012. It makes sense, honestly, as these three games are all connected to the three-plus decade old </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> series outside of just the Sega-fied Disney brand even if Donald Duck's first Sega 16-bit go-around is merely a case of tangential relatedness.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnvEw8Fb8xJZ9EQ-7I_5xWD1-9Vs5ZIX1nDz-IjwLWGzgYqJZq6KUyTZNZUHlx15zVVbUwyjhPNYvuKbH4QJ6TVTh-Dey35Ics6reku3jGlp2fCrLx7jyExD5ZCz23MejrIGkeO_pOs22IEWewDY_vfrXuD3vu-pFCAAjTBVlZK_3Z2SiPkreoo7P53VU/s374/QuackShot_MineCart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnvEw8Fb8xJZ9EQ-7I_5xWD1-9Vs5ZIX1nDz-IjwLWGzgYqJZq6KUyTZNZUHlx15zVVbUwyjhPNYvuKbH4QJ6TVTh-Dey35Ics6reku3jGlp2fCrLx7jyExD5ZCz23MejrIGkeO_pOs22IEWewDY_vfrXuD3vu-pFCAAjTBVlZK_3Z2SiPkreoo7P53VU/w200-h117/QuackShot_MineCart.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpf9tgMkdwOMGdbcb9q7vGVKXSi4zORNKvob00goFHm2uueCyusyW2jKDNyWkmU2Aio-wD4PLOMlCtAF0j78y1-vCpNKWKq2NJ2rWE7f2Vo4A-V51Sg-ema4VtmB_3y4aSzIok-IsO2CBrEAwLXh_NG6PzvoczM6BS3j8T4aPFPlrZrn1xTyKIGmDPUHo/s374/QuackShot_UsingSphinxTear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpf9tgMkdwOMGdbcb9q7vGVKXSi4zORNKvob00goFHm2uueCyusyW2jKDNyWkmU2Aio-wD4PLOMlCtAF0j78y1-vCpNKWKq2NJ2rWE7f2Vo4A-V51Sg-ema4VtmB_3y4aSzIok-IsO2CBrEAwLXh_NG6PzvoczM6BS3j8T4aPFPlrZrn1xTyKIGmDPUHo/w200-h117/QuackShot_UsingSphinxTear.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Mine cart riding | Right: Watching the Sphinx Tear in action</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>QuackShot</i> is a bit of a different affair compared to the more straightforward Disney platforming licenses, and because of it that gives Donald Duck's game its unique edge. There is a slight bit of nonlinearity in terms of some of its layout design and the ability to revisit each country but from a midpoint is a very nice touch especially after having procured an important item or upgraded your plunger gun. It's also a fun game with nods and homages to the <i>Indiana Jones</i> franchise here and there (the title is stylized in the exact same font) living up to the lightheartedly fun and adventurous nature of the comics that featured Donald Duck and/or his uncle Scrooge McDuck. I like Donald's plunger gun and how it not only is used to</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7qX0ZQpl4t5nmMfdKcnEIf6tv23wCJdTKov2waPgkxvVNHuX6uivRYf63VAfx4BEbFixlU9qvTq5aIh1uqZYN5LKMeKCGYiexxVlSwex3kU8m-vwSmnVzO38ssCE-yYYebIr6Yu99Wpo68FJm-Kg6A5fkwVvlhqGUG9j_tQiYjfwqfQIbRhSK6GFGF-C/s374/QuackShot_InsideShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7qX0ZQpl4t5nmMfdKcnEIf6tv23wCJdTKov2waPgkxvVNHuX6uivRYf63VAfx4BEbFixlU9qvTq5aIh1uqZYN5LKMeKCGYiexxVlSwex3kU8m-vwSmnVzO38ssCE-yYYebIr6Yu99Wpo68FJm-Kg6A5fkwVvlhqGUG9j_tQiYjfwqfQIbRhSK6GFGF-C/w200-h117/QuackShot_InsideShip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlUQDyAIOzlEVUNpGzIFAX283ZB1i1nXJfaMFUI1OKogAumS5oVRyo6xG8UId0mxWnNHd1F5tqZZizK8KK5m4ETyM_GyxMNzcJFuDofwXp0iLVRpLH4s29qXMwDiokyag8I8L1mf56B1EngW0IFSK-hmj_n7sbPmeT-ZIk9eFcXAhmoydbVPniVSuIe-w/s374/QuackShot_PlungerFlying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlUQDyAIOzlEVUNpGzIFAX283ZB1i1nXJfaMFUI1OKogAumS5oVRyo6xG8UId0mxWnNHd1F5tqZZizK8KK5m4ETyM_GyxMNzcJFuDofwXp0iLVRpLH4s29qXMwDiokyag8I8L1mf56B1EngW0IFSK-hmj_n7sbPmeT-ZIk9eFcXAhmoydbVPniVSuIe-w/w200-h117/QuackShot_PlungerFlying.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Entering inside the Viking ship | Right: Clinging on to dear life (at least that bird is properly dressed, unlike poor Donald who must be freezing his tailfeather off)</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">temporarily incapacitate any bothersome foe in your path but can also be used to access previously inaccessible areas once you've got it upgraded plus it helps that you can use them an infinite number of times. When you start the game off the plunger is a normal yellow, but once Goofy gives you the red plunger you can shoot them towards walls which will stick thereby enabling you to scale upward, and when the Viking on his ship thanks you for eradicating what was inside his vessel he gives you the green plunger which you can use to stick the plunger upward on a green bird whom you can fly upward and downward as you cross the very wide gap. There are also certain obstacles that can only be destroyed through the bubble gun, this and more gives <i>QuackShot</i>'s gameplay its sense of depth.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWvEjyAG0OfwP7OEjUrwz_itG7BLTC6VL3Xqk6lWXlFJNKCh6lxLIi8E3lCHjDIL1mk-U9Z8_A_KdTWlS9DWvA4PCNDcYTOjlCTRl6_C5-VtjmT-ZDO5a8JnNla-lhvSPLabpD66Ygok0O-j8NYMcUiZry7CuGWHbwJbv7jyQZSovZhLu-pSSMZ2Bjhy5/s374/CastleOfIllusion_HauntedHallway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWvEjyAG0OfwP7OEjUrwz_itG7BLTC6VL3Xqk6lWXlFJNKCh6lxLIi8E3lCHjDIL1mk-U9Z8_A_KdTWlS9DWvA4PCNDcYTOjlCTRl6_C5-VtjmT-ZDO5a8JnNla-lhvSPLabpD66Ygok0O-j8NYMcUiZry7CuGWHbwJbv7jyQZSovZhLu-pSSMZ2Bjhy5/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_HauntedHallway.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUGhQd1srXRmoMaqTMIrP7_9N91oZEItF2AMd8AQUZoBOBjYGpeDx3TyX9MXtDfPgJC0omxP8LWHAvMu5ol_30WA1hLkLnGV3jNdrupsG4fdTIpRtw3pBbdW53jF1Cp4H0x11CCZOc9zbsgrcYA0pgbqQtQUusoWYmdryxGqJqSiEGHDnIkal7mQJC39d/s374/CastleOfIllusion_SecretUnderwaterPassage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUGhQd1srXRmoMaqTMIrP7_9N91oZEItF2AMd8AQUZoBOBjYGpeDx3TyX9MXtDfPgJC0omxP8LWHAvMu5ol_30WA1hLkLnGV3jNdrupsG4fdTIpRtw3pBbdW53jF1Cp4H0x11CCZOc9zbsgrcYA0pgbqQtQUusoWYmdryxGqJqSiEGHDnIkal7mQJC39d/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_SecretUnderwaterPassage.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">There's also a major difference in terms of locations and environments for whereas <i>Castle of Illusion</i> and <i>World of Illusion</i> take place in a more fantastical setting, <i>QuackShot</i> transpires in the real world with real world countries in it (or at least the closest approximation to the real world as Disney would allow) which is another thing that makes this game stand out comparatively speaking. There are a good number of action scenarios that Donald goes</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOXrl5HCmWJ8IFglLyZigHpSCl27-FfdOT751RTOySadKUUQn4gGmmpjtr39OOpKi_V3LGL9sUUJovKxfcO5sJH73tkPKultSH6Y65wl4LfcFLcJ884lpsVLe1yfEt6Fo_JVAb4LNtpuRijwCtlBJpuT22-mG5FnMuHT8CLcWwSskMjWd6dlLZYVzOlZh/s374/QuackShot_Penguin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOXrl5HCmWJ8IFglLyZigHpSCl27-FfdOT751RTOySadKUUQn4gGmmpjtr39OOpKi_V3LGL9sUUJovKxfcO5sJH73tkPKultSH6Y65wl4LfcFLcJ884lpsVLe1yfEt6Fo_JVAb4LNtpuRijwCtlBJpuT22-mG5FnMuHT8CLcWwSskMjWd6dlLZYVzOlZh/w200-h117/QuackShot_Penguin.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl9ncVZSqfjzCD4ajsbsbWnjQzUP9CPYAG1cAY6IyaQG6gfnqEaMl5YMOPtD9YBHR32o74-PxDd2a-ixES9CUGOq2uB-oFgsEAnTdFjmFAcKfYN4MtyQOfee0YjscVUwhM9_gQqWTIgPmEtpFSQccFHThIGKGZ-Gn8OjM_VaoWugS-zjqi3l6rhW2K5mO/s374/QuackShot_Igloo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl9ncVZSqfjzCD4ajsbsbWnjQzUP9CPYAG1cAY6IyaQG6gfnqEaMl5YMOPtD9YBHR32o74-PxDd2a-ixES9CUGOq2uB-oFgsEAnTdFjmFAcKfYN4MtyQOfee0YjscVUwhM9_gQqWTIgPmEtpFSQccFHThIGKGZ-Gn8OjM_VaoWugS-zjqi3l6rhW2K5mO/w200-h117/QuackShot_Igloo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Penguin alert, shoot plunger on sight | Right: Prettyyyyy, the igloo </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">and</u><b> the Aurora Borealis! </b>😍</span></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">through in his treasure-seeking adventure: such as jumping across the cliffs and canyons in Mexico (including ones with detonators the moment you step on them), perilously avoiding rings of fire and loose flames as you venture inside dangerous territories, plunging foes left and right on the rooves of Duckburg's skyscrapers, being sure to take the correct path in some of the halls of Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania otherwise you'll find yourself at the start of the same hallway until you get it right, navigating the maze of the </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Mahārāja's palace in</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbdCA636BUsrD8szt2PLor6_cd4-6GGStHi57JDg3LJBfv_q6YUn1OVuFYoLFRRBlaOEJrYpRmIc04PxLcdzVNA_LOBmhvsTzzLH097fY_Bt-t0PtcV1l_XRddUGAwWN56EGqzmUWCSuivkTHZ546fKANgYmQyBknU879mBcZG1RQxVeTkt_rRYztIH4u/s374/QuackShot_IceCavern.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbdCA636BUsrD8szt2PLor6_cd4-6GGStHi57JDg3LJBfv_q6YUn1OVuFYoLFRRBlaOEJrYpRmIc04PxLcdzVNA_LOBmhvsTzzLH097fY_Bt-t0PtcV1l_XRddUGAwWN56EGqzmUWCSuivkTHZ546fKANgYmQyBknU879mBcZG1RQxVeTkt_rRYztIH4u/w200-h117/QuackShot_IceCavern.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3RrW8Cwz7-G4QvBBnD6mQQ0oYjaAJRkyY3ubBZPyd9IURaSuHr3gKBlsVQB9CpHYvNlyXJB7Yb2FRkYfJessSXQOL2R75xVZPpzYzoTyUbZDSX8Apw6_2hU6fxL4JzTzTYq2p_t_jrCQsNxvgtMSfCsQ8sNUCIlPAnYJCGGr5gABeZJHwXx-iv4wlvqF/s374/QuackShot_BlackSeal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3RrW8Cwz7-G4QvBBnD6mQQ0oYjaAJRkyY3ubBZPyd9IURaSuHr3gKBlsVQB9CpHYvNlyXJB7Yb2FRkYfJessSXQOL2R75xVZPpzYzoTyUbZDSX8Apw6_2hU6fxL4JzTzTYq2p_t_jrCQsNxvgtMSfCsQ8sNUCIlPAnYJCGGr5gABeZJHwXx-iv4wlvqF/w200-h117/QuackShot_BlackSeal.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Buff Pete stooge | Right: </b>🦭</span></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">India </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">with careful consideration as there are numbered doors to enter through, dashing just far enough to not get singed by a fireball creeping behind you inside Egypt's pyramid, quickly solving the floor tile riddle before the ceiling flattens Donald like a pancake, riding mine carts on a handful of occasions, venturing inside the icy cavern of the South Pole as you contend with seals and occasionally do away with certain obstacles with the bubble gun, and jumping on certain platforms in Pete's hideout that frequently alternate between single and spread out which you must get through with perfectly timed jumps, et al. With the exception of Pete's hideout followed by the island at the end, it's nice that you can explore these countries in any</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0854jgz-ld4n57zvLWfEggcH59AUpFjBBbSKjU0zmrPxm4itE3poe-yurpY0nZ-0x1eaEkpafdtSNG7MY5AVV5kBbfSeauhd_Rkqu3Iw-Kgg4v1av0FQ4FQUEmwj4xoj4qAuSczxn3cBvDxDTDORwp4CYogzUq3eJ0cWHbnTn81umPNIpSLw09f73xRfL/s374/QuackShot_UpwardPlunging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0854jgz-ld4n57zvLWfEggcH59AUpFjBBbSKjU0zmrPxm4itE3poe-yurpY0nZ-0x1eaEkpafdtSNG7MY5AVV5kBbfSeauhd_Rkqu3Iw-Kgg4v1av0FQ4FQUEmwj4xoj4qAuSczxn3cBvDxDTDORwp4CYogzUq3eJ0cWHbnTn81umPNIpSLw09f73xRfL/w200-h117/QuackShot_UpwardPlunging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qtd5ZquBvjO4IiBS6yLL2C-ST4rKZSG1iCEbOmIa0F2n39MMSV1ja5tN475GTQ7rbaqppPNEWKi2uwIQWlrbVA-3-6Xdyy9Sbk2KYuBfG0VS3BiLM56WaW4vcZKmu0DwJeU7nnt3_PoRvhE2hxIwZC1Svd9G78oXFX4OiFf4X6bOODqA87O5ufD1Jhzb/s374/QuackShot_Pete+Nephews.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qtd5ZquBvjO4IiBS6yLL2C-ST4rKZSG1iCEbOmIa0F2n39MMSV1ja5tN475GTQ7rbaqppPNEWKi2uwIQWlrbVA-3-6Xdyy9Sbk2KYuBfG0VS3BiLM56WaW4vcZKmu0DwJeU7nnt3_PoRvhE2hxIwZC1Svd9G78oXFX4OiFf4X6bOODqA87O5ufD1Jhzb/w200-h117/QuackShot_Pete+Nephews.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Attempting to stick to the ceiling | Right: Ugh, that's just <u>like</u> the oldest Disney character to kidnap someone's family members and use them as a bartering chip to get what he wants, such a deplorable creature! </b>🙄</span></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">given order of your choice provided you've got the proper items you need to dig deeper, it gives the proceedings some replay value as well as a trial and error element on your first time. </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">QuackShot</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> was generally positively received at the time, it wasn't </span><b style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">as</b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> universally regarded as </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> before it but it did fairly well overall. The visuals, music, and puzzles were well-received but there was a slight bit of criticism over Donald's jumping controls feeling "floaty"* and easy difficulty on the whole as well as the lack of voice samples. I don't fully agree with that last one, I don't need every MegaDrive/Genesis game to have voice samples and don't mind that this one in particular doesn't have them (even if Donald's voice <b>is</b> one of his most notable of qualities).</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Mickey Mouse's jumping controls in <i>Castle of Illusion</i> had a sense of float to them too, and no one made a big deal about those then, so I find that criticism leveled at <i>QuackShot</i> a bit weird, though <u>maybe</u> it's got more to do with execution than with the floaty nature (it helps to hold down the button to make higher jumps, particularly in the sequences that involve platforming)... but if we were to make comparisons Donald briefly remains in place upon sustaining damage whereas Mickey is still mobile even when hit in his game</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvvF_3io4UobT95O-C3XGcVNhXTOEJreuchsNsqAW7DEGkR6HsDTnRzQ2kAZTel77CQDd1jmqPsIGZqwoc66uYAHA5Rw5YuIF2wFuRTJM2HrP70qhr83Le4UFZCC9SJRvbv5d3Fb34lRiOg63QMue_Cp3aPzq7kv8652Cd_ZFq7bfmS-cqMz37STp0asb/s384/Fantasia_SegaGenesis.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvvF_3io4UobT95O-C3XGcVNhXTOEJreuchsNsqAW7DEGkR6HsDTnRzQ2kAZTel77CQDd1jmqPsIGZqwoc66uYAHA5Rw5YuIF2wFuRTJM2HrP70qhr83Le4UFZCC9SJRvbv5d3Fb34lRiOg63QMue_Cp3aPzq7kv8652Cd_ZFq7bfmS-cqMz37STp0asb/s16000/Fantasia_SegaGenesis.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The Disney corporation is partially to blame, too, for the <i>Fantasia</i> video game came to be because of a miscommunication giving off the impression to Sega that it was okay to adapt... except it wasn't, which upset the late Roy E. Disney as he promised his uncle Walt Disney that there would be <u>no</u> <i>Fantasia</i> adaptations before he died; thus he contacted Sega to have all unsold copies of the 1991 video game to be recalled or destroyed (of which there were about 5,000) and in return he'd grant them the rights to adapt other Disney properties without any additional fee</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">If nothing else, I think it helped wash off the bad taste left by the MegaDrive/Genesis sidescrolling platformer adaptation of the 1940 Disney film <i>Fantasia</i> which was seen a huge disappointment and performed poorly compared to <i>Castle of Illusion</i>. It wasn't developer Infogrames' fault, though, they simply worked under an uncomfortably tight schedule that was beyond their control which was not aided by the fact that the publisher Sega rushed the game out the door to take advantage of the 1991 holiday season before there was any chance to polish and finetune its gameplay structure. It's a very pretty-looking game, but unfortunately one where its troubled production is far more interesting than how the final product turned out: an awkward, bug-riddled mess that is blatantly incomplete. I feel bad for and sympathize with Infogrames, who ended up finding their stride with reliably solid licensed games throughout the '90s, but this was not a proud moment for the French firm.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FQOq696AdeEJ4LwkWfYkqQt01i-ydhbYuh1RdVagQxMK4yE2oSt39LEGTqtIFcr0R0j8bX9-cOmW3qCO-zL1OMaKAROdYiWWCRaxtpRWmqDwJq0X-Ec10y2lFmsOrKlpdhS58HEJnPJ2hoAl_TNvrASvHSMAXpDWHcz1PWueX2np7VG7Wuyb9xkHcoDr/s374/QuackShot_DarkJungle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FQOq696AdeEJ4LwkWfYkqQt01i-ydhbYuh1RdVagQxMK4yE2oSt39LEGTqtIFcr0R0j8bX9-cOmW3qCO-zL1OMaKAROdYiWWCRaxtpRWmqDwJq0X-Ec10y2lFmsOrKlpdhS58HEJnPJ2hoAl_TNvrASvHSMAXpDWHcz1PWueX2np7VG7Wuyb9xkHcoDr/w200-h117/QuackShot_DarkJungle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgvcPFbolMnRLbIcRU2Bz27sXoZF2aOiWG28Ve_4WR9rBuY5AbC7_RjSyFXVPjOUg8iYGUPyaiJPfKc4_HnRUDJyV-J7IPfGxj7jqRV1tKKBSn38Qbw-EKUd_PNvGmFjnJl7weOFVjvcr60UawegcFSIxtBgKBkmD-oCJfLs0iZQl3fRnZTQ_p_SdBt8z/s374/QuackShot_PlungingSnake.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgvcPFbolMnRLbIcRU2Bz27sXoZF2aOiWG28Ve_4WR9rBuY5AbC7_RjSyFXVPjOUg8iYGUPyaiJPfKc4_HnRUDJyV-J7IPfGxj7jqRV1tKKBSn38Qbw-EKUd_PNvGmFjnJl7weOFVjvcr60UawegcFSIxtBgKBkmD-oCJfLs0iZQl3fRnZTQ_p_SdBt8z/w200-h117/QuackShot_PlungingSnake.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: In the dark jungle | Right: Plunging the goofy-eyed snake above you </b>🐍</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">It's plainly evident that <i>QuackShot</i> shared some of the same staff that worked on <i>Castle of Illusion</i> which adds to its already endearing quality: particularly programmers Sat Man and Muimui (both of whom would also program <i>World of Illusion</i>) as well as Takashi Yuda/Thomas Yuuda--who after <i>QuackShot</i> would work as an artist for <i>World of Illusion</i> and as graphic designer for Sega's <i>Sports Talk Baseball</i>, work as animator and scene artist and character designer for Sega Technical Institute's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</i> and <i>Sonic & Knuckles</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNsxHWj99IVy-1RleKm-Xq9Gns_lRjy3WU_KrI_CfbaoSFtzS41n3_oBwyuQa104bFzJE5wndXHPS0jGdZZg0Z00bj578Oa_d93PKm_1thEPnBrHC2lsYJLB-q7uR7OIm8zcVAjfVOWPIixohjgb4ZJzqZooiuzRdO_ynPzDGbe319vKOHswqSThJipp4/s386/GaleRacer_SegaSaturn.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNsxHWj99IVy-1RleKm-Xq9Gns_lRjy3WU_KrI_CfbaoSFtzS41n3_oBwyuQa104bFzJE5wndXHPS0jGdZZg0Z00bj578Oa_d93PKm_1thEPnBrHC2lsYJLB-q7uR7OIm8zcVAjfVOWPIixohjgb4ZJzqZooiuzRdO_ynPzDGbe319vKOHswqSThJipp4/s16000/GaleRacer_SegaSaturn.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">act as graphic designer for Sega's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Gale Racer</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, design Team Aquila's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Worldwide Soccer: Sega International Victory Goal Edition</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Sega International Victory Goal</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">International Victory Goal</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, graphic design Overworks and Red Company's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Sakura Taisen</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, and work on the design for Sonic Team's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">PuyoPuyo Fever</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Puyo Pop Fever</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">. I mustn't neglect to mention Emiko Yamamoto, whose vital role as coordinator and designer for </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Castle of Illusion</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"> pretty much put her name on the map as she would eventually get producing roles for subsequent Disney video games Sun L and Capcom's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, Tose's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Disney's Winnie the Pooh: Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">, Tose and Polygon Magic's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Adventure of</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #f9cb9c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfx0hw5Jc8e8kLkZw1erqVap4IOY0jtUIxIwOpxRl4j_alDJ-ExgOqhE8XHrBLiphvBZtePqImNl1XCfao-Z2k8bSfs1Mas_r5O4O1qFsAO9F4ukp2cOelMIpZ3zbq97Ta0fONXS4EJzoQWn0v-a1Omx6NyeOLBgnO6zUGa9ex38psTnEj8gyyUF0BSJ2/s384/DisneySportsSkateboarding_Grinding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="384" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfx0hw5Jc8e8kLkZw1erqVap4IOY0jtUIxIwOpxRl4j_alDJ-ExgOqhE8XHrBLiphvBZtePqImNl1XCfao-Z2k8bSfs1Mas_r5O4O1qFsAO9F4ukp2cOelMIpZ3zbq97Ta0fONXS4EJzoQWn0v-a1Omx6NyeOLBgnO6zUGa9ex38psTnEj8gyyUF0BSJ2/w200-h159/DisneySportsSkateboarding_Grinding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-AaFcUvMIEa5aO_MuZCfIVhHrQN0NpbCvpl-M0PXPTVr8V6jr43HyAmHU-Scwf4RwWtY_luqMxYksfbwlUPI7osDcNrka3iP2XWCh8H71kAN3s5vg7y8QwefWQpL7HWqx9JQ_5wBh6K6V1EwlWqw_GKjGft3iBv_cAyu6sbKFV_fQ5woI0n7yy2kwi7U/s384/DisneysMagicalMirror_ShoeNunchucks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="384" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-AaFcUvMIEa5aO_MuZCfIVhHrQN0NpbCvpl-M0PXPTVr8V6jr43HyAmHU-Scwf4RwWtY_luqMxYksfbwlUPI7osDcNrka3iP2XWCh8H71kAN3s5vg7y8QwefWQpL7HWqx9JQ_5wBh6K6V1EwlWqw_GKjGft3iBv_cAyu6sbKFV_fQ5woI0n7yy2kwi7U/w200-h159/DisneysMagicalMirror_ShoeNunchucks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">🥺<b> *sigh* I wish Krome Studios' <i>Disney's Extremely Goofy Skateboarding</i> was also released on the Nintendo GameCube, now <u>that</u> was a fun 3D skateboarding PC game when I was a kid (even if I only played the demo version)</b></span></div><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">Tokyo Disney Sea</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> games, Konami's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">Disney Sports</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> franchise, Capcom and Nintendo's </span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">Disney's Mickey Mouse no Fushigi na Kagami</i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">/</span><i style="color: #f9cb9c;">Disney's Magical Mirror starring Mickey</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspC3nCU57iGGUXrPXwwgIABZyMkmFTvLQ3k_gtYcYUwZ1ihzsEaIpogtHQYEWhooyorB6tFXHL1vAWDg_sGCi-xdojTqcJxZDpE0sFgfGfFTQESUxA2hlO9IMSfqZMqE2dhU5pI9-KffitYB3Oj0TJJ1TOkhkyguJo8gVaWsyj6rjuCbM3SpWpvoMQeXA/s373/KingdomHearts-ChainOfMemories_TraverseTown-Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspC3nCU57iGGUXrPXwwgIABZyMkmFTvLQ3k_gtYcYUwZ1ihzsEaIpogtHQYEWhooyorB6tFXHL1vAWDg_sGCi-xdojTqcJxZDpE0sFgfGfFTQESUxA2hlO9IMSfqZMqE2dhU5pI9-KffitYB3Oj0TJJ1TOkhkyguJo8gVaWsyj6rjuCbM3SpWpvoMQeXA/s16000/KingdomHearts-ChainOfMemories_TraverseTown-Boss.png" /></a></div><i>Mouse</i>, and Square's <i>Kingdom Hearts</i> franchise just to name some, during her career she even worked on the cinematic cutscenes for Hudson Soft's <i>Bomberman World</i> and Metro Corporation's <i>Bomberman Wars</i>, and worked as both field and gear model artist for Sonic Team's <i>Sonic Riders</i>. Emiko's contribution to <i>Castle of Illusion</i> made developers so grateful to her that she would be given special thanks and mentions in the credits for titles such as Sega's <i>Mickey Mouse no Mah</i><i>ō</i><i> no Crystal</i>/<i>Land of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i>, Aspect's <i>Donald Duck no 4tsu no Hihō</i>/<i>Deep Duck Trouble starring Donald Duck</i>*, GRC's <i>Mickey no Tokyo Disneyland Daib</i><i>ō</i><i>ken</i>, and Capcom's <i>Magical Tetris Challenge</i> games.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* When watching a playthrough of it on YouTube, I was surprised to see her credited in the same special thanks section twice: once under her real name and the other time under her nickname! </b>😯<b> Either Aspect weren't aware that Emiko Yamamoto and "Emirin" were one and the same, or they knew but felt twice as compelled to show their gratitude to her by thanking her under both names. That's cool, I just hope it didn't make it awkward for all those who were only thanked once</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMPFpye7tyjAYEP0MVmOdY1rxLnmUMVYSOH5sn7zBjXRPPbwNxlGOUKN7DTt6cmgcG6GsPe7twjwA-mO9pnopJJO4m1XnuWVZ0CLF9hf_b3EMH4z13-51cI8BB5OWZ1FcWrmHuAwDu8Zh39aNmvChfRCJyxukHZFFfKDXKfT7TsKwFiyJ2nWHJAwHUgMb/s374/QuackShot_Platforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMPFpye7tyjAYEP0MVmOdY1rxLnmUMVYSOH5sn7zBjXRPPbwNxlGOUKN7DTt6cmgcG6GsPe7twjwA-mO9pnopJJO4m1XnuWVZ0CLF9hf_b3EMH4z13-51cI8BB5OWZ1FcWrmHuAwDu8Zh39aNmvChfRCJyxukHZFFfKDXKfT7TsKwFiyJ2nWHJAwHUgMb/w200-h117/QuackShot_Platforms.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGRPIULeukgWxBWLFOBW1VEUr_qy7H92TANo4l1Qdtq45UsJvhHvdr5r4b_Fi5g3cmXzsNevE7oSDBwkzs2rYnjS131gMvZhnY88pymmuqFJluKmpdEGKkQajJFGTsiPfbrNlkmMMmWpCmadG3FB9NIDgx2MOZB_Z0rALADviU9xLWCJx7S15WwmMmHxC/s374/QuackShot_Hideout.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGRPIULeukgWxBWLFOBW1VEUr_qy7H92TANo4l1Qdtq45UsJvhHvdr5r4b_Fi5g3cmXzsNevE7oSDBwkzs2rYnjS131gMvZhnY88pymmuqFJluKmpdEGKkQajJFGTsiPfbrNlkmMMmWpCmadG3FB9NIDgx2MOZB_Z0rALADviU9xLWCJx7S15WwmMmHxC/w200-h117/QuackShot_Hideout.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Platform multiplier | Right: Infiltrating Pete's hideout</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">I liked Donald Duck since I was a little kid (I feel as an adult that it's easy to resonate with him and his antics), but I always felt he got the short of the stick being in the shadow of Mickey Mouse always being relegated as the butt of the joke. And in recent years I felt like he also got the short end when it came to the number of games <b>starring</b> him as a playable character versus the number of games he's appeared as a nonplayable character or a cameo, particularly on the Nintendo side of things during the '90s.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoEZGgytxpJmnMgz-ZCw_Yipv_8lvI6zZbgiHI6DYMmoUEXVWFVPQcBo3hB8WypK0ckPpr0XFptyFdO3sTT2xdJ3oLZPMACPMY_xROZqTpT5SBApxjOthJTbltDHTEQ6Y0IbPudvseFGAJxTftgfdYSahCiQ4cJLGUVXL9zv7OMebm9jR2KmVUjxv_rKv/s458/TheLuckyDimeCaper_Hawaii.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="458" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoEZGgytxpJmnMgz-ZCw_Yipv_8lvI6zZbgiHI6DYMmoUEXVWFVPQcBo3hB8WypK0ckPpr0XFptyFdO3sTT2xdJ3oLZPMACPMY_xROZqTpT5SBApxjOthJTbltDHTEQ6Y0IbPudvseFGAJxTftgfdYSahCiQ4cJLGUVXL9zv7OMebm9jR2KmVUjxv_rKv/w200-h144/TheLuckyDimeCaper_Hawaii.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzhzGvKhMk6oVj5oyzSOpv9MxkevT0IJ3f0I2KmdG37M0UeEIF0tPS4OWbzrAYTAekt3Y3GQEanstcFrAmwEBdu6mLx-BeKMhKE1sBiUJHpBVfh_e3ZNpgC8lj_wJn2xfypji6R6LxubMa7nrTcejQpeKPIps259lO7SaSyUcCs-WXPVzYVkHaKRSjG_H/s490/DeepDuckTrouble_IceCavern.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="490" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzhzGvKhMk6oVj5oyzSOpv9MxkevT0IJ3f0I2KmdG37M0UeEIF0tPS4OWbzrAYTAekt3Y3GQEanstcFrAmwEBdu6mLx-BeKMhKE1sBiUJHpBVfh_e3ZNpgC8lj_wJn2xfypji6R6LxubMa7nrTcejQpeKPIps259lO7SaSyUcCs-WXPVzYVkHaKRSjG_H/w200-h135/DeepDuckTrouble_IceCavern.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching LongplayArchive's respective Sega Master System editions of <i>The Lucky Dime Caper</i> and <i>Deep Duck Trouble</i> videos on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">To be fair, one could opine that the same thing could be said of Sega's side, but Donald managed to get a couple more starring vehicles in the form of the Sega 8-bit Game Gear and Sega Master System titles Sega's <i>The Lucky Dime Caper starring Donald Duck</i>/<i>Donald Duck no Lucky Dime</i>* and Aspect's <i>Deep Duck Trouble</i> which like <i>QuackShot</i> are only tangentially connected to the <i>Illusion</i> series. <i>QuackShot</i> also came out at the right place at the right time having made its debut just three years after the 1988 release of the Sega MegaDrive console.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Japanese Sega owners got treated to twice the Donald Duck video game entertainment, as December 20th, 1991 saw the release of both <i>Donald Duck no Lucky Dime</i> on the Game Gear <u>and</u> <i>I Love Donald Duck</i> on the Sega MegaDrive</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2Q6K_SPu7XeopVxHX3QSvPHgQVW9sos7YKWYU9aRCQ9QtETfNHfUbxNmuvm9qfEL425ZoQMcKUsM0-wZBWbBmc_UVLyaoNc6JYkNVcg6wPO4VIaNGOSufDMjzDgXFHDwGSt5E6ZKPIEvt9e_-H9DGNs0tBbTBwtlB9hjqkgr5YC4L-KXaaodD9djHzE/s387/DonaldDuckNoMahoNoBoshi_SuperFamicom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2Q6K_SPu7XeopVxHX3QSvPHgQVW9sos7YKWYU9aRCQ9QtETfNHfUbxNmuvm9qfEL425ZoQMcKUsM0-wZBWbBmc_UVLyaoNc6JYkNVcg6wPO4VIaNGOSufDMjzDgXFHDwGSt5E6ZKPIEvt9e_-H9DGNs0tBbTBwtlB9hjqkgr5YC4L-KXaaodD9djHzE/s16000/DonaldDuckNoMahoNoBoshi_SuperFamicom.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Conversely, during the '90s Donald Duck wouldn't get a fair shot as a video game hero on Nintendo's Super Famicom until Epoch's 1995 release of SAS Sakata's </span><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>Donald Duck no Mahō no Bōshi</i> (over four and a half years after the console's 1990 debut), and while it's great that he eventually got a starring role in a video game on Nintendo's side one might make a case that it was too little too late for him by this point--two of the three Nintendo 16-bit Disney venues with the sailor duck as a playable character remained in Japan at the time. 😔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYKV8AET-lYVAEs4gT_hfMMZYnDJb4t9d_bZ9nUeHoIc50RJhQlMX3RAo16DmUktnw_VDm_gA29pMlxIOzuUz4Ic6Wy7V6_96tExTr7WyrfdDD_LniHPJgz4KACRLujA7_wPww4SjICm4L8wJSClXF5JDAVXh0z6jNadzd-jSXY8GD6ZHOzXmXKQ150Xp/s47/QuackShot_IdleAnimation.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="47" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYKV8AET-lYVAEs4gT_hfMMZYnDJb4t9d_bZ9nUeHoIc50RJhQlMX3RAo16DmUktnw_VDm_gA29pMlxIOzuUz4Ic6Wy7V6_96tExTr7WyrfdDD_LniHPJgz4KACRLujA7_wPww4SjICm4L8wJSClXF5JDAVXh0z6jNadzd-jSXY8GD6ZHOzXmXKQ150Xp/s1600/QuackShot_IdleAnimation.gif" width="47" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Meanwhile, <b>all three</b> of Donald's Sega 16-bit titles came outside of Japan (especially the PAL release of Eurocom's <i>Donald in Maui Mallard</i>). As far as '90s Donald Duck-centric video game entertainment is concerned, Sega outdid Nintendo in this regard.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3hhMOJirtKEWeM7pTIrsatXV-uJkTP1uODYbqu0hmtbpzhW6aJzKFQH_kyljPZWRukX6o8C7hhemd7llj726NJOC2oHCacBOn7e4-o3RhdFnM_4SZKXzQojJkDmMo9tOq6jeB7RR1XQNmOMoyXSw7V27CwBVh0f03WGSqIvnjX2gFL8FvEDvGgTkFHWK/s374/QuackShot_StoneGuard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3hhMOJirtKEWeM7pTIrsatXV-uJkTP1uODYbqu0hmtbpzhW6aJzKFQH_kyljPZWRukX6o8C7hhemd7llj726NJOC2oHCacBOn7e4-o3RhdFnM_4SZKXzQojJkDmMo9tOq6jeB7RR1XQNmOMoyXSw7V27CwBVh0f03WGSqIvnjX2gFL8FvEDvGgTkFHWK/w200-h117/QuackShot_StoneGuard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j86wS1TEsFH-lH2JqNLkVeLIXi2JgKlbQ2ZBUy224hYVA3LWcmR1-HFn6OF3AswepzzcXFTabUc56q-duPbvrJBN8lkLW_oWpRNjIWfQCTymWsZPiFxpRsKNpqHeLo9L_Sk0dwYqSugE_Qb2s4Ycx22ZKbW448dVAFw_kY9i1qNPdPGASrN2yEX3GOlg/s374/QuackShot_FinalSlide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j86wS1TEsFH-lH2JqNLkVeLIXi2JgKlbQ2ZBUy224hYVA3LWcmR1-HFn6OF3AswepzzcXFTabUc56q-duPbvrJBN8lkLW_oWpRNjIWfQCTymWsZPiFxpRsKNpqHeLo9L_Sk0dwYqSugE_Qb2s4Ycx22ZKbW448dVAFw_kY9i1qNPdPGASrN2yEX3GOlg/w200-h117/QuackShot_FinalSlide.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be sure to fire your plunger at the spot not covered by its shield | Right: Final slide</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Is <i>QuackShot</i> the best solo <i>Donald Duck</i> game? Years ago I might have said "yes", but the more I considered it the more I thought that honor should go to another game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCu1Xkv7NCRXGHdbuAV39QqgK7XEDj2OhJvYm38BGkcD2T9Yy6fYyjWdv6yVFczenLrpqnvLG_kgrZt4LmGYI7j6C2oqr3EqFaUbIWHahu8r24WZFnKy8p_moGsT-pRtBcZeyUF8_XO_EbremySnvRndFQBY9dTqtSnelGmlA42i9tcczO8-8baLURicQ/s386/DonaldInMauiMallard_Maui.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="386" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCu1Xkv7NCRXGHdbuAV39QqgK7XEDj2OhJvYm38BGkcD2T9Yy6fYyjWdv6yVFczenLrpqnvLG_kgrZt4LmGYI7j6C2oqr3EqFaUbIWHahu8r24WZFnKy8p_moGsT-pRtBcZeyUF8_XO_EbremySnvRndFQBY9dTqtSnelGmlA42i9tcczO8-8baLURicQ/w200-h155/DonaldInMauiMallard_Maui.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNG_U62Te6M0sEyaYUh9lJH7hADgnpz-Du33T3xzRb22gjsRiKHdD6a4dHJmiRmizg0cmzeHBltOQeQ3jJyT1hSWW_nlMaBep_2yqLyXuWwn-UqlylG8gu7O0ueH8pTnzC5vlzY8fVzbWM42Jq3Gog-Gwx9g4la2t8shZ_jbP64Gz0r5oCJapJm3rEUbd/s386/DonaldInMauiMallard_Shadow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="386" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNG_U62Te6M0sEyaYUh9lJH7hADgnpz-Du33T3xzRb22gjsRiKHdD6a4dHJmiRmizg0cmzeHBltOQeQ3jJyT1hSWW_nlMaBep_2yqLyXuWwn-UqlylG8gu7O0ueH8pTnzC5vlzY8fVzbWM42Jq3Gog-Gwx9g4la2t8shZ_jbP64Gz0r5oCJapJm3rEUbd/w200-h155/DonaldInMauiMallard_Shadow.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Sure, it's got missing animations, lacks a special Cold Shadow move, and is structured in a significantly different manner than the MegaDrive original and PC versions, but the Nintendo 16-bit incarnation is still fun and worthwhile playing plus Steve Duckworth's exclusive "The Flying Duckman" theme is incredibly absorbing and powerfully atmospheric</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">That game, in my opinion, is Eurocom's <i>Donald in Maui Mallard</i>/<i>Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow</i>, the ultimate <i>Donald Duck</i> game to me (even if it <b>is</b> just his meta persona) showing us a side to him that has never been seen before (or since) with a darker atmosphere and keenly felt slice of edge, solid gameplay depth as he alternates between <i>Magnum P.I.</i>-styled gun-toting Maui Mallard and slick bo staff-wielding martial arts ninja Cold Shadow, enjoyably over-the-top Disney quality animation and endearing charm, gorgeously detailed visuals, a typically great Michael Giacchino soundtrack pre-movie career, nuanced open-ended level design, fair sense of difficulty, and on the whole a fun and entertaining game while it lasts. 😃 A truly unique <i>Donald Duck</i> game that's earned its cult classic status.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Mrg2fwhDhhQnHSn2wvRVzOJkHoS4aWjDZ-Sdtbs244W7wF_j4R0gOc4MLgqLmfdozOTexScOOfiB9La96ktd6fDtS546o1oyc24CvAlNP8aCPnxvUVTNsqwhZ08boL-TQPg9TQylVTHl3Y1I7MuXPG0f-jKV5nsEAJHd2tHg-uJYpodhmwZtOeagIUL/s374/CastleOfIllusion_ClockTower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Mrg2fwhDhhQnHSn2wvRVzOJkHoS4aWjDZ-Sdtbs244W7wF_j4R0gOc4MLgqLmfdozOTexScOOfiB9La96ktd6fDtS546o1oyc24CvAlNP8aCPnxvUVTNsqwhZ08boL-TQPg9TQylVTHl3Y1I7MuXPG0f-jKV5nsEAJHd2tHg-uJYpodhmwZtOeagIUL/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_ClockTower.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwmuusxSFDGqOVCA5zqqxMIlWWT4MG8dD7fsl2HA2A1yMkoonz0DHwL4korAiP_9FfkeS7gxMT4PUVYQZrUcBDXcU5nVsHvchheaYU_nNMx-_p-Q3u-9-HreiWFKoiy7qOYyKeEMTd2Q4w4kEmyPl0xl6tU6OyCD-Am09bNIBrBcqTmHAOORFScmi3Ic7/s374/CastleOfIllusion_Mizrabel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwmuusxSFDGqOVCA5zqqxMIlWWT4MG8dD7fsl2HA2A1yMkoonz0DHwL4korAiP_9FfkeS7gxMT4PUVYQZrUcBDXcU5nVsHvchheaYU_nNMx-_p-Q3u-9-HreiWFKoiy7qOYyKeEMTd2Q4w4kEmyPl0xl6tU6OyCD-Am09bNIBrBcqTmHAOORFScmi3Ic7/w200-h117/CastleOfIllusion_Mizrabel.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>Castle of Illusion</i> helped set the golden standard for Disney platforming during the '90s and the fact that it is still highly regarded after all these years is a testament to how it passed the test of time with flying colors. <i>QuackShot</i> is a very good alternative for those in the mood for a <i>Donald Duck</i> game as opposed to one with Mickey Mouse in it. Even though it's admittedly the easiest one of them all, those who wish to have the best of both worlds with you playing as Mickey or Donald (or both with two players) should check out <i>World of Illusion</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5LdHcQUEgyLZdnnSDA3Ga97oNRPNkh3lc3n0N2s12f0WuVC1ncAEPJ9T7Ugz65d2p2ZaxlTSU0ysn4qZ8N7breOqbnmyhjZB-S6I0Gr_zR1-Hy0ikYuvXbvg-YXBsbImmkw0-u0cK3HX7lf5eKtyZx6aphLu1lg_tb-Q-geKHbCwHwOAb77QEclzIOGK/s387/MagicalAdventure3_Mickey.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="387" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5LdHcQUEgyLZdnnSDA3Ga97oNRPNkh3lc3n0N2s12f0WuVC1ncAEPJ9T7Ugz65d2p2ZaxlTSU0ysn4qZ8N7breOqbnmyhjZB-S6I0Gr_zR1-Hy0ikYuvXbvg-YXBsbImmkw0-u0cK3HX7lf5eKtyZx6aphLu1lg_tb-Q-geKHbCwHwOAb77QEclzIOGK/w200-h144/MagicalAdventure3_Mickey.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFr6-J8_ItACe_wWT9JKWTz2VW4EsjPSoRW1pgnWlA_mA5jJ4xtguckjzbBuAaES0yhJsRoM9mqb1YlmuvAinz4lgJZAhpVdYsfyV8akTvHNIJH_xpU9vp0JCpVrSvp-OLi0iOmMTlDdchx_98ysioeCYiL1vUyurDan21vgZFYUUsS7C-bsmtXhimCxd7/s387/MagicalAdventure3_Donald.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="387" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFr6-J8_ItACe_wWT9JKWTz2VW4EsjPSoRW1pgnWlA_mA5jJ4xtguckjzbBuAaES0yhJsRoM9mqb1YlmuvAinz4lgJZAhpVdYsfyV8akTvHNIJH_xpU9vp0JCpVrSvp-OLi0iOmMTlDdchx_98ysioeCYiL1vUyurDan21vgZFYUUsS7C-bsmtXhimCxd7/w200-h144/MagicalAdventure3_Donald.gif" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">Another Mickey and Donald team-up game that offers the best of both worlds is Sun L's <i>Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i> on the Super Famicom (which Emiko Yamamoto also had involvement with), although opinions on this threequel are all over the place with some lauding it as the apex of the trilogy while others regard it as the weakest iteration out of the three. I suppose it all depends who you talk to. Me, I can understand both sides of the argument and I admit it does feel a little long in the tooth for a Disney Capcom platformer at a little over an hour, but I cannot deny that I personally enjoy playing it every once in a while.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBxubOsakixXcArKu4lNZBEuNMwyoDO9SuGi7hfKugW9Paz10r35Vkq-H79umxN0Mi_O11GZSkaeESA-t-V0Yet4tID5EWEJWxdcDHre8OHiJuTnNN5Y9ScbmWjX2VM0Mz_gPc6-eHFpHmOIM51-4C8swFk5OQrlIreq0S4Uh3hqFSq5tLufki9AIEc3M/s374/QuackShot_LeapOfFaith.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBxubOsakixXcArKu4lNZBEuNMwyoDO9SuGi7hfKugW9Paz10r35Vkq-H79umxN0Mi_O11GZSkaeESA-t-V0Yet4tID5EWEJWxdcDHre8OHiJuTnNN5Y9ScbmWjX2VM0Mz_gPc6-eHFpHmOIM51-4C8swFk5OQrlIreq0S4Uh3hqFSq5tLufki9AIEc3M/w200-h117/QuackShot_LeapOfFaith.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNH9A-NIhkVqzz1AaEXEL4mXT00a8kZR6632atuK52aMVQjRS4qkSj4OcTr7i7opaFJlBwSCQjV66yoPzk8Gkzgx3e-Q8-AVE5UUpGV-yhOoYQBVT2MQ3AyXrUkXqBXf2cm_vxo7IX3HNlJUtuASzKCqb6Q4FLlSt6RhFXo8bj6nGhvNHbeLZzymbG955/s374/QuackShot_KingGaruzia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="374" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNH9A-NIhkVqzz1AaEXEL4mXT00a8kZR6632atuK52aMVQjRS4qkSj4OcTr7i7opaFJlBwSCQjV66yoPzk8Gkzgx3e-Q8-AVE5UUpGV-yhOoYQBVT2MQ3AyXrUkXqBXf2cm_vxo7IX3HNlJUtuASzKCqb6Q4FLlSt6RhFXo8bj6nGhvNHbeLZzymbG955/w200-h117/QuackShot_KingGaruzia.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: If you've watched Steven Spielberg's <i>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade</i>, you know the solution to get past here | Right: The spirit of King Garuzia has appeared to challenge you</span></b></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><i>QuackShot</i> falls under the category of Disney games that must be beaten in one sitting for it takes roughly fifty to sixty minutes to play through once you've got it all figured out and are playing it on your best day, but if you're playing it on your less than best days it'll take a bit longer to complete it but fortunately it can be played in one go (so long as it doesn't exceed two or three hours, God forbid). It's a little longer than <i>Castle of Illusion</i>, but at least <i>World of Illusion</i> would introduce a password system a year later.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAiW60080TUUtA7d6-IGsZ8SW6FcP0rSmyrGzKSRwZTN6kJPYAzc4THj0-816KGoyF4lEE28QwT6duotcjUI7zCrsKcAi_ADC9zTW-E84Cu_qWUCRR_LKmHc1Wr7boPwdHg0h9MTVCRsgF8CCpM1SvUF1iB3Rltn06EDbPEcEKBRp7cbJoMa4HMfyuoot/s372/QuackShot_Ending.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAiW60080TUUtA7d6-IGsZ8SW6FcP0rSmyrGzKSRwZTN6kJPYAzc4THj0-816KGoyF4lEE28QwT6duotcjUI7zCrsKcAi_ADC9zTW-E84Cu_qWUCRR_LKmHc1Wr7boPwdHg0h9MTVCRsgF8CCpM1SvUF1iB3Rltn06EDbPEcEKBRp7cbJoMa4HMfyuoot/s16000/QuackShot_Ending.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;">If you own a Sega MegaDrive/Genesis console, I think <i>QuackShot</i> is a good Disney game worth checking out for it did something different with the <i>Donald Duck</i> license by having a slightly open-ended structure and is a loving ode to the <i>Indiana Jones</i> franchise (just like ASCII's Nintendo 16-bit platformer <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/05/ardy-lightfoot-sfc-review.html">Ardy Lightfoot</a></i> two years later which is also a fun <i>Indiana Jones</i>-influenced title) that is fun to play while it lasts. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIlsSt69oGrCY2iCgvvWuovfNZGDtm98dTCYGbmv7Mr3gHpS59VhI4Gxza4JbXgCQQzMAlWh2k2Hcv9CCEkPXs3eepurAQ3RmqkJnZUjqH82JDTNnp_31t_iviSJgEw7TwTHTH1OqFjlgzLBMqhpwdeoXCIY9DA48tgjh9UO17HmlO1pBS4stkDOX8Vpi/s372/QuackShot_End.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIlsSt69oGrCY2iCgvvWuovfNZGDtm98dTCYGbmv7Mr3gHpS59VhI4Gxza4JbXgCQQzMAlWh2k2Hcv9CCEkPXs3eepurAQ3RmqkJnZUjqH82JDTNnp_31t_iviSJgEw7TwTHTH1OqFjlgzLBMqhpwdeoXCIY9DA48tgjh9UO17HmlO1pBS4stkDOX8Vpi/s16000/QuackShot_End.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.0/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyelst9GFxPMN53dfb63U3xZjTzNVpKqZ62l9r1PbwWlDRbMsPKJHuOk1aGv-A5UT9pCvxcXrhYsXLjKd20c_p2A1iQK3Obw1qz38u40EZ10un4hMrhw7QuCCeqc0NKj0wHpbA5ta4CkvjRVHlcP3B6PCb_b55pESbvMISwGNXwgRd878IzCjsVqEGvV4/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyelst9GFxPMN53dfb63U3xZjTzNVpKqZ62l9r1PbwWlDRbMsPKJHuOk1aGv-A5UT9pCvxcXrhYsXLjKd20c_p2A1iQK3Obw1qz38u40EZ10un4hMrhw7QuCCeqc0NKj0wHpbA5ta4CkvjRVHlcP3B6PCb_b55pESbvMISwGNXwgRd878IzCjsVqEGvV4/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I originally reviewed this game on my blog on October 2014 and gave it an 8.5 out of 10, the <b>exact</b> week that I got it (which was wrong of me). There's a reason I'd rather take some time after I got the game to get to know it better before I review it, because doing the exact opposite would mean missing a lot of things about it (and I did). 😞 I recently deleted the old review out of retroactive shame, so in its place I've created a much better articulated, eloquently written new review for <i>QuackShot</i> with a firmer grasp of research that I feel much more satisfied and accomplished with (hopefully I'll look back on this review and feel the same way years down the line). When I make my reviews nowadays, I want them to hold up over time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-48051246997492209862023-11-14T22:04:00.003-06:002023-11-19T21:48:32.325-06:00DoReMi Fantasy: Milon no DokiDoki Daibōken (SFC) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">🎵<b> Received: January 2nd, 2019 </b>🎵<b> Written: November 5th-14th, 2023 </b>🎵</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbHEkGgDZeO0CBZrzwzmSXLDjDPel85JJn5UJwjUH0bnVnlgCIbVVd3QaaRtKKtUihWGoODKgPonjqvSXi9jkFntHApo7WGrrhH1C7SGE7wS1xib6s6Ex7NUw9AZev0xKoz5_CrNIRRfXTDL_McvcR70ULN6AumXVVKQaK5HNWTZ2ZUOLQT69snGtCCFB/s345/DoReMiFantasy_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbHEkGgDZeO0CBZrzwzmSXLDjDPel85JJn5UJwjUH0bnVnlgCIbVVd3QaaRtKKtUihWGoODKgPonjqvSXi9jkFntHApo7WGrrhH1C7SGE7wS1xib6s6Ex7NUw9AZev0xKoz5_CrNIRRfXTDL_McvcR70ULN6AumXVVKQaK5HNWTZ2ZUOLQT69snGtCCFB/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_Title.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Year: 1996 | Developed and Published by: Hudson Soft | </span><span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it! 😃</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6u2ARA_R3AQNDW8Vp7_saKPBJz61lNDJoxzSu1dmb5TRF-i9sJRj2wINQTrWbaBst-dXLgDBuHFN9Bsg1JZObdpkIyRF6FYYZ0-5DjAi_q4XOzfUL0oENr0PavK9yNUkVBSbj5Eva-PK9Lsd6cnXVMfsv5O1HZxHcrFtbW_WxKvoL6Zav91AVeUTUBeI/s279/HudsonSoft_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="279" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6u2ARA_R3AQNDW8Vp7_saKPBJz61lNDJoxzSu1dmb5TRF-i9sJRj2wINQTrWbaBst-dXLgDBuHFN9Bsg1JZObdpkIyRF6FYYZ0-5DjAi_q4XOzfUL0oENr0PavK9yNUkVBSbj5Eva-PK9Lsd6cnXVMfsv5O1HZxHcrFtbW_WxKvoL6Zav91AVeUTUBeI/s1600/HudsonSoft_Logo.png" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">In May of 1973 the Kudo brothers Yuji and Hiroshi founded the Japanese firm <b>Hudson Soft</b>, named after the Hudson locomotive due to their childhood admiration of trains, in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo. Originally set up as an amateur radio shop called CQ Hudson, Hudson Soft would enter the video game software business later in the decade where they began with a quantity over quality approach to releasing games until the lack of success in that regard changed their stance to a quality over quantity one where they found much better luck. It wouldn't be until 1983 that they actively worked on developing games for the MSX and then later Nintendo's Famicom console with <i>Bomberman</i>, <i>Nuts & Milk</i>, <i>Binary Land</i>, and their Nintendo 8-bit port of Brøderbund's <i>Lode Runner</i> and would work on many more noteworthy titles throughout the remainder of their tenure until they voluntarily chose to merge with Konami in 2012 following years of negotiations.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafgmpGz54XJL9eQemPSXMcTky86fpaQtqbcUQ-37nIeMXQdCihFjXHEgX5DGMy55MKxMpi2Ue1B_h8qrVRaEXgGIZjQDX_Tlez38z8Qp7dnK__fbxwhGLTRm6hJ67koBGZMskxfRHuqsAt6fG15VPfCvsMuVGZQTIPxY-4k-HTfiFmP1d07HuNkltTSSb/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_Money.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafgmpGz54XJL9eQemPSXMcTky86fpaQtqbcUQ-37nIeMXQdCihFjXHEgX5DGMy55MKxMpi2Ue1B_h8qrVRaEXgGIZjQDX_Tlez38z8Qp7dnK__fbxwhGLTRm6hJ67koBGZMskxfRHuqsAt6fG15VPfCvsMuVGZQTIPxY-4k-HTfiFmP1d07HuNkltTSSb/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_Money.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKa0gSR3QaDboeL1ODipqIpF0Mvvw-uOUgP2kw5erTzDOMd3YFhnu-XgfCf78DMrADVCsHp_odnNvV9KodDJgKbOAIoCcgQrUxbm60bWymiq7vAhgko267v5N7wht3NYzEX1pBGY-uP_Dizj7UvteDbwHhsUOoWVcye31Ypzjsk_yJrP5tn-0JgColVsR/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_BubbleBlowing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKa0gSR3QaDboeL1ODipqIpF0Mvvw-uOUgP2kw5erTzDOMd3YFhnu-XgfCf78DMrADVCsHp_odnNvV9KodDJgKbOAIoCcgQrUxbm60bWymiq7vAhgko267v5N7wht3NYzEX1pBGY-uP_Dizj7UvteDbwHhsUOoWVcye31Ypzjsk_yJrP5tn-0JgColVsR/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_BubbleBlowing.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">On November 1986, Hudson Soft released their original console venue <i>Meikyū Kumikyoku: Milon no Daibōken</i> (which translates to "The Maze Suite: Milon's Great Adventure") for the Famicom in Japan which would see a localized NES release in North America less than two years after the fact under the name <i>Milon's Secret Castle</i>. In it you took control of a boy named Milon whose only weapon was a bubble blower which he had to use against his enemies in an open-ended castle environment in his quest to save Queen Eliza who prior to her capture had hidden vital items that will help you along the way. Hudson Soft would later convert it the Game Boy in 1993 which is mostly faithful but has incorporated a much-needed password system. This was the first game featuring Milon as a protagonist.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga30OHXOP8aSbQDT2qnmmpfIBc1nDPdA6P91VNQ2EXYuG3HRZK-42lEJd6BMObYaxoRViCGpHH79ZDRkzJDtHiaSK-r1Bv8HFD943DdohRK69FOVVI9WhORumcpRGiDgXsSIX8WtoIzAKp8QvCsB6_XfnkIyPoeqpG6_UMS-y-gNGQLl11BBrirM9WgSmN/s2160/DoReMiFantasy_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga30OHXOP8aSbQDT2qnmmpfIBc1nDPdA6P91VNQ2EXYuG3HRZK-42lEJd6BMObYaxoRViCGpHH79ZDRkzJDtHiaSK-r1Bv8HFD943DdohRK69FOVVI9WhORumcpRGiDgXsSIX8WtoIzAKp8QvCsB6_XfnkIyPoeqpG6_UMS-y-gNGQLl11BBrirM9WgSmN/w356-h640/DoReMiFantasy_Cover.png" width="356" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Milon would make a return a decade later with the Super Famicom sequel <b><i>DoReMi Fantasy: Milon no DokiDoki Daibōken</i></b> (the subtitle translating to "Milon's DokiDoki Adventure", with "DokiDoki" being an onomatopoeia for a beating heart). Directed by Yukiko Mikami, produced by Shigeki "Bomber" Fujiwara and Takashi Sawaguchi, designed by Tadayuki Kawada and Kōji Innami, and programmed by Yasuhiro Kosaka, Atsuo Nagata, and Tetsuharu Takashima, Milon's second game originally only saw a release in Japan on March 22nd, 1996.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3zL5y0LWws-HKS4z0tHfsWmxzI0TUkRqPPJyRXSGzWMgY7kKPWxaN1JoJbEyxz9iQizYhdKLQBXpXKwQ2HLJNm3k_wnFIMBlNYEZXXXIl8T0WvITVWh5HEr8LrOjXtbMziKJi3TRrgBKqcFpXhAAgRaK0M7sDE8iIeTz4xwHv8DsimN_YfjHUwCtY3YW/s239/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Colins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3zL5y0LWws-HKS4z0tHfsWmxzI0TUkRqPPJyRXSGzWMgY7kKPWxaN1JoJbEyxz9iQizYhdKLQBXpXKwQ2HLJNm3k_wnFIMBlNYEZXXXIl8T0WvITVWh5HEr8LrOjXtbMziKJi3TRrgBKqcFpXhAAgRaK0M7sDE8iIeTz4xwHv8DsimN_YfjHUwCtY3YW/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Colins.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEuSNz6sgl0PqOzVoD0OAbkH_rmXJKS8-FAVfHvmBPBdBdNpJlOIPOptQ8pBkpIvyE1-FxUIZFDtEjNsRLLVK3jwD-_32iWwJkbReV9WavnwKZZs0pWh0irYpj0mhiZItWN-XJChfWaWBmtf5hPou6CA77OFwISoD2R7-weKA_Ty87QycmMEsDbFeDBJO/s239/DoReMiFantasy_ForestFriends.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEuSNz6sgl0PqOzVoD0OAbkH_rmXJKS8-FAVfHvmBPBdBdNpJlOIPOptQ8pBkpIvyE1-FxUIZFDtEjNsRLLVK3jwD-_32iWwJkbReV9WavnwKZZs0pWh0irYpj0mhiZItWN-XJChfWaWBmtf5hPou6CA77OFwISoD2R7-weKA_Ty87QycmMEsDbFeDBJO/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_ForestFriends.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">One fine day Milon and his brother Colin decided to hang out with their friends in the nearby forest, among whom is the fairy Alis.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NRbmXF1cGGAqVrBIyZRDm8JXuY08kUIErGSgXY_791jDOPAFHchhd5_V2d6VJm_nNqWNQzaOWc0qNjPRP8FFGmxnKLS8UgonA4Sh6Wlmk9jjgQvPrkOunSyL3Vs5-4C9o8pk041zkinDOiN94LwWgrmYbrgLvZIWsYYt1EevnYvonkHT8E3m6QC8d1Xm/s239/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Alis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NRbmXF1cGGAqVrBIyZRDm8JXuY08kUIErGSgXY_791jDOPAFHchhd5_V2d6VJm_nNqWNQzaOWc0qNjPRP8FFGmxnKLS8UgonA4Sh6Wlmk9jjgQvPrkOunSyL3Vs5-4C9o8pk041zkinDOiN94LwWgrmYbrgLvZIWsYYt1EevnYvonkHT8E3m6QC8d1Xm/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Alis.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Mpow11TMW4KU3YfS6UzNlclL6mZRlggnBn2xSoaaT10Rw3vtNSHuwIJPb1rgLqBlj-yH0mkc8zhnvOL69mSRpIJSFVvdrAGg0GIyHe4ZMTjnIabYKDsfTU-moEtvg1GUtWjoUVf8gz_1UlB99NZ7-057bQ8cMr5nVThlG3xob6ODbDvyr2ZEo2o2IwKz/s239/DoReMiFantasy_Amon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Mpow11TMW4KU3YfS6UzNlclL6mZRlggnBn2xSoaaT10Rw3vtNSHuwIJPb1rgLqBlj-yH0mkc8zhnvOL69mSRpIJSFVvdrAGg0GIyHe4ZMTjnIabYKDsfTU-moEtvg1GUtWjoUVf8gz_1UlB99NZ7-057bQ8cMr5nVThlG3xob6ODbDvyr2ZEo2o2IwKz/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_Amon.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Just then the sky suddenly dims itself which catches everyone's attention at which moment there's a sudden lightning flash which is soon revealed to be the dark wizard Amon who uses his evil magic to steal away Alis from her friends</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeIUC8Bq3caja670THSGQDlxPkV9sUz4Ef_rla46lFb5YQyXx9JS9G2d1-bHnEyA3c0ctwr_9ezp9Uu7SgWP5H1w1xI-X3HvHsU892nCfuDJi30UKQFXBDivpNk6uzG8nw17vPAHR0yTnZq7IOwn7eL_dUT9lZDOG1DjO3aj2TohFxotneCNDh9HjpUt8/s239/DoReMiFantasy_Helpless.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeIUC8Bq3caja670THSGQDlxPkV9sUz4Ef_rla46lFb5YQyXx9JS9G2d1-bHnEyA3c0ctwr_9ezp9Uu7SgWP5H1w1xI-X3HvHsU892nCfuDJi30UKQFXBDivpNk6uzG8nw17vPAHR0yTnZq7IOwn7eL_dUT9lZDOG1DjO3aj2TohFxotneCNDh9HjpUt8/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_Helpless.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA47pUkb1agiLQzOfWZSR4PzKxYmay1zfp54O3Gr7lEw5VIl-rU19CnuZouxF6Bko4h3JjaNMGu31mUdAqnehxwAz4GptZRcA2l9rRRLrTxGKU2mC3XqfvqjyOWpt-taACDR7th2LNXk919aJ-O15wtI5tSm2PPeRx_7ESTyBDjzqc1zRgqhoXlixuOdRL/s239/DoReMiFantasy_ResolveToSaveAlis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="239" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA47pUkb1agiLQzOfWZSR4PzKxYmay1zfp54O3Gr7lEw5VIl-rU19CnuZouxF6Bko4h3JjaNMGu31mUdAqnehxwAz4GptZRcA2l9rRRLrTxGKU2mC3XqfvqjyOWpt-taACDR7th2LNXk919aJ-O15wtI5tSm2PPeRx_7ESTyBDjzqc1zRgqhoXlixuOdRL/w200-h141/DoReMiFantasy_ResolveToSaveAlis.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">who are helpless to stop him. Milon informs his parents of Alis' capture by Amon and announces his resolve to save her at all costs no matter how difficult things get.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D-tF8CVkdnGQRCh6j3exZwf8RIqm6F0ipMedQMOO6QB9FViM78baBJBal3YFz2baaYZap955WQCvlTK8Sh5YHCDdvZHVJ2l8gTilqWZQYBqQur7zgrNsZ9mMhKMGFqQpZvKh1h-rzBOBx85QF_wz8ioTd2X35f7Vh9RuJcQuXdOu31-cJBNGidaT-zOF/s187/DoReMiFantasy_FiveGoldenInstruments.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="187" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D-tF8CVkdnGQRCh6j3exZwf8RIqm6F0ipMedQMOO6QB9FViM78baBJBal3YFz2baaYZap955WQCvlTK8Sh5YHCDdvZHVJ2l8gTilqWZQYBqQur7zgrNsZ9mMhKMGFqQpZvKh1h-rzBOBx85QF_wz8ioTd2X35f7Vh9RuJcQuXdOu31-cJBNGidaT-zOF/s1600/DoReMiFantasy_FiveGoldenInstruments.png" width="187" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Along the way Milon learns of the disappearance of five legendary instruments that are needed to seal off Amon, but unfortunately he has corrupted them all with his dark magic and are held by the strongest of Amon's minions. In order to have them purified Milon must collect five stars scattered in each world and to bring the instrument to the respective musician so that he can use them all against the evil wizard to seal him off once and for all.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUC9sWGH96RcQ2Td0zmsqPP2324BugUt6ZrICdTKWxNEvBwcxGKCSGo7lAS5t2J8zFNviraa77CPBXPSNB18ElUQ-boMufIn47NfXbogt9kvzrBodVtLmfDrE-tz9fBqr3mze6N9hIRk16YPlawj5bfoGNklsK58ajVw2G4D3ZbTU9zqpgeMlTOP_EWsX/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUC9sWGH96RcQ2Td0zmsqPP2324BugUt6ZrICdTKWxNEvBwcxGKCSGo7lAS5t2J8zFNviraa77CPBXPSNB18ElUQ-boMufIn47NfXbogt9kvzrBodVtLmfDrE-tz9fBqr3mze6N9hIRk16YPlawj5bfoGNklsK58ajVw2G4D3ZbTU9zqpgeMlTOP_EWsX/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAsN9U5SPgfmCalSDVrBxkf_L7sKc8coZu69lefC4Tt-SKDp-9HG3EtqD7BPuN-Zdqapvia5CZbWijnDqBdlaYyAffhpiNlVGX1Lrnu1D9zpEJQ4g-8Jf9weeH9ijiBt1EEtKFy3raqjTCpoOs2n2ArPot6Mfz7FsGbzNEVTatB4PbVfcPMLAbF_lsNjC/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedBirdEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAsN9U5SPgfmCalSDVrBxkf_L7sKc8coZu69lefC4Tt-SKDp-9HG3EtqD7BPuN-Zdqapvia5CZbWijnDqBdlaYyAffhpiNlVGX1Lrnu1D9zpEJQ4g-8Jf9weeH9ijiBt1EEtKFy3raqjTCpoOs2n2ArPot6Mfz7FsGbzNEVTatB4PbVfcPMLAbF_lsNjC/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedBirdEnemy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Starting Milon's new adventure | Right: Flattening a bird enemy so it can be used as a makeshift platform</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">In the sidescrolling platformer </span></span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>DoReMi Fantasy: Milon no DokiDoki Daibōken</i> you take control of Milon whom you can move left and right, duck down, press up to go through doors, and climb ladders, you can jump in the air with the B button (with the altitude gained based on how hard you pressed the button), propel yourself in the direction you're swimming towards when underwater by holding down a direction and pressing B, and you can blow bubbles with the Y button which can also be used to dash by holding it down alongside the left and right directions. Once in a while there may be a row of blocks that are situated above or below you that you can destroy in the normal way, so all you need to do is hold down the Y button until Milon flashes and then to let go to amass a vast array of bubbles around him. Throughout the game are eighth notes and beamed notes for you to</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOclXyIcHKxGT6llmdhBtMXzzHzGcizeRhgyDwSDMH8JbDl-R4T3rVj92ZuLF1UWkYNiEoomaxU7sF_d9eBdu_ngJeMdwyciSDOwtNp_GuY1QeqshzmS9ATjiKP2hO8e3mArgQgdLSE_lanvY_TrjdlS_ltqvdtf_6vTVXGoI2HJQWgpKn5IS2lY7LQa7g/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BowlingBall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOclXyIcHKxGT6llmdhBtMXzzHzGcizeRhgyDwSDMH8JbDl-R4T3rVj92ZuLF1UWkYNiEoomaxU7sF_d9eBdu_ngJeMdwyciSDOwtNp_GuY1QeqshzmS9ATjiKP2hO8e3mArgQgdLSE_lanvY_TrjdlS_ltqvdtf_6vTVXGoI2HJQWgpKn5IS2lY7LQa7g/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BowlingBall.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2bQjhXrGqe9fhenQkiSIkoYRTIH5DekcSzzrrZF9p24n7THiGkSUPuPn15W7yglZewHOEYwfOzSklDKpfIoseqjz3DbOZTI9Hj67X1Ikv-PphKlQPRlXHjPBF67Wuw5_qt9lb01t_CqKDi73tSMki7XZl9TbjfWxAwW5cZHI_mEIEQb3yhPXdVW_TS3g/s384/DoReMiFantasy_LogRide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2bQjhXrGqe9fhenQkiSIkoYRTIH5DekcSzzrrZF9p24n7THiGkSUPuPn15W7yglZewHOEYwfOzSklDKpfIoseqjz3DbOZTI9Hj67X1Ikv-PphKlQPRlXHjPBF67Wuw5_qt9lb01t_CqKDi73tSMki7XZl9TbjfWxAwW5cZHI_mEIEQb3yhPXdVW_TS3g/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_LogRide.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Those poor bush enemies are so oblivious to what's about to happen to them | Right: Log ride</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">collect that are scattered about for collecting a hundred of them will reward you with a life. By blowing your bubble at destructible blocks you might uncover a hidden item that will help Milon on his adventure: a double bubble icon to augment the number of bubbles you can blow at a time, an oblong bubble icon to increase Milon's bubble blowing range, a singular pair of overalls to replenish your health by one or double overalls to fill it up by two, bubblegum to save you from a fall should you fall offscreen with it on hand, winged boots to help you glide in the air provided you keep the B button held while in midair, and an</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBjsXdJp-IQOAspbMQLuRKCNFadcOaY5F-LcN0TXm2q-gXqG02DOIgC_Gs3wIm87dIg764Yg_ObwHYBkJiAyjeMHULB8I3_xs7CkLhpPHRqm4jUWi8VHRq7q70vQqc7mD7_gXq1Hsyc7_5tTK8zD2wpaDEO-Dq4GN-snR8SO0Tb6uvHIO8Q3BN6L8cxNA/s384/DoReMiFantasy_DestroyingBlocks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBjsXdJp-IQOAspbMQLuRKCNFadcOaY5F-LcN0TXm2q-gXqG02DOIgC_Gs3wIm87dIg764Yg_ObwHYBkJiAyjeMHULB8I3_xs7CkLhpPHRqm4jUWi8VHRq7q70vQqc7mD7_gXq1Hsyc7_5tTK8zD2wpaDEO-Dq4GN-snR8SO0Tb6uvHIO8Q3BN6L8cxNA/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_DestroyingBlocks.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK6SA1QhTWJOYtFfn8PhKY65tUdHwcV41eYD8NyWhBWZlYJa9hPxR4FmBAk98GykMQ6di-UEMG3IrMc5JonOwHiA2VYJxKsUR1d0crs-OSErfxC8ml0ERFl-QQRJh1cbd79NP3FfXqSxkfT_i3AXDyiwVa_q3VYcyH7SLuDjAC64cByBV7L9RKm2JPoqd/s384/DoReMiFantasy_LeafHopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK6SA1QhTWJOYtFfn8PhKY65tUdHwcV41eYD8NyWhBWZlYJa9hPxR4FmBAk98GykMQ6di-UEMG3IrMc5JonOwHiA2VYJxKsUR1d0crs-OSErfxC8ml0ERFl-QQRJh1cbd79NP3FfXqSxkfT_i3AXDyiwVa_q3VYcyH7SLuDjAC64cByBV7L9RKm2JPoqd/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_LeafHopping.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Blowing bubbles at a breakable block to reveal clothing | Right: Leaf hopping </b>🍃</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">invincibility star with Milon's face to render you invincible for a momentary period of time (he even becomes invincible upon collecting a hundred notes should the life count be at 9). <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> has got a color-coded health system where Milon is at his most vulnerable when he's colored red, wears blue when he's got a health of two, and when you've reached the health cap he adorns the green palette, where collecting overalls while wearing green will net you a good number of notes to add to your count. When it comes to the myriad of enemies attempting to impede your progress you can either jump on them to briefly incapacitate them</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA75hQo2Fr7UYrzksMIEMltI4tDqiEv8Ptj9Wvt9plIFpBv_CH6F8E5ExWS4uF_bvQiyPhp1iW9biJ23GussO6jD7-hfQjdsEFvCCzYvb-ctqBmw_fnjmISZ0bY0_BPipLdpT1BewPCyp7WZYwKC0B1JOfIw6txKUnTcnCZuBMsghD_Z7WmKffvi2V-oM/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Invincible.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjA75hQo2Fr7UYrzksMIEMltI4tDqiEv8Ptj9Wvt9plIFpBv_CH6F8E5ExWS4uF_bvQiyPhp1iW9biJ23GussO6jD7-hfQjdsEFvCCzYvb-ctqBmw_fnjmISZ0bY0_BPipLdpT1BewPCyp7WZYwKC0B1JOfIw6txKUnTcnCZuBMsghD_Z7WmKffvi2V-oM/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Invincible.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHHg4xg4KpfQw5SY6acY_avTq1kqF28yLLCJqqAdV56zj5PDZ7NCdTnjFDRV4O5nm1Rb09EtkIGyknk-1LPYQ1HfkCyVG7SrWdtIHyY2103acw7-vHGXwam03RU2eXRvboebOSmwA76GG_UYV-vF6aLy5ztTgBgb1mwU0uJ9poiyo3_iasdbitXypkHkF/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BouncyClouds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHHg4xg4KpfQw5SY6acY_avTq1kqF28yLLCJqqAdV56zj5PDZ7NCdTnjFDRV4O5nm1Rb09EtkIGyknk-1LPYQ1HfkCyVG7SrWdtIHyY2103acw7-vHGXwam03RU2eXRvboebOSmwA76GG_UYV-vF6aLy5ztTgBgb1mwU0uJ9poiyo3_iasdbitXypkHkF/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BouncyClouds.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Invincible | Right: Bouncing on soft, cushiony clouds </span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">thereby rendering them as makeshift platforms or you can encase them in a bubble which you can send away by simply moving towards them afterward (otherwise if you leave the encased enemy in a bubble too long without doing anything further then they will break free). Access to the next level in the map is granted once you reach the end with the goal sign present, and should you revisit a level you've been in before and wish to return to the map all you need to do is hold down the Select button. The end of each map culminates in a boss fight, and once they're defeated you can make way towards the next map for which you can switch between with either shoulder button. If you're revisiting a level you've already played through and wish to return to the map screen, simply hold down the Select button.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCKvRLTKd3uWWTQPV0rDvQxTe_l9dWqQCrUUPQc2XYFLJEhnktqwskDzlLkCz9dykWjRLm8tbSAy8fa2W0e0wKTmMe-yev2B7UcTdPrBZWjFxk4Me_93HBi6cDMVjIDpId7NV_uQ2H6H10YwIEnSlb8teTQY45o87MJkVB8nbC2pTrxnGiQsW7jlrX1Qk/s384/DoReMiFantasy_StrongWinds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCKvRLTKd3uWWTQPV0rDvQxTe_l9dWqQCrUUPQc2XYFLJEhnktqwskDzlLkCz9dykWjRLm8tbSAy8fa2W0e0wKTmMe-yev2B7UcTdPrBZWjFxk4Me_93HBi6cDMVjIDpId7NV_uQ2H6H10YwIEnSlb8teTQY45o87MJkVB8nbC2pTrxnGiQsW7jlrX1Qk/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_StrongWinds.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigiswvopOT3PJ1HIINTAnez_hJIdezotxHgtjiCmoQBLLUvHMtfLEcF20pIRJRQz_ueH4OHCT8kcwOMvTZ3gd24Y6mfHL7XD28046_XZ9Bk5OnTixuosJ1pnXCeYZS0vuOgUGrU-XaDf5g7S88Ro0N4S7rdNwK8pt6H-D4QyvqSl0gKuteeDwagV0F3MR/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ForestGuardian.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigiswvopOT3PJ1HIINTAnez_hJIdezotxHgtjiCmoQBLLUvHMtfLEcF20pIRJRQz_ueH4OHCT8kcwOMvTZ3gd24Y6mfHL7XD28046_XZ9Bk5OnTixuosJ1pnXCeYZS0vuOgUGrU-XaDf5g7S88Ro0N4S7rdNwK8pt6H-D4QyvqSl0gKuteeDwagV0F3MR/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ForestGuardian.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Be mindful of the occasional bolts of thunder here while the winds are whooshing against you | Right: Blowing bubbles against the forest guardian</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">The visuals of </span><i style="color: #00d5ff;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff;"> were done by Mika Kakutani, Maki Nagayama, Yumi Mukai, Kazue Tanaka, Akemi Ihara, Yukinori Goto, and Hideki Sōma with art direction by Shoji Mizuno and Naoto Yoshimi for it is a very pleasant game to look at. 😃 Aiming for a pastel-toned aesthetic, the color palette in each world is very effective with how soft and relaxing the colors of each different location's backgrounds are. The first stage's levels have got amount of foliage with the trees and abundance of leaves, in half of the second stage's delicacy-themed</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTp-Q95TXoRjr30gTrqI3h3NrpYolPXgAvv4LvjCjl4WltXXAoSjBowAhMOv8H2TQLPeUhA4wB2WYpF5jp7WtMaKGbxIplijpOTb3mE54sooXPEy4SjcUqr5a23FDtkuAwYYywzw4eVafhYSW7oaHcyRK5H1QcSlkmfPw_rB4ItkOFd_aJypE_Fe3MIL4/s384/DoReMiFantasy_DelicacyWorld.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTp-Q95TXoRjr30gTrqI3h3NrpYolPXgAvv4LvjCjl4WltXXAoSjBowAhMOv8H2TQLPeUhA4wB2WYpF5jp7WtMaKGbxIplijpOTb3mE54sooXPEy4SjcUqr5a23FDtkuAwYYywzw4eVafhYSW7oaHcyRK5H1QcSlkmfPw_rB4ItkOFd_aJypE_Fe3MIL4/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_DelicacyWorld.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8X1B2xPVJdv4dpt-0wcqNZLIIU6P_dzqyluNf6IvofPcMCZ8Ap0arQjq5I3oIawGhWOJcv5wGfyUxgwjyoBJP-8TNkVt54t5FBcgZ-B5mvze9K_fDlI58iEOqgoNIvFKhdfY3mVrLtDWlThszaIq1LhCLkq9LuwD7DejU-z6oeHOGRcgWnLZYl3xWanF/s384/DoReMiFantasy_DestructiblePastry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8X1B2xPVJdv4dpt-0wcqNZLIIU6P_dzqyluNf6IvofPcMCZ8Ap0arQjq5I3oIawGhWOJcv5wGfyUxgwjyoBJP-8TNkVt54t5FBcgZ-B5mvze9K_fDlI58iEOqgoNIvFKhdfY3mVrLtDWlThszaIq1LhCLkq9LuwD7DejU-z6oeHOGRcgWnLZYl3xWanF/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_DestructiblePastry.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: In the land of desserts| Right: Tearing away the dessert one bit at a time with each bubble</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">levels there's an effectively gradient starry sky with the constellations, I like the stained-glass windows in the third stage levels (especially in that one level where it is adorned by color layered curtains acting as a frame), the color layering blues of the waters Milon swims in in the fourth stage levels are soothingly effective, there's a beautiful Aurora Borealis seen from a distance in snow-laden fifth stage's levels, and I like how in the middle levels of the sixth stage the inside of the volcano glows perpetually as it alternates from bright to dark and back. I particularly liked how the penultimate levels before confronting the stage boss had a</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-POUoCPNMwce6LLqOoquXbDlJPppFO5yiGTyU7T5VQdA18uyc8joVeQX7z75XhmTvIEEnTh__StRd3NbyP5TLjCmZ_UexQAgZSrIeYWBbFa3vAp62VYBkjIlL45yoKjjRADbim0zkAdyZCuo-gcZP5_6Cl-F_5QFQdRJqpLZtctehEQ1ePEB7b9pwU3-/s384/DoReMiFantasy_PastryLadder.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-POUoCPNMwce6LLqOoquXbDlJPppFO5yiGTyU7T5VQdA18uyc8joVeQX7z75XhmTvIEEnTh__StRd3NbyP5TLjCmZ_UexQAgZSrIeYWBbFa3vAp62VYBkjIlL45yoKjjRADbim0zkAdyZCuo-gcZP5_6Cl-F_5QFQdRJqpLZtctehEQ1ePEB7b9pwU3-/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_PastryLadder.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5bL56LMH-EEJjHOE-kZ3tf7NwHE6DbWV9KCOIPSW65q5Xs3BtgqcJI51INLFIrUnFEwiCaz02vBdq5FgK2VTNmHd82yXDYEWKZE9uwd3IHGHY2Yj5V1ZCqyHtIuHz2Fyo4z90ACBbzbGuiLij7sAUIRkurn8eEW6z-ZsipXSSNh7CIaQspyQxWIb3rzN/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ChargingBubbleAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5bL56LMH-EEJjHOE-kZ3tf7NwHE6DbWV9KCOIPSW65q5Xs3BtgqcJI51INLFIrUnFEwiCaz02vBdq5FgK2VTNmHd82yXDYEWKZE9uwd3IHGHY2Yj5V1ZCqyHtIuHz2Fyo4z90ACBbzbGuiLij7sAUIRkurn8eEW6z-ZsipXSSNh7CIaQspyQxWIb3rzN/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ChargingBubbleAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Climbing the delicacy ladder | Right: About to unleash a super bubble attack to destroy those breakable blocks above</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">darker colored environment with the first stage's penultimate level having cuckoo clocks as well as Pinocchio puppets whose noses grow and retract, how it is filled with frosting inside a gingerbread house in the second stage's penultimate level, and in the fifth stage's penultimate level how it is snow-heavy taking place inside an icy cavern. Milon is a very solidly designed character with an endearing amount of charm in terms of how expressive he is and how smooth his sense of animation is. What I particularly like, and this was either a conscious decision or happy accident, is how his hair is shaped like the letter "M" at pretty much all times in-game. His running and swimming animations are good, I like how does a front flip</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgzDxkbf-9p170kl4gSg_lRVp8w8PlF0QvQPtcMAkmeGaX0XaZ_ts_GO3AI8sbO3Gj1ppPoYYWrBbbj9xY0B76IrqdognZmYBLTj81uQLW-BtloLt4VBjixVbyXOhz4ixtFRDGqCtNTPZi3-M5qIR4DH_iGFpj7KRWf8KlIDJCHES77xU4rhDSEL6zQo/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Constellations.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SgzDxkbf-9p170kl4gSg_lRVp8w8PlF0QvQPtcMAkmeGaX0XaZ_ts_GO3AI8sbO3Gj1ppPoYYWrBbbj9xY0B76IrqdognZmYBLTj81uQLW-BtloLt4VBjixVbyXOhz4ixtFRDGqCtNTPZi3-M5qIR4DH_iGFpj7KRWf8KlIDJCHES77xU4rhDSEL6zQo/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Constellations.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxjIFMaa6IR-gEhp7JlU1-itbo6phzqvfAUC4h33wakuDlc05ig5IWZuHmn-LW6K3Wkdup1kLaswblzJtyGhf12vgAQgHMAumZLty938VcPfEJFmK0wi51YhIOzNam36TlWfB8hIc7w5xuDxQdO8lE5s4-xvKvNeCas5C0qqGkdAMqQ84GPee4wSe6bVQ/s384/DoReMiFantasy_StarProcured.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxjIFMaa6IR-gEhp7JlU1-itbo6phzqvfAUC4h33wakuDlc05ig5IWZuHmn-LW6K3Wkdup1kLaswblzJtyGhf12vgAQgHMAumZLty938VcPfEJFmK0wi51YhIOzNam36TlWfB8hIc7w5xuDxQdO8lE5s4-xvKvNeCas5C0qqGkdAMqQ84GPee4wSe6bVQ/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_StarProcured.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Greeted by stellar constellations | Right: Procured a musical star</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">when jumping, and there's a couple isolated levels where it is so windy that Milon is holding onto his cap as it blows behind him when facing the wind (or ahead of him should he face the opposite direction), I really like that attention to detail. I even like the different animations he has got depending on how he lost his health or lost a life all done in a lighthearted anime fashion, like flailing his arms while being engulfed in flames and passing out upon being touched by fire and should you fall offscreen without the bubblegum at your disposal he will momentarily pretend to swim upward like a fish to a point until he covers his nose with one hand while raising the other as he falls straight down. One of my favorite animations is when</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTtDtXFNEWe0jDnyFLbd5BnsbgD56zYMMO41rN7J8aY10uDRRkbEleAwcnaXRkmcz2mW16wWanV86ptTuuAs2rcy-rD3PNJxKx0GD9i3qafC5Y_t0ibY_rNOfHV-rwmWaX8h9y60Mpeja_96_d9gL6EQec9dLh-WDBjzSOrmt36WG9DS3OcKQOdF-vL_h/s384/DoReMiFantasy_PumpkinHeads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTtDtXFNEWe0jDnyFLbd5BnsbgD56zYMMO41rN7J8aY10uDRRkbEleAwcnaXRkmcz2mW16wWanV86ptTuuAs2rcy-rD3PNJxKx0GD9i3qafC5Y_t0ibY_rNOfHV-rwmWaX8h9y60Mpeja_96_d9gL6EQec9dLh-WDBjzSOrmt36WG9DS3OcKQOdF-vL_h/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_PumpkinHeads.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ_RdTm02nFuhIxHweSxbsdY8GkzBjFWtTNDBo91fPwMKlpGil6jmAD0duTeEJ8c4e5AwgRriYs3xo3gejsvuFjrhJe4BVBw6BozdfoTNihO7xaeai1yNlv9401iC5444rjvLvybNV2nEhg4nwxn5hypX2PRMApFHxcf2a_z1BgZmRNAZWy5qgzO8Nau8/s384/DoReMiFantasy_WineGlassPyramid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ_RdTm02nFuhIxHweSxbsdY8GkzBjFWtTNDBo91fPwMKlpGil6jmAD0duTeEJ8c4e5AwgRriYs3xo3gejsvuFjrhJe4BVBw6BozdfoTNihO7xaeai1yNlv9401iC5444rjvLvybNV2nEhg4nwxn5hypX2PRMApFHxcf2a_z1BgZmRNAZWy5qgzO8Nau8/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_WineGlassPyramid.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Two pumpkin enemies waiting outside </b>🎃<b> | Right: Being drenched by a perpetual amount of wine inside a wine glass pyramid </b>🍷</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">he remains idle long enough, particularly when you're inside the wine glass pyramid as it fills up with wine, how he will cover his whole face with his cap while his eyes and mouth as still visible through it, it's so charmingly lighthearted and endearing. Each stage has got their own set of enemies that you will not see again in the subsequent ones, which is appropriate as it makes them very all distinguishable: sentient bushes and purple birds in the forest levels, happy hopping candles and enemies who toss their pumpkin heads at you which regenerate in the delicacy levels, floating G clef sheets and pirate mice with eyepatches in the musical</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V9jO6yB5Ah99wug28xvfd9fV_YJAhKUp251w4g4nn8WCQRbmyLiAghVqbcU0hciN7tDuBmXbbGS4_B6DzvAsGBe0BuTQHs0B8yqHGX-oW8WmJqtHAO_Za65qSO2x5ZVHxU1FuiVE4J7gsREhTG5rHoCksjTwfni3WIS2FQhonJekVvH6R5GV3QOQnzld/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Candle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V9jO6yB5Ah99wug28xvfd9fV_YJAhKUp251w4g4nn8WCQRbmyLiAghVqbcU0hciN7tDuBmXbbGS4_B6DzvAsGBe0BuTQHs0B8yqHGX-oW8WmJqtHAO_Za65qSO2x5ZVHxU1FuiVE4J7gsREhTG5rHoCksjTwfni3WIS2FQhonJekVvH6R5GV3QOQnzld/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Candle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxVcQWduOyvSJqvHG4mvGAozOFQcL_ZcdY1OEgtflkzExe6ZwvK0GncASWiKxXSJUnekKXko1Xi_xtd4yNHyXHV2b-Rolp_ichh3xtyY2WdR_0-cmAXoGhRtRd_vzQ4Lq8nE_NYv9-uajb1wY5VLZH1Ly39Ed9KdXm_FaZekz2ks0u445aSqyrvPkXv2i/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Teetering.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxVcQWduOyvSJqvHG4mvGAozOFQcL_ZcdY1OEgtflkzExe6ZwvK0GncASWiKxXSJUnekKXko1Xi_xtd4yNHyXHV2b-Rolp_ichh3xtyY2WdR_0-cmAXoGhRtRd_vzQ4Lq8nE_NYv9-uajb1wY5VLZH1Ly39Ed9KdXm_FaZekz2ks0u445aSqyrvPkXv2i/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Teetering.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Happy hoppy candle minding its own business | Right: Teetering</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">levels, piranhas and imps of different professions (including ones that swim with flippers) in the water levels, green penguins that toss snowballs and sea lions and rodents strapped to balloons hanging in midair in the snow levels, hairy troglodytes and hedgehogs and eggs that hatch fire-breathing birds in the volcano levels, and in the final set of levels sentient toy planes that fly around in a literal circle and jack in the box-style foes and ghosts adorning witch hats as well as sword-wielding knights, et al. They all have a lighthearted charm to</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mth7W0-qktLPuekuuya-ByADAm97DYypgYMJFusr1a4Xy0RVcLaesGQ8aAcZZ3x_ZSb5PlzZyWnprtZM63UqG49vVlpjC2b_oAda4lL-4f3VqzLbCGf9OLkrFPyXKUHOORpF64uWbW1Gx0zuC0NA1lul4fJlgGSetPRjnB-hUuR0c8w94IXsjJg9bPdb/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ChampagneBottle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mth7W0-qktLPuekuuya-ByADAm97DYypgYMJFusr1a4Xy0RVcLaesGQ8aAcZZ3x_ZSb5PlzZyWnprtZM63UqG49vVlpjC2b_oAda4lL-4f3VqzLbCGf9OLkrFPyXKUHOORpF64uWbW1Gx0zuC0NA1lul4fJlgGSetPRjnB-hUuR0c8w94IXsjJg9bPdb/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ChampagneBottle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtQccLrDAwiPpPYMBMj-OJN1kyf_00r6Ds4MnSgshl2oCD5AjJUI0zpKoqqgD6_o8NmE58Mwv6dtId5XBURM_aJYNGasoCDc8U9E7-TDRnWF3Dc61utIG7KUaIRUKH_x7urhvjg109Rxvrfdne-H9yALJBtlYxxM-JVODgHcnwJ_Ny2iwHCmkXJutBa6s/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SwanCake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtQccLrDAwiPpPYMBMj-OJN1kyf_00r6Ds4MnSgshl2oCD5AjJUI0zpKoqqgD6_o8NmE58Mwv6dtId5XBURM_aJYNGasoCDc8U9E7-TDRnWF3Dc61utIG7KUaIRUKH_x7urhvjg109Rxvrfdne-H9yALJBtlYxxM-JVODgHcnwJ_Ny2iwHCmkXJutBa6s/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SwanCake.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: About to be popped out of a champagne bottle | Right: What a lovely swan cake </b>🦢</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">them and all react in a comically incredulous manner upon being trapped in a bubble or upon being jumped on. The enemies you face in the series of penultimate stage levels are likably designed, too, like the sentient gumball machines, sentient headphone and sunglass wearing microphones, large frogs and pollywogs, and tanuki with a mini-volcano strapped to their back. The bosses Milon faces look great as well, and I love how many of them have their own entrance before the battle begins proper: like the out of control chef who pretty much gets</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjxq7pAY5TJTIwNfvoljPkF5emfvBtBEYCGuSTn6XXD506V_HQB8QlUsNhQzWqMvgwIjetyjFv4Tk4iGm2aMg31qeR1684bvJ-B3jZpUkBS59N6Bwt6K4unQ9ECS0EnOJr7chqfR-gdrmx7lptPwooduB0bYZvwxsbBFiXG3zJC1wMdViyrHOZfSMICzy/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Doughnut.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjxq7pAY5TJTIwNfvoljPkF5emfvBtBEYCGuSTn6XXD506V_HQB8QlUsNhQzWqMvgwIjetyjFv4Tk4iGm2aMg31qeR1684bvJ-B3jZpUkBS59N6Bwt6K4unQ9ECS0EnOJr7chqfR-gdrmx7lptPwooduB0bYZvwxsbBFiXG3zJC1wMdViyrHOZfSMICzy/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Doughnut.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p94IAmX_DEnN79Pf1Xnri_m63cL691IN95Mkx_z-M8ykLfzqKu8LPdM-kGveAzmNJC8YoELvLyn2klxcbm1Mw41ZaWDHEzLFlbgcRF2UzhzVd0UhDMTdux627A2yhGJHq0ZYURcmDIJeQditXLm8QdXPWoRaXZq67630RqU9zI5Sx30D5XNzK0Pq93CS/s384/DoReMiFantasy_PastryRocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p94IAmX_DEnN79Pf1Xnri_m63cL691IN95Mkx_z-M8ykLfzqKu8LPdM-kGveAzmNJC8YoELvLyn2klxcbm1Mw41ZaWDHEzLFlbgcRF2UzhzVd0UhDMTdux627A2yhGJHq0ZYURcmDIJeQditXLm8QdXPWoRaXZq67630RqU9zI5Sx30D5XNzK0Pq93CS/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_PastryRocket.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "</b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Doughnut</u><b> defile this sweet-tasting domicile with your diminutive presence, human!" </b>🍩<b> | Right: It's only Bullet Bill's more colorful and smirky obscure cousin</b></span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">drawn to life before the background shifts to a star-laden sky, the colorfully dressed masked magician who's preceded by a series of sparks before entering the scene, a snowman mostly operating by Mode 7 scaling and rotating effects as it occasionally bounces its own head on its body and sometimes tosses its own head towards you, and the sun boss who emerges from</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDuQSKdFWf4YZq7s3jAjgfb7OE63WejcKMnFZ56ojgjdM0WAMDbTUsg_IAEzGEvMOdjvt0twHF9oSNLgs_CE1FhSwA8UL0ilqByQi6Zy2NX4-x1UqxhaLjEJcUun3z6VdQ6IskICWUStJ6CEw7EYVK3N5FpJIvD6ra96OMBAotv_WoZpkp8Uqzug77KPe/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Cupcakes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDuQSKdFWf4YZq7s3jAjgfb7OE63WejcKMnFZ56ojgjdM0WAMDbTUsg_IAEzGEvMOdjvt0twHF9oSNLgs_CE1FhSwA8UL0ilqByQi6Zy2NX4-x1UqxhaLjEJcUun3z6VdQ6IskICWUStJ6CEw7EYVK3N5FpJIvD6ra96OMBAotv_WoZpkp8Uqzug77KPe/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Cupcakes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfR6CEIGduwSf8z6UsF3qFvB-eylMNqpH_l-iLYaqZA0QKW4as27XOLts9XHgH8nuWjwkgAJ6f_TqxuvAKSeQTGpBHk4o3fIdv2pPzpdpAKuIDCWP9sa4e-z5MS-TIiYTITUcvqZLd5ROlvuz8neuw1K5QQcPRHp5lOKa_nM9_lsedcOD4DJsmI3PVUVP/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Chef.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfR6CEIGduwSf8z6UsF3qFvB-eylMNqpH_l-iLYaqZA0QKW4as27XOLts9XHgH8nuWjwkgAJ6f_TqxuvAKSeQTGpBHk4o3fIdv2pPzpdpAKuIDCWP9sa4e-z5MS-TIiYTITUcvqZLd5ROlvuz8neuw1K5QQcPRHp5lOKa_nM9_lsedcOD4DJsmI3PVUVP/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Chef.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Take down those cupcakes | Right: Watch out for the food sprouting from the chef's toque that's going to rain down on you</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">behind the rocky architecture with a bright sky as it tends to switch to the moon side affecting the area in a way that will turn into night. I love how </span><i style="color: #00d5ff;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff;"> begins in the form of an anime cutscene without any dialogue in it immediately drawing you in to its world, and whenever you bring the five stars to the respective musicians you get a nicely drawn close up of them playing one of the five instruments needed to seal Amon once and for all.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;"><i>DoReMi Fantasy</i>'s music was composed by Jun Chikuma who has done an impeccable job at immersing you in the game's various worlds with how she approached it.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSZX6sv1d4YkblBjfqiasbWP98M5CX6VKneeT6Bk80ekUEMbfg_JURbKMK72MkLWkr2dAucl6ns_k11KZqHylyrnTLTVu7riR-N_uvZTLUMD-oSkDDaYOSRI9SnQlD5j_NCQbt13t7RinTNe8OQvISg8hlQRuBHDfqqkVPdJrxfc_sA9jXdRBrS3tmNoH/s382/Bomberman_BOOM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="382" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSZX6sv1d4YkblBjfqiasbWP98M5CX6VKneeT6Bk80ekUEMbfg_JURbKMK72MkLWkr2dAucl6ns_k11KZqHylyrnTLTVu7riR-N_uvZTLUMD-oSkDDaYOSRI9SnQlD5j_NCQbt13t7RinTNe8OQvISg8hlQRuBHDfqqkVPdJrxfc_sA9jXdRBrS3tmNoH/w200-h160/Bomberman_BOOM.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7BLK9kNIVePXF9xRnoSLrmvTjklthnN4p7ZHYnohHUEfW8YR3ogJ5ydXl4aEDrHWVdSy-rjbSBivqAxw2p62nalDP5ugzcJa44TirZKt-EHlV9EuKqY-L8gIDY_UB_dwH23dBQytMX6cZv2V1H5_IcQCnG-N9ZkStP8XmEQ89PMh9clSNmdwYJ3XDBod/s380/SuperBomberman3_RopeBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="380" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7BLK9kNIVePXF9xRnoSLrmvTjklthnN4p7ZHYnohHUEfW8YR3ogJ5ydXl4aEDrHWVdSy-rjbSBivqAxw2p62nalDP5ugzcJa44TirZKt-EHlV9EuKqY-L8gIDY_UB_dwH23dBQytMX6cZv2V1H5_IcQCnG-N9ZkStP8XmEQ89PMh9clSNmdwYJ3XDBod/w200-h155/SuperBomberman3_RopeBridge.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Chikuma began her career at Hudson Soft in 1985 creating music for the Famicom version of <i>Bomberman</i> lending it the iconic sound and motifs that would recur throughout the long-running franchise as she would continue contributing the music to the series for the Nintendo 8-bit sequel, the Game Boy game <i>Bomber Boy</i>/<i>Atomic Punk</i>/<i>Dynablaster</i>, the NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 iterations (including Westone's Sega MegaDrive/Genesis adaptation of <i>Bomberman '94</i>, <i>Mega Bomberman</i>), the Nintendo 16-bit <i>Super Bomberman</i> games which were a joint production by Produce and Hudson Soft, the <i>Saturn Bomberman</i> games, and the PlayStation One-based <i>Bomberman World</i>,</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z-ImL6iIhkc2Yclk3h6bz23ho1cYVscfTHxMSz8P8tNVvYyE1Nf-YGrImZ8gghNIMK2MYZrpBQ_XSpt_fGRPzZQeLEJTVjTOu1kNV7qcug4Od-cjF8RmhzLHHl0sBoeNFvpP0qvr0g2D2Br1BDwFfLxGQA4TJPBr0Y0lVbLIvBEOXZ3jI95EX2aGOq-B/s393/BombermanPanicBomber_PC-Engine.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="393" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z-ImL6iIhkc2Yclk3h6bz23ho1cYVscfTHxMSz8P8tNVvYyE1Nf-YGrImZ8gghNIMK2MYZrpBQ_XSpt_fGRPzZQeLEJTVjTOu1kNV7qcug4Od-cjF8RmhzLHHl0sBoeNFvpP0qvr0g2D2Br1BDwFfLxGQA4TJPBr0Y0lVbLIvBEOXZ3jI95EX2aGOq-B/w200-h144/BombermanPanicBomber_PC-Engine.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmuMIzt0T_5SbsQSRyQTR_1YFlCK9ZP717Fz-ft36LoIFXT059y4gAmPTZDP8UUv3e-rHz9jjQbhjDlYNKawqUJ6VW0FSEzI1zHd-xSHUrJblAUHrzp6NZIgFNGCOy5s1fpTlrEKoRzEn9XPxYQ4xdNUpBLlQkhHptpUpA10YOSpldKjhStgpss1v5A33/s394/BombermanHero_Nintendo64.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="394" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmuMIzt0T_5SbsQSRyQTR_1YFlCK9ZP717Fz-ft36LoIFXT059y4gAmPTZDP8UUv3e-rHz9jjQbhjDlYNKawqUJ6VW0FSEzI1zHd-xSHUrJblAUHrzp6NZIgFNGCOy5s1fpTlrEKoRzEn9XPxYQ4xdNUpBLlQkhHptpUpA10YOSpldKjhStgpss1v5A33/w200-h154/BombermanHero_Nintendo64.gif" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">she even provided music for the spinoffs such as the puzzler <i>Bomberman: Panic Bomber</i>, the Game Boy platformer <i>Bomberman Pocket</i>, the A.I-developed 3D platformer <i>Bomberman Hero</i> for the Nintendo 64, and Eleven's Game Boy Color action-adventure game <i>Bomberman Quest</i>, with Chikuma's final musical contribution to the series being <i>Bomberman Story</i>/<i>Tournament</i> for the Game Boy Advance in 2001 before she left the company.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpvc7eD0kEUYeG0LFBeBsmmwecHJy5GUGvCeRQ6xLHawiv0MlsNtMx9Y9BoDkga3NNZDR-vTopdwPrvUxxoj_nn0aQms6TgSQ6FXpXFBhjSkcwHpfk9yB9r9Dzov6kB9URSbHsLdkvC8RZy5jIO4RFJe3AoDTzzvgnDArrwfFakKkLcTt5qyXTPrQyjxM/s388/JaseikenNecromancer_Elder.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="388" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpvc7eD0kEUYeG0LFBeBsmmwecHJy5GUGvCeRQ6xLHawiv0MlsNtMx9Y9BoDkga3NNZDR-vTopdwPrvUxxoj_nn0aQms6TgSQ6FXpXFBhjSkcwHpfk9yB9r9Dzov6kB9URSbHsLdkvC8RZy5jIO4RFJe3AoDTzzvgnDArrwfFakKkLcTt5qyXTPrQyjxM/w200-h144/JaseikenNecromancer_Elder.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zyY9gXYa4w1V4W-hRH8XRDYoCPKB6_xsqdFl5IhM_E_EuvA4dRb3Z2iG-Zn-7z861KW92R6lOTu62CrpcV5C6U_KOjjQ-ETIpYzR9hNWHh_rRHABcYvuCp1jxcjsOTnEm8AvCBx2LQDlu_Wm1Mz7TRwagq7hbfA0_rjT4o1iVnR3r4ol29vM0ufumjrG/s385/CrystalBeansFromDungeonExplorer_Wizard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="385" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zyY9gXYa4w1V4W-hRH8XRDYoCPKB6_xsqdFl5IhM_E_EuvA4dRb3Z2iG-Zn-7z861KW92R6lOTu62CrpcV5C6U_KOjjQ-ETIpYzR9hNWHh_rRHABcYvuCp1jxcjsOTnEm8AvCBx2LQDlu_Wm1Mz7TRwagq7hbfA0_rjT4o1iVnR3r4ol29vM0ufumjrG/w200-h155/CrystalBeansFromDungeonExplorer_Wizard.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">For inexplicable reasons, Konami decided to digitally release <i>Jaseiken Necromancer</i>, an RPG, outside of Japan on the Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console downloadable service in 2018 untranslated</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00d5ff;">Outside of the series Chikuma also composed music for Hudson Soft's <i>Takahashi Meijin no Bōken Jima</i>/<i>Adventure Island</i>, their <i>Doraemon</i> license for the Famicom as well as Nihon Bussan's NEC PC Engine license <i>Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen</i>*, <i>Faxanadu</i> licensed by Nihon Falcom, <i>Jaseiken Necromancer</i>, Victor Musical Industries' <i>Makyō Densetsu</i>/<i>The Legendary Axe</i>, the NEC PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD port of Westone's <i>Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair</i>, the original <i>Nectaris</i>/<i>Military Madness</i> as well as the Matrix Software-developed PlayStation One entry <i>Nectaris</i>/<i>Nectaris: Military Madness</i>, Birthday's <i>Crystal Beans from Dungeon Explorer</i>,</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Like Jun Chikuma's soundtrack, the game would receive a complete facelift when released for the North American TurboGrafx-16 as <i>Cratermaze</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9A18oPKYaPqVCnHdFyPsEfx1bkddMj9S8wRGTUdp4lV9POUrzhpszVVRtQgKlDb_jxZ354ovdhTQxFo3c6RhIiz3L6ROfLMxlLXh4oZoNJswF7ds2fweteqPWr0Yv7G6TDvRlVgCCm2G2A94p54OZZzuyrZd_-ltj__j5K9E74S4TjyVALTM0Kd3entX/s388/Sonic+TheSecretRings_SandOasis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9A18oPKYaPqVCnHdFyPsEfx1bkddMj9S8wRGTUdp4lV9POUrzhpszVVRtQgKlDb_jxZ354ovdhTQxFo3c6RhIiz3L6ROfLMxlLXh4oZoNJswF7ds2fweteqPWr0Yv7G6TDvRlVgCCm2G2A94p54OZZzuyrZd_-ltj__j5K9E74S4TjyVALTM0Kd3entX/s16000/Sonic+TheSecretRings_SandOasis.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff;">and contributed to the music for Sonic Team's <i>Sonic and the Secret Rings</i>/</span></span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Sonic to Himitsu no Ring</i> under the classical Arabic music ensemble Le Club Bachraf in 2007, making it the last video game she composed music for. Chikuma is still in the music business, curating the Arab music website and currently makes music for TV shows, commercials, and movies. After she left Hudson Soft, s</span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">he studied how to play the ney and riq instruments and learned Tunisian style composition at l'Institut Superieur de la Musique de Tunis. When it comes to creating music she operates under the philosophy of "art suprematism" or "absolute music".</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk7NPMoL9zswhqjMF9-mW_ZA5JdryYNFnX_vdg_LmJQcEQrPQmRTwgfsOVjoSHnrZyQ0-Q6AFBKyJi8_vnWE_c51IBn1SJOTN2JfvHIyZDywyNGecR__d7oTo0aNDzlc475pimTNYmZ5xK9VmGTEIOAkWohANS0oypHfaUTBbpk2XowGtceBQNGqCDnQ6/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Statue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk7NPMoL9zswhqjMF9-mW_ZA5JdryYNFnX_vdg_LmJQcEQrPQmRTwgfsOVjoSHnrZyQ0-Q6AFBKyJi8_vnWE_c51IBn1SJOTN2JfvHIyZDywyNGecR__d7oTo0aNDzlc475pimTNYmZ5xK9VmGTEIOAkWohANS0oypHfaUTBbpk2XowGtceBQNGqCDnQ6/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Statue.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kiiX7cK_-oNNuv1ZxgRUB5j8VZlnnSelLcN4UZQacmnvn0k-MSAXwFqZ_uzTlsOgD5mU26yXVWs7BJN5kFHQXjLKvUji94gDsqD9ai06RcYlI3x_GC5WNAmMH2dxIvS3yx0yxY8ZDm9V7SgffpQQlIh13b2VD_chQrdcKS1vr0KJKuVnai6ZAj0Uq6jy/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlippingPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kiiX7cK_-oNNuv1ZxgRUB5j8VZlnnSelLcN4UZQacmnvn0k-MSAXwFqZ_uzTlsOgD5mU26yXVWs7BJN5kFHQXjLKvUji94gDsqD9ai06RcYlI3x_GC5WNAmMH2dxIvS3yx0yxY8ZDm9V7SgffpQQlIh13b2VD_chQrdcKS1vr0KJKuVnai6ZAj0Uq6jy/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlippingPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Get off me, you inconsiderate little pest!" | Right: Know to jump off immediately after landing on a platform that is prone to flipping at the slightest touch</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">For <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> the soundtrack is a bit unique in the platforming genre in that there is music, but there are certain levels where the current of atmosphere is tangibly felt because of the awe-inspiring and wonder-filled ambience and on occasion there are sound effects of the ambient variety that act as part of the themes. I like the pleasantly casual <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=126s">theme</a> that plays whenever Milon converses with an amicable NPC made complete with the chirping of the birds throughout, I like how the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=201s">map theme</a> starts off with minimal instrumentation which</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB0WNI-SimckRBy1osmM1O72pewme53yqhwQtXFRBp0kKLMnVRAXI8axzgsodKvpbgCc4YiC1jMs1x6yopK4vPCjikwhcqcsBk7bWqsDLRjqRJOflx0w3cvIECSGwsv8QRwo687BdGCtTv9kiRZ48M37ILaV94eqlyMqu_pXpCABCZyjiz2PkgI4oVd0F/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BlockPushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB0WNI-SimckRBy1osmM1O72pewme53yqhwQtXFRBp0kKLMnVRAXI8axzgsodKvpbgCc4YiC1jMs1x6yopK4vPCjikwhcqcsBk7bWqsDLRjqRJOflx0w3cvIECSGwsv8QRwo687BdGCtTv9kiRZ48M37ILaV94eqlyMqu_pXpCABCZyjiz2PkgI4oVd0F/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BlockPushing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWd4gctqzFES5p8fu3gWu6L_hnSv9AjYtJa0TJVXhHQYhdbRayCNFSYeHdtyY9cpB4H9e5EugnD1QOMu4cdlEVyTSGUxwkoNrOrU1izQNLIvzFZiTuDHCsMyvRyvSZB-ugOCx-Stp20jjDQ5C0uR9dMDLmk7aYncEhuTsg7IwBS8Xyk40-JyApw4xDP1m/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ClubDoor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWd4gctqzFES5p8fu3gWu6L_hnSv9AjYtJa0TJVXhHQYhdbRayCNFSYeHdtyY9cpB4H9e5EugnD1QOMu4cdlEVyTSGUxwkoNrOrU1izQNLIvzFZiTuDHCsMyvRyvSZB-ugOCx-Stp20jjDQ5C0uR9dMDLmk7aYncEhuTsg7IwBS8Xyk40-JyApw4xDP1m/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ClubDoor.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Block pushing and enemy shoving | Right: Encased a pirate mouse inside a bubble</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">soon elevates itself with the joining of other instruments little by little, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=267s">theme</a> for when you start the game proper in the forest (which also plays in the outdoor volcano levels) sounds incredibly bouncy and super catchy as it eases you in to Milon's world, this one <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=412s">atmospheric theme</a> is replete with the sounds chirping birds and rolling boulders, and I like the appropriate vibe of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=503s">windy theme</a> as there's a light melody playing simultaneously with the sound of whooshing winds. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1118s">pleasantly charming theme</a> that plays during the</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhArJ7JaKjKLAq9l1u32Khe5_VkrWxqYkvDfwMWFtUdb_59THn9EP24RaCGjm9ySsb7dXKEZH-S3VK8kUFL-_fPmdIgwSozVcZQHHo_50VkgCupZW3zmvFJ2yNoZaDti3cb24nGKOMXyHM-wxgYvcpLdiMZ_xmHLL6ZBuk03VHn1QreMhd1KLcthNgYbj/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BellHopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhArJ7JaKjKLAq9l1u32Khe5_VkrWxqYkvDfwMWFtUdb_59THn9EP24RaCGjm9ySsb7dXKEZH-S3VK8kUFL-_fPmdIgwSozVcZQHHo_50VkgCupZW3zmvFJ2yNoZaDti3cb24nGKOMXyHM-wxgYvcpLdiMZ_xmHLL6ZBuk03VHn1QreMhd1KLcthNgYbj/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BellHopping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI71GCZzfxcUPH0sA1R4eUOxqvITr3zFImfAfJa77Yj2GdzheOLwyMRoeKq0_TI6EtwEFKxKzz_P_-IxR1v68PM8Jk_XYA4DAbocWoaB5onH4he0nUgbQ85KzarX-OGy044pTYtfC8FlKT1vjqbLVHXwEPcldBFQoAVxjYQDsyM20iyvV0OGoASJaBdBQx/s384/DoReMiFantasy_PirateMice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI71GCZzfxcUPH0sA1R4eUOxqvITr3zFImfAfJa77Yj2GdzheOLwyMRoeKq0_TI6EtwEFKxKzz_P_-IxR1v68PM8Jk_XYA4DAbocWoaB5onH4he0nUgbQ85KzarX-OGy044pTYtfC8FlKT1vjqbLVHXwEPcldBFQoAVxjYQDsyM20iyvV0OGoASJaBdBQx/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_PirateMice.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Bell hopping </b>🔔<b> | Right: Put that pirate mouse in its place</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">rainbow cathedral makes me think of Takeaki Kunimoto and Daisuke Inoue's main theme from </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Meikyū Kumikyoku: Milon no Daibōken</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">/<i>Milon's Secret Castle</i>, and if that's what Jun Chikuma was aiming for I think it's a very nice and subtle callback to the first game's theme while at the same time adding just enough melody to make this one her own. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=809s">dessert theme</a> is infectiously catchy and invitingly absorbing to listen to, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=944s">night sky theme</a> is</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7wqlY8qqNJ2pqbEwfdn-RsI5G-8m-mRZAKncNYY9FuZOd9LEZxWaEj12Jd_X5uR_uoBQOrNF1MWgVjwfJIf5DLcHVDmjdw9NyOLbZJcln79tbH-UcXuy8MTHZ4sytYHYaiCEE5trHQG_47PwetWJLGNxv6XKcrZcBrsfD0yChggW8Ev6D4Vn_NwTVIsX/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedMouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7wqlY8qqNJ2pqbEwfdn-RsI5G-8m-mRZAKncNYY9FuZOd9LEZxWaEj12Jd_X5uR_uoBQOrNF1MWgVjwfJIf5DLcHVDmjdw9NyOLbZJcln79tbH-UcXuy8MTHZ4sytYHYaiCEE5trHQG_47PwetWJLGNxv6XKcrZcBrsfD0yChggW8Ev6D4Vn_NwTVIsX/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedMouse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNmYaP4sObred0-a-HQRApe8Q0eUd8ZZDPotbdoga6dBRw-7sZH5PMfM-frgDJ7tp7BEZKtLZuU4MmaZg9DPhxXdqDofNUwhNeb5j_RMwR7okBhStKxgA2TzFvKvQcc7twKV-bAqGDVodSOsTU15y3Fnd_Bt22Ib9-V5eipMDHrEHZHyf9k8yYSxG0Vsy/s384/DoReMiFantasy_EnteringDoor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNmYaP4sObred0-a-HQRApe8Q0eUd8ZZDPotbdoga6dBRw-7sZH5PMfM-frgDJ7tp7BEZKtLZuU4MmaZg9DPhxXdqDofNUwhNeb5j_RMwR7okBhStKxgA2TzFvKvQcc7twKV-bAqGDVodSOsTU15y3Fnd_Bt22Ib9-V5eipMDHrEHZHyf9k8yYSxG0Vsy/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_EnteringDoor.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flattened a pirate mouse | Right: Entering a doorway</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">drenched in so much star laden atmosphere that you could practically swim in it, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1535s" style="font-family: georgia;">one of the water themes</a><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> is so soothing and relaxingly tranquil with its reliance on ambient instrumentation, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1739s" style="font-family: georgia;">frozen ice plain theme</a><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> sounds pretty with the glacial-sounding opening and ambient quality, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=2158s">toy level theme</a> is very pleasant and fits in with that environment (it even gets its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=2575s">rewarding rendition</a> during the end credits which is satisfying to hear every time), the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=2423s">haunted castle theme</a> is suitably menacing and lightheartedly creepy-sounding,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ1bI1pELnVcQeWWkZcasSzcsGjDeAWGZ0SuxBK0lj9cCa1zXE26soXqw24fXR8WTLam_jFDNJLyP4h3KTx6TmbN-4eEtRZYGdsGYPJ4ReBIqa3OWe8l-YvuWl-mNL-CzbizDntY7-66pXuCoLYIs6FnWXm24p5iQOM_x9mLKoxca90m6t7dNjCYvw_Me/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Drums.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ1bI1pELnVcQeWWkZcasSzcsGjDeAWGZ0SuxBK0lj9cCa1zXE26soXqw24fXR8WTLam_jFDNJLyP4h3KTx6TmbN-4eEtRZYGdsGYPJ4ReBIqa3OWe8l-YvuWl-mNL-CzbizDntY7-66pXuCoLYIs6FnWXm24p5iQOM_x9mLKoxca90m6t7dNjCYvw_Me/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Drums.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReQB_nHjfbVhqM8I_vTi4Nqy3jJWydzn88z_83kDdBjKmPyS4QmZs3QStbapc24m-Yggw8wDnGuF4XKw-vU7yjHgjhvxMxfUIxUmVe3VXnIkrXJQSGHw6IbQYqWSy9YWB-OxNdGlwB35W1nwzixd6Ohpy1TgDi4TE9RI3EVfOMuO5y44nCirctYl5DwJS/s384/DoReMiFantasy_G-Clef.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReQB_nHjfbVhqM8I_vTi4Nqy3jJWydzn88z_83kDdBjKmPyS4QmZs3QStbapc24m-Yggw8wDnGuF4XKw-vU7yjHgjhvxMxfUIxUmVe3VXnIkrXJQSGHw6IbQYqWSy9YWB-OxNdGlwB35W1nwzixd6Ohpy1TgDi4TE9RI3EVfOMuO5y44nCirctYl5DwJS/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_G-Clef.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Skyrocketing up to high places by jumping from drum to drum | Right: Climbing the curtain off to the side while simultaneously contending with sentient G clef sheets </b>𝄞</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=610s">theme</a> for the levels where you're looking for the keys to access the bosses is atmospherically foreboding and perfectly complements these creepy-looking lairs. I like how <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> has got a different array of boss themes which gives them their own sense of identity: the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=731s">first boss theme</a> is quirky but catchy as you're facing off against an automaton who falls to pieces at the end, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1069s">chef's boss theme</a> has got a fun hip-hop vibe to it, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1377s">masked magician's boss theme</a> sounds menacingly pressing, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1841s">snowman boss theme</a> is</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC7Bk5w4-rVojKQPlwqW99J3vEI-GrtZz9h1gTwbGEPXbLNI3C8vN0Nky1Hi0ukNp-a2mJOg0qihT8lb6XN4rDuhCsp5IzMjBX46AmVY5X_2N9zZNuM7407nplCNZH8d-bkrw1UBVP4vPLauVbOa-qCUsYwaR11pJt4hY-Mkxkvy94lejuFV0jn7v-Jwm/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ProtudingMouseHead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC7Bk5w4-rVojKQPlwqW99J3vEI-GrtZz9h1gTwbGEPXbLNI3C8vN0Nky1Hi0ukNp-a2mJOg0qihT8lb6XN4rDuhCsp5IzMjBX46AmVY5X_2N9zZNuM7407nplCNZH8d-bkrw1UBVP4vPLauVbOa-qCUsYwaR11pJt4hY-Mkxkvy94lejuFV0jn7v-Jwm/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ProtudingMouseHead.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrAX-zuMKqWwlwMCp9ghEfZaVau5XCOf3qX7TibfkeQwuFVcMyDKMFfRC2bCL97PfoLYmRFgKdjpMtXYivZRj-MfEtgBkD3ei5uxMJhhH_veu6myhdKic3MxCqjSYe0Rb6_rqXoFo8CQIT9X9LwIH3tUxJea7qB2eSdP__FsQffy_abM7dbT9FjgqONLS/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Magician.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrAX-zuMKqWwlwMCp9ghEfZaVau5XCOf3qX7TibfkeQwuFVcMyDKMFfRC2bCL97PfoLYmRFgKdjpMtXYivZRj-MfEtgBkD3ei5uxMJhhH_veu6myhdKic3MxCqjSYe0Rb6_rqXoFo8CQIT9X9LwIH3tUxJea7qB2eSdP__FsQffy_abM7dbT9FjgqONLS/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Magician.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Jumping on an innocent mouse poking its head out | Right: "Pick a card, any card"</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">hectic-sounding but bouncy, I like the imposing organs used for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=2088s">sun and moon boss theme</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1677s">Amon's theme</a> has got a fast-paced do or die quality about it. <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> was sound programmed by Akihiro Sato, Hironao Yamamoto, Ichirō Shimakura, Akihiro Honma, Katsunori Takahashi, Takayuki Iwabuchi, and Hideki Oka while it was sound produced by </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Meikyū Kumikyoku</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> creator Toshiyuki Sasagawa and Toshiaki Takimoto, and I think everyone did a good job in the audio department. 😃 The sound effects are all</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtC9mAJwrW4sGDHbSd1Fan247ZGLXx013tfGS2Sgb3KRLN5OQMNUeS9Y9fg0zzJN4xBYNTgIfULdWF5WIP4GSs7zIAh5SyVEt5SEK4HCKDsEASAEzVh6rkm__2JKyeTnqdJZj7RAZHU8ezIPBeKcaudJNn969xlxoKjhRpzOz6R4Blzm1pnMVMSnofby9/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledImp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtC9mAJwrW4sGDHbSd1Fan247ZGLXx013tfGS2Sgb3KRLN5OQMNUeS9Y9fg0zzJN4xBYNTgIfULdWF5WIP4GSs7zIAh5SyVEt5SEK4HCKDsEASAEzVh6rkm__2JKyeTnqdJZj7RAZHU8ezIPBeKcaudJNn969xlxoKjhRpzOz6R4Blzm1pnMVMSnofby9/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledImp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2L77TmdF7rWjDTSgouxywz3bsZ5xGqGg59-Zh8AeM3wQJtG2xBcNkvVBt3vSlt1Jqs63wsdcQvVfzllg6RPLW_Wec5KjPghnQVLrAZhRkyO3c-wRCT8JAWsprXEiGMOuAsaHQZkatcQ7VC_g5uezcwIcFZwkDM5Ft_22lbRngkhJHCaNFJlRPnLvYSEv/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledPiranha.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2L77TmdF7rWjDTSgouxywz3bsZ5xGqGg59-Zh8AeM3wQJtG2xBcNkvVBt3vSlt1Jqs63wsdcQvVfzllg6RPLW_Wec5KjPghnQVLrAZhRkyO3c-wRCT8JAWsprXEiGMOuAsaHQZkatcQ7VC_g5uezcwIcFZwkDM5Ft_22lbRngkhJHCaNFJlRPnLvYSEv/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledPiranha.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Shoving away a bubbled imp | Right: Swimming towards a bubbled piranha</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">endearingly made like when Milon blows bubbles against his enemies as well as the crumbling sound for when they hit against breakable blocks, the wet sounds for he when walks on water or milk, the appropriately instrumental sounds for when he steps on bells or drums, the soft bubbling sounds for when Milon swims underwater, the flaming sounds for when a fireball flies out of the lava, and I especially like how the musical notes sound happier as you collect them all in a quick sequential manner.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bp1Epz07FiLJrCHVbQeaxMTdmTVQwbQH89Lr3Mv_w02C2Pj7iTRGf3WVv2EWNPFEu_BO-g8HS6bqNkEVXFhzEcpWLH9vmoGt46Vwh-SG7ZQpW0XUepaWGTmjGbBxb0MahM8wpV2zkoaOJIHtC1Gy09jd66OfQyaQi2j5litxzxbrI7sDPsbOEGZk1xJG/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Password.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bp1Epz07FiLJrCHVbQeaxMTdmTVQwbQH89Lr3Mv_w02C2Pj7iTRGf3WVv2EWNPFEu_BO-g8HS6bqNkEVXFhzEcpWLH9vmoGt46Vwh-SG7ZQpW0XUepaWGTmjGbBxb0MahM8wpV2zkoaOJIHtC1Gy09jd66OfQyaQi2j5litxzxbrI7sDPsbOEGZk1xJG/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Password.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyCKP5qK-BEA3IXaiNdRzcBe2wBhghcRe6Aj2beu3t2UkHOKeBqUSQGGsQdn3ce4eiBiQFtEvh4KZW6PiKBvts1HnK3O0XD917YRlN7orBFk-kIbZv4affDW4wEvg2u7iGfRXN01I9wgotzE-ABm7fjyKetG3oHH8RNIm08XVYbTbUZlqp3B2djMQHQRj/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SoundTest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyCKP5qK-BEA3IXaiNdRzcBe2wBhghcRe6Aj2beu3t2UkHOKeBqUSQGGsQdn3ce4eiBiQFtEvh4KZW6PiKBvts1HnK3O0XD917YRlN7orBFk-kIbZv4affDW4wEvg2u7iGfRXN01I9wgotzE-ABm7fjyKetG3oHH8RNIm08XVYbTbUZlqp3B2djMQHQRj/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SoundTest.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">If you wanted to listen to Chikuma's music by itself outside of playing the game, simply input the number 7 on all four slots in the password screen, which you can access from the title screen, and you'll be taken to a sound test with a lovely pastel-toned image of the hero child Milon conducting an orchestra full of adult musicians.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2Grb-QVtI1tYsGYwQSxJe0P89h0tcjRxWuRskYCFIlIVmfvTnThdTIUbC59lfICZ8rAZubqnnjypJegkRf9PdVKvJxMAlkgl_5Dqv-G2Knmrb7rZv0sXmUZC6b3peQvnGjI2yotSF9ce8WsKIu4zLsrVSLe63QJoOnsJfgdjwNVDQlZhQl-tYuKbVvs3/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BubbleGumLifesaver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2Grb-QVtI1tYsGYwQSxJe0P89h0tcjRxWuRskYCFIlIVmfvTnThdTIUbC59lfICZ8rAZubqnnjypJegkRf9PdVKvJxMAlkgl_5Dqv-G2Knmrb7rZv0sXmUZC6b3peQvnGjI2yotSF9ce8WsKIu4zLsrVSLe63QJoOnsJfgdjwNVDQlZhQl-tYuKbVvs3/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BubbleGumLifesaver.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljTu5st6XHyOy5v7UE-BIxMKjIDFgmKiYQMhkXmvfxbytfOYRrW5jaEazCKBHmN2yZa99HS4v85kCT3ugflq9UUn-x4r3i8Dr-DJ34Q94eTu0eoE9uEubVsjUxEeZ_Q0Q4qRVlF2YlBrDQ7E4OmMgs7tV8PtunejEWEM3Yw7QCzvXGZDQYBsWJECTUDLr/s384/DoReMiFantasy_DivebombingBird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljTu5st6XHyOy5v7UE-BIxMKjIDFgmKiYQMhkXmvfxbytfOYRrW5jaEazCKBHmN2yZa99HS4v85kCT3ugflq9UUn-x4r3i8Dr-DJ34Q94eTu0eoE9uEubVsjUxEeZ_Q0Q4qRVlF2YlBrDQ7E4OmMgs7tV8PtunejEWEM3Yw7QCzvXGZDQYBsWJECTUDLr/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_DivebombingBird.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The bubblegum is very convenient to have should you be so unfortunate as to fall down with it at your disposal | Right: Duck!</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">The main objective when it comes to each level is to reach the goal post, but on occasion </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> will attempt to throw a curveball at you by having you go through possible detours along the way through either the upper or lower path or by entering through specific doors. The goal post must specifically say "goal" on it for if you find yourself across a goal post that doesn't have that specific word you should turn back if you're allowed to. Entry through the next level is guaranteed only if you reach the correct goal post, otherwise you'll clear the level but have no way of continuing until you find the right exit. Some of the doors Milon goes through will either take him to an optional segment, make you progress, or might take to a bonus room that consists of one of three mini-games.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNWMlwtIFs51_TPBONpNsHy0VwxYRlYp8PFddTrYPTe7WBxirQX7mIUNePqjoMFZeZ-8KP4ZX76amXQznAr1nH7UvSKlQSTJLS7BjfTI_sSQaPuRPeagbjc7KlIQovbJiNexmfZ3Y5gXwtJMITtu0r6BzwEavVtSofjv2TS9jtM1TIlGmDJlJVXpV32LA/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Bonus.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNWMlwtIFs51_TPBONpNsHy0VwxYRlYp8PFddTrYPTe7WBxirQX7mIUNePqjoMFZeZ-8KP4ZX76amXQznAr1nH7UvSKlQSTJLS7BjfTI_sSQaPuRPeagbjc7KlIQovbJiNexmfZ3Y5gXwtJMITtu0r6BzwEavVtSofjv2TS9jtM1TIlGmDJlJVXpV32LA/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_Bonus.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">In one mini-game you must shoot at ten individual birds by aiming your crosshairs at them where the closer they are to the left the more points you will score, in the second mini-game you must watch closely as all the birds fly across the sky and must correctly input the number of them that you saw fly straight (UFOs don't count and you mustn't count the birds that suddenly turned around) for one mistake is enough to send you back, and lastly you will watch three items whizz across the stage and must correctly select the ones you saw with each new level being made harder as the curtains gradually draw closer and closer to one another for you'll be taken back to the game proper if you made one mistake or cleared it all. Depending how you did you'll be rewarded with either health pickups or a life (maybe three).</span></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cA6YfoiJt6v9SzLdOaovDFUvznJ726jP26ZKHMMwv0g4DojcezevYTbKjNfo0wRIFRngli931B5uo0C7l0CDcM3e3SZoTEvOK9S_g8XfqdCIs4FquEW_YJYcc-HR7bBoktfgTpAce6AyIO20cwxVuMk_G7AzThQZ-E28ESW9lA8cM6Ifo3TMFjOu0IdZ/s461/MilonNoHoshizoraShabon_Taurus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cA6YfoiJt6v9SzLdOaovDFUvznJ726jP26ZKHMMwv0g4DojcezevYTbKjNfo0wRIFRngli931B5uo0C7l0CDcM3e3SZoTEvOK9S_g8XfqdCIs4FquEW_YJYcc-HR7bBoktfgTpAce6AyIO20cwxVuMk_G7AzThQZ-E28ESW9lA8cM6Ifo3TMFjOu0IdZ/s16000/MilonNoHoshizoraShabon_Taurus.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching KK Nintendo DS Game's ミロンのほしぞらしゃぼん : パズル組曲 (JP) video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Milon would make another comeback ten years after the debut of <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> on the Nintendo DS with <i>Milon no Hoshizora Shabon: Puzzle Kumikyoku</i> (which translates to "Milon of Soap Starry Skies: The Puzzle's Suite") released by Hudson Soft on July 2006, a falling block puzzler developed by Takumi Corporation of <i>Kyukyoku Tiger II</i>/<i>Twin Cobra II</i> and <i>Giga Wing</i> fame which plays in a similar manner to Taito's <i>Puzzle Bobble</i>/<i>Bust-A-Move</i> and Data East's <i>Magical Drop</i> respective franchises which sees Milon* blowing differently colored bubbles above him through a horoscope theme while "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is playing in the background. Unlike the other two <i>Milon</i> games which saw a Western release in one form or another this one remained exclusively in Japan, meaning the only way to play it would be by importing it if you lived outside that region. Imagine had Hudson Soft not become a part of Konami, though, we might have gotten a <b>fourth</b> <i>Milon</i> game in 2016 what with each iteration being released a decade apart from one another. 🫧</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>* For this game Takumi decided to redesign Milon but in a way that made it appear as if his nose was dripping perpetually anime-style... </b>🙁<b> Why would you do Milon dirty like that, Takumi? Why? Now he looks so </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">undignified</u><b> compared to how he appeared in his first two games </b>😞</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibedjYGZH7si-mxbmSaBgYnrB_WfXvDcxbwdAbRI6hp0ljpg4rTVv8uGwvBbutLWLfUyQEQbZqQeKr6PEsrkDF14yMZlGZSL1h5J10rWPKbMUJGmHUhsnKffipdLIAzYTW8cOiokqQbAjl8hmespRk49ISWVlfAL4SAVUdAA-fNvfmQhSytBSQc_oJrIY6/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_Key.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibedjYGZH7si-mxbmSaBgYnrB_WfXvDcxbwdAbRI6hp0ljpg4rTVv8uGwvBbutLWLfUyQEQbZqQeKr6PEsrkDF14yMZlGZSL1h5J10rWPKbMUJGmHUhsnKffipdLIAzYTW8cOiokqQbAjl8hmespRk49ISWVlfAL4SAVUdAA-fNvfmQhSytBSQc_oJrIY6/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_Key.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibNoooPRULVpcM7GECDhvSdkWz98wsGwpJ9wxoWOCVwYKvE2GHAw19-8yu_64-CYyDbzp3o6M3yTlfKZTBtNt5hX_gmjxWhBKzbMHojF8HsJ1FBNc0pkAhPmKNU-_6mSWl_Hldgba4D2bUoCRDQizNUvMHVVlN2jB0FCmNcwaFt66Vx9AqXBn4GcNhruB/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_MusicalBonus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibNoooPRULVpcM7GECDhvSdkWz98wsGwpJ9wxoWOCVwYKvE2GHAw19-8yu_64-CYyDbzp3o6M3yTlfKZTBtNt5hX_gmjxWhBKzbMHojF8HsJ1FBNc0pkAhPmKNU-_6mSWl_Hldgba4D2bUoCRDQizNUvMHVVlN2jB0FCmNcwaFt66Vx9AqXBn4GcNhruB/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_MusicalBonus.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I first got acquainted with Milon sometime in 2005 when I got <i>Milon's Secret Castle</i> for the NES with my mom at a retro store GameCrazy since I liked the other Hudson Soft games I had for the console <i>Adventure Island</i> and <i>Adventures of Dino Riki</i> after seeing their Hachisuke honeybee logo on the cartridge, but I could never really get far into it. Of course I <b>was</b> in the 13-14 range when I first played it which probably did not help matters, but even now it's not a game you could easily sink your teeth into lest you knew what you were doing and its high difficulty compounded with the lack of a password system could pose as a major turnoff. I've since softened my attitude towards it over the years, <i>Milon's Secret Castle</i> isn't as bad as some circles made it out to be, though it doesn't change the fact that it is not an easily accessible game by any stretch of the definition.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g-gAI0LqAyJNnAo97wAQi5qByyEfkVObLsxQZOacgsftYRaTc3vtC1Ytm-s-ACBgDp40V_P4GJcfr2NHp5y3K8iNF8i1Lq-Abupss1yCsStwlJAIvAeoAmbksxcB3RQR0A7N4oyS__vGYVO6Meng7ttYmrz0xT6sJr8yJANFLeTa6hgmsPuE8RR8q0bp/s384/DoReMiFantasy_TrappedInBubble.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g-gAI0LqAyJNnAo97wAQi5qByyEfkVObLsxQZOacgsftYRaTc3vtC1Ytm-s-ACBgDp40V_P4GJcfr2NHp5y3K8iNF8i1Lq-Abupss1yCsStwlJAIvAeoAmbksxcB3RQR0A7N4oyS__vGYVO6Meng7ttYmrz0xT6sJr8yJANFLeTa6hgmsPuE8RR8q0bp/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_TrappedInBubble.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOBzUT5oY_8O7JLSFVcGfoC9heVEjKFElKkvv8LO1s0rXGRvugYZvlCEBXbDBucB9mZdwBlnCUcJeh5MxOBIrXZVomzYY-xfs9g0h1tKUj8lqHimEHmT_5lyp_gGHwvjIvL7F0PNJCqT8yUp1RVeBaLclto0OSD6tHXQom7Xyvr4zOTAK_Eya2gBxtO53/s384/DoReMiFantasy_WaterSpew.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOBzUT5oY_8O7JLSFVcGfoC9heVEjKFElKkvv8LO1s0rXGRvugYZvlCEBXbDBucB9mZdwBlnCUcJeh5MxOBIrXZVomzYY-xfs9g0h1tKUj8lqHimEHmT_5lyp_gGHwvjIvL7F0PNJCqT8yUp1RVeBaLclto0OSD6tHXQom7Xyvr4zOTAK_Eya2gBxtO53/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_WaterSpew.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Oh no, now <u>Milon</u> is the one that's trapped inside a bubble, guess karma's come back to bite him even though he's the good guy | Right: Riding on a fish's water projectile</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">A few years later in the Summer of 2008 I learned that it got a formerly Super Famicom-exclusive sequel in the form of <i>DoReMi Fantasy: Milon no DokiDoki Daibōken</i> which was just released on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console. The screenshots looked appealing and it appeared like it was a fun platformer, but I was hesitant at first due to it being in Japanese even after having read a couple of separate reviews giving it glowing praise. Those gave me a bit of confidence at least, but I still needed a bit of convincing: I saw a random Top 10 video concerning Super Famicom games that average Western gamers have not played but should,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyHTwSNmiFGq88eLXY7S5HdSGvR0d12ePN8NxPEQ23hIgQf961zdWAxW0-84Rq3asNNwim07aYD7qaVLNqMbDZFLo1A6-xhEcPC9oWcP-SuthV3ALnb1jZQHGkKKqyM8DjxqoQ9qu7p3AR0yfiTEn9vL3P0_F8P1wslHwNheHO9bx06hJ1gN7h4WOA8H1/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedImp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyHTwSNmiFGq88eLXY7S5HdSGvR0d12ePN8NxPEQ23hIgQf961zdWAxW0-84Rq3asNNwim07aYD7qaVLNqMbDZFLo1A6-xhEcPC9oWcP-SuthV3ALnb1jZQHGkKKqyM8DjxqoQ9qu7p3AR0yfiTEn9vL3P0_F8P1wslHwNheHO9bx06hJ1gN7h4WOA8H1/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlattenedImp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFvfUSJ1tuNyALJqeNnee1DD7Dc_fFUpKXalJvw2y4KZKf1bJ19djvRFo3q62kcQZ8znRjiZ5Gyq2_EyFfDJp4A-3Qs22CaD5qiAkjK74OtPngVlehRr6jgcCdm2E1rqkmG9tywGGMhh-PjY9Rl1-NnoDJecrF91mRI6MX0F1w-fnlt4hm859D8aU6vKC/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Wetboarding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFvfUSJ1tuNyALJqeNnee1DD7Dc_fFUpKXalJvw2y4KZKf1bJ19djvRFo3q62kcQZ8znRjiZ5Gyq2_EyFfDJp4A-3Qs22CaD5qiAkjK74OtPngVlehRr6jgcCdm2E1rqkmG9tywGGMhh-PjY9Rl1-NnoDJecrF91mRI6MX0F1w-fnlt4hm859D8aU6vKC/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Wetboarding.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Destroying acorns with his bubbles | Right: Riding the stream on a board</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">for lo and behold it appeared at number 2. It was only about seven to ten seconds' worth of footage, but it was enough to make me want to play it, so I invested 900 Wii Points in the downloadable digital service since it was the only Super Famicom title available to play in North America. It was the second of only two titles I downloaded on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console during the Summer break from high school that year (the first one being Hudson Soft's <i>Neutopia</i>), but little did I know that I was in for a <b>real treat</b>! 😃</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzZEzOnSrKLKMri2SO6FDDmIM8H7odtzVN1e4el1Knhnd8Xw3oyDszfNjHNhe5qE2AobC0I3k1NAnwgD-mZBAsdjM-PU7I6Vo4OYwiHO5dJ7khBNW4U2iblK7PqSfqZlw8vtcDvgBKyh-rGp4A2QJ81wHgNrNzZRudPtUGgQ6UcMoCbD2PbBJCqi9gPBP/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzZEzOnSrKLKMri2SO6FDDmIM8H7odtzVN1e4el1Knhnd8Xw3oyDszfNjHNhe5qE2AobC0I3k1NAnwgD-mZBAsdjM-PU7I6Vo4OYwiHO5dJ7khBNW4U2iblK7PqSfqZlw8vtcDvgBKyh-rGp4A2QJ81wHgNrNzZRudPtUGgQ6UcMoCbD2PbBJCqi9gPBP/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll3HIedBCJzRVtfDaVb7YKkbMEoa_HUYH118ItNQC2wg8ldyyIu1D1XWDtOh7Nbxsbnbj56fRq7h79nOKemrIG2yNWXUKMdj-jYOqFO7zKxOA1_GAXTeuwrJo_PNR-AB38weADBsBMhpOrSll-Fq4VfcjvhyAdRjyiqDuOukMAsarMn-hc1hDezHyjOKQ/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SuperBubbleAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll3HIedBCJzRVtfDaVb7YKkbMEoa_HUYH118ItNQC2wg8ldyyIu1D1XWDtOh7Nbxsbnbj56fRq7h79nOKemrIG2yNWXUKMdj-jYOqFO7zKxOA1_GAXTeuwrJo_PNR-AB38weADBsBMhpOrSll-Fq4VfcjvhyAdRjyiqDuOukMAsarMn-hc1hDezHyjOKQ/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SuperBubbleAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Harpoon-firing flipper-wearing imps are my favorite | Right: Amass your super bubble attack to access certain otherwise inaccessible parts of the water</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">After Hudson Soft's surprise decision to release </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console in the West there had been a growing speculation that other previously Japan-only Nintendo 16-bit titles by other companies might possibly follow suit. Like a lot of people, I foolishly believed that we might receive more downloadable Super Famicom imports down the line, but that ended up not being so. With the exception of Ape and Jupiter's </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Mario no Super Picross</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> in the European continent the year prior, that was it. A bit of a bummer, really. For what it was worth, it was nice to get a taste of Japanese gaming.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYk1CkQtHJ1LiakJvwZ8LWqokObuq3qWmtjgSyZ8coa4BEY6A9bwS15LXzljMDFNzjTYNUkcMzkEVEEgAlirVcEK9golYM0vfknJrI02zSUI4CXnW2hK9CwbjrXqNllRYLyM5fpAjU1bEAfDlMtnNs8oQ1U2IivveiYeBSv1062MxNWRISivc3oKeJrva/s384/DoReMiFantasy_DeeperDownSwimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYk1CkQtHJ1LiakJvwZ8LWqokObuq3qWmtjgSyZ8coa4BEY6A9bwS15LXzljMDFNzjTYNUkcMzkEVEEgAlirVcEK9golYM0vfknJrI02zSUI4CXnW2hK9CwbjrXqNllRYLyM5fpAjU1bEAfDlMtnNs8oQ1U2IivveiYeBSv1062MxNWRISivc3oKeJrva/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_DeeperDownSwimming.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz82zte4QVZ7ccJCaCnG7vBLK011fFW1f_amjoPvotRvJMMZiTGdMkiqw5BkD_GCr6-mBpzh4UnbWw2IljpZQPm2aNbydQ3nVBA-LP20_UIB0Mb7077pTwa-Snl8JPH3FngrEIkIj1BurfwEBByPmbrMBoJgQ-QXCikHLb50VOlbK-oVV4L_G6I2Mh_cJN/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Pollywog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz82zte4QVZ7ccJCaCnG7vBLK011fFW1f_amjoPvotRvJMMZiTGdMkiqw5BkD_GCr6-mBpzh4UnbWw2IljpZQPm2aNbydQ3nVBA-LP20_UIB0Mb7077pTwa-Snl8JPH3FngrEIkIj1BurfwEBByPmbrMBoJgQ-QXCikHLb50VOlbK-oVV4L_G6I2Mh_cJN/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Pollywog.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Swimming in the deepest depths of the water | Right: Sharing the same waters as pollywogs</span></b></div><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> has made many top lists over the years, is considered by many to be a massive improvement over </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Milon's Secret Castle</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">, and is generally lauded as one of the best Super Famicom games ever made in the history of Nintendo's 16-bit console. Given all the positive appraisal that it is receiving and is continuing to receive, it's all the more surprising to learn that apparently reviewers didn't share that sentiment way back when as the </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Family Computer Magazine</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> gave Milon's second go-around a 19.1 out of 30 while </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Famitsu</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> awarded it a 23 out of 40. 😕 That is not a misread, they genuinely gave </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">this game</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> a 23 out of 40.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EPpeiOoLK_yoZniSWi7kA52YvOZCrUzCLQpSB50hZ8y0RUE4vh4eVSWeuDroS2ZWQQ2fZXFlKVHqbUj5O9LAJo9aromJh8UAPzaBSF45ktN6ER6RDgVut2CX0vQ9z9IpPCxmQbo1CnUlNYZfiz5wHsPSSxWvKf4xUTU6OEcw_cl4i6afsvQrrMQBOem_/s385/MagicalPopn_SuperFamicom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EPpeiOoLK_yoZniSWi7kA52YvOZCrUzCLQpSB50hZ8y0RUE4vh4eVSWeuDroS2ZWQQ2fZXFlKVHqbUj5O9LAJo9aromJh8UAPzaBSF45ktN6ER6RDgVut2CX0vQ9z9IpPCxmQbo1CnUlNYZfiz5wHsPSSxWvKf4xUTU6OEcw_cl4i6afsvQrrMQBOem_/s16000/MagicalPopn_SuperFamicom.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>RIP Ai Iijima (1972-2008), who voiced Princess, you were taken too soon</b> 😔</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">It's worth noting that exactly a year before <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> came out <i>Famitsu</i> gave Polestar's sophomore venue and Super Famicom-exclusive <i>Magical Pop'n</i>, yet another game generally considered nowadays to be among the top-tier titles in Super Famicom platforming history, a 23 out of 40 rating as well. That is absolutely <b>wild</b> it just doesn't seem real.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPo1fpwcah4dgYRGC-J7e7WpL2BZDcrMWRWlwz4ESkGjb1biPksaHgamB0O8awnjLwwZdq6cYGu7pIpNPCb83kljx81QvXRE-VW5GGsOirnmUhqtSlDovlGVNP6eiMbO5x7pobLtBiF6gIvxq4B8UWbV2I05MfxcxRQMnKxGoworUNUCi_cgGrtVRG-AM/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_Jumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPo1fpwcah4dgYRGC-J7e7WpL2BZDcrMWRWlwz4ESkGjb1biPksaHgamB0O8awnjLwwZdq6cYGu7pIpNPCb83kljx81QvXRE-VW5GGsOirnmUhqtSlDovlGVNP6eiMbO5x7pobLtBiF6gIvxq4B8UWbV2I05MfxcxRQMnKxGoworUNUCi_cgGrtVRG-AM/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_Jumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKtrX5HDBMJTmeDGCIEdzszCqwXZoQqfzX00aH7waH1R1anvrluygMVCPLLG7gQRORdISHeO4PxYRzDvhkt7lyWiZIiD5k9kpuCu_pzbGq8BEekfoqeSo5NNTh4vVRtAWsS5EgeWwsvpHOacC548YivFLWElB6-9GkilwfWOI32HhY4p50wqhugLmQ7Hk/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKtrX5HDBMJTmeDGCIEdzszCqwXZoQqfzX00aH7waH1R1anvrluygMVCPLLG7gQRORdISHeO4PxYRzDvhkt7lyWiZIiD5k9kpuCu_pzbGq8BEekfoqeSo5NNTh4vVRtAWsS5EgeWwsvpHOacC548YivFLWElB6-9GkilwfWOI32HhY4p50wqhugLmQ7Hk/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_Boss.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Of the <i>Milon</i> games that <i>Famitsu</i> reviewed, <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> ended up getting the lowest score out of the three. For comparison, they awarded its 8-bit predecessor </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Meikyū Kumikyoku: Milon no Daibōken</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">a 29 out of 40 and gave its subsequent Takumi-developed Nintendo DS installment <i>Milon no Hoshizora Shabon</i> a 25 out of 40.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORw-fU2G3EDcvg994Yqiwy27KEuq9m7LLauW2gdmPr4OUovWejdZ2cdpJ3xKqmLgQb5xcXQhyphenhyphenLr5QZfGm4UL1UiNih3hIi5c14_3eECg9_YJqCViu7sMuhmoV67Qr0bd9J4IuCQLExDQvRuCAk1IQaTEiwT9M0jZCrU9JHKhQXDbmOjRXgYueNxI75pEH/s384/XandraNoDaiboken_SuperFamicom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORw-fU2G3EDcvg994Yqiwy27KEuq9m7LLauW2gdmPr4OUovWejdZ2cdpJ3xKqmLgQb5xcXQhyphenhyphenLr5QZfGm4UL1UiNih3hIi5c14_3eECg9_YJqCViu7sMuhmoV67Qr0bd9J4IuCQLExDQvRuCAk1IQaTEiwT9M0jZCrU9JHKhQXDbmOjRXgYueNxI75pEH/w200-h155/XandraNoDaiboken_SuperFamicom.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrYG1IB49mXKX5Ec5_pdp50bzcY44n74moWhdL8ON7d5CLaqrfvX84c5Pn7Y4vcE01rAh7FteB-Xmq-WkDN8xujMzuUZCTmRgds4ZBLJumihkq9Q41OVMD6MAT4CjRSo2ECCmd402SJcjxu-3jiE5TkJl0LBVQOwqBvuTDMXQqAYUnOLfmZsZYirA_9jp/s385/FlyingHero_SuperFamicom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrYG1IB49mXKX5Ec5_pdp50bzcY44n74moWhdL8ON7d5CLaqrfvX84c5Pn7Y4vcE01rAh7FteB-Xmq-WkDN8xujMzuUZCTmRgds4ZBLJumihkq9Q41OVMD6MAT4CjRSo2ECCmd402SJcjxu-3jiE5TkJl0LBVQOwqBvuTDMXQqAYUnOLfmZsZYirA_9jp/w200-h156/FlyingHero_SuperFamicom.gif" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">One might get the impression, despite being catered towards family audiences supposedly, that <i>Famitsu</i> might occasionally come off as strict or harsh when it comes to passing down their final verdict. This same magazine ended up giving Nova Games' empathy generating story platformer </span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/03/xandra-no-daiboken-valkyrie-to-no-deai.html">Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</a> </i>and Sting's oft-random yet endearing and challenging cute'em up <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/11/flying-hero-bugyuru-no-daiboken-sfc.html">Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</a></i> a 24 and a 25 out of 40 respectively, but I can understand how the difficulty and/or gameplay of those games could have a polarizing effect for certain people. <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> is the most enjoyable and accessible game of all of them, and yet they gave <b>it</b> a lesser score. 🤨 It's just one of those things that doesn't make any sense in retrospect, though I suppose it could be a matter of generational upbringing in terms of how games were covered then compared to now.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO3x7w8XXCoPKSr4OoDzJBXlmYZiFlQHGwn-qJqQQsyLXAMXiYpbac5RjFWuSXWqrOsg66n6cQ_a3Meibd7sQvB7TkkOatfntY2YgIIE7lgybH29luyHpU2jdRqjp4EBh562GqfCIIRPmRybRJtCgd48qFbDB1N-v_DDxNMnwXIuLvGrjhfz6Lmhk4n34/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_TrapFloors.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO3x7w8XXCoPKSr4OoDzJBXlmYZiFlQHGwn-qJqQQsyLXAMXiYpbac5RjFWuSXWqrOsg66n6cQ_a3Meibd7sQvB7TkkOatfntY2YgIIE7lgybH29luyHpU2jdRqjp4EBh562GqfCIIRPmRybRJtCgd48qFbDB1N-v_DDxNMnwXIuLvGrjhfz6Lmhk4n34/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_TrapFloors.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt26GjAOW7tgROFBGx_kg49emBV-WUyE7MIRYWtvKxzfaVeWcdvjWZrg0vzChLP5xmnOLIwQy-3BhTgakqbAfSnUdDVXJp76S7_7VmtIFH8o3KOwaH1zgI1pEEj9I3nsk-5QZnfFPwPfikTIyngrDqxsbhV3HFz391FchGs0aLn40WVmspuaLiRVxGpt3/s384/MilonsSecretCastle_Hudson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="384" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt26GjAOW7tgROFBGx_kg49emBV-WUyE7MIRYWtvKxzfaVeWcdvjWZrg0vzChLP5xmnOLIwQy-3BhTgakqbAfSnUdDVXJp76S7_7VmtIFH8o3KOwaH1zgI1pEEj9I3nsk-5QZnfFPwPfikTIyngrDqxsbhV3HFz391FchGs0aLn40WVmspuaLiRVxGpt3/w200-h160/MilonsSecretCastle_Hudson.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">The difference between <i>Milon's Secret Castle</i> and this sequel is immediately apparent from the get-go: for the previous game was puzzle oriented as you had to solve the occasional riddle to make further progress whilst contending with a constant slew of enemies simultaneously not to mention trying to uncover any hidden doors along the way,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOea5gn_a9NsBQ2I3fWRzNp5VBMImht25f0Z_Mqb6LEb622m5-EF7LniAtX5jtV16ijapwtfUWlGmZrqZNbXgSzbODOn9OiV9f-tKTnvTMw_jeDO9hz4wNbK9g0zX5BCm91ooxjybBJFdtK-xXgypiyBs-zfM1dt8ip8OGV0T7xjTpJWBMjLSsLm9dG0c/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FrogLady.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOea5gn_a9NsBQ2I3fWRzNp5VBMImht25f0Z_Mqb6LEb622m5-EF7LniAtX5jtV16ijapwtfUWlGmZrqZNbXgSzbODOn9OiV9f-tKTnvTMw_jeDO9hz4wNbK9g0zX5BCm91ooxjybBJFdtK-xXgypiyBs-zfM1dt8ip8OGV0T7xjTpJWBMjLSsLm9dG0c/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FrogLady.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz-6CrkB1VqiEWahlm2yLdgmujn5iEsO5DKcRnL5UuF7-wCFMhY0YzVOgVvgeZcQvuldibC9zw3Anp7n5e6WsU8B1x6SEQwiWIS69fmH26GW3JH0e0LqQyaIXb-YZI3ZLgIlUKL8CejI5zKtndRBaRON7pMsZxhwMMUlzsAOLKNl1GdWJmDkf6AVbn6GT/s384/DoReMiFantasy_HeartAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz-6CrkB1VqiEWahlm2yLdgmujn5iEsO5DKcRnL5UuF7-wCFMhY0YzVOgVvgeZcQvuldibC9zw3Anp7n5e6WsU8B1x6SEQwiWIS69fmH26GW3JH0e0LqQyaIXb-YZI3ZLgIlUKL8CejI5zKtndRBaRON7pMsZxhwMMUlzsAOLKNl1GdWJmDkf6AVbn6GT/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_HeartAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Do not be fooled by her pleasant veneer, she's not as pretty as she is on the outside | Right: The more you blow bubbles at her, the more her real frog self gets revealed</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">but for </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> Hudson Soft heavily curtailed the puzzle aspect of its predecessor in favor of something completely action-oriented and comparatively straightforward.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcDwSyaqk9piP-OwEMyp1Ex5gvOXujODTKpFAAkKM6FBaKwDYjELsIWDEmP5ssmXaj14kMwsPaKqz7vzHQqRRVVo5WYOST_tVsLEt5-0UxV55oDZ3ZEDYXpB8GXiW2dUq2dsMdJBP55iTu76e4o7fZvXwP3VjNeEb7CGLDbHdBEWvYoaF5GmA8WmS2R7Q/s327/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Friends.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcDwSyaqk9piP-OwEMyp1Ex5gvOXujODTKpFAAkKM6FBaKwDYjELsIWDEmP5ssmXaj14kMwsPaKqz7vzHQqRRVVo5WYOST_tVsLEt5-0UxV55oDZ3ZEDYXpB8GXiW2dUq2dsMdJBP55iTu76e4o7fZvXwP3VjNeEb7CGLDbHdBEWvYoaF5GmA8WmS2R7Q/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_Milon+Friends.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Awww, cuties </b>😊</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">It's also much lighter in tone too. 🤗 You know the instant you're greeted to the title screen that you're in for something wholesome, colorful, endearing, and incredibly lighthearted, and fortunately the rest of the game manages to live up to that feel-good vibe.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsvQK7uXR85DVYE86yTwYJnMMgQgz54fZAg8-u2elCVE6pEH6VxECigu7GoAuwwZlFVdekpGo3GtULwXFo-juqzLNhtxnhVsgEWi6cvBZZI8jI-KzT7HRkr5DFxTVsc22Ku9flRZW6-ayoH1Pt4rKzQRGIAomHDNJ2sssR1Nxose0bWQoJKy7ixFdCj8T/s384/DoReMiFantasy_AuroraBorealis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsvQK7uXR85DVYE86yTwYJnMMgQgz54fZAg8-u2elCVE6pEH6VxECigu7GoAuwwZlFVdekpGo3GtULwXFo-juqzLNhtxnhVsgEWi6cvBZZI8jI-KzT7HRkr5DFxTVsc22Ku9flRZW6-ayoH1Pt4rKzQRGIAomHDNJ2sssR1Nxose0bWQoJKy7ixFdCj8T/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_AuroraBorealis.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUu0MZZXyRYItZpvXcnRywyw_rU4sxWfFAnsX6LU2xwroPTZw2Y9L-UEkkFkFlcMw6RvOoYApP6SGWYFKMJpbi-OesoxwF3LhEP1jd2K6PuCi3q9dZl4Vw02GZkbStSUdAWdcKvfaG_BdGwFHQyNP-5f-IsXHGstVOpleGTtE9D8168zy5Y9p7uAtoU7B/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SpringDash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUu0MZZXyRYItZpvXcnRywyw_rU4sxWfFAnsX6LU2xwroPTZw2Y9L-UEkkFkFlcMw6RvOoYApP6SGWYFKMJpbi-OesoxwF3LhEP1jd2K6PuCi3q9dZl4Vw02GZkbStSUdAWdcKvfaG_BdGwFHQyNP-5f-IsXHGstVOpleGTtE9D8168zy5Y9p7uAtoU7B/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SpringDash.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Prettyyyyyyyyy </b>😍<b> | Right: Dashing through the ice</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I love <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> for a good number of reasons. I love how much heart it's got, I love how lighthearted and endearing the proceedings are, and I love how it brims with so much personality and character from the word go (I love how when you pause the game to see Milon's status, depending on what color he's presently wearing, the current color of the overalls he's wearing perform their little individual dance). Milon controls with a great deal of polish and he's rather versatile in certain moments that call for it. What's nice is that bringing the instruments with the five stars to the respective musicians not only purifies these instruments needed to seal off Amon but also grants Milon a few more abilities along</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvncxTFc_w23F6a1W1kG7IHP5QpgXJAcW8bXzRpdDRnwmAL4xcW9xcApMLy6smHGMmNF828nBuu0AgjME2dN7OU_RSXHVTXGsRc2gFilBr8-YPumkaEPJyTqxyHQ-q3aC5_pHYoZSm0BA0voHiWCBJ0sac5D4lpe_HGuC4vVT728TWeJPWQMQFrp5abUR/s384/DoReMiFantasy_IcyStalactites.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvncxTFc_w23F6a1W1kG7IHP5QpgXJAcW8bXzRpdDRnwmAL4xcW9xcApMLy6smHGMmNF828nBuu0AgjME2dN7OU_RSXHVTXGsRc2gFilBr8-YPumkaEPJyTqxyHQ-q3aC5_pHYoZSm0BA0voHiWCBJ0sac5D4lpe_HGuC4vVT728TWeJPWQMQFrp5abUR/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_IcyStalactites.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-grx-QqtOG0WVZKU6OxPF2L874NEpUIQHCjjQtQF715UbDo4blwFgvgf5nMJtiqqheCqHejHLSll9_oZ8XHx5fH6s_O2YzF8ZBSpBlk7fW2odmu8pzEmbTFUCDeywpZFQ7y6wBrijm0VYSO3gqodwW-3mvPx8cK78rX7Q5iVdWs1JBBEk6qY4OBjnz8X/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SnowFoes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-grx-QqtOG0WVZKU6OxPF2L874NEpUIQHCjjQtQF715UbDo4blwFgvgf5nMJtiqqheCqHejHLSll9_oZ8XHx5fH6s_O2YzF8ZBSpBlk7fW2odmu8pzEmbTFUCDeywpZFQ7y6wBrijm0VYSO3gqodwW-3mvPx8cK78rX7Q5iVdWs1JBBEk6qY4OBjnz8X/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SnowFoes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Slip and slide | Right: Surrounded by the arctic wildlife</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">the way, like swimming underwater, breaking out of a trap or a trance by repeatedly tapping direction buttons simultaneously with the Y and B buttons, constructing a ladder of musical notes by holding up and A which you can climb after, and making platforms appear by shooting at sparkles that appear in midair. On top of all that, this game is full of imagination and creativity in terms of the numerous gameplay scenarios you have to go through.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMblycqkyXLokwZi1L2StDQjKEE7ACkiMAQeE2fiVJiCxHRUGVc7hwWhyphenhyphen5NCjEVcq-hE-gJ6BpPmSyLrxq3ysv0mM0m3Ox__p7qoie_ZhpmzbWX3sdP19qOkPWi_rq2JaJvR_a7cspV1l59_CEGfUqNdq6ExlmUIgXFQu5_qd_Ih5uOl4AwMv9luZRyyvx/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Snowboarding-Duck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMblycqkyXLokwZi1L2StDQjKEE7ACkiMAQeE2fiVJiCxHRUGVc7hwWhyphenhyphen5NCjEVcq-hE-gJ6BpPmSyLrxq3ysv0mM0m3Ox__p7qoie_ZhpmzbWX3sdP19qOkPWi_rq2JaJvR_a7cspV1l59_CEGfUqNdq6ExlmUIgXFQu5_qd_Ih5uOl4AwMv9luZRyyvx/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Snowboarding-Duck.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa_8sEJ48EFbd5vdrzVPKdC0yX8ujcZ_d5pMMNcyoYCS0BICjlZ1aeLugnmAK9NTFRgCfQA-R4vwhbuyAtXNOilkvs4ZD0hfVD6AKNk-gfkYZpSpjcwFkGEi4YQ5U9tWEwuH-mLlHTL81sE3lnbBy3ck_GzmE-7LCj3X7uEnpUo6wng4yRM6WB3zTe5yc/s384/DoReMiFantasy_IceBlocks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa_8sEJ48EFbd5vdrzVPKdC0yX8ujcZ_d5pMMNcyoYCS0BICjlZ1aeLugnmAK9NTFRgCfQA-R4vwhbuyAtXNOilkvs4ZD0hfVD6AKNk-gfkYZpSpjcwFkGEi4YQ5U9tWEwuH-mLlHTL81sE3lnbBy3ck_GzmE-7LCj3X7uEnpUo6wng4yRM6WB3zTe5yc/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_IceBlocks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Duck down | Right: Destroying as much ice blocks as he can with his super bubble attack</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Here is a game where you find yourself going down a log ride, be propelled by a wall-spring in order to dash through a thick barricade of rocks, running against strong winds as you must evade or incapacitate any enemy that's unfortunate enough to be blown by it, jumping from snack platform to snack platform amidst a starry sky with the occasional shooting star, coming across and walking past a wine glass pyramid that fills itself with wine at the top until pours all the way to the bottom, being skyrocketed by drums that skyrocket you up high upon jumping on them, riding across and above on beamed notes that emerge from music boxes,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY2FqafKsmbNnqXug7hOsY_Z3BWtlzL35Lh5wfyJ5gWByBSNI00cx59sJSE_ejmGnA0q32tTVBw760AyrPMVfI85VEsaz8Eno7yiFd6BmkYQJBftV8X0fXG5zpw74U-Pdrl9xrDwOL4RdgA5iKpXi2QodkgTHF1wrponGk0KMfzjstcUuYS5m7Yw0nNDF/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SnowyPlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY2FqafKsmbNnqXug7hOsY_Z3BWtlzL35Lh5wfyJ5gWByBSNI00cx59sJSE_ejmGnA0q32tTVBw760AyrPMVfI85VEsaz8Eno7yiFd6BmkYQJBftV8X0fXG5zpw74U-Pdrl9xrDwOL4RdgA5iKpXi2QodkgTHF1wrponGk0KMfzjstcUuYS5m7Yw0nNDF/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SnowyPlatforming.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRfj2-OgHbWPOR2JcvbRWht4b-TefrJlRQXAFWK8LVM6KDa27PYJlWK2wRCkopbLxCze_iME0k1RBF6jeUTyYeePvcOoV3lFzPBwAHgV7uR_AV72Y6R9pX5Sy3RJTfu1eQ93NXs5tgaCsZ2XQRbyZiL8HFxQEIkz1jBvcUnNg5I5uoUPTPAjs6f9IHUAt/s384/DoReMiFantasy_InvisibleSpring.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRfj2-OgHbWPOR2JcvbRWht4b-TefrJlRQXAFWK8LVM6KDa27PYJlWK2wRCkopbLxCze_iME0k1RBF6jeUTyYeePvcOoV3lFzPBwAHgV7uR_AV72Y6R9pX5Sy3RJTfu1eQ93NXs5tgaCsZ2XQRbyZiL8HFxQEIkz1jBvcUnNg5I5uoUPTPAjs6f9IHUAt/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_InvisibleSpring.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Platforming upward | Right: Sprung up by an invisible spring</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">jumping from platform to platform of the variety that flips itself upon being stepped on (if not falling through them) a la Konami's <i>Akumajō Dracula</i>/<i>Castlevania</i> franchise, hopping from bell to bell (including the occasional one that has seen better days that looks like it might fall upon the slightest touch), carefully timing your jumps with a mouse that pokes its head out as you make use of it as a makeshift platform to reach higher places, swimming through the depths of the waters, running across a row of snowy platforms that melt upon</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDepd5-20e27oHWGWSLqORnqLB7ejArUqOMuziPwHLZ4VU5DIKScjfYaihss5D5p6Vl0fhl74ZHHylZ5eQrugvioVM-mWPdgpQEXzdYscj95uGS3GhiMY5_FFwC6vsaOwyjiZab86ZuL3YUlthM0P58VbR-oLJb3yAQ6buHDV5Eqhyphenhyphen1ESoB-YyGR3R0Ld5/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Frozen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDepd5-20e27oHWGWSLqORnqLB7ejArUqOMuziPwHLZ4VU5DIKScjfYaihss5D5p6Vl0fhl74ZHHylZ5eQrugvioVM-mWPdgpQEXzdYscj95uGS3GhiMY5_FFwC6vsaOwyjiZab86ZuL3YUlthM0P58VbR-oLJb3yAQ6buHDV5Eqhyphenhyphen1ESoB-YyGR3R0Ld5/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Frozen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jnscRea_LwMvuYOHxsWuQQGu9whSCoS72Dh7sOcQqAxGYnB3nZhvpI-dCJ4zjcWXtChcbJFw_3GNnuHBv4Vjnf91_Zn0MaQpzjXqW47CT4ab26f6NOgv9PLjhga1s76SNsgNtAgKPp0Dqbhz3a5SLCV0E7ZtyxF8ouWharO_E0jm53_RIz9kXdWIzBva/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Gliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jnscRea_LwMvuYOHxsWuQQGu9whSCoS72Dh7sOcQqAxGYnB3nZhvpI-dCJ4zjcWXtChcbJFw_3GNnuHBv4Vjnf91_Zn0MaQpzjXqW47CT4ab26f6NOgv9PLjhga1s76SNsgNtAgKPp0Dqbhz3a5SLCV0E7ZtyxF8ouWharO_E0jm53_RIz9kXdWIzBva/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Gliding.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Milon's just become frozen stiff | Right: Gliding</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">being stepped on, initially sliding on the ice upon trying to run fast until you procure a pair of snow boots after revisiting the cabin after clearing the first snow level helping Milon with his stability, bouncing on invisible springs that are positioned in midair and all while gazing at a beautiful Aurora Borealis gracing the cold sky, snowboarding down slopes and inclines while occasionally being mindful of retractable ceiling spike traps,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAWR3By5QEZ2ax3AL2xKTFnaB7IgPrVa-SWw90CeQtt3bt8eWlf-HtgUfdyI6mpXbGhKmhC3aK1u9g9eVJqj5ZLkI4OVOynwIGXGd7AtVUHGUH40Khl9LXW7DtREWXW-zM1C-6NSCxOhz_KDyf9Dk8-xsJ6y3L718b0DQadKSpPeRP3qYfDtB1z3COhND/s384/DoReMiFantasy_LongWayDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAWR3By5QEZ2ax3AL2xKTFnaB7IgPrVa-SWw90CeQtt3bt8eWlf-HtgUfdyI6mpXbGhKmhC3aK1u9g9eVJqj5ZLkI4OVOynwIGXGd7AtVUHGUH40Khl9LXW7DtREWXW-zM1C-6NSCxOhz_KDyf9Dk8-xsJ6y3L718b0DQadKSpPeRP3qYfDtB1z3COhND/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_LongWayDown.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCjgSSS-snRXFPudprlxe1MFHFKMxhJvZRwdMRWzCftzm7da8x8JlitRrF73pmuQT4cKioamiEW_PuOc0B0MxvGk7xHmUCzBESQ0EquW_jG69_z3fzCFN3IuWGLIt_CeBJDs7E1_3nbt_vheLC_yvuy-43rqK5UUBGPuBHamIO2GcxQGmvBRDKyJlblYN/s384/DoReMiFantasy_SnowballPenguin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCjgSSS-snRXFPudprlxe1MFHFKMxhJvZRwdMRWzCftzm7da8x8JlitRrF73pmuQT4cKioamiEW_PuOc0B0MxvGk7xHmUCzBESQ0EquW_jG69_z3fzCFN3IuWGLIt_CeBJDs7E1_3nbt_vheLC_yvuy-43rqK5UUBGPuBHamIO2GcxQGmvBRDKyJlblYN/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_SnowballPenguin.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: I love how he momentarily freezes in midair to notice that he's going to have a long fall, such a lovable anime charm this brings | Right: Now to move where the wind blows</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">creating a ladder composed of musical notes to reach higher places that you wouldn't be able to access with a normal jump, timing your jumps with the pillar-style platform that rises and lowers itself in the lava as the screen automatically scrolls in two separate levels, climbing the mountainside as a boulders of different sizes roll down thanks to the troglodytes, being shot out of a cannon where its aim is based on the direction it was facing by the time you press a</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9c-Su-PKIfDzsgecvXI5P_9FpVUqrhFrbry1DAoIQ0Pz51lw05wtqS939WdKB2reF0I7ZwkiUcz2igVt1FFG7tYdwioHMglcixbXCOF4vRBKsShMazYRvRsHg-RT8UUEXQLXcfzik_pqPNwCcmoqrX8CGaUqRzcZ8Iq6UclYw4FW3Tuf5UqZpjHQ_w4xg/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Bigfoot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9c-Su-PKIfDzsgecvXI5P_9FpVUqrhFrbry1DAoIQ0Pz51lw05wtqS939WdKB2reF0I7ZwkiUcz2igVt1FFG7tYdwioHMglcixbXCOF4vRBKsShMazYRvRsHg-RT8UUEXQLXcfzik_pqPNwCcmoqrX8CGaUqRzcZ8Iq6UclYw4FW3Tuf5UqZpjHQ_w4xg/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Bigfoot.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lb1IPDemUYB_osStxwqAIscjq_MfGdJlAynDq5tmcjvUTcdIPJBilZItuUceS0DUXszaZ6zlyME0VNseGNuodsYti3OA3GAuMSsNBKUPA0N6SrLBOidCqftpXFY6OnxYvMYXOm3o1g6sdraXs_Jgbs5XxOzVYiTCYAGhzzODwuRgAeC5IYR8lCb1AKtd/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Vixen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lb1IPDemUYB_osStxwqAIscjq_MfGdJlAynDq5tmcjvUTcdIPJBilZItuUceS0DUXszaZ6zlyME0VNseGNuodsYti3OA3GAuMSsNBKUPA0N6SrLBOidCqftpXFY6OnxYvMYXOm3o1g6sdraXs_Jgbs5XxOzVYiTCYAGhzzODwuRgAeC5IYR8lCb1AKtd/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Vixen.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Careful not to make direct contact with the oncoming bigfoot enemies forcibly being pushed by strong winds | Right: Blowing a bubble towards a snow vixen</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">button, riding along a pair of carousel horses as you put up with sentient flame enemies and parasols at the same time, making your way through conveyor belts and occasionally bouncing yourself on large mattresses, entering warp paintings where the correct path is secured upon selecting the right one, going seemingly innocuous stairs that suddenly turn into an escalator moving downward, and sometimes jump on platforms that are only faintly seen through their glimmer as they're seemingly invisible at first glance, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gq7tzLNRtBUT-Ub4UJF7vxpYrjTaiOcQaGicCYlZqFy1J7HmBNnQKGM1Il-cJStZttXY7Ck_IGIA0DiVvEaKQ2pPBJlSuG99haGvm8H_pf5zL3Gpd4volGhGBAEK1YhqPoaO6zrW0Sc3B3shb5by2tFqIDgnqcmJY5pj2NcXnEPgX4GOxGyK_pcDmVIU/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlexingSnowman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gq7tzLNRtBUT-Ub4UJF7vxpYrjTaiOcQaGicCYlZqFy1J7HmBNnQKGM1Il-cJStZttXY7Ck_IGIA0DiVvEaKQ2pPBJlSuG99haGvm8H_pf5zL3Gpd4volGhGBAEK1YhqPoaO6zrW0Sc3B3shb5by2tFqIDgnqcmJY5pj2NcXnEPgX4GOxGyK_pcDmVIU/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlexingSnowman.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKC8TmNJCO6_pCGyhezKrzKsFkUrXWHI1ErLOsL7pT9ZxRd6ITIRdmw5K1n7rRhdnwqlK9yUy2iL3e9atSUDulToMeYuatAe1L0vDA1oYePV9jTMuHnDX_1ylhnPBFPQwlJFgYItucwVul5KvbQWCoz7TMn75JorDe2th2sUuBNEITvkTrn5T_Qcp5FJW/s384/DoReMiFantasy_HappySnowman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKC8TmNJCO6_pCGyhezKrzKsFkUrXWHI1ErLOsL7pT9ZxRd6ITIRdmw5K1n7rRhdnwqlK9yUy2iL3e9atSUDulToMeYuatAe1L0vDA1oYePV9jTMuHnDX_1ylhnPBFPQwlJFgYItucwVul5KvbQWCoz7TMn75JorDe2th2sUuBNEITvkTrn5T_Qcp5FJW/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_HappySnowman.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Flex | Right: Happy snowman </b>⛄</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">There is a wondrously unique quality to Jun Chikuma's approach to<i> DoReMi Fantasy</i>'s music with the occasional accompaniment (if not total use) of ambient sound effects that I cannot envision this platformer any other way. There is a nice and smooth gradual sense of progression in terms of how it slightly augments its difficulty the farther you go along while never straying too far from the easy-normal difficulty spectrum. Most of the boss battles are easily manageable with the simple strategy of blowing bubbles at them, though there are exceptions (sometimes it's hard to evade the flurry of snowballs the snowman lobs at you, when the sun switches over to the moon side it occasionally rains a meteor shower at you that happens so swiftly, and Amon is pretty difficult the first several tries until you memorize his pattern and know exactly how to avert his harmful seeker powers when doubled).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz9bs45l14yJIsBYsHexWDCKGH-QDKBFNIlOcpCS_CAthiI1QUKZLKImXJwOH8YsNz8kHp0Gm0OIQDuwDd-UVSBFgUEXIzQAAScQiseSjBNBmA6dezRwgMABHV_8JJejpin43ovEPY55IyEfgLgTI7rCDhI-iFuh8I0Yi4ZUKWUF0fZGPFOO4RBaI3FPd/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Hedgehog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz9bs45l14yJIsBYsHexWDCKGH-QDKBFNIlOcpCS_CAthiI1QUKZLKImXJwOH8YsNz8kHp0Gm0OIQDuwDd-UVSBFgUEXIzQAAScQiseSjBNBmA6dezRwgMABHV_8JJejpin43ovEPY55IyEfgLgTI7rCDhI-iFuh8I0Yi4ZUKWUF0fZGPFOO4RBaI3FPd/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Hedgehog.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVypUfLsfes3AbWOmpE3VgOI8NiI1VqcxdTlw6HCNfN5FWZleNm0k7s7NWAm1L3TZ1ZPU4J8U1lNxRRKDdR8ZHFouuJViSIOZQr1PrysqixKYFrPtYEl9_eKF4hS9PyCet6t1UhWIdRTeoFyzCYGfarfhQV3jMD6Fc8j8bvG7qcYMMhEOwftNy4FJ5YcHx/s384/DoReMiFantasy_MusicalLadder.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVypUfLsfes3AbWOmpE3VgOI8NiI1VqcxdTlw6HCNfN5FWZleNm0k7s7NWAm1L3TZ1ZPU4J8U1lNxRRKDdR8ZHFouuJViSIOZQr1PrysqixKYFrPtYEl9_eKF4hS9PyCet6t1UhWIdRTeoFyzCYGfarfhQV3jMD6Fc8j8bvG7qcYMMhEOwftNy4FJ5YcHx/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_MusicalLadder.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Hedgehog about to roll ahead | Right: Climbing on a musical note ladder</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">With all the good that the game has got going for it, there are a few nitpicks I have; they don't ruin the game for me or anything, it's just something that's difficult not to notice when they do occur. Once in a while there is the odd moment of slowdown when there's too much activity happening at once which is bizarre for a 1996 Super Famicom game, but it's worth bearing in mind that this game was made for an 8-MegaBit sized cartridge. I always found it a bit odd in retrospect that Amon showed up at the introduction as a musclebound entity yet when you eventually face him in the end he doesn't appear as such. As I got older I figured that he's a shapeshifter and can make himself appear as anything he wants, really, though in hindsight it's baffling that he just wanted to show off his muscles at the beginning.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchi8dHWuIoi2sKZAL_SaD6j5BIn0HL9AW4PcxufU7k9EV46RmncVYXTDLTC3m6gQ2QKUkf0sTr6feZaq8MAtzSn9VZ3BXbNp5apWOxsFzElmp7kfigGh2-jtC2arGVCPSWigIQhcKvCQjtGIls_1gHaJsgop3MfKHBGEwAVB3PC-rbnv8sWEk3lP9L75/s198/DoReMiFantasy_Flute.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="198" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchi8dHWuIoi2sKZAL_SaD6j5BIn0HL9AW4PcxufU7k9EV46RmncVYXTDLTC3m6gQ2QKUkf0sTr6feZaq8MAtzSn9VZ3BXbNp5apWOxsFzElmp7kfigGh2-jtC2arGVCPSWigIQhcKvCQjtGIls_1gHaJsgop3MfKHBGEwAVB3PC-rbnv8sWEk3lP9L75/s1600/DoReMiFantasy_Flute.png" width="198" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJgH3lxWLwTxo8s2AcLrWOPkeUWXEmZ2hNUk_z45ZR3i_NwmOHVJ_y0RhoNDpIwS6-mMmjZCL9938KI576jQ2Aj9RmZkgHuBvE71xSy8iaoZnSfCBK9oypOnmOewdOwQ42OHji7vfy6bCiJSHBHuXshvVPS0zx3TKHqxBMik3Swph_VIKuVzN4uCaqtnD/s198/DoReMiFantasy_Ocarina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="198" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJgH3lxWLwTxo8s2AcLrWOPkeUWXEmZ2hNUk_z45ZR3i_NwmOHVJ_y0RhoNDpIwS6-mMmjZCL9938KI576jQ2Aj9RmZkgHuBvE71xSy8iaoZnSfCBK9oypOnmOewdOwQ42OHji7vfy6bCiJSHBHuXshvVPS0zx3TKHqxBMik3Swph_VIKuVzN4uCaqtnD/s1600/DoReMiFantasy_Ocarina.png" width="198" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">When you bring the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1057s">flute</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODcI9TYwE44&t=1829s">ocarina</a> to Hoshi and Kone after acquiring the five stars, neither wind instrument sounds as it should. You could make a case that Amon cursed these instruments to the point that they don't sound right, except the other three legendary instruments (the accordion, the trumpet, and the harp) all sound accurate. Very strange. It's not like the Nintendo 16-bit console couldn't be able to replicate the sound of the flute, Quintet's </span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Gaia Gensōki</i>/<i>Illusion of Gaia</i>/<i>Illusion of Time</i> proved that years earlier.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqUUonzFqorUmsJphWaWxOZFrXZLAzenO6fbLSB3JzTRFTKhd7HO2u6fsapGD1CJ-hLYAGrCqyMtN9oo4lOHOHjJFDD3Fs56uWMMd25xK3q_rtDQabpSdyQHLU_vCox0r4f_e5pqImfW-4T_Lni-oqDqTm7ACfeM2gd_P1zIxrrjSFLPnjJ478LpU87T5/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Choose.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqUUonzFqorUmsJphWaWxOZFrXZLAzenO6fbLSB3JzTRFTKhd7HO2u6fsapGD1CJ-hLYAGrCqyMtN9oo4lOHOHjJFDD3Fs56uWMMd25xK3q_rtDQabpSdyQHLU_vCox0r4f_e5pqImfW-4T_Lni-oqDqTm7ACfeM2gd_P1zIxrrjSFLPnjJ478LpU87T5/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_Choose.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">One could make the argument that these two exclusively amount to over-glorified cameos in this game, but I do still appreciate these little Easter eggs nonetheless</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I do feel the need to address the elephant in the room, and that's the one thing about <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> that has aged the least well over time. At the beginning of the second stage there is a path that has been blocked by a giant candy cane which cannot be eaten, which is when Milon encounters the dentist Dr. Memory who informs you that the only way to get through is to enlist the help of his Bombermen that he has created who will blow it up for you to get through, but you can only choose either Black Bomberman or White Bomberman to help you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZSHqe6LD0qZA9-wEZ_u8ZiKpZEnALXG7InZV7kbwuEvRQarL0TrVCGc3xAtECJ9y1J2keQfnFrIJBZn6lG7YsfiEEios6nd1nj1V0nHOKZf7VA9c1gYU1H9-rsFzIRS9nqaChT4qYnlTbNX6k7q3NJPXTUyOQMEMoWQfwiefECq0ANtAt0dCdJ7nQDr1/s199/DoReMiFantasy_BlackBomberman.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="199" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZSHqe6LD0qZA9-wEZ_u8ZiKpZEnALXG7InZV7kbwuEvRQarL0TrVCGc3xAtECJ9y1J2keQfnFrIJBZn6lG7YsfiEEios6nd1nj1V0nHOKZf7VA9c1gYU1H9-rsFzIRS9nqaChT4qYnlTbNX6k7q3NJPXTUyOQMEMoWQfwiefECq0ANtAt0dCdJ7nQDr1/s1600/DoReMiFantasy_BlackBomberman.gif" width="199" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ4_CxYxEUsr5VOodTvljkUKpM2owGpv_IPw_97lRB77PQ6FouGOiiCaJTmQ1gZGBbPn7IT6Y0S2pQ3Veooz9aso07lBS_IrM-z9Oy_4KC6j1xcXs0mh81HeQ02qPBi_lEjVE2-AKShEwGTwhYNRi7ssd1YNy6Gx2463A8c0HSFj31s4wtOyqR_5fTAza/s199/DoReMiFantasy_WhiteBomberman.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="199" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ4_CxYxEUsr5VOodTvljkUKpM2owGpv_IPw_97lRB77PQ6FouGOiiCaJTmQ1gZGBbPn7IT6Y0S2pQ3Veooz9aso07lBS_IrM-z9Oy_4KC6j1xcXs0mh81HeQ02qPBi_lEjVE2-AKShEwGTwhYNRi7ssd1YNy6Gx2463A8c0HSFj31s4wtOyqR_5fTAza/s1600/DoReMiFantasy_WhiteBomberman.gif" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Admit it, you all chose the first option the first time you played it without even having been aware of what was going to happen... yeah, I did too </b>😓</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">The outcome depending whom you choose is a very huge contrast, albeit of the "yikes" territory retrospectively. 😬 Now I don't believe Hudson Soft meant any ill will when creating this brief scenario, but I don't think they fully considered how this major contrast could be interpreted or read as for the implications are incredibly unfortunate if you stopped to think about it long enough. I almost always choose the second option because of this.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdi0NZvmKkI67nUR64anTRKQFNpiuSNWUW2xL7s4u73dxL9EvpXnY2-2QPs_Kd9Nnq1YzvDjjkeU9IjPu8Q91tBOf7GAaoMdRyqam6ThXADTAUBPFVR_FvTE5LM_w8_vDoDRum9DBelXsWK54Dre1h7fYCsxY4v3-SkcoWvoGa_n9w2Algusp5AQrO8OV/s384/DoReMiFantasy_RopeBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdi0NZvmKkI67nUR64anTRKQFNpiuSNWUW2xL7s4u73dxL9EvpXnY2-2QPs_Kd9Nnq1YzvDjjkeU9IjPu8Q91tBOf7GAaoMdRyqam6ThXADTAUBPFVR_FvTE5LM_w8_vDoDRum9DBelXsWK54Dre1h7fYCsxY4v3-SkcoWvoGa_n9w2Algusp5AQrO8OV/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_RopeBridge.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvjw1s-OkrHTAw6ChFxmmPJQ94Xi9zr2mLE1kQubIHRgq0JkxtZHkdFaROZ6JA4sJyIM2Y73jyjewl6BA5dAsWJD8m6JTqM9X8UaYdzB5qjLrtxW35YRFUEzlw3sSsojJKU2zL6Gurte_jpms4u07-X6LR_m2wPQhIrrI9S3e_kQCaWw5ER2t5I6Wus8W/s384/DoReMiFantasy_MountainClimbing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvjw1s-OkrHTAw6ChFxmmPJQ94Xi9zr2mLE1kQubIHRgq0JkxtZHkdFaROZ6JA4sJyIM2Y73jyjewl6BA5dAsWJD8m6JTqM9X8UaYdzB5qjLrtxW35YRFUEzlw3sSsojJKU2zL6Gurte_jpms4u07-X6LR_m2wPQhIrrI9S3e_kQCaWw5ER2t5I6Wus8W/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_MountainClimbing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Don't stand too long on the broken wood of the rope bridge lest you wish to fall down along with it | Right: Mountain climbing</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">On the subject </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Bomberman</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">, Milon himself has made </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">his</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> share of appearances in the forty-year old franchise, having shown up as a cameo in the password screen of Produce's </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Super Bomberman 2</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> and shows up as a playable character alongside other Hudson Soft alumni in </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Saturn Bomberman</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">. 💣 It all comes full circle with these two separate IPs.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHZFKuBxQoDsinbsWyzTwXKwc5ENpCvdeMQrhcCwCaOvJGzql4T4AzIGORFcfC7O8QbGYBt4ZSiRY7uBBeeKNjm1FfvXpVT1TTU4TRt0KXIA4W9L3w81nefR5L5GKzMSnU5ZcI7QhOg-1sxIWfCpTCKh0-5iZZAbvfzQi6CzM-jgkLvn0I7kAmS2OnXA8/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Sun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHZFKuBxQoDsinbsWyzTwXKwc5ENpCvdeMQrhcCwCaOvJGzql4T4AzIGORFcfC7O8QbGYBt4ZSiRY7uBBeeKNjm1FfvXpVT1TTU4TRt0KXIA4W9L3w81nefR5L5GKzMSnU5ZcI7QhOg-1sxIWfCpTCKh0-5iZZAbvfzQi6CzM-jgkLvn0I7kAmS2OnXA8/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Sun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7__JOBnLuRG6TfGJripVNhZd6tCapgGgJUXvhWOiXONqkXs67Kchai4RCP6Rkcbn43kdDwdwSk7FD4neYtgJrTC3F9uXBBmb-qiqSj2R0D1hKxY76_VoDoTfY1fjnjw6T9kK4O7lFYW-6PzLn49F57JKz6iSrNqnKblDRxeH-p8OjFoRHOt6KPlUmUDAg/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Moon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7__JOBnLuRG6TfGJripVNhZd6tCapgGgJUXvhWOiXONqkXs67Kchai4RCP6Rkcbn43kdDwdwSk7FD4neYtgJrTC3F9uXBBmb-qiqSj2R0D1hKxY76_VoDoTfY1fjnjw6T9kK4O7lFYW-6PzLn49F57JKz6iSrNqnKblDRxeH-p8OjFoRHOt6KPlUmUDAg/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Moon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Where there's a sun, </b>🌞<b> | Right: there's a moon </b>🌙</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I think what impresses me the most about </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> is learning that prior to this game, most of the people involved have not had a direct involvement in the platforming genre, particularly its game designers* and programmers**.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Tadayuki Kawada and Kōji Innami</b></span></div><div><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">** </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yasuhiro Kosaka, Atsuo Nagata, and Tetsuharu Takashima</span></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMV5OKJgwU-ikTE68KlSbOZS0NhHW3tvBA9UJcnv3HGYRDwRmHtE7B5_u75t1WedU-V_FgJrxRQKNv6Grem9svHyKEPrFQgDYjx1SDzN85Tpy3UZZ50Yes03bw2Dz8WiCEBEds0RRSxeF5aB59A5T7HtUGGIh_yNjlU4g4DvW1yHIP-47UPCUHLOEbomx/s302/StarParodier_PC-Engine.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="302" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMV5OKJgwU-ikTE68KlSbOZS0NhHW3tvBA9UJcnv3HGYRDwRmHtE7B5_u75t1WedU-V_FgJrxRQKNv6Grem9svHyKEPrFQgDYjx1SDzN85Tpy3UZZ50Yes03bw2Dz8WiCEBEds0RRSxeF5aB59A5T7HtUGGIh_yNjlU4g4DvW1yHIP-47UPCUHLOEbomx/s1600/StarParodier_PC-Engine.gif" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>My all-time favorite NEC PC Engine CD-ROM² game </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">ever</u><b>! </b>🥰</span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Kawada previously worked on the design for Inter State's vertical shoot'em up <i>Super Star Soldier</i> as well as Inter State and Kaneko's cute'em <i>Star Parodier</i> while </span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Innami had experience on Red Company's <i>Tengai Maky</i></span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>ō</i> RPG series with quality assurance and game planning support. Meanwhile, Kosaka previously worked on programming for Hudson Soft's racer </span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Victory Run: Eikou no 13,000KM</i>/<i>Victory Run</i>, the maze game <i>Bomberman II</i>/<i>Dynablaster</i>, and Red Company's <i>Tengai Makyō: Fūun Kabuki Den</i>, Nagata programmed Hudson Soft's vertical shoot'em up <i>Hector '87</i>/<i>Starship Hector</i>, Sofix Corporation's interactive digital comic <i>Sadakichi Seven: Hideyoshi no Ōgon</i>, and Hudson Soft's first NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 <i>Bomberman</i>, and finally Takashima had only worked on <i>Tengai Makyō: Fūun Kabuki Den</i> as programmer before this.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLom9hGs9Lj3WbTEi37u9uS0FHIF37_93yvwN4ij-Dc7t4hNuc_wlNkYL83ayIcdyxlVyoz5pTJ6nD2jX1A1Cw-zwI3GfxnhB03AMMIwXBYD-w67iDSwShk1_TnciyVfUYitEBVZSwzzwYxCDp5BnHhGXfiRKvIUFC3t5awryK-409Cd1VUd20BMN0ncu/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ToyTrains.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLom9hGs9Lj3WbTEi37u9uS0FHIF37_93yvwN4ij-Dc7t4hNuc_wlNkYL83ayIcdyxlVyoz5pTJ6nD2jX1A1Cw-zwI3GfxnhB03AMMIwXBYD-w67iDSwShk1_TnciyVfUYitEBVZSwzzwYxCDp5BnHhGXfiRKvIUFC3t5awryK-409Cd1VUd20BMN0ncu/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ToyTrains.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVx8z72Hruf_mVFdAL9GoZBnHC2M-H0aS1K5j-AqmmZXG3xVT5Z1Dp-mGKSCIFHjRf9x5OXg7MZbPOiri2YjQsF5VbnApFHi2lZjJhyphenhyphen6w5qp8Wx0qXqUdotxWl5A3zrc5m_-nK82pYtNUECWLK5EOezuaM9bl34p-dlKsvMzY2vYMW8wdHDcU9U6WrxhR/s384/DoReMiFantasy_ShotOutOfCannon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVx8z72Hruf_mVFdAL9GoZBnHC2M-H0aS1K5j-AqmmZXG3xVT5Z1Dp-mGKSCIFHjRf9x5OXg7MZbPOiri2YjQsF5VbnApFHi2lZjJhyphenhyphen6w5qp8Wx0qXqUdotxWl5A3zrc5m_-nK82pYtNUECWLK5EOezuaM9bl34p-dlKsvMzY2vYMW8wdHDcU9U6WrxhR/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_ShotOutOfCannon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Wooden toy train | Right: Fired from a cannon</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">All different genres for sure, but you'd never surmise based on </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">'s quality control and polish that they never had a hand in the platformer genre and that this was their first rodeo, and yet against all odds they managed to not only succeed at stepping out of their comfort zone but </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">also</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> manage to craft one of the best top-tier platformers on the Nintendo 16-bit console in my humble opinion while doing so. 😲 I'd imagine that in their off time they decided to explore the genre to see what worked and what didn't when it came to these types of games, and if that was the case I'm glad they did. </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Amazing</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">!!! Just when I thought I couldn't possibly have enough reasons to love this game, I found yet another. 😍</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgEWbgGCn8SIG-x91deVfNbE3ENjh2kBJ-QStGt7t1Fo2OSiSzKdij8ZLg_zMmFPb8kpioPI97f75sCrxdisTafiEOnMEJ1dVzUgs2sdQwbHZBVaXMw4NElB_E1kUljvhBCVTsEn3tHPJrJU837pVWD56tc0kb6PcuSlXxW9odLnYQV5GRrNDEI7oDS-n/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BalloonHopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgEWbgGCn8SIG-x91deVfNbE3ENjh2kBJ-QStGt7t1Fo2OSiSzKdij8ZLg_zMmFPb8kpioPI97f75sCrxdisTafiEOnMEJ1dVzUgs2sdQwbHZBVaXMw4NElB_E1kUljvhBCVTsEn3tHPJrJU837pVWD56tc0kb6PcuSlXxW9odLnYQV5GRrNDEI7oDS-n/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BalloonHopping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixcMgMoqDv9PcS1iFLMohJYazL8DWUlVI4HSJ1CLbGouBAdUsef7AngivgUo443MJOwWFkM9NFuYVi62pQPDo6DmIBB7t6r303_rhuU4gBNlnFA06aKkl02rh9nd51St4D3qqynnzp3we-xYGNj5EiH6mAEJn6O8zScYbqZK1lYZNVscz375CfkOuW6t/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Cannon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNixcMgMoqDv9PcS1iFLMohJYazL8DWUlVI4HSJ1CLbGouBAdUsef7AngivgUo443MJOwWFkM9NFuYVi62pQPDo6DmIBB7t6r303_rhuU4gBNlnFA06aKkl02rh9nd51St4D3qqynnzp3we-xYGNj5EiH6mAEJn6O8zScYbqZK1lYZNVscz375CfkOuW6t/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Cannon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Balloon hopping </b>🎈<b> | Right: Making my way towards a cannon</b></span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">With all the positive traits and qualities that </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> has got, all the creative scenarios I've mentioned, the high amount of imagination and infinitely lighthearted anime charm, not to mention how absolutely polished the game feels in regards to its controls and structure and level design... absolutely none of that sounds like it even is </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">remotely</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> descriptive of a game warranting a 23 out of 40--that's less than 60% if you do the math. It's still shocking that anyone would even give this game that low of a rating, I have to wonder if </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Famitsu</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> simply had a bad day and took it out on a game that didn't deserve it (when there are games that are far more deserving of </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">it</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> than Milon's second venue). But that's just</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3gjWU_HXXDgT5dhHaRD4wQCfaOP1j1ISldKZG01Td44IGB88bY0J4pNR0NEn8_6MxdI1MszECV4LVnvmPhwEaortx-esJnu5WJXebjPld_4W-xonBEseGo_vkJh_C1TXGoUaDx23FwtSCEGj1U19PBG0h3e13sgdyx2pZiCGkeRBcZuJ3HKSCIocw53d/s384/DoReMiFantasy_KingMouth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3gjWU_HXXDgT5dhHaRD4wQCfaOP1j1ISldKZG01Td44IGB88bY0J4pNR0NEn8_6MxdI1MszECV4LVnvmPhwEaortx-esJnu5WJXebjPld_4W-xonBEseGo_vkJh_C1TXGoUaDx23FwtSCEGj1U19PBG0h3e13sgdyx2pZiCGkeRBcZuJ3HKSCIocw53d/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_KingMouth.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin66qYfQpaHr_5Q7p-3tc61sTjFTqi7n9cCpjAuQEit7oTZEYNID7l4xRQ6ElQKyNC8tXuqvRpLbveD42BlI2-ce-6qq_HT5XSyW4zToYaqjRqcmcqc0jNR2u3A1Tm_oMnRomK6-zA2-R_tMARLKX8osGi-HBUvayaNCGV2MXyzeogk6EonmkQjNBn6n0p/s384/DoReMiFantasy_MattressBouncing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin66qYfQpaHr_5Q7p-3tc61sTjFTqi7n9cCpjAuQEit7oTZEYNID7l4xRQ6ElQKyNC8tXuqvRpLbveD42BlI2-ce-6qq_HT5XSyW4zToYaqjRqcmcqc0jNR2u3A1Tm_oMnRomK6-zA2-R_tMARLKX8osGi-HBUvayaNCGV2MXyzeogk6EonmkQjNBn6n0p/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_MattressBouncing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Going through a door designed like a king's mouth | Right: Mattress bouncing</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">speculation or conjecture, the truth is we weren't there therefore we do not know what happened behind closed doors. Obviously given the accolades that </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">DoReMi Fantasy</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> has been receiving these past fifteen years or so, not many people agree with </span><i style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Famitsu</i><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">'s score on this one, </span><b style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I</b><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"> don't even agree with it. I just want to clarify that this is not an anti-critic stance so much as an anti-gatekeeper stance, it helps to know how to distinguish between the two. When it comes to works of fictional media, there is no right or wrong when it comes to having an opinion on them (like something or not, that's all subjective in the end, so long as you're respectful about it), no one person's opinion is an end-all be-all nor is it meant to be taken as gospel (i.e. to be viewed as fact). It is just that: an opinion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr0jYNotEvpdEbE-HRYP8NN4ttqA4Pfzxuj5Llffq9xpYdFhOeV8NTCl7nfpIvKrAYFF0Pwn3VVatB4-imrUeK6ZvuRr9VV02XhLjL9pwHZB4FweheEfc8E-J7xDTv_nG28eZzhv9hSAPgs_eza3P2iM54Ic-ilXuLPaf_8SQ5v8trXoeQZjiJ9dq_QfC/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Carousel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr0jYNotEvpdEbE-HRYP8NN4ttqA4Pfzxuj5Llffq9xpYdFhOeV8NTCl7nfpIvKrAYFF0Pwn3VVatB4-imrUeK6ZvuRr9VV02XhLjL9pwHZB4FweheEfc8E-J7xDTv_nG28eZzhv9hSAPgs_eza3P2iM54Ic-ilXuLPaf_8SQ5v8trXoeQZjiJ9dq_QfC/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Carousel.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgjm1I4EeDL4yEZO1bBv_V8GTF_WFR2xmg5ZnenyHSTMlpXpVLVu681tIXPYnDTxwCL8FhkSAeXAvqRtEKXSJ4fozFJsO5miGlrA6Aw1RxBxTu-6gs3KI6zpiardj03vIuA-yEnnMXj0TWmSLXYeTg5HLknwGWFSuJNF48MZpM9m2WoXTyRcjeysiQ5Za/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledDrum.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgjm1I4EeDL4yEZO1bBv_V8GTF_WFR2xmg5ZnenyHSTMlpXpVLVu681tIXPYnDTxwCL8FhkSAeXAvqRtEKXSJ4fozFJsO5miGlrA6Aw1RxBxTu-6gs3KI6zpiardj03vIuA-yEnnMXj0TWmSLXYeTg5HLknwGWFSuJNF48MZpM9m2WoXTyRcjeysiQ5Za/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BubbledDrum.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Contending with parasols and sentient flames while riding on carousel horses </b>🎠<b> | Right: Bubbled a bothersome drum that sprouted a couple bombs instead of a jack in the box clown head</b></span></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">Even if <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> <b>wasn't</b> considered to be among the best platforming titles, it is generally thought of as a very good game by many who got to play it. It may not have as historical a significance as Nintendo's <i>Super Mario</i> franchise (especially their Nintendo 16-bit launch title <i>Super Mario World</i>) as far as the platforming genre is concerned, but it has a very important significance to <b>me</b>. It was the first Super Famicom game I ever played, my love and adoration for it at the time got me to discover RVGFanatic's website where I learned about more Super Famicom games that it genuinely made me interested in Japan-exclusive games. It wouldn't be until 2012 that I would actively seek Super Famicom games in their physical format, on the RetroDuo system*, starting with HAL Laboratory's <i>Alcahest</i>. Throughout the years, I would catch up with so many Super Famicom games that I never would've thought possible or dreamed beyond my wildest dreams when I was younger.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* Had I known that the Super Famicom console had an outlet plug just like the North American Super Nintendo console at the time, I would've gone for that from the start but wouldn't receive it until the Christmas of 2015</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IURVd56vyqaxcgpIb0hsoPFOYhiOyiw9FKplhcH6cSbqhERH3OgwCD1xnv5Am31KbwqoEpDuHO06WXa24u8Vwr4uNU7FYC_kMfLco69apqbMdg8oC6mCpGeIuUlFguhbVeUQZV4jdGVt1Wa8yPk0rCv5r-gYWTOKx3UPRAi-Tq_DXboaRIA_mVhRN1EP/s384/MrNutz_SNES.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IURVd56vyqaxcgpIb0hsoPFOYhiOyiw9FKplhcH6cSbqhERH3OgwCD1xnv5Am31KbwqoEpDuHO06WXa24u8Vwr4uNU7FYC_kMfLco69apqbMdg8oC6mCpGeIuUlFguhbVeUQZV4jdGVt1Wa8yPk0rCv5r-gYWTOKx3UPRAi-Tq_DXboaRIA_mVhRN1EP/w200-h155/MrNutz_SNES.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvQ_8Z01eH_jqI_RzlIF73LIc2WO1aBoC3B5L4wPAP9z9an-Qb-nqdKo-sSgIV45NbZDJVW3Bs6mCzYdwXUuRnc1xVxE8h7J-tIpLClmiRSOioSLrwmDGdA_S5dXhe7zd8ZRl5j7Ca9YGrys7ZUpIlreHbaiBsDvRamr9LHUpymr5SXYgyrGXnlcZXm61/s384/Alcahest_SuperFamicom.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvQ_8Z01eH_jqI_RzlIF73LIc2WO1aBoC3B5L4wPAP9z9an-Qb-nqdKo-sSgIV45NbZDJVW3Bs6mCzYdwXUuRnc1xVxE8h7J-tIpLClmiRSOioSLrwmDGdA_S5dXhe7zd8ZRl5j7Ca9YGrys7ZUpIlreHbaiBsDvRamr9LHUpymr5SXYgyrGXnlcZXm61/w200-h156/Alcahest_SuperFamicom.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Both games turn 30 this year, incredible!</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> is one of those special Nintendo 16-bit games that mean so much to me as a gamer that I could never envision life without having played it, like Ocean Software's <i>Mr. Nutz</i> and the aforementioned <i>Alcahest</i> just to name a couple others. There are a lot more I could name, but the point I'm trying to make is that it's got a special place in my heart. 💗</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iASWKqMKD4ncLWZp7QqwnxumE0cHXegTL30ILBNqxUFAmlXLbNtO-0zY8ZxI3R_JyTFJ6LlNPaKpH2ybzZaIrDYK7odwjv6sXtZP1ZC2ws_Ngk61QNYFvffPI5OMj1C5a6yy8XDyCdHT8y3LD8zj_PuMGSEjMnVusrZMf-7mLWQAVmjwMtrbikME4c5b/s384/DoReMiFantasy_TongueGhost.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iASWKqMKD4ncLWZp7QqwnxumE0cHXegTL30ILBNqxUFAmlXLbNtO-0zY8ZxI3R_JyTFJ6LlNPaKpH2ybzZaIrDYK7odwjv6sXtZP1ZC2ws_Ngk61QNYFvffPI5OMj1C5a6yy8XDyCdHT8y3LD8zj_PuMGSEjMnVusrZMf-7mLWQAVmjwMtrbikME4c5b/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_TongueGhost.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQmIurjLJP8km6z1W59mRAaQApvMtAXq0pjOfC95mvHXIEAFoaVZPKazGZvcfJXaU_spbPx_3hNUPYl-gRB9M_sAtl61iyu8vMEvxayciPCNbDiVs2FBV2u9UzuVlWdvtpVUMlEW8BzRPcNtQ3B_4xh9r9lFEsQjx3fruMiI5pSSzGpZmT0oE3IRw0aEY/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Grounded.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQmIurjLJP8km6z1W59mRAaQApvMtAXq0pjOfC95mvHXIEAFoaVZPKazGZvcfJXaU_spbPx_3hNUPYl-gRB9M_sAtl61iyu8vMEvxayciPCNbDiVs2FBV2u9UzuVlWdvtpVUMlEW8BzRPcNtQ3B_4xh9r9lFEsQjx3fruMiI5pSSzGpZmT0oE3IRw0aEY/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Grounded.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Tongue ghost </b>👅<b> | Right: Grounded</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> is my favorite platformer with Hudson Soft's name attached to it in one form or another, and I love coming back to it every now and again. 😊 As Christmas of 2018 was approaching, I figured, "Why not ask for the physical Super Famicom cartridge this year?" so I put it alongside three other Super Famicom games on the list but wouldn't receive any of them until <b>after</b> Christmas Day because I wasn't punctual when making the list. It arrived at the start of 2019 and it is just as fun to play in its native Super Famicom format as it was in its downloadable format on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaWnxiX0fLjjohBIlEOu5lltU3V30g_9GwEJTd014FoqWYlQUHqMJP4nb1mb0TYmsutNeUsZo8Ym4PBpbcT4eNsS3GWWWf5-2KaaHcXewaWhw_f6lQ9xpjxD7qeCBmZdX7gHhbIcJE2dtPbV3ufon7V2V4X4VGk5iaDv93W1dHgyIhQt3SoJPBWx7vL8O/s384/DoReMiFantasy_GiftBoss-PhaseOne.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaWnxiX0fLjjohBIlEOu5lltU3V30g_9GwEJTd014FoqWYlQUHqMJP4nb1mb0TYmsutNeUsZo8Ym4PBpbcT4eNsS3GWWWf5-2KaaHcXewaWhw_f6lQ9xpjxD7qeCBmZdX7gHhbIcJE2dtPbV3ufon7V2V4X4VGk5iaDv93W1dHgyIhQt3SoJPBWx7vL8O/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_GiftBoss-PhaseOne.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqW3GQwiuU0GTg9ZttKXsdocKUPPI1BL4NASiVjqQ5bXuK13Hsa7SdL3jYJZqZfM2sAoo1BeKddb2relXFA7WfJ7LM_BSYqnAY2eYTo1M_APo6_aZYLEcZkqeiZWdiy4d5uThs77vaqDfcwCiqsgP9TqRp7JUX9BL5noVbJufPIrLqD7LW3Q_dtNEhPoP/s384/DoReMiFantasy_GiftBoss-PhaseTwo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqW3GQwiuU0GTg9ZttKXsdocKUPPI1BL4NASiVjqQ5bXuK13Hsa7SdL3jYJZqZfM2sAoo1BeKddb2relXFA7WfJ7LM_BSYqnAY2eYTo1M_APo6_aZYLEcZkqeiZWdiy4d5uThs77vaqDfcwCiqsgP9TqRp7JUX9BL5noVbJufPIrLqD7LW3Q_dtNEhPoP/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_GiftBoss-PhaseTwo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: It's a boss that's literally gift-wrapped for you | Right: Oh no, now that the ribbon is gone the boss has gone crazy and cannot maintain control of itself!</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">With the closure of the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console in 2019, there was no longer any way to add Nintendo Wii Points funds or to download games off of there. Until that point it was the only Western exposure <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> ever had outside of Japan for the one-plus decade that it lasted, and now it's no more. In its native Super Famicom format, its status as a classic has made it somewhat of a collector's item that's highly sought out. Sometimes it's a good idea to have a way to play a game on more than one platform, and it is not exclusive to this title specifically, for should anything happen to my Super Famicom or to my Nintendo Wii, I'll still have a way to play <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i>. It's a win-win! 😄👍</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt05KXe_8esZ04gzCV1G_QaIa2XYEvQzfU3swKYSm36d7lkqPIJiWPxUzYkHMENbR9NqMW0t3yde7EYK_de8972CLxdaSpzNDUqs7xMfTIEu7F3H9wbiGE-NyAHBpcrXvPir4XOrp-pt4SU6BGMUky6LimmlpSpe8I3sN_m7k0yJZ7Tag_sQqupMG_oHP/s384/DoReMiFantasy_GhostWitch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt05KXe_8esZ04gzCV1G_QaIa2XYEvQzfU3swKYSm36d7lkqPIJiWPxUzYkHMENbR9NqMW0t3yde7EYK_de8972CLxdaSpzNDUqs7xMfTIEu7F3H9wbiGE-NyAHBpcrXvPir4XOrp-pt4SU6BGMUky6LimmlpSpe8I3sN_m7k0yJZ7Tag_sQqupMG_oHP/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_GhostWitch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PjBgk9d36chWCJCYDswfhkoL-LaukSEgvQryYUPRWubErI2OPm0SHsrjFSfugOe0ua0zwNUkF0NhjC-l548OorTj6dJRc4DkO3XtkPzLH3Zk5uaWbGU1eMVaJA822ZXSPW2QK-f9R3OaoDHbNuAm-pwf15-0v7NVAa-x4H0Mw8zVtWDoun4uEekqUmTf/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Hoppy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PjBgk9d36chWCJCYDswfhkoL-LaukSEgvQryYUPRWubErI2OPm0SHsrjFSfugOe0ua0zwNUkF0NhjC-l548OorTj6dJRc4DkO3XtkPzLH3Zk5uaWbGU1eMVaJA822ZXSPW2QK-f9R3OaoDHbNuAm-pwf15-0v7NVAa-x4H0Mw8zVtWDoun4uEekqUmTf/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_Hoppy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Beware the ghost witch </b>👻<b> | Right: It's a hoppy guy</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">At best, <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> takes roughly two and a half to three hours to play through to the end which is doable, but if you don't feel like you have the time to do it all in one go there is a password system. The thing about the four-digit password is that you're only given it in the game over screen after losing your last life, but it's not really that hard enough of a game that it's going to happen all that frequently (if at all) unless you were playing it on your worst of gaming days. The manageable difficulty makes its length fairly reasonable in my opinion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmSVmhA9lgrTpYDTCu4Duc3K4TyhLl0sHsXyGal5PNfpCKLC4YPhHYK7JlP5cbO56DZ-pqKLyOkKUeXB0RDVmvbXtBPzKiqbKpSpFUhnAR_SBZbxLyKigv8orqz2ypsEYvY9InrCIAy3_MpSEzdxMjPD1OAEUkPtaq8N8TVeTy-luzfrBupyNJkX-rMRr/s384/DoReMiFantasy_PortraitWarp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmSVmhA9lgrTpYDTCu4Duc3K4TyhLl0sHsXyGal5PNfpCKLC4YPhHYK7JlP5cbO56DZ-pqKLyOkKUeXB0RDVmvbXtBPzKiqbKpSpFUhnAR_SBZbxLyKigv8orqz2ypsEYvY9InrCIAy3_MpSEzdxMjPD1OAEUkPtaq8N8TVeTy-luzfrBupyNJkX-rMRr/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_PortraitWarp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEphkxXp7TXLPpbbpjY0QyIE-Us4Y_lGHhrJVSptqBkddScnXzlUA1gF0U1mDOPiG2vJmKq012-FNudzjmqd9wMHdLUAp7G8G__waW0HF4HyDvK93Snc4NGEgNBNEr7PK8pyzFrEy3__H7vSZywma7dG0h1R5-TGJCWAI_2M_PI4v_eb82Xsr1H8RS158H/s384/DoReMiFantasy_InvisiblePlatforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEphkxXp7TXLPpbbpjY0QyIE-Us4Y_lGHhrJVSptqBkddScnXzlUA1gF0U1mDOPiG2vJmKq012-FNudzjmqd9wMHdLUAp7G8G__waW0HF4HyDvK93Snc4NGEgNBNEr7PK8pyzFrEy3__H7vSZywma7dG0h1R5-TGJCWAI_2M_PI4v_eb82Xsr1H8RS158H/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_InvisiblePlatforms.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Jumping inside a warp painting | Right: Standing on an initially invisible platform</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I think it helps too that this game has got a lot of replay value thanks in no small part to its incredibly polished gameplay and structure, too, whether you decide to do the same thing in your playthroughs or if you decide to explore its different avenues in the more spacious and open-ended levels like the optional doorways that sometimes lead to random rooms or mini-games that sometimes could be accessed through new abilities that Milon learns. It's all up to you. You could focus on the main path by ignoring some of the doors and secrets (most of which are completely optional) <b>or</b> you could explore the levels to your heart's content. It's an incredibly fun game to play either way. That is how much I love this game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPP5QmSapGK9br3G_Tem6c1d1wvTqUodAdiuL1-ALjojz4LA7maYK-iiy_lH_FJgwB0TZIvAy6L5fQ9MbVk1Ba-JnoLcnj6xm7W3GenoJOcZtFa8TZ6EKxQcqrO4VxWdv4ME_bF1msVv3FXs4UAkT9rFoHZV1TiqyNvJvYwYb73jooj6eqL01G8wauW6X/s384/DoReMiFantasy_FlatulentKing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPP5QmSapGK9br3G_Tem6c1d1wvTqUodAdiuL1-ALjojz4LA7maYK-iiy_lH_FJgwB0TZIvAy6L5fQ9MbVk1Ba-JnoLcnj6xm7W3GenoJOcZtFa8TZ6EKxQcqrO4VxWdv4ME_bF1msVv3FXs4UAkT9rFoHZV1TiqyNvJvYwYb73jooj6eqL01G8wauW6X/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_FlatulentKing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL3XCitSOX3YufcTvg8ltd6a7Tswm32JjcRSyPV426GYYpn9jwxMqQeth2EDTfhV3ZChoz3RJgz48K8Ia2aMzcNr5Db0R-LPVQlJEPqhmbyt8e4SsyTp-TMTzZDaM1mgIjm-R3KyVPLYY7A8qnIavTCP8H_GCnUALvt4pqNiZdfQwShycR_ofZnyuvYOR/s384/DoReMiFantasy_BattlingAmon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL3XCitSOX3YufcTvg8ltd6a7Tswm32JjcRSyPV426GYYpn9jwxMqQeth2EDTfhV3ZChoz3RJgz48K8Ia2aMzcNr5Db0R-LPVQlJEPqhmbyt8e4SsyTp-TMTzZDaM1mgIjm-R3KyVPLYY7A8qnIavTCP8H_GCnUALvt4pqNiZdfQwShycR_ofZnyuvYOR/w200-h155/DoReMiFantasy_BattlingAmon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Time to battle a jolly flatulent king | Right: At last, the battle with Amon has come at hand</span></b></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;">I wholeheartedly recommend this game, it's enjoyably immersive and enthrallingly fun to play every time. If you own a Super Famicom console (or an SNES console should you stumble across an SNES repro cart and own an SNES) I recommend checking Milon's second game out if you can somehow afford it. It's got all the best qualities a 2D platformer could have and then some, and for its special place that it's got in my heart it is one of my top favorite Nintendo 16-bit video games of all time. I felt that way fifteen years ago, and I still feel that way today. My affinity towards it knows no bounds.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8p15kU444juzLmsnMSUVNDaAHJKIA4SPxIkJ83-ZLaQucBIDCfnmYcBB800CmAs3Il1xBSM56oj-tKRW_ZROFjpDi0nokEXaDW2KnzGOrdIc4h9A857iOvvfhh3hRGuF8EUv9ErkAX5WLHDI31sBA-Tj8fLwoAXAL4I1xsZqKR8YEsXE5xuyd7cOxXnNK/s189/DoReMiFantasy_SealingAmon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8p15kU444juzLmsnMSUVNDaAHJKIA4SPxIkJ83-ZLaQucBIDCfnmYcBB800CmAs3Il1xBSM56oj-tKRW_ZROFjpDi0nokEXaDW2KnzGOrdIc4h9A857iOvvfhh3hRGuF8EUv9ErkAX5WLHDI31sBA-Tj8fLwoAXAL4I1xsZqKR8YEsXE5xuyd7cOxXnNK/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_SealingAmon.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> is a masterpiece, and it is absolutely music to my ears. 🎵</span></div><div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-PIghvEprJhoTlLseuBiVZc0-WkI-AkD-4PVM7ib4Onl1-JRyWC0ZbjquB1VW0XaISq9pogCcA4l6jgLol0iY-bLrZrnhU5PlcJrn2k-n-K1sH3H_BxjPFYSYUDlVvNVj73F4fYkMMnLyZyhg8EyF8UPmVT3aW-RdnBP45hDd_MttzpxiYMEbwhZ-s_t/s384/DoReMiFantasy_Fin.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-PIghvEprJhoTlLseuBiVZc0-WkI-AkD-4PVM7ib4Onl1-JRyWC0ZbjquB1VW0XaISq9pogCcA4l6jgLol0iY-bLrZrnhU5PlcJrn2k-n-K1sH3H_BxjPFYSYUDlVvNVj73F4fYkMMnLyZyhg8EyF8UPmVT3aW-RdnBP45hDd_MttzpxiYMEbwhZ-s_t/s16000/DoReMiFantasy_Fin.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 10/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQRFNmq8uMmh8V3D9Z1xegYHWg89DP5td6uv7yhTV20fCHSdqE2hLH4XoRNuMYa_qHSA4pOLVvGFP0A5G9CMgvNd3gtjnizbb18mNmXdrFbbM4hurcarYNovSh50NVdwJrU1kw8JMt9lGGhFeJi3UIijcaI4PyvlUmd2SE17AsDjETgkeOdct2s_tJi-f/s250/Emoticon_TwoThumbsUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQRFNmq8uMmh8V3D9Z1xegYHWg89DP5td6uv7yhTV20fCHSdqE2hLH4XoRNuMYa_qHSA4pOLVvGFP0A5G9CMgvNd3gtjnizbb18mNmXdrFbbM4hurcarYNovSh50NVdwJrU1kw8JMt9lGGhFeJi3UIijcaI4PyvlUmd2SE17AsDjETgkeOdct2s_tJi-f/s1600/Emoticon_TwoThumbsUp.png" width="250" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I originally reviewed this game on my blog back in November 2010, which I also gave a 10 out of 10 back then. My overall feelings have not changed, but my reviewing skills have which is why I don't feel all that fond of my old reviews because it doesn't feel like I wrote them in as effective a manner or articulated myself well enough back then as I've been trying to these past few years. Which is why I decided to delete it recently, I'm sorry if anyone liked that review, but I need to live with myself, I'm better off how I tackle reviews now than I ever was when I was younger.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkMU-JQzzE7m82Nbv5GzeYk4H_HNxQG6Vwd8YmewwDA151qYCE3q00jNSslnIZvh6lmlb0q-xujb4GEUgWE10bOW5ql04NP8MhAxPgtgKDT05Gqy3BR6h3kj08v6shyphenhyphenCszjEQp24lzfFaVgo2cz46Q1XuQOsx03CfdcImtrh_69dANOxtTVfetrXtQ5lw/s200/StarBlog_Format.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkMU-JQzzE7m82Nbv5GzeYk4H_HNxQG6Vwd8YmewwDA151qYCE3q00jNSslnIZvh6lmlb0q-xujb4GEUgWE10bOW5ql04NP8MhAxPgtgKDT05Gqy3BR6h3kj08v6shyphenhyphenCszjEQp24lzfFaVgo2cz46Q1XuQOsx03CfdcImtrh_69dANOxtTVfetrXtQ5lw/s16000/StarBlog_Format.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">I will say that the old <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> review <b>was</b> the first one where I incorporated screenshots I got with my camera (albeit on video mode) and attempted to format it with the two screenshots in the middle every once in a while (albeit not properly centered as they were lodged all the way to the left) in-between paragraphs or mid-paragraphs which is how I put screenshots in my reviews now. I wish I kept at that instead of largely adopting the larger sized screenshot on the side beside each paragraph and alternating its position every review which I thankfully retired years ago (gave me more trouble than it was worth sometimes).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I worked so hard to create this review, and yet I'm not trying to make the ultimate in-depth <i>DoReMi Fantasy </i>retrospective of all time. No, I simply aimed to make the ultimate in-depth <i>DoReMi Fantasy</i> retrospective that <b>I</b> could make, not of all time. I'm not the best video game reviewer out there, I don't even consider myself a <b>good</b> reviewer sometimes; it's not that I don't appreciate it whenever praise comes my way when it comes to my reviews when I <b>do</b> get them, but sometimes I think it sounds a little too good to be true. 😔 I'm just... <b>me</b>. That's all I am, I'm me, I cover these games the only way I know how and which makes me comfortable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I love how the ァ ("A") kanji symbol in the title was stylized to look like an ear, that was very clever of Hudson Soft. 👂</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● In irrelevant news, two weeks ago (10/30/23) while it was free to watch on YouTube I watched John Carpenter's 1974 feature-length directorial debut <i>Dark Star</i>. It was... interesting. 😬 Look, I don't want to be mean because it was his first film and I know that it wasn't made on a big budget but I thought it a bit odd, certain scenes felt like they dragged on which made it easy for my attention to trail off, the visual and sound quality made it seem like a home or college movie (and in fact, it was), it was unusual to watch a John Carpenter film specifically designated for theatrical distribution that <b>wasn't</b> shot in CinemaScope, some of the comedy I pity laughed rather than found genuinely funny, and I can't say I'm a fan of stories where boredom is the major overarching theme permeating throughout. That said, it's pretty wild to think that this is where the late Dan O'Bannon (RIP) started off his career before writing Ridley Scott's <i>Alien</i>, John Badham's <i>Blue Thunder</i>, and Paul Verhoeven's <i>Total Recall</i>, he's <b>practically</b> the main character (yet isn't top-billed) and his Sargeant Pinback is the closest thing <i>Dark Star</i> has got to a likeable character (I even found his voicing the sentient Bomb #20 in such a casual human-like manner pretty amusing). Carpenter's music was good ("Benson Arizona" is a very catchy number), I appreciated the late Douglas Knapp's cinematography even if it wasn't 2.35:1, some of the special effects look pretty solid given its small budget, and it was fascinating to see how this movie in part served as a template for <i>Alien</i> (the look and interior design of the spaceship, the lonely atmosphere, the corridor chase with the alien, and I'm genuinely curious if <i>Dark Star</i> was where James Cameron got the idea for Bishop's knife trick in <i>Aliens</i> because... it's there). All in all not my favorite Carpenter, I thought it was fine for what it was, but at least it's not <i>Vampires</i> (I'll take <b>anything</b> over watching Daniel Baldwin physically assaulting a vampiric Sheryl Lee in such distasteful fashion even when having a romantic attraction to one another, <b><u>NO</u></b>!!! 😣 That's <b>abuse</b>, plain and simple!). Nick Castle also voices a beachball alien, funny enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Because I was shocked to see that it popped up on Peacock, I recently (11/7/23) caught up with John Carpenter's subsequent 1976 film <i>Assault on Precinct 13</i> which I thought was a substantial improvement over <i>Dark Star</i>. How do I describe this one? It's basically the equivalent of a Western film produced in the '50s but taking place in contemporary times with contemporary sensibilities as well as featuring a <b>shocking</b> amount of blood and viscera than I'm accustomed to from a film made during the mid '70s. 😮 Like, oh my God! Quick disclaimer, I knew what was going to happen to Kim Richards' character because I read about it before watching, I dreaded what was going to happen <b>so much</b> because of her tender age, and yet it when it eventually occurred I still found it mortifying to watch, Christ Jesus! 😧 I cannot imagine what must've gone through her head when Carpenter explained to her what was going to happen to her character Kathy, she was just a little girl! Truly the most horrific thing I've seen happen in a John Carpenter film bar none, nothing is going to come even remotely <b>close</b> to that. <b>Nothing</b>! That's going to stay with me for a long time, I blame myself for being in a John Carpenter kick and wanting to catch up on more of his filmography. 😔 Setting aside the trauma of having witnessed that, the late Douglas Knapp's (RIP) second and last collaboration with Carpenter as cinematographer is truly effective and arresting marking the first time the director used the CinemaScope format which he would use throughout the rest of his theatrically-released films (John Carpenter, like Steven Spielberg, truly <b>is</b> among the masters of using CinemaScope, which makes me feel all the more bad for all the years TV has massacred and butchered his movies by pan-and-scanning them because the anti-art ignorance-breeding TV overlords have no inkling or understanding about the importance of shot composition, cinematic integrity, and filmmaking processes--I'll be damned before I willfully choose to watch a 2.35:1 film in pan-and-scan, my philosophy is to either respect the director's artistic vision and watch the film in the aspect ratio that was intended or don't bother, I want to see the entire canvas from left to right, <b>not</b> be exposed to one half of it because they want it to "fit the size of the television screen" because they don't believe in borders that exist to preserve the aspect ratio!!! 😠) with an incredible sense of lighting contrasting with the darkness, Carpenter's music is as great as people have described it to be (that title theme is so iconic), the late Austin Stoker's Lieutenant Bishop (RIP) was a very likable protagonist and I liked the rapport between him and Darwin Joston's Napoleon Wilson, Laura Zimmer's Leigh, and the late Tony Burton's Wells (RIP) and what mutual respect they had for one another in their dire predicament while the precinct they're inside of is under siege plus they're all well-acted (especially Zimmer, I was sad to learn she didn't have much luck with acting after the fact as I thought she was very compelling and she was a strong female character who could hold her own), the intense shootout sequences were well-shot inside the precinct, and for those who like to play John Carpenter Bingo this movie's got Charles Cyphers and Nancy Kyes in it who've both also collaborated with him in <i>The Fog</i> (the 1980 film which I still want to watch) and the <i>Halloween</i> movies (of which Kyes appeared in the first three, but as a different character in her ex-husband Tommy Lee Wallace's <i>Halloween III: Season of the Witch</i> albeit a completely underutilized one). A very good film and deserving of classic status, but not one I feel I'm going to revisit any time soon; not because of the violence happening to the adult characters, but because of the violence committed against an innocently aged child (it was devastating watching that scene <b>once</b>, I have no desire to rewatch that haunting scene again). Still not <i>Vampires</i>, but then anything beats <i>Vampires</i> from what I've seen of John Carpenter's filmography.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● One John Carpenter movie I can easily watch over and over again is <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, such an insanely fun film that I felt compelled to watch it two times on YouTube (while it was free to watch) in the same week (I've seen it before two times on Netflix several years ago). 😄 Great performances (I love the fact Kurt Russell's Jack Burton is the charismatic yet bumbling sidekick to Dennis Dun's Wang Chi who's the actual main character, it's so <b>*chef's kiss*</b> 😙</span><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">🎔</span><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">, I <b>love</b> that expectation subversion 😆), great music, great action set pieces, great fight choreography, reasonably great special effects for 1986, the comedic moments are expertly timed, is very quotable, is infinitely rewatchable, and I cannot stress my love for Dean Cundey's cinematography enough (absolutely stunning lighting and camerawork throughout).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Would you recommend this review to anyone?</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00d5ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-21636044260959300962023-10-27T20:33:00.005-05:002023-11-02T11:26:48.183-05:00Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues (GB) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">🚙 <b>Received: February 7th, 2020 </b>🚙<b> Written: October 23rd-27th, 2023</b> 🚙</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvCpQzFlHosQ4gSUiFHkpbV6eGfPCN3t8kly4dxDSy1P7wJogwqZo7wNIY6g12FOyNbk-F3MQQfkrvOw7PW1ic1GuhSxectf2DVWxkXqRXXm1G2v2eD2RJZ7lzWJPMDKvzTo1kk42SAcn9uhhOxc7l0LR3eoju9dFnewMQcY2e00go3-GtMexb9ArlEzf/s214/JurassicParkPart2_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="214" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvCpQzFlHosQ4gSUiFHkpbV6eGfPCN3t8kly4dxDSy1P7wJogwqZo7wNIY6g12FOyNbk-F3MQQfkrvOw7PW1ic1GuhSxectf2DVWxkXqRXXm1G2v2eD2RJZ7lzWJPMDKvzTo1kk42SAcn9uhhOxc7l0LR3eoju9dFnewMQcY2e00go3-GtMexb9ArlEzf/s1600/JurassicParkPart2_Title.png" width="214" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(As played on <i>Super Game Boy</i>)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;">Year: 1994 | Developed and Published by: Ocean Software</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">When the $63 million-budgeted movie adaptation of the late Michael Crichton's bestselling 1990 novel <i>Jurassic Park</i> came out in 1993, it was a colossal hit as it left a profound impact and continues to be universally praised even to this day. Just like he had done with <i>Jaws</i>, <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i>, and <i>E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</i> before it, director Steven Spielberg changed movies forever with his <i>Jurassic Park</i> as it was the highest-grossing film of not only that year but for a short while the highest-grossing film ever made, pushing the boundaries of special effects (mostly comprised of the late Stan Winston's life-sized animatronics, a tiny fraction of the running time featured groundbreaking state of the art CGI). Its popularity led it to become a multimedia franchise, so much so that Crichton was pressured by many a folk (Spielberg among them) to pen a sequel (which he had never done before or since) which came out in 1995 with <i>The Lost World</i> for which <b>it</b> would receive a loose film adaptation two years later (also directed by Spielberg but to lesser results).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2IZCr2MwgwyyN0K53sRn4_G8dIUHH8q1f_qiiuDpnIMN9WzJN_rH9a8CN1UDIQIeZweaLXCVWqAfRTtcHPKfi5i-3c1xcbQQJM5x3Owjis-llN_aidgIbffIzbxg4nA7VwVD0tz3c3HvXLM2tFCfJviI6V2fpIqN4DXbqLo4YiAvpwvfBo2d16nTvxvp/s400/TorontoRaptors_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2IZCr2MwgwyyN0K53sRn4_G8dIUHH8q1f_qiiuDpnIMN9WzJN_rH9a8CN1UDIQIeZweaLXCVWqAfRTtcHPKfi5i-3c1xcbQQJM5x3Owjis-llN_aidgIbffIzbxg4nA7VwVD0tz3c3HvXLM2tFCfJviI6V2fpIqN4DXbqLo4YiAvpwvfBo2d16nTvxvp/s16000/TorontoRaptors_Logo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from Wikipedia</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">1995 also saw the debut of the Canadian basketball team, the Toronto Raptors, created and named after the fastest known predators following the popularity of Spielberg's 1993 film adaptation of Crichton's <i>Jurassic Park</i>. It's worth noting that in life the late author measured in at a height of 6-foot-9, making him one of the tallest authors in known recorded history (a factoid which made him feel ostracized when he was younger). Rest in peace, Mr. Crichton.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrfTAulmpNzO1JQzSjpbd4hEhCQSGusLP346GLJMLwRJmtYI6cYJF9WBSX56dmK6hnmY7IvBD9icaAfFOZBQjM9OY1RABj-JZhDs-IAKVqEwKcpPxcgzdQus2OCBOdeFE5ztjL7rZsvwT4oi7ti6BWXaNaNWmV5mCoevlB8CcGvJE4fnnUzY4p6i_PHTg/s216/Ocean_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="216" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrfTAulmpNzO1JQzSjpbd4hEhCQSGusLP346GLJMLwRJmtYI6cYJF9WBSX56dmK6hnmY7IvBD9icaAfFOZBQjM9OY1RABj-JZhDs-IAKVqEwKcpPxcgzdQus2OCBOdeFE5ztjL7rZsvwT4oi7ti6BWXaNaNWmV5mCoevlB8CcGvJE4fnnUzY4p6i_PHTg/s1600/Ocean_Logo.png" width="216" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Before all that, though, <i>Jurassic Park</i> saw many video game adaptations after it came out to huge acclaim. They all varied in quality, though, which is especially true regarding the Nintendo-exclusive games developed by <b>Ocean Software</b> who paid an undisclosed six-digit figure to obtain the rights by Universal to work on the interactive adaptations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6Cs-4SgbZ13aaky__Ym8ZYqhHSkz_FcKUx-ueaz7b2-_wHEWPhpSeQ51jb9C0uEbWkaZTAdPCjMWfrDbYnUA1sOrY6r2MG2E1B-kJbmWLQ39qiO1zHfEjahyz4LTxx17NvAFR4mOdKYoCVX_nUEf1GPn3fzKEBkHmGvFJ-oukXVhA179r39SYvGvoH7q/s244/JurassicPark_Dilophosaur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6Cs-4SgbZ13aaky__Ym8ZYqhHSkz_FcKUx-ueaz7b2-_wHEWPhpSeQ51jb9C0uEbWkaZTAdPCjMWfrDbYnUA1sOrY6r2MG2E1B-kJbmWLQ39qiO1zHfEjahyz4LTxx17NvAFR4mOdKYoCVX_nUEf1GPn3fzKEBkHmGvFJ-oukXVhA179r39SYvGvoH7q/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Dilophosaur.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkvnMfTYX0u2Ep3nrPdWw412yqmtap9m5H7sQUAYoIbGFdxvtduVjFKz6_p5JMV6VMTetcu30K9OA-5WANSk_QgKeHGUe5e4WtgsSn5LiOkv28sQ5yHN3pApZtrt_tOAhuxnB26HmqfQo5T09gQUB20dqBArQdK92L7X37xzhyphenhyphen30MQn7WLWXrtlv1ZfR7/s244/JurassicPark_TriceratopsStampede.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkvnMfTYX0u2Ep3nrPdWw412yqmtap9m5H7sQUAYoIbGFdxvtduVjFKz6_p5JMV6VMTetcu30K9OA-5WANSk_QgKeHGUe5e4WtgsSn5LiOkv28sQ5yHN3pApZtrt_tOAhuxnB26HmqfQo5T09gQUB20dqBArQdK92L7X37xzhyphenhyphen30MQn7WLWXrtlv1ZfR7/w200-h159/JurassicPark_TriceratopsStampede.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The NES, <a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/09/jurassic-park-gb-review.html">Game Boy</a>, and Nintendo 16-bit console versions were well-received at the time, but unlike the movie which still continues to age gracefully even after thirty years, the exact opposite seems to be true when it comes to the games themselves--or at least it seems to just apply to the ones </span><b style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">simply titled</b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> "Jurassic Park". A year before Crichton's </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The Lost World</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> would be published, Ocean would take another crack at the license for it would be the first attempt at a <i>Jurassic Park</i> sequel in the franchise's history.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4btdqqje5Bdh5eOsjZaHskU-kS3836N5BIuUV2p1RNEC7XzRtDF9mGMPxceo_yZIneGvBE6_yPCG4DzNFUjmtowEhOt45hVza1vEH84i1dvWj7p9iu5CKf2QdZ9wCxZ2J8xMTW62lmrKBM5CrVJuZ9pBpwNJxJr2sAHlhI7aw1977JK7CavP7GWIHHpHN/s640/JurassicParkPart2_Cover-NA.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4btdqqje5Bdh5eOsjZaHskU-kS3836N5BIuUV2p1RNEC7XzRtDF9mGMPxceo_yZIneGvBE6_yPCG4DzNFUjmtowEhOt45hVza1vEH84i1dvWj7p9iu5CKf2QdZ9wCxZ2J8xMTW62lmrKBM5CrVJuZ9pBpwNJxJr2sAHlhI7aw1977JK7CavP7GWIHHpHN/w200-h199/JurassicParkPart2_Cover-NA.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMOiofsSocST5sQPv_d2TsnW19QJq8QcA-T4UCAuas2VQis9PCKd41eivmxnjakjb9FdGzWuDInOpI0WmhP0h3zjVUgFKALOy0UHSBxoD-jP9UWvAfMoUX0MWHhyphenhyphenb9YkT5sF09AbcE2eeAXzOOOtxLvHG2A9_wLSSzhE1nmy_1xBOCqDKe3Nj3FoPkonG/s642/JurassicParkPart2_Cover-PAL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMOiofsSocST5sQPv_d2TsnW19QJq8QcA-T4UCAuas2VQis9PCKd41eivmxnjakjb9FdGzWuDInOpI0WmhP0h3zjVUgFKALOy0UHSBxoD-jP9UWvAfMoUX0MWHhyphenhyphenb9YkT5sF09AbcE2eeAXzOOOtxLvHG2A9_wLSSzhE1nmy_1xBOCqDKe3Nj3FoPkonG/w199-h200/JurassicParkPart2_Cover-PAL.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Coded by Frédéric Zimmer, Fernando Velez, and Pierre Adane, the Game Boy follow-up </span><b style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i></b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> would be released in North American shores on December 1994 with a European release following suit sometime in 1995. There was also an SNES take by Ocean sharing the same name, but it differs significantly compared to the handheld edition, and as such this review will only cover the Game Boy game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H0HN3eDgIRPVqyRkMXl5g3vJ_mVtRYxCSqEWI5yCpdbggnssHuMfBEQvUIT2hMH5wRrZIzkZvq49YKZ69J1O9j0MXvHcdD0cpJEfD39mBW_-e3qX9JP-oyL_zPW5iiFmS8efOy0NZHcj2jBTNPtpeT0kufpFIJZ4znmSDVaPq56SXi3duCE3nGbPbzzz/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Idling.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9H0HN3eDgIRPVqyRkMXl5g3vJ_mVtRYxCSqEWI5yCpdbggnssHuMfBEQvUIT2hMH5wRrZIzkZvq49YKZ69J1O9j0MXvHcdD0cpJEfD39mBW_-e3qX9JP-oyL_zPW5iiFmS8efOy0NZHcj2jBTNPtpeT0kufpFIJZ4znmSDVaPq56SXi3duCE3nGbPbzzz/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Idling.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5bQ1Z6hBZt1hQByQ5L-Cbs7QcNz56KjZW6RQjKABJr3Py9bzQJEqsw6Mb7nzmxuXQG0ZgnEvjZlZtYQozfdt-F1GS97k9lxkRjp_WcMY5ZicwWD3euc5Q-5a35IO6VqjO0i7bQTZArM7pgkHWv1H_2ur5s34ZsWENMWzUbeI61VhKGT6ul0iev4oZKL/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Procompsognathid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5bQ1Z6hBZt1hQByQ5L-Cbs7QcNz56KjZW6RQjKABJr3Py9bzQJEqsw6Mb7nzmxuXQG0ZgnEvjZlZtYQozfdt-F1GS97k9lxkRjp_WcMY5ZicwWD3euc5Q-5a35IO6VqjO0i7bQTZArM7pgkHWv1H_2ur5s34ZsWENMWzUbeI61VhKGT6ul0iev4oZKL/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Procompsognathid.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Idling by the Jeep Wrangler | Right: Shooting at a leaping procompsognathid</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action run and gun game <i>Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i> you take control of Sam Neill's paleontologist character Dr. Alan Grant once again for he can walk left and right, duck down, jump up in the air with the A button* (with the altitude gained depending on how hard you pressed the button) which can also be used to swim upward while in the water, by pressing or holding down the B button* you can fire an unlimited amount of rounds from your shotgun (across from you, above you, and diagonally),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Should you change it to the Type A control setting when playing it on the <i>Super Game Boy</i>, those functions will be used by the B and Y buttons respectively</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiY26K4codOBpCmdxA6KfsI7CG82Po-mJk6OptsKzWN7ATDaULhm4jDX2624V9xeckyCpayud2WCbsl3edIyh1MRZB41tAXyo9buGOBTgUejh5JMwIO4sCzxCz4B-hDmAdxpMWPcKiKbChTIGJBqmoAMvi1XxeLwZDRWPZYMy8hpvx4O6g7mJlW_v0rnU/s244/JurassicParkPart2_GasGrenade.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiY26K4codOBpCmdxA6KfsI7CG82Po-mJk6OptsKzWN7ATDaULhm4jDX2624V9xeckyCpayud2WCbsl3edIyh1MRZB41tAXyo9buGOBTgUejh5JMwIO4sCzxCz4B-hDmAdxpMWPcKiKbChTIGJBqmoAMvi1XxeLwZDRWPZYMy8hpvx4O6g7mJlW_v0rnU/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_GasGrenade.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBmuw2kzGIsPcNQzq4HCSxIEhyFdFlTCEUUWsG6PFhRFGw_Bw34UGwOl-CnP6UO3sRc6TSI9Zz9GYCf5C-mVUd5U3QVqBlaoZYuatm6d-r2SXVqTjOLNhaOVpSIp1d0vIjZi8Izxo-FzJHgkiDREXTiRpma2FOUUoIoF33FgPSBXfG9TFCyYTDPC6pPxQ/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Goal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBmuw2kzGIsPcNQzq4HCSxIEhyFdFlTCEUUWsG6PFhRFGw_Bw34UGwOl-CnP6UO3sRc6TSI9Zz9GYCf5C-mVUd5U3QVqBlaoZYuatm6d-r2SXVqTjOLNhaOVpSIp1d0vIjZi8Izxo-FzJHgkiDREXTiRpma2FOUUoIoF33FgPSBXfG9TFCyYTDPC6pPxQ/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Goal.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Tossing a gas grenade at a Triceratops | Right: Made it in one piece</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">and with the Select button you can change between the shotgun and the gas grenade which can be tossed at an angle. The main objective of each dinosaur zone is to collect all of Jurassic Park's magnetic cards scattered across the playing field, for obtaining all of them in each segment will open up the security grille which you must get to after acquiring the last magnetic card. Also scattered about are the first aid kits which will replenish your lost health by one (with the health capacity being four), and should you search thoroughly you'll find an icon of Grant which will not only add a new life to your count</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsHQKvC1IEFTEXDX-4GR0Y0CNcf9Cf4R5__nWuPow9ot1m9xnl3g88ZEi70Bq2hQHyT3ym_9g9a5yEtFe4QDvdfkDJmfSg0kE7yr8eNHl6HMUZRQp1dYv2lhNY9MLz8j5_bYItGvsc-EMmJuEFS9zxivtfOHb21ofxTnaNcbp1rdb9wDUJr4qC2uf6WH4/s244/JurassicParkPart2_UnderwaterHarpoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsHQKvC1IEFTEXDX-4GR0Y0CNcf9Cf4R5__nWuPow9ot1m9xnl3g88ZEi70Bq2hQHyT3ym_9g9a5yEtFe4QDvdfkDJmfSg0kE7yr8eNHl6HMUZRQp1dYv2lhNY9MLz8j5_bYItGvsc-EMmJuEFS9zxivtfOHb21ofxTnaNcbp1rdb9wDUJr4qC2uf6WH4/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_UnderwaterHarpoon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSjV5EjE2260fQB2u38KE_tIURhdjkayWp-i3heAU-xVcpas7FQ8l9rh4RGWHKT2I63TAhj-by7aS4a2QNQKucv6dX4vbl0CTULRXGEXupp3sP7ts7jTkUu-grEeLDtbVUFjN5ODzmXRJ_3IBnxgzbAi7eTB9f52VGqKv2y0jyIjmDbdxlTNcrFKKYs0z/s244/JurassicParkPart2_MagneticCard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSjV5EjE2260fQB2u38KE_tIURhdjkayWp-i3heAU-xVcpas7FQ8l9rh4RGWHKT2I63TAhj-by7aS4a2QNQKucv6dX4vbl0CTULRXGEXupp3sP7ts7jTkUu-grEeLDtbVUFjN5ODzmXRJ_3IBnxgzbAi7eTB9f52VGqKv2y0jyIjmDbdxlTNcrFKKYs0z/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_MagneticCard.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Shooting harpoons underwater | Right: Collect Jurassic Park's magnetic cards along the way</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">but also completely refill your health in the process. There for you to contend with throughout your excursion are the dinosaurs of different varieties for you must either shoot them down (should you be equipped with the shotgun) or have them knocked out cold (should you be equipped with the gas grenade). At the end of each zone is a big dino-boss to deal with, where access to the next zone is guaranteed only if you best them in battle until their health capacity is completely drained.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdxY3QWPNgvL3hlm7KS6VCDo3duWv3E0Lx41ovwMqDlzoMQPnlGCMUk7gUF-lny3BfixMAkbY9SH72H8iKnybA9R8mu-HaAKFxQnpySMgpE3cYxhjf8KaLRfTHNKHmpxkm4V8IhaCc_CnST7pB-gCrD455od5TCLH8qsv-qFGBMztcEirGn5v7BlYdA7k/s244/JurassicParkPart2_TriceratopsZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdxY3QWPNgvL3hlm7KS6VCDo3duWv3E0Lx41ovwMqDlzoMQPnlGCMUk7gUF-lny3BfixMAkbY9SH72H8iKnybA9R8mu-HaAKFxQnpySMgpE3cYxhjf8KaLRfTHNKHmpxkm4V8IhaCc_CnST7pB-gCrD455od5TCLH8qsv-qFGBMztcEirGn5v7BlYdA7k/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_TriceratopsZone.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jaTdiw3nWX3B1BYUPYRMFNr3hVPn6_rnIuwB-pJn6R7X3E9M79-n4aHTeAkIKouDOJRdKdm206XyMjPx37DRsduAcd04kggItXAsGc06oXCoNxGkn3LnqqjHxzjMGwS20gZGCaPSh4otFvLX0EwwkSwL0BAerejgYICsK6ZSzntr5cT7CM0va9K9_oBR/s244/JurassicParkPart2_UpwardShooting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jaTdiw3nWX3B1BYUPYRMFNr3hVPn6_rnIuwB-pJn6R7X3E9M79-n4aHTeAkIKouDOJRdKdm206XyMjPx37DRsduAcd04kggItXAsGc06oXCoNxGkn3LnqqjHxzjMGwS20gZGCaPSh4otFvLX0EwwkSwL0BAerejgYICsK6ZSzntr5cT7CM0va9K9_oBR/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_UpwardShooting.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Duck | Right: Shoot upward</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i>'s visuals were worked on by Christophe Sœur, Sylvain Dessoly, and Philippe Dessoly, and considering the handheld's hardware limitations and monochromatic status it is such an incredible game to look at. Truly impressive all around with a strong penchant for detail with a comparatively reduced amount of whites in favor of light and dark grays. The Triceratops levels at the start has got a smooth backdrop with faintly silhouetted palm trees amidst a heavily shaded rocky foreground,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFf2-DL6ttPU59Iees5a37opBg6BbT8wsM2IrOnx3jiNmrM8dOBU0kOs-kt6zb8HHf4ZoBvuyZaNgtZaQj6G5GiuGxQ8hqT41FIqyyVmy3CFtbpai1LTbB7RwH-t3kgfcEXhaWKx-kG3-lrvQMd9p_0MRPs9qtNT6fnxAK2WJOPM6iqAN0Qno2WMeErvz/s244/JurassicParkPart2_BranchJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFf2-DL6ttPU59Iees5a37opBg6BbT8wsM2IrOnx3jiNmrM8dOBU0kOs-kt6zb8HHf4ZoBvuyZaNgtZaQj6G5GiuGxQ8hqT41FIqyyVmy3CFtbpai1LTbB7RwH-t3kgfcEXhaWKx-kG3-lrvQMd9p_0MRPs9qtNT6fnxAK2WJOPM6iqAN0Qno2WMeErvz/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_BranchJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_qdLxpvvK15upIRA9s8zX1pnvhr6SIBnqrJySJSoaLoSkLpBN6OPIJmVrPO89xEGfwfN1pRWxGNlTujitIEwFrV10wCNtgdSNKdpeyEeVNiymyafUt1GCyn4N0O2LssCmoKvjBAQc4Wb5Oz09L54TA7LK75e0ZTPJtMR_zDAuO-Q0iLzdFtghM69pp6E/s244/JurassicParkPart2_LeafJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_qdLxpvvK15upIRA9s8zX1pnvhr6SIBnqrJySJSoaLoSkLpBN6OPIJmVrPO89xEGfwfN1pRWxGNlTujitIEwFrV10wCNtgdSNKdpeyEeVNiymyafUt1GCyn4N0O2LssCmoKvjBAQc4Wb5Oz09L54TA7LK75e0ZTPJtMR_zDAuO-Q0iLzdFtghM69pp6E/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_LeafJumping.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Branch hopping | Right: Leaf jumping</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">the Pteranodon levels has got a solid sense of line scrolling with the clouds in the background as you're scaling up the trees by jumping on its branches, the Cephalosaure levels have got nicely drawn water with a solidly designed gradient cloudy sky and when you swim underwater later on there are pipes in its walls with the occasional bubble pillar, and the last set of levels leading up to the Raptor and Tyrannosaurus Rex Zones have got a clearly metallic architecture about it with the bolts and vents in its walls with the effective use of the lamps that project its lights in such a symmetrical manner that they're effective in their simplicity. Grant is solidly designed with his recognizable fedora,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZiw6tjFJymLwaxehsQUkhhjuJXpJZvATEjDO1FHWXz8AdLSY-6c7D5wQpmJ72DJB8_SnruqrpE3wusRicY53NjxLYxSc3UV-oLIrWZbHHVYlXA6NVvxUOHcjnv11KMnbOTs7RaO-UIl00tfwWJE_cM4EGKx4UPpdjdCumU7GlRS9caQBPIlo5N0hJ6dy/s244/JurassicParkPart2_DiagonalFiring.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZiw6tjFJymLwaxehsQUkhhjuJXpJZvATEjDO1FHWXz8AdLSY-6c7D5wQpmJ72DJB8_SnruqrpE3wusRicY53NjxLYxSc3UV-oLIrWZbHHVYlXA6NVvxUOHcjnv11KMnbOTs7RaO-UIl00tfwWJE_cM4EGKx4UPpdjdCumU7GlRS9caQBPIlo5N0hJ6dy/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_DiagonalFiring.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2-8VanUK0ns_AT9Zou0M-F6wAi2VyrhTA93lic1kKA-GY4yoItvjOIyWoj07QwjRRwKM5ZXq1nnSqxLFRfbnqYwRUCTXMEn6o4NLYu7V6jA0UWoq0QPjPPeqluB-th8yvCRVF0w63jIik27PksQfrjA0u4zqVlC2QLUX80sJ5vbAXf3ocZb7SmDKOVLI/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Cliff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2-8VanUK0ns_AT9Zou0M-F6wAi2VyrhTA93lic1kKA-GY4yoItvjOIyWoj07QwjRRwKM5ZXq1nnSqxLFRfbnqYwRUCTXMEn6o4NLYu7V6jA0UWoq0QPjPPeqluB-th8yvCRVF0w63jIik27PksQfrjA0u4zqVlC2QLUX80sJ5vbAXf3ocZb7SmDKOVLI/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Cliff.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Shooting diagonally | Right: Jumping up cliffs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">has got a subtle recoil animation when he shoots from his shotgun, and is fluidly animated with his walk cycle as well as when his knees bend smoothly when jumping in the air and when he crouches down. I like how depending on how many hearts you had when you cleared the level he had a different animation, where he either triumphantly holds his gun upward or takes off his fedora and wipes the sweat off his face should you have finished with just one heart. The various dinosaurs you have to deal with are drawn and animated solidly as well like the the frequently appearing procompsognathid, the small Pteranadons,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXm7oOv0l1CY8S7plOtkZCspk-F6V8l6JRXxvJ_O8lqMdHQc-45BwAAKdSwaecejC0nJExyO3SjJklsIqgV4Wx8szWGAQjLwLJtC7G_ANlzxrKTG_TsUZy-4fJtgDYx4Nc8EcZEy1UrvWioK2K6Zqjo-lauTISKm6WFp_XEupN2ILhMDsbWa2TwwfsZ0f/s244/JurassicParkPart2_FloatingLeaf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXm7oOv0l1CY8S7plOtkZCspk-F6V8l6JRXxvJ_O8lqMdHQc-45BwAAKdSwaecejC0nJExyO3SjJklsIqgV4Wx8szWGAQjLwLJtC7G_ANlzxrKTG_TsUZy-4fJtgDYx4Nc8EcZEy1UrvWioK2K6Zqjo-lauTISKm6WFp_XEupN2ILhMDsbWa2TwwfsZ0f/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_FloatingLeaf.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynGhL_DeF3bMrnrw8sWY3Jr3wg74qQo60EWKrRV3IqgJm2VXisuob87t96eBp4PAEHAQOTkV2UuJnOM8gQRQW41HActRyrhHWNaF2xsWaCAQ2fIU1ICn4No0VTLUeuWSgRFP08_qaa55kNXLEyQGzR0ImT749QrRGloOHC_9PpXpYopOpODkO1gUExQWT/s244/JurassicParkPart2_MagneticCard-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynGhL_DeF3bMrnrw8sWY3Jr3wg74qQo60EWKrRV3IqgJm2VXisuob87t96eBp4PAEHAQOTkV2UuJnOM8gQRQW41HActRyrhHWNaF2xsWaCAQ2fIU1ICn4No0VTLUeuWSgRFP08_qaa55kNXLEyQGzR0ImT749QrRGloOHC_9PpXpYopOpODkO1gUExQWT/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_MagneticCard-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Levitating leaf | Right: A perfectly situated magnetic card for the taking</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">the different prehistoric fish, the Triceratops, the Dilophosaurus in one part of the second Cephalosaure level with its frills, and in the final set of levels the swift Parasaurolophus. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The bosses are all large and finely detailed, like the giant Triceratops, the tall and slender Raptors, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex (even if it is odd seeing her attempting to reach down in such a quick pace). The Tyrannosaurus Rex also appears during the pursuit levels as she is partially present in the left side of the screen as she towers over you and animates quite nicely.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKchOXxOlPs46lNG16wO-dArJFl2XC3CzWEXv18_b3D7MEtwSQG2MBfT1jJBIhRyZbGNp4-Bra9L3HORYHjd6ROCZJvrmFvRsBvHa4QaUST0wydfZdm0SMKUjEkbvX-dBLggCNmL5xvA6YAmAs2L5HGFotIHVWYwWa43TyCBcjPKMFViIvBZU791IBNJb/s244/JurassicParkPart2_PteranodonZone-Little.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKchOXxOlPs46lNG16wO-dArJFl2XC3CzWEXv18_b3D7MEtwSQG2MBfT1jJBIhRyZbGNp4-Bra9L3HORYHjd6ROCZJvrmFvRsBvHa4QaUST0wydfZdm0SMKUjEkbvX-dBLggCNmL5xvA6YAmAs2L5HGFotIHVWYwWa43TyCBcjPKMFViIvBZU791IBNJb/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_PteranodonZone-Little.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1OstMSKttPl9WKrVm8AU4vDGOTpU2zxwvf1UCN-5TEB4VZtDSZJ_Vrmi2Qpp7WpKDjpalh739VC4pCFBlt9z-44rmPjJC5qTPAvgBeIPf1OC0eVXUzwoXHVLFx08uaGL-5TIC38UQ2tq2HqZ2dYOn3FzAH-ne13IBEDQ-Gwe5vNe4b_pO6t95aNkAbrn/s243/JurassicParkPart2_PteranodonZone-Big.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="243" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1OstMSKttPl9WKrVm8AU4vDGOTpU2zxwvf1UCN-5TEB4VZtDSZJ_Vrmi2Qpp7WpKDjpalh739VC4pCFBlt9z-44rmPjJC5qTPAvgBeIPf1OC0eVXUzwoXHVLFx08uaGL-5TIC38UQ2tq2HqZ2dYOn3FzAH-ne13IBEDQ-Gwe5vNe4b_pO6t95aNkAbrn/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_PteranodonZone-Big.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Shooting at Pteranodons big and small in this zone | Right: What, we're not supposed to be dealing with the Pteranodons until the third movie... unless you count the Michael Crichton novel in which case there was a segment devoted to these aviators</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Once again Jonathan Dunn acts as composer, who is the only constant between the two Game Boy <i>Jurassic Park</i> games (much like Patrick Phelan was the only connective tissue between Gremlin Graphics' <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/05/zool-ninja-of-nth-dimension-snes-review.html">Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</a></i> and its sequel <i>Zool 2</i> developed by The Warp Factory) amidst new staff. In lieu of creating a new soundtrack, Dunn had opted to slightly remix and reassemble most of the themes heard from the first game with an added punch to them so they don't sound like complete carbon copies in the sequel.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT2R7kD064IXYokVdnr5RHjpnmIEIgO02_knQYSEzfGM83gJI7fu_TqX7MIhMJXjLZT_6g5hCIqEMnDVdBSdv_AsKwXpkic3_bPNrOvF015nBiiO8Psp4T6vhyphenhyphen8I1Dt3xdcDfo-JWEEwOjZX486tpXUYdOf-fwJ45zT5aZP0BXNTqNLNtCB5_hlnu42mf/s244/JurassicPark_Rafting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT2R7kD064IXYokVdnr5RHjpnmIEIgO02_knQYSEzfGM83gJI7fu_TqX7MIhMJXjLZT_6g5hCIqEMnDVdBSdv_AsKwXpkic3_bPNrOvF015nBiiO8Psp4T6vhyphenhyphen8I1Dt3xdcDfo-JWEEwOjZX486tpXUYdOf-fwJ45zT5aZP0BXNTqNLNtCB5_hlnu42mf/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Rafting.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuPU7kaq1zq2nL6CKt3eubyToIUufrTjdZmKIeI64tYVQx8mMJR1R-tDWUzQNiWP4Ni1XQxCJbLSOcpTG3J5wgY-kag_E1SlnyGqFNBSMHNNtmMk5GJAlwODHy-kojcvT34-SkJdmfa89LGdEuj8QLmD4-OigkH-hIJX2NknweUjCP6eLJYzjsInoIlkZ/s244/JurassicPark_TyrannosaurusRex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuPU7kaq1zq2nL6CKt3eubyToIUufrTjdZmKIeI64tYVQx8mMJR1R-tDWUzQNiWP4Ni1XQxCJbLSOcpTG3J5wgY-kag_E1SlnyGqFNBSMHNNtmMk5GJAlwODHy-kojcvT34-SkJdmfa89LGdEuj8QLmD4-OigkH-hIJX2NknweUjCP6eLJYzjsInoIlkZ/w200-h159/JurassicPark_TyrannosaurusRex.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">I can imagine some lamenting the overall lack of new music, though I feel that there is a strong sense of musical continuity between the two games because of this plus it helps that Dunn's music was the best thing Ocean's first </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> had going for it. It still doesn't adapt John Williams' iconic movie soundtrack, but luckily the quality of </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park Part 2</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">'s music is still very good in its own right that it's not really that big of an issue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZtE8Hh5I6CkXU2SzZk_BzzXamQcFfoJ2EMiwj2JZDrVp3sX-Jkc9ZnEho_vnYgz_7qNpaJHYo5Fm48P8A611zVQG30oS0MhvxZ0FYRw_058ZGREQ1t8bNprEHebFtcWLWuatbHFl9-sKqkPVpsQhCsOmgJqOlMRPgXvFoNv9rBPGRLCeb8jrPEVmaDXl/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZtE8Hh5I6CkXU2SzZk_BzzXamQcFfoJ2EMiwj2JZDrVp3sX-Jkc9ZnEho_vnYgz_7qNpaJHYo5Fm48P8A611zVQG30oS0MhvxZ0FYRw_058ZGREQ1t8bNprEHebFtcWLWuatbHFl9-sKqkPVpsQhCsOmgJqOlMRPgXvFoNv9rBPGRLCeb8jrPEVmaDXl/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20q9KcenDgEwJNpBzP4W25x_aWgfDF9MOZE-Zl3usuwssq3FribcmEMDNDnA7wiTkz5hZZkQY1l8JPnFECH2viEUWRzzfWbXI0oTvluJM_yUpzI2XJupzZsbdhmVgR6Um7NxPOPR55Pk1NbutPHBe9VIa8MDerGvsUzyPHwwa5djqlRzG0h24Pt1nlBFq/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20q9KcenDgEwJNpBzP4W25x_aWgfDF9MOZE-Zl3usuwssq3FribcmEMDNDnA7wiTkz5hZZkQY1l8JPnFECH2viEUWRzzfWbXI0oTvluJM_yUpzI2XJupzZsbdhmVgR6Um7NxPOPR55Pk1NbutPHBe9VIa8MDerGvsUzyPHwwa5djqlRzG0h24Pt1nlBFq/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Being chased by the Tyrannosaurus Rex | Right: Occasional platforming is a must</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64">title theme</a> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">(which is also used in the Raptor level near the end) has got a very catchy beat and rhythm, the <a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=208">Triceratops theme</a> is as head bopping a number as it was in the first <i>Jurassic Park</i> game with its composition influenced by Martin Galway's iconic <i>Comic Bakery</i> theme from Imagine Software's Commodore 64 version of Konami's MSX classic, the <a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=418">Pteranodon theme</a> is relentlessly pressing and impending with an ever-present sound of danger to it, the <a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=684">theme</a> for when you're being pursued by the Tyrannosaurus Rex in a couple levels sounds</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90I-15I-PP93sIM-xN556whqO7z9c1L12v_st16yznrBgKkvdqLka_MLotbN6NsBynCQOfiQB5IW7z8-KE5iqaj4yWjsrt_0B5CKtZVDEyxFs7rzZh_xVhgWQS8Y2rj5ffZn4CP1zTzjBeZ2xSzCNPYFEWZiKdf2BvtEpKTE6flGua15n6aaLbxcfNqK3/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90I-15I-PP93sIM-xN556whqO7z9c1L12v_st16yznrBgKkvdqLka_MLotbN6NsBynCQOfiQB5IW7z8-KE5iqaj4yWjsrt_0B5CKtZVDEyxFs7rzZh_xVhgWQS8Y2rj5ffZn4CP1zTzjBeZ2xSzCNPYFEWZiKdf2BvtEpKTE6flGua15n6aaLbxcfNqK3/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBcTjKEzIn-p4t0dIhCsa_HUXBH-NmcT3u9IZIb9DfT-JNjG58HZZD5aV2NVqylnMYX7r1GQ36F4En502i3W14A_U9NhmG-LV3sbK4E1A_Jt9ivT51kH4zyKgsAAwu51GfEIm4a5XU6tOrjGhkQeU8gGNg_22qrmXhx8UngmEDNugunci-jkgPP0bI2_Z/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBcTjKEzIn-p4t0dIhCsa_HUXBH-NmcT3u9IZIb9DfT-JNjG58HZZD5aV2NVqylnMYX7r1GQ36F4En502i3W14A_U9NhmG-LV3sbK4E1A_Jt9ivT51kH4zyKgsAAwu51GfEIm4a5XU6tOrjGhkQeU8gGNg_22qrmXhx8UngmEDNugunci-jkgPP0bI2_Z/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-4.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Collect all the magnetic cards here and you're rewarded with a life | Right: Healing item for the taking</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">intimidating, and the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=958" style="font-family: georgia;">Cephalosaure theme</a><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> sounds engaging and complements the water-based environs. Whenever you gather the last of the magnetic cards the current background music will be replaced by a bouncy and action-packed </span><a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=1146" style="font-family: georgia;">escape theme</a><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=1082" style="font-family: georgia;">boss theme</a><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> is relentlessly hectic, and the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/OJEpMM73Q64?t=1175" style="font-family: georgia;">ending theme</a><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> is a nice reprieve once Grant flies out of Isla Nublar by helicopter. The sound effects have been lifted from the first </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> game, like with the chime sound for when you procure a magnetic card or healing item and the pause jingle, and they sound solid without affecting or obstructing the quality of the game's music.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpSTDjBRpwRQJHOGSRYq_1c3uk4dO8Qs39VVAc2r8KV-7BNp4JsQ8r5sPf_EMV6GXzhPkz6lDDXA38JvWIRa6oKTh1UCukh898KgnS0a3gNGGio0Own1IcoLP6jLhSDZ8sD-BSNymVLJZXKEHwBthczPWFYxdrH0_aDRt3qblkZbnvWRSQdk0ao1CAwJc/s244/JurassicParkPart2_LeapingPrehistoricFish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpSTDjBRpwRQJHOGSRYq_1c3uk4dO8Qs39VVAc2r8KV-7BNp4JsQ8r5sPf_EMV6GXzhPkz6lDDXA38JvWIRa6oKTh1UCukh898KgnS0a3gNGGio0Own1IcoLP6jLhSDZ8sD-BSNymVLJZXKEHwBthczPWFYxdrH0_aDRt3qblkZbnvWRSQdk0ao1CAwJc/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_LeapingPrehistoricFish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuogxoLKbsicN_RKyKgaev1_PY5TCbC-an2Z6ffXup5BINPlb_Xod8LpgFGq3qsrtP_FmCcjkrOZ8sC9xw6_JLPQnYUYw02h7NG3k-T9k6QBYJlIpxEPzPfF4V0eDfDOblpPItc1N38YSIp27NYqWHX32k_ivTSTz5qfGgrAy_elyiyNwgz_mvYOqe67UC/s244/JurassicParkPart2_BigBiter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuogxoLKbsicN_RKyKgaev1_PY5TCbC-an2Z6ffXup5BINPlb_Xod8LpgFGq3qsrtP_FmCcjkrOZ8sC9xw6_JLPQnYUYw02h7NG3k-T9k6QBYJlIpxEPzPfF4V0eDfDOblpPItc1N38YSIp27NYqWHX32k_ivTSTz5qfGgrAy_elyiyNwgz_mvYOqe67UC/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_BigBiter.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be aware of your surroundings here, for there are fish that leap out of the water | Right: As well as big biters too</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">After clearing the Pteranodon levels and after clearing the Cephalosaure levels, you will find yourself being pursued by the Tyrannosaurus Rex who has managed to escape where your ultimate goal is survival, though if you manage to reach the end of those two individual levels with all the magnetic cards collected you will be rewarded with a life. As these are automatic scrolling levels you will have to find proper footing and progress through the proper path while also contending with the oncoming procompsognathid lest you meet a dead end in which case you'll be forced to start over from the beginning. Since there are no checkpoints in any of the levels, losing a life will not only have you recommence it from the start but you'll have to gather the scattered magnetic cards again from scratch. There are only two continues, using one up will pick your progress back up in the current level you were at.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-HIxM-LpuuOw5GluKWe0QIltg8QrxLGJxW3aM-psWk32_3Rx8AaTKAEfuJLEwsdeMq5_ylxYdPNTJQs8XJxA_AeMJDvY1EVCY37EEV2uAPnCcoAH2doSysEF4QXBxWbdpSxHgIiWQ8upnwUeltyB_YOkRVRcWwsQYWuc2FVMwLxfacCduGMjV6AZQbft/s244/JurassicParkPart2_DoubleObstacles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-HIxM-LpuuOw5GluKWe0QIltg8QrxLGJxW3aM-psWk32_3Rx8AaTKAEfuJLEwsdeMq5_ylxYdPNTJQs8XJxA_AeMJDvY1EVCY37EEV2uAPnCcoAH2doSysEF4QXBxWbdpSxHgIiWQ8upnwUeltyB_YOkRVRcWwsQYWuc2FVMwLxfacCduGMjV6AZQbft/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_DoubleObstacles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVk0jTENtw9dqgUtlNQnBjcKlNN8lxBxkbKj41ZvF_lJwOYNqpnmoXWAGLfMq_U9NDE6PSEMSAzfk8RhO-Gjao3lJAFXCF7VUEVtTAioJW5o1W89HvJ1QLz-UAKgrvIrs26XF5noWwyD10uVKRjpE284Kj7xHaY61f-CwL68nF1iPueV2PmStxOh0pGlE/s244/JurassicParkPart2_WaterGap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVk0jTENtw9dqgUtlNQnBjcKlNN8lxBxkbKj41ZvF_lJwOYNqpnmoXWAGLfMq_U9NDE6PSEMSAzfk8RhO-Gjao3lJAFXCF7VUEVtTAioJW5o1W89HvJ1QLz-UAKgrvIrs26XF5noWwyD10uVKRjpE284Kj7xHaY61f-CwL68nF1iPueV2PmStxOh0pGlE/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_WaterGap.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sometimes these biters will sprout from the water between a couple of spiked balls | Right: Crossing the wide gap by making a huge jump</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">When </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> came out the reception wildly varied between the SNES and the Game Boy versions, with a good number of people remarking that the handheld edition was the superior of the two. The Game Boy version generally got positive reviews, but it didn't come without its criticisms as some lamented its acute sense of brevity and reduced level of challenge. There was also disappointment expressed by some at the shift in direction from top-down action fare to the sidescrolling run and gun formula,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrY5EKSwq94kTua0dlZYDvjPxepvMYqeHn6CGxPZWP45yjZSjGc9GuEA0dwTDBOBpT8On4pAktTIJHDCeNaiRSeqe0NgZoPosuBRbEPIxc6DC_b-BzeNEStkvpGQspzLpq-eSjd1E4OzLYmexoiQUKjcODe9zzMiPPUbybFTBVLUjal3e1eI9HxIdbeZ7/s389/SunsetRiders_Train.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrY5EKSwq94kTua0dlZYDvjPxepvMYqeHn6CGxPZWP45yjZSjGc9GuEA0dwTDBOBpT8On4pAktTIJHDCeNaiRSeqe0NgZoPosuBRbEPIxc6DC_b-BzeNEStkvpGQspzLpq-eSjd1E4OzLYmexoiQUKjcODe9zzMiPPUbybFTBVLUjal3e1eI9HxIdbeZ7/w200-h155/SunsetRiders_Train.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5thQAvA-cwUFovoWFntWoRbo-Ko3SSafEegl_g4i0K0-03XE9nHSQwQ9nhUT0W3Shs61InNal9lJxa6mPjhVSPcQaSERv6X0WNuThBl6UqINTInyICdXKiCKOJdw5k6XwhSLCptmLtk2DMUOnJv4dvKUtVAECrxq3vg0Ic7c6YtIWwauWKXvjTgg-7Zx/s389/JimPower_ForgottenPath.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5thQAvA-cwUFovoWFntWoRbo-Ko3SSafEegl_g4i0K0-03XE9nHSQwQ9nhUT0W3Shs61InNal9lJxa6mPjhVSPcQaSERv6X0WNuThBl6UqINTInyICdXKiCKOJdw5k6XwhSLCptmLtk2DMUOnJv4dvKUtVAECrxq3vg0Ic7c6YtIWwauWKXvjTgg-7Zx/w200-h155/JimPower_ForgottenPath.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">a genre certain circles felt had become all too commonplace at the time with Konami's <i>Contra</i>/<i>Probotector</i> franchise and <i>Sunset Riders</i>, Factor 5's <i>Turrican</i> franchise, Probe Software's video game adaptations of David Fincher's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Alien³</i>, Loriciel's <i>Jim Power</i> games, Treasure's <i>Gunstar Heroes</i>, Sales Curve Interactive's <i>Time Slip</i>, Clockwork Games' upcoming Sega MegaDrive/Genesis adaptation of <i>The Adventures of Batman & Robin</i>,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsAXswFFh6vwohVwrxwSw9etGf8kVgvcSmdet1y1Tahw9XmojcQh4gMPZsWYnl_1dRmrTCsyYmeXgS2C6sZgg7S78MMe0JW1MfeMvMXlRzGKWiZ60iOTWsevn22HzT_3nj4sLKAcq9WWvqm_yPGSmemjYIi8oqYXzDfERPrw9DcNljasJgZ9GRg3P7EPg/s389/NightmareBusters_SNES.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsAXswFFh6vwohVwrxwSw9etGf8kVgvcSmdet1y1Tahw9XmojcQh4gMPZsWYnl_1dRmrTCsyYmeXgS2C6sZgg7S78MMe0JW1MfeMvMXlRzGKWiZ60iOTWsevn22HzT_3nj4sLKAcq9WWvqm_yPGSmemjYIi8oqYXzDfERPrw9DcNljasJgZ9GRg3P7EPg/s16000/NightmareBusters_SNES.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">as well as Arcade Zone's leprechaun-oriented <i>Nightmare Busters</i>, the last of which went unreleased for the longest time and only took eighteen years after it was made for it to be released in an official capacity in 2013, making it the first newly released SNES game after Morning Star Multimedia's 1998 port of Konami's 1981 coin-op classic <i>Frogger</i>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZqf6S0qOznJPnguXvWDO7Tdgy7tNbEtIPSPnW_tO3r6m4xhe9viRODR_nSLNYfZmaItRMZNESbb5l1TCaP9bkJrfY_9bGpJKalhNlmnrOrNUCstASfx7gWavxMyZv6HO-DH2fUAD9iDKeUel3qCj2LIzgaXBkEVcX6Pf0XDb5fj1dCKqZpl7sBILBCzV/s332/JurassicPark2_Brokovnica.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZqf6S0qOznJPnguXvWDO7Tdgy7tNbEtIPSPnW_tO3r6m4xhe9viRODR_nSLNYfZmaItRMZNESbb5l1TCaP9bkJrfY_9bGpJKalhNlmnrOrNUCstASfx7gWavxMyZv6HO-DH2fUAD9iDKeUel3qCj2LIzgaXBkEVcX6Pf0XDb5fj1dCKqZpl7sBILBCzV/s16000/JurassicPark2_Brokovnica.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Solaris104's Atari XL/XE Longplay on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Before <i>The Lost World</i> entered the public subconscious there was another game that acted as a sequel to <i>Jurassic Park</i>, believe it or not, albeit not of the official capacity. Released exclusively on the Atari 8-bit computer and programmed by Ludo Falis, <i>Jurassic Park II</i> was one of two games developed by the Slovak demo crew Satantronic (the other one being <i>Magic World</i>) which was released in native Slovakia in 1995 (courtesy of JRC Interactive), came out in Poland and Czechia in 1997 (courtesy of Sikor Soft) and 1998 respectively, and eventually made its way to North America in 2002 (courtesy of Video 61 & Atari Sales). In it you take control of a character forced to search around for helpful items needed to survive and to eventually leave the open-ended island environment after being taken down by a Pteranodon which takes roughly twenty minutes to play through. Considering the antiquated hardware he had to work with, Ludo Roba's visuals are pretty solid and Gabriel Takacs' music is catchy.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sPVJeSDr7cSG_-rdYEvzazR90FLvh2S27ZoTXbphCmBt7EORpvwy9HQC3eg0dVtN0cnkIKo2EutkbIFwddjpNabneSOq17btZi0TtMsoBwJkLfi807GKkTc51JxkN7Rtx6r66xrEGTUnE0Nsw3N_l6zqSGvrBx7t0-GpE3OuPeclSaNcACv_kevH37QD/s244/JurassicPark_Procompsognathid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sPVJeSDr7cSG_-rdYEvzazR90FLvh2S27ZoTXbphCmBt7EORpvwy9HQC3eg0dVtN0cnkIKo2EutkbIFwddjpNabneSOq17btZi0TtMsoBwJkLfi807GKkTc51JxkN7Rtx6r66xrEGTUnE0Nsw3N_l6zqSGvrBx7t0-GpE3OuPeclSaNcACv_kevH37QD/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Procompsognathid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL_vkuvbfkZhda7pHSlPrN1FJfL5geqcABQesXan2Q_uFdmSQrVaVt-h-JH7PaIp_xTkoVW4YeOVfC2ETuAvOfqfrIpMsY0VttP3_Cd7HQSAYS60WU6zdKLtkPdXK3qy74cQtYg4xPNazQC42Kwgtiq-kf0x2A9IjdfX6NpBqjsufHW76FxxeFAQjCUgY/s244/JurassicPark_Raptor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL_vkuvbfkZhda7pHSlPrN1FJfL5geqcABQesXan2Q_uFdmSQrVaVt-h-JH7PaIp_xTkoVW4YeOVfC2ETuAvOfqfrIpMsY0VttP3_Cd7HQSAYS60WU6zdKLtkPdXK3qy74cQtYg4xPNazQC42Kwgtiq-kf0x2A9IjdfX6NpBqjsufHW76FxxeFAQjCUgY/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Raptor.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">The first <i>Jurassic Park</i> on the Game Boy was my first exposure to Ocean Software as a child during the mid '90s as well as my introduction to the series before having watched Steven Spielberg's film or read Michael Crichton's novel, but at the time I never got farther than the second mission and wouldn't see it through to the end until I got older. I certainly think it's a well-intentioned game with evident production values that are commendable, but the trial and error aspect when it came to locating the right door after procuring the access card and turning on the terminals in the correct sequence sapped a lot of enjoyment from the experience for me to the point that it felt monotonously repetitious and arbitrary due to the slow pacing compounded with the constant sense of backtracking that lacked any real polish to it. A disappointing mess of a video game adaptation, in my opinion.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C91FwgtZDW_nz0FIDmbVOzlkaUI9rhVVAQhU6Ielb_5Q0OFJuBTAOFSLDkpC9OwB6s9MzGVTfjxBY-sUg4eg2pjjPwipUOyN94LI3xmWVw6BRUtujvQnwtNcukNPh6yeNUjvUbSNZaDXoP9tnwZsu4LCUcTxnP5gihVs6R8RdGFm-cPj63LqqAcVbE2t/s244/JurassicParkPart2_JurassicPark.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C91FwgtZDW_nz0FIDmbVOzlkaUI9rhVVAQhU6Ielb_5Q0OFJuBTAOFSLDkpC9OwB6s9MzGVTfjxBY-sUg4eg2pjjPwipUOyN94LI3xmWVw6BRUtujvQnwtNcukNPh6yeNUjvUbSNZaDXoP9tnwZsu4LCUcTxnP5gihVs6R8RdGFm-cPj63LqqAcVbE2t/s1600/JurassicParkPart2_JurassicPark.png" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"What have they got in there, King Kong?"</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">It wasn't until I was a teenager when I stumbled upon a random website with a compendium of video game screenshots that I learned of the existence of <i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i> and learned that it was a sidescroller, but it wouldn't be until February 2020 that I decided to give it a try</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFCxTWEwvjQtMvkof6B08HcXkdCkmS7naeR8g7Mdm4awpQ64AsHq11CtzkQzd-xMKnaYbC-_7mNIfYVN9cP1OCjgOicR_0xsXNEosrE_I-jpOj47Pq1P59sS40k90dwImKY-3Fg0gFBD4x-PuZpeCXocCk5k5zKsVHETE7hbWTFtq8e673rgo8G06OxtZ/s388/MrNutz_MrSpider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFCxTWEwvjQtMvkof6B08HcXkdCkmS7naeR8g7Mdm4awpQ64AsHq11CtzkQzd-xMKnaYbC-_7mNIfYVN9cP1OCjgOicR_0xsXNEosrE_I-jpOj47Pq1P59sS40k90dwImKY-3Fg0gFBD4x-PuZpeCXocCk5k5zKsVHETE7hbWTFtq8e673rgo8G06OxtZ/w200-h154/MrNutz_MrSpider.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyvjUa5UaR4PL3B2nizCWnBwJOibSyfBpntM2o2QZVY-E9E60_e7-v3-rpIvxxLjWueG5ZEuN5E7hzXEmV3E9LDgz_y0ArPmCM5chyphenhyphentbcP9NzLcl3TO132Gue_2zP47P4eyXJQL8OMxcb6g9uonGbhiW0YK2P5SNipx9bnzbMJPBMFUKXJtEWQLfdLAc8/s388/MrNutz_AdventurePark.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyvjUa5UaR4PL3B2nizCWnBwJOibSyfBpntM2o2QZVY-E9E60_e7-v3-rpIvxxLjWueG5ZEuN5E7hzXEmV3E9LDgz_y0ArPmCM5chyphenhyphentbcP9NzLcl3TO132Gue_2zP47P4eyXJQL8OMxcb6g9uonGbhiW0YK2P5SNipx9bnzbMJPBMFUKXJtEWQLfdLAc8/w200-h154/MrNutz_AdventurePark.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">especially upon learning about its ties to <i>Mr. Nutz</i>. With a sequel there's always room for improvement, and on the whole I felt very satisfied with <i>The Chaos Continues</i>. 😃</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRET2cAd_cOMnNlMwyUW77NUV28U54tQL_qkCzBg5VrZbF_52uxK6KtqXJMUbieXU5mBisayCP4SVb13DTNGdstFjYhLVTIES2tDKoXjtxEKAzbseA_7IZ1wsCVAZuyFj0rF7wXT05JqabeSNZbBcbSVMWPfcdGQoY0FZUSaLbKWhHwwv4t0mZWKpG5QF/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Raft.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRET2cAd_cOMnNlMwyUW77NUV28U54tQL_qkCzBg5VrZbF_52uxK6KtqXJMUbieXU5mBisayCP4SVb13DTNGdstFjYhLVTIES2tDKoXjtxEKAzbseA_7IZ1wsCVAZuyFj0rF7wXT05JqabeSNZbBcbSVMWPfcdGQoY0FZUSaLbKWhHwwv4t0mZWKpG5QF/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Raft.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKKiFbkZ0Jo2E48emCwcBAu9BrTppcl8EHIXP_fG8wXIfrhrGrLsznhrBrXxEZXyU99QNoTQklsuy0F9nEuyclB54D_sRjn9qeOIyefL2hP2XgZtn9XJyyaxXAUJI2a4USZ7zBOimYlYNvF2eFDRLs37irr5bcm-cx2cNdALBq9n5OVyx62hHRtx1CGUa/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Splash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKKiFbkZ0Jo2E48emCwcBAu9BrTppcl8EHIXP_fG8wXIfrhrGrLsznhrBrXxEZXyU99QNoTQklsuy0F9nEuyclB54D_sRjn9qeOIyefL2hP2XgZtn9XJyyaxXAUJI2a4USZ7zBOimYlYNvF2eFDRLs37irr5bcm-cx2cNdALBq9n5OVyx62hHRtx1CGUa/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Splash.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Fell down on another raft | Right: Splash</span></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">The difference between playing <i>Jurassic Park</i> and <i>Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i> was night and day, and I had a lot of fun playing the latter as it had more polished gameplay and felt like it had a much tighter focus than the former did. In the first game you had to reserve your ammo as you had a limited number to use up so as to not run out, but in this sequel you don't have to worry about that for your ammo was unlimited therefore you can fire to your heart's content. One of the things that dragged down the first game for me</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGwu8RFbi6vVIEDkeUDMN5k7vKtGyuh8ITSONs7T8hN_dKzZDMiuVziq5LgE2kwLXAap6hDw48tzYA3C6MZyoRXWqXJZljXjG_y1zk3jHbV2W9NkraWn4wQrm6P1qyyTHHCck7e-kw5PrK8n8VEBFom9Myas-5FwJXrR01UmdOi-KcgsocSk5WTas9v2r/s244/JurassicParkPart2_FossilFish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGwu8RFbi6vVIEDkeUDMN5k7vKtGyuh8ITSONs7T8hN_dKzZDMiuVziq5LgE2kwLXAap6hDw48tzYA3C6MZyoRXWqXJZljXjG_y1zk3jHbV2W9NkraWn4wQrm6P1qyyTHHCck7e-kw5PrK8n8VEBFom9Myas-5FwJXrR01UmdOi-KcgsocSk5WTas9v2r/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_FossilFish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2RmLy6c1dlRNTCOtOzRDrDNoS-CD5_Be3kpMqJsGC5f9Jk9waQfoRgNmEUjQQbJ8nijwRu7jBDn9KG7LpbkWA33BbdAgAfDaS145T3JSSG3eCYR5q_mmKz4l0P-UiXITu4cuixWXxFdrCHKdxOv2Kj3ZYVW7yDjEizZZsVF6dqF7oOOiD6NcA_ZS4wfv/s244/JurassicParkPart2_CephalosaurePlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2RmLy6c1dlRNTCOtOzRDrDNoS-CD5_Be3kpMqJsGC5f9Jk9waQfoRgNmEUjQQbJ8nijwRu7jBDn9KG7LpbkWA33BbdAgAfDaS145T3JSSG3eCYR5q_mmKz4l0P-UiXITu4cuixWXxFdrCHKdxOv2Kj3ZYVW7yDjEizZZsVF6dqF7oOOiD6NcA_ZS4wfv/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_CephalosaurePlatforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Swimming in the depths | Right: Platforming upward</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">was its slow walking pace, to be fair Dr. Alan Grant is not particularly a fast walker here either but I felt in this case it was more conducive to the carefully thought-out level designs with a fun sense of play control. I liked that you could fire ahead of you and above you while on foot, if only there was a way to remain stationary while shooting diagonally but I can't really complain when the game is very fun to play. There is a nice sense of nonlinear open-ended design when it comes to searching for all the magnetic cards scattered about in most of</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G7MLeiOcB6PPOvZMIPjW3qMAseDkE2NysswP0bBqVLQBvvRE0cSsizL0XQ5I-YrwuQC9X4Qjs1d5yfJx_eUUaxPPIzlJKS36S_hoWeazk_iU_kge2nvmeq_1xa_Z15OU8D0NVyAi4MFiG4F_myzCrh9GKB1Y-6Gi25NnQC3WM2vRma-lE18tm_-PohiT/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Dilophosaur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G7MLeiOcB6PPOvZMIPjW3qMAseDkE2NysswP0bBqVLQBvvRE0cSsizL0XQ5I-YrwuQC9X4Qjs1d5yfJx_eUUaxPPIzlJKS36S_hoWeazk_iU_kge2nvmeq_1xa_Z15OU8D0NVyAi4MFiG4F_myzCrh9GKB1Y-6Gi25NnQC3WM2vRma-lE18tm_-PohiT/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Dilophosaur.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrOos0d8HqudRlDDICMIkmrJWNuAbYGIfx02CrJ9YLmGxNEedqMNO4CAYgvThdflpvLcK0PHlVdnMZ80JYDx-crzyQQleUVdg2ef1aL3NyNc-fTFStgj5vjvcaQinU2pvbPUcNlzZQX7H-xNAgWVsC1iN8BXe6sTsV-TVHj05CApzb5WIgFv4RrLAulOZ/s244/JurassicParkPart2_CephalosaureZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrOos0d8HqudRlDDICMIkmrJWNuAbYGIfx02CrJ9YLmGxNEedqMNO4CAYgvThdflpvLcK0PHlVdnMZ80JYDx-crzyQQleUVdg2ef1aL3NyNc-fTFStgj5vjvcaQinU2pvbPUcNlzZQX7H-xNAgWVsC1iN8BXe6sTsV-TVHj05CApzb5WIgFv4RrLAulOZ/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_CephalosaureZone.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Hey, it's a Dilophosaur, let's ask her how Dennis Nedry is doing... or not | Right: Underwater boss battle with the ability to breathe underwater without fail</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">the levels, though luckily the areas aren't so spacious that it would be easy for you to become lost. There is the occasional enemy respawning of the dinosaur enemies if you scroll a bit behind you only to scroll right back to where you were, but it's nothing you can't handle while firing from a distance. </span><i style="color: #ffa400;">Jurassic Park Part 2</i><span style="color: #ffa400;"> had a considerably smaller staff than the first </span><i style="color: #ffa400;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #ffa400;"> Game Boy game did, turns out all Ocean needed was to inject French blood into the license to create a genuinely enjoyable Game Boy </span><i style="color: #ffa400;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #ffa400;"> game. 😏 In all seriousness, it feels more focused this time around which I feel helped the proceedings a lot.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUquQaOmZX_h2_SNfj7YsHyaaNOmRj-7NVq0m1_ik472g7JuW62s9khnIXpnem9s2v71tRnM_MYuSQQWTVUV9zKREMQAm4ghyphenhyphenbsTCRr4jXgP7hODkM-lmY6oMLAVHw-yrzzoDpX1zcK4dN-6bLu6N_Di9NjCD0occMCdfBF30vwVuklyGmp8ws_oeGUhWs/s388/MrNutz_Kitchen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUquQaOmZX_h2_SNfj7YsHyaaNOmRj-7NVq0m1_ik472g7JuW62s9khnIXpnem9s2v71tRnM_MYuSQQWTVUV9zKREMQAm4ghyphenhyphenbsTCRr4jXgP7hODkM-lmY6oMLAVHw-yrzzoDpX1zcK4dN-6bLu6N_Di9NjCD0occMCdfBF30vwVuklyGmp8ws_oeGUhWs/w200-h154/MrNutz_Kitchen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUkAGxPVk8hIC1o5ApqbBfu9aF5QZvcaJB8P-KZwpoVHf0b5RGNNblE7wKVixSS5z4rqgN-yQER6eYzQm46vmad9PlzmNx3yndVGVOUBNUtv9KSmYbOZ8rsRVbNUC0uFZV7TVdUmVuJQIBErKDtZ6kyAwFXMIsKg1n-gBRDOfjUVnthh8bn7PGydIEVxe/s388/MrNutz_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUkAGxPVk8hIC1o5ApqbBfu9aF5QZvcaJB8P-KZwpoVHf0b5RGNNblE7wKVixSS5z4rqgN-yQER6eYzQm46vmad9PlzmNx3yndVGVOUBNUtv9KSmYbOZ8rsRVbNUC0uFZV7TVdUmVuJQIBErKDtZ6kyAwFXMIsKg1n-gBRDOfjUVnthh8bn7PGydIEVxe/w200-h154/MrNutz_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">I mustn't neglect to mention the key figures who worked on this game Pierre Adane and Philippe Dessoly. 😃 Ah, <b>these two</b>!! Imagine spending eighteen months working on the Nintendo 16-bit platformer <i>Mr. Nutz</i>, devoting a fraction of that time period converting it to the Sega MegaDrive and Game Boy formats, and followed up (if not coincided) by the development of the Game Boy's second <i>Jurassic Park</i> video game.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NN7dKCywf4Jc-tMBaIpZInExgOuWNy-riqiv3ciET8QRwQlCUnhV0FIuhGrJkDxEglGczHQQ05T006PFSH3nrlT4q79fdLkyFSBe9lAV_iEB3qT9NiMjlLsnmuFgGHSOTORfsNdXcxnCMxAfVPUqootoalHIS3omhJzrCGXu30g3HFgKmPzRuihPxDjc/s388/MrNutz_Clouds.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NN7dKCywf4Jc-tMBaIpZInExgOuWNy-riqiv3ciET8QRwQlCUnhV0FIuhGrJkDxEglGczHQQ05T006PFSH3nrlT4q79fdLkyFSBe9lAV_iEB3qT9NiMjlLsnmuFgGHSOTORfsNdXcxnCMxAfVPUqootoalHIS3omhJzrCGXu30g3HFgKmPzRuihPxDjc/s16000/MrNutz_Clouds.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clooooooooooouds 🌈</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">Amazing! Incredible!! Adane and Dessoly have </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">got it </span><b style="color: #ffa400;">made</b><span style="color: #ffa400;">!!! Complete respect! 🫡</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86SLlFbmLT2SB7pBT5Cgl7K8fMMmd3Lj46EiqyKZzwNC9H-TDaMOozT233c24LFcp8BhKCRphhX3EzceB6zoQsBbhGl-ZU71KwGWvgx46TTPUKkI2fw3WsZHN6uMADKyeVQ2BhyynhydJpenwQbwVbkyygkUzjrLpRH_U1pYDJSNlxIe6uFQywGWqXlS9/s388/MrNutz_Swinging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86SLlFbmLT2SB7pBT5Cgl7K8fMMmd3Lj46EiqyKZzwNC9H-TDaMOozT233c24LFcp8BhKCRphhX3EzceB6zoQsBbhGl-ZU71KwGWvgx46TTPUKkI2fw3WsZHN6uMADKyeVQ2BhyynhydJpenwQbwVbkyygkUzjrLpRH_U1pYDJSNlxIe6uFQywGWqXlS9/w200-h154/MrNutz_Swinging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRzgLh17IeFyXlzQaPqOMrPBmMtQuc7GxcjYzlm1eXvyzE4AdF7oz9dBPac16KCq6dsJzWAiVcl5eUYZSVc2caqQWmBHB7zRKis-R_dJt-iZS60o1_c-l2sstEA3LZI288LDUvtbfeAGGvC58Dg1SiEP0FSse6ezYWUb4xkilF5WPfPXhe3l5WJilAHd6/s388/MrNutz_Octopus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRzgLh17IeFyXlzQaPqOMrPBmMtQuc7GxcjYzlm1eXvyzE4AdF7oz9dBPac16KCq6dsJzWAiVcl5eUYZSVc2caqQWmBHB7zRKis-R_dJt-iZS60o1_c-l2sstEA3LZI288LDUvtbfeAGGvC58Dg1SiEP0FSse6ezYWUb4xkilF5WPfPXhe3l5WJilAHd6/w200-h154/MrNutz_Octopus.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">In a good number of ways, <i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i> does feel cut from the same cloth as <i>Mr. Nutz</i> given the shared involvement of Adane and Dessoly in both games (especially the Game Boy crew Zimmer, Velez, </span></span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Sœur, and Philippe Dessoly's brother Sylvain): </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Grant is as big in size as the eponymous squirrel (Game Boy-wise), he animates just as fluidly when walking, he can breathe underwater <b>forever</b> without the need to resurface as if he's secretly got gills like Mr. Nutz could, Grant's got extended airtime after making jumps like Mr. Nutz does, and while it's not to the same degree there is a fun sense of open-ended area exploration like in Ocean's platforming cult classic, and so forth.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi_Nntdc2Onr6pgzVcDtZ9GQTr7UYtgEePCznXgA7bFv3ax-KIaOp4NVxGoNlINg3hCnQ389IHjf60dg2jA7P4tma1vnl-9X-FuzWZwrtAsHhbqFXj7YxShLh4WqUctnEDj1Kq42yL-MJmgo3dRKadKBxZPnTf-Nl5o2uocjFprXfM8hAZ1a0Q8upwg8i/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi_Nntdc2Onr6pgzVcDtZ9GQTr7UYtgEePCznXgA7bFv3ax-KIaOp4NVxGoNlINg3hCnQ389IHjf60dg2jA7P4tma1vnl-9X-FuzWZwrtAsHhbqFXj7YxShLh4WqUctnEDj1Kq42yL-MJmgo3dRKadKBxZPnTf-Nl5o2uocjFprXfM8hAZ1a0Q8upwg8i/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqttzvBGRLKyd7VYPX8VTga1H7MjmOIkZbK6Ts5ecEUnQj1K054Tzj1yBstx0iDVtXbkM_T4Yey5z0SuYsP2-LdgoWoNhoZ74xwiR59YwERLRV7MRWmkaXP4C5Z-EtQZz-c4n1UPpk6aNFHLE-Z5_6f3eQOalmbqm17SFeDE7h_K4XT0ABgheQly4-xUSC/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqttzvBGRLKyd7VYPX8VTga1H7MjmOIkZbK6Ts5ecEUnQj1K054Tzj1yBstx0iDVtXbkM_T4Yey5z0SuYsP2-LdgoWoNhoZ74xwiR59YwERLRV7MRWmkaXP4C5Z-EtQZz-c4n1UPpk6aNFHLE-Z5_6f3eQOalmbqm17SFeDE7h_K4XT0ABgheQly4-xUSC/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Pursuit-6.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Once more, the Tyrannosaurus Rex is in pursuit of Grant | Right: Shoot any meddlesome procompsognathid as you're getting away from her</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">The first </span><i style="color: #ffa400;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #ffa400;"> peaked fairly early on when it came to big dino action, with the stampeding Triceratops at the end of the first mission and at the end of the second mission having to do a safety escort while contending with the Tyrannosaurus Rex, but after that? Nothing, just contending with the frequently recurring dinosaur enemies until the end, leaving you a bit wanting. </span><i style="color: #ffa400;">Jurassic Park Part 2</i><span style="color: #ffa400;"> makes up for the first game's shortcoming by having boss fights at the end of each zone as you battle against the larger-sized dinosaurs, they're not particularly difficult once you've got their pattern figured out but they do fill in the void nicely when all is said and done.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlefj8I1B8ZvS3VsFF159_POF-C7kg-yno_-hcD73Qd6lXCmMF-U7hsh8sgCxOh7408WkODDH2gNG-KUBLiDeeHktMWVko8fxlOIR-ji9RmenhdLjl6NJMh_q_U-zWe450EaQ4W1XoStM0nmEbbPW7aPhxTLpUpf1wAt1Z2ciQWVuP3jAEhlkRrL5hNIgV/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Lampshade.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlefj8I1B8ZvS3VsFF159_POF-C7kg-yno_-hcD73Qd6lXCmMF-U7hsh8sgCxOh7408WkODDH2gNG-KUBLiDeeHktMWVko8fxlOIR-ji9RmenhdLjl6NJMh_q_U-zWe450EaQ4W1XoStM0nmEbbPW7aPhxTLpUpf1wAt1Z2ciQWVuP3jAEhlkRrL5hNIgV/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Lampshade.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteouHJhos9P-A3FBE4pdbTOK6l_QiZENSM4SyEElhyphenhyphenYSzXTA_sm0XDUqxq8beFId5J4C3m3V-eCM3Q8xNy8Lk9ungFTWTmtQ7cvaRWH4rfvqgUb1mAfCXc614b5P53_9PK-6h075g6mmt1CW755y52VO7bXn9P1CkMEviCqGjEp-h0qxR-zEx2HV-ndKm/s244/JurassicParkPart2_LookingDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteouHJhos9P-A3FBE4pdbTOK6l_QiZENSM4SyEElhyphenhyphenYSzXTA_sm0XDUqxq8beFId5J4C3m3V-eCM3Q8xNy8Lk9ungFTWTmtQ7cvaRWH4rfvqgUb1mAfCXc614b5P53_9PK-6h075g6mmt1CW755y52VO7bXn9P1CkMEviCqGjEp-h0qxR-zEx2HV-ndKm/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_LookingDown.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Effective lampshade | Right: Peering down</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">Having said all that, just because <b>I</b> enjoyed this game it doesn't necessarily mean that everyone did, for everyone has got different tastes, sense and sensibilities, experiences, thoughts, and whatnot. Despite the rampant dino action it's a fairly relaxing game to play as there's a nice flow to the game where the real challenge comes from obtaining all the magnetic cards and making it in one piece (it almost feels like a safari game with the occasional dino hunting at play), but in those cases where you mess up you at least have yourself to blame if you lacked coordination or did not pay attention. <i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i> is leagues more to fair to play than its precursor in my book. 🤗</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgK4TTYeSumoFIPpPdA0zIicXuomWPzSUc1KTxPDrHpo96DzZgW4Y3anmdV6xarrLZE-xDfafJCY-5Jrmtf6ZEy9FqWgl5pcJ4plT2EksTfIYLJSNgAWXhQ0GB6xjSXJEX-xWc1PL-dvdcAFacA9LdAJN1CxO4IBRxKJstE_afSkUQHK9D-ELGEaJFn8v/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Parasaurolophus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgK4TTYeSumoFIPpPdA0zIicXuomWPzSUc1KTxPDrHpo96DzZgW4Y3anmdV6xarrLZE-xDfafJCY-5Jrmtf6ZEy9FqWgl5pcJ4plT2EksTfIYLJSNgAWXhQ0GB6xjSXJEX-xWc1PL-dvdcAFacA9LdAJN1CxO4IBRxKJstE_afSkUQHK9D-ELGEaJFn8v/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Parasaurolophus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_wyNe-ElAFw6LP_7jHRFrWAb2uuxG7w_MkIlp2s0QQPLce7GDJ_sttxbandyMgyTGROZJE1lanQHsMv3nfizi5R7HHg4GRO69nixQW2NrUwF2oP0U_Zjq5DzHn9H6h6FoWFNvF6pXPiUhskQygtsuhJBAqVEoDp-GC_5ClYx4rUR5dvWGcal9ba79InY/s244/JurassicParkPart2_ConveyorBelt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_wyNe-ElAFw6LP_7jHRFrWAb2uuxG7w_MkIlp2s0QQPLce7GDJ_sttxbandyMgyTGROZJE1lanQHsMv3nfizi5R7HHg4GRO69nixQW2NrUwF2oP0U_Zjq5DzHn9H6h6FoWFNvF6pXPiUhskQygtsuhJBAqVEoDp-GC_5ClYx4rUR5dvWGcal9ba79InY/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_ConveyorBelt.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Taking care of the Parasaurolophus | Right: The last levels feature conveyor belts</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">Where I feel this game might test people to the limit are the self-scrolling levels with the Tyrannosaurus Rex pursuits and the first Cephalosaure level. They are very manageable to play if you have the proper footing and concentrate on the correct path, but I will warn you that they are very lengthy and require you to pay absolute attention otherwise you have no other recourse but to start those over due to the lack of checkpoints. Now despite the occasional nonlinearity and reasonably manageable difficulty, this is a short game through and through as it would take roughly forty minutes or so to play through on your best day.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQjSO3416bJ9INs0i-fo-vqgYHdq9FmHNw5nu8YXBkYuzYbNtw_ys70j0Uo3jDVD44O4PBNr-mpKEN2fV-DPV__e9BnNu6ThVoj-FtE1_aeDBmUZtHdoffZuBrweOCgDkPFZPPdVgK3nwEjtNK7RAIPbFo2ljlhqyXUrHC1efUJyq2OUy53oM_ZGw_idO/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Flame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQjSO3416bJ9INs0i-fo-vqgYHdq9FmHNw5nu8YXBkYuzYbNtw_ys70j0Uo3jDVD44O4PBNr-mpKEN2fV-DPV__e9BnNu6ThVoj-FtE1_aeDBmUZtHdoffZuBrweOCgDkPFZPPdVgK3nwEjtNK7RAIPbFo2ljlhqyXUrHC1efUJyq2OUy53oM_ZGw_idO/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Flame.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tuu6ZoGo6Mpa74E5QaD71EKnOCi5M6WDInprd13k50d9dfGtemP0hVQ9__i4LwnPhnY3LYNVKLcUGB-2HsYvnGkU9etVaBAO7K5KTRPIHjtOMiSLU3BubVLlooJvsTAiKxVNC5OXKqS8QVRwCIcVDfs1UL_t9AvgWPEs2Xcs0vEt4KNfcmNnx0org2jW/s244/JurassicParkPart2_RaptorZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tuu6ZoGo6Mpa74E5QaD71EKnOCi5M6WDInprd13k50d9dfGtemP0hVQ9__i4LwnPhnY3LYNVKLcUGB-2HsYvnGkU9etVaBAO7K5KTRPIHjtOMiSLU3BubVLlooJvsTAiKxVNC5OXKqS8QVRwCIcVDfs1UL_t9AvgWPEs2Xcs0vEt4KNfcmNnx0org2jW/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_RaptorZone.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Wait for the flame to dissipate </b>🔥<b> | Right: "Shoot her! Shooooot heeeeeeeer!" </b>👄</span></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">Compared to the one-plus hour it takes to beat the first <i>Jurassic Park</i>, it admittedly is a stark contrast and I can understand some being disappointed at the brevity. And yet despite that, or <b>in</b> spite of that, I felt that for <i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i> it hit the sweet spot because of how fun it was for me. As for the genre change, it didn't really bother me that much, but again I can understand why some would've taken umbrage with it at the time with how commonplace it must've felt, but at the end of the day it all simply boils down to semantics.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMnMYnJvy89be6rAVJAPxvSUGpo1R4ybqpUGSMXlQCuX8vA8TR9oUKjD0SEzUJJ2kl0-Fho6-T1TPUX6PdL2ZG48ZPZCjhgyfRHOmMCEra4LbLmN096Q__TLkfFkEzKs3kQQIyz5yoeb5EBqCi9oei_UBdyh87Ez5yn5KEv284DLFdKYfez_0u_XTyS3_/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Spiny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMnMYnJvy89be6rAVJAPxvSUGpo1R4ybqpUGSMXlQCuX8vA8TR9oUKjD0SEzUJJ2kl0-Fho6-T1TPUX6PdL2ZG48ZPZCjhgyfRHOmMCEra4LbLmN096Q__TLkfFkEzKs3kQQIyz5yoeb5EBqCi9oei_UBdyh87Ez5yn5KEv284DLFdKYfez_0u_XTyS3_/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_Spiny.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksiZ_rpTtHUxjh5vOW7CLq1FEpBIWbXLcgd5v-O_ls1EE1Sr7bDJcfY-22qlJ4AQ6FMCEmKam5hVh4vQn4aHNE8AlrEj1VyfJvkT3w6LuBIFZKNSGOWIiSErETogFdtQrl5rPhgIOpjri0G8DRnOV8PlDNObi_UOlQC1RjbM_2Dav5Hs91ZPPM5dxNZRp/s244/JurassicParkPart2_BarelyMadeIt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksiZ_rpTtHUxjh5vOW7CLq1FEpBIWbXLcgd5v-O_ls1EE1Sr7bDJcfY-22qlJ4AQ6FMCEmKam5hVh4vQn4aHNE8AlrEj1VyfJvkT3w6LuBIFZKNSGOWIiSErETogFdtQrl5rPhgIOpjri0G8DRnOV8PlDNObi_UOlQC1RjbM_2Dav5Hs91ZPPM5dxNZRp/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_BarelyMadeIt.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Shooting at that spiny dinosaur | Right: Phew, barely made it</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">If the fact that Ocean rendered this game a sidescrolling run and gun venue or the fact that it's short doesn't bother you all that much, I think you'll enjoy it based entirely on the fact that it feels polished, is a worthwhile <i>Jurassic Park</i> license, and in my opinion is among the best licensed titles that Ocean Software developed during their career. 😃</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxyl_Htz3j6MllMlzKesL7Oa3cEccoy06ZD2x4-woSnwyGrhHvygMhDLIwOJaPXO4-bqL4ip6m_OC-kga9KZRoZAIzfB34kmuPxz6V-N7f4g4RZK6UpuYDjD4-n90D3Qi0mjyYjDW5dHqVFbmDWb4G-l8DB30Hh2PdVuYNSgsws03luhN-7hIewlmZHY/s390/TheAddamsFamily_SNES.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxyl_Htz3j6MllMlzKesL7Oa3cEccoy06ZD2x4-woSnwyGrhHvygMhDLIwOJaPXO4-bqL4ip6m_OC-kga9KZRoZAIzfB34kmuPxz6V-N7f4g4RZK6UpuYDjD4-n90D3Qi0mjyYjDW5dHqVFbmDWb4G-l8DB30Hh2PdVuYNSgsws03luhN-7hIewlmZHY/s16000/TheAddamsFamily_SNES.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Speaking of games with playable characters being able to breathe underwater forever without ever worrying about the prospect of drowning...</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">I also consider Occean's SNES platformer based on Barry Sonnenfeld's <i>The Addams Family</i> to be among their best licensed games that they worked on which I think is a very likable game. 😀 I've not played many of their licensed titles, but even if I had I would still place it somewhere up there due to its simple yet fun gameplay, endearingly nuanced sense of level design, family-friendly macabre charm and atmosphere, myriad of secrets, a fair challenge level, and overall enjoyable experience which makes it my favorite of the three SNES <i>Addams Family</i> games. If only the other two weren't so brutal with their difficulty. 😔</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjvAipS7U7wdYeoBERut1d7aic29PNrY0FFMRs4BiESv8Vdkftycq1oERCc5l3mjHdgWHKdRPgR0zXzeAkVW7g_bX6BaHOh4TbdAtZdH3gy32tsuYSfQml0XBwjTcIt5BCpsnWm6G6Pu0O6mDnsLfRiWGuhgO6uBcrHcJMUOss6rYOYvuUbFaN2mg2rO/s388/MrNutz_FlyingSquirrel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjvAipS7U7wdYeoBERut1d7aic29PNrY0FFMRs4BiESv8Vdkftycq1oERCc5l3mjHdgWHKdRPgR0zXzeAkVW7g_bX6BaHOh4TbdAtZdH3gy32tsuYSfQml0XBwjTcIt5BCpsnWm6G6Pu0O6mDnsLfRiWGuhgO6uBcrHcJMUOss6rYOYvuUbFaN2mg2rO/w200-h154/MrNutz_FlyingSquirrel.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglHGriPn81R8RTzKyRN5v6-vUhHhbdhz1jDN2vgH7afpr5f3F6cg_Z4iEQG5t1YHIJFJN_4ZyPU3T_GNc1tWUsneVlF7HVgobEFKDR0hkHe5RZeti6ZPMvcZYM0zmBPHH48_aa3izu2mD1Mtva_3ndg7etbdkcZXgDuZj9tbVhSr937AEcHZvh0FaTeRC/s388/MrNutz_BlueBird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglHGriPn81R8RTzKyRN5v6-vUhHhbdhz1jDN2vgH7afpr5f3F6cg_Z4iEQG5t1YHIJFJN_4ZyPU3T_GNc1tWUsneVlF7HVgobEFKDR0hkHe5RZeti6ZPMvcZYM0zmBPHH48_aa3izu2mD1Mtva_3ndg7etbdkcZXgDuZj9tbVhSr937AEcHZvh0FaTeRC/w200-h154/MrNutz_BlueBird.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">But my favorite Ocean Software video game is and forever will be <i>Mr. Nutz</i>, the one video game of theirs that is not based on a preexisting license. 🥰 I love it, I love how adorable this game is, I love how challenging yet fair it is to play, I love this game's sense of nuanced level design, I love Philippe Dessoly's gorgeously detailed visuals, I love Raphaël Gesqua's music and how it breathes life into this game, I love how it rewards you for your thorough exploration, I love what <b>absolute nonsense</b> it becomes after a while and how it revels in its lack of sense. It holds a special place in my heart, and no one can take that away from me. 💗</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRA9R-_f8DKuVxP0UNU1ax3OIgUXonSLCG4YxTgc8uCfvUzVDCCM6EIiFZJam8T5ZBMuqLSVl4-aDxXZ4Q4G9qykDbiQSA-WMYMGicrRfPZ7xRGBZybr2nkbmS7VnFb6BFfCM-yWZlTAMm1dpwzkUD57uzSBy45vVeiKV-4O3emA1vw7teD0eyJ3_OrWZ/s244/JurassicPark_Terminal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRA9R-_f8DKuVxP0UNU1ax3OIgUXonSLCG4YxTgc8uCfvUzVDCCM6EIiFZJam8T5ZBMuqLSVl4-aDxXZ4Q4G9qykDbiQSA-WMYMGicrRfPZ7xRGBZybr2nkbmS7VnFb6BFfCM-yWZlTAMm1dpwzkUD57uzSBy45vVeiKV-4O3emA1vw7teD0eyJ3_OrWZ/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Terminal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuxqt0vbMFYT8F6r1BY9kkVPxduOlsE_Jyy1SFWZ4b6qF7WaixxdIP9o9FgGbVyb37l6KeQdG1ipBgvUL7KSJHQZLOVIv6pkO2H4ehljLP-9xoZw2RXeUPSHrDZdbyQNPsjQT2jGWp4D3TNR9hAe5t8SwqEFonwxWkCyZ9VUFVpf5ENCiidTJtn5Csd3y/s244/JurassicPark_Volcano.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuxqt0vbMFYT8F6r1BY9kkVPxduOlsE_Jyy1SFWZ4b6qF7WaixxdIP9o9FgGbVyb37l6KeQdG1ipBgvUL7KSJHQZLOVIv6pkO2H4ehljLP-9xoZw2RXeUPSHrDZdbyQNPsjQT2jGWp4D3TNR9hAe5t8SwqEFonwxWkCyZ9VUFVpf5ENCiidTJtn5Csd3y/w200-h159/JurassicPark_Volcano.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400;">Had Ocean only made <i>Jurassic Park</i> and simply left it at that, I think it would've been a very disheartening thing knowing that they spent a high amount of money to obtain the rights from Universal to adapt it and <b>this</b> is all we ended up with. I'm glad they gave the license another go-around while they still had the rights on hand and found their second wind with <i>Jurassic Park Part 2</i>, redeeming themselves with a far superior experience in my opinion.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBGfTW18sg01Qe-pMrJlNlVnPYgDhAb3Kn3p1JaxzXTEPhRSJKQz80RMCVk5s1sOjLFDspKE5ODYM7KM16IPO2qF4TDQohFtU-LiW_N0yo2q_aY2r41uYxWzpnSJVDqEGbgIBPW3mh6aQTZCcEHzDIze1hrpu12b24D769KLtxeXLtX8ZAJKHQsDs7uz9/s244/JurassicParkPart2_TyrannousaurusZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBGfTW18sg01Qe-pMrJlNlVnPYgDhAb3Kn3p1JaxzXTEPhRSJKQz80RMCVk5s1sOjLFDspKE5ODYM7KM16IPO2qF4TDQohFtU-LiW_N0yo2q_aY2r41uYxWzpnSJVDqEGbgIBPW3mh6aQTZCcEHzDIze1hrpu12b24D769KLtxeXLtX8ZAJKHQsDs7uz9/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_TyrannousaurusZone.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQbShMMtPMzjVNbIG0lZdEB5OaRjiGQrd74lzZGn5of35k9MxZPKlb-Nx5Np_kk3jJbZVnvjpOfJzEn6zgUOgr3-c-LfcL8ymDMe0sgPLCJnUimCVa50K_7v-DvuyA1s904bHkCcelY7WvLtS0YseYJPhoZniwoNxP5Sxkw_AmWxFAj_pS3LF3tgAa7Y3/s244/JurassicParkPart2_DefeatedTyrannosaurusRex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQbShMMtPMzjVNbIG0lZdEB5OaRjiGQrd74lzZGn5of35k9MxZPKlb-Nx5Np_kk3jJbZVnvjpOfJzEn6zgUOgr3-c-LfcL8ymDMe0sgPLCJnUimCVa50K_7v-DvuyA1s904bHkCcelY7WvLtS0YseYJPhoZniwoNxP5Sxkw_AmWxFAj_pS3LF3tgAa7Y3/w200-h159/JurassicParkPart2_DefeatedTyrannosaurusRex.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Left: Face to face with the Tyrannosaurus Rex | Right: Grant wins! Extinction!</span></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Of Ocean's <i>Jurassic Park</i> games they made for the Game Boy, I consider this one to be the only worthwhile of the two to play for its sense of polish made the proceedings very enjoyable and goes to show that with enough time and care afforded to them they could produce a good video game acting as a sequel to the biggest movie of 1993. Recommended if you own a Game Boy, or if you'd prefer to hold out for Carbon Engine's <i>Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection</i>, it's like the adage goes, "Variety is the spice of life", and life finds a way.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7DYx4n8J6Xy05tuoubrwVJFCvcL9C4mzNE3TibVzmuSC8DI_oJypTiX0A_vQRYvBQzcLPm5lHQaqQiLvedf7oplrRWXgZhWYQxV-J2-Ncjpk3nQaDwdWqBjHLJLhmnPKkWSA4XmKf1XUDvye7QoD1-pq9KS4CEMFsWrXOqH4rKjP_6u6rMD-0YtNxo_G/s244/JurassicParkPart2_Ending.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7DYx4n8J6Xy05tuoubrwVJFCvcL9C4mzNE3TibVzmuSC8DI_oJypTiX0A_vQRYvBQzcLPm5lHQaqQiLvedf7oplrRWXgZhWYQxV-J2-Ncjpk3nQaDwdWqBjHLJLhmnPKkWSA4XmKf1XUDvye7QoD1-pq9KS4CEMFsWrXOqH4rKjP_6u6rMD-0YtNxo_G/s1600/JurassicParkPart2_Ending.png" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.0/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHvA_acRfyu7urTrL3j4AvnnD98aZO3M9pssTGq7ypo-4voNd1Ii27-EGfmBAsxvQAkmjo95CHa8Jt6VvvATNQk-GNC-cVRloehVkoVEr6zPSK94NCgNCJgnwSnpn1vbxmabGaxspnud_UhqvGvFk4KSYzt37GJE_yxxOBg2uiOkaTifvIcidcgWmB8Kp/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHvA_acRfyu7urTrL3j4AvnnD98aZO3M9pssTGq7ypo-4voNd1Ii27-EGfmBAsxvQAkmjo95CHa8Jt6VvvATNQk-GNC-cVRloehVkoVEr6zPSK94NCgNCJgnwSnpn1vbxmabGaxspnud_UhqvGvFk4KSYzt37GJE_yxxOBg2uiOkaTifvIcidcgWmB8Kp/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● At the end of my review for Tamsoft's <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/10/steamgear-mash-saturn-review.html">SteamGear Mash</a></i>, I mentioned how I was only in the beginning stages of my newer review in September before my Surface Pro stopped working and I had to get a new one (didn't even get any screenshots from it at that point). <b>This</b> was the game I was going to talk about, shortly after having covered Ocean's first <i>Jurassic Park</i> Game Boy game. Maybe it was for the best to not talk about this sequel right away (no need to rush), what with me having to acclimate myself to the newest Surface Pro model that I'm currently using and which I'm getting more used to working with over time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● Something I found eye-catching is that this game has a 1992 copyright by Amblin Entertainment and Universal's names even though the movie came out in 1993 (and it is not the only <i>Jurassic Park</i> video game license to have that distinction from what I've looked up). Sure, it was in <b>production</b> in 1992, but the movie's final copyright was the very year it was released, 1993. Even Ocean's first <i>Jurassic Park</i> license bore the 1993 copyright by the licensors' names. 🤨 A bit bizarre, really.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● Interestingly during the briefing sessions, loading more words is done at the press of the B button as opposed to the A button like it would normally be on the Game Boy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● Not <i>Jurassic Park</i>-related (outside of sharing the same distributor Universal, I guess), but recently on Peacock I finally caught up with John Carpenter's 1987 film <i>Prince of Darkness</i>, the middle installment of his "Apocalypse Trilogy" preceded by <i>The Thing</i> which concluded with <i>In the Mouth of Madness</i>, and I thought it was a very well-crafted movie with an interesting hook and premise to it (some of the themes it explores are startlingly relevant today, with the line "only the corrupt are listened to, and people only want to be told what they want to hear" sticking to mind which feels demoralizingly true nowadays 😞). The cinematography by the late Gary B. Kibbe (RIP) in his first collaboration with Carpenter as director was compellingly angled and lensed, the soundtrack by Carpenter and Alan Howarth is darkly and spiritually enthralling (I've been listening to that meditatively and provocatively ponder-some opening theme on YouTube since watching the film), the late Victor Wong and late Donald Pleasence (RIP both, screen legends) both have a magnetic and captivating screen presence (especially when they share the screen), Jameson Parker and the late Lisa Blount (RIP, I was sad to learn she died twenty-three years after this movie came out) made for good leads with a very nice and believable chemistry, Anne Howard has a genuinely creepy possessed face, there's a character named "Lomax" (which is funny when there's a Psygnosis platformer featuring a Lemming with that name 🤭), and Alice Cooper appears as a homeless vagabond under the influence. I was a little disappointed by Dennis Dun, though, it's nothing to do him as an actor as he's trying his best with the material he's given, but I honestly found him to be rather annoying here, which is shocking because he was a real highlight in his first collaboration with Carpenter <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i> the previous year. There's also a handful of lines of dialogue he spews that made me feel a bit uncomfortable, I realize some of it was intentional while a good chunk of it is owed to the uncontrollable circumstance of the time period the movie was made in, but it didn't make those lines feel any less distasteful to me in how flippantly they were delivered--I think it's safe to say that Carpenter is a stronger director than he is as a writer, but that's my opinion. That cliffhanger ending before the credits, though, it's <b>so good</b>, and the movie more than makes for whatever shortcoming it's got with its increasingly moody and haunting atmosphere. On the whole, while I didn't think it matched the level of either <i>The Thing</i> or <i>In the Mouth of Madness</i>, I thought <i>Prince of Darkness</i> was a very good Carpenter movie and one I'm glad I caught up with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● On Wednesday (10/25/23) I caught up with two movies on Peacock: Rick Rosenthal's <i>Halloween II</i> (I did technically see bits and pieces of it, but on TV on a commercial-having channel) and Tommy Lee Wallace's <i>Halloween III: Season of the Witch</i>. <i>Halloween II</i> I thought was a well-made movie, I thought it was smart for it to make a quick recap at the beginning with what I rightly presumed was archived footage from the first movie (I recognized that darkened shot of Laurie Strode at the foreground with Michael Myers approaching from the background from a TV spot, I figured there was <b>no way</b> they reenacted all that to the exact degree... especially with the knowledge that Jamie Lee Curtis wore a wig here), there was an inescapable atmosphere that rendered the proceedings rather creepy though not necessarily scary (or at least not as scary as it aspires to be), the kills were nasty, many of the actors I felt did a very good job (especially Lance Guest whom I really liked, Nick Castle was right to cast him as the lead in <i>The Last Starfighter</i>, and while I thought his interpretation of Michael Brody was horribly written in the late Joseph Sargent's <i>Jaws: The Revenge</i>, it wasn't Lance's fault, he was just working with bad material... I used to hate that movie for existing, but after having watched it from beginning to end years ago and not just what was in-between, I've unlearned to hate it and now just feel sorry for it, but that's neither here nor there) and the late Donald Pleasence's Sam Loomis is such a compelling hero of a character and reminds me what a national treasure he was when it came to film (I enjoyed him in John Carpenter's <i>Escape from New York</i> too), Carpenter and Alan Howarth's music carried the film and ratcheted up the atmosphere and later suspense after Myers finds Laurie, it's got a cool pumpkin title sequence, Dean Cundey's cinematography is typically excellent, and I largely enjoyed it, but who in their right mind would want to work at a poorly funded hospital with faulty light fixtures that apparently has a small staff count? That's just a disaster waiting to happen, and it does! Makes for a movie scenario, but in real life it would never fly (nor should it). There are babies, too, but the movie treats them like an, "...<b><u>anyway</u></b>, moving on!" which makes me hate what happens to the staff even <b>more</b>. 😖 Overall, good movie, would gladly watch again in the right frame of mind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● <i>Halloween III</i>, the one that did not have Michael Myers in it, was an interesting iteration and I liked the fact that it did something different, even if it may not have worked out for everyone. If the biggest problem people had with it was, "<b><u><i>WhErE's MiChAeL</i></u></b>?"... maybe it's true, maybe we have been bred and preconditioned to have unrealistic expectations at all times, I knew what I was walking into here. For what it was, it was intriguing, Tom Atkins made for a compelling lead (despite his questionable moral compass) even if his moustache and build reminded me of Tom Selleck if he was blond, Atkins and Stacey Nelkin had a cute chemistry until they got separated for the last time, Carpenter and Howarth's synthesizer soundtrack was dark and brooding in an atmospheric manner, Dean Cundey's warm photography shone with the bright colors, I'd opine that the deaths were even <b>nastier</b> than the ones in the second <i>Halloween</i> (Marge Guttman's death was truly horrifying I actually <b>jumped</b> 😱), that "Silver Shamrock" jingle is so easy to get stuck inside your head (<b>damn you</b>, movie!), the late Dan O'Herlihy's Conal Cochran (RIP) was a fascinating villain who I shouldn't even like yet his charisma made him charming and endearing (he even takes defeat like a good sport) despite his otherwise reprehensible actions plus he gives the proper pronunciation to the name "Samhain" (sorry, Donald, Dan's got that one over you), and it ends with the most horrific implications imaginable (but that's purely with intent given the direction the movie was going in). It's an interesting movie in every sense of the word, and I have to give it credit for that because for what it was trying to do it was mostly good. So, as far as <i>Halloween</i> movies I've seen from beginning to end in their correct aspect ratio, there's <i>Halloween II</i>, <i>Halloween III</i>, and Steve Miner's <i>Halloween H20: 20 Years Later</i> (which was... solid enough, I guess). I haven't really watched John Carpenter's classic <i>Halloween</i>, I feel it's been discussed and covered so much that it's practically been spoiled all over, but I'm not opposed to the idea of watching it someday, I just want to watch under the most preferable of circumstances so as to have an effective experience (no commercials, no interruptions, complete immersion, not to mention have it presented in the correct aspect ratio, I'll accept nothing less). Have I mentioned how much I <b>love</b> Dean Cundey's cinematography? 🎥 From 1.85:1 (like Robert Zemeckis' <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> and Steven Spielberg's <i>Jurassic Park</i>) to 2.35:1 (the <i>Halloween</i> sequels I watched in the same day, Zemeckis' <i>Romancing the Stone</i>, Spielberg's <i>Hook</i>, et al), the look he gives these films is so iconic it's <b>*chef's kiss*</b> 😙</span><span style="color: red; text-align: left;">🎔</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;">● Also irrelevant to this topic, but all antisemitism is evil and should not be condoned ever.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></div></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-36913817694831834542023-10-19T18:02:00.005-05:002023-10-19T21:00:33.992-05:00The Pagemaster (SNES) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">📚<b> Received: March 24th, 2012 </b>📚<b> Written: October 15th-19th, 2023 </b>📚</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8sZ40WZITGcWNawKL1UgAM6hDQdEeIwbLNrUQAEpI8cufU6gEwrjS9Q52fLnzlxFDYmfM2X2dWDfk8eKA7pK6aitGSORYv4Gn0PWIh5UubRPLISS3SYD-kpnU3QkIytJPoVG4hewsLjL0xVh0o3OtwEk_XEjz_wUJxaMPsPVqsgbPS5d_E1hrE0uKFDA/s218/ThePagemaster_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="218" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8sZ40WZITGcWNawKL1UgAM6hDQdEeIwbLNrUQAEpI8cufU6gEwrjS9Q52fLnzlxFDYmfM2X2dWDfk8eKA7pK6aitGSORYv4Gn0PWIh5UubRPLISS3SYD-kpnU3QkIytJPoVG4hewsLjL0xVh0o3OtwEk_XEjz_wUJxaMPsPVqsgbPS5d_E1hrE0uKFDA/s1600/ThePagemaster_Title.png" width="218" /></a></div></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">Year: 1994 | Developed by: Probe Software | Published by: Fox Interactive</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">On November 23rd, 1994, 20th Century Fox released the family movie <b><i>The Pagemaster</i></b> in theatres in North America (with international distribution handled by Turner Pictures), which was one of the first movies to combine live action, hand-drawn animation, and CGI animation all together. Produced by David Kirschner and Paul Gertz, written by David Casci based on Charles Pogue's six-page "Library Days" pitch, and directed by Joe Johnston in his third directing job after <i>Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</i> and <i>The Rocketeer</i> (but only the live action bits at the beginning and ending with cinematography by Alexander Gruszynski) and Maurice "Pixote" Hunt (who directed the Turner Feature Animation and Hanna-Barbera produced animated bulk of the film), <i>The Pagemaster</i> ended up doing poorly at the box office having only made back $13.7 million against a $34 million budget. It underperformed, but like a lot of theatrically-released movies that didn't do well financially it ended up developing a following once it came out for home viewing. There were also a couple different video games that were released based on it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GksCDjYxQxOF7uAmMfx_vXpJm9ABv7AUzYYKRLHVX28y5g8URPI7H48k-UsKsYte_-iHH0Aua5uTWnPoKRXYLpoYMp3g4GNQZkBVDF6ziY77PgZBFyCykcaWIF09vQ0oAXmUA1hp34GqoypoiqyNTy1qnHqQC-CTzJ5eAXNOmaZmaH5kMqv_Cnmb6LWg/s233/Probe_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="82" data-original-width="233" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GksCDjYxQxOF7uAmMfx_vXpJm9ABv7AUzYYKRLHVX28y5g8URPI7H48k-UsKsYte_-iHH0Aua5uTWnPoKRXYLpoYMp3g4GNQZkBVDF6ziY77PgZBFyCykcaWIF09vQ0oAXmUA1hp34GqoypoiqyNTy1qnHqQC-CTzJ5eAXNOmaZmaH5kMqv_Cnmb6LWg/s1600/Probe_Logo.png" width="233" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Responsible for the common video game adaptation of <i>The Pagemaster</i>, which they developed for the Game Boy and Sega MegaDrive/Genesis and SNES systems, was Croydon, London-based British developer <b>Probe Software</b>. Founded in 1984 by Fergus McGovern and Vakis Paraskeva, before having the name changed to Probe Entertainment in 1995, this company specialized in licensed tie-ins (like their video game adaptations of David Fincher's </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><i>Alien³</i>, the 8-bit versions of Francis Ford Coppola's <i>Bram Stoker's Dracula</i>, and the NES and Nintendo 16-bit versions of <i>Disney's Beauty and the Beast</i>)</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"> and even video game ports (such as the Commodore 64 edition of Infogrames Europe SA's <i>North & South</i>, the Sega 8-bit editions of Electronic Arts' <i>Road Rash</i>, and the handheld editions of Midway's first two <i>Mortal Kombat</i> games). After being acquired by Acclaim in mid-October of 1995 and with consolidation of Acclaim's branding on May 1999, Probe would be renamed as Acclaim Studios London which did not last long for it closed down its doors on April 2000.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g__C6vXGVQ5lBiP2QqitLTBR80KFW_lMjLcSuDdheKCcmW0sAacOSCv85NL2q9iFXHEIJJP7Rtt-gPQ9U_Mp96ooWn_CZHN9wV2XHNMlxS_ltocLorgMqxdR44EZvbHSmaLY4uVRSaloqcJOX9f5H39FW_ulJYrIZUTU9l1xSnFBiF8uNfhyphenhyphenJTohilPL/s270/FoxInteractive_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g__C6vXGVQ5lBiP2QqitLTBR80KFW_lMjLcSuDdheKCcmW0sAacOSCv85NL2q9iFXHEIJJP7Rtt-gPQ9U_Mp96ooWn_CZHN9wV2XHNMlxS_ltocLorgMqxdR44EZvbHSmaLY4uVRSaloqcJOX9f5H39FW_ulJYrIZUTU9l1xSnFBiF8uNfhyphenhyphenJTohilPL/s16000/FoxInteractive_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The Los Angeles-based American video game publisher <b>Fox Interactive</b>, founded in May 1994 by former Time Warner Interactive executive Ted Hoff, was a division of 20th Century Fox's home video distribution firm FoxVideo and distributed their titles. The first two video games to be published by Fox Interactive were Software Creations' 16-bit licensed beat'em up based on the cult animated series <i>The Tick</i> (not... a proud moment in the <i>Plok</i> and <i>Solstice II</i>/<i>Equinox</i> developer's distinguished video game career) and Probe Software's <i>The Pagemaster</i>. Fox Interactive would become more well known over the years after handling video game licenses of the <i>Die Hard</i> movie franchise, Matt Groening's long-running animated TV series <i>The Simpsons</i>, Roland Emmerich's <i>Independence Day</i>, et al,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmcgKuyG4xeBTOIe6BYfrKjSRabwqL6w2bFLyo_otjxq1n0Ko8rhcF99JZMc9FBHMbMTyhm6dwAbLc2WlWtY8uXl98S03gzPcnPaK7A67KiN44d16sSY92zICaOMUkFc6XpZNyRkQRwfrq8ywvwLaiqJ6Bf2_VIX_7e1FYz3q7rKB6CNthyphenhyphenZSbCV523_T/s382/CrocLegendOfTheGobbos_PlayStationOne.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="382" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmcgKuyG4xeBTOIe6BYfrKjSRabwqL6w2bFLyo_otjxq1n0Ko8rhcF99JZMc9FBHMbMTyhm6dwAbLc2WlWtY8uXl98S03gzPcnPaK7A67KiN44d16sSY92zICaOMUkFc6XpZNyRkQRwfrq8ywvwLaiqJ6Bf2_VIX_7e1FYz3q7rKB6CNthyphenhyphenZSbCV523_T/w200-h159/CrocLegendOfTheGobbos_PlayStationOne.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63efbuHJm9p4DpOL7439UgAWUU7mBR7IaqBruHN6I361m0j1HN3OaWpIwdvv0k9WfvVUVNxkt88M5JMe16ruqkU0BEkPv-4Hr7AH3cd0ChrIv_0AjB69jIJ2MYxNAg1DvztbrADrCZqRPynfIZb5b2AmsfE85P35OzTslT3rhOL4mUz2LFVnoLNRK4K5j/s382/Croc2_PlayStationOne.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="382" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63efbuHJm9p4DpOL7439UgAWUU7mBR7IaqBruHN6I361m0j1HN3OaWpIwdvv0k9WfvVUVNxkt88M5JMe16ruqkU0BEkPv-4Hr7AH3cd0ChrIv_0AjB69jIJ2MYxNAg1DvztbrADrCZqRPynfIZb5b2AmsfE85P35OzTslT3rhOL4mUz2LFVnoLNRK4K5j/w200-h159/Croc2_PlayStationOne.gif" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">and especially original non-licensed fare like Argonaut Software's 3D <i>Croc</i> platformers. Not even a decade after they formed, Fox Interactive would become acquired by Vivendi Universal Games on March of 2003.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbnKJiNsGxnnPVJrAdJLLUX3xq6s4iPipV7z5LrrRE1gvUj4B9vOzQVfG873Cus08bVBdGktPbCLaLp-x9JYfv5C4Cm4PjlFtonElkvkRUlH_tZkz0Q3zCS5nJ-YuP7r3SNfykW8ZNfUyAUU93ISMy1LwYNDAlFuMv7I-Ur81L6Sa0H9pUJFeDUj3Z_EX/s640/ThePagemaster_Cover-NA.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="640" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbnKJiNsGxnnPVJrAdJLLUX3xq6s4iPipV7z5LrrRE1gvUj4B9vOzQVfG873Cus08bVBdGktPbCLaLp-x9JYfv5C4Cm4PjlFtonElkvkRUlH_tZkz0Q3zCS5nJ-YuP7r3SNfykW8ZNfUyAUU93ISMy1LwYNDAlFuMv7I-Ur81L6Sa0H9pUJFeDUj3Z_EX/w200-h147/ThePagemaster_Cover-NA.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG-ODPd8TKfWtkROh-w7yBNQzusw2ReATWRe7JtOpjXx7AfPs1TZ1mUYJX10jeoThRHBt5zwABQrQlKG0swSjLxbooJsMuKjZ7DgcQdzPRggpBcXV0SIKPYW3VT9fpfKdc13NZ-6P-gr6nmquqH_ILOfySrUMFoFgUKOhpPIZteqxvKfJozFQHxquNhnf/s640/ThePagemaster_Cover-PAL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="640" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG-ODPd8TKfWtkROh-w7yBNQzusw2ReATWRe7JtOpjXx7AfPs1TZ1mUYJX10jeoThRHBt5zwABQrQlKG0swSjLxbooJsMuKjZ7DgcQdzPRggpBcXV0SIKPYW3VT9fpfKdc13NZ-6P-gr6nmquqH_ILOfySrUMFoFgUKOhpPIZteqxvKfJozFQHxquNhnf/w200-h143/ThePagemaster_Cover-PAL.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Designed by Gary Liddon (who was also programmer), Tony "Tiny" Beckwith (who was also producer), and Nick Baynes with Scott Marcus acting as liaison for Fox, <i>The Pagemaster</i> was released in North America by Fox Interactive on November 23rd, 1994, the same day the movie got released in theatres making it one of the first instances of a video game tie-in sharing a simultaneous release date as the movie it's based on. The European SNES version would follow suit in the PAL region by Virgin Interactive on May 23rd, 1995. This review will focus exclusively on the SNES version.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKGTcsUKIlUX97xYKKAqIWY1izhYMoyBpMTSM2knq2X3soIDPa2IJK8KOABhAo7J0kXPecoPregjlHOlBRfgeU7__eteLhKr0N4OhiXoJ5oW2rN8KPaQ2j9xhBHmvEgBwj9DoBDm5vTinxW7Z7OCNYxWPm2zGpCD3D_1WqDErzotRPeqyj7pHLE4CVDoT/s383/ThePagemaster_IdleReading.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKGTcsUKIlUX97xYKKAqIWY1izhYMoyBpMTSM2knq2X3soIDPa2IJK8KOABhAo7J0kXPecoPregjlHOlBRfgeU7__eteLhKr0N4OhiXoJ5oW2rN8KPaQ2j9xhBHmvEgBwj9DoBDm5vTinxW7Z7OCNYxWPm2zGpCD3D_1WqDErzotRPeqyj7pHLE4CVDoT/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_IdleReading.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN4WAVQMGZHVu4bACB_dduIr5YsFWlJvHou85Xr250bmZLTKjEEA1vi8vpHGi9ZZAGN2S4m9iq-lMpNhiil8I3WX7GJjN0SbTJePyyha0m_5x9W7bHH_hW6fJEwQiWRHgOSz3R-4Z947B0kUV8Mc0MXuagM6QVofZsiAwDuQoZ7rafru4Liicw8S6mfD0/s383/ThePagemaster_SeeThroughDrapes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN4WAVQMGZHVu4bACB_dduIr5YsFWlJvHou85Xr250bmZLTKjEEA1vi8vpHGi9ZZAGN2S4m9iq-lMpNhiil8I3WX7GJjN0SbTJePyyha0m_5x9W7bHH_hW6fJEwQiWRHgOSz3R-4Z947B0kUV8Mc0MXuagM6QVofZsiAwDuQoZ7rafru4Liicw8S6mfD0/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_SeeThroughDrapes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gazing at a book | Right: Jumping behind see-through draperies</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action platformer </span><i style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The Pagemaster</i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"> you take control of the bespectacled ten-year old Richard Tyler (played and voiced by Macaulay Culkin in one of his last child roles before briefly retiring from acting in 1995) whom you can move left and right, duck down, pick up an item by pressing down beside them like a spring or skull or the sleeping book Horror (voiced by Frank Welker) or Humpty Dumpty and gently place them back down by pressing down again or throw them across by pressing B so you can get on them later, climb ropes up and down, jump up in the air with the B button where your gained altitude is dependent on how hard you pressed it, and with the Y or A buttons you can use your weapon against your enemies after acquiring one.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5phQruWsuUlJiUJD9_-aE9aa4EUucy34SZr8jK3TCFKYjYJ0rglmSlx-lbPqxHQE9VbVyZwu4ibdhussSWnC7DpWYJ-6e6mCQjPKRglGkNxfT_oOni6fgfYwwdutH9KGnW7un7hollf7aACdE5Vw0Vx5Y_m1wXhJcXmX-xOcbDfJ5CTjQc_JWpE8oIC3G/s383/ThePagemaster_MrHyde.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5phQruWsuUlJiUJD9_-aE9aa4EUucy34SZr8jK3TCFKYjYJ0rglmSlx-lbPqxHQE9VbVyZwu4ibdhussSWnC7DpWYJ-6e6mCQjPKRglGkNxfT_oOni6fgfYwwdutH9KGnW7un7hollf7aACdE5Vw0Vx5Y_m1wXhJcXmX-xOcbDfJ5CTjQc_JWpE8oIC3G/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_MrHyde.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkxt_itVUoLjSJIXdc-ig2-a6P5mmOXpRZRAaS-QZkWg6F6rqL9F7E5ao61-HqVCIwGkpuCJN9xo9Bu83_PSm1gEyN1pO2mS8VChFfrL6jyCAmmh7LeOSvLthzwmOwa-TNffJqZr_dHstMsCC_Eopkn7FTx2YoOX_Z0aZnSbQc3zYb5qUuwNvtSyk_iXS/s383/ThePagemaster_RopeHanging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkxt_itVUoLjSJIXdc-ig2-a6P5mmOXpRZRAaS-QZkWg6F6rqL9F7E5ao61-HqVCIwGkpuCJN9xo9Bu83_PSm1gEyN1pO2mS8VChFfrL6jyCAmmh7LeOSvLthzwmOwa-TNffJqZr_dHstMsCC_Eopkn7FTx2YoOX_Z0aZnSbQc3zYb5qUuwNvtSyk_iXS/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_RopeHanging.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Beware of Mr. Hyde | Right: Moving across by rope</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Pagemaster</i> is divided into three worlds and in each one you'll be collecting a specific set of items in your journey: gold keys in the horror world, gold coins in the adventure world, and golden eggs in the fantasy world, and collecting a hundred of them will earn you a life. There are three sets of items that will aid Richard should you find them in midair with wings or if you jump on certain enemies: blue shoes that will not only make you jump higher than normal but also allow you to jump kick off of walls, gooey slime that will allow you to stick underneath ceilings and move across them, and finally there are weapons to defend yourself with which vary with each world (a bag of long-ranged bouncy eyeballs in horror, a close-ranged sword in adventure, and a long-ranged bag of magic dust in fantasy).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaEnwjLzk-E9swQSyFzNv9-tv99PSyX0VF27VcrhUZvYz8VUu8B2CPCKAXPxzR2m7kjj5mUWKDN-JMsS-TcyIEAD-Ys-5MmSxKFyGWsu4J7KVanqW5XALE9VCiqhTsV5mlWDL0QQBIFAbd5DxCZLP9e6G8boJQebAVP39Sg9mriBQPyKKGmO5Erg9OAfQ/s383/ThePagemaster_PiercingLights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaEnwjLzk-E9swQSyFzNv9-tv99PSyX0VF27VcrhUZvYz8VUu8B2CPCKAXPxzR2m7kjj5mUWKDN-JMsS-TcyIEAD-Ys-5MmSxKFyGWsu4J7KVanqW5XALE9VCiqhTsV5mlWDL0QQBIFAbd5DxCZLP9e6G8boJQebAVP39Sg9mriBQPyKKGmO5Erg9OAfQ/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_PiercingLights.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioUDEMk1cwagPLPSr9pbbFjChtWEORCZhm9Nz_BRSG9nTAwnRrSFFsdezld7NrIqWqkwSsrTKnJD9u_eo3KsK5oCkSHsSis7RwZJfTZl6K_QOgxazTXGe8V4NWv4Hhjv_tLs_KuE-kODe00YwhyphenhyphenZXn5-QrR1hC3zmwqD0Lv_Wpmvnrf3j8laQWTNf4gpM/s383/ThePagemaster_RisingBookPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioUDEMk1cwagPLPSr9pbbFjChtWEORCZhm9Nz_BRSG9nTAwnRrSFFsdezld7NrIqWqkwSsrTKnJD9u_eo3KsK5oCkSHsSis7RwZJfTZl6K_QOgxazTXGe8V4NWv4Hhjv_tLs_KuE-kODe00YwhyphenhyphenZXn5-QrR1hC3zmwqD0Lv_Wpmvnrf3j8laQWTNf4gpM/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_RisingBookPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Running down the halls enshrouded in mist | Right: Riding up a magical book platform</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The goal of each level in each world is to make your way towards the exit book at the end, that way you'll be granted access to the next level (and if need be, in the world map you can revisit a level should it have two different exit books which may lead to branching paths). There is no score in this game to keep track of, but there <b>is</b> a health system in the form of the three aforementioned items I mentioned earlier, and if you sustain damage you will have one of them taken away from you. Losing damage while only having the blue shoes will render you at your most vulnerable, but fortunately you can run after them on literal foot in the event that happens. When it comes to larger levels you may stumble across the hat of the Pagemaster (voiced by Christopher Lloyd), Guardian of the Written Word and Keeper of the Books, which acts as your checkpoint should you lose a life after the fact, in which case he will appear in a puff of smoke and thunder Richard into the scene.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NvatYze_T3sQsg3Ka4iYkIuTwcnMRFQEBEtHZQZto6XiqLsQcaZtWD8IZtqLwG7zPsLQ_z1cpElZfmIH6-0ReHMQlJolqbzL-zUis4lyhJNFbOAk8frncXNoaimyp3I4ds9PczndeBVN9oKfHh20vE2Cdpj6Vr17cO56lrk30f0-g_vHXSkbDA6-L_zv/s383/ThePagemaster_BagOfEyeballs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NvatYze_T3sQsg3Ka4iYkIuTwcnMRFQEBEtHZQZto6XiqLsQcaZtWD8IZtqLwG7zPsLQ_z1cpElZfmIH6-0ReHMQlJolqbzL-zUis4lyhJNFbOAk8frncXNoaimyp3I4ds9PczndeBVN9oKfHh20vE2Cdpj6Vr17cO56lrk30f0-g_vHXSkbDA6-L_zv/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_BagOfEyeballs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoe8Ru0yPNLfmiFFmNHI2PwhdjgO4go2ayfXbnCcic12MjldyPxBZOMTo9eRb3Hho3qyd8ZNrpOkYor4vZdH2gkxDxOBhvWEiguH9TwljbEaFzTrw2uG3dfzU5Ji87o89gKfeu8QiwmRq0RVPKsYC0_KysnEhy8ri3YkxzMog0REAKE2GMvYTJXCorgl_/s383/ThePagemaster_FlyingBooks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoe8Ru0yPNLfmiFFmNHI2PwhdjgO4go2ayfXbnCcic12MjldyPxBZOMTo9eRb3Hho3qyd8ZNrpOkYor4vZdH2gkxDxOBhvWEiguH9TwljbEaFzTrw2uG3dfzU5Ji87o89gKfeu8QiwmRq0RVPKsYC0_KysnEhy8ri3YkxzMog0REAKE2GMvYTJXCorgl_/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_FlyingBooks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Tossing bouncy eyeballs across | Right: Flying books</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Thorough searching may lead you to a rare knight's helmet that will help by momentarily rendering Richard invulnerable to enemy attack, and an item that leads to one of three different bonus segments: a book that will take you on a Mode 7 bonus level guided by Fantasy (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg) where you're accompanied by Horror in the horror world and Adventure (voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart) in the adventure world, a clock icon that will take you to a time-based bonus level, and by jumping up on a randomly inconspicuous spot you'll reveal a hidden book that you can dive into that will lead you to a bonus level where you can collect as many golden items that you can manage. You will also be taken on a Mode 7 bonus level once you reach the exit of the horror and adventure worlds in the map where you're granted a simple six-character password.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw5cosCnnoDFSkKchAzIq5CeL6mk3jA2gVgOUCRiMxMZVO1g69wycFfpGqj1fVP_TCzIBun9QhN6vaGm9QqsillPHa1dEH887hYmi5R9V5P_vKVdw57YXKZT8LhUantSIcc6GA9ChqF9t4Mk9mPfW98X9ACARrIHary8NRpObDAW5-iviwmenQBBsa5I9/s383/ThePagemaster_Bats.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw5cosCnnoDFSkKchAzIq5CeL6mk3jA2gVgOUCRiMxMZVO1g69wycFfpGqj1fVP_TCzIBun9QhN6vaGm9QqsillPHa1dEH887hYmi5R9V5P_vKVdw57YXKZT8LhUantSIcc6GA9ChqF9t4Mk9mPfW98X9ACARrIHary8NRpObDAW5-iviwmenQBBsa5I9/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Bats.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Me4YirtaKs1bk0I-G_QqjlLeKEbxaI6pbTyl6Newl1_ujmhETA5f2Nci8b_1P0iUgoF8dVJkVNi2UCii_eLJOfYtMlUXjB236I_TtWaSlFAwQe5hIcOhYa3OWLVgCxmrNN8oXrBimes2LnQBRwTIJgJ36frDg18RTGvh2TvbgL0YKloP5t41usYvHKLV/s383/ThePagemaster_HauntedBookshelf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Me4YirtaKs1bk0I-G_QqjlLeKEbxaI6pbTyl6Newl1_ujmhETA5f2Nci8b_1P0iUgoF8dVJkVNi2UCii_eLJOfYtMlUXjB236I_TtWaSlFAwQe5hIcOhYa3OWLVgCxmrNN8oXrBimes2LnQBRwTIJgJ36frDg18RTGvh2TvbgL0YKloP5t41usYvHKLV/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_HauntedBookshelf.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Bats are about to swoop down upon you getting closer | Right: Running across a bookcase</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The artwork by Phil Williams, Mark Knowles, and Blizzard's Mark Frazer really bring out the diverse flavors of the horror, adventure, and fantasy worlds and levels and the colorists Terry Ford, Jason Green, and Lloyd Baker did a solid job at capturing the movie's animated aesthetic. The horror levels are the most atmospheric of the bunch with the deliberately dreary appearance and detailed walls and chains, haunted bookshelves, occasional bouts of mist and fog, dithered draperies, piercing lights from barred windows that occasionally reveal the exit sign, and in a couple levels very dark vignettes to augment the dark areas even further. Things get more colorful once you reach the adventures levels as you're greeted to clear blue skies (if not dark and rainy ones) while aboard the pirate-infested ship,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_7qLZgNSTcKwXVFpYB41uqLPLjmwwLCSurLpIXyljVThMXPwZhT39lViG-s0JV1tbr5PL_hDRZhpnSmMlPGPd2JWSBEkO6H1SGPLP4OjHBp1g-6Ehw6JCvfYKWiErEBbZLyZ5Hfsqba-D5Z60qwq1AEBKfaDMU6UR5soAoYxBPlY6QAip_e52XpplFyz/s383/ThePagemaster_PirateShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_7qLZgNSTcKwXVFpYB41uqLPLjmwwLCSurLpIXyljVThMXPwZhT39lViG-s0JV1tbr5PL_hDRZhpnSmMlPGPd2JWSBEkO6H1SGPLP4OjHBp1g-6Ehw6JCvfYKWiErEBbZLyZ5Hfsqba-D5Z60qwq1AEBKfaDMU6UR5soAoYxBPlY6QAip_e52XpplFyz/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_PirateShip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eiEO2zrMfQuiZxaznl_7JPT9zusGLWkvJpQbGlEcaqARVF4XbjLj8UGRpCESqMqm4yWTI-iOW_5jhpSmxq4EAFFE6U0NKzn9m035j6evnr9UeZo3QczFfqajCJpRQpURKhzr0RqbEtfKX6Pr2xqEfn6X4jniCiqAFa3FO87LQrMWTCcu3bCdFdeZRafV/s383/ThePagemaster_AdventureInTrouble.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eiEO2zrMfQuiZxaznl_7JPT9zusGLWkvJpQbGlEcaqARVF4XbjLj8UGRpCESqMqm4yWTI-iOW_5jhpSmxq4EAFFE6U0NKzn9m035j6evnr9UeZo3QczFfqajCJpRQpURKhzr0RqbEtfKX6Pr2xqEfn6X4jniCiqAFa3FO87LQrMWTCcu3bCdFdeZRafV/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_AdventureInTrouble.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Aboard a pirate ship | Right: Save Adventure</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">the vibrantly magenta sky upon reaching Treasure Island, and there are a couple outdoor levels where there's a faintly silhouetted ship looming in the distance partially covered by clouds which gives it an atmospheric look and feel. And finally there's the fantasy levels where there's a burst of color with the golden bricked road levels with some nice subtle parallax scrolling, a couple of beanstalk levels where one transpires below the clouds in a darkly red sky while another one takes place above them with the brightest sky color imaginable, and there's a group of levels where you journey through the dragon's insides with the occasional bone remnants of the unfortunate last victims (where the backdrop is sometimes green and sometimes red).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4CBqTGBftJc56wnTutGHEQ09eCe0mUUIFabzzEMMnV7gQ6fW78ARun565Zn_odWj_sl3Sx3Xb6UTJatryzpTGelVdmwiqVpEfivJ3Zd1G8KAxkDLdDoS_V_fUlKJsbiRjgpo19hf1Ib74hnIpXETat7I2XXuZXiJdJOuCXM8pN5S02TDomls4U0IFHVk/s383/ThePagemaster_GeorgeMerry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4CBqTGBftJc56wnTutGHEQ09eCe0mUUIFabzzEMMnV7gQ6fW78ARun565Zn_odWj_sl3Sx3Xb6UTJatryzpTGelVdmwiqVpEfivJ3Zd1G8KAxkDLdDoS_V_fUlKJsbiRjgpo19hf1Ib74hnIpXETat7I2XXuZXiJdJOuCXM8pN5S02TDomls4U0IFHVk/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_GeorgeMerry.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzyU6nUAf5Ia4zNa3hZThqh8sn0fP6uffdJJU9FqPKqnNZIdyhi8iEPN1yanhjqsbTtfW3NeFyOJK9oZ4jJCWo0tgxzHEMFiq3U-i_n0_PxxY70G4mdPQdFfycBQEj7aOCG9zDy6Z2JqPlP1-YyOYN0hbk7gR1jwR21eu8KucBtlc7UB0wWYgiJifWrpg/s383/ThePagemaster_ClimbingRope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzyU6nUAf5Ia4zNa3hZThqh8sn0fP6uffdJJU9FqPKqnNZIdyhi8iEPN1yanhjqsbTtfW3NeFyOJK9oZ4jJCWo0tgxzHEMFiq3U-i_n0_PxxY70G4mdPQdFfycBQEj7aOCG9zDy6Z2JqPlP1-YyOYN0hbk7gR1jwR21eu8KucBtlc7UB0wWYgiJifWrpg/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_ClimbingRope.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Trying to subdue George Merry | Right: Climbing the rope</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The animations by Darren Goodacre, Jason McDonald, Dimitri Bakalov, and Emil Sergiev are very smooth and fluid to watch. Richard's running, jumping, hanging, climbing, and falling (with his flailing and wavy hair) animations are very lively when seen in motion, and I like his different idle animations when remaining still like wiping his glasses and pulling out a book to look at its contents. The animations for when he throws his long-ranged weapons and when using a sword are solid, and he's got an expressive face for when he loses his last bit of health, and I do find it amusing when you chase after your power-ups that are running on their own two feet after defeating certain enemies by jumping on them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzBsKalNthUyYj70PZHZOhGgJjN1AoQBu2Z-njE6kohm3dvYVMLSc-iosEdV6DrKQU_Xdu4tcaeeke6KEDN7pJQgQhs0AtaaOT1rDAlqUFD7VnUTEMywhjawECEfgG1mf1v-QKHO21HO3VTfic36IVek7AbKG-FNaaYb9QtpByiADbO6RUWdosIkuW8Pq/s383/ThePagemaster_LuringParrot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzBsKalNthUyYj70PZHZOhGgJjN1AoQBu2Z-njE6kohm3dvYVMLSc-iosEdV6DrKQU_Xdu4tcaeeke6KEDN7pJQgQhs0AtaaOT1rDAlqUFD7VnUTEMywhjawECEfgG1mf1v-QKHO21HO3VTfic36IVek7AbKG-FNaaYb9QtpByiADbO6RUWdosIkuW8Pq/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_LuringParrot.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7BEyPeCngrUyWHLpAZs7k9XsxkUir1Zk96MT9s-qyL3L1ABPHJOi7hrHfV6cZkHpHLIUyTDjMixepouLboSDPvSyFtWM74rymQZWsS6eD7Fks63WgRoafyfCut9y6A_CJzZAZ4xIKYkK54ccmv8XvWN-P3zYxFhjjNYVqBhT-x7sjA0CONreJytaxCsQ/s383/ThePagemaster_Falling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7BEyPeCngrUyWHLpAZs7k9XsxkUir1Zk96MT9s-qyL3L1ABPHJOi7hrHfV6cZkHpHLIUyTDjMixepouLboSDPvSyFtWM74rymQZWsS6eD7Fks63WgRoafyfCut9y6A_CJzZAZ4xIKYkK54ccmv8XvWN-P3zYxFhjjNYVqBhT-x7sjA0CONreJytaxCsQ/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Falling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Luring the sword-carrying parrot | Right: "Whoa!"</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">During the course of <i>The Pagemaster</i> you will face a slew of enemies to contend with and they animate nicely as well. Some have been lifted from the movie like the monstrous-looking Mr. Hyde (voiced by the late Leonard Nimoy, RIP), Long John Silver (voiced by James Jonah Cummings*), Captain Ahab (voiced by George Hearn), and <i>Hispaniola</i>'s pirates the slender Tom Morgan and obese George Merry (voiced by the late Phil Hartman and late Ed Gilbert respectively, RIP), and as for the game-exclusive enemies there's swooping bats, sentient book enemies that sometimes sweep across or jump up and down or float in midair or will attempt to fall off their shelf-space should you be moving below them, Frankenstein's monster's hand, a small scythe-wielding reaper creature, a candelabra-holding specter with a mischievous grin, the Big Bad Wolf, baby dragons that immediately aim to attack upon hatching from eggs, and sword-wielding Templar knights (I think).</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Thanks, filmmaker who just happened to be named Jim Cummings, we can't refer to the iconic voice actor as "Jim Cummings" anymore like he used to be known once upon a time because of your existence? I'm so annoyed!</b> 😞 <b>Never mind that sometimes there are sets of first and last names to match which sadly is not that uncommon, but of all people, <u>Jim Cummings</u> has to fall under that category of names you have to be specific about to avoid confusion?</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Pagemaster</i>'s music was composed by the late James Horner in his third of four collaborations with Joe Johnston as director, the last one being <i>Jumanji</i> the following year, and he managed to bring the movie to life with his sound. Horner, who described himself as having Asperger syndrome, began his music career in 1978 and throughout his remaining 37 years of life composed and conducted some of the most memorable and iconic music in the history of movies</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J9JLxGhXJcWaJA7J8vlK5nV2BiXSwjv_r6IA9TBGo2KOw57pebPuPzuVEnqFaGcrZjqmd4vFhDQtPPvM_1oVzEKssEVXwbPxKgQZVP1UPJUV1l6oPvI2R5r-R4R3cVu99avloVkHm9jf-2_2-Bdi01cpTKSBduMRZrm638-Vcmr5bs0p4_ka4w7W0DdV/s1200/JamesHornerCompositions_1980-2016.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1200" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J9JLxGhXJcWaJA7J8vlK5nV2BiXSwjv_r6IA9TBGo2KOw57pebPuPzuVEnqFaGcrZjqmd4vFhDQtPPvM_1oVzEKssEVXwbPxKgQZVP1UPJUV1l6oPvI2R5r-R4R3cVu99avloVkHm9jf-2_2-Bdi01cpTKSBduMRZrm638-Vcmr5bs0p4_ka4w7W0DdV/w400-h216/JamesHornerCompositions_1980-2016.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">(like the second and third <i>Star Trek</i> films, the late Peter Yates' <i>Krull</i>, James Cameron's <i>Aliens</i>, <i>Titanic</i>, and <i>Avatar</i>, Don Bluth's <i>An American Tail</i> and <i>The Land Before Time</i>, Ron Howard's <i>Willow</i> and <i>Apollo 13</i>, Brad Silberling's <i>Casper</i>, et al), his trademark sound skills are recognizable. He was also an avid pilot in life as he owned several airplanes that he liked to fly. Sadly in 2015 he died in a single-fatality crash while flying his Short Tucano turboprop aircraft, he was nearly two months shy of being 62 years old. 😔 His music graced many a childhood and young adult lives, thank you for the music, Mr. Horner, your musical contributions to film will never be forgotten.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzg_wV4U5x62ry4ajdbW5CYqu0_pGn7T5-O52bM9fVsAdZLd6FmYdQBaDTKw3uSImQIUQw3y7K1KR6VRm7uqFdH68T4mcjYV7aXjVAtCHgxxPrQiwO9BaBnhGhloCfjfus_2dXtybWlUz1mEoxmhJKIOOAts9VFq6fQAHKy89KXihDLvq_eLyfi-kk9t6/s246/DisneysAladdin_GameBoyColor.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="246" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzg_wV4U5x62ry4ajdbW5CYqu0_pGn7T5-O52bM9fVsAdZLd6FmYdQBaDTKw3uSImQIUQw3y7K1KR6VRm7uqFdH68T4mcjYV7aXjVAtCHgxxPrQiwO9BaBnhGhloCfjfus_2dXtybWlUz1mEoxmhJKIOOAts9VFq6fQAHKy89KXihDLvq_eLyfi-kk9t6/s1600/DisneysAladdin_GameBoyColor.gif" width="246" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">None of James Horner's cues from the movie have been used for Probe Software's adaptation, but fortunately the game's music is quite good in its own right. The music and sound effects were composed by Steve Collett (who sometimes went as "Steve Rocket" or "Steve Rockett") and Nick Stroud, the former of whom did music for the SNES versions of Core Design's <i>Chuck Rock</i> and <i>Wolfchild</i>, Probe Software's </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><i>Alien³</i> and <i>The Incredible Hulk</i>, and Crawfish Interactive's <i>Mary-Kate & Ashley</i> licenses, their Game Boy Color conversion of Virgin Games' MegaDrive/Genesis edition of <i>Disney's Aladdin</i>, and <i>LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge</i>, while the latter provided music for Probe Software's <i>ACME Animation Factory</i>, <i>Jelly Boy</i>, and <i>Disney's Beauty and the Beast</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3X0rPjHkPWuaUaxXAfDRU98EV_sYlOvbojwa6nlEOpBq_l-6-9WfUYa6P9BsRES2vl0CwmSpRDZWcuO-QOfo8EwGaLHC-euzpVctGg78OAzcUASu7dUfqwK9UWV4Y8cek33kDM87NryjB3TeofD1RTFrdwT3N587XWyTnkcG_Q-8aImJ8ii-wwhCWr94/s383/ThePagemaster_FantasyCarrier.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3X0rPjHkPWuaUaxXAfDRU98EV_sYlOvbojwa6nlEOpBq_l-6-9WfUYa6P9BsRES2vl0CwmSpRDZWcuO-QOfo8EwGaLHC-euzpVctGg78OAzcUASu7dUfqwK9UWV4Y8cek33kDM87NryjB3TeofD1RTFrdwT3N587XWyTnkcG_Q-8aImJ8ii-wwhCWr94/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_FantasyCarrier.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Y295fueRA7yg3x1eiOGGMLBUj_1crkcrYSTfpIIiV0JvupmfV6MY4DkgG40n6nHz5SJ2LR1z9UJqMlFzdSvBlNJnbtdbFy0ubGSpojTCXhHko0zgLBFIzgewCLsvLdOdgOle6wMRU4ST36AQErPm8xJJdjc09pt5etsKKg-bY9HbkZyxrfLyiBgvgVz/s383/ThePagemaster_CaptainAhab.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Y295fueRA7yg3x1eiOGGMLBUj_1crkcrYSTfpIIiV0JvupmfV6MY4DkgG40n6nHz5SJ2LR1z9UJqMlFzdSvBlNJnbtdbFy0ubGSpojTCXhHko0zgLBFIzgewCLsvLdOdgOle6wMRU4ST36AQErPm8xJJdjc09pt5etsKKg-bY9HbkZyxrfLyiBgvgVz/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_CaptainAhab.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Being carried upward by Fantasy | Right: Steer clear of Captain Ahab's harpoons</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=14s">title theme</a> does a sufficient job at setting the tone for the game with its mysteriously enticing melody, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=460s">torture chamber theme</a> is atmospheric and bouncily catchy in its menacing-sounding composition, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=572s">ghost theme</a> is appropriately creepy and builds up to quite a finish at the end, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=735s">cemetery theme</a> is bustling with lightheartedly intimidating sound quality, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1121s">marine malarkey theme</a> is a fun and silly sea-faring number, the <a href="https://youtu.be/FFuj_XCasmc?t=1248">Treasure Island theme</a> is a pleasant adventure melody, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1397s">stormy sea theme</a> is a hauntingly effective atmospheric theme with its impending melody, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1781s">golden brick road theme</a> is endearingly jaunty and catchy to listen to, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1925s">pools of goo theme</a> is intimidating given that you're inside a dragon's innards, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=2060s">beanstalk theme</a> is sprightly and lighthearted as you're venturing in the heights, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=2284s">credits theme</a> is a pleasant one to listen once you've finished the game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBx4GeygkJ7Uq8o8WB_93pJu1TlLqzwonmod_M60O2pYnoOCgrb9GW-DW7UFbdgLWPkIOcmyUMk2qSQyjY3dW33llE54CX0MnTocIjXIzR7zq5GQdLrppxgGyDhPg2J6Tgsj5HhQM0lBU51xI4bj3wSy2hd-Zh1Q5tQ7TfwWlLckyhvoX3HhEngr56wVR/s383/ThePagemaster_WingedShoes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBx4GeygkJ7Uq8o8WB_93pJu1TlLqzwonmod_M60O2pYnoOCgrb9GW-DW7UFbdgLWPkIOcmyUMk2qSQyjY3dW33llE54CX0MnTocIjXIzR7zq5GQdLrppxgGyDhPg2J6Tgsj5HhQM0lBU51xI4bj3wSy2hd-Zh1Q5tQ7TfwWlLckyhvoX3HhEngr56wVR/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_WingedShoes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66X1F4G2JH94jIwAewb8NGFemj4p_UJ4_1uD9lyKgAtFKT1R5NS7eL02rNq9wFoLG3o4N7TjareqnLA2pqz4g38d_26NEXgyvtkJncIOCQasb6SQjvDvXQmwe7qvpAJflueQqcignhwGjQCn99YxaPdOWQj_rd7_4KVHPaH0FrQ5bNOvJ3E5tRvZQjpwy/s383/ThePagemaster_LongJohnSilver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66X1F4G2JH94jIwAewb8NGFemj4p_UJ4_1uD9lyKgAtFKT1R5NS7eL02rNq9wFoLG3o4N7TjareqnLA2pqz4g38d_26NEXgyvtkJncIOCQasb6SQjvDvXQmwe7qvpAJflueQqcignhwGjQCn99YxaPdOWQj_rd7_4KVHPaH0FrQ5bNOvJ3E5tRvZQjpwy/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_LongJohnSilver.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Winged shoes | Right: You don't <u>have</u> to, but let's play a game of Toss the Bomb at Long John Silver</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Just like the sentient books Horror, Adventure, and Fantasy, I do like how they have their own discernable identity not just with their world themes but also their book bonus level themes as well as it makes them stand out. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=318s">horror world theme</a> is spooky, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=957s">adventure world theme</a> sounds inspiring, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1591s">fantasy world theme</a> is soothing and lighthearted (there are even sped up variations <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=397s">of</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1048s">all</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1694s">three</a>, stick with the normal tempo versions). The bonus level themes when you fly with Fantasy sound like carousel tunes with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=890s">horror bonus theme</a> sounding eerie, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=1509s">adventure bonus theme</a> sounding fittingly adventurous and lighthearted, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=2160s">fantasy bonus theme</a> is nice and relaxing. The sound effects are decently chosen like the bouncing sounds of the eyeball weapons, the swish of the sword, the jingling sound for when Richard jumps up in the air after acquiring his jumping shoes, Richard's "Wow!" and "Hey!" audio bytes, and even when he drops down an inch or two he makes an audible boom sound when he touches the ground which I found very interesting.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDt4iFgWTGCctKMyrjHUxX9xTJwIHjb2jSxxquhaLHjHk3nTWwsq_yBo0GNrA3DCPbYdrJvPYCGSZBNH4iY99jcfQ2dmGB-dp_M7SPThADv7HChcQ52XU-9A6nT2AuNOxtKemDjNbzdY8KfUxp0u6O4fRDUnmVoOJosVpHiF-5OakJObn3D3l6PWaGMdY/s383/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Horror.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDt4iFgWTGCctKMyrjHUxX9xTJwIHjb2jSxxquhaLHjHk3nTWwsq_yBo0GNrA3DCPbYdrJvPYCGSZBNH4iY99jcfQ2dmGB-dp_M7SPThADv7HChcQ52XU-9A6nT2AuNOxtKemDjNbzdY8KfUxp0u6O4fRDUnmVoOJosVpHiF-5OakJObn3D3l6PWaGMdY/w200-h154/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Horror.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fX1ugQdn_W_xnENUBzOf3t3t0K6DGicLeMjSpWVbj6XZuWuLz9hJjfYwrPN_qth1ph12vbhdyzrTMMQFmmrp6v3aSjko3DJyDmE_g5KQtROrzJfXrbzfrd-us-wNINKY4czBSerEXYAJwYNfmXRlyK6hgw0ii7k0oSdytwZ-aEjSU0raoR9LKCfdxJeD/s383/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-WeMadeIt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fX1ugQdn_W_xnENUBzOf3t3t0K6DGicLeMjSpWVbj6XZuWuLz9hJjfYwrPN_qth1ph12vbhdyzrTMMQFmmrp6v3aSjko3DJyDmE_g5KQtROrzJfXrbzfrd-us-wNINKY4czBSerEXYAJwYNfmXRlyK6hgw0ii7k0oSdytwZ-aEjSU0raoR9LKCfdxJeD/w200-h154/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-WeMadeIt.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The 3D bonus levels by Carl Muller have got a smooth sense of Mode 7 scaling and rotating effects that flash by with a keenly felt sense of flight and speed as you must collect magic dust and whatever golden items you can manage before the gauge becomes completely depleted, for the only way to make it through is by collecting a reasonable amount of items without being bumped back by pillars lest you lose time from it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFlSXaTH1LIMBy3SH9Iz-oKkpWsgDBy8wNUOmZCRKhUyvlmjeNP17mA-XwkotU6Vae11nzv62TmpkPZ4T8ZSfYlYCEoLZFXrUKiuhLYPUgsA1Gkd5COEB6gFLWj_S5WXAXSFTqdm7pLuC5lNA_QGsz4w1EE9EnGpTwYBD7p75rJWA7dA3NitkVXncqfKK/s383/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Adventure.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFlSXaTH1LIMBy3SH9Iz-oKkpWsgDBy8wNUOmZCRKhUyvlmjeNP17mA-XwkotU6Vae11nzv62TmpkPZ4T8ZSfYlYCEoLZFXrUKiuhLYPUgsA1Gkd5COEB6gFLWj_S5WXAXSFTqdm7pLuC5lNA_QGsz4w1EE9EnGpTwYBD7p75rJWA7dA3NitkVXncqfKK/w200-h154/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Adventure.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EXr1kg-LS56MsabBubeYMLeMQOKqvyKlPp98crz34vjpLaKSExnEbaos0sW2RlQs2ZdJjvtj7uylLGaELuYwazQcZhNmaUtM9LXG2N9wEMjnA3xJM3876r8VcauyI1r4rUWxDa9koBh81cCYkEEAXzWpif3JkQcaDk5kvdVOzeKwaEQzIjPgUYU2vviP/s383/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Fantasy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EXr1kg-LS56MsabBubeYMLeMQOKqvyKlPp98crz34vjpLaKSExnEbaos0sW2RlQs2ZdJjvtj7uylLGaELuYwazQcZhNmaUtM9LXG2N9wEMjnA3xJM3876r8VcauyI1r4rUWxDa9koBh81cCYkEEAXzWpif3JkQcaDk5kvdVOzeKwaEQzIjPgUYU2vviP/w200-h154/ThePagemaster_RideWithFantasy-Fantasy.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">With the B button you can have the book Richard rides on briefly close itself with him on top of it to clear past narrowly spaced pillars to get through with ease, and with the Y or A buttons you can have Horror and Adventure leap up from their spot. The left and right controls operate as they should, but the up and down controls feel a bit reversed which is a bit confusing but is easily playable once you've got it down pat.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdzMQBLyNprYaN8j7tg0t_jJKr9BDcRmGxzm54v9WuWVINFxtu-qqiz_LA_FaHla6tSlh14HUPOz1SjzdYUnuUyAednw4uDyUwZpl9KzYCvyl0M6PWcXZKbPldcVwmF9aRfRgXKNw4PkNH2EFt7bBVsr3HpTWNbpx7eEkl8v14m_3kVRuff6OnHo9LylD/s542/TCRF_ThePagemaster-ErrorMessage.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdzMQBLyNprYaN8j7tg0t_jJKr9BDcRmGxzm54v9WuWVINFxtu-qqiz_LA_FaHla6tSlh14HUPOz1SjzdYUnuUyAednw4uDyUwZpl9KzYCvyl0M6PWcXZKbPldcVwmF9aRfRgXKNw4PkNH2EFt7bBVsr3HpTWNbpx7eEkl8v14m_3kVRuff6OnHo9LylD/w395-h400/TCRF_ThePagemaster-ErrorMessage.gif" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed and cropped while on <i>The Pagemaster</i>'s SNES prototype's page on The Cutting Room Floor, censored by me</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Prior to the finalized release there was a prototype version of <i>The Pagemaster</i> which had a random level select feature, a version of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuj_XCasmc&t=2368s">stormy seas theme</a> but composed with cymbals that have been removed in the released version, and a hefty list of error messages (including a hilariously colorful one considering this game's family demographic).</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kqzf0Um8TeWRx02MslRdJDhb0k7RfCOeWQBJsTkfPe2rtsyuPjqLtKt12-UUoQLKCZJad7d42KeSePzrG_cRsQxgm9s1Mucl9FQI60uhyphenhypheniuQX_oQe1tPJRqjv5JgqI5berSanDmdGDTUjMMquRwVRhXT3N9Fo_HsFVs1i0kJ_CK_ANztkV9RuBd-6W-Q/s893/ThePagemaster_PC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="893" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kqzf0Um8TeWRx02MslRdJDhb0k7RfCOeWQBJsTkfPe2rtsyuPjqLtKt12-UUoQLKCZJad7d42KeSePzrG_cRsQxgm9s1Mucl9FQI60uhyphenhypheniuQX_oQe1tPJRqjv5JgqI5berSanDmdGDTUjMMquRwVRhXT3N9Fo_HsFVs1i0kJ_CK_ANztkV9RuBd-6W-Q/w400-h299/ThePagemaster_PC.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Andrea Pannocchia's PC Longplay video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">Like I said earlier there was another video game license based on <i>The Pagemaster</i> in 1994 exclusively made for the personal computer format in the form of a point-and-click graphic adventure developed by Mammoth Micro Productions in what was their only video game they worked on published by Turner Interactive. Instead of being a direct adaptation it acts as a semi-sequel to the film as Richard Tyler is already acquainted with Adventure, Fantasy, and Horror as he must save the Pagemaster from Mr. Hyde who has stolen his book and it is up to Richard to venture in all three book worlds to claim it back and save his friends. The voice cast is entirely new as it doesn't reprise any of the voices from the film, there are awkward pauses between dialogue due to the slow speed from the technological limitations of the time period, most of the animation cels have obviously been traced from the film but with the most basic color palette and appear noticeably jagged as a result, and on rare instances there are clip captures from the film. At least it used James Horner's title motif on occasion.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkHh7F6DxJoHVBCoFdXOeZlFXhWYhse-i49WN5L72RZ18G7_dYAjYjoYZhbcAUMutGknxEW5bvHRdmHNJpoo0k-zXOZhqihmh4q224jWmHOmgQrvzXqZkxqAgxcxcfRtJct558d9NZCysZatOHON4XUJnGzHH2YC0mm15c27NS3Qf-BCuVeiw9TmWBhAP/s266/ThePagemaster_Richard+Books.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="266" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkHh7F6DxJoHVBCoFdXOeZlFXhWYhse-i49WN5L72RZ18G7_dYAjYjoYZhbcAUMutGknxEW5bvHRdmHNJpoo0k-zXOZhqihmh4q224jWmHOmgQrvzXqZkxqAgxcxcfRtJct558d9NZCysZatOHON4XUJnGzHH2YC0mm15c27NS3Qf-BCuVeiw9TmWBhAP/s1600/ThePagemaster_Richard+Books.png" width="266" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">I first watched <i>The Pagemaster</i> on English-language VHS in the mid '90s, I'm pretty certain it was my introduction to Macaulay Culkin (if not, then the late Emile Ardolino's posthumous film adaptation of <i>The Nutcracker</i> which I also had on VHS). I liked it growing up, it was a different movie with it beginning and ending in live action while the major chunk of it in the middle was in animation. Some of the imagery was very scary watching it as a kid, too, like the paint dragon sequence in the library chasing after live action Richard Tyler before being caught by it and painted into the animated world, Dr. Jekyll's transformation to Mr. Hyde, the intense sky color change when Captain Ahab spots Moby Dick, and the appearance of the dragon (voiced by Welker) near the end.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMKDyV1cnNq1Bcz6yvBDP5K2rkeDoW_J2iC1nQRnwRMakYWAdTnHVhap8niuvptYiCZYvAbdSLmDFPIUceGYkreGVts5zMIBHe7_6SmnOWSToaxIGuPJ-FKyiORX82VaHFavRGx6BBgFzjo8-po0pqEMZlplCC7R2Z8dIyOIBZsa-7DmnLsJKdQveX1PC/s874/ThePagemaster_VideoGameTrailer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="874" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMKDyV1cnNq1Bcz6yvBDP5K2rkeDoW_J2iC1nQRnwRMakYWAdTnHVhap8niuvptYiCZYvAbdSLmDFPIUceGYkreGVts5zMIBHe7_6SmnOWSToaxIGuPJ-FKyiORX82VaHFavRGx6BBgFzjo8-po0pqEMZlplCC7R2Z8dIyOIBZsa-7DmnLsJKdQveX1PC/w400-h306/ThePagemaster_VideoGameTrailer.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching retro VHS trailers' video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">One of the fond memories I had of watching <i>The Pagemaster</i> on VHS was before the movie started as it showed an advertisement for the video game which was exciting to watch when I was younger, but I never got to play it as a child and none of my cousins who owned a Game Boy, Genesis, and SNES whenever I visited them owned it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyU6UItWFd_lsuixPAj3Hc8xKBWWS7gbyxSvn9zYDmZPBjNLNB76JticW8jhDWNrOSwEpBbQ5Uga9EK5vcXdSYJX8AUXGJHB6DPIRsScV-rQwXDRZ9ik5AEy7tu91X65g2LSYwipW7wKNw-RRKBbd-1XRcEgJlv3v_g74fHbaOQxxFK6B82Vm5-Jx8HvS/s382/TheGreatCircusMystery_Mickey+Minnie.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyU6UItWFd_lsuixPAj3Hc8xKBWWS7gbyxSvn9zYDmZPBjNLNB76JticW8jhDWNrOSwEpBbQ5Uga9EK5vcXdSYJX8AUXGJHB6DPIRsScV-rQwXDRZ9ik5AEy7tu91X65g2LSYwipW7wKNw-RRKBbd-1XRcEgJlv3v_g74fHbaOQxxFK6B82Vm5-Jx8HvS/s16000/TheGreatCircusMystery_Mickey+Minnie.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">On one late March day of 2012, I visited the retro store 3D Games at a mall and managed to stumble across a copy of <i>The Pagemaster</i> on the SNES. This was exciting because I was about to quench a long childhood curiosity, but what was also exciting was seeing a copy of Capcom's <i>The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie</i> as well (having an opportunity to play a 2D TV console <i>Mickey Mouse</i> platformer that wasn't just Traveller's Tales' <i>Mickey's Wild Adventure</i> on the PlayStation One like back when I lived in Italy and when I visited during vacations was also nice), so I decided to buy both of them that day. 😄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yhi2kKJPK4L5k1ZKXoFL0ORi4uKOfVq2C55ps2ClNU1TMeQWT3WyNfHc1mIXkIbqRdOCBAaIYAyxdfuZjhMicgzu84fPLQlVQOwNkXo30QuTvYGFTZjH9WRFwGaYrCaK5LgEZFcXzXcN1qN5BDQXodm7UqKWYdqhJMKKOY7Si-GIfkf5eLtzGiAM2iqz/s382/TheMagicalQuest_TreeSap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yhi2kKJPK4L5k1ZKXoFL0ORi4uKOfVq2C55ps2ClNU1TMeQWT3WyNfHc1mIXkIbqRdOCBAaIYAyxdfuZjhMicgzu84fPLQlVQOwNkXo30QuTvYGFTZjH9WRFwGaYrCaK5LgEZFcXzXcN1qN5BDQXodm7UqKWYdqhJMKKOY7Si-GIfkf5eLtzGiAM2iqz/w200-h156/TheMagicalQuest_TreeSap.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJWsU8BWdh2UCsIngeKrwtjurWx2XyBiwBfXszAJkwMIf_MSNd3jIfogUCykZ-tD3wan_VngzjTdl_S6BYm8-3i-fra_tq3OTEfXDSDwGfHwpPSqYVNT-IjjW67B-dD1gDblNZD-qjp-tyg7K90nTmt7Ws2pUzrauSWDMul4BNKxjtzZnDyUyeXCU_Pnn/s382/TheMagicalQuest_EggThrow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJWsU8BWdh2UCsIngeKrwtjurWx2XyBiwBfXszAJkwMIf_MSNd3jIfogUCykZ-tD3wan_VngzjTdl_S6BYm8-3i-fra_tq3OTEfXDSDwGfHwpPSqYVNT-IjjW67B-dD1gDblNZD-qjp-tyg7K90nTmt7Ws2pUzrauSWDMul4BNKxjtzZnDyUyeXCU_Pnn/w200-h156/TheMagicalQuest_EggThrow.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">I liked playing <i>The Great Circus Mystery</i> so much and had a lot of fun with it that with my 21st birthday coming up in less than two weeks I asked for its precursor <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-magical-quest-starring-mickey-mouse.html">The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</a></i> as one of my birthday games, which I also consider a fun Nintendo 16-bit platformer but with a superior soundtrack by Mari Yamaguchi.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdPwQRd5uA7Ywnhvsq59Dixhv_Wb5wuW_UZfovNcM7-anlSUt3NwuZG71-BQPd3tQod9eTxExPCGRoOvpzDjd5iUG2Y1qkJtgFn7kZwEHjPcelyEs9uvKcuEi1oAdyKlmcGMU-oe0GbnYUygm4ZGylQLEZC1RZx7ZXj-ayE2a8bL6o_ANZvC16e76rN2H/s383/ThePagemaster_SwishSwish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdPwQRd5uA7Ywnhvsq59Dixhv_Wb5wuW_UZfovNcM7-anlSUt3NwuZG71-BQPd3tQod9eTxExPCGRoOvpzDjd5iUG2Y1qkJtgFn7kZwEHjPcelyEs9uvKcuEi1oAdyKlmcGMU-oe0GbnYUygm4ZGylQLEZC1RZx7ZXj-ayE2a8bL6o_ANZvC16e76rN2H/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_SwishSwish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmPoy7OB92m6dSAuJiV11Qm9na9Xm9bmPnXEpq0cqlKurnXq07GEzcspGUzIZw3DqZqqdr7kD-8W5vBsnJf8LTTI8BZ93RW6EL07f3JDC-dlbAWrIMFKXAIT2yHcxfNQ5IECJikQK7jZhjGDewMA36mzpCBYUPcuHLqBmpUmoQjkkKfFQcV4y5UL94ZZW/s383/ThePagemaster_WingedLife.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmPoy7OB92m6dSAuJiV11Qm9na9Xm9bmPnXEpq0cqlKurnXq07GEzcspGUzIZw3DqZqqdr7kD-8W5vBsnJf8LTTI8BZ93RW6EL07f3JDC-dlbAWrIMFKXAIT2yHcxfNQ5IECJikQK7jZhjGDewMA36mzpCBYUPcuHLqBmpUmoQjkkKfFQcV4y5UL94ZZW/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_WingedLife.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Just disposed of a hopping book enemy | Right: Leaping up to the golden coins and winged life</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">So, what were my thoughts on Probe Software's <i>The Pagemaster</i> video game now that I finally got to experience it after having known about it for so long? It's not what I would call a masterpiece, I am fully aware of its faults and am willing to acknowledge them, but at the end of the day I found the game to be decently enjoyable for what it was. I did manage to finish it the night that I got it, but it wasn't without a few struggles, though after a few replays I've discovered that it's not really that hard of a platformer so much as one where you have to be mindful of your actions from time to time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ku2aNnvTm2vC3Deo31at6rvkWM0H7xpsshFYF-mELizKuMPUoXEz6X_yRUYre0VnryZb892Napgj3RuXtqe4Jg165dMJMlajgnHwzFVDZgGkMX1J8k4h1CEVT4LPBchrTOK32g5ezkATw1zrtWm-6a6EKzGP4fEcKrdfAMe0HdFlcs0HW8ve1huKVIx7/s383/ThePagemaster_ExitBook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ku2aNnvTm2vC3Deo31at6rvkWM0H7xpsshFYF-mELizKuMPUoXEz6X_yRUYre0VnryZb892Napgj3RuXtqe4Jg165dMJMlajgnHwzFVDZgGkMX1J8k4h1CEVT4LPBchrTOK32g5ezkATw1zrtWm-6a6EKzGP4fEcKrdfAMe0HdFlcs0HW8ve1huKVIx7/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_ExitBook.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaofVKTT_zbcm3mhOy5hVxCDRQ1ewpUGdcpkubiejzNwAcksEnVA-4p_XiZ5Azolfmqnps7_ee0kM79E1D8WaOrRxSIo1KvndY7mwlHs7CwnL6PnKUAFXlDSfvz35mR7dH2raDlCNWtAKmqPDeOzWO3RXeWlCjSnLaGbMsbvbvzN-16s20RLZptpKf51Bt/s383/ThePagemaster_Hook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaofVKTT_zbcm3mhOy5hVxCDRQ1ewpUGdcpkubiejzNwAcksEnVA-4p_XiZ5Azolfmqnps7_ee0kM79E1D8WaOrRxSIo1KvndY7mwlHs7CwnL6PnKUAFXlDSfvz35mR7dH2raDlCNWtAKmqPDeOzWO3RXeWlCjSnLaGbMsbvbvzN-16s20RLZptpKf51Bt/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Hook.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Hey!" </b>📖<b> | Right: Dangling from a hook</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">There is an admittedly slippery nature to Richard's controls and his jumps could tend to be very loose on occasion which seems to be the general complaint among some who have played it, though I found the trick to mitigate those instances effectively was to have a measured sense of control, to not hold down the direction button the entire time (especially since you don't want to lose an item/health supplement to an enemy waiting for you offscreen), there's no timer to worry about so it's okay for you to take your time. Once you've got the main controls handled, the world becomes your oyster pretty much.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUekIi7E5w79dPopPS0ncx-0snQI3MFg-e6YKsIv8d6GihUQPRJCbcngt9c6MHHxnLx6dGRb9VevoUEy7Kgaz2Mu9-Qosso1yutkfoOCWSh086yOKilKKyauNCeGx-xqMIIZ9o63TX8GXCihjojhycVlAIVufqWl1D4Hyl8S6Aiv2TxAD8ZXzeDBUSi7A4/s383/ThePagemaster_SpringJumpingParrot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUekIi7E5w79dPopPS0ncx-0snQI3MFg-e6YKsIv8d6GihUQPRJCbcngt9c6MHHxnLx6dGRb9VevoUEy7Kgaz2Mu9-Qosso1yutkfoOCWSh086yOKilKKyauNCeGx-xqMIIZ9o63TX8GXCihjojhycVlAIVufqWl1D4Hyl8S6Aiv2TxAD8ZXzeDBUSi7A4/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_SpringJumpingParrot.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCMwG0ZVGUQWGydtDI4LhaYx5ZD9lEpYx5Rmn9vwB8CXTiiQyTsjQtG2em4rfvMZ5YVCNv_jCpnCJP_ajOVr8iM7g4ndTXw7p_qI7WYC85LeV7p3UCTPwcC3kAagdgF6DytvDp5ERMRU9-tdnCU5Lhxy2M0N7QU33VwfL751kXTdO9QXGDOliCnb5xTV7/s383/ThePagemaster_LibraryCard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCMwG0ZVGUQWGydtDI4LhaYx5ZD9lEpYx5Rmn9vwB8CXTiiQyTsjQtG2em4rfvMZ5YVCNv_jCpnCJP_ajOVr8iM7g4ndTXw7p_qI7WYC85LeV7p3UCTPwcC3kAagdgF6DytvDp5ERMRU9-tdnCU5Lhxy2M0N7QU33VwfL751kXTdO9QXGDOliCnb5xTV7/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_LibraryCard.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Squawk!" | Right: Found a library card, can you locate and find all eight of them?</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">The level layouts vary with each one you visit, sometimes they can be very straightforward and to the point while others have an open-ended feel to them which naturally lead to secrets, and due to the latter's design there might be one of two exit books to make your way to. There is convenient enemy-respawning (one time you have to lure the green parrot while it's sharing the same screen as you all the way to the left so you can jump on it to make your way up a high platform), and sometimes it's easy to reset them by running backwards a bit and then returning to the spot (like with the baby dragons who will not fly and attack so long as you don't stay in the same vicinity as them longer than you need to) which does admittedly cheapen the game a bit but by the same token I wouldn't really have it any other way, plus you can revisit the levels any time you'd like which I do feel helps.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuI7dqBtkrG2ezMVQ5_4rtsMP1xJnZlxLppYozSmCjYqv6EbtSXs3HfOfO8fCcyK2QjgFHZj5cKVS9mrFauS-jHJ97HX2UsT6I98B-Vz4vI1e4YqpKPDqHxp79Mvo20AyaYdlHA_0vuPPPHF7qP2_WnfUO84y3Aa7xQbROTor6BG5BCB5grwk65N4Hklb/s383/ThePagemaster_GoldenBrickRoad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuI7dqBtkrG2ezMVQ5_4rtsMP1xJnZlxLppYozSmCjYqv6EbtSXs3HfOfO8fCcyK2QjgFHZj5cKVS9mrFauS-jHJ97HX2UsT6I98B-Vz4vI1e4YqpKPDqHxp79Mvo20AyaYdlHA_0vuPPPHF7qP2_WnfUO84y3Aa7xQbROTor6BG5BCB5grwk65N4Hklb/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_GoldenBrickRoad.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe32mnFVf0Y3SPE5-9qjP5MPXgYs5LDSgpqbBtnliDsfmB9n3bNBGHIXmmmdXGteKG3nsXYnhL2xGzk5Ex1Aoh7crHMHlfbh7IT0tRnL96n_WvPZ441ApD5P5HPyTNrPaX-o7SB4A4YZaGdPWigPm3RGMFWCww2Yr22GYvwZDNvOC-g9erWioV1BqewDo/s383/ThePagemaster_Teetering.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHe32mnFVf0Y3SPE5-9qjP5MPXgYs5LDSgpqbBtnliDsfmB9n3bNBGHIXmmmdXGteKG3nsXYnhL2xGzk5Ex1Aoh7crHMHlfbh7IT0tRnL96n_WvPZ441ApD5P5HPyTNrPaX-o7SB4A4YZaGdPWigPm3RGMFWCww2Yr22GYvwZDNvOC-g9erWioV1BqewDo/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Teetering.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🎵<b> Follow the yellow bricked road </b>🎵<b> | Right: Teetering</b></span></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">I like a good number of the inventive game scenarios, like having to save Adventure who's being hung upside down by a loathsome pirate by jumping on his so you're rewarded with a sword, on a handful of instances you might come across Fantasy who will fly you up in any portion of the area after jumping on her (provided you hold the upper direction buttons to keep afloat for once Richard touches the ground she'll fly back to her spot), jumping on books that glide you across and around, climbing up and across ropes, hanging on chains and vines, climbing up the beanstalk, picking up Long John Silver's bombs so you can throw them back at him, riding on magical leaf stems, collecting all fifty golden eggs so that you can open up the exit book, and tossing Humpty Dumpty who'll bounce along so you can ride on him across the hazardously prolonged obstacle at the end, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTEQLSP8Sxl27e1htypBcEAels4V0h6aCPZUwEufpcfoUTeiM-p-JIfSLo2_Yx6KzA7832bTCRU59C7nocD5FZN7Sd791owRMQt1DSu3glkMtLxWJUPFeD8OXVOJxgCqpgUZeJavTHomO-z2XUdg2Ea3HanKij7pnQD3A_-NLXzKoM5uDVxmmcawQ8NBL/s383/ThePagemaster_BigBadWolf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTEQLSP8Sxl27e1htypBcEAels4V0h6aCPZUwEufpcfoUTeiM-p-JIfSLo2_Yx6KzA7832bTCRU59C7nocD5FZN7Sd791owRMQt1DSu3glkMtLxWJUPFeD8OXVOJxgCqpgUZeJavTHomO-z2XUdg2Ea3HanKij7pnQD3A_-NLXzKoM5uDVxmmcawQ8NBL/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_BigBadWolf.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWnhHXPbme1wc2Hk6733ArKEfqg21ghyphenhyphen2ZzLuSfjQgbUW3IkLBhYBdChH8MVgjBIG5INZgxXNDdnMF-xOYeHlNoixTgdKsNEirU_t3LCzXr4EfmZgczbBQbi8nwerAyD2eDhyphenhyphenIyqyBBh1TgraR7cUdJxsdTvc5ZxFqblK6v321GSnKOPsdWHptVLENris/s383/ThePagemaster_Beanstalk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWnhHXPbme1wc2Hk6733ArKEfqg21ghyphenhyphen2ZzLuSfjQgbUW3IkLBhYBdChH8MVgjBIG5INZgxXNDdnMF-xOYeHlNoixTgdKsNEirU_t3LCzXr4EfmZgczbBQbi8nwerAyD2eDhyphenhyphenIyqyBBh1TgraR7cUdJxsdTvc5ZxFqblK6v321GSnKOPsdWHptVLENris/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Beanstalk.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow this house down" | Right: Beanstalk climbing</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">One edge this licensed game has over many others at the time is the fact that it's got two different endings (if you could refer to it as that) for scattered in eight of the levels are one library card each which are so well-hidden and concealed that your only way to claim them is by thoroughly searching. There are three in horror, two in adventure, and three in fantasy, and so long as you stay on the present world you can revisit the levels if you feel you may have overlooked them because once you take the exit to adventure world and later to fantasy world, you can never go back to the previous world. It doesn't really make much of a difference outside of a different end message in the credits screen, but the reward for collecting all eight library cards is a set of three lives. Wow! Well, it does add a bit of replay value. In fact, some of the levels are completely optional that you don't even have to play them, but they're there if you'd like to make the exploration.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ofeWYV2qTmDiPozRIakmuRbJhoLmg58Nprrlui6_lpVp0t0Y3om4-vAWJf6AdtgWwjVS1BM8ojHu0DQ-ywtY5N8fNwIbKMj5QziMLgKPJqHdfM1m4WyxbVICCA9q7QyhPhi-vlf_VplOMemqu-6NhGV7esxSIORuJZFjWdAvIb5h_fQbAQV1Q3QkvsG/s383/ThePagemaster_Slime.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ofeWYV2qTmDiPozRIakmuRbJhoLmg58Nprrlui6_lpVp0t0Y3om4-vAWJf6AdtgWwjVS1BM8ojHu0DQ-ywtY5N8fNwIbKMj5QziMLgKPJqHdfM1m4WyxbVICCA9q7QyhPhi-vlf_VplOMemqu-6NhGV7esxSIORuJZFjWdAvIb5h_fQbAQV1Q3QkvsG/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Slime.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4bbImj7lIYjLu0KNbyaNklWzPbxNXnMHb7Ww9LRDMbWtt_HyMZhfabD6mGM1bIxbs0LKbtzBggQNcIsKsqFyfJiuNTt3wKWz0YlnBkh_s0G-Pm5FvXcomwkb7zaEglSUyjQnxWyJB_qkxmMbsmsz4gYyTusTO34UxVKk6StFr9myvCF5UwPbkPK4ye4E/s383/ThePagemaster_MagicDust.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4bbImj7lIYjLu0KNbyaNklWzPbxNXnMHb7Ww9LRDMbWtt_HyMZhfabD6mGM1bIxbs0LKbtzBggQNcIsKsqFyfJiuNTt3wKWz0YlnBkh_s0G-Pm5FvXcomwkb7zaEglSUyjQnxWyJB_qkxmMbsmsz4gYyTusTO34UxVKk6StFr9myvCF5UwPbkPK4ye4E/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_MagicDust.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Using the gooey slime to stick underneath surfaces and move across them | Right: Firing magic dust</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">I do feel bad for director Joe Johnston, who I do consider a talented and visionary film director after catching up with his other works over the years, having learned later in life that <i>The Pagemaster</i> had a deeply troubled production and was essentially changed and rewritten without his consent to the point that he became dissatisfied with it and would rather not discuss it in his portfolio (the mismanagement of animation crew and narrative changes is also uncomfortable to learn about, which is one of the reasons it went overbudget). The box office failure for both it and Mark Dindal's underrated directorial debut <i>Cats Don't Dance</i> less than three years later ended up setting back Turner Feature Animation's other projects.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aVH74kasOZU9rHE89MrgstuRXFCJF_CvbwyA3_MnbLIYFtOLsBdIs3EshJgmTNkgEz6-aebOynsud3cnVbqgqkyloDEt8tqz1t5zbE0ms-iG-67Q4DLw16G1il4UqTGDhjuxEftVzfD45HJ_Qe9WQzeTtpj5Ov6FwHIvSKPyGVohFTPqbZep6qbLfx39/s357/HomeAlone_ToySoldiers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="357" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aVH74kasOZU9rHE89MrgstuRXFCJF_CvbwyA3_MnbLIYFtOLsBdIs3EshJgmTNkgEz6-aebOynsud3cnVbqgqkyloDEt8tqz1t5zbE0ms-iG-67Q4DLw16G1il4UqTGDhjuxEftVzfD45HJ_Qe9WQzeTtpj5Ov6FwHIvSKPyGVohFTPqbZep6qbLfx39/w200-h163/HomeAlone_ToySoldiers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6a-Y2xsea4lPv9ae9mLHEWBba6WgjK_jIkYZPP51d_dXRhrZOOvFFWpMG2QthiZRxjzWUWzT0KACpFKYnWQHjXuT-X7ut9ejnPMVVhV3NdwlyqfZw5DE19VT5196jlO2uWeWTKsSoESoB8O84vPrhHOzX9jTv2x0lVUxAhrGvTqmvZqvSA8XMFe2Sy9B/s383/HomeAlone2_PlazaHotel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6a-Y2xsea4lPv9ae9mLHEWBba6WgjK_jIkYZPP51d_dXRhrZOOvFFWpMG2QthiZRxjzWUWzT0KACpFKYnWQHjXuT-X7ut9ejnPMVVhV3NdwlyqfZw5DE19VT5196jlO2uWeWTKsSoESoB8O84vPrhHOzX9jTv2x0lVUxAhrGvTqmvZqvSA8XMFe2Sy9B/w200-h154/HomeAlone2_PlazaHotel.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">There is an irony over the fact that Chris Columbus' first two <i>Home Alone</i> movies are the generally better received of the films starring Macaulay Culkin in his child starring days over <i>The Pagemaster</i>, and yet I ultimately enjoyed playing Probe Software's video game interpretation of the latter more than Imagineering's SNES adaptations of the former.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivagMz0hyphenhyphenaz0anJVz4GZKVMR3FXskV6tO5R7qF5ENr9_Dq3yFiKvdJB6N4keajGdlzpXMLCTzYST8MIvkD-Zd5LzFEz90fiuoBCL8XBoLHzbdTgJnkVQWlIqRb4qdroU2yt85ljiwmVA9iKjA4jSfGKzDwkOR5SBDxYXEvVGhOIC_NRhx6jjic0lHaCp6F/s383/ThePagemaster_Sliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivagMz0hyphenhyphenaz0anJVz4GZKVMR3FXskV6tO5R7qF5ENr9_Dq3yFiKvdJB6N4keajGdlzpXMLCTzYST8MIvkD-Zd5LzFEz90fiuoBCL8XBoLHzbdTgJnkVQWlIqRb4qdroU2yt85ljiwmVA9iKjA4jSfGKzDwkOR5SBDxYXEvVGhOIC_NRhx6jjic0lHaCp6F/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Sliding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaafvEgS_65azw_zAnvsNrG-CuxF6GQrXmWM8D2YKvHXDYMe3QUNNUMqkLkTjK9nbO4_5VvDTZqnffPldedsuT1BoqupPTMWdgv9CDLe6vJXJ8Ykc41_lRZj5DzrTtBNEhtB6lJNqGPdlUVKrNRNm-V5CX2cmkiqtYnBpRkpVTCAKOzqQ90tCy3AD9IUJ/s383/ThePagemaster_WingedBook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaafvEgS_65azw_zAnvsNrG-CuxF6GQrXmWM8D2YKvHXDYMe3QUNNUMqkLkTjK9nbO4_5VvDTZqnffPldedsuT1BoqupPTMWdgv9CDLe6vJXJ8Ykc41_lRZj5DzrTtBNEhtB6lJNqGPdlUVKrNRNm-V5CX2cmkiqtYnBpRkpVTCAKOzqQ90tCy3AD9IUJ/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_WingedBook.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sliding | Right: Stumbling across a winged book that will take you to a Mode 7 bonus level</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">On the subject of Macaulay Culkin, one of the most famous child stars in the early half of the '90s, I also feel a bit bad about him having learned that he had a very jealous father who's been likened to a Jack Torrance-like figure in his childhood. As a teenager Macaulay learned that he had a net worth of between $15-20 million which caused him to block his parents from controlling his trust fund, in the custody of his mother and estranging his father forevermore breaking free from his unhealthy lifestyle. He briefly retired from acting, met and married Rachel Miner in 1998 while filming the music video for Sonic Youth's "Sunday" and divorced four years later. In 2017 he married Brenda Song (London Tipton from Disney's <i>The Suite Life</i> sitcom franchise and Anne Boonchuy from Matt Braly's <i>Amphibia</i>) and is currently in a healthy relationship with her, and I have a feeling that he's a lot happier nowadays than he was back when he had a cruel father in his life. If he is, good for him! 👍</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb15nQk4Brq2EzlpOsoGeUXMMbMhGyZKxtnQZPCO__KBkDKO9qZ7ELsWAaOUb9-pApbpF0baj_so4gbYLeIZ4T0N0CnRto1rk68ISSWjUYfT9hfNoGuszIR_3bjzaiTgi3p7j4A792v0MBFuBY6haI17JDDnKCiYgfnLaOj8f6fOiYMfwxiuFC2riQ3C8e/s383/ThePagemaster_FlyingLeaf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb15nQk4Brq2EzlpOsoGeUXMMbMhGyZKxtnQZPCO__KBkDKO9qZ7ELsWAaOUb9-pApbpF0baj_so4gbYLeIZ4T0N0CnRto1rk68ISSWjUYfT9hfNoGuszIR_3bjzaiTgi3p7j4A792v0MBFuBY6haI17JDDnKCiYgfnLaOj8f6fOiYMfwxiuFC2riQ3C8e/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_FlyingLeaf.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq769XXHqGtTiSzNNAd_XXf8zUQZL4hu1ksyWrPoKlBN0WFFAGFRRsiJfXnK-A2sGCnSd2-EPgA0kLsqGTCbI709AQjTUDuMGQgfDgWwX8oaOcdSDBRxy2L7eZVcUYwKzTQu62RGPljVxG2mWtwAXiowY7G5YWb1FhvcSkMZ21Hthr6XsLySgWDTnoFkA/s383/ThePagemaster_DragonHatchling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq769XXHqGtTiSzNNAd_XXf8zUQZL4hu1ksyWrPoKlBN0WFFAGFRRsiJfXnK-A2sGCnSd2-EPgA0kLsqGTCbI709AQjTUDuMGQgfDgWwX8oaOcdSDBRxy2L7eZVcUYwKzTQu62RGPljVxG2mWtwAXiowY7G5YWb1FhvcSkMZ21Hthr6XsLySgWDTnoFkA/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_DragonHatchling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Riding a magical leaf stem | Right: That dragon hatchling won't find me so long as I stay behind the foreground of that beanstalk (though that might just be wishful thinking)</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">I do not consider <i>The Pagemaster</i> to be either the best or the worst of the licensed video games I've played, on the SNES console or otherwise. It doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to the genre nor does it try to do more than it sets out to do, I think it's a fairly playable and decently crafted game while it lasts in the fifty or so minutes it takes to play through it, and that's perfectly fine. The mapwork by Nick Baynes, Mark Hill, Mark Viccary, Andrew McCarthy, and Tony Beckwith is decent, and it is a very pretty and colorful game to look at (especially when it comes to the horror and fantasy levels).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK4Ak4kxizPdhNBRrvktGzp79-jIGgXBfIk4pFEXpv9fFJu39WBTeWmP8CYFird7h69_LjdHeINrEncZnFJf_wsoi_0GNNiKPX1MRZGqgd5CWDqDZ6OwFGqnf63iiCWt_zu9sSsBWNfbWVna5-gJeOrtaIGnBouQzPE2Waqi_fMYYx_ECkqyzv_aS7u4V/s383/ThePagemaster_Arrow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK4Ak4kxizPdhNBRrvktGzp79-jIGgXBfIk4pFEXpv9fFJu39WBTeWmP8CYFird7h69_LjdHeINrEncZnFJf_wsoi_0GNNiKPX1MRZGqgd5CWDqDZ6OwFGqnf63iiCWt_zu9sSsBWNfbWVna5-gJeOrtaIGnBouQzPE2Waqi_fMYYx_ECkqyzv_aS7u4V/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_Arrow.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9RB8uA_0g5wBJSycuB-NYYb-tBF8tKlkMPJm_hZee28S1Z1wEVNylu754yCiIVIopuFb1fUToEYX5tQKljzxGhTLTjM6L55V7cMSApNwk7eG6kw1AZTnuPnAEa13ZRRbq0NxTW1N8HsMvAtoLbNzoZZD_wRG1-4BzY8erkhN4Th4iHcfkIrg50n8IrAv/s383/ThePagemaster_EmeraldSpikes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9RB8uA_0g5wBJSycuB-NYYb-tBF8tKlkMPJm_hZee28S1Z1wEVNylu754yCiIVIopuFb1fUToEYX5tQKljzxGhTLTjM6L55V7cMSApNwk7eG6kw1AZTnuPnAEa13ZRRbq0NxTW1N8HsMvAtoLbNzoZZD_wRG1-4BzY8erkhN4Th4iHcfkIrg50n8IrAv/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_EmeraldSpikes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Follow the occasional arrow trail | Right: Jumping across a hazardous emerald gap</span></b></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">There's also something nice about playing a literary-themed game amidst the backdrops of the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson (<i>Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</i> and <i>Treasure Island</i>), Herman Melville (<i>Moby-Dick; or, The Whale</i>), L. Frank Baum (the golden bricked road levels being references to his <i>Land of Oz</i> works), and "Jack and the Beanstalk", et al, and the exploration aspect is occasionally thrilling when it comes to the more open-ended levels.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwafa6K12YNL9z95gM6XXVaCN9xzKYXieGod88SbgYlNu4oUGTMZNkpIiCcuDVhb8d3hKzw0Sxxt9WZLGO0OT_OQD8gCod0hKemQyKMwi0N-jBXjMwCMuVb34DCBaOZEyFA34ficCoTA2OFw9T0NyMLekjYj2QZDcBrI6Egj-8dH4G1rzcwzVX6W2OtWkJ/s383/ThePagemaster_HumptyDumpty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwafa6K12YNL9z95gM6XXVaCN9xzKYXieGod88SbgYlNu4oUGTMZNkpIiCcuDVhb8d3hKzw0Sxxt9WZLGO0OT_OQD8gCod0hKemQyKMwi0N-jBXjMwCMuVb34DCBaOZEyFA34ficCoTA2OFw9T0NyMLekjYj2QZDcBrI6Egj-8dH4G1rzcwzVX6W2OtWkJ/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_HumptyDumpty.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHmV4iHJLVZDe1qEmy2IPaUg_bnM-AqrF7aMCIZUDF81cy_w351ZuX6gRHKMvIi3NJ31JR5TOOeeKa9ShpBI1XW3V8de7Ets6gU2IXvMb6DuPU8YvRq4fOYzZv-xkZxc9yCfAiGIU8fyaXPlASeECoTzRYnE7sCRoZylph6R7BWzYSo9PU0WuEJEcZX9L/s383/ThePagemaster_RidingOnHumpty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="383" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHmV4iHJLVZDe1qEmy2IPaUg_bnM-AqrF7aMCIZUDF81cy_w351ZuX6gRHKMvIi3NJ31JR5TOOeeKa9ShpBI1XW3V8de7Ets6gU2IXvMb6DuPU8YvRq4fOYzZv-xkZxc9yCfAiGIU8fyaXPlASeECoTzRYnE7sCRoZylph6R7BWzYSo9PU0WuEJEcZX9L/w200-h148/ThePagemaster_RidingOnHumpty.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Picking up Humpty Dumpty </b>🥚<b> | Right: And using him to ride along the hazardous spike pit</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">If you're looking for a fairly decent platformer to play that it isn't too long and only initially appears daunting at first but turns out to be actually reasonably playable and fun, I think <i>The Pagemaster</i> fits the bill just fine should you maintain a measured sense of Richard's movement and jumping controls through and through. There's a keenly felt sense of atmosphere, and while it might not be the best game in the platforming genre, it is a commendable effort by Probe Software for what they attempted to do, and I'm glad I finally got to quench a childhood curiosity when I got to play it at last.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jXFvsf9FRj5ph9dBigT2Z-h2kcvcrdU-VO-V3cuJrMjUOXXy_Xyh7Wow6xUGKoEINu8x8nUgSgYTojWXtjFT2DkD6RkkmmiIT9UD50db-i4TS6elE6JImQGEamRXozM9pEirrvmjWhB2KppnSjdilrLaJbpeJ8WuuPWrQl86rbuj6RtddQOIuUHlxr-O/s379/ThePagemaster_Pagemaster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jXFvsf9FRj5ph9dBigT2Z-h2kcvcrdU-VO-V3cuJrMjUOXXy_Xyh7Wow6xUGKoEINu8x8nUgSgYTojWXtjFT2DkD6RkkmmiIT9UD50db-i4TS6elE6JImQGEamRXozM9pEirrvmjWhB2KppnSjdilrLaJbpeJ8WuuPWrQl86rbuj6RtddQOIuUHlxr-O/s16000/ThePagemaster_Pagemaster.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 6.0/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrgzQQURYZikCKtqOnf1XRJ9G6Eu7mXMmj1Smikbp4naMWO3XBWL03SAZNQSeXdMO2UDvXdcTai0jxKMR8J-3T5qRteLLsROlpefW7JnOFDrqL3c1F1ysyNFW-hig2SvgL5jaL0KdkamvLshNy0Om2wZERaaYk50V19yOV9w9fz7eNIu3Yh704CPzyV4t/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrgzQQURYZikCKtqOnf1XRJ9G6Eu7mXMmj1Smikbp4naMWO3XBWL03SAZNQSeXdMO2UDvXdcTai0jxKMR8J-3T5qRteLLsROlpefW7JnOFDrqL3c1F1ysyNFW-hig2SvgL5jaL0KdkamvLshNy0Om2wZERaaYk50V19yOV9w9fz7eNIu3Yh704CPzyV4t/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I originally reviewed this game on my blog back in October 2015 and gave it a 6.5 if I recall correctly before I deleted it years later out of feeling that I wasn't satisfied with it (many of my old reviews don't hold up all that well). I'm much more pleased with this review, I feel I was fair and articulate in my thoughts, and for the sake of context it was back at a point in time when I was learning to get used to the camera option when the video camera option wasn't working anymore with the uploads (with the correct screenshot dimensions this time and not stretched because I kept my TV setting to "Wide", <b>that</b> was a mistake and it wasn't the only time I regret to say). Truthfully, I wish I stuck with the normal camera option from the beginning as I find the image to be clearer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● It can be so easy to make <i>Star Trek</i> jokes and references due to most of the talent involved having been involved in the franchise in one form or another, especially the late composer James Horner. It wasn't something that clicked with me when I was younger due to not having grown up with <i>Star Trek</i> until I saw a video review of <i>The Pagemaster</i> on YouTube when I was younger (the kind I retroactively wish I never stumbled upon because it was the kind of video that I may have found amusing at the time but thinking back wasn't as funny or as well-made as I thought), but it is a bit hard to shake off once the pieces fit together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● It brings me no joy to say this, and it does pain me as such to have to say, but I've lost complete respect for Whoopi Goldberg during this decade, I really have. 😞 I used to really like her when I was younger, I thought she was funny and witty. Nowadays, I've become so alienated by her and have progressively grown annoyed by her latest antics (I can't really bring myself to watch anything with her in it because I know my present-day feelings on her will get in the way of recognizing the quality of her acting). When you say something along the lines of "The Holocaust was not about race", ... that's the point of no return, really. Do not invoke the Holocaust for any reason, it's not a good look, be sensitive to people of the Jewish community, have respect for people in nursing professions. I know it wasn't Whoopi that made a dig at the last one, but it's still <i>The View</i> which is already a red flag. The way I see it, this was a show made by farceurs hosted by farceurs in their desperate attempt to remain relevant at the expense of coming across as disingenuous.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● <b>But</b>, as annoyed as I've become by Whoopi... I'm far more annoyed by what I've learned of <i>The Pagemaster</i>'s producer David Kirschner (who produced the <i>Child's Play</i> franchise) and what <b>he</b> did as he tried to take sole screenwriting credit for David Casci's written contributions even though it was largely animated at that point landing it in a legal case (even though Kirschner made no such contributions). Kirschner seriously tried to be the Bob Kane to Casci's Bill Finger, <b>did he</b>? 😠 The only difference is that both ended up being credited (unlike with <i>Batman</i> where only Kane was given credit despite Finger's contributions), but at what cost? It was the most extensive and expensive investigation undertaken by the Writer's Guild of America, and when Fox threatened to pull out of legal arbitration and without WGA-approved credits, the guild filed an injunction blocking the movie's heavily promoted Christmas release. Kirschner, what an arsehole move!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care!</b></span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-46694118814462515112023-10-12T13:55:00.002-05:002023-10-20T09:43:40.608-05:00SteamGear Mash (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">🤖<b> Received: December 14th, 2022 </b>🤖<b> Written: October 8th-12th, 2023 </b>🤖</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoPpEMstus6pT7UCjMNERSF1ngw_v5OdpU_1dqtURlLYqeWGrlX4krEIZRI0uWq-gsvItTwvBPkAZWlJtzNQ1J_eSFYSsbawkhLAzrOMkDedjkGoiRuPPX3rcFV8DRtIGjzdz-v6oJ72QygSoii60LSvFCjOR2HG4yE7acHHFBHG5grG8gjtB4dWYCSGN/s242/SteamGearMash_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoPpEMstus6pT7UCjMNERSF1ngw_v5OdpU_1dqtURlLYqeWGrlX4krEIZRI0uWq-gsvItTwvBPkAZWlJtzNQ1J_eSFYSsbawkhLAzrOMkDedjkGoiRuPPX3rcFV8DRtIGjzdz-v6oJ72QygSoii60LSvFCjOR2HG4yE7acHHFBHG5grG8gjtB4dWYCSGN/s16000/SteamGearMash_Title.png" /></a></div></span><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #00bbff;">Year: 1995 | Developed by: Tamsoft | Published by: Takara | </span><span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGys-3XEdaWMLWK0NKY3PpLkR4MLqhiTwUFvmJwo0BlNg9u4kYZhjH1zIysr2n0iQjpZ7_yjEGhmsKYfY1DdOi3fc3NONKNq1Ke2siVkfPheibucfeAx5FsIsiE2mvpCzJR7LRC9eCCvR78-SPwYrAADjSceNfsl7ugySDmzJUd-G0aIDR71JwyIh7964K/s257/Tamsoft_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="257" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGys-3XEdaWMLWK0NKY3PpLkR4MLqhiTwUFvmJwo0BlNg9u4kYZhjH1zIysr2n0iQjpZ7_yjEGhmsKYfY1DdOi3fc3NONKNq1Ke2siVkfPheibucfeAx5FsIsiE2mvpCzJR7LRC9eCCvR78-SPwYrAADjSceNfsl7ugySDmzJUd-G0aIDR71JwyIh7964K/s1600/Tamsoft_Logo.png" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">On June 26th, 1992, the Japanese development company <b>Tamsoft</b> was founded in Asakusa, Tokyo by </span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Toshiaki Ōta as well as a group of former staff who previously worked for Toaplan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWk42OGRzUG8FT5zXPDtBfK-fSm2_lBvVZsQRZJT8fuS-yI1zsttYpWNku78rnNvyFE7l5IGbtUE_HUNjXZWX5rvir2cTPo8iYXT-LwfoJLOo8cy6kLG8nipL1UFisrTcUNQJ_XInlkj7eGCnlzrVbyGMZFjGk9Qj8a2T2wVF-jwrhNVixNXWC0zHm4AM/s255/Takara_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="93" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWk42OGRzUG8FT5zXPDtBfK-fSm2_lBvVZsQRZJT8fuS-yI1zsttYpWNku78rnNvyFE7l5IGbtUE_HUNjXZWX5rvir2cTPo8iYXT-LwfoJLOo8cy6kLG8nipL1UFisrTcUNQJ_XInlkj7eGCnlzrVbyGMZFjGk9Qj8a2T2wVF-jwrhNVixNXWC0zHm4AM/s16000/Takara_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">When Tamsoft started out they began as a contract developer for <b>Takara</b>, a Japanese toy company founded in Tokyo in 1955 which eventually took part in the video game industry in the following decades to come as either a developer or a publisher (including a series racing video games based on their Choro-Q pullback car toyline).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7FQpUuRv7ITsnZauePCyHvfxGPvKl0ZCqe4EPDhzVY-r-IlQhAe0aWKNdxDNoMV1Vjc_bg2aPcS20e-V8ueVbtuBqvnoDAm_6EIfIb-QUu8XmYgpofG3dSiaznOI_hZM_r19cChA2c0beHxFQID8PqnyPhshBYUyQeGgs5MpuEwfTdmNI7z0ya57hJ9_/s381/BattleArenaToshiden_EijiVsMondo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="381" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7FQpUuRv7ITsnZauePCyHvfxGPvKl0ZCqe4EPDhzVY-r-IlQhAe0aWKNdxDNoMV1Vjc_bg2aPcS20e-V8ueVbtuBqvnoDAm_6EIfIb-QUu8XmYgpofG3dSiaznOI_hZM_r19cChA2c0beHxFQID8PqnyPhshBYUyQeGgs5MpuEwfTdmNI7z0ya57hJ9_/w200-h158/BattleArenaToshiden_EijiVsMondo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwneZDXCgZSOtAL3kpa4FRoUq2tkF4r3MVKf-OAKRskF7uvCiyLz0NCcVl3NU6ZtojQ5iSCpzGbGHEGnb9_4YPhrHkUYpcJRlqT_jea9Z-TO3pUWM5Mo8TG0Ft1AyZ3rbK_zAHHH4kpn8bKj8ADEwezgK76chkPx_GFkQzZle-ofoPwARaPLjaONmTbQiM/s381/BattleArenaToshinden_SofiaVsFo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="381" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwneZDXCgZSOtAL3kpa4FRoUq2tkF4r3MVKf-OAKRskF7uvCiyLz0NCcVl3NU6ZtojQ5iSCpzGbGHEGnb9_4YPhrHkUYpcJRlqT_jea9Z-TO3pUWM5Mo8TG0Ft1AyZ3rbK_zAHHH4kpn8bKj8ADEwezgK76chkPx_GFkQzZle-ofoPwARaPLjaONmTbQiM/w200-h158/BattleArenaToshinden_SofiaVsFo.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">New Year's Day 1995 saw the debut of Tamsoft's inaugural game <i>Toshinden</i>, a 3D weapons tournament fighter created for Sony's PlayStation One console to compete with Sega's <i>Virtua Fighter</i>, in Japan which would be localized to North America and Europe as <i>Battle Arena Toshinden</i> as one of the PlayStation's launch titles that September. Having come out at the right place at the right time, it was a huge success which spawned its own series and made a compelling case for the PlayStation console as it was initially exclusive to the system until Tamsoft made a remixed edition for the Sega Saturn within the same year, making the "Saturn killer" marketing of the Sony edition when it first came out retroactively ironic.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieAnEwO5dT6bA0F84kA1AyhF8TPaWzECq3emI6_Gq2GG79gqn_XHXbDyTVdFulkngGHiN3hs4b6spvaZMOM_i-NvsATYWyDvAMRZTTGbcVpZOIfrObF8bOc10wpmVuxMt2r0QswlNXhb25AoiUzfy4R5D5zo-oDVV6uZ1NMOXNrU8XwJqiKdaHGvHuXoA/s640/SteamGearMash_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="640" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieAnEwO5dT6bA0F84kA1AyhF8TPaWzECq3emI6_Gq2GG79gqn_XHXbDyTVdFulkngGHiN3hs4b6spvaZMOM_i-NvsATYWyDvAMRZTTGbcVpZOIfrObF8bOc10wpmVuxMt2r0QswlNXhb25AoiUzfy4R5D5zo-oDVV6uZ1NMOXNrU8XwJqiKdaHGvHuXoA/w400-h393/SteamGearMash_Cover.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">The same month <i>Battle Arena Toshinden</i> got released in the West, Sega Saturn owners got to play Tamsoft's sophomore video game <b><i>SteamGear Mash</i></b> which Takara published on September 29th, 1995. Produced by Takayuki Nakano, executive produced by Nobuyuki Okude and </span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Toshiaki Ōta,</span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> designed by </span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Shintarō Nakaoka and Hideki Kobayashi</span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, directed by Akihiko Kimura, and programmed by Hideki and Toshimi Matsumoto (main), Shinya Kusunoki (enemy and effects), and Toru Kawashima (system), this game never got a Western release for it remained exclusively in Japan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknT8sCAovfquXvTfQCksccQLEzIe7mUcBM7KOqJHDsnTQLbK3HOy4u0-hpZPvTh5PpaGi_yy8W7CmKUxq0Vw-7BuwDAmpq3wVJ6gIVxVI3WsjJebmReeGCKgQyq4lMqaoz2iRLJrDXw2bdoOeCoS-c8EuQkGX0oG69b5Y2M3OsQKshcnTk1gt3BhM-Ipm/s303/SteamGearMash_FamilyPhoto.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknT8sCAovfquXvTfQCksccQLEzIe7mUcBM7KOqJHDsnTQLbK3HOy4u0-hpZPvTh5PpaGi_yy8W7CmKUxq0Vw-7BuwDAmpq3wVJ6gIVxVI3WsjJebmReeGCKgQyq4lMqaoz2iRLJrDXw2bdoOeCoS-c8EuQkGX0oG69b5Y2M3OsQKshcnTk1gt3BhM-Ipm/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_FamilyPhoto.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AANeg-fK4_E3PuxKVUs0QPvdln1ZtdNDIdWki5f3arsTs2wBqfuL9AQBYOoBYYeFfG8YsQMquzDa_J5hx4gm10xMheKCmJW6ep3L-UAJwjhHdENeXBH990U-HhdeqnDLgEH2FaGyljLEqs4m-xTJ8ZmKFqdVY0FnOwgXcevQXFkvfo1DAyfAVVv_QGOC/s303/SteamGearMash_Mash+Mina-Playing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AANeg-fK4_E3PuxKVUs0QPvdln1ZtdNDIdWki5f3arsTs2wBqfuL9AQBYOoBYYeFfG8YsQMquzDa_J5hx4gm10xMheKCmJW6ep3L-UAJwjhHdENeXBH990U-HhdeqnDLgEH2FaGyljLEqs4m-xTJ8ZmKFqdVY0FnOwgXcevQXFkvfo1DAyfAVVv_QGOC/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Mash+Mina-Playing.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Renowned 62-year old Tamworld scientist Dr. Hiroto Sendagaya has just finished work on his latest creation, a loyal and benevolent sentient robot named SteamGear Mash, whom his 13-year old granddaughter Mina instantly takes a liking to and befriends. One day while Mash and Mina are hanging out in the park,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-jh0ll1pRxNS8Gx-VKb9IKLWzFbRMcjb8hTqcStb14VgRs9LM3D34HurbKyPqdstdK0Rh3ZZ7NGxtECG_TlftGHoftYWaHJVsYHGU8KybmcjBvbzrFsF4EWpEm5x_oA4fvK6sR4WtNovkHTy9fVMjWo_tJyPFZYWAip7V2ORK3BJNmWf2W0cACriHLyX/s303/SteamGearMash_PeeringGash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-jh0ll1pRxNS8Gx-VKb9IKLWzFbRMcjb8hTqcStb14VgRs9LM3D34HurbKyPqdstdK0Rh3ZZ7NGxtECG_TlftGHoftYWaHJVsYHGU8KybmcjBvbzrFsF4EWpEm5x_oA4fvK6sR4WtNovkHTy9fVMjWo_tJyPFZYWAip7V2ORK3BJNmWf2W0cACriHLyX/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_PeeringGash.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r5LgZAagjennbw_8R7TLAwh3A9kPox3tLjorPRnIsgZ47fvEnZtPpY6IMff2RLby0S38pI-wj9E1_Zdr_1xexFIMV_W4j4-QynKWG3v6p8uKMsf2JfEK7eQMmGF3tzUSgNKHgCd45Hv7-eF4XA1cNCsFL1BQFF4eldGRz-TC6Tj7OpIvBIo6SISgLk-B/s303/SteamGearMash_SpottedMina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r5LgZAagjennbw_8R7TLAwh3A9kPox3tLjorPRnIsgZ47fvEnZtPpY6IMff2RLby0S38pI-wj9E1_Zdr_1xexFIMV_W4j4-QynKWG3v6p8uKMsf2JfEK7eQMmGF3tzUSgNKHgCd45Hv7-eF4XA1cNCsFL1BQFF4eldGRz-TC6Tj7OpIvBIo6SISgLk-B/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_SpottedMina.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">a robotic emperor named Gash surveys the planet through a telescope from his station in the far reaches of space.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5VFjN6Ts327gkNxdGQAfHmebH2JTPsYB8yAqEx1cnTIIcOONl9KCfdJ80BNoWfeyVmVomXWI27US6tpTRZ1Np3Uy7RPXhWN08PwtbLY9x5JHDV6UOC3KlOO4epPcMZwue3NjtpLkPMo0tUT1n7jmiFRpSVvZv1MaFjkBFKbfqFCvtGvQQjUFwIBbRYns/s303/SteamGearMash_InfatuatedGash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5VFjN6Ts327gkNxdGQAfHmebH2JTPsYB8yAqEx1cnTIIcOONl9KCfdJ80BNoWfeyVmVomXWI27US6tpTRZ1Np3Uy7RPXhWN08PwtbLY9x5JHDV6UOC3KlOO4epPcMZwue3NjtpLkPMo0tUT1n7jmiFRpSVvZv1MaFjkBFKbfqFCvtGvQQjUFwIBbRYns/s16000/SteamGearMash_InfatuatedGash.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>The lens falling out of the telescope upon turning into a heart, combined with the bouncy and cartoony sound effect, is funny every time </b>😆</span></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Upon seeing her, Gash falls in love and wants her badly,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpOXnn05wnIfaMDullaoGqgSa_A9B2yOsj4VBie9HV8HN-6QFPv0eCZhGMU2IT3enT8BBzjGWrcSIjmq-Ns7tIarqBj85ZTTWtByPmtN0yznTOoNwDBjb0VOp75uh6h7OAe6XMaBYxXbaeVFgx-IJeVCTdJ8mvnL21B2yogcDjEV4OIesCURb-qgaiga3/s303/SteamGearMash_Kotenpan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpOXnn05wnIfaMDullaoGqgSa_A9B2yOsj4VBie9HV8HN-6QFPv0eCZhGMU2IT3enT8BBzjGWrcSIjmq-Ns7tIarqBj85ZTTWtByPmtN0yznTOoNwDBjb0VOp75uh6h7OAe6XMaBYxXbaeVFgx-IJeVCTdJ8mvnL21B2yogcDjEV4OIesCURb-qgaiga3/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Kotenpan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp8LpOkUTSKuDTHPiPFtHjwj1pX5tIaQ6xxTEUEd_pexr64RNm6wJHoDKEtgA6gRpjIVbtTd4Mv05wz71IBFIgYhzLCCdRB_yOgc8AjU0-GiyuwE9T2HyJOyt94KczRl9VlbduupqhLibI-iBQuzX34uv-bLKd3eBRRQC62Xbd7stGQ3TZuntgDpmy_Ns/s303/SteamGearMash_MinaAbducted.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp8LpOkUTSKuDTHPiPFtHjwj1pX5tIaQ6xxTEUEd_pexr64RNm6wJHoDKEtgA6gRpjIVbtTd4Mv05wz71IBFIgYhzLCCdRB_yOgc8AjU0-GiyuwE9T2HyJOyt94KczRl9VlbduupqhLibI-iBQuzX34uv-bLKd3eBRRQC62Xbd7stGQ3TZuntgDpmy_Ns/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_MinaAbducted.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">so he orders his robotic second-in-command Kotenpan to descend to Earth to take Mina away so that he could have her for himself.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL2RPllHjX-JumcifcSuMHwr4j4Mys9k9C2oiajz4Qc8SikViFprRlmY79wBoVMTxCSVnq6Jd1U_U-xt9V_PNkmAJczHBuq2n_4YhEg9unKkkszB7Ueb_3Fy8FeDC_muYeZMdIFxiVZsaZpR-FrROuvX4nC0aMmSpe-DbGtYjWMl7rsJSZCdwx0lG7mGw/s303/SteamGearMash_FirstKotenpanBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL2RPllHjX-JumcifcSuMHwr4j4Mys9k9C2oiajz4Qc8SikViFprRlmY79wBoVMTxCSVnq6Jd1U_U-xt9V_PNkmAJczHBuq2n_4YhEg9unKkkszB7Ueb_3Fy8FeDC_muYeZMdIFxiVZsaZpR-FrROuvX4nC0aMmSpe-DbGtYjWMl7rsJSZCdwx0lG7mGw/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_FirstKotenpanBattle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9H8tKLFuGQDX3m90TUDaPotTvaIlEnEE9sXBMnBnBq3I19dZbAILFnHwspe6om6CxnUgYvGD6RMMPZTAbNR5t5vr1AGZiDcFHeqnoGwWD9Pdgnj3DqInlr4QQ3ESc6xzTjQGizwtrVn04iGE6r4qg_vkUn8Ke4JCJPbuUTXyftBgSbVyGmBGzyX8lo-E/s303/SteamGearMash_DemolishedArm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9H8tKLFuGQDX3m90TUDaPotTvaIlEnEE9sXBMnBnBq3I19dZbAILFnHwspe6om6CxnUgYvGD6RMMPZTAbNR5t5vr1AGZiDcFHeqnoGwWD9Pdgnj3DqInlr4QQ3ESc6xzTjQGizwtrVn04iGE6r4qg_vkUn8Ke4JCJPbuUTXyftBgSbVyGmBGzyX8lo-E/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_DemolishedArm.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">In Mash's valiant efforts to save her from being taken away he loses his right arm and passes out following being taken down in the battle against Mina's crimson-colored abductor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9xT0JFIGvbuDn81yHSoRk4noU_dyM_YLro3_4sQva453qXFBRucoXRYqrsCMkv2vzLInGK31akX02Ne5eRUCYjv6G1heSbq9TAq44udAIIzd4U7s-g0uRjMk5iblx7ip5BzJhLEP_WKFGa9uyPkjVgk3QxsTTo-K0FfVSm_6zJmnjGx7tY440dbP7t18/s303/SteamGearMash_MashGun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9xT0JFIGvbuDn81yHSoRk4noU_dyM_YLro3_4sQva453qXFBRucoXRYqrsCMkv2vzLInGK31akX02Ne5eRUCYjv6G1heSbq9TAq44udAIIzd4U7s-g0uRjMk5iblx7ip5BzJhLEP_WKFGa9uyPkjVgk3QxsTTo-K0FfVSm_6zJmnjGx7tY440dbP7t18/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_MashGun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMks6xLNnjyp-_dqkFfQ1pqFStceRzRCMOLSoTCXcedXrgRWZzYkvhaXTkZ8YoNtNWvxvRFMmmw-PvWp5FcfDS_XxAYRj1JTvpicM0NtbwoeMa3bcN_oohO4iYNWv8nDYZkw5XBivno0Qn-6AiLCeXqZzXqUkb2gLETZ9KZBjtk3pne3q_zom8bDB3pfOg/s303/SteamGearMash_Armed+Ready.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMks6xLNnjyp-_dqkFfQ1pqFStceRzRCMOLSoTCXcedXrgRWZzYkvhaXTkZ8YoNtNWvxvRFMmmw-PvWp5FcfDS_XxAYRj1JTvpicM0NtbwoeMa3bcN_oohO4iYNWv8nDYZkw5XBivno0Qn-6AiLCeXqZzXqUkb2gLETZ9KZBjtk3pne3q_zom8bDB3pfOg/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Armed+Ready.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">"Mina-chan! I'm going to help you now!!"</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Shortly after the fact, Dr. Sendagaya finds and restores Mash, installing an arm cannon in his missing limb thereby preparing him for his mission to go after the robots that snatched Mina away and to bring her back safe and sound.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pU_QXgQjS0bVgaElm164oXgWnXoMe3DMYZiBNaAPH8sYa-HAVzJIuaRWRx55VzDhMEWwK-N5lhS4LLvcQPXL9STPgN5mKfX4CNeLShx4HVNyySae6QDeLWAh2cN5L4tP7dgEG9Upv8YWsHh_U7d2N72EYNF7ADZuHQz_r-YDw0Ce1O78LacI3W9zaxvv/s380/SteamGearMash_MashHouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pU_QXgQjS0bVgaElm164oXgWnXoMe3DMYZiBNaAPH8sYa-HAVzJIuaRWRx55VzDhMEWwK-N5lhS4LLvcQPXL9STPgN5mKfX4CNeLShx4HVNyySae6QDeLWAh2cN5L4tP7dgEG9Upv8YWsHh_U7d2N72EYNF7ADZuHQz_r-YDw0Ce1O78LacI3W9zaxvv/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_MashHouse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghNk4hAK2O6oTCPctjvMEp62MmFkBSBv9_utrqKfjTHEKDfbCNTZvpRVzbhOu6X3VqLQHk9BwTs4xTyg5u5z4ak6Js8w4TACxaViWqr3Z8QzuwuRNK7khSkiSGDCDQ6x1Y7Y5toZ9mnTo9Pb-GBOLd2RE78bpSJiODFh2J0rWDWDU5dF7FRWI1FcpE9MY/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghNk4hAK2O6oTCPctjvMEp62MmFkBSBv9_utrqKfjTHEKDfbCNTZvpRVzbhOu6X3VqLQHk9BwTs4xTyg5u5z4ak6Js8w4TACxaViWqr3Z8QzuwuRNK7khSkiSGDCDQ6x1Y7Y5toZ9mnTo9Pb-GBOLd2RE78bpSJiODFh2J0rWDWDU5dF7FRWI1FcpE9MY/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage0.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gearing himself up to begin his adventure to save Mina | Right: Stepping out</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">In the isometric action platforming game <i>SteamGear Mash</i> you take control of the eponymous sentient robot whom you can move around in all eight directions. The default controls are B to jump in the air, with the A button you can fire from his arm cannon (pressing or repeatedly tapping will allow you to fire little blasts, but by holding down the button you can charge up your blast until it becomes bigger which you can unleash by letting go of the button at the opportune moment), the C button lets you use Mash's secondary weapons which you can toggle between with the Y and Z buttons (or revert back to the first choice with the X button),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFkeHzaRJLFjZJ0Xhn_wMdRunCrKew-p1TtwgJiKvVLCG028WC2uHz57_7ie5feB1T8kmvrO4ro_-xJmbCm3-u9ruAG-XsTdK5k4hIpkD0wLkukEP9nGlcdm_d7-rBkPqiQy9VIil_PIlsOP-xFydek39BwJwAOT3EnxhueILfcalHNehl-MO4-r2R4Sc/s380/SteamGearMash_MeetMike.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFkeHzaRJLFjZJ0Xhn_wMdRunCrKew-p1TtwgJiKvVLCG028WC2uHz57_7ie5feB1T8kmvrO4ro_-xJmbCm3-u9ruAG-XsTdK5k4hIpkD0wLkukEP9nGlcdm_d7-rBkPqiQy9VIil_PIlsOP-xFydek39BwJwAOT3EnxhueILfcalHNehl-MO4-r2R4Sc/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_MeetMike.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgwxDwmoefupMmEklLi_rAgrQ41fghwlEq4rZzp53gblXRHYfj52mxk-ajlttGTdkA9fkzbKnbNLW07sOslwgpYpoJTOt782QNUI5hNYRFvZ73n_V-KRfPwxLOiPrGjfGgcMITIycvg3DGgc6whfRyNIkmL2hutPll8rKsRHFrVworBxdEeQORPuqDvDo/s380/SteamGearMash_Heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgwxDwmoefupMmEklLi_rAgrQ41fghwlEq4rZzp53gblXRHYfj52mxk-ajlttGTdkA9fkzbKnbNLW07sOslwgpYpoJTOt782QNUI5hNYRFvZ73n_V-KRfPwxLOiPrGjfGgcMITIycvg3DGgc6whfRyNIkmL2hutPll8rKsRHFrVworBxdEeQORPuqDvDo/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Heart.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Meet Mike, the first cat who accompanies you | Right: Take heart </b>💗</span></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">and by holding down the right shoulder button you can operate Mash's gyroscopic controls which you can toggle between with the left shoulder button. During the course of the game you'll be contending with a myriad of enemies which will randomly drop either a heart or a missile, small or big, after having disposed of them which you can gather to replenish your health and your missile gauge respectively.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxeLhJy1teCy43J5lhw34Lfbhcc8Luk6q2C2LVBY0MJdrRmrm2KGWk7_s9Ok83w2g62CvXXi8TF_PgEuXSHYM1bIO31Fz01XvyOR7aJh_MM9Rn3_7IaQont23NDWVEJQOD5Yw73gvfGU0WAv57t7ehzY7Ntqy4jfYJs5rFgevMcIKBlEydtd1g7VqVY55/s380/SteamGearMash_Gate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxeLhJy1teCy43J5lhw34Lfbhcc8Luk6q2C2LVBY0MJdrRmrm2KGWk7_s9Ok83w2g62CvXXi8TF_PgEuXSHYM1bIO31Fz01XvyOR7aJh_MM9Rn3_7IaQont23NDWVEJQOD5Yw73gvfGU0WAv57t7ehzY7Ntqy4jfYJs5rFgevMcIKBlEydtd1g7VqVY55/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Gate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9D6K1CfHk7gvexftdIMdbUEpb0uVCizcmQrhqLPGBG452n7Ij2X82Kqkh2Gz4WmxtZQvbomcCmV-ElF8F3gzFDPEi8JCjXosJAGB1ss5MiczNyh7vI9EMK3GPwZDCj71dz0uYtlc_Kpti-CtXQkEwhfHXVUeTgJsEDu6KIy-PMejYpF3QHK1EpACzLcW/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9D6K1CfHk7gvexftdIMdbUEpb0uVCizcmQrhqLPGBG452n7Ij2X82Kqkh2Gz4WmxtZQvbomcCmV-ElF8F3gzFDPEi8JCjXosJAGB1ss5MiczNyh7vI9EMK3GPwZDCj71dz0uYtlc_Kpti-CtXQkEwhfHXVUeTgJsEDu6KIy-PMejYpF3QHK1EpACzLcW/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Destroy the gate | Right: Surrounded by creatures in weird costumes</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">As long as you've got enough of a gauge for the latter you will be able to use your secondary weapon (which is the only way to eradicate certain color-coded boxes), but if it's empty you've only got your primary charge blaster to rely on. Thorough exploration will lead you to a series of boxes with the letter "M" on them to be shot at which will either have a heart or a missile powerup to fill up either gauge or it might have a new powerup to add to your arsenal of secondary weapons (or to the gyroscopic controls) which will allow you to make further progress by eliminating color-coded boxes that have blocked your path before.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGUUkpZDFz77WJK9pnbkqemsW1sXP4lGCHuNnKYwZwj5zt93PmxVCmoZURGi64qxNMSKN1WKIx1qfONfm8pShihR82u4uc-46B2JOvNWbwE0LtJobtVRS3Vf0S2dJCPx9FdARibZf64RejzfDLWQj2vbAQKXHmbTqBbm-G_84IqMVQoRPh5F6PCJLlUB-/s380/SteamGearMash_WarpRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGUUkpZDFz77WJK9pnbkqemsW1sXP4lGCHuNnKYwZwj5zt93PmxVCmoZURGi64qxNMSKN1WKIx1qfONfm8pShihR82u4uc-46B2JOvNWbwE0LtJobtVRS3Vf0S2dJCPx9FdARibZf64RejzfDLWQj2vbAQKXHmbTqBbm-G_84IqMVQoRPh5F6PCJLlUB-/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_WarpRoom.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqGKh2kM0Y-OkkXLvBShor6kyQsUbprU3O_1waUm5I57qan_076CMJoK4lPji6byFfXmDSIxl1S9IOuKcl8XlCMkaNbxom0040-6IRUUFFdFYScT6VXvyjsyg64_mOUfxMISBt9HoHNpnyH0wy5QlAXpj_AACLX_rOs4KIksZ20ZUlneZHe7mbt2v8S8R/s380/SteamGearMash_ClownEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqGKh2kM0Y-OkkXLvBShor6kyQsUbprU3O_1waUm5I57qan_076CMJoK4lPji6byFfXmDSIxl1S9IOuKcl8XlCMkaNbxom0040-6IRUUFFdFYScT6VXvyjsyg64_mOUfxMISBt9HoHNpnyH0wy5QlAXpj_AACLX_rOs4KIksZ20ZUlneZHe7mbt2v8S8R/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_ClownEnemy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Welcome to the warp room, be sure to activate them first in order for them to work later on | Right: Shoot at both the clown and the ball</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">There are a couple of rooms that may be of use to you: the save room or the warp room. As </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> is a relatively nonlinear game for the most part you can leave and revisit certain rooms to your liking (and consult the map by pressing Start should you feel lost for whatever reason letting you know which rooms you have and have </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">not</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> explored), and with the warp rooms you can backtrack to a prior stage should you feel the need to, but be forewarned that if you have not activated the three warp boxes</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-z7m38xl7Fc_oIqPt_FbR62fco6F0PdD37Su67BaY-gLbgq_LGbEAnMCJ8f4Uk_pNPCf7VVpKZ-nA15ir1X3UNmwogpHJhhtyR9ao5Zo7yKDYPvCBc2jTJDcduQxq_vw0M3wE65f3TkBu9-d7e71Xn-g6i-LAyjrL3BDRHIHonkM-CyaUa4P5XteLrUY/s380/SteamGearMash_AcquiredPunch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-z7m38xl7Fc_oIqPt_FbR62fco6F0PdD37Su67BaY-gLbgq_LGbEAnMCJ8f4Uk_pNPCf7VVpKZ-nA15ir1X3UNmwogpHJhhtyR9ao5Zo7yKDYPvCBc2jTJDcduQxq_vw0M3wE65f3TkBu9-d7e71Xn-g6i-LAyjrL3BDRHIHonkM-CyaUa4P5XteLrUY/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_AcquiredPunch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiL8BpVdxTj0nSmCJ_usbUdZRoKTNpPWsHmfeYqIRBh8tA_3_TZsWh9-RJNQ2xU-2SfCB20layVpXAWFz2XGkRXXOOPazvkvfKlLamhtJIfBM-zfRoDrNgcfDDixIIP3J1tqfKxG3YRhju4mDP_bJaQqcPg4AcaJA_Wr72TGhrYivgEphxMRHT0xm9JbM/s380/SteamGearMash_M-Boxes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiL8BpVdxTj0nSmCJ_usbUdZRoKTNpPWsHmfeYqIRBh8tA_3_TZsWh9-RJNQ2xU-2SfCB20layVpXAWFz2XGkRXXOOPazvkvfKlLamhtJIfBM-zfRoDrNgcfDDixIIP3J1tqfKxG3YRhju4mDP_bJaQqcPg4AcaJA_Wr72TGhrYivgEphxMRHT0xm9JbM/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_M-Boxes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Lucky and Shu. </b>🥊<b> Make the green block go over with this punch." | Right: Break open those M boxes</b></span></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">by standing on them the first time around you won't be able to use them. As for the save rooms, simply stand on the purple box and approve the prompt to save (and override) in one of four slots, provided the Saturn console's memory has at least 71 blocks to spare, which you can resume from upon having your health fully depleted for there are no continues and will take you back to the title screen should you have lost it all.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_yq4frxlX7fY1Oridg1-v5PmqZzcsrI8cpe6G_rtDmj0NB9Fa9NUuEwPtH8bUER3Y6tCybNZycgWTv8GKytoJVcYWnyOyapdBtERNTtN9e518rjsLyaZ1DSJV3RpYk-ylJx0L20qvBuUs9qSxvB0BdpYe_9hukI4m42x1IGi-jF44KWQg7JhgoRqz2lJ/s380/SteamGearMash_Eyes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_yq4frxlX7fY1Oridg1-v5PmqZzcsrI8cpe6G_rtDmj0NB9Fa9NUuEwPtH8bUER3Y6tCybNZycgWTv8GKytoJVcYWnyOyapdBtERNTtN9e518rjsLyaZ1DSJV3RpYk-ylJx0L20qvBuUs9qSxvB0BdpYe_9hukI4m42x1IGi-jF44KWQg7JhgoRqz2lJ/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Eyes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKkTWMgU26mNQ0RK_oHbz1pl4mJoRfqJRAqoYv9r7lZTU0BPS715IxRl5tDbH1pZnDmJGPs5Ayr_EWoeLM4GWiQ7JfepRHFPXtg6oIY5y_ooL3Uv0hBSAKExz8CBo7r0LEidmIhqpJZ5NDrW08nbdnT5BfKl04zMLUDCICm-GOlMOfxeuXM-BiBuuRi38/s380/SteamGearMash_JackInTheBox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKkTWMgU26mNQ0RK_oHbz1pl4mJoRfqJRAqoYv9r7lZTU0BPS715IxRl5tDbH1pZnDmJGPs5Ayr_EWoeLM4GWiQ7JfepRHFPXtg6oIY5y_ooL3Uv0hBSAKExz8CBo7r0LEidmIhqpJZ5NDrW08nbdnT5BfKl04zMLUDCICm-GOlMOfxeuXM-BiBuuRi38/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_JackInTheBox.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>👀<b> | Right: Hope it doesn't land on the joker card</b></span></div><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> is an exuberantly colorful and lightheartedly pleasant game to look at, the main design aesthetic by Toshihiro Ichino and each stage's background designs by Kō Ogura really bring a likable quality to this game. When exiting outside of Mash's house you're greeted to a series of grassy plains around a quaint promenade-style environment with the occasional graffiti on its walls (like the eyes) and card-themed posters which foreshadow the first boss you will face,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNXrAx2QbYueSqZuIUGC77YiqgPkmtwpzdGD55GUq6UZii_DGZEKFl_pWOr0x1ryLoC2hyTv6WlatQ4PIDfCDn10uawnvxRcEfdntUh7bH8shjzC5T5sMPtaegSfL_DMr_IDRaEwS2ohDU9XrXGjFO8_AS489oEjC6FIQmMS6C6V2Of3f5iHFZgBQVMK8/s380/SteamGearMash_Flamethrower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNXrAx2QbYueSqZuIUGC77YiqgPkmtwpzdGD55GUq6UZii_DGZEKFl_pWOr0x1ryLoC2hyTv6WlatQ4PIDfCDn10uawnvxRcEfdntUh7bH8shjzC5T5sMPtaegSfL_DMr_IDRaEwS2ohDU9XrXGjFO8_AS489oEjC6FIQmMS6C6V2Of3f5iHFZgBQVMK8/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Flamethrower.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9tIx-EITsWD_26CokSsOXuV3bFpGTl9EejLUm9uXY09xZgbOhWChulkMP2KWUmR7Aa55pI7L-tP9kzm_OojddmGIdzaOpYi8x_za8UJqjNfoYfW4bAf8TbHbjaQ2jKHxWOTAV3_TOn7YsfJIZeGcT1mx9ebGc7gtC8zrnxSkSAvDkvItNFEdLg1VN3TT/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9tIx-EITsWD_26CokSsOXuV3bFpGTl9EejLUm9uXY09xZgbOhWChulkMP2KWUmR7Aa55pI7L-tP9kzm_OojddmGIdzaOpYi8x_za8UJqjNfoYfW4bAf8TbHbjaQ2jKHxWOTAV3_TOn7YsfJIZeGcT1mx9ebGc7gtC8zrnxSkSAvDkvItNFEdLg1VN3TT/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🔥<b> | Right: Charging up his power blast</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">the second stage is set in an environment with purple and green flooring with the red beam structure adorning its walls, there's an atmospheric quality to the third stage underwater as it constantly alternates between pitch dark to bright revealing the blue watery depths, and Gash's space station in the end has an industrial quality.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsEHma4gDTt-uI2krurKtzW8plxaSSr-DLVXpzCTTnzBOIU1wWK3tXghmocFLVSynXpsiSeQKf15fZP8L2Gfas-Nq1W9V9oGbDvwn0Lk5MFzZQLNGzAe1NTPPkqZsEJiU3LgZysRo9JK3CNTJ0s0OAqrSE2-55SIxVWT5uumZqa0hQKY-cGIRi4JzzJJC/s380/SteamGearMash_MechEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsEHma4gDTt-uI2krurKtzW8plxaSSr-DLVXpzCTTnzBOIU1wWK3tXghmocFLVSynXpsiSeQKf15fZP8L2Gfas-Nq1W9V9oGbDvwn0Lk5MFzZQLNGzAe1NTPPkqZsEJiU3LgZysRo9JK3CNTJ0s0OAqrSE2-55SIxVWT5uumZqa0hQKY-cGIRi4JzzJJC/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_MechEnemy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs0osUOL7F3Ev64MncfJkf6-naUOIgEgo51nwT_rwqL0lnfEGjwNXQqQTL9onE_tClHCpxMOBoVm1FBiKV9aGK55W5nBBWH1RLy1O7mPCkXRf77L2g5Rzh1JyWuuxAB2o6Zb_ENd1Iek9TxwDy23m2P3NMVig2YyNYdD-wBhlEZMZXw0gCGwX7mo-ox3z/s380/SteamGearMash_Cornered.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs0osUOL7F3Ev64MncfJkf6-naUOIgEgo51nwT_rwqL0lnfEGjwNXQqQTL9onE_tClHCpxMOBoVm1FBiKV9aGK55W5nBBWH1RLy1O7mPCkXRf77L2g5Rzh1JyWuuxAB2o6Zb_ENd1Iek9TxwDy23m2P3NMVig2YyNYdD-wBhlEZMZXw0gCGwX7mo-ox3z/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Cornered.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Mech foes ahead | Right: I got you cornered</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Mitsutoshi Nomura's character design is adorable, Mash is a very cute robotic protagonist with his blue visor, expressive nature, steam that's occasionally generated, and remarkably fluid walking animation (especially when the gyroscopic controls come into play), Mina is a likable human character, and after finding the orange and black cats Mike and Moon they will follow you around wherever you go as well as sway left and right when remaining idle.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLm3tfLRAf2lSx2zJhRTOasf4fJnXvyoR7NTDZ0fWIYGyiECzdjaFj_mtfzWQmk-VaPkkBj_35Icao_P7kBfuFnaX06I34pXS6SYHIi1-dUWKZ8EIRMyugqXrU3D9sdBzfbz3aMelNP30FMJCfsneAvp60xqhJF1g9dTJsDBapG6E9pNwPzJYFr9OBare/s380/SteamGearMash_DefeatedBird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLm3tfLRAf2lSx2zJhRTOasf4fJnXvyoR7NTDZ0fWIYGyiECzdjaFj_mtfzWQmk-VaPkkBj_35Icao_P7kBfuFnaX06I34pXS6SYHIi1-dUWKZ8EIRMyugqXrU3D9sdBzfbz3aMelNP30FMJCfsneAvp60xqhJF1g9dTJsDBapG6E9pNwPzJYFr9OBare/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_DefeatedBird.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOzOkrxupx2v08ILC1MW_tMlH-GvkTOw6YyASB6H3hIVdymSCXt72xpakk73zXmVmsr7UGzex0aaVL1N2Len_caXjWu3a-C7wfSsWPpAhwt_xymfJSqdBWCOrd1YxS9Czh0gXh7PG30zIjiqOHYkFqRu-7NzTDbEeetb-v-AdD-XdyLI6PLXnJ8H-Rgz0/s380/SteamGearMash_DroppingDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOzOkrxupx2v08ILC1MW_tMlH-GvkTOw6YyASB6H3hIVdymSCXt72xpakk73zXmVmsr7UGzex0aaVL1N2Len_caXjWu3a-C7wfSsWPpAhwt_xymfJSqdBWCOrd1YxS9Czh0gXh7PG30zIjiqOHYkFqRu-7NzTDbEeetb-v-AdD-XdyLI6PLXnJ8H-Rgz0/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_DroppingDown.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Bye bye, birdie | Right: Dropping down the steps</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Aki Kobayashi's robotic enemy designs have got a lighthearted anime charm about them for they all animate well, comprising of jester-like enemies, enemies that fire from a cannon, winged bird-like creatures that fly back and forth until they spew projectiles at you who suspiciously share a similar color palette to TwinBee and WinBee from Konami's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">TwinBee</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> cute'em up franchise, mech-riders, tiny creatures wearing mallet costumes, drill-nosed fish of different sizes, army creatures, and sentient aircraft with big eyes, and there's something satisfying about watching them go up in a colorful explosion blast upon being taken out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxsHG5Wr2Zit7UvteDO2FqKi5s-X2PyX_df0JfC2iqgq7mFKuC43kUt3STwuPghO-09RWTpcNHM17hRwmfOefnnPBcLtGyPW2rRDPylwS0dgJ15oPzCKcYBHE2epKpY_TOA4Y2jVb_yUrR_TBnsZntzodEEROjCsgGNDxTMnH99dwRKqHAMnuW6_FQciU/s303/SteamGearMash_SatDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxsHG5Wr2Zit7UvteDO2FqKi5s-X2PyX_df0JfC2iqgq7mFKuC43kUt3STwuPghO-09RWTpcNHM17hRwmfOefnnPBcLtGyPW2rRDPylwS0dgJ15oPzCKcYBHE2epKpY_TOA4Y2jVb_yUrR_TBnsZntzodEEROjCsgGNDxTMnH99dwRKqHAMnuW6_FQciU/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_SatDown.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXALLcRwu2beAzTv5BpTxmTjxzcL1VhKGVxN4uGc725xuXWFbA4n9FakU6zzfjWrHtYSnZ5UpdfaeTJAzMz5x88rEDiIyr067tfYwIVN2rAGKFUOMkw1dRZDuVC6xP4YQKfyzTuEvrwdNjhVsjRW4UbWwnoVhHuQEJ6uih7h9aZfvEPmt-xog4rKyXhkE/s303/SteamGearMash_Scuffle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXALLcRwu2beAzTv5BpTxmTjxzcL1VhKGVxN4uGc725xuXWFbA4n9FakU6zzfjWrHtYSnZ5UpdfaeTJAzMz5x88rEDiIyr067tfYwIVN2rAGKFUOMkw1dRZDuVC6xP4YQKfyzTuEvrwdNjhVsjRW4UbWwnoVhHuQEJ6uih7h9aZfvEPmt-xog4rKyXhkE/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Scuffle.png" width="200" /></a></div><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> features a few 3D cutscenes made by 3D-Phonic during the introduction, after the fifth and sixth stages, and the ending, and they're all likably rendered for 1995. There is a bit of a fuzzy quality to them, though I suppose that could not be helped due to their slightly windowboxed format but it's made up for with a vibrantly-chosen color palette,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9W2cOZIxBRkS0ncUay7XgvTHkT-fWyVqmZ9GeQuNHJlUsdWqFMagDiilpoBs1BiBOTgY-_KUpuD3XHQhQXsL9mUdxFqBk8OyRZtnhuTnkAQE3uK0tvggeWxTCIJSeohGj74DdZtH0tdu4EMCx-RyTR5pHprTXqVEWIhcsg23Td2IK2bKjbefJM1IZfe0h/s303/SteamGearMash_Sun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9W2cOZIxBRkS0ncUay7XgvTHkT-fWyVqmZ9GeQuNHJlUsdWqFMagDiilpoBs1BiBOTgY-_KUpuD3XHQhQXsL9mUdxFqBk8OyRZtnhuTnkAQE3uK0tvggeWxTCIJSeohGj74DdZtH0tdu4EMCx-RyTR5pHprTXqVEWIhcsg23Td2IK2bKjbefJM1IZfe0h/s1600/SteamGearMash_Sun.png" width="303" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">effective lighting, solidly rendered character models that are very expressive, fluidly articulated animation and motion, and nice camera work (I like how it sweeps from behind Mash just as he's about to try to attack Kotenpan and freezes in action just as the camera has finished rotating to Kotenpan's backside as it fades to white, and the ending cutscene is a rewarding watch after having narrowly escaped Gash's space station).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFggTqltKMK04sQlIonm9DgF3YLuq-ehdjI6Ik2D5ZoX45SijVMtvS5AhBnlw5jQ5AdF_GHwPyx2JTMJ638qX0EWqafh4hu0R6yvk0J92o8Rxy6jd66GI5wFgl-jJvzCE6ETctjpd5-pnJGvvSc0H1q6eJ5EJqGo1QT5vmnRZBePfehX5CVFW8NCVgJoD/s303/SteamGearMash_DrHirotoSendagaya.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFggTqltKMK04sQlIonm9DgF3YLuq-ehdjI6Ik2D5ZoX45SijVMtvS5AhBnlw5jQ5AdF_GHwPyx2JTMJ638qX0EWqafh4hu0R6yvk0J92o8Rxy6jd66GI5wFgl-jJvzCE6ETctjpd5-pnJGvvSc0H1q6eJ5EJqGo1QT5vmnRZBePfehX5CVFW8NCVgJoD/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_DrHirotoSendagaya.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zAAanulxLRFGn_yNsWE1LClRVI32FChDsQso7u37aTPR5pallPCLOKUekzh1ynKldVqdX96MIZlpwx3mbYTPhqZrpDDgOiFY6wIrBWAbJa9FxQILRYhBkuf2s9_Li-XpmwInSWwm80Yjy0LU2TCpQUkupgXe5aRdDY2Ow1ozu04QHvBTqKZeImi76XtB/s358/SteamGearMash_Manual-DrSendagaya.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="249" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zAAanulxLRFGn_yNsWE1LClRVI32FChDsQso7u37aTPR5pallPCLOKUekzh1ynKldVqdX96MIZlpwx3mbYTPhqZrpDDgOiFY6wIrBWAbJa9FxQILRYhBkuf2s9_Li-XpmwInSWwm80Yjy0LU2TCpQUkupgXe5aRdDY2Ow1ozu04QHvBTqKZeImi76XtB/w139-h200/SteamGearMash_Manual-DrSendagaya.png" width="139" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Also, he's a scientist wearing <u>sandals</u>, I had no idea that between him and Dr. Hans Dis from Iguana Entertainment and UK's <i>Aero the Acro-Bat 2</i> that this kind of lab worker was a commodity when it came to fictional media... 😕</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Also, perhaps it's just the different character design between official artwork and rendered cutscene, but <b>this</b> is supposed to be Dr. Hiroto Sendagaya? I understand how the limitations of the technology at the time couldn't fully replicate the intended look so the 3D rendering had to work with what they could, but it doesn't even look like the same character to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkAvo09NrkGDIqO3mIlWaromhwja5khF1al5tUqf0fbW6w7K0uFaBDnryWpFCp_Xba-wGfIZANvcLB4OPcaU1oF4JfOTpPAkVL9z_Cs7gGFWba1gxeukgmTAcwOKbivOzHu8Qbn0jag-AjYQ4tMIv1nOVuZeInCfDBJ6q_D8lvrp72T4NUe7Q110ULYUV/s380/SteamGearMash_FiringSouth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkAvo09NrkGDIqO3mIlWaromhwja5khF1al5tUqf0fbW6w7K0uFaBDnryWpFCp_Xba-wGfIZANvcLB4OPcaU1oF4JfOTpPAkVL9z_Cs7gGFWba1gxeukgmTAcwOKbivOzHu8Qbn0jag-AjYQ4tMIv1nOVuZeInCfDBJ6q_D8lvrp72T4NUe7Q110ULYUV/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_FiringSouth.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zG0-JOQ03CgDv0ZMLdw7F6Msq5Y2d_uwIkcQ58yVSV4wK3MddXZuPCQfUTyhq6OX7eB98WOEjms_mocwgcjoAOMqEyxuamUOVI8yeJjNJtpnawvIyUIoBME7JiCQjaoKs4qxVk_Um8c4KKTBpPwNED_8j87LC5LhZv-CvSZajqpviNmDv9u0PoAHkRbG/s380/SteamGearMash_Punch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zG0-JOQ03CgDv0ZMLdw7F6Msq5Y2d_uwIkcQ58yVSV4wK3MddXZuPCQfUTyhq6OX7eB98WOEjms_mocwgcjoAOMqEyxuamUOVI8yeJjNJtpnawvIyUIoBME7JiCQjaoKs4qxVk_Um8c4KKTBpPwNED_8j87LC5LhZv-CvSZajqpviNmDv9u0PoAHkRbG/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Punch.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Firing at the spike-heavy enemies | Right: Punch that green box out of the way</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">The music in <i>SteamGear Mash</i> composed by Makoto Mokai (who also did the music for Tamsoft's first <i>Toshinden</i>/<i>Battle Arena Toshinden</i>), Yasuhiro Nakano (whose audio credits comprised of the <i>Toshinden</i> franchise as well as Tamsoft's <i>Abalaburn</i> and <i>Knight and Baby</i>/<i>Guardian's Crusade</i>), and Fumio Tanabe (who made audio contributions to the <i>Toshinden</i> sequels, <i>Abalaburn</i>, and <i>Guardian's Crusade</i>) and coordinated by Etsuhiro Wada (who acted as sound supervisor and driver for the first and third <i>Toshinden</i> games respectively) is very engaging and well-composed, successfully bringing life and playfully lighthearted atmosphere to Tamworld's various locales with its likable sound quality. 😃 The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ABQeziReEs">title theme</a> is fantastically charming with the energetically bouncy calypso symphony and masterful saxophone work by Hisashi Yoshinaga which instantly hooks you in with aplomb,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5LW-NdtyNOosdMtZZsdGjqYNxRsxAdrxsfEb6sHInahuQu9HXFQPinQLI0ILQmLd0S24NsUqbjgHqnreCjzW6MwW7D3YgSmJL89uXZAbm3FaDExh5IxBfbqoarWf9jr6HuepXyIvaDi2iN-kEo0K6xlEaFZBe9Ykn1zP2MBT8kC4dobfSWMxHovIfCHx/s380/SteamGearMash_DragonBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5LW-NdtyNOosdMtZZsdGjqYNxRsxAdrxsfEb6sHInahuQu9HXFQPinQLI0ILQmLd0S24NsUqbjgHqnreCjzW6MwW7D3YgSmJL89uXZAbm3FaDExh5IxBfbqoarWf9jr6HuepXyIvaDi2iN-kEo0K6xlEaFZBe9Ykn1zP2MBT8kC4dobfSWMxHovIfCHx/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_DragonBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0JwZ_hHs__tIf2YIs_YDdmzpH1B7lXBjAissURCa_uX1RbZDI-wYv_d7Ezv1M9O2vD2QjIltvsQqUVUfmr7zwoBPvlC1-ekAXkcWUyiiG6KtOlAVe3Ir_8l5rZf5dO-WBeX5MIHBnSGfKmTQbPs7eLIlz3EgNIYYrrMdykyt0MhnEZrhjI-C7wLDxH8p/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0JwZ_hHs__tIf2YIs_YDdmzpH1B7lXBjAissURCa_uX1RbZDI-wYv_d7Ezv1M9O2vD2QjIltvsQqUVUfmr7zwoBPvlC1-ekAXkcWUyiiG6KtOlAVe3Ir_8l5rZf5dO-WBeX5MIHBnSGfKmTQbPs7eLIlz3EgNIYYrrMdykyt0MhnEZrhjI-C7wLDxH8p/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage3.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Aim carefully at the dragon's body while it's still hovering around the playing field | Right: The quest to save Mina continues underwater</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXlMwF5F01g">first stage theme</a> is unapologetically lighthearted and occasionally silly for it is the kind of loud noise fun I can get behind evoking the unmistakable '90s sound for it is a good way of setting the tone to come, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fHyo8QEdK0">second stage theme</a> is a little darker-sounding while simultaneously evoking the adventurous sense of wonder, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCbUuoyZjsk">fourth stage theme</a> is an incredible-sounding way to let you know that Mash is gradually getting closer and closer to reuniting with Mina and makes for good infiltration music, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH2-fcKgmL4">sixth stage theme</a> for when you infiltrate Gash's space station harkens to the intense melodies of Brad Fiedel (of James Cameron's two <i>Terminator</i> films and <i>True Lies</i> fame, there are even aggressive-sounding percussive drum beats similar to the former) as you're reaching the final threshold,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBCp4fXp5IKYBUKEUyZuhpoOat7aTOdVv_dqmx8Eqg_v6InNAtH4FGEPpQhob5vSG5C3JFcL1z-xOEYQLmMC4mPE9v5h9SyoTd3TyrlAl6BMqMfErgWMWa_P_n0_S2imWFS8Jeo8tk7_RFb1f8Ix4IT_rrB-xCbN2W0hbyLe8MPiwXgd_065knPiDcQfO/s380/SteamGearMash_RedDrillnoseFish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBCp4fXp5IKYBUKEUyZuhpoOat7aTOdVv_dqmx8Eqg_v6InNAtH4FGEPpQhob5vSG5C3JFcL1z-xOEYQLmMC4mPE9v5h9SyoTd3TyrlAl6BMqMfErgWMWa_P_n0_S2imWFS8Jeo8tk7_RFb1f8Ix4IT_rrB-xCbN2W0hbyLe8MPiwXgd_065knPiDcQfO/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_RedDrillnoseFish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcc0-8zE_-UcQaZ6zdXmRnP5uaUBovhtnmVtbxws0__Yz-48EtRmpPx-TX9P6Y0BJXmObZdSCrfh9M6it5KrrZbjV1X_R-U6BCYuP-3zCRphQKq-mGAmgNcbjQ5yQducm8pTeA_OdbV85smh3NGZYuaiQJ4yso7Dua8fsSl7keeo-xfUXkzDhON12PKQm/s380/SteamGearMash_BlueDrillnoseFish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcc0-8zE_-UcQaZ6zdXmRnP5uaUBovhtnmVtbxws0__Yz-48EtRmpPx-TX9P6Y0BJXmObZdSCrfh9M6it5KrrZbjV1X_R-U6BCYuP-3zCRphQKq-mGAmgNcbjQ5yQducm8pTeA_OdbV85smh3NGZYuaiQJ4yso7Dua8fsSl7keeo-xfUXkzDhON12PKQm/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_BlueDrillnoseFish.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Met by a row of red menacing-looking drill-nosed fish | Right: There are blue ones, too</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB71GylS70c" style="font-family: georgia;">main boss theme</a><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> is menacingly action-oriented and the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXiE1M47BMs" style="font-family: georgia;">final boss theme</a><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> ups the ante for when you face off against Gash. A special shoutout goes to the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEp2cOGSEMQ" style="font-family: georgia;">third</a><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a7k_tv0K_s" style="font-family: georgia;">fifth stage themes</a><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, the former of which is so beautiful and hauntingly melodic while the latter is appropriately elevating and breezily atmospheric (especially with the guitar riff near the end)... it's just too bad that they're drowned out by the sound effects that overpower them when playing the game proper, but at least you can insert </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> on a CD player or the Sega Saturn's main menu and listen to its music by itself (but only for the in-game tracks). Always a positive when a game disc doubles as a soundtrack CD. 😄</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZKzePUyjO9j6bBfkGrwUFDApH0RKHZWtwGYwYbogVTg5YkZlTlW0R2bRnBDjzjisuyPaPdrXDwZ0gxoKK6o7d0UPULip0q1Z9VESURNnZ42LJaiNvHxHd3lsndCSW_mYWGlDsPfxqUAumiGbzG_V1ZBcbupRxlbv3tF3jS7uZ_sMQYzAe1uTpf8GDa8w/s380/SteamGearMash_RoboticOctopi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZKzePUyjO9j6bBfkGrwUFDApH0RKHZWtwGYwYbogVTg5YkZlTlW0R2bRnBDjzjisuyPaPdrXDwZ0gxoKK6o7d0UPULip0q1Z9VESURNnZ42LJaiNvHxHd3lsndCSW_mYWGlDsPfxqUAumiGbzG_V1ZBcbupRxlbv3tF3jS7uZ_sMQYzAe1uTpf8GDa8w/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_RoboticOctopi.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwohkQZxBgXVEUZaQQlV1YkInnM2rYodUc48FD7n9Llr1MnGAwIK7Ghlw7f8rdHKT6-jUUf8529mHxsU649wRSYOXrRnjWJ_kh07qZh9d5tbKFFMl46UnpR0qtnCwIvnuf1_FbOEJMwWVyhI064hQlkt4b99RRgJXLEF2y-mHKdjUYvNI0u5mtSlTrpBG/s380/SteamGearMash_BigFishBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwohkQZxBgXVEUZaQQlV1YkInnM2rYodUc48FD7n9Llr1MnGAwIK7Ghlw7f8rdHKT6-jUUf8529mHxsU649wRSYOXrRnjWJ_kh07qZh9d5tbKFFMl46UnpR0qtnCwIvnuf1_FbOEJMwWVyhI064hQlkt4b99RRgJXLEF2y-mHKdjUYvNI0u5mtSlTrpBG/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_BigFishBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Imagine Taito's <i>Darius</i> franchise with the fish-themed enemies but isometric-viewed and not playing itself straight, and that's one of the vibes the third stage exudes | Right: Give that end of stage fish boss everything you've got</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Recorded at EPICURUS Studio and recording engineered by Seiji Sekine and Satoshi Takushima, many of the sound effects were provided by InVision Interactive's Sega Sound Library and most of them sound pretty decent even if they can come off as stock sometimes (like the anime explosion sound effect), Mash's jump sound is as cute as he is and lets out an audible gasp when sustaining damage, I like the lighthearted moving sound effect for when you set the gyroscopic controls to dash, and there's even the cute little meow sounds from the cats Mike and Moon once in a while.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzJ4rnf-bKvvNVbjovMWV7-WKJop0jTg7Lluuur2vZfbG8uLLQtdtGt6VEiw7tSNp3vE9iKqORI3X4zDbONfnIsFogbH_QwuUiIA4KpHAk9RlSxlz7Mpr3u3eVGsBDBXneg5IJHtaP-hkpT_86UYGGYM5-vIitNxBcz9NDRlE3_ZrMBxOkfRHWHXWp8YE/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzJ4rnf-bKvvNVbjovMWV7-WKJop0jTg7Lluuur2vZfbG8uLLQtdtGt6VEiw7tSNp3vE9iKqORI3X4zDbONfnIsFogbH_QwuUiIA4KpHAk9RlSxlz7Mpr3u3eVGsBDBXneg5IJHtaP-hkpT_86UYGGYM5-vIitNxBcz9NDRlE3_ZrMBxOkfRHWHXWp8YE/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage4.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlI-0djn3sFftUTeSNnO2lLR-ZPGsf4yRRVAGO5Sttr55OoIAmcFNoutXteiD-UnphXpw6YaPwCQpLGCSiQUwLrPINfB7bfbKzEPeLpjibTfffB2g7aJ1Ro4KDffOTgIXB_W7NgrBKNjs_hz4RDwbuw_-eaX6XQ2RMZ0wHU0gBG4YCfsFksLcsHCs9vNW/s380/SteamGearMash_MeetMoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlI-0djn3sFftUTeSNnO2lLR-ZPGsf4yRRVAGO5Sttr55OoIAmcFNoutXteiD-UnphXpw6YaPwCQpLGCSiQUwLrPINfB7bfbKzEPeLpjibTfffB2g7aJ1Ro4KDffOTgIXB_W7NgrBKNjs_hz4RDwbuw_-eaX6XQ2RMZ0wHU0gBG4YCfsFksLcsHCs9vNW/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_MeetMoon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Made it | Right: And now we meet the second of the cats that will follow you around, Moon</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Alas, there is one element here that I really dislike, and that's the constantly beeping sound effect for when you're seriously low on health (</span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">increasingly</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> so when dangerously low) until you have it replenished again above that point. 😞 I feel this trend might have begun with Nintendo's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Zelda no Densetsu</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">The Legend of Zelda</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> franchise, and it's annoyingly intrusive whenever that happens regardless of the overall quality of the games in question and is akin to a constant reminder. </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Nobody likes constant reminders</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, I've be </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">very</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> concerned if anyone felt the exact opposite. I do not understand developers' enigmatic need to impose this bothersome constantly beeping sound effect for when you're so low on health, it's been used in Hudson Soft's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Neutopia</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> games, Produce's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Brain Lord</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, Ancient's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Thor</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Oasis</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> games,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbxceqKo4jkEDwbah8uyYSHSUI8ajAo4KQASE1pQYN0icqDjjb0Gn_2KkXJdomAqnzt-4oWQAVAVUiDzuHVvd1HlRK5zuv2mn0OktORdTRg1wdDT9rnuQ8APpXFY_iass9kFnH3EJxKHCXyjGnlTxbeDRbzO60e1ut0mQTx7PRksKpj-olm6kDDlNFioe/s380/SteamGearMash_Idle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbxceqKo4jkEDwbah8uyYSHSUI8ajAo4KQASE1pQYN0icqDjjb0Gn_2KkXJdomAqnzt-4oWQAVAVUiDzuHVvd1HlRK5zuv2mn0OktORdTRg1wdDT9rnuQ8APpXFY_iass9kFnH3EJxKHCXyjGnlTxbeDRbzO60e1ut0mQTx7PRksKpj-olm6kDDlNFioe/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Idle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGYFJNrGBARwo2LFRPs0cLyjxQSeT6DJJTixa28vgHKYpx_kY0FttKYCkDJy6L39kfSDVXIb-n8iVmxtBlaWf0Im2QzSfLfwdejOMBP7LcsQt1ghQ8pRUrQpne6A56PeG6NWUPQwbzmVb8nMmNKRGimJHvu-iLZj1um5MgyeygBr81p_-1g_OlKLDUxjH/s380/SteamGearMash_AlcoveFiring.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGYFJNrGBARwo2LFRPs0cLyjxQSeT6DJJTixa28vgHKYpx_kY0FttKYCkDJy6L39kfSDVXIb-n8iVmxtBlaWf0Im2QzSfLfwdejOMBP7LcsQt1ghQ8pRUrQpne6A56PeG6NWUPQwbzmVb8nMmNKRGimJHvu-iLZj1um5MgyeygBr81p_-1g_OlKLDUxjH/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_AlcoveFiring.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Let's go!" | Right: Alcove firing</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Sonic! Software Planning's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Shining Wisdom</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, Pax Softnica's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Mogurānya</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Mole Mania</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, Lenar's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, and Matrix Software's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Alundra</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> games, et al, almost as if they don't trust us to have eyes to look at how much health you have at your disposal in the HUD at any point without an audio prompt (I really hate the terrible </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">precedence</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> this sets). A less obnoxious way of handling this would've been to play the sound effect once, let it lie for a bit to relax your ears so as to not have them assaulted, and then play it again after a half a minute if not a full minute, </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">not every <u>second</u> or every <u>half</u> second</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> to the point that it's </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">grating</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">! 😠 Of all the elements to have been influenced by </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Zelda</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> in any way, shape, or form, this is </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">one such thing</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> that should've been left well enough alone. Gosh</span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">dammit</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">, I wish </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> didn't rely upon that sound. 😩</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hUoHxDsauusmJ-Po_UBo5BweLxv942KouDtup_HYLRNU0CO5rrO8fvhChezrKICHvO5U9tFTkCcjiSNRLkkhHGatzY4_PCHSOf2n9UdLO4ja-H6RSIxYcw9BGG1_zVWBHSeZYnyBL7Frff2a2CHz6DCuJMV9yw7uA5K2kvsslHBXpyEGGNOH6Ygjer72/s380/SteamGearMash_Pushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hUoHxDsauusmJ-Po_UBo5BweLxv942KouDtup_HYLRNU0CO5rrO8fvhChezrKICHvO5U9tFTkCcjiSNRLkkhHGatzY4_PCHSOf2n9UdLO4ja-H6RSIxYcw9BGG1_zVWBHSeZYnyBL7Frff2a2CHz6DCuJMV9yw7uA5K2kvsslHBXpyEGGNOH6Ygjer72/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Pushing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjaGR54XB8lPUDKi1VNxGgJjkfeY-UciBeeSSRkRj3Rq1TyK2ZlqGxgkHyk2FhACUBtGaC1Cvc0kIm1DgE9ehm_Oi0Uw3WVaIH90EWTVm_1i4hoY-s5r06y4Q078c0wpeVZW-vipGIopR1dJMNjQpgxHVRVtMIjI0oIdmTtYpbHkaVGvXnxqYlhGpWmSm/s380/SteamGearMash_TankEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjaGR54XB8lPUDKi1VNxGgJjkfeY-UciBeeSSRkRj3Rq1TyK2ZlqGxgkHyk2FhACUBtGaC1Cvc0kIm1DgE9ehm_Oi0Uw3WVaIH90EWTVm_1i4hoY-s5r06y4Q078c0wpeVZW-vipGIopR1dJMNjQpgxHVRVtMIjI0oIdmTtYpbHkaVGvXnxqYlhGpWmSm/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_TankEnemy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pushing | Right: Beware of that tank rider</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">For the majority of the game you can maneuver yourself around in an open-ended environment as well as revisit rooms you just stepped out of which helps with the enemy respawning in the event that your health and secondary gauge weapons are low should they randomly drop off either item for you, every little bit helps should you manage it. Where </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> becomes strictly linear is during the third and fifth stages when it turns into an isometric shoot'em up a la Aicom's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Viewpoint</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38qMd3mdn8FvsR9-S5bz8POUgCDpNZhRFBhQ-lWKt1r6oqpX7SC-GX0Mfv5FDHGbUFT9JAW6MjO4Lkhjrxyp2GdpRVJyP0Hu7_z4swM3kb1ZIxbqI3oeWf_yIIoCHuSzfK14pjFZM44BdxmEwmv7X71DuGYv6DqmTX9WLEVaG69od138ko4MLjP9amTbQ/s380/SteamGearMash_KotenpanSpeaking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38qMd3mdn8FvsR9-S5bz8POUgCDpNZhRFBhQ-lWKt1r6oqpX7SC-GX0Mfv5FDHGbUFT9JAW6MjO4Lkhjrxyp2GdpRVJyP0Hu7_z4swM3kb1ZIxbqI3oeWf_yIIoCHuSzfK14pjFZM44BdxmEwmv7X71DuGYv6DqmTX9WLEVaG69od138ko4MLjP9amTbQ/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_KotenpanSpeaking.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNhNFzx59zX1wXaKVs_uw2Xr2ME9QQJQmDOAigRPltGdToLJgcjbm8LuMdp5dl-CPPCe7Vy9snE1K6iu2sfWTMq7FlhZ4FteS5oE91Whn8IBS6M63NA__3_Q_dZ3hJRwU_9a9-un2F9NCwYDvDxnucKa1qPlMSQg38kUPj5lBTxOVaa3JZOjUFa0QrA5s/s380/SteamGearMash_KotenpanRematch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNhNFzx59zX1wXaKVs_uw2Xr2ME9QQJQmDOAigRPltGdToLJgcjbm8LuMdp5dl-CPPCe7Vy9snE1K6iu2sfWTMq7FlhZ4FteS5oE91Whn8IBS6M63NA__3_Q_dZ3hJRwU_9a9-un2F9NCwYDvDxnucKa1qPlMSQg38kUPj5lBTxOVaa3JZOjUFa0QrA5s/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_KotenpanRematch.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: <span style="color: red;">"You're pretty good, Mash-kun. Come on, let's put it on!"</span> | Right: Payback</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">which is a nice detour from the normal gameplay as you shoot with the A button and launch homing missiles with the C button as you move around in every corner of the screen while still flying the same direction, you can even mash these buttons repeatedly to increase chances at survival. But because these two stages are straightforward it means there's no backtracking here meaning that it is absolutely imperative that you play through them and survive in one sitting, otherwise you'll have to pick up from your last save in the prior stages and begin them anew.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZE1Wk6COXqjk3V6I-qQLwB3tT00NJkk7-K82KCF_-bwUbt_iGsyaIohlZQHNoGKYx6PRlLfQn8R-5EDjekVNSSfixmvQXZ136FL3qO-kma_uHzWHBXxpivSp6HMtmuCgvFHRabAJRq7LLFLCSl4aKJ65iQwaXt9_6n8KObMbcXcB0_oeiCIEccboaJ6K/s737/SteamGearMash_SaturnMemories-Thumbnail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="737" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZE1Wk6COXqjk3V6I-qQLwB3tT00NJkk7-K82KCF_-bwUbt_iGsyaIohlZQHNoGKYx6PRlLfQn8R-5EDjekVNSSfixmvQXZ136FL3qO-kma_uHzWHBXxpivSp6HMtmuCgvFHRabAJRq7LLFLCSl4aKJ65iQwaXt9_6n8KObMbcXcB0_oeiCIEccboaJ6K/w400-h226/SteamGearMash_SaturnMemories-Thumbnail.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed and cropped on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">It wasn't until last year that I learned of </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">. A few weeks after my 31st birthday in April 2022 I made the crazy decision to purchase an American Sega Saturn (with Sega's <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i>) which quickly grew to become one of my favorite consoles, and after experiencing ten American games for it I wanted a taste of Japanese Saturn fare so I took a chance and got an Action Replay Plus cartridge (with Success' <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i>) to bypass the region block. I've seen a few videos (or rather the first five or ten minutes of them) by Saturn Memories, and I suppose for that reason I've seen recommendations for their video on <i>SteamGear Mash</i>. I knew nothing about this game, so I decided to look up the cover art of it on GameFAQs and what little screenshots I've seen of it had me intrigued. Even though it would've been easy to, I've held off on clicking the video because something in the back of my mind told me not to spoil it for myself. At the end of October 2022 I ordered two Japanese Saturn games on eBay, Double Atelier's <i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix</i> and <i>SteamGear Mash</i>, my fifteenth and sixteenth games for the system. The former came first,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwSGPmXEKqj724Ik14uMfCd2GgqI8eviEHpO9u4a5rQLJ6CRBUGRiysFwDWtzgTr7T5cSnTKZ0ds6oVdDyY2lOp01WKvEmZo5-CmxdxzSCSeoQu3QwBrb6CwWkOXC6YDY1fnsl2SaXIQOiNwR6UrmrBfyc41bweOpmWgLfwXh-wyGY4x43KeXHsLuNiJX/s587/SteamGearMash_CD.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="587" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwSGPmXEKqj724Ik14uMfCd2GgqI8eviEHpO9u4a5rQLJ6CRBUGRiysFwDWtzgTr7T5cSnTKZ0ds6oVdDyY2lOp01WKvEmZo5-CmxdxzSCSeoQu3QwBrb6CwWkOXC6YDY1fnsl2SaXIQOiNwR6UrmrBfyc41bweOpmWgLfwXh-wyGY4x43KeXHsLuNiJX/w400-h283/SteamGearMash_CD.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">🥺He's <u>fishing</u> even though it wouldn't be conducive to his circuitry... that's <u>adorable</u>! 😭</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I shared my brief thoughts on <i>SteamGear Mash</i> on the <a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/02/random-saturnday-iii-triple-deluxe.html">first part</a> of my Random Saturnday III post which covered games 10 through 16 while the second part covered 17 through 20</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">but the one I really looked forward to playing was the latter. </span><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">It did not arrive until a month and a half after I ordered it (the longest I've ever had to wait for something to come after ordering it on eBay), and the reason was because I ordered it directly from a Japanese seller which I had not done since before COVID-19 hit in early 2020. Evidently, the way I understood it anyway, the shipping laws had changed in Japan for it was supposed to arrive roughly two weeks later. Thankfully things got settled when my family got contacted about it, and it managed to arrive in mid-December, less than two weeks before Christmas. So, was </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> worth the wait?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj154xVikjENgoMs-GaM1hi77iL81ydNbTY5rOOiU8I1krwTrRr-DHNlcNjmzHBtv41qUDMZRCA9Qvje5YdtbxvJVfLRNegBNlSrjWdD4Or_qZkK_1N3JOH4bZ_n1jR7HXSpFYPcxvjYGaMgYhY97Ls2UMHVrv3Mkv_WcR_Z7IkWREG7UZp1V9o0AwREOQJ/s303/SteamGearMash_Mash+Mina-Meet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj154xVikjENgoMs-GaM1hi77iL81ydNbTY5rOOiU8I1krwTrRr-DHNlcNjmzHBtv41qUDMZRCA9Qvje5YdtbxvJVfLRNegBNlSrjWdD4Or_qZkK_1N3JOH4bZ_n1jR7HXSpFYPcxvjYGaMgYhY97Ls2UMHVrv3Mkv_WcR_Z7IkWREG7UZp1V9o0AwREOQJ/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Mash+Mina-Meet.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tsOGGiQXnrRyLr8b3pajt4h20D7_x8SeAeOHhXqTzDZFjZ_-V7us2PHa0fdZq_XRraS05VyJ5goOtothmuNS5N38qaKKR3_hC5lkJl26lKKj2_CHOedJed_Gdx5XfAV7lBCeIxUTeA8vGColLsw_r1KS7PK5iIOv5eEeAneF7x2uBVKaqioawuxk8dcj/s303/SteamGearMash_Embrace.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tsOGGiQXnrRyLr8b3pajt4h20D7_x8SeAeOHhXqTzDZFjZ_-V7us2PHa0fdZq_XRraS05VyJ5goOtothmuNS5N38qaKKR3_hC5lkJl26lKKj2_CHOedJed_Gdx5XfAV7lBCeIxUTeA8vGColLsw_r1KS7PK5iIOv5eEeAneF7x2uBVKaqioawuxk8dcj/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Embrace.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>That hug at the end is so cute, Mash and Mina are the heart of this game </b>😍</span></div><div style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">The moment the first cutscene played after the Takara logo I was instantly won over with the way it began through Mash's point of view of Dr. Sendagaya and Mina by his side with the two subtly changing expressions when nothing seems to happen at first which turns to excitement after the sentient robot blinks, and there's a lot of heart through the music and lighthearted expressiveness of the characters. It's very endearing to watch, and seeing Mash and Mina become friends is adorable. The engaging music helped too, running the gamut from heartwarmingly pure (creation and family) to bouncy fun (Mash and Mina playing) to mysterious (cutting to Gash peering down on the planet) to lighthearted danger (Kotenpan showing up to kidnap Mina) to tragedy (the defeat of Mash) culminating in a triumphant sound of resolve (as Dr. Sendagaya repairs Mash with the gun arm so he can save Mina).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fEKupHR4-5hrMIOUCSWQWPUr4etS09VvJDZJwOTpfGo9UkIdzEwm-qO-s0HurZ9s4JWpAamwUX8Q-M9iwsgiHVBKKdx5rSGSzeZTUnlSEd6XxR5nJnO2SwgiJQn59QA2UssdiPv40uW3-bNLfvr6kvXfKXeo5mZaSF0QpausOX_jyWUCELrYOVjI3wiA/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fEKupHR4-5hrMIOUCSWQWPUr4etS09VvJDZJwOTpfGo9UkIdzEwm-qO-s0HurZ9s4JWpAamwUX8Q-M9iwsgiHVBKKdx5rSGSzeZTUnlSEd6XxR5nJnO2SwgiJQn59QA2UssdiPv40uW3-bNLfvr6kvXfKXeo5mZaSF0QpausOX_jyWUCELrYOVjI3wiA/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4zjgZLzcx15mNjhg9qveH7fdt1l0I0Nmw1dinZHdNWTKBCKcw4g92ZdBKnDyKc4lJYGYOa7FK0HBfvr6gDmqYAWJm8vUTeesMWA_gKlOhtTOn3uw0jClRSgttc1neqeptb7reVKhDjX7gnGFTT2rcw2TRG1G7l1uN3oUFkLZea-8XbuOS5ARlBxfPboP/s380/SteamGearMash_WhooshingAircraft.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4zjgZLzcx15mNjhg9qveH7fdt1l0I0Nmw1dinZHdNWTKBCKcw4g92ZdBKnDyKc4lJYGYOa7FK0HBfvr6gDmqYAWJm8vUTeesMWA_gKlOhtTOn3uw0jClRSgttc1neqeptb7reVKhDjX7gnGFTT2rcw2TRG1G7l1uN3oUFkLZea-8XbuOS5ARlBxfPboP/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_WhooshingAircraft.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pedaling up to the sky | Right: Incoming boss whooshing by below you</span></b></div><div style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Fortunately, I found the sprite-based isometric gameplay to be very good as well, at its core it is a bit arcade-like in terms of structure and I liked the experimentation when it came to Mash's controls, especially with his secondary weapons and gyroscopic controls. Admittedly some of it took a little bit to get used to, but once you've come to grips with them it becomes second nature to play. I did like how the secondary weapons could be used not just as a means to defeat (or incapacitate) certain foes but also to destroy certain color-coded boxes, for red boxes are destroyed by flamethrowers, green boxes are destroyed by punches, and black boxes can be taken out by a potent homing missile. You can even freeze enemies, once you procure the ice sub weapon, to use them as platforms to get yourself higher later on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnF9V4W6XDiLL2TuRy4MN8_h-K30rgzqXb6Ez9WLeCYDg70mVXpVzpkZ_37e9oop9xGUZ7LO7ZY_mbmY-Jjt_LI-oscnRWP5vwCPCykvioZBN42s-FiB016sX9DMcxbl_wVLNg_o4bqh7qPPVQVXbX9ORi7dg7PCyN7eVK1G3ZbiqDwXKfNIvVbx3lqLx/s380/SteamGearMash_Stratosphere.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnF9V4W6XDiLL2TuRy4MN8_h-K30rgzqXb6Ez9WLeCYDg70mVXpVzpkZ_37e9oop9xGUZ7LO7ZY_mbmY-Jjt_LI-oscnRWP5vwCPCykvioZBN42s-FiB016sX9DMcxbl_wVLNg_o4bqh7qPPVQVXbX9ORi7dg7PCyN7eVK1G3ZbiqDwXKfNIvVbx3lqLx/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stratosphere.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EZkIYISDWhvA8GEGj09lx4rRJ0lLZq3uSI4toDU_aPGZBwZKJufK-cfRB4uIvnM_C2eFNVKAMB0VHp5EoBYlvyKbC7b0SSOd_-Y2JEI1Yw5RX0pxiPJLsbo7XI0KX3KZBGgeboeIU1dzW5J4uqw9TqlFhFyctOFZM88sJ5CHB714ZQapZRSEpNyKbND7/s380/SteamGearMash_AircraftBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EZkIYISDWhvA8GEGj09lx4rRJ0lLZq3uSI4toDU_aPGZBwZKJufK-cfRB4uIvnM_C2eFNVKAMB0VHp5EoBYlvyKbC7b0SSOd_-Y2JEI1Yw5RX0pxiPJLsbo7XI0KX3KZBGgeboeIU1dzW5J4uqw9TqlFhFyctOFZM88sJ5CHB714ZQapZRSEpNyKbND7/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_AircraftBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">Left: Homing missiles | Right: Arguably the hardest boss in the game, for survival is highly dependent on mindful and careful maneuvering </span></b></div><div style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">And as for the gyroscopic controls, while I pretty much exclusively find myself relying on the lock setting (where Mash aims his weapon in the same direction regardless where he moves), I do like that there are other options too (like roll to fire off at all cylinders while moving and back to have Mash face 180 degrees opposite of where he's heading). There is the occasional dialogue spoken by Mash (or enemies Kotenpan and Gash later), but it's not difficult to pick up what you have to do and are not required to understand Japanese to enjoy it as it is not narrative based. Many of the enemies, and Gash, can only move in four diagonal directions, and since Mash can move in all eight of them you can use that to your advantage. 😁</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEPG_e5L20nWstSC8t5ZiaYuBurftlvEo5LjBQcuKFmHeZeWWlLYIe7PVk0KtaFoW5_VhW1VJceN47HTV13Rg19HOH5CqVQphbc0AyEnjQ2y8KvyCFZxkxScHWPh60w-LQII9N0FEckElSXddpiN9GlNEn7NoRFwLcvWM0AmCjqPDA1GyeLu6HFgWf27S/s380/SteamGearMash_Stage6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEPG_e5L20nWstSC8t5ZiaYuBurftlvEo5LjBQcuKFmHeZeWWlLYIe7PVk0KtaFoW5_VhW1VJceN47HTV13Rg19HOH5CqVQphbc0AyEnjQ2y8KvyCFZxkxScHWPh60w-LQII9N0FEckElSXddpiN9GlNEn7NoRFwLcvWM0AmCjqPDA1GyeLu6HFgWf27S/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Stage6.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemiYhctAwoaymBXDvMGuG9k6jfL77a_C5edjaP9RlkygtQKLiaHYWs0uMWbj6pyD8mcTnSfmQfYBn8iX3ToX6dhbukMeeT20s73AeCKqy5Rfp1815V_vfTQbB1mbivzmM_ySsRaqVt0EaHRoU4AbCnJIpDso7Kazsu84gtdvsXI3Igrvta4L0CJTclXVr/s380/SteamGearMash_FreezeGun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemiYhctAwoaymBXDvMGuG9k6jfL77a_C5edjaP9RlkygtQKLiaHYWs0uMWbj6pyD8mcTnSfmQfYBn8iX3ToX6dhbukMeeT20s73AeCKqy5Rfp1815V_vfTQbB1mbivzmM_ySsRaqVt0EaHRoU4AbCnJIpDso7Kazsu84gtdvsXI3Igrvta4L0CJTclXVr/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_FreezeGun.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Made it to the aircraft carrier | Right: "Freeze!" </b>❄</span></div><div style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">The bosses have got a manageable strategy to take them down should you find yourself getting in the proper rhythm, like with the dragon-like second stage boss and Kotenpan in the fourth stage where you'll have to find yourself rotating around them to get a clear shot at them every so often plus the jack in the box boss at the end of the first stage relies on card-themed attacks against you based on what suit it falls under (if not the joker card, in which case you want to keep moving so as to not be grabbed by his disembodied hand and shaken up like a roll of dice), like the spade card which will result in missiles raining down on you but if you're lucky it might fall on the heart card which will grant you replenishments for your health or secondary gauges.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr2yGwRKgR6pwBXuYGcacy_nVS5OHPP9tI8E2IORJQQOBdbftJiWqZ03wKkBy9KPh_yHGd_vDZM0suzmycukX9v-8l5djd7oYZH3Zur8Xu9rb0-xzwXidjFab787cjKFCD5_iPL_-n6R2qSTXhAsWs25jm_hjlTCj3b8J89FheF4Ca416kodkNI-1-_mW/s166/SteamGearMash_Mike.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="117" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr2yGwRKgR6pwBXuYGcacy_nVS5OHPP9tI8E2IORJQQOBdbftJiWqZ03wKkBy9KPh_yHGd_vDZM0suzmycukX9v-8l5djd7oYZH3Zur8Xu9rb0-xzwXidjFab787cjKFCD5_iPL_-n6R2qSTXhAsWs25jm_hjlTCj3b8J89FheF4Ca416kodkNI-1-_mW/s1600/SteamGearMash_Mike.gif" width="117" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">The cats Mike and Moon don't really seem to serve much of a purpose outside of following Mash around, though they are really cute. There's nothing to indicate that they belonged to Mina and her scientist grandfather before the events of the game started, so I can only presume that they might be strays playfully tagging along. Then again, though, I have to wonder if they were added to augment the lighthearted feel to an already endearingly lighthearted venue? Interestingly, there is a cooperation credit of "MIKKO & THE CATS" at the end, and I'm like, "Wait, are Mike and Moon the very cats the end credits are alluding to? Were the cats added to the game because of this? Or is it all just a coincidence?" I'm not complaining, I just find it rather curious, that's all. 🐈</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPAgu9Ryb25itzF6pkVW8uciGCZ9EhLXZX2ImeEFQzo3TB6XdLXTytnxTzbUuZFvFsGYA7a8cB57xAdQjFkP9QWppPA0acKkJHHFt3-vo_vCIaAzr4F9bn0tTMjoJnfv34r6Lb815srhCMWXy-wdCWeSMLblOuSPzIkre4hictyk1WgWN2VKRDFnAnQz4/s380/Whizz_Saturn.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPAgu9Ryb25itzF6pkVW8uciGCZ9EhLXZX2ImeEFQzo3TB6XdLXTytnxTzbUuZFvFsGYA7a8cB57xAdQjFkP9QWppPA0acKkJHHFt3-vo_vCIaAzr4F9bn0tTMjoJnfv34r6Lb815srhCMWXy-wdCWeSMLblOuSPzIkre4hictyk1WgWN2VKRDFnAnQz4/s16000/Whizz_Saturn.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><i>SteamGear Mash</i> is not particularly well-known an isometric Saturn video game, as it is a bit obscure which is probably owed to the fact that it never came out outside of Japan. I'd say it's a more obscure isometric fare than Flair Software's <i><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/05/whizz-saturn-review.html">Whizz</a></i> as that game came out for the Sega Saturn in Europe and in Japan and is reasonably enjoyable to play in its own right as far as the 32-bit version is concerned. 🐰</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK-qTHYi8FTeWl4Ca0qgwSstwBtbVfXFCXfUDXoSJQSF9yKvsAfXRBmc0BRe1IETE9TY-yyQFI88isnbqCpLUz_HZaj0yYHzXEzcRyz6jFeyBcDGQhHZbpXj476F2f4Pj3JmodB2hi6SkXc-A0fhEDdHVVlYMiYTd_IXVcWN7-35JPBsI26TJNozuGRXM/s377/Sonic3DBlast_Saturn.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK-qTHYi8FTeWl4Ca0qgwSstwBtbVfXFCXfUDXoSJQSF9yKvsAfXRBmc0BRe1IETE9TY-yyQFI88isnbqCpLUz_HZaj0yYHzXEzcRyz6jFeyBcDGQhHZbpXj476F2f4Pj3JmodB2hi6SkXc-A0fhEDdHVVlYMiYTd_IXVcWN7-35JPBsI26TJNozuGRXM/s16000/Sonic3DBlast_Saturn.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Definitely nowhere <b>near</b> as well-known as Traveller's Tales' <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i>/<i>Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island</i> which I personally consider underrated fun and honestly think is the best-<b>looking</b> of the isometric games I played on the Saturn as its updated aesthetic presentation gives it the edge over the original MegaDrive/Genesis version of the game in my opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_Amex5okBpYK6va4mq1LDev1oYzJNK7GbnZ8pXVSH6OVfW4d1F2D2_Jt1EULyQ0Z75oL7hKq-SVqwmv0YfYvrG5ZKS7wFTgTl74evX830XQhNDLR-DduxpKxN9alxS594NZSqisnGHHVSUO69MadmmFKfT-CybaVWYj5CkeBuYVCV83n8raPohS6L_f_/s380/SteamGearMash_Knights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_Amex5okBpYK6va4mq1LDev1oYzJNK7GbnZ8pXVSH6OVfW4d1F2D2_Jt1EULyQ0Z75oL7hKq-SVqwmv0YfYvrG5ZKS7wFTgTl74evX830XQhNDLR-DduxpKxN9alxS594NZSqisnGHHVSUO69MadmmFKfT-CybaVWYj5CkeBuYVCV83n8raPohS6L_f_/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Knights.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOwBOVHjebnnYojqhOatr2av0sEOC4MmYah6wW2Aa5dkugr_QNewEGJhNcc6xNjugIEa7um3rb9y3MMZ4d8T1H18DI9gI0_DlYEHyV5PjojClcJPiztNVIojERosHaq4WXuxgazdP7yX0OsCrcDYEgq836GmW_KWvQ4RuqARj2CS8f_LFIhWlzYGgJbKi/s380/SteamGearMash_SpikyEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOwBOVHjebnnYojqhOatr2av0sEOC4MmYah6wW2Aa5dkugr_QNewEGJhNcc6xNjugIEa7um3rb9y3MMZ4d8T1H18DI9gI0_DlYEHyV5PjojClcJPiztNVIojERosHaq4WXuxgazdP7yX0OsCrcDYEgq836GmW_KWvQ4RuqARj2CS8f_LFIhWlzYGgJbKi/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_SpikyEnemy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Knights, knights, everywhere! | Right: Shooting at the rotating spike-ringed enemy</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">I also love how </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> rewards you for your thorough sense of exploration, sometimes leading you to a special powerup that may be very fruitful to your aid. I like too how, because of the overly nonlinear nature of the game, that you have a choice whether to explore every nook and cranny or to simply journey through the pertinent sections of Tamworld's stages for it's completely up to you. At best the game can be beaten in roughly fifty or so minutes, so theoretically you don't really need to save if you don't want to but it's nice that you're given the option should you be playing this on your less than best of days. Miraculously, the second time I played through </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> I managed to do it in one sitting without even saving once because there are certain days when I'm pretty decent at playing it and then there are certain days when that is not the case (that could apply to any game, really, we've all had our best and not so best of gaming days).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2Bs8G-wgega23r1K1j7dd0rNTb1sQxiDoIlSt_npKIj7XhzfO_Mf5ZaqECDEy3QV2XFUnLLmkw6laOE1D9ENeNfhqlKPpWDUHsGDIQfAdS_e-MtQdOwjS_NJUKVLOIh2leFTLcVmydo53PAF4AmNnjfmsbdJXoC9zb9MZTouwIC7qfh8oqKaOJLNPbg/s380/SteamGearMash_HealthReplenisherPowerup.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g2Bs8G-wgega23r1K1j7dd0rNTb1sQxiDoIlSt_npKIj7XhzfO_Mf5ZaqECDEy3QV2XFUnLLmkw6laOE1D9ENeNfhqlKPpWDUHsGDIQfAdS_e-MtQdOwjS_NJUKVLOIh2leFTLcVmydo53PAF4AmNnjfmsbdJXoC9zb9MZTouwIC7qfh8oqKaOJLNPbg/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_HealthReplenisherPowerup.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6m6DLb29qt9Mt4ZA5-Wf7mmQsZ4Ckg6Dm7-7CpUAIBazrBBOf6VrZrHSk2rhajwaV7sEjS8zBLaZHdqBNCTb_q00RaMPKbAkklfRVXhJzWVZQGJ-zVa0shKgjDOpDF9BYqu2Ht17-cQXEoApdG_hTbmdYgzaQvpGLretP5Lz-SsGxlQV5Qj-wjJzFr4h/s380/SteamGearMash_Missile.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6m6DLb29qt9Mt4ZA5-Wf7mmQsZ4Ckg6Dm7-7CpUAIBazrBBOf6VrZrHSk2rhajwaV7sEjS8zBLaZHdqBNCTb_q00RaMPKbAkklfRVXhJzWVZQGJ-zVa0shKgjDOpDF9BYqu2Ht17-cQXEoApdG_hTbmdYgzaQvpGLretP5Lz-SsGxlQV5Qj-wjJzFr4h/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Missile.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "I did it! Shoot with a heart shot. </b>🤍<b> I'm going to get my energy." | Right: Missile</b></span></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">I wouldn't say it's difficult </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">per se</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> (I wouldn't go so far as to call it easy either) but it is manageable once you've got it all figured out, though the bosses do take a bit of time to take down when survival is also the main focus. The sound effects do overpower the music at points, it's not as noticeable when played sparingly but when a lot of sounds are playing all at once it tends to slightly obfuscate the background music which is a bit annoying as a music lover, especially with that damn constant beeping sound for when you're low on health. I know I make a big deal of this, but two things can be true at once: Nintendo's </span><i style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Zelda</i><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> franchise is among the most iconic series in video game history and are among the most revered games in the action adventure genre that are fun to play </span><b style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">but</b><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"> at the same token you dread the moment you're so low on health because you know there's the constant beeping sound that comes along with that should you be playing them on your less than best of gaming days. Ears like music, not constantly ringing alarm bells. 👂</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X7jNHPBrdijcPyXAmUeHkf9ockDeMWu1p9QZMqR9tC0xS9V-dFg6aIUdimDhI7ntVctT3r-a6f7Zb8x-VY4hkHfGYOq3FITCt9pFpy2IqBkYO8ro01vJNLgWdnr57tLDkMMHofe9mwzR_1JMtQO4b4ERXxCm9jyHcRElE8HC87f01UwnZyQwAZXpODOi/s303/SteamGearMash_TemperTantrumGash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X7jNHPBrdijcPyXAmUeHkf9ockDeMWu1p9QZMqR9tC0xS9V-dFg6aIUdimDhI7ntVctT3r-a6f7Zb8x-VY4hkHfGYOq3FITCt9pFpy2IqBkYO8ro01vJNLgWdnr57tLDkMMHofe9mwzR_1JMtQO4b4ERXxCm9jyHcRElE8HC87f01UwnZyQwAZXpODOi/s1600/SteamGearMash_TemperTantrumGash.png" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The "notice me, senpai" energy here was through the roof</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">Emperor Gash is a pretty pathetic villain though, it's not like this game is played for the sake of plot (it's not) but his motivation was out of pure selfishness. He throws a temper tantrum after having lost to Mash, beckons to Mina who rightfully rejects him due to being taken against her will, has an overdramatic reaction to heartbreak, and proceeds to self-destruct the place when he doesn't get what he wants. A sore loser without any sense of grace, and a lanky one at that. You brought this on to yourself, Gash, now reap what you sow.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLhNgZ1c-1Mu6MOd-YljTKYwMph2Jn0C3UfSJ5KZ-JDB69xGYcSV6gzwbXCvD8gP2zP-ktm02RMaYtM5t-ZPtdKJ1eWSSAyfJsFK_-nNavQhHIj2-VBjLrZSaLQoyu_ifwpbdVaj-xXW9YcJDY6cUFfuX4w9N7NrUHQiV7xNmvAFQ9DV3R-Q9P_JgIdTY/s381/BattleArenaToshinden_KayinVsEllis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="381" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLhNgZ1c-1Mu6MOd-YljTKYwMph2Jn0C3UfSJ5KZ-JDB69xGYcSV6gzwbXCvD8gP2zP-ktm02RMaYtM5t-ZPtdKJ1eWSSAyfJsFK_-nNavQhHIj2-VBjLrZSaLQoyu_ifwpbdVaj-xXW9YcJDY6cUFfuX4w9N7NrUHQiV7xNmvAFQ9DV3R-Q9P_JgIdTY/w200-h158/BattleArenaToshinden_KayinVsEllis.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohmnwR68_tE-MqhhzUPJaiElnLEMbSYaqWoeKba4T2hxOfIzI9Gu_keHPKuel9twssPue8Yj7SD0ApecDyplLo-BwPQG9ja3M3tdMLlpQG0x8yteNobkpxHytWPi-cy-f2zjon6jKcxc1uazIU8yYw49eMZpmFXN7gNawlCKoguu1qG0RmcKsM0-qxQi/s380/SteamGearMash_Platforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohmnwR68_tE-MqhhzUPJaiElnLEMbSYaqWoeKba4T2hxOfIzI9Gu_keHPKuel9twssPue8Yj7SD0ApecDyplLo-BwPQG9ja3M3tdMLlpQG0x8yteNobkpxHytWPi-cy-f2zjon6jKcxc1uazIU8yYw49eMZpmFXN7gNawlCKoguu1qG0RmcKsM0-qxQi/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Platforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">It's amazing to think that this was only the <b>second</b> game Tamsoft worked on right after their first <i>Toshinden</i>/<i>Battle Arena Toshinden</i>. I mean, would anyone have been able to tell just by looking at these screenshots that they're from the same firm? Never mind visually, how about <b>aurally</b> when playing them side by side? I wouldn't have. Usually there are clues that hint at a shared developer's involvement in either department (be it subtle or obvious), but in this case it's not readily apparent and showcases a real sense of versatility in their craft so early in their video game career. It's impressive!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4tf3uXtxGXdeDUhkz6Ziar7jsKdfVCN_4uF3XodELQZgZXUVHE3rMrdYZKoXIoq6ET_Qu1h2T_FEhhY7AwPfodOlLDQdvym_-oiebE3OSST1PMJ-E5m9nE1Q42yBKec-28uanzhB_cNAcmK_RSSDGvRNcePb7o0jvYUb45jqwSW_eyXGpXS_wlVmQ34Q/s477/SteamGearMash_IntroducingMash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4tf3uXtxGXdeDUhkz6Ziar7jsKdfVCN_4uF3XodELQZgZXUVHE3rMrdYZKoXIoq6ET_Qu1h2T_FEhhY7AwPfodOlLDQdvym_-oiebE3OSST1PMJ-E5m9nE1Q42yBKec-28uanzhB_cNAcmK_RSSDGvRNcePb7o0jvYUb45jqwSW_eyXGpXS_wlVmQ34Q/s16000/SteamGearMash_IntroducingMash.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">SteamGear Mash is such a good character, too, I love how expressive he is and how he's got big googly eyes whenever he comes across an important item</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">A weak villain and the obnoxiously unwelcome constant beeping sound for when you're low on health aside (mandated or not, it was wrong either way), I love <i>SteamGear Mash</i>, I think it's a very fun and enjoyable isometric game to play every once in a while. 😃 It knows exactly what it is and is not ashamed about it: a sweet and lighthearted action romp with some of the most adorable robot designs in a '90s video game with a semi-arcade feel to it. It is too bad that it never got a sequel nor got exposure outside of the Sega Saturn, but by the same token I do feel that it manages to stand well on its own two legs that it doesn't really require one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Eks-6Nf2x4WBLfEB7cBgZfc5aMj-vYkpQdhcROtPqt28lmB1JLzD56NoYYUDUASp39X9yVD7YJwaDJsS9mR0UgzKqvcHARwOwI1Gr3hS0Xywo_MWnKU9V6OvMBQDVSuf1NX3HzfJn_3SkozrkI8ZEJmbMyKVUsNFUM5JSRjehAN6VtK1GeDcgrKW8Iqt/s380/SteamGearMash_FightingGash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Eks-6Nf2x4WBLfEB7cBgZfc5aMj-vYkpQdhcROtPqt28lmB1JLzD56NoYYUDUASp39X9yVD7YJwaDJsS9mR0UgzKqvcHARwOwI1Gr3hS0Xywo_MWnKU9V6OvMBQDVSuf1NX3HzfJn_3SkozrkI8ZEJmbMyKVUsNFUM5JSRjehAN6VtK1GeDcgrKW8Iqt/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_FightingGash.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeWpOvMOaLmQ4jpfrcBAotYu16Ntw4IWgrRx3xYIz0qr-LHXX2ueIuEQxHXieHDc108P6yV6FQAtHC27ncTNv1GjSfdpNaS5gck12C7cxQHzy_gfeVGkDPoedzYAraBfal1IeagAiqYUwDUqMN8lD81JCKYzawnsKwKq_mwtlwv6IQ1N3TXEXQKpSN-n2/s380/SteamGearMash_Countdown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeWpOvMOaLmQ4jpfrcBAotYu16Ntw4IWgrRx3xYIz0qr-LHXX2ueIuEQxHXieHDc108P6yV6FQAtHC27ncTNv1GjSfdpNaS5gck12C7cxQHzy_gfeVGkDPoedzYAraBfal1IeagAiqYUwDUqMN8lD81JCKYzawnsKwKq_mwtlwv6IQ1N3TXEXQKpSN-n2/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Countdown.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Fighting the lanky robot boy Gash | Right: "Shu in Thai Heso! I'm going to have a hard time. Let's hurry and run away!!"</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;">I'm sure there might be some who are put off by how cute and adorable the game is, but if that doesn't bother you I think you might really enjoy this game should you have a Saturn console and an Action Replay Plus cartridge to let you play Japanese games. It's not a very long game as it takes fifty or so minutes to play through depending how you play, but again if length doesn't concern you and you're looking for a game that is simply fun to play then I think it's an isometric game worth recommending. For lack of a better descriptor, I personally consider <i>SteamGear Mash</i> to be a real blast. 😄</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb9HydVDB6elVvBEMLaE0b9_hnjtj0B0leEMztF3d6dihKD_guu8tVZUqicc-9VdnNRFEp6QisaS9tfhZ_z3Mwfhro1uygwRBY9xT0Jl-eig78-XYiv6Eo_xe1EPBRqiMcNa5CfFm0oy1FmQRwQAH9KO76ERJV1jle22gHpJpXyyopaG52uf4cbyjQsSA/s303/SteamGearMash_Ending.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="303" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb9HydVDB6elVvBEMLaE0b9_hnjtj0B0leEMztF3d6dihKD_guu8tVZUqicc-9VdnNRFEp6QisaS9tfhZ_z3Mwfhro1uygwRBY9xT0Jl-eig78-XYiv6Eo_xe1EPBRqiMcNa5CfFm0oy1FmQRwQAH9KO76ERJV1jle22gHpJpXyyopaG52uf4cbyjQsSA/s1600/SteamGearMash_Ending.png" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.5/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYGJUyp0aXllwwLsS4qPCiYxMoXDAoE4spV_8yv8f3Ewcyrhh_P97I2tzMPpXs-a1UtBKKqDjhQMjLnFSdEJpkWfU0TIxB5OfFx225C96yXFV0fhVJN5vtVgmsNwQjErxMKg9cuxtdiRTSxaBng3gVv5m_uPC6rTUuzj0Iky7iZmYndz_c2qqYBjcVjJs/s250/Emoticon_TwoThumbsUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYGJUyp0aXllwwLsS4qPCiYxMoXDAoE4spV_8yv8f3Ewcyrhh_P97I2tzMPpXs-a1UtBKKqDjhQMjLnFSdEJpkWfU0TIxB5OfFx225C96yXFV0fhVJN5vtVgmsNwQjErxMKg9cuxtdiRTSxaBng3gVv5m_uPC6rTUuzj0Iky7iZmYndz_c2qqYBjcVjJs/s1600/Emoticon_TwoThumbsUp.png" width="250" /></a></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Just wanted to mention so I don't forget: nearly a month ago, after over six and a half years of owning and using it, the old Surface Pro I worked it stopped working so I had to get a new one which is a bit annoying because I just started a new review, but oh well plans change. The new Surface Pro I own is pretty nice, took a bit to accustom to, but is a lot lighter and easily portable. <i>SteamGear Mash</i> has the honor of being the first game I reviewed with this newer model Surface Pro, so that's great! 🫡</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoiPTookS0E48kh3azD-DebHl2YbTL_G2l2noX1VGayuZwVmBoZ3GfyTPvCQpWLcF_nmc70Z2UPnKir3fQRnJFBCKBhjQ5cpBzEh9c4QFKjVtZAebroqvV_lShKVpiqQ8-l7IkCYqhQQ94VeSnKOigjz-BQU3s76U71qzgg8ECAOCUhXJ0Qjaz60ngSTc/s660/SurfacePro_Emojis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="660" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoiPTookS0E48kh3azD-DebHl2YbTL_G2l2noX1VGayuZwVmBoZ3GfyTPvCQpWLcF_nmc70Z2UPnKir3fQRnJFBCKBhjQ5cpBzEh9c4QFKjVtZAebroqvV_lShKVpiqQ8-l7IkCYqhQQ94VeSnKOigjz-BQU3s76U71qzgg8ECAOCUhXJ0Qjaz60ngSTc/w400-h299/SurfacePro_Emojis.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed and cropped to show what I mean</span></b></div><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Also, for anyone's pondering, the emojis are different than they were on my old Surface Pro. This is how the emojis appear on here, I don't know about anyone else.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-45112602689253961302023-09-04T20:59:00.003-05:002023-09-28T12:01:11.778-05:00Jurassic Park (GB) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: medium;">🦖 <b>Written: August 30th-September 4th, 2023</b> 🦖</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-Rc_WipMbveBOC_11lrhmygKish_DCrTIuhUrOIiXqTDjV9Bow0I-8gXdrrGun65o2OGq1VbR2JQ9PAy_Orp0KfpdKAaDcn5p2YB8l29w-QTT406GQaHDBVPsOGCyK7Z3c-cCW9a0XhBXVJX-hPcSqmt_ytmbjJAuDcYQz7Jk6Mu7vRhBZmfBp47R_dy/s235/JurassicPark_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="235" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-Rc_WipMbveBOC_11lrhmygKish_DCrTIuhUrOIiXqTDjV9Bow0I-8gXdrrGun65o2OGq1VbR2JQ9PAy_Orp0KfpdKAaDcn5p2YB8l29w-QTT406GQaHDBVPsOGCyK7Z3c-cCW9a0XhBXVJX-hPcSqmt_ytmbjJAuDcYQz7Jk6Mu7vRhBZmfBp47R_dy/s1600/JurassicPark_Title.png" width="235" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(As played on <i>Super Game Boy</i>)</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Year: 1993 | Developed and Published by: Ocean Software | </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[</span> <span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">]</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Born in 1942, revered author John Michael Crichton showed an interest in writing from an early age, having had an article he wrote about a trip he took to Sunset Crater when he was sixteen published by <i>The New York Times</i>. Initially penning books under pseudonymous names (and writing book reviews under his real name), he wrote <i>The Andromeda Strain</i> in 1969 which was published under his real name marking an important point in his career helping establish Crichton as a bestselling author. During his illustrious career that spanned nearly half a century until he sadly passed away in 2008 at the age of 66, he wrote subsequent novels credited under his real name (like <i>The Terminal Man</i>, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Great Train Robbery</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, <i>Congo</i>, <i>Sphere</i>, </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Rising Sun</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">), directed seven movies (like </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Westworld</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Coma</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The First Great Train Robbery</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">), had a small number of screenwriting credits (Jeannot Szwarc's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Extreme Close-Up</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Westworld</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> which Crichton also directed, Philip Kaufman's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Rising Sun</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> based on Crichton's book, as well as Jan de Bont's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Twister</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">), and created the medical drama TV series </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">ER</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> which lasted fifteen years from 1994 to 2009. Many of his books have since been adapted to film.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkTfIq4m16wvlERoniGSi0CwUg9ABsTti3ZbCftHnCPfGE1TJT0rmTZHzVTovf01lPXhCSAAxVCkYHMCpZG153ggm4M0YPTYAHnxUZK9SUPXDeQ4dqzbN-XUFlgjeZs-WwQHuydukDiiRVL0TA4RZ7pNIyhFOU5q03ZnUj9bZ_G6DKUS6SQK2OBXRJKiF/s374/JurassicPark_BookCover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkTfIq4m16wvlERoniGSi0CwUg9ABsTti3ZbCftHnCPfGE1TJT0rmTZHzVTovf01lPXhCSAAxVCkYHMCpZG153ggm4M0YPTYAHnxUZK9SUPXDeQ4dqzbN-XUFlgjeZs-WwQHuydukDiiRVL0TA4RZ7pNIyhFOU5q03ZnUj9bZ_G6DKUS6SQK2OBXRJKiF/s320/JurassicPark_BookCover.png" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from Wikipedia, iconic cover designed by American graphic designer Chip Kidd</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">November 20th, 1990 saw the debut of the latest science fiction novel written by the late author, <b><i>Jurassic Park</i></b>, a cautionary tale of what would happen if a group of scientists brought the once extinct dinosaurs back to life through genetic engineering (illustrated through chaos theory) as attractions for an amusement park and how such lofty ambitions led to its downfall with real-world implications if they ever got out (and they do). <i>Jurassic Park</i> was universally acclaimed, becoming an instant bestseller as well as the most popular work to bear Crichton's name. </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Before the book was even published it attracted the attention of famous and well-respected director Steven Spielberg. While discussing a screenplay idea with Crichton (which would become </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">ER</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">), he was very fascinated with </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">'s "really credible look at how dinosaurs might someday be brought back alongside modern humankind", so he wanted to go for more than just a simple monster movie.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Taking three years to make, the movie adaptation of </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> would be distributed by Universal Pictures, written by Crichton and David Koepp, with photography lensed by the always talented Dean Cundey (who also makes a brief in-movie appearance as "Mate"), and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen (who also plays as Dr. Harding), it would arrive in theatres in the Summer of 1993 to a universally positive reception and became not only the highest-grossing movie of 1993 but also the highest-grossing movie of Spielberg's directing career (and until James Cameron's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Titanic</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> four years later, the highest-grossing movie </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">of </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">all time</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">) with an initial box office of $914 million (which crossed the $1 billion mark with subsequent theatrical rereleases). There are a <b>lot</b> of factors behind its contemporary success, among those being the way the dinosaurs were brought to life through ILM's impressive CGI and the late Stan Winston's life-sized animatronics as well as the iconic sound design, Spielberg's direction, John Williams' music, the thrilling horror sequences, as well as its cast, et al. Thirty years later, and <i>Jurassic Park</i> is still heralded as a timeless classic and is often considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Its success spawned a multimedia franchise, including sequels, theme park attractions, and video games.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ1dOXQMjZdSaXAQsIPiCe1JVLNj1YJ8Zt0I4nfeOHLjbbFgnMcHcam3AUzCb9NsuzCUwllOdXI_Eyh5JJXOjc5mXkunpMNiwx6c0d6LEgt8sMfeD3Hrirm-PJEe7hqgSsJBf5S0P5UYiFdgA3qqa1gfJmqRSkVn7sLPOJ40oBRMdfNupMfuZAKvx5mFl/s212/OceanSoftware_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="60" data-original-width="212" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ1dOXQMjZdSaXAQsIPiCe1JVLNj1YJ8Zt0I4nfeOHLjbbFgnMcHcam3AUzCb9NsuzCUwllOdXI_Eyh5JJXOjc5mXkunpMNiwx6c0d6LEgt8sMfeD3Hrirm-PJEe7hqgSsJBf5S0P5UYiFdgA3qqa1gfJmqRSkVn7sLPOJ40oBRMdfNupMfuZAKvx5mFl/s1600/OceanSoftware_Logo.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">British video game company <b>Ocean Software</b>, founded in 1983 by Jon Woods and David Ward as Spectrum Games initially before changing to Ocean shortly after, paid an undisclosed six-digit figure in order to obtain the rights to work on their adaptations of <i>Jurassic Park</i> for the Nintendo video game formats at the time, with the movie's distributor Universal providing various material such as the script and set photos to aid Ocean in their time of making them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGpryhtJPYNQSRSa9J7eNPK93x1bkBZKV_QnOQdNMMlm3T_I77Cn-CAcMINPllJJJoaEoGfumNXhIEc2MiX8y9UW_ajIOoONIEvUX2bKgTpgH3zqiGAEeZBuTUPz2U8mka5LvOJgUIVCSA9bGSxtX1UOAeTRIgK5Nj74JTW3H6ILxdEMMI4OzUe7DfmT1/s640/JurassicPark_NTSC-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="640" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGpryhtJPYNQSRSa9J7eNPK93x1bkBZKV_QnOQdNMMlm3T_I77Cn-CAcMINPllJJJoaEoGfumNXhIEc2MiX8y9UW_ajIOoONIEvUX2bKgTpgH3zqiGAEeZBuTUPz2U8mka5LvOJgUIVCSA9bGSxtX1UOAeTRIgK5Nj74JTW3H6ILxdEMMI4OzUe7DfmT1/w200-h199/JurassicPark_NTSC-Cover.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVy_8m1bdxCiu1PfHMax7T39T0a5ivNtul1NRw3Q--8vWNiJ0OUmhvHGfpQ_9bQVARtKzqQBGJAv9UvXb-Jzfb16RbIwutlspFAtlx46ud8lO_K5lja-nFIkKXDPwTSek96ACqbxVsglx-3i2efZiGW_T1FZvnbiyIS5w7_TZEORIzP1BM-GZHyVEgGp3-/s640/JurassicPark_PAL-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="640" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVy_8m1bdxCiu1PfHMax7T39T0a5ivNtul1NRw3Q--8vWNiJ0OUmhvHGfpQ_9bQVARtKzqQBGJAv9UvXb-Jzfb16RbIwutlspFAtlx46ud8lO_K5lja-nFIkKXDPwTSek96ACqbxVsglx-3i2efZiGW_T1FZvnbiyIS5w7_TZEORIzP1BM-GZHyVEgGp3-/w200-h198/JurassicPark_PAL-Cover.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In North America the NES console received a late release in the format's lifespan of <i>Jurassic Park</i> on June 1993 and came out in Europe that December, which would be adapted to the Game Boy. Coded by Gerald Weatherup, Paul Robinson, Debbie Hardin, and Mark Rogers, this handheld version would see a North American release on August 1993 and a European release that October. This review covers the Game Boy video game adaptation.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6pyURL7Jf8Fo0mC9nhWOk_NRno3Y3eFUlZZhLdthfVJOX8aN7P-vTrn2J0Zsepyf1Op4QLxBMYDvqTWBOtgwo7XyON01xBzr7MeeHkDaSaegGJbmAd_emWNrHvK-vOv1-PL3TB_ueIKrYY71NNCMEDcIB4Jn6q43nP--wfrq5e3OXskLly2ixYkhJqz3/s240/JurassicPark_Welcome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6pyURL7Jf8Fo0mC9nhWOk_NRno3Y3eFUlZZhLdthfVJOX8aN7P-vTrn2J0Zsepyf1Op4QLxBMYDvqTWBOtgwo7XyON01xBzr7MeeHkDaSaegGJbmAd_emWNrHvK-vOv1-PL3TB_ueIKrYY71NNCMEDcIB4Jn6q43nP--wfrq5e3OXskLly2ixYkhJqz3/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Welcome.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzrtg2QNcTa8OBMjwnsw3MSjXinxr8ZUdob5BgdqwFXomY4J0eODeKCcjJ5bclRqkdBHRj3y3rIzWMDz8c3HQrhOt9atFQVCKZaAnREhigEv8bexaL48UJQ51LPUAxoi3esu3kDOa8KJUQ0K3VsNI28Pi7VFZI_hWsl8MAb4oUOzdjiUgCrLPFo2D68ak/s240/JurassicPark_Compsognathus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzrtg2QNcTa8OBMjwnsw3MSjXinxr8ZUdob5BgdqwFXomY4J0eODeKCcjJ5bclRqkdBHRj3y3rIzWMDz8c3HQrhOt9atFQVCKZaAnREhigEv8bexaL48UJQ51LPUAxoi3esu3kDOa8KJUQ0K3VsNI28Pi7VFZI_hWsl8MAb4oUOzdjiUgCrLPFo2D68ak/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Compsognathus.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Welcome to Jurassic Park | Right: Clear the area of procompsognathid</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the bird's eye viewed open-ended action game <i>Jurassic Park</i> you take control of everyone's favorite straw fedora-wearing paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (played by Sam Neill) if he magically gained the dino hunting expertise of the park's game warden Robert Muldoon (who, like so many important human characters, is neither present nor acknowledged in-game, played by the late Bob Peck, RIP) as there are guns involved.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESk6uZMRtH9cjikahQ1q1a3qIuOW_qzqGKWyEYNim6CBXZtrgcH1FselPRoJmXds3_m8Pr2V31Og9M6TS7fP7OcQ1KP3M4EwiBjZZyFF-FK1qZ0ovpenCO6SplCO83CTVI0IEmNZVDSyRzo5Z1LrttcS9K4wCbviUVsInoom9WQw2wl7hQN-YM9ZyOJc3/s240/JurassicPark_Dilophosaur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESk6uZMRtH9cjikahQ1q1a3qIuOW_qzqGKWyEYNim6CBXZtrgcH1FselPRoJmXds3_m8Pr2V31Og9M6TS7fP7OcQ1KP3M4EwiBjZZyFF-FK1qZ0ovpenCO6SplCO83CTVI0IEmNZVDSyRzo5Z1LrttcS9K4wCbviUVsInoom9WQw2wl7hQN-YM9ZyOJc3/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Dilophosaur.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIv15utLjj5BI8GKhEYzT8Xe_5C1TepwMT1o0in04Q2nCYTODgw1wTyhsbhIYqFfwK5H4KkrO9T0hLEzTRN9a9Ik2kQlRfYEd19Esxizd0CwojsxVXjE1WRLrTFWpwuM4NsZtmISuOQFctHuV4HvmuGYT9QZ1WQjkRCmXUnpAYCLrN69ZHYUjgYc0Dcwm/s240/JurassicPark_EggHunting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIv15utLjj5BI8GKhEYzT8Xe_5C1TepwMT1o0in04Q2nCYTODgw1wTyhsbhIYqFfwK5H4KkrO9T0hLEzTRN9a9Ik2kQlRfYEd19Esxizd0CwojsxVXjE1WRLrTFWpwuM4NsZtmISuOQFctHuV4HvmuGYT9QZ1WQjkRCmXUnpAYCLrN69ZHYUjgYc0Dcwm/w200-h158/JurassicPark_EggHunting.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Beware of Dilophosaurs | Right: Egg hunting</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You can maneuver him around in any one of eight directions, make him jump up in the air with the A button* (with the altitude gained based on how hard you pressed the button), shoot at the dinosaurs with your long-ranged weapon of choice with the B button*, and because there are four different types of firepower you change the weapon you wish to use with the Select button.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* B and Y respectively should you choose to play with the Type A control scheme when playing it on the <i>Super Game Boy</i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyqW6gOeeS3lX0CfNS0BxQYECa8a4_bhazv2goUkMNOK0DE_k87vtnhxar8tC71NbML7n2QyUGVm86FqILjrXMBUkY8jCmAWnJSSC6C61wzsXj1Yq8Fgt9HyLANUdred_oIUKti8FldSRtlfuEUqWSQStOcbfJFKIBG3_spcHcx07WT_CqwhPnKbaaIO4/s239/JurassicPark_Terminal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyqW6gOeeS3lX0CfNS0BxQYECa8a4_bhazv2goUkMNOK0DE_k87vtnhxar8tC71NbML7n2QyUGVm86FqILjrXMBUkY8jCmAWnJSSC6C61wzsXj1Yq8Fgt9HyLANUdred_oIUKti8FldSRtlfuEUqWSQStOcbfJFKIBG3_spcHcx07WT_CqwhPnKbaaIO4/s16000/JurassicPark_Terminal.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Terminals can be accessed</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The goal of each area (and sub area) is to collect all the dinosaur eggs (either by walking towards them or by shooting at them, the count will go down by one either way) that are scattered about, and once you collected the last egg there'll be an access key card for the taking which will enable you to enter a doorway that was previously inaccessible (mainly indoors); some of the eggs are so well-hidden that you must make a thorough search in order to reach them. Along the way are one of four different bullet types for you to collect for Grant's gun in order to fend for himself against all the dinosaurs roaming the playing field:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJK5m8DfOZ-ibKqGrdh-U5ShufwCy0r0NfoauD4bv3CuoR8r-Am8YfG33yueX16XGmrv441rV0jNa4Jyp3yjlmhbGI76_PWmu1_8i301wYV6yN12LsDpzSDtOpmB0f_7Z7nH6AcKtxIv-5crOoE-nCEJqV67X-HU5t7nLnOGvEx8HO2-NTD69z0zgPJ5v/s240/JurassicPark_MrDNA.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJK5m8DfOZ-ibKqGrdh-U5ShufwCy0r0NfoauD4bv3CuoR8r-Am8YfG33yueX16XGmrv441rV0jNa4Jyp3yjlmhbGI76_PWmu1_8i301wYV6yN12LsDpzSDtOpmB0f_7Z7nH6AcKtxIv-5crOoE-nCEJqV67X-HU5t7nLnOGvEx8HO2-NTD69z0zgPJ5v/w200-h158/JurassicPark_MrDNA.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXjtEiNM09W-HaqFuB0A3wgcCexM4X8WLiU94zXfDe0h_BGSFzQs6s5T_53DjhIFjN5TRgUb1F0jFCQVfHaJtmQLK3MOoIuFGyZGnJ3JuEeXbchc-A_p8RsVdNzglesxNDNttUKC16CD3IA4lRztCQhpKUnnV1Cjau3uErQ-PZxFsL5FrfdfGTIdWEXMO/s240/JurassicPark_EntryDenied.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXjtEiNM09W-HaqFuB0A3wgcCexM4X8WLiU94zXfDe0h_BGSFzQs6s5T_53DjhIFjN5TRgUb1F0jFCQVfHaJtmQLK3MOoIuFGyZGnJ3JuEeXbchc-A_p8RsVdNzglesxNDNttUKC16CD3IA4lRztCQhpKUnnV1Cjau3uErQ-PZxFsL5FrfdfGTIdWEXMO/w200-h158/JurassicPark_EntryDenied.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Dino Dee-EN-A!" </b>🧬<b> | Right: "AND... YOU DIDN'T SAY THE MAGIC WORD!"</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">there's the standard bullets with the round tips which are the weakest of the bunch, the flat-tips which are stronger, the pointed-tips which are even more potent, and finally later on there'll be the bolas which not only make quick work of the bigger dinosaurs but will continue to fly until it reaches the end of the screen (preferably if there's more than one dinosaur). After shooting the dinos they'll leave behind the standard bullets for you to reload, but be careful how much of it you use up because your ammo is limited and if you completely run out you'll be a sitting duck until you can find some more.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LCrD9aEoNZFF3cCSkIlEhCCUTPcf_dfsbG3IY7B4RiuvXUHiu0zt-iJDfiVsYpzC4capM4TIUdTrAQ94LOZWrAtKEei74wdunXbkEpHJpLAihHB75fPG40b97g0g0oJicrl8LwhraxnQCM8bjMcH4TGOEswF86vvPhRAbuiohTpf_aI83G-_RfJjoVRm/s240/JurassicPark_Boom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LCrD9aEoNZFF3cCSkIlEhCCUTPcf_dfsbG3IY7B4RiuvXUHiu0zt-iJDfiVsYpzC4capM4TIUdTrAQ94LOZWrAtKEei74wdunXbkEpHJpLAihHB75fPG40b97g0g0oJicrl8LwhraxnQCM8bjMcH4TGOEswF86vvPhRAbuiohTpf_aI83G-_RfJjoVRm/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Boom.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQeVobvGb0qMD_ldft_rsELqutjKSo_amzFhVkMd03I2ZV8JMgSKXqkDbjt77ALUUxq1kjquAe2guYFFzXo2_-uFFFug4Q3BP6TROcMTdjk3klrzC49jQDsswV5PtSRbHO8FnoawMg4361bUGgM0pwXvx-DTQLCf1MdaOV0jECoaVu6CL0Cr2MGQiNWbO/s240/JurassicPark_Fence.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQeVobvGb0qMD_ldft_rsELqutjKSo_amzFhVkMd03I2ZV8JMgSKXqkDbjt77ALUUxq1kjquAe2guYFFzXo2_-uFFFug4Q3BP6TROcMTdjk3klrzC49jQDsswV5PtSRbHO8FnoawMg4361bUGgM0pwXvx-DTQLCf1MdaOV0jECoaVu6CL0Cr2MGQiNWbO/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Fence.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: BOOM | Right: Jumping beside a fence</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There are also mystery boxes here and there that you'll stumble across, but make sure to approach them with extreme caution; while some may comprise of health replenishments or in certain cases a life (one time there's a means to become temporarily invincible) others might be more deadly as you'll either lose a certain amount of damage or completely have your health drained and lose a life as a result. Losing a life will have you pick up from the very spot you died in, and if you lose your last life you have a choice to use up one of your limited continues (thereby either having you start over the mission or pick up from a specific point in said mission) or to go back to the title screen.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhkf_I1pMgfspxwdsnXIh2TiASfHiWDBQqeo_KUIxbd2qr5DVWT6NztaviiA6kwklsvxAqJCY34cqvQqjiFTOKp-bjMgWZpBbHphtmjW3und4T-3SEMj7NGLE2Kze9xFIyJl4YtoRGFGtLlhVFFIyTYR2HSvlxlNDxDumBwOUOTQd5UD1xkI2IVm0kUVP/s240/JurassicPark_OpenedGate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhkf_I1pMgfspxwdsnXIh2TiASfHiWDBQqeo_KUIxbd2qr5DVWT6NztaviiA6kwklsvxAqJCY34cqvQqjiFTOKp-bjMgWZpBbHphtmjW3und4T-3SEMj7NGLE2Kze9xFIyJl4YtoRGFGtLlhVFFIyTYR2HSvlxlNDxDumBwOUOTQd5UD1xkI2IVm0kUVP/w200-h158/JurassicPark_OpenedGate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGlpSpHgUVVym82KVY7H_XinnOhYQRXFoT9KXGpjLA7UvYnN6HTxaRuTnNXY8w5vE9LHWLO34ii03tHGoudPAUhC1d1zGkgM8-tLJK4HopQcqCIZDwAxX4D4pN9SPpnDIFEDaZ-AVjuth__0k2XXAtfIClcrq--ef3xc8OvI10o5sS7mT9eYjKRfq815H/s240/JurassicPark_Stampede.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGlpSpHgUVVym82KVY7H_XinnOhYQRXFoT9KXGpjLA7UvYnN6HTxaRuTnNXY8w5vE9LHWLO34ii03tHGoudPAUhC1d1zGkgM8-tLJK4HopQcqCIZDwAxX4D4pN9SPpnDIFEDaZ-AVjuth__0k2XXAtfIClcrq--ef3xc8OvI10o5sS7mT9eYjKRfq815H/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Stampede.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: You are now leaving Jurassic Park | Right: "They move in herds... they <u>do</u> move in herds"</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The visuals for this handheld version of </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> were worked on by Steven Kerry, Ray Musci, Jon Beard, Martin McDonald, Francesca Roosen, Damon Jenkins, Alan Pashley, Sherri Hinson Zook, Neal Zook, Chris Kerry, and Lynnie Nojadera, and it is a decent game to look at with solid sprite work. Given the monochromatic nature of the Game Boy, each section of Isla Nublar that you roam around in for these six missions do all have a distinct look about them (particularly the outdoor and indoor segments) so that they don't look all too similar to one another with the occasional use of dithering to create effective shadows.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GPv94A8Y7DpAiELdNuTfu-T-MDqsC9e2coo-O4vn4ubrgh3xFeNq59eFdexJ-sDSv2azeGWDqIm5sljH6Q8C0JcHYiJnC5Ms7tTrlhLA14TL5YDnix9Mfp0Kic3VrKtDokVt1Ds2RKFTOZXjSiskmdXOTkPDIFipdQmSFjudANW8HBmNCmXGEVO1Uc5K/s240/JurassicPark_CleverGirl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GPv94A8Y7DpAiELdNuTfu-T-MDqsC9e2coo-O4vn4ubrgh3xFeNq59eFdexJ-sDSv2azeGWDqIm5sljH6Q8C0JcHYiJnC5Ms7tTrlhLA14TL5YDnix9Mfp0Kic3VrKtDokVt1Ds2RKFTOZXjSiskmdXOTkPDIFipdQmSFjudANW8HBmNCmXGEVO1Uc5K/w200-h158/JurassicPark_CleverGirl.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj320mp9rKM2q-YiHXT5i0WxnLVt1P4RbezzM-Ev2N_jeTriJ-28zu8opri5xOsrOclAaigXg9XjoF5GUaXxIsPlHj9yktif7VkqQItGmlb13GQkIhZrSwzsH80aSXrrZfw-gQO5Gq8la3ZvWlkk_zE3ubpuAb790Uakwsx9jgcxBT5aVQd6z2Nl2qZE-Va/s240/JurassicPark_Raptors.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj320mp9rKM2q-YiHXT5i0WxnLVt1P4RbezzM-Ev2N_jeTriJ-28zu8opri5xOsrOclAaigXg9XjoF5GUaXxIsPlHj9yktif7VkqQItGmlb13GQkIhZrSwzsH80aSXrrZfw-gQO5Gq8la3ZvWlkk_zE3ubpuAb790Uakwsx9jgcxBT5aVQd6z2Nl2qZE-Va/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Raptors.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Clever girl" | Right: Raptor ambush</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">You'll find yourself walking along plains (with a tiny amount of gr</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">ass and rocks), around trees and foliage, along the darker-shaded river and at one pointing rowing yourself on it, inside buildings filled with terminals and tables as well as the occasional kitchen area, some of the roof areas and even the outer area of the ship have got a nice sense of floor décor, and you'll carefully move around active volcanoes and venturing inside rocky caverns. </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Grant is solidly designed and is instantly recognizable due to his fedora, though his walking animation on all eight sides comes off as a bit choppy (even once he grabs hold of a gun) though there is a decent sense of how high up he is when he jumps up due to the size of the shadow below him when he's airborne.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRhPW7-E4WJgmqkzIFoLdBFWU0VR8L8sKXOHVe4_gA4fpLUsWdmt_XpsRlUCxV1gUWAwhTpPV3nOgM3cw6WKiUdTjhF9uJHAP02k94xbzmZ4D3Ux-lLL2O4H0nIOFIeaJPsfPFpZ5YJxEaEWw-e34huxrGahFE2PKoACC8epbX3lmuca6mGvy5HgVBGif/s240/JurassicPark_Raft.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRhPW7-E4WJgmqkzIFoLdBFWU0VR8L8sKXOHVe4_gA4fpLUsWdmt_XpsRlUCxV1gUWAwhTpPV3nOgM3cw6WKiUdTjhF9uJHAP02k94xbzmZ4D3Ux-lLL2O4H0nIOFIeaJPsfPFpZ5YJxEaEWw-e34huxrGahFE2PKoACC8epbX3lmuca6mGvy5HgVBGif/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Raft.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-0jhx5PbyQXExcMbi-18_5Otjx0_we-3iKe1_p69VjwK1LMN5-jYQQlOiSgQQ8GCeLAnAaQgvuqi4-Q1_U7SLS_qtIdpcRC7Y_buA6IDWFDgxwmtpQX3dQVtiOJQxwk55YolD4OT_kMrVoAAs6G2-7ui_FPfXXotu5i1CQy14Qu0_vr2ATLA7HpqPdOE/s240/JurassicPark_FloatingEgg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-0jhx5PbyQXExcMbi-18_5Otjx0_we-3iKe1_p69VjwK1LMN5-jYQQlOiSgQQ8GCeLAnAaQgvuqi4-Q1_U7SLS_qtIdpcRC7Y_buA6IDWFDgxwmtpQX3dQVtiOJQxwk55YolD4OT_kMrVoAAs6G2-7ui_FPfXXotu5i1CQy14Qu0_vr2ATLA7HpqPdOE/w200-h158/JurassicPark_FloatingEgg.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Get on the raft | Right: Rowing towards the floating egg</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">He does have different death animations depending how he dies, however, like keeling over upon losing your last bit of health or touching an explosive mystery box, appearing lifelessly trampled after losing all your health to the stampeding Triceratops, going down with the raft during the rafting section should all your health be depleted there, being electrocuted (appearing as a skeleton and everything) to death upon being shocked, and leaving his fedora in his wake upon being eaten by the Tyrannosaurus rex. The sprites for Tim and Lex Murphy (played by Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards), in the brief period of time that you see them, look okay and animate pretty decently. I also like how whenever you access a terminal you're greeted on the screen by everyone's favorite animated double helix Mr. DNA (voiced in this movie by the late Greg Burson, RIP).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCUwK_sTS8gS0Z6Eg7ADV5tPuFc7W12DD37D7ePKM-3TIfqZ_OMbYPmJTwv1DstcmrMNSmSGJqVUvBLek33Rgvt2kk46ZDNori7HZMoKDd0elEXcQ7cA69cpCOGAvMwVUWffQX52n32TI-ViJnhligbIvGKpAYR4q1argb2YKUseUxz4EwKV3UpymhlfV/s240/JurassicPark_Brachiosaurus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCUwK_sTS8gS0Z6Eg7ADV5tPuFc7W12DD37D7ePKM-3TIfqZ_OMbYPmJTwv1DstcmrMNSmSGJqVUvBLek33Rgvt2kk46ZDNori7HZMoKDd0elEXcQ7cA69cpCOGAvMwVUWffQX52n32TI-ViJnhligbIvGKpAYR4q1argb2YKUseUxz4EwKV3UpymhlfV/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Brachiosaurus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9P1J9iRzFxxFHRtV1MkILBeIzVaGZVpLJi0XbANk9zW39CKkxBJnYvRN9OW31PfXJ17HrdOsG6BgPQS3Kdc_JxYTtwptmggcR4a0SxC0wJvZ8KTADw7Ac0GmAiFSuHnN3Ec7dhB4mjnXvXPfSjqHAaZZL9qR2P8UU7Wu8cfYoH1M9cQpg5ag0zX_EylQ4/s240/JurassicPark_Driftwood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9P1J9iRzFxxFHRtV1MkILBeIzVaGZVpLJi0XbANk9zW39CKkxBJnYvRN9OW31PfXJ17HrdOsG6BgPQS3Kdc_JxYTtwptmggcR4a0SxC0wJvZ8KTADw7Ac0GmAiFSuHnN3Ec7dhB4mjnXvXPfSjqHAaZZL9qR2P8UU7Wu8cfYoH1M9cQpg5ag0zX_EylQ4/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Driftwood.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Try not to get hit by the Brachiosaurus... | Right: and the oncoming driftwood, too</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">As for the main attractions of the eponymous amusement park, they too are decently drawn and animate okay. Here you will have to contend with the common procompsonathid who are smaller than you as well as the larger Velociraptors who prowl towards you menacingly and Dilophosaurs who jump out from their hiding spots at an attempt to sneak attack you and rotate depending where you are in relation to them should you walk too closely to covered spots like walls inside buildings and foliage, all of whom go up in smoke after shooting them with enough bullets. The other dinosaurs you see also animate fairly well like the Stegosaurus in the third level, the docile Brachiosaur's head in the river on the second level, and on the fifth level the Xiphiorynchus that leap out of the water. The larger dinosaurs, the Triceratops and the Tyrannosaurus rex, have got more detail and appear solidly drawn as a result.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdahgQjiVOIKWQOgua9gpevL_0yFtxkIqH_BOCuTjDNdBoxbFUXZBTwKxL6TQAq_0ty4mN_aw8rcBt91-ydhImnN6cSLGsEf5dJR0FvxoDep32dcB-G_L0IsakYSmDs8kOaEUfpbrRqvMOKnMgQyZOTp1TpN1uzJKbTN02BebPfS_h-SHwig2KMrtQSrIW/s240/JurassicPark_TriceratopsHerd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdahgQjiVOIKWQOgua9gpevL_0yFtxkIqH_BOCuTjDNdBoxbFUXZBTwKxL6TQAq_0ty4mN_aw8rcBt91-ydhImnN6cSLGsEf5dJR0FvxoDep32dcB-G_L0IsakYSmDs8kOaEUfpbrRqvMOKnMgQyZOTp1TpN1uzJKbTN02BebPfS_h-SHwig2KMrtQSrIW/w200-h158/JurassicPark_TriceratopsHerd.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI0MSCfOPm7BGLa_UQkyT2K2ypj9C6GCTO-2hgTxu6OCQlNpc4ZWVjiA6wbUPNPn9gbbQTjBnfQAoGomyHiPOxiVVGjWT7UETmzTw4WR1NleCh_vbHcWsNK0U7rOgE2bnFGKTQ4lPS6KzMJD_aIsRUb7O7LQUteY544m5zqOMsZHKJnjLixMk2jnYv1Nw/s240/JurassicPark_Continue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI0MSCfOPm7BGLa_UQkyT2K2ypj9C6GCTO-2hgTxu6OCQlNpc4ZWVjiA6wbUPNPn9gbbQTjBnfQAoGomyHiPOxiVVGjWT7UETmzTw4WR1NleCh_vbHcWsNK0U7rOgE2bnFGKTQ4lPS6KzMJD_aIsRUb7O7LQUteY544m5zqOMsZHKJnjLixMk2jnYv1Nw/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Continue.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Where the game peaks on a visual level are the highly detailed static cutscenes (which as far as I know are Game Boy exclusives), as you exit Jurassic Park at the end of the first level only to be greeted by a herd of stampeding Triceratops and the Tyrannosaurs rex towering over you in the continue screen.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04P7_-g6u-HTR7p-Gz2dYfdnCBokjKY3aFy5JtGG3z6CsWItwQYuaowJSkUZnWFHMb4Pb3hoWYcPcHCzYxu1u4jWHaWYgUppeSWN4BJzPn9h0R7vaUC2AfNkMI3PK4Nqgl87coZRiJvNtuo1eke6ggawWERbJ3gD-tPKPjL9kHJA4abm_G5t8LFQQcQgx/s474/JurassicPark_Alan+Lex+TRex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04P7_-g6u-HTR7p-Gz2dYfdnCBokjKY3aFy5JtGG3z6CsWItwQYuaowJSkUZnWFHMb4Pb3hoWYcPcHCzYxu1u4jWHaWYgUppeSWN4BJzPn9h0R7vaUC2AfNkMI3PK4Nqgl87coZRiJvNtuo1eke6ggawWERbJ3gD-tPKPjL9kHJA4abm_G5t8LFQQcQgx/s16000/JurassicPark_Alan+Lex+TRex.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I'm genuinely surprised that I managed to splice three individual screenshots in order to form one complete image <u>and</u> make it presentable, I might never accomplish something like this again...</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">One cutscene that looks really good is when you reach Lex at the end of the second level as it's one long panoramic piece of art as it starts off all the way to the left until it slowly pans over to the right to reveal the Tyrannosaurus rex who is roaming around the same area. It's a shame there aren't any more outside of these three, though I like how with each mission briefing you see the DNA in motion on the left side of the screen.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><i>Jurassic Park</i>'s movie soundtrack was composed by John Williams, who not only frequently collaborated with director Steven Spielberg since <i>The Sugarland Express</i> in 1974 but also composed music for so many other directors and movie franchises as well.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQDxJ9A_NnkNkl5Q1GlzALNGoH3ufgQOsbNJiJo6ccW-WCBigENBi5N3VPE5Jc4AAn9zXsOseYeE1ab_zFkgrEXtvNUy4_iERse3eSoJxJBZaLRXUzX_ozbtv48HdJCJacGinPsug_Rl8XKFDlUkX44FJ9lgtP2gJg2dbMkQXI9WgWiUSrlh6JdfOMsSb/s1200/JohnWilliamsSoundtracks.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQDxJ9A_NnkNkl5Q1GlzALNGoH3ufgQOsbNJiJo6ccW-WCBigENBi5N3VPE5Jc4AAn9zXsOseYeE1ab_zFkgrEXtvNUy4_iERse3eSoJxJBZaLRXUzX_ozbtv48HdJCJacGinPsug_Rl8XKFDlUkX44FJ9lgtP2gJg2dbMkQXI9WgWiUSrlh6JdfOMsSb/w400-h189/JohnWilliamsSoundtracks.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">A truly legendary composer, there's no such thing as a bad John Williams score in my book</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In an impressive career spanning over seventy years, Williams always delivered some of the most memorable, timeless, and iconic music in movie history and has earned his position as one of the best movie composers of all time. There will never be another like him. With <i>Jurassic Park</i>, he has crafted an unforgettable score that has become so beloved that it's often considered among his best works, evoking the awe and wonder of seeing live dinosaurs while also featuring frightening themes for scenes that were suspenseful.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UijQP9UJCdGKkxPcXRksltcaJTuau55vGUk_dLwIbeCiGOZdjaqZxKLAngfBQRH8NnAtszSzu8vA14dQlZ_Dr6Td8InpM4SJJDVgU2Ur-oI45aB3VxCfczrS-S_rPBXLVV3BEj6mVcJ0VfMq9awLAf8sjCl3GhdBbArDT8_OAP6rt28j4P2X1TJl770L/s240/JurassicPark_TyrannosaurusRex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UijQP9UJCdGKkxPcXRksltcaJTuau55vGUk_dLwIbeCiGOZdjaqZxKLAngfBQRH8NnAtszSzu8vA14dQlZ_Dr6Td8InpM4SJJDVgU2Ur-oI45aB3VxCfczrS-S_rPBXLVV3BEj6mVcJ0VfMq9awLAf8sjCl3GhdBbArDT8_OAP6rt28j4P2X1TJl770L/w200-h158/JurassicPark_TyrannosaurusRex.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FjZvVC7bYMSTMRc9ZQqAeDLcMyQsW3SedkbfF2krCPFWaniAI36ZoS7ucCN0QJ7oWii2r5ExSGhDRPW5etzRYGxOTe7dGxM4MEolmRliEppWeBTfS4aEeBM1z-X5esaOfKVUhokr69OlAJZbTtqwOkHWergOaiHYmz7zVE4LcdBVlt7hVDmkH87bfkCN/s240/JurassicPark_Alan+Lex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FjZvVC7bYMSTMRc9ZQqAeDLcMyQsW3SedkbfF2krCPFWaniAI36ZoS7ucCN0QJ7oWii2r5ExSGhDRPW5etzRYGxOTe7dGxM4MEolmRliEppWeBTfS4aEeBM1z-X5esaOfKVUhokr69OlAJZbTtqwOkHWergOaiHYmz7zVE4LcdBVlt7hVDmkH87bfkCN/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Alan+Lex.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Just shoot enough bullets at her that she'll momentarily backpedal offscreen | Right: Guiding a slowly walking Lex to safety</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Surprisingly, none of the </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> video game adaptations at the time adapted Williams' music and iconic motifs. I suppose the mindset was "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", which I understand, but at the same time it can't help but feel a bit bizarre. Luckily for the Game Boy version the music is very good in its own right. For all five of the Ocean-developed </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> games (including the Game Boy and SNES sequel </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">) the music was composed by Jonathan Dunn, who studied music technology in college before he was offered a job by Ocean several years prior.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBX1Sq56ig8ihzjvKgpWBV2y4BpagyerBIe6NQULCx1zsaPxmRBTitys761P1-SILToO-ghjq6CoGC_oJ1LklTo5Rk0B8YOdqDFRMOKXP3w9535GOcFwwpkwTIv0INLXMdvGcAXhwOLnLbPfUMdZWdnbFI6kh2GYESHHKWLUxtJEtz7dOvLJ85Yut4DXN/s382/TheAddamsFamily_UpperTomb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBX1Sq56ig8ihzjvKgpWBV2y4BpagyerBIe6NQULCx1zsaPxmRBTitys761P1-SILToO-ghjq6CoGC_oJ1LklTo5Rk0B8YOdqDFRMOKXP3w9535GOcFwwpkwTIv0INLXMdvGcAXhwOLnLbPfUMdZWdnbFI6kh2GYESHHKWLUxtJEtz7dOvLJ85Yut4DXN/w200-h156/TheAddamsFamily_UpperTomb.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9ty5VsDfLvc4CBH9VEGlCcXf0pSom0IknvSZunmtZgmnU3SB2kIQ-7e0QpCmj5RIj1LMoQrHAqvtKUesQyBmcs5bVyjuAlT5DfeAcIiHLA-jpmIi9kp9msqGMI1kA2gJZmJqepTEdFpaS9Iz3osHEBFm3L4ej8gXrGn5Hps-N22yS69A-OU1uAZNgdWr/s382/TheAddamsFamily-PugsleysScavengerHunt_Bathroom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9ty5VsDfLvc4CBH9VEGlCcXf0pSom0IknvSZunmtZgmnU3SB2kIQ-7e0QpCmj5RIj1LMoQrHAqvtKUesQyBmcs5bVyjuAlT5DfeAcIiHLA-jpmIi9kp9msqGMI1kA2gJZmJqepTEdFpaS9Iz3osHEBFm3L4ej8gXrGn5Hps-N22yS69A-OU1uAZNgdWr/w200-h156/TheAddamsFamily-PugsleysScavengerHunt_Bathroom.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">During his tenure with Ocean he composed music for their licensed video games based on Oliver Stone's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Platoon</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, Paul Verhoeven's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">RoboCop</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> and <i>Total Recall</i></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, Peter MacDonald's <i>Rambo III</i>, Walter Hill's <i>Red Heat</i> (developed by Special FX), Tim Burton's <i>Batman</i>, the late Irvin Kershner's <i>RoboCop 2</i> (developed by Painting by Numbers), Lewis Teague's <i>Navy Seals</i>, Sam Raimi's <i>Darkman</i>, the NES and Game Boy versions of Michael Lehmann's <i>Hudson Hawk</i>, Barry Sonnenfeld's <i>The Addams Family</i>, Steven Spielberg's <i>Hook</i> (both Ocean's and Painting by Numbers' adaptations), <i>The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt</i> based on the 1992 Hanna-Barbera series, the NES version of Ralph Bakshi's <i>Cool World</i>, the SNES version of Brian Levant's <i>The Flintstones</i>, and the Virtual Boy version of Kevin Reynolds' <i>Waterworld</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNxVtWGsO12g9eNDpbO1xBqjC9ceorLuqCtnIg3w65V4upFRSMuq_2jBfDtKLs3mFaCXn_-xTkENIXEegzQ7OKDljxYVbir_Gn4eF9S7__7ChOuQdZMh05phgbcUPKzGqlUl6UyuFun34H3cEEOHgWDIWYRpKSPdQIObvuUSHYZkrc0KMMkFpyMVNJcNX/s247/MrNutz_GameBoyColor.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="247" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNxVtWGsO12g9eNDpbO1xBqjC9ceorLuqCtnIg3w65V4upFRSMuq_2jBfDtKLs3mFaCXn_-xTkENIXEegzQ7OKDljxYVbir_Gn4eF9S7__7ChOuQdZMh05phgbcUPKzGqlUl6UyuFun34H3cEEOHgWDIWYRpKSPdQIObvuUSHYZkrc0KMMkFpyMVNJcNX/s1600/MrNutz_GameBoyColor.gif" width="247" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jonathan Dunn also composed music for non-licensed games as well such as Realtime Games Software's <i>Battle Command</i>, Red Rat Software's <i>Push-Over</i>, </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">the Amstrad CPC and Atari ST and ZX Spectrum ports of Taito's <i>Puzznic</i>, t</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">he NES and Game Boy versions of Taito's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Parasol Stars</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, and even converted </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Raphaël Gesqua's music from Ocean Software's Nintendo 16-bit platformer <i>Mr. Nutz</i> to Game Boy format.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Before I discuss Dunn's musical contribution to <i>Jurassic Park</i>, let's talk about <i>Comic Bakery</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMplFlXwhCCIbwhNoPTbqhFhWafp748Kmx7Yc1OteFf5CTrGrdtM52yXzpX2JHmOErUId9OdJafoSBNARDsSzBXkg8Z-B5Nu6FWMeKfMUSYHrCqbi8vwvMHoRzLJG__w8IWBVg5rvZvZqgSvnBZorS1Upso2JSxb3yNfBaZKI7gNwsA9dhV46D6zu5BKj/s305/ComicBakery_MSX.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="305" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMplFlXwhCCIbwhNoPTbqhFhWafp748Kmx7Yc1OteFf5CTrGrdtM52yXzpX2JHmOErUId9OdJafoSBNARDsSzBXkg8Z-B5Nu6FWMeKfMUSYHrCqbi8vwvMHoRzLJG__w8IWBVg5rvZvZqgSvnBZorS1Upso2JSxb3yNfBaZKI7gNwsA9dhV46D6zu5BKj/s1600/ComicBakery_MSX.gif" width="305" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In 1984, Konami developed a lighthearted fun game specifically for the MSX that had you take control of a chef whose objective was to deliver as many pastries and delicacies to the truck as possible by 5 PM whilst also contending with pest control in the form of raccoons who are trying to impede your delicacy-making progress left and right. <i>Comic Bakery</i> would be made available to play on Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo's <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Vol. 3</i> on the PlayStation One and on Konami Computer Entertainment Yokohama's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/06/konami-antiques-msx-collection-ultra.html">Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</a></i> on the Sega Saturn in 1998, both compilations of which were only released in Japan.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFUErzd9W08DwLE3K0-BN4pGlP9SKOzmPEtP_Lt-Q8WAcz2tCdeNeXz-xcUzJTtTEVqY5iSDEeOa054QflHB4xlKUdmHYmIOr8DfFHK8zjUC6vFMlf36XzKzbxhMZHkmLULsYxWuslJRuVoYNwiUxcmNO-mJP-VhtC_V1X1LaRM0fylZ8k6gCErkmKzPz/s398/ComicBakery_C64-Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFUErzd9W08DwLE3K0-BN4pGlP9SKOzmPEtP_Lt-Q8WAcz2tCdeNeXz-xcUzJTtTEVqY5iSDEeOa054QflHB4xlKUdmHYmIOr8DfFHK8zjUC6vFMlf36XzKzbxhMZHkmLULsYxWuslJRuVoYNwiUxcmNO-mJP-VhtC_V1X1LaRM0fylZ8k6gCErkmKzPz/s16000/ComicBakery_C64-Title.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching RetroDemoScene's <i>Comic Bakery</i> - C64 Game Intro video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Two years later in 1986 it would receive a Commodore 64 conversion by Imagine Software with a completely new soundtrack by Martin Galway (of Sensible Software's <i>Parallax</i> fame), especially its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0P5jg2OhcU">title screen music</a> which would also be recycled for Ocean Software's Commodore 64 adaptation of the late Tony Scott's <i>Top Gun</i> a year later. Fascinatingly, there have been three composers who were influenced by Galway's <i>Comic Bakery</i> music to the point that the recognizable melody has popped up in other video game properties: Jochen Hippel (as a cracktro to Angels' Commodore Amiga port of </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Brøderbund's <i>Prince of Persia</i>), Jonathan Dunn (the NES and Game Boy versions of <i>Jurassic Park</i> as well as the Game Boy sequel), and Tomas Danko (Squashy Software's <i>Platypus</i>). A bit of a phenomenon, really.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdHgcQPSjRR8j3pZLpaArhGycpf4j0-ksGKwjj4YWqnS4BHMaXzDNwNp7FvbK1473qM_vFM9Rcuqd1UZAIeLpyqFWbvxahdvz8jr4Cf6NuXNEQb--6EQ0GofEKcy8IXtV5b5HSPBK1emM0CGoAqVC-FgYbvPPV28QvPEUpRqrt1R_oxtD1nQKNjDqE3Z9/s240/JurassicPark_ShootingSpitter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdHgcQPSjRR8j3pZLpaArhGycpf4j0-ksGKwjj4YWqnS4BHMaXzDNwNp7FvbK1473qM_vFM9Rcuqd1UZAIeLpyqFWbvxahdvz8jr4Cf6NuXNEQb--6EQ0GofEKcy8IXtV5b5HSPBK1emM0CGoAqVC-FgYbvPPV28QvPEUpRqrt1R_oxtD1nQKNjDqE3Z9/w200-h158/JurassicPark_ShootingSpitter.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87L99lxbog1WB5HbJY-wLuyhW3ZwGO-oxMgjyRqDgI2065lKxOlV1Y2v7J-Q8g0OmZHWSv10i4f7Im-k7nmAtc6Kd_LCkrUK0YOIuQzNorbn7jhmXtCfDDMJ_VPJvsKIa3yz0wVuNM9UQZMbJmptYTnZ2Lmzr9tBElu8U_zDkO_6ZlQtGmIcvops5OaAM/s240/JurassicPark_Protected.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87L99lxbog1WB5HbJY-wLuyhW3ZwGO-oxMgjyRqDgI2065lKxOlV1Y2v7J-Q8g0OmZHWSv10i4f7Im-k7nmAtc6Kd_LCkrUK0YOIuQzNorbn7jhmXtCfDDMJ_VPJvsKIa3yz0wVuNM9UQZMbJmptYTnZ2Lmzr9tBElu8U_zDkO_6ZlQtGmIcvops5OaAM/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Protected.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Shooting at the Dilophosaur | Right: As long as I'm standing in the open spot of the foliage that venomous projectile spit won't get to me</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywRGNGRmRws" style="font-family: georgia;">first level theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> does undoubtedly share some of the beats of Galway's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Comic Bakery</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> chiptune, but Dunn does just enough to add more flair to the mix so his rendition doesn't sound like a carbon copy, and even if comparisons weren't made, it's still enjoyably catchy and bouncy to listen to without fail. The </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE9P6voMrTQ" style="font-family: georgia;">second level theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is urgent-sounding and occasionally ominous, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPb0puVtH8Q" style="font-family: georgia;">third level's theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> ramps up the sense of imminent danger (especially with the double kick drum during the middle of it), the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Iw2SHGO_Q" style="font-family: georgia;">fourth level theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> has an adventurous flair as you're officially past the halfway point of the game, and the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL4ZAu5HitE" style="font-family: georgia;">fifth level theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> (which doubles as the title theme) is energetically paced and does an effective job at setting the tone for the high quality music for the rest of the game (even if it's got naught to do with John Williams' score). Honestly, the music is the best thing this handheld adaptation has got going for it, and the sound effects are pretty solid too (like the booms of the dinosaurs being eradicated as well as the escalation/de-escalation sound for when your health is completely replenished or completely depleted respectively).</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eU7y2wNSRT05AIL9mYvi4pXHEVY7_Tt-d2BTswAgoSXHfFHAXNLGTR68yBOcEQrL8HObfo-ochT78t4gQ_8F-p4CWYoUKBCQESTVZaGg8sEeZCRnKq6JeqCvvP58lcUNs6FHCADtyTVJKHhIyNmThjOEmeUaJiTRLtcwsTeEetEy6RDLmLkkuO0zHxIE/s240/JurassicParkPart2_GameBoy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="240" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eU7y2wNSRT05AIL9mYvi4pXHEVY7_Tt-d2BTswAgoSXHfFHAXNLGTR68yBOcEQrL8HObfo-ochT78t4gQ_8F-p4CWYoUKBCQESTVZaGg8sEeZCRnKq6JeqCvvP58lcUNs6FHCADtyTVJKHhIyNmThjOEmeUaJiTRLtcwsTeEetEy6RDLmLkkuO0zHxIE/s1600/JurassicParkPart2_GameBoy.gif" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>As a fan of </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Jurassic Park</i><b> (and by extension </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. Nutz</i><b> given the involvement of Pierre Adane and Philippe Dessoly), I was satisfied with this one </b>😄</span></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">1994 saw the first attempt at crafting a sequel to <i>Jurassic Park</i> with the Ocean Software-developed <i>Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i> on the Game Boy (and the SNES) sharing similar sidescrolling run and gun gameplay to Konami's <i>Contra</i>/<i>Probotector</i> franchise (or rather <b>walk</b> and gun in this case). Once again you take control of Dr. Alan Grant who must collect all the magnetic cards scattered around in order to unlock the security grilles as he must shoot down any dinosaur in his path. This follow-up was a marked improvement over its predecessor in my opinion, the gameplay was enjoyable (even if it feels like Grant may have taken in too much helium with his jumps) and far more accessible, Jonathan Dunn's music still shines as it remixes the first game's themes, the visuals look polished and super detailed this time around, and even though it's a bit on the short side I found its difficulty curve and challenge quotient to be far more acceptable than how it was in the first game. I really liked it, and personally I think it's one of Ocean's better licensed titles alongside <i>The Addams Family</i> on the SNES. Good stuff! 👍</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVjp7TtTynHzvgqwzhwpSrIfRlTl6PDaXa2QwkylSM5pTmHuNUd-l_T20I9ZMuyyAWskDVi0smyS2x04Sm3qpjE9DWesDEMof1COufAdnQQpprvQGTvfuesMhK1V5DwyCPF-VIYTQbscmrgW4o_yhd2K5X1bSM0gjyq-y50LLjHX5FHDoqRGvoxFfzs3k/s240/JurassicPark_Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVjp7TtTynHzvgqwzhwpSrIfRlTl6PDaXa2QwkylSM5pTmHuNUd-l_T20I9ZMuyyAWskDVi0smyS2x04Sm3qpjE9DWesDEMof1COufAdnQQpprvQGTvfuesMhK1V5DwyCPF-VIYTQbscmrgW4o_yhd2K5X1bSM0gjyq-y50LLjHX5FHDoqRGvoxFfzs3k/s1600/JurassicPark_Map.png" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Game Boy adaptation was my first introduction to Ocean's body of work as well as all things </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, having played it in the mid '90s in my tender years back when I lived in Italy, long before I watched Steven Spielberg's movie or read Michael Crichton's source material even. My family had the game for as long as I remember, but as a child I had a hard time getting past the second level (even struggling to surpass the </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">first</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> level sometimes) until I got older. I was only two years old when the movie came out in 1993, and from what I've been told my dad took my older cousins to see it in theatres as well as my sister Diana who's three years older than me (she has no recollection of going, however, but my dad is certain that he took her with him to see it).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqcCX6SfWRu3XPMOjL6vuEEa5D59xt105dUVGvjQI42XOTSmlpfA0iImnSBB1chvSa2yrZO84_mWiZ6G7R6iOcXAAywW67TvqyZnfAkkoHx6xHF1-gequouwcdaQdPWdJOsOV6F5_BQbKcnTbzS7LzuCNxcDOtAbBbd8mkqv47tQfN3EmXxlCxwUuGytR/s240/JurassicPark_Card.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqcCX6SfWRu3XPMOjL6vuEEa5D59xt105dUVGvjQI42XOTSmlpfA0iImnSBB1chvSa2yrZO84_mWiZ6G7R6iOcXAAywW67TvqyZnfAkkoHx6xHF1-gequouwcdaQdPWdJOsOV6F5_BQbKcnTbzS7LzuCNxcDOtAbBbd8mkqv47tQfN3EmXxlCxwUuGytR/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Card.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmYi3ye1QwnKecTvN7CDMtMKIEf1JTjaEcyxc56FDTOfk1Tx4CfZ-CUXHfRqERjyzGQzQToGGrBYwcpLVQlR_jvjHVv7frXK4bhatLVbz8pp2PRE2fz36_I8mv6DI2PuJ_SUbKIPm2P17u6ldwNXZpp4mzhKl_6ICiM39Srp2GxHDd4SWgbtn1sUyGyfu/s240/JurassicPark_Switches.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmYi3ye1QwnKecTvN7CDMtMKIEf1JTjaEcyxc56FDTOfk1Tx4CfZ-CUXHfRqERjyzGQzQToGGrBYwcpLVQlR_jvjHVv7frXK4bhatLVbz8pp2PRE2fz36_I8mv6DI2PuJ_SUbKIPm2P17u6ldwNXZpp4mzhKl_6ICiM39Srp2GxHDd4SWgbtn1sUyGyfu/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Switches.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Picking up the access card | Right: Power on the switches</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">One summer as a child I visited the house of my twin cousins Jonathan and Andrew and I noticed that they had </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> on the Game Boy, only unlike my copy from Europe which had Chip Kidd's iconic skeletal T-rex design adorned on a red circle their copy (since they lived in North America) had the same T-rex but on a </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">yellow</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> circle. Thinking it might have been a different game than what I had, I asked if I could play it, though the moment I turned it on I realized I already had it as it was the same game but with a different cover. Having relatives on two sides of the globe, there's always the occasional moments of culture shock (major and minor). I didn't realize until these recent years that the yellow circle motif was pretty much a North American thing (including the poster for this year's 30th anniversary screening of the film this year) because I had always been under the impression that the circle's color was exclusively red, but never mind.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqkDCAJnF3ai03uS1_IFyaXnZtXch01IkZyzfYzsvhqI6j4qnTH0kb9hPY57JfNKRNnmnv0GYMGHx0O9mXbiWVXqJr3YATsYJfm50FZXlt9pryouOaDELxNWBCSHg5vChrfv7v44RF9iwegZ8Zg9UkwpTXbrs4uTcbi7RNWZSMxUZmsWTjsJV3fE-BcRf/s240/JurassicPark_Stegosaurus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqkDCAJnF3ai03uS1_IFyaXnZtXch01IkZyzfYzsvhqI6j4qnTH0kb9hPY57JfNKRNnmnv0GYMGHx0O9mXbiWVXqJr3YATsYJfm50FZXlt9pryouOaDELxNWBCSHg5vChrfv7v44RF9iwegZ8Zg9UkwpTXbrs4uTcbi7RNWZSMxUZmsWTjsJV3fE-BcRf/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Stegosaurus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-xMBSF1YIOBIsju75nAO_GAIBHttUoWPk11DyoIhbnW8KMsbuAgzScRRsA2ekVj7-2B1ao5gBxTDEdqLZySA98ot-fue37PHZ0ckx0j4DxzmtfQHTmOcACIhsV3z8BaTcAkY22FeNHEHIgr8WbhaqPCIYijaEHpbQlQHoHJR8tbXylWatWCS4G8ifjwM/s240/JurassicPark_BiosMessage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-xMBSF1YIOBIsju75nAO_GAIBHttUoWPk11DyoIhbnW8KMsbuAgzScRRsA2ekVj7-2B1ao5gBxTDEdqLZySA98ot-fue37PHZ0ckx0j4DxzmtfQHTmOcACIhsV3z8BaTcAkY22FeNHEHIgr8WbhaqPCIYijaEHpbQlQHoHJR8tbXylWatWCS4G8ifjwM/w200-h158/JurassicPark_BiosMessage.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Walking with dinosaurs | Right: Until you access the terminals in the correct sequence, you will see this message <u>a lot</u></span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I didn't watch the movie until my early teens in the mid-2000's, however. As a child I was very scared of dinosaurs, at least the ones that looked realistic (I could tolerate animated dinosaurs like in Don Bluth's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Land Before Time</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> and its sequels, for example), I remember one time my elementary school class took a trip to the museum and I was frightened of the giant skeletal T-rex taking up one section of it (I'm not really fond of the days I was scared of a lot of things, I try to distance myself from them as that's not who I am anymore). What helped me slightly get over the fear was one time in science class, I forget if it was the end of middle school or the start of high school, we watched Joe Johnston's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park III</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> which was a thrilling watch but I ended up enjoying it nonetheless, so much so that I wanted to catch up with the first two </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> movies directed by Steven Spielberg (I ended up enjoying the first one, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Lost World: Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> not as much, there's things I like about that one but it was never my favorite even to this day).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwchKJ-K8fYC3jLwTbLbOQjmhGidZ7KgdXdepx632HYh3GNtHXnAYZ0BzFvSiL7TeAKGhLDWVGXbFqo2cGDtCJvqLxUzPs5kusFfx0bIuGaUA8x9Ddvv_-E1g6IO-p2v3t6UqtAIlMjQEoZaTdI480u5-Ubmo94kaSYt2GJyn63G6lk4QSxBFW1ldQcpWk/s240/JurassicPark_TableRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwchKJ-K8fYC3jLwTbLbOQjmhGidZ7KgdXdepx632HYh3GNtHXnAYZ0BzFvSiL7TeAKGhLDWVGXbFqo2cGDtCJvqLxUzPs5kusFfx0bIuGaUA8x9Ddvv_-E1g6IO-p2v3t6UqtAIlMjQEoZaTdI480u5-Ubmo94kaSYt2GJyn63G6lk4QSxBFW1ldQcpWk/w200-h158/JurassicPark_TableRoom.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeIrv4h0bDamDtUmb5MYcXonKIhwTOuM-SphfoNsYQAM86RbTVBYBslDoJ8m_Msnt1h97MnHViGbvn0S6d7xNxFfw-w0lKA_sVgFZ9uZEerRLf7PkdPvRfOABFtwrGYStEA-_h5qKt53xv2hQuUU296wnx2j1f6G-JNhrx9NmtfjgLPrVQe3EHv6NvDPt/s240/JurassicPark_WeaponsSelection.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeIrv4h0bDamDtUmb5MYcXonKIhwTOuM-SphfoNsYQAM86RbTVBYBslDoJ8m_Msnt1h97MnHViGbvn0S6d7xNxFfw-w0lKA_sVgFZ9uZEerRLf7PkdPvRfOABFtwrGYStEA-_h5qKt53xv2hQuUU296wnx2j1f6G-JNhrx9NmtfjgLPrVQe3EHv6NvDPt/w200-h158/JurassicPark_WeaponsSelection.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Table room | Right: Cycling through a choice of weapons</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I love the movie </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, it's one of my favorite Spielberg movies alongside </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Raiders of the Lost Ark</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, it's one of those movies that no matter how many times I watch it I never get tired of it (even on the big screen, for which I got to see it in theatres two times: the weekend of my 22nd birthday in 2013 and recently on the last weekend of August 2023, both in 3D). John Williams' music is still top class, the cinematography by Dean Cundey is iconic as always with the warm color palette (especially the scenes with the spotlights and the introduction of the dinosaurs onscreen with pure movie magic), the characters are very memorable, it's a smart movie with a credible premise that raises legitimate questions and concerns about genetically engineering dinosaurs back to life, the special effects still hold up to this day, it's a thrill ride once the dinosaurs are let loose (how about that kitchen sequence or the rain-soaked introduction of the Tyrannosaurus rex?), it's got an excellent cast (Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, the late Bob Peck and late Sir Richard Attenborough, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, what's not to like?), not to mention it is endlessly quotable and even though it slightly deviates from the book (having read it last summer) it follows Michael Crichton's story fairly well.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw57iW4d41D4Olv8319d5kbJouyq_5gvcGziqT-gp3ffATgpcjU3HsVgIoOZZMBlJIigRWt9cT4UqdzewpUy6Y1UdBEvRCKEYDtGvO4GYSK1MCUUDezSUOEblflS7M2uKa_3hT-kwfEXZzuYbjhstMS1FpJq5azA_rfWZe2BaFaSCpJ7t5GJDTnHrZfeH/s240/JurassicPark_Cliffs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw57iW4d41D4Olv8319d5kbJouyq_5gvcGziqT-gp3ffATgpcjU3HsVgIoOZZMBlJIigRWt9cT4UqdzewpUy6Y1UdBEvRCKEYDtGvO4GYSK1MCUUDezSUOEblflS7M2uKa_3hT-kwfEXZzuYbjhstMS1FpJq5azA_rfWZe2BaFaSCpJ7t5GJDTnHrZfeH/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Cliffs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj0e4gyoN1r6tLBprclHmrBMZA7ZymYPF8MJ5WcnEb3CEkbyjPEIZ_AEjsipYxORAl5bSy8bNiQHyYTi-wECWK5ae_zLR_g49gIPPvkfx9ik7-rqvJNde3mUfRXNh33mcU6cnKWyVFiAwwDAPz1JJYZzjfDFeREthctF4nHeydXPPRzoYP5poANRItyCa/s240/JurassicPark_RaptorNest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj0e4gyoN1r6tLBprclHmrBMZA7ZymYPF8MJ5WcnEb3CEkbyjPEIZ_AEjsipYxORAl5bSy8bNiQHyYTi-wECWK5ae_zLR_g49gIPPvkfx9ik7-rqvJNde3mUfRXNh33mcU6cnKWyVFiAwwDAPz1JJYZzjfDFeREthctF4nHeydXPPRzoYP5poANRItyCa/w200-h158/JurassicPark_RaptorNest.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gathering eggs sitting atop a cliff | Right: Entering the Raptor nest</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The film also ends in a pitch perfect manner in my opinion, I adore the way it bookends itself with John Williams' touching music in the background coupled with the quiet moment of (self) reflection of the survivors, the sight of the pelican flying above the water, the sunset that the helicopter flies towards as the credits pop up, it's one of my favorite movie endings ever, love it, love it, love it! 🤗 You cannot get any better than that. Several years ago, when me and my family visited my relatives in Italy, my dad played the theme music of the movie on YouTube around my cousins, aunts and uncles, and my aging grandmother and most of us pretended to flap our wings to the rhythm (including her), it was a happy memory that we'll always cherish. My grandmother sadly died back in June (my dad and I thought of her when the shot of the pelican popped up when we saw the movie in its latest rerelease), but at least she's no longer in pain. 😔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy6XrT59O1dItzsFf0W_nzGKIbU0qeizryypWrgljmdGZo1F67kReJ4tRvdL95w3HtAzVlk2JN_BvuQ0J4q3DAFcDD88vqHjDhWR2CqMPXtuhIszivFP09_KeikQ3iV-qX-J4PYbg_nBS42qH8-Tlt79BBxF4mzS2Xk7ZENAuq8tZSpMEqTax7I-CGFTS/s240/JurassicPark_Roof.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy6XrT59O1dItzsFf0W_nzGKIbU0qeizryypWrgljmdGZo1F67kReJ4tRvdL95w3HtAzVlk2JN_BvuQ0J4q3DAFcDD88vqHjDhWR2CqMPXtuhIszivFP09_KeikQ3iV-qX-J4PYbg_nBS42qH8-Tlt79BBxF4mzS2Xk7ZENAuq8tZSpMEqTax7I-CGFTS/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Roof.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtHewVE0Da3N7abRiYPSSZwrU2yaXJ6_nUdijhzmkyDKHsHUI7zP7_cDB4UuorEXaMFWUolrMBsN-MgFyYgnF8vxO0oAoXY0BQ0O2BTDcvPOWuQRcMcF6euz0VPUWNUYTzn-YRKo2Qr7VTo0lCE8UXzY2rL0Xi2K09f8eBWJSPvrvMTAV6s-2dDzWvorj/s240/JurassicPark_AcquiredExplosive.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtHewVE0Da3N7abRiYPSSZwrU2yaXJ6_nUdijhzmkyDKHsHUI7zP7_cDB4UuorEXaMFWUolrMBsN-MgFyYgnF8vxO0oAoXY0BQ0O2BTDcvPOWuQRcMcF6euz0VPUWNUYTzn-YRKo2Qr7VTo0lCE8UXzY2rL0Xi2K09f8eBWJSPvrvMTAV6s-2dDzWvorj/w200-h158/JurassicPark_AcquiredExplosive.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: On the roof | Right: Picking up the set of explosives</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Something I've noticed when it came to the video game adaptations simply named </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is that they were fairly well-received back when they came out, but over time their reception has been less and less positive while </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> (which until I was older I had no idea existed) is regarded as the superior of the two which is the general consensus it seems. I'm curious if the contemporary praise of the first game had more to do with the hype generated by the success of the film and less to do with the quality of the game itself, not having aged as well as people would've liked. That was certainly how </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> felt about Ocean's Game Boy </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7NzjZ_wygSS0BiC2zf6xU3i_MWYsL4RKHWc7op1uRu-v8b_PE1J-uaLT5Pk6Tdmhe5rjpinizpyePz4dlgRWEkB51DheYDZl_HH8ya_EIqJe0uZna0R_r7r7X39_y71cEfjaPDFuwzjCbg9CYM2IJaze6t06WH7fPd78zSPsiIFU-L-RZKvi1i55DVeV/s240/JurassicPark_ExplosiveSet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7NzjZ_wygSS0BiC2zf6xU3i_MWYsL4RKHWc7op1uRu-v8b_PE1J-uaLT5Pk6Tdmhe5rjpinizpyePz4dlgRWEkB51DheYDZl_HH8ya_EIqJe0uZna0R_r7r7X39_y71cEfjaPDFuwzjCbg9CYM2IJaze6t06WH7fPd78zSPsiIFU-L-RZKvi1i55DVeV/w200-h158/JurassicPark_ExplosiveSet.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqPXnwKvuxQO25IUd0tGwzVeo6J6X65zxqsUCL7ixFCJhMLo1sOHfvQGmwivAA4xwOzetCd5AZ1xNaishq7--5UvFXojZJ5GI3KZ-f6HFd12RAqrAGce8IQYbdmF_dDoh7VbjlqvTVcqHhvgwd-iuscLDk3mmD2LFbQkHTl2vsbLMUNVQbpE48G4BaEyf/s240/JurassicPark_Xiphiorhynchus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqPXnwKvuxQO25IUd0tGwzVeo6J6X65zxqsUCL7ixFCJhMLo1sOHfvQGmwivAA4xwOzetCd5AZ1xNaishq7--5UvFXojZJ5GI3KZ-f6HFd12RAqrAGce8IQYbdmF_dDoh7VbjlqvTVcqHhvgwd-iuscLDk3mmD2LFbQkHTl2vsbLMUNVQbpE48G4BaEyf/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Xiphiorhynchus.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Vacating the nest after setting up and denoting the explosive | Right: Xiphiorhynchus</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">It's clear that Ocean Software spared no expense when it came to obtaining the license to adapt 1993's most successful film to video game format, the production values are evident (this is that one 8-bit game where your character can walk behind an object or wall that obscures you as opposed to just walking <b>above</b> the sprite) and the quality of Jonathan Dunn's music is sublime, but where the game is let down is the gameplay structure and sheer lack of polish. Now, I think the <b>idea</b> behind the game is sound as there is potential for something wholesomely enjoyable, but the end result doesn't live up to that, unfortunately.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuhV1enOfiTC93MpMRxykjxL6inzPVf5_UIRnu6KHV-YILCrXtC8vW93AN_LRLhYVMV5w9Jy0sxwsb_2gpiyIc2bI_BfEeab6PaKSRCmvpiNqVHt788iwUvoJ64M5Ibd-fquKH4yPzTWgLKsAWeC7n_dsftwkvkE9iQjFrxkZ3i7kWbDtqn3PaBX7gQ3x/s240/JurassicPark_Bolas+Raptor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuhV1enOfiTC93MpMRxykjxL6inzPVf5_UIRnu6KHV-YILCrXtC8vW93AN_LRLhYVMV5w9Jy0sxwsb_2gpiyIc2bI_BfEeab6PaKSRCmvpiNqVHt788iwUvoJ64M5Ibd-fquKH4yPzTWgLKsAWeC7n_dsftwkvkE9iQjFrxkZ3i7kWbDtqn3PaBX7gQ3x/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Bolas+Raptor.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtNH1qj59TiKVDjzMwz3YFcK6eWDYwxbX3u0teMLtZqRMQm3_YpVgoUlT57GSbZ28IJecD95XYN4mT_r07gNVS79ObjkZrOqBLKZIlWZ63LIMmbq1IhEDYAEzXL66Ncww0b6hXL9jkT_TxJguie-Pp0fzrTTMczllvRB_XFZYhMj5G8TaadiJ2hEzFRO4/s240/JurassicPark_Jump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtNH1qj59TiKVDjzMwz3YFcK6eWDYwxbX3u0teMLtZqRMQm3_YpVgoUlT57GSbZ28IJecD95XYN4mT_r07gNVS79ObjkZrOqBLKZIlWZ63LIMmbq1IhEDYAEzXL66Ncww0b6hXL9jkT_TxJguie-Pp0fzrTTMczllvRB_XFZYhMj5G8TaadiJ2hEzFRO4/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Jump.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Firing the quick-working bolas at the Raptor | Right: Jumping above the electric floor grid</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Any time you're in a new area, whether indoors or outside, it's imperative for you to collect and/or destroy the requisite number of dinosaur eggs in order to obtain an access card in place of the last egg you collected, but it's not immediately apparent which door it will grant you access to leading to a cumbersome bit of trial and error as you search for and locate the correct door to use it on and even then there's going to be a bit of backtracking involved given the nonlinear structure of each level. The exceptions are the two back-to-back rafting sequences where getting all the eggs floating in the water will get you a free life instead (that is, if you can withstand the odd currents along the way </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> not sustaining damage from floating driftwood and Brachiosaurus heads as well as being sure to avoid being on the receiving end of the Dilophosaurs' spit projectiles).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvnYVXANgIBneJiKzFCvqRMeDNBimmTxGbbpRRhrmD1TRnHYI_5lkaJDZp4ClHuPJMRxyB5lzgHTFCnvJpDZfZMNt1Ecd-gZBW_LhvgD8j2stDgk4Gt4sLQlV5x_5i_oPKqtUpeJgRYq5nWI9yNZ4ICrkoZ6AEsKfytz4CFs54ljEonFXUz2RPT2NvfSf/s240/JurassicPark_OnBoard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvnYVXANgIBneJiKzFCvqRMeDNBimmTxGbbpRRhrmD1TRnHYI_5lkaJDZp4ClHuPJMRxyB5lzgHTFCnvJpDZfZMNt1Ecd-gZBW_LhvgD8j2stDgk4Gt4sLQlV5x_5i_oPKqtUpeJgRYq5nWI9yNZ4ICrkoZ6AEsKfytz4CFs54ljEonFXUz2RPT2NvfSf/w200-h158/JurassicPark_OnBoard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXNRlHFsNRRelWP0na1l0FrJN6KkKnz1gVd4YwUnWHwv8Muw1b8p8tOEqpAW51z6UKUT2qlzWUacP6mSQl7cjcMKNPJNofi8WVzMjQmwy_z7k96L6Q2Cxs_Ng51VVyFDmh9kdSaBIPptRJnxlDSieUytlXq2jEBRPKWYWvXiGKQbIg2FerfDWId4DUYqo/s240/JurassicPark_Ship.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXNRlHFsNRRelWP0na1l0FrJN6KkKnz1gVd4YwUnWHwv8Muw1b8p8tOEqpAW51z6UKUT2qlzWUacP6mSQl7cjcMKNPJNofi8WVzMjQmwy_z7k96L6Q2Cxs_Ng51VVyFDmh9kdSaBIPptRJnxlDSieUytlXq2jEBRPKWYWvXiGKQbIg2FerfDWId4DUYqo/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Ship.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Getting onboard the ship | Right: Traveling around the ship to search for all the eggs</span></b></div><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is divided into six levels, each with their own separate missions: the first where you must open up the gate to save Tim from the Triceratops, the second where you must row through the river with the occasional current to reach Lex as well as guide her to the exit as the Tyrannosaurus rex is on the prowl, the third level entails that you turn on all the switches which will allow you to turn on the terminals one by one (in the correct order), the fourth level asks that you procure some explosives so you can use them to destroy the Raptor nests, the fifth level has you perilously jump over electric grids so you can send a distress signal, and the final mission requires you to safely make your way to the helipad where the helicopter waits to fly you out of Isla Nublar.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6_FR1Yc3q7qqVsusBKUx2OkTGeHnQU5wfA321Nn6tReJa5GZsixiI_12Gh4rnrlBia5E7omeDYB90BatM596Too8jbQCPoSyFISylZnqOk6fB58zcHrC9Dmg6eI5Qat-okDEwFyKG4fvWKxjAmJInjBEAByx53T9oIsyvsnMp-D1gjEa0iXW73VpeqlB/s240/JurassicPark_ElectricRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6_FR1Yc3q7qqVsusBKUx2OkTGeHnQU5wfA321Nn6tReJa5GZsixiI_12Gh4rnrlBia5E7omeDYB90BatM596Too8jbQCPoSyFISylZnqOk6fB58zcHrC9Dmg6eI5Qat-okDEwFyKG4fvWKxjAmJInjBEAByx53T9oIsyvsnMp-D1gjEa0iXW73VpeqlB/w200-h158/JurassicPark_ElectricRoom.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjbwwM2oBMzBNqL3IjwHlxV0nNqImt0hjYY7MuF0-x7FsdAJDlLFrTyj8Ml2aKJVJfTEzrq46rkGAw3NUhMgsfRiUyQQGMwGqX0XK5zdYGdpx-9F_WgI9lrl9P3fIBxLu0thlhs7kICBf6iBmycgF8Kcoy1DYT6qku2ckiTrWaWapadAFyDm1NrggLqT3/s240/JurassicPark_Electrocuted.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjbwwM2oBMzBNqL3IjwHlxV0nNqImt0hjYY7MuF0-x7FsdAJDlLFrTyj8Ml2aKJVJfTEzrq46rkGAw3NUhMgsfRiUyQQGMwGqX0XK5zdYGdpx-9F_WgI9lrl9P3fIBxLu0thlhs7kICBf6iBmycgF8Kcoy1DYT6qku2ckiTrWaWapadAFyDm1NrggLqT3/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Electrocuted.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Watch out for flying electricity | Right: The slightest touch of electricity is enough to do you in, so do yourself a favor and tread these areas cautiously</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">When it comes to the individual segments involving saving Tim and Lex, they move at such a slow pace so you cannot walk too far from them and if the former gets stomped on by the stampeding Triceratops then Grant will sustain some damage so you have to move cautiously for the minute or two that you're there. Losing all your lives and choosing to continue will pick you up at the latest segment you were at but without bullets of any kind, if you lose your last life at the Tyrannosaurus rex bit and choose to continue there, you're pretty much screwed because you need an ample amount of bullets to have her backpedal offscreen so that you can safely guide Lex to the exit until she reemerges so you can shoot at her <b>again</b>, rinse and repeat until you're at the exit. The game doesn't play by the movie's rules where immobility is the key to not being spotted. This is the last of the two big dinosaurs you have to contend with, so one of the worst bits of the game is over which is fine and dandy except it feels like for better or worse things might have peaked in here in terms of big scale action.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJEktk6hJ-WE2iU1ddVejjxaFl7isfpMwP9PxzLBbl13eTgWi5IbnAagIXrZg48ZZfaEes2T85BY4ReshwrXF8wRsYMu-lFle6UMQ8_FmIGODNCaWcYqZJe4-afVlcldFmn806jpwP4CF67p5MvgtiFvOvfQleymaRnll_CDQQfEhfUj3RT5cC1tEEMoJ/s240/JurassicPark_InsideShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJEktk6hJ-WE2iU1ddVejjxaFl7isfpMwP9PxzLBbl13eTgWi5IbnAagIXrZg48ZZfaEes2T85BY4ReshwrXF8wRsYMu-lFle6UMQ8_FmIGODNCaWcYqZJe4-afVlcldFmn806jpwP4CF67p5MvgtiFvOvfQleymaRnll_CDQQfEhfUj3RT5cC1tEEMoJ/w200-h158/JurassicPark_InsideShip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H_a620dIvF0zJwxJ2k5IvDN5bYlhoybbgz83eRMfBfj0Idh3C-EDm038K6os5D8-3aQQBoiiMd4HL1Z-QNGF2DLyvxdG2Z0geoQnSwAAuYdK_23RG3ahLP6izCEDALDKUKdjzTrXzVq5CcQ-y-5LfU09DEH01MGD0wi5cpDJDVDlokbeP8wxDEJW0wW_/s240/JurassicPark_RadioMessageSent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H_a620dIvF0zJwxJ2k5IvDN5bYlhoybbgz83eRMfBfj0Idh3C-EDm038K6os5D8-3aQQBoiiMd4HL1Z-QNGF2DLyvxdG2Z0geoQnSwAAuYdK_23RG3ahLP6izCEDALDKUKdjzTrXzVq5CcQ-y-5LfU09DEH01MGD0wi5cpDJDVDlokbeP8wxDEJW0wW_/w200-h158/JurassicPark_RadioMessageSent.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Heading back outside | Right: Radio message sent</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The inside of the buildings are laid out in an almost maze-like fashion and are pretty spacious all around, when it comes to the terminal sequence it is going to take you awhile to learn the proper order to turn them on so you're forced to backtrack numerous times and occasionally shoot down any dinosaur that sometimes respawns itself whilst conserving bullets </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> properly centering yourself when walking through doorways otherwise you're not going to pass until you've got it all figured out. There are a </span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">lot</b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> of doors in the sixth mission to go through, so you're going to spend a pretty long time perusing about, dealing with dinosaurs and wandering aimlessly until you find yourself entering through the correct door once you've got the matching access card. All this makes the proceedings feel so much longer than they need to be.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF-fDXPHBZ-pzMQnfJHdY143sS49wXwSi5YyGMuY25NFtE2Nkxkp8Vwto8Zh2WW7Dcp4yiAwI0EqHcFnQVdrvVmGQva0MTTLp4YyQ3-52ZmQw5MuxVg79LbN3-KT2fh3q4ednudKLBgltDs5uC6l4r6-eBccbXUHQqNdS43J5607rH6kvqzpbMGSG4nwX/s240/JurassicPark_Bolas+Compys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF-fDXPHBZ-pzMQnfJHdY143sS49wXwSi5YyGMuY25NFtE2Nkxkp8Vwto8Zh2WW7Dcp4yiAwI0EqHcFnQVdrvVmGQva0MTTLp4YyQ3-52ZmQw5MuxVg79LbN3-KT2fh3q4ednudKLBgltDs5uC6l4r6-eBccbXUHQqNdS43J5607rH6kvqzpbMGSG4nwX/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Bolas+Compys.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36zSFiTZ6IA4JzTxpEiETUeVUyvgtTNezPAkKk43pVxoJ4Ulp5DpXd5nmfE6NGHBmmGqdFZSlMIUHWXpq-5APW8b78DPxKGX40g9EJ57UnmZpB6b4pVALfVzUoXyocPPBj2VaT0KohVe2CjkOqfSDrIKFoUzWBHnVdHhc7uNKG5nrCIDaA-fEdgNEhPjh/s240/JurassicPark_CorneredEgg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36zSFiTZ6IA4JzTxpEiETUeVUyvgtTNezPAkKk43pVxoJ4Ulp5DpXd5nmfE6NGHBmmGqdFZSlMIUHWXpq-5APW8b78DPxKGX40g9EJ57UnmZpB6b4pVALfVzUoXyocPPBj2VaT0KohVe2CjkOqfSDrIKFoUzWBHnVdHhc7uNKG5nrCIDaA-fEdgNEhPjh/w200-h158/JurassicPark_CorneredEgg.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: More procompsognathid | Right: Found an egg in a corner</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Then there's the mystery boxes, where touching them will either help you significantly (by replenishing health, earning you a life, or briefly becoming invincible) or spell instant doom (by depleting your health or completely ending you by the touch), a handful of which are concealed by foliage near the end. Until you know what contents they hold if you're low on health and/or lives you may want to be cautious around them as you don't want to take any chances when you're at your most vulnerable point, and fortunately you earn a life after every 1,000 points should you be able to survive up to that point. Now, the game is manageable to <b>play</b> if you can coordinate yourself properly and conserving bullets is not that hard when positioned as well as distanced properly (simply don't shoot more standard bullets than you have to... plus the common dinosaurs you contend with aren't really that aggressive here), for the challenge comes not from the dinosaurs but from surviving for so long without resorting to playing on the offensive and needlessly losing health as a result.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mi0-Noq4xVWIXIs-6DT23l2CcEH_xphj1u3wv8pw8Cd2wtFVLtdQoSyQI1NWOtjXMT6ADt-rBqH5_qT6xHB-VHjw4ckQoP95UYAIm-sDELd7wroYSKrDrkcADe9kYyBJaJrmAfBYsutH0cy_h3WAzM5p6ax3EQ8wLLAjQI9_4WnC0_IGi0c8cUnJ6_Vp/s240/JurassicPark_Paddock.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mi0-Noq4xVWIXIs-6DT23l2CcEH_xphj1u3wv8pw8Cd2wtFVLtdQoSyQI1NWOtjXMT6ADt-rBqH5_qT6xHB-VHjw4ckQoP95UYAIm-sDELd7wroYSKrDrkcADe9kYyBJaJrmAfBYsutH0cy_h3WAzM5p6ax3EQ8wLLAjQI9_4WnC0_IGi0c8cUnJ6_Vp/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Paddock.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwh8x2Y5hO3h2lG9KzoUC-5GHU-JgNP7c92Iw4cnKcKWfwjTifvdS5l6T4xjOhdmrYYZdygPQ7KFzeCm0wX9JlpDGw_UrZsCi7vNVqyU45Cvhyls40O3n56u4lMJBkXzz_gcWbk8F4_UoOmAEkg2YFjyWU2_eQ7T0L0cAiApctpWOZNOf4M0azs5bAfjs/s240/JurassicPark_Bolas+Dilophosaurs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwh8x2Y5hO3h2lG9KzoUC-5GHU-JgNP7c92Iw4cnKcKWfwjTifvdS5l6T4xjOhdmrYYZdygPQ7KFzeCm0wX9JlpDGw_UrZsCi7vNVqyU45Cvhyls40O3n56u4lMJBkXzz_gcWbk8F4_UoOmAEkg2YFjyWU2_eQ7T0L0cAiApctpWOZNOf4M0azs5bAfjs/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Bolas+Dilophosaurs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Inside the final paddock | Right: Dealing with the last of the Dilophosaurs</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Ocean's first </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> game also suffers from sheer lack of replay value. Outside of perhaps hunting for eggs in a different order and the interactive credits map that you can explore to your heart's content, there's really no incentive to play it again right after you finish it as the gameplay isn't fun and intuitive enough to warrant to it, plus the contents of the mystery boxes remain unchanged no matter how many times you play it. If it wasn't for the fact that there's a lot of random trial and error when it comes to the correct terminal sequence and the right door to enter through while moving at a moderate walking pace, this game would not exceed past the one-hour length just to play through it all.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYHbkIV48KrjDfChmaJOYQiB-d4465t5N-aOQ-tbzvyYN2uYkuEwZTWUcMGC-m2rMRVTZ1NnBOWAK_gKs9xsnTPi9pclyT4ipTLjU4cNGTx3mBVPMkbc5BYVCc2dvcQQPQu5URkM_HU-EObbsTk9GXPGXItNWmJWv8529wip6JP_j0-vnUd3ECf0O5men/s1500/GexTrilogy_Trailer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYHbkIV48KrjDfChmaJOYQiB-d4465t5N-aOQ-tbzvyYN2uYkuEwZTWUcMGC-m2rMRVTZ1NnBOWAK_gKs9xsnTPi9pclyT4ipTLjU4cNGTx3mBVPMkbc5BYVCc2dvcQQPQu5URkM_HU-EObbsTk9GXPGXItNWmJWv8529wip6JP_j0-vnUd3ECf0O5men/w400-h225/GexTrilogy_Trailer.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Limited Run's <i>Gex Trilogy</i> reveal trailer on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This Summer the publisher Limited Run Games released a teaser trailer for </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> to commemorate the thirty years of the movie (and the game), seeing all five of Ocean's Nintendo-bound </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> games compiled together by Carbon Engine with quality-of-life features, but it doesn't appear that any of the Sega adaptations will be included*. Carbon Engine is fairly new, having only worked on a handful of properties preserving the video game classics from yesteryear thus far (from </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Bill & Ted's Excellent Retro Collection</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> which has already been released to upcoming venues </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Trip World DX</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">A Boy and His Blob: Retro Collection</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Gex Trilogy</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">). Come the day Limited Run releases </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jurassic Park</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">'s compilation, those who had not experienced any of Ocean's games before will see whether they enjoy the individual titles available in it or not. With the rise of video game preservation, life finds a way.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* <u>9/19/23 Update:</u> It seemed to be that way when I wrote this review, but it's just been announced by Limited Run that BlueSky Software's MegaDrive/Genesis-based <i>Jurassic Park</i> and <i>Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition</i> will also be a part of the compilation</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NgcCMhamD3KqB6X5bW3iIgCgQa7Kn48gQPL9yc07TDq8LUhRA_aLNkHwSdJNxbKuzU325hr_SUp6o1oHjWz-ooEkhtL9Y2-6v0kxXjxihKHld9RAFkpNB5KQbHW6WqxCQw4Ds7kXt2nIArOuZPAn1gXYoD5OVV_Nwv-0d58fntffh9_4Ql4loY73aKjp/s240/JurassicPark_FinalRaptors.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NgcCMhamD3KqB6X5bW3iIgCgQa7Kn48gQPL9yc07TDq8LUhRA_aLNkHwSdJNxbKuzU325hr_SUp6o1oHjWz-ooEkhtL9Y2-6v0kxXjxihKHld9RAFkpNB5KQbHW6WqxCQw4Ds7kXt2nIArOuZPAn1gXYoD5OVV_Nwv-0d58fntffh9_4Ql4loY73aKjp/w200-h158/JurassicPark_FinalRaptors.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGWq-fNFuhEHNmorUuQlt9tg52BXKASDcIUi75Hr2KivXY3EucpjIVmE4TsJlljjlRG_Vkgfc4COU1V1tVbQ1FDNs9ov-h6UFEmOUWe2yevZGsEyLg5g5CFLcA70ugarrzpASaQIlAbfZFh6JuY5-ybmiZ76knrP0wMnMZwANsolkFB3U84pQXJ9h6mz5/s240/JurassicPark_Helipad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="240" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGWq-fNFuhEHNmorUuQlt9tg52BXKASDcIUi75Hr2KivXY3EucpjIVmE4TsJlljjlRG_Vkgfc4COU1V1tVbQ1FDNs9ov-h6UFEmOUWe2yevZGsEyLg5g5CFLcA70ugarrzpASaQIlAbfZFh6JuY5-ybmiZ76knrP0wMnMZwANsolkFB3U84pQXJ9h6mz5/w200-h158/JurassicPark_Helipad.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Two Raptors to deal with | Right: "Call the mainland. Tell them to send the damn helicopters."</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">If other people had fun with it, that's fine, but personally speaking, I found the enjoyment value of <b>this</b> specific <i>Jurassic Park</i> game to be mildly inconsistent, as at points there's times when it's genuinely fun but then there's the moments I get lost trying to locate the right door and the correct terminal to utilize next which to me sapped enjoyment out of the experience given how spacious these environments are. I do have a soft spot for it, having played it as a child, but I found this to be a mess. If you are curious about <i>Jurassic Park</i>, I recommend reading Michael Crichton's novel (provided you can tolerate the occasional techno babble science and are not the least bit squeamish) and watching the movie over playing this game. If you still want to play it, it's fine to play through at least once (and that's it), however, if you have to play only <b>one</b> Ocean <i>Jurassic Park</i> game on the Game Boy, I highly recommend checking out the more accessible <i>Jurassic Park Part 2: The Chaos Continues</i> instead.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>My Personal Score: 5.0/10</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFArmE39SYaQN2_HCRZxALhddy1Lkwo6zibMiusmiLhTASNQoiQ89MD8FDJPBatgnpPe875OqegKZo-L2QxX2DZNEr0oA5-wBwQDOPDfyoTDJjbPa6CJHQYiu91lQ6KeHQ6mtkbifzDoQiEmhZb1yDvlOHbK1P2cvtBrWFGMFitx02Y6B3hirxMzdMxEpB/s200/Emoticon_Mixed.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFArmE39SYaQN2_HCRZxALhddy1Lkwo6zibMiusmiLhTASNQoiQ89MD8FDJPBatgnpPe875OqegKZo-L2QxX2DZNEr0oA5-wBwQDOPDfyoTDJjbPa6CJHQYiu91lQ6KeHQ6mtkbifzDoQiEmhZb1yDvlOHbK1P2cvtBrWFGMFitx02Y6B3hirxMzdMxEpB/s1600/Emoticon_Mixed.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtORgrfTujylb1gBCLe3T0so-9_Itul9vzsbGH5VI66EHo5PSj_o_v1M_8ew7sGffEYIUcB1fD3e8MDXL5OGYOCEpXqhqRMzV4WSa3aN36DxBjLhUYNkCEvSVaKYtj2l41JddeBXF35zK3bEN1lb7iUYLGyilMFhqgMX75O8vyiDjn_KrFElm_QALcz1Dg/s130/2023_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtORgrfTujylb1gBCLe3T0so-9_Itul9vzsbGH5VI66EHo5PSj_o_v1M_8ew7sGffEYIUcB1fD3e8MDXL5OGYOCEpXqhqRMzV4WSa3aN36DxBjLhUYNkCEvSVaKYtj2l41JddeBXF35zK3bEN1lb7iUYLGyilMFhqgMX75O8vyiDjn_KrFElm_QALcz1Dg/s1600/2023_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">● I wanted to review this game last year after having watched Colin Trevorrow's <i>Jurassic World Dominion</i> (which I surprisingly liked quite a bit, though I wonder if seeing the old cast reunite had anything to do with that) and while I was in the midst of reading Michael Crichton's book, but I did not get much of anywhere. I'm glad I can say I got the motivation to see this review through this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">● Tangentially related, but I did find it amusing how in the animated film <i>We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story</i>, a movie I'm completely on the fence how I feel about in the handful of times I've seen it, they show on the marquee in the background "Now Playing: <i>Jurassic Park</i>" during the "Roll Back the Rock" sequence; same year (1993), distributor (Universal), and production company (Amblin Entertainment) as the aforementioned film. The animators, they knew what they were doing here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">● I found out this year that <i>Jurassic Park</i> was rereleased in 2018 (the same year as J. A. Bayona's <i>Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom</i>), and I feel a bit bad for not knowing about that at the time, but I'm glad I got to see <i>Jurassic Park</i> on the big screen a second time this year, and if I'm aware about it in the future I would not want to pass up an opportunity for a third (I just hope the audience at that point shows more discipline then they have at this one, I'm a little disheartened that decorum and self-control are going the way of the dinosaurs 😞). I'm also happy that I can say that Colin Trevorrow's <i>Jurassic World</i> is no longer the only film in the franchise that I've seen in theatres more than once.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">● There's always something special about seeing the classics on the big screen, isn't it? How neat would it be if the theatres decided to rerelease films such as Robert Zemeckis' <i>Romancing the Stone</i>, Steven Spielberg's <i>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</i>, or even John Carpenter's <i>Starman</i> in 2024 in celebration of their 40th anniversary (just to name a few) and seeing those classics blown up on the big screen (a second trip to the late Ivan Reitman's <i>Ghostbusters</i> in theatres wouldn't be bad, either, having seen that one in theatres in 2014...)? I bring up the last one because, prior to <i>Jurassic Park</i> being played at this screening, there was a Fathom Events trailer for the 40th anniversary screening of Carpenter's <i>Christine</i>, so I figured maybe... though I wouldn't hold my breath, knowing it's one of the director's least popular of movies despite being adored and beloved (and for good reason, it's <b>so</b> good I practically gushed about it at the end of my review for ASCII's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/05/ardy-lightfoot-sfc-review.html">Ardy Lightfoot</a></i> back in May; just imagining experiencing the down to earth sci-fi love story between Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen, being emotionally invested in their journey, and hearing the late Jack Nitzsche's thought-provoking and poignant score on the <b>big screen</b>, oh my God, I would <b>love</b> that if <i>Starman</i> were going to be rereleased next year 😭).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>Jurassic Park</i>,</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>you earned it!!!! </b>🥳</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(By which I mean the movie)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care!</b></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-6296718153559192372023-06-23T18:24:00.001-05:002023-06-23T18:28:48.299-05:00Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">💻 <b>Received: December 25th, 2022 </b>💻<b> Written: June 12th-23rd, 2023 </b>💻</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0oU8RaEuxIHwMdc33H2ggb2EOc7d-u-kDifDizXte1gGvTAUTNimVyZXYNBkMpHJoF2X93JPPGoCLXKRsoAV9-nIrWl-4vcb89wT_ZN5m6qUqoTxaWckvIXdYaqsPJTeCdc0tnyVgyC-nVGvMvRnqVLtyz5b04c_9BQc57UwFZUKNYRHN0x7NtV4GQ/s290/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="290" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0oU8RaEuxIHwMdc33H2ggb2EOc7d-u-kDifDizXte1gGvTAUTNimVyZXYNBkMpHJoF2X93JPPGoCLXKRsoAV9-nIrWl-4vcb89wT_ZN5m6qUqoTxaWckvIXdYaqsPJTeCdc0tnyVgyC-nVGvMvRnqVLtyz5b04c_9BQc57UwFZUKNYRHN0x7NtV4GQ/s1600/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Title.png" width="290" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Year: 1997, 1998 | Developed by: KCE Yokohama</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Published by: Konami | </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #ffa400;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></span></span></b></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8TW9A4R38IILeJI0g1cPx1bhEwVSPUW5Mp34EVRkpT2oarO584g3EZeU-L48md04jCTj-Fyp6dJEPK_7SRMZoVe1ochqqIqRxZeYqXBqQKixBA4XikyNDjXaLxqWVPXi5EZlbtfRnwKEqbipNcek-yp7J29oADDmQ7UHkniAMcIf4TpwX6PWYck4Qw/s1644/MSX_Console.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1644" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8TW9A4R38IILeJI0g1cPx1bhEwVSPUW5Mp34EVRkpT2oarO584g3EZeU-L48md04jCTj-Fyp6dJEPK_7SRMZoVe1ochqqIqRxZeYqXBqQKixBA4XikyNDjXaLxqWVPXi5EZlbtfRnwKEqbipNcek-yp7J29oADDmQ7UHkniAMcIf4TpwX6PWYck4Qw/w400-h219/MSX_Console.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from Wikipedia</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">October 21st, 1983 saw the Japanese debut of the MSX personal gaming computer, which was created by ASCII and Microsoft as a way to create unified standards among other home computer manufacturers of the time. The MSX didn't see a wide release in North American shores despite the involvement of Microsoft, having only ever seen a broader release outside of Japan in Europe that same year. The name "MSX", for which the acronym's meaning became a matter of debate from the day it came out, came about with the new naming standard that comprised of just three letters, like VHS for an example, according to ASCII co-founder Kazuhiko Nishi who felt it fitting for it meant "the next of Microsoft" and had the first letters of the Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sony companies.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzxik-GUECtHBqoE3wpq2BKGU4krh2A50D3OOCtztpNeJYMuYg9isQnwb58VoSPQZ2oTUumEGXQpp51V3os6ejbZLnPcqt046ClZGhMWy_pKnr9VclrK9YREIR2785z4k2pcXqgTb0CXy6OYk1hHUFoMJD-F62h_U-I8KBM_C5QntBTV_qE0fiEIiwA/s278/Konami_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzxik-GUECtHBqoE3wpq2BKGU4krh2A50D3OOCtztpNeJYMuYg9isQnwb58VoSPQZ2oTUumEGXQpp51V3os6ejbZLnPcqt046ClZGhMWy_pKnr9VclrK9YREIR2785z4k2pcXqgTb0CXy6OYk1hHUFoMJD-F62h_U-I8KBM_C5QntBTV_qE0fiEIiwA/s16000/Konami_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The MSX became a major platform for companies such as Hudson Soft and </span><b style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Konami</b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> to develop their games for. During the original MSX's lifetime from 1983 to 1990 Konami worked on approximately sixty games for the personal computer (including five compilations consisting of older titles), twenty games on the MSX2, and one game on the MSX2+ (</span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">F-1 Spirit 3D Special</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VMhknSR1JtQgGJmiHmm1dbby37wGLVfz8K04KPbLX1ti-oubuztNqNAp9J4Dc5LFSQBMLd1J0U1pOdD2op_n988JBTKjWsJis-LO5R9g1ISYmkBGugtmqnRK_0In_hQgABVPyu8uZfjYvyVuhWpbb1axOdwfFm7DY1JQLEYRr7LgdFhW0f73lwJqYA/s1837/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionVol1-3_Covers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1837" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VMhknSR1JtQgGJmiHmm1dbby37wGLVfz8K04KPbLX1ti-oubuztNqNAp9J4Dc5LFSQBMLd1J0U1pOdD2op_n988JBTKjWsJis-LO5R9g1ISYmkBGugtmqnRK_0In_hQgABVPyu8uZfjYvyVuhWpbb1axOdwfFm7DY1JQLEYRr7LgdFhW0f73lwJqYA/w400-h134/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionVol1-3_Covers.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs, joined together</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the mid '90s there was an advent of near precise home emulation of classic games featured in compilations (arcade or otherwise). Konami would jump on the bandwagon, too, as they worked on their <b>own</b> set of compilations over the years. One in particular came in the form of the Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo division's <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection</i> trilogy on the PlayStation One from November 20th, 1997 to March 19th, 1998 exclusively in Japan. Each Sony compilation had ten classic MSX games on each disc which <b>Konami Computer Entertainment Yokohama</b>, who worked on the first installments of Konami's <i>pop'n music</i> rhythm franchise, would combine it all to one disc for a subsequent release.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuWsakKfC5HX_nD91Zdj94Aw9hHSuAfwA0uCFcWVUfnqGJQkseaGmkhGx1q4_Od0Vl8xPC8yGPEoe6tPX2P6BnDj3bnB5cuL3B26JL5tpoFPdXSVLNCDUuEj-cwVIThA9HnDlqgohB5I1eUkFHHBShhR5exGTMJ6qGnqy-e-otvN5J7KTDpK6mA3Biw/s600/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuWsakKfC5HX_nD91Zdj94Aw9hHSuAfwA0uCFcWVUfnqGJQkseaGmkhGx1q4_Od0Vl8xPC8yGPEoe6tPX2P6BnDj3bnB5cuL3B26JL5tpoFPdXSVLNCDUuEj-cwVIThA9HnDlqgohB5I1eUkFHHBShhR5exGTMJ6qGnqy-e-otvN5J7KTDpK6mA3Biw/w400-h400/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Cover.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Konami Computer Entertainment Yokohama's <i><b>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</b></i> would see a release on the Sega Saturn on July 23rd, 1998, and was the last time Konami created an MSX-related video game collection. Like the Sony trilogy by KCE Tokyo before it, this ultra pack only came out in Japan.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-_w5fA87wP4NYMFdNjgrqFjABLOg4y4nhWcW56Th2TP8A8rDMcyaIz15SSYA2A9zNv00jsWZDzYsZTrVfktg30Nwvfq-sSjwymLONw25_q2XSVK8FGzU1gVGpW1ISWug8XJ3Qxdxm6k0gQ_uJwNVTWmBuK8B5vIYWLzdezVpcmMRtMVumMowDI3lQ/s389/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_GameMenu.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-_w5fA87wP4NYMFdNjgrqFjABLOg4y4nhWcW56Th2TP8A8rDMcyaIz15SSYA2A9zNv00jsWZDzYsZTrVfktg30Nwvfq-sSjwymLONw25_q2XSVK8FGzU1gVGpW1ISWug8XJ3Qxdxm6k0gQ_uJwNVTWmBuK8B5vIYWLzdezVpcmMRtMVumMowDI3lQ/s16000/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_GameMenu.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Love the touch of the kanji slightly overlapping the largely English in-game title design in this compilation's game menu screens</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> you have a choice to play one of thirty MSX games by highlighting the one you wish to play and pressing A or C on the selected title, and if what you wish to play is not in the present screen simply press the left or right shoulder button to go to the previous or subsequent screen. If you wish to leave the game and go back to the menu so you can play another one of your choice, press and hold the A, B, and C buttons and press the Start button to do a soft reset so it will take you back to the title and game selection screens. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Now I apologize in advance for the lack of consistency in how I cover each game for I do not have an equal amount of things to say for all thirty of them</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, and after contemplating long and hard I've finally settled on the order I'm going to talk about them (even if it's not as yearly chronological as I would've preferred).</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuLfQy_DhMF8Uxw8j2jRlzMYHYTcietVsN629COK9yT5zxZKsmhhylN0MgH7-vXZnuO9510EVYShUdKNRF77bDxIzTKDErR7wDd_7H2vyCYkl4Vx353TM8TzQmPpuyADDwe9jZBIoMgfBFpOJT-wNlxyToHQb6qa9zIy6gkUEN5tPSRddAYYrGB21z9sq/s147/KonamisBoxing_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="147" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuLfQy_DhMF8Uxw8j2jRlzMYHYTcietVsN629COK9yT5zxZKsmhhylN0MgH7-vXZnuO9510EVYShUdKNRF77bDxIzTKDErR7wDd_7H2vyCYkl4Vx353TM8TzQmPpuyADDwe9jZBIoMgfBFpOJT-wNlxyToHQb6qa9zIy6gkUEN5tPSRddAYYrGB21z9sq/s1600/KonamisBoxing_Title.png" width="147" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985 | Japanese Title: <i>Konami no Boxing</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLwbwU33HGkQBKhu8QQ5J9aTV4MWe2gMNkRHMy_4f-x-PUqMYpEZCfOIGDlfC0ujRpOgTe06jVjZ2iP1eyv7RnlY4P-aTdeQCfjjQEna4_GFIZIqrHINPr3boPTxZmqQsy3HpdL0B-ZiZ2t_JBjqDK6w_ZOr4iZBDih-540O4MhEcvCzv10PlWMmArkj/s311/KonamisBoxing_RyuDecksRedWolf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLwbwU33HGkQBKhu8QQ5J9aTV4MWe2gMNkRHMy_4f-x-PUqMYpEZCfOIGDlfC0ujRpOgTe06jVjZ2iP1eyv7RnlY4P-aTdeQCfjjQEna4_GFIZIqrHINPr3boPTxZmqQsy3HpdL0B-ZiZ2t_JBjqDK6w_ZOr4iZBDih-540O4MhEcvCzv10PlWMmArkj/w200-h166/KonamisBoxing_RyuDecksRedWolf.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75IF87xUdLtqiWfNXeO5odl4Z6HvtdFv9gYtIpN66q2Re1Rg0yaOwwKAMsqmyeWhmLU2d8Zq5yq2Fyh2Xz99PwslzyLVbmQcBac36L2wgg9cNi0W7V7d2-8qWK4v1w6ZRa_16hfekbEc3270iolqoGj0-lkbnVQnLvndYbH5Iw98xued6-8NGvDD8Z3DP/s311/KonamisBoxing_Dodge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75IF87xUdLtqiWfNXeO5odl4Z6HvtdFv9gYtIpN66q2Re1Rg0yaOwwKAMsqmyeWhmLU2d8Zq5yq2Fyh2Xz99PwslzyLVbmQcBac36L2wgg9cNi0W7V7d2-8qWK4v1w6ZRa_16hfekbEc3270iolqoGj0-lkbnVQnLvndYbH5Iw98xued6-8NGvDD8Z3DP/w200-h166/KonamisBoxing_Dodge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Interesting that the first player is fighting from the <u>right</u> side in boxing</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The first game in the compilation is <b><i>Konami's Boxing</i></b>, one of several games in Konami's namesake sports games available to play here. As the boxer Ryu you must deck out your opponent by properly timing your straight punches and low blows, and block said opponents' punches should you be able to if not attempt to dodge them by swaying back the moment it happens. Should your energy and health be depleted you have ten seconds to get back up on your feet, but the longer you stay afloat the harder it will be to get back up the next out for it takes a lot of energy. Visually it's vibrantly colorful with big and detailed boxing contestant sprites with the most expressive faces sporting solid animation, the gameplay is nice, and on the whole I think it's decent fun to play. 🥊</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwadMDdKJjMNfAZ2FGycHF6mQTrbU9zUxaMUud3ps_WLqh4Of3ea2--D4Sc9OT9CkSbJRD6nkVpSTSwo8-yC2qrvTLEIxtlRIXTWDxO_p8T6xrtG58p8BwC8Y6liOEpjmdynOCOLB5O03B5wXMH_2Yzil5nGOoj6QYZKqeT_c04dG-BKHJ49gAiGAHw/s134/KonamisPingPong_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="38" data-original-width="134" height="38" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwadMDdKJjMNfAZ2FGycHF6mQTrbU9zUxaMUud3ps_WLqh4Of3ea2--D4Sc9OT9CkSbJRD6nkVpSTSwo8-yC2qrvTLEIxtlRIXTWDxO_p8T6xrtG58p8BwC8Y6liOEpjmdynOCOLB5O03B5wXMH_2Yzil5nGOoj6QYZKqeT_c04dG-BKHJ49gAiGAHw/s1600/KonamisPingPong_Title.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985 | Japanese Title: <i>Konami no Ping-Pong</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUCD8X1iO7Pvlk_w3tQuCemejfxKM3g3UCdRkrfGdvoN-I2HPprlXkwjhUJqa_q3LRuYMK5mzcoOYKmRYqK7R3x8OBIJ8BrEarDIoNb5g8LBaG-cVvdVJRWCv1E7jNiZ4QG3UzHpTc3hD1y8tpZhLEgLHQxo9tztGmreCpCAWzkFzs9ypC1gJ3n8vQQ/s311/KonamisPingPong_1-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUCD8X1iO7Pvlk_w3tQuCemejfxKM3g3UCdRkrfGdvoN-I2HPprlXkwjhUJqa_q3LRuYMK5mzcoOYKmRYqK7R3x8OBIJ8BrEarDIoNb5g8LBaG-cVvdVJRWCv1E7jNiZ4QG3UzHpTc3hD1y8tpZhLEgLHQxo9tztGmreCpCAWzkFzs9ypC1gJ3n8vQQ/w200-h166/KonamisPingPong_1-0.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1WEKE9wywjjJEo7h-NJ28YqfWFuhVYEsnziQnrQ62ciuu4cZgxVPSJyD6rfViZvAwNDfKXowbKCgfBIJDwZsLElFry0_x5FFkVWY_kszZY096-StDh5eoqwKvL8cZBxS-kYg8PlQ8QKPCBSw-RKR9ZpqsbHPpMSuUfDEGTCTzioQlolNxhlz97D-JQ/s311/KonamisPingPong_2-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1WEKE9wywjjJEo7h-NJ28YqfWFuhVYEsnziQnrQ62ciuu4cZgxVPSJyD6rfViZvAwNDfKXowbKCgfBIJDwZsLElFry0_x5FFkVWY_kszZY096-StDh5eoqwKvL8cZBxS-kYg8PlQ8QKPCBSw-RKR9ZpqsbHPpMSuUfDEGTCTzioQlolNxhlz97D-JQ/w200-h166/KonamisPingPong_2-0.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">OooOOOoooh</u><b>, a familiar face in the audience </b>😄</span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Konami's Ping-Pong</i></b> has the distinction of being the first video game to capture the gameplay and nuances of tabletop tennis, so kudos on that, Konami. 👍 Originally an arcade game, it would receive several home computer and console conversions after the fact, including on the MSX and the Japan-exclusive Famicom Disk System (where Diskun and Donkey Kong Junior appear in place of Penta on the title and in the audience respectively).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_6DpJ6MuNgF31HgEm-ZT8rSD3QynR9jf9VU_8m_q9wKBOAdE7ieFxyP64KRiliMQTvbCFttNAGCaVCghFZ207hNrtB9QeNz8rIrWRmE4i_Zhym_reQ9MM6a1pztyn50W9Qul6BkjmSr555ChlgHdMNTXUX4PJ-3M80u3COWGbRCfsjD7Wf_SuGuv4g/s311/KonamisPingPong_5-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_6DpJ6MuNgF31HgEm-ZT8rSD3QynR9jf9VU_8m_q9wKBOAdE7ieFxyP64KRiliMQTvbCFttNAGCaVCghFZ207hNrtB9QeNz8rIrWRmE4i_Zhym_reQ9MM6a1pztyn50W9Qul6BkjmSr555ChlgHdMNTXUX4PJ-3M80u3COWGbRCfsjD7Wf_SuGuv4g/w200-h166/KonamisPingPong_5-0.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6yXUT4H2iWa_v6pa0WUmYiTOYs3snBWJlZIud7TPR-XZ1uFu_BuDMn_WkbSaaqAk3lhtBofDqZT4uv52njVrnVdRgzU0FFtQbU4S9woj4jdoXhqcq27JYMFimFvvDhOOc_-NpwQkNYKmcPbMpANQ17bHQwZRKoOyqGx3Zv5MNKZ5BuQVHb0iRktbZg/s311/KonamisPingPong_10-01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6yXUT4H2iWa_v6pa0WUmYiTOYs3snBWJlZIud7TPR-XZ1uFu_BuDMn_WkbSaaqAk3lhtBofDqZT4uv52njVrnVdRgzU0FFtQbU4S9woj4jdoXhqcq27JYMFimFvvDhOOc_-NpwQkNYKmcPbMpANQ17bHQwZRKoOyqGx3Zv5MNKZ5BuQVHb0iRktbZg/w200-h166/KonamisPingPong_10-01.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">This is a game where the particular way you use the direction buttons on the Saturn controller determine the way you swing your paddle, which is admittedly a bit weird and takes a bit to accustom to but after some time adjusting to them they become second nature and make playing it pretty doable and fun. You can even switch hands by holding down the action button, so that's cool. <i>Konami's Ping-Pong</i> is a pleasantly colorful game to look at, and I enjoy the animate of the side of the audience that claps the moment you or the computer scores a point. Very nice installment in Konami's namesake sports lineup. 🏓</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZqKk6YlBil-BhrbDL8UCPrZyb02NFz3lM2mYlmPx_z2Yh4wak5QXOJ4CmjaW80yuYjPhjai8EXBXBb0LwdvLYQMEf1g36SpApjQ5gynRgi8xvmJEmMGc2b98OSUNp3OHqgLBUBiIUHk37dFaR0wis7RtfJZRYX4-yo1GwKs6STR5aXStxxQf1MMC0Q/s158/HyperSports2_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="158" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZqKk6YlBil-BhrbDL8UCPrZyb02NFz3lM2mYlmPx_z2Yh4wak5QXOJ4CmjaW80yuYjPhjai8EXBXBb0LwdvLYQMEf1g36SpApjQ5gynRgi8xvmJEmMGc2b98OSUNp3OHqgLBUBiIUHk37dFaR0wis7RtfJZRYX4-yo1GwKs6STR5aXStxxQf1MMC0Q/s1600/HyperSports2_Title.png" width="158" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-oYkipN7mam1hM1-AGObnlwClHNkmkhOP3okmlA8LkuRWnuW2-F1_VlQ7QnkRXAAqSzuFwFLn74rs-zWWH90lhYffYiY5E39niXoHn3cyYaJ7V7wLHApKYHVAi4zSQvNgBcz_UIjix_L05KwmowsyU3Qp95w5YZc0aCxHMvLZ8nQbB2hrjpcyx5Nrg/s311/HyperSports2_RightShoot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-oYkipN7mam1hM1-AGObnlwClHNkmkhOP3okmlA8LkuRWnuW2-F1_VlQ7QnkRXAAqSzuFwFLn74rs-zWWH90lhYffYiY5E39niXoHn3cyYaJ7V7wLHApKYHVAi4zSQvNgBcz_UIjix_L05KwmowsyU3Qp95w5YZc0aCxHMvLZ8nQbB2hrjpcyx5Nrg/w200-h166/HyperSports2_RightShoot.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9YMa9PRzLyEweB0tR5w7KZ9LQCl7LZQK1ZA_zgTAAOQI645x1CvX8iSE-NDALXms_2ShT7KkXpqUpHFb2M6EmtIkvtdl-OiLLYCjzxBWlUI224UmH2LLwHnoo7lI4q_Kz1CaVw8m4ObABNmgsHwiddp80kdmS7l2WGUDz6avrxPYe9B_E1lJW361Ww/s311/HyperSports2_LeftShoot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9YMa9PRzLyEweB0tR5w7KZ9LQCl7LZQK1ZA_zgTAAOQI645x1CvX8iSE-NDALXms_2ShT7KkXpqUpHFb2M6EmtIkvtdl-OiLLYCjzxBWlUI224UmH2LLwHnoo7lI4q_Kz1CaVw8m4ObABNmgsHwiddp80kdmS7l2WGUDz6avrxPYe9B_E1lJW361Ww/w200-h166/HyperSports2_LeftShoot.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In 1983 Konami developed the arcade game <i>Track & Field</i>, known as <i>Hyper Olympic</i> outside of North America, which got followed by <i>Hyper Sports</i> the following year (appropriately named <i>Hyper Olympic '84</i> in Japan). Both games would receive their own share of home computer and console conversions, with the MSX version of the latter title divided into three separate games. In <b><i>Hyper Sports 2</i></b> there are only three events that you go through which will loop itself again should you clear the last event but with slightly more demanding qualification rules: skeet shooting, archery, and weightlifting.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqjVXYoY680sIst4uIEL_cNJQaPIH2k2fKQVJLP2Kvk7Xlm_QRimlwgED8jEiV2aAJ_rmOtizzz40FJ8lXhJQCrP4tVrS02yg7BogYa3EWjqIfQPNHMKCroKDMu0xxd9sMwGM4A3MSAMeOzdseHkXPNnfay1LJwJ10ljvn8rU1A-1fBcUnEgQVDWuLQ/s311/HyperSports2_ArrowFlying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqjVXYoY680sIst4uIEL_cNJQaPIH2k2fKQVJLP2Kvk7Xlm_QRimlwgED8jEiV2aAJ_rmOtizzz40FJ8lXhJQCrP4tVrS02yg7BogYa3EWjqIfQPNHMKCroKDMu0xxd9sMwGM4A3MSAMeOzdseHkXPNnfay1LJwJ10ljvn8rU1A-1fBcUnEgQVDWuLQ/w200-h166/HyperSports2_ArrowFlying.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLZigUteLtnkxPswy77iVzcM-mNsLvoBQrS35Ici4aZizmpOzpxY5txF9IHZ-_ulv6A_VyVvZSTWLN7DSfGuLPPdEQCd8uArDPS30ecCtbBiu7TqnnymVJ9yXsrIg1zQ0w5eNELYCDxq13LiNDk4cj9Ah4G8kRWXzc-KPtmcTrDst68FMExp8DS_vCQ/s311/HyperSports2_Bullseye.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLZigUteLtnkxPswy77iVzcM-mNsLvoBQrS35Ici4aZizmpOzpxY5txF9IHZ-_ulv6A_VyVvZSTWLN7DSfGuLPPdEQCd8uArDPS30ecCtbBiu7TqnnymVJ9yXsrIg1zQ0w5eNELYCDxq13LiNDk4cj9Ah4G8kRWXzc-KPtmcTrDst68FMExp8DS_vCQ/w200-h166/HyperSports2_Bullseye.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In skeet shooting you must shoot at a series of skeets that will be launched from the right and occasionally from the left until the clock goes down to zero, and should you manage to shoot all skeets without missing once you'll get a chance to shoot at a special target or two. In archery you first must determine the wind direction and speed which is always random, after that you must shoot an arrow at a target that is moving up or down once it's in front of you (it's recommended that you at least shoot at roughly a 5 degree angle to get the best results, with proper timing as well to score a bullseye, required by holding down the action button only up to a point). Finally in weightlifting you begin by choosing one of eight weight classes, then you begin lifting from the ground by repeatedly pressing the right button until the barbell flashes in which case you must press the button to lift it above your head, then you must repeatedly press the right button again until you get approval from all three judges all within the time limit. You have three tries to qualify in each event.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjnmxhxrfwk-BCZD3yetFcAmpLUg0U1QIFqjtVrIrtnp0u5QJRCZ7joOExkSr87w9qCt8ShmCY-L-2DOlZnzxwv_c7cYTRPQr8-SiEPdBVeG1Yz17GfjS0QZGPLn2-WSjvEzIQWkYb3X_AUlcaVEzp9ayZjclb7oweynumOTkFK092ekwAcKCYcjiJw/s311/HyperSports2_FlyWeight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjnmxhxrfwk-BCZD3yetFcAmpLUg0U1QIFqjtVrIrtnp0u5QJRCZ7joOExkSr87w9qCt8ShmCY-L-2DOlZnzxwv_c7cYTRPQr8-SiEPdBVeG1Yz17GfjS0QZGPLn2-WSjvEzIQWkYb3X_AUlcaVEzp9ayZjclb7oweynumOTkFK092ekwAcKCYcjiJw/w200-h166/HyperSports2_FlyWeight.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U2NsbTFKvOorjQO4Dq7tQ0iX60yrKMZQDZvzSP9DULFdMWmswADj02FpapK1scjA1GwTYHASNXMM23rw9hsar-UKOsKayEUOFe0wuWwRTvbEg72IZJoD_paaBuIUcsVl89bnsP4MSNzPKUo6w_0PEt_exA_dKI9TKZTaQGoOhVpReyq4tkSDggVezA/s311/HyperSports2_BantamWeight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U2NsbTFKvOorjQO4Dq7tQ0iX60yrKMZQDZvzSP9DULFdMWmswADj02FpapK1scjA1GwTYHASNXMM23rw9hsar-UKOsKayEUOFe0wuWwRTvbEg72IZJoD_paaBuIUcsVl89bnsP4MSNzPKUo6w_0PEt_exA_dKI9TKZTaQGoOhVpReyq4tkSDggVezA/w200-h166/HyperSports2_BantamWeight.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Hyper Sports 2</i> is a very likable game to play, very nice color palette too. The weightlifting event aside, it reminds me of the latter half of Konami's iconic <i>Track & Field</i> on the NES (the first half was made up of <i>Hyper Olympic</i>, and the second half <i>Hyper Sports</i>), especially with the flashing applause animation in the background for when you succeed. I like it. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmh3uvUz2bQQKbwZYlhkOmKN6DhC6L9G5IILlQSzymfIZxs9Q1Eo9PwrSLSroPk-hniFSf95cWrecZ3LLMUsXzOtf5p9HRsgpeM4hy4T2cw8U08Ckl3xDTTB9LhEdP90ZLp6Xd9t3fNe1OB4a6hZSrs-3csKoq2ElRAilE0jiTileru9Ghl9BH0mP2Q/s194/MopiRanger_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="37" data-original-width="194" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmh3uvUz2bQQKbwZYlhkOmKN6DhC6L9G5IILlQSzymfIZxs9Q1Eo9PwrSLSroPk-hniFSf95cWrecZ3LLMUsXzOtf5p9HRsgpeM4hy4T2cw8U08Ckl3xDTTB9LhEdP90ZLp6Xd9t3fNe1OB4a6hZSrs-3csKoq2ElRAilE0jiTileru9Ghl9BH0mP2Q/s1600/MopiRanger_Title.png" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh164cvYFTRVgaIT_3a4raIfcuhodr3FB1ZA2JWXgFx07IkzZnRwo0EdNKk8_TrR-4j6wWVHnPe6eR67a0DFmmTjpVCUlHq7A6HP-k_rlWfA6RNNGPJu5ggkK725hXL33okQj_zr4NNnEVKNaNUV7D7Jenbrw4ZSMi0SMhrgYqdLy9kaoYckpV_USVE4w/s311/MopiRanger_Zone1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh164cvYFTRVgaIT_3a4raIfcuhodr3FB1ZA2JWXgFx07IkzZnRwo0EdNKk8_TrR-4j6wWVHnPe6eR67a0DFmmTjpVCUlHq7A6HP-k_rlWfA6RNNGPJu5ggkK725hXL33okQj_zr4NNnEVKNaNUV7D7Jenbrw4ZSMi0SMhrgYqdLy9kaoYckpV_USVE4w/w200-h166/MopiRanger_Zone1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-2AjPgX2mPcjN5lZBiTefktAAbtz6vgR-vrw3xEfg57q4GeI5n_gVA7nFdBr53mSCzSgfBrcW3cXA5VuS4oWxINV80OmWf4jKHHqAJ7-caCYdKFFliqLky3IvrS0Mz1XqIHE-LlTGz_p50QJU6fIzBkSKrqs1I49VRs9aQi_NdUuKNz-eo2_TYejuA/s311/MopiRanger_Cleared.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-2AjPgX2mPcjN5lZBiTefktAAbtz6vgR-vrw3xEfg57q4GeI5n_gVA7nFdBr53mSCzSgfBrcW3cXA5VuS4oWxINV80OmWf4jKHHqAJ7-caCYdKFFliqLky3IvrS0Mz1XqIHE-LlTGz_p50QJU6fIzBkSKrqs1I49VRs9aQi_NdUuKNz-eo2_TYejuA/w200-h166/MopiRanger_Cleared.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Ah, <b><i>MopiRanger</i></b>, this is a good one, in my opinion. 😃 The Razons have invaded the once peaceful land of Mopira and it is up to the mouse-like MopiRanger who must canoe himself around these waters in a constantly changing maze-like environment to rescue all the Moplits who have been kidnapped by the Razons within the time limit.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HSlBuWMDI8zWY9UTVWMzKOSVEQh65swp3aNPYtLMxIpNUCBhpzFs3ly4qR0j2wz5hhMSXScdMh8IYPqXIoSliCEAWz96g87KJBh8OJkujOt4bJ_0vxNHBwhypAHFwHixi8Dlj3hwaU_IuycncIiS70jX9-fuKQzfM_YVJZ2B3pAbasowpnIZPj1F3Q/s311/MopiRanger_Zone4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HSlBuWMDI8zWY9UTVWMzKOSVEQh65swp3aNPYtLMxIpNUCBhpzFs3ly4qR0j2wz5hhMSXScdMh8IYPqXIoSliCEAWz96g87KJBh8OJkujOt4bJ_0vxNHBwhypAHFwHixi8Dlj3hwaU_IuycncIiS70jX9-fuKQzfM_YVJZ2B3pAbasowpnIZPj1F3Q/w200-h166/MopiRanger_Zone4.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG3a4KwArOQPWcRR1dF3BOgMUu-40wT5VGlTNVSMfdbk5D-TxnJNaR2j0DsA_snRohe-B7wStPpW3TukVfovOtKxKeJC7uunRmoUHOGiDN3WD0N3Pzt70WWkSqtWCaQlfUy75buH_V4Ebo2dp7b1b34m5gsvkw8vhq-1d2fXDOLOq0nC0lO4F-dyczw/s311/MopiRanger_MopIlla.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG3a4KwArOQPWcRR1dF3BOgMUu-40wT5VGlTNVSMfdbk5D-TxnJNaR2j0DsA_snRohe-B7wStPpW3TukVfovOtKxKeJC7uunRmoUHOGiDN3WD0N3Pzt70WWkSqtWCaQlfUy75buH_V4Ebo2dp7b1b34m5gsvkw8vhq-1d2fXDOLOq0nC0lO4F-dyczw/w200-h166/MopiRanger_MopIlla.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The Razons can be dealt with by aiming the ray beam against them which will turn some of them into rocks which you can push but be careful not to push said rocks in a position that will trap you inside for if there's no way out you'll have no choice but to press the Z button to start the zone anew at the expense of one of your lives. Sometimes there will be currents that will make you canoe yourself faster should you ride on them, another obstacle you must be wary about are whirlpools that must drag you under should you get too close to them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq0dITzTWZSUEBBoqmZzhXejKmEXPrTxY5TvHbO1cgkjHXvtSw2Twom42SSXmjg6rlYuiScQKIgziqW_fxMcfgugK0OzmdvpSrV_JhEGbBhdtckzehdXVfijDP_jm15vopf6vezMjo8Q-ac8JnPJcE-0PXXIW5yDFCKYGFOGq3gOhhcGEP5TUVs6V-A/s311/MopiRanger_Zone8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq0dITzTWZSUEBBoqmZzhXejKmEXPrTxY5TvHbO1cgkjHXvtSw2Twom42SSXmjg6rlYuiScQKIgziqW_fxMcfgugK0OzmdvpSrV_JhEGbBhdtckzehdXVfijDP_jm15vopf6vezMjo8Q-ac8JnPJcE-0PXXIW5yDFCKYGFOGq3gOhhcGEP5TUVs6V-A/w200-h166/MopiRanger_Zone8.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6873hBA-DolMS3rZqHp67_wfG5Zl6BgB5k2PzkoARvk3MVZt4RlDTbAYqJXIPGyLRwlj0XvT_m0PsLdWZm3xUp9LgMY62Hlyi5pUyxAhSrGGWUph4VCMLc3enEPOFO9AnlJTxjZY02BoSUqtJSnrA1S3uFydKGhGNHaZCjl40VxEW-LawSvEefADTQ/s311/MopiRanger_Zone9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6873hBA-DolMS3rZqHp67_wfG5Zl6BgB5k2PzkoARvk3MVZt4RlDTbAYqJXIPGyLRwlj0XvT_m0PsLdWZm3xUp9LgMY62Hlyi5pUyxAhSrGGWUph4VCMLc3enEPOFO9AnlJTxjZY02BoSUqtJSnrA1S3uFydKGhGNHaZCjl40VxEW-LawSvEefADTQ/w200-h166/MopiRanger_Zone9.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>MopiRanger</i> is cute, its charm is lighthearted, I like the contrast of the blue water and the land you canoe yourself around, and even though the sprites are considerably tiny I think they've got an endearing design, the controls are simple yet fun, and as a maze game it's enjoyable to play every once in a while. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj51wZ_6QvM5UrTUVybOR2gtARxz0hQzX28HoGMScmA0VQX3km-2w3n9sKwujFH3dsWZRc3-KKvC49FjBh1CvzzVbyd32tBEG_OCUOhykuWlsL-A117pk5kHqrGzsNw9blNlegtQlws2EMjBwPb7dBXNoS7lTX6Lv4163Vnp5couagPA3elYNlGaNbQ/s220/AntarcticAdventure_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="29" data-original-width="220" height="29" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj51wZ_6QvM5UrTUVybOR2gtARxz0hQzX28HoGMScmA0VQX3km-2w3n9sKwujFH3dsWZRc3-KKvC49FjBh1CvzzVbyd32tBEG_OCUOhykuWlsL-A117pk5kHqrGzsNw9blNlegtQlws2EMjBwPb7dBXNoS7lTX6Lv4163Vnp5couagPA3elYNlGaNbQ/s1600/AntarcticAdventure_Title.png" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1983 (Copyrighted 1984) | Japanese Title: </b></span><i><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b>Kekkyoku Nankyoku </b></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b>Daibōken</b></span></span></i></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErIBs5yyRMAoANi8rIch51YfM4xXRRz_uIFGBy1WNa_rQa7-oXLCRzaZJIg7bdqhbvd3Fb8merNb14NEOZYQtfUEvtF7iqGARtj-ejmjpEQtHGEfGgmX5mB_D4uxkADbJJ62oHC-LSxESkSrKKeNiu1ZVglgjkStXtVLs-2aNEPnPjzEGLzvrU2oFJA/s311/AntarcticAdventure_Fish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErIBs5yyRMAoANi8rIch51YfM4xXRRz_uIFGBy1WNa_rQa7-oXLCRzaZJIg7bdqhbvd3Fb8merNb14NEOZYQtfUEvtF7iqGARtj-ejmjpEQtHGEfGgmX5mB_D4uxkADbJJ62oHC-LSxESkSrKKeNiu1ZVglgjkStXtVLs-2aNEPnPjzEGLzvrU2oFJA/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_Fish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPJU-9-Zei9pWODH10FzBlUx9Tr_URrjVa2xeMkAP_0LKkF7muH0KqhxEp_J230acrfiX3Mnwgo8mfVMEQUdTg9XOl1Q66h9EdcxsePC4WqXNklaaaqtH0MiOie8SI0ZCjRvsZ8_SkCQBFi57jb3i3xAxon10C4Yo_jtlZG3XXb4wowiQ77jDdh2t3A/s311/AntarcticAdventure_SouthPole.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPJU-9-Zei9pWODH10FzBlUx9Tr_URrjVa2xeMkAP_0LKkF7muH0KqhxEp_J230acrfiX3Mnwgo8mfVMEQUdTg9XOl1Q66h9EdcxsePC4WqXNklaaaqtH0MiOie8SI0ZCjRvsZ8_SkCQBFi57jb3i3xAxon10C4Yo_jtlZG3XXb4wowiQ77jDdh2t3A/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_SouthPole.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Next up is <b><i>Antarctic Adventure</i></b>, a racing game in the vein of Sega's 1981 arcade game <i>Turbo</i> which made its debut in 1983 on the MSX which got ported to the ColecoVision (in its first and only official North American release) and Famicom consoles. As the penguin Penta (and mascot of sorts to Konami), your objective is to reach each of the ten stations across the Antarctic region in the allotted time you are given. You can move Penta left and right, increase his speed by holding the up button, jump up in the air, and collect fish jumping out of ice holes and flags for points, but you must be careful not to bump into sea lions popping out of the ice holes, carefully weave around or jump over any oncoming ice holes so as to not bump into them lest it cost you some time, and especially must beware large holes so as to not fall down them as the path occasionally switches from straight to curvy along the way.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt06jmT4_kNQOOSt8DKG9r3-sAhXg6Ish4CiKInySoQCMQxgozLIA4r3716zzkioC4-cK34UsikXg0zCQVlgeEDEiDRoGksPT5MkYqVQtND6_uO_XOO_M8vArTlDIXZv0Nbiz3PKSjKDGvJc7RzuNoZx0WuJ8CXHPnqflWxW1sWkM44lY3EeSNS83Tg/s311/AntarcticAdventure_Hanging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt06jmT4_kNQOOSt8DKG9r3-sAhXg6Ish4CiKInySoQCMQxgozLIA4r3716zzkioC4-cK34UsikXg0zCQVlgeEDEiDRoGksPT5MkYqVQtND6_uO_XOO_M8vArTlDIXZv0Nbiz3PKSjKDGvJc7RzuNoZx0WuJ8CXHPnqflWxW1sWkM44lY3EeSNS83Tg/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_Hanging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyNZ1wCkpSS3kCBaSpl-LXYEz3ewPmOuAlgXBF5shtgTb5o0oaaK9ubX-bWMNHCkd6gcjDLo56K3QavzG-y5IhxhwdMXvT-HP55s4ichAgSxA5AruJCeATKZ4xRYglAGEmVvxGaHONB7rnh4CXrnMF77u-o8UAkRN_H8AXi8PAuEpaCrFFt8fatzPw/s311/AntarcticAdventure_Bump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNyNZ1wCkpSS3kCBaSpl-LXYEz3ewPmOuAlgXBF5shtgTb5o0oaaK9ubX-bWMNHCkd6gcjDLo56K3QavzG-y5IhxhwdMXvT-HP55s4ichAgSxA5AruJCeATKZ4xRYglAGEmVvxGaHONB7rnh4CXrnMF77u-o8UAkRN_H8AXi8PAuEpaCrFFt8fatzPw/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_Bump.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Amazingly, Konami would adapt "Les Patineurs" again as one of the songs to dance to in </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix</i><b>/</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Dancing Stage Mario Mix</i><b> on the Nintendo GameCube in 2005 which they co-developed alongside Hudson Soft</b> 😊</span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The gameplay is simple yet enjoyable, the visuals are endearing with the serene snow-themed palette and occasionally different sky color, I like how the flags and ice holes and stations scale in a solid manner towards you as you waddle along closer and closer, the game's upbeat rendition of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Émile Waldteufel's "Les Patineurs" ("The Skater's Waltz") is as engrossing as the composition itself, and once you reach the tenth station the game loops but with the different amped up (with more distance required to reach the goal).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh3BxNR1wVe9-CXekW4Zx5qHpKupepvBFPjDYINecUIXobjE-znls8axQnUbnVnCWCevS0_ruK47zyM3ai6zUJg4rg4i_0l0ImM-KE76K6uQDvCI8xrN3Bvlkt3g5KDor3apYn-Ztg5HGgICiUPGMQ4rFASpbe0yGe2F7kAJY5rq792Y0OA_nsoofPg/s311/AntarcticAdventure_Seal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh3BxNR1wVe9-CXekW4Zx5qHpKupepvBFPjDYINecUIXobjE-znls8axQnUbnVnCWCevS0_ruK47zyM3ai6zUJg4rg4i_0l0ImM-KE76K6uQDvCI8xrN3Bvlkt3g5KDor3apYn-Ztg5HGgICiUPGMQ4rFASpbe0yGe2F7kAJY5rq792Y0OA_nsoofPg/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_Seal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXU2DxAqCXybA7ekqRMr5WxU8Ch6z6ICL7AbJHLCQBVUdM3e8gBmvk7DGz1mReTzqBmDYk1qfK9ixyl2PbTEs4g3ynVwZQmWjvowjtdlap0irzeMxHzZ84SvLfmsOPv1KE4humUVJew6I9jCakc7OSU7B0N8NJKeO17Mh48DL-h1WIqMjZ3evqDtnlw/s311/AntarcticAdventure_GapJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXU2DxAqCXybA7ekqRMr5WxU8Ch6z6ICL7AbJHLCQBVUdM3e8gBmvk7DGz1mReTzqBmDYk1qfK9ixyl2PbTEs4g3ynVwZQmWjvowjtdlap0irzeMxHzZ84SvLfmsOPv1KE4humUVJew6I9jCakc7OSU7B0N8NJKeO17Mh48DL-h1WIqMjZ3evqDtnlw/w200-h166/AntarcticAdventure_GapJumping.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Antarctic Adventure</i> is fun to play every once in a while, I was first acquainted with it via the Famicom version as a child back when I lived in Italy on one of my younger cousins' plug-and-play systems (the ones that featured Nintendo 8-bit games irregardless of region, long before I learned they were real* games... the only downside was the 50Hz speed 😩), and one thing I missed from the Famicom version is the rainbow flag that gave you a propeller cap to momentarily fly in the air (neither of which are present here). Took me by surprise, honestly, but either way I still enjoyed the game and the presentation is very nice. Penta made a good impression in his debut game, but I found the direct sequel to be even better. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* The copyright information was removed from the title screens, hence why I didn't know they were real games, likely so the plug-and-play firms would not get sued by the respective companies that worked on these games in the first place, including Nintendo</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOGDQWBCNBR2YeToT2bL6p3UsvaQFXXcfY3CemyUk6-1AE1C58hEd5DS5tqPKcWTHSDWX1LKKdqNNY7-8QmHXtT8NbyxUaAj0aP_EBm19x3yb__HyxCgm-h22KiQ6pStpyNQ2dPeJrKwzwHeU9BcxoArFBxywjvuqWnlCr2AV142_tvLS50BLAbuQ5Q/s177/YieArKungFu_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="33" data-original-width="177" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOGDQWBCNBR2YeToT2bL6p3UsvaQFXXcfY3CemyUk6-1AE1C58hEd5DS5tqPKcWTHSDWX1LKKdqNNY7-8QmHXtT8NbyxUaAj0aP_EBm19x3yb__HyxCgm-h22KiQ6pStpyNQ2dPeJrKwzwHeU9BcxoArFBxywjvuqWnlCr2AV142_tvLS50BLAbuQ5Q/s1600/YieArKungFu_Title.png" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984, 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgiZUaJFAMx03FDAq4Zx9W7UyWnJ_-kuKqDYYtGA1A911mvGQHZ4rfhdRxYsFZVP3fDF3cCx8EQrm6hGm86UAPcu4LoJxRRulRWbEhDL6pxQyWJnM5rTLXb3EROIqlTZevIb-n_3px4z2cqUOQ754-6J8B7LDvrdySuQxFysWERf6jRk99xNsDPR2eA/s311/YieArKungFu_LeeVsWang.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgiZUaJFAMx03FDAq4Zx9W7UyWnJ_-kuKqDYYtGA1A911mvGQHZ4rfhdRxYsFZVP3fDF3cCx8EQrm6hGm86UAPcu4LoJxRRulRWbEhDL6pxQyWJnM5rTLXb3EROIqlTZevIb-n_3px4z2cqUOQ754-6J8B7LDvrdySuQxFysWERf6jRk99xNsDPR2eA/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_LeeVsWang.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF5O5J2qBjwEEXNCtEHCUo_ICDXRLZMwAJFPvn2mrWHHnGP455cj5PHeaa7S-yX9JF0AbjTlM2R_MDM6nXBGnJltAO1iMA3pGKjEegQmKWbRzc43ZV3x4nvmUUrJOB_5DfjmU4aXXsw-xFg31WqtP5pHicY3xNLN6yjMnSYkQng94jqmYvX_RSnVCNQ/s311/YieArKungFu_BonusStage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwF5O5J2qBjwEEXNCtEHCUo_ICDXRLZMwAJFPvn2mrWHHnGP455cj5PHeaa7S-yX9JF0AbjTlM2R_MDM6nXBGnJltAO1iMA3pGKjEegQmKWbRzc43ZV3x4nvmUUrJOB_5DfjmU4aXXsw-xFg31WqtP5pHicY3xNLN6yjMnSYkQng94jqmYvX_RSnVCNQ/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_BonusStage.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">1984 marked the debut of <b><i>Yie Ar Kung-Fu</i></b> in Japanese arcades which would also see home computer and console conversions that while different aesthetically and feature different characters otherwise shares similar gameplay (the MSX version has more in common with the Famicom take than the arcade original). This is among the earliest titles of the one-on-one tournament fighting genre, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">and in the MSX edition you take control of Lee (paying homage to the late martial artist Bruce Lee whom he appears to be modeled after) whose controls take a bit to accustom to due to how they were converted to the Saturn</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzH6ilpm-xJTO2Lf92eWyvGgBGXVEqPue0Lon0mhXcQVzDFMHUs4gZTFI-n2tu-Qn5qjseHPdkOTCjW080CH0i8ophC1tZq5PX7kC7pT8MmD5sjoIw5xzQUIgwVtzcE75Oyj0F-DYsD1XKg0K8UmHpuQ6kwsSs3jxsMzsZrld_6guxArRXOfp-uQ6-w/s311/YieArKungFu_LeeVsChen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzH6ilpm-xJTO2Lf92eWyvGgBGXVEqPue0Lon0mhXcQVzDFMHUs4gZTFI-n2tu-Qn5qjseHPdkOTCjW080CH0i8ophC1tZq5PX7kC7pT8MmD5sjoIw5xzQUIgwVtzcE75Oyj0F-DYsD1XKg0K8UmHpuQ6kwsSs3jxsMzsZrld_6guxArRXOfp-uQ6-w/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_LeeVsChen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAbGjfv7qB_Rr-LPN7A3cZMNJ_AL8SUxNvGUeJCOrvu8s47-_L7hNZwNsn6Di0s9e4HrpCbDM_hnAUpemRwW6x-j3uyaMdc83qJEK3LqLRnGqbe9BbH3F-IWAk1xSs6B2yN4evRYW0kzQbLH0JPOprAGDrveZtNIVFsz-iUKBBHZ5OYcf3SdS8utBWg/s311/YieArKungFu_LeeVsLang.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAbGjfv7qB_Rr-LPN7A3cZMNJ_AL8SUxNvGUeJCOrvu8s47-_L7hNZwNsn6Di0s9e4HrpCbDM_hnAUpemRwW6x-j3uyaMdc83qJEK3LqLRnGqbe9BbH3F-IWAk1xSs6B2yN4evRYW0kzQbLH0JPOprAGDrveZtNIVFsz-iUKBBHZ5OYcf3SdS8utBWg/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_LeeVsLang.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">but is playable once you figure out what direction and/or action buttons you have to press in order to have kick high or low or have him jump (and if possible have him jump kick)</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">. The goal is to punch and kick your foes and have their health depleted until their health gauge is empty but be careful not to have the same thing happen to you so be sure to coordinate yourself properly as best as you can. Once in a while there will be a bonus stage where you must dispose of any oncoming vases flying your way and be careful to not be touched by one.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAq4G0li2MuDvdBGLwrgyVe1CPmLEHlslqVkaXh8iSi0m0VPd_DOi3p29-z4BeTJ96IZQgApsQtaDSCZPZr5tEVKiE9YrNvWPD6IJYEE21s0Lp9OT6fm1ysLQ3r5QeiBrQF2c4_KhDu-QyeQEVGYQcinlknJ7Ul7Z5G-BbMvGe3EUJ3ewLw-3wwWAlw/s311/YieArKungFu_LeeVsWang-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAq4G0li2MuDvdBGLwrgyVe1CPmLEHlslqVkaXh8iSi0m0VPd_DOi3p29-z4BeTJ96IZQgApsQtaDSCZPZr5tEVKiE9YrNvWPD6IJYEE21s0Lp9OT6fm1ysLQ3r5QeiBrQF2c4_KhDu-QyeQEVGYQcinlknJ7Ul7Z5G-BbMvGe3EUJ3ewLw-3wwWAlw/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_LeeVsWang-2.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJEsaW1mZL_FvVENZ7EJaihQdXlwBSTBvE_ZrwJmnXgeXDtJeyicoUSzwlS7N3OdnQnLAdmnqudOBrENCXFBe5kM4_Xrv5ThdjuIwWLRzRL36vwK3oWmNgnLhBQEkAoSkxsxiTg8IRVoYGd0TJoO9bDfbf0GDGy00vp_fcLJO7cejkKnsXQ5r0SfFBA/s311/YieArKungFu_LeeVsTao-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJEsaW1mZL_FvVENZ7EJaihQdXlwBSTBvE_ZrwJmnXgeXDtJeyicoUSzwlS7N3OdnQnLAdmnqudOBrENCXFBe5kM4_Xrv5ThdjuIwWLRzRL36vwK3oWmNgnLhBQEkAoSkxsxiTg8IRVoYGd0TJoO9bDfbf0GDGy00vp_fcLJO7cejkKnsXQ5r0SfFBA/w200-h166/YieArKungFu_LeeVsTao-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The colors will pop out at the screen with the black background (I especially like how after you reach the end of the loop then the new one will begin but with a different color palette), I like the fighters' character designs, the oriental background music is a nice touch and add some ambiance to the action, and despite how finnicky the controls could get on occasion due to the conversion to a different format it's still a fun game to play otherwise. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTfHSNXEVWjLnVdrGkprZVoy9RZbC3zS8BM59FPI8SPGik40eRFRlrX-foQguIM-t1HIWBoG-xXwBac3Gnk2poA4aqjcPVbqqIxFvVj-j1E-CriozbNuOQ9OrUXRxe4uChH5xgd68AI_wmgSHOprPdW_aaC46TsBL3z9cX0HbCGkXzmoyS3B4UGYoog/s187/RoadFighter_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="81" data-original-width="187" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTfHSNXEVWjLnVdrGkprZVoy9RZbC3zS8BM59FPI8SPGik40eRFRlrX-foQguIM-t1HIWBoG-xXwBac3Gnk2poA4aqjcPVbqqIxFvVj-j1E-CriozbNuOQ9OrUXRxe4uChH5xgd68AI_wmgSHOprPdW_aaC46TsBL3z9cX0HbCGkXzmoyS3B4UGYoog/s1600/RoadFighter_Title.png" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984, 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsc9vsHp9lqJNAYKqVC7PcbDiqJe75LFoPGbIXy6Xy2vmDdjFWFG5YPSRzYrm5SdSpVeq98paASL3bSFF_ysLICnKhmF58Lk4C_qSF3uE9c_kEhyTsKWLcS5X1oES0urA41L_xSShU-Zbf6jWsjPwU8nQ1ilmSRtQVIUMQPEVdstiKIYhSCWxMOX0Vg/s311/RoadFighter_Bump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsc9vsHp9lqJNAYKqVC7PcbDiqJe75LFoPGbIXy6Xy2vmDdjFWFG5YPSRzYrm5SdSpVeq98paASL3bSFF_ysLICnKhmF58Lk4C_qSF3uE9c_kEhyTsKWLcS5X1oES0urA41L_xSShU-Zbf6jWsjPwU8nQ1ilmSRtQVIUMQPEVdstiKIYhSCWxMOX0Vg/w200-h166/RoadFighter_Bump.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8oLEzPUDmKhVmSptuLtLpUi_Gzwxv819SMHlWDNFV5cjzr-30HkrKBbz-THCHDCzQNoJHLSI1OBMIro2xf21HYgoQYQo_G71t5UAjyVNRr4nERbJpizTnenJp1Tb7RbFbov_lfakOqLHqD4sZTkHhU8EP0Oj5IEWc4aM-TsDoN5V60GCUBBrLrg_kA/s311/RoadFighter_Driving.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8oLEzPUDmKhVmSptuLtLpUi_Gzwxv819SMHlWDNFV5cjzr-30HkrKBbz-THCHDCzQNoJHLSI1OBMIro2xf21HYgoQYQo_G71t5UAjyVNRr4nERbJpizTnenJp1Tb7RbFbov_lfakOqLHqD4sZTkHhU8EP0Oj5IEWc4aM-TsDoN5V60GCUBBrLrg_kA/w200-h166/RoadFighter_Driving.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The first iteration of a small racing franchise, <b><i>Road Fighter</i></b> made its debut in arcades in 1984 and got ported to several video game formats since. Viewed from the top down, your goal is to reach the finish line to the best of your ability (it doesn't matter what you place, that's not important here), but every now and then you are forced to weave around any oncoming cars sharing the same road as your sport red Chevrolet Corvette for if you get hit by them you might get bumped or worse uncontrollably swerve to the side and crash on the side (and lose a chunk of fuel in the process). Another thing to worry about is your fuel which gradually empties itself out the more you drive on the road which can only be partially replenished after collecting a heart icon that pops up sparsely. I have fun memories playing the Famicom version of <i>Road Fighter</i> on the plug-and-play, and while I found the MSX take to be a bit different I still consider it colorful old school entertainment even if it's easy to get crashed by an enemy car whenever the road ahead of you becomes too narrow.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVVRkTAIM3Oo8jMfxoONggm70XkhiBIpU80Ym5pTEa59VRi5wC79acbK9Xrb5hLVuPQYdVT1WC17LpexSiuOHc-afkuMl6o7O3KPfHTMGGJlHm1TISfBFaJ62nSZ01JfRNIgddhkCWIrswXIF3VIVdK2u7AOw9V_1e71LX_YiPSw2-2ft6csxvyJDWmQ/s139/SkyJaguar_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="44" data-original-width="139" height="44" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVVRkTAIM3Oo8jMfxoONggm70XkhiBIpU80Ym5pTEa59VRi5wC79acbK9Xrb5hLVuPQYdVT1WC17LpexSiuOHc-afkuMl6o7O3KPfHTMGGJlHm1TISfBFaJ62nSZ01JfRNIgddhkCWIrswXIF3VIVdK2u7AOw9V_1e71LX_YiPSw2-2ft6csxvyJDWmQ/s1600/SkyJaguar_Title.png" width="139" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerPqpVTEB_zrMU4_KNVJ1wBHhSNHo9nDgAhVMOQYnmK8yQkEFIuiyK60liMWJlMzPDvkAfPE4kAF7HE-nEMUvcUP1tEXttv_35Hd2Ekx9_faCFB70Ho_CzxVn0QHCExWCeilPnVRD1JnviAc5jtsVKwSzrLQ6Mry2q2kcHhWmL1bsoizLfgA2lxbgr6dQ/s311/SkyJaguar_SpinningEnemyVessels.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerPqpVTEB_zrMU4_KNVJ1wBHhSNHo9nDgAhVMOQYnmK8yQkEFIuiyK60liMWJlMzPDvkAfPE4kAF7HE-nEMUvcUP1tEXttv_35Hd2Ekx9_faCFB70Ho_CzxVn0QHCExWCeilPnVRD1JnviAc5jtsVKwSzrLQ6Mry2q2kcHhWmL1bsoizLfgA2lxbgr6dQ/w200-h166/SkyJaguar_SpinningEnemyVessels.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvtJ-kEwpLl922pJtTQ_WmkDB7TWK8ZQxQafhXrRIOdAkZOGc3ftOOfN0X8qtKljWdfHlfydKrxMSWLk1g1a2TL7KZIhTdKhkSZ1Zhn7RNeUG9sqvijSXDTt-HtGd5GF_4g4XiY5ZNl2qCBuBDso9BlXw0dVfJ6WdzVOuDEFqc_YLzTvayRN4MKIr-yCG/s311/SkyJaguar_Spinners.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvtJ-kEwpLl922pJtTQ_WmkDB7TWK8ZQxQafhXrRIOdAkZOGc3ftOOfN0X8qtKljWdfHlfydKrxMSWLk1g1a2TL7KZIhTdKhkSZ1Zhn7RNeUG9sqvijSXDTt-HtGd5GF_4g4XiY5ZNl2qCBuBDso9BlXw0dVfJ6WdzVOuDEFqc_YLzTvayRN4MKIr-yCG/w200-h166/SkyJaguar_Spinners.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the arcade-like MSX vertical-scrolling shoot'em up <b><i>Sky Jaguar</i></b>, you take control of the titular spaceship who is planet Earth's only hope against the Zephyr army. The game owes a bit of its structure (and occasional lineup of enemy formations) to Namco's <i>Galaga</i> and <i>Xevious</i> only you can maneuver around in any part of the screen and can only shoot forward, but the end goal is the same as you must shoot at the enemy ships and dodge their bullets before <b>they</b> get a chance to shoot at <b>you</b>. Surviving long enough until the third and eighth scenes will culminate in a boss battle that will take a bit of firepower to take down.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQVTZAhAn5Q8ts2Yn8Q7lAJeTFFUuiGdwI0QXJ6u0FPo8VIqUsjSm4SAbG9OSBzOH74G7UMwQ-NEWnlNrkeoBFzLjOVD4kHbu_6kSwT-Nx0jWHIjpVPLOzoVFrJdFhv1hXTbozabjOieU3AMILgmkdOeuiGSpav8mVC4JdAQsJc1QtL6wanL0t59SOiPe/s311/SkyJaguar_EnemyFormation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQVTZAhAn5Q8ts2Yn8Q7lAJeTFFUuiGdwI0QXJ6u0FPo8VIqUsjSm4SAbG9OSBzOH74G7UMwQ-NEWnlNrkeoBFzLjOVD4kHbu_6kSwT-Nx0jWHIjpVPLOzoVFrJdFhv1hXTbozabjOieU3AMILgmkdOeuiGSpav8mVC4JdAQsJc1QtL6wanL0t59SOiPe/w200-h166/SkyJaguar_EnemyFormation.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGj1KYNuKK48HTzoiiZ86fFas-1bkx0bUXhqRun9G5hxqLZgpKNNXISz7DSPuNeCdBxX_CkJjdXaf57widofSRLiQlmFjk5Hrv_K8foau9aMe9FdIgVUs3dDX8xZ7-3FyfT_97rBmqTjb74onH0yu3nw4rPuDABiFFQh0tymsVvuyzzjOz5mLGYAAzBMc/s311/SkyJaguar_Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGj1KYNuKK48HTzoiiZ86fFas-1bkx0bUXhqRun9G5hxqLZgpKNNXISz7DSPuNeCdBxX_CkJjdXaf57widofSRLiQlmFjk5Hrv_K8foau9aMe9FdIgVUs3dDX8xZ7-3FyfT_97rBmqTjb74onH0yu3nw4rPuDABiFFQh0tymsVvuyzzjOz5mLGYAAzBMc/w200-h166/SkyJaguar_Boss.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">There's an old school charm to <i>Sky Jaguar</i>, it's visually colorful for there is a good variety of locations the further you get along, and the gameplay is very solid and enjoyable for as long as I can manage to last.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPIZkk0yjWBYw4s1s7UWMbUcBlyX70mXBfZ2drlLmoXg9-IQo_bRgbhxXrgu_PFRxUJNexRvQsuSK3TTyjsKOfUAG9CtC1YMmi4dJ-W4unie6dWWhpTBv2NlPytaB1TxUv7XqCQbcEydGqorl4swng7p-kkuT_R8x-tliBRCtw4wk4kGGBuhUSFSiyWKW/s270/Gradius_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="270" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPIZkk0yjWBYw4s1s7UWMbUcBlyX70mXBfZ2drlLmoXg9-IQo_bRgbhxXrgu_PFRxUJNexRvQsuSK3TTyjsKOfUAG9CtC1YMmi4dJ-W4unie6dWWhpTBv2NlPytaB1TxUv7XqCQbcEydGqorl4swng7p-kkuT_R8x-tliBRCtw4wk4kGGBuhUSFSiyWKW/s1600/Gradius_Title.png" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985, 1986 | European Title: <i>Nemesis</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7GLsLT0O9OKAz64UkWaKgMwkvRsvP8NsyUhsOFOs1mTlq2Zs94sUM9111xDd73D3k_rCkXCWb1iHkgnRyDhIBHJu-94kiSjWf6Azg0z5Qsq6v1TML-cA6KO-Qus1e6HUuIXQa4TdT2HsgTiVZBAc-_4lAKSFrnIEfN5-VKxctpWS87BkwFGT_z4v1WK8/s311/Gradius_Turrets.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7GLsLT0O9OKAz64UkWaKgMwkvRsvP8NsyUhsOFOs1mTlq2Zs94sUM9111xDd73D3k_rCkXCWb1iHkgnRyDhIBHJu-94kiSjWf6Azg0z5Qsq6v1TML-cA6KO-Qus1e6HUuIXQa4TdT2HsgTiVZBAc-_4lAKSFrnIEfN5-VKxctpWS87BkwFGT_z4v1WK8/s16000/Gradius_Turrets.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Originally conceived as a sequel to their 1981 arcade hit <i>Scramble</i>, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Gradius</i> was a complete gamechanger for the horizontal-scrolling shoot'em up genre for it established a template that future games of its ilk would be influenced by, but it also helped put Konami on the map due to its big success in the arcades and was the first of many games to show Konami's clear fascination with the Moai heads by incorporating them on a frequent basis. 🗿 As the fighter spaceship Vic Viper you can maneuver yourself around and shoot at enemies of a distinguished design for when it came out</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZAnWVkqmSmJoSOOkhkAXadCcoIR9m6aWU6IUSPGhRYDMI5yI4jHE9sRq0McU8Jfi0KsTEqGcHQamFCXFRm2FypMO_zoeZ_ClDfnJQMo-G4kmPe7QOap_YGQ8vyUsfHcNGW1LVgpOYiJxrveODwIKoTJp8WIClI-ZsK2CTxn8OhPpF4zA6si7uU8aIJOv/s311/Gradius_MissileDrop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZAnWVkqmSmJoSOOkhkAXadCcoIR9m6aWU6IUSPGhRYDMI5yI4jHE9sRq0McU8Jfi0KsTEqGcHQamFCXFRm2FypMO_zoeZ_ClDfnJQMo-G4kmPe7QOap_YGQ8vyUsfHcNGW1LVgpOYiJxrveODwIKoTJp8WIClI-ZsK2CTxn8OhPpF4zA6si7uU8aIJOv/s1600/Gradius_MissileDrop.png" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The soundtrack is also iconic and memorable, not to mention</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">and collect capsules for each one you take will highlight the subsequent power-up in the selection-based power-up system which depending on what is currently selected will augment your speed a bit, give you missiles, change your main weapon to a laser or ripple, and options. There is no question that </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Gradius</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> has an undisputed place in video game history which resulted in it becoming a franchise, regardless of one's skill level, but for me I have a soft spot for it even though I've never been particularly good at it (I don't think it helps any that losing a life means losing all your gained power-ups). I found the arcade sequels (and its spinoff) more accessible to play, but that doesn't necessarily equate to an easy time.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4OfjodYq4ca9jaY3tcjZdkvrr88A1NGr4alv2te3w3Ol59rs1mg5n1pRzk2OKePaYkbLXHfzK6ESfUFEDypnzGK2Q1WFW2uV7YzBF-Y-gBCSrpgIu6enFcy-2R3HLURg9vus3bblrGsW9us0siDpW1LTWh6gP9fYGRkbzxVaTC2HJla44A4dYOWD1hkj/s260/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="260" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4OfjodYq4ca9jaY3tcjZdkvrr88A1NGr4alv2te3w3Ol59rs1mg5n1pRzk2OKePaYkbLXHfzK6ESfUFEDypnzGK2Q1WFW2uV7YzBF-Y-gBCSrpgIu6enFcy-2R3HLURg9vus3bblrGsW9us0siDpW1LTWh6gP9fYGRkbzxVaTC2HJla44A4dYOWD1hkj/s1600/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Title.png" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1988 | European Title: <i>Nemesis 3: The Eve of Destruction</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANF53n_hRHa_W7IY57_yvC5_b4CAWhgNMdBXUGELGZdrXV66eb2w1wUlSu6_E5Wf2TwIxe3-f5SI7HIx69Z0h5RS65Oru7DTApTQsxFfe80en0D2kmi06EYQp85ecmMmW6PqalperGQu-IhQNrw_N_jLfxC6RBfnDBUecs4jdhZV9a4jIDcRlMHWGa31x/s311/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Phoenixes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANF53n_hRHa_W7IY57_yvC5_b4CAWhgNMdBXUGELGZdrXV66eb2w1wUlSu6_E5Wf2TwIxe3-f5SI7HIx69Z0h5RS65Oru7DTApTQsxFfe80en0D2kmi06EYQp85ecmMmW6PqalperGQu-IhQNrw_N_jLfxC6RBfnDBUecs4jdhZV9a4jIDcRlMHWGa31x/w200-h166/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Phoenixes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD-hnGHz7kNTfZ5XEveVSMeUfYFCGDvju2ox32tSC1l6APmaMmYSFK8EVYwYhvaqNJR0bGeOu7cybA1Ut9U60H73cPVYNwtSgNAg9JV5ZwNfiuXR_qwTauBxWWV2ECGxUANU3CUKGBQZ4kNCnFXwC-XLdacqqV1tkiyTHMi6_dFJAbqQy248ePJFmls6w/s311/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Laser.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD-hnGHz7kNTfZ5XEveVSMeUfYFCGDvju2ox32tSC1l6APmaMmYSFK8EVYwYhvaqNJR0bGeOu7cybA1Ut9U60H73cPVYNwtSgNAg9JV5ZwNfiuXR_qwTauBxWWV2ECGxUANU3CUKGBQZ4kNCnFXwC-XLdacqqV1tkiyTHMi6_dFJAbqQy248ePJFmls6w/w200-h166/GoferNoYabouEpisode2_Laser.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The latest installment of <i>Gradius</i> Konami worked on for the MSX, <b><i>Gōfer no Yabō: Episode II</i></b> acts as a direct sequel to the arcade game <i>Gradius II</i>, <i>Gradius 2</i>/<i>Nemesis 2</i> on the MSX, and <i>Salamander</i> where this time you play as the direct descendant of the late Vic Viper pilot James Burton, David Burton, piloting the Vixen which comes in four different classes (of which the first two share Vic Viper's controls, the third one sharing <i>Gradius 2</i>-style controls, and the fourth one sharing <i>Salamander</i> controls). Visually it's got a solid sense of detail, the gameplay is still solid, and is one the first video games to be composed by the very talented Michiru Yamane (which sounds great as always). While it might be a bit more accessible than the earliest <i>Gradius</i>, this game is still difficult to play in its own right but at least the number of continues are unlimited for you could use as many as you want.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLJtYGiJmXpa7CqWRBfTUtYvbcwF9AH_7bvQeD9wo6n9k2m1_79kmRUYwzswao1ubJHuy7sNSEZVLI1dJFA6_PqlUbhvONXw32PrFr4qcyZ0QP54pOxNhs702-lvjAnfyv70gRi57x25tLaPu4QraXxt6dIALinosZDErcBqcT_WzAD5R0MN2eTWOWEfU/s179/KonamisGolf_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="34" data-original-width="179" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLJtYGiJmXpa7CqWRBfTUtYvbcwF9AH_7bvQeD9wo6n9k2m1_79kmRUYwzswao1ubJHuy7sNSEZVLI1dJFA6_PqlUbhvONXw32PrFr4qcyZ0QP54pOxNhs702-lvjAnfyv70gRi57x25tLaPu4QraXxt6dIALinosZDErcBqcT_WzAD5R0MN2eTWOWEfU/s1600/KonamisGolf_Title.png" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985 | Japanese Title: <i>Konami no Golf</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMCzpHIH7wEKhPmv7ys34QOtGOFBGCfoHey_rf6_M8c-pxNNcKTcsfT2nQjJqXGaeK62XoU_9IBEKqAFOsSOL6wF2pEQv3TURPwpGK5tYKIE8UoA0EH3esxL33A6RNZZKbZUkZw5yb1YJp_jWkNwD-M1_RdFfHvio2zxV8ws3HMvyVSNUGoYvUSB3kPF0/s311/KonamisGolf_Fore.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMCzpHIH7wEKhPmv7ys34QOtGOFBGCfoHey_rf6_M8c-pxNNcKTcsfT2nQjJqXGaeK62XoU_9IBEKqAFOsSOL6wF2pEQv3TURPwpGK5tYKIE8UoA0EH3esxL33A6RNZZKbZUkZw5yb1YJp_jWkNwD-M1_RdFfHvio2zxV8ws3HMvyVSNUGoYvUSB3kPF0/w200-h166/KonamisGolf_Fore.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG1HzjHUfe5BNMUge-BrMG4IvnwhKKQy9_AL8Hk1OvMonqGpyYyE-FYV9rWc897UfK4Mw5Hcxto0wHEhRMJsMg8fnnnaAIvqwEERUTtPAb3OchlvFM-1LgFZDxJK0DyEGAqRKAfEOimZ7FKZ0aiO0LK6fTsMd2ybqVNN8MZwFNpcmqnx1xyXCss-jqDRA/s311/KonamisGolf_PuttingGreen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG1HzjHUfe5BNMUge-BrMG4IvnwhKKQy9_AL8Hk1OvMonqGpyYyE-FYV9rWc897UfK4Mw5Hcxto0wHEhRMJsMg8fnnnaAIvqwEERUTtPAb3OchlvFM-1LgFZDxJK0DyEGAqRKAfEOimZ7FKZ0aiO0LK6fTsMd2ybqVNN8MZwFNpcmqnx1xyXCss-jqDRA/w200-h166/KonamisGolf_PuttingGreen.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Golf is almost always associated as an acquired taste, be it real life or in video game format (which is why minigolf is a more accessible alternative), and <b><i>Konami's Golf</i></b> is no different in that regard, but it is one of those very popular of sports in Japan. Always accounting for wind distance and direction, you must use one of three golf clubs to send the golf ball flying and trying to send it to its hole with as few swings as possible so that you don't go past the par line. Proper aim trajectory, appropriate golf swing potency, and planning are key to have a successful golf game for you do not want the ball to fly out of bounds or to fall into any body of water. Whether one enjoys this game depends highly on whether one has an appreciation for golf, but regardless it's brightly colorful to look at.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNrSbMO2ZRFkfBG6Tw0zCDPetQTZ8ph3cgjRiV__vvTK7u0imHwgjVRZ1q1lX6fOIIb_Ac_n-wCK2dc7BU2DyV3XPDbwk_eR70j4Y4mZaMi9DX29G3Yixf2qJJR1haTUNmCMGPmfjENqlQtNmFY-waV_WDW-aWEjusdseo0-Ncn1DDlXNTfw9T1Ouug/s140/KonamisBilliards_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="140" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNrSbMO2ZRFkfBG6Tw0zCDPetQTZ8ph3cgjRiV__vvTK7u0imHwgjVRZ1q1lX6fOIIb_Ac_n-wCK2dc7BU2DyV3XPDbwk_eR70j4Y4mZaMi9DX29G3Yixf2qJJR1haTUNmCMGPmfjENqlQtNmFY-waV_WDW-aWEjusdseo0-Ncn1DDlXNTfw9T1Ouug/s1600/KonamisBilliards_Title.png" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1983 (Copyrighted 1984) | Japanese Title: <i>Video Hustler</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiGk0yssbU6p31G6Nn8UdFbehC5aakEj3HS37uvAMeaASnUbjXiuTPWu2e_HZNbUm3VLSmWNd0nz4wE5LLULEBhePG4-OBiVRbvoEQfpoy8oYJKd3fKM1GvvsazLLCTzFk2DZqGpjNe105JzXpUKXG60TrMEsp47-NSzq2OX_T7YBpiYewNg2NpJO5g/s311/KonamisBilliards_GameStart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiGk0yssbU6p31G6Nn8UdFbehC5aakEj3HS37uvAMeaASnUbjXiuTPWu2e_HZNbUm3VLSmWNd0nz4wE5LLULEBhePG4-OBiVRbvoEQfpoy8oYJKd3fKM1GvvsazLLCTzFk2DZqGpjNe105JzXpUKXG60TrMEsp47-NSzq2OX_T7YBpiYewNg2NpJO5g/w200-h166/KonamisBilliards_GameStart.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Azw8wHeMLAwpOOQJ4SvhS7tysyVL7NNeVpCrrjIfuGzcjHAbpa_glBjUwyWgiCHLd6QjXkWxuwHUGa-jymRqqIAOMvaLL9EcwygiIJcW17k9TD8Vt_HgbqPwT9MmWjhAzvd9V8NMRCiq3pjsHU1qrOq4fnhsOalxBQPurCD_8mjh5jO6Cu4WjFecdQ/s311/KonamisBilliards_Rate2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Azw8wHeMLAwpOOQJ4SvhS7tysyVL7NNeVpCrrjIfuGzcjHAbpa_glBjUwyWgiCHLd6QjXkWxuwHUGa-jymRqqIAOMvaLL9EcwygiIJcW17k9TD8Vt_HgbqPwT9MmWjhAzvd9V8NMRCiq3pjsHU1qrOq4fnhsOalxBQPurCD_8mjh5jO6Cu4WjFecdQ/w200-h166/KonamisBilliards_Rate2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Ah, pool, a fun pastime, liked playing it over at one of my relatives' houses when I was a child and teenager* (and air hockey, too, but that's neither here nor there). 🎱 <b><i>Konami's Billiards</i></b> is a simple but enjoyable video game simulation of the sport, I love that they captured the pool table aesthetic from the top view and the gameplay is well-handled too as you place your trajectory at any side or edge of the table (where you could formulate a strategy or play it by ear) and can shoot your cue ball at one of three different speeds as you're given a few opportunities to get the colored number balls into one of six pockets (it doesn't hurt to be careful to not have the cue ball fall inside a pocket, either). I don't mind that there are six balls rather than fifteen like in real life, Konami did the sport proud. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Maybe it was from watching the Doug Langdale Disney animated series <i>The Weekenders</i> that got me into pool, who knows? Shame it's not on Disney+, but at least the whole series is on DVD</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGoFfzxJGX5e-1EvnDtC4C4uf724L40DV1dqxTqedlD3_AywLvcNbkF6e8_VZQTyQTC7TQR8jxf7qR0DGyDM5c6mnZ9--CViPPdld1R9hxXkom7Cw0FslszqJxl5AYpCRpmAwnP5M8lXsj9vOd8GoMDXgplZ4bc2NIQt737lglW-s5FObWRnyh2DOIw/s153/HyperSports3_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="153" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGoFfzxJGX5e-1EvnDtC4C4uf724L40DV1dqxTqedlD3_AywLvcNbkF6e8_VZQTyQTC7TQR8jxf7qR0DGyDM5c6mnZ9--CViPPdld1R9hxXkom7Cw0FslszqJxl5AYpCRpmAwnP5M8lXsj9vOd8GoMDXgplZ4bc2NIQt737lglW-s5FObWRnyh2DOIw/s1600/HyperSports3_Title.png" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDQSRSkvOSqjNbsHLHT1RTM-L0luWBhHa5D-7uszX4tsTQm268FWC2VYPcClO4WikmtI7l9eZ49rTKhD5nJDqw7cftilLSCEBsFPMwPA3-a5pxpYUDPv_c5ZtMWFlAFAuEgURXShnVeAU1WRRRCrvCL94yDxtZtSA8pB3ugb5Q17l2Qx6HlKTNfWQKQ/s311/HyperSports3_BikeRace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDQSRSkvOSqjNbsHLHT1RTM-L0luWBhHa5D-7uszX4tsTQm268FWC2VYPcClO4WikmtI7l9eZ49rTKhD5nJDqw7cftilLSCEBsFPMwPA3-a5pxpYUDPv_c5ZtMWFlAFAuEgURXShnVeAU1WRRRCrvCL94yDxtZtSA8pB3ugb5Q17l2Qx6HlKTNfWQKQ/w200-h166/HyperSports3_BikeRace.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhQb-hyYX2BTAGiCcTGteG0mwhaTJDBnECYcNEuRBQv22XC_XOOQQc76mVZq1mABl_Hbk-iAQ3C9kH_UFNReohGOT47db35QXvapu6HjkpEylFpBbzbfYFlf--RR4ZT_3uFUt4FrBo1UvKb_apYqSx7hAcbrNzBgWG_nGTmf0s3T8DHdxLJQAsCHnyg/s311/HyperSports3_TripleJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhQb-hyYX2BTAGiCcTGteG0mwhaTJDBnECYcNEuRBQv22XC_XOOQQc76mVZq1mABl_Hbk-iAQ3C9kH_UFNReohGOT47db35QXvapu6HjkpEylFpBbzbfYFlf--RR4ZT_3uFUt4FrBo1UvKb_apYqSx7hAcbrNzBgWG_nGTmf0s3T8DHdxLJQAsCHnyg/w200-h166/HyperSports3_TripleJump.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">These screenshots were taken while watching the four individual demos</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The latest installment of Konami's <i>Hyper Sports</i> on the MSX, <b><i>Hyper Sports 3</i></b> covers four events as you partake in a competitive cycling race, the triple jump competition, the ice-themed stone sliding sport of curling, until finally you must engage in pole vaulting. In all events bar cycling you're given multiple opportunities.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EGqO3p7OCnWqihbBnlZhhts88bRBm2Tm3AJa2IEq1J9N6o5YAShF3p1tkrNSzWL6sPqRqlvi4c6ZaClX9IpR2ZhhivLjiwfTueINoBxeUurIpCyo2eU7LrGOXWAnLE7npiARq6758oLr9UYsgzqt1sotA80otHEfDJfcGqDsRWIiJcPa04FKCeeHag/s311/HyperSports3_Curling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EGqO3p7OCnWqihbBnlZhhts88bRBm2Tm3AJa2IEq1J9N6o5YAShF3p1tkrNSzWL6sPqRqlvi4c6ZaClX9IpR2ZhhivLjiwfTueINoBxeUurIpCyo2eU7LrGOXWAnLE7npiARq6758oLr9UYsgzqt1sotA80otHEfDJfcGqDsRWIiJcPa04FKCeeHag/w200-h166/HyperSports3_Curling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH-m-b7BTPTyI4qoS3jhcdydtrrNUGHvUuVdfFOZAcfZgpgQxHLG21240y17MzY1AwCNqDjAibKZYtQDCaxFzUVVlrhJS9gqr7abs1ScGwbBmX08PNKUNY_3tD5nAMyUqPXb63v8f40Mwdfxpqw767rSdSEbP5jShqJmTz3Tk5lOGJ1uVlszdOQCDPw/s311/HyperSports3_PoleVault.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH-m-b7BTPTyI4qoS3jhcdydtrrNUGHvUuVdfFOZAcfZgpgQxHLG21240y17MzY1AwCNqDjAibKZYtQDCaxFzUVVlrhJS9gqr7abs1ScGwbBmX08PNKUNY_3tD5nAMyUqPXb63v8f40Mwdfxpqw767rSdSEbP5jShqJmTz3Tk5lOGJ1uVlszdOQCDPw/w200-h166/HyperSports3_PoleVault.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Alas, there isn't much I can say about this game because I cannot play it. 🙁 The opening cycling event requires me to qualify within three minutes, and no matter what I do I simply cannot manage for I must constantly tap the A or C buttons and occasionally press B to ride up or down the track (one of those instances where the conversion from MSX to Saturn controls rendered it unplayable for <b>me</b>). At least with <i>Hyper Sports 2</i> I could play through all its events, I can't even play through <b>one</b> in <i>Hyper Sports 3</i>, and that makes me sad. The colors look nice, at least.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXVmaMJqL_ZdU-xyq3pGz30hcA-bqOck9QxJxAyNuyw7PFJXbAsEEVk_Y4KI-j01igYQTREzBjNyXDEu8IzBfSdQNJ9f9qwm1lujDzOTdmGKTFFNkprZBTjv9icPI04ag41s31pKkJzoYvitTjt2FWZDFF8NJaYJ0xfd7XUf25xx3ApqS69JkK-8nPw/s166/AthleticLand_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="34" data-original-width="166" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXVmaMJqL_ZdU-xyq3pGz30hcA-bqOck9QxJxAyNuyw7PFJXbAsEEVk_Y4KI-j01igYQTREzBjNyXDEu8IzBfSdQNJ9f9qwm1lujDzOTdmGKTFFNkprZBTjv9icPI04ag41s31pKkJzoYvitTjt2FWZDFF8NJaYJ0xfd7XUf25xx3ApqS69JkK-8nPw/s1600/AthleticLand_Title.png" width="166" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1983 (Copyrighted 1984) | Japanese Title: <i>Wanpaku Athletic</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoia4uQ3jlPYK9hFIHeACeRslyST-bzwv0qoTiObBTuM5ElDX2RvGHiNM8KkSsKqg-KTpyY8MUmTPszsgkWXsQCdP7QvkeApaKE0l7aUMoTrMtwNA6MUl3BZy4qEHQrfZHV7X2q-J_pS4nktNwGnFqtRbuOlEkB_cO-c3LcIphm1I42A4x4YQJwBYLGg/s311/AthleticLand_Springs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoia4uQ3jlPYK9hFIHeACeRslyST-bzwv0qoTiObBTuM5ElDX2RvGHiNM8KkSsKqg-KTpyY8MUmTPszsgkWXsQCdP7QvkeApaKE0l7aUMoTrMtwNA6MUl3BZy4qEHQrfZHV7X2q-J_pS4nktNwGnFqtRbuOlEkB_cO-c3LcIphm1I42A4x4YQJwBYLGg/w200-h166/AthleticLand_Springs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SP6MPvvW9dk72vV59TWRu6ONkkhZ3akNIFr8I7yS-BEhu4MIFKnm2gMgaVJ_hmHcqBTIySeZr38c0u45OZlFBhjFcSlHzP_WDJS4O9EG7Hyl2kxOAaDZZYz5B8aEqhGerTviOtnGq7fhriqO4c5fBHigkyYmg1mje3QJDbWfjOC2Q-tYO0SjkeJNEA/s311/AthleticLand_JumpingBlocks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SP6MPvvW9dk72vV59TWRu6ONkkhZ3akNIFr8I7yS-BEhu4MIFKnm2gMgaVJ_hmHcqBTIySeZr38c0u45OZlFBhjFcSlHzP_WDJS4O9EG7Hyl2kxOAaDZZYz5B8aEqhGerTviOtnGq7fhriqO4c5fBHigkyYmg1mje3QJDbWfjOC2Q-tYO0SjkeJNEA/w200-h166/AthleticLand_JumpingBlocks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Konami would also reskin this game as a <i>Cabbage Patch Kids</i> license which came out on the MSX personal computer and ColecoVision console</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i><b>Athletic Land</b></i> is a game that can best be described as being similar to Activision's <i>Pitfall!</i> in terms of its gameplay structure as you have to progress from screen to screen. What separates it from the David Crane classic is that it is much more colorful, has bouncy background music, only takes place on the surface level rather than occasionally exploring the underground as well, <b>and</b> you take control of a child.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKxAhmQ4x7A95DrMyThxsqZ3MXtjF5ONSisrUtGbIe54ygmbX5N7aTutAd35xmfdBvoXkTZLrU-wp7CzqFx9SoyUeIYH8DzvV0IsJ2DeRwsEsOaPD5cmgAVrFyiU-utSwu8RHJmPPOSDQsjjk7DwQlwyzKt4-PHfF6oCAsOfE-lWB1aeerJvy8dBq5g/s311/AthleticLand_Jogging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKxAhmQ4x7A95DrMyThxsqZ3MXtjF5ONSisrUtGbIe54ygmbX5N7aTutAd35xmfdBvoXkTZLrU-wp7CzqFx9SoyUeIYH8DzvV0IsJ2DeRwsEsOaPD5cmgAVrFyiU-utSwu8RHJmPPOSDQsjjk7DwQlwyzKt4-PHfF6oCAsOfE-lWB1aeerJvy8dBq5g/w200-h166/AthleticLand_Jogging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscsKFraglmttaqsj-BYC6a-jAyMPd-PjZv3L4xP2UaHfgrZtMpFq59WQhS0uXyyblVFQ_uxJ5Ec3eEfNrzry8Egwv1tcnWJig9vtl2x12o6niv2iZ-RlQCJKhnC7sgS1wHOwhQfMqFdK-V6B61UG9h0c_fqkDuATxNpKrOpWRAM3PjxGL25aPyKohQw/s311/AthleticLand_Lilypad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscsKFraglmttaqsj-BYC6a-jAyMPd-PjZv3L4xP2UaHfgrZtMpFq59WQhS0uXyyblVFQ_uxJ5Ec3eEfNrzry8Egwv1tcnWJig9vtl2x12o6niv2iZ-RlQCJKhnC7sgS1wHOwhQfMqFdK-V6B61UG9h0c_fqkDuATxNpKrOpWRAM3PjxGL25aPyKohQw/w200-h166/AthleticLand_Lilypad.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Each stage comprises of ten scenes, and in them you must go from running from left to right (or the opposite way should you start off on the left side instead) by jogging if it's just a plain road, jumping across a series of springs, swinging on ropes, jumping from block to block in a pixel perfect manner lest you fall off and lose a life, getting on a floating lily pad, and most importantly, dodging any oncoming obstacle that attempts to impede your path to glory (like rocks that have to be jumped over, bouncing balls, and deadly bees), et al. You can also collect apples for points if you can manage to do so in one piece for you get hit once or fall hard, you lose a life and must restart from the present scene.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj_L_ntt6wf79KXgLERkSp6Fke_jH3vxoVQ14Pn0um5RTuAJtWaDAe-KjhzgUvjRI8Ok5iqizZVIFCnsjyT0SNzEjBtrt2aZ0_3Mlr2X7b47_WRbzkEgR-BU6cGLbSNHAQUHSCJo4ZvaSn1HkDX3cFQ3om5lA6l2N09d5ol-XkcGQXHs9L4d5vYTFcQ/s311/AthleticLand_ChildPark2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj_L_ntt6wf79KXgLERkSp6Fke_jH3vxoVQ14Pn0um5RTuAJtWaDAe-KjhzgUvjRI8Ok5iqizZVIFCnsjyT0SNzEjBtrt2aZ0_3Mlr2X7b47_WRbzkEgR-BU6cGLbSNHAQUHSCJo4ZvaSn1HkDX3cFQ3om5lA6l2N09d5ol-XkcGQXHs9L4d5vYTFcQ/w200-h166/AthleticLand_ChildPark2.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNCwZHj6Z8PWukgjoyoLavbxQt4H-3V0WcjkBwgeCrujepl2FwsMBQ3fhr3R8xkSz0bLFbE8jEy6p9JuW9TpwZA69IYhKZh0jPpM74TlzM_f4iwPg_B3hx9KUhLoQ2J7_jmhsNJOOEbTH4uqo5fqHa0jHJtOZHOfhhPk2mLNhD_7Ojw7UhhWboOUuKA/s311/AthleticLand_Hurt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNCwZHj6Z8PWukgjoyoLavbxQt4H-3V0WcjkBwgeCrujepl2FwsMBQ3fhr3R8xkSz0bLFbE8jEy6p9JuW9TpwZA69IYhKZh0jPpM74TlzM_f4iwPg_B3hx9KUhLoQ2J7_jmhsNJOOEbTH4uqo5fqHa0jHJtOZHOfhhPk2mLNhD_7Ojw7UhhWboOUuKA/w200-h166/AthleticLand_Hurt.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I love that the life icon changes expression after clearing the stage and after having lost a life </b>😆</span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">There is an adorable lighthearted charm to <i>Athletic Land</i>, it's endearing to look at, and the gameplay, simple though it may be, is enjoyable as you try to overcome all those obstacles to the best of your ability before the game becomes more challenging. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiOkiDvtOlzF6oDfXAo521JVAZc8kW4PP84zCxbDFmUb8PoQuZEpTfUSSAZIBFdQmZ_PkqpD8zh4IcEX69W3Gh-G06lwlOYw17t-lBknCkpgnW79_YZJemFodahw1bxKnW78qYbjqDSPoLv7ItUoRkqh4uM9_0qIwqKl1FKIwbdlf8CKBgPM-RpJ-0qr8/s147/MagicalTree_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="35" data-original-width="147" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiOkiDvtOlzF6oDfXAo521JVAZc8kW4PP84zCxbDFmUb8PoQuZEpTfUSSAZIBFdQmZ_PkqpD8zh4IcEX69W3Gh-G06lwlOYw17t-lBknCkpgnW79_YZJemFodahw1bxKnW78qYbjqDSPoLv7ItUoRkqh4uM9_0qIwqKl1FKIwbdlf8CKBgPM-RpJ-0qr8/s1600/MagicalTree_Title.png" width="147" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s2yBZHwH8G_YKiZQX8Fa7QUvv2EtSFz0EvORw37Z0uUqSNL2Cf9pnniG3Xx9MWL6vBxE8Xo3s-rIRosylYjLH_rnQiA34nmADr5H5QyUSNXPgij0JdDYEB6a1yJD3KxY_SEwsBCVGdfSFuBdV7X-BCR9EF0KFykOhErhkVaXb_Vd0mL5MTI-HU4SvoUt/s311/MagicalTree_122m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s2yBZHwH8G_YKiZQX8Fa7QUvv2EtSFz0EvORw37Z0uUqSNL2Cf9pnniG3Xx9MWL6vBxE8Xo3s-rIRosylYjLH_rnQiA34nmADr5H5QyUSNXPgij0JdDYEB6a1yJD3KxY_SEwsBCVGdfSFuBdV7X-BCR9EF0KFykOhErhkVaXb_Vd0mL5MTI-HU4SvoUt/w200-h166/MagicalTree_122m.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdF3k6Z1MHqwmI9sh-5JIV5gUPCWRFwn2btsmNdOSxV5V-Db0ARa9dGMqrlhtiEsH9Ts0b2AQ6hRl5hN4Ldy6qJJHEkOU1-Khh4G29P6Jw81etBzF_avzcbu3gyhjg2uNMDXS0x4-lvmxn6o-NMfuIKx2YQMqI2dIIWceeORM7dBjGKHd4jvrf_37fvKr/s311/MagicalTree_174m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdF3k6Z1MHqwmI9sh-5JIV5gUPCWRFwn2btsmNdOSxV5V-Db0ARa9dGMqrlhtiEsH9Ts0b2AQ6hRl5hN4Ldy6qJJHEkOU1-Khh4G29P6Jw81etBzF_avzcbu3gyhjg2uNMDXS0x4-lvmxn6o-NMfuIKx2YQMqI2dIIWceeORM7dBjGKHd4jvrf_37fvKr/w200-h166/MagicalTree_174m.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the vertical-scale action platforming game, <b><i>Magical Tree</i></b> has you take control of an indigenous Native American youth whose mission is to climb and scale the 2,004 meter long tree where above it is a castle. Divided into nine stages with approximately 200 or so each, you can jump up branches, slide down and dangle from said branches, climb up vines and ladders, and even make apples drop down and roll into the hole beside the branch (where the color determines the amount of gems you're collecting for points.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGoXVAFp6LEbOQ0wOrxuT6UH7WcbHWZ6Fnb8iJh6V99jAIby7031RsGUC2peWSmNcbTJrxPGXqF8wLt0cR-3vHcESVrKyVnTcMUs7BI05eZSwTdtoy9e_3yCU4KWKWuiWfYWZz6f6J9k8IVznvtN6VtAZEUsZGuJhtHKH9SWM1JPNQobdhISP-9ujBt3E/s311/MagicalTree_251m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGoXVAFp6LEbOQ0wOrxuT6UH7WcbHWZ6Fnb8iJh6V99jAIby7031RsGUC2peWSmNcbTJrxPGXqF8wLt0cR-3vHcESVrKyVnTcMUs7BI05eZSwTdtoy9e_3yCU4KWKWuiWfYWZz6f6J9k8IVznvtN6VtAZEUsZGuJhtHKH9SWM1JPNQobdhISP-9ujBt3E/w200-h166/MagicalTree_251m.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw84C9zsbkNT4TWr4ak2qM7ExArzi2XX73j0i92VOeScerxT5mvmyXLPCrcZEtgV3HOD7qdtDH2VXAbBuuqVFpcBjxXCl6so0Jnf9dSSX_HSVWgQgFf9UYANHVCwytRJD0vhKg19ZsnVGR8e7EV0OutAB6-yjSuS9W9eDCso72rtHEfBscozneJx4vmM2U/s311/MagicalTree_435m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw84C9zsbkNT4TWr4ak2qM7ExArzi2XX73j0i92VOeScerxT5mvmyXLPCrcZEtgV3HOD7qdtDH2VXAbBuuqVFpcBjxXCl6so0Jnf9dSSX_HSVWgQgFf9UYANHVCwytRJD0vhKg19ZsnVGR8e7EV0OutAB6-yjSuS9W9eDCso72rtHEfBscozneJx4vmM2U/w200-h166/MagicalTree_435m.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">From time to time you might also grab arrows and coronets for points that are situated on random branches on the way to the top. Whenever you reach the end of a stage after a certain distance, you'll be shown the remaining distance required to reach the treetop. This game is not without its obstacles, however, for you must be careful not to make contact with owls flying back and forth, snakes, larvae that dangle at the bottom of the vine, and menacing clouds that attempt to shoot lightning bolts at you otherwise you must climb back up from a specific point in the current stage. Misused jumps might also have you plummeting down, but fortunately you can still dangle from the branches.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEKmHVsZbR0UK1ERnReNMSZkuq4V7HYfg8ncOaV1kD26Qk9LilnDaDoy7JgOZL2GfzbtKl1KfNqdew8Z9viybSNitGEyJGNV6c23bx3XRCK2SyfvjXKJQP7_d_ftDlSMWnq9AQx1gU1LihS_4zy9Z1Zu4hBSe1d_8l8FEhIhkiTT9Wpl_JSF7YHntaIqk/s311/MagicalTree_583m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEKmHVsZbR0UK1ERnReNMSZkuq4V7HYfg8ncOaV1kD26Qk9LilnDaDoy7JgOZL2GfzbtKl1KfNqdew8Z9viybSNitGEyJGNV6c23bx3XRCK2SyfvjXKJQP7_d_ftDlSMWnq9AQx1gU1LihS_4zy9Z1Zu4hBSe1d_8l8FEhIhkiTT9Wpl_JSF7YHntaIqk/w200-h166/MagicalTree_583m.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR6ckllZxsGrfNpjsu2lazONy1XSTlW4NIqmnKGBx2LgPHOjOhPYOx1CthuELHpjodmum7FXBlJCBuApBmq3uvvUov4YtyxeHDyrDsLh0S2LFWA4-4nUwcCdqWXXfwtZaKjOGofuHEZQLKSOSJnqk9rw9Wa4f1yngvd9b6F9w45nWC6wRV4wbfotr0Yoj/s311/MagicalTree_653m.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR6ckllZxsGrfNpjsu2lazONy1XSTlW4NIqmnKGBx2LgPHOjOhPYOx1CthuELHpjodmum7FXBlJCBuApBmq3uvvUov4YtyxeHDyrDsLh0S2LFWA4-4nUwcCdqWXXfwtZaKjOGofuHEZQLKSOSJnqk9rw9Wa4f1yngvd9b6F9w45nWC6wRV4wbfotr0Yoj/w200-h166/MagicalTree_653m.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">I feel this game might be viewed as problematic retroactively due to the stereotypical portrayal of the young Native American protagonist used as a playable character as it most certainly would not fly today (or if it were made today, then Konami would probably have done so with considerable tact) but setting that elephant in the room aside, I like <i>Magical Tree</i> quite a bit. It's pleasant to look at and has got lighthearted charm, the music is bouncy and upbeat, builds up its challenge level to a reasonable degree, and the gameplay is easily fun and intuitive. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z70yo5dEsqBy7AOdnQDbfN1_o9x5OCnwpfH-_tHdbB2ZQdLp4AmGrmU4C6qOJeVIpjA9erVI62CYGnSZMiKq0evC998OYnTOPmHa-bNH3g6i2p1YOoQTnvlHCveedjgWSX5XM6NN2QEg92SMQUUlzMIvoZjNj4f3PGHV3XKR0IyvTd3M5HANSkwrUg/s176/YieArKungFu2_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="176" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z70yo5dEsqBy7AOdnQDbfN1_o9x5OCnwpfH-_tHdbB2ZQdLp4AmGrmU4C6qOJeVIpjA9erVI62CYGnSZMiKq0evC998OYnTOPmHa-bNH3g6i2p1YOoQTnvlHCveedjgWSX5XM6NN2QEg92SMQUUlzMIvoZjNj4f3PGHV3XKR0IyvTd3M5HANSkwrUg/s1600/YieArKungFu2_Title.png" width="176" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Year: 1985 | Full Title: <i>Yie Ar Kung-Fu II: Yie-Gah </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Kōtei no Gyakushū</i></span></span></b></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiG8v4BpBhxDiFLNpnoxXzjKicQxALZK5icLB7m8AK3XBweCZVJaNnWep0Cg7IJxmYZ1f24SUdz8KEEdYNUB4oZ7sEl40uiaFp0shrbJUQ-w-6Mm-py-972FqtO7lBImHHlJd2VzDNGzH2hxY-pqLlvgAJLc47xSkVldoYSIyEWiMu6JsMnJLXpN6Fw/s311/YieArKungFu2_FlyingObstacle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiG8v4BpBhxDiFLNpnoxXzjKicQxALZK5icLB7m8AK3XBweCZVJaNnWep0Cg7IJxmYZ1f24SUdz8KEEdYNUB4oZ7sEl40uiaFp0shrbJUQ-w-6Mm-py-972FqtO7lBImHHlJd2VzDNGzH2hxY-pqLlvgAJLc47xSkVldoYSIyEWiMu6JsMnJLXpN6Fw/w200-h166/YieArKungFu2_FlyingObstacle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVawQjE6wfJMEeenT3xkIis2kcxqEWlwtlNXYzQCwHbsQ-4GHciDoLksuGJy0_7yVh6P9Ovf5O6BebVrrmiQcqDn-_dmoSZkb4M9cewprpvUsKn-a2aBkfHv-604H7s5XUuEsDGP5baYiJmoBw26rrr1CtnQENLlnGd-NWokFWy6Y2IdoLX6j1o1gnSg/s311/YieArKungFu2_LeeVsYenPei.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVawQjE6wfJMEeenT3xkIis2kcxqEWlwtlNXYzQCwHbsQ-4GHciDoLksuGJy0_7yVh6P9Ovf5O6BebVrrmiQcqDn-_dmoSZkb4M9cewprpvUsKn-a2aBkfHv-604H7s5XUuEsDGP5baYiJmoBw26rrr1CtnQENLlnGd-NWokFWy6Y2IdoLX6j1o1gnSg/w200-h166/YieArKungFu2_LeeVsYenPei.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Did you know that the tournament fighting game <i>Yie Ar Kung-Fu</i> got a sequel? Well, on the personal computer gaming front it did, in the form of <i><b>Yie Ar Kung-Fu II</b></i>. What makes this different from its predecessor is that it bears more in common with the traditional beat'em up in that you must dispose of any oncoming obstacles flying your path by kicking upward or downward and even punching straight as you make your way from screen to screen until it bookends on a fight against a boss at the end. Interestingly, you're starting from the right and making your way to the left, as opposed to the usual opposite route.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdg2eeEnlKL0LhRxMPM-7Q8nutlq04_vEhtiemojrPhT4CDBrQl3A3XZ2Akok2vV9IapXWHDVRUn1N57mMKA_GJJP8JwkTgyWqS3CNmYplqgVMRccztKNpwbwGtd9baXfZHWz4P7K4gM8bEZ1g5Evm_jIYK0om8zQ6R8O6z7TkzVypK_RabooA6Jjqw/s311/YieArKungFu2_LowKick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdg2eeEnlKL0LhRxMPM-7Q8nutlq04_vEhtiemojrPhT4CDBrQl3A3XZ2Akok2vV9IapXWHDVRUn1N57mMKA_GJJP8JwkTgyWqS3CNmYplqgVMRccztKNpwbwGtd9baXfZHWz4P7K4gM8bEZ1g5Evm_jIYK0om8zQ6R8O6z7TkzVypK_RabooA6Jjqw/w200-h166/YieArKungFu2_LowKick.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGRlE99xVs2ldaPtQhRi-VoiVlZVTbqycec--Kk1MkL_MJX2oM6H6PTARzG7VQnVPyr39EC38uzA9krMGHSR59zYFACqC_7EJkJPcjTEqcKvDBxK0PzyBD59QTtKW06SpNzWsOTb6Em_9rjVKClNWbarkgmAI7pTFDpagXp57dtWAgJIB-AQPd4l6iQ/s311/YieArKungFu2_LeeVsLanFang.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGRlE99xVs2ldaPtQhRi-VoiVlZVTbqycec--Kk1MkL_MJX2oM6H6PTARzG7VQnVPyr39EC38uzA9krMGHSR59zYFACqC_7EJkJPcjTEqcKvDBxK0PzyBD59QTtKW06SpNzWsOTb6Em_9rjVKClNWbarkgmAI7pTFDpagXp57dtWAgJIB-AQPd4l6iQ/w200-h166/YieArKungFu2_LeeVsLanFang.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Yie Ar Kung Fu II</i> is the first fighting game to feature a playable female fighter in it with Lan-Fang</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Just like the last game the controls are a bit particular in how they're handled on the Saturn with your kicks sometimes being done by the direction button or the action button, ditto for jumping except you might have combine both action buttons and direction buttons together (it's a bit hard to explain through words, but the best I can say is that it's a bit finnicky). And while I can say it's still largely playable in its precursor, I feel the same might be a bit true here with a bit of practice, but that being said I like the first <i>Yie Ar Kung-Fu</i> more. It's still a bit fun, though, and I like the colorfully visual aesthetic work that was done here.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66vQK2ma3yU8aeUX3tQ90TXVM757-aeqfkdTIn28Saam_dktvyisq0NQnEecqbiwV7lCcaD07d9GZPPWVseWt-Xw9r96GS_s28LQKcep1QQV5uAcImE3yPTVd1w-QYWGXg7CRFYd1cDFEIoD0mRtn6iYU5Lr3erKHyz_5Jezlyg8M50bWNeCWryrUZw/s115/Knightmare_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="61" data-original-width="115" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66vQK2ma3yU8aeUX3tQ90TXVM757-aeqfkdTIn28Saam_dktvyisq0NQnEecqbiwV7lCcaD07d9GZPPWVseWt-Xw9r96GS_s28LQKcep1QQV5uAcImE3yPTVd1w-QYWGXg7CRFYd1cDFEIoD0mRtn6iYU5Lr3erKHyz_5Jezlyg8M50bWNeCWryrUZw/s1600/Knightmare_Title.png" width="115" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1986 | Japanese Title: <i>Knightmare: Maj</i></b></span><i><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b>ō Densetsu</b></span></span></i></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-nZRwho4SPUpQZ82BdMQ7ioGxik4qRscTQqcMqOF0hYEjCtINDa0praFt8QK_jgJvHN9DGIvc3nfZUKRuV1ejlHGDUBWKMQvFTGSeViWyOUvy9ECw3ieyFNaUttmST64TLuPnh1HPSbkh4OztDXZB_ImK_mep9BWAZsgQL4HIoZEn-NadXSQ8pBNEw/s311/Knightmare_Bats.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-nZRwho4SPUpQZ82BdMQ7ioGxik4qRscTQqcMqOF0hYEjCtINDa0praFt8QK_jgJvHN9DGIvc3nfZUKRuV1ejlHGDUBWKMQvFTGSeViWyOUvy9ECw3ieyFNaUttmST64TLuPnh1HPSbkh4OztDXZB_ImK_mep9BWAZsgQL4HIoZEn-NadXSQ8pBNEw/w200-h166/Knightmare_Bats.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkatULKrXddnBAyWAD60A8TKYfMyV-otAjvO6Vm_8yrxsCVboIXJ-TyriPYfQJsqb0YiVmPLWEaT2StJIoJVp_Y96UHAZ1FNm_Dj50W-vIB1X6W8sn67W67zG3CXzxf77Ci___WplkTA7tF8lKFQ2sM0JivemTb-OB0gXqOrY2j5C5KtpKF-95hyY3-g/s311/Knightmare_ArrowShooting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkatULKrXddnBAyWAD60A8TKYfMyV-otAjvO6Vm_8yrxsCVboIXJ-TyriPYfQJsqb0YiVmPLWEaT2StJIoJVp_Y96UHAZ1FNm_Dj50W-vIB1X6W8sn67W67zG3CXzxf77Ci___WplkTA7tF8lKFQ2sM0JivemTb-OB0gXqOrY2j5C5KtpKF-95hyY3-g/w200-h166/Knightmare_ArrowShooting.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The first in a trilogy of MSX games, followed by <i>The Maze of Galious</i> (which also came out on the Famicom) and <i>Shalom: Knightmare III</i> the following year, <b><i>Knightmare</i></b> is a vertical scrolling shoot'em up where you take control of the knight Popolon who is on an arduous quest throughout a Greek-like setting to rescue Princess Aphrodite from the evil priest Hudnos. Littered throughout the land are enemies, be it bats or enemy knights or winged demons, who must be dealt with by shooting your weapon at them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjynVBlS6NmH-yGxkrfrcv5wWe8u6Pi1AR7Lq5tJfmpTEre0uQr7br9tvkn7-deFsuXHTo8NTtUAnmRI_x8c3ta5Wi-W4t5o4ETeKK2xu6eeymc6_pUijXAd0AeSfV4zEme8k63PYmWN69Ycl2OBbDAuUzZxsqzwMDRjWRqD_v3GTGrJ9hfdi1f-JVw/s51/Knightmare_PopolonSleeping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="48" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjynVBlS6NmH-yGxkrfrcv5wWe8u6Pi1AR7Lq5tJfmpTEre0uQr7br9tvkn7-deFsuXHTo8NTtUAnmRI_x8c3ta5Wi-W4t5o4ETeKK2xu6eeymc6_pUijXAd0AeSfV4zEme8k63PYmWN69Ycl2OBbDAuUzZxsqzwMDRjWRqD_v3GTGrJ9hfdi1f-JVw/s1600/Knightmare_PopolonSleeping.png" width="48" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love it, pausing is represented by Popolon sleeping in bed</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Every now and then are "?" blocks that must be shot at to reveal a random power-up that might either help you (like a knight chess piece to eradicate all enemies onscreen or a crown chess piece to temporarily freeze time) or hinder you; sometimes firing at random spots will reveal a hidden block. Starting off with bow and arrow, you can change your weapon after shooting at a round "P" icon until it lands on a weapon that you'd like in which case you can walk towards it (like a fiery spread shot, a long and powerful sword, a shield, and even a boomerang that will return back towards you once thrown).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvX91c_YGT2_ERAhlB-fPLdqLmS3lTa3L2WOfXOjaZ72Hfh7Gt4a6nJ3DSmSoLcORwJpcBYjU0xnAmPXJQRC_hgws6K_OweJn5UnAdwQvePO5zftcSEW9H99FccA5UMObJrdTMwt3ljFcO3LUui339vDh6HZpe9KJ3YIgxLUpuH5Y8K0iDnzTbOpJLA/s311/Knightmare_Shield.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvX91c_YGT2_ERAhlB-fPLdqLmS3lTa3L2WOfXOjaZ72Hfh7Gt4a6nJ3DSmSoLcORwJpcBYjU0xnAmPXJQRC_hgws6K_OweJn5UnAdwQvePO5zftcSEW9H99FccA5UMObJrdTMwt3ljFcO3LUui339vDh6HZpe9KJ3YIgxLUpuH5Y8K0iDnzTbOpJLA/w200-h166/Knightmare_Shield.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcgzk2RMKQS1lp0z_gvegsVDZxAz2PlrslfjBJkYXzFeQvGOqVc5QmMZVG0zPraIWAPpjFnGllInM17Go_-UJ2KkTw7pSfsQwyWeoL-9rjB5Rz8-k2cNbSymwNJlu_x0beE4es-X5MAg_023mzFfYAe2AA3lWfjaQyKbu1CcnY_z-wNB6JmnCiaj82w/s311/Knightmare_EvilKnights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcgzk2RMKQS1lp0z_gvegsVDZxAz2PlrslfjBJkYXzFeQvGOqVc5QmMZVG0zPraIWAPpjFnGllInM17Go_-UJ2KkTw7pSfsQwyWeoL-9rjB5Rz8-k2cNbSymwNJlu_x0beE4es-X5MAg_023mzFfYAe2AA3lWfjaQyKbu1CcnY_z-wNB6JmnCiaj82w/w200-h166/Knightmare_EvilKnights.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Knightmare</i> has got a good soundtrack, I like that each stage has got a different color scheme, and it's pretty fun to play even if traditional shoot'em ups are generally not what I consider myself to be good at. It's always a neat spin in the genre when they change it up to a projectile throwing human character as opposed to a spaceship.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dI4o9NQ0Syt4hs3llvS-fuG_sTgV8Xu5dXt5pveI-n3mThu6cbVz9y5iQSHoirGdo3n669aucGrBKL1Pz9Rn69dfLoqIF6Bdbna8XFGj-fZWeF3KhCKo-N8apRIHZu9szUEmhaI8ogRw7BIxUJqgOGs9x3GiP5jRisHVk3ci5ST3A3JvHt8JqO_KsQ/s145/SuperCobra_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="34" data-original-width="145" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dI4o9NQ0Syt4hs3llvS-fuG_sTgV8Xu5dXt5pveI-n3mThu6cbVz9y5iQSHoirGdo3n669aucGrBKL1Pz9Rn69dfLoqIF6Bdbna8XFGj-fZWeF3KhCKo-N8apRIHZu9szUEmhaI8ogRw7BIxUJqgOGs9x3GiP5jRisHVk3ci5ST3A3JvHt8JqO_KsQ/s1600/SuperCobra_Title.png" width="145" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1981, 1983</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_2M-NvXtLkLApY6LuuQZBhPd1zjyyxN9bQMQmhWqD4r9_ELC4RJ_HdXeiXNyJBFrZ_TsbALVWOVZwKErOPNNbx5MGcy9Pmh8eo7b_07u9OU0esevMWXquRmL1EujwXFeh5zQDo4SbuyW9ZNrGrK81TKVxc0_hbP-cmC6lnkvtsWSKVyj-Oywrj-HJQ/s311/SuperCobra_DroppingBomb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_2M-NvXtLkLApY6LuuQZBhPd1zjyyxN9bQMQmhWqD4r9_ELC4RJ_HdXeiXNyJBFrZ_TsbALVWOVZwKErOPNNbx5MGcy9Pmh8eo7b_07u9OU0esevMWXquRmL1EujwXFeh5zQDo4SbuyW9ZNrGrK81TKVxc0_hbP-cmC6lnkvtsWSKVyj-Oywrj-HJQ/w200-h166/SuperCobra_DroppingBomb.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfywwBn8rz0Bo5tCTEcd7N96vMEAA2yWh-1ZoLyG8TeXVzYTMl9G9xdZT54SHu75Q1AsewBbkcCa0FDsomLGSVl9qL2HaNzXXwEfgmJ1BdBBQm-LkJ0FZuqbuOCOMKaU55x_vJTw8Qy9zXb6qX_yfhc56rrvd9ScB0dF0Ytx-4eOx5WZFhgbHZvUVHg/s311/SuperCobra_FlyingSaucers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfywwBn8rz0Bo5tCTEcd7N96vMEAA2yWh-1ZoLyG8TeXVzYTMl9G9xdZT54SHu75Q1AsewBbkcCa0FDsomLGSVl9qL2HaNzXXwEfgmJ1BdBBQm-LkJ0FZuqbuOCOMKaU55x_vJTw8Qy9zXb6qX_yfhc56rrvd9ScB0dF0Ytx-4eOx5WZFhgbHZvUVHg/w200-h166/SuperCobra_FlyingSaucers.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Not used to seeing a Konami game using Exidy-eqsue font</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">1981 saw the release of Konami's <i>Scramble</i> in arcades which established the foundation of the horizontal-scrolling shoot'em up genre as it was the first of its kind. That same year Konami followed it up with the coin-op sequel <i><b>Super Cobra</b></i> where instead of controlling a spaceship you were in control of a fighter chopper where you could shoot ahead with your laser and drop bombs as you could move ahead or move back as well flying higher and lower. Unlike <i>Scramble</i> which saw little exposure outside of arcades at the time, this game got ported to many personal computers and consoles of the time period including the MSX.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKB0RlGU2Qlb943Xy0LysrP3pozxjHpFO9lz0G33UaTSd8W4hKjcNRG6K9_-8EO6aN7aJhOL9QhwR4u1WnOobx9Qzsszy02kyeujFXy3BFqDSQYQQ51HLPiXqnfos95Dx3nnRYMuCPmIryg-V0HKxNkD6UZBbtCR-dM6BIDEQVWtaLG4ZY0u_LgbI6w/s311/SuperCobra_RainingRockets.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKB0RlGU2Qlb943Xy0LysrP3pozxjHpFO9lz0G33UaTSd8W4hKjcNRG6K9_-8EO6aN7aJhOL9QhwR4u1WnOobx9Qzsszy02kyeujFXy3BFqDSQYQQ51HLPiXqnfos95Dx3nnRYMuCPmIryg-V0HKxNkD6UZBbtCR-dM6BIDEQVWtaLG4ZY0u_LgbI6w/w200-h166/SuperCobra_RainingRockets.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5xIya9WUK5gQhiRfVCU3IkPCGwmM_GyAvmN_mAKqvjDY4bs6zYp1MYhFZSOs2_aviRFBu0_JkuEqL2z92jX7sG6L5lOKtOyQyb_TytTTlffSjS9EePP5jbipEhpV0dHVZvosoSSa3oM27lR4f0kmEk4Sd54YwP2On0CYuOyBhdZ_5FbFj4UmrtHVKQ/s311/SuperCobra_RocketDestruction.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5xIya9WUK5gQhiRfVCU3IkPCGwmM_GyAvmN_mAKqvjDY4bs6zYp1MYhFZSOs2_aviRFBu0_JkuEqL2z92jX7sG6L5lOKtOyQyb_TytTTlffSjS9EePP5jbipEhpV0dHVZvosoSSa3oM27lR4f0kmEk4Sd54YwP2On0CYuOyBhdZ_5FbFj4UmrtHVKQ/w200-h166/SuperCobra_RocketDestruction.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The difficulty ramps itself up along the way for you must be sure to avert enemy fire from tanks and avoid direct contact with flying missiles and flying saucers, you must also be mindful to replenish the fuel by destroying the tanks to keep your chopper flying as the longer you fly the more your fuel gradually depletes itself. Should you manage to you can lower yourself down to collect the booty to safely carry it away for points. Even though it lacks the abundant color palette of the arcade original, <i>Super Cobra</i>'s simplistic aesthetic works to its favor and is classic arcade fun to play once in a while.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNNEoemTmISvEptkADHld6ur146fMg7Li851n58aNY1bpdcheLA85T_TizSFTNRZLZ_deZHGmG0EykhiUF91sdzLGwOSFXTZcxxX4X4pMJaDAo6OPCCszLRj6boiMOTxh83-qHtx7_hkX5WZYmvQW1gJCjkn_nqKuq_Xnxmj0qFZmhmIrfuSuhXAVmxZ5/s110/TwinBee_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="31" data-original-width="110" height="31" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNNEoemTmISvEptkADHld6ur146fMg7Li851n58aNY1bpdcheLA85T_TizSFTNRZLZ_deZHGmG0EykhiUF91sdzLGwOSFXTZcxxX4X4pMJaDAo6OPCCszLRj6boiMOTxh83-qHtx7_hkX5WZYmvQW1gJCjkn_nqKuq_Xnxmj0qFZmhmIrfuSuhXAVmxZ5/s1600/TwinBee_Title.png" width="110" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985, 1986</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqhZbmrGNfBAaQIk__0MdUAnId5OAsTkz96eN6Gn08l-DDsiwNOeVA5UUx-6pt8xHarFPyMr3ojke1RHDoqGPVIP7wkebVXp3oUbTOhjo1ehK4vq1JtGJo3fWVuh71CES7NwEdm5OLomiyTRPcd9vQdVPncPzR7L-cY0LcIV1y-3ZQ6flQd9pwN32kY0b/s311/TwinBee_ShootingCloud.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqhZbmrGNfBAaQIk__0MdUAnId5OAsTkz96eN6Gn08l-DDsiwNOeVA5UUx-6pt8xHarFPyMr3ojke1RHDoqGPVIP7wkebVXp3oUbTOhjo1ehK4vq1JtGJo3fWVuh71CES7NwEdm5OLomiyTRPcd9vQdVPncPzR7L-cY0LcIV1y-3ZQ6flQd9pwN32kY0b/s16000/TwinBee_ShootingCloud.png" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">One of the earliest pioneers of the cute'em up genre, the colorfully original <i style="font-weight: bold;">TwinBee</i> vertical scroller made its debut in arcades and did very well enough to be ported to the Famicom, Famicom Disk System, and the MSX. It plays similarly to Namco's <i>Xevious</i> where you alternate between shooting at airborne foes and dropping bombs towards ground level, but Konami adds more elements to make this experience its own (and in my opinion, a superior one) which was successful enough for it to become franchise.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmWAv3pk3gaq5WigQmv0SBueL1ma6sLS5LLasz7nTWJgw8C9qXlYeGx0jIVMaUhJzOtRYn7SSQh-xaNjKVd2gjuwSeGhSocAjqK9IiKPB03gMbvUGQ8uWQemXLO3ObhbWsQTO06IlgXKSgLVlCGXULxJSkzwnifCvjVc1xh2-TiCkDXDMB6JWhv69OT9N/s311/TwinBee_ShoehornEnemies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmWAv3pk3gaq5WigQmv0SBueL1ma6sLS5LLasz7nTWJgw8C9qXlYeGx0jIVMaUhJzOtRYn7SSQh-xaNjKVd2gjuwSeGhSocAjqK9IiKPB03gMbvUGQ8uWQemXLO3ObhbWsQTO06IlgXKSgLVlCGXULxJSkzwnifCvjVc1xh2-TiCkDXDMB6JWhv69OT9N/s1600/TwinBee_ShoehornEnemies.png" width="311" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">As the blue or pink anthropomorphic spacecraft TwinBee (first player) or as WinBee (second player) you can maneuver them around the screen and shoot at clouds, at which point a bell will pop out which will change color when you shoot at it enough times to give you a different power-up (blue to slightly speed up, silver to double your firepower, green to give yourself options, and red to have a barrier shield). Should you be shot at by both arms an ambulance will come along and restore them, but if you get shot at directly you'll not only lose a life and have to pick up from where you left off but the power you gained will be reduced back to zero.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqRGNQmkMxy-tuRNDoNQipeEUBqX4t8zqhSnBQOQBYVzbAAae6hAELHMrwPcvNQEeurr2MNhSnq2WhNsTstgjqO56KXrj7CWd6nZNXU3fEaj4y0SJnJYRTQXCCo8taLBckJ1MhvgG8-RROOQtVwNba7-h57PkttpbLPwKNeth4a00GR6Sj0eRT-vfU_v9/s311/TwinBee_Ambulance.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqRGNQmkMxy-tuRNDoNQipeEUBqX4t8zqhSnBQOQBYVzbAAae6hAELHMrwPcvNQEeurr2MNhSnq2WhNsTstgjqO56KXrj7CWd6nZNXU3fEaj4y0SJnJYRTQXCCo8taLBckJ1MhvgG8-RROOQtVwNba7-h57PkttpbLPwKNeth4a00GR6Sj0eRT-vfU_v9/w200-h166/TwinBee_Ambulance.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKRPUHsBUPn_CV2uJVIUQpx8DqMZ_qEeXhuYN7wMdPmM9jnpR2Zt89P6agVGxe5eBrbFwyz7jEtancN4zmjO7dZO9YeT5bepvKvlgyHwPIZHtJQeUOJFgrQGJklCZCUnJYDnuHQBSlzEdFNzRCOsaipyKKtTu9SoPnZrDgHLI3nEJs3qiEWD5wnopYXHV/s311/TwinBee_BlueBell+Knives.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKRPUHsBUPn_CV2uJVIUQpx8DqMZ_qEeXhuYN7wMdPmM9jnpR2Zt89P6agVGxe5eBrbFwyz7jEtancN4zmjO7dZO9YeT5bepvKvlgyHwPIZHtJQeUOJFgrQGJklCZCUnJYDnuHQBSlzEdFNzRCOsaipyKKtTu9SoPnZrDgHLI3nEJs3qiEWD5wnopYXHV/w200-h166/TwinBee_BlueBell+Knives.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The one <i>TwinBee</i> game I played beforehand in 2009 was the PC Engine port of <i>Detana!! TwinBee</i> on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console where I admit I walked into it with wrong expectations thinking it would be like <i>Pop'n TwinBee</i> after watching a gameplay video on YouTube, but when it ended up not being like that I was initially disappointed in it (and felt it paled next to Kaneko and Inter State's <i>Star Parodier</i>) but luckily decided to give it a chance after some time (feeling I may have been too harsh) and treat it as its own thing, for the better</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">I love the <i>TwinBee</i> franchise, I got to play most of the games on M2's PlayStation Portable compilation <i>TwinBee Portable</i> way back in 2011 when I imported it which was a very nice experience. 🤗 <i>Pop'n TwinBee</i> on the Super Famicom is one of my top favorite cute'em ups of all time (it ties with <i>TwinBee Yahho!</i> as my favorite entry in the franchise) and I also adore its Super Famicom action platforming spinoff <i>TwinBee: Rainbow Bell Adventure</i>, <i>TwinBee Da!</i> and <i>Detana!! TwinBee</i> are also fun. Even though the MSX version of the first game has got choppy scrolling and lacks some of the color of the coin-op it's based on it's still a fun game to play even with how difficult it may get, and the music still sounds good. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0fv6-dBnjRaqwOecUr00FF7h1Qvfo-I5Bx-jkSjVupSypx0ouN7oJVp0cH2Ta5ktx7F7Dp5wKPJAo4SoyJYv4hFzffjituSYMph-5GjydB4px7Hk4ygF6PnaJywdZ9qMLZV_Nxk-qwLc_VS7zhtmU6DCrWviEPz2EtbIscLmpgqCHlho9DmPo9JUYAX2/s240/Gradius2_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="106" data-original-width="240" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0fv6-dBnjRaqwOecUr00FF7h1Qvfo-I5Bx-jkSjVupSypx0ouN7oJVp0cH2Ta5ktx7F7Dp5wKPJAo4SoyJYv4hFzffjituSYMph-5GjydB4px7Hk4ygF6PnaJywdZ9qMLZV_Nxk-qwLc_VS7zhtmU6DCrWviEPz2EtbIscLmpgqCHlho9DmPo9JUYAX2/s1600/Gradius2_Title.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1987 | European Title: <i>Nemesis 2</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wF3ZxPGCTuUbQ_bEp3kgNyOiwCd3MzvKOmy55JKzW0MQM75WFzZfrGhaOCoag1lhxlNQ3xxnO51kfJULeimj86uA7Wo5PjItP9pnZWOxg3PYB-MoAkMmGXybS0km4utvDA8UFWtTxhNTiwUWa9IZ_vADk_889zDsY9UZjmmCL-AXwPupTDliuye0hriw/s311/Gradius2_Missiles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wF3ZxPGCTuUbQ_bEp3kgNyOiwCd3MzvKOmy55JKzW0MQM75WFzZfrGhaOCoag1lhxlNQ3xxnO51kfJULeimj86uA7Wo5PjItP9pnZWOxg3PYB-MoAkMmGXybS0km4utvDA8UFWtTxhNTiwUWa9IZ_vADk_889zDsY9UZjmmCL-AXwPupTDliuye0hriw/w200-h166/Gradius2_Missiles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVipBs4UXH8323N5hGe9MYTWDeT00Qcw3w16WMHYSTgtHr_1vFc9ahQHddeRFqj-63EuI5x2czGrw_DnWFXzfEUD4JrEUV4BTWc02OjTqe1zleSD01mvBtQ68Ux-EJbSGmw9XyNRqj_KrDkyoalgO0eHOueGsReyhhnv89Jpmt_mSi1KyHu3aS5zzE3C1i/s311/Gradius2_Option.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVipBs4UXH8323N5hGe9MYTWDeT00Qcw3w16WMHYSTgtHr_1vFc9ahQHddeRFqj-63EuI5x2czGrw_DnWFXzfEUD4JrEUV4BTWc02OjTqe1zleSD01mvBtQ68Ux-EJbSGmw9XyNRqj_KrDkyoalgO0eHOueGsReyhhnv89Jpmt_mSi1KyHu3aS5zzE3C1i/w200-h166/Gradius2_Option.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Before <i>Gradius</i> ended up garnering sequels in the arcades, Konami worked on <b><i>Gradius 2</i></b> for the MSX which is its own separate follow-up with a heavy emphasis on story taking place in the year 6666. Commandeered by the Vic Viper's ex-pilot James Burton, this time you are in control of the Metalion which otherwise shares the similar selection-based power-up system as its predecessor for which the gameplay is still solid. The visuals have got a solid sense of detail and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-_EOZ8f4JM&t=1s">soundtrack</a> is great, but I cannot get far in it before losing a spaceship otherwise it's still a bit of fun to play.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKwWB5-AknRan2CNvG3zca1sKWVbbyQ0nJQ2xEa9crM6kV7etPgEO8TB4KRWOj7g0E-YCCK8vPqK6nnno6IOOH-FlQfEhSZWEQJJLz1xNi2588qbsLinpkvEtij-GxSmUqVkoaLcyNQx_V-XJQ1oOmlwLLmcwb9LNoQmHDyqqhgBSj5UalpqsxEwLbvsL/s201/KonamisTennis_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="31" data-original-width="201" height="31" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKwWB5-AknRan2CNvG3zca1sKWVbbyQ0nJQ2xEa9crM6kV7etPgEO8TB4KRWOj7g0E-YCCK8vPqK6nnno6IOOH-FlQfEhSZWEQJJLz1xNi2588qbsLinpkvEtij-GxSmUqVkoaLcyNQx_V-XJQ1oOmlwLLmcwb9LNoQmHDyqqhgBSj5UalpqsxEwLbvsL/s1600/KonamisTennis_Title.png" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984 | Japanese Title: <i>Konami no Tennis</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaqblILcu432UDnjJ_G6UvnQUrQEzLW8wpfqzXn_7lpY-JjXYrJXjoUGg8e4ZKDymEPxGpPiLxPCe_9CECTnpbBRy2VLJ_W-uoDWqg5BQuAPAfkACSUpe-ioI8vFzHRRaNBI_qZP9T3OtN6bOq2jShah0Fd-xrt0zHyF2nkmKOSSrJTZn5z8tVsNAgAT0/s311/KonamisTennis_Singles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaqblILcu432UDnjJ_G6UvnQUrQEzLW8wpfqzXn_7lpY-JjXYrJXjoUGg8e4ZKDymEPxGpPiLxPCe_9CECTnpbBRy2VLJ_W-uoDWqg5BQuAPAfkACSUpe-ioI8vFzHRRaNBI_qZP9T3OtN6bOq2jShah0Fd-xrt0zHyF2nkmKOSSrJTZn5z8tVsNAgAT0/w200-h166/KonamisTennis_Singles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ7kRv__v_zPILg4rQJ74C3INZnIdOWq6Q5y4Z3U0c7u8lCsiqwOXdFVqkigknp2lhiJlzjyL38Gj4owoPzc97RP0Ca3jY-jyijV3Kl9bWAe8Dz0ByP2YcW7xxhXSl_NVuUQecteCveb1UQtdFNvPSPvnabFt8m_96HsOF5YOSE_ipeXwPyMEuhDvSDXu/s311/KonamisTennis_15-15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ7kRv__v_zPILg4rQJ74C3INZnIdOWq6Q5y4Z3U0c7u8lCsiqwOXdFVqkigknp2lhiJlzjyL38Gj4owoPzc97RP0Ca3jY-jyijV3Kl9bWAe8Dz0ByP2YcW7xxhXSl_NVuUQecteCveb1UQtdFNvPSPvnabFt8m_96HsOF5YOSE_ipeXwPyMEuhDvSDXu/w200-h166/KonamisTennis_15-15.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">That is the brightest green hue I've seen in a video game in a long time, maybe <u>ever</u></span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Konami's Tennis</i></b> is a fun video game simulation of the sport and plays just as good as any other video game tennis game out there. You have a choice to play singles or doubles (but you need a second player to have more mileage out of that game mode in particular) for you get to control the tennis player at the bottom half of the court.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYWxd7fXI5oh6Mcp9KRb7mKb25jq-K2Np9uUhZJ3cPZOV3KL9K89NItFxmqO8ZiouMAuDcXyivRE1TvJ2rHcBrsQzCTzp5HkdR5tSpBV3nukzG-Mw7J3iNl5A0MNFwl9djK8ImQwbEBMEy1yIqkjiF9TkwZZpruBxH21ASpTHaboiYCrCFKcKRQUn-xf5/s311/KonamisTennis_Advantage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYWxd7fXI5oh6Mcp9KRb7mKb25jq-K2Np9uUhZJ3cPZOV3KL9K89NItFxmqO8ZiouMAuDcXyivRE1TvJ2rHcBrsQzCTzp5HkdR5tSpBV3nukzG-Mw7J3iNl5A0MNFwl9djK8ImQwbEBMEy1yIqkjiF9TkwZZpruBxH21ASpTHaboiYCrCFKcKRQUn-xf5/w200-h166/KonamisTennis_Advantage.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3HhgsqtRuqKyFlJNzTuy2G9mdVPrAX6gZgEZF-be6Ct7yf3DqxO6ryzoSrqFNXvNzGle95icLzpgxImoptD5W4VUkzDzf5_Umzf4HqYah-uHi-wblljH106ykYWjQc5gDfTrlIDBCUOiccVtapi3FfXKlMAGArpdu2JPW2VuX5-BioHVVHSFXCYSxOTq/s311/KonamisTennis_Doubles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3HhgsqtRuqKyFlJNzTuy2G9mdVPrAX6gZgEZF-be6Ct7yf3DqxO6ryzoSrqFNXvNzGle95icLzpgxImoptD5W4VUkzDzf5_Umzf4HqYah-uHi-wblljH106ykYWjQc5gDfTrlIDBCUOiccVtapi3FfXKlMAGArpdu2JPW2VuX5-BioHVVHSFXCYSxOTq/w200-h166/KonamisTennis_Doubles.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">It's simplicity with its gameplay is its main appeal, the gameplay is fun and intuitive as the bell gets volleyed and/or lobbed back and forth, and it is absolutely bursting with color all around with simple yet endearing character design. 😃 Good sport. 🎾</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBasfhqZX88eyJRcLIJPBjx4bg6h3GFvUB3-DDmvCf1hj3EPiDJ4F8C4z_3StreN0wV3X_MgKxAEMbniT7KnQgtEliEl7nyKgt2anrbC3mvdXeAiEwnRPzzF2Ej3misoGxE4z1EszNFqLWkV6ZGLGlnPh2aE6okP9Gp9WCc60_payMwPlXckRqxj4Tw/s140/KonamisSoccer_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="69" data-original-width="140" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBasfhqZX88eyJRcLIJPBjx4bg6h3GFvUB3-DDmvCf1hj3EPiDJ4F8C4z_3StreN0wV3X_MgKxAEMbniT7KnQgtEliEl7nyKgt2anrbC3mvdXeAiEwnRPzzF2Ej3misoGxE4z1EszNFqLWkV6ZGLGlnPh2aE6okP9Gp9WCc60_payMwPlXckRqxj4Tw/s1600/KonamisSoccer_Title.png" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985 | European Title: <i>Konami's Football</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDJPmEKxFANRG3mw3ZLUU34kDbUYqYmrP9n3XtTnSjrqilVXl64WnnPiiUP0PGsMOOw_24PTGbi3aAK7SnevXWcTlDdqRZwmhX9ywUFevyNRT1OI7YHDlxd0FkGIQzdys1EhW4G0rx42NwBnCwO7eJicOLqJ-jaTXF7O0GQDkcrf1hc4mH1t1Cd4acA/s311/KonamisSoccer_FirstHalf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDJPmEKxFANRG3mw3ZLUU34kDbUYqYmrP9n3XtTnSjrqilVXl64WnnPiiUP0PGsMOOw_24PTGbi3aAK7SnevXWcTlDdqRZwmhX9ywUFevyNRT1OI7YHDlxd0FkGIQzdys1EhW4G0rx42NwBnCwO7eJicOLqJ-jaTXF7O0GQDkcrf1hc4mH1t1Cd4acA/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_FirstHalf.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhigc5DGp2TLzw6LfTH-Zlwr4HMKryYflm5Cz5TXDshb3GxvZMKbFdJ4l_NVktFpFadMQecyYUfy7FIGkRn1-0_beIvmQWyzrOeGfoFMWuXVVSPsj80_45uF4XWz3yZu7G-NfGecVpcpPSRStEphK3_jolTy-STZkHkw8yIBuwiqGkRe7_6TWCnzuKiw/s311/KonamisSoccer_Blocked.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhigc5DGp2TLzw6LfTH-Zlwr4HMKryYflm5Cz5TXDshb3GxvZMKbFdJ4l_NVktFpFadMQecyYUfy7FIGkRn1-0_beIvmQWyzrOeGfoFMWuXVVSPsj80_45uF4XWz3yZu7G-NfGecVpcpPSRStEphK3_jolTy-STZkHkw8yIBuwiqGkRe7_6TWCnzuKiw/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_Blocked.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The next Konami sports installment, <b><i>Konami's Soccer</i></b>, gives you a selection of one of eight teams to choose from (all different palette swaps) as it pits one team against another for you can also adjust to one of five skill levels or set the half time clock anywhere from three to ten minutes prior to starting the match.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMAwat9sTNt2jir1_MkoVUY80Psz1irtlKzfOy23Fu4GSFsKDCCq2-QzfW59lSYftqDWbN8ouCXUAMXf0JLHAm-O-q6J-HqNk-KFpkjLQ5KbflDpVbE5RNmiptnVlhSOohOyIpDyd6Iin9q6pfkOe56vq0sPQSzndGLuYH8AQ1rfUEcTyBOGwAJ3UoA/s311/KonamisSoccer_KickOff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMAwat9sTNt2jir1_MkoVUY80Psz1irtlKzfOy23Fu4GSFsKDCCq2-QzfW59lSYftqDWbN8ouCXUAMXf0JLHAm-O-q6J-HqNk-KFpkjLQ5KbflDpVbE5RNmiptnVlhSOohOyIpDyd6Iin9q6pfkOe56vq0sPQSzndGLuYH8AQ1rfUEcTyBOGwAJ3UoA/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_KickOff.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLnZmdE2nwFK7Lfs_lwvOoQpKJ6Jh6Y_P2Oc987G-9Kc9Ktn0KvOQZuzr3_t5DZMt8w7z115tjsxCYybtahzi1Uy5FPhEjadp2JEoUDcWI2WT0Pse8pRL_Tmzo4JfPbc8AVgfH197BmuCzYTeNvJ5H-WMAxzMYds535AnmqdmUokU6fKzCHZ8vTVqVQ/s311/KonamisSoccer_Slide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLnZmdE2nwFK7Lfs_lwvOoQpKJ6Jh6Y_P2Oc987G-9Kc9Ktn0KvOQZuzr3_t5DZMt8w7z115tjsxCYybtahzi1Uy5FPhEjadp2JEoUDcWI2WT0Pse8pRL_Tmzo4JfPbc8AVgfH197BmuCzYTeNvJ5H-WMAxzMYds535AnmqdmUokU6fKzCHZ8vTVqVQ/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_Slide.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The gameplay is simple as you must try to kick as many goals as you can within the time limit but should both teams end up with the same score by the time the second half is over then you'll have no choice but to partake in a series of penalty kicks until one team scores more than the other. Victory is ensured through teamwork so make sure to pass it to the team player who is open, be sure to block the other team's goals as best as you can manage, and on occasion you can slide kick the soccer ball from the opposing team player's feet. There is a bit of strategy involved, but it is very playable once you become acquainted with the controls.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM14sZwZBhO7wiWdc6naEBpYQUKIImgDSU5mVByAGFsoduTq3lFL1YS989Xm1BCE62Tvs1V7eHfzJ0DU_uvfkjvJctrLtW6yckdQwv4AAzi0s3cS5LBsMpj_Y-MFqCg3UXkOrRFbW9g-Dqat3E7btVNMw7mu4S4FoNQq8puoIdWjPymlWWoHh_hhkfGQ/s311/KonamisSoccer_BallKick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM14sZwZBhO7wiWdc6naEBpYQUKIImgDSU5mVByAGFsoduTq3lFL1YS989Xm1BCE62Tvs1V7eHfzJ0DU_uvfkjvJctrLtW6yckdQwv4AAzi0s3cS5LBsMpj_Y-MFqCg3UXkOrRFbW9g-Dqat3E7btVNMw7mu4S4FoNQq8puoIdWjPymlWWoHh_hhkfGQ/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_BallKick.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43HxoheWiZPbAaoVGF9mtztIESQbD3Zzi1qqgkyyzbyA5-d5qglynQwOZ6EJLChYShyb4k2PdFe5J07xqeLiA9mp1n5-7ZHjYi4LgUeh8Qazxc2OkGHvT0c2T2TkYoZu-J6cBebxJi5-dJxD0EMZuKOHtwt1LZ5GQkc3yubV6rouKyDThL_q0bsF4Dw/s311/KonamisSoccer_Goal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43HxoheWiZPbAaoVGF9mtztIESQbD3Zzi1qqgkyyzbyA5-d5qglynQwOZ6EJLChYShyb4k2PdFe5J07xqeLiA9mp1n5-7ZHjYi4LgUeh8Qazxc2OkGHvT0c2T2TkYoZu-J6cBebxJi5-dJxD0EMZuKOHtwt1LZ5GQkc3yubV6rouKyDThL_q0bsF4Dw/w200-h166/KonamisSoccer_Goal.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Despite the scrolling being choppy and the respective teams comprising of nothing but clones of one another (which, to be fair, was the norm for soccer video games of the time), I find <i>Konami's Soccer</i> quite fun to play. 😃 The gameplay is intuitive and well-handled, it's visually pleasing to look at with the green field and decently designed soccer players (I love how they resemble the mustachioed athlete from Konami's own <i>Hyper Olympic</i>/<i>Track & Field</i> 😆) who animate pretty well (I love their cheering animation upon scoring a goal), and it's one of the better MSX-based Konami sports venues in my opinion. ⚽</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh89tgcdYVr1m-3zAkXiXxU_g6lroBC0h5XIuYbrrxOlOac6XZsjOqAyhjioi1Dx7FLE8qU4zWSOwmViBny6V6tP0wy3WbSCmeRxkKE1H_MRp3dtdIeP1hXbVdzj4YTZyaXrokSOMYFXqKxUah5r0riPh_lNgOw_2CZkojRJ_WW2EETCcOhOl6LtlY-w2/s177/KonamiRally_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="38" data-original-width="177" height="38" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyh89tgcdYVr1m-3zAkXiXxU_g6lroBC0h5XIuYbrrxOlOac6XZsjOqAyhjioi1Dx7FLE8qU4zWSOwmViBny6V6tP0wy3WbSCmeRxkKE1H_MRp3dtdIeP1hXbVdzj4YTZyaXrokSOMYFXqKxUah5r0riPh_lNgOw_2CZkojRJ_WW2EETCcOhOl6LtlY-w2/s1600/KonamiRally_Title.png" width="177" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985 | Original Title: <i>Hyper Rally</i> | European Title: <i>Konami Hyper Rally</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgsCUjqU99VQg3VdSrWjtsA-6p0V9ao9_HsJsrauwVmR-QU2t_GgEZ5Fw0x_2d4lOBkwbgzmQRISFLkgcCaiYM49yeEN-WUq-DD1Yw7ljijvVl1bRlGn_ZOWHDqHiFMD4C9pZPyedWQJ8He6YCzjX5LOAzYiEx2aZMsODYxcn0PS2AWHdn5IsNDzuDrRY/s311/KonamiRally_Rank681.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgsCUjqU99VQg3VdSrWjtsA-6p0V9ao9_HsJsrauwVmR-QU2t_GgEZ5Fw0x_2d4lOBkwbgzmQRISFLkgcCaiYM49yeEN-WUq-DD1Yw7ljijvVl1bRlGn_ZOWHDqHiFMD4C9pZPyedWQJ8He6YCzjX5LOAzYiEx2aZMsODYxcn0PS2AWHdn5IsNDzuDrRY/w200-h166/KonamiRally_Rank681.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeDDpoz4qRHf3RVLXGQlWsVb6PSTwQIdar2w8b3_aVL5rbMye06wGHkJ8lSnSdBmDPmKaHatkZC1a2OmApj2KV-Xet_nC3IaUQjqnM006hxUdARDE39mRvqJ94lgF0UmAVmLrTu7QPsiQ4YK9Zn0dJ7o8xtR8XVvR_vwExzw9Pme7KRTry1bP14q4tJtF/s311/KonamiRally_Rank670.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeDDpoz4qRHf3RVLXGQlWsVb6PSTwQIdar2w8b3_aVL5rbMye06wGHkJ8lSnSdBmDPmKaHatkZC1a2OmApj2KV-Xet_nC3IaUQjqnM006hxUdARDE39mRvqJ94lgF0UmAVmLrTu7QPsiQ4YK9Zn0dJ7o8xtR8XVvR_vwExzw9Pme7KRTry1bP14q4tJtF/w200-h166/KonamiRally_Rank670.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the third-person racing game <b><i>Konami Rally</i></b>, you take control of a red car who starts off last and whose goal is to reach the finish as you outrace other cars. Once you attain a certain speed you can eventually kick it into high gear to drive at your fastest, but you'll have to be careful not to crash into other cars and especially must be mindful of the fuel gauge which will gradually deplete itself so long as you're still going for the game is over once it's completely empty. <i>Konami Rally</i> is a decent racer with a good sense of scale as you approach the enemy cars and the controls are decent as well, but I much prefer <i>Road Fighter</i> more.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT1WTnbdfBUAGKFr_9um6Ls3HZmUCtW0zEX89IQghaJ3_6pyXiAldAlhiG1TBEE21c3g4pOVyUFm4P4lMbGXP7vndpXTfzW9G38RXEs91EfP3EyvyOxNE9mY7USkFw4zMGbE3Ox5GoDHJph9NsbvAXclxuauCWk1Xwqj9OyLJBer6Wsa5V6tTJKaSBA/s189/ComicBakery_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="32" data-original-width="189" height="32" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbT1WTnbdfBUAGKFr_9um6Ls3HZmUCtW0zEX89IQghaJ3_6pyXiAldAlhiG1TBEE21c3g4pOVyUFm4P4lMbGXP7vndpXTfzW9G38RXEs91EfP3EyvyOxNE9mY7USkFw4zMGbE3Ox5GoDHJph9NsbvAXclxuauCWk1Xwqj9OyLJBer6Wsa5V6tTJKaSBA/s1600/ComicBakery_Title.png" width="189" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1984 | Japanese Title: <i>Ponpokopan</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvw6YNI-b6Xn-rgdTQamVBMPU-fhzDtOZXMW8xYs9b4hYssr_LQa_WqXUpoaSHSWA4UyqmXsMWv4729R_Jk-kIUugUeOJlFpAyKWojnNq3pV9jcByCRMA6h0f23Oe6cHSJkwZMns2iUlyg85z8dtr2besE6-4L6ZgxODTpcRUHCp82J1t1h-TAPU2_w/s311/ComicBakery_Beam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvw6YNI-b6Xn-rgdTQamVBMPU-fhzDtOZXMW8xYs9b4hYssr_LQa_WqXUpoaSHSWA4UyqmXsMWv4729R_Jk-kIUugUeOJlFpAyKWojnNq3pV9jcByCRMA6h0f23Oe6cHSJkwZMns2iUlyg85z8dtr2besE6-4L6ZgxODTpcRUHCp82J1t1h-TAPU2_w/w200-h166/ComicBakery_Beam.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDIJZNehFcjJj6N8OQlIX3yelaT4uuQt3k4N67PzcM7XmXNJUHZZe1K9IWqCpZbu6CsMl0kI4mNQj4_cHrbOySF3DJux1oUeTIlx6P_zIW61Usutxr3PIf6UL-lmhgxODphuC_xGGnkPjO653OAbRmaJoTbtIkPEUyetJR0W5UlE1o32cuIdDh-cb2g/s311/ComicBakery_HEY.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDIJZNehFcjJj6N8OQlIX3yelaT4uuQt3k4N67PzcM7XmXNJUHZZe1K9IWqCpZbu6CsMl0kI4mNQj4_cHrbOySF3DJux1oUeTIlx6P_zIW61Usutxr3PIf6UL-lmhgxODphuC_xGGnkPjO653OAbRmaJoTbtIkPEUyetJR0W5UlE1o32cuIdDh-cb2g/w200-h166/ComicBakery_HEY.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Next up there is <b><i>Comic Bakery</i></b>, an arcade-style game that came out on the MSX and got converted to the Commodore 64 by Imagine Software. In it you take control of a chef who must deliver as much bread and croissants to the delivery truck as he can manage by the time the clock strikes 5 PM all the while contending with a bothersome amount of pesky raccoons who are trying to make a mess of everything. Due to the bakery being a wide area, there is thankfully a map at the top of the screen to alert you if anything needs your attention, like turning on the conveyor belt switches that the raccoons turned off and momentarily subduing them off by firing a beam at them on ground level (who can be jumped over if you have to) or above the conveyor belt.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZbz-Uu1ix_hyuCdasjqjdTK2NPji9VR8bKpUczv1tG8z3ByJTBbENo2wP08Wbh7LRyX1mfgHYjPY28ILJZvtuhz-ijjea6G2Uzrvbd-P-6yic4OCNwiIcr5ZIfZ1n_y-M-7T6wJvhC-DDej_s1pM_Xo9PU2B8r22IqrCEGd-o7j4XtCl1WPYGNbTHQ/s50/ComicBakery_Owl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="30" data-original-width="50" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZbz-Uu1ix_hyuCdasjqjdTK2NPji9VR8bKpUczv1tG8z3ByJTBbENo2wP08Wbh7LRyX1mfgHYjPY28ILJZvtuhz-ijjea6G2Uzrvbd-P-6yic4OCNwiIcr5ZIfZ1n_y-M-7T6wJvhC-DDej_s1pM_Xo9PU2B8r22IqrCEGd-o7j4XtCl1WPYGNbTHQ/s1600/ComicBakery_Owl.png" width="50" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgir-xBe7kC07W2UkADhg3tg5JIuwPlBntxnT9XDuszJ05p1r-_Gh6N1w8SX_qfqJNmDvJZRWZ8DYj0Hkci74-TNypJv5OMKx4uC9GF29BHVYZd8LOAM0hzOeHF1eJPlhvSr1h6byxEA9pzALG-fNrJ4mC2xlyaaG2c5FiQ_QwZpnkUeu4WIiJemRgg/s28/MagicalTree_Owl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="27" data-original-width="28" height="27" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgir-xBe7kC07W2UkADhg3tg5JIuwPlBntxnT9XDuszJ05p1r-_Gh6N1w8SX_qfqJNmDvJZRWZ8DYj0Hkci74-TNypJv5OMKx4uC9GF29BHVYZd8LOAM0hzOeHF1eJPlhvSr1h6byxEA9pzALG-fNrJ4mC2xlyaaG2c5FiQ_QwZpnkUeu4WIiJemRgg/s1600/MagicalTree_Owl.png" width="28" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b>Hey</b>, it's that owl from <i>Magical Tree</i>! Love Konami for that. 🦉</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLWNHa0sgkutlxRGRmjGchhOsPjWqOuwAggpHX5IxoFLhQs2r9zy-MjxHVrHcln6kQ0vaQRU9KWvy-F0MWp-zPEwqIsnW9rdZ7vDpRqJHEH9IL86FWe6b24zIR5Lrj_SkG3emaKssfMJsLQF-3Kdxw6cME_Uv_VcppZYipTTj4l7ND8Et3FhvZ5_vbg/s311/ComicBakery_MenacingRaccoons.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLWNHa0sgkutlxRGRmjGchhOsPjWqOuwAggpHX5IxoFLhQs2r9zy-MjxHVrHcln6kQ0vaQRU9KWvy-F0MWp-zPEwqIsnW9rdZ7vDpRqJHEH9IL86FWe6b24zIR5Lrj_SkG3emaKssfMJsLQF-3Kdxw6cME_Uv_VcppZYipTTj4l7ND8Et3FhvZ5_vbg/w200-h166/ComicBakery_MenacingRaccoons.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZo5Pkygy-bZrGa6eKxuriyyf9oPTILI2CtK_g_2PIQn6W0FyAW1Wh3cBvF-N7_1vYNyq5v6M89f4m4nnk0CRyIaovT20w9upiUmvjKb2DcppbWhFD-50jks7ZWl3YDUfhIv7JfP8gQC4TpUdiYaNSmoAXTdxVPch3EZiTjO1IgSVNs9JnxNhKXlJyw/s311/ComicBakery_KickRaccoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZo5Pkygy-bZrGa6eKxuriyyf9oPTILI2CtK_g_2PIQn6W0FyAW1Wh3cBvF-N7_1vYNyq5v6M89f4m4nnk0CRyIaovT20w9upiUmvjKb2DcppbWhFD-50jks7ZWl3YDUfhIv7JfP8gQC4TpUdiYaNSmoAXTdxVPch3EZiTjO1IgSVNs9JnxNhKXlJyw/w200-h166/ComicBakery_KickRaccoon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The Commodore 64 version's music, which was composed by Martin Galway, served as a major influence for Jonathan Dunn's music for Ocean Software's NES and Game Boy adaptations of Steven Spielberg's <i>Jurassic Park</i></span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Comic Bakery</i> is a cute game, the game's rendition of "Yankee Doodle" is catchy, it's bursting with color (as bothersome as they are, I like that the raccoons all come in different palettes), the chef's character design is appealing, and it's enjoyable to play once in a while even with all the going back and forth. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARha0bpm-P6MPnI25s_4R2rveWMay7yD9MF2CTe6YKTGgBTusSY7TRKBP8svxHltQIGynXT1n7dccPuq8axs-JiuwVuk9vS_1OTutMSkZdtuBjAHfhCixpiYiq1xXZcP_TEVJgvUY02BIgwQQqlYWYaCd2GSkmekWXgXT5PoIfDTbhM45NaHvyskkeg/s120/Pippols_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="120" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARha0bpm-P6MPnI25s_4R2rveWMay7yD9MF2CTe6YKTGgBTusSY7TRKBP8svxHltQIGynXT1n7dccPuq8axs-JiuwVuk9vS_1OTutMSkZdtuBjAHfhCixpiYiq1xXZcP_TEVJgvUY02BIgwQQqlYWYaCd2GSkmekWXgXT5PoIfDTbhM45NaHvyskkeg/s1600/Pippols_Title.png" width="120" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9a5mzMGPundoB3hRjuk5d9e6mdhtWvQg8SGh3QFIw1qhEroyKJo6PcTiomnitiID2wDEPke10s-lSrLNCqWTurr3WJqAYg_nxtMZjLxRxx5U4cH6QcKvBEwCWeo6Gtje1tl-2uSA74IpQfESAU0MJGBDnECKN5iJ5T57v7_NCNn0dng0N0zyiwlXHQ/s311/Pippols_FlowerPatch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9a5mzMGPundoB3hRjuk5d9e6mdhtWvQg8SGh3QFIw1qhEroyKJo6PcTiomnitiID2wDEPke10s-lSrLNCqWTurr3WJqAYg_nxtMZjLxRxx5U4cH6QcKvBEwCWeo6Gtje1tl-2uSA74IpQfESAU0MJGBDnECKN5iJ5T57v7_NCNn0dng0N0zyiwlXHQ/w200-h166/Pippols_FlowerPatch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf4osrpdE-Hcsn3zNfhKLIDy5wVtB9AoLyqI9l7ABwDjrC8XIOd-Dk_B1wTwYTXhvqTGSYajMSNclBajCsZJaZzBqc9BdUU_N9yX95IA9a3KapiEhJY_SvNcbuCRq0PgUjtT9yuXqXUDfhGSzL6qhPIfQYnamPfkND8IAOnbcyzOckF3-SnnvkWMpmQ/s311/Pippols_Spinners.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf4osrpdE-Hcsn3zNfhKLIDy5wVtB9AoLyqI9l7ABwDjrC8XIOd-Dk_B1wTwYTXhvqTGSYajMSNclBajCsZJaZzBqc9BdUU_N9yX95IA9a3KapiEhJY_SvNcbuCRq0PgUjtT9yuXqXUDfhGSzL6qhPIfQYnamPfkND8IAOnbcyzOckF3-SnnvkWMpmQ/w200-h166/Pippols_Spinners.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">In the vertical-scrolling <b><i>Pippols</i></b> you take control of the eponymous boy who's on a quest to retrieve the Holy Gem which can be used to bring back light into the world. Armed with nothing but hearts to shoot at any oncoming foe (like googly eyed bouncy fuzzballs, circling butterflies, ghosts, and mice, et al) in front of you and behind you, you can move up and down and hop to the left and right side should you stand in front of an open gap on the side as you navigate a maze-like layout. Along the way you collect signs and fruit and coins for points, alarm clocks to momentarily stop time, and touching a cross will eradicate all enemies presently onscreen. Adding to the replay value is that any time you reach a fork in the road at the end of the present segment you're given a choice to move in either direction.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_OS1B8_DCGJcf2EOBGCymXcemgXfW69MBs5hMqk8CV58j5FIZdu9yfTsANppN89ocvCsofhWstmx1v3MzUaRr7MPX7SUBiap1MPlskLWDTlvCztSwmDZzkkMoARuhXHZhp2w9bRiNt_l3MNynR-wy-mbkqd9nyC9WE3kVaNVWYNBxHdRKgxRKJiFlQ/s311/Pippols_TakeHeart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_OS1B8_DCGJcf2EOBGCymXcemgXfW69MBs5hMqk8CV58j5FIZdu9yfTsANppN89ocvCsofhWstmx1v3MzUaRr7MPX7SUBiap1MPlskLWDTlvCztSwmDZzkkMoARuhXHZhp2w9bRiNt_l3MNynR-wy-mbkqd9nyC9WE3kVaNVWYNBxHdRKgxRKJiFlQ/w200-h166/Pippols_TakeHeart.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHHsC9xbuDOwVhGJeK9cAz1axxm-UEiplD0WJ6hszv0vDiB0Ik9hF2zkAEP9mh0BaN7IT8yTMP6nKsZW7can5xk89-oHlHNVTWuLKWBB3RVNrsQOOMjyBCP6yE3_2fiG1Y2Q0FyDSG2aIBM8IvUvBVOzrUt_rwnSz3nSydGpV9cOZ9d7BH17KoVu1UQ/s311/Pippols_DarkWoods.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHHsC9xbuDOwVhGJeK9cAz1axxm-UEiplD0WJ6hszv0vDiB0Ik9hF2zkAEP9mh0BaN7IT8yTMP6nKsZW7can5xk89-oHlHNVTWuLKWBB3RVNrsQOOMjyBCP6yE3_2fiG1Y2Q0FyDSG2aIBM8IvUvBVOzrUt_rwnSz3nSydGpV9cOZ9d7BH17KoVu1UQ/w200-h166/Pippols_DarkWoods.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">There is an adorable lighthearted charm with <i>Pippols</i>, I like the main character design, the gameplay is simple yet intuitive, I like the variety of the area designs (from flower patches to the dark woods to one of Konami's long-running staples of their career, Easter Island Moai heads), the sound is nice to listen to and the colors are appealing to look at, and above all else it's a pleasant game to play with surprisingly smooth scrolling. 😃 I 💗 it!</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUHI2VoUI5-uA4salz9FQrHKXnsxVcjzp74gIQPsZH7IkEmMi4oM8AhE71vXli1sAS_nQ_WQHIk-YQUCZN49EtYwL_zQdWNcCgk6Pt0XMciqXOtZMOFRCdLrQlOS9YLSh1xmwWn3Xd1RTGeHenqEONPzPeLBxlZUfq7iL_UKzzjbzjaCKlhnY9munxg/s175/KingsValley_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="71" data-original-width="175" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUHI2VoUI5-uA4salz9FQrHKXnsxVcjzp74gIQPsZH7IkEmMi4oM8AhE71vXli1sAS_nQ_WQHIk-YQUCZN49EtYwL_zQdWNcCgk6Pt0XMciqXOtZMOFRCdLrQlOS9YLSh1xmwWn3Xd1RTGeHenqEONPzPeLBxlZUfq7iL_UKzzjbzjaCKlhnY9munxg/s1600/KingsValley_Title.png" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1985</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVCFuRyVGiKnGVBFjAMLVDSFWUR1aco7ErX_Q0SzA84HUKOt6TXpFa5j5Utc_Vj6NyKmHLa6QPjHVMtSaV3o4uTNedVkICuZRUgMd4UwRK-Fl3jRqoFapfuigEWWFm9CjmST1-OZFn7FY8CMRTeHCo9zPH0ClqmaXrkJf_7A407mzZv0i-SwVP0oXUQ/s311/KingsValley_Pyramid1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVCFuRyVGiKnGVBFjAMLVDSFWUR1aco7ErX_Q0SzA84HUKOt6TXpFa5j5Utc_Vj6NyKmHLa6QPjHVMtSaV3o4uTNedVkICuZRUgMd4UwRK-Fl3jRqoFapfuigEWWFm9CjmST1-OZFn7FY8CMRTeHCo9zPH0ClqmaXrkJf_7A407mzZv0i-SwVP0oXUQ/w200-h166/KingsValley_Pyramid1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI03v-G0T6Nom4tvn7uAobYQGesH_FRqremYVOb4K3QzUdoKb4axjoR7349a-Kwav3JEyZhq2Yeqok8vH6nZH9bVOELGVBGym101ybSe35Xs7kQlfKz5pVj_zZjCRlDugzfAPaH2I3WX85WebIwLXmUZEi7WqN1lctRxSiALGYD-IdqVOE8rvJkbEnA/s311/KingsValley_Pyramid2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI03v-G0T6Nom4tvn7uAobYQGesH_FRqremYVOb4K3QzUdoKb4axjoR7349a-Kwav3JEyZhq2Yeqok8vH6nZH9bVOELGVBGym101ybSe35Xs7kQlfKz5pVj_zZjCRlDugzfAPaH2I3WX85WebIwLXmUZEi7WqN1lctRxSiALGYD-IdqVOE8rvJkbEnA/w200-h166/KingsValley_Pyramid2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Due Konami's involvement, this game could be interpreted as a spiritual sequel to the arcade game <i>Tutankham</i> which came out three years prior</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">As an unnamed intrepid explorer and archaeologist, the main objective of <b><i>King's Valley</i></b> is to collect all the treasures scattered about inside the depths of an ancient Egyptian pyramid, and once all the treasures of the present segment have been gathered you must make your way to the exit which will take you to the next part. All the while you must be mindful of the color-coded mummies who will attempt to impede your exploration, whom you can subdue by tossing a knife towards them. Certain treasures could only be accessed by using a pickaxe to drop yourself down to it a la Brøderbund's <i>Lode Runner</i> but should you have made an irreversible blunder (and it'll happen) simply press the Z button to start the present portion again at the cost of one of your lives. I like the Egyptian-sounding background music, visually it's simple yet effective, and the gameplay is pretty decent on the whole.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXXeZktJR9-QHz8nVcOycty8Q2I7EwqhhOEvNBbhqsysvaFjQGWRPqAHkk9vj4SOrxESF_9sS1gqEoFrUIYBfFKIJN_iXCCpRZSXZxlVqVDhc30ZEyFv3xhaQNApUYmoDTMoMopNawdHgWNQDCD8HvLIUGJd_LgWl14DiE_U06brIQayyaBnr5atjxQ/s167/PenguinAdventure_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="167" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXXeZktJR9-QHz8nVcOycty8Q2I7EwqhhOEvNBbhqsysvaFjQGWRPqAHkk9vj4SOrxESF_9sS1gqEoFrUIYBfFKIJN_iXCCpRZSXZxlVqVDhc30ZEyFv3xhaQNApUYmoDTMoMopNawdHgWNQDCD8HvLIUGJd_LgWl14DiE_U06brIQayyaBnr5atjxQ/s1600/PenguinAdventure_Title.png" width="167" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1986 | Japanese Title: <i>Penguin Adventure: Yume Tairiku Adventure</i></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTqqp0KdfSXWOnFkTUh3kQB58UcaBX7OUZYqkxu0BAyeX35pEXSM8xbr58ro3540knYdWO77LqjvRMiCd2a-TzPdV3Mek_qh50eXZTuoUnN4TNKIxQAKpDTaS1E3c7EFybcje8v5zyVwgGPPjTEedMj2MsicrPyRbvQfPnd1wRJiL7BzYUVcpOQ8Wdg/s311/PenguinAdventure_Running.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTqqp0KdfSXWOnFkTUh3kQB58UcaBX7OUZYqkxu0BAyeX35pEXSM8xbr58ro3540knYdWO77LqjvRMiCd2a-TzPdV3Mek_qh50eXZTuoUnN4TNKIxQAKpDTaS1E3c7EFybcje8v5zyVwgGPPjTEedMj2MsicrPyRbvQfPnd1wRJiL7BzYUVcpOQ8Wdg/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_Running.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqf3vMkuWNfRqnNKPwU2qyHP5CyvX7tOSldcNCngSme1jVAABcxRz97OmC3YVymHcg_LBZiXASj6QvNUz3KajvHAhDYBzJVPpMhHxT1kfsenIndjw6N3wDV1zgOX7lhEwvOAnKFLqpZJVvIv1E_KWo9MRr5bSMFFAvpHAoM3uLN3Ug2WSCwHX1k5F8A/s311/PenguinAdventure_Hit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqf3vMkuWNfRqnNKPwU2qyHP5CyvX7tOSldcNCngSme1jVAABcxRz97OmC3YVymHcg_LBZiXASj6QvNUz3KajvHAhDYBzJVPpMhHxT1kfsenIndjw6N3wDV1zgOX7lhEwvOAnKFLqpZJVvIv1E_KWo9MRr5bSMFFAvpHAoM3uLN3Ug2WSCwHX1k5F8A/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_Hit.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">In 1989, the South Korean company Zemina made an unauthorized Sega Master System conversion in the form of </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Kkum-Uidaelyug</i> ("Dreamland"), which until this 1998 Saturn compilation was the only appearance of this game on a Sega format</b></span></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Less than three years after <i>Antarctic Adventure</i> came out Konami followed it up with the sequel <b><i>Penguin Adventure</i></b>. This time around Penta is on an arduous mission to retrieve the golden apple to cure Penguette, princess to all the penguins, who has fallen ill, with similar racing and platforming gameplay to its predecessor but with more elements added to give the proceedings some depth. You still collect fish that jump out of holes, but should you fall down a small hole you will find yourself in a shop where you're either greeted by a grumpy or affable merchant to exchange a specific amount of fish for items (like a gun to shoot at oncoming foes that will make them fly away) and on rare instances Santa Claus who'll barter an item you'd like in exchange for a jewel.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPbcXesJBTF7Kl-V1xBRx7GAuWxXoDwFPvH6vUpKWSmRIRmFEZGen9Ez1ugVTM8FGllClZafz29wCt_1d7d0udS3YtnLyNWCiBA7X2C94xyrXvK8iWCCN1qaKyaRMkhjR651mh9zjBP3uX19bx2yb9MNPQxSymkqDCyAVkNMN6F2LzZpLjGT3TdcQqA/s189/PenguinAdventure_Exhausted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="91" data-original-width="189" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPbcXesJBTF7Kl-V1xBRx7GAuWxXoDwFPvH6vUpKWSmRIRmFEZGen9Ez1ugVTM8FGllClZafz29wCt_1d7d0udS3YtnLyNWCiBA7X2C94xyrXvK8iWCCN1qaKyaRMkhjR651mh9zjBP3uX19bx2yb9MNPQxSymkqDCyAVkNMN6F2LzZpLjGT3TdcQqA/s1600/PenguinAdventure_Exhausted.gif" width="189" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Me anytime I finish a review in my blog, don't believe for a <u>second</u> that it's easy no matter how much it may look it--there is a thought process, effort, and nuance behind it all, I try so damn hard to improve my craft, but secretly I wonder if in trying to get better I'm actually getting worse 😟</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">On certain occasions there will be hearts that hover up and down where their color changes any time you jump and what color they are when you grab them determines the power-up you're given (green to considerably augment the time given to you, blue to momentarily ride on a cloud, and yellow to temporarily render Penta invulnerable to any and all enemy attacks and projectiles). At the end of certain stages you'll contend with a boss who will go down provided that you thrice jump on all four pegs until they're completely struck through the ground which will make the boss go down.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6_8KzQazjxPs2iDIHsUNbiK7CBT7_AGHZPpTp7dB-Ol88WW507Ce2l5apti4YTErY5tCjyJfop9wZYMggjef4LB-z25Mcm6E0a2LlWG2y6HXPhtzITIPNfFN1Hk1THNxba5UEB8mZQotGBH3xqBotxJ5ybzTutwbIuqj39yNtnyERGF3u_4gWDoH7g/s311/PenguinAdventure_Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6_8KzQazjxPs2iDIHsUNbiK7CBT7_AGHZPpTp7dB-Ol88WW507Ce2l5apti4YTErY5tCjyJfop9wZYMggjef4LB-z25Mcm6E0a2LlWG2y6HXPhtzITIPNfFN1Hk1THNxba5UEB8mZQotGBH3xqBotxJ5ybzTutwbIuqj39yNtnyERGF3u_4gWDoH7g/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_Boss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpGHmMhjc4EQLDhwGrQdI39UQ8Qg5HNgNqsMRvwYJjbcnbA9StGVDzQwfdOTouDA9wlWPj9-7fO_5enZjKSX4RqhrJAvbLPaE6DkY0FsNtdvN2Dx8I-OINi0SKkv76v4BMoXGkcTh-bl7TzhEvjPq8Xa-rZe82AtxcDpm4viPizxz0nS3BDFoX7_bCg/s311/PenguinAdventure_Victory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpGHmMhjc4EQLDhwGrQdI39UQ8Qg5HNgNqsMRvwYJjbcnbA9StGVDzQwfdOTouDA9wlWPj9-7fO_5enZjKSX4RqhrJAvbLPaE6DkY0FsNtdvN2Dx8I-OINi0SKkv76v4BMoXGkcTh-bl7TzhEvjPq8Xa-rZe82AtxcDpm4viPizxz0nS3BDFoX7_bCg/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_Victory.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">I love the variety of this sequel in terms of the multitude of scenarios, where Penta will run on solid ground, tread on the snow like in the last game, swim through the water as you occasionally jump over logs, and swim underwater, all while making sure not to bump into enemies (like bouncing blobs) and their projectiles (sometimes coming from a hole, sometimes it's from an unfriendly thundercloud) or obstacles (like rocks and logs) lest you lose a life and pick up from the closest checkpoint. As well as the aforementioned small holes you fall in that take you to a shop, I love too that should you grab a loose pair of wings in the air you'll be taken to space as you fly a considerable amount while avoiding a large field of oncoming asteroids.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAhFo9IfIkjuvKi5H0EzhNJQ89_kBQGyZj45TcK8OfjR37hUI7F34Wx2EgN85F11hQ3BHAFPQx-jAGjwAOP3OdmrL1xnfatlpBATs6M3vPPBQYvTfFBgtMRurj-N-KUrbNiw26f2NKIOpd4N135g17tsYKCqHLjf2n_q-VBtsS-YVMm6OMaSqSqDj4Q/s62/PenguinAdventure_PentaMapAnimation.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="62" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAhFo9IfIkjuvKi5H0EzhNJQ89_kBQGyZj45TcK8OfjR37hUI7F34Wx2EgN85F11hQ3BHAFPQx-jAGjwAOP3OdmrL1xnfatlpBATs6M3vPPBQYvTfFBgtMRurj-N-KUrbNiw26f2NKIOpd4N135g17tsYKCqHLjf2n_q-VBtsS-YVMm6OMaSqSqDj4Q/s1600/PenguinAdventure_PentaMapAnimation.gif" width="62" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love the animation on the map that you see of Penta when you pause the game, it's so cute</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">It's also great to look at color-wise, from the green foliage of the trees to the breathtaking use of the color blue when you swim on the surface of the water or under it (the way the water ripples in the distance is beautiful given the MSX technology) as well as the white snow and ice, the scaling process is still nicely done, Penta's given more sets of animations which are all charming to watch (including his victory animation after defeating a boss), is wholesomely very appealing, and features a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm4J3dt0vwk">fantastic soundtrack</a> by Yoshinori Sasaki and Kenichi Matsubara that really enlivens each stage you venture through. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh58-yC6uNiieGHPM3sK3hKHqIRQtP-v8y5MIAgsq-Yw1Yf4VLMG8yOZPXhpVuGq0fPFYeR3_Xaerfx4WM8om832UUqtAgLB_MQQZDg88VhoGTLwa-9KLbxw6Ee7mBt68-K6giaDh-Qmtut9P9mJkrjAsoeZTYnn1Wgw7UPxRrumKvGLeovB0oYxEdw/s311/PenguinAdventure_LogJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh58-yC6uNiieGHPM3sK3hKHqIRQtP-v8y5MIAgsq-Yw1Yf4VLMG8yOZPXhpVuGq0fPFYeR3_Xaerfx4WM8om832UUqtAgLB_MQQZDg88VhoGTLwa-9KLbxw6Ee7mBt68-K6giaDh-Qmtut9P9mJkrjAsoeZTYnn1Wgw7UPxRrumKvGLeovB0oYxEdw/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_LogJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytluR73JfiYScSWiEG5LLU__JVZt510DXlMYbRUqsYdTZzhTK2zLvaoTkuzRBEz08r_xblMPZBQ8RSrBp76YSq4Rd8C3R6SGBKx8nftzYexsvutGBksVnGoe-Zt90wU43YZO48W8T5V4NR5WkMPtCQ9DOTqFICwFIZM0cpUoeBSTT0k7W34PocNp0cw/s311/PenguinAdventure_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytluR73JfiYScSWiEG5LLU__JVZt510DXlMYbRUqsYdTZzhTK2zLvaoTkuzRBEz08r_xblMPZBQ8RSrBp76YSq4Rd8C3R6SGBKx8nftzYexsvutGBksVnGoe-Zt90wU43YZO48W8T5V4NR5WkMPtCQ9DOTqFICwFIZM0cpUoeBSTT0k7W34PocNp0cw/w200-h166/PenguinAdventure_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a></div><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Penguin Adventure</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> marked the video game debut of Hideo Kojima who worked on it as assistant director and who would go on to work on Konami's </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Metal Gear</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> franchise, </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Snatcher</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Policenauts</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, and is one of the earliest games to have more than one ending (with the best ending in particular requiring you to only pause </span><b style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">once</b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">). It features two difficulty levels and is considerably more difficult than <i>Antarctic Adventure</i> but fortunately gives you an unlimited amount of continues should you lose all your lives. I appreciate the nuanced structure and gameplay of this sequel which is why I consider it the better of the two, and I was happy that after many years of curiosity it ended up being worth it in the end. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C4Q-dRquWIHKAAx8VLxFNkS6Y9cU0oFwFslXlYVBRqQoxpCUBC54xMaRjgOftOLmCEQAqJ7znsCYq9bEjkT1VSNvLTuj6eDOil5ArtFcJzg8EY626_G2pcD_zTyffMbO6rq5e9in3D7wulg9LcNOmHENSlPKX_JQuD9ZWaMqxpZiCcauflreYBm-5A/s158/TimePilot_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="30" data-original-width="158" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C4Q-dRquWIHKAAx8VLxFNkS6Y9cU0oFwFslXlYVBRqQoxpCUBC54xMaRjgOftOLmCEQAqJ7znsCYq9bEjkT1VSNvLTuj6eDOil5ArtFcJzg8EY626_G2pcD_zTyffMbO6rq5e9in3D7wulg9LcNOmHENSlPKX_JQuD9ZWaMqxpZiCcauflreYBm-5A/s1600/TimePilot_Title.png" width="158" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1982, 1983</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYb3lroRwbGN-G2091pSXrm0JQCJVN8d5R1zYfNUvVCekj6djMbUhWZSPV6IcFXAdt9skb4EPyzJSWZSSJdloDzOv6iThLqh-0mcb-ZiDmxGjI7ECFnzAirxrNB3Nx2UI1sERVuPnCLnHBBmA6amCrSabO-s_SXON7QDZdXdQHLABqXdeHLDWetIigQ/s311/TimePilot_1910.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYb3lroRwbGN-G2091pSXrm0JQCJVN8d5R1zYfNUvVCekj6djMbUhWZSPV6IcFXAdt9skb4EPyzJSWZSSJdloDzOv6iThLqh-0mcb-ZiDmxGjI7ECFnzAirxrNB3Nx2UI1sERVuPnCLnHBBmA6amCrSabO-s_SXON7QDZdXdQHLABqXdeHLDWetIigQ/s16000/TimePilot_1910.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">So successful, in fact, that it would be followed by the sequel <i>Time Pilot '84</i></span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">So, here's a fun fact about the 1982 multi-directional shoot'em up arcade game <b><i>Time Pilot</i></b>: Yoshiki Okamoto, the designer of the game, had his proposal for this game rejected by his boss in favor of a racing game, so what happened was he gave his programmer secret instructions of his idea while Okamoto pretended to work on the racing game in front of his boss. He would also design <i>Gyruss</i> the following year, and while both games ended up being successful at the arcades, his employer was none too happy because he <b>wanted</b> a racing game, so Okamoto was fired from Konami. It's not a bad ending, however, for he ended up joining and lending his services to Capcom designing games like <i>1942</i>, <i>SonSon</i>, and <i>Gun.Smoke</i> as well as producing some of the most successful and influential arcade games of all time such as <i>Final Fight</i> and <i>Street Fighter II</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Tg4J0ZGOPpmPg38yic5kDTCIvnsTIqCphoDHL__yPggtYN-mGrIrQgeSr2qcNM13xva-sjQxEQv4BCqYkrNr17v_N2S2kFLA5DpsApNboJkQXrg88WpCjSMCmyScrnSq62pozrqKXKdQM-p6IVwq-CqBPx7fAsyGAVnCH4a_b62u-NZuzIfhLcacA/s311/TimePilot_1940.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Tg4J0ZGOPpmPg38yic5kDTCIvnsTIqCphoDHL__yPggtYN-mGrIrQgeSr2qcNM13xva-sjQxEQv4BCqYkrNr17v_N2S2kFLA5DpsApNboJkQXrg88WpCjSMCmyScrnSq62pozrqKXKdQM-p6IVwq-CqBPx7fAsyGAVnCH4a_b62u-NZuzIfhLcacA/s1600/TimePilot_1940.png" width="311" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The goal of <i>Time Pilot</i> is to search and destroy all enemy aircraft in a set time period (starting off in 1910, then 1940, 1970, the 1980's decade with the last digit version depending on the version you're playing, and finally 2001) that you're in so that your futuristic time traveling fighter jet can move on to the next time period, and along the way should you see them you can rescue fellow pilots who are parachuting their way down. Destroying all the normal-sized enemy aircraft will culminate in a larger aircraft that you have to destroy (like a zeppelin, large fighter planes and air freights). Despite the herky jerky scrolling and crude presentation compared to the arcade original, <i>Time Pilot</i> is fun to play once in a while regardless of format and I like that you take down different enemy aircraft in each time period (biplanes in 1940, F-16 jets in the 1980's, and flying saucers in 2001) even if it does get challenging the further along you progress. Old school fun.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9soqigkfL-OySojhbkjCsdNo4UIGSR3s0WSPAs4HFDrIhpJzxPKEWmFqVQ1vyvGp4vcRclQKfjEAWgW7yRoyXmHvW1oNnlRn3m8a495ofbRnY-pI8botbLllDf6oMeAmzqYAsIYQAA59fzaCW2M02qenlzkNdVtQsVYaCgO4erdm037CKai6Z_QyjGA/s255/Parodius_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="84" data-original-width="255" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9soqigkfL-OySojhbkjCsdNo4UIGSR3s0WSPAs4HFDrIhpJzxPKEWmFqVQ1vyvGp4vcRclQKfjEAWgW7yRoyXmHvW1oNnlRn3m8a495ofbRnY-pI8botbLllDf6oMeAmzqYAsIYQAA59fzaCW2M02qenlzkNdVtQsVYaCgO4erdm037CKai6Z_QyjGA/s1600/Parodius_Title.png" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1988 | Full Title: <i>Parodius: </i></b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Tako wa Chikyū o Sukū</i></b></span></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3JoHambeI2n2xO77hFyBsPWYGbslxFCP3b1KGq50YV4sJTeo85qOU5dNate2Ug3i_c13CYd0KKtodeMoH52Q4ZEUVuXifycpLhOdljvDat8SfF0009TyDBgC7_UwKx4o95bndQs164UsmqGKxBwIIfkJ69sXIPB6DYUIhSuhZqlORN8ETn2XCKFzmA/s195/Parodius_LastLineOfDefense.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="195" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3JoHambeI2n2xO77hFyBsPWYGbslxFCP3b1KGq50YV4sJTeo85qOU5dNate2Ug3i_c13CYd0KKtodeMoH52Q4ZEUVuXifycpLhOdljvDat8SfF0009TyDBgC7_UwKx4o95bndQs164UsmqGKxBwIIfkJ69sXIPB6DYUIhSuhZqlORN8ETn2XCKFzmA/s1600/Parodius_LastLineOfDefense.png" width="195" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">The game that started the absurdity, <b><i>Parodius</i></b>, a portmanteau of "Parody" and "Gradius" which is exactly how it sounds, began life on the MSX in 1988. Owing the core selection-based horizontal-scrolling shoot'em up gameplay elements from <i>Gradius</i> while borrowing characters and elements from other Konami games (like the bells from <i>TwinBee</i>),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hqKcvkughXFC-0wK78WxIlklabpSKVgqPRgV4MvDFk8VbZpv6uHRrcQLPCOeLdKbasW0cDIfLKqN7B5U6gRNSp5zVsY_nPc4zWEipu-s3XmB-MGwpHgChtOJX5P_WC9gAGThQVrbiwxZjXFij3go5WgVx_Cf4yEI0Rs3WpNDflAKnwEQU_k15Uhxcg/s311/Parodius_Octopus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hqKcvkughXFC-0wK78WxIlklabpSKVgqPRgV4MvDFk8VbZpv6uHRrcQLPCOeLdKbasW0cDIfLKqN7B5U6gRNSp5zVsY_nPc4zWEipu-s3XmB-MGwpHgChtOJX5P_WC9gAGThQVrbiwxZjXFij3go5WgVx_Cf4yEI0Rs3WpNDflAKnwEQU_k15Uhxcg/w200-h166/Parodius_Octopus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92e3OKbAeRVTwGVdYippmZpNz8e37pPPzmRWz9p0yexDyJjekxbRULZmF1odniyxnlEJn0L8hczLECNlZxuZALttRsezBNnEhPs0oPUtTatgrQZ3i2LlNGuA2nUOWEITHS1egD5uAy0vLeqJB3y_efWpPcnX9IRk9T-OAobK4WvhI_Cxyzd01CtpMPg/s311/Parodius_Pentaro-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92e3OKbAeRVTwGVdYippmZpNz8e37pPPzmRWz9p0yexDyJjekxbRULZmF1odniyxnlEJn0L8hczLECNlZxuZALttRsezBNnEhPs0oPUtTatgrQZ3i2LlNGuA2nUOWEITHS1egD5uAy0vLeqJB3y_efWpPcnX9IRk9T-OAobK4WvhI_Cxyzd01CtpMPg/w200-h166/Parodius_Pentaro-1.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">These screenshots were taken while watching the demos</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">in </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Parodius</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> you have a choice to control one of five characters: Tako the octopus, Penta from </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Antarctic</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Penguin Adventure,</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"> Konami's silly interpretation of Ganbare Goemon whom they made a video game series after, Popolon from </span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Knightmare</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, and Vic Viper from the <i>Gradius</i> franchise. Throughout the course of the game all logic has been thrown out the window and has been replaced by complete and thorough randomness and does not let up. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Parodius</i>' quirky renditions of classic public domain music has been one of the series' major staples, composed by Kinuyo Yamashita (who composed music for Konami's <i>Akumaj</i></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>ō Dracula</i>/<i>Castlevania</i> and would lend her musical talents to Natsume for </span></span></span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>Kiki Kaikai: Tsukiyo S</i></span><i style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">ō</i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><i>shi</i>/<i>Pocky & Rocky 2</i>, the Super Famicom adaptation of Brad Silberling's <i>Casper</i>, and the Game Boy Color version of <i>Croc 2</i>), and the sound quality is incredible.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BB_1o7mQJpHOC6l0RvcIvQdsAyorrQt70Kxn1IIw9xnFi-zWYelFOyyJd-IOsj9Rz4gwcyYrwZf_D4YvZ9bKnRY6SvvV8oWrVuWHJ1hIrvhkGLs6T0H6C2f1IxXjNRNyMLVArHTJ7d1LBtbRjlOKpo96wJT1QqLNG-koF7p7s0woyGJd0fX3V6w6Yw/s311/Parodius_Pentaro-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BB_1o7mQJpHOC6l0RvcIvQdsAyorrQt70Kxn1IIw9xnFi-zWYelFOyyJd-IOsj9Rz4gwcyYrwZf_D4YvZ9bKnRY6SvvV8oWrVuWHJ1hIrvhkGLs6T0H6C2f1IxXjNRNyMLVArHTJ7d1LBtbRjlOKpo96wJT1QqLNG-koF7p7s0woyGJd0fX3V6w6Yw/w200-h166/Parodius_Pentaro-2.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Xjuc4vpcfIAZ5IQydOdcUwIijl24Xea1M7i7rjWtKTG9Ovwq6qY-V3sRhhjszLn11Vwc_RetWCQPmfm4S-3Qzo7d91IGxNTpI3yMzs1WEmWY9qqSnOsa538gt94tawMwz1-Uf63OIGUhxv7RxitY9bzkRETuEEKZ0cTaJia8I0jLplwPyIO_FI4FiQ/s311/Parodius_Goemon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Xjuc4vpcfIAZ5IQydOdcUwIijl24Xea1M7i7rjWtKTG9Ovwq6qY-V3sRhhjszLn11Vwc_RetWCQPmfm4S-3Qzo7d91IGxNTpI3yMzs1WEmWY9qqSnOsa538gt94tawMwz1-Uf63OIGUhxv7RxitY9bzkRETuEEKZ0cTaJia8I0jLplwPyIO_FI4FiQ/w200-h166/Parodius_Goemon.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Because this cute'em up leans more into traditional shoot'em up territory (which is generally not my strong suit), I struggle to play it and cannot properly coordinate myself while playing it which is strange because I could play <i>Parodius Da!</i> on the Game Boy and <i>Gokujō Parodius</i> on the Super Famicom pretty decently and could get far enough to beat them both when push came to shove when I was younger. I was curious to experience the starting game in the franchise and I suppose it was worth playing though I wish I was better enough at it to properly judge the original <i>Parodius</i> for myself. 😔 <b>*sigh*</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEmGCfqFUGsl396Ut0SNH-ysGh90js9tIfanbaul2uwPsHJMalCL-reQOQFU9HkO7VRqHz7tyQ23shM3RsC5Y9wr0191qJOz9s8OzkFd09MmJeT3S6TUxbDlULumjTa1sKRd_9OAhQvK2lIBMYsZpfwBGJq_95bBOefyitxa2vh0uknvYeCOuocTTRTYq/s234/Salamander_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="234" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEmGCfqFUGsl396Ut0SNH-ysGh90js9tIfanbaul2uwPsHJMalCL-reQOQFU9HkO7VRqHz7tyQ23shM3RsC5Y9wr0191qJOz9s8OzkFd09MmJeT3S6TUxbDlULumjTa1sKRd_9OAhQvK2lIBMYsZpfwBGJq_95bBOefyitxa2vh0uknvYeCOuocTTRTYq/s1600/Salamander_Title.png" width="234" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1986, 1987</b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwd-HVuDi4eHmspCyhm7MhmvsfYnZD8iZFjk65g0urFG5krFgBq8sUoRXhSAYFsFTGgLyiQlOp17x3QLXxTcnNVdbbDLtGpwl5gwGO2EH3Wa5rhEN0DSfwO7I59eB97cWtbql_RIlvQSeQtaE6aYQkGtJm-okbqOLNQuEsYUCsk9MYB81eXvKLeeBSDIC/s311/Salamander_Amoebas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwd-HVuDi4eHmspCyhm7MhmvsfYnZD8iZFjk65g0urFG5krFgBq8sUoRXhSAYFsFTGgLyiQlOp17x3QLXxTcnNVdbbDLtGpwl5gwGO2EH3Wa5rhEN0DSfwO7I59eB97cWtbql_RIlvQSeQtaE6aYQkGtJm-okbqOLNQuEsYUCsk9MYB81eXvKLeeBSDIC/w200-h166/Salamander_Amoebas.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPaCBtvOXtIcLEIZjg2vsFGgKz7SADxDYE8aM10AqpaQjgzbP5u2-5tUQaL6Zwd1_UC5Q9T3UL6nKyBnw8s3PdmrJYYKsQPkgbbTB8EMSfquZFyCLNI3NN5s73Fgl9wjtYsJIvUA4ascJ2ihd_A153PgRXFucqkL7IU6qjlbFnXbM1pfJDJo0wIWxgQK8/s311/Salamander_Option.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="311" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPaCBtvOXtIcLEIZjg2vsFGgKz7SADxDYE8aM10AqpaQjgzbP5u2-5tUQaL6Zwd1_UC5Q9T3UL6nKyBnw8s3PdmrJYYKsQPkgbbTB8EMSfquZFyCLNI3NN5s73Fgl9wjtYsJIvUA4ascJ2ihd_A153PgRXFucqkL7IU6qjlbFnXbM1pfJDJo0wIWxgQK8/w200-h166/Salamander_Option.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The MSX version is different in that it has an introduction, stages are longer and have names, you start off from a predetermined point as opposed to picking up from the spot after losing a life, you can choose your own route after a while, and the names of the ships are Sabel Tiger (player one) and Thrasher (player two) controlled by Iggy Rock and Zowie Scott respectively</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Serving as a spinoff to <i>Gradius</i>, <i><b>Salamander</b></i> (released in North America as <i>Life Force</i>) would make its arcade debut the following year and would see many a home computer and console conversion after the fact. What set this game apart from other space shoot'em ups at the time was that it would alternate orientations after every stage was cleared, sometimes it would scroll horizontally and other times it would vie for a vertical scrolling format to keep things fresh. I have a strong fondness for the NES port of <i>Life Force</i> from when I played it as a teenager (and using the thirty-life code there), and many years later I downloaded the PC Engine version of <i>Salamander</i> on the Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console, and I think both versions are good in their own right. I haven't gone very far in the MSX version, it's a bit too difficult so I can't make a call on its quality but I will say that it's visually solid and the soundtrack quality is absolutely superb.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTNQRdJVLVSbLutC0-Avh9hbful8lTnAOp7X3Tpjh4HxLtBTXq5BJQw8ihA968XslV_esq5yCJVarAFQb16msA9XLHGqfH6uZIE0M6cE3TvGgxLf9-oIec2KSsXPc4_ZQYmAAoXF4VJIc_V2Fg-AeuAt41DTaRpQD_QiZp_ZdGAPp0S-ST-UTI3PAsA/s389/Konami_CuteLogoAnimation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTNQRdJVLVSbLutC0-Avh9hbful8lTnAOp7X3Tpjh4HxLtBTXq5BJQw8ihA968XslV_esq5yCJVarAFQb16msA9XLHGqfH6uZIE0M6cE3TvGgxLf9-oIec2KSsXPc4_ZQYmAAoXF4VJIc_V2Fg-AeuAt41DTaRpQD_QiZp_ZdGAPp0S-ST-UTI3PAsA/s16000/Konami_CuteLogoAnimation.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I briefly covered my thoughts on this compilation as well as Ving's port of Taito's <i>Bubble Symphony</i>, Red Company and Aspect's <i>Super Tempo</i>, and Treasure's <i>Silhouette Mirage</i> on <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/02/random-saturnday-iii-christmas-games.html">part two</a> of my two-part Random Saturnday III post back in February 2023 (the first part covered Saturn games 10 through 16 while the second part covered Saturn games 17 through 20)</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">Was that all thirty games? I guess it was. Overall, I found KCE Yokohama's <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> on the Sega Saturn to be a very enjoyable compilation, more games I ended up having a lot fun playing than not, which I feel is how it should be. 😃 This game was among four Japanese Saturn games I asked for on Christmas 2022, and I enjoyed it since the day I got it. I like the presentation with the games appearing in a slightly windowboxed format (for what I presume was done simply to preserve its native screen resolution), the sound quality is good, and it was nice to see a handful of different pillarboxed Konami bootup logo screens for each title so they're not all the same. Being a '90s compilation, it's hard not to feel that this one has a barebones quality about for it only features the games but not any bonus pertaining to said games (there isn't even an option to go back to the menu once you select it, meaning you have to soft reset by pressing Start and the A, B, and C buttons simultaneously which is unheard of), which is really more of a nitpick of mine and not in any way meant to be a dig at it. With Konami's big library of MSX titles on the whole, I'm sure there are some who felt disappointed about certain games being omitted in the compilation (either due to licensing or because there were so many games to choose from that they simply could not fit all of them). For fans of classic games, however, <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> is a treasure trove and a wonderful way to be directly introduced to MSX gaming. 😄</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>My Personal Score: 8.5/10</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8B1MLY0TsIy__ZEl-YmuBT4ydhJvvd6wJvJ9qISV0v_pUQ8uvCnFo4XkRZUCrPgIOfkAWmuTI00UaIYP99pdxva3Qv3sgNO4DoWq79Q_4Vht7yWJ0tuwDuiiByXk_Kt1Clja02QlHCXXjv3ABw69Y--TpW4oC19gypnYk79365Z1A_6jmzMvUdgCyA/s250/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8B1MLY0TsIy__ZEl-YmuBT4ydhJvvd6wJvJ9qISV0v_pUQ8uvCnFo4XkRZUCrPgIOfkAWmuTI00UaIYP99pdxva3Qv3sgNO4DoWq79Q_4Vht7yWJ0tuwDuiiByXk_Kt1Clja02QlHCXXjv3ABw69Y--TpW4oC19gypnYk79365Z1A_6jmzMvUdgCyA/s1600/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" width="250" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">● Irrelevant to this game, on June 10th I watched the late Robert Altman's 1980 live action <i>Popeye</i> movie based on Elzie Crisler Segar's comic strip character and Fleischer Studios' animated shorts on Paramount+, which I watched again half a week after the fact and a third time over a week after that. I watched the shorts growing up but never saw the movie (I remember seeing the VHS sleeve, but that's it), I've known for a long time that it got mixed reviews, and now that I've seen it I can see why it might not have appealed to everyone: it is a bit all over the place, characters talk over each other, the opening act can feel a bit long, it can be a bit uneven, and it is very silly. Then again, the animated shorts were silly too, <b>but</b> as silly as the movie got it had a big heart which made <i>Popeye</i> pleasantly endearing and earnestly feel-good fun. 😊 I thought the late Robin Williams (whom I read regretted taking part in the film due his personal experience with the production) did a good job as the eponymous sailor man and channeled his mannerisms with aplomb while still making it his own in his first leading film role </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">(I'm still sad he passed away all those years ago, RIP)</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;">, Shelley Duvall was perfectly cast as the lively animated Olive Oyl (could anyone have done a better live action Olive than her? 😍), Robin and Shelley have a cute chemistry together, the late Ray Walston looked like he had so much fun playing Poopdeck Pappy (RIP), and there were character actors I was surprised to see in this film like the late Paul L. Smith as Bluto (I could not recognize him with the facial hair after having seen him in the late Richard Fleischer's <i>Red Sonja</i>, RIP) who really mastered the intimidating side eye stare combined with his lumbering physique, Paul Dooley as J. Wellington Wimpy who I've seen in the late John Hughes' <i>Sixteen Candles</i> and for a less problematic example learned he was the voice of Sarge in PIXAR's <i>Cars</i> series, Bill Irwin in his first film role as Olive Oyl's old boyfriend Harold Hamgravy for I've seen him in Ron Howard's <i>How the Grinch Stole Christmas</i> and heard his voice in Christopher Nolan's <i>Interstellar</i>, Linda Hunt in her film debut as Mrs. Oxheart who I've seen in several things, the late silver browed Donald Moffat (RIP) as the Taxman whom I only saw in John Carpenter's <i>The Thing</i> (I love how everyone cheered Popeye after he shoved him in the water, "<b>Yay</b>, no more taxes!!" 😄), and it was funny hearing the late Jack Mercer reprise his voice of the animated Popeye at the beginning (RIP). The late Harry Nilsson's music and songs were catchy (RIP), the color grading really made the iconic character palettes pop on the screen, the costume designs were spot-on, the late Giuseppe Rotunno's cinematography is very good and capture the beauty of the Maltese waters, and what impressed me the most was the set design of Sweethaven in terms of its size and scale which is breathtaking even just thinking about it (they created an <b>entire town</b> for this movie which has since become a tourist attraction, if I ever decide to go to Malta it'd be interesting the visit the Popeye Village in person). The octopus animatronic in the last act, as briefly as we get a good look at it, I thought was well-designed and felt fit the lighthearted tone of the movie, and I enjoyed the film rendition of the late Sammy Lerner's "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" at the film's close. What surprised me the most was seeing the late Robert Evans' name appear as producer, my parents and I recently watched Michael Tolkin's <i>The Offer</i> beforehand and I couldn't help but envision Matthew Goode's scene-stealing performance from that series. 😲 Altman's <i>Popeye</i> film is underrated and charming good-natured entertainment that is so sincere, in my opinion, it gets better with repeat watching (at least, that was the case for me) and I keep noticing new things on each rewatch that I hadn't noticed before, and I'm glad I finally caught up with it. I really loved it! 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-75122604354509710142023-06-07T19:42:00.003-05:002023-08-21T16:01:09.351-05:00Disney's The Little Mermaid (GB) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-size: large;">🧜♀️<b> Written: June 4th-7th, 2023 </b>🧜♀️</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPQG1_3vDmEliCb7pI8XfvVDs-mV8vyE1LhPuGLobLVI2ytm4L1U9Gaqvaaa9rHtiZJideArRIIiGtQoqQHgMTm3j1tk-bVFkZby_gXvj80azKxWqBl6Ldkc7fp6jEuhx8KwzZLKNDuNFGdooi5GiggLCp7in5XjmRSNuC_I4foz5LpLyUFQP1h60eQ/s149/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #00edc6;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="149" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPQG1_3vDmEliCb7pI8XfvVDs-mV8vyE1LhPuGLobLVI2ytm4L1U9Gaqvaaa9rHtiZJideArRIIiGtQoqQHgMTm3j1tk-bVFkZby_gXvj80azKxWqBl6Ldkc7fp6jEuhx8KwzZLKNDuNFGdooi5GiggLCp7in5XjmRSNuC_I4foz5LpLyUFQP1h60eQ/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Title.png" width="149" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(As played on <i>Super Game Boy</i>)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #00edc6; font-size: large;">Year: 1991, 1992 | Developed by: Capcom</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #00edc6; font-size: large;">Published by: Nintendo</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">In the 19th century there was a Danish author by the name of Hans Christian Andersen who in life (born in 1805 and died in 1875) wrote poetry, novels, plays, travelogues, and became most famous for his literary fairy tales, of which there were 156 stories across nine volumes. Appealing to both children and older readers alike with lessons of resilience and virtue in the face of adversity, some of his most famous works comprised of "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina", "The Snow Queen", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", and especially "The Little Mermaid" (which was partly influenced by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué's novella <i>Undine</i>).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIncHxin1EyR9nVFa-kTLozeQVBg6HheAJ9lbCaqhZEtFBkPg6oxQgLuJ3XRMW7fMsiwpOxmpaXvQLHqW_ho7NDRTMVKPhnto7YEWHzIgMYgUnE4Us-AOvhmE17mipnq7aujVNsIKWmG2q8ubUEnh6ue0ckap6OKAOXRMvl34SvY64uJZCM4yapMKnA/s1280/TheMermaid_ThePrince.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIncHxin1EyR9nVFa-kTLozeQVBg6HheAJ9lbCaqhZEtFBkPg6oxQgLuJ3XRMW7fMsiwpOxmpaXvQLHqW_ho7NDRTMVKPhnto7YEWHzIgMYgUnE4Us-AOvhmE17mipnq7aujVNsIKWmG2q8ubUEnh6ue0ckap6OKAOXRMvl34SvY64uJZCM4yapMKnA/w512-h640/TheMermaid_ThePrince.png" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image of Edmund Dulac's "The Little Mermaid" illustration from Wikipedia</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Written in 1837 as part of his fairy tale collection, <i>Den lille havfrue</i> centered around a teenaged mermaid who in her journey gives up her life as a sea creature in order to attain a human soul and to live among them. Fascinated by the human world, one day she saves a human prince following a deadly storm and takes him to shore, but to her dismay he didn't realize she was his savior. Desperate for a human soul and to be with her prince, the mermaid visits the sea witch and asks that she turn her into a human to which she is given a pair of legs in exchange for her voice but is warned that once she becomes a human she can never go back to the sea. After her heart breaks once the prince professes his love to another, she is given a dagger by her sisters for a chance to kill him and let his blood drip at her feet to return back to the life of a mermaid. She cannot bring herself to do it, however, for she throws herself and the dagger off the ship and dissolves into sea foam. She doesn't cease to exist, however, for she has become a spirit of the air for striving with all her heart to attain a human soul and is rewarded for her selflessness a chance to earn her own soul by helping humankind with good deeds for the next three-hundred years.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">"The Little Mermaid" established Andersen's international reputation and has become so well-regarded that there has been a bronze statue in Copenhagen, Denmark sculpted by Edvard Eriksen, and over the years has been adapted to musical theatre, ballet, opera, anime, and numerous film adaptations.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OPvRhCeZrD68nUOyVNydDfl5b-6i4oy0NxU2TsO18KD-mR-QyHEO4PbI6_esHafR41PTui6Ibs85EExEV9C2RosVajZyneDz_ywv1sj4RajZc7YinSlEHOK8khcxDLUbRAknKNXt4pCxUgckdQNAv-ICV5PGcOtHNjS_TYVZpZ0__fd0VmxgFYRsSw/s114/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ariel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="97" data-original-width="114" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OPvRhCeZrD68nUOyVNydDfl5b-6i4oy0NxU2TsO18KD-mR-QyHEO4PbI6_esHafR41PTui6Ibs85EExEV9C2RosVajZyneDz_ywv1sj4RajZc7YinSlEHOK8khcxDLUbRAknKNXt4pCxUgckdQNAv-ICV5PGcOtHNjS_TYVZpZ0__fd0VmxgFYRsSw/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ariel.png" width="114" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">One film adaptation that would become the most well-known of them all was the animated musical <b><i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i></b>, written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements and produced by Musker and the late songwriter Howard Ashman on a $40 million budget, which was released in 1989 to huge acclaim and became a commercial success earning $235 million worldwide*. It has been credited as one of the films to breathe life back into the art of Disney animation and helped kickstart the Disney Renaissance. The success resulted in it becoming a media franchise**, including the recent 2023 live action remake directed by Rob Marshall starring Halle Bailey as the titular little mermaid.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* Taking into account the combined initial release where it earned $84.4 million at the domestic box office and 1997 theatrical rerelease where it earned an additional $27.2 million with it earning $123 million outside of North America</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><b>** After the movie came out there would be a prequel TV animated series in 1992 that lasted three seasons at 31 episodes, a brief <i>Sebastian</i> spinoff taking place after the end of the movie that was a part of Disney's short-lived animated adaptation of </b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>André Franquin's <i>Marsupilami</i></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">, a made for TV sequel in 2000 (<i>The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea</i>) that received video game adaptations of its own, a gorgeously animated made for TV prequel in 2008 (<i>The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning</i>), the underwater environment and characters from the movie would appear prominently as part of Square's Disney-themed action-oriented RPG franchise <i>Kingdom Hearts</i>, and garnered different video game adaptations over the years</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdG-r8RAxzZRJdSsOfJ5ulUFEbp4MNA-cZrFz4QbRoO4H4r9ltOpiL5k1s4EzYiPZ-cgffNNB4bBZ5AUu5j7t6AzoYUgT8ELCpkza6IQU6qu_hTm36bBX-AaQ3plU0vPy4jhRhN0Xu2_jSY0Hg0JDFwXgrZvhQSOMq5LLcjFBzLL4P2QvDbT_U8eFrg/s2160/LittleMermaidNingyoHime_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1531" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdG-r8RAxzZRJdSsOfJ5ulUFEbp4MNA-cZrFz4QbRoO4H4r9ltOpiL5k1s4EzYiPZ-cgffNNB4bBZ5AUu5j7t6AzoYUgT8ELCpkza6IQU6qu_hTm36bBX-AaQ3plU0vPy4jhRhN0Xu2_jSY0Hg0JDFwXgrZvhQSOMq5LLcjFBzLL4P2QvDbT_U8eFrg/w142-h200/LittleMermaidNingyoHime_Cover.png" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTNXopQTfCng85gxHdTOpNMjgoZr55OidajI3IleNBiPrjnrnVoD2pYXCTU_nV4qk5rVLtrOi6VR7KBa0_Y0aAr7ReoC5pVPfNAXqQi4TcvRATRXJ15D8oEQasudLm19O7axViJe-iMjg5XhWbRjzGANvi4y3ld--Xl2qYTkZk7FlXp7oVFz_SRY7bQ/s915/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTNXopQTfCng85gxHdTOpNMjgoZr55OidajI3IleNBiPrjnrnVoD2pYXCTU_nV4qk5rVLtrOi6VR7KBa0_Y0aAr7ReoC5pVPfNAXqQi4TcvRATRXJ15D8oEQasudLm19O7axViJe-iMjg5XhWbRjzGANvi4y3ld--Xl2qYTkZk7FlXp7oVFz_SRY7bQ/w140-h200/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-Cover.png" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">July 19th, 1991 would see the release of its first video game adaptation produced by Stephan L. Butler and developed by <b>Capcom</b> for the Famicom in Japan as <i>Little Mermaid: Ningyo Hime</i> (the subtitle of which literally translates to "The Little Mermaid") which would also come out for the North American NES that same month as <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzjdvgHn2_B1ZIi_N1OdYenlibaSzaWxpJIJhWgu4QjJ0ay56EnQXcQ9cL-Vubz8ACTjHTXKgXhwOu9epNd5T7kCVmVlRCVKBs4Y9Xr4g1JaLlIfPSErsEFrg3eWV6IDSoI2K9oMIdEH5edu8u-a2h_jHa67DoxXWlvvLSihkTWlayiPv1GG0fepFxw/s733/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzjdvgHn2_B1ZIi_N1OdYenlibaSzaWxpJIJhWgu4QjJ0ay56EnQXcQ9cL-Vubz8ACTjHTXKgXhwOu9epNd5T7kCVmVlRCVKBs4Y9Xr4g1JaLlIfPSErsEFrg3eWV6IDSoI2K9oMIdEH5edu8u-a2h_jHa67DoxXWlvvLSihkTWlayiPv1GG0fepFxw/w400-h400/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Cover.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Like most Disney Capcom licenses that originally came out on the Nintendo 8-bit console this game would also be converted to the handheld Game Boy format, coming out in European shores in 1992 followed by a North American release in February 1993. After <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> ended up selling a million units, Nintendo would reissue it under their Players Choice label in 1997 with the familiar golden "Million Seller" ribbon plastered at the front; this is the version of the game that I own and that which will be covered.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-l0_OHBZV6h3V0S32uBstEWzxhiCJgpx0JX0jB2WtUeLMJWS267hQtDLfbclXL5D1d_NlYgtT9AwBQmdOjS237Kkl4qkEktXnl7s7T7-ebu1hAoAL4gObzVxCEXUV0PUw7-02tQLahRR8KuWBKVvxBBPTiaAbHS3GDbZgjpiPrh-ZE2PddgidGZThg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ariel+Eric.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-l0_OHBZV6h3V0S32uBstEWzxhiCJgpx0JX0jB2WtUeLMJWS267hQtDLfbclXL5D1d_NlYgtT9AwBQmdOjS237Kkl4qkEktXnl7s7T7-ebu1hAoAL4gObzVxCEXUV0PUw7-02tQLahRR8KuWBKVvxBBPTiaAbHS3GDbZgjpiPrh-ZE2PddgidGZThg/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ariel+Eric.png" width="244" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">A sixteen year-old mermaid named Ariel (voiced and sung by Jodi Benson in her film debut), princess of the underwater merkingdom of Atlantica and youngest daughter of King Triton (voiced by the late Kenneth Mars, RIP), has long had a fascination with the human world. One night she swims up to the surface and witnesses a birthday party held aboard a ship for a human prince named Eric (voiced by Christpher Daniel Barnes) whom she saves and rescues following a hurricane.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61IQTyavdwLUngoe92wUpxOwG-eu8Q88LzV4EaBbFDeEl77Vyl9EEwxjjHYwAs2xjpdBugaS4monCQTt-wns7jahx7hirwAuIBzFxlBrgt-xOVusUgyD6OzvZLIRmOwPCgDoZoDQUOO0kSrIDg7cox41yR7sRgqqzC2O1_MAXkKQobuf-YQLYHrbzTw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ursula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61IQTyavdwLUngoe92wUpxOwG-eu8Q88LzV4EaBbFDeEl77Vyl9EEwxjjHYwAs2xjpdBugaS4monCQTt-wns7jahx7hirwAuIBzFxlBrgt-xOVusUgyD6OzvZLIRmOwPCgDoZoDQUOO0kSrIDg7cox41yR7sRgqqzC2O1_MAXkKQobuf-YQLYHrbzTw/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Ursula.png" width="244" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">From that moment she develops feelings for him and desires to be in the human world with him, so she goes to the sea witch Ursula (voiced and sung by the late Pat Carroll, RIP) who turns Ariel human in exchange for her voice so she can be with Prince Eric, unbeknownst to the princess she's being used as a means to overthrow her father King Triton so that Ursula can take over the entire sea.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHEzHKalNYluAfUnNxmw2hnpEfZ-qfp2v3ZY5BwjCpvr2gM5fs_voaaV3PqP7q4bIXCwzyQHm_U_1qo0rRg9F50MwMfvOpqYzWA0xlo-mg2Ha9CI6o_oSA2XhjTYBVFWNU--H5p9BJGI6XGS2tx-t_HWnLZQYRHrHLNc9UWlDDrSkcCut4K7mTqp-gw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-TurnedIntoMermaid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHEzHKalNYluAfUnNxmw2hnpEfZ-qfp2v3ZY5BwjCpvr2gM5fs_voaaV3PqP7q4bIXCwzyQHm_U_1qo0rRg9F50MwMfvOpqYzWA0xlo-mg2Ha9CI6o_oSA2XhjTYBVFWNU--H5p9BJGI6XGS2tx-t_HWnLZQYRHrHLNc9UWlDDrSkcCut4K7mTqp-gw/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-TurnedIntoMermaid.png" width="244" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">In the context of the game, however, Ariel reverts back to a mermaid so she can stop the sea witch from fulfilling her plans and rescue the fish that the sea witch placed under her spell.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMApHjNmkdKicfcpWrxtn-fl87wiRSTg0SjuX2cQUoaaAkvMwSfnPAcH8OHMKYWualSTDxkf9mOOI6S8sujD-SinSdO_aRLDuXcS9-Wd1FVOtYuwnwfGKJ5Cckk4qrpcsqJXqeDp_YXObRciKzNlWpV39YKfHdkMnF0wOwY6_r_drIY7wjQZwurI6IvA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SeaOfCoral.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMApHjNmkdKicfcpWrxtn-fl87wiRSTg0SjuX2cQUoaaAkvMwSfnPAcH8OHMKYWualSTDxkf9mOOI6S8sujD-SinSdO_aRLDuXcS9-Wd1FVOtYuwnwfGKJ5Cckk4qrpcsqJXqeDp_YXObRciKzNlWpV39YKfHdkMnF0wOwY6_r_drIY7wjQZwurI6IvA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SeaOfCoral.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6crrP3xihlG9ZOvdpWqELEoj4AS2bKHvKY3KhT82E382cpyJE0lsjZGBBcHWhfCnzL1s_NKjJAn7SzwBuWaeL_frhA2jXKrteLnLy5KFf7Ywf-wjQWNky38WKy0MbnRJo-GzZxeJzdoHeCcpl9wJVU5_qP67Kbc8D8kRR876xl68tHKXLbwyswjwIQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Snarfblatt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6crrP3xihlG9ZOvdpWqELEoj4AS2bKHvKY3KhT82E382cpyJE0lsjZGBBcHWhfCnzL1s_NKjJAn7SzwBuWaeL_frhA2jXKrteLnLy5KFf7Ywf-wjQWNky38WKy0MbnRJo-GzZxeJzdoHeCcpl9wJVU5_qP67Kbc8D8kRR876xl68tHKXLbwyswjwIQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Snarfblatt.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sea of Coral | Right: It's a snarfblatt</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">In <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> you play as the eponymous Princess Ariel of Atlantica whom you can swim around in any of the eight directions so long as you're underwater. Pressing the A button* will have her flip her fishtail to produce a bubble which will cause any enemy fish to be encased in a bubble which you can grab by moving towards it and keep held until you press the A button again to launch the encased enemy bubble above you, across from you straight or diagonally, or below you, and by holding down the B button* you can make Ariel swim at a slightly faster rate.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* B and Y respectively on the Nintendo 16-bit controller with the alternate Type A control scheme selected when played on the <i>Super Game Boy</i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH9Z6aDJ4JUN4poVIUzVl-oAB6lp9vKujycmViA519DvaQJK1uX2WxYtqzPfeR9ugAIHy5JDO2HNdHcV_a3PiHzmH_959Zpc3Uv3EQrbcLPaufRpeB_0SSMwwGQJ2QYVwm1-OUuUeLF6CUPRDi1fgGIAoXDnIGks1sx-xMdd2hze4pXv2-jcOstg4Gg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Chest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH9Z6aDJ4JUN4poVIUzVl-oAB6lp9vKujycmViA519DvaQJK1uX2WxYtqzPfeR9ugAIHy5JDO2HNdHcV_a3PiHzmH_959Zpc3Uv3EQrbcLPaufRpeB_0SSMwwGQJ2QYVwm1-OUuUeLF6CUPRDi1fgGIAoXDnIGks1sx-xMdd2hze4pXv2-jcOstg4Gg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Chest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8iN_vNKfTf_kS7nxt5KC6MU7QRWZUQ2UyO0o8VE974HbyoVyEC0Gdxy0OWIdQwQiiWNDVR8P39JNVZHrNYmzAKiBfRc_i35uCK50ADxtpRTmcQa7nSAnWQYz76T9BDHZrMJcFyd2XPaQ1FbIa6hEJeW1g3ONOlEinwo_1XJo_iW07meqkGrN1jDkw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Octopi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H8iN_vNKfTf_kS7nxt5KC6MU7QRWZUQ2UyO0o8VE974HbyoVyEC0Gdxy0OWIdQwQiiWNDVR8P39JNVZHrNYmzAKiBfRc_i35uCK50ADxtpRTmcQa7nSAnWQYz76T9BDHZrMJcFyd2XPaQ1FbIa6hEJeW1g3ONOlEinwo_1XJo_iW07meqkGrN1jDkw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Octopi.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Flip that shell towards the chest to open it up | Right: Beware the octopi and their projectiles </b>🐙</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">On occasion you might swim up to the surface where you can have her jump out of the water by pressing A as you're on the surface in position or as you move left and right, and if you jump up to a platform you must flop your way through until you dive back into the water. Over the course of the game are treasure chests which contain dark pearls to slightly augment Ariel's bubble power or light pearls to give your bubble attacks a bit more range, and the only way to open them up is to toss a shell at them or to push a heavy rock off a sea platform or to push a rolling barrel with her fishtail (provided you got some power in advance).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3yvr11eGb2xI7po6xlpMiEH7OnS30su4H5KRSpW_1NSuP8LfCx1eguHwvEpoDGbXp-dQ2YstP-ZNTIiJsbEkSqZRpZEIrLwEe4poTRhXWR6CD22k_K0s00pSVQq9pQULlghZFiJoo0ut0l4FLyc-6nyQc4YF4B0fxOib7R7G34Hqe1t_9Gwcq-VCzA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Corals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3yvr11eGb2xI7po6xlpMiEH7OnS30su4H5KRSpW_1NSuP8LfCx1eguHwvEpoDGbXp-dQ2YstP-ZNTIiJsbEkSqZRpZEIrLwEe4poTRhXWR6CD22k_K0s00pSVQq9pQULlghZFiJoo0ut0l4FLyc-6nyQc4YF4B0fxOib7R7G34Hqe1t_9Gwcq-VCzA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Corals.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrrTI_M9I1UrJglqtX32E0rvoUWjY8mtD0S7DO9iIlrf-vnZMoadtFBGqOV_m1wjzDBaZsRxE9xAM8XaG-Nfx0xZRaOgqqFowwKX1lEFAXywGLpqBR0bumwAtUf-9P8p0CSpyEklK9VwQmCNjnkOtXbHeCHpqAd8KFF4Aup05ZIM4BuSnF76MwlsjQg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Starfish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrrTI_M9I1UrJglqtX32E0rvoUWjY8mtD0S7DO9iIlrf-vnZMoadtFBGqOV_m1wjzDBaZsRxE9xAM8XaG-Nfx0xZRaOgqqFowwKX1lEFAXywGLpqBR0bumwAtUf-9P8p0CSpyEklK9VwQmCNjnkOtXbHeCHpqAd8KFF4Aup05ZIM4BuSnF76MwlsjQg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Starfish.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Swimming through the corals | Right: It's raining starfish</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">There are also items to gather should you toss a bubbled fish or shell towards a small square gap, or flip Ariel's tail on the sand to potentially dig up (even a shell), like a small heart to refill one heart of your health, a big heart to replenish two hearts (for which you begin the game with three but can go up to a capacity of five hearts), a dinglehopper (fork) or a snarfblatt (pipe) for points, and placed behind certain heavy obstacles a mermaid figurine to garner another life. Each stage will culminate in a boss fight for which after you defeat them you must swim to the bottle lowering itself to you to gain access to the subsequent stage.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7zvzQ2VjTCUIhK5NVIv-8-z89aoUtXHUI-QDP7I1YgHrmtzhMOL9S6NJ9nf4x2194mIQP3AC7wiGsNawMSBcR7IbL_eTRWF3utUbedrBQfd1oUMwf244sOjsh0moYn6DLLTdIxyOYQDuEKRX6lFgrWZXn9o78k3mSdSN_sYuC_GfiLxR11e2z5XS9Q/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shark.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7zvzQ2VjTCUIhK5NVIv-8-z89aoUtXHUI-QDP7I1YgHrmtzhMOL9S6NJ9nf4x2194mIQP3AC7wiGsNawMSBcR7IbL_eTRWF3utUbedrBQfd1oUMwf244sOjsh0moYn6DLLTdIxyOYQDuEKRX6lFgrWZXn9o78k3mSdSN_sYuC_GfiLxR11e2z5XS9Q/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shark.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Xmw3Ks9uL8gvswaUo2DIFd4NSxqOaqisqjc-6nXkOxxMZx_gkqRINKROdKr09VyU0Lw4tKKgz3NSsCFUWO_tfVkbt-T0QwMfjuhJoUDyML-WWLHbFEvcYTanukalnL5XfH1ulE50r0dm1aD-Kbs91GziacyKV2qc0bYWJnyX6xJr_Fh8D6JfE2IUOw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SandBrushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Xmw3Ks9uL8gvswaUo2DIFd4NSxqOaqisqjc-6nXkOxxMZx_gkqRINKROdKr09VyU0Lw4tKKgz3NSsCFUWO_tfVkbt-T0QwMfjuhJoUDyML-WWLHbFEvcYTanukalnL5XfH1ulE50r0dm1aD-Kbs91GziacyKV2qc0bYWJnyX6xJr_Fh8D6JfE2IUOw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SandBrushing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Shark attack </b>🦈<b> | Right: Sometimes there are shells that must be dug up from the sand</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">The visuals are very solid given the monochromatic nature of the Game Boy for the art team gave it the Disney Capcom touch and added just enough flair to augment <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i>'s visual sense of depth. Sea of Coral starts the game off nicely with the use of gradient coloring across the horizon with the coral that you swim across, Sunken Ship is appropriately decrepit-looking with the decayed wood and large cracks of the shipwreck, Sea of Ice is very frigid as you swim across an icy cave and occasionally must jump on and slide across frozen glaciers on the surface,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPnZFuYwvIk72rTxeoWR0USFjmUGH5tesUYVxd65J18ofYcG3kprYQZew5pxiAPbPGyKrWb3azj0TBqbffFVnsKVKYSbxArErRU4TzZ_YZKwGeKRxROhEU4HgfplrvvSoQuVd37pA053_akv437R3oTZMyUv0D3tk97WETo6B_naQSyYwAMiwBb4Arw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SunkenShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPnZFuYwvIk72rTxeoWR0USFjmUGH5tesUYVxd65J18ofYcG3kprYQZew5pxiAPbPGyKrWb3azj0TBqbffFVnsKVKYSbxArErRU4TzZ_YZKwGeKRxROhEU4HgfplrvvSoQuVd37pA053_akv437R3oTZMyUv0D3tk97WETo6B_naQSyYwAMiwBb4Arw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SunkenShip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eTqA7tg5wbF8RQ1TajTwl6vlTiqgQD_I39srBi-7t6DP33ZhKJAgqrN702ZSohyaPsBEoGvWUemlEE9e_KFaQ_3T5pE4pBDNZdLjjsuDYroIdsgF7-M_TL2RsSYVVXuvrL2WujP-3kDe3sXQLWKviaXkXelbEcshUM9E-50UBKBAziMXCE0iM_nvoA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Barrel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eTqA7tg5wbF8RQ1TajTwl6vlTiqgQD_I39srBi-7t6DP33ZhKJAgqrN702ZSohyaPsBEoGvWUemlEE9e_KFaQ_3T5pE4pBDNZdLjjsuDYroIdsgF7-M_TL2RsSYVVXuvrL2WujP-3kDe3sXQLWKviaXkXelbEcshUM9E-50UBKBAziMXCE0iM_nvoA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Barrel.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "OoOoOoOoh, I'm a ghoOoOost fish, bewaAaAare, <u>oOoOoOoOoOoh</u>!" | Right: Oh, that poor oblivious crab doesn't know what's coming</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Undersea Volcano has got a cool volcanic backdrop in a hot environment, and Ursula's Castle has got a mysterious décor and creepy-looking face doors that you must enter through culminating in the battle against Ursula preceded by the entrance littered with merfolk turned into sea polyps that stretch their neck in place. I love how the final battle against Ursula as a giant looming over you transpires in a pitch black area with the two seaweeds giving you a hint at which direction the sea witch is controlling the currents with her newly gained power of the trident.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tEQCFbDCbJsy-tnN8SMq29uhh26387GLKJyW8a9Hr_DgMD2rjjnbJvBZArXzO4c_G7MrkbRi8h2wUpWv17gYSwX5FRBW_EY_iUFSA6EhJ-oLffMqwXouB-VZAXELYc74BYG-3SzYysXi1B0P95vjol71dFpbrkxzbVaJWX1JnbI8tTlQzqeY0iIBsg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-MermaidFigurine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tEQCFbDCbJsy-tnN8SMq29uhh26387GLKJyW8a9Hr_DgMD2rjjnbJvBZArXzO4c_G7MrkbRi8h2wUpWv17gYSwX5FRBW_EY_iUFSA6EhJ-oLffMqwXouB-VZAXELYc74BYG-3SzYysXi1B0P95vjol71dFpbrkxzbVaJWX1JnbI8tTlQzqeY0iIBsg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-MermaidFigurine.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QdhJ_E2tfZsO_nI9uxN0CPVEdOqRI_QyH1GQHT3_jhLDdSOJ9sPlyAX8zSamy0QQBRqcXFxRibws14psBza_0hAOEPk3kOp2OKaL-jV-CFTOVxGL5JrEmpY5bAOlhXd5WbJiUcyxkjyGc3eeNECpn8EF5TkMPP690mZWd0rqWKqGBDsVpYfSg_lEAQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SurfaceJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QdhJ_E2tfZsO_nI9uxN0CPVEdOqRI_QyH1GQHT3_jhLDdSOJ9sPlyAX8zSamy0QQBRqcXFxRibws14psBza_0hAOEPk3kOp2OKaL-jV-CFTOVxGL5JrEmpY5bAOlhXd5WbJiUcyxkjyGc3eeNECpn8EF5TkMPP690mZWd0rqWKqGBDsVpYfSg_lEAQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SurfaceJumping.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Push the barrel with what might you've gained to access that mermaid figurine | Right: Jumping above the surface for the first time in the game</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Ariel is designed well in-game with her hair flowing as she remains in position and animates nicely as she swims at a moderate or fast pace, jumps above the water surface, and generates bubbles with her fishtail. Among the types of fish you'll contend with are evil-eyed fish, giant octopi, raining starfish that spin on their way down, fish with a sheet concealing their bodies amusingly pretending to be ghosts, crabs that skitter along with their pinchers, the <i>Citharichthys</i> fish that blend in with and pop out of the sand when approached, big-eyed shrimp, and tiny fish especially the <i>Cymathoa exigua</i> that emerge from inside the mouth of a big fish, most of whom react incredulously upon being encased inside Ariel's bubble attack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqH07EDrey-6DQjtOt2sIbVQefIghhPERS_cUyMAo4It35kwUlGvbe2h71mA2bMv6QSeQ4cxsS4a40podq9rhgLVLqLj55FBZvgOPsY2VVzHcr6qzU5Au1yZNtuCOFOPfaYzHNRyGU9gDeWGqVgBjSrNdBLpTOtoNjZzt3VecYujf8SoZ4roV_CUWaQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-PlatformFlopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqH07EDrey-6DQjtOt2sIbVQefIghhPERS_cUyMAo4It35kwUlGvbe2h71mA2bMv6QSeQ4cxsS4a40podq9rhgLVLqLj55FBZvgOPsY2VVzHcr6qzU5Au1yZNtuCOFOPfaYzHNRyGU9gDeWGqVgBjSrNdBLpTOtoNjZzt3VecYujf8SoZ4roV_CUWaQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-PlatformFlopping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q1iSHhp1b-e_4NHnmA5ikQBE42Qqg62haRu1S-twP6exi5cDiDIBiMhBphIg86zRJZHsRGTyyL38Rz_uTHhkoBxVrKZXglHW5nQZq0iasi4WxnBmWkFJyFbgfxuiKzLPMapXUmlXN1axOKPcmZYNf0CnVOhU7Ue-yFC6FRGPL53OVJJZ4DLgitHF1A/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-RockPushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q1iSHhp1b-e_4NHnmA5ikQBE42Qqg62haRu1S-twP6exi5cDiDIBiMhBphIg86zRJZHsRGTyyL38Rz_uTHhkoBxVrKZXglHW5nQZq0iasi4WxnBmWkFJyFbgfxuiKzLPMapXUmlXN1axOKPcmZYNf0CnVOhU7Ue-yFC6FRGPL53OVJJZ4DLgitHF1A/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-RockPushing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flop across | Right: That rock is strong enough to break open that chest</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">The bosses are well-designed and animate decently, like the shark, Ursula's faithful moray eel duo Flotsam and Jetsam (both voiced by the late Paddi Edwards*, RIP), and this game really captured the imposing yet fabulous essence of Ursula (especially as she towers over you with an ominous smile). There are even a couple bosses created exclusively for this game, the walrus in Sea of Ice and a seahorse acting as captain in Undersea Volcano.</span></div><div><span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Fun fact about Paddi Edwards, she also dubbed over Slavitza Jovan as the voice of Gozer in the late Ivan Reitman's 1984 movie classic </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Ghostbusters</i><b>, </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">amazing</u><b>! </b>👻 <b>I never knew that until very recently</b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0YqYAgrnu2ZshnatttSsv-bpN4U14CLI5JgVRKkF875HUFTvZH2mxSSoe4fpvXInBWMhL4XhD8HoKHFwdfa1fAeMULEgm1KEOc_w5zTxizhvGHi_GH4giFHSiXsZCCSjgDTITzPfUdhXVkXFSiPG3hSqBMhx-g6Qg8173VZRFvUurUCEI61W6jOj8w/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-FishUncovered.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0YqYAgrnu2ZshnatttSsv-bpN4U14CLI5JgVRKkF875HUFTvZH2mxSSoe4fpvXInBWMhL4XhD8HoKHFwdfa1fAeMULEgm1KEOc_w5zTxizhvGHi_GH4giFHSiXsZCCSjgDTITzPfUdhXVkXFSiPG3hSqBMhx-g6Qg8173VZRFvUurUCEI61W6jOj8w/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-FishUncovered.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhoJu8khXlV1T-GBEKcw7o6Qfee2QQvzBs-UEBEBZFECKGYAXS3MwvjO3nVlhJ4OGTsjtOUPymVfOb2LsW2h5Y9IXNeqsLfmNLz5ApMOLLICFdKS5Jz-lveEst9h5nj4r95-Vfuip-0av5Ry1_csy9vtW5DPcdmVq565x8sTJZPTJMBsE3EwaZ7mKRA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Flotsam+Jetsam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhoJu8khXlV1T-GBEKcw7o6Qfee2QQvzBs-UEBEBZFECKGYAXS3MwvjO3nVlhJ4OGTsjtOUPymVfOb2LsW2h5Y9IXNeqsLfmNLz5ApMOLLICFdKS5Jz-lveEst9h5nj4r95-Vfuip-0av5Ry1_csy9vtW5DPcdmVq565x8sTJZPTJMBsE3EwaZ7mKRA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Flotsam+Jetsam.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: *gasp* It was an ordinary fish all along! | Right: Wait for the crabs to move to then encase them in bubbles so you can toss them towards Flotsam and Jetsam</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">At the beginning, ending, and in-between stages are well-drawn cutscenes which do a good job of advancing the story (static though the images may be) and capture the essence of both Ariel and Eric,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1euLLXwFgJPZ5mYkJqpy_X00tRELpTahSEd8EP9Si3kI3fVv-o9DnLw-R6UMwa9FDy_6l3h6XF4wkbHnvS0WgNqrx25gbBjNjhX7RrHczGsPkRL0XmgMogPlIGFUMtvwA54Q2LINtjFccJbpupasUs1I53PEWjBVLVL0RFn2jG_fsFZ0immR_1P4AzA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Sebastian+Flounder+Scuttle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1euLLXwFgJPZ5mYkJqpy_X00tRELpTahSEd8EP9Si3kI3fVv-o9DnLw-R6UMwa9FDy_6l3h6XF4wkbHnvS0WgNqrx25gbBjNjhX7RrHczGsPkRL0XmgMogPlIGFUMtvwA54Q2LINtjFccJbpupasUs1I53PEWjBVLVL0RFn2jG_fsFZ0immR_1P4AzA/w200-h93/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Sebastian+Flounder+Scuttle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRyf0iWPkCZ-qH6QXi19RIqD6Rbz4mTNewHrWJfgD7QryAIqT8hrW0JlE2VbpoTquLIHm72VHNZh43kHXwtql4ygAg5WG5hNI04drMo-Y4blFPmIeKpkk5nC8Mc_zOTnMcQEiTaNa1OZXWQAbD2vi4aeCnnhXYANjoVq1d2_dP_4F5VbV0c1VluzRQw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-KingTriton.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRyf0iWPkCZ-qH6QXi19RIqD6Rbz4mTNewHrWJfgD7QryAIqT8hrW0JlE2VbpoTquLIHm72VHNZh43kHXwtql4ygAg5WG5hNI04drMo-Y4blFPmIeKpkk5nC8Mc_zOTnMcQEiTaNa1OZXWQAbD2vi4aeCnnhXYANjoVq1d2_dP_4F5VbV0c1VluzRQw/w200-h93/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-KingTriton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">the tropical fish and Ariel's best friend Flounder (voiced by Jason Marin), the Jamaican crab Horatio Thelonious Ignatius Crustaceous Sebastian (voiced and sung by the late Samuel E. Wright, RIP), the seagull Scuttle (who only appears once, voiced by the late Buddy Hackett, RIP), Ursula, and during the ending King Triton. The title screen even does a good job at recreating the late John Alvin's iconic mermaid silhouette sitting on a rock in front of the moon design featured in the movie's 1989 theatrical poster.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSLTxjFDfwZ4cXTxl9bWV10kUh_CSTRHUpumarqwkM9hjYBRVpL3N5gVAhmJ3k19j_UG_NxtVPomZ8pwXVUpYDc1v30vSx3c4pv4W-DXIxFdhihV6op5eCYAPuPEmiJudMDYuO1nCklwBhi9ERh2fs8WjRa8nPqjTHlnBEPkM92Q4fG3fAZZS9npe_g/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SeaOfIce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSLTxjFDfwZ4cXTxl9bWV10kUh_CSTRHUpumarqwkM9hjYBRVpL3N5gVAhmJ3k19j_UG_NxtVPomZ8pwXVUpYDc1v30vSx3c4pv4W-DXIxFdhihV6op5eCYAPuPEmiJudMDYuO1nCklwBhi9ERh2fs8WjRa8nPqjTHlnBEPkM92Q4fG3fAZZS9npe_g/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SeaOfIce.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfkDAQ9P7KLqaVQOX2CJjZZJUM5iBs3TDo9p0iMZx8VCmWBkGh_HNWog7S5HMPTDYpb-iiu05p7_2oB6FowN0eArmfjugu9xy_ohfsEbRmo6w_BFeg5tqQKiCkmk86cwe6NQsahk7bA02sxaDebEWpYGL6t7fYWfSai8vr9H6JurPQgtD_Hy1e5hjhg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-IceCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfkDAQ9P7KLqaVQOX2CJjZZJUM5iBs3TDo9p0iMZx8VCmWBkGh_HNWog7S5HMPTDYpb-iiu05p7_2oB6FowN0eArmfjugu9xy_ohfsEbRmo6w_BFeg5tqQKiCkmk86cwe6NQsahk7bA02sxaDebEWpYGL6t7fYWfSai8vr9H6JurPQgtD_Hy1e5hjhg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-IceCave.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Sea of Ice | Right: Swimming inside a frigid cavern, Ariel must be <u>freezing</u> right now </b>🥶</span></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">The movie's music was composed by Alan Menken with the songs written by the late Howard Ashman, both of whom were hired by Disney following the success of <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i>, featuring classic songs like "Part of Your World", "Under the Sea", "Poor Unfortunate Souls", and "Kiss the Girl". <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> won two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Score (deservedly so, it is iconic and memorable) and the other for Best Original Song "Under the Sea" sung by Wright (</span><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">though I personally always liked "Part of Your World" more, </span><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">I can't deny that "Under the Sea" is super catchy and upbeat). Ashman played a vital part as both the film's producer and songwriter and was highly instrumental to the movie's contemporary success, for he was the man who gave the mermaid her voice and a genie his friend. He would also write songs for <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> and <i>Disney's Aladdin</i> but sadly passed away in 1991 at the age of 40 before either film was released. 😔 Rest in peace, legend.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLsHDeeJfsRs2XImKfoAnfCKQ6Z7jVt8on0SurJCUxLrAP4bZ_dmWLQCAT9seLRKN3kMinypHX14uvBWFGM7gQHXA5ODEMBAPPOq8H1SM8gBtsOW6CXTYU_ePwfgb95b0RhWmBWheJTqJt8X_K53MjI-cXFJocSFRp7rxougrkWooD0XmMUtVuMhS7w/s244/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MovieSet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLsHDeeJfsRs2XImKfoAnfCKQ6Z7jVt8on0SurJCUxLrAP4bZ_dmWLQCAT9seLRKN3kMinypHX14uvBWFGM7gQHXA5ODEMBAPPOq8H1SM8gBtsOW6CXTYU_ePwfgb95b0RhWmBWheJTqJt8X_K53MjI-cXFJocSFRp7rxougrkWooD0XmMUtVuMhS7w/w200-h159/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MovieSet.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvLzyNBL2ekythQP11v4l9oL86ICux_CqLpMIJP-Q1eybo5Nqk2xufFOwVaRL7sK1Og-0OMz3sIXV29bAv1L_W2bw35-jFomB2JJ106d9DpRxgrv2cTSI1GcAPUECVWgG9pcr7nzQVvitDE3o-4gFm9ws7qr-B3mm9kSwadfIUrcipiyqhY-YfiwpDQ/s244/DisneysDarkwingDuck_Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvLzyNBL2ekythQP11v4l9oL86ICux_CqLpMIJP-Q1eybo5Nqk2xufFOwVaRL7sK1Og-0OMz3sIXV29bAv1L_W2bw35-jFomB2JJ106d9DpRxgrv2cTSI1GcAPUECVWgG9pcr7nzQVvitDE3o-4gFm9ws7qr-B3mm9kSwadfIUrcipiyqhY-YfiwpDQ/w200-h159/DisneysDarkwingDuck_Forest.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">For the Nintendo 8-bit console adaptation the music was composed by Yasuaki Fujita who also provided the music to Capcom's Game Boy adaptation of Robert Zemeckis' </span><i style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/04/who-framed-roger-rabbit-gb-review.html">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</a></i><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> (which was also produced by Stephan L. Butler) as well as their video game adaptation of the beloved animated series </span><i style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Disney's Darkwing Duck</i><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMmOlBhF0YkjzI4SsD53JAGf-ATgF92X0xMdeMMLAnaQRb7Cmw2vvJW4A1An-C8R3X0YNJP7co03BccHQe_oZPz6P_tNgItwaSFGRQvNfUKWKOBJUsV2BhcTVGPkJ1uq0R3fS9o3X8yc5c4w7HDDjjwA6k8IWQ8nNEXAJXkqPIHQvVUJtT5s5bJD0Dg/s389/Gdleen_Ryun+Fana.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMmOlBhF0YkjzI4SsD53JAGf-ATgF92X0xMdeMMLAnaQRb7Cmw2vvJW4A1An-C8R3X0YNJP7co03BccHQe_oZPz6P_tNgItwaSFGRQvNfUKWKOBJUsV2BhcTVGPkJ1uq0R3fS9o3X8yc5c4w7HDDjjwA6k8IWQ8nNEXAJXkqPIHQvVUJtT5s5bJD0Dg/w200-h155/Gdleen_Ryun+Fana.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWHtp5Fdp-pxa5N1mUKwcA0TQc_Fh-HDjpOOl_uV3XMrB5XpjRZ1-9R3hTgH3zeixlCCGLyy6IYYOXrieeMYGOD1dKa6Q01Yi5gakng8tSHq_2LuCX5Ce2-FFgUElNu_u_DDz03rNBGRK8mxRkHwFO2nKRMTiJZ7HBOxBvu4MGKAEsyiPqKB9Sf5hg/s377/TekkenAdvance_PaulVsLaw.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="377" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOWHtp5Fdp-pxa5N1mUKwcA0TQc_Fh-HDjpOOl_uV3XMrB5XpjRZ1-9R3hTgH3zeixlCCGLyy6IYYOXrieeMYGOD1dKa6Q01Yi5gakng8tSHq_2LuCX5Ce2-FFgUElNu_u_DDz03rNBGRK8mxRkHwFO2nKRMTiJZ7HBOxBvu4MGKAEsyiPqKB9Sf5hg/w200-h137/TekkenAdvance_PaulVsLaw.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Converting Yasuaki's music to Game Boy format, however, was Hitoshi Sakimoto who also composed music for Opera House's Game Boy port of ERE Informatique's <i>Bubble Ghost</i> and their Sega 16-bit port of Data East's <i>Midnight Resistance</i>, the Super Famicom's first turn-based RPG in the form of Jorudan's licensed <i>Gdleen</i>, Quest's <i>Magical Chase</i> as well as their <i>Ogre Battle</i>/<i>Tactics Ogre</i> franchise, Square's <i>Final Fantasy Tactics</i> franchise, Treasure's <i>Radiant Silvergun</i>, Prokion's <i>Legaia 2: Duel Saga</i>, and Eighting's <i>Tekken Advance</i>, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNoj0RIhAXb6XoIZOZWe4HFotoUE330f8GwNWecB5Izjwjkw88H8ewyAPdctV8PPowvkfmOLbvaM2cDZuAtp5cEfa09afEEL9TFwrwhuksXfAGdSlGg8TxqkVGCSWSZ2ArscWFggApisegGKviCwHcSCDSX7Go9kSDorMkJExM1g52cnCU684H38RHw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SecretAlcove.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNoj0RIhAXb6XoIZOZWe4HFotoUE330f8GwNWecB5Izjwjkw88H8ewyAPdctV8PPowvkfmOLbvaM2cDZuAtp5cEfa09afEEL9TFwrwhuksXfAGdSlGg8TxqkVGCSWSZ2ArscWFggApisegGKviCwHcSCDSX7Go9kSDorMkJExM1g52cnCU684H38RHw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SecretAlcove.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswVQQYEC9wiVSTT4Ow6yhRg4PgEThElRynLZFFzmNCQ6NfLje4IE35TszDPIhJap5x6D2FsHZ5TbAjt7Zzp9l04lCrUgDERYKxg1t6oY6wpYcC4Oi6EKIi9beLyQsH3_bfss3yGacIWntp3AY8qI2BRb_eYLvQ29e34dXjWISpwE-DXS6CgyUGYgE0w/s244/DisneysTheLIttleMermaid_GameBoy-Dinglehopper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswVQQYEC9wiVSTT4Ow6yhRg4PgEThElRynLZFFzmNCQ6NfLje4IE35TszDPIhJap5x6D2FsHZ5TbAjt7Zzp9l04lCrUgDERYKxg1t6oY6wpYcC4Oi6EKIi9beLyQsH3_bfss3yGacIWntp3AY8qI2BRb_eYLvQ29e34dXjWISpwE-DXS6CgyUGYgE0w/w200-h159/DisneysTheLIttleMermaid_GameBoy-Dinglehopper.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: A helpful chest situated inside a secret alcove | Right: Just found a dinglehopper</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">The Game Boy soundtrack, while different than Alan Menken's musical stylings, is endearing in its own right and complements the different parts of the sea that you swim through very well suiting their atmosphere. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=180s" style="font-family: georgia;">Sea of Coral's theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> at the beginning of the game has got a bouncy and energetic melody, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=360s" style="font-family: georgia;">Sunken Ship's theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> is fun-sounding in terms of how atmospheric it is, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=540s" style="font-family: georgia;">Sea of Ice's theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> is likably fast-paced and occasionally soothing, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=720s" style="font-family: georgia;">Undersea Volcano's theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> has got a very nice melody, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=900s" style="font-family: georgia;">Ursula's Castle's theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> has got a fun beat while also subtly foreshadowing your encounter with the sea witch. The </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=1080s" style="font-family: georgia;">normal boss theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> sounds relentlessly hectic and the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=1260s" style="font-family: georgia;">final boss theme</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> as you face off against a gigantic Ursula is appropriately intense.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vAA7hitYu8ljqGohi6fB9ovLIBlQFUgNJ-itUXtAdtRY8sm_v7r_C629w9eEzGW2h0UEbrglFcswLrK_7j_qN3KVNj3fFLZb-VuGnJaLymV5fetyWRVlCc2TRzufKuRmQRsuBDqgLqLMaxs0X9PUaLNpaHwERyuAgZ5ckIwmV2P9zFXpfKnfay9i4A/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SlipperyIce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vAA7hitYu8ljqGohi6fB9ovLIBlQFUgNJ-itUXtAdtRY8sm_v7r_C629w9eEzGW2h0UEbrglFcswLrK_7j_qN3KVNj3fFLZb-VuGnJaLymV5fetyWRVlCc2TRzufKuRmQRsuBDqgLqLMaxs0X9PUaLNpaHwERyuAgZ5ckIwmV2P9zFXpfKnfay9i4A/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-SlipperyIce.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SkHxfBErNLvWhs5iO4r7tlMr33KLsD62MZlOmCNolKM2LSxbWaA_2QfN_JoEzt-SKH2w1CBdjpegNemGnkPBiiXrK5CvKjLfCYBUVSVSEgWNHXkweTwVBUVJVadNYDat7LLp3Y4McBfTcVX4n6xL1PjH6PIbtwwM-6NG7Pd9wkP5ZnqFpkagNPD1Mw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SkHxfBErNLvWhs5iO4r7tlMr33KLsD62MZlOmCNolKM2LSxbWaA_2QfN_JoEzt-SKH2w1CBdjpegNemGnkPBiiXrK5CvKjLfCYBUVSVSEgWNHXkweTwVBUVJVadNYDat7LLp3Y4McBfTcVX4n6xL1PjH6PIbtwwM-6NG7Pd9wkP5ZnqFpkagNPD1Mw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shell.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: On top of jumping across the platform when outside the water, you must slide across should the ground be icy | Right: Carrying a shell that could potentially be flipped on the other side of that wall</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">The only song lifted from the movie is </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbhrqpkAcU&t=0s" style="font-family: georgia;">"Under the Sea"</a><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> which is used during the title and ending which sounds fine, but Sakimoto's rendition has got an uncharacteristically slower tempo, sounds incomplete and loops itself at the start of the chorus portion. I'm not sure what happened, it's noticeably different compared to Yasuaki Fujita's rendition on the Nintendo console version where he at least captured the upbeat tempo and converted the whole song. The sound effects are well-selected, like the brush sound for when Ariel flips her fishtail on the sand, the sound for when enemy fish get encased inside a bubble, and I even recognized the life gain sound effect from Capcom's </span><i style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Rockman</i><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Mega Man</i><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"> franchise for when Ariel gathers the mermaid figurine.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPNkfkVH5wp00oNIsEuw6ucc5eY25MSiTFzfnXO1ZF6LVlI9g_l93_ppC_y0CA11JRjtgBIMu5jMkv2lVMoSRpzbtgSKVm6H39Np_hvLIuiQSgjrIeY-nTSpLzCk2txHt74TqZEntECYLmnxUBnlC3VyI7PFycTsOXCnsC0Z1Cc-H1Dnbkkt2TEdbIQ/s514/ArielTheLittleMermaid_SunkenShips.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="514" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPNkfkVH5wp00oNIsEuw6ucc5eY25MSiTFzfnXO1ZF6LVlI9g_l93_ppC_y0CA11JRjtgBIMu5jMkv2lVMoSRpzbtgSKVm6H39Np_hvLIuiQSgjrIeY-nTSpLzCk2txHt74TqZEntECYLmnxUBnlC3VyI7PFycTsOXCnsC0Z1Cc-H1Dnbkkt2TEdbIQ/w200-h140/ArielTheLittleMermaid_SunkenShips.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcT07b5912YY17UphRHmzpYLjMMXZ5OeiFwaSDD7U8YCL_fEHrSUvdkGbzKj4i0kHJeHh5e-xMOs71vx-CY2C9dtCniAsRCs-Ryk6sIgownF-tUEe1aAWejIhtoO78FZYuz5NirnlcEvnHqM_oaZSO-ths2GzhkGnsLWbi_DwllBG9hq3n3mL_fYtuQ/s514/ArielTheLittleMermaid_Atlantis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="514" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcT07b5912YY17UphRHmzpYLjMMXZ5OeiFwaSDD7U8YCL_fEHrSUvdkGbzKj4i0kHJeHh5e-xMOs71vx-CY2C9dtCniAsRCs-Ryk6sIgownF-tUEe1aAWejIhtoO78FZYuz5NirnlcEvnHqM_oaZSO-ths2GzhkGnsLWbi_DwllBG9hq3n3mL_fYtuQ/w200-h140/ArielTheLittleMermaid_Atlantis.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching World of Longplays' <i>Disney's Ariel: The Little Mermaid</i> MegaDrive gameplay video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Sega fans and gamers were not left out when it came to Disney's animated classic, for Sega would release <i>Disney's Ariel the Little Mermaid</i> in 1992 on the MegaDrive/Genesis console and Game Gear with the Sega Master System version released in South America by Tec Toy. Developed by BlueSky Software of <i>Ninja Golf</i> and <i>VectorMan</i> fame, this game had you play as either Ariel or King Triton as you must search for and liberate all the merfolk that had been turned into sea polyps by Ursula using her voice or his powerful trident to do so as well subduing any obstacle in their path in a maze-like structure. Unlike Capcom's Nintendo adaptation, the Sega take was largely met with mixed to poor reviews with it being unfavorably likened to Novotrade's <i>Ecco the Dolphin</i> with the eight-way underwater controls minus the solid gameplay, difficulty, and sense of intrigue that gave the aforementioned franchise its appeal.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QjkeMCz9mNLTmOlr6Q0gvElzrZutWQ9wXeyQxXoh20AGP7VLptX7cxVkKZ8Xcd8pg45gyMbfUh-YcS_foKAZxYXpV6Oz8G069W_ZRPRRPKSqv87LFRNPnm9imwTkA9iuR26zdDpzfumR-QLvVCMVlp1exhcTl-ywKd5iVQYVZ_4DOtD-TTqwBiuvhQ/s480/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-SeaOfCoral.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QjkeMCz9mNLTmOlr6Q0gvElzrZutWQ9wXeyQxXoh20AGP7VLptX7cxVkKZ8Xcd8pg45gyMbfUh-YcS_foKAZxYXpV6Oz8G069W_ZRPRRPKSqv87LFRNPnm9imwTkA9iuR26zdDpzfumR-QLvVCMVlp1exhcTl-ywKd5iVQYVZ_4DOtD-TTqwBiuvhQ/w200-h150/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-SeaOfCoral.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTISWALZK8sOaZW7xlC8ZLTJ0rZ1b1hA8DFlZhtyi5ofP_y5qxSSInrVB8TfZDtwEvTjChQgQGmxLC_7u3ZjCY2v3lLFS25ui9JXH9sZHKaaSHav1tvhAlj_cMyo9fXrU36nJ5GNaTXoI8ZCO26SwfSIsHbtUaaZQiK-uI9Jw47dSrOkQpdk2Nt_GrJA/s480/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-SunkenShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTISWALZK8sOaZW7xlC8ZLTJ0rZ1b1hA8DFlZhtyi5ofP_y5qxSSInrVB8TfZDtwEvTjChQgQGmxLC_7u3ZjCY2v3lLFS25ui9JXH9sZHKaaSHav1tvhAlj_cMyo9fXrU36nJ5GNaTXoI8ZCO26SwfSIsHbtUaaZQiK-uI9Jw47dSrOkQpdk2Nt_GrJA/w200-h150/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_NES-SunkenShip.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching World of Longplays' <i>The Little Mermaid</i> NES gameplay video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">One time during the Summer of 1998* when my family and I were visiting relatives in the New England region I played on the NES console at my cousin Kara's house, whom I remembered had Nintendo's <i>Super Mario Bros.</i> (making it my first time playing that game in its native 8-bit format after my introduction to the portly plumber's classic console entries via Nintendo's <i>Super Mario All-Stars</i> on the SNES). Another game I played was <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i>, I liked the movie growing up and what handful of episodes I watched of the series on VHS, and I recall only making it up to the early part of the second stage--either it was getting late and it was time to go or I lost my last life and decided to try another NES game, but either way, that was the farthest I remember getting when I played it as a seven year-old child. It was the only time I played the Nintendo console version.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* I can only approximate that <u>that</u> was when I played it because the Game Boy copy I own has got Nintendo's Players Choice ribbon on the cart sticker (and that edition came out in 1997, though I'm not sure what <u>part</u> of 1997 which is why I hesitate to say I played it <u>that</u> year)</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0qW_qZkHGXbbdgr1gB9ixWFTzs3Mefpd1XWkIQ3jvnnQbif77UnIOiHdSybw4mCfHzJ95PePPd8r5oDlSARw56HziFvk30E5ywKkY_tdMdqWmovfda0CAHcgqelDUE-btN3BssduIJj_5LzOGfpoaXxTYJeORL89XNMYdkYnQ6pO8osYO6I3U2rPhw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Walrus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0qW_qZkHGXbbdgr1gB9ixWFTzs3Mefpd1XWkIQ3jvnnQbif77UnIOiHdSybw4mCfHzJ95PePPd8r5oDlSARw56HziFvk30E5ywKkY_tdMdqWmovfda0CAHcgqelDUE-btN3BssduIJj_5LzOGfpoaXxTYJeORL89XNMYdkYnQ6pO8osYO6I3U2rPhw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Walrus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIzuGoIJEG5IvzKP4dg1spd5G4NKbn8IbV7vaHTMTNmvtXwbcq7Hs8SryoJsh6lXTungGmLnB1_aEDgy_bsmRWmyza6SyXpQr-cK1eVCJMZ_4NiUvCjOPpORX6wJFNm5MtxOAFJUK0IHy7k4khQ2c3mbl1ijYZt_i1P6NUDdBC3tjpWMzn23meg9Mlg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-UnderseaVolcano.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIzuGoIJEG5IvzKP4dg1spd5G4NKbn8IbV7vaHTMTNmvtXwbcq7Hs8SryoJsh6lXTungGmLnB1_aEDgy_bsmRWmyza6SyXpQr-cK1eVCJMZ_4NiUvCjOPpORX6wJFNm5MtxOAFJUK0IHy7k4khQ2c3mbl1ijYZt_i1P6NUDdBC3tjpWMzn23meg9Mlg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-UnderseaVolcano.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Kind of odd that you must battle a walrus, but hey, it's a fun battle anyway | Right: Careful not to get touched by the undersea volcano's heated activity</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">That same Summer my family and I went to a retail store one time and over by the game section I saw <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> for the Game Boy, I asked my parents if I could have it and they said "yes". I didn't own an NES console at the time, but I <b>did</b> own a Game Boy handheld system which me and all my cousins grew up on (even those who owned the Sega Genesis console), so this was perfect as I would get to play the game on the go. Thinking back on it, though, the <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> video game was my earliest exposure to all things Capcom. As a child my experience with Capcom games was limited at best, only when I became a teenager onward would I catch up with more Capcom fare.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJf_Ko6yN_YNpq-05SKZE0zbwPpcSJmhEoUeoTHLcb9sTU-1eD66FOSDDnmikOl_a8IzWwjSkNoncXCR7eQ3gL7ybSs6JZdGVTRUF-2dar9o_9htnHZZncZCbP8W3AqMzoYJYNn1YTYROIophTaDgwCsNF6WaltDPBQplAx_bC4tz6_RhHTT_ry_Osg/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Citharichthys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJf_Ko6yN_YNpq-05SKZE0zbwPpcSJmhEoUeoTHLcb9sTU-1eD66FOSDDnmikOl_a8IzWwjSkNoncXCR7eQ3gL7ybSs6JZdGVTRUF-2dar9o_9htnHZZncZCbP8W3AqMzoYJYNn1YTYROIophTaDgwCsNF6WaltDPBQplAx_bC4tz6_RhHTT_ry_Osg/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Citharichthys.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-RY5a61Q20oxToudnKVItQxVf8EqnbY16YUSz-L1XXpfTYggqKVkT3bTiihShZ39v_D2NdGofPEfAdLJU4zRlvMNeMnvXHNUvNJ3b_gmlh-wyjK3AvNs9VDBhf23vD3e0zAYpOxqVPdAmFiYKngD_49To_wY6u-mCNdeOElxwfLI1CJ5awgKDoIyQw/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shrimp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-RY5a61Q20oxToudnKVItQxVf8EqnbY16YUSz-L1XXpfTYggqKVkT3bTiihShZ39v_D2NdGofPEfAdLJU4zRlvMNeMnvXHNUvNJ3b_gmlh-wyjK3AvNs9VDBhf23vD3e0zAYpOxqVPdAmFiYKngD_49To_wY6u-mCNdeOElxwfLI1CJ5awgKDoIyQw/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Shrimp.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Citharichthys</i><b> | Right: </b>🦐</span></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> is a likable video game license on the Game Boy, I think Capcom did the movie license proud even with the liberties they have taken with it (adding an icy environment with a walrus battle and an undersea volcano with a captain seahorse to contend with), and of course the ability to swim around in any inch of the water is fun. There is a nuanced gameplay design which I've grown to appreciate over time, with Ariel starting off with the weakest bubble attack that doesn't go very far to gradually accruing a better sense of potency and range with her fishtail attack (and should you lose your last heart at any point, you're back at square one).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkpchQozB0NfRMQa1KJExbzdi_tf6SQptqHtSbWUzuQg_xv3rw0JX0VrKKjZWZgvFnjMjLySfo0sRYDpGBnlcfzsFb5qDDzOo1ej7o2x6J7SelsEk-Nl1cgS8_gFGw6iZY8BZWKN1FA3PJZpOfWc0_CmmVWLDJZLueltOQvNGQ8STlsJ3D5nQrcXpaQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-HermitCrab.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkpchQozB0NfRMQa1KJExbzdi_tf6SQptqHtSbWUzuQg_xv3rw0JX0VrKKjZWZgvFnjMjLySfo0sRYDpGBnlcfzsFb5qDDzOo1ej7o2x6J7SelsEk-Nl1cgS8_gFGw6iZY8BZWKN1FA3PJZpOfWc0_CmmVWLDJZLueltOQvNGQ8STlsJ3D5nQrcXpaQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-HermitCrab.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4E4Wny6U_Sf5ToUsANlO75z6qBilzgkkNPJuT-2uBWjFd4cyTnN7bt8_dK89DoP--ZIFhYHTrh7vklWyLETBQn-pwjjvDOywd7owMBTe3tFuAmNEM3QHU7gaSLyMkCD18SlrsLnPwkkwJAlp0FWdWObhzBJP_B6QQkq-S917bqphSsXARfC_OmPi7w/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-CaptainSeahorse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4E4Wny6U_Sf5ToUsANlO75z6qBilzgkkNPJuT-2uBWjFd4cyTnN7bt8_dK89DoP--ZIFhYHTrh7vklWyLETBQn-pwjjvDOywd7owMBTe3tFuAmNEM3QHU7gaSLyMkCD18SlrsLnPwkkwJAlp0FWdWObhzBJP_B6QQkq-S917bqphSsXARfC_OmPi7w/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-CaptainSeahorse.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: A hermit crab hiding underneath a knight's helmet | Right: Captain Seahorse</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Even if the difficulty is generally very easy, it is fun to swim through these areas and I like that Capcom cobbled up a collection of secrets inside particular square gaps if you tossed a bubbled fish or shell towards it, and I like how grainy the sand looks especially as flipping Ariel's fishtail while on top of it might reveal a helpful item or a shell. It's not completely mandatory, but I do appreciate that it is there as it adds a bit of a replay value to the proceedings. There is the occasional enemy respawn if you scrolled a bit to one side and then scrolled back to where you swam from, but you could use that to your advantage to bubble in another fish to toss <b>it</b> toward a gap you haven't thrown it at yet.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5HYG0ts5B4AwDbXcKp8Na-Kn4gbcw09XIB_AHYcelndz8JJzqlZbs7OHoq0QhlEs2SADss247fa8x8yx8Bd_kAJxfPadbpOgZFgSHP60KD3CQgNJSTATGwG55_eutS8ODgzkNtDFVaGxove5HjxmYVHA8AGz-G7lgb-WKS8d7XPU8p9XQ5DYM_HPNQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-CymathoaExigua.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5HYG0ts5B4AwDbXcKp8Na-Kn4gbcw09XIB_AHYcelndz8JJzqlZbs7OHoq0QhlEs2SADss247fa8x8yx8Bd_kAJxfPadbpOgZFgSHP60KD3CQgNJSTATGwG55_eutS8ODgzkNtDFVaGxove5HjxmYVHA8AGz-G7lgb-WKS8d7XPU8p9XQ5DYM_HPNQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-CymathoaExigua.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpayV-owEaz1Prj5RKKJ9gmgCfHRhOQ5NDQXXyZGInnxhDl6Mi5FsEKbAcNGu19GX4TphSpoue4cn5nzWXrb6e_5PDWqXWUOIOCyq9NnDRJHbl2FRHYcJB7qvPdIGRC_Wo_pPV_EwokKylEWq46uAbnWlmvvhymF2ZDQJ3N3r6rU8CYviF-z9OLDtfcQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Door.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpayV-owEaz1Prj5RKKJ9gmgCfHRhOQ5NDQXXyZGInnxhDl6Mi5FsEKbAcNGu19GX4TphSpoue4cn5nzWXrb6e_5PDWqXWUOIOCyq9NnDRJHbl2FRHYcJB7qvPdIGRC_Wo_pPV_EwokKylEWq46uAbnWlmvvhymF2ZDQJ3N3r6rU8CYviF-z9OLDtfcQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Door.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: <i>Cymathoa exigua</i> | Right: Enter the door and emerge at a different part of the castle</span></b></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">I like this game's variety of scenarios and different obstacles to overcome, like carefully maneuvering yourself and cautiously swimming around raining starfish, waiting for the crabs to move so you can encase them in a bubble that way you can toss them at Flotsam and Jetsam should they emerge from inside the crack of the ship, jumping on and flopping yourself across a slippery ice platform, waiting for the shell to drop down so you can flip it towards the walrus, being careful with your surroundings regarding the <i>Citharichthys</i> popping up from within the sand, and going through a series of doors that will take you to different parts of Ursula's castle where only by taking the right one will you be taken to her.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu4kQbK3vW_aFMIhEuzf_1s-6ROkLgv3URYqsj16UEj22ASIMXj0PedNTdn8zUOqSuhbM1k6BKT-F5m-u3VyGmwfDVRYoGVfVBWtanK-OKbfnBM-rqOJ9jw5PqtDux4TxWUwhDXBjq5oDZAXy6UNI6NfyPlhXz_kxpwWR-o46W33QeSKmGH8lJ0FkiQ/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Seahorses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu4kQbK3vW_aFMIhEuzf_1s-6ROkLgv3URYqsj16UEj22ASIMXj0PedNTdn8zUOqSuhbM1k6BKT-F5m-u3VyGmwfDVRYoGVfVBWtanK-OKbfnBM-rqOJ9jw5PqtDux4TxWUwhDXBjq5oDZAXy6UNI6NfyPlhXz_kxpwWR-o46W33QeSKmGH8lJ0FkiQ/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Seahorses.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sXkBJxoaXKue6xDPpytAiKv8XJp4nnvtzJZPjcBLiF-dwueX9O_9bGtLx3SHRAimQmYARjqtb33FaWtjRR81Xevo_YTr4I0EXI84Wj3rLnSpx0IuAdW_HBGtUeG1dnSVbimy_7xKjUE96a0cJp2VnYaxXGOi47jIVX10T6GgdbyO7nCo5uTVAj33xA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Polyps.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sXkBJxoaXKue6xDPpytAiKv8XJp4nnvtzJZPjcBLiF-dwueX9O_9bGtLx3SHRAimQmYARjqtb33FaWtjRR81Xevo_YTr4I0EXI84Wj3rLnSpx0IuAdW_HBGtUeG1dnSVbimy_7xKjUE96a0cJp2VnYaxXGOi47jIVX10T6GgdbyO7nCo5uTVAj33xA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-Polyps.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Swimming up to a spot occupied by seahorses | Right: Polyps</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">At approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes, though, <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> is among the shortest Disney games that Capcom developed (not that Disney Capcom games are generally long anyway, but this was shorter than usual). When I was younger I was disappointed by the sheer brevity, and while it would have been nice if it was a bit longer, I've grown to appreciate its stronger aspects over time and overall consider it a fun Disney game to play once in a while, I even concede that because of its brevity it makes it easy to go back to whenever I've got a brief window of time. I grew up with a lot of Disney games on the Game Boy, and of the monochromatic Game Boy Disney games I played as a child, <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> was among the stronger ones in terms of quality.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTKJ3nRPey7REM3cfQYR7WM-GyP2rtproVNK58q_0oWLpjVHH4u0slL7fFgwwu_w-ItRkoUihTmCzzxG7e5Vf754J0TUBa8VSlycudAmOUffEytd_WwCZGBG55f0vA_LBvnlZzJRXXF5Z1MMH68aEetYicWMgf0ELd80GuDW6pHQBpe0nyWTyzvZDjg/s244/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Stupid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTKJ3nRPey7REM3cfQYR7WM-GyP2rtproVNK58q_0oWLpjVHH4u0slL7fFgwwu_w-ItRkoUihTmCzzxG7e5Vf754J0TUBa8VSlycudAmOUffEytd_WwCZGBG55f0vA_LBvnlZzJRXXF5Z1MMH68aEetYicWMgf0ELd80GuDW6pHQBpe0nyWTyzvZDjg/w200-h159/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Stupid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0BERCcXzodR-dRSsQCCKrvFhWi5tiF3y4og14W-yzwI2KX-0NqW4w5a6yB5ZTf5Vhh-6MjLnjlpmv_N8_1aZrj1XZcA7YvRrMNYuFi1rfsRzsnLS-JN7yta-LgToK0qhULZAovvdoKV4KmWfQOxFdvdXtEYkYR3VD-MpvmagAP16u6lP2pk-x6-cEg/s244/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Weasels.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0BERCcXzodR-dRSsQCCKrvFhWi5tiF3y4og14W-yzwI2KX-0NqW4w5a6yB5ZTf5Vhh-6MjLnjlpmv_N8_1aZrj1XZcA7YvRrMNYuFi1rfsRzsnLS-JN7yta-LgToK0qhULZAovvdoKV4KmWfQOxFdvdXtEYkYR3VD-MpvmagAP16u6lP2pk-x6-cEg/w200-h159/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Weasels.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">I did enjoy <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> on the Game Boy more even though I caught up with it later in life. It's different than the usual Disney sidescrolling fare by Capcom, emphasizing nonlinear exploration over action, but is enjoyably engrossing regardless and lives up to the spirit of Robert Zemeckis' 1988 classic.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6dSj6bDpw-dRUtrEQ_ioHZW_F89dpnMdA5_0LTpGg49vAROr9x0-Ngu2rhyR-NQUOl9eUrRprJgIZxA2Vyp07xwEDIG1Gg3fw2wjip5YJIpeVfxDXcKQIj7KwpAsaH0AOxZnsp1lFLvXfSrAvUqY2Gsc5sKSVDzr4cwn58_lNvIn9Y2eXbBkOd0h0Q/s390/DisneysAladdin_CaveOfWonders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="390" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6dSj6bDpw-dRUtrEQ_ioHZW_F89dpnMdA5_0LTpGg49vAROr9x0-Ngu2rhyR-NQUOl9eUrRprJgIZxA2Vyp07xwEDIG1Gg3fw2wjip5YJIpeVfxDXcKQIj7KwpAsaH0AOxZnsp1lFLvXfSrAvUqY2Gsc5sKSVDzr4cwn58_lNvIn9Y2eXbBkOd0h0Q/w200-h150/DisneysAladdin_CaveOfWonders.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lFggUUv_8SROIZnxVvIf4BxcYVgTRiYu_RbbtrDgCDN8aNeYiQAmLk8uBn4hzhcbOteYIANy4uEsul49o4cnNh6V6nkuzRyn5QElxvrEaAomBqEfPMfDvYhglk1dbEovATvOSaFKQEkfgnAksX9S_jSr6WPgX223982KA-rDgzDg2kVjwPrSiY8kLw/s390/DisneysAladdin_GeniesLamp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="390" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lFggUUv_8SROIZnxVvIf4BxcYVgTRiYu_RbbtrDgCDN8aNeYiQAmLk8uBn4hzhcbOteYIANy4uEsul49o4cnNh6V6nkuzRyn5QElxvrEaAomBqEfPMfDvYhglk1dbEovATvOSaFKQEkfgnAksX9S_jSr6WPgX223982KA-rDgzDg2kVjwPrSiY8kLw/w200-h150/DisneysAladdin_GeniesLamp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">Capcom's Nintendo 16-bit adaptation of <i>Disney's Aladdin</i> might be my most preferred of the three Disney Capcom movie licenses, it's an enjoyable game while it lasts every time even though I sometimes lament its sense of brevity. It's arguably the most beautiful-looking Disney Capcom game in existence with its sublime color palette, however, has got intuitively nimble and acrobatic controls, and sports an engaging soundtrack elevating its quality.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAixZWpe0cV2lW6OleZPkA4f1UPmI7XDTiHcgXaEAdJRbwDhepK8WT_GMTMdModtIyv0-vrD7P52EQDuUNyal0Q6kTjbpLAkT-MwLl3WLe0AMal_JCFDI6hSFRds4W2xIkN_xtbFkYxzdUHYjawzVXqS-WXacWELvZsfJ_RWzqqmFgzUZ2I0GXs2nuMA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-UrsulaBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAixZWpe0cV2lW6OleZPkA4f1UPmI7XDTiHcgXaEAdJRbwDhepK8WT_GMTMdModtIyv0-vrD7P52EQDuUNyal0Q6kTjbpLAkT-MwLl3WLe0AMal_JCFDI6hSFRds4W2xIkN_xtbFkYxzdUHYjawzVXqS-WXacWELvZsfJ_RWzqqmFgzUZ2I0GXs2nuMA/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-UrsulaBattle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOfBkrWYr8WyG5UQRIC3iQXLprmvJpE9_UI8FIg36iUIPGf7F64d_bhaHeu976ozNNWWYF8ue36rgtRQDj5pRfACWKbQVDldktdrHXlztObQ_bGHzuLPiMoYWIOTf3xLlreHOmwtIXmye6taZuf_5cy6hLXEDF8khcMkseqVcp4BvizJHHgtGoTYf8g/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-GiantUrsula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="244" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOfBkrWYr8WyG5UQRIC3iQXLprmvJpE9_UI8FIg36iUIPGf7F64d_bhaHeu976ozNNWWYF8ue36rgtRQDj5pRfACWKbQVDldktdrHXlztObQ_bGHzuLPiMoYWIOTf3xLlreHOmwtIXmye6taZuf_5cy6hLXEDF8khcMkseqVcp4BvizJHHgtGoTYf8g/w200-h159/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-GiantUrsula.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🎵<b> Poor unfortunate soul </b>🎵<b> | Right: "You poor insignificant fool!"</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;">If you can overlook how short the game is, <i>Disney's The Little Mermaid</i> is fun to play while it lasts and if you're curious how Capcom handled the license to the 1989 film I do recommend checking it out on the Game Boy (or base Nintendo 8-bit console format) should you own the handheld system whether you're a fan and/or enthusiast of the film or if you'd like to play a Disney Capcom game. It's nicely breezy fun when you feel like taking a break from more challenging games and Capcom's charm shines through, and now that I've gotten older and learned to appreciate the nuances of this game, I wouldn't have it any other way.</span></div><div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8Q-CfVB8Yvj53YaeW5rvtD4N1M2IayvcEUxrhx0dVfRGtHSO7al3-1gIIBagtPcX7PfqqV2wBnq0I6S61S-Gpm0IkSo7o4Uk87OQxidPWIic40LeXteU8O4SboF0xfAgKNF3Nj8l67ELlwhLqNXMDPHUTaQkJQ90zgDaxKcdze0D-T5VCo-HZjJUXA/s244/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-End.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="244" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8Q-CfVB8Yvj53YaeW5rvtD4N1M2IayvcEUxrhx0dVfRGtHSO7al3-1gIIBagtPcX7PfqqV2wBnq0I6S61S-Gpm0IkSo7o4Uk87OQxidPWIic40LeXteU8O4SboF0xfAgKNF3Nj8l67ELlwhLqNXMDPHUTaQkJQ90zgDaxKcdze0D-T5VCo-HZjJUXA/s1600/DisneysTheLittleMermaid_GameBoy-End.png" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 7.0/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0rXWy56Tt6Vee06-BOoZ_Ebk7v3rl_ck3O1evf8JzOQXU-Cjr376AZsZftf6FehlkHseV6LSYG1kk2CVBbu73m06B_19SD4FZyangmt2VzQX4OGwH3vLI57YPMguzYTwRjT4HsLOf97YtJH9oZaWA5lJY3edzSQGfcphTSX1iiaksIGJ8i8I8wMXkQ/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0rXWy56Tt6Vee06-BOoZ_Ebk7v3rl_ck3O1evf8JzOQXU-Cjr376AZsZftf6FehlkHseV6LSYG1kk2CVBbu73m06B_19SD4FZyangmt2VzQX4OGwH3vLI57YPMguzYTwRjT4HsLOf97YtJH9oZaWA5lJY3edzSQGfcphTSX1iiaksIGJ8i8I8wMXkQ/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I originally reviewed this game on my blog back in September 2013 and gave it a 6.5 out of 10, no link to that review however because I recently purged it (and it's not the only old review that I've deleted as I've taken off several recently), and to be honest, I feel it's better off this way. I do genuinely apologize if there were people who liked that review, but there was a low number of screenshots and wasn't tightly focused and I don't feel I articulated my feelings on the game well enough then (what I'm saying is: present day me could not look at it, my old reviews do not hold up), something I hope I rectified with <b>this</b> review.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● It's scary to think that the majority of the cast that lent their voice talents to the 1989 movie have since passed away (including Ben Wright pre-movie release, René Auberjonois, and frequent Don Bluth collaborator Will Ryan, RIP). 😟 Even scarier is learning that there was a point in production when "Part of Your World" was going to be <b>cut</b> from the movie after not appealing to the first test audience. 😲 I'm so glad they kept the song, I could not possibly imagine the movie without it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● During the weekend while it was free to watch on YouTube I got to watch John Carpenter's <i>In the Mouth of Madness</i>, the third and last film in the director's "Apocalypse Trilogy" which also comprised of <i>The Thing</i> (which I've seen) and <i>Prince of Darkness</i> (which I've not seen, though I'd like to watch it someday). I was gripped from beginning to end, it was very unsettling in terms of its themes (specifically how everyone has got a different perception of reality and how certain individuals' realities shape up how the world becomes, by which I mean there's a lot of insanity involved, or how a horror author's books hold enough power to render the reader insane), the movie <b>oozed</b> with creepy atmosphere made even more effective by Carpenter's and Jim Lang's music as well as the late Gary B. Kibbe's strong cinematography, ILM's special effects still hold up for 1994, it was great to see late screen legends David Warner and Charlton Heston, Hayden Christensen debuted here as a child, I read that it first made its debut in Italy (yay, <b>Italy</b>!), and Sam Neill (arguably) gave one of the most committed performances of his career which as a result made the movie compulsively watchable despite the disturbing story as he makes the gradual descent into madness (that final scene is <b>so</b> haunting). 😨 Real Lovecraftian horror, and one that makes you think. I think Neill is a great actor, I love his Alan Grant in the <i>Jurassic Park</i>/<i>Jurassic World</i> franchise and I did enjoy his villainous performance as Jenkins in Carpenter's <i>Memoirs of an Invisible Man</i> (he was likably unlikable but played it with such charisma) when I watched it last month. Of the three Carpenter flicks I caught up with on YouTube in the span of a month, my ranking is 3) <i>Memoirs</i>, 2) this movie, and 1) <i>Starman</i>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00edc6; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-25955752085378027472023-05-26T23:30:00.008-05:002023-07-15T21:24:17.814-05:00Whizz (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ae00ff;">🐰<b> Received: October 14th, 2022 </b>🐰<b> Written: May 23rd-26th, 2023 </b>🐰</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTryCM_02BJ8L1r4TV98OrHROrNkJcwJrJntLxX0oAqdnbH22EAX-SfIySPjjuTWBdOhQNUs8qFPGcrZJK1Fyj3TaPWXS-8pZTuK9TsdmSilDA9AVAHGDuNml4RmW_tZO99xcMzag7PIMU82TNtrTKY1iHqgHLvH-MDj_6WdxOX6RNFqlQQgwq8Rkbg/s301/Whizz_Saturn-Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTryCM_02BJ8L1r4TV98OrHROrNkJcwJrJntLxX0oAqdnbH22EAX-SfIySPjjuTWBdOhQNUs8qFPGcrZJK1Fyj3TaPWXS-8pZTuK9TsdmSilDA9AVAHGDuNml4RmW_tZO99xcMzag7PIMU82TNtrTKY1iHqgHLvH-MDj_6WdxOX6RNFqlQQgwq8Rkbg/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-Title.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-size: medium;">Year: 1996, 1997 | Developed by: Flair Software</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ae00ff;">Published by: Emotion Digital Software and B-Factory | </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span> <span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #ae00ff;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></span></span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. We are currently in the Year of the Rabbit.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosdE5I2_l69_JnaEp8FGlQZ1ONb_vrp7tgamiqZkUzgg9KxxtdJN8N0-upNeCONLSoQpD7SOO3kU-30lKrwK9agtzyTuqm01j2-lp_sz49b2m0FSh946xpW5W3HCkUiLIwmihdelEmjaQsV6kDtJhSTal_IZCQRMhuAYtS_RUDHFheIhoilPXm5pKFg/s383/FlairSoftware_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosdE5I2_l69_JnaEp8FGlQZ1ONb_vrp7tgamiqZkUzgg9KxxtdJN8N0-upNeCONLSoQpD7SOO3kU-30lKrwK9agtzyTuqm01j2-lp_sz49b2m0FSh946xpW5W3HCkUiLIwmihdelEmjaQsV6kDtJhSTal_IZCQRMhuAYtS_RUDHFheIhoilPXm5pKFg/s16000/FlairSoftware_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Following the bankruptcy of Colin Courtney's previous company Tynesoft Computer Software on June 1990 after seven years, he set up his new company <b>Flair Software</b> at Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-zUdYq1vNCSTaTjFsphkSbKty5cfcSicE-Ec1rZ7VYKd_-MzU85hwedXj30oYERGv6Dm7QH6boSaTkx4juXMJzLiE2YiYEhmgK-pRviY3mSsVXiEpdreoTc9nNKmnLxpRemEHZxRO6-V9xr8j98huGbG6gjqB1OIj14lWc33hI2ba0HUJhfqwSt1Qw/s505/ReachOutForGold_Archery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="505" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-zUdYq1vNCSTaTjFsphkSbKty5cfcSicE-Ec1rZ7VYKd_-MzU85hwedXj30oYERGv6Dm7QH6boSaTkx4juXMJzLiE2YiYEhmgK-pRviY3mSsVXiEpdreoTc9nNKmnLxpRemEHZxRO6-V9xr8j98huGbG6gjqB1OIj14lWc33hI2ba0HUJhfqwSt1Qw/w200-h125/ReachOutForGold_Archery.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F2WHt0VSXjmEzTKnOIl0sIRkVOaftMVMzKWjv4K_RjM-jzbqWH_HVRZWjw6Ua7lS41Z2uCWA5EbA-pHJL1n7bJRLoOsiRYUsfijH6dplEgzeF44Mg0jzABU2LTPrtDR2Duonny3IM9LKXsY_hn2Cv6-eNMDqCNt7-ocRvTHyEm2PVGdUqXsf6X5EBw/s505/Trolls_SchoolSupplies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="505" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F2WHt0VSXjmEzTKnOIl0sIRkVOaftMVMzKWjv4K_RjM-jzbqWH_HVRZWjw6Ua7lS41Z2uCWA5EbA-pHJL1n7bJRLoOsiRYUsfijH6dplEgzeF44Mg0jzABU2LTPrtDR2Duonny3IM9LKXsY_hn2Cv6-eNMDqCNt7-ocRvTHyEm2PVGdUqXsf6X5EBw/w200-h125/Trolls_SchoolSupplies.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching La Mazmorra Abandon's <i>Reach out for Gold</i> MS-DOS Longplay and conradtrout's <i>Trolls</i> DOS full gameplay videos respectively on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">During the British firm's tenure they developed games such as <i>Turn n' Burn</i>, <i>Euro Soccer</i>, <i>Oscar</i>, <i>Reach out for Gold</i>/<i>Summer Olympix</i>, <i>Realm</i>/<i>Alien Terminator</i>, and <i>Time Paradox</i> as well as licensed titles <i>Elvira: The Arcade Game</i> and <i>Trolls</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU1JdMqdP8CJ8u0TVuA2h1he4dkw25KKxGaxLyv0n_s7GQoporpOLWWNntwXuIxynOt5E_YiKJvJzm4lMkEP9Z69yX7sbTwDM8ms-9FJ7RYlpaoUZUmH0Gs5WTStqkik4lbkkGBCyU1mQs3z2xo-kfan6Zpir36WcaxOFMh6z2-67R7SHNlkwszsQkg/s505/RallyChampionships_Snow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="505" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwU1JdMqdP8CJ8u0TVuA2h1he4dkw25KKxGaxLyv0n_s7GQoporpOLWWNntwXuIxynOt5E_YiKJvJzm4lMkEP9Z69yX7sbTwDM8ms-9FJ7RYlpaoUZUmH0Gs5WTStqkik4lbkkGBCyU1mQs3z2xo-kfan6Zpir36WcaxOFMh6z2-67R7SHNlkwszsQkg/w200-h125/RallyChampionships_Snow.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pud8kNj7mkEXTzPvpeWOLPC9MDBn3uvyaxQQPipN5WaqN7zKqtOB6MkGkfXFVN65Va-9zppRd9PBzQhiAjQe0z_Hh50v1yotYDC4WakOs7UFjAaZo0fbBRsAX5Y1aa_MFa5swAZLluRFxhL-9gfADtrUsC04PI3kIZZJBnKvUHCsQWHkrqQtStI-vA/s425/DangerousStreets_LuisaVsSciosacapeli.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="425" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pud8kNj7mkEXTzPvpeWOLPC9MDBn3uvyaxQQPipN5WaqN7zKqtOB6MkGkfXFVN65Va-9zppRd9PBzQhiAjQe0z_Hh50v1yotYDC4WakOs7UFjAaZo0fbBRsAX5Y1aa_MFa5swAZLluRFxhL-9gfADtrUsC04PI3kIZZJBnKvUHCsQWHkrqQtStI-vA/w200-h169/DangerousStreets_LuisaVsSciosacapeli.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Back to the Retro Games' <i>Rally Championships</i> and World of Longplays' Amiga CD32 <i>Dangerous Streets</i> gameplay videos on YouTube respectively</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Alternatively, Flair Software also acted as publisher for other companies' games like Horror Soft's <i>Elvira</i> point-and-click graphic adventure games on the Commodore 64, Max Design GesMBH's <i>1869</i>, </span><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">InSide Team's </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Rally Championships</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">,</span><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> and Micromania Software's infamous tournament fighter <i>Dangerous Streets</i>*, the last of which was received so poorly in pretty much every category that it's been considered by many to be one of the worst games to come out of that genre.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I looked up that the game was made in my birth country Italy... </b>😩😭<b> I promise, I <u>promise</u> Italy has made more positive contributions to media than negative, I <u>promise</u>!</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOxoL9RWlnuih0KHRIN3iLyP2X_FABrADGWCB6zpLMKJmRAc5B5Nbty6aIr8vB-32zAiY49I_ayqqccN5VhFHx3QWoXH5bMB994zctAplwYUAhKcPdyR--xhx802mtBkssRCVnBxzSn6TaYR-4848ZXmpW13K6nrnoWqU5JLKHku1XiKqZ0NwsIb4iA/s431/Whizz_DOS-Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOxoL9RWlnuih0KHRIN3iLyP2X_FABrADGWCB6zpLMKJmRAc5B5Nbty6aIr8vB-32zAiY49I_ayqqccN5VhFHx3QWoXH5bMB994zctAplwYUAhKcPdyR--xhx802mtBkssRCVnBxzSn6TaYR-4848ZXmpW13K6nrnoWqU5JLKHku1XiKqZ0NwsIb4iA/s16000/Whizz_DOS-Slideshow.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed four times while watching Dosgamert's MS-DOS <i>Whizz</i> Longplay video on YouTube which I then converted to .gif slideshow format</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">One of the video games Flair Software developed was the rabbit-centric isometric action game </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><b>Whizz</b></i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> which was programmed by Phillip Scott, former Tynesoft graphic artist turned programmer, whose other programming credits consisted of the </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Ninja Rabbits</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> games for MicroValue, Hirographics' </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Demon Blue</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">, as well as Flair fare </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Elvira: The Arcade Game</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Oscar</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> just to name a few. Originally released on the MS-DOS computer in 1994 in Europe, it would also be converted to the Amiga and Amiga CD32 formats in 1995,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b8WoUcQbsZoJo1rQtNHlwSZ-Kcv6lsj_BU5pJGY-WQh4zfjl2FRG-b6j3jTJlUC2Yz446whqz6ubOK_SrpG89K6cv-BFab1iix1iBc9soPbRW6At0g1PP9-zFLD08XvAzsf6LQh0mdSVii3dnKf9SJHVWPTC8PKJvyudtErlyuJ6BrPMjbvMVUPmMA/s389/Whizz_SNES-IceStalactites.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b8WoUcQbsZoJo1rQtNHlwSZ-Kcv6lsj_BU5pJGY-WQh4zfjl2FRG-b6j3jTJlUC2Yz446whqz6ubOK_SrpG89K6cv-BFab1iix1iBc9soPbRW6At0g1PP9-zFLD08XvAzsf6LQh0mdSVii3dnKf9SJHVWPTC8PKJvyudtErlyuJ6BrPMjbvMVUPmMA/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-IceStalactites.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMX9X8pRVwxTWXuvGtMbruhXMYce63F2DyzURnMIMC5b-ypjok1G8HaEdK6JF8lgwLIkJ6HReL-haYpU2VTdhrALNfS23tkDJzXJdTiPb8QUNDI4AJ3qo3HDDIk3C4ahdezC7zx0R5cMy0dcHPBV7pLFTksnt5dAelJoTDYuHn6Tpu-j832NuiH8nrg/s389/Whizz_SNES-Snakes+Ladders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMX9X8pRVwxTWXuvGtMbruhXMYce63F2DyzURnMIMC5b-ypjok1G8HaEdK6JF8lgwLIkJ6HReL-haYpU2VTdhrALNfS23tkDJzXJdTiPb8QUNDI4AJ3qo3HDDIk3C4ahdezC7zx0R5cMy0dcHPBV7pLFTksnt5dAelJoTDYuHn6Tpu-j832NuiH8nrg/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-Snakes+Ladders.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">and even receive a 1996 SNES console port in both Europe and in North America courtesy of Titus Interactive. There were plans to even adapt <i>Whizz</i> to the Sega MegaDrive at the time, but it ended up never coming to fruition.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsR2uyVMorYI2DgpXbtBQEdKaghZq8GEmh7FAIGI4Rwe4fugf707l3xGy1DsXblWAAMGWIKrYNkhKfHc97YLizL2bEVQVXdPjthYUezvtnFaAURR5FXxHz2MuC109mdCYZyO3F7T4O8MwR8AiaZ-46m1lLovo9GOp7BJ5ZaU-iAiXUUXCDp30UbwCHQ/s272/Konami_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="231" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsR2uyVMorYI2DgpXbtBQEdKaghZq8GEmh7FAIGI4Rwe4fugf707l3xGy1DsXblWAAMGWIKrYNkhKfHc97YLizL2bEVQVXdPjthYUezvtnFaAURR5FXxHz2MuC109mdCYZyO3F7T4O8MwR8AiaZ-46m1lLovo9GOp7BJ5ZaU-iAiXUUXCDp30UbwCHQ/s1600/Konami_Logo.png" width="231" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><b>Konami</b>, who were aware of Flair Software's reputation and track record, stumbled across Titus' SNES port of <i>Whizz</i> and found themselves endeared by it. One thing led to another with Konami commissioning Flair Software to code their isometric rabbit game to the PlayStation One and the Sega Saturn consoles, making it the only venue from Flair Software to be given a 32-bit console treatment.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj1Pp11mAhPjDcAaAHrLXKwfrHIJgOJhc_j9VIa-vqVd3SZa-XlZBvpC7TA2U8ZcIpeu7c9NTaQ2U_ArHVms0e8rJVlW4t7u9jAeu47XHjCJzooXj2jCRQ3Q5gr4DyF2nYd68sE1oXiEFbmlEGLyrR6TEKxeGZx88rRmbrV1LxXLraaRb7kFI-bSTAg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj1Pp11mAhPjDcAaAHrLXKwfrHIJgOJhc_j9VIa-vqVd3SZa-XlZBvpC7TA2U8ZcIpeu7c9NTaQ2U_ArHVms0e8rJVlW4t7u9jAeu47XHjCJzooXj2jCRQ3Q5gr4DyF2nYd68sE1oXiEFbmlEGLyrR6TEKxeGZx88rRmbrV1LxXLraaRb7kFI-bSTAg/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Title.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">With </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> having enjoyed success on the MS-DOS, Amiga, and SNES, Konami figured it would perform just as fruitfully on the 32-bit consoles.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4blzNWQJa9ZgMz5BR-RaTcIs8QMVxlUOA8N_1dPaB-kWH9lCkcsG9HiqFFN-dQALo_SX2uSDimJi0R3AFmuXnEtpPGotx6B1CUiK4s-XmMszcnHd5aYTHW_oFJnH6MRGtUT0Xcy_qpAogJiID0vH0heDVkWsvnuRr2Ib4cqfLwXDZ1-89qYpPt1srw/s231/EmotionDigitalSoftware_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="231" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4blzNWQJa9ZgMz5BR-RaTcIs8QMVxlUOA8N_1dPaB-kWH9lCkcsG9HiqFFN-dQALo_SX2uSDimJi0R3AFmuXnEtpPGotx6B1CUiK4s-XmMszcnHd5aYTHW_oFJnH6MRGtUT0Xcy_qpAogJiID0vH0heDVkWsvnuRr2Ib4cqfLwXDZ1-89qYpPt1srw/s1600/EmotionDigitalSoftware_Logo.png" width="231" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKiIcX2iQJ6NUBTf0G8Tumo_nyPlsHLud_ypCyMusPcH-uqJ7YlvwMzUod7pgvt66Y_80oQeYXCEbb23QcIMyIsKTH4UsT4gXYv_NR2pkCnEivl0IgwKut4KK6BT69_-wsr_AdvRkTMtyGJfr2C_1lOcbhjppEOEe4McjtUsj68NJ-exvicO4eyc4lQ/s188/B-Factory_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="170" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKiIcX2iQJ6NUBTf0G8Tumo_nyPlsHLud_ypCyMusPcH-uqJ7YlvwMzUod7pgvt66Y_80oQeYXCEbb23QcIMyIsKTH4UsT4gXYv_NR2pkCnEivl0IgwKut4KK6BT69_-wsr_AdvRkTMtyGJfr2C_1lOcbhjppEOEe4McjtUsj68NJ-exvicO4eyc4lQ/s1600/B-Factory_Logo.png" width="170" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">What makes the 32-bit console ports of <i>Whizz</i> stand out is that they're the only versions to also see a release in Japan, let alone a Flair Software title. The Japanese versions would be handled by <b>Emotion Digital Software</b> and <b>B-Factory</b>, with the former's publishing venues comprised of Activision's <i>Return to Zork</i> on the PlayStation One and Sega Saturn, Quantum Factory's <i>MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat</i> on the PlayStation One and Sega Saturn, the PlayStation One version of Saru Brunei's <i>Jungle Park</i>, and KID Corp.'s Saturn-only <i>Hissatsu!</i>, while the latter published for the PlayStation One Aim at Entertainment's port of the Cyberdreams and Destiny Software Productions co-developed psychological horror point-and-click graphic adventure <i>Dark Seed II</i> and Viacom New Media's <i>MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head: Virtual Aho Shoukougun</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oBBVaG08jtIbxCt6Eh5uU4lm_PXdd-SP6FOfXF-NpIOmFeAepRgeZdHQFoYEsmhKtdpZkfsW4QPtQZMdRNshmB1aDc9XV3alQnlskz88VYw5YGpnlgFmbMXqOgFOIPoBhFe221tgijq7DbaLoL9fzr83CpaTkbO2rjkBN1oWHWi-vxNSlletlZ88ug/s982/Whizz_SaturnCover-PAL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oBBVaG08jtIbxCt6Eh5uU4lm_PXdd-SP6FOfXF-NpIOmFeAepRgeZdHQFoYEsmhKtdpZkfsW4QPtQZMdRNshmB1aDc9XV3alQnlskz88VYw5YGpnlgFmbMXqOgFOIPoBhFe221tgijq7DbaLoL9fzr83CpaTkbO2rjkBN1oWHWi-vxNSlletlZ88ug/w131-h200/Whizz_SaturnCover-PAL.png" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS5HSfyJ8MXXmf36NS9kNv4a3KGpuIYFCc-nh69ywuAGWg10xwow2Adw90Yxef06FVCCIxFd1oLvPu-RHfKZfj270luMehSd1u2fE-cbhNEfvNFgvpRM2-dmPajQTGLKaqTzb33zf_Eb0-p4LjDqjNxbZfvoHz3HV9uszyzwhtED9McJCfLg8jVfU6g/s1028/Whizz_SaturnCover-JP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS5HSfyJ8MXXmf36NS9kNv4a3KGpuIYFCc-nh69ywuAGWg10xwow2Adw90Yxef06FVCCIxFd1oLvPu-RHfKZfj270luMehSd1u2fE-cbhNEfvNFgvpRM2-dmPajQTGLKaqTzb33zf_Eb0-p4LjDqjNxbZfvoHz3HV9uszyzwhtED9McJCfLg8jVfU6g/w199-h200/Whizz_SaturnCover-JP.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Konami would release the PlayStation One and Sega Saturn versions of <i>Whizz</i> in Europe on February and August of 1997 respectively, whereas Emotion Digital Software and B-Factory would release the Sega Saturn version in Japan on August 29th, 1997 followed by the Japanese PlayStation One release that September 18th. This review will mainly focus on the Japanese Saturn version.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuEaqwlFnjebnbocS7SJ6_wcU8VgrjiWJx2YggoeCUQseuBX3mLv-IH4Spn1pjL8ZWj5LSzV1qqxMDTA4ScMkrEGzkrJaHyURjOWf1PoRJK0ZlNzG2gX-QUAM9qT2kdITlcJZ7IQlra2VnWfC1KBPjFO66dr3YK22Go7u2i_U0nftVZSFabms_uFA1w/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Racers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuEaqwlFnjebnbocS7SJ6_wcU8VgrjiWJx2YggoeCUQseuBX3mLv-IH4Spn1pjL8ZWj5LSzV1qqxMDTA4ScMkrEGzkrJaHyURjOWf1PoRJK0ZlNzG2gX-QUAM9qT2kdITlcJZ7IQlra2VnWfC1KBPjFO66dr3YK22Go7u2i_U0nftVZSFabms_uFA1w/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-Racers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm92klq0KBRiVmHtBmSA8pihMf7Gru5gADcrDFHv1rUZrEMhv8RzKCRWGQcLgcSYH0rwmaFIe0yM0AcPYCKZq3uMbathvGADSGFNLi-RmlHkHNlIXA1aq_zeibsbhuPpVcT90TQ5HDBmJxjUeRT6YN7L7ro7XUEouqBPXOvJ5VHJ9nuXD2wFKDDZ9wg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Rat+Bird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm92klq0KBRiVmHtBmSA8pihMf7Gru5gADcrDFHv1rUZrEMhv8RzKCRWGQcLgcSYH0rwmaFIe0yM0AcPYCKZq3uMbathvGADSGFNLi-RmlHkHNlIXA1aq_zeibsbhuPpVcT90TQ5HDBmJxjUeRT6YN7L7ro7XUEouqBPXOvJ5VHJ9nuXD2wFKDDZ9wg/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-Rat+Bird.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">There is an air race currently underway between two rodents, a well-dressed rabbit named Whizz riding on a hot air balloon and a rat riding on a zeppelin. As Whizz takes the lead, the rat commands his bird to fly towards the balloon and pop it so that the rabbit can plummet to the ground.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2ADiHzd6VLJMRy2sZZVGNKLUNr4Yv2LixSTDt7-wBoeEOZNjR-1iW30nt4dEMNplpHRq69xx-NTDLGY7PNOedqt1d6nVKfZ8mJgWAQ_0fH9drSbXtPBnsr1azV5Effrn3SJjNAD24U87y5fE6znTnfu9otY8sz5HwtRVyixZH2BemhD2sEwFISAGcw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Bird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2ADiHzd6VLJMRy2sZZVGNKLUNr4Yv2LixSTDt7-wBoeEOZNjR-1iW30nt4dEMNplpHRq69xx-NTDLGY7PNOedqt1d6nVKfZ8mJgWAQ_0fH9drSbXtPBnsr1azV5Effrn3SJjNAD24U87y5fE6znTnfu9otY8sz5HwtRVyixZH2BemhD2sEwFISAGcw/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-Bird.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6qqa64x4y1rgi5UGLTy7ly8wj1JWFw6yAlWM3DZaGLYsqtGaEuMCbWpEiZrCRG-K3vX6L_opLwcvg5sug8krW5_raCb7ZcjHEEA4ZLakJbRhXTpZlS1lch8pHUJci5S8Vi0yXethf4_kyfkKZDUm2TbDEPa3WvEuYxzPhPB21Wt_kQZTKvV03Tf55A/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Falling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6qqa64x4y1rgi5UGLTy7ly8wj1JWFw6yAlWM3DZaGLYsqtGaEuMCbWpEiZrCRG-K3vX6L_opLwcvg5sug8krW5_raCb7ZcjHEEA4ZLakJbRhXTpZlS1lch8pHUJci5S8Vi0yXethf4_kyfkKZDUm2TbDEPa3WvEuYxzPhPB21Wt_kQZTKvV03Tf55A/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-Falling.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz survives the fall but has fallen behind in the race, so he'll have to make the rest of the way on foot until he finds another mode of transportation if he is to catch up with and stand a chance at winning against his competition.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa1q5Pd8I060ue5Y_H8y1-ChyXalc4n6bz3bmu12cX5HPq62zd3gJvQ5tqYzttP7ee-2YsBbNz2LhJEuNY7wCtFeSkpGD9psKtUdLNY16DfiIBj16B_Yw_N8dDz7DxI9AF8aC_CsvaZG1vUVcmE0D40jV6sCdHGQfeERInyjQmx40AfNYhQ1RIp6GTg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa1q5Pd8I060ue5Y_H8y1-ChyXalc4n6bz3bmu12cX5HPq62zd3gJvQ5tqYzttP7ee-2YsBbNz2LhJEuNY7wCtFeSkpGD9psKtUdLNY16DfiIBj16B_Yw_N8dDz7DxI9AF8aC_CsvaZG1vUVcmE0D40jV6sCdHGQfeERInyjQmx40AfNYhQ1RIp6GTg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1elIzXM-n2mP_xIZDHsTc-Sc0MkTrQyOT34_ti6BmeLkDldolcSq56CiiNLE_szGfqE04kzmdrERYY3DoAZ96fN6jCq6As48oLbhmmBz9cbUDhocVYOag_kK0o7Qqmdvxogmb2xhhLpWg5UuEC4KZHf-tz7IBqLbeQb-WxaGu2bNEDzvXZabcaoyFw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-UnhealthyMushroom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1elIzXM-n2mP_xIZDHsTc-Sc0MkTrQyOT34_ti6BmeLkDldolcSq56CiiNLE_szGfqE04kzmdrERYY3DoAZ96fN6jCq6As48oLbhmmBz9cbUDhocVYOag_kK0o7Qqmdvxogmb2xhhLpWg5UuEC4KZHf-tz7IBqLbeQb-WxaGu2bNEDzvXZabcaoyFw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-UnhealthyMushroom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: And he's off! | Right: Disposing of enemies will have them drop a randomly colored mushroom, if it's blue you should either steer clear of or destroy it</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">In the isometric action game <i>Whizz</i> you take control of the eponymous rabbit whom you can maneuver around in a diagonal four-square pattern where you press and hold up to head northeast, right to go southeast, down to move southwest, and left to walk northwest.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_mmKrJA-5UeZkUweJVLNTa_oWTAkQPZ8wnzaOeMpLafP2Zf-17XPGJ7PL3KyggN46-YwXTt2vp-tz_-r2Roy029_vzyX6wqrOQJcUiU8Pb8pR-gCQCZBNyT_Yp1WcHoiOHawM5wFKLPlcRXl-BcNT4eFVWYH_dakMHRImokEF5nvlXvCAo__bEHPbQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-RocketLaunch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_mmKrJA-5UeZkUweJVLNTa_oWTAkQPZ8wnzaOeMpLafP2Zf-17XPGJ7PL3KyggN46-YwXTt2vp-tz_-r2Roy029_vzyX6wqrOQJcUiU8Pb8pR-gCQCZBNyT_Yp1WcHoiOHawM5wFKLPlcRXl-BcNT4eFVWYH_dakMHRImokEF5nvlXvCAo__bEHPbQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-RocketLaunch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnhHDFP9mCF9rP2O5_7qadFn_MPC7YcrMmx-UdIphXQMcMVBsvIE1fGMfEJiAqNvGbydctJkGGhcTfCe9eo1WcN8nEuYsYqOjaQvCtHMsWIIUeDFCMTIJEcLb9ZDm3xO1tT1Njxklk3KhN7Pxy9kp1qRxg7gOojgpeSd9fKJ2lvsbpNkVxaJ-znMImw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-MovingPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnhHDFP9mCF9rP2O5_7qadFn_MPC7YcrMmx-UdIphXQMcMVBsvIE1fGMfEJiAqNvGbydctJkGGhcTfCe9eo1WcN8nEuYsYqOjaQvCtHMsWIIUeDFCMTIJEcLb9ZDm3xO1tT1Njxklk3KhN7Pxy9kp1qRxg7gOojgpeSd9fKJ2lvsbpNkVxaJ-znMImw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-MovingPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Blastoff </b>🚀<b> | Right: Carried over by a moving platform</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The default controls, which you can change in the options screen if you feel the need, are A and B to attack enemies by performing the spin attack and the C button to jump in the air, with your gained altitude depending on how lightly or how hard you pressed it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnW-rZTYos4NhAF7rS5Kyeh7WD5Np_yEcvldkggOle0csaL6TD7jd8kbT0HDvyuplIoCtgSRIJbH_eT5Ngmgn_-_OKRlhZI7_Yla2eN4eP3f4xXIANSsW964LUxBpi0uYAKVORIYh0wh8q-z4FbKbzGAO9YF6qvIVmbdOFdrZjm_Ju42OZpL5fmkDUw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SpinAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnW-rZTYos4NhAF7rS5Kyeh7WD5Np_yEcvldkggOle0csaL6TD7jd8kbT0HDvyuplIoCtgSRIJbH_eT5Ngmgn_-_OKRlhZI7_Yla2eN4eP3f4xXIANSsW964LUxBpi0uYAKVORIYh0wh8q-z4FbKbzGAO9YF6qvIVmbdOFdrZjm_Ju42OZpL5fmkDUw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SpinAttack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5cWZJFYo3lVIcxNcySqYTwzH1ZUNNYMwJPXpXtx_whCv_vN72b892-8V-JfopCm9q37zUzUCYTYQMdgYkLTdAxnovhoRbj5Ub1q32UZNUlZBogVQyuajp9Lq6-Y7Fgj_P5XTRrvTLpWfU97iqY__sEAjmdlAivfY9ZsfPpWVL5ifA8isft9pTAOiFA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-GrassyPlains.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5cWZJFYo3lVIcxNcySqYTwzH1ZUNNYMwJPXpXtx_whCv_vN72b892-8V-JfopCm9q37zUzUCYTYQMdgYkLTdAxnovhoRbj5Ub1q32UZNUlZBogVQyuajp9Lq6-Y7Fgj_P5XTRrvTLpWfU97iqY__sEAjmdlAivfY9ZsfPpWVL5ifA8isft9pTAOiFA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-GrassyPlains.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Spin towards that enemy now that you've got a red and white powerup | Right: Grassy plains</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The goal of the game is to reach the finish line in the allotted amount of time you're given for the moment you step out of your starting position the timer will begin to count itself down. Along the way you'll be gathering gems and flags for points, hourglasses to slightly prolong your remaining time, particular blocks that enable you to break down any obstacle that match its texture, yellow mushroom icons to replenish a good chunk of your lost health, and keys to open up chests, cages, and doorways with keyholes on them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2JAfzz0yHeUFaQ2s8LMxwo6oVZ4N9EQyde5jwxaamjxFUv51EEBCyiU0xJA4msP45t-hrhFvniICmWJ39qwwpSpXLquFybyxc2hjIInA7Kwun5KMN5_qKw2jRiLmMmbqfhVivnDdOH7SI6Du857yMGpSuCgNrO0Njv5VB5cAi3t4k12hdy2fba_wtA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Spinner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2JAfzz0yHeUFaQ2s8LMxwo6oVZ4N9EQyde5jwxaamjxFUv51EEBCyiU0xJA4msP45t-hrhFvniICmWJ39qwwpSpXLquFybyxc2hjIInA7Kwun5KMN5_qKw2jRiLmMmbqfhVivnDdOH7SI6Du857yMGpSuCgNrO0Njv5VB5cAi3t4k12hdy2fba_wtA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Spinner.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0NwbZtF54-2t-X6Fuz1fNuVTyJzLgw7g6zcfS3IiY8GY3FAaATLbG2ufVYjF0tQRDrm2uzaccPten3Bd2g6bCJmsfEsBxwVkgNRnmMM82kRkfBWe2dxu_t7A0MQZjPzK55QOz5msraDafXntr10nWtpngkHQIBhBGDWS0haS2oIYvW1Mjf98iJWE6Q/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Bridge.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0NwbZtF54-2t-X6Fuz1fNuVTyJzLgw7g6zcfS3IiY8GY3FAaATLbG2ufVYjF0tQRDrm2uzaccPten3Bd2g6bCJmsfEsBxwVkgNRnmMM82kRkfBWe2dxu_t7A0MQZjPzK55QOz5msraDafXntr10nWtpngkHQIBhBGDWS0haS2oIYvW1Mjf98iJWE6Q/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Bridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Mandatory spinners that will have you go in a random direction | Right: A playful sign of someone having just gotten through a bridge</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">There are also a multitude of enemies to contend with, most of which can be taken down by having Whizz spin towards them, at which point they'll drop one of two mushrooms: a healthy red one to slightly refill your lost health and an unhealthy blue one that depletes part of your health upon touching it, so you can either move around it or destroy it with the spin attack. If you leave the healthy mushroom out too long it will become an <b>unhealthy</b> one before long.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhv8CPNuS4wiOYRA3xCgU22KYcGzKChTqthZX-Xli7lxFz2phLIfW_kuovoIipjdBB9_BQUz6-un5swp9yWwn4aoUb7VByb69qkYMb5t2VD1FwJHvkC7v2yFcMr2ut0hfzWhZKSPZXrysvTr38F4p4om0xffzKss5fTCqzwdXQxrQV0AOKTdVg7XBtA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SentientWoodPlanks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhv8CPNuS4wiOYRA3xCgU22KYcGzKChTqthZX-Xli7lxFz2phLIfW_kuovoIipjdBB9_BQUz6-un5swp9yWwn4aoUb7VByb69qkYMb5t2VD1FwJHvkC7v2yFcMr2ut0hfzWhZKSPZXrysvTr38F4p4om0xffzKss5fTCqzwdXQxrQV0AOKTdVg7XBtA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SentientWoodPlanks.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KTfS1rWE6MERR7kG8QF4VnLVMcFBhrJ0_xDFTqyg3_z2AcLCfxJDaNwEp345cwU7oZOYw0-kd5p_mgm9as59UQGgyjuvcCYTiPzprlO0BjDTcxgRYAK699jkhpnPTnxDr_vaC2B8uPP1yYJqyvrCmrSEXk2CgtMtmTijXh0QU-lkFY9pzJF8lMDyWQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Star.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KTfS1rWE6MERR7kG8QF4VnLVMcFBhrJ0_xDFTqyg3_z2AcLCfxJDaNwEp345cwU7oZOYw0-kd5p_mgm9as59UQGgyjuvcCYTiPzprlO0BjDTcxgRYAK699jkhpnPTnxDr_vaC2B8uPP1yYJqyvrCmrSEXk2CgtMtmTijXh0QU-lkFY9pzJF8lMDyWQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Star.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Taking care of the sentient plank of wood | Right: Jumbo-sized red and white star</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">When it came to the Japanese version of </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> there have been a few powerups added which do not appear in any other version of the game: a pair of running shoes to make you move at a considerably faster rate, a red and white icon that will allow you to take down any enemy that is red and white (which you cannot do otherwise), and a sparkling powerup that momentarily renders Whizz invulnerable to enemy attack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr2L_XkJN7F7sxp_wuYm1bECjLPTHoXjJ-qwAKHfLSUBMNhXiIh9mlX6KHXnvt26lmVrUYHICOUlTRQd357UOYEAD2ogmfc6B2F2PwUC0ZNGCjmPMS6HgY-JALlNrset8aF9XmJ7qhj2T5vyOGBwyoKGDvB7osRI2JCIyqoRPvdfm9ap_FxWHCKSXLg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Gate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr2L_XkJN7F7sxp_wuYm1bECjLPTHoXjJ-qwAKHfLSUBMNhXiIh9mlX6KHXnvt26lmVrUYHICOUlTRQd357UOYEAD2ogmfc6B2F2PwUC0ZNGCjmPMS6HgY-JALlNrset8aF9XmJ7qhj2T5vyOGBwyoKGDvB7osRI2JCIyqoRPvdfm9ap_FxWHCKSXLg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Gate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXP-DnHgW3uUhCfRNvoHrPtWloRL6MOKcNyu0zc8CHzM1cYdNjSk_MbW5eRmQXZQQhua6Yh3p4oU4LYQV1MecSF5GFRWOA00pjmaRX59sH2ABPwzKcjBLidAMqPZbewEUUv2s-MC96EytzJomXgIXEFNZKlQzWCDSR4hUVnfS2l0H-50Nm4NnekMX0g/s388/Whizz_Saturn-GemCauldrons.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXP-DnHgW3uUhCfRNvoHrPtWloRL6MOKcNyu0zc8CHzM1cYdNjSk_MbW5eRmQXZQQhua6Yh3p4oU4LYQV1MecSF5GFRWOA00pjmaRX59sH2ABPwzKcjBLidAMqPZbewEUUv2s-MC96EytzJomXgIXEFNZKlQzWCDSR4hUVnfS2l0H-50Nm4NnekMX0g/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-GemCauldrons.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Waiting for the gate to rise back up in order to pass through | Right: Those cauldrons will drop a few gems below them</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Each location consists of two to three segments, on occasion you might stumble across some floor switches to step on should you search the area thoroughly: red-colored ones to have a nearby rocket blastoff and yellow-colored ones to enable you to progress further. Failure to reach the finish line on time or having your mushroom health icon completely depleted will cost you a life and take you back to the present segment's starting position.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYe2WrTLdXznKEUJRfciGhqRoanlNi5iLQdB0RPZNmFIpFEx1ad9wossyArYGakH4gSXVBpudcQg09G4VfIawFksnegOTtvYYjYynn2XAmMBppt9Wx6IWgCZqmyI-9h-78FRk-NNOvtrX2sUSAUiSJuZ_lTyWFZHDBWd0DqLKn7Pt2x6eKzr1EMOtw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Raising+LoweringPlatforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYe2WrTLdXznKEUJRfciGhqRoanlNi5iLQdB0RPZNmFIpFEx1ad9wossyArYGakH4gSXVBpudcQg09G4VfIawFksnegOTtvYYjYynn2XAmMBppt9Wx6IWgCZqmyI-9h-78FRk-NNOvtrX2sUSAUiSJuZ_lTyWFZHDBWd0DqLKn7Pt2x6eKzr1EMOtw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Raising+LoweringPlatforms.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh91J_fvQBu62JgtqKzLYPHnQp28TykpXF50Dgo5y5rRXbs83OTaSwMqrrdYmmQV4k8tGx11XZx7ECR7nFzB2xISWLW-1s10l0ispC-XAbN3uAIA72iCvZIhko1zpro5Nt8G10zI8grpCRsQklpMt2tpNRJPQNKOMjR93HKgbPueTKDrJLpM3L24DNw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-RetractablePlatforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh91J_fvQBu62JgtqKzLYPHnQp28TykpXF50Dgo5y5rRXbs83OTaSwMqrrdYmmQV4k8tGx11XZx7ECR7nFzB2xISWLW-1s10l0ispC-XAbN3uAIA72iCvZIhko1zpro5Nt8G10zI8grpCRsQklpMt2tpNRJPQNKOMjR93HKgbPueTKDrJLpM3L24DNw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-RetractablePlatforms.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Making your way through a row of rising and lowering platforms | Right: Scaling up retractable platforms with perfectly timed jumps</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The original MS-DOS version of <i>Whizz</i>'s visuals were worked on by "I Space", Duncan Hall, Kevin Mountjoy, Andrew Sharratt, and Mark Sample, which have been updated and received a colorful makeover for the 32-bit console edition, with the respective locations' backdrops being rendered very well. Grassy Plains has got different shades of green for each segment (with the occasional flowers and rocks here and there) with the rocky walls adorning the sides as you get a near photorealistic glimpse of sailing vessels sinking in the body of water below, </span><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Snowy Peaks is pleasant to look at with the vast array of mountains below you and the soft texture of the snow you tread on,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwYmtt2i2MkiP1sZ0jwg_UeRpBSm6JQs3xNf-Q5rGDtUyxgJr9cNJXWlZ2-vVlwRTW-D7g7Bx9HeU26skDOFKNdCHtwqLRseo-zI4tiH9cfmRx1olJGIzxfmR7IG4ElXfBhT7_0CPHUtuMxtYdjwk_j9shd5j82GtT6rKa_1tLPQggRwoRd-QjwTK2A/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SentientSnowballs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwYmtt2i2MkiP1sZ0jwg_UeRpBSm6JQs3xNf-Q5rGDtUyxgJr9cNJXWlZ2-vVlwRTW-D7g7Bx9HeU26skDOFKNdCHtwqLRseo-zI4tiH9cfmRx1olJGIzxfmR7IG4ElXfBhT7_0CPHUtuMxtYdjwk_j9shd5j82GtT6rKa_1tLPQggRwoRd-QjwTK2A/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SentientSnowballs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE7nYx9LX71T6u6GGKsqx2owhkMjPZ241SM4RDdchXFdG_10Gbs2s9E-6EY1UalBVMr9GAacDTr7R9XziRdhSKEQYJt8nQmvokyNuhsmcZoZRwUe7eblT4R_wMHToyuMKZWBtaZ_UKrhU0fAgjgkeoaAMFuNT0m9k9whZRlWv1xJGAzgFD3rY_D-2uQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SharkInfestedWaters.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE7nYx9LX71T6u6GGKsqx2owhkMjPZ241SM4RDdchXFdG_10Gbs2s9E-6EY1UalBVMr9GAacDTr7R9XziRdhSKEQYJt8nQmvokyNuhsmcZoZRwUe7eblT4R_wMHToyuMKZWBtaZ_UKrhU0fAgjgkeoaAMFuNT0m9k9whZRlWv1xJGAzgFD3rY_D-2uQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SharkInfestedWaters.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Do the twister | Right: Hopping on small platforms above shark-infested waters</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Sandy Shores has got waterfalls pouring from crystal blue waters with a neat dithering effect as you peruse on the sand (sometimes occupied by seashells on the side) and on pirate ships, and my favorite location design is Gamble Land with the playing field structured and held up by cards and dice with the collective floor designs based on a variety of games like dark green for pool, ladders from snakes and ladders, playing cards, and yellow <i>Scrabble</i> tiles while the background has got well-rendered card castles and snakes on the checker patterned floor. Even the title screen is rendered well. As far as the in-game visuals are concerned, this is the best <i>Whizz</i> has ever looked.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AFNJvD1BjUX0JDFOiBjAFj8gdZMnf7JEpzRhDLiUfjMjLAIsUXgRIImn3zErVK8XtLtUOdtux-hB_kCbauZMoppRRwT2pW4XkgokhGsqG83rzvdiDKQaQ9hSYnADggy-c3roIiAx9QDChehhG6_ikMot7go7wqpMabQofdOtujbYq9LfWSdurphEkg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Red+WhitePyramid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AFNJvD1BjUX0JDFOiBjAFj8gdZMnf7JEpzRhDLiUfjMjLAIsUXgRIImn3zErVK8XtLtUOdtux-hB_kCbauZMoppRRwT2pW4XkgokhGsqG83rzvdiDKQaQ9hSYnADggy-c3roIiAx9QDChehhG6_ikMot7go7wqpMabQofdOtujbYq9LfWSdurphEkg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Red+WhitePyramid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IlL8OjXI0zXrjb8Lw0PyW3FPCK31XYhKA86V41ACp1xaqvJi7V0gnf9gEqfIMi9D_Vqv8ur63d1BD4fx_WVmcXj_WEqKqWq-DragsCkZ2cdzS_jM_o5M1ZAKt5nUoba_CrqYXAqN7o892aJf-fyt4-54--UHWRaULmuRwnQ6i9Upc7IRO7dkBbtDbA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Invincibility.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IlL8OjXI0zXrjb8Lw0PyW3FPCK31XYhKA86V41ACp1xaqvJi7V0gnf9gEqfIMi9D_Vqv8ur63d1BD4fx_WVmcXj_WEqKqWq-DragsCkZ2cdzS_jM_o5M1ZAKt5nUoba_CrqYXAqN7o892aJf-fyt4-54--UHWRaULmuRwnQ6i9Upc7IRO7dkBbtDbA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Invincibility.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Hopping above a red and white pyramid | Right: Temporarily invincible</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Flair Software even updated the titular rabbit design in-game in an endearing manner here with his purple suit, fluid walk cycle, pink pads on his paws, and even gave him blue eyes. I like his spinning animation as he briefly twists around like a tornado (even when a life has been lost in the only instance of sprite scaling and rotation in the game as he spins himself out of the screen), and his idle animations when remaining still are cute, from breathing in and out to juggling to his subtle leg animations as a way for Whizz to get pumped. There were a handful of isolated instances when I noticed the Saturn port resorted to using his old model (particularly his face), but luckily said instances are subtle enough that they do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX8Q_uN1BaObQfEEfy6gfPMUMWHNWZgcytDDTR13S_5uKXGAXhZ3ytSVnuo4Kf6L-okHpdeNfcOsrx0VIYvrz23LNWTviajtxxSz8QzcoTOajzJbe69T8ESyGbwJGpW0Yik2gCUKivr4SXboy_rMqfm5Tt3NMy7DUBnC8xd8wsbDs8CaE8LUVkB5zFQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Penguin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX8Q_uN1BaObQfEEfy6gfPMUMWHNWZgcytDDTR13S_5uKXGAXhZ3ytSVnuo4Kf6L-okHpdeNfcOsrx0VIYvrz23LNWTviajtxxSz8QzcoTOajzJbe69T8ESyGbwJGpW0Yik2gCUKivr4SXboy_rMqfm5Tt3NMy7DUBnC8xd8wsbDs8CaE8LUVkB5zFQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Penguin.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJOwPluSOGnubi3Ww_ejvBg4AWX67XweU3zPudXAbQamf-GQAkt3PDSxj9NkaHLb9I0w54v68NBEb5fW53uZEs8b0wQVYS2anA25xnYhwLGmbXoCdj8JBx7HSpMYfVP0s4jL5YWqhXDU6u8XUa6T6pCAMeFBE_u6459AYmCDcUCG3hBie-a3sWW4_XQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Trapdoor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJOwPluSOGnubi3Ww_ejvBg4AWX67XweU3zPudXAbQamf-GQAkt3PDSxj9NkaHLb9I0w54v68NBEb5fW53uZEs8b0wQVYS2anA25xnYhwLGmbXoCdj8JBx7HSpMYfVP0s4jL5YWqhXDU6u8XUa6T6pCAMeFBE_u6459AYmCDcUCG3hBie-a3sWW4_XQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Trapdoor.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🐧<b> | Right: About to enter a secret pathway</b></span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">As far as the normal enemy roster is concerned there are small dinosaurs, sentient eggs and planks of wood, penguins, rolling snowballs, bears in thickly warm snow attire, crabs and lobster, green octopi, spinning tops, playing cards that flip around, snakes, and bombs with faces which blow up should you be at close range to them, et al, which all look and animate solidly and disappear in an explosion of stars upon being spun through by Whizz. The red and white enemies also look decent like the bulky stars with menacing grins, spinning pyramids, and bouncing beach balls.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMoUSWzaW829M9GKKBW2uhf5PzMnHk5GcyJqSa0ymMZIlWCjNCRbCL-m1Iz0g7CJklaMagveRk3-wjuARiAx5LWsG3IDVdqCizo1T8X9sMJlIAejYF6-0OlcwenDcYThnmsjKk4WkSFK5Kryi648XeoYkkxgovWXixpJvtfYeUf4MoWTDNiWnLLfcrg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BalloonVsZeppelin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMoUSWzaW829M9GKKBW2uhf5PzMnHk5GcyJqSa0ymMZIlWCjNCRbCL-m1Iz0g7CJklaMagveRk3-wjuARiAx5LWsG3IDVdqCizo1T8X9sMJlIAejYF6-0OlcwenDcYThnmsjKk4WkSFK5Kryi648XeoYkkxgovWXixpJvtfYeUf4MoWTDNiWnLLfcrg/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-BalloonVsZeppelin.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">For the 32-bit edition of <i>Whizz</i> the cutscenes have now been rendered in 3D, including the same interlude cutscene in-between areas as Whizz pulls ahead of his cheating competition, so there's no shame in skipping that.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvOAtMy-rITQ8oR9QwfFF-O9Ni7JW8_DXjDhQ13YEnyqZXGzLSJeynPUYgrQBGeNj6J6V1ZljnCo37xlfFEp1APHYTk34idf5bq_6U-NymljsoGKElYSbj1Fn-Mq2j3WwNB_v8zE2Dly1wMVH1ZjUKviYrAgObwnmCVJeWCBXj2mgsPA_8_ZuQwIzVQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-LensFlare.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvOAtMy-rITQ8oR9QwfFF-O9Ni7JW8_DXjDhQ13YEnyqZXGzLSJeynPUYgrQBGeNj6J6V1ZljnCo37xlfFEp1APHYTk34idf5bq_6U-NymljsoGKElYSbj1Fn-Mq2j3WwNB_v8zE2Dly1wMVH1ZjUKviYrAgObwnmCVJeWCBXj2mgsPA_8_ZuQwIzVQ/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-LensFlare.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Ld2BKiVL8wFoJsuugMcLO6DhxdvtWLf9gBOadX5B2v2syybOs5DPMVHZXJi4XPuzzD-UaZADKoimRsk47CJaKVr5KZgu1qt3pM2JSaLoGZqbjkGNifTFAyY8kswd0fSvLdyeMBQykVf6tIslt8bBaNE1SDSwUWUPq6IwisWsXg86fgbn6pjDUuNaw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Ld2BKiVL8wFoJsuugMcLO6DhxdvtWLf9gBOadX5B2v2syybOs5DPMVHZXJi4XPuzzD-UaZADKoimRsk47CJaKVr5KZgu1qt3pM2JSaLoGZqbjkGNifTFAyY8kswd0fSvLdyeMBQykVf6tIslt8bBaNE1SDSwUWUPq6IwisWsXg86fgbn6pjDUuNaw/w200-h151/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Rocket.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The camera setup is well executed, there is a nice use of lens flares in spots, the chosen palette is decent, and the final cutscene upon beating the game has got a cool reflective texture as Whizz walks towards his rocket.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHYPJwngKh45_y_CqSwZZAVjHT3F_y_GIk9uKvCLuaIzBp1zuhcKadwwb_myPXsfhA3mgD7Xj7yeqfPkUWw-1AIUIgs8nILoIk6YGWGn5FMGg-G7JixNkNHSGhtiwufka9ISIOo4R91Qyv7lKUMBgGtojb2kFek9PDkYRtuFQMpbWpAiQycOFKxeeNw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Whizz.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHYPJwngKh45_y_CqSwZZAVjHT3F_y_GIk9uKvCLuaIzBp1zuhcKadwwb_myPXsfhA3mgD7Xj7yeqfPkUWw-1AIUIgs8nILoIk6YGWGn5FMGg-G7JixNkNHSGhtiwufka9ISIOo4R91Qyv7lKUMBgGtojb2kFek9PDkYRtuFQMpbWpAiQycOFKxeeNw/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-CG-Whizz.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Where the CG cutscenes falter are the character models themselves, though they do animate well they look very rough on the whole. It does have that unmistakable '90s 3D aesthetic.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju259jfQnPGDqylB7Qqn_fEWc3oxrrut-jKEcnkEjgweRkPJcX8fo3AGRxMK8suZ4ohGZuaneNkTIX1Vwk0SlSejwI7IKchEsjmKe6OSGI1qB6pmvtEkL6YzauhesRZ1BLr20s6MRKNMK2ykhxI0YSM1GQtC7i3GU159TnNa_5rk3U40sHUhQdZPnQUQ/s303/SteamGearMash_CutsceneSlideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="303" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju259jfQnPGDqylB7Qqn_fEWc3oxrrut-jKEcnkEjgweRkPJcX8fo3AGRxMK8suZ4ohGZuaneNkTIX1Vwk0SlSejwI7IKchEsjmKe6OSGI1qB6pmvtEkL6YzauhesRZ1BLr20s6MRKNMK2ykhxI0YSM1GQtC7i3GU159TnNa_5rk3U40sHUhQdZPnQUQ/s1600/SteamGearMash_CutsceneSlideshow.gif" width="303" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">I've seen more appealing and better quality CG cutscenes from games that precede <i>Whizz</i> on the Saturn, like Sega's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i> and its sequel, Team Andromeda's <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> games, and Tamsoft's <i>SteamGear Mash</i>, just to name a few.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_P8IZV9TIzDO3s22UNdcp2Cie4C6GRw7Fh4h0fhBstf27Y_RAckOkUNzoVJlUBOgHu6FPqnhqr2kRQi6qwguG9reNwk1aZ_Z_Sd3wXLDHmS1EZSQIqZBAkt-SHgfU27v0eOrzm5YNKwlNr-cKTAtyJO8CPcOeCiHJtjdJAn4K3JnvthyrGAxMM4Vbg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-AscendingPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_P8IZV9TIzDO3s22UNdcp2Cie4C6GRw7Fh4h0fhBstf27Y_RAckOkUNzoVJlUBOgHu6FPqnhqr2kRQi6qwguG9reNwk1aZ_Z_Sd3wXLDHmS1EZSQIqZBAkt-SHgfU27v0eOrzm5YNKwlNr-cKTAtyJO8CPcOeCiHJtjdJAn4K3JnvthyrGAxMM4Vbg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-AscendingPlatform.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO81G0RqFOhWC549PKGdOE7vMCca7cesbeChb3r8jTG3mScbLtgIbE19v4IRsDyv3rLJJAVvb-d5XS0NaK-k56oaIguSnj7fm_2BPKh84UCow5SZH2raf0foeyVFSf0Umf5Im3EEGjFhQd4TmF98HQqQ8TyMAeGwTUx-YU_Xm3y1t20CgRGVa6fBq1w/s388/Whizz_Saturn-GlassBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO81G0RqFOhWC549PKGdOE7vMCca7cesbeChb3r8jTG3mScbLtgIbE19v4IRsDyv3rLJJAVvb-d5XS0NaK-k56oaIguSnj7fm_2BPKh84UCow5SZH2raf0foeyVFSf0Umf5Im3EEGjFhQd4TmF98HQqQ8TyMAeGwTUx-YU_Xm3y1t20CgRGVa6fBq1w/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-GlassBridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Elevated to the top occupied by a thickly dressed bear </b>🐻<b> | Right: Oh, those poor paws of his must be freezing given he's walking through an icy bridge</b></span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Whizz</i>'s soundtrack was initially composed by Keith Leary and David Murrant, which is every bit as bouncy and lighthearted as you can get in a game like this which works with its playful tone. Murrant also composed music for InSide Team's <i>Rally Championships</i> and Studio 33's <i>Newman Haas Racing</i> but for the most part has worked on sound design</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLZXkeJZfInLbBViAQc5r0J2F6xSmBX_NQdYp2bV1Co1-aX3y3nTTWeZVkZrlttkea8mu8DXR75uXMyk4ZNKYPXyBk2zdZfXZhMeEjyo1t0r4-xEKi4nfnsu2eQkwvB3EOcBcy8PJew4VnPs8Om8bgzsK5tI7cDRqr11bc3NFbGL4EIYUmQOu-cEtxQ/s389/AdventuresOfLomax_BridgeMaking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLZXkeJZfInLbBViAQc5r0J2F6xSmBX_NQdYp2bV1Co1-aX3y3nTTWeZVkZrlttkea8mu8DXR75uXMyk4ZNKYPXyBk2zdZfXZhMeEjyo1t0r4-xEKi4nfnsu2eQkwvB3EOcBcy8PJew4VnPs8Om8bgzsK5tI7cDRqr11bc3NFbGL4EIYUmQOu-cEtxQ/w200-h158/AdventuresOfLomax_BridgeMaking.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPNOSa9PE8zaEJ3_7qyvieuMP-xNOE79YmOdqonPwOsPRIcDt_qUaJbEcdSPA81nCoLuR_FnnjlnfV-F2LJtBIUsQ56laA1w-4dO7uz9jzS5F3Q1hy3ZJIaTheFUPdxEEsO1gaLCtK0OO7LJhxlByte6eFsCyJSWFef4k9kbF_yjSIozoxhSrx-bxfg/s389/AdventuresOfLomax_Barrel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPNOSa9PE8zaEJ3_7qyvieuMP-xNOE79YmOdqonPwOsPRIcDt_qUaJbEcdSPA81nCoLuR_FnnjlnfV-F2LJtBIUsQ56laA1w-4dO7uz9jzS5F3Q1hy3ZJIaTheFUPdxEEsO1gaLCtK0OO7LJhxlByte6eFsCyJSWFef4k9kbF_yjSIozoxhSrx-bxfg/w200-h158/AdventuresOfLomax_Barrel.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">whereas Leary's music portfolio also comprised of Traveller's Tales' <i>Toy Story Racer</i>, Magenta Software's <i>Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat</i>, Idol Minds' <i>Neopets: The Darkest Faerie</i>, and Nu Generation Games' <i>Winter Sports</i>, and even worked on mixing Philip Morris' music for Psygnosis' <i>The Adventures of Lomax</i>/<i>Lomax</i> in Dolby Surround sound.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVqPWuc6eHekOEU-R8nvdUuLrd_LaARhUVbN3BCN5rPoCSVSX6hcI_poj3VrMAGv1_J5K2SUbFgaqeQbUPLBP7hKDLRedOPZ3XzR7MAsNstEC14429u90lMSgH2ubC17NrdqdQ6IqyvcTGK0kXG6NzyAXfi2r0sYZNpLowWQDv_WkRanl0_z8f8qpPg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Hoop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVqPWuc6eHekOEU-R8nvdUuLrd_LaARhUVbN3BCN5rPoCSVSX6hcI_poj3VrMAGv1_J5K2SUbFgaqeQbUPLBP7hKDLRedOPZ3XzR7MAsNstEC14429u90lMSgH2ubC17NrdqdQ6IqyvcTGK0kXG6NzyAXfi2r0sYZNpLowWQDv_WkRanl0_z8f8qpPg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Hoop.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ph-VDNZ39vKcmxgbW855C5si3xpdIMMEcpG9q0mSA-nM8e4uBdth8qky3Zqdomnq64zHWM5KaZDtie_Uz1a3nvsc4OmdAyXs5amRZEatNDXKUByZ0ZBEE6clbcquIQs3mOLtxt9Bi8ia4TNVrhyVVG0j6ZfGnSnsGa0yqu2Mj-xFPDbadep3NEvjcQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BoxToBox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ph-VDNZ39vKcmxgbW855C5si3xpdIMMEcpG9q0mSA-nM8e4uBdth8qky3Zqdomnq64zHWM5KaZDtie_Uz1a3nvsc4OmdAyXs5amRZEatNDXKUByZ0ZBEE6clbcquIQs3mOLtxt9Bi8ia4TNVrhyVVG0j6ZfGnSnsGa0yqu2Mj-xFPDbadep3NEvjcQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-BoxToBox.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Jumped through a hoop | Right: Hopping from box to box</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Like the visuals the soundtrack has been updated in 32-bit console format, with a nice sound quality, and even though it's not a big soundtrack I love that the Sega Saturn game disc doubles as a soundtrack CD when inserted on a player (bar the cutscene music). <a href="https://youtu.be/n8tzP6tqCQM">Grassy Plains' theme</a> is enjoyably catchy as it incorporates the English nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down" into the mix, <a href="https://youtu.be/n8tzP6tqCQM?t=218">Snowy Peaks' theme</a> is simultaneously bouncy and atmospheric given the snowy environment,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDUa4m9z2w4kjy4kL8cFBEZuIEmw5ii-jTWRIwCB5rDvaww85iNVSL74TmFdea8-I9hnnip8tYND5zM_D3e8vRSFwNXJS5KubCGz10UjHZIoY1KkPujkp5hUtxS6y7gblVWGgkmfr2H61-fscdVveiq0jlmWDb8CQ-Hy4yhN84HlwkKW8Zmnohz4uUQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Whale.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDUa4m9z2w4kjy4kL8cFBEZuIEmw5ii-jTWRIwCB5rDvaww85iNVSL74TmFdea8-I9hnnip8tYND5zM_D3e8vRSFwNXJS5KubCGz10UjHZIoY1KkPujkp5hUtxS6y7gblVWGgkmfr2H61-fscdVveiq0jlmWDb8CQ-Hy4yhN84HlwkKW8Zmnohz4uUQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Whale.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjBYy2EUKeEbx1HcgXfl6ZJdMyBXMBMUi9ip9k959bGgGaa3CWOZsPjN79ZMbe8en17W26PjK4Y--sB-CiOXLlTdlcBmOrfHtmITjysQbYlN2-UCgLcgHDUhwI3u84sQyTONhw2i6RovfO3dIyYSYyy8mpuwYYEAsCRZESbkmPaLDdnwss2uTGnIspw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Landmines.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjBYy2EUKeEbx1HcgXfl6ZJdMyBXMBMUi9ip9k959bGgGaa3CWOZsPjN79ZMbe8en17W26PjK4Y--sB-CiOXLlTdlcBmOrfHtmITjysQbYlN2-UCgLcgHDUhwI3u84sQyTONhw2i6RovfO3dIyYSYyy8mpuwYYEAsCRZESbkmPaLDdnwss2uTGnIspw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Landmines.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Find a fish for the whale and it'll give you a ride across | Right: Don't stand too close to the landmines when they go off or you might lose considerable damage</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://youtu.be/n8tzP6tqCQM?t=421">Sandy Shores' theme</a> has got an engagingly bouncy rhythm to it, and <a href="https://youtu.be/n8tzP6tqCQM?t=518">Gamble Land's theme</a> is joyously pleasant to listen to which perfectly complements the game-themed area. 😄 During the in-between cutscene there is a <a href="https://youtu.be/n8tzP6tqCQM?t=914">theme</a> where you only ever hear it for roughly twenty seconds in-game but is actually much longer than that. 😔 I always feel bad for composers who pour their heart in creating a long and protracted number for a part that was designed to be brief, that hardly seems fair.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HneRkQyC-YJUT4iYIXNF5dAKIi9rz7K4IPUeDJSKiQWJaOB25IpyNAQoAb8yK3YGeJLwiuXtSmixY3sBuUpsFbC0nDI_epxZuuHSyaqL1uKGPkMmUkdCjgr6arsZgOquuZc9ht5USH0G1yTT0woUh7qtvoUdNYx_wiyyJrK4dF17lpB4I4Ud4GVHgg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Crab.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HneRkQyC-YJUT4iYIXNF5dAKIi9rz7K4IPUeDJSKiQWJaOB25IpyNAQoAb8yK3YGeJLwiuXtSmixY3sBuUpsFbC0nDI_epxZuuHSyaqL1uKGPkMmUkdCjgr6arsZgOquuZc9ht5USH0G1yTT0woUh7qtvoUdNYx_wiyyJrK4dF17lpB4I4Ud4GVHgg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Crab.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTzIVrKCn_TzpkkMfeS59w_gy0-n753eCzLJa0JaUJqJDpRB_7NoN4U9nbIxSXUovaMNDM708PNDqDT-AMf2q_6RgTqRmd4CnIuiwAIp5Q0C79O1vz_826RzC1xONVHK8K0SZgKqsFNzcrOign-b5BE_Q3UgZ3--gTywfaMkm_430O74AtLmtk44PSQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-DissolvingSand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTzIVrKCn_TzpkkMfeS59w_gy0-n753eCzLJa0JaUJqJDpRB_7NoN4U9nbIxSXUovaMNDM708PNDqDT-AMf2q_6RgTqRmd4CnIuiwAIp5Q0C79O1vz_826RzC1xONVHK8K0SZgKqsFNzcrOign-b5BE_Q3UgZ3--gTywfaMkm_430O74AtLmtk44PSQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-DissolvingSand.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🦀<b> | Right: Sand bridge crumbling behind you</b></span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects for this version of <i>Whizz</i> are decently chosen, like the jingle sound for when you gather flags and gems, the munch sound for when a mushroom is consumed, the clicking sound for when you step on a floor switch, the creaking sound for when a doorway is open, the jackpot sound for when Whizz wins at slots, the amusing sound of footsteps as you're walking through a secret pathway, and unexpectedly a stock gunshot sound for the exploding landmines and sentient bombs.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48VUROwroeaGbXjALXjFTyZ1jXvV2G2l4gMCzCjABhL47uVvLP5q0mAgxc0Jw4YgxgN0HZuzHIYGyHXtrDzDPaoC8INeD5gPuKEfGe1P-b3M1w5FPwZotR6IoFp5JEkmAm6IKXArp47DANBSdrBU7CQbIjhiDORnLJucuwDtIKoTk_kQAMNrx_0B8dA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Switch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48VUROwroeaGbXjALXjFTyZ1jXvV2G2l4gMCzCjABhL47uVvLP5q0mAgxc0Jw4YgxgN0HZuzHIYGyHXtrDzDPaoC8INeD5gPuKEfGe1P-b3M1w5FPwZotR6IoFp5JEkmAm6IKXArp47DANBSdrBU7CQbIjhiDORnLJucuwDtIKoTk_kQAMNrx_0B8dA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Switch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS19lS3KhfM8qmAposH5lyaSZz5Ax-hQejjZXADx6Yhh4mcCmkUNq1j9h3w1FzdpJVR8HRFJHO9afeuxlhC1AXspUmGLMBjAqTW5aX1wZMvZWzWzanFTu5RZKmS-JWAWKrye20ZpUiVPCZYi5hZj8TVX_Bz4NOX7LV5nUPbGh2sIdYYg9cTYU2vq3tw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CannonedOut.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS19lS3KhfM8qmAposH5lyaSZz5Ax-hQejjZXADx6Yhh4mcCmkUNq1j9h3w1FzdpJVR8HRFJHO9afeuxlhC1AXspUmGLMBjAqTW5aX1wZMvZWzWzanFTu5RZKmS-JWAWKrye20ZpUiVPCZYi5hZj8TVX_Bz4NOX7LV5nUPbGh2sIdYYg9cTYU2vq3tw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-CannonedOut.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Push the switch in the direction of your choice... | Right: ...so you can be shot out of the cannon in the direction of your choice</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">There are three difficulty modes in <i>Whizz</i>, and what makes them distinctive is the amount of time you're given to start with meaning you'll not be able to explore the given area <b>as</b> thoroughly on hard mode as you would on easy for the harder the difficulty the less time you have. Should you be able to launch every rocket in the present portion of one of the four areas you'll be granted a continue, though whether you are able to or not is completely up to you for it is not mandatory. If you lose your last life at any point on Snowy Peaks, Sandy Shores, and Gamble Land, you'll be given a six-character password which you can enter in the options screen to start from the beginning of any one of these three later areas.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvlPGBc9M20r05ZG3znDuFg4tYxzi12dC8TkfcyEymaD3tN2HMZvZMXj5_aFxJC6pbqhunghy-f5rYVgHroFXazvmw9HvxlmRw4hiyJ2tIpmMeAV0pjqQhHeBR0-y12bCi2YV9aJ1N3WMyKy2fcIklTgl924kFSvO2lRYGM4l24nHnXLPf8n5-G2adg/s1024/Whizz_SaturnBackCover-JP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1024" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvlPGBc9M20r05ZG3znDuFg4tYxzi12dC8TkfcyEymaD3tN2HMZvZMXj5_aFxJC6pbqhunghy-f5rYVgHroFXazvmw9HvxlmRw4hiyJ2tIpmMeAV0pjqQhHeBR0-y12bCi2YV9aJ1N3WMyKy2fcIklTgl924kFSvO2lRYGM4l24nHnXLPf8n5-G2adg/w200-h171/Whizz_SaturnBackCover-JP.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIK4UwR1GdtIwmO91qosRKCUoPeX-n_PkeR21T2WKwhqB3hBa9FGirdpXDOlGeQHJ2shoF8rf_Ub4-t6ECSNs3DkdjvbYIpDFbJXuwQIjD7tmpxpOuBdjeOCoZbGkPQd6mRW2TH-GU_dCeLlNYRpMn4bk0MIErHQndX-R9I3DwhaYNpSRC7yErVYd4A/s480/Whizz_PlayStation_Dino+Penguin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIK4UwR1GdtIwmO91qosRKCUoPeX-n_PkeR21T2WKwhqB3hBa9FGirdpXDOlGeQHJ2shoF8rf_Ub4-t6ECSNs3DkdjvbYIpDFbJXuwQIjD7tmpxpOuBdjeOCoZbGkPQd6mRW2TH-GU_dCeLlNYRpMn4bk0MIErHQndX-R9I3DwhaYNpSRC7yErVYd4A/w200-h150/Whizz_PlayStation_Dino+Penguin.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Japanese Saturn back cover image from GameFAQs, screengrabbed World of Longplays' <i>Whizz</i> PlayStation video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Curiously, upon closer inspection, the back of the Japanese Saturn jewel case and the instruction manual feature screenshots from the PlayStation One port which is evident due to the different-looking HUD design (among other things). I get it, though, by this point the Sony version had been around for half a year and visually it is similar, but by the same token I can't help but wonder if the Japanese version of <i>Whizz</i> released by Emotion Digital Software and B-Factory was a budget release if they didn't have the resources to use the screenshots from the very version they were releasing? 🤔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4LkBRSDlp9UdezzQfAS5jfYNhc0ao70iw4XTJ8-yLu5RkSi36HNlW0rQS6vNNVlEKUhUfRqeMFfE3utjfzxN-JM33KSFMmVmANpzOEeosV--P31m_Uk8TFhy_PoclDuOp2tG9d3lX6uYUOT3wIzYC_d3Cg5Z5iXZb-52oPVDZHeimPKdLutiUdIpFA/s990/Whizz_SaturnBackCover-PAL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4LkBRSDlp9UdezzQfAS5jfYNhc0ao70iw4XTJ8-yLu5RkSi36HNlW0rQS6vNNVlEKUhUfRqeMFfE3utjfzxN-JM33KSFMmVmANpzOEeosV--P31m_Uk8TFhy_PoclDuOp2tG9d3lX6uYUOT3wIzYC_d3Cg5Z5iXZb-52oPVDZHeimPKdLutiUdIpFA/w129-h200/Whizz_SaturnBackCover-PAL.png" width="129" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-L3VZ2mlQ_HaZx-fI3axipgdXYqPSmFE5H0nXN0wn-ZBuUH5azCTc1LYqy7O6esx8XdDc7opHwlNgHwNxfIvJbdUAPscDlQeZfLbhV7vtmbKKt9DqNRRZdtBt8QxxqNq0xaz_ipx2b2YlksrQ7nNkQSBnr17XbjK-aCwhMdKwJ5WHrZRejwcnnBpHw/s320/Whizz_Amiga-Sled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="320" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-L3VZ2mlQ_HaZx-fI3axipgdXYqPSmFE5H0nXN0wn-ZBuUH5azCTc1LYqy7O6esx8XdDc7opHwlNgHwNxfIvJbdUAPscDlQeZfLbhV7vtmbKKt9DqNRRZdtBt8QxxqNq0xaz_ipx2b2YlksrQ7nNkQSBnr17XbjK-aCwhMdKwJ5WHrZRejwcnnBpHw/w200-h125/Whizz_Amiga-Sled.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">European Saturn back cover image from GameFAQs, Amiga <i>Whizz</i> screenshot from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">The 32-bit console versions at least have an excuse of almost looking 100% identical if you didn't pay attention to the details, but shockingly when it came to the PAL release by Konami the back of the European Saturn jewel case showed images not from the console release but from the </span><b style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Amiga</b><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> version... which is definitely not the version being sold here as it is noticeably different visually. 😖 What in the ever living </span><b style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">world</b><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">??</span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOHv4ILX8gYCJOjTkwj1KWkfwZh3v-8cOR-Fk4PHoO-1dVyd0zVXra3nSQtpfa-8P3pPYi6hTld74ENoCihiT1HQ_QGtDxAc_MZDdZ74XvKiPPFJ5UiM21bmqTdxKEy57cKkocwKnvfhT7fkAuwlClAqH9GWE2Zgu1A433ZmyOkzwmBI_Y-vlv4e7rA/s389/Whizz_SNES-GemCauldrons.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOHv4ILX8gYCJOjTkwj1KWkfwZh3v-8cOR-Fk4PHoO-1dVyd0zVXra3nSQtpfa-8P3pPYi6hTld74ENoCihiT1HQ_QGtDxAc_MZDdZ74XvKiPPFJ5UiM21bmqTdxKEy57cKkocwKnvfhT7fkAuwlClAqH9GWE2Zgu1A433ZmyOkzwmBI_Y-vlv4e7rA/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-GemCauldrons.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzOYl4Oi5fui7Pz0nT-vOSW5pf06ZrHrEGwD1tT_zxEJ7AyK6N3IQulnCYSggotkaTTYHketbek4t4ZcVZbdgGhyLjOAn6q4jERWRA_5Rto9ZalyuVAahCSvkWC26qb7gHyVuFNRGu8fRQdc-fl6C947ivFVFKc7v1OVbvvpStZNsBf7wGZedkm4Arg/s389/Whizz_SNES-Penguin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzOYl4Oi5fui7Pz0nT-vOSW5pf06ZrHrEGwD1tT_zxEJ7AyK6N3IQulnCYSggotkaTTYHketbek4t4ZcVZbdgGhyLjOAn6q4jERWRA_5Rto9ZalyuVAahCSvkWC26qb7gHyVuFNRGu8fRQdc-fl6C947ivFVFKc7v1OVbvvpStZNsBf7wGZedkm4Arg/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-Penguin.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">I first learned of Flair Software's <i>Whizz</i> several years ago on RVGFanatic's website, he didn't review it but he did visually reference the SNES version by Titus in passing a few times. I looked up the game afterward and was surprised to learn that it was also released on the PlayStation One and Sega Saturn as well, but with the exception of the SNES version it was never released in North American shores. On February 2018 I decided to check the SNES version out, and I found it decently okay at best.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEjU-exzyfPoDYZAPH42UIc-pNk_hTNBMfPaJRdTAgCkv0YDKFoO38UptDjKYyWIQDZuIufKARlsMbDzTz4Mj620M0M_n3GfdsYSw_t-5QN1OHal4AuADM4e5PaKpxwIzoOjyFFlYb0zqNyIOFomKjVqBx0Cr10b2ZLhJPH7Ia6WYnvemv2DZ-fRyvA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-PuddleJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEjU-exzyfPoDYZAPH42UIc-pNk_hTNBMfPaJRdTAgCkv0YDKFoO38UptDjKYyWIQDZuIufKARlsMbDzTz4Mj620M0M_n3GfdsYSw_t-5QN1OHal4AuADM4e5PaKpxwIzoOjyFFlYb0zqNyIOFomKjVqBx0Cr10b2ZLhJPH7Ia6WYnvemv2DZ-fRyvA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-PuddleJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYB8vBXFif5UugVYRZAycPwst7FlN7qTxmranGAgHVnNhtSBT8KbpDbDFi568JTaVijSFTPjLBsYwWHwBR9Z0vxT0UtrUC8Q-yURl1wWH8vzbO9ESM6km9SayFx1lF6TWdR3nnS5I_GY3qDMDj6D80_BrZFWogS6PTHsTNbWEqaqI_0IkwrWjEwm7Mg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Juggling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYB8vBXFif5UugVYRZAycPwst7FlN7qTxmranGAgHVnNhtSBT8KbpDbDFi568JTaVijSFTPjLBsYwWHwBR9Z0vxT0UtrUC8Q-yURl1wWH8vzbO9ESM6km9SayFx1lF6TWdR3nnS5I_GY3qDMDj6D80_BrZFWogS6PTHsTNbWEqaqI_0IkwrWjEwm7Mg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Juggling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Puddle jumping | Right: Juggling </b>🤹</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Last April I invested in an American Sega Saturn console along with Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i>, a decision I admit was crazy but definitely worth it as it's grown to become my third favorite video game console. 🤗 After ten American Saturn games in my collection I wanted to experience some Japanese Saturn fare so I decided to purchase an Action Replay Plus cartridge in order to play games not of this region.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMrYwysfb5KM0-8D87v9AgbG34cr92iDTR8Sa1JV8rxQmfLOtv03xeYWZ52pGcZCqSA6kEPPXaLrptWBVR_esUJWslKv3fBDkLkrnmI03XMLaSpRMzxu34xra7X2YLDtFyYVEJxGF2ecyOvMFaMtRIZg7_5ELa66fdFPm9jGliRzuKPLJGDjbIHMZ8A/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Surfing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMrYwysfb5KM0-8D87v9AgbG34cr92iDTR8Sa1JV8rxQmfLOtv03xeYWZ52pGcZCqSA6kEPPXaLrptWBVR_esUJWslKv3fBDkLkrnmI03XMLaSpRMzxu34xra7X2YLDtFyYVEJxGF2ecyOvMFaMtRIZg7_5ELa66fdFPm9jGliRzuKPLJGDjbIHMZ8A/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Surfing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_jlXr-EMnyiSVCVIpFCkP5mVEiIBkfrEzWM05QPSkMLwRV3b1OUTZLj8Exg5dPrcul2y06F5_lCdTeKd8BvMLHdPu15EUdlpUfobKX0KcXrfDlGRCwMU3WAIeRjkXPWe9UkCnixzB3F0bGLsPZMVSgwZN9rOYR0E0kA7yUMRoKZr0dLMyWbOeF1hw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BeachTowel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_jlXr-EMnyiSVCVIpFCkP5mVEiIBkfrEzWM05QPSkMLwRV3b1OUTZLj8Exg5dPrcul2y06F5_lCdTeKd8BvMLHdPu15EUdlpUfobKX0KcXrfDlGRCwMU3WAIeRjkXPWe9UkCnixzB3F0bGLsPZMVSgwZN9rOYR0E0kA7yUMRoKZr0dLMyWbOeF1hw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-BeachTowel.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Impressive how Whizz can ride on a surfboard steadily without any waves around </b>🏄<b> | Right: Jumping out of the exit of a secret path concealed by a beach towel</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Even though I owned Titus' SNES port of </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">, I genuinely was curious about the Sega Saturn edition now that I had the means to play it, so I decided to order it on eBay on October 2022 with it arriving two days later (<b>sweet</b>!). </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> marks my twelfth Sega Saturn game on the whole, and the second Japanese Saturn game in my collection after Success' </span><i style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Popoitto Hebereke</i><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">. I briefly covered my thoughts on Saturn games 10 through 16 on the </span><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/02/random-saturnday-iii-triple-deluxe.html" style="font-family: georgia;">first</a><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"> of my two-part Random Saturnday III post back in February 2023.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFTDiKwyV294xRfuvC2MgWOmW-Q91zQUTMRcGJWaO13mrDFqkXggzMcHGbEiZWpayc1r31MU5QN-xInnX9qqmCNTKy8m3F8RXfMuzsic9p06M9G3KjAuhBKHiQozWc_krt5Vl5_9ceK6Ovibj1lLOvQFUNgmICzOcYh-fZP29nKhLWbiPKDMrgkD-pQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-FunnelJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFTDiKwyV294xRfuvC2MgWOmW-Q91zQUTMRcGJWaO13mrDFqkXggzMcHGbEiZWpayc1r31MU5QN-xInnX9qqmCNTKy8m3F8RXfMuzsic9p06M9G3KjAuhBKHiQozWc_krt5Vl5_9ceK6Ovibj1lLOvQFUNgmICzOcYh-fZP29nKhLWbiPKDMrgkD-pQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-FunnelJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQBSXooU-NTGff6lyPenyjISE0ioy1lt51RJnXU_RUWJ-84hTLDSgWFwyBj-kpujUVDS5BJbkChufKnL0hHwz6Y0QF5BB_reohP-HiSUqlbwHWbeLoXFCDoFQsGijsIPGf05g4fSNW_wZ2hFUorl5YDsOyWpsA7-jVNMgB-g0Q3ltIUuTPMan8upI6A/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BeachBall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQBSXooU-NTGff6lyPenyjISE0ioy1lt51RJnXU_RUWJ-84hTLDSgWFwyBj-kpujUVDS5BJbkChufKnL0hHwz6Y0QF5BB_reohP-HiSUqlbwHWbeLoXFCDoFQsGijsIPGf05g4fSNW_wZ2hFUorl5YDsOyWpsA7-jVNMgB-g0Q3ltIUuTPMan8upI6A/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-BeachBall.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Funnel jumping | Right: Sauntering away from a beach ball bouncing back and forward</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Whizz</i> is not a game I'd ever call great or groundbreaking even as it does not try to be anything more than it is: a pleasantly harmless and enjoyably lighthearted time once in a while, and that's perfectly fine. When I got to play the Japanese Saturn version of Flair Software's isometric game, I found it more aesthetically appealing than Titus' SNES conversion and had more fun with it control-wise. I found 32-bit <i>Whizz</i> close to solid, which is better than okay (which was how I felt about 16-bit take).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLWtzLD5d51dCtnJmBnPfwaruxE3dEoRR52m7trCVvlH-on_3NS9tstWd9XITKZQ9fJMHvD1ROxtAhhf51mA6Ab6QtKrtvBzvIUm_1KBiuFYw-uQsx7XwBynDPVJ10kHjkmfWfhoqdvUbL_uMI9OYkwozPBH1J1tCL9StIY-r6m1DVk9DbhmV3ib1zQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BeachScreens.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLWtzLD5d51dCtnJmBnPfwaruxE3dEoRR52m7trCVvlH-on_3NS9tstWd9XITKZQ9fJMHvD1ROxtAhhf51mA6Ab6QtKrtvBzvIUm_1KBiuFYw-uQsx7XwBynDPVJ10kHjkmfWfhoqdvUbL_uMI9OYkwozPBH1J1tCL9StIY-r6m1DVk9DbhmV3ib1zQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-BeachScreens.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLF4A10i0ugaKcLea4Zvc-1HiSf1cz0Ai2TKq3VL8IaHkOCtj3U09Ra5v4odSfyrxkCKk5Akwjp1iJJIOZCvlVfaVKrPHjx8TzVcfqgSwwtBaYsCvVKWKcretUcH14BthaEZ3vEGYl08f6wksGpT50lseBgiDiJjtnRRG0gdKCDK6FumY26rkpylpsPw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Barge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLF4A10i0ugaKcLea4Zvc-1HiSf1cz0Ai2TKq3VL8IaHkOCtj3U09Ra5v4odSfyrxkCKk5Akwjp1iJJIOZCvlVfaVKrPHjx8TzVcfqgSwwtBaYsCvVKWKcretUcH14BthaEZ3vEGYl08f6wksGpT50lseBgiDiJjtnRRG0gdKCDK6FumY26rkpylpsPw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Barge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Don't dawdle and weave around the beach screens to grab that hourglass | Right: Let's enter that barge (or bounce on the inflatable castle, that works too)</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">It does have simple gameplay, but I think it works given the near-labyrinthine setup of these areas. Sure, it falls under the category of isometric games from the '90s where there are no shadows whatsoever, but fortunately it's not too difficult to ascertain where something is adjacent to Whizz as the difficulty, time running against you notwithstanding, is not too demanding and is manageable once you figure out how to navigate these locales.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE-jz7S0dBBENSdKYHCUWqH5wUgnU6hYEUydlWBvTpY1SBZ3jek6hTASNaRsgaMUVBVqkNNWy1m_qbGKpEFzkqkWI0ESDZaMEq1HT596I_xOzNQhlHo8q2cjFh05J9p9lydubIfIOva46cxN3RjZ7jxlAeVptcKyy1oAejjSfYqFHK9_z0kaZDZXqwg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Submarine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE-jz7S0dBBENSdKYHCUWqH5wUgnU6hYEUydlWBvTpY1SBZ3jek6hTASNaRsgaMUVBVqkNNWy1m_qbGKpEFzkqkWI0ESDZaMEq1HT596I_xOzNQhlHo8q2cjFh05J9p9lydubIfIOva46cxN3RjZ7jxlAeVptcKyy1oAejjSfYqFHK9_z0kaZDZXqwg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Submarine.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HOYXHjBL5Mb-mMVvrv0Htt6wM_Gn5LI6IcdQlXhm67PCBNafHcGh1ihETg6wOqRdUWJTaEXndsHCVibEd_8NVVkAEV2_PfbQFY_yMEJ5uGSWGnTF8YtMwVf4N9iC4AS_3Y8_2LMAikHg1G1LqQ-lVIPQz2dZHx9US4yH0qxWK8mwls05sNsz4lga-w/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SpinningTop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HOYXHjBL5Mb-mMVvrv0Htt6wM_Gn5LI6IcdQlXhm67PCBNafHcGh1ihETg6wOqRdUWJTaEXndsHCVibEd_8NVVkAEV2_PfbQFY_yMEJ5uGSWGnTF8YtMwVf4N9iC4AS_3Y8_2LMAikHg1G1LqQ-lVIPQz2dZHx9US4yH0qxWK8mwls05sNsz4lga-w/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SpinningTop.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Taking the sub | Right: Careful with that spinning top</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">What I like the most about this game are the numerously creative and inventive scenarios to overcome specific obstacles, even those with helpful items exclusive to certain areas: walking through a roller where it ends with a gate rising up and dropping down, hopping to the upper region by perfectly timing your jumps through retractable platforms, finding a pair of tennis rackets to walk through the thick snow, riding a sled, safely being escorted to the other side by a whale after feeding it fish, cautiously maneuvering around a beach filled with landmines, running against the curre</span><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">nt until you reach the end, being shot out of the cannon towards the position you pushed the switch beforehand,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t2-pQvLzaxrgwI4D_h9LqfH5kiXAbMcwofFRCSuHszOmjZUJ-t8MiRX2nfrbwKzhMYT52HTxVRS4p8dQhRgO34LuJPKRAXbrj0MKwp2rG6_ssVdXQkVjxTP4JfKVHgWtAbwHrbfYHgHjDqVFhKZwMgeaJorRj6YWhYxo_bsHQWWWOtX7y7eJDldBWQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-HighLowCard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t2-pQvLzaxrgwI4D_h9LqfH5kiXAbMcwofFRCSuHszOmjZUJ-t8MiRX2nfrbwKzhMYT52HTxVRS4p8dQhRgO34LuJPKRAXbrj0MKwp2rG6_ssVdXQkVjxTP4JfKVHgWtAbwHrbfYHgHjDqVFhKZwMgeaJorRj6YWhYxo_bsHQWWWOtX7y7eJDldBWQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-HighLowCard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZTV84s0xmkgP0eEbsdODeBP3D8AIE85KxMRBx_-RZ5zWT35tcnFsv0nyWyX3fhgS_nEtC2GtPT5KWUtpc-dMMQKO9Lo_BUFxs_IMwt_b5A6G3B5fnCcb6IQE6gwJXOThDW1oFHyR7SdOANcjq4ajSlZJTe8QzC7MaZYyoyskLHHJGuGtOFsQ8giFOA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Slots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZTV84s0xmkgP0eEbsdODeBP3D8AIE85KxMRBx_-RZ5zWT35tcnFsv0nyWyX3fhgS_nEtC2GtPT5KWUtpc-dMMQKO9Lo_BUFxs_IMwt_b5A6G3B5fnCcb6IQE6gwJXOThDW1oFHyR7SdOANcjq4ajSlZJTe8QzC7MaZYyoyskLHHJGuGtOFsQ8giFOA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Slots.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>♠<b> | Right: Get all three red symbols and win a prize</b></span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">jumping through a series of puddles and hopping from one funnel to another, stepping on the "Hi" or "Lo" switches which slowly create a path for you should you have pressed the proper switch relating to the card it landed on, gathering a few coins to play the slots which will spit out a bridge of coins should you win, riding a knight chess piece through a zig zag pattern, and collecting the individual combination numbers to the safe so you can enter it, et al. There are even rare instances where you're forced to touch a bottle of poison which slowly drains Whizz's health until you come across a nearby first aid kit. All this and more does a nice job of keeping the proceedings fresh.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0LIpM-USBI1Pg9nQoPu0HsX61WS_xsnokdr_4HxqrVJuWmhNmtBpTBhhlAxhw65cg6sXFJ0K0Ul8LMcAwBn7v83slA7-fWU3f7NDoULc-9rLs7DlgFsvVi-daXfjwZvhME8WAszLMjUb4hpWgnqI4_PpR-w7WelAgYcy-LTQpJ7HNAEztUkOkm9CqA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Chess.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0LIpM-USBI1Pg9nQoPu0HsX61WS_xsnokdr_4HxqrVJuWmhNmtBpTBhhlAxhw65cg6sXFJ0K0Ul8LMcAwBn7v83slA7-fWU3f7NDoULc-9rLs7DlgFsvVi-daXfjwZvhME8WAszLMjUb4hpWgnqI4_PpR-w7WelAgYcy-LTQpJ7HNAEztUkOkm9CqA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Chess.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Qf43eZoEqZ0sGF_1oZJ_GJueWsCEf_u8NnOXtOiv5rE4szcwSzRY-ZN8zJGMZoBs8TbqJTTqWRItsCG04maoRpJAVJlDKTro7UkMu7yPrhYnDxvpCVnRVKQBQmb_4zsz28KWkZ1tn0w2coow2_d3naGI23ZTDVcQtibl9lxg4e97nxYoXuW60kSOg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SentientBomb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Qf43eZoEqZ0sGF_1oZJ_GJueWsCEf_u8NnOXtOiv5rE4szcwSzRY-ZN8zJGMZoBs8TbqJTTqWRItsCG04maoRpJAVJlDKTro7UkMu7yPrhYnDxvpCVnRVKQBQmb_4zsz28KWkZ1tn0w2coow2_d3naGI23ZTDVcQtibl9lxg4e97nxYoXuW60kSOg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-SentientBomb.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Wait for the bishop to move from its spot to exit the chess playing field | Right: You'll occasionally come across sentient bombs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">There is also a decent amount replay value going for this game as the area designs are fairly nonlinear and there are certain times where there is more than one way to reach a specific point, there is no right or wrong way in this regard. You can pretty much explore to your heart's content (time willing), and <i>Whizz</i> is also one of those games that rewards your thorough search for it might lead to a secret compartment or a nearby rocket to blastoff.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DecXOAC8o-97XUda4UDdp8wd5_CsJrkmWuZDiYBLUYr0oz6cml-PpWIEo9jn8TDmNVgmBlfjooyqMNUOcEnV4_aL1sq1jQcuhiWIplXougFlaTGUvBF8h-9YxgWuE56X6u81VrkZCrVj9HvocbxTg-TdYKaEESVc54qCLg468g5ProoTJIz7VXg-4w/s389/Whizz_SNES-Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DecXOAC8o-97XUda4UDdp8wd5_CsJrkmWuZDiYBLUYr0oz6cml-PpWIEo9jn8TDmNVgmBlfjooyqMNUOcEnV4_aL1sq1jQcuhiWIplXougFlaTGUvBF8h-9YxgWuE56X6u81VrkZCrVj9HvocbxTg-TdYKaEESVc54qCLg468g5ProoTJIz7VXg-4w/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-Rocket.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3tKj8CS97SM3Ru0TQRSdIJ75vr_9CakFW-hUNwHe3Clz9M-_QUZaZ3yaNNAJXqB1N6Mv1K6peus9I_oE_ZnqLVt7Fye2zPm6WtjC1gGr0hftB1zl4lt6jwFSCMmdYdjkfkKw_QMfs47GCNmG4IxV7SawHa2GAdmdHQqYzJOn3cw7E5tw3cpD8Z23tg/s389/Whizz_SNES-Ship.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3tKj8CS97SM3Ru0TQRSdIJ75vr_9CakFW-hUNwHe3Clz9M-_QUZaZ3yaNNAJXqB1N6Mv1K6peus9I_oE_ZnqLVt7Fye2zPm6WtjC1gGr0hftB1zl4lt6jwFSCMmdYdjkfkKw_QMfs47GCNmG4IxV7SawHa2GAdmdHQqYzJOn3cw7E5tw3cpD8Z23tg/w200-h155/Whizz_SNES-Ship.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I do like how each version has him wear differently colored attire: red in the MS-DOS original, cyan on the Amiga, blue in the SNES, and purple in the 32-bit edition</span></b></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">One of the failings of the SNES version of <i>Whizz</i> is the lack of a proper setup in-game because you're thrust there without any context given to you. Nintendo probably took issue with the original intro with the rat using its shotgun to shoot at Whizz's hot-air balloon therefore causing him to plummet to the ground, but with the 32-bit edition they changed it from that to having a bird fly fast and peck it, so... Titus could've used literally anything, <b>anything</b>, but they didn't. In regards to the title character in the SNES version I felt there was very little in the way of charm,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x2Jn-SC7apfY8C_R2lGzmU02SchBdYoGkVTFL_QRmtJnsTozPHIQi8u6v7WMCxEe0yYC5bgy4u_xM4md_ZpK4PGcXrgXqyY8WfFHk1zPz-IdIDpumVP3MHfC3apWIK8tTDb6VbXSGETljkLgoUcxXWacqzi--vb_cI5crAum6aBNQbJhU3RCVnl6Jw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Checkers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x2Jn-SC7apfY8C_R2lGzmU02SchBdYoGkVTFL_QRmtJnsTozPHIQi8u6v7WMCxEe0yYC5bgy4u_xM4md_ZpK4PGcXrgXqyY8WfFHk1zPz-IdIDpumVP3MHfC3apWIK8tTDb6VbXSGETljkLgoUcxXWacqzi--vb_cI5crAum6aBNQbJhU3RCVnl6Jw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Checkers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL7LQWPcnhvLUHkR4lGhgNXGgJo2vZR8ltHDmQQ-poK2_vDZXjLn-rH7T42mqj06Dh4CLShH4cyk0FCYrjXvYxJzO6b88ZbN4qiZshE9ILDm9tHvM7sSWRNfGdrONoecjzm5gKGNkanol3P_tP0CemNKrohOXgKFIObJc_8sKyazcIxOvEKAbPBtwRQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Dart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL7LQWPcnhvLUHkR4lGhgNXGgJo2vZR8ltHDmQQ-poK2_vDZXjLn-rH7T42mqj06Dh4CLShH4cyk0FCYrjXvYxJzO6b88ZbN4qiZshE9ILDm9tHvM7sSWRNfGdrONoecjzm5gKGNkanol3P_tP0CemNKrohOXgKFIObJc_8sKyazcIxOvEKAbPBtwRQ/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Dart.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Jump over the checker pieces to remove them (red or blue, it's up to you) | Right: Heeheehee, look at Whizz riding the dart as if it were a broomstick, that's hilarious </b>🤭</span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">but with the 32-bit edition that's a different story: Whizz is fluffier, adorns a likable shade of purple, his eyes are blue, his animation is smooth, and has got endearing idle animations. Now <b>that</b>'s a dapper rabbit that's worth going "awww" over, and the Japanese cover really helps with that. 😍 On top of the Saturn version having smooth scrolling, not only is it the best <i>Whizz</i> has ever looked out of the two versions I've played, it is also the best Whizz the rabbit has ever looked as well (CG cutscene model notwithstanding).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW0ZHpGhs-Y9WDvqf-AKkzAcUjvx_Nd9AdEoNaMXgtpGTzDxLQBeQHOr62mDL7pgm6xvwaGmpF_C9-104YVTT1lk9qlCgo66-8fGk-OeRORb9rjI4WRvk-JjSUaoA9x0BdqAuwhmPu8zQnsBrhjAaeqM5ucnBVPdGdgPUF35fIAnVm8GbwKH1ODAbbg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-KnightRider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW0ZHpGhs-Y9WDvqf-AKkzAcUjvx_Nd9AdEoNaMXgtpGTzDxLQBeQHOr62mDL7pgm6xvwaGmpF_C9-104YVTT1lk9qlCgo66-8fGk-OeRORb9rjI4WRvk-JjSUaoA9x0BdqAuwhmPu8zQnsBrhjAaeqM5ucnBVPdGdgPUF35fIAnVm8GbwKH1ODAbbg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-KnightRider.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF8H2ZcQ_MJx7VcB97Yp-OFGcgR9KB6DRTPAsFHQTQgZbtKu1t3HS_u-tQMlYRYZB6CqLCHoTSF5HqjA5MB3u9NzkzygBTzrPRHiQ5VmH_nvr4abPdUfZhizsZCPu7Jdg3GsEipGUmBmNaZkX3L7jxfJd7R272YEgeAAmU5F0pYYEBJhqSZJFtchrzw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CardPropelled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF8H2ZcQ_MJx7VcB97Yp-OFGcgR9KB6DRTPAsFHQTQgZbtKu1t3HS_u-tQMlYRYZB6CqLCHoTSF5HqjA5MB3u9NzkzygBTzrPRHiQ5VmH_nvr4abPdUfZhizsZCPu7Jdg3GsEipGUmBmNaZkX3L7jxfJd7R272YEgeAAmU5F0pYYEBJhqSZJFtchrzw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-CardPropelled.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Whizz is a real knight rider | Right: Card propulsion system</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">When it came to promoting and marketing the game, the gaming press felt the need to use inappropriate urination jokes simply based on the title choice, and quite honestly I feel that was very unfortunate. They're out of place, one, they're not respectful to gamers and children alike, two (not to mention very lazy), but also they sound less like an endorsement to play the game and more like a total turnoff. It's retroactively embarrassing that no one in the business said, "Woe betide anyone who genuinely thinks jokes like these are a good idea". 😩 <i>Whizz</i> deserved so much better than that.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jjT-v-15kNIYEebxWX6u7hUg21FkfnakXLHBM2goZm3xKsiwK4F8E8D-DBLm_ugGvugvBiw7gwxKVh_IK7NhvNAOsFZXBTKp0kdZaf-9_57zSuNILpgklNKgVQKOaPoLnwC8A_9liGPFKkzyr8gRyAgGpWTuSBSL9OuccnfjMwLlrcwJOcXAMtsxvA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-CoinBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jjT-v-15kNIYEebxWX6u7hUg21FkfnakXLHBM2goZm3xKsiwK4F8E8D-DBLm_ugGvugvBiw7gwxKVh_IK7NhvNAOsFZXBTKp0kdZaf-9_57zSuNILpgklNKgVQKOaPoLnwC8A_9liGPFKkzyr8gRyAgGpWTuSBSL9OuccnfjMwLlrcwJOcXAMtsxvA/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-CoinBridge.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGxoq-b3aHwRFOaGInLrF6Mvp_gPalZZzFmD-ZmFAOOM-0nS3U_03dUNYQSSJJeo8RuU9rCGRVe5vCppp_tiieUwJjXXmBojXgOR6bvaVEyiWH0-qy1M-ajw1vGkasZYMGzgo4Zo5nQiQF4--_99qeCMsGOmeC7AEjnEoY9wA4zCZuX7ulpogZdMawg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-HealthyMushroom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGxoq-b3aHwRFOaGInLrF6Mvp_gPalZZzFmD-ZmFAOOM-0nS3U_03dUNYQSSJJeo8RuU9rCGRVe5vCppp_tiieUwJjXXmBojXgOR6bvaVEyiWH0-qy1M-ajw1vGkasZYMGzgo4Zo5nQiQF4--_99qeCMsGOmeC7AEjnEoY9wA4zCZuX7ulpogZdMawg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-HealthyMushroom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Crossing a bridge of coins | Right: Healthy mushroom </b>🍄</span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">There are better games that share the isometric perspective, on the Sega Saturn and elsewhere, like Tamsoft's <i>SteamGear Mash</i> and Traveller's Tales' <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i>/<i>Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island</i> for instance but taken on its own merits <i>Whizz</i> is pleasantly lighthearted nondemanding fun while it lasts in the forty or so minutes it takes to beat it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGIMl3aZPQ8x3sEyXuFgq9ex2HmJDKfZxDstUGwG4MiSEs7hkx2mLK91Tck0IYjiNkLagekM2tMeon-DE8lGTCJsaK4qt2G65Tp26FCqtsy9rvyNrutkb3Yng9OBdfuM9qly9T2MYLHECMVOhkMjReROyud-rL4HmcnNX6gL78LjlnezGVVHrfJirkg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Balloon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGIMl3aZPQ8x3sEyXuFgq9ex2HmJDKfZxDstUGwG4MiSEs7hkx2mLK91Tck0IYjiNkLagekM2tMeon-DE8lGTCJsaK4qt2G65Tp26FCqtsy9rvyNrutkb3Yng9OBdfuM9qly9T2MYLHECMVOhkMjReROyud-rL4HmcnNX6gL78LjlnezGVVHrfJirkg/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Balloon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKWodCDrjWNYREeWe0rkbSJpl_oSQqw0KICENSQH0PEDy5tVPH64d27-6R3R9bN3Jr_9WLUigb1nCPJPPOblC6jN0UdANQbVJUzlWkriaTkjQJLT0tQNFRr-D7yFyrW-aOZ5PUyb5ZvP2pY9F3v97PDp3Jni_zjJX_DyCI6dj1UvMZampcTbiMFSVzw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Finished.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="388" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKWodCDrjWNYREeWe0rkbSJpl_oSQqw0KICENSQH0PEDy5tVPH64d27-6R3R9bN3Jr_9WLUigb1nCPJPPOblC6jN0UdANQbVJUzlWkriaTkjQJLT0tQNFRr-D7yFyrW-aOZ5PUyb5ZvP2pY9F3v97PDp3Jni_zjJX_DyCI6dj1UvMZampcTbiMFSVzw/w200-h158/Whizz_Saturn-Finished.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Carried over by a balloon as big as him </b>🎈<b> | Right: Finished </b>🏁</span></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;">Chances are more people have played <i>Whizz</i> on the SNES than anywhere else due its availability in North America outside of just Europe, but if you own a Sega Saturn console and an Action Replay Plus cartridge (if you live in North America) I do recommend checking out the Japanese version to see how it compares to the 16-bit take <b>or</b> if you haven't played the game in any format and are simply curious to play it. Personally, I consider this to be best version of the dapper rabbit's venture.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSZGM-7-lyWdn8136yK8Tduqi_uAZkjsWAJn9JuLhMqYyAx5wsRCfCdKO8jENLBuLKjVzg26xGdaYsgYShHZRs5-OGfbIxfIyFWrHmw4rUOgVz1qa55EsO01bzTzJ7FOfStiZBk3GfwdRHXvXw-EvlqnbsguCYVnL5JC_yd4UL48Jn_fUub9xwZrgw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-WellDone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSZGM-7-lyWdn8136yK8Tduqi_uAZkjsWAJn9JuLhMqYyAx5wsRCfCdKO8jENLBuLKjVzg26xGdaYsgYShHZRs5-OGfbIxfIyFWrHmw4rUOgVz1qa55EsO01bzTzJ7FOfStiZBk3GfwdRHXvXw-EvlqnbsguCYVnL5JC_yd4UL48Jn_fUub9xwZrgw/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-WellDone.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 6.5/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhhzNyeu-WaELwEu4fHTbhf44YnHA-SG3nB52KGXnj2pwKnOk9MAZGubcr-qItoqMHudCOCYfxQlDpNOOrSFqV8fl42oaPDSQt-dyxu3GRzPjcwPQg8TLsNUrzCfR7pZcMckEi1WF19HFaSlrypeKYaoA6oNtVkhcreU0gdAmEF3yQbr0JJ6JAWKw8A/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhhzNyeu-WaELwEu4fHTbhf44YnHA-SG3nB52KGXnj2pwKnOk9MAZGubcr-qItoqMHudCOCYfxQlDpNOOrSFqV8fl42oaPDSQt-dyxu3GRzPjcwPQg8TLsNUrzCfR7pZcMckEi1WF19HFaSlrypeKYaoA6oNtVkhcreU0gdAmEF3yQbr0JJ6JAWKw8A/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● In irrelevant news, last week while it was free to watch on YouTube I saw John Carpenter's movie adaptation of H.F. Saint's <i>Memoirs of an Invisible Man</i>. I liked watching Chevy Chase take on a serious role which he did a good job at, the chemistry between him and Daryl Hannah was very charming, I liked the late Shirley Walker's soundtrack (especially the love theme), ILM's invisibility effects hold up well for 1992, William A. Fraker's cinematography was enthralling, Sam Neill's Jenkins was such a deplorable villain but damn if he didn't play the role with such charisma, I liked seeing Donald Li again in a bit role after <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, it was refreshing to have an invisibility story that highlighted the negative aspects of the condition (even if said condition occurred in a cliched fashion, it's hard not to feel empathy for Nick) and on the whole I thought it was enjoyable. I didn't see it as a comedy, though, there were some funny bits but I saw it as more of a drama, thriller, and romance. I do feel a bit bad for liking it given I read that Chase and Hannah gave John Carpenter trouble during production, but still I can't deny that I liked it. Not top-tier Carpenter, mind, but I thought it was well-made.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Also in irrelevant news, this week while it was free to watch on YouTube I watched Robert Zemeckis' <i>Romancing the Stone</i> for the first time, it was nice to finally watch one of the influences of the Nee Brothers' <i>The Lost City</i> from last year (which I liked, but that's neither here nor there). Wow, what a quick-paced and enjoyable film this was, oh my goodness, Dean Cundey's cinematography was superb as always, Alan Silvestri's music was fantastic, the late Diane Thomas' screenplay was <b>so</b> good (it's so sad how she was taken so soon), and Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner both were so good and had a believable chemistry! 😃 Danny DeVito's Ralph was alright, I wasn't really invested in his character. Amazing to think that Douglas had a busy production career in 1984 with producing this movie and executive producing John Carpenter's <i>Starman</i> (which I loved). I wouldn't mind watching the sequel <i>The Jewel of the Nile</i> by Lewis Teague one day (I caught a tiny bit of it on TV one time but that's it), even though I read that it had a troubled production, I want to see more Jack Colton and Joan Wilder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ae00ff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care!</b> 🙂</span></span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-31506627671308109182023-05-18T17:07:00.013-05:002023-11-23T19:57:21.259-06:00Ardy Lightfoot (SFC) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #52cbff;">🦊 <b>Received: August 11th, 2014 </b>🦊<b> Written: May 4th-18th, 2023</b> 🦊</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJzlVZ0I8c0WB5Is6OYl-nOGF4JB0kCxHzE6FJB5olnlZuVxWhk1rP2urTpprAaAjsI8ROSr_I4UdihexO8cU8HbACYHlyimAQ_vndBsIa24y9ZmAF-utvka15pOeI2gKcW0ntbkcO4HmiPhf3zYfQlsMp2vVNNctv81gnVNYuLYJ-Ib86Nt5tXyZVg/s355/ArdyLightfoot_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJzlVZ0I8c0WB5Is6OYl-nOGF4JB0kCxHzE6FJB5olnlZuVxWhk1rP2urTpprAaAjsI8ROSr_I4UdihexO8cU8HbACYHlyimAQ_vndBsIa24y9ZmAF-utvka15pOeI2gKcW0ntbkcO4HmiPhf3zYfQlsMp2vVNNctv81gnVNYuLYJ-Ib86Nt5tXyZVg/s16000/ArdyLightfoot_Title.png" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #52cbff;">Year: 1993 | Developed and Published by: ASCII | </span><span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEcjM_SqQ4Xit56fE-rpNqxUYSYnKrILfwnjsTLqciSYGntJz0aeaDjZvRa2W2CZKnP9t18fUuADfJ2rvQkTULnfYeKrEwLe85HKH3H-vz0R0Egwgxb5MY8uUeKwfH41s6_1ldBzgjQcAa0pRuDcwxTvrRouvgZWb7IJqaY1nHIC8TeIWO-Cpj-H58g/s160/ASCII_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="160" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEcjM_SqQ4Xit56fE-rpNqxUYSYnKrILfwnjsTLqciSYGntJz0aeaDjZvRa2W2CZKnP9t18fUuADfJ2rvQkTULnfYeKrEwLe85HKH3H-vz0R0Egwgxb5MY8uUeKwfH41s6_1ldBzgjQcAa0pRuDcwxTvrRouvgZWb7IJqaY1nHIC8TeIWO-Cpj-H58g/s1600/ASCII_Logo.png" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">ASCII is also an acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange</span></b></div></span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">On May 24th, 1977, Kazuhiko Nishi and Keiichiro Tsukamoto founded a corporation based in Chiyoda, Tokyo that went by the name of <b>ASCII</b> which was originally a publisher for their self-titled magazine until a meeting between Nishi and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates led to the creation of their first overseas sales office, ASCII Microsoft, the following year. During their tenure ASCII would be one of two companies along with Microsoft who worked on the MSX personal gaming computer,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuUNaNOV0CAzIheAXOiEz105LriV1tvEVZm92dkfWDF3ZormgYFw6i4o6dI8KQ_QDwlGy6tVFP-YJMveCwZl11PQ9Xvyn5cz0lZzSA3u4Y14EpjpMoTUNfroKQOr6xS-etr4VekQNCPokjDXItQkO7lvNhjLZN66QALx-C498qCTEsIb4iHOZ29PfHg/s381/DerbyStallion3_MajesticStallion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuUNaNOV0CAzIheAXOiEz105LriV1tvEVZm92dkfWDF3ZormgYFw6i4o6dI8KQ_QDwlGy6tVFP-YJMveCwZl11PQ9Xvyn5cz0lZzSA3u4Y14EpjpMoTUNfroKQOr6xS-etr4VekQNCPokjDXItQkO7lvNhjLZN66QALx-C498qCTEsIb4iHOZ29PfHg/s16000/DerbyStallion3_MajesticStallion.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">created the <i>Derby Stallion</i> horse-racing and business simulation as well as the game creation software </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><i>RPG Tsukūru</i>/<i>RPG Maker</i> franchises, </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">and acted as the Japanese publisher for a multitude of titles such as the Sharp X68000 versions of Success' </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Keeper</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> and Hudson Soft's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Bomberman: Panic Bomber</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ2nygdBctBlJJ_aZXfXHjo3TOYXsjpb72SB6fMdhpsgbEcdKCVR6rm7nsYNQBFfSeHOGX6HwWf3RzECWNN0ClzF6Scl_qqUiy4B6-qGNa67wQFahxTnbWH7dUs3Wly-UvH74Uu84JdLqJvh4hTNQ4GsDZxawGiJNmvKTCgy8oGQamtXU5G0dScqKJQ/s381/GanpuruGunmansProof_Robaton.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ2nygdBctBlJJ_aZXfXHjo3TOYXsjpb72SB6fMdhpsgbEcdKCVR6rm7nsYNQBFfSeHOGX6HwWf3RzECWNN0ClzF6Scl_qqUiy4B6-qGNa67wQFahxTnbWH7dUs3Wly-UvH74Uu84JdLqJvh4hTNQ4GsDZxawGiJNmvKTCgy8oGQamtXU5G0dScqKJQ/w200-h156/GanpuruGunmansProof_Robaton.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqG3cmFSqT1k0dghxucQXQmlW0hk1sPHvLT2E7n1r9QiJ2kQqbFbe3SUc8X6MRcFOlzrcBnYM4XpQk19NeEMKppgqzT232gvUYbhqF5fVHGn9xEFTvo7G2TE2roSuuD0kglaYXdn3m85YhXMQNXOACfZu_H3M1emfeTR9ujff5gsWOL45nbHpwcOdB1Q/s373/Moon_House.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="373" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqG3cmFSqT1k0dghxucQXQmlW0hk1sPHvLT2E7n1r9QiJ2kQqbFbe3SUc8X6MRcFOlzrcBnYM4XpQk19NeEMKppgqzT232gvUYbhqF5fVHGn9xEFTvo7G2TE2roSuuD0kglaYXdn3m85YhXMQNXOACfZu_H3M1emfeTR9ujff5gsWOL45nbHpwcOdB1Q/w200-h161/Moon_House.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Lenar's <i>Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof</i>, SAS Sakata's <i>Dark Law: Meaning of Death</i>, Sting's <i>Solid Runner</i>, Love-de-Lic's trilogy of games <i>Moon: Remix RPG Adventure</i>, <i>UFO: A Day in the Life</i>, and <i>L.O.L.: Lack of Love</i>, AlfaSystem and MARS Corporation's <i>Linda³: Kanzenban</i>, and Polygon Magic's <i>Galerians</i>, just to name several.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGriwAEqVyOLLa4xBHmosrE_h1llwb_yTpCyIi7mp2J765T_CERd68OXqceoTiIe2v9I-USm0snOQz2r2pseeVx4xfumJXVg-NgvHoVkiz-GzvKxkdkerSVEyButrKz6zGyt2toWkbI43Jxr6i7dGQKj0q8gXcNPK27BWEjbBNN2Xvt7cw1OgJMx4krw/s161/ASCIIMediaWorks_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="87" data-original-width="161" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGriwAEqVyOLLa4xBHmosrE_h1llwb_yTpCyIi7mp2J765T_CERd68OXqceoTiIe2v9I-USm0snOQz2r2pseeVx4xfumJXVg-NgvHoVkiz-GzvKxkdkerSVEyButrKz6zGyt2toWkbI43Jxr6i7dGQKj0q8gXcNPK27BWEjbBNN2Xvt7cw1OgJMx4krw/s1600/ASCIIMediaWorks_Logo.png" width="161" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Over thirty years after ASCII was founded it would merge with MediaWorks to become ASCII Media Works on April 1st, 2008 (and that's no April Fool's joke) and eventually became an internal division for their parent company the Kadokawa Corporation.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cXKeyXPA4Z1CFZiyxvXvRsndSMBotzIr1kaRya-qYjrJF84LP91hoklxpPfKOWepi3mK8GL3uZahbFiR9dmGgwrCOcuyVv8WUTU9KGkmS6ckiA_T1YEY05u_YNqV61WcgN49bXeTJNc1fzE7r4qBNmq9bLdM0KFcmevUNFiiz2QCjK-RGP3M8-b2zQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_ArdyTeam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cXKeyXPA4Z1CFZiyxvXvRsndSMBotzIr1kaRya-qYjrJF84LP91hoklxpPfKOWepi3mK8GL3uZahbFiR9dmGgwrCOcuyVv8WUTU9KGkmS6ckiA_T1YEY05u_YNqV61WcgN49bXeTJNc1fzE7r4qBNmq9bLdM0KFcmevUNFiiz2QCjK-RGP3M8-b2zQ/s16000/ArdyLightfoot_ArdyTeam.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">One of the games ASCII developed and published in Japan was their Super Famicom vehicle <i style="font-weight: bold;">Ardy Lightfoot</i>, which would be localized for the Western SNES by <b>Titus Interactive</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zRjdxxhxIUrT_eBAgogSXJdgWBjyUYsymdprBgYnTW4YK2x0N95zYdyWlaARhwgWfpY9bHauw0odua904B_W-sHBFh-K_EmVnFzoCeBMsvNTEmVVsSgkf5-ZU1OfpJXAyojTVLHvvy_yS0yi7_u7_1XWQ9REtk2Q4glIks7dKahwfowVjtf9E9SemA/s226/Titus_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="206" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zRjdxxhxIUrT_eBAgogSXJdgWBjyUYsymdprBgYnTW4YK2x0N95zYdyWlaARhwgWfpY9bHauw0odua904B_W-sHBFh-K_EmVnFzoCeBMsvNTEmVVsSgkf5-ZU1OfpJXAyojTVLHvvy_yS0yi7_u7_1XWQ9REtk2Q4glIks7dKahwfowVjtf9E9SemA/s1600/Titus_Logo.png" width="206" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Initially known as "Titus France SA", Titus was a Lagny-sur-Marne-based French video game company founded in 1985 by the Caen brothers Eric and </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Hervé who ported games</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgftf48fTcYpBhQI5aRb7iVnMjsnYZdpjbumdyg6Vcca0EXp00feIkx42fJZ5jX-RAWemvRaUmmZpCsrBydwzhFARZpGG8xqPUwhr2QDLejWUeeXMx6I2b9kueSKsaXqaRoY7hyfAgjn64FQ4UhfgrwqBzgviNrz7vy6Tt6QLMuhx-r9tvAJHiMbPBg/s382/Whizz_Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgftf48fTcYpBhQI5aRb7iVnMjsnYZdpjbumdyg6Vcca0EXp00feIkx42fJZ5jX-RAWemvRaUmmZpCsrBydwzhFARZpGG8xqPUwhr2QDLejWUeeXMx6I2b9kueSKsaXqaRoY7hyfAgjn64FQ4UhfgrwqBzgviNrz7vy6Tt6QLMuhx-r9tvAJHiMbPBg/w200-h155/Whizz_Rocket.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8ayx1Q-Pk_ZD8QDwnjbOqrqi5Pm3q_oAKuJwcOcGj7RaYbRyFA_mZ1xSMSl6FdGCIxgjA179hr4IyGCD0TVbtBbJiKgsxy8aRYRYXF7_ZTGtrfrVnW1wnkhg1igB-x1qRT6Mz9OKPQIOapmNF2I0qXrDZZACi7ystUqwklZLnSLMgTwaaFiafzqDlg/s382/Whizz_Spin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8ayx1Q-Pk_ZD8QDwnjbOqrqi5Pm3q_oAKuJwcOcGj7RaYbRyFA_mZ1xSMSl6FdGCIxgjA179hr4IyGCD0TVbtBbJiKgsxy8aRYRYXF7_ZTGtrfrVnW1wnkhg1igB-x1qRT6Mz9OKPQIOapmNF2I0qXrDZZACi7ystUqwklZLnSLMgTwaaFiafzqDlg/w200-h155/Whizz_Spin.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">such as Flair Software's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Oscar</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Whizz</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> as well as Brøderbund's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> to the SNES format, published Rare's Game Boy game </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Monster Max</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> and Radical Entertainment's SNES-exclusive </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Power Piggs of the Dark Age</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_99fIe85FOvF3F37RHLDSKhe85WKW9ksha_GnF5qbwbzx7aSDkjJpyI_t_Q1gqbr7QJ1cgDHA3Q1sVZNugs9RvORlOEf1qCovOuE3vG2Mqo9ApDIe7_FTf4RaNIrIyhkR98UzYJM1yGC6OVHxBDYQM6BqqeFLiqkVLMc-XVhrKUcmjrmFoTfoqHwaw/s380/WildGuns_CarsonCity-Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="380" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_99fIe85FOvF3F37RHLDSKhe85WKW9ksha_GnF5qbwbzx7aSDkjJpyI_t_Q1gqbr7QJ1cgDHA3Q1sVZNugs9RvORlOEf1qCovOuE3vG2Mqo9ApDIe7_FTf4RaNIrIyhkR98UzYJM1yGC6OVHxBDYQM6BqqeFLiqkVLMc-XVhrKUcmjrmFoTfoqHwaw/w200-h148/WildGuns_CarsonCity-Boss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9I6ZnTjkcj1A5izRTnJ4d4qkjIr4DWqdYAVQI4wguoWlzpOQ7dIMyuBvx8XuWfTt4KK3kO7zlOVq4Bb1O036Fs2D2ixgXUVd0VXboh1Hr3dLxlyP58c0aK9CXnvhkWiwSlT8clQ5EJj8ShVz2CQQJTmoqF0SjLEZj7rmxad-0Poki_oPULrSq3AWcQ/s380/WildGuns_AmmunitionDepot-VulcanGun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="380" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9I6ZnTjkcj1A5izRTnJ4d4qkjIr4DWqdYAVQI4wguoWlzpOQ7dIMyuBvx8XuWfTt4KK3kO7zlOVq4Bb1O036Fs2D2ixgXUVd0VXboh1Hr3dLxlyP58c0aK9CXnvhkWiwSlT8clQ5EJj8ShVz2CQQJTmoqF0SjLEZj7rmxad-0Poki_oPULrSq3AWcQ/w200-h148/WildGuns_AmmunitionDepot-VulcanGun.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The original is great, but <i>Wild Guns Reloaded</i> is even <u>better</u> in my book</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">and served as the European publisher for the PAL releases of Natsume's SNES games <i>The Ninja Warriors</i> and <i>Wild Guns</i>. Outside of that, Titus also developed games of their own such as </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><i>Lagaf': Les Aventures de Moktar — Vol 1: La Zoubida</i> which they would also retool as <i>Titus the Fox: To Marrakech and Back</i> based on their mascot, <i>Super Cauldron</i>, the <i>Prehistorik</i> series, <i>Incantation</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtx-V5-WfefBHhsgNdDNKvz53qy5wpD49BYdBQwWLTUR6Wp_0IpttMW4PcvaCzOJx3BLMMZfKe2kWVyhrEkaZYflc1fsMJ7G1j2zxOLTlgOJZXg5d9uiRRZZiJgbMsDwGKcX4t-TrzrRzumvsdi9711RSq3zu-ZPUaXKx_KniYMFEAhx-9-dESP6EXQ/s246/QuestForCamelot_Village.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="246" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtx-V5-WfefBHhsgNdDNKvz53qy5wpD49BYdBQwWLTUR6Wp_0IpttMW4PcvaCzOJx3BLMMZfKe2kWVyhrEkaZYflc1fsMJ7G1j2zxOLTlgOJZXg5d9uiRRZZiJgbMsDwGKcX4t-TrzrRzumvsdi9711RSq3zu-ZPUaXKx_KniYMFEAhx-9-dESP6EXQ/w200-h183/QuestForCamelot_Village.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c4g0N4SPmxWNNsRABx5_-pgO-XCHNuhF2lZtg-hYo5EWhalXXU3iZ5F6_a08CG2aDWiOVNZaH94hL0bCAE8Ww8mmYk5Coq9WihC4vJzi1eUHXXEqJRutvW3Bb06iuCCd6xzwbCxitU8lKxvSdI8gVL5c8pmYrRckRV-WCh8w1Uhqja4DhH_usvWJFQ/s246/QuestForCamelot_SpiderCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="246" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c4g0N4SPmxWNNsRABx5_-pgO-XCHNuhF2lZtg-hYo5EWhalXXU3iZ5F6_a08CG2aDWiOVNZaH94hL0bCAE8Ww8mmYk5Coq9WihC4vJzi1eUHXXEqJRutvW3Bb06iuCCd6xzwbCxitU8lKxvSdI8gVL5c8pmYrRckRV-WCh8w1Uhqja4DhH_usvWJFQ/w200-h183/QuestForCamelot_SpiderCave.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">a</span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">nd licensed games based on Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi's The Blues Brothers band, <i>Quest for Camelot</i> for the Game Boy Color based on the Warner Bros. animated film, and <i>Xena: Warrior Princess</i> for the Game Boy Color which was based on the hit Lucy Lawless TV series produced by Sam Raimi.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruJAbzgIJOaCP1l1EYevAy2OvDK4dvxPObXcPnlBBYaaDgN2DkK9Kis6HrnAKa20_ZiiqizlRYfeVnpjVUt5fqjBph92oe6jECgYuLx-aKtwJsI9e7vyqFy938gnzmHDPfYWdBTkm4d_jo2I0UeiWpS7tkN3RKbO_gRVeCg0JdgGVyXgA7eIb0Fk4wQ/s480/Superman64_RingMaze.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruJAbzgIJOaCP1l1EYevAy2OvDK4dvxPObXcPnlBBYaaDgN2DkK9Kis6HrnAKa20_ZiiqizlRYfeVnpjVUt5fqjBph92oe6jECgYuLx-aKtwJsI9e7vyqFy938gnzmHDPfYWdBTkm4d_jo2I0UeiWpS7tkN3RKbO_gRVeCg0JdgGVyXgA7eIb0Fk4wQ/s16000/Superman64_RingMaze.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching World of Longplays' playthrough video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">Titus also worked on the Nintendo 64 game <i>Superman: The New Superman Adventures</i> based on the '90s <i>Animated Series</i> centering on DC Comics' iconic superhero. Their 64-bit console adaptation suffered from a heavily troubled production primarily owed to persistently combative studio interference and meddling by the licensor Warner Bros., with the end result being a title that was received so poorly that many who played it consider it to be among the worst video games ever made which ended up tarnishing Titus' reputation and resulted in the cancellation of BlueSky Software's planned PlayStation One port. Titus Interactive would file for bankruptcy on June of 2004, declaring their future unforeseeable, which came to effect on January 9th, 2005 with their assets purchased by Interplay.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0yiT_MCSExHqhF3L5ciAz8jeIkGQ0pBs1y0lFtjoucXKlrDzNzbzreSyj6kn0-NPsVNRByXxKrDkOURR--tCqsvKo2JGWtoh_DEqE0cn_jWNZYMXUYbDASwvsgScJpyKzMQcjC0xN3cs_VN4TnjuknA7sDfzMPUKjMsrA8xyzB0jlycpTtQT7HZbiA/s1194/ArdyLightfoot_Cover-JP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0yiT_MCSExHqhF3L5ciAz8jeIkGQ0pBs1y0lFtjoucXKlrDzNzbzreSyj6kn0-NPsVNRByXxKrDkOURR--tCqsvKo2JGWtoh_DEqE0cn_jWNZYMXUYbDASwvsgScJpyKzMQcjC0xN3cs_VN4TnjuknA7sDfzMPUKjMsrA8xyzB0jlycpTtQT7HZbiA/w215-h400/ArdyLightfoot_Cover-JP.png" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8-4aLPfJmLsvy66_wp4QEiSusUsT1dXEAuisOZcH9J0KCRd--YgBpowSFBsPWdmuiiU2aGneaaWgigOX7a4Ymq4iRW1TS_l85qa8HRXbA_q-swk3Ah0g8GV606QYxZbcHg17VfXxMrsAejVhZ9bhJ-4L9_4snOAYtYMPiLr4kRS0g3F2PiLRXz9ZEg/s640/ArdyLightfoot_Cover-NA.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="640" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8-4aLPfJmLsvy66_wp4QEiSusUsT1dXEAuisOZcH9J0KCRd--YgBpowSFBsPWdmuiiU2aGneaaWgigOX7a4Ymq4iRW1TS_l85qa8HRXbA_q-swk3Ah0g8GV606QYxZbcHg17VfXxMrsAejVhZ9bhJ-4L9_4snOAYtYMPiLr4kRS0g3F2PiLRXz9ZEg/w200-h137/ArdyLightfoot_Cover-NA.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs; package design was done by Ryuichi Onuma, Hiroko Takeda, and character and graphic designer Takashi Torii (credited in this game as "Takashi Tory")</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Produced by Takeshi Kaneda with Chizuko Nakamura acting as action coordinator, supervised by Kouichi Ikeda, directed by Masami Yamamoto and sub directed by Mitsuharu Takatori with assistant direction by Hiroaki Azumi, programmed by Takumi Inoue and Takuya Watanabe, with an original screenplay credited to Ichirō Sugiyama, <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> would be released on the Super Famicom in Japan on November 26th, 1993 by ASCII, and would be followed up by a North American and European SNES release on February and October 31st of 1994 respectively by Titus. <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> would also receive a release in Brazil by Playtronic Industrial, Nintendo's Brazilian subsidiary, on December 1996, three years after its Japanese debut.</span></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkLLRaFBct5uoJ4id2cwVLfsh5p4i2A7i6t0Lj-gmH5GZwKCmFuoorbdw-Ki-2mL1DYU4g1bHo3WPH_AZrl8MWzmyMw-9Dt2ma1OyUXoDnfxtMoaWO33APlGG0-rOdB6tLkvU2zzSKwKJWH2Ml8y7owamygSexxtpE5OGlPtNfrLxwWdNC4akpOOJoA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_PrismScript.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkLLRaFBct5uoJ4id2cwVLfsh5p4i2A7i6t0Lj-gmH5GZwKCmFuoorbdw-Ki-2mL1DYU4g1bHo3WPH_AZrl8MWzmyMw-9Dt2ma1OyUXoDnfxtMoaWO33APlGG0-rOdB6tLkvU2zzSKwKJWH2Ml8y7owamygSexxtpE5OGlPtNfrLxwWdNC4akpOOJoA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_PrismScript.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF4vhl3JuW9VVMRJBt3Y4WCoAHhnyFrD47IwQsHtgiDWn4OR4_i3OnKjBHDUfdvp4YnGe7v3L_8J6mnYfxJxs5VQA8m1ayRsn8G5XCOkyGoT5rvj0LdR1urZAhgzl6OKEDMZwfVubGx5Q1Zc1wnCsTYm0k03eRpZbgt1NweADOrEtjaQpL3PCMOno7w/s382/ArdyLightfoot_GrandpaReadsScript.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF4vhl3JuW9VVMRJBt3Y4WCoAHhnyFrD47IwQsHtgiDWn4OR4_i3OnKjBHDUfdvp4YnGe7v3L_8J6mnYfxJxs5VQA8m1ayRsn8G5XCOkyGoT5rvj0LdR1urZAhgzl6OKEDMZwfVubGx5Q1Zc1wnCsTYm0k03eRpZbgt1NweADOrEtjaQpL3PCMOno7w/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_GrandpaReadsScript.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Inside a cave, an anthropomorphic fox named Ardy Lightfoot and his best friend Pec, a blue creature, stumble across a tablet with ancient writing. They then pay a visit to and share their finding with the human village elder who reveals to Ardy that he found a prism script which reads that whoever gathers all seven shards of the rainbow will be granted any wish of their heart's desire.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH7au-y27c3td5b8Ir9pB7k5RsdNASHn_ooZUwdhoTOYKh--HuIMH5Bvsm-M2tND9PeSxS3EqKJ2jcseqfZWYpcJAFy69PJpxQ5QzK_BNCo5jllbM0bFSgEEmCZFhwhyWh8kGW16W2XMBk6NwceBo4G2yaf28sVZfiN_O7P0cKULdLF6MvmqNqKkEWw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH7au-y27c3td5b8Ir9pB7k5RsdNASHn_ooZUwdhoTOYKh--HuIMH5Bvsm-M2tND9PeSxS3EqKJ2jcseqfZWYpcJAFy69PJpxQ5QzK_BNCo5jllbM0bFSgEEmCZFhwhyWh8kGW16W2XMBk6NwceBo4G2yaf28sVZfiN_O7P0cKULdLF6MvmqNqKkEWw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Fire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWByTmW9VfvV7bh8inCf06lbETNtPTQUl5xNnwp8CMNTTtwE99qFadqnPat-zAEqdR2jGcLZd7BFju29DrTQdBbjCTnmilTBTOqmfZWMmskk_2YlRFDjMXFbAA_L5UuRVZlT3T1GhccnkI_Sx2PNWP0PpS3Pu5caRohX-0VUAO_V3yQS181vBGYIJ5Q/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Nina+DonJacoby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWByTmW9VfvV7bh8inCf06lbETNtPTQUl5xNnwp8CMNTTtwE99qFadqnPat-zAEqdR2jGcLZd7BFju29DrTQdBbjCTnmilTBTOqmfZWMmskk_2YlRFDjMXFbAA_L5UuRVZlT3T1GhccnkI_Sx2PNWP0PpS3Pu5caRohX-0VUAO_V3yQS181vBGYIJ5Q/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Nina+DonJacoby.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy and company's celebration of their find is cut short when they hear a nearby explosion and see that the mining town has been set ablaze, which Ardy and Pec go to investigate thus beginning their adventure and occasionally receive the unexpected aid from the ambiguously motivated anthropomorphic fox Don Jacoby.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw--ti_HFb_B5GahwyINGPi7qLHQxymkJK1Pkh4izeMTZ2dNdiSmj8TUkYIyMVwE3OKeF1EJrjhu-jb3F055tmcLJbnFZ4MNuJift8Y5bOy1JIxSXUia92zcIarEFmauXI1x_-lo8JVqLqwF0Apb663D4geKI9_1lom5asZUYQUY3lfiDNIPFtHo09Q/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Grounder+Visconti.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw--ti_HFb_B5GahwyINGPi7qLHQxymkJK1Pkh4izeMTZ2dNdiSmj8TUkYIyMVwE3OKeF1EJrjhu-jb3F055tmcLJbnFZ4MNuJift8Y5bOy1JIxSXUia92zcIarEFmauXI1x_-lo8JVqLqwF0Apb663D4geKI9_1lom5asZUYQUY3lfiDNIPFtHo09Q/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Grounder+Visconti.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9_oVeyfoKnK2uBNghS43ZLAj00EUmBCQbcUBpI2eKPCOBlyEiWYdRtfbO1WcOPxJPc6lQLLU1lRSfNNjNMxwTK62OJygKnIrZodO3xZnt0R2FDFBE0lD82PqbZAWPwv2SuRhEbqCz3wKJF-SxQh_bgl6FEUhKFV1wf4cfVOd2inVcLf3NNHuR43vMQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Beecroft+Nina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9_oVeyfoKnK2uBNghS43ZLAj00EUmBCQbcUBpI2eKPCOBlyEiWYdRtfbO1WcOPxJPc6lQLLU1lRSfNNjNMxwTK62OJygKnIrZodO3xZnt0R2FDFBE0lD82PqbZAWPwv2SuRhEbqCz3wKJF-SxQh_bgl6FEUhKFV1wf4cfVOd2inVcLf3NNHuR43vMQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Beecroft+Nina.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">The evil King Visconti, who has got one shard in his possession, orders his followers to find the remaining six for he too is aware of the legend and so that he could have his evil wish granted. After being informed by the anthropomorphic wolf Beecroft that Ardy has collected three shards already, the sovereign ruler orders his first in command to storm the elder's home in retaliation for Ardy's progress and to take his granddaughter Nina as hostage.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4b1fwUT-pZaT6z4tKSk_G3JrtuI4PO8Qz-Um5eLiUZGUdKF-Y5HC8NLsCMYVGdSx1FGft5-gEIbSKJ2mGWFYFXWKib8EQ7yAB5BTPwnvmZU7q0QPcHXf1b4EELakcQoJ2lguDmsjuHkj37wq3KeRkYoN5Q3gVfduySSVCEiCOuTQimhaP4j4RSXzpw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_FleeingDenizens.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4b1fwUT-pZaT6z4tKSk_G3JrtuI4PO8Qz-Um5eLiUZGUdKF-Y5HC8NLsCMYVGdSx1FGft5-gEIbSKJ2mGWFYFXWKib8EQ7yAB5BTPwnvmZU7q0QPcHXf1b4EELakcQoJ2lguDmsjuHkj37wq3KeRkYoN5Q3gVfduySSVCEiCOuTQimhaP4j4RSXzpw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_FleeingDenizens.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdrKymDjUFJv8cBw-m-wGAsijz8iMySY488IT_HTNhqjZoDFtGycn9qAv5GpcAv-LQUfwmU-xD0cHACq_EJudIANoqMzURGfeBgpmKn9Fn0BG_qv-Pt7kQ5YhlqYRmQSPdFBJ5-18W7-4wx13fuuMwBxaI9ZHlg0MO7jQvdR04oj-Mxz5T0nYVnp84w/s382/ArdyLightfoot_PecFling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdrKymDjUFJv8cBw-m-wGAsijz8iMySY488IT_HTNhqjZoDFtGycn9qAv5GpcAv-LQUfwmU-xD0cHACq_EJudIANoqMzURGfeBgpmKn9Fn0BG_qv-Pt7kQ5YhlqYRmQSPdFBJ5-18W7-4wx13fuuMwBxaI9ZHlg0MO7jQvdR04oj-Mxz5T0nYVnp84w/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_PecFling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Fleeing citizens | Right: He protec, he cute as hec, but more importantly, he pec</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">In the sidecrolling action platformer </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy Lightfoot</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> you take control of the titular anthropomorphic fox whom you can move left and right, have him run by holding either direction long enough, duck down, jump up in the air with your altitude based on how lightly or hard you pressed the B button, grab onto a climbing substance by holding up as you get on it and press up or down to climb it, and with the Y or A buttons Ardy can toss his best friend Pec as he flies and consumes any unfortunate underling in his path serving under Visctonti's name and rebounds back to him so long as the blue creature is by your side.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiD6CikemyJLS63iy0M2OxSGHUhDx6_WH5uwRkKmwoCHtxzDw3xPDOjC8hqVJ-JB42-s2zAN0BktBwaqy1O3NI3lHqAfIyqC2rD1BDqixiVv48cusPZEtNsdD1f_VyrXB3zmo_0HKLAAvSgsqc02qT_W60pdjEr7T9UueENM10Xc54w_60Nn2o8P3Ig/s382/ArdyLightfoot_PesteredWoman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiD6CikemyJLS63iy0M2OxSGHUhDx6_WH5uwRkKmwoCHtxzDw3xPDOjC8hqVJ-JB42-s2zAN0BktBwaqy1O3NI3lHqAfIyqC2rD1BDqixiVv48cusPZEtNsdD1f_VyrXB3zmo_0HKLAAvSgsqc02qT_W60pdjEr7T9UueENM10Xc54w_60Nn2o8P3Ig/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_PesteredWoman.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-birIVWRue32Vs1Oowk7KAYUiU8tlhTcLubluZt8xPBmQF9vSrhi3cNz0qzHnVXhcc9P_8mUI-KI6X23SILZE2Upf9rZtDku6rRwnDuV1TmQN-ME0cmCzx62ZbrKs7aki-ufT7OGiA3DaT5ae5cOder5pzLPtYXGYUcjhTGKS8l0ILR4HmpOegHNWwQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_TailJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-birIVWRue32Vs1Oowk7KAYUiU8tlhTcLubluZt8xPBmQF9vSrhi3cNz0qzHnVXhcc9P_8mUI-KI6X23SILZE2Upf9rZtDku6rRwnDuV1TmQN-ME0cmCzx62ZbrKs7aki-ufT7OGiA3DaT5ae5cOder5pzLPtYXGYUcjhTGKS8l0ILR4HmpOegHNWwQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_TailJump.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Quit harassing her, you creep!" | Right: Tail bouncing himself above the roof</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy can also grab movable blocks by standing beside them and push or pull them by holding down the Y button in the forward or backwards direction, pick up a portable object by standing beside it and pressing the Y button which he can set by his feet by pressing Y again or lob it by pressing Y and the direction button simultaneously, hold up while remaining still so Ardy can pull out a mirror shield to cover his whole body which will momentarily protect him from any attack which you can keep held for at least four or five seconds if needed.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ccAwGm3KrGW2-m0rZlKpDiX3ZYJkislwYO_qRFuXHFM1ykx5X62FcpfNgTlsP2LuV_FWDj5ZmlgKz86pLwqfXtLCE2pfyfbvcMnJ4f8CwUEcIXVePFFmjZIMBYEpwNA1mP9iw_UwIr9uGrPOlZf1Bg26x7DDmvAsbNCWaubJOkuSVorCNLLaEVxv_Q/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Elder+Nina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ccAwGm3KrGW2-m0rZlKpDiX3ZYJkislwYO_qRFuXHFM1ykx5X62FcpfNgTlsP2LuV_FWDj5ZmlgKz86pLwqfXtLCE2pfyfbvcMnJ4f8CwUEcIXVePFFmjZIMBYEpwNA1mP9iw_UwIr9uGrPOlZf1Bg26x7DDmvAsbNCWaubJOkuSVorCNLLaEVxv_Q/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Elder+Nina.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5L7RhwY7DoTrZXzBcPX5qdV_iDwDK2jez98H2KSCIyaBC4S2EZbQYdpD0tvW_qynv8CdxzFt8QbOyEdEnCNQL3Rq2s9IxEluawncjRlGmaviCJJzWdeXgaWslWlmHfCQ-8eAp5pudTq5nGVfHHk3MGaWJax7Uu8hOrdtd9n9-09pMl9GZ3pp145yBg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Mines.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5L7RhwY7DoTrZXzBcPX5qdV_iDwDK2jez98H2KSCIyaBC4S2EZbQYdpD0tvW_qynv8CdxzFt8QbOyEdEnCNQL3Rq2s9IxEluawncjRlGmaviCJJzWdeXgaWslWlmHfCQ-8eAp5pudTq5nGVfHHk3MGaWJax7Uu8hOrdtd9n9-09pMl9GZ3pp145yBg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Mines.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Ardyyyy!" | Right: In the mine</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Finally he can propel himself upward by performing a tail jump which is also his main method of attack: all you have to do is hold down the B button as you jump to land on his tail, then let go of the button to bounce yourself at your highest altitude, the tail jump can also be used to bounce from enemy to enemy provided you do so with exact precision and timing. Over the course of the game Ardy will collect stars scattered about for you'll garner a life should you gather a hundred of them, and on occasion will stumble upon random chests whose contents will contain the following:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x05Sn8xp4gDAqEbxKIbOsBuVfhfCDfHvlC1u-xua8QkMmtJ3ZaYEo1skotQhKBu5yKcJ0DFJOrPPlsoniHEKaMij8DuD6lJSHJXelMFQ8TvKWYYYV0wEgnYuYRb-oznfO5HaKKU0qo9pYbUUZi9fDm3P754gLwcXtulV2cXr8nSEAb8MPPd2jOdaMw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Grounder+Ardy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x05Sn8xp4gDAqEbxKIbOsBuVfhfCDfHvlC1u-xua8QkMmtJ3ZaYEo1skotQhKBu5yKcJ0DFJOrPPlsoniHEKaMij8DuD6lJSHJXelMFQ8TvKWYYYV0wEgnYuYRb-oznfO5HaKKU0qo9pYbUUZi9fDm3P754gLwcXtulV2cXr8nSEAb8MPPd2jOdaMw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Grounder+Ardy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkYjWZibt9W4QptB-gkKkRzErtPfsuC5h43ZnnJzCgk_Bd0xGAJkfdx8H8KCM0oSUCj7mh7qm7LSMZFbmVbUF4RUQnkgl-FEkaMNdu2KxGooWFdiENQ_jk9BZZ0WxOjJvq81UsREwojA1IQ1osOmBKe1j9hzIWbphhq-HMHSeERrZrts5eit9dXFnkg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_TiedUpBear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkYjWZibt9W4QptB-gkKkRzErtPfsuC5h43ZnnJzCgk_Bd0xGAJkfdx8H8KCM0oSUCj7mh7qm7LSMZFbmVbUF4RUQnkgl-FEkaMNdu2KxGooWFdiENQ_jk9BZZ0WxOjJvq81UsREwojA1IQ1osOmBKe1j9hzIWbphhq-HMHSeERrZrts5eit9dXFnkg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_TiedUpBear.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Grounder | Right: Now why would anyone tie up this poor, defenseless bear?</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">a star to attain ten extra stars, a miniature Ardy which grants you a new life, Pec in the event that you sustain damage with him around for he'll disappear when it happens, and in a handful of segments are a couple Pec-specific powerups. The goal of each scene is to reach the end, some of which bookend in a boss battle, but for certain extended scenes there are statues for you to jump on which spring to life and mark down your checkpoint in the event that you lose a life, and should you lose a life during a boss fight you will start the battle from scratch. Sustaining damage with Pec by your side will cause him to disappear, but should Ardy take a hit again when he's by himself you'll lose a life at that point.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSA0ZKuyIlfSiLJxjabY54cVg40R6dwccFqjy0HwBJzZRHsUrf7lUZSVLSAhDu1iBda_MObG1IhkHZ_pjKVpIthPLusTyznplkhXlUIgPyUIdNvbVOJ0KCeeUlbgu11ZFLNbQPAYsoO-kBCaOVzeUMSTWv-rIWKMpqmeNkyufqsepJp3NvnxI_tqWjw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_FreedPec.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSA0ZKuyIlfSiLJxjabY54cVg40R6dwccFqjy0HwBJzZRHsUrf7lUZSVLSAhDu1iBda_MObG1IhkHZ_pjKVpIthPLusTyznplkhXlUIgPyUIdNvbVOJ0KCeeUlbgu11ZFLNbQPAYsoO-kBCaOVzeUMSTWv-rIWKMpqmeNkyufqsepJp3NvnxI_tqWjw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_FreedPec.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8qY2yGP6OyacBTeq59GTc5Ymm8dvz9TIJX3Re9TrtJ1P4ALveyLc9DXtALXJoN5D5QfOqh9WmDOcUfMgjmhA81jm-bgj4aYNo8d-w4Ttw5tZcNli_1tZaDYQHf1QKOYUUeN9vDdIeLNFTd_3c2Lz--qzJ23Uw_yVYFc8IEf8zXV1ntLE83GGFUWKTw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_InflatablePec-Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8qY2yGP6OyacBTeq59GTc5Ymm8dvz9TIJX3Re9TrtJ1P4ALveyLc9DXtALXJoN5D5QfOqh9WmDOcUfMgjmhA81jm-bgj4aYNo8d-w4Ttw5tZcNli_1tZaDYQHf1QKOYUUeN9vDdIeLNFTd_3c2Lz--qzJ23Uw_yVYFc8IEf8zXV1ntLE83GGFUWKTw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_InflatablePec-Forest.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "There you are, Pec!" | Right: Riding on an inflatable Pec</span></b></div><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy Lightfoot</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> has got a pleasantly colorful and environmentally detailed visual aesthetic going for it, wonderfully visualized by Takashi Torii and Yukiko Womino for there are a variety of locations you'll be exploring. The endangered mining town threatened by Visconti's minions draws you in with its Wild West look and feel with the cliffs looming in the backdrop, stagecoaches, cacti, and burning business buildings with wooden signs adorning them, the mines have a subtle amount of parallax scrolling that gives it an atmospheric depth, the lumberjack forest has got a sumptuous amount of foliage and treehouses in the background with shaded color layering leaves in the top and bottom of the screen,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhGwzM8-q9iRJkxexNsYeNUr35rpK-Sg92sihxbPTAJY-1twmCCDwTWEvrUGtohUlu1p1zqkiM4y5qR2LX-AzPZ0PCahzBuQ26UhXXJ0DygyBm2V6iTcQcwwIO-zLq6Z-HlBP6CtWlHRBmvONR9nzurvjpsya9fJaHxzhpPPTO4x8VzJgmRgoa0rU7Q/s382/ArdyLightfoot_CheckpointStatue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhGwzM8-q9iRJkxexNsYeNUr35rpK-Sg92sihxbPTAJY-1twmCCDwTWEvrUGtohUlu1p1zqkiM4y5qR2LX-AzPZ0PCahzBuQ26UhXXJ0DygyBm2V6iTcQcwwIO-zLq6Z-HlBP6CtWlHRBmvONR9nzurvjpsya9fJaHxzhpPPTO4x8VzJgmRgoa0rU7Q/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_CheckpointStatue.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mn4YXP8_23eukltkIHDNoFHpMNnc9Jo8EFrn7wLYOEYNiGh9khFa9TT-GKlCyBzCs71W3Xwf-l6uinR51Km4TEVBjJlUSUQRx9LeUL9McDayMIZ5PbmimXhXhKvVJyc38ryqfyEafIBmjnjZjneofF-nXiVpSyDAJy3BUkQb8fnYfH-SUDeQFyybbw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Trampoline.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mn4YXP8_23eukltkIHDNoFHpMNnc9Jo8EFrn7wLYOEYNiGh9khFa9TT-GKlCyBzCs71W3Xwf-l6uinR51Km4TEVBjJlUSUQRx9LeUL9McDayMIZ5PbmimXhXhKvVJyc38ryqfyEafIBmjnjZjneofF-nXiVpSyDAJy3BUkQb8fnYfH-SUDeQFyybbw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Trampoline.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Dropping down on a checkpoint statue | Right: Bouncing upward</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">the sandworm's insides after getting eaten is ominously creepy with the occasionally dripping acid, the pyramid is atmospheric with the dimly lit backdrops, the island has got a nice and smooth transition from dawn to dusk until it becomes a starry night sky with Visconti's stronghold lingering on the right side, and the penultimate scene before facing off against Visconti has got a neat mirror effect at the bottom half of the screen when it comes to Ardy. The characters by Torii and Noburo Wada are endearingly designed with a colorfully lighthearted flair about them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4ZRg7QLQ5kV5Zfl9Bv0A3492JdxnCdgwOvRhV3upBrHCAtoFP9HNh8phlvbITuyHSwvnFcRPXConELMwCz1M6PS4k5eL6x8eAMsNjNJte4aZ6I0rXM7IuzN997h9dC2-Y6yUOxVLP5qJNuRJzz1-u_GcA4WwUCUcHfTWsIRkSHGpEHecK3Ionap3MA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_DownwardSprint.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4ZRg7QLQ5kV5Zfl9Bv0A3492JdxnCdgwOvRhV3upBrHCAtoFP9HNh8phlvbITuyHSwvnFcRPXConELMwCz1M6PS4k5eL6x8eAMsNjNJte4aZ6I0rXM7IuzN997h9dC2-Y6yUOxVLP5qJNuRJzz1-u_GcA4WwUCUcHfTWsIRkSHGpEHecK3Ionap3MA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_DownwardSprint.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9bJR4_Lkoy42j5y9ax9PB4q6809vS8MXJbyjGYS-NUwNo8RDWizYPn-plydBJXjqDi9Xsv-qIrgJaNn02erJseA1zaPnnusSkzD1vr0_FHb3TuTI8-MKXTi4KJItryitZHGDhFeCz_zpzgzSj_WdE4_BlukFP6tKsxicAs8aJvZ_dcovQ7w7enH4VQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Treehouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9bJR4_Lkoy42j5y9ax9PB4q6809vS8MXJbyjGYS-NUwNo8RDWizYPn-plydBJXjqDi9Xsv-qIrgJaNn02erJseA1zaPnnusSkzD1vr0_FHb3TuTI8-MKXTi4KJItryitZHGDhFeCz_zpzgzSj_WdE4_BlukFP6tKsxicAs8aJvZ_dcovQ7w7enH4VQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Treehouse.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Okay, we've all made that Sonic joke concerning this moment, but look at the way he's sprinting | Right: Jumping above a rolling minion</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy is solidly designed with his winged hat and blue overalls and animates well when it comes to walking, running, (tail) jumping, falling, ducking, and flinging his best friend Pec towards Visconti's minions, meanwhile Pec is adorably small and round as he hops up and down with an unwavering smile except when he's tossed by Ardy in which case opens his mouth big and wide which is a scary thing to imagine from a first-person perspective before getting eaten and fizzles out of existence upon Ardy taking a hit with him around.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptAjRNaNi_g2qqw4NyvjRpFZI1RAArEImDppjMXMX1NRyz3eZxISyHpUef8fxRAHTx0R7KX7Z-mwnToKXfD4e8XyRkuSFRB7rkklnXlwknj5fPpOBJ_AkChmk8fA1YteVenexOVXXQej3EIsZQVi4iw-7Af2pajvRLFveJvgm3sja2eKBHyVrQnxopg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+DonJacoby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptAjRNaNi_g2qqw4NyvjRpFZI1RAArEImDppjMXMX1NRyz3eZxISyHpUef8fxRAHTx0R7KX7Z-mwnToKXfD4e8XyRkuSFRB7rkklnXlwknj5fPpOBJ_AkChmk8fA1YteVenexOVXXQej3EIsZQVi4iw-7Af2pajvRLFveJvgm3sja2eKBHyVrQnxopg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+DonJacoby.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jGtkYpLr_tlDjkrsEYrdTzQKLh6ttRaKB2rACqGXp632HC-6qha0ZDL3CX-vhmKUL0_GmwQFguU0bOnhcRTKOaByHGqdnYqQiGuaYBz4RpGgWU5Qmkw8EDSt0v_HDNiZrQYxi1n22LfVlDzdOnB0ZM2W13IWuDB_FQPbtqyyF_C7EVtx16ltQTUyVg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_CatryFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jGtkYpLr_tlDjkrsEYrdTzQKLh6ttRaKB2rACqGXp632HC-6qha0ZDL3CX-vhmKUL0_GmwQFguU0bOnhcRTKOaByHGqdnYqQiGuaYBz4RpGgWU5Qmkw8EDSt0v_HDNiZrQYxi1n22LfVlDzdOnB0ZM2W13IWuDB_FQPbtqyyF_C7EVtx16ltQTUyVg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_CatryFight.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Oh, that Don Jacoby, he's a real Indiana Jones, he is | Right: Duck upon Catry jumping on the punch button</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">The villains are well-designed and solidly animated too, like the spiked helmet-wearing mole Grounder, the nimbly agile feline kunoichi Catry, and the caped wolf soldier Beecroft, whom you know are almost down for the count in battle when they turn a reddish color, and the pirate captain owl Gilson looks formal with his red coat. Visconti's minions (who resemble fish) come in different variations including goggle wearers shot out of cannons, skeletal, and torch carriers to name a few examples.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3n99iLHq1jftsOFbBsjC0NGyvavkeSE1ANeSXEeAxbHQNcacbPql2jU9vpQf1erdd5r6e7fVUNNIpB3y8wXccbzRt1PDv6qRXSyNdonnM6akdYvCxaQTD7LWg71eOZmLddGM-weWY9nEKIQsqHUAfolgsBG4-vekIe2futj-ClljAnddaLkVvt1vKg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Sandworm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3n99iLHq1jftsOFbBsjC0NGyvavkeSE1ANeSXEeAxbHQNcacbPql2jU9vpQf1erdd5r6e7fVUNNIpB3y8wXccbzRt1PDv6qRXSyNdonnM6akdYvCxaQTD7LWg71eOZmLddGM-weWY9nEKIQsqHUAfolgsBG4-vekIe2futj-ClljAnddaLkVvt1vKg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Sandworm.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFgaIyHHBDNjz1E8WHpiOj5LAJywG-8uzx_m1t3-1UHglBz4moKukVB-vuTXINvnwHj6DSqV9w6RiK9EXfgk5LJZv73kQMvP8FjlQwf8X7vQPRdsa0l-qLgX40t_sPIg9X5q9ztlLksmw6tsjixUe0k1vFQOPzYkxVvusumggIBdcsNkczXK6p0Zmog/s382/ArdyLightfoot_InsideSandworm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFgaIyHHBDNjz1E8WHpiOj5LAJywG-8uzx_m1t3-1UHglBz4moKukVB-vuTXINvnwHj6DSqV9w6RiK9EXfgk5LJZv73kQMvP8FjlQwf8X7vQPRdsa0l-qLgX40t_sPIg9X5q9ztlLksmw6tsjixUe0k1vFQOPzYkxVvusumggIBdcsNkczXK6p0Zmog/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_InsideSandworm.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Now how is the sandworm supposed to produce the spice melange if it's surrounded by water like that? | Right: Inside a giant sandworm</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">The soundtrack to </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy Lightfoot</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> was composed by Katsuhiro Hatano and Akiko Hashimoto which is very good as it lends so much to the atmosphere and tone of each scene. Hatano worked as a sound programmer for Sir-Tech's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Wizardry Gaiden III: Yami no Seiten</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> on the Game Boy while Hashimoto composed the music to ASCII's Nintendo 16-bit port of </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Spindizzy Worlds</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> and Sega's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Shenmue</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> and worked on sound design for Sega's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Virtua Fighter 2</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">, with both collaborating together as sound designers for ASCII and GAME STUDIO's Nintendo 16-bit port of Sir-Tech's </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGekkR-XwiDkuFWQB6OxkmdXgIOAC-58RDTd2JxNH9i1f3O8gtVuMo6kYRGocdW9ii7sn3BZiEg4IUQ8tQp0N-ax93eD5ji4mnkr2isoz2BvhuNfXwCJ_g7XXqsu5UkfOFiOJFm1eYjz-FtsjP4DUzM9BBu0EUYY3ZPMfcX4vcF64bY36gnarQQB_Z8w/s382/ArdyLightfoot_AcidMeltedFoe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGekkR-XwiDkuFWQB6OxkmdXgIOAC-58RDTd2JxNH9i1f3O8gtVuMo6kYRGocdW9ii7sn3BZiEg4IUQ8tQp0N-ax93eD5ji4mnkr2isoz2BvhuNfXwCJ_g7XXqsu5UkfOFiOJFm1eYjz-FtsjP4DUzM9BBu0EUYY3ZPMfcX4vcF64bY36gnarQQB_Z8w/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_AcidMeltedFoe.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZwsKnZstb2pfAm6b9K_onwWvuZZYagP8-EvQbOIgNC5K6pN_F38-RmcqKtrFniRgk8phI3YilPivw5j8uYhUWEwlGq2YEQ2C7kHq6AR4rrdixZpk2IHsgWDfKg2rk3hxOPjs1En9iVDsrqEv1pE1VbfeZbk3wa9Qe_z5pMJoVhPluwTvFM1eCl4dpA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Climbing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZwsKnZstb2pfAm6b9K_onwWvuZZYagP8-EvQbOIgNC5K6pN_F38-RmcqKtrFniRgk8phI3YilPivw5j8uYhUWEwlGq2YEQ2C7kHq6AR4rrdixZpk2IHsgWDfKg2rk3hxOPjs1En9iVDsrqEv1pE1VbfeZbk3wa9Qe_z5pMJoVhPluwTvFM1eCl4dpA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Climbing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Even Visconti's minions are here, and dry to the bone, too | Right: Making your way up</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=10s">prologue theme</a> does a great job at drawing you in to Ardy's adventure with its atmospheric composition, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=181s">first scene's theme</a> is enjoyably bouncy and lightheartedly catchy with a rip-roaring adventurous flair, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=367s">theme</a> for when you enter the mine chasing after Grounder sounds relentlessly intimidating, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=654s">lumberjack forest theme</a> is pleasantly tranquil to listen to, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=751s">theme</a> for when you scale the tree fortress to face off against Catry has got a compelling marching tune going for it, when Ardy gets eaten and is trapped inside a sandworm's digestive tract you're greeted to an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=840s">atmospherically ominous and bordering on creepy theme</a>, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=988s">pyramid theme</a> is infused with an imposing mysterious air, </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1145s" style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">theme</a><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> for when you venture out to sea on the way to see the pirate Gilson is excitingly epic and is one of my favorites themes from the game, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1246s" style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">island theme</a><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> is soothingly quiet and inviting and honestly wouldn't feel out of place when heard in a different game with a much darker tone, </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmNpUUIYFJl7YvPN_znhCF4uzD7TalsYxe78mDZvsIc69rnN-MPD4vxJq6yqwOsA5nThin-kwmcMRqF7WgxtUwzJr6iCm6sEmyD2ucwFLS8g1kUvhQ2lWQ9mY7np8TE2YccQfbCQnpjQ7zz7aj4tUggpsShuFVNwNRGbWN-x_720ZcvE7mw60AWmcTA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_RIP-Catry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmNpUUIYFJl7YvPN_znhCF4uzD7TalsYxe78mDZvsIc69rnN-MPD4vxJq6yqwOsA5nThin-kwmcMRqF7WgxtUwzJr6iCm6sEmyD2ucwFLS8g1kUvhQ2lWQ9mY7np8TE2YccQfbCQnpjQ7zz7aj4tUggpsShuFVNwNRGbWN-x_720ZcvE7mw60AWmcTA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_RIP-Catry.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESsvv3Co_4sYBTckVbb5nHEAZESKCXcsAhCGTBFroAY9MDgA1whVFJIkPV7gBiFpx20zXBXWHUSSGWmQilsc_2mMaH2VGwDjCjZ7JZHCHhdYG97xroGfymu7xsclbsTdEzyGGXgHXu8egNB4_hl_KAtT8W4fiZvu1wpYeRrtsLXJuhu-GyewqnuePA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Skidding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESsvv3Co_4sYBTckVbb5nHEAZESKCXcsAhCGTBFroAY9MDgA1whVFJIkPV7gBiFpx20zXBXWHUSSGWmQilsc_2mMaH2VGwDjCjZ7JZHCHhdYG97xroGfymu7xsclbsTdEzyGGXgHXu8egNB4_hl_KAtT8W4fiZvu1wpYeRrtsLXJuhu-GyewqnuePA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Skidding.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Ardy is cheering for obtaining another rainbow shard, not Catry's demise, he's not a savage | Right: Not sure why one would just leave stars all the way back to the entrance, but okay </b>⭐</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1495s">Visconti's castle</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1637s">tower themes</a> are darkly foreboding as you're close to facing off against the evil king, and there is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1822s">beautiful-sounding requiem theme</a> near the end that is sadly not heard in full lest you pause the game. <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> has got three battle themes: the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=591s">normal one</a> sounds hectic, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1883s">Visconti's battle theme</a> has got a do or die quality about it with the riveting instrumentation, and there's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=1109s">fun piano-like saloon melody</a> as you're chasing after the mouse inside the pyramid who has got one of the rainbow shards. Some of what I consider the best songs are the three-part ending and credit themes for they contain some of the most impressive sound quality from the game: the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=2026s">first part</a> is awe-inspiring and hopeful, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=2061s">second part</a> is a breathtaking sigh of relief,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BqA3tDGdsdWXPsutIenC5gV-ai3bXdBA_zeCxaCfmEjnsnY3okt-VwmIhkqPFhtXDjgVCjzm-gwgU5cl5hsXrMqp9GoiuQYVPUW3Q2k9_l8ORB0fctyxiuNDsGHMYkFhEVS9ZawW0xIntyncLNA5iUufFU5feSRivCbw8wqMJi9pzWQWYrtVF2qZQw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_BlockedGate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BqA3tDGdsdWXPsutIenC5gV-ai3bXdBA_zeCxaCfmEjnsnY3okt-VwmIhkqPFhtXDjgVCjzm-gwgU5cl5hsXrMqp9GoiuQYVPUW3Q2k9_l8ORB0fctyxiuNDsGHMYkFhEVS9ZawW0xIntyncLNA5iUufFU5feSRivCbw8wqMJi9pzWQWYrtVF2qZQw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_BlockedGate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiceIxX_vyGc9uI5bu8b3sNPEmSz2SOeZfmOlA4Xaiev4fI-LaUcibEWwHR8P4Sjswzzib8I0znMC4_JQ88ohQHCtFvqmncLLzd0S-f0878h30cWQ1azWSS_nLiDcyTKH1BbInceZjsU0MdGj5-CbuxIaaow-gxnXsXvaT9zZ8R5LyoGqjgwBlvRDNMw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_LightTrap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiceIxX_vyGc9uI5bu8b3sNPEmSz2SOeZfmOlA4Xaiev4fI-LaUcibEWwHR8P4Sjswzzib8I0znMC4_JQ88ohQHCtFvqmncLLzd0S-f0878h30cWQ1azWSS_nLiDcyTKH1BbInceZjsU0MdGj5-CbuxIaaow-gxnXsXvaT9zZ8R5LyoGqjgwBlvRDNMw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_LightTrap.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Going to need a bomb to blow that gate open | Right: Oooh, the shadow below you after stepping under that piercing light, the art team knew what they were doing </b>😃</span></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=2093s" style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">third and final part</a><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> of the ending theme is an impressive reprisal of the title theme but extended in a masterful and grandiose manner that it gives me chills, and like all good movie scores the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=2265s" style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">credits theme</a><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"> is an incredibly endearing instrumental suite incorporating some of the earlier motifs heard during the course of the game to create an amazing bookend to </span><i style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy Lightfoot</i><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">'s soundtrack and goes out on an effective bang. <b><u>Wow</u></b>! 😃 One of my favorite moments in the game is when Ardy rides down a mine cart and flies off a ramp causing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VhmYk7VT4&t=484s">theme</a> to stop (replaced by elevating and descending sounds) and picks right back up the moment he lands on the other side, I cannot think of another game from the '90s to have done something so similar off the top of my head but it is cool to have something like that here. 😆 The sound team <b>knew</b> their assignment, and I could not be happier.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tiz_MYwtjWvqerPi-I64UlgUcO52u1_nZDexIgoOr5hR-FFwF_pVmaLPDlg0XD8mvro-hU1Baps2edWVJeLHesC0If10mfr8mxmEU8eAmL7_Ldlw5KlM1fGkptoUClhs8tPWdatt2w02_-BTJPLEw0ZsXtWiGamaWagy7feMLVoBCmuF-EejI1XkZA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_PecToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tiz_MYwtjWvqerPi-I64UlgUcO52u1_nZDexIgoOr5hR-FFwF_pVmaLPDlg0XD8mvro-hU1Baps2edWVJeLHesC0If10mfr8mxmEU8eAmL7_Ldlw5KlM1fGkptoUClhs8tPWdatt2w02_-BTJPLEw0ZsXtWiGamaWagy7feMLVoBCmuF-EejI1XkZA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_PecToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FHUNepoZhTCXI-wblhhz7KBaMwRjzrwhOQJt4zHN8chMQB8XQNsScXJgbvEotVv__8F3K9jSfh8STzcpbZcSJjpVbA5rehIbxssYZ5WdgNcQID4B3esQuU2mKm-nvBX2DjFGNvqRM9UTZ5Lw-awNf75oZrIMwoj4IXmDKYowlYvLkqkk8qoOiIbEvA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_PoorUnfortunateSoul.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FHUNepoZhTCXI-wblhhz7KBaMwRjzrwhOQJt4zHN8chMQB8XQNsScXJgbvEotVv__8F3K9jSfh8STzcpbZcSJjpVbA5rehIbxssYZ5WdgNcQID4B3esQuU2mKm-nvBX2DjFGNvqRM9UTZ5Lw-awNf75oZrIMwoj4IXmDKYowlYvLkqkk8qoOiIbEvA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_PoorUnfortunateSoul.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Pec, attack!" | Right: OHHH, <u>NOOOO</u>!!! </b>😫<b> Not the spike protruding through the skull's eye socket, <u>NIGHTMARES</u>!!!</b> 💀</span></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">The sound effects, with Kouchi Yamada as sound programmer (who designed the sound for ASCII and GAME STUDIO's Nintendo 16-bit port of Sir-Tech's <i>Wizardry V</i> and also worked on sound programming for ASCII's Super Famicom port of Sir-Tech's <i>Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge</i>) and Shuichi Ukai as sound driver (who programmed the sound for PartyBit's PlayStation One port of ASCII's <i>Derby Stallion</i>), are decent but aren't exactly what I normally associate with the Nintendo 16-bit for the most part (if anything, they sound anything </span><b style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">but</b><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">) like the star collecting sounds, the sound of Ardy's tail making contact with an enemy, and the violin-like sound whenever you make Ardy skid, though I do like how upon reaching the end of the scene the music fades out and is briefly replaced by audible running footsteps as he runs offscreen.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMYwCpdNz_hrUZDAOSQfhPT2fMevpkj9FvXjr5T3F64bnvbOBrLWhZsvp4OkkIDqrUu8kuT4k_qG7CufqCFlq5eqRcNm2Nts5-LjPHsBfPp4bsGc0Us1oFIqzbMlSWzo8lSHSVxrSjvP-GU67T2qjlYDAhjF4GnfMItAhHp2t6I4PpNCm-lH-dMoN3g/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Password-Sepia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMYwCpdNz_hrUZDAOSQfhPT2fMevpkj9FvXjr5T3F64bnvbOBrLWhZsvp4OkkIDqrUu8kuT4k_qG7CufqCFlq5eqRcNm2Nts5-LjPHsBfPp4bsGc0Us1oFIqzbMlSWzo8lSHSVxrSjvP-GU67T2qjlYDAhjF4GnfMItAhHp2t6I4PpNCm-lH-dMoN3g/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Password-Sepia.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH6p_u_X5CtLvzdaGcnBOEfltkBEYYJqJ_Le67oD6EorBktZPgBWlLdSaoDy1birQgn8zisAs-zE59u0V1dtBUJ0y7Sn2GD3UVaGZsRzYZ5RSCFqRh1IKgvyNvrqnKtPLBT-7bJJX09PjOdAy5REq1IpKuVdOy6h-_sTCB7u8URU3XTz8wWUyxyW2aw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Password-Black+White.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH6p_u_X5CtLvzdaGcnBOEfltkBEYYJqJ_Le67oD6EorBktZPgBWlLdSaoDy1birQgn8zisAs-zE59u0V1dtBUJ0y7Sn2GD3UVaGZsRzYZ5RSCFqRh1IKgvyNvrqnKtPLBT-7bJJX09PjOdAy5REq1IpKuVdOy6h-_sTCB7u8URU3XTz8wWUyxyW2aw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Password-Black+White.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">It's not 100% seamless as there are still colorful elements in spots</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">When you lose your last life Ardy will jump out of his prison and be left with a choice to continue your progress by heading right or save it for another time and look at the present scene's password on your left. In the password screen are three blocks (each with an image of a cherry, grape, or orange) and where you correctly place each one of them (on the house, the balloon, the tree stump, the tree branch, or on the table) will determine the scene you can pick up your progress in or jump to. Curiously, there are codes that will render the game either in sepia-tone or in black and white should you simultaneously hold down the left shoulder and A buttons or the left shoulder and B buttons respectively.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire5Z5IgObZ1L74zE43sZNBflq_ONoPZFZ7MSSI5fKg-D6xHDIwgBQrSKWkFV6S97-mADZoiFQcmjbxy9qVWAWGq6vyeHeiDi3towYS4xIfECPIbFsCpQP1H4XVOwLWWjA1JZ7l42KLYx6XWGsITC4EPKcf_iW5ImvrlQYSwuPbfdzevQlCl3I05XHVw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_MiniArdy-Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire5Z5IgObZ1L74zE43sZNBflq_ONoPZFZ7MSSI5fKg-D6xHDIwgBQrSKWkFV6S97-mADZoiFQcmjbxy9qVWAWGq6vyeHeiDi3towYS4xIfECPIbFsCpQP1H4XVOwLWWjA1JZ7l42KLYx6XWGsITC4EPKcf_iW5ImvrlQYSwuPbfdzevQlCl3I05XHVw/s16000/ArdyLightfoot_MiniArdy-Slideshow.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">There is also a code where you get to play as a miniaturized version of Ardy which is accomplished by having the star pointer beside "Game Start" in the title screen and pressing the up, X, and Start buttons in that order at the same time. You'll know it worked when normal-sized Ardy in the title screen suddenly becomes as small in size as his best friend Pec. It is amusing to play the game like this because mini Ardy comes with his own set of animations, but outside of that the core gameplay and structure remain unchanged.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBPpMKk6cnBGuYaV3kspHgepm64vFKFUY20hPWAfsF6jYaCegi-OH_3vF_66j6GB551-C9522y127Bm61hT-C_3eHs-0wwegqQLaSz3F3WxSg58oOKEjlTxBhXSFBP-sWFiYtjQoQS4YwFDNr_jmQ4cDss3vgwT--PF3Fh4IrIyNjY6UVT-fE5m7dDw/s59/ArdyLightfoot_ImpatientlyIdle.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="59" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBPpMKk6cnBGuYaV3kspHgepm64vFKFUY20hPWAfsF6jYaCegi-OH_3vF_66j6GB551-C9522y127Bm61hT-C_3eHs-0wwegqQLaSz3F3WxSg58oOKEjlTxBhXSFBP-sWFiYtjQoQS4YwFDNr_jmQ4cDss3vgwT--PF3Fh4IrIyNjY6UVT-fE5m7dDw/s1600/ArdyLightfoot_ImpatientlyIdle.gif" width="59" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">When it came to the localized SNES release Titus made some visual changes and omissions: when leaving Ardy idle long enough he taps his fingers impatiently and wags his tail up and down which was taken out of the Western version, Don Jacoby smokes a cigarette in his mouth which has been removed, in the lumberjack forest there is a bear that is tied up to a tree and a distressed one that's crying his eyes out at the end that were completely elided from the SNES release, and </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">the sign by the jail Ardy is thrown in upon losing his last life was changed from "The Most Unlucky Man" to "Visconti's Jail"</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">. Most of these changes absolutely baffle me, if I'm being honest. 😕 Maybe the bear thing was deemed too cruel, but I didn't take offense at Ardy wagging his tail. The one change I </span><b style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">can</b><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"> understand is Catry's fate after being eaten by the sandworm, for in the original Super Famicom release she's been horrifically reduced to a skeleton after having toxic acid drip on her* but was altered to simply be unconscious, though that's the last you see of her regardless.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>* If you think </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">that</u><b>'s bad, you should see the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qONFDT_sFh4">originally intended plan</a> ASCII had for Catry: where she's in the midst of decomposing upon the acid falling on her, really nasty stuff </b>😖</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQtwlaBqIvOdhaSbZ8GkLzMIaZ-4hoywyFoKw9IwL1R4UHGFjY_wwUySbbMWoT09ww_8ec6_KzbPzqwQWxnR4wKJJw2OTstz5cCxUIGFx76y7Sa85Qh9Hmt0BosiYw5p2l5w-jxTiZmWGRV6ZttenXxbaatJajK6qG1zJ8CTXvL-Gc2jyEUUCP1R4qw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Pushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQtwlaBqIvOdhaSbZ8GkLzMIaZ-4hoywyFoKw9IwL1R4UHGFjY_wwUySbbMWoT09ww_8ec6_KzbPzqwQWxnR4wKJJw2OTstz5cCxUIGFx76y7Sa85Qh9Hmt0BosiYw5p2l5w-jxTiZmWGRV6ZttenXxbaatJajK6qG1zJ8CTXvL-Gc2jyEUUCP1R4qw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Pushing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6L1R5F1HO3er013rQgsR_NekEriE0-I09pklVahQ38BKz_rZ5GUekmxxXnz7dAtAp19S0FajB9z57YmNkAPFUZMWOvYfMu8wCkXLlHeWFENA9o7GOx_YxFXJnXMP4bQ6ZEQp79E6u1nNT-ZyV6tVksSvEJqSzbWFAS-3Jec8YhFoZ_q8mTQNAscVpxg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Pulling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6L1R5F1HO3er013rQgsR_NekEriE0-I09pklVahQ38BKz_rZ5GUekmxxXnz7dAtAp19S0FajB9z57YmNkAPFUZMWOvYfMu8wCkXLlHeWFENA9o7GOx_YxFXJnXMP4bQ6ZEQp79E6u1nNT-ZyV6tVksSvEJqSzbWFAS-3Jec8YhFoZ_q8mTQNAscVpxg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Pulling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pushing | Right: Pulling</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">I first learned of <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> when I stumbled across FlyingOmelette's subdomain RANDOM HOO HAAS website back in 2009 where it covered the numerous differences between the beta version and the finalized Super Famicom release (as well as other games). I forget what exactly compelled me to visit it, but video game prototypes have always fascinated me for one of the websites I used to frequent when I was younger was the Atari Protos website that covered the differences between how it was originally handled versus how it ultimately came out. Reading about <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i>'s beta was interesting, but I didn't immediately look into it. It wouldn't be until August 2014 that I would eventually order the Super Famicom cartridge on eBay which I would play on the Retro Duo (my initial way of playing Super Famicom cartridges before receiving a Super Famicom console on Christmas 2015). Upon receiving it, I had a really good time with and enjoyed it. 😃</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55TJe6utQuTBTtKjLCYL7RVL-jQaBpqxs5_6_3tB6Efq2YCkPWHyhj0N00ryVFOQcmWDRPdI_CNHLBpQJekY_piU9BoZaMcG7VBVNhOTg0i6idqDLszOSyh5MD_KN7fJ2jA_Ce0tNDOnipszkmhnbcYKVCs2JFsWroWKdGfne9ZFMEwJ-3oHNqEa7yA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Mouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55TJe6utQuTBTtKjLCYL7RVL-jQaBpqxs5_6_3tB6Efq2YCkPWHyhj0N00ryVFOQcmWDRPdI_CNHLBpQJekY_piU9BoZaMcG7VBVNhOTg0i6idqDLszOSyh5MD_KN7fJ2jA_Ce0tNDOnipszkmhnbcYKVCs2JFsWroWKdGfne9ZFMEwJ-3oHNqEa7yA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Mouse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRS8MenvKxUUPt0VNYhhRmUB1BSQxMviyRLLcLRGPCphbDw12JN5IgpbA3u9SIPuOXq2cWY8ECNO8U_M_oa5TL-JH3VxXq6jCggLSSkwjh-BMeLAK5G1c2q7UYMB3RRmAKaLEXGx4hZ4ijnBycgYhB4UlWJKQgF6U5cRQaMNswvVbGVH_HZkzkOGz5A/s382/ArdyLightfoot_CeilingTrap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRS8MenvKxUUPt0VNYhhRmUB1BSQxMviyRLLcLRGPCphbDw12JN5IgpbA3u9SIPuOXq2cWY8ECNO8U_M_oa5TL-JH3VxXq6jCggLSSkwjh-BMeLAK5G1c2q7UYMB3RRmAKaLEXGx4hZ4ijnBycgYhB4UlWJKQgF6U5cRQaMNswvVbGVH_HZkzkOGz5A/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_CeilingTrap.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Chase after the mouse, it's got the rainbow shard you need </b>🐭<b> | Right: Don saving Ardy's tail</b></span></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> is a very likable platformer with a clear <i>Indiana Jones</i> influence in spots (which is not a bad thing), and I'm not just talking about how Don Jacoby is dressed in a similar manner to him right down to the fedora and leather jacket. This game is a platformer at its core, but each scene has got a different set of obstacles that keep the proceedings fresh: here is a game where Ardy finds himself hitching a ride on a mine cart, scales the tree fort, gets swallowed up by a sandworm and must cautiously make his way to the end,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRyFdSFtDleZKUJ5tpXybpHP9hZoJ6WMpyme2sePyLYTmb6yPwDb-g2RLVlel6LV0dCqOKm3ddgVsS93l4hq7qZhCIohhjF1PvA5ZhQyau9gQA8XDdnh0TGTQrjW7I1Zcg36bbuxJ3z0DVYCMBQbQMJE8kl9_OvJ7NHsQz3gYUr5UgT9gZ4TX0Xl_Cg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_BoatJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRyFdSFtDleZKUJ5tpXybpHP9hZoJ6WMpyme2sePyLYTmb6yPwDb-g2RLVlel6LV0dCqOKm3ddgVsS93l4hq7qZhCIohhjF1PvA5ZhQyau9gQA8XDdnh0TGTQrjW7I1Zcg36bbuxJ3z0DVYCMBQbQMJE8kl9_OvJ7NHsQz3gYUr5UgT9gZ4TX0Xl_Cg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_BoatJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj140YmBopgilREcUOEnKm_CYl7VjaXDk0dDtluV1agMuXX5nRF9QrsRWiU7AqLkbCTZtaHe1pdFkMN_OMuOmVcZXxg8st9OOS0HSsl75J46B3G9q5BiIGswVWzJoeD95ZsoN2mOknz-ZUuUSes9x7s6F_Y2q7tu8xOLEBzBzGIajwn1ll3rQsofvce0g/s382/ArdyLightfoot_TailBounceShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj140YmBopgilREcUOEnKm_CYl7VjaXDk0dDtluV1agMuXX5nRF9QrsRWiU7AqLkbCTZtaHe1pdFkMN_OMuOmVcZXxg8st9OOS0HSsl75J46B3G9q5BiIGswVWzJoeD95ZsoN2mOknz-ZUuUSes9x7s6F_Y2q7tu8xOLEBzBzGIajwn1ll3rQsofvce0g/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_TailBounceShip.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Jumping from boat to boat | Right: Following the stars forming an arrow facing up </b>🠅</span><br /></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">activates a light trap by walking through it with a block until he sets it down thereby opening up the gate on the other side, jumps from boat to boat in shark-infested waters, ventures inside an underwater passage while searching for switches that lead to the way out, ascends Visctonti's castle by jumping from arrow to arrow upward, carefully maneuvers himself around on an inflatable Pec in a spike-riddled environment, and more to name. The bosses you face off against mostly require Ardy bouncing his tail on them but they each have got their own strategy going for them,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N34I0a63wjWFuuxdYMu18SlaXXWU2AjF5YADwcHpXZjbNwAJgGhwi-w3CqynAdxVA5XAK7FUxz1wSfUZQei5pMF_xAubMjW2fMjsDsrAPRdYmGZpPAg-duyZAJSdbsqbuNOoFwdzwXB1NAcjsfvcOreBeEYFOWIS7hntXoD5iJ76kCU7Pxpj25sZvA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_BarrelDropping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N34I0a63wjWFuuxdYMu18SlaXXWU2AjF5YADwcHpXZjbNwAJgGhwi-w3CqynAdxVA5XAK7FUxz1wSfUZQei5pMF_xAubMjW2fMjsDsrAPRdYmGZpPAg-duyZAJSdbsqbuNOoFwdzwXB1NAcjsfvcOreBeEYFOWIS7hntXoD5iJ76kCU7Pxpj25sZvA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_BarrelDropping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBLMciwzQhOd6Tp3wI2Wgjeu9x_93qKtGHXe5Dea2zI3sKa6kNOkWwhHxvTVURWptwnaX_enyhfzUo8xBykFm0nOMil60CXalhTeRT7QU3tN88VEozf_LWRmCpwfDaCKhrYs0aAh_Sv8XB_7N_gcd-am8OexG9c55huGwFAlCpzNlV7g-pWvUlwJL7A/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Gilson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBLMciwzQhOd6Tp3wI2Wgjeu9x_93qKtGHXe5Dea2zI3sKa6kNOkWwhHxvTVURWptwnaX_enyhfzUo8xBykFm0nOMil60CXalhTeRT7QU3tN88VEozf_LWRmCpwfDaCKhrYs0aAh_Sv8XB_7N_gcd-am8OexG9c55huGwFAlCpzNlV7g-pWvUlwJL7A/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Gilson.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be mindful of the pirate occasionally dropping down barrels | Right: Face to face with Gilson</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Catry's battle entails that you step on a button which will activate the same-colored punch trap from a specific end provided that she is in position (the same could happen to you, so be careful) out of four possible buttons colored exactly like the Super Famicom controller's face buttons, the pirate Gilson will sweep into scene and attempt to attack you with his spinning hook or feather projectiles (which you can easily avoid sustaining damage by pulling out the mirror shield), and with Beecroft it is simply a matter of properly positioning yourself with a deflector in hand for he cannot be damaged the normal way whilst also contending with random enemies on occasion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYpNsgT3tHLC7VYiodo9sTEkR9wEjES0p7NtvSDV9NjzmEZeUScyQeSLiD8LP9PwoSonzbnw5xSbVUKWhJZyoPvf5-DcpuaJ1nk4Ld3PANFxAe1y11vgpm_wSdek0Otj6HcbH9TSawRC1TGedT0b51MCtyzT1NXIMormcF2TlG1UgMIAqLi_k8Cagcg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_OrangeShard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYpNsgT3tHLC7VYiodo9sTEkR9wEjES0p7NtvSDV9NjzmEZeUScyQeSLiD8LP9PwoSonzbnw5xSbVUKWhJZyoPvf5-DcpuaJ1nk4Ld3PANFxAe1y11vgpm_wSdek0Otj6HcbH9TSawRC1TGedT0b51MCtyzT1NXIMormcF2TlG1UgMIAqLi_k8Cagcg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_OrangeShard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhicTq9xAjFJYuTrxkCEHc3GtfJzlX6wBQM6Prve7itzoBKE39tEzgcVqkpiDrPL0EmMsmqX1vFWGXzrCinCEg3YB1Nl3FdU-y0r5Y-97GOgpMi6g_93_m90j06uZQEruf-LNtjYhpL9kwEJYYprfeOvwJZ8gBzcXaU4VHtiSnJYtRkjLiLYXoVT1XQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_ArdySail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhicTq9xAjFJYuTrxkCEHc3GtfJzlX6wBQM6Prve7itzoBKE39tEzgcVqkpiDrPL0EmMsmqX1vFWGXzrCinCEg3YB1Nl3FdU-y0r5Y-97GOgpMi6g_93_m90j06uZQEruf-LNtjYhpL9kwEJYYprfeOvwJZ8gBzcXaU4VHtiSnJYtRkjLiLYXoVT1XQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_ArdySail.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "You won it fair and square, you can have it, matey" | Right: And Gilson fashioned a sail with Ardy's honorable visage, too? Nice!</span></b><br /></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">One of the things I like about this game is how, with the exception of the title cards and the elder reading the prism script to Ardy at the beginning, there is absolutely no dialogue. On one hand it surprises me that the story by </span><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ichirō Sugiyama (who would go on to write for Polygon Magic's <i>Galerians</i> and produce its sequel <i>The Last Galerians: Ash</i>/<i>Galerians: Ash</i>) was credited as "original screenplay" because of the lack of words, but on the other hand the way it progresses the story forward in this manner does give <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> a universal appeal and is easy to get invested in because of this. You almost don't <b>need</b> words, the expressiveness of the characters and the tone of the music does enough to carry the game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindLemoYaMcn4EOK4E5-Y02kelBoFwQu4nhA8EorpnZcRQ1IWI3KnR-FRb98f318CuE8fLZEPaKB9nb9h3uVL7VR42KAW8ZHdAYUvmt0iflFh3llw17XkCAYlUjHISluvVsDI-YaUkhdDrIf92VKbVUSvPnRWwJggr7flZwN4Wa0KWOV9r6W_l_ANVlg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_ToBeContinued.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindLemoYaMcn4EOK4E5-Y02kelBoFwQu4nhA8EorpnZcRQ1IWI3KnR-FRb98f318CuE8fLZEPaKB9nb9h3uVL7VR42KAW8ZHdAYUvmt0iflFh3llw17XkCAYlUjHISluvVsDI-YaUkhdDrIf92VKbVUSvPnRWwJggr7flZwN4Wa0KWOV9r6W_l_ANVlg/s16000/ArdyLightfoot_ToBeContinued.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">With <i>Indiana Jones</i> being a serial franchise and that's where <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> took some of its influence from, I do wonder if that was the mindset ASCII had when they had the message "To Be Continued" upon finishing the game even though it was all self-contained. But alas, nothing ever came of it. I remember being a bit annoyed upon seeing that the first time I beat it, because I found unfulfilled sequel baits to be quite frustrating on a retroactive sense (why go to the trouble of generating hype only for it to have been done in vain?). Over time, though, I've learned to just accept that many games from the past ended with a sequel bait, some more overt than others, and I've been making a point to learn to stop being mad at trivial things for years on end (failed sequel baits among them). Still, there's no denying that a follow-up to <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> would've had potential.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iiv0mKSEXaj0WE2qHRgWBWP3iNO5pRm7PLaC17LQ-oSYtEPwNdaQaDnrVAYu0Uau0Nqyegq_ooT5q1JSm6Oz_llJYawQwAAQ1VJq5IKpB6nLRCWMPsXZTOBrtbNgZtKQnuKv_ZvzKI6yVTSvADwRTXVYCWg5tyfw4dtFDzI3Zoo5qhh8oe-qnkqC0g/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Dropping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iiv0mKSEXaj0WE2qHRgWBWP3iNO5pRm7PLaC17LQ-oSYtEPwNdaQaDnrVAYu0Uau0Nqyegq_ooT5q1JSm6Oz_llJYawQwAAQ1VJq5IKpB6nLRCWMPsXZTOBrtbNgZtKQnuKv_ZvzKI6yVTSvADwRTXVYCWg5tyfw4dtFDzI3Zoo5qhh8oe-qnkqC0g/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Dropping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYGShyJSba9O6ekApTaJ79tY3JxqzRTOafzBlTN4MUpMvz-rfJ431c8__4hXMy-i_BNCgMPldLxrBaHT83Gky6JmRjfQoRwgN6RRCKJ8NIAZb9a_jI-3HBpLL_8AATTFnt6irEXpjXj2RJrVU_tLmb0iEjYweIzmlrxPY6GMfBx9SRGMvko93QymQTg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_ArrowRiding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYGShyJSba9O6ekApTaJ79tY3JxqzRTOafzBlTN4MUpMvz-rfJ431c8__4hXMy-i_BNCgMPldLxrBaHT83Gky6JmRjfQoRwgN6RRCKJ8NIAZb9a_jI-3HBpLL_8AATTFnt6irEXpjXj2RJrVU_tLmb0iEjYweIzmlrxPY6GMfBx9SRGMvko93QymQTg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_ArrowRiding.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Perusing the island ruins | Right: Riding an arrow through a small gap</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Ardy and Pec are very likeable protagonists, the latter is so adorable until he's flung by his friend in which case he opens his mouth which I find quite creepy. I like Ardy's expressiveness and resourcefulness with his tail bouncing, even if it takes a bit of practice. Near the end after reuniting with Nina she's struck down by Visconti's power which kills her as she falls to the ground in slow motion, I thought that was surprising and well-handled. When Ardy reigns victorious over Visconti he walks towards her lifeless body and gets down on his knees with a sad expression on his face, which makes you feel bad and kind of makes you want to hug him. Luckily Don Jacoby is there to save the day with the last of the rainbow shards so Ardy can wish her back to life which is a heartwarming sight.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl0_HDzQ0PedAbfht7_njXsEhNB3pSGPIAJiXEklQ8nkC7g25k4qPXdQS4UzbtsypMZzWdqXKMpThRKSXBrGbWnHCNwr7JbjYTzjQLgSNmjn1d0r9qwqZduEVhlQmljrNxalgwxA1OWYIlGwad2JtTgSciZbFd1CO9awC9fkr7AhumRTM8ABUVPa9CA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_SpikyWater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl0_HDzQ0PedAbfht7_njXsEhNB3pSGPIAJiXEklQ8nkC7g25k4qPXdQS4UzbtsypMZzWdqXKMpThRKSXBrGbWnHCNwr7JbjYTzjQLgSNmjn1d0r9qwqZduEVhlQmljrNxalgwxA1OWYIlGwad2JtTgSciZbFd1CO9awC9fkr7AhumRTM8ABUVPa9CA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_SpikyWater.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2amwapEy4oYq_629GzRm_aNPogkWfFIaIK76oY71SbDAw9hTf3FxvbJOn56FcLs0EcJjnKfyoedvPLjX4IWJapE0qt6ImtU9DLfXbVZIJZDbUGLEICgjZxuiX9houMlcJWM7gATrD91FGVjwTs5XMECeBwaGOsKxszH2NLVPNw98dMH_BZ-gyN-io-A/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Skull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2amwapEy4oYq_629GzRm_aNPogkWfFIaIK76oY71SbDAw9hTf3FxvbJOn56FcLs0EcJjnKfyoedvPLjX4IWJapE0qt6ImtU9DLfXbVZIJZDbUGLEICgjZxuiX9houMlcJWM7gATrD91FGVjwTs5XMECeBwaGOsKxszH2NLVPNw98dMH_BZ-gyN-io-A/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Skull.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Hopping out of the water | Right: Well, that's not eerie at all, </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">anyway</u><b>! </b>💀</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">Don Jacoby has got a cool demeanor and confidence about him, I like that he pops in at the last second to get Ardy out of a bind, like using his machete to free Ardy from the confines of the sandworm and using every once of his strength to keep the ceiling from the pyramid's trap from fully caving in order to allow Ardy to escape. Even before the battle against Visconti begins proper he swoops in like a champ and snatches the rainbow shard thereby disabling the evil king's barrier shield before being knocked towards a wall. It's clear he's on the side of good but goes about it in such cool fashion. Respect!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n1UTTc9XLsL2hN1flUb5_olb47pbAZ0VzRPp1gRrnpoAExowB7m-tCigU5a_eshJgymnleT2b8YusLt5NNuLUg_NCcAFMtfCx-_qK6WNL6TYdcacc59VuspDeR2-TlmYQaRwTqsLZAAL_fVVkJm5TB2_RVRDhXDfMpmb40shb1oIJfLB3Qvm6Oz6jQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_SecurityCamera.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n1UTTc9XLsL2hN1flUb5_olb47pbAZ0VzRPp1gRrnpoAExowB7m-tCigU5a_eshJgymnleT2b8YusLt5NNuLUg_NCcAFMtfCx-_qK6WNL6TYdcacc59VuspDeR2-TlmYQaRwTqsLZAAL_fVVkJm5TB2_RVRDhXDfMpmb40shb1oIJfLB3Qvm6Oz6jQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_SecurityCamera.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavehtT8P16OcwNkYBN8nvebMJNwTMwgcts6OXhSisJckuGRK8ZWDeXkKypVtkuCqYuEEzmfbDlIr5wKI5M19Y77aNy3afCVbeVP1ryJXT8AZbYHLZxZTtpgeDVwJxW00Pvn8C7T_rmv0wGAC90GKSe9e1bzf8f4kV0ximbqm_6Aad1IX0buW7shUX9A/s382/ArdyLightfoot_BeecroftFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavehtT8P16OcwNkYBN8nvebMJNwTMwgcts6OXhSisJckuGRK8ZWDeXkKypVtkuCqYuEEzmfbDlIr5wKI5M19Y77aNy3afCVbeVP1ryJXT8AZbYHLZxZTtpgeDVwJxW00Pvn8C7T_rmv0wGAC90GKSe9e1bzf8f4kV0ximbqm_6Aad1IX0buW7shUX9A/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_BeecroftFight.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: As long as he's on that conveniently-situtated platform, that seesaw-operated sawblade will never touch him | Right: Deflecting</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">There is an adventurous lighthearted flair about this game on the whole, but Catry's demise after escaping her tree fort following her defeat is the biggest tone shift as she's been eaten and reduced to skull and bone. The feline kunoichi truly got the worst of it compared to every other villain (all male) you fought against who got much lighter sentences for at best they pass out but at worst they disappear (Visconti), the pirate Gilson being exempt from this as he operates of his own volition and rewards Ardy with the orange rainbow shard for besting him in battle. The implications of the token female villain suffering a worse fate than everyone else are very unpleasant, it just comes off in poor taste. Had most or all villains been killed off in a grisly manner, it might not have been a big issue, but as it stands it is rather problematic--by this point you're roughly a third of the way into the game.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXlAcT5yzL2i-g-Hf6PTRTkTfM93CoblF31tXfb9CQtFM7FUoJ5nWID-M7R9oQQ34yq2Zu69VgCw1KNy-wVnqeP9esVlE9fdyTFQRecX5k4N2IKnaCg_iBnuvascUst0k-Ox_oZ3f5MVnDxkpmvajuCABlseHU1GOQ1PvF5bPkdXI2QvkydjL6ANfoA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_UndergroundPassage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXlAcT5yzL2i-g-Hf6PTRTkTfM93CoblF31tXfb9CQtFM7FUoJ5nWID-M7R9oQQ34yq2Zu69VgCw1KNy-wVnqeP9esVlE9fdyTFQRecX5k4N2IKnaCg_iBnuvascUst0k-Ox_oZ3f5MVnDxkpmvajuCABlseHU1GOQ1PvF5bPkdXI2QvkydjL6ANfoA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_UndergroundPassage.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXFTGIyaEddBAB5Z4kNx4MyMhrgW0Tv5PE19ZIzOBup1HVW28wYFh96jkR0MKgVqhc_ak6buOAEPI-pMgz8kLZfkr8eQYYR0X2URdzCMOGethXPBEZcBhtSflGwpqRO84qFHnXsqJwawxMSZ690JONiTujcifSvJu_sqOjLjIiREljrC7gtYRMtJ3Kg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_CrusherPec.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXFTGIyaEddBAB5Z4kNx4MyMhrgW0Tv5PE19ZIzOBup1HVW28wYFh96jkR0MKgVqhc_ak6buOAEPI-pMgz8kLZfkr8eQYYR0X2URdzCMOGethXPBEZcBhtSflGwpqRO84qFHnXsqJwawxMSZ690JONiTujcifSvJu_sqOjLjIiREljrC7gtYRMtJ3Kg/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_CrusherPec.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Welcome to the most open, nonlinear scene of the entire game | Right: Here you will find Pec a spiked helmet which will crush down any sturdy series of rocks</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">I know not everyone enjoyed Ardy's adventure, with the core reasoning being difficulty adapting to the tail bounce controls and operating them properly. I can understand that, it does take a bit to accustom to, even when simply moving on his tail prior to letting go. But once you learn to utilize the tail bounce very well it becomes second nature and you've got naught to worry about. <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i>'s controls are otherwise solid and intuitive, and is among my favorite Nintendo 16-bit platformers.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs81nZb1HCq-EouAEYjr80a3DUyrJiCFKVAzwX8ToMC2edd1gQTQh21UweGav64TvE778q7vzWCv145OCHs5-Y7-7Nu7LrClcCRZk2bEii1YvDC_8gAC6eR_tHgxtXY6WHUgIymYz3eXd3KRoq2vXjkOmxleJrLtMeZI0t6N2Jhly1DgS6tgoV9dKwQ/s382/ArdyLightfoot_InflatablePec-Castle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs81nZb1HCq-EouAEYjr80a3DUyrJiCFKVAzwX8ToMC2edd1gQTQh21UweGav64TvE778q7vzWCv145OCHs5-Y7-7Nu7LrClcCRZk2bEii1YvDC_8gAC6eR_tHgxtXY6WHUgIymYz3eXd3KRoq2vXjkOmxleJrLtMeZI0t6N2Jhly1DgS6tgoV9dKwQ/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_InflatablePec-Castle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAZSTR_h7f0ebvmHCEWKsG4z7Gkx-lx2RCd-c0xEOavYAW9otAv9lnzvvzJUOCEfKphjtxPhsHZb0H2ZvLJ_q3D_6Zuevz9nhcDp0aSVpPbu1nwXNqFNJ9T-emuBYW5tsDwiqzO2YnEPTPdwutslfjLzJ2jBdtJukh3R2ouQLmiKUeW0UA8EnklOsjA/s382/ArdyLightfoot_MirrorRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAZSTR_h7f0ebvmHCEWKsG4z7Gkx-lx2RCd-c0xEOavYAW9otAv9lnzvvzJUOCEfKphjtxPhsHZb0H2ZvLJ_q3D_6Zuevz9nhcDp0aSVpPbu1nwXNqFNJ9T-emuBYW5tsDwiqzO2YnEPTPdwutslfjLzJ2jBdtJukh3R2ouQLmiKUeW0UA8EnklOsjA/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_MirrorRoom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be mindful to not touch any spike | Right: Even if the upper half of the screen is covered, the mirror in the bottom half will alert you to any upcoming obstacle your way</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">It takes roughly forty-five or so minutes to play through the game depending how you play, and for the most part I really enjoy it. My least favorite moments in the game might be the spike-heavy interior leading up to Visconti's tower as it requires careful maneuvering, and the battle against Visconti itself--he is doable with enough patience and after studying his pattern, but often times you have to wait for the exact window of opportunity to tail bounce on him when he isn't raining lightning on you which does make the battle feel a bit longer than it needs to be.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj6GR-xv5FZZd-tw62ZRmPaEjkMxyBazwbHHmwOG3qpN0-H8awmtm6s7EsNPYbAOnEkHmYSYJJfmFTShIlyg0AE3AL5s94bMuKOcbo8yeZO-j1HJTesNGCJAumsed8CVtSUICW3fcP6BYYqmfcMK2XPZso3gRqIkf-ahKYxbetvgn2epg0TZMmJ1Udw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Nina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj6GR-xv5FZZd-tw62ZRmPaEjkMxyBazwbHHmwOG3qpN0-H8awmtm6s7EsNPYbAOnEkHmYSYJJfmFTShIlyg0AE3AL5s94bMuKOcbo8yeZO-j1HJTesNGCJAumsed8CVtSUICW3fcP6BYYqmfcMK2XPZso3gRqIkf-ahKYxbetvgn2epg0TZMmJ1Udw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Ardy+Nina.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oKweVhW5xLg78bFUaVFjczBtIVoWSkfeUBvQQbYYSmGhg_j1tDzithtU-xotY4CBkG6NKGUW2cy_vbD6so7zPZ4bOt6lPAdNnY6u0Wc1C3CPM8IMuwnikQv1rGfgWai0u3e8k-zVMzsRf1QwdG-MoxkHT7G-aKPxjLIcacf4J3pL2D0Nq-2CBTHUzw/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Visconti.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oKweVhW5xLg78bFUaVFjczBtIVoWSkfeUBvQQbYYSmGhg_j1tDzithtU-xotY4CBkG6NKGUW2cy_vbD6so7zPZ4bOt6lPAdNnY6u0Wc1C3CPM8IMuwnikQv1rGfgWai0u3e8k-zVMzsRf1QwdG-MoxkHT7G-aKPxjLIcacf4J3pL2D0Nq-2CBTHUzw/w200-h155/ArdyLightfoot_Visconti.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Nina!" </b>😲<b> | Right: Luckily you can use that mirror shield as many times as you need</b></span></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">If you're in the mood for a fun platformer and don't mind learning to accommodate to Ardy's tail bounce gameplay mechanics, <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> is enjoyable while it lasts if you own a Nintendo 16-bit console. It's got a variety of settings and nonverbal scenarios, boasts a great soundtrack, has got reasonably fun controls, is pleasant to look at, has got likable characters, is largely lightheartedly endearing, and owes some of its adventurous flair and cues to <i>Indiana Jones</i>. 😄 What more could one ask for?</span></div><div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQxBVJgYhVvsWnittLWc-97ayRRg0Ld2RGbciQKW5Gj12_Y-RrtNrSiDmoWPqHn4HZb9po1l4KRSQmPx6W5GzmvtieY8scNf5c8Q-QjfAOopw62zPooKIICsGOtD0S1D9wOUPOgJLhSOYNWs3wBnQAh-Kmywm67RJFGH9GkGe98RgwmaOtJ6J_n71Xg/s382/ArdyLightfoot_Ending.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQxBVJgYhVvsWnittLWc-97ayRRg0Ld2RGbciQKW5Gj12_Y-RrtNrSiDmoWPqHn4HZb9po1l4KRSQmPx6W5GzmvtieY8scNf5c8Q-QjfAOopw62zPooKIICsGOtD0S1D9wOUPOgJLhSOYNWs3wBnQAh-Kmywm67RJFGH9GkGe98RgwmaOtJ6J_n71Xg/s16000/ArdyLightfoot_Ending.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.0/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81OMMNuC7MtcU8_ANHw8h-RiKPvDcD-6e49lCkiF7JvFUekCsAVF_gR1kmxhddU-ZXNkaTo7NtEi2DZBTuTSoihio8X2aiJFxdncsBSXETluaeRT4Pjq2B1ZBkSif0cXZEWeQoDKsS9WzMNtlDTEvaoMsmasJhk5DMkNq4Ca-tAu6r2wIrEwTH8zdEg/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81OMMNuC7MtcU8_ANHw8h-RiKPvDcD-6e49lCkiF7JvFUekCsAVF_gR1kmxhddU-ZXNkaTo7NtEi2DZBTuTSoihio8X2aiJFxdncsBSXETluaeRT4Pjq2B1ZBkSif0cXZEWeQoDKsS9WzMNtlDTEvaoMsmasJhk5DMkNq4Ca-tAu6r2wIrEwTH8zdEg/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWj2vF8FtJw-emh3947KNEKJtUnQ0mffA489rd4HnYQOOPBnNNzEZFQiBWVhERc1SX-T34x_sAxjoPF9tFcaGHOjc2PuzOfvlvDK7kFXjxy787F5SkEBAoci-h-KaPFFG2chbO58V05RQP2OFDucZ6nEOlo9BtwhScPqlxs70mP0j1l0WB0bKw87uTA/s130/2023_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWj2vF8FtJw-emh3947KNEKJtUnQ0mffA489rd4HnYQOOPBnNNzEZFQiBWVhERc1SX-T34x_sAxjoPF9tFcaGHOjc2PuzOfvlvDK7kFXjxy787F5SkEBAoci-h-KaPFFG2chbO58V05RQP2OFDucZ6nEOlo9BtwhScPqlxs70mP0j1l0WB0bKw87uTA/s1600/2023_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a><br /><b style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">● I originally reviewed this game back in August 2014 and also gave it an 8 out of 10 back then. Shockingly, the exact month I wrote it was the exact month I got acquainted with the game (far from the only one, sadly), and that's not something I do generally especially as I get older because in doing so I'm likely to overlook or miss out on certain elements. I'd rather wait a bit and spend more time with it before reviewing a game I recently received than to do so right away because I don't want to skip a beat. I'm way better off with the way I handle reviews <b>now</b> with a firmer grasp on research and thorough articulation than I ever was in my younger years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMy2SHXIS3S2xRr1kSo8MdXtMdjIX4B0WHENdpT1nIJge2l0uK1wTkBs46wNHBPlv8FQuvlYLeYAjvTJQl_cb4yM_Sv3cVz_v-DxPZAyBU0qAz8j8pBui6LoDpx3KpHxM0CRtpDQkCg7RUtos9wrX_-eRjpgh-Tdt3rpueXNL_VOB8jp9qaxADfr0_FHj/s1114/ArdyLightfoot-2014Review_Comments.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1114" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMy2SHXIS3S2xRr1kSo8MdXtMdjIX4B0WHENdpT1nIJge2l0uK1wTkBs46wNHBPlv8FQuvlYLeYAjvTJQl_cb4yM_Sv3cVz_v-DxPZAyBU0qAz8j8pBui6LoDpx3KpHxM0CRtpDQkCg7RUtos9wrX_-eRjpgh-Tdt3rpueXNL_VOB8jp9qaxADfr0_FHj/w400-h208/ArdyLightfoot-2014Review_Comments.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The comment left by Dustin East (whose name got changed to "Unknown" for whatever reason) two years after the fact which I replied to is the only remnant I'll keep; forgive me, Dustin</span></b></div><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><b><u>11/23/2023 Update</u></b>: I've just deleted my old <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i> review. I wish it didn't have to come to this with me purging my old reviews little by little, but I need to be comfortable in my own skin with how I handle my reviews <b>now</b> as my old reviews don't hold up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">● The original plan (being that I tend to be ambitious) for this game's 30th anniversary ribbon was to make a small .gif of Pec occasionally tiptoeing until he eventually flew towards the screen with his mouth wide open with the number 30 inside, but once I've drawn him I decided against it because I liked how my rendition of him came out and felt it would not look any better. That and I don't have the heart to live with a conscience of creating intentional nightmare fodder, plus it probably would not have looked good anyway. 😔</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">● On the subject of "Lightfoot", I heard that Gordon Lightfoot passed away recently. 😟 Aww, that makes me sad, I liked some of his music, particularly "Sundown" and "Carefree Highway". Rest in peace.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;">● In irrelevant news: while it was free to watch on YouTube, I watched John Carpenter's <i>Starman</i>, which I've been wanting to watch for so long because I heard very good things and read that it was among the director's best movies. Having got to watch it for the first time, I was immersed and invested in this sci-fi romance film it was just <b>so good</b>, Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen were both excellent in it (especially Allen, this may just be one of her best performances that I've seen) and had a wonderfully heartfelt chemistry together, I liked Charles Martin Smith's supporting character, the special effects look nice for 1984, Donald M. Morgan's cinematography is fantastic, it's incredibly well-paced, and the late Jack Nitzsche's soundtrack is poignantly spellbinding and emotionally haunting (the breathtaking title theme 😭). This is the fifth John Carpenter movie I've seen from beginning to end, with the other four being <i>Escape from New York</i>, <i>The Thing</i>, <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, and <i>Vampires</i> (the lesser one of the bunch), and <i>Starman</i>'s already become one of my top favorite John Carpenter movies and I've only seen it once (I need to watch it again). I'd love to watch another movie from his catalogue, perhaps <i>Memoirs of an Invisible Man</i> and <i>In the Mouth of Madness</i>, I might consider those next.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i>,</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>you earned it!!!! </b>🥳</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52cbff; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-30663288767214812242023-04-24T12:44:00.004-05:002023-04-24T13:31:33.540-05:00Who Framed Roger Rabbit (GB) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">🐇 <b>Received: January 9th, 2023 </b>🐇<b> Written: April 17th-24th, 2023</b> 🐇</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-sqEhKghm4TembQbI0Ytgzvinu1IUAYCUK1m2KJrJPwbVDwdBfQaqtOaLFnDn6a-XQDcO7Gp1xXW7lXDvY_9diQWpOh-4Vvnaz7xL-ArOeFYr5r70Vm8vrJsVjRGU013vZLzYLFy3ZT-0tiuS6XUEDIR5abx3Y52SvBb0bv-W3fgR6pUQEssjXtz6g/s188/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="188" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-sqEhKghm4TembQbI0Ytgzvinu1IUAYCUK1m2KJrJPwbVDwdBfQaqtOaLFnDn6a-XQDcO7Gp1xXW7lXDvY_9diQWpOh-4Vvnaz7xL-ArOeFYr5r70Vm8vrJsVjRGU013vZLzYLFy3ZT-0tiuS6XUEDIR5abx3Y52SvBb0bv-W3fgR6pUQEssjXtz6g/s1600/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Title.png" width="188" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(As played on <i>Super Game Boy</i>)</span></b></div></span><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Year: 1991 | Developed and Published by: Capcom</span></b></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃</span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">In 1981, author Gary K. Wolf was inspired by watching cartoons to get ideas for his latest novel and finding fascinating amusement from watching commercials for cereal mascots Tony the Tiger and Trix the Rabbit where these cartoon characters casually interacted with real children, a concept he wanted to explore in book form.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsTz96NiL1Sbv4Iy_sbI5gwwvBoPk2Hs4ymw-_cKSDXCx_0L0RbaVlGd5xWtWZ1p6Ssv45y7ndCJ475H-2RkmboounV3E-knhjwnsbbDeE6pah2ybIUt9UD7uVPxVfAk5uhT1z6TNmAnxEyucn_yAqDCyIkegzg5pflYVYbYLPmxYJdVcmm6fRR38bA/s325/WhoCensoredRogerRabbit_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsTz96NiL1Sbv4Iy_sbI5gwwvBoPk2Hs4ymw-_cKSDXCx_0L0RbaVlGd5xWtWZ1p6Ssv45y7ndCJ475H-2RkmboounV3E-knhjwnsbbDeE6pah2ybIUt9UD7uVPxVfAk5uhT1z6TNmAnxEyucn_yAqDCyIkegzg5pflYVYbYLPmxYJdVcmm6fRR38bA/s16000/WhoCensoredRogerRabbit_Cover.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from Wikipedia</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The end result was </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Who Censored Roger Rabbit?</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, a fantasy mystery novel which centered around real characters and comic strip characters coexisting in the same world. Disney showed immediate interest in adapting it to film, a process that would take several years, but featuring animated movie characters coexisting with real life human characters instead.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Directed by Robert Zemeckis following his success with <i>Romancing the Stone</i> and <i>Back to the Future</i>, produced through Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment company, lensed by the great Dean Cundey*, with animation spearheaded by the late Richard Williams (blending in Disney's high quality animation style, the characterization of Warner Bros., and the humor of Tex Avery), <b><i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i></b> was a very groundbreaking film that impressed critics and audiences alike in its 1988 theatrical debut with its performances, writing, humor, and especially the visuals with the seamless blend of live action and animation (which still hold up to this day), and was the second highest-grossing film of that year earning $351.5 million against its $50.6 million budget behind only Barry Levinson's <i>Rain Man</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* He worked on the cinematography for John Carpenter's <i>Escape from New York</i>, <i>The Thing</i>, and <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, Steven Spielberg's <i>Hook</i> and <i>Jurassic Park</i>, and Brad Silberling's <i>Casper</i>, and many more</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">The success and popularity of the movie rekindled an interest in animation of the Golden Age, led to the creation of three theatrical shorts* featuring the eponymous rabbit, author Gary K. Wolf writing two non-canon spinoff novels <i>Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit?</i> and <i>Who Wacked Roger Rabbit?</i> in 1991 and in 2013 respectively, and inevitably wound up receiving different video game adaptations:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">* 1989's <i>Tummy Trouble</i> preceding Joe Johnston's <i>Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</i>, 1990's <i>Roller Coaster Rabbit</i> played before Warren Beatty's <i>Dick Tracy</i>, and 1993's <i>Trail Mix-Up</i> prior to the showing of Mikael Salomon's <i>A Far Off Place</i></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc1b2H9MrO5IZ0ocjFWVo0XUz6p2d8zcgLJqHTtGvU3b4BKniHrmFXP1hmnjmPfsI2A9sj0ZGa8BZR6C6T25qDFDMRkk-1oOr_5CPnWNfmb1INJ72K3hNEumjGPDwJNbYAPnCAhBrI4Kpl9o_36JcnCSNQoOfCMuxiylIQXJyMLl63Iz58q1Jipxliw/s553/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_FamicomDiskSystem.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="553" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc1b2H9MrO5IZ0ocjFWVo0XUz6p2d8zcgLJqHTtGvU3b4BKniHrmFXP1hmnjmPfsI2A9sj0ZGa8BZR6C6T25qDFDMRkk-1oOr_5CPnWNfmb1INJ72K3hNEumjGPDwJNbYAPnCAhBrI4Kpl9o_36JcnCSNQoOfCMuxiylIQXJyMLl63Iz58q1Jipxliw/w200-h181/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_FamicomDiskSystem.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnRxUWbVBOIh4H04Q84QoHuIL1w4o_mdz5NgoxMS1phSHNxEC2Q-swJTylYAW-dHedN0fo5AxYj5GiWA39gryqgSIiAk3SD5wdVcs0GQUaQowJ6JuZz71E76EDo1OvQ4seM4V9beVVp1nn6FwkTP_H3FvvgyI3yNtcuvhH4QSuv81KgvEQ33HYvQncA/s555/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_NES.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="555" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnRxUWbVBOIh4H04Q84QoHuIL1w4o_mdz5NgoxMS1phSHNxEC2Q-swJTylYAW-dHedN0fo5AxYj5GiWA39gryqgSIiAk3SD5wdVcs0GQUaQowJ6JuZz71E76EDo1OvQ4seM4V9beVVp1nn6FwkTP_H3FvvgyI3yNtcuvhH4QSuv81KgvEQ33HYvQncA/w200-h168/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_NES.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching World of Longplays' respective Famicom Disk System and NES gameplay videos on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Kemco's 1989 Famicom Disk System take was the first game in their <i>Crazy Castle</i> franchise which was changed to <i>The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle</i> when localized for the NES outside of Japan due to Capcom having exclusivity rights to Disney gaming on Nintendo formats in the West but also because LJN published <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i>'s NES adaptation developed by Rare,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCatcdFC3K1vohGMQPAgbrSbkYhXqBw9jZ7W9cFeI_fVGq32uO5pXBbNT9YlXApV9q7zvoaAZz-lKX-ykNrcf72UEGXrksrCOuZEizcPSdctiVAhWueLu4qbhwu_DKdZIW3NZ5wbifM8L093IMSxjmQ0D3AP4iJuYPIQkabquitYFPr3fgpr2wBokh1g/s576/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Amiga.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="576" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCatcdFC3K1vohGMQPAgbrSbkYhXqBw9jZ7W9cFeI_fVGq32uO5pXBbNT9YlXApV9q7zvoaAZz-lKX-ykNrcf72UEGXrksrCOuZEizcPSdctiVAhWueLu4qbhwu_DKdZIW3NZ5wbifM8L093IMSxjmQ0D3AP4iJuYPIQkabquitYFPr3fgpr2wBokh1g/w200-h125/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Amiga.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nxZMCVQruvmrY6DmJXaPuKv4zErrojDjbZNpovuhTvHRwIzEUSfSrdYvbZVMlyDLBfl3PoWzp-zbB3gvDknNACu0XAOEtS2q8Byplfb9PuEHtTFyozwpuSyL5eVEs8Lfc1qzfz8sRIaOVf4koc2aS_UBxz4yNlmuocKw4QXIk5A-JXU8lbgyPPfrA/s576/RogerRabbit_HareRaisingHavoc.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="576" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nxZMCVQruvmrY6DmJXaPuKv4zErrojDjbZNpovuhTvHRwIzEUSfSrdYvbZVMlyDLBfl3PoWzp-zbB3gvDknNACu0XAOEtS2q8Byplfb9PuEHtTFyozwpuSyL5eVEs8Lfc1qzfz8sRIaOVf4koc2aS_UBxz4yNlmuocKw4QXIk5A-JXU8lbgyPPfrA/w200-h125/RogerRabbit_HareRaisingHavoc.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching I AM IRONCLAW!'s respective <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> and <i>Hare Raising Havoc</i>'s Amiga longplay videos on YouTube</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">it would see a personal computer adaptation by Buena Vista Software as well as BlueSky Software's <i>Hare Raising Havoc</i> which leaned more into animated short territory.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">There was one other video game adaptation of the historically significant and beloved Zemeckis classic, but by the time it came out the popularity of the film slowly began to wane. This version in particular was produced by Stephan L. Butler, whose production of <i>Pipe Dream</i> for Lucasfilm in 1989 landed him the job of producing Disney games</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguboP0xOFBft7SUTOX52ge4spHxuibmCIyZr6HfurRWae5BmqkO1X136H-emwd1ahKTP4GfriGmYFXSyW3WTeU-olW-xwLxOAxq5qy8Rs2d6v-_DUdm0wCujqLEviUwhIdXSPKOz74x2BkQiWqBA1Lga2GPz3LoLRKNCPQJkI3T2CisbPfjBOR_I1lEg/s386/CastleOfIllusion_Toyland.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguboP0xOFBft7SUTOX52ge4spHxuibmCIyZr6HfurRWae5BmqkO1X136H-emwd1ahKTP4GfriGmYFXSyW3WTeU-olW-xwLxOAxq5qy8Rs2d6v-_DUdm0wCujqLEviUwhIdXSPKOz74x2BkQiWqBA1Lga2GPz3LoLRKNCPQJkI3T2CisbPfjBOR_I1lEg/w200-h118/CastleOfIllusion_Toyland.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmBg_-kG9zxVO0TVHh6XNi_2NiF9tMCVzSudK66O7RtBWxqvbKQ4z2vQvXQ2NeVD5HCcivmCqa0DVYlarezTKHJGTbBw2VWGmq-R3I3o-aJe8Q2sfliydmmtnGc_T7Fbb7aVUauKlqzLIKWhx3bywtYYFF6-bZ44NnWCGif5dx5UTU023VUaSf-gSow/s386/Fantasia_GatorJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmBg_-kG9zxVO0TVHh6XNi_2NiF9tMCVzSudK66O7RtBWxqvbKQ4z2vQvXQ2NeVD5HCcivmCqa0DVYlarezTKHJGTbBw2VWGmq-R3I3o-aJe8Q2sfliydmmtnGc_T7Fbb7aVUauKlqzLIKWhx3bywtYYFF6-bZ44NnWCGif5dx5UTU023VUaSf-gSow/w200-h118/Fantasia_GatorJump.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">which comprised of Sega's </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken</i>/<i>Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i>, Riedel Software Productions' <i>Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: The Adventures in Nimnul's Castle</i>, Infogrames' <i>Fantasia</i>/<i>Fantasia: Mickey Mouse Magic</i>, Interactive Designs and Radiance Software's TurboGrafx-16 version of <i>Disney's TaleSpin</i>, Novotrade Software's <i>Mickey's Jigsaw Puzzles</i>, and </span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrhqyvkZxTyrR2nTm_l9Cy53sERfK2f75preOQgNe8Y_dL-e_Jo5RBdWmVK7O4ocDclIaFKSaAHQgxLNEvXTFM19IGOefKqZrPkR-i9Y7X18IoIg1kX_Vm-JYkgz-ksFn4xh0eBZ25TcVffVgYZVOVrkonxx0Tk1zrAc-IUqStdknUCYYy2IWXS2Mhg/s809/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrhqyvkZxTyrR2nTm_l9Cy53sERfK2f75preOQgNe8Y_dL-e_Jo5RBdWmVK7O4ocDclIaFKSaAHQgxLNEvXTFM19IGOefKqZrPkR-i9Y7X18IoIg1kX_Vm-JYkgz-ksFn4xh0eBZ25TcVffVgYZVOVrkonxx0Tk1zrAc-IUqStdknUCYYy2IWXS2Mhg/w396-h400/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Cover.png" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Capcom</b><span style="font-family: georgia;">'s </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for the Game Boy. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">This handheld version, designed by Shinji Mikami in one of his earliest venues, would be released in North America on November 1991 and be followed up by a European release on December of that year, well over three years after the movie first came out.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgh51uifipQa0udkK8-oDCWS4z6QRp2xDP2lUPPUhvRnEMB8YGhNiTqwHOeSn0lX8z0sANqL8PukcRcdtVcA9D0BdAeL-mvXmNdQOg2ydSszFk6GSX_Tv_B38pkh-vqZWX7y0pX4ZBG7IRemxgdJSokP7vG04miKPgrUKOUO5emCUcr382oTbgt_b9Q/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Telephone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgh51uifipQa0udkK8-oDCWS4z6QRp2xDP2lUPPUhvRnEMB8YGhNiTqwHOeSn0lX8z0sANqL8PukcRcdtVcA9D0BdAeL-mvXmNdQOg2ydSszFk6GSX_Tv_B38pkh-vqZWX7y0pX4ZBG7IRemxgdJSokP7vG04miKPgrUKOUO5emCUcr382oTbgt_b9Q/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Telephone.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B6XbOwP5hCFJvi4ubxhOXl2xIbVrTGDMc85goeI0SDkv5DqboNm2EF1rKY1d13Y4tYEcD7KGMwOC1A-FQfxrIpL__0-vSpq_6BPgjvr9grk9K9BI6oN4V9fFuBJi1FWlxetLl4cOSPqWpvCmjZyiAvWq89-2VG2r1CUvXz2hRmjw5N03seH_WXFfzw/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MarvinAcme.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B6XbOwP5hCFJvi4ubxhOXl2xIbVrTGDMc85goeI0SDkv5DqboNm2EF1rKY1d13Y4tYEcD7KGMwOC1A-FQfxrIpL__0-vSpq_6BPgjvr9grk9K9BI6oN4V9fFuBJi1FWlxetLl4cOSPqWpvCmjZyiAvWq89-2VG2r1CUvXz2hRmjw5N03seH_WXFfzw/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MarvinAcme.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1947 Hollywood, a toon named Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer) receives a call at Maroon Studios from Acme Corporation and Toontown founder Marvin Acme (played by the late Stubby Kaye, RIP) to meet with him in his office to discuss something urgent. Upon arriving Acme tells him that he'd been threatened with his life by Judge Doom (played by Christopher Lloyd) if he didn't sell Toontown to him, so as a result he wrote a will </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and gave it to Roger's wife Jessica Rabbit (voiced and sung by an uncredited Kathleen Turner and Amy Irving respectively)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgH7uV6CtgAqmu4-u3qfGp3YNNCIxv37SG2wRdopAunDhsRZh74x0YETL8IKUeb1MuYixb8j7fnobdV7PMY0cCUSSY-Ai59TCWpI6sAsPQ96Qhn-m-TlQN-xZyffbN91HzNEtDm-DFunPp5Df_MMGYeHzORv1-h1C23WAcYbex0UFw3UErIgAxydlsw/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_JessicaKidnapped.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgH7uV6CtgAqmu4-u3qfGp3YNNCIxv37SG2wRdopAunDhsRZh74x0YETL8IKUeb1MuYixb8j7fnobdV7PMY0cCUSSY-Ai59TCWpI6sAsPQ96Qhn-m-TlQN-xZyffbN91HzNEtDm-DFunPp5Df_MMGYeHzORv1-h1C23WAcYbex0UFw3UErIgAxydlsw/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_JessicaKidnapped.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKrF_7HerlQM_uEy1cKZ1A_YbWc9N8fFZOMwkmtefyOho7vD0cbEwU-zfBd1xy26IEtY65bohAEZDXbzFlijfoF7U62Ge5X1des1QCKnxQZU8DXQXxRpFdt1df-nsUAgYDzrco3B3zphjbHhD916OTpsybs-4xoR3MBDcvyl--wfW4VvAQqnmH773VA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_PunchHammer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKrF_7HerlQM_uEy1cKZ1A_YbWc9N8fFZOMwkmtefyOho7vD0cbEwU-zfBd1xy26IEtY65bohAEZDXbzFlijfoF7U62Ge5X1des1QCKnxQZU8DXQXxRpFdt1df-nsUAgYDzrco3B3zphjbHhD916OTpsybs-4xoR3MBDcvyl--wfW4VvAQqnmH773VA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_PunchHammer.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">but neglected to give her the deed to Toontown as well which is the only way the will can be executed and entrusts Roger to bring it to her before Acme is shot and killed from behind a curtain. Roger goes to find Jessica at The Ink and Paint Club but is too late as he witnesses her being abducted by Doom's hench weasels, so he goes to get help by the human private detective Eddie Valiant (played by the late Bob Hoskins, RIP legend) who agrees to help in any way he can to rescue both Jessica and Toontown and also take down the weasels along the way.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBLprmmRA2HL8EMS8unW1K0vQZU20GWahadRRv4CI2MdNqiiAFLDfI78V0E_dT2kUskzRKOpfRBbik4TWIXr8rssjJhsYmHmLV2ffDUX9O18xdynqe4DkogZbIAaSpi9MAyN0Eq1uv9mgstLCnV0ppRgXw8hDy0YCKkxtOM42tQVony27MO2Anbn_Tg/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_DeadAcme.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBLprmmRA2HL8EMS8unW1K0vQZU20GWahadRRv4CI2MdNqiiAFLDfI78V0E_dT2kUskzRKOpfRBbik4TWIXr8rssjJhsYmHmLV2ffDUX9O18xdynqe4DkogZbIAaSpi9MAyN0Eq1uv9mgstLCnV0ppRgXw8hDy0YCKkxtOM42tQVony27MO2Anbn_Tg/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_DeadAcme.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MgEHs0MufNt_xV_zZEEPb3RLOS2dum92z3ex-BZpzajsG-PLOdXNvJJAS8XZfPxBqOZs8qFGXZNtLyylKLCaG1k3zFmW1qBNjnRHiBCuzCe9VJbMaPc7MKmMnYxUCAhqCbbM4FTtRmqCKQJKT8rWGXUwXIq_mW_o5tzYbreP5DCia2weZRS6pL0u9Q/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Carrots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MgEHs0MufNt_xV_zZEEPb3RLOS2dum92z3ex-BZpzajsG-PLOdXNvJJAS8XZfPxBqOZs8qFGXZNtLyylKLCaG1k3zFmW1qBNjnRHiBCuzCe9VJbMaPc7MKmMnYxUCAhqCbbM4FTtRmqCKQJKT8rWGXUwXIq_mW_o5tzYbreP5DCia2weZRS6pL0u9Q/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Carrots.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Even though he was the only one present at the scene of the crime, Roger doesn't get framed for a murder he didn't commit in the context of this game | Right: Below Valiant's office is a repository of health replenishing carrots</b> 🥕</span></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the top-down open-ended action adventure </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> you control the titular toon whom you can move around in a square pattern, speak with a character by pressing the A button* while standing beside them and pick up helpful items by pressing A while standing beside them, duck in position when remaining still as you hold down the A button, press the B button* to attack your foes with your punch hammer or your toon gun (provided you have bullets to fire them with) while you're equipped with them, and by pressing Start you can browse your inventory and equip your weapon of choice as well as select an item you have at your disposal for the appropriate situation.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* B and Y buttons respectively if you decide to set it to the alternate setting on the <i>Super Game Boy</i></b></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQAA-cTBuG15g4C6i-D1s2kfc33fdOrhx6XdvgD8OpOfHfZkiTUEfUHC2X-TehWwu1LR1z3RX04CldnPVaMtxtn47RdeUBvMgH6rVZDmKlCU025wr8c8GQxDX6x2DzoTjlbkmVfCtSd3QJXK6gtQSNUEajT7PpwCAXVGoumBYVtWDuf6zpWkXj2o2IA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_EddieChap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQAA-cTBuG15g4C6i-D1s2kfc33fdOrhx6XdvgD8OpOfHfZkiTUEfUHC2X-TehWwu1LR1z3RX04CldnPVaMtxtn47RdeUBvMgH6rVZDmKlCU025wr8c8GQxDX6x2DzoTjlbkmVfCtSd3QJXK6gtQSNUEajT7PpwCAXVGoumBYVtWDuf6zpWkXj2o2IA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_EddieChap.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHotckj0nG1A-AG3UlbbkSthJyQxMOEF75LXzMko4Tvxdc2BX15pgSeFaSuclCm3sHeeWo3bc784iU65t4XbuUCVVRA5hTjaGnXeKcAHi6WrVBaRUmN9I1z8Dxft4LCkQQDyDlmwVlKhDLTt3p-TF7vz3LIq-G9koMXno277s1vslXO-jevC1QWGW-RQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Password.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHotckj0nG1A-AG3UlbbkSthJyQxMOEF75LXzMko4Tvxdc2BX15pgSeFaSuclCm3sHeeWo3bc784iU65t4XbuUCVVRA5hTjaGnXeKcAHi6WrVBaRUmN9I1z8Dxft4LCkQQDyDlmwVlKhDLTt3p-TF7vz3LIq-G9koMXno277s1vslXO-jevC1QWGW-RQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Password.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Just don't bring up his brother in conversation, okay?" | Right: Wait, that can't be right, I haven't even finished the scene yet</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Over the course of the game you must occasionally beware of the weasels who will deplete your health upon being touched by them or hit with one of their projectiles which you can replenish by munching on a carrot which heals up two hearts each time with the health capacity being three full hearts. Should you lose all your health at any point during a scene you will be given a prompt to continue or to go back to the title, with the former sending you back to the beginning of the present scene. Upon completing a scene you will be given a simple eight-character password to pick up your progress at a later point.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg2C4l02bVfC0BHZ0m0brDMEGqIssZaTZ3F-KMl3gm8gxoFHCiKPZ1BaBCBjbXmyxWsYdZ7KeZY7TrvsFk9e8blAruMxIWfp_JOsCL4vu4uSweGUi1pgU0UO51Z0Cla76hJKKmKiclri9lIG55DFJ-fQE3NfFkPje-GVVhHFl14GhA-xcxXD5R5j7kg/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Litterbug.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg2C4l02bVfC0BHZ0m0brDMEGqIssZaTZ3F-KMl3gm8gxoFHCiKPZ1BaBCBjbXmyxWsYdZ7KeZY7TrvsFk9e8blAruMxIWfp_JOsCL4vu4uSweGUi1pgU0UO51Z0Cla76hJKKmKiclri9lIG55DFJ-fQE3NfFkPje-GVVhHFl14GhA-xcxXD5R5j7kg/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Litterbug.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseO0TUoFU6VHUJ1oJlf9NeVejH8NhWIO19TAZsqnoOsyhsPP1f6y955zkjeyxM554Vi8VHgXOee3tJkcu7MJlpvnvUkybpIodgLwYSMrPguvgl3eWGx9VChps7vpvPmC_WPM_sixrhsYtJJFVsheVZOCV-SksBgg9ObmWF7un-NhBQ5XgZqWWue0Cvg/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_TheInk+PaintClub.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseO0TUoFU6VHUJ1oJlf9NeVejH8NhWIO19TAZsqnoOsyhsPP1f6y955zkjeyxM554Vi8VHgXOee3tJkcu7MJlpvnvUkybpIodgLwYSMrPguvgl3eWGx9VChps7vpvPmC_WPM_sixrhsYtJJFVsheVZOCV-SksBgg9ObmWF7un-NhBQ5XgZqWWue0Cvg/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_TheInk+PaintClub.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Steer clear from the litter being tossed by the trash weasel | Right: </b>🎵<b> Why don't you do right, like some other men do? Get out of here and get me some money too </b>🎵</span></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">This game has a solid visual aesthetic and manages to add in a good amount of detail despite the monochromatic quality, managing to recapture some of the locations from the movie such as the kitchen set piece inside Maroon Studios at the beginning, the streets of Hollywood, The Ink and Paint Club, Eddie Valiant's office, and the pub managed by Valiant's ex Dolores (played by Joanna Cassidy). There are game-exclusive areas that look solid as well, like the harbor residing by the ocean and the forest path towards Judge Doom's mansion. </span><i style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"> on the Game Boy has got endearing designs of the vital characters with that recognizable Disney Capcom charm.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvPIg-HEtwGxaSodUtLNWKWhlR9Kcu99jVYeWHFdFn92dZX8EsVzBF3sEpD5H7u3WAmfdhGq95mWbzwBYS8n0D2uL_9KOh3qM5A2rGpdJrBFB4FQOt1AG5cYoDnEbh51Gvvq4ulOxZ2oVzB3ZCIMCw0Kl3Zd8Ps4xlNoQFxejS53IZJaKukgfo_CTWw/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_GoHide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvPIg-HEtwGxaSodUtLNWKWhlR9Kcu99jVYeWHFdFn92dZX8EsVzBF3sEpD5H7u3WAmfdhGq95mWbzwBYS8n0D2uL_9KOh3qM5A2rGpdJrBFB4FQOt1AG5cYoDnEbh51Gvvq4ulOxZ2oVzB3ZCIMCw0Kl3Zd8Ps4xlNoQFxejS53IZJaKukgfo_CTWw/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_GoHide.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnbzZ_raUvxaX9PfogWo7jU_VlBtf-ILPa-ZUSWdjSluG4-Opv01G65wa54J_fZUJW2VNgdm67kOaqBKx50UbAbsYPoB20hma2BGgg60DQ45OYxBNeTo6rOh48hsnXnkQm0u6czGDjRwr5OplRwFVu51vxVco9Nik0mBN1yb8Hlxg00lW1asCUVJKoQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_DontKissMe.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnbzZ_raUvxaX9PfogWo7jU_VlBtf-ILPa-ZUSWdjSluG4-Opv01G65wa54J_fZUJW2VNgdm67kOaqBKx50UbAbsYPoB20hma2BGgg60DQ45OYxBNeTo6rOh48hsnXnkQm0u6czGDjRwr5OplRwFVu51vxVco9Nik0mBN1yb8Hlxg00lW1asCUVJKoQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_DontKissMe.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pick the right hiding spot and you'll be safe, pick the wrong one and your chances of surviving this are close to nil | Right: "Because <u>I</u>'m going to kiss <u>you</u>!"</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Roger Rabbit is well-designed with his big-eyed fluffy appearance and sleek whiskers, I like how his ears flop down upon ducking and how his walking animation is decent, and how he sees stars upon having his health fully depleted. The game versions of other characters look solid as well, like Valiant, Jessica Rabbit, Baby Herman (voiced by Lou Hirsch), Benny the Cab (also voiced by Fleischer), Dolores, and Judge Doom with his imposing stature and all-black attire. Even the weasels are solidly designed and recapture their easily identifiable looks from the movie well: be it clones of the tommy gun wielding Wheezy (voiced by the late June Foray, RIP), the large propeller cap-wearing Stupid (voiced by Fred Newman), the menacing Greasy, the certifiably insane Psycho (both also voiced by Fleischer), and the no-nonsense mobster and alpha weasel Smart Ass (renamed "Smarty" for this game, voiced by the late David L. Lander, RIP).</span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i>'s movie soundtrack was composed by frequent Robert Zemeckis collaborator Alan Silvestri,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1XEir8nhfcRKqgE628cvla0tXe2-xiUFyy7WT1nkpBAO9ZBL8FszD9NS4M--TfliADSZGpJsdhb2TXpX4MHS6m4AnxTE6wprLPxHAVMzv99-zd42ZzxjFD9lRqkwUAC0Cjm1c92YquZk0xzUW6kOmbdZcjMYe8fAZCGWHTq0pE3VT9a8_IJBCQx6MA/s1230/AlanSilvestri_MovieMusicComposer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1230" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1XEir8nhfcRKqgE628cvla0tXe2-xiUFyy7WT1nkpBAO9ZBL8FszD9NS4M--TfliADSZGpJsdhb2TXpX4MHS6m4AnxTE6wprLPxHAVMzv99-zd42ZzxjFD9lRqkwUAC0Cjm1c92YquZk0xzUW6kOmbdZcjMYe8fAZCGWHTq0pE3VT9a8_IJBCQx6MA/w400-h275/AlanSilvestri_MovieMusicComposer.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">who has got an incredible movie portfolio and has composed some of the most iconic music in movie history in a career that spans over fifty years. Incredible!!! 😮</span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">The Game Boy adaptation's music was composed by Yasuaki Fujita, and even though it doesn't use any of Silvestri's jazz-oriented themes from the movie it's still a pleasantly likable and well-composed soundtrack on its own merit.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBptz06o612G71zZ4SgXKWFEfFm9SNFj0t1NirMMY2nh8HEf32Yszrk1eg3Z9vJawdPQQyevQLjPPMFsKH7HIr_Xyf_YJpf39dl9tN5QeIswvZ0UkHGbN283jHdHyGqnqSiGQGXeqy74sPkY18kqR3yjRUMi5iI2AmvYSwf2bxTlkgKDt0LCqAeJttQ/s374/MegaMan3_Gate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="374" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBptz06o612G71zZ4SgXKWFEfFm9SNFj0t1NirMMY2nh8HEf32Yszrk1eg3Z9vJawdPQQyevQLjPPMFsKH7HIr_Xyf_YJpf39dl9tN5QeIswvZ0UkHGbN283jHdHyGqnqSiGQGXeqy74sPkY18kqR3yjRUMi5iI2AmvYSwf2bxTlkgKDt0LCqAeJttQ/w200-h159/MegaMan3_Gate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0od1KkSisc3Fzp5Dma7vgFQ7KAjjbYpdsrlHi9F_BSJIMnAnZRiXg9gk47Z6LKwVLsngJ6Zo7AP0n2M7mpRuXa7mP58HAFW_altrCIKoXxbJJ2TImhmn5CGXQzLP4ODKrMc7jVlJZchIisQJonr4Iozrmh5ryqaiSKAwrRYCdLpmVZPjrLwkG6E7KXQ/s374/MegaMan4_PharaohShot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="374" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0od1KkSisc3Fzp5Dma7vgFQ7KAjjbYpdsrlHi9F_BSJIMnAnZRiXg9gk47Z6LKwVLsngJ6Zo7AP0n2M7mpRuXa7mP58HAFW_altrCIKoXxbJJ2TImhmn5CGXQzLP4ODKrMc7jVlJZchIisQJonr4Iozrmh5ryqaiSKAwrRYCdLpmVZPjrLwkG6E7KXQ/w200-h159/MegaMan4_PharaohShot.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Yasuaki took over composition duties for Capcom's <i>Rockman 3: Dr. Wily no Saigo!?</i>/<i>Mega Man III</i> for his wife Harumi Fujita when she left to take care of her newborn and reprised his composer role for the next installment <i>Rockman 4: Aratanaru Yabou!!</i>/<i>Mega Man IV</i>, he also provided music for Capcom's Nintendo 8-bit Disney licenses <i>The Little Mermaid</i> and <i>Darkwing Duck</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRve_toTtxR7qo7VujSuV9gqmKtRbadHLAlw1avmFFOCHAGZ8ufgearbfHOxn2pjTk5r2oTUdX7nBLHXh0YFjZFbuelW9UatWe2_Z-ARUl5XnsCoyD9nqL8PJXlhMEMksOrkD1_VmFw-1ZpmmW8LY3tmpim07OZ2OvLxxI_yPT_0eOynaJE133cHOZBQ/s389/BreathOfFire_Goda.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="389" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRve_toTtxR7qo7VujSuV9gqmKtRbadHLAlw1avmFFOCHAGZ8ufgearbfHOxn2pjTk5r2oTUdX7nBLHXh0YFjZFbuelW9UatWe2_Z-ARUl5XnsCoyD9nqL8PJXlhMEMksOrkD1_VmFw-1ZpmmW8LY3tmpim07OZ2OvLxxI_yPT_0eOynaJE133cHOZBQ/w200-h147/BreathOfFire_Goda.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvau-ICDOi33UBxebDky0Ol4pZchFM4PCqyR4RFT8E_yIYfQoumsrQV2z56uBbxwdrae_-qdp52lOL47JC_a4G0cbNr8hc1V7-3MO8TgLaZGGbPLilqS04aLIbPY9J4Pi3etFJD9ZfCDqWGVELUtQLjTHYkyD5MXjF7DIKQTwLuWJG0dIRIJuVO9yydA/s383/FinalFight2_WonWon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="383" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvau-ICDOi33UBxebDky0Ol4pZchFM4PCqyR4RFT8E_yIYfQoumsrQV2z56uBbxwdrae_-qdp52lOL47JC_a4G0cbNr8hc1V7-3MO8TgLaZGGbPLilqS04aLIbPY9J4Pi3etFJD9ZfCDqWGVELUtQLjTHYkyD5MXjF7DIKQTwLuWJG0dIRIJuVO9yydA/w200-h139/FinalFight2_WonWon.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">was one of the composers for the original <i>Breath of Fire</i> turn-based RPG, and was the only composer from the original <i>Final Fight</i> to step into the composer's chair again for the Nintendo 16-bit sequel <i>Final Fight 2</i> but with different company this time around. Yasuaki Fujita was also the one who came up with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyJXzgaPif8">Capcom's logo jingle</a>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMNXj_-tGUhTcv5OtQEiaw1KL194tGNQAK4vOuBaxfoibefFhSXwFwxJO7DT9Tn3vJlNNpHzFrLEIyeR9KQi9ArmhtzeON1v72wAMcZDJdPzLKhi0xokV369Q8TXmvS_FeiVfvzVgu5YatMWCsnq6_Af9F5il-EVIwDMH3d5MUttBGPy_pvFc0epzNw/s389/Skyblazer_DragonTowerBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMNXj_-tGUhTcv5OtQEiaw1KL194tGNQAK4vOuBaxfoibefFhSXwFwxJO7DT9Tn3vJlNNpHzFrLEIyeR9KQi9ArmhtzeON1v72wAMcZDJdPzLKhi0xokV369Q8TXmvS_FeiVfvzVgu5YatMWCsnq6_Af9F5il-EVIwDMH3d5MUttBGPy_pvFc0epzNw/w200-h156/Skyblazer_DragonTowerBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ6sb_wQgiySU4VnBzcIJ4h_34bxy77xnmxXMYfjvKbjqrEAmCSJZ-8Qnl3-uH5F4LKpUEixu_lLKDPNoqUQ5eQhaEtREGAWWaLJiqY7ExHKPGV0ie0Zo8t5HidaSxObqqGRGakxfWlaTRsjGq8F2ej1evhIQnqrqB3eYzUmVFgQfoOcY7v9bRLWQ4Q/s389/PunkySkunk_BadlerStainedGlassWindow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ6sb_wQgiySU4VnBzcIJ4h_34bxy77xnmxXMYfjvKbjqrEAmCSJZ-8Qnl3-uH5F4LKpUEixu_lLKDPNoqUQ5eQhaEtREGAWWaLJiqY7ExHKPGV0ie0Zo8t5HidaSxObqqGRGakxfWlaTRsjGq8F2ej1evhIQnqrqB3eYzUmVFgQfoOcY7v9bRLWQ4Q/w200-h155/PunkySkunk_BadlerStainedGlassWindow.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">In the early '90s both Harumi and Yasuaki Fujita would leave Capcom to lend their music-making and sound-making services respectively to other companies such as Ukiyotei for <i>Skyblazer</i>/<i>Karuraou</i>, <i>Todd McFarlane's Spawn: The Video Game</i>, and <i>Kuri Skunk</i>/<i>Punky Skunk</i> as well as</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvEXYpXttXn7JqjznRZaavn8WJY-NkkFTdmR1UViafmDGGgHRM3kdXuRE4OIGteddWceOliXe4U0sCG8wybrEfjJmJKMXZPFB0o6xcMwyhP2nIKY6vURSuDlnGVU2UQhAmSqKG74RyAOviiVCTEwzM0Ak5-WQL09bqszv7qofFJFhEgPj-excRaHGLA/s389/Tomba_EggToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvEXYpXttXn7JqjznRZaavn8WJY-NkkFTdmR1UViafmDGGgHRM3kdXuRE4OIGteddWceOliXe4U0sCG8wybrEfjJmJKMXZPFB0o6xcMwyhP2nIKY6vURSuDlnGVU2UQhAmSqKG74RyAOviiVCTEwzM0Ak5-WQL09bqszv7qofFJFhEgPj-excRaHGLA/w200-h155/Tomba_EggToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBYbVVBI-8M3KFld0b2QsdpBikrZGc_T7x9icmmcV_RE8gTuu0_ZzjhNJIka1lIqv3JIVu4WkLv4tzCY5qWsJex-OcXDybekH5ZaeMi6lE7uGf_n5YYq-_8smt-tXIlKnbsPyPgdzd-I7OeOzouZV8bZeOzC3BdEMSvV5hDbwI-p6cX7wOIIwbmaZKw/s248/MagicalTetrisChallenge_Goofy+Donald.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="248" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBYbVVBI-8M3KFld0b2QsdpBikrZGc_T7x9icmmcV_RE8gTuu0_ZzjhNJIka1lIqv3JIVu4WkLv4tzCY5qWsJex-OcXDybekH5ZaeMi6lE7uGf_n5YYq-_8smt-tXIlKnbsPyPgdzd-I7OeOzouZV8bZeOzC3BdEMSvV5hDbwI-p6cX7wOIIwbmaZKw/w200-h184/MagicalTetrisChallenge_Goofy+Donald.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Whoopee Camp's inaugural PlayStation One cult classic <i>Ore! Tomba</i>/<i>Tomba!</i>/<i>Tombi!</i> and Yumekobo's <i>Blazing Star</i>. After years apart from Capcom the Fujitas would return to offer their gifted prowess to them one more time at the turn of the century with the Game Boy Color venue </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Tetris Adventure: Susume Mickey to Nakamatachi</i>/<i>Magical Tetris Challenge</i> before Yasuaki retired in 2000. A decade later he would briefly leave retirement to compose music for Inti Creates' <i>Mega Man 10</i>/<i>Rockman 10: Uchū kara no Kyōi!!</i> along with other series composers.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK7VER7uqZkKyHebfE3kncffhEjdlSOucimyuM76fjZDdiLIrGy_J81pFjX89CckMkGha0LNREYVEm1D4b2ImE9ql0iHUtPl9Zx3EIDN4UXPeVrJn45OWnYVmrTDOdyXyk7wm89LBslgIr7-J0xAHzGv2igyy4ScvaHn8tEHnjvMYwsT-0qrtgeoufg/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Bakery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK7VER7uqZkKyHebfE3kncffhEjdlSOucimyuM76fjZDdiLIrGy_J81pFjX89CckMkGha0LNREYVEm1D4b2ImE9ql0iHUtPl9Zx3EIDN4UXPeVrJn45OWnYVmrTDOdyXyk7wm89LBslgIr7-J0xAHzGv2igyy4ScvaHn8tEHnjvMYwsT-0qrtgeoufg/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Bakery.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkm5NaiVActC8Frqrqq1cfxP64fpq2zh_M4BVIM3I63qw-qhQxahcpz6h6-toncwG_zvVDWzQTeaRyK_LnkCAfNTvtL3T_ll_ooOtohVXZuYP2f-OalW3TiY8HrHMD-BtGlAPdlOPkOisw3gM6vcVX4pV_TsnUkp5_ofCXfEOTDTicAcAkRaQGGOSdVQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Trap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkm5NaiVActC8Frqrqq1cfxP64fpq2zh_M4BVIM3I63qw-qhQxahcpz6h6-toncwG_zvVDWzQTeaRyK_LnkCAfNTvtL3T_ll_ooOtohVXZuYP2f-OalW3TiY8HrHMD-BtGlAPdlOPkOisw3gM6vcVX4pV_TsnUkp5_ofCXfEOTDTicAcAkRaQGGOSdVQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Trap.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Inside a bakery </b>🍞<b> | Right: The trap is set</b></span></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=0s">title theme</a> does a good job at drawing you in to the quest you're about to partake in, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=720s">Eddie Valiant's theme</a> for whenever you enter his building (or any building) sounds serious, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=180s">first scene's theme</a> has got a neat sleuth-like vibe, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=360s">third scene's theme</a> is catchy and breezy as you make further progress traveling back and forth from Toontown to Sunset Boulevard by train, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=540s">fifth scene's theme</a> is atmospherically involved, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=1080s">boss theme</a> for when you battle against a main weasel and Judge Doom sounds riveting, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40bEULQXpM&t=1264s">ending theme</a> is a satisfactory listen once you save Jessica Rabbit and Toontown from Judge Doom.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RTzd68QG5d5NFkwn8xpHljlSNzvRSIM2VnbRkwZY2H9Ke8eYcZoC3tUiAfEEM5S2ptvZVic29Q7ydDTH3ixzPL-ZWuj0uS0OCUYAIOS8Tn95gO9eb9co4jVg7GixQm_KRChY9Y4kJu2g6zHeV0WoQzgnV5BAtELXmZgubqSu1wV96aBmZ2Mne61fHQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_GunnedDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RTzd68QG5d5NFkwn8xpHljlSNzvRSIM2VnbRkwZY2H9Ke8eYcZoC3tUiAfEEM5S2ptvZVic29Q7ydDTH3ixzPL-ZWuj0uS0OCUYAIOS8Tn95gO9eb9co4jVg7GixQm_KRChY9Y4kJu2g6zHeV0WoQzgnV5BAtELXmZgubqSu1wV96aBmZ2Mne61fHQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_GunnedDown.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcdlo5qtkGMWN3LJvTO7SmlxdqdUPgw6X1VsDhOzErZ-u51W4Kc4EGGbiwKW_bpikiKrnx4aWrqgfV9djxGqEkpbtQ2haVVgu1xU73QNLeS6K2J6Vdcj15Tm21zpjBu_0NuE8YLd2RqfdWzJg344o4L7rHvrlkfNOP80scaRbgF84mTFFJWkufAVE8w/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Train.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcdlo5qtkGMWN3LJvTO7SmlxdqdUPgw6X1VsDhOzErZ-u51W4Kc4EGGbiwKW_bpikiKrnx4aWrqgfV9djxGqEkpbtQ2haVVgu1xU73QNLeS6K2J6Vdcj15Tm21zpjBu_0NuE8YLd2RqfdWzJg344o4L7rHvrlkfNOP80scaRbgF84mTFFJWkufAVE8w/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Train.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: If you want to avoid </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">this</u><b>, </b>💀<b> | Right: do </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">this</u> 🚆</span></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects are decent and mostly don't overpower the soundtrack, except for the lingering engine chugging sound of the train Roger rides in the third and fourth scenes which slightly obfuscate the music quality for the duration of the ride each time. While I'm generally fonder of Harumi Fujita's music stylings, there's no denying that her husband Yasuaki is a good composer in his own right too.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNXzqrNYPIwqtptgE2_7yC4Hi2TZs7VWn2DHIJIwhwPGsKa7ANtTuD2nuOf8GmXErefudY3SCIXac5XwpMbJ-_rBU-l4mI2qOIzC9bu_TROiVCQqP7iMeLyFsDA6yBSiNf1nOWXaFtTfQUcJ10lp2Uk78xMphbJFbSsG3EH_vW9pp-KqdVr1yEgjAbA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_SleepingCustomer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNXzqrNYPIwqtptgE2_7yC4Hi2TZs7VWn2DHIJIwhwPGsKa7ANtTuD2nuOf8GmXErefudY3SCIXac5XwpMbJ-_rBU-l4mI2qOIzC9bu_TROiVCQqP7iMeLyFsDA6yBSiNf1nOWXaFtTfQUcJ10lp2Uk78xMphbJFbSsG3EH_vW9pp-KqdVr1yEgjAbA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_SleepingCustomer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT_x0c25_R4IZZAgooAWfiIGk3S1u5RrqcyWMm-0IMqatvR7wbgsOGvYksv_-eAOrUqXep-LNhnZ2vb3BgkPPAv3bJ9vC3kt27SnZpo-i2mwpzvoHBvXA-ksb5rBZ1lzNd9dKkRKP-CONe-uI_K74-f7p0ID_t7MbOEGeOZQjtBrtzw5LkX9nzDQ0XQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Factory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT_x0c25_R4IZZAgooAWfiIGk3S1u5RrqcyWMm-0IMqatvR7wbgsOGvYksv_-eAOrUqXep-LNhnZ2vb3BgkPPAv3bJ9vC3kt27SnZpo-i2mwpzvoHBvXA-ksb5rBZ1lzNd9dKkRKP-CONe-uI_K74-f7p0ID_t7MbOEGeOZQjtBrtzw5LkX9nzDQ0XQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Factory.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sleeping customer (likely drunk given this establishment) | Right: Entering Marvin Acme's factory</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've long known of the movie <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i>, and I vaguely recall having watched it once on VHS as a kid back when I lived in Italy during the '90s, and <b>only</b> once. I never watched it again until I noticed on YouTube that it was free to watch on New Year's Eve of 2022, and taking into consideration that it might no longer be the case at the start of 2023 I decided to watch it that night (even though it's also available on Disney+, but I didn't consider that option), and I have to say it's a really great movie! 😃 Oh my <b>GOD</b>, the amount of work gone into making the animation elements blend in with live action, and with such fluid motion as well, is so breathtaking to behold, its script is both clever and funny (lots of jokes that would've flown over my head as a kid), Bob Hoskins was fantastic, and its story is just so captivating, there's countless things about it that are highly noteworthy! I kind of wish I saw it more than once when I was younger, but I can't change the past.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0e628v07clMbYvX_bmr2ohH9e8uvV4ewJ8qEiWiqM50bRvAfud0gk68SupDiGrYg_oHRPnjQzvnzk0xQ2RZw_usIodIi4Rp6KHzs5MpHHNCJY2cyPv28zagY0p0Dy9jE9yk_blm15AcDuzrzAH-gFXcwbiB0h_TFvpgepDO6GPWWE-9fMgQ20hcypA/s243/TheLittleMermaid_UnderseaVolcanoBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0e628v07clMbYvX_bmr2ohH9e8uvV4ewJ8qEiWiqM50bRvAfud0gk68SupDiGrYg_oHRPnjQzvnzk0xQ2RZw_usIodIi4Rp6KHzs5MpHHNCJY2cyPv28zagY0p0Dy9jE9yk_blm15AcDuzrzAH-gFXcwbiB0h_TFvpgepDO6GPWWE-9fMgQ20hcypA/w200-h160/TheLittleMermaid_UnderseaVolcanoBattle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kea2iJfQ0X1dd3vmdqR8FXG12C1l94ha8Q7OF_pLVzuFQ9i1qG4m3vE5ElZ9GCF3sIKIoGrJEJY2rBsANd7cjhqRcDPjoE6AlZxXbH8LZ_U0S5mpao0HlwwK7ToZYhrnpQqjV4bqdLz1xHWjx9u0wTHQ7jzKoyfK5faIjobosFgA3Des_CQN8utehg/s389/DisneysAladdin_CaveOfWonders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="389" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Kea2iJfQ0X1dd3vmdqR8FXG12C1l94ha8Q7OF_pLVzuFQ9i1qG4m3vE5ElZ9GCF3sIKIoGrJEJY2rBsANd7cjhqRcDPjoE6AlZxXbH8LZ_U0S5mpao0HlwwK7ToZYhrnpQqjV4bqdLz1xHWjx9u0wTHQ7jzKoyfK5faIjobosFgA3Des_CQN8utehg/w200-h150/DisneysAladdin_CaveOfWonders.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For the longest time I was under the impression that the Nintendo 8-bit <i>The Little Mermaid</i> and Nintendo 16-bit <i>Disney's Aladdin</i> video games were the only titles Capcom developed that were based on Disney movies. I knew of <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i>'s Nintendo console adaptations, but I was surprised to learn a few years ago that Capcom made their own interactive interpretation of Robert Zemeckis' film for the Game Boy. It did look interesting based on what screenshots I saw of it online, but I didn't immediately look into it. Having caught up with the movie at the end of 2022 inspired me to check out the Game Boy game, and thus it was among the first games I ordered in 2023.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaCrbjLbkR_L29IKTJY-wq0VLbVOuyAhW-RQHSgLVGbRFPrB7zpe3nkJOllYISMAj0BgrGuKP0YifVrX6PmyjhCZ53gYA6PrmWH1uKvY9ngHr3JV2fF7SHFZSQyHKNllH_WFy-OlXc-trL6tY6oouQtiH67jZyr-QM41DY7fwVrcZyFdFVgW8sDEEJQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Drawers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaCrbjLbkR_L29IKTJY-wq0VLbVOuyAhW-RQHSgLVGbRFPrB7zpe3nkJOllYISMAj0BgrGuKP0YifVrX6PmyjhCZ53gYA6PrmWH1uKvY9ngHr3JV2fF7SHFZSQyHKNllH_WFy-OlXc-trL6tY6oouQtiH67jZyr-QM41DY7fwVrcZyFdFVgW8sDEEJQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Drawers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHwot3_r9_jmMjSrQNKyeGeHVtWD3WCJN9AwqywUW9IZf6JOyi-l7dYPoFpWfPeKJ1YAT-Mr5YRr-i3aktGN4V23Gw8gQ5N7XM-6UI524qGjNt1tD6MFr5Ca8BiMJC2MEJzAfCi0otod5frWf_Wm3fihCR-7li_ixAS92i4OEXNiJ6vQkB5VwXo78qA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Greasy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHwot3_r9_jmMjSrQNKyeGeHVtWD3WCJN9AwqywUW9IZf6JOyi-l7dYPoFpWfPeKJ1YAT-Mr5YRr-i3aktGN4V23Gw8gQ5N7XM-6UI524qGjNt1tD6MFr5Ca8BiMJC2MEJzAfCi0otod5frWf_Wm3fihCR-7li_ixAS92i4OEXNiJ6vQkB5VwXo78qA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Greasy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Picking up toon gun rounds from inside the drawer | Right: Position yourself carefully whilst firing toon bullets at Greasy</span></b></div><i style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"> is a largely enjoyable game and one that's different than the usual Disney Capcom fare as it is viewed from a bird's eye perspective as opposed to it being a sidescroller with it having you travel from screen to screen a la Nintendo's </span><i style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Zelda no Densetsu</i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">The Legend of Zelda</i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"> and having a stronger emphasis on nonlinear exploration as opposed to it being completely action oriented. There is action involved, but it only comes to the forefront on certain screens filled with weasels whose tommy gun projectiles you have to avoid and boss battles where you have to use your punch hammer and toon gun against them.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXpB0Xd3EYCBQiWLd8hLePLhRNAuI_pz1FFDclk8w2cwf_RBXYfwW4DtFVYiMd4PkDPnIy3Xood5lpwPSXSRhJLIbybst9rSyQQxdaNCmSNXuv-_OenT6y21MsJ0tnKVnYxriDPeOa6J9zMIyuZmxro2BRgJmd9Nl1AdbhPFr7ruld9-IxJhGSo04BA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_WherePsychoIs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXpB0Xd3EYCBQiWLd8hLePLhRNAuI_pz1FFDclk8w2cwf_RBXYfwW4DtFVYiMd4PkDPnIy3Xood5lpwPSXSRhJLIbybst9rSyQQxdaNCmSNXuv-_OenT6y21MsJ0tnKVnYxriDPeOa6J9zMIyuZmxro2BRgJmd9Nl1AdbhPFr7ruld9-IxJhGSo04BA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_WherePsychoIs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOU3FMptlPszzyD75RKRJ8J90SuBOeEve7ZfZo-LFGV2ZcuyqXjUej_IVqAApWvePLpvIfwchq1OJy0mJW1af6uVHMwJj4tr2bB2VvyIeEK7hc_me9eDBZ1UGGzDG0p8ZKIzXfOWO12M33cwfHkFqquKFQd_NBlm7yULNB4zwGNuNoPncdFx-DY2K0A/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_BabyHerman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOU3FMptlPszzyD75RKRJ8J90SuBOeEve7ZfZo-LFGV2ZcuyqXjUej_IVqAApWvePLpvIfwchq1OJy0mJW1af6uVHMwJj4tr2bB2VvyIeEK7hc_me9eDBZ1UGGzDG0p8ZKIzXfOWO12M33cwfHkFqquKFQd_NBlm7yULNB4zwGNuNoPncdFx-DY2K0A/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_BabyHerman.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Why would I want to know Norman Bates' whereabouts? | Right: Baby Herman </b>👶</span></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Capcom definitely took some liberties when it came to the Game Boy adaptation in terms of plot and sequences, and it features none of the animated character cameos from Disney and Warner Bros. (to date, <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> is the only film to feature Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny not only sharing the same screen but interacting with one another as well), but on the whole it captures the spirit of the movie fairly well and is still well-written in its own right when it comes to the occasional dialogue sequences. One line in particular that is funny is after Roger Rabbit tells Valiant that Jessica's been kidnapped and his response is along the lines of "Now who would want to kidnap Jessica, err... <b>why</b> would anyone want to kidnap her?" which is amusingly in line with the movie because he had to stop himself. 😆</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBzxnID61HA0yuwn6EFDk9RY3APYGeDz4b9OD0ruqNb8SdjNLmGbUedXmN-CHKUDTED0k8Tg3OSsJFYF9hYcMNfxqKXoki14McZHySshpvT8VULOshtnnJjeOh1tAKiDawhBWwMsOl8WT5LTte7SdU_jtOxrZjzJLC0xkFXMgLt2PH5YXoFGTjGLk_Q/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Benny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBzxnID61HA0yuwn6EFDk9RY3APYGeDz4b9OD0ruqNb8SdjNLmGbUedXmN-CHKUDTED0k8Tg3OSsJFYF9hYcMNfxqKXoki14McZHySshpvT8VULOshtnnJjeOh1tAKiDawhBWwMsOl8WT5LTte7SdU_jtOxrZjzJLC0xkFXMgLt2PH5YXoFGTjGLk_Q/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Benny.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUUjhpG1p1XlKcx3VTlL0gDuP_bDz8Y2Gq5yUtUi_s9TpMeidseVtMAjbg-QadbdAEQE8MgtJoVQvsQ_dmgcFNVLR1poKIMDGzyEZPg7a8nbUIN_Axyw8iyPa8STY5i2mVIE_wVdE9zcrrr1mzuY2MZ63fXGAO6CtcLi84pg7S0Uw6cmsQPmo4lNgzQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_PsychoChase.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUUjhpG1p1XlKcx3VTlL0gDuP_bDz8Y2Gq5yUtUi_s9TpMeidseVtMAjbg-QadbdAEQE8MgtJoVQvsQ_dmgcFNVLR1poKIMDGzyEZPg7a8nbUIN_Axyw8iyPa8STY5i2mVIE_wVdE9zcrrr1mzuY2MZ63fXGAO6CtcLi84pg7S0Uw6cmsQPmo4lNgzQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_PsychoChase.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Liberating Benny from his chain </b>🚕<b> | Right: Take down Psycho as you're driving but watch out for his unlimited supply of bombs </b>💣</span></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">When you start off the game you're pretty much at your most vulnerable as you have nothing to defend yourself with and while it's true that you have a health system, health replenishing carrots are scarcely laid out and do not respawn in place until you lose all your health and choose to continue when given the prompt. I am happy that this game has a password system as it's not necessary to play it through in one sitting (the first Disney Capcom game to feature one), but it is definitely doable in one go at roughly thirty to forty minutes and that's presuming you don't mess up at any point if at all.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIVFO4Z13ytiF0Cc_MCYWEUH1AxnWktNaTgAsjpSYiLPIKcKLP3LxujeghGjXaAuL7JX0uhTLOAv04CuSzsLFOAVSvJIdvmOGi-Xx9icEhNezR3gaZaL85WsoMEw1K9QRPQvMa0tVDND6BfPs02dT0SgDD8tivF_Ux6idl4U4YetkhUKk1fAcli8SyQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Harbor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIVFO4Z13ytiF0Cc_MCYWEUH1AxnWktNaTgAsjpSYiLPIKcKLP3LxujeghGjXaAuL7JX0uhTLOAv04CuSzsLFOAVSvJIdvmOGi-Xx9icEhNezR3gaZaL85WsoMEw1K9QRPQvMa0tVDND6BfPs02dT0SgDD8tivF_Ux6idl4U4YetkhUKk1fAcli8SyQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Harbor.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiIianXPiQDxYJJep9HebCWY5ncc0SsviqFt8f7THEmCWn2vQ5y-O6ZJgn65Zz0T-n73a8wr3-e6sk6tnb9-6XfmxQlbF9NSIL3E1i-SVwrZfiCHzBwz3RRpHeqWmSzCvopch2g4OHNwh8nu2SGnqWps4P7b0yTYG6ffUo6mP3Z8Zr1MIKs-x4KftPQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_OilDrums.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiIianXPiQDxYJJep9HebCWY5ncc0SsviqFt8f7THEmCWn2vQ5y-O6ZJgn65Zz0T-n73a8wr3-e6sk6tnb9-6XfmxQlbF9NSIL3E1i-SVwrZfiCHzBwz3RRpHeqWmSzCvopch2g4OHNwh8nu2SGnqWps4P7b0yTYG6ffUo6mP3Z8Zr1MIKs-x4KftPQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_OilDrums.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Sure, the movie may not have had any scenes directly set at the harbor, but man if it isn't the breeziest looking place in the game </b>😄<b> | Right: Oil drum maze </b></span></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">During the '90s there were rumors floating around about a spinoff animated series that centered around Roger Rabbit for The Disney Afternoon but got changed to </span><i style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">Bonkers</i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"> instead due to license troubles with Amblin Entertainment, something that series writer and co-creator Greg Weisman denied in a retrospective interview. While admitting that Toontown as a concept was influenced by the film and Bonkers D. Bobcat was influenced by Roger, Weisman insisted the titular police officer toon was always intended to be his own character and nothing more.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eF1eAWowITk9Z59FVp8GxNyPAUuo-aSLzTXYBvcXP9eGWcVBzb6QwiO9cYTklT1di3iTt2Gh1A65MDcnuHgPXyFdsjAtmg7N8c6f9zhRdZBSqbirg4_U7It6beeSYPP0as5mHsYoT7KCa6hnw7giERDE8RotV22w6re9wKhaFepEyBm8sZP67T5WqA/s389/Bonkers_Table.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eF1eAWowITk9Z59FVp8GxNyPAUuo-aSLzTXYBvcXP9eGWcVBzb6QwiO9cYTklT1di3iTt2Gh1A65MDcnuHgPXyFdsjAtmg7N8c6f9zhRdZBSqbirg4_U7It6beeSYPP0as5mHsYoT7KCa6hnw7giERDE8RotV22w6re9wKhaFepEyBm8sZP67T5WqA/w200-h155/Bonkers_Table.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsOybftOB0XE6_vH6us-tPtPGhE-_JA06phPBiJIW3Xv512pVpPLNTXsoSKcqrqO6uJ_owp2yaqNmmUY4_VQxlxM_AOOlYAeBQ-xi51HNc46nvD-WCJYIXixrFwXV79u0gUwmEvV5gGYhsSjRp7I0WIMm1rcqaTv3wKjD4cZPIwnT2cIFJP_jCm2GYg/s389/Bonkers_Hop+Bop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsOybftOB0XE6_vH6us-tPtPGhE-_JA06phPBiJIW3Xv512pVpPLNTXsoSKcqrqO6uJ_owp2yaqNmmUY4_VQxlxM_AOOlYAeBQ-xi51HNc46nvD-WCJYIXixrFwXV79u0gUwmEvV5gGYhsSjRp7I0WIMm1rcqaTv3wKjD4cZPIwnT2cIFJP_jCm2GYg/w200-h155/Bonkers_Hop+Bop.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Bonkers</i> ended up being popular enough at the time to garner a series of video game adaptations of its own, with the Nintendo 16-bit take in particular being handled by (who else at this point?) Capcom.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqjZyGGufsMpILiQSGDxRlG6OCTBWJk-Y_lWlhB19AhjWwYAIqW_951TOnIgMHew4ibG3IRieJt8w9lq0lngKLjiESYuR11DH1T7jC8cG4mSlfyDggDYGpvU6k4SaFHq47jsPpfDcCcQY1f9Ygv5nMCdvGLB4KVpnfTuO40Jdfe9QYUQH_1bLvsfCMQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_A6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqjZyGGufsMpILiQSGDxRlG6OCTBWJk-Y_lWlhB19AhjWwYAIqW_951TOnIgMHew4ibG3IRieJt8w9lq0lngKLjiESYuR11DH1T7jC8cG4mSlfyDggDYGpvU6k4SaFHq47jsPpfDcCcQY1f9Ygv5nMCdvGLB4KVpnfTuO40Jdfe9QYUQH_1bLvsfCMQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_A6.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qeIbr_ca33q29RdNLTU46YCeMVhuDD7pmUQAUDMf-52Bq6Hy0pZFaGzepxhHkQ_KvM6E400fRvCDOsNaZsBc7Bsz8YRS8Y6L5MRyaZnUixCVJNrlFxhneVM-vfkvpetQT3_ZxrskTzca-yO05BUXHIxocClGaWyNtDhGJo_gd3aUiVlt0CgWmb8MtQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Gorilla.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qeIbr_ca33q29RdNLTU46YCeMVhuDD7pmUQAUDMf-52Bq6Hy0pZFaGzepxhHkQ_KvM6E400fRvCDOsNaZsBc7Bsz8YRS8Y6L5MRyaZnUixCVJNrlFxhneVM-vfkvpetQT3_ZxrskTzca-yO05BUXHIxocClGaWyNtDhGJo_gd3aUiVlt0CgWmb8MtQ/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Gorilla.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Only one of these dock houses will lead straight to Smart Ass | Right: It's on like Donkey Kong</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">It's a very manageable game to play through for the most part, and I do like the different scenarios Roger Rabbit goes through in his quest: like talking to multiple NPCs to gather clues, escaping death by hiding in the correct spot to avoid detection by the weasels, setting up a trap to lure in Stupid after carefully procuring an important tool in a weasel-filled environment to put it in motion, procuring toon bullets after acquiring a toon gun by searching drawers in order to take on Greasy, chasing Psycho while riding Benny the Cab (after freeing him) with your punch hammer in hand as you avert explosives being tossed at you, and cautiously moving around the dip splashed across the room as you fight Judge Doom inside his mansion, et al.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueL6zmRRK8kQ4RvOiZz4BLwmyuagH2i7FAUcVINdW0mSf4gtDFT2RzpxWFUx5lAgCzki3U_hhp1POPTPV345zsFBZudDkWBWIGVRE6Glv5LBSyr7V0gOS6MeJg3c8zpLIksrmeEE2M-MOY7WMUEL8vklEpZaCKsMAvlX4rONh_Ud0qWCicRjyK-QWyA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Smarty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueL6zmRRK8kQ4RvOiZz4BLwmyuagH2i7FAUcVINdW0mSf4gtDFT2RzpxWFUx5lAgCzki3U_hhp1POPTPV345zsFBZudDkWBWIGVRE6Glv5LBSyr7V0gOS6MeJg3c8zpLIksrmeEE2M-MOY7WMUEL8vklEpZaCKsMAvlX4rONh_Ud0qWCicRjyK-QWyA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Smarty.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnemo0LuAoC_lbrQTlwCkARIJl9PgXHGNM0ysj-ikZTGBuLtgMmwW2pylzAzG9dBXHk7N7KYFWzxkIKCiaEdr63Gtcg4ujlLLD8g0lmRfCTwGU6Fx-PLN73c2QQk96-U82wkBtTTyzzmaDDaOr6iU6jp5k4K2a_aSWqsgMUWuWGXj03e7Y-XgzIqgqw/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Mansion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnemo0LuAoC_lbrQTlwCkARIJl9PgXHGNM0ysj-ikZTGBuLtgMmwW2pylzAzG9dBXHk7N7KYFWzxkIKCiaEdr63Gtcg4ujlLLD8g0lmRfCTwGU6Fx-PLN73c2QQk96-U82wkBtTTyzzmaDDaOr6iU6jp5k4K2a_aSWqsgMUWuWGXj03e7Y-XgzIqgqw/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Mansion.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "No more bull schtick!" | Right: Standing at the entrance of Judge Doom's mansion</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">It's a largely enjoyable game, though I do kind of wish that there was a way to speed up the train ride from Hollywood to Sunset Boulevard and back or outright skip it as it is bit of a lengthy sequence during the third and fourth scenes each time and can kind of negatively affect the overall flow, and losing all your health at any point will result in having to start the present scene all over and having to go through the proceedings </span><b style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">again</b><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"> as you collect the requisite items and distance yourself from weasel attacks is also time-consuming in its own right which is a bit much if you lost later on in the scene but is not as big a deal if you lost early in the scene. But those are nitpicks, really, it is fun to play otherwise.</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #ea9999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdusLcWgk4PCCWVBCy9At7lR1j4HEgUoaw3b_6qAFq5kjQ4uNat1bK9e5vq7G6nIeTixARWyeDSaG82uznN8nrR9QKSdSVWVlJmm7Gz4EbhuYqp417iUDrVmLk-BM0aI_PR3kACVkjuMdeo0EqffyjIO20cba9yPZkSB5XU1zGX4h2yq_9dM06C__M6w/s390/GufiiToMakkusu_Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdusLcWgk4PCCWVBCy9At7lR1j4HEgUoaw3b_6qAFq5kjQ4uNat1bK9e5vq7G6nIeTixARWyeDSaG82uznN8nrR9QKSdSVWVlJmm7Gz4EbhuYqp417iUDrVmLk-BM0aI_PR3kACVkjuMdeo0EqffyjIO20cba9yPZkSB5XU1zGX4h2yq_9dM06C__M6w/w200-h156/GufiiToMakkusu_Slideshow.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfLsmmq-FHSURsRi5AHxgvfUahz4EPTM5-tHY0b6Y8U9h8WkkvA9guttLECVHCuoF_FV1y_gi23qI-nkB9reTkoOGSK5vnfz0GU4nFhUsHTgH7xN28qVKWAnyC1uSuxaV-pDL_rgYv0yql--NmhPpoHBq0GkdVyO-dKFgm78RiwW19qKcwPZJ5avQrA/s389/DisneysAladdin_Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="389" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfLsmmq-FHSURsRi5AHxgvfUahz4EPTM5-tHY0b6Y8U9h8WkkvA9guttLECVHCuoF_FV1y_gi23qI-nkB9reTkoOGSK5vnfz0GU4nFhUsHTgH7xN28qVKWAnyC1uSuxaV-pDL_rgYv0yql--NmhPpoHBq0GkdVyO-dKFgm78RiwW19qKcwPZJ5avQrA/w200-h150/DisneysAladdin_Slideshow.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Could anyone have envisioned at the time that the same man who worked on these three Disney video games would go on to direct the first installment of Capcom's adult survival horror franchises <i>BioHazard</i>/<i>Resident Evil</i> and <i>Dino Crisis</i> in the latter half of the decade?</span></b></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">It's amazing to think that Shinji Mikami worked on not just this Disney Capcom game but the Nintendo 16-bit Disney Capcom games <i>Goof Troop</i>/<i>Gūfii to Makkusu - Kaizoku Shima no Daibōken</i> and <i>Disney's Aladdin</i> as well. Of the three I greatly enjoy the former the most as it features more of the action adventuring flavor like in <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> only you can move freely in all eight directions as opposed to just four (always a positive) with a fun open-ended structure and an equally fun sense of puzzle-solving along the way, and the latter is still a game I enjoy playing from time to time even though I admit it could've benefited with a better sense of longevity which is more than made up for with its smoothly polished controls as well as featuring some of the most beautiful visuals in a Disney Capcom game ever. 😃 The direction Mikami's career would take after working on these games is incredible to say the least, who would have ever guessed?</span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfjRGADsIATpQd3UXZIMMtnHauiOpG-wbsWRviveu4QaJuXDjZBCHmCcQGl4e4IhPoKCJ93r9FOeezTkYkVeMMszJf-08VSmvAUOPEUUD2l6BIboTLWCsmosmC0NplkCJDHeHK6uboPiMz1AP2MRi6Tm6JB1FEsS2GoBLUXBnFOKf6A64VZnqm5WLEA/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MetalDog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfjRGADsIATpQd3UXZIMMtnHauiOpG-wbsWRviveu4QaJuXDjZBCHmCcQGl4e4IhPoKCJ93r9FOeezTkYkVeMMszJf-08VSmvAUOPEUUD2l6BIboTLWCsmosmC0NplkCJDHeHK6uboPiMz1AP2MRi6Tm6JB1FEsS2GoBLUXBnFOKf6A64VZnqm5WLEA/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_MetalDog.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkyaifubsfFRyF5n0FcuLJaU1at8GsN-D_OYsVyYa-k6LiOuvSS42iN4VcGhXhlLLPLV4kkxHyJGvuFncZQddkK9FPdvSC4ODreAXAHI3hJ6VjqiGPtaPcvZUFDYED11_rRZhcKSTxc4ZyWQ6YPLvw5qrw6rBs3GVzljSYUvRHVOz-RKpNZNeTSx3Dg/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_JudgeDoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="243" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkyaifubsfFRyF5n0FcuLJaU1at8GsN-D_OYsVyYa-k6LiOuvSS42iN4VcGhXhlLLPLV4kkxHyJGvuFncZQddkK9FPdvSC4ODreAXAHI3hJ6VjqiGPtaPcvZUFDYED11_rRZhcKSTxc4ZyWQ6YPLvw5qrw6rBs3GVzljSYUvRHVOz-RKpNZNeTSx3Dg/w200-h160/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_JudgeDoom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Run away from the metallic control dog | Right: Oh my God, it's </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">DIIIIIIP</u><b>! </b>😱</span></div></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;">It is strange that it took three years after <i>Who Framed Roger Rabbit</i> came out for the Game Boy version to even come to be, but I suppose it's better than it not having happened at all (and for the context of the time period, Capcom had yet to prove themselves of being capable of handling Disney gaming in the end of the '80s). Nonetheless, it's reasonably good and enjoyable while it lasts, and if you own a Game Boy or a <i>Super Game Boy</i> cartridge for your Nintendo 16-bit console I do recommend checking it out. If you're expecting a long game out of it you might be a bit disappointed, but if that's not your concern and would like to try a Disney Capcom game that isn't a sidescrolling platformer I think you'll enjoy it while it lasts especially if you want to play a fun <i>Roger Rabbit</i> video game.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnysca0G0lv5p6NEc2he1WyfibEfEzJh_WYJ2rpbfUleUBTXA-aZIaMWBrywXCH35_VOmfA6_BAkyP9wUG18E4IWopyRq0m_CNmHDR7Z2hbu9lPbhuEZPWPGbT_EU0_dL-1VD2Y1FFBM6QcsxdUNuAX0uOex8H3a-WRxg91NzCkmhneBeYD7jlvKFQ/s243/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Jessica+Roger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="243" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnysca0G0lv5p6NEc2he1WyfibEfEzJh_WYJ2rpbfUleUBTXA-aZIaMWBrywXCH35_VOmfA6_BAkyP9wUG18E4IWopyRq0m_CNmHDR7Z2hbu9lPbhuEZPWPGbT_EU0_dL-1VD2Y1FFBM6QcsxdUNuAX0uOex8H3a-WRxg91NzCkmhneBeYD7jlvKFQ/s1600/WhoFramedRogerRabbit_Jessica+Roger.png" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 7.5/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWcVBnv4RY_dZ5tIacLb4x-qVOYs9I7R8JKgUf9TQn3E-C1ufIXO3veGguvV3ruXdfn0Mn7Qh1eiCSopwHPEKvjWCvQH4FnoLNhhpzJT89kYyKmthC8a1T9mBnIWxzdepVU00uqU6hyMvgBlhGJezAwWb-GrOzIeBZ7jVF293To3IRX8GUdiVGczlxw/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWcVBnv4RY_dZ5tIacLb4x-qVOYs9I7R8JKgUf9TQn3E-C1ufIXO3veGguvV3ruXdfn0Mn7Qh1eiCSopwHPEKvjWCvQH4FnoLNhhpzJT89kYyKmthC8a1T9mBnIWxzdepVU00uqU6hyMvgBlhGJezAwWb-GrOzIeBZ7jVF293To3IRX8GUdiVGczlxw/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Not relevant to this game: so on April 16th I saw Illumination's latest animated feature <i>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</i> in theatres based on Nintendo's iconic video game franchise (they were also involved in the film's production too) which marks the first instance of watching an Illumination film on the big screen since <i>Minions</i> back in 2015 (I have not seen anything they've made in-between, and what I <b>have</b> seen of those I caught only in snippets and not in full). Anyway, what did I think of the film, having grown up with and still enjoying the <i>Super Mario</i> franchise? I greatly enjoyed it, it exceeded my expectations, and it was <b>so</b> much fun (even if writing-wise I admit it wasn't perfect which seems to be the general consensus, though honestly... I didn't care)! 😄 It's such a gorgeous-looking movie, seeing Mario and all these characters from the Mushroom Kingdom realized in film format was so exciting, I loved the (subtle) references and nods to <i>Super Mario</i> elements (including the occasional motifs from the games used in Brian Tyler's score) and other Nintendo properties, I liked the cast (Chris Pratt and Charlie Day as Mario and Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess "Peach" Toadstool, Jack Black as Bowser), it was funny at times, and I felt it really lived up to its name. One of the best movie adaptations based on a video game (they really did their homework), in my opinion, and the best Illumination film since <i>Despicable Me 2</i>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></div></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-81660197064377798442023-04-06T13:56:00.003-05:002023-04-11T17:16:59.661-05:00Solar Eclipse (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">🪐<b> Received: May 5th, 2022 </b>🪐<b> Written: March 25th-April 6th, 2023 </b>🪐</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxvOio-XJUUPsODxU9TorYGgAEC5_g5hX_B59WcZTJ_u8TMcfnpfOHO67wWNpd6n6X__h613BdMb9JLpOQrW2qtVADrhhf5lY5ES6NypsnZp2-LU53xn8OQa4-8EdLs4jB5y-n7yeh39cVB5KDyuXjwQbXrGonVIm0oYXTir-jrjdnS3owBLQL-Mryw/s285/SolarEclipse_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="285" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxvOio-XJUUPsODxU9TorYGgAEC5_g5hX_B59WcZTJ_u8TMcfnpfOHO67wWNpd6n6X__h613BdMb9JLpOQrW2qtVADrhhf5lY5ES6NypsnZp2-LU53xn8OQa4-8EdLs4jB5y-n7yeh39cVB5KDyuXjwQbXrGonVIm0oYXTir-jrjdnS3owBLQL-Mryw/s1600/SolarEclipse_Title.png" width="285" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Alternate Title: <i>Titan Wars</i> </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[</span> <span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">]</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Year: 1995 | Developed and Published by: Crystal Dynamics</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">On July 8th, 1992, Madeline Canepa, Judy Lange, and Dave Morse founded an independent American video game firm in California which they created</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> as a spin-off to The 3DO Company. With "New Technology" Compact Discs, the trio wanted a name that reflected upon that, so they brainstormed many names that began with the letters "C" and "D" as well as tried combinations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaTF1Z8AqGHqMCtiicPt27va0Or4FZvtyk__A1rG5dfeaq2vKwEknMyAKVySAqLBSTL2i-jF3-N94k90FZX2e11KlXIYNH2c9iCpftxSG-YFjJwnxJCEvXr3O4XNHhT-j0SFV_NIYMnWPdQjXeL8unuwwI3W7IlBl8xqYC-YMFN1Y2pHUw78IXqOPCg/s366/CrystalDynamics_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaTF1Z8AqGHqMCtiicPt27va0Or4FZvtyk__A1rG5dfeaq2vKwEknMyAKVySAqLBSTL2i-jF3-N94k90FZX2e11KlXIYNH2c9iCpftxSG-YFjJwnxJCEvXr3O4XNHhT-j0SFV_NIYMnWPdQjXeL8unuwwI3W7IlBl8xqYC-YMFN1Y2pHUw78IXqOPCg/s16000/CrystalDynamics_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Eventually they settled with the name <b>Crystal Dynamics</b> which they were the most satisfied with and felt clicked together: "Crystal" in reference to a hard, solid foundation and "Dynamics" alluding to a fluid, everchanging industry.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd1radTxHzqF7pHINX7M3srW-PlGomDOe5FFlg1SeLM_nD-7fzr4qBQjDA3ecqXPjXI323sRdyqUMy5p1okcXY_sVbILhMSW-7IS0HaZa9dA4FEmDrpgbZ5bvp8NsB8ekT4pr5BLPbJQwZjr7Su5yinjCGUa5YF5mRjn5nOXbwOvgw-lWq2OLywwM5w/s449/CrashnBurn_Deathdrome.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd1radTxHzqF7pHINX7M3srW-PlGomDOe5FFlg1SeLM_nD-7fzr4qBQjDA3ecqXPjXI323sRdyqUMy5p1okcXY_sVbILhMSW-7IS0HaZa9dA4FEmDrpgbZ5bvp8NsB8ekT4pr5BLPbJQwZjr7Su5yinjCGUa5YF5mRjn5nOXbwOvgw-lWq2OLywwM5w/s16000/CrashnBurn_Deathdrome.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching 3DOnerd's <i>Crash 'n Burn</i> playthrough on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Their first game, the vehicular combat racing game <i>Crash 'n Burn</i>, was a 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console exclusive as well as the sole North American title to be released on the console's launch on October 4th, 1993. At the time there was buzz surrounding the 3DO due in part to the "multimedia" wave, unfortunately due to developers' difficulties acclimating to the sophisticated hardware other planned launch titles had to be delayed. Not aiding matters was the fact that The 3DO Company kept making hardware updates almost up to release and Panasonic neglecting to manufacture an ample supply of 3DO consoles for retail stores in time for launch day with them receiving one or two at <b>most</b>. The 3DO ended up not leaving a lasting impression (and scared off any potential buyer with its initial $699 price tag), but it was the hotspot for Crystal Dynamics' first batch of games*, most of which had more exposure due to their availability on other video game formats at the time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Among which <i>Gex</i> is often lauded as being among the best games to come out of the 3DO if not <u>the</u> absolute best, and was one of the only video game franchises to have gotten its start on the 3DO outside of EA Canada's <i>Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhfdmbQucklqiQRLpLQNVlAW2ndglARv6_30Z6F0ktlgPRvX4XYRr4dR5xFR9AXTAIH67yFQgSTUd92dBrIJeeGG5w7Vq1SAUSyJXssQWXIc4UO249eYip30ycpu0BdcNCGM8nxwbZ5ZNyPEEthjfk6a_3sRiuXCW3ukmhYAHyHQj5ulA_tOB26KVSw/s376/SolarEclipse_TeamTitanProduction.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhfdmbQucklqiQRLpLQNVlAW2ndglARv6_30Z6F0ktlgPRvX4XYRr4dR5xFR9AXTAIH67yFQgSTUd92dBrIJeeGG5w7Vq1SAUSyJXssQWXIc4UO249eYip30ycpu0BdcNCGM8nxwbZ5ZNyPEEthjfk6a_3sRiuXCW3ukmhYAHyHQj5ulA_tOB26KVSw/s16000/SolarEclipse_TeamTitanProduction.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">One of the subsequent Crystal Dynamics venues (and the first that <b>wasn't</b> released on the 3DO as well) would be worked on under the name "Titan"--programmed by Stephen D. White and Robert T. Smith, designed by Eric Lindstrom and Noah Hughes, and produced by Andy Trapani--</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuT-Wyg_nFFr1bh96y1vXwsct3nR_42CQLDHy9UGIr-Ty3wbd5QZR0ppKi7zhqil7GkQXOjJxbGz1UeE5NYD0_NwYc_YTh7sZeqxHSgPqq5UfUipgv4HI3sQTT4sPuR08HrDNlbSLJKLcnMQBQWDRxhhLIpF6QPuWwYQqtiqCYVnIc0gWVJ7c46-RTw/s707/TotalEclipseTurbo_AqueuosMajor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="707" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuT-Wyg_nFFr1bh96y1vXwsct3nR_42CQLDHy9UGIr-Ty3wbd5QZR0ppKi7zhqil7GkQXOjJxbGz1UeE5NYD0_NwYc_YTh7sZeqxHSgPqq5UfUipgv4HI3sQTT4sPuR08HrDNlbSLJKLcnMQBQWDRxhhLIpF6QPuWwYQqtiqCYVnIc0gWVJ7c46-RTw/w200-h113/TotalEclipseTurbo_AqueuosMajor.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ffzemFAqmgweYfgjIU_eh_hoy84qey7P8WUeI563P7MJsubBNo9JJdUMVgKBKMBnU1KiqsUDv85bqcadm24glqMUA06w9Q9UE2jvxWAXEh9Pe9QOpjlh46i-anWVkttYvbMg-OlcKWru7tXDyYg3RXHyR_ndKPw_iRB1604cIaf7QctGFxf2uS0PA/s707/TotalEclipseTurbo_MagmaPrime.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="707" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ffzemFAqmgweYfgjIU_eh_hoy84qey7P8WUeI563P7MJsubBNo9JJdUMVgKBKMBnU1KiqsUDv85bqcadm24glqMUA06w9Q9UE2jvxWAXEh9Pe9QOpjlh46i-anWVkttYvbMg-OlcKWru7tXDyYg3RXHyR_ndKPw_iRB1604cIaf7QctGFxf2uS0PA/w200-h113/TotalEclipseTurbo_MagmaPrime.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Saturn Memories' <i>Total Eclipse Turbo</i> playthrough on YouTube</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e69138;">which product marketing manager Jim Curry felt would perform better if it was published as a sequel to their early sci-fi rail shooter </span><i style="color: #e69138;">Total Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138;"> due to the similar gameplay.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNop5iAkSnbf6evds6eig6HwEqQ4MXyBjandu5ZTyUWiudV89K0gygeou6WrmlfStaGPiclScyUdavdiaOEY_uMrEMrMl8o7j50wyq0WV79Te4ixmEgW7iolMsXL2iGHeMWN_BdhQ47Aipm7MKzMluRnxuRe-LBdEcO2LXBNh7PyVsz8KsxB99dOPMeQ/s1055/SolarEclipse_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="633" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNop5iAkSnbf6evds6eig6HwEqQ4MXyBjandu5ZTyUWiudV89K0gygeou6WrmlfStaGPiclScyUdavdiaOEY_uMrEMrMl8o7j50wyq0WV79Te4ixmEgW7iolMsXL2iGHeMWN_BdhQ47Aipm7MKzMluRnxuRe-LBdEcO2LXBNh7PyVsz8KsxB99dOPMeQ/s320/SolarEclipse_Cover.png" width="192" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7nWET5KWD0O5ggIs87Hpjoy2x8My1LsaIb0opcS6g2dGg7wYPhX_HZN96ToF2xZvTvNaEZCAK3_QTDGuAtSGYiydssfJ0EfNB3pPvJlplzjPxdMhGAsm179Ihao9CkRCeLhkY7cQwbVl1XsqKd-QqMPvMTgPu7QUS93FI3Qh-cyRw43esBJEQJfvoA/s640/TitanWars_JP-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7nWET5KWD0O5ggIs87Hpjoy2x8My1LsaIb0opcS6g2dGg7wYPhX_HZN96ToF2xZvTvNaEZCAK3_QTDGuAtSGYiydssfJ0EfNB3pPvJlplzjPxdMhGAsm179Ihao9CkRCeLhkY7cQwbVl1XsqKd-QqMPvMTgPu7QUS93FI3Qh-cyRw43esBJEQJfvoA/w200-h200/TitanWars_JP-Cover.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">On December 1995 Crystal Dynamics would release <i><b>Solar Eclipse</b></i> on the Sega Saturn in North American shores which would see a release in Europe and in Japan on April 12th and April 19th of 1996 respectively but with the name changed to <i>Titan Wars</i>; the PlayStation One would also see a release of <i>Titan Wars</i> on November 1996, but only in the PAL region.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxxqGu1cNpfwGRORbXWYoqRBf96tcPMoQic2NsvfXs2m-L8mpY9n1hgHx9PPh0FSQNzbykW2tTYLVjjsjCxqwiL30ZNYKgE9n-TjsrWB327Cb5PL4cloVeUgKiVIsCN7Bc3R5GJCZZBpAofUvk-E54kXD3TdVe2qoSRLl8gKSR-A9pneIv6wPrsfqNA/s376/SolarEclipse_LagrangeMiningColony.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxxqGu1cNpfwGRORbXWYoqRBf96tcPMoQic2NsvfXs2m-L8mpY9n1hgHx9PPh0FSQNzbykW2tTYLVjjsjCxqwiL30ZNYKgE9n-TjsrWB327Cb5PL4cloVeUgKiVIsCN7Bc3R5GJCZZBpAofUvk-E54kXD3TdVe2qoSRLl8gKSR-A9pneIv6wPrsfqNA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_LagrangeMiningColony.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU0vt0yC0XkLaK2IGQhAN95arVq-MXsb03y8tw_qYaoIwvptDTQl7MVNUCXbrKDUwnthZy45nYhDbmGJekt2_u-4s_X0zE-848m5Pjp2gGfYrbQdu3qt8RPPGMXlqFR1TDCk5L1KcO6w3aq-wKk7fz0Mejvic2oU69m9C8crzfxIDyHqBoymPIs36xg/s376/SolarEclipse_ReactorExplosion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU0vt0yC0XkLaK2IGQhAN95arVq-MXsb03y8tw_qYaoIwvptDTQl7MVNUCXbrKDUwnthZy45nYhDbmGJekt2_u-4s_X0zE-848m5Pjp2gGfYrbQdu3qt8RPPGMXlqFR1TDCk5L1KcO6w3aq-wKk7fz0Mejvic2oU69m9C8crzfxIDyHqBoymPIs36xg/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_ReactorExplosion.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the future of July 16th, 2092, experienced Polecat pilot Susan Powell has narrowly escaped a reactor explosion at the Lagrange Mining Colony in Titan, Saturn, and as she's flying away</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPWqcTIzq-hxuv9usT_VTePlA-DeynTdv9LKMJTXRZCQwgGPEtt-uZoka7B5IyvUPAXy3jLdMMZpPSEJNG531pvI9zAf_kgg_fwZNchPeZiG-L-th9daJZmxDO1YQzXvI68RPcON0jAzA2mDh9BAYgVucZeP-czhUPvFd43UsrnK9SMIwc5vn8636_g/s376/SolarEclipse_SusanPowell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPWqcTIzq-hxuv9usT_VTePlA-DeynTdv9LKMJTXRZCQwgGPEtt-uZoka7B5IyvUPAXy3jLdMMZpPSEJNG531pvI9zAf_kgg_fwZNchPeZiG-L-th9daJZmxDO1YQzXvI68RPcON0jAzA2mDh9BAYgVucZeP-czhUPvFd43UsrnK9SMIwc5vn8636_g/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_SusanPowell.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S0cPjPHHysmUONaDl4CYP5gywnNs0X3W257ARDhpBRJVIZpBfO3plCyFTE2lKJVGhHrY-KS30opO58Jj6x_yjF0kvvSwGPJ610KBeDmq-5Z9yS6oUawoEhF_CFcH8ZAgLwBKAUceM1mc7AFcQPhGq6uocsOdIB6CIPuxBpr3Yok3vXpP3jo4pTmMmA/s376/SolarEclipse_PullingMeIn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S0cPjPHHysmUONaDl4CYP5gywnNs0X3W257ARDhpBRJVIZpBfO3plCyFTE2lKJVGhHrY-KS30opO58Jj6x_yjF0kvvSwGPJ610KBeDmq-5Z9yS6oUawoEhF_CFcH8ZAgLwBKAUceM1mc7AFcQPhGq6uocsOdIB6CIPuxBpr3Yok3vXpP3jo4pTmMmA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_PullingMeIn.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">she attempts to send a transmission warning of what happened and the danger behind it but is cut short as she's pulled inside by an unseen force.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK6xKLuAEURgIYbvAPrykwatsfAVa5pUm-S2_AiajVY3sB4jtwzpRUMfw8s99IRe69go2GaOyS3PM3tGsdDUgamqHStBqoAWqQ6yTE2HfzY6z8law8-4ZMYNmpxOWEuIsW7bE-8y2PBGMdWOSbxLPkwCeh_8n5gSrMCnf_ofdKqN9UQOj9n8Y1SIzrA/s376/SolarEclipse_Tomlinson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK6xKLuAEURgIYbvAPrykwatsfAVa5pUm-S2_AiajVY3sB4jtwzpRUMfw8s99IRe69go2GaOyS3PM3tGsdDUgamqHStBqoAWqQ6yTE2HfzY6z8law8-4ZMYNmpxOWEuIsW7bE-8y2PBGMdWOSbxLPkwCeh_8n5gSrMCnf_ofdKqN9UQOj9n8Y1SIzrA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Tomlinson.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAtzIiw_b6aCql4mWGtLNVIwvmMa_Vb9VxcyqGsBHKEMmMRNTi-RsuzdAcDceWsb9UsbeSZOiW7VfQ1r_0DU9SGtp1BxtlNZ-wvF96OZkPOLI02ks1eYiyooFLy3qH-QO6EyioYuzTMvsa7b78-1aee7LcJ6YtTjm5ocR6tNKY3Kr0O8_dlByyDh0Aw/s376/SolarEclipse_Raven+Hellcat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAtzIiw_b6aCql4mWGtLNVIwvmMa_Vb9VxcyqGsBHKEMmMRNTi-RsuzdAcDceWsb9UsbeSZOiW7VfQ1r_0DU9SGtp1BxtlNZ-wvF96OZkPOLI02ks1eYiyooFLy3qH-QO6EyioYuzTMvsa7b78-1aee7LcJ6YtTjm5ocR6tNKY3Kr0O8_dlByyDh0Aw/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Raven+Hellcat.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Months later aboard the U.N.S. Tomlinson Class Space Carrier, on January 7th, 2093, "Stuntman" Lieutenant Jake Cross gets promoted from the Bravo team to Red team by "Raven" Major Delany Kelt to join the mission they're about to embark on through Saturn's moons--</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoI4glM-e7UAzrH9fyOyoEDrOvjPAo0tIHiwJyJ4Lzpgz8E_c8E1fKndqE8pG54-OJXrkWcE3LhU0BEHM9wo7SBzbcjPMpa0gYf72G7cOskEM8v1dP6Y-iDyJG9OyfF5TUqdmLZ2k5S0nU9S2bJ2syHM5BR8T4xMHbxIn42EENL9Ds6P_3b_mFsE2Tg/s376/SolarEclipse_Stuntman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoI4glM-e7UAzrH9fyOyoEDrOvjPAo0tIHiwJyJ4Lzpgz8E_c8E1fKndqE8pG54-OJXrkWcE3LhU0BEHM9wo7SBzbcjPMpa0gYf72G7cOskEM8v1dP6Y-iDyJG9OyfF5TUqdmLZ2k5S0nU9S2bJ2syHM5BR8T4xMHbxIn42EENL9Ds6P_3b_mFsE2Tg/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Stuntman.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14pmHqCsCj_Q-YAFs49DGi2Cfg3R3U1lSaLvzNXg3wzIEW9awo82csGAKA4CtMiucJ8mZS_hIO6AEk6yw9X3NCymWmpaxMlH371EB6GH543GOg_IjHgOp2K63ILHirx8FxYRp5ZOrFy6aSCIcuHzS2NyZOs8OTQ3NAnv3VaRmotF_Hj2gS9c2FGdyPw/s376/SolarEclipse_Red+White+Blue-Teams.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14pmHqCsCj_Q-YAFs49DGi2Cfg3R3U1lSaLvzNXg3wzIEW9awo82csGAKA4CtMiucJ8mZS_hIO6AEk6yw9X3NCymWmpaxMlH371EB6GH543GOg_IjHgOp2K63ILHirx8FxYRp5ZOrFy6aSCIcuHzS2NyZOs8OTQ3NAnv3VaRmotF_Hj2gS9c2FGdyPw/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Red+White+Blue-Teams.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">not because she personally wanted him, even outright telling him this, but because she needed one extra recruit and her superior Captain Banks figured it was time for "Stuntman" to redeem himself after what occurred in Havana in '87 that branded him "reckless".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsBlstZ4YdY0d7RZppdqu9j-boAjPToU2r4d0MxfPDeh4dbtxM-7ChGVllkCoT86antZEeXq16Z2wuBWRxgsfAftChwkjyzEhVAeoC3VoUQZpmz18wJdDkKq181iiohe4DLURNwkna_G5v_xefWf_FXtDZVvMKoouut7RTadsP28bKPdDllpwlxb38w/s376/SolarEclipse_UnclearTransmission.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsBlstZ4YdY0d7RZppdqu9j-boAjPToU2r4d0MxfPDeh4dbtxM-7ChGVllkCoT86antZEeXq16Z2wuBWRxgsfAftChwkjyzEhVAeoC3VoUQZpmz18wJdDkKq181iiohe4DLURNwkna_G5v_xefWf_FXtDZVvMKoouut7RTadsP28bKPdDllpwlxb38w/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_UnclearTransmission.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XLYLiZIhHnSFK-9RGiA8z5DIP1L_2ah8V9Q1SRa9PNd0C-_c4O6j8B7c-C83AvyI-d1_FBYWS8finYqPkb0EDfLz_sRnQuZ7sLJUyv_y9kKDwKsU-jvuM0Ds27KoOol0vjKGLqTrvhWiWtJMmwig-3g-VdwJshnaflzR8gU29ZFGaHHrk6VEI-rPKw/s376/SolarEclipse_Suspicion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XLYLiZIhHnSFK-9RGiA8z5DIP1L_2ah8V9Q1SRa9PNd0C-_c4O6j8B7c-C83AvyI-d1_FBYWS8finYqPkb0EDfLz_sRnQuZ7sLJUyv_y9kKDwKsU-jvuM0Ds27KoOol0vjKGLqTrvhWiWtJMmwig-3g-VdwJshnaflzR8gU29ZFGaHHrk6VEI-rPKw/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Suspicion.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Following a successful recon mission in Janus, Blue team managed to recover the data of an unclear transmission from Powell, saying there are survivors in the mine shaft and claims there's aliens hovering over them, but "Raven" and everyone aboard find it all suspect as for the past hundred years of space navigation there have been no alien sightings. Something is truly amiss here...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJRbC3r4iRBm_zVZwTUikjKkh_npdbozuM4sUS8m4Ax_D7MFphztKgtJkHES5yLN2_kEhktFtcLIpUFKpYMhqzDRkIpejPIHWauRYSSwoTEjCTk_FMCjJcBX2vKqDIBl9tCGMhi6cPrfZOFjhU88u-6shYY0jN9ZSAh5g8qRtBbhPiYV7JjMRkiO35Q/s376/SolarEclipse_ManipulatedVideo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJRbC3r4iRBm_zVZwTUikjKkh_npdbozuM4sUS8m4Ax_D7MFphztKgtJkHES5yLN2_kEhktFtcLIpUFKpYMhqzDRkIpejPIHWauRYSSwoTEjCTk_FMCjJcBX2vKqDIBl9tCGMhi6cPrfZOFjhU88u-6shYY0jN9ZSAh5g8qRtBbhPiYV7JjMRkiO35Q/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_ManipulatedVideo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkDGH7wDTr1goU29XP5gmV6_ZJnmt4y9zJbehZd5Q84IDOE21fqoZ9NWiiw1K-CdUkfEksqnEru5zkDcPCl1fbm-2mPFXLd2XBP3iAwR3I3jp5Njh67H8V3aFeJX6hz7PEjf0_MAHyLYITW-NeHnS70C78BgdtCqKEGm-NMcbiO7SRJyVQMeXSYRCLA/s376/SolarEclipse_ColonistDistressSignal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkDGH7wDTr1goU29XP5gmV6_ZJnmt4y9zJbehZd5Q84IDOE21fqoZ9NWiiw1K-CdUkfEksqnEru5zkDcPCl1fbm-2mPFXLd2XBP3iAwR3I3jp5Njh67H8V3aFeJX6hz7PEjf0_MAHyLYITW-NeHnS70C78BgdtCqKEGm-NMcbiO7SRJyVQMeXSYRCLA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_ColonistDistressSignal.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">It turns out that their instinct was correct for it turned out Powell's transmission was a collection of spliced audio files and video manipulation, confirmed by Hyperion being prepared for the Polecats' arrival, but before they set course for the next moon they receive a distress call by a colonist who claims to be among survivors and strongly urges them to "not damage IRIS".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsCikIAFuFQjqF889PjUlWoC1TM_eUA3tVetueKpTK26XiEfxl1Ol1MqTHCajJSCt5n5npmH3yBeH0bj6TYb1OFXty0tEeI_RDzfP8Be9DqwhrB1NB19Hl7qFq7H_MX9ZUp-b1orDkx1-TGZ6-UzWT46A-rFtI4b1aHmLL74JIcFCUGW19gmy-163og/s376/SolarEclipse_WrongAnswer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsCikIAFuFQjqF889PjUlWoC1TM_eUA3tVetueKpTK26XiEfxl1Ol1MqTHCajJSCt5n5npmH3yBeH0bj6TYb1OFXty0tEeI_RDzfP8Be9DqwhrB1NB19Hl7qFq7H_MX9ZUp-b1orDkx1-TGZ6-UzWT46A-rFtI4b1aHmLL74JIcFCUGW19gmy-163og/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_WrongAnswer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgvTosG_lMFYPSipUvkehnA7vpJpK6VsM40CVAMI-y3WBARFL4L8NpnaJJ37Qj_m5kJvSKKsFMy97OcGBGMoZ6wyTySZ0BUrkLmKcPSfgsjlEgentlhNlEcAik2-Fl31UL2HYKAkBz90_YBLbFK5Q85Afg5xxkGVy4h2IH9YLhSeCFRkhCN4LSeHIKw/s376/SolarEclipse_Raven+Cobra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgvTosG_lMFYPSipUvkehnA7vpJpK6VsM40CVAMI-y3WBARFL4L8NpnaJJ37Qj_m5kJvSKKsFMy97OcGBGMoZ6wyTySZ0BUrkLmKcPSfgsjlEgentlhNlEcAik2-Fl31UL2HYKAkBz90_YBLbFK5Q85Afg5xxkGVy4h2IH9YLhSeCFRkhCN4LSeHIKw/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Raven+Cobra.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Things start becoming dire in Tethys as White team leader "Cobra" Lieutenant Major Tom Green loses his team in a trap set by IRIS, a computer system that runs all the facilities including the Tomlinson, which disabled communication between them when "Raven" warned him to disengage.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zcj0wGy_VM57VyObqB0kiTzkpZ201Ao3id_GcnsmpFLUF3YG022rbd8m2Cm3wrBAdZGI0QRjasbFWl_Mpm5f8qm8tPPEoVy966Z2JrUjYpU2xNfwvxltNZnI0Xb3Ol1X1UtAJsc0pUnKzS8UyAXr4sMVpbnanU_jRcBIfJ-z3T6Wyncimpf3a6n6bA/s376/SolarEclipse_RIP-Tomlinson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zcj0wGy_VM57VyObqB0kiTzkpZ201Ao3id_GcnsmpFLUF3YG022rbd8m2Cm3wrBAdZGI0QRjasbFWl_Mpm5f8qm8tPPEoVy966Z2JrUjYpU2xNfwvxltNZnI0Xb3Ol1X1UtAJsc0pUnKzS8UyAXr4sMVpbnanU_jRcBIfJ-z3T6Wyncimpf3a6n6bA/s16000/SolarEclipse_RIP-Tomlinson.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Immediately afterwards "Raven" tells everyone to get off the deck upon hearing the alarm for the carrier's self destruction, caused by IRIS, resulting in countless casualties with only eight surviving Polecats.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEDZDx0A05htkZ1uZiZ6S-jELW3H1pMEpxiqzFS4yoLBG__KEGzQvDOVAqx3VV8ubBAs3_n299RnSi4lcwvRSnMs80jwwzOZU3acQsQ4Bp29z0dRgMG4eNy6qA7DjDd86oAD3If_9DnFrtFFcWY9nN_zPrG55-tlv5937eP3D6xZLlInvAApAO-p0XQ/s387/SolarEclipse_Janus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEDZDx0A05htkZ1uZiZ6S-jELW3H1pMEpxiqzFS4yoLBG__KEGzQvDOVAqx3VV8ubBAs3_n299RnSi4lcwvRSnMs80jwwzOZU3acQsQ4Bp29z0dRgMG4eNy6qA7DjDd86oAD3If_9DnFrtFFcWY9nN_zPrG55-tlv5937eP3D6xZLlInvAApAO-p0XQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Janus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwRDNUOHsnGWLmgppxZP-kO4b2QnwrX5rlrIXU32qrTWU2DsetX0ELJ7LyKi_1r9PDJIdv8i_qtbgxHKT4l5A8MZ-guebDRV328uYZGtGCeByP3vKEb3-lpZiHbLiebidxDeShPkRWHCaWpVrdwzYKa7hV4lgKPwv7IBrqVEuhKaheUFWW3lYZZ7bSg/s387/SolarEclipse_Pitbull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwRDNUOHsnGWLmgppxZP-kO4b2QnwrX5rlrIXU32qrTWU2DsetX0ELJ7LyKi_1r9PDJIdv8i_qtbgxHKT4l5A8MZ-guebDRV328uYZGtGCeByP3vKEb3-lpZiHbLiebidxDeShPkRWHCaWpVrdwzYKa7hV4lgKPwv7IBrqVEuhKaheUFWW3lYZZ7bSg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Pitbull.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Starting off in Janus | Right: That algae-like liquid waving above the water looks so cool</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In the sci-fi rail shooter <i>Solar Eclipse</i> you take control of "Stuntman" Lieutenant Jake Cross who's piloting the SCA-111G Polecat spaceship which you can maneuver around in all eight directions, where the default controls are to tap or hold down B to fire your wing guns and special weapons, accelerate your speed by holding down the C button or decelerate at a less than normal rate by holding down the A button, fire off a barrage of missiles you have at your disposal by pressing the Y button, you can barrel roll to the left or to the right by holding down the left or right shoulder buttons respectively in moments that require it, or double tap either shoulder button to perform a 90 degree roll.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXFJKIriYtzx5UpgwPutPIIZGY0vjc6tsUmnXoSQ3rIiGsVdfMGWsmjwakffNynioelrUqcCShccfHB3n-pYAMytKYCI8Mf3N_RhEMleWB8xO44ukHfXCXvP5M007ufvh5jAfXQW5WoHbJqN6av6uIpIR53mxLYcRv5tt3G4eL-3NgmD3TdkykDgI4g/s387/SolarEclipse_EnemyShips.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXFJKIriYtzx5UpgwPutPIIZGY0vjc6tsUmnXoSQ3rIiGsVdfMGWsmjwakffNynioelrUqcCShccfHB3n-pYAMytKYCI8Mf3N_RhEMleWB8xO44ukHfXCXvP5M007ufvh5jAfXQW5WoHbJqN6av6uIpIR53mxLYcRv5tt3G4eL-3NgmD3TdkykDgI4g/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_EnemyShips.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify4Gw5teV-I7WwBDGImiHJN2GJJHdK52_L2bgbEmf2e89O-NkGxaHC3pdlJgGVuKwvoYeed_iS-n4dMZrRRqEYQ9IdCvzEdDBQFvb7OkGFEAtR8zfbZVARPwxUCL53Kb4RBhvlZc9ztKe3jTOf1CpeauRCC5d3ptM3oVAH-C23Y1FqSrXlEssDfNBYA/s387/SolarEclipse_MissionObjectiveDestroyed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify4Gw5teV-I7WwBDGImiHJN2GJJHdK52_L2bgbEmf2e89O-NkGxaHC3pdlJgGVuKwvoYeed_iS-n4dMZrRRqEYQ9IdCvzEdDBQFvb7OkGFEAtR8zfbZVARPwxUCL53Kb4RBhvlZc9ztKe3jTOf1CpeauRCC5d3ptM3oVAH-C23Y1FqSrXlEssDfNBYA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_MissionObjectiveDestroyed.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Enemy ships incoming | Right: Mission objective destroyed</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">When pausing the game you have the option to choose between a third-person chase plane perspective or to view the action through the Polecat's cockpit. During the course of the game you'll be gathering powerups that will aid you along the way which are either randomly situated or appear upon destroying bunkers and canisters or a particular set of enemies by blasting them: the Maelstrom cannon which acts as your scatter shot, the guidable Saber, the COMDET (command detonating) munition, the FTP (frangible tracking plasma) homing weapon, missiles to add more to your arsenal (can only carry up to nine),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08qGbve_rnXuMnF6cMYek_OXVB99pDUnGRZ-U9H7i-PbiWhb-y1rJOGUQ5n5Fed55OkRd02tLvqkomnig0CX0VDxZSLqmPyVkcnWKN1pYezMhu9O734JNyra5hGrXuJ1vwgCL1PM8MdJHtQ1YFATUHXvtD08gX1TJuBtcagCf2BIbW7NvIefzpSKTiA/s387/SolarEclipse_AsteroidField.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08qGbve_rnXuMnF6cMYek_OXVB99pDUnGRZ-U9H7i-PbiWhb-y1rJOGUQ5n5Fed55OkRd02tLvqkomnig0CX0VDxZSLqmPyVkcnWKN1pYezMhu9O734JNyra5hGrXuJ1vwgCL1PM8MdJHtQ1YFATUHXvtD08gX1TJuBtcagCf2BIbW7NvIefzpSKTiA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_AsteroidField.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzl8s961_4unhOWyPAcU7Fy88sq39Y50-Ubq2jd0ZcDxf28GwDwjkJZ_D8_qWr_6yuElBHlTkNRjFC1LiQk8ltDHIrXi9iE_Om79FRJb2H3NcYCUyuAgJGZjG4rPGw4T1D586duXT9fcPrqxUPfGGEYIhnEcDUBhOFZCtSdpx5E4h9TjxuRPFVWuFag/s387/SolarEclipse_Hyperion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzl8s961_4unhOWyPAcU7Fy88sq39Y50-Ubq2jd0ZcDxf28GwDwjkJZ_D8_qWr_6yuElBHlTkNRjFC1LiQk8ltDHIrXi9iE_Om79FRJb2H3NcYCUyuAgJGZjG4rPGw4T1D586duXT9fcPrqxUPfGGEYIhnEcDUBhOFZCtSdpx5E4h9TjxuRPFVWuFag/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Hyperion.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The first in a set of asteroid fields you fly through | Right: Hyperion</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">variable shield energy powerups (normal, double, supercharge) to replenish whatever energy you lost, an invincible icon to render you momentarily immune to enemy attack (though you can still lose damage upon colliding with the terrain), an energy sponge that has your energy increase as opposed to decreasing upon being shot at while in that temporary state, a cloak device to momentarily stay off the enemies' radar, and a 1-up icon to gain an extra life. If you're dangerously low on shield energy, your survivability is ensured through the EETR (Emergency Energy Transfer and Recharge) system as it siphons energy from the special weapon strength meter (provided you have any at that point) to your shield energy meter, otherwise unless you procure replenishing powerups consider yourself out of luck.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic3brNrnAHcpZdNv8obJ4lApiLyqM8uz4F5sSAwDRYMcIfWVoCj_8pddDtaYUdA2hSEPe84Ms4tmODgzE6IvEsqa4hIYHxJsQflo_-bfsb5asAlclQ-Eye1NohqXWmoOoH1SPp3IDL5O7RIXrH23h3Fex-dncROBRd1rhDD-pZ1trT-E4DXLML3Bm2w/s387/SolarEclipse_Polecat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic3brNrnAHcpZdNv8obJ4lApiLyqM8uz4F5sSAwDRYMcIfWVoCj_8pddDtaYUdA2hSEPe84Ms4tmODgzE6IvEsqa4hIYHxJsQflo_-bfsb5asAlclQ-Eye1NohqXWmoOoH1SPp3IDL5O7RIXrH23h3Fex-dncROBRd1rhDD-pZ1trT-E4DXLML3Bm2w/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Polecat.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnddO05gjAy4nvY6QXD7F9z0IkG42Xjd3OqKqUFUELX5LfS_ERrullRKLlmbpoTOiIeTS5uia36ekz9alVXPIC37tlVLVWLC4rAf5ih9f5CmaCtuE4hgRBbUsCu1fxCHoll0JhperUuPZ5Fxi154Fv9FQNtXaBsmVIGdTr5FvPTsc5HhCMcLh9DXtfg/s387/SolarEclipse_HyperionBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnddO05gjAy4nvY6QXD7F9z0IkG42Xjd3OqKqUFUELX5LfS_ERrullRKLlmbpoTOiIeTS5uia36ekz9alVXPIC37tlVLVWLC4rAf5ih9f5CmaCtuE4hgRBbUsCu1fxCHoll0JhperUuPZ5Fxi154Fv9FQNtXaBsmVIGdTr5FvPTsc5HhCMcLh9DXtfg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_HyperionBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Free life | Right: Beware the flamethrower attack of Hyperion's boss</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Having your Polecat's energy be completely depleted either through enemy fire or hard on collision will result in it exploding and situating you back to the present portion, fortunately each mission is divided into segments for there are checkpoints after reaching a specific point. There are nine files to select from in </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> which takes up three blocks of memory, with progress automatically saved upon clearing the present mission. Should you lose your last life you'll be taken back to the title screen as there are no continues.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5zGJ7wzzZnNqYBsug0MwnvyNTjefrF5cUdxNkp1pqXP0dLTzrhy8TJ60Er314CaJVuX0BplhaiSUZWiVoKk-cE1YJVt-dvEoWPUBFuxWOzIyLS2FcCY-mdqMLpuc-dY1zZF9G0KEMTmTlhOxi7Dg5iM256KLWclgNyiSQ1kIKL1b-ZcPavWYPo22WQ/s387/SolarEclipse_Enemy+AsteroidField.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5zGJ7wzzZnNqYBsug0MwnvyNTjefrF5cUdxNkp1pqXP0dLTzrhy8TJ60Er314CaJVuX0BplhaiSUZWiVoKk-cE1YJVt-dvEoWPUBFuxWOzIyLS2FcCY-mdqMLpuc-dY1zZF9G0KEMTmTlhOxi7Dg5iM256KLWclgNyiSQ1kIKL1b-ZcPavWYPo22WQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Enemy+AsteroidField.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJMdoU5fKe1HEDCXUpwQSj8imAzpKbrokxZPVcL3wJt84cFCC7mOIjpCEMBPxxUle1dIq8O_zbn6p5qOkAfa4Gk3CYBUTfVArcSzQ39KJnVUfOCfNSoWkTUUojXEfZWWjQyDech1-aUqDKBWH5wKCgkKj27bJ8RzsD5MvWpSCfj8g_vrkF-L4bz9Z1g/s387/SolarEclipse_Canister.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJMdoU5fKe1HEDCXUpwQSj8imAzpKbrokxZPVcL3wJt84cFCC7mOIjpCEMBPxxUle1dIq8O_zbn6p5qOkAfa4Gk3CYBUTfVArcSzQ39KJnVUfOCfNSoWkTUUojXEfZWWjQyDech1-aUqDKBWH5wKCgkKj27bJ8RzsD5MvWpSCfj8g_vrkF-L4bz9Z1g/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Canister.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Contending with enemies on occasion as you fly through the asteroid field | Right: Shoot whatever canister you see to collect its contents</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">This game has an interesting visual aesthetic all things considered, with artistry by Terence C. Falls, Simon Knights, Steve M. Suhy, terrain tile art by Maj Cole, and additional art by Juan Ruiz, David Pounders, Jeon Z. Xiong, and Andy Mitchell. Each mission takes place on a series of moons in the Saturn System, which you might occasionally see in the background in front of you as the gas giant looms in the distance with its massive size and majestic rings. The first mission in Janus takes place above a watery environment, the third mission in Tethys has you navigate through an icy mountainous climate, the fifth mission in Rhea is set in an arid desert-like setting with sand dunes, and the penultimate mission in Phoebe largely transpires in a hot and volcanic landscape.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FkiNCaGkWf6PGVhvuPc5DpBfunvyCE_CoY7sMvpi_hcQUkhKlMHMu_jAk0n6p6SqzGgXqYc6mFJVoJPR48q9lntB6vE0sF3c2XIZAorrcOQHswpQ8pvZvwWtA7VM5PIOlCHgkx6KhZS1_DrF5INb5c25JU_ghlcgz7--oefm-imMfPIG1eMHOhrnFQ/s387/SolarEclipse_TethysCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FkiNCaGkWf6PGVhvuPc5DpBfunvyCE_CoY7sMvpi_hcQUkhKlMHMu_jAk0n6p6SqzGgXqYc6mFJVoJPR48q9lntB6vE0sF3c2XIZAorrcOQHswpQ8pvZvwWtA7VM5PIOlCHgkx6KhZS1_DrF5INb5c25JU_ghlcgz7--oefm-imMfPIG1eMHOhrnFQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_TethysCave.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFg-P9elvUKSBbMyAfmHn0p5mFRul_EL4RuoY6VFlpnnsW6_QqnNVx5YByfIXtk3cig7NkZ2ugx9qhKr5xRxn_XmKiKEZezSFRNrHaNOuWgiJacdslLdhovYVM52lVrAeKZMNlF3ezWn_M1FEiSmgWsjzYfvRkMPS3s9bDd4xzO-mEGBlIUklchZWg/s387/SolarEclipse_Upward.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuFg-P9elvUKSBbMyAfmHn0p5mFRul_EL4RuoY6VFlpnnsW6_QqnNVx5YByfIXtk3cig7NkZ2ugx9qhKr5xRxn_XmKiKEZezSFRNrHaNOuWgiJacdslLdhovYVM52lVrAeKZMNlF3ezWn_M1FEiSmgWsjzYfvRkMPS3s9bDd4xzO-mEGBlIUklchZWg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Upward.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">Left: Navigating the perilous caves of Tethys | Right: Banking upward</span></b></div><i style="color: #e69138;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138;"> features a mixture of 2D and 3D, where the Polecats, backgrounds, powerups, explosions, and certain enemies and obstacles are presented in 2D which have a good sense of scaling (and rotating should you barrel roll) while the terrains, bunkers and canisters, and good chunk of the bosses are in 3D. The Polecat you're controlling in particular is interesting in that it is affixed to the center of the screen regardless of which direction you fly off towards, and when seen in motion it looks pretty neat especially with its painstakingly detailed sense of animation as the moons slowly open themselves up to you. There's even the occasional filter whenever you fly through dark caves or rooms (e.g. dark blue in the caves of Janus and Rhea, green in Dione, vibrant red in Phoebe) that augments a sense of atmospheric depth.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The soundtrack to <i>Solar Eclipse</i> was composed by John Lawrence, Bill Hendrickson, and Tom Corwyn, the first two of whom worked under their Power of Two Music label who would then go on to provide the music to</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA_rh8bnIetxoCNxtkpQwnv4hB-KlFl50YrlaKuV2xafrdYSnokp3xfUJM4WME8yyzVIUQL570Wq662tXNVYsFQBMtpC89SgM8wWJ0pPTBl2_KqzO2y8rt4b6NdQtX63ca9e-jLV_u0twxhwAXoblpGyXs1hQft-7lDCnP4KVdPgERDjKeC_D2kqCrg/s387/BlazingDragons_Flicker+Trivet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA_rh8bnIetxoCNxtkpQwnv4hB-KlFl50YrlaKuV2xafrdYSnokp3xfUJM4WME8yyzVIUQL570Wq662tXNVYsFQBMtpC89SgM8wWJ0pPTBl2_KqzO2y8rt4b6NdQtX63ca9e-jLV_u0twxhwAXoblpGyXs1hQft-7lDCnP4KVdPgERDjKeC_D2kqCrg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Flicker+Trivet.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yShpfAtVsU9D4_Fu-z3sUINKV7c6X9oB4QR39ayxCYXPgRDOBhNCo_-RctOMt5PUWK-eEU-NkdL2MB3Qox5H6ga082wHjQ86_QIQ5VNzsK6itShux9GSiIR--FbnwT4Psi-XayY2kQIwb31A39Eq5SwpSNkPMppnxm9iZjs45pR0j49BAl0YROWQFw/s387/BlazingDragons_ScaleEnvy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yShpfAtVsU9D4_Fu-z3sUINKV7c6X9oB4QR39ayxCYXPgRDOBhNCo_-RctOMt5PUWK-eEU-NkdL2MB3Qox5H6ga082wHjQ86_QIQ5VNzsK6itShux9GSiIR--FbnwT4Psi-XayY2kQIwb31A39Eq5SwpSNkPMppnxm9iZjs45pR0j49BAl0YROWQFw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ScaleEnvy.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Illusions Gaming Company's licensed point-and-click games </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/07/blazing-dragons-psone-review.html">Blazing Dragons</a></i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> and </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">. The music is energetically charged and engaging to listen to with its unmistakable '90s quality as it adds so much to the moons of Saturn you fly through, with the beginning </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5KJe4YaON8" style="font-family: georgia;">Janus theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> getting you excited for the action to come setting the tone for a fun sci-fi romp, but the further you get along the tracks become thematically darker.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmL6ssTHe_P-7IGGBfJ9CFROYV7CWo6WmB1-dBhKtgvCK7J9_qbwBMji9gwskgNsIVLxaUCj1qVNRxQnnbRZOb__smBv4GM3JZrLiEwjyJ5_gF0wL9lmjWdVazH4HbzwFRiBCPTLneZQ9digJmh_4JrGPxXsotmakPR3gk_wnR33WjXQThxQcVVH1Dg/s387/SolarEclipse_COMDET.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmL6ssTHe_P-7IGGBfJ9CFROYV7CWo6WmB1-dBhKtgvCK7J9_qbwBMji9gwskgNsIVLxaUCj1qVNRxQnnbRZOb__smBv4GM3JZrLiEwjyJ5_gF0wL9lmjWdVazH4HbzwFRiBCPTLneZQ9digJmh_4JrGPxXsotmakPR3gk_wnR33WjXQThxQcVVH1Dg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_COMDET.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh22XCQpVz7OqyO1fiPpG16T3APIKptQ1Lw24XeN0SWl7GFGq4jC6U6RRQ3qK4BnFn2S4C3DyUoM0-OJ0Kva4Ljo3WZ8Tyd537-j5j5Fi8HRdS1UOG4shLC-QqilMSmrc9wd6oUbwoRzbsxTSMqQzaHiqTw2mfxHQGBiY0NWWoT7FvcAnWvTfJ9bIATw/s387/SolarEclipse_TethysBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh22XCQpVz7OqyO1fiPpG16T3APIKptQ1Lw24XeN0SWl7GFGq4jC6U6RRQ3qK4BnFn2S4C3DyUoM0-OJ0Kva4Ljo3WZ8Tyd537-j5j5Fi8HRdS1UOG4shLC-QqilMSmrc9wd6oUbwoRzbsxTSMqQzaHiqTw2mfxHQGBiY0NWWoT7FvcAnWvTfJ9bIATw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_TethysBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: COMDET | Right: Keep firing at the boss in Tethys</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmprrDXp20" style="font-family: georgia;">Tethys' theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is a real bop with an intimidating nature to it, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGD_vB4ubkc" style="font-family: georgia;">Dione's theme</a><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is unrelentingly threatening-sounding, and the final theme at Titan builds up to a real sense of danger as you ultimately reach up to and confront IRIS at the end. Crystal Dynamics veteran Burke Trieschmann takes a step back as composer this time as while he was still a music supervisor he ended up only providing the sound effects for this game. Trieschmann's music contributions in the video game industry comprise of Crystal Dynamics' </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Crash 'n Burn</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Total Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Off-World Interceptor</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Gex 3</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Gex: Deep Cover Gecko</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, Toys for Bob's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Star Control II</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The Horde</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg2jxzNuzxCu1zhM750m7nWVJ935OM-q6psTUVcWYfD7v857dX_yBRgA1LbY3QdoInmQxUI1q7vNYYLxbuBs5nC-_6f350Ozhf8dQtCJPOSPdyncKCkPgYVu0C0mlQX4EXYlP5I7zfMOwfNuTED7Nd9kT29rUYQ0HbeN06hAK2Yd41qzLY3HICObMoQ/s389/Pandemonium_BouncyWatermelons.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHg2jxzNuzxCu1zhM750m7nWVJ935OM-q6psTUVcWYfD7v857dX_yBRgA1LbY3QdoInmQxUI1q7vNYYLxbuBs5nC-_6f350Ozhf8dQtCJPOSPdyncKCkPgYVu0C0mlQX4EXYlP5I7zfMOwfNuTED7Nd9kT29rUYQ0HbeN06hAK2Yd41qzLY3HICObMoQ/w200-h158/Pandemonium_BouncyWatermelons.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5Rw_jihDDtOTDe9wNM8ICAEaL2KJFIbeNqp8_RvGNUcP3g1PKg6uTZwGVmvfBZCDC9dND-iI8wzeHxoCIa-LNFO0-g8uhVJEiz7DHNUmZcNpfLI9O6eaERLwJlCeo5RB7EsP8IAZjAkT1SkF-zsLEjcBMRDRqSci5O6q1s9WFcUMxkPCjSTLa9NLvg/s387/Pandemonium2_Lab.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="387" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5Rw_jihDDtOTDe9wNM8ICAEaL2KJFIbeNqp8_RvGNUcP3g1PKg6uTZwGVmvfBZCDC9dND-iI8wzeHxoCIa-LNFO0-g8uhVJEiz7DHNUmZcNpfLI9O6eaERLwJlCeo5RB7EsP8IAZjAkT1SkF-zsLEjcBMRDRqSci5O6q1s9WFcUMxkPCjSTLa9NLvg/w200-h159/Pandemonium2_Lab.png" width="200" /></a></div><i>Pandemonium!</i>/<i>Magical Hoppers</i>, <i>Pandemonium 2</i>/<i>Magical Jumpers</i>, and <i>The Unholy War</i>, Clockwork Tortoise's Sega CD/Mega-CD adaptation of <i>The Adventures of Batman & Robin</i>, ToeJam & Earl Productions' <i>Orly's Draw-a-Story</i> and <i>ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth</i>, and served as an audio guru for HumaNature Studios' <i>ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove</i> in 2019, and many more to name.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZW_32ygD9ujX_lpk13Bg1Pt7iYJcNLg4__Qg8SNbJL3A2Wbe-S3PysdTQAZdHY5QlEWtRNrK54izOQU1rni1riQd0UskcFo_CI1SX1suWg6fnOOu0spodkQzg6KTTwzKvyV1Ix-elnOSOewvMtsl3v5BXwZMTUqZ86eTZC0zPZvnUkq88wcSntFzcA/s387/SolarEclipse_Missile.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZW_32ygD9ujX_lpk13Bg1Pt7iYJcNLg4__Qg8SNbJL3A2Wbe-S3PysdTQAZdHY5QlEWtRNrK54izOQU1rni1riQd0UskcFo_CI1SX1suWg6fnOOu0spodkQzg6KTTwzKvyV1Ix-elnOSOewvMtsl3v5BXwZMTUqZ86eTZC0zPZvnUkq88wcSntFzcA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Missile.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwOZsB9jXqUEmMQ4P4RzlJON7q4ZKQ_BHwat7a0xK3ng4xZw-uoet8LMBHqyfcbZzRkd7GUESAxVuklMtVDQmh2T_URtSbYyoNT-Oyt7F8CzSky9xaCBAsAE3_d2WBqbZp7fo0jKcoJS6lYemlwoTIH6zPp1MCHZPlSRBNoEvucsZv6kf-qbV-GAIIA/s387/SolarEclipse_Vegas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwOZsB9jXqUEmMQ4P4RzlJON7q4ZKQ_BHwat7a0xK3ng4xZw-uoet8LMBHqyfcbZzRkd7GUESAxVuklMtVDQmh2T_URtSbYyoNT-Oyt7F8CzSky9xaCBAsAE3_d2WBqbZp7fo0jKcoJS6lYemlwoTIH6zPp1MCHZPlSRBNoEvucsZv6kf-qbV-GAIIA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Vegas.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gaining a missile for your ammunition | Right: "Vegas" Lieutenant Ramirez in the lead</span></b><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects are solid through and through with the varied sounds of your special weapons as you fire them upon your foes as well as the missile sounds, the alarm signaling your dangerously low shield energy status, and effective booms of the explosions, there is a sound effect in particular whenever you pick up a powerup that would also be used in <i>Pandemonium!</i> the following year.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5g6zvtASrbZkrwYIfBgqkeD9oPHMj35rRwqxLHSsIFJC64Jq8wTEgAQJOsYBMDsXpiu6Aoa5Stl1z5hKpDBqOfS2gp9vxVMKVbkXRvJ9CTMohEwi-_hf0hy7YOXecb21QfkH2xyWLw-CBYOiRevsgswC_8aI5Ep1BvAmKNYl4Z4ggs1wvQlQJ2_y9A/s376/SolarEclipse_Hellcat+Raven+Stuntman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5g6zvtASrbZkrwYIfBgqkeD9oPHMj35rRwqxLHSsIFJC64Jq8wTEgAQJOsYBMDsXpiu6Aoa5Stl1z5hKpDBqOfS2gp9vxVMKVbkXRvJ9CTMohEwi-_hf0hy7YOXecb21QfkH2xyWLw-CBYOiRevsgswC_8aI5Ep1BvAmKNYl4Z4ggs1wvQlQJ2_y9A/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Hellcat+Raven+Stuntman.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkMyXr6MuNdXUkzTmGHRc3WHYQjsseS6wLm4oYVlA7_INdsqsHzu7dZcjYoZnPtDhS4KO8KQO3ZN-KoV5v8pBY26O0wGqn0YMstG4mSnPR5gBy-c04ktlBWVmqvZBfNg7CvNtIswisWbl5-1KkpB2BG6mEZFUj3hF6G7oWPUpMPCs7NKWDE45Y2XKMA/s376/SolarEclipse_Stuntman+Cobra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkMyXr6MuNdXUkzTmGHRc3WHYQjsseS6wLm4oYVlA7_INdsqsHzu7dZcjYoZnPtDhS4KO8KQO3ZN-KoV5v8pBY26O0wGqn0YMstG4mSnPR5gBy-c04ktlBWVmqvZBfNg7CvNtIswisWbl5-1KkpB2BG6mEZFUj3hF6G7oWPUpMPCs7NKWDE45Y2XKMA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Stuntman+Cobra.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">In-between missions there are live action FMV cutscenes directed and produced by Greco-American Dimitri Logothetis who's got a hefty movie portfolio of directorial and producing credits that to this day spans over three and a half decades, executive produced by Andy Trapani, associate produced by Gary Hudson and Frederick Bailey III, written by Eric Lindstrom with additional story and dialogue by Jim McGrath, cinematography by </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Jürgen Baum, production managed by Aaron M. Heck, and edited by Dan Brazelton.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJNGTsHVI8-czXc-zaYF_Ekr75Nv7e-tBq4Xv5rih2YnluKGcb95OSm1-6rAQWV3tmmMzOBqAlxfXnzSOoH9HTnof1v-hVPFukYP0crtMpk4rDs3nQqbd1SDn6MsWSVBEH775OVSFbadXs5EgaLG7Q1-baLHrS41licnoesdWL0GDcZIzOkexio6pA/s376/SolarEclipse_Stuntman+Pitbull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJNGTsHVI8-czXc-zaYF_Ekr75Nv7e-tBq4Xv5rih2YnluKGcb95OSm1-6rAQWV3tmmMzOBqAlxfXnzSOoH9HTnof1v-hVPFukYP0crtMpk4rDs3nQqbd1SDn6MsWSVBEH775OVSFbadXs5EgaLG7Q1-baLHrS41licnoesdWL0GDcZIzOkexio6pA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Stuntman+Pitbull.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpYKSJu-Ac-qcH2tnspmWHgyfJTFm0lvygwZO1J2kmq1pN2ItUCiknDvvLYnpL7fB2JnhjKm5ON17ht7koXoNNxqf3yQ1XGN4Q50nYQDTorWVCFHBLQjnkfB-r01sSZXi5x86ObIC0XN8zy4znovtDeRkoCjJSlG-qT6MM51NKmZecz-wGoAy_uC2Ew/s376/SolarEclipse_Hellcat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpYKSJu-Ac-qcH2tnspmWHgyfJTFm0lvygwZO1J2kmq1pN2ItUCiknDvvLYnpL7fB2JnhjKm5ON17ht7koXoNNxqf3yQ1XGN4Q50nYQDTorWVCFHBLQjnkfB-r01sSZXi5x86ObIC0XN8zy4znovtDeRkoCjJSlG-qT6MM51NKmZecz-wGoAy_uC2Ew/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Hellcat.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Most of the actors have not worked on another video game outside of </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> and are generally unknowns, such as Jake Hudson ("Stuntman"), Jillian McWhirter ("Hellcat" Lieutenant Sarah Underhill), and John Lage ("Cobra"), but on the other hand there are some famous celebrities who've also contributed their talents to this game such as Kim Miyori (Susan Powell), Tracey Ross ("Pitbull" Lieutenant Major Peterson), Neil Dickson ("Buzzard" Lieutenant Hogan), the late Dennis Burkley (crazy colonist, who was somehow credited as "Dennis Burkely"),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_g4x71gu7XzMrIXiiv4eaKhQPGoPm-O6rq4ohu120_SM7vWCsUrMVThwgpCQWcj-JZQFNURICUNA_-Ylog0dMaqhhDjDwpjisFR0xZS5j1wg0jQZJKG6gV8nueNYg8YtGlYL8cUuEePyeEQVxALInDP0g7FXNROOa-H7lK4lJWcaeB5050Ef-qEsiA/s376/SolarEclipse_Raven.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_g4x71gu7XzMrIXiiv4eaKhQPGoPm-O6rq4ohu120_SM7vWCsUrMVThwgpCQWcj-JZQFNURICUNA_-Ylog0dMaqhhDjDwpjisFR0xZS5j1wg0jQZJKG6gV8nueNYg8YtGlYL8cUuEePyeEQVxALInDP0g7FXNROOa-H7lK4lJWcaeB5050Ef-qEsiA/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Raven.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG_nlWxBYvqlnmHBR0vwbD_434Xq6Ah8wzOLt60m8ldUuvFa66daccN-wu0j-AilYVTHloz0onweWr1qEJhPj3-YdP8uPO42IG0YPZEfrLhxkRnzR7GWAkjcxZPuR77KNoMTfLsJGRa-rMRyTtgX42X-7TxJO_jnhA4OFyf05RHxhtqwWx-27aUBG1A/s376/SolarEclipse_Alive.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG_nlWxBYvqlnmHBR0vwbD_434Xq6Ah8wzOLt60m8ldUuvFa66daccN-wu0j-AilYVTHloz0onweWr1qEJhPj3-YdP8uPO42IG0YPZEfrLhxkRnzR7GWAkjcxZPuR77KNoMTfLsJGRa-rMRyTtgX42X-7TxJO_jnhA4OFyf05RHxhtqwWx-27aUBG1A/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Alive.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">She is awesome in this game</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">and the biggest name being Claudia Christian ("Raven") in her first video game who was best known for starring in J. Michael Straczynski's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Babylon 5</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> at the time. The cutscene quality is very good all things considered, presented in a letterboxed format to create a cinematic look and is well-paced in an episodic kind of way</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5441flMR15OcCZZGokkG08tlkzn9OXo6AgdoU5TabRpJNkhZcf78FZ2tw-VLnv79UT70_ciP57udeLcmxeaXYzQP2f7cO5WH31zOQJdPDm7rywhgl4HpMtjuIzy3s3uyuTmjmbNvxdDUfX5_j3cIEN5gqGbZjnk-oWuEwVeb2fs7hH-RRS1SxNJSh4A/s376/SolarEclipse_Preparing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5441flMR15OcCZZGokkG08tlkzn9OXo6AgdoU5TabRpJNkhZcf78FZ2tw-VLnv79UT70_ciP57udeLcmxeaXYzQP2f7cO5WH31zOQJdPDm7rywhgl4HpMtjuIzy3s3uyuTmjmbNvxdDUfX5_j3cIEN5gqGbZjnk-oWuEwVeb2fs7hH-RRS1SxNJSh4A/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Preparing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuwz4SF5E5kHbtKSr6q9_KniNw-z-MsyGo-MtGqtrZnn4ualOprQJFAThivVsgLTveGqbBmq9QPcpZ8_mPbuPGPNSA9P8vJqoL3dVoySgD3eNxecuzaTO4DMhH8IKY8bXYUxZjnj0-_sJBOJFuwqPpZfGnFgAYIG0nQQbmhBnJPDpDMDgOjKa-rZQ3g/s376/SolarEclipse_Briefing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuwz4SF5E5kHbtKSr6q9_KniNw-z-MsyGo-MtGqtrZnn4ualOprQJFAThivVsgLTveGqbBmq9QPcpZ8_mPbuPGPNSA9P8vJqoL3dVoySgD3eNxecuzaTO4DMhH8IKY8bXYUxZjnj0-_sJBOJFuwqPpZfGnFgAYIG0nQQbmhBnJPDpDMDgOjKa-rZQ3g/w200-h119/SolarEclipse_Briefing.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">(even during a couple moments where there's obvious greenscreen and how a green light is aimed at the faces of the pilots in the cockpit while inside the Polecat), the Polecats and the Tomlinson look well-rendered in 3D, and the acting is surprisingly very good for a Western-based 1995 video game; there is the odd cheesy delivery, but on the whole they really deliver quality acting which is also true when they talk to each other through their comms in-game.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_eVsgDBEplhI4Nhqe-0JJPg0phb4KbDFMC72UPwtu_E6oFI1JqPcb3u3Z7YRQhw195c0FBWNkhRfo7sZA6sFXwlPr-CUDtmcA1t5gfLjHgx5gKCaYzWtFYYINyCUtWaneyll3HUBolK1bXLPp_iDVcBK80g-aoir8UqbyHJKDbh_XGeYcunoh1tH5w/s377/SuperMarioRPG_HereWeGo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_eVsgDBEplhI4Nhqe-0JJPg0phb4KbDFMC72UPwtu_E6oFI1JqPcb3u3Z7YRQhw195c0FBWNkhRfo7sZA6sFXwlPr-CUDtmcA1t5gfLjHgx5gKCaYzWtFYYINyCUtWaneyll3HUBolK1bXLPp_iDVcBK80g-aoir8UqbyHJKDbh_XGeYcunoh1tH5w/s16000/SuperMarioRPG_HereWeGo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Oh, and there's also Charles Martinet (Spinner) who voices a portly plumber whose name really eludes me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHtkTMVXjiL42BqQHjiworPqw-k6JeDONLc5r5gHR6iyyHrVQ0NDScqSmYSKS-ANkI74NXknwv_DDu0XV2hibccs61tfmWiAsUMSqX8TzAGHrTAhbSnxjgIi5TvxtHWxqTxTmMFhC89D8lHhh7D_xC5AajtOs2LzbJcpHqG1PqqwiDLvxKiRBZTgMBA/s387/BlazingDragons_SmoochingFrogs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHtkTMVXjiL42BqQHjiworPqw-k6JeDONLc5r5gHR6iyyHrVQ0NDScqSmYSKS-ANkI74NXknwv_DDu0XV2hibccs61tfmWiAsUMSqX8TzAGHrTAhbSnxjgIi5TvxtHWxqTxTmMFhC89D8lHhh7D_xC5AajtOs2LzbJcpHqG1PqqwiDLvxKiRBZTgMBA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_SmoochingFrogs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSkoh4shCCOPFySruWSd7DRJoPCBWHmrht2aTtxWA4ulty_UuepfTYKMLkEkPFg5vAMwPBLmQLfTbTGdliWDAsziUDfI1-voPwBq0Z0djUrE-2meZ-EzHiT2wO_AAF_oIVL73wIVyLScGsBhMkmEs59aeXzQpf9T58Vhz9NzOFE1KeLxUlwP6f5L24A/s387/BlazingDragons_Stilts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSkoh4shCCOPFySruWSd7DRJoPCBWHmrht2aTtxWA4ulty_UuepfTYKMLkEkPFg5vAMwPBLmQLfTbTGdliWDAsziUDfI1-voPwBq0Z0djUrE-2meZ-EzHiT2wO_AAF_oIVL73wIVyLScGsBhMkmEs59aeXzQpf9T58Vhz9NzOFE1KeLxUlwP6f5L24A/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Stilts.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I first learned about <i>Solar Eclipse</i> in late June of 2020 when I was in a graphic adventure point-and-click genre kick after wanting to explore the genre starting with The Illusions Gaming Company's <i>Blazing Dragons</i> on the PlayStation One.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-PlhTU_Rq94b06dpzOd0BA90nH36JttuEjRdgyYR0nnmv-89Dm7s1m-54Zpp-MFFEyDA0aJfpNedbzuhsRcvtlY8toVXETZPDmIkxygRz106Du17TRk5wa3ZizT1OfDLNAWuhYHYXlFE_KZH3gzdztxrvvF18I0HsDzc3iZNHwf-34RylDM1IEtkmg/s387/SolarEclipse_WalkItOff-Cutscene.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-PlhTU_Rq94b06dpzOd0BA90nH36JttuEjRdgyYR0nnmv-89Dm7s1m-54Zpp-MFFEyDA0aJfpNedbzuhsRcvtlY8toVXETZPDmIkxygRz106Du17TRk5wa3ZizT1OfDLNAWuhYHYXlFE_KZH3gzdztxrvvF18I0HsDzc3iZNHwf-34RylDM1IEtkmg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_WalkItOff-Cutscene.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtefDZoEU-aA-CGF2_bpRFYrfrCCzykzv5q26ASSoRdxA2AOf4MJpV634f4yWBe_RJztWpj6NxcUPFQJEUosaOKJE9FssjTh8Gh9CyB4USuDpd4T91RtQkEEvuYvUOTes8VXno0FGEnvIQSQxK0-lRSlhzQ_dD_suROUgoDsN2yqx9r6OTOKlAc5dbA/s387/SolarEclipse_WalkItOff-Gameplay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtefDZoEU-aA-CGF2_bpRFYrfrCCzykzv5q26ASSoRdxA2AOf4MJpV634f4yWBe_RJztWpj6NxcUPFQJEUosaOKJE9FssjTh8Gh9CyB4USuDpd4T91RtQkEEvuYvUOTes8VXno0FGEnvIQSQxK0-lRSlhzQ_dD_suROUgoDsN2yqx9r6OTOKlAc5dbA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_WalkItOff-Gameplay.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">At the title screen was the option to watch Crystal Dynamics' "Walk it Off" preview video of their 32-bit lineup that had yet to come out if it wasn't out already, and among the games presented was <i>Solar Eclipse</i> which had an interesting aesthetic and featured live action cutscenes. Even though it was in a genre I generally don't consider myself thoroughly good at it did look fascinating, but I did not own a Sega Saturn at the time and the PlayStation One version only saw a release in Europe as <i>Titan Wars</i> which is a bit of a problem if you live in North America.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryU2T6SeLrUqhcX1CL4d-GDoVw1zZaUHaz-YgKlkt4Ii7IYqLuozOmGX8Idu_tQr-VFRYTbP27RTkcUETe4RJ8P09QtMfo2iVkfcPQCg3FpxUwexsWJ6Ziq6TRCUzpgI-uRiXn1JBoXAWN6Wz9hwlVYvmkQRDDgit0m39nRlOsI5lcDtIpFyA4MHtRw/s401/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryU2T6SeLrUqhcX1CL4d-GDoVw1zZaUHaz-YgKlkt4Ii7IYqLuozOmGX8Idu_tQr-VFRYTbP27RTkcUETe4RJ8P09QtMfo2iVkfcPQCg3FpxUwexsWJ6Ziq6TRCUzpgI-uRiXn1JBoXAWN6Wz9hwlVYvmkQRDDgit0m39nRlOsI5lcDtIpFyA4MHtRw/s16000/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">A month and a half later I recounted my journey with the Saturn and first four games for the system <i>Clockwork Knight</i>, Crystal Dynamics' <i>Solar Eclipse</i>, Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i>, and Sega's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/11/astal-saturn-review.html">Astal</a></i> on my <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/06/random-saturnday.html">first Random Saturnday post</a> in June of 2022</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Nearly a year ago on April of 2022, I made the craziest video gaming decision and decided to invest in a North American Sega Saturn console on eBay with one game in a separate order in the form of Sega's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i>, which I thought was a lightheartedly endearing platformer that's a pleasure to play which showcased the console's technological capabilities.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYTL6adqdwYBxlxyamigC8cNViyXutLh1s3CUTiuDg5iSveztbVFxSb_bsP-XX-9pe8hDN0FWgkziqjjZHK3GapRkYEQkqUlsgPlUGRVOJyQJrii1iuZH-JgVG_y6cxs_-wBDklHQS4klP9kIPv9FB8XyvoJ2iBSVoRdSRRjipBV45yfg0lDPYIIcxw/s401/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYTL6adqdwYBxlxyamigC8cNViyXutLh1s3CUTiuDg5iSveztbVFxSb_bsP-XX-9pe8hDN0FWgkziqjjZHK3GapRkYEQkqUlsgPlUGRVOJyQJrii1iuZH-JgVG_y6cxs_-wBDklHQS4klP9kIPv9FB8XyvoJ2iBSVoRdSRRjipBV45yfg0lDPYIIcxw/s16000/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">What surprised me even further was that in the time since I've got the Saturn and slowly expanded my library it's grown to become my third favorite video game console</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I never would have imagined myself owning a Saturn many years ago, but the moment I got it and <i>Clockwork Knight</i> the following day it got me excited to explore more Saturn fare. I remembered about </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, realized I now had a format to play it on, decided to browse it on eBay, and was pleased to find that there was an affordable copy of it, so I decided to look into the game I had first learned of nearly two years prior as my second foray in the system.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGdssnyNXqQinFLtB4sd-P8H9QMLSlai2DyZmLXH5MuX1h4-zle5zzuIrBEwllqTv_xVtmaYXIxSehlYCVH2NjsIs4veFSvtOhqExIuCbqyM6CanUKv-ES2Fky8pyPtxo7TITVEsojcx3ysNqCX8Vjj2aVazPqsGFdwAm-c1oAAMpOY8qHP8QiYHd8A/s387/SolarEclipse_Blinders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGdssnyNXqQinFLtB4sd-P8H9QMLSlai2DyZmLXH5MuX1h4-zle5zzuIrBEwllqTv_xVtmaYXIxSehlYCVH2NjsIs4veFSvtOhqExIuCbqyM6CanUKv-ES2Fky8pyPtxo7TITVEsojcx3ysNqCX8Vjj2aVazPqsGFdwAm-c1oAAMpOY8qHP8QiYHd8A/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Blinders.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffeYcOyNHBm8hNeVCzu30_yLJesxjaAs2j33Nc_GvtTS6QKKGfbV8kdDRj6Uy0wIzdIcWgn9nJc2DuOHjASOzAo66vO6os0kThYnNiMFhbs58RCDXgZm2r51xvqL9LAsFzUXJAvIQheVaiYJNaOcyPRAAhEurbrvmDlFDzWyj1kG2jhiFol4mKsauvg/s387/SolarEclipse_DioneBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffeYcOyNHBm8hNeVCzu30_yLJesxjaAs2j33Nc_GvtTS6QKKGfbV8kdDRj6Uy0wIzdIcWgn9nJc2DuOHjASOzAo66vO6os0kThYnNiMFhbs58RCDXgZm2r51xvqL9LAsFzUXJAvIQheVaiYJNaOcyPRAAhEurbrvmDlFDzWyj1kG2jhiFol4mKsauvg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_DioneBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flying through those things will briefly blind the area | Right: Launching missiles towards the squadron of enemy ships</span></b></div><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> is a solidly enjoyable game to play once in a while, with equally solid gameplay as well as a creatively imaginative action-packed sci-fi tour through all the moons of Saturn (including the occasional detour through the asteroid field in the depths of space on the way to a subsequent moon). Rail shooters aren't generally my go-to genre, but I don't mind playing them now and again even though like I said earlier I'm usually only decent at playing them up until a certain point.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemAqLlA2tek-sMOPWayjCCKhMhqZK0eqQv1DgU3I7qwbfbBN0-OxGV-l30wPHicLMnXDnuHzH0JzRGzuHmtfhj4R9Hw_aVA3_buZusv1tVj13IJJsgeCWk2_25DIxUu0kzonSlTdY7fcNOQFRXhQRPAF2BbMFv3CybEtJn-Q2UqH0w3UZNbYYj8Hmw/s387/HyperZone_Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglemAqLlA2tek-sMOPWayjCCKhMhqZK0eqQv1DgU3I7qwbfbBN0-OxGV-l30wPHicLMnXDnuHzH0JzRGzuHmtfhj4R9Hw_aVA3_buZusv1tVj13IJJsgeCWk2_25DIxUu0kzonSlTdY7fcNOQFRXhQRPAF2BbMFv3CybEtJn-Q2UqH0w3UZNbYYj8Hmw/s16000/HyperZone_Slideshow.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I didn't consider it before starting this review, but I only <u>just</u> remembered Sega's <i>Space Harrier II</i>, which I'm confident at playing as well (warts and all)</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The one rail shooter I find myself somewhat competent at playing all the way through rather than partway is HAL Laboratory's Mode 7 tech demo <i>HyperZone</i> on the Super Famicom, at least up until the subsequent loop or two.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNTSM4S_DwAHgf7lk_CsFf5nQyNKsB9GZKBCVPDjgPEEj3Jg3rilDMsPzBXKij8a8NTeirPazQwhXF1pWvvbU4VkXN3NAnK38FGVL_ifzBEw7awTxgVnL8vGRwBeK_UyaV9TZOu_Pwi_LEqzdvd8a9ey6MCg7fH50O2GX67a6xStUi5E4kzrcsnpfnA/s387/SolarEclipse_Rhea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNTSM4S_DwAHgf7lk_CsFf5nQyNKsB9GZKBCVPDjgPEEj3Jg3rilDMsPzBXKij8a8NTeirPazQwhXF1pWvvbU4VkXN3NAnK38FGVL_ifzBEw7awTxgVnL8vGRwBeK_UyaV9TZOu_Pwi_LEqzdvd8a9ey6MCg7fH50O2GX67a6xStUi5E4kzrcsnpfnA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Rhea.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVoeYg3yvVX4v-wEBPCF421xLUDE_XVV-jCDWZ7208ESOl1fV062PHGM0mJmBYGu4lquzVMxomJ6r9E4hFnEEME5VhY0dwastPh69QbaeXGstE218m9ns64YBS7grDvxOnReu9lZHFMVrbmoq5jjrfitXiTybTRg98-IVwogyDYxcIT5_YyzoEGx9Xw/s387/SolarEclipse_DarkenedCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVoeYg3yvVX4v-wEBPCF421xLUDE_XVV-jCDWZ7208ESOl1fV062PHGM0mJmBYGu4lquzVMxomJ6r9E4hFnEEME5VhY0dwastPh69QbaeXGstE218m9ns64YBS7grDvxOnReu9lZHFMVrbmoq5jjrfitXiTybTRg98-IVwogyDYxcIT5_YyzoEGx9Xw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_DarkenedCave.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Rhea, Saturn's desert moon | Right: Blast the barricade to pass through</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Unlike </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">HyperZone</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">, though, there is more going for </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> outside of just flying and shooting: a wider playing field, a vast array of special weapons and powerups, a growing sense of difficulty, an engaging story, impressive live action cutscenes, well-written scenarios, compelling acting especially in-game through their comms (and the way the some of the pilots sound shortly prior to their demise augment a sense of intensity and growing danger), and a credible threat in the form of the frighteningly omnipresent IRIS.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51-sQx2cB_XnsiYdg0eFHLe0t1FjrVbh1drk-Ve0dfz2f78b4rq-62oEEHrH97XDYX1Hhw-hBgR-WivIiZxMXMdpCnPVzaxF2ou-WTzLu21fWb8wye262gNRUiMl1L9XEhvc6X-xeZjtZPLrrU6lhkjNgwbtJ3KiUo7XhT1zdpe04t2CAKygJBSP8lA/s387/SolarEclipse_ProtrudingSpikes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51-sQx2cB_XnsiYdg0eFHLe0t1FjrVbh1drk-Ve0dfz2f78b4rq-62oEEHrH97XDYX1Hhw-hBgR-WivIiZxMXMdpCnPVzaxF2ou-WTzLu21fWb8wye262gNRUiMl1L9XEhvc6X-xeZjtZPLrrU6lhkjNgwbtJ3KiUo7XhT1zdpe04t2CAKygJBSP8lA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_ProtrudingSpikes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHz9fdwgXL2ZD51kFq7V5X7XiFY0ddW_ElZ-pZgFgEWuLHiCdWMXp-sT9cR5s-mivEFH-45iRKzhENqy51WFunDUGob1hJAvFo80aJKK41B59zWaDWhbPHdv-tAwJ6QiB5WoWh4neth5mWZHMRwCV7PI6YRdEW-cZH6B4ED8ayEJTLy3tFOw6579eIw/s387/SolarEclipse_Sand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHz9fdwgXL2ZD51kFq7V5X7XiFY0ddW_ElZ-pZgFgEWuLHiCdWMXp-sT9cR5s-mivEFH-45iRKzhENqy51WFunDUGob1hJAvFo80aJKK41B59zWaDWhbPHdv-tAwJ6QiB5WoWh4neth5mWZHMRwCV7PI6YRdEW-cZH6B4ED8ayEJTLy3tFOw6579eIw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Sand.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sprouting spikes in a circular fashion | Right: Flying close to the desert ground</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The in-game communications with the fellow Polecat pilots amongst themselves if not addressing and occasionally giving hints or instructions to "Stuntman" add an immersive flavor to the proceedings, including a couple isolated moments where you have to follow their directions when it comes to bearing left or turning right (i.e. "Digger" Lieutenant Morris in Rhea and "Cobra" in Enceladus) if you wish to not crash head-on into a dead end. <i>Solar Eclipse</i> is also one of those games where you probably shouldn't grow <b>too</b> attached to its characters because, you never know, a number of them might not live to see tomorrow, which is a good sign as any not to take these missions lightly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P6zUWurLQZCgKOA_jpoguTQUE6aMCVL-sHUGPDTNXmkbN8HwRUWyjvrW1uTXs2m7NXx_UZfzu1xoOZEWECjP47KRD4IETXU61LCw3kbw12zgqG1UOu9AbvoRafg91gEPYz0ue7VJmG4eLFz_9lafpoM9XViuatB9YYfd8peWhENkIfYXXgI7Y21j7A/s387/SolarEclipse_Colonist+Digger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P6zUWurLQZCgKOA_jpoguTQUE6aMCVL-sHUGPDTNXmkbN8HwRUWyjvrW1uTXs2m7NXx_UZfzu1xoOZEWECjP47KRD4IETXU61LCw3kbw12zgqG1UOu9AbvoRafg91gEPYz0ue7VJmG4eLFz_9lafpoM9XViuatB9YYfd8peWhENkIfYXXgI7Y21j7A/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Colonist+Digger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiUSNCDFFHGebATQTWD761zT8vEWcxcbohObmoHh-69_O2KetxkkHb8PxDiMxxL61GPlOA_YRAM3yq4RaFTVBqOZooGJl92Hoae3Q3jsAXYi84dGzaLSruLIS6nrD6Xohtd50vxF6WX1XpebhA9p_bb2hYLGYXo9iealNallcrXrTeCMidiWGNB-8XA/s387/SolarEclipse_CrazyColonist-Comm.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiUSNCDFFHGebATQTWD761zT8vEWcxcbohObmoHh-69_O2KetxkkHb8PxDiMxxL61GPlOA_YRAM3yq4RaFTVBqOZooGJl92Hoae3Q3jsAXYi84dGzaLSruLIS6nrD6Xohtd50vxF6WX1XpebhA9p_bb2hYLGYXo9iealNallcrXrTeCMidiWGNB-8XA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_CrazyColonist-Comm.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Hellcat" warning "Stuntman" of an unidentified arrival | Right: This crazy colonist gives me Achenar vibes from Cyan's <i>Myst</i> in terms of how unhinged he is, also expect him to spout the occasional religious nonsense from time to time</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There's also various obstacles to overcome, too, such as averting enemy fire to the best of your ability, extended spikes protruding from the sides that are indestructible, barricades you must blast away to get through, vertical or horizontal apertures that prompt you to roll over 90 degrees (sometimes required in a consecutive manner), gates that open up and close, chasing the crazy colonist up to a point by flying through the exact chutes so you don't crash head first, even flying through a nearly pitch black room, to name some.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10-AmlQvGEnXyT4LE4LX5BFNd1rcaLHXITylRz1zvKBs-bggztNYK1Vu8KcspQw-87_Y7nwZ9U1HFWi_boPsMx9CwOtybgXuLgoNFle7cLYK2cc34iVvALiEePVkKsIEDEIQ-LIrQHLkO7F_XYCOkXOLsKK21hvh1pUXwPU0cLRtU1kxBRgGj63Roaw/s387/SolarEclipse_MaelstromCannon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10-AmlQvGEnXyT4LE4LX5BFNd1rcaLHXITylRz1zvKBs-bggztNYK1Vu8KcspQw-87_Y7nwZ9U1HFWi_boPsMx9CwOtybgXuLgoNFle7cLYK2cc34iVvALiEePVkKsIEDEIQ-LIrQHLkO7F_XYCOkXOLsKK21hvh1pUXwPU0cLRtU1kxBRgGj63Roaw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_MaelstromCannon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMP4yGGbgk5ZCxRXtbu_PPHak3Wy2oGx1wkSudITKQl2E_mYnDXqwcgqanzMmLFwdfkQYcRbYJoYLu7MKjHHr8zb8i762mYqs-M2IWW0SibLuxdM76HeRLPhEIixE1c9eZbgv2PsPlEjOm4hlEHjLY1ArAfQ1j609ULtMMmDLle73xCOjcaNukOjLbmQ/s387/SolarEclipse_RheaBoss.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMP4yGGbgk5ZCxRXtbu_PPHak3Wy2oGx1wkSudITKQl2E_mYnDXqwcgqanzMmLFwdfkQYcRbYJoYLu7MKjHHr8zb8i762mYqs-M2IWW0SibLuxdM76HeRLPhEIixE1c9eZbgv2PsPlEjOm4hlEHjLY1ArAfQ1j609ULtMMmDLle73xCOjcaNukOjLbmQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_RheaBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Maelstrom cannon | Right: And it's here where I start using the codes to help prolong my survival (not to mention Rhea's boss is a real pain)</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">As fun as the game can be to play, it does get harder and occasionally it's hard to keep up with every obstacle hurtling your way resulting in mandatory damage taken as the farthest I could get on my own was the end boss at Rhea, the fifth mission, which is more than halfway through the game as there are eight missions total.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-IEm3s_yNnL0VDQKOgSa6E3mNgEnwPs2xXrW2sCyyGujYrt5Hhcv0730kzFeDbw7FirrGwKI_E1FzVwDFK-pgi8cLGfpFm-Sb7rQXwk3gwiysvKF2n0og8KNbr9aaQ0D9NOxc_peuobxeq7ot89N_yZGOVvD27B-hO7rq22eb1HsvbAaPvQ8m9nS2A/s387/SolarEclipse_MeteorStorm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-IEm3s_yNnL0VDQKOgSa6E3mNgEnwPs2xXrW2sCyyGujYrt5Hhcv0730kzFeDbw7FirrGwKI_E1FzVwDFK-pgi8cLGfpFm-Sb7rQXwk3gwiysvKF2n0og8KNbr9aaQ0D9NOxc_peuobxeq7ot89N_yZGOVvD27B-hO7rq22eb1HsvbAaPvQ8m9nS2A/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_MeteorStorm.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUz9xUExofb5gl4RGJVNj4roLjNuAsOl0jI2bBVC5DkGTZY0HEfFnImSB4DZjXLOGXXcCauNpISyOlggAD3TsAGhtzI5ZlJCElxjF9Qjz8bxtFVoEd7io4X89zMJXegAgT-h_xqalaUbsVIxk21pKCdI7DjJfAzFXGy9BDIYr9aGLJ45KxukBOzJWgA/s387/SolarEclipse_MoveAgainstCliff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUz9xUExofb5gl4RGJVNj4roLjNuAsOl0jI2bBVC5DkGTZY0HEfFnImSB4DZjXLOGXXcCauNpISyOlggAD3TsAGhtzI5ZlJCElxjF9Qjz8bxtFVoEd7io4X89zMJXegAgT-h_xqalaUbsVIxk21pKCdI7DjJfAzFXGy9BDIYr9aGLJ45KxukBOzJWgA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_MoveAgainstCliff.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Meteor storm </b>🌠<b> | Right: Force these ships towards the cliffs</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Fortunately for those of us who are incapable of playing all the way through legitimately or are inept at the rail shooter genre there are codes which can be input at any time whilst <i>Solar Eclipse</i> is paused as many times as you feel are needed, which you'll know you input correctly once you hear a cue: right, down, down, left, A, left, left for max shields and energy, right, down, down, left, Start, C, up, down, to resupply ammo, right, down, down, left, down, right, A, C, up, left, A for cloaking, and right, down, down, left, B, up, Start, Y for energy sponge.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71sjMN_AD2ipr9UpGynFD55YbwlrrjgQ5WOqcQwcANjkS6nG9qMAmP5OZXaL928IQI10XBXYChbL_VdJ05w0BH2pG2rRQAZFCJUKnRYddvfrw61vsoUtax_b8oBWEXyuK-PshH7y4GVlnt3pBwT8xbd0AURBZDfIUo2DEaK7N6jElYIR_zqg0vpXuhA/s387/SolarEclipse_Iapetus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71sjMN_AD2ipr9UpGynFD55YbwlrrjgQ5WOqcQwcANjkS6nG9qMAmP5OZXaL928IQI10XBXYChbL_VdJ05w0BH2pG2rRQAZFCJUKnRYddvfrw61vsoUtax_b8oBWEXyuK-PshH7y4GVlnt3pBwT8xbd0AURBZDfIUo2DEaK7N6jElYIR_zqg0vpXuhA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Iapetus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XwdiZniNRjxPF7MWYg2ga8i6hEIooee-piQ6RlfeCV5s7eAU8jpiOwCWrHk_KW2EcAoA2Jhv_KymXVWTmVmHRsfhW0sEamMoAnuJHZLDMtqLz-cmCF0YWtEPRgaoa4bb6wYN1GsE1LkCn7Jt0ohBY6eilHnosar0_n_0OkN4PbLdD8Iv8p0SZjij7Q/s387/SolarEclipse_RIP-Cobra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XwdiZniNRjxPF7MWYg2ga8i6hEIooee-piQ6RlfeCV5s7eAU8jpiOwCWrHk_KW2EcAoA2Jhv_KymXVWTmVmHRsfhW0sEamMoAnuJHZLDMtqLz-cmCF0YWtEPRgaoa4bb6wYN1GsE1LkCn7Jt0ohBY6eilHnosar0_n_0OkN4PbLdD8Iv8p0SZjij7Q/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_RIP-Cobra.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flying through the cave at Iapetus | Right: "Cobra" taking his last shot</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">There are also codes that give you access to a slew of secret levels which are so off-kilter but are nonetheless entertaining to fly through and showcase just how much fun Stephen D. White, Robert T. Smith, Adam Woodbury, Doug Ihde, Dan Su, and Lloyd Pique clearly had while programming this game:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-v29mfbSoE9QbIhZSzHTPJeO21kOI_i5uhb-ckvze2CjzArvSoS_px7XfmM8oK-LYLv3V76YEsrbZvB_dZj0umBBTj8eCMybDe5gVEL2NTqLlZoR5X_ERxkznHyDnAAoZy4APOxhRwSQzMFbM1KckUoJmiBt6ygGsvl1or0sL2yXuIRQ5YlHiP0QuA/s387/SolarEclipse_Chowder.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-v29mfbSoE9QbIhZSzHTPJeO21kOI_i5uhb-ckvze2CjzArvSoS_px7XfmM8oK-LYLv3V76YEsrbZvB_dZj0umBBTj8eCMybDe5gVEL2NTqLlZoR5X_ERxkznHyDnAAoZy4APOxhRwSQzMFbM1KckUoJmiBt6ygGsvl1or0sL2yXuIRQ5YlHiP0QuA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Chowder.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5hN1auTKWwen_Lrhmda11Jgr-72E6SRncLB3MGcITx13pNX8UIprGisfRr6GfJkrow23DEJvcTA9kntCvSmmlIkDgk48CBZvo1j7mR7Jc-d6vp-t1sqNRSciGKHrKcySPJ-G-DzIXvjdl-j82HhQ97o8sxIRgLzYdY1jq9IaZvOMpIqXpPBoJXm-dA/s387/SolarEclipse_UnderSeaLevel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5hN1auTKWwen_Lrhmda11Jgr-72E6SRncLB3MGcITx13pNX8UIprGisfRr6GfJkrow23DEJvcTA9kntCvSmmlIkDgk48CBZvo1j7mR7Jc-d6vp-t1sqNRSciGKHrKcySPJ-G-DzIXvjdl-j82HhQ97o8sxIRgLzYdY1jq9IaZvOMpIqXpPBoJXm-dA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_UnderSeaLevel.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">there's the chowder (right, down, down, left, Y, down, down, up, right, C) and undersea (right, down, down, left, Start, up, B) levels, a secret level that fades to black (right, down, down, left, X, Y, Z, Z, Y),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k5H4r2d24YzfAVww-Ff4-7urdzxjG62Q15PHUE5yXATa8U_ELqJgabeXn6qj8uDf65hVLBGvEMqY1kesgmy38S36H-unC0DGtrxD6v5LWcgGq8h3EUn7USynANqXtlCpilKnDWdXOpU4Pkm3PwG0Rfvhtzl-cRqv51cq_age96nGkAkizKm3U-By4Q/s387/SolarEclipse_StillTrippin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9k5H4r2d24YzfAVww-Ff4-7urdzxjG62Q15PHUE5yXATa8U_ELqJgabeXn6qj8uDf65hVLBGvEMqY1kesgmy38S36H-unC0DGtrxD6v5LWcgGq8h3EUn7USynANqXtlCpilKnDWdXOpU4Pkm3PwG0Rfvhtzl-cRqv51cq_age96nGkAkizKm3U-By4Q/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_StillTrippin.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGpQXDz5gr7oJNIoUmzF7dBNUV_7dl3wMiOYdViVMMeTvnXaeNCQgPr9B8TVLGKyItuKtvFFjqkQ76xpIprNQj1GVYY3Nwub0a0RS-aV2vNteoOTlSt-Yp8H-pFTTEYl58K3WCRDMQ4sXpdfug0pSd97HRhajNoTmZwDoAlRFkuQzFULylFA92eKduA/s387/SolarEclipse_Corkscrew.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGpQXDz5gr7oJNIoUmzF7dBNUV_7dl3wMiOYdViVMMeTvnXaeNCQgPr9B8TVLGKyItuKtvFFjqkQ76xpIprNQj1GVYY3Nwub0a0RS-aV2vNteoOTlSt-Yp8H-pFTTEYl58K3WCRDMQ4sXpdfug0pSd97HRhajNoTmZwDoAlRFkuQzFULylFA92eKduA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Corkscrew.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">a house hunt level (right, down, down, left, Y, A, right down), a secret level that's trippy (right, down, down, left, B, A, right Start), a frigid frostbite level (right, down, down, left, B, up, right, right), a volcanic corkscrew level (right, down, down, left, Start, C, right, up),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kEnzWuaWbVqpDJKZcObsrMVXcjQnLCTVizF20U3_kylTVeaf6lD0AjuGjzr3oSr0eJt2E-dH7apfGZ05oZCpSEy1HFID7DeyTnSxx-oWXhFcW7F82gl4_FtXSeHJ0gkAM2T6gxP2orEbEv3wGT6AHcNaFnLq9JDiD7VhX8DX7gxcukcFyhbmteJ2GA/s387/SolarEclipse_OffWorldInterceptor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kEnzWuaWbVqpDJKZcObsrMVXcjQnLCTVizF20U3_kylTVeaf6lD0AjuGjzr3oSr0eJt2E-dH7apfGZ05oZCpSEy1HFID7DeyTnSxx-oWXhFcW7F82gl4_FtXSeHJ0gkAM2T6gxP2orEbEv3wGT6AHcNaFnLq9JDiD7VhX8DX7gxcukcFyhbmteJ2GA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_OffWorldInterceptor.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhiaqHmzYiAHi-XTMtGTJmsuliFZCTv3tX3wZcc5gnWSZ-K7esXlgncQTreAzfJh7KW2we5h4wS2pO-w0uDJMHvI4MzGIbjQ-02mZdW5usdPB5mS2DKs62CsTHfFhO9mald_BEv-v1ospbmdBlZwdqA__sFv-EoZkvMZC_cN29d-eakQ7VUj-gK7phw/s387/SolarEclipse_TheHorde.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhiaqHmzYiAHi-XTMtGTJmsuliFZCTv3tX3wZcc5gnWSZ-K7esXlgncQTreAzfJh7KW2we5h4wS2pO-w0uDJMHvI4MzGIbjQ-02mZdW5usdPB5mS2DKs62CsTHfFhO9mald_BEv-v1ospbmdBlZwdqA__sFv-EoZkvMZC_cN29d-eakQ7VUj-gK7phw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_TheHorde.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">there are even a couple of secret levels based on prior Crystal Dynamics venues <i>Off-World Interceptor</i> (right, down, down, left, right, A, C, Y, C, A, right) as you shoot at cars (occasionally blasting away palm trees out of their foundation as well) and Toys for Bob's <i>The Horde</i> (right, down, down, left, C, up, down) as you partake in a casual bovicide in an environment that is uncharacteristically colorful for <i>Solar Eclipse</i>'s standards, both for a chance at gaining lives... oh, and blasting away the Hordlings as well (who die in a <b>shockingly</b> graphic manner),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2M53drOpAYRb-aabbjv9A4sidc0lK3pdQIJD3o7p6BVF6trqIKe3B-I7TtOVUEPDFt_JC5mq3ZNpm7Dmz9tV2Wv1pU527O3tq8ChcgAEGUTHssZwzR1AgIbHRbGaGaQwwx1ZPzd6k21CZmNezD6IBmXGXse6loo8kfn2NWw6vIUDVL93JAqwabeH2w/s387/SolarEclipse_Trench.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2M53drOpAYRb-aabbjv9A4sidc0lK3pdQIJD3o7p6BVF6trqIKe3B-I7TtOVUEPDFt_JC5mq3ZNpm7Dmz9tV2Wv1pU527O3tq8ChcgAEGUTHssZwzR1AgIbHRbGaGaQwwx1ZPzd6k21CZmNezD6IBmXGXse6loo8kfn2NWw6vIUDVL93JAqwabeH2w/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Trench.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HTs_M1i-Bq1IFUbTTo5Mtlf28Uttdti713COObJvEgR_HZ56wLk2CAe9FJWNwX0jeWJoB_7ivsINOYThQwlGENmNBD9RcE_S8zu6k8XryP6Kul1PiX-XtM8xnKepybWiE3BBl5ff2t6IL_i-Y3l6UHNaAVyJRfpGStWJl6U07nwN66VENMgMGwj7Iw/s387/SolarEclipse_Producer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HTs_M1i-Bq1IFUbTTo5Mtlf28Uttdti713COObJvEgR_HZ56wLk2CAe9FJWNwX0jeWJoB_7ivsINOYThQwlGENmNBD9RcE_S8zu6k8XryP6Kul1PiX-XtM8xnKepybWiE3BBl5ff2t6IL_i-Y3l6UHNaAVyJRfpGStWJl6U07nwN66VENMgMGwj7Iw/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Producer.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">finally there are secret levels transpiring through a trench (right, down, down, left, right, right, down, down) and one where you shoot at literal heads of the production team (right, down, down, left, C, right, A, Z, Y). Some of the secret levels have bloopers from some of the cast via their comms, including one where Claudia Christian breaks into laughter after delivering a line through a comm, which is endearing to watch and listen as it shows how much fun they must have had playing these roles.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5TDFXwOlTCCFkxPgz_0TIYjR4ocahAtHvvMtjDopQxgzVGJriFeQdR-pjsSSIKE7yJzH-5RCxSwnWf9kouObmpaZW0Odkt-bljWKeTXErAt4SOCAHtYRU951rbfhf4O156bdhhwVWgB41TlxNpdOOSux4C6lbhWUBNuHbnHRJZZtQ0GwuV2YwAA8_w/s387/SolarEclipse_UnderSeaLevel-TitleCard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5TDFXwOlTCCFkxPgz_0TIYjR4ocahAtHvvMtjDopQxgzVGJriFeQdR-pjsSSIKE7yJzH-5RCxSwnWf9kouObmpaZW0Odkt-bljWKeTXErAt4SOCAHtYRU951rbfhf4O156bdhhwVWgB41TlxNpdOOSux4C6lbhWUBNuHbnHRJZZtQ0GwuV2YwAA8_w/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_UnderSeaLevel-TitleCard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT_j0jfrMIWbwSWLgzuDeJpVFmxAHIY3i87iTYbTuVLUomOkWrsWmzSA8J5CzaIgqsN5r2luid7hOjh6P4zCmnbzBouvKa6esUe3yt_Btb79mlR4j7OV3NwfJP5p61nxQ1GrXiBhQZhkwdaCiViOrGe4qMnYHrQ6C4ptxvhQ5AqTJA5HJdJhwpMczTQ/s387/SolarEclipse_FrostByte-TitleCard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT_j0jfrMIWbwSWLgzuDeJpVFmxAHIY3i87iTYbTuVLUomOkWrsWmzSA8J5CzaIgqsN5r2luid7hOjh6P4zCmnbzBouvKa6esUe3yt_Btb79mlR4j7OV3NwfJP5p61nxQ1GrXiBhQZhkwdaCiViOrGe4qMnYHrQ6C4ptxvhQ5AqTJA5HJdJhwpMczTQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_FrostByte-TitleCard.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Special mention goes to the amusingly designed title cards that preface each secret level.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I wouldn't say this is my favorite Crystal Dynamics game, but it is solid fun.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvF5_kdGwcU2LJsi1UngNFLwNRjKFch9Yi5X_pwJsXpYJ-2YZQewMql3GV7FtkzcNDHfDbeV4XPERlzDN7Snh4ybaPcfOj7rU6cOXdWEWuoJaTCcjW1EL8VnalX9_8xac3_Bvqv9s3mD6DfIdIJwMs0LQAopDhHaxMpkiSGUwu-nkoeB0Aaf3sRgZcA/s389/Pandemonium_Cave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvF5_kdGwcU2LJsi1UngNFLwNRjKFch9Yi5X_pwJsXpYJ-2YZQewMql3GV7FtkzcNDHfDbeV4XPERlzDN7Snh4ybaPcfOj7rU6cOXdWEWuoJaTCcjW1EL8VnalX9_8xac3_Bvqv9s3mD6DfIdIJwMs0LQAopDhHaxMpkiSGUwu-nkoeB0Aaf3sRgZcA/w200-h158/Pandemonium_Cave.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKjpLqwgcfKi9wc8d6U1a0v6HCzVGkAi-yF2KDcBJXLjiapmQVSc5-A1FSmYKq4vecEdHX-9VNYDiN8rwICUt-IyR-M6ikQBqGOiZHR9Z1lIMTX3Yxn4mlCrgvDFWhLZZD2nGwk-0ITzHxUD9dNQbiQHk_lwMUwxORWCzi_FFH-irRKEltie44SN9pg/s389/Pandemonium_FrogHopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKjpLqwgcfKi9wc8d6U1a0v6HCzVGkAi-yF2KDcBJXLjiapmQVSc5-A1FSmYKq4vecEdHX-9VNYDiN8rwICUt-IyR-M6ikQBqGOiZHR9Z1lIMTX3Yxn4mlCrgvDFWhLZZD2nGwk-0ITzHxUD9dNQbiQHk_lwMUwxORWCzi_FFH-irRKEltie44SN9pg/w200-h158/Pandemonium_FrogHopping.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">I'll always have a soft spot for Toys for Bob's <i>Pandemonium!</i> for being my introduction to Crystal Dynamics back when I played it on the PlayStation One as a kid during the '90s, and even if it were not the case I think it's a good 2.5D platformer and one I still enjoy playing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7vwJVUh388kV6K1EV4BXf_FQdOMnnE8QbHTo5wIXpk65rbQOxVgm11xAJzkdz3biruG89tczbplkvOjM4vyuPmZXIL6N-AKPo8zxJ6GiPFS3jMikXWyV_cK_YmPzYFocASsITSyirjVobICjCmbBQn_v5UPr1rH3bcjY-FE4FehrhDSVgWwUVpjc9Q/s387/Pandemonium2_Town.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="387" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7vwJVUh388kV6K1EV4BXf_FQdOMnnE8QbHTo5wIXpk65rbQOxVgm11xAJzkdz3biruG89tczbplkvOjM4vyuPmZXIL6N-AKPo8zxJ6GiPFS3jMikXWyV_cK_YmPzYFocASsITSyirjVobICjCmbBQn_v5UPr1rH3bcjY-FE4FehrhDSVgWwUVpjc9Q/w200-h159/Pandemonium2_Town.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9b9aWCxOatQ_t8wEpmsQYRu1dj1wItsZBZxbaZQARTpf4K7R7e9af-tr2yc_EECk0s5trzJu8KL9V3CKjWfQ1e1aTSdo4ZGMt_HIa0Z50rvWh8xqLfN9Xksf13-fI1BXxXKkTHSuUpDKuP2KL3mXHyrIvAVgx_YttKmVJ-PIvkYEEIKB7S-kjXm7sQ/s387/Pandemonium2_IceCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="387" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9b9aWCxOatQ_t8wEpmsQYRu1dj1wItsZBZxbaZQARTpf4K7R7e9af-tr2yc_EECk0s5trzJu8KL9V3CKjWfQ1e1aTSdo4ZGMt_HIa0Z50rvWh8xqLfN9Xksf13-fI1BXxXKkTHSuUpDKuP2KL3mXHyrIvAVgx_YttKmVJ-PIvkYEEIKB7S-kjXm7sQ/w200-h159/Pandemonium2_IceCave.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>It was also this game where I learned of Gex, then Crystal Dynamics' mascot, by watching the preview for </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Gex</i><b>/</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Gex 3D: Enter the Gecko</i><b> </b>🦎</span></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">The sequel <i>Pandemonium 2</i>, which I also played way back when albeit not as much as the first, is also enjoyable in its own right, in my opinion, but I'd be highly remiss if I didn't feel that it's that rare game that makes me feel inebriated just playing it due its heavy use of funky colors and trippy psychedelia--the less said about Nikki and Fargus' character redesigns and personality changes, though, the better. 😒</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYDij14O6qLi7nxbSYLY2dhJKsN9G0BKu2mpexgYSVFE5uVw74E3KsCQbbf4rWLTIrNz6Hwxm-sGUcQH9VJdCZ7Lj995GdEHnvN7PmFsZH3IcoYEpyVDbSTxQWskHPQdtZ5UK3B4B7Haydl1CLrElsl_JWUfKW2MH1Qhn9E451EMRaMMi1b25nuCM0g/s387/BlazingDragons_Hypnotism.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYDij14O6qLi7nxbSYLY2dhJKsN9G0BKu2mpexgYSVFE5uVw74E3KsCQbbf4rWLTIrNz6Hwxm-sGUcQH9VJdCZ7Lj995GdEHnvN7PmFsZH3IcoYEpyVDbSTxQWskHPQdtZ5UK3B4B7Haydl1CLrElsl_JWUfKW2MH1Qhn9E451EMRaMMi1b25nuCM0g/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Hypnotism.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8ADsMj61JgQXKdwXcR3wep0Id6BWEvsqINKBowFp2Y_Wzjs_7eISdCN6t-sF_gT_VdB3PQaSKdLyYNzdzZjHZwUt2d-QtI3RhRRk8P_pQpvxSeS5zEuN4SveXKiox15H-YylXdTYMeV4Qfb2zrYqrYY0MR1InzaCgjCfoTLF5XkCgQrv6Oa28UYPQA/s387/BlazingDragons_LadyOfTheLake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8ADsMj61JgQXKdwXcR3wep0Id6BWEvsqINKBowFp2Y_Wzjs_7eISdCN6t-sF_gT_VdB3PQaSKdLyYNzdzZjHZwUt2d-QtI3RhRRk8P_pQpvxSeS5zEuN4SveXKiox15H-YylXdTYMeV4Qfb2zrYqrYY0MR1InzaCgjCfoTLF5XkCgQrv6Oa28UYPQA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_LadyOfTheLake.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">My personal favorite game with Crystal Dynamics' name attached is The Illusions Gaming Company's underrated <i>Blazing Dragons</i>, it's a feel-good game every time I play it and is among my go-to games in the point-and-click genre with an excellent voice cast as well as genuinely funny and cleverly thought-out British humor sprinkled in. 🐉 I love it! 🥰</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP9JxIQIb5CE-XqaqFQbWfLPNJEViMReJS7GPsOvx5GqfXmQVXUOBKJLnD8-Fxk_l2L-FDTebNOZCInBDNuHSrdE8VGLghhWCIzMAgAZn0pXziuz8k9i8KOEH4yYMRh8VNNGr4bO2AOFJvvOW-xcDh3MksUWrxWX_m5-ZnnDjE3HS5_bO7xZ9X8lJpA/s387/SolarEclipse_Phoebe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP9JxIQIb5CE-XqaqFQbWfLPNJEViMReJS7GPsOvx5GqfXmQVXUOBKJLnD8-Fxk_l2L-FDTebNOZCInBDNuHSrdE8VGLghhWCIzMAgAZn0pXziuz8k9i8KOEH4yYMRh8VNNGr4bO2AOFJvvOW-xcDh3MksUWrxWX_m5-ZnnDjE3HS5_bO7xZ9X8lJpA/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Phoebe.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6TDtEp0ro4VGC6ZYkjnsYdRLowrMjaPMOlQMKqNPnXvkSSAJyPSMua0mhSeCmWo7EI8IAdnftB6zcnkoQIPFHWqV4t4J8m50TvU9ELmP-qYb1Z475fHzE0_WbfAzCC5gX0QbfPnRX8XDoLCJhbxxO_ddBEfN6dm83GB_rCo3PyoRtB9VdUE3ueL5Rg/s387/SolarEclipse_PhoebeSpikes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6TDtEp0ro4VGC6ZYkjnsYdRLowrMjaPMOlQMKqNPnXvkSSAJyPSMua0mhSeCmWo7EI8IAdnftB6zcnkoQIPFHWqV4t4J8m50TvU9ELmP-qYb1Z475fHzE0_WbfAzCC5gX0QbfPnRX8XDoLCJhbxxO_ddBEfN6dm83GB_rCo3PyoRtB9VdUE3ueL5Rg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_PhoebeSpikes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flying through Phoebe | Right: Soaring above the spiked traps</span></b></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Despite Crystal Dynamics' efforts to brand </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Solar Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> as a </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Total Eclipse</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"> sequel in North America, and being generally well-received by many who played it comparing it favorably to not only the aforementioned title but Argonaut Software's <i>Star Fox</i>/<i>Starwing</i> as well, it sadly ended up falling under the radar shortly after and got lost in the shuffle of other games in the rail shooter genre (like Team Andromeda's </span><i style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">Panzer Dragoon</i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">). But even if it was just a standalone (and, honestly, it really is), it's still a solid game and from what I've gathered has developed a fanbase over time, so that's nice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzegLFUoe1HNZiGGdp7_y35ao3WLFFLdtyV95SoL0CHZjGm8zMO-evOYH3trE3AXQCgd0kyswr5-fM8o4Xy9sLBL_LcaJOtfFFDpjp9_uxvdfilVKWz6k2GStVrxWrFDTfOS1gcNLMVb0myPzIj9mxDfG8IzC_Z8tH2QJz7q24Ramf_xIFwbaBC1fp8Q/s387/SolarEclipse_PhoebeBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzegLFUoe1HNZiGGdp7_y35ao3WLFFLdtyV95SoL0CHZjGm8zMO-evOYH3trE3AXQCgd0kyswr5-fM8o4Xy9sLBL_LcaJOtfFFDpjp9_uxvdfilVKWz6k2GStVrxWrFDTfOS1gcNLMVb0myPzIj9mxDfG8IzC_Z8tH2QJz7q24Ramf_xIFwbaBC1fp8Q/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_PhoebeBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxlg9TTTLGdEXaMSYRPVnzdVVSjwSm_UlIKFM1H6zQnHvcbWaub66V2yWpgk3Vz9op3QBU63ILcfOwCNmqgrnQrJS6MmlTBcEtpbnp8GPzTA88lMSqJc4mKba9r_LwXwP2bjYgquFNw_rHgQoqm7pc5OCwqSlv_yqFiGuiGqE5S9a1PqaqsjujdEsPg/s387/SolarEclipse_IRIS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxlg9TTTLGdEXaMSYRPVnzdVVSjwSm_UlIKFM1H6zQnHvcbWaub66V2yWpgk3Vz9op3QBU63ILcfOwCNmqgrnQrJS6MmlTBcEtpbnp8GPzTA88lMSqJc4mKba9r_LwXwP2bjYgquFNw_rHgQoqm7pc5OCwqSlv_yqFiGuiGqE5S9a1PqaqsjujdEsPg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_IRIS.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Boss fight at the end of Phoebe | Right: IRIS</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;">If you own a Sega Saturn console and are curious about playing this game, I do think it's worthwhile playing even though I admit to not being qualified in the rail shooter genre on the whole, though those who are more adept might get more mileage out of this game for the hour and a half that it lasts (less if you decide to skip the cutscenes, but why would you want to do that when they're among the best things it's got to offer?), and luckily it's one of the North American Saturn games that fall under the category of decently priced and not expensive. If you do decide to look into it and have the chance to play it, get ready to "ride the death pony".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yyZANepURdoov5gPS5tmcEVWrksmfGmo9A-Ppyd0JOEAFpGcoCeVH8DaBhF8u3jnubyzrgQJVpfNHvcGYidZxaCEXgAtOWhH4Lk6aMVYF3DgMLqRqcAcwm9Jl84QGd5P1qA2Qaa5DhcRaTEWzoB3c9U2uvcTW2Zbjcy_7yA_i5QWvU9iEZfP8StmTg/s376/SolarEclipse_ToEdinburough.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yyZANepURdoov5gPS5tmcEVWrksmfGmo9A-Ppyd0JOEAFpGcoCeVH8DaBhF8u3jnubyzrgQJVpfNHvcGYidZxaCEXgAtOWhH4Lk6aMVYF3DgMLqRqcAcwm9Jl84QGd5P1qA2Qaa5DhcRaTEWzoB3c9U2uvcTW2Zbjcy_7yA_i5QWvU9iEZfP8StmTg/s16000/SolarEclipse_ToEdinburough.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 7.0/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcMz1gom691A23xAqk8fJ9X4vRdJqdSRnuqF5W5jXkki_8BFd1R7RIj73_hanaNWxCEY2pEtcGxTmma-o32Hp2BtlqQIBAMXmFzeG3Uvk4NmWoQK-YCbXfUvlk4q0Tb1XnumIc-Ig7izafvYWn6bi__u1t00_iIMDuE2qLcr1JipxigzgK9YqqIePaA/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcMz1gom691A23xAqk8fJ9X4vRdJqdSRnuqF5W5jXkki_8BFd1R7RIj73_hanaNWxCEY2pEtcGxTmma-o32Hp2BtlqQIBAMXmFzeG3Uvk4NmWoQK-YCbXfUvlk4q0Tb1XnumIc-Ig7izafvYWn6bi__u1t00_iIMDuE2qLcr1JipxigzgK9YqqIePaA/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● The number of games I've played on the Saturn that I manage to beat and play through without resorting to using codes far outnumber the handful of ones that I do, so you can rest with that knowledge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● There's a line in the end when "Stuntman" says, "It doesn't hurt to smile", he does care what happens to the other pilots of the Tomlinson but is laser focused on his mission while making the occasional quip to add some needed levity in an otherwise serious situation. The future of this game (seventy years from now) has got a rather optimistic air about it (reflecting the decade which this game was made when things were simple, cynicism wasn't toxically present on a daily basis, and when politics weren't prioritized over everything else), meanwhile in the real world the 2020's have proven to be the most pessimistic decade in some time three years in, and with how things are panning out, I honestly don't know if it will get any better in this lifetime. 😔 Just be kind and respectful, everyone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● In irrelevant news: my heart breaks for the people who died in the Nashville shooting. 😔 No one should die in such a horrific manner, especially children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Also irrelevant: Disney wants to remake John Musker and Ron Clements' 3D animated 2016 film <i>Moana</i> in live action, and my question is: <b>why</b>? 🤨 It's not even a decade old yet, and they want to give it a live action treatment already? ... I do not understand the greedy opportunism on Disney's end here, and I'm generally pretty much like "whatever" when it comes to their live action remakes of classic animated properties (I don't mind them, I don't love them either, I do find them endearing to watch in their own right, but more often than not the classic animated originals are better and are still around... that said, I can't help but wonder why Kenneth Branagh's 2015 <i>Cinderella</i> is not on Disney+ like the other remakes are since I remember really liking that one when it came out 🤔).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Just recently celebrated my 32nd birthday yesterday (April 5th, 2023). 😃 If you wish to leave a belated birthday comment, feel free to do so if you'd like.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-40647311547664880902023-02-25T23:37:00.006-06:002023-02-26T08:06:53.324-06:00Random Saturnday III: Christmas Games<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">🪐 <b>Written: January 28th-February 25th, 2023</b> 🪐</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/02/random-saturnday-iii-triple-deluxe.html">CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST PART</a></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF0Z5_-ro0jucT-kj1fxkvu1HqLnioaHJO_raxyp41hSDzHgRUh35rdFp6NtujuG-SBJVG4jBKr01LOTCgpmfq3xPq5tQdLlsC_0G2kN-6Q1QJVXi8t6Ejas_s6Gxfabq7KNfAwqDpukX3SdpTIPrG7oE_A0M7kHvJD6QxAxb_I0XHbr4ia9A5CXabg/s640/RandomSaturnday3_Banner-Christmas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="640" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF0Z5_-ro0jucT-kj1fxkvu1HqLnioaHJO_raxyp41hSDzHgRUh35rdFp6NtujuG-SBJVG4jBKr01LOTCgpmfq3xPq5tQdLlsC_0G2kN-6Q1QJVXi8t6Ejas_s6Gxfabq7KNfAwqDpukX3SdpTIPrG7oE_A0M7kHvJD6QxAxb_I0XHbr4ia9A5CXabg/w400-h175/RandomSaturnday3_Banner-Christmas.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div>Ah, Christmas, such a wonderful time of the year! 🎅</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQoMKVtp2TuOfH1RKyKaPYqz-z85gVHGfAKi9M1rGM-2I99h72CxgixQguzUAUPkziI1DJ2eG89pJMW3W8cpmAL-dZI3UNr83uoToB8KKnxcC975HnDjj-5zYmElCC0i7TW4SXyMSZRh1wOBD6hoKD3Tf-jJ_d_CcNB94TIzBcxL2WPleU8q68bf-Dw/s387/ChoMakaiTaisenDorabocchan_WintrySlideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="387" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQoMKVtp2TuOfH1RKyKaPYqz-z85gVHGfAKi9M1rGM-2I99h72CxgixQguzUAUPkziI1DJ2eG89pJMW3W8cpmAL-dZI3UNr83uoToB8KKnxcC975HnDjj-5zYmElCC0i7TW4SXyMSZRh1wOBD6hoKD3Tf-jJ_d_CcNB94TIzBcxL2WPleU8q68bf-Dw/w200-h150/ChoMakaiTaisenDorabocchan_WintrySlideshow.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMJi1Prauo2GuRZ6Mg8riW1Z1PAH3bLmm6ycbJDdI7RSpAfOj588_ZwObfP0eihsw08MpqmBB8B0Wg0uB7r16Bd2rZZFBVGGqExvcDkE7GQ1qUS8RMDyrQg36kRShYO9uuzlBvffy7Z6bDGTojKuKbVYKED6iWEjo9JcGQpLr0taOwjE7FlOd0TYnhA/s389/MrNutz_WintrySlideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMJi1Prauo2GuRZ6Mg8riW1Z1PAH3bLmm6ycbJDdI7RSpAfOj588_ZwObfP0eihsw08MpqmBB8B0Wg0uB7r16Bd2rZZFBVGGqExvcDkE7GQ1qUS8RMDyrQg36kRShYO9uuzlBvffy7Z6bDGTojKuKbVYKED6iWEjo9JcGQpLr0taOwjE7FlOd0TYnhA/w200-h155/MrNutz_WintrySlideshow.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-xcTUi4LbN6MztcMwjPX9pLuTXInDfXpxMoBUb4Yuk9tHfw5IOQOHp2Dgw5OlwUg9_xYtCvxCFanzA7_qr7iCPyG8KiE22cFkOJ7RP4DFTJHcaYSQF9EtkQN3krQYT9lqKdeZBt4_Dk6Ygbwn7hDnkBe06nR8cKDgIqxL8m-JPOfrOjCT_r8W8rlVg/s390/Whizz_SNES-WintrySlideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-xcTUi4LbN6MztcMwjPX9pLuTXInDfXpxMoBUb4Yuk9tHfw5IOQOHp2Dgw5OlwUg9_xYtCvxCFanzA7_qr7iCPyG8KiE22cFkOJ7RP4DFTJHcaYSQF9EtkQN3krQYT9lqKdeZBt4_Dk6Ygbwn7hDnkBe06nR8cKDgIqxL8m-JPOfrOjCT_r8W8rlVg/w200-h156/Whizz_SNES-WintrySlideshow.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulgGsVtzqLNDnTtfmU5nF_aivFhXmmyl1Kewrcj98h0Hjo3D7tY554QKkNpkBFM6ROTyuL8YRSmNRXi78bB8VNDxO9hVlsNDXvD53qbjcrKf8bDpDwOaMWf8Jp3jRmfC-WF-x2LfN38OlmJX8Ej22YOpYhCIRMgvv4lUp8v3ZnG6qXHSvw2W1_RO0CA/s395/CrocLegendOfTheGobbos_WintrySlideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="395" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulgGsVtzqLNDnTtfmU5nF_aivFhXmmyl1Kewrcj98h0Hjo3D7tY554QKkNpkBFM6ROTyuL8YRSmNRXi78bB8VNDxO9hVlsNDXvD53qbjcrKf8bDpDwOaMWf8Jp3jRmfC-WF-x2LfN38OlmJX8Ej22YOpYhCIRMgvv4lUp8v3ZnG6qXHSvw2W1_RO0CA/w200-h151/CrocLegendOfTheGobbos_WintrySlideshow.gif" width="200" /></a></div></div><div>The cold weather we had these past few months was nice, and I've been <b>living</b> for it, but all things must come to an end eventually.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As Christmas 2022 was approaching, I asked for four Japanese Saturn games, three of which arrived that day while the fourth came mere days after the fact, and that's okay because they were worth the curiosity... mostly.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gua6FET9ml299uRRWd5k9K4iYnCV44OJOLqMjVU7CwiSINHK75nnOfmK6z1ycgbLIUvyYjf2EqM5Qnt5kqK54ekEwJJH8UC6lMQmo3-WVNY2u0eaDO_etpGadk98ciC4O2O2JjKCVJYly0g5ljt4JUNYdlEiaWTA7fcZGjxvuqUwTIcN8Cp75Iw0jw/s389/BubbleSymphony_Sweets.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gua6FET9ml299uRRWd5k9K4iYnCV44OJOLqMjVU7CwiSINHK75nnOfmK6z1ycgbLIUvyYjf2EqM5Qnt5kqK54ekEwJJH8UC6lMQmo3-WVNY2u0eaDO_etpGadk98ciC4O2O2JjKCVJYly0g5ljt4JUNYdlEiaWTA7fcZGjxvuqUwTIcN8Cp75Iw0jw/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_Sweets.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4au_RwSQeuAkuefNOG9NLClaP3_A21F0ewAorI_HLBH9eVVlscavrs9FY2k7wIAga9he-b59QT17lUelFZG0aTTeC_-QGmAY8N62sZxM7BZdZJsXAOXSJcume9xWu_o12mSRq5vDlx0Uex6ms7A3kRkRl--5IPxxBpm2qzEzWHdIvjTzymi0r3pi5xg/s389/BubbleSymphony_Key.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4au_RwSQeuAkuefNOG9NLClaP3_A21F0ewAorI_HLBH9eVVlscavrs9FY2k7wIAga9he-b59QT17lUelFZG0aTTeC_-QGmAY8N62sZxM7BZdZJsXAOXSJcume9xWu_o12mSRq5vDlx0Uex6ms7A3kRkRl--5IPxxBpm2qzEzWHdIvjTzymi0r3pi5xg/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_Key.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>There were plans to convert this game to the PlayStation One as <i>Bubble Bobble II</i> with Virgin Interactive as publisher, it was largely if not totally complete before it was sadly cancelled </b>😔 <b>As someone who grew up with Sony's console playing <i>Bust-a-Move 2 Arcade Edition</i>, that stings</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first Saturn game I tried on December 25th, 2022, my seventeenth game for the system, was Ving's 1997 console adaptation of Taito's arcade game <i><b>Bubble Symphony</b></i> which was one of the games on the Saturn I was curious about many years ago prior to investing in the console nearly a year ago (realistically, I decided to start small with games in terms of price and make my way from there).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZer0OJGb6ICkeTOwzdAEMRgqFhh1SfORVtcDRcl0oUE-FyWTPRZZ8GAJfu0lGno2Rq-0tWGDxTif-uzRNxzwth3QBSmHxMc3hTYZZmPp_xANg_--Gb4QCQfo5DgDP0MWBb3k4w5m6DZWkPMgHdbOVjnwArIuCFyTvbSUMFotvK3CTViVWZXsD8y0ZA/s382/PuzzleBobble_Bubblun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZer0OJGb6ICkeTOwzdAEMRgqFhh1SfORVtcDRcl0oUE-FyWTPRZZ8GAJfu0lGno2Rq-0tWGDxTif-uzRNxzwth3QBSmHxMc3hTYZZmPp_xANg_--Gb4QCQfo5DgDP0MWBb3k4w5m6DZWkPMgHdbOVjnwArIuCFyTvbSUMFotvK3CTViVWZXsD8y0ZA/w200-h156/PuzzleBobble_Bubblun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hMVzRTbZRVLQRzDQGLhEOCRl6WG0a01ijnhlh82O9JvVKy3wmpb7qKi8DrVvXna4lHdGPqjB6ZfTcw4tg6yNGjwlPxhsVzQ2Rrb0GSynlm4_ca_9grlHzEa9jqT30dNdApdoF5E1RdfasxF66Z9il8CqyEajPFXSoS-Hemllm76GwhN1F-YMajky0A/s382/PuzzleBobble_Bobblun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hMVzRTbZRVLQRzDQGLhEOCRl6WG0a01ijnhlh82O9JvVKy3wmpb7qKi8DrVvXna4lHdGPqjB6ZfTcw4tg6yNGjwlPxhsVzQ2Rrb0GSynlm4_ca_9grlHzEa9jqT30dNdApdoF5E1RdfasxF66Z9il8CqyEajPFXSoS-Hemllm76GwhN1F-YMajky0A/w200-h156/PuzzleBobble_Bobblun.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">1994 was a big year for Taito's seminal arcade classic <i>Bubble Bobble</i>, one of the very first video games to feature multiple endings, as it would expand into a franchise with a couple big arcade venues: first Bubblun and Bobblun headlined a highly addicting and purely enjoyable puzzler in the form of <i>Puzzle Bobble</i> (<i>Bust-a-Move</i> outside Japan) which was successful enough to become a series in its own right (with the newest installment coming out this year), and the other returned to the basic roots but with added controls in <i>Bubble Symphony</i> which I thought was an <b>ode to joy</b>. 🤗</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3lfpPMh0LeNJqrebWmPf9ax5bLfCZM4oRPjO2BPP59mM8x4w8-1WxelwLhvvwESMhsvqztUxeK_6DOBp_8Hnwqw15eiWOjgxO9olIQ0rfhkF3u-uBE2l17y3Z3UrXnDPY80VWN3cGKiUV_2ABC0Dw_V1wxd8d64vScXd4GzqbKcec54CXW22dQUdkw/s389/BubbleSymphony_SayoChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3lfpPMh0LeNJqrebWmPf9ax5bLfCZM4oRPjO2BPP59mM8x4w8-1WxelwLhvvwESMhsvqztUxeK_6DOBp_8Hnwqw15eiWOjgxO9olIQ0rfhkF3u-uBE2l17y3Z3UrXnDPY80VWN3cGKiUV_2ABC0Dw_V1wxd8d64vScXd4GzqbKcec54CXW22dQUdkw/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_SayoChan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuhBuiQqazcymOGxvsE5jsesS5n0jlFIiLmyTvJ6Emy80XjgrdOnX-uAE_QUPljeoN8tsdIYF9Aji_jB77PyV6RjZq3dhU-JzvuYBARXHw8m4RXHkpXRy3nOMlpO8dhwGAkTXSSa2KZ9nu_Xoaso9WM7ELiuMXpshylkLgYTb7HzyOANAwgkiBbEzTw/s389/BubbleSymphony_Darius.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuhBuiQqazcymOGxvsE5jsesS5n0jlFIiLmyTvJ6Emy80XjgrdOnX-uAE_QUPljeoN8tsdIYF9Aji_jB77PyV6RjZq3dhU-JzvuYBARXHw8m4RXHkpXRy3nOMlpO8dhwGAkTXSSa2KZ9nu_Xoaso9WM7ELiuMXpshylkLgYTb7HzyOANAwgkiBbEzTw/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_Darius.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Transformed into dragons by Hyper Drunk after inadvertently stumbling across and reading some mysterious books, human children turned baby dragons Bubblun, Bobblun, Kululun, and Cororon must make their way through a multitude of stages in order to regain their original forms*. While simple, the gameplay is engrossingly fun and addicting, and it's nice how each dragon has got a different level when it comes to their speed and bubble shooting rate plus you can charge your bubble shot and let go to amass randomly assorted bubbles (e.g. Bubblun shooting three bubbles at once, Kululun shooting bubbles in a "T" formation, to name two examples).</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I know the situation is "bad" but honestly......... they should stay as baby dragons, humans have a consistent track record of making a big mess of everything, which is especially true <u>nowadays</u></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PyoQsCZIQpsOsJRzA4yiCDHfitRy8x8af3K_gkNKgiWQNnIAGMgIwh7_DZhHjpfa_7Lxv4BSajnu47p7isBqzSgbW_FwTkM4GSnhs08MSXCbXwWgU3a7LW7aBo67HwCijY0dXBiWMHS8w70GESZWL83kqKK3IhJULoELQGYUiIPp8e4YrXIYKuhSwA/s389/BubbleSymphony_Chackn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PyoQsCZIQpsOsJRzA4yiCDHfitRy8x8af3K_gkNKgiWQNnIAGMgIwh7_DZhHjpfa_7Lxv4BSajnu47p7isBqzSgbW_FwTkM4GSnhs08MSXCbXwWgU3a7LW7aBo67HwCijY0dXBiWMHS8w70GESZWL83kqKK3IhJULoELQGYUiIPp8e4YrXIYKuhSwA/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_Chackn.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2usJwLwMh2x7KS7JBIWODnxEk38pKDGV7o8NnzhyVl6d2f0tY2oVo6Xm5Jjp69R1QCouhH33RFPpc-CfhJbFLdQu2rcSAkLfbfMHD9LUCoFVsOkl6MemGRTu0wVwzk3h6HNAs_9qskB4dLAGend1D4rAC5-AqoDwdLmcukjn29DQLHqBodip7K1sakQ/s389/BubbleSymphony_PenultimateBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2usJwLwMh2x7KS7JBIWODnxEk38pKDGV7o8NnzhyVl6d2f0tY2oVo6Xm5Jjp69R1QCouhH33RFPpc-CfhJbFLdQu2rcSAkLfbfMHD9LUCoFVsOkl6MemGRTu0wVwzk3h6HNAs_9qskB4dLAGend1D4rAC5-AqoDwdLmcukjn29DQLHqBodip7K1sakQ/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_PenultimateBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The visuals are appealing and colorful all across the board, the adorably lighthearted charm is perfectly endearing and complements the entire game, Zuntata's soundtrack is great (the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uei8RsiNus8">main theme</a> is a combination of lighthearted, sweet, warm, comforting, silly, catchy, adventurous, riveting, orchestral, and epic all at once, I <b>love</b> it~ 😍), the gameplay is quality fun, there are boss fights every five or ten levels, and there are different paths you can take which add to the replay value (on top of whether you can claim all four keys by the time you reach the penultimate boss or not). But the icing on the cake is the number of references and cameo appearances from other Taito IP that show up on occasion, like Chack'n from <i>Chack'n Pop</i>*, Sayo-Chan and the ghosts and environment from <i>Kiki Kaikai</i>, Tiki from <i>The NewZealand Story</i>, the UFOs from <i>Space Invaders</i>, the fish-themed enemies and flaming background from <i>Darius</i>, et al, which is endearing fanservice (but in a good way) and adds so much to <i>Bubble Symphony</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;">* Also known as the game the enemies from <i>Bubble Bobble</i> first appeared in, long before Bubblun and Bobblun made their adorably grand debut</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtck6wNl-y2KZTOqqNeM8azHP7AGxNBbnTaon1EP8rkDy1zBjGeIU1QvfMrji0KvcqK45McgUd12ZASziGnpQqTqG57cki8v30P6lUzwMwBrAg-XTDEezK-IlCnMZDsYi384wtTG00U7xPI2SITuJBPIsgPYk8InVJPW1-qeuenlVYn38JAJZDn7inQ/s683/BubbleMemories_Bubblun+Bobblun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="683" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtck6wNl-y2KZTOqqNeM8azHP7AGxNBbnTaon1EP8rkDy1zBjGeIU1QvfMrji0KvcqK45McgUd12ZASziGnpQqTqG57cki8v30P6lUzwMwBrAg-XTDEezK-IlCnMZDsYi384wtTG00U7xPI2SITuJBPIsgPYk8InVJPW1-qeuenlVYn38JAJZDn7inQ/w400-h293/BubbleMemories_Bubblun+Bobblun.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Shadowserg's <i>Bubble Memories</i> (Arcade) All Bosses (No Damage) gameplay video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There would be another action-based arcade outing with Bubblun and Bobblun not long after this game in the form of <i>Bubble Memories</i>, which despite being subtitled <i>The Story of Bubble Bobble III</i> it takes place <b>before</b> the events of <i>Bubble Symphony</i> (<i>Bubble Bobble <b>II</b></i>). What do you mean that's needlessly confusing, it makes perfect sense if you don't <b>think</b> about it, said someone at Taito in a stupor of denial maybe... 😕 Why do prequels need <b>successive</b> numbers in the title? That never made sense to me.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbj0Us5BT0VSSeQjMU7jddYYieXtxGTsOJXOcHKyWlkDWf9gDj4oSswleAEMZUtlpTAcbEK1CeKvfrGa14fIfDOVPKlsMCqs-fOWSz6-qA5wBs29oJT2JqUAU0OCrYHx3-Ky6PVzRnTAF-MsJ7KoLA_wt_kciCjkgHAFffSzQFWhHLQv44oJLYwAERA/s389/BubbleSymphony_Temple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbj0Us5BT0VSSeQjMU7jddYYieXtxGTsOJXOcHKyWlkDWf9gDj4oSswleAEMZUtlpTAcbEK1CeKvfrGa14fIfDOVPKlsMCqs-fOWSz6-qA5wBs29oJT2JqUAU0OCrYHx3-Ky6PVzRnTAF-MsJ7KoLA_wt_kciCjkgHAFffSzQFWhHLQv44oJLYwAERA/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_Temple.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSopFUaMrZygzOdbmMRcERBaUAykQi0-LW8-gtoHqi9ZnQ-QF4LlOubJekLpgtO3-4uCgFlQ4C178DwN1ZNW6ENrz36xC9pFuN0G-AEJXoGXTkTxe88fagQmzAslMk6QrQoD9s14DxkPAvTz-N9J59YyY6bLibwhcjYBYq1-KyW0lPaimpg_bBn9ckFQ/s389/BubbleSymphony_HyperDrunk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSopFUaMrZygzOdbmMRcERBaUAykQi0-LW8-gtoHqi9ZnQ-QF4LlOubJekLpgtO3-4uCgFlQ4C178DwN1ZNW6ENrz36xC9pFuN0G-AEJXoGXTkTxe88fagQmzAslMk6QrQoD9s14DxkPAvTz-N9J59YyY6bLibwhcjYBYq1-KyW0lPaimpg_bBn9ckFQ/w200-h156/BubbleSymphony_HyperDrunk.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's a shame that <i>Bubble Symphony</i>'s Saturn port never got released outside of Japan (or that it even took three years from the arcade's original release for it to even happen), because it's a very sweet and charming game while it lasts, and no matter how difficult it gets and no matter how many credits I use up it's an incredibly fun game to boot.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWuq3s0acjkjucngL8A78mbf64Xnlu-Q-G206gFtvzWyXYc81TPagXglG0Oom67hOuJa-nJzLqRl4VBp9QO_qzwhfkRCenftswrYuNzPR5ARD_ttBCcBCRlHF6RuDeoyS4DvmyUzDd3LrQUUPmKuVYqD2M-jz5ebZBREyXnn876vwzk27JbBTVNzNBQ/s389/BubbleSymphony_R+R.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWuq3s0acjkjucngL8A78mbf64Xnlu-Q-G206gFtvzWyXYc81TPagXglG0Oom67hOuJa-nJzLqRl4VBp9QO_qzwhfkRCenftswrYuNzPR5ARD_ttBCcBCRlHF6RuDeoyS4DvmyUzDd3LrQUUPmKuVYqD2M-jz5ebZBREyXnn876vwzk27JbBTVNzNBQ/s16000/BubbleSymphony_R+R.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is it the best <i>Bubble Bobble</i> game out there? I can't really comment on that because I didn't play every game in the series, but is it among the best games that Taito has ever made? In my opinion, it's a wholeheartedly resounding "yes". 😃</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4vPOBGkpolMYjIuQevTvU4i7jgUv4AK897Tk9yxoKf5UohPTd_1hycZNCQFoiCgqwQ4jHms4Gp7DkeZWDbaakscmrus6KVKbt_wjmjFMqP-Ksmla1iWyUnH10C9zql9ofbz1MuLXS86UehgXr3RGFFVcAJECEIMploUz7pFVnKnUMusKoYlB53oKPA/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamisPingPong.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4vPOBGkpolMYjIuQevTvU4i7jgUv4AK897Tk9yxoKf5UohPTd_1hycZNCQFoiCgqwQ4jHms4Gp7DkeZWDbaakscmrus6KVKbt_wjmjFMqP-Ksmla1iWyUnH10C9zql9ofbz1MuLXS86UehgXr3RGFFVcAJECEIMploUz7pFVnKnUMusKoYlB53oKPA/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamisPingPong.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLVnAWiXMtf8x99W91z92p84HVcoafyPeCZXui0lL0BzY9tqzVrC-jI-AvX-vXx7PNdE9D8JoULH2saMhC8OqpL22WgX_9KtV2eHKWioyNIqjteuBtlZF6_7Ot1jfclWPxxNg2a0Fbt0aYTp7GlBWFec4Uy_kybyP9uqJklwN-KcI_Wo0VQJDz-6eUg/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_HyperSports2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLVnAWiXMtf8x99W91z92p84HVcoafyPeCZXui0lL0BzY9tqzVrC-jI-AvX-vXx7PNdE9D8JoULH2saMhC8OqpL22WgX_9KtV2eHKWioyNIqjteuBtlZF6_7Ot1jfclWPxxNg2a0Fbt0aYTp7GlBWFec4Uy_kybyP9uqJklwN-KcI_Wo0VQJDz-6eUg/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_HyperSports2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second Saturn game I tried that Christmas day, and my eighteenth game for the system, was Konami's compilation title <i><b>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</b></i>. Now for those unaware, the MSX was a computer gaming system developed by ASCII and Microsoft which made its debut in 1983 and would be discontinued a decade later in 1993*, only ever seeing a wide distribution in Japan and in Europe. Among the companies that made the MSX an ideal platform for their video games from pretty much the start was Konami.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* In its evolution the MSX computer would come out in four variations: the original, the MSX2, the MSX2+, and the MSX TurboR</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwP2Kx55BjyWW4pZkv4IZwJdhnbKJue65EQBD9rCYUITu1OJlIkvLsumJN3vyL8Z-3kU3lDUCIs8AypcCbk6kVJK_pQfkk7RI2r-d39Hr3UjysvQRq4AYuJ3TZauRtv3MQWDZAr_FYKtsyHXMvGG3QI4lHSGrVMJVWky6nQAs7Skvep3YKFWGtfP0lg/s381/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_GameMenu.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwP2Kx55BjyWW4pZkv4IZwJdhnbKJue65EQBD9rCYUITu1OJlIkvLsumJN3vyL8Z-3kU3lDUCIs8AypcCbk6kVJK_pQfkk7RI2r-d39Hr3UjysvQRq4AYuJ3TZauRtv3MQWDZAr_FYKtsyHXMvGG3QI4lHSGrVMJVWky6nQAs7Skvep3YKFWGtfP0lg/s16000/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_GameMenu.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">From 1997 to 1998, Konami wound up releasing three <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection</i> titles for the PlayStation One, each housing ten games from their original MSX catalogue, which were all exclusive to Japan. When it came to handling this compilation series for the Sega Saturn, however, Konami combined all three into one big collection that now featured a whopping <b>thirty</b> MSX games in one game disc, and if you ask me: the Saturn got the better end of the deal here. 😏</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hlowlcnAOSGd_LF-avRbJmhm-EGA6wVCkhj4B8v6uwKyMsM4uFN02JMkBnNYxWgIy5dIWi28PYsv6C6mAyBK479gbs1BRL7-6atjeilBwjRbZsEG_0LweNG5XJJAXIK5PGQDiekpAktqzjHh9Q-xDwvthN6SuzvBRi9UiLU1WqtA3ak9AB0bxGgJ0w/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_AthleticLand.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hlowlcnAOSGd_LF-avRbJmhm-EGA6wVCkhj4B8v6uwKyMsM4uFN02JMkBnNYxWgIy5dIWi28PYsv6C6mAyBK479gbs1BRL7-6atjeilBwjRbZsEG_0LweNG5XJJAXIK5PGQDiekpAktqzjHh9Q-xDwvthN6SuzvBRi9UiLU1WqtA3ak9AB0bxGgJ0w/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_AthleticLand.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHF8RdrAQig3zyP6h4woclVM5KLIk7P_0MfpBHl5eVmozNXJuuDAGojg29SfUnLyocYyF7wT0bQB5pZRThs04Q6U8enwu7DQwx-eaCB-ljFPa9eM8wZ1OkZaXfvthBYFhS6L9MqPjIyw6L-kqihTUJ552pxBMyh1YtQHp6BOMQMK9cJonzMovJiFzsw/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Knightmare.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHF8RdrAQig3zyP6h4woclVM5KLIk7P_0MfpBHl5eVmozNXJuuDAGojg29SfUnLyocYyF7wT0bQB5pZRThs04Q6U8enwu7DQwx-eaCB-ljFPa9eM8wZ1OkZaXfvthBYFhS6L9MqPjIyw6L-kqihTUJ552pxBMyh1YtQHp6BOMQMK9cJonzMovJiFzsw/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Knightmare.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div>There's a good variety of games to choose to play here, be it ports of arcade games or original MSX content, among them <i>Konami's Ping Pong</i>, <i>Hyper Sports 2</i>, <i>TwinBee</i>, <i>Gradius</i>, <i>Athletic Land</i>, <i>Knightmare</i>, <i>Pippols</i>, and <i>Parodius</i>, to name several,</div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAChnFgJ3wTQVhV7kjLl63OVdEFk-J9rKw3odCQtXqIP4ovcjOZUqhPN77dOa-TEWaexUbZdallLUPNVY2yVu1SKE_PywjWftHBhOMm14KJXWIymI2k6GoXAn0AVt1qDpF0vePrZSsgqF14mRqubx7oKHgfkSnIl_0Bk-Y3X9fv6-Xd-poRGHgxlOWw/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_AntarcticAdventure.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAChnFgJ3wTQVhV7kjLl63OVdEFk-J9rKw3odCQtXqIP4ovcjOZUqhPN77dOa-TEWaexUbZdallLUPNVY2yVu1SKE_PywjWftHBhOMm14KJXWIymI2k6GoXAn0AVt1qDpF0vePrZSsgqF14mRqubx7oKHgfkSnIl_0Bk-Y3X9fv6-Xd-poRGHgxlOWw/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_AntarcticAdventure.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIxlpQ2TwAQtww9zJbG2wUwQXiUhvJjoo7BpZU9Mto7PQoT04kkuE60M2g3ltEsPACpGm8gdiUE3Ey80LN2CRy0l1mW93c5t1FzT6fiAprJuX5j9aET9_H_yfXAelwX3lHuzzF928niMlaHlyhmghMeWdC4-ns52dpLcu2oJeDqMMxoK2QJRb6PHrOg/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_PenguinAdventure.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIxlpQ2TwAQtww9zJbG2wUwQXiUhvJjoo7BpZU9Mto7PQoT04kkuE60M2g3ltEsPACpGm8gdiUE3Ey80LN2CRy0l1mW93c5t1FzT6fiAprJuX5j9aET9_H_yfXAelwX3lHuzzF928niMlaHlyhmghMeWdC4-ns52dpLcu2oJeDqMMxoK2QJRb6PHrOg/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_PenguinAdventure.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Fun fact: <i>Penguin Adventure</i> marked Hideo Kojima's professional video game debut as assistant director, and funny enough, <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> is the second time Penta's sequel game received the Sega treatment (after an unauthorized Master System port by Korean-based Zemina nine years earlier)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and let's not forget the most important games to headline this compilation <i>Antarctic Adventure</i> (which I played before on Nintendo 8-bit oriented plug-and-plays) and its direct sequel <i>Penguin Adventure: Yume Tairiku Adventure</i> (the latter of which is one of the reasons I wanted to play this compilation, and the curiosity was worth it) featuring none other than Konami's penguin mascot of sorts <b>Penta</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3JHPSE-U5IqK-Dp8l_DYKnX1Z_3DnEDJxbdELq0eV_7c3D9DySqsOKO9GOP3G2bC2HGO9E5xM3peGGcA633smzl1OizbsROBsEDrgB5vCDo6BU3V3PMpTtKfmpPc-wkQKqG9QzlNKLQHtNvo4sGLOiLLg91G-MCzFENVzHmCW0EzDrOmVZH3Ts9gdQ/s194/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamiMascotPenta.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="194" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3JHPSE-U5IqK-Dp8l_DYKnX1Z_3DnEDJxbdELq0eV_7c3D9DySqsOKO9GOP3G2bC2HGO9E5xM3peGGcA633smzl1OizbsROBsEDrgB5vCDo6BU3V3PMpTtKfmpPc-wkQKqG9QzlNKLQHtNvo4sGLOiLLg91G-MCzFENVzHmCW0EzDrOmVZH3Ts9gdQ/s1600/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamiMascotPenta.png" width="194" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Awwww yeeeeeeah</b>, Penta is turning forty years old! 😎 As is Hudson Soft's <i>Bomberman</i>, and Luigi and his debut game Nintendo's <i>Mario Bros.</i>, and the Famicom and the MSX, and Don Bluth and Rick Dyer's <i>Dragon's Lair</i>, and John Badham's <i>Blue Thunder</i>, and Richard Lester's <i>Superman III</i>, and Joe Alves' <i>Jaws 3-D</i>, and Harold Ramis' <i>National Lampoon's Vacation</i>, an---oh my <b>God</b>, <b>what</b> are we <b>doing</b> to make time fly so quickly that we got to this <b>point</b>?!? 😨 Criiiiiiipes...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYg4v-ah99pXO_ckOOSRWdlOn3wXBj15LIaPXxroGQZx1otbsEdABq-4CfUujRnJvWSiCK8D_t9rwzMqZWlqjY0BRxtj-brhzlSuauDRisK7RCoz9DJAoyj7lqMuTg4xAWptS1W6RHlF5u7Gc69dtjmRUHBzVydVP-UfMmpkpUatCEnq0JROybT64rg/s381/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamiLogo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYg4v-ah99pXO_ckOOSRWdlOn3wXBj15LIaPXxroGQZx1otbsEdABq-4CfUujRnJvWSiCK8D_t9rwzMqZWlqjY0BRxtj-brhzlSuauDRisK7RCoz9DJAoyj7lqMuTg4xAWptS1W6RHlF5u7Gc69dtjmRUHBzVydVP-UfMmpkpUatCEnq0JROybT64rg/s16000/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_KonamiLogo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The logo they changed it to twenty years ago to celebrate their thirty years just doesn't have the same effect, you know, and given 2023 marks their jubilee (this year) I can't help but wonder if they're going to change the logo again for this occasion... probably not, but we'll see</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Awww, remember when Konami's logo used to look like that? I remember... <b>*sigh*</b> 🥺</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek955M8RHmgrHQ8LD_f8h9vO-BYLLoPFkFnICLJiruh3tMUYKsXs0zSJkBeg9v6EuKWm_ztYTplFEe42o7dQt--DVRyq6IY8c4bg9nvBXwztHUyZsiik3slULnqPAzwuARNv-flSBwn2q5Oo5EWkRIaLmntwf1u9qY9kbEo90JY1GFf8pQ_04QZgMJA/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_TwinBee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek955M8RHmgrHQ8LD_f8h9vO-BYLLoPFkFnICLJiruh3tMUYKsXs0zSJkBeg9v6EuKWm_ztYTplFEe42o7dQt--DVRyq6IY8c4bg9nvBXwztHUyZsiik3slULnqPAzwuARNv-flSBwn2q5Oo5EWkRIaLmntwf1u9qY9kbEo90JY1GFf8pQ_04QZgMJA/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_TwinBee.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijGeEj7E1DfkJXBZHLmqAIsQZcjUcJtSw7O5YhgzfaPc6pYNtA2H0BmVLsR-3dmsBYj4A88OTXD1yU6l6ePXPzI3d0xloq93DCydXB91cxrSxDHENOTqB0SWQi0F4BUBcXuolPEzVOEvGN7t3bOXfshholN8bX4gLgg4P2AbwpZFCAirlFEzrfCEyhA/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Nemesis2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijGeEj7E1DfkJXBZHLmqAIsQZcjUcJtSw7O5YhgzfaPc6pYNtA2H0BmVLsR-3dmsBYj4A88OTXD1yU6l6ePXPzI3d0xloq93DCydXB91cxrSxDHENOTqB0SWQi0F4BUBcXuolPEzVOEvGN7t3bOXfshholN8bX4gLgg4P2AbwpZFCAirlFEzrfCEyhA/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Nemesis2.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As far as presentation goes and as far as I can surmise (having never played on an MSX computer firsthand), the emulation work Konami accomplished to bring these games in the same package appears spot on performance-wise, and I didn't even mind that the MSX games themselves were presented in a slightly windowboxed format. The sound quality is also pretty solid, and the gameplay for each respective game is good (even if I'll admit certain games had their learning curves due to the conversion from MSX controls to Saturn controls, e.g. <i>Konami's Ping Pong</i>).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZcIx8lvAYzXTRzcPoJRjv_3Rw45ogLvB63puJDomKUCdsuBcAhiBFmCSNF7swzpYesiEKzCxGnfuzJ3BRDvJ8gXb3AhFvAWWPtvXIhx1sxRKUgh-zEfPmfDh6PD-f2EfDqvLceL93v3lpigS8rYn-YqHwZDotgf-dYdv3nyLAbOrHQHKTEIQMTI-Og/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Pippols.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZcIx8lvAYzXTRzcPoJRjv_3Rw45ogLvB63puJDomKUCdsuBcAhiBFmCSNF7swzpYesiEKzCxGnfuzJ3BRDvJ8gXb3AhFvAWWPtvXIhx1sxRKUgh-zEfPmfDh6PD-f2EfDqvLceL93v3lpigS8rYn-YqHwZDotgf-dYdv3nyLAbOrHQHKTEIQMTI-Og/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Pippols.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox5G4tSlKie4UYs_KQbYNJHnyg9kzWNePkD4v40nBMSNgHQktDM5UDgthTdAlKcxguVvJGQIzt4SPMUQwbMDZ97GjA1d2OhSTC06avcRec7v4kxD_ODw2pZ7Zw2Jve__CMOVCteLJBFudakViGRHxauBpbiA9tSQOJNcq0HcjZEp4znoOzB4ao0TUXQ/s305/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Parodius.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="305" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox5G4tSlKie4UYs_KQbYNJHnyg9kzWNePkD4v40nBMSNgHQktDM5UDgthTdAlKcxguVvJGQIzt4SPMUQwbMDZ97GjA1d2OhSTC06avcRec7v4kxD_ODw2pZ7Zw2Jve__CMOVCteLJBFudakViGRHxauBpbiA9tSQOJNcq0HcjZEp4znoOzB4ao0TUXQ/w200-h166/KonamiAntiquesMSXCollectionUltraPack_Parodius.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I would love to cover each game thoroughly on a proper review of this compilation one day, the only question is how I go about it, 'cause generally I like to go by chronological release order</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As MSX content goes, this collection represents nearly half of Konami's overall catalogue (an even smaller number if you count their MSX2 and MSX2+ fare), and being a compilation from the '90s that wasn't Tose's PlayStation One-based <i>Namco Museum</i> hexalogy there is an admittedly barebones quality about as it features the games and nothing else (even the manual has a page devoted to one if not two games each); there isn't even an option to go back to the game selection menu once you've chosen your game, for the only way to go back is to press Start and the A, B, and C buttons together (I'm so glad I learned that soft reset trick by accident when playing Team Andromeda's <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> all those months ago). That's really a minor nitpick really, otherwise <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> is a very sweet retro compilation on the Saturn. 😃</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF9gSBm3_wrDVUjvjtxsM3CfePtVMi4j4E3PcGLI_6W72VclMl2jO_DtM8eHmo4ixfwgW0fS0Nfyz53JbrRyO5msImyhfbtF7k4Kl6_I7e8jy-UhspVt1KIxCMQjAb66oLXd0gI3zQzZJUXyKNS-85uMreMkqHuw0-vBK5-3pEgxa52WjJmdp63Op3A/s381/SuperTempo_BuffingUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF9gSBm3_wrDVUjvjtxsM3CfePtVMi4j4E3PcGLI_6W72VclMl2jO_DtM8eHmo4ixfwgW0fS0Nfyz53JbrRyO5msImyhfbtF7k4Kl6_I7e8jy-UhspVt1KIxCMQjAb66oLXd0gI3zQzZJUXyKNS-85uMreMkqHuw0-vBK5-3pEgxa52WjJmdp63Op3A/w200-h156/SuperTempo_BuffingUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNjmOciAxz16DCjBB1LFlBIzcA88Y5oLz9EEockMi7wxALXSeK2aKP_Va4Es5N6_fJ_AkDU1rQk4UfilLTdGVR8iXBDEcTK_UnRQV_HphhpTnWZ5ez1n1l71b9jJUCWf52NlwwnwTJOE3C2u8D_YyeJC_Ym9nCnmQ96Al9eQFWEopbKtf55SuZHTtiA/s381/SuperTempo_BremenTownMusicians.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNjmOciAxz16DCjBB1LFlBIzcA88Y5oLz9EEockMi7wxALXSeK2aKP_Va4Es5N6_fJ_AkDU1rQk4UfilLTdGVR8iXBDEcTK_UnRQV_HphhpTnWZ5ez1n1l71b9jJUCWf52NlwwnwTJOE3C2u8D_YyeJC_Ym9nCnmQ96Al9eQFWEopbKtf55SuZHTtiA/w200-h156/SuperTempo_BremenTownMusicians.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The third Saturn game I've played on 2022's Christmas day, and my nineteenth game for the system, was the Japan-only MediaQuest release of the sidescrolling platformer <b><i>Super Tempo</i></b>, the third and final game in Red Company's short-lived <i>Tempo</i> series after the inaugural 32X game and <i>Tempo Jr.</i> on the Game Gear.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2873kZvLIaY1eLI7lvdYW9pw1sg839ab9ON4D2ngW5SCyu-MZ1eki4XM-429EtZm7oO8rW7R2F3xJzgztHkgihnyDe6oXNCRMEuMyU6Vpr7gZ0ctiVjm-jaw8cGX_woHnYg8WFkgWG8dhm4NcbNj3sfBzhenURO8yb3YNNLVxR-WSmbwcp7q1L-3GkQ/s364/BonksAdventure_Stomach.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="364" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2873kZvLIaY1eLI7lvdYW9pw1sg839ab9ON4D2ngW5SCyu-MZ1eki4XM-429EtZm7oO8rW7R2F3xJzgztHkgihnyDe6oXNCRMEuMyU6Vpr7gZ0ctiVjm-jaw8cGX_woHnYg8WFkgWG8dhm4NcbNj3sfBzhenURO8yb3YNNLVxR-WSmbwcp7q1L-3GkQ/w200-h161/BonksAdventure_Stomach.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq-xUogzhvMxzTED8FEpdzeSLXcVtSIH2zwoLZvZ0S9mRey8AVsQCfJ3cTCZfnQ-II1TvifwExRciK0WiZolgErSQpV89SsO4bGRPsncvvjJFa2ienwMYWj_hP7p_0ud3B1Spq6Tnvy-sm6dtvXCEGKPJJoA1xCx82I2NzBfRjVDmWYkxL2qXWIUq2w/s382/SuperNaxatOpen_Masters.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq-xUogzhvMxzTED8FEpdzeSLXcVtSIH2zwoLZvZ0S9mRey8AVsQCfJ3cTCZfnQ-II1TvifwExRciK0WiZolgErSQpV89SsO4bGRPsncvvjJFa2ienwMYWj_hP7p_0ud3B1Spq6Tnvy-sm6dtvXCEGKPJJoA1xCx82I2NzBfRjVDmWYkxL2qXWIUq2w/w200-h156/SuperNaxatOpen_Masters.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">From the company behind the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Tengai Makyō</i>, <i>PC Genjin</i>/<i>Bonk</i>/<i>PC Kid</i>, and <i>Makai Taisen Dorabocchan</i> franchises, Red Company acted as producer for <i>Super Tempo</i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X9BDqtNPmDkTlLyPYQikpIqk6YYY8BWM3RNmBt-8bNUAB7DDmSo8w7fnEfAPN81Hhb4a8aDQd1BQshKGurEX4B_kRWRrc_DDrxM5AdRjr0e_QuBrFx7mKPoDlIoSkggvCQhL8lE8eyOfcY8Nz87AmtN7IAbCEwTVSkMOI9GdLnLeu7ehzQZTCr5OYg/s373/Sonic2-GameGear_HangGliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="373" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X9BDqtNPmDkTlLyPYQikpIqk6YYY8BWM3RNmBt-8bNUAB7DDmSo8w7fnEfAPN81Hhb4a8aDQd1BQshKGurEX4B_kRWRrc_DDrxM5AdRjr0e_QuBrFx7mKPoDlIoSkggvCQhL8lE8eyOfcY8Nz87AmtN7IAbCEwTVSkMOI9GdLnLeu7ehzQZTCr5OYg/w200-h153/Sonic2-GameGear_HangGliding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHLwItefJN6ATj6wLnKyqrLOegT6-egKkNTzRo0M_58EU3n6HiG2gwAjxdCNKsDM1EbyUmSduLESpfq6rRfjR4_1HGL7doXtjcfsezqQacE8l5pAdz_qLajD-00gK_NgXlFCluCUZNsW4cB5iHs5i2jxooFEt1aYPzVFSsNsUmtEQZv4JCTwOGTYvQ/s373/SonicChaos_MechanicalGreenHillZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="373" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHLwItefJN6ATj6wLnKyqrLOegT6-egKkNTzRo0M_58EU3n6HiG2gwAjxdCNKsDM1EbyUmSduLESpfq6rRfjR4_1HGL7doXtjcfsezqQacE8l5pAdz_qLajD-00gK_NgXlFCluCUZNsW4cB5iHs5i2jxooFEt1aYPzVFSsNsUmtEQZv4JCTwOGTYvQ/w200-h153/SonicChaos_MechanicalGreenHillZone.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">while development was worked on by Aspect, known primarily as the developer for the 8-bit sequels to Sega's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> franchise.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwCVmuHEbD1dbM9_Imp3mfY1v-2gs4tVh2eCRWxZUdJjYBRpNFqOotW5cCoMItVDYXca3DDw5I34HaiFzi9vn0gJoeLvMH1NKi2NF8hUcnMnoHbxWrPYfSNGNOfzi4y718z2w5Q0nGM2vZORzI7qOKTtwQ_eHkqHVAmo6Y6my17mcBMI8aCmaEPpBqg/s381/SuperTempo_TrackMixFlight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwCVmuHEbD1dbM9_Imp3mfY1v-2gs4tVh2eCRWxZUdJjYBRpNFqOotW5cCoMItVDYXca3DDw5I34HaiFzi9vn0gJoeLvMH1NKi2NF8hUcnMnoHbxWrPYfSNGNOfzi4y718z2w5Q0nGM2vZORzI7qOKTtwQ_eHkqHVAmo6Y6my17mcBMI8aCmaEPpBqg/w200-h156/SuperTempo_TrackMixFlight.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY7r1Dxt5jYG26VAB7zG9ZahgUxBJwsgdQYFYjGwtxYk6p7kujd0y1zP3wsaV574nUy4ivgFVpKuoYTQFtJbimdiMVmDonJtgFNwTivC0ulzySIHygBbZXyL2wDObhr6xpldNJ0_A80FOnQb_XwoWjHoRNYXIW1A7-ggGGxaJag7juhVG1G7rvLezEg/s381/SuperTempo_GoldenEggLayingChickenHarp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY7r1Dxt5jYG26VAB7zG9ZahgUxBJwsgdQYFYjGwtxYk6p7kujd0y1zP3wsaV574nUy4ivgFVpKuoYTQFtJbimdiMVmDonJtgFNwTivC0ulzySIHygBbZXyL2wDObhr6xpldNJ0_A80FOnQb_XwoWjHoRNYXIW1A7-ggGGxaJag7juhVG1G7rvLezEg/w200-h156/SuperTempo_GoldenEggLayingChickenHarp.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Largely taking control of the eponymous music-loving anthropomorphic grasshopper armed with his trusty bubble-conjuring fiddle, and on a few occasions as his flamethrowing pistol-toting butterfly girlfriend Katy, this is a strange one. I'm not going to lie, this <b>is</b> a strange one. The gameplay is reasonably good, though surprisingly it doesn't take advantage of the whole Saturn controller as it only uses the A, B, and C buttons as it vies for a simpler gameplay.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmx7F1igQjV6GkpOSwcN4FAQFVNBCHhkIciclJ7BT9zRRvXNsC2jvN-t4iBgDHYp-MEeEgd5kx8g4IytiPEI_nc6qSv7zjkO9atyX0GZ8j1ylN5fuDJVD7CDOF9DSWE6G-OaCYPQA5B7q-1P7yi1aP0v4IUq6Wu7sRhPlD5RpCvwu0Zuo3GRRo_9Mgg/s381/SuperTempo_CrabBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmx7F1igQjV6GkpOSwcN4FAQFVNBCHhkIciclJ7BT9zRRvXNsC2jvN-t4iBgDHYp-MEeEgd5kx8g4IytiPEI_nc6qSv7zjkO9atyX0GZ8j1ylN5fuDJVD7CDOF9DSWE6G-OaCYPQA5B7q-1P7yi1aP0v4IUq6Wu7sRhPlD5RpCvwu0Zuo3GRRo_9Mgg/w200-h156/SuperTempo_CrabBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-08A1wb5xGsmvdj6gUEgmNKUCuGVjmgkTBFtJUnKWHbF2vH2Jqb9hI9ZkL1N1guG_lj7fOmHn0KzfvzLx3bDEtaoy2uwr8a42eLc79hjgtQNB77KHKxTPT08BxcUYsIX5cXnTR6Hb1necLLqPaH5jpCPcqTFphyVQWupFHBqO4O8vM18TTAxHoS2gQ/s381/SuperTempo_UnicornSpaceTravel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-08A1wb5xGsmvdj6gUEgmNKUCuGVjmgkTBFtJUnKWHbF2vH2Jqb9hI9ZkL1N1guG_lj7fOmHn0KzfvzLx3bDEtaoy2uwr8a42eLc79hjgtQNB77KHKxTPT08BxcUYsIX5cXnTR6Hb1necLLqPaH5jpCPcqTFphyVQWupFHBqO4O8vM18TTAxHoS2gQ/w200-h156/SuperTempo_UnicornSpaceTravel.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">🎵<b> Then look into the skies where through, through the clouds a path is torn, look and see how she sparkles: it's the Last Unicorn! </b>🦄<b> I'm aliiiiiiiiive, I'm aliiiiiiiii-i-i-ive </b>🎵</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here is a game where you search for and round up the spirits of the Bremen Town Musicians in the open-ended dead of night, where Tempo and Katy temporarily grow in size and power as a means to deal with certain bosses as a musclebound showoff and boxer respectively, where you'll face off against the Little Red Riding Hood riding on a Wolf-like car as she'll occasionally sic her sheep on you, where during a flight sequence touching randomly numbered mix tapes will not only change the background but the incoming obstacles you'll face, ride on a chariot led by a unicorn in the cosmos replete with planets and constellations and musical notes trying your best not to collide on anything, and navigate around a maze-like hotel/laboratory environment with ninjas and nurse minions wheeling around sick patients on a stretcher (where taking the wrong elevator will send you back), et al. Needless to say, randomness runs rampant here and all logic has been thrown out the window. 😵</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetTXYV_ZA5bVLl4KVm0vsLXEBbluL6ZC0f146QV3CLqmeQw-EbejGDix4HFpsrt7bMFWt1wHWwlPshQ6rhe1h40Uuwb1jo7txyiIWUi6pPbaKnDechfNySGqr9gKUf2DpRuKuk2coj-5rllQaVm23KVkSfZ0VAuRF3hot-PysDC6IDz_CCaGev085Qw/s381/SuperTempo_PizzaMiniGame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetTXYV_ZA5bVLl4KVm0vsLXEBbluL6ZC0f146QV3CLqmeQw-EbejGDix4HFpsrt7bMFWt1wHWwlPshQ6rhe1h40Uuwb1jo7txyiIWUi6pPbaKnDechfNySGqr9gKUf2DpRuKuk2coj-5rllQaVm23KVkSfZ0VAuRF3hot-PysDC6IDz_CCaGev085Qw/w200-h156/SuperTempo_PizzaMiniGame.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A09tRpzmp6-cYECMb1duhTJ_h-GHYDl41RzNGCtniReLfZlC9EylW5OcSP1ALEzv0p3TP4CUJE0grvbR2QoF549Ck7jQ0gl0X8QnbCa5fB5ZQuK4Dle-FGcc04zEWyZBQrvwpPoqpqgYke0M7q699-bO6RpNe-Yi4gi88EjaXTw0FSKA-kJ1FWMstA/s381/SuperTempo_KarateMiniGame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A09tRpzmp6-cYECMb1duhTJ_h-GHYDl41RzNGCtniReLfZlC9EylW5OcSP1ALEzv0p3TP4CUJE0grvbR2QoF549Ck7jQ0gl0X8QnbCa5fB5ZQuK4Dle-FGcc04zEWyZBQrvwpPoqpqgYke0M7q699-bO6RpNe-Yi4gi88EjaXTw0FSKA-kJ1FWMstA/w200-h156/SuperTempo_KarateMiniGame.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's also a few mini-games that are accessible in the Bremen Town arcade, they are all brief and completely optional but it's nice to play all the same.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYChITmT3kq13No1g-TDWwmDx2g-9tg3DReNJShvVt-Cgv3vAHkGQdYqHWxREdfFjoZMGrhTEHU10vZlMOK5Lf6-Cpxz3t7KkE-qN9NpIbrJ-xFYkyTRsk8uMbEPM55pKuIl7iIpKLp86ZHTLnAXx3Tbd0SRaijpBG01U_bXAaKjCqbpvcqcaLxw0BqA/s124/SuperTempo_Tempo+KatyDancing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="75" data-original-width="124" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYChITmT3kq13No1g-TDWwmDx2g-9tg3DReNJShvVt-Cgv3vAHkGQdYqHWxREdfFjoZMGrhTEHU10vZlMOK5Lf6-Cpxz3t7KkE-qN9NpIbrJ-xFYkyTRsk8uMbEPM55pKuIl7iIpKLp86ZHTLnAXx3Tbd0SRaijpBG01U_bXAaKjCqbpvcqcaLxw0BqA/s1600/SuperTempo_Tempo+KatyDancing.png" width="124" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFmCiaTiBG63L8gtCA35r4pI3GjCrM3izJpuPBtEblmsFupBjDtuvZX1h1huM18zrOAvoZhMmvuX43sNbLCnvjiSTDlIoPz6t3iahTBY3vw1WQrlqdaIPD65CV8XhVyv0Wcz9iwlZMYX9nvWYtcZWYwZVhdjH3Kk0woIS2sRi77oAmgjmSLK8qS4FcA/s124/SuperTempo_Tempo+KatyVictory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="75" data-original-width="124" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFmCiaTiBG63L8gtCA35r4pI3GjCrM3izJpuPBtEblmsFupBjDtuvZX1h1huM18zrOAvoZhMmvuX43sNbLCnvjiSTDlIoPz6t3iahTBY3vw1WQrlqdaIPD65CV8XhVyv0Wcz9iwlZMYX9nvWYtcZWYwZVhdjH3Kk0woIS2sRi77oAmgjmSLK8qS4FcA/s1600/SuperTempo_Tempo+KatyVictory.png" width="124" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Because they lifted Tempo and Katy's sprites from the first game when it came to their celebratory dance... I know this because I saw footage of the first game on YouTube... maybe Red and Aspect were pressed for time, I don't know? </b>😕 <b>Kinda hard not to notice the sudden sprite change</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yeeeah, do the <b>32X</b>! ... I don't own a Sega 32X, only a Sega Genesis and a Sega Saturn. The visuals are brightly colorful and wildly imaginative, there's an appealing slickness to the character models and animation (especially when Tempo fiddles on the ground or in midair), there's a wild manic energy to it not unlike Red Company's other franchise <i>Bonk</i> (especially with the incredulous reactions upon sustaining damage, and Tempo even scales up waterfalls like Bonk does), Masayoshi Ishi and Hiroyuki Yamada's soundtrack is neat as it goes through different genres depending on the situation and adapts to the environment well (the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkS2b4Abz_g">space chariot theme</a> sounds incredible), the difficulties are manageable, and for the most part I found it endearing... though this game requires approximately two hours to be beaten, and all in one sitting.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ990BNKca8Ykv85VHDk3y3sdK_sEI4My5xrYirK9ODp2xtGKD0ubRaU-SDJsO7rt_PrwsgW2fBP6IqLHwYyD0At-YuNdHtlVmTEgVGosEFDtvDMDm1BN4KMYfQh1QsQYTd5Lu1L0niGDOt8pecdEwtUxTwS1ReuNpM7kY5uF0rqRsLoHt0eHURx8HA/s381/SuperTempo_TempoVsTempo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ990BNKca8Ykv85VHDk3y3sdK_sEI4My5xrYirK9ODp2xtGKD0ubRaU-SDJsO7rt_PrwsgW2fBP6IqLHwYyD0At-YuNdHtlVmTEgVGosEFDtvDMDm1BN4KMYfQh1QsQYTd5Lu1L0niGDOt8pecdEwtUxTwS1ReuNpM7kY5uF0rqRsLoHt0eHURx8HA/s16000/SuperTempo_TempoVsTempo.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ahhh, not another </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">doppelgänger, <b><u>enough</u></b>!!!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaAT9kQnFi931XXSToHrhcTqjH6X6iFEac93Y8neGkzyPx9PBXMkOv7jA2TLAVgctWF3GRSi4_MvLiZLWf4pDEq76Aqae98C9Vzhzuz__97jzQEHLSKQvQnUaIdIUUYrY2wlo_mUV3KNE6T1cRVp-O4QrHkLyZOHXvtxII0xAeX1nG81OqMyy2MGtjw/s381/SuperTempo_MusicalRope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaAT9kQnFi931XXSToHrhcTqjH6X6iFEac93Y8neGkzyPx9PBXMkOv7jA2TLAVgctWF3GRSi4_MvLiZLWf4pDEq76Aqae98C9Vzhzuz__97jzQEHLSKQvQnUaIdIUUYrY2wlo_mUV3KNE6T1cRVp-O4QrHkLyZOHXvtxII0xAeX1nG81OqMyy2MGtjw/w200-h156/SuperTempo_MusicalRope.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6FrMBdV0UApRjYHPLTM8Y42p8facLQgBYMypoBanCDxZ_iLkLVDvbgc3yUttEn1lhpIDlsol4xAcHCXSNIgrq6mDZqzFMEmxHSJ4DSpLBP2RmUI4WLECMtNfks-AUjCPo-zj46VhgcJjUpzqIKXgS9qrfGrjxYVArMlmmPlgpKXKueZ8YLxlvSn33g/s381/SuperTempo_BathTubSwim.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6FrMBdV0UApRjYHPLTM8Y42p8facLQgBYMypoBanCDxZ_iLkLVDvbgc3yUttEn1lhpIDlsol4xAcHCXSNIgrq6mDZqzFMEmxHSJ4DSpLBP2RmUI4WLECMtNfks-AUjCPo-zj46VhgcJjUpzqIKXgS9qrfGrjxYVArMlmmPlgpKXKueZ8YLxlvSn33g/w200-h156/SuperTempo_BathTubSwim.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's nowhere near as long as the other Saturn-bound insect platformer Realtime Associates' <i>Bug!</i> (and thank God for that, that game's a three to four hour long monster), but as much as I think this game is enjoyable I will admit that <i>Super Tempo</i> starts feeling a little bit longer than it needs to be during a later segment (largely the maze and pre-credits sequence) to which I'm like, "Okay, can we wrap this up soon, please?" and I think the lack of a password system might attribute to me feeling that way. At least during the platforming segments when you lose a life you pick up right at the spot (and I like how both Tempo and Katy spring back to life in a different manner), and I did like how it kept things fresh by occasionally switching genres. I'm not a prude, but I found that the final imagery at the end felt really out of left field even for this game (so much so that I don't want to look at it)*, not aided by the chyron-style credits that scroll from the right to the left while hanging on said image. On the whole, though, I largely found <i>Super Tempo</i> fun and I'm glad to have gotten a chance to play another Red Company venue, but I don't know if I'd call it one of my Saturn favorites.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>*I'm less uncomfortable by the image itself more so than the awkward scenario of someone walking in while the image is on the TV and the person playing being put in an uncomfortable position of having to explain the context... except there <u>is</u> no context here, it's just there</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H_wWPkJSxyQb95qgFpoJr_Bls_aduVFtGkRZuglo9n5EUhcFzwWbrrEWKywx2EUom6gTOsHC9c4Fo4QWcYC4_L2KMpVDgD1N9W_EagVccuNHQH7T4d52aclPXhTDRdiUEDp5H6nK-VOdqGRj9saMNO_aKmDm33syDqDZQEc042kfizT03uUJmwoGFA/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Dibble.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H_wWPkJSxyQb95qgFpoJr_Bls_aduVFtGkRZuglo9n5EUhcFzwWbrrEWKywx2EUom6gTOsHC9c4Fo4QWcYC4_L2KMpVDgD1N9W_EagVccuNHQH7T4d52aclPXhTDRdiUEDp5H6nK-VOdqGRj9saMNO_aKmDm33syDqDZQEc042kfizT03uUJmwoGFA/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_Dibble.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgPkX5S85EDoRqO6SZkebKQ_HD-WX2f_hAWgTZ7o61GgcaAViscJj68Z0GucedovcajRvXzL4Ndcb6JW9HlOr7SHmSjB5Q561UsWDeW8iCuFnbwGzSuXNfpyS-GIgBl5KZyllEKIAt7M3G6pzcZ_nHmH6uKH82QSf3Qd5ratGz7VuINbFsueCrjAj9A/s389/SilhouetteMirage_BunnyMerchant.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgPkX5S85EDoRqO6SZkebKQ_HD-WX2f_hAWgTZ7o61GgcaAViscJj68Z0GucedovcajRvXzL4Ndcb6JW9HlOr7SHmSjB5Q561UsWDeW8iCuFnbwGzSuXNfpyS-GIgBl5KZyllEKIAt7M3G6pzcZ_nHmH6uKH82QSf3Qd5ratGz7VuINbFsueCrjAj9A/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_BunnyMerchant.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Silhouette Mirage</i> was also released on the PlayStation One in Japan and in North America</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There was one game that had yet to arrive, which would finally find its way here on December 28th, 2022, my twentieth Saturn game was the Entertainment Software Publishing release <i><b>Silhouette Mirage</b></i>, a sidescrolling action platformer developed by Treasure (of <i>Gunstar Heroes</i> and <i>Dynamite Headdy</i> fame) which has got a rather unique duality-based gameplay aspect that makes it stand out from the rest of its ilk.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufIOdZFXPxuo-_zUDGBZhLa4J6zfscQntGDjRJuwriUaFhHXQX_AiVEaT-TihpFQI0VmMb9-IbX9yuMADzjqVl-L9ol9lnae9XhwNyQqpsIxNNykQkbx3FbNn_4r-d92pb4kdVzvdzqE9LtkZTn7glyhe0tGf8HGAgP7Hoj3i6r5tvCyVOu_iZhGJcQ/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Cupito.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufIOdZFXPxuo-_zUDGBZhLa4J6zfscQntGDjRJuwriUaFhHXQX_AiVEaT-TihpFQI0VmMb9-IbX9yuMADzjqVl-L9ol9lnae9XhwNyQqpsIxNNykQkbx3FbNn_4r-d92pb4kdVzvdzqE9LtkZTn7glyhe0tGf8HGAgP7Hoj3i6r5tvCyVOu_iZhGJcQ/s16000/SilhouetteMirage_Cupito.png" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As the female creation Shyna Nera Shyna on a mission to restore the planet to its former glory, you must contend with a multitude of enemies that fall under the category of "Silhouette" or "Mirage", where your red side is more effective against the former and your blue half stands a better chance at taking out the latter. It's fascinating how your progress and how you deal with your obstacles is highly dependent on which side of the screen you face, as well as how Shyna's red half is angelic and soft in nature which contrasts with her blue half that's demonic and sharp (interesting take on bipolarism, whether that was the intent or not).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ1zsss-sQg2k8_3yngu5LsSsmnfk0a7XlKYjIcZQ7x4QEr_XNPpPtOQ8x6g84OsfI1hWB3YOlrrLmDhY3XsP7hacgwvsKjJhjUvSCr2HEjc-zIYkzI0vF_5fs6PdykKMAe5c0I-IVgfo_m6DLOZZdGz626wokRQ16ZWX-Lb_99GEBCyZuyH47EgjAQ/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Paraquez.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ1zsss-sQg2k8_3yngu5LsSsmnfk0a7XlKYjIcZQ7x4QEr_XNPpPtOQ8x6g84OsfI1hWB3YOlrrLmDhY3XsP7hacgwvsKjJhjUvSCr2HEjc-zIYkzI0vF_5fs6PdykKMAe5c0I-IVgfo_m6DLOZZdGz626wokRQ16ZWX-Lb_99GEBCyZuyH47EgjAQ/s16000/SilhouetteMirage_Paraquez.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>The expressiveness in their profiles during dialogue sequences get me every time</b> 😆</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Outside of that, there's a large myriad of controls that make the proceedings very fun after getting accustomed to the controls, like whooshing across with the wings of her hat flapping which enable her to ride up curvatures to high places, doing slide attacks, grabbing enemies with her hair and punching them with it if not shaking them down or launching them up in the sky, deflect enemy fire back at them with your shield (provided it's the same color), and most importantly, firing projectiles and blasts against every foe in your wake (with different weapons bought from random bunny merchants, even powered up should you have enough money to purchase them with) and occasionally use spirit energy to form desperation attacks.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscRLzRkGZCvVDQStE6qAcG7g23Kv5k6bWshfITi4HtKTTcBfsc79mqBrQr3TbtG33l4-7bTiG9B4qkR-SiZuSHmPbk8uVi2XbKmwxkPmTobHnOnxwNRHIGe092N_u7izWwpVUa8jdCer6V3gag8Ip171AjZXumwEXEh-jd-pMmSkCjzEAjiJuNlePoQ/s390/SilhouetteMirage_ShynaNeraShyna.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscRLzRkGZCvVDQStE6qAcG7g23Kv5k6bWshfITi4HtKTTcBfsc79mqBrQr3TbtG33l4-7bTiG9B4qkR-SiZuSHmPbk8uVi2XbKmwxkPmTobHnOnxwNRHIGe092N_u7izWwpVUa8jdCer6V3gag8Ip171AjZXumwEXEh-jd-pMmSkCjzEAjiJuNlePoQ/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_ShynaNeraShyna.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3UdACp-Tz0ocOW7Fc1PkUY1vxNEorla7E4Gv6cSE4dN2S37tBE6BCTr1kxNwK_ezHfahijw-sAwQ6YTdeUWg5MOWcr0K1XhRvQAZjE80iyIeEFhmtcv9F0Cq_uNc025tK3LC9Iko70_H36RUc0bmoxqRwhVMj5A8wiKABXASsicy60YYsc91Nr3zdQ/s390/SilhouetteMirage_Megito.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3UdACp-Tz0ocOW7Fc1PkUY1vxNEorla7E4Gv6cSE4dN2S37tBE6BCTr1kxNwK_ezHfahijw-sAwQ6YTdeUWg5MOWcr0K1XhRvQAZjE80iyIeEFhmtcv9F0Cq_uNc025tK3LC9Iko70_H36RUc0bmoxqRwhVMj5A8wiKABXASsicy60YYsc91Nr3zdQ/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_Megito.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">It's quickly become one of those intro sequences I could watch over and over and not get bored, it's just <u>that</u> good</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Silhouette Mirage</i> has got an impressive opening cutscene by the Gonzo animation studio that does a very good job at setting the tone for the game, and it manages to generate so much hype and wonder for what you're about to be treated to.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPdoGJm1jun4mdT2nSm08qQjw9gBzJQXzA2MA-0wXupXXUAcscQ6LnKpySkw9JgLiFTxqINT4SRje7L7Vtpko10MKzAnf26N8Gp_GORT1emtBNyvdECcvb-uT7v41ZTuI5Mykvby1OteGQF2brIq0vjG0pir8GNee-4MPPRzypudxG-wPhseDNJr9Vw/s390/SilhouetteMirage_Slosa+Kavitas+Angara.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPdoGJm1jun4mdT2nSm08qQjw9gBzJQXzA2MA-0wXupXXUAcscQ6LnKpySkw9JgLiFTxqINT4SRje7L7Vtpko10MKzAnf26N8Gp_GORT1emtBNyvdECcvb-uT7v41ZTuI5Mykvby1OteGQF2brIq0vjG0pir8GNee-4MPPRzypudxG-wPhseDNJr9Vw/s16000/SilhouetteMirage_Slosa+Kavitas+Angara.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Cuties!</b> 💗</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The colors, the animation, the dynamic angles, the marriage of visuals and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BExMPC-w19g">music</a>, the charm, it's <b>*blows chef's kiss after chef's kiss after chef's kiss* </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>😙<span style="color: red;">🎔</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWds9oqw2rlYvz8fjsRVu1dPTQr9eBW__EwJr8swTa2WtTU8fPrPSht8KMb3k9WyaCb6rqhGnhQx73DMhw2bdr0fu8_Mmy7jG6mAw_zJsMTcM0Da5OytfV44WJansH_Le6NmAuLiF3kXqh3t7YbwkOOk4lf8gULwSJ67LsT2x2ON4dJvwVtXjNMKHgw/s389/SilhouetteMirage_ZoharBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWds9oqw2rlYvz8fjsRVu1dPTQr9eBW__EwJr8swTa2WtTU8fPrPSht8KMb3k9WyaCb6rqhGnhQx73DMhw2bdr0fu8_Mmy7jG6mAw_zJsMTcM0Da5OytfV44WJansH_Le6NmAuLiF3kXqh3t7YbwkOOk4lf8gULwSJ67LsT2x2ON4dJvwVtXjNMKHgw/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_ZoharBattle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi827_fe-bAyH0KQj1QQ0Eu8CY5nBTl86XA8hebEP9eQGMbp32761iJOMR8iT3J8MIH5zLs-AFnaTIAJMoCZM9qMeo20qR2qRaXntyEP-daWP3P3JoH29u5uMNIgNjSsc1h6HMGvXBOd6DrC2HpUMCYDrSBbMYUn4Gd9bAMizxG5NU3HTquC6-ZUIU_RQ/s389/SilhouetteMirage_AngryChauffeur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi827_fe-bAyH0KQj1QQ0Eu8CY5nBTl86XA8hebEP9eQGMbp32761iJOMR8iT3J8MIH5zLs-AFnaTIAJMoCZM9qMeo20qR2qRaXntyEP-daWP3P3JoH29u5uMNIgNjSsc1h6HMGvXBOd6DrC2HpUMCYDrSBbMYUn4Gd9bAMizxG5NU3HTquC6-ZUIU_RQ/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_AngryChauffeur.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The visual aesthetic of this game is very striking to look at with each area having its own distinctive flavor and design, there's an engaging and endearing charm when it comes to the characters, it's got very solid scaling effects, there's a good sense of detail in the background, and Katsuhiko Suzuki, Jun Irie, and Hideki Matsutake's music is incredible through and through (and the best part is that the game disc doubles as a soundtrack CD, <b>YES</b>!); some of my favorite themes are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aGvvSgtQUA">"Night Flight"</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_a2FfgbtcQ">"Atop Pauro's Castle"</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnPP0r_0ykQ">"Punky Pumpkin Castle"</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7prD1_LnP1A">"Witches' Banquet"</a>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zcx33VBxB23xvZH5ioAj1muwvL9K086ru7jJFuc9mUevWiNJXDnR7ITvv5Oh7ZRpjZhpdpqTlfgrclWxBXPK98U0m6o3pTsPRyLn5lPq6l_lrEeukNuJOO31g8iAAWoTPdABltIP_dSvWBE4APSfijHx-HO6FBRbLEI_-5hmsQ0gPoYFc1jJFL2F7Q/s88/SilhouetteMirage_Moses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="79" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zcx33VBxB23xvZH5ioAj1muwvL9K086ru7jJFuc9mUevWiNJXDnR7ITvv5Oh7ZRpjZhpdpqTlfgrclWxBXPK98U0m6o3pTsPRyLn5lPq6l_lrEeukNuJOO31g8iAAWoTPdABltIP_dSvWBE4APSfijHx-HO6FBRbLEI_-5hmsQ0gPoYFc1jJFL2F7Q/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Moses.png" width="79" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">モーセ = Moses</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Out of curiosity I decided to translate the names of the characters featured in the manual via Google, and throughout the course of the game Shyna is helped out by a green magic wielder called Mo--👀 "Moses"? ... His name is "<b>Moses</b>"? Whaaaaat?? 😲</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxut65OGnEQJwBr_MuKse0cMSLaMu8LO4Ptqe6puVFeC83eF7JkUv-eIzeA5MSHDNFC20Q5CoCnMV2RnYaPvQIaJXZ3UMrd6XWyxVunXY0bbBGlkSfVIyYot3PSSnLlScGOVQAbJsb7drchM5H2JE_2zm04zZ758DW-L5xjZyESeesDoRXYQhwQJKNhw/s88/SilhouetteMirage_Zohar.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="79" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxut65OGnEQJwBr_MuKse0cMSLaMu8LO4Ptqe6puVFeC83eF7JkUv-eIzeA5MSHDNFC20Q5CoCnMV2RnYaPvQIaJXZ3UMrd6XWyxVunXY0bbBGlkSfVIyYot3PSSnLlScGOVQAbJsb7drchM5H2JE_2zm04zZ758DW-L5xjZyESeesDoRXYQhwQJKNhw/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Zohar.gif" width="79" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6ho-hRJBdFd8M3-BKFcAhDXd_UClzXykFDETYnJMspYUJ-kk8lyFg4nf0gUzrx8fFhYWJ6W2PzzCDLIvhEBvH_S8RQhE8xc7mLNEXkNAW0tBe0bBq-MeYBqYWQaVcQPyIeI_p7iof9hjgww30khg44JlFSBOAOYf5q1FMKP8-IxjIhbJjLRHfYMf4Q/s86/SilhouetteMirage_Goliath.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="86" data-original-width="78" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6ho-hRJBdFd8M3-BKFcAhDXd_UClzXykFDETYnJMspYUJ-kk8lyFg4nf0gUzrx8fFhYWJ6W2PzzCDLIvhEBvH_S8RQhE8xc7mLNEXkNAW0tBe0bBq-MeYBqYWQaVcQPyIeI_p7iof9hjgww30khg44JlFSBOAOYf5q1FMKP8-IxjIhbJjLRHfYMf4Q/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Goliath.png" width="78" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwBbamtTaIIyABpB4kqvfrsoMdneKjgcYMwUNMDRN_250Fm_wFBdv3TqOfgAJ8GnNA3N26F93aY5tt-A8deOHL_tEggcRIOpjewpHcPhzfYVW2g9YbSP0zigt9TPxJzYp5lP0HztfY4dKHrRPINBD3oQMXlZPJTt4jm0GLJpqt55zEjknwdx4priZ-A/s89/SilhouetteMirage_Malakhim.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="80" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwBbamtTaIIyABpB4kqvfrsoMdneKjgcYMwUNMDRN_250Fm_wFBdv3TqOfgAJ8GnNA3N26F93aY5tt-A8deOHL_tEggcRIOpjewpHcPhzfYVW2g9YbSP0zigt9TPxJzYp5lP0HztfY4dKHrRPINBD3oQMXlZPJTt4jm0GLJpqt55zEjknwdx4priZ-A/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Malakhim.png" width="80" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi6K31jCTzPPGFxUKZFOzB_5F9vY9OEViWdoboF1xo6XWUVyQuJM1RPUkjfxej-CJi7SRtSAh-smR2vRFXlmOjF7uMl2FTxRKnY6tjDudDQT2t1MWefZ9Zu0wZyRrQkbcpuGF56D_up6fnRc64Cf8KsSTYfo3LH3DH0Nv0lpqMOtERKIPNcVMjI0hrg/s87/SilhouetteMirage_Delilah.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="87" data-original-width="79" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi6K31jCTzPPGFxUKZFOzB_5F9vY9OEViWdoboF1xo6XWUVyQuJM1RPUkjfxej-CJi7SRtSAh-smR2vRFXlmOjF7uMl2FTxRKnY6tjDudDQT2t1MWefZ9Zu0wZyRrQkbcpuGF56D_up6fnRc64Cf8KsSTYfo3LH3DH0Nv0lpqMOtERKIPNcVMjI0hrg/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Delilah.png" width="79" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QrQVkLVskL-LTX0zKqzar0MxqbaPgCZlKX-4o8EvF5Q1JXvvAlM7IXYyd0_nXLnKulXTw3L4p9wfzrx1eajjKWFwP61uUyj1yc_ikfKSn2RBh7l-4JRrLbgl9f1DGPdVLzMymXRfeW0L25fGaD_YLniAs29DbeJIc_DLiuhdYlb150BNhlT9wweobA/s88/SilhouetteMirage_Samson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="78" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QrQVkLVskL-LTX0zKqzar0MxqbaPgCZlKX-4o8EvF5Q1JXvvAlM7IXYyd0_nXLnKulXTw3L4p9wfzrx1eajjKWFwP61uUyj1yc_ikfKSn2RBh7l-4JRrLbgl9f1DGPdVLzMymXRfeW0L25fGaD_YLniAs29DbeJIc_DLiuhdYlb150BNhlT9wweobA/s1600/SilhouetteMirage_Samson.png" width="78" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is no shortage of characters named after the Bible in this game, it's kind of amazing. Only in Japan, though.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-PC8VD6DokK5VshmV5WZZ9MQPBJM5ifYtNcTkWHdMCc39SIvc8hHvsoBG_fHOakGsJEWCfezVs62DCVIf7JHG-TU1mju0zDG6KnxzK8uciIZDER8L2b9sj3TUA5cA89j9kcPbCPxVtQK-LyRYDlJaEZUZMnJHq5tyqtd-BDBRBoadKr6vQIabwNotQ/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Soup.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-PC8VD6DokK5VshmV5WZZ9MQPBJM5ifYtNcTkWHdMCc39SIvc8hHvsoBG_fHOakGsJEWCfezVs62DCVIf7JHG-TU1mju0zDG6KnxzK8uciIZDER8L2b9sj3TUA5cA89j9kcPbCPxVtQK-LyRYDlJaEZUZMnJHq5tyqtd-BDBRBoadKr6vQIabwNotQ/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_Soup.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2CLBtZLLMV2xugWhNhKcCsc5A0QMu8wmpfj2J_HOZMw85hH5rZr3dcync0YnI1RkwMFs1f7IDAkGiTEu-xFRFbIVLXVlC9fEJPk7uMxkEW4p1UxbDdKGxiRaDCtkdaO_tw3CCjnmbIifdlmVcYq8mXV8ObQOdmJzRc5VJVj5ViJ7V08AEqRzJc6tMg/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Mathey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2CLBtZLLMV2xugWhNhKcCsc5A0QMu8wmpfj2J_HOZMw85hH5rZr3dcync0YnI1RkwMFs1f7IDAkGiTEu-xFRFbIVLXVlC9fEJPk7uMxkEW4p1UxbDdKGxiRaDCtkdaO_tw3CCjnmbIifdlmVcYq8mXV8ObQOdmJzRc5VJVj5ViJ7V08AEqRzJc6tMg/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_Mathey.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Silhouette Mirage</i> is also pretty funny with how random it can be at certain points, enough for things to remain fresh and interesting as there's a lighthearted anime charm about it that I enjoy, and I like the dialogue sequences that play out expression-wise. There's even replay value depending on what weapons you wish to have at your disposal and on Mathey you have a choice to go to the left path or the right path at the start, et al. From what I gather the PlayStation One port (which was localized in North America as <i>Silhouette Mirage: Reprogrammed Hope</i> by Working Designs) has got a couple new boss fights that have been well-received but on the whole wasn't met with <b>as</b> much enthusiasm as the Saturn original as it didn't do much different gameplay wise, experienced a graphical dip in quality, and removed certain music tracks.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40dq6cFAv6wI05zcT7X8lW7jZC1QGkQNwaIPDFifiNjlkx4e-YKnOzJxCHCBUgmOpkPu3ieWINbOfuHI5uUkjkGrdtzjZNU1kV5RO_YdOQizb-dZMWlXGX7Se55JLUG8UuihzIkABjtLX2yILtOZdRNVAogtRt4oIfafeJwapbj35zN51xm6SSGv6Qg/s389/SilhouetteMirage_Deflect.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40dq6cFAv6wI05zcT7X8lW7jZC1QGkQNwaIPDFifiNjlkx4e-YKnOzJxCHCBUgmOpkPu3ieWINbOfuHI5uUkjkGrdtzjZNU1kV5RO_YdOQizb-dZMWlXGX7Se55JLUG8UuihzIkABjtLX2yILtOZdRNVAogtRt4oIfafeJwapbj35zN51xm6SSGv6Qg/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_Deflect.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutytoqvRSfCEis5GamQFCNl28Krmhhs_G9WBYBI4unF--spzUsw5WbgHH9p_LKC4nl-W_XbzWEp2JQoe9UCSD1qc9EhkpBRA-6qegcqnE-P7m1XqbwyNGhSEC9AcAXcv9vGhn3VG41A_urQArCPVRdwHqKCJBVHDzaeCOKmHa35NTl8gKY1TqffAr_Q/s389/SilhouetteMirage_ZaZohar.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutytoqvRSfCEis5GamQFCNl28Krmhhs_G9WBYBI4unF--spzUsw5WbgHH9p_LKC4nl-W_XbzWEp2JQoe9UCSD1qc9EhkpBRA-6qegcqnE-P7m1XqbwyNGhSEC9AcAXcv9vGhn3VG41A_urQArCPVRdwHqKCJBVHDzaeCOKmHa35NTl8gKY1TqffAr_Q/w200-h156/SilhouetteMirage_ZaZohar.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Alas, as of writing this I have not beaten this game yet, I keep losing my last continue at the Za-Zohar fight</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Silhouette Mirage</i> is a very fun and fascinating Treasure game to play, but it sure can become difficult the further you progress in it. I know the dual-natured gameplay might have turned some people off, and I can understand why as it does take a bit to accustom to, but I still ended up liking it a lot all the same, even though I've yet to make it to the end I'll keep trying until eventually I manage. But from what I've seen, it's really good. 😃</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quick recap:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#17 </span><i style="color: #8e7cc3;">Bubble Symphony</i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#18 </span><i style="color: #8e7cc3;">Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#19 </span><i style="color: #8e7cc3;">Super Tempo</i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#20 </span><i style="color: #8e7cc3;">Silhouette Mirage</i><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: 2 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMpjS04qG-0xlDfPFQGZ_9cipwUHSicv5oLOAzQ4LorquL3vHleJ9ASwlNwjOpeHh2ryf_QZeSXF_nWu2A7X9eKWbT0tGANu_JXPNpMA73aj5vxtu46tTjKVQghYs19z8AiHOWgsyCGP1RNOsJmWJX366txzngVMrXpUd0UTyv_GVwpt6fR9lVf71A/s464/SegaSaturn_AmericanCollection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="435" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyMpjS04qG-0xlDfPFQGZ_9cipwUHSicv5oLOAzQ4LorquL3vHleJ9ASwlNwjOpeHh2ryf_QZeSXF_nWu2A7X9eKWbT0tGANu_JXPNpMA73aj5vxtu46tTjKVQghYs19z8AiHOWgsyCGP1RNOsJmWJX366txzngVMrXpUd0UTyv_GVwpt6fR9lVf71A/w188-h200/SegaSaturn_AmericanCollection.png" width="188" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMvhNwpAfm79P9zE68IkuZIRbgss0MCdXNbZ5i7rcyCPuDbbZP7Ef4v4ofaH7y30j0WrcHqvaUo1CfztxzeRks1iVCh8SVbORLX67WBOj0TSIwx09M9WwglDAlPJhqig56y0VtM0yDgBwWGfWPS8NSHA-TQZJhr7hgnykEOZLKejOv2cqANiE1zaSkQ/s461/SegaSaturn_JapaneseCollection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="461" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMvhNwpAfm79P9zE68IkuZIRbgss0MCdXNbZ5i7rcyCPuDbbZP7Ef4v4ofaH7y30j0WrcHqvaUo1CfztxzeRks1iVCh8SVbORLX67WBOj0TSIwx09M9WwglDAlPJhqig56y0VtM0yDgBwWGfWPS8NSHA-TQZJhr7hgnykEOZLKejOv2cqANiE1zaSkQ/w200-h193/SegaSaturn_JapaneseCollection.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>My Personal Sega Saturn ranking:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Baku Baku Animal</i> > <i>Tomb Raider</i> > <i>Bubble Symphony</i> > <i>O-Chan no Oekaki Logic</i> > <i>Astal</i> > <i>SteamGear Mash</i> > <i>Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack</i> > <i>Silhouette Mirage</i> > <i>Hebereke Popoitto</i> > <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> > <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> > <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> > <i>Clockwork Knight</i> > <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> > <i>Super Tempo</i> > <i>Solar Eclipse</i> > <i>Whizz</i> > <i>Shining Wisdom</i> > <i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix</i> > <i>Bug!</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ten American games, ten Japanese games, my Saturn collection is slowly expanding itself.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhLz4n4NNH8Mw-itPZouh0TBkta_XTvtWG1971O4hYRgGbx8S-k1yQ9bx3IumZONda2FULaw2J9wG2k3Okr4JYtP6pef3bRAGXhB13-H7DVBi9LvquPdZ7EXO9JOtQwIn271k6SR-mqRt2RsuuNUmfktK-GuQrhLR12DTHMthEomTuWMvFQE05Xsm1Q/s395/Sonic3DBlast_ThumbsUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhLz4n4NNH8Mw-itPZouh0TBkta_XTvtWG1971O4hYRgGbx8S-k1yQ9bx3IumZONda2FULaw2J9wG2k3Okr4JYtP6pef3bRAGXhB13-H7DVBi9LvquPdZ7EXO9JOtQwIn271k6SR-mqRt2RsuuNUmfktK-GuQrhLR12DTHMthEomTuWMvFQE05Xsm1Q/s16000/Sonic3DBlast_ThumbsUp.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">My overall Saturn experience was mostly good, and I'm very glad about that. 👍</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Present (not complete) Saturn wishlist:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Burning Rangers</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Fighters Megamix</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Fighting Vipers</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Legend of Oasis</i>, <i>The</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Panzer Dragoon II Zwei</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Solo Crisis</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Virtua Fighter</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">●<i> Virtua Fighter 2</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">If there's any game I haven't listed, feel free to make a suggestion and I might consider whether to look into it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think I might wait a while before doing another Random Saturnday, I mean a long while, because I grossly miscalculated the amount of time I thought it would take to finish it, and I procrastinated when it came to getting some of the screenshots I needed until later on, and I wanted to share my thoughts on what games I had presently in my collection but didn't want to rush (and it was hard to find the right words right away for certain games), and I didn't want to post it outside of a Saturday. I worry I can't do anything right sometimes, even though I try my best to improve (I'm my own worst critic, and I'm a perfectionist), but what would make it all worthwhile it is if I feel it helped anyone through a hard time or if it genuinely raised an interest in all things Saturn. I like talking about my journey with the Sega Saturn, but I feel like with anything else I'd rather take a while to write something good, and I feel I set myself up in thinking I could just talk about it in one week for all of them. If you have enjoyed reading my thoughts, I thank you and I really appreciate you, and I'm sorry if it didn't measure up to the standards of my previous Random Saturnday, but I do try. Well, until next time, everyone, take care! 👋</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my Random Saturnday post, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-30291461851719956082023-02-25T23:36:00.012-06:002023-03-19T17:46:19.023-05:00Random Saturnday III: Triple Deluxe<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">🪐<b> Written: January 21st-February 25th, 2023 </b>🪐</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it, and hope everyone is having a happy new year thus far. 😃 I'm in the mood to talk about the Sega Saturn, it's Saturday, and you know what <b>that</b> means:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg338b0x7tlyKnSNneHALpZ33iGvPavSYI02dZFEKUOvUlq_kztncsBBc5wObrvcT8k5NTF2njqZhzBciISeCW_Gioo7U7VElBaTN5GJjuHb9MYLMaIPOV_T9f80ERu6uSwtCuSd1cGbwogDSFtlUrGvk2hq41hhou4VC7RsnnpM4Mh-4SvH4GRMXHDTA/s640/RandomSaturnday3_Banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="640" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg338b0x7tlyKnSNneHALpZ33iGvPavSYI02dZFEKUOvUlq_kztncsBBc5wObrvcT8k5NTF2njqZhzBciISeCW_Gioo7U7VElBaTN5GJjuHb9MYLMaIPOV_T9f80ERu6uSwtCuSd1cGbwogDSFtlUrGvk2hq41hhou4VC7RsnnpM4Mh-4SvH4GRMXHDTA/w400-h175/RandomSaturnday3_Banner.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I could not think of a subtitle that wasn't derived from one of the games in HAL Laboratory's <i>Kirby</i> franchise, but it's the best I could think of</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Random Saturnday III: Triple Deluxe</b> is here! 😄 For those tuning in to one of these for the first time, Random Saturnday posts are when I briefly cover my thoughts and experiences pertaining to my latest retro console, the Sega Saturn (which I got ten months ago) and talk about what games for it I caught up with at that point.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/06/random-saturnday.html">first one</a> I wrote back in June and talked about my first four Saturn games as well as my thoughts on the console itself--</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#1 <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i> (<i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no </i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><i>Daibōken</i> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#2 <i>Solar Eclipse</i> (<i>Titan Wars</i> </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[ </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> ]</span></b></span></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">[ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">⬤</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ]</span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: 3 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#3 <i>Tomb Raider</i> (<i>Tomb Raiders</i> </span></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">[ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">⬤</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ]</span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: 55 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">#4 <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/11/astal-saturn-review.html">Astal</a></i> (<i>Kisuishō Densetsu Astal</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">[ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">⬤</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ]</span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">--and the <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/09/random-saturnday-ii-sequel.html">second</a> I wrote in September and shared my thoughts on games five through nine--</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#5 <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> (<i>Croc! Pau-Pau Island</i> </span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">) | Saves: 4 Blocks</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">#6 <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> (<i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no Fukubukuru</i> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">) | Saves: 1 Block</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">#7 <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> (<i>Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island</i> </span><b style="background-color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[ </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> ]</span></b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">) | Saves: N/A</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">#8 <i>Bug!</i> (<i>Bug!: Jump Shite, Fundzukechatte, Pecchanko</i></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">) | Saves: 2 Blocks</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia;">#9 <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> | Saves: N/A</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Something I probably should've done last time was list what games I had prior to covering the new ones I got, which I'll make up for now, I'll also give mention to how many blocks a game's save takes up in the system's memory (if it does) in case anyone is curious. The CR2032 battery I replaced in the Saturn back on May 12th, 2022 is still working, and I'm glad about that, but for how much longer I'm not exactly sure as I don't know what the battery life's longevity is like regarding the Saturn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So anyway, in the time since I wrote the last Random Saturnday, I've managed to catch up with eleven more Sega Saturn games, four of them for Christmas, making for a total of <b>twenty</b> Sega Saturn games in my collection (for the time being). Wondering how I was going to approach this (since it is a lot to talk about) I figured I would split this post in two with my thoughts games 10 through 16 being covered here and the remaining four that I got for Christmas on a separate post which I plan to upload on the same day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Without any further delay, let's talk about the newer games I've played and experienced on the Sega Saturn:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL-J5uJCwUIZRv3d7tWdSsy0Yu_XtgcER6koHWNZm7KOnJMP9vmwaGtcwUDKTzlRajqlt2oUZkcH4ob1rkQXI8sjmCWy-dfYoG2LD3_qUBVkq6OULdAHLC3ScD87-lylp9SSgcjrGccVjiQXoj21Ujc9Qnorg92XthyaB0RU0mkLOqFRog_FRLdBB-A/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_SilverAngela.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL-J5uJCwUIZRv3d7tWdSsy0Yu_XtgcER6koHWNZm7KOnJMP9vmwaGtcwUDKTzlRajqlt2oUZkcH4ob1rkQXI8sjmCWy-dfYoG2LD3_qUBVkq6OULdAHLC3ScD87-lylp9SSgcjrGccVjiQXoj21Ujc9Qnorg92XthyaB0RU0mkLOqFRog_FRLdBB-A/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_SilverAngela.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5t1rb-A1sFpCmKXJBvtRLuw157avpY6Sz3N5okcER-hK3q5Sr3ZeGk3PKxiMGX0oGHkPnCjWfGSiXsFP78J1UP9FmrSkbgqYQqRJmU2GisufTSZe3BW2JzOLlmKlK6EyTWnP3jWdyb-NdGQuNXV-SIbbGGMxoYpfQEuB9Bo4QkskWewZRSHPrGsb5w/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_Soldier.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5t1rb-A1sFpCmKXJBvtRLuw157avpY6Sz3N5okcER-hK3q5Sr3ZeGk3PKxiMGX0oGHkPnCjWfGSiXsFP78J1UP9FmrSkbgqYQqRJmU2GisufTSZe3BW2JzOLlmKlK6EyTWnP3jWdyb-NdGQuNXV-SIbbGGMxoYpfQEuB9Bo4QkskWewZRSHPrGsb5w/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_Soldier.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Knowing that my tenth game for the Saturn had to be something special, I decided to look into a puzzler for the system as puzzlers are among my favorite video game genres, and what better title of this ilk to catch up with than Sega's animal-themed falling block puzzler <i><b>Baku Baku Animal: World Zookeeper Contest</b></i>* which I got on September 12th, 2022?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><b>* The North American jewel case just refers to the game as <i>Baku Baku</i>, but shows the full title in-game</b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBepMspNDWWNerW-bDdsUG_V_adDSc3teyy11CmauytfhjayRNTuABSxBGXT27FekmeL6lQvNuIV-IoA35uXdUbNnetz_dLswNpuRbFp1gwThQWhijjVLXKY0ztJVE4e-MBFnehcd_TXJLZqDQFsh640v8At4nZ6cIaDGP_CJDCrEGxLzDuv843ll8eg/s331/BakuBakuAnimal_King+Minister.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBepMspNDWWNerW-bDdsUG_V_adDSc3teyy11CmauytfhjayRNTuABSxBGXT27FekmeL6lQvNuIV-IoA35uXdUbNnetz_dLswNpuRbFp1gwThQWhijjVLXKY0ztJVE4e-MBFnehcd_TXJLZqDQFsh640v8At4nZ6cIaDGP_CJDCrEGxLzDuv843ll8eg/s16000/BakuBakuAnimal_King+Minister.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Under the most suspect lighting choice, no less, al</b><u style="font-weight: bold;">most</u><b> as if this game is suggesting it's an evil idea... </b>🤔<b> which may or not be depending how you look at it</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The princess has got far too many pets for one person to handle, <b>oh no</b>! So the minister suggests to the King that a competition be held to see who will attain the title of Royal Zookeeper.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-HFY1LbjWyXeWvGuzIJaxZ8wd0OinUCslUc5hCY872c2Y80tOHgOadClQqniQOm4VqcvWSvAmizfIFwiPYORR7KeBIxNRFd4hlqdFsADeZtOi1tBna9BaTSvRqOLO7V5ml_ln0E1MXVNWukPzqq9JhtwnG6nxSaOVlbUrMxRVthKevPm7WdjctXHgg/s327/BakuBakuAnimal_Polly+Gon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-HFY1LbjWyXeWvGuzIJaxZ8wd0OinUCslUc5hCY872c2Y80tOHgOadClQqniQOm4VqcvWSvAmizfIFwiPYORR7KeBIxNRFd4hlqdFsADeZtOi1tBna9BaTSvRqOLO7V5ml_ln0E1MXVNWukPzqq9JhtwnG6nxSaOVlbUrMxRVthKevPm7WdjctXHgg/s16000/BakuBakuAnimal_Polly+Gon.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Among the competition are the heroes of the story, Polly (first player) and Gon (second player). Wait... 🤔 Polly and Gon... Polly,... Gon... Polly, Gon...... Polly-G------ ❗</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI7w2tSi_GluEkVo4gyjwJApVk7oODHvGnYzcxtc9AAIm4BqfthwmRpZmUsB5p-4swSB9FiRoYwhIRE90pyXCjdfQOTWisTblBt0NLZn7Z0SVueuOPifJQIpg1WYmx2L4eaaxnQ-CH1_GVrxNp5aPqwsTZ6qN3i8qQ_pBxH3k3bko0haBPma_ZgnN-Q/s383/Tekken3_Gon.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI7w2tSi_GluEkVo4gyjwJApVk7oODHvGnYzcxtc9AAIm4BqfthwmRpZmUsB5p-4swSB9FiRoYwhIRE90pyXCjdfQOTWisTblBt0NLZn7Z0SVueuOPifJQIpg1WYmx2L4eaaxnQ-CH1_GVrxNp5aPqwsTZ6qN3i8qQ_pBxH3k3bko0haBPma_ZgnN-Q/s16000/Tekken3_Gon.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sorry, guys, no </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">Gon</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> jokes today.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG5Wixc6x1qcjN_sRRs6wvfV_zXyQ4dpSlt5yrpsGvdzqhiQo3LxzAe1tJpFXfcA6v5rSN7PJdKfaVhbaBEDqmK39qxyAjNKkT-vh-jFjHbnK3qvdNzO7WxKmUk2c5LftZ8IwaxtBFfi-1-SJI06tbGC0K2jgrg1p4RUM8yidVEReDnAUt9JPNVjoMg/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_T3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG5Wixc6x1qcjN_sRRs6wvfV_zXyQ4dpSlt5yrpsGvdzqhiQo3LxzAe1tJpFXfcA6v5rSN7PJdKfaVhbaBEDqmK39qxyAjNKkT-vh-jFjHbnK3qvdNzO7WxKmUk2c5LftZ8IwaxtBFfi-1-SJI06tbGC0K2jgrg1p4RUM8yidVEReDnAUt9JPNVjoMg/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_T3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP_ha86TjAM6a3gp4DCbQVOUxLt5edoNafPvOJkUmNJMtw7cJ7dwmN1WAnwobUDTkQm8DOF2G1R69Gv92OfrQZ8qmX33hhmKklT7344N4vR7s8zyTEuoSvTCqQwK7FJIVUGrtFHvzNT0jPyetixWFS5smgUdcCZ2Q6aN8bDtG4D3152-clQOdAbLuLA/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_NurseGrape.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP_ha86TjAM6a3gp4DCbQVOUxLt5edoNafPvOJkUmNJMtw7cJ7dwmN1WAnwobUDTkQm8DOF2G1R69Gv92OfrQZ8qmX33hhmKklT7344N4vR7s8zyTEuoSvTCqQwK7FJIVUGrtFHvzNT0jPyetixWFS5smgUdcCZ2Q6aN8bDtG4D3152-clQOdAbLuLA/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_NurseGrape.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Baku Baku Animal</i> was originally a 1995 arcade puzzler before it got ported to the Sega Saturn, Sega's 8-bit systems the Game Gear and Sega Master System (in Brazil), Windows PC, and on mobile in 2002. With gameplay that is very simple to play (and partially reminiscent of Compile's <i>Puyo Puyo</i>) but difficult* to master, this is an incredibly fun and highly addicting puzzler as you try to connect colored pieces of food with the onslaught of corresponding animals (e.g. dogs will munch on bones, mice will eat up the cheese, and rabbits will chow down on carrots; in the options you have a choice between having one and five of them feature in the game) of the frighteningly esurient variety so that they can be eaten up as big creepy pre-rendered CG heads (and if you manage to follow it up with chain reactions or have said animals eat a large round at the same time, even better) where the stage is won after filling up the entirety of your opponent's playing field if not just have their two middle columns stacked.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Emphasis on "difficult", believe me when I say that this game pulls absolutely no punches in terms of overall difficulty and challenge value... but that's exactly what makes it compellingly addicting</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfTB7-IPM1KZL9DF1VUioY61tVm6lBU8lByhY11ePRgBslM0jHmqPLIvW9SgLA1sNRfQTGpNt708BGVqwU35PdLQXUaDPjUyQdOlZclHZ6CE-b_yF2LrrFE8jvAKQLlVh4w6yKLm4gRshESvdsguxPcKTYB6RMrIAnox5WMosmOICjceZbjBwhyqVrQ/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_GoldenAngela.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfTB7-IPM1KZL9DF1VUioY61tVm6lBU8lByhY11ePRgBslM0jHmqPLIvW9SgLA1sNRfQTGpNt708BGVqwU35PdLQXUaDPjUyQdOlZclHZ6CE-b_yF2LrrFE8jvAKQLlVh4w6yKLm4gRshESvdsguxPcKTYB6RMrIAnox5WMosmOICjceZbjBwhyqVrQ/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_GoldenAngela.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrG3bRg58eStFA0n1VZ28vd6rRkpz8zliXptkmdctAwy_kMEiEFST9Ih3iifVJtqpUn5JmzIXbr3XL51ztDqYeiCSE4JDXoubw1xvnlvX4Opy7jRd18iNzmaCL3UqCYpFixQNYmjuy4i1qS3d7Lj7MTxJCzjpR-hpF0cUZbvCuhVtxjy1EvhgtivYmQ/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_Minister.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrG3bRg58eStFA0n1VZ28vd6rRkpz8zliXptkmdctAwy_kMEiEFST9Ih3iifVJtqpUn5JmzIXbr3XL51ztDqYeiCSE4JDXoubw1xvnlvX4Opy7jRd18iNzmaCL3UqCYpFixQNYmjuy4i1qS3d7Lj7MTxJCzjpR-hpF0cUZbvCuhVtxjy1EvhgtivYmQ/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_Minister.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The presentation is absolutely colorful with some lovely pre-rendered static backgrounds, and it's got an enjoyably catchy soundtrack by Naoki Tokiwa and Seiichirō Matsumura (I love that this game disc doubles as a soundtrack) with some of my favorite themes being <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-CaAq6z99Q">Master Piggy and Nurse Grape's theme</a>, the absolutely intense <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj6Ir5Q8upc">final stage theme</a>, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNssdSpjSLI">credits theme</a> which is such a rewarding listen. There is a lot of pre-rendered CG animation when it comes to being presented to your next opponent, watching said opponent in the middle window and who have different loop-based animations based on whether you're massively overwhelmed, <b>they</b>'re massively overwhelmed, </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxAwf2Hffa73u7Do49xxa2y6AtDdycHufbyAp8c0rTgpQn3kCTW68VTVcRHtiLrA0UXxrfc-dhIDndKagew-_JOMCfxpNR5ziIwDTE8nCZIKjCksLk0M6EGdCP4_q57weMUsV1ynXhfW2lCSAxNCDHDsPIaPJtcTibmZ69fIyNgiDlo7uYNTNLTsnJw/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_Queen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxAwf2Hffa73u7Do49xxa2y6AtDdycHufbyAp8c0rTgpQn3kCTW68VTVcRHtiLrA0UXxrfc-dhIDndKagew-_JOMCfxpNR5ziIwDTE8nCZIKjCksLk0M6EGdCP4_q57weMUsV1ynXhfW2lCSAxNCDHDsPIaPJtcTibmZ69fIyNgiDlo7uYNTNLTsnJw/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_Queen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuov-EucSVZGuBkAeDvGUipwOnFfzEw99Hl959lN_C9WOseEAiIQ1MpNByxYH1HX70SkPpF6blYZhjlwfWoBwfMmwVSKDzcFRW4oGyq3cqpSt4VY9w1mFpYHVsBxFvWNKRapeDVJc1N4VAukLepPxds0Z8khfmY5HffzKUA-dz34_ar30pADB_wcN4jA/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_Princess.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuov-EucSVZGuBkAeDvGUipwOnFfzEw99Hl959lN_C9WOseEAiIQ1MpNByxYH1HX70SkPpF6blYZhjlwfWoBwfMmwVSKDzcFRW4oGyq3cqpSt4VY9w1mFpYHVsBxFvWNKRapeDVJc1N4VAukLepPxds0Z8khfmY5HffzKUA-dz34_ar30pADB_wcN4jA/w200-h154/BakuBakuAnimal_Princess.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><u>Whoa</u>, expectation subversion: instead of saving the princess you must <u>compete</u> against her</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">if they lost (having Polly or Gon do a looped celebratory jump) or if you did, the lion Gabriel spontaneously appearing on the loser's playing field upon the match being over gnashing with his teeth, and there are CG cutscenes at the beginning and ending of </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Baku Baku Animal</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">. There's a retroactively creepy quality about a lot of this game's character models and animations--time has certainly not done them justice--but having said that they are amusing to watch despite the bizarre presentation.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj_7Us0dYNAeyjzw8a4u4pZ89k_8KZRQfex-8HbWJ2AOkYXC2XFqYVLErHmNcvuDfsF-W9HbbB4HyTboLqjfOAU-7ZN1Y1qLS5_5bw6Fr0F0zjR50aAvjIsuBhLzlTUaweGoqlQrFOzQ9xnkqif8cPrzJn-55-2XHA3W2qPFCRqzd1Rf4FOAmEJXmlQ/s331/BakuBakuAnimal_Gabriel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj_7Us0dYNAeyjzw8a4u4pZ89k_8KZRQfex-8HbWJ2AOkYXC2XFqYVLErHmNcvuDfsF-W9HbbB4HyTboLqjfOAU-7ZN1Y1qLS5_5bw6Fr0F0zjR50aAvjIsuBhLzlTUaweGoqlQrFOzQ9xnkqif8cPrzJn-55-2XHA3W2qPFCRqzd1Rf4FOAmEJXmlQ/s16000/BakuBakuAnimal_Gabriel.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00; font-size: x-small;">"And this is Gabriel. He eats <u>everything</u>!"</span></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxTJFtkeWAnLeq_RSd7Gyy1IkodQbC6Kc6Rn1guJXbr8wghV3YemeniQNtd98VfIDxET666bRXeqLulDSdPKizXJMFUZc1GOowmaCsm0H0-GkO9NVDtE6Kydt8sZi0G7r9S_4xG6IFvTsiMnnwp0e7J0FR6BCLxXxda_uuw5JwqzZ2i9VM-bh1ztZwA/s391/BakuBakuAnimal_GabrielGnashingSegaLogo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxTJFtkeWAnLeq_RSd7Gyy1IkodQbC6Kc6Rn1guJXbr8wghV3YemeniQNtd98VfIDxET666bRXeqLulDSdPKizXJMFUZc1GOowmaCsm0H0-GkO9NVDtE6Kydt8sZi0G7r9S_4xG6IFvTsiMnnwp0e7J0FR6BCLxXxda_uuw5JwqzZ2i9VM-bh1ztZwA/s16000/BakuBakuAnimal_GabrielGnashingSegaLogo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><b>"Including basic post-credits Sega logos..." </b>🦁</span></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP02E7KlqJQt-jMVNbQTbHLxGnfF2tuB46359W2uQYud1fYuNoAcFqhygeBd6_KD3kQIM4R-mXnPweVZyRwfgO39uf4cNf335k34ldJXzW9RLxYqF-kWxX-eX_vOnGYyQwclYj0js75CB_5mRURik6y4WgMS0k-Ve3mu_CVxz9rlTenNk-xRTR5Mtubg/s331/BakuBakuAnimal_Snakey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="331" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP02E7KlqJQt-jMVNbQTbHLxGnfF2tuB46359W2uQYud1fYuNoAcFqhygeBd6_KD3kQIM4R-mXnPweVZyRwfgO39uf4cNf335k34ldJXzW9RLxYqF-kWxX-eX_vOnGYyQwclYj0js75CB_5mRURik6y4WgMS0k-Ve3mu_CVxz9rlTenNk-xRTR5Mtubg/w200-h145/BakuBakuAnimal_Snakey.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiELq_XP9icQkX_ZS7F1-5dc_DXAa_R7nV9lZEJ43DCGNEdABaAIY3S-rVShQMD0AiU1ks561MlPoT_6II5Llv2I1iO2B_MN1GFxRfQyfNV0bRZDPtkKmWvEvq_gmJgSHUoW4mgPVNAHuJLDulh5GhCQoACN7Q-WbiLn2ZBWz7VhhI4sTjABOStfpgIA/s331/BakuBakuAnimal_WellBeGoodFriends.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="331" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiELq_XP9icQkX_ZS7F1-5dc_DXAa_R7nV9lZEJ43DCGNEdABaAIY3S-rVShQMD0AiU1ks561MlPoT_6II5Llv2I1iO2B_MN1GFxRfQyfNV0bRZDPtkKmWvEvq_gmJgSHUoW4mgPVNAHuJLDulh5GhCQoACN7Q-WbiLn2ZBWz7VhhI4sTjABOStfpgIA/w200-h145/BakuBakuAnimal_WellBeGoodFriends.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I can't help but wonder if the retroactive (albeit unintended) creepy factor may have played a large part as to why Sega have not touched it since (let alone acknowledge its existence; in this present era where retro games you least expected to see a rerelease ended up with a new lease of life, it'd be pretty wild if Sega ever decides to rerelease this game in any format today), which is really too bad because if you set that aside <i>Baku Baku Animal</i> really is a great puzzler worth playing and one that quickly became a top favorite of mine for the Saturn.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-gtS7q5Cyl88L-XHsQwO3Zr2UhEDVfbPswQ1No5L9dSWimd7RtrYZdt8G3u7Wc_cwwAv7liix3zX4z5YVgdftnoia3YxHYAKWld2zms1mHFrBUMGUnBXFZkvgM3BWtYSzjHKlz_a_qB5tnUs07ryc32eJ-3MrIbFsi-1WBOng6M1OW8FspRlTzUxJg/s530/PanzerDragoonIIZwei_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-gtS7q5Cyl88L-XHsQwO3Zr2UhEDVfbPswQ1No5L9dSWimd7RtrYZdt8G3u7Wc_cwwAv7liix3zX4z5YVgdftnoia3YxHYAKWld2zms1mHFrBUMGUnBXFZkvgM3BWtYSzjHKlz_a_qB5tnUs07ryc32eJ-3MrIbFsi-1WBOng6M1OW8FspRlTzUxJg/s16000/PanzerDragoonIIZwei_Advert.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Wow, what marketing</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The back of <i>Baku Baku Animal</i>'s manual features an advert for Team Andromeda's <i>Panzer Dragoon II Zwei</i>, which I am still curious about playing one day</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgorOtIN2ySWXj5_81VMkQiSY3Cbut1884JKXJl1w7reVIUooXrX9KEpafUGkrIYVOiF0AHroKMQbzvsZ1EEj2RQ4rTyLsndguKKz35ALTEtxTFIlGcEn06wpsqw7v9vE7RpTy1cWyIvN6jQXkfIDdW65sTCH6VpWkJoSGTZVJMhO2lMdMJbGL-qgCfg/s392/PanzerDragoon_DragonBlast.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="392" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgorOtIN2ySWXj5_81VMkQiSY3Cbut1884JKXJl1w7reVIUooXrX9KEpafUGkrIYVOiF0AHroKMQbzvsZ1EEj2RQ4rTyLsndguKKz35ALTEtxTFIlGcEn06wpsqw7v9vE7RpTy1cWyIvN6jQXkfIDdW65sTCH6VpWkJoSGTZVJMhO2lMdMJbGL-qgCfg/w200-h151/PanzerDragoon_DragonBlast.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN0fjVA8qmSW0SF52mi8KfLwACEh4_q3ij_It_NYSVcZQeRxSR7V02NAqPqHhSt2_CywsadivET83Q5aQTiRnrzPfbx48oyouasN9LC_6UVvS4tSprr1W_7egisKnHpTaubupyAvdgfGCc_vnbvLH1T3brp9hi9m55huZcKeNv2RNqU8jwMVVQuIJ4Q/s392/PanzerDragoon_Sandworms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="392" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN0fjVA8qmSW0SF52mi8KfLwACEh4_q3ij_It_NYSVcZQeRxSR7V02NAqPqHhSt2_CywsadivET83Q5aQTiRnrzPfbx48oyouasN9LC_6UVvS4tSprr1W_7egisKnHpTaubupyAvdgfGCc_vnbvLH1T3brp9hi9m55huZcKeNv2RNqU8jwMVVQuIJ4Q/w200-h151/PanzerDragoon_Sandworms.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">as I enjoyed the first game.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Having known that the Action Replay Plus was a way of bypassing the region block when it came to the Saturn, I knew I wanted to get it if it meant I could play Japanese games on the system (and that's all I would need the cartridge for), but I was a bit cautious around the idea because surely it can't be that simple, there had to be catch, right? Well, I watched a YouTube video of it to make sure, and turns out that it is that simple (or so it seems), so gladly while I was on a family trip I simultaneously ordered it alongside a Japanese Saturn game before we came back.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAfTYZn8emI0VXGaD5r2vCx-kRiYOjIrghGWpxb2dlWy93UwHgnfuM4gIxTbfs1rIzeLK33IPMAa-H6fzl0kjt56HGioDg0xrtnfv6GlxXWUqYZfeYAMWdLCR8x8klI_PhUi21uups7eDZNZ2SnREa7H7jcSeA7KGkirO6XFm2ddw1zFbTv8gY4bH5g/s462/ActionReplayPlus_Box.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAfTYZn8emI0VXGaD5r2vCx-kRiYOjIrghGWpxb2dlWy93UwHgnfuM4gIxTbfs1rIzeLK33IPMAa-H6fzl0kjt56HGioDg0xrtnfv6GlxXWUqYZfeYAMWdLCR8x8klI_PhUi21uups7eDZNZ2SnREa7H7jcSeA7KGkirO6XFm2ddw1zFbTv8gY4bH5g/s16000/ActionReplayPlus_Box.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the night of October 8th, 2022, both the <b>Action Replay Plus</b> cartridge and my first Japanese Saturn game arrived at the same time, and I was so excited because if it ended up working that meant I had access to Japanese games as well, and it works!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulsyzPuhIo5cdU5lBoNNWUdwKKlvpe_8Msu01lNtOlRoWypjUOF8ECJ2KIQhaKM4Nvf9_N_wK_pvEEmKG-UokhRH6N_QI7mi3xmij8Khcil6jT5Wtt9H0-ws4M6hmlRPv5zrP-m7fyD05BVY1ElcJ0IIYPWgfPNrj1JoGj848ib8bPuE68hWEDcaGfQ/s479/ActionReplayPlus_Details.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulsyzPuhIo5cdU5lBoNNWUdwKKlvpe_8Msu01lNtOlRoWypjUOF8ECJ2KIQhaKM4Nvf9_N_wK_pvEEmKG-UokhRH6N_QI7mi3xmij8Khcil6jT5Wtt9H0-ws4M6hmlRPv5zrP-m7fyD05BVY1ElcJ0IIYPWgfPNrj1JoGj848ib8bPuE68hWEDcaGfQ/s16000/ActionReplayPlus_Details.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Well, I'm not going to play all 1,000-plus Saturn games to verify whether it works for all of them or not, but it does work for what games I do presently own for it regardless of what region the game disc is (also every Saturn game I own is single-disc). Kinda sad that 75% of the overall catalogue remained in Japan; to think all Sega had to do was wait those four extra months to release their console <b>or</b> announce ahead of time that they would have it out earlier than initially planned, but they didn't do either</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJarpeUmUMSKLbIqWELjGjnhS7Wn8T9EgP16Urr_jEJz8jKHOE5yVq3Xn4PapGeEnDtDuIsqxPPEUT7nujH4oyEPpiGDvxjEMbqUpNd9ZETQYxMHZYW-_inHh4znkId5FCCAXAD7OKWimnFRbfh7nU26dm73C8auS9oSXzCMZ16M_qfM5ItcDZcf9UrA/s460/SonicSays_ThatsNoGood.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJarpeUmUMSKLbIqWELjGjnhS7Wn8T9EgP16Urr_jEJz8jKHOE5yVq3Xn4PapGeEnDtDuIsqxPPEUT7nujH4oyEPpiGDvxjEMbqUpNd9ZETQYxMHZYW-_inHh4znkId5FCCAXAD7OKWimnFRbfh7nU26dm73C8auS9oSXzCMZ16M_qfM5ItcDZcf9UrA/s16000/SonicSays_ThatsNoGood.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed from watching Daalar's "That's No Good" Sonic Says excerpt video on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and that's <b>no good</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfcpUejfHLrrpmn2DyI2PwqSyYgz9KB5ujU17V0SnH4Eksc8Y0ff3wreUnABA5o8-urmsBm52dsKYDNsLNb0LpynvoeWufW_Su4ubqmhfiBfN18JT3vMufQUsd7WnctGx-iY3bDOXcEzbI2_iL6Tahl2hXEi8FKh-1LCKwq2yzyPwKbm9yNSwITS23w/s589/ActionReplayPlus_Cartridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="589" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfcpUejfHLrrpmn2DyI2PwqSyYgz9KB5ujU17V0SnH4Eksc8Y0ff3wreUnABA5o8-urmsBm52dsKYDNsLNb0LpynvoeWufW_Su4ubqmhfiBfN18JT3vMufQUsd7WnctGx-iY3bDOXcEzbI2_iL6Tahl2hXEi8FKh-1LCKwq2yzyPwKbm9yNSwITS23w/w400-h289/ActionReplayPlus_Cartridge.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The cartridge is nice and sturdy, which I like, and... I've got to be honest:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NEE8hJxOpNSzV00Y6PDNX1hS9e4kaVrhEJH2fJNjCpe1l63wU9yu-98DgtOTzP-N1KFadflf9zFhtSHdaJkxje2VrEA8U219WROZCno768DpGnH_2GtFqu6LKEhJEMsNu84Sknb8NKxNRGKGemXCmDGmYqb5SPYU5PCBKiKZfqC3ncLzD_GFtA3oCA/s456/GenesisCartridges_MonsterWorld4+Puggsy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NEE8hJxOpNSzV00Y6PDNX1hS9e4kaVrhEJH2fJNjCpe1l63wU9yu-98DgtOTzP-N1KFadflf9zFhtSHdaJkxje2VrEA8U219WROZCno768DpGnH_2GtFqu6LKEhJEMsNu84Sknb8NKxNRGKGemXCmDGmYqb5SPYU5PCBKiKZfqC3ncLzD_GFtA3oCA/s16000/GenesisCartridges_MonsterWorld4+Puggsy.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">as far as build and durability is concerned, I feel like the Saturn console is better-kept in this regard, because with how the Sega Genesis console and cartridges are made they feel brittle and plastic by comparison and whenever I take out a game or insert them in the 16-bit console I'm scared I'm going to break them, I'm just that strong. 😟 That or the Genesis carts are so thin and small and the console sorely needed an eject button.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRZygJ7nbnZEkmEyqcgO06aRLp_ypdt-dEpc2QlAN5z3eibO_YBMiAcEHUcF5NKNPV31MpEAwx5buMVP80gPu8i8_u0VHmyW3CgnzuQFWRz4DjfOw88sLr7I930ylkEFYmurO0oMp1P7A0-KVSRFSXvnRuzkbVXWsIEC958PD_XtRPuK8X8MZ7MqeXA/s605/SuperFamicomCartridges_ArdyLightfoot+SuperDonkeyKong2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="605" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRZygJ7nbnZEkmEyqcgO06aRLp_ypdt-dEpc2QlAN5z3eibO_YBMiAcEHUcF5NKNPV31MpEAwx5buMVP80gPu8i8_u0VHmyW3CgnzuQFWRz4DjfOw88sLr7I930ylkEFYmurO0oMp1P7A0-KVSRFSXvnRuzkbVXWsIEC958PD_XtRPuK8X8MZ7MqeXA/w200-h122/SuperFamicomCartridges_ArdyLightfoot+SuperDonkeyKong2.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2HOu8fvJUE1zFf9mehmYFvltjy_-Ao3gnaS2lOVglDefKsVT9F4LgYXlL1tdvkhgiWKSsSaDljWfwHU6Ur4-eLuVMaUzwKM7ps-hcen0MDXMO1jM1uuyOzylysC-tqm9yDuFn-V0mNMGeoJA_O6t0hU2w3j-rQhni0peq5bQBQNPFHWhQ_RUTbSmyw/s529/SuperNintendoCartridges_Whirlo+Equinox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="529" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2HOu8fvJUE1zFf9mehmYFvltjy_-Ao3gnaS2lOVglDefKsVT9F4LgYXlL1tdvkhgiWKSsSaDljWfwHU6Ur4-eLuVMaUzwKM7ps-hcen0MDXMO1jM1uuyOzylysC-tqm9yDuFn-V0mNMGeoJA_O6t0hU2w3j-rQhni0peq5bQBQNPFHWhQ_RUTbSmyw/w200-h164/SuperNintendoCartridges_Whirlo+Equinox.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">At least with the Nintendo 16-bit cartridges they are durably sturdy and well-made, they're reasonably sized, and I do not fear I'm going to break them like I do with the Genesis games (even though it's never come to that, thankfully).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLZ1FHtJrC6XRZd3J4j3Asak27uK8QirUBbhubh34nC939YMOd7GlAhtxdqCSVy7ygr2rXwjjhviW-QpJxICrUsPXOYrzfuBs0cPZD9Rdv1J7dyQXXsck2RbdWPYJM8nO2Mp31OAWsWKyY4t1E8lBurF9kYd1w06ihON6TqyZCJKQOj6QjCJVzELHmw/s504/SegaSaturn_ActionReplayCart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLZ1FHtJrC6XRZd3J4j3Asak27uK8QirUBbhubh34nC939YMOd7GlAhtxdqCSVy7ygr2rXwjjhviW-QpJxICrUsPXOYrzfuBs0cPZD9Rdv1J7dyQXXsck2RbdWPYJM8nO2Mp31OAWsWKyY4t1E8lBurF9kYd1w06ihON6TqyZCJKQOj6QjCJVzELHmw/s16000/SegaSaturn_ActionReplayCart.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look at that, snug as a bug or something! Now I was really playing with power!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOoo0roR9BGvqKVfszSHYmSEXagA2IzVe5l3M6OA2crd7u9odmN1kfj6e1_zraRTFHinDaDw473eeFymetboyCkgfgOePeFSDbjxsGUpRgNUJMsgkPeKZF2Uc4GnGeKfyEcMgK64khwnumgsU7QoniUwzyaI7-MdbFd_V32H9WAeOKTe2BiHmriGQog/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Sukezaemon-Formation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOoo0roR9BGvqKVfszSHYmSEXagA2IzVe5l3M6OA2crd7u9odmN1kfj6e1_zraRTFHinDaDw473eeFymetboyCkgfgOePeFSDbjxsGUpRgNUJMsgkPeKZF2Uc4GnGeKfyEcMgK64khwnumgsU7QoniUwzyaI7-MdbFd_V32H9WAeOKTe2BiHmriGQog/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Sukezaemon-Formation.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjDX9mB6Af2diQF9FWSCe6zXGfeqbtmGBOeYfaS_nDxnqnH9xidxP_I77JrnuBhJNlwPN2AUVGUeuHCIqw0KypK9qqnmzf3YyfnErX7jntZL-S4nZHmZjY7fljqOdAc1F_S09pBkOIX6aHMR2uhC6K7egJQ_Nzz7g1FFRJvEPa2LNnuZ51_rC1rdySw/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Jennifer-PoroPorous.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjDX9mB6Af2diQF9FWSCe6zXGfeqbtmGBOeYfaS_nDxnqnH9xidxP_I77JrnuBhJNlwPN2AUVGUeuHCIqw0KypK9qqnmzf3YyfnErX7jntZL-S4nZHmZjY7fljqOdAc1F_S09pBkOIX6aHMR2uhC6K7egJQ_Nzz7g1FFRJvEPa2LNnuZ51_rC1rdySw/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Jennifer-PoroPorous.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This game was also released on the PlayStation One, but only in Japan and in Europe</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">My very first Japanese Saturn game (which also came on the same day as my Action Replay Plus cartridge on October 8th, 2022), and the eleventh game in my collection, was the Sunsoft-published falling block puzzler <b><i>Popoitto Hebereke</i></b> which was developed by Success because I was in such a mood for another puzzler. </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Hebereke</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (which is a colloquialism for drunkenness and untrustworthiness) was a franchise that began life in 1991 for the Famicom as a lite take on Nintendo's </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Metroid</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> which saw a European NES release as </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Ufouria: The Saga</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> with the narrow-eyed penguin Hebe and puzzle-loving cat O-Chan being changed to a snowman named Bop-Louie and a lizard named Freeon-Leon,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJNsp14kHSisQXbXFWkSHmVEZ98u8C8cZEGv5-gfSxoOFLSEAdjOfCfgJ-dzJahjBBC4k22Lta_jUML-vzV04xLN5X1YBzKwKNjT7CCawSimRQuNHye7r89qHbcnJLh3hZUpyycR1SltAjU83WXKaU_mb_QKSjHX9LpWOtRfEuqd7ZBtcvX9As8_tKg/s390/HeberekeNoPopoon_OChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJNsp14kHSisQXbXFWkSHmVEZ98u8C8cZEGv5-gfSxoOFLSEAdjOfCfgJ-dzJahjBBC4k22Lta_jUML-vzV04xLN5X1YBzKwKNjT7CCawSimRQuNHye7r89qHbcnJLh3hZUpyycR1SltAjU83WXKaU_mb_QKSjHX9LpWOtRfEuqd7ZBtcvX9As8_tKg/w200-h156/HeberekeNoPopoon_OChan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6uTS1ERG2giKUBaUiQpnCiSoXC-8zQYYUt8YUtUSU8Ol5Y0aoTnDTobTK45PGQeZzRCNHQBxTexYK14ampNP68T3TgcKrNW2R7-IEdHRkTEcekeVMg6W7tAEK3rrqa73pdvynlo52LljSZ_tqrhVw9QmeLBHmWs6rgTQJ276J1PO0fpZJ3a-Zg7Xg/s390/HeberekeNoPopoon_PenChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs6uTS1ERG2giKUBaUiQpnCiSoXC-8zQYYUt8YUtUSU8Ol5Y0aoTnDTobTK45PGQeZzRCNHQBxTexYK14ampNP68T3TgcKrNW2R7-IEdHRkTEcekeVMg6W7tAEK3rrqa73pdvynlo52LljSZ_tqrhVw9QmeLBHmWs6rgTQJ276J1PO0fpZJ3a-Zg7Xg/w200-h156/HeberekeNoPopoon_PenChan.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">with Hebe acting as Sunsoft's Japanese mascot for a while and being featured alongside other characters in character designer </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ryōji Uchimichi's yonkoma manga series. The second game in the series was a basic falling block puzzler called <i>Hebereke no Popūn</i> on the Super Famicom which also came out on the European SNES but as <i>Hebereke's Popoon</i>, sans the changes applied to the prior localized game as it retained the Japanese quality, rendering... the necessity of the first game's changes moot, really, almost like there was no point in doing it at all; maybe the 16-bit era was more lax at this point. Regardless, the puzzler genre was the direction most of the franchise took and largely for the better, with <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i> being the third and final game in the series to also see a release in Europe as well (but as <i>Hebereke's Popoitto</i>).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyFKTSl6de6twKlsG-SlHRW0MpALFRkmJkbPYUCbCycGp-WpeS3Kd2Vn2lMPx_teSyt01NYuuydm_MppYUCdbb7ykP-ImVUo8XhfrSWaYgiEQslFbhit3OnHSZRakzC2IlUbXN4mdyu6brLxDV0LsN1WzeCKGRusKzKmD7Npx3VrRaZoYxt_bFqtuTA/s392/AlbertOdyssey_HebeCameo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="392" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyFKTSl6de6twKlsG-SlHRW0MpALFRkmJkbPYUCbCycGp-WpeS3Kd2Vn2lMPx_teSyt01NYuuydm_MppYUCdbb7ykP-ImVUo8XhfrSWaYgiEQslFbhit3OnHSZRakzC2IlUbXN4mdyu6brLxDV0LsN1WzeCKGRusKzKmD7Npx3VrRaZoYxt_bFqtuTA/w200-h156/AlbertOdyssey_HebeCameo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbjUfnzGnWsQHN9S8nPkhHXDgZx_WyKwkqodrHHpBr9I8GNgFTBV35MnN_eFXH-UBDQaLOZmxI5YloJiQUcnTsY9fI9VHkFdRbBQepJ3m6xOIWnQsFy3wITNxy9NoSik_6c6GLwHrueC8Ri0TgMA7pODp-PYrAL6HqXRpsxL1QHlgrAfX7bG9akdamA/s392/AlbertOdyssey_OChanCameo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="392" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbjUfnzGnWsQHN9S8nPkhHXDgZx_WyKwkqodrHHpBr9I8GNgFTBV35MnN_eFXH-UBDQaLOZmxI5YloJiQUcnTsY9fI9VHkFdRbBQepJ3m6xOIWnQsFy3wITNxy9NoSik_6c6GLwHrueC8Ri0TgMA7pODp-PYrAL6HqXRpsxL1QHlgrAfX7bG9akdamA/w200-h156/AlbertOdyssey_OChanCameo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">YEAH, take <u>that</u>, Neverland's <i>Estopolis Denki</i>/<i>Lufia</i>, <i>Albert Odyssey</i> made the word balloon dialogue design look cool before <u>you</u> did!</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The popularity of <i>Hebereke</i> also resulted in them making the occasional cameo appearance in certain Sunsoft releases, like in Tokai Engineering's <i>Albert Odyssey</i> on the Super Famicom for one such example.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YZfxhCIBd1itdIkPiWNNrtx92cPa6jNdXIE1LWNf_fl_Nnh_8P_KY4dR8pkd9HacQGCSa77J46HwrEr1Jj40__jYMLaxXlwNRdJaJ_cTsVUUQuAuJsKxPN1HFy5Vubp7E8PTaOLimTjJWWgW5Nob8H0eT2_tSDmLFbAcfkPA3DLTK77OcaRW1njUNw/s392/AlbertOdyssey_Strike.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="392" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YZfxhCIBd1itdIkPiWNNrtx92cPa6jNdXIE1LWNf_fl_Nnh_8P_KY4dR8pkd9HacQGCSa77J46HwrEr1Jj40__jYMLaxXlwNRdJaJ_cTsVUUQuAuJsKxPN1HFy5Vubp7E8PTaOLimTjJWWgW5Nob8H0eT2_tSDmLFbAcfkPA3DLTK77OcaRW1njUNw/w200-h156/AlbertOdyssey_Strike.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXLpsnbaVYCjcOgdnN8Kys7qvZuXMI4_3ZgG-i4yNGsHiu_n7Qqo6oy_H8QdI-ousqWtYZpMrblABgY9pKPFDpm7V-i285QPibFCY6JRUsWI7Ls1k4hoH8WFmjbK8usXOo-xarKh7G9GcMj2BKJ7Ew6FcaowPftcAec23HOkXubNFdb1MC_di617gOQ/s392/AlbertOdyssey_EnemyMovement.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="392" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXLpsnbaVYCjcOgdnN8Kys7qvZuXMI4_3ZgG-i4yNGsHiu_n7Qqo6oy_H8QdI-ousqWtYZpMrblABgY9pKPFDpm7V-i285QPibFCY6JRUsWI7Ls1k4hoH8WFmjbK8usXOo-xarKh7G9GcMj2BKJ7Ew6FcaowPftcAec23HOkXubNFdb1MC_di617gOQ/w200-h156/AlbertOdyssey_EnemyMovement.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I can't really say my thoughts on this game because I haven't gone too far in the years I've had it, tactical turn-based RPGs I generally shy away from, but I like Naoki Kodaka's music</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh yeah, there wasn't just one <i>Albert Oddsey</i> on the Super Famicom but two (and in Japan they were a big deal), and the Saturn also received a game in the series (which ended up localized by Working Designs) which was the lesser received of the three due to leaning more towards the traditional turn-based RPG format instead compared to what preceded it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-JUHAOexz8zzwct6oVOZ48ML13WcdRwdU76jmHOuu0sjFrhRMG6v7tAKHNHEtYWyRuOoMI5ljZ-YYYjjpsViu-v8hzAVsNupOmifPp5amy69_LJCOIBV5HPCqXvzvYFVmktDNikOp5_iIiYeI-rAv7dxtb9cQb0yxmT1qbHIUDU8PBTIUzBLkqgwmQ/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Bobodori-Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-JUHAOexz8zzwct6oVOZ48ML13WcdRwdU76jmHOuu0sjFrhRMG6v7tAKHNHEtYWyRuOoMI5ljZ-YYYjjpsViu-v8hzAVsNupOmifPp5amy69_LJCOIBV5HPCqXvzvYFVmktDNikOp5_iIiYeI-rAv7dxtb9cQb0yxmT1qbHIUDU8PBTIUzBLkqgwmQ/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Bobodori-Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a1DXymKlqMD42A6EYVcqfPy4aUZy735i2EX61X98vO6qtYa-a55K7CGZbk9zPUVuJZ2k4o9U2B066MaLfsvmUtmx1vXPKhBiaBbV6fuWeMwbdu6K2sd099nW05m1LphydIS8U1dM374F5KTi8Na9SI03KVMmuR9byhH_d_CaGlEZou2adbhf9G_URw/s380/PopoittoHebereke_PenChan-Formation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a1DXymKlqMD42A6EYVcqfPy4aUZy735i2EX61X98vO6qtYa-a55K7CGZbk9zPUVuJZ2k4o9U2B066MaLfsvmUtmx1vXPKhBiaBbV6fuWeMwbdu6K2sd099nW05m1LphydIS8U1dM374F5KTi8Na9SI03KVMmuR9byhH_d_CaGlEZou2adbhf9G_URw/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_PenChan-Formation.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love how each character has got their own personal HUD design, that's such a cute touch</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The goal of this puzzler in particular is to clear out <b>all</b> the poro-porous with heads shaped like the <i>Hebereke</i> cast where they're disposed of by stacking at least four or more of the same color vertically or horizontally (i.e. Sukezaemon=red, Jennifer=green, Pen-Chan=purple, et al) but the catch is that those randomly set up poro-porous have a mind of their own and will sometimes move aside so you'll have to time your drop properly or rush your present piece down towards them. And much like any other puzzler, the rate of speed will amp itself up the longer you stay alive to the point (should it come to that) that it might be a bit hard to retain control of where you want your pair of poro-porous to go if not rotate them (counter)clockwise if need be.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm6lR-SwGDRHGjFt7u344GShCGpzM0TLdXNIk1MxDPtId-wXu-8BySz_dODihr5knEHvhEoZ3lj68MN7gpayWALWhQ-PTXvgyFuvdoj_yUqxpp0tIyz6dLeYjXrV9vxDVfJ-kb0FJ2WErgKB-qp-hvNhfq9sRHhaIqxpa1m4-RdOU2PKZpuIg__vBMQ/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Jennifer+PenChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm6lR-SwGDRHGjFt7u344GShCGpzM0TLdXNIk1MxDPtId-wXu-8BySz_dODihr5knEHvhEoZ3lj68MN7gpayWALWhQ-PTXvgyFuvdoj_yUqxpp0tIyz6dLeYjXrV9vxDVfJ-kb0FJ2WErgKB-qp-hvNhfq9sRHhaIqxpa1m4-RdOU2PKZpuIg__vBMQ/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Jennifer+PenChan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqRIfOjov8heHuEBLDKIoh9WRENNvmPt32aD-L7S4OlIL_d3eF1gglaCs7Vg6WUrN1pqHLrsuuKdP9Yi7MKFMXEf0J5TH0pgq_LNlBgyW7HX1trEztm9l-oDQweqVucVVicE9Y7yisLOh4VUrLWxRcLghQ9BDtJlHr-yS3gWC-vWPhDfYXbUoemnB-w/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Sukezaemon+Unyohn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqRIfOjov8heHuEBLDKIoh9WRENNvmPt32aD-L7S4OlIL_d3eF1gglaCs7Vg6WUrN1pqHLrsuuKdP9Yi7MKFMXEf0J5TH0pgq_LNlBgyW7HX1trEztm9l-oDQweqVucVVicE9Y7yisLOh4VUrLWxRcLghQ9BDtJlHr-yS3gWC-vWPhDfYXbUoemnB-w/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Sukezaemon+Unyohn.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Wait, are Hebe and company watching... </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">themselves</u><b>??? </b>😖</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Before and after each competitor's stage there is a cute cutscene featuring an interaction between two select characters, and I adore their expressiveness and different natured settings bookending in the victor bumping off the loser.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mnQqrKN6IbkMKTdPajoZElAqCL_owibKnNT9-J9F3SfG-sL-dSa3JLm9ElBqouTlPDdbBm9tKSngQM0yubIMJN-zEenOVzUD2cBNGVkICW3Web3-nB6cBmt0S2WZbSsKFl_TWk_jSE_5n9zYhHHaFYCDBJt--st10xCDKYoOpGNvWR3lSgjsTCsPqQ/s383/Keeper_GameMode.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mnQqrKN6IbkMKTdPajoZElAqCL_owibKnNT9-J9F3SfG-sL-dSa3JLm9ElBqouTlPDdbBm9tKSngQM0yubIMJN-zEenOVzUD2cBNGVkICW3Web3-nB6cBmt0S2WZbSsKFl_TWk_jSE_5n9zYhHHaFYCDBJt--st10xCDKYoOpGNvWR3lSgjsTCsPqQ/w200-h156/Keeper_GameMode.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-KzjUe4StxjFqHg7KhpYgmxbfiCxbI0xPRIwoB2l-bNnNBHtMzMxUNi3xbJDZYkLasy5FGSOH9Ma1vQbxkCaePM2NounP5-MqKouu2g033Tkht-orrbYubUtMf7M_BOfap25FYaJ9ZEzfZ4OhYnj8lPwRB70cKFFM4DRcz_Z-pqSLLtvL8cPsks7qg/s383/Keeper_PuzzleMode.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-KzjUe4StxjFqHg7KhpYgmxbfiCxbI0xPRIwoB2l-bNnNBHtMzMxUNi3xbJDZYkLasy5FGSOH9Ma1vQbxkCaePM2NounP5-MqKouu2g033Tkht-orrbYubUtMf7M_BOfap25FYaJ9ZEzfZ4OhYnj8lPwRB70cKFFM4DRcz_Z-pqSLLtvL8cPsks7qg/w200-h156/Keeper_PuzzleMode.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">And yes, it <u>is</u> indeed a keeper</span></span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love that Success developed this game, Kenichi Hirata's music is great in this game and in two of the <i>Cotton</i> cute'em ups I've played, plus I love <i>Keeper</i> on the Super Famicom. 🤗</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC13IOMe4KVi9CTjsR9ioHxCSbhA5ENsuAxENzZ7vlO7IUwOdKpKBt_SIfTdJ58FbAQjIQLwsrUO09xcfVg8ftVCCpNpdFGgtHo1vfVEEHqON3MXxsvtF4pVqOEa5wFVklPxcRhpvXLEaNGjeQQFqfrdhzL-W100fkgSfdrZpgF-JhN4lfu6iOEOmSFQ/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Unyohn-Red.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC13IOMe4KVi9CTjsR9ioHxCSbhA5ENsuAxENzZ7vlO7IUwOdKpKBt_SIfTdJ58FbAQjIQLwsrUO09xcfVg8ftVCCpNpdFGgtHo1vfVEEHqON3MXxsvtF4pVqOEa5wFVklPxcRhpvXLEaNGjeQQFqfrdhzL-W100fkgSfdrZpgF-JhN4lfu6iOEOmSFQ/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Unyohn-Red.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8KYDpv5dQyP3MSeDgfrYY5mBNQeFN4xY1BbHKXNcWxTcTxpP24SL2eEHvHabFlIa8RyeZP_NURZwW6cJ4zEH1yI-1uVJxQJPdF5LYsei9oRmu7FJHFdcHHhnnb43C4OZ0g-94cERUOxf_4Z75E0oH1pj2k30xbc6UAw7oz5NX4G3RHStmoOcvJxSuQ/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Hebe-Formation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8KYDpv5dQyP3MSeDgfrYY5mBNQeFN4xY1BbHKXNcWxTcTxpP24SL2eEHvHabFlIa8RyeZP_NURZwW6cJ4zEH1yI-1uVJxQJPdF5LYsei9oRmu7FJHFdcHHhnnb43C4OZ0g-94cERUOxf_4Z75E0oH1pj2k30xbc6UAw7oz5NX4G3RHStmoOcvJxSuQ/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Hebe-Formation.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Popoitto Hebereke</i> is a very charming block puzzler that is so easy to play and replay, and I love how while you are busy trying to do away with the poro-porous Hebe and company are casually moving about and doing random things at the bottom of the screen. 😃 It's not very long, being arcade-length, but it is a fun and addicting puzzler while it lasts which easily makes it my favorite game in the series with Hebe in the lead role.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Vss8vTSRdp2yevuX0TUtKFyqsacWbEvJEqtxNJhcDr2rJNlhODLyfZLcDWz8U2OwbShzf-IxfokPSsZp32bSt1wE7gYKAY5ProPv_XqlI8z1rswni8uZ-80QacM4HQovQ5ZOhhV-tu5gdrTVDlcwZca6kroTqAhuO79XJHOriorIamYztA6amKI9FA/s377/PopoittoHebereke_Poro-Porous.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Vss8vTSRdp2yevuX0TUtKFyqsacWbEvJEqtxNJhcDr2rJNlhODLyfZLcDWz8U2OwbShzf-IxfokPSsZp32bSt1wE7gYKAY5ProPv_XqlI8z1rswni8uZ-80QacM4HQovQ5ZOhhV-tu5gdrTVDlcwZca6kroTqAhuO79XJHOriorIamYztA6amKI9FA/s16000/PopoittoHebereke_Poro-Porous.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Awww, look how happy O-Chan is, the future is looking bright for her. 😊 ... Hint-hint!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, wondering what Japanese Saturn games I should try next after a positive experience with <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i>, but within a reasonable price, I decided to order a couple of them at the same time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-I7pSZ4XzMZwJJaBOY9Dl8dW0NiHkX99MHV9wUKvQiiOtURbHaP9d8ACBoKRut0o96GAfazbhpPOQok4Fp7Ben6hP0mpSYP3rSfTjJGo1nDOyZCesyVYJeRAWVZrl_7-VE-ZmPnVidbHut9luXdUuZBRGP-pZ5KjVDyS0WljoMk_nzItZWgYWOWygw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Juggling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-I7pSZ4XzMZwJJaBOY9Dl8dW0NiHkX99MHV9wUKvQiiOtURbHaP9d8ACBoKRut0o96GAfazbhpPOQok4Fp7Ben6hP0mpSYP3rSfTjJGo1nDOyZCesyVYJeRAWVZrl_7-VE-ZmPnVidbHut9luXdUuZBRGP-pZ5KjVDyS0WljoMk_nzItZWgYWOWygw/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-Juggling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpVXsRxAthNsnGW9k7LOx0WQAE_5XPgEdJ1tGFCuwUhVR8XPjS14-YXSE68XRTPIA4ICdiw4_BjiFNhGaCrhB-WsGpsP6xjK1E9Yg6G8qNy5-niZl3w8cV2TFDCSvAUvUlD8OftizudKyraN-xBPgV99tWYTey1JR_6lqOh4B-uvE3K53ThJAdgWYmA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Springs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpVXsRxAthNsnGW9k7LOx0WQAE_5XPgEdJ1tGFCuwUhVR8XPjS14-YXSE68XRTPIA4ICdiw4_BjiFNhGaCrhB-WsGpsP6xjK1E9Yg6G8qNy5-niZl3w8cV2TFDCSvAUvUlD8OftizudKyraN-xBPgV99tWYTey1JR_6lqOh4B-uvE3K53ThJAdgWYmA/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-Springs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Whizz</i> was also released on the PlayStation One in both Europe and Japan</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first of the two to arrive, on October 14th, 2022, was Flair Software's rabbit-starring isometric action game <b><i>Whizz</i></b> where this 32-bit version in particular only saw a release in Europe (by Konami of all companies, wow) and in Japan (by B-Factory).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpZN5viNjb_0e7XskerR2UkBAjKyLfopMAf9yOYwgMreeEz2Ptc29q16uWQy_tlucUkSa-NB0vjUfWiQX7f3GelFNhAGRZ8_bfPquxpi8K85rNsM6ZZzXdziUP7akMHhKE-R8d-GfQp7Wyxs-IYLMdOeCcz0J3wptNzAijrUiMwVmWAeNOo-vtmtKHQ/s390/Whizz_SNES-LandMines.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpZN5viNjb_0e7XskerR2UkBAjKyLfopMAf9yOYwgMreeEz2Ptc29q16uWQy_tlucUkSa-NB0vjUfWiQX7f3GelFNhAGRZ8_bfPquxpi8K85rNsM6ZZzXdziUP7akMHhKE-R8d-GfQp7Wyxs-IYLMdOeCcz0J3wptNzAijrUiMwVmWAeNOo-vtmtKHQ/w200-h156/Whizz_SNES-LandMines.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv3pT2UcaEe4DNYObCzyXkjOZumAUzuv4VAl3pt1dM1mFYK6HvYR3jtY9CTZrn5LwnDPtnQOueF04NHFTuTatdaSpskYQDdUxdjQIHlmRRFrboo_CTDWNGMhq34p9YZ8WHiw4rwCuhmWBXqTvGZ15zy4qKto2t-_z_LaJtLvUab9S-tEaj7MmTUJTnQ/s390/Whizz_SNES-Checkers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv3pT2UcaEe4DNYObCzyXkjOZumAUzuv4VAl3pt1dM1mFYK6HvYR3jtY9CTZrn5LwnDPtnQOueF04NHFTuTatdaSpskYQDdUxdjQIHlmRRFrboo_CTDWNGMhq34p9YZ8WHiw4rwCuhmWBXqTvGZ15zy4qKto2t-_z_LaJtLvUab9S-tEaj7MmTUJTnQ/w200-h156/Whizz_SNES-Checkers.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Fret not, the SNES version is not bad, Titus' name is not a reflection of lack of quality here</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">From the developer of acclaimed classics <span style="font-size: x-small;">[<i>citation needed</i>]</span> <i>Oscar</i> and <i>Realm</i>, <i>Whizz</i> originally made its debut on MS-DOS computers in 1994 and was largely prominent in Europe, having also seen a treatment on Amiga computers, an SNES port by Titus Software which also came out in North American shores, and both the PlayStation One and Sega Saturn editions as late as 1997. Even though I already owned the SNES version, I was genuinely curious how the Saturn version fared by comparison, and honestly I found the Sega version to be superior in a lot of ways.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS0JzD5EACmWsh84CkrxCaABRtqH2sj6xs47a2Ifx1sP2SE7m2yCOFPrIG17X1MKfOB3H1EdZmol4yUoSbVQcSi8pb8OTdL_raQYfy2h3Mq_AMb8CGGN_kOj5wQHoEgmuAfq7gVZEj2Vf-nml3m5Vs-TwGChjyXRlSMS3qXs033EuVrZsYQz38SacDw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-SlowRollers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS0JzD5EACmWsh84CkrxCaABRtqH2sj6xs47a2Ifx1sP2SE7m2yCOFPrIG17X1MKfOB3H1EdZmol4yUoSbVQcSi8pb8OTdL_raQYfy2h3Mq_AMb8CGGN_kOj5wQHoEgmuAfq7gVZEj2Vf-nml3m5Vs-TwGChjyXRlSMS3qXs033EuVrZsYQz38SacDw/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-SlowRollers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPptwJ_AZrPv0UFSwipe8j80My1AGEB-OatL8ptC_NASpn5CiQ2w2hg9xSl-MVNVCEayabw8fGVPhy0lZm90TNAWpGVcKJWXu-OepAv8r8R4IU4uUn50DQGOTRWKryfqgt2eQ6mXx6DUvwgSByg2xPAwhP9h5DN3TCEb-pe2r5qnstAZ9BFY2QKc_iQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-DestroyedWoodenBarricade.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPptwJ_AZrPv0UFSwipe8j80My1AGEB-OatL8ptC_NASpn5CiQ2w2hg9xSl-MVNVCEayabw8fGVPhy0lZm90TNAWpGVcKJWXu-OepAv8r8R4IU4uUn50DQGOTRWKryfqgt2eQ6mXx6DUvwgSByg2xPAwhP9h5DN3TCEb-pe2r5qnstAZ9BFY2QKc_iQ/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-DestroyedWoodenBarricade.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Spanning four stages that each have two to three segments, the objective for the titular dapper rabbit Whizz is to reach his hot air balloon at the checker-patterned goal at the end of a segment under the allotted time given to you before your competition does for failure to do so will result in having you start the present segment all over again. Throughout the open-ended areas you must gather specific blocks to break down certain obstacles with his spin attack which is also his means of defending himself against basic enemies, red mushrooms to replenish lost health (but be sure not to take the poison mushroom which <b>can</b> be destroyed with the spin attack), keys to unlock certain paths if not treasure chests, hourglasses to prolong the allotted time you're accorded, and if you can manage there are red switches that must be jumped on to launch rockets (they're not mandatory, but you are given an extra continue if you find all four).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlbhnKD3Il3zrenNx0IjBsqZ_PlU9HREgYqCunFxkhMn-3ZGhNoDIAwsaQIuBR57FhAcDUWnfks9JplyAzs16DGG4Yl3cvFM8l5Lttpg53TCk2H2UOQqTTSPxZ7AoraxTriEe_qjS_UlPnpDIJS-QkjI9FEpAE3bQ_s7ZHw1WPVPICgSWlqXZFaEphQ/s388/Whizz_Saturn-BallJumping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlbhnKD3Il3zrenNx0IjBsqZ_PlU9HREgYqCunFxkhMn-3ZGhNoDIAwsaQIuBR57FhAcDUWnfks9JplyAzs16DGG4Yl3cvFM8l5Lttpg53TCk2H2UOQqTTSPxZ7AoraxTriEe_qjS_UlPnpDIJS-QkjI9FEpAE3bQ_s7ZHw1WPVPICgSWlqXZFaEphQ/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-BallJumping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVsPXYR4yq2gMDireVQA33-IGme3Jvug0IxxtVfcjfVyshIt5f8o6FBdXzLSYwgI-9NPKMLbL57Hwq8ncVK4zLol5FnLE7zbYWHZXnvct9TkDJ_nuH7Hl-AdJgzPdMy8tedqgWUSxc-kWN-HZrc8liltnRcHPOMKCYs9lkbaWZUNZt4nW9pioLD7PuA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Snakes+Ladders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVsPXYR4yq2gMDireVQA33-IGme3Jvug0IxxtVfcjfVyshIt5f8o6FBdXzLSYwgI-9NPKMLbL57Hwq8ncVK4zLol5FnLE7zbYWHZXnvct9TkDJ_nuH7Hl-AdJgzPdMy8tedqgWUSxc-kWN-HZrc8liltnRcHPOMKCYs9lkbaWZUNZt4nW9pioLD7PuA/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-Snakes+Ladders.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><b>I was disgusted to learn that in trying to promote this game, supposed "adults" writing for gaming magazines resorted to urination jokes simply because it's called "Whizz" ... </b>😒<b> <u>GROW UP</u>!! </b>😠<b> Like, I know it's three decades too late, but grow up, no one <u>does</u> that unless they hated their audience let alone their profession</b></span></div>There are even stage-specific items that will aid you in your way, and I like the creative variety of ways for Whizz to progress further, feeding a fish to a whale in exchange for a ride across, cautiously weaving around and keeping at a safe distance from land mines, being shot out of a cannon in one of three directions you choose for it to face, riding a motorboat and later on a surfboard, creating a makeshift coin bridge after playing with the slots, and riding on a zig zag pattern astride a giant knight chess piece, et al. The isometric gameplay is decently fun even if you can only move in four directions (and there are no shadows) and how non-demanding it is in terms of entertainment, the visuals are colorfully appealing (my favorites are the snow and game stages), and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8tzP6tqCQM">32-bit rendition</a> of Keith Leary and David Murrant's soundtrack is nice and catchy (especially the first stage theme with notes from "London Bridge is Falling Down") and it's great how (bar the cutscene music) the game disc doubles as a soundtrack (small as it may be).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMAFUJeZuuuWSwpBAs-YlLzW8lvJSvE1DPEs_MgKsJkB3zq5hA4n0WJx3FGg6xjVFSQwmuYtu1Sm3mAgXPuS56LIyZZYo4-98ibqXHbGP97dfoLQ819kPk9KP1dJuUWJgbvk2Qva6mEyG6swoUdRTQUMrF2aLGkBYHddct30yO-lY9EuT8rXhio4OBA/s388/Whizz_Saturn-InTheLead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMAFUJeZuuuWSwpBAs-YlLzW8lvJSvE1DPEs_MgKsJkB3zq5hA4n0WJx3FGg6xjVFSQwmuYtu1Sm3mAgXPuS56LIyZZYo4-98ibqXHbGP97dfoLQ819kPk9KP1dJuUWJgbvk2Qva6mEyG6swoUdRTQUMrF2aLGkBYHddct30yO-lY9EuT8rXhio4OBA/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-InTheLead.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Full disclosure: every time I turn the Saturn on post acquiring the Action Replay Plus cart, I press the C button at the Action Replay Plus menu to go the Saturn menu and <u>then</u> play from there; I found, at least with <i>Whizz</i>, that if I immediately accessed the game from the Action Replay Plus menu then what happens is that the cutscenes won't show up at all but the sound will still be present</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The CG cutscenes certainly were a product of their time, huh? But you know, there's an earnest '90s charm to them, I don't dislike them... that said, they are a bit rough. Like all versions of <i>Whizz</i>, the in-between cutscene as he's flying ahead of his zeppelin-riding competition is the same for each version and the same is true here but in 3D.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYLTakPEg7UB09zAZQ3qHo7yOS7BkU98lYmmfg3-0wXjs3Wr1ERJ2qUeJlJ6dcxgSKjO0YU0e9hhkdnBfTC2IYJT_XhDgNmWbsllPiT-coS3MFAMDX62vUGBowL7a3PPIZl2JhKVlsqSoEGM_91HUj4WU74yX6EBhv7S43twZS2lgCJSzTlqZYxBvJA/s771/Whizz_Saturn-TitleScreen+Options.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="771" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYLTakPEg7UB09zAZQ3qHo7yOS7BkU98lYmmfg3-0wXjs3Wr1ERJ2qUeJlJ6dcxgSKjO0YU0e9hhkdnBfTC2IYJT_XhDgNmWbsllPiT-coS3MFAMDX62vUGBowL7a3PPIZl2JhKVlsqSoEGM_91HUj4WU74yX6EBhv7S43twZS2lgCJSzTlqZYxBvJA/w400-h160/Whizz_Saturn-TitleScreen+Options.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Not exactly seamless image splicing, but this was the best I could manage</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Interestingly, the Saturn version of <i>Whizz</i> has got a password system which you're given upon losing your last life which takes you back to the start of stage, and even though the game isn't all too challenging or too long to warrant one it is nice to have nonetheless, especially since the harder the difficulty mode the less time you're accorded to reach the goal.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlI1p-VcJPpr_J2TjdtIvGfNFAiTTe_wCRyGcU-fP7bJKI32UosWgA3S8dAIefaFZ9hF4IGZt9ntZCUyFa9YQIiH9KEip31bWDk8DumVWw1HSVEkjTLcfVL0dKp_jL7f6WwgNPuGXg7cQ4PI8Z8FYwyUrF-9ZNiMB4tAvpwP6-R_lbB1KB2kdstGJCw/s561/Whizz_SNES+Saturn-CoverAppearance.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="561" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlI1p-VcJPpr_J2TjdtIvGfNFAiTTe_wCRyGcU-fP7bJKI32UosWgA3S8dAIefaFZ9hF4IGZt9ntZCUyFa9YQIiH9KEip31bWDk8DumVWw1HSVEkjTLcfVL0dKp_jL7f6WwgNPuGXg7cQ4PI8Z8FYwyUrF-9ZNiMB4tAvpwP6-R_lbB1KB2kdstGJCw/w400-h213/Whizz_SNES+Saturn-CoverAppearance.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Regardless which one is deemed superior, I think we can all agree on one thing: it's not creepy like the European cover art is</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I also found myself liking Whizz's sprites and fluid walking animations a lot more here than how he appeared on the SNES, Flair touched his face up a bit, and I especially like how he appeared in a different color depending on the version for he's purple here (he was blue on the SNES version, red on the MS-DOS, cyan on the Amiga). My favorite appearance of his is in the cover art as it's got him at his most charming, though I'm hard-pressed to decide which is superior: Titus' SNES one or B-Factory's Japanese cover design. Also, rabbits are cute. 🐰</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kVWcqGiGIZpIH5u2uoX1iRt62OusA8ZI2ATsON8lY_0gyOK6ep2mK2kts1QZUstGNykQc28Wk-xs-na4O6f1Cc842sN1-cM8xmqQxqwJIHUZZ1YYCGy0PrbP16PVjCsYow-klpjba0A6Uzfgr6p0IUssg3dZhdtxxR4XUDkN52dcfEIV93k9VWUNpw/s388/Whizz_Saturn-Bomb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kVWcqGiGIZpIH5u2uoX1iRt62OusA8ZI2ATsON8lY_0gyOK6ep2mK2kts1QZUstGNykQc28Wk-xs-na4O6f1Cc842sN1-cM8xmqQxqwJIHUZZ1YYCGy0PrbP16PVjCsYow-klpjba0A6Uzfgr6p0IUssg3dZhdtxxR4XUDkN52dcfEIV93k9VWUNpw/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-Bomb.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcp8si8ZTNljPCfEYUJLP6mq0hTwyMoRm9LQa5YNwLluLNUbo2GJcamiW9lF2emO0wjqe26YPSwVUXfNa2qRQ7AkS7-bJfpIusdIq0-ikTNSyJUgpkRkietikpeorKwge9W1KDCQk3Z4pKdIV3F6E9N7MBV623mgqZxq8gYrOnNfurpNqDQczJe18Sg/s388/Whizz_Saturn-KnightRider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="388" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcp8si8ZTNljPCfEYUJLP6mq0hTwyMoRm9LQa5YNwLluLNUbo2GJcamiW9lF2emO0wjqe26YPSwVUXfNa2qRQ7AkS7-bJfpIusdIq0-ikTNSyJUgpkRkietikpeorKwge9W1KDCQk3Z4pKdIV3F6E9N7MBV623mgqZxq8gYrOnNfurpNqDQczJe18Sg/w200-h159/Whizz_Saturn-KnightRider.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's nothing groundbreaking really, and I imagine that by this point a port of an MS-DOS game that came out this late in the game is rather strange or that <i>Whizz</i> might've been considered by some as something of a bargain bin title as far as the Saturn version is concerned. But regardless, I do like the game, it is pleasurably enjoyable every once in a while and I appreciated the number of secrets scattered about that rewarded your thorough searching (something that's more practical to do on easy than on the subsequent modes) if you've been accorded enough time to do so.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqN_kM-nU8GWJ0U4m_wj1-f9Mnk2NN6rYl9bUJKA2-7p5iiieMYc_DcGCTh12iTG1Bdfx_ctPy_ws5rM_FZ-ceIMoGMugNRLNzLfjF1gXNVjZSROvDyfEblem-xDRw6Mng2qxHLC7Nf-dxsRxJf92JTYOJ2CG9x0sm6f1hQmOJKyQnwEL4K7XavvKN-w/s387/Whizz_Saturn-Whizz.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqN_kM-nU8GWJ0U4m_wj1-f9Mnk2NN6rYl9bUJKA2-7p5iiieMYc_DcGCTh12iTG1Bdfx_ctPy_ws5rM_FZ-ceIMoGMugNRLNzLfjF1gXNVjZSROvDyfEblem-xDRw6Mng2qxHLC7Nf-dxsRxJf92JTYOJ2CG9x0sm6f1hQmOJKyQnwEL4K7XavvKN-w/s16000/Whizz_Saturn-Whizz.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>It's worth noting that January 22nd, 2023 to February 9th, 2024 marks the Year of the Rabbit </b>🐰</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am glad I looked into the Saturn version of this rabbity game. I'd never call it <b>great</b> or anything, but again, I do enjoy it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHRKaOjeiQxq0aqf0erqqCofvMQpz2p4fqazyd_Fhc9U9Ed0Anug1ujjsY8ndHROtWmJFX0gDd60PtZSxQ380g7nCG_3eGquI5hcPDrp0BiO4JoHrvSQhDrIEGhmfIKhJJgQt48ljJ1GyQIaczNsfQA4Xn2spIHfRKnidmyNUb-xwjIdMJ3l7-c1Dvg/s378/EarnestEvans_TrainFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="378" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHRKaOjeiQxq0aqf0erqqCofvMQpz2p4fqazyd_Fhc9U9Ed0Anug1ujjsY8ndHROtWmJFX0gDd60PtZSxQ380g7nCG_3eGquI5hcPDrp0BiO4JoHrvSQhDrIEGhmfIKhJJgQt48ljJ1GyQIaczNsfQA4Xn2spIHfRKnidmyNUb-xwjIdMJ3l7-c1Dvg/w200-h111/EarnestEvans_TrainFight.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVUXbN_tQYgY_jnVDHOP1yeIVoXbY4hrWJEhRwqWPA7q_rnDaNfMx_X-MmPNDed0Aw5A4hvW3o3ABOepboxO8eFXc5PeVnQij2t0Eg7R_VQziN7-THueo6sZRmLyzHmCKkw-tHtbVUcKa-QcPl1bpFkTkiD5wFEyfVN4DzxsmBaZn7SFwT-AecrXpNA/s389/BubsyInClawsEncountersOfTheFurredKind_Carnival.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVUXbN_tQYgY_jnVDHOP1yeIVoXbY4hrWJEhRwqWPA7q_rnDaNfMx_X-MmPNDed0Aw5A4hvW3o3ABOepboxO8eFXc5PeVnQij2t0Eg7R_VQziN7-THueo6sZRmLyzHmCKkw-tHtbVUcKa-QcPl1bpFkTkiD5wFEyfVN4DzxsmBaZn7SFwT-AecrXpNA/w200-h156/BubsyInClawsEncountersOfTheFurredKind_Carnival.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We've all got our guilty pleasures... Well, I may have found one on the Saturn with what came next.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6mVflfTk-AWrLwObjuCGeKYzLtpRr1amEof8-8iJ41g9ByjMAvR8dzEiG7Fkm3SG-V4aB4onjGqiLVSDOmaOh2lngn6n5-K3xFbotNpREswxXNoB519tODNT5tK4kRlm6DAshFONvKSGL_7SB70CuZY-QPUcgXE3s1upFzT9TAYOCx3BINnIAcA89A/s381/ShiningWisdom_Satera+PazortFollowers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6mVflfTk-AWrLwObjuCGeKYzLtpRr1amEof8-8iJ41g9ByjMAvR8dzEiG7Fkm3SG-V4aB4onjGqiLVSDOmaOh2lngn6n5-K3xFbotNpREswxXNoB519tODNT5tK4kRlm6DAshFONvKSGL_7SB70CuZY-QPUcgXE3s1upFzT9TAYOCx3BINnIAcA89A/s16000/ShiningWisdom_Satera+PazortFollowers.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second out of two Japanese Saturn games I ordered around the same time arrived the very next day, actually, on October 15th, 2022 with my thirteenth Saturn game in the form of Camelot (then known as "Sonic!") Software Planning's action adventure game <i style="font-weight: bold;">Shining Wisdom</i>, the first game in the <i>Shining</i> series to receive a 32-bit installment and where the Japanese version was published by Sega.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0-RZTnTWsBX8UBP9yut5y-SOJLOPa5UY3LrW-b6JI4srYXAEPiG8DHhHcPg8gA0GN3mTMT1tOHa4su4nDfTb4K8LnxD5tzWQV50i9umLXagRuJaQV9NfrE_ElTRSEs2YpzrLS62T3dpjIeBuSNpnk0f4p7eF3T80VXpOQ-qdE4sjHz9uc87yp63xWQ/s381/ShiningWisdom_CreepyFloorMaws.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0-RZTnTWsBX8UBP9yut5y-SOJLOPa5UY3LrW-b6JI4srYXAEPiG8DHhHcPg8gA0GN3mTMT1tOHa4su4nDfTb4K8LnxD5tzWQV50i9umLXagRuJaQV9NfrE_ElTRSEs2YpzrLS62T3dpjIeBuSNpnk0f4p7eF3T80VXpOQ-qdE4sjHz9uc87yp63xWQ/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_CreepyFloorMaws.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaeUURIfPaD_IH33RbwNenGXpy0J5pNIOiFcfgOYVyB2l0XBRWZ4AOii1z1V52Swm5hs4lomBZMqHdYSPUFlUYjs6akv-wJIw7bLa3ZzTKv04f4nKrnhjN5M5ikktuE9ZBjcX1efNJHKRuUhmPX8iaFXVw04UxqPNenJNolH7cfuN3cqALiFal-JctA/s381/ShiningWisdom_UnderstandingTrees.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaeUURIfPaD_IH33RbwNenGXpy0J5pNIOiFcfgOYVyB2l0XBRWZ4AOii1z1V52Swm5hs4lomBZMqHdYSPUFlUYjs6akv-wJIw7bLa3ZzTKv04f4nKrnhjN5M5ikktuE9ZBjcX1efNJHKRuUhmPX8iaFXVw04UxqPNenJNolH7cfuN3cqALiFal-JctA/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_UnderstandingTrees.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Those floor maws are genuinely creepy</b> 😨</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As far as I looked up, this game takes place mere years after the events of the tactical turn-based RPG <i>Shining Force II</i> and Camelot's originally intended plan was to create this game for the MegaDrive/Genesis console until they decided at the very last moment to relegate it to the Saturn instead as a way to bolster the newer Sega console's library of games. <i>Shining Wisdom</i> is also generally regarded to be one of the weaker titles in the franchise, and while I can't vouch for that having never played any other <i>Shining</i> game myself as of yet, I will say that it <b>is</b> the weakest game in the action adventure genre that I've played in a long time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZx82YRby-zBCugOuq0qrYZmEMEMee6j9YBFB2fitBwKqtl7Zx-udVIpGZp9hvtOUJEFmAYh12HvjHQQjmgkoMdRZw4I1p3TaZOmd6Zwfbbi2SlrKXJIvFStyQEi6hzCUDGGQmssVSOIAFJkHCdNvDWH-kma2qvIwutLaN-HhleUD7Pg6DehSwK7aaw/s387/YsIVMaskOfTheSun_Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="387" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZx82YRby-zBCugOuq0qrYZmEMEMee6j9YBFB2fitBwKqtl7Zx-udVIpGZp9hvtOUJEFmAYh12HvjHQQjmgkoMdRZw4I1p3TaZOmd6Zwfbbi2SlrKXJIvFStyQEi6hzCUDGGQmssVSOIAFJkHCdNvDWH-kma2qvIwutLaN-HhleUD7Pg6DehSwK7aaw/w200-h143/YsIVMaskOfTheSun_Forest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6shOZG4rK1DtdpMU6NbebKdPEcW6jvOhuiDH88owoLR9rMemTgwbRV98WQPR2QDGGOUwW0rljwWAPmW3fH63t1CKDNq35rDpKiyq31hETGRIS_kOHYXMbcaSVxKCs4n4iymKIaX_WjA_OVuuRHwf7u4367SrGDL7Uhy9KAxIpZzwJNyRZxU0fb7ViA/s389/YsVExpert_HeadlessKnight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="389" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6shOZG4rK1DtdpMU6NbebKdPEcW6jvOhuiDH88owoLR9rMemTgwbRV98WQPR2QDGGOUwW0rljwWAPmW3fH63t1CKDNq35rDpKiyq31hETGRIS_kOHYXMbcaSVxKCs4n4iymKIaX_WjA_OVuuRHwf7u4367SrGDL7Uhy9KAxIpZzwJNyRZxU0fb7ViA/w200-h149/YsVExpert_HeadlessKnight.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's strange that the main protagonist Mars (you know, like the name of the planet in the Solar System or Roman god alongside "Saturn") has light-colored hair in the official artwork and character profile but in-game he's a redhead, and when I see flaming red hair like that I think of Adol Christin from Nihon Falcom's <i>Ys</i> franchise.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwR248tBajo7dKieTFM-Ey-4CVODqbCiQNsDLl6tpFeldpCsekVwJrcECAk7ztqaqhiTDUO2kAWTGFaeJj1ZNBGLNdH29-xo6fQ3jLkhas42rJS4ZwFnIt1jcCw3NbBAI1t0z-9TINrA5ff5yzchuyjzd5sMxV7tfu47IZ5shfwYMmI92GO-R1JUvbQ/s381/ShiningWisdom_ArachnidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwR248tBajo7dKieTFM-Ey-4CVODqbCiQNsDLl6tpFeldpCsekVwJrcECAk7ztqaqhiTDUO2kAWTGFaeJj1ZNBGLNdH29-xo6fQ3jLkhas42rJS4ZwFnIt1jcCw3NbBAI1t0z-9TINrA5ff5yzchuyjzd5sMxV7tfu47IZ5shfwYMmI92GO-R1JUvbQ/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_ArachnidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzozvr3tEnNuasZBMj6fJ-3pCtgjePN-nVUqcdX6ALzgCMyjPJETIdhjN7HvpysRKhpmJyodUVywk2K_vnQotJG6sE12qHj3XRescFXdBsYJhiGKIbMrvTO4ZKu86-LvKoHx1gmPIFZCKM-KZ8rn3abYd2FFUj0Eb7ErUQOJjhA2kHi-Z9ORh66KhbKw/s381/ShiningWisdom_Monkey+Vine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzozvr3tEnNuasZBMj6fJ-3pCtgjePN-nVUqcdX6ALzgCMyjPJETIdhjN7HvpysRKhpmJyodUVywk2K_vnQotJG6sE12qHj3XRescFXdBsYJhiGKIbMrvTO4ZKu86-LvKoHx1gmPIFZCKM-KZ8rn3abYd2FFUj0Eb7ErUQOJjhA2kHi-Z9ORh66KhbKw/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_Monkey+Vine.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Like a lot of games in this genre, <i>Shining Wisdom</i> is more likely than not to be compared to Nintendo's iconic <i>Zelda</i> franchise (regardless of whether or not it deserves to be), only this game (at least the way I saw it) could've really benefited with <b>so</b> much polish. The biggest draw for me was the gameplay as this is one of those games where the weapon of your choice is only designated for one button (C) and said weapon's overall potency is highly dependent on repeatedly tapping the B button (or X and Y) until the highest number is highlighted with you keeping it pressed at that point to not only get the most desired effect but also as a means to move Mars a faster pace. Every. Single. Time. 😩</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuowZKLbu4ibluZKQfbQLlBLWaGePhGNC1BkYwYX-yGCbCsSMFVW1kQAnOhUQoW6w_rlvJshx5NGDxLxfElk0uLWliAhUo113d8-OxbAF8y0gZJFb4KSrygin8GvvRmkHqBs0GuJrbHBihYnW6jPcyTzsQjKqUc6apRUqPHbnb0whIVUdL9yF4cXAZpw/s381/ShiningWisdom_TreetopBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuowZKLbu4ibluZKQfbQLlBLWaGePhGNC1BkYwYX-yGCbCsSMFVW1kQAnOhUQoW6w_rlvJshx5NGDxLxfElk0uLWliAhUo113d8-OxbAF8y0gZJFb4KSrygin8GvvRmkHqBs0GuJrbHBihYnW6jPcyTzsQjKqUc6apRUqPHbnb0whIVUdL9yF4cXAZpw/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_TreetopBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEima7f_Iv_wic7pfp0Ti6FLwP7V0AzNDufYrKxhzK_E3fsW9lUe8Bv6MiMnmd0w0YssGTdU4KFwXgC4LUe9LzoBPmhSd9SoG6p4R0phfmHkC3bcCXWr8fJSqnys3KaLQbAvkzX1P6_0G8cR-KTfW9dL0XAirIqrtdac887x0nkcfEoN4RDAP9nL_8m_Qw/s381/ShiningWisdom_MonsterLair.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEima7f_Iv_wic7pfp0Ti6FLwP7V0AzNDufYrKxhzK_E3fsW9lUe8Bv6MiMnmd0w0YssGTdU4KFwXgC4LUe9LzoBPmhSd9SoG6p4R0phfmHkC3bcCXWr8fJSqnys3KaLQbAvkzX1P6_0G8cR-KTfW9dL0XAirIqrtdac887x0nkcfEoN4RDAP9nL_8m_Qw/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_MonsterLair.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This especially rings true when it comes to certain situations and boss fights that require two different weapons but you can only use one at a time (and have to switch weapons in the menu therein), it's highly repetitious to go all "taptaptaptaptap, stomp the ground with heavy boots with the ice element so that fragments of ice will hopefully fall on the bomb or fireball, change weapon to Hercules gloves in the menu, taptaptaptaptap, pick up recently frozen bomb or fireball and throw at target, rinse and repeat, <b>taptapTAPTAP<u>TAP</u></b> until you're done" to name one, and the reason behind that is because Mars has a different set of sprites for every weapon you've equipped. There were also certain moments when the collision detection was rather iffy when it came to fighting off certain monsters, and even though the game was relatively small I found it easy to get myself lost at certain points.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgoOnjVJmThwqDFnLq-CIIqRBeTcN_VBdyCr-NtCQ-UBGWghzRjvq2mQB7xuzGkm4lG3wf-NFEGsGsVuJeTf37GndrcbZTWxq5bn4d32MMrAoZgcnUh-TuUyjNH1lNJ1IqarW2SwrFE1utRj9bRCW4Bh9YB-58MgOFBVYj5NFhjaBSSn5OjeMbXgucA/s390/Lagoon_PhillipsCastle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgoOnjVJmThwqDFnLq-CIIqRBeTcN_VBdyCr-NtCQ-UBGWghzRjvq2mQB7xuzGkm4lG3wf-NFEGsGsVuJeTf37GndrcbZTWxq5bn4d32MMrAoZgcnUh-TuUyjNH1lNJ1IqarW2SwrFE1utRj9bRCW4Bh9YB-58MgOFBVYj5NFhjaBSSn5OjeMbXgucA/w200-h156/Lagoon_PhillipsCastle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNskJ6dddbNY82EBdwWKy-ByL_VK6hRD9RLOMsedJgpB1vT6bYWqAqveWjTiDkjMQVCkbGNihDoFUmlBO79CmyCGEEf164XJUmhS7OnnQGvM2MYozi8v4afOcjUUinpl5WSbxVPlQUj_MgtZzm9c9DUtE16hrcSxalPgSgdaCWliDHD8KJakrm1wl-lQ/s390/Lagoon_Denegul.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNskJ6dddbNY82EBdwWKy-ByL_VK6hRD9RLOMsedJgpB1vT6bYWqAqveWjTiDkjMQVCkbGNihDoFUmlBO79CmyCGEEf164XJUmhS7OnnQGvM2MYozi8v4afOcjUUinpl5WSbxVPlQUj_MgtZzm9c9DUtE16hrcSxalPgSgdaCWliDHD8KJakrm1wl-lQ/w200-h156/Lagoon_Denegul.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">That and its sense of pace is consistent through and through, also its soundtrack slaps hard</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Personally, I have more enjoyment playing Zoom's quietly atmospheric mood fest <i>Lagoon</i>. Given a choice between tightly close ranged combat and ranged magic or always tapping my whole way through while constantly switching weapons on the menu when needed in <i>Shining Wisdom</i>, I'd sooner go with the former as I do not feel it asks <b>as</b> much from me as the latter.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9KvTwND4cnnBgmH__8CCB5s1EpM9ivxShMDJLiMC6ubJyyu3a2A9-BrIfUW-CflKl4PHZklrHaOwk2PWra-1bhuzsqfPt-YhEASHAfieNoFhLH-_xbO32sRE6yuyIQw2o6lX0IVKIsP2CKjwF_21q53EwWHXn1QnMDb5fdnZVJc-hVkF4oCVy4uMPQ/s381/ShiningWisdom_Gueid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9KvTwND4cnnBgmH__8CCB5s1EpM9ivxShMDJLiMC6ubJyyu3a2A9-BrIfUW-CflKl4PHZklrHaOwk2PWra-1bhuzsqfPt-YhEASHAfieNoFhLH-_xbO32sRE6yuyIQw2o6lX0IVKIsP2CKjwF_21q53EwWHXn1QnMDb5fdnZVJc-hVkF4oCVy4uMPQ/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_Gueid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMINXBM01hiaJMDfbzr-2CBIO5XF60khsiafI4RX7W3UDma8vLP2SBSQ3hhYFWXXhLEEI86OHMXUcPVWcYfOhTLjmX4Oi1Ts9M8I30LSPfxE0e_oWGE2Cj0WJUrzrgnivHK0O9HsrFBH75T_hkEbyzMU6mDZAYWVhwRrSYvBlNF4QC2m5eU_DhSwgO8g/s381/ShiningWisdom_FireDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMINXBM01hiaJMDfbzr-2CBIO5XF60khsiafI4RX7W3UDma8vLP2SBSQ3hhYFWXXhLEEI86OHMXUcPVWcYfOhTLjmX4Oi1Ts9M8I30LSPfxE0e_oWGE2Cj0WJUrzrgnivHK0O9HsrFBH75T_hkEbyzMU6mDZAYWVhwRrSYvBlNF4QC2m5eU_DhSwgO8g/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_FireDragon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Apropos of nothing, I'm not sure whether to try HAL Laboratory's <i>Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe</i> or not; because on one hand I love the 2011 Nintendo Wii classic and I like that the newer take is going to add some abilities (not to mention I love that pink puffball with all my heart), but on the other hand... err, distracting character outlines (in a <u>2023</u> game, seriously?)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Visually <i>Shining Wisdom</i> is a bit hit and miss: I wasn't a fan of the pre-rendered CG sprites having bold outlines as I felt they gave the proceedings an eye sore, the scaling effects appear wonky as a result, and there was a noticeable lack of visual polish in certain areas, but on the other hand there are a variety of locations and dungeons with their own sense of detail (like the color layering shadows in the forest and the piercing lights in Carly's mirror dungeon which might make one feel half-dyslexic control-wise), the background in which you fight against Noog looks impressive with the cloud effects swirling around, and the overall color palette is decent.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ2ICcsLxoObI01hS4-DOJ0uZEjEkxVvIRaH7bEQlNRc5XTAE0gftPVuUWySe1PFY3-A7_KCXF3d39CUCsi8SMCN4yXvpXjoW38XNRgJwzw7qeWvn_EyebDUsd76oBZcRfltj__XLivAOHH5SuBbqp0P24lOFIIdB7o1d_uFqpkhA3QcFpbh8-6E5Rw/s381/ShiningWisdom_ReflectiveIcySurface.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ2ICcsLxoObI01hS4-DOJ0uZEjEkxVvIRaH7bEQlNRc5XTAE0gftPVuUWySe1PFY3-A7_KCXF3d39CUCsi8SMCN4yXvpXjoW38XNRgJwzw7qeWvn_EyebDUsd76oBZcRfltj__XLivAOHH5SuBbqp0P24lOFIIdB7o1d_uFqpkhA3QcFpbh8-6E5Rw/s16000/ShiningWisdom_ReflectiveIcySurface.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Ooooh</b>, icy reflective floor surfaces.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4JNZ92diEpWrHSI0ZXxJ7vJbisfYFh5HCG7AwJpk-JGSP431hC_GZlowR8aqAF54cotSniF8-i5UYgNpkODZkutmGsYMqBVXtjKt2KynYVq_WZEjprwvuXGKKYY6rbR-iN-jfdR_oVUuZNhAFFIKhUaegpoZTQWgdYsBrUhp0NmgOpkHTwPuEt_XWQ/s387/YsIVMaskOfTheSun_IceCavern.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="387" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4JNZ92diEpWrHSI0ZXxJ7vJbisfYFh5HCG7AwJpk-JGSP431hC_GZlowR8aqAF54cotSniF8-i5UYgNpkODZkutmGsYMqBVXtjKt2KynYVq_WZEjprwvuXGKKYY6rbR-iN-jfdR_oVUuZNhAFFIKhUaegpoZTQWgdYsBrUhp0NmgOpkHTwPuEt_XWQ/w200-h143/YsIVMaskOfTheSun_IceCavern.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dWn50JPdLrt44PaXAGR4tOGUthgpVVm0mSDk0hZJx4MSZJEWjsrt92bmuNoPVavNTGppD4pbEYldlBA6K7IM3OGHIXspL9KrvGvlPVEWU_y6DawTzFzdYxTR0-nsIn7DqBcA62zfJSqlWSL7QTopXsOh-8prTcXW7IUXRf2PyWvBZWAxxCngTXN9hA/s390/Astal_ReflectiveIcyFloor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dWn50JPdLrt44PaXAGR4tOGUthgpVVm0mSDk0hZJx4MSZJEWjsrt92bmuNoPVavNTGppD4pbEYldlBA6K7IM3OGHIXspL9KrvGvlPVEWU_y6DawTzFzdYxTR0-nsIn7DqBcA62zfJSqlWSL7QTopXsOh-8prTcXW7IUXRf2PyWvBZWAxxCngTXN9hA/w200-h156/Astal_ReflectiveIcyFloor.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Tonkin House's <i>Ys IV: Mask of the Sun</i>'s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4zpD3ipNb0">"Crimson Wings"</a> will never not slap, and Sega's <i>Astal</i>'s soundtrack will never cease to impress no matter how many times I hear it</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">More retro video games need icy reflective floor surfaces!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I usually enjoy action adventure soundtracks, but Motoaki Takenouchi's music did not click with me for the most part; it's not that the soundtrack was bad, it just simply wasn't to my taste. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYjNYShRb2c">One dungeon theme</a> in particular lingers throughout in absolute horror and prolongs its creepy factor as a result which does work up to a point for certain dungeons but can get grating if listened to for longer than necessary, and there are certain themes that can easily get stuck in your head (like the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eogkx1aWij4">Eastern District</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-MA3tNNTU">Odegan Town</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfyTZE5O2Lk">Odegan Castle</a>).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18hGRC5f5ZjfjLfJ2xwf3O-41TWx59hj0M9205II5ijbsI_vUZTAOChuLAFOAs3XgWVLuhyaUMDdEQaabRJKnPkCfePtgqYKXXirOY-fs2Lt7Aq8GLatbCkk72hW5B9i_1nmjYnungHGDMiJLJpLfbQMO09I1m6WBQXUdP7lfZUxOgdiBFQbMWfUBUw/s390/BeyondTheBeyond_Kevins+Galahad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18hGRC5f5ZjfjLfJ2xwf3O-41TWx59hj0M9205II5ijbsI_vUZTAOChuLAFOAs3XgWVLuhyaUMDdEQaabRJKnPkCfePtgqYKXXirOY-fs2Lt7Aq8GLatbCkk72hW5B9i_1nmjYnungHGDMiJLJpLfbQMO09I1m6WBQXUdP7lfZUxOgdiBFQbMWfUBUw/w200-h156/BeyondTheBeyond_Kevins+Galahad.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqt4_oC4xF3NXoz7hwOwrPT7B5QXF4i80S4gCG14zxc7DXkdWXeDnDESMqvQK8-vJhYSMBaTAdtwW6hKAwlec47It_h7HFYCEcoGAvHAg0S9lF9C_2iY8fckRuLwdx5t46WGrGVNqWhPx5MPBFQsi_s7cSXeO08CUvnVEMb55G1JIPR9stiipqOMg1w/s390/BeyondTheBeyond_TumbleRabbit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqt4_oC4xF3NXoz7hwOwrPT7B5QXF4i80S4gCG14zxc7DXkdWXeDnDESMqvQK8-vJhYSMBaTAdtwW6hKAwlec47It_h7HFYCEcoGAvHAg0S9lF9C_2iY8fckRuLwdx5t46WGrGVNqWhPx5MPBFQsi_s7cSXeO08CUvnVEMb55G1JIPR9stiipqOMg1w/w200-h156/BeyondTheBeyond_TumbleRabbit.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Between <i>Shining Wisdom</i> and <i>Beyond the Beyond</i>, 1995 wasn't exactly a great year for Camelot, huh? Oh well, at least they're both ripe with guilty pleasure qualities; just recently played through <i>Beyond the Beyond</i> for the first time, it's certainly a turn-based RPG of all time</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As 1995 Camelot Software Planning video game soundtracks go, I much preferred Motoi Sakuraba's music from their PlayStation One turn-based RPG <i>Beyond the Beyond</i> a lot more which is easily that game's major highlight as it makes for a great listen (it, just like its story, simply deserved a better game).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNuYeFOf9DP-DnnkrJaqn6a0885lfFDACw5Tv4klMtx_tqSkAQHNxTld4XbzeKzhbEHQf3pNWv4AINUPuhRWgZ7Gb_0DsOkBrILmq1Djw14mKd5-FCNSSKyI_UL86WQM5-LMJouG7dsUQw1eEAcoy3cHv1_oLNrFetEYWANswhqXCWXV6jwX7zESCdg/s390/BeyondTheBeyond_Steiner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNuYeFOf9DP-DnnkrJaqn6a0885lfFDACw5Tv4klMtx_tqSkAQHNxTld4XbzeKzhbEHQf3pNWv4AINUPuhRWgZ7Gb_0DsOkBrILmq1Djw14mKd5-FCNSSKyI_UL86WQM5-LMJouG7dsUQw1eEAcoy3cHv1_oLNrFetEYWANswhqXCWXV6jwX7zESCdg/s16000/BeyondTheBeyond_Steiner.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>In case anyone asks who that girl </b><strike style="font-weight: bold;">who I'm totally not jealous of for holding a baby dragon in her arms</strike><b> is supposed to be, I have no idea; this is the only screen she appears in, and she doesn't appear </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">anywhere else</u><b> in the game, let alone have her name dropped... </b>😕</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Also, Steiner's such a cute baby dragon, awww! 😊 And then three-quarters into the game he becomes a giant badarse force to be reckoned with, but that's neither here nor there. 🐲</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24fdgQZuhimGIzoSjHO3-Y6sUSgm_kGraDffbXbi3MyJ80Mv5Oo4CXVyafyr9f0QFpbhrKy3xZTbUyilG7mkiFsE58uVcyEi1xdB0kGEknZ86dA7iaIssw0DlOB0rQNKdqwu0PYlEFW7NK8GaYPxgA3M83ptS-7PhHLDuMFIUTXFkUcabfqIeiiNzwA/s151/ShiningWisdom_Manual-Sonic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="112" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24fdgQZuhimGIzoSjHO3-Y6sUSgm_kGraDffbXbi3MyJ80Mv5Oo4CXVyafyr9f0QFpbhrKy3xZTbUyilG7mkiFsE58uVcyEi1xdB0kGEknZ86dA7iaIssw0DlOB0rQNKdqwu0PYlEFW7NK8GaYPxgA3M83ptS-7PhHLDuMFIUTXFkUcabfqIeiiNzwA/s1600/ShiningWisdom_Manual-Sonic.png" width="112" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh, did you know that Sonic had a <b>hotline</b> in Japan? 📞 That was certainly news to me.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT-3AE0JNZWvLylpHgmG4HCGnq3Z-2YF1W8zPugYxqJ0qUY2bP0vLrznxe3UPuA8AlDx4Xxn1Vwej9r19Fgl-2kSJntGwIARSII2TCASsseRuCLt5rggNyQaMy0kTPG29wYOYmpNUZKI-DKjtsB5N5RvXDh78iDqUB1TuTSWKuHDMpLMLHNanE1Oj4g/s381/ShiningWisdom_Noog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT-3AE0JNZWvLylpHgmG4HCGnq3Z-2YF1W8zPugYxqJ0qUY2bP0vLrznxe3UPuA8AlDx4Xxn1Vwej9r19Fgl-2kSJntGwIARSII2TCASsseRuCLt5rggNyQaMy0kTPG29wYOYmpNUZKI-DKjtsB5N5RvXDh78iDqUB1TuTSWKuHDMpLMLHNanE1Oj4g/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_Noog.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI4KEgTnSvWA0FkoXgoFkb7zHIwaHVGcGUrJgRJJbEE2JpDvklEdzKnJ2T_z3y2p6RP4NuCOuoFNozF0oiyTnXStEOQTLeMCIZ6agMrp91doJaupf_ZAevvTQSgBoTRVw7GZxzGDldNYwWw5Ye_wGhChUbj7D8nVpiDrkbgxTUUt-ML5P9jqd_hksig/s381/ShiningWisdom_Car.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI4KEgTnSvWA0FkoXgoFkb7zHIwaHVGcGUrJgRJJbEE2JpDvklEdzKnJ2T_z3y2p6RP4NuCOuoFNozF0oiyTnXStEOQTLeMCIZ6agMrp91doJaupf_ZAevvTQSgBoTRVw7GZxzGDldNYwWw5Ye_wGhChUbj7D8nVpiDrkbgxTUUt-ML5P9jqd_hksig/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_Car.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was particularly amused by the many ways </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Shining Wisdom</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> went off the rails in terms of Mars' appearance and equipment, where you see him wear boxing gloves that fly off his hands and revolve back toward him, a karate gi as he tosses his foes overhead, slides with the ice element as he becomes a living icicle, unleashing a fiery salamander with the fire element and boxing gloves, morphs into a monkey, healing pajamas, and even rides a </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">car</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (with a horn and everything)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; not many traditional fantasy action adventure games can claim that, it's insane. I only wish that the gameplay was more enjoyable to me and relied less on redundancy to warrant all that, but it does add a guilty pleasure flavor.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdIojw4Rxx-5R1a7ooCfqArHAyLReES2_kvbPsDkFNtyJkPdY2TV1dCRYbvZxb49oQi7a6o0XXnoTAwjjDQrhvLIa263IXSTw295O-CHQLrMqomV4By6ZkwTsafQhozI74qpMJvKqUZZSoLtEOY1LXAdpS4zAM_-LpAp_7rbx2KKW1ufX6ot5PqD14w/s390/FlyingHero_Pirate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdIojw4Rxx-5R1a7ooCfqArHAyLReES2_kvbPsDkFNtyJkPdY2TV1dCRYbvZxb49oQi7a6o0XXnoTAwjjDQrhvLIa263IXSTw295O-CHQLrMqomV4By6ZkwTsafQhozI74qpMJvKqUZZSoLtEOY1LXAdpS4zAM_-LpAp_7rbx2KKW1ufX6ot5PqD14w/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Pirate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDSBozDs3vHdxXaVKUmUp0jKdZscQ0zyrga4MsKmug7wBcF1sVQUIdt1Wjh9WDTyINdoM_QdMLU-4edXPwtjP4saws8Eyl3_a-5CP88XNWyexRYY7jrVG3sIYGAP6xxA42nOvyalxOUXe7szYEEDaqXhNuJ-70ObnsczWZmTP-W73CF-2Az9nf8BehQ/s390/FlyingHero_SeaMonkeyTemple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDSBozDs3vHdxXaVKUmUp0jKdZscQ0zyrga4MsKmug7wBcF1sVQUIdt1Wjh9WDTyINdoM_QdMLU-4edXPwtjP4saws8Eyl3_a-5CP88XNWyexRYY7jrVG3sIYGAP6xxA42nOvyalxOUXe7szYEEDaqXhNuJ-70ObnsczWZmTP-W73CF-2Az9nf8BehQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_SeaMonkeyTemple.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Something I did while playing it for the first time (and my next Saturn game) up to a point was use my phone's translator app by taking a picture of key dialogue present on my TV, but I stopped doing it after a while as it took up a lot of power from my phone. I was inspired months later to take up the task of translating via Google (for my own benefit) the dialogue and credits for Sting's cute'em up <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/11/flying-hero-bugyuru-no-daiboken-sfc.html">Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</a></i> for my review of it back in November 2022, and that was fun.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The story itself is fine, though I feel I dodged a bullet in not playing the American version as I looked up that in localizing this game to North America the publisher Working Designs did not handle it properly, excising all references to prior </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Shining</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> games and made a translation that bordered on disrespectful (I'm... afraid to ask to what length they incorporated pop culture references and non-sequiturs into the dialogue here or to what degree they augmented the difficulty, as that was their modus operandi) that Sega's European version created a more faithful (albeit not well-kept) translation for the PAL edition. Sorry, Victor*, I don't need to see every translation you made firsthand, ...</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Victor Ireland, founder of Working Designs and company translator</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNy245qVJITT3zxs5vmNdaQXdgfpWDoz7ZGvN1g-l3GUEcy5DtV7UaBk_xC2EI7DCEzmIs7XZKsSCKbj2f-kWRUdDs0jrgZs753R2jH_YoGfA33UVWlVgpHFvbXXvRpdL8F83gQVL86TBAUG9-3DE0ulHS-DVw_6_MCCv6aeUDYPmH0pXu7iQo5ShMg/s383/Alundra_Sybill.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="383" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNy245qVJITT3zxs5vmNdaQXdgfpWDoz7ZGvN1g-l3GUEcy5DtV7UaBk_xC2EI7DCEzmIs7XZKsSCKbj2f-kWRUdDs0jrgZs753R2jH_YoGfA33UVWlVgpHFvbXXvRpdL8F83gQVL86TBAUG9-3DE0ulHS-DVw_6_MCCv6aeUDYPmH0pXu7iQo5ShMg/w200-h159/Alundra_Sybill.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QaGk8BQujFMxJv1u59W2UAKXEUcdRycgHnAyD0mCaXWq_t_dPEKK8iQMm9XMy7NaFlFDcbIV2QXDcj04ASu0OJwDXuSEpR5PpNi0KZC3HJ1BImhktXdpokJerSAuTeha4iPk0vD0zjqUT_z1YBuz7njDoRy9CpW3_L6FE8uEhACtHgAOZ5rwk_oqrA/s380/LunarSilverStarStoryComplete_NinnyNinny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="380" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QaGk8BQujFMxJv1u59W2UAKXEUcdRycgHnAyD0mCaXWq_t_dPEKK8iQMm9XMy7NaFlFDcbIV2QXDcj04ASu0OJwDXuSEpR5PpNi0KZC3HJ1BImhktXdpokJerSAuTeha4iPk0vD0zjqUT_z1YBuz7njDoRy9CpW3_L6FE8uEhACtHgAOZ5rwk_oqrA/w200-h155/LunarSilverStarStoryComplete_NinnyNinny.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Matrix Software's <i>Alundra</i>'s translation I felt was a respectably well-done and compelling effort as Working Designs toned down their translation tendencies and quirks considerably, and it helps that <i>Alundra</i> is a great game with deftly handled mature themes, too; this is not me saying anything about Game Arts' <i>Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete</i> <u>or</u> its translation, I just wanted to bring up a quote so unequivocally silly that it's lived rent-free in my head since the first instance I saw it</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">two is <b>enooough</b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMsrqShPrZXN32OXaftxJnYS08Hj9sBilGKYznP2MvLjPEfXxndy-iIBbws1mcK6w_c06Gf9jIsr8Lofw899WZugSsuLSILlDkAHunYuB5xSOdAY-7kWUBLLbwGLeb8r5QZR5sl0xrzsp3UJqq5xbaPbQ-1iDfq2hGlsf_j3i6_SxQSC6zw7VW3gJmQ/s464/ShiningWisdom_Manual-Back.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMsrqShPrZXN32OXaftxJnYS08Hj9sBilGKYznP2MvLjPEfXxndy-iIBbws1mcK6w_c06Gf9jIsr8Lofw899WZugSsuLSILlDkAHunYuB5xSOdAY-7kWUBLLbwGLeb8r5QZR5sl0xrzsp3UJqq5xbaPbQ-1iDfq2hGlsf_j3i6_SxQSC6zw7VW3gJmQ/s16000/ShiningWisdom_Manual-Back.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I feel like a broken record for saying this, but there are games I played that have got polarizing receptions that I'm fully aware have got their problems but I still ended up enjoying anyway, but sadly <i>Shining Wisdom</i> was not among them despite it being occasionally amusing</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I didn't walk in expecting it to be great, knowing it wasn't all that well regarded, but in the end I found my foray to the <i>Shining</i> franchise to be okay... though I was hoping for it to be more than just okay; it does have replay value as there are numerous secrets, but if the gameplay were better than it turned out to be I think it would've helped tremendously. Despite everything though, I wouldn't mind trying another <i>Shining</i> game in the future if I have the opportunity (maybe Camelot Software Planning's <i>Shining the Holy Ark</i>? I'm definitely down for it, in fact, I'll look into now). If there are people who enjoyed it though, that's fine, I'm not a gatekeeper, I just personally found it to be among the weakest games I played on the Saturn even if it was a guilty pleasure in terms of how gimmicky it was.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Up to this point every game I played on the Saturn was also released in Europe</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1TzCAk7GuWaSYSlGSCCov-O9HIFe0jP-KcQ_UkVoKsb65fmwHg5leaR2nlsXQIw7MEIN087dibFS8vQvGFrwatd2fvKfSVujP6kq1uu1ZlSW3IbV60yv9YTCuwDuF0yRfB1MYz9VR9f5Wedw6QhTvlLrTESpO2eQ3Yw5mQWg6M0GIYsh9WufIHOFBA/s390/Astal_AstalCrying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1TzCAk7GuWaSYSlGSCCov-O9HIFe0jP-KcQ_UkVoKsb65fmwHg5leaR2nlsXQIw7MEIN087dibFS8vQvGFrwatd2fvKfSVujP6kq1uu1ZlSW3IbV60yv9YTCuwDuF0yRfB1MYz9VR9f5Wedw6QhTvlLrTESpO2eQ3Yw5mQWg6M0GIYsh9WufIHOFBA/s16000/Astal_AstalCrying.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">except Sega's <i>Astal</i> (Europe missed out <b>big</b>). Now, it was time to play Japan-exclusive Saturn fare, and I knew exactly what game I wanted to play next.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KVVDWeNGXIIxP7vMM04n6rhlPKlubR3CPDuDGFYJVmDhdPR8d7J6w0gHmppN5sqFqY-K_pF3XD2wfiRjHYaE72P6sxmPL3oEw-I4B2hU7UE1wEgNS433i-0hWafN65JdWddOrXPWehtIWtekKU7OyxYUFrN5Ig_ktvzC3swbDCS8pi_Nq3CyacW9zg/s380/PopoittoHebereke_OChanDefeatsUtsujin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KVVDWeNGXIIxP7vMM04n6rhlPKlubR3CPDuDGFYJVmDhdPR8d7J6w0gHmppN5sqFqY-K_pF3XD2wfiRjHYaE72P6sxmPL3oEw-I4B2hU7UE1wEgNS433i-0hWafN65JdWddOrXPWehtIWtekKU7OyxYUFrN5Ig_ktvzC3swbDCS8pi_Nq3CyacW9zg/s16000/PopoittoHebereke_OChanDefeatsUtsujin.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">"</span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">WAAAAH</span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">, how dare you make a </span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">mockery</span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> out of me!"</span></span></b></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnIkuzZCq0ofwI_hhIeXXs5Zk-Pf7Q5RH9Q1nFHfDhnQoHZ_s3qFtvKZP9DaeasL9GWgm_ivCQnSGeqxmlr_-btFIfz3DbMO9jUeqzMZLdwz4BADwtSnsQ6hv0xY9DZFsEiL7qXWYp9jo_vg_gz_xF52wPYUekctXwT1UrqMSqv6Uh3x78OAcDqRmow/s388/OChanNoOekakiLogic_HebeAbducted.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnIkuzZCq0ofwI_hhIeXXs5Zk-Pf7Q5RH9Q1nFHfDhnQoHZ_s3qFtvKZP9DaeasL9GWgm_ivCQnSGeqxmlr_-btFIfz3DbMO9jUeqzMZLdwz4BADwtSnsQ6hv0xY9DZFsEiL7qXWYp9jo_vg_gz_xF52wPYUekctXwT1UrqMSqv6Uh3x78OAcDqRmow/s16000/OChanNoOekakiLogic_HebeAbducted.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">"I'm going to steal your friend away as retribution, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">muahahahahah, I'm not petty</span><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>!" </b>😈</span></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt5szQbe5LG_oNc42XyGPs7WBMQI4IjxoVNQxARursZ82n7OwVr4orNdJ35rSHgN0h9P0nDSHQAvvSZXtiIu1Qpw1r5THsoidVIzTjwW1PyDjuqF4ZdmaHDTddP0cGksjUUVIRXDrC2FZ7Rbps9JeuhTYYVcHDgs0CDGAvTIy5eE-puZvqD7v0BpUnA/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Ocarina.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt5szQbe5LG_oNc42XyGPs7WBMQI4IjxoVNQxARursZ82n7OwVr4orNdJ35rSHgN0h9P0nDSHQAvvSZXtiIu1Qpw1r5THsoidVIzTjwW1PyDjuqF4ZdmaHDTddP0cGksjUUVIRXDrC2FZ7Rbps9JeuhTYYVcHDgs0CDGAvTIy5eE-puZvqD7v0BpUnA/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Ocarina.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyCaxBNd1nMo1K0f50AOz8taWj40rQ6hKr9cNnRq6ExDu-dNoqcAthjrBnponBe7UVl2vQDra2EWhfWxqaSzpSCWiJXC0Y8jcR0L_utwvjrn1e_YVkog2nxDMtLxKYYCQPzAZVp8rUdNfO_4HN_0iEm_jpNfHmOxoQ-Eq_Qb6C89sNVKOECo-vcEJmQ/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Sukezaemon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyCaxBNd1nMo1K0f50AOz8taWj40rQ6hKr9cNnRq6ExDu-dNoqcAthjrBnponBe7UVl2vQDra2EWhfWxqaSzpSCWiJXC0Y8jcR0L_utwvjrn1e_YVkog2nxDMtLxKYYCQPzAZVp8rUdNfO_4HN_0iEm_jpNfHmOxoQ-Eq_Qb6C89sNVKOECo-vcEJmQ/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Sukezaemon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>O-Chan no Oekaki Logic</i> was also released on the PlayStation One, Super Famicom, and WonderSwan</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sunsoft's <i><b>O-Chan no Oekaki Logic</b></i>, my fourteenth Saturn game which I received on October 24th, 2022, is the sister game in the <i>Hebereke</i> franchise featuring the eponymous cat who's off on a big adventure to reclaim her friend Hebe after he got abducted by the alien Utsujin, and the only way to save him is by solving a large series of Picross puzzles* through the way of math and logic. The first in a trilogy, O-Chan's 1995 starring vehicle was the only one to see a wide distribution on multiple platforms in Japan, while the two sequels were PlayStation One exclusives in 1996 and 2001 respectively. It also shares the distinction along with Success' <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i> as being one of only two games in the series to be given the Sega treatment.</span></div><div><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* One of many identifier terms for Nonograms, named after one of its creators Non Ishida</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlvudV2JAsgB9s-JQ1ISdTLEv9mBkXCvSywUyBDEd68kOACXuxt5XGLVJABDkiT6b5k5j_XfydX7_oS5pyygNT1EaBIms3ueRg1iOvTbwDsgVXx4F72KtXO3w-A_XiTJVpoLVgFM0Scx7KUEaqJrrtEZslVoHj9xJ2EmbJpt4SI5PW_Dc8yR7zYC-SQ/s423/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Manual-MouseController.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlvudV2JAsgB9s-JQ1ISdTLEv9mBkXCvSywUyBDEd68kOACXuxt5XGLVJABDkiT6b5k5j_XfydX7_oS5pyygNT1EaBIms3ueRg1iOvTbwDsgVXx4F72KtXO3w-A_XiTJVpoLVgFM0Scx7KUEaqJrrtEZslVoHj9xJ2EmbJpt4SI5PW_Dc8yR7zYC-SQ/s16000/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Manual-MouseController.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Not sure how it feels compared to the Super Famicom mouse controller, but I'm sure it might feel fine</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is also one of those games on the Saturn that could either be played with the regular controller or the mouse controller. Ah, it's nice when you have options.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90Smm5ua8QRsA2Z6LHvpoX4nYrOwO-v6DjBKv3nPgHOJloSbluRNto4p5VFsQPLB-qtO9wiECSbd2V4Dt3DmfGpie-ICCtxwyiKsh6i_FAQ90KXLR1P9_hzvahifOT_WKTnP6ki_n-O4mZ_rvsrUwf7cjhXa2DOhSogGQfFo0kwZOORTLh79yKSuaHA/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Coat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90Smm5ua8QRsA2Z6LHvpoX4nYrOwO-v6DjBKv3nPgHOJloSbluRNto4p5VFsQPLB-qtO9wiECSbd2V4Dt3DmfGpie-ICCtxwyiKsh6i_FAQ90KXLR1P9_hzvahifOT_WKTnP6ki_n-O4mZ_rvsrUwf7cjhXa2DOhSogGQfFo0kwZOORTLh79yKSuaHA/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Coat.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-hEag-E3uvRLhblbUsV124tTxmWM-ysoQs8AHub-bBnuMEAqW7SPm4bf1BMOGahT0kbWBlHLi1iX80sB0whk1Br9c1QVfFTb9Uj01VXEtp5ChD1wEHNx_8p3MTrCRxiwl1HEYjVt344O-iCTzuXL1Y52PxEM95LUdgcutPBo2U5OJnUbGMSOXYjmDQ/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Toothpaste.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-hEag-E3uvRLhblbUsV124tTxmWM-ysoQs8AHub-bBnuMEAqW7SPm4bf1BMOGahT0kbWBlHLi1iX80sB0whk1Br9c1QVfFTb9Uj01VXEtp5ChD1wEHNx_8p3MTrCRxiwl1HEYjVt344O-iCTzuXL1Y52PxEM95LUdgcutPBo2U5OJnUbGMSOXYjmDQ/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Toothpaste.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The soundtrack is good, I'm annoyed that YouTube doesn't have the Saturn version's music</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As O-Chan you'll come across familiar faces in the <i>Hebereke</i> franchise who each will challenge you to a series of ten Picross puzzles that you'll need to solve, all consisting of different images and over time a larger amount of pixels (the smallest set is 5 x 5 that eventually goes up to 10 x 10 to 15 x 15 until the very end where you must solve a puzzle on a 30 x 30 grid, the last of which amounts to 900 individual pixels... try not to faint when you see those), where math and logic is the only way to win, and should you defeat them they will join you. If you make three mistakes you'll be forced to start the puzzle over, but for one time only per puzzle you have a chance to automatically fill in certain spots by selecting someone in your group:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BvAiZ5emydz27nFJu4yoZiarU2i_GG5zw8e195n4S4MLVlTPxDC_7hY58hJNLMagzduFcEXAv-nTjeRxOpKYYiH-rerksflnB2ndoXH19O4t7uhsNlWcrF9FY_sqZD7QKu3rJw9f4kJCEqYA_LxErPW-cVvpxdZsGttPhA2i2g-ZImMtm5mHZdtd_w/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Slots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BvAiZ5emydz27nFJu4yoZiarU2i_GG5zw8e195n4S4MLVlTPxDC_7hY58hJNLMagzduFcEXAv-nTjeRxOpKYYiH-rerksflnB2ndoXH19O4t7uhsNlWcrF9FY_sqZD7QKu3rJw9f4kJCEqYA_LxErPW-cVvpxdZsGttPhA2i2g-ZImMtm5mHZdtd_w/s16000/OChanNoOekakiLogic_Slots.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sukezaemon removes any mistake from your count (until you make them again), Pen-Chan slides across revealing certain blocks in the middle of the playing field, and Bobodori sends out a diagonal energy beam that ricochets up to a point, et al. I don't recommend relying on them too much because otherwise you'll run out as each use depletes a bit of their gauge and if said character gauge is completely empty you can't use them anymore. In a couple spots on the island, be it the lake or the volcano, you get a chance to restore the gauge of certain characters by trying your luck at the slot bonus. They're optional, but they're nice to have.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHRprf4MBOCnFxuflLIgArqDiJAN4EZmg8NBChjku-aIQ05wv8Oj3iTHF7SCXDnRGp_3ZkMgH8SfFxZP2t75306SY5Ma-bBvoOGRkG_Tl6u-tso3wlqxH-IwcNm0WAwZXp5TVP5R75Sks-mg0wNxB-RAPoSLVG59d95rctuECm2O7qx-TKEjHF_cR5A/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_GreenOChan.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHRprf4MBOCnFxuflLIgArqDiJAN4EZmg8NBChjku-aIQ05wv8Oj3iTHF7SCXDnRGp_3ZkMgH8SfFxZP2t75306SY5Ma-bBvoOGRkG_Tl6u-tso3wlqxH-IwcNm0WAwZXp5TVP5R75Sks-mg0wNxB-RAPoSLVG59d95rctuECm2O7qx-TKEjHF_cR5A/s16000/OChanNoOekakiLogic_GreenOChan.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ahhh, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>doppelgänger</b>!! 😱</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPiQp14if8mef26j7VDPWuVQQ4L2v-W43mtTQMWp8wIv7RGujO5UoFOgss_EMAaswZ3CJNTQmpZktssgaEIpQH-7D3-dhs-bwRbT82dff_JnpPzN2vnjRX9530PxXNfvPElUF-29m9p9W1fHakC4GYf9X02CkRqA1lbwCLNHin3vk1BmrtwCKLTQVnQ/s380/PopoittoHebereke_Hebe+Hebe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="380" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPiQp14if8mef26j7VDPWuVQQ4L2v-W43mtTQMWp8wIv7RGujO5UoFOgss_EMAaswZ3CJNTQmpZktssgaEIpQH-7D3-dhs-bwRbT82dff_JnpPzN2vnjRX9530PxXNfvPElUF-29m9p9W1fHakC4GYf9X02CkRqA1lbwCLNHin3vk1BmrtwCKLTQVnQ/w200-h159/PopoittoHebereke_Hebe+Hebe.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJPiAYeZSrtUxiN7n2QQoqyBIGMVG0VNLluHv1bQFY3NZDxsC6EIqSoII7D3Wznjyga1M1Ne01as5ddqjCwxWE78igscac6u50Li9A0MIoG4TbXgmG6x2rjn8tYEhCktZYuJdb_SsE2DoYo5fDXnrDLp5JiJyanMatsgVOA6G4Qr4RS2VNXemUOEmjw/s381/ShiningWisdom_TwoSateras.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJPiAYeZSrtUxiN7n2QQoqyBIGMVG0VNLluHv1bQFY3NZDxsC6EIqSoII7D3Wznjyga1M1Ne01as5ddqjCwxWE78igscac6u50Li9A0MIoG4TbXgmG6x2rjn8tYEhCktZYuJdb_SsE2DoYo5fDXnrDLp5JiJyanMatsgVOA6G4Qr4RS2VNXemUOEmjw/w200-h156/ShiningWisdom_TwoSateras.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh no, <b>more</b> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">doppelgängers!!! Wecannotha-- we know the eventual outcome of doppelgängers! 💀</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfKw7Sfib2DaJrCkcTLR-SQnFWjXogh59fjsz5BGghQmUcGIPf5OONODsh_Kz_8R3_sWAF2mIOrQ-SvkNt4nrpOoyczzoEv9V2h4mKBnGoljAgVQuWnTDm0UKV6pb9JKDwrJw0Se0A0VVh4D5sO1xPymq_9RFKh-WMQpPyIr_jEDz6L-OEahUtOrkbA/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_King.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfKw7Sfib2DaJrCkcTLR-SQnFWjXogh59fjsz5BGghQmUcGIPf5OONODsh_Kz_8R3_sWAF2mIOrQ-SvkNt4nrpOoyczzoEv9V2h4mKBnGoljAgVQuWnTDm0UKV6pb9JKDwrJw0Se0A0VVh4D5sO1xPymq_9RFKh-WMQpPyIr_jEDz6L-OEahUtOrkbA/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_King.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh9lkWX87UQLICWi5Rf7OIrY8Fg451BRIwvt3WoJHLhHhfnssEBbUqFL7vEp75U2mWH3dqEI4-1gO6gbPtmwco2T0CQbx7PTJGA2Al5IFGHipFQG0AXygdyzu4HL3x7RCi4k-8hMLmMuXmrVdn1hTLX_rQyg8PxkQ2br0Y5Gp-MtFd7ol1dLV3-t1FA/s390/OChanNoOekakiLogic_OChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh9lkWX87UQLICWi5Rf7OIrY8Fg451BRIwvt3WoJHLhHhfnssEBbUqFL7vEp75U2mWH3dqEI4-1gO6gbPtmwco2T0CQbx7PTJGA2Al5IFGHipFQG0AXygdyzu4HL3x7RCi4k-8hMLmMuXmrVdn1hTLX_rQyg8PxkQ2br0Y5Gp-MtFd7ol1dLV3-t1FA/w200-h156/OChanNoOekakiLogic_OChan.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Because this is <u>O-Chan</u>'s game, naturally she gets two Picross puzzles designed after her as opposed to just one like everyone else; well isn't <u>she</u> a diva</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Of the Saturn-based puzzlers in the <i>Hebereke</i> franchise, I honestly much prefer this game the most. Granted, <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i> is the more digestible of the two to play and is arcade-length, but <i>O-Chan no Oekaki Logic</i> has got so much more depth to its sense of puzzle-solving that as a result feels so much more rewarding when all is said and done. It's always thrilling to anticipate the next puzzle and trying to guess what design you're trying to make out as you slowly solve it (including the occasional <i>Hebereke</i> cast member), no matter how intense the number of pixels might be. I wouldn't mind trying one of Jupiter and Ape's Mario-starring <i>Picross</i> games someday, because this game was a real treat. 😸🧩</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Once more, I decided to order two Japanese Saturn games at the same time for Saturn games fifteen and sixteen.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJUgc621VQlF2W0z1xT8yEPAkf-WFRSqfvR0xVIMEEALLpl_NuEclcNzGyczgOBBkeMx9JPCBvbgAwzCFAUmGnJPbSvV8KQqIyat5S6r1CFJVLCeuOZBKIA1dEoXxAlbqQGK_Q9fKRDukEOqNB8-yXJpnEHPxtZCPn9AqJn3sXsTwSnLL7MGXp89ItQ/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJUgc621VQlF2W0z1xT8yEPAkf-WFRSqfvR0xVIMEEALLpl_NuEclcNzGyczgOBBkeMx9JPCBvbgAwzCFAUmGnJPbSvV8KQqIyat5S6r1CFJVLCeuOZBKIA1dEoXxAlbqQGK_Q9fKRDukEOqNB8-yXJpnEHPxtZCPn9AqJn3sXsTwSnLL7MGXp89ItQ/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSRDlo1mHGCt-VJyVmwwwmOfFJ8qGXTsmAumQ3OpoQCQNMiTzPciVrVb7nGzc8pruuifST75WY0rjbFVuTKhZsGsEeM2yatUQO_zISVaFbfxG05m8VUp5mxmkJa9rXPc9-uYSR-i_YXQVJ0LO9iMUVgjAyqUqOAB9I51k6-vMDTWloq09VOKFwot_gg/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_CheckPoint.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSRDlo1mHGCt-VJyVmwwwmOfFJ8qGXTsmAumQ3OpoQCQNMiTzPciVrVb7nGzc8pruuifST75WY0rjbFVuTKhZsGsEeM2yatUQO_zISVaFbfxG05m8VUp5mxmkJa9rXPc9-uYSR-i_YXQVJ0LO9iMUVgjAyqUqOAB9I51k6-vMDTWloq09VOKFwot_gg/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_CheckPoint.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first of them to arrive, on November 3rd, 2022, was the TV Tokyo and Pony Canyon released snowboarding game <b><i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix</i></b> developed by Double Atelier, my fifteenth Saturn game. Given we were getting closer to the colder season, and due to my fond memories of playing the sequels to UEP Systems and Idol Minds' <i>Cool Boarders</i> sequels on the PlayStation One as well as Nintendo Software Technologies' <i>1080° Avalanche</i> on the Nintendo GameCube when I was younger, I wanted to try a snowboarding game on the Saturn so much and...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjqECgGhAMJ2vkepf2tkzhyrODZ_gxbFbmepIynB1PHZScwMa6IRBa27eKvsAa3iqtOtDzpeFTApHuMMZ3SOVDA5eg2HTY-BBM0y4-MVARqZcIaR3to8lxNTnv8rKJTEzoS0eVe5yfN7cRAbyLAH5z4deXuXQEETbfNk2MWo2LH41oepG6kSDsbqF1Q/s380/PowerSokoban_PowerBlast.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="380" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjqECgGhAMJ2vkepf2tkzhyrODZ_gxbFbmepIynB1PHZScwMa6IRBa27eKvsAa3iqtOtDzpeFTApHuMMZ3SOVDA5eg2HTY-BBM0y4-MVARqZcIaR3to8lxNTnv8rKJTEzoS0eVe5yfN7cRAbyLAH5z4deXuXQEETbfNk2MWo2LH41oepG6kSDsbqF1Q/w200-h155/PowerSokoban_PowerBlast.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAVx6MaFiVosbAA5T-yrEkSse8knUDUZHKhx59ut0HRnwvIvMp4axNozx_wN-KsJhMlHO2YvdbFcpUaJ0DkWiYLSrUm3GjOcRpYVRsC6XmpJyzq9blaGh583_Am8Mcel3GCDkniVoGOhpL9dw0C954KjkVfbsdyavkBmRrVxAxmdTb9syPoHttQPCow/s380/PowerSokoban_Pushing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="380" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAVx6MaFiVosbAA5T-yrEkSse8knUDUZHKhx59ut0HRnwvIvMp4axNozx_wN-KsJhMlHO2YvdbFcpUaJ0DkWiYLSrUm3GjOcRpYVRsC6XmpJyzq9blaGh583_Am8Mcel3GCDkniVoGOhpL9dw0C954KjkVfbsdyavkBmRrVxAxmdTb9syPoHttQPCow/w200-h155/PowerSokoban_Pushing.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I expected <b>better</b> from Double Atelier. 😟</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbdglgKTZrJ_yVtsueqyrCJPw7rbCMb1AZp7gwO5VbkyEb7L_Aa9uvOMnqe0BwOKlaxcdQv8SzvNIv8mYRU0soYG51yna-Z9urUNLvU47Z-mNIRqyMxmmgDlsWokHy3mGZ_sDKzQ7RoqsiNh07-0Navx8eu28AMaba2SuiTA_Yt3f5ZKa8Cxq3On-JA/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Bridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbdglgKTZrJ_yVtsueqyrCJPw7rbCMb1AZp7gwO5VbkyEb7L_Aa9uvOMnqe0BwOKlaxcdQv8SzvNIv8mYRU0soYG51yna-Z9urUNLvU47Z-mNIRqyMxmmgDlsWokHy3mGZ_sDKzQ7RoqsiNh07-0Navx8eu28AMaba2SuiTA_Yt3f5ZKa8Cxq3On-JA/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Bridge.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGW7aQBJ6wXllB8QQZLzonUpe4Oe_vktLp0fAkDnCuihqS4SkK2z2ZlteGM3wlpDV5ptK0cNY0QakkJHGvOYFCOZdp-znX8SYw9XAEuDAl3PzWtAywx3mBBwBaeuUy8eGNx02jj8q3wOy9Nni-QkhQLHPrfFaiEaImwtx7204QgC_TAi16xatCsMjrg/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Replay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGW7aQBJ6wXllB8QQZLzonUpe4Oe_vktLp0fAkDnCuihqS4SkK2z2ZlteGM3wlpDV5ptK0cNY0QakkJHGvOYFCOZdp-znX8SYw9XAEuDAl3PzWtAywx3mBBwBaeuUy8eGNx02jj8q3wOy9Nni-QkhQLHPrfFaiEaImwtx7204QgC_TAi16xatCsMjrg/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Replay.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Just to be clear, it's not a bad game as it is playable with three boarders of different skills. Its snow-heavy visuals situated in Japan and North America and Europe's snowboarding tracks are sufficiently adequate, the 3D is acceptable (unless you're looking at your character from the front during the replay session) with the colors of your chosen boarder popping out in contrast to the heavy white snow, despite being a Japan-exclusive its options are all in English which makes it import-friendly (including occasional voiceovers), and the soundtrack is era-appropriate with the extreme vibes going for it that it's catchy all the same (even though I'm not a fan of grunge). The problem is that it's a bit of a mess: I cannot do any midair trick without any fumbling on the ground involved (best I can do is spin around left or right to a point) due to lack of prompt responsiveness, North America's track has got an invisible wall situated right at the start so you have to pivot to the side to get going, there are moments when it's hard to maintain control particularly beside the cliff, it's ridiculously easy to bump into things, there's a weird Hollywood-esque stock punch sound effect when you crash into a wall or obstacle which is so out of place, and it's only sporadically enjoyable as opposed to consistently so.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOQylASkv_q4xnMbFzjnkatWn188kkJQkq3OTQAjSHTbspsSHhsXqXkCreV159NhoE5gODFh2yIeknrZ3TcFJniXJizTiGqFXwd2eoU1N9uSoleHsQY3wjMXhgxhgi_GMwFjuUqnRXEdqKIzzB1kVEDOo0BMUiSWIDrldsEBP8FZ72pCqh18e3ObgGw/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Go.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOQylASkv_q4xnMbFzjnkatWn188kkJQkq3OTQAjSHTbspsSHhsXqXkCreV159NhoE5gODFh2yIeknrZ3TcFJniXJizTiGqFXwd2eoU1N9uSoleHsQY3wjMXhgxhgi_GMwFjuUqnRXEdqKIzzB1kVEDOo0BMUiSWIDrldsEBP8FZ72pCqh18e3ObgGw/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Go.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQw9e7DIPR4xv0fdwonv8bjjJPE8yT4ZzC3mUzGIUd-lVwS0YiUveeHHztM2EpiSDnVDv7pIMuoo3Aekvg6cbZIty0678u5JAt4QyHa5PtnpJLIc-5ZddBNEVVJutsuhan2BFiIVssWvfMY2R_h79cDuUDP8jKtRWdv2R7Xz_u0axnrfEF4LBwG6DzA/s390/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Race.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQw9e7DIPR4xv0fdwonv8bjjJPE8yT4ZzC3mUzGIUd-lVwS0YiUveeHHztM2EpiSDnVDv7pIMuoo3Aekvg6cbZIty0678u5JAt4QyHa5PtnpJLIc-5ZddBNEVVJutsuhan2BFiIVssWvfMY2R_h79cDuUDP8jKtRWdv2R7Xz_u0axnrfEF4LBwG6DzA/w200-h156/ZapSnowboardingTrix_Race.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maybe Double Atelier upped their game and redeemed themselves with <i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix '98</i>, which also got released and localized outside of Japan on the PlayStation One? I mean, one can only hope, but this was a bit of a letdown for me. 🏂 Pass.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now the other game I ordered at the same time, the one I was <b>really</b> looking forward to play, had yet to arrive, so I waited. And waited. And waited. It was taking longer than it was supposed to, and I didn't realize until later on why that was: whereas I ordered Double Atelier's <i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix</i> from an American seller, the second game I ordered from a <b>Japanese</b> seller on eBay (something I hadn't done since before COVID hit with certain Super Famicom cartridges) and it turned out that shipping laws in Japan changed since then or something like that. Luckily my family was contacted about it and things got settled eventually, and even though it was a long wait due the shipping delay, I felt the wait was very worth it because what I ended up with was a game that's very fun.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrT88XmGPeAosx72A0FY57nilpnFRFaWkUzA6f2eL3UJGpZWvE2sJ3v_9F4sJCKZZ46U3b_3J9Q-qWxS7-jLf54vZ_RUksjmPY5CDACdFH8rTTBwiHBH7x2ClofWKLt8QJXmnEG7OKcBl57zzCrXeCH39C90SpcsgQLJRzxfEWS7aKdtimF8zTRL75Q/s381/SteamGearMash_EnterMash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrT88XmGPeAosx72A0FY57nilpnFRFaWkUzA6f2eL3UJGpZWvE2sJ3v_9F4sJCKZZ46U3b_3J9Q-qWxS7-jLf54vZ_RUksjmPY5CDACdFH8rTTBwiHBH7x2ClofWKLt8QJXmnEG7OKcBl57zzCrXeCH39C90SpcsgQLJRzxfEWS7aKdtimF8zTRL75Q/s16000/SteamGearMash_EnterMash.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2ec0ff; font-size: x-small;">"Mina-chan! I'm going to help you now!!"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;">LOOK AT HIM! HE'S SO <u>CUTE</u>!! AHHHHHH!!! 😭</span></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The game in question, my sixteenth Saturn game, was the Takara published isometric action game Tamsoft's <b><i>SteamGear Mash</i></b>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_93Or5I61T7joGCxO2Ux_jEAGAlY2LsoAHBZD-wzw91MHtLon7gro_v0FY8RwqTYNAI4bqWsukVZ_DbiE4BdFt-C1sfMuTGhV8_WzTUUHGCHf_haap8ANq8WXD_1etyXpZF7URA7PTx89K2H6o3SDjbyjsSx_ZY1jMyU0IxE84YGAEjLh5RplqV-lQ/s381/SteamGearMash_Charging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_93Or5I61T7joGCxO2Ux_jEAGAlY2LsoAHBZD-wzw91MHtLon7gro_v0FY8RwqTYNAI4bqWsukVZ_DbiE4BdFt-C1sfMuTGhV8_WzTUUHGCHf_haap8ANq8WXD_1etyXpZF7URA7PTx89K2H6o3SDjbyjsSx_ZY1jMyU0IxE84YGAEjLh5RplqV-lQ/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Charging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl6iXoiiTDPHoNoMragrHPbq-cLEWitzHxGwoRzDZadNQbj2-K7N6NeazQmNwV0hlQWlU0N5YRBCK0JhuPr59jOC0loPrxBs1qKXTZqJxS_BHREMmYry4-jhJNRmwaGvQoc3yaPBfboYOgC7O0XVenOmYK1m25pt7r3izSFzrqasuNh8MuwQAaBGEEw/s381/SteamGearMash_Idling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl6iXoiiTDPHoNoMragrHPbq-cLEWitzHxGwoRzDZadNQbj2-K7N6NeazQmNwV0hlQWlU0N5YRBCK0JhuPr59jOC0loPrxBs1qKXTZqJxS_BHREMmYry4-jhJNRmwaGvQoc3yaPBfboYOgC7O0XVenOmYK1m25pt7r3izSFzrqasuNh8MuwQAaBGEEw/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Idling.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As renowned Tamworld scientist Hiroto Sendagaya's eponymous creation, SteamGear Mash is on a mission to save his granddaughter Mina-chan who's been kidnapped by an evil space <strike>simp</strike> emperor named Gash and he'll need all the help he can get to bring her back. Throughout your quest you'll be contending with a myriad of enemies (who'll randomly drop hearts to replenish your health or missiles to replenish your weapon meter upon being disposed of) and gather new powerups and secondary weapons in your arsenal (stored inside random "M" boxes) in order to overcome color-coded obstacles.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJGQY8bXQsmV25wnbHJqLWcS9VeEwLCbHJEnEzACqAUQ0MU9PisoKxw5K2FCFnxpnxzZ0GeryJRLfwYj1Ifv7KBZI5RaaeDt8rzZnFslT4YqQPfdPxwlVQR-Gu4vXFBAwWTislPdkWCPVmselrtjdFaAz01u6el5CftfasjHGcmwRJGSs5zHi0vr4og/s381/SteamGearMash_FiringAtEnemies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJGQY8bXQsmV25wnbHJqLWcS9VeEwLCbHJEnEzACqAUQ0MU9PisoKxw5K2FCFnxpnxzZ0GeryJRLfwYj1Ifv7KBZI5RaaeDt8rzZnFslT4YqQPfdPxwlVQR-Gu4vXFBAwWTislPdkWCPVmselrtjdFaAz01u6el5CftfasjHGcmwRJGSs5zHi0vr4og/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_FiringAtEnemies.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lly-HpSZHQ0kgxCZLIXohwmTJ5AHvjm5_3Xk06L2-pkUHAc7DejT5lLdRKodL1tt5QxMzXJkkOdchi34HTt_C8GOtlMJM4tXBkUffPuSTi00m7Yb3KMCxbLo5mggqWaUaFS1JSXheLOOpEf63FkbBE_NVCQ-TGJZJbJ0-rXK5Z2QFtX9GIYsp5Hbrw/s381/SteamGearMash_Dragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lly-HpSZHQ0kgxCZLIXohwmTJ5AHvjm5_3Xk06L2-pkUHAc7DejT5lLdRKodL1tt5QxMzXJkkOdchi34HTt_C8GOtlMJM4tXBkUffPuSTi00m7Yb3KMCxbLo5mggqWaUaFS1JSXheLOOpEf63FkbBE_NVCQ-TGJZJbJ0-rXK5Z2QFtX9GIYsp5Hbrw/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Dragon.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though the main goal is straightforward and arcade-like in its simplicity, I like how this game allows you a chance to explore the given areas in an open-ended fashion (so there'll be convenient enemy respawning) as it rewards you for thorough searching (you can even see where you are in the map after pausing), if you activated a warp box earlier you'll be able to use it to backtrack to a prior area if you feel the need to, and you can even save your progress by standing on a box in the save room. The eight-way isometric controls are fun (complete with shadows), there's a lightheartedly endearing anime charm, and there are a couple of stages that play like an isometric shoot'em up in the vein of Sega and Ikegami Tsushinki's <i>Zaxxon</i> and Aicom's <i>Viewpoint</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwxpNIYCO6T49C54HWFfvqw-Kmr47BB80KshR76GUg-24ZS1wXpJadBdbNOozSgYnUI9JMFBtmZd62YEWpxDGB4_BdRAaPQ5QnkDDV1Ar44uNrJ2j0_UtRzFLk6DYzs-jbR1RuZRNe_2c4380t6atVVTc74v-__snFbE1pT8SDsb8CjituDd4AHJXiA/s304/SteamGearMash_Mash+MinaChan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="304" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwxpNIYCO6T49C54HWFfvqw-Kmr47BB80KshR76GUg-24ZS1wXpJadBdbNOozSgYnUI9JMFBtmZd62YEWpxDGB4_BdRAaPQ5QnkDDV1Ar44uNrJ2j0_UtRzFLk6DYzs-jbR1RuZRNe_2c4380t6atVVTc74v-__snFbE1pT8SDsb8CjituDd4AHJXiA/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_Mash+MinaChan.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22s7MkOELKR1Nfe4XGHHjubEpOFNPLx0mSME2ryBVWq8b_tl6l3RyngOuobvoIJcHjUWC8qK84nDyHLbLykFCkXAXyx71upMgH95_kiIWWmWAna3vhEdf9NqUvG69srgZQmi2DHRKzs6lPJJ-1m64jWRL19XzgVpid6AlvTWjHHvgq0ytItw5ZeJ5BA/s304/SteamGearMash_MashVsKotenpan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="304" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22s7MkOELKR1Nfe4XGHHjubEpOFNPLx0mSME2ryBVWq8b_tl6l3RyngOuobvoIJcHjUWC8qK84nDyHLbLykFCkXAXyx71upMgH95_kiIWWmWAna3vhEdf9NqUvG69srgZQmi2DHRKzs6lPJJ-1m64jWRL19XzgVpid6AlvTWjHHvgq0ytItw5ZeJ5BA/w200-h139/SteamGearMash_MashVsKotenpan.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The CG cutscenes are charmingly well-done for 1995, even if their rendered quality is a bit fuzzy the animation itself is very endearing and the vibrant colors really pop out at you.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwBXSO7_I7WMP0-jBRDtaqpz1bGbokGm3vtE7l0L5_qY_1wxokQkLKGwMqewU8vgL3FjHC57Gq3l_N7yRfDGt9ijfnCPocoREGiLVhj8g1hAiEQDOiZkc8xL3nIDP8ZPmUMEYvVspcF4VMksp1perpEkyJDzeKqm11iDozaUJgFUgkGdVue43rRDxkg/s381/SteamGearMash_Missiles+Torpedoes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwBXSO7_I7WMP0-jBRDtaqpz1bGbokGm3vtE7l0L5_qY_1wxokQkLKGwMqewU8vgL3FjHC57Gq3l_N7yRfDGt9ijfnCPocoREGiLVhj8g1hAiEQDOiZkc8xL3nIDP8ZPmUMEYvVspcF4VMksp1perpEkyJDzeKqm11iDozaUJgFUgkGdVue43rRDxkg/s16000/SteamGearMash_Missiles+Torpedoes.png" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The areas are well-designed with a good sense of layout, Mash's sprites are very good and solidly animated, the difficulty is very manageable after some practice, and the soundtrack by Fumio Tanabe, Makoto Mukai, and Yasuhiro Nakano is very enjoyable with so many good themes (the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ABQeziReEs">title theme</a> is <b>so</b> good with the saxophone, I like the fun-sounding <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXlMwF5F01g">first stage theme</a>, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEp2cOGSEMQ">underwater third stage theme</a> sounds engrossingly atmospheric and wonder-filled, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH2-fcKgmL4">final area theme</a> has got strong Brad Fiedel-style percussive beats like something you'd hear in James Cameron's <i>Terminator</i> films), and even though there's the occasional Japanese dialogue from Mash it's not very hard to follow and there is a nice sense of experimentation with the controls.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckxMeT0kKYM32zju-g2FK7WPozxjN-9oCCzC-ZaSGDHDwupfsaJaORQE9UD4KcZN1LZsPQfcuoJmxaKTgAwiClYF3c86h8eXP2-qRru2_3eFCIstjVNHpLQgoxnN1LTMVwIuZ_eL-o4B5YOFWK5mJYJBHonvDHdJ2sUyjOnmBUQdiJhJ4LSP6BXSz_A/s381/SteamGearMash_Box.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckxMeT0kKYM32zju-g2FK7WPozxjN-9oCCzC-ZaSGDHDwupfsaJaORQE9UD4KcZN1LZsPQfcuoJmxaKTgAwiClYF3c86h8eXP2-qRru2_3eFCIstjVNHpLQgoxnN1LTMVwIuZ_eL-o4B5YOFWK5mJYJBHonvDHdJ2sUyjOnmBUQdiJhJ4LSP6BXSz_A/s16000/SteamGearMash_Box.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The only intolerable thing I found about </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">SteamGear Mash</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> was that if you were dangerously low on health you'd be stuck with an incessant beeping which becomes super grating until you replenished it to a point, and... I almost want to hate Nintendo's </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Zelda</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> franchise for even </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">starting</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> that unwelcome ear-affronting trend of constant beeping when low on health (though, realistically, I should be more upset at certain developers for certain games for even thinking it a sound notion to even </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">adopt</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> that one cue irregardless of overall quality as it's akin to a nagging constant reminder, and <b>nobody likes those</b>). <b> *sigh*</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePFZRH9vWkXmyIwumYnNY4zx7sh-5_yIf2kdps7Bsl_YXhfP-Iwz-EWfLdnXfv-oDXPaBzp5MfUij-9gLdwdvrVpo9mYRWqcJvCBEBtrLm6BZ5UDF9VKOtVUqQiOJnlDvuT2kvDvdbEOvJ4JWyn8lYiLo9lnI2kx88NX4ysaLEmltZMZFjKf1dHyM1A/s179/SteamGearMash_Cat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="130" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePFZRH9vWkXmyIwumYnNY4zx7sh-5_yIf2kdps7Bsl_YXhfP-Iwz-EWfLdnXfv-oDXPaBzp5MfUij-9gLdwdvrVpo9mYRWqcJvCBEBtrLm6BZ5UDF9VKOtVUqQiOJnlDvuT2kvDvdbEOvJ4JWyn8lYiLo9lnI2kx88NX4ysaLEmltZMZFjKf1dHyM1A/s1600/SteamGearMash_Cat.png" width="130" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Interestingly throughout the game Mash is followed around by a stray cat, and later on by a secondary one, though I'm not sure why; either they sense a kind spirit within Mash that they end up following him or they're sticking around for support (if not curiosity). 🐱 Well, regardless, it's a cute touch.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBO0SP7CQ-6QbFvxZPNhgch5trZrdbkZhEQNSEQANl4qx23Hnd6h8SuVdh45NgE77wLozFh8VXnyKWln2btozfMaN1Bo_7QQ6AeMDT0nNr9WjfbDxK9G9E3YA9_6C3csgeOvDU0K4dA3SKzGiH4uw-MtPuqx-yp1W6XnM6b40_Ky1tCYDhxU2u04WEw/s381/SteamGearMash_Freeze.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBO0SP7CQ-6QbFvxZPNhgch5trZrdbkZhEQNSEQANl4qx23Hnd6h8SuVdh45NgE77wLozFh8VXnyKWln2btozfMaN1Bo_7QQ6AeMDT0nNr9WjfbDxK9G9E3YA9_6C3csgeOvDU0K4dA3SKzGiH4uw-MtPuqx-yp1W6XnM6b40_Ky1tCYDhxU2u04WEw/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_Freeze.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_PBajptLuLz-WgAtrYOLfzA6NFtrRWj0V8k8lOZbKKRkXFmRn0Xme0CSoppzTFwheH3ownntw5cPp023pPN8EKlDTNL7Cvcl00YUu6K4NphDA10clMcZH3kQQmRoKzsNn-DO1UtOMMqtaRPRyaevCy4a5WeC_YStpFY9bRUjhkd2Cj4dWxcUfx8ucA/s381/SteamGearMash_MashVsGash.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="381" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_PBajptLuLz-WgAtrYOLfzA6NFtrRWj0V8k8lOZbKKRkXFmRn0Xme0CSoppzTFwheH3ownntw5cPp023pPN8EKlDTNL7Cvcl00YUu6K4NphDA10clMcZH3kQQmRoKzsNn-DO1UtOMMqtaRPRyaevCy4a5WeC_YStpFY9bRUjhkd2Cj4dWxcUfx8ucA/w200-h156/SteamGearMash_MashVsGash.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's not a very long game as it's somewhere in the fifty minute range, but I think it's a very fun game while it lasts with a good amount of replay value depending on whether you choose to find all of Mash's gear or not. The second time I played through the game I managed to play it through in one go without saving once, miraculously, though I don't recommend attempting that so soon after you try it because there's always a chance that you might lose your entire health and be brought back to the title screen if you're not careful (particularly in the shoot'em up segments in the third and fifth stages). Well worth the wait, <i>SteamGear Mash</i> is enjoyably good action fare that's adorable to boot. 😃</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now for a quick recap:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#10 <i>Baku Baku Animal: World Zookeeper Contest</i> (<i>Baku Baku Animal: Sekai Shiikugakari Senshuken</i> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: 9 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#11 <i>Popoitto Hebereke</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> (<i>Hebereke's Popoitto</i> </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[ </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">]</span></b></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">) | Saves: 3 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#12 <i>Whizz</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: N/A</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#13 <i>Shining Wisdom</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: 17 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#14 <i>O-Chan no Oekaki Logic</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: 114 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#15 <i>Zap! Snowboarding Trix</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: 8 Blocks</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">#16 <i>SteamGear Mash</i> </span><b style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> | Saves: 71 Blocks</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://starboy91.blogspot.com/2023/02/random-saturnday-iii-christmas-games.html">CLICK HERE TO READ THE SECOND PART</a></span></b></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-35576692519715745422022-12-18T19:19:00.010-06:002023-10-15T08:55:32.675-05:00The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse (SNES) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">✨<b> Received: April 5th, 2012 </b>✨<b> Written: December 8th-18th, 2022 </b>✨</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKltXd_ruheZM8lR4VMGVcJxRLYUrmsdqMDKWLcb5GKP_UsQuEaWuqbIGMK_C0f-ZQvKFoOReFzBx8j1C3JyH6kHgT2nJpofyLbKdXk0-bSK5Nq__S3kTGebNrjuUTKP8Vg6ra8Z133BdmgcJtbeXchxBs282_kmCTNTR0Om3F49qDnvomIYsasJVqUg/s352/TheMagicalQuest_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKltXd_ruheZM8lR4VMGVcJxRLYUrmsdqMDKWLcb5GKP_UsQuEaWuqbIGMK_C0f-ZQvKFoOReFzBx8j1C3JyH6kHgT2nJpofyLbKdXk0-bSK5Nq__S3kTGebNrjuUTKP8Vg6ra8Z133BdmgcJtbeXchxBs282_kmCTNTR0Om3F49qDnvomIYsasJVqUg/s16000/TheMagicalQuest_Title.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Alternate Title: <i>Mickey no Magical Adventure</i></span> <span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: medium;">Year: 1992 | Developed and Published by: Capcom</span></b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 Now then, how about we work some magic!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV_bmJVg1R_zXdpL-xT3jI5ESUjxyQOTzl93NeV5U2iJl4Eu2lTdqmJzubRKvXDSBpz8GYMnPRQnMWKN7vl0JzUifvlUTDEkTgEQouABnEv4Be6CFn0QKRPEZEAk8Vib8MfN3QqWwy37hOKab0ihnVsn8QwLPyyYk70tqVYSgk6ENHT_EcQHuu-JsCQ/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Funhouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV_bmJVg1R_zXdpL-xT3jI5ESUjxyQOTzl93NeV5U2iJl4Eu2lTdqmJzubRKvXDSBpz8GYMnPRQnMWKN7vl0JzUifvlUTDEkTgEQouABnEv4Be6CFn0QKRPEZEAk8Vib8MfN3QqWwy37hOKab0ihnVsn8QwLPyyYk70tqVYSgk6ENHT_EcQHuu-JsCQ/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Funhouse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgCjxXh3zz2UqeMbO-BBPcd8QLwiOD9MndtsJSWBYaXDVgcLgHWJi2XGCUP-CaIUdaZAdEzWUNKhb3-AqzDZK580in4HQPAbOxoglQIjQZJV3p3xYtsvAQv630RFZePiQ4c28lJba6p3Eu_k3xOChx_z_ri4VazmPh8BJC9-va14eUMvbuUNGymYmTg/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Bee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgCjxXh3zz2UqeMbO-BBPcd8QLwiOD9MndtsJSWBYaXDVgcLgHWJi2XGCUP-CaIUdaZAdEzWUNKhb3-AqzDZK580in4HQPAbOxoglQIjQZJV3p3xYtsvAQv630RFZePiQ4c28lJba6p3Eu_k3xOChx_z_ri4VazmPh8BJC9-va14eUMvbuUNGymYmTg/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Bee.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I just want to preface that I do not own a Famicom console, I played <i>Mickey Mouse</i> on a 500 in 1 NES-styled plug-and-play system</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">On March 6th 1987, the Famicom received the very first Disney video game license on Nintendo's 8-bit console with Hudson Soft's <i>Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Kuni no Daibōken</i>, which saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse journeying together to save Alice (i.e. the title character from the 1951 animated classic <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> based on Lewis Carroll's novel) after she had been abducted by the forces from Wonderland.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawAgbmd7JSZkl6pmEy5M94mMABfSwqvboxFr7LUqgl8wZ6ciyR_xahWMWm1fraoPKRE9QJNuNeaL91JTrPpS-i7YD68ufBFuomgNwGZv-NZ3qje6ZTz5nCLf-sSmyufgKM4fyNRmKaNmRTTYqfO2MWbxC42YzuPRhth34-QiYqPH5XQc55WjQAK5RSg/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_CheshireCat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawAgbmd7JSZkl6pmEy5M94mMABfSwqvboxFr7LUqgl8wZ6ciyR_xahWMWm1fraoPKRE9QJNuNeaL91JTrPpS-i7YD68ufBFuomgNwGZv-NZ3qje6ZTz5nCLf-sSmyufgKM4fyNRmKaNmRTTYqfO2MWbxC42YzuPRhth34-QiYqPH5XQc55WjQAK5RSg/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_CheshireCat.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu6vNirH451BWpyKkjkRBl-Oluqufhn4hViFN5so0DQXPQT9wDRMs0MM-3IL5cGpuNAf0IP9apNjU62baA3dwERg7UPmwkgxp8RcqroES4KOaNZz3Ww6FdUsDhOwMyBw71QUcftBPlvdR7-IX-t1-cr8Nl8YOrJ8_MSrJFZzewo5ap3TgwfDJEp5Jxw/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_RescuedMinnie.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu6vNirH451BWpyKkjkRBl-Oluqufhn4hViFN5so0DQXPQT9wDRMs0MM-3IL5cGpuNAf0IP9apNjU62baA3dwERg7UPmwkgxp8RcqroES4KOaNZz3Ww6FdUsDhOwMyBw71QUcftBPlvdR7-IX-t1-cr8Nl8YOrJ8_MSrJFZzewo5ap3TgwfDJEp5Jxw/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_RescuedMinnie.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When it came to the North American NES release on October of 1988, the game would be localized by </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">Capcom</b><span style="font-family: georgia;">, giving it the new name </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mousecapade</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and replacing the </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Wonderland</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">-themed foes with classic Disney villains. This marked the first time Capcom handled a Disney title as well as a <i>Mickey Mouse</i> license outside of Japan.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfHTrZfb51aHgEv3YwXfi1gOpoAOXTUv4h3HfFjvteJ1_tA5StY7P0Jmnj2kozzNI_hIUBYnX5EyZwxFEprD_JIg8Vrrq6S4riEcXz-kjj6EplIqYClyZi2iQONLCBQPLeTkwaZ0GoDJSleS3eqeMqUa8vDUOFRdRR1aHdg_WoXxZQtYAanKzEIP-zg/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Ocean.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfHTrZfb51aHgEv3YwXfi1gOpoAOXTUv4h3HfFjvteJ1_tA5StY7P0Jmnj2kozzNI_hIUBYnX5EyZwxFEprD_JIg8Vrrq6S4riEcXz-kjj6EplIqYClyZi2iQONLCBQPLeTkwaZ0GoDJSleS3eqeMqUa8vDUOFRdRR1aHdg_WoXxZQtYAanKzEIP-zg/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_Ocean.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCa1G2iZHXeLjEtRpXlaTuct-Uk8xenuylkSZwOF0EUfXju-0-LnQ-iw8d4TcumZNteBK8vqj1_f7sRX2qLkPcb_eI24WQKKbNOqNZ9B8M6DQzUjuW6NsJT_zIl7NSqbp5W1UzYwwsmRI6phrZ6stQCytd5Xrdi7MDhxHrTBXWJmgfmrzMzjzj8GNkQ/s379/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_TweedleDee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="379" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCa1G2iZHXeLjEtRpXlaTuct-Uk8xenuylkSZwOF0EUfXju-0-LnQ-iw8d4TcumZNteBK8vqj1_f7sRX2qLkPcb_eI24WQKKbNOqNZ9B8M6DQzUjuW6NsJT_zIl7NSqbp5W1UzYwwsmRI6phrZ6stQCytd5Xrdi7MDhxHrTBXWJmgfmrzMzjzj8GNkQ/w200-h161/MickeyMouseFushigiNoKuniNoDaiboken_TweedleDee.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Following </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mousecapade</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">'s release Capcom would develop their own Disney fare starting with video game adaptations of animated series <i>DuckTales</i> and <i>Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers</i>, both of which were well received and successful laying the foundation for Disney Capcom gaming to come. Nintendo of America, for the next several years, would give Capcom exclusivity rights when it came to the American publishing duties of Disney games on their formats regardless of whether or not they worked on them.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPdPhcHCvPeD6Trs1G1a66373JYtcl5PvXhds4uXT8mgqB_cewqNVLspkKAurwyQzmuUZ--snhnH39Jmg-AqvxPUSU5FIymFoUpLUIpepmyp6ALGujadUwkjlqL7OU8cr0GIUqRUt6JRGdbkZRIx5gn04XMg5Z08RqmPaXXt_I6F3GBnXh4w_B5gZPg/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_BlockTossedAtDog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPdPhcHCvPeD6Trs1G1a66373JYtcl5PvXhds4uXT8mgqB_cewqNVLspkKAurwyQzmuUZ--snhnH39Jmg-AqvxPUSU5FIymFoUpLUIpepmyp6ALGujadUwkjlqL7OU8cr0GIUqRUt6JRGdbkZRIx5gn04XMg5Z08RqmPaXXt_I6F3GBnXh4w_B5gZPg/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_BlockTossedAtDog.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXo4C6AQDP0PZL9Otl4EVGdbhya-HWwt3-z4OuMK-AWkbi4jC6btoLp06lwDod7buoQZsv71JaI3f0bLNIZIvyKVT4W8oTxXBi0KlHz8KJKoNtw6U6TMnneludefbT9dSs_gTPVMr1uxNNJzLpHyOb6ApMXY2taAgSU0EIB242B0ZSUvBimOUB-o7g/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXo4C6AQDP0PZL9Otl4EVGdbhya-HWwt3-z4OuMK-AWkbi4jC6btoLp06lwDod7buoQZsv71JaI3f0bLNIZIvyKVT4W8oTxXBi0KlHz8KJKoNtw6U6TMnneludefbT9dSs_gTPVMr1uxNNJzLpHyOb6ApMXY2taAgSU0EIB242B0ZSUvBimOUB-o7g/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_Forest.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Then on May of 1991 Capcom released their second <i>Mickey Mouse</i> license in North America with Now Production's action platforming Game Boy venue <i>Mickey's Dangerous Chase</i> (released in Japan by Kemco the following year and a half as simply <i>Mickey's Chase</i>),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz6lSsfKu98lKrMq6fZp3Q0XyuMwUw2c-H68ljyqc3KLVyJk1hcifxHt1nhygD4YtASn3W25Aw6DJuR8j2pflOSxQCmLpGdYw5LejlM5fVgbLnW-soBPLRe8t2BFj_UZooGqmj0nrF21NjzAhCb3iqIEMZeyU0_7ISiOHKmOBDJtS6o45M31xgSb3JQ/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_Balloon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz6lSsfKu98lKrMq6fZp3Q0XyuMwUw2c-H68ljyqc3KLVyJk1hcifxHt1nhygD4YtASn3W25Aw6DJuR8j2pflOSxQCmLpGdYw5LejlM5fVgbLnW-soBPLRe8t2BFj_UZooGqmj0nrF21NjzAhCb3iqIEMZeyU0_7ISiOHKmOBDJtS6o45M31xgSb3JQ/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_Balloon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5oXXyXODcZfAZEvy78JzKLG0CnbEhEinA6ecwUUEZgys00UOCOLEt9WeffMpIztB569p_qApTiimwoWo6QNRytP1KM64H8K4x22vGrpSNqJs9c62oC2NBVm5-sfmoMvM5C9t_v1BGgQx5S0FR_BO-82o7_66tu0QBbeG8St-Q8iajioQtsZC2Zaerg/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_Gopher.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5oXXyXODcZfAZEvy78JzKLG0CnbEhEinA6ecwUUEZgys00UOCOLEt9WeffMpIztB569p_qApTiimwoWo6QNRytP1KM64H8K4x22vGrpSNqJs9c62oC2NBVm5-sfmoMvM5C9t_v1BGgQx5S0FR_BO-82o7_66tu0QBbeG8St-Q8iajioQtsZC2Zaerg/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_Gopher.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">which had Mickey (or Minnie) go on a pursuit against Pete who's on the run for having snatched Minnie's present away with the only way to fend for yourself being block tossing gameplay mechanics akin to those from Capcom's own <i>Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAa-NjhL4gclQ1qPtScAfu9pDqWMFBKYcGs0OkTAH7bPUCjCcMEUWX2Jy4cjFgWLaHhWDq2h9FTTl-j4LmDpcXYJGL1mycxa6RoXMGQ9NaW09yKg_7kL-SgwBGEKvM3swo5t2sqFev4cYdBjA_4FZQ44oRYK6-gu-LQmpHHLBdlxGXvIkaLmefAISDg/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_Bat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAa-NjhL4gclQ1qPtScAfu9pDqWMFBKYcGs0OkTAH7bPUCjCcMEUWX2Jy4cjFgWLaHhWDq2h9FTTl-j4LmDpcXYJGL1mycxa6RoXMGQ9NaW09yKg_7kL-SgwBGEKvM3swo5t2sqFev4cYdBjA_4FZQ44oRYK6-gu-LQmpHHLBdlxGXvIkaLmefAISDg/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_Bat.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBh8_GC8hDV5FFfYiqEBuzsRDz08JskUj3Za-pnQ23tYPdrb2tiRdvuSsTFuszUvKefCPeM_Hz0_EPO_meS4Qm8F8iEYV0r9drxNkUTWSqqwwr_6hYbNUJhF6L6pnPoW9Ca3BRtSs_33qs4yCmauvJxfnN5ERKxUT2WFf8i3zd2vEF6qiZ6IYP9zIiw/s239/MickeysDangerousChase_IndustrialFactory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="239" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBh8_GC8hDV5FFfYiqEBuzsRDz08JskUj3Za-pnQ23tYPdrb2tiRdvuSsTFuszUvKefCPeM_Hz0_EPO_meS4Qm8F8iEYV0r9drxNkUTWSqqwwr_6hYbNUJhF6L6pnPoW9Ca3BRtSs_33qs4yCmauvJxfnN5ERKxUT2WFf8i3zd2vEF6qiZ6IYP9zIiw/w200-h161/MickeysDangerousChase_IndustrialFactory.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eventually it would sell a million units, to which Nintendo plastered a million unit seller ribbon on a rerelease</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">While by no means Mickey's first rodeo on the handheld (with Kemco's <i>Crazy Castle</i> franchise being subject to change in the West due to licensing), it <b>was</b> the first to be released in this format outside of Japan.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjISEM2Z5c591jPU6sxw0mAttBqD1jllHrs-DeQD2bg9v0grQCcRMMUiRvUsawUgqH-YLrF47Fh_uDILThEQbGRJBSvjE-nRI5HgpIC9eMN1Sd11TEorTiUmj1qeeBu006PXMAinogI9uiW19Jea3KHbNh3OMejwp8vzYm_uEukRdkh_CpMLJr2mDOA/s147/Capcom_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" data-original-height="37" data-original-width="147" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjISEM2Z5c591jPU6sxw0mAttBqD1jllHrs-DeQD2bg9v0grQCcRMMUiRvUsawUgqH-YLrF47Fh_uDILThEQbGRJBSvjE-nRI5HgpIC9eMN1Sd11TEorTiUmj1qeeBu006PXMAinogI9uiW19Jea3KHbNh3OMejwp8vzYm_uEukRdkh_CpMLJr2mDOA/s1600/Capcom_Logo.png" width="147" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With two <i>Mickey Mouse</i> licenses by different developers handled in North America under their belt, Capcom would take matters into their own hands and craft a <i>Mickey Mouse</i> platformer of their own for the next go-around.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj266nnq04iSPQ1zr0jIJLIKvNr8T_nivl8NjVU27o2NnuPXhZ9doziqV2hBkfSjF5ptRDxIKvcoxuMWphI2JuLVJn_fBNI_lXHMi4oau4Sfeg-dvlOd5OXf4GmF4O31IDUbx1UP1KvfN-gFIpX1ZcfF9YJ2TOTzz2FX6WeW-CjKvUYuWxoDE4M05JoQQ/s1158/MickeyNoMagicalAdventure_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj266nnq04iSPQ1zr0jIJLIKvNr8T_nivl8NjVU27o2NnuPXhZ9doziqV2hBkfSjF5ptRDxIKvcoxuMWphI2JuLVJn_fBNI_lXHMi4oau4Sfeg-dvlOd5OXf4GmF4O31IDUbx1UP1KvfN-gFIpX1ZcfF9YJ2TOTzz2FX6WeW-CjKvUYuWxoDE4M05JoQQ/w177-h320/MickeyNoMagicalAdventure_Cover.png" width="177" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__0ok2E7VmRydUR86lzzImkRBqCQjdPLWCNz1Gzx8hqY7zVNzJ9TAioeGZL9ntpmQ8iOQvftsKefctzHzG06xVd3DuXno5QdlIZGdg-xnPtsTkdgyU4Nc72cay8n3RuiZxWbLCuZ2dRVVYwvu7DZOwfHoqIuaXgabgm5jfGJRDQq3EgCfYY7MSIt68Q/s640/TheMagicalQuest_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="640" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__0ok2E7VmRydUR86lzzImkRBqCQjdPLWCNz1Gzx8hqY7zVNzJ9TAioeGZL9ntpmQ8iOQvftsKefctzHzG06xVd3DuXno5QdlIZGdg-xnPtsTkdgyU4Nc72cay8n3RuiZxWbLCuZ2dRVVYwvu7DZOwfHoqIuaXgabgm5jfGJRDQq3EgCfYY7MSIt68Q/w200-h138/TheMagicalQuest_Cover.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">November 20th, 1992 saw the Japanese Super Famicom release of Capcom's first 16-bit Disney license <i>Mickey no Magical Adventure</i>, which would be localized for the North American and European SNES on December 1992 and March 18th, 1993 respectively as <b><i>The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</i></b>. Produced by Noah Dudley (in his second <i>Mickey Mouse</i> license after Sculptured Software's MS-DOS game <i>Mickey's Colors & Shapes</i>) with </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tokurō Fujiwara (credited as "Professor F")</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> acting as executive assistant, this game was planned by Hisashi Yamamoto ("MX-5"), Kamecha, and Tomohii, and was programmed by Masatsugu Shinohara ("M30"), Yamadacchi, Typedef, and Smak.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxFSZFtryQphn_etgDCmhiRXerkJKQNFUJMtVFlIyDNMQgUelsVozL1MiK2nvVFZbP7rrnADALeeCBvxumzTzKzxOd4TgHWs_Afr81NR7KURbsjCgSvMiofyBrDnUMuLLMCE89dc_Vhtw8nh-dGAGfa9QmKcYWZdC_rKZIy8-AJi1P10ovi37NhpNIA/s241/TheMagicalQuest_Intro.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="241" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxFSZFtryQphn_etgDCmhiRXerkJKQNFUJMtVFlIyDNMQgUelsVozL1MiK2nvVFZbP7rrnADALeeCBvxumzTzKzxOd4TgHWs_Afr81NR7KURbsjCgSvMiofyBrDnUMuLLMCE89dc_Vhtw8nh-dGAGfa9QmKcYWZdC_rKZIy8-AJi1P10ovi37NhpNIA/s1600/TheMagicalQuest_Intro.gif" width="241" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">One day Mickey and his friends decided to head to the park to play catch with one another. After Goofy is given the turn to pitch the baseball, he overshoots it and throws it out of bounds with Mickey's dog Pluto in pursuit of it. Mickey, concerned about Pluto's wellbeing after not coming back, even after Goofy's reassurance that he'll find him for his master, decides to run after his dog. As he runs he tries to skid to a stop upon noticing the edge of the cliff at the last second but is too late as he falls off it and bounces off from a branch below.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_Pgd6EBtu1se0MdwsL1qanguulzBSZupMzWI832vKMDtleoNjEmlJdqPh3K6tKpQFF3IwpCz3n9z-RUTC1nsy_XxPjUCO8uwoH46atf--ctlkikiAm2gQsCwifXdlRKgiWpAKNcOg2KsrgSUnwuw5Cv_9SZZcIly7pIzsUMyCjb_PzHWu8qg0_z9ag/s327/TheMagicalQuest_Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_Pgd6EBtu1se0MdwsL1qanguulzBSZupMzWI832vKMDtleoNjEmlJdqPh3K6tKpQFF3IwpCz3n9z-RUTC1nsy_XxPjUCO8uwoH46atf--ctlkikiAm2gQsCwifXdlRKgiWpAKNcOg2KsrgSUnwuw5Cv_9SZZcIly7pIzsUMyCjb_PzHWu8qg0_z9ag/s16000/TheMagicalQuest_Map.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Afterwards Mickey discovers that he's miraculously landed up in the treetops above the clouds where he meets a mysterious wizard inside a cabin and inquires if he's seen his dog Pluto. The wizard informs Mickey that Emperor Pete, the evil ruler of this world, has captured Pluto and plans to put him under a spell like he does all his minions and warns against trying to save him and to save himself as Emperor Pete's magic has never been vanquished. Mickey, ever undeterred, will attempt to rescue him anyway and inquires the evil ruler's location for he'll never give up on his best friend. The wizard, relenting, tells Mickey to follow the statues one by one that will take him to his destination and then scatters magical boxes that will aid Mickey in his quest, wishing him good luck on his magical endeavor.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxZefYa6p4yNcTdYPWRnqw0rfQUsbIUFKA28F3t0d3_8HllDW58oGlbccPW-CFtQMf6aki00uSe-N63nAbvQC0BAHVa7xkhbozxHVjuYR1x3i4Rng3fd_J-EJQTyiJWUV9ntdxDc1dWgk1fbLteZy8LiXUe2quLwkxeCHWALo_pjcJ2SuKxGZJ8gC1A/s383/TheMagicalQuest_FlyingBerry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxZefYa6p4yNcTdYPWRnqw0rfQUsbIUFKA28F3t0d3_8HllDW58oGlbccPW-CFtQMf6aki00uSe-N63nAbvQC0BAHVa7xkhbozxHVjuYR1x3i4Rng3fd_J-EJQTyiJWUV9ntdxDc1dWgk1fbLteZy8LiXUe2quLwkxeCHWALo_pjcJ2SuKxGZJ8gC1A/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_FlyingBerry.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMhx36Zut6uiOqbszZeA8hJfLULzoPR5i1h-t6GgW6mMomTIYLUOaY6cIxIsRUxqXCKKE3M_GBR_XdNcZq2Y4yIQUzSrSBlUp21OSmH6BKUPwN3mxaSePkY_pzu3qNIOOYPlFYfvjjeP_LiJFMnv-7jU1EnlyhZL7qckI5byBJ8M4XejNbhKHtnz07Q/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Wizard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMhx36Zut6uiOqbszZeA8hJfLULzoPR5i1h-t6GgW6mMomTIYLUOaY6cIxIsRUxqXCKKE3M_GBR_XdNcZq2Y4yIQUzSrSBlUp21OSmH6BKUPwN3mxaSePkY_pzu3qNIOOYPlFYfvjjeP_LiJFMnv-7jU1EnlyhZL7qckI5byBJ8M4XejNbhKHtnz07Q/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Wizard.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Holding on to a flying berry | Right: In which Mickey meets a wizard</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action platformer <i>The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</i> you take control of Mickey Mouse whom you can walk left and right, run in either direction as you move down a slope should you choose to go through with it, duck down, jump up in the air with the B button with your gained altitude based on how hard you pressed it, swim upward in the water by repeatedly pressing B (just be sure not to stay down there too long otherwise you will lose a heart), and with the Y button you can pick up (or grab) an object or stunned enemy and throw it by pressing it again.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh64F7-IH93t1WYFeKtlZZF70PmAep01Aypjjgl996-CunQUjsnAd-ynYsgkk-glJMzZYZ4rtUjqnS3eqKvwOYDp0Enh8sOqWcl_x9bdfmQQThEVsiC-aqfA9eQmU_hZfNtxdJ7ttqujYzPT5l8-pT2djE-WP9ud7npgqJ4QgtfCw21AeGQhhFbi3d7w/s383/TheMagicalQuest_CoinDuck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh64F7-IH93t1WYFeKtlZZF70PmAep01Aypjjgl996-CunQUjsnAd-ynYsgkk-glJMzZYZ4rtUjqnS3eqKvwOYDp0Enh8sOqWcl_x9bdfmQQThEVsiC-aqfA9eQmU_hZfNtxdJ7ttqujYzPT5l8-pT2djE-WP9ud7npgqJ4QgtfCw21AeGQhhFbi3d7w/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_CoinDuck.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV7uBx0l6EhHGvVIyHhmtxreTUJKQTYpXxbQugllQHi7UQybuIKsAV7ZTG_4hRDLRMf3cBL-ZWTiZc4nBR2KAZ0RxW3yvvCAh9lepYNLOVCDBY1qxZswhth-3J7b1974NBojZWvK7bMsr2k10rVE1DYhWxuWCU11U4kLNV1zNB1dLBP2H0a9simGrRQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_ChainPull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV7uBx0l6EhHGvVIyHhmtxreTUJKQTYpXxbQugllQHi7UQybuIKsAV7ZTG_4hRDLRMf3cBL-ZWTiZc4nBR2KAZ0RxW3yvvCAh9lepYNLOVCDBY1qxZswhth-3J7b1974NBojZWvK7bMsr2k10rVE1DYhWxuWCU11U4kLNV1zNB1dLBP2H0a9simGrRQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_ChainPull.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Coin bird away | Right: Pull hard on the chain to open the treasure box and collect its contents</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">During the course of the game Mickey will be acquiring three special outfits that will allow him to progress further by overcoming specific obstacles where you can toggle between them with either shoulder button until you've highlighted your choice and change into that outfit (if not revert to normal) by pressing the A button: the magic turban, the firefighter's uniform, and the mountaineering gear.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFcMTVrToKGRiXtn9txzfoeO5kOO_SPUwGoTB_JWGngxgNgJVPgBBaxjF8SPth5XGsXZhpVzENPtp0MhS2e853YJ7wDia11ZCBIY3mMyS3rDkgaoDYRdZBt6L6ZUmjSqU9rlEL_nOIIAylMR_nrpjTreTkAU_2BYJbCDsUH-VjaJJGE_TH4nQuVV00A/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Tomato.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFcMTVrToKGRiXtn9txzfoeO5kOO_SPUwGoTB_JWGngxgNgJVPgBBaxjF8SPth5XGsXZhpVzENPtp0MhS2e853YJ7wDia11ZCBIY3mMyS3rDkgaoDYRdZBt6L6ZUmjSqU9rlEL_nOIIAylMR_nrpjTreTkAU_2BYJbCDsUH-VjaJJGE_TH4nQuVV00A/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Tomato.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiWFd_5cpDiKcGzk3K3DQ4PrzTIfCtpt82elQLhLdn5AirGn5ePT74_8tjYWX7KWT_KRX2y-tkJc4Cd1LNMlMHeF8lwINnWYaOF5xyBkndqr5zaPlX2nF11J64PLtxYh-fOlU_Oj5fAAssfhPH-zIUCZIKCCxGSkw4KVvIG-IEerWT6wCxyG8LpW5uA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Ladybugs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiWFd_5cpDiKcGzk3K3DQ4PrzTIfCtpt82elQLhLdn5AirGn5ePT74_8tjYWX7KWT_KRX2y-tkJc4Cd1LNMlMHeF8lwINnWYaOF5xyBkndqr5zaPlX2nF11J64PLtxYh-fOlU_Oj5fAAssfhPH-zIUCZIKCCxGSkw4KVvIG-IEerWT6wCxyG8LpW5uA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Ladybugs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Riding down on a tomato as big as him </b>🍅<b> | Right: Hopping and bopping from ladybug to ladybug</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With the magic turban equipped you can perform magic spells by simply pressing Y or if you wish to perform your strongest spell hold down Y until you're fully charged up and then let go to unleash your magic blast on your target, also whenever you're in the water with it on a bubble will form around Mickey's head enabling him to remain underwater for a long time without threat of losing health (lest you collided with an enemy or deadly obstacle). Be mindful of how much magic you use because it does take up your energy little by little, which can partially be replenished by collecting magic lamps.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNgZ-JUfksnX0vjYKXppdJSxpucYnM-vqDRokmFzhAoplhUew0s6WpbHD2b5mu5EHvarfDxSUPuF-dv0IQea6jmF8a6omJvUZfe6S7babPGo1Vwqm4_HhFU86ryLXa_hgViPBjFaushVzT_x4GFRTVHH9brtaMsMo0mUU5P6PjHkFosoL5hHHEPQvhQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Treetop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNgZ-JUfksnX0vjYKXppdJSxpucYnM-vqDRokmFzhAoplhUew0s6WpbHD2b5mu5EHvarfDxSUPuF-dv0IQea6jmF8a6omJvUZfe6S7babPGo1Vwqm4_HhFU86ryLXa_hgViPBjFaushVzT_x4GFRTVHH9brtaMsMo0mUU5P6PjHkFosoL5hHHEPQvhQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Treetop.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYfC0oG4Bn6SSs0i8JSpXs25okSkPUa8OSKVRjxsGZ_xAmA9WK3KGTpdV3rQwJaW771bEtOidlbBH9q5goX7Y4rNA09OdK7DP6V86bKZypZj1Iycw8iYDFSUw2H2_6lXvuMKlxbqFVZDTOo5CklMMY8J9lcmv0cBtx9SExiyNB1gqwRGH6lbUKbpKnw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Bat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYfC0oG4Bn6SSs0i8JSpXs25okSkPUa8OSKVRjxsGZ_xAmA9WK3KGTpdV3rQwJaW771bEtOidlbBH9q5goX7Y4rNA09OdK7DP6V86bKZypZj1Iycw8iYDFSUw2H2_6lXvuMKlxbqFVZDTOo5CklMMY8J9lcmv0cBtx9SExiyNB1gqwRGH6lbUKbpKnw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Bat.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Up on the treetops </b>🌲<b> </b><b>| Right: Oh no, Bat is sending out his kin towards you</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With the firefighter's uniform on Mickey can combat fire by spraying and dousing water towards it from his firehose by holding down the Y button (while remaining stationary, in midair, or while ducking), with the strength of the water propelled at fast speeds he can also push sturdy blocks and large obstacles ahead which can then be used as platforms. Like with the magic turban, however, the energy meter does deplete with each use which you can fill up again by gathering fire hydrants.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBrzm1jMeQGOegJ-VxbGT1xir5W4IH70YZ5ts7x8aGlwNicjZcGtyBylK1hET2Fr7wZlRzuQrvyFpB63vwX6wAI9J7T2CjK9rOWTwGSRXVzRimV1pwd72AoElbxD-ToRWuBjxbzp8XNh06mMG71GxFggQlyVFHHZpNKOcDnP9zC7XKPIVZeelK0hiNg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Statue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBrzm1jMeQGOegJ-VxbGT1xir5W4IH70YZ5ts7x8aGlwNicjZcGtyBylK1hET2Fr7wZlRzuQrvyFpB63vwX6wAI9J7T2CjK9rOWTwGSRXVzRimV1pwd72AoElbxD-ToRWuBjxbzp8XNh06mMG71GxFggQlyVFHHZpNKOcDnP9zC7XKPIVZeelK0hiNg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Statue.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieymv4HX3GjxhherecW_f9QPHuHVxah1WU6YrLopuBqHGQm9jpJF3wP9CmGjJTfgWbIrDNn9I-mY39W3Nx-R41L-3SaV26a82iLZnorRV_wuOewWrSTIjK34n_vuCOEacVIZJRKElzXajLdIHL-x3pBEukw1PU14KHvW57zfXFDa46vGZMkKA-FO3CyQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Frogs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieymv4HX3GjxhherecW_f9QPHuHVxah1WU6YrLopuBqHGQm9jpJF3wP9CmGjJTfgWbIrDNn9I-mY39W3Nx-R41L-3SaV26a82iLZnorRV_wuOewWrSTIjK34n_vuCOEacVIZJRKElzXajLdIHL-x3pBEukw1PU14KHvW57zfXFDa46vGZMkKA-FO3CyQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Frogs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Follow the Pete statues | Right: "Hey, that's not how you play leapfrog, that's </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">cheating</u><b>!!" </b>🐸</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">And finally, with the mountaineering gear equipped Mickey now has the proper means to scale upward with his rope and grapple in hand which he can use with the Y button. On ground, he can grab a block (or a Pete soldier's shield) from a distance by pressing Y and left or right simultaneously and like when he's in his normal shorts press the button again to throw, by pressing up and Y or simply Y he can grapple upward or diagonally above him, preferably to a grappling surface like a ceiling or a winged platform or a swinging orb where you can raise or lower yourself to a point and swing to and fro. You can even swing yourself ahead by holding the direction button and pressing Y afterward but with precise timing to hook yourself on again.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZqZrdOB-TUTveCYJppYi2giu7NZn4dWtJExh6ZKpy2l5TBsq9bD6rm1PKsUXT1ra5JaiEJA3tlWVn36d9suNd9aJhAQVDSRnoy4oD5MpY9EiRAPBu5eyB6n_8_soDgwNBd4fXb_K8zfnKHqS_k5DBrTtTuEl03CZvYfL5kjLxp9DEcYsaMAFaTSU4Q/s383/TheMagicalQuest_BeaverDam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZqZrdOB-TUTveCYJppYi2giu7NZn4dWtJExh6ZKpy2l5TBsq9bD6rm1PKsUXT1ra5JaiEJA3tlWVn36d9suNd9aJhAQVDSRnoy4oD5MpY9EiRAPBu5eyB6n_8_soDgwNBd4fXb_K8zfnKHqS_k5DBrTtTuEl03CZvYfL5kjLxp9DEcYsaMAFaTSU4Q/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_BeaverDam.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQykniwSroz2ACm-VJ0FvNwdpqRNwlYeWnqSpyqFf5iV9qJVSe7pJdwFGdG7-WfKnXQyuyDtPQuYBpPMmubruzUJIUnCFRiicPDMXABxLpyC60nETJQeHhUb_ihqLqBpusdoa39VZZ1LzpptfkE9BbFyLePGN7sclInIKvXoXxe0a6UjAHahMbEnBuw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Starfish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQykniwSroz2ACm-VJ0FvNwdpqRNwlYeWnqSpyqFf5iV9qJVSe7pJdwFGdG7-WfKnXQyuyDtPQuYBpPMmubruzUJIUnCFRiicPDMXABxLpyC60nETJQeHhUb_ihqLqBpusdoa39VZZ1LzpptfkE9BbFyLePGN7sclInIKvXoXxe0a6UjAHahMbEnBuw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Starfish.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Secret 2-up cache | Right: Giving starfish a literal appearance </b>⭐</span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Throughout <i>The Magical Quest</i> you will come across blocks and treasure boxes, the latter of which can be broken open by tossing a block or enemy at it, using a magic blast or the water from your firehose, or by pulling on its chain should it have one. Among its contents you might find coins, fruit for bonus points, small hearts to replenish your lost health by one, big hearts to augment your health capacity by one, or a Mickey doll to garner an extra life. If you look thoroughly you might stumble across a door, sometimes leading to a general store where you can purchase replenishments for your health or magic turban or firefighter's uniform, a Mickey doll, or a big heart by jumping up towards the item of your choice for a fee should you procure enough coins to purchase any one of these things, otherwise you can return to the game by exiting right.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgyi036z-mLKGHf69Z4hZSXYUYqSWnjw0x1i4a-AkpOZAeHoLt93n4G1-Ews2S2f4cuSXwaoKA5iN2ezUqyd_dkcE6uqrU8KMtQgtwkDGG4YN4W_0OCuZcMRqOyKOsxBVngUIFi_9dyaqg_Vd7Ji0adkrDDWTKPh46qDP4np7qtLQ3rI9gLQpCDGWZA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Serpilante.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgyi036z-mLKGHf69Z4hZSXYUYqSWnjw0x1i4a-AkpOZAeHoLt93n4G1-Ews2S2f4cuSXwaoKA5iN2ezUqyd_dkcE6uqrU8KMtQgtwkDGG4YN4W_0OCuZcMRqOyKOsxBVngUIFi_9dyaqg_Vd7Ji0adkrDDWTKPh46qDP4np7qtLQ3rI9gLQpCDGWZA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Serpilante.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LVHyWCvsE33EKfclCZvKjXT5D6M_m_U04eJq-BlBw5SFLpZMNTvvIiCsemK6dJjLLd_h96aWIefG4jUImf_hTTx60PwFHZiSjhG3Iw_s-TyhoLZG2yNJbw2r3QM69KRAi1Ej4ZjvsE6ueZXuLuGspqsnVQ4tvHwCt_WHbPlvhXXMJytsZ8_7ti_uqA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_MagicTurban.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LVHyWCvsE33EKfclCZvKjXT5D6M_m_U04eJq-BlBw5SFLpZMNTvvIiCsemK6dJjLLd_h96aWIefG4jUImf_hTTx60PwFHZiSjhG3Iw_s-TyhoLZG2yNJbw2r3QM69KRAi1Ej4ZjvsE6ueZXuLuGspqsnVQ4tvHwCt_WHbPlvhXXMJytsZ8_7ti_uqA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_MagicTurban.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Tossing a block at Serpilante | Right: Trying on the magic turban for the first time</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Each stage is divided into three to four segments, as you must also contend with enemies whom you can dispose of by hopping and bopping off of if not tossing a block at them or by using a powerup from one of your three outfits to do them in, and on occasion you might be forced to fight a midboss. If you lose a life by losing all your health, falling offscreen, or should the time count all the way down to zero (a rare occurrence), you will be sent back to the beginning of the present segment you were in when it happened. Each stage will bookend itself on a boss fight, where emerging victorious will grant Mickey access to the next stage.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGjFB9WrVZ8SwB_fQZJEIkKkZwPUmiam_lFjApi9Z5X7UO1mEk9AxCDDvHa1dJF5OhxCjC-OnWHXYX5D7lIc1J_Q1o5xRGZxaaStUfmdilvrvl32D3PTAl8cN8_g8NvYrk11y-cL0WpgaXnWZGayXufS_sDu_6uyXMCPR-3sNFoxY3USrJ2ImQqoUdA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_DarkForestSecret.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGjFB9WrVZ8SwB_fQZJEIkKkZwPUmiam_lFjApi9Z5X7UO1mEk9AxCDDvHa1dJF5OhxCjC-OnWHXYX5D7lIc1J_Q1o5xRGZxaaStUfmdilvrvl32D3PTAl8cN8_g8NvYrk11y-cL0WpgaXnWZGayXufS_sDu_6uyXMCPR-3sNFoxY3USrJ2ImQqoUdA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_DarkForestSecret.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF6iIemVwfXSEqrmW-vTL291ihZaT2VKvpfQit7sZEv0canJu99jJPNcOc-AEJ4ug9g2QIIyO-2KZfoCLm6wtQFgZ9nvGNAPuYHl-rQUsHOizEUcPTozegsUoRCN77OXrV9ix6sBR6idXXBUlOJNCXM5SYil6imSA4bLt02WQ-GX2vdIAYkRkdiiibw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Cocoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF6iIemVwfXSEqrmW-vTL291ihZaT2VKvpfQit7sZEv0canJu99jJPNcOc-AEJ4ug9g2QIIyO-2KZfoCLm6wtQFgZ9nvGNAPuYHl-rQUsHOizEUcPTozegsUoRCN77OXrV9ix6sBR6idXXBUlOJNCXM5SYil6imSA4bLt02WQ-GX2vdIAYkRkdiiibw/w200-h154/TheMagicalQuest_Cocoon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Testing out my magic blast | Right: It's a cocoon! </b>😦<b> With a </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">face</u><b>! </b>😧<b> Truly bizarre...</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Magical Quest</i> is a visually pleasing game to look at with the soft touch and color palette used in each area with a solid sense of detail, all combined with a good degree of visual polish giving it a recognizable Capcom aesthetic. Mickey Mouse's first Nintendo 16-bit foray looks good, and the visuals by Natsue Ueda ("Natsuchan"), Manachan, Chu-Pon, and Chieko Ryugo ("Chiechan") are very well-done with a nice degree of atmospheric depth. The opening stage Treetops looks inviting as it begins with the beanstalks with a nice cloudy backdrop which then segues into an appealing forest with lots of green foliage and relaxing blue water once Mickey has fully descended,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC36m5ZPa57p63RDV15_k4BBmzleAZeWS5Et7t2YYxX7XaotLhTTzczA9GsJ5p7hDCOEGt7JtdaqVNGa5VYq44beN7nJNW4yJsLOODnKbxVCq3qSHvFkvsCLGNU3RdxShPZDCBSitv-Os8TeyjEe1JSBqWvYm5Ml1HSP8FpUeS2VuZdupPYNN5Fd3tw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Leafling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC36m5ZPa57p63RDV15_k4BBmzleAZeWS5Et7t2YYxX7XaotLhTTzczA9GsJ5p7hDCOEGt7JtdaqVNGa5VYq44beN7nJNW4yJsLOODnKbxVCq3qSHvFkvsCLGNU3RdxShPZDCBSitv-Os8TeyjEe1JSBqWvYm5Ml1HSP8FpUeS2VuZdupPYNN5Fd3tw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Leafling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx1X34O5NVuJcOArqOoZmgJP8Bjxm3_gn2JVTv70QKL7ohUlTwCAbLS0ayEMnMFwdbsZr_CsfuKg_cDvhvI9cEgkBJkyQ7qpnzfwifpestoiUZPQcPYwI6M72LAq3iXBIoWF6SCSlcNYiDZhKW0-RIu1ebwxEKQuGxTRPacbvR-le6PDwM-xAau8V9g/s383/TheMagicalQuest_FallingLeaves.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx1X34O5NVuJcOArqOoZmgJP8Bjxm3_gn2JVTv70QKL7ohUlTwCAbLS0ayEMnMFwdbsZr_CsfuKg_cDvhvI9cEgkBJkyQ7qpnzfwifpestoiUZPQcPYwI6M72LAq3iXBIoWF6SCSlcNYiDZhKW0-RIu1ebwxEKQuGxTRPacbvR-le6PDwM-xAau8V9g/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_FallingLeaves.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Taking out a leafling | Right: Leaf hopping </b>🍂</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">the second stage Dark Forest has got a lighthearted creepy vibe with the shaded trees in both the backdrop and on the foreground with the occasional creepy tree with claw-like branches bearing Pete's visage, and the fourth stage Pete's Peak is refreshing to look at as you're greeted by a sunset sky with the subtly animated cool breeze at the beginning where earlier on you get a peak from a distance of the giant nest with a giant egg where you'll fight against the giant bird. My favorite areas to look at in this game are the third and fifth stages Fire Grotto and Snowy Valley respectively:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKA6nk_I78DATxfE8RSIFRXFYC5rfU8UYICt9dtJryxyQCTedPxqg8ygvKcnor2_0JV1ROxqyH_ibOQKaPRKEVWxVn1LhvMgoYW76BtF7IlhWN7jDGuNMgFm9w3bKUrC7nvMaT-BjLhg_ls0yrgALbinvOs1pQBsKj-F0tGJIscRPFGVg4dBuabp6cA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_TreeSap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKA6nk_I78DATxfE8RSIFRXFYC5rfU8UYICt9dtJryxyQCTedPxqg8ygvKcnor2_0JV1ROxqyH_ibOQKaPRKEVWxVn1LhvMgoYW76BtF7IlhWN7jDGuNMgFm9w3bKUrC7nvMaT-BjLhg_ls0yrgALbinvOs1pQBsKj-F0tGJIscRPFGVg4dBuabp6cA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_TreeSap.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74Ir-oIgYrk7cAWz5XPHPcjGyoH-yzRK7UesmKIkg3UiWhRMH6OrWWIPYU3jioguhCkAnYLKOl6c2OWTn4TNhxuslg1GB1gBOa2oudspYNlkQQwTGekgT4aN06nZek-faTdulh-l6pvIkFM8CCD-VgsQcg_oiUsdtDKZhWniivAjq50X6h2_YBWVJqg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_GeneralStore.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74Ir-oIgYrk7cAWz5XPHPcjGyoH-yzRK7UesmKIkg3UiWhRMH6OrWWIPYU3jioguhCkAnYLKOl6c2OWTn4TNhxuslg1GB1gBOa2oudspYNlkQQwTGekgT4aN06nZek-faTdulh-l6pvIkFM8CCD-VgsQcg_oiUsdtDKZhWniivAjq50X6h2_YBWVJqg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_GeneralStore.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Swimming inside the large body of sap inside the tree | Right: Welcome to the general store</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">I love how Fire Grotto slowly builds up to a ceaselessly flaming environment filled with decrepit walls with molten floors almost resembling wax, bubbling lava in the backdrop, and how during one portion there is a large body of fire that alternates between descending down toward the water and rising away from it and the closer the fire gets to the water the surface becomes redder which is a nice detail, and Snowy Valley is a beautiful area in its simplicity with the star-studded aurora borealis sky and brightly glistening snow.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbygk_3hdfiUGDlOTzy9kvcovlh_qXUDIuorfVqccVN_4wDlQXNXZhjtjMaTTamJJX8pI-fTi0MhZNQL2IZq6-V8ceHMaGnh-VrsKkcDX3aPOuDHvbc_Ah9yLx5PmwbvT6Z7ap3zLQ0pxLf9QiKLgcllLuQIB47PW3c28_CVyhezrAOwRHpbljzPUJg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Boioioing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbygk_3hdfiUGDlOTzy9kvcovlh_qXUDIuorfVqccVN_4wDlQXNXZhjtjMaTTamJJX8pI-fTi0MhZNQL2IZq6-V8ceHMaGnh-VrsKkcDX3aPOuDHvbc_Ah9yLx5PmwbvT6Z7ap3zLQ0pxLf9QiKLgcllLuQIB47PW3c28_CVyhezrAOwRHpbljzPUJg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Boioioing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRw_TXBrKTsxzC9SLtBuK4__uKwSxlAXZlyiacexWmP0heDfQja-_UT-Ar8vR_gxY0PSTFndq9Mey77Jj5hdgo3Kk0Ch-lHdXHNvVtiv3MZKNenqn78pXGgsuOA37jU1Ur1HOqMgJ7HuwrpzN5o6ScqYe9Soq1SCuLgmMc0O2HVGUMJwf3qCG-HYKJg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Clubbers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRw_TXBrKTsxzC9SLtBuK4__uKwSxlAXZlyiacexWmP0heDfQja-_UT-Ar8vR_gxY0PSTFndq9Mey77Jj5hdgo3Kk0Ch-lHdXHNvVtiv3MZKNenqn78pXGgsuOA37jU1Ur1HOqMgJ7HuwrpzN5o6ScqYe9Soq1SCuLgmMc0O2HVGUMJwf3qCG-HYKJg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Clubbers.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "You put your grass skirt back on, this is a family game!" | Right: Time your movements properly with each clubber's swing lest you wish to sustain damage</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The character designs by Tall Nob, Yoshifumi Onishi ("Toshi-Chang"), and Yuji Ishihara ("U-zie Isshie") are solid across the board and are drawn with lighthearted charm. Mickey Mouse is well-designed in his Nintendo 16-bit foray and has got solid animations when it comes to walking, running, jumping, hopping, swimming, and block tossing, and I like how whenever you have him change into a special outfit he'll make a red curtain magically appear into place where he pulls the drape to cover himself and instantly switch to another costume like a magician would.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiYsYWnmr-X-5Dg8LB-DcCWgVFVXgkbmHnZCJ1iLNaU7HMmfyoNoKV82GyLAJhXJKI7qtK-UxCmzS-1xl6wZnL2rCQdzAB627GXvujv6rQ04G5vUjSl1QXK4d3EVqB_oSDiRTbOrFLUJJcUgjQ19NXz1jrWmSIujfTt_Gj3iUy4T_1x1Vx0xB0De7hA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Spider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiYsYWnmr-X-5Dg8LB-DcCWgVFVXgkbmHnZCJ1iLNaU7HMmfyoNoKV82GyLAJhXJKI7qtK-UxCmzS-1xl6wZnL2rCQdzAB627GXvujv6rQ04G5vUjSl1QXK4d3EVqB_oSDiRTbOrFLUJJcUgjQ19NXz1jrWmSIujfTt_Gj3iUy4T_1x1Vx0xB0De7hA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Spider.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v3sZfAg2RX4nCblJDr3UtjGT-kd3NE3VOlyiJidiLdqtczSUEspyOMY21QPRnmXvclpxYACYSOJAJpNmiYaCB9JBJjorDo4jHtx3m3mFBR_bXxnoRKJ7fOiE4OmLqGz_8uDvbelRWQ04jZzgSAmtUxEGoay4HjgLwj7nIB50S23mCWg55Uyk2t72Dw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_GoingDown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v3sZfAg2RX4nCblJDr3UtjGT-kd3NE3VOlyiJidiLdqtczSUEspyOMY21QPRnmXvclpxYACYSOJAJpNmiYaCB9JBJjorDo4jHtx3m3mFBR_bXxnoRKJ7fOiE4OmLqGz_8uDvbelRWQ04jZzgSAmtUxEGoay4HjgLwj7nIB50S23mCWg55Uyk2t72Dw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_GoingDown.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Confronting Spideron in his web | Right: Ha ha, oh <u>you</u>! </b>😄</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Mickey's alternate costume designs are bright and colorful, I like the way his cape flutters whenever he's midair and the way it flows when swimming in the water any time he dons the magic turban, I like the water effects whenever he sprays water from his hose while in firefighter attire, and I like the momentum of his swinging motion when grappling from a swinging orb or ceiling as a mountaineer. I especially like how there are different stunned animations for Mickey depending on what outfit he wore when taking damage, like appearing all groggy with his magic turban covering half his face or forcibly removing his firefighter helmet that got stuck on his head.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1OMSdwSGe6VNe9Oh5bnlFfGdE_ytvMu7VQc6utb8WMJg0BuOS-AxWpT-2TZqaVGkkTMDpFv1__C463QYxIgG7v9kv6Ef60iJTZbMn8uUW3MUYzDqqxmsChf0w2cqvwXFBRcaCBwYD2EAgUya3IfHvF3NU9CMcBsKnB_k-394WYn06L_-2-m2qshxaA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Grotto.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1OMSdwSGe6VNe9Oh5bnlFfGdE_ytvMu7VQc6utb8WMJg0BuOS-AxWpT-2TZqaVGkkTMDpFv1__C463QYxIgG7v9kv6Ef60iJTZbMn8uUW3MUYzDqqxmsChf0w2cqvwXFBRcaCBwYD2EAgUya3IfHvF3NU9CMcBsKnB_k-394WYn06L_-2-m2qshxaA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Grotto.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMNyOwATY5eyDzRN1qzWWR7SX3p3qwqsWqnzS_U20Ogw1kG0hyW_2sRi_DLf9_H0EfLyAc1wD7xayMEkhEA154vzc4go90h5QQHMA9Fz3MvVTpSUsnbzkHjD3ESbhnKZjeHZGmFaZJ3imIUaMN5lNI0IW6vJIw3ua5j58i5_w00D5Vqm8-K9LOPkrJQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Lava.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMNyOwATY5eyDzRN1qzWWR7SX3p3qwqsWqnzS_U20Ogw1kG0hyW_2sRi_DLf9_H0EfLyAc1wD7xayMEkhEA154vzc4go90h5QQHMA9Fz3MvVTpSUsnbzkHjD3ESbhnKZjeHZGmFaZJ3imIUaMN5lNI0IW6vJIw3ua5j58i5_w00D5Vqm8-K9LOPkrJQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Lava.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Be mindful of your surroundings for whenever a pink bat spawns from the darkness | Right: Be careful where you step whenever he does that due to the spikes protruding from the ceiling</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Magical Quest</i> has got a wide assortment of foes for you to deal with all endearingly designed with sometimes incredulous reactions upon being ousted if not rendered stun dizzy, like the ladybugs and bees that flap their wings, Pete soldiers and archers, tiny leaflings who spring to life on the ground with their only field of vision being the solitary hole on the leaf that slowly flutters down, tree sap crab creatures, sentient flame enemies and flame bats that manifest onto the scene, sentient eggs who spring up from their tiny nests, small round fuzzballs that break free from within their icy chambers, winged helmet heads, and winged torches who react incredulously upon their flames being doused for a second before tumbling towards the ground, to name several.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XnRAL6VtMvIrxkRDAnUoE0tdt_1k3dMAl4IPQ826Ygngw_va8ROzbHR67cmC-57BoSHqdtfKFB4epqZEyilVywjll4cTnYaMcWFPLoos_te0NeCnsCryAKxwDEPzDY3SjLO8Pf81ROLv3bMc_1uPxJK3khYwU0_8_Cj0PkRlA3mNqU8f9rDEAJiC4A/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Firefighter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XnRAL6VtMvIrxkRDAnUoE0tdt_1k3dMAl4IPQ826Ygngw_va8ROzbHR67cmC-57BoSHqdtfKFB4epqZEyilVywjll4cTnYaMcWFPLoos_te0NeCnsCryAKxwDEPzDY3SjLO8Pf81ROLv3bMc_1uPxJK3khYwU0_8_Cj0PkRlA3mNqU8f9rDEAJiC4A/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Firefighter.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N1uaJ4aA1TS6i_aMMVUa7E6ELoxr4i7Sjtq1cKpZXfi3keZZTMGJlVNwrtpMfZaniRGhN7yjCAPmmoBeV1_SEhBpY3FLZdp9_tUe9-DC2ggAS6fDp6YJW44HTWYcjBGojqEuLv_ieo_Z9-GCxYdDGljRxgYO7HU6TfIVGdC0nog8Dg8QogajX0Q38w/s383/TheMagicalQuest_WaterSprayingBlock.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N1uaJ4aA1TS6i_aMMVUa7E6ELoxr4i7Sjtq1cKpZXfi3keZZTMGJlVNwrtpMfZaniRGhN7yjCAPmmoBeV1_SEhBpY3FLZdp9_tUe9-DC2ggAS6fDp6YJW44HTWYcjBGojqEuLv_ieo_Z9-GCxYdDGljRxgYO7HU6TfIVGdC0nog8Dg8QogajX0Q38w/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_WaterSprayingBlock.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: How nice of that window display to just so happen to have a firefighter outfit spring out from it after a mysterious block crashed it and find itself landing on Mickey right on cue | Right: Use the water to push that lumbering obstacle</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The end of each stage has got well-designed bosses that are big and imposing and most of whom have got an effective buildup at the start of the battle, three of them incorporating smooth Mode 7 rotating and scaling effects. Treetops' boss, Serpilante, is a giant snake who coils and reveals its head from inside the trees and falls to the ground to reveal its size, Spideron in Dark Forest who crawls and skitters around his web menacingly thanks to the rotating Mode 7 effects bearing an equally menacing grin, </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Pete's Peak's giant bird swoops in from the distance as it attempts to blow Mickey off its nest and flaps its wings gracefully as it attempts to attack you by cracking open its egg to release its hatchlings or sentient yolk,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOppXGWOgdclr-CQ7NM9m1VzTfGROpiXDo8TKy5SS6rndSrT_yPeVGXCqNIxKg8-V04w9SaTb0-EyWQmg33AwW-s4KAItIHZV5lu0EnFHxgyaj41C3_V400r-bkvgLsszdK9m0HfALwyDzi3V_CkwqClkO1z3S9eXUr3ujI6ILKvssbnH7ITcOJzSw9Q/s383/TheMagicalQuest_MickeyDoll.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOppXGWOgdclr-CQ7NM9m1VzTfGROpiXDo8TKy5SS6rndSrT_yPeVGXCqNIxKg8-V04w9SaTb0-EyWQmg33AwW-s4KAItIHZV5lu0EnFHxgyaj41C3_V400r-bkvgLsszdK9m0HfALwyDzi3V_CkwqClkO1z3S9eXUr3ujI6ILKvssbnH7ITcOJzSw9Q/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_MickeyDoll.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s4EbWgw3FDLRlSZJ6B9CZsyEQoMea4IzX78irWFSe7PYi-N5LALeVTe8fe_ZgDrzgQ6OVwwKqPdXqAkpf1vmeGLSnY0ZbOKdROB1xkOA0eUuRv_a3CF6E_sysm6ZeC2b11WKx0oIsQ_3v1wphz0gw2FTjN5fxM8bIUGBBp6nvV2AWFPk1W9kO22gQg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_BurningPlatforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s4EbWgw3FDLRlSZJ6B9CZsyEQoMea4IzX78irWFSe7PYi-N5LALeVTe8fe_ZgDrzgQ6OVwwKqPdXqAkpf1vmeGLSnY0ZbOKdROB1xkOA0eUuRv_a3CF6E_sysm6ZeC2b11WKx0oIsQ_3v1wphz0gw2FTjN5fxM8bIUGBBp6nvV2AWFPk1W9kO22gQg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_BurningPlatforms.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Hmmm, quite the likeness that doll permeates..." | Right: Be prepared the douse out the fire of the moving platforms the moment they become engulfed in flames prior to platforming ahead</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">and Emperor Pete towers over you after collecting the strength of the individual Pete ghosts that emerged after defeating the main bosses leading up to him in Pete's Castle. There's a sumptuously diegetic amount of color layering effects giving the areas you journey through an atmospheric depth and feels very polished, like the fluffy body of clouds in Treetops and Pete's Peak, the waters of Treetops and Fire Grotto, the foliage of the leaves in Treetops, and in Dark Forest Mickey swims inside a tree sap which is immersive in the way there are subtle currents here and there.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_8N73B_LYcXKRM7DKNhoyEEXRMeSYwf8VcxAyljXtPlB7lDdshVneBdigWlINucp8-BGtswspKgnPpawrhevY14CfAO2TMyO32KR1bXKrrJ6ED5u63pjPLLGLhEg-WNKRtBrvYkKTgMWrs6MkKpWPBd3c0sXu7AHmMu-DyX0dIDH8MjP93xryb9Gw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Firewall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_8N73B_LYcXKRM7DKNhoyEEXRMeSYwf8VcxAyljXtPlB7lDdshVneBdigWlINucp8-BGtswspKgnPpawrhevY14CfAO2TMyO32KR1bXKrrJ6ED5u63pjPLLGLhEg-WNKRtBrvYkKTgMWrs6MkKpWPBd3c0sXu7AHmMu-DyX0dIDH8MjP93xryb9Gw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Firewall.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5lyhTYbJMaE_WpnSRIBoQafn4Jl0ja9rzjRxb2qocBWIx6CJS-uNcPlcbtMJ5GTZ4HE5E4LxLXd1hd0IHmDogstERFcKMT7VY_micVeNoZLEKuwfZCSh9tM3qu8dpZfiZau5NqHumzsLGFwziku010NN73WwRLOas01HfbvJsWlTwYaLpJCxkN2yWw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5lyhTYbJMaE_WpnSRIBoQafn4Jl0ja9rzjRxb2qocBWIx6CJS-uNcPlcbtMJ5GTZ4HE5E4LxLXd1hd0IHmDogstERFcKMT7VY_micVeNoZLEKuwfZCSh9tM3qu8dpZfiZau5NqHumzsLGFwziku010NN73WwRLOas01HfbvJsWlTwYaLpJCxkN2yWw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Heart.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Duck | Right: Uncovered a big heart under the water</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Magical Quest</i>'s soundtrack was composed by Mari Yamaguchi (who was credited as simply "Mari") with the sound effects provided by Tatsuya Nishimura (who was credited in the game as "Anie"), and for the first Disney game starring Mickey Mouse on Nintendo's 16-bit console it does a good job at lending the adventurously lighthearted atmosphere for each location and appropriate sense of tone depending on the situation.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkukitNOeTbhmdnvtDXwTNHgX4zfcsm_hZlYk3txTuH1nIyenhX1SlsPm0GIBSyUElvc5qT_GeKFg3uMnTb1yx0UNlFHUz0lPi5tcP-1GZxbKY9MXN6zEnLAZ96t1xoEGOmnm9VyyUSGDtMmeQ_iRGgiGDda_iuX2dCn_61HckjMo8Rr4miGOtmOAtQ/s391/Area88_Desert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="391" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkukitNOeTbhmdnvtDXwTNHgX4zfcsm_hZlYk3txTuH1nIyenhX1SlsPm0GIBSyUElvc5qT_GeKFg3uMnTb1yx0UNlFHUz0lPi5tcP-1GZxbKY9MXN6zEnLAZ96t1xoEGOmnm9VyyUSGDtMmeQ_iRGgiGDda_iuX2dCn_61HckjMo8Rr4miGOtmOAtQ/w200-h155/Area88_Desert.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgY-g8PGXnziHIvyOIOzmS62OgJ6GapDapmMA6S5TuXOXHFWssnh13zbOxBiGWkf86j1i-ccxjV8RmYyFXPIeN-EjD1p8I051bXlnp_QxIwM6ddrhoxnBs_F50djY2pMGpAEOpyf5ZvLKrOscT_alOOsJMJkr8AD5oUUPphEzS7YtvAonxPcAH-QiQ/s383/Chomakaimura_Sentries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgY-g8PGXnziHIvyOIOzmS62OgJ6GapDapmMA6S5TuXOXHFWssnh13zbOxBiGWkf86j1i-ccxjV8RmYyFXPIeN-EjD1p8I051bXlnp_QxIwM6ddrhoxnBs_F50djY2pMGpAEOpyf5ZvLKrOscT_alOOsJMJkr8AD5oUUPphEzS7YtvAonxPcAH-QiQ/w200-h155/Chomakaimura_Sentries.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Mari Yamaguchi started off as a sound designer for the Nintendo 16-bit port of Capcom's manga-licensed arcade shoot'em up <i>Area 88</i>/<i>U.N. Squadron</i> before she became a composer in her own right for <i>Ch</i></span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">ōmakaimura</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> and <i>The Magical Quest</i>, after that she would compose music for</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJRubWB2TWxZbIgROONa4bsKX00wIL9WK3P_MMoQlM2CJJ2OEjt7kr41oS4L4f4blB6WMXPKcA73h9LxmKga85y7qrZ2vdYwBaOOtaHDni9K1xxG0MMhIF6k72CBJrHe-K9pbIEmONZc0O5WrefNWeF0QhRrXA7oxdvvpy1HDtQVoIn7iYulMJQ60uQ/s383/MegaMan5_WaterBike.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="383" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJRubWB2TWxZbIgROONa4bsKX00wIL9WK3P_MMoQlM2CJJ2OEjt7kr41oS4L4f4blB6WMXPKcA73h9LxmKga85y7qrZ2vdYwBaOOtaHDni9K1xxG0MMhIF6k72CBJrHe-K9pbIEmONZc0O5WrefNWeF0QhRrXA7oxdvvpy1HDtQVoIn7iYulMJQ60uQ/w200-h159/MegaMan5_WaterBike.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhv0adqkoIN0VRT3tYMyD3NGxwTdQvcpyZl7SQNfnGI1H6nQD6mfCi-Ok-EW1XKtrn0kL-B22CZX5Fp_36mYzpQelP_Ks6J8dwsDXTChSx0AFSxpci_f9hCizsHP-LSHi_zrrmSNp95RFlEhpJPxs-EN0wa5NX9LPF9KPPJ7LGKogyYcR38hYtLF-rg/s381/BreathOfFire_Gloom+Beak.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="381" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhv0adqkoIN0VRT3tYMyD3NGxwTdQvcpyZl7SQNfnGI1H6nQD6mfCi-Ok-EW1XKtrn0kL-B22CZX5Fp_36mYzpQelP_Ks6J8dwsDXTChSx0AFSxpci_f9hCizsHP-LSHi_zrrmSNp95RFlEhpJPxs-EN0wa5NX9LPF9KPPJ7LGKogyYcR38hYtLF-rg/w200-h148/BreathOfFire_Gloom+Beak.png" width="200" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>Rockman 5: Blues no Wana!?</i>/</span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Mega Man V</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> and Capcom's first traditional turn-based RPG <i>Breath of Fire</i> as well as the Japan-only NEC PC Engine conversion of <i>Street Fighter II': Champion Edition</i>. Following a long hiatus from composing she would make a return in 2010 along with other series composers for Inti Creates' <i>Mega Man 10</i>/<i>Rockman 10: Uchū kara no Kyōi!!</i> and in 2020 would serve as an artist for Square Enix and Gumi's <i>War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiml7jzT387ylAtNel8ico_gMjgpcH9wGuJSBDHpsj4dM3clbmtleL7voGPiLhy5URY7PM4n_si4ezp-OZOzMQnBEZhbkS6fQZeHdpGJixbn-zQ7WPMgvJLvK-CLxvB5iXif4Avl1ek7knFECfPgEyIzR5fTYZkD3kLFK6_UBnjUiKoEh3TT4xYMMmw/s391/StreetFighter2_HondaVsZangief.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="391" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiml7jzT387ylAtNel8ico_gMjgpcH9wGuJSBDHpsj4dM3clbmtleL7voGPiLhy5URY7PM4n_si4ezp-OZOzMQnBEZhbkS6fQZeHdpGJixbn-zQ7WPMgvJLvK-CLxvB5iXif4Avl1ek7knFECfPgEyIzR5fTYZkD3kLFK6_UBnjUiKoEh3TT4xYMMmw/w200-h134/StreetFighter2_HondaVsZangief.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxsoT8gsEowo2SBPg4_JkkrxEYNopbN0JGhGEegsliokzMkm54GWjdKMdAPb5a_13Td3Mo9xbsgUmBd3ms9zci22cxNjTns9nJ_u4p7J8V-gibnVX9hO9f4jI34Ols2LnM0IWgk1DBOpYx2_FwfI59apzWQpNbo_HPneOljmAMaRFJr77DqxFd_DN7Q/s390/SuperPang_Germany.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="390" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxsoT8gsEowo2SBPg4_JkkrxEYNopbN0JGhGEegsliokzMkm54GWjdKMdAPb5a_13Td3Mo9xbsgUmBd3ms9zci22cxNjTns9nJ_u4p7J8V-gibnVX9hO9f4jI34Ols2LnM0IWgk1DBOpYx2_FwfI59apzWQpNbo_HPneOljmAMaRFJr77DqxFd_DN7Q/w200-h145/SuperPang_Germany.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Tatusya Nishimura previously composed music for a handful of entries in Jaleco's </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>Moero!! Pro Yakyū</i>/</span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Bases Loaded</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> baseball simulator franchise before moving in with Capcom to create the sound design and sound effects for a few of the ports of </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Street Fighter II</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">*</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> as well as their Nintendo 16-bit conversion of Mitchell Corporation's arcade classic </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Super Pang</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Super Buster Bros.</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">, right after </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">this game</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> he would provide sound effects for <i>Breath of Fire</i>,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* The Nintendo 16-bit version of <i>Street Fighter II: The World Warrior</i>, the Sega and NEC ports of <i>Street Fighter II': Champion Edition</i>, and the Nintendo 16-bit version of <i>Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting</i></span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQc9Moy70plB-VSqqQy_5rs8tiQCsYhu1qXic5QBGILm6M_3Qp41AmRaRU22V9SwulGeqxcCTeMkydvClfKOnTF3bxgQ0k7AfzbRVXUDaryLJ4zReLwlpwpxQHPiboAwFI_ZHtU6vETlpRRndYv0RbFniVvB7xwSFmCAv9kHp8eYEcuxddd5b_VJ2WQ/s383/GufiiToMakkusu_Grapple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQc9Moy70plB-VSqqQy_5rs8tiQCsYhu1qXic5QBGILm6M_3Qp41AmRaRU22V9SwulGeqxcCTeMkydvClfKOnTF3bxgQ0k7AfzbRVXUDaryLJ4zReLwlpwpxQHPiboAwFI_ZHtU6vETlpRRndYv0RbFniVvB7xwSFmCAv9kHp8eYEcuxddd5b_VJ2WQ/w200-h155/GufiiToMakkusu_Grapple.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhAzyX5YlxQH6OKtEYKWOfI3HCYw3aFQCnGAVpBOXMQlwAB0_-UbbgCkTsRh_5P3DPQht6eskqaIBcSlE0LUqU0al6nGOmmPWpj0pWfVZyD_UH688JeiA-bwc20T57QqEuv_LpYSjeQjjOcs0GKqeFX7uF8q7Ge9LxdWPfwE7_QtHdkFbR14UBgaLA/s389/MegaMan7_Helmet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="389" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNhAzyX5YlxQH6OKtEYKWOfI3HCYw3aFQCnGAVpBOXMQlwAB0_-UbbgCkTsRh_5P3DPQht6eskqaIBcSlE0LUqU0al6nGOmmPWpj0pWfVZyD_UH688JeiA-bwc20T57QqEuv_LpYSjeQjjOcs0GKqeFX7uF8q7Ge9LxdWPfwE7_QtHdkFbR14UBgaLA/w200-h160/MegaMan7_Helmet.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>RIP Dana Hill (1964-1996), original Max Goof VA pre-Jason Marsden, you were taken too soon</b> 😔</span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>Goof Troop</i>/</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>Gūfii to Makkusu - Kaizoku Shima no Daibōken</i>, and <i>Disney's Aladdin</i>, and would compose music for Capcom's port of Westwood Associates' <i>Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder</i> and <i>Rockman 7: Shukumei no Taiketsu!</i>/<i>Mega Man VII</i> before briefly returning to Jaleco to lend his music composing talents for <i>Moero!! Pro Yakyū '95</i>/<i>Bases Loaded '96: Double Header</i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwWaxwHePNGr_8oZEqa_6aehsywEaQgmoQc6D-l7-jSh_swKwx-7geYg5rBF5qVWxAEW0Ig6oE2LoqLT_DVBRZsE4Sboi94_RR3VnmoWBNPhqIaUFjEyhUaKcfE6bn8Ow6aGT0niTuSb5GTAXl3eTH5Jt34hI0Uql_Dy0ILcwPX5eZ1wmJCyBI4Dqtg/s598/GameTengoku_Karaoke.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="598" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwWaxwHePNGr_8oZEqa_6aehsywEaQgmoQc6D-l7-jSh_swKwx-7geYg5rBF5qVWxAEW0Ig6oE2LoqLT_DVBRZsE4Sboi94_RR3VnmoWBNPhqIaUFjEyhUaKcfE6bn8Ow6aGT0niTuSb5GTAXl3eTH5Jt34hI0Uql_Dy0ILcwPX5eZ1wmJCyBI4Dqtg/w400-h233/GameTengoku_Karaoke.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">as well as the 1997 Sega Saturn port of the bizarre yet endearing 1995 arcade shoot'em up </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Game Tengoku: The Game Paradise!</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> with his last reported audio contribution being Pacific Century CyberWorks Japan K.K.'s 2002 PlayStation 2 game </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Raging Bless Gōma Mokushiroku</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Raging Blades</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> as a sound coordinator.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYiDFRUwE-9OCLC0Rg28ugqqJF-oPDbsiFGF9r_Fq4OqMOZabFYzKkkg_kRQF8p7LHb1XaZAWTdZlXbo2-fOcFjCsINm-oKPCq8ty0ur8LY49m1K-VKwuwdvdpwZyp90Xc0Ivjb6hN0dHOBU2HBnsCet_LCHbBYzdIlei4BNvGvo-Vo6l4MVld1dllA/s383/FinalFight2_France.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="383" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYiDFRUwE-9OCLC0Rg28ugqqJF-oPDbsiFGF9r_Fq4OqMOZabFYzKkkg_kRQF8p7LHb1XaZAWTdZlXbo2-fOcFjCsINm-oKPCq8ty0ur8LY49m1K-VKwuwdvdpwZyp90Xc0Ivjb6hN0dHOBU2HBnsCet_LCHbBYzdIlei4BNvGvo-Vo6l4MVld1dllA/w200-h139/FinalFight2_France.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZPS2pKvsM4Ve2Rf9NE-CnX_opbFjD6IIyTgx6OtK4NcFcySL8IBERgpC4VuhMEqYEye_WQ4YMJzPL0QwpeN3iqHQcNgTVgz2SRwElCux_PFx21BUVdG8V_aLPUYyWlmB6IvQ_pIHtPaii03S2mEeVCydgIX0Zm5XTqgxmTNmlDTANBklZlG2_wSK-Q/s383/FinalFight2_Japan.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="383" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZPS2pKvsM4Ve2Rf9NE-CnX_opbFjD6IIyTgx6OtK4NcFcySL8IBERgpC4VuhMEqYEye_WQ4YMJzPL0QwpeN3iqHQcNgTVgz2SRwElCux_PFx21BUVdG8V_aLPUYyWlmB6IvQ_pIHtPaii03S2mEeVCydgIX0Zm5XTqgxmTNmlDTANBklZlG2_wSK-Q/w200-h139/FinalFight2_Japan.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">During their early tenure both Yamaguchi and Nishimura would be among a group of composers who provided music for the Nintendo 16-bit console-exclusive beat'em up sequel <i>Final Fight 2</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK0H0jvFFFB5MEl84MCe5DYhJMFNa1MT4Dj4xOBQVQy8wLYNuDAxjPQmn-OI_aKOU28SfjCuIcL3cuuWO_idEXjs1NcX5xXd5yKrJC6IQNDENLKcI5tlwngTC19FbJqe-nvan4wGHltLNG7u1xewbaMFZyqVrxxVbFsUr90Vn8fIQfRvsmqtMvUU8Xw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_FlameBat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK0H0jvFFFB5MEl84MCe5DYhJMFNa1MT4Dj4xOBQVQy8wLYNuDAxjPQmn-OI_aKOU28SfjCuIcL3cuuWO_idEXjs1NcX5xXd5yKrJC6IQNDENLKcI5tlwngTC19FbJqe-nvan4wGHltLNG7u1xewbaMFZyqVrxxVbFsUr90Vn8fIQfRvsmqtMvUU8Xw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_FlameBat.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTAuqjOBj0W7kEvvMYiZ2-CEa9HrgIolMKDCaw93eAXSPaLuNwuT1nov3KIHLY4-FIIWkYgSpsaK4_Z-ukDXymhOumlQA6EiFLhTOtUse5BZKnNHylFMw0RgFwVeNdzQRKTIjI6p7xYyBaylxEAW5np5kY_AcQyH4ZwAiHCHjAkr2Z9RM70ohsugxeA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_DousingFlame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTAuqjOBj0W7kEvvMYiZ2-CEa9HrgIolMKDCaw93eAXSPaLuNwuT1nov3KIHLY4-FIIWkYgSpsaK4_Z-ukDXymhOumlQA6EiFLhTOtUse5BZKnNHylFMw0RgFwVeNdzQRKTIjI6p7xYyBaylxEAW5np5kY_AcQyH4ZwAiHCHjAkr2Z9RM70ohsugxeA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_DousingFlame.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "AH, flame bat!" </b>😱<b> *sprays* | Right: Be sure to continuously spray and douse the water on the wall boss' mouth to reduce its flame powers as its oval platform formation rotates (counter)clockwise </b>🔥</span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">I love Yamaguchi's music in <i>Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts</i></span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> and her work in <i>Breath of Fire</i>, she's got a distinctive approach to her musical style that makes it recognizable plus she's one of my favorite female video game composers alongside Harumi Fujita and Yoko Shimomura. 😍 For <i>The Magical Quest</i> she manages to find the right musical balance that gels with the Disney flavor while adding an extra melodic layer that helps draw you in to this world. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtVpkfYrlsk">Treetops theme</a> at the start of the game is gleefully supercharged and sets the tone for the endeavor you're about to embark on, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW6Aag8lqAo">Dark Forest theme</a> has got an otherworldly and enthralling quality about it that it starts off simple until little by little it builds up to a majestic climax making it one of the best songs in the game, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z65ZGyiQSck" style="font-family: georgia;">Fire Grotto's theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> is also incredible as it is unrelentingly menacing throughout augmenting the sense of imminent threat which perfectly complements the infernal environment,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL24tohJxc6zFRwyVe6NcpSQuv7NXZ40MPryjldFs66Sz1TOSzTMkFdJGeIjj9gDkh0m_wjQxkPm2DjvMqx_YlBtjeuEbI-W-tqXTGw-E1sOuNwbt9Tf-tHQkPA4BUU5oFxXhFha8rZybh2spG3Mj_tE2X7WiCK46fM6xa198dEen9v6OMHowh3tP6YA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Mountaineer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL24tohJxc6zFRwyVe6NcpSQuv7NXZ40MPryjldFs66Sz1TOSzTMkFdJGeIjj9gDkh0m_wjQxkPm2DjvMqx_YlBtjeuEbI-W-tqXTGw-E1sOuNwbt9Tf-tHQkPA4BUU5oFxXhFha8rZybh2spG3Mj_tE2X7WiCK46fM6xa198dEen9v6OMHowh3tP6YA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Mountaineer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jJFGg-6rk2DjNx3y5ZsnPFKnthWPJ4IOcnk3Ccj-g7y8Ckjk6Lf9ehAKs4fhpnea483RHBOdwkGBGKjMyQW-EcZvZVGPp2eGf2tjj_62f1mxRVKsUO5f_rcK39isNe-y3pIpm3y0E2FI388NAnazY-RVFflV5KNqOjj-LDcx6VJz4DbgCiE1Ptorw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_GrappleShield.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jJFGg-6rk2DjNx3y5ZsnPFKnthWPJ4IOcnk3Ccj-g7y8Ckjk6Lf9ehAKs4fhpnea483RHBOdwkGBGKjMyQW-EcZvZVGPp2eGf2tjj_62f1mxRVKsUO5f_rcK39isNe-y3pIpm3y0E2FI388NAnazY-RVFflV5KNqOjj-LDcx6VJz4DbgCiE1Ptorw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_GrappleShield.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Gee, thanks, Goofy! This would be a great costume to do a cover shoot for my next game on the format, my [Designer Software's <i>Mickey</i>] <i>Ultimate Challenge</i>, HA-HA!" | Right: "Yoink!"</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">like the stage itself </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE05xsDAbL0" style="font-family: georgia;">Pete's Peak's theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> is a pleasant breath of fresh air after the literal hell Mickey went through to get here and is a delightfully breezy composition brimming with adventurous flair,</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIg6Hfj4sQM" style="font-family: georgia;">Snowy Valley's theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> sounds very beautiful with its wistful and calming melody that goes well with the ice and snow, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyiee5n4Zyo" style="font-family: georgia;">Pete's Castle's theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> is completely foreboding as you go through the final stretch on the way to face off against Emperor Pete and use every one of your outfits' abilities. This game features four boss themes: the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M86hchfkhWU" style="font-family: georgia;">midboss theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> for when you fight against Bat, Boioioing, and Cro-magma is playfully intimidating, the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36LNhOc_juc" style="font-family: georgia;">two normal</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGm-WnzZ_x0" style="font-family: georgia;">boss themes</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> are hectic and fast-paced, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDoyVflL7Nk" style="font-family: georgia;">Emperor Pete's theme</a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> ratchets up the do or die vibe while never straying too far from the lighthearted tone.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_12kx0Hm4zAP578bFHM-UH4jP18zD_ZkDjZRQKdmeEBSdFZ502Vle261FS7UEMgbXij-qrF8pPY9oB1Snk5XdqU5uutYKoKRVwS-ul8aQ9_iLVFuiiOaJchiedZDa6gpr1Ok-fNt8FRYV1kbiu1ggzYqgxYVgxjaTJSXxSav-08EHNouY2CUFrVtyA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_SwingingOrb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_12kx0Hm4zAP578bFHM-UH4jP18zD_ZkDjZRQKdmeEBSdFZ502Vle261FS7UEMgbXij-qrF8pPY9oB1Snk5XdqU5uutYKoKRVwS-ul8aQ9_iLVFuiiOaJchiedZDa6gpr1Ok-fNt8FRYV1kbiu1ggzYqgxYVgxjaTJSXxSav-08EHNouY2CUFrVtyA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_SwingingOrb.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N13WW4YK4oAws5XFT4kdb88ATCzNfFfiDr1_LxH8sJB1b149keEtWjPbuOnxTtgqCap3cBE87l4Mj4H1slhe2jm7jpkndQzgmIHlI0ibduNJbfosH9wwb1IBvFiNKde1-JiowhMEbB8c2zDc3aUTi7wVq1u2sv4clkKutzBzGXB3JiiHDCGa9K39mw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Egg+Bee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N13WW4YK4oAws5XFT4kdb88ATCzNfFfiDr1_LxH8sJB1b149keEtWjPbuOnxTtgqCap3cBE87l4Mj4H1slhe2jm7jpkndQzgmIHlI0ibduNJbfosH9wwb1IBvFiNKde1-JiowhMEbB8c2zDc3aUTi7wVq1u2sv4clkKutzBzGXB3JiiHDCGa9K39mw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Egg+Bee.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Latching onto a swinging orb with the grapple | Right: Dealing with an egg and a bee at once</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects are well-designed, like the jingle sound of the coins you gather and the latching sound of the grapple making contact with a surface, the squeak any time Mickey sustains damage, the mysterious sound that's heard throughout your swim in the tree sap, the flame bursting sound, the magic blast of the magic turban, and the whooshing sound of the wind current that I remember my sister Diana likening to a sound of hooting owl after hearing it from her room many years ago as I was playing the game, et al. </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The Magical Quest</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> even borrows a few sound effects from previous 16-bit Capcom fare: the sound of the cannonball explosion and the glass breaking were both in </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">, and the fruit collecting jingle derived from </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Super Pang</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmT5iRF8g5id7THMRF0gBXMf_VAPFv5Y9HZtL_fpAxw2HWZANYTFUfaIeohm_hxnQLOgHEuUcsQUkqW8nESBHAjQ17vo3mtlrTdz34Lu_3MKIW8NoSuLh_yYBpyS8z9-y2VneroGD5LmROgRZ70B3HUbDR6wH7cyczHnIJ7zxM2nYn4bVbMngO0Cc5FQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Swinging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmT5iRF8g5id7THMRF0gBXMf_VAPFv5Y9HZtL_fpAxw2HWZANYTFUfaIeohm_hxnQLOgHEuUcsQUkqW8nESBHAjQ17vo3mtlrTdz34Lu_3MKIW8NoSuLh_yYBpyS8z9-y2VneroGD5LmROgRZ70B3HUbDR6wH7cyczHnIJ7zxM2nYn4bVbMngO0Cc5FQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Swinging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpSTET-msPUZQTfHlYWd4HpMQFFNAekbpK7ipErekmjA0dDgKayokZ_uxcnF7XiqZuKL6AVfM9CcjdReBXFy6gVYN_dgXDIAxIoNQolxl9TmSLDjfuTPfnkSqs_wbHDAEe43gI1r1mBJgv4y8cQqyd0f3cA6vJT4dRIprJyH7QGVF4tW3jX2DbmxKUg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_BlockToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpSTET-msPUZQTfHlYWd4HpMQFFNAekbpK7ipErekmjA0dDgKayokZ_uxcnF7XiqZuKL6AVfM9CcjdReBXFy6gVYN_dgXDIAxIoNQolxl9TmSLDjfuTPfnkSqs_wbHDAEe43gI1r1mBJgv4y8cQqyd0f3cA6vJT4dRIprJyH7QGVF4tW3jX2DbmxKUg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_BlockToss.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: That's a nice view of the mountains peaking out from underneath the clouds and that giant nest over there | Right: Secret mountainous compartment</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">This game has got three difficulty settings, each with their own variations. On easy you start with a health of five, on normal three, and on hard mode you only begin with two. The harder the difficulty the more enemies there are with a slightly lesser number of platforming magic blocks and the boss battles are longer with a more durable sense of resilience against your attacks before they eventually bite it. One thing to beware of is the mudfish that swim in certain waters who will leap upward the moment you jump over them but be sure they cannot reach you for if they do then they will drag you down with them automatically costing you a life. The number of continues is unlimited, but it must be beaten in one sitting. <i>The Magical Quest</i> is squarely a one player game, but there is an alternative two-player mode where both players could take turns.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE99Qg9vqQ0sIqB8juuzdn-2kyxhdjgV-Iz6tSLwG-y4XHtSReic9WOANd6hA2BDx-qwtdWeKb2fliLq0KAFJtQD2nSc4Rz9njPH906DILR7IB1Zv2WtX4dJA6mHDOm6nla6k_Qi1gTnYS9Jr2i9VDUTff3QBOFjah2dUTOLs81rObbG_79RmmNV8vw/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-TorchJugglingWeasel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE99Qg9vqQ0sIqB8juuzdn-2kyxhdjgV-Iz6tSLwG-y4XHtSReic9WOANd6hA2BDx-qwtdWeKb2fliLq0KAFJtQD2nSc4Rz9njPH906DILR7IB1Zv2WtX4dJA6mHDOm6nla6k_Qi1gTnYS9Jr2i9VDUTff3QBOFjah2dUTOLs81rObbG_79RmmNV8vw/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-TorchJugglingWeasel.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CccFLxfI6TucObu_44hSknyj0qIhUijATg5oGqlnopV67M-3TuWhCsNat8qbmRPXr-oNQKdqhVYcEnJ4ekemAaLOvkAboJmAVNMiNq8L0ehWqQJ9PfwUSy6DKKqRN6mhFlkfCVx3veW3oEdGFMl9wzG-dwdaCkEwUHo1AwW5Y9zZ-4ZCkx34ZUtPQg/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Turtle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CccFLxfI6TucObu_44hSknyj0qIhUijATg5oGqlnopV67M-3TuWhCsNat8qbmRPXr-oNQKdqhVYcEnJ4ekemAaLOvkAboJmAVNMiNq8L0ehWqQJ9PfwUSy6DKKqRN6mhFlkfCVx3veW3oEdGFMl9wzG-dwdaCkEwUHo1AwW5Y9zZ-4ZCkx34ZUtPQg/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Turtle.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With <i>The Magical Quest</i> being a successful Disney game by Capcom, a sequel was bound to happen: less than two years later in 1994 the SNES received <i>The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie</i>, released for the Japanese Super Famicom as <i>Mickey to Minnie: Magical Adventure 2</i>, where you could either play on your own as Mickey or Minnie or play together in a cooperative two player mode as they try to unravel the mystery behind the circus being haunted.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs9s4pu2e5OFhm6D3QKI26PRiENvVkm2wGmd1H12nhi_TGu2SGipTJWUvYg_xvm6oNdf_kCCvlVvJ1fvv5xrG3h8IMcDYmRjhI60blL5FJniD8ULTjurPH0ySBYG0hu5_EfQuQcyoDx2fuAkJVipQHSsLBmBOETJc2I2gt2W7DWsFqsKyMb6mgzfAkQ/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Ziplining.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs9s4pu2e5OFhm6D3QKI26PRiENvVkm2wGmd1H12nhi_TGu2SGipTJWUvYg_xvm6oNdf_kCCvlVvJ1fvv5xrG3h8IMcDYmRjhI60blL5FJniD8ULTjurPH0ySBYG0hu5_EfQuQcyoDx2fuAkJVipQHSsLBmBOETJc2I2gt2W7DWsFqsKyMb6mgzfAkQ/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Ziplining.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GOL0cql7y151Mh1iXoxX1AXZY6oUcvl4QHFRLSiKX0eu7E_FBSJ3Bw0uWw3f2uBKCm7zgNPDhRntrOjB_3rntDWWsbBTbyGPxdQv01uP6lbnMwBLse_naouat03jUCe8DkQkNXWGiapXvVhoG7W0Ui31gDF-KmQQXw2MAfDIpyF7goQd63jQtXDjQ/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Pluto+LonesomeGhosts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GOL0cql7y151Mh1iXoxX1AXZY6oUcvl4QHFRLSiKX0eu7E_FBSJ3Bw0uWw3f2uBKCm7zgNPDhRntrOjB_3rntDWWsbBTbyGPxdQv01uP6lbnMwBLse_naouat03jUCe8DkQkNXWGiapXvVhoG7W0Ui31gDF-KmQQXw2MAfDIpyF7goQd63jQtXDjQ/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Pluto+LonesomeGhosts.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The visuals were more colorful and polished than ever, Mickey's sprite has been touched up for the better with an increased number of frames for his walking animation adding a fluid motion, the gameplay is fun and polished, the lighthearted Disney charm is in full abundance, the new outfits are fun to change into (particularly the cowboy getup with the hobby horse) and structurally has been made a little forgiving than its predecessor with you picking up at the spot after losing a life rather than being taken to the start of the stage portion it happened.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVHFWXWqPb6JqcfvVePmIRWyh6XyMT3UJNtqU13os6fGJrEtFpdAuQ5qsVoQG_Ibb8gmT1SgQA6_9NefsM9TVZ2BLoPIsn2dD7gEDXVsMdMIxYk4GrOCZWvNJTswzmScps4ELTqkAaXEuLEM03RLSFaGJEB4J2kuzBeNtrhsfVznyK9Hmbz7OmpUWGA/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Dinosaur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVHFWXWqPb6JqcfvVePmIRWyh6XyMT3UJNtqU13os6fGJrEtFpdAuQ5qsVoQG_Ibb8gmT1SgQA6_9NefsM9TVZ2BLoPIsn2dD7gEDXVsMdMIxYk4GrOCZWvNJTswzmScps4ELTqkAaXEuLEM03RLSFaGJEB4J2kuzBeNtrhsfVznyK9Hmbz7OmpUWGA/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Dinosaur.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbRCfS42yo_i3WwACrf7uYuAPmXmv5OWLkwvLZc7zslHIdfqZQHMJ3SAHSdU7QuOBs9NGJ_d-awCTOXuinAAFN2vCvzoGb17bUcL_iq46eRAWkdBQcb5pqcSPwVPFkfKq8VsECuL1WUH74iF6gogUsiqjvRVWSDHpeqf8iFTMWhuHUhsOO6vt7Am4Yg/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Reflection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbRCfS42yo_i3WwACrf7uYuAPmXmv5OWLkwvLZc7zslHIdfqZQHMJ3SAHSdU7QuOBs9NGJ_d-awCTOXuinAAFN2vCvzoGb17bUcL_iq46eRAWkdBQcb5pqcSPwVPFkfKq8VsECuL1WUH74iF6gogUsiqjvRVWSDHpeqf8iFTMWhuHUhsOO6vt7Am4Yg/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Reflection.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The musical quality took a dip though, which is shocking because Makoto Tomozawa was among the composers for <i>Rockman X</i>/<i>Mega Man X</i> which I thought had a great soundtrack, I do not know what happened here. 😕 It's not terrible, there are a couple standout themes, but it doesn't have the listenability factor like Mari Yamaguchi's <i>The Magical Quest</i>'s music did before it. I would also be a little remiss if I didn't feel like the magical element was diluted in comparison to the precursor, but despite that I do enjoy <i>The Great Circus Mystery</i> while it lasts and personally found it to be an improvement overall.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEs-J7lcIicTTH31xwcZ4K13pccB5APCBn9fhN5f3mGdq8uZz3ni5AcWEOxYOSGPL34BBcu8mXgV54dKRbSGHfNF7HaTbX-6ysx8sTKiP1SS2cfuMFroRMICz27b0o8MTTbzfd9SHPVJlTkGKg3J3066V9VNq6ELKKKyUSnxQdGKJHUcweFPfyc2CZg/s382/TheGreatCircusMystery_Genesis-Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEs-J7lcIicTTH31xwcZ4K13pccB5APCBn9fhN5f3mGdq8uZz3ni5AcWEOxYOSGPL34BBcu8mXgV54dKRbSGHfNF7HaTbX-6ysx8sTKiP1SS2cfuMFroRMICz27b0o8MTTbzfd9SHPVJlTkGKg3J3066V9VNq6ELKKKyUSnxQdGKJHUcweFPfyc2CZg/s16000/TheGreatCircusMystery_Genesis-Slideshow.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Capcom apparently had plans to convert <i>The Magical Quest</i> to Sega's MegaDrive/Genesis console, but it never came to fruition. It would explain the sequel's appearance on it as well, though, making it the only Disney Capcom game to officially be released on both Nintendo's <b>and</b> Sega's 16-bit consoles. Aside from a couple changes made to compensate for the console's lack of Mode 7 abilities and a slightly reduced color palette, it is pretty much the same game as the Nintendo version. In terms of quality I do find them to be about on par with one another, though I do think the SNES version has the edge.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oFikR91TDq0B6ceNHGP_D4mbpax1JrIE3fxENajRpdTuu7NF_ojgmO4tSTp1mqJHM7lVELYXti3DNfNflXc3ef927Tbud23iXf3VqDgsBDELV5ZzoMIzpfLZ2KtL2m_1bBke_RZbFcAJ6LagdCZTsZCxhsyfgDpjb9BWGoHy-OyblPMrQDhZQDr9iA/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_MickeyDoll.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oFikR91TDq0B6ceNHGP_D4mbpax1JrIE3fxENajRpdTuu7NF_ojgmO4tSTp1mqJHM7lVELYXti3DNfNflXc3ef927Tbud23iXf3VqDgsBDELV5ZzoMIzpfLZ2KtL2m_1bBke_RZbFcAJ6LagdCZTsZCxhsyfgDpjb9BWGoHy-OyblPMrQDhZQDr9iA/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_MickeyDoll.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjwGxyc8BUDeQsouCFajq8r_nqf08QVBNAHDN_2jQYOA_dCvLzqIFbjL90YCk-AeFTJPJ7AMYIp1Wr8x4KHIMgurw4fbBLxbLekCSbTSWXe0mL9658j215nVkMWdo1a7sxVQP1Dlg9h4YYUjjMOrA-XyxhQJof38CLLrHTVzLgx3B0AVOsv1vwCbdMw/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Ziplining.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjwGxyc8BUDeQsouCFajq8r_nqf08QVBNAHDN_2jQYOA_dCvLzqIFbjL90YCk-AeFTJPJ7AMYIp1Wr8x4KHIMgurw4fbBLxbLekCSbTSWXe0mL9658j215nVkMWdo1a7sxVQP1Dlg9h4YYUjjMOrA-XyxhQJof38CLLrHTVzLgx3B0AVOsv1vwCbdMw/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Ziplining.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">A year later in 1995 Sun L would work on the second sequel for Capcom, <i>Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i>, which initially only saw a release on the Japanese Super Famicom, seeing the two on a quest to save Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie after they get trapped and captured by King Pete inside a magical storybook. With Disney Interactive in charge of releasing Disney-related video game content in the West by this point this game didn't have a chance at localization for the Western SNES.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1qUBpStNeAwWK-ucg37kNdriSxMqyThC5YVAoTadpIZeXYtr-Pb5pnuLfRYrAA7vE7A3xpeYsq-y8niOB4PropqXYGKxOw4FCfFRFtrOC3wdhAjQMGce9M93nOAUClbKoHlQVtj1A3KdaMtR32O7-OmtJ6UZusCIxOjkp31nWWt4E5NIv50kJq3QIA/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Scorpion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1qUBpStNeAwWK-ucg37kNdriSxMqyThC5YVAoTadpIZeXYtr-Pb5pnuLfRYrAA7vE7A3xpeYsq-y8niOB4PropqXYGKxOw4FCfFRFtrOC3wdhAjQMGce9M93nOAUClbKoHlQVtj1A3KdaMtR32O7-OmtJ6UZusCIxOjkp31nWWt4E5NIv50kJq3QIA/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Scorpion.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAnYfgSYWXqFDd61ECD8QDNes29kVoYLEQjy9_9qi_c8TuWLDpGJM5c4Naf7LyZcvKC3ifrglD_1-V6CHhhdb2P9DG4IfXj7ciEtT5eyLl05HGPW2U3I92S9ZY-CqhdFAUgOatQktOb6Dn_nweaPg32nAXGx9BrN6PTqJiQvM8Nx5pjpIeXwBdP84mw/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAnYfgSYWXqFDd61ECD8QDNes29kVoYLEQjy9_9qi_c8TuWLDpGJM5c4Naf7LyZcvKC3ifrglD_1-V6CHhhdb2P9DG4IfXj7ciEtT5eyLl05HGPW2U3I92S9ZY-CqhdFAUgOatQktOb6Dn_nweaPg32nAXGx9BrN6PTqJiQvM8Nx5pjpIeXwBdP84mw/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">That's too bad, really, because I thought it also delivered on the lighthearted Disney charm and fun. Mickey and Donald have got polished controls with each of them having slightly different abilities based on their new outfits which are also fun to use, it's the first game of the three to feature a helpful air bubble meter, it's got a narrative structure at the end of each stage which is appropriate given the storybook setting, the visuals are as gorgeously colorful and detailed as ever, the Disney charm is endearingly incorporated, </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">the soundtrack was a remarked improvement over the one from </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The Great Circus Mystery</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> effectively complementing each area's atmosphere and adventurous tone perfectly and with such aplomb, </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjp1kut1cUI-QiZEAFw4zB1ssgx2--LjGZM6k_uPM59eVEEvWyReMTv8dpBq_l51McAcNtPLCjtj8koKsNVQzgvv0e2QK2w62TDvPH7FLxRfuipubgx7ZT-WTDumBqFThoR0NAeP9QRbMmhqIc-Qtz1irvqRFM-jytKilIoUFm__NOSahBDy2w2EfsA/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Seahorse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjp1kut1cUI-QiZEAFw4zB1ssgx2--LjGZM6k_uPM59eVEEvWyReMTv8dpBq_l51McAcNtPLCjtj8koKsNVQzgvv0e2QK2w62TDvPH7FLxRfuipubgx7ZT-WTDumBqFThoR0NAeP9QRbMmhqIc-Qtz1irvqRFM-jytKilIoUFm__NOSahBDy2w2EfsA/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_Seahorse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUD9fyIBC9rzWZzaIyjJnkw6GwoSLyRz0WBUXvBlO1_vjsl9s_Ech2ZchWnj4tcUEiJfOhiWyOL8tcStisLPdVs2N76KUJN5mJ4t0yZ9PN941DHcReYe9g7Tefn4_CNY5AmQ5SxMY1SfzOrTqcajUEYKZPia6JdyVpllg-iWwCBLGy8bXd4ydqK1fyA/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_KingPete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUD9fyIBC9rzWZzaIyjJnkw6GwoSLyRz0WBUXvBlO1_vjsl9s_Ech2ZchWnj4tcUEiJfOhiWyOL8tcStisLPdVs2N76KUJN5mJ4t0yZ9PN941DHcReYe9g7Tefn4_CNY5AmQ5SxMY1SfzOrTqcajUEYKZPia6JdyVpllg-iWwCBLGy8bXd4ydqK1fyA/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_KingPete.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">and with it clocking in at roughly seventy to eighty minutes is the longest game in the entire trilogy (which might either be sufficient or be deemed too long depending on who you talk to*). As a trilogy closer and the last of six Disney Capcom games on Nintendo's 16-bit machine, I personally feel this threequel went out on a considerably good note. 😃 With each passing entry the list of credits grew smaller and smaller as the cast of characters have grown bigger and bigger, with <i>Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i> only having the names of Disney producer Gary Graeper and senior producer Emiko Yamamoto before immediately finishing off with "Capcom All Staff" (it's very odd). Oh well, I enjoy playing it personally.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* On the subject, there seem to be a wide array of opinions and notions in regards to which direction <i>The Magical Quest</i>'s sequels went depending who you talk to: they either stagnated in quality up and down, stagnated in quality down and up, progressively got better, regressed with each entry, or were pretty much on par through and through</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-3Ayoc52zCV2Krgmti8VC0a3vhToL5Dp6DY4L81cG9phwUURkJsJ3XJwuIPd8sRhfikf826svHBVAoYDWLDNGlYBbbwd_JvnJRBsizuhjq6tJqt7E_l4llLyG6YqSwdJZyEPl-6NLRSkv5dIjrFMKEeETYSeCHFKAvhJlqCdK2mrITtOne_5hpUTFQ/s383/MickeyMania_LonesomeGhosts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-3Ayoc52zCV2Krgmti8VC0a3vhToL5Dp6DY4L81cG9phwUURkJsJ3XJwuIPd8sRhfikf826svHBVAoYDWLDNGlYBbbwd_JvnJRBsizuhjq6tJqt7E_l4llLyG6YqSwdJZyEPl-6NLRSkv5dIjrFMKEeETYSeCHFKAvhJlqCdK2mrITtOne_5hpUTFQ/w200-h156/MickeyMania_LonesomeGhosts.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2bpJGt9DmDkVNy7BRnXIo3lEZhljCcCIJQm6P147k_GY7ssF4SopTiCNosRJ5yMd6Y16EA77zQMFcyZ6RABh2LLewPRoJz69OWHXd7Z1-d5QvcO8SClbEpLE9TcnhVRlrYPbcRtbgPN47pA2uWW_67R20-FrPD79IlS5t_SG-T0I1NqMaD5PmEg68Q/s383/DonaldInMauiMallard_RisingLava.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2bpJGt9DmDkVNy7BRnXIo3lEZhljCcCIJQm6P147k_GY7ssF4SopTiCNosRJ5yMd6Y16EA77zQMFcyZ6RABh2LLewPRoJz69OWHXd7Z1-d5QvcO8SClbEpLE9TcnhVRlrYPbcRtbgPN47pA2uWW_67R20-FrPD79IlS5t_SG-T0I1NqMaD5PmEg68Q/w200-h156/DonaldInMauiMallard_RisingLava.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">In an ironic twist of fate, Capcom would find themselves releasing a handful of Disney video games on the Super Famicom in Japan which they originally had no involvement with making: Traveller's Tales' <i>Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse</i> and <i>Toy Story</i>, Virgin Interactive's <i>Disney's Pinocchio</i>, and Eurocom's all-time cult classic <i>Donald in Maui Mallard</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbqHkSRA8jxxxICqywsRbCo1O00iZon5Clc02lnenQ4gep3egAwhXhJ-P8AJekgaA4lTMtZyTKJ5YPd6qOXtlY98ptUJsVEb7cFdvC7vyesvk1K4gvWgjv-iUO6zmD0Tp3PoyDW1S5NO1Nt0Z5gcsptufqUwyhBsLpTqJZpirml40og5yX80b3aBr4Q/s370/DisneysMagicalQuest_PartyGames.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbqHkSRA8jxxxICqywsRbCo1O00iZon5Clc02lnenQ4gep3egAwhXhJ-P8AJekgaA4lTMtZyTKJ5YPd6qOXtlY98ptUJsVEb7cFdvC7vyesvk1K4gvWgjv-iUO6zmD0Tp3PoyDW1S5NO1Nt0Z5gcsptufqUwyhBsLpTqJZpirml40og5yX80b3aBr4Q/s16000/DisneysMagicalQuest_PartyGames.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">In 2002, to commemorate </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The Magical Quest</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">'s tenth anniversary, Capcom created a handheld conversion of their Nintendo 16-bit classic for the Game Boy Advance which was published in the West by Nintendo with </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Disney's Magical Quest starring Mickey & Minnie</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">, which gave you the option to play as Mickey Mouse or as Mickey's girlfriend Minnie Mouse which featured alternate dialogue when you played as her with her normal sprite set derived from </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The Great Circus Mystery</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> but with a limited frameset for her walking animation to match Mickey's simple walk cycle. </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Aside from the main game there was also the option to play one of four party games themed after the individual outfit (if not going as normal) by connecting it to another Game Boy Advance*, and it incorporated a battery save.</span></div><div><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">* O</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">r by connecting it to the Nintendo GameCube via adapter cable when it had Nintendo and Capcom's </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Disney's Mickey Mouse no Fushigi na Kagami</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Disney's Magical Mirror starring Mickey Mouse</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> inserted (which also came out in 2002), where finishing the main game earns you a five-character password pertaining to that game</span></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY2bsqW07Rh5t-o4j1SX17kBUByFBAkdL38G27j80xgAmELk6SIGwgyZBJn7ImYJijdFa_207hblBIEqkErxglWUoPy8eTy07rCOQwbs7TuAyiO9zGS7Dv5K9N1tSQMqB43VAtd4eJlhnFH52ok6IUzTL0St5kwHXDXwNEAa5P6lW4qRUOSncBQ_lJg/s370/DisneysMagicalQuest_Mickey-Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="370" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQY2bsqW07Rh5t-o4j1SX17kBUByFBAkdL38G27j80xgAmELk6SIGwgyZBJn7ImYJijdFa_207hblBIEqkErxglWUoPy8eTy07rCOQwbs7TuAyiO9zGS7Dv5K9N1tSQMqB43VAtd4eJlhnFH52ok6IUzTL0St5kwHXDXwNEAa5P6lW4qRUOSncBQ_lJg/w200-h138/DisneysMagicalQuest_Mickey-Slideshow.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z5nDXnFw25VZzRKY5f7L2BNEra_HKVowxUg9UURu2LmYQfEn84I_2nCqqgzp7cDJh12z8oVScY_f60m81Kzy_6lMGXh2jGFTQiSYsvmzu_nfONkZnItu4WwK6Vuq4cUSz_z9K9FOoNx7QouKXXgekK7_SVhK05vP8NjVrsM243CtpuD4c1oYfMOWig/s370/DisneysMagicalQuest_Minnie_Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="370" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z5nDXnFw25VZzRKY5f7L2BNEra_HKVowxUg9UURu2LmYQfEn84I_2nCqqgzp7cDJh12z8oVScY_f60m81Kzy_6lMGXh2jGFTQiSYsvmzu_nfONkZnItu4WwK6Vuq4cUSz_z9K9FOoNx7QouKXXgekK7_SVhK05vP8NjVrsM243CtpuD4c1oYfMOWig/w200-h138/DisneysMagicalQuest_Minnie_Slideshow.gif" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">As handheld conversion jobs go, though, <i>Disney's Magical Quest</i> is a serviceable port for what it is that's still got the polished magic-oriented gameplay and did away with the graphical slowdown that was present in the Nintendo 16-bit original and added certain platforming blocks to accommodate the screen crunch, but suffered a bit from the usual pratfalls of Game Boy Advance conversion jobs of Nintendo 16-bit games such as slightly reduced visibility of your environment at the risk of adding difficulty that wasn't there originally and weak sound samples that reduced the quality of the soundtrack (it's hard not to feel like Mari Yamaguchi's beautiful music was butchered a little here). If you're not too picky, though, the GBA port is fine, but you're better off sticking with the original provided you own a Super Famicom or a Super Nintendo. The sequels would also be converted to the format, with the third game seeing an international release for the first time as <i>Disney's Magical Quest 3 starring Mickey & Donald</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_QJijtHgkLT_7VWXv545uPUByk93Niod-PJZ5vskK3j0wiezhmW66Dqcw8kAYDZX01t6nkNO8VGsf9xLDDYSBbj0ngaaat_dQrom6kvgoiYPs-cY0MCPLa0GLQLpX4r2dWs4Llv9CfqShH1sonhh_lKRAVRG12I5-0NtU5v7QFZYToC_FDM9vzZLKQ/s2537/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-Prototype.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="2537" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_QJijtHgkLT_7VWXv545uPUByk93Niod-PJZ5vskK3j0wiezhmW66Dqcw8kAYDZX01t6nkNO8VGsf9xLDDYSBbj0ngaaat_dQrom6kvgoiYPs-cY0MCPLa0GLQLpX4r2dWs4Llv9CfqShH1sonhh_lKRAVRG12I5-0NtU5v7QFZYToC_FDM9vzZLKQ/w400-h100/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-Prototype.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The following screen captures are from <i>The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</i>'s prototype pages on The Cutting Room Floor </span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">On November 18th, 2018, an anonymous user dumped and released the ROM of an early prototype of <i>The Magical Quest</i>, then titled "The Mystical Quest", which was showcased at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show of 1992 half a year before its Japanese release with only the first two stages being completed.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFCo_dnFeCeGcX_AFudpXEWVyt5b-WFqxd4fYo7k4bPoT_gVOyMdX2UkeZYm3evzuj8jBGoUyt6d_sZ2z-op28QOW3AE9eQUR6vPcxbgvkt2lfK47_qET1IbDlvj8e_gNCr7Nvy4YXVEFotzcIgxy2KDboeTbmi3gRFOTLq5FH95SAyad-S23BVp7Rw/s680/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-WizardPrototype.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="680" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFCo_dnFeCeGcX_AFudpXEWVyt5b-WFqxd4fYo7k4bPoT_gVOyMdX2UkeZYm3evzuj8jBGoUyt6d_sZ2z-op28QOW3AE9eQUR6vPcxbgvkt2lfK47_qET1IbDlvj8e_gNCr7Nvy4YXVEFotzcIgxy2KDboeTbmi3gRFOTLq5FH95SAyad-S23BVp7Rw/w200-h133/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-WizardPrototype.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc2hd-VKegqdhFJKoOVIg0NH_RTDbf-Gc_HPZUzJtxtpKYPTeRYA2uJCRPfveKEuyO2g1Cfd-XKjHbnRNI94NLuY9TB5oHJypkJXHwrEoHhjJ8Fyph-jtetoxf7BECrSlX5Vhsqrnwh7QvdzCfnpmAwjX6RywUFlgx4-ha5LqchUsOyKhZbiPj-pXZQ/s341/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-FrogPrototype.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="341" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUc2hd-VKegqdhFJKoOVIg0NH_RTDbf-Gc_HPZUzJtxtpKYPTeRYA2uJCRPfveKEuyO2g1Cfd-XKjHbnRNI94NLuY9TB5oHJypkJXHwrEoHhjJ8Fyph-jtetoxf7BECrSlX5Vhsqrnwh7QvdzCfnpmAwjX6RywUFlgx4-ha5LqchUsOyKhZbiPj-pXZQ/w200-h133/TCRF_TheMagicalQuest-FrogPrototype.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">For a couple examples, </span><span style="text-align: left;">the mysterious wizard originally was to have wings before they got clipped for the final release, and originally was to incorporate an aquatic enemy with a nightmare fueled design before being changed to a frog</span></span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The prototype featured noticeably altered area and enemy layouts (or barren segments before enemies were put into place), graphical sprite differences for Mickey and every other character before they were slightly or greatly touched up for the better, Mickey began with six hearts, the outfits were available from the get-go, and subsequent post-Stage 2 areas only had rough outlines, et al. Whether you're a fan of this game or retro gaming in general, it is a <a href="https://tcrf.net/Proto:The_Magical_Quest_starring_Mickey_Mouse">fascinating read</a> behind the development process, and prototypes have always been interesting to read about compared to how the final product turned out.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN3mDdDY-lQMb4kqJpB6oWWKI9sGTJdqgyiulQ9OenPFW-m_RbBykuGH4rPID6enG2VRodYvD-Nh8vUczFkMTnGbdRI7nyCQ-UoNO0PJZF932-IvBVG1hBa_ECqhl7n4WQ7fOaWdUaycrTvU3E5HiabCrfJG71L5jEHNbFOOEC_nLn6iHQVh45UgIZA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_WindTurbine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN3mDdDY-lQMb4kqJpB6oWWKI9sGTJdqgyiulQ9OenPFW-m_RbBykuGH4rPID6enG2VRodYvD-Nh8vUczFkMTnGbdRI7nyCQ-UoNO0PJZF932-IvBVG1hBa_ECqhl7n4WQ7fOaWdUaycrTvU3E5HiabCrfJG71L5jEHNbFOOEC_nLn6iHQVh45UgIZA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_WindTurbine.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nD1VQ-IpSSRiZHiGuxXmx2f61La1M_5ieDUyuUr7pBZW4oLu5RXX9mzrC-ObP7VhQLWg1pqR-Ahmh3kEKICNb_rpeXIhJk9UcoXKqTXwkQMBttjafhzjbV44_xjDqAcOIqzEprNEk2SN3xBanZXUL0IkqsndcUII7PFaF3IBobQ16P2yL3QwCoowfw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Climbing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nD1VQ-IpSSRiZHiGuxXmx2f61La1M_5ieDUyuUr7pBZW4oLu5RXX9mzrC-ObP7VhQLWg1pqR-Ahmh3kEKICNb_rpeXIhJk9UcoXKqTXwkQMBttjafhzjbV44_xjDqAcOIqzEprNEk2SN3xBanZXUL0IkqsndcUII7PFaF3IBobQ16P2yL3QwCoowfw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Climbing.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Be sure to hang on while the current shows up lest you get caught by and blown away by it | Right: Climbing up a winged platform block</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">I was eleven when I first learned of <i>The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</i>, sometime in late 2002 I got Volume 159 of the <i>Nintendo Power</i> magazine because the Mickey Mouse from <i>Disney's Magical Mirror starring Mickey Mouse</i>, a game I enjoyed immensely on the Nintendo GameCube way back when, was presented in the cover; it had hints and tips not just for <b>it</b> but for <i>Disney's Magical Quest starring Mickey & Minnie</i> on the Game Boy Advance as well and I remember what screenshots they showed of that looking interesting, but I never thought of playing it at the time... I don't know why, I think it would've been something I would have enjoyed. I didn't realize it was originally a Nintendo 16-bit game until I saw a series of screenshots from that version on the internet several years later.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDnNTcwMJuIVtnzcv4yrUwMLbt6q80zvjO3ylC7fhPZdEK4q0izGF7xZIQcNNqsV8HhPAR4LjbU8t5x8cx3Kq4yzfG3yaYZzKBldYJta-bCyXT-oXEoQ0ycDGZvR39NmFDq9y-n7BhGgZP7KVp6gA5fh7P8v-ST17uwmxBYip1QuD_ReAQfyxd9_1w/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Tower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDnNTcwMJuIVtnzcv4yrUwMLbt6q80zvjO3ylC7fhPZdEK4q0izGF7xZIQcNNqsV8HhPAR4LjbU8t5x8cx3Kq4yzfG3yaYZzKBldYJta-bCyXT-oXEoQ0ycDGZvR39NmFDq9y-n7BhGgZP7KVp6gA5fh7P8v-ST17uwmxBYip1QuD_ReAQfyxd9_1w/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-Tower.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMNqdAN1cTyVaaOhQnzWllIisVITPaTUS7Km69-0DUFRN0TzWyPdb55ZHwbYSRIVgm-6Htk7fBZtKGVvn3a938GC_6stwVyyoqt5uwVs9hqe4m5ETzG2Lk8w81zQufXPOxu6C9JsNB36V41JRZ7zBPkdI7SoEaXQ9M7fv79UPgRI2D9daKRqlc4yE1A/s383/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-BaronPete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="383" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMNqdAN1cTyVaaOhQnzWllIisVITPaTUS7Km69-0DUFRN0TzWyPdb55ZHwbYSRIVgm-6Htk7fBZtKGVvn3a938GC_6stwVyyoqt5uwVs9hqe4m5ETzG2Lk8w81zQufXPOxu6C9JsNB36V41JRZ7zBPkdI7SoEaXQ9M7fv79UPgRI2D9daKRqlc4yE1A/w200-h147/TheGreatCircusMystery_SNES-BaronPete.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">On March 2012, at a retro gaming shop called 3D Games, I bought a couple games for my SNES console: Capcom's <i>The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie</i> and Probe Software's video game adaptation of Joe Johnston and Maurice Hunt's <i>The Pagemaster</i>. I found the former to be a lot of fun, and it was very significant for me because for the longest time the only 2D TV console <i>Mickey Mouse</i> platformer I played was Traveller's Tales' <i>Mickey's Wild Adventure</i> on the PlayStation One growing up in Italy and whenever I visited during the summer after moving to Texas in 2002, for it was refreshingly different. I knew I wanted to catch up with its predecessor <i>The Magical Quest</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_acvIofH5ZDg0OXTqArZ3oCklL5XA4QfKPWjpsoWUgcZhGVvLg-DPTVpXKy8uzlcqcUTFIvSkyYOZOthNF5ONk9DMiLFHAV72m-NeYUfhHMK1SNXkXLISg6Wu6uO5EPO5k3oo8uYjTCevWnRcSOVMGd4H9fWWbCtW1p60SRJ_a24Qo2uch1cnK5Mkuw/s383/Skyblazer_FlyingKick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_acvIofH5ZDg0OXTqArZ3oCklL5XA4QfKPWjpsoWUgcZhGVvLg-DPTVpXKy8uzlcqcUTFIvSkyYOZOthNF5ONk9DMiLFHAV72m-NeYUfhHMK1SNXkXLISg6Wu6uO5EPO5k3oo8uYjTCevWnRcSOVMGd4H9fWWbCtW1p60SRJ_a24Qo2uch1cnK5Mkuw/w200-h156/Skyblazer_FlyingKick.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSP1ymt1tjMAFnZmyaaPc374J6Pe9afHOI8oXcvlJrPRfn9FWGvbc_mURS_o9xmtJEduDXUGgS1nXHfteYBi4B3vPPSBOosG4BYaYjmEIhX6oA1mgdkq_OYjzYEDqGPjmLWu305LH9wam0su1n5xxcbi1hYHnHo_KKMRcULemK3n_mDqnaLcLBlJnQA/s383/Skyblazer_IceSliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSP1ymt1tjMAFnZmyaaPc374J6Pe9afHOI8oXcvlJrPRfn9FWGvbc_mURS_o9xmtJEduDXUGgS1nXHfteYBi4B3vPPSBOosG4BYaYjmEIhX6oA1mgdkq_OYjzYEDqGPjmLWu305LH9wam0su1n5xxcbi1hYHnHo_KKMRcULemK3n_mDqnaLcLBlJnQA/w200-h156/Skyblazer_IceSliding.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">In retrospect, it surprises me how much this game got away with, but that's neither here nor there</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">so mere weeks later for my 21st birthday on April 5th, 2012 I asked for <b>it</b> as well as Ukiyotei's <i>Skyblazer</i> on the SNES, the latter of which I've grown to like more with each replay despite it largely being devoid of difficulty and lacking some of the polish of Capcom's game but can't help but be entranced by its sense of foreign culture and aesthetic design. The Game Boy Advance version <i>Disney's Magical Quest</i> I would catch up with on April of 2019.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRDecwaYMjqH9AkGM90SqeKUv3TbB2QmUCYkFwTRHWk76TDHSnKl-Fo53RpI6HiH5RowIdDe3l7zBobIgNm9Vq-O2iRuS_um1iz1p5LlZGmgqkWRS6vNzFXgZCMswMeyD6mzBdYDh-xIPcCjNPxk6Xflk3PB_LPKl1w7-1CV2J8JfdaHCvNx-n2JVQQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Whoosh.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRDecwaYMjqH9AkGM90SqeKUv3TbB2QmUCYkFwTRHWk76TDHSnKl-Fo53RpI6HiH5RowIdDe3l7zBobIgNm9Vq-O2iRuS_um1iz1p5LlZGmgqkWRS6vNzFXgZCMswMeyD6mzBdYDh-xIPcCjNPxk6Xflk3PB_LPKl1w7-1CV2J8JfdaHCvNx-n2JVQQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Whoosh.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbmj3BNA1tDR5g9ORmkR6W1JQp-T64Tma6DuZ-pFpw-rWuc9ARspKpcKbOWuIYis7-6Sm0ehyANKnsnbuG1-_hklVqbJc2yDdsNHkT4VTzDa0RcK3wd--aP9IxfWxZwewPAeCDCKie1aWVWOctp2tMY0rmOOcAC2R_NBcQZkqci6wjS9gm4sZ85ZiBg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Hatchlings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbmj3BNA1tDR5g9ORmkR6W1JQp-T64Tma6DuZ-pFpw-rWuc9ARspKpcKbOWuIYis7-6Sm0ehyANKnsnbuG1-_hklVqbJc2yDdsNHkT4VTzDa0RcK3wd--aP9IxfWxZwewPAeCDCKie1aWVWOctp2tMY0rmOOcAC2R_NBcQZkqci6wjS9gm4sZ85ZiBg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Hatchlings.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Hold on | Right: Be prepared to attack once the giant bird glides into place</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">As Mickey's first go-around on the Nintendo 16-bit console, and the first Disney game developed by Capcom for the system, <i>The Magical Quest</i> is a very good and solid starting point that is fun to play every once in a while. I liked the magical locations you journey through, I liked the pacing and the way each area opened up to you, the gameplay is endearingly polished, and it's got a beautiful visual aesthetic that just screams "Capcom" with a good dose of lighthearted Disney charm to boot.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n8Iz6cUqTG9x0VJfwsbkcwJaey8Rt1AmVYpzCAs5qWzYoLyFEN3EgPfQBma4s99-4HtBAYRFNmxUCzAdRFLPIx9UAmUqEO2k_aCT-ht8Ea5EPNe-9raLlKYuCIsR_jbufgjYdJe2HQ0_ChcNORITuBpASRHpC_bAtnBPlrqZmgU14_8QcOP0kAty_g/s383/TheMagicalQuest_SnowyValley.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n8Iz6cUqTG9x0VJfwsbkcwJaey8Rt1AmVYpzCAs5qWzYoLyFEN3EgPfQBma4s99-4HtBAYRFNmxUCzAdRFLPIx9UAmUqEO2k_aCT-ht8Ea5EPNe-9raLlKYuCIsR_jbufgjYdJe2HQ0_ChcNORITuBpASRHpC_bAtnBPlrqZmgU14_8QcOP0kAty_g/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_SnowyValley.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J-kQaF0JeZTrngDUJParU_5FtiQ7s6Wg9Z6NqOgm1ZJnohWPnAzf9hvSuhJ3408WxIy5pR6U7ixS1IQiMar-cAeJUhVbjixA5E_9_kJI6AOB33PQDNQ9IP2lxKr7mqkfq4XztzLlXd_Vo9kB8UB3xZD9NFLHfXYZFlZXwWpWx1VQ08J0ojbNAS9PPQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_FrigidPlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J-kQaF0JeZTrngDUJParU_5FtiQ7s6Wg9Z6NqOgm1ZJnohWPnAzf9hvSuhJ3408WxIy5pR6U7ixS1IQiMar-cAeJUhVbjixA5E_9_kJI6AOB33PQDNQ9IP2lxKr7mqkfq4XztzLlXd_Vo9kB8UB3xZD9NFLHfXYZFlZXwWpWx1VQ08J0ojbNAS9PPQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_FrigidPlatforming.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Snowy Valley welcomes you, brief though it may be | Right: Spray water on those stationary airborne ice blocks to momentarily create a platform for you to jump on before they shatter</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With each new outfit you gain, the gameplay develops an added layer of depth as you switch to the appropriate outfit to overcome certain situations, which are all well thought-out and involve a nice sense of experimentation to come to grips with their abilities. <i>The Magical Quest</i> is also a game with many moments: running on top of a tomato rolling down the steep slope of the beanstalk, seeing the magic turban magically lower itself down before you prior to venturing in the Dark Forest, swimming inside the sap of a tree, descending down the grotto with spikes protruding from the ceiling until you reach an infernal landscape, dousing the fire out of sentient platforms that burst into flame upon being touched by fire, scaling the mountains and being mindful not to get caught by the forceful wind current, and trudging through the snow, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFboI_g87PP2OLYjdFLPQTGhoocGuQCex3NpfAUl-xe_4lkLR9uGLeQOP4xyMLOISPQlob7K_kaoVRDzes5ZpKIWyqzZZRfcbQGFKAQCsf0EXPVHjVeJWlWNNlT8bTUNQbzVtl4yriUDBhdSnJAR0Lcs3A384HuD6BhA6q8Qav1Z8AM_4dvrI9oX0abQ/s383/Bonkers_Steam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFboI_g87PP2OLYjdFLPQTGhoocGuQCex3NpfAUl-xe_4lkLR9uGLeQOP4xyMLOISPQlob7K_kaoVRDzes5ZpKIWyqzZZRfcbQGFKAQCsf0EXPVHjVeJWlWNNlT8bTUNQbzVtl4yriUDBhdSnJAR0Lcs3A384HuD6BhA6q8Qav1Z8AM_4dvrI9oX0abQ/w200-h156/Bonkers_Steam.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrUMh3_6UxC45_waDR7dtT2Zqk4SxbS_au-_lm6c0f1177ztjpqT46Zer4nMw79UV_iDjagcd7j56ljKsdQGd7RzWwkzWTXIClcECZbEowxTcNx6i4KYUcFsqqzD9Rl0FFDv3g1l5J0Dlx8ZSvJtQh4XJH1B3ZAVdkyWTgIfZtym5p4oVKdMhIjmFjg/s383/Bonkers_BombThrowing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrUMh3_6UxC45_waDR7dtT2Zqk4SxbS_au-_lm6c0f1177ztjpqT46Zer4nMw79UV_iDjagcd7j56ljKsdQGd7RzWwkzWTXIClcECZbEowxTcNx6i4KYUcFsqqzD9Rl0FFDv3g1l5J0Dlx8ZSvJtQh4XJH1B3ZAVdkyWTgIfZtym5p4oVKdMhIjmFjg/w200-h156/Bonkers_BombThrowing.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">With the exception of <i>Bonkers</i>/<i>Disney's Bonkers: Hollywood Daisakusen!</i>, <i>The Magical Quest</i> is the only Disney Capcom game in the system to require to be beaten in one sitting, with <i>Goof Troop</i> onward incorporating a simple password system. At forty to fifty minutes, it's considerably reasonable in length without wearing out its welcome.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP9W7lan6gLITkhkHdB5zhDXMiUVwzdS0rsKMw6Ayy4jrgxvmtWbj-O-hnQKAnOraE9p881Npoxdeg8JqcbAvkakrFqGsFNbt1mwLEPJV9Gp2c4c-VOUZ49-3K3E5DL7MgTXp_-7tYr96LM1mHlw2S8o-GjSCkb-pc2tGoASmDdSpA_khnJKSmr747A/s377/WorldOfIllusion_CorkRiding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP9W7lan6gLITkhkHdB5zhDXMiUVwzdS0rsKMw6Ayy4jrgxvmtWbj-O-hnQKAnOraE9p881Npoxdeg8JqcbAvkakrFqGsFNbt1mwLEPJV9Gp2c4c-VOUZ49-3K3E5DL7MgTXp_-7tYr96LM1mHlw2S8o-GjSCkb-pc2tGoASmDdSpA_khnJKSmr747A/w200-h118/WorldOfIllusion_CorkRiding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1Rkcb3HqbleAt8ib4Y5RBhzyQ7jSp8yQlrz0jW2bfEF_LKRaZIBdi-cq7SMB3Rqh-8tykjHJMBz7N4HkKUMNVXFLWVbvpAc-oTwqxZhKKoZuSSZ4z9-v4CWtE3HGZa7qWOKmBTyzgXPy3RLiVS1p_BETTJipgg9WVhZucqnz4XFXWEKjOWt_UnpcrQ/s377/WorldOfIllusion_StainedGlassWindow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1Rkcb3HqbleAt8ib4Y5RBhzyQ7jSp8yQlrz0jW2bfEF_LKRaZIBdi-cq7SMB3Rqh-8tykjHJMBz7N4HkKUMNVXFLWVbvpAc-oTwqxZhKKoZuSSZ4z9-v4CWtE3HGZa7qWOKmBTyzgXPy3RLiVS1p_BETTJipgg9WVhZucqnz4XFXWEKjOWt_UnpcrQ/w200-h118/WorldOfIllusion_StainedGlassWindow.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Combining <i>Mickey Mouse</i> platforming with magic seemed to be a recurring theme in 1992, as Sega worked on the 16-bit classic <i>World of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck</i>/<i>World of Illusion: I Love Mickey & Donald - Fushigi na Magic Box</i> for the MegaDrive and Genesis consoles, albeit with different results that was also enjoyable in its own right.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI34XOqO0pqV3Xk_nVQE3SvkrfGd4YEkyST0cZ_niscJ2nh5i_u3urHCJ008Ncq0eQeWoeKvL69bNYLuuRA2tuQkepfIxh1XG6X819j5mMFwuUat8AVMO4hz1b8SSZEDLSHvm_sPsfEtZH3SVvpLd9SDp7ogvr5Kqjwq84TGI7GHdohTeezW7h_2PmQ/s241/TheMagicalQuest_Donald.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI34XOqO0pqV3Xk_nVQE3SvkrfGd4YEkyST0cZ_niscJ2nh5i_u3urHCJ008Ncq0eQeWoeKvL69bNYLuuRA2tuQkepfIxh1XG6X819j5mMFwuUat8AVMO4hz1b8SSZEDLSHvm_sPsfEtZH3SVvpLd9SDp7ogvr5Kqjwq84TGI7GHdohTeezW7h_2PmQ/s16000/TheMagicalQuest_Donald.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">After defeating Emperor Pete and rescuing Pluto, it's revealed that everything that happened up to this point has all been a dream. I used to dislike this ending due to it feeling like it came out of nowhere as there was no hint that it was such a thing, but not so much anymore; with each upsetting real world news stories that pop up and revelations that make you question everything, there are just some things that become trivial and unimportant and less worth making a big deal of over time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p0gLJ0TtUk8cwzc6dH5CG-GG20Lkio3vXylDHX0uFN9PipiU_vmBEKHkMpxp_41dlTnrXHSfgLKmZSDH0MuWd6CncoL_zbDJAPUc9ebp1LsTkpbzEKv9vlFBi_hL3yGTdBnhY7epJqnWc0PNlN2Mgh5fLtBfFWU5hQ94W8RNdqNjg1lZBieRzUEsKw/s241/TheMagicalQuest_InBed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p0gLJ0TtUk8cwzc6dH5CG-GG20Lkio3vXylDHX0uFN9PipiU_vmBEKHkMpxp_41dlTnrXHSfgLKmZSDH0MuWd6CncoL_zbDJAPUc9ebp1LsTkpbzEKv9vlFBi_hL3yGTdBnhY7epJqnWc0PNlN2Mgh5fLtBfFWU5hQ94W8RNdqNjg1lZBieRzUEsKw/s16000/TheMagicalQuest_InBed.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">A part of me used to think it was a lost opportunity because there was no element from the dream appearing in the real world, with the only hint that this was more than a dream if you stuck with the "The End" screen about two or three minutes after it fades into view as a couple coin birds fly upward, but I don't think many will have the incentive to stay past that point. This was Capcom's first direct video game take on </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">, and </span><i style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"> games are generally not played for story, so I should cut them a bit of slack, even if I did feel invested in this game's world. Sometimes it's not about how it ends, but about the journey.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96N44xB8oET6GCVHLCCHUI2O5goJy8_PatWKvrLbqGtn3qhKYcUUKy6HTyTfP7WXcdg_wkw2-_GnCFxFk71yrh3QTJqILP4aLzf23VypANGT1QPUJ4OBjZnBGbn2hI6QST1rMSh8kkC1aULuKx977jzJms00F9Cnf-1qtYTkG_t62Y4DuExRvxm4dCA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Fuzzball.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96N44xB8oET6GCVHLCCHUI2O5goJy8_PatWKvrLbqGtn3qhKYcUUKy6HTyTfP7WXcdg_wkw2-_GnCFxFk71yrh3QTJqILP4aLzf23VypANGT1QPUJ4OBjZnBGbn2hI6QST1rMSh8kkC1aULuKx977jzJms00F9Cnf-1qtYTkG_t62Y4DuExRvxm4dCA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Fuzzball.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObMn1J4hXlZobfLLGYHWcS7MB5N6U8F-5A0-N1xnRbxdhpkcZslybiVdCH8oocNdl3oIt1SMjHL1ow6-GlZ0JstHEvw90YCJ6JCBjfy3PkFRroldSg79QVoAUumsPL5o4Aj0o3fX02VrKIzSq8vx5LVorutZisEk7tF9HNpKn6tcL1Tau4n9dJU3n_A/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Skid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObMn1J4hXlZobfLLGYHWcS7MB5N6U8F-5A0-N1xnRbxdhpkcZslybiVdCH8oocNdl3oIt1SMjHL1ow6-GlZ0JstHEvw90YCJ6JCBjfy3PkFRroldSg79QVoAUumsPL5o4Aj0o3fX02VrKIzSq8vx5LVorutZisEk7tF9HNpKn6tcL1Tau4n9dJU3n_A/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Skid.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Taking care of the fuzz | Right: Aww, the stary night sky and aurora borealis is so <u>beautiful</u>!! </b>😍<b> Careful not to move towards those rubbery things lest you want to be repelled by them</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Having said all that, though, I find it mindboggling that Mickey and friends would play catch in the park residing by a cliff. Why on <b>earth</b> would you play such a game by a cliffside? 😖 Other than there would be no game, that is. Real talk, it is a humorous way to set up Mickey's magical quest, quirks notwithstanding, and I love how Goofy moonwalks out of the scene as he waves at Mickey. 😄 In hindsight, I do feel Donald Duck has been unfairly sidelined here, waiting in the background for Mickey and Goofy to pass the ball to him (but they never do) and popping up out of a window. They don't even ask Donald to help look for Pluto, only <b>Goofy</b> volunteers? That feels a bit mean.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0D-qX6lGqZWj5JyyrY0pYShGCXRzsB1Ovyl97wcSLGUc9ECwnQr2GuKBEd8ETIWo-hfWkqK2hyQNV66yeDEY5L551OVu_4GIFp4qNs9SeE0yFEYgYKgKulViqt8dttkyGeLAkNTQAjClk4_m-m7j0MVSeusDdkq0MoKLEqPv1edOKyR4XXIMy6yz6A/s269/Bonkers_Donald+Mickey-Cameos.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="269" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0D-qX6lGqZWj5JyyrY0pYShGCXRzsB1Ovyl97wcSLGUc9ECwnQr2GuKBEd8ETIWo-hfWkqK2hyQNV66yeDEY5L551OVu_4GIFp4qNs9SeE0yFEYgYKgKulViqt8dttkyGeLAkNTQAjClk4_m-m7j0MVSeusDdkq0MoKLEqPv1edOKyR4XXIMy6yz6A/s1600/Bonkers_Donald+Mickey-Cameos.png" width="269" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">I realize Mickey is more popular and it <b>is</b> his game, but could Capcom not find more for Donald to do here? You're telling me that they had <b>no</b> concrete plans for him other than as an NPC and cameo for the first several years' worth of Disney video game content they made until 1995* in games he appeared in? Not even a game exclusively devoted to him? 🤔</span></div><div><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Not just Capcom, though, other developers handling Disney content as well, for Donald would not appear as a playable character on the Super Famicom until Epoch's release of SAS Sakata's Japan-exclusive <i>Donald Duck no Mahō no Bōshi</i></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKifTkcu_pu8u60LNWSP8j601VsNaHyfxUTVFwSlpTFgeeP-rI4s_gFKmpw9jKfdUmOofCl006cDuT9bPF3SpNmHeLNBUI4EF_3uCqW_iriSgnDUA971mdXOmmJBYPC8QE_uGM5Xj9IOFsxaayoL9K3TLG1cgHvcDRgmSLISmVFvDWPsZM6AegDw1aw/s383/GufiiToMakkusu_DefeatedPirate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKifTkcu_pu8u60LNWSP8j601VsNaHyfxUTVFwSlpTFgeeP-rI4s_gFKmpw9jKfdUmOofCl006cDuT9bPF3SpNmHeLNBUI4EF_3uCqW_iriSgnDUA971mdXOmmJBYPC8QE_uGM5Xj9IOFsxaayoL9K3TLG1cgHvcDRgmSLISmVFvDWPsZM6AegDw1aw/w200-h155/GufiiToMakkusu_DefeatedPirate.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWEDvKFpgh25dNOn1A7u1VZg83j17uLmT8E0HGoIQhD0Y2WISVGcwNf5Jz0ie72t0Oqcy3AO37vKsnT63KePm_Jc8HELLGXil1KOr1MYEVP9pxIUZgo3oa5zfCjgdjqRv9FJAJJZr0qrAzPcsIaQ68iEyg2pmL1bN6R4Z3nEJg0tadSA1W4l0eK_Dsw/s383/GufiiToMakkusu_IceFloorSwitchRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWEDvKFpgh25dNOn1A7u1VZg83j17uLmT8E0HGoIQhD0Y2WISVGcwNf5Jz0ie72t0Oqcy3AO37vKsnT63KePm_Jc8HELLGXil1KOr1MYEVP9pxIUZgo3oa5zfCjgdjqRv9FJAJJZr0qrAzPcsIaQ68iEyg2pmL1bN6R4Z3nEJg0tadSA1W4l0eK_Dsw/w200-h155/GufiiToMakkusu_IceFloorSwitchRoom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>A Goofy that exists in a different canon, who's also voiced by Bill Farmer, but still </b>🐶</span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Goofy got his fair shot long before Donald on the Nintendo 16-bit format, in arguably one of the stronger Disney Capcom games in the system in my opinion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwfHwxia66bS3E1Kpl5wFPlcnTpJ0Y5DmY3HVWK4Gntb6pvG67sBivIMd7Jt-pnrLcq0jVn8803da1M3wpCa4Xk1hpKk7-cCRbtBRU0fe9NGNLZ4OqyO4VlcBMUesYVlOh5DeiQ5SH8tJb0eTCb6bqTSptT6MI84AeusSl-Oitqr2ywXU8acMBUAwNQ/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_TurkeyVulture.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwfHwxia66bS3E1Kpl5wFPlcnTpJ0Y5DmY3HVWK4Gntb6pvG67sBivIMd7Jt-pnrLcq0jVn8803da1M3wpCa4Xk1hpKk7-cCRbtBRU0fe9NGNLZ4OqyO4VlcBMUesYVlOh5DeiQ5SH8tJb0eTCb6bqTSptT6MI84AeusSl-Oitqr2ywXU8acMBUAwNQ/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_TurkeyVulture.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzTyZd2ZEZ4nQVEfbmZbNqRFUEiemlWarDrNzLxwTKYUFuwPkbYY99eTIHeEB6xuth7N-L8u4f8Q_9vhK2zhXPmGVMxUt3XRAIKSEHHEhV6nf2fdhbBhsvQr-QwcRmo7kodt7cXFuHNbnJvc60XweDfvWGN1zkZ8OeCUz1mtgwvUc8oOVhtFOTlu1YA/s383/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_BaronPete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="383" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzTyZd2ZEZ4nQVEfbmZbNqRFUEiemlWarDrNzLxwTKYUFuwPkbYY99eTIHeEB6xuth7N-L8u4f8Q_9vhK2zhXPmGVMxUt3XRAIKSEHHEhV6nf2fdhbBhsvQr-QwcRmo7kodt7cXFuHNbnJvc60XweDfvWGN1zkZ8OeCUz1mtgwvUc8oOVhtFOTlu1YA/w200-h145/MickeyToDonaldMagicalAdventure3_BaronPete.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Oh well, I suppose in the end beggars can't be choosers, for Donald Duck would become a playable character in Sun L's <i>Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i> on the Super Famicom and it is nice that you get a chance to play as him on a Disney Capcom game for once, though I can imagine some opining that it may have been too little too late before finally giving him his playable due. But hey, better late than never, is all I can say.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDhAg6Xpyq4dpWoIBpfKA42VuoWr7f75ldnlCMHmjAuKWjrObOPeYswwcbJgtmJLzEzNkJensbC8u-ZjXiC7VG2TSa4IchV9F5n4psaqvIxypoLHEA3bNkWnQAhRXqSmXwqTDpJSa3FCBdjDaqK1frTwPtlU_1-AJKCNB6PQf1i-mUuXL0RVJIBpToQ/s383/TheMagicalQuest_SnowScaling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDhAg6Xpyq4dpWoIBpfKA42VuoWr7f75ldnlCMHmjAuKWjrObOPeYswwcbJgtmJLzEzNkJensbC8u-ZjXiC7VG2TSa4IchV9F5n4psaqvIxypoLHEA3bNkWnQAhRXqSmXwqTDpJSa3FCBdjDaqK1frTwPtlU_1-AJKCNB6PQf1i-mUuXL0RVJIBpToQ/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_SnowScaling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwd3LFyFrklNo2oUieWx4JY3zRIt-6Aw4fYWODBU4S3nbVp9EVzNuVt4hAP8S5EfCvZPdbuuFoz1KNICDejbwzWOAW5z2LrMPdnwvUsIojRS5VGOzvw4-J_K0x9TiyLc4m7zVNHbnVaupXotHYRCNY4TRrvorwjQfVAdfdAqHYpza5Fj1Qb8jMATH2Q/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Walrus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwd3LFyFrklNo2oUieWx4JY3zRIt-6Aw4fYWODBU4S3nbVp9EVzNuVt4hAP8S5EfCvZPdbuuFoz1KNICDejbwzWOAW5z2LrMPdnwvUsIojRS5VGOzvw4-J_K0x9TiyLc4m7zVNHbnVaupXotHYRCNY4TRrvorwjQfVAdfdAqHYpza5Fj1Qb8jMATH2Q/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Walrus.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Jumping upward | Right: Spray water at that walrus-like ice-skating Pete lookalike to cause him continuous damage, but be careful not to get in his way when he skates out of the frozen half-pipe</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">I like how Capcom scattered some secrets about, rewarding you for thoroughly searching in the present area for you never know if you might come across a hidden door or a treasure chest containing a big heart if not a life (including one found in the underside of a mountain which would have to be accessed with the utmost of precarious measures), even if <i>The Magical Quest</i> is largely linear in style. What's also neat is how from the fourth stage onward you have a choice to either launch magic projectiles to your bosses or continually spray them with water from your firehose, each method of is which is effective in its own right which gives this game a bit of a replay value in that regard. I think Masatsugu Shinohara, who also programmed the sequels to Capcom's <i>Makaimura</i>/<i>Ghosts 'n Goblins</i> and Mitchell Corporation's <i>Pang</i>/<i>Buster Bros.</i> games, did a solid job programming this game, and there are a couple moments that I feel evoke a real <i>Makaimura</i> vibe (being dragged down in the Fire Grotto and carefully weaving down on a magic carpet in a chamber confined with spikes that instantly kill you should you touch them) which I appreciate.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBfAd5sFe18yKjneymf80bkpiGd7J3dRBj-8n12l1UOEYt3pLU7gJLUKqRY7jovvhaFLEn2QQT2RqI5WjoXsGaBSLPaWbS7yvxj6iOLgOgaAuKE2wuNGxcU8OF_635GKgyvKVWKWZhoqc5yNwO51FYlpUN12ewuH4-SqWkeqpgLPexWMqRH-7TDPsmA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_PeteSoldier.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBfAd5sFe18yKjneymf80bkpiGd7J3dRBj-8n12l1UOEYt3pLU7gJLUKqRY7jovvhaFLEn2QQT2RqI5WjoXsGaBSLPaWbS7yvxj6iOLgOgaAuKE2wuNGxcU8OF_635GKgyvKVWKWZhoqc5yNwO51FYlpUN12ewuH4-SqWkeqpgLPexWMqRH-7TDPsmA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_PeteSoldier.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRKODGVNLJJmdYQvFNt7N2FGD93eQ-h1oOjTRejEpkT_wkawlpXgfmYzt4s36fDRA2FtYjlBWm2_1eUYSsBilqu8_K_rkGRGAArk5xaRV-YWBuA8WlHKbvM6PC5rUa8PsXH8sOXJA-vnpxXQPob_Hsj9xArv90FgVmrlIon-nIKBXZd_9HB1VY6mQOA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_RIP-SentientSpringPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRKODGVNLJJmdYQvFNt7N2FGD93eQ-h1oOjTRejEpkT_wkawlpXgfmYzt4s36fDRA2FtYjlBWm2_1eUYSsBilqu8_K_rkGRGAArk5xaRV-YWBuA8WlHKbvM6PC5rUa8PsXH8sOXJA-vnpxXQPob_Hsj9xArv90FgVmrlIon-nIKBXZd_9HB1VY6mQOA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_RIP-SentientSpringPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Dispose of the Pete soldiers | Right: Welp, that's a pretty dark outcome for this family game, I think, because now that sentient spring platform is <u>dead</u>! </b>💀</span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">The boss fights are manageable once you get their patterns down, and many of them have reasonable strategies where you could either jump on Spideron's head should it face upward or amass a powerful magic blast provided the head is facing the side, continuously spraying water on the wall boss' mouth as the platforms rotate around him, alternating between grappling on to a swinging orb as the giant bird whizzes by and changing into the magic turban or firefighter's uniform as it glides down to you, and the penultimate portion of Pete's Castle is littered with Pete statues to try to throw you off course with only one of them leading to Emperor Pete, while picking the wrong one will force you to fight against Bat, Boioioing, and Cro-magma again, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQjpKaIU3xVckafB6h5bdDc0UB_SVOgAqkujHXgzRn5VYh4_-g5jx51lFBTkxchbtxctSSGdH3Jt7biUObVKQOU0DtqzAuBAGf8t9Sb851l8fw0ZVIhKeP-WU9nq0vyZmF1PEBnINr8g3VK4lqwidx5iQEMyuKdvmPmF5kGPuKjGEybcmxLXt6FoHLw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_ArcherPete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQjpKaIU3xVckafB6h5bdDc0UB_SVOgAqkujHXgzRn5VYh4_-g5jx51lFBTkxchbtxctSSGdH3Jt7biUObVKQOU0DtqzAuBAGf8t9Sb851l8fw0ZVIhKeP-WU9nq0vyZmF1PEBnINr8g3VK4lqwidx5iQEMyuKdvmPmF5kGPuKjGEybcmxLXt6FoHLw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_ArcherPete.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHY-cT3HW0H94vdH_k00R5vQ3rGxo53GHpyK6_7sLXjjsGmmTObaF7mewbIVrX-pkc0478xEj7dl-5JpUS3U2_wIzR7BXx1f_EsYNyTUjgiLQWM0QJMAU_0Ed0Ksn6Q2QLW4ERlbnADU1rJF8wfWu3WIzPWtU1hLhSf4mmu3E6JO-n6PY6hX0WakQJA/s383/TheMagicalQuest_WingedHelmets.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHY-cT3HW0H94vdH_k00R5vQ3rGxo53GHpyK6_7sLXjjsGmmTObaF7mewbIVrX-pkc0478xEj7dl-5JpUS3U2_wIzR7BXx1f_EsYNyTUjgiLQWM0QJMAU_0Ed0Ksn6Q2QLW4ERlbnADU1rJF8wfWu3WIzPWtU1hLhSf4mmu3E6JO-n6PY6hX0WakQJA/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_WingedHelmets.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Don't forget the archers | Right: Careful not to collide with those sentient flying helmet heads</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Magical Quest</i> presents the most amount of challenge on hard mode which is the preferred difficulty mode to try, even though the Fire Grotto boss is annoyingly long and fast with how often he spews out his flames. Whenever Mickey gets knocked back by an enemy or its projectile it is annoying if you're not careful, particularly if it happened while you were standing by the edge. There are a few occasions of graphic slowdown whenever there are a lot of objects on screen (like when a collection of coins or fruit sprout from an opened treasure chest with enemies and magical blocks abound), it's not as frequent an occurrence as in <i>Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts</i> but it is keenly felt during the boss fights in Fire Grotto, Pete's Peak, and Pete's Castle when so much activity is happening at once at the expense of affecting the flow. As well-trodden as the overall pacing is, it's disappointing that Snowy Valley is so short that it could literally be plowed through in minutes, it's such a gorgeously relaxing area to look at that it saddens me that it's so brief every time. 😔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PczHG_kYAYr2_DjhoM4Pw_reZDKVFsH7IAGgIaFkKwbrfKxX4m9IQ8o3aE4fye_UkkZ7e-iwL3Q24Y3U8HkidS19PWEojL8AQTzsQqhXw3Ba4sQI_60QerBmqB4sLD9v05nykcdxkzobNmK91IQM1_DZEqortk-RtHU9QFcGSnAQJE0ZyFTN3Cmt6g/s49/CastleOfIllusion_Idling.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="49" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PczHG_kYAYr2_DjhoM4Pw_reZDKVFsH7IAGgIaFkKwbrfKxX4m9IQ8o3aE4fye_UkkZ7e-iwL3Q24Y3U8HkidS19PWEojL8AQTzsQqhXw3Ba4sQI_60QerBmqB4sLD9v05nykcdxkzobNmK91IQM1_DZEqortk-RtHU9QFcGSnAQJE0ZyFTN3Cmt6g/s1600/CastleOfIllusion_Idling.gif" width="49" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERCH_Nqi9zwsKlGGBRLUm9VfJ8ul04M0TzoeUk74kmra8MOyKSL5voY9-6Lmg_unYQl2GPwaCggtLZKLJLXzN97o1PkxruXIDPnXnBMBybc3ehPlL-tTWL2AnBhjnipN34plMvhRbyb1tLApU2kSa4X-npVCXH1U7i3XLzQuXbsMwRTQ2BlpNYcQMsA/s59/TheMagicalQuest_Mickey-Sprite.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="52" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERCH_Nqi9zwsKlGGBRLUm9VfJ8ul04M0TzoeUk74kmra8MOyKSL5voY9-6Lmg_unYQl2GPwaCggtLZKLJLXzN97o1PkxruXIDPnXnBMBybc3ehPlL-tTWL2AnBhjnipN34plMvhRbyb1tLApU2kSa4X-npVCXH1U7i3XLzQuXbsMwRTQ2BlpNYcQMsA/s1600/TheMagicalQuest_Mickey-Sprite.png" width="52" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">While Mickey's character design is solid, and I like the different victory poses based on the outfit he wore when it occurred, it would've been nice if he had a brief animation for whenever you left him idling for a bit, but he doesn't (not even in the sequels with his updated design). Compared to anime Mickey swaying back and forth in Sega's 1990 Disney classic <i>I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro </i></span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><i>Daibōken</i>/<i>Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i>, it is a step backward in this regard.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FWzYEEYqXRgQEPm5Kmq4BDQc8OFKDczsYse6umWUIyG_nnnFNFg9u-tyTx1N-_mci7QexcaiiGrZyWO6n3teuY9ycj4SKQXfOAubeReleRIrTPU7VXJgDpIkVpsHy1si58czqXjV8RQgAxxQJoq6Jl3WaV7mQMUS3oR1n0fJBr8liPjSwTr4ysVEFQ/s378/CastleOfIllusion_Slideshow.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FWzYEEYqXRgQEPm5Kmq4BDQc8OFKDczsYse6umWUIyG_nnnFNFg9u-tyTx1N-_mci7QexcaiiGrZyWO6n3teuY9ycj4SKQXfOAubeReleRIrTPU7VXJgDpIkVpsHy1si58czqXjV8RQgAxxQJoq6Jl3WaV7mQMUS3oR1n0fJBr8liPjSwTr4ysVEFQ/s16000/CastleOfIllusion_Slideshow.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Fun fact: Emiko Yamamoto, who designed and coordinated <i>Castle of Illusion</i> and directed its 16-bit sequel <i>World of Illusion</i> as well as <i>QuackShot starring Donald Duck</i>/<i>I Love Donald Duck: Guruzia Ou no Hihou</i>, would go on to act as senior producer for Sun L's <i>Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3</i> half a decade later</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Compared to the Disney mascot's first outing on Sega's 16-bit console (often cited as one of the best Disney games ever, if not the <b>best</b> one of all), though, <i>The Magical Quest</i> does a suffer a bit by comparison; even though <i>Castle of Illusion</i> is on the simpler side of things that's part of what gives it its beauty making for, in my opinion, a more fun and balanced platformer brimming with Disney charm and still holds up remarkably well.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6zwcoOZGQZfUUetFdR1twWpYdkN7Wsf5fUxdrhTw6UT_-qUVHIY6iJYAp9F0IuNLtTozoUxfSKMRc2seq7zassUafa7dPyArMkKp5GrL_zB7RzefnPoo1QDdXTFGiW-Y7GU5cnBI9EmQU0PR-d4IGZoRGCzQ-zpz6SOSG9QMCaH-7GZ-ALhZaXbuMg/s383/TheMagicalQuest_MagicCarpet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6zwcoOZGQZfUUetFdR1twWpYdkN7Wsf5fUxdrhTw6UT_-qUVHIY6iJYAp9F0IuNLtTozoUxfSKMRc2seq7zassUafa7dPyArMkKp5GrL_zB7RzefnPoo1QDdXTFGiW-Y7GU5cnBI9EmQU0PR-d4IGZoRGCzQ-zpz6SOSG9QMCaH-7GZ-ALhZaXbuMg/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_MagicCarpet.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4l7-gkHBH9BWbzNXsR7uWWOhduL0xuRS40gECGWNJiU1PKifz55mvK60KxUe0Lo1v11uTeMD3oFVsBky-Gwv4Gb0RJEWr6SgeOHeORo2YTsotpHeMT-Z62g6r_ls6pK8E8kS6wWL4jboBazxDFgbedeDT49W4t9cejh6mFKVHmzx7ToSuPz1wPDGcw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Torches.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4l7-gkHBH9BWbzNXsR7uWWOhduL0xuRS40gECGWNJiU1PKifz55mvK60KxUe0Lo1v11uTeMD3oFVsBky-Gwv4Gb0RJEWr6SgeOHeORo2YTsotpHeMT-Z62g6r_ls6pK8E8kS6wWL4jboBazxDFgbedeDT49W4t9cejh6mFKVHmzx7ToSuPz1wPDGcw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Torches.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Precariously gliding down on a magic carpet ride | Right: When it just hits the winged torch enemy that its fire had been snuffed out</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">Of the quality <i>Mickey Mouse</i> platformers created during the '90s, I do personally consider <i>The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse</i> to be one of the weaker ones compared to its sequels (of which I played <i>The Great Circus Mystery</i> first), <i>Castle of Illusion</i>, <i>World of Illusion</i>, and the Genesis version of Traveller's Tales' <i>Mickey Mania</i>, but on its own merits I still think it's a solidly enjoyable game with a nicely magical premise and good dose of challenge on the normal and hard difficulty modes that it doesn't veer too much on the easy category like in most Disney Capcom games. I think if I played the original SNES version (or the Game Boy Advance port with Minnie in it) back when I was a whole lot younger than 21, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more or held it in high regard, but as it is, I'm glad I caught up with it eventually and was largely pleased with Capcom's efforts. 😃</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51mSmzobpjUiKxQ7Ui_bY_EN_8L8AAhti9vHp_acztTLpHW9j5YHl72syzWCCL_11O6o4GXQfD2kqrpawvtWDuzAllrR0iDTsw6zIdQiBReV8MT_iWqmw80qeJ2vHEfOIhcTnDBmvvArkpG3fBuopj0f8Y17LlKEmOJCFTGixCtWfqNmU8CRHC_XJ2A/s383/DisneysAladdin_Agrabah.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="383" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51mSmzobpjUiKxQ7Ui_bY_EN_8L8AAhti9vHp_acztTLpHW9j5YHl72syzWCCL_11O6o4GXQfD2kqrpawvtWDuzAllrR0iDTsw6zIdQiBReV8MT_iWqmw80qeJ2vHEfOIhcTnDBmvvArkpG3fBuopj0f8Y17LlKEmOJCFTGixCtWfqNmU8CRHC_XJ2A/w200-h149/DisneysAladdin_Agrabah.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoFDUUthdMWQB-Yiak5Ik5m1DFDJ9qY_Y3N667mKip9GeVlY4Bsy4HyW987oSx9hq8q4vCP_4VEEQ5EmagqfYE-s3R3YGtYJIkQbLOUyBFRAIr0el_hUx03AQzzbIW8n3hVORyMPkbiWgjGv8Q4OddBaRvRfxYAfUuds2k_hDudCgZRc3TkeGzb5Lvw/s383/DisneysAladdin_Gliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="383" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoFDUUthdMWQB-Yiak5Ik5m1DFDJ9qY_Y3N667mKip9GeVlY4Bsy4HyW987oSx9hq8q4vCP_4VEEQ5EmagqfYE-s3R3YGtYJIkQbLOUyBFRAIr0el_hUx03AQzzbIW8n3hVORyMPkbiWgjGv8Q4OddBaRvRfxYAfUuds2k_hDudCgZRc3TkeGzb5Lvw/w200-h149/DisneysAladdin_Gliding.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">In the past I would have lumped <i>The Magical Quest</i> above <i>Disney's Aladdin</i> in terms of 16-bit Disney Capcom gaming, but over time I've leaned more towards that aforementioned classic due to its flexibly polished and nimbly smooth controls, replay value based on how many red gems you collect when playing it in one sitting, great recreations of the movie's iconic songs, sublime color palette, and consistently enjoyable gameplay in spite of how short and easy it is.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURJROOYfjyOMckiSDc0_CpBE0VX5ADz1npEEYKoI4MJ1pz_DzVvprjhIuVZrYUx79ccCHBXzFYN7BcusI1b0uT_bFmuXOe9BpWiU5HKmnMp5Fvp7njBbKPeIWWDDCNiJnOVS0KW5zQJb0Q5dppO1izjFObb_lmyL5YCNabVdIIXsYWB6VjwWn2Ksziw/s383/TheMagicalQuest_Bat-Rematch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURJROOYfjyOMckiSDc0_CpBE0VX5ADz1npEEYKoI4MJ1pz_DzVvprjhIuVZrYUx79ccCHBXzFYN7BcusI1b0uT_bFmuXOe9BpWiU5HKmnMp5Fvp7njBbKPeIWWDDCNiJnOVS0KW5zQJb0Q5dppO1izjFObb_lmyL5YCNabVdIIXsYWB6VjwWn2Ksziw/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_Bat-Rematch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_9Ur4-iXX71SxrAupse_Sp-ifjU87YrWeE3PVTL_CTgs_PPd72x0Xm9Z2fHdrX7SrCzbButsQn8Mz6G3epZF05lDSNBiI7kESU1B14o2mU3lnB3Vm-_tzgVE4MFxu5iQ8zAIMsiLHCz95N8Sfq_iZ0IQJ8jwz-ZKelyBJM5HgQ2y8LWfUUtThfBg-w/s383/TheMagicalQuest_EmperorPete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_9Ur4-iXX71SxrAupse_Sp-ifjU87YrWeE3PVTL_CTgs_PPd72x0Xm9Z2fHdrX7SrCzbButsQn8Mz6G3epZF05lDSNBiI7kESU1B14o2mU3lnB3Vm-_tzgVE4MFxu5iQ8zAIMsiLHCz95N8Sfq_iZ0IQJ8jwz-ZKelyBJM5HgQ2y8LWfUUtThfBg-w/w200-h155/TheMagicalQuest_EmperorPete.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Bat again, the only difference is that you've become stronger since the last battle with him | Right: Don't let Emperor Pete's towering stature and massive girth deter you, you can take him!</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">If you own a Nintendo 16-bit console, I recommend playing it if you'd like to see how Mickey fared in his first foray on the system or if you'd just like to play a reasonably enjoyable game with good humble beginnings, just do not walk in expecting the highest of challenge or absolute perfection even. I think Capcom did a good job with their first Nintendo 16-bit Disney venue, incorporating an appropriate level of magic and charm to the proceedings.</span></div><div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMlybJLqukLwrKCRiM-m19jUT_onKQWNwi3qx6wm_wK3u2WCRrMQ5JONJ0waqBFnAJCdCfpDWXXYBxnj03PB8dhI7zhi-SdnD1d_1KsWOUy91ckEgmy6nqjaEMLtpIdxoy0jIXXpss7IPuf_xJXXPInUXpD3i2H1a8MpBkhGejOhfY-ZO8usbejGPw/s304/TheMagicalQuest_End.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="304" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMlybJLqukLwrKCRiM-m19jUT_onKQWNwi3qx6wm_wK3u2WCRrMQ5JONJ0waqBFnAJCdCfpDWXXYBxnj03PB8dhI7zhi-SdnD1d_1KsWOUy91ckEgmy6nqjaEMLtpIdxoy0jIXXpss7IPuf_xJXXPInUXpD3i2H1a8MpBkhGejOhfY-ZO8usbejGPw/s1600/TheMagicalQuest_End.png" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><b>My Personal Score: 7.5/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRz6wJMlN4RM9u_MErt6BVYX4eOMrmjTFvFv36Pj3w1b5GSFRnzIm63UiCoyze06ts8wOW6DZj7no6Ht9YHgugdQO-lFQhYVII2OTxI9OYSnuJ4r-DEPazeVQI0Fg76PGmkE5IBvRmvKYFhMynhc58zuNff9B_qjgRUM_pSltUnG0o_SuucyyyUZqyQ/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRz6wJMlN4RM9u_MErt6BVYX4eOMrmjTFvFv36Pj3w1b5GSFRnzIm63UiCoyze06ts8wOW6DZj7no6Ht9YHgugdQO-lFQhYVII2OTxI9OYSnuJ4r-DEPazeVQI0Fg76PGmkE5IBvRmvKYFhMynhc58zuNff9B_qjgRUM_pSltUnG0o_SuucyyyUZqyQ/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdSe0CoaOPf1o-0dGLjU2P24Q0eb8s58qgrecxA-F9gNZ54TIiZZvMSlk4B01R7PzphzPpAPhX16G1Nr1yzP2uW6ytUbo-Us_tWo0Mve-VIV9Ce2Y-ieoq2iyNZCVvyslBHMJu_GDwZYP42vcgU9djxw82udjD_uAcCBhtbT9rwBEAyDVJxwYsxLsoA/s130/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdSe0CoaOPf1o-0dGLjU2P24Q0eb8s58qgrecxA-F9gNZ54TIiZZvMSlk4B01R7PzphzPpAPhX16G1Nr1yzP2uW6ytUbo-Us_tWo0Mve-VIV9Ce2Y-ieoq2iyNZCVvyslBHMJu_GDwZYP42vcgU9djxw82udjD_uAcCBhtbT9rwBEAyDVJxwYsxLsoA/s1600/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a></div></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Originally I reviewed this game on December of 2012 (ten years ago) and gave it an 8 out of 10, but with this review I feel like I've done the game a proper justice with a better grasp on research and thorough sense of well-thought out articulation... besides which, my old review is very amateurish compared to my standards of reviewing as I got older (like a lot of my reviews from my younger years, I can't even <b>read</b> it!). 😓 I'm way better off with how I'm reviewing games nowadays. 😔 <b><u>10/15/23 Update:</u></b> So I've decided to delete it, I'm sorry if there <b>were</b> people who liked it, but I'm doing this for my own good.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Irrelevant to video games: at the beginning of the month I watched on YouTube (while it was free to watch) the Leslie Nielsen comedy <i>Wrongfully Accused</i> which was written by frequent Nielsen collaborator Pat Proft (of <i>The Naked Gun</i> fame) in his only directorial effort which spoofed Andrew Davis' <i>The Fugitive</i> among other films. So, my overall thoughts on it was that it was okay for the most part, there were a few jokes that I felt were too much (do not take a shot any time the movie's title is namedropped, and it does date itself with it parodying moments from other movies that were popular at the time) and at points there was crude CGI work. But let's focus on positives: Nielsen is still incredibly funny, as usual, his commitment to physical comedy is remarkable given he was in his seventies (RIP legend), I found the opening credit sequence to be hilarious (Lambchop even makes a cameo, RIP Shari Lewis, sorry you weren't credited in this film), Richard Crenna did his best Tommy Lee Jones impression from <i>The Fugitive</i>, I was surprised to see Bill Conti (of <i>Rocky</i> of <i>The Karate Kid</i> fame) as composer as I found the music with its serious tone to be quite good (despite being juxtaposed with funny slapstick), Nielsen and Kelly LeBrock have an okay chemistry, and even though I admit that I found a lot of the humor to be juvenile or stupid I thought there was an earnest quality about them due the fact that the movie was made during noncynical times (how I <b>wish</b> the 2020's were not so cynical a time period to live in) which at least made them amusing (to me). There were genuinely funny moments, though: the aforementioned opening concert scene, a character subduing someone with the "first draft of <i>Titanic</i>" (a large ream of paper), Nielsen being chased by a sentient train (that at one point goes "peek-a-boo" which is monumentally silly), and the muted news channel gag (probably one of my favorite jokes from the film, even if it's just a sight gag it was cathartic because they're all bad news today), I even recognized a gag that would be used in David Silverman's <i>The Simpsons Movie</i> (making me wonder if Matt Groening and company saw <i>Wrongfully Accused</i> and took inspiration for that gag). In the end, I found it watchable and okay, but as far as '90s Leslie Nielsen comedy movies go, I preferred Mel Brooks' <i>Dracula: Dead and Loving It</i> from when I watched it back in May.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>The Magical Quest</i>,</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>you earned it!!!! </b>🥳</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;"><b>--------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tpmiO0gc44Rm9QTUp63FX-Tfu-7_tI9MlPgeVI7-PtMTammNoACicJIXxR8cpbqSNrO-WkhLBHGw41Ge2OGKSCIBmqahZ-iw3vjbT-TGJAMoIcDaPTEK0AqMA-7AZSr3h6S8zMcTCLE81FQEWOINpBjJwJu5Xoyt9SB_MwgcZEPg6_kdTCAgFwag_g/s62/TheMagicalQuest_Shrug.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="62" data-original-width="56" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tpmiO0gc44Rm9QTUp63FX-Tfu-7_tI9MlPgeVI7-PtMTammNoACicJIXxR8cpbqSNrO-WkhLBHGw41Ge2OGKSCIBmqahZ-iw3vjbT-TGJAMoIcDaPTEK0AqMA-7AZSr3h6S8zMcTCLE81FQEWOINpBjJwJu5Xoyt9SB_MwgcZEPg6_kdTCAgFwag_g/s1600/TheMagicalQuest_Shrug.png" width="56" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">You can shrug at us all you want, Mickey,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhpg7IuP8etDkZy6v9O3B0X6_ddfLABXpBr7v9tllxlKPmcJCAkCv84g7Jgr9kMgkupG8T1n3GkHrkaulHmp-n1lb7fbTBecKTF_BYaga__9fba-23JoquS82gThYwTqtSe3pmQj9iTXvSoBXI8JaPn6up2rwcGDZtZUF_UBLJI5D5_al8HApaWcKgw/s43/FinalFantasyMysticQuest_BenjaminShrug.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="26" data-original-width="43" height="26" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhpg7IuP8etDkZy6v9O3B0X6_ddfLABXpBr7v9tllxlKPmcJCAkCv84g7Jgr9kMgkupG8T1n3GkHrkaulHmp-n1lb7fbTBecKTF_BYaga__9fba-23JoquS82gThYwTqtSe3pmQj9iTXvSoBXI8JaPn6up2rwcGDZtZUF_UBLJI5D5_al8HApaWcKgw/s1600/FinalFantasyMysticQuest_BenjaminShrug.gif" width="43" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: georgia;">it'll never be as iconic as the Benjamin shrug.</span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-10168863112237675722022-11-24T23:25:00.002-06:002023-01-08T20:11:40.241-06:00Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken (SFC) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">🍰 <b>Received: March 5th, 2020 </b>🍰<b> Written: November 21st-24th, 2022 </b></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">🍰</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-MA8RhWwwwu26tsj9EJx1BSmISy5qwaDBGPuZuZKNwJ5TySUERemss9Ix_lmQR1lxHJhqAZrBR6JbWWiTWJvQnmvcyz5NWczxkFp-2349iSavsWux3qx8Z9P-NmksY-H2ozTiGSGY33hCObGcJBFz7ttQ9GpVW2XzVjks3Vpvp9yJ6BjrtS032izMQ/s354/FlyingHero_Title.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-MA8RhWwwwu26tsj9EJx1BSmISy5qwaDBGPuZuZKNwJ5TySUERemss9Ix_lmQR1lxHJhqAZrBR6JbWWiTWJvQnmvcyz5NWczxkFp-2349iSavsWux3qx8Z9P-NmksY-H2ozTiGSGY33hCObGcJBFz7ttQ9GpVW2XzVjks3Vpvp9yJ6BjrtS032izMQ/s16000/FlyingHero_Title.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Year: 1992 | Developed by: Sting | </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Published by: SOFEL |</span> <span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers alike, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it, and I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. 😃 Here is a quirky one for today.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx5qq-4G0VePITQCYHZiKbvcYKO4A5TEYp9I_ZiroaT4PcWlRCZHB6QrUGYSM3onwsgEec49DkkPE9QwTyzEYzYVDldvEs6p4ZVwvuxJFd5oOiRbKvswG16NBpaNGsE-6ZUZH4FxkqjUO7ivkhox1KvVjZZYAdLFlD6rRAnIOijhN8x3_BAW2sS_KQg/s280/Sting_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="26" data-original-width="280" height="26" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx5qq-4G0VePITQCYHZiKbvcYKO4A5TEYp9I_ZiroaT4PcWlRCZHB6QrUGYSM3onwsgEec49DkkPE9QwTyzEYzYVDldvEs6p4ZVwvuxJFd5oOiRbKvswG16NBpaNGsE-6ZUZH4FxkqjUO7ivkhox1KvVjZZYAdLFlD6rRAnIOijhN8x3_BAW2sS_KQg/s1600/Sting_Logo.png" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><b>Sting</b> (sometimes stylized as "St!ng") is a Tokyo-based Japanese video game developer that was founded on February 7th, 1989, which is known for creating the <i>Baroque</i> and <i>Dept. Heaven</i> RPG franchises. They got their start with NEC PC Engine shoot'em ups <i>Psycho Chaser</i> and <i>Override</i> (which got a Sharp X68000 conversion as <i>Last Battalion</i>) as well as the baseball simulator <i>Naxat Stadium</i>, and on the same format they would make a port for Toaplan's <i>Tatsujin</i>. For a good while, too, until 1997's <i>Solid Runner</i>, Sting found themselves at home helping develop games for Nintendo's Super Famicom console, of which only three of them* saw a North American SNES release.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">* Their inaugural 1991 Super Famicom game </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Hakunetsu Pro Yakyuu Ganba League</i> as <i>Extra Innings</i> (localized by Sony Imagesoft), <i>Kentou-Ou World Champion</i> as <i>TKO Super Championship Boxing</i> (localized by SOFEL), and the Taito-released licensed SNES game <i>The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates</i> which got reprogrammed and edited for the Super Famicom a year later as </span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Yōkai Buster: Ruka no Daibōken</i> at the request of Kadokawa Shoten after creating the mascot character <i>Yōkai Buster Ruka</i></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;"> for the <i>Marukatsu Super Famicom</i> magazine</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5nsFogWh-NY5g9Rrxpry37Pn8laurnvhjsbaLCTFgECaeNi1ZncUyzvlLxemjB62biL5la4LFHcIfH_N_Gjk-W729Wg5DXwn-6JfHrM7tWZGjVHwpvyKDJuvMf_6_smDC-806Ayk3QCsxFcKFph9_rz_g3yhOgWZfY-DgJi7x3w3DntNoYNLN1o0jQ/s547/FlyingHero_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5nsFogWh-NY5g9Rrxpry37Pn8laurnvhjsbaLCTFgECaeNi1ZncUyzvlLxemjB62biL5la4LFHcIfH_N_Gjk-W729Wg5DXwn-6JfHrM7tWZGjVHwpvyKDJuvMf_6_smDC-806Ayk3QCsxFcKFph9_rz_g3yhOgWZfY-DgJi7x3w3DntNoYNLN1o0jQ/s16000/FlyingHero_Cover.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">On December 18th, 1992, <b>SOFEL</b> released Sting's fourth Super Famicom effort </span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</i></b> (with the subtitle roughly translating to "Bugyuru's Great Adventure") which was planned by Kazunari Yonemitsu, programmed by Shinichi Abe and Satoru Koshu, directed by Teiji Izawa (who also directed <i>Kentou-Ou World Champion</i> that year), with assistant direction by Masanori Iwamoto and Hiroshi Matsuzawa. This game was released exclusively in Japan.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NIlR5DroUXcwEm2ALDXNbZUuRsUkFMYYsF4he5rKIJ6C7JbCN1B_SbtMvG3CTHTgh8yI9yCHO4R---CMq4EL0zVD__1TU5AkW4DJrX4Of_WI0Qw8FM6Nfpo36VNe1yXqxBe-dpqY-0pCq3aAbnq_Zyj30xMvxEpKyfZJiwAslZBN61VbA7CpoRcCpw/s211/Sofel_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="54" data-original-width="211" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NIlR5DroUXcwEm2ALDXNbZUuRsUkFMYYsF4he5rKIJ6C7JbCN1B_SbtMvG3CTHTgh8yI9yCHO4R---CMq4EL0zVD__1TU5AkW4DJrX4Of_WI0Qw8FM6Nfpo36VNe1yXqxBe-dpqY-0pCq3aAbnq_Zyj30xMvxEpKyfZJiwAslZBN61VbA7CpoRcCpw/s1600/Sofel_Logo.png" width="211" /></a></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">SOFEL (originating from SOFtware Engineering Laboratory) was a company created in 1979 with the purpose of providing "COMPS" software to its major clients. From 1987 to 1994 SOFEL would act as publisher for Nintendo gaming platforms, largely for Japan but occasionally also released certain titles for the North American market; notable among them SOFEL's own <i>$1,000,000 Kid: Maboroshi no Teiou Hen</i>/<i>Casino Kid</i>, <i>The Money Game II: Kabutoch</i></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><i>ō no Kiseki</i>/<i>Wall Street Kid</i>, and the <i>Monster Maker</i> RPG series.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8_WCGBafZwWCR8lr4lxKO4M2EAk_wvkpw-g7Ar2sW6vNOw3VkmYBLWQ2O8I_KYh8pGo-Ou5Om94k_6qXNpYjlhdRelfGZH2aFo9t5lrK3ouyi1_Y5qt4jOkODBab1EFl83OESCit49C9KzLTx77V3W5TES9kj2FauzaygkqYQtb1weIfGiiQyFeKdw/s389/MrNutz_Clouds+OgraoumPapas+MeanStreets.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8_WCGBafZwWCR8lr4lxKO4M2EAk_wvkpw-g7Ar2sW6vNOw3VkmYBLWQ2O8I_KYh8pGo-Ou5Om94k_6qXNpYjlhdRelfGZH2aFo9t5lrK3ouyi1_Y5qt4jOkODBab1EFl83OESCit49C9KzLTx77V3W5TES9kj2FauzaygkqYQtb1weIfGiiQyFeKdw/s16000/MrNutz_Clouds+OgraoumPapas+MeanStreets.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Japanese gamers got to experience the mad genius of Pierre Adane and Philippe Dessoly with <i>Mr. Nutz</i> for the first time, for the last time</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Outside of their own fare they have published games developed by other companies, such as the American version of Salio's Game Boy game <i>Uoozu</i>, <i>Fish Dude</i>, Cyclone System's <i>Chitei Senkō Bazolder</i> on the Famicom, and their penultimate release comprised of the Super Famicom publication of Ocean Software's cult classic <i>Mr. Nutz</i>.</span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"> SOFEL is technically still active, but they have not released any new game in the past twenty-eight years.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3BhIbMjHImZ-dORVNmD3HLoFiWDgxT89tcnIC4nz4hDEx-IQ0I2nXLNjpcpdV22_QgtWZRFgyrHt2ucFPzsCH7wu8Wx9_o2Vd40tASnFeL35mIJ8Bb7J_ZhDkwn2gAiEcf5_X81Wb92bkc19ZEWvhrkx8Z2z5e_CJOsk2s_trrrJMgGOcGf1DWREKQ/s1325/Google_Translating-FlyingHero.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1325" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3BhIbMjHImZ-dORVNmD3HLoFiWDgxT89tcnIC4nz4hDEx-IQ0I2nXLNjpcpdV22_QgtWZRFgyrHt2ucFPzsCH7wu8Wx9_o2Vd40tASnFeL35mIJ8Bb7J_ZhDkwn2gAiEcf5_X81Wb92bkc19ZEWvhrkx8Z2z5e_CJOsk2s_trrrJMgGOcGf1DWREKQ/w400-h165/Google_Translating-FlyingHero.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed (and cropped) while on Google Translate</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">For this review I've gone through the effort of translating the kanji for the opening and ending cutscenes, difficulty settings, and staff (スタッフ) via Google Translate thanks to the scribble option, being very careful to accurately match it piece by piece in order to get the information I needed since I noticed that it was scarce elsewhere. I feel happy and accomplished for doing this, but I will say it was quite a bit of work (even though <i>Flying Hero</i> is not all that story-oriented). 😄</span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">The following is based on my translation effort (with very minimal improvisation):</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wJoXs_vu9qqZ3tfY1c1kt_ZD-0bK3AsqOifeUBLdlloEh_5_wDTF-lJQBiI2bhcYqbyxZXbgV2zgfTCLnmQ8UxEdGXa8cTtZc_MoXN7BXkHvMV5xIzFP4t2xspd_5l__Yw3p_KGA-mt_v2Kt3grYNzL0u0axf1qEqLGl917gWqt8pxdZNJn_I_PT1Q/s194/FlyingHero_Sky.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="194" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wJoXs_vu9qqZ3tfY1c1kt_ZD-0bK3AsqOifeUBLdlloEh_5_wDTF-lJQBiI2bhcYqbyxZXbgV2zgfTCLnmQ8UxEdGXa8cTtZc_MoXN7BXkHvMV5xIzFP4t2xspd_5l__Yw3p_KGA-mt_v2Kt3grYNzL0u0axf1qEqLGl917gWqt8pxdZNJn_I_PT1Q/s1600/FlyingHero_Sky.png" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSMRf4a-J-o_SilxT5WLkwX0w_gFY5ENTiQuD7PSYrxyBITsM-ss3f_LVOFK0OTyabPeA_GLvveRcnUECCR2YNMbirD4EyGCQU0utQn3atEFtDmvBlZMauaK3vlRyRZbumXQlZAVs4Othgt7OeaNi28e77ms2gfDfIjdiOj_mCu0q1A9gYcvJfNtEXQ/s194/FlyingHero_Pao-Chan+Bugyuru.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="194" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSMRf4a-J-o_SilxT5WLkwX0w_gFY5ENTiQuD7PSYrxyBITsM-ss3f_LVOFK0OTyabPeA_GLvveRcnUECCR2YNMbirD4EyGCQU0utQn3atEFtDmvBlZMauaK3vlRyRZbumXQlZAVs4Othgt7OeaNi28e77ms2gfDfIjdiOj_mCu0q1A9gYcvJfNtEXQ/s1600/FlyingHero_Pao-Chan+Bugyuru.png" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Bugyuru and Pao-chan were good friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">But we fought sometimes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">I got into a fight that day too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Bugyuru:</b> (I'm sorry, I wonder if I was wrong...)</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFbLGjj2p_9vCKUrnyPoyE09-PGKABXZpoYtxWyIMRUDW1hs7RS62_-3zMQZsQGOZR3nWx2zF6YYn_hwySFUCubiOsRvK8zwUpnoA-luW1oRkU9NLdKSwFlaLUAtkA5zjlO6OWzKNQlfE4nZMFjQnfy0JaFtjysd95gksEW-FukA-T5Q1M3-HNLgQUA/s194/FlyingHero_StolenAway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="194" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFbLGjj2p_9vCKUrnyPoyE09-PGKABXZpoYtxWyIMRUDW1hs7RS62_-3zMQZsQGOZR3nWx2zF6YYn_hwySFUCubiOsRvK8zwUpnoA-luW1oRkU9NLdKSwFlaLUAtkA5zjlO6OWzKNQlfE4nZMFjQnfy0JaFtjysd95gksEW-FukA-T5Q1M3-HNLgQUA/s1600/FlyingHero_StolenAway.png" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuNRhhlDSgSa2s7Ku6jE_sm6uKL8BCMgHlGJ-EWqY2mdWMikVu-XXkDMgUA60yMHWIQE-hzxu6jyK1jw97G8yqw8xNEiZiQXSh0CmcNI9grdn55rIfyIw51UnwQK4cKft0h6dDoQIIyzQaJUM2IJUNAQEuevQ2vqr7LPGhD_Ioa916YYx9ohz8xLjlw/s194/FlyingHero_BugyurusResolve.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="194" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuNRhhlDSgSa2s7Ku6jE_sm6uKL8BCMgHlGJ-EWqY2mdWMikVu-XXkDMgUA60yMHWIQE-hzxu6jyK1jw97G8yqw8xNEiZiQXSh0CmcNI9grdn55rIfyIw51UnwQK4cKft0h6dDoQIIyzQaJUM2IJUNAQEuevQ2vqr7LPGhD_Ioa916YYx9ohz8xLjlw/s1600/FlyingHero_BugyurusResolve.png" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Demon King:</b> "Noyuhohohohohoho"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Pao-chan:</b> "Help me!!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Bugyuru:</b> "Pao-chan!!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM0QDAvDf0CulJr55wn2KqNJDrZWUWnq7XzF4wFNjULPB-Gafl0RApYTrjhThkROFxPuw1vA-QwpddqB0TcKBmLs9YFEimeByrNhZKxzCOrSHlff4ZVUdpQpyUyPn0Bxi65-OCItjh92e2IGH4emoOJJCroz1rw04ksJwBYv7TtAw_qb9arj9kAb1aQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM0QDAvDf0CulJr55wn2KqNJDrZWUWnq7XzF4wFNjULPB-Gafl0RApYTrjhThkROFxPuw1vA-QwpddqB0TcKBmLs9YFEimeByrNhZKxzCOrSHlff4ZVUdpQpyUyPn0Bxi65-OCItjh92e2IGH4emoOJJCroz1rw04ksJwBYv7TtAw_qb9arj9kAb1aQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJpCpqQRN3WGTEvxrLtqIhNDK7QacizZatWWkLfkw3iDNfxdAkFFwMEuOMokklyxJQg2jptgM4xxG6CoSe8i-SaCcaoO-xLt3CV1AaF5geXA0qXcM2zV_tvsDdhB6rvRKx8Enp7hQM5LZouMthSLmv2F5ycHNcbwyzju0yZA_gD_d8o2mtBI_5wOPiw/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-GlidingMonkeys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJpCpqQRN3WGTEvxrLtqIhNDK7QacizZatWWkLfkw3iDNfxdAkFFwMEuOMokklyxJQg2jptgM4xxG6CoSe8i-SaCcaoO-xLt3CV1AaF5geXA0qXcM2zV_tvsDdhB6rvRKx8Enp7hQM5LZouMthSLmv2F5ycHNcbwyzju0yZA_gD_d8o2mtBI_5wOPiw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-GlidingMonkeys.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The arduous quest to rescue Pao-chan begins now | Right: Glider monkeys</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">In the vertical scrolling cute'em up </span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><i>Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</i> you take control of Bugyuru, a white ball creature with wings adorned with an aviator pilot's helmet and tennis shoes whom you can move around and maneuver around in every inch and corner of the screen. By holding down the B button you can shoot an unlimited array of firepower towards your foes, in one of four different directions:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscYLJ-nfWICnNbHjYNo8UOJYNjYcU6CHto9VOqR6dd_3C_k6YGYlddaBMufWexjgNlCjwAdYv27uL78_JfxT-UBSyqusSK-nSR2rFQwE4pHOb-fLYCClX9ciQR1qj6GprjkFewLi15Dq-gRJeCjSn9cDgjEFOFFsei5dsjSkOyTWwLk8L5W4zA5MNAA/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-Crows.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscYLJ-nfWICnNbHjYNo8UOJYNjYcU6CHto9VOqR6dd_3C_k6YGYlddaBMufWexjgNlCjwAdYv27uL78_JfxT-UBSyqusSK-nSR2rFQwE4pHOb-fLYCClX9ciQR1qj6GprjkFewLi15Dq-gRJeCjSn9cDgjEFOFFsei5dsjSkOyTWwLk8L5W4zA5MNAA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-Crows.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-RXgiBufm-a6f6dVrMT62fZ3Ncdw4i6SISncJyrOc_Mz3JekuPEeOGUg86k8O9kYWEkN0xlCj_AIAoqTWY_jDQobWO0JwuuZhc2W0rQMCXDzkb3fsBWyAtxiAuOj3t-MEb-YOR_P1xo1W9LRarXULwEqTt5gr5_DnacV2Xp1YVWOQ9cILzB_2zbLYw/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-Bats.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-RXgiBufm-a6f6dVrMT62fZ3Ncdw4i6SISncJyrOc_Mz3JekuPEeOGUg86k8O9kYWEkN0xlCj_AIAoqTWY_jDQobWO0JwuuZhc2W0rQMCXDzkb3fsBWyAtxiAuOj3t-MEb-YOR_P1xo1W9LRarXULwEqTt5gr5_DnacV2Xp1YVWOQ9cILzB_2zbLYw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-Bats.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Taking down crows | Right: Taking down a swarm of bats</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">straight ahead by simply holding B, diagonally to the left as you hold the B and left shoulder buttons simultaneously, to the right diagonally by holding the B and right shoulder buttons at the same time, and by holding down both the shoulder buttons and the B button together you'll allow Bugyuru to shoot right behind him (which is ideal in the event that there are enemies sneaking up on you).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuV4TklHAotVDyWwn_ZAD81EVFZ6up_rgM0jH-1yH_6DT1EGscllUVllt07M76qqMLSYurkr9p5Da69Xejy2Cvv7VhuqCK0BaFts7TPgbPXp1AW9NHgDcHKfAleB3qvSpw5DYKs01p7n7QEGd4mWQbAcb_vUTtxbz2iw_qZ0a0vCc3Kjv3Q34uASnnw/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-BatMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuV4TklHAotVDyWwn_ZAD81EVFZ6up_rgM0jH-1yH_6DT1EGscllUVllt07M76qqMLSYurkr9p5Da69Xejy2Cvv7VhuqCK0BaFts7TPgbPXp1AW9NHgDcHKfAleB3qvSpw5DYKs01p7n7QEGd4mWQbAcb_vUTtxbz2iw_qZ0a0vCc3Kjv3Q34uASnnw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-BatMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VqNlG2owMaspzUZirjmsT1ADDoItQAOBtx_2S5Nl0zyDOGI4yT3BIJAI-xIJLLcv3YNf2w84bNKV-L2aaF1L2p0Mzqob1Mdrk_yNpWP09Fu9BLuRBsGLVU4-Funl4SaRTK_4APp4YTzJlCyNZr5V27LVKKykLqsmvIuOQEAg1Z9Efp99vI18X5FJWg/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-Beehives.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VqNlG2owMaspzUZirjmsT1ADDoItQAOBtx_2S5Nl0zyDOGI4yT3BIJAI-xIJLLcv3YNf2w84bNKV-L2aaF1L2p0Mzqob1Mdrk_yNpWP09Fu9BLuRBsGLVU4-Funl4SaRTK_4APp4YTzJlCyNZr5V27LVKKykLqsmvIuOQEAg1Z9Efp99vI18X5FJWg/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-Beehives.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Giant bat | Right: Dispose of those beehives before the bees get a chance to buzz toward you</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">By pressing the Y button you can lob a bomb to easily take out a crowd of enemies or to amass a good deal of damage to a boss battle but be mindful of the number of times you can use them for you have a limited number (which will always reset itself to three after each time you lose a life). And finally with the Select button you can change from one of three speed settings: the default initial speed has Bugyuru fly at his slowest rate, the second speed (and the one that's recommended) has him fly around at a medium rate, and with the third flight setting he'll move around really fast.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQNRCsWAa0h-VXjEIpeZn1NBb_NXr4k4-9wQqk6iRXudq_ATN4Pk4f28qPgm_dB-11SYPcV_TLmiVPudLG3dOQn21wyX4IeqP7DpZmOUi8gJOPlJ515EQFAgw9RIXXRqhgsdDuvXQTL-FbVkR4BjVPgGgDuOLgvqGjuYI4OkicfXe5Poxh2RUO-Qb9g/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-GliderMonkeys+Beetles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQNRCsWAa0h-VXjEIpeZn1NBb_NXr4k4-9wQqk6iRXudq_ATN4Pk4f28qPgm_dB-11SYPcV_TLmiVPudLG3dOQn21wyX4IeqP7DpZmOUi8gJOPlJ515EQFAgw9RIXXRqhgsdDuvXQTL-FbVkR4BjVPgGgDuOLgvqGjuYI4OkicfXe5Poxh2RUO-Qb9g/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-GliderMonkeys+Beetles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOaGPQdnFkq0EpZryocaEgO3OflxOa4bvUhTdnuZ9wUdvGHCmOkBTWqS96JO80dbK_B9Rzl2R6PzC0jnUu01899F-J8xWefevOd7dqY2L24gCIjXie6vrI3ieC94wdapxiP_uGKRKtOoFkChvporY4MDHirhKSAyYQQFN6QLX1DK0-Zn3VT1s0FH1lA/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-AstralBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOaGPQdnFkq0EpZryocaEgO3OflxOa4bvUhTdnuZ9wUdvGHCmOkBTWqS96JO80dbK_B9Rzl2R6PzC0jnUu01899F-J8xWefevOd7dqY2L24gCIjXie6vrI3ieC94wdapxiP_uGKRKtOoFkChvporY4MDHirhKSAyYQQFN6QLX1DK0-Zn3VT1s0FH1lA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-AstralBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: More glider monkeys and stag beetles | Right: First witch battle</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Occasionally there will be balloons that contain powerups that will aid Bugyuru once you shoot at said balloon and touch the icons, and among its contents you will find a pastry to not only increase the potency of your weapon but also augment the number of bombs at your disposal by one after collecting three of them, homing bugs which will unleash the bugs acting as missiles that home in on any enemies around you, and alternate weapons such as lightning bolts, snowballs, and normal projectiles.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW2romj9C4p2MKY_HXZEssajezzf5WsXE6inKmDTdefwrBubvtisJIEOI6xc1FZOjdwzpcmsTMLqqZD0DP-4duRnileUmi06NYT5aRlZXyqhycaTn7GcqoMrFQadj9ItloFVJYAO5rbSJENrWWZ6aWsc405vLjTV9x84vg1iCPl01jXygOaidJ5jkrw/s390/FlyingHero_Act1-Clear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW2romj9C4p2MKY_HXZEssajezzf5WsXE6inKmDTdefwrBubvtisJIEOI6xc1FZOjdwzpcmsTMLqqZD0DP-4duRnileUmi06NYT5aRlZXyqhycaTn7GcqoMrFQadj9ItloFVJYAO5rbSJENrWWZ6aWsc405vLjTV9x84vg1iCPl01jXygOaidJ5jkrw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act1-Clear.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvry9nxZlAi5f8_li5T7-nctq-Cag_1gApnKcCy2ax_dz6vWYtPAsC4RpT67X0MeEXNB8nasarVNScFkdquuzLPk9-Sn_usrLabNtBMwYMwB94DFqjlF1T5sTDrzuyXdkbfu1ne89YdsdTc4GJ98dQRiXJji-3eqr1_5yUWqrw759x-L__YuExzkkrQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act2-GlidingMonkeys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvry9nxZlAi5f8_li5T7-nctq-Cag_1gApnKcCy2ax_dz6vWYtPAsC4RpT67X0MeEXNB8nasarVNScFkdquuzLPk9-Sn_usrLabNtBMwYMwB94DFqjlF1T5sTDrzuyXdkbfu1ne89YdsdTc4GJ98dQRiXJji-3eqr1_5yUWqrw759x-L__YuExzkkrQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act2-GlidingMonkeys.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gratuitous Mode 7 (not that I'm complaining) | Right: Sending the homing bugs in the cave</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">With the augmented powerups also come health supplements, so Bugyuru can withstand more than one bit of damage should an enemy or its projectile come into contact with him, but the drawback to that happening is that the powerups will reduce their effectiveness by one, and fortunately you can take a hit until you're at your lowest. Should you be at your lowest level and you sustain a hit <b>then</b>, you will lose a life and resume from the spot, but if you lose your last life and use up a continue you will begin the current act from the beginning.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixydfALr5_08ln2jggrjYO8wg-A5UnQ-sEaq3mm9LrBiHJ4co6t5bnD1yfO-apoU0oZIDDd4zQBAkbUmrOnkYbmCczXH6jGy4S0wJvncfPmiuKydy8zrPg4pONnTJ_D1p7BSSmnjHuz6A9tLohcHg_u1Lh1Q86f5lJ_cbJ-cuuvVi3Tvusb7w9a3FKQg/s390/FlyingHero_Act2-MonkeyMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixydfALr5_08ln2jggrjYO8wg-A5UnQ-sEaq3mm9LrBiHJ4co6t5bnD1yfO-apoU0oZIDDd4zQBAkbUmrOnkYbmCczXH6jGy4S0wJvncfPmiuKydy8zrPg4pONnTJ_D1p7BSSmnjHuz6A9tLohcHg_u1Lh1Q86f5lJ_cbJ-cuuvVi3Tvusb7w9a3FKQg/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act2-MonkeyMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik432knFGSz2yYcR4oqDBDVg6oJvaAUG8uI0sfZDX-FU9f5cwRcldjANNl04SLv2dQMFuvYRB5aBr9chZnMlro_uxNwYfeuTDbvPaqDyeAe6Wyph0EQzQJIC-uRd6PSihoJjwdw9GzStgrznsSuA7q_19jnBYHxj5OaHBU67xBI-dgVG_noKPedhvLYw/s390/FlyingHero_Act2-CloakedMinions.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik432knFGSz2yYcR4oqDBDVg6oJvaAUG8uI0sfZDX-FU9f5cwRcldjANNl04SLv2dQMFuvYRB5aBr9chZnMlro_uxNwYfeuTDbvPaqDyeAe6Wyph0EQzQJIC-uRd6PSihoJjwdw9GzStgrznsSuA7q_19jnBYHxj5OaHBU67xBI-dgVG_noKPedhvLYw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act2-CloakedMinions.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flexible noodle-bodied monkey impeding your path | Right: Attemped ambush by crows and cloaked minions</span></b></div><i style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Flying Hero</i><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">'s visuals by character designer Koji Ushiku, Motoyoshi Kodo, Yoshihisa Tomita, and Akira Yamagata are abundantly colorful with a good degree of detail and lighthearted flair about them, which make these eight areas pleasing for the eyes to look at. The first act has got a glorious amount of green from both the foliage of the trees and the pasture of the grass as you're initially greeted by a number of birds flying the opposite direction you are, the third act has got a nice brief glimpse of the sandy shoreline of the beach as you largely fly over the blue water with occasional glimpses of palm tree-inhabited islands,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvWxG3N3WozA5_yZMCEggJhnubg_zye1kapXzVvbV0WDtn3ZEtfUYXPtjfshv1E28fwgPtYeb9IjRIBy9wkJOiNhlXRvmpGg1_wfa_KIOqen8T6SwFEgC48YRAvk4uepkp_kARYcv9MvmZftb_PbCjWvAa62PUK1Eno_etD0tP6BQClYyV31GMFTyMQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act2-CatBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvWxG3N3WozA5_yZMCEggJhnubg_zye1kapXzVvbV0WDtn3ZEtfUYXPtjfshv1E28fwgPtYeb9IjRIBy9wkJOiNhlXRvmpGg1_wfa_KIOqen8T6SwFEgC48YRAvk4uepkp_kARYcv9MvmZftb_PbCjWvAa62PUK1Eno_etD0tP6BQClYyV31GMFTyMQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act2-CatBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS-34cZ52purQSq_zWQm-8bS4ZVjFkFiD9whGg2UAPTczPniUEPdtDz1SjvJo2MRO4C57UBfxCLQdL9jSaRq2pWAofJ0eatCg8_UxVPaE0HSA4q2B-5PCpo5mgpgOOXH_GqYqjSibsvGcz4SmyiHOKjN3rYsaquG6Atn54ggSaEnPrcIGRPP_ycTuGg/s390/FlyingHero_Act3-Seagulls.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS-34cZ52purQSq_zWQm-8bS4ZVjFkFiD9whGg2UAPTczPniUEPdtDz1SjvJo2MRO4C57UBfxCLQdL9jSaRq2pWAofJ0eatCg8_UxVPaE0HSA4q2B-5PCpo5mgpgOOXH_GqYqjSibsvGcz4SmyiHOKjN3rYsaquG6Atn54ggSaEnPrcIGRPP_ycTuGg/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act3-Seagulls.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: *GASP* It's a weird-looking cat guardian! </b>🙀<b> | Right: Take out those projectile-spewing seagulls, they're not as harmless as they appear</b></span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">the fourth act is absolutely soothing as it all takes place underwater with absorbing and wavy color layering effects shrouding the entire coral reef as Bugyuru flies (or swims, rather, despite flapping his wings) over underwater temples and is my favorite area of the whole game visually, the fifth act is toy-themed with building blocks abound with the occasional view of the sky below due to the floor window, and the penultimate act takes place in the star-studded space where in the background you'll see a crescent moon sleeping with a night cap partially covered by a blanket, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1q9G6TzRgrxMNODAx9B2iBKlq2mBQCWrnyIT_9LqaWS09vuOqUUtQt_YBjGxyXqeryhAgaDMDPpmx85XCkqdRUW60H2u_pZtI9T28t_TL7vgelxF_UsbQ8nPX4-smxP_yXYXOkAdUofN2mKi_YBLblUJ0p8uDvA-x7i5ZhOvpHtpKSVkGmRTOm7_Qw/s390/FlyingHero_Act3-SinkingPirateShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1q9G6TzRgrxMNODAx9B2iBKlq2mBQCWrnyIT_9LqaWS09vuOqUUtQt_YBjGxyXqeryhAgaDMDPpmx85XCkqdRUW60H2u_pZtI9T28t_TL7vgelxF_UsbQ8nPX4-smxP_yXYXOkAdUofN2mKi_YBLblUJ0p8uDvA-x7i5ZhOvpHtpKSVkGmRTOm7_Qw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act3-SinkingPirateShip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexle0vcS_JMgHF0nR4bUpf-hRg0adijXZugx0rwbXDqXF8wBaJ0pHwsSbP_NgrqqsOODhXWHyxV5iaK0z8GYX9m8TLIMopzF58Htrf0UWoDa87DAsA75-depEazRRzlxuYz9ZM0DhBaVcTlcS0iORbZINKLDgkuyZjvqmvLOybYjG4t46q4TFXiybkw/s390/FlyingHero_Act3-PiratePenguinMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexle0vcS_JMgHF0nR4bUpf-hRg0adijXZugx0rwbXDqXF8wBaJ0pHwsSbP_NgrqqsOODhXWHyxV5iaK0z8GYX9m8TLIMopzF58Htrf0UWoDa87DAsA75-depEazRRzlxuYz9ZM0DhBaVcTlcS0iORbZINKLDgkuyZjvqmvLOybYjG4t46q4TFXiybkw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act3-PiratePenguinMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Abandon ship!" | Right: And now you must face the wrath of the pirate penguin for sinking down his crew, ARRRGH! </b>🐧🏴☠️</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">The eponymous flying hero Bugyuru, designed by </span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Shūichirō Nakamura, has got a simple yet adorably lighthearted charm to him, even if on the surface level he makes me think of Opa-Opa from Sega's <i>Fantasy Zone</i>, another winged character with feet but no hands. I like how expressive he is during the cutscenes and whenever you clear an act (even after losing a life as his eyes bug out and twitches his wing and foot as he falls to the bottom of the screen), and his in-game animation is solid across the board with his wings flapping at different speeds depending on which flight setting you set for Bugyuru. His tennis shoes are inconsistently colored compared to the cover and title design, but that's just a minor nitpick.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGmQmGOvDuJbQSb6vWFx-zZnaU-Hj_0CbuM4KLizYz0rYE03buvXhvIJN56wGilKv1xCwYSg_lWF6jYP4s8Z9xGuK4sp-w52iS1Pskp1IJmzcQxjZjJr6EWHrA7gw_b3C718MX2sqlwnBP-RYOnFT6pfSbEpNYIuLsj4ynfQn2m8fXNfxyF8MvQ85hA/s390/FlyingHero_Act3-SunBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGmQmGOvDuJbQSb6vWFx-zZnaU-Hj_0CbuM4KLizYz0rYE03buvXhvIJN56wGilKv1xCwYSg_lWF6jYP4s8Z9xGuK4sp-w52iS1Pskp1IJmzcQxjZjJr6EWHrA7gw_b3C718MX2sqlwnBP-RYOnFT6pfSbEpNYIuLsj4ynfQn2m8fXNfxyF8MvQ85hA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act3-SunBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P2IhNg3MOPuJZnTBN1tdS0KdE1n9aVRVwZecyvtEq-Ret76t1buRrT00Nn2aCpMNNvaqJZgrPCD08QYDIYG2jD-viUpGzKgHzP9tG0ct8In134gd7z7E5Se0wv8mZ1QsvHGxzbKfo2x5eu2jKOKiSPpxv7H8xgEyfoTc73kS5pWbaYkYITqHnGJovA/s390/FlyingHero_Act3-DefeatedSun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P2IhNg3MOPuJZnTBN1tdS0KdE1n9aVRVwZecyvtEq-Ret76t1buRrT00Nn2aCpMNNvaqJZgrPCD08QYDIYG2jD-viUpGzKgHzP9tG0ct8In134gd7z7E5Se0wv8mZ1QsvHGxzbKfo2x5eu2jKOKiSPpxv7H8xgEyfoTc73kS5pWbaYkYITqHnGJovA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act3-DefeatedSun.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The scorching sun breathes fire towards you | Right: The sun looks very relieved despite being defeated as it sinks below the watery depths</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Among the enemy roster that Bugyuru must contend with are monkeys with wide leaves serving as their gliders (whose expressions change from menacing smiles to upset pouts upon being taken out), bats, crows, cloaked minions, seagulls that spit out projectiles, jellyfish, toy choppers and wind-up tanks, green pterosaurs and red dragonflies, and singular eyeballs shielded by a circling barrier of meteorites, and they are all drawn decently. The bosses you combat against are all largely sized and are interestingly designed, like a giant bat, a cat with only two long legs, a penguin with an eyepatch with a hook on one wing and a sword in another, a large sun appropriately surrounded by flames, a quillback rockfish, a mermaid, and a recurring witch who with each battle will try to attack you in a different manner, and much more.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs0ng8fh4LJBj6zvrdDi87Rbs8AlB3rIVLfjtyib0Kilu2KFKlk0iBm2ZJdLNh4ksmvAnQ4P7qfh991WVFDhf0zNlpTm1C2tR1qgn3K-NOCC2ZsTAZJ8bnYWV3m9AhKoBICjNy_1Og1jf9j-aPqp-fCtRSHyFL-u6q-xx7EmJhYlGdgN5D-rBq8RNtA/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-Start.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs0ng8fh4LJBj6zvrdDi87Rbs8AlB3rIVLfjtyib0Kilu2KFKlk0iBm2ZJdLNh4ksmvAnQ4P7qfh991WVFDhf0zNlpTm1C2tR1qgn3K-NOCC2ZsTAZJ8bnYWV3m9AhKoBICjNy_1Og1jf9j-aPqp-fCtRSHyFL-u6q-xx7EmJhYlGdgN5D-rBq8RNtA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-Start.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0E6gSzasiayE3W4pEsTVns6Xzvixqsp_62elJEnufNI1PZI5HZKQOFrDHFOhzf-A-2xOKuX3p5620GFOZmXqMqf9ym0Utd5RphABDDWauIFWTf-wDrMYGi4BmhojmbMZp65D5iGSVi9Ka-Dk0Y_d6VswmCF1uKKGhhT4GA3Wtj7JkMekzkleUGGKJ6Q/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-SeaMonkeyTemple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0E6gSzasiayE3W4pEsTVns6Xzvixqsp_62elJEnufNI1PZI5HZKQOFrDHFOhzf-A-2xOKuX3p5620GFOZmXqMqf9ym0Utd5RphABDDWauIFWTf-wDrMYGi4BmhojmbMZp65D5iGSVi9Ka-Dk0Y_d6VswmCF1uKKGhhT4GA3Wtj7JkMekzkleUGGKJ6Q/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-SeaMonkeyTemple.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Bugyuru must have a special set of wings for them to not get all soggy despite being submerged underwater, hurray for convenience! </b>😃<b> | Right: Slowly approaching a temple made to worship sea monkeys of the literal variety </b>🐵</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><i>Flying Hero</i> features an abundant amount of Mode 7 rotating and scaling effects, all of which are well-executed: during chunks of the opening cutscene, in the act clear screen as Bugyuru soars closer and closer to the screen until it fades to black, during the first witch battle as she uses an astral projection to lend her more power, the rocky humanoid-like midboss who rotates and ricochets off the side and falls to the abyss upon experiencing defeat, the mermaid's final form as she transforms into a pufferfish whose upper half is its weak spot, and during a couple midboss battles in the penultimate act.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtIdazn_ekAL-3tLHjPfyx1gt-IdaAz8kEp77ukiHPgdSuvHUmtt16VajMGFe_2ZQm3hRL78FFtVs93iu8t-29HB_RGUpeO9FDZGraDJkmLkafRXo0TujwXgIdbhffVbFUa0pKc8fvb5Omho_nhimL686fHtv7_aFzENhYJ2knF1w-Sg8hQZqadQOLQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-QuillbackRockfishMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtIdazn_ekAL-3tLHjPfyx1gt-IdaAz8kEp77ukiHPgdSuvHUmtt16VajMGFe_2ZQm3hRL78FFtVs93iu8t-29HB_RGUpeO9FDZGraDJkmLkafRXo0TujwXgIdbhffVbFUa0pKc8fvb5Omho_nhimL686fHtv7_aFzENhYJ2knF1w-Sg8hQZqadQOLQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-QuillbackRockfishMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR90WTwShj-wvB3veFMh1clWDgS3KjLgk_fUE_PhHteg7ZN_h5BC6k7KXlWwtNuV7iR_au3YGxGuCTpuCcIE0SMnl2BdMpfMoUDkopbry2-sdiNff5tTYJnyfDuHza-rLGcBRlMV60sOVSCxZhSNmxHX7autnV8I_SYCqjunXREqYLWLTCR91mYIDUGQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-UnderseaVolcano.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR90WTwShj-wvB3veFMh1clWDgS3KjLgk_fUE_PhHteg7ZN_h5BC6k7KXlWwtNuV7iR_au3YGxGuCTpuCcIE0SMnl2BdMpfMoUDkopbry2-sdiNff5tTYJnyfDuHza-rLGcBRlMV60sOVSCxZhSNmxHX7autnV8I_SYCqjunXREqYLWLTCR91mYIDUGQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-UnderseaVolcano.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Quillback rockfish sprouting quills from behind | Right: Watch out for the undersea volcanoes along the way</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">The soundtrack to <i>Flying Hero</i> was done by Mitsuhito Tanaka, who initially worked for Seta with <i>Twin Eagle: Revenge Joe's Brother</i> as well as Tecmo with <i>Gekitō Pro Wrestling!! Tōkon Densetsu</i>/<i>Tecmo World Wrestling</i> and <i>Strato Fighter</i> before lending his music composing services to Sting with <i>Kentou-Ou World Champion</i>, <i>Melfand Stories</i>, <i>Yōkai Buster: Ruka no Daibōken</i>, <i>Treasure Hunter G</i>, and <i>Solid Runner</i> and whose last known video game credit was working on the publicity for Sting's Sega Saturn venue <i>Baroque</i>. For certain titles he was credited as either "M. Tanaka" or as "John Pee", the latter of which I personally think is the worst pseudonym anyone could be stuck with. 😖</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrF6AnRSDW1M6Q8Sw3s2wSwbZeBENnVRQK5-wcU_35ABN5qIsCwLOrqUHMvSej89jQ_-2umdfhwwFFcWNBy5z4q_9saeY3Ul5QgZkRa_PeBz87cXoIRidR-vSOI4tIWP5b7wO11RFaqvOd3ckP7SCkNvb2Ih_xIMQ2vk3ERDhXh2WJRWFmhBp-YKe0w/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-WormMidBossRematch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrF6AnRSDW1M6Q8Sw3s2wSwbZeBENnVRQK5-wcU_35ABN5qIsCwLOrqUHMvSej89jQ_-2umdfhwwFFcWNBy5z4q_9saeY3Ul5QgZkRa_PeBz87cXoIRidR-vSOI4tIWP5b7wO11RFaqvOd3ckP7SCkNvb2Ih_xIMQ2vk3ERDhXh2WJRWFmhBp-YKe0w/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-WormMidBossRematch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAWuKcdMpeOl7SetMRF9pjdwESlIDHE8H1FKQ_aAKrfH06NmcK1zc5Ew9Jn6BkoAfchZ6iO-6stH4MhPjeIQfOfOR4s50ZMTSwLPMt4troSlQhicANFOwmoRWZ5IvZY-ZepBo4JkDCyGQwMiF7uTm_UEAf7EoHXMQ3VM2HLghDbHpCfaMvgDIXHOMJA/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-SunkenShip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAWuKcdMpeOl7SetMRF9pjdwESlIDHE8H1FKQ_aAKrfH06NmcK1zc5Ew9Jn6BkoAfchZ6iO-6stH4MhPjeIQfOfOR4s50ZMTSwLPMt4troSlQhicANFOwmoRWZ5IvZY-ZepBo4JkDCyGQwMiF7uTm_UEAf7EoHXMQ3VM2HLghDbHpCfaMvgDIXHOMJA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-SunkenShip.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "You thought you were finished with me last time, weren't you? Well, you were wrong!" | Right: Remember to fire at the enemies sneaking up behind you (unlike me until after I took this screenshot and only remembered it after the fact </b>😓<b>)</b></span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Outside of that last embarrassing tidbit of information, Tanaka's soundtrack is bouncily energetic, catchy, and adds so much to this game's lighthearted tone and sense of atmosphere. 😃 The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMNABbRpa8">first act theme</a> kicks off Bugyuru's adventure with a bang as it sets the tone for the rest of the cute'em up, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTJpbGyxdw">second act theme</a> is fun-sounding with the deep bass, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_hCfHBHqEQ">third act theme</a> has got a nice summer beach vibe to it given the island and ocean setting, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HixmTH69_M">fourth act theme</a> is one of my favorite themes from <i>Flying Hero</i> as its slow melody gels perfectly with the underwater current, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zP4KNbQfUA">fifth act theme</a> has got a great beat,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6bvNAKLlbZCCU5vvDh-ZxJp-AHxC6tcTmy5CTGN5eTJZ_iqUnrWXnsxWEI711mY_j6r7UpaJ88w9wm2fRLFEZjkCilGyztwovO1Cp4zo7Jt9OquxTnw1mQXrIVhTLV5Vfpu3IfC_2SvbcCRnGEF5qbOvY-BD0mFIUrxwdkRw4Mlp9tQUoY5HGV6e6w/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-MermaidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6bvNAKLlbZCCU5vvDh-ZxJp-AHxC6tcTmy5CTGN5eTJZ_iqUnrWXnsxWEI711mY_j6r7UpaJ88w9wm2fRLFEZjkCilGyztwovO1Cp4zo7Jt9OquxTnw1mQXrIVhTLV5Vfpu3IfC_2SvbcCRnGEF5qbOvY-BD0mFIUrxwdkRw4Mlp9tQUoY5HGV6e6w/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-MermaidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXYANJpE-o-c7hREi13SH3fW0Rv55gHd_GuI_ZWkJ0_awnp_GpzINUXIgtHvMF5Ts6T8m9wpPWj3axJGfqBTYEupkD_Ook-oSRwqNZ2701zYRcMqaarJumWyswoDsG9RB425YEwYoemtXQI8ClEd9DeBl5h0ZiHko4OtNeIwQWqyUGED2Xds_ywO1Ng/s390/FlyingHero_Act4-PufferFishBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXYANJpE-o-c7hREi13SH3fW0Rv55gHd_GuI_ZWkJ0_awnp_GpzINUXIgtHvMF5Ts6T8m9wpPWj3axJGfqBTYEupkD_Ook-oSRwqNZ2701zYRcMqaarJumWyswoDsG9RB425YEwYoemtXQI8ClEd9DeBl5h0ZiHko4OtNeIwQWqyUGED2Xds_ywO1Ng/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act4-PufferFishBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Going up against a mermaid </b>🧜♀️<b> | Right: Only the upper half of her pufferfish form is exposed</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNbfQsevj48">seventh act theme</a> is lightheartedly foreboding as you near your journey's end, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqxx6K2AIHA">normal boss theme</a> is hectic as is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGijhuDFPFM">secondary boss theme</a>, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6epCuvDX4yk">final boss theme</a> is menacingly fast-paced, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BZE0mDMWdo">ending theme</a> is an appropriate bookend to Bugyuru's adventure. The sound design is decent and quirky (especially when played on repeat), like the fluttering of Bugyuru's wings after witnessing Pao-chan being kidnapped, the cat and penguin bosses who meow and squawk upon sustaining damage, the loud explosive sound of defeated enemies and bosses, the fireworks-like sounds of the bomb you lobbed going off, the flamethrowing sound of the sun boss breathing fire towards you, the deflating helium noise as the pufferfish goes out like a deflated balloon, and the sound of the dimension shattering like glass as the witch engages you in round three for a final match, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFXUXCyCtBjZvv8ts4QXQUzDRvqj272jIR2MW0ZhhcWY26LntkrCIq23ohgpEkKPDFKKh4ibSw6niLR6G5NwtSzkQRpzS-a78HT_4t7ARMeZjrjI-NXFgX2z750G63lxMN3yK7X8G59sZWvVQXdIupxN5XJ1FxyT93TELm2tjqYRPwC7SgdgsG2gL3Q/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-SkeletalMonkey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFXUXCyCtBjZvv8ts4QXQUzDRvqj272jIR2MW0ZhhcWY26LntkrCIq23ohgpEkKPDFKKh4ibSw6niLR6G5NwtSzkQRpzS-a78HT_4t7ARMeZjrjI-NXFgX2z750G63lxMN3yK7X8G59sZWvVQXdIupxN5XJ1FxyT93TELm2tjqYRPwC7SgdgsG2gL3Q/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-SkeletalMonkey.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMEyaWLSx5nWoTQUtvckW-8J8zJf8pX8gZmZKWCWPdT18-tjZhBOyH3Oc2lFFvxSnkriRkkyolnOi4y9JWzM_xFZZ9FVcM2YFm6qPFqMOWl5yA8SUX77p61xSKqIQYrkkKmI90RlS52oSgZbN1DJJoeXkVaEWy4VyTxh0Kx3He_tE_ALBAciLF4i-dQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-BrainPickingMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMEyaWLSx5nWoTQUtvckW-8J8zJf8pX8gZmZKWCWPdT18-tjZhBOyH3Oc2lFFvxSnkriRkkyolnOi4y9JWzM_xFZZ9FVcM2YFm6qPFqMOWl5yA8SUX77p61xSKqIQYrkkKmI90RlS52oSgZbN1DJJoeXkVaEWy4VyTxh0Kx3He_tE_ALBAciLF4i-dQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-BrainPickingMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Don't flash your bones at us! </b>🦴<b> | Right: Hmmm, would this fall under the category of brain picking since it's using pieces from it as projectiles against you? </b>🤔 <b>Treat your brain well, folks, because mental health matters</b> 🧠</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><i>Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</i> was given generally mixed to positive reviews by gaming magazines upon release: <i>Famitsu</i> awarded it a 25 out of 40 (one point higher than they gave Nova Games' <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/03/xandra-no-daiboken-valkyrie-to-no-deai.html">Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</a></i>/<i>Whirlo</i> the same year), <i>Gamepro</i> previewed it remarking it as a "toy store gone mad" and brought up its high difficulty despite its colorful and lighthearted presentation, <i>Games Master</i> criticized it for being hard to take seriously due its setting and characters and dubbed it as "run of the mill" giving it a 68% despite thinking it was a "vertical blast of fun", <i>Super Play</i> also gave it a 68% and regarded it as average fare but hardly a must buy</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNEBiS7gH4FyUDISArMPGxRGWbQgb0arU7sLnSImgwaanxK8EGfgilhBHgwkZIC1QHLsfixsBtHj6TXKDnMXdCH_f4YPlnheXlX4I9r-4iXEO2yOAVa6vfDSR_jMKF-AyVIVWnsZ4KtLTW6QRQf46m6vLorc0c8NPG5nqWStfM-aFBB9sb_gPD0TQbw/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-ToyChoppers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNEBiS7gH4FyUDISArMPGxRGWbQgb0arU7sLnSImgwaanxK8EGfgilhBHgwkZIC1QHLsfixsBtHj6TXKDnMXdCH_f4YPlnheXlX4I9r-4iXEO2yOAVa6vfDSR_jMKF-AyVIVWnsZ4KtLTW6QRQf46m6vLorc0c8NPG5nqWStfM-aFBB9sb_gPD0TQbw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-ToyChoppers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF8BFU_ulFU66Twoh3dFuV7RWILzIU-cpLYHYVYWoh7Kqi_fYwKx5W9HtTBT3CuTUWnr9n_bo6GS0SNmKg5yZLOV7_OxiEqSExCpQzURIKdpApD7zWtGBj3wnlBg3d2Jj5gwddR78IkYRk6ieP-HE8SJYuYEfFZ7ZUCG3sQ9qrH0pwyvG_MtBOezu-A/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-ToyTanks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTF8BFU_ulFU66Twoh3dFuV7RWILzIU-cpLYHYVYWoh7Kqi_fYwKx5W9HtTBT3CuTUWnr9n_bo6GS0SNmKg5yZLOV7_OxiEqSExCpQzURIKdpApD7zWtGBj3wnlBg3d2Jj5gwddR78IkYRk6ieP-HE8SJYuYEfFZ7ZUCG3sQ9qrH0pwyvG_MtBOezu-A/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-ToyTanks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: No one is safe from toy choppers </b>🚁<b> | Right: And toy wind-up tanks, too</b></span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">for they only recommended it to those who truly enjoy the cute'em up genre, </span><i style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Super Pro</i><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"> gave it a 65% saying it was "all in all fairly playable", on the other hand </span><i style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">GameFan</i><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"> praised </span><i style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Flying Hero</i><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"> and recommended it as an import as they figured it would never become localized officially (and they were right) saying it was "perfect for children as they can get a game that's fun without excessive violence" but warned readers of its "intermediately difficult" status and it was well received by the Italian and French <i>Game Power</i> and <i>Joypad</i> magazines and awarded it an 82% and an 81% respectively.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzgOJg5OEfcU5sKlJhJJTGjU_7rPBR3C7M63HJR8y68kudj7aXxCvXnDbkcuPuouUCb8UA9ENSNigYFSLnZRv0nnKf8ZBY3VcgKr32E17Std3KXEm_YhJqkTQAgayWVcfllWtAVtS4d-C-NsgYRuWGxropRyqMKNT580NcSbcHN5BkuFTAthu2fZ1Gg/s390/PopnTwinBee_WinBeePunch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzgOJg5OEfcU5sKlJhJJTGjU_7rPBR3C7M63HJR8y68kudj7aXxCvXnDbkcuPuouUCb8UA9ENSNigYFSLnZRv0nnKf8ZBY3VcgKr32E17Std3KXEm_YhJqkTQAgayWVcfllWtAVtS4d-C-NsgYRuWGxropRyqMKNT580NcSbcHN5BkuFTAthu2fZ1Gg/w200-h156/PopnTwinBee_WinBeePunch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bZEBGTpqE68iVlO-qJ5JG1DzzKTRhq7hzeb6rFZFSfBp56l6uNBwzqpkwtyxcqMDlQqJ4GzvJX82NhX2d95pSo77WI1Jdt4oo592nggNJFY7JmUHfUosMZZD1UEUndoY0sPHlCyp05zu3p2xB3XLtufdzYB0lgbyPc5b8yqrOL4WLptTXK8voL-RZA/s390/GokujoParodius_Konami.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="390" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bZEBGTpqE68iVlO-qJ5JG1DzzKTRhq7hzeb6rFZFSfBp56l6uNBwzqpkwtyxcqMDlQqJ4GzvJX82NhX2d95pSo77WI1Jdt4oo592nggNJFY7JmUHfUosMZZD1UEUndoY0sPHlCyp05zu3p2xB3XLtufdzYB0lgbyPc5b8yqrOL4WLptTXK8voL-RZA/w200-h153/GokujoParodius_Konami.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Over the years <i>Flying Hero</i> has also been likened to Konami's <i>TwinBee</i> and <i>Parodius</i> cute'em up series: the former for the vertically oriented gameplay* and earnestly lighthearted flair, and the latter for its irreverent sense of humor and unapologetically bonkers levels of randomness that permeates throughout, and was compared to both series for its colorful visual aesthetic.</span></div><div><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">* The exception being </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Moero TwinBee: Cinnamon Hakase o Sukue!</i>/<i>Stinger</i> as it alternated between horizontal gameplay and vertical gameplay like in Konami's seriously toned shoot'em ups <i>Salamander</i>/<i>Life Force</i> and <i>Axelay</i>, but only up to a point</span></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE0IsScEYbtznBdnGC5IruVEfUlaoHY42YW6A-BgnNaW1QWsE-vaeHL-a9mdG_oxJNq1KJB9MrIKROJZ-4BUCQVc2SkPQHQoWF5ghWYnMUMldL2AcfJexLAjaveoZ6exIaHDcyChWpbI_fbsxnExJe57FgqW0-jEslMx89cKBkb0HRzi196rW-buJZg/s390/FlyingHero_Option.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE0IsScEYbtznBdnGC5IruVEfUlaoHY42YW6A-BgnNaW1QWsE-vaeHL-a9mdG_oxJNq1KJB9MrIKROJZ-4BUCQVc2SkPQHQoWF5ghWYnMUMldL2AcfJexLAjaveoZ6exIaHDcyChWpbI_fbsxnExJe57FgqW0-jEslMx89cKBkb0HRzi196rW-buJZg/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Option.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnInrgFevoutYg84D7Fk61B82zBS0Mpr7AxwiTwHa4XtZLQMBQFHlJblOyOBZ1C949CNxFbGXliCdrKN-giMIpYLmafoNnSQ54AlXEryZaF-1KM-Lu5E3B2ERspvfQwA-mxxJcaZC9HULv9IR4bBvNnh5Whq4wn68c5Yqk0hWeI8vehjLAEwV5JPGrkQ/s390/FlyingHero_BackOption.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnInrgFevoutYg84D7Fk61B82zBS0Mpr7AxwiTwHa4XtZLQMBQFHlJblOyOBZ1C949CNxFbGXliCdrKN-giMIpYLmafoNnSQ54AlXEryZaF-1KM-Lu5E3B2ERspvfQwA-mxxJcaZC9HULv9IR4bBvNnh5Whq4wn68c5Yqk0hWeI8vehjLAEwV5JPGrkQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_BackOption.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">There are three difficulty settings: Easy (イージー), Normal (ノーマル), and Hard (ハード)</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">What separates Sting's cute'em up from Konami's, however, is its sheer difficulty. Reviewers were right to bring up the difficulty when talking about it, for a game of this ilk it can be intensely hard even on the easiest of the three difficulty settings. There is a way to alleviate some of the pressure, however: from the title access the options with the Select button, then with the controller on the second slot press and hold Start and Select simultaneously to bring up a secret option screen where (with the controller in the first slot again) you can adjust your number of lives and continues as high up as 99*. This doesn't take away the difficulty necessarily, but you will have at least a chance at getting through the game.</span></div><div><b><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Be forewarned that should you set your life count to 99 and have enough points to garner a new life past that number, the count will reset to 0 and doesn't act like you have a high number of lives, so I recommend setting it to something a little lower than that</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV_6gDlvPCpsEohN1XFPzQe642hUF6NDCoZUnwYSlyUe3pzvnLrHO18SeNk6UjXbru7W-Jpl7eRKKgrvx9dLXr-_xg1lI-z_uPX5onbRvHVcdEEUZ45tYmOp1PIqKYsBMXwO7VoLsDgK5ujZBcxothAuPhFbAAYpMqZVH8UGEhtNXNxyYhRlsFRbV2A/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-KappaToyMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV_6gDlvPCpsEohN1XFPzQe642hUF6NDCoZUnwYSlyUe3pzvnLrHO18SeNk6UjXbru7W-Jpl7eRKKgrvx9dLXr-_xg1lI-z_uPX5onbRvHVcdEEUZ45tYmOp1PIqKYsBMXwO7VoLsDgK5ujZBcxothAuPhFbAAYpMqZVH8UGEhtNXNxyYhRlsFRbV2A/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-KappaToyMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBuvvb2zH0lKKtZX6YIMcvLI8Qj8JoI3-2wrJUqejIORqGSJ8Vv18-WXkOkjuffiwLGP3G37IP1ML7DEzXfyR7-GyJYlbLch6jWPzXjCqkqtvU3RwFPAmm53uuEbW2hnf4JVyiJMvK8MxNiIj3_5SBgDrUIMsJShyIJ1cuS9Ni5g3pqQ7fH48yUyDQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act5-MechaToyBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBuvvb2zH0lKKtZX6YIMcvLI8Qj8JoI3-2wrJUqejIORqGSJ8Vv18-WXkOkjuffiwLGP3G37IP1ML7DEzXfyR7-GyJYlbLch6jWPzXjCqkqtvU3RwFPAmm53uuEbW2hnf4JVyiJMvK8MxNiIj3_5SBgDrUIMsJShyIJ1cuS9Ni5g3pqQ7fH48yUyDQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act5-MechaToyBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Beware the toy Kappa midboss | Right: Be prepared for the Mecha toy boss' missiles and plethora of offensive maneuvers</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">I first learned of <i>Flying Hero</i> years ago when I stumbled across a brief gameplay video of its first act on YouTube, and from what I saw it looked interesting and looked like it was fun to play; it helped that by this point I enjoyed the cute'em up genre between Inter State and Kaneko's <i>Star Parodier</i> on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console, Konami's <i>TwinBee</i> games, and Success' <i>Märchen Adventure Cotton 100%</i> due to their approachable pick up and play quality while still offering a good amount of challenge, and eventually on February 2020 I decided to order a copy of the game on eBay (which I found at a reasonable price of $40) which arrived that early March.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi7j3xsBcp8zVmfx5y5XjHPMq4_k_hWAku0-f0nNCsptwvR0sFtDZiBzAdfx7Ug2I_S3whUdVsN-RakLowmsbdsoca2eUnYhugbee5xd1XlCtiOv7cibLTY9cr_z5a4ipiZb7yQIE8oN65dxJq_1C_wGxWvowMOZM4WuSKcHObMiOMfVeD93PE9hGsg/s390/FlyingHero_Act6-Pterosaur.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi7j3xsBcp8zVmfx5y5XjHPMq4_k_hWAku0-f0nNCsptwvR0sFtDZiBzAdfx7Ug2I_S3whUdVsN-RakLowmsbdsoca2eUnYhugbee5xd1XlCtiOv7cibLTY9cr_z5a4ipiZb7yQIE8oN65dxJq_1C_wGxWvowMOZM4WuSKcHObMiOMfVeD93PE9hGsg/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act6-Pterosaur.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo1cq8rp5ZJUn0vDffAO7zT8866Ve-TxvTSFE8ia1rsVyYvuYEQqzt2dXq_lkoDLTVS9H72PlDoX1XkWup36irPMe9j-AEXXU2_r6kJ9a4zsXdrqvVIEdnui2sIfIz-IEQO2Mfpw_chdKrm5Zis1k9Q8C1DqyjI_0GNH6WZ6xVrxVbm4F_MpZPNVDAQ/s390/FlyingHero_Act6-Butterflies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbo1cq8rp5ZJUn0vDffAO7zT8866Ve-TxvTSFE8ia1rsVyYvuYEQqzt2dXq_lkoDLTVS9H72PlDoX1XkWup36irPMe9j-AEXXU2_r6kJ9a4zsXdrqvVIEdnui2sIfIz-IEQO2Mfpw_chdKrm5Zis1k9Q8C1DqyjI_0GNH6WZ6xVrxVbm4F_MpZPNVDAQ/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act6-Butterflies.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pterosaur alert, unfortunately unlike Konami's <i>TwinBee</i> shooting at a cloud won't make a bell pop out from it | Right: Flying over a group of whirlpools</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><i>Flying Hero</i> is a largely enjoyable and wildly imaginative game with its plethora of colorful locations with simple yet intuitive gameplay and plenty of lighthearted charm to boot, and it's nice that there is a way to fire diagonally and behind you as opposed to just in front of you. It knows not to take itself seriously and it's clear that Sting had fun with it delighting in its bouts of randomness:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheahJX953e0qOSsKrlMzfCmCjSrLAJs7zi0JwyJF1i5ulAoIUc5fX_fmVM8fcbhCbNKP_caTK9FIGK6pJocHVQifUV5-K-qZy5WNPtvRi8Cm2hNrN6VbRAsfjOuhh6jLBLi_vi33RvLskc2NQxx5T4KUuvWUOwztRQX8O8bY4-xByktBWls8MHxwloA/s390/FlyingHero_Act6-Defeated.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheahJX953e0qOSsKrlMzfCmCjSrLAJs7zi0JwyJF1i5ulAoIUc5fX_fmVM8fcbhCbNKP_caTK9FIGK6pJocHVQifUV5-K-qZy5WNPtvRi8Cm2hNrN6VbRAsfjOuhh6jLBLi_vi33RvLskc2NQxx5T4KUuvWUOwztRQX8O8bY4-xByktBWls8MHxwloA/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act6-Defeated.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQxI5mY_wUdG1uHgVB6Dz-A0ONTWAJEDVH2-CwqQcOibKkOwyI7pooHcztzyeYUdWoWXd87sg4A4qkTu4tRmT8-1OXWL9VovpQgcF3I-0F4ofIwwSQlc5RfDFvwG0OWM4VxtiJhRe_tO7QneKVNbzSztU_v4wVjTqwR6zKK6l487oqjtXzjiyY0DHZw/s390/FlyingHero_Act6-JigglyMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQxI5mY_wUdG1uHgVB6Dz-A0ONTWAJEDVH2-CwqQcOibKkOwyI7pooHcztzyeYUdWoWXd87sg4A4qkTu4tRmT8-1OXWL9VovpQgcF3I-0F4ofIwwSQlc5RfDFvwG0OWM4VxtiJhRe_tO7QneKVNbzSztU_v4wVjTqwR6zKK6l487oqjtXzjiyY0DHZw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act6-JigglyMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Bugyuru taken down | Right: I imagine that firing from behind, useful though it may be, has got the negative side effect of lending itself to unfortunate joke opportunities </b>😔</span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">here is a game where you'll face off with a giant bat who sends out smaller bats against you from inside its mouth, where you'll contend with a two-legged giant cat, where the remaining two of the pirate crew aboard the sinking ship combine forces to become a giant pirate penguin, where a sun will emerge from the depths of the ocean to fight you and whose teeth are so sparkling white that said sparkles will veer in the current position Bugyuru is situated in, where a mermaid becomes a pufferfish with her upper half exposing its weak spot, </span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">where the first of the toy midbosses is designed in a manner resembling an exposed brain with it grabbing a piece from it with its arm and lobbing it towards you where you think it only took one but actually took three in a spreadshot maneuver</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjST50q5S58tVBH4R7R4r2yA0aTGz3NkP2u718I3hSeGf9706RnlyAuJ_Y6Ud-aZ-cpTgIz06kw1fX1qrsjddTMZRLpNdwg5ibuqe5YRVZ1_gQmWkZg4B-uzhsSpJq5oKSf_9aYJdnApdiVftvsGEX-FMBa2QM26GewZwfn1csaS4Mchn6DpQdwh2Hw/s390/FlyingHero_Act6-FinalWitchBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjST50q5S58tVBH4R7R4r2yA0aTGz3NkP2u718I3hSeGf9706RnlyAuJ_Y6Ud-aZ-cpTgIz06kw1fX1qrsjddTMZRLpNdwg5ibuqe5YRVZ1_gQmWkZg4B-uzhsSpJq5oKSf_9aYJdnApdiVftvsGEX-FMBa2QM26GewZwfn1csaS4Mchn6DpQdwh2Hw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act6-FinalWitchBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwRBIIxZIqXqdkaX2PHj2pxCc8sCfmD7hngt5Abn6gBlFDUjUit8eX6EJEOQ8Otiq0c1O9gBEYKQNnrMwbeuR_K4fpST4Qi1MA-XaxMfPhRMAgo6NsvC9Vs7-h9Xydeoc2dRwUdFMsS5CTY8rWfxqvDO-qjilddj2i5EEn73HSN99MQgLgf_YM7UN2Q/s390/FlyingHero_Act7-MeteorShower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwRBIIxZIqXqdkaX2PHj2pxCc8sCfmD7hngt5Abn6gBlFDUjUit8eX6EJEOQ8Otiq0c1O9gBEYKQNnrMwbeuR_K4fpST4Qi1MA-XaxMfPhRMAgo6NsvC9Vs7-h9Xydeoc2dRwUdFMsS5CTY8rWfxqvDO-qjilddj2i5EEn73HSN99MQgLgf_YM7UN2Q/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act7-MeteorShower.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Fire at the real witch | Right: Meteor shower</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">(and freaking out incredulously upon running out of its ammunition therefore becoming a sitting duck flailing its arms wildly), where a Mecha toy boss will attack you even if it's reduced to just a head, and where just after defeating the penultimate boss in the clouds the center of the screen begins to crack until the dimension shatters therefore commencing the final battle with the witch, and so forth. The random charm even comes from the small background details like the random white creatures who idly remain in position, the exaggerated expressions of the tree in the first act and the undersea volcano in the fourth act as well as the aforementioned sleeping moon in the penultimate act, and I like the way many of the bosses react incredulously upon receiving damage and being defeated.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK4dYTtR9pWpktLhNBgaFAWr8bnxTzopjvyzoHXL8CLCpNbpxCLI5roFYxwmNJ6PqMaMUd5d3LfTJuR4uIfJdApOdOnOjDdKMRfpvlAmpw_CeLViDXAv-aZawcD3ifCaYPX6Hrs88_oKim1RIU4-xkfrkZHFgXagdmea0gHQ_N7SfbQFdPDhoDnY7Gw/s390/FlyingHero_Act7-LaserMidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK4dYTtR9pWpktLhNBgaFAWr8bnxTzopjvyzoHXL8CLCpNbpxCLI5roFYxwmNJ6PqMaMUd5d3LfTJuR4uIfJdApOdOnOjDdKMRfpvlAmpw_CeLViDXAv-aZawcD3ifCaYPX6Hrs88_oKim1RIU4-xkfrkZHFgXagdmea0gHQ_N7SfbQFdPDhoDnY7Gw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act7-LaserMidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnrLsBXf-5JiRR0lxp1_XLLt0DB4BegIUja3qQYf1e-NnEExQqDrrQe2XSd7ci36za-sxoE4VwBB2Ce_wWaIV8sSYF6r8dUH1IE57o3GPgJaXHC-qjyNJedTEmCOUY7G4FqFsm1rxU_9ch4Wh3Wubm_okyNSnnpvLEMoVysOKsPtArWVluE6leTUJVw/s390/FlyingHero_Act7-SleepyCrescentMoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnrLsBXf-5JiRR0lxp1_XLLt0DB4BegIUja3qQYf1e-NnEExQqDrrQe2XSd7ci36za-sxoE4VwBB2Ce_wWaIV8sSYF6r8dUH1IE57o3GPgJaXHC-qjyNJedTEmCOUY7G4FqFsm1rxU_9ch4Wh3Wubm_okyNSnnpvLEMoVysOKsPtArWVluE6leTUJVw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act7-SleepyCrescentMoon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: A perfectly formed right triangle | Right: Good night, Moon</b> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">💤</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">🌙</span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">I am still shocked at how difficult this game can get for a cute'em up, it's got the kind of difficulty one is accustomed to from a space shoot'em up. It is manageable up until sometime in the fifth act where at that point the game starts to truly test your limits, and even if you did learn to master the controls and overcome many of its obstacles (like the pirate penguin's tri-hook shot and thunder sword attacks and maneuvering around the toy blocks to not lose your attack potency should you rub against them in flight), the Demon King will still cost you a lot of lives in the end due to hard to dodge attacks. On Easy mode the enemies aren't as aggressive with their firepower and don't require too much of your attacks to defeat the bosses, whereas on the Normal and Hard modes things get much more challenging with much more resilient and lengthier boss battles and is the only way to view the credits upon completing the game. Sting obviously knew what they were doing, having had prior experience in the shoot'em up genre with <i>Psycho Chaser</i> and <i>Override</i>/<i>Last Battalion</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSr12eY7TiRxcHRMCOvSBuE3czIUKamMOZzq4XsamKd8xdIRW2133jIWlK-w3enN-iGFb5PdLB8vLPCkNJZsEiugxafmfvwLS9M8qhW8F1oQg3yJmWFGWwkDZgg0L_0fbFzFZd3p_YSaGgZVDEqjKmrjFO2QV0DA4yepjm_lGMcqpVvI8-YdoL3cRvw/s390/FlyingHero_Act7-StarMakerBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSr12eY7TiRxcHRMCOvSBuE3czIUKamMOZzq4XsamKd8xdIRW2133jIWlK-w3enN-iGFb5PdLB8vLPCkNJZsEiugxafmfvwLS9M8qhW8F1oQg3yJmWFGWwkDZgg0L_0fbFzFZd3p_YSaGgZVDEqjKmrjFO2QV0DA4yepjm_lGMcqpVvI8-YdoL3cRvw/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act7-StarMakerBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtQxKWvUPCmBdahzLstDxxe_D0MJhIRaAUcDXvPS1Obgjl8QcXardXLa5a0nLqdTb7ow6faeXIr4m5aK_tK_qv1Zq6Xi8SZ_Wiu3skOGCGi800LZ3ZlhaSFNqBmLqcAC3-yTJtz9kocGBslluSnO0wWxhGMwAfQfe10EfcEIeMSXC4KljLY4bLS-n4w/s390/FlyingHero_Act8-FinalConfrontation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtQxKWvUPCmBdahzLstDxxe_D0MJhIRaAUcDXvPS1Obgjl8QcXardXLa5a0nLqdTb7ow6faeXIr4m5aK_tK_qv1Zq6Xi8SZ_Wiu3skOGCGi800LZ3ZlhaSFNqBmLqcAC3-yTJtz9kocGBslluSnO0wWxhGMwAfQfe10EfcEIeMSXC4KljLY4bLS-n4w/w200-h156/FlyingHero_Act8-FinalConfrontation.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Shooting at the star making boss </b>🌟<b> | Right: "That's too bad!! Pao-chan has already been eaten!! Noyuhohohohohoho"</b></span></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;">Despite the high level of challenge for a game of its kind, <i>Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibōken</i> is still enjoyable to play in the roughly forty minutes that it takes to play through while it lasts. It's unabashedly quirky and lighthearted and has got no qualms about that fact whatsoever, though I can see how the sheer difficulty curve might be a turn off for some (<b>with</b> or with<b>out</b> the code that augments your life count). If you're into the cute'em up genre like I am I do recommend checking out this game if you own a Super Famicom and are able to afford it, but if you're eager to play something that is more forgiving you might be better off with Konami's <i>TwinBee</i> franchise or even Inter State and Kaneko's <i>Star Parodier</i>, but if you want to play a game that revels in how random it is, then look no further than Bugyuru's adventure. It's weird but in a way that Sting found a way to make it endearingly so.</span></div><div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9gShitXjtzxT2Ft9elfNFEKU5EJWBUk79f2UM7gYeFw8UtX4ySRXexcoIMSffDEEZC7dAPHofjS9I1__-xtPG77H3RAcaOqJJzZY410tXvjR7KiwFL5MScenX0vqiTIwsWi6ZrTQKjWnpPZMRlAG_Czih-6ShGYS3C5JFtaXD-OL9v4dejC4MBbBAw/s242/FlyingHero_TearfulBugyuru.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="242" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9gShitXjtzxT2Ft9elfNFEKU5EJWBUk79f2UM7gYeFw8UtX4ySRXexcoIMSffDEEZC7dAPHofjS9I1__-xtPG77H3RAcaOqJJzZY410tXvjR7KiwFL5MScenX0vqiTIwsWi6ZrTQKjWnpPZMRlAG_Czih-6ShGYS3C5JFtaXD-OL9v4dejC4MBbBAw/w200-h143/FlyingHero_TearfulBugyuru.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RiAYFLCOV8qNCbUo98_F5dl3SY3ZTSK0648pK0_edfpktwnuYpIG7uRX5pChct2ha88DDf48OGWVVKA9Ijx_N-bM26VmDnXu-fkIwQ1VU6DvpJ28KTo-Mxa0DEpYSzSL2koQ53EpSP1U-9eNqnbImDyhX8PbQ9eh-CAlWkA7VOxS3kzQRVPi2uoa1g/s242/FlyingHero_Pao-Chan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="242" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RiAYFLCOV8qNCbUo98_F5dl3SY3ZTSK0648pK0_edfpktwnuYpIG7uRX5pChct2ha88DDf48OGWVVKA9Ijx_N-bM26VmDnXu-fkIwQ1VU6DvpJ28KTo-Mxa0DEpYSzSL2koQ53EpSP1U-9eNqnbImDyhX8PbQ9eh-CAlWkA7VOxS3kzQRVPi2uoa1g/w200-h143/FlyingHero_Pao-Chan.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bugyuru:</b> "Pao-chan!!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia;"><b>Pao-chan:</b> "Bugyuru!! Thank you. It was dark and scary inside. I cried a lot."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FzYlwB-Gfsur4OtPPzYLaQWRJLP9O3MYlIyiqUo_ZNcZYs2xF-P57F4U99AG28d8p58INx_YjG3kBsRSEYzSIxmxV09b3zJ9BX69_Txtd-1_kBItnHVIAI30nUegwOCSeEwDX4Hjx2TiOh7_EzXZIXhqKFRqy8265OOrg0P42iwldmaOjLGmtdU_xw/s242/FlyingHero_Friends.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="242" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FzYlwB-Gfsur4OtPPzYLaQWRJLP9O3MYlIyiqUo_ZNcZYs2xF-P57F4U99AG28d8p58INx_YjG3kBsRSEYzSIxmxV09b3zJ9BX69_Txtd-1_kBItnHVIAI30nUegwOCSeEwDX4Hjx2TiOh7_EzXZIXhqKFRqy8265OOrg0P42iwldmaOjLGmtdU_xw/s1600/FlyingHero_Friends.png" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(For ambience, let's have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syKMnlew42E">"We'll Be Together"</a> from <i>Grease 2</i> playing in the background)</span></b></div><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Pao-chan:</b> "Yes, we can fight again, just maybe. Then again, let's get along."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Bugyuru:</b> "Yes!!"</span></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 7.5/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhMtbO_mIFta7xRRK8v7Z1Hsbr0yT8LKTEHr-soVaYHL_BBTkY4rc5Xi3YYwxQB631IuoodhpILx6NlsWUJeqbHEe4Na0ocWjseZiv3jHcHDU217o7rdXxGn2Y_Xb5Oqrw2RkFMyvNOTHJrWl8jruUTTqd0i1MZip0vosnG8uoYpO-rDZz9gJKRx_Rw/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhMtbO_mIFta7xRRK8v7Z1Hsbr0yT8LKTEHr-soVaYHL_BBTkY4rc5Xi3YYwxQB631IuoodhpILx6NlsWUJeqbHEe4Na0ocWjseZiv3jHcHDU217o7rdXxGn2Y_Xb5Oqrw2RkFMyvNOTHJrWl8jruUTTqd0i1MZip0vosnG8uoYpO-rDZz9gJKRx_Rw/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMplSESqZhPG4i35Gve3p2bff-_WQ-we-F9fVaNXe9dxAWT3yEGuV005PBZxvz8ax04-eCH8UQb-2eRsiIgtfdW32ANKQaoDrLu1mBH0H2XBJzFOEkajhiT4GQK2L0uBc0IHRdN9gMxBeRBs7FX9RBjPswds1dgeAjkIPWX7NBsn8PJxg6wTUdhp0tg/s130/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMplSESqZhPG4i35Gve3p2bff-_WQ-we-F9fVaNXe9dxAWT3yEGuV005PBZxvz8ax04-eCH8UQb-2eRsiIgtfdW32ANKQaoDrLu1mBH0H2XBJzFOEkajhiT4GQK2L0uBc0IHRdN9gMxBeRBs7FX9RBjPswds1dgeAjkIPWX7NBsn8PJxg6wTUdhp0tg/s1600/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I'm so <b>happy</b> I translated this game by myself through Google Translate! 😄 The <b>possibilities</b>, I can't wait to try it with another kanji-heavy Japanese game I own someday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Irrelevant to video games, but this past weekend I caught up with Patricia Birch's <i>Grease 2</i> on YouTube while it was free to watch, which I'm glad about because Paramount+ acts like it doesn't exist* due to its underperformance at the box office. My thoughts on the movie, just judging it on its own terms and not comparing it to Randal Kleiser's predecessor like most would, were that it's okay, I thought it was decently watchable. Now, some moments I thought were a bit insufferable (mainly I grew annoyed by the T-Birds' antics) or there were certain jokes that I felt fell flat, but having said that I liked the occasionally striking cinematography (like when Stephanie rides with the Cool Rider during the sunset) and the fun choreography onscreen, it was nice to see Didi Conn's Frenchy again, I liked Michelle Pfeiffer so much as the leading lady (and fashion <b>icon</b>, her Christmas tree costume~) in her breakout role, I thought she and Maxwell Caulfield had decent enough chemistry with one another, the story was alright, and the new songs were a real bop--"Cool Rider", "Who's That Guy?", "Charades", "(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time", and "We'll Be Together". I wouldn't be averse to giving it another watch, while still being aware of its problems, maybe my thoughts might increase on a rewatch. We'll see. I'm not terribly picky when it comes to certain '70s and '80s movie sequels.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><b>* <u>12/1/22 Update:</u> Back when I watched it on YouTube there wasn't a "Watch with Paramount Plus" option suggesting it was available on that streaming service as well, but looking up <i>Grease 2</i> on YouTube (no longer free to watch) at the start of the month and seeing that option pop up there this time must mean that it's on Paramount+ now; if so, better late than never</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● RIP Jason David Frank, <i>Power Rangers</i> will not be the same without you. 😔</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>Flying Hero</i>,</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>you earned it!!!! </b>🥳</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-74374739774903776112022-11-12T23:18:00.007-06:002022-11-14T21:14:51.963-06:00Astal (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e06666;">💎<b> Received: May 23rd, 2022 </b>💎<b> Written: November 9th-12th, 2022 </b>💎</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM57GMDt_ya1tDyKGtavlyr7Qsoe1Iwv4GKGVE8IXS13bt9yKjyrWv3NR8Bkl_AwmZ1PJOJh_hVGUxDKdFSWub9_ZeR0gEfAvpYPCY-ZX9lm3iFBGn6F-BVnU_9WNyQ-pU9QaD97n4o-H2NbWD-36IAl4mr_ZNseRZ5IGR_XQg5j8gBYmtOdV9hLXiQ/s360/Astal_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM57GMDt_ya1tDyKGtavlyr7Qsoe1Iwv4GKGVE8IXS13bt9yKjyrWv3NR8Bkl_AwmZ1PJOJh_hVGUxDKdFSWub9_ZeR0gEfAvpYPCY-ZX9lm3iFBGn6F-BVnU_9WNyQ-pU9QaD97n4o-H2NbWD-36IAl4mr_ZNseRZ5IGR_XQg5j8gBYmtOdV9hLXiQ/s16000/Astal_Title.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Alternate Title: </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Kisuishō Densetsu Astal</span></i> <span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></span></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Year: 1995 | Developed and Published by: Sega</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 Let's review another Saturn game, I say. I'm very excited to talk about this one.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">With Sonic the Hedgehog yet to make a formal 32-bit console appearance during its early lifespan, <b>Sega</b> had to fill in a gap until the day a <i>Sonic</i> game arrived.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPj8oLL8XiY4U7gr-dkOChDMpMlH3XlId86XRuusiIKuuhCsqRkdPIvdsqnjpu4UQ-Q8kfH8RxEAdaS0gczXkKALH5jG9ARWkirnFOiPPv0bA7Qbd7P25EywetBGq7dWhWoY2cBRvpp1PeIX_dnanO3QrfsV1BMbHZLD-FUPOLO3wFCvja6YzIVF3rw/s394/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="394" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPj8oLL8XiY4U7gr-dkOChDMpMlH3XlId86XRuusiIKuuhCsqRkdPIvdsqnjpu4UQ-Q8kfH8RxEAdaS0gczXkKALH5jG9ARWkirnFOiPPv0bA7Qbd7P25EywetBGq7dWhWoY2cBRvpp1PeIX_dnanO3QrfsV1BMbHZLD-FUPOLO3wFCvja6YzIVF3rw/w200-h115/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqGyzc28LJ1L4-_c4eonHJ1LlilVsXM3gZ4t9HDilTU0lttY7zvM2EygcASidQtmGTjPUxB7CXbxSRIU12pE8MydxQJIkk3EgrZ9Xvr3cp8m5eaIojmm-YXrl7skZQS-XErJdWxlgC290ulRN7LmsZ7_GbNH95zkkQyFDcLsDT1HVo61NzdRxyDFwbw/s394/ClockworkKnight_KatchinToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="394" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqGyzc28LJ1L4-_c4eonHJ1LlilVsXM3gZ4t9HDilTU0lttY7zvM2EygcASidQtmGTjPUxB7CXbxSRIU12pE8MydxQJIkk3EgrZ9Xvr3cp8m5eaIojmm-YXrl7skZQS-XErJdWxlgC290ulRN7LmsZ7_GbNH95zkkQyFDcLsDT1HVo61NzdRxyDFwbw/w200-h115/ClockworkKnight_KatchinToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">First came <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i>, which debuted in Japan mere weeks after the console launch and served as one of the launch titles for the Saturn's Western debut. It proved to be a good technological showcase for what the Saturn was capable of in regards to its confluence of 2D gameplay and 3D foregrounds with its intuitive gameplay and good amount of scaling effects, but it was also enjoyable in its own right despite its sheer brevity and lack of difficulty.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7RHOlT11xFV7rBD6Ql54P5GBQAFB3h_KErTkT-7Ns4irhL2ZUqAs-1AEHz_KAaaIPzZgDXeBY2YqCrfXBtJzENjtAXgj2M-RMf5ASx5pKG4CzuglzH6E2LGu4TnHdMR8gQZpNl7FrLaNwXYFt8ZfrqSy0Wc6akKYupftGukQ1mH514ZHUZaoFkEZ7A/s390/Sega_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7RHOlT11xFV7rBD6Ql54P5GBQAFB3h_KErTkT-7Ns4irhL2ZUqAs-1AEHz_KAaaIPzZgDXeBY2YqCrfXBtJzENjtAXgj2M-RMf5ASx5pKG4CzuglzH6E2LGu4TnHdMR8gQZpNl7FrLaNwXYFt8ZfrqSy0Wc6akKYupftGukQ1mH514ZHUZaoFkEZ7A/s16000/Sega_Logo.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Months after the fact there would be another Saturn stand-in for Sonic: this one was planned by Tsuyoshi Sugai and Motomu Hayashi (who also worked on the character design), game designed by Sugai and Masahito Shimizu, with an original story by Hayashi and Toshiyasu Kamiko, programmed by Kazuyuki Mukaida, Atsutoshi Takashi (who was also programming coordinator), Yoshiyuki Kamazaki, Shin Futakawame, Hiroaki Sakamoto, and Yasumaro Hotta, with tools and special effects production work provided by Takashi Ando.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiL0lMt05JX3zex80aeVYrqK8lYZ0v7QrklRtLYHiKi0tGVbY9HqKoyxn_Pf7tO8AbTd9q532xE2NVbW-mb7NbK9tdW3NvkHHBOHm3NH7alpCWzF1Uj4h9ut2Q40_xSnbQJwlEZB3ggufS_ehp7czvoj1nVj55Iz46tLD6eQrTUVnWh52noxEAGD_xQ/s640/KisuishoDensetsuAstal_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiL0lMt05JX3zex80aeVYrqK8lYZ0v7QrklRtLYHiKi0tGVbY9HqKoyxn_Pf7tO8AbTd9q532xE2NVbW-mb7NbK9tdW3NvkHHBOHm3NH7alpCWzF1Uj4h9ut2Q40_xSnbQJwlEZB3ggufS_ehp7czvoj1nVj55Iz46tLD6eQrTUVnWh52noxEAGD_xQ/w200-h200/KisuishoDensetsuAstal_Cover.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x7qBmb4So-vuaSL7FwJYJlouCcc8N9SBLQgB2QxI8Art4n8cbeSyQdqw5gHeJyPyXGjbDif-Bpk6uxzw7ykQCZ8bbFwFrzzFWo97pWUqRjvs6gGaeDnSiHVqnmBj28yT-CH0xTjccht1yjnFHuSTMLkIsDNkyMXoosaOrSZvElJ21rTefovfcIfNyQ/s1065/Astal_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x7qBmb4So-vuaSL7FwJYJlouCcc8N9SBLQgB2QxI8Art4n8cbeSyQdqw5gHeJyPyXGjbDif-Bpk6uxzw7ykQCZ8bbFwFrzzFWo97pWUqRjvs6gGaeDnSiHVqnmBj28yT-CH0xTjccht1yjnFHuSTMLkIsDNkyMXoosaOrSZvElJ21rTefovfcIfNyQ/w192-h320/Astal_Cover.png" width="192" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><i>Kisuishō Densetsu Astal</i> would be released in Japan on April 28th, 1995 and would be localized in North America by Sega of America as simply <b><i>Astal</i></b> nearly five months later on September 27th of that year; the American version was produced by Erik Wahlberg and Bill Person, product managed by Lori Von Rueden, and translated to English by Osamu Shibamiya. Sadly, it never saw a European PAL release.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT_69ApT4JjCfGSFgy96DFsu8rB0Ge_l9grOi7goXj9RVtY5RQCOaQPaxwvgB8Hgiap6DfbqXXgn3snDzHgh6AkuT49wUKhDWoRh3j2h6KywjBbcN1UaCKYHfCEuTKiItNaiVMgPvSzGVhmN8rlnD8d16xueR7szh0DPPL7XlbSxMbbYIyi6JoDqrPw/s390/Astal_GoddessAntowas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT_69ApT4JjCfGSFgy96DFsu8rB0Ge_l9grOi7goXj9RVtY5RQCOaQPaxwvgB8Hgiap6DfbqXXgn3snDzHgh6AkuT49wUKhDWoRh3j2h6KywjBbcN1UaCKYHfCEuTKiItNaiVMgPvSzGVhmN8rlnD8d16xueR7szh0DPPL7XlbSxMbbYIyi6JoDqrPw/w200-h156/Astal_GoddessAntowas.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo5kjUKHygepmGPqccQud7tB2LgZekvZEWR66lboByFx6HIdIwBdA1wNoGk4pGPUQUdkvAqEfDZs4VpEFqIIRbVzO4-8_yi0KNwruePg3RIG49vb_61kE3yO1R5ToaNx1TE5k9spSuPNMNrizXypWlfb-PD7RaCSIWEMiX_W9Lrdv0GCnfqvuD38v3w/s390/Astal_RedGem+GreenGem.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo5kjUKHygepmGPqccQud7tB2LgZekvZEWR66lboByFx6HIdIwBdA1wNoGk4pGPUQUdkvAqEfDZs4VpEFqIIRbVzO4-8_yi0KNwruePg3RIG49vb_61kE3yO1R5ToaNx1TE5k9spSuPNMNrizXypWlfb-PD7RaCSIWEMiX_W9Lrdv0GCnfqvuD38v3w/w200-h156/Astal_RedGem+GreenGem.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Somewhere in the universe, a Goddess named Antowas created a world though a single jewel, Quartalia, where she created the sky, the air, and the earth. To inhabit Quartalia she created two humans:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JgsW-p5oLtheVBTwir9SNYiy_IH1NvqNrtyTBh1ypCYrl-lb4wqSzlOajCL1MnqaiJ7GpghOGwGJTq_lLZZGKh8EoNPPvModtROJ5fLMbbdg4U0oER-0P7El0K7VdfwLBDb1E6kR6oTDkVNLlFjTklMxg-ZNPdwYjLh-gjkZkdLCQJaY8-T8NXefiA/s390/Astal_RedGem-Astal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JgsW-p5oLtheVBTwir9SNYiy_IH1NvqNrtyTBh1ypCYrl-lb4wqSzlOajCL1MnqaiJ7GpghOGwGJTq_lLZZGKh8EoNPPvModtROJ5fLMbbdg4U0oER-0P7El0K7VdfwLBDb1E6kR6oTDkVNLlFjTklMxg-ZNPdwYjLh-gjkZkdLCQJaY8-T8NXefiA/w200-h156/Astal_RedGem-Astal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv7-pufVgANpmeg6rlfJIMo-lgsAeL2QZ9yrnTKRsTnL31jB1UxnwSP5ZSCjNqU1koZQbBs3db46OUaMCLx88z2BKd9ZI6lMAgg0PKU0XDkDeuLNGdPofb_SM6yeduonJblVF-m-eXDtKAoOn0eHRG-72N2y7lQz5MS97CbOgBzJa8Gz5bsKqFaWZbQ/s390/Astal_GreenGem-Leda.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv7-pufVgANpmeg6rlfJIMo-lgsAeL2QZ9yrnTKRsTnL31jB1UxnwSP5ZSCjNqU1koZQbBs3db46OUaMCLx88z2BKd9ZI6lMAgg0PKU0XDkDeuLNGdPofb_SM6yeduonJblVF-m-eXDtKAoOn0eHRG-72N2y7lQz5MS97CbOgBzJa8Gz5bsKqFaWZbQ/w200-h156/Astal_GreenGem-Leda.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">from the green gem came a girl named Leda, who brought life to this world, and from the red gem a boy named Astal,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvtsgm9QlI4003PCv2Hft-_eeSKxSQu73zS_B9xG5GhyLVH8vlpYJxKA051UkDOYBBScING2UdpsZoRTwmWRtmIpDpVMqVge4QF0KMx11ImduFefnYKJ7Rmj1mQPhoGd5NBtRBFJ7QN6dK3pJ0Q8Vd3OhAREMoRtKft9ZOOzcINSsOzK2YQ8B8mur_A/s390/Astal_ProtectingLeda.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvtsgm9QlI4003PCv2Hft-_eeSKxSQu73zS_B9xG5GhyLVH8vlpYJxKA051UkDOYBBScING2UdpsZoRTwmWRtmIpDpVMqVge4QF0KMx11ImduFefnYKJ7Rmj1mQPhoGd5NBtRBFJ7QN6dK3pJ0Q8Vd3OhAREMoRtKft9ZOOzcINSsOzK2YQ8B8mur_A/w200-h156/Astal_ProtectingLeda.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhtqJIf11ry8zGK2ruq5ME8J5pDCh3_udqKx-IDz-tcTIHbM0ej8ZBZNlaZK5ieNxFM9jzyE6AA0DVCylHeT7jS33kmko4_nSo8eomwZD7V7G7_GaY9Nt0CHc9E93Awf332XjkLX4eIqDBNMlBqXMmcyeSRh43g3u6m33eJylSMweOnUK-CDep_Lpww/s390/Astal_SleepingAntowas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhtqJIf11ry8zGK2ruq5ME8J5pDCh3_udqKx-IDz-tcTIHbM0ej8ZBZNlaZK5ieNxFM9jzyE6AA0DVCylHeT7jS33kmko4_nSo8eomwZD7V7G7_GaY9Nt0CHc9E93Awf332XjkLX4eIqDBNMlBqXMmcyeSRh43g3u6m33eJylSMweOnUK-CDep_Lpww/w200-h156/Astal_SleepingAntowas.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">whose purpose was to protect Leda. Satisfied with her creation, Antowas began her slumber,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQMmL8xA4GSdmM0f1QLEBpLB9y2j5gCX4YWz2CocO15kCnGveH5Jclcbs_7vxXtxkijfScwsFcycKVWsRDWgOx83ldP1x-gUXDNSicRracSoN4AzpABJ2n3tRb3-TZj_C4dtx0krQGG3WwcYmJ6lNMpNu6McwF2OyVC7xnynE27cEbUNfykfhxu_O-Q/s390/Astal_JeradoCreatesGeist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQMmL8xA4GSdmM0f1QLEBpLB9y2j5gCX4YWz2CocO15kCnGveH5Jclcbs_7vxXtxkijfScwsFcycKVWsRDWgOx83ldP1x-gUXDNSicRracSoN4AzpABJ2n3tRb3-TZj_C4dtx0krQGG3WwcYmJ6lNMpNu6McwF2OyVC7xnynE27cEbUNfykfhxu_O-Q/w200-h156/Astal_JeradoCreatesGeist.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVJW8bzY_eLR64scDk0LPLOsAy0kAaTCf3XAha2pD9EmaD1YcF-AXeqqA_AOKlbG9IeUyn3CSKru0bNIIncjYwdwZGx3t9tYOH1B56BxV6dvzpHaXNtxTpJkQDdPd8piLBZQymUlpPwkNJEYRRzqVlhPeZqxzn7HN-5q8WDdIsdjoxjlb3ZltFykx3Q/s390/Astal_ShatteringQuartalia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVJW8bzY_eLR64scDk0LPLOsAy0kAaTCf3XAha2pD9EmaD1YcF-AXeqqA_AOKlbG9IeUyn3CSKru0bNIIncjYwdwZGx3t9tYOH1B56BxV6dvzpHaXNtxTpJkQDdPd8piLBZQymUlpPwkNJEYRRzqVlhPeZqxzn7HN-5q8WDdIsdjoxjlb3ZltFykx3Q/w200-h156/Astal_ShatteringQuartalia.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">but as she slept the evil Jerado had plans to take over Quartalia, and to do so he took one of Antowas' gems and created a human of his own, Geist. Geist took Leda and kept her at the bottom of the ocean, and Astal, in his desperate attempt to save her, shattered the world. Leda was freed,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfrKiucRcoGFg7-i9rylEqHlQJp3ASJPCRJFEyZssuygIqbwZRi5ab2aL1DMROGYHslHH9mgbHdDfcjwAtylEJ-gsYOdNELQSQ_OvlAZNDBFA6pEgdRCUiboJYh-WuCiObn71TVUJOAyc5Higa1eg-nSbqiTeGrY8GqFASH0Ly12aWFsyQnFsWMACuQ/s390/Astal_LedaPityingAstal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfrKiucRcoGFg7-i9rylEqHlQJp3ASJPCRJFEyZssuygIqbwZRi5ab2aL1DMROGYHslHH9mgbHdDfcjwAtylEJ-gsYOdNELQSQ_OvlAZNDBFA6pEgdRCUiboJYh-WuCiObn71TVUJOAyc5Higa1eg-nSbqiTeGrY8GqFASH0Ly12aWFsyQnFsWMACuQ/w200-h156/Astal_LedaPityingAstal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDD5xwCecIq56fLNy1ce-gHZ7ZJZwHs_WUF3id4nG14ArXCtkVjCLaLUNJxf0FlWhVkqK7QwUVVOx4V3HPxxd55boMgL3TGYv3uDkbFhFBq8EbvavrsYPbf1M1JvbzhNL-n6v-dGPPxWHONUsVAtZdrcTsZ3sj9fy2LB1we5UFXUpafykbPKRQmAYIw/s390/Astal_AntowasBanishingJerado.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDD5xwCecIq56fLNy1ce-gHZ7ZJZwHs_WUF3id4nG14ArXCtkVjCLaLUNJxf0FlWhVkqK7QwUVVOx4V3HPxxd55boMgL3TGYv3uDkbFhFBq8EbvavrsYPbf1M1JvbzhNL-n6v-dGPPxWHONUsVAtZdrcTsZ3sj9fy2LB1we5UFXUpafykbPKRQmAYIw/w200-h156/Astal_AntowasBanishingJerado.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">but Quartalia was destroyed which awakened Antowas, and when she saw what Astal had done, she banished him to the moon. Leda, who took pity on Astal, gave him her green gem. Shortly after Antowas fought and banished Jerado as well and once again entered her slumber.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP4kr5oloacMZEmOLFri5MP63nHjUEukR6GXIYBSn-8QHtkv3CRsVTee54rzWIrBAT90fLfv7UQwq6kZYqqEi-8TmEfsqU5kRF0632w1p44LF5nDmSPGiiz5Ow2x824ZoT6xHDqEYZVKg7Nxj_WHlm_E-sC4sM3s0grWZZMlCXkYMvGEnrNq554NQFg/s390/Astal_GeistTakesLeda.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="390" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQP4kr5oloacMZEmOLFri5MP63nHjUEukR6GXIYBSn-8QHtkv3CRsVTee54rzWIrBAT90fLfv7UQwq6kZYqqEi-8TmEfsqU5kRF0632w1p44LF5nDmSPGiiz5Ow2x824ZoT6xHDqEYZVKg7Nxj_WHlm_E-sC4sM3s0grWZZMlCXkYMvGEnrNq554NQFg/w200-h113/Astal_GeistTakesLeda.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion3w1OUng_ZrsqgUfgTFCJCl8A-vx_t0Pj_2zzmTfTQwcRZ6yNFvg40nNquEipNYyhoLFEQH2qRLMrho5IXR6tw02wXK96D-nmkRyA6EOFPuChl0oQS3PI7elrk94rMCyAZ4mkioU5u0skNWhfPJU6S-vD7sCDwpjd4YverLhD-XAZZ0ClzimORYFfQ/s390/Astal_BirdFollowsAstal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="390" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEion3w1OUng_ZrsqgUfgTFCJCl8A-vx_t0Pj_2zzmTfTQwcRZ6yNFvg40nNquEipNYyhoLFEQH2qRLMrho5IXR6tw02wXK96D-nmkRyA6EOFPuChl0oQS3PI7elrk94rMCyAZ4mkioU5u0skNWhfPJU6S-vD7sCDwpjd4YverLhD-XAZZ0ClzimORYFfQ/w200-h113/Astal_BirdFollowsAstal.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Unfortunately, Quartalia has not been fixed from the changes made by Jerado's dark design, and Geist was still free. Once again he has taken Leda, which Astal witnesses from the moon he's chained up to, and due to his burning need to protect her he breaks free and travels to the world to find and rescue her. In Astal's journey to save Leda he comes across a bird who won't stop following him, and one by one proceeds to defeat Jerado's forces who've made a mess of Quartalia.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW21X3naqodBYkbYS4V6zhmAm6KWecZgV6wuwjGLV2pkRxiptEiA6JsddGyFpaiVbsMEk5vf_U_-72wBvY3LKpQ2bqQbFwkBy1klaovpoY2op1549SsPTu_M-V-ER1FtFWMbFKcUtsHN-xoPWHvu7dScqB_-FDtsEjTFY7olnr48o-mmMyLAtneepFyA/s390/Astal_JeradoRegainingStrength.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="390" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW21X3naqodBYkbYS4V6zhmAm6KWecZgV6wuwjGLV2pkRxiptEiA6JsddGyFpaiVbsMEk5vf_U_-72wBvY3LKpQ2bqQbFwkBy1klaovpoY2op1549SsPTu_M-V-ER1FtFWMbFKcUtsHN-xoPWHvu7dScqB_-FDtsEjTFY7olnr48o-mmMyLAtneepFyA/w200-h113/Astal_JeradoRegainingStrength.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5Z4KrftPhB5s2nGn9kn3IJjjFfXt3XVMXjMqGxC6OyzbQg9XGxTFjCoY8vt74oJ-RRCZATEBEey66Tegj0mXV_JFkD2VDX0EENxsCOtpIyP-hFiYhZT_SlETARPU5RUWFKB6tk-3KkYpG8O8bJ0deTB8bChgvedARKHcwsAOExJJawFByx4rSWRYgw/s390/Astal_Astal+Bird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="390" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5Z4KrftPhB5s2nGn9kn3IJjjFfXt3XVMXjMqGxC6OyzbQg9XGxTFjCoY8vt74oJ-RRCZATEBEey66Tegj0mXV_JFkD2VDX0EENxsCOtpIyP-hFiYhZT_SlETARPU5RUWFKB6tk-3KkYpG8O8bJ0deTB8bChgvedARKHcwsAOExJJawFByx4rSWRYgw/w200-h113/Astal_Astal+Bird.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">But unbeknownst to Astal he is unknowingly helping Jerado, for each time a guardian has been defeated their essence gets collected by Geist which makes Jerado regain some of his lost strength.</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEGheT-7l8_eAk-Mr3KAjEfIEv--9rMeTIvtavsiPz8Pb3LsL9WRFr_SEd-n1CYs48db_yuPwg4YxjWQTX80j0s2CAPMwYNpdcn2FfykBhBFuKp195LujpaKUQNrFyfzcZoSAiLEUvhuhDfqWtxZW4RsUMoYgz4NAkqIERmaRhg6DRqhayrLqEZ0E3Q/s390/Astal_TheJourneyBegins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEGheT-7l8_eAk-Mr3KAjEfIEv--9rMeTIvtavsiPz8Pb3LsL9WRFr_SEd-n1CYs48db_yuPwg4YxjWQTX80j0s2CAPMwYNpdcn2FfykBhBFuKp195LujpaKUQNrFyfzcZoSAiLEUvhuhDfqWtxZW4RsUMoYgz4NAkqIERmaRhg6DRqhayrLqEZ0E3Q/w200-h156/Astal_TheJourneyBegins.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnil5lbJg9NvcJ99F8ITTQksUIqDESsBiXuQsjeIZTweTV7rkuDX8o4hL0aWoWmIPxEloWjcn45Wt6ngHwjpdkXWoFDPloiAOc9goL0dlKhXiwHEGaltC1Mimy4Pm3TV6TtjPSxsAgC7Shaa8xdc3Dnmp3g4qHlZlpqm_MfeQq55p8hkO_QH-ZlwhJg/s390/Astal_CagedBird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnil5lbJg9NvcJ99F8ITTQksUIqDESsBiXuQsjeIZTweTV7rkuDX8o4hL0aWoWmIPxEloWjcn45Wt6ngHwjpdkXWoFDPloiAOc9goL0dlKhXiwHEGaltC1Mimy4Pm3TV6TtjPSxsAgC7Shaa8xdc3Dnmp3g4qHlZlpqm_MfeQq55p8hkO_QH-ZlwhJg/w200-h156/Astal_CagedBird.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The Journey Begins | Right: Stumbling across a caged bird, and a group of yellow gem enemies</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">In the 2D sidescrolling platformer <i>Astal</i> you take control of the eponymous human created by Antowas through the red gem, whom you can move left and right, double tap either direction to make him run, hold down to duck, jump up in the air with the C button with your gained altitude based on how hard you pressed it, pounce an enemy while airborne by pressing B in the air, press down and B simultaneously to punch the ground,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Sb30Dx19NvAcmihjdSIQqEdqYgPOSMPWoWVI2O5DqQq09KAv8VqJH0eacs27iW00pq8n92xSDnvA5n0r5WrJXvYp1eORBEQd_cPEzkL3jgLYN3R7EPnBM_i_2VhIiAiC6XZJMnvYLeogBbKnDMwt0MaGA5pZwNLCG_e_SyVgh2b63oo-1JpBi55fiw/s390/Astal_FreedBird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Sb30Dx19NvAcmihjdSIQqEdqYgPOSMPWoWVI2O5DqQq09KAv8VqJH0eacs27iW00pq8n92xSDnvA5n0r5WrJXvYp1eORBEQd_cPEzkL3jgLYN3R7EPnBM_i_2VhIiAiC6XZJMnvYLeogBbKnDMwt0MaGA5pZwNLCG_e_SyVgh2b63oo-1JpBi55fiw/w200-h156/Astal_FreedBird.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jy1BfG0pj48lEvyJ9-I8AIDm2Yc2L-_cV7hR01FVbvDcrXNlbfZpEgpFp4HgxHO3yqPbxx8kXgxlYoXLbD-cx8p3i2cngCtUHk-Bku8d4S29DNeu6sjYhOYax3958CkhO3kGXbIAGybNsefWHYnOi7VDiXOgXncYXzsMUL71F3yvrG4Dx6-lfEe02w/s390/Astal_TreeToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jy1BfG0pj48lEvyJ9-I8AIDm2Yc2L-_cV7hR01FVbvDcrXNlbfZpEgpFp4HgxHO3yqPbxx8kXgxlYoXLbD-cx8p3i2cngCtUHk-Bku8d4S29DNeu6sjYhOYax3958CkhO3kGXbIAGybNsefWHYnOi7VDiXOgXncYXzsMUL71F3yvrG4Dx6-lfEe02w/w200-h156/Astal_TreeToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Get away from me, you stupid bird, quit following me!" | Right: Tossing a tree to level the enemies at once</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">exhale a huge gust of wind by holding up and then pressing the B button, and with the normal B button use you can grab an enemy or large obstacle within range and press it again to toss said enemy behind you or lug said obstacle above your head until you toss it across from you or towards the backdrop by pressing the B button once more. </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Once you free the bird she will act as your companion throughout the course of the game whom Astal can give a command with the A button,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31-OVeQyOqWZBLSEQGkX09HIaKilaoof8gcXjDD2cTrV_50AT5mn2NMuDjQ_0-dUti4OEm07lw4SYjC7hjXiaLS-F2sBnTFXkRMohO7cp5f9sLKvHBZk1P0UY6_Se9cNf0u2FvZA8IIwhHeGfquwPwq1jfZSOIusMpxj7-jsOysURQinsD9-y6eN2AQ/s390/Astal_ChargingAhead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31-OVeQyOqWZBLSEQGkX09HIaKilaoof8gcXjDD2cTrV_50AT5mn2NMuDjQ_0-dUti4OEm07lw4SYjC7hjXiaLS-F2sBnTFXkRMohO7cp5f9sLKvHBZk1P0UY6_Se9cNf0u2FvZA8IIwhHeGfquwPwq1jfZSOIusMpxj7-jsOysURQinsD9-y6eN2AQ/w200-h156/Astal_ChargingAhead.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKuAVE4SihcDLTFLpb9N9YGZC7K0fB2Vs6q2qanKWuGgMwtojGXV_6pJUrAxSHArWMvxzsfQvdvMS-kVpoZXBHofAX5YMILaSdH3oGSBXhcqmPW5dd0Z43JrbP4Bm8sgemmAINNQ66EdhuuzQEi4eJdiqv-68VF4yvdRH0vtwDqc2H7ijz0xxELcHJw/s390/Astal_IntoTheDarknesss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKuAVE4SihcDLTFLpb9N9YGZC7K0fB2Vs6q2qanKWuGgMwtojGXV_6pJUrAxSHArWMvxzsfQvdvMS-kVpoZXBHofAX5YMILaSdH3oGSBXhcqmPW5dd0Z43JrbP4Bm8sgemmAINNQ66EdhuuzQEi4eJdiqv-68VF4yvdRH0vtwDqc2H7ijz0xxELcHJw/w200-h156/Astal_IntoTheDarknesss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Charging ahead | Right: Grabbing the large purple gem enemy and proceeding to lunge it</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">of which you've got three options which you can select from with either shoulder button (provided that you've got enough of your gauge filled): the blue option to have the bird bring you a fruit which will replenish one or two bits of health (and on rare occasions, a free man), the red option to have the bird perform a special attack, and the yellow option which pops up any time there's an exclamation mark which can make the bird perform a special function depending on the situation.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa2Dh8jQSOO8WTQty8TRH41v5TP7UQnd3VHCLHnfmsSuuMY4MBk22sSC8PC9auF7YI3SRWd_OGm0qSD6VZzs0r_efP8IDNnBkMIGOwDTOPAh9G6hGMBAuWA79Ujaf7Ypa7TCOmlJsOTJfIhmuiNG9GttSr3dphwywNQUu-uxXtRUTNhjhxCJYynZwXA/s390/Astal_WingedEyeballSwarm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa2Dh8jQSOO8WTQty8TRH41v5TP7UQnd3VHCLHnfmsSuuMY4MBk22sSC8PC9auF7YI3SRWd_OGm0qSD6VZzs0r_efP8IDNnBkMIGOwDTOPAh9G6hGMBAuWA79Ujaf7Ypa7TCOmlJsOTJfIhmuiNG9GttSr3dphwywNQUu-uxXtRUTNhjhxCJYynZwXA/w200-h156/Astal_WingedEyeballSwarm.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7_iqdCwRUsLR1a3xmcyPPdyjrrdLqETKeKTDubaqUPWJuAv3hHdos93v78LytzDS2bEbV4Gz4E7tkKqDC5XHVF7o65Ys3OBdtmU2cuhIzuOGg_JcL_so4qjOU3hwF1lF32R6sdSamu110Wk1LIEIPSQlRMTFW_Q9LWvaEC1xu1aiIeF2hsZQalIbeA/s390/Astal_TheEvilEye.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7_iqdCwRUsLR1a3xmcyPPdyjrrdLqETKeKTDubaqUPWJuAv3hHdos93v78LytzDS2bEbV4Gz4E7tkKqDC5XHVF7o65Ys3OBdtmU2cuhIzuOGg_JcL_so4qjOU3hwF1lF32R6sdSamu110Wk1LIEIPSQlRMTFW_Q9LWvaEC1xu1aiIeF2hsZQalIbeA/w200-h156/Astal_TheEvilEye.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Occasionally must beware of the swarm of winged eyeballs that crowd the upper half of this cave | Right: Coming face to face with an Evil Eye</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The bird companion has her own set of controls provided you've got a second controller on hand, but during one pivotal moment can be controlled with the first controller while Astal is briefly out of commission: A to land or take off, B to attack, or C to divebomb. Along the way, aside from contending with enemies (whether you dispose of them or hop on them) and overcoming specific obstacles, you will come across a red fruit which replenishes one bit of health or a green fruit which fills up all your health, and if you dispose of a glowing enemy your gauge will gradually fill itself up.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthl1vG9TXMjjnhEO25GHIZud-tqzgC-7eI_HFo5uS7c7hOpxfUnmZWk_d9yogYW4NdkRdOLHnrv74U0ai7EMkjyxRamm3jm0i3r9Ox6zLed8IeBoMUy7yk_u9hdqXYxReJEYVeYlVmGhcbB00u0m9QaORyBZCYCXVl5UhQEq9_SiLhh5R1_2k7Kxqdg/s390/Astal_PouncedEvilEye.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthl1vG9TXMjjnhEO25GHIZud-tqzgC-7eI_HFo5uS7c7hOpxfUnmZWk_d9yogYW4NdkRdOLHnrv74U0ai7EMkjyxRamm3jm0i3r9Ox6zLed8IeBoMUy7yk_u9hdqXYxReJEYVeYlVmGhcbB00u0m9QaORyBZCYCXVl5UhQEq9_SiLhh5R1_2k7Kxqdg/w200-h156/Astal_PouncedEvilEye.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkei7oQfW9ERWKx7ASZLGNWNYV7E4z3Rt0Kfe4_7muuVMtXKiRqWWyyhaNahFCriHF0khgvJjJ7n6xCRhdUztfNFlHir-ViETckEXbBFjRPOxDfQ6t7CNY3ar9A6E4oib2uK_5UNGyWf5V2DcokV7YCRPw8WN_XeBbDQy84xeYaBsRqs5TMTr1gInIDw/s390/Astal_Geist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkei7oQfW9ERWKx7ASZLGNWNYV7E4z3Rt0Kfe4_7muuVMtXKiRqWWyyhaNahFCriHF0khgvJjJ7n6xCRhdUztfNFlHir-ViETckEXbBFjRPOxDfQ6t7CNY3ar9A6E4oib2uK_5UNGyWf5V2DcokV7YCRPw8WN_XeBbDQy84xeYaBsRqs5TMTr1gInIDw/w200-h156/Astal_Geist.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pouncing the Evil Eye | Right: Along comes Geist the essence collector</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><i>Astal</i> has got an incredibly beautiful visual aesthetic, the art direction by Mika Okada (who also created the title design along with Hiroyuki Kawaguchi and also worked on the background with Naoko Hamada Higashi, Kawaguchi, Masahiro Sanpei, and Sarori Wada) is eyepopping and imaginatively creative with every area of Quartalia having their own distinct design, look, level of detail, and feel to them. There is not one area that looks the same, and they are all fascinating to look at.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R2HLXpQZmNNGkEW4xSlHwljt6ilY-DsKfz1lvfmoYI9tIeqhcbOubp0N6x8HCSTI1mnZ8kxobbWYC1ZBqNqC8aTkttmhSYDyD0znwku8a2QhmSKacMPpHv5d-zdqPfhDCQe09Gf7kkppOoEvx5i4OumoYaHYYDNKlwC0D7CqYQJZ4qXBrAS8myk2Pw/s390/Astal_TheDeepForest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R2HLXpQZmNNGkEW4xSlHwljt6ilY-DsKfz1lvfmoYI9tIeqhcbOubp0N6x8HCSTI1mnZ8kxobbWYC1ZBqNqC8aTkttmhSYDyD0znwku8a2QhmSKacMPpHv5d-zdqPfhDCQe09Gf7kkppOoEvx5i4OumoYaHYYDNKlwC0D7CqYQJZ4qXBrAS8myk2Pw/w200-h156/Astal_TheDeepForest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEeSw_nvxKG87oVDOacJ24i83oQ6Rag2KYuJXyzSHc1Sz8hkP44eUx4XHyESGr7r7G5-yE-4OV55QK7pBY0FlZipl0S8edRYZ6iFcH59r5n8qehstFuav-IcWYYP5SPe41P_TpzJF6h_2FUvhiEHTSmeNJmTQ7DmPgP57vEN8bKMyZkoJ8MTbTciTow/s390/Astal_Advancing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEeSw_nvxKG87oVDOacJ24i83oQ6Rag2KYuJXyzSHc1Sz8hkP44eUx4XHyESGr7r7G5-yE-4OV55QK7pBY0FlZipl0S8edRYZ6iFcH59r5n8qehstFuav-IcWYYP5SPe41P_TpzJF6h_2FUvhiEHTSmeNJmTQ7DmPgP57vEN8bKMyZkoJ8MTbTciTow/w200-h156/Astal_Advancing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: I can't, the way the bird preps itself like Astal at the start of certain areas is so cute!</b> 😭<b> | Right: Advancing ahead</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The first area, The Journey Begins, has got lush painterly strokes and has got a masterful use of parallax scrolling (including the trees in the foreground that appear fuzzy to give off a depth of field), The Deep Forest is visually mesmerizing with the background and water constantly shifting colors throughout, I love how Volcanic Valley has got an ominously infernal air about it with the sizzling mountainous backdrops due to the atmospherically incessant heat, conversely Glacial Rift is so frigid with a chilly atmospheric ambient with all the ice and snow abound, </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The Plains of Destiny has got an aptly arid quality given its desert setting, and The Destiny Unfolds where you fight against Geist starts off with the playing field encompassed by clouds.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMlzmVxmyGp1HY0RQwLZQpVvza-wSJPAwe4y7T7tT8B0CoaT7gq5kCBu8DmSAG3oheWEPDZ2FYnAHYe8TiPZ29YlXGMFQXtY60ES461a5tvT0BiFBMA0oHxrieS4jIua9-WxuNxIt7HoTs1sm2rV2noLOmq78sQ58MWjqTUi8QLUSYiDQiX8i5X1O-w/s390/Astal_PouncedBlueCrystalEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMlzmVxmyGp1HY0RQwLZQpVvza-wSJPAwe4y7T7tT8B0CoaT7gq5kCBu8DmSAG3oheWEPDZ2FYnAHYe8TiPZ29YlXGMFQXtY60ES461a5tvT0BiFBMA0oHxrieS4jIua9-WxuNxIt7HoTs1sm2rV2noLOmq78sQ58MWjqTUi8QLUSYiDQiX8i5X1O-w/w200-h156/Astal_PouncedBlueCrystalEnemy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Ft7lgvjLSUUMhN4eRfl9YzrNQWu9oo0rRvApuMsXwLWEiO_a_IhCA7udFEzCgqFOKhvV8M230fA4Q-uUbNEGp8V8txlf0_rqVaPLN7PMLkntMKegTnDcNPGpGluk_Jjau3QWYIIVMMOINNwiSkz8nPusS1TakGVoWilUQNGdhrlDKWkmGeZzwTR4g/s390/Astal_EnemyHopping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Ft7lgvjLSUUMhN4eRfl9YzrNQWu9oo0rRvApuMsXwLWEiO_a_IhCA7udFEzCgqFOKhvV8M230fA4Q-uUbNEGp8V8txlf0_rqVaPLN7PMLkntMKegTnDcNPGpGluk_Jjau3QWYIIVMMOINNwiSkz8nPusS1TakGVoWilUQNGdhrlDKWkmGeZzwTR4g/w200-h156/Astal_EnemyHopping.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pouncing the blue gem enemy | Right: Hopping from flying enemy to flying enemy</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The titular character Astal has got a solid, distinct design with his overlong red hair and equally colored eyes with an unwavering look of determination and has got a good set of animations with his walking and running animations, the way he prepares to blow a gust of wind and lets it out afterward with his hair momentarily being blown in the same direction. The bird that accompanies you is so adorably designed and endearing too with the way that she flies by your side and occasionally attacks enemies should you command her to, and it's absolutely cute how she preps her wings the way that Astal does during the beginning of certain areas. I like how they both have shadows or, when standing on an icy structure during Glacial Rift, their own reflection which is a great touch.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw9PKmrxSz05_JjXKodhrUJD_41KmTpeKI_d6goI3HyplN31h2BYcLcjYN_JTw-eQIsRJQHYJDxafXB1q-yMCqdqhgdxGc5dRHdzE82_1qd4vAgYav23FogiB9vEqtOzEwrlx5tHFQhtvJ_ZLPRywBF30t8HYuXFpInOXqczVr6zJs1K66__W8w-3cw/s390/Astal_RiverOfDreams.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiw9PKmrxSz05_JjXKodhrUJD_41KmTpeKI_d6goI3HyplN31h2BYcLcjYN_JTw-eQIsRJQHYJDxafXB1q-yMCqdqhgdxGc5dRHdzE82_1qd4vAgYav23FogiB9vEqtOzEwrlx5tHFQhtvJ_ZLPRywBF30t8HYuXFpInOXqczVr6zJs1K66__W8w-3cw/w200-h156/Astal_RiverOfDreams.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj263V1454dyq-cfApCaDMmndUTyiNWwU08UkPa8aLlWH50hH-b9Q2gkLXGa-ImOBlBiE9V3LfNFjfdy5lhTq6ddEsH23OXKratfWkcR655sppz9DgTE-yHQr_cAsbRLapVk8MM93SVahCupk7RNXrYLeSlXshGSuo8lSkCc_JbYgI5yh6CtAcd7HkDDQ/s390/Astal_Pound.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj263V1454dyq-cfApCaDMmndUTyiNWwU08UkPa8aLlWH50hH-b9Q2gkLXGa-ImOBlBiE9V3LfNFjfdy5lhTq6ddEsH23OXKratfWkcR655sppz9DgTE-yHQr_cAsbRLapVk8MM93SVahCupk7RNXrYLeSlXshGSuo8lSkCc_JbYgI5yh6CtAcd7HkDDQ/w200-h156/Astal_Pound.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sailing on the River of Dreams | Right: POUND</span></b><br /></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I love how, like the protagonists, many of the recurring enemies you face are all gem-based: like the pointy-eared gem enemies who hop along and occasionally flip around, the bird-like gem enemies who've got one half of the gem protruding from both the front and the back (which allows certain ones to remain in tandem with one another), the pointy gem enemies who are sharp to the touch, et al, and how they hide in their gems upon the ground being punched or the way they shatter upon being pounced and/or blown away by Astal. Among the enemies who are <b>not</b> gem-based are these creepy-looking grabbers who'll attempt to steal the bird from you, fiery dragons emanating from the lava, and a grotesquely designed giant bug who is massively imposing in size and stature.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rlmuHnYxrDa5PBg8kXpBzxxU3AhuYYAGkBCDuye60a2Qchud0aCjQ2jYnPxQluhvNjb2imB3PD1o_qMqLLbhggq8s4D5N-Z113eHJNVCIVkLT0pSNTvoi8l88UKHumUtTkmcZFuqtUKAgOEjery9YVBYz7Gm0DVBKBFBtMA-0xOmfI2T1WFdDkVc_Q/s390/Astal_Disarray.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rlmuHnYxrDa5PBg8kXpBzxxU3AhuYYAGkBCDuye60a2Qchud0aCjQ2jYnPxQluhvNjb2imB3PD1o_qMqLLbhggq8s4D5N-Z113eHJNVCIVkLT0pSNTvoi8l88UKHumUtTkmcZFuqtUKAgOEjery9YVBYz7Gm0DVBKBFBtMA-0xOmfI2T1WFdDkVc_Q/w200-h156/Astal_Disarray.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SWwEOZqsA0wT1Jbwu_8S1HqS0QcFNMM3E16-qKp_oHDaEDl-AyHqxeYzchAjH4o8vD48E2-BFs8gHh1BNhVOXiRkLvv_VTskubKMFho7JDZi-kux5-KRmaYfPK2SLpBOSqq2-Fb2LQPrfiWYKyeqiyTkrpBokaFEHoZO86IHtTjx_29iw-soj3kS3Q/s390/Astal_LuggingBehemoth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SWwEOZqsA0wT1Jbwu_8S1HqS0QcFNMM3E16-qKp_oHDaEDl-AyHqxeYzchAjH4o8vD48E2-BFs8gHh1BNhVOXiRkLvv_VTskubKMFho7JDZi-kux5-KRmaYfPK2SLpBOSqq2-Fb2LQPrfiWYKyeqiyTkrpBokaFEHoZO86IHtTjx_29iw-soj3kS3Q/w200-h156/Astal_LuggingBehemoth.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">If you withhold from pressing Start after watching the prologue you will be greeted to an opening intro from the Tokyo Movie Shinsha (or TMS Entertainment* as it is currently known) animation company. Directed by Toshihiko Masuda with art direction by Toshiharu Mizutani, produced by Kōji Takeuchi, colored by Tomoko Sakai, and edited by Kawaguchi, Kamiko, Yoshio Inoue (who previously worked on the 3D cutscenes for Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i>), Okada, and Ryūta Ueda, </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCfUZqR1Z4Y-xvIE0Sg_0xcid6Tww-NviF2MNxVg57qIsG-ID0PshdMrNDeenWJvCpyASymI-a01dzVpS4pClWpTKH0rv6wnMOZCpDywidJmIEkldnZXFrNlbDk4f9Wyh42dY45xH8M3OSeu2lalCbfxqrzSQxM9GYhPO9GRl94kzd3QCKy2mnjdehQ/s390/Astal_GeistSneakAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCfUZqR1Z4Y-xvIE0Sg_0xcid6Tww-NviF2MNxVg57qIsG-ID0PshdMrNDeenWJvCpyASymI-a01dzVpS4pClWpTKH0rv6wnMOZCpDywidJmIEkldnZXFrNlbDk4f9Wyh42dY45xH8M3OSeu2lalCbfxqrzSQxM9GYhPO9GRl94kzd3QCKy2mnjdehQ/w200-h156/Astal_GeistSneakAttack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic32V4oY9t1dFX6D1t17F_SCLqlVkSZLfKarfUTBdiSWMkiIq8NKwAjYqxoogGaRJJIEavUHNH72BIZjMRYZl3hoiOKOXOp3uAvM5f3ZAGFDzzs5l_bZZ4raT02GdWO8PtqLkWPucVmlLScuJ7E5GKY_yCBEJ_03PzD5zW_yqGP9YrKytyKtI3TrhEw/s390/Astal_BlowAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic32V4oY9t1dFX6D1t17F_SCLqlVkSZLfKarfUTBdiSWMkiIq8NKwAjYqxoogGaRJJIEavUHNH72BIZjMRYZl3hoiOKOXOp3uAvM5f3ZAGFDzzs5l_bZZ4raT02GdWO8PtqLkWPucVmlLScuJ7E5GKY_yCBEJ_03PzD5zW_yqGP9YrKytyKtI3TrhEw/w200-h156/Astal_BlowAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">it is engagingly paced and animated as it shows Astal journeying through a Quartalia that has now been distorted by Jerado's dark design, and the colors and shading are so striking and vibrant. I love how expressive Astal and the bird are and how you get a sneak peak of him dealing with the Behemoth and Geist, I feel it does a great job at setting the tone for what's to come.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* TMS Entertainment also worked on the animation for the anime series adaptations of Monkey Punch's <i>Lupin the Third</i> and Gosho Aoyama's <i>Case Closed</i>/<i>Detective Conan</i>, theatrically released anime films Katsuhiro Otomo's <i>Akira</i> as well as Masami Hata and William Hurtz's <i>Nemo</i>/<i>Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland</i> based on Winsor McCay's <i>Little Nemo</i>, and also worked on the animation for Western animated series like the Steven Spielberg-produced <i>Tiny Toon Adventures</i> and <i>Animaniacs</i>, Disney series <i>DuckTales</i> and <i>Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers</i>, and the '90s <i>Animated Series</i> based on DC Comics' <i>Batman</i> (RIP Kevin Conroy 😢) and Marvel Comics' <i>Spider-Man</i></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hi8M9BMdK4EtObvr5snP-qrff5-JmlHNsaY-uAu35o-3KSXw9epRwb0TvuGIWvJgwLfPxtP-HBxgTC1EtwDhN4v-kkqZX7BrlU9LQnejy7A-WKD0gyklShh8Hc3IAvPPFwg4jV5uYk-tGOEFaP1qUTwIdO14G_jBU3Vw96J7CZwnJBZpZvVx30XhcA/s390/Astal_Ducking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hi8M9BMdK4EtObvr5snP-qrff5-JmlHNsaY-uAu35o-3KSXw9epRwb0TvuGIWvJgwLfPxtP-HBxgTC1EtwDhN4v-kkqZX7BrlU9LQnejy7A-WKD0gyklShh8Hc3IAvPPFwg4jV5uYk-tGOEFaP1qUTwIdO14G_jBU3Vw96J7CZwnJBZpZvVx30XhcA/w200-h156/Astal_Ducking.png" width="200" /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjnH9w7AeIewVFcdDffRgmxEQhrzaIH9HjQhpSYd3_xOFF_SQXIvQ7AEFJ9Wg5styFviSvSwu1cQ4uJ--40TLROVPqoSbu-iJUYqV1IhKEOfIlv5AY4I3TKhTuZS2Y3ho1BGeAn84w4YZUKhgBo8_VVTkcl0IS3KO9GzHT4tDGxbfwb1u8SjBjAL3Ug/s390/Astal_TheForestFiend.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjnH9w7AeIewVFcdDffRgmxEQhrzaIH9HjQhpSYd3_xOFF_SQXIvQ7AEFJ9Wg5styFviSvSwu1cQ4uJ--40TLROVPqoSbu-iJUYqV1IhKEOfIlv5AY4I3TKhTuZS2Y3ho1BGeAn84w4YZUKhgBo8_VVTkcl0IS3KO9GzHT4tDGxbfwb1u8SjBjAL3Ug/w200-h156/Astal_TheForestFiend.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Ducking down | Right: The Forest Fiend gained its strength from sucking the lifeforce of the flowers around it</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The soundtrack to <i>Astal</i> was composed by Tatsuyuki Maeda and </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Tatsuya Kōzaki, with the music direction by Yukifumi Makino, and of the games I've played on the Sega Saturn it is arguably the most impressive soundtrack I've heard on Sega's 32-bit console, not only doing an impeccable job at crafting an appropriate level of atmospheric wonder for each area in Quartalia but also raising the bar for each and every upcoming track for the sound quality is unbelievably strong. I'm <b>in love</b> with <i>Astal</i>'s music! 😍</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-SXfFjjIe5YR7vqv5iA0tGF824zJyVccBv5wokU78xI9doW0M2z8XhOugyNAsW4BQYhfOlRiT_QXaoUYJmnPvifQa-FPg4Y6eLIohad8f6oBLK8YIEBEnd-wns-hWsZk9SpN8WifOj-hsy9xBshqkPZ8-KPrQXyqLk6RyVS56fGUeImvIQBSCtckXg/s381/Sonic3_Hydrocity-MidBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-SXfFjjIe5YR7vqv5iA0tGF824zJyVccBv5wokU78xI9doW0M2z8XhOugyNAsW4BQYhfOlRiT_QXaoUYJmnPvifQa-FPg4Y6eLIohad8f6oBLK8YIEBEnd-wns-hWsZk9SpN8WifOj-hsy9xBshqkPZ8-KPrQXyqLk6RyVS56fGUeImvIQBSCtckXg/w200-h118/Sonic3_Hydrocity-MidBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU9UZ-iDJonrDiUSH34QP7-9n78VA-fisHWEgun1LiBEP6zK2TFDipx5CwkXF6VLy-cKpXqYbZEbvPfl2iSZ-PqMM5f9IgESMMjWkV1z2rmfSIcsDpRmaqLDqP0RMLSGMCd90fjk3QS3Ji2FIoSy9NMmsN4EdGi80KfKxM9LnqJq-yokte3O_Mv2E9g/s381/Sonic+Knuckles_MushroomHillZone-Boss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU9UZ-iDJonrDiUSH34QP7-9n78VA-fisHWEgun1LiBEP6zK2TFDipx5CwkXF6VLy-cKpXqYbZEbvPfl2iSZ-PqMM5f9IgESMMjWkV1z2rmfSIcsDpRmaqLDqP0RMLSGMCd90fjk3QS3Ji2FIoSy9NMmsN4EdGi80KfKxM9LnqJq-yokte3O_Mv2E9g/w200-h118/Sonic+Knuckles_MushroomHillZone-Boss.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Maeda did the music for Sega's <i>Golden Axe III</i> and was among a pantheon of composers over at Sonic Team who provided the music to Sega Technical Institute's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</i> and <i>Sonic & Knuckles</i>, after this game he would provide the music for J-Force and Sega's <i>Dragon Force</i> and</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngEJlGzuPQ7_1d8bUs7-PCIr2rWtp1hU3dst5tNUGoadJ_hwV5WSo5ziASXlIvVvpQq1kmkQMch1L7jGlBHO3NIpjBp7gzbxYrm3Ha7Wyz-TmsZR5nKbnZsiF_gJKiabLad3Md84oRjuTwIfOKhphCYuRuMd0IqeXpJKIX2EMBAfh_INKUb7xyBi_pA/s381/Sonic3DBlast_RustyRuins-Robotnik.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngEJlGzuPQ7_1d8bUs7-PCIr2rWtp1hU3dst5tNUGoadJ_hwV5WSo5ziASXlIvVvpQq1kmkQMch1L7jGlBHO3NIpjBp7gzbxYrm3Ha7Wyz-TmsZR5nKbnZsiF_gJKiabLad3Md84oRjuTwIfOKhphCYuRuMd0IqeXpJKIX2EMBAfh_INKUb7xyBi_pA/w200-h118/Sonic3DBlast_RustyRuins-Robotnik.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qfQtWoqq5u0hPk24wY9GOay97S1trxx5wQT1unSX5RWcLVOXse_nq3BPiFn1sGhXSJCF9us-csunoNltrQ3LWZIBZDuFe2WbV5aqiH85_iiYbCAXbAqyKdgUwBOd4WRAui9gf_FpKVCHPuSPDw2ylrkWB6mBaE2enCRFgY9Y5hXv0OhMIG3N6Cx1iQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast_DiamondDust-SlipperySlope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qfQtWoqq5u0hPk24wY9GOay97S1trxx5wQT1unSX5RWcLVOXse_nq3BPiFn1sGhXSJCF9us-csunoNltrQ3LWZIBZDuFe2WbV5aqiH85_iiYbCAXbAqyKdgUwBOd4WRAui9gf_FpKVCHPuSPDw2ylrkWB6mBaE2enCRFgY9Y5hXv0OhMIG3N6Cx1iQ/w200-h118/Sonic3DBlast_DiamondDust-SlipperySlope.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">would be among a quartet of composers who provided the music for the original 16-bit version of Traveller's Tales' <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i>/<i>Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island</i>; meanwhile </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Kōzaki's other audio credits (primarily of the sound composing and directing variety) comprised of Sega's <i>OutRunners</i> and Sonic Team's <i>Chaotix</i>/<i>Knuckles' Chaotix</i>, among others.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGDELSAh7kXxOBeFDFySBBl89jKX7mjqdk5uoc5L7ryBEtwKp2EsP78qK-Wd03kzg1ZFJJHBS94ojMEKWmAcpPxg4UBw9qXhisGxcTzmEX3kVv3RuwDartwKSQTFjHU394Q1l_GxR-w-Cmlpe_64TLQM_akQpJZl-VjKw_pxdYKN1pMhTD1puIn1IXw/s390/Astal_MobileRoots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGDELSAh7kXxOBeFDFySBBl89jKX7mjqdk5uoc5L7ryBEtwKp2EsP78qK-Wd03kzg1ZFJJHBS94ojMEKWmAcpPxg4UBw9qXhisGxcTzmEX3kVv3RuwDartwKSQTFjHU394Q1l_GxR-w-Cmlpe_64TLQM_akQpJZl-VjKw_pxdYKN1pMhTD1puIn1IXw/w200-h156/Astal_MobileRoots.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGo8M8iSnE05gf8OpXcNNwTM6vzZ2NqLc2yeotM4Lvtumueq-kLWqviWUpI1ZuR8dyDujGeU8LAHURKZIFavatM7VNIOZYoYuhoUab3QBb7Nyr_jznBYrCOJ2Xrmkt5wW35UHpFv6HS_F1c7WdngvwmBcs9_Tqug7OjQoE1Pa5aok15TnR3cfSCJZjw/s390/Astal_BirdAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGo8M8iSnE05gf8OpXcNNwTM6vzZ2NqLc2yeotM4Lvtumueq-kLWqviWUpI1ZuR8dyDujGeU8LAHURKZIFavatM7VNIOZYoYuhoUab3QBb7Nyr_jznBYrCOJ2Xrmkt5wW35UHpFv6HS_F1c7WdngvwmBcs9_Tqug7OjQoE1Pa5aok15TnR3cfSCJZjw/w200-h156/Astal_BirdAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Talk about uprooting oneself | Right: Feeling the power of the bird's special attack</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">From the get go the themes are an enthralling listen: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpJrLyANSG0">The Journey Begins</a> is such a riveting theme with epic grandiose instrumentation and composition starting <i>Astal</i> on a bang, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBOuuI-htzE">Into the Darkness</a> is such a breathtakingly beautiful soothing theme that it's become one of my favorites, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gPfUb9k67w">The Deep Forest</a> is very relaxing and meditative, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KIJjtMZr_Y">Volcanic Valley</a> is unrelentingly menacing which perfectly complements this area's red atmosphere and subsequent battle with the Guardian of Fire, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YweLBAh0nE">Sea of Clouds</a> is so epic with its surreal sense of wonder, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOzgbl6a52s">Glacial Rift</a> is incandescently beautiful to listen to with its occasionally psychedelic vibe (especially with the light guitar riff in the middle),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7NsssazdP4ZrHfkoeoFrNMN4K-E-NSIstj0JidhtGEm3DmuIHaoexhvQ_lx6zCzhso9sWtQeumvOZWlr6I6f--JdLMelFs46XWqes3POp_61-uVVGPu-IYSn4h68FEeYGbiHVYbB0dkp0TV5tRJSTvPFi381F-NuxI3BBrXqhiQn_I690GseLal0Jw/s390/Astal_VolcanicValley.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7NsssazdP4ZrHfkoeoFrNMN4K-E-NSIstj0JidhtGEm3DmuIHaoexhvQ_lx6zCzhso9sWtQeumvOZWlr6I6f--JdLMelFs46XWqes3POp_61-uVVGPu-IYSn4h68FEeYGbiHVYbB0dkp0TV5tRJSTvPFi381F-NuxI3BBrXqhiQn_I690GseLal0Jw/w200-h156/Astal_VolcanicValley.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHlE8Gr7bc7JNVccv5QZAnk_qRTUnLu6w6Sgj6pA6Dw37ZhrI6HkFI4tRuC2p76ip6dDdO6Ww1-GpTI6z7iF0IJBqlDShYq51vLh6wEVKQXNnoS5l_mZC1ccPEpOhXsqaEdAo1sIAKR5jDdYoubfIxm8elS_0Pr1titjojw9D5_TwvJHuZ7qYF80Ogw/s390/Astal_BlowingOutFireDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHlE8Gr7bc7JNVccv5QZAnk_qRTUnLu6w6Sgj6pA6Dw37ZhrI6HkFI4tRuC2p76ip6dDdO6Ww1-GpTI6z7iF0IJBqlDShYq51vLh6wEVKQXNnoS5l_mZC1ccPEpOhXsqaEdAo1sIAKR5jDdYoubfIxm8elS_0Pr1titjojw9D5_TwvJHuZ7qYF80Ogw/w200-h156/Astal_BlowingOutFireDragon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Before dealing with that gem enemy, Astal must expunge its flames enveloping its body | Right: Snuffing out the fiery dragon-like obstacle</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp4AZvCO8mA">The Crystal Palace</a> is an absolute banger with the piano melody and the rock guitar that it adds so much to this area's atmosphere that it is inspiring, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bv9gq_WDR4">The Plains of Destiny</a> is masterfully composed and is such a fitting ode to Astal's resolve to save Leda and restore Quartalia to its former glory. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktd_sYKKI9k">Destiny Unfolds</a> is such a hectic and drum-heavy theme that adds to the fight against Geist and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N9WtaZJxRg">The Fight for the Future</a> is as ominously foreboding and completely distorted as Jerado which is perfect given the do or die battle at hand.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH91t8ejrVevkJj6RdygsD6AJi6zmK1JHzSetltcBxD9PuHEflSryMRgP2MtKgVWWyOgOO3m3O0ZCpIctEBfiYIFZWGeANd-xunwLZhJEmGHKo0lImnFjgJ_w-KoEDghdCjNH2D4ji8LJl5WAoyXTwFkIYIuAds9qm50hbvHVTj7h83eJ93p8O1bO3-g/s390/Astal_FireDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH91t8ejrVevkJj6RdygsD6AJi6zmK1JHzSetltcBxD9PuHEflSryMRgP2MtKgVWWyOgOO3m3O0ZCpIctEBfiYIFZWGeANd-xunwLZhJEmGHKo0lImnFjgJ_w-KoEDghdCjNH2D4ji8LJl5WAoyXTwFkIYIuAds9qm50hbvHVTj7h83eJ93p8O1bO3-g/w200-h156/Astal_FireDragon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6iaptfwvkr7mOgnC4ow3iG01ClldL-5jjJc5kYxo6GYGwycQO37A2wm6WVMigbrjJwBzhVMSQNuqjA7icipUjWYF8UZwTIKUMAp0s7S4XriBeVodGm2jrPwffdD5gGtTy5gTC5Dk4NRn-XTDPHJwU2cF1GhdhJtCgg4IPpRp6p0q9mmB4PCERbHeEQ/s390/Astal_RockCarrying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6iaptfwvkr7mOgnC4ow3iG01ClldL-5jjJc5kYxo6GYGwycQO37A2wm6WVMigbrjJwBzhVMSQNuqjA7icipUjWYF8UZwTIKUMAp0s7S4XriBeVodGm2jrPwffdD5gGtTy5gTC5Dk4NRn-XTDPHJwU2cF1GhdhJtCgg4IPpRp6p0q9mmB4PCERbHeEQ/w200-h156/Astal_RockCarrying.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: The fire dragon will always revive itself so long as it's got fire in its element</b> 🔥<b> | Right: Lugging a giant rock doubling as a shield for the volcanic rocks hurtling your way</b></span></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Maeda also composed and arranged the opening and ending songs <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcoECvfrUeU">"Let Me Try Again"</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FViljT1cwGI">"Shining World"</a>, both directed by Shimizu and produced by Makoto Oshitani, and they are both incredible. The two songs in the original Japanese version <i>Kisuishō Densetsu Astal</i> had vocals, but in the American version <i>Astal</i> only the instrumentation was left intact as the vocals have been removed from the game proper.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpX41SaydY3jWaZATmqhtk9pCOn-IwywMcuOfVCFmpH-GIDcZ2x2cLRnRQXgbjA3tgOOHz8IdttqAbYu9oTnt7QeXFGYMkwShW7nybx9C3wf2yQ7VD6yCk0qXngP3Q9ewJzMSkIcFNkyIbAl9z7CU8fL5iMur8NJyh27XrFU5ZR0Palq92s9ljL2T_Q/s390/SegaSaturn_Astal-LetMeTryAgain.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpX41SaydY3jWaZATmqhtk9pCOn-IwywMcuOfVCFmpH-GIDcZ2x2cLRnRQXgbjA3tgOOHz8IdttqAbYu9oTnt7QeXFGYMkwShW7nybx9C3wf2yQ7VD6yCk0qXngP3Q9ewJzMSkIcFNkyIbAl9z7CU8fL5iMur8NJyh27XrFU5ZR0Palq92s9ljL2T_Q/s16000/SegaSaturn_Astal-LetMeTryAgain.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">However, if you play <i>Astal</i> on a CD player you will hear the original version of "Let Me Try Again" <b>with</b> the Japanese vocals which is the only track available when not playing the game. I am a bit bummed that this game disc in particular didn't double as a soundtrack like certain other games available on the Sega Saturn given my affinity for its music, but luckily in the options screen there is a sound test which makes up for that. I think the songs with the vocals sound good, though I do really like the instrumental versions of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbJXxrXsdA">former</a> and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5hwCIZV48">latter</a> song a bit more, but I guess it's all a matter of personal preference.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkJ3pIbzGqH8YjgZ7JSqudzVAP2mGKFV4djo-BMyygEoJXlyIey9N3-sLo6dmPOeRt4EPMmzb5cLdDZa2_UehEw_fSlXxm3hNwup7Rz-8Tey90TXeCCAG-WH_p_Zg4e22EnV7scD_pkKMRF3i4X71kttBz953MCz9ifLWYUylIcXGzbcskThpnGfedw/s390/Astal_GuardianOfFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkJ3pIbzGqH8YjgZ7JSqudzVAP2mGKFV4djo-BMyygEoJXlyIey9N3-sLo6dmPOeRt4EPMmzb5cLdDZa2_UehEw_fSlXxm3hNwup7Rz-8Tey90TXeCCAG-WH_p_Zg4e22EnV7scD_pkKMRF3i4X71kttBz953MCz9ifLWYUylIcXGzbcskThpnGfedw/w200-h156/Astal_GuardianOfFire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJiDNHvHothRyv7cKUDacXuzl0axV8eiOQihj4lU1jxPlG7l6XZgmgL6ujpWUQ1jkxB5MiuV0NvaRtHIR_H-RE94jT-NTF8tZAxfCc-swtdQs1kATL_VX6UHmpTZ8KLBBXOTDQYC8f1Esh2JhwoHVjOKDt0kDaRJGegPwZarinDgSpAVWPbwAQQzvnw/s390/Astal_BreathingFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJiDNHvHothRyv7cKUDacXuzl0axV8eiOQihj4lU1jxPlG7l6XZgmgL6ujpWUQ1jkxB5MiuV0NvaRtHIR_H-RE94jT-NTF8tZAxfCc-swtdQs1kATL_VX6UHmpTZ8KLBBXOTDQYC8f1Esh2JhwoHVjOKDt0kDaRJGegPwZarinDgSpAVWPbwAQQzvnw/w200-h156/Astal_BreathingFire.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: What a <u>glorious</u> boss entrance! </b>😃<b> The camera zooms out immediately as the bird signals the impending danger, the Guardian of Fire flies onscreen at the foreground, | Right: ... then makes a turn and slowly creeps towards your playing field, breathing fire towards you as it soars closer and closer</b></span></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects are all solid, from the whoosh of Astal jumping in the air, to the tweets of your bird companion, to the sounds of Astal running to the sound of a horse trot, to the pottery shattering sound of the poor enemy who fell prey to the frigid snow that fell on it, to the authenticity of the finger snapping sound by Geist, to the dragon wail any time a dragon sprouts from the lava or when the Guardian of Fire flies towards you, et al,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpjorBslHyAiMaJJANbjEE0EHQL0n9oIL2YXP2Hc-dCpT438sh0c9htIErvLfZSE7KrtkDYNeYyUHb6H-s5A66emBJx7B4p9D9E6RtscrUWgmCb6TSq4mez9iF_F9aQ91KUOCCslKWTd_0aZFtd9w7OK4J2zEwph_BISERKFID-TqopVzyqRReJxf4w/s331/PanzerDragoon_Explosion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpjorBslHyAiMaJJANbjEE0EHQL0n9oIL2YXP2Hc-dCpT438sh0c9htIErvLfZSE7KrtkDYNeYyUHb6H-s5A66emBJx7B4p9D9E6RtscrUWgmCb6TSq4mez9iF_F9aQ91KUOCCslKWTd_0aZFtd9w7OK4J2zEwph_BISERKFID-TqopVzyqRReJxf4w/s16000/PanzerDragoon_Explosion.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">the last sound of which was used in Team Andromeda's <i>Panzer Dragoon</i>.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIoPZK9uAtNxy1arbZbrJOs6ubGZfuoJjfoVT9V60RfQH1k2_kjwLvvEY7ARlA4kUlxH2mrot37Mt6WJAlqFKtOWMYeSGtj6L9HtLIG5QXqa3NZIViRaJzs9W8qnz-8tHTZ5DoIsh8lgQ5lHUwBOsNqMFxzIxVA4tyYyIrepampfPtJxtSV_vAFKCrg/s390/Astal_ThrowingDragonSkeleton.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIoPZK9uAtNxy1arbZbrJOs6ubGZfuoJjfoVT9V60RfQH1k2_kjwLvvEY7ARlA4kUlxH2mrot37Mt6WJAlqFKtOWMYeSGtj6L9HtLIG5QXqa3NZIViRaJzs9W8qnz-8tHTZ5DoIsh8lgQ5lHUwBOsNqMFxzIxVA4tyYyIrepampfPtJxtSV_vAFKCrg/w200-h156/Astal_ThrowingDragonSkeleton.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHNcs26RkOk5Pc3k8hnFkD6ryvesYn5ozaebRzDo9rBjoGRmGtb2_k9r5QN49AQRD69rfNwiMqacVypUYXE9ePkcAouHyEHJkfHbMsim18_iTKRX3WyBCfj51bUbD34tw6oOhvWSxCbzh8wOXarN7IQr6sLR0CKWlZh4pud6tzgUN7I8R1OOFgv1zw/s390/Astal_FlamingOn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHNcs26RkOk5Pc3k8hnFkD6ryvesYn5ozaebRzDo9rBjoGRmGtb2_k9r5QN49AQRD69rfNwiMqacVypUYXE9ePkcAouHyEHJkfHbMsim18_iTKRX3WyBCfj51bUbD34tw6oOhvWSxCbzh8wOXarN7IQr6sLR0CKWlZh4pud6tzgUN7I8R1OOFgv1zw/w200-h156/Astal_FlamingOn.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Tossing the Guardian of Fire's skeleton around | Right: Preparing for takeoff</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The Japanese version had a voice cast comprising of Ai Orikasa (Astal), Yuri Shiratori (Leda), Aya Hisakawa (Antowas and the Narrator), Ryo Horikawa (Geist), and Daisuke Gōri (Jerado), but for the American release they would all be voiced by the same voice acting talent and impressionist Lani Minella who has got an excellent vocal range. Minella got her start providing voices and impressions for the LaserDisc release of Bill Kroyer's animated film <i>FernGully: The Last Rainforest</i> in 1992 and founded her own voice acting agency AudioGodz the same year. Some years later she was a voice casting director for 3D Realms' <i>Duke Nukem 3D</i> and helped cast Jon St. John as the voice actor of the title character.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg753OJbXEYc6011aRU8zcd8dzZ4SHFMxDM5CrshRsXlBc38b1HA4X0lrhMZ0TaOoitaS1sGN_zkAZ4r7YCWYzJprZ7bnv1ke9fv1HKtK6xm7xLKKiKKTgqt5Go0liTIH53T1btp6V7ICNgcg3z2qSKsxjYTVSLhYQSUKcvsFrzoOjNaKLahBraWw2ukA/s390/Astal_SeaOfClouds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg753OJbXEYc6011aRU8zcd8dzZ4SHFMxDM5CrshRsXlBc38b1HA4X0lrhMZ0TaOoitaS1sGN_zkAZ4r7YCWYzJprZ7bnv1ke9fv1HKtK6xm7xLKKiKKTgqt5Go0liTIH53T1btp6V7ICNgcg3z2qSKsxjYTVSLhYQSUKcvsFrzoOjNaKLahBraWw2ukA/w200-h156/Astal_SeaOfClouds.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBTiWZeFoFOiq7xIAG1att5vPaCRMix52rkIVyt0HUZ780YBXYO504g2bpnk7llXKxQ62Fb7bO0e9amiPAlXVbQZXjMXnRf3Yjw-RduDQmRp3Bv1pen10UgkKw9BEDrQb6aGV0ZuRzaKr-wjppAw4gNl4Mm-rZuHx6vg2W6m0qQStcblBOGDfH0Tqvg/s390/Astal_GravitationalPlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBTiWZeFoFOiq7xIAG1att5vPaCRMix52rkIVyt0HUZ780YBXYO504g2bpnk7llXKxQ62Fb7bO0e9amiPAlXVbQZXjMXnRf3Yjw-RduDQmRp3Bv1pen10UgkKw9BEDrQb6aGV0ZuRzaKr-wjppAw4gNl4Mm-rZuHx6vg2W6m0qQStcblBOGDfH0Tqvg/w200-h156/Astal_GravitationalPlatforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The venture continues in a Sea of Clouds | Right: Be mindful of the gravitational pull so long as you're here, though, for you'll be given additional airtime</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">During the large chunk of her thirty year career, following <i>Astal</i>, she would lend her voice acting and/or voiceover talents for many video games such as Eidetic's <i>Bubsy 3D</i>, Racdym's <i>Snowboard Kids</i> games, HeR Interactive's <i>Nancy Drew</i> franchise in her first major voice role, Sonic Team's <i>Sonic</i> franchise, CyberConnect's <i>Tail Concerto</i>, Eurocom's <i>40 Winks</i>, Level-5's <i>Professor Layton</i> franchise, Bandai Namco's <i>Soulcalibur</i> series, HAL Laboratory's <i>Super Smash Bros.</i> series, Nintendo's <i>Super Mario</i> series, and Naughty Dog's <i>The Last of Us</i> games, just to name several. At 72 years old, Lani Minella is still in the business to this day.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLA9ryBJnJke_fw_56o2fN1KFZAX95dGB5Y1jx2GB5gsT7ZBQBXfbTLUR31C7OXEE8C2OoPpE46XHHJzEAG_IyUkoS5-ci-Ii7CpbPV8Ys2n5QNF1MZQD-LpHFEIZZxwy5vwXLgeaTNfGhumGnXgufEZQELyARvBQxCiAf23E2CzHpqDuW_yRAgQVsA/s390/Astal_PouncedGrabber.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLA9ryBJnJke_fw_56o2fN1KFZAX95dGB5Y1jx2GB5gsT7ZBQBXfbTLUR31C7OXEE8C2OoPpE46XHHJzEAG_IyUkoS5-ci-Ii7CpbPV8Ys2n5QNF1MZQD-LpHFEIZZxwy5vwXLgeaTNfGhumGnXgufEZQELyARvBQxCiAf23E2CzHpqDuW_yRAgQVsA/w200-h156/Astal_PouncedGrabber.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEuKzvgIR-ShM6Eltzc2HFvwxtnoqfzuq9IMPUbU3Kx9FXW6Ps4DLIClVUsIYnpHn5uVd-gAYOvnlF2yTJfc-roX039EfGfT_D3m_Q6867NvLcn7tMBNHjdSsy5MfqJy7A0nY1QGL_3ZTgYMZKvWzDm93TLsgtwNlV5JCN0dCF24cQrfzD9wEdJ370w/s390/Astal_Command.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEuKzvgIR-ShM6Eltzc2HFvwxtnoqfzuq9IMPUbU3Kx9FXW6Ps4DLIClVUsIYnpHn5uVd-gAYOvnlF2yTJfc-roX039EfGfT_D3m_Q6867NvLcn7tMBNHjdSsy5MfqJy7A0nY1QGL_3ZTgYMZKvWzDm93TLsgtwNlV5JCN0dCF24cQrfzD9wEdJ370w/w200-h156/Astal_Command.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Punch out that creepy grabber | Right: Commanding the bird to momentarily render that moving platform as a stationary one</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Due to the general brevity of each area in Quartalia, there are no checkpoints in the event that you lose a life as you'll be brought back to the beginning of the present area you were in the moment you lose your last health. In the options screen you have a choice to start the game off with anywhere from one to five lives. Sega of America, in their typical manner of making games harder for the American audience at the time, reduced the health capacity from five to three when it came to localizing <i>Astal</i> and whereas the original Japanese version had unlimited continues, the American version only had one solitary continue which I do think is harsh no matter the quality. Fortunately it is manageable to play through, for the most part.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5Wa36Xw7_nn8AdABZHXw1Fg4doclmMdwI2miH-G9hGAwjXjO_1_bznHZ1C0qiX9ctRYKj1YIN1YCH7-qgVb2lH25RYzsOA6z3Bdot8Z0H4wDVX46ASfarQZYp1ovoa8D6LlYJgeN34Bxrub7hrgihxGRKq-4uGH-NVwQ2lK9XDb10QaMLQXybY4-Eg/s755/Astal_SonicArchieComicsCameos.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="755" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5Wa36Xw7_nn8AdABZHXw1Fg4doclmMdwI2miH-G9hGAwjXjO_1_bznHZ1C0qiX9ctRYKj1YIN1YCH7-qgVb2lH25RYzsOA6z3Bdot8Z0H4wDVX46ASfarQZYp1ovoa8D6LlYJgeN34Bxrub7hrgihxGRKq-4uGH-NVwQ2lK9XDb10QaMLQXybY4-Eg/w400-h359/Astal_SonicArchieComicsCameos.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Collage image from the Sonic Fandom website</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">This would be the only game to feature Astal in it, but after the game came out he would make a number of appearances in Archie's <i>Sonic</i> comics including one appearance by his bird companion in one commemorative issue.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o0OOFVKbDKAcpPo5tI5EkYQw6K0RIZiq_QhH5FeU5dLWkE9VG3vblnU8LMBZc5LnVZB9ryj1Ypnb_xjkEPKeIdtSOz9un-WFBh4MmwnOp-RXg9_ikdSA0Avm68Lb9vNGOZeX5dtkBZNo9-ffhHWkDsCvxfaeArhSXhrCizHY9pD2UDDk8-hSGVCwiw/s390/Astal_Behemoth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o0OOFVKbDKAcpPo5tI5EkYQw6K0RIZiq_QhH5FeU5dLWkE9VG3vblnU8LMBZc5LnVZB9ryj1Ypnb_xjkEPKeIdtSOz9un-WFBh4MmwnOp-RXg9_ikdSA0Avm68Lb9vNGOZeX5dtkBZNo9-ffhHWkDsCvxfaeArhSXhrCizHY9pD2UDDk8-hSGVCwiw/w200-h156/Astal_Behemoth.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrabIPMTT9FfS6IP8RvB3Zsh7O2qoCY8s3beVgnZVIOQ2bSJqX64cWUXc6MArR_t1kMa-FiNfVvjmeDQF6m3rYucbi5-0eI0AZqZEF6wTj7kmNUaNx3B6raX134HbmvIDzaj28u_CVZcizUesG7j1LOyqtbcHHBFzfcI0FrmJjF71wXHZVhYP3Snyvg/s390/Astal_GlacialRift.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrabIPMTT9FfS6IP8RvB3Zsh7O2qoCY8s3beVgnZVIOQ2bSJqX64cWUXc6MArR_t1kMa-FiNfVvjmeDQF6m3rYucbi5-0eI0AZqZEF6wTj7kmNUaNx3B6raX134HbmvIDzaj28u_CVZcizUesG7j1LOyqtbcHHBFzfcI0FrmJjF71wXHZVhYP3Snyvg/w200-h156/Astal_GlacialRift.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Suplex | Right: Glacial Rift</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I forget how I first learned about <i>Astal</i>, but I do vaguely recall seeing a screenshot of it online several years ago on a random website and finding his character design interesting and the color palette looking appealing. I had honestly forgotten about this game's existence until I stumbled across Saturn Memories' longplay video of it on YouTube during the first month of owning a Saturn console back in May of this year:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurJ4BIrRjH7kb-xR555bqqwMZmC9DIvABmMxU4TR5B7B_odpswFWZ6ParKYFrtbZsJryHTHwHXTOSuyh-ZlBOzs1p3oW8v5-mNjpTmEIJgkZUOETLXXlquZEO6VTOOIwW33hzWBzoJkqEj50jwc7UnKdeOdWVZO3uweTugQM0Cv4h8N9sVn47zXlVYw/s394/ClockworkKnight_InvincibilityRun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="394" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurJ4BIrRjH7kb-xR555bqqwMZmC9DIvABmMxU4TR5B7B_odpswFWZ6ParKYFrtbZsJryHTHwHXTOSuyh-ZlBOzs1p3oW8v5-mNjpTmEIJgkZUOETLXXlquZEO6VTOOIwW33hzWBzoJkqEj50jwc7UnKdeOdWVZO3uweTugQM0Cv4h8N9sVn47zXlVYw/w200-h115/ClockworkKnight_InvincibilityRun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WmWgffciHZmJhcL99P9Zshs_TzePDpRZVop-bGckCPfDXaJSSOB6qWFfXgyPd1qhZA-geHZ_zI3eX5e6e06bHS2vVonahjheTXxxw9EuDBvumMhgsMWUYueLhi70jiSXRVzmwFYtx1p_b6LcFvaf6KL1uip8JLD_LjP7kJakerzmzVA10okWjCSsCA/s394/ClockworkKnight_KatchinStun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="394" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WmWgffciHZmJhcL99P9Zshs_TzePDpRZVop-bGckCPfDXaJSSOB6qWFfXgyPd1qhZA-geHZ_zI3eX5e6e06bHS2vVonahjheTXxxw9EuDBvumMhgsMWUYueLhi70jiSXRVzmwFYtx1p_b6LcFvaf6KL1uip8JLD_LjP7kJakerzmzVA10okWjCSsCA/w200-h115/ClockworkKnight_KatchinStun.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I've shared my brief thoughts and experiences on my first four Saturn games back in June on my first </b><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/06/random-saturnday.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Random Saturnday</a><b>, and covered <i>Clockwork Knight</i> in full back in August</b></span></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i>, which I got the day after I got the console on a perpetually rainy day, I found to be an enjoyably good game as well as an ideal entry point to the Saturn, which got me excited to try more games for the system (but within reason due to their price tags), and within the span of a month I got to play my second, third, and fourth Saturn venues Crystal Dynamics' <i>Solar Eclipse</i>, Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i>, <b>and</b> <i>Astal</i>. Being curious, I watched the Saturn Memories gameplay video only up to the first few areas which piqued my interest and made me want to play the game, but due to it being rare I was cautious when I decided to browse it on eBay, and luckily I found a copy within a repro case which was in the $60 range, and from the day the game arrived I've enjoyed it ever since. 😄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNwTBlMAT2tLYkqy5vSgdevAMcMSfiVuEzVJQCqFmZBLwkw5jBb-wZKBzU9rlV9NYCcF__nIuCFGxHEURGvHGd58BwYgzeAacwxQ7JiSh5RUpBAvcBkLBBZS76I-X_kjhiyqVeuqe7-AFrcI8AA2kPP4OUrfg35snF3zKgGMYNt__SK0Xoh6uFYKmVA/s390/Astal_CrystallizedForeground.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNwTBlMAT2tLYkqy5vSgdevAMcMSfiVuEzVJQCqFmZBLwkw5jBb-wZKBzU9rlV9NYCcF__nIuCFGxHEURGvHGd58BwYgzeAacwxQ7JiSh5RUpBAvcBkLBBZS76I-X_kjhiyqVeuqe7-AFrcI8AA2kPP4OUrfg35snF3zKgGMYNt__SK0Xoh6uFYKmVA/w200-h156/Astal_CrystallizedForeground.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJNr1roJacu6OJrkZLLPuOsRwVHwE_-bo1kNrr7NN-R4W8Ryv48o8mcO3Yqbcb_Zgg-Mk0-Mnob8Ou-qcdBE9-CtoqNtc-KgJiQ2qvlgmcTcSN-QtdazOIkmgYlGvU8FjWxXlELqjYsgBj4VY0JDAVAPwmqFE37f2eUzmANbOgY5hWy_jQ6kccM9O0w/s390/Astal_CrumblingIceBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJNr1roJacu6OJrkZLLPuOsRwVHwE_-bo1kNrr7NN-R4W8Ryv48o8mcO3Yqbcb_Zgg-Mk0-Mnob8Ou-qcdBE9-CtoqNtc-KgJiQ2qvlgmcTcSN-QtdazOIkmgYlGvU8FjWxXlELqjYsgBj4VY0JDAVAPwmqFE37f2eUzmANbOgY5hWy_jQ6kccM9O0w/w200-h156/Astal_CrumblingIceBridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: That see-through icicle foreground adds so much atmospheric depth | Right: Awww, look how cute the bird is perching on Astal's shoulder! </b>🤗</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><i>Astal</i> is a highly enjoyable platformer, the premise behind it is lightheartedly endearing, and above all, it is absolutely <b>gorgeous</b> to boot. There are a couple instances that aesthetically remind me of Ludimedia's French-produced <i>Rayman</i>*, but I love the unique presentation of each area in Quartalia. Even though it is exclusively 2D there are areas and/or boss fights when the camera zooms out or back in to expand on the scale of the given area (if it hasn't been zoomed out already at the start): like during the fight against the Forest Fiend and the Guardian of Fire, shortly after starting The Crystal Palace the camera pulls out to reveal its vast size and scope, and during random portions of Volcanic Valley and The Plains of Destiny, et al.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* A game I grew up playing on the PlayStation One, this despite <i>Rayman</i> not making its debut until over four months after this game's Japanese release</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_urxoLZHTwcpOX1CYX_YfHFwbaXW1jvEUKFu1WrHoUHwSOJZfpf4KySQyp1lqFJJR6mWPXLDXvduibkebAAMEr62XuxuoZORo52rXiQjL4g9meS6JphdXQQ4JBWnH2aimmgn3E77OS9tWORIq8-htIVkFeTdjXE_9lgbAYnCBJMRGEN15FLHvnOdQGQ/s390/Astal_Tipping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_urxoLZHTwcpOX1CYX_YfHFwbaXW1jvEUKFu1WrHoUHwSOJZfpf4KySQyp1lqFJJR6mWPXLDXvduibkebAAMEr62XuxuoZORo52rXiQjL4g9meS6JphdXQQ4JBWnH2aimmgn3E77OS9tWORIq8-htIVkFeTdjXE_9lgbAYnCBJMRGEN15FLHvnOdQGQ/w200-h156/Astal_Tipping.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJOXWJWvPqU941gjvZWquSJgVN_K3BzAdn3mP6N6gOiSL-taB3l9r-ZMT5aSQ3FLmr6KdDXzTSbcbKdyiDka17pPdZRVWv-KDvUz21Vau97SJ_PCmtyLPjrmsYdiSViSyrBWl-cv7-EKAVV7ZpJFjWikkrcogJ7y7dJzBOhqXEYDN4JQ4Jmi2lhvwqA/s390/Astal_Frozen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJOXWJWvPqU941gjvZWquSJgVN_K3BzAdn3mP6N6gOiSL-taB3l9r-ZMT5aSQ3FLmr6KdDXzTSbcbKdyiDka17pPdZRVWv-KDvUz21Vau97SJ_PCmtyLPjrmsYdiSViSyrBWl-cv7-EKAVV7ZpJFjWikkrcogJ7y7dJzBOhqXEYDN4JQ4Jmi2lhvwqA/w200-h156/Astal_Frozen.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Tipping while standing on the edge | Right: That poor floor gem enemy got snowed on so hard that it's become an ice sculpture </b>🥶</span></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">In terms of scaling effects, <i>Astal</i> does a pretty good job at it and has got a polished look and feel throughout when it comes to the occasional camera zooms and whenever you have the bird retrieve a replenishing fruit as it flies offscreen and then returns to you. I found the story charming and liked how after defeating a boss the story progressed through a gem-adorned reel transfixed in front of a translucent backdrop of the constellations in the background with effective music box renditions of themes from areas you've been in (or have yet to visit).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCkLCagNAlV7wOblctK5D6MZoA_OQbdNMTIsX5pxv-C0abHR6P1l4r8lVQNODigxjm-Kenlvvh0vGI0y1mFSnhfZQzqsuO2tGtuX9EU1NKhOGiOYL3MssH8bQ4Kc3uTVLfvouSjxb0cZJ8e7CpwF5hyVHckd-boxgL_nWGZ2h2m2snPwQ3ZrwtZErNA/s390/Astal_SleepingByFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCkLCagNAlV7wOblctK5D6MZoA_OQbdNMTIsX5pxv-C0abHR6P1l4r8lVQNODigxjm-Kenlvvh0vGI0y1mFSnhfZQzqsuO2tGtuX9EU1NKhOGiOYL3MssH8bQ4Kc3uTVLfvouSjxb0cZJ8e7CpwF5hyVHckd-boxgL_nWGZ2h2m2snPwQ3ZrwtZErNA/w200-h156/Astal_SleepingByFire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7wvY4krLqW1WcPA4ZEQuGBL47VazJ_tOtYDDBRQeGLHo7fM9BKYMSvQTgkcmmLW0ZuT7lZzgWnkFm5BXvUlJ5DjJarA5QwwWW4yRERu76VafQs11gqGa-5b2JPkyvYP35U8uDy_hqSxZKsiy7k5j6AHN5LeWRl4tFEH2jm7qjF6SuK_ecB2rxuht9w/s390/Astal_Bird+Astal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7wvY4krLqW1WcPA4ZEQuGBL47VazJ_tOtYDDBRQeGLHo7fM9BKYMSvQTgkcmmLW0ZuT7lZzgWnkFm5BXvUlJ5DjJarA5QwwWW4yRERu76VafQs11gqGa-5b2JPkyvYP35U8uDy_hqSxZKsiy7k5j6AHN5LeWRl4tFEH2jm7qjF6SuK_ecB2rxuht9w/w200-h156/Astal_Bird+Astal.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Maybe it's me, but I couldn't help but notice that the bird looks like she's flapping her wings <u>backwards</u> in-game</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I love Astal and the bird together, they make a great dynamic duo and are absolutely adorable together. 🥰 The bird especially, who proves to be a helpful ally right from the get go, as she will alert you of anything requiring special attention, like freezing a platform in place momentarily or striking through a couple stalactites which will cause them to fall down on the lava that way in the short amount of time that they're not melted Astal can jump on them like makeshift platforms to cross the wide gap, and can perform strong attacks against enemies and bosses should you command her to do so. She is also a very cute video game bird, but that's the icing on the cake, and it's funny how Astal freezes in position in midair for a brief second the moment he pounces an enemy in the air.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjjPAIE9d26TstzeC6egCRg198BvNk1NwIXe7RLsfYNtBylwff0GAO2-bS3BYU29IJVZDd831WgxwQQxj3UOBzXyiMXHZiYvvqPrSgQMDz8broRKhZ_KyewV450JIuX6SNX34T0lC_V3y3a2Wou59zf3CbbEivqTaLL_inT1m8DLWBR44aL2dYlSo0w/s390/Astal_TheCrystalPalace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjjPAIE9d26TstzeC6egCRg198BvNk1NwIXe7RLsfYNtBylwff0GAO2-bS3BYU29IJVZDd831WgxwQQxj3UOBzXyiMXHZiYvvqPrSgQMDz8broRKhZ_KyewV450JIuX6SNX34T0lC_V3y3a2Wou59zf3CbbEivqTaLL_inT1m8DLWBR44aL2dYlSo0w/w200-h156/Astal_TheCrystalPalace.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwtYdUK2W8xbE2Fd5pMj5ajfdwwIFFzBVB6uwMOHD8UkXcNuoWMizSALCiCby60oBq3UP_DKA_T6CXSKuI_EXfPY1_YqfGaH_ZXYwuUSgj0HIZEVI5ruaMOkJhlji7WY4DUlUxfSvtQjwMcL4Iakp7Bh5l34PQ4uMjUldZU1Kj4kBzzPSa0evr32Itg/s390/Astal_BlowingGemBirds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwtYdUK2W8xbE2Fd5pMj5ajfdwwIFFzBVB6uwMOHD8UkXcNuoWMizSALCiCby60oBq3UP_DKA_T6CXSKuI_EXfPY1_YqfGaH_ZXYwuUSgj0HIZEVI5ruaMOkJhlji7WY4DUlUxfSvtQjwMcL4Iakp7Bh5l34PQ4uMjUldZU1Kj4kBzzPSa0evr32Itg/w200-h156/Astal_BlowingGemBirds.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Those spiky and pointy gem enemies will dive straight down the moment you move underneath them | Right: Blow them away</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I like the different ways this game tries to challenge you: Into the Darkness is atmospheric in the way that it fluctuates between pitch black (with Astal and the bird's eyes glowing in the dark) and light with the occasional swarm of winged eyeball gem enemies fluttering in the upper half of the screen, The River of Dreams as you ride on a seaborne gem creature and must overcome certain obstacles and/or put up with winged gem enemies that whizz by, after bypassing the fire dragon enemies in Volcanic Valley you must evade the rocks sprouting from the volcano in the distance which splits into pieces upon crashing on the ground if not the rock you're carrying,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6J6aGd2ZE-zeJ1utXj9_HDb5aktfX2OvkWYkkRb7CAQRQgSK9D1pWHTnPP51sW7kh2jcqBFUAT68fbW4gGliLq4KtvrHtUf0FOX0FUdB89uWColTS3WUD7FQwYUmvCyTqWooRd-UAUgqJAYYnp0ApK3jlMmcoAZXps3UKb28LYtE7SxfHA8nCnll6Q/s390/Astal_Frostbite.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6J6aGd2ZE-zeJ1utXj9_HDb5aktfX2OvkWYkkRb7CAQRQgSK9D1pWHTnPP51sW7kh2jcqBFUAT68fbW4gGliLq4KtvrHtUf0FOX0FUdB89uWColTS3WUD7FQwYUmvCyTqWooRd-UAUgqJAYYnp0ApK3jlMmcoAZXps3UKb28LYtE7SxfHA8nCnll6Q/w200-h156/Astal_Frostbite.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLjXeLoMzO1I9kmw4K949PKMBVuCaIIWbGIG6fvM2doaweTvv_4wX6iLugP7RoxLs221c4-SjXYtItNuiI_9cOvlKnOYZT1-TdJpV_NN67avzf428olOWPu_U9XkGoo-5_-jkBZb65XK65_bFNleAgOqZdFXX5frjVGMPxpA-aN31RpndWwLVpOekhg/s390/Astal_TalonAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLjXeLoMzO1I9kmw4K949PKMBVuCaIIWbGIG6fvM2doaweTvv_4wX6iLugP7RoxLs221c4-SjXYtItNuiI_9cOvlKnOYZT1-TdJpV_NN67avzf428olOWPu_U9XkGoo-5_-jkBZb65XK65_bFNleAgOqZdFXX5frjVGMPxpA-aN31RpndWwLVpOekhg/w200-h156/Astal_TalonAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Frostbite!! | Right: Bird to the rescue!!!</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">because you're above the clouds in Sea of Clouds you're given additional airtime due to the gravity boost which is something to take into account as you jump from platform to platform, in a latter portion of Glacial Rift you must run across a bridge that will start to crumble the moment you begin moving on it and contend with winged gem enemies on the way, and in The Plains of Destiny there's a giant bug who you must walk underneath as you wisely time your movement so as to not be stepped on by its legs that will eventually come to pursue you, to name several examples. Special shout out to the pointy-eared gem enemies that attempt to ambush you in The Journey Begins and The Plains of Destiny from the backdrop and even the foreground.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UgTm6BbLBbn8C3CEoie8aJjlPDfsSf7qRKIkMYmNv81OjD7XgI3-yQiDP4fPJ4ZsZWtbH-Kk9JuPC0ZWezPXkPdK-Wfn5Hxg4BQuX2fSzBmdcmc7l27aHjGEfdQMVgPgBd9xjUGD2Vh1C_MgGrTr5zjEmnyYbpupzDq_ZorU2IbDeaUF7iwGDLyWTQ/s390/Astal_ThePlainsOfDestiny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UgTm6BbLBbn8C3CEoie8aJjlPDfsSf7qRKIkMYmNv81OjD7XgI3-yQiDP4fPJ4ZsZWtbH-Kk9JuPC0ZWezPXkPdK-Wfn5Hxg4BQuX2fSzBmdcmc7l27aHjGEfdQMVgPgBd9xjUGD2Vh1C_MgGrTr5zjEmnyYbpupzDq_ZorU2IbDeaUF7iwGDLyWTQ/w200-h156/Astal_ThePlainsOfDestiny.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7aBt_ucZG_elQrfiqsmK_vYM1wDKDEjQwaZStIBqM52fYrjaVCwSFErE-WpDm6QFgIxq6IDExkXYANhj8e5ceMMXtvUFUWu4KLrrqN5mdv1ZyDWOvxLVQSkqeN36niPoC7gRJcQxixJW9fla4XOkOqrgTH37h_6Wt15t8_wCwwGRRotiYt10dyrDWw/s390/Astal_GiantBug.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7aBt_ucZG_elQrfiqsmK_vYM1wDKDEjQwaZStIBqM52fYrjaVCwSFErE-WpDm6QFgIxq6IDExkXYANhj8e5ceMMXtvUFUWu4KLrrqN5mdv1ZyDWOvxLVQSkqeN36niPoC7gRJcQxixJW9fla4XOkOqrgTH37h_6Wt15t8_wCwwGRRotiYt10dyrDWw/w200-h156/Astal_GiantBug.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The Plains of Destiny | Right: Giant mutated monstrosity of a bug</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I love the buildup of the bosses prior to engaging in battle with them. In The Evil Eye the swarm of winged eyeball gem enemies collectively soar toward the top and when the camera pans upward there's a giant yellow orb that looks like a moon, right? But <b>actually</b>, it is a giant eyeball with an imposing stare. The Forest Fiend forms itself upon sucking the energy from the flowers and appears on the spot the moment the screen fades from black. The Guardian of Fire has the best set up for the boss fight as it executes its first move towards you with a breath of fire. Lastly Jerado is incredibly ominous as he slowly rises up from the crevice in The Fight for the Future.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhth_DkS1wPcMBHUzwhwQHB5QcAgkLPCna75ShKh7SAH8plCuaVIAgYoa9GYlZ9kRofm92d0poXyey9THuYX7tn5cEuoZVKSY_TErTkW1wBjxpguuo48jz_FOhD6c3NB1VqjcQb7K4zSrCZRdxkA3CtuIfzH_Oh1TgK4AscL1Sy9zBL3lX-sVK-tJn9dQ/s390/Astal_Legs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhth_DkS1wPcMBHUzwhwQHB5QcAgkLPCna75ShKh7SAH8plCuaVIAgYoa9GYlZ9kRofm92d0poXyey9THuYX7tn5cEuoZVKSY_TErTkW1wBjxpguuo48jz_FOhD6c3NB1VqjcQb7K4zSrCZRdxkA3CtuIfzH_Oh1TgK4AscL1Sy9zBL3lX-sVK-tJn9dQ/w200-h156/Astal_Legs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLb3EZq9G3rvFzX9jAN9jt7DKKeaEr6gdjjI1Xfxqc1bCkoS3R26ulwRqtfvcONEQJ3JBS27QYlg5QJQRCcSG_gG1OqhBMpbqwOPxhnozyatimPaIIpoPxAzU714aV6FwUrrcY6GtcSNvrrMas-5lXmLlUmQR6HGh2KwVLn-88xUKXPOuyUQUzCMqxxA/s390/Astal_PurpleGemEnemy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLb3EZq9G3rvFzX9jAN9jt7DKKeaEr6gdjjI1Xfxqc1bCkoS3R26ulwRqtfvcONEQJ3JBS27QYlg5QJQRCcSG_gG1OqhBMpbqwOPxhnozyatimPaIIpoPxAzU714aV6FwUrrcY6GtcSNvrrMas-5lXmLlUmQR6HGh2KwVLn-88xUKXPOuyUQUzCMqxxA/w200-h156/Astal_PurpleGemEnemy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Walking under the mutant bug's legs | Right: Incoming pointy-eared gem enemy</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">The gameplay is fun and engaging, too, I like the different number of abilities that Astal uses to stun and/or dispose of his enemies along the way. It's unfortunate how Sega handled the American release, from what I read they neglected to put the game's title in the jewel case's spine which is what attributed to <i>Astal</i>'s rare status (just one of a number of ways Sega of America let the Saturn down). That's too bad, really, because it is a really great game that fell under the radar, and one that can stand on its own two legs. With the way the story wraps itself up neatly and concisely, it's a game that I feel does not need to lend itself to a sequel.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI9aitzq-HnBkeZ7diaFkuzlcCuG03Guli8m22AivEmx9LU2hNIUO3iBq0s4cIkvd9nSui4H8ziS67MWUNvheB0WkRxk4wTm8NNlqZUJb1S62H7Pr4pBdZptX8r1QDD3dSPUcHQ-2eWlKCcJof8pDIzdAV7HKRca3Yid8kO6OMrkwyKvgvlSHrG9q_A/s381/Ristar_MonkeyBars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI9aitzq-HnBkeZ7diaFkuzlcCuG03Guli8m22AivEmx9LU2hNIUO3iBq0s4cIkvd9nSui4H8ziS67MWUNvheB0WkRxk4wTm8NNlqZUJb1S62H7Pr4pBdZptX8r1QDD3dSPUcHQ-2eWlKCcJof8pDIzdAV7HKRca3Yid8kO6OMrkwyKvgvlSHrG9q_A/w200-h118/Ristar_MonkeyBars.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_ux8Fz2KCNAAnGfUmlIdblC17uxVXUMPlZ6UxASapqBZQiLcr3i_PkYCuXjnNcSIURHGrb_Rrrd41l3_UQNtNp9ykOq0zJrQwQd1m-R2S8R79mxIAi6ozs0PTUT2uwy3KVtG7fdI4r5JKC6T6APHDZc3ZeZ2-B_Z910YMwz9f_MBTmIbENWshndNLQ/s381/Ristar_UnderwaterAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_ux8Fz2KCNAAnGfUmlIdblC17uxVXUMPlZ6UxASapqBZQiLcr3i_PkYCuXjnNcSIURHGrb_Rrrd41l3_UQNtNp9ykOq0zJrQwQd1m-R2S8R79mxIAi6ozs0PTUT2uwy3KVtG7fdI4r5JKC6T6APHDZc3ZeZ2-B_Z910YMwz9f_MBTmIbENWshndNLQ/w200-h118/Ristar_UnderwaterAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">If <b>any</b> Sega property that isn't <i>Sonic</i> is in demand of a sequel, it is their own MegaDrive/Genesis platformer <i>Ristar</i>, another underrated game which came out the same year as their Saturn-based <i>Astal</i> in early 1995. Sadly, it doesn't appear that it will happen at any point (which designer Akira Nishino confirmed in a 2006 interview, but has expressed he would love for that to happen and appreciated the feedback from fans), due to it failing to generate sales and exposure in its heyday</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQf09L6qjQuxZr5Le66cM5zMNuF3Rc0N5AZ7aWbwEOZk-sg_YAUALAsafH3pX_xQWq8Q6JeFUMnq8jJFFZBcpmyMvs7DTheyP_EIHlMbgxr8tYocAtV_M00_nfdhC7tMYcYofoverlDG7nw1etOBjfZcYg4vRb_uYvuRQi2anASiQ2y54_r5r8N7fuA/s381/Ristar_Awaueck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQf09L6qjQuxZr5Le66cM5zMNuF3Rc0N5AZ7aWbwEOZk-sg_YAUALAsafH3pX_xQWq8Q6JeFUMnq8jJFFZBcpmyMvs7DTheyP_EIHlMbgxr8tYocAtV_M00_nfdhC7tMYcYofoverlDG7nw1etOBjfZcYg4vRb_uYvuRQi2anASiQ2y54_r5r8N7fuA/w200-h118/Ristar_Awaueck.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxz2mBeY-IuATv_PsnkPmZyQyx_5tk-1-ik4-Y-DERPrKGTgEHYSeh5NEcnMePAQHqJ_SAftNGLQAGIk5Kclw_BXcLVm94mzg6ZRdyR8t5ImSGZ1Qqmvw1m4WZpARPhc9L9pLvUFO5ZE4T_3vcaobQYO2xeXf2PX5emFBwzHFcE1IXoVoQvoGxhBug/s381/Ristar_SnowballFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="381" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxz2mBeY-IuATv_PsnkPmZyQyx_5tk-1-ik4-Y-DERPrKGTgEHYSeh5NEcnMePAQHqJ_SAftNGLQAGIk5Kclw_BXcLVm94mzg6ZRdyR8t5ImSGZ1Qqmvw1m4WZpARPhc9L9pLvUFO5ZE4T_3vcaobQYO2xeXf2PX5emFBwzHFcE1IXoVoQvoGxhBug/w200-h118/Ristar_SnowballFight.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">and eventually being overshadowed by the North American Saturn launch on May 11th, 1995, which by that point <i>Ristar</i> had been out for only three months. Luckily it would receive its much deserved due with subsequent Sega-oriented compilations like Sonic Team's <i>Sonic Mega Collection</i> as an unlockable and Digital Eclipse's <i>Sega Genesis Collection</i>, as it is a lighthearted bundle of joy while it lasts full of charm, creative fun and inventiveness, and personality and is also in my opinion a great Sega title.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZEc_7GxyUeTlAysxsfzb1lj_Etzfz8dQyDzTDgX8Hz-xoAyLB6wbKyK3xPDYNiJqasJi0lq8A0y3WqX5ARVPVQVNrLRkGFm9eTiWNAlFAeJ82jYbSiOU0tUXrVvEDqmi-qZUpua-cgPIL_YP3K0WT56NsPzsC7b4t0dG-uBJirEjf4cP_PrnV8knJA/s75/Ristar_Vibing.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="46" data-original-width="75" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZEc_7GxyUeTlAysxsfzb1lj_Etzfz8dQyDzTDgX8Hz-xoAyLB6wbKyK3xPDYNiJqasJi0lq8A0y3WqX5ARVPVQVNrLRkGFm9eTiWNAlFAeJ82jYbSiOU0tUXrVvEDqmi-qZUpua-cgPIL_YP3K0WT56NsPzsC7b4t0dG-uBJirEjf4cP_PrnV8knJA/s1600/Ristar_Vibing.gif" width="75" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">I do wish Ristar the Shooting Star would headline another game, but it's nice that Sega hasn't completely abandoned him as he would make the occasional video game cameo appearance once in every blue moon. ⭐ Oh well, c'est la vie.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHxcBQW98HTfPx30MrpM4jPUMmYR6HBw0vWvKW8LxgW2hZwq0xPLfiKHyrrLFfkJiFGv5ugNlbIppMFX8iTaGYHXnje1v_J8dIdrgqGiMtPNjqayujwEFndjwDurKAcAd2cJEsNDCvdu7FOQkVo0iDmha6K1KdBsnJdyTpx0ImzbL1m50dnFMoVEV8Q/s390/Astal_Pursued.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHxcBQW98HTfPx30MrpM4jPUMmYR6HBw0vWvKW8LxgW2hZwq0xPLfiKHyrrLFfkJiFGv5ugNlbIppMFX8iTaGYHXnje1v_J8dIdrgqGiMtPNjqayujwEFndjwDurKAcAd2cJEsNDCvdu7FOQkVo0iDmha6K1KdBsnJdyTpx0ImzbL1m50dnFMoVEV8Q/w200-h156/Astal_Pursued.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwmke4KG4cJhO2rEl-aQLE9WIHxFE5ikMMtln1Z67TNlN7FHsK-p-bsJo_dIvrLGabd9CRc7Qj3m6j-XWSt2JbkDNbRyHn0TMH6bnolKpcNy7XCvbJfUiXWNIt4DNlYbKChBBIbUSiagoy4T50wOvM7Vy8kusiQFL5-QLhEMOlWikbINQjeQCvH12Rg/s390/Astal_DestinyUnfolds.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwmke4KG4cJhO2rEl-aQLE9WIHxFE5ikMMtln1Z67TNlN7FHsK-p-bsJo_dIvrLGabd9CRc7Qj3m6j-XWSt2JbkDNbRyHn0TMH6bnolKpcNy7XCvbJfUiXWNIt4DNlYbKChBBIbUSiagoy4T50wOvM7Vy8kusiQFL5-QLhEMOlWikbINQjeQCvH12Rg/w200-h156/Astal_DestinyUnfolds.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Run away! | Right: Confronting Geist</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">If I do have any qualms with <i>Astal</i> is that its areas are very short, which makes it a bit of a short game (for Sega Saturn standards) at roughly fifty to sixty minutes <b>at best</b>. A lot of the time you're coming to grips with the gameplay in these areas with a pretty much straightforward layout, and before you know it the area is over just like that. There is a decent amount of challenge that makes up for that, but I still find it fun to play regardless even if the difficulty is manageable for a good chunk of it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM3s2gEaRN5exkPb2Q9xW8BOpjfCvSDiWijdSympqpP0ULuN1y3iDFIx50h2_RXy5B-LjTgGsejPjYMLz0Lk0129L_140U_u_leFB4UxHna5aO_moYuDUR0jqXdZsv7xOxxrmP-DI8WVO7NFOHhG7b5ZXI0siD0tDlwQ1MQNkCEAKPZhivNxqXkHmLg/s390/Astal_BlowingAtGeist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM3s2gEaRN5exkPb2Q9xW8BOpjfCvSDiWijdSympqpP0ULuN1y3iDFIx50h2_RXy5B-LjTgGsejPjYMLz0Lk0129L_140U_u_leFB4UxHna5aO_moYuDUR0jqXdZsv7xOxxrmP-DI8WVO7NFOHhG7b5ZXI0siD0tDlwQ1MQNkCEAKPZhivNxqXkHmLg/w200-h156/Astal_BlowingAtGeist.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0CpCSUOEZv28Cqq21gHmx9gMVpsOAc2rVEgnHyPNvNQjl-iRJTL6JrPunFcjP2Ok1yq3_ntf25jIwapJuojtdbwK9s5UJZ_RDIJZqHWn5ctmiVnxAgwnvON3fUd5WXU272CHrZeE2IVhhx0GrRZfnjS7H8LA9cwiubWvz5oQ7J_SQ26VTbe0a4hHsA/s390/Astal_PouncedGeist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0CpCSUOEZv28Cqq21gHmx9gMVpsOAc2rVEgnHyPNvNQjl-iRJTL6JrPunFcjP2Ok1yq3_ntf25jIwapJuojtdbwK9s5UJZ_RDIJZqHWn5ctmiVnxAgwnvON3fUd5WXU272CHrZeE2IVhhx0GrRZfnjS7H8LA9cwiubWvz5oQ7J_SQ26VTbe0a4hHsA/w200-h156/Astal_PouncedGeist.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Blowing at Geist like in the opening animation | Right: Counterattack</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">Where it becomes a bit <b>less</b> manageable, at least for me, is during the fights against Geist and Jerado at the end; mostly Geist, though, due to the fact that I can never accurately predict which side of the platform he's going to send his attack from a distance which causes damage should you get caught in it in the event that he's preparing to launch his missile-like attack. There is an invulnerability code which will last until the end of the current area (which is easy to remember: pause, then press up, Y, left, A, down, B, right, C, if you did it right you should hear the bird's tweet to let you know it worked), which I feel is the only way I can get through it. I'm sure it's possible to defeat Geist without the code with enough time and practice but having only a health of three and one continue at your disposal (if you didn't use it up by that point) doesn't really help matters. 😓</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1mEI8Me1bhcoRXB4MAYvdxbBG977otbn1zrso32D7ukqmXQltS6LFDiMmnGo3unfrTvOcGOpw2sAzsar5uV7h8U2BPuKjl6Q4O2vRZQqA__DkVeo9NXb82cX7RWcW-g1DcdVwuYIrAjmsPeoitksqEVjkpmRb9PzBoHCQKBH68cTLYJXvCiknHAdjw/s390/Astal_Jerado.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1mEI8Me1bhcoRXB4MAYvdxbBG977otbn1zrso32D7ukqmXQltS6LFDiMmnGo3unfrTvOcGOpw2sAzsar5uV7h8U2BPuKjl6Q4O2vRZQqA__DkVeo9NXb82cX7RWcW-g1DcdVwuYIrAjmsPeoitksqEVjkpmRb9PzBoHCQKBH68cTLYJXvCiknHAdjw/w200-h156/Astal_Jerado.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuX4duIXre-AEJ3oB2MW7_snqUU_daUi1g07mVIUqGqPB5lmqEMOeYrvN8dQhyhgvZA9o-gZ0XMDjXM5hvqK9QomsVBCl0Eo2YaRDi3Qleb7wKaYfFFmWEPFFG0Rgsdr3sbvrXYdn2get_8VsoXXHzxbsCPy2VaYI9NcjfneQF4Anfoybo63oj_5DtQ/s390/Astal_HandPull.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="390" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuX4duIXre-AEJ3oB2MW7_snqUU_daUi1g07mVIUqGqPB5lmqEMOeYrvN8dQhyhgvZA9o-gZ0XMDjXM5hvqK9QomsVBCl0Eo2YaRDi3Qleb7wKaYfFFmWEPFFG0Rgsdr3sbvrXYdn2get_8VsoXXHzxbsCPy2VaYI9NcjfneQF4Anfoybo63oj_5DtQ/w200-h156/Astal_HandPull.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: It's all come down to this, the big battle against the big bad Jerado | Right: Hand pull!</span></b></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">But in the end, when all is said and done, I'm very pleased and satisfied with what Sega accomplished with <i>Astal</i>. 😃 It's a fun romp to play every once in a while, still has my favorite Saturn soundtrack (even after playing more games in the system I still feel this way), is the strongest of the Sonic stand-ins over Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i> games, and it quickly became one of my favorite action titles on Sega's 32-bit system. If you own a Saturn console, and if you can afford it, I recommend playing this game, though if you're searching for something with a bit more longevity to it you might want to look elsewhere; but otherwise if you're just looking for a fun platformer to play then this is a good one to look into if you get the chance. One of many good Sega alternatives to <i>Sonic</i>, <i>Astal</i> is a real hidden gem. 💎</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNvDd7CTE6znyPqayT3EVZCAOhQ9yxNhrFokYdzeIckxz2WjhAJ1QZsgyfeSJ9WwlLFLlgObCtlzSpW79B_Oh-77acrURs6i8o_1Y7TLX6ZlZzM8jVoByFXEOtxF_xnyK3z5xo8ON44fNzBxt3LzT1LaTxZ8CK0mPhr7YlI8jdsM40T256Y2VPBEhlg/s358/Astal_End.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNvDd7CTE6znyPqayT3EVZCAOhQ9yxNhrFokYdzeIckxz2WjhAJ1QZsgyfeSJ9WwlLFLlgObCtlzSpW79B_Oh-77acrURs6i8o_1Y7TLX6ZlZzM8jVoByFXEOtxF_xnyK3z5xo8ON44fNzBxt3LzT1LaTxZ8CK0mPhr7YlI8jdsM40T256Y2VPBEhlg/s16000/Astal_End.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.5/10</span></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqPW3RnQ2sBHF-FWRJvIEL9PPoF5Pv_aetzQ3J83wloo2KXvfk9hmLOejq8xIH5K-ZEzLv6uSi6GW0gcJKvi8ioIcPNCKvDAWT5HLG_85xawi20ayJBJ4IoIsyQGcydXVl7MMBR4vWk5908SB7pi4DUj3wfiKeU1XIcnjvgJfYcP3FOK8Ocll7qC1PA/s250/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqPW3RnQ2sBHF-FWRJvIEL9PPoF5Pv_aetzQ3J83wloo2KXvfk9hmLOejq8xIH5K-ZEzLv6uSi6GW0gcJKvi8ioIcPNCKvDAWT5HLG_85xawi20ayJBJ4IoIsyQGcydXVl7MMBR4vWk5908SB7pi4DUj3wfiKeU1XIcnjvgJfYcP3FOK8Ocll7qC1PA/s1600/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" width="250" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<u><i>TO EACH THEIR OWN</i></u>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-27748317931095321172022-09-10T23:20:00.016-05:002022-09-14T17:42:46.868-05:00Random Saturnday II: The Sequel<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">🪐 <b>Written: September 3rd-10th, 2022</b> 🪐</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 Today is a Saturday, I'm talking all things Sega Saturn, which means it's that time again:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDbx7Sst8rBQNZ9B1L5B0XO2Ph0mz0yh48_klgQi8YNBJJqXCmESYFj6pBtnV-PIaE8HEF3qP65wb7ZfFpOsq6eWIiZC2ot4vhyv8o1kidtm71bM78X3lUzUZk-A1Ox5Gwle0lelgB_FTZpoSpw3ic2g_bHmhPhPYnevGGnm-5-YkP7UM2Nu3NFXfDQ/s640/RandomSaturnday2_Banner.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="640" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDbx7Sst8rBQNZ9B1L5B0XO2Ph0mz0yh48_klgQi8YNBJJqXCmESYFj6pBtnV-PIaE8HEF3qP65wb7ZfFpOsq6eWIiZC2ot4vhyv8o1kidtm71bM78X3lUzUZk-A1Ox5Gwle0lelgB_FTZpoSpw3ic2g_bHmhPhPYnevGGnm-5-YkP7UM2Nu3NFXfDQ/w400-h175/RandomSaturnday2_Banner.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Random Saturnday II: The Sequel</b>! I know, the subtitle is unoriginal, but I put in more effort on the banner this time around to make it look more appealing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been three months since my first <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/06/random-saturnday.html">Random Saturnday</a> post, covering my personal experience with the Sega Saturn console (the most amount of money I've ever spent on eBay) as well as briefly talking about my first four games for it. I was proud of how it came out, so much so that I wanted to do another, and in the months since then I've added an additional five Saturn games to my collection. All right, I! Am!! Ready!!!! 😄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA6N5027sRN-iy2k93pfYPwgaiiaRTa3kIeF0TdqowvJa_i1F7YBYNeDRX7xyLFWl0BR818NvUV93m6lMsTBUJaGsYWt27XMi0FWrUa1VDOLIorr8Y6ATU1Bkqb8PCdY6Dh2trs8Al0kRRhMJ_w6rnwbcz0j386Y1Mvz5d46tHKLk5HVp5-XcX65elg/s383/SegaSaturn_SystemSettings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA6N5027sRN-iy2k93pfYPwgaiiaRTa3kIeF0TdqowvJa_i1F7YBYNeDRX7xyLFWl0BR818NvUV93m6lMsTBUJaGsYWt27XMi0FWrUa1VDOLIorr8Y6ATU1Bkqb8PCdY6Dh2trs8Al0kRRhMJ_w6rnwbcz0j386Y1Mvz5d46tHKLk5HVp5-XcX65elg/w200-h156/SegaSaturn_SystemSettings.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXIXmtBiLJUBZfTY7wO6W1Bi5YJ6OxYlq8CfwsfvYEeSTQb_wgyvHl8Mdz_g181G1Iy-JCD5iHUR_JLokv8BQtbtxeeUam-mfs3SB6jApJFYn-NKflWF7EHkR2koB6dZ7_bnNQusqVrhLo1REBR-wmDXKsPvCOxOQUZuTrPKd_pLXGjpJqqyLNxW-Wg/s383/SegaSaturn_SystemMemory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXIXmtBiLJUBZfTY7wO6W1Bi5YJ6OxYlq8CfwsfvYEeSTQb_wgyvHl8Mdz_g181G1Iy-JCD5iHUR_JLokv8BQtbtxeeUam-mfs3SB6jApJFYn-NKflWF7EHkR2koB6dZ7_bnNQusqVrhLo1REBR-wmDXKsPvCOxOQUZuTrPKd_pLXGjpJqqyLNxW-Wg/w200-h156/SegaSaturn_SystemMemory.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The CR2032 battery that I inserted on the console back on May 12th is still operational, so it's all good there for however long it'll last. I've mustered enough courage to explore the system settings from the menu, and I now know that the Saturn model I own is an NTSC-4-V1.00a. It's nice to know that you can always change the clock and language settings at any time if it's needed, and I was curious about the console's memory manager, so I decided to check that out. Look at that ye olde ASCII font <span style="font-size: x-small;">[<i>citation needed</i>]</span> and how the games saved in the system's memory are listed in alphabetical order, Sega certainly handled it differently than Sony would for the memory card screen on the PlayStation One.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittJJnPtUMtVO9bwrUofXSL_6io57DWFDUJCUEaACBx8eJo77sr_w2x46Uf5IjOor6UL86L69RDKZ2jaTU1TkBwVO0dG0bLOe7N6p6WsS7oqwglkHXmm8nyEHIUcbPW3pLX6DOsxwHpOA4RaDLx3vFRYomWGRVioDP_HVIaUPR_zM-TLdSrIvbb-syOQ/s383/SegaSaturn_Ship.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittJJnPtUMtVO9bwrUofXSL_6io57DWFDUJCUEaACBx8eJo77sr_w2x46Uf5IjOor6UL86L69RDKZ2jaTU1TkBwVO0dG0bLOe7N6p6WsS7oqwglkHXmm8nyEHIUcbPW3pLX6DOsxwHpOA4RaDLx3vFRYomWGRVioDP_HVIaUPR_zM-TLdSrIvbb-syOQ/s16000/SegaSaturn_Ship.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Still love watching that 3D spaceship flying by and whizzing past in any which direction whenever I listen to the music from the system and hide its menu, it's always a positive when a game disc doubles as a soundtrack.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZF7QUgEKGCu2KIWyp6fLFBfAjfIZIqnDl0xxSUob4BNHhNQ1spD3hRZ9Z1tQWFKjHyjcpy0FgfOaiSuo7qMXiciZBOQf1Lb1sjxG_OoxiIIIwIc8KC0EHTINP8WmmlhxJIsgxaDes_ge2uyBNIwX3l1ocU-ECHJXmr-4nNHF3Uxuix4I-HCJ-Ial0Q/s569/TombRaider_Case+Manual.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZF7QUgEKGCu2KIWyp6fLFBfAjfIZIqnDl0xxSUob4BNHhNQ1spD3hRZ9Z1tQWFKjHyjcpy0FgfOaiSuo7qMXiciZBOQf1Lb1sjxG_OoxiIIIwIc8KC0EHTINP8WmmlhxJIsgxaDes_ge2uyBNIwX3l1ocU-ECHJXmr-4nNHF3Uxuix4I-HCJ-Ial0Q/s16000/TombRaider_Case+Manual.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've also rectified a wrong: back on May 12th when I got Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i>, my third Saturn game and my favorite Sega 32-bit game as of what I presently own, I only got the jewel case and game disc (as well as the soft sponge-like substance) but no manual (because I admit I didn't want to spend more than I needed to). Well, it only took until July 25th, but I got the instruction manual at last, and now it looks complete.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dFVrHGNTJYZdJ9sASDb7dtD20Bb_dJACE0mWBEe9UoRl0ruD09W7JyAjQyjWJvqYBghooiZyxHPpxMmpSvPyE25ytXznyIk8OOXZZkPFkCh8FJoNT8IqpzMrvm_SZ5EcIRscc5RfzIfeR76RR4DnT3xEHCaJh2ny9VrrSiFT0m0R23WW5NrhOxGsUA/s466/Eidos_ProductAdverts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dFVrHGNTJYZdJ9sASDb7dtD20Bb_dJACE0mWBEe9UoRl0ruD09W7JyAjQyjWJvqYBghooiZyxHPpxMmpSvPyE25ytXznyIk8OOXZZkPFkCh8FJoNT8IqpzMrvm_SZ5EcIRscc5RfzIfeR76RR4DnT3xEHCaJh2ny9VrrSiFT0m0R23WW5NrhOxGsUA/s16000/Eidos_ProductAdverts.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>And from what I've gathered, neither title sounded as great as Eidos made them out to be; I can't <u>believe</u> the company who commissioned <i>Tomb Raider</i> sequels on an annual basis to the point that it exhausted members of Core Design both physically and mentally to the point of killing off Lara Croft (only to be undone) and unfairly scapegoated <u>them</u> for the underperformance of Jan de Bont's <i>Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life</i>'s box office could be so disingenuous!</b> 🙄</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The back of the manual features adverts for two of Eidos Interactive's other releases, Core Design's <i>Machine Head</i>/<i>Blam! Machinehead</i> and Attention to Detail's <i>The Incredible Hulk: The Pantheon Saga</i>, neither of which I'm particularly interested in.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdYG3XGoHXv-Lsx7Qdb7pxA_spkQJkMWwxWfE8y5XdQUea2wpLm5tfnzqUUHVihRzNTCmA6plmyaPvL2o2QsaF-_3-vyqMAcJV3wTpCr-GhrVCqb-55Rsxtbm3xIIdo7bAA7-BusSbVelAKH5i0dAGzKokBsi3Dq0ZiFxhu2Z7P8VIJmhw4xcY7SyHg/s845/TombRaider_SuperiorToSuperMario64.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="845" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdYG3XGoHXv-Lsx7Qdb7pxA_spkQJkMWwxWfE8y5XdQUea2wpLm5tfnzqUUHVihRzNTCmA6plmyaPvL2o2QsaF-_3-vyqMAcJV3wTpCr-GhrVCqb-55Rsxtbm3xIIdo7bAA7-BusSbVelAKH5i0dAGzKokBsi3Dq0ZiFxhu2Z7P8VIJmhw4xcY7SyHg/w400-h191/TombRaider_SuperiorToSuperMario64.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Before I begin with the brief thoughts* on Saturn games five through nine, I feel the need to clarify something from the first Random Saturnday post because a part of me is worried that there may be some who have interpreted one particular comment I made the wrong way.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Brief by <u>my</u> standards, anyway</b> 😓</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIBHN5KdV-GV45b_pnv1R_l94wR1M2rIETkws55L7ZFXggNyVw2oIQeqZ1EEQ26HWRzChMpszj9cCjz6AgnOuariM-SqUFIdwbcN35_ZtpvbwD1Ryn3A05I91vCSfTs6Nip5QkILKDroYQDWu8CBj6mk7UM_BtYig-wRvbfnQf9R2LW5U6pWXseYYBg/s394/SuperMario64_BobOmbBuddy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="394" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIBHN5KdV-GV45b_pnv1R_l94wR1M2rIETkws55L7ZFXggNyVw2oIQeqZ1EEQ26HWRzChMpszj9cCjz6AgnOuariM-SqUFIdwbcN35_ZtpvbwD1Ryn3A05I91vCSfTs6Nip5QkILKDroYQDWu8CBj6mk7UM_BtYig-wRvbfnQf9R2LW5U6pWXseYYBg/w200-h153/SuperMario64_BobOmbBuddy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNBnztWeslvTjX74ILR7NalSdBON5rzwA70YnX-ZBdLj9W86ibVcOdvpBy2R0TeO3K9UXQrEomoKNeHLmYK13IAKhLUM3TqqoQxiqTv6xYCZkYB0hIbbrMeTIsC5Qy9jgfdAu9wCOKVQJpTFACA3Z8xc7fJRmCXxoFX-3ziCVVy3LZOSegPHipU_9CA/s394/SuperMario64_StarObtained.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="394" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNBnztWeslvTjX74ILR7NalSdBON5rzwA70YnX-ZBdLj9W86ibVcOdvpBy2R0TeO3K9UXQrEomoKNeHLmYK13IAKhLUM3TqqoQxiqTv6xYCZkYB0hIbbrMeTIsC5Qy9jgfdAu9wCOKVQJpTFACA3Z8xc7fJRmCXxoFX-3ziCVVy3LZOSegPHipU_9CA/w200-h153/SuperMario64_StarObtained.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I said that I felt <i>Tomb Raider</i> was superior to Nintendo's <i>Super Mario 64</i>, this was not meant in any way, shape, or form to suggest that the Nintendo 64 launch title was bad. Not at all. Not even close. It <b>too</b> was a revolutionary 1996 3D platformer and it <b>too</b> set the template for future 3D platformers to come, both games can coexist in the same room. <i>Super Mario 64</i> is likable and charming, it's got a strong core gameplay, it's a colorfully pleasant game to look at--</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLHLzj-uHkHY-9VXBs5stppAoxDdZseuGBV4wpWU646IEH5ymyWbIepedDbi4IGREtOG70-2mQUMZpsnRTNQlaoY75GBzSjbZ8nar9Cr0MylvUBaeOSyWw2lzMlzWefN5bAXJCfWMy0lTL3EYZqUuD68qWt_JWHTta0iQn7X2pO2xV7K_2o7oWk5Yog/s377/BanjoKazooie_Flying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="377" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLHLzj-uHkHY-9VXBs5stppAoxDdZseuGBV4wpWU646IEH5ymyWbIepedDbi4IGREtOG70-2mQUMZpsnRTNQlaoY75GBzSjbZ8nar9Cr0MylvUBaeOSyWw2lzMlzWefN5bAXJCfWMy0lTL3EYZqUuD68qWt_JWHTta0iQn7X2pO2xV7K_2o7oWk5Yog/w200-h151/BanjoKazooie_Flying.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5llXU6z3Vb-DDnrecq3pvExbnioaFHfv86GQU7NOkiInEAYsWGiPUdHD_49mA67qLLjrjUm68LU7afn5EULKMh63tGrOLY8QB-uNHt0i_k8TLF7Orvqbu7T3GLSavKUWnatEUmFnOrLS7o7pkZTXmnvFLGGSRef1qkcT4ub_i5-tnxjC8i-pXo2GhIg/s393/Glover_Atlantis-Cartwheel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="393" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5llXU6z3Vb-DDnrecq3pvExbnioaFHfv86GQU7NOkiInEAYsWGiPUdHD_49mA67qLLjrjUm68LU7afn5EULKMh63tGrOLY8QB-uNHt0i_k8TLF7Orvqbu7T3GLSavKUWnatEUmFnOrLS7o7pkZTXmnvFLGGSRef1qkcT4ub_i5-tnxjC8i-pXo2GhIg/w200-h154/Glover_Atlantis-Cartwheel.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">even if it looks plain compared to Rare's <i>Banjo-Kazooie</i>/<i>Banjo to Kazooie no </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Daibōken</i> and Interactive Studios' <i>Glover</i>--</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCTIfzyPfC12xVcojoQT6LgffM_Erbp2YhcKpfJO3ydpu6zyiy2ZTOV-k5VHTbEdrsWohqsU0yI4_RNR7XlAE7hG3AOB0LIZPodh6j-Jzh-YstiDg6moSz8GDUadarpqsi-TKHVA29g21_IZDUbCp8TOVVjmeubY-9PjYYe8Dvvk4_dr9tG3y9Q_Biw/s394/SuperMario64_BowserBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="394" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCTIfzyPfC12xVcojoQT6LgffM_Erbp2YhcKpfJO3ydpu6zyiy2ZTOV-k5VHTbEdrsWohqsU0yI4_RNR7XlAE7hG3AOB0LIZPodh6j-Jzh-YstiDg6moSz8GDUadarpqsi-TKHVA29g21_IZDUbCp8TOVVjmeubY-9PjYYe8Dvvk4_dr9tG3y9Q_Biw/w200-h153/SuperMario64_BowserBattle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y3zVgp1hVOy853WxsynmiOmApISbr4A6Ihzi3YJOpx3tIjjDRv5B4qVZ8_KlDoCtngDgK2I0uJxiSNueIHcn_kMnGrAsxjWKrtyeMhBT7g3h28I6O3m_yZ2cf4EE4BcAHvuVVMEXWKI9_5wCHWTwtDdVK_xhlcGiH2p9uNlMy1qysqB1-ksN_Ghw_Q/s394/SuperMario64_JollyRogerBay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="394" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y3zVgp1hVOy853WxsynmiOmApISbr4A6Ihzi3YJOpx3tIjjDRv5B4qVZ8_KlDoCtngDgK2I0uJxiSNueIHcn_kMnGrAsxjWKrtyeMhBT7g3h28I6O3m_yZ2cf4EE4BcAHvuVVMEXWKI9_5wCHWTwtDdVK_xhlcGiH2p9uNlMy1qysqB1-ksN_Ghw_Q/w200-h153/SuperMario64_JollyRogerBay.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">with an endearing sense of worldbuilding, it's got a decent amount of replay value, and is a fun game* to play. The main caveat I have with it? Its camera systems have not aged all that well, with more than one instance of it going from reliable to unreliable which slightly detracts from my enjoyment, and it doesn't help that the free-roam controls require you to <b>adapt</b> to the direction based on the positioning of the camera at all times (especially when you're walking on a narrow path, whether the camera is far from you or near you).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-size: x-small;">* I wish I could say the same for when trying to 100% it, but that's neither here nor there</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0yzSN0PUCBKcuDXxhIzlHZjcz8zIpw6LWGqdbX5B3xEECeFW4bitvGp9468CnLRl0U2nvvR-VVQWr1Uhn6KN20_c5kVndSPimX1ijdeeLtWoYky8s0akfVMwgc6BdNfhzeangOhFr3kO-jiyWyptRWcaYmo6mQIt2ZcgiAaHNCKjf1Z0mz5gagJhEQ/s377/TombRaider_Caves.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0yzSN0PUCBKcuDXxhIzlHZjcz8zIpw6LWGqdbX5B3xEECeFW4bitvGp9468CnLRl0U2nvvR-VVQWr1Uhn6KN20_c5kVndSPimX1ijdeeLtWoYky8s0akfVMwgc6BdNfhzeangOhFr3kO-jiyWyptRWcaYmo6mQIt2ZcgiAaHNCKjf1Z0mz5gagJhEQ/w200-h159/TombRaider_Caves.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7GwgmJPF0wb-eJYjnrB9taAjPSPJyDY43ebT1UtOQOb_wpGx79qUvYL60-K2DgO9iqZgpRVGeM4sf4KadBvMkcWYk6akf2vEiog4NQ4sxr7QwCEe7qq_PCtE7aqC5GjdZuavFyvkILeG_xBibt1hRDEQe5k-RTGVGRt6h-odesQAzi4aBQxWgRzD1Q/s377/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7GwgmJPF0wb-eJYjnrB9taAjPSPJyDY43ebT1UtOQOb_wpGx79qUvYL60-K2DgO9iqZgpRVGeM4sf4KadBvMkcWYk6akf2vEiog4NQ4sxr7QwCEe7qq_PCtE7aqC5GjdZuavFyvkILeG_xBibt1hRDEQe5k-RTGVGRt6h-odesQAzi4aBQxWgRzD1Q/w200-h159/TombRaider_VillageOfVilcabamba.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Tomb Raider</i>, on the other hand, is one such game where you can make a good case for why tank controls <b>can</b> work in 3D platformers which to me makes it more fun. The thing about free-roam controls is that your character's directional movement is dependent on your position in relation to the camera placement,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinb5tQBxCgP4G7X_ipaHG8rPHNjc-9bMjVj4zVKf8Q-M8GXdwcOSJ9fUzjQnfoaFMvG4zGLoRSTecdD48TLen2XbCpJc1JykB9As4812LYTes08z5gg--kW9aT1JK58dxTJ7jdSDfF8rULUeT9B_rEcCNnVH0bT1_hyy9nbm5awJ02X4KA3LRCWRutAw/s377/TombRaider_LostValley.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinb5tQBxCgP4G7X_ipaHG8rPHNjc-9bMjVj4zVKf8Q-M8GXdwcOSJ9fUzjQnfoaFMvG4zGLoRSTecdD48TLen2XbCpJc1JykB9As4812LYTes08z5gg--kW9aT1JK58dxTJ7jdSDfF8rULUeT9B_rEcCNnVH0bT1_hyy9nbm5awJ02X4KA3LRCWRutAw/w200-h159/TombRaider_LostValley.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe4tf1nGhf0xz1DiP5lUQEaybVQ81rQm8Gq2Q2tqow4X_sl6JI_91mBsTan9JlT5ecqodT_9REpHNiQO1ug-2IeCa6-qvNzsjdLCTBR5UKiDXy6abNbEV7q_5NPTc3bWqRujlMM_BeredpfkgQBCc0IXff_OVyd_IG9lV_YZM9ym1jMZziSMHrxgBHw/s377/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe4tf1nGhf0xz1DiP5lUQEaybVQ81rQm8Gq2Q2tqow4X_sl6JI_91mBsTan9JlT5ecqodT_9REpHNiQO1ug-2IeCa6-qvNzsjdLCTBR5UKiDXy6abNbEV7q_5NPTc3bWqRujlMM_BeredpfkgQBCc0IXff_OVyd_IG9lV_YZM9ym1jMZziSMHrxgBHw/w200-h159/TombRaider_TombOfQualopec.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">whereas with <b>tank controls</b> the direction buttons are unwaveringly consistent regardless which way your character is facing (even in instances when the camera isn't placed squarely behind you) so there's less of a forced quick-adapt in the direction controls in the event of an abrupt angle change like in the former 3D control scheme. I suppose it all varies depending on the overall execution. Do... does that make sense? I hope I explained that well. And again, this is simply my personal opinion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now that I got that out of the way, I can properly begin sharing my brief thoughts on these five games. Last time I hinted that my fifth Saturn game would be something special and one I already own on the PlayStation One format, and I knew exactly which game I wanted to fill that slot.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnwYL2pAAxZNJdUBUiV-XErlPua8xSFfCOUY4uwwxCW9-4DUQoYQuNv217nmiRmGF01BzWJmiV08Yel7T23WFG7PNMQHwTBf_7Xd_-dfDxepdoLtSmdFf0ihGA_Ttr3mNZL96KxDlwKnRZY3TpUZHtSsgm5nxNspGCv3wIugQPNJPH_gLJEfdYmJGuw/s388/Croc_Saturn-Climbing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnwYL2pAAxZNJdUBUiV-XErlPua8xSFfCOUY4uwwxCW9-4DUQoYQuNv217nmiRmGF01BzWJmiV08Yel7T23WFG7PNMQHwTBf_7Xd_-dfDxepdoLtSmdFf0ihGA_Ttr3mNZL96KxDlwKnRZY3TpUZHtSsgm5nxNspGCv3wIugQPNJPH_gLJEfdYmJGuw/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-Climbing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUQ-Iz3WosDNfKVLJA8xq55CAugX9yCEmDVtSbnEz8Ms3GRssTm0a91714ZNQ8ZY5Ddkwsvj7yjwrlkyCYoLO6lhlZP_UHT2K54i7_rq7qHUgXR7wrtTVb25XEi-JpeSilXle_8bLFz6y0NKQEytprAe9F3Ahqyl8qqWpHDL3UJG2iBV0NRAESWcsPA/s388/Croc_Saturn-Running.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUQ-Iz3WosDNfKVLJA8xq55CAugX9yCEmDVtSbnEz8Ms3GRssTm0a91714ZNQ8ZY5Ddkwsvj7yjwrlkyCYoLO6lhlZP_UHT2K54i7_rq7qHUgXR7wrtTVb25XEi-JpeSilXle_8bLFz6y0NKQEytprAe9F3Ahqyl8qqWpHDL3UJG2iBV0NRAESWcsPA/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-Running.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fox Interactive release Argonaut Software's 3D platformer <b><i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i></b>, which I got on June 13th, was that game. 😃</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPenU5xvTu8ejyN3i6b-wcgLBdpO98WWZFluzhJ5_tuyRoKecObtZtqb-RqSm7vXePRlbmGg-Ovr9M6UEvEaMSzzcOyqOoa4376C2FtO4xF2j9nKUZ3gsRu1HlQBNGOxRqdXJmKLsEt9S8V-qMHCIL_myBnvsLmMr4K6xg57DHC_IqfodTEIVNoleK1g/s383/YoshisCookie_2-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="383" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPenU5xvTu8ejyN3i6b-wcgLBdpO98WWZFluzhJ5_tuyRoKecObtZtqb-RqSm7vXePRlbmGg-Ovr9M6UEvEaMSzzcOyqOoa4376C2FtO4xF2j9nKUZ3gsRu1HlQBNGOxRqdXJmKLsEt9S8V-qMHCIL_myBnvsLmMr4K6xg57DHC_IqfodTEIVNoleK1g/w200-h158/YoshisCookie_2-3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTItzDypnJdJ7iPM7OkgMf_cpTDvcocrIUQLo7UWRM-zHkZ3vPjFG-BL3eeGmzMCdmzzC-netCDbCRqEiNjB0gjq3RVsMmwgXXA36KdK_SqsRjkFzsp7P-VgxJCozhY6FK0xNmkoZMmggM41uAxb_3dr0p2M4aD8g-P8mbyhRJJTOKI7DiAs0rhTrHg/s383/YoshisCookie_Round5Clear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="383" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTItzDypnJdJ7iPM7OkgMf_cpTDvcocrIUQLo7UWRM-zHkZ3vPjFG-BL3eeGmzMCdmzzC-netCDbCRqEiNjB0gjq3RVsMmwgXXA36KdK_SqsRjkFzsp7P-VgxJCozhY6FK0xNmkoZMmggM41uAxb_3dr0p2M4aD8g-P8mbyhRJJTOKI7DiAs0rhTrHg/w200-h158/YoshisCookie_Round5Clear.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Of all the Yoshi showcases for this post, I decided to go with Bullet-Proof Software's <i>Yoshi's Cookie</i> because I really like this puzzler (even though its gameplay is one I would struggle to describe without feeling like I'm going all over the place), but also it doesn't seem to me that many people know about this game, particularly the SNES version, as I hardly see it brought up anywhere, this despite the fact that the cookies themselves are a well-known part of Yoshi lore</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So this is pretty much common knowledge among a lot of gamers and/or big <i>Croc</i> fans, but for those who aren't aware: Mario's dino-steed Yoshi was a prominently popular Nintendo icon following his debut in Nintendo's <i>Super Mario World</i>, who would become a playable character in numerous <i>Mario</i> spinoffs and would be the protagonist of plenty of games in his own namesake throughout the years.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZusznmRSVnQCctXzW2c-5pFrg7nFGinpEwV70bJJzfBvo4wCgKSd3Ptb4tZRrpsAeRNIUZDacqI7G-XsPB-79pICq9OzOV5GO0w4l8TU6f_rVDgnhtQIxw9Fk2gQd04ew2eb3BkUwHPlGPhgsupw_C6-TDC0PDCT8Bj2bxRo7OchErQV_1QHUQdgLkA/s381/WildTrax_RockHill.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="381" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZusznmRSVnQCctXzW2c-5pFrg7nFGinpEwV70bJJzfBvo4wCgKSd3Ptb4tZRrpsAeRNIUZDacqI7G-XsPB-79pICq9OzOV5GO0w4l8TU6f_rVDgnhtQIxw9Fk2gQd04ew2eb3BkUwHPlGPhgsupw_C6-TDC0PDCT8Bj2bxRo7OchErQV_1QHUQdgLkA/w200-h133/WildTrax_RockHill.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcIBID69ZzlICqX-qo0-tJz_eDdbayiR1f0gFkdj8s9FKZKAaFXgTP1yiBSydMlSKhE60qSxG2LnjofaYMYCvbK0g_Sf7M2ksuFAMvxxZM__9VowqRxFfu-HW9d_rFtJRonmIo2pvrjWsPPSwHFXy_6gkjUUdn2pzTO0UO1K2VqbrJKnZxR-zMvkioA/s383/ScoobyDooMystery_DrabwellsPlace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcIBID69ZzlICqX-qo0-tJz_eDdbayiR1f0gFkdj8s9FKZKAaFXgTP1yiBSydMlSKhE60qSxG2LnjofaYMYCvbK0g_Sf7M2ksuFAMvxxZM__9VowqRxFfu-HW9d_rFtJRonmIo2pvrjWsPPSwHFXy_6gkjUUdn2pzTO0UO1K2VqbrJKnZxR-zMvkioA/w200-h156/ScoobyDooMystery_DrabwellsPlace.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argonaut, who's made likable games like the Nintendo 16-bit Super FX racer <i>Wild Trax</i>/<i>Stunt Race FX</i> and licensed action game <i>Scooby-Doo Mystery</i>, made a pitch to Nintendo proposing a 3D platformer starring Yoshi. Despite showing initial interest, Nintendo ended up rejecting Argonaut's proposal thus ending their working relationship so the British developer took their business elsewhere and altered the title character's design to only look <b>similar</b> to Yoshi. And thus, Croc was born, his first game was a big success, and Nintendo took a big L.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipOtG7OYMgNC2bh82yl68YbKE9lYYhdf0f68IAHyqj2_oMj4uzrVGj3xzo_BWY2UtUj7CNpiPUtFRklmBhBAH0Wvr-mg--chiIpEG_cDzKGITW9hAksqOgUCRVHk3W7rJvZYE6H1OsQmVPmfr7mFhQNALC8YYWbtaF4-6Gv2xEZO9O1mXUtFap7RhIw/s388/Croc_Saturn-MonkeyBars.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipOtG7OYMgNC2bh82yl68YbKE9lYYhdf0f68IAHyqj2_oMj4uzrVGj3xzo_BWY2UtUj7CNpiPUtFRklmBhBAH0Wvr-mg--chiIpEG_cDzKGITW9hAksqOgUCRVHk3W7rJvZYE6H1OsQmVPmfr7mFhQNALC8YYWbtaF4-6Gv2xEZO9O1mXUtFap7RhIw/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-MonkeyBars.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9V29CeVD5C3EOn6XuZSeEwHZvEbv9N0lQPM3R-2ckU95gItzeAzAtNDv6KSMHF7e-RAdPOE9Zp6iF6yC9hrUMxdfvyB55zLMIjT37i9uFYohaZEgqWO9jgbvdvxXhdCCdPLdeZBlpUeGpZxsXnqo4Z2gzialsvo-WnbKdRseK5z0FhUHHx4eReX0-g/s388/Croc_Saturn-DemonItsy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9V29CeVD5C3EOn6XuZSeEwHZvEbv9N0lQPM3R-2ckU95gItzeAzAtNDv6KSMHF7e-RAdPOE9Zp6iF6yC9hrUMxdfvyB55zLMIjT37i9uFYohaZEgqWO9jgbvdvxXhdCCdPLdeZBlpUeGpZxsXnqo4Z2gzialsvo-WnbKdRseK5z0FhUHHx4eReX0-g/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-DemonItsy.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I don't know about you, but I absolutely <b>love</b> <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> on the PlayStation One, I genuinely think it's one of the best 3D platformers of the '90s. 😍 I acknowledge that its tank controls* (a la Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i>) didn't do it for everyone, I don't pretend that they're perfect or anything, but my affinity for this game stems from the big heart it's got: Croc is an adorable guileless hero who's completely selfless (Jonathan Aris' voice <b>completes</b> Croc, would be very different without him), the lighthearted charm levels are through the roof that it's strongly endearing, the gameplay is enjoyably fun, I love its sense of layout design and gradual progression of difficulty,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-size: x-small;">* Unless you turned on the analog setting with the analog controller</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHW3iowm3uixKMIcdP3YWW0RHy6Cj_pB5rLyYfNei16AY95suiLcr9sOxMpqs0KcxwcKLgnlFyoNDveWkEJv8tNEAZ4AmhqdGjZ7ngIREZUr-N8POxnL2U0tT3Y4aZC9_IYOxD1I9ryhnDLiKP01k-xVGZN5WVIfDBDcw2lMeV9mZ5Tq1MhVlz9bVKQ/s383/RoyalConquest_BattlingArmies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="383" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHW3iowm3uixKMIcdP3YWW0RHy6Cj_pB5rLyYfNei16AY95suiLcr9sOxMpqs0KcxwcKLgnlFyoNDveWkEJv8tNEAZ4AmhqdGjZ7ngIREZUr-N8POxnL2U0tT3Y4aZC9_IYOxD1I9ryhnDLiKP01k-xVGZN5WVIfDBDcw2lMeV9mZ5Tq1MhVlz9bVKQ/w200-h151/RoyalConquest_BattlingArmies.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV7u8QDAZOuAORhAVcFkyEwpacK2NndTETt0UOfBB_pyiE4p1O88aoryZs-OrJllC6WtmzTTqbgtrze_lZFoZjbMXi1ATEkqjDFvBmm6IqWa07GFzNlhCHU93YQZFBW6qyJM69AWVu4I-oZGPB4JCMUIHqGxsDR-dHhU3lOrsebOjZsqBCpzR5RdupQ/s334/Vortex_Cryston.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="334" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV7u8QDAZOuAORhAVcFkyEwpacK2NndTETt0UOfBB_pyiE4p1O88aoryZs-OrJllC6WtmzTTqbgtrze_lZFoZjbMXi1ATEkqjDFvBmm6IqWa07GFzNlhCHU93YQZFBW6qyJM69AWVu4I-oZGPB4JCMUIHqGxsDR-dHhU3lOrsebOjZsqBCpzR5RdupQ/w200-h153/Vortex_Cryston.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Royal Conquest</i><b> was among the biggest gaming surprises of 2020 for me, Scharvona's compelling music helped <u>carry</u> me through the game that it convinced me to play Sunsoft's Super Famiport of DMA Design's <i>Lemmings</i>--<u>WHAT HAVE YOU DONE</u>??? </b>😱<b> Also, what are the odds that both </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Vortex</i><b> and the <i>Croc</i> games feature a character named "Dante" in them?</b> 🤨</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and Justin Scharvona's soundtrack is perfect, it's <b>so</b> good! 😭 It helps that I love veteran Argonaut composer Scharvona's music, I think he's got a phenomenal range between this, <i>Royal Conquest</i>/<i>King Arthur's World</i>, and <i>Vortex</i>. And knowing that this game was also available on the Sega Saturn I just <b>had</b> to know how Croc's first venture was like in this format visually.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSEipabgH-rkOuoUwOa2ME57nOZokwp0271tjhWVnhQVfu0tJiV4W-eb1I6sMBnoNhefMxQNDfMWAHW22KsspwUqJkffMl9ms022ja0V3-ygE3MjK2rWe-eme3mL0GEvvim85ruaHMTYbf-61oS6ZHRqM84JQlSvAlmza5f_q_Wq9Def3em4dmRbgVA/s78/Croc_Saturn-LifeIcon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="55" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSEipabgH-rkOuoUwOa2ME57nOZokwp0271tjhWVnhQVfu0tJiV4W-eb1I6sMBnoNhefMxQNDfMWAHW22KsspwUqJkffMl9ms022ja0V3-ygE3MjK2rWe-eme3mL0GEvvim85ruaHMTYbf-61oS6ZHRqM84JQlSvAlmza5f_q_Wq9Def3em4dmRbgVA/s1600/Croc_Saturn-LifeIcon.png" width="55" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOmTTz8xGPpjSFob8ep7qzp0xrSk7SwtUf2c-Mp0Ne2wuiKn89toMDDXOBvNLl3_4huO4GniqwHcUlhU5IdC3dJWrjdXu5E6r_x92KKdu2wZqAVJSNknfegIkjavy2TNkxj9ZncKVruTrQdQfnwXAlKzg6TEuaeeTiP1bYZD20N4dR30XFIAq69Tv4A/s90/Croc_PSOne-LifeIcon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="90" data-original-width="71" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOmTTz8xGPpjSFob8ep7qzp0xrSk7SwtUf2c-Mp0Ne2wuiKn89toMDDXOBvNLl3_4huO4GniqwHcUlhU5IdC3dJWrjdXu5E6r_x92KKdu2wZqAVJSNknfegIkjavy2TNkxj9ZncKVruTrQdQfnwXAlKzg6TEuaeeTiP1bYZD20N4dR30XFIAq69Tv4A/s1600/Croc_PSOne-LifeIcon.png" width="71" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9wk9LTeuiuwUxc6XS_S3IEVf5GFczSd-haAnFCNKY1nlfptXwkr3-ppctAwr0N2ebb1O2McS-7NeHN4tMhTDAHbAvvYXubdOQJecUgWUJtC1W0QC6VBjbVDpXS-z2574X5Y7_Sf02moloYsO-V7tv8Tseh8a9hZlvdZUDbT734HYWvn9JBue8t-QDg/s81/Croc_Saturn-GobboIcon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="81" data-original-width="69" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9wk9LTeuiuwUxc6XS_S3IEVf5GFczSd-haAnFCNKY1nlfptXwkr3-ppctAwr0N2ebb1O2McS-7NeHN4tMhTDAHbAvvYXubdOQJecUgWUJtC1W0QC6VBjbVDpXS-z2574X5Y7_Sf02moloYsO-V7tv8Tseh8a9hZlvdZUDbT734HYWvn9JBue8t-QDg/s1600/Croc_Saturn-GobboIcon.png" width="69" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgua2AcJwKG6eKTIbH2jAqwuA7yOvP2Wqf1RSLoQxQyLlMmsIy7b9z7_B3IZIzpy8MVm81nJDOQ2LoaYXU_72usABl0wEbCoVcudh_cGIrpHGBMoU5eLLNOZX2b5HigD_ewKup0-mwihvUox-1FKiv_8HIUqXGEX5kG-Buu9xB18Vrm6tiHKyDzdLeA/s88/Croc_PSOne-GobboIcon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="78" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgua2AcJwKG6eKTIbH2jAqwuA7yOvP2Wqf1RSLoQxQyLlMmsIy7b9z7_B3IZIzpy8MVm81nJDOQ2LoaYXU_72usABl0wEbCoVcudh_cGIrpHGBMoU5eLLNOZX2b5HigD_ewKup0-mwihvUox-1FKiv_8HIUqXGEX5kG-Buu9xB18Vrm6tiHKyDzdLeA/s1600/Croc_PSOne-GobboIcon.png" width="78" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And visual differences between the original PlayStation One version and the Sega Saturn edition there are, I'm not going to bring up all of them but I will spotlight ones I felt were notable. In the PlayStation version the Croc and Gobbo icons were inanimate, but in the Saturn Croc's eyes blink whenever you get a life heart while the Gobbos turn their head left and right any time you rescue one.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yid9N3QIFJcIhyy0YsknvvFLHfCewe8SmFMQZwl6eXvS5A25401NR7o4hXVmk83ioB8nDxCGaPnzSKL2Mm8MpHEVhKr_dYPqUUK5Cw2Sl-1W1HV7h36JXhc4pO-1wT26SQ9LYc7WQV9vPSwv4GxXfHi3YRBTWvKwNd5cqcCXH9_phdbgx5aXZUUPGA/s441/Croc_Saturn-Save.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Yid9N3QIFJcIhyy0YsknvvFLHfCewe8SmFMQZwl6eXvS5A25401NR7o4hXVmk83ioB8nDxCGaPnzSKL2Mm8MpHEVhKr_dYPqUUK5Cw2Sl-1W1HV7h36JXhc4pO-1wT26SQ9LYc7WQV9vPSwv4GxXfHi3YRBTWvKwNd5cqcCXH9_phdbgx5aXZUUPGA/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-Save.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTus_XlzaFLUGVIa7a9-milZcgtLGsrvAdEYZDdV0mYi6BkRgw27Ye9_FnIa-Dr-FOyNi76FmzdJ2tIlxaPCTPLHlfRZJy6sxYoBvLrnt3xRpq0f3u89M6gPMMDjeZ2XM74zRIOailjXNelR2eR6Jf1nMRRcYXfjpC1zrybXQktqlQi9s_UbvFwfaA-Q/s428/Croc_PSOne-Save.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTus_XlzaFLUGVIa7a9-milZcgtLGsrvAdEYZDdV0mYi6BkRgw27Ye9_FnIa-Dr-FOyNi76FmzdJ2tIlxaPCTPLHlfRZJy6sxYoBvLrnt3xRpq0f3u89M6gPMMDjeZ2XM74zRIOailjXNelR2eR6Jf1nMRRcYXfjpC1zrybXQktqlQi9s_UbvFwfaA-Q/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-Save.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">There was also a choice to look up the password for your present progress in the PlayStation version</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The font is different, as is the save game screen: in the PlayStation the camera is pointed at the center as it revolves around it in 360 degrees just like the title as you can save in one of the blocks available, while in the Sega Saturn version you can save your progress by choosing between file 0 through 5, with each file taking up four blocks of the system's memory.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo--uSWVGt2TNXABhHMZhMUfL90rgmJ5vK3y-cwAeZs1V_ZokVdtzUDUfNcP8_15bfgYYtDBVhm4JamuOkUS991_3T6LXmtQP4RHRS7t9Lh9AH-tROB4pSoPl-Z0modrkJvKGsq6w8OyqdUf7FzLYaYcNWeujbUGTDGf8YrH4AFUWBxR1ydNgsq6S0Q/s441/Croc_Saturn-LevelComplete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo--uSWVGt2TNXABhHMZhMUfL90rgmJ5vK3y-cwAeZs1V_ZokVdtzUDUfNcP8_15bfgYYtDBVhm4JamuOkUS991_3T6LXmtQP4RHRS7t9Lh9AH-tROB4pSoPl-Z0modrkJvKGsq6w8OyqdUf7FzLYaYcNWeujbUGTDGf8YrH4AFUWBxR1ydNgsq6S0Q/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-LevelComplete.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrrE837mfQ3JbkU0qATUQTkMhB7olg15nddanhNyFS_b1fVZ8RwEM5ypT_xga0X2I2Gu1utI31xMQHbaU_Uz3f4dSu6pBO61mUhvKErnr-ZaajdivjCX4JFtUDYfjIzlVKRu7CFduTh7699GkROsmeex25IlW4vasoNWApbtQC8-5h3n9GCkXxsVq3w/s428/Croc_PSOne-LevelComplete.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrrE837mfQ3JbkU0qATUQTkMhB7olg15nddanhNyFS_b1fVZ8RwEM5ypT_xga0X2I2Gu1utI31xMQHbaU_Uz3f4dSu6pBO61mUhvKErnr-ZaajdivjCX4JFtUDYfjIzlVKRu7CFduTh7699GkROsmeex25IlW4vasoNWApbtQC8-5h3n9GCkXxsVq3w/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-LevelComplete.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">In the PlayStation version once you beat a boss you'll be shown the level complete stat followed by the post-boss cutscene, and in the Saturn version the order's been reversed after a boss' defeat</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The presentation for the level complete stat is different between versions; I quite like how in the Saturn version it's got a fancy entrance as it's all wavy until it straightens itself out, and the moment you get eighteen Gobbos in the first or second half of the map the Gobbo in Croc's backpack icon will blink on and off indicating that you now have access to the secret level once you defeat the upcoming boss.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3G21IdEdFr51KJANQBCzqihqixxhDanWm554Z7kehO6GZAHY9m5B1Qe2x6fvyZP0D5JK8VC4WBqVFX4K-xbOyyTLrGScjeqUTavL9DmZBwj1WglEoPyqbJd-bxxnyXKzD4czk4UpOACCn2Am1-mhQevarHF545vPfeOhq2BN7RFd_y9htzIvHwwLrw/s441/Croc_Saturn-AndSoTheAdventureBegins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3G21IdEdFr51KJANQBCzqihqixxhDanWm554Z7kehO6GZAHY9m5B1Qe2x6fvyZP0D5JK8VC4WBqVFX4K-xbOyyTLrGScjeqUTavL9DmZBwj1WglEoPyqbJd-bxxnyXKzD4czk4UpOACCn2Am1-mhQevarHF545vPfeOhq2BN7RFd_y9htzIvHwwLrw/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-AndSoTheAdventureBegins.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTDegUNwrMJXtICTiuZpibgaH8-LSFpTAObv4z9uQDMwbN5DBF-9muvwI8wno5WUa8fIwTthsXUfXCtt1dGgehWcqV7blmhZkRAfIO9UjWWcM1MSwYC3ZE1dVtP4JKTdNudRndcoBOKeRvJGNDPQjuT4ASLbus6sI-q-NMl4RV44WM3xNhpBcy9yO9w/s428/Croc_PSOne-AndSoTheAdventureBegins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTDegUNwrMJXtICTiuZpibgaH8-LSFpTAObv4z9uQDMwbN5DBF-9muvwI8wno5WUa8fIwTthsXUfXCtt1dGgehWcqV7blmhZkRAfIO9UjWWcM1MSwYC3ZE1dVtP4JKTdNudRndcoBOKeRvJGNDPQjuT4ASLbus6sI-q-NMl4RV44WM3xNhpBcy9yO9w/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-AndSoTheAdventureBegins.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Odd that in the Saturn version you can only go up or down an area in the map by pressing either shoulder button</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And guys, I noticed something very apparent while alternating between the two versions getting these screenshots:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4sr7g3CwLjreDucVVqqjFKY_PVVyfeT3BLxSB_xwgV8ts57DEkVHM8bmt1d_iVcIYcOnaQCl7_DlT35alYHow8xRxTA5cUeyrnpt8uA_YNWnSPFc5y_wQLDLJiMKVjMl085-r9v-OmNbl-Q-dtnA_a0-f6GkV87KthW0gZStH9n5_GDUYgEN4dw6Yg/s441/Croc_Saturn-Sunset.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4sr7g3CwLjreDucVVqqjFKY_PVVyfeT3BLxSB_xwgV8ts57DEkVHM8bmt1d_iVcIYcOnaQCl7_DlT35alYHow8xRxTA5cUeyrnpt8uA_YNWnSPFc5y_wQLDLJiMKVjMl085-r9v-OmNbl-Q-dtnA_a0-f6GkV87KthW0gZStH9n5_GDUYgEN4dw6Yg/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-Sunset.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJhizOGICvXrpRlC_b1fDtUZhkfv1x2F5kFbHFgknItS_Se0cltNB3DPjOASK1e4JFJCic-9vvNMV2V9K66SKnb6x9uyV2laCmhAkYbaRQJOTPsyRG5HOq-b6v70AxLfNH0mO1TgZDDihDvZ1ggkpjedz0J_Z0pB0tJBEkh9oCVIEGANLeyAB1iSOdg/s428/Croc_PSOne-Sunset.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJhizOGICvXrpRlC_b1fDtUZhkfv1x2F5kFbHFgknItS_Se0cltNB3DPjOASK1e4JFJCic-9vvNMV2V9K66SKnb6x9uyV2laCmhAkYbaRQJOTPsyRG5HOq-b6v70AxLfNH0mO1TgZDDihDvZ1ggkpjedz0J_Z0pB0tJBEkh9oCVIEGANLeyAB1iSOdg/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-Sunset.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argonaut considerably <b>zoomed in</b> <i>Croc</i> when it came to the Saturn edition and made subtle alterations in the process compared to the base PlayStation version.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w23ky4k8AJEbusaILg9JUZD6wMs7Ty0cMpTET4GPHjSvDdVRxpG9xkswms-vh6DMA77q2sKJWG7lvfiANt8ACRg9QHqmabOrEKXSUBkNMZx3uEm1u2Tjkd5OWH1-Wbc-vSPw8xkj8Poqp0CJNlFJS-AC0y9kDwk4_tQQr8BBYCO2Fa63fKCEFhx8HA/s387/Croc_Saturn-Cradle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="387" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w23ky4k8AJEbusaILg9JUZD6wMs7Ty0cMpTET4GPHjSvDdVRxpG9xkswms-vh6DMA77q2sKJWG7lvfiANt8ACRg9QHqmabOrEKXSUBkNMZx3uEm1u2Tjkd5OWH1-Wbc-vSPw8xkj8Poqp0CJNlFJS-AC0y9kDwk4_tQQr8BBYCO2Fa63fKCEFhx8HA/w200-h126/Croc_Saturn-Cradle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vLyDCYl2K6ompd7cw7vljaqp4I3uIaCtFU4X1hwAmckEP229L3-MVPVdo0un42gsqSlPJ3SOEqmj8Q7XMrLVRuox4o-N1m6hC3-drBfG-GQ8-LMYvQDZxLbIE-xFJVm_1ZQTeqyq2Ad8YHYxp5UfbuPkNNAm8Wnr0NBXCBM1EoAoZPhMtAMESJgOlQ/s383/Croc_PSOne-Cradle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="383" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vLyDCYl2K6ompd7cw7vljaqp4I3uIaCtFU4X1hwAmckEP229L3-MVPVdo0un42gsqSlPJ3SOEqmj8Q7XMrLVRuox4o-N1m6hC3-drBfG-GQ8-LMYvQDZxLbIE-xFJVm_1ZQTeqyq2Ad8YHYxp5UfbuPkNNAm8Wnr0NBXCBM1EoAoZPhMtAMESJgOlQ/w200-h135/Croc_PSOne-Cradle.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Aw, those poor Gobbos hiding behind the rock got slightly if not completely cropped out</b> 🙁</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GpzMgtk1ZZdFTpfN5Nm4vDnZcXotz0m-2RlSHoBNdqYkuQNb1yJ0uIvdxXro94IWJS4wnUh4RPRfOo8yjnPWfkWN2Fs5QsqBsgh5loekAtHXnHb8gdtpXEyAiyHU6Fuzu0kFah4pwb_uQrz38Xt2M04rmIiqAJD6LsIzeqx53qvfGNr-AU8imfqTsg/s387/Croc_Saturn-Neptuna.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="387" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GpzMgtk1ZZdFTpfN5Nm4vDnZcXotz0m-2RlSHoBNdqYkuQNb1yJ0uIvdxXro94IWJS4wnUh4RPRfOo8yjnPWfkWN2Fs5QsqBsgh5loekAtHXnHb8gdtpXEyAiyHU6Fuzu0kFah4pwb_uQrz38Xt2M04rmIiqAJD6LsIzeqx53qvfGNr-AU8imfqTsg/w200-h126/Croc_Saturn-Neptuna.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9VTumpxJEZS9RHUOkocDu8UL14m2Qt-z0RFiZ_st5tAGf4mt_-hD-n3VmO3umgODpjZ_vwlAtZgoxWz16DsWRi8tVq9085EO6DG9-btouruzFYvowp7KCP-kHTOJMbUe_ahj39stN8Fv9mBc96vxRWWOtGUwu-lEKX8MTo7gexD74koHC7-N7wmsHg/s383/Croc_PSOne-Neptuna.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="383" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9VTumpxJEZS9RHUOkocDu8UL14m2Qt-z0RFiZ_st5tAGf4mt_-hD-n3VmO3umgODpjZ_vwlAtZgoxWz16DsWRi8tVq9085EO6DG9-btouruzFYvowp7KCP-kHTOJMbUe_ahj39stN8Fv9mBc96vxRWWOtGUwu-lEKX8MTo7gexD74koHC7-N7wmsHg/w200-h135/Croc_PSOne-Neptuna.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfxtKJY7iZ4n366qTK0gglmHL8gEN59yDIeMmIhGWZvTvqlZ-NAMqHH6J60ocLGIShhl82Q_9fYSe9pzExA7_8pFCn04RxMDN3V7atRjBJZUHIPjLr_NQdTVx_BSohWVB9BwEAlIPLkPE8kEJAaNfaMrVTKTrr-dSixQzOhFtQTsjVwTmpWZQIBn62Q/s387/Croc_Saturn-CactusJack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="387" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfxtKJY7iZ4n366qTK0gglmHL8gEN59yDIeMmIhGWZvTvqlZ-NAMqHH6J60ocLGIShhl82Q_9fYSe9pzExA7_8pFCn04RxMDN3V7atRjBJZUHIPjLr_NQdTVx_BSohWVB9BwEAlIPLkPE8kEJAaNfaMrVTKTrr-dSixQzOhFtQTsjVwTmpWZQIBn62Q/w200-h126/Croc_Saturn-CactusJack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfzZFUJO4DprhCUlItMmZoAuYOs0fsmd9Kyqn9uUAbf5D6l_q4j8a7iM8PO3V48niTBud3e3CLOO9eEtNY0ONB8E5qbe75aCBs83luc13OaYwMX-KjXL1yQ9-xQNE_lsjFivefvzvob6XFngIv2S5xmzxLRn-A2oO6bcJDAJnmaRBShc0sqeW21t2mw/s383/Croc_PSOne-CactusJack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="383" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfzZFUJO4DprhCUlItMmZoAuYOs0fsmd9Kyqn9uUAbf5D6l_q4j8a7iM8PO3V48niTBud3e3CLOO9eEtNY0ONB8E5qbe75aCBs83luc13OaYwMX-KjXL1yQ9-xQNE_lsjFivefvzvob6XFngIv2S5xmzxLRn-A2oO6bcJDAJnmaRBShc0sqeW21t2mw/w200-h135/Croc_PSOne-CactusJack.png" width="200" /></a></div>Not just during the game proper, but during the <b>cutscenes</b> as well.</div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PcjUx2eW2uQK_AHaNnjjB6Kj4yg3cLKh1z-sEjrnSkEGoHNSE-9TphpwptU3egirgJnU6jDMa4BZUPIPgoZ82QQRyl8O2wysCpiflGJmzGYs2LXp88b-BFwPivamIAcJcEd_s7EfwSTNGsAuAKTUI5vB0e890RDRYHesqDLa56FDI2Jn02DT2AwWUQ/s441/Croc_Saturn-Underwater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PcjUx2eW2uQK_AHaNnjjB6Kj4yg3cLKh1z-sEjrnSkEGoHNSE-9TphpwptU3egirgJnU6jDMa4BZUPIPgoZ82QQRyl8O2wysCpiflGJmzGYs2LXp88b-BFwPivamIAcJcEd_s7EfwSTNGsAuAKTUI5vB0e890RDRYHesqDLa56FDI2Jn02DT2AwWUQ/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-Underwater.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkp5L93Un11_Uxf6v-bdCmsSHj3v7KX_Ou1G-zYQj6J39dP9cthRaXznoC9aNMoTPqzp2bvNEScuvzAtbtNsMWX8p7x0yceDo8ZGCZ57Rx25Qi-d3t-s_NEKcF8bEHFfQ3fMB1ji29zgWmwB2NvfDobku4iYissUDLhBIr_k2y6YGUmbjNJ_2zMiqcQ/s428/Croc_PSOne-Underwater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkp5L93Un11_Uxf6v-bdCmsSHj3v7KX_Ou1G-zYQj6J39dP9cthRaXznoC9aNMoTPqzp2bvNEScuvzAtbtNsMWX8p7x0yceDo8ZGCZ57Rx25Qi-d3t-s_NEKcF8bEHFfQ3fMB1ji29zgWmwB2NvfDobku4iYissUDLhBIr_k2y6YGUmbjNJ_2zMiqcQ/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-Underwater.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm curious why they would've done that? I realize the Saturn is more of a 2D console at heart,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0jbWyM2eLM9cP3qdRFKIt49I-buut-bOKqzotvY_-NrXu_eT2ssEfBlt9g8XAkJmAo4l5fG8bl-EHrKXnXw4D54OAi0Kme2hHislmC6uJkdemdmqC0ifRJM9rAm7AGs-MikklTcZhU6SNEs-c84TGlWJelisc-Yj3IavcDsurk92CkSY2orEqE01Iw/s441/Croc_Saturn-Flibby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0jbWyM2eLM9cP3qdRFKIt49I-buut-bOKqzotvY_-NrXu_eT2ssEfBlt9g8XAkJmAo4l5fG8bl-EHrKXnXw4D54OAi0Kme2hHislmC6uJkdemdmqC0ifRJM9rAm7AGs-MikklTcZhU6SNEs-c84TGlWJelisc-Yj3IavcDsurk92CkSY2orEqE01Iw/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-Flibby.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKcWNt1CyyFqnkI5eTaF5SASuOeaxxb7TcWfkmWYpnZToThjl5mOu09ilG00kHh-IpM8cNNiW5B11c7VQCgQSRSgLD46XweYOjzGSsm6GNcCnkx14s9HV06KPgoaoUKqKrfLFPU3jHHh8yOjQOqQJBP5SsewYF9LHsHyFTn2mGJAIi01RrNvjurXLhg/s428/Croc_PSOne-Flibby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKcWNt1CyyFqnkI5eTaF5SASuOeaxxb7TcWfkmWYpnZToThjl5mOu09ilG00kHh-IpM8cNNiW5B11c7VQCgQSRSgLD46XweYOjzGSsm6GNcCnkx14s9HV06KPgoaoUKqKrfLFPU3jHHh8yOjQOqQJBP5SsewYF9LHsHyFTn2mGJAIi01RrNvjurXLhg/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-Flibby.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">so there's a chance that in trying to zoom in to this degree that Argonaut was attempting to hide Sega's 32-bit console's limitations. It also doesn't have <b>as</b> much of the atmospheric (and colored) lighting as the PlayStation version as a result, and there are no transparency effects.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtMKOlpHy6g3hlhSMImnrwdMbsKYtuQETCMFf6M3yVOB7Ka1Okf_HSSfMqIPSscI9ZYVtiMHdtpIhAbyIH_jDWi5sMnJQ2yV9ev0Jxx0hlrdrWMCHFSnF7sgwzWtIJ6jJsvYwk5EzwxdUyx8RHDn96QggbZtkA9c1Tx5r1_ZwKLUKnNhrxu0_JKNCcw/s441/Croc_Saturn-SecretSentinel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="441" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtMKOlpHy6g3hlhSMImnrwdMbsKYtuQETCMFf6M3yVOB7Ka1Okf_HSSfMqIPSscI9ZYVtiMHdtpIhAbyIH_jDWi5sMnJQ2yV9ev0Jxx0hlrdrWMCHFSnF7sgwzWtIJ6jJsvYwk5EzwxdUyx8RHDn96QggbZtkA9c1Tx5r1_ZwKLUKnNhrxu0_JKNCcw/w200-h133/Croc_Saturn-SecretSentinel.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6PcJVXNH5eZYYAGj_9rd4KP6nsUsaXC7OaC1ireXD8laBt7tYtKFjUuawl-c2wfSY2ackn87xLeyzWU-wYX2US5n2QkhILxjxp9uJ11u44knts4fNs6fVQEbXTqqxjTDIWIc0AzsrjZdFFQgDZTjqzx5E-tJdDs2O-tkZNT8JU2z1VJMPnQDoRHaCA/s428/Croc_PSOne-SecretSentinel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="428" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6PcJVXNH5eZYYAGj_9rd4KP6nsUsaXC7OaC1ireXD8laBt7tYtKFjUuawl-c2wfSY2ackn87xLeyzWU-wYX2US5n2QkhILxjxp9uJ11u44knts4fNs6fVQEbXTqqxjTDIWIc0AzsrjZdFFQgDZTjqzx5E-tJdDs2O-tkZNT8JU2z1VJMPnQDoRHaCA/w200-h142/Croc_PSOne-SecretSentinel.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's a side by side comparison shot of the final fight featuring the Secret Sentinel, the visual difference is incredibly stark, but don't worry: there's still that corner jumping tactic to make quick work out of him by tail whipping all four gongs.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfz4pC8Xt-mL5aPUY_xbswvNmLozTGOZfKF45k9rUjPcEoG1oZyc6dp3IayGXi3Ee_6BrCZVxdUDxuOtvF_qCu03W7yHIOgX5CmOXKGfDtZgIvRtRy_DPu21rz-Mv4a8pVhopSI9PFn3XypA_iT6dCFdXED8yDrqZ-B9vo9LFLJvs43DRjGyes3ohzg/s388/Croc_Saturn-Flip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfz4pC8Xt-mL5aPUY_xbswvNmLozTGOZfKF45k9rUjPcEoG1oZyc6dp3IayGXi3Ee_6BrCZVxdUDxuOtvF_qCu03W7yHIOgX5CmOXKGfDtZgIvRtRy_DPu21rz-Mv4a8pVhopSI9PFn3XypA_iT6dCFdXED8yDrqZ-B9vo9LFLJvs43DRjGyes3ohzg/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-Flip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhtJM5V16pFTuZdAC5gRLHklLY6YY_qGW-mOIF5e1NcONpR8TGUqMlNxD6367gPP_pUiK1_A1p1BaaMG5WXhw34rUfASAfadxV_Z36scNt14_axopalltrmLVaUspzPFUlC_FYJItKXOYOVKb-JqOkkZywbZeTQdJS659NTaxssdPKMaVwBsnWCZP5A/s388/Croc_Saturn-Hammerhead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhtJM5V16pFTuZdAC5gRLHklLY6YY_qGW-mOIF5e1NcONpR8TGUqMlNxD6367gPP_pUiK1_A1p1BaaMG5WXhw34rUfASAfadxV_Z36scNt14_axopalltrmLVaUspzPFUlC_FYJItKXOYOVKb-JqOkkZywbZeTQdJS659NTaxssdPKMaVwBsnWCZP5A/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-Hammerhead.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I did also notice some subtle differences with the Saturn version too: in the "Darkness Descends" level as you jump from moving platform to moving platform there is a lava-like waterfall that wasn't there in the PlayStation version plus it's appropriately dark that it lives up to its title, there were certain backgrounds that were different (especially in the intro), in this one snowy portion with the giant spinning gear at the top there is a snowball-tossing Dantini that wasn't there originally, the placement of a box when it came to a portion entailing monkey bars was relocated to a different spot, and there are a couple (maybe more) individual portions that have been abbreviated in size, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKWU7j_ccpwBjp4n1hklLIn7FJUgNyq1Hm48qFBNRvlh_vGaK1GBVDa6BGyOWzXdfYBFUAG2MMt73vIfLW09ByIZbE8HYQpOaITU5BKxS4tYA0Dx5vg8flcOVcUd0b_Kc1p2Hk9Y9ZawYQ3221w4ahvc9VQcGkQSFzg-0wf3FhuosDfoG44Ar4uhOcA/s388/Croc_Saturn-Credits.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKWU7j_ccpwBjp4n1hklLIn7FJUgNyq1Hm48qFBNRvlh_vGaK1GBVDa6BGyOWzXdfYBFUAG2MMt73vIfLW09ByIZbE8HYQpOaITU5BKxS4tYA0Dx5vg8flcOVcUd0b_Kc1p2Hk9Y9ZawYQ3221w4ahvc9VQcGkQSFzg-0wf3FhuosDfoG44Ar4uhOcA/s16000/Croc_Saturn-Credits.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Not sure when Croc would've wielded and waved a flag at any point while Beany is soaring from the distance, but that is a soothing visual regardless</b> 😍</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was so happy to see this beautifully silhouetted starry night sky artwork serving as the Saturn version's credits screen, I'm glad there's an official release of <i>Croc</i> that used this concept artwork, having only seen it before while watching the tech demo footage of the game on YouTube years ago.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCHjD2i2KmWmETU4Q3cVHxVtDOuoqHP6Bkvo6NaeukAUDWPcaLekKEh3zrjtji-u8pBVSWzCes3NKyitsbkR8byODe2MjbOX6F9GpfTS3oUowQOrWYYJa3U_DdZr67BUcWnmll3CNlEvn0q7oIwOeatQtfilPW7TmNKCveZZCFzg2WGioSI2Ccuqh6Q/s383/SegaSaturn_Croc-Soundtrack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCHjD2i2KmWmETU4Q3cVHxVtDOuoqHP6Bkvo6NaeukAUDWPcaLekKEh3zrjtji-u8pBVSWzCes3NKyitsbkR8byODe2MjbOX6F9GpfTS3oUowQOrWYYJa3U_DdZr67BUcWnmll3CNlEvn0q7oIwOeatQtfilPW7TmNKCveZZCFzg2WGioSI2Ccuqh6Q/w200-h156/SegaSaturn_Croc-Soundtrack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsdTlUCpihdTfrYw61z1tOiLQ94PC8LmXXA_Hcb0rMWxYY9pSJES9KQErmnuEfqumPtOcwFy0FWZWcs-9dot_yXqKFr2HoSTlHnw1KH19b2x_kAhNZ3sZERo652IvtBmzh-xLJh25WA9MgHIRuPTYj7e2hw_EjeR-irC7f_E9FGvnZzSO7iKghvan-A/s383/PSOne_Menu-CrocDisc.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="383" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsdTlUCpihdTfrYw61z1tOiLQ94PC8LmXXA_Hcb0rMWxYY9pSJES9KQErmnuEfqumPtOcwFy0FWZWcs-9dot_yXqKFr2HoSTlHnw1KH19b2x_kAhNZ3sZERo652IvtBmzh-xLJh25WA9MgHIRuPTYj7e2hw_EjeR-irC7f_E9FGvnZzSO7iKghvan-A/w200-h159/PSOne_Menu-CrocDisc.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was very surprised to discover that Saturn <i>Croc</i>'s game disc doubled as a soundtrack when inserted on a music player or game console, which is great because I love video game music. Considering the PlayStation version's game disc didn't share that same distinction, I had no reason to believe the Saturn disc would be any different until I put it in on the drive while on the menu screen.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB9jAY0sSjL26BV5sNRtISbILUaesoj5xAdIgIqvhBPwTQdtnWtvudnDcfV05cdAC6yvSecheR8JFSH9hrj-2S3OVeqHC0pZm0pUtnTB_ouRItBsaTyZ38mdkONjiIx5HCq82rV88CPaS2jlNeOfCI6224AC_b2PRTGxto6mnVviCzcAUINVvidWZ_g/s510/Croc_Saturn-GameDisc.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="510" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB9jAY0sSjL26BV5sNRtISbILUaesoj5xAdIgIqvhBPwTQdtnWtvudnDcfV05cdAC6yvSecheR8JFSH9hrj-2S3OVeqHC0pZm0pUtnTB_ouRItBsaTyZ38mdkONjiIx5HCq82rV88CPaS2jlNeOfCI6224AC_b2PRTGxto6mnVviCzcAUINVvidWZ_g/w400-h366/Croc_Saturn-GameDisc.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is a catch, though: a good chunk of Justin Scharvona's music has been excised from the Saturn version (some notable removed tracks being the perfectly composed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrQn_PMgUvM">iconic first area theme</a> you hear, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yzAzVL80k">second underwater theme</a>, this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CorID9sYC3U">one somber dungeon theme</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpao5plUrrE">this cave theme</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Wt_EAA9-Y">one of the castle themes</a>, as well as Baron Dante's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhXDMUu22M0">first</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifuiSZ7xDIQ">third</a> battle themes), and some of the longer themes that <b>are</b> there have been abbreviated from their original length.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlFMOvvYMHbAeJ71ysX8Bc0vfmGSiK9oQ-wLzEJ4Uo5mB4o_cIo2URUAJ89f3WySqk_AAGAnIASpmhUrs_g7Em3zvi1ZK0mblDJTaLn1ihryGX7cTS8kLoosPXJ1wug5ATSr7tyj-5C5DVdS8m8HNFrzCoFrDp0DEyDaSIGOEJ4cyC4zrafrlI4uVMQ/s608/Croc_Saturn+PSOne-Discs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="608" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlFMOvvYMHbAeJ71ysX8Bc0vfmGSiK9oQ-wLzEJ4Uo5mB4o_cIo2URUAJ89f3WySqk_AAGAnIASpmhUrs_g7Em3zvi1ZK0mblDJTaLn1ihryGX7cTS8kLoosPXJ1wug5ATSr7tyj-5C5DVdS8m8HNFrzCoFrDp0DEyDaSIGOEJ4cyC4zrafrlI4uVMQ/w400-h189/Croc_Saturn+PSOne-Discs.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh, well, win some lose some, I guess, at least the music that is still present in the Sega version is still good. I do love the underwater motif the Saturn game disc is going for with a still of Croc swimming, it certainly makes the PlayStation game disc look plain by comparison (unless that's just the Greatest Hits edition).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr7QSyngWWWrFw5fbdZRq2D3Hp4uobRaWwSZ6BBAtUp_ESBGIhfO9TcuMUgFbEWVo5oiwpE0nNC8Hdc2FSojN7vdGWzJov3GuEYeGOSfW74qs4lcys1daL0MaiiUOcHXupvlgdnT7YJGb9pS_34X9N0cya2XXv2k61sp2eTmAmin9BxvUebN-PAG1QQ/s388/Croc_Saturn-GhostRace.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr7QSyngWWWrFw5fbdZRq2D3Hp4uobRaWwSZ6BBAtUp_ESBGIhfO9TcuMUgFbEWVo5oiwpE0nNC8Hdc2FSojN7vdGWzJov3GuEYeGOSfW74qs4lcys1daL0MaiiUOcHXupvlgdnT7YJGb9pS_34X9N0cya2XXv2k61sp2eTmAmin9BxvUebN-PAG1QQ/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-GhostRace.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3uCvCQ33rN3YxOFbnAjpgZkXopuvD9n97jiPsh8L77G0uTSSo_euOFhJHYq7bzDpYkKGYaN4STpvT9VCBRQumz7ersA38rlpMpSGr7FJJ9RvV2cXQjfBUz8XjxA94fntu1YkBtw9Pt1QtMflWEOBYUr4GCvEoWnF7o4u0UQxwWtH3Svjs3d_NYmIBA/s388/Croc_Saturn-Platforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="388" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3uCvCQ33rN3YxOFbnAjpgZkXopuvD9n97jiPsh8L77G0uTSSo_euOFhJHYq7bzDpYkKGYaN4STpvT9VCBRQumz7ersA38rlpMpSGr7FJJ9RvV2cXQjfBUz8XjxA94fntu1YkBtw9Pt1QtMflWEOBYUr4GCvEoWnF7o4u0UQxwWtH3Svjs3d_NYmIBA/w200-h151/Croc_Saturn-Platforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gameplay-wise it's identical to the PlayStation version and structurally it's for the most part very similar, despite the zoomed in camera (it does make the action feel a bit more crowded in with less of a visibility of what's around you, particularly in the room where you have to jump from shrinking platform to shrinking platform). All differences aside, it is still a fun game through and through, although there are instances when the action gets slower depending on how much is happening onscreen. On the whole it's good, but the PlayStation version is superior, though I'm glad I got the chance to experience both versions. 😃👍</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgHWtBkf85v47D1uriARlESK7u_NNLikudQSAfHUA2o4WXiwHMnvLCy9E57yU_NxAX8svPWygoLWoPBeZfnX0paRf7hdxDktRlSsLLfgSQLVfbmOT9aUoHCDRBovvPTlXtDLZyy1qXv-xsBvURN6AERZqKv5aKpUmLhEBxXt4OQhQivuVvwd5RsgbLg/s519/CrocII_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="519" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgHWtBkf85v47D1uriARlESK7u_NNLikudQSAfHUA2o4WXiwHMnvLCy9E57yU_NxAX8svPWygoLWoPBeZfnX0paRf7hdxDktRlSsLLfgSQLVfbmOT9aUoHCDRBovvPTlXtDLZyy1qXv-xsBvURN6AERZqKv5aKpUmLhEBxXt4OQhQivuVvwd5RsgbLg/w200-h108/CrocII_Advert.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGelz29kbDJZapHD1qKmzGbP_XmHa3x86ja8h5DIkaWMMduzYmoYUELFtrirtvUoSycNT2DP8ns-sF_KpDeOy_g60d8_h3HFVepJnJ6EJYo01NTZz7jWCFsmuhbbQXItZ7_pZJiyLR-vdwesaUt8zKbDl5P7Jqo8P_EMpj07xoBdS1PjYcgGnURxfZA/s388/Croc2_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="388" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGelz29kbDJZapHD1qKmzGbP_XmHa3x86ja8h5DIkaWMMduzYmoYUELFtrirtvUoSycNT2DP8ns-sF_KpDeOy_g60d8_h3HFVepJnJ6EJYo01NTZz7jWCFsmuhbbQXItZ7_pZJiyLR-vdwesaUt8zKbDl5P7Jqo8P_EMpj07xoBdS1PjYcgGnURxfZA/w200-h167/Croc2_Advert.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Twice delayed from its originally intended scheduled release, <i>Croc 2</i> ended up eventually coming out during the <u>Summer</u> of 1999 on the PlayStation One; interesting that there was originally going to be a Roman numeral value in the title</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>*sigh*</b> What happened, Argonaut? 😔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPabJZ0lzN0mNXQebRV43OcvpDQB_6bZWgKjMaFRRShpYOFfsFdwCRbMa7F4gMR6yq0F5XV0K5U3O5Adau1gW8leUH9aT3q-Cx_MEBP2ZZJhqxrJjeH9JFGBMTOsfHFnOBGepKaFeuqtSkqeUo4V6qY4tKZT7ICyeoHRztR2HEt1vmoM0kGDmJkazwQ/s377/Croc2_Soveena.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPabJZ0lzN0mNXQebRV43OcvpDQB_6bZWgKjMaFRRShpYOFfsFdwCRbMa7F4gMR6yq0F5XV0K5U3O5Adau1gW8leUH9aT3q-Cx_MEBP2ZZJhqxrJjeH9JFGBMTOsfHFnOBGepKaFeuqtSkqeUo4V6qY4tKZT7ICyeoHRztR2HEt1vmoM0kGDmJkazwQ/w200-h158/Croc2_Soveena.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K4ZOsH6-c9IYu3lR7Mpd6D6OTxREIhd07vy1Q6m6f4pszi3lR7ViyjqCQlnoX6cxkF_0ia6_HTID4_IQWiSGZbdmZPCpWLaoD_XiHbxUzQ8KvqCOcC3HxM4Kh6wq6ya6uQxKQNzXz_fmcBuReDlCmRx31_022OJfDZirOlZyEWBXUKCAgljxWARGQg/s377/Croc2_Jump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K4ZOsH6-c9IYu3lR7Mpd6D6OTxREIhd07vy1Q6m6f4pszi3lR7ViyjqCQlnoX6cxkF_0ia6_HTID4_IQWiSGZbdmZPCpWLaoD_XiHbxUzQ8KvqCOcC3HxM4Kh6wq6ya6uQxKQNzXz_fmcBuReDlCmRx31_022OJfDZirOlZyEWBXUKCAgljxWARGQg/w200-h158/Croc2_Jump.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Croc 2</i> is a sequel that should've turned out to be better than it actually ended up, because outside of the improved visuals and added gameplay elements this was a step backward. It's not a bad game, but there are problems that undermine the potential for it to be a complete improvement.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fVnT7FmbH7dwm2SF32VpI4wsPgdSrNhhvblKwlJjbsCy6-ZDS5tL84kV6d66fxLj1NpG89vhVjl-k2-LyodoUKtBrmqcnrU1-xy5ksA2y7vILhRRCPEk2mY4dTC5qPqUFjC4xbnByVmOB9buLgp9hgYSmrq8c0bYu7YGjZ5Wr8CVGedCYkI1ZdgeUA/s377/Croc2_FriendInCage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fVnT7FmbH7dwm2SF32VpI4wsPgdSrNhhvblKwlJjbsCy6-ZDS5tL84kV6d66fxLj1NpG89vhVjl-k2-LyodoUKtBrmqcnrU1-xy5ksA2y7vILhRRCPEk2mY4dTC5qPqUFjC4xbnByVmOB9buLgp9hgYSmrq8c0bYu7YGjZ5Wr8CVGedCYkI1ZdgeUA/w200-h158/Croc2_FriendInCage.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-SGBn_3oLUK0f1EsMt4Y5lJrFJhqkDVCdvgcoQ9uVcdp5unOym-HhpdJ5WpPLV6o4n_Go-znqIsDD4Ng3ikyJhjxNeeJuu502tCk5IN4SGJtdWZjxeNJuckunyzmY3WUlVw45MdQpn227VWBDvCkXd-fypSfcxsawPT5pc9UjuzwXCpA6OKVbctq_Q/s377/Croc2_WhatsAMechanic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-SGBn_3oLUK0f1EsMt4Y5lJrFJhqkDVCdvgcoQ9uVcdp5unOym-HhpdJ5WpPLV6o4n_Go-znqIsDD4Ng3ikyJhjxNeeJuu502tCk5IN4SGJtdWZjxeNJuckunyzmY3WUlVw45MdQpn227VWBDvCkXd-fypSfcxsawPT5pc9UjuzwXCpA6OKVbctq_Q/w200-h158/Croc2_WhatsAMechanic.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I also feel that this game leaned too close to Rare's <i>Banjo-Kazooie</i> territory, right down to the hub world and dialogue (right down to the gibberish sound effect) and occasional fetch quest and the requirement to hold down a button to keep the camera behind you, and you know,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn-u3YMykL6MujHU2usHn-q8Zxu8Bb2JP6ZYxWX7OsuWfJjvusl80fGTpxu7CAzM2t9xSnn3xX6a6n34LsT_OXVrT4iY44x-Wc77UBYeXQq0VvjUAeE46pa4hhXX1CRdkBEC_tiphjcGAlX4wIs6mNfa9F0KJO3Kb0Cf2bC6nXpPStOjEg0871aFoQg/s377/BanjoKazooie_Jinjo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="377" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn-u3YMykL6MujHU2usHn-q8Zxu8Bb2JP6ZYxWX7OsuWfJjvusl80fGTpxu7CAzM2t9xSnn3xX6a6n34LsT_OXVrT4iY44x-Wc77UBYeXQq0VvjUAeE46pa4hhXX1CRdkBEC_tiphjcGAlX4wIs6mNfa9F0KJO3Kb0Cf2bC6nXpPStOjEg0871aFoQg/w200-h151/BanjoKazooie_Jinjo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9pKa8J7NRap0lKTDcjbjpCW2C-oNJRuV1QUH5zRISi3bRLwqydc22X5UDRyEpH78hS6j5ZmzUvEgRMpMm40c6WCm2bNz8nvheMXwYNNIQZNXycSgxOh8AHEEoEdoGbR9ocfaT8kEeNyVue_eN0E4_DojbvWEKADxwKA9xZJ2yxweJujY_H-nCFvE6A/s377/BanjoKazooie_BottlesLesson.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="377" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9pKa8J7NRap0lKTDcjbjpCW2C-oNJRuV1QUH5zRISi3bRLwqydc22X5UDRyEpH78hS6j5ZmzUvEgRMpMm40c6WCm2bNz8nvheMXwYNNIQZNXycSgxOh8AHEEoEdoGbR9ocfaT8kEeNyVue_eN0E4_DojbvWEKADxwKA9xZJ2yxweJujY_H-nCFvE6A/w200-h151/BanjoKazooie_BottlesLesson.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wish it didn't because I feel in doing this it took away from the charm and simplicity of the first <i>Croc</i>. Not that I dislike the interactions themselves, but they do play out in an undeniably similar fashion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl6aSsZP0rR7PDqhrL8fGWk3zNZtTuTr4eSRvm39LvRvjbFBcE-RN8Jsbl2LdpFU1mk3nIQSSyAVec-rDXl4D3grIT5xlddZuzNcysxqAzbGPZ-KuyYjuc1a9DWm3gXf0fo_wIVMv3_4RBmpKuezPDwoDxNgdpHZoDj8goXXNcormfrziWddpjh2FZw/s377/Croc2_FireExtinguishingWater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl6aSsZP0rR7PDqhrL8fGWk3zNZtTuTr4eSRvm39LvRvjbFBcE-RN8Jsbl2LdpFU1mk3nIQSSyAVec-rDXl4D3grIT5xlddZuzNcysxqAzbGPZ-KuyYjuc1a9DWm3gXf0fo_wIVMv3_4RBmpKuezPDwoDxNgdpHZoDj8goXXNcormfrziWddpjh2FZw/w200-h158/Croc2_FireExtinguishingWater.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5M67f9VfqXhxcr082ObK0bqWu5u7OwQ4PIjrN1FNhjAnRt8zJJnsw3mhlDuWrwmbnSi-zk-D-YpZamvEUuQ4GMWmz52Ro8ee1jER1HBwImtpjtXYo-upN9GT1n5l_snxyO3jH-Ne04V9zvv-GaGsKvaPqxjlw00ZkYPIgu5Mzjf6q0ZLz2KlOtU5Vg/s377/Croc2_RollingExplosiveBarrel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5M67f9VfqXhxcr082ObK0bqWu5u7OwQ4PIjrN1FNhjAnRt8zJJnsw3mhlDuWrwmbnSi-zk-D-YpZamvEUuQ4GMWmz52Ro8ee1jER1HBwImtpjtXYo-upN9GT1n5l_snxyO3jH-Ne04V9zvv-GaGsKvaPqxjlw00ZkYPIgu5Mzjf6q0ZLz2KlOtU5Vg/w200-h158/Croc2_RollingExplosiveBarrel.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">But no, the biggest problems I have with <i>Croc 2</i> are threefold: its camera controls have been heavily reduced* with only one button held to keep it behind Croc and that's it (you can't even do a 180 degree turn like you could in the last game), the difficulty is all over the place, and the final issue I have is that it's not as fun (having to money farm for crystals to get supplies each time to give to Swap Meet Pete can be tedious if a level's been cleared without getting the Gobbo statue) and requires me to muster a lot of motivation to clear it 100% (let alone play it to the finish). I have all the time in the world for <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> (both versions). <i>Croc 2</i>? Not so much.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-size: x-small;">* This doesn't make Nintendo's <i>Super Mario 64</i>'s camera controls good, but at least that game had multiple camera controls and a way to see around you</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRatkyjMhOi3r53FLaYnLLVqRe4r1eYqmTpXpshxvacf6UUTsTLGYN5aRms8ssjIGEBWSCJ-EAlK61wn4EQ3HlwNZLrCLmBTQw0CYbo3TaDY0S5E2UpV9mug5e9EWfaxdl3QiP6GTGhTB3oRmDJvHTB4FVBzlFNqs2OG3raX_Czc8kTenM65BCEceFw/s377/Croc2_HangGlider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRatkyjMhOi3r53FLaYnLLVqRe4r1eYqmTpXpshxvacf6UUTsTLGYN5aRms8ssjIGEBWSCJ-EAlK61wn4EQ3HlwNZLrCLmBTQw0CYbo3TaDY0S5E2UpV9mug5e9EWfaxdl3QiP6GTGhTB3oRmDJvHTB4FVBzlFNqs2OG3raX_Czc8kTenM65BCEceFw/s16000/Croc2_HangGlider.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The best thing <i>Croc 2</i> had to offer was the hang gliding level with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKdjfeba4mE">this super relaxing theme</a> playing in the background. Nothing else in the game comes close.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2WZQid1ue9i6JQvKZfDzCGp1s-8xFFucJ6rom5vNtSB3L3vlB69tpGkkQqCwK5otwW0sl8aCEjOLyp6x4ZiKGqYrs3cmXZ2ssp6kwITWUP3cxYDtG4x3zIRL4Nwwblu2d_YV9cR8tUssfNgY9YLQQcBTORmXSqq8N0VavbYtjF34sYaOBCZ9QdnIhg/s388/Croc_Saturn-KingRufus+Croc.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2WZQid1ue9i6JQvKZfDzCGp1s-8xFFucJ6rom5vNtSB3L3vlB69tpGkkQqCwK5otwW0sl8aCEjOLyp6x4ZiKGqYrs3cmXZ2ssp6kwITWUP3cxYDtG4x3zIRL4Nwwblu2d_YV9cR8tUssfNgY9YLQQcBTORmXSqq8N0VavbYtjF34sYaOBCZ9QdnIhg/s16000/Croc_Saturn-KingRufus+Croc.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh, remember during the cute pre-growth spurt montage in the first game when baby Croc learned the tail attack from watching Daddy Rufus in action?</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio977DRNoTChJ5kFia5EVnAirmtTpagUK7QiWk93sT8ZmKkOxA52ZrmENzGBwokac_qKpn8J5rkQj9QSAHNCvYoSpR3cKS1kvYZz9kA9-D_1ZopBmD0mOz9I-LCw-_oUY8Umr0wRYcFhb_QiqKHNr088GdWGF15tlWVcTZQQYqFFdpCdNGUi-Tly4t2w/s376/Croc2_KingRufus+ClothedGobbos.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio977DRNoTChJ5kFia5EVnAirmtTpagUK7QiWk93sT8ZmKkOxA52ZrmENzGBwokac_qKpn8J5rkQj9QSAHNCvYoSpR3cKS1kvYZz9kA9-D_1ZopBmD0mOz9I-LCw-_oUY8Umr0wRYcFhb_QiqKHNr088GdWGF15tlWVcTZQQYqFFdpCdNGUi-Tly4t2w/s16000/Croc2_KingRufus+ClothedGobbos.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Take one good look here and tell me what you do <b>not</b> see. How do you make a <b>continuity gaffe</b> like that, Argonaut?? Now Croc's art of self-defense doesn't make sense within the context of this sequel! 😖</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQKL-ek_F5gnCXFk1549vUwt40QbknGixtLpCBqwxXkUAgNUSrf30a6pyfyZAik9TeMiXKEOkmD1jSoQOsps4X-v6g6NmTif9_4jhIaZXrkgnr4Uyn8pMe_VAbPtlmBFwWieDaBvHNUN6cYEymxQ2zKW3rH9xKkK62wvpNiB-jKpJNeeuW1cAP5WLQg/s388/Croc_Saturn-Celebration.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQKL-ek_F5gnCXFk1549vUwt40QbknGixtLpCBqwxXkUAgNUSrf30a6pyfyZAik9TeMiXKEOkmD1jSoQOsps4X-v6g6NmTif9_4jhIaZXrkgnr4Uyn8pMe_VAbPtlmBFwWieDaBvHNUN6cYEymxQ2zKW3rH9xKkK62wvpNiB-jKpJNeeuW1cAP5WLQg/s16000/Croc_Saturn-Celebration.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I just realized, because Disney pretty much owns all Fox properties post-acquisition, that Fox Interactive is a part of Disney through ownership... </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">NOOOO</u><b>, Croc is too good for Disney!!! </b>😫</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alas, <i>Croc 2</i> was the last game featuring this adorable hero and was never followed up by a third game (mostly because Argonaut sadly got liquidated and defunct years after the fact). Well, at least <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> was a strong start to this very short-lived franchise, and in my opinion was one of their best games, if not one of their most underrated.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvJ6Epb46jjxJIC7NxwC6Jt80bu7emQ-EO-Wh1KJjm-NxGhvLydhujGK3HiOXBVmHF9hsZnSotwGjl96PH6PPWbnEb1axOWTN07U8t-2fP8a5hAqGv1wfvCefYqWbiNrCiZXGqnEebAUqw2H-DzLmcXLtXa3CAWrhCZFlRLEBzmHZqyjk3kKOzfWw8g/s619/Croc_Saturn+PSOne-Cases.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="619" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvJ6Epb46jjxJIC7NxwC6Jt80bu7emQ-EO-Wh1KJjm-NxGhvLydhujGK3HiOXBVmHF9hsZnSotwGjl96PH6PPWbnEb1axOWTN07U8t-2fP8a5hAqGv1wfvCefYqWbiNrCiZXGqnEebAUqw2H-DzLmcXLtXa3CAWrhCZFlRLEBzmHZqyjk3kKOzfWw8g/w400-h244/Croc_Saturn+PSOne-Cases.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Presently speaking it is the youngest Sega Saturn game that I own; and hey, should anything happen to one of my 32-bit consoles, I'll still have a way of playing this game, it's a <u>win-win</u>! </b>😄</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Who says there's such a thing as too much <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i>? <b>Not I</b>, that's for certain! And on the year of Croc's 25th anniversary, too? My, my, that sure is impeccable timing if I do say so myself. 😄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2chj7gITw8lwNDiJRfwh1rmwodveVQgx0UVMgjljIVa8dFIQaZknzPq2OF3v18-FZJDMHkGfrhoSc3YHElQ9u2jrN8vh0lqFMP_c7RzG6N6yw-m3uES90N9cMjrNrna64VuvXsLEAzim8XT2Qh229qk_puqGIGqSXTPWaDA-loqbKvksF2t9gzlStLA/s384/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_Relieved.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2chj7gITw8lwNDiJRfwh1rmwodveVQgx0UVMgjljIVa8dFIQaZknzPq2OF3v18-FZJDMHkGfrhoSc3YHElQ9u2jrN8vh0lqFMP_c7RzG6N6yw-m3uES90N9cMjrNrna64VuvXsLEAzim8XT2Qh229qk_puqGIGqSXTPWaDA-loqbKvksF2t9gzlStLA/s16000/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_Relieved.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And speaking of iconic and beloved video game characters that turn a quarter of a century old this year,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLB_yMoQviK4nNsvThGAgRSjL6cyiVCoqai2doHFfbqoaZSG0viN7E3nFv4lh0P6yAFLLC3JwU7yd-L_26XQzy4CB9cKdNXgjpw8d2_ZgiJabHKzLBH6VN0GlvjtoyH9B0qUP0f34D5jV2CfojdgXAh3p6AipiV1nHukWbdSCT42YzSOZALyyBCZrPQ/s383/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_ForlockForest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLB_yMoQviK4nNsvThGAgRSjL6cyiVCoqai2doHFfbqoaZSG0viN7E3nFv4lh0P6yAFLLC3JwU7yd-L_26XQzy4CB9cKdNXgjpw8d2_ZgiJabHKzLBH6VN0GlvjtoyH9B0qUP0f34D5jV2CfojdgXAh3p6AipiV1nHukWbdSCT42YzSOZALyyBCZrPQ/w200-h155/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_ForlockForest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0bR-quaxiuj5orING9M20r4PelElQBiKGVTOcB6evIFrCkJV_8ow0FIA_TtZLVnCCqplwIPJSQiVABSjPT7IcBOfSCq7EidAc08D65wiUMic5s8e24yxNcRWnK93oPCIvjZCH3O0qMQL9JvNSbf0PUnCo6VjkeYsaPvKkMjjBYVWNFNW-AoSAJqTCQ/s383/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_BoomieToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="383" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0bR-quaxiuj5orING9M20r4PelElQBiKGVTOcB6evIFrCkJV_8ow0FIA_TtZLVnCCqplwIPJSQiVABSjPT7IcBOfSCq7EidAc08D65wiUMic5s8e24yxNcRWnK93oPCIvjZCH3O0qMQL9JvNSbf0PUnCo6VjkeYsaPvKkMjjBYVWNFNW-AoSAJqTCQ/w200-h155/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_BoomieToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">there is another one with Namco's dream traveling cabbit Klonoa</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIYPqY8KE7RMESI7KzDjqx4GGXFhcnNLhFSpS1xmrh5MzW6ApTsA1d62qa7KQaE-0md23oe8Wplr7pnQ3_j6ZtZXUIAEGCMy6blyYjcd7bbSU8bHYlofqYL2u4Sgp75SfQFp1TVnsl0QZFl2wbpbeK1pZYxNoXhnu3mim1lLkikMEPJw8JqzvPZfyQ/s604/KlonoaPhantasyReverieSeries_ALullInTheWind.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="604" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIYPqY8KE7RMESI7KzDjqx4GGXFhcnNLhFSpS1xmrh5MzW6ApTsA1d62qa7KQaE-0md23oe8Wplr7pnQ3_j6ZtZXUIAEGCMy6blyYjcd7bbSU8bHYlofqYL2u4Sgp75SfQFp1TVnsl0QZFl2wbpbeK1pZYxNoXhnu3mim1lLkikMEPJw8JqzvPZfyQ/w200-h117/KlonoaPhantasyReverieSeries_ALullInTheWind.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfsAnY9irySadHkF9BXQF7_jdUBTPkeu3O3ovdgkY1-OuM7B9ZzbEOZRhoz1YntzQIP0IaiYQgG9mHiDQ3jtKYzjMjtg0UpxrPn7z2q5RIvWpcHj5aYadOmQ2VxL4T9vI7OQHbJUedB6ERyBD61aZY8UUkhoanrrrq3vuYm6-yzYyzBizJ7OvScLkDw/s604/KlonoaPhantasyReverieSeries_Joka.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="604" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfsAnY9irySadHkF9BXQF7_jdUBTPkeu3O3ovdgkY1-OuM7B9ZzbEOZRhoz1YntzQIP0IaiYQgG9mHiDQ3jtKYzjMjtg0UpxrPn7z2q5RIvWpcHj5aYadOmQ2VxL4T9vI7OQHbJUedB6ERyBD61aZY8UUkhoanrrrq3vuYm6-yzYyzBizJ7OvScLkDw/w200-h117/KlonoaPhantasyReverieSeries_Joka.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">My second favorite version of <i>Door to Phantomile</i> behind the original PlayStation One version, it was also worth it to play <i>Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil</i> for the first time</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">who very recently made a pleasantly surprising and well-deserved comeback with Monkeycraft's <i>Klonoa 1 & 2 Encore</i>/<i>Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series</i>, which I downloaded on my Nintendo Switch on release day July 8th and felt was worth the wait. 😃 It's been doing very good (I've seen the phrase "Klonoa Sweep" float around) and I recommend checking it out if you haven't already. <b>Wahoo</b>! 😄</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw-rxl1WmffQ1w_He-6R7bhs6glDBrRsOwXrpXSj5Y20d9bTZLoAUdGBvdARADly5W3usk8K3Li0Lb0RmjiF1wNdBrPsb27e1M5xESotJgczksXoftdys2Ja1gc3lKMLIJW2Gt4qEm2ooKrGKhslq1CuabRdI8rCi7c2pJCH_o4ohX9cYPs_jX1nApQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_JumpOnBlocks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw-rxl1WmffQ1w_He-6R7bhs6glDBrRsOwXrpXSj5Y20d9bTZLoAUdGBvdARADly5W3usk8K3Li0Lb0RmjiF1wNdBrPsb27e1M5xESotJgczksXoftdys2Ja1gc3lKMLIJW2Gt4qEm2ooKrGKhslq1CuabRdI8rCi7c2pJCH_o4ohX9cYPs_jX1nApQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_JumpOnBlocks.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrsMWkOGJyElSG-JvosO_NhS3fAAQCHc1kcrLQ5KLyX75JaPE7vaY2A0isKQ9-GMH-fEgn2LfnBYiCwpdQU9QpJ0n25Suz75uQmOoHF_e5FiIFB86nRufD3DgljxXKfZaeBkYnbR1hvXOkNx864BoMyHdREBj0Bn-9o_mS4VVo_fliQN0ulUHqVp2iA/s393/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrsMWkOGJyElSG-JvosO_NhS3fAAQCHc1kcrLQ5KLyX75JaPE7vaY2A0isKQ9-GMH-fEgn2LfnBYiCwpdQU9QpJ0n25Suz75uQmOoHF_e5FiIFB86nRufD3DgljxXKfZaeBkYnbR1hvXOkNx864BoMyHdREBj0Bn-9o_mS4VVo_fliQN0ulUHqVp2iA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Um, anyway, back to the Sega Saturn. My first Saturn game, Sega's <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/08/clockwork-knight-saturn-review.html">Clockwork Knight</a></i>, I thought was good and enjoyed so much that I wanted to try its sequel. I've got good news on that front, for I managed to find a reasonably affordable copy of it against all odds. What I'm trying to say is: <i>Clockwork Knight</i> walked</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPgOE_P4HWLktMC09r_Xyz-82d-NvMl44iLSmtj4hjmBw0V1UrjWK2aJoEZ9tmzBfcoN-0GOE_8cVdymuyBsGSjexBStH8wWDuFnZ-lgXQzmgBA-MiR1qFlcpK7m_jIXObcHURwqKWter4NTLxucUF3aVMyV_giLw9YorFKDN6S3Iw5ISicWPSKBaZw/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPgOE_P4HWLktMC09r_Xyz-82d-NvMl44iLSmtj4hjmBw0V1UrjWK2aJoEZ9tmzBfcoN-0GOE_8cVdymuyBsGSjexBStH8wWDuFnZ-lgXQzmgBA-MiR1qFlcpK7m_jIXObcHURwqKWter4NTLxucUF3aVMyV_giLw9YorFKDN6S3Iw5ISicWPSKBaZw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Rocket.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcl3lJdoaxaSx8ogpMYLQM6O5XPwz0AtCflBTce20-RgRFGSk3MacKaivmZARB6Z8hw-EX9IrkDv2QjpPQrLJ635DPgk-4JVt7tFJqREcQdvoaEf2SsAPKQilgT2THd8PAFRD3AESste-O9yhXUQ5IB0m_c_1HczmlBifh6rCfcBPDeqzKIBpDzWYXw/s393/ClockworkKnight2_PaperBat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcl3lJdoaxaSx8ogpMYLQM6O5XPwz0AtCflBTce20-RgRFGSk3MacKaivmZARB6Z8hw-EX9IrkDv2QjpPQrLJ635DPgk-4JVt7tFJqREcQdvoaEf2SsAPKQilgT2THd8PAFRD3AESste-O9yhXUQ5IB0m_c_1HczmlBifh6rCfcBPDeqzKIBpDzWYXw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_PaperBat.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">so <b><i>Clockwork Knight 2</i></b> could run, my sixth Saturn game which I got on June 25th. Well, actually, from what I read the original was rushed so that it could meet up with the release of the Saturn console so Sega split Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III's adventure into two games, but still I think this is also a good game, if not slightly better.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4uwsaQlYd_SB8ullOpn6spUlnw3kNNGLsOhyOqxw3Q3gmcPPIhqfRYlsW8LT-dWcsZ338ELjHVSFLG3zEoMZWPku2QSpjOWbvnJfJtuVx2zHs6ZQQT785xp4Grw3UQzHQ2T_283lSvd6TS3P0jX1yHEDWWHfTbOegQBOUtXED-HxZNfrSI3cP2jzfQ/s393/ClockworkKnight2_BlockSnake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4uwsaQlYd_SB8ullOpn6spUlnw3kNNGLsOhyOqxw3Q3gmcPPIhqfRYlsW8LT-dWcsZ338ELjHVSFLG3zEoMZWPku2QSpjOWbvnJfJtuVx2zHs6ZQQT785xp4Grw3UQzHQ2T_283lSvd6TS3P0jX1yHEDWWHfTbOegQBOUtXED-HxZNfrSI3cP2jzfQ/s16000/ClockworkKnight2_BlockSnake.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Shure Brothers microphone-tailed rockhead block snake boss is my favorite </b>😆</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The gameplay, bar a couple stages devoted to riding on Tongara's donkey Barobaro, is virtually the same as it was in its predecessor but that's not so bad as there are plenty of things that make up for that. The blend of 2D gameplay with 3D backdrops is still good, Tongara's sprites have been touched up and polished a bit, the difficulty's been amped up a bit making the proceedings a bit more challenging, the enemy and boss toy designs are still creative (especially the piece of paper turning into random animals boss),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdELIX5nLwLwIP286zde051-yA8dPso6pL2erKuXPwcdaau-W8QUrXDTlJ-u0l2hBNLZmzA3mXyl-nkFy1SxIfRtt2lpxLL9Kefke0t5-NIWIshB8VPtqg7Gd6NG1AMTLtow4jBlAISTpLGyiac3oFBwUxARzJlv0qckdaRw1IMldKy_o6bFc8L69g/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Seal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdELIX5nLwLwIP286zde051-yA8dPso6pL2erKuXPwcdaau-W8QUrXDTlJ-u0l2hBNLZmzA3mXyl-nkFy1SxIfRtt2lpxLL9Kefke0t5-NIWIshB8VPtqg7Gd6NG1AMTLtow4jBlAISTpLGyiac3oFBwUxARzJlv0qckdaRw1IMldKy_o6bFc8L69g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Seal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYVR5hj0-DdNkLyVh35x7QEtwyaNUumnEUNYSyujaz0iZADCz-78SH2fd-IkNhaZFDHrFfSgK7dhO6xfdE-qMFPCs88T0G5ZtVbhUZLQJFil1WimSTDu15HRoAuww_I4xFfH_nQzFkK4JbE5G7iU9fuwCHpI5bqH2pbb6dKXeaRm6StXhrAw8aURV1A/s393/ClockworkKnight2_ClockTower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYVR5hj0-DdNkLyVh35x7QEtwyaNUumnEUNYSyujaz0iZADCz-78SH2fd-IkNhaZFDHrFfSgK7dhO6xfdE-qMFPCs88T0G5ZtVbhUZLQJFil1WimSTDu15HRoAuww_I4xFfH_nQzFkK4JbE5G7iU9fuwCHpI5bqH2pbb6dKXeaRm6StXhrAw8aURV1A/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_ClockTower.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">the sound quality is still great (just listen to Hirofumi Murasaki go <b>hard</b> with the bluegrass music for the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyV6Cl2tNf8" style="font-family: georgia;">penultimate clock tower stage theme</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">there's an added sense of replay value with the ace playing cards scattered about and whether or not you find and run past them, there are more secrets to discover if you search thoroughly, and is still an enjoyable game to play while it lasts in spite of how short it is.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQOqivQ7mwW7xybNJx9v35h0yy4ytVZdGYJuVyWN3iueQe3nITrTHESeOkJ2gUlW-e1F9X7LDFnp60ItBV9vaiyFcvM8h8yu8w-2hgEi504be_ssHTJeiplGiIjtKX4Ti5hSTL1FyStLSlv9OtFx_utfdJ-8Dw0lIVcxv1lZY_NagsXvO-M3NjJf4Rw/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Dragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQOqivQ7mwW7xybNJx9v35h0yy4ytVZdGYJuVyWN3iueQe3nITrTHESeOkJ2gUlW-e1F9X7LDFnp60ItBV9vaiyFcvM8h8yu8w-2hgEi504be_ssHTJeiplGiIjtKX4Ti5hSTL1FyStLSlv9OtFx_utfdJ-8Dw0lIVcxv1lZY_NagsXvO-M3NjJf4Rw/s16000/ClockworkKnight2_Dragon.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And the story set up in the first <i>Clockwork Knight</i> reaches a satisfying conclusion in this game, with a couple of unexpected twists (one of which made me retroactively feel weirded out given what was established beforehand, though none of the characters seemed to know this beforehand, but still 😳) following the climactic dragon boss at the top of the clock tower. That is a cleverly constructed design for a dragon.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkoobwLy3I-SLwJQ6BNGNh9V5ZH6ZndBrkJYjnzkprHiuxmwGAbx0aUxgqufrwqX7fQA43EC9S3pTaupxKIjp0ZpD8fv2cIA-08sPQ6lEgxKyVpzpf95bRgexritA5FQssTUVHIYlOFSC2YOjpAR2fnrgEf8FKx7NZEXGVN4YA4BkeXqpuGuR9Hvjqg/s382/Astal_BlowOutFlames.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkoobwLy3I-SLwJQ6BNGNh9V5ZH6ZndBrkJYjnzkprHiuxmwGAbx0aUxgqufrwqX7fQA43EC9S3pTaupxKIjp0ZpD8fv2cIA-08sPQ6lEgxKyVpzpf95bRgexritA5FQssTUVHIYlOFSC2YOjpAR2fnrgEf8FKx7NZEXGVN4YA4BkeXqpuGuR9Hvjqg/w200-h155/Astal_BlowOutFlames.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunSuGqUGRBsDKMe4HIUynKgVyAE2CMdzAfrVaGu2mCE7UG094-iTuUsZkEIODvyzoPTN3ouplFiTJP1GcUOqlNU-fJaG9KOiZxerfuyxQdesNjKYymQXV54Dj707CdeeKfHV5OspT9Z2Z92KeiKjALteLiOSDlkpKIL518sZmhiaYPYGeXwWnIqMzZg/s382/Astal_GuardianOfFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunSuGqUGRBsDKMe4HIUynKgVyAE2CMdzAfrVaGu2mCE7UG094-iTuUsZkEIODvyzoPTN3ouplFiTJP1GcUOqlNU-fJaG9KOiZxerfuyxQdesNjKYymQXV54Dj707CdeeKfHV5OspT9Z2Z92KeiKjALteLiOSDlkpKIL518sZmhiaYPYGeXwWnIqMzZg/w200-h155/Astal_GuardianOfFire.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Sega's <i>Astal</i> has still got my favorite Sega Saturn soundtrack so far</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, more dragon bosses on the Sega Saturn, </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">please</b><span style="font-family: georgia;">!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis90b9Fu3XJuuK8Aw_HBGNmbxCAUhOT9189Jt2GRFQKLNT-_v0h9SQLtLp-aIG3OPRbsmCBaR5hCnwamt63vpexZDyFdAbe-zIPYHIAaY3OGaOF48HeXyMhSFJ2Or6UKGiUasXcRaGkxFPLK4CRjfrY693MCBiZe70cLirkx7tAdd6uGqBr8M0EIL07Q/s393/ClockworkKnight2_TwirlingRobotBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis90b9Fu3XJuuK8Aw_HBGNmbxCAUhOT9189Jt2GRFQKLNT-_v0h9SQLtLp-aIG3OPRbsmCBaR5hCnwamt63vpexZDyFdAbe-zIPYHIAaY3OGaOF48HeXyMhSFJ2Or6UKGiUasXcRaGkxFPLK4CRjfrY693MCBiZe70cLirkx7tAdd6uGqBr8M0EIL07Q/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_TwirlingRobotBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_deyTRJe9K6IxlKgRmyvJ6W_E7gtfdYJvYzpWUksDZOH2WfPieLCMrTzf8ZLvXNQWQuYutY-Yp65O-vq5DHynRZxKNJ6PSAH4gvkhRsyqKSQS0BmzT2yu6umjlqKyAlB0B_eR7XGMmH8BacO6G6RQL5UN039PumvYrilz3LtL5acJws9pGSGaRTriuA/s393/ClockworkKnight2_PoutyTVBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_deyTRJe9K6IxlKgRmyvJ6W_E7gtfdYJvYzpWUksDZOH2WfPieLCMrTzf8ZLvXNQWQuYutY-Yp65O-vq5DHynRZxKNJ6PSAH4gvkhRsyqKSQS0BmzT2yu6umjlqKyAlB0B_eR7XGMmH8BacO6G6RQL5UN039PumvYrilz3LtL5acJws9pGSGaRTriuA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_PoutyTVBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">There is also a code which enables you to play through the whole of <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> as Ginger as opposed to Tongara</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The version of <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> that was released in the West is based on the two-game compilation <i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no Fukubukuro</i> (sans the inclusion of the first game), meaning there is more content like the Bosses Galore boss rush of both games as well as the cinematics of both games. I like how Tongara's rival, Ginger, is a playable character in Bosses Galore and has a surprisingly stronger and swifter use of his keyblade.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zBJoT7szl4wMwdZARYJQVDIfo45phuVUJm1iKi_tD7O8WfetTfqXHXbIzs1kStvjVGYAdiLP40NwZiVLfv0mgGv8LcyqOEC6XYkG4ZLYcALod1fLCAZKbZDp858wdIan_PkvQSsZVZMbr2x-NHCCRsbQ2JfMYD4Soj_iW_rL-b7Nz_5GPMLcfaLt1g/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Jump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zBJoT7szl4wMwdZARYJQVDIfo45phuVUJm1iKi_tD7O8WfetTfqXHXbIzs1kStvjVGYAdiLP40NwZiVLfv0mgGv8LcyqOEC6XYkG4ZLYcALod1fLCAZKbZDp858wdIan_PkvQSsZVZMbr2x-NHCCRsbQ2JfMYD4Soj_iW_rL-b7Nz_5GPMLcfaLt1g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Jump.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J9GdvBKs-_mTYzfePJ27V-8erCF4tp7qJ5AIeifG_6paEXQ48hdH0_j22MC-0bkbUuDCxNv3m5j73uBy5Qa911gelKQ1UVmJqe5BtO8DKHcv_5lXeRYXWfJhsWwIfjrHrkJtwjtx5GA6PL8tCXxEdIeOEFt5_sWNW6Ub3aYBXzDdYexsVSpQ_quOdQ/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Horsey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J9GdvBKs-_mTYzfePJ27V-8erCF4tp7qJ5AIeifG_6paEXQ48hdH0_j22MC-0bkbUuDCxNv3m5j73uBy5Qa911gelKQ1UVmJqe5BtO8DKHcv_5lXeRYXWfJhsWwIfjrHrkJtwjtx5GA6PL8tCXxEdIeOEFt5_sWNW6Ub3aYBXzDdYexsVSpQ_quOdQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Horsey.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Getting the second best ranking in Bosses Galore will grant you a code where once you enter it you're taken to a menu where you can choose one of several in a bizarre assortment of simple mini-games as they all take place in front of crudely drawn backgrounds, whether it be jumping from cloud to cloud or swimming upward as you try to avoid getting collided by fish or even a time attack-based racing game playing as, I presume, Barobaro.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO128fXYqi1dqsD-M_aQnWTyysKtSda-Cu2_mkk8bFu85VSbccOOk-udeNEOPGseWD33CkXOE4Z-ikDzzMLKYAvqZ7dIl5fuFEi80B9NyqkPFQhyxs6CnP5YA-q0un0BBgCtbyaT3bu6uY4t1XMuV2G7Vw4ktOA0blyETGj_M5DumCEASWLIFeJeQJSg/s360/ClockworkKnight2_SalsaDePepperouchau.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO128fXYqi1dqsD-M_aQnWTyysKtSda-Cu2_mkk8bFu85VSbccOOk-udeNEOPGseWD33CkXOE4Z-ikDzzMLKYAvqZ7dIl5fuFEi80B9NyqkPFQhyxs6CnP5YA-q0un0BBgCtbyaT3bu6uY4t1XMuV2G7Vw4ktOA0blyETGj_M5DumCEASWLIFeJeQJSg/s16000/ClockworkKnight2_SalsaDePepperouchau.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">It was also exhilarating to see a new character show up on the title screen with each time the game (or Bosses Galore) was beaten</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I see now why </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Clockwork Knight 2</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> generally goes for a high price, that is a lot of variety for one package. Not that I'm complaining, I like it.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCcUPHRt7y5JD0tiV692bWJcI1Kg6gIrZzy9BsTJdIDKKArdM63p0hmMpoQtrTpgFENgcoVk82nTEUDNVW18gKtp5oCyUV0jg0UmHEtFLvHzIT38YqDJMeyXVcySONfhTDSBnt_dItI0_Af32qpj2Dc3zXU1O1v95pEG-wbtc-PgJaIBc6aWEbTp4RQ/s425/ClockworkKnight2_ReproCase.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCcUPHRt7y5JD0tiV692bWJcI1Kg6gIrZzy9BsTJdIDKKArdM63p0hmMpoQtrTpgFENgcoVk82nTEUDNVW18gKtp5oCyUV0jg0UmHEtFLvHzIT38YqDJMeyXVcySONfhTDSBnt_dItI0_Af32qpj2Dc3zXU1O1v95pEG-wbtc-PgJaIBc6aWEbTp4RQ/s16000/ClockworkKnight2_ReproCase.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I saw on eBay that there was a DVD repro case which had the <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> game disc, which had the least amount of money I've seen it sell for that didn't entail bidding (I don't bid), and it was the only one. I would check on it once in a while to see if it's there, and one day I saw that it went for $10 less than its original price, making it less than $50. Nearly a week later I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did; of course, the worst thing that could've happened in waiting for the appropriate time to buy it was someone else could've gotten it before I got the chance (I knew there was a possibility of that happening), but luckily that wasn't the case. 😄 It was worth it because I thought <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> was a good follow-up,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yIeE778wob_F8m3L7jCdAkLe2BXl_k0qOWsbOp1DavZWzTvMrk_cyblr6MeyCIRkkYtDnXXtGL98qAEDrFjmbTO4POM-u3lxvGGuDXdrtMsVVZ9jQncw-W7ErVhByjUvV_muNa4N0NuFQ5YyCMoO6qn2quqH8oUcbU0AiNM6lhbLM0IdzDvyh315SA/s386/ToyStory_Genesis-EgoCheck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yIeE778wob_F8m3L7jCdAkLe2BXl_k0qOWsbOp1DavZWzTvMrk_cyblr6MeyCIRkkYtDnXXtGL98qAEDrFjmbTO4POM-u3lxvGGuDXdrtMsVVZ9jQncw-W7ErVhByjUvV_muNa4N0NuFQ5YyCMoO6qn2quqH8oUcbU0AiNM6lhbLM0IdzDvyh315SA/w200-h118/ToyStory_Genesis-EgoCheck.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjzSzFNhCvhJdAyI4SgE2ZQafBP9VCZ7dy7itH5D6hqc4LhcsZg5OAHGJ1CoWBFp1IhZR7_PpzRFtkZUVEBgplY5eRpG86Pqh3HjAmu69DnaYDhkZA3gPteows5jgFqo9L8kMcyYYtjEMSbbeQOpcpaFNpLMWDoXtBKIbA6X7uFie9za9Q6VljloohA/s386/ToyStory_Genesis-RevengeOfTheToys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjzSzFNhCvhJdAyI4SgE2ZQafBP9VCZ7dy7itH5D6hqc4LhcsZg5OAHGJ1CoWBFp1IhZR7_PpzRFtkZUVEBgplY5eRpG86Pqh3HjAmu69DnaYDhkZA3gPteows5jgFqo9L8kMcyYYtjEMSbbeQOpcpaFNpLMWDoXtBKIbA6X7uFie9za9Q6VljloohA/w200-h118/ToyStory_Genesis-RevengeOfTheToys.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and just like its predecessor it's a consistently fun and superior venue to Traveller's Tales' <i>Toy Story</i>, in my opinion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWEYOvq4kHveDH_6hQ0CB0LIUgTSi72nYqw7uHjJ7W5QONAAIgVvVQByE4yNHUTmava86Wx0EeRhOhHaPR8CnxnFFEgkDM9t7NW7AKWAiNitzmm4FCzZHgiJvKox8_5RX6GwVbvdpPYJq2XkaHqn5fxyA605I6IopI09SGTqiweOPiADYPwFcokOKWQ/s623/SegaSaturn+PlayStationOne_Consoles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="623" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWEYOvq4kHveDH_6hQ0CB0LIUgTSi72nYqw7uHjJ7W5QONAAIgVvVQByE4yNHUTmava86Wx0EeRhOhHaPR8CnxnFFEgkDM9t7NW7AKWAiNitzmm4FCzZHgiJvKox8_5RX6GwVbvdpPYJq2XkaHqn5fxyA605I6IopI09SGTqiweOPiADYPwFcokOKWQ/w400-h280/SegaSaturn+PlayStationOne_Consoles.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Honestly, I'm surprised given when that licensed platformer came out that it never saw a 32-bit upgrade. 😕 The only 16-bit Traveller's Tales games to make the jump to 32-bit format were <i>Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse</i> on the PlayStation (with the PAL-exclusive <i>Mickey's Wild Adventure</i>)</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN-iFupGYc7EaHeMrifLbKWJhNlUFTzGdxrM_QVNJwfSBulV1THa0VK6lLK0j98KdkpvEyGs__ocJ_JxGvEzVYYvrO1JdQ8ccxlewN5lfK4i8GbaRmFKBBWYiumK9txy8oST4EjANkN4dEIa5iSUWSVrhS7J_fjK-Jz-oNbT3gUtkPATNwklkwEKlEQ/s379/Sonic3DBlast-Genesis_RustyRuins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="379" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN-iFupGYc7EaHeMrifLbKWJhNlUFTzGdxrM_QVNJwfSBulV1THa0VK6lLK0j98KdkpvEyGs__ocJ_JxGvEzVYYvrO1JdQ8ccxlewN5lfK4i8GbaRmFKBBWYiumK9txy8oST4EjANkN4dEIa5iSUWSVrhS7J_fjK-Jz-oNbT3gUtkPATNwklkwEKlEQ/w200-h118/Sonic3DBlast-Genesis_RustyRuins.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wNpdqH5P7sIaBnpveY_QOoEfqpDXWXKzf_YdrIJ7UVR6jgrZ99UR4kGFXmKh6tetYY8zbSKhOIvimr2CuC0yYDvfJwydEIKaI9x-vPqoNPEBburOXMKEM_eGnPci69aM4rD8c-egMhsz7aiI5QN9bQt-tSi4KM0_mklq5GlWaOlRBzTMUTynjset2A/s379/Sonic3DBlast-Genesis_SpringStadium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="379" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wNpdqH5P7sIaBnpveY_QOoEfqpDXWXKzf_YdrIJ7UVR6jgrZ99UR4kGFXmKh6tetYY8zbSKhOIvimr2CuC0yYDvfJwydEIKaI9x-vPqoNPEBburOXMKEM_eGnPci69aM4rD8c-egMhsz7aiI5QN9bQt-tSi4KM0_mklq5GlWaOlRBzTMUTynjset2A/w200-h118/Sonic3DBlast-Genesis_SpringStadium.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sonic 3D Blast</b></i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> outside of North America) on the Sega Saturn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3AdyQxc0ldLFDHczkmi5wpN-pa05S1x_mHBqqGo2leygwMXwzRE1nWns4CCkayBNO7Hv8yf5vF8q2JEnmpiWvlRExT8ZfP4z2oM1a1GZ4N-q-LJK4PcLpOAVAxfhVjJL1tCRURvaBgDRDqN8AqaLljj8x1oCtZQTFClzez3D3vZlfQmWGDMz-M-Xw/s343/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Sonic+Flickies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3AdyQxc0ldLFDHczkmi5wpN-pa05S1x_mHBqqGo2leygwMXwzRE1nWns4CCkayBNO7Hv8yf5vF8q2JEnmpiWvlRExT8ZfP4z2oM1a1GZ4N-q-LJK4PcLpOAVAxfhVjJL1tCRURvaBgDRDqN8AqaLljj8x1oCtZQTFClzez3D3vZlfQmWGDMz-M-Xw/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Sonic+Flickies.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">... <b>which</b> was the seventh Saturn game I got on July 5th. 😏 Even though I played the original 16-bit version on Sonic Team's <i>Sonic Mega Collection</i>, I was curious how this game fared in this format. The night I got <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> I was on my own at home and wanted to catch up on Jeff Fowler's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (having missed out on it in theatres) on Paramount+ which I ended up finding a lot of fun and then once the credits finished imagine my surprise when it <b>immediately</b> got followed up by <i>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i> which I also found to be a fun and endearing to watch. Back-to-back <i>Sonic</i> goodness in one night, I thought they were fun video game movies (which is all I asked for), which ultimately made me want to invest in <i>Sonic 3D Blast </i>on the Saturn. 😄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD--NgWFw3ALiyvGVB93iRre7lyKIQQaBsPlNl-6nTb9tGWKUp_orWLGU9gIShw1MDbk3m-MyqMZRkbYpC9nX7ZiL9Oih4qYHtiIPz_l-ASIF6uuLwm0TbX_4H-mpknMSwoo8qomxXKxZ0NIxTeDpCJAlI5B7QMWWoPOTD3Q9gNiCcB2QAtDkRnswCbw/s379/Flicky_Round14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="379" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD--NgWFw3ALiyvGVB93iRre7lyKIQQaBsPlNl-6nTb9tGWKUp_orWLGU9gIShw1MDbk3m-MyqMZRkbYpC9nX7ZiL9Oih4qYHtiIPz_l-ASIF6uuLwm0TbX_4H-mpknMSwoo8qomxXKxZ0NIxTeDpCJAlI5B7QMWWoPOTD3Q9gNiCcB2QAtDkRnswCbw/w200-h158/Flicky_Round14.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztMckq1XQ-xyOB12ihNsccKyhT2UmUvKgHGFqOEDepFVxkU47yHZmqAloIqh_4M1bJnLl7b_nnHILFhFvHLdHFMe9bJvBuph7ghNt4JroFD2afAd50t9u9kSSVKv0i_B-x5OdBcYBXzzkvBRfUb5PT2cXZLO65KxWdENyZykybZS-slle-ELbHdTDxA/s376/SonicLabyrinth_Sea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="376" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztMckq1XQ-xyOB12ihNsccKyhT2UmUvKgHGFqOEDepFVxkU47yHZmqAloIqh_4M1bJnLl7b_nnHILFhFvHLdHFMe9bJvBuph7ghNt4JroFD2afAd50t9u9kSSVKv0i_B-x5OdBcYBXzzkvBRfUb5PT2cXZLO65KxWdENyZykybZS-slle-ELbHdTDxA/w200-h152/SonicLabyrinth_Sea.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">With the combination of the core gameplay from Sega's <i>Flicky</i>, the isometric perspective of Minato Giken's <i>Sonic Labyrinth</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqKfBRzfGPrcQfQSkx7sBiFCqHxXdNssgm_oANy3CeopO_TIE0HPb6dlLUSG-LOuiO02r7yTD8Lx3h4fF0doTRvMiQZaCSQEepMjOUGpwlSBbdrB1LWQGSqYzYmzwD06LUQBHinhLdZPPyZxXjJ5-zqce8MKTwE9OewoQquBn-wlIF11KPUbL6L5WRg/s385/SuperDonkeyKong_QueenB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqKfBRzfGPrcQfQSkx7sBiFCqHxXdNssgm_oANy3CeopO_TIE0HPb6dlLUSG-LOuiO02r7yTD8Lx3h4fF0doTRvMiQZaCSQEepMjOUGpwlSBbdrB1LWQGSqYzYmzwD06LUQBHinhLdZPPyZxXjJ5-zqce8MKTwE9OewoQquBn-wlIF11KPUbL6L5WRg/w200-h156/SuperDonkeyKong_QueenB.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08gtYD3oRJK67qGzn2muK2yyT9SXOyYw5-uvz8UIHZX3ZMSUWJuAR110njHEeNVOs37tpLVgP9kXzQ53LEs8tdpIm3y9SQZAkC56rgHtD2EJII9d3ds3ErkwolCIyL79stpUacXIMLflxHCBaXXGxiDHwCts3o65LA8500lmxf3lN32SnBARqv-N8tA/s385/SuperDonkeyKong_PoisonPond.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08gtYD3oRJK67qGzn2muK2yyT9SXOyYw5-uvz8UIHZX3ZMSUWJuAR110njHEeNVOs37tpLVgP9kXzQ53LEs8tdpIm3y9SQZAkC56rgHtD2EJII9d3ds3ErkwolCIyL79stpUacXIMLflxHCBaXXGxiDHwCts3o65LA8500lmxf3lN32SnBARqv-N8tA/w200-h156/SuperDonkeyKong_PoisonPond.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">the use of prerendered sprites a la Rare's <i>Donkey Kong Country</i>/<i>Super Donkey Kong</i>,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKmy07C5Z6HfHC1WbdzLCWVvKssRJ5RdmMDNq1QMlRoqZa-IFLhBnZ_xsVqg6f12KstT47P-NGfh8xb25xShqG_FTlCaVo6JU7LenjYEnzFcYRvw2BwC4tQH4qt9NAawZM_6jcNC7ItOEDyXYdQg-DzeBi5tT1EyvFV_J0K582Ww_tcDU2qqYHVxRuA/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_GreenGrove.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKmy07C5Z6HfHC1WbdzLCWVvKssRJ5RdmMDNq1QMlRoqZa-IFLhBnZ_xsVqg6f12KstT47P-NGfh8xb25xShqG_FTlCaVo6JU7LenjYEnzFcYRvw2BwC4tQH4qt9NAawZM_6jcNC7ItOEDyXYdQg-DzeBi5tT1EyvFV_J0K582Ww_tcDU2qqYHVxRuA/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_GreenGrove.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreSU7xdPSRRCIsL1UEh7Ojc6p4auIlfdnhZ8s9_6Yt7troIrVV-muQVtWK1Dh23dJk95Gw-5AGL3GYvFrZHMLanfJYSd8SWAWQrpqDGD2mu2GuWvbu7D-EiLOerGqa-89x9yHthVR0dLxOvxenJ6Tlit58JBYf4ExkUScairQggQU41ZSPFC5LlHEDA/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_DiggerMoles.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreSU7xdPSRRCIsL1UEh7Ojc6p4auIlfdnhZ8s9_6Yt7troIrVV-muQVtWK1Dh23dJk95Gw-5AGL3GYvFrZHMLanfJYSd8SWAWQrpqDGD2mu2GuWvbu7D-EiLOerGqa-89x9yHthVR0dLxOvxenJ6Tlit58JBYf4ExkUScairQggQU41ZSPFC5LlHEDA/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_DiggerMoles.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love how even the Flickies have shield barriers on them once they join up with Sonic while he's got a shield on him, that is so funny</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and the blue blur's trademark speed comes Traveller's Tales' first contribution to Sega's successful <i>Sonic</i> franchise. Seriously, what better payoff is there by incorporating the title character from the 1984 arcade game as one of the animals trapped inside some of Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's Badniks from the very start in Sonic Team's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> than to not only feature them as vital and contributing characters in this iteration but also derive the core gameplay from <i>Flicky</i> in the process? Honestly, I think that's a clever bit of genius, and a direction I suspect that no one saw coming in its heyday.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnktx8Fy2ewGO93q5KjFmgQRGahPcmO5Qs4ydAKFx8sLGmUHqpy8A0IJ5uZQkM3046fiTyc4iccpaqp6qYUzYBbdaxn82S8dbu0-5h0s97q8tdu6mKPCfrZ2_BP9_GFTosLwZ_X7bkD_bnWqV6PnXjDHpsCLYYjOLg5gHj43sDhX9d4LEHoxe1CVL0QQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Twirl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnktx8Fy2ewGO93q5KjFmgQRGahPcmO5Qs4ydAKFx8sLGmUHqpy8A0IJ5uZQkM3046fiTyc4iccpaqp6qYUzYBbdaxn82S8dbu0-5h0s97q8tdu6mKPCfrZ2_BP9_GFTosLwZ_X7bkD_bnWqV6PnXjDHpsCLYYjOLg5gHj43sDhX9d4LEHoxe1CVL0QQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Twirl.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF3WrTWH4XtOsTZT5m7SPNsfoAFNRIfMrf55VNVz0gQrlMitktqmvFLDTTEypc_gjXC4yHSbfAQSQTCePGHzFjD0irx-oIGGRvKV17KNr8hrwMrfBNlovcSkdw_yJDgMdpQCqQplM8-DY7VtPqGxsBZNCTdYNph79K-eeaQHnHfBJY_6KGTyK1GcgeQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_RobotnikTheme.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF3WrTWH4XtOsTZT5m7SPNsfoAFNRIfMrf55VNVz0gQrlMitktqmvFLDTTEypc_gjXC4yHSbfAQSQTCePGHzFjD0irx-oIGGRvKV17KNr8hrwMrfBNlovcSkdw_yJDgMdpQCqQplM8-DY7VtPqGxsBZNCTdYNph79K-eeaQHnHfBJY_6KGTyK1GcgeQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_RobotnikTheme.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This is the only version of the game to see a Japanese release, three years after the fact</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the MegaDrive/Genesis <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> was the last <i>Sonic</i> game in the system, and at roughly the same time was the first <i>Sonic</i> available on the Sega Saturn... though the only reason that's the case was because Sega Technical Institute's <i>Sonic X-Treme</i> was cancelled permanently following its disastrously hellish development so Sega commissioned Jon Burton and company to create this 32-bit edition also for the 1996 holiday gaming season. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The end result is a game that is like the original 16-bit version in terms of overall gameplay, sound effects, structure, and layout (right down to the hidden nooks and crannies), but aesthetically is a totally new experience in the visual and music department.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurrDWcICFlVecwiYHj8e-PM2UsH02xpN9wSJOUWU1iEIZpIBvqtwhE54KDynOCbZVe8VeDbQXPv0ZiPcCyfhgD1swpKVb4kIw9KWz3X8VlyM2m04LpJpuOPCC6vfidASEg1F5Aee7oHzSp-CspzBiJcenyKNxKYjddIwnzPbyPGoFLbDYTy6NsUbY_g/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurrDWcICFlVecwiYHj8e-PM2UsH02xpN9wSJOUWU1iEIZpIBvqtwhE54KDynOCbZVe8VeDbQXPv0ZiPcCyfhgD1swpKVb4kIw9KWz3X8VlyM2m04LpJpuOPCC6vfidASEg1F5Aee7oHzSp-CspzBiJcenyKNxKYjddIwnzPbyPGoFLbDYTy6NsUbY_g/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Map.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>It's fascinating to see a world map in a '90s <i>Sonic</i> action game, makes me think of Ancient's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> Sega 8-bit edition</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are also a few things that were added in the Saturn version, like a world map, the present area map upon pausing the game, as well as new 3D rendered cutscenes for the intro and both endings.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ4KpIm21M55bvqXbnW2Bl9fpvSUQpTdnjrFqkuFtag9bfyGKnzciSbVV2x9y5hiHI3EaGs8lbuiS1d_KlrN3p0HPTpJC0IuZE1rQcfVt24VhguPSGiR9lnG6yGrvBjQNKw8ZH3Z2DvOPbEADHNwoieEk8M8LTHr2qGKEPr3hqNQzasju-Qx2Q2zyjQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Pufferfish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ4KpIm21M55bvqXbnW2Bl9fpvSUQpTdnjrFqkuFtag9bfyGKnzciSbVV2x9y5hiHI3EaGs8lbuiS1d_KlrN3p0HPTpJC0IuZE1rQcfVt24VhguPSGiR9lnG6yGrvBjQNKw8ZH3Z2DvOPbEADHNwoieEk8M8LTHr2qGKEPr3hqNQzasju-Qx2Q2zyjQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Pufferfish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4nyD6Iu8cyNfzselvvjeyGKNesOk_o6YcED3g-49Y9vQ_WJEKEgcLYWucRz0khxGzRqimt40Fw8_RYss49Zb5bbnPSgfxSqdv_PP5KtOKvvUb5GbfrZOc746IBPHdHOAnKLWjv4J-2mmyYUHFDJ0MCgkuQMzzX45pGGGjLZyt_PEI-7OD033QU7MtQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_PogoBunny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4nyD6Iu8cyNfzselvvjeyGKNesOk_o6YcED3g-49Y9vQ_WJEKEgcLYWucRz0khxGzRqimt40Fw8_RYss49Zb5bbnPSgfxSqdv_PP5KtOKvvUb5GbfrZOc746IBPHdHOAnKLWjv4J-2mmyYUHFDJ0MCgkuQMzzX45pGGGjLZyt_PEI-7OD033QU7MtQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_PogoBunny.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">My favorite Badniks in <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> are the pufferfish, the pogo stick bunny, and the dragon</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love the added touches Traveller's Tales gave to the areas Sonic roams through which augment the game's sense of atmosphere: like the digger moles working on the sidelines and animated flowers in Green Grove, the large Flicky statues and random floor tile that wobbles based on the direction Sonic runs on it from in Rusty Ruins and how occasionally it becomes misty and rains down, the frigid filter and flurry of snow in Diamond Dust, and the scorching red filter that lingers throughout Volcano Valley, et al. I knew the soundtrack was going to be completely different, I wasn't certain how I would feel about that because I like Jun Senoue's music in the original 16-bit version (especially the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b-4uPCbF34">first Panic Puppet theme</a>, which is an absolute banger) and was so used to it that I couldn't envision anything different beforehand.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vGw4UA9SzWu_H1dIDn08aXF1IaHaRpbFFOl7CFvkPoZy6brnKAjz9BLN4TYSKoGCclrInE4wUNlvM0InFrQFTZVmpaTc1fNx5NiKn19pt_V3955izIcplBF3fbzdqWYFGPt96ZmiAqB1R3b0ag46CDucz5YSlFFRd5ITitoN0lOS_nCCJ5DzZvKLVg/s300/SonicGemsCollection_Sonic+Jukebox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="300" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vGw4UA9SzWu_H1dIDn08aXF1IaHaRpbFFOl7CFvkPoZy6brnKAjz9BLN4TYSKoGCclrInE4wUNlvM0InFrQFTZVmpaTc1fNx5NiKn19pt_V3955izIcplBF3fbzdqWYFGPt96ZmiAqB1R3b0ag46CDucz5YSlFFRd5ITitoN0lOS_nCCJ5DzZvKLVg/s1600/SonicGemsCollection_Sonic+Jukebox.png" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Has a <i>Sonic</i> game <u>ever</u> had a bad soundtrack regardless of overall quality?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fortunately, I had nothing to be concerned about, because Richard Jacques' Saturn soundtrack is just as good, if not better in some spots. In fact, the more I listened while playing the more it grew on me (the game disc also doubles as a soundtrack, <b>yes</b>!). 😃 It complements the new aesthetic, plus there are a lot of good themes which I enjoy: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVVb8hOyQnQ">Rusty Ruins Act 1</a> which is engrossingly soothing and atmospheric (the piano 😭), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sjkr0KuCDk">Spring Stadium Act 1</a> has got an elegant night club vibe about it, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_aAyZ1Iz84">special zone theme</a> is catchy, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pYMWE88Jro">normal boss theme</a> is intense (with more of that creepy hollowed laughter like in the American soundtrack of Sega's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog CD</i>), and I love the leitmotifs of the main theme incorporated in the epic-sounding <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_KrQNe7qv4">Volcano Valley Act 1</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfdT7NbJgfg">Panic Puppet Act 2</a>. My favorite themes are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3YQdGDQYHc">Diamond Dust Act 1</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLSNjLQj9MM">Act 2</a>, there's such an uplifting joyful instrumentation about them both that brings to mind Christmas. 🎅</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMDFxa8En1ffWoi1XpZghxySfgxN_sv92fHEjQrpgVBKgzACiEJMoWdPpNmOIP-gmCPLzdJ0j0ONcB_6dMoP2RNCNP5pXKRxWfT05zxvbBs_pjMTmCnbOi3G8fPiT7uOZxy3IVjUKlUUTbq43KrwJFaHQafuKVHr1KINUA4h4hpbPoBwyUv_m8VPsIA/s385/PunkySkunk_ChristmasLights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="385" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMDFxa8En1ffWoi1XpZghxySfgxN_sv92fHEjQrpgVBKgzACiEJMoWdPpNmOIP-gmCPLzdJ0j0ONcB_6dMoP2RNCNP5pXKRxWfT05zxvbBs_pjMTmCnbOi3G8fPiT7uOZxy3IVjUKlUUTbq43KrwJFaHQafuKVHr1KINUA4h4hpbPoBwyUv_m8VPsIA/w200-h154/PunkySkunk_ChristmasLights.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo402RVMb1lNaHZmwOi9wAxwfcmgrj2LOZUyDHg4B7Yd_RTrLlFzmBowXkYcQqpeX4DkjtULUbfz89xJJI1vJearnYJTgWFPfDhE2Xs-cPPffEs0JNFSj-BccBtgSK9tg1Tuupzw2XxmxOOkIuS8u5IdT4LBkxMsdh593dLNZyiN9aQFweAHkjyLoqQ/s385/PunkySkunk_ClawAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="385" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo402RVMb1lNaHZmwOi9wAxwfcmgrj2LOZUyDHg4B7Yd_RTrLlFzmBowXkYcQqpeX4DkjtULUbfz89xJJI1vJearnYJTgWFPfDhE2Xs-cPPffEs0JNFSj-BccBtgSK9tg1Tuupzw2XxmxOOkIuS8u5IdT4LBkxMsdh593dLNZyiN9aQFweAHkjyLoqQ/w200-h154/PunkySkunk_ClawAttack.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ukiyotei's </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Kuri Skunk</i><b>/</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Punky Skunk</i><b> on the PlayStation One is super underrated, unfairly shredded by American critics when localized in 1998 (because of "mascot platformer" burnout or some nonsense), and I'm like, "</b><b>... What are you all <u>talking</u> about? It's not a bad game in the slightest!" </b>😕<b> There are far worse titles you could play on the PlayStation</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Yeah</b>, more 1996 video game Christmas vibes! 😄🎄</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CZvmLZSMXcsJEYC9gfwrSvTIXyl_d97gJm63MaLoYaQipDNhjFpTHhKcS8zJxvWuZidhTHZZh2jW7DVUtpXQK5Cmkal2l2YubJOma8xAdbAS3ZDIBv1bkneChKWp8i7xL1UJUI4mB1jMXkDXJOC48Jv6xQ37uZ85wx6oclo7CV5jcuS9AdHjrHnsnA/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_White.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CZvmLZSMXcsJEYC9gfwrSvTIXyl_d97gJm63MaLoYaQipDNhjFpTHhKcS8zJxvWuZidhTHZZh2jW7DVUtpXQK5Cmkal2l2YubJOma8xAdbAS3ZDIBv1bkneChKWp8i7xL1UJUI4mB1jMXkDXJOC48Jv6xQ37uZ85wx6oclo7CV5jcuS9AdHjrHnsnA/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_White.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, the very day I got <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> on the Saturn something happened which caused it to completely stop. What happened was I defeated Dr. Robotnik at the end of Diamond Dust, and the moment his malfunctioning ship went upward the screen faded to white (as it's supposed to) and I was waiting to see the score screen. It never happened, it just froze there which made me a bit worried, so I turned it off. The next time I played it I got all the way to Diamond Dust, defeated Dr. Robotnik, was relieved to see the score screen, and the rest was history. I don't know what caused it to freeze like that earlier, but I was glad that there was nothing wrong with the game disc, it'd have been very upsetting if it turned out I had gotten a dud not even ten games in.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX5S2ctAxzKmrire3C2siT9KIYPGe7gSCBzGxI95KAtw4HqvqoP4Du1EtI5xmr31tpmouKJ1uUfX_8OkpuxxyGkt1HhOCdP6ojezR0rQoPVdjOfDlmWGVTZ1lXr1kIg0HpkFMkCpu2aHZCu2OVjN504sWBHZBNe0upN_ZfLSui9fEASwUs9gxy7eD5w/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-HalfPipe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX5S2ctAxzKmrire3C2siT9KIYPGe7gSCBzGxI95KAtw4HqvqoP4Du1EtI5xmr31tpmouKJ1uUfX_8OkpuxxyGkt1HhOCdP6ojezR0rQoPVdjOfDlmWGVTZ1lXr1kIg0HpkFMkCpu2aHZCu2OVjN504sWBHZBNe0upN_ZfLSui9fEASwUs9gxy7eD5w/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-HalfPipe.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjtr702fBHBvmHEo6bEZP4ZXxHgiszOfU8nFGbsDdlgK0bkaApZqIoN08KhtgmtQ-DTxcw_20dBKAfQ-EVummXsQe_USz8EVjL_G_Y7SQk95uku9wGOzNCkgCnDXV9JG5y6poekTRmm94iP5iZGWp5TBBL50eQ8mrKKaI6FEAea7dVyFTqp4b6NcLQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-DarkenedCorridor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSjtr702fBHBvmHEo6bEZP4ZXxHgiszOfU8nFGbsDdlgK0bkaApZqIoN08KhtgmtQ-DTxcw_20dBKAfQ-EVummXsQe_USz8EVjL_G_Y7SQk95uku9wGOzNCkgCnDXV9JG5y6poekTRmm94iP5iZGWp5TBBL50eQ8mrKKaI6FEAea7dVyFTqp4b6NcLQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-DarkenedCorridor.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Special Zones in the Saturn version are very different than they were in the original MegaDrive/Genesis <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i>, and at first glance they seem like a 3D recreation of the Special Zones you'd find in Sega Technical Institute's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i>. They are better implemented here, though, with a neat sense of 3D design, bountiful usage of color,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS3qfHp_dJ0Pev06ar2W-fnoj1qrp9FueVZkj2IHsb1iXl_QzWT9isbq2RXalEZne3fzT_6lAgnTAWT9lNqsu9KcXw1RwQ8uNpP56JN4DFWdbGcCqHTuVuFkHE2v7_qcgGw3OPdDaSYGlr7FKkHgUb08VdB_5EqO8YkGaPoKeVZDFpF_wF4tdNkBRvw/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-Swirl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS3qfHp_dJ0Pev06ar2W-fnoj1qrp9FueVZkj2IHsb1iXl_QzWT9isbq2RXalEZne3fzT_6lAgnTAWT9lNqsu9KcXw1RwQ8uNpP56JN4DFWdbGcCqHTuVuFkHE2v7_qcgGw3OPdDaSYGlr7FKkHgUb08VdB_5EqO8YkGaPoKeVZDFpF_wF4tdNkBRvw/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-Swirl.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR72DRfxxe5jft8ETig--bofVUrT_nFYZoEHZSsT8qOV1KTSMexAHWuitwgdI6hGjkq3XFcSo_U70cWgUC6tAl9VfsMro9ivRBun3khkosAeyB5_Kt1a8gY4ifqBL-Q-Tggn4MA7UTyX_eoXeqXZYisgmEZw-HoFmEMpz5jIIpBMtkt9BuVvQKxTWxCQ/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-FinalChaosEmerald.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR72DRfxxe5jft8ETig--bofVUrT_nFYZoEHZSsT8qOV1KTSMexAHWuitwgdI6hGjkq3XFcSo_U70cWgUC6tAl9VfsMro9ivRBun3khkosAeyB5_Kt1a8gY4ifqBL-Q-Tggn4MA7UTyX_eoXeqXZYisgmEZw-HoFmEMpz5jIIpBMtkt9BuVvQKxTWxCQ/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Special-FinalChaosEmerald.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">have got good draw distance, occasionally throw a curveball at you with the swirls and springboards and deviously laid out spikes, and they do present more of a challenge compared to the Special Zones in the original 16-bit <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> (which were super easy there). Those are fun detours from the main game while they last.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC6ErtUZrczXv9xjSoSekY9XEK_9pRW3SMCG9Tm7vjuhTYP5sNLntxSOV2wfwpKu5l3MhMkVcwFfXNIiKbe50IC0gRBk92z6MMptbds67U7tNio0d9kggTyL47nYJ6Me7e8M5p0uHa_J-Iz5FbDtYnY1XakCBLyljuYDC352scWZ8XdjOo2jfbIRN5w/s604/SonicMania_SpecialZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="604" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC6ErtUZrczXv9xjSoSekY9XEK_9pRW3SMCG9Tm7vjuhTYP5sNLntxSOV2wfwpKu5l3MhMkVcwFfXNIiKbe50IC0gRBk92z6MMptbds67U7tNio0d9kggTyL47nYJ6Me7e8M5p0uHa_J-Iz5FbDtYnY1XakCBLyljuYDC352scWZ8XdjOo2jfbIRN5w/w400-h234/SonicMania_SpecialZone.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can tell where Christian Whitehead found his main source of influence when it came to recreating the 32-bit aesthetic for the Special Zones in <i>Sonic Mania</i>. I realize it's a cliché to say this, but I do think it is the best out of the recent batch of <i>Sonic</i> games in the franchise.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBUmiJnLlwbO_NBhjcUY5IAfqllix2-TxXjmOpkETW9-yAL7s6E1jGCuNp2iXNgazvWpvNbniQ0mWMxWvbLD3PPUeABMYRF_cN87whRT7e1TyGyX-opuDkxPiAO_7OPb2hTeBWoeyTLmSfr-8XISE6bZYYGGKr2xZybzQO7vUc1nZWvlxhea9blR9Fw/s136/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Sonic+Tails+Knuckles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="85" data-original-width="136" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBUmiJnLlwbO_NBhjcUY5IAfqllix2-TxXjmOpkETW9-yAL7s6E1jGCuNp2iXNgazvWpvNbniQ0mWMxWvbLD3PPUeABMYRF_cN87whRT7e1TyGyX-opuDkxPiAO_7OPb2hTeBWoeyTLmSfr-8XISE6bZYYGGKr2xZybzQO7vUc1nZWvlxhea9blR9Fw/s1600/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_Sonic+Tails+Knuckles.png" width="136" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I do feel bad for Tails and Knuckles just having to stand in their spot while waiting with abated breath (regardless of whether or not it's in vain) for Sonic to come to either one of them with fifty-plus rings so he can be granted access to the Special Zone. 🙁 Welp, it's a good thing this is the franchise that it is,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPhSNi6TwEvbvu1s4zZtZIsjj6Lz4lfsnDk9TWr-K0HZYclgPwLr0AAwMbEQakoTdUUes9XNxIg9TDf-GzW4knC4WuaTPSpLGp2pwEEZ8DM2B9PsiY8KZyIr7yh_ZDshBKFJ0wubKjp9YsHP4fTaNlu-oCMvlkC0jjTc18Lcz1JxjPd3sENy7XmhwUA/s371/SonicTheFighters_TailsVsSonic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="371" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPhSNi6TwEvbvu1s4zZtZIsjj6Lz4lfsnDk9TWr-K0HZYclgPwLr0AAwMbEQakoTdUUes9XNxIg9TDf-GzW4knC4WuaTPSpLGp2pwEEZ8DM2B9PsiY8KZyIr7yh_ZDshBKFJ0wubKjp9YsHP4fTaNlu-oCMvlkC0jjTc18Lcz1JxjPd3sENy7XmhwUA/w200-h139/SonicTheFighters_TailsVsSonic.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aR2VnLMHXL3lL65Dq8nkM1d6kybtFx5GczaoBYxjz4szSpu5uwMdHuw-x1MESMUT2BkzMg8va6OSVJKoaSZA8wzvl1h2VrQcVA8lICdWF5ztULH80gBPNY6itNm2McJAI6Xk4HGCvI_ih4DKIy_lpfam3wycV2Oqvq1YgR0JQeltGCfc6D1DgBWUYw/s371/SonicTheFighters_KnucklesVsSonic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="371" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aR2VnLMHXL3lL65Dq8nkM1d6kybtFx5GczaoBYxjz4szSpu5uwMdHuw-x1MESMUT2BkzMg8va6OSVJKoaSZA8wzvl1h2VrQcVA8lICdWF5ztULH80gBPNY6itNm2McJAI6Xk4HGCvI_ih4DKIy_lpfam3wycV2Oqvq1YgR0JQeltGCfc6D1DgBWUYw/w200-h139/SonicTheFighters_KnucklesVsSonic.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">if it was any other series they'd both show Sonic a piece of their mind the moment this venture is over for giving them the task of waiting.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45VTMNyGCEfvcPUpfq9b_MN7hE51H7jzoWtlkgm1SX1vJbULEuhVwEVfows79vARSiYPMs15r189eQqP61mla3AFoYUTpT5F7kcdeW-V6dxNDrbAvkPvw9OLJElGK0bFIZ1on2Ysr56PBQisXYRu2DpbZvA8YIApEvgBVhzVN44K3p2QyxGt8tKccLg/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_FireballJumpRope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45VTMNyGCEfvcPUpfq9b_MN7hE51H7jzoWtlkgm1SX1vJbULEuhVwEVfows79vARSiYPMs15r189eQqP61mla3AFoYUTpT5F7kcdeW-V6dxNDrbAvkPvw9OLJElGK0bFIZ1on2Ysr56PBQisXYRu2DpbZvA8YIApEvgBVhzVN44K3p2QyxGt8tKccLg/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_FireballJumpRope.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV8JWXNAx6jjA23E4sXUw9EVepUH8a-xX5wlTxQuORR2LoFl5OeKzvvGe_LCNpd81MvKfVqY_OpGadAPAJ4jAGQ0i-MgqccQfKSaGtEpoAqmFi2sfccCuIpj21Fj9qnVU3y1m3jsmL-HpLe4BQ9UzjBumXPM3AYDFvV5EW5C_bTUMIMPvxh_LCMsWKw/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_PanicPuppet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikV8JWXNAx6jjA23E4sXUw9EVepUH8a-xX5wlTxQuORR2LoFl5OeKzvvGe_LCNpd81MvKfVqY_OpGadAPAJ4jAGQ0i-MgqccQfKSaGtEpoAqmFi2sfccCuIpj21Fj9qnVU3y1m3jsmL-HpLe4BQ9UzjBumXPM3AYDFvV5EW5C_bTUMIMPvxh_LCMsWKw/w200-h117/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_PanicPuppet.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> has always been regarded as one of those love it or hate it entries in the <i>Sonic</i> franchise, and not without good reason. Going too fast will easily cost you your rings, let alone cause the Flickies to scatter from you if you're not careful so you'll have to take them back to your group (the red ones are annoying if they're scattered because they bounce in a randomly directed arc and I'm like, "No, get back here!"), the isometric controls can be rather wonky in spots, and you're reduced to dilute your sense of speed if you wish to prolong your survival (which is not generally the goal of your average <i>Sonic</i> game).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXTGDvCKfcR8V4F9lOZrWc4gjysOBGTBMzIgk4tFxPWbATJGYwHxJQUFcGu9W7FTqdKxDCz5YXRUY42Wx9KUHwK_3Bz0WPB-nhGyi4T3x-53Z-D2hKyNJGj7qIQMJV6TIOBVOTaYK0X1qJsVc2J_BNA6w3ETcwIrSxwvkysbG9zCJ5_bT6bKCiYORiw/s381/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_FinalFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXTGDvCKfcR8V4F9lOZrWc4gjysOBGTBMzIgk4tFxPWbATJGYwHxJQUFcGu9W7FTqdKxDCz5YXRUY42Wx9KUHwK_3Bz0WPB-nhGyi4T3x-53Z-D2hKyNJGj7qIQMJV6TIOBVOTaYK0X1qJsVc2J_BNA6w3ETcwIrSxwvkysbG9zCJ5_bT6bKCiYORiw/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_FinalFight.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It definitely is not devoid of issues, and yet I like <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i>. 😃 I could've done without the loading every time you clear a Special Zone and after you lost a life, but I think on the whole it's pleasurably fun so long as I go at a mindful pace and don't get carried away (there's no penalty for taking longer than ten minutes), there is a likable charm, and I really appreciated what Traveller's Tales tried to accomplish with this game. Between this and <i>Sonic R</i>, I consider this the better of the two, and anyone who's said either game was the British developer's worst effort</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjNDAc7GRhTn-Yu4hyZZRZdrPlf4fKn0YMoLD2UX6lxUOQJu_XyBXLAUImmsMxj0lUauH8FFuOSC3BqJd8hq66MeSjuRlU-IHfmDb1lpJcvPRLdCCpLHCOyBw48GsFnOOiANM8ZxGpVWJFqTP-CZMZIqECmUDCNj4SpmIGwZ0yvecZboUroEZ0JOeXA/s377/Rascal_Dragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="377" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjNDAc7GRhTn-Yu4hyZZRZdrPlf4fKn0YMoLD2UX6lxUOQJu_XyBXLAUImmsMxj0lUauH8FFuOSC3BqJd8hq66MeSjuRlU-IHfmDb1lpJcvPRLdCCpLHCOyBw48GsFnOOiANM8ZxGpVWJFqTP-CZMZIqECmUDCNj4SpmIGwZ0yvecZboUroEZ0JOeXA/w200-h162/Rascal_Dragon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaperlXo3tW_HFy1EHCdBSanFwEUI4B_UtCiMbSIXGmm60kgIJgKgWbPPjMRuShtmol_VWh-aghegLBYDBPqvsEXq8E6PTnSp6DLk5tOAcFGuv68Dk9m-qCSlVxHXmKzAZ5_LsCiKj1MqMPpu8Wco7Z4eWO4pczURHM5u4JyCJOj4ZfNrC84L-2hX6-Q/s377/Rascal_Platforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="377" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaperlXo3tW_HFy1EHCdBSanFwEUI4B_UtCiMbSIXGmm60kgIJgKgWbPPjMRuShtmol_VWh-aghegLBYDBPqvsEXq8E6PTnSp6DLk5tOAcFGuv68Dk9m-qCSlVxHXmKzAZ5_LsCiKj1MqMPpu8Wco7Z4eWO4pczURHM5u4JyCJOj4ZfNrC84L-2hX6-Q/w200-h162/Rascal_Platforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>A tremendously sad waste of potential, a sad waste of 60 frames per second, a sad waste of the talents of Jim Henson's Creature Shop as well as the Blythe-Joustra composing duo, all undone by lack of forethought on Psygnosis' side; whereas Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i> and (in my opinion) Argonaut Software's <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> made a good case for 3D tank control platformers, <i>Rascal</i> represents a case of how <u>not</u> to do 3D tank control platformers</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">has obviously never played <i>Rascal</i>, their true nadir. But even then, that PlayStation One 3D platforming misfire wasn't really their fault so much as that of their publisher Psygnosis.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoTuBLPpXNDvgyZvw_HccDnaI7ax5O5wppFiyOMf53-MwMroD7LyOG6BVompGFvzreEbA5oS9b-7FKVizSRM5ihbTZL9EFaBYts5sXof_ySsj8aa-kehr1Lgg3lMrrVjN0FY6wHI6aT_tCqXQqv7PoA8WKPpCdpCNAQfvnc-g2U1glaGo4TmFivZhyw/s489/MickeysWildAdventure_CopyrightScreen-Mistyped.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoTuBLPpXNDvgyZvw_HccDnaI7ax5O5wppFiyOMf53-MwMroD7LyOG6BVompGFvzreEbA5oS9b-7FKVizSRM5ihbTZL9EFaBYts5sXof_ySsj8aa-kehr1Lgg3lMrrVjN0FY6wHI6aT_tCqXQqv7PoA8WKPpCdpCNAQfvnc-g2U1glaGo4TmFivZhyw/s16000/MickeysWildAdventure_CopyrightScreen-Mistyped.png" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed and cropped while watching NintendoComplete's <i>Mickey's Wild Adventure</i> gameplay video on YouTube; "Get out of here, alternative Rodney Matthews tanuki logo design, you ain't working in this joint again!"</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">... or should I say "<b>Pygnosis</b>"?</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlPzntg9JnDUwsm4AvYs3N5Ne51unCBTGZrgmSo_qjXFS1nv1wgQ3RhTufo_dGdBxtEzap5L-7lCz_srudUMz0MdY3Ueo7lwjNOJMTfxEXos9IfRG8CzbHTkSXb_Y_ht2QkY7B1Qb-NdrcMWiYNo5pz5TggdxxLZbfKZWMgq4-hxw0ZOOA-8RTTfftQ/s109/Pygnosis_PysgnosisLogoTypo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="15" data-original-width="109" height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlPzntg9JnDUwsm4AvYs3N5Ne51unCBTGZrgmSo_qjXFS1nv1wgQ3RhTufo_dGdBxtEzap5L-7lCz_srudUMz0MdY3Ueo7lwjNOJMTfxEXos9IfRG8CzbHTkSXb_Y_ht2QkY7B1Qb-NdrcMWiYNo5pz5TggdxxLZbfKZWMgq4-hxw0ZOOA-8RTTfftQ/s1600/Pygnosis_PysgnosisLogoTypo.png" width="109" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Preemptive karma for <i>Rascal</i> or simply an unfortunate case of the programmer not paying attention with the copyright information?</b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stupid Pygnosis! 😒</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUQrAs2WSr7VFglKgwqNqm3w4H6v5-RhcM6RGFsW8q5k6YY3W3mpPpj6BtUgit_ZI7az6vI1jJv7LhqYF2cbULBaISXmKoiYDdhx_qp2TmEe75lLa6V_nW2sNqymdqA0dDNqoXcwpgn-X2S0glbD2hVONtxV0iXOx0fH96fJULCbpnEpFDk6Mpfooww/s343/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_GoodEnding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUQrAs2WSr7VFglKgwqNqm3w4H6v5-RhcM6RGFsW8q5k6YY3W3mpPpj6BtUgit_ZI7az6vI1jJv7LhqYF2cbULBaISXmKoiYDdhx_qp2TmEe75lLa6V_nW2sNqymdqA0dDNqoXcwpgn-X2S0glbD2hVONtxV0iXOx0fH96fJULCbpnEpFDk6Mpfooww/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_GoodEnding.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though I've only been acquainted with this version of <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> for two months now, I honestly prefer it to the original 16-bit version, if only by a small margin, and I think the added aesthetic touches helped with that. I know it's got its problems, I don't pretend it doesn't have any, I simply choose not to let them bother me so much. Glad I caught up with this version. 😃</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26KEIQ-YQ2SVkC_wUsEj0Yy8JON-5gKn3DfxN4fkgkCcVnl7TbSI_YD3DXt-NXWthj-13BV9JrUOCWgLX-KXEaUBqvOLA9Zy5PDyq0AX1rQVEH5zk4y5UOe5kIwg0PdY1rFXX2NL4ONDKsewiM9NjIlSfPuQqtJZ2GIkgbRRVgM_pgmfoTX2t8dWHsw/s422/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_ReproCase.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26KEIQ-YQ2SVkC_wUsEj0Yy8JON-5gKn3DfxN4fkgkCcVnl7TbSI_YD3DXt-NXWthj-13BV9JrUOCWgLX-KXEaUBqvOLA9Zy5PDyq0AX1rQVEH5zk4y5UOe5kIwg0PdY1rFXX2NL4ONDKsewiM9NjIlSfPuQqtJZ2GIkgbRRVgM_pgmfoTX2t8dWHsw/s16000/Sonic3DBlast-Saturn_ReproCase.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So on July 5th I got the game disc by itself on a blank average sized jewel case (because I didn't want to spend more than what I thought necessary for the game), nearly a month later on August 4th I got the repro case for <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> which I feel is a much better home for it (and is the least amount of money I spent on anything Saturn-based)... as for the blank jewel case, I recycled it. I decided it doesn't matter whether I get the Saturn game in a jewel case or in a repro case, what's more important is if the game disc is in good condition. A nice thing to add to my collection, haha... 😄 ...... <b>*gaaaasp*</b> 😲 Oh my <b>God</b>!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8B7O2zVhO-yajeTVLVWnWpqzN_p7HVUBYJob8i0n59zKnKSx_dYRmrTNHJNVqyf1-RKMfi4xwpppEr4nhq8cndykjTcBZmuEfnWn8KkFH5a6D6O9yAkPHM36SatXAJySL0thugJXC7qW7BniGLjD318JgzC1zA1haL8hJkqcouVaYB1McCQw0ysBgQ/s521/Sonic_CompilationGames.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="521" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8B7O2zVhO-yajeTVLVWnWpqzN_p7HVUBYJob8i0n59zKnKSx_dYRmrTNHJNVqyf1-RKMfi4xwpppEr4nhq8cndykjTcBZmuEfnWn8KkFH5a6D6O9yAkPHM36SatXAJySL0thugJXC7qW7BniGLjD318JgzC1zA1haL8hJkqcouVaYB1McCQw0ysBgQ/w400-h355/Sonic_CompilationGames.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A '90s <i>Sonic</i> game I own in physical format as opposed to having access to it on a compilation or as an unlockable? <b>Amazing</b>!!! 🤯 Can't believe it took until 31 to get to that point.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the back of the manual for Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i> was an advert for a fellow stand-in for Sonic until his big Saturn appearance, Realtime Associates' platformer <b><i>Bug!</i></b>, which was my eighth Saturn game which I got on July 16th. Let's see now...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84v5iZHoxrGi-m-RHRtjHlG-q4jLp1C1PokEti-M0PWQ1D8oOykg5jz-kjZDeYEpOzI48MQTG-y3I_VdS30xMxTX98ELkmVI9T1unI9A52tVgusoIpwk6ckV3Jb67TK-6I5WqRtpdQstEn2iF0IGve4NtL8-xRcSWn48n5cLTECeAyiaBy_R3K7luXQ/s447/Bug_Plot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84v5iZHoxrGi-m-RHRtjHlG-q4jLp1C1PokEti-M0PWQ1D8oOykg5jz-kjZDeYEpOzI48MQTG-y3I_VdS30xMxTX98ELkmVI9T1unI9A52tVgusoIpwk6ckV3Jb67TK-6I5WqRtpdQstEn2iF0IGve4NtL8-xRcSWn48n5cLTECeAyiaBy_R3K7luXQ/s16000/Bug_Plot.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The context isn't even canine, what in the world?! This was seriously typed in the back of the North American version's jewel case</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Bug! Knows Action!" Oh no, not a big ego! "The plot: bit--" 👀 "Bitchy"? "<b>Bitchy</b>"??? 😲</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ-IjDrqLc2fteWD3Rj1BQ2oH3kUiJT1M9p5fKOc3KpMZqw0xlgCDZ6qpEWRJfKYu4ln8zxmnIQsFGvO-30jknyGmHz3dkeTNT2IfiTzOOtadM32N8LnduRuKasHk7ye8OufA81q1t2hD8tc79laz_CN8cyEn2om-Z0ePdoW08J8YPBAeoo2tDU-tPg/s242/K-A_Rating.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="178" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQ-IjDrqLc2fteWD3Rj1BQ2oH3kUiJT1M9p5fKOc3KpMZqw0xlgCDZ6qpEWRJfKYu4ln8zxmnIQsFGvO-30jknyGmHz3dkeTNT2IfiTzOOtadM32N8LnduRuKasHk7ye8OufA81q1t2hD8tc79laz_CN8cyEn2om-Z0ePdoW08J8YPBAeoo2tDU-tPg/s1600/K-A_Rating.png" width="178" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The <b><u>whiplash</u></b>, my God!!! They only wanted to put that in there for shock value, didn't they? It worked. Oh well, Bug is not the first character in a game to say #$%&* at least...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61NI1KHGGFYAv7NVQGlGNSPzau_g-7bimEnz_AMfHvwiX6U3s3UvaWcq-tVpjlcfNtmQ_0vOEhDJXwQUcaZKYvcKA6E-k6rqtVi9ipTWlYbaN1NVcxUxegOG0ORVSawc60qwKZLazQQKoKio-r60S-zM0J4L0nJ1vjhuc6W10udzRZwTVFm-kG9eneQ/s384/Discworld_WellKeptSecret.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61NI1KHGGFYAv7NVQGlGNSPzau_g-7bimEnz_AMfHvwiX6U3s3UvaWcq-tVpjlcfNtmQ_0vOEhDJXwQUcaZKYvcKA6E-k6rqtVi9ipTWlYbaN1NVcxUxegOG0ORVSawc60qwKZLazQQKoKio-r60S-zM0J4L0nJ1vjhuc6W10udzRZwTVFm-kG9eneQ/s16000/Discworld_WellKeptSecret.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The text may be censored, but the audio is not; only applicable in the PlayStation One version</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">that would be Eric Idle. 😆 A secret so well-hidden in Teeny Weeny Games and Perfect 10 Productions' <i>Discworld</i> that it took nearly twenty years after its 1995 release for it to be discovered, mainly due the obscure set of commands used to bring that up.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRTht75NpsRo8ngBLCVmejBSWDcbghuTTjw-bKuC4hIojKqlSvJ3NR9Oce4mxrxtESvhpz608WdqsSrs9qIPHTYSkJXmEyYsNbCmGVRhOPB7GER7fr9AdkTgkzTHkc_hU_-bgdfHaZsxMCIAt6Py-3HQl0hFt1w-YTM8kQvI7JA2JuJwlF70vs8A9zg/s382/Discworld2_FromTheSequel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="382" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRTht75NpsRo8ngBLCVmejBSWDcbghuTTjw-bKuC4hIojKqlSvJ3NR9Oce4mxrxtESvhpz608WdqsSrs9qIPHTYSkJXmEyYsNbCmGVRhOPB7GER7fr9AdkTgkzTHkc_hU_-bgdfHaZsxMCIAt6Py-3HQl0hFt1w-YTM8kQvI7JA2JuJwlF70vs8A9zg/w200-h149/Discworld2_FromTheSequel.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXcKZfraNWqUmCW6Z7RS3w0TH5NpCYvakPM0MX1AacfE7B1caDuimjhDuFsl-GtkQ8--DaGW8doVboxDyHIdcqsLLMg5S0ln7_5y7CD2zASMlbkgFMHuTx2vhfYpfFMtwj2JOgZ_5M6Vxx2upEN7ztMnw5FIykli65qvjZJYIcDJIMtdbfiHUOHwg8Q/s382/Discworld2_PuppetOnAString.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="382" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXcKZfraNWqUmCW6Z7RS3w0TH5NpCYvakPM0MX1AacfE7B1caDuimjhDuFsl-GtkQ8--DaGW8doVboxDyHIdcqsLLMg5S0ln7_5y7CD2zASMlbkgFMHuTx2vhfYpfFMtwj2JOgZ_5M6Vxx2upEN7ztMnw5FIykli65qvjZJYIcDJIMtdbfiHUOHwg8Q/w200-h149/Discworld2_PuppetOnAString.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Discworld II</i> was also released on the Sega Saturn, but only in Europe; the second <i>Discworld</i> point-and-click graphic adventure is my favorite of the two due to it not being as difficult as the first</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love how in Perfect Entertainment's <i>Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!?</i>/<i>Mortality Bytes!</i> there is a secret Easter egg where <i>Discworld II</i> Rincewind briefly transports himself to the start of the first game (recreated aesthetic and everything) and meets <i>Discworld</i> Rincewind, as well as the fact that there is an obscure way to reference the first game's well-hidden secret with a remark on how it had yet to be discovered. The <i>Discworld</i> games are very amusing due to the funny writing and dialogue they have (or rather the straight manner in which the often bizarre dialogue is delivered makes them amusing). 🤭</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7X-16POyoFV1A1SfjmollzMUyqu8dY6UbibhyVhPQ75rD4iBxmeL2YOsKhrgWATvjaArl3tDOfJ1ZZ2j6tp5HL_s_4ToNiea8mIPpM8wTjjbKs1tx_n07l9Vw4wXDlu4t55uny26KZUfTfzuGxWY0YvTHvXdH2D1E-xl6f5pwSg-L3wj5lHkBU0lTw/s384/Bug_ShiftingBridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7X-16POyoFV1A1SfjmollzMUyqu8dY6UbibhyVhPQ75rD4iBxmeL2YOsKhrgWATvjaArl3tDOfJ1ZZ2j6tp5HL_s_4ToNiea8mIPpM8wTjjbKs1tx_n07l9Vw4wXDlu4t55uny26KZUfTfzuGxWY0YvTHvXdH2D1E-xl6f5pwSg-L3wj5lHkBU0lTw/w200-h156/Bug_ShiftingBridge.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGpUO2qDYLiduU4-X8yPmAiida3z3l67kAUiFmMrfpRYFdzABEp0tdaRtD7wo5I2Qe1tO71j5AP1TKJPQXKiD90ZhPhCqEqnFqavwTBtefwL-u-hH6JHhj63qlJojBAt9shQOoNJpDXspmH5fDdsbjhOBu4u2LgKdmfiY_aDO1BxpAvHBprCHQgvGLA/s384/Bug_StuntBug.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGpUO2qDYLiduU4-X8yPmAiida3z3l67kAUiFmMrfpRYFdzABEp0tdaRtD7wo5I2Qe1tO71j5AP1TKJPQXKiD90ZhPhCqEqnFqavwTBtefwL-u-hH6JHhj63qlJojBAt9shQOoNJpDXspmH5fDdsbjhOBu4u2LgKdmfiY_aDO1BxpAvHBprCHQgvGLA/w200-h156/Bug_StuntBug.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm sorry, I realize I'm stalling, it's just... I didn't find <i>Bug!</i> to be all that enjoyable of a game. 😔 I'm just going to say it right now, it is the weakest out of the Saturn games I own (I don't really have much nice to say about it). How do I describe <i>Bug!</i>'s gameplay? I suppose one way to go about it is to say that it's like a precursor to the kind of platformer defined by Naughty Dog's <i>Crash Bandicoot</i> games (you know, the prolonged tracking shot platformer),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsHdxOIORLDmEFwDU1ATqvkQ1V5Co_lxAoW8HFfpORVbLORvzI_4wJgqeab_GIigWPFAX9O-7zJqAwIJgfBX-TvyjhtmzEie91J_A-vxKYFQedW-H1c0WJ1pgrVS3zmQHV4UBQpunW92rzjFAZjvTqNgY-3ogRuOTc2ZYLYminmYesyMBrfJHwnOyqA/s384/Bug_SnailBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsHdxOIORLDmEFwDU1ATqvkQ1V5Co_lxAoW8HFfpORVbLORvzI_4wJgqeab_GIigWPFAX9O-7zJqAwIJgfBX-TvyjhtmzEie91J_A-vxKYFQedW-H1c0WJ1pgrVS3zmQHV4UBQpunW92rzjFAZjvTqNgY-3ogRuOTc2ZYLYminmYesyMBrfJHwnOyqA/w200-h156/Bug_SnailBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63PmuCgdz26ZqCUnH4EczIGOxym27ZjYI3e_mtMx3isbSDIJvNXgjhpkSAAlWcRTjWufnj2gYUbJkK9qP8PB8Vr683_b4qh6q32XRw8Vqjyz96Wl5O43GvZ2DjNbaix_VJzrPnKmMC2C6pgf5rqz_8c1K_CoyWwtT6CSmhIQCJK54U0MlSodlPNvnQQ/s384/Bug_SpinJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63PmuCgdz26ZqCUnH4EczIGOxym27ZjYI3e_mtMx3isbSDIJvNXgjhpkSAAlWcRTjWufnj2gYUbJkK9qP8PB8Vr683_b4qh6q32XRw8Vqjyz96Wl5O43GvZ2DjNbaix_VJzrPnKmMC2C6pgf5rqz_8c1K_CoyWwtT6CSmhIQCJK54U0MlSodlPNvnQQ/w200-h156/Bug_SpinJump.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">except without the diagonal movement controls as you only move in a square pattern, and it lacks any of the fun and charm and polish of the aforementioned classic series. The gameplay lacks polish (which is not aided by the uneven camera) and as a result feels very cheap a lot of the time, so you always have to move on your defensive to not lose health quickly. I found Bug to be so annoying with his cocky smugness and myriad of obnoxious audio bytes any time he sustains damage or disposes of an enemy and how ever so frequently they're spoken, I'm glad there's the option to turn the voices off to retain a sense of sanity.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jTTfNiCh-u2AQr2tq6uMEuT7c0ycYujMgHMfvfkqMznj2qftlXIfdOCbMqzdcCwM6LkT2kOVIU6nk5z3zLRzf3f09CV41G9RxZ0axGiB3P0ytMbOTp4whRPgXnmBUJ7E3LoWafsiz3C6Q0cJ8DTq6TJBtOMl53WSyRGFquJHM4OR07oKguCnNk-qYg/s384/Bug_SpiralCanyon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jTTfNiCh-u2AQr2tq6uMEuT7c0ycYujMgHMfvfkqMznj2qftlXIfdOCbMqzdcCwM6LkT2kOVIU6nk5z3zLRzf3f09CV41G9RxZ0axGiB3P0ytMbOTp4whRPgXnmBUJ7E3LoWafsiz3C6Q0cJ8DTq6TJBtOMl53WSyRGFquJHM4OR07oKguCnNk-qYg/w200-h156/Bug_SpiralCanyon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuYGhsKxFF6nOpPziXx21FrYkPCpOquS9ScnqPXG82cW8pOsScGT0QdoiDgWcr2O1t303k_6D-yDRqywOpLmN4W7jS-po_c-KVh3Mon_uXfQo9g9FuhD0DEeFLK237cd5OumlWh7aZehwROBIsfzsTRCSpmBqR16J9fgZbeKKoLzyy07nOwaC2TzAmg/s384/Bug_Dragonfly.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuYGhsKxFF6nOpPziXx21FrYkPCpOquS9ScnqPXG82cW8pOsScGT0QdoiDgWcr2O1t303k_6D-yDRqywOpLmN4W7jS-po_c-KVh3Mon_uXfQo9g9FuhD0DEeFLK237cd5OumlWh7aZehwROBIsfzsTRCSpmBqR16J9fgZbeKKoLzyy07nOwaC2TzAmg/w200-h156/Bug_Dragonfly.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Transpiring in a series of movie sets, you contend with a random assortment of insects, reptiles, amphibians, and so forth as you collect crystals along the way and occasionally find things to aid Bug the movie star like a zap attack through his antennas which drains with each usage, an unlimited spew attack to spit out projectiles at your foes, and a blue helmet which will summon a stunt bug and momentarily render you impervious to enemy attack. Getting one hundred-plus crystals in all three scenes will take you to a dragonfly round after defeating the present movie set's boss and should you find a coin after a thorough search and give it to Daddy-O Longlegs you'll be given access to a bonus stage (each different from the last, most entailing collecting as many Bug-like statuettes as you can in the allotted time you're given) and once it's over it acts as your current checkpoint.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWaVC50nb4w9JO_tVxaoU5ewadF46V4X7QuMgIGv1S27AFfHNN1XV5j5GZoH0MLg71MGF6-PXjg4_zy2lQ_1mtkqb3IPqfqHzAehDkfY2CrwuOyXh8xTstM-V8rEBdEdPKGbpJjF2ZIZaIaftHBgYKbFfTYLDs-79wd9_LDBfrLPkiEWgI93PcgpDaw/s373/Bug_SonicBonusRace-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="373" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWaVC50nb4w9JO_tVxaoU5ewadF46V4X7QuMgIGv1S27AFfHNN1XV5j5GZoH0MLg71MGF6-PXjg4_zy2lQ_1mtkqb3IPqfqHzAehDkfY2CrwuOyXh8xTstM-V8rEBdEdPKGbpJjF2ZIZaIaftHBgYKbFfTYLDs-79wd9_LDBfrLPkiEWgI93PcgpDaw/w200-h156/Bug_SonicBonusRace-1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n6oqfDgY9R48feN696i_VGO9M6HVU-N5HcsJOPkVJ0vHacjR3pU2r4YOB68Li7xjjGfjdQ_0MvFD47O7GxlRvtnktcYALQWliW4LgzzJXU3QWaDhf4qs8AgM_vG-peULi0qEDGMj5YTXDktSyWuEU5VNeFNYBU0HgXevTrLWLwtGl2KikhrSly7emQ/s373/Bug_SonicBonusRace-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="373" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n6oqfDgY9R48feN696i_VGO9M6HVU-N5HcsJOPkVJ0vHacjR3pU2r4YOB68Li7xjjGfjdQ_0MvFD47O7GxlRvtnktcYALQWliW4LgzzJXU3QWaDhf4qs8AgM_vG-peULi0qEDGMj5YTXDktSyWuEU5VNeFNYBU0HgXevTrLWLwtGl2KikhrSly7emQ/w200-h156/Bug_SonicBonusRace-2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">And in that Sega Technical Institute <i>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</i> sprite design I was never fond of, too, I might be mistaken but is this his first Saturn appearance?</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's... sad when the best thing <i>Bug!</i> has got going for it is a random cameo from Sonic the Hedgehog as you race against him in one of its bonus segments.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN6TBEubwchDkru29Wb3DFHYbkbbIc0G747BE4bF0ry28YepfCbLnkXO4ErU2_aWOGvWoAPC2XPJMpri4WV1N9tfBKQOEmFlgBJSJtYdiCO4-v3sAUi2pWFtM3bNTDRvmI0bs_O4kj6hcwNjwahiJWeVkAperzMHbkJWzchNhdDwifoB5F_uZ9uOHxg/s384/Bug_Frog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN6TBEubwchDkru29Wb3DFHYbkbbIc0G747BE4bF0ry28YepfCbLnkXO4ErU2_aWOGvWoAPC2XPJMpri4WV1N9tfBKQOEmFlgBJSJtYdiCO4-v3sAUi2pWFtM3bNTDRvmI0bs_O4kj6hcwNjwahiJWeVkAperzMHbkJWzchNhdDwifoB5F_uZ9uOHxg/w200-h156/Bug_Frog.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe1GXPpGsQw8UHJCn4OKEfLXqLAuPJYLCbScdFe7TF3wHedTAg60xz4lZ06y2XetMXHKAVbc-bb0lpbbhm3k0t6_q2rqO83rivtfywB6sifo8_tuYqc-vyxRtJmf7UJ57W-0tDRWFjKMvv-__mxgrQNuCe9cEibGeBI-XCxY4xUdDpPJk0RzGrliAtQ/s384/Bug_CheapSpot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe1GXPpGsQw8UHJCn4OKEfLXqLAuPJYLCbScdFe7TF3wHedTAg60xz4lZ06y2XetMXHKAVbc-bb0lpbbhm3k0t6_q2rqO83rivtfywB6sifo8_tuYqc-vyxRtJmf7UJ57W-0tDRWFjKMvv-__mxgrQNuCe9cEibGeBI-XCxY4xUdDpPJk0RzGrliAtQ/w200-h156/Bug_CheapSpot.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">For Realtime Associates' sake, I hope this was a case of them being rushed by Sega, because that is just unacceptable design without any feasible workaround</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tell me if this sounds like fair game design: a ways in to the first level of Splot! you have to jump on a platform but there is a frog on the other end which is the only path forward, but the moment you land on it the frog will immediately hop towards you with no ample time to react therefore knocking you backwards (not just any annoying knockback effect, but the infuriating kind where you're rendered helpless and immobile until you fall towards the ground or out of bounds), and with no possible way to spew a projectile towards it without getting closer and risking falling down the gap because the controls are unpolished. ... Who play tested and considered this well thought-out design, </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">hmm</b><span style="font-family: georgia;">? 🤨 That's where I draw a line.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPbvvHE893PDRLHYhIA3vFoqai_2MZFmB1sxT9V4nYfOfkHtm6u7Nqutwq1epd4JYNeAmOdXX-pyLNab8hgVpFfPZAv78e1_cT1dIJW0tFlP--PykZrZId4ZNdTDiIgmDdp4bHGNsb20PHwP2KBdTbv44HaN2So1rQo91Btwibxog2XRyev4nQIfqgg/s384/Bug_SavedGames.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPbvvHE893PDRLHYhIA3vFoqai_2MZFmB1sxT9V4nYfOfkHtm6u7Nqutwq1epd4JYNeAmOdXX-pyLNab8hgVpFfPZAv78e1_cT1dIJW0tFlP--PykZrZId4ZNdTDiIgmDdp4bHGNsb20PHwP2KBdTbv44HaN2So1rQo91Btwibxog2XRyev4nQIfqgg/s16000/Bug_SavedGames.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">In the system memory it shows a save for <i>Bug!</i>, taking up two blocks, which makes it absolute madness to have to go through the trouble of inputting a code just to pick up your present progress</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is an area select code which helps (for what it's worth): on the title screen once you see "Start Game" and "Options" press B, A, B, Y, down, right, A, left shoulder button, down, then press Start to bring up this screen (and in the game to proceed to the next scene press the left shoulder button and up simultaneously). Honestly, I was hoping it wouldn't have to get to this, but it beats the prospect of having to play through the game in one sitting in the span of three to four hours...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k4ab0fEBkEYCOQ2hHZsAJHC1vAb72iNLHI5HJMOSWX69GTN3QF1APsO20WBWbfGas2m4jJ7doOaNqaxBMs69P6O1Is-wtbNG4CX9sABkB1bzqfE0Y87Tvexuwxil69OdxNdTfZMW_NYDs4tQKkPvksHqsZ1FlZAAnImIRO192LJUNXCzg_7zQuA4aA/s387/BlazingDragons_SayWhat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k4ab0fEBkEYCOQ2hHZsAJHC1vAb72iNLHI5HJMOSWX69GTN3QF1APsO20WBWbfGas2m4jJ7doOaNqaxBMs69P6O1Is-wtbNG4CX9sABkB1bzqfE0Y87Tvexuwxil69OdxNdTfZMW_NYDs4tQKkPvksHqsZ1FlZAAnImIRO192LJUNXCzg_7zQuA4aA/s16000/BlazingDragons_SayWhat.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I hope that with my recent review of The Illusions Gaming Company's </b><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/07/blazing-dragons-psone-review.html">Blazing Dragons</a></i><b> I helped manage to raise peoples' awareness of it, such an endearing and underrated game </b>😃</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I </span><b style="font-family: georgia;">wish</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> that was hyperbole, from what I gathered it is not. 😔</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PHIde74KIhPRfP-I1oG_RolNXsaIx6RDSKw-qzu_rE6q1LyJSJ6o4Sg6Wz-nIrB2dkGF-Zx7PGuT8aplC4fUs9U_QWiCpnIYpaQ1Xb61h7F1tsniN6jX0l3cVONyNYHIfA4BtJTjxW04Wf2rGBnfc5oUUHt-esoPIDR6yi12sY9-NMbtkgRsyBKZIQ/s384/Bug_Quaria.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PHIde74KIhPRfP-I1oG_RolNXsaIx6RDSKw-qzu_rE6q1LyJSJ6o4Sg6Wz-nIrB2dkGF-Zx7PGuT8aplC4fUs9U_QWiCpnIYpaQ1Xb61h7F1tsniN6jX0l3cVONyNYHIfA4BtJTjxW04Wf2rGBnfc5oUUHt-esoPIDR6yi12sY9-NMbtkgRsyBKZIQ/w200-h156/Bug_Quaria.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73DgQscKCYWFx_dPsHUln5yeri1ftmsMqNrpMIWJzXV8WLuaGAesKNgDHtdFeugNsYGgIXqPcSViY1jYfXTAGAun8VFID7VEVFtydBrMgqL4bD8QSb6jrHiOMBrQ1AP8bIzlW3Hf6NoCgE1lNxctyEHuarCM7xTQGAq-jmqOg7Fn1hbaEt5PoxgIN4A/s384/Bug_Burrbs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73DgQscKCYWFx_dPsHUln5yeri1ftmsMqNrpMIWJzXV8WLuaGAesKNgDHtdFeugNsYGgIXqPcSViY1jYfXTAGAun8VFID7VEVFtydBrMgqL4bD8QSb6jrHiOMBrQ1AP8bIzlW3Hf6NoCgE1lNxctyEHuarCM7xTQGAq-jmqOg7Fn1hbaEt5PoxgIN4A/w200-h156/Bug_Burrbs.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">To give it credit, I did like how each set had a differently designed checkpoint: like the blooming flower in Insectia, a flashy fish motif sign in Quaria, and the snowman in Burrbs</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I guess it stings because I kind of was aware what I was walking into but wanted to keep an open mind going in, and I still ended up disappointed. There have been plenty of video games I played where they had an overall polarizing reception which I ended up liking despite what problems they may have had and being aware of said problems not letting them affect my enjoyment on the whole, but <i>Bug!</i> was sadly not one of them.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9JwgX-vEu8JeEBRyYoyNal5Xc4Wl3Gvp_oAa8MRzaEi74y9NlH6b9pW9tynZ0x3zxeDxXJg6_QJs4vZZAmUJOQevhPBcrf8QRPhx6P3V2BJP8aaLcvPJ9aelXtqhqwq6sw4GS7oRnkn5ti7pV9NJZdqTyT3c0PNAMK8Hq5eU6Pi8hDqrWWJlKeYIAg/s345/Bug_InsectiaToReptilia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="345" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9JwgX-vEu8JeEBRyYoyNal5Xc4Wl3Gvp_oAa8MRzaEi74y9NlH6b9pW9tynZ0x3zxeDxXJg6_QJs4vZZAmUJOQevhPBcrf8QRPhx6P3V2BJP8aaLcvPJ9aelXtqhqwq6sw4GS7oRnkn5ti7pV9NJZdqTyT3c0PNAMK8Hq5eU6Pi8hDqrWWJlKeYIAg/w200-h155/Bug_InsectiaToReptilia.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KnwUwembM4zQeNBkQhiaGYuiUQFOnHUpHnKAb-Xo6vTjGJAgvKCS7tbPYVniEIIEwD-TGgPdUDuqXfGS0NKnbXyGp7tBG2NbDJ6lwaTJMir2H2A-kGxOEJKagZ_WxArg9efYccovwDPENl2GhGNuQipAoO3xvOFGgpn-g2VtPV5YHimqcforsuFBJw/s345/Bug_ReptiliaToSplot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="345" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KnwUwembM4zQeNBkQhiaGYuiUQFOnHUpHnKAb-Xo6vTjGJAgvKCS7tbPYVniEIIEwD-TGgPdUDuqXfGS0NKnbXyGp7tBG2NbDJ6lwaTJMir2H2A-kGxOEJKagZ_WxArg9efYccovwDPENl2GhGNuQipAoO3xvOFGgpn-g2VtPV5YHimqcforsuFBJw/w200-h155/Bug_ReptiliaToSplot.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As a showcase for the Saturn's technical capabilities, I guess it does its job fine. The prerendered spritework is okay, though I got more annoyed whenever I saw Bug's death animations due to their frequent nature given the game's lack of polish and balance in the proceedings, and the cutscenes look well-rendered enough (they're not all that exciting to watch, though, as Bug walks from one set to another without interacting with anyone as the camera follows him from differing angles, and in a later cutscene he even walks under a ladder which is ill-boding if he believes in superstitions). The less said about its game over screen, the better.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXhPjpuHOWU0lKgzjbfxbDtIdLmyKyNcDRhjNjcVR0HvoD0tdMUJQLeVkCtL-cMDsRkk4PF_IML_xjLXnVRynfNkZQCMrcDXFH7ex3BEAQ2MSEPeHhKgaNLaFY4shJoInvr8YlWfFE9DbJXuuM1KSY9h9JTknUB_GMR6wAAKOdhmbdjJvOYR7NtlTRQ/s380/Bug_SmugBarsteward.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXhPjpuHOWU0lKgzjbfxbDtIdLmyKyNcDRhjNjcVR0HvoD0tdMUJQLeVkCtL-cMDsRkk4PF_IML_xjLXnVRynfNkZQCMrcDXFH7ex3BEAQ2MSEPeHhKgaNLaFY4shJoInvr8YlWfFE9DbJXuuM1KSY9h9JTknUB_GMR6wAAKOdhmbdjJvOYR7NtlTRQ/s16000/Bug_SmugBarsteward.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>This game got a sequel... but Sega's own </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Ristar</i><b> didn't? Sega genuinely thought this unpolished and unbalanced game had franchise potential? Steven Spielberg, the GOAT who's a great filmmaker as well as a great human being, endorsed </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">this</u><b> game to get people excited about the Sega Saturn console? ... *gives out a prolonged sigh as the world turns upside down, loses color, and time starts moving at a deliriously slow pace as I ponder these real, unironic scenarios* </b>😞</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">But I want to be fair, I don't want to judge <strike>Smug's</strike> Bug's legacy until I play Realtime Associates' sequel <i>Bug Too!</i>, I mean the only way to go from here is up, right? But at the moment I'm not rushing to look into it and find out, for I found <i>Bug!</i> to be rather disheartening in quite a few aspects. This is just my opinion, of course, if there are those who enjoyed this game, good for them, I don't want to take that away from them, it just did not appeal to me personally.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFIbWScZfw5hpkA8PDBJpSjisavngG7btKFdYJxSW74CLhlxo68pRPUxQEI19UUr4x0Ptf5HweIzGuaKsAsIk52dlgg8pjvTHjtG218G9yhh5D4N56pP4MRypZSYxVJPgKnXogr51cZHsRxXGo6q1_T1qu1skYLkK4l_xHDyJSHEU5ZRlgZuM7Eu4Ng/s596/ClockworkKnight_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="596" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFIbWScZfw5hpkA8PDBJpSjisavngG7btKFdYJxSW74CLhlxo68pRPUxQEI19UUr4x0Ptf5HweIzGuaKsAsIk52dlgg8pjvTHjtG218G9yhh5D4N56pP4MRypZSYxVJPgKnXogr51cZHsRxXGo6q1_T1qu1skYLkK4l_xHDyJSHEU5ZRlgZuM7Eu4Ng/w400-h183/ClockworkKnight_Advert.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Much like the back of Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s manual had an advert for <i>Bug!</i>, so too did the back of <i>Bug!</i>'s manual feature an advert for <i>Clockwork Knight</i>. The circle is now complete, only wish they didn't differ all that much in quality. "You won't <b>believe</b> these are just <b>toys</b>! ...<b>especially</b> when they kick your butt!" It's awfully cute of it to confuse itself for Traveller's Tales' <i>Toy Story</i>. ... 😏 Aw, I'm so mean. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrF8OaSTJhqy_JIKPkTS41QK3qIHpnhk9fdguE1GVkNSh3P3wHNu6VFX82HP9Trpia1XgFJNXRWKRHYgvdEmZOEXbZ3w6gnCgzNeJ9GRj-IpYNIRUoLnPOrkUn9nOb3XCB-5f7LpJgnHJnbNBKW7jA67GPh94y5it4A12AAQPV6W19EVdI7wtZn2jZw/s383/ToyStory_GameBoy-InsideTheClawMachine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrF8OaSTJhqy_JIKPkTS41QK3qIHpnhk9fdguE1GVkNSh3P3wHNu6VFX82HP9Trpia1XgFJNXRWKRHYgvdEmZOEXbZ3w6gnCgzNeJ9GRj-IpYNIRUoLnPOrkUn9nOb3XCB-5f7LpJgnHJnbNBKW7jA67GPh94y5it4A12AAQPV6W19EVdI7wtZn2jZw/w200-h154/ToyStory_GameBoy-InsideTheClawMachine.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qt0N4-1fqei41gV0QD6RmETQ0CJl0Fk8GcNH1M1YcNmU69JXLalopoEIwSfYg1YwNZ_iJPQbQ_GrgvayyRtVsij4q8XcFKKC-TnB9iKd7D61X1cwe3_AWUrfkKaQbJN8NfthnWmCIWtmChjVJCz_zJdyH8E3rWrL9h9b-rpXJAUDiGNLQ8KIn9Ra-A/s383/ToyStory_GameBoy-BattleOfTheMutantToys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="383" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qt0N4-1fqei41gV0QD6RmETQ0CJl0Fk8GcNH1M1YcNmU69JXLalopoEIwSfYg1YwNZ_iJPQbQ_GrgvayyRtVsij4q8XcFKKC-TnB9iKd7D61X1cwe3_AWUrfkKaQbJN8NfthnWmCIWtmChjVJCz_zJdyH8E3rWrL9h9b-rpXJAUDiGNLQ8KIn9Ra-A/w200-h154/ToyStory_GameBoy-BattleOfTheMutantToys.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Why bother putting in <i>Super Game Boy</i> support if you're only going to enhance the sound and colorize the logo screens without altering the color palette for each level as well?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's not that <i>Toy Story</i> is even a bad game--unless we're talking about Tiertex's Game Boy version (in which case yeah, it's <b>all</b> bad)--</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w6Y4XPLU4I1-ud_3i0FQCptmec47caZGtEsBfBCzpAaZRsdLcbUC88oFgGD0yugpt5SnNv4vaiIDsgSl6N6kS9i_6vd9Ny8d-vVkgz7AcBDdrgwfrilLAxqyAWHt4BwfPpEEtFWwLK0553sCpwMqNTgTBwjJg3gBBJQTYm80vFyl3wOnPdBiys6Nvg/s386/ToyStory_Genesis-RunRexRun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w6Y4XPLU4I1-ud_3i0FQCptmec47caZGtEsBfBCzpAaZRsdLcbUC88oFgGD0yugpt5SnNv4vaiIDsgSl6N6kS9i_6vd9Ny8d-vVkgz7AcBDdrgwfrilLAxqyAWHt4BwfPpEEtFWwLK0553sCpwMqNTgTBwjJg3gBBJQTYm80vFyl3wOnPdBiys6Nvg/w200-h118/ToyStory_Genesis-RunRexRun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakySwqsJ2lodPLAtISugzEIYDFxR9Ao6xQWBlvYVdDkClVhD6neTjabJOaMGvN8dEaJ3CdFX-t6PJ5lO4yTFlyU1EObYrXwbUOPeeaBoPyvEqxTVlFmgPUNuZCXPQZMSwmADyo3cdskHML79No78bvYeKUSrMOneVFPibVolRA62uNMsZbap1UDzMoQ/s386/ToyStory_Genesis-FoodAndDrink.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakySwqsJ2lodPLAtISugzEIYDFxR9Ao6xQWBlvYVdDkClVhD6neTjabJOaMGvN8dEaJ3CdFX-t6PJ5lO4yTFlyU1EObYrXwbUOPeeaBoPyvEqxTVlFmgPUNuZCXPQZMSwmADyo3cdskHML79No78bvYeKUSrMOneVFPibVolRA62uNMsZbap1UDzMoQ/w200-h118/ToyStory_Genesis-FoodAndDrink.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">it's just that compared to <i>Puggsy</i> and <i>Mickey Mania</i> it doesn't measure up in my opinion plus its high difficulty can be a bit much at points. But hey, at least there's more fun and charm to be had playing <i>Toy Story</i> than Realtime Associates' <i>Bug!</i> could ever provide.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Naturally, after the negative experience I've had with my eighth Saturn game, I wanted to follow it up with something that was going to have a positive effect and was hoping would be fun to play.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXteUxl57BFP9mQCCwUcprYDgxJZqgHk08Cq1uMh33zj8Lr28CMPKuibG-yo47Wyt08Weoesygqv0Ha6gnoEAxDeAGzdOofMkYmVnGPzaKFj-BfjKgQtFzFIYB2PASxml9hcn7nFaKcJm3SCWp1tssre64p1M6B49nFVP97sFXhR2GPdpuhzjV9BWdHw/s332/PanzerDragoon_BlueDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXteUxl57BFP9mQCCwUcprYDgxJZqgHk08Cq1uMh33zj8Lr28CMPKuibG-yo47Wyt08Weoesygqv0Ha6gnoEAxDeAGzdOofMkYmVnGPzaKFj-BfjKgQtFzFIYB2PASxml9hcn7nFaKcJm3SCWp1tssre64p1M6B49nFVP97sFXhR2GPdpuhzjV9BWdHw/s16000/PanzerDragoon_BlueDragon.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sega release Team Andromeda's postapocalyptic fantasy rail shooter <b><i>Panzer Dragoon</i></b>, my ninth Saturn game which I received on August 26th, was something I found to be more satisfying and enjoyable. 😃 Not perfect, but it was definitely something I needed after ... the previous Saturn game I played. I am aware of MegaPixel Studio's 2020 remake, and under any other circumstance I would've probably downloaded it on the Nintendo Switch... if it wasn't for the fact that it wasn't received well (mostly due to performance issues, which I hear have since been patched) but something in the back of my head told me if I was going to have the best <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> experience it was probably going to be on the original system it came out in. It's a good day to be a Saturn owner. 😁</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLILtKj8TEFoe_JViqY__ZfVTVTJ9jwGEIhLprcea12JOnjoxEufZ1T0kBVq-selluDOeP3YHvHYro9Ng6UX9XqdCDyXmvPN--vfpF692d6ZImekEnhAPyTtxE6OM22a2VDkAU3hPZjUk07lEmccEpowVPRlXHUSGftSbXuHk2ijVfh2hVk-oiPxwemA/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode1-Fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLILtKj8TEFoe_JViqY__ZfVTVTJ9jwGEIhLprcea12JOnjoxEufZ1T0kBVq-selluDOeP3YHvHYro9Ng6UX9XqdCDyXmvPN--vfpF692d6ZImekEnhAPyTtxE6OM22a2VDkAU3hPZjUk07lEmccEpowVPRlXHUSGftSbXuHk2ijVfh2hVk-oiPxwemA/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode1-Fire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHcIXGnKE3rDM2TA0GkKUfa01jC96xnHeXRhvPJX6ZuTjA3PKkCvP-wp0fVnJuoJSkOj-apStTwh3fQeZNHvGwDhuF1xgduRQ4PV7ZbX1oRmBSC7qRXLEinFVQrow9hmJMCstvrocq0tHgzNvlGFyeCeds_Sb8k3a05ItkfCXtHUDU1lYKIONdjcWew/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode1-Temple.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHcIXGnKE3rDM2TA0GkKUfa01jC96xnHeXRhvPJX6ZuTjA3PKkCvP-wp0fVnJuoJSkOj-apStTwh3fQeZNHvGwDhuF1xgduRQ4PV7ZbX1oRmBSC7qRXLEinFVQrow9hmJMCstvrocq0tHgzNvlGFyeCeds_Sb8k3a05ItkfCXtHUDU1lYKIONdjcWew/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode1-Temple.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I apologize if the screenshots I took for this game aren't interesting, I took them all yesterday (9/9/22) and wanted to be on time for today's Random Saturnday upload (9/10/22)</b> 😔</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Panzer Dragoon</i> has got fascinatingly conceived environments for its postapocalyptic setting (in particular the water submerged first episode and arid desert with the giant sandworms leaping and towering over you in the second episode), and as a showcase for the Saturn handling 3D landscapes it looks largely impressive for the time it came out. I love the animation of the blue dragon Keil Fluge rides on (whether it be on neutral camera mode, close camera mode, or distant camera mode) with the graceful way it flies, glides along, and flaps its wings, and there's a variety of enemies to contend with such as the creatively designed enemy fleets, the sandworms and leaping horrors inside the desert caves, laser firing enemies, and the Dark Dragon is huge, just to name some.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZZv7joERqLVoQJT4iRtkLeoIIYEVXN9DLFwh3AExOdv2C_UJ-v_istRxq9aDUYW0H_xB0gqqRE_VsrtchbtR76KCM38DRoHeuQzlos3paRE5-aHiCpzPk20yvZtbmprF99Zu5NJc3KilvG2ZIYoKyy_IU_EX9FCiCdcgC-ak3JbD6ypKBjlYPq2G9w/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-Leapers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZZv7joERqLVoQJT4iRtkLeoIIYEVXN9DLFwh3AExOdv2C_UJ-v_istRxq9aDUYW0H_xB0gqqRE_VsrtchbtR76KCM38DRoHeuQzlos3paRE5-aHiCpzPk20yvZtbmprF99Zu5NJc3KilvG2ZIYoKyy_IU_EX9FCiCdcgC-ak3JbD6ypKBjlYPq2G9w/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-Leapers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEn34dHxydwGhuNtZ4iVUMZhzF-HT7AOtvb9l7O9HTxgpYFOUCP-6eVtHu3V3W2M-unxnFOZzKnvickItP_bjsW5884DKJdcTy-Z0v03pnmt8oFGNQm454f-pNUN5c8kQAbBjuXYy-Dc1_lIQSLt3TQrVrTu77bMt8v7CTtK17rZwjlVdpi1TFgLezw/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-Cave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEn34dHxydwGhuNtZ4iVUMZhzF-HT7AOtvb9l7O9HTxgpYFOUCP-6eVtHu3V3W2M-unxnFOZzKnvickItP_bjsW5884DKJdcTy-Z0v03pnmt8oFGNQm454f-pNUN5c8kQAbBjuXYy-Dc1_lIQSLt3TQrVrTu77bMt8v7CTtK17rZwjlVdpi1TFgLezw/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-Cave.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">On default <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> runs at 20 frames per second, but there is a code where you can increase it to <u>30</u> frames per second (I think) by enabling Wizard mode (left shoulder button, right shoulder button, left shoulder, right shoulder, up, down, up, down, left, right on the title screen), and the difference in speed is <u>palpable</u>!</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The gameplay is good as you aim your reticle and fire at the targets, or to deal more damage at once you can hold down the firing button over more enemies at once and let go to amass the dragon's fire breath on all locked-on targets. This is the kind of rail shooter where your enemies will attempt to attack you from all sides, which makes it very handy that you can make Keil turn in any direction 360 degrees with the dragon radar being a very helpful indicator of the enemies' direction and vicinity in relation to you. Things do heat up the farther you go along, and on easy mode the game stops at the end of the fourth episode whereas the rest is accessed in the subsequent difficulties.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxIn_FNnPtifE28z-Bvw3uxuyH6VznXzhaxu-lxJNJoJ-OIpTP21Gn0GzTslUnNxBnOyibfAVcfT3SIhwfPs6EdqOZj0ez78dxdtx4i_dJ46o2KU_tUh7sQborQgm7RXMgC4gwGfPunvCn1jswvK_VzbzeGyRIEailv0OV1Vs4o4JE2yU1WF0DD3ZzQ/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-DarkDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxIn_FNnPtifE28z-Bvw3uxuyH6VznXzhaxu-lxJNJoJ-OIpTP21Gn0GzTslUnNxBnOyibfAVcfT3SIhwfPs6EdqOZj0ez78dxdtx4i_dJ46o2KU_tUh7sQborQgm7RXMgC4gwGfPunvCn1jswvK_VzbzeGyRIEailv0OV1Vs4o4JE2yU1WF0DD3ZzQ/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode2-DarkDragon.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DrdpG7uI0ohOepINoUDL6PtcLsSaJ0E-ve4_bmUKrVLLfEq-P-hW2gqPno8YbkcstQT7pMvQ7xcF_rE2ziDnVJnehbwoSgqGTUXNJvGRza6yHtRGIupfkQ0g1_UK-Pk4vRnHpwpNH5NeDSc5JNmC3jrq4pPWU7JF07VFA0YZU-ZwRkBlGBGWLVU25Q/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode3-Aiming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DrdpG7uI0ohOepINoUDL6PtcLsSaJ0E-ve4_bmUKrVLLfEq-P-hW2gqPno8YbkcstQT7pMvQ7xcF_rE2ziDnVJnehbwoSgqGTUXNJvGRza6yHtRGIupfkQ0g1_UK-Pk4vRnHpwpNH5NeDSc5JNmC3jrq4pPWU7JF07VFA0YZU-ZwRkBlGBGWLVU25Q/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode3-Aiming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">... of course, both speed settings have their own sets of pros and cons about them; sure, things are faster on Wizard (including the reticle moving) but it lacks the synchronization of the music as the normal speed and certain targets are hard to lock on because of this, which makes the normal speed the ideal one to play despite the comparative slowness</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The late Yoshitaka Azuma's soundtrack perfectly complements each environment that you fly and battle your way through, and what makes it neat is that it's succinctly synchronized with the action and the pacing, also <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> is yet another game disc that doubles as a soundtrack CD which is always a plus. 😃 The standout track for me is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4oTU0srt2I">first episode theme</a> as it blends together perfectly with the water-submerged area with a breathtakingly orchestral flair, and while everything else is well composed I'd be remiss if I didn't feel that they largely work best when heard in conjunction with the visuals as opposed to when listened to on their own. I even recognized a couple of sound effects that would be used in Sega's <i>Astal</i>, mainly the dragon's wail upon sustaining damage.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAExDpNOCvgqSu8upAjALiqkBpOO_9UDunHuMYdj1ot0C8-d_f2V5RUqUUugSjOlp4wJNlQajrE60nSl-L21GikEFm3xV1ZpEG1z9L_pKq-Q_fzlnEx3YA-YC8Ytx8Ww22ij4RMltVdCTE3vNXVYiuhfWDbbtETMxbsb7V7VuGtLktp1uYEQUqoDUxsg/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode4-FiringBack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAExDpNOCvgqSu8upAjALiqkBpOO_9UDunHuMYdj1ot0C8-d_f2V5RUqUUugSjOlp4wJNlQajrE60nSl-L21GikEFm3xV1ZpEG1z9L_pKq-Q_fzlnEx3YA-YC8Ytx8Ww22ij4RMltVdCTE3vNXVYiuhfWDbbtETMxbsb7V7VuGtLktp1uYEQUqoDUxsg/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode4-FiringBack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZJtvbFWXORYuRC2E0FDE9jzhRFXGeBiR6QwQFpW0srIvLpiLPCjWvZXwq4ZoEWqw6Nft_GABBkwIf-dIOOSxTvQQiCq9XU4jDkI0QYMvRBV0v1tDuvly7fnYMc4FkPfzdVoBC2JrgF-ogGEenjV2QjgWZoAST8enDjPNiCKOxzSNeUCQbzPxBcnGVg/s394/PanzerDragoon_Episode4-LeftSwerve.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="394" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZJtvbFWXORYuRC2E0FDE9jzhRFXGeBiR6QwQFpW0srIvLpiLPCjWvZXwq4ZoEWqw6Nft_GABBkwIf-dIOOSxTvQQiCq9XU4jDkI0QYMvRBV0v1tDuvly7fnYMc4FkPfzdVoBC2JrgF-ogGEenjV2QjgWZoAST8enDjPNiCKOxzSNeUCQbzPxBcnGVg/w200-h152/PanzerDragoon_Episode4-LeftSwerve.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">With this game I learned, by accident, that pressing the A, B, C, and Start buttons simultaneously will do a soft reset and take you back to the title screen, so I was very mindful of that whenever I rapid fired by tapping all three buttons in quick succession at once with all three fingers. Even </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">though the rail shooter genre is not one I'm good at or excel at generally (except, maybe, HAL Laboratory's </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">HyperZone</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> but up to a point in a subsequent loop or two),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> is a fun ride on the whole, but I will say it is very difficult to play (at least the North American version I own, place your bets on whether Sega of America was involved with that, they have a track record for this). As much as I try, there are certain times when I have a hard time evading enemy fire especially in the middle episodes (Episode 5 onward is when you're <b>truly</b> being tested), but I guess that's where some of its appeal stems from and I respect that. It's a good game and worthy of classic status, I'm glad I got to be acquainted with it. 😃 Bring on <i>Panzer Dragoon II Zwei</i>!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpkVgfM0qqj1UCp8srb1AWnleLRJvUf5DNbtHwWr-29PkDY3k-olSUM0NYDNYJ0Bgo1p_V5u5liUHAqIBjAsY34kI-HTNP_sVxA4Mt-zBW6uLvS-7rSPeFA4RnbbTFIKDoldFv4_hVTuasL3UJERgJcUhx91NPghaTXFlV1AIKvBjIFOOJvKUElIRew/s443/PanzerDragoon_ReproCase.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpkVgfM0qqj1UCp8srb1AWnleLRJvUf5DNbtHwWr-29PkDY3k-olSUM0NYDNYJ0Bgo1p_V5u5liUHAqIBjAsY34kI-HTNP_sVxA4Mt-zBW6uLvS-7rSPeFA4RnbbTFIKDoldFv4_hVTuasL3UJERgJcUhx91NPghaTXFlV1AIKvBjIFOOJvKUElIRew/s16000/PanzerDragoon_ReproCase.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">With <i>Panzer Dragoon</i>, <i>Astal</i> is no longer the highest amount of money I spent on a Saturn game on eBay (the copy I got of that one was roughly $60-something). Ever since I decided to embark on a journey with the Saturn, I have been a bit bolder with my purchases than I ever have been in the past, though I will admit... I was kinda desperate in this case because every other copy I saw was either incomplete or surpassed $100 (both of which were a no-no), so I got what I felt was one of the least costly copies of the first <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> in a repro case. Even so, it was way over my spending limit (more so than normal). It was worth it, but I think I'll wait until I get some eBay gift cards before spending that high amount on a game again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotlAoSgrIdLgiF1xdsMZAPoKCV9FH7UQssR8WAFdG6VYeeTEB2niHCg0SxTSyEVhB_uCEoOj4uSE0vZLb6chJ_VaKgOQu9TsaPohDafDS-9jj-_ebCLZGbj9-oZhzJqlWlwAC1voEQ2aKHBaOQ5hv-vGzFl8O4_1fRQfQQvg4akbXjFrAOg41bohXcw/s452/SegaSaturn_Games.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotlAoSgrIdLgiF1xdsMZAPoKCV9FH7UQssR8WAFdG6VYeeTEB2niHCg0SxTSyEVhB_uCEoOj4uSE0vZLb6chJ_VaKgOQu9TsaPohDafDS-9jj-_ebCLZGbj9-oZhzJqlWlwAC1voEQ2aKHBaOQ5hv-vGzFl8O4_1fRQfQQvg4akbXjFrAOg41bohXcw/s16000/SegaSaturn_Games.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">My personal Sega Saturn ranking:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Tomb Raider</i> > <i>Astal</i> > <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i> > <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> > <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> > <i>Clockwork Knight</i> > <i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> > <i>Solar Eclipse</i> > <i>Bug!</i></span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Check it out, guys, my Sega Saturn collection is <b>growing</b>! 😃 I hope you all enjoyed reading my thoughts on the newest games I got for it since last time, it's nice to do these kinds of posts.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQCQZZ7HJAwRafQlMSZgHWuvEpSOXCR29BDBV-e6pW43nad_tJRASJsRp093C5pq2xwnFqGCHZnMMxvgUExwvC8HMtKsPGGZ3VAeUfSetxPXwMKg3JdoQ-2kXG8BBxK9xILWL96k-WGJsf9vTUNkVQlyeV3TwGVi5iwqb3KZ_wpGygfjPXft5KQaWTg/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQCQZZ7HJAwRafQlMSZgHWuvEpSOXCR29BDBV-e6pW43nad_tJRASJsRp093C5pq2xwnFqGCHZnMMxvgUExwvC8HMtKsPGGZ3VAeUfSetxPXwMKg3JdoQ-2kXG8BBxK9xILWL96k-WGJsf9vTUNkVQlyeV3TwGVi5iwqb3KZ_wpGygfjPXft5KQaWTg/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00eeff; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Eight hits, one miss, that's a good ratio I think</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Realtime Associates' <i>Bug!</i> notwithstanding, my Sega Saturn experience has been a positive one and I look forward to exploring more Saturn content little by little. Though some of the more expensive games I'll reserve for Christmas or my birthday.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's my present Saturn wish list (not all):</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Baku Baku</i> - Sega's animal-themed falling block puzzler</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Fighting Vipers</i> - Sega's 3D one-on-one tournament fighter</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Legend of Oasis</i>, <i>The</i> - Ancient's top-down action adventure game, prequel to <i>Beyond Oasis</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Off-World Interceptor Extreme</i> - Crystal Dynamics' vehicular car combat game (I just <b>have</b> to know if it lives up to its M rating, because it seems too good to be true)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Panzer Dragoon II Zwei</i> - Team Andromeda's second postapocalyptic fantasy rail shooter on account that I enjoyed the original</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Shining Wisdom</i> - Camelot Software Planning's top-down action adventure game, I never played a <i>Shining</i> game so I'm curious about this one (I did play Climax Entertainment's <i>Landstalker</i>, but that doesn't count as a <i>Shining</i> game despite starting off development as an iteration of that series)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Steep Slope Sliders</i> - Cave's snowboarding game, I'm in the mood for video game snowboarding fun</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Virtua Fighter</i> - Sega's 3D one-on-one tournament fighter, and the first of its kind</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you're a Saturn owner and/or connoisseur, if there are any games I've not listed that you recommend I look into, I might take it into consideration (no FPS games). What games will join my collection next? Until next time, everyone, take care! 👋</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Since I brought those games up, I'm in love with the fact that the two <i>Discworld</i> point-and-click graphic adventure games starring Rincewind <b>and</b> Interactive Studios' <i>Glover</i> share the same composer, Rob Lord. I just never expected that.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my Random Saturnday post, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care!</b> 😃</span></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-77138866844832523152022-08-29T19:54:00.006-05:002022-11-08T22:20:11.546-06:00Clockwork Knight (Saturn) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">🧸<b> Received: April 26th, 2022 </b>🧸<b> Written: August 19th-29th, 2022</b> 🧸</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcgxr9q1wV71jbgNbRORa3VOTLYe5LSNdzQOynSw7i6SY0iSrelz9RBhX9un3f0jwFHRXQ4yCKQVktCfIA_tSI35Hz5riNE5OdDCwn8KDN6ACvhZ8CZ4ypMnNu-wI_DPTNrLqO0D1lBMHdMluuE4vdgYqijwBZ47rZw0hKSNKMIb38Cb1s5JOlQ7kRQ/s177/ClockworkKnight_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="177" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcgxr9q1wV71jbgNbRORa3VOTLYe5LSNdzQOynSw7i6SY0iSrelz9RBhX9un3f0jwFHRXQ4yCKQVktCfIA_tSI35Hz5riNE5OdDCwn8KDN6ACvhZ8CZ4ypMnNu-wI_DPTNrLqO0D1lBMHdMluuE4vdgYqijwBZ47rZw0hKSNKMIb38Cb1s5JOlQ7kRQ/s1600/ClockworkKnight_Title.png" width="177" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #ffc800;">Alternate Title: <i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no </i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #ffc800;">Daibōken</span></i> <span style="background-color: white;">[ <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> ]</span></span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Year: 1994, 1995 | Developed and Published by: Sega</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 I think enough time has passed since I got my latest retro video game console that I'm ready to properly conduct my first Sega Saturn video game review. Yay! 😄</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_k34Iip8w_bqOkMreDpLRPljaYOh88lOfrYNskMHZDsMb0PJFEVbHxRw6jlYBgvNh4DtxGH8pjppYmSvlvN5Wj6THZZm2__GKG40_n7ReiK7Gr9-Mwuu-_YzRgONnSRcSf2GAY6WaYr_aFpKgp_2B7wJDGFUqkUP-aTKlbwLy-niPLpegb8wOQIHxw/s1075/SegaSaturn_Japanese+Western.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="569" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_k34Iip8w_bqOkMreDpLRPljaYOh88lOfrYNskMHZDsMb0PJFEVbHxRw6jlYBgvNh4DtxGH8pjppYmSvlvN5Wj6THZZm2__GKG40_n7ReiK7Gr9-Mwuu-_YzRgONnSRcSf2GAY6WaYr_aFpKgp_2B7wJDGFUqkUP-aTKlbwLy-niPLpegb8wOQIHxw/w339-h640/SegaSaturn_Japanese+Western.png" width="339" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed and cropped while on the Sega Saturn's Wikipedia page</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Following the success of their cartridge-based 16-bit MegaDrive/Genesis console, <b>Sega</b> hopped on the 32-bit train with their next console the <b>Sega Saturn</b> which was CD-based and had a dual-CPU architecture as well as eight processors; it saw a release in Japan on November 22nd, 1994, in North America on May 11th, 1995, and in Europe that July 8th. Despite its early success in Japan (with console conversions of Sega's <i>Virtua Fighter</i> and Cyan's <i>Myst</i> acting as launch titles) it ended up not selling well overall in the West, with only 9.26 million units sold it was deemed a commercial failure; not aiding that fact was Sega of America releasing their newest console a whole <b>four months</b> earlier than they initially said they would (whoops) and absolutely got clobbered by the competition the PlayStation One and Nintendo 64 to the point that Sega had no other recourse but to discontinue Western support for this format in 1998 (and in 2000 in Japan).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zW8nyJV8fzeuQq8-2pm2diCoLEaR3hhfYXNLIM0fbDumD_ytBmZqhCqqFlNYkL2Uiyw1BvcKcmVE2hCQ-0U8-0ivGF1c_RjDKz5jPJNIDdSAa_h1OmQ6sBGlHjh-dXkAY3QoJgITDpXEpv3zM3e9kU_Fwn5Jr_rD4KlfgjPEWNETZy6_DA5j2IKDVQ/s640/ClockworkKnight_Cover-JP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zW8nyJV8fzeuQq8-2pm2diCoLEaR3hhfYXNLIM0fbDumD_ytBmZqhCqqFlNYkL2Uiyw1BvcKcmVE2hCQ-0U8-0ivGF1c_RjDKz5jPJNIDdSAa_h1OmQ6sBGlHjh-dXkAY3QoJgITDpXEpv3zM3e9kU_Fwn5Jr_rD4KlfgjPEWNETZy6_DA5j2IKDVQ/w200-h200/ClockworkKnight_Cover-JP.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAV8g0QayFEjZA3wHhp-XbYfFY0NGOwPWK2Bkgz8ZoHmDMmuL_2gBi8MnZ-aG5VYaeXfDImBRV-9-ybrD0xRfngorFcINL7_27JxxVv3xcknsJsjp7ZoA7G80oxhXVEiRLAdJMlzBN1KV0uhVfHxFZ4lHPbfGVFlDgfhqrK29ASJ1TLvc_Y9YnROyEg/s1079/ClockworkKnight_Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAV8g0QayFEjZA3wHhp-XbYfFY0NGOwPWK2Bkgz8ZoHmDMmuL_2gBi8MnZ-aG5VYaeXfDImBRV-9-ybrD0xRfngorFcINL7_27JxxVv3xcknsJsjp7ZoA7G80oxhXVEiRLAdJMlzBN1KV0uhVfHxFZ4lHPbfGVFlDgfhqrK29ASJ1TLvc_Y9YnROyEg/s320/ClockworkKnight_Cover.png" width="190" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">One of the earliest games to be made for the Sega Saturn was Sega's </span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no Daibōken</i> (for which the subtitle translates to "Pepperouchau's Adventure") which was released in Japan on December 9th, 1994, which would be localized in North America and in Europe as one of the launch titles on May 11th and July 8th of 1995 respectively as simply <b><i>Clockwork Knight</i></b>. This game was directed by Tomoyuki Ito, produced by Noriyoshi Ōba, Yoji Ishii, and Makoto Oshitani, executive produced by Mamoru Shigeta, designed by Katsuhisa "Kats" Sato, product managed by Tomoaki Ogawa and Kazuhiro Hanaya, and was programmed by Yoshio Fukushima.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizR4QaMw4kSPW-iCujW5yFH8bAnE3fwZvG8dKTWKVfGVRjp58CKgdYe5oa1KqYHj1-rIcbwWxsHHM3d4ChxWaRqOVUqK7VySoYDpZ13OBjvQ361yEjpKsjglchcbVZE2T-IK0PamMtNeV3DKG-kEyZfxAu9n1_YpYOOy9N7ALbmUnkTiB4W2QYrCJeOA/s360/ClockworkKnight_Midnight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizR4QaMw4kSPW-iCujW5yFH8bAnE3fwZvG8dKTWKVfGVRjp58CKgdYe5oa1KqYHj1-rIcbwWxsHHM3d4ChxWaRqOVUqK7VySoYDpZ13OBjvQ361yEjpKsjglchcbVZE2T-IK0PamMtNeV3DKG-kEyZfxAu9n1_YpYOOy9N7ALbmUnkTiB4W2QYrCJeOA/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Midnight.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFejA6JirXos1Bp0hYR5eImKCtnbAOOuFBLd1qe5JZ6qI-D6zCq4uU1pi_JR9JNwo90g9JKNrFU9NYXwKOBhU4kumwlfSj83VnQjkgRsEHskIzd1ejyIV1MZ0LPbsc8v1dl4HCdw5M_1GFEqk_FZyJmqTL_9uo0jlx5IEOyLZw9W3QzuZsS9KNT65Awg/s360/ClockworkKnight_Chelsea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFejA6JirXos1Bp0hYR5eImKCtnbAOOuFBLd1qe5JZ6qI-D6zCq4uU1pi_JR9JNwo90g9JKNrFU9NYXwKOBhU4kumwlfSj83VnQjkgRsEHskIzd1ejyIV1MZ0LPbsc8v1dl4HCdw5M_1GFEqk_FZyJmqTL_9uo0jlx5IEOyLZw9W3QzuZsS9KNT65Awg/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Chelsea.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_yRXlO2or_qBcfXpnp9jnqexX5c2KKzM6WGQzsgpYmM8SA19GxiMTXhSSefCHE35z7SWUaVUNvbktgC6-o9akKn2TT5D42GHGT_BDqHrsw_arFjVfP36762L91k7sQjN9MAqh_GqrYXUqR4oai1r7Y3Yn1jWTcQ_wX1riHHP4dEMwnYarivZMRcnpg/s360/ClockworkKnight_StuffedAnimals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_yRXlO2or_qBcfXpnp9jnqexX5c2KKzM6WGQzsgpYmM8SA19GxiMTXhSSefCHE35z7SWUaVUNvbktgC6-o9akKn2TT5D42GHGT_BDqHrsw_arFjVfP36762L91k7sQjN9MAqh_GqrYXUqR4oai1r7Y3Yn1jWTcQ_wX1riHHP4dEMwnYarivZMRcnpg/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_StuffedAnimals.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fAjGwK4DYYbVc_PK0B9v_JtowftxyfjvBCewfw3qp5OeGJdFaVCOpZ2vbsEX4WRxtPbQEFNlmJhZYsuYoPlVGRJ9OfFiNO9H8X_vnnamW2knP0isIQCReqdRR1VC9VTILs5bbixdpck9BXbiQXinRQPOpgjF05x-7pT8JlaoAFoj3WJoY2fJtsRMOQ/s360/ClockworkKnight_ToyAircraft.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fAjGwK4DYYbVc_PK0B9v_JtowftxyfjvBCewfw3qp5OeGJdFaVCOpZ2vbsEX4WRxtPbQEFNlmJhZYsuYoPlVGRJ9OfFiNO9H8X_vnnamW2knP0isIQCReqdRR1VC9VTILs5bbixdpck9BXbiQXinRQPOpgjF05x-7pT8JlaoAFoj3WJoY2fJtsRMOQ/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_ToyAircraft.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Wobbly vibing blue biplane toy is my favorite</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Every day at the stroke of midnight all the toys come to life and wake up after hearing the Clockwork Fairy Princess Chelsea sing a song with her angelic voice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1GrBARrYWJsYXrwOpQ_DCx3Ztx2mAPHZ3NtDHUNoX_J6C_UwYMTy7ST3EzDUpnlPmf-RvmEDHvz-xIxIvMuzrSl_IUw-KUITNObrPowbqIIAa26hZRiaPoEdH_L0Dk_n9cQmCfwEkRiZrOXfyNqN3RiroGUXnpCyrFYX8fyORXqpt9p5-Ie1Z8_KA/s360/ClockworkKnight_SirTongaraDePepperouchauIII.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-1GrBARrYWJsYXrwOpQ_DCx3Ztx2mAPHZ3NtDHUNoX_J6C_UwYMTy7ST3EzDUpnlPmf-RvmEDHvz-xIxIvMuzrSl_IUw-KUITNObrPowbqIIAa26hZRiaPoEdH_L0Dk_n9cQmCfwEkRiZrOXfyNqN3RiroGUXnpCyrFYX8fyORXqpt9p5-Ie1Z8_KA/s16000/ClockworkKnight_SirTongaraDePepperouchauIII.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">The good-natured golden wind-up toy knight Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III is in love with Chelsea,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OiW5KNYyKVKrK11CuXew3Yxj8QWbVXsEMFJwmGE_kXn2suadDqlTfDJ6TeBtlQvlYxGn-VFZJrvDLPeyxq7nJz0kEbrlz21mtT09WDrVYQ0sIep1_a_ib-29pDquoEAVcItgYUhwvzDE1Ewwa_c8ZWSYE6Se-8wQbry47iIo0TIyfyPbGveHwl-p-A/s360/ClockworkKnight_Ginger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OiW5KNYyKVKrK11CuXew3Yxj8QWbVXsEMFJwmGE_kXn2suadDqlTfDJ6TeBtlQvlYxGn-VFZJrvDLPeyxq7nJz0kEbrlz21mtT09WDrVYQ0sIep1_a_ib-29pDquoEAVcItgYUhwvzDE1Ewwa_c8ZWSYE6Se-8wQbry47iIo0TIyfyPbGveHwl-p-A/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Ginger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJW9D0oFIypDSzJfvdjnQreLfNEZhbF7Aw5reEo2tY6jZKz_jvPN5JT6xzRVgBybzJkjbJdI5JajJpm_qQRghXAniX7zwTDtmAQJrWqHzu8v0U4Io9oxiaGF5z5h0NWthvk_8JqeM9M4WZZ0EKCpW3IK-d5l68OND0plTIDpuliD8Q0rIJ9lHn4V61g/s360/ClockworkKnight_Laughingstock.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJW9D0oFIypDSzJfvdjnQreLfNEZhbF7Aw5reEo2tY6jZKz_jvPN5JT6xzRVgBybzJkjbJdI5JajJpm_qQRghXAniX7zwTDtmAQJrWqHzu8v0U4Io9oxiaGF5z5h0NWthvk_8JqeM9M4WZZ0EKCpW3IK-d5l68OND0plTIDpuliD8Q0rIJ9lHn4V61g/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Laughingstock.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">but so is his friendly rival in shining armor Ginger, however Tongara is also clumsy and careless which makes him something of a laughingstock among all the toys.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg2vdA9-w4wNjLb_TooVR3YAfvYS_XVRM2yJ-ptLtaNn1Bs_dFAMSl-D7y550LJfxJUyrs2gC3-Pxe3H_WtfNJtWLnVmHolhIfNeLVUSzbWlwkpWQQzPEdJ-Tg18MENHG64qRUV_CxC4-YPAiHt-Kfpcch0qfr4vq8VymZHnaw4gOg-UFXkuQFOH4Zw/s360/ClockworkKnight_Blackout.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg2vdA9-w4wNjLb_TooVR3YAfvYS_XVRM2yJ-ptLtaNn1Bs_dFAMSl-D7y550LJfxJUyrs2gC3-Pxe3H_WtfNJtWLnVmHolhIfNeLVUSzbWlwkpWQQzPEdJ-Tg18MENHG64qRUV_CxC4-YPAiHt-Kfpcch0qfr4vq8VymZHnaw4gOg-UFXkuQFOH4Zw/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Blackout.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtia03hiTy2SJa5SOM2xMw9WWtQTRYjJkV3jpVrQ0MQ7aZcRPkjCLi37YWySWdSDobl7eFIX8KiaH9tThTY55jrcEjWuIOpWlx7mZM2kKw5a_9zPwlrhofNEwZBSXMwcO4jzYeZVSagGdXOPqT-28zyv5VPTjEZy5oF78_jzY86uxrLTxEC9KfXKNEw/s360/ClockworkKnight_StolenAway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtia03hiTy2SJa5SOM2xMw9WWtQTRYjJkV3jpVrQ0MQ7aZcRPkjCLi37YWySWdSDobl7eFIX8KiaH9tThTY55jrcEjWuIOpWlx7mZM2kKw5a_9zPwlrhofNEwZBSXMwcO4jzYeZVSagGdXOPqT-28zyv5VPTjEZy5oF78_jzY86uxrLTxEC9KfXKNEw/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_StolenAway.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">One night everyone hears an ominous thundering sound which caused a blackout. Tongara and Ginger use a nearby flashlight and discover that Chelsea has been stolen away from her clock pedestal and only catch a fleeting glimpse of her abductor,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPW2IbrIgyxdSHCrL3Va6eutwdt1RFXO3vflQE5kwAl6NHekRDu17TEkfeapLDpcXHuZi2NP4INMTOJ1sfSJc2nWwAdWHy7_DB1nFv7g_n6i7K1_jOxGNWyhnr8U8xr_hjAzLePOev33kqEiOLtXYtIw9ygY5g7itgPcDK4ZJ8CkWatI_Aa1rUZ8j_Q/s360/ClockworkKnight_RidingAway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPW2IbrIgyxdSHCrL3Va6eutwdt1RFXO3vflQE5kwAl6NHekRDu17TEkfeapLDpcXHuZi2NP4INMTOJ1sfSJc2nWwAdWHy7_DB1nFv7g_n6i7K1_jOxGNWyhnr8U8xr_hjAzLePOev33kqEiOLtXYtIw9ygY5g7itgPcDK4ZJ8CkWatI_Aa1rUZ8j_Q/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_RidingAway.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVwQBKXhaQilRPyuO3UL_dlShX8guuiUCgLyU6tFgP39a06XTEZmpGDv94jR_nADTIq4xseu405M2QemeGjS6WEWGR5Mvj17Wz8o01JJw0Qf9Vbr9lIXBO7VDrVph62Bl7NX-47jI5AmTGoJUYfwHYMX6vhNTQ3KTGt_tuQd_0IAk8yNUg10Pc_HYcA/s360/ClockworkKnight_Possessed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVwQBKXhaQilRPyuO3UL_dlShX8guuiUCgLyU6tFgP39a06XTEZmpGDv94jR_nADTIq4xseu405M2QemeGjS6WEWGR5Mvj17Wz8o01JJw0Qf9Vbr9lIXBO7VDrVph62Bl7NX-47jI5AmTGoJUYfwHYMX6vhNTQ3KTGt_tuQd_0IAk8yNUg10Pc_HYcA/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Possessed.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">so the two rivals mount on the donkey Barobaro and clothesbrush Silver and set off on their quest to save Chelsea and bring her back, for without her voice to wake them up the toys will never be able to live again. Just as Tongara and Ginger ride away all of the lesser toys become possessed by an unknown entity thereby rendering them all as fierce obstacles impeding your path.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuBR-DcnsKkmgS0lTs3l2i038VG4ybsDAKvYgSaMfgRnIgTDU8v4uGDVc4H8MMdjB-gKrM1uJxW3HS6TeDpnuYTrK4bX0gvlS1FXmOGIGsEcXiVBZ178hylBLily6I4fc1PlLDXpfTF424_fXz6Es_7TAKvvQ7_rWaPs9jvI8b2Q0BEGf6cQI9BdyGA/s393/ClockworkKnight_CO.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuBR-DcnsKkmgS0lTs3l2i038VG4ybsDAKvYgSaMfgRnIgTDU8v4uGDVc4H8MMdjB-gKrM1uJxW3HS6TeDpnuYTrK4bX0gvlS1FXmOGIGsEcXiVBZ178hylBLily6I4fc1PlLDXpfTF424_fXz6Es_7TAKvvQ7_rWaPs9jvI8b2Q0BEGf6cQI9BdyGA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_CO.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0XoqXi2jBeaiGVXUT7mT6UNVSA4fbZFvxx2yIjmbJFWloD6vkH9TFVcFgleQ9_7A8ESX-cg_j3BRpjFaYL7sbyOk8yXKcZ_uxC91IyvCx-qD0rYY3hiLPekt7Ti7XpIHTsy3DWIOPES-1uDvnQ42rpTlyTleiPRJuoB6NRUyHp-wcNYpyzuZ63EUtg/s393/ClockworkKnight_Invincibility.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0XoqXi2jBeaiGVXUT7mT6UNVSA4fbZFvxx2yIjmbJFWloD6vkH9TFVcFgleQ9_7A8ESX-cg_j3BRpjFaYL7sbyOk8yXKcZ_uxC91IyvCx-qD0rYY3hiLPekt7Ti7XpIHTsy3DWIOPES-1uDvnQ42rpTlyTleiPRJuoB6NRUyHp-wcNYpyzuZ63EUtg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Invincibility.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The "CO" spelled from those blocks stands for "completely operational"... presumedly | Right: Invincibility time already</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling platformer <i>Clockwork Knight</i> you take control of the wind-up toy knight Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III whom you can move left and right as well as double tap either direction to make him run, hold down to duck and up to look above you (and if you hold either direction for a long time you'll be able to get more of a view of what's below you or above you), enter through a doorway by pressing up while standing in front of it, jump up in the air by pressing either the A or C button with your gained altitude depending on how hard or softly you pressed it, and with either shoulder button you can remove the upper HUD from the screen* or press it again to bring it back.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I'm... glad Sega felt the need to include that... for whatever reason?</b> 😕 <b>Maybe it was to take advantage of the Saturn controller's shoulder buttons so early in its lifespan</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA7ZnpNr80i4RUtah1_DcK_894BVJuZMj71cYc1M3Z79PPyzFIWKZlGa1wS3weeDH39U5A_1p3NhHLil9TLR9JOaT3Tsym8hr_RT_vdwwIblGkuOvmGDzNhp2bhsx2OPlU9OZtZT5SfXDrJc4WlU3x_UlJfWeuQZJhiAbMvWkOvdjgqIM0PexoHwlHQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_Propeller.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA7ZnpNr80i4RUtah1_DcK_894BVJuZMj71cYc1M3Z79PPyzFIWKZlGa1wS3weeDH39U5A_1p3NhHLil9TLR9JOaT3Tsym8hr_RT_vdwwIblGkuOvmGDzNhp2bhsx2OPlU9OZtZT5SfXDrJc4WlU3x_UlJfWeuQZJhiAbMvWkOvdjgqIM0PexoHwlHQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Propeller.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_s7a9rfuMji5c-jUt4mHIyOVBv-gabSdipDp5njs2Ak3F9jjYJ5N2A1TLzKPKUV29DxjKAWpwFb3qHKFHQ3is9a--mohu-tt5djwdb2VQkBSpP4sm4pF07YnrgUNoSOXsROvNf2Dt56jiXEUybcRWosmPimk5vgohYB0THFkZ62AriUdRbmFqZryZQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_UnlockingBox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_s7a9rfuMji5c-jUt4mHIyOVBv-gabSdipDp5njs2Ak3F9jjYJ5N2A1TLzKPKUV29DxjKAWpwFb3qHKFHQ3is9a--mohu-tt5djwdb2VQkBSpP4sm4pF07YnrgUNoSOXsROvNf2Dt56jiXEUybcRWosmPimk5vgohYB0THFkZ62AriUdRbmFqZryZQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_UnlockingBox.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Propeller incoming | Right: Unlocking and opening up a transportation box</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">A lot of Tongara's actions throughout the course of the game are accomplished with the B button, where his weapon of choice is a keyblade. Certain enemies get dispatched with one lunge, but most will only temporarily be incapacitated as a result; while they're unconscious you can pick up said enemy by holding the B button until you let go by tossing them ahead of you or above you. To do away with some of the tougher enemies simply twist the keyblade until they pop by repeatedly pressing B, and since Tongara's weapon doubles as a key it can also be used to twist inside a lock which will then open up a transportation box for you to get inside of. Finally, you'll occasionally come across objects which you can push ahead of you by holding B and forward or pull behind by holding B in the opposite direction.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KBDd_eFqZwlD1XtqZIg0rC3oYBx6eZ1wmccTeKgn4YZZNADJjWkFlz_Y8iPvG1xulpsA4cPwolmCdwTk94Iv0YS9_GHPWXv4E5b2gdEOF7KD-KExS-gbn_gCjzSb0vKDLIssnc5bkhSNp6gB3h5fCoYCTxWw8MHy99u1cbyi1aKR2Be2MH0Fcg6Vzw/s393/ClockworkKnight_Walk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KBDd_eFqZwlD1XtqZIg0rC3oYBx6eZ1wmccTeKgn4YZZNADJjWkFlz_Y8iPvG1xulpsA4cPwolmCdwTk94Iv0YS9_GHPWXv4E5b2gdEOF7KD-KExS-gbn_gCjzSb0vKDLIssnc5bkhSNp6gB3h5fCoYCTxWw8MHy99u1cbyi1aKR2Be2MH0Fcg6Vzw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Walk.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01jCMob9GhhmfBji50FYMGYGVv-0sIRIO_zCk13WmItfrMF8ReV4OlkC0gW1S8zAgl2SwWj_ZxNO5tuGH___-I8dPT7Zt0jiskLPtEv_RMMD9HGsekY5BRBEoOXACCXQl-bFB7saEtz0476Yt19jYaeBQ4bduSIfPqsOv98jjQJtN6q6tlcx5-ALjcw/s393/ClockworkKnight_UpwardToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01jCMob9GhhmfBji50FYMGYGVv-0sIRIO_zCk13WmItfrMF8ReV4OlkC0gW1S8zAgl2SwWj_ZxNO5tuGH___-I8dPT7Zt0jiskLPtEv_RMMD9HGsekY5BRBEoOXACCXQl-bFB7saEtz0476Yt19jYaeBQ4bduSIfPqsOv98jjQJtN6q6tlcx5-ALjcw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_UpwardToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Walk | Right: Upward toss</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Throughout each area you will come across a variety of items that'll aid Tongara in his quest: clocks to slightly prolong your allotted time, coins that can be used for Soltia's roulette mini-game or if you have enough to exchange for a continue in the event you lose all your lives, a bronze winding key to replenish your health by one, a silver winding key to replenish all lost health, a golden winding key to not only replenish your health but augment your health capacity by one (you start off with three, but can get up to five), a ball icon with a star to momentarily render Tongara invincible, a helmeted blue icon to gain one life, and a helmeted red icon to garner three lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQsgKz1i27lM0dT1mxRhwG15S7389deA81zkajVIDGiLH0XtGEEWaalDRlinAkxFXCppdnrQ5YqX2Hg8It7Mj6hrlk7J1OI-UXVn7wFJF1dvjINA-8n4Yy2m7TOfW-F9uXKoXe5J_ocqyABgcQ29Ggx83DP0gO0jmx1Ld-NJMIMolZ9ZIgJZ9CUJIMw/s393/ClockworkKnight_Katchin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQsgKz1i27lM0dT1mxRhwG15S7389deA81zkajVIDGiLH0XtGEEWaalDRlinAkxFXCppdnrQ5YqX2Hg8It7Mj6hrlk7J1OI-UXVn7wFJF1dvjINA-8n4Yy2m7TOfW-F9uXKoXe5J_ocqyABgcQ29Ggx83DP0gO0jmx1Ld-NJMIMolZ9ZIgJZ9CUJIMw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Katchin.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjobDK9xrHpRuhVMFmx79nApn1Nnr5_vXNTmpCprTHw8nDqbvvlyMSrLENUQNr48YrlmuZ4YXtBmipryOUDwTpVy9M6vBqNHdptm48uskiBPpftdRowZzIsZCSMAGuwq1GGr6zHSEKnDUzB6yDvtNPxOTwBYe8GF07LK2HRSbLLPBnToox_QJf9KwItw/s393/ClockworkKnight_TheSpaceOdyssey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjobDK9xrHpRuhVMFmx79nApn1Nnr5_vXNTmpCprTHw8nDqbvvlyMSrLENUQNr48YrlmuZ4YXtBmipryOUDwTpVy9M6vBqNHdptm48uskiBPpftdRowZzIsZCSMAGuwq1GGr6zHSEKnDUzB6yDvtNPxOTwBYe8GF07LK2HRSbLLPBnToox_QJf9KwItw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_TheSpaceOdyssey.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Stunnin' a Katchin' | Right: I didn't know Sega was in the book business too</b> 📘</span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Each room is divided into three stages, with the third and last one culminating in a boss fight. Losing a life regardless how far you got will not only set you back to the start of the present stage but will reset your health capacity back to three should you have lost while your health capacity was four or five. At the end of the first two stages you have a chance to gain an extra life by performing a long jump from behind the white line and land on the correct letter that's needed to spell "clockwork", for failure to do so will result in nothing. Only by defeating the boss at the end will Tongara be granted access to the next room.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiRwaWL45yDCyk0Ef3OFEVkNYmCPOVFutHnOsAq8vSi-OSavHhzMaL_690FtFf13DrNIFZJ5gMJIU-vNwf-vbxGDn6dFJQ9xFBbgpPncW8VVnLbKBta4wxFBGXpa5cnl96pvOOpkmfT2LufT61lpjasSTIDCjg1OVwlsfjv2AFcmuagZc3DFqWVXnJg/s393/ClockworkKnight_Soltia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiRwaWL45yDCyk0Ef3OFEVkNYmCPOVFutHnOsAq8vSi-OSavHhzMaL_690FtFf13DrNIFZJ5gMJIU-vNwf-vbxGDn6dFJQ9xFBbgpPncW8VVnLbKBta4wxFBGXpa5cnl96pvOOpkmfT2LufT61lpjasSTIDCjg1OVwlsfjv2AFcmuagZc3DFqWVXnJg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Soltia.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3PL_aMJMCT_1Sn4tGC1rrJdZyECo9NUKlhaxq6Dhdkmfhcsl4LWNx7UxZWmsXTRjnLB1JISJgZM3O8ZYJTXiZq2KR9Vmyhm1EImYBtnxd2LLbFZvd9pQgCSBX7JcP6vsCLcY-sBbn23SUUuU4nTEKkOry1dBLdNrgJsbQukxYdA9uLZLJhOmz2qtOQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_Roulette.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3PL_aMJMCT_1Sn4tGC1rrJdZyECo9NUKlhaxq6Dhdkmfhcsl4LWNx7UxZWmsXTRjnLB1JISJgZM3O8ZYJTXiZq2KR9Vmyhm1EImYBtnxd2LLbFZvd9pQgCSBX7JcP6vsCLcY-sBbn23SUUuU4nTEKkOry1dBLdNrgJsbQukxYdA9uLZLJhOmz2qtOQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Roulette.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">After defeating the boss you'll be given access to a bonus mini-game (programmed by Yuichi Matsuoka) hosted by the perfume bottle Soltia where you have a choice to wager five, ten, or even fifteen of your coins to play the roulette, or there's the farewell option to resume your business and get back to the main game; if you choose to play you get to see the contents of each box for a brief moment until they slip back in, at which point the circle of boxes will spin around and rotate until they stop in place. Be sure to choose the box that has either a coin or a helmeted icon if you paid attention to which box had which, for if you choose the box that's got Pierron in it you'll get nothing. You have a choice to continue at this point or to choose the farewell option to resume your business. It's optional, but it's there should you feel you need it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPW6Gcp8436doG9oqlhWIYFL4aKeaof9FIdNi8gSgnLItaS0Z0F4wAoPk3QFaxkOoThwdzvD-8k1VTXOgmDaBR_rBzc6Br-nG4381iE8tjZOcFH7DysP7YytLcVe2qlMKrmf_Dch3fb8T-FMVbtI2ZMx6STRQpmx-0Up_2gO9J13hYOUf8qF87dZDg/s393/ClockworkKnight_UnwindingTuxedoDoll.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPW6Gcp8436doG9oqlhWIYFL4aKeaof9FIdNi8gSgnLItaS0Z0F4wAoPk3QFaxkOoThwdzvD-8k1VTXOgmDaBR_rBzc6Br-nG4381iE8tjZOcFH7DysP7YytLcVe2qlMKrmf_Dch3fb8T-FMVbtI2ZMx6STRQpmx-0Up_2gO9J13hYOUf8qF87dZDg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_UnwindingTuxedoDoll.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU9F4QOumXBmgKUpbe5qnsv0xTlQP5AhxHGcGF9JcnDq3AZHCrRFIQwpT59GTwLOxwCz26u7GGgUOnGVm6tDqhR8fEkWir5fbtQMqVcF1lf7k792MYCjkLGa7Gq7_Iel-08tw5cI4oxtxZictQun6xHj27EvqFifuxtwjtKDQBS1Cs8wJurRYyq6Frg/s393/ClockworkKnight_ShieldBlocked.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU9F4QOumXBmgKUpbe5qnsv0xTlQP5AhxHGcGF9JcnDq3AZHCrRFIQwpT59GTwLOxwCz26u7GGgUOnGVm6tDqhR8fEkWir5fbtQMqVcF1lf7k792MYCjkLGa7Gq7_Iel-08tw5cI4oxtxZictQun6xHj27EvqFifuxtwjtKDQBS1Cs8wJurRYyq6Frg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_ShieldBlocked.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Unwinding the monocled tuxedo doll | Right: Attacking right up front won't do with that shield knight deflecting your keyblade, meaning you must make a well-timed attack while ducking</span></b></div><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Clockwork Knight</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> has got a very appealing visual aesthetic, and for the time period looks very advanced for what is a 2D platformer at heart as many of the props and sets are 3D. The backgrounds designed by Shirō Kinemura, Masahiro Sanpei, Osamu Ogata, and Yumiko Miyabe look good as they loom in the distance, but what steals the show is the 3D constructed foregrounds by Namie Manabe, Takehiko Miura, and Yoshihito Takahashi with the occasional background and visual effect programmed by Akira Ōe. The ground skews based on the direction you're moving, there'll be certain objects that reach out towards and/or pull back from the screen, the camera will zoom in and out depending how far you are in relation to the boss you're fighting with effective scaling, and with prerendered sprite work Sega managed to make it all gel so well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY_KodzQNu7-RbZGy8fL3hvR7eXVmQ1ztz4Z5aQMrboguVLZocn8UQo-FXH-Eb324gMYnpsBTwopS9MekO7MizbMMEcUjmQQNO9qhQ5bqzapC1v2BRb_zgI4CnL6pWO4e2MKgAWT8D7im82r3E1-w2VP0dtHeivQ0bc9DuKetfmJsYqrGJwbI2wbyJg/s393/ClockworkKnight_ToyKnightScuffle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY_KodzQNu7-RbZGy8fL3hvR7eXVmQ1ztz4Z5aQMrboguVLZocn8UQo-FXH-Eb324gMYnpsBTwopS9MekO7MizbMMEcUjmQQNO9qhQ5bqzapC1v2BRb_zgI4CnL6pWO4e2MKgAWT8D7im82r3E1-w2VP0dtHeivQ0bc9DuKetfmJsYqrGJwbI2wbyJg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_ToyKnightScuffle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVvWCuUQljbdBa9I_pxUf_OVtIbzhw3tPdWMKnGKxUKBbYm3i1pp59EIhAa6dGUEUFmKHcCjhJyChgq9KQC57un6HJVA_u_nckChlOfOBO5xDLoOk6-rMsWw8e6LAMrqFTYzsDTlo2PeJg46iHPHFTU4qD5DK-5Kjxulrlnr0mWwhgarFdxkAHvxr0g/s393/ClockworkKnight_HippoCookies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVvWCuUQljbdBa9I_pxUf_OVtIbzhw3tPdWMKnGKxUKBbYm3i1pp59EIhAa6dGUEUFmKHcCjhJyChgq9KQC57un6HJVA_u_nckChlOfOBO5xDLoOk6-rMsWw8e6LAMrqFTYzsDTlo2PeJg46iHPHFTU4qD5DK-5Kjxulrlnr0mWwhgarFdxkAHvxr0g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_HippoCookies.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: More of that shielded blue knight | Right: Stepping on a switch to operate the crane to find a new place for the box of <strike>Moomin</strike> Hippo Cookies</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">The stages in Betsy's room have got pink walls with the word "Atelier" adorning its pattern in stylized font with occasional pictures of Chelsea and Soltia as well as arts and crafts, and when you get to the bookshelves there are blue books that reach toward the screen and pull back as an attempt to impede you (like a 3D effect popping out at you), Kevin's room has got a blue backdrop with toy aircraft dangling on a string as Tongara ventures on top of impressively sculpted building blocks and later as you hop from one train to another the previous one you were just on will make its way on the tracks towards the background, and the kitchen area is neatly designed with you having to go through its bricked walls, the stove with the out of control flames, and being careful not to fall in the rising and receding waters of the sink (with a fuzzy looking scrub sponge and soap suds to get on).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZjAifxP6f2SBXtR-S5tCVFgubbdG0XTVCK4bGJNX_Dknd5pAhKUEXE8cFgb554jz8oTD23nFPKp73Tlxf6ToSV6iGDThdb8raOhXRwCuOue_A49IKlP1RDmb5KKLpaPXhNQb9Np1L76Y3q948VU-GQ4CRgVR8ovZOLnGJq68bPUMPhU7zRR822_oRA/s393/ClockworkKnight_BatteryPush.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZjAifxP6f2SBXtR-S5tCVFgubbdG0XTVCK4bGJNX_Dknd5pAhKUEXE8cFgb554jz8oTD23nFPKp73Tlxf6ToSV6iGDThdb8raOhXRwCuOue_A49IKlP1RDmb5KKLpaPXhNQb9Np1L76Y3q948VU-GQ4CRgVR8ovZOLnGJq68bPUMPhU7zRR822_oRA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_BatteryPush.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJTSFaYkohe4Y8IBu0Hpg5X-37tmJrk_rQ5X-1XDqVFFE7kquFLdq341dC4wJGAw9lb3PN5AdnJc40osOkKE5OHXhpPz41EwfKxsHKmypPxRUog9_fy3mdgC_JcR1pZBKinV0j_ffVTb3NSnBDgERhYOPyyN_-u7rSHm7HC6yoj7nPoP45MlSb17Ww/s393/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJTSFaYkohe4Y8IBu0Hpg5X-37tmJrk_rQ5X-1XDqVFFE7kquFLdq341dC4wJGAw9lb3PN5AdnJc40osOkKE5OHXhpPz41EwfKxsHKmypPxRUog9_fy3mdgC_JcR1pZBKinV0j_ffVTb3NSnBDgERhYOPyyN_-u7rSHm7HC6yoj7nPoP45MlSb17Ww/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Push the battery inside to operate the train | Right: Riding on a stomper</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">This game uses prerendered sprites to bring Toshiyuki Mukaiyama and </span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Ryūichirō Kutsuzawa's</span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> characters to life with a 3D-like affect (a process Rare used for their Nintendo 16-bit classic </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Donkey Kong Country</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">/</span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Super Donkey Kong</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">) and as a result they look really good with a nice degree of polish. The rosy-cheeked Tongara is endearingly designed with the most fluid of movements as he walks, runs, skids, flaps his arms as he's falling down, and lunges or twists his keyblade, and when looking up or ducking down you can see his wind-up key operate which is a nice attention to detail. I especially like the way the clock moves its hand in the upper HUD as time passes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpo8pPYF_aeqRln1N5V4vYpTli6ohfruCBUoIMTe7YPbFn2Zd-pCLJAqrqiqLR1XGZx9aKBi5hpdoCPQn2utfeFzTQHPEBxeznCvt_yWf7JgQNJg2FJTJ14spvnXFaqZiOgQU_OdxfYvIylFm_UnxytzfLx0ETq-mtDOmoEoHexY1YckSQgSkxyBw9g/s393/ClockworkKnight_PushOpen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpo8pPYF_aeqRln1N5V4vYpTli6ohfruCBUoIMTe7YPbFn2Zd-pCLJAqrqiqLR1XGZx9aKBi5hpdoCPQn2utfeFzTQHPEBxeznCvt_yWf7JgQNJg2FJTJ14spvnXFaqZiOgQU_OdxfYvIylFm_UnxytzfLx0ETq-mtDOmoEoHexY1YckSQgSkxyBw9g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_PushOpen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdN9j7rNnnIteQL5axwOxUPkNOMao1MFTmAJBG3hk2B4S-hmxnBsYDArqLDPPzm4hrgkJdXfDlNvVWS5lKsFpfguCU1RqJ3omZGFyuMtAh0ISK2A2fkvEGFdpM1rq3K7o6RTB-jENlAhUU2JETRLRgbgNAlMBnRc0G5UEWHKmFG6jxYFuAWhzsmzmBA/s393/ClockworkKnight_Coin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdN9j7rNnnIteQL5axwOxUPkNOMao1MFTmAJBG3hk2B4S-hmxnBsYDArqLDPPzm4hrgkJdXfDlNvVWS5lKsFpfguCU1RqJ3omZGFyuMtAh0ISK2A2fkvEGFdpM1rq3K7o6RTB-jENlAhUU2JETRLRgbgNAlMBnRc0G5UEWHKmFG6jxYFuAWhzsmzmBA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Coin.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Push the sign with your keyblade to clear your path | Right: Jump on occasion as the train moves along the tracks</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">The enemy toys Tongara contends with comprise of the trident-wielding Katchin' enemies adorned in just a football helmet (who go bug-eyed before jumping into the foreground from the backdrop), the clownlike Pierron who sprouts from inside cans, sentient Darjeeling vacuums, lumbering blue knights who alternate between swinging their shield arm and their bare arm, enemy Propellers, Chain Snakes, and Kimmy the toy hatchling duck with sausage legs, et al, and they're all drawn and animated in adorable fashion; I like the way they tumble backwards as Tongara makes a domino chain reaction of enemies upon tossing one, and they all get vanquished by turning into paper confetti.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX5oQYNhyJ_ZaioDCvDPXpmFAGf5Q_bMZH_j09lugud4YaysDG1vSOD4PhJBvpXf1PaV6708WbdQQaEgkine-D35TU7wH4PJ2500fI7Qlx5lVLnHfJ8NSAz7Thm7lhnZ5UNOQtuS9S7nICHQg7pulFuRP_Ct8y7PkSRSfqymxq__M5KT8H8oEW9udSw/s393/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX5oQYNhyJ_ZaioDCvDPXpmFAGf5Q_bMZH_j09lugud4YaysDG1vSOD4PhJBvpXf1PaV6708WbdQQaEgkine-D35TU7wH4PJ2500fI7Qlx5lVLnHfJ8NSAz7Thm7lhnZ5UNOQtuS9S7nICHQg7pulFuRP_Ct8y7PkSRSfqymxq__M5KT8H8oEW9udSw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCg54rK1xEXn1_ypkxHcAzEbPFENMABaTpn7Qn1nk6ijiydE2U3L8OgLAkfErYKnWIGQsmwJbCWSqK7eVAnMVeHtVemwvFOi4X-DJkdTnCLVF-AKV00TZDZHx0upowMiAjm1XdeXpdRXPYXLUMxoT4QThfILgamKxmE1a6hrlhO6sU1yLj1ACYWiJTg/s393/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCg54rK1xEXn1_ypkxHcAzEbPFENMABaTpn7Qn1nk6ijiydE2U3L8OgLAkfErYKnWIGQsmwJbCWSqK7eVAnMVeHtVemwvFOi4X-DJkdTnCLVF-AKV00TZDZHx0upowMiAjm1XdeXpdRXPYXLUMxoT4QThfILgamKxmE1a6hrlhO6sU1yLj1ACYWiJTg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Ah, Sega Saturn, my favorite Autobot... or is it a Decepticon, it's hard to tell | Right: Tossing a football towards the Kimmy enemies in order to create a domino chain reaction</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">The bosses, all designed by Yusuke Yoshida, are all big and imposing while still maintaining the lighthearted appeal of the game. There's a well-dressed monocled prerendered doll who tries to land on you with a 3D top hat that looks too big on him, one boss takes a lot of inspiration from Takara Tomy and Hasbro's </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Transformers</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> as it turns into a jet to fly towards the screen and then towards the playing field until it transforms into a tall humanoid automaton and vice versa (colored in red and blue), but my favorite boss is the very final TV one due to the creepy vibes it exudes and strong buildup as well as the way it changes expressions.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l3n7kaNRB6xT40X_SLXHcuC67lsm2wGnFF19HCo7xecVB-0t22DTz3AKPmJR3kSuCVxgRlquC0HuZ6BYt2J1AhtWYetFp47aUbLVqZDIP58aB2M-74vybj7vOlNPaPsMiXzDQHd9AeC8H7e-R2i06u6jL72Gh8kV623coE_-NO7LeWanoHlJrjUdsg/s360/ClockworkKnight_Tongara+Ginger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l3n7kaNRB6xT40X_SLXHcuC67lsm2wGnFF19HCo7xecVB-0t22DTz3AKPmJR3kSuCVxgRlquC0HuZ6BYt2J1AhtWYetFp47aUbLVqZDIP58aB2M-74vybj7vOlNPaPsMiXzDQHd9AeC8H7e-R2i06u6jL72Gh8kV623coE_-NO7LeWanoHlJrjUdsg/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Tongara+Ginger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdGSfoy7Jcx7mJJuxkjGr_urFDr4xCdrwk7w4ZTV5iCRyeeyheOje2YoOW9H2c4xHBH9N9q9M0c6upQJawdREzoaaD4LtI534TgEwttvnaLNyWk_2l1AB4_Ghc6T3tTl9bq8t6FcObk73qpg70RJOtYuLlo7AbNvXM2ByUncHmperYXgp6LrGI-9D0Q/s360/ClockworkKnight_ReflectiveFlooring.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdGSfoy7Jcx7mJJuxkjGr_urFDr4xCdrwk7w4ZTV5iCRyeeyheOje2YoOW9H2c4xHBH9N9q9M0c6upQJawdREzoaaD4LtI534TgEwttvnaLNyWk_2l1AB4_Ghc6T3tTl9bq8t6FcObk73qpg70RJOtYuLlo7AbNvXM2ByUncHmperYXgp6LrGI-9D0Q/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_ReflectiveFlooring.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">In the opening, ending, and in-between rooms there are 3D cutscenes that for 1994 are impressively conceived with solid rendering and well-utilized camera usage with a good sense of compositing, pacing, lighting, and shading. Tongara, Ginger, and Oneon de Pepperouchau II's armors have got a shiny texture, the floor in one of the cutscenes has got a reflective surface as there's a crane shot of Tongara running on foot, the buildup to Chelsea's entrance is nice as the camera zooms in on the clock she emerges from,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrjhEYvJZtfzTPRrdVOanXFz64xYdE_DALwAQqVejt7tq1h9wyarAJE1FZWYiMsHDBP_5Vmt1AarY57i4kgkB-Rk1DxllrvMkcbFGU-RjE_po3utB2PSeNech75pD2WK_MAA49PZhzs-CI2QcunAlOmb0XMdiaxdX-SkEH-B1nK0wra8LtsCN4HvV0g/s360/ClockworkKnight_Tongara+Chelsea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrjhEYvJZtfzTPRrdVOanXFz64xYdE_DALwAQqVejt7tq1h9wyarAJE1FZWYiMsHDBP_5Vmt1AarY57i4kgkB-Rk1DxllrvMkcbFGU-RjE_po3utB2PSeNech75pD2WK_MAA49PZhzs-CI2QcunAlOmb0XMdiaxdX-SkEH-B1nK0wra8LtsCN4HvV0g/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Tongara+Chelsea.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxA9fDd2d2XMiLjovDI1WfTpppF7d_w4YtpbWoys0qj46muDpFsTrUVwDe_e5zXksy6D2HwCFkvduAmYrS6Qoz7pKTerqU2STSxLQf47X3aItAVTG5koVnaenpdX9xwNsj0Wml93sRy7-wAn6jt6BX5dgzmotjQb90idmQ1W-Ah-9AZvrw3yB8FDcFXg/s360/ClockworkKnight_Prunchau+Tongara.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxA9fDd2d2XMiLjovDI1WfTpppF7d_w4YtpbWoys0qj46muDpFsTrUVwDe_e5zXksy6D2HwCFkvduAmYrS6Qoz7pKTerqU2STSxLQf47X3aItAVTG5koVnaenpdX9xwNsj0Wml93sRy7-wAn6jt6BX5dgzmotjQb90idmQ1W-Ah-9AZvrw3yB8FDcFXg/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Prunchau+Tongara.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">and the characters have got an endearing amount of charm. Cutscene programmer Yoshio Inoue as well as artists Norihiro Nishiyama and Masayuki Hasegawa have done a good job bringing these moments to life, and at nearly three decades old they still hold up well for the most part.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wULyoubDnlgx-SRiO5PRhkY09OevprLEJvvmqiLXRK3bxm4uRPoo4F-B9yI0oHsuDivT7ogJT9Rxwn0nwU6WppYHuCdNTltCW268AHFWIpGhfB4SyekK68ya7KJexTfVLjqicTYkPSA5eJpyNEuohHnkz0FoNaEO8wC5_BSZZRGjUhFSsKTkiPsYHg/s393/ClockworkKnight_BalanceSpring.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wULyoubDnlgx-SRiO5PRhkY09OevprLEJvvmqiLXRK3bxm4uRPoo4F-B9yI0oHsuDivT7ogJT9Rxwn0nwU6WppYHuCdNTltCW268AHFWIpGhfB4SyekK68ya7KJexTfVLjqicTYkPSA5eJpyNEuohHnkz0FoNaEO8wC5_BSZZRGjUhFSsKTkiPsYHg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_BalanceSpring.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFenWR05DPftiSKieICyxGKb0Jk5XZWPyaUNywsovjkXHQcn-G9A5F630lYgF_11RQIM9aZm3G1Zzve9zhwZL7mx66bHl7jqF9HsXHLgkGYZAhWUtA5fSWluzg7d-2fDquSE354U9r5h8rqcr-T08unrgGTClyEU-YaTLPYQ470x3A9U7LDfe9gNM5g/s393/ClockworkKnight_RobotToss.png" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFenWR05DPftiSKieICyxGKb0Jk5XZWPyaUNywsovjkXHQcn-G9A5F630lYgF_11RQIM9aZm3G1Zzve9zhwZL7mx66bHl7jqF9HsXHLgkGYZAhWUtA5fSWluzg7d-2fDquSE354U9r5h8rqcr-T08unrgGTClyEU-YaTLPYQ470x3A9U7LDfe9gNM5g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_RobotToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Springing upward from a food weight balance | Right: That tool tossing toy chipmunk had it coming</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s soundtrack was composed by Hirofumi Murasaki, whose prior video game credits comprised of Santos/Megasoft fare such as the Sega 16-bit port of Tad's <i>JuJu Densetsu</i>/<i>Toki: Going Ape Spit</i>, <i>The Super Shinobi II</i>/<i>Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master</i>, and <i>Aa Harimanada</i>, and it is very good with impeccable sound quality. Not only does it complement the lighthearted nature of this game but also fits the atmosphere of each location to a T, and during the course of the game the music changes genres.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxVfIKJjlVX9fyNGDNJ9QCHji3t8yRQ3a-bzrtF0kRtE41yOmIBmB2dPP8ucWnph7SFChLaHuzU_qasBqY3XQb0rWfCrz3eqPRcJjhA0uxemARX_y7fEtSCj6M2oIx_FB93DNQExaZDAXKXXTdBspQ2fE8eo-0Y1Wwx0kI_aed1GD6M6dTNSPVu9IXA/s393/ClockworkKnight_SoapBarPush.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxVfIKJjlVX9fyNGDNJ9QCHji3t8yRQ3a-bzrtF0kRtE41yOmIBmB2dPP8ucWnph7SFChLaHuzU_qasBqY3XQb0rWfCrz3eqPRcJjhA0uxemARX_y7fEtSCj6M2oIx_FB93DNQExaZDAXKXXTdBspQ2fE8eo-0Y1Wwx0kI_aed1GD6M6dTNSPVu9IXA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_SoapBarPush.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpRC8Im8KgF0FVHTU_qzHAGugEybT1qg-Sfwtj_Tq0ZMpu8TZBgyDr-Z8NYHRqljYd8TlRovN9rjt9FH6iUb0B36dEKOMkIp-j1mQZpK0WU9oWNY-E5IYTzfgKTri5PVOuhw_btBKVjNwu2xgfaDT7-vMaTAouWEX9fVqAH5uQHsENMYsSCp8MqJx_A/s393/ClockworkKnight_IncapacitatedPropeller.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpRC8Im8KgF0FVHTU_qzHAGugEybT1qg-Sfwtj_Tq0ZMpu8TZBgyDr-Z8NYHRqljYd8TlRovN9rjt9FH6iUb0B36dEKOMkIp-j1mQZpK0WU9oWNY-E5IYTzfgKTri5PVOuhw_btBKVjNwu2xgfaDT7-vMaTAouWEX9fVqAH5uQHsENMYsSCp8MqJx_A/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_IncapacitatedPropeller.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Who in their right mind leaves a bar of soap in the kitchen stove area??</b> 🤨 <b>... other than for the convenience of the game, that is? | Right: How about a magic trick? Tongara, with the tip of his keyblade, turns Propeller into confetti</b> 🎊</span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEfin29K7hE">first theme</a> in Betsy's room is very high-energy and enjoyable, starting off Tongara's quest on a really catchy and engaging note as it gets you pumped for the action, Kevin's room's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2m6hoGVO8">first theme</a> has got a nice bluegrass vibe with the saxophone while the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUbA0SGUhPs">second theme</a> plays a mean harmonica as you board the train, the kitchen's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqz4eBCu3CY">first theme</a> is atmospherically nice thanks to the rocking harmonica and bells while its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED0fXQKed6A">second theme</a> would go great with an ice rink event, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPlK_4bLtOs">second theme</a> for the attic is appropriately fast-paced jazz as you're nearing the end of your journey. It's got <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ts-oMcF50">two different</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwO_RWPutD0">boss themes</a> that are good listens in their own right, but one of my favorite tracks is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBABfUJo1qI">final boss theme</a> as it's perfectly apropos with its epically do or die composition. The sound effects by Seirō Okamoto and Katsuyoshi Nitta are decently selected, with the crank sounds of the keyblade as you twist it around, an audible pop as the enemies turn into confetti, the cartoony screech sound as Tongara skids on the floor thanks to his spurs, the squeaks that come from the Katchin', and the loud signal of the toy train, et al.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0d7R3L4KltaTOPl7K8WGHQYDgbmWMUo21NQAGqOIpeUdR0iZh1dbZfxNgoMDB5X1Q-kR34XCpSqrsgJ1l0dC4BX9fTEtgDPCFJvk96iCDFwmrynuc-z9TnVqDU6L6FXlMjUNFch20kC3iMYjMrLMgDAjVy7FSx9iNIMESS1ExPQKUnz17y-HyWAkRQ/s360/ClockworkKnight_Waving.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0d7R3L4KltaTOPl7K8WGHQYDgbmWMUo21NQAGqOIpeUdR0iZh1dbZfxNgoMDB5X1Q-kR34XCpSqrsgJ1l0dC4BX9fTEtgDPCFJvk96iCDFwmrynuc-z9TnVqDU6L6FXlMjUNFch20kC3iMYjMrLMgDAjVy7FSx9iNIMESS1ExPQKUnz17y-HyWAkRQ/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_Waving.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI6gKDZLjyrSy_mdmHNOOok47v_j6W7aIxzywvksfSSN4xbY8lGt411W-yBZae1163k4KSWuP7W2x__Ig6bhnMzOq-_NcMAuwP461RznlZfP8TTNKwXSjRbokaYgxmhN-eWgzDPhyiXQb4B5H8tJWtkYqKpNSM0RXzO58nw1Uy9sLLJpP07zhILug-Q/s360/ClockworkKnight_ALullaby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI6gKDZLjyrSy_mdmHNOOok47v_j6W7aIxzywvksfSSN4xbY8lGt411W-yBZae1163k4KSWuP7W2x__Ig6bhnMzOq-_NcMAuwP461RznlZfP8TTNKwXSjRbokaYgxmhN-eWgzDPhyiXQb4B5H8tJWtkYqKpNSM0RXzO58nw1Uy9sLLJpP07zhILug-Q/w200-h82/ClockworkKnight_ALullaby.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Hirofumi Murasaki also provided the music for the opening and ending cutscenes with the lyrics written in English by Reiko Waters. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRqkloiKMy0">titular song</a> at the beginning sung by Misumi Kosata (Soltia) and Shiori Fujita (Chelsea) is a really fun number that eventually segues into a jazzy tune which perfectly sets the lighthearted tone for the game, and the ending theme <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-x6hT0_Vek">"A Lullaby"</a> is an incredibly sweet way to bookend Tongara's adventure with its nice, slow melody and Kosata's strong vocals. It's even more emotional upon learning that Murasaki created the latter song for his newborn daughter; seriously, what a heartwarming gift he made for her.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7P8tqTLTHer3uHnek1AdLwygzieYjNC_kUig7i4r9HtlK_1s8-XpMwtUMo7VvypcXXzW1ynb62j7i4-RsCGth3St2R6WHRRceY1hfT-TSagJYbcVvXiABZoXuNcHFtjwcT7KI0_HS7d5cYMkl5IwpIlvQfMvYBlqoQom1blDHAvES2RRhc2BL7tRzA/s393/ClockworkKnight_Slippery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7P8tqTLTHer3uHnek1AdLwygzieYjNC_kUig7i4r9HtlK_1s8-XpMwtUMo7VvypcXXzW1ynb62j7i4-RsCGth3St2R6WHRRceY1hfT-TSagJYbcVvXiABZoXuNcHFtjwcT7KI0_HS7d5cYMkl5IwpIlvQfMvYBlqoQom1blDHAvES2RRhc2BL7tRzA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Slippery.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-h-CKyazHlUfrAWgH6EYNqMxQyjifI1hf2qZ3DzRXbHBDvz7kRtQgBH1731Q-EDCZZCISbHRXnmNV7svE_4tF4jX2_ituxEjnwSB2xU9Ul_ZEVaGRok9CsExMdoytjMtVlOpJ2_6ePnCIil7_CRGmNazsGSV8wUlgKZgcu0La_B_ZTgNwBG6SkEmYA/s393/ClockworkKnight_Sponge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-h-CKyazHlUfrAWgH6EYNqMxQyjifI1hf2qZ3DzRXbHBDvz7kRtQgBH1731Q-EDCZZCISbHRXnmNV7svE_4tF4jX2_ituxEjnwSB2xU9Ul_ZEVaGRok9CsExMdoytjMtVlOpJ2_6ePnCIil7_CRGmNazsGSV8wUlgKZgcu0La_B_ZTgNwBG6SkEmYA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Sponge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Careful not to run too fast lest you wish to slip into the water | Right: What an authentic-looking sponge, Sega used the right texture for it</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">On the options screen you have a choice to start off your game having anywhere from three to six lives, change the difficulty to training or normal or hard, and alter the button layout should the default one not suffice for some reason (don't think you'll need to, but it's there if you feel you must). On training the game ends after defeating the robot boss at the end of the attic, with the final boss and ending scenarios only being accessible by playing the game on normal and hard. All three difficulties are varied regarding how much enemy activity you have to put up with, how much time you need to get to the end, the amount of keyblade attacks needed to dispose of a boss, and the helmeted red icons being swapped for the blue ones* (or on rare occasions, vice versa).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Remember that blue is worth one life and red three</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-VXN-KZ6VDr7sqoHS9j50Lg-khuogkKvCxTYGdCXLcZEmhjh497bEPKzxb3cpbyyjdYoCXvH1IL_6STsG3GTtW3J0EcBlERxl9DH0TGzhx-KBX8EvWYlakXh5wPiPh3-MnxH3sHgmVBKQxhdor6oCNXKIPKOmjnLNwIgD-cia6DTM0R4zpq9j9PEIA/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Topplers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-VXN-KZ6VDr7sqoHS9j50Lg-khuogkKvCxTYGdCXLcZEmhjh497bEPKzxb3cpbyyjdYoCXvH1IL_6STsG3GTtW3J0EcBlERxl9DH0TGzhx-KBX8EvWYlakXh5wPiPh3-MnxH3sHgmVBKQxhdor6oCNXKIPKOmjnLNwIgD-cia6DTM0R4zpq9j9PEIA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Topplers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LFLE8FZ6JkugmSIdR9Ce4tFDyim7m_iZobVE23UzCSUdfxhmYsZpwvd4krSHabVODp5M90T9FHWhXf82Y2tpjfUtAnmHfL9opSC3sMEcUddbjqJFca9MiVTv7lehlSfzl4MioIrV-a43UMddjZ7fRZ4pwZCX7Ga5dVlsls9nCc76szlf9f3D_6uh9g/s393/ClockworkKnight2_BlockSnake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LFLE8FZ6JkugmSIdR9Ce4tFDyim7m_iZobVE23UzCSUdfxhmYsZpwvd4krSHabVODp5M90T9FHWhXf82Y2tpjfUtAnmHfL9opSC3sMEcUddbjqJFca9MiVTv7lehlSfzl4MioIrV-a43UMddjZ7fRZ4pwZCX7Ga5dVlsls9nCc76szlf9f3D_6uh9g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_BlockSnake.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Several months after <i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s release Sega would follow it up with the sequel <i>Clockwork Knight: </i></span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Pepperouchau no Daibōken Gekkan</i> in 1995, with a European and North American release following suit months after the fact as <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i>, which like its predecessor was a Sega Saturn-exclusive.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDey0W5Px5W6GETxsq7HHRvaHLrdwbXCv_7_6uqA1y9ZSDs1iLxD1rOIlKUmkpijYUX5QKGrRixmcNkSxp6As2nr7bzgCQLtmIYByUIVNNbPT2vyV2cN5d-Wu36Oo0vq6CVlmizpA4GQX5sd23nns5L2dO3tP_ER0Nxlc_ioTPhkANIPlZtCp35FkwQ/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDey0W5Px5W6GETxsq7HHRvaHLrdwbXCv_7_6uqA1y9ZSDs1iLxD1rOIlKUmkpijYUX5QKGrRixmcNkSxp6As2nr7bzgCQLtmIYByUIVNNbPT2vyV2cN5d-Wu36Oo0vq6CVlmizpA4GQX5sd23nns5L2dO3tP_ER0Nxlc_ioTPhkANIPlZtCp35FkwQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Rocket.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWgymnEhtzxSgrHz56x2qvqRn9wN6NiShh3jtgN8VqSQ5RS4lwxfHepPl-Fo5spMDnDiyhYTNgVxEfGtEx7Euf6sE5DnDMvCKMdvxT8v9M9uligXnZibRN3YeUuqmUMkkBQZrNQB4C8X16OJNoPuYGEg_lhHDjpW2ydK5fWTzv-27LSnFe7x_54JDRA/s393/ClockworkKnight2_PaperGorilla.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWgymnEhtzxSgrHz56x2qvqRn9wN6NiShh3jtgN8VqSQ5RS4lwxfHepPl-Fo5spMDnDiyhYTNgVxEfGtEx7Euf6sE5DnDMvCKMdvxT8v9M9uligXnZibRN3YeUuqmUMkkBQZrNQB4C8X16OJNoPuYGEg_lhHDjpW2ydK5fWTzv-27LSnFe7x_54JDRA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_PaperGorilla.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Taking place immediately after the events of the last game, Tongara is back with his keyblade and same set of moves, though in a couple of stages he gets to ride his donkey Barobaro to keep things fresh. While the core gameplay and overall structure largely remain unchanged, the difficulty has slightly been augmented to keep you on your toes plus there is a good dose of replay value with whether or not you find all the ace cards scattered about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCb0lkX3Vh-KKQ6CBdJbFYAJIZnKQSrWAVKCKdehJiatNVzw2A0ZrMGdKRXQhcvkx2CYfQhs5VkTNUEzLKUbakC99iz3l4SI2KzCMJ3yuHWlqFY-lObpb-Sd1o7rMAgY3libEW67ONYlh6YRUzFhWf4Chw0F_SDrIE0Hs1HTkR_kzt7kOVEY6bxNELg/s393/ClockworkKnight2_EggToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCb0lkX3Vh-KKQ6CBdJbFYAJIZnKQSrWAVKCKdehJiatNVzw2A0ZrMGdKRXQhcvkx2CYfQhs5VkTNUEzLKUbakC99iz3l4SI2KzCMJ3yuHWlqFY-lObpb-Sd1o7rMAgY3libEW67ONYlh6YRUzFhWf4Chw0F_SDrIE0Hs1HTkR_kzt7kOVEY6bxNELg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_EggToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdaVajoacxRgFIayrO0C62AFygVSKvJYOQ3uKoKdMtGjkZ7SI2HKOqYPWIvM2QtEiYMCkZQvXonOQCwfKjvKCYKoY4hDWwsfO07lK9oQXKA0QkUy44UjoS-ibdO1yQTs4BI12ZegNur_BSOP0TBTiLTrjZoJsoskfUM-se-TVNUZzJfPYm6LqdcNvDg/s393/ClockworkKnight2_Pufferfish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdaVajoacxRgFIayrO0C62AFygVSKvJYOQ3uKoKdMtGjkZ7SI2HKOqYPWIvM2QtEiYMCkZQvXonOQCwfKjvKCYKoY4hDWwsfO07lK9oQXKA0QkUy44UjoS-ibdO1yQTs4BI12ZegNur_BSOP0TBTiLTrjZoJsoskfUM-se-TVNUZzJfPYm6LqdcNvDg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight2_Pufferfish.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Playing <i>Clockwork Knight</i> and <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> back to back does make for a good double billing, for it's got all the qualities that made the first game so enjoyably appealing and I'd say that on the whole it is the stronger installment of the two but by a small margin. In Japan the two games would get bundled up on the same disc with <i>Clockwork Knight: Pepperouchau no Fukubukuro</i> on December 1995, which is the version of the second <i>Clockwork Knight</i> that would be localized in the West.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNIisPoTj3Wb7iN_tW1_bKDAB7hQCsgnFXJxVmE92CdgRCq4sfKUQEJIBpJxDPysDa-GyF16btgBMWDbz3puO09tg_u2_IUcWFX1NqhcpDB7O8QFbwPmPEfotbxRgMNhaMSgAmFMmetOFFW94rGIjRFP-83ZGWB8KGilbPo3qdbf89tnBW8hxANVMkw/s707/ClockworkKnightPuzzle_Maze.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="707" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNIisPoTj3Wb7iN_tW1_bKDAB7hQCsgnFXJxVmE92CdgRCq4sfKUQEJIBpJxDPysDa-GyF16btgBMWDbz3puO09tg_u2_IUcWFX1NqhcpDB7O8QFbwPmPEfotbxRgMNhaMSgAmFMmetOFFW94rGIjRFP-83ZGWB8KGilbPo3qdbf89tnBW8hxANVMkw/w200-h113/ClockworkKnightPuzzle_Maze.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuj4jRiFfqfvKvyofsD775vp7rXjtYAImIPY4RBYIo9Vqb3X3hIHfUkQ0fJ1g_KPdYHnNxWk1mmMosiaMVprwEiM3fD7MCX2PyxDfQN6Ov99z34ecqtoeebVVvMdfbUJTyng-wiSXq9o59mgxq4tbXcXeoezfa9lpmMfY2UhyDJmUhoTBqSWxJCT5tg/s707/ClockworkKnightPuzzle_RobotBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="707" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuj4jRiFfqfvKvyofsD775vp7rXjtYAImIPY4RBYIo9Vqb3X3hIHfUkQ0fJ1g_KPdYHnNxWk1mmMosiaMVprwEiM3fD7MCX2PyxDfQN6Ov99z34ecqtoeebVVvMdfbUJTyng-wiSXq9o59mgxq4tbXcXeoezfa9lpmMfY2UhyDJmUhoTBqSWxJCT5tg/w200-h113/ClockworkKnightPuzzle_RobotBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Saturn Memories' gameplay footage on YouTube</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">There was going to be another iteration on the Sega Saturn with <i>Clockwork Knight Puzzle</i> (or <i>Clockwork Knight 3: Pengin Wars</i>, depending on the source) which was to be an action-oriented top-down maze game in the vein of Coreland's 1982 coin-op <i>Pengo</i> (which was a Sega release) where Tongara had to dispose of all enemies in the playing field. Despite receiving press coverage at the time it sadly never went past the beta phase as it got cancelled, and what footage is available of it is very limited. Sega also had plans for a Nintendo GameCube installment called <i>Knight 'n Knight</i> which was announced in 2003, but alas it also got cancelled before any real development got started. Thus endeth Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III's legacy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3uOt4iISAFINrtEHMdFF82Jh2SfvLtBJA3CVP8RbkruVvnj6_icEDYhG1lLj23DHKUjWQnzOpIQ58wzztWtDh8sbNm95nCn85rTbgLTgyhs6i4k__jyTRP7hBcpd0_vzQDgCKxIGXORXSQP7dM3P3_bgpHzwbaHtYNmrmuhSPAuUJ3mp6Hxr4hPCkQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_Goal.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3uOt4iISAFINrtEHMdFF82Jh2SfvLtBJA3CVP8RbkruVvnj6_icEDYhG1lLj23DHKUjWQnzOpIQ58wzztWtDh8sbNm95nCn85rTbgLTgyhs6i4k__jyTRP7hBcpd0_vzQDgCKxIGXORXSQP7dM3P3_bgpHzwbaHtYNmrmuhSPAuUJ3mp6Hxr4hPCkQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Goal.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ewQcOt0QtmGFcGx-fkUuvNjppCBZ2ksebQHcRLvqvjXtzwPpm6PdYp-38MiAIUfjWTtuZAtBikeDExXM0br2YvdFRR4hjaMA9vJNpAjIsMTO6I8sD5NPYD_rlwITn-40yGmWMMA_9mpNRehfE5L0NeUCCZKZuU9rruPnaIXT-szZvusoHAh_Mvx-mQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_UnwindingChef.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ewQcOt0QtmGFcGx-fkUuvNjppCBZ2ksebQHcRLvqvjXtzwPpm6PdYp-38MiAIUfjWTtuZAtBikeDExXM0br2YvdFRR4hjaMA9vJNpAjIsMTO6I8sD5NPYD_rlwITn-40yGmWMMA_9mpNRehfE5L0NeUCCZKZuU9rruPnaIXT-szZvusoHAh_Mvx-mQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_UnwindingChef.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Got a life by landing on the correct moving letter | Right: Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh... </b>😨<b> no comment</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">I first heard of </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Clockwork Knight</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> some time in the past year. Whenever I see a suggested video by NintendoComplete on YouTube, I mainly click on it </span><b style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">just</b><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> to read his description of the present game he's playing (he sure has an amusing way with words) though if it looks interesting I might watch a tiny bit of the gameplay video. I never knew about </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Clockwork Knight</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> until that point, I watched his video up until the first Soltia roulette bonus, and it looked like it was a fun lighthearted toy-themed game to play, but I did not own a Sega Saturn console at that point. Growing up in Italy during my elementary school years up until 2002 me and my classmates owned a PlayStation One, and when visiting my relatives in the United States during the Summer I played the SNES, Nintendo 64, and on rare instances the Genesis with my cousins (only one set of my American cousins had the PlayStation like I did).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZFA49CSpBckVesW-uf9dCH7-sRQ5GgExlMvIdfnJ-Bns5z2fINmbLa85VDAt0XLAiyRgLFYiVGykDX-3GRLNddPBLbqAcvL0GikxCVMe6MSkeLlbxblyzfGA2Jg24NIyQ-sCbs9YA5aMKg5DFrgBgo3vq9OkoLH3VmcTMJ8nojf-p3GuIzBNDZQIlQ/s384/SonicJam_Sonic+Tails.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZFA49CSpBckVesW-uf9dCH7-sRQ5GgExlMvIdfnJ-Bns5z2fINmbLa85VDAt0XLAiyRgLFYiVGykDX-3GRLNddPBLbqAcvL0GikxCVMe6MSkeLlbxblyzfGA2Jg24NIyQ-sCbs9YA5aMKg5DFrgBgo3vq9OkoLH3VmcTMJ8nojf-p3GuIzBNDZQIlQ/w200-h156/SonicJam_Sonic+Tails.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DjuvuWfUj5z4BfEuxfSCanO1-6LrCh8GzBDZezrKG6xQN_accmB2fz9sXfrO4YsAYwfl_r1nvRD4ANzjFv8tfpn19r4wze6BlQIGR-uq7i7iZ_yzNfcxRnMQ9zoFsrMDsSrascwjSYQtFNPTxjNclm50HU_T8rolf7YRO76VsXz0lLIprREnr4hGuw/s384/SonicJam_NewSonic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="384" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DjuvuWfUj5z4BfEuxfSCanO1-6LrCh8GzBDZezrKG6xQN_accmB2fz9sXfrO4YsAYwfl_r1nvRD4ANzjFv8tfpn19r4wze6BlQIGR-uq7i7iZ_yzNfcxRnMQ9zoFsrMDsSrascwjSYQtFNPTxjNclm50HU_T8rolf7YRO76VsXz0lLIprREnr4hGuw/w200-h156/SonicJam_NewSonic.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">I didn't even know of the <b>existence</b> of the Sega Saturn until sometime in 2003 I believe (either when I saw a short snippet of Sonic Team's <i>Sonic Jam</i> in the History of Sonic video on their Nintendo GameCube compilation <i>Sonic Mega Collection</i> or when I first stumbled upon the FlyingOmelette website), but given Sega's handling and management of the console, I'm not surprised. </span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Surprise releasing it in North America in May of 1995 as opposed to September like they initially announced they would certainly did the Saturn no favors, but Sega's management focused so much attention on how they could one-up Sony and Nintendo that they neglected to find a way to work into </span><b style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">their</b><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> console's viability.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyAKA6ys3GHujU1NxWQg5I8ug3iod3WQMQal76YqzbNu8EGhgukRIkSrxIVoE_8y-2PTVUQrpCRwdUv8P6RCjLKIxhfIFHA6JIrA9_1xc08ULx02Z6mKJ7hV8AglygNZ8V5yGnzXI_gX5LXJxoaO2a5PfBeUC7PdI509rnCSwZvwouA8r8doCHot4UQ/s431/SonicX-Treme_CoverArt+Message.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyAKA6ys3GHujU1NxWQg5I8ug3iod3WQMQal76YqzbNu8EGhgukRIkSrxIVoE_8y-2PTVUQrpCRwdUv8P6RCjLKIxhfIFHA6JIrA9_1xc08ULx02Z6mKJ7hV8AglygNZ8V5yGnzXI_gX5LXJxoaO2a5PfBeUC7PdI509rnCSwZvwouA8r8doCHot4UQ/s16000/SonicX-Treme_CoverArt+Message.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs, with Sega font added by me; politics, what a terrible and oppressively toxic concept, all it does is spark hatred and resentment inside those who would've lived a long happy life without experiencing such a feeling (<u>9/10/22 Update:</u> I just felt the need to vent, that's all)</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Sega Technical Institute's <i>Sonic X-Treme</i>, which would've been the game that salvaged the struggling Saturn, had a troubled development of legendary proportions (with poor communication, inexperience, declining morale, insurmountable pressure, rampant technological difficulties, and misguided fixation on politics resulting in them falling behind schedule, </span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Yuji Naka denying them usage of Sonic Team's </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Nights Into Dreams...</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">'s engine, following its cancellation a PC edition was denied because it did not appear on a Sega format first, and as if things weren't bad enough,</span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> two of its key members were told they would literally </span><b style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">die</b><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> if they continued working at the nonstop rate they did so they had no choice but to exit the project for their health*</span><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">) to the point that it had to be cancelled altogether resulting in Sega Technical Institute's disbandment. The Sega Saturn never stood a chance, and Sega has no one to blame but themselves for it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><b>* Look, I love video games, but I don't think they're worth dying for, I think they made the right call in not staying if deteriorating (mental) health was going to be th</b></span><b style="color: white; font-family: georgia;">e only outcome from it</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">When I got older I read a few articles of the Sega Saturn on RVGFanatic's website, which were engaging reads. Several years ago I considered looking into getting the console, but I went against it because some of the games I wanted to try were Japan-only and were on the pricey side of things (like Ving's port of Taito's <i>Bubble Symphony</i> and Success' <i>Cotton 2: Magical Night Dreams</i>); I figured, I didn't need a Saturn to be happy. I realize now that my Saturn wishlist was fairly unrealistic back then, so when my desire to get a Saturn came back months ago I made sure to start out small and make my way from there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila8xCvvYVi_qPPtzCLhBdOj0rQM6yTRMuRBfIr36Kq7j3EB7i4eoNLUIh8xc-ztlPUwefJB6W7ult4bfUZCzuwY1itgCednht7jjW9DMoeghrjOim52MrTF1C4vOOtqE21-sbM0KUyEcnEbgtfqeL6UBoGFr9tSAFCyAKlpVZJ69DOZxfUDnETVm3xg/s628/SegaSaturn_Console.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="628" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila8xCvvYVi_qPPtzCLhBdOj0rQM6yTRMuRBfIr36Kq7j3EB7i4eoNLUIh8xc-ztlPUwefJB6W7ult4bfUZCzuwY1itgCednht7jjW9DMoeghrjOim52MrTF1C4vOOtqE21-sbM0KUyEcnEbgtfqeL6UBoGFr9tSAFCyAKlpVZJ69DOZxfUDnETVm3xg/w400-h288/SegaSaturn_Console.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I've been a happy Saturn owner for four months now, I never realized what I was missing out on! </b>😄<b> I talked about my experience with it and gave my brief thoughts on the first four games I got for it in my </b><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/06/random-saturnday.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Random Saturnday post</a><b>, which I'm quite happy with how it turned out, I hope to get to work writing a second Random Saturnday post soon</b></span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Mere weeks after I turned 31 back in April, I made what was arguably the craziest video gaming decision I made: with all the eBay gift cards I had at my disposal I used them to curb down the spending for and invested in a Sega Saturn console and ordered my first Saturn game <i>Clockwork Knight</i> separately. One ceaselessly rainy April day, after coming home from work, the console arrived at the door. I was so excited to enter my new video gaming chapter, with <i>Clockwork Knight</i> arriving the next day (and two months and five games later I was lucky to find a reasonably priced copy of the sequel). Little by little I caught up with more Sega Saturn games, but within reason (though I have to say, I've been a bit more daring with my purchases as of late), and it is quite a ride. Of the nine games I presently own for the Saturn (as I write this review) I've only come across one real stinker, but everything else I've had a pleasantly positive experience with. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JHqXrdogoymfx-9bijo0zAmlq_ZbxtQkkhCumDHNXqF_ildTqTNKbtCVuPpAVaU00Xtp5ZPtzHRCSwLNVRMXuuUFrXXf-rNqGkRIGHILaND7CfmOatwPIxW1g2slDEjjGfW2m3yb_SQavoeQjFlQJd37A2K4hPexMkZzPbJogn7cRwv8U_nEssXgJw/s393/ClockworkKnight_ToyChef.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JHqXrdogoymfx-9bijo0zAmlq_ZbxtQkkhCumDHNXqF_ildTqTNKbtCVuPpAVaU00Xtp5ZPtzHRCSwLNVRMXuuUFrXXf-rNqGkRIGHILaND7CfmOatwPIxW1g2slDEjjGfW2m3yb_SQavoeQjFlQJd37A2K4hPexMkZzPbJogn7cRwv8U_nEssXgJw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_ToyChef.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWATH0EtxCH_PIqrX3P_7reTox0a12wjdy9ICFi9lyb5PJGkJLyVhM-6Y29vaMA8_YLmmxOa4CTUR16hHPNIZXALonnyxautvEbEwaGsKtRmNfSTcX1-NHmTPGC1yDTsYL5S-NJP_eQVgQrFTFiocJPvsYFKteDjBsi3_ZgLubYXnfre0GQC3IFX_UaA/s393/ClockworkKnight_PotProtection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWATH0EtxCH_PIqrX3P_7reTox0a12wjdy9ICFi9lyb5PJGkJLyVhM-6Y29vaMA8_YLmmxOa4CTUR16hHPNIZXALonnyxautvEbEwaGsKtRmNfSTcX1-NHmTPGC1yDTsYL5S-NJP_eQVgQrFTFiocJPvsYFKteDjBsi3_ZgLubYXnfre0GQC3IFX_UaA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_PotProtection.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Toy chef preparing to hop towards your position | Right: The keyblade is strong enough to push pot-shielded toy chef who's been knocked off his feet as a result</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Clockwork Knight</i> is a fun game, not just as an entry point into the Sega Saturn but also on its own merits. I think it's a good technical showcase of what the Saturn is capable of, and it's very polished to boot. Granted, even on the hardest difficulty it is a particularly easy game and it is pretty short clocking in at roughly forty to fifty minutes*, but it is fun to play while it lasts regardless. It doesn't strive to be anything more than a fun family-friendly toy-themed platformer, and that's perfectly fine.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* The Japanese version is longer, mostly due the pre-stage dialogue that's been excised from the Western version, and Sega ensured that the game would be a little harder for the American audience</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCrZAHIdaOlY1sbCUWgE6AzLZiE1GT8oaTQLocS2Wwb9ZT1bNuxTIMYnVqiCLf9GV4egm-PjQTq5e_3R2EA1I3oz_o9RE7igQjsTmkITFRR1kviroPR4_S8U-obp1ysxPZnI_tqmkVsIcRpJ3ybBZglGc6f335P8BbSGtxmBfIqHJMsf6KTt6JR_D0A/s393/ClockworkKnight_Start+Option.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCrZAHIdaOlY1sbCUWgE6AzLZiE1GT8oaTQLocS2Wwb9ZT1bNuxTIMYnVqiCLf9GV4egm-PjQTq5e_3R2EA1I3oz_o9RE7igQjsTmkITFRR1kviroPR4_S8U-obp1ysxPZnI_tqmkVsIcRpJ3ybBZglGc6f335P8BbSGtxmBfIqHJMsf6KTt6JR_D0A/s16000/ClockworkKnight_Start+Option.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love the eyebrow raised depending on which option is highlighted, that's such a cute idea</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">It's so adorably lighthearted and charming, too, there isn't a mean bone in its body even during its most intense of boss fights which makes it all the more endearing. Tongara is a very likable protagonist, while he isn't the most coordinated of heroes he is pretty nimble and quick on his feet not to mention he's so good-natured and made the keyblade cool before SquareSoft did with <i>Kingdom Hearts</i>. I've also seen some comments likening him to a skinny Wario... it's the moustache and color yellow, I take it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY2D_Idp2B9fwW1I_M9Jiw51_74P6m2K-i6YGpLoWxcJjKC5jMr2R0fWZP8eeWVhobsW4KZDShx2B0OYTKQa0NYpJzRoTk34mdbP3bYYwQlrmVz5iuDvae4pTuu1g0BpUt05ohtrT_uCIKrIkRj2U3bnB463QnttlU07hiXRSaLgOO4lRcnZASlKjOg/s381/SonicR_RadicalHighway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="381" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY2D_Idp2B9fwW1I_M9Jiw51_74P6m2K-i6YGpLoWxcJjKC5jMr2R0fWZP8eeWVhobsW4KZDShx2B0OYTKQa0NYpJzRoTk34mdbP3bYYwQlrmVz5iuDvae4pTuu1g0BpUt05ohtrT_uCIKrIkRj2U3bnB463QnttlU07hiXRSaLgOO4lRcnZASlKjOg/w200-h160/SonicR_RadicalHighway.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w51uA1nDoJ1MIeYBElv-_zuFg-g59pWut0lmj2hM8vEJ3Tg5YQFwhIy9kwcQriy4ynrI4KKlw6bA34aq6VudvnMIv7uu84i6-nZKEPANotkDpIMewo9onp0XZ_oAc2D8uIysheFB62ogPfdc1OPORVgWfNXSMP0IyQzwbvNlmAxBFkjF2EhxFegMeQ/s381/SonicR_RegalRuin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="381" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w51uA1nDoJ1MIeYBElv-_zuFg-g59pWut0lmj2hM8vEJ3Tg5YQFwhIy9kwcQriy4ynrI4KKlw6bA34aq6VudvnMIv7uu84i6-nZKEPANotkDpIMewo9onp0XZ_oAc2D8uIysheFB62ogPfdc1OPORVgWfNXSMP0IyQzwbvNlmAxBFkjF2EhxFegMeQ/w200-h160/SonicR_RegalRuin.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">While promoting Traveller's Tales' and Sonic Team's racing game </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Sonic R</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> in an interview conducted by </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Sega Saturn Magazine</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">, designer and visual coordinator Kats Sato talked about the good working relationship Sega developed with Jon Burton's company over the years and briefly cited the British Disney platformer </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"> as his influence for </span><i style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Clockwork Knight</i><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOxc5sWYvRhq7gQGAKulxwRAz0o8Kf-q4eYO7tRpChNTlWnoC6QDgQjWUUGOBi_GqIjlR8RLxj9Nm0fJlUziV_9elntmnRhuu3M8kcP_Vdmbv6Dg_b4u8iWBtacH4HV4A96fTdt9uY0Z-rWIcZ4bxb6p4lK5_b_ChUsxoqdTSbJWPSB-tU6xg3pduGA/s383/MickeyMania_SNES-SpookyHouse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOxc5sWYvRhq7gQGAKulxwRAz0o8Kf-q4eYO7tRpChNTlWnoC6QDgQjWUUGOBi_GqIjlR8RLxj9Nm0fJlUziV_9elntmnRhuu3M8kcP_Vdmbv6Dg_b4u8iWBtacH4HV4A96fTdt9uY0Z-rWIcZ4bxb6p4lK5_b_ChUsxoqdTSbJWPSB-tU6xg3pduGA/w200-h156/MickeyMania_SNES-SpookyHouse.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8T9rDRCQLXjb60UaY9XLP7b77yyVWPfax_ccik0gUAsj-Lewgs6dWVx5qH726jX_MOx4E3iujdwuDd7XmNsuhgRooo5sFI9-3MrZHMc6Wv9-d4bPbLIljEtnhJHxf9rkj06kkM2L7Mw28b199IHZr_88SWzW_LoBkdEJrz79F9lo-E0saf3N7FA2A/s383/MickeyMania_SNES-Table.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT8T9rDRCQLXjb60UaY9XLP7b77yyVWPfax_ccik0gUAsj-Lewgs6dWVx5qH726jX_MOx4E3iujdwuDd7XmNsuhgRooo5sFI9-3MrZHMc6Wv9-d4bPbLIljEtnhJHxf9rkj06kkM2L7Mw28b199IHZr_88SWzW_LoBkdEJrz79F9lo-E0saf3N7FA2A/w200-h156/MickeyMania_SNES-Table.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">I was very surprised to learn this, as these games were not released that far apart from each other. In North America, <i>Mickey Mania</i> debuted on October of 1994 on the SNES console,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yvWH6avwTZk_szrraDpUNWie1-Xe_RSPxj2T0EfutaspBuaV3mBxgVbTtk7N9ZU1sxK_goO27FQ0lEgAIbskbVnJc0aBBcMtaMpLpTC2Rl61XdCGap7b5LITkG4eVgD1hdZuDkwOVjOUuZuZA8vBHKylOUU7TAhEzglf-_85FK6t2kMUx2aEQs-3qQ/s387/MickeyMania_Genesis-SteamboatWillie.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="387" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yvWH6avwTZk_szrraDpUNWie1-Xe_RSPxj2T0EfutaspBuaV3mBxgVbTtk7N9ZU1sxK_goO27FQ0lEgAIbskbVnJc0aBBcMtaMpLpTC2Rl61XdCGap7b5LITkG4eVgD1hdZuDkwOVjOUuZuZA8vBHKylOUU7TAhEzglf-_85FK6t2kMUx2aEQs-3qQ/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Genesis-SteamboatWillie.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q7ZGoThIqm_6Q4lqbrRAFy7ZK3kZLNulZVVJjsItF_CXKHKVV94wJIMzDK5M_jlWHv23TNK3r92WaJo2dVRCRz-mnx0tY8sx78dgMxgoAbrDrJJrPiw3Z6SVBFNhGKAKFeELsQN0kpLGTYX0MAb2G3qNvWSPx3Fam9HKRrrX6CzH7p-0jU79PdWnPw/s387/MickeyMania_Genesis-MooseHunters.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="387" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q7ZGoThIqm_6Q4lqbrRAFy7ZK3kZLNulZVVJjsItF_CXKHKVV94wJIMzDK5M_jlWHv23TNK3r92WaJo2dVRCRz-mnx0tY8sx78dgMxgoAbrDrJJrPiw3Z6SVBFNhGKAKFeELsQN0kpLGTYX0MAb2G3qNvWSPx3Fam9HKRrrX6CzH7p-0jU79PdWnPw/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Genesis-MooseHunters.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">while the base MegaDrive/Genesis version would come out that November, which was exactly one month prior to <i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s Japanese December 1994 release. I don't believe for a moment that this game was worked on in the span of two months, that would've been too quick even at the time, but it is nice to know that <i>Mickey Mania</i> was a good source of influence.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEFW6UePsfGWys4gBLcgrg5TaVaxey7Nlfj8xvnADUEVLqwzvSjKUW9FR-QAcDeXqSzCV13EuqaqvaJUbO4vw3QkL6fT884lHvCHxlwVnXte5y7GCLT4bZV7JBwks4AFAJD53q5aB5r18a2JJCyF_SQeW7aNh1xLe8hzsQyaZLhh2IWNwwvnHQTdskw/s387/MickeyMania_Genesis-BandConcertMickey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEFW6UePsfGWys4gBLcgrg5TaVaxey7Nlfj8xvnADUEVLqwzvSjKUW9FR-QAcDeXqSzCV13EuqaqvaJUbO4vw3QkL6fT884lHvCHxlwVnXte5y7GCLT4bZV7JBwks4AFAJD53q5aB5r18a2JJCyF_SQeW7aNh1xLe8hzsQyaZLhh2IWNwwvnHQTdskw/s16000/MickeyMania_Genesis-BandConcertMickey.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Bonus fun fact: in the very same interview Sato said he took inspiration from <i>Mickey Mania</i> when working on <i>Clockwork Knight</i>, it turns out Burton also took some cues from <b>Sato</b>'s game when working on the subsequent Traveller's Tales venue,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMf6mNijMrCAQ0L1arREVMCUCtnG-i6A0xvb9OMspH7mjnA5ak0MpmPVmuU6TFH9QgaoCKs5-I5ANWzOKq8Qxpj9qJojNlaDA14Oxmmdg1h35b5h3mrk6OXmuxI1UtEicE3m7rjKqPwzAvS6w0On-tsEG2Oxp6borqWJ1dGB6rsyrCfqkDHdwaJUMRg/s386/ToyStory_NightmareBuzz.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMf6mNijMrCAQ0L1arREVMCUCtnG-i6A0xvb9OMspH7mjnA5ak0MpmPVmuU6TFH9QgaoCKs5-I5ANWzOKq8Qxpj9qJojNlaDA14Oxmmdg1h35b5h3mrk6OXmuxI1UtEicE3m7rjKqPwzAvS6w0On-tsEG2Oxp6borqWJ1dGB6rsyrCfqkDHdwaJUMRg/w200-h118/ToyStory_NightmareBuzz.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz3HWbCs94P_-Z-g5eDvJIKgT6qJaY35xKESUfCrhHiVOnuZBbBpKd8N9Gx2eW-HceggWvpnMsFPAxp6k_e9pYk1FvMgMo64GOFyIF-Go6Vtl9xk2yVStZLkcFjDoukKNVu_gcNmrMDK5M52BHnGcMIX6go7-jVQHGEKT2JkodmtLiz7F8Rf733qrfA/s386/ToyStory_BuzzClip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz3HWbCs94P_-Z-g5eDvJIKgT6qJaY35xKESUfCrhHiVOnuZBbBpKd8N9Gx2eW-HceggWvpnMsFPAxp6k_e9pYk1FvMgMo64GOFyIF-Go6Vtl9xk2yVStZLkcFjDoukKNVu_gcNmrMDK5M52BHnGcMIX6go7-jVQHGEKT2JkodmtLiz7F8Rf733qrfA/w200-h118/ToyStory_BuzzClip.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">It didn't matter whether it was the Sega 16-bit, Nintendo 16-bit, or PC version (or, God forbid, Tiertex's barebones Game Boy conversion), Traveller's Tales' <i>Toy Story</i> was one of those games that pretty much everyone, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, played in one form or another in the mid '90s</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Toy Story</i> based on PIXAR's inaugural feature-length computer animated film. I can definitely see parallels and comparisons being drawn to <i>Clockwork Knight</i>, they do both explore similar territory as you're in control of a sentient toy where the world is viewed from the perspective <b>of</b> toys where the characters' sprites are prerendered, but that's really where the similarities end. <i>Clockwork Knight</i> is exclusively a platformer from beginning to end,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6jLLUstfi7QnNdUpLFtHtxgbdZ4Q4b4ygHG1xtiDWygCvU7lP75_0xAwmwzKYT0KF--4GHr-jTDoX45CHOXYHpPWA1fSch0m2zNdHq6DFmKLQgQolYfAb12H-nvkZR0GwLNi9Fbh4KqB767gfDt18LGMHDVzBngoLEEbL0H1Rviu1KrHaFJ056mycw/s386/ToyStory_InsideTheClawMachine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6jLLUstfi7QnNdUpLFtHtxgbdZ4Q4b4ygHG1xtiDWygCvU7lP75_0xAwmwzKYT0KF--4GHr-jTDoX45CHOXYHpPWA1fSch0m2zNdHq6DFmKLQgQolYfAb12H-nvkZR0GwLNi9Fbh4KqB767gfDt18LGMHDVzBngoLEEbL0H1Rviu1KrHaFJ056mycw/w200-h118/ToyStory_InsideTheClawMachine.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmHcW3z_ZLpXAoldwwvfAmE4Pkvib6k0mdnVaFAmwfbF1vEa7SLSfQ2hmMS25xJwCi5jMmLx2rbytq-NxKa4LtIm82WX44A6cqR_dsI5PlEIc9IgE4jMSrbyTI6GDyTQ_wkO_ni5mCLB7MaRVyrrYU-9EMTD43zC0tZi_6yaQ1wH7jQfql2ZJbqUqFg/s386/ToyStory_ReallyInsideTheClawMachine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="386" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmHcW3z_ZLpXAoldwwvfAmE4Pkvib6k0mdnVaFAmwfbF1vEa7SLSfQ2hmMS25xJwCi5jMmLx2rbytq-NxKa4LtIm82WX44A6cqR_dsI5PlEIc9IgE4jMSrbyTI6GDyTQ_wkO_ni5mCLB7MaRVyrrYU-9EMTD43zC0tZi_6yaQ1wH7jQfql2ZJbqUqFg/w200-h118/ToyStory_ReallyInsideTheClawMachine.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This game was so hard for its target audience that Jon Burton ended up incorporating a password system for the European version, as the American version has to be beaten in one go</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">whereas a good chunk of <i>Toy Story</i> is a platformer and occasionally changes genres for certain stages to keep things fresh. Even though I grew up playing <i>Toy Story</i> on the PC and SNES (as well as on the Game Boy, unfortunately), I do think the <i>Clockwork Knight</i> games are superior; Sega's platformers have got a consistent degree of flow, are very manageable in difficulty, and are very polished both visually and structurally, whereas Traveller's Tales' game, fun though it may be in spurts, is hampered by its high difficulty and is very ambitious to say the least as it doesn't share the same the degree of polish as it does get cheap in areas. But hey, good influence can go both ways, which I see as a positive takeaway from this.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD-Iy-iK82q4Cr2-b9EpjGXTd_qO7KGCt_mye09NGtPruIvvE9LuMVglOS3ro-vXMaKeaQrLecJ1kjHohfdLh8icrzi8fvY2JdGoHfJ5woD39az0xy_K7qw-mHQYSKcxagRWJNOuYyRhuyKyMHQ9JPsIdKIORhwNBnCca1MMu0I3eDf_dYnkdhenrQg/s385/SuperDonkeyKong_TempleTempest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD-Iy-iK82q4Cr2-b9EpjGXTd_qO7KGCt_mye09NGtPruIvvE9LuMVglOS3ro-vXMaKeaQrLecJ1kjHohfdLh8icrzi8fvY2JdGoHfJ5woD39az0xy_K7qw-mHQYSKcxagRWJNOuYyRhuyKyMHQ9JPsIdKIORhwNBnCca1MMu0I3eDf_dYnkdhenrQg/w200-h156/SuperDonkeyKong_TempleTempest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44cw7Tdcth25oQjFUl2x9RrZnx6DKIMwdfLkZNIYDqtFuQkpMZnGK2LaeYrtm8faWuiMac0iS6nxIp2FilyAjZAiBFDzMqL9dtMO9W8h9bnCQdF4lMPEocm2luFK6dYMt8z7gLKq-hneGJvGhiGI5bNx_VGENZdun8UqpmUBmFBYWyrDzvok3_VcMw/s385/SuperDonkeyKong_SlipslideRide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44cw7Tdcth25oQjFUl2x9RrZnx6DKIMwdfLkZNIYDqtFuQkpMZnGK2LaeYrtm8faWuiMac0iS6nxIp2FilyAjZAiBFDzMqL9dtMO9W8h9bnCQdF4lMPEocm2luFK6dYMt8z7gLKq-hneGJvGhiGI5bNx_VGENZdun8UqpmUBmFBYWyrDzvok3_VcMw/w200-h156/SuperDonkeyKong_SlipslideRide.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">I love how Rare seemingly gave birth to the prerendered 2D platformer movement with <i>Donkey Kong Country</i>/<i>Super Donkey Kong</i>, shortly followed up by Sega's <i>Clockwork Knight</i> and Traveller's Tales' <i>Toy Story</i>. Even though <i>Clockwork Knight</i> didn't share the same impact and scope as the Nintendo 16-bit classic has, it's still a good and fun classic in its own right.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToXj1fzB-l0o7AcygQkwrRSZk7CT7mdVTwhSByWTuUQGEaDr0uRYL8V4fyUnr8xwykKCTAHZO3r7f2_ZZgM6j4UPq6uTxJnq5LsJLsoBzQYTtw8C1iGXQUGA0TiXE6B7SdcuYFLkD0QyW50YYGz5nBnu-_56qby5vInmYy0dwZ-h2BrLOwgF85cPzYw/s360/ClockworkKnight_SleepingChelsea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToXj1fzB-l0o7AcygQkwrRSZk7CT7mdVTwhSByWTuUQGEaDr0uRYL8V4fyUnr8xwykKCTAHZO3r7f2_ZZgM6j4UPq6uTxJnq5LsJLsoBzQYTtw8C1iGXQUGA0TiXE6B7SdcuYFLkD0QyW50YYGz5nBnu-_56qby5vInmYy0dwZ-h2BrLOwgF85cPzYw/s16000/ClockworkKnight_SleepingChelsea.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Complete with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOXcKXWiVzs">stinger</a> too, it comes as a total shock after hearing the "A Lullaby" song</span></b></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">From what I've gathered this game was apparently rushed to meet up with the release of the Sega Saturn console, which caused Sega to split Tongara's adventure into two games, as the post-credits sequence ends on a startling cliffhanger with Chelsea unable to wake up despite being saved at the end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq78Y1_rgVmvArBhYFEM55-O07EqhinpY8hjSQh9limftROvzm9PJpD2UZcE0-kvNv8Uj_0aWUkfgD-TyGAhTFOk6VS6CxY7J3v3NGWoziDTnGdqdEW8OASru1KCUax1PeYuj6bz90aDWXmZyaM74daZbVF6KyNm6gSZM9dZx4DCBL9vpA7AFywA7lQ/s360/ClockworkKnight2_Tongara+Ginger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq78Y1_rgVmvArBhYFEM55-O07EqhinpY8hjSQh9limftROvzm9PJpD2UZcE0-kvNv8Uj_0aWUkfgD-TyGAhTFOk6VS6CxY7J3v3NGWoziDTnGdqdEW8OASru1KCUax1PeYuj6bz90aDWXmZyaM74daZbVF6KyNm6gSZM9dZx4DCBL9vpA7AFywA7lQ/s16000/ClockworkKnight2_Tongara+Ginger.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">At least, that's the impression I got, anyway, for Sega would add new elements that did not make the cut in the first iteration despite the gameplay being largely unaltered. The first <i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s cliffhanger ending does successfully draw a hook that makes you want to know what happens next, especially since Chelsea is an important source of every toy's vitality, and fortunately the story set up by <i>Clockwork Knight</i> pays off at the end of <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i>. In so doing, Sega has managed to maintain a level of consistency in terms of quality.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JindbuFY8tgs7ZpM7CKsxKkPTB8dO2t9-kauWgat8NgK5_xiIjiTLDxYnlUb4bLYl78nfhqL6wqYJpy0nP8S2YaDYD41BEH_1Xj3BUqW3Icc_ZXwsD5sPEoYukJUOef_mbSl4wrXm5er8CJI1b1vVhhtz3tJEcnza-xtykURbe46wIJmvZU8GgAKxA/s393/ClockworkKnight_SecretCompartment.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JindbuFY8tgs7ZpM7CKsxKkPTB8dO2t9-kauWgat8NgK5_xiIjiTLDxYnlUb4bLYl78nfhqL6wqYJpy0nP8S2YaDYD41BEH_1Xj3BUqW3Icc_ZXwsD5sPEoYukJUOef_mbSl4wrXm5er8CJI1b1vVhhtz3tJEcnza-xtykURbe46wIJmvZU8GgAKxA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_SecretCompartment.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RFMlrCq6bCiUBRqZJPBBseW28gmUAkN-86ZAyeHYnEEkP0hJc7oLjqF5YDyX1ieRykoCKTzJYuX3t9OObq1oR7qI9F4TjxrCeIf2hW2JQgesVyy0KgCbsEEeBBr1c3fI0qx-vhxDL2Y-ZnsKtBNZgrQiAOyWXJbDtLj46hXmjrBXmDClDrkFDWOQg/s393/ClockworkKnight_Falling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4RFMlrCq6bCiUBRqZJPBBseW28gmUAkN-86ZAyeHYnEEkP0hJc7oLjqF5YDyX1ieRykoCKTzJYuX3t9OObq1oR7qI9F4TjxrCeIf2hW2JQgesVyy0KgCbsEEeBBr1c3fI0qx-vhxDL2Y-ZnsKtBNZgrQiAOyWXJbDtLj46hXmjrBXmDClDrkFDWOQg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Falling.png" width="200" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Secret room | Right: </b>🎵<b> And I'm freeeeeeeee, free faaaalliiiiiing </b>🎵</span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">I love how if you search thoroughly in <i>Clockwork Knight</i> you might not only stumble across a secret spot where a life might be but you might come across a transportation box that will warp you around, it does give this game a bit of replay value. While the game is easy on the whole, it's easy to lose health to a nuisance projectile throwing chipmunk if you don't pay attention to your surroundings (particularly in the penultimate section of the penultimate attic stage). The start of the second attic stage places you in a long row of transportation boxes, where only picking the right one will set you on the right course.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcQRW8wI190jaBaKuMjyVM1sz2HV_BvmoDLjXCZthjUsfZaDqrOg5kRAfTwjZVIroRkUUT2GKamPOXoFeG8bfjxeROXrFdXDBJ6_0a3BT83Vo2nZ3-MKD9WaXTqVYmQ_aLOLnVwzbrYciSTZJrGVEeTjaW3nEas6Ue7TJ7yZWcQJQ7-bOPfC072IDTA/s382/Astal_TheDeepForest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcQRW8wI190jaBaKuMjyVM1sz2HV_BvmoDLjXCZthjUsfZaDqrOg5kRAfTwjZVIroRkUUT2GKamPOXoFeG8bfjxeROXrFdXDBJ6_0a3BT83Vo2nZ3-MKD9WaXTqVYmQ_aLOLnVwzbrYciSTZJrGVEeTjaW3nEas6Ue7TJ7yZWcQJQ7-bOPfC072IDTA/w200-h155/Astal_TheDeepForest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBC2EmnH8juRgHAZp-3cY0_FQwduFB731REjOvM5jWqGy_MNbERNstnxNfEvJKT2nooT_AaoTBWIqVibW5nKL6lZoDnptG8C1Xxka7-Ljy8xdT8RmIgDh3AMMOaao_0mFhGZg-2om_YrH1DVg_FFK_seAmj1d5t8BIBrclDMu9_ezfSQVt6IHW2w5Bg/s382/Astal_PlainsOfDestiny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBC2EmnH8juRgHAZp-3cY0_FQwduFB731REjOvM5jWqGy_MNbERNstnxNfEvJKT2nooT_AaoTBWIqVibW5nKL6lZoDnptG8C1Xxka7-Ljy8xdT8RmIgDh3AMMOaao_0mFhGZg-2om_YrH1DVg_FFK_seAmj1d5t8BIBrclDMu9_ezfSQVt6IHW2w5Bg/w200-h155/Astal_PlainsOfDestiny.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Because Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega's mascot and there was yet to be a Saturn game that properly featured him in it, <i>Clockwork Knight</i> served as the first of three stand-ins for the blue blur until his formal 32-bit appearance, the other two being Sega's <i>Kisuishō Densetsu Astal</i>/<i>Astal</i> and Realtime Associates' <i>Bug!</i>,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunzs4Hqxs6QRREHMpxfT24qIeycAzwrXSrfSM4BQiPLLcbto8sI0JvJb3cZAF2FcsuOpyZumnwtfVufVQv3vG8CMBZCKdszmK4xSq8hoLnY6JDtoG6BxuT0BMZ63N53LoaN5mm4t_wfx8phrh85VaiB5O19M6UrIyODVNJZtoq1x1-_PlFsW8b4MCSw/s383/Bug_Insectia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunzs4Hqxs6QRREHMpxfT24qIeycAzwrXSrfSM4BQiPLLcbto8sI0JvJb3cZAF2FcsuOpyZumnwtfVufVQv3vG8CMBZCKdszmK4xSq8hoLnY6JDtoG6BxuT0BMZ63N53LoaN5mm4t_wfx8phrh85VaiB5O19M6UrIyODVNJZtoq1x1-_PlFsW8b4MCSw/w200-h156/Bug_Insectia.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdbMKDHahc4h4fce2iOEe0ardgSi_1dlT3AoOUFBeeTCB5y_Mp19-u9zqNOFS0Zlte7XWF7vHCy5UqI0W163BEkMiAoduIWh0nbj4WnNGN2VRgmCuy2lyrQE4G_p2KUefrVvlSZ-IEKhaCfJHVXz0IWLwbIQEyVGwIbWtMN-BDAz11OsEVJty78RCrA/s383/Bug_Reptilia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="383" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdbMKDHahc4h4fce2iOEe0ardgSi_1dlT3AoOUFBeeTCB5y_Mp19-u9zqNOFS0Zlte7XWF7vHCy5UqI0W163BEkMiAoduIWh0nbj4WnNGN2VRgmCuy2lyrQE4G_p2KUefrVvlSZ-IEKhaCfJHVXz0IWLwbIQEyVGwIbWtMN-BDAz11OsEVJty78RCrA/w200-h156/Bug_Reptilia.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">none of which surpassed <i>Sonic</i> in terms of popularity and sales but they all varied in quality. I consider <i>Astal</i> to be the strongest of the bunch, it's a gorgeously drawn 2D platformer with enjoyably good gameplay plus it's got the most breathtaking music I've heard from a Saturn game so far.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVGBMpIN8HSodHDlSRBy92m55mPnc9JVC421WE8CW4lo_-yYL0TorBf_kavKyIZ34NTNcBi58jOBq-VzaS1X0dLhGa7TteV9Kc1eFsEM4gfww73bbED45iaDbUBvvu7u1kiWYwKt8G3YOjwk3LLiUyS-QUx5xfFQCuy-P6PepCM5EZgeSLZ2lZGeueQ/s393/ClockworkKnight_HeadToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVGBMpIN8HSodHDlSRBy92m55mPnc9JVC421WE8CW4lo_-yYL0TorBf_kavKyIZ34NTNcBi58jOBq-VzaS1X0dLhGa7TteV9Kc1eFsEM4gfww73bbED45iaDbUBvvu7u1kiWYwKt8G3YOjwk3LLiUyS-QUx5xfFQCuy-P6PepCM5EZgeSLZ2lZGeueQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_HeadToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfilF-vW5VZ8IJWOc_h2xPIF3nYe80aUkbA6AvbUzrKYCIHVygmEUkXfgAsrWdFQt9_ohkOODB4jHr5PotY4oBKW3s9l0v_o6X10ZOIyD2zDZC3F9o-8qG3fHOvCLND7to4OVOznzG6Lo1ILihoJ8m5K7t5DlPI_3ydhkXPpcP9e3UCswc5EBBz_F7qw/s393/ClockworkKnight_HappyTV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfilF-vW5VZ8IJWOc_h2xPIF3nYe80aUkbA6AvbUzrKYCIHVygmEUkXfgAsrWdFQt9_ohkOODB4jHr5PotY4oBKW3s9l0v_o6X10ZOIyD2zDZC3F9o-8qG3fHOvCLND7to4OVOznzG6Lo1ILihoJ8m5K7t5DlPI_3ydhkXPpcP9e3UCswc5EBBz_F7qw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_HappyTV.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Use your head? You got it! | Right: Awww, what an innocuous, not at all creepy, sentient mechanical armed television set that is</b> 📺</span></div><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;">Would the Saturn have fared any better had Sega of America maintained their word and waited those extra four months? It's hard to say, really. Worst case scenario, the Saturn would've shared the same American launch month as the PlayStation (with one week's head start, but that's beside the point), though I'd like to believe it would not have suffered as bad as it did due to how things were played out. The PlayStation One would've likely still run circles around it, but not by much, though that's just conjecture talking. There are good games on the Saturn, but Sega was irrefutably in the wrong for how they handled and managed it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHQA-FM7ybSFeeEnILFxt6_Minyzh1cft1hpCewxCKGRWDJpBg48T_jLdkFBdy2fdSO8iHJUjKrujoN5Vv4IndcHeaMcEMeIITg3FqQJEHOKkQs9T11RrmYM9RpMbAxfh4PVo65owc2KGYNjwtm5gCPhOEKlYRApRpbCBL9mrh_MomcSMX2SonxpK0g/s393/ClockworkKnight_ShockedTV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHQA-FM7ybSFeeEnILFxt6_Minyzh1cft1hpCewxCKGRWDJpBg48T_jLdkFBdy2fdSO8iHJUjKrujoN5Vv4IndcHeaMcEMeIITg3FqQJEHOKkQs9T11RrmYM9RpMbAxfh4PVo65owc2KGYNjwtm5gCPhOEKlYRApRpbCBL9mrh_MomcSMX2SonxpK0g/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_ShockedTV.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWvgpPbL9aeV_90UZlG08WwOegyR94AQOLTBJcaVerxOLFkVnSEQTups_rIbbUd-a7GeaigXVpLIx25OIt_xgj2zHPSrA9o_4QjL-05ss9-V5Hs4y-U0Nt5wKcemWCPO8_48ZIas4IFzsdMTZNUmE-gs1rzCwBOFvRp1mbjIndr9fzB8aQiS73WJOZw/s393/ClockworkKnight_PoutyTV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="393" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWvgpPbL9aeV_90UZlG08WwOegyR94AQOLTBJcaVerxOLFkVnSEQTups_rIbbUd-a7GeaigXVpLIx25OIt_xgj2zHPSrA9o_4QjL-05ss9-V5Hs4y-U0Nt5wKcemWCPO8_48ZIas4IFzsdMTZNUmE-gs1rzCwBOFvRp1mbjIndr9fzB8aQiS73WJOZw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_PoutyTV.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Contact | Right: Pouty TV</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><i>Clockwork Knight</i> is a delightfully fun platformer from beginning to end, and while it would've been nice if it was a bit longer and slightly more challenging, the pros far outweigh the cons. If you own a Saturn and have not played this game, then I happily recommend it, but if you don't own a Saturn but are thinking about getting one, this is not a bad place to start. I'm happy I chose this game as my Saturn foray. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydPbvMGrhwYp4ED1D9QhCKOnHez0WYTpHVGmohr9KRrPDQ31NvXFXci6EQnEgMr-2tOUWmKKAA_YKB7LchTg1gmpEG_wyFMG5tMxBDjLo2hwAWjs35GHJr6K0c-wGiPmwoDXJcS1pKvH6j6xfkTQjnwXuQvN6RACvXvUoh-I4CqVORnzzBGGeMnR6RQ/s360/ClockworkKnight_End.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydPbvMGrhwYp4ED1D9QhCKOnHez0WYTpHVGmohr9KRrPDQ31NvXFXci6EQnEgMr-2tOUWmKKAA_YKB7LchTg1gmpEG_wyFMG5tMxBDjLo2hwAWjs35GHJr6K0c-wGiPmwoDXJcS1pKvH6j6xfkTQjnwXuQvN6RACvXvUoh-I4CqVORnzzBGGeMnR6RQ/s16000/ClockworkKnight_End.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.0/10</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpFtlUiCQHDlq12yAcCFZhkGl6OKYV6OPXsDm-u6R-BQQcLr9Tb3MzshYH8vZ8RSoUQP9Ugs_bxXz8OVj5MW4-ahkkC5UGhU5ayytBNOOY3nWBpz0u_rK7yVxGQPLeLlimp-0vWbJ4PbdX-BD86zOLQ5aVnAGcXKC8lRs-vwXO08WGLhVI3Hrbtang/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpFtlUiCQHDlq12yAcCFZhkGl6OKYV6OPXsDm-u6R-BQQcLr9Tb3MzshYH8vZ8RSoUQP9Ugs_bxXz8OVj5MW4-ahkkC5UGhU5ayytBNOOY3nWBpz0u_rK7yVxGQPLeLlimp-0vWbJ4PbdX-BD86zOLQ5aVnAGcXKC8lRs-vwXO08WGLhVI3Hrbtang/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● My present high score is 1,041,180.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Off-topic, but I recently caught up with Randal Kleiser's <i>Grease</i> on Paramount+, I've heard its music but never really saw the movie before. I'm glad I watched it, I really enjoyed it, Olivia Newton-John (RIP) and John Travolta had really good chemistry in it, the song numbers were all great ("Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "There Are Worst Things I Could Do"), and it was so much fun that I didn't mind the fact that the actors were too old to play high schoolers. Now I want to catch up with Robert Greenwald's <i>Xanadu</i>, which also had Olivia Newton-John in it, that's one movie I've been curious about for a while.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffc800; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-4119958513602277382022-07-22T22:01:00.005-05:002022-07-23T17:39:36.920-05:00Blazing Dragons (PSOne) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>🐲 <b>Received: June 25th, 2020</b> 🐲 </span></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">Written: July 17th-22nd, 2022</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 🐲</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73gkIxbixjXLtbCQPVAxyicbVTWogEGydKRFx5bjJ9pNCNJ80EUX3kCrjl8aj_WnlCJW9SyO_mMTVbnJf3NAn5H7q-sqZ84Gw8z4l7p8Wyq3Y1ENM9ZR7MAelSwp249EiokHxeOWnEl2MpjN5AoyaKpoeNDZzRxUnb3oUSJtoBrU5k1FWQcqaqcScuQ/s229/BlazingDragons_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73gkIxbixjXLtbCQPVAxyicbVTWogEGydKRFx5bjJ9pNCNJ80EUX3kCrjl8aj_WnlCJW9SyO_mMTVbnJf3NAn5H7q-sqZ84Gw8z4l7p8Wyq3Y1ENM9ZR7MAelSwp249EiokHxeOWnEl2MpjN5AoyaKpoeNDZzRxUnb3oUSJtoBrU5k1FWQcqaqcScuQ/s16000/BlazingDragons_Title.png" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Year: 1996 </b>🐉<b> Developed by: The Illusions Gaming Company</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Published by: Crystal Dynamics </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">🐉</span><b style="font-family: georgia;"> Distributed by: Mindscape</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Licensed by: Nelvana</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 Today I'm covering a special kind of game from a genre I never really got to talk about, so I'm very excited at the chance to do so.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM2cqOIS6GariWz0fURxWa-73g7usX5AVHdHJyvsUmJKfxZzIFHOJURhEwiSv0QaCbAOS1CWRnclMG9VlY_5vAbcpDBGu1Nawowjw28-SAXhVbhooQjWntAEJxj3RIMVyWIkNY7xJhPcnEZKCZIJwOZ-lc941a52_nrbCmjLyNxhL_92U79h29w0org/s387/IllusionsGamingCompany_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTM2cqOIS6GariWz0fURxWa-73g7usX5AVHdHJyvsUmJKfxZzIFHOJURhEwiSv0QaCbAOS1CWRnclMG9VlY_5vAbcpDBGu1Nawowjw28-SAXhVbhooQjWntAEJxj3RIMVyWIkNY7xJhPcnEZKCZIJwOZ-lc941a52_nrbCmjLyNxhL_92U79h29w0org/s16000/IllusionsGamingCompany_Logo.png" /></a></div></span><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Following their departure from Virgin Interactive, two of its former employees Darren Bartlett and James Coliz founded and formed up a company of their own named <b>The Illusions Gaming Company</b>, with their inaugural game being the Nintendo 16-bit gambling simulator <i>Super Casino: Caesars Palace</i>/<i>Super Caesars Palace</i> in 1993. Shortly after the fact they ended up finding their own niche with the graphic adventure point-and-click genre based on licensed properties such as Hanna-Barbera's classic <i>Scooby-Doo</i> franchise (with <i>Scooby-Doo Mystery</i> on the Sega Genesis), Everett Peck's <i>Duckman</i> (<i>The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick</i>), and Mike Judge's <i>Beavis and Butt-Head</i> (<i>Bunghole in One </i>and <i>Do U.</i>) Shortly after the release of their second <i>Beavis and Butt-Head</i> license on December of 1998 The Illusions Gaming Company sadly went out of business after such a short tenure.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z3DkW-MK4IaK0hzLbrPZ5McjAr9M5RXYfULs11cDytiYOHDOmepFsXuf2pVQb7RrfiZ_LQmxNG9Jtmch_F68B6TLcCNa5w2kCr7oUY-J1o--AOjxQdX7PPqvogXKT4NYswQTbGa91oi6FkDeIrJu1OdoUtFXyLdifui235lQzq4IJ3EjcweIXk58Tw/s400/Nelvana_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z3DkW-MK4IaK0hzLbrPZ5McjAr9M5RXYfULs11cDytiYOHDOmepFsXuf2pVQb7RrfiZ_LQmxNG9Jtmch_F68B6TLcCNa5w2kCr7oUY-J1o--AOjxQdX7PPqvogXKT4NYswQTbGa91oi6FkDeIrJu1OdoUtFXyLdifui235lQzq4IJ3EjcweIXk58Tw/s16000/Nelvana_Logo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Image from MobyGames; remember them? Remember seeing their star-arched bear logo after the credits passed for animated series like </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Babar</i><b>, </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Magic School Bus</i><b>, </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Little Bear</i><b>, and </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Franklin</i><b> (if you grew up in the '90s like I did)? Such a memorable image from childhood (among many) </b>🐻</span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">In 1995 the late Welsh entertainer Terry Jones (who sadly passed away two years ago at the age of 77) of the Monty Python Troupe came up with a concept of "Dragons of the Square Table", which was essentially the legend of King Arthur but with dragons in the main role which got turned into an animated TV show produced by </span><b style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Nelvana</b><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"> and Ellipse Programme. Making its first television airwaves on September 9th, 1996, <b><i>Blazing Dragons</i></b> lasted two seasons at twenty-six episodes until February 16th, 1998 which was well-received and has since garnered a cult following (but when it aired in North America it was subject to heavy bowdlerization, i.e. censorship, on account of its distributors being overbearing prudes or some such nonsense).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuBjeKjvHPaWA5Vj4r_P-7j8dGNOEDpscDyZPBU1TyHO-JzQyM2Hyr8IX31nD0xFIp4uIT7BOFnH7uFuV0OTCpL_Jqi3UGSiTR5BChhHGNy7kDI7kl9JL8XfXQWHAuihtCA-kQKfgfLKvETye92U7jFlXo_1-LefEeQrMsfDqrukJJBuSyKUHiEXYhw/s308/CrystalDynamics_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="308" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuBjeKjvHPaWA5Vj4r_P-7j8dGNOEDpscDyZPBU1TyHO-JzQyM2Hyr8IX31nD0xFIp4uIT7BOFnH7uFuV0OTCpL_Jqi3UGSiTR5BChhHGNy7kDI7kl9JL8XfXQWHAuihtCA-kQKfgfLKvETye92U7jFlXo_1-LefEeQrMsfDqrukJJBuSyKUHiEXYhw/w200-h47/CrystalDynamics_Logo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEDSHr4gZcs3AxNo3BCxZIQ_1B6WC3yCRoaMGIF6LVbXzY48a6J6o2W74BV6g7FdJ-HWL2D4MihLRGA7TwxEVOl_6asv2IY7dc20225endcbNVdkfz84ofik3PnvbMaWyaAH8EKnuv23B7r_Mczu0vCW9FdRRAA3Ia9WL29WxD_FAFJMH22TsXi6osA/s305/Mindscape_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="305" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEDSHr4gZcs3AxNo3BCxZIQ_1B6WC3yCRoaMGIF6LVbXzY48a6J6o2W74BV6g7FdJ-HWL2D4MihLRGA7TwxEVOl_6asv2IY7dc20225endcbNVdkfz84ofik3PnvbMaWyaAH8EKnuv23B7r_Mczu0vCW9FdRRAA3Ia9WL29WxD_FAFJMH22TsXi6osA/w200-h144/Mindscape_Logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image of Mindscape logo from MobyGames</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Around the same time that production was underway for the series, so too was a video game based on Terry Jones' concept by The Illusions Gaming Company which would be their third venue after <i>Super Casino: Caesars Palace</i> and <i>Scooby-Doo Mystery</i>, with <b>Crystal Dynamics</b> acting as publisher (produced by David Sze and Tim Roberts, assistant produced by Rosaura Sandoval, designed by E. Daniel Arey, with Dan Su, Samuel Dicker, and Raymond E. Tobey offering additional programming, with public relations and talent licensing done by Jennifer Bulka and Sandra Yee) while <b>Mindscape</b> (a distribution company known for releasing home conversions of Atari Games' <i>Paperboy</i> and its Tengen-developed sequel as well as Twilight's <i>Alfred Chicken</i> games) served as distributor, licensed by Nelvana (Kim Cleary, Lara Stein, Toper Taylor). Crystal Dynamics was founded in 1992 by three of Sega's former employees and was the first licensed developer for the billionaires' console* the 3DO, having worked on its launch title <i>Crash 'n Burn</i> and early hits such as <i>Total Eclipse</i> and <i>Gex</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* I apologize if saying that gave off an air of classism, but I'd hardly call that which had an original price tag of $700 a <u>commoners</u>' console</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcDB-Ekd1H1LmMvBwCFAtsYE78cTJxRkWP6oUy-zAL8xvwLX8qhzHESYGotsPlPdcgMlU6qpL0FTIrbwVfDYdXZ7zJUdS-uDXV9u7-scLuRDPzrXXDmQm0uG0iqWBnMcCXoT3-bNXynS0vafkZO_xFLRTEhe530tryoRUFeeCPPfx7GLgJtvmij9TwQ/s1040/BlazingDragons_Saturn-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcDB-Ekd1H1LmMvBwCFAtsYE78cTJxRkWP6oUy-zAL8xvwLX8qhzHESYGotsPlPdcgMlU6qpL0FTIrbwVfDYdXZ7zJUdS-uDXV9u7-scLuRDPzrXXDmQm0uG0iqWBnMcCXoT3-bNXynS0vafkZO_xFLRTEhe530tryoRUFeeCPPfx7GLgJtvmij9TwQ/w197-h320/BlazingDragons_Saturn-Cover.png" width="197" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD8tTYShEDfq_eEHaTYoJP3n7nc1Y5MErzKaxrj99iZ1uFZKUSJzMjhdjvdrVTxFlsneSnW3_iaZWhEB7_Wb0jXCMm84Kqr4geNqYR3UlN8EVENct8TZVd7lap1kNYcOdhcoaveoq4anansOTNLZzD1oeHVwRueLLEMMueadllFE0CKHmOC5o8OE69A/s481/BlazingDragons_PSOne-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="481" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD8tTYShEDfq_eEHaTYoJP3n7nc1Y5MErzKaxrj99iZ1uFZKUSJzMjhdjvdrVTxFlsneSnW3_iaZWhEB7_Wb0jXCMm84Kqr4geNqYR3UlN8EVENct8TZVd7lap1kNYcOdhcoaveoq4anansOTNLZzD1oeHVwRueLLEMMueadllFE0CKHmOC5o8OE69A/w200-h196/BlazingDragons_PSOne-Cover.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">On October 31st, 1996 Sega Saturn and PlayStation One owners alike got to play <i>Blazing Dragons</i> with European gamers following suit the next month. The Illusions Gaming Company founders Bartlett and Coliz worked on the creative and technical direction respectively, it was designed by producer Matthew Seymour, writer Frederick J. Schiller, and Russell Lingo, and was programmed by Matt Gilbert, Chuck Woo, and Maria Leveriza. Having only played the PlayStation One version, I'll exclusively be covering the Sony edition.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2ZvJeEKaOs5geVOrwomkxidNRSyXCId3L_vkkC484hOBUtec67CpI82bB9OUNLw3C8D8bkj0TQqf4ciWGlhmlJFWhRkQRV_oACDWReYNVMCP66ImNlatGEROQNwNYUinBFoyWWRw2mz6yOo2uzzKu1xTKbsxN46jIe5tRQ0QE36PtDk9fKTU9VbApQ/s387/BlazingDragons_Camelhot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2ZvJeEKaOs5geVOrwomkxidNRSyXCId3L_vkkC484hOBUtec67CpI82bB9OUNLw3C8D8bkj0TQqf4ciWGlhmlJFWhRkQRV_oACDWReYNVMCP66ImNlatGEROQNwNYUinBFoyWWRw2mz6yOo2uzzKu1xTKbsxN46jIe5tRQ0QE36PtDk9fKTU9VbApQ/s16000/BlazingDragons_Camelhot.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">All was calm in the kingdom of Camelhot until the alarm sounded off from another attempted raid of the Royal Mines by the human army of Sir George and his men.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImtMf7aeuV84O6SyNMcJY8XynQb9iA-3713Y2suDacjEamk5PwbrcdkVRsfida6YjD0ENn-Z4J4nL_9KxDwe0eO5Ef1yfLGhzXRT2fvpiM48kp-MPTEkpPpqLlFrD276MFrm7QtldJNQK6k7tGspT3qrMsQm1oLpeM6z29B0mYUSY0Iuf9vu9sEh_fQ/s387/BlazingDragons_KingAllFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImtMf7aeuV84O6SyNMcJY8XynQb9iA-3713Y2suDacjEamk5PwbrcdkVRsfida6YjD0ENn-Z4J4nL_9KxDwe0eO5Ef1yfLGhzXRT2fvpiM48kp-MPTEkpPpqLlFrD276MFrm7QtldJNQK6k7tGspT3qrMsQm1oLpeM6z29B0mYUSY0Iuf9vu9sEh_fQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_KingAllFire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8IYUyN2ExlmXR4J9cY-KJu9H0oOFFQcJ55GR-YBcamg-FG8JMgJST5fKAc74mwHM9gdnQNMDP6xzOtwgi0tEl-KUd9RrZK1S6FQ3v2HM0A7NNPDnOhzHLXj9L87Iih1VPLaMy1mlTup-I8HkvfVsUF1d3LX3kBBwPPiwzYLtsBdYsD_B5QBGnGnwIw/s387/BlazingDragons_KnightsHuddle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8IYUyN2ExlmXR4J9cY-KJu9H0oOFFQcJ55GR-YBcamg-FG8JMgJST5fKAc74mwHM9gdnQNMDP6xzOtwgi0tEl-KUd9RrZK1S6FQ3v2HM0A7NNPDnOhzHLXj9L87Iih1VPLaMy1mlTup-I8HkvfVsUF1d3LX3kBBwPPiwzYLtsBdYsD_B5QBGnGnwIw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_KnightsHuddle.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Incensed and mildly annoyed by this King All-Fire, Camelhot's dragon ruler, summons his four Knights of the Square Table--the bespectacled well-learned Sir Burnevere, the brutish and nearsighted Sir Gasflame, the flamboyant and self-obsessed Sir Blaze, and the highly pompous Sir Loungealot who's infused with chivalric bravado--to thwart off and drive away Sir George's men away.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGaIAawUcbH7swtE6V1x1sZNbqrjkinqTCou9pqgaWtCQyn2sn30o3y2Tu-FHDD7Vvt0-My1GKJVxJrXGCuqOMvBLP2bCXfhekfybChKpePs0Fd2G8EmJtAoPBmQYmRFs0S_6f7ie3IiUx8TexT4X_cCRdVMudsAyEG3MTuhrshX4_0buTmKiyFYpYA/s387/BlazingDragons_MervinsLaboratory.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGaIAawUcbH7swtE6V1x1sZNbqrjkinqTCou9pqgaWtCQyn2sn30o3y2Tu-FHDD7Vvt0-My1GKJVxJrXGCuqOMvBLP2bCXfhekfybChKpePs0Fd2G8EmJtAoPBmQYmRFs0S_6f7ie3IiUx8TexT4X_cCRdVMudsAyEG3MTuhrshX4_0buTmKiyFYpYA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_MervinsLaboratory.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_8elSqcTfSXm0fzgkQ51Fzw1l8s_Ccd2PoyQwA8s3E8XN1tXlAAn1u9HeiMEG15cuSThiFWkLqpHGtZgZSFGrI_Z1IdQDUIvqkQ8yOOBHFrABnRSJcuYzxmZvgkxYjvI-fUJrkb-nKs3lWF2XSSx8zlek-vcaI40hnCn6nRo_0MhgT9_7APWI60tVQ/s387/BlazingDragons_Conference.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_8elSqcTfSXm0fzgkQ51Fzw1l8s_Ccd2PoyQwA8s3E8XN1tXlAAn1u9HeiMEG15cuSThiFWkLqpHGtZgZSFGrI_Z1IdQDUIvqkQ8yOOBHFrABnRSJcuYzxmZvgkxYjvI-fUJrkb-nKs3lWF2XSSx8zlek-vcaI40hnCn6nRo_0MhgT9_7APWI60tVQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Conference.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">After retreating back to Sir George's castle and having sustained the loss of a thousand men, the childishly evil ruler consults with his wizard Mervin on how to take over Camelhot and how to eradicate it of dragons. The next day a conference is held by King All-Fire announcing that the winner of the upcoming dragon tournament will have the hand of his young and only daughter Princess Flame in marriage and become king; just then Sir George and Mervin briefly show up and announce that they are enlisting a "Black Dragon" to partake in the tournament on their behalf. The young inventor dragon Flicker loves Princess Flame (and she feels the same way about him) and wishes to compete so she wouldn't have to marry one of the four Knights against her will, but he is deemed unqualified by King All-Fire since he does not bear a title of noble rank.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDviIWJkEoRJl4DbOK4CvONnLjzzuYnG4ZTQkGTV8KZzkO4ZPZdD45mf3pSiwsoiPsjasyEM6hNHmADOPzqUFmGg6isc1xZtqy8ExHFxhd0eYMvQIVtPyIxPd9j-HB8jheAsKRwKucZ-m84q_Pdl4eWI2vfaHQM427r6oEByUNmhfgxY9ZuFDHNj1buw/s387/BlazingDragons_BlackDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDviIWJkEoRJl4DbOK4CvONnLjzzuYnG4ZTQkGTV8KZzkO4ZPZdD45mf3pSiwsoiPsjasyEM6hNHmADOPzqUFmGg6isc1xZtqy8ExHFxhd0eYMvQIVtPyIxPd9j-HB8jheAsKRwKucZ-m84q_Pdl4eWI2vfaHQM427r6oEByUNmhfgxY9ZuFDHNj1buw/s16000/BlazingDragons_BlackDragon.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Luckily for him Princess Flame informs Flicker that he's got a shot at competing in the tournament should he manage to get one of the Knights to pick him as a squire to serve under and after becoming one he should venture into the Cave of Dilemma to become a knight, but he's only got a day to make that happen; along the way in his quest to become a squire, he discovers that Sir George's Black Dragon is in fact a deadly machine.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZnqPdYd5SdkPrhc_uKLsgqpyo45SncLI9u8tppwMEl1uWChzG1C9v4QfXLJE3AMGxC5AjPS0jvYpWDJxrZIGtRJyywHF8yiwF-Q95KpttVsH6CJqrZqFTbF4bsNaMl84p2rGKgz6snIbxsP_vSePry44_pynOhxp4c886Yy741jg4bWRtIWf5lPLQA/s387/BlazingDragons_FlickersRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZnqPdYd5SdkPrhc_uKLsgqpyo45SncLI9u8tppwMEl1uWChzG1C9v4QfXLJE3AMGxC5AjPS0jvYpWDJxrZIGtRJyywHF8yiwF-Q95KpttVsH6CJqrZqFTbF4bsNaMl84p2rGKgz6snIbxsP_vSePry44_pynOhxp4c886Yy741jg4bWRtIWf5lPLQA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_FlickersRoom.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh622jRp4Cr01kXYuTI5wMb8uTstaXo_Xdm633eVgsEqyCfjIqQVxBX1lci30gDoz-vOpSIKEhcap6O9GP3kmj_TZnCTZAj4IqAkjyY6wgK24bd5bkC5he3DihfbTu7LjyaAnfnvbL46TYoKd4wbnqk7qtnAkVxHaDYVoolkSOv80-t19Wb2KSO-PNKiQ/s387/BlazingDragons_GrabbingCandle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh622jRp4Cr01kXYuTI5wMb8uTstaXo_Xdm633eVgsEqyCfjIqQVxBX1lci30gDoz-vOpSIKEhcap6O9GP3kmj_TZnCTZAj4IqAkjyY6wgK24bd5bkC5he3DihfbTu7LjyaAnfnvbL46TYoKd4wbnqk7qtnAkVxHaDYVoolkSOv80-t19Wb2KSO-PNKiQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_GrabbingCandle.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: You know you're playing a good game when it starts off with its main protagonist in bed! </b>😃<b> I realize it sounds like I'm being facetious, but I'm not | Right: Grabbing a candelabra down the hall</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">In the point-and-click graphic adventure <i>Blazing Dragons</i> you guide and indirectly control the young inventor dragon Flicker where you can move the cursor in every inch and corner of the screen, cycle between one of five cursor options with the L1 and R1 shoulder buttons (a hand to grab and pick up an item, an eyeball to look at an item or character, a mouth to speak to a certain character, a foot to move to a certain spot, or the item you've currently selected from your inventory which you can use for a specific situation),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48LZK6WWP2g0DxzdVEyQPzX939EZU6sJ-WK9YVbyJU8_rOpwrDlbkoXn5q744gtxDMoLf0Z3waXsr5aY4fMixeZp8C2EwvRVq9XSUKHCGvJGF-XhlLOlrxHUEXTujSc4Ij-0KsHUv4xhV8-_BoEM3SOhzZMm5thNCowAA5dClh5VMZs8cAm7w9NGYGg/s387/BlazingDragons_Kitchen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48LZK6WWP2g0DxzdVEyQPzX939EZU6sJ-WK9YVbyJU8_rOpwrDlbkoXn5q744gtxDMoLf0Z3waXsr5aY4fMixeZp8C2EwvRVq9XSUKHCGvJGF-XhlLOlrxHUEXTujSc4Ij-0KsHUv4xhV8-_BoEM3SOhzZMm5thNCowAA5dClh5VMZs8cAm7w9NGYGg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Kitchen.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMtL3cvURrQ7RIvdLFMvdB1jLxFMHZ5fWK1OobrUgZgnsEnZzzturkG3YNZ53OcbK6qdO5GWVaoCz0rtP_mU4EnWPGwPjCLxjw354KbatJlBxM1uXuYrHqZMQ3xjF36EnUmT5ptZt34bxSkR4qcWcyGIeZFvW6ulGXGR5LrOgm-iPEbIyVYAdY14j-A/s387/BlazingDragons_AutomatedScaleScrubber.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMtL3cvURrQ7RIvdLFMvdB1jLxFMHZ5fWK1OobrUgZgnsEnZzzturkG3YNZ53OcbK6qdO5GWVaoCz0rtP_mU4EnWPGwPjCLxjw354KbatJlBxM1uXuYrHqZMQ3xjF36EnUmT5ptZt34bxSkR4qcWcyGIeZFvW6ulGXGR5LrOgm-iPEbIyVYAdY14j-A/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_AutomatedScaleScrubber.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Starting off by finding a way to clean the dishes at a quick rate so he can <u>truly</u> begin to set foot outside of Camelhot | Right: Luckily an inventor never leaves without his invention book</span></b></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #11d200;">press the </span><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">𝖷</span></b><span style="color: #11d200;"> button at a hotspot to perform an action or to use an item (where you see the cursor either being animated or highlighted if it's set to the item of your choice) or select your choice in a dialogue scenario entailing multiple choice, and with the </span><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">△</span></b><span style="color: #11d200;"> button you can quickly access Flicker's inventory bag (and press it again to exit out of it) where you can press the </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">𝖷</span></b><span style="color: #11d200;"> button to select the item you're going to use (an alternate way of accessing the inventory bag is by moving the cursor until it hovers over it and you press </span><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">𝖷</span></b><span style="color: #11d200;"> there).</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDpaP7qCU2MF72iU2gDYhpw4-r6r7YPmXNrsp5KD29e6tHxhOMTd35_poZnXFOjPbK5h4g2h1awhKqt-d-bNwXmHfROR-PAQye1vM7mr4qlylkppE4u61S4g7jyZGVQymQ599zCSTtuPsyEKt9tfN3vxW5CBKnwXrctG6tX-eWNeHOvu7KoFatYvolQ/s387/BlazingDragons_MainHall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDpaP7qCU2MF72iU2gDYhpw4-r6r7YPmXNrsp5KD29e6tHxhOMTd35_poZnXFOjPbK5h4g2h1awhKqt-d-bNwXmHfROR-PAQye1vM7mr4qlylkppE4u61S4g7jyZGVQymQ599zCSTtuPsyEKt9tfN3vxW5CBKnwXrctG6tX-eWNeHOvu7KoFatYvolQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_MainHall.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVxXyIegpg9n_C2mmiU1Xnm30XMTogR5JIfQIw4YhOjUjJrJ--6bH6JlrREZ-FmSozAXoGkplcqiJNoIe5u8k1kYzNL6ZUxN5VlleavpA2FOilBfECy0ZbR-dRSWCwrlNu54eGvJiD2G1D95uGPAYeeQeYmd_b1NU9kO8Rxc95q24t5bklakozvtREQ/s387/BlazingDragons_GoodLuckKiss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVxXyIegpg9n_C2mmiU1Xnm30XMTogR5JIfQIw4YhOjUjJrJ--6bH6JlrREZ-FmSozAXoGkplcqiJNoIe5u8k1kYzNL6ZUxN5VlleavpA2FOilBfECy0ZbR-dRSWCwrlNu54eGvJiD2G1D95uGPAYeeQeYmd_b1NU9kO8Rxc95q24t5bklakozvtREQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_GoodLuckKiss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Back to the main hall | Right: Flame blowing Flicker a good luck kiss </b>😘</span></div></span><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">In the title screen or when you pause the game you can raise or lower the volume for the background music, the sound effects, <b>and</b> the voices plus you can decide to enable or disable subtitles for when a character speaks if you so choose (if it's a prolonged bit of dialogue divided in two halves and it doesn't fit it all, you can press the </span><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">𝖷</span></b><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"> button once to see the remaining bit).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsUP5t0GlQ8Bvpd4ERDv5N9TTk1lHaAUEssJKPTQQfIFB2qeEc8WRnLd8JwmxbFsYpPu3uuY_m5pno4pbgz_VeDsBSytyH1gRl176tfa0ObeRyF9vb8WGxcppVmxLHlILB7asBV1itH0oq0XzDzadhpkuznUuSilrUNgvWDW55Ig3Bn-A20muIfukEA/s387/BlazingDragons_EnchantedMap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsUP5t0GlQ8Bvpd4ERDv5N9TTk1lHaAUEssJKPTQQfIFB2qeEc8WRnLd8JwmxbFsYpPu3uuY_m5pno4pbgz_VeDsBSytyH1gRl176tfa0ObeRyF9vb8WGxcppVmxLHlILB7asBV1itH0oq0XzDzadhpkuznUuSilrUNgvWDW55Ig3Bn-A20muIfukEA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_EnchantedMap.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY7K8mjGhYYRC5epKTTy8SVW3PAxAXilweu5N_mHF_LCQ2KeW2wIEs3t1pMiiXY6rWz8WHlajxkJBNepcr4SzZ3Sy3gGZHKVKBBV6GWr4TRA0TYteR0LFxw0ONr4HGgXjKOpyxwaSpfRXEyRIXhUD9pc-sFEVq7w7PA25SZmeLffpvBYkLZBtRN8ZWA/s387/BlazingDragons_TermiteInfestedPipeCleaner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY7K8mjGhYYRC5epKTTy8SVW3PAxAXilweu5N_mHF_LCQ2KeW2wIEs3t1pMiiXY6rWz8WHlajxkJBNepcr4SzZ3Sy3gGZHKVKBBV6GWr4TRA0TYteR0LFxw0ONr4HGgXjKOpyxwaSpfRXEyRIXhUD9pc-sFEVq7w7PA25SZmeLffpvBYkLZBtRN8ZWA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_TermiteInfestedPipeCleaner.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Incredibly convenient, that map is | Right: Gathering all the termites inside one of King All-Fire's pipe cleaners</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Much like Ludimedia's <i>Rayman</i>, Burst Studios' <i>Spot Goes to Hollywood</i>, Argonaut Software's <i>Croc: Legend of the Gobbos</i>/<i>Croc! Pau-Pau Island</i>, and Slippery Snake Studios' <i>Rosco McQueen</i>/<i>Fire Panic</i>, you could either choose to save your progress in any one of fifteen slots available on the memory card (should you have a free space on it) or you could resume where you left off after inputting a password (in this case, eighteen characters); unlike all those aforementioned games which are all action platformers, however, you can save or look up the password at <b>any</b> point as is wont in the point-and-click genre.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpcQTeKqOxoKqlzXoANLnmtdUD3XKu7qHkv3IHRDKwpADf7AASwFsotFKA-Zm49BsZ4g_UL0Yt5IWDOfgajRo8L8gCtLBbCHaEAtvKXZPbi82xObobNflbd2WIGajcLUvWXNcIH3KuUDzF0oDaRGYQDnAd2DDekzzRuJ93Ib5rfyGp43ZHTb2BtbG6w/s387/BlazingDragons_Master.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpcQTeKqOxoKqlzXoANLnmtdUD3XKu7qHkv3IHRDKwpADf7AASwFsotFKA-Zm49BsZ4g_UL0Yt5IWDOfgajRo8L8gCtLBbCHaEAtvKXZPbi82xObobNflbd2WIGajcLUvWXNcIH3KuUDzF0oDaRGYQDnAd2DDekzzRuJ93Ib5rfyGp43ZHTb2BtbG6w/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Master.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGK78GjuCT9nrWFqKSCidy6194aY_0A77-mbVB0o4jDKHn-3yaKvgisEdEeq7fSnUgm_5i5qS4jcUu2TcKBGAMIgrhsKqGnS6V0uml-Nl4ITBtjxgr-1NDek1LXbDGQMtfcdaGyS_qYuuXSxT6YXk3nI0eifkkhYMAJS1QnNcFfREM7cYOFw6BJHXkQ/s387/BlazingDragons_RapunzelHairGrowth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGK78GjuCT9nrWFqKSCidy6194aY_0A77-mbVB0o4jDKHn-3yaKvgisEdEeq7fSnUgm_5i5qS4jcUu2TcKBGAMIgrhsKqGnS6V0uml-Nl4ITBtjxgr-1NDek1LXbDGQMtfcdaGyS_qYuuXSxT6YXk3nI0eifkkhYMAJS1QnNcFfREM7cYOFw6BJHXkQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_RapunzelHairGrowth.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Yay, Flicker! | Right: Wow, all those years of being subject to Mother Gothel's ruthless gaslighting has really done Disney's Rapunzel absolutely no favors for her psyche</b> 😟</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i> has got a lush and vibrant visual aesthetic, the color palette is sublimely chosen (the greens, the blues, and the reds really stand out and pop) and very pleasant for the eyes, and each location by Jim Eral, Yoriko Ito, and Michelle Chang* (with additional artwork courtesy of Crystal Dynamics' Steve M. Suhy) is imaginatively and creatively designed with an endearing sense of lighting and shading abound and good amount of detail.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* The Chinese/Native American fighter from Namco's <i>Tekken</i>??</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVzaFHkQx3SR04ldn6hT8L4sCTSQVeEvBUdLVRnDkAMO9Rw2NJZoyjfkW4MzFfc5DjjQynREuINfiUoPOfPtV9jLWfeE8Qiw5SSnQ52cOQwV3SP-Hdb0stAoBMzZ_QIdQGGBfcEdfMIxRmsm_Xc0WvMmmNF8Lr6Fik_2ckWLFchyZz-ewGyaCGmFyw/s387/BlazingDragons_HairTonicForClippers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVzaFHkQx3SR04ldn6hT8L4sCTSQVeEvBUdLVRnDkAMO9Rw2NJZoyjfkW4MzFfc5DjjQynREuINfiUoPOfPtV9jLWfeE8Qiw5SSnQ52cOQwV3SP-Hdb0stAoBMzZ_QIdQGGBfcEdfMIxRmsm_Xc0WvMmmNF8Lr6Fik_2ckWLFchyZz-ewGyaCGmFyw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_HairTonicForClippers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu8Q_XrCO1CAsji3ogo0_3G_zpicyr7Jd7NQWIT8I7ebtjtFzW4cSpHB2E5C6Bfeh3EuLfIgkMsK3tVWHDWm7QkBCz5zLYmaqJpHy7Q2sLaRjwZFnpGoNeljLjKEGbU8MwzVGtn831l8n5yW8XT5DA82ZbX_8NJ0vfwRgXiEhj7FcAxep5I-CN1tXOg/s387/BlazingDragons_DoctorFraud.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu8Q_XrCO1CAsji3ogo0_3G_zpicyr7Jd7NQWIT8I7ebtjtFzW4cSpHB2E5C6Bfeh3EuLfIgkMsK3tVWHDWm7QkBCz5zLYmaqJpHy7Q2sLaRjwZFnpGoNeljLjKEGbU8MwzVGtn831l8n5yW8XT5DA82ZbX_8NJ0vfwRgXiEhj7FcAxep5I-CN1tXOg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_DoctorFraud.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Take the offer, no one afflicted with severe mental health issues should be left alone with sharp objects of any kind | Right: Oh, you mean to tell me that this repurposed beanstalk turned mental institution is run by a blatant arsehole with a degree? Quelle surprise... </b>😒<b> (In all seriousness though, a lot of fairytale origins are royally fudged up)</b></span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Flicker's room has got a wooden floor with three oval windows, is a bit of a mess in spots, and has got a poster of his idol Albert Einstein attached to the ceiling above his bed; I like the main hall with its large and oval-shaped checker-patterned reflective floor, ornately framed portraits of King All-Fire and his estranged Queen Griddle, and the different flags flying above; there is a smooth amount of pasture around the cut down beanstalk (which has since been renovated as a home for troubled fairytale characters with the sunlight piercing through its barred window) with a sleeping giant looming in the distance slowly breathing in and out with his foot occasionally twitching up;</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfX-aJDT-p9-LIxD9p0hLxmfCKbyAj4PvvSwEdVfwd99j3EwUX_F2LLUSqjjmn6DUL1OA5wbD2Bh0wG_1UQU4wbOH7SI8piG7NMqfCy84XIn3ZwHjRNyJrdUSZVbFaOJYaIekn3c3x8cQ5MzEfdhFyTYV4l61l1sZFz21xqXng1uOrIr9WmZAy2ENJg/s387/BlazingDragons_RatsInHead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfX-aJDT-p9-LIxD9p0hLxmfCKbyAj4PvvSwEdVfwd99j3EwUX_F2LLUSqjjmn6DUL1OA5wbD2Bh0wG_1UQU4wbOH7SI8piG7NMqfCy84XIn3ZwHjRNyJrdUSZVbFaOJYaIekn3c3x8cQ5MzEfdhFyTYV4l61l1sZFz21xqXng1uOrIr9WmZAy2ENJg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_RatsInHead.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzaDh63RnCyGcsN1DudMYQs65WCbOFth81bMulv1jOjB_sHnlK2gkrLW0OJsSYjNRXQZfsO3ET4CoEwVzSMrbMERzWlxbQMNGlMjUenwMP916oM8ZcFFqjDkL9aAcX1xEs_-sEiRbII3Uwvgu3rcHiDPkFq2Az0aa3iF3u6Ko8PfWNGdSPTAbuWY85A/s387/BlazingDragons_SirBlazeReflection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzaDh63RnCyGcsN1DudMYQs65WCbOFth81bMulv1jOjB_sHnlK2gkrLW0OJsSYjNRXQZfsO3ET4CoEwVzSMrbMERzWlxbQMNGlMjUenwMP916oM8ZcFFqjDkL9aAcX1xEs_-sEiRbII3Uwvgu3rcHiDPkFq2Az0aa3iF3u6Ko8PfWNGdSPTAbuWY85A/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_SirBlazeReflection.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Ladies and gentlemen, ableism at full display as the doctor, without any shred of empathy, tells the Pied Piper who's deathly afraid of rats that he's got them all in his head; mental health matters, you </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">hack</u><b>! </b>😠<b> | Right: Sir Blaze held up by his own reflection</b></span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">the mountain range looks beautiful as it snows bright white all around you, the lake where Nimuë resides has got a breathtaking backdrop around it, and the village on the way to Sir George's castle is fittingly devoid of any color given the villain's unkempt nature. The designs of the titular dragons are... strange, to say the least, not like any dragon of the traditional variety (they don't even have any wings on their back). While they still have scaly bodies in varied hues of green and have long tails, the best way to describe them is that they are like centaurs (with an upper two-armed torso and four legs below, except they're not a hybrid of man and horse but one creature). This design choice raises a lot of questions about their mobility: how do these dragons lay down on a surface (let alone sit on a chair) with that many limbs without seriously injuring themselves? Do their torsos and legs have different brainwaves or do they share the same one?? How do they <b>procreate</b>??? 😲</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8FFAgDX2BAOUd4Laei8rH1fQFx72bgHjlChFnCNNxoaSjjLbeBdZbjXU9pzDBqYYq-0dZYTdkg_uC_MAD7UeCKIai2UVQdypkMhRX7vYX6c7SpxPLhvrTYAKVhYsm7KlaHJkLQPaTwiNAwIFPCua92t0d4FhoHTkJb0nczCcpSjC5xk0auGywzvRGw/s387/BlazingDragons_Beanstalk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8FFAgDX2BAOUd4Laei8rH1fQFx72bgHjlChFnCNNxoaSjjLbeBdZbjXU9pzDBqYYq-0dZYTdkg_uC_MAD7UeCKIai2UVQdypkMhRX7vYX6c7SpxPLhvrTYAKVhYsm7KlaHJkLQPaTwiNAwIFPCua92t0d4FhoHTkJb0nczCcpSjC5xk0auGywzvRGw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Beanstalk.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2RQb7RQWhoXFZwtHCvZyW8OuyxpNRemtRF8GlhJXItdKAgnHrB4IR_0wFhDx5ujULeJ5c1kPtxE7bYecB-s1MULmFQrPM9Hd_SD-r97oxZAiXMbXFXjyb2M7BFqVn58WpcZz8ELDgyDDlplhn0-xmbT5nhZc_Q1Bp2fHXwvsjcLZkgOlI0o-gy7rUg/s387/BlazingDragons_ForCamelhot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2RQb7RQWhoXFZwtHCvZyW8OuyxpNRemtRF8GlhJXItdKAgnHrB4IR_0wFhDx5ujULeJ5c1kPtxE7bYecB-s1MULmFQrPM9Hd_SD-r97oxZAiXMbXFXjyb2M7BFqVn58WpcZz8ELDgyDDlplhn0-xmbT5nhZc_Q1Bp2fHXwvsjcLZkgOlI0o-gy7rUg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ForCamelhot.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sir Gasflame literally going up to King All-Fire by standing on the leaves of the magic beanstalk Flicker just planted in His Royal Garden | Right: Sir Loungealot is so overcome by hubris that he neglects to realize he's about to get flattened</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">But regardless, the dragons are likably designed in their own way: Flicker looks good with his turquoise-colored scales clad in a red shirt with puffy blue shoulder pads and feathered blue hat, the glum court jester Trivet wears a harlequin outfit, Princess Flame lives up to her name as she wears a regal flaming red gown, and the armored Knights of the Square Table each have their own physical attributes that make them discernible from one another (i.e. Sir Gasflame with a purple jawline, Sir Loungealot being the buff one).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qK-GBtYYI4heIKh9xOqTM_WVUdbOVGczRrmLxcSlDC52gzHh2G4_vCz5dWB2_zqJnSoF0KKIUy_rp0qi_iPlWrN14traPhJ_NR92BPB7vjBrPFy8dEAz0ctUbSwkramdC28TLoIBKA_3a-HELpz85iuFjWzV9zoP8YGNAc8qpA5m7xoFajn7P71b-A/s387/BlazingDragons_HairRope.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qK-GBtYYI4heIKh9xOqTM_WVUdbOVGczRrmLxcSlDC52gzHh2G4_vCz5dWB2_zqJnSoF0KKIUy_rp0qi_iPlWrN14traPhJ_NR92BPB7vjBrPFy8dEAz0ctUbSwkramdC28TLoIBKA_3a-HELpz85iuFjWzV9zoP8YGNAc8qpA5m7xoFajn7P71b-A/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_HairRope.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-JzJwg55yXvUwbNPJ5fng3t3IADJHDIOAFgxmI_pjJ1CgZB9Id1o3muA-NcHDidPieyd-GdqRTFJodvFjcD4MZ1mzc7Zwxb-L_-oZX8WrnQQMgNUh5dPYpO0ayo63E7_I7J39E7Nz0Iio6PTShgBtIflz742R5Qs0B62fyzo-W0j7HdkfCyh6BB5OA/s387/BlazingDragons_VillainMeetUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-JzJwg55yXvUwbNPJ5fng3t3IADJHDIOAFgxmI_pjJ1CgZB9Id1o3muA-NcHDidPieyd-GdqRTFJodvFjcD4MZ1mzc7Zwxb-L_-oZX8WrnQQMgNUh5dPYpO0ayo63E7_I7J39E7Nz0Iio6PTShgBtIflz742R5Qs0B62fyzo-W0j7HdkfCyh6BB5OA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_VillainMeetUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Helping Princess Flame run away | Right: Welp, prepare for diminishing returns then, and *faux gasp* the Chancellor is the <u>bad guy</u>--working for the <u>humans</u> no less? Who saw this coming? </b>😐</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The humans are also designed amusingly, all with bubblegum pink skin: Sir George is exaggeratedly large in size and not very well-kept, his wizard Mervin is your stereotypical blue-robed wizard with his pointy cap and elongated goatee beard, there's a satirical parody on the founder of psychoanalysis Dr. Sigmund Freud (Dr. Zigmond Fraud, get it?) with a white lab coat and head mirror on his head (because... it's not an animated doctor unless you see them wear one?), a hyper-excited bald bartender with a white apron on, a deliberately anachronistic baseball player in 20th century sports attire, and a musclebound brute who wears a tutu when dancing off against Flicker, et al.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i>' soundtrack was composed by John Lawrence under his Power of Two Music label, having previously composed the music for</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZFyttZvRNNV6p39oyi9JKznAudzwkZxNhh9lUwhtZnivAXSI1ZGtUIQAC3DNTEFHzJsV96D_Yf_FnF-lV7zPq0Uv5K56tWwtAUsc9ztRTCHxz9HYuZWfVFdaFIU-_6GNkZ_ai6uDmMv2d2h_VhBiZxma_CHhA1Z3XHDvUb7LyO0xv10I8FRrFL1Csg/s382/SolarEclipse_RheaCave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZFyttZvRNNV6p39oyi9JKznAudzwkZxNhh9lUwhtZnivAXSI1ZGtUIQAC3DNTEFHzJsV96D_Yf_FnF-lV7zPq0Uv5K56tWwtAUsc9ztRTCHxz9HYuZWfVFdaFIU-_6GNkZ_ai6uDmMv2d2h_VhBiZxma_CHhA1Z3XHDvUb7LyO0xv10I8FRrFL1Csg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_RheaCave.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXJAHS8Tz627dyOdB1VEA_6O8bSDh8Lw_gGL3MQ1_qGuI8TsfVfW4vPEHVSiAto5-v0EIip_j4ZQYvw9yO7cCLCzWwhn_oZLSs06spIltuyDFvgai-luzAn2m-icMVeYeCsPTmvxn-dJurl4_6eYyHJ2l3-OccvobSkLthwX9f4uvZB9WpjeOKHV06A/s382/SolarEclipse_Digger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="382" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXJAHS8Tz627dyOdB1VEA_6O8bSDh8Lw_gGL3MQ1_qGuI8TsfVfW4vPEHVSiAto5-v0EIip_j4ZQYvw9yO7cCLCzWwhn_oZLSs06spIltuyDFvgai-luzAn2m-icMVeYeCsPTmvxn-dJurl4_6eYyHJ2l3-OccvobSkLthwX9f4uvZB9WpjeOKHV06A/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Digger.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Crystal Dynamics' sci-fi rail shooter <i>Solar Eclipse</i>/<i>Titan Wars</i> and would go on to compose for The Illusions Gaming Company's subsequent point-and-click graphic adventure game <i>Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick</i>, and despite how small it is compared to other games from the same genre its music is fantastic and does a very good job at complementing the lighthearted and bitingly witty tone of the story and adds a lot to the atmosphere for each location.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlg7QjAg4_MT1wxQU4yQniIjDqc80UrVUlYGADy06WbM2FNz9ItuRfaoZj1xUsn93-mAmtvxELd7yFev9qsFXgT1cu5feXKMDNTRkdlnnC0sdLGAwkbeBxA68SH5vjNrKCA11KgdG2thwOrR5F3pAnKTgjAPN3R3n9sYEccubBC6IT4HpS1lrBvXd-Vw/s387/BlazingDragons_SnatchedBag.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlg7QjAg4_MT1wxQU4yQniIjDqc80UrVUlYGADy06WbM2FNz9ItuRfaoZj1xUsn93-mAmtvxELd7yFev9qsFXgT1cu5feXKMDNTRkdlnnC0sdLGAwkbeBxA68SH5vjNrKCA11KgdG2thwOrR5F3pAnKTgjAPN3R3n9sYEccubBC6IT4HpS1lrBvXd-Vw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_SnatchedBag.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEhdoO_ZbUF1o8zT2rx-pKizKtP1gDakAclXAOJDAysMl8VMVf6g1Nta-cn8oqHuasJhFQQBoMjOLnlnRSnBP-PsEtFAStRISlG6fAdgqbTrh3nlBm4kNBisLz9u3ZLhjV4weSz7c0mWFZUbCSwZXvX7Jni-ibj5lSkn89MFleK8uOOSRKCRnOztioA/s387/BlazingDragons_MakeMeAPrincess.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEhdoO_ZbUF1o8zT2rx-pKizKtP1gDakAclXAOJDAysMl8VMVf6g1Nta-cn8oqHuasJhFQQBoMjOLnlnRSnBP-PsEtFAStRISlG6fAdgqbTrh3nlBm4kNBisLz9u3ZLhjV4weSz7c0mWFZUbCSwZXvX7Jni-ibj5lSkn89MFleK8uOOSRKCRnOztioA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_MakeMeAPrincess.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The Chancellor snagging Flicker's bag from behind | Right: Flicker gleefully volunteering to be future hypnotist Trivet's guinea pig</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Kv5Tw5FR4">theme</a> used for the title and the inside of the castle in Camelhot sounds enjoyably quirky and subdued all at once if that makes sense, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhnX0FEw6_A">Lady of the Lake Nimuë's theme</a> is soothingly relaxing and captures the majestic beauty of both her and the lake she lives in, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj7DDimPLjg">theme for the town</a> on the way to Sir George's abode sounds down on its luck but in a comical and irreverent manner, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVB90pGITLw">Sir George's theme</a> brings out the pungent quality about this antagonist. There's this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQplSNktgQY">nice engaging melody</a> that plays in King All-Fire's garden and room which is my favorite theme in the game (it even plays during the end credits), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsw5u2kObbk">Ancient Al's theme</a> when you visit his Cave of Dilemma has got a mysterious flair to it, and there's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mf4npp4mk0">smooth and catchy disco tune</a> for when you dance off against the musclebound brute, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fjfrxg8pKg">theme</a> for the beanstalk where the fairytale characters are institutionalized sounds delirious, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKnpFs47NLE">final theme</a> for when you deal with Mervin and Sir George is intensely fast-paced thereby elevating the urgency of the situation.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM6dFYisecQmoKnrUgWXK5vT16UYssKQMf0wVshk1aBSqjHRO61eCNRJtkQ-Rcm4PBRKoqH9uLKbVLsq2lf7n26XuaKYqYWJdkLPWlLcLMvbnNCi8PFuGhd7IyYwExQClkhwAbGhlktlUanCrRqwF5FIUrS1DIK-0N5lamk1X5lgJTZX-dlQ-5Q3yCg/s387/BlazingDragons_KickingDodo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM6dFYisecQmoKnrUgWXK5vT16UYssKQMf0wVshk1aBSqjHRO61eCNRJtkQ-Rcm4PBRKoqH9uLKbVLsq2lf7n26XuaKYqYWJdkLPWlLcLMvbnNCi8PFuGhd7IyYwExQClkhwAbGhlktlUanCrRqwF5FIUrS1DIK-0N5lamk1X5lgJTZX-dlQ-5Q3yCg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_KickingDodo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh20Kx9kWOidMKL3-sBLbQwc1KK_mlhheeiai9-RU5-16KiwNHjyrmBmiwOFUdhemIMJDBpM2hswekJTTJp6o7ofiSpsNtsKyqjq0Cn5obX5SdwyOdVx0_zmMAjRqGDbdMYi1iYd09WPOl8DOkEPADij1haUKUFJe86wc2kOe9jhiPiL7Xxe1cqAKNcQ/s387/BlazingDragons_Aside.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh20Kx9kWOidMKL3-sBLbQwc1KK_mlhheeiai9-RU5-16KiwNHjyrmBmiwOFUdhemIMJDBpM2hswekJTTJp6o7ofiSpsNtsKyqjq0Cn5obX5SdwyOdVx0_zmMAjRqGDbdMYi1iYd09WPOl8DOkEPADij1haUKUFJe86wc2kOe9jhiPiL7Xxe1cqAKNcQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Aside.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Dodo abuse | Right: </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Well next time you have your small, malicious aside you should probably consider doing it in an isolated position where someone isn't likely to hear it from standing just a few feet away!</b></span></span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects by Tom Corwin and John March are decently well-made and selected and appropriately cartoony by nature, particularly the bubble pop sound whenever Flicker picks up and grabs an item, the scorching flame sound when it comes to fire, the unhinging wood sound for whenever a door gets open, the window wipe sound for when a worker dragon is wiping the banner for the tournament, the audible snipping sounds for when something's getting cut, and the clicking sounds for when you make Flicker play with his clicker, et al.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIzlUU6HdhjWnvmGoVYAoU0_85uODiaj6Ip2RAnY8ep2pIUBVMuuf3V6J7qsb7cvKI0ceEYxwZWouGMkCTu6CH77vl8V5X5bfZYgc4m3mQ0hD0zkS8952s81a8z_afSTksQxSLmZO8xUysmkrl9NuQApqItc6IQpyZkCqNQf9gDEvjaVlRVh_YmFSQA/s387/BlazingDragons_ExitingCastle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIzlUU6HdhjWnvmGoVYAoU0_85uODiaj6Ip2RAnY8ep2pIUBVMuuf3V6J7qsb7cvKI0ceEYxwZWouGMkCTu6CH77vl8V5X5bfZYgc4m3mQ0hD0zkS8952s81a8z_afSTksQxSLmZO8xUysmkrl9NuQApqItc6IQpyZkCqNQf9gDEvjaVlRVh_YmFSQA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ExitingCastle.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjxTb2bZAEkJVb3uS65jGKGsxLzGB8GB89jSHOw8NDlSj4QOPlAc60CA3NrLk9ow9TVCd_zJMBQSuXp7ujECWZGwiyS5cI_G7oFiOc8tD8VcS-fzCrbQcpeE9e3HZ-FbMxt7-F8SgiHWik_TgjPnQJkG1JAFBLx6HNXkm3CaYDuu-X5hBLDzi7-2D9Q/s387/BlazingDragons_TickleTickle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjxTb2bZAEkJVb3uS65jGKGsxLzGB8GB89jSHOw8NDlSj4QOPlAc60CA3NrLk9ow9TVCd_zJMBQSuXp7ujECWZGwiyS5cI_G7oFiOc8tD8VcS-fzCrbQcpeE9e3HZ-FbMxt7-F8SgiHWik_TgjPnQJkG1JAFBLx6HNXkm3CaYDuu-X5hBLDzi7-2D9Q/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_TickleTickle.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Exiting the castle once more | Right: Tickling the depressed chef silly with a feather duster, right in the tummy area</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">During the Summer of 2020 I was starting to get interested in the point-and-click graphic adventure genre as they were starting to intrigue me to the point that I wanted to play them, games like the Gregg Barnett and Angela Sutherland produced <i>Discworld</i> video games from the '90s based on the late Terry Pratchett's book franchise and Revolution Software's <i>Broken Sword</i> series among others. I did play point-and-click games as a child growing up on the Windows PC but my experience with those were limited then, mostly because I was more into action games and platformers, and for most of them I didn't get far--what games I did play of that ilk as a kid were Amazing Media's <i>Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster</i> which had Tim Curry as the titular scientist, CyberFlix's <i>Dust: A Tale of the Wired West</i> and <i>Titanic: Adventure Out of Time</i>, Disney Interactive's <i>101 Dalmatians: Escape From DeVil Manor</i> (which I managed to play through several times), and MotionWorks' <i>Anastasia: Adventures with Pooka and Bartok</i> based on the classic 1997 Don Bluth animated film.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA0IQRMwCzHAMq8-hIvAcJqfuS5FzecUoLII2L0-MI1y5_3YBoRdRl7GUue8PMyaig3GZyQrcyYhBA-e9KJsdtjl4njvgjdvlkldVA-GWeteVrvXx9aO5nM8SAlKZxnbAOm3uUDO_QLlmf9HR0pMWO4aU8VAFr5XoBnt6ccOunkTrwBVQskNcry1GlQ/s386/DisneysMagicalMirror_ClockTower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA0IQRMwCzHAMq8-hIvAcJqfuS5FzecUoLII2L0-MI1y5_3YBoRdRl7GUue8PMyaig3GZyQrcyYhBA-e9KJsdtjl4njvgjdvlkldVA-GWeteVrvXx9aO5nM8SAlKZxnbAOm3uUDO_QLlmf9HR0pMWO4aU8VAFr5XoBnt6ccOunkTrwBVQskNcry1GlQ/w200-h156/DisneysMagicalMirror_ClockTower.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61uHDsZq9fze5hxvduT2R3-bRojlpca6iHoyuGFCitUi8w7fuz7Ub-SOruo8QcELH3bzdkL9tX6LprSNarOn5sVM7BuUb6xbUF6-3T8JrAutmT2dOQcJsB90JIj1GKQehBxKn8Vy4fTrMEIMXJzUc4FqVmrQ6veFUsWDsQbIFjIyEQK-qVACxNWb3LA/s386/DisneysMagicalMirror_DesertedRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61uHDsZq9fze5hxvduT2R3-bRojlpca6iHoyuGFCitUi8w7fuz7Ub-SOruo8QcELH3bzdkL9tX6LprSNarOn5sVM7BuUb6xbUF6-3T8JrAutmT2dOQcJsB90JIj1GKQehBxKn8Vy4fTrMEIMXJzUc4FqVmrQ6veFUsWDsQbIFjIyEQK-qVACxNWb3LA/w200-h156/DisneysMagicalMirror_DesertedRoom.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The fact that this game was by produced by <u>Shigeru Miyamoto</u> of all people is something I find absolutely mind-blowing, it's just not something I expected</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">There was also this other point-and-click title I played less than twenty years ago, mere months after my family and I moved from Italy to Texas in 2002 I got my second Nintendo GameCube game after getting the console alongside HAL Laboratory's <i>Super Smash Bros. Melee</i>, <i>Disney's Magical Mirror starring Mickey Mouse</i> which was co-developed by Capcom and Nintendo which I did eat up and really enjoyed, even thinking it was great. Granted, I was eleven when I first played it, I didn't know any better; having played it again after God knows how long, I'd be lying if I said it's aged all that well, but by the same token I didn't walk away disliking it either.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43uPc6bA7sNqZQDMvtrw2Rb4785LNSu8vufyqQvKdl7E1EHfLFA_bvj8ktFYxykF1Ir6UOxBriQ7DDDNeO5-w0iOlaMJli00M9hysd6lZzL-SFssO5UYET6ub1y0EHw3HATWfTfr_ER-z52kKZ9_lS0WxBT-r7yDI_CFbWsuBOOoEeiacTbfnkI7n1Q/s386/DisneysMagicalMirror_FaceOff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43uPc6bA7sNqZQDMvtrw2Rb4785LNSu8vufyqQvKdl7E1EHfLFA_bvj8ktFYxykF1Ir6UOxBriQ7DDDNeO5-w0iOlaMJli00M9hysd6lZzL-SFssO5UYET6ub1y0EHw3HATWfTfr_ER-z52kKZ9_lS0WxBT-r7yDI_CFbWsuBOOoEeiacTbfnkI7n1Q/w200-h156/DisneysMagicalMirror_FaceOff.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikELKqGgHexfAJkhBNagJTdr0hzCpWk24Dk9_XZlUPVTggl_3RNyCJ8XLE5vd1kJzERsvO9i54xReqK7pvvMi7k99PyBJsClJV3lTr5yZs5EmoOdZm9v0SO_QvZRT-798NhXaCRUashSPGi5HI6G9DcBa7xBMnvYGr-Ft_DV4qOFsrREQRZDYYYQGEQ/s386/DisneysMagicalMirror_Hadouken.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikELKqGgHexfAJkhBNagJTdr0hzCpWk24Dk9_XZlUPVTggl_3RNyCJ8XLE5vd1kJzERsvO9i54xReqK7pvvMi7k99PyBJsClJV3lTr5yZs5EmoOdZm9v0SO_QvZRT-798NhXaCRUashSPGi5HI6G9DcBa7xBMnvYGr-Ft_DV4qOFsrREQRZDYYYQGEQ/w200-h156/DisneysMagicalMirror_Hadouken.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Seiko Kobuchi's soundtrack is pleasant (I've always had a soft spot for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrXE4RJUcQI">old mirror mansion music</a>), it's not devoid of charm, it's got its share of creepy moments here and there, the load times were snappy, and in retrospect I found it very amusing to see Mickey channel his inner Ryu and Ken Masters from Capcom's <i>Street Fighter</i> during the barrel mini-game and the credits. 😆 It is a very easy game to play through in the span of a few hours, but at the end of the day it is simply <b>fine</b>, nothing groundbreaking or spectacular; definitely the weakest out of Capcom's <i>Magical</i> series of Disney games, but not the worst Disney video game license as its contemporary reception suggested by <b>any</b> means--past, present, or future.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkfFkLlf9jO8GoSZMDqnfh8NqzNYS-7zEItX3mngF1IwqZNK6qUqqC9G5zX447MkHMw490vtVf9ZCIBhVZql-zEbBoMkF2-II0XDDRdUlFtBv4BYXy8OybNUscQSD1oyXsaVCkoT8TSOTUdskam1CDggimFImhDsRO5PXNyDru9Ly9DcTQY6q8kYBEg/s386/DisneysMagicalMirror_Snowboarding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkfFkLlf9jO8GoSZMDqnfh8NqzNYS-7zEItX3mngF1IwqZNK6qUqqC9G5zX447MkHMw490vtVf9ZCIBhVZql-zEbBoMkF2-II0XDDRdUlFtBv4BYXy8OybNUscQSD1oyXsaVCkoT8TSOTUdskam1CDggimFImhDsRO5PXNyDru9Ly9DcTQY6q8kYBEg/s16000/DisneysMagicalMirror_Snowboarding.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">The superior Nintendo GameCube snowboarding experience, of course, would be Nintendo Software Technology's <i>1080° Avalanche</i></span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">And, having grown up playing Idol Minds' <i>Cool Boarders</i> sequels on the PlayStation One (and being obsessed with snowboarding games as a result), I was pleased to see a snowboarding mini-game in the brief period of time it lasted. 🏂 This <b>was</b> the last main point-and-click I played for the longest time.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwPGBHDOZxt0CjBVljP0Kv_m1CNpiTAVOaPtzzGZqxiavNY_u70r8uIOfiJFLOxl-j96pYfvL0T4ud3fAL9wGuGxO3lzte97jC0sBL8NiMI1kPEB7KXCW1cq5YpAk4GMqUsM3-0XQUyPw_Z5ccbxbc2_-IH3PtfwidYageTxB60XSGT6EDJ6zHj09Xg/s389/ScoobyDooMystery_EvilClown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwPGBHDOZxt0CjBVljP0Kv_m1CNpiTAVOaPtzzGZqxiavNY_u70r8uIOfiJFLOxl-j96pYfvL0T4ud3fAL9wGuGxO3lzte97jC0sBL8NiMI1kPEB7KXCW1cq5YpAk4GMqUsM3-0XQUyPw_Z5ccbxbc2_-IH3PtfwidYageTxB60XSGT6EDJ6zHj09Xg/w200-h155/ScoobyDooMystery_EvilClown.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHR_WuhjEuOO7lb1heQVwlYwLmPJUdik-7foI17I6UuhnKuF3i1a0pPIYbk2TJ2neGaLLyLY1YkmhoeKLa_fxRskzS0n4n3IkX-3pRageBzZkdz_M9HBjyaUdFcv9xi55b16epJLmRW4QOafER0MAJlvuGmnJ1LfTBzmN6J_6sDQq5wX3XwTWo9AyMg/s389/ScoobyDooMystery_Slide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHR_WuhjEuOO7lb1heQVwlYwLmPJUdik-7foI17I6UuhnKuF3i1a0pPIYbk2TJ2neGaLLyLY1YkmhoeKLa_fxRskzS0n4n3IkX-3pRageBzZkdz_M9HBjyaUdFcv9xi55b16epJLmRW4QOafER0MAJlvuGmnJ1LfTBzmN6J_6sDQq5wX3XwTWo9AyMg/w200-h155/ScoobyDooMystery_Slide.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Whenever I visited my cousins during the Summer season growing up one of the games I played on their SNES console was Argonaut Software's <i>Scooby-Doo Mystery</i>, and I didn't learn until I got older on the internet that there was another game based on the Hanna-Barbera license with that exact title on the Sega Genesis, except the developer and genre were completely different. Eventually I looked into what other games the developer of the Sega title, The Illusions Gaming Company, worked on and it wasn't a lot, but among their catalogue was <i>Blazing Dragons</i> on the PlayStation One which had an appealing visual aesthetic based on what screenshots I saw online with an intriguing concept behind it. On June 2020 I decided to enter the world of point-and-click graphic adventures starting with this game.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw_RAWSpkiF23EEdQDKqzzHC27ilNmpDxsPsR30ywg35QZAEi8CAfNimQTjNjU9XU16cIp5J1QEVzyhZAnsnitStxLZ1bfufFvX0efxypg3afy5POgNkdO_iir0OBhytVVerUArFs8JDX2FEbLz0_jY2pf4CcDFHUIBERNhju5epOa2HPsLzPKcm7wg/s387/BlazingDragons_ScaredCrows.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw_RAWSpkiF23EEdQDKqzzHC27ilNmpDxsPsR30ywg35QZAEi8CAfNimQTjNjU9XU16cIp5J1QEVzyhZAnsnitStxLZ1bfufFvX0efxypg3afy5POgNkdO_iir0OBhytVVerUArFs8JDX2FEbLz0_jY2pf4CcDFHUIBERNhju5epOa2HPsLzPKcm7wg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ScaredCrows.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMlI3qM0idS5pMTIpNtQxpiSJNdufiB8od6vyEDoN-GaGMQe0vW1Mr3ZVD-L3jrDUmetybW1yjMLkDLoo3EBz-X-UDLJLZBbMQXKiN4DwPPVTWfCJLIRxa0eePZLWRQMv648Ja3mJTD2aqtpuyfBI4WnJlm8kpEZBn5dtKBBbJmIPLhG5I5WSB5IdaA/s387/BlazingDragons_DodoShooting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMlI3qM0idS5pMTIpNtQxpiSJNdufiB8od6vyEDoN-GaGMQe0vW1Mr3ZVD-L3jrDUmetybW1yjMLkDLoo3EBz-X-UDLJLZBbMQXKiN4DwPPVTWfCJLIRxa0eePZLWRQMv648Ja3mJTD2aqtpuyfBI4WnJlm8kpEZBn5dtKBBbJmIPLhG5I5WSB5IdaA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_DodoShooting.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Makeshift scarecrow scaring the crows away | Right: That small, helpless dodo bird is being preyed upon by that human hunter</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i> is an enjoyable take on the King Arthur legend, albeit with dragons in the central role, and the point-and-click gameplay is easy to pick up from the get-go. What makes this point-and-click graphic adventure different from its contemporaries is that it's a <b>TV console</b> exclusive rather than a conversion of a game previously available on a PC, so there's no usual sign of visual compression to fit the size of the disc, and it's got reasonably quick load times thereby never having any adverse effect on the overall flow (which was the case in Visual Sciences' port of Cyan's <i>Myst</i> and the Teeny Weeny Games/Perfect 10 Productions co-developed <i>Discworld</i> on the PlayStation One).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hFwPKKuCFu6JQ3BFLQ8PohjHAOnk1gBg2l3OtTGd89avT0DdThwgLGGYSytOHmRxXu9k4S501GW4EZvrJD9ncVia-OjHDFtJyKMnSEyw9Bebfnsyx5JD-2EHa2pRTgdulKNi_BiXD9IvI1qFH4orKgFSISdIq-Dg9Cwe-UAQNp_faygyQQXSDmrr0g/s387/BlazingDragons_Trapezium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hFwPKKuCFu6JQ3BFLQ8PohjHAOnk1gBg2l3OtTGd89avT0DdThwgLGGYSytOHmRxXu9k4S501GW4EZvrJD9ncVia-OjHDFtJyKMnSEyw9Bebfnsyx5JD-2EHa2pRTgdulKNi_BiXD9IvI1qFH4orKgFSISdIq-Dg9Cwe-UAQNp_faygyQQXSDmrr0g/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Trapezium.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6j4Y3SGG_zxuAnkjn-I9MzMhETybcgPW9YFGmarkJyKrw_saBb4dQf2YeBdRwMlt8IZZbPHaGjSKD85OV4jTtNxNd5nlC6fMLqstgJ-xthyyjNc7vbuD5qI4DhnaNscgpklYOQG2qlXg5JuJ42Gb4CGl9NhSms2jj1c4YjaNmjjQvR8chrGmNMeqCg/s387/BlazingDragons_Burn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6j4Y3SGG_zxuAnkjn-I9MzMhETybcgPW9YFGmarkJyKrw_saBb4dQf2YeBdRwMlt8IZZbPHaGjSKD85OV4jTtNxNd5nlC6fMLqstgJ-xthyyjNc7vbuD5qI4DhnaNscgpklYOQG2qlXg5JuJ42Gb4CGl9NhSms2jj1c4YjaNmjjQvR8chrGmNMeqCg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Burn.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: A "trapezium", huh? Riiight</b> 🙄<b> | Right: You could replace that Sir George dummy with a dummy of literally <u>any</u> apathy-ridden person neither qualified nor deserving of power, and the reaction would not be any different</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">There is an appealing nature to the point-and-click genre as you move your cursor around until you make it hover over a hotspot, look at an item or situation, pick it up and use it for where it's warranted, and the dialogue is very amusing when it comes to the British humor (with the occasional pun and wordplay delivered in sincere earnest and without any hint of irony to the point that it's endearing) with an overt Monty Python influence (with Terry Jones involved, that's a no-brainer). There's also a likable hassle-free sense of trial and error, I like seeing the alternate dialogue spoken by Flicker for when you correctly applied an item you found for a situation or <b>not</b>, as well as his descriptions for said items when you decide to look at them with the eye option.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1N8X1X8UjxZoLvXpjfowLWZF7VG0WWW9KXMb-u3HYqKWuU4ALOmcyJtxF2oHIM3fb8yTNDVBqrxDBofFuYjFFEM-Itw0TqhEPKBTnlXbdiJyTPbelhFihauTcZZYDv-GCX4tYnChmTNfIdgzIuessyAIvV1rgdBmADL7I-dDdvF_QBWOmhNEZV3wUw/s387/BlazingDragons_BookTitles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1N8X1X8UjxZoLvXpjfowLWZF7VG0WWW9KXMb-u3HYqKWuU4ALOmcyJtxF2oHIM3fb8yTNDVBqrxDBofFuYjFFEM-Itw0TqhEPKBTnlXbdiJyTPbelhFihauTcZZYDv-GCX4tYnChmTNfIdgzIuessyAIvV1rgdBmADL7I-dDdvF_QBWOmhNEZV3wUw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_BookTitles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHz32R4Exq7xP4Miyg8LyfX1avRRboVdL5ObHXDh6AY87XjBIv2ckl7Ht_ZlY09_AF3lEWU0Cr4D2OdqSnO8nTljQ8qOpQKHWkYHSNyVJ7cKc6a1kgOeP45pcVb5bfMF04oPtLAmJXtiT5NogglP0zY2-J1L2mzzT4QD7yyLsiS5kCwMMEKkJWqqVgw/s387/BlazingDragons_CaveOfDillemaTests.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHz32R4Exq7xP4Miyg8LyfX1avRRboVdL5ObHXDh6AY87XjBIv2ckl7Ht_ZlY09_AF3lEWU0Cr4D2OdqSnO8nTljQ8qOpQKHWkYHSNyVJ7cKc6a1kgOeP45pcVb5bfMF04oPtLAmJXtiT5NogglP0zY2-J1L2mzzT4QD7yyLsiS5kCwMMEKkJWqqVgw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_CaveOfDillemaTests.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">There are certain dialogue moments when you're given multiple choice, thereby taking the dialogue in a certain direction, but unlike other point-and-click games at the time like LucasArts' <i>Sam & Max Hit the Road</i>, <i>Discworld</i>, and Revolution Software's <i>Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars</i> where the dialogue options were icon-based, the multiple choices you're given in <i>Blazing Dragons</i> are <b>text</b>-based like in older point-and-click graphic adventures LucasArts' <i>Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis</i>, Adventure Soft's <i>Simon the Sorcerer</i>, and Revolution Software's <i>Beneath a Steel Sky</i>. That certainly gives this game an older school feel than any of the former examples mentioned.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgKkqmlWhUBVSUrsqUfxH5ohuVUzDa0HKqrNdciY3ukjKL28PY4IA0MMBkMVfF0djl21Tz_CRzy_pQzvkg0euEp-lXg5tzz43gifFh8BxQ7Es_U6ASlFVo6Kwj3SudbEiq83EwzOUVXqZGrjxJ7rjHMMwgzcwATGpa4Ohcwa6TSetFSe3TUy2--jDcA/s387/BlazingDragons_PileOfCensored.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgKkqmlWhUBVSUrsqUfxH5ohuVUzDa0HKqrNdciY3ukjKL28PY4IA0MMBkMVfF0djl21Tz_CRzy_pQzvkg0euEp-lXg5tzz43gifFh8BxQ7Es_U6ASlFVo6Kwj3SudbEiq83EwzOUVXqZGrjxJ7rjHMMwgzcwATGpa4Ohcwa6TSetFSe3TUy2--jDcA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_PileOfCensored.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtAtU7bXO363n3UaPHs9cMksYocTw4xIlmse3W5c9cwEKH1UQI0cx0LyIozHPSe6qyr1nBa47NCMhROCHz2Wq_c5gsLGot0GMd31KbsPSQyK6k_-sEfpvdRYUFaWs4XTRAvGjVYdrerzWwy09CO_ypUh5Y8IsQMHDGseXwDhyhPd7jjh5_Da-xVkrag/s387/BlazingDragons_GirlieDragon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtAtU7bXO363n3UaPHs9cMksYocTw4xIlmse3W5c9cwEKH1UQI0cx0LyIozHPSe6qyr1nBa47NCMhROCHz2Wq_c5gsLGot0GMd31KbsPSQyK6k_-sEfpvdRYUFaWs4XTRAvGjVYdrerzWwy09CO_ypUh5Y8IsQMHDGseXwDhyhPd7jjh5_Da-xVkrag/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_GirlieDragon.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: If there were shiitake mushrooms in this area, Flicker would've gotten away with swearing; why not? It worked for Jim Carrey in Jeff Fowler's </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i><b> </b>🍄<b> | Right: Challenged to a dance-off by a Schwarzenegger wannabe</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The characters are very likable: Flicker is an endearing protagonist with his inventiveness and occasional snark and wit but outside of those qualities he is of noble character and would do anything to ensure Princess Flame doesn't end up with one of the Knights of the Square Table, Princess Flame is smart and has got a strong sense of self-agency about her and much like Flicker is quick with her wit, meanwhile Sir George is so over-the-top in how massively try hard he is as a villain it's hilarious while the real mastermind Mervin the evil wizard does all the conniving and plotting <b>for</b> him. Trivet the Jester delivers one of the best jokes in the game while the credits are rolling as he goes into a long diatribe questioning the internal logic of the point-and-click genre as a whole, which is so funny because he's saying the quiet part out loud*.</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Trivet does also mention how he threatens not to show up in the sequel unless they give him more to do, but with The Illusions Gaming Company having lost their business over two years later I don't think that would've been a possibility, so I'm thinking they were not serious with the sequel bait</b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8bSQf5t0YHSjx3H4NGhlLZm6l9PLeucmn93ZZ2_oWTvyro5yuH_9TU-YKIqEuIjcue-1p8m_KjPKBiRqHMywRvcCfI8fB5HkrwsTVD2nSjkEkH18OAQ6ujEYTPmcO-H-fQHtPzyhCOOowuUok7Q3wogmvfWZIU_fC9NZzySv8FHlQuegNxlL4eLKKg/s387/BlazingDragons_GivingSaltyCrackers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8bSQf5t0YHSjx3H4NGhlLZm6l9PLeucmn93ZZ2_oWTvyro5yuH_9TU-YKIqEuIjcue-1p8m_KjPKBiRqHMywRvcCfI8fB5HkrwsTVD2nSjkEkH18OAQ6ujEYTPmcO-H-fQHtPzyhCOOowuUok7Q3wogmvfWZIU_fC9NZzySv8FHlQuegNxlL4eLKKg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_GivingSaltyCrackers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKLg9Jq7bJ5aZ-amjwFxEXwZpHcxcFDvMWbL_8BTlRBsyjY9FXdHZ5E2ddoBnCqQEXsO1ynKkYOXaR5Sr2nitqcmtHRZVUG8z6kLqEKUAIETUzVBhF1LcWDGQbtlqcoh9QyYc7jU9vLuC2rsnGD5lAs-nB-IY9_PVf5woyRyvEvr6LFkRjPZcpo8lxQ/s387/BlazingDragons_ServingMonks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKLg9Jq7bJ5aZ-amjwFxEXwZpHcxcFDvMWbL_8BTlRBsyjY9FXdHZ5E2ddoBnCqQEXsO1ynKkYOXaR5Sr2nitqcmtHRZVUG8z6kLqEKUAIETUzVBhF1LcWDGQbtlqcoh9QyYc7jU9vLuC2rsnGD5lAs-nB-IY9_PVf5woyRyvEvr6LFkRjPZcpo8lxQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ServingMonks.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: A part of me thinks that anachronistic baseball player is a reference to Mark Twain's </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">A Yankee in King Arthur's Court</i><b>, but then there's another part of me that doubts it because of the uniform's colors </b>🤔<b> | Right: Serving prune juice to a couple of monks</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i> the video game has got an impressive top-tier voice cast, mostly comprising of veteran TV actors with a few big name ones as well: Terry Jones (as Sir Burnevere and Trivet), Cheech Marin (as Sir George and Guido the Pizza Chef, complete with an Italian accent), the GOAT Jim Cummings* (as King All-Fire and the Chancellor), Rob Paulsen (as Mervin and as an Indian-sounding Inventor of Baseball), Jeff Bennett (as Sir Loungealot and the Angry Dancer channeling his inner Arnold), Kath Soucie (whom I forever associate as the voice of Petratishkovna "Tish" Katsufrakis in the 2000 Disney animated series <i>The Weekenders</i>, as the voice of Princess Flame with a very good English accent),</span></div><div><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I hate that there is a filmmaker who shares the same first and last name as this iconic voice acting legend, it's <u>frustrating</u> that there now has to be a distinction between the two when bringing up Jim Cummings! </b>😣</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu09hOm6NYumEtTJUAMm6NX-Bu26JhWq8gOLpw20daaL0lrkG1qADERtM3bIIAIZjuhDWcZG1AjfiSn9_EdJkm-oKX0w1_x2SqOIgWYoBVHikmS2ZB-Bddr-tu5owm_XWPO3j5bs6JIdo4jUDPL1oN86eaNS4cDuxuOokzVqe1-yZGHgb4e_drWXx3Q/s387/BlazingDragons_Delivery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu09hOm6NYumEtTJUAMm6NX-Bu26JhWq8gOLpw20daaL0lrkG1qADERtM3bIIAIZjuhDWcZG1AjfiSn9_EdJkm-oKX0w1_x2SqOIgWYoBVHikmS2ZB-Bddr-tu5owm_XWPO3j5bs6JIdo4jUDPL1oN86eaNS4cDuxuOokzVqe1-yZGHgb4e_drWXx3Q/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Delivery.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9j4OlQauPw9rdGJbSgXddkr2SmAGD40_ddCRC8epnoYVbyFYH8n16rXaT4sUzSzWltTLOsBuILNDVmgogYzd3fGEbvRorZfb97zumXAGyICoAMZrZALxTs73ZqspSFxfJOwMVEOQOfMi4UJyG-sWqMnYmBN5l8jt5y3v4F0zsimT6yU0yTRC5FtmVQ/s387/BlazingDragons_BlindValet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9j4OlQauPw9rdGJbSgXddkr2SmAGD40_ddCRC8epnoYVbyFYH8n16rXaT4sUzSzWltTLOsBuILNDVmgogYzd3fGEbvRorZfb97zumXAGyICoAMZrZALxTs73ZqspSFxfJOwMVEOQOfMi4UJyG-sWqMnYmBN5l8jt5y3v4F0zsimT6yU0yTRC5FtmVQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_BlindValet.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Special delivery for Sir George!" | Right: Aw, he's going to take advantage of a blind man? Oh well, as long as he's not physically, emotionally, or mentally hurting him, I guess it's fine</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">B.J. Ward (as a sultry-sounding Nimuë and fractured Rapunzel Yablanowitz, she would go on to voice Princess Alexia in the English dub of Matrix Software's <i>Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins</i>), Gregg Berger (as Sir Blaze and Ancient Al, the latter of whom gives me Mel Brooks vibes with his Jewish delivery), Charlie Adler (as the Pied Piper), Brian George (as Simple Underachieving Peasant), Harry Shearer (as Dr. Zigmond Fraud, whose exaggeratedly thick foreign accent makes me think of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz from <i>Phineas and Ferb</i>),</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBdKBkzebdGjk2lSky-g0QvABzetvYe5KLj5d8d5s4-0Ed849bbG4bFwJaKD8nIfAW_sgLQIId0IdqqV51gAjMPCkE4B6GdExbROj4pwRE2QzG6DchtKlKbEgVxtmrmicpHZNgDOF1cXz1sElFZ3ICRsmLZbqxwx96ePn3klt9FbTxc0v9jfPGDIK2g/s387/BlazingDragons_Nice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBdKBkzebdGjk2lSky-g0QvABzetvYe5KLj5d8d5s4-0Ed849bbG4bFwJaKD8nIfAW_sgLQIId0IdqqV51gAjMPCkE4B6GdExbROj4pwRE2QzG6DchtKlKbEgVxtmrmicpHZNgDOF1cXz1sElFZ3ICRsmLZbqxwx96ePn3klt9FbTxc0v9jfPGDIK2g/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Nice.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkZMlWLMoHPfof5vKUa6OpoTPnnS4o3FXOpHwimpEuI6IFzGWEpb-Q7Y9slip8S4RDxfOZWO0J4cwXCsRKnM4KNs-szBjH7vM0ujlIvDXOlU3iLlAdSAe7CvP6GFiDLwch_PAa3LQn_CBqkbE-aNCZHPKA5J9DTj4lPq2xP-hk0thkdmltZuPI0lPVQ/s387/BlazingDragons_Destroyed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkZMlWLMoHPfof5vKUa6OpoTPnnS4o3FXOpHwimpEuI6IFzGWEpb-Q7Y9slip8S4RDxfOZWO0J4cwXCsRKnM4KNs-szBjH7vM0ujlIvDXOlU3iLlAdSAe7CvP6GFiDLwch_PAa3LQn_CBqkbE-aNCZHPKA5J9DTj4lPq2xP-hk0thkdmltZuPI0lPVQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Destroyed.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "I'm going to give you a <u>real</u> name for a change so that you're no longer 'Dog' the dog" | Right: It's a good thing none of Sir George's men are bright enough to notice him suddenly having a scaly tail, Flicker's disguise is <u>that</u> foolproof</span></b></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">and Joseph Rye (as Flicker, he's even hilarious when speaking in a falsetto voice or when he deepens his voice to keep the illusion of his disguise, the obscure British Italian actor's got a good range), et al. That is the most amazing voice cast for an obscure video game <b>ever</b>! How did The Illusions Gaming Company get some of the bigger names to lend their talents? It's <b>got</b> to be the quality of the script and character treatment, and they all do such a great job with all their respective roles, and the British accents from the dragon characters are spot on; I'd like to imagine they all had a lot of fun voicing these characters, especially Cheech Marin and Jeff Bennett.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBsII72c3P-Z9sG1grt8ZySmzmNmZTN0ODXpsFaXNDRwXaHykyJFjrWXJU_D3tI5DdOA_U52pLjbvBokH5Ra7zA9GWqY74bZaUgkHkms1qVWnwXGN8aKq7lIswEIKaB76l9bu9SEU2vAp3lduVml5Rv2aSNE9UJdDZl_XyRJjvB1Q3-V3TpBPoejRlw/s387/BlazingDragons_Fetch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBsII72c3P-Z9sG1grt8ZySmzmNmZTN0ODXpsFaXNDRwXaHykyJFjrWXJU_D3tI5DdOA_U52pLjbvBokH5Ra7zA9GWqY74bZaUgkHkms1qVWnwXGN8aKq7lIswEIKaB76l9bu9SEU2vAp3lduVml5Rv2aSNE9UJdDZl_XyRJjvB1Q3-V3TpBPoejRlw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Fetch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVs9wKy0msIftcWHPyR4szggTyf8HZDBjLMOseKg1cJwlLpNG9ImFY4NkpBeMiuCyBRm1Jb76Ss7Mr29dB3bYROaQEvrGzTg8ffUBfWsRWFftp5PAwVW7kOt0Ncb386oP9gx2wS0Lll34X2ZvzKk5SgCPl8832fp3qiyO9cDAzpJs6UwH4nRnf9Cl6Q/s387/BlazingDragons_Smooch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVs9wKy0msIftcWHPyR4szggTyf8HZDBjLMOseKg1cJwlLpNG9ImFY4NkpBeMiuCyBRm1Jb76Ss7Mr29dB3bYROaQEvrGzTg8ffUBfWsRWFftp5PAwVW7kOt0Ncb386oP9gx2wS0Lll34X2ZvzKk5SgCPl8832fp3qiyO9cDAzpJs6UwH4nRnf9Cl6Q/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Smooch.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Huh! Clifford is not as big as I remember | Right: <u>Yeah</u>, a little smooch action between Flicker and Flame, the OTP!</b> 😙</span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Now <i>Blazing Dragons</i> the <b>series</b>, on the other hand, that's a different animal altogether. While both it and the game explore Terry Jones' concept and have got the core fundamentals of most of the dragon characters and feature most of the dragon cast, that's where the similarities end; their personalities are different (Flicker in particular is very sweet, and Sir Loungealot actually lives up to his name), the visual aesthetic and tone (especially once you reach season two) are different, the voice cast is not as stellar, Count Geoffrey is the human villain as opposed to Sir George, the dragons actually appear dragon-like, Queen Griddle is a recurring character whereas in the game she appeared in a couple portraits, and in place of Trivet there's a two-headed dragon jester named Cinder and Clinker, et al.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypETn38a1Q-2wq_QgNQ_KHmfqzYXVlhQ_J7sG0Em0Wn8OGXIKAE18yq9nTrBR-ZPPzH-Uvk5uSP1jWjbikFi0GJDbQpVNANRlSTqk5wODINUVrWF915gt-pdShxuZdYP99CtjbClafpossjqINxCHUEgWVvaEuh7p0cKbCgAkSetAGRGXZV1CE7F1rQ/s387/BlazingDragons_TrappedKnights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypETn38a1Q-2wq_QgNQ_KHmfqzYXVlhQ_J7sG0Em0Wn8OGXIKAE18yq9nTrBR-ZPPzH-Uvk5uSP1jWjbikFi0GJDbQpVNANRlSTqk5wODINUVrWF915gt-pdShxuZdYP99CtjbClafpossjqINxCHUEgWVvaEuh7p0cKbCgAkSetAGRGXZV1CE7F1rQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_TrappedKnights.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoHLpE84bdboaGsRq0cNyWZ5Y2hBiVqbT_2mpk3FWX5q37J_hdmJMPni2M9BcLTLjDUB_h5X8TtIr1KZ3635tQllpypGhxrfLUG_75p_puq_TT6Y6PDo0jkiqbNFd-dZ0TqBUI81zywqfc5aeTVLPktX5hQRAiJzYx2ztc8Gma22NbRQKN1axPnyyxw/s387/BlazingDragons_Whistle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoHLpE84bdboaGsRq0cNyWZ5Y2hBiVqbT_2mpk3FWX5q37J_hdmJMPni2M9BcLTLjDUB_h5X8TtIr1KZ3635tQllpypGhxrfLUG_75p_puq_TT6Y6PDo0jkiqbNFd-dZ0TqBUI81zywqfc5aeTVLPktX5hQRAiJzYx2ztc8Gma22NbRQKN1axPnyyxw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Whistle.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: It was nice of Sir George's men to repurpose Stonehenge as a perpetually spinning carousel with absolutely no end in sight... </b>😬<b> | Right: This image makes me want to cry! </b>🐜<b> Maybe it's the combination of the snowy environment, the "Eye of the Beholder" theme in the background, and the gratefulness of that ant to Flicker for freeing him, but this image is so <u>pure</u>!</b> 😭</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">I feel if you blindly went from playing the game to watching the Nelvana animated series, or vice versa, without knowing what you were getting into you'd probably be very confused as to why both editions of <i>Blazing Dragons</i> neither share the same look nor feel. Both started production around the same time, and I'd have to imagine the people in charge of the show shared their notes and concepts with The Illusions Gaming Company while making the game, up to a point, or maybe it was vice versa, I'm not sure. It is awkward at how they went about it if you start making comparisons, but as long as both got the late Terry Jones' seal of approval, I'm not complaining, both the series and the game are entertaining and endearing in their own right.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi8t73JLEuv4FTQH8beUpWZbNnfwhxRmDidNmA68DplvnnvjGOByf84LdPVRRcJDceVP34LX31pZmobYRPRLs-NrSjZvFUFot-jtJat4XzPalRrtymHUMl7v-FrHBXqNq4XOyZV8LAFUNRLnMUdNmQtILxaS1QbLH8Td_1xw5JSMx2pAICYwHXJ8EgQ/s387/BlazingDragons_SleepingCanary.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi8t73JLEuv4FTQH8beUpWZbNnfwhxRmDidNmA68DplvnnvjGOByf84LdPVRRcJDceVP34LX31pZmobYRPRLs-NrSjZvFUFot-jtJat4XzPalRrtymHUMl7v-FrHBXqNq4XOyZV8LAFUNRLnMUdNmQtILxaS1QbLH8Td_1xw5JSMx2pAICYwHXJ8EgQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_SleepingCanary.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x6hXkKBSRAoV3xF6KXUpKXibtSEg37i_V1LllthX9YJ3TSX3F8W3zDu_BKoUfspeRZEmBR_AwKXDOENE4oYUd5ioPrvUn2o3WYxlyVq9PkgEbnyqqDyJbFsx0Aull1ByHLGhtTURNINr9R4vnAwZOEH1DxbWeFcOG-CQ3CzVOgK2-8Yw8PE_P1xXRQ/s387/BlazingDragons_RuinEverything.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x6hXkKBSRAoV3xF6KXUpKXibtSEg37i_V1LllthX9YJ3TSX3F8W3zDu_BKoUfspeRZEmBR_AwKXDOENE4oYUd5ioPrvUn2o3WYxlyVq9PkgEbnyqqDyJbFsx0Aull1ByHLGhtTURNINr9R4vnAwZOEH1DxbWeFcOG-CQ3CzVOgK2-8Yw8PE_P1xXRQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_RuinEverything.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "</b>🥱😴<b>" | Right: </b>😐<b> ...... </b>😲 <b>*sudden realization* Oh my <u>God</u>, not the parody edition of the Wheel of Pain scene from John Milius' <i>Conan the Barbarian</i>, I didn't realize that until <u>now</u>!</b> 👀</span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The writing is cleverly funny with a sharp wit, and it <b>revels</b> in the British humor it brings to the proceedings. And the solutions to the puzzles are as inventive as they are funny (even if in any other game they would be completely nonsensical): using some of the items (such as a candelabra and a tail warmer) you found at the beginning to create a steam engine to get out of doing the dishes the old-fashioned way, picking up a makeshift rope that was Rapunzel's hair after applying hair growth tonic negatively affecting her psyche even further to the point of shearing it all off with her clippers, dumping the head of Sir George's dummy on a cartload of excrement so Flicker can pass off as the unkempt baddie to the blind valet later so he can put the oversized armor on him, the list goes on.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpKoS5y95yNXnGpJ-Xd21HJZ98FlJTtZoMSE8oRN5UaquGhJjKgEKeKyjkVMa2ivd2om8yD-ysP8bqKhHJUfUdznmjkyvlmo2Kem_vS1sstGV9dHFmjAhsNrWsIBSaBLEXD5l9hBsYX3wUDAwJRZhOQNY_R5S0Ng8RuglLVnoVtubvek5UGaZjhz9gg/s387/BlazingDragons_CatapultRange.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpKoS5y95yNXnGpJ-Xd21HJZ98FlJTtZoMSE8oRN5UaquGhJjKgEKeKyjkVMa2ivd2om8yD-ysP8bqKhHJUfUdznmjkyvlmo2Kem_vS1sstGV9dHFmjAhsNrWsIBSaBLEXD5l9hBsYX3wUDAwJRZhOQNY_R5S0Ng8RuglLVnoVtubvek5UGaZjhz9gg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_CatapultRange.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0W_r0oKGNx6-P72o0CjF2ietOGtgXj6Go0C1omRVaKgt4ClZTPj-jv4OMeg8zr12OVUivW8frHMRi2184-jUlpcSs3DyeBtPlTwdSTLBOzxqJW14v4wAVityzvHYnISk9CMZv-kZhLg6h_zUW3YOfESxtF-Jf0Cl4_01L9gjnK6tvi1nTyvoo2vkDQ/s387/BlazingDragons_DanceOff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0W_r0oKGNx6-P72o0CjF2ietOGtgXj6Go0C1omRVaKgt4ClZTPj-jv4OMeg8zr12OVUivW8frHMRi2184-jUlpcSs3DyeBtPlTwdSTLBOzxqJW14v4wAVityzvHYnISk9CMZv-kZhLg6h_zUW3YOfESxtF-Jf0Cl4_01L9gjnK6tvi1nTyvoo2vkDQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_DanceOff.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">No cats were harmed in the making of this game... presumedly, and that dance-off is brilliant</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">While </span><i style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Blazing Dragons</i><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"> is a point-and-click graphic adventure at heart, there are a few instances that have got a more action-based flavor,</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDkS3xR2oglGqIcUHIayQmnNqLQUgwlVmqFnguIiEqOZmRivgjMO5NBbwEdGlzsI7ItSanHrL29NAvr8D9yOmOS8_MsReXldLYN_UUEjLAYKG_opGjwQqIhS-nE9Yc2PtKEJ_2Gsnj9P16akXHJp-rAn425-5-2EyLjloW8PdfwKKi80yyYrAXI85cQ/s387/BlazingDragons_HandEyeCoordination.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDkS3xR2oglGqIcUHIayQmnNqLQUgwlVmqFnguIiEqOZmRivgjMO5NBbwEdGlzsI7ItSanHrL29NAvr8D9yOmOS8_MsReXldLYN_UUEjLAYKG_opGjwQqIhS-nE9Yc2PtKEJ_2Gsnj9P16akXHJp-rAn425-5-2EyLjloW8PdfwKKi80yyYrAXI85cQ/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_HandEyeCoordination.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiae_0xoghIhzAVlOHeWKwDlvVE3HRBBrxpVs44jrp6zGP9PSWYcNk9XjazhAFhZaQsDEiYp7CJmBHlGnnQFmISMil5F4vknReUQg5z8QaaerXGRHYL6YiEXFkwiWuEbBcBxSaki6V4paVUDGsYxPpeRRfK0zFQI96PKGA3RQGpFNHU6k-s68PJtjwAmw/s387/BlazingDragons_ThumbWrestling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiae_0xoghIhzAVlOHeWKwDlvVE3HRBBrxpVs44jrp6zGP9PSWYcNk9XjazhAFhZaQsDEiYp7CJmBHlGnnQFmISMil5F4vknReUQg5z8QaaerXGRHYL6YiEXFkwiWuEbBcBxSaki6V4paVUDGsYxPpeRRfK0zFQI96PKGA3RQGpFNHU6k-s68PJtjwAmw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_ThumbWrestling.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">That's cool how you view the hand eye coordination through the reflection of Flicker's eyes, but the solution to the thumb wrestling mini-game is so random: repeatedly tap the shoulder buttons after gaining the upper hand, like how would you even arrive at that conclusion without doing it accidentally or looking it up first?</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">which is a nice break from the normal gameplay whenever you get to these points, especially the dance-off against the Angry Dancer.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_w2Blz5tZ2FVctHehf0HolrfrtHDjmnaP1J36uRdVljLYXzCJgd6MnV9plzVWpXEXWvpCk3gGq9mrJ0GK_Z6MuJNpmtfLjg_iaTxkfJyk88xOHlaaQQeSl1DAPpPFENMA_BVgcTyMQwX103c_9GMLtUdEW2n2Fcg4cOhDOw7VSpyFTv2pu5JWvWx1w/s387/BlazingDragons_NimueTheBouncer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_w2Blz5tZ2FVctHehf0HolrfrtHDjmnaP1J36uRdVljLYXzCJgd6MnV9plzVWpXEXWvpCk3gGq9mrJ0GK_Z6MuJNpmtfLjg_iaTxkfJyk88xOHlaaQQeSl1DAPpPFENMA_BVgcTyMQwX103c_9GMLtUdEW2n2Fcg4cOhDOw7VSpyFTv2pu5JWvWx1w/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_NimueTheBouncer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMstbcsv25F8x9UZNh2eaByu8PNA45DDrbS61OxM_-Bq1OGgcuB2EkNsDW2wBLomIW0K40NAKWU9R5aRW2YeXnWreYuNm_5ftEeNo4R5IjBVl9IgdazmapnBAn9kQPfSnj5H4Kzqwo4osOvIPps3wBHP06XwD-O8tZkOSNi-xbZHXzDnZ46X2ES0cH2Q/s387/BlazingDragons_StiltWalking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMstbcsv25F8x9UZNh2eaByu8PNA45DDrbS61OxM_-Bq1OGgcuB2EkNsDW2wBLomIW0K40NAKWU9R5aRW2YeXnWreYuNm_5ftEeNo4R5IjBVl9IgdazmapnBAn9kQPfSnj5H4Kzqwo4osOvIPps3wBHP06XwD-O8tZkOSNi-xbZHXzDnZ46X2ES0cH2Q/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_StiltWalking.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "Life is definitely the dream now that I no longer have to stand awkwardly still with my eyes closed while that loser of a young wizard Merlin beckons me to recite the password for his harp" | Right: Stilt walking</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">The difficulty is very manageable, most of the puzzle solutions don't require too much lateral thinking, and at roughly two and a half hours it is a very short point-and-click experience once you've got everything figured out; I never feel the need to save my progress or to look up the password, but it's nice that the option is there should I not have enough time to play through it all.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9cSuJSgKOdTIsIlH25MjhnS4-BGb2jxjfyvwzaO1nadiwtB5jrWLLjwoS1EhA8cvKYlKA9wN2kPXNGO7f-UKi_1JqklSyECNnaMTVefOQfbSfpcztZ2diPnlmitgmM3E0L6DuX2gaxrTA1qRQOXedNeu9GqFTyyNeMo9fRSUGMSjZnXe-8hvtxkHw/s387/BlazingDragons_StudMuffin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9cSuJSgKOdTIsIlH25MjhnS4-BGb2jxjfyvwzaO1nadiwtB5jrWLLjwoS1EhA8cvKYlKA9wN2kPXNGO7f-UKi_1JqklSyECNnaMTVefOQfbSfpcztZ2diPnlmitgmM3E0L6DuX2gaxrTA1qRQOXedNeu9GqFTyyNeMo9fRSUGMSjZnXe-8hvtxkHw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_StudMuffin.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqydczIOo3ofYkNAY5gQeUmAmzcI9FEEq5ncAhD_nsyFx81oCtUUiu4pIETDawEzaMBH47ECH0Onr0aPuBEFCpMGF3zaQsIt5o87uqX7v0An4DFVl3BjCoGxJzzF88mX87-AXO83dC1aeBDK4h5ijS47ZmPGht8RAo7cilY_vb4s4ICtM_-AsSdT9kA/s387/BlazingDragons_HeadConcussion.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqydczIOo3ofYkNAY5gQeUmAmzcI9FEEq5ncAhD_nsyFx81oCtUUiu4pIETDawEzaMBH47ECH0Onr0aPuBEFCpMGF3zaQsIt5o87uqX7v0An4DFVl3BjCoGxJzzF88mX87-AXO83dC1aeBDK4h5ijS47ZmPGht8RAo7cilY_vb4s4ICtM_-AsSdT9kA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_HeadConcussion.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Oooooh</u><b>... </b>😗<b> | Right: "Tee hee hee, head concussions are hilarious, tee hee!" 🤭</b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">But brief though it may be each and every time, it is a pleasurably feel-good game to come back to every once in a while. 😃 It's one of those games that never fails to raise my spirits, even if it goes to unusual depths, and it is one of my favorite games on the PlayStation One that has Crystal Dynamics' name attached. And as the game that eased me into the point-and-click genre I was curious to explore more of, it's a perfectly ideal and great choice to start with.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQdtXi45jNpQIjwWFoi_8bs9MacJjo3hoyEZyDDcGBiVfl9LG3hlbUN_Qrq8lbCemomJOmeINd5c2xw9n5genL5K-I80ZZNOO_9VLRolpEkOoLLr3dIybv4je-SPwlOeZ4NFJkdxbpZa82HRKX0puACqPTOt4D4YqJspwlEnjtj6rqQ9g9NjSUNGf8w/s388/IndianaJones+TheFateOfAtlantis_Algiers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQdtXi45jNpQIjwWFoi_8bs9MacJjo3hoyEZyDDcGBiVfl9LG3hlbUN_Qrq8lbCemomJOmeINd5c2xw9n5genL5K-I80ZZNOO_9VLRolpEkOoLLr3dIybv4je-SPwlOeZ4NFJkdxbpZa82HRKX0puACqPTOt4D4YqJspwlEnjtj6rqQ9g9NjSUNGf8w/s16000/IndianaJones+TheFateOfAtlantis_Algiers.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Is it bad that I got Artificial Mind & Movement's </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings</i><b> for the Nintendo Wii </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">just</u><b> so I could play LucasArts' </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis</i><b> via code? I haven't even tried the game it's featured in yet</b> 😓</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZS8PJ-2PQZ7G_V2k157elvcQ3Rgi_QSHusldo7xtJgULJ9b5mhnPSjWZhtF59G3ofOHcVe8q6tVPdXez1h-OK7s9nXBtFmE4i8E3UmnqNEtjIk7RPn8VJ8Pud6H0XV3gcyQjfRi52k-imOkPB1fhMRhDNFEaTqLwwxBEiye3pDN-_hIcllGfhgtzBA/s381/Discworld_Fishmonger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="381" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZS8PJ-2PQZ7G_V2k157elvcQ3Rgi_QSHusldo7xtJgULJ9b5mhnPSjWZhtF59G3ofOHcVe8q6tVPdXez1h-OK7s9nXBtFmE4i8E3UmnqNEtjIk7RPn8VJ8Pud6H0XV3gcyQjfRi52k-imOkPB1fhMRhDNFEaTqLwwxBEiye3pDN-_hIcllGfhgtzBA/w200-h141/Discworld_Fishmonger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5O61W4G0Xk142tXEpVI-gt-ZspZsBDCDiA3i8W8ZhB2mFBQB7KijMC_3e0qgWUeeYTX4aIPUy65NQladV1fnsjQHgaiU32VW4tlZcnIE3UzpYB3GMwbjJSR3JoTS0bJ257BenmPDK9Oo2Qoe5Ew7gXK4ZhMtqjb8SpWKju5ttY1Ui_L_4tBrLxH0UA/s381/BrokenSword2_Quaramonte.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="381" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5O61W4G0Xk142tXEpVI-gt-ZspZsBDCDiA3i8W8ZhB2mFBQB7KijMC_3e0qgWUeeYTX4aIPUy65NQladV1fnsjQHgaiU32VW4tlZcnIE3UzpYB3GMwbjJSR3JoTS0bJ257BenmPDK9Oo2Qoe5Ew7gXK4ZhMtqjb8SpWKju5ttY1Ui_L_4tBrLxH0UA/w200-h141/BrokenSword2_Quaramonte.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">Gradually I caught up with the point-and-click games that piqued my interest, and based on my experience from what I played along the way I've found them enjoyable, mainly due to the dialogue and trial and error, but I acknowledge that they're not exactly the kind of game made for everyone. I'd definitely place <i>Blazing Dragons</i> among my top favorites from the genre, right up there with Perfect Entertainment's <i>Discworld II: Mortality Bytes!</i>, Adventure Soft's <i>Simon the Sorcerer</i>, as well as the first and fifth games in Revolution Software's <i>Broken Sword</i> series (hell, I'll add <i>Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror</i> since I think it's an underrated goodie).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRbSmoJ6pIPiN3_GytRPDGpX0iZxIoRJi5FjUR2eR8MsLOZ53AJlLS8h5G9epzQz5_9ipQ2Y2-WQtYDURbUzpiLtbq-DzR1tflnsU4S8Q0iN2DyqZCRY7gvPDtRxsfsX98GMuf87RKPXaXtMA0IQvtQJ-YD7Lhq_d_BTmaT5H9FfqYJsG66o9IwYnA/s387/BlazingDragons_LogRolling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRbSmoJ6pIPiN3_GytRPDGpX0iZxIoRJi5FjUR2eR8MsLOZ53AJlLS8h5G9epzQz5_9ipQ2Y2-WQtYDURbUzpiLtbq-DzR1tflnsU4S8Q0iN2DyqZCRY7gvPDtRxsfsX98GMuf87RKPXaXtMA0IQvtQJ-YD7Lhq_d_BTmaT5H9FfqYJsG66o9IwYnA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_LogRolling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NbdH77ERPYwSIqSnZeb6oM42zuat9UUvw3g1vl5CyALISLpZR5BHx4GqHb_B0R9IjI44aYOuw3u95F8CtzCb1_wfQ1Av1l7DZRElb8lIIWrb5J-pITPdzjhOWHzM4c_t2sK9Msz_G8TEJztXt5biqzCKArURgUP7bRM5KpfS-nx07lEBhyGo86DuUg/s387/BlazingDragons_Grabbed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NbdH77ERPYwSIqSnZeb6oM42zuat9UUvw3g1vl5CyALISLpZR5BHx4GqHb_B0R9IjI44aYOuw3u95F8CtzCb1_wfQ1Av1l7DZRElb8lIIWrb5J-pITPdzjhOWHzM4c_t2sK9Msz_G8TEJztXt5biqzCKArURgUP7bRM5KpfS-nx07lEBhyGo86DuUg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_Grabbed.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: I love the advantage Flicker has in the log rolling challenge wearing roller skates | Right: Welp, that's certainly a horrifying last image to see before getting eaten up </b>😨</span></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;">It's a shame that this game fell under the radar back then, getting lost in the shuffle of popular point-and-click graphic adventures <i>Discworld</i> and <i>Broken Sword</i>, but I'm glad I got to play it two Summers ago. It might not have had the globetrotting and mysterious intrigue of the latter or the insanely challenging amount of lateral thinking used to solve the puzzles like the former, but <i>Blazing Dragons</i> is a very strong contender on its own merits and is a worthy game in the genre in my opinion.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5ZUiElhdSQ3QsFhlcVOrSOj5jKcepm7NAPuG091FpfynxnDpd6OJaE4_-YT3QKPQQq49OjmvRG0f3aSNyC0nEr1k2N2vZJznYp9-JJmI1jKNGM4U3VgFLkvI0UDEw3AQ13OQ-VUJv14x3Qj9QJqBm0sAZvDXkG1UcULvBY0BnD5H5s2BsbJ4cSb1Yg/s387/BlazingDragons_AteTheKing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5ZUiElhdSQ3QsFhlcVOrSOj5jKcepm7NAPuG091FpfynxnDpd6OJaE4_-YT3QKPQQq49OjmvRG0f3aSNyC0nEr1k2N2vZJznYp9-JJmI1jKNGM4U3VgFLkvI0UDEw3AQ13OQ-VUJv14x3Qj9QJqBm0sAZvDXkG1UcULvBY0BnD5H5s2BsbJ4cSb1Yg/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_AteTheKing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1j1KHbpvj62gkkDcXQBlTeEx1V_eBd3exYAF8kaWa_hEwpNKpGv8eMFN2-2wzJ4IzWvnlaNsf-ssZv87887CtBoXAnLM-WUjmi9GXIz_kwJ8ynDSJRAMhFJRIf8KugUtMAQAsRyB2tXEPbFII-RnOSKB2_s_sce4a9sWeTVMylLTS2XQUwL-ZRltuA/s387/BlazingDragons_InsideSirGeorge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1j1KHbpvj62gkkDcXQBlTeEx1V_eBd3exYAF8kaWa_hEwpNKpGv8eMFN2-2wzJ4IzWvnlaNsf-ssZv87887CtBoXAnLM-WUjmi9GXIz_kwJ8ynDSJRAMhFJRIf8KugUtMAQAsRyB2tXEPbFII-RnOSKB2_s_sce4a9sWeTVMylLTS2XQUwL-ZRltuA/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_InsideSirGeorge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: "You should eat politicians instead! You'd get awful indigestion, but they'd bloody get what is coming to them!" | Right: The final stretch, try to outsmart Mervin so you can save King All-Fire</span></b></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i> is a charming game with lots of clever writing and British humor to spare, and I recommend it whether you're a fan of the point-and-click genre or are a casual gamer who doesn't frequent these kinds of games regardless of skill level. It's a feel-good comfort game, and one that'll leave you in a pleasant and lighthearted mood by the time you finish.</span></div><div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEVGwKelLmu4dPUlzxf-c99VjVVbh0zgK2oN3eZbSbSswiPwqB7Gec5R9QO18b8cHcUiutzTJgIEi2tAMu4792BI-YkohG1e0PDFUkE25uNlWj_SwbBp8gpcL2DpstJToQiPr1oylmvxF-JzivUOmORgH3hOvOThInCXwHyFXlawqZHk4Z7nuavUsMA/s387/BlazingDragons_Ending.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEVGwKelLmu4dPUlzxf-c99VjVVbh0zgK2oN3eZbSbSswiPwqB7Gec5R9QO18b8cHcUiutzTJgIEi2tAMu4792BI-YkohG1e0PDFUkE25uNlWj_SwbBp8gpcL2DpstJToQiPr1oylmvxF-JzivUOmORgH3hOvOThInCXwHyFXlawqZHk4Z7nuavUsMA/s16000/BlazingDragons_Ending.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.5/10</span></b></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2nGCdh37oV0dbvwEJ41gIddt5_i6L8OaFGcrWbYjmfRSgcAZUHTusTMFH7JrAwX1drv5JxFTM02V_p7eyZ9jPwot6sXNWkY4duLkPFaM06gw30i-rZDWeATUbz6BvecPfEgaonjYWFAMi2s7l8w4n0K1wh6x1y7NhDXH9tMUoxZY79RDn0d6-RY82Q/s250/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2nGCdh37oV0dbvwEJ41gIddt5_i6L8OaFGcrWbYjmfRSgcAZUHTusTMFH7JrAwX1drv5JxFTM02V_p7eyZ9jPwot6sXNWkY4duLkPFaM06gw30i-rZDWeATUbz6BvecPfEgaonjYWFAMi2s7l8w4n0K1wh6x1y7NhDXH9tMUoxZY79RDn0d6-RY82Q/s1600/Emoticon_TwoThumbUps.png" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I wanted to have this reviewed by December to celebrate <i>Blazing Dragons</i>' 25th anniversary but unfortunately did not get a chance to as I only manage to write roughly the first half before getting stuck; I'm glad I managed to get this game properly reviewed eventually. Better late than never!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Interestingly, in Crystal Dynamics' "Walk It Off" preview video,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXP4WOM8wA7AEilekw-pF6_tKd3PjWl_IJfb_AJaiPyTfBSjBTXk0GUnOWKHCpHaaOsIOzAtThaiKf-GMtDHnF1kJiFNC4SlrZF5kyCzG9B1RxSyiBgvV6bDCkaRqSyGCWplpkAHV92RM9MzVl54N5EKXAWyfHxgfliMbXl90CJoCvVGrxn9chtn9TQ/s387/BlazingDragons_PreviewFist.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXP4WOM8wA7AEilekw-pF6_tKd3PjWl_IJfb_AJaiPyTfBSjBTXk0GUnOWKHCpHaaOsIOzAtThaiKf-GMtDHnF1kJiFNC4SlrZF5kyCzG9B1RxSyiBgvV6bDCkaRqSyGCWplpkAHV92RM9MzVl54N5EKXAWyfHxgfliMbXl90CJoCvVGrxn9chtn9TQ/s16000/BlazingDragons_PreviewFist.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">there is a snippet of Sir Loungealot in his thumb wrestling pose directly punching the screen (at presumedly Flicker) while standing on the pasture; you do see him while in the woods, but this never happens in-game. I tried in my latest playthrough to see if something would happen if Flicker played with his clicker while standing beside the Knight... and nothing, not even a reaction. This was probably made solely for the sake of the preview video.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you read this again when given the chance?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #11d200; font-family: georgia;"><b>----------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThg2FKGcabXYh5Dc5CO17vITgNjU2l4jw0VFmlOfPZaRQtc38SP9v1LV3cJVM_emSylDTZXAjSrjRBdWYEbx0YIFPtmcPcgNKtmxxgmHGStLsYQin9GmZhH9Dgk9hWIpcOvmKuV-MyBraL4wTJaJZNhWv_1grex3eda7t84bfoqmK9x16ugL3AAd3BA/s277/BlazingDragons_RIP-Terry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="277" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThg2FKGcabXYh5Dc5CO17vITgNjU2l4jw0VFmlOfPZaRQtc38SP9v1LV3cJVM_emSylDTZXAjSrjRBdWYEbx0YIFPtmcPcgNKtmxxgmHGStLsYQin9GmZhH9Dgk9hWIpcOvmKuV-MyBraL4wTJaJZNhWv_1grex3eda7t84bfoqmK9x16ugL3AAd3BA/s1600/BlazingDragons_RIP-Terry.png" width="277" /></a></div></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-69251269201607371062022-06-11T22:37:00.006-05:002022-06-16T11:52:49.578-05:00Random Saturnday<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">🪐 <b>Written: June 4th-11th, 2022 </b>🪐</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 😃 Today is a Saturday, which makes today a</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGe1L73Cz1H4ahLDqAY9WObzHGxfbG_dL8EVq-p4_vDauReteWv17y8rWQYyRAw7LOMSe1_h_C9OFu-Clq8ZGgJnp7Zv_nuIEpcjFmLsJ55dOedrafgeDWrpMeORe1mctgVvfx4QPCYpEvr7XTOZdGZWyeanHvSWPxd-qJg-Zh-im0OX01os0qLNU2g/s575/RandomSaturnday_Banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="575" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGe1L73Cz1H4ahLDqAY9WObzHGxfbG_dL8EVq-p4_vDauReteWv17y8rWQYyRAw7LOMSe1_h_C9OFu-Clq8ZGgJnp7Zv_nuIEpcjFmLsJ55dOedrafgeDWrpMeORe1mctgVvfx4QPCYpEvr7XTOZdGZWyeanHvSWPxd-qJg-Zh-im0OX01os0qLNU2g/w400-h195/RandomSaturnday_Banner.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Random Saturnday</b>... it's a wordplay, see? Because when spoken fast it sounds like--oh, never mind, I'd ruin the joke explaining it. 😓</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So in the month that I turned 31 this year (April), I made what is <b>probably</b> one of the craziest video gaming decisions I've ever made, and something I long thought was an unlikely scenario (for various reasons): I recently got myself a Sega Saturn console, which I have been enjoying playing since I got it, so I thought (after having gotten a few games) of sharing my thoughts and experiences with it thus far. So what made me decide to purchase one after all this time?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-hvAqFqCff0cCEOt0VvLqbEsl2m3wEAz8EF9ceu1td4jywwLsyxjzHpdwM1fUbFbG-fQ7N3rq8NRyDQo3ux8NGJgwTQBuUyY1xi9yekxhsgROMfY-qGvvi1Qe_buxm43Wesfn4eZNxQ_G6motNFPRsm0gt4FnS7DNV1JhHszmVycGuPp2mdPTkzsbg/s385/Zool_Keyboard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-hvAqFqCff0cCEOt0VvLqbEsl2m3wEAz8EF9ceu1td4jywwLsyxjzHpdwM1fUbFbG-fQ7N3rq8NRyDQo3ux8NGJgwTQBuUyY1xi9yekxhsgROMfY-qGvvi1Qe_buxm43Wesfn4eZNxQ_G6motNFPRsm0gt4FnS7DNV1JhHszmVycGuPp2mdPTkzsbg/w200-h156/Zool_Keyboard.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S5BocEAq_YxTgHTlcGtNy-lAykZD8ilTq3tyVjjvd6qXZ4S96bNgGT62opzlm21M9lkuJtD6DXAE_vwWqAJowNVdZ1t9bqd6_-D2tIBYQDwNc3jlqttUXKDtbFs_eOkp6m9Z50Lrz509fI0ZqgaKcpWTCcoig5kJN2yGXGgb4NbYOMjXV0n42dHDJQ/s385/Zool_Krool.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S5BocEAq_YxTgHTlcGtNy-lAykZD8ilTq3tyVjjvd6qXZ4S96bNgGT62opzlm21M9lkuJtD6DXAE_vwWqAJowNVdZ1t9bqd6_-D2tIBYQDwNc3jlqttUXKDtbFs_eOkp6m9Z50Lrz509fI0ZqgaKcpWTCcoig5kJN2yGXGgb4NbYOMjXV0n42dHDJQ/w200-h156/Zool_Krool.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It started when I was in the beginning stages of reviewing the SNES version of Gremlin Graphics' <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/05/zool-ninja-of-nth-dimension-snes-review.html">Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</a></i>, which is a <i>Sonic</i> knockoff I like and one I find to be the better alternative to it (first entry-wise) as opposed to what other speed-based platforming options there are. Its sequel, <i>Zool 2</i>, which was developed by The Warp Factory is a game I've been curious about but I do not own any formats to play it; out of curiosity I looked up Imagitec Design's Atari Jaguar port's price tag on eBay (a bit pricey, but not too bad otherwise) and afterward I looked up the price tag of the Atari Jaguar console <b>itself</b>...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>holy crap on a stick</b>, no matter which way you look it sells for <b>hundreds</b> of dollars (boxed or no); I could not <b>believe</b> the price ratio between console and game designated for said console. This made me reconsider any notion of getting an Atari Jaguar console that I may have had in the past, which is a shame because <i>Zool 2</i> does look interesting and I am curious of what direction it went in terms of quality, alas that's not going to happen any time soon*.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-small;">* Not that the probability of me procuring a Jaguar was all that likely anyway since I heard it had a faulty hardware and the only other game I was kinda sorta curious about was Imagitec Design's <i>Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales</i> (which I hear is more or less in line with the first <i>Bubsy</i> in terms of quality)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, after completely giving up any prospect of wanting an Atari Jaguar, this got me thinking: the Sega Saturn didn't seem to be all that out of reach anymore by comparison (also it had a much more reasonable price ratio between console and game for said console). In fact, seeing the price tag of the aforementioned console <b>somehow</b> increased the prospect of me getting a Saturn, plus I had plenty of eBay gift cards to curb down the spending. Around the night I ordered the Saturn console (and one game separately), I was like, "Oh my <b>God</b>, am I actually going <b>through</b> with this?" 😲 Yes, my mind had been made up; I was about to enter my new video gaming chapter.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Saturn was a console I was curious about in years past, but decided against it because some of the games I wanted were really expensive (like Ving's Japan-only port of Taito's <i>Bubble Symphony</i>, for instance; in hindsight, I was being unrealistic with what games I considered wanting should I get the console so I figured when deciding to go through with purchasing the console back in April that I'd start out small). I will not disclose how much I spent on it (other than it did not surpass $200), but I will say that it singlehandedly</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aSwI3B_b_FCrAUYzAqbIOHBRNuRNYWjQurwByllfO7BaDcogEUJidATCLirnu_Oni9mxJ8rB7rDs1Iz7y2m9qEtY2hFkes6VelL_8FFnATbQqZzQe3iYolZGr2PPZjchoF_M7qzIROOayTv01JM_5HCZxJ-0BKY4XMjqz4j9RO4qoUfn0Hc-HSPxNw/s376/NamcoMuseumVolume5_Krino+Family.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aSwI3B_b_FCrAUYzAqbIOHBRNuRNYWjQurwByllfO7BaDcogEUJidATCLirnu_Oni9mxJ8rB7rDs1Iz7y2m9qEtY2hFkes6VelL_8FFnATbQqZzQe3iYolZGr2PPZjchoF_M7qzIROOayTv01JM_5HCZxJ-0BKY4XMjqz4j9RO4qoUfn0Hc-HSPxNw/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_Krino+Family.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZHUbQe0avaHu2c2dV_REyqp1kdhY4ESunRE_scFyZA9zn7xgEncuALHxeORZJlhAZbiG8-S8BpJ2kI66w4sUGD0lsDCpdGVtsBhp0qDAKUY-qhnmb1xHTsyRzsvMG03MmVdCC2onfrMYGCom2-waQOBmrZn7wNxyU2rhKAvZjUoNI7v0UVIaCZpDw/s376/NamcoMuseumVolume5_Museum.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="376" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZHUbQe0avaHu2c2dV_REyqp1kdhY4ESunRE_scFyZA9zn7xgEncuALHxeORZJlhAZbiG8-S8BpJ2kI66w4sUGD0lsDCpdGVtsBhp0qDAKUY-qhnmb1xHTsyRzsvMG03MmVdCC2onfrMYGCom2-waQOBmrZn7wNxyU2rhKAvZjUoNI7v0UVIaCZpDw/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_Museum.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Also worth it to see that heartwarming display</b> 🤗</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">dethroned the $100 I spent back in January 2020 (partially with gift cards) for Tose's <i>Namco Museum Volume 5</i> on the PlayStation One as <b>the</b> most amount of money I ever spent on anything on eBay.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XtWzclgCoaV2GOERbFekT9iJCqzXrPojsie4bHC7o6vkx3gvQF9BU1CeF14kZORMkwtIXuEH7L8rV3pifMv4fnkO4kUNOsRA544J_PrbWNHtr11C5Idp2k9MJm22r7BeJ4wvfU5wa9EFvqrG7ifZsnm8CQqbfECPAJwVp3_vLqsG2jin7WPpxtjSbw/s349/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_WaveBeam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XtWzclgCoaV2GOERbFekT9iJCqzXrPojsie4bHC7o6vkx3gvQF9BU1CeF14kZORMkwtIXuEH7L8rV3pifMv4fnkO4kUNOsRA544J_PrbWNHtr11C5Idp2k9MJm22r7BeJ4wvfU5wa9EFvqrG7ifZsnm8CQqbfECPAJwVp3_vLqsG2jin7WPpxtjSbw/w173-h200/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_WaveBeam.png" width="173" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgt0VD5cCOPRkFw5X6R6nobNTiLSYDbuIKDVsWK642T90jEQch9QrCdhyyUZGTd_W-PsqUgRyEqe-pQ1QvKriFsTsS3HzXiMNlCa4dSS6SdxHbVD9Ta6gLWqmcmrQFWtiGM9aVvkkNAwZmMByktA-AlU7y5pNQE2Ll58OoOKcU9coQ5vOOBmEvXk-BA/s349/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_Waltzers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgt0VD5cCOPRkFw5X6R6nobNTiLSYDbuIKDVsWK642T90jEQch9QrCdhyyUZGTd_W-PsqUgRyEqe-pQ1QvKriFsTsS3HzXiMNlCa4dSS6SdxHbVD9Ta6gLWqmcmrQFWtiGM9aVvkkNAwZmMByktA-AlU7y5pNQE2Ll58OoOKcU9coQ5vOOBmEvXk-BA/w173-h200/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_Waltzers.png" width="173" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Did I get that compilation simply so I could have another opportunity to play as Krino Xandra in Namco's <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hLzL9r7M_UK4kK5TWa705yvhrxevOn1Y5Oq3q4rhRXkjP9sNn-IzAUY_nXaGLK951N_xW8ciwuTUZD5jxBoy7Vqel7-g_-WloWGy_LZ0GT4GfDnEo4y0CPiyxbcZWDnvOV2iWJ8zWbXhNLfqMLuKPWyqqhlEctNiLm2jwBZclsajzh07_0Z4VZ_AKA/s376/XandraNoDaiboken_IceRun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="376" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hLzL9r7M_UK4kK5TWa705yvhrxevOn1Y5Oq3q4rhRXkjP9sNn-IzAUY_nXaGLK951N_xW8ciwuTUZD5jxBoy7Vqel7-g_-WloWGy_LZ0GT4GfDnEo4y0CPiyxbcZWDnvOV2iWJ8zWbXhNLfqMLuKPWyqqhlEctNiLm2jwBZclsajzh07_0Z4VZ_AKA/w200-h155/XandraNoDaiboken_IceRun.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfR88J0UWIg93Ae4wRH8nKNGSFiL2q8TMYcfdvjt-w5fE3_V58LOD8q4yGxWvHHQcDfQ6CowJD7usg66ue5jIWTV7nzgtzI4cknr03bU7vSPF4i62XSqleRhhfr4L9GFA3J4G21IXt5PyrA7782l6TgBu3Rkxh9JvuqqVNkjeyLBAG1r-1c5jPAyLXA/s374/Whirlo_NicksViola.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="374" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfR88J0UWIg93Ae4wRH8nKNGSFiL2q8TMYcfdvjt-w5fE3_V58LOD8q4yGxWvHHQcDfQ6CowJD7usg66ue5jIWTV7nzgtzI4cknr03bU7vSPF4i62XSqleRhhfr4L9GFA3J4G21IXt5PyrA7782l6TgBu3Rkxh9JvuqqVNkjeyLBAG1r-1c5jPAyLXA/w200-h155/Whirlo_NicksViola.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">"And I'm sorry if I visibly appear upset, Nubs, but silly preconceptions, biases, and sensibilities of the time that resulted in me having angry eyes for a neutral expression overseas were all things beyond my control, despite not appearing as such on the cover art"</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">after being invested in his story in Nova Games' Super Famiprequel </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/03/xandra-no-daiboken-valkyrie-to-no-deai.html">Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</a></i> (and eventually <i>Whirlo</i> on the NTSC SNES repro cart)? Yes, yes I did, because I like this character and his selfless resolve so much, and it is a fun game, in my opinion, with an enthralling and engaging emphasis on story. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUERtrwxFlwb7fqkIFbeEoQXnOIBYO3HSkxBC1ZECZYpqOu-0KPWpWQsQhklDEex13Q86E923M70WauGU1laloYG7rTvLWPZm0a02Xs0eWApDoh4nSDVc0eoSvsjO44HsuB-auRViqMjpn_cI1pLe_ZY3fDoCJQ8AkgoM9dc6N0ts-iGTNKcTHR209xA/s489/Whirlo+XandraNoDaiboken_Carts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="489" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUERtrwxFlwb7fqkIFbeEoQXnOIBYO3HSkxBC1ZECZYpqOu-0KPWpWQsQhklDEex13Q86E923M70WauGU1laloYG7rTvLWPZm0a02Xs0eWApDoh4nSDVc0eoSvsjO44HsuB-auRViqMjpn_cI1pLe_ZY3fDoCJQ8AkgoM9dc6N0ts-iGTNKcTHR209xA/w400-h368/Whirlo+XandraNoDaiboken_Carts.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And like I said, these games can coexist in the same room together. I've learned to let go and accept that this is how the game was handled in Europe; it's still got the same engaging narrative and characters, and it's still got a selfless protagonist, so it's all good. 👍</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So anyway, I've digressed enough, let's talk <b>Sega Saturn</b>!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S4iZLGjJUGJt93zWmtfSzKvVCDYxbJ8gK_Vfkb0wvtYzMDUyAo8DzhptvaWabjw59-5zPdaF4BHhglWuvZnEkps6kQlSSiKszA8wwCzqaB6SyOX3dZwmZLZdLPedZpH-DB3fka50AcBdG__quSIm3mQLyJmiCE4owyC9MM7_aK21s2GqhJwKilEn4A/s520/SegaSaturn_Console.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="520" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S4iZLGjJUGJt93zWmtfSzKvVCDYxbJ8gK_Vfkb0wvtYzMDUyAo8DzhptvaWabjw59-5zPdaF4BHhglWuvZnEkps6kQlSSiKszA8wwCzqaB6SyOX3dZwmZLZdLPedZpH-DB3fka50AcBdG__quSIm3mQLyJmiCE4owyC9MM7_aK21s2GqhJwKilEn4A/w400-h346/SegaSaturn_Console.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I like the little see-through strip on the right side of the lid that gives you a tiny peak at what game is currently inhabiting the console</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was on April 25th, 2022 that my newest video game console got delivered to our door after work, it was one of those days in Texas where it constantly rained and did not let up until the following morning (making me wonder if this is what it's like living in England). I was super excited, and while I knew what it was shaped like from the top I was very surprised at how <b>big</b> it was (and how heavy it was too compared to my other consoles), carefully plugging in the required wiring for the wall plug and A/V cables</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fb399UAY0oqRg3bj_JucBR3HZWwmdphRd2wjsctmMwyzV2yxGIGiqrWNgBibRQsY5L6ng0rYze10wJ66KsGcH-hwQDfaFhtF50DWNzOEE4Iby4KoCLUyAKVMAkAwv1yYL00iHr2SEQkMrkJQcIHk4PQYmJPRZzyQG0hHYjAcijYG9g-hL2EDCQoQAQ/s549/SegaSaturn_Controller-Front.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="549" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fb399UAY0oqRg3bj_JucBR3HZWwmdphRd2wjsctmMwyzV2yxGIGiqrWNgBibRQsY5L6ng0rYze10wJ66KsGcH-hwQDfaFhtF50DWNzOEE4Iby4KoCLUyAKVMAkAwv1yYL00iHr2SEQkMrkJQcIHk4PQYmJPRZzyQG0hHYjAcijYG9g-hL2EDCQoQAQ/w400-h244/SegaSaturn_Controller-Front.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I deliberately kept myself at bay while taking a picture of it because I did not want my face to be reflected off its shiny surface since I value my anonymity, so here's my camera you can see instead</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">as well as the Model 2 game controller that came with it on the first slot. I quite like the design with the smooth sheen in the middle and how the texture around it is plastic-like, how its shoulder buttons have a fast rewind and fast forward symbol below them, as well as the X, Y, Z buttons having a repeat, stop, and play/pause symbols above them respectfully. The controller feels good (even if it is different than the feel of the PlayStation controller), and the buttons function exactly like they should.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz-deaPx8FWpbq1qHz1RQ6UkfcIPtzwRGpriWVOQ69j8oM8_ebUu1GqWD_m3xDEiXT-JZEECJGJIwwlRxgjoVvObb6reHaUrz64GXDfcz8oTzdDXfk--SoLuzRHvNqzThyUKzdZYZptvOSCvtZGkm1Gs5pvKdjcogME7MhzqDZSk2HmxqnXT9yiCLBQ/s595/SegaSaturn_Controller-Back.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="595" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz-deaPx8FWpbq1qHz1RQ6UkfcIPtzwRGpriWVOQ69j8oM8_ebUu1GqWD_m3xDEiXT-JZEECJGJIwwlRxgjoVvObb6reHaUrz64GXDfcz8oTzdDXfk--SoLuzRHvNqzThyUKzdZYZptvOSCvtZGkm1Gs5pvKdjcogME7MhzqDZSk2HmxqnXT9yiCLBQ/w400-h261/SegaSaturn_Controller-Back.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is a part of me, though, that feels like the back of the controller appears asymmetrical in terms of how many screws there are. Why are there only five screws, and why is the central bottom one off-center? This does not compute. 😖 But that's just a minor nitpick.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHN2RO3rOxxVJxQnGnK-e1HR34tbCIfd0VakPzodS7FQutbV-OZ2zRFiJbF0WqGDYXofnZsDC5uGGVH2nhoFyFzDsz48hHeN5hpgkHCmYFZP6Jaul4cBpIaXQ-4pXjsvmouK5qpLOyFRjuTBzRuaRWWj7zAY7930uZ2n-bAUnNaKnFsqg716ptE_HlEA/s389/SegaSaturn_SetLanguage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHN2RO3rOxxVJxQnGnK-e1HR34tbCIfd0VakPzodS7FQutbV-OZ2zRFiJbF0WqGDYXofnZsDC5uGGVH2nhoFyFzDsz48hHeN5hpgkHCmYFZP6Jaul4cBpIaXQ-4pXjsvmouK5qpLOyFRjuTBzRuaRWWj7zAY7930uZ2n-bAUnNaKnFsqg716ptE_HlEA/w200-h155/SegaSaturn_SetLanguage.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngffhdir9ri4Chb3yKkoCMrfJr1p4UkuXhqfK2I7i57pK3xtfZiTiKWyErGOrnSnZ0OkmV9GjodJVKhA-JlzJtwDRMEOxnoisYJH8ELaIOttjypjX98sMIJj6ZGQmzn75nBBlSaGVDgeEgsfbHVKGbMlGMscoQ2AZJsQq-BHKU6h1RW3uZHOJTpbUXw/s389/SegaSaturn_SetClock.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngffhdir9ri4Chb3yKkoCMrfJr1p4UkuXhqfK2I7i57pK3xtfZiTiKWyErGOrnSnZ0OkmV9GjodJVKhA-JlzJtwDRMEOxnoisYJH8ELaIOttjypjX98sMIJj6ZGQmzn75nBBlSaGVDgeEgsfbHVKGbMlGMscoQ2AZJsQq-BHKU6h1RW3uZHOJTpbUXw/w200-h155/SegaSaturn_SetClock.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">These screenshots were taken on May 12th, 2022, I just wanted to visually recount my first time with the Saturn; I like how the year can be set as early as 1994, also bonus points for having Italian as one of its set languages</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When I went to go check the mail, the game I ordered as well had not arrived yet, as I wouldn't get to play it until the next day. So that afternoon/evening, I turned on the Sega Saturn for the first time in my room and I was surprised to be greeted by a language selection screen, so I chose English, and on the next screen because I wanted to be close to accurate with the time I looked at a different clock, and once I set the time at 6 PM, I confirmed the settings</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKuA4L2gzd6MarQb5mEzt_RjwB8EbxDse3ZSE7nQjJ_egQ1vyosA_zVbon7tMausJOqRsW1Zw-BvK43xUMJzM9jBFxnslNTlCpMVkDhtT8QlTAxRSxW_Ist7OuLCuttZtqXpYsuzlAELiKjGh7o_hUikRpaMMB5_iiaTKjhlS4IRS8ni3TCXN9aPRIg/s389/SegaSaturn_BootUpScreen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKuA4L2gzd6MarQb5mEzt_RjwB8EbxDse3ZSE7nQjJ_egQ1vyosA_zVbon7tMausJOqRsW1Zw-BvK43xUMJzM9jBFxnslNTlCpMVkDhtT8QlTAxRSxW_Ist7OuLCuttZtqXpYsuzlAELiKjGh7o_hUikRpaMMB5_iiaTKjhlS4IRS8ni3TCXN9aPRIg/w400-h310/SegaSaturn_BootUpScreen.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Love how the orbit line resembles the letter "S", that's a neat touch</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and was greeted for the first time by the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sf3997uXbc">American Sega Saturn bootup screen and accompanied sound</a>. It was magic! Admittedly, I could've chosen to buy a Japanese Sega Saturn for far less, but the reason I chose the <b>American</b> one instead was partially because I've seen the bootup screen on YouTube before which has a likable sound to it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyxP6c_UC8yYYMfyiL11dyokRIkvutHg_fU1gNTLGcFgGWwLK2c5iBFalW5vcDJM2tJRrFbOGDBST2JJYmnqPKHqq3Kf7UN1XimEGG5xrtbkGeYsmFpU7vQKeL5_l6a60y5QVAeD5zU1hV2c31A7_bttykT_7OqFZ2z8EToaPFhCgPkNAxBCSBSgPDg/s389/SegaSaturn_Menu.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="389" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyxP6c_UC8yYYMfyiL11dyokRIkvutHg_fU1gNTLGcFgGWwLK2c5iBFalW5vcDJM2tJRrFbOGDBST2JJYmnqPKHqq3Kf7UN1XimEGG5xrtbkGeYsmFpU7vQKeL5_l6a60y5QVAeD5zU1hV2c31A7_bttykT_7OqFZ2z8EToaPFhCgPkNAxBCSBSgPDg/w400-h310/SegaSaturn_Menu.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Knowing that it was a disc-based console like its competition Sony's PlayStation One was, I surmised that should it not have a CD in it when you turn it on that it would lead to a menu, and I surmised correctly. I quite liked the design with the present option hovered by orbiting lines, and how when you hide the menu you'll occasionally see a 3D ship hover and/or fly by. Special shout out goes towards the polygons which morph into bigger shapes and colors based on the potency of the sound.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW4hyCNfj3AGAO0UnCRsKBHbj_0VfdOKK2b09GCO42FwZdlOOK5eT_v7jA9YaVmLSWsiXU1Hf_t3oBJynXyGmjP2cD4DMxsgVN_aFDt3UUF_wIINiurHA3Yxh1Gz8O2fwbIx-hgzDYpgYwFTTFAf9zA_n8n402YLxZJX9H94YMZSh5v4wEnINvFoBkw/s382/AdventuresOfLomax_Checkpoint.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="382" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW4hyCNfj3AGAO0UnCRsKBHbj_0VfdOKK2b09GCO42FwZdlOOK5eT_v7jA9YaVmLSWsiXU1Hf_t3oBJynXyGmjP2cD4DMxsgVN_aFDt3UUF_wIINiurHA3Yxh1Gz8O2fwbIx-hgzDYpgYwFTTFAf9zA_n8n402YLxZJX9H94YMZSh5v4wEnINvFoBkw/w200-h159/AdventuresOfLomax_Checkpoint.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM4Tsj0YdVP4Q2uSv_3I9_mb8Qb6dQ6lLkJY5_QVIS0YoYzO07SOhwPP7qD-uIzFMA02jTTmISJIGRtvxoqrFsKrWIOmgT8zz3CEjueFuRvMMX40pjpf1rBq5H0pIBNluHNXl6dQCvdv8Y9u-bBIElTH3MP32kYCt9C8MsKIdcrciB3dIMkZLm9nR9Q/s382/AdventuresOfLomax_FlowerPlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="382" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM4Tsj0YdVP4Q2uSv_3I9_mb8Qb6dQ6lLkJY5_QVIS0YoYzO07SOhwPP7qD-uIzFMA02jTTmISJIGRtvxoqrFsKrWIOmgT8zz3CEjueFuRvMMX40pjpf1rBq5H0pIBNluHNXl6dQCvdv8Y9u-bBIElTH3MP32kYCt9C8MsKIdcrciB3dIMkZLm9nR9Q/w200-h159/AdventuresOfLomax_FlowerPlatforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Arguably the prettiest looking 2D platformer on the PlayStation One </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">ever</u><b>! </b>😍</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first disc I inserted on the Saturn, knowing that it doubled as a soundtrack CD when played on a player, was Psygnosis' 2D platforming <i>Lemmings</i> spinoff <i>The Adventures of Lomax</i>, and I selected the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfmc0IlxOBs&t=184s">third track</a> which is one of my favorite themes because of how energetically bouncy it is and listened to it until the song was done. 😄</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I should bring up that earlier on that whenever I wanted to open up the lid I was about to press the right button until I realized that the open button on the Saturn was in its center and that the right button was the reset button.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoDaoAvjBvL9sU5YZrmGSoMpZ5Z2L-nz5ygrs7GTU0Myx2dm7GamDfkSxCe8s-VJOtHmT6yQMqQ_ni7-twCM6bzL7vMibB8tSEHr4DC2NLs1Xl5f9lQHm6nMj5XqEKvl_whJTtJ6rnM0cXxEV75FBoMjdZneaqSocIDsHDGn6Hjp_QmEPQk44JcQYDQ/s500/PlayStationOne_Console.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoDaoAvjBvL9sU5YZrmGSoMpZ5Z2L-nz5ygrs7GTU0Myx2dm7GamDfkSxCe8s-VJOtHmT6yQMqQ_ni7-twCM6bzL7vMibB8tSEHr4DC2NLs1Xl5f9lQHm6nMj5XqEKvl_whJTtJ6rnM0cXxEV75FBoMjdZneaqSocIDsHDGn6Hjp_QmEPQk44JcQYDQ/w400-h360/PlayStationOne_Console.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This newer model PlayStation One I owned since I moved to Texas back in the Summer of 2002, almost twenty years ago, and the Memory Card on the first slot I've had since my first PlayStation One back when I still lived in Italy</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The PlayStation One always had its open button placed on the right, but I'm sure <b>that</b> has got nothing to do with my earlier confusion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5DU5lpWBR2z-XReWds3F2W6ME8C7Qq3rd7GxbMquxvjdyEEqZrPMW0RFOohf22-WZ2WMYadP3CjUMbMBMLxdSBy4MeXbGsjvASQiJEJsdtc9jKn3P-913hRV1_zum0sF7Xkop29Lqz8tjs5NFbFAdPNyfOGVExahR-FB-UKLN8jst-IjG2yNfnYgzQ/s605/SegaSaturn+PlayStationOne_Consoles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="605" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5DU5lpWBR2z-XReWds3F2W6ME8C7Qq3rd7GxbMquxvjdyEEqZrPMW0RFOohf22-WZ2WMYadP3CjUMbMBMLxdSBy4MeXbGsjvASQiJEJsdtc9jKn3P-913hRV1_zum0sF7Xkop29Lqz8tjs5NFbFAdPNyfOGVExahR-FB-UKLN8jst-IjG2yNfnYgzQ/w400-h268/SegaSaturn+PlayStationOne_Consoles.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Seriously, it is bigger than my Sega Genesis, Super Famicom, Super Nintendo, <u>and</u> Nintendo 64 consoles</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">And for anyone's pondering, here's the two competing 32-bit consoles side by side with one another. The Saturn <b>might</b> just be the biggest video game console I own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Oh. Oh, yeah, before I give a brief talk with what games I own for the format, I should bring up that the Sega Saturn has got one of two ways of saving your game progress, one is through a RAM backup cart--</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf-y3lAWzWsHNb7cUh3EzwDa3Mkm-AREkmc28BJtb1HtY5wkbTNEHpZF0lAi8v7MJd7TMEJvdQ8VhQakpfIbRi4ywrg_JA84gflYHMFtwgOgYzjut8twmtBZ9GLBa8vLhp6TUKfiwlVmVzcaP9-ZH6-xpHS08Y6Tfkfi6dn6q142IY99YyU-N5BE7dQ/s565/SegaSaturn_MemoryCartridgeSlot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="565" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf-y3lAWzWsHNb7cUh3EzwDa3Mkm-AREkmc28BJtb1HtY5wkbTNEHpZF0lAi8v7MJd7TMEJvdQ8VhQakpfIbRi4ywrg_JA84gflYHMFtwgOgYzjut8twmtBZ9GLBa8vLhp6TUKfiwlVmVzcaP9-ZH6-xpHS08Y6Tfkfi6dn6q142IY99YyU-N5BE7dQ/w400-h174/SegaSaturn_MemoryCartridgeSlot.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I saw somewhere that apparently with an Action Replay Plus cart you can bypass the region block, and if that's true that is quite tempting to consider</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">which as you can see I presently do not have (though I'm sure those well-acquainted with the Sega Saturn will advise that I do so)--and the other is through the system itself. Here's the thing about that: system-based saves are generated through one CR2032 battery......</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3OY5W-YwsAOMMEqr_w6u7dduadLuKWD-LqvDF4uaqh_A4uVGpJJNsNVnzy0-7AOnRD24UUsqvpRP1uqlEoa_WCDtp4VRCKHdx3Qw0uM6BRKSr84nPqAvqjeH3kAjfTuvo15b9wJF6BEh44-C_cewVIZnMKbee4ommj4l6Qq02AcKTg64huo1OXSFrw/s450/SegaSaturn_CR2032-Battery.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="450" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3OY5W-YwsAOMMEqr_w6u7dduadLuKWD-LqvDF4uaqh_A4uVGpJJNsNVnzy0-7AOnRD24UUsqvpRP1uqlEoa_WCDtp4VRCKHdx3Qw0uM6BRKSr84nPqAvqjeH3kAjfTuvo15b9wJF6BEh44-C_cewVIZnMKbee4ommj4l6Qq02AcKTg64huo1OXSFrw/w400-h245/SegaSaturn_CR2032-Battery.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Let me tell you, it was not fun opening up that battery package one iota (I found it easier removing and replacing the battery in the system), but in the end it was worth it as it's still saving and going strong... who knows how long that'll last, though</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am not joking, that is actually the case, which is something I found out the hard way when I kept seeing the set language and clock screens every time I turned it on. It wasn't until weeks after I got my Saturn that I realized what it was that I needed, so I got an Energizer battery and the day I got my third game (knowing it would be a long one) on May 12th I carefully took out the old CR2032 battery in the back of the console and snugly inserted the new one in its place. I didn't take a photo of it, but the dead battery that was in my Saturn when I got it was a Sony brand which,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQT4ExTBKPmuh7lrjKGpQ9L28AmutUchdK1_UxEaYDFIKvtQLWVUgPQl--Vs7rvQiJhnDWWbU-ay7VYYtQHIEekjsMUKagGOx9a0-Zs8R6uJrxl93dW-E5kmMsuU1j0pdEfQ2Ey9R-kiDVq4kUqokLgQOjH4lrOIz7HJNbDuULeWU6kmJ5C9QGEMjhQ/s240/SonyComputerEntertainment_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="173" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQT4ExTBKPmuh7lrjKGpQ9L28AmutUchdK1_UxEaYDFIKvtQLWVUgPQl--Vs7rvQiJhnDWWbU-ay7VYYtQHIEekjsMUKagGOx9a0-Zs8R6uJrxl93dW-E5kmMsuU1j0pdEfQ2Ey9R-kiDVq4kUqokLgQOjH4lrOIz7HJNbDuULeWU6kmJ5C9QGEMjhQ/s1600/SonyComputerEntertainment_Logo.png" width="173" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">given Sega's competition at the time, is mildly amusing and ironic, but in all seriousness it could've just been one massive coincidence. It's so bizarre that the Sega Saturn generates saves thanks to one car key battery, I just found it unheard of; but I guess that's part of what contributes to its complicated and complex hardware that makes software emulation difficult.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hUjCkfB5c9BtnRvdqZU5hYPAW4FRX6Bh0LwoZD3tw1NRaK8Nipydm-SnJf8bi9gKocdT2RRy8lKTYow_JHh8mTvY2Oj3fWIsFFX5XTNSrhK_BF0DGkf8ChKRtkMa3sM1h07ynVkUH5i1eXJCbQ3gAiBtT_mz-TW5h33DsqRgEqM4KT3uz7zQNGfRkA/s376/SonicR_Sonic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="376" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hUjCkfB5c9BtnRvdqZU5hYPAW4FRX6Bh0LwoZD3tw1NRaK8Nipydm-SnJf8bi9gKocdT2RRy8lKTYow_JHh8mTvY2Oj3fWIsFFX5XTNSrhK_BF0DGkf8ChKRtkMa3sM1h07ynVkUH5i1eXJCbQ3gAiBtT_mz-TW5h33DsqRgEqM4KT3uz7zQNGfRkA/w200-h161/SonicR_Sonic.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsnOP77Iad7wkYRyT_s27HNXoyHGCYukGyfNZ6GubgtKPsquU-btawW1mErY5um_4Kor2JzuOMkCNGTqlOy15AF_DlHlECFaT6zN3HNbMF3jC45xButJoHpT1MvMY8xdGC0JSv01KirD8XB1E5zh2-zAfwNMr_B3SqIcnFSgA4fIFwItQ5SImRW3rhQ/s376/SonicR_Tails.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="376" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsnOP77Iad7wkYRyT_s27HNXoyHGCYukGyfNZ6GubgtKPsquU-btawW1mErY5um_4Kor2JzuOMkCNGTqlOy15AF_DlHlECFaT6zN3HNbMF3jC45xButJoHpT1MvMY8xdGC0JSv01KirD8XB1E5zh2-zAfwNMr_B3SqIcnFSgA4fIFwItQ5SImRW3rhQ/w200-h161/SonicR_Tails.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">🎵 <b>Can you feel the sunshine?</b> 🎵</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Said complex hardware was why Sonic Team's 2005 <i>Sonic Gems Collection</i> compilation featured the PC version of Traveller's Tales' and Sonic Team's <i>Sonic R</i> and not the original Sega Saturn version*.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* It's also why in the History of Sonic video in <i>Sonic Mega Collection</i> there was only a VHS rip of <i>Sonic Jam</i> in the brief amount of time you see footage of it</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyk-W7ZoEbv8JAgoOGZChQBMgu9i3fg_0K_cCGs5o1Od0nAm07_z0ZR9zl7OQ2mUBN2nsKuNzXcC7SGJIiFq4lrmOY1JycoIx3q-MsyNNOV3tyX5Z9KYQ9Wha6HA7W0bkSkM8mrkCfQbvLS5_ownmUPko0AzyfgQHGITn4wKA23gpskacJ7r5TGZBww/s595/GameTengokuCruisinMixSpecial_Pig.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="595" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyk-W7ZoEbv8JAgoOGZChQBMgu9i3fg_0K_cCGs5o1Od0nAm07_z0ZR9zl7OQ2mUBN2nsKuNzXcC7SGJIiFq4lrmOY1JycoIx3q-MsyNNOV3tyX5Z9KYQ9Wha6HA7W0bkSkM8mrkCfQbvLS5_ownmUPko0AzyfgQHGITn4wKA23gpskacJ7r5TGZBww/w200-h117/GameTengokuCruisinMixSpecial_Pig.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowuUCdera014yw3CQK3gcBehcCHI8AxBt_PdAUZ5DmwGRlRvY_HDVsq9jhQLl5dX9k8jxO7LYXhCA7CfM_CQ0SMp51NLcWmnaDzgg9frQ7IGYnRFCyCPmpvkaXqJNo7jLcu2CQ8GMd2pXnHWvhstjbccv14YfwgoYTAyPmhxdKBKpLhqQm7d3KX80lQ/s595/Cotton2SaturnTribute_Appli.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="595" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowuUCdera014yw3CQK3gcBehcCHI8AxBt_PdAUZ5DmwGRlRvY_HDVsq9jhQLl5dX9k8jxO7LYXhCA7CfM_CQ0SMp51NLcWmnaDzgg9frQ7IGYnRFCyCPmpvkaXqJNo7jLcu2CQ8GMd2pXnHWvhstjbccv14YfwgoYTAyPmhxdKBKpLhqQm7d3KX80lQ/w200-h117/Cotton2SaturnTribute_Appli.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I might be misremembering, but I read somewhere that GameArts' <i>Grandia</i> on GungHo's <i>Grandia HD Collection</i> is apparently based on the Sega Saturn original's source code?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">But <b>supposedly</b>* there has been a breakthrough in the Saturn emulation front in recent years with the Dispatch Games and City Connection releases of <i>Game Tengoku: CruisinMix Special</i> and <i>Cotton 2 Saturn Tribute</i> on the Nintendo Switch. 🤔</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Being the key term, thanks to the Zebra Engine</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anyway, I've gone on long enough, let's briefly discuss the games I presently own for my newest retro console.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYx8lXVdWa2F279uoyb8F6SPkbYFh2aW4C5wt_7Wsnw3gPK8QmUb_mI_YPRUhiwinwzkO30fYLQhBp-P4FFhL9RFYsynPBC9fb3DeMILSqEL__QKVVdFf68W3R_yztfshhdG4fMnPcnTs2ke-rimw-hRp7zWmy3L0p_QU1ezBXov7wHX6DtKiPtsoPA/s387/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYx8lXVdWa2F279uoyb8F6SPkbYFh2aW4C5wt_7Wsnw3gPK8QmUb_mI_YPRUhiwinwzkO30fYLQhBp-P4FFhL9RFYsynPBC9fb3DeMILSqEL__QKVVdFf68W3R_yztfshhdG4fMnPcnTs2ke-rimw-hRp7zWmy3L0p_QU1ezBXov7wHX6DtKiPtsoPA/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_FootballToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVBKkgCN0-HxKDAPk1zTARgcE0J12tYkHMARIc7fJksNv-o7V0Zfd12LOO8_wHCjyjFYbgLOurxh7ita8JNaT_rK6TipCBE1l19zyIYhtlAYbVel7lVCFN17Dzxbr3vTqbWHlW_11IXNupl3_QzNFTm7SC8zpIdGn05YDD0fNak5l31ITbd90wllwjg/s387/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVBKkgCN0-HxKDAPk1zTARgcE0J12tYkHMARIc7fJksNv-o7V0Zfd12LOO8_wHCjyjFYbgLOurxh7ita8JNaT_rK6TipCBE1l19zyIYhtlAYbVel7lVCFN17Dzxbr3vTqbWHlW_11IXNupl3_QzNFTm7SC8zpIdGn05YDD0fNak5l31ITbd90wllwjg/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Stomper.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My first Sega Saturn game, which arrived a day later on April 26th, was Sega's <b><i>Clockwork Knight</i></b>. For my foray title for the system, I made an ideal choice with this game as it is an amicably likable toy-themed platformer with its adorable charm, intuitive and simple gameplay, smoothly polished prerendered sprites, and a good showcase of what the Saturn could accomplish with both its 2D <b>and</b> its 3D.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelP41M4Kn0xrE0_wRxEOOK9ekQ2l1TO-ggVq2x6E50jEITfSbuDUPR2DsfIwnGvYwhiz0sXgG0qVCshH15FcFWaWooIJ2_MbbnpyOcvBmVA_7s6ut7tYhMqXtUu9LNb_-hYo4-H2kZBEIG1w4XAU3QtgQysIqD-xyQvKo7ePPwHDiRzMGOub40DV-1w/s353/ClockworkKnight_Pepperouchau+Ginger.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="353" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelP41M4Kn0xrE0_wRxEOOK9ekQ2l1TO-ggVq2x6E50jEITfSbuDUPR2DsfIwnGvYwhiz0sXgG0qVCshH15FcFWaWooIJ2_MbbnpyOcvBmVA_7s6ut7tYhMqXtUu9LNb_-hYo4-H2kZBEIG1w4XAU3QtgQysIqD-xyQvKo7ePPwHDiRzMGOub40DV-1w/w200-h81/ClockworkKnight_Pepperouchau+Ginger.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVkCfhAFd8gXhBBl5z-O8L2_9gWv-IIG_sXMj_5n9ZhONYqAR77D8kZam1kkyxOX8p8tKqXSl37vyjfm2LgXqlLVNz3rrKiECQlSFClLmdSVEhWQ3x3f0IQGzH5jynkc3LwtV8CHVMyIaeOkaqshmkBgqAB9NtH2k-BqfyR-SYbK3TseOkQa1Li5F1w/s353/ClockworkKnight_Pepperouchau.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="353" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVkCfhAFd8gXhBBl5z-O8L2_9gWv-IIG_sXMj_5n9ZhONYqAR77D8kZam1kkyxOX8p8tKqXSl37vyjfm2LgXqlLVNz3rrKiECQlSFClLmdSVEhWQ3x3f0IQGzH5jynkc3LwtV8CHVMyIaeOkaqshmkBgqAB9NtH2k-BqfyR-SYbK3TseOkQa1Li5F1w/w200-h81/ClockworkKnight_Pepperouchau.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The CGI cutscene quality is impressive for 1994 for the most part, and I find the fact that it preceded PIXAR's first <i>Toy Story</i> film by a year to be incredible for what Sega could achieve.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfXVPeFJMEuB1njFpEz8Qf_wXJ2rm4Rvjrc5U3pybCFLRt4ol4IVqJb3uxVVCiF5MQbcHhqXhZDcE9E-zIFkH1NL7UKBa6OUhAtsjA_SCqPlZ3ItnRUV75Tpjj0CU55nuGt6uIu-7v8hFKxJN5yh9bpXhqhdHpAdKh11C7xwOlwwHRkKNdHnsA7-QdQ/s387/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfXVPeFJMEuB1njFpEz8Qf_wXJ2rm4Rvjrc5U3pybCFLRt4ol4IVqJb3uxVVCiF5MQbcHhqXhZDcE9E-zIFkH1NL7UKBa6OUhAtsjA_SCqPlZ3ItnRUV75Tpjj0CU55nuGt6uIu-7v8hFKxJN5yh9bpXhqhdHpAdKh11C7xwOlwwHRkKNdHnsA7-QdQ/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_Transformer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1uvCYpcKJF9duiJm4I-w-N-onfnQyXq8giYAmHtyS2L31LY_i5oX6ohsGY93zvzrTHgg34oKZfHyxOcRYLPprjBbUKJYiHiEeWNsLkRJ5fhxVxkubycaPdB5TM3Q_fyyQRsrN-USZgqTVyQMfxtiIDXiC9DQ0lao2DivnI11PXSK1YVGKN1DOXjGgw/s387/ClockworkKnight_SecretRoom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1uvCYpcKJF9duiJm4I-w-N-onfnQyXq8giYAmHtyS2L31LY_i5oX6ohsGY93zvzrTHgg34oKZfHyxOcRYLPprjBbUKJYiHiEeWNsLkRJ5fhxVxkubycaPdB5TM3Q_fyyQRsrN-USZgqTVyQMfxtiIDXiC9DQ0lao2DivnI11PXSK1YVGKN1DOXjGgw/w200-h114/ClockworkKnight_SecretRoom.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is short and largely easy, but it is a good deal of fun while it lasts, and it's got good sound quality to boot, and yes it's true: Pepperouchau <b>is</b> the OG keyblade wielder, eight years before Sora utilized it in SquareSoft's <i>Kingdom Hearts</i>. I read that evidently Traveller's Tales' <i>Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse</i> served as an influence for <i>Clockwork Knight</i>. Uh... <b>huh</b>?? 😦</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G7AAVK2rM8EsKjSZ_9UJQQepmDdZx81O5jSLLmcf2krgu1yl7VqjaM1niuJc8yRQdN9BLW_79RfGqogZbqcIcnL_HPh0E9xS-PxCEB7t3p98ojD1w5uwTuU8P_HwVW0o45Zj3llEfLZCzu4sVHiDYE9Nm_tKsB_WB5Dg5M8xdJAqM7dpMr6SsUUXNQ/s377/MickeyMania_Formula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G7AAVK2rM8EsKjSZ_9UJQQepmDdZx81O5jSLLmcf2krgu1yl7VqjaM1niuJc8yRQdN9BLW_79RfGqogZbqcIcnL_HPh0E9xS-PxCEB7t3p98ojD1w5uwTuU8P_HwVW0o45Zj3llEfLZCzu4sVHiDYE9Nm_tKsB_WB5Dg5M8xdJAqM7dpMr6SsUUXNQ/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Formula.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgsIJgSzR_IiEewODDm4pq7f_uT7KazL56gpb-MjMnG-HCnkTf3_YYhI8li6vw4FRld5GPxkdS9t7y16dgVk69FDGgUfyGf7jFOwmkBmNwfYcHQy24fkDsuSJpKZdmERVXIEbFOHeXP8CbAm3llYyeg3vQrYjaAbS8xZFQAJqiIEGuCrevScrJ0eICA/s377/MickeyMania_Moose.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgsIJgSzR_IiEewODDm4pq7f_uT7KazL56gpb-MjMnG-HCnkTf3_YYhI8li6vw4FRld5GPxkdS9t7y16dgVk69FDGgUfyGf7jFOwmkBmNwfYcHQy24fkDsuSJpKZdmERVXIEbFOHeXP8CbAm3llYyeg3vQrYjaAbS8xZFQAJqiIEGuCrevScrJ0eICA/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Moose.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I mean, don't get me wrong, I like <i>Mickey Mania</i>, I think it's a good, challenging British Disney platformer (and one I feel is Traveller's Tales at their peak next to <i>Puggsy</i>), but what gets me from learning about that is the release history: this came out on the NTSC SNES and on the MegaDrive/Genesis in October and November of 1994 respectively,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRfAGh28h-R-e5VT3aezVH6hQG8lNFn2c7Yv1nIksxQTSP1Py1yr1b6NS_4wyKWmBMJONxJzzSuC2VjOfEBvIG6K8WUBAxlbxKI9feJF7huLHppU_bTxDLiN5IHz8-EZObjyXCBc-cXxlrxmgKvJek0Ff3S8_89SJeFXA-g2EzNLZuFB96Ke8TtUjIw/s377/MickeyMania_Cave.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRfAGh28h-R-e5VT3aezVH6hQG8lNFn2c7Yv1nIksxQTSP1Py1yr1b6NS_4wyKWmBMJONxJzzSuC2VjOfEBvIG6K8WUBAxlbxKI9feJF7huLHppU_bTxDLiN5IHz8-EZObjyXCBc-cXxlrxmgKvJek0Ff3S8_89SJeFXA-g2EzNLZuFB96Ke8TtUjIw/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Cave.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3QgZyekuEg9ClW7aCC1wxfsk3sRu3ySCjshTBalPj5kdxeDxiv8yQI9c_rQOEREUt2dGBZ-19Dkf0Mc0ybIBR7yTfax49xIxQI7kijgKJNU2PVMH04VvOGoLOfwLojGgnTvfUiWLrR6lz9ThSr4Dz_OeYLLSVWLeNygPOGh69pEYV98kyME8QRFUgQ/s377/MickeyMania_Weasel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="377" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3QgZyekuEg9ClW7aCC1wxfsk3sRu3ySCjshTBalPj5kdxeDxiv8yQI9c_rQOEREUt2dGBZ-19Dkf0Mc0ybIBR7yTfax49xIxQI7kijgKJNU2PVMH04VvOGoLOfwLojGgnTvfUiWLrR6lz9ThSr4Dz_OeYLLSVWLeNygPOGh69pEYV98kyME8QRFUgQ/w200-h118/MickeyMania_Weasel.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and <i>Clockwork Knight</i> originally came out in Japan that December, implying that it had a really short development period. Maybe it partially served as an influence and it was worked on for more than two months, I dunno? But hey, a good influence is a good influence, and <i>Mickey Mania</i> is definitely a good game to take cues from... still think we should've gotten a sequel over the video game adaptation of <i>Toy Story</i> (with all due respect to Jon Burton and company at Traveller's), but that's just me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6vjgPHg-FNzxqDXD2pgdi7dyox8zlzqtdt4QOmYhgG1luvxRRlpterDqrR1qUNJtc3dFrRWjl9-k6bVyA13jgcdtSXeuf3Ccn0y7uwlE2Wn2mSIJT0BXX_VkYlemFB0k29r5lnA0_Urp5JQ26-DoGRwH3DrGxnBEGkr3CeZ3JsaSdXGpoQ3_0smGgA/s387/ClockworkKnight_HippoCookies.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6vjgPHg-FNzxqDXD2pgdi7dyox8zlzqtdt4QOmYhgG1luvxRRlpterDqrR1qUNJtc3dFrRWjl9-k6bVyA13jgcdtSXeuf3Ccn0y7uwlE2Wn2mSIJT0BXX_VkYlemFB0k29r5lnA0_Urp5JQ26-DoGRwH3DrGxnBEGkr3CeZ3JsaSdXGpoQ3_0smGgA/s16000/ClockworkKnight_HippoCookies.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I didn't know there was a Moomin cameo in this game. 🦛🍪</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2pTqWZEACKpO54HUnRINS7vl8bnUoaSqcyNbQBKGfVoyBPljnLcHuuwCN0ea3a37-D5ji24GDt8GBRWiBl4pNY06hPEPmJFhQMaL-TqGeEPd-B_ssuEIoqSq2Ly4zRPnjH_DP5_MCeJhKz38e4LmHCDDah3OLeSeZ2zCGdjiJh8-AdKBU5S6ndYJbA/s697/Moomin_NotHippos.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="697" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2pTqWZEACKpO54HUnRINS7vl8bnUoaSqcyNbQBKGfVoyBPljnLcHuuwCN0ea3a37-D5ji24GDt8GBRWiBl4pNY06hPEPmJFhQMaL-TqGeEPd-B_ssuEIoqSq2Ly4zRPnjH_DP5_MCeJhKz38e4LmHCDDah3OLeSeZ2zCGdjiJh8-AdKBU5S6ndYJbA/w400-h300/Moomin_NotHippos.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching PinkieLopBun's "Moomins, Not Hippos" clip of <i>Moomin</i>, property of Telecable Benelux B.V./Telescreen Japan based on Tove Jansson's characters, on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Don't ever refer to Moomin (RIP Susan Sheridan), his parents, or Snorkmaiden as hippos, they <b>hate</b> that.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN1bZBSNV72osI0lrJDZHVISRs_Xh3WdR12-423jXEEbZH8ZGm6e015dc6PSXSXI33wOlTJLN-HZs686delEf1TDO7JyVqKdWlcHol9UPR5t_YpWpJ37JTX0YfHJENHyC5II8oERxDR8aH3Ln8IKOsofm_HrMMp_rsGgn13se7jVkoMgwLojWghOk2Q/s387/ClockworkKnight_KitchenSink.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN1bZBSNV72osI0lrJDZHVISRs_Xh3WdR12-423jXEEbZH8ZGm6e015dc6PSXSXI33wOlTJLN-HZs686delEf1TDO7JyVqKdWlcHol9UPR5t_YpWpJ37JTX0YfHJENHyC5II8oERxDR8aH3Ln8IKOsofm_HrMMp_rsGgn13se7jVkoMgwLojWghOk2Q/s16000/ClockworkKnight_KitchenSink.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ah,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6ZvAIWTW3YHneYjzziDBSJ1HteBSJWbqxkwEeg4YOVUjPHldklpeyrtRYQ4Zp9m09QK_yd4jYUx4ZQMy_Pk3CS8XCM5Mk5qwlYycJnmMiXd5WJibI9FHgtlYASlac7sezCEwVrurM2-kB7YE2E5ehA4JoXrgsa5nqVjE_wWfEeTNrMTQZcDd2XxMPA/s376/MrNutz_JumpFromSponge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="376" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6ZvAIWTW3YHneYjzziDBSJ1HteBSJWbqxkwEeg4YOVUjPHldklpeyrtRYQ4Zp9m09QK_yd4jYUx4ZQMy_Pk3CS8XCM5Mk5qwlYycJnmMiXd5WJibI9FHgtlYASlac7sezCEwVrurM2-kB7YE2E5ehA4JoXrgsa5nqVjE_wWfEeTNrMTQZcDd2XxMPA/w200-h154/MrNutz_JumpFromSponge.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssXd8pM35r9snWTIibbznSVfJXXGROr8TgGSyts5Cs5OTRUqr7JZ_iYBcgBoMEqbfsdRsYE5R7CavvUIEyascCk4R2cOOmNcxgyJ5bhjHM5V4Z19EQQG73HE6bYZD_I8xb9A2oa9QaU71AwjUChKlou0MhnLmMqurjJg8d_CAhRI0VC0KdAwd0G3z6g/s376/MrNutz_TippingOnSponge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="376" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssXd8pM35r9snWTIibbznSVfJXXGROr8TgGSyts5Cs5OTRUqr7JZ_iYBcgBoMEqbfsdRsYE5R7CavvUIEyascCk4R2cOOmNcxgyJ5bhjHM5V4Z19EQQG73HE6bYZD_I8xb9A2oa9QaU71AwjUChKlou0MhnLmMqurjJg8d_CAhRI0VC0KdAwd0G3z6g/w200-h154/MrNutz_TippingOnSponge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">My first ever game I ordered on eBay back in May 2009 which I received just in time for my high school graduation, I'll always cherish this game; can't believe it's been thirteen years already</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">not since Ocean Software's Pierre Adane and Philippe Dessoly Nintendo 16-bit platforming classic <i>Mr. Nutz</i> has a scrub sponge looked so authentic in a video game. Respect. 🧽</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHy0xUv37EhJXZQij2O5seeKDqDIYQXFmLKq-StfQ8EQnmi6J-xiviCr79MH9gTVaBccvAe1UhzgM6ECXpeZ2P_Om_0rPECmvwAcHia93UyMLjgT0H_aw6CJA0fwXnFPXMLWUNCxHxPTYWnjAx_cUSJkoVMp8CqUO9G6KF7srLNUdOZL1j8ZFP6JoVg/s387/ClockworkKnight_TV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHy0xUv37EhJXZQij2O5seeKDqDIYQXFmLKq-StfQ8EQnmi6J-xiviCr79MH9gTVaBccvAe1UhzgM6ECXpeZ2P_Om_0rPECmvwAcHia93UyMLjgT0H_aw6CJA0fwXnFPXMLWUNCxHxPTYWnjAx_cUSJkoVMp8CqUO9G6KF7srLNUdOZL1j8ZFP6JoVg/s16000/ClockworkKnight_TV.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Everything about this boss is genius, from the core concept design down to the epic, forebodingly menacing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBABfUJo1qI">music</a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love the creepy vibes the final boss exudes any time its monitor changes into a PC board upon sustaining damage (accompanied by the lightning sound) with unmistakable eyes and mouth and tries to quash Pepperouchau with it via its mechanical arms. I wonder if Toby Fox of <i>Undertale</i> fame stumbled across this when it came to conceiving the Photoshop Omega Flowey boss fight and was like, <b>*silent nod*</b> "Yes!" <b>*continues silent nod*</b> But to be fair, there were numerous influences in it to begin with, it's just fun to think about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Clockwork Knight</i> did have a sequel which takes place immediately after the events of the first game, but it is on the pricey side of things so I might have to wait until Christmas to ask for <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> (or, if I get lucky, I might stumble across an American copy that doesn't exceed $100 but only within reason; whichever comes first). But yeah, I found this game to be very endearing while it lasts and I can't wait to try the follow-up someday.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPc2Zwjj3Epalej8-_wTspk0p2Xyzun3GPzPkQaimWcZ-lAjH3xzPrGTCaIJmgw5lnAVUL1eE5M1c9Lgln6O-FJCsyK_p53FZzKRlj5dcJLqBbvuGXsVk04lDU6uqow4Mps9fY3HrPjL7MStF00YWZ33hBLwwGvRV3euHlxabtM3NS-R-ah6TPmRHZog/s542/Bug_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="542" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPc2Zwjj3Epalej8-_wTspk0p2Xyzun3GPzPkQaimWcZ-lAjH3xzPrGTCaIJmgw5lnAVUL1eE5M1c9Lgln6O-FJCsyK_p53FZzKRlj5dcJLqBbvuGXsVk04lDU6uqow4Mps9fY3HrPjL7MStF00YWZ33hBLwwGvRV3euHlxabtM3NS-R-ah6TPmRHZog/w400-h320/Bug_Advert.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The back of <i>Clockwork Knight</i>'s manual features an advert for Realtime Associates' <i>Bug!</i>, which I do plan on getting somewhere down the line.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My second Sega Saturn game I received on May 5th, and one of the first things I did when I got it</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi2RrlKOJ3wADTVSSouvW03Ln4nRFKwa7lW2ehKeTg-nKGWDKxoR_WvXZvkzOaE4UAA1bum1iJNv8r1anuwqet4ZN3ogiVi3pxEE_Jwn8h0Q4UaDHyRaQqDEbMcM4keUxGrg8ZHPAFXHmbVug55cTf_XVuDboNt0ZeMrahCg0cuhLk2-TLBJE6cNTZQ/s497/SolarEclipse+Discworld_IsometricSizeComparison.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="497" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi2RrlKOJ3wADTVSSouvW03Ln4nRFKwa7lW2ehKeTg-nKGWDKxoR_WvXZvkzOaE4UAA1bum1iJNv8r1anuwqet4ZN3ogiVi3pxEE_Jwn8h0Q4UaDHyRaQqDEbMcM4keUxGrg8ZHPAFXHmbVug55cTf_XVuDboNt0ZeMrahCg0cuhLk2-TLBJE6cNTZQ/w200-h174/SolarEclipse+Discworld_IsometricSizeComparison.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJfgScXzwRorNriJ5dF4yyyn5pfLYYDLTOqp9FpOq8PkN0-y_pD5p3mI6A9_TnnSjsedKBtJEnl32DLeYR-KcTwBlLLv-6QdKVSgYQo4KWSc-3a-2RRUZj2NeAPSeDH0kZ4iM_tyhG_mWVVoV0Q_b49-jEI3BFX8lhff9sKvVZEPBk5b8pXmPtAVxPQ/s620/SolarEclipse+Discworld_FrontSizeComparison.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="620" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJfgScXzwRorNriJ5dF4yyyn5pfLYYDLTOqp9FpOq8PkN0-y_pD5p3mI6A9_TnnSjsedKBtJEnl32DLeYR-KcTwBlLLv-6QdKVSgYQo4KWSc-3a-2RRUZj2NeAPSeDH0kZ4iM_tyhG_mWVVoV0Q_b49-jEI3BFX8lhff9sKvVZEPBk5b8pXmPtAVxPQ/w200-h143/SolarEclipse+Discworld_FrontSizeComparison.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>This is the only PlayStation One game I own that is packaged like this, it's such a bizarre design choice I can't help but love it!</b> 😄</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">was size the tall Sega Saturn game jewel case up with my tall case of the Teeny Weeny Games and Perfect 10 Productions co-developed point and click graphic adventure <i>Discworld</i> on the PlayStation One, which as far as packaging goes is pretty much on par dimension-wise.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8fx41ZcjMcYWn1B24Vpl4QtZDe1cuarsR7fgrAtHAyc6PcFHsrZ07yZBypMuc8TmbvFszzp4D_zwqAqv0vOI5J_gRMaacJmD6mfJEXK5wmGMhbQUpI3PAT8nH2F5kenH-r8yh4ahuQei67oV-RA1veqaWxj-fci69alOotGvpHyZdsbKsaz8mm_yig/s543/Discworld+ThreadsOfFate+FIFA2000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="543" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8fx41ZcjMcYWn1B24Vpl4QtZDe1cuarsR7fgrAtHAyc6PcFHsrZ07yZBypMuc8TmbvFszzp4D_zwqAqv0vOI5J_gRMaacJmD6mfJEXK5wmGMhbQUpI3PAT8nH2F5kenH-r8yh4ahuQei67oV-RA1veqaWxj-fci69alOotGvpHyZdsbKsaz8mm_yig/w400-h354/Discworld+ThreadsOfFate+FIFA2000.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I must preface before anyone gets the wrong idea that I have no way of playing PAL PlayStation One games on my American console; I found out the hard way when I moved in Texas that, unlike the Game Boy handheld which was region-free, PAL games do not work on NTSC consoles so on certain years I go to Italy, I bring what PAL games I have left for my cousin Marco to play, little by little (also to make room for my NTSC game collection)</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Strangely enough, this <b>was</b> how games were originally packaged for the PlayStation One when it debuted in North America in 1995 and continued being the case until sometime in 1996 when Sony settled on the normal jewel case size (likely changed to take up less space on the shelves, I presume); but if you grew up in Europe like I did then you had the games for that format in a bulkier jewel case (mostly due the size of the manual as it copy-pasted the same instructions but in multiple languages) which was consistently packaged from PAL's PlayStation launch day one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xlSGF4lD4tM2hGDsyETfZykfai9ywZQVnyMpbibcGLiQvZPrnD7g5EoF_CkEY2yUazfixPyA5CX-cjZfN1s2bGTcxnXnu1c28monp2gu6j5DthFbMz3DHDUxNwFJikGEAiCnWxyPF3fdcGk1rAer7wHGYjWH-Q86u7Lm9s1O6yLTltrEkKySNqn_0Q/s383/Discworld_TomatoToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="383" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xlSGF4lD4tM2hGDsyETfZykfai9ywZQVnyMpbibcGLiQvZPrnD7g5EoF_CkEY2yUazfixPyA5CX-cjZfN1s2bGTcxnXnu1c28monp2gu6j5DthFbMz3DHDUxNwFJikGEAiCnWxyPF3fdcGk1rAer7wHGYjWH-Q86u7Lm9s1O6yLTltrEkKySNqn_0Q/w200-h139/Discworld_TomatoToss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH5G_cV5Y6n7Ch2qo2a3oMZdhgbnHrhbrR1bn3nXnYNqDfXw-2w0ij2v2uKJm2ek-k0y6aYBaVPRPPeRotLGpXvmXpcqv0Fp63lqQwA9b1GBrXXH84lHbNekXZ7uJvniX2gaXZBcj0YZJLud3bPKB23SSdAk724Nmsu_HMCbjDkFZQDvtUq-QZ4BCQQ/s383/Discworld_Butterfly.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="383" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH5G_cV5Y6n7Ch2qo2a3oMZdhgbnHrhbrR1bn3nXnYNqDfXw-2w0ij2v2uKJm2ek-k0y6aYBaVPRPPeRotLGpXvmXpcqv0Fp63lqQwA9b1GBrXXH84lHbNekXZ7uJvniX2gaXZBcj0YZJLud3bPKB23SSdAk724Nmsu_HMCbjDkFZQDvtUq-QZ4BCQQ/w200-h139/Discworld_Butterfly.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Discworld</i> was also released on the Sega Saturn, but only in Europe and in Japan</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let me just say, before returning to the subject of the Saturn: <i>Discworld</i> is very humorous thanks to its British sense of humor (RIP Terry Pratchett) and Eric Idle is brilliant as the voice of Rincewind, but it is high in difficulty* and has got exceedingly long load times--it takes roughly 20-25 seconds (!!!!) to save or load a game. I much preferred the sequel, I thought it was more palatable and enjoyable by comparison, but that's neither here nor there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">* </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I mean, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><u>very</u></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> high, even when I used a guide the first time around whenever I got stuck--which was often--less than two years ago that was the case (those exacerbated load times do not help its case); presently on my second playthrough, albeit on an irregular basis, and seeing how far I can go guide<u>less</u></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDeZ3DPmNA5nymXt_DtAP1HJWNfaNjoUzLg8muoA0kpkeJv8jp2aNWRhJscTWjV0VBQN77dQQeUYq5XHztK7ldar0l659y1hHslKLDzwVu5sXnCgXwM93TdMN7iYYb3UC12saAF8KFi9GH7k_K3uiUneXmI5_bfa5nlBxqBnRNIq5zWf7UYdxnIyb7g/s374/SolarEclipse_Janus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDeZ3DPmNA5nymXt_DtAP1HJWNfaNjoUzLg8muoA0kpkeJv8jp2aNWRhJscTWjV0VBQN77dQQeUYq5XHztK7ldar0l659y1hHslKLDzwVu5sXnCgXwM93TdMN7iYYb3UC12saAF8KFi9GH7k_K3uiUneXmI5_bfa5nlBxqBnRNIq5zWf7UYdxnIyb7g/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Janus.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIwEYVwALHpFaaj49Qr521UUmrXaD0L4hkwbuSHbAXBRgwP48qVtwv7blu63kCyvD2UU6Y_b-iJ3WEmXdtQNbty8odkmi47ikfUIlV_IQfbK_HHLYVCENJuE5pZjLi1RDmdS45e0oai-D1liiHMxRbJ1su6FZWP8CjiQZ-0zJYVbVFDD48t6hkgjJGg/s374/SolarEclipse_Tethys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIwEYVwALHpFaaj49Qr521UUmrXaD0L4hkwbuSHbAXBRgwP48qVtwv7blu63kCyvD2UU6Y_b-iJ3WEmXdtQNbty8odkmi47ikfUIlV_IQfbK_HHLYVCENJuE5pZjLi1RDmdS45e0oai-D1liiHMxRbJ1su6FZWP8CjiQZ-0zJYVbVFDD48t6hkgjJGg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Tethys.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This was also released on the PlayStation One, but only for European consumption</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My second Sega Saturn game was Crystal Dynamics' <i><b>Solar Eclipse</b></i> (<i>Titan Wars</i> outside of North America), a sci-fi rail shooter in the vein of fellow games of its ilk HAL Laboratory's <i>HyperZone</i> and Argonaut Software's <i>Star Fox</i> with elements of J. Michael Straczynski's space opera <i>Babylon 5</i> thrown in the mix (so I've read this game described as online before buying it, I have not seen <i>Babylon 5</i> but I have heard of it).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWzELuAl2BXX8Nbr3fUxNZSjVao4e4F0gs-jqdij4HsqdOSRI6t9uui7JUXETWpjymLlmQd7BWeksMrxUml7Y4oc9O_-lKTNHtS55XRXUhg8qETc_FR7w4Lw4Qwd3TRosisJksEQeNijYsfpaW1w746JpAnPOK7Zjdmw-pG21LI1ErKC6DwUFke2RGg/s374/SolarEclipse_MissionObjectiveBoss3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWzELuAl2BXX8Nbr3fUxNZSjVao4e4F0gs-jqdij4HsqdOSRI6t9uui7JUXETWpjymLlmQd7BWeksMrxUml7Y4oc9O_-lKTNHtS55XRXUhg8qETc_FR7w4Lw4Qwd3TRosisJksEQeNijYsfpaW1w746JpAnPOK7Zjdmw-pG21LI1ErKC6DwUFke2RGg/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_MissionObjectiveBoss3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6rHI8njWgTCqwtgWaOoa3e50KDXyoaMI_mwuZmza0kwlN0DWiwHXIexJ6V976v_35A7_PnnGBAz_5ttY1Uu46yqR_fI7-VoOXP-moTGN8CnNI7pqrewAP85POchMUUS2qirOh-gq07i-PYCI2aVAB_llUvaF5M3P7aHgLDjwC3RdPb36i7JI1iBqHQ/s374/SolarEclipse_Dione.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6rHI8njWgTCqwtgWaOoa3e50KDXyoaMI_mwuZmza0kwlN0DWiwHXIexJ6V976v_35A7_PnnGBAz_5ttY1Uu46yqR_fI7-VoOXP-moTGN8CnNI7pqrewAP85POchMUUS2qirOh-gq07i-PYCI2aVAB_llUvaF5M3P7aHgLDjwC3RdPb36i7JI1iBqHQ/w200-h156/SolarEclipse_Dione.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Aesthetically it's an interesting game to look at (particularly the animation of "Stuntman"'s ship when you maneuver it) as you go through eight missions, especially when you can rotate to 360 degrees to your left and to your right, and the gameplay is solid even though there are occasions that it becomes hectic and chaotic when it comes to thwarting off enemy ships especially later on. I really dug Power of 2 Music's soundtrack, the sound design is fitting (I even recognized a sound effect that would be used in Crystal Dynamics' later release Toys for Bob's <i>Pandemonium!</i>), I liked the interactions between the characters,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVksaU3CK5EHzvXz4HMXAGw5Z_yVxiORwBaGo9Fd2wkjECv2qF0QQctUbX_qRff9ipekiVfIZEzIQLnirjBLnjRSoWecLDl3xcOP3xN3ClrOvsSeFJ5giX-DQb_fkSOPfXX7H0bJeubEM2aSHigSQY_CXEiSQV7B1moZZlwDpdK-zycTUZ_ODZoLfi-w/s364/SolarEclipse_Raven+Hellcat+Stuntman.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="364" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVksaU3CK5EHzvXz4HMXAGw5Z_yVxiORwBaGo9Fd2wkjECv2qF0QQctUbX_qRff9ipekiVfIZEzIQLnirjBLnjRSoWecLDl3xcOP3xN3ClrOvsSeFJ5giX-DQb_fkSOPfXX7H0bJeubEM2aSHigSQY_CXEiSQV7B1moZZlwDpdK-zycTUZ_ODZoLfi-w/w200-h121/SolarEclipse_Raven+Hellcat+Stuntman.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNLNFUitzJKvubNfbncXQ-ei6D7LAujL8aDZAbQzsq_h5Y0281Pe8OjZsmMHcLOrFKfZsrw9VXxWfuuUJopZZN0lXLiG-exu7mmNQbXwBYMjWbMcTZ4yMXoXoiZ5w8CB-yho1tIaPCxPm812OYq5lXkk3Kw4yK5kWUuxcXIUEShK1HY9UwBPnMZtbXA/s364/SolarEclipse_Raven+Cobra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="364" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNLNFUitzJKvubNfbncXQ-ei6D7LAujL8aDZAbQzsq_h5Y0281Pe8OjZsmMHcLOrFKfZsrw9VXxWfuuUJopZZN0lXLiG-exu7mmNQbXwBYMjWbMcTZ4yMXoXoiZ5w8CB-yho1tIaPCxPm812OYq5lXkk3Kw4yK5kWUuxcXIUEShK1HY9UwBPnMZtbXA/w200-h121/SolarEclipse_Raven+Cobra.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and the cutscene quality in-between missions is really good, not to mention the acting is topnotch (especially from Claudia Christian*) as it lends it a TV show-like feel. There is a '90s quality and charm that makes it endearing, and I do think it is a solid game. I looked up that this a sequel of sorts to one of Crystal Dynamics' earliest games, <i>Total Eclipse</i> (<i>Turbo</i>), though from what I gather it doesn't seem like I'm missing out much having not played that one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* It's funny, any time "Raven", Christian's character, spoke I thought how she sounded <u>exactly</u> like Helga Sinclair in Disney's <i>Atlantis: The Lost Empire</i> (she even gave off similar vibes) and I didn't know why; granted, I have not seen many things with Claudia Christian in it so I wasn't familiar with her work, but it wasn't until very recently that I looked up the cast list again for the aforementioned movie and sure enough, her name was in it and I was like, "Oh my God, it <u>was</u> her!!"</b> 👀 <b>She just has a very distinct voice and that's how I picked up on it</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-RPK_FFTUN1m5m-ujx-05SIgw-XZvtfC87t3wap_Ha50NA-uEE5635LJYPbC2k7EZeqEN34kKIjYps-uQCA7MYUatoTJuuZV-t2Hw0ugEspbm3QhvEVrLeFP6bgA6-XVP1iPtYg8jj_61SeYPpg_zCAYvbRuz5SG2euzA1nJsX0hkKLE7d27Oyj_cw/s374/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_Dodgeball.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-RPK_FFTUN1m5m-ujx-05SIgw-XZvtfC87t3wap_Ha50NA-uEE5635LJYPbC2k7EZeqEN34kKIjYps-uQCA7MYUatoTJuuZV-t2Hw0ugEspbm3QhvEVrLeFP6bgA6-XVP1iPtYg8jj_61SeYPpg_zCAYvbRuz5SG2euzA1nJsX0hkKLE7d27Oyj_cw/w200-h156/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_Dodgeball.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkcDKJ4cp9YA8p9Zw4xoYi9vg0nyM1RX0GbHaoTNMmxQq98e3iWTzQBh189evUgt9_zwBIO-58vBhmAnfM5FguHJ6-shkLkkWW4rMdFfCodu7La3UCUj0kxftEeI1ZU8ac-CW4_iVdZrqOpfigUiVOiMKjwlhlbcQ4x2mkZVma_EOY8RjrRedk6r6sQ/s374/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_HallucinatoryDance.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkcDKJ4cp9YA8p9Zw4xoYi9vg0nyM1RX0GbHaoTNMmxQq98e3iWTzQBh189evUgt9_zwBIO-58vBhmAnfM5FguHJ6-shkLkkWW4rMdFfCodu7La3UCUj0kxftEeI1ZU8ac-CW4_iVdZrqOpfigUiVOiMKjwlhlbcQ4x2mkZVma_EOY8RjrRedk6r6sQ/w200-h156/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_HallucinatoryDance.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the title screen there is Crystal Dynamics' "Walk It Off" preview video montage of their lineup of games to come (if they had not come out already) while grunge music is playing in the background (so that there's absolutely <b>no</b> mistake what decade in time this was produced in) , but the connective tissue leading into these second long clips of these 32-bit games (including the very game you accessed the preview from, <i>Solar Eclipse</i>) is retroactively creepy though (it's supposedly played for laughs, but it is just plain awkward): we have a stereotypical private boys' school with someone resembling Steve Carell getting pelted by dodgeballs galore by actual children who are so much younger than he is, and once he's had his fill with them he fantasizes himself slow dancing with his coach who blew the whistle and shouted "play ball!" to the <strike>screen</strike> student body with slow lullaby music playing. Just,... what is <b>anything</b>?? 😩</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36rG5SidUfgYwj_biUkhIHsAIOn3c8Jk6F694NvNZ_bGxzhEKc5PWXkciErRM6EJoq0r0OzloKJ5zNvuCLtDRSXf4o6jo2VOAMMKD3QEo11boUglhnuA5fAm7sVIHMn7tsC7QFPr54ZdqLUmAdRIINSWQtGjeL5cb7KJZoGrJy2b2I2aWSwulU58L9Q/s374/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_BlazingDragons.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36rG5SidUfgYwj_biUkhIHsAIOn3c8Jk6F694NvNZ_bGxzhEKc5PWXkciErRM6EJoq0r0OzloKJ5zNvuCLtDRSXf4o6jo2VOAMMKD3QEo11boUglhnuA5fAm7sVIHMn7tsC7QFPr54ZdqLUmAdRIINSWQtGjeL5cb7KJZoGrJy2b2I2aWSwulU58L9Q/w200-h156/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_BlazingDragons.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLplInmHE99jiRjqNyyJJKvFk11xysY11RZ3cCPEe1sycPCC3v7TWsK6e_-TWMdtbQt6ibdxLbFD-6lhPiyQKRhgLkHRx1ph3Y-w3epxoZZa3iDiZG8TcpQ9KK3BbfwU7PsL7IzAuQ0O-rBFO3p1wzTpqpf3dJQuypaLxIyiChUZvnkZPGwP8Ui_zPPA/s374/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_BlazingDragons2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="374" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLplInmHE99jiRjqNyyJJKvFk11xysY11RZ3cCPEe1sycPCC3v7TWsK6e_-TWMdtbQt6ibdxLbFD-6lhPiyQKRhgLkHRx1ph3Y-w3epxoZZa3iDiZG8TcpQ9KK3BbfwU7PsL7IzAuQ0O-rBFO3p1wzTpqpf3dJQuypaLxIyiChUZvnkZPGwP8Ui_zPPA/w200-h156/CrystalDynamics-WalkItOff_BlazingDragons2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love that this game was being advertised less than a year before it came out</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">One of the games featured in the preview video is The Illusions Gaming Company's console point and click graphic adventure <i>Blazing Dragons</i>, based on an idea by the late Terry Jones (RIP) based on the King Arthur legend but with dragons in the role of the knights. <i>Blazing Dragons</i> on the PlayStation One also had a "Walk It Off" preview clip (albeit assembled a bit differently) which is how I learned about <i>Solar Eclipse</i> nearly two years ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjZNou8sIob3JV2o0csZcTHAiTL3XyicUyTgchHgwMyxx1gM3TvW54dD9My58riHtKDj_rQ3JLkHpYmvgLwQmgIvJieWcWAEYtqM3sZqBvDFPQyKj_Ewwgclp3thH5cXcy_BB7GMcSXi62K90XAtU6q0ixapK4SyawmC-uBJB7lkwJ2xhMtdEXpwRzw/s387/BlazingDragons_FairyTaleInstitution.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjZNou8sIob3JV2o0csZcTHAiTL3XyicUyTgchHgwMyxx1gM3TvW54dD9My58riHtKDj_rQ3JLkHpYmvgLwQmgIvJieWcWAEYtqM3sZqBvDFPQyKj_Ewwgclp3thH5cXcy_BB7GMcSXi62K90XAtU6q0ixapK4SyawmC-uBJB7lkwJ2xhMtdEXpwRzw/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_FairyTaleInstitution.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6BHYrS2VhjZyVdCO8IbjawAjXq23xATTeMQMuBLx0kvWkaRxgupos3kDAVDaBu71mx9kPP8h_cdDNo2RHwCKlC09ywDCYsXuEasAdeyq5Gs-DtYZrc65gU2rYPd6gOc8Lj-t8ek0od7JpAbqAlZ85avOnt-dpp8ldUc8ZyR79NoqP5323YYp6D5g2A/s387/BlazingDragons_KingAllFiresGarden.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="387" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6BHYrS2VhjZyVdCO8IbjawAjXq23xATTeMQMuBLx0kvWkaRxgupos3kDAVDaBu71mx9kPP8h_cdDNo2RHwCKlC09ywDCYsXuEasAdeyq5Gs-DtYZrc65gU2rYPd6gOc8Lj-t8ek0od7JpAbqAlZ85avOnt-dpp8ldUc8ZyR79NoqP5323YYp6D5g2A/w200-h139/BlazingDragons_KingAllFiresGarden.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>Blazing Dragons</i> was also released on the Sega Saturn</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's a really great game to get you into the point and click genre if you've never got around to those kinds of games (it's also great on its own merits), with great writing, a gorgeously colorful aesthetic, a stellar voice cast (Jim Cummings and Jeff Bennett are always a win, Terry Jones also lent his voice here), likable British charm and wit, and is a very endearing and fun game while it lasts. Pleasurably feel-good every time, short though it may be. 😄 Wish more people knew about it; I really should cover it sometime.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyYHrJ__4M1XQS1YKAkH_3nFmP6lp0o0vOF3ytDvevGfmLcWBcSibpsB0vwahNKqK7wb9fe8HFtwQ4TPbaVUnUYrY5d0Z87GVf0oleDMYN-tOzqCtpNOetJvdqD6Luj1OPNFH-t5Q6Q2VkoX6-boqlrKbes_t_8UJTdTKLVXhUJvhuznCgRCPxVq6CA/s554/Gex_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="554" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyYHrJ__4M1XQS1YKAkH_3nFmP6lp0o0vOF3ytDvevGfmLcWBcSibpsB0vwahNKqK7wb9fe8HFtwQ4TPbaVUnUYrY5d0Z87GVf0oleDMYN-tOzqCtpNOetJvdqD6Luj1OPNFH-t5Q6Q2VkoX6-boqlrKbes_t_8UJTdTKLVXhUJvhuznCgRCPxVq6CA/w400-h329/Gex_Advert.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the back of the manual is an advert for Beam Software's port of Crystal Dynamics' <i>Gex</i> featuring their mascot at the time,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZYLKh4CX-IbYbjgYnlThtGqajtWf-iZB-RAq1Sv8Si6AgnxmzOd0Cv4hyIPty81BTq8lrJ4AoxjK4ocPVsEMu5nq5QsU2LSwMHGB-c-hwYh2bILUNhoQUbz5ylbrav4mljgJhx5lHiZ1vLiJHEb01WiXc2sDKGyxw_MTy1EDeR9rctv00xteyjG4KA/s383/Gex_KnockKnock.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="383" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZYLKh4CX-IbYbjgYnlThtGqajtWf-iZB-RAq1Sv8Si6AgnxmzOd0Cv4hyIPty81BTq8lrJ4AoxjK4ocPVsEMu5nq5QsU2LSwMHGB-c-hwYh2bILUNhoQUbz5ylbrav4mljgJhx5lHiZ1vLiJHEb01WiXc2sDKGyxw_MTy1EDeR9rctv00xteyjG4KA/w200-h159/Gex_KnockKnock.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwBO8IRvljuYQC2kBYZImtuTg9raTzegoLAHcT32VlxQ29Evsw5ccgUgfNAMIkfv7sBOcBhofcRFMLFkQp_wDP_ZovR6ELQ9DhrmZQNkQKsixFRhPv-mDLP0Ncl3VjgqaEc60d2zEGRPHVWjB2t71ZbVUilM3eLz3-iHNHbt8K373IePOB7Ub0BpJ_g/s383/Gex_ToxicTurtle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="383" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwBO8IRvljuYQC2kBYZImtuTg9raTzegoLAHcT32VlxQ29Evsw5ccgUgfNAMIkfv7sBOcBhofcRFMLFkQp_wDP_ZovR6ELQ9DhrmZQNkQKsixFRhPv-mDLP0Ncl3VjgqaEc60d2zEGRPHVWjB2t71ZbVUilM3eLz3-iHNHbt8K373IePOB7Ub0BpJ_g/w200-h159/Gex_ToxicTurtle.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Square-Enix says Gex might make a return sometime in the future, that's pretty neat--TV's changed a lot in the two-plus decades since his last game, though, I wonder if there'll be references to streaming services as well?</b> 🤔 <b>I wouldn't put it past them if that were to be the case, it would be pretty on-brand given we're talking about <i>Gex</i> here</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">which I already have on the PlayStation One, so I'm covered there. 😁 Good game, even though I'm not a fan of how bright Gex is in-game, and Dana Gould is well-chosen as the voice of the impressionist and quippy TV-obsessed gecko. 🦎 An---</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1QuBcXUmwsABla_qFiGsTOCU9jTVP_ewWzApOcURukT5t_fm5y7t9ptMtXVLvZiTue8HI2qZUaHAKViC0D37-uOWF9avkBTvzYggA0Mcq7Q5pO61GzqhjN2lrej2x_-qGnkHdeKISS61aDqRG7HNe6kepF3RMbIQ-8YkRAtJK43J9N7vA9_fv2VxcA/s490/Horde_Advert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="490" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1QuBcXUmwsABla_qFiGsTOCU9jTVP_ewWzApOcURukT5t_fm5y7t9ptMtXVLvZiTue8HI2qZUaHAKViC0D37-uOWF9avkBTvzYggA0Mcq7Q5pO61GzqhjN2lrej2x_-qGnkHdeKISS61aDqRG7HNe6kepF3RMbIQ-8YkRAtJK43J9N7vA9_fv2VxcA/w400-h328/Horde_Advert.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Unlike <i>Gex</i>, <i>The Horde</i> was given a Saturn treatment and not on the PlayStation as well</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">oh <b>no</b>, not the Kirk Cameron game! 😧 ...... I feel this is a good time to mention that there are codes in <i>Solar Eclipse</i> that let you access secret areas (each of which is pretty much the programmers having fun), including ones based on prior Crystal Dynamics fare <i>The Horde</i> and <i>Off-World Interceptor</i> (the latter of which I was surprised to learn was rated "M" for "Mature" last month, I certainly wasn't given that impression from what little they showed of <b>it</b> in the "Walk It Off" preview), which adds to the quirk factor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG5VlbDZHqLeSPYjvruFnVzl706fqHXW9esHEvm_Bmb0TxgqFaNp7ErW1kIKGE86d7efd7E-hx9QVXpn4iRwnBk8W6FB3zHmpI84yw_gdw7yZvUBuVGJTbVSByZBCv5qNTOA3bsw-WT7u2CXZP-0kwnxsFIT-mFOQaEPdCSSH8r7kpGq99IMD9YEJkg/s370/TombRaider_JumpingExercises.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="370" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG5VlbDZHqLeSPYjvruFnVzl706fqHXW9esHEvm_Bmb0TxgqFaNp7ErW1kIKGE86d7efd7E-hx9QVXpn4iRwnBk8W6FB3zHmpI84yw_gdw7yZvUBuVGJTbVSByZBCv5qNTOA3bsw-WT7u2CXZP-0kwnxsFIT-mFOQaEPdCSSH8r7kpGq99IMD9YEJkg/w200-h158/TombRaider_JumpingExercises.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlC5gT3f0juRaTkoumeT-YFxIAFsc2j2m1w1MP1SAyHwtmAFHUDB52Q7TZ9psHqIuFCrf2cvVZ5VJ4ftzQIFjHFs-LHOCIZcb4FRxf3mfS3e0Tla2zNi3l82uJHhNVEPnz-bK857c4II5ZaEx94oezouaWUDuoeYnBrI4qYmTu_cpH6TmoyJ23VLm-g/s370/TombRaider_SwimmingPool.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="370" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlC5gT3f0juRaTkoumeT-YFxIAFsc2j2m1w1MP1SAyHwtmAFHUDB52Q7TZ9psHqIuFCrf2cvVZ5VJ4ftzQIFjHFs-LHOCIZcb4FRxf3mfS3e0Tla2zNi3l82uJHhNVEPnz-bK857c4II5ZaEx94oezouaWUDuoeYnBrI4qYmTu_cpH6TmoyJ23VLm-g/w200-h158/TombRaider_SwimmingPool.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Fun fact: the Saturn was the first format <i>Tomb Raider</i> came out on</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The third Sega Saturn game I received on May 12th, and that game was the original Core Design 3D tank control platforming classic <b><i>Tomb Raider</i></b> released by Eidos Interactive. I did have this game on the PlayStation One growing up in Italy (with a French language track), but it was one of those games where I never got very far at the time (guess I had a hard time accustoming to its controls in the long run as a kid) and despite that I also played the first two sequels, and guess what: I never got far on those either (thank God my gameplay skills evolved over time). The last time I played those three was before I moved to Texas in 2002, and I never thought of replaying those in any capacity (albeit in NTSC format) until the past year or so. Watching the OpenLara tech demo on the Game Boy Advance earlier this year on YouTube was impressive as it showed Croft Manor and the opening Caves level, so I <b>knew</b> I had to play <i>Tomb Raider</i> again (especially now that I had a Saturn).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpqGPhs9mzZQdcvg8et86RtyhZ0VfTpxGlGiijU2PqN20K_vsJH5ims3Gr5O4ZDf1qgKL8YqmGaO-kpCL3EQSP2uuEHk3dx79ALgw3xwpKFIV_W5QQ_Co1aJazHuxbJzSmw5N4owl-SdZjzRPMRDhLyR01ItBPDFAG_XwW__OBG5jUWHpvwqm5N3ayA/s370/TombRaider_Switch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="370" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpqGPhs9mzZQdcvg8et86RtyhZ0VfTpxGlGiijU2PqN20K_vsJH5ims3Gr5O4ZDf1qgKL8YqmGaO-kpCL3EQSP2uuEHk3dx79ALgw3xwpKFIV_W5QQ_Co1aJazHuxbJzSmw5N4owl-SdZjzRPMRDhLyR01ItBPDFAG_XwW__OBG5jUWHpvwqm5N3ayA/w200-h158/TombRaider_Switch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42QxEe519bIMfYFgBAsiZfJ34wDP55OUJicWgRXzuTf-OG9lZXtnhF-l-xPYadh5aavQ5gj4C0-3tZrCc8E7CoMCh4QRPt4xb56bznn8P0EMiY1HhlNpQQIO_KWpsf9xSf-FeFkdF057EkrTwFqtCSBeHI-Bm8DMTrhPSc5jD9GH5SNvNDpX-4rdobg/s370/TombRaider_Khamoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="370" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42QxEe519bIMfYFgBAsiZfJ34wDP55OUJicWgRXzuTf-OG9lZXtnhF-l-xPYadh5aavQ5gj4C0-3tZrCc8E7CoMCh4QRPt4xb56bznn8P0EMiY1HhlNpQQIO_KWpsf9xSf-FeFkdF057EkrTwFqtCSBeHI-Bm8DMTrhPSc5jD9GH5SNvNDpX-4rdobg/w200-h158/TombRaider_Khamoon.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Having caught up with <i>Tomb Raider</i> after all this time as a 31 year old, there are so many feelings I have about it. As one of those games that pioneered the 3D platforming boom, it makes me appreciate how far 3D gaming has come since then, there is a compulsive quality about it that makes me want to explore these locations thoroughly, and in many ways it's like a 3D equivalent to <i>Prince of Persia</i> (the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brøderbund</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> classic by Jordan Mechner) before <i>Prince of Persia</i> made the transition from 2D to 3D what with the perilously designed layouts, long leaps, ledge grabbing, trap evading, crumbling platforms, puzzle solving, short amount of time you're allotted to enter through certain doorways you opened up, and constant sense of danger throughout, only instead of a sword to fend yourself with there are pistols and other weapons. It's exhilarating from start to finish, and I always breathe a sigh of relief whenever I approach a save crystal; yes, this game does have tank controls, but I feel those work very well here and are an ideal way to get across certain gaps (while the camera is placed behind Lara Croft most of the time, you do have the ability to look around you before committing to the jump), plus the auto-aim helps when it comes to the deadly creatures you confront.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zuvdblHqswdKNCIa23l9ldQuLudLexIUKVS-XoK7FyZYbnddr3cQEP0fzwY23uf4lHfy6gURY7VNxxpsfQg55cAw7KQAkgoGbZDyWz9X2AE8gqywCtIHreIKmOnKzmlLN2boXbYc3RXjVyZv-XNLKI3qLc2p2ijA9HO1AR0lsC9u1j9d_N6Wgt_Vog/s353/TombRaider_CroftManor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="353" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zuvdblHqswdKNCIa23l9ldQuLudLexIUKVS-XoK7FyZYbnddr3cQEP0fzwY23uf4lHfy6gURY7VNxxpsfQg55cAw7KQAkgoGbZDyWz9X2AE8gqywCtIHreIKmOnKzmlLN2boXbYc3RXjVyZv-XNLKI3qLc2p2ijA9HO1AR0lsC9u1j9d_N6Wgt_Vog/w200-h89/TombRaider_CroftManor.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSxEqhcl962ORXebO_y_VWxcyQEv5X7zwboV6SZZFehKs9POfq6gHZqVyIoUA1ENI4O3natfF46QLu-v2HemJCa_gPgtbgENK0UFhJidbhSqmCe62JqJRzUU0UgIs3uMIgQc1dVoiDqi3C-nS-HHseAsB7IzdPiZRZ6KIFxWZ1pm_WirjWNikuMxuZQ/s359/TombRaider_Diving.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="359" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSxEqhcl962ORXebO_y_VWxcyQEv5X7zwboV6SZZFehKs9POfq6gHZqVyIoUA1ENI4O3natfF46QLu-v2HemJCa_gPgtbgENK0UFhJidbhSqmCe62JqJRzUU0UgIs3uMIgQc1dVoiDqi3C-nS-HHseAsB7IzdPiZRZ6KIFxWZ1pm_WirjWNikuMxuZQ/w200-h89/TombRaider_Diving.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love how the cutscenes that play before Lara explores in a different country are framed and animated in a Cinemascope-like format as an homage to Steven Spielberg's <i>Indiana Jones</i> movies (which were also shot on Cinemascope with the coveted 2.35:1 aspect ratio) which also served as one of <i>Tomb Raider</i>'s main influences. The cutscene quality is good for the most part, the rendering is solid, and the direction is iconic with impeccable pacing; you can tell it's a mid-'90s computer animation whenever Lara speaks, though, because Core Design didn't quite get the lip-syncing down pat yet so her dialogue comes when we see the back of her head, while she's offscreen, or in one instance when her lips are offscreen in the opening intro to not show the technical limitations of the time. That's really just an observation, though, they are good cutscenes otherwise.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHDBbqA0BORFKN3YDf60ZF3ZCdRG8ETUoZ-0OgTBslciLL_xSlx8vsVkmhLhpV3FMZP9X71E7gl-Nn4pzS3hj78W7fpmWKXPXccrCpLAWfaqzjDtO9mcXFA0DhWAO-Pr4BJj8xd8VmUIiKJd76E81Tr-1n75lX5dNkoB3sW344KIYyvyVBMLpcM0FPw/s377/TombRaider_Atlantis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHDBbqA0BORFKN3YDf60ZF3ZCdRG8ETUoZ-0OgTBslciLL_xSlx8vsVkmhLhpV3FMZP9X71E7gl-Nn4pzS3hj78W7fpmWKXPXccrCpLAWfaqzjDtO9mcXFA0DhWAO-Pr4BJj8xd8VmUIiKJd76E81Tr-1n75lX5dNkoB3sW344KIYyvyVBMLpcM0FPw/w200-h158/TombRaider_Atlantis.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmfUrfldsDGuYVSOyvR94XUWksq9bJPZpXDfbelEpHi7R7ONb7sef7LMnMu39jI6pvRxTf91aSA2DfYU93qaw4-i9ucVAneKdP4r8GtOPU8efZaBHq93LYbBI5F2Y8SCRViXmTCePMfOH2fcsEQcZnZk0S9fwxWB7DHHhHJtqKXaO-g9heY_wzjwWOg/s377/TombRaider_EvolutionOnSteroids.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="377" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmfUrfldsDGuYVSOyvR94XUWksq9bJPZpXDfbelEpHi7R7ONb7sef7LMnMu39jI6pvRxTf91aSA2DfYU93qaw4-i9ucVAneKdP4r8GtOPU8efZaBHq93LYbBI5F2Y8SCRViXmTCePMfOH2fcsEQcZnZk0S9fwxWB7DHHhHJtqKXaO-g9heY_wzjwWOg/w200-h158/TombRaider_EvolutionOnSteroids.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Something to note about the Saturn version is that the default gamma setting is pretty dark, which I left intact while playing as it does make the moments Lara stands underneath a light stand out</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Peru, Greece, Egypt, and Atlantis levels are very atmospheric and are quite something to behold as they unfold before you once you solve how to navigate ahead, Nathan McCree's music when reaching certain points is spellbinding and enthralling (the iconic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWLT0QVPzw">main theme</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6di0-6eZOp8">Midas' Palace</a> are among my favorites, I'm in love with the fact that the game disc doubles as a soundtrack, <b>YAY</b>! 😄), and there's bouts of horror on occasion (some moments in the final levels actually made me jump, mostly because I did not see them sneak up behind me or from behind a wall; the body horror creatures that leap toward you are frighteningly designed).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPK7tX-AmQuGmDi_V6UfgZMarQ9lKkWTWUiygieIGMRIo_LjvTx5MrwjwtHHVkfsdwu5rhjVjzpJAnz7GoLVcAArfOMqH7oy2JtI8pWc0UjvrlkZjQX_Y_n65YUKT7_EwzdzDZdzjuDrXvqqLgGbb4MqnGEGe0Oj00fc84IhkE6vukS73v_CDyUx2eg/s359/TombRaider_Escape.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPK7tX-AmQuGmDi_V6UfgZMarQ9lKkWTWUiygieIGMRIo_LjvTx5MrwjwtHHVkfsdwu5rhjVjzpJAnz7GoLVcAArfOMqH7oy2JtI8pWc0UjvrlkZjQX_Y_n65YUKT7_EwzdzDZdzjuDrXvqqLgGbb4MqnGEGe0Oj00fc84IhkE6vukS73v_CDyUx2eg/s16000/TombRaider_Escape.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I think <i>Tomb Raider</i> is superior to the Nintendo 64 launch title <i>Super Mario 64</i></span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Escaping from the final level was a real rush, and a good chunk of <i>Tomb Raider</i> is really fun while it lasts; so much so that it excited me about the prospect about playing the sequel. I played through it a second time to prepare myself for <i>Tomb Raider II</i> on the PlayStation One, and... having got it recently, I think it might take a bit for me to warm up to it as I much prefer the simplicity of the original (for some series there's a beauty to a first game's simplicity sometimes). The original plan was to alternate between catching up with the sequels up to the fourth game* and getting new Sega Saturn content, but now I think I'll wait a bit before catching up with the third and fourth games (I'm in no hurry) and focus my attention on adding Saturn games. I wouldn't mind watching the <i>Lara Croft: Tomb Raider</i> movies featuring Angelina Jolie one day but being video game movies I know to temper my expectations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">* </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'll neither bother with <i>Chronicles</i> nor <i>The Angel of Darkness</i> (I don't own a PlayStation 2 console anyway); from what I understand <i>The Last Revelation</i> was where it was <u>supposed</u> to end because the people at Core Design who worked on the same property on an annual basis (because Eidos saw <i>Tomb Raider</i> as their cash cow due to the sucess it brought them) suffered from mental health fatigue and physical exhaustion to the point that they wanted kill off and be rid of Lara once and for all if Eidos hadn't gotten in the way of their cathartic plan by telling them to make more <i>Tomb Raider</i> content (I sympathize with the Core Design people, I feel so bad for how mistreated they were; mental health matters, people)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I do not have a manual for <i>Tomb Raider</i>, what I did was I got the jewel case and game disc alone (I did also get this... soft gray... fuzzy... sponge-sized thing, I'm guessing to remove any potential dust off the disc or whatever); I admit I was a bit desperate to play it on the Saturn without having to spend more than I needed to. I'll order the instruction booklet one day, luckily those are reasonably priced.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mfqCcizT-Bb9WvtVC2krPsUoyhUYs6cf6vJCYt15_HZiSNIOuwj7dlHbIRM1vmoNOQZvyAsFmGqkPGZoG5WFD6qrAMkeccYSngT8mWoMW4wrwxR764HuWK-ffzga4Y-FLBZEnlEUVj2yQHleSZTWe97ze2SLTtAvezYJehK0FYH0lwGc97u2wDD0Ew/s389/Astal_TheJourneyBegins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mfqCcizT-Bb9WvtVC2krPsUoyhUYs6cf6vJCYt15_HZiSNIOuwj7dlHbIRM1vmoNOQZvyAsFmGqkPGZoG5WFD6qrAMkeccYSngT8mWoMW4wrwxR764HuWK-ffzga4Y-FLBZEnlEUVj2yQHleSZTWe97ze2SLTtAvezYJehK0FYH0lwGc97u2wDD0Ew/w200-h155/Astal_TheJourneyBegins.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2q7iWhH3-vjI5PoNf_EI_5vmT2XiHjYGVnoLjCQ3YNxuh-pXPSxfr0ze7HrnuHBfgrcyJlX76XyjfzIJIfm35cAfO0CZm0rxSNKYfOn3XXpyjlcttHY7clCfuNhR6XnXUXIDKtrQW2sGMa3xWoWnVAdl7GXzEbrLD-Rfc4E8KxpJpoWrDrt9Rtk9yg/s389/Astal_IntoTheDarkness.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2q7iWhH3-vjI5PoNf_EI_5vmT2XiHjYGVnoLjCQ3YNxuh-pXPSxfr0ze7HrnuHBfgrcyJlX76XyjfzIJIfm35cAfO0CZm0rxSNKYfOn3XXpyjlcttHY7clCfuNhR6XnXUXIDKtrQW2sGMa3xWoWnVAdl7GXzEbrLD-Rfc4E8KxpJpoWrDrt9Rtk9yg/w200-h155/Astal_IntoTheDarkness.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It amazes me that I managed to get four Sega Saturn games not even one full month after I got the console (April 25th), but I managed with a game I'm surprised I found a copy of in the affordable price range (but because I did, it was an impulsive purchase): on May 23rd, I received Sega's 2D sidescrolling platformer <b><i>Astal</i></b> (</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Kisuishō Densetsu Astal </i>in native Japan), a game that's generally obscure and rare to come by (at least, in full condition anyway).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGL9q6r4R-a0pbEUDh7oVxY31f5q7d0P_XGb0nbZkSEJLVsO3HetrwWPSOf9pwrKcZSxnDT7nZxYjff4TFyKMA_083WWv5oEbvqCtI_YMlyeOp_Phh29ayM0AUedaa1QHPspE8KWcHAxSMhLKM0VRIz3B9oSU1eCz5J-VhAZJZ2jcixY3YRCdasc2uQ/s389/Astal_RiverOfDreams.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGL9q6r4R-a0pbEUDh7oVxY31f5q7d0P_XGb0nbZkSEJLVsO3HetrwWPSOf9pwrKcZSxnDT7nZxYjff4TFyKMA_083WWv5oEbvqCtI_YMlyeOp_Phh29ayM0AUedaa1QHPspE8KWcHAxSMhLKM0VRIz3B9oSU1eCz5J-VhAZJZ2jcixY3YRCdasc2uQ/w200-h155/Astal_RiverOfDreams.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPwjr0pqOvSz28alxRm8xhku4DA0_ewb0a5Zpk68M8CnfJ82NxRM8VznrmJ3odO7l6uhmRL5_HcyF1CAC-1cy2CwqNri75674Ij1hZIxlfZMmyE1rnpMyVgUJb1DghCkwQ4VDpMfr4c9AU_amtoW6CRJyhXQ9GVcLD2-3dqPyJAC0xl16ySB2utVFhg/s389/Astal_ForestFiend.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPwjr0pqOvSz28alxRm8xhku4DA0_ewb0a5Zpk68M8CnfJ82NxRM8VznrmJ3odO7l6uhmRL5_HcyF1CAC-1cy2CwqNri75674Ij1hZIxlfZMmyE1rnpMyVgUJb1DghCkwQ4VDpMfr4c9AU_amtoW6CRJyhXQ9GVcLD2-3dqPyJAC0xl16ySB2utVFhg/w200-h155/Astal_ForestFiend.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Astal</i> doesn't really have a big story, but the presentation and quality really lend it that feel plus it helps that the proceedings are endearingly lighthearted. This is a beautiful game to look at with the lush and detailed backgrounds with a succinct color palette (particularly the "Into the Darkness", "River of Dreams, and "Glacial Rift" stages), imaginatively designed creatures and baddies, a good sense of scaling on occasion (the Saturn is known to be more of a 2D console than a 3D one like its competition the PlayStation One and Nintendo 64 were),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyehTxNgtO4sgdQHb2d4KPDpLyR9FG4BVDD8RQf3CCqgWiZWUZUNUtCE4ttrEiD4BYuNhub7gFzPi_6HZsMYOejt4UDDwNd5d2o-r9DJOLQgnNfNG5irypl2SpQFqxYmJgWmovjzaCVZ7kz7KPswZ91dPq_xt3SFqX_V87JEv0PzkgaZi5nftcRqXf0Q/s389/Astal_Bird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyehTxNgtO4sgdQHb2d4KPDpLyR9FG4BVDD8RQf3CCqgWiZWUZUNUtCE4ttrEiD4BYuNhub7gFzPi_6HZsMYOejt4UDDwNd5d2o-r9DJOLQgnNfNG5irypl2SpQFqxYmJgWmovjzaCVZ7kz7KPswZ91dPq_xt3SFqX_V87JEv0PzkgaZi5nftcRqXf0Q/s16000/Astal_Bird.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ahhhhhh, I can't get enough of Astal's bird companion, it's so cute!</b> 😭</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">and very solid gameplay as Astal can pound enemies if not the ground to turn them into crystals, blow them away, lob them backwards with a neatly executed suplex throw, and pick up and carry incredibly heavy obstacles blocking his path. As an added bonus the bird that accompanies you proves to be a very helpful asset as, depending on what you make it do, it will supercharge across or around, momentarily freeze a moving platform, or bring Astal a healing fruit. Funny enough, <i>Astal</i> can be a two-player game (with the bird being controlled with the second controller) if ever there are two controllers on hand (I only have one Saturn controller at the moment), which is unusual for a game in this genre but neat at the same time--the bird is truly this game's MVP, in my opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmosIR_TsExV2Gb0QZgx0DVeV59VUOoMJ43cWKJqseHgqCQUP2Zgi4e5aMGvUiof9GFQCqWa8LlwXF-CprOIE4sgCFFDKSOrj1hiVzXGJNM0bzurYOB-m5pQpmq5TsX5ACx-s-bQalNbTPEAXjJGGEx0WhhoppImYv0rrgmze9xd94urDLt6IG28IoA/s153/Astal_Astal+Bird.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="153" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmosIR_TsExV2Gb0QZgx0DVeV59VUOoMJ43cWKJqseHgqCQUP2Zgi4e5aMGvUiof9GFQCqWa8LlwXF-CprOIE4sgCFFDKSOrj1hiVzXGJNM0bzurYOB-m5pQpmq5TsX5ACx-s-bQalNbTPEAXjJGGEx0WhhoppImYv0rrgmze9xd94urDLt6IG28IoA/s1600/Astal_Astal+Bird.png" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Flickies, move over, Sega has officially <u>peaked</u> with <i>Astal</i>'s bird</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>No</b>! Not the bird imitating Astal, I <b>can't</b>! 😭 It's <b>too cute</b>!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQTT2HDYfJRSndDXv1zhIY0GdKP8rB_cfPph6X_X2H325wKxBCfF9YrBqvaW6wiqPqZgMUIqZ7FBrj3kIzSL4bGVMu2JZDqu2KXMoAOVMdKnqsE9tHBTXZ19TnUWhly_fX7x6qPGC7pHCQDi1KjLgM8nFi_BWeOKqCYq42LTdFuQO0Gv6-MbNnG1Xg/s389/Astal_FireGuardian.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQTT2HDYfJRSndDXv1zhIY0GdKP8rB_cfPph6X_X2H325wKxBCfF9YrBqvaW6wiqPqZgMUIqZ7FBrj3kIzSL4bGVMu2JZDqu2KXMoAOVMdKnqsE9tHBTXZ19TnUWhly_fX7x6qPGC7pHCQDi1KjLgM8nFi_BWeOKqCYq42LTdFuQO0Gv6-MbNnG1Xg/w200-h155/Astal_FireGuardian.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGevYbOG9czrmQWtLMAjTGVSncvYCvQki5Jz-7Sa0imXnrzYtu-shNbYlalBYYmSinucozRhP7BPXfVw41aT2m7b81cJ6-EuOZ6bzpTN8rqTUzV5Og83JVE2ZJauBRPHvnQ32JgIp5twXA1Ch7dq6S7xvBGwPchDG2yEU43_hymYpY0FcVlzbDslmNxQ/s389/Astal_GlacialRift.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="389" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGevYbOG9czrmQWtLMAjTGVSncvYCvQki5Jz-7Sa0imXnrzYtu-shNbYlalBYYmSinucozRhP7BPXfVw41aT2m7b81cJ6-EuOZ6bzpTN8rqTUzV5Og83JVE2ZJauBRPHvnQ32JgIp5twXA1Ch7dq6S7xvBGwPchDG2yEU43_hymYpY0FcVlzbDslmNxQ/w200-h155/Astal_GlacialRift.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">But the biggest wow factor for me is the soundtrack: <b>WOW</b>, is this soundtrack breathtaking with excellent sound quality (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBOuuI-htzE">"Into the Darkness"</a> is <b>so</b> good, it must be heard to be believed, as must <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YweLBAh0nE">"Sea of Clouds"</a>). 🤯 Not one dull track in the mix, it's absolutely <b>amazing</b>, and it seemed to me that with each new stage you set foot in the sound bar kept getting higher and higher. And that the fact that this unbelievable music is in a game that is generally so rare makes me so sad; Core Design's <i>Tomb Raider</i> might be my favorite Saturn game out of the first four games I got for the system, but <i>Astal</i> definitely has my favorite Sega Saturn soundtrack thus far. It's quite a short game--or at least its stages are so short--but it is a fun romp while it lasts, I'm so glad I played it! 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nb3z-vLq1qskwfDUbLJP73KdLahwHCKgbxT4bF9esbcNfWlXI0drlddZTaA6sshtqe9VkaaYa-W6ntYKWYiaJaHQVMTW73jiyK8YZHLDJFLrY4bLoUww73WwG3Xyc7N_52k_8Q61eyt9V4ojdrDFnBC6XwjcMtjcEw2rqtcSlLrF3V_1zeN1GEtx1g/s500/Astal_ReproCase.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nb3z-vLq1qskwfDUbLJP73KdLahwHCKgbxT4bF9esbcNfWlXI0drlddZTaA6sshtqe9VkaaYa-W6ntYKWYiaJaHQVMTW73jiyK8YZHLDJFLrY4bLoUww73WwG3Xyc7N_52k_8Q61eyt9V4ojdrDFnBC6XwjcMtjcEw2rqtcSlLrF3V_1zeN1GEtx1g/w379-h400/Astal_ReproCase.png" width="379" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I read on GameFAQs that when <i>Astal</i> was released in North America its name wasn't featured on the jewel case's spine (and that partially contributed to its obscurity), which was quite irresponsible of Sega of America if you ask me, I can't believe they let it down like that</span></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I went above my usual spending range to get <i>Astal</i> (but not anywhere near or over the limit, i.e. past $100), which came in a translucent purple repro case (which is the equivalent of a DVD case) as opposed to the traditional Sega Saturn jewel case which I like as it complements the North American purple cover plus it doesn't take up so much shelf space. No manual here either, but that's okay, I'm content with both the case and the game. I read that in preparation for its American release Sega <b>slightly</b> augmented its difficulty (heh, what else is new?) and they reduced the number of continues down to <b>one</b>. 😨 That's extreme regardless of quality, Segamerica, what the <b>crap</b>! But that's really only a minor problem in an otherwise good platformer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7-2YuwkeOGGP3yFV6A8pCX9hE0lLUgg2bdPOPaUqP8uZzMmQGJdSFUPJa0UfkmpmEcCfrD6-Gr9tp2vb-9j8twiXDBrUm-elikSzvxxvWwWPOZum70KacCPbfu530fcXr518hnY-1N2wOrHPUXON32hcL8v-PE3NFAE84vLn3j6MumEgDv6NrQq1w/s620/SegaSaturn_Games.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="620" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7-2YuwkeOGGP3yFV6A8pCX9hE0lLUgg2bdPOPaUqP8uZzMmQGJdSFUPJa0UfkmpmEcCfrD6-Gr9tp2vb-9j8twiXDBrUm-elikSzvxxvWwWPOZum70KacCPbfu530fcXr518hnY-1N2wOrHPUXON32hcL8v-PE3NFAE84vLn3j6MumEgDv6NrQq1w/w400-h163/SegaSaturn_Games.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>For anyone's pondering, here is how I rank the Saturn games I own so far:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Tomb Raider</i> > <i>Astal</i> > <i>Clockwork Knight</i> > <i>Solar Eclipse</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, there you have it, my first four Sega Saturn games, I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on the platform and my brief thoughts on what games I have for it as I write this.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It feels nice to do something like this; something I always wanted to do was talk about my Nintendo 16-bit collection on my blog as a whole, but I never got around to it because I kept adding games to it (also, I have so many games for it anyway, the prospect of doing it seems a bit overwhelming that I would have to split it to several parts just to properly cover each individual game in a brief manner in a way that I find satisfactory, even though summarizations were never my strong suit). Ditto for my PlayStation One collection (though not <b>as</b> big), but we'll see how I feel about doing it in the future.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU90nUGCbvetGtLuIkytDvW5_vjHtS2CVKbbEGYdZhCPW81XRXVkz09ggM8F3Gqyf3xZlYUWj7Ep_p15oF0qhI4VZrZpfDWQRtfONAIA6GxCTGK1To9JTHqXHigVSHCYxkr9UfV2Mu23B2-lSrvUCfWi2PqXMOz_rcmfPbJj3vvtnPZ2cYHEruBKFpA/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU90nUGCbvetGtLuIkytDvW5_vjHtS2CVKbbEGYdZhCPW81XRXVkz09ggM8F3Gqyf3xZlYUWj7Ep_p15oF0qhI4VZrZpfDWQRtfONAIA6GxCTGK1To9JTHqXHigVSHCYxkr9UfV2Mu23B2-lSrvUCfWi2PqXMOz_rcmfPbJj3vvtnPZ2cYHEruBKFpA/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">But yeah, on the whole, my experience with the Sega Saturn has been a positive one; I had no idea what I missed out on until I got it, and while it doesn't replace the PlayStation One as my favorite 32-bit console, it is a fascinating console on its own merit and fun to play. I don't plan to make my collection for this format a huge one, but I am definitely interested in adding to my Saturn content one game at a time (but within reason, the games do not sell for cheap). I wouldn't mind getting just one Saturn game I already own on the NTSC PlayStation just to make a visual comparison, I already set a plan for what it would be (knowing game number 5 had to be special) and I cannot <b>wait</b> to play it in this format! 😄</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For anyone's pondering, here's part of my Saturn wish list (not all):</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Baku Baku</i> - animal-themed falling block puzzler by Sega</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Bug!</i> - insect-starring platformer by Realtime Associates acting as a stand-in for Sonic the Hedgehog until his ultimate Saturn game would arrive (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_X-treme">and we all know</a> how that played out; it's ironic that the Saturn's biggest obstacle wasn't Sony whom they were competing with but Sega and their management of it)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> - sequel to the toy-themed <i>Clockwork Knight</i> by Sega on account that I enjoyed the first game starring Pepperouchau</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Fighting Vipers</i> - 3D one-on-one tournament fighter by Sega (and the reason <i>Sonic the Fighters</i> exists, I mean how could I pass on the opportunity?)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Legend of Oasis</i>,<i> The</i> - top-down action adventure by Ancient, 32-bit prequel to <i>Beyond Oasis</i> (the 16-bit classic which I played on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Panzer Dragoon</i> - dragon-oriented rail shooter by Team Andromeda</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">● <i>Virtua Fighter</i> - the original 3D tournament fighter by Sega that started it all</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you're a Saturn owner and/or connoisseur, if there's any game I have not listed that you recommend I look into, I might take it into consideration (I will not accept FPS games). Next time I make a Random Saturnday post (whenever that may be) I will have a few more Saturn games than I have currently. Until next time, everyone, take care. 👋</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>●</b> Recently saw Joseph Kosinski's <i>Top Gun: Maverick</i>, sequel to the late Tony Scott's 1986 classic, in theatres on an IMAX screen, and I really enjoyed it. 😃 I thought it was an improvement over its predecessor (which I had only caught up with weeks prior), I appreciated the callbacks to the prior film when appropriate (hearing Harold Faltermeyer's iconic <i>Top Gun</i> anthem on the big screen was such a treat), the acting was really great (from Tom Cruise and Miles Teller especially), the aerial stunts and choreography were spectacular, the story was engrossing, and it was such a treat.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my Random Saturnday post, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! 😃</b></span></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-18412708863920684462022-05-21T23:12:00.000-05:002022-06-12T10:42:21.382-05:00Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension (SNES) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">🐱👤<b> Received: February 10th, 2020 </b>🐱👤</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">🐱👤<b> Written: April 18th-May 21st, 2022 </b>🐱👤</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCxLzqvQTTHohpoIlrNCUBYopjjlCBvCthxkjTcAqOIybZYqNZhva3mGTaHlfc--OkTChv61H5NSpKesT3opQoWQLcYLL5TLQpbgdfmPIVZoTG-TfsXm0ZmZS2YfWCtXjyjEuNXxsEmb4bYRwa1g3GTYc308iiDnpSbWoXT98mZz2Ph8jtTUOkhoZPA/s381/Zool_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCxLzqvQTTHohpoIlrNCUBYopjjlCBvCthxkjTcAqOIybZYqNZhva3mGTaHlfc--OkTChv61H5NSpKesT3opQoWQLcYLL5TLQpbgdfmPIVZoTG-TfsXm0ZmZS2YfWCtXjyjEuNXxsEmb4bYRwa1g3GTYc308iiDnpSbWoXT98mZz2Ph8jtTUOkhoZPA/s16000/Zool_Title.png" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #6aff00;">Alternate Title: <i>Zool no Yume B</i></span></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aff00;">ōken</span></i> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span> <span style="color: red;">⬤</span> <span style="color: white;">]</span></span></b></span></span></div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-size: medium;">Year: 1992, 1993 | Developed by: Gremlin Graphics</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-size: medium;">Published by: GameTek</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Hello, gamers and readers, welcome to my blog,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr9TW8xqaD5YzmWuauXWuHv6lrwwHRVapvwtlmn-rSt2ribEy1Tk8TRGs3rpP1ZVID4Eym2t5zCCQedjFv5mncZ-b6W5rx_T0jeeQyIYfwqjrGSJKmVsJgiN4ZXd2gjdtfJdBblT9nQh2nCa7JPq8W_NUs30s_c3D6LVZIwzG_CU2rSxhyKrY39e2_A/s386/Whizz_Plains.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr9TW8xqaD5YzmWuauXWuHv6lrwwHRVapvwtlmn-rSt2ribEy1Tk8TRGs3rpP1ZVID4Eym2t5zCCQedjFv5mncZ-b6W5rx_T0jeeQyIYfwqjrGSJKmVsJgiN4ZXd2gjdtfJdBblT9nQh2nCa7JPq8W_NUs30s_c3D6LVZIwzG_CU2rSxhyKrY39e2_A/w200-h156/Whizz_Plains.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsUSej0AJ5S1eR6mYoxp3ZvTL8v_l0rKGH0aXa_Q8kjynEUImCkAFYuEei2OGkgMAAEHwXboaE_vxq0Tk2JIKpKGAgepGDBwDa3FZpqYcqeK209dfjCrj_qA4XFjRTOvrzsmplg9mGOeqQYg2-vAm6JK6Whm40fEVPZKekYT6-ino18NGqwOe9bz2aw/s386/Whizz_RetractablePlatforms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="386" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsUSej0AJ5S1eR6mYoxp3ZvTL8v_l0rKGH0aXa_Q8kjynEUImCkAFYuEei2OGkgMAAEHwXboaE_vxq0Tk2JIKpKGAgepGDBwDa3FZpqYcqeK209dfjCrj_qA4XFjRTOvrzsmplg9mGOeqQYg2-vAm6JK6Whm40fEVPZKekYT6-ino18NGqwOe9bz2aw/w200-h156/Whizz_RetractablePlatforms.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">and I hope you all had a very good Easter this year. 🐇</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx2k_ccEORMuBz2CoCBP9hvW1P8tXW3fwg6bSBiN3EYXQRWP_EgDcsIKH5tG6orWazN6gY4gZcuxS0wGVfIytVaCMxk9iG3nm3tHLOaEqkLXS0nKo9KwL8N5npmf30GHUFIhCvmy1rs-N1pE5OP1eBngiFVM76qSMoBgQ2eELEGxj03ZeWvCxwdwkTQ/s65/Whizz_IdleFootTapping.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="56" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx2k_ccEORMuBz2CoCBP9hvW1P8tXW3fwg6bSBiN3EYXQRWP_EgDcsIKH5tG6orWazN6gY4gZcuxS0wGVfIytVaCMxk9iG3nm3tHLOaEqkLXS0nKo9KwL8N5npmf30GHUFIhCvmy1rs-N1pE5OP1eBngiFVM76qSMoBgQ2eELEGxj03ZeWvCxwdwkTQ/s1600/Whizz_IdleFootTapping.gif" width="56" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">I know, I know, I'm late for that important date. ⌚ Either way, thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_MFKY4pBBcyJgPVp40BQovOUifM4zMmEc8vciFV8TIa1PIOXtS38mJGlN8CrPN92xCNUs8nKq9RWu3ZInXy-pmbSBp46P_4kxukjGnwF0TYiYqxpTpjGyNJBh-wJUi7oDUblbavV3QtNRUspOHG30ZgNrfsEJZCAMia8XvNybK92q2jp3LXi093GDg/s381/SonicTheHedgehog_SpringYardZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_MFKY4pBBcyJgPVp40BQovOUifM4zMmEc8vciFV8TIa1PIOXtS38mJGlN8CrPN92xCNUs8nKq9RWu3ZInXy-pmbSBp46P_4kxukjGnwF0TYiYqxpTpjGyNJBh-wJUi7oDUblbavV3QtNRUspOHG30ZgNrfsEJZCAMia8XvNybK92q2jp3LXi093GDg/w200-h117/SonicTheHedgehog_SpringYardZone.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zn_pTKPDOEWyK9n0D6ao6B18MmHi6N2sUav1CuLNPXJxQ5Ru2BgnOmvLyd05llvjvrdAJ8d0xAh5XvVPJKOXI9pq2GZLM3b6PcA-jXPjHbJe70NTLpp2Ug8X7mwJb7XIOOh0xJG-TWyOr-e8ouhoDDDJgpY_kpQDgpdB_UpybdzuqqcQBTEKJ9ff_w/s381/SonicTheHedgehog_SlidOff.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zn_pTKPDOEWyK9n0D6ao6B18MmHi6N2sUav1CuLNPXJxQ5Ru2BgnOmvLyd05llvjvrdAJ8d0xAh5XvVPJKOXI9pq2GZLM3b6PcA-jXPjHbJe70NTLpp2Ug8X7mwJb7XIOOh0xJG-TWyOr-e8ouhoDDDJgpY_kpQDgpdB_UpybdzuqqcQBTEKJ9ff_w/w200-h117/SonicTheHedgehog_SlidOff.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Ah, </span><i style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Sonic the Hedgehog</i><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">. What more can be said about the iconic Sonic Team-developed franchise-starter to Sega's most successful series that has not been said a million (if not a <b>billion</b>) times before? It had a lot of hype built up around that ended up paying off by the time of its release as it was universally well-liked and praised for its simple yet enjoyable gameplay, its vibrantly colorful aesthetic and outstanding music, and its smooth sense of speed the likes of which were unparalleled back when it initially came out in 1991;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFGSDMGH2A60OxHM-mGR4eJbOxtdp8TN0CjhSu2hfd4mzOIIjp43PUwXee7j2UZ5S_L1d7jg2uUmLUZ_DMpgQcWhWtdfYaqaS74QatQ25PTALQYhLIPaRoDG9a6Yo2VX5evcy7XJjr3DgM5nA6G1htS1Wrzk7LseGpGyAWKUE6_1SViFT1PQ8kreUtg/s381/SonicTheHedgehog_StarLightZone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFGSDMGH2A60OxHM-mGR4eJbOxtdp8TN0CjhSu2hfd4mzOIIjp43PUwXee7j2UZ5S_L1d7jg2uUmLUZ_DMpgQcWhWtdfYaqaS74QatQ25PTALQYhLIPaRoDG9a6Yo2VX5evcy7XJjr3DgM5nA6G1htS1Wrzk7LseGpGyAWKUE6_1SViFT1PQ8kreUtg/w200-h117/SonicTheHedgehog_StarLightZone.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslSgOowvpkIUhRmYMJFkv2uxZPJdDPhvJ3PNBjqqnVnOALQIkBsHTioRpT9XGxk7bk3n6G1NjITBhkVXkr8reJRKugD2krHnZtKlLX_qAohPAiTQSoHusQLOsGYts4A3mBFwGOZgry2suu5cOxyVQencQZCEErwKRGOi5NUfitC6cz8PUGVdRZmDdSQ/s381/SonicTheHedgehog_AirBubble.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslSgOowvpkIUhRmYMJFkv2uxZPJdDPhvJ3PNBjqqnVnOALQIkBsHTioRpT9XGxk7bk3n6G1NjITBhkVXkr8reJRKugD2krHnZtKlLX_qAohPAiTQSoHusQLOsGYts4A3mBFwGOZgry2suu5cOxyVQencQZCEErwKRGOi5NUfitC6cz8PUGVdRZmDdSQ/w200-h117/SonicTheHedgehog_AirBubble.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Wasn't it </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">amazing</u><b> to hear the </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVAzxhh_cB8" style="font-weight: bold;">Star Light Zone theme</a><b> at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics' opening ceremony (among other video game music)? I <u>love</u> it!</b> 🌟😄</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">while it may not be as fast-paced as the Blue Blur's numerous follow-ups would be and is simple by comparison, it is a fun classic that still holds up incredibly well to this day. News of its greatness made many a gamer curious and excited as it gave them an incentive to invest in Sega's latest console, the 16-bit based MegaDrive/Genesis, for it greatly helped boost its sales; if Sega's home conversions of <i>Altered Beast</i> and <i>Golden Axe</i> as well as Sega AM7's quintessential Disney platforming classic <i>I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibōken</i>/<i>Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse</i> didn't make a persuasive argument in favor of Sega's 16-bit powerhouse machine, then <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> most definitely did.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWwpYge1wWQ5ECl3KNNwS9IPhE5WA0eOAyfzHaBwA6T8-5_TEcm6Jzke4aJogCpKSTuDH2rIKL6emMayuuTEPAvPl853NlgUCF8EJmogcIHXC3rG529OoK5dnCWngg7ST43g0jlKmdqzjU7z_y7lujK1IST7R6M_QqIiGwEu_cFvWQAuwNWtRAJdOMA/s372/Sonic-GameGear_ChaosEmerald.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="372" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWwpYge1wWQ5ECl3KNNwS9IPhE5WA0eOAyfzHaBwA6T8-5_TEcm6Jzke4aJogCpKSTuDH2rIKL6emMayuuTEPAvPl853NlgUCF8EJmogcIHXC3rG529OoK5dnCWngg7ST43g0jlKmdqzjU7z_y7lujK1IST7R6M_QqIiGwEu_cFvWQAuwNWtRAJdOMA/w200-h153/Sonic-GameGear_ChaosEmerald.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_WaWYoYzGS3c3F0_oxz1r4Vpe7Ut0M8N5EbIo0HtuZEjYcSxdbDIKsu6FVb54VBeTLVV692hU3Skf0bBuRn1lRkuJ4JIs3VKyx4lN0O7nCq5_K2M4XbLDbyAJ9irmtNBs9XJoEAUWOeEjJeT7KYKgMLS6Wpa91wsxq2OsNY9P7osxZByfNRecBbAkA/s372/Sonic-GameGear_Robotnik-Bridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="372" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_WaWYoYzGS3c3F0_oxz1r4Vpe7Ut0M8N5EbIo0HtuZEjYcSxdbDIKsu6FVb54VBeTLVV692hU3Skf0bBuRn1lRkuJ4JIs3VKyx4lN0O7nCq5_K2M4XbLDbyAJ9irmtNBs9XJoEAUWOeEjJeT7KYKgMLS6Wpa91wsxq2OsNY9P7osxZByfNRecBbAkA/w200-h153/Sonic-GameGear_Robotnik-Bridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Available as an unlockable alongside eleven other <i>Sonic</i> Game Gear pertinent games on Sonic Team's <i>Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut</i> on the Nintendo GameCube</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i>'s success also led to the creation for its 8-bit video game incarnation that same year which was spearheaded by none other than Yuzo Koshiro (who also composed its music) in the inaugural video game for his own development company Ancient that,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyPPq4-9IModVJuJc_1io3jEEyRUDOkVeDzzkU34nA7Rk7z6bqdUNSvWiIs23Gcyn1MaAsXVE6BQn3a3GXC806DzmS00gi1tgrqdZ38g7h2WyIE8ySzICM4mwj1lcfwV_cIi9sWBvJYbCvpt7EoClYZOMi17HdHLQ6_zkIEhvPaIqD9bCm9l-KxPWQg/s372/Sonic-GameGear_LogRolling.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="372" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyPPq4-9IModVJuJc_1io3jEEyRUDOkVeDzzkU34nA7Rk7z6bqdUNSvWiIs23Gcyn1MaAsXVE6BQn3a3GXC806DzmS00gi1tgrqdZ38g7h2WyIE8ySzICM4mwj1lcfwV_cIi9sWBvJYbCvpt7EoClYZOMi17HdHLQ6_zkIEhvPaIqD9bCm9l-KxPWQg/w200-h153/Sonic-GameGear_LogRolling.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgZKiP3LXcoJKrJmz4JLiRv8tlkVNRAzQHBJMZf7OXStdXcugRi4UdCPBGSHClNuKNDfxLK7M-4utU0TWDJR80VDrLrn6gVadEA2gPWbypGmqRuWwmoHPxlc8dO1cWwuuMKhJvwGdrjh4szBYw81ZeN9jg8m3HCV50WEUh-WiFUmU9I7XLT4Iqp9iTw/s372/Sonic-GameGear_RisingPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="372" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgZKiP3LXcoJKrJmz4JLiRv8tlkVNRAzQHBJMZf7OXStdXcugRi4UdCPBGSHClNuKNDfxLK7M-4utU0TWDJR80VDrLrn6gVadEA2gPWbypGmqRuWwmoHPxlc8dO1cWwuuMKhJvwGdrjh4szBYw81ZeN9jg8m3HCV50WEUh-WiFUmU9I7XLT4Iqp9iTw/w200-h153/Sonic-GameGear_RisingPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">while not as fast as its 16-bit cousin, is still a solidly enjoyable platformer in its own right for it still captures the heart and spirit and essence of what made the MegaDrive/Genesis version so engaging in the first place. In order to get people interested in Sega's answer to Nintendo's Game Boy, this take on <i>Sonic</i> was created for the Game Gear*--you know, the video game system forever tarnished by its reputation as a consistently esurient battery guzzler</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* And was the last game to be released for the Sega MegaDrive/Genesis' predecessor, the Master System, in North America in 1991</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2e0PHqAXCPwADUfZ2uLDYdD-tQFcJxGaDufyZ0Vyg-U1anQ0wTr-Rrtx2cPI4NlmbiW0P65zWSJfG5vtRa3HSrHVUt_qayv5HlXsi5FVjKWdLLXX_SutykeM0tAq7CGbhTiIbQvAHea_MAJhgxfblBpdfUSClrRBAzuXhxQXuhpP5ZJDuR62qbLRSw/s1200/RetroGamer_SegaGameGear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2e0PHqAXCPwADUfZ2uLDYdD-tQFcJxGaDufyZ0Vyg-U1anQ0wTr-Rrtx2cPI4NlmbiW0P65zWSJfG5vtRa3HSrHVUt_qayv5HlXsi5FVjKWdLLXX_SutykeM0tAq7CGbhTiIbQvAHea_MAJhgxfblBpdfUSClrRBAzuXhxQXuhpP5ZJDuR62qbLRSw/w400-h256/RetroGamer_SegaGameGear.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Screengrabbed while browsing </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Retro Gamer</i><b>'s archived article on the Sega Game Gear; highlights and basic red flag drawn by me, because </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">yikes</u><b> is that a bad look regardless of the time period...</b> 😬</span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">as well as the unfortunate circumstance of Sega's American (and European) divisions' attempt at advertising this handheld format through using personal attacks against Nintendo and their monochromatic Game Boy to try to get people to buy their colorful system (a tactic which they abandoned after some point, thankfully). Oh, those silly Western distributors of Sega's and their seeming disregard for mental health* with their casual ageism and ableism in the name of promoting a product. Disappointing that they thought it was a good idea to stoop to such callous lows. 😞</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Mental health matters, and I will not listen to anyone who says otherwise; because the fact of the matter is there are certain lines that should simply never be crossed</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhjfxoNcaUOFlV-Dvi8BzQz_TZgc5gykdumImQwLj3RHkeKHJjgt3MkJ-ioL7nNJvMB30O1LZ3KPvA4y1kxvpHcoxo7MeNoGBpQPIigP9FW1xEj7Df_61a9fi43PD14Cpl2IMLc2RXe08W-9tT9SElnhmBe85RDM-RLpG010tLNpLt6Tp-C9TfYrCOA/s381/SonicTheHedgehog_Finale.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhjfxoNcaUOFlV-Dvi8BzQz_TZgc5gykdumImQwLj3RHkeKHJjgt3MkJ-ioL7nNJvMB30O1LZ3KPvA4y1kxvpHcoxo7MeNoGBpQPIigP9FW1xEj7Df_61a9fi43PD14Cpl2IMLc2RXe08W-9tT9SElnhmBe85RDM-RLpG010tLNpLt6Tp-C9TfYrCOA/s16000/SonicTheHedgehog_Finale.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">He would even become the first video game character to appear as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon two years after his debut</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">All that aside, however, Sonic Team's Sega 16-bit <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> was massively successful to the point that it not only became the best-selling game in the console (aided further by the fact that it came as a pack-in title for the system after the fact) but also one of the best-selling video games <b>of all time</b> which for a first entry in a series is such an incredibly accomplishing feat. I don't think it hyperbolic to say that video games would be in a different place altogether if not for this '90s icon; 'course, the same could be said for any other video game character who debuted during this decade, but Sonic in particular left such an indelible mark in video game history for he's left such a huge impact in the industry and whose unparalleled success with his foray title would lead to a franchise that is still going to this day, plus it gave Nintendo's Mario a worthy competitor for awhile.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">And being the big hit it was, other companies would try to cash in on his popularity and success for they wanted their own cake and eat it too. One of the first to attempt to rival Sonic's speed-oriented gameplay was <b>Gremlin Graphics</b>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGfHWqqCCMVEppwVQgRvEA7-IaP0UeGUXDG31qa8ylgOOzIwRfQeygyGyZqrjcs-wpJmnSS9X1DdqvIpauNRj0FhUEww69fO0gbujiAwmWEDXuLUICZE-NWz9UYAFmkqcu-9QTL2AJPznf7M_SxXx2Ay6N6v9Rf3I4mfOCWiE2wrciVpwnXqEtGW5fA/s400/GremlinGraphics_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGfHWqqCCMVEppwVQgRvEA7-IaP0UeGUXDG31qa8ylgOOzIwRfQeygyGyZqrjcs-wpJmnSS9X1DdqvIpauNRj0FhUEww69fO0gbujiAwmWEDXuLUICZE-NWz9UYAFmkqcu-9QTL2AJPznf7M_SxXx2Ay6N6v9Rf3I4mfOCWiE2wrciVpwnXqEtGW5fA/s16000/GremlinGraphics_Logo.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Logo from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Based on Sheffield and founded in 1984 by Ian Stewart and Kevin Norborn, this British video game developer was originally a computer store called Just Micro before establishing itself as a software house with their early hits comprising of <i>Wanted: Monty Mole</i> and <i>Thing on a Spring</i>, and would be known as the team behind the <i>Lotus</i>, <i>Premier Manager</i>, <i>Top Gear</i>, and <i>Actua Sports</i> series. Gremlin Graphics would be bought by Infogrames in 1999 until Infogrames closed down in 2003, with Gremlin's assets being acquired by Zoo Digital (later adopting the name Zushi Games) and Stewart's new company Urbanscan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n0R9jCGoaThXgUUCnFpgKssjBB1hk_TokvUc5B1pRnNQ6dy4n08iWHzS37BzOZCG7ayBlZ1702rHGvmFazUEGRwDd1C3Tmgz3Ygbwprgm6Su_uouUqCGxaI-1F0sFYSYPClbflaK_qIPJ68IkPA-c68JJPt0C7fr6MYmVBqpYz2Y9IoGo2ZObZur1g/s1342/Zool_Cover_AcornArchimedes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n0R9jCGoaThXgUUCnFpgKssjBB1hk_TokvUc5B1pRnNQ6dy4n08iWHzS37BzOZCG7ayBlZ1702rHGvmFazUEGRwDd1C3Tmgz3Ygbwprgm6Su_uouUqCGxaI-1F0sFYSYPClbflaK_qIPJ68IkPA-c68JJPt0C7fr6MYmVBqpYz2Y9IoGo2ZObZur1g/w488-h640/Zool_Cover_AcornArchimedes.png" width="488" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">But back to Gremlin Graphics back when they were active: come 1992 their answer to Sega's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> came in the form of <b><i>Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</i></b>, the brainchild of George Allan who coded the game and thought up the idea following his previous game, Gremlin Graphics' <i>Switchblade II</i>, "having a lack of enemies" which he wound up criticized for. During development the initial idea was for "Pootz" (as was the initial name) to cast spells by collecting potions until they got changed into collectible powerups and for him to be a gremlin ninja who'd go by the name of Zool. Originally created for the Acorn Archimedes computer, <i>Zool</i> would also see a release on the Amiga, Atari-ST, Amiga CD32, and MS-DOS personal computers as well as the Game Boy, the Game Gear, the Sega Master System, the MegaDrive/Genesis, and, you guessed it,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGLT6CA8vvFiJiAAh9UievFkH4zLP44oX4dVn3p72An_QfNIBhQuNrzpuSwK-OwOlpAZg75wqsZU0321LCtt7MbxP7enqBTJUfKIptETZHy7e6t0GeJLmUHWcN5M7vNY97bhGGNl5wkxBYHgKeaCGD-eycck8HqKnFW5Uyn6p0Hw5Hok8uo2dwmUNUA/s600/Zool_Cover_NTSC-SNES.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGLT6CA8vvFiJiAAh9UievFkH4zLP44oX4dVn3p72An_QfNIBhQuNrzpuSwK-OwOlpAZg75wqsZU0321LCtt7MbxP7enqBTJUfKIptETZHy7e6t0GeJLmUHWcN5M7vNY97bhGGNl5wkxBYHgKeaCGD-eycck8HqKnFW5Uyn6p0Hw5Hok8uo2dwmUNUA/w200-h146/Zool_Cover_NTSC-SNES.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBayS9nPmK33hDn4N-ygVzD5JjPVBz88GHJXIa3CH4P9CkJ4sHKaDPLm_MBOx8yRnVzI-6RXMbzAX3Q8huVx-LvTRBjRfAfuIv85bfgxP5lDgbiIdEz3zXiKPsKjM0alvn75CSlaiweql7uJBUmVb8nMiNhg2ju_6pyntnt-iqZY-Z15TtAWETMpepw/s543/Zool_Cover_SFC.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBayS9nPmK33hDn4N-ygVzD5JjPVBz88GHJXIa3CH4P9CkJ4sHKaDPLm_MBOx8yRnVzI-6RXMbzAX3Q8huVx-LvTRBjRfAfuIv85bfgxP5lDgbiIdEz3zXiKPsKjM0alvn75CSlaiweql7uJBUmVb8nMiNhg2ju_6pyntnt-iqZY-Z15TtAWETMpepw/w111-h200/Zool_Cover_SFC.png" width="111" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Images from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">the Nintendo 16-bit console as well. Programmed by Matthew Donkin, Ritchie Brannan, Paul Hiley, and Ashley Bennett and produced by Mark Glossop in 1993, this port would be released on the SNES in North America in January 1994 by <b>GameTek</b> (produced by Van Collins and production manager Sherry Kross), with the Japanese Super Famicom release </span><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Zool no Yume Bōken</i> ("Zool's Dream Adventure") </span><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">following suit that July 29th courtesy of </span><b style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Nissho Iwai Infocom Systems</b><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">, and Gremlin Interactive themselves (as they would be known by that point) would release it in PAL SNES format at an unspecified date in 1994.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_eIRRqg7MDoyKA88OVwDkMzS30Ofk-K0IwxGvfbs5z2JnMSGtXvnqtNgfz5R2EJyEmH-hCgrTtyIK0jtmUgvlmchdWoZQo-Pph_e_jHHVEcZz8MKlWURg_9mkPTZxYU8eQlh-gGxBBRRBNBsnEY6GzhIB3qLtl1XLn3ZgcnlTZnTtbdk4p-8nj_9eQ/s233/GameTek_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="33" data-original-width="233" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_eIRRqg7MDoyKA88OVwDkMzS30Ofk-K0IwxGvfbs5z2JnMSGtXvnqtNgfz5R2EJyEmH-hCgrTtyIK0jtmUgvlmchdWoZQo-Pph_e_jHHVEcZz8MKlWURg_9mkPTZxYU8eQlh-gGxBBRRBNBsnEY6GzhIB3qLtl1XLn3ZgcnlTZnTtbdk4p-8nj_9eQ/s1600/GameTek_Logo.png" width="233" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8UPZDxLobCb8Et9sA18x4A5gYnGPJtYA6ayTHZrSZuqEpUcCopmYi1oOaDhhRSmHBSqR8WqNBuSIHeejQZ5J4nlJjTp0pXhDtuaQmtGoHwINRVYD6H1GuYM3Kftw18RD3WzcMmqHYXFT_ds9oVn5QvYCtTyAEFHMnDFn9uZvx55QwfteCP8N0jliVg/s185/NisshoIwaiInfocomSystems_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="58" data-original-width="185" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8UPZDxLobCb8Et9sA18x4A5gYnGPJtYA6ayTHZrSZuqEpUcCopmYi1oOaDhhRSmHBSqR8WqNBuSIHeejQZ5J4nlJjTp0pXhDtuaQmtGoHwINRVYD6H1GuYM3Kftw18RD3WzcMmqHYXFT_ds9oVn5QvYCtTyAEFHMnDFn9uZvx55QwfteCP8N0jliVg/s1600/NisshoIwaiInfocomSystems_Logo.png" width="185" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image on the right from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">GameTek* was formed as a subsidiary for American-based I.J.E., Inc. where basically they acquired numerous licenses for television shows (such as <i>Jeopardy</i> and <i>Wheel of Fortune</i>), sports entities, and child-oriented products as a means to "exploit these licenses in the software market" until they closed down due to bankruptcy in 1998; as for the Japanese company Nissho Iwai Infocom Systems the only other game I found that they were involved in was as the publisher of the Super Famicom version of Gremlin Graphics' <i>Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing</i> (but as <i>Nigel Mansell F-1 Challenge</i>).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* GameTek also had the distinction of acting as the American publisher to Charybdis Limited's MS-DOS point and click title <i>Spud!</i>; I bring this up because YouTube was weird enough to recommend a video of its death compilations to me this past month, I clicked on it out of morbid curiosity, and I'm like "Oh my God, why are there so many gruesome deaths happening to a little <u>kid</u>?!? What the <u>fudge</u>!?!" </b>😱</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGrFsOaezqCuYfjAvZDSiVd-KLNFlYzMRqTEp23ugXLAE8KwZUZbMp-35Pv3UqstG_alhPmfj0NewSh21ujGS-b4taF5rUdx_w1zDU4akwHNY-JDNt4DvJcwvIaM7f6GsFF9Vf9gRzC6x0MWU5HxChSRaNjXTXmVcLuw3PcwNMLplbFZGzfhU9nXUA/s640/Zool_Cover_PAL-SNES.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="640" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGrFsOaezqCuYfjAvZDSiVd-KLNFlYzMRqTEp23ugXLAE8KwZUZbMp-35Pv3UqstG_alhPmfj0NewSh21ujGS-b4taF5rUdx_w1zDU4akwHNY-JDNt4DvJcwvIaM7f6GsFF9Vf9gRzC6x0MWU5HxChSRaNjXTXmVcLuw3PcwNMLplbFZGzfhU9nXUA/w400-h283/Zool_Cover_PAL-SNES.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Special shout out to the European version for having a very awesome cover of the gremlin ninja kicking his way through the fourth wall shattering in his wake with "Zool" engraved in the sole of his shoes which is very compelling design... 😃 and it disappoints me <b>greatly</b> that more often than not it was exclusively relegated to the PAL regional cover art and not elsewhere in the world too. 😞 Nothing against Wendy Weber and Steve Curran's American cover, it's... <b>fine</b>--not bad, I just find it plain to look at plus it doesn't speak to me like the PAL cover does. I'm not saying that because I'm half-European, if that's what you're thinking, it just personally appeals to me more, but that's just my opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uqwUUa09peh85gEg7zMJKpGvmIr06eW9xCC6ybv6u8DJP6XEcWmt7T-feT_esURMerq3J7EiIeu5NTZKY8dUSq9Q6Nj94DZxe6R0TRP4gvgfmx5s7BA9C2pARHgkiiTLepfDl84d9qdYexCmTGsQPSEzb6kKO5uDJ7s_VvIpXBIddfFfWaYvg0T8_Q/s960/ChupaChups_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="960" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uqwUUa09peh85gEg7zMJKpGvmIr06eW9xCC6ybv6u8DJP6XEcWmt7T-feT_esURMerq3J7EiIeu5NTZKY8dUSq9Q6Nj94DZxe6R0TRP4gvgfmx5s7BA9C2pARHgkiiTLepfDl84d9qdYexCmTGsQPSEzb6kKO5uDJ7s_VvIpXBIddfFfWaYvg0T8_Q/s320/ChupaChups_Logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from Wikipedia</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">It's worth pointing out that <i>Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</i> was also sponsored by <b>Chupa Chups</b>, a Spanish lollipop and confectionary brand which was referenced in the game but had allusions to it all but removed for the American version (at least insofar as the NTSC SNES GameTek edition is concerned as that's what I'm covering). You may be surprised to learn (if you didn't already by this point) that its logo was designed in 1969 by none other than famed surrealist artist </span><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Salvador Dalí.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP89NjGBUvouyW7cTNdhWZXp3lSfq8mSHtUjTGoXpiKXFDi0gpg0LJVnXtflb9Mzghev-K_Hn4Jy8ABKiYxK1ZxTDDbocUvmeUCUdEMt4bse9WKram4wi7e-GIAA4Guc1SGqG2ViV8nA_q9wIUkJ6kEL08cusQ6smPvZPhcMjMFCU5-EO7l-ft8DmnA/s254/Zool_NinjaSurmisesKroolIsResponsible.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="254" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP89NjGBUvouyW7cTNdhWZXp3lSfq8mSHtUjTGoXpiKXFDi0gpg0LJVnXtflb9Mzghev-K_Hn4Jy8ABKiYxK1ZxTDDbocUvmeUCUdEMt4bse9WKram4wi7e-GIAA4Guc1SGqG2ViV8nA_q9wIUkJ6kEL08cusQ6smPvZPhcMjMFCU5-EO7l-ft8DmnA/s1600/Zool_NinjaSurmisesKroolIsResponsible.png" width="254" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">While maneuvering around in his spaceship Zool, a green gremlin ninja from the Nth Dimension, is forced to land on Earth due to a technical malfunction; after narrowly escaping from his sinking ship he deduces that Krool must be responsible for his inopportune quandary. In order to return to where he came from and attain ninja status he must clear all seven lands of this planet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TTH-U1U0TgpnDCOUw9UYGeP4LO6RWPOMQiv7OnDaYdPTzQVG3evou0e_deG6O4ss9QOw2unQxQ1nxF0_FPhsXg7IngRQyst1mQyP0SiU9e7nuTqRNT_gRP6U6mwLpVtrk2fdsGtvfuSisGmraMZDVXYVJSkjl4tnUdmGL9ZizU5biBklE_wYAk17-Q/s385/Zool_Candy+Sweets.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TTH-U1U0TgpnDCOUw9UYGeP4LO6RWPOMQiv7OnDaYdPTzQVG3evou0e_deG6O4ss9QOw2unQxQ1nxF0_FPhsXg7IngRQyst1mQyP0SiU9e7nuTqRNT_gRP6U6mwLpVtrk2fdsGtvfuSisGmraMZDVXYVJSkjl4tnUdmGL9ZizU5biBklE_wYAk17-Q/w200-h156/Zool_Candy+Sweets.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCmPuu9eVcwGrjI9Plf7Q2yka1UmzYjLeWc9Uumbncrrz6BeV_v-KdQOZYWINA3_vMPdZilL0K-S_rXH6r8riDnfIfPDhLs0KAU1ePoYSLvClWWNM2ItqA8mByViAUXMxYbMkRC38JAsDN5vToTD5I1H9WKLafXC9waV4TMPsHhtRFpAC8kQuYdpZ0Q/s385/Zool_SlideAttack-Candy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCmPuu9eVcwGrjI9Plf7Q2yka1UmzYjLeWc9Uumbncrrz6BeV_v-KdQOZYWINA3_vMPdZilL0K-S_rXH6r8riDnfIfPDhLs0KAU1ePoYSLvClWWNM2ItqA8mByViAUXMxYbMkRC38JAsDN5vToTD5I1H9WKLafXC9waV4TMPsHhtRFpAC8kQuYdpZ0Q/w200-h156/Zool_SlideAttack-Candy.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: </b>🎵 <b>Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of pure imagination</b> 🎵<b> | Right: Slide attacking that menacing gelatinous creature</b></span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling platformer <i>Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</i> you take control of the titular gremlin ninja for he's got an arsenal of moves at his disposal that will help him get by. You can run left and right as well as move along while hanging under a wire, duck down or hold down as you run in either direction to slide across which can double as a form of attack against a ground enemy in your path, cling on to a climbable surface or wall and climb up or down it,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRfhZgHlCLNkIKqOjLJw2znpdBOseJUMoT5wLFsr1cyU4cwpmM7mjhSQfYguzEZ84dnOt4xD_QcgVhBHp9M3hP3hEFxWVPAxIDHMLypJ--I2dEPBg067uegz83gaiiSZQXvyV3WKzkOT7i9GvsGStmgSl5AgmGhfnkSXSRhGrBVTviBQHYVfVxF79oA/s385/Zool_Shadow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRfhZgHlCLNkIKqOjLJw2znpdBOseJUMoT5wLFsr1cyU4cwpmM7mjhSQfYguzEZ84dnOt4xD_QcgVhBHp9M3hP3hEFxWVPAxIDHMLypJ--I2dEPBg067uegz83gaiiSZQXvyV3WKzkOT7i9GvsGStmgSl5AgmGhfnkSXSRhGrBVTviBQHYVfVxF79oA/w200-h156/Zool_Shadow.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdk_ov7FHloKjEZSpNEf1ohafl1a07qb0V2_qFTuZjcZSEqRC7A7qtVFQIIraqPfgmOBUuAPTUhKNsoDvtd5IH_IuGQ9jqf5BjCkntQ4xSMscfbOd92uar-6K5TyImKrd9vNBBu7t_Q0BYZCDZseVPfbkVRd93JEhM6hKdME6xwAdhJ_GCE3pNoD5kQ/s385/Zool_SwordSpin-Candyland.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdk_ov7FHloKjEZSpNEf1ohafl1a07qb0V2_qFTuZjcZSEqRC7A7qtVFQIIraqPfgmOBUuAPTUhKNsoDvtd5IH_IuGQ9jqf5BjCkntQ4xSMscfbOd92uar-6K5TyImKrd9vNBBu7t_Q0BYZCDZseVPfbkVRd93JEhM6hKdME6xwAdhJ_GCE3pNoD5kQ/w200-h156/Zool_SwordSpin-Candyland.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Zool channeling his inner Tsukikage from Irem's <i>Saigo no Nindō</i>/<i>Ninja Spirit</i> by having a shadow ninja duplicate of himself | Right: Spinning sword attack used to defend against incoming bees</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">jump up in the air with the B button* with your altitude based on how lightly or how hard you pressed the button and fire your unlimited array of projectiles towards your foes (or in certain instances, inconspicuous destructible walls) by tapping Y* while on the ground or in midair or while ducking, do a continuous spinning sword attack to better fend off against airborne enemies while in midair whilst holding down the left shoulder button, and if you time it exactly right <b>just</b> as you run up towards a nearby wall with just the slightest amount of traction press the right shoulder button to perform an acrobatic backflip jump.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">* The default options for jump and fire are Y and B respectively, which is very odd for a Nintendo 16-bit platformer as I usually prefer it the other way around given the controller's setup, but luckily you can adjust them to your liking before starting the game proper</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-MifYpNy9-E4g-qqKJ8bA9vF2ueTsdt4ccfBsAo3cRvmm8X4S4POfnS-rE1pq1UbUJ8GBvwMfSNq3TrvBv33UIkILDU7lv36hreBlq0vGp1jXhubG5QuoGkKxZBy8gxjoDrBRCrExGcOjTIwjllTPoqvr2m2m0Rj8Wgf0oiEGqk0bMwhZspwHKlbKg/s385/Zool_Flipjump-Candy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-MifYpNy9-E4g-qqKJ8bA9vF2ueTsdt4ccfBsAo3cRvmm8X4S4POfnS-rE1pq1UbUJ8GBvwMfSNq3TrvBv33UIkILDU7lv36hreBlq0vGp1jXhubG5QuoGkKxZBy8gxjoDrBRCrExGcOjTIwjllTPoqvr2m2m0Rj8Wgf0oiEGqk0bMwhZspwHKlbKg/w200-h156/Zool_Flipjump-Candy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqvxTN1iG2lESkrgDRGI-pz1LzenANDBrIDa7Ly736pVY52YGpBAOn22cWk3HobuosYrMdsuCRchYFKm-6ZtAh0v_27ulAFwz0g-VkxnTws1We9mVSnnsCpZtSmFVAgzEyO7vOUgY2-tp550SCNv51Bs6eQNwoqAxBSegNYMzvweznBnGi10u9ckluw/s385/Zool_ConveyorBelt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqvxTN1iG2lESkrgDRGI-pz1LzenANDBrIDa7Ly736pVY52YGpBAOn22cWk3HobuosYrMdsuCRchYFKm-6ZtAh0v_27ulAFwz0g-VkxnTws1We9mVSnnsCpZtSmFVAgzEyO7vOUgY2-tp550SCNv51Bs6eQNwoqAxBSegNYMzvweznBnGi10u9ckluw/w200-h156/Zool_ConveyorBelt.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Backflip wall jump | Right: If nothing else, this harrowing mission gives Zool quite the workout</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Each land is divided into four segments, and the goal of each segment is to collect the requisite amount of collectibles scattered throughout prior to reaching the coveted exit represented by the Zool medallion (the amount needed, which you can see on the lower left corner, depends on the difficulty setting you're playing) which you'll be given a clue on where it is based on the arrow that is also in the same corner which kind of acts like a compass as it points in the proper direction (making it go haywire once you're there). Failure to collect the proper amount of items before reaching it will cause said medallion to be inactive until you gather more of the amount that's needed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZQO5UPa9PiET3bYlK1KtLO7oEZXk_HjdUIYYzh-Eqo3oDS85Gj2k12kRvVGctyWMPKPzayybRpVTjqdkk9GC4-8KmspVKHPa7Y7OhAb1yrCgiAW2_wdDXxijjLDiBYB80s55cbTtLcLieryct8IaXCMnFB_niH0Q9UlRWo9Ng8gynHoF-2oTH-1GoA/s385/Zool_CaramelLiquid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZQO5UPa9PiET3bYlK1KtLO7oEZXk_HjdUIYYzh-Eqo3oDS85Gj2k12kRvVGctyWMPKPzayybRpVTjqdkk9GC4-8KmspVKHPa7Y7OhAb1yrCgiAW2_wdDXxijjLDiBYB80s55cbTtLcLieryct8IaXCMnFB_niH0Q9UlRWo9Ng8gynHoF-2oTH-1GoA/w200-h156/Zool_CaramelLiquid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHau6oCQlrCi_3bc8z7vTSOa_FiUPYbcJq2Yu0mhmGqrzq7c5iPAhllquiQiGIL3xWsMJ_W3EwXDD6Yz_KKbCR6aMH6nvDw0qANh7TGPUZzQPWJ2ze4BMVo-mosMCqcS54NVj51fjZjj8eV1dcPPSTTvVCKkKbbND5vkckZ6KmhuqNmxXItyqFz6gqPw/s385/Zool_BeeBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHau6oCQlrCi_3bc8z7vTSOa_FiUPYbcJq2Yu0mhmGqrzq7c5iPAhllquiQiGIL3xWsMJ_W3EwXDD6Yz_KKbCR6aMH6nvDw0qANh7TGPUZzQPWJ2ze4BMVo-mosMCqcS54NVj51fjZjj8eV1dcPPSTTvVCKkKbbND5vkckZ6KmhuqNmxXItyqFz6gqPw/w200-h156/Zool_BeeBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sloshing through a caramel liquid candy cane zone | Right: Face to face with a gigantic bee</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">A good chunk of the collectibles are out in the open for the taking and can easily be accessed while others require some thorough searching and a clever bit of ingenuity on your part. Outside of those, there are special sorts of items that will aid Zool in some capacity: an up arrow power-up to momentarily allow him to jump at a higher rate than normal, a bomb power-up to wipe out all present enemies onscreen, a shield power-up to momentarily render the gremlin ninja invulnerable to enemy attack, a black and white "Z" circle to temporarily summon a secondary shadow Zool, </span><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">a clock icon to augment your allotted amount of time by a smidge, a 1up power-up to garner a new life, and upon taking out certain enemies there'll be a winged heart gradually floating upward which you can grab to replenish what health you've lost (six is the capacity, each red bar comprises of two hits).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99JDuSTimDGKjn4C4VTxe2upJtbpR3Q4MXUSVxv9w-qX_Jn1vfttOkFC7UdeyZpCbhd9UmrlRqnN-j865lsvi5EgSWwv8ajx0bRiywJ0h_FJCSYAxABjJut_hHwCeXjQG7dsZKhEaGv6ydGXIZa-oqFJ8Wge532j-99EbH5I4X3ZaydQLczg-EsHwAA/s385/Zool_SwordSpin-Electronics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99JDuSTimDGKjn4C4VTxe2upJtbpR3Q4MXUSVxv9w-qX_Jn1vfttOkFC7UdeyZpCbhd9UmrlRqnN-j865lsvi5EgSWwv8ajx0bRiywJ0h_FJCSYAxABjJut_hHwCeXjQG7dsZKhEaGv6ydGXIZa-oqFJ8Wge532j-99EbH5I4X3ZaydQLczg-EsHwAA/w200-h156/Zool_SwordSpin-Electronics.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOeA-vpehl6p5vVAcTevEnI82gSnDqdeWw7LssToZD75KnDOjjBgijqpcEhruWmQ_KGYmljsekE_tWjf_wAALsgN5ZRvp5svyRSzUnCa_DZVeBtEER64zFy7mSxN5YKX_a2Kh1spaOdFkl4FMiorLEZBAaSsxYx3n-EIBnk0COpxwwr9E5dcT84EafA/s385/Zool_ProjectileDeflectingDrum.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOeA-vpehl6p5vVAcTevEnI82gSnDqdeWw7LssToZD75KnDOjjBgijqpcEhruWmQ_KGYmljsekE_tWjf_wAALsgN5ZRvp5svyRSzUnCa_DZVeBtEER64zFy7mSxN5YKX_a2Kh1spaOdFkl4FMiorLEZBAaSsxYx3n-EIBnk0COpxwwr9E5dcT84EafA/w200-h156/Zool_ProjectileDeflectingDrum.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Being blown upward by the melody of the trumpet below | Right: I love how the sentient drum's oval membrane acts as a complete deflector for your projectiles should you attack it from the front, that is so clever</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">As the areas are large and designed with an open-ended nature to them, you'll occasionally come across a conveniently needed square token which you must stand in front of and fire at it in order to activate the checkpoint for when you lose a life. All throughout are various hazards to contend with and overcome like a multitude of enemies and/or their projectiles, wallcrawlers, spikes, and occasional electric sparks, plus you must reach the exit under the allotted time given. The fourth and final segment of the land, naturally, will culminate in a boss fight (and losing there will start the boss fight from the beginning).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk0ewiSxDVcuNknrcjZmMY2oLhGVFyWvmKWhgjwaSlCwYXXtyqMY2UtAMf4wwjso7BBS74mqimqdWezjSl9x8O1tW3exO3VO7KhsBc7lzkeT8S_gRWyo46CVKpXs6HpQc_g-6CnutpYQWvEzWF3kZwqq8VwxAleIQx9hvRFNOaScIBUgbJ-oi-5gcgg/s385/Zool_ElectricWire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtk0ewiSxDVcuNknrcjZmMY2oLhGVFyWvmKWhgjwaSlCwYXXtyqMY2UtAMf4wwjso7BBS74mqimqdWezjSl9x8O1tW3exO3VO7KhsBc7lzkeT8S_gRWyo46CVKpXs6HpQc_g-6CnutpYQWvEzWF3kZwqq8VwxAleIQx9hvRFNOaScIBUgbJ-oi-5gcgg/w200-h156/Zool_ElectricWire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QTcnZliOzh6Kz_YQOnyswxY4Xm19vYLH3w4FFG9tFc3-NW8iOjXVqc38hvdBBXZixBM09Gmyfmpko0Dw1Rz1hXuMiLvg8MRc4WXrqpYvmkx-qOEcTLYwqGpyMw_8QSKkBQDXlxBftnr858UWJr_vOtx0MrHTzOoRJemPD8NB5QOj_YCLgd8Ezkuj9g/s385/Zool_FMRadio.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QTcnZliOzh6Kz_YQOnyswxY4Xm19vYLH3w4FFG9tFc3-NW8iOjXVqc38hvdBBXZixBM09Gmyfmpko0Dw1Rz1hXuMiLvg8MRc4WXrqpYvmkx-qOEcTLYwqGpyMw_8QSKkBQDXlxBftnr858UWJr_vOtx0MrHTzOoRJemPD8NB5QOj_YCLgd8Ezkuj9g/w200-h156/Zool_FMRadio.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Drop down quickly before the spark on the wire reaches you | Right: Vintage '90s FM radio</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">The visuals by Adrian Carless, Paul Gregory, and Damon Godley are vibrantly colorful with each land being imaginatively designed and creatively distinctive than the last, and each area does enough visually to augment <i>Zool</i>'s sense of atmospheric depth. I like how appropriately sugary-looking the land of sweets and candy are with every confectionary imaginable on display like jelly beans and candy canes with dazzling parallax scrolling clouds in the backdrop (some of which have got jawbreakers on them),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1ke0BLHJ_-1WAuCWqGhBZhhsG4o3J2y1gEqeVJ0Xjt3A3xfMIkBjSyYR39Fir3LtC-sG1Atj16Gi1_SB0L28HSMtQbekx1jQ1j7VxM8ihbk3w4PI6Ry8NVcIAtj8tXwDEFVwD4M6RFAhKAxOvzGYFfCXHpnPDIqLZNCUxNwPcglFDdd4w9ccOozz-A/s385/Zool_LiveWire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1ke0BLHJ_-1WAuCWqGhBZhhsG4o3J2y1gEqeVJ0Xjt3A3xfMIkBjSyYR39Fir3LtC-sG1Atj16Gi1_SB0L28HSMtQbekx1jQ1j7VxM8ihbk3w4PI6Ry8NVcIAtj8tXwDEFVwD4M6RFAhKAxOvzGYFfCXHpnPDIqLZNCUxNwPcglFDdd4w9ccOozz-A/w200-h156/Zool_LiveWire.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBJLLJFunowcjB--UaHO6pEuWovVCaqgVMV3OfPGuDO9DJ2eC88BiIUWHN7Qc0b-_vAlthYPwY_ccc6CptBbmo8jhOMGJReNpWbZvLj4T6IXoTO2_2XdY12CH88-DZA8FtnNXD8rQLTwHssBgO2gExfVICcLWKgy4KQbukxgL9kky0cNiXtutTnoTUA/s385/Zool_DrumBouncing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBJLLJFunowcjB--UaHO6pEuWovVCaqgVMV3OfPGuDO9DJ2eC88BiIUWHN7Qc0b-_vAlthYPwY_ccc6CptBbmo8jhOMGJReNpWbZvLj4T6IXoTO2_2XdY12CH88-DZA8FtnNXD8rQLTwHssBgO2gExfVICcLWKgy4KQbukxgL9kky0cNiXtutTnoTUA/w200-h156/Zool_DrumBouncing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Waiting for the live wire to stop sparking before ascending | Right: Bouncing ahead on drums</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">the land of electronics and musical instruments, dated though it may be due to its '90s aesthetic and sensibilities, is visually engrossing to look at with all known electronics of the decade like tune up radios with LED screens and VCRs and loud stereo systems along with a portable keyboard piano with messily entangled wiring adorning its surfaces, the mountainous land has got gigantic fruit and vegetables with the occasional pixelated foliage, the land of toys has got a quaint wall pattern with gigantic views of the outside through its window and gigantic light switches once in a while with its layout with large playing blocks and structure bound together by screws,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkkgHlStz1fWrGIjodHnIF_Y5C_4lLftk3x2LfdOX4ldwrNyVXU5HHjVjfdrdVK3Ok0aOZSjqvzfEqBQLzp4neKXFUM_nm_suOM5kxIhNeqBmtypFn4uBzdCWg57oeCYQPjCPNBF6Yyj6J0SO7b3-uY4BSBeUtsKfumQV013G11iJL7LocQ39lxl24g/s385/Zool_Pipes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkkgHlStz1fWrGIjodHnIF_Y5C_4lLftk3x2LfdOX4ldwrNyVXU5HHjVjfdrdVK3Ok0aOZSjqvzfEqBQLzp4neKXFUM_nm_suOM5kxIhNeqBmtypFn4uBzdCWg57oeCYQPjCPNBF6Yyj6J0SO7b3-uY4BSBeUtsKfumQV013G11iJL7LocQ39lxl24g/w200-h156/Zool_Pipes.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcAaDBuWufne2ULs_ce1jyC5ZZIFK5vZvxVn8IWFhV5eAAiXxKkJ7w8otSGFt_U9NJdJ4dhJuJD3cIaSek5IOUnY9YSpNmeqecVJqcgICv7yAWPHmEaCk7NOkOV1AlfzrMGsnOlB6EDK1NAWfxkcdYnkFtYkmSiQtE88jSaLrH6JJCHVdkUA9kB6Tmg/s385/Zool_WallHanging-Electronics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcAaDBuWufne2ULs_ce1jyC5ZZIFK5vZvxVn8IWFhV5eAAiXxKkJ7w8otSGFt_U9NJdJ4dhJuJD3cIaSek5IOUnY9YSpNmeqecVJqcgICv7yAWPHmEaCk7NOkOV1AlfzrMGsnOlB6EDK1NAWfxkcdYnkFtYkmSiQtE88jSaLrH6JJCHVdkUA9kB6Tmg/w200-h156/Zool_WallHanging-Electronics.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Zool is such a grump that the pipe he's standing on refuses to blurt out musical notes like all around him... unless it's his standing there that is clogging the pipe in question and that's why it won't operate as it should | Right: Hanging on the side of the platform gazing at vinyl records</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">and the land of the tropics is sand-oriented with the cactuses that appear (some with a flailing spiked arm) with the stark contrast of the blue waters of the oasis in the background. <i>Zool</i> also makes very effective use of gradient filtering (like the pixelated orange foliage in mountain land and the ominously red and green ambiance set in the land of tools) and reflective surfaces in the backdrop (the electronics in the electronic land and the mountains mirrored in the blue lake of mountain land) to the subtlest degree imaginable but adds so much to the already atmospheric locales. I also adore the star-studded sky above amusement land and the bright neon lights seen in its backdrop.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPLMePzxLeYGxBCMUPeg3hwvA2TFBsiBRZiZ_TEZtihs3femhphCAKv2f-2eg8pfIcXVnksr_oI6BEP_JJJxpvQ1BpWbxDaBoTXp7VCWxIFzCsoFtTil8EGpCLrCGAuLvZ7Fhp7qfQjswdX9ncVp78b24fwnEjT1-knpWiewjI3fbYAwBr_ryY2EdvA/s385/Zool_WallDestruction-Electronics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPLMePzxLeYGxBCMUPeg3hwvA2TFBsiBRZiZ_TEZtihs3femhphCAKv2f-2eg8pfIcXVnksr_oI6BEP_JJJxpvQ1BpWbxDaBoTXp7VCWxIFzCsoFtTil8EGpCLrCGAuLvZ7Fhp7qfQjswdX9ncVp78b24fwnEjT1-knpWiewjI3fbYAwBr_ryY2EdvA/w200-h156/Zool_WallDestruction-Electronics.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VFEjCxK_JUnE94-zy5bLeHh4tuBg_uTZSjdRoxQ9qhg9infowAu09wjuQEqfJy6ZRdXGVH6RFoYw7PTEqQ-SGIh5yp9Erg6arZ8d5DOVItxVRRgkAhCrCXFtkH5ADIsy7OpedeHAcUXuJ8fLJcTdbFO73HyJ4VUcqapibBCGNTy59CQr3T2DPlMe9w/s385/Zool_GuitarBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VFEjCxK_JUnE94-zy5bLeHh4tuBg_uTZSjdRoxQ9qhg9infowAu09wjuQEqfJy6ZRdXGVH6RFoYw7PTEqQ-SGIh5yp9Erg6arZ8d5DOVItxVRRgkAhCrCXFtkH5ADIsy7OpedeHAcUXuJ8fLJcTdbFO73HyJ4VUcqapibBCGNTy59CQr3T2DPlMe9w/w200-h156/Zool_GuitarBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: I didn't know breakable walls could bleed | Right: Now </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">that</u><b>'s a rock guitar no one would </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">dare</u><b> want to mess with </b>🎸</span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">I like how the opening cutscene is presented in the form of a comic, with the present panel being colored while the preceding one is faded and darkened; it reminds me of how Software Creations did something similar in the introduction for their Marvel Comics licensed platformer <i>Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge</i>. Zool has got a cool design with his pointy green ears and arms and legs, sleek black ninja gear, and scarlet red mask around his bright yellow eyes, and I like how his idle poses range from gearing into an attack stance or standing tall shaking his head at us if there's no danger around.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fK8w1pskbD2pfOvx9U9_94TxU1YPkb93FXlh17cjmK3AKAnaHFbOLKEiJId2RZvK_wG14r8ZXJbVCFBiKc4O1ueCQqUWe5ZI2j0k_xdF0XM83przBSEQXHAjbdEHYqKEvPg2eIYPsKHKXg-c0l-OXnvULJR5nyS--xnG1ii7RuaHzeb0KH9ZJ7q_6A/s385/Zool_InclineSliding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fK8w1pskbD2pfOvx9U9_94TxU1YPkb93FXlh17cjmK3AKAnaHFbOLKEiJId2RZvK_wG14r8ZXJbVCFBiKc4O1ueCQqUWe5ZI2j0k_xdF0XM83przBSEQXHAjbdEHYqKEvPg2eIYPsKHKXg-c0l-OXnvULJR5nyS--xnG1ii7RuaHzeb0KH9ZJ7q_6A/w200-h156/Zool_InclineSliding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxLgr2ybiL6erK-Au-JJXtbrDAFcw6ykg1aGD2pSdVlmt5zYMAcxNxcJdJEH-QvXJ6qxqnslcIzcj0toQ-yVgR9zu03k1UZWgYjoabOaccFGZ34qemDr_aBn-qlcLqooUS-pxWvksC5ODtIjgyfn9orCZhYHP-nECqgjNAKfZnxP5lLoz14GIlq4ZXA/s385/Zool_Fruit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxLgr2ybiL6erK-Au-JJXtbrDAFcw6ykg1aGD2pSdVlmt5zYMAcxNxcJdJEH-QvXJ6qxqnslcIzcj0toQ-yVgR9zu03k1UZWgYjoabOaccFGZ34qemDr_aBn-qlcLqooUS-pxWvksC5ODtIjgyfn9orCZhYHP-nECqgjNAKfZnxP5lLoz14GIlq4ZXA/w200-h156/Zool_Fruit.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sliding down the creamy hill | Right: Fruit gathering</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">His running animation is fluid and I like the way he animates when climbing walls and when performing a backflip jump from a wall, and the collectible items all have a look and design prevalent to the current environment you are at: candy canes in candy land, remote controls and compact discs and vinyl records in electronics land, nuts and bolts in tool land, stuffed animals and marbles in toy land, and flowers in tropical land.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNKCDIaPAbvLEX06VcxmBtUbuELw--8FzkkHgcnQSQeBNLiB0fSu8Zu4CbzjCNcIlri6wuoQcmax6YwSoWYQtk1kIIeblM0l2YQyMZBveDefLffKoXjCjr70gQ71prjjINtTfFtxxNFohxcMOytXaLUmTn2hcy-096E8U6EipSNfwVumecOg3FTwkMw/s385/Zool_Flipjump-Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNKCDIaPAbvLEX06VcxmBtUbuELw--8FzkkHgcnQSQeBNLiB0fSu8Zu4CbzjCNcIlri6wuoQcmax6YwSoWYQtk1kIIeblM0l2YQyMZBveDefLffKoXjCjr70gQ71prjjINtTfFtxxNFohxcMOytXaLUmTn2hcy-096E8U6EipSNfwVumecOg3FTwkMw/w200-h156/Zool_Flipjump-Forest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMUmmQNozeQBUS454houqTPsie8S9fI1GGRSyxgw-SvP9IknBbJZ9qTjIbbsSye-8ol3e2C-0A2E_8l-xx0Ypt7hMzm0rw9qRTprfub9Tici_YyLxl3LiqcaM8aArYnp0Ey5B1ge3IwjS7XtDkKInhgDWdRbuMkNHlheKnDOMgSIe1O9hplzsZB7wZw/s385/Zool_Skid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMUmmQNozeQBUS454houqTPsie8S9fI1GGRSyxgw-SvP9IknBbJZ9qTjIbbsSye-8ol3e2C-0A2E_8l-xx0Ypt7hMzm0rw9qRTprfub9Tici_YyLxl3LiqcaM8aArYnp0Ey5B1ge3IwjS7XtDkKInhgDWdRbuMkNHlheKnDOMgSIe1O9hplzsZB7wZw/w200-h156/Zool_Skid.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: That autumnal foliage sure is pixelated, huh? | Right: Skid</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">The same applies for the hordes of enemies you're forced to contend with, all having the most menacing of expressions: candy land's angry gelatin creatures and bothersome bees, electronics land's sentient floating cymbals and wide drums whose membranes can easily deflect your projectiles, toy land's blue and red pandas and indestructible army tanks (complete with stereotypical general hats on), and amusement land's sentient cotton candy and mallets as well as bumper cars, et al, and when you attack them they either split in two miniature versions of themselves (like the gelatin and jumping red tool enemies, for instance) or they shatter to pieces as if they were brittle.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT19quGnGTEsq8DpWMzjs5kov8RGtfxuO62WHv2JoGl-VKJYVKxubby92tCRVNVJgcWKVYNH6focsT-HxkvFIpGmDXcuN2BqxTWHOHf9oNaAp6nnkazpST5lYKY4ynZeljsqK4eS787GsJokmvwkqEo2Xnfpqf1_OZ3K7DDVI5YzkzQ3uCPQ7-IOFeA/s385/Zool_GiantLifesaver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT19quGnGTEsq8DpWMzjs5kov8RGtfxuO62WHv2JoGl-VKJYVKxubby92tCRVNVJgcWKVYNH6focsT-HxkvFIpGmDXcuN2BqxTWHOHf9oNaAp6nnkazpST5lYKY4ynZeljsqK4eS787GsJokmvwkqEo2Xnfpqf1_OZ3K7DDVI5YzkzQ3uCPQ7-IOFeA/w200-h156/Zool_GiantLifesaver.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGEWS77l_E-u5bgtddqPGxZhkum7CX_l_rWxVQ28NaMBvFh264hhGjRgXuWMpm4Jo40-nFSUAVR3OTZLIKd8kg1zdBz2PGyYdslDk8LkOwDYl3l2eSGHPCmPzo_w_TaGD0F0qoCrg3iH69dkdzJWH4KzQ2W9iitd0Sz1qnF9x6fq4ODYVljWro0rSWg/s385/Zool_TreeSurfing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGEWS77l_E-u5bgtddqPGxZhkum7CX_l_rWxVQ28NaMBvFh264hhGjRgXuWMpm4Jo40-nFSUAVR3OTZLIKd8kg1zdBz2PGyYdslDk8LkOwDYl3l2eSGHPCmPzo_w_TaGD0F0qoCrg3iH69dkdzJWH4KzQ2W9iitd0Sz1qnF9x6fq4ODYVljWro0rSWg/w200-h156/Zool_TreeSurfing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: High above Zool is a giant Lifesaver candy | Right: Tree surfing time, perhaps you'll meet up with Disney's Tarzan?</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">While the bosses you fight at the end of each land may look immobile and don't have much in the way of animation (with, perhaps the exception of the one over at amusement land with the googly eyes) they more than make up for that with their huge stature as they ominously loom into the scene with imposing expressions and all have imaginatively creative (not to mention surreal) designs: like a threatening-looking flaming rock guitar, a slightly peeled open rotten banana with a spiked neck collar, a jackhammer with angry eyes in the bottom half of its body, and a flying cactus creature whose body is so sharp and prickly that it can't help but cry while simultaneously glare at you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIsxMVJm8ThKoBXmvam1BTLOxOM7EiDbb1e94reV5nfkKimrz9dNG02fw7XhZhvMZEd1XDBBZJy6425KKtW3VHp7dEBDmn4lRAim356Y8nQwVPQYEskGo7UV-NE4F2CjqOREry33Z1YswZsT6vPAHvswCraGxk7LAML7M3YH3ingyRBQh2bFdRKM8Kg/s385/Zool_BananaBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIsxMVJm8ThKoBXmvam1BTLOxOM7EiDbb1e94reV5nfkKimrz9dNG02fw7XhZhvMZEd1XDBBZJy6425KKtW3VHp7dEBDmn4lRAim356Y8nQwVPQYEskGo7UV-NE4F2CjqOREry33Z1YswZsT6vPAHvswCraGxk7LAML7M3YH3ingyRBQh2bFdRKM8Kg/w200-h156/Zool_BananaBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiNNdEMY7lGrIV86dKjUH5ZdL8eeweuQfSyDYapaFqa5Ve83uQNKV11WivBC3c8Qofqje9oMCayoJNxeB9KSKiuJxoNHrfVeN33pqFDtzPDFAX3r74E0eaZh9SRvpPAPozvNs8Q168wu8KpoorXYw3jMzX7ZgFyIBCUwNjYhYqsLFc0r3_T8KHhwi7w/s385/Zool_Flipjump-Tool.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiNNdEMY7lGrIV86dKjUH5ZdL8eeweuQfSyDYapaFqa5Ve83uQNKV11WivBC3c8Qofqje9oMCayoJNxeB9KSKiuJxoNHrfVeN33pqFDtzPDFAX3r74E0eaZh9SRvpPAPozvNs8Q168wu8KpoorXYw3jMzX7ZgFyIBCUwNjYhYqsLFc0r3_T8KHhwi7w/w200-h156/Zool_Flipjump-Tool.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: That punk rocker banana is rotten to the core</b> 🍌 <b>| Right: Successfully performing another backflip jump</b></span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">The music and sound effects for <i>Zool</i> were composed by Patrick "Pat" Phelan in one of the first video game scores he produced for Gremlin Graphics alongside <i>Premier Manager</i> and the Magnetic Fields-developed racing game <i>Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge</i>*. Phelan was into video gaming and music since he was very young, which began with his parents getting him a Commodore VIC-20 computer where he learned to write and program games at the age of 11, then two years later he got his first synthesizer, the Korg MS20, and learned how to program its patch bay which gave him a thorough understanding in the fundamentals of sound synthesis.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* On the subject of <i>Lotus III</i>, Phelan's <i>Zool</i> soundtrack overlaps its soundtrack</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnXVcfYMGY1ocYuNKBGyS04-hxrFff7lHz9s282gQv5Q3FYWUknpEqhj6Ml8LgEZ2Z42Nd5ET2JUA2LWf8XsEy0Kd-mz31xMvRdn3Nt6KA6802lPyVMC7Rt_6zLET1fLC3BJm3kUvyUzUqeEl0b5CXU61emfzxp43RRY6vSQfMx-H_V6_Ax_KC2oS0A/s385/Zool_MidairJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnXVcfYMGY1ocYuNKBGyS04-hxrFff7lHz9s282gQv5Q3FYWUknpEqhj6Ml8LgEZ2Z42Nd5ET2JUA2LWf8XsEy0Kd-mz31xMvRdn3Nt6KA6802lPyVMC7Rt_6zLET1fLC3BJm3kUvyUzUqeEl0b5CXU61emfzxp43RRY6vSQfMx-H_V6_Ax_KC2oS0A/w200-h156/Zool_MidairJump.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7pVtot-pCcsaPRzF5t9EjfIWK4H4Yir2mHQyFXK4qKL9XLsQlJaphgJwGB_73yyoFiceerqlZV2YcWOgqMw66rqxiTmr-6oTXXf3xhmoAVkAfdcnc9_No1W84L6X4VfBYWph5qvLjIBdIdvJsbP3N5QBL6A2sT6RSCTOrqiL71KjiBX5-oisLv2sHw/s385/Zool_OilyIncline.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7pVtot-pCcsaPRzF5t9EjfIWK4H4Yir2mHQyFXK4qKL9XLsQlJaphgJwGB_73yyoFiceerqlZV2YcWOgqMw66rqxiTmr-6oTXXf3xhmoAVkAfdcnc9_No1W84L6X4VfBYWph5qvLjIBdIdvJsbP3N5QBL6A2sT6RSCTOrqiL71KjiBX5-oisLv2sHw/w200-h156/Zool_OilyIncline.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Leaping in the air after clinging on to a wall | Right: Sliding down an oily path</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">As he got older and graduated to the Commodore 64 there was a confluence between his love for sound and music and his obsession with gaming at the time--being influenced by the musical stylings of Ron Hubbard* and the late Ben Daglish he would go on to create music specifically for video games, thus launching his dream career when he joined Gremlin; over time he would take on other responsibilities and managed the audio department before taking on more senior creative roles. Phelan now works at Full Circle, a company he's long since set up after leaving Gremlin Graphics where he acts as a consultant and provides audio solutions to games, games design services, and music for TV.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Not the Scientology founder <u>L.</u> Ron Hubbard, it's sad that of all things I have to clarify to avoid any confusion that <u>this</u> is one of them</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckD-Wk2LwOrJ-OcxWUjrESnXAQV2XlHxQN5BL1XDwqhomx1P8woOs41fB-ExgF6KQZVgbWBt4lfSW1frHGIi224krofYk-UV9T0Fv56LvLhfpnivD4n0WHiWq4Dhoo5J60obbUuDrkl9lMgUpD-Vh-LhWm5dwD41cz8ZlFOGd4pO0N-npRibWmx2LNg/s385/Zool_SlideUnderNails.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckD-Wk2LwOrJ-OcxWUjrESnXAQV2XlHxQN5BL1XDwqhomx1P8woOs41fB-ExgF6KQZVgbWBt4lfSW1frHGIi224krofYk-UV9T0Fv56LvLhfpnivD4n0WHiWq4Dhoo5J60obbUuDrkl9lMgUpD-Vh-LhWm5dwD41cz8ZlFOGd4pO0N-npRibWmx2LNg/w200-h156/Zool_SlideUnderNails.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mIhkgAIPzUyJR5Qo-7gi1mM4PIeMST-NqOCSAfmU1qhVp5cp2X7NJslGoD5pyIUBGiZu03eh--yg46Oe70VwRPz687q2mwotbY_d6noA43weF2pyLvp3H43b-DkO_HlDKGnVAapqT3YgmdxmnkIC1lZfjIdbtUi04GpxB19H4YmyZ2sIAtyHM9ZwbQ/s385/Zool_Drills.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mIhkgAIPzUyJR5Qo-7gi1mM4PIeMST-NqOCSAfmU1qhVp5cp2X7NJslGoD5pyIUBGiZu03eh--yg46Oe70VwRPz687q2mwotbY_d6noA43weF2pyLvp3H43b-DkO_HlDKGnVAapqT3YgmdxmnkIC1lZfjIdbtUi04GpxB19H4YmyZ2sIAtyHM9ZwbQ/w200-h156/Zool_Drills.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Sliding under the nails sticking out | Right: Watch out for the drills protruding from within</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Zool</i>'s music is catchy and engaging with a lot of variations in instrumentation based on the land you're at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8HXT6wU2s&t=188s">candy land's theme</a> has got a great wailing rock guitar riff, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8HXT6wU2s&t=537s">mountain and toy land's theme</a> has got a fast-paced oriental flair, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8HXT6wU2s&t=689s">tool land's theme</a> has got an atmospheric ambient undercurrent to it and builds up from it, the opening notes of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8HXT6wU2s&t=957s">tropical land's theme</a> homage those of the iconic theme from David Lean's epic <i>Lawrence of Arabia</i> (Maurice Jarre would be proud) which then becomes very hard-hitting and bouncy (almost Capcom's <i>Street Fighter II</i>-esque in how it goes from normal to fast tempo later on) until eventually it throws in a little public domain Egyptian sound cue, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8HXT6wU2s&t=370s">theme</a> for the land of electronics and amusement has got a lot of drums and percussion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1hj9ltQzvfj9axzqc6GCzSVhW5ydsnIbSiMEYMFilFRG9O3k_cCFiS8MKzrfJeryhrQlLqgfWj6RXsAxoINanpj2vq3HBGjdCRl2SNeTGLKP3AscCuUB-QHeN0oQAxJ6ZXNPZ4n_-Oq80tuCDR09nL61_zSIgvfSyK0Ocr_VSxjmOY79ob_S4TM_2g/s385/Zool_OilySkid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1hj9ltQzvfj9axzqc6GCzSVhW5ydsnIbSiMEYMFilFRG9O3k_cCFiS8MKzrfJeryhrQlLqgfWj6RXsAxoINanpj2vq3HBGjdCRl2SNeTGLKP3AscCuUB-QHeN0oQAxJ6ZXNPZ4n_-Oq80tuCDR09nL61_zSIgvfSyK0Ocr_VSxjmOY79ob_S4TM_2g/w200-h156/Zool_OilySkid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A0kuFPpZkI6RIZcYNsOV11AW2GvPTFWqfL1jSkac68dGlZUFoq56hJUGPiZqsHCCCL5peD4-5uchWiPSKELiW1LHn9nXMp0DvY7fkgAE0kjRtiGwnVStQG3djh8CdW0Ms-JtxoTAiuEn04dw4bxFdeIRPMVR-KDUWQVdTi1IpiSvlkj5isC1Yc_5Zw/s385/Zool_EnemySplitInTwo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A0kuFPpZkI6RIZcYNsOV11AW2GvPTFWqfL1jSkac68dGlZUFoq56hJUGPiZqsHCCCL5peD4-5uchWiPSKELiW1LHn9nXMp0DvY7fkgAE0kjRtiGwnVStQG3djh8CdW0Ms-JtxoTAiuEn04dw4bxFdeIRPMVR-KDUWQVdTi1IpiSvlkj5isC1Yc_5Zw/w200-h156/Zool_EnemySplitInTwo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Skidding on slippery oil | Right: Projectile splitting an enemy in two</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects Phelan created are also solid across the board, like the broken plastic sound for any time the enemies you face shatter like brittle, the loud buzzes coming from the bee enemies, the authentic sound of the drums when you bounce on them and the drill sound for when they stick out from within the wall (which sounds like a buzzsaw), the bell sound for when the mallet bounces and hits it as you stand on it, and any time Zool takes damage and/or loses a life he grunts in a voice akin to that of gremlin (which is apropos given that's what he is and is the name of the company which gave birth to him--Gremlinception or something).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawkwpUPfN8aYQ_QKxttEM2snAbhyLooCzl9AkKKicC1P2lHwUkW4XsBlYWBd-Gc72zu9gkekl8jSxQzBJ78Q6m3fc_NVPJaUaq8S7QafBCtmiiGZJDDdfPk8QCxfzVCcGCNdpY1fNuA0_BIz2RWNf_DBuOESNT9O6W_RjpuI7TShreErriJl3dEIrXw/s385/Zool_SawOnSaw.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawkwpUPfN8aYQ_QKxttEM2snAbhyLooCzl9AkKKicC1P2lHwUkW4XsBlYWBd-Gc72zu9gkekl8jSxQzBJ78Q6m3fc_NVPJaUaq8S7QafBCtmiiGZJDDdfPk8QCxfzVCcGCNdpY1fNuA0_BIz2RWNf_DBuOESNT9O6W_RjpuI7TShreErriJl3dEIrXw/w200-h156/Zool_SawOnSaw.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMRMtyPEAVy8TcQs-L3nuz4gwFqFJeXbgo0vbU0S5iJk0isAUiJDQWmV8B_rXepp2RCqeyWYkQhrJ6iIrTedAR1u5EiK0cKXTq7j6WH8cm9N0K52GwhJ2JolAE7EP12cAX42srai2grDo7OP3eZgCfRWeTx2-I-bVCVFKhQT1sSTuA3IE0NHIn0ePsA/s385/Zool_JackhammerBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMRMtyPEAVy8TcQs-L3nuz4gwFqFJeXbgo0vbU0S5iJk0isAUiJDQWmV8B_rXepp2RCqeyWYkQhrJ6iIrTedAR1u5EiK0cKXTq7j6WH8cm9N0K52GwhJ2JolAE7EP12cAX42srai2grDo7OP3eZgCfRWeTx2-I-bVCVFKhQT1sSTuA3IE0NHIn0ePsA/w200-h156/Zool_JackhammerBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The surrealness of this game's lands truly knows no bounds, that saw is coming from within an electric chainsaw | Right: Time to fight a giant jackhammer</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Zool</i> only gives you a limited amount of continues, which you can adjust from zero to five in the options screen before playing, and there are three difficulty settings, with each of them having variations in terms of how many collectible items you need to reach the goal (50 on easy, 75 on normal, and 99 on hard), how many lives you start off with (seven, five, and three) as well as how many enemies you'll have to contend with and the number of hits it takes to defeat the boss at the end of each land. It must be beaten in one sitting, but if you lose one continue you'll be taken back to the beginning of the land's segment (if you lost your last life at Level 4-2, for instance, then you'll begin anew from the beginning of Level 4-2) which is a fair and convenient continue system.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD22mr78rEUN9AcEZCU0-zd_PTVDs4OGikNme9WxUxS-Pesf3VRNk8uQ6YUSnUHotEgytQU6o6ltK_Q8cqfmGk_7r-7rraURpvPwI9i5aFBtHAIF2IfIYg0_rTF4kUz2mBXxSrWr2MC6KzX6yNW2LPBDfGudDsnIlktKyPjv2Q_2-dfJ1XijW-vL290A/s1414/TCRF_Zool-CrossPromotions.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1414" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD22mr78rEUN9AcEZCU0-zd_PTVDs4OGikNme9WxUxS-Pesf3VRNk8uQ6YUSnUHotEgytQU6o6ltK_Q8cqfmGk_7r-7rraURpvPwI9i5aFBtHAIF2IfIYg0_rTF4kUz2mBXxSrWr2MC6KzX6yNW2LPBDfGudDsnIlktKyPjv2Q_2-dfJ1XijW-vL290A/w400-h244/TCRF_Zool-CrossPromotions.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while on The Cutting Room Floor's page for <i>Zool</i>'s SNES version</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">When the game was released in Japan for the Super Famicom there are notable differences between the Nissho Iwai Infocom Systems and the NTSC SNES versions: it runs at a slightly slower speed than the GameTek version (but still is slightly faster than the PAL SNES version), the default controls were fixed so you don't have to adjust them prior to playing, there's a number system for your health rather than a bar system, the electronics land and the tropical land swapped the order in which you access them (so instead of the former being the second land you access it is now the penultimate one, and vice versa for the latter), and its lands featured a lot of cross-promotion for a multitude of Japanese products.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW1Icofwr1aFivZxnUXkDeu86BbTI0upM7YZYefe_P9KcWX6qj71xGsBgltFIlVvqIMlR95pqxO8jUjiePb4IXcCtQBTRTvXY6xJ-oDtuuLX4GWbFKWpvFR6vtAcP8pPC-WC4TEMnG93xXusTwUUVFryhm4k-KWpoRDz8igQeCneOxtoifDpzDDEKsg/s626/Zool2_SwanLakeSeed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="626" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW1Icofwr1aFivZxnUXkDeu86BbTI0upM7YZYefe_P9KcWX6qj71xGsBgltFIlVvqIMlR95pqxO8jUjiePb4IXcCtQBTRTvXY6xJ-oDtuuLX4GWbFKWpvFR6vtAcP8pPC-WC4TEMnG93xXusTwUUVFryhm4k-KWpoRDz8igQeCneOxtoifDpzDDEKsg/w200-h160/Zool2_SwanLakeSeed.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpRT5vDntJBeL6KIr7JRUU6MiwfJfSmH61kkwsu5AWcrG9vJ-ZMpSJyGbyjtjucrfitSrweI_4k4757910TQ_k5oqztZqJvnyAVaBA7KuuT0o164_0Kvvv8qKOtH1Ry0mjbhUTqSGC6GA8oEYMPaufF7qkFJy10MqaUcOcBX_NlsJdF3OQ90H_sVH6Q/s626/Zool2_BulberryHillSpin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="626" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpRT5vDntJBeL6KIr7JRUU6MiwfJfSmH61kkwsu5AWcrG9vJ-ZMpSJyGbyjtjucrfitSrweI_4k4757910TQ_k5oqztZqJvnyAVaBA7KuuT0o164_0Kvvv8qKOtH1Ry0mjbhUTqSGC6GA8oEYMPaufF7qkFJy10MqaUcOcBX_NlsJdF3OQ90H_sVH6Q/w200-h160/Zool2_BulberryHillSpin.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching einokeino303's Amiga video playthrough of <i>Zool 2</i> on YouTube</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Following the success of <i>Zool</i>, plans for a sequel were laid in motion which would be released a year later in 1993. With the exception of composer Patrick Phelan, none of the people involved in its predecessor returned for the follow-up which this time was developed by The Warp Factory as <i>Zool 2</i> incorporated new gameplay elements: you could take control of either Zool or his female counterpart Zooz who mostly shared the same controls but with subtle differences in their modes of attack and defense, and if you got enough bonus icons you could play a bonus game in the vein of Atari's <i>Breakout</i> featuring their two-headed pet Zoon acting as a paddle. Like its predecessor <i>Zool 2</i> was well-received, some have even remarked it as an improvement, but alas its availability was very limited as it saw a release on the Amiga, Amiga CD32, and MS-DOS computers and saw an Atari Jaguar console* conversion by Imagitec Design, plus it was the last video game to be sponsored by Chupa Chups.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Out of curiosity, I saw the price tag for <i>Zool 2</i>'s Atari Jaguar edition (not triple digit, but not too unreasonable otherwise) and the Atari Jaguar <u>itself</u> (which costs a ridiculous sum by comparison, literally hundreds compared to the games which cost only a fraction of its price tag) on eBay, the obscene ratio between console price and game price designated for it made me give up on wanting an Atari Jaguar altogether, which is a shame because I do want to play <i>Zool 2</i>, but I don't think it'll happen anytime soon</b> 😔</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #6aff00;">There would also be a couple young adult novels written by Stan Nicholls and Ian Edgington based on Zool the gremlin ninja in 1995, <i>Cool Zool</i> and <i>Zool Rules</i>, but outside of that there have been no more new appearances by him in any format and would continue to be the case until 2021 when Secret Mode released <i>Zool Redimensioned</i>, a remaster developed by Sumo Digital Academy, on Steam based on the Sega MegaDrive/Genesis version (which is also included as a bonus, sans the Chupa Chups references).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpX4d6sTEv9SXDxPZzip4QVRNL_nXpn-ZsuAa42CMKk_2heoAQgHZkjBy5vrzuvgFixGvtqoI1dOSdYsKxeX8O5enZBLAgWbcki2GCssKKPDjzLtgS84hW4xrFSbc-C8qO5UEjSv8RPq9Jh-Fii6za8PjX1f5AZeReHSW8Aeh0whVyqz7AlBAuBY1BQ/s228/DataDesignInteractive_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="228" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpX4d6sTEv9SXDxPZzip4QVRNL_nXpn-ZsuAa42CMKk_2heoAQgHZkjBy5vrzuvgFixGvtqoI1dOSdYsKxeX8O5enZBLAgWbcki2GCssKKPDjzLtgS84hW4xrFSbc-C8qO5UEjSv8RPq9Jh-Fii6za8PjX1f5AZeReHSW8Aeh0whVyqz7AlBAuBY1BQ/s1600/DataDesignInteractive_Logo.png" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from MobyGames</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Before I share my thoughts on <i>Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</i>, let's discuss some bit of bizarre trivia first. In the early 2000's a British developer called Data Design Interactive pitched their idea for a 3D <i>Zool</i> platformer to the current rights owners of all things <i>Zool</i>, Zoo Digital Publishing. Reportedly they were bemused and were left unimpressed by the pitch that they pulled the rights, however Data Design was undeterred by this and proceeded to craft it as a standalone title. The game that it wound up becoming instead was</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdVoHgEOLqrETSuXnUlctSJB-wR2Ne0MFMHd2YjMpoLtUn4JiAaoFY-NWVfezGWACiStPMbpvJGYBfCGRHmhYr_5MjTiqpZLwIw7L_9WMt8TAFmixm9okNn9Fago2blwui6k_o92Gqi9K2_3Ml34czC4HpKdrPpLfTZz0vWtFzNPn_1aXWjRB229c-w/s784/NinjabreadMan_KillerCake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="784" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdVoHgEOLqrETSuXnUlctSJB-wR2Ne0MFMHd2YjMpoLtUn4JiAaoFY-NWVfezGWACiStPMbpvJGYBfCGRHmhYr_5MjTiqpZLwIw7L_9WMt8TAFmixm9okNn9Fago2blwui6k_o92Gqi9K2_3Ml34czC4HpKdrPpLfTZz0vWtFzNPn_1aXWjRB229c-w/w200-h150/NinjabreadMan_KillerCake.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83_IXE-3dK3LFy8C1CGYFGp5-vwYHdxgifg4joItvDMCC_B5fn91_TGqtI3aQHMW7r--UrcawhAdNwqnOshp0usqRS7iPaKDQM8Fta6EJYuZRC_j1lKzqbvgPjWxlVK-IentCmC0uDu6iHKFrztPGn5xEYrXuRMAOLACXca6esP3TknGz-8V6_WplKQ/s784/NinjabreadMan_RunTowardsScreen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="784" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83_IXE-3dK3LFy8C1CGYFGp5-vwYHdxgifg4joItvDMCC_B5fn91_TGqtI3aQHMW7r--UrcawhAdNwqnOshp0usqRS7iPaKDQM8Fta6EJYuZRC_j1lKzqbvgPjWxlVK-IentCmC0uDu6iHKFrztPGn5xEYrXuRMAOLACXca6esP3TknGz-8V6_WplKQ/w200-h150/NinjabreadMan_RunTowardsScreen.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching LongplayArchive's video of <i>Ninjabread Man</i> on YouTube</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Ninjabread Man</i>, originally released in Europe for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 but made available worldwide with the Nintendo Wii edition two years later. It was universally panned by pretty much everyone who played it as it was heavily criticized for its controls and camera system, not having a story, and for being incredibly short* and has since been widely regarded as one of the worst video games of all time. Data Design Interactive themselves also gained infamy for recycling and reskinning <i>Ninjabread Man</i> a few more times; they halted all projects in 2009 but would not become defunct for another three years.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* The playthrough I saw lasted roughly twenty minutes... for a 2007 release, I'm genuinely shocked that a game would have that kind of brevity</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBQebXOqPVmbDfx3oqPmZrqXlsImg8Saha-kuzVFLA3RFbxsbaUi0gGKfWWRTHvH0TTotSbHd7C0vhr1BTUPMEmpQ7BGZ_YtlCvUSaQ4dspXPhJqz9dBLQHiRZFr0qajw4fWTSnXDtaPenugt7UvWZZU1CHwvD8CM4FN_8k2l22HDWulliHZnooiRCA/s611/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy_RipperRoo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="611" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBQebXOqPVmbDfx3oqPmZrqXlsImg8Saha-kuzVFLA3RFbxsbaUi0gGKfWWRTHvH0TTotSbHd7C0vhr1BTUPMEmpQ7BGZ_YtlCvUSaQ4dspXPhJqz9dBLQHiRZFr0qajw4fWTSnXDtaPenugt7UvWZZU1CHwvD8CM4FN_8k2l22HDWulliHZnooiRCA/w200-h116/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy_RipperRoo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7oi4rCZTTHEn5IZRn9k_h0YAW5GJ3TtQSTrjhNslPBDBDorbF3l91B5UAHpUyXtvPcnrOd6h8Fl9G_wLxEp_ZBoFsHzeJ8ap4vrUVo6KLiPQ6NgWV4lFyxeyAZyFzA4kcubpwTDJOTLXHmGeiG1zrJpU4p7kSHPmNTrI-FS1sFo9FH2aWkWseg-DSQ/s611/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy_BigTNTBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="611" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7oi4rCZTTHEn5IZRn9k_h0YAW5GJ3TtQSTrjhNslPBDBDorbF3l91B5UAHpUyXtvPcnrOd6h8Fl9G_wLxEp_ZBoFsHzeJ8ap4vrUVo6KLiPQ6NgWV4lFyxeyAZyFzA4kcubpwTDJOTLXHmGeiG1zrJpU4p7kSHPmNTrI-FS1sFo9FH2aWkWseg-DSQ/w200-h116/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy_BigTNTBattle.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">And is it me, or did it sound like one of <i>Ninjabread Man</i>'s background tracks plagiarized Ripper Roo's theme from Naughty Dog's <i>Crash Bandicoot</i>? Naughty Data Design, naughty!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MztOU7A-UHPgvi8oqwzvvTZi46VHvqL9Tuu_BDkwE8CLZgs6zx0eETMmDpse8_77Vc_cbstInRNq3wIFw7N_CG34avpcaENhDT-bdqjCaw1Lnojc4Hx8SSykVjRmbCe_yi857yQ_FQ0uuKsNGN_M2aENL6ejY9g1S_jQImBNRBD2NP-bQYMPHuwJAg/s385/Zool_TOT.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MztOU7A-UHPgvi8oqwzvvTZi46VHvqL9Tuu_BDkwE8CLZgs6zx0eETMmDpse8_77Vc_cbstInRNq3wIFw7N_CG34avpcaENhDT-bdqjCaw1Lnojc4Hx8SSykVjRmbCe_yi857yQ_FQ0uuKsNGN_M2aENL6ejY9g1S_jQImBNRBD2NP-bQYMPHuwJAg/w200-h156/Zool_TOT.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVSWycom1TPe7aZhmckHomH2_PgA4RcnJYyQ1tVkFVmt4SgepGcwiBeMrY9K-lvVj58uQhQk7-acVqJsdhy4q_0GTd0bJhBsFiQh3zUHueMZUW_jI7vYBXCsLUnpvAK2-njHlX6KyiBeLf1F0KrL2x4NFqkiQBSmx3xleYxPzNIZ3JQVDWk-0eIzzTA/s385/Zool_CollectiblePlushes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVSWycom1TPe7aZhmckHomH2_PgA4RcnJYyQ1tVkFVmt4SgepGcwiBeMrY9K-lvVj58uQhQk7-acVqJsdhy4q_0GTd0bJhBsFiQh3zUHueMZUW_jI7vYBXCsLUnpvAK2-njHlX6KyiBeLf1F0KrL2x4NFqkiQBSmx3xleYxPzNIZ3JQVDWk-0eIzzTA/w200-h156/Zool_CollectiblePlushes.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Those toy blocks spell "Tot" (or "Toot", depending how you view it) | Right: It's a free for all for adorable animal plushies</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">The first I've learned of <i>Zool</i> was when I was a teenager back in the 2000's, when I stumbled across it as a playable flash game on the internet (whenever I was on the computer as a younger teenager I liked to play flash games online); I didn't get very far in it in the one time I played it there, but I recall it aesthetically looking like it was based on a Sega 8-bit edition, and around the same time I learned via the Video Game Critic's website* of its sequel when he covered it for the Atari Jaguar. As I got older I learned that the first <i>Zool</i> received an SNES version, which I saw a gameplay video of candy land on YouTube out of curiosity, and it did seem like a very colorful fast-paced platformer (plus, ninjas are cool), but I wouldn't get to experience for myself until February of 2020.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Y'know, the same one-paragraph format review website where he somehow conflated Scrooge McDuck's voice in WayForward Technologies' <i>DuckTales: Remastered</i> to be that of Sean Connery's instead of Alan Young who it actually was (RIP both), which made me give up on his website because that level of misinformation was upsetting (hardly the only one he made, mind, but it made me question if he had done any research before typing it up) plus Scrooge McDuck is one of my favorite Disney characters (his stories in the comics are <u>ace</u>); I mean, this was years ago, I don't know if he's corrected his information since or if he was told he made a mistake, but I find value in doing research and double (if not triple) checking said research to make sure it is accurate whenever I'm reviewing something</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSI4GyLkvAs9Dl_kjhJNdoKLKsH3mVfO2EOUroJFkt7RT07juFQOwfhZGtYw2scUxzfyVMAlcSzGhoLCG7Kq8UZP2mPK8IYc781YV9PhSfnUBLzvguJJMYqtr9b4KrfejVzb5Zxjg2qmyWlqZ0epqctCZLWTzQCgMCtO7nSqys2USpvI2mNMfAuPeiQ/s385/Zool_SwordSpin-Toys.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSI4GyLkvAs9Dl_kjhJNdoKLKsH3mVfO2EOUroJFkt7RT07juFQOwfhZGtYw2scUxzfyVMAlcSzGhoLCG7Kq8UZP2mPK8IYc781YV9PhSfnUBLzvguJJMYqtr9b4KrfejVzb5Zxjg2qmyWlqZ0epqctCZLWTzQCgMCtO7nSqys2USpvI2mNMfAuPeiQ/w200-h156/Zool_SwordSpin-Toys.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsTJpohi3S7rjbtEonRZg8hZmOPJsxvRBVbXF2gsAL6YxmaXULkrIdZYuf_7KG-E3zxoh-8rkZ7YUFbZTuqfGZPzJwEJ4YsjLvvPoG_VhR7puNYti8RB64tK80WExpiRJSXpFpW8e2qKHaMT7YHnXbNIV614_KWkLU1-KEi-LWdiVhOb3M-29aO0rag/s385/Zool_StuffedPanda.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsTJpohi3S7rjbtEonRZg8hZmOPJsxvRBVbXF2gsAL6YxmaXULkrIdZYuf_7KG-E3zxoh-8rkZ7YUFbZTuqfGZPzJwEJ4YsjLvvPoG_VhR7puNYti8RB64tK80WExpiRJSXpFpW8e2qKHaMT7YHnXbNIV614_KWkLU1-KEi-LWdiVhOb3M-29aO0rag/w200-h156/Zool_StuffedPanda.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Spinning his sword in the land of toys | Right: Jumping up to grab that giant panda plushie </b>🐼</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension</i> is a fascinating platformer in terms of its visual concept. If there's a word to describe the experience, "surreal" might be the appropriate one to use as each land has got a lot of creative ingenuity about them and I like the way that the enemies and collectible items match with and blend in to their respective environments. It is pure eye candy, and with each theme change as you go from land to land it retains its sense of freshness about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvoA8NrDuAiGUPhCjF9-VcurtqRCVcYHj0D7r_OhFh-GaThwNRkUrfTf_UzbZ-h3OoVDmF5wtzyu5NUpQ6QtAtJVWSRaZAIeb8rQWPmYfBvOnjKlR-xd1vmUoDo1cv24kPUMhSdStffOTTzGn3CNkLYfLe2XF040jjKC2eY3fEHVAOGvuXNDP7D_xlQ/s385/Zool_ToyTanks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvoA8NrDuAiGUPhCjF9-VcurtqRCVcYHj0D7r_OhFh-GaThwNRkUrfTf_UzbZ-h3OoVDmF5wtzyu5NUpQ6QtAtJVWSRaZAIeb8rQWPmYfBvOnjKlR-xd1vmUoDo1cv24kPUMhSdStffOTTzGn3CNkLYfLe2XF040jjKC2eY3fEHVAOGvuXNDP7D_xlQ/w200-h156/Zool_ToyTanks.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJp4xkNXoO2rkDWUjH204blYg6G3X6xN7p6XDlKLJoX2no6YUgH58G0FhPRafyUk5w_7HFQa8ynvdMJ1VBotnGgxP-Db0rWTkUuWfexo8nKzYfyFs6l_y7IGWpSZGkBY4FnOxck0NyB_vQrbgRDCyn1HE2bnb96xWr2mR0KnqUhvCkVfdfaD2HBD0NQ/s385/Zool_EtchASketch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJp4xkNXoO2rkDWUjH204blYg6G3X6xN7p6XDlKLJoX2no6YUgH58G0FhPRafyUk5w_7HFQa8ynvdMJ1VBotnGgxP-Db0rWTkUuWfexo8nKzYfyFs6l_y7IGWpSZGkBY4FnOxck0NyB_vQrbgRDCyn1HE2bnb96xWr2mR0KnqUhvCkVfdfaD2HBD0NQ/w200-h156/Zool_EtchASketch.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Finding myself between two toy tanks | Right: Remember those Etch a Sketches from the olden days? Those were fun to play with as a kid once in awhile</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">I like the character Zool, his gameplay is slick and nimble for it is solidly responsive, plus I like how agile he is and the array of moves at his disposal, be it short-ranged with his slides, hopping and bopping, and spinning sword attack or long-ranged with his projectiles. Those backflips that you perform after you run towards the wall can be real lifesavers when it comes to surpassing certain rows (or columns) of spiked obstacles when performed with exact timing and acute precision. All those moves are unspeakably crucial to your progress.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnre94NQpNIynA8TTLocDxa1HiQNL3egGc7A9jYGjNF0cI4Yki60VrdfydNZ3SjPVW_xOMafD8Zd8A7GUBrv4S3pco9a2Qp5yJg-J1ryXdEtmg0bIUh7CRskiiIltAPSLj6x8XNQk7mnKsDkpQ6W96JGL4AjsmTxTA6qXANOv4mm_-f-QPU38uPrdGqA/s385/Zool_Marbles.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnre94NQpNIynA8TTLocDxa1HiQNL3egGc7A9jYGjNF0cI4Yki60VrdfydNZ3SjPVW_xOMafD8Zd8A7GUBrv4S3pco9a2Qp5yJg-J1ryXdEtmg0bIUh7CRskiiIltAPSLj6x8XNQk7mnKsDkpQ6W96JGL4AjsmTxTA6qXANOv4mm_-f-QPU38uPrdGqA/w200-h156/Zool_Marbles.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiG1Rpc3Z88SYZj09XQWefkzc1Y0t5al3TcububqX4i8nWS4hOXqmaJFb-l56ieWCNSHGOfo-6qkriuYIDvw9pxib85P-2D4SRa2GLynAfBoZ4WGO4l5XohF0lrsJZkhs79IBVEB8QbMeSpxGujIr8M4hhFCumrSpqBmX6-vQYOPThYQEp8k-vdolPg/s385/Zool_WireHanging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiG1Rpc3Z88SYZj09XQWefkzc1Y0t5al3TcububqX4i8nWS4hOXqmaJFb-l56ieWCNSHGOfo-6qkriuYIDvw9pxib85P-2D4SRa2GLynAfBoZ4WGO4l5XohF0lrsJZkhs79IBVEB8QbMeSpxGujIr8M4hhFCumrSpqBmX6-vQYOPThYQEp8k-vdolPg/w200-h156/Zool_WireHanging.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Marbles, marbles, everywhere!</b><b> | Right: Precariously wire hanging across</b></span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">A good chunk of the areas you peruse through are designed in such an open-ended manner that you can explore to your heart's desire, pretty much, and by firing projectiles towards certain walls you will open up a pathway that only initially appeared to be inaccessible (which is helpful to know if you need to acquire more collectible items and specific power-ups). The areas could also be so vast too and in certain instances easy to get lost in if you're not careful, which is why it's a good thing that there are plenty of checkpoints scattered about (which you can activate more than once in the event that you find yourself backtracking, which is very convenient). And the arrow acting as your compass in the lower left corner is of massive help as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">As video games that tried to compete with Naoto Ohshima and Yuji Naka's iconic fast blue hedgehog go, I do find the British-oriented <i>Zool</i> to be the more enjoyable one of them all and the most successful of those that made the attempt to cash in on Sega's killer app on the Sega MegaDrive/Genesis.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3PIb_zbd5ERdfM-TiKgJFYe3MBVFQUD6tQ5Wi1lr1FqjmY7kkYbGeN9TVBzm0EObwsmAFPon44WvlEE_wuV8Cuu6ScpHuz0kzoRJKbDQFZ43RGQFh3THsCrLulobLrq4CWry1SgJTiPF5qvuXK93unHdRg713lqUTGyJaqhNc4lctan5RCbU8FkKQ/s385/Bubsy_WaterRide.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3PIb_zbd5ERdfM-TiKgJFYe3MBVFQUD6tQ5Wi1lr1FqjmY7kkYbGeN9TVBzm0EObwsmAFPon44WvlEE_wuV8Cuu6ScpHuz0kzoRJKbDQFZ43RGQFh3THsCrLulobLrq4CWry1SgJTiPF5qvuXK93unHdRg713lqUTGyJaqhNc4lctan5RCbU8FkKQ/w200-h156/Bubsy_WaterRide.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK25R2dEGxoAmuA-T_kth72bW8H4q8KEk-g0itbwZA6_7YZSWamBcATvOijPoxSTsDKJ8-ZABWTYjCixt9u_ZdYWvPxPQdVxsY3XSJym6P2oI6srFZs-6-MpemdZuewGig2TRMpacCFq0nbIKU1_cbc9PX-i986siX-yMbQKdM-mfbti5ER4tLBQmDRw/s385/Bubsy_Pounce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK25R2dEGxoAmuA-T_kth72bW8H4q8KEk-g0itbwZA6_7YZSWamBcATvOijPoxSTsDKJ8-ZABWTYjCixt9u_ZdYWvPxPQdVxsY3XSJym6P2oI6srFZs-6-MpemdZuewGig2TRMpacCFq0nbIKU1_cbc9PX-i986siX-yMbQKdM-mfbti5ER4tLBQmDRw/w200-h156/Bubsy_Pounce.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Elsewhere in North America, designer Michael Berlyn of Accolade came up with an idea for a game that rivaled <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> after having stumbled across it and finding himself playing it obsessively in the span of a week to find the inspiration for his idea. That idea came in the form of the anthropomorphic bobcat donning a white shirt with an exclamation point called Bubsy whose cartoonish antics paid homage to the classic <i>Looney Tunes</i> shorts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPUkEnPbJTm4Pb7X4FCQzpQSayb8sja3akd5EHq1ykQgyRbovwjr2HeIKk1xweruhc4eXj57QGmuWHrl9iSmHsi3GrDQU5OWzsg79AzVe_W8blvaRR6fGmTsn4dmzu4npAc80tC8lvd0bF0w8mgMp4pXCSM1RqwZQb_Sk7m092dSvR0EGrCAXvI127g/s385/Bubsy_OnYourMark.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPUkEnPbJTm4Pb7X4FCQzpQSayb8sja3akd5EHq1ykQgyRbovwjr2HeIKk1xweruhc4eXj57QGmuWHrl9iSmHsi3GrDQU5OWzsg79AzVe_W8blvaRR6fGmTsn4dmzu4npAc80tC8lvd0bF0w8mgMp4pXCSM1RqwZQb_Sk7m092dSvR0EGrCAXvI127g/w200-h156/Bubsy_OnYourMark.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2LNfKjxacm8byTq6u7UQGX35-mjZHoLpbSnu4dCsxhxoSCOfGia6VzEUu7_sfb2q64x4LhCj-0kRUHV6zbkN2fpibjuefH5wfV_41qYuM62HVX-4zuNH0DVGbKhbKITWQO-CXKuvJR_b6FqUzKEKvQdjYUi89sHpi5_6mDN9UXbTySZ1WGb1vohHEQ/s385/Bubsy_Skid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2LNfKjxacm8byTq6u7UQGX35-mjZHoLpbSnu4dCsxhxoSCOfGia6VzEUu7_sfb2q64x4LhCj-0kRUHV6zbkN2fpibjuefH5wfV_41qYuM62HVX-4zuNH0DVGbKhbKITWQO-CXKuvJR_b6FqUzKEKvQdjYUi89sHpi5_6mDN9UXbTySZ1WGb1vohHEQ/w200-h156/Bubsy_Skid.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">On occasion he would utter a quip in the title card of each chapter, including his signature catchphrase, "What could possibly go wrong?", first uttered by Brian Silva's voice being sped up*. With the aim to create something as fast as <i>Sonic</i> and as "deep" as Nintendo's <i>Super Mario Bros.</i>, <i>Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind</i> (released for the Super Famicom in Japan by Pack-In-Video as </span><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><i>Yamaneko Bubsy no Daibōken</i>) was preceded by overwhelmingly positive coverage prior to its Summer 1993 release (the title character even won <i>Electronic Gaming Monthly</i>'s "Most Hype for a Character" Award that year).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* And not Rob Paulsen like I thought originally, but he did voice him in the animated pilot and <i>Bubsy II</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6IafTD1WkzRd_NXJYjZ4SPSfrkTZ8tl5WVLo_PcTM4D-VWgW3LqsBnm4sC841MyX_VZMzCxfSMoSXJzJDPTeNpxkX5LRJyyoyqSkFxnytjjdOE_jSyjFc0NZiYd_nBtfCaS9uMCzjl6eOpeyg7d7h0WVXLBCrjv2zPeJm2x--Awmn5Ud0NjgD0R1Rg/s385/Bubsy_ScreenBanging.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6IafTD1WkzRd_NXJYjZ4SPSfrkTZ8tl5WVLo_PcTM4D-VWgW3LqsBnm4sC841MyX_VZMzCxfSMoSXJzJDPTeNpxkX5LRJyyoyqSkFxnytjjdOE_jSyjFc0NZiYd_nBtfCaS9uMCzjl6eOpeyg7d7h0WVXLBCrjv2zPeJm2x--Awmn5Ud0NjgD0R1Rg/w200-h156/Bubsy_ScreenBanging.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5da3m9Mt1F4Gk7HlmBYt9qiQdXSaoxMAq6CLi8dqkGEPphFOAAyzXGHMYCnB8ZLSTRSdd6T39rwKmtW6g6XiRl8-rHb5r8nm8ai-qmekyevgqloo1Xay4rTO1H36_0PllXwJyZnY4CQnAv9w7vN14PKmZnTiYZKDqTVuTDZW-HMT_ftX6Tit2ezEGQ/s385/Bubsy_FinalWoolieBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5da3m9Mt1F4Gk7HlmBYt9qiQdXSaoxMAq6CLi8dqkGEPphFOAAyzXGHMYCnB8ZLSTRSdd6T39rwKmtW6g6XiRl8-rHb5r8nm8ai-qmekyevgqloo1Xay4rTO1H36_0PllXwJyZnY4CQnAv9w7vN14PKmZnTiYZKDqTVuTDZW-HMT_ftX6Tit2ezEGQ/w200-h156/Bubsy_FinalWoolieBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Retroactively speaking, though, it's a bewildering case of, "What were they thinking??" I guess you had to be there, but Bubsy's first Nintendo and Sega 16-bit stint didn't really match up with the high appraisal the press gave it leading up to release which I'm sure must've caused backlash and likely set off a bad precedent for any upcoming game that only <b>superficially</b> resembled a Sonic wannabe regardless of pacing* because of it albeit indirectly. <i>Bubsy</i>'s momentum was inconsistent, the gameplay and physics were floaty, the difficulty was high due to its one hit system and precariously huge area designs, you could not afford to go <b>too</b> fast lest you wish to run into an enemy and meet a swift end (unless you took care of them beforehand in which case have at it), and it could've greatly benefited with a better sense of polish and fine-tuning; it's not all bad news, though, as it had a colorful sense of visual aesthetic, a helpful password system**, an innovative look-around feature with the shoulder buttons to see what's ahead of you or behind you, and if you have the patience and resilience it is manageable to play (you just might have to go at it in a careful manner).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* John and Ste Pickford have gone on record to cite Bubsy as the square cause for people overlooking their cult classic platformer, Software Creations' <i>Plok</i>, at the time and I don't think they ever forgave him for that, but to be fair I'm sure there were other factors that played a role in its initial obscurity (like an oversaturated video game market replete to the brim with platformers to choose from)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>** And I don't just mean the ones given to you after every third chapter, as The Cutting Room Floor and GameFAQs have passwords for <u>every</u> chapter</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSrzCRNWawj5XmIaOEcscmHbcZP-VtY6076DQK3k3-Qkt-j7THQvKA4lrEnsQNtfzQzPmSwNtHqHVP-dpn40wEm6TpTNMaLrMc_QrZakcMeaIv977UxZzgSoFO7Jsd6T7xzUOu0toezykDbOmGcVkRsvIF7AUqkOOR1AIKAMdds8GUeyypgDzEmvlSw/s385/Bubsy_VictoryDance.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSrzCRNWawj5XmIaOEcscmHbcZP-VtY6076DQK3k3-Qkt-j7THQvKA4lrEnsQNtfzQzPmSwNtHqHVP-dpn40wEm6TpTNMaLrMc_QrZakcMeaIv977UxZzgSoFO7Jsd6T7xzUOu0toezykDbOmGcVkRsvIF7AUqkOOR1AIKAMdds8GUeyypgDzEmvlSw/s16000/Bubsy_VictoryDance.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Bubsy can celebrate the fact that twenty-six years after his debut, his sixth iteration Choice Provisions' <i>Bubsy: Paws on Fire!</i> would ultimately be the best game featured in his name... though to say that's not really a high bar to cross would be a gross understatement</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">I guess in the end it didn't really matter what your feelings on <i>Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind</i> were in one way or another since the preceding hype ensured that it would be a success regardless, for it wound up becoming a franchise in its own right. I neither hate Bubsy nor his first avenue, I do find it amusing and I do get some enjoyment out of it in a guilty pleasure sort of way once you know what to do, it just depends on the mood, but on the whole I find the game tolerable at best (without the passwords it would be a different story)... I cannot say the same for what immediately followed. It is a strange hexalogy, though, with each installment constantly changing developers, direction, music composers, and voice actor for the titular bobcat; consistency does not seem to be <i>Bubsy</i>'s strong suit, if you ask me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWEN7LwkhMC7RAaAw4EM72YnWGgfBFTEY2azu5iU-8VKc_oLnfxrClbSm8SfVnaQBHnOZfZLcp7TdRgyukNuDgXJyNjv6eZkWcr9OZQlGxJWotXuMjqibU_AvM3Dpmh49jPGnwzPOhpNwraDB7z-fq7ZUMCuJ7O4H71T1C-QVwEO1PMqVTJCvPFmjjQ/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_DrillAttack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWEN7LwkhMC7RAaAw4EM72YnWGgfBFTEY2azu5iU-8VKc_oLnfxrClbSm8SfVnaQBHnOZfZLcp7TdRgyukNuDgXJyNjv6eZkWcr9OZQlGxJWotXuMjqibU_AvM3Dpmh49jPGnwzPOhpNwraDB7z-fq7ZUMCuJ7O4H71T1C-QVwEO1PMqVTJCvPFmjjQ/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_DrillAttack.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNUWv8W2jrMtWETveoyie8EksiAXLlJY7B0-58H6Ry5G4tJG8iAenLFewZHdiUX28wPy63NgszMg_TjUHwaoS7ozI9NqPSStVPCPwSfVqr8gCKyrOz5ZF_sEqSnwDiK7RLzyHQcAiYI0bxtB7plABsy0PVZU55wxFW4NTyyLPFE2MmgYi9NWkKkUNag/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_RingOfFire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNUWv8W2jrMtWETveoyie8EksiAXLlJY7B0-58H6Ry5G4tJG8iAenLFewZHdiUX28wPy63NgszMg_TjUHwaoS7ozI9NqPSStVPCPwSfVqr8gCKyrOz5ZF_sEqSnwDiK7RLzyHQcAiYI0bxtB7plABsy0PVZU55wxFW4NTyyLPFE2MmgYi9NWkKkUNag/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_RingOfFire.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Later that same year in 1993, also hailing from North America, both Sega <b>and</b> Nintendo loyalists at the time would find themselves graced <span style="font-size: x-small;">[<i>citation needed</i>]</span> by the release of Iguana Entertainment's <i>Aero the Acro-Bat</i>, a platformer featuring David Siller's anthropomorphic circus performing bat whom Sunsoft would use as their American mascot for a short while following the positive reception enjoyed at Consumer Electronics Shows. <i>Aero</i> was a success, but much like Accolade's <i>Bubsy</i> before it "success" doesn't necessarily equate to "quality"; it is better objectively, but it's still riddled with problems.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmzBzFJO1alZ09GxLTP7nTUdVE2KtJtRZXkl-s1K5Ss3688LKTNSBXUxsctClRQi9wtozSVSC4I72fJAgzq3IAkalh_Nz0X9BVrZKISU8jOji5cvipdAmPYwuiu7yfkP8BRpXiaCUkYH-qFgAp2Awr-a0vmAWZ8KwWWxwp-93yU-V055RnZpo-fLXTg/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_RollerCoaster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmzBzFJO1alZ09GxLTP7nTUdVE2KtJtRZXkl-s1K5Ss3688LKTNSBXUxsctClRQi9wtozSVSC4I72fJAgzq3IAkalh_Nz0X9BVrZKISU8jOji5cvipdAmPYwuiu7yfkP8BRpXiaCUkYH-qFgAp2Awr-a0vmAWZ8KwWWxwp-93yU-V055RnZpo-fLXTg/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_RollerCoaster.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe2212yLajPobIrlPLGb-lu3d8vYgmftp5yBnEcnUh4pDgxLOUcPbzGAIHy9IeeYyGy0kqS5J1XnA17ctEyoEVfWNGN4im7Zimofie_Ee0iqiKLsPYvZgUlJ8QDjwjegVMzEQfLlh5B8Q5xRe16YKVlM3NA4AwXwS00kf1PaBwFO0rS8FPnvk-678-A/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_Rocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe2212yLajPobIrlPLGb-lu3d8vYgmftp5yBnEcnUh4pDgxLOUcPbzGAIHy9IeeYyGy0kqS5J1XnA17ctEyoEVfWNGN4im7Zimofie_Ee0iqiKLsPYvZgUlJ8QDjwjegVMzEQfLlh5B8Q5xRe16YKVlM3NA4AwXwS00kf1PaBwFO0rS8FPnvk-678-A/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_Rocket.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">It does have a good premise behind it, to be fair, each area was mission-based which kept the proceedings fresh, it featured the occasional detour from the platforming scene (like riding a roller coaster, riding on a barrel, and performing bungee jumps) once in a while, and it had a slew of secret passages upon thorough inspection. Alas, as manageable as it is to play through it didn't have much in the way of polish, had an unforgiving continue system starting you back at the beginning of one of the four segments, and was heavily beset by Iguana Entertainment's mistaken choice to value quantity over quality. The less said about the psychopathic implications of Aero, a supposed "good guy", upon clearing the game, the better. At best, it is okay, but fun only in the sporadic sense.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQJYA9xf_X91U1rhOY6EOUCk_d7ooVfXWhrgxuqZzrmVbGdrHRszH72w1GrlMK5ogK6MYC71twHKg8Rxd1CyxkUkhQnXAO6HS0nF19B50prsJn3tI6ihfqx4BurqtUHSHAaauE4kSFc4w6PCJAANdM_MN8H74BknRaroCUg4W2wCTfUL_jpO7aGB4dg/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_Skidding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQJYA9xf_X91U1rhOY6EOUCk_d7ooVfXWhrgxuqZzrmVbGdrHRszH72w1GrlMK5ogK6MYC71twHKg8Rxd1CyxkUkhQnXAO6HS0nF19B50prsJn3tI6ihfqx4BurqtUHSHAaauE4kSFc4w6PCJAANdM_MN8H74BknRaroCUg4W2wCTfUL_jpO7aGB4dg/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_Skidding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_1lpG-VfkTTFlGXKzdpkoTqTch1-wbuXKpmfpTi1HFJ0oGK2bbncRGe9Rg4Ph68bUd5XcSrrWKwQpyNxWVn-Kv5VwWHgZHxRzfZpgTOR8bxm3z24Emiec8WFCC9Ug3uDwU1JxFvECjnIuAW_TdRiSFDuJBnTLCCfUI6Vs6U0NFzbWcag6vFDu7bgtg/s377/AeroTheAcroBat_Choking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="377" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_1lpG-VfkTTFlGXKzdpkoTqTch1-wbuXKpmfpTi1HFJ0oGK2bbncRGe9Rg4Ph68bUd5XcSrrWKwQpyNxWVn-Kv5VwWHgZHxRzfZpgTOR8bxm3z24Emiec8WFCC9Ug3uDwU1JxFvECjnIuAW_TdRiSFDuJBnTLCCfUI6Vs6U0NFzbWcag6vFDu7bgtg/w200-h159/AeroTheAcroBat_Choking.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Regardless of its faults and what people thought of it, <i>Aero the Acro-Bat</i> was a success in its own right due to the initial hype leading up to release, for it wound up garnering a sequel and a spinoff starring Aero's occasional nemesis Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrUzKziZPLjP03Uf1UYhCrVSfPxyrl2nGqTvpvlYLV3T3sYJo69_XXpDBV07mGuB2379CAoWHWVIFF096RnM1HWMZ6CvkwuplOMqgfUooC1mwsRqS5GUzCEW8ICl0qBReoED_NHkbZ7zcoX_q_J1UXpE_0ozbIoDcyD2CCkjqkej8aqWPEEu8ZLvIKQ/s385/Bubsy2_Kangaroo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrUzKziZPLjP03Uf1UYhCrVSfPxyrl2nGqTvpvlYLV3T3sYJo69_XXpDBV07mGuB2379CAoWHWVIFF096RnM1HWMZ6CvkwuplOMqgfUooC1mwsRqS5GUzCEW8ICl0qBReoED_NHkbZ7zcoX_q_J1UXpE_0ozbIoDcyD2CCkjqkej8aqWPEEu8ZLvIKQ/w200-h156/Bubsy2_Kangaroo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ--EDoyIsOKR4-VR1D4FEKrIPPyicHEAJDn8Sx_wpO8UCOzgqhaz0PsQR2wvzIU-6xpMIbJmx7d2v7_AsWVvLQ6KzduGv3WsPq0NLTNCg-CVPmJCJup9czEDQPbm9gW8V-y90NETW75l6xqyijvcgUlZSMxcQrLss927SFu1-Aty7j3uMIBG0vy6vg/s377/AeroTheAcroBat2_EnemyStack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="377" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ--EDoyIsOKR4-VR1D4FEKrIPPyicHEAJDn8Sx_wpO8UCOzgqhaz0PsQR2wvzIU-6xpMIbJmx7d2v7_AsWVvLQ6KzduGv3WsPq0NLTNCg-CVPmJCJup9czEDQPbm9gW8V-y90NETW75l6xqyijvcgUlZSMxcQrLss927SFu1-Aty7j3uMIBG0vy6vg/w200-h155/AeroTheAcroBat2_EnemyStack.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">With sequels, they could go in any one of two directions. Accolade's <i>Bubsy II</i> singlehandedly perpetuated the stereotype that follow-ups <b>can</b> be worse than their predecessor as it was completely devoid of fun despite having a comparatively lighter difficulty, lacked even more polish than Bubsy's first rodeo did, a constantly changing, nonexistent soundtrack which made the proceedings miserable, and above all it was a putrid, unfocused mess (one of the worst, if not <b>the</b> worst, 16-bit platformers ever conceived, in my opinion; avoid); on the other hand you have Iguana Entertainment's (and Iguana UK's) <i>Aero the Acro-Bat 2</i>, which was a much needed step up from the last game and just came to show that with enough time and with a tighter focus on quality and polish in its controls you <b>can</b> make a sequel that can improve upon the flaws of its predecessor and expand on what worked, making for a more forgiving and consistently enjoyable platformer. I wish I could say which direction The Warp Factory's <i>Zool 2</i> went, but without any way for me to play it I wouldn't be able to tell you. 😔</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobxQ2I8rrol9MnqnauKraq1DnjZaxP6X5xhDdiq3kAC_uR-qBr-5UL6iFhrrG2RjqpCP2PdCD2buHp-mbItLPm80vbxRL3lbYz9Sn6gC3tWAGN-EP3Hl8RG70gWi3fjSh5G6dJZ88ecSpZ6-pM_n6mOx9g4dqLBLfSejWP6fwvhraYXd37S76Xiqxbg/s387/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Hammer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobxQ2I8rrol9MnqnauKraq1DnjZaxP6X5xhDdiq3kAC_uR-qBr-5UL6iFhrrG2RjqpCP2PdCD2buHp-mbItLPm80vbxRL3lbYz9Sn6gC3tWAGN-EP3Hl8RG70gWi3fjSh5G6dJZ88ecSpZ6-pM_n6mOx9g4dqLBLfSejWP6fwvhraYXd37S76Xiqxbg/w200-h156/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Hammer.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHnvkfhScaSpWScqgToWxLRjJKmuh1kVyWpfXl3mSxPE_xEZBwafdV1wHyNiAyD0qvTlD-skUjxx4C848M7AiuZVd2b00KysJ_FmnF_ZZ9mRKLdjYSHrZlJTNwWjEQ14nUvSC4hIJ93IWS4sj32XbdTsrZcFtScmaok8YEx7OE0us2dEcfRDVBNoiBg/s387/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_BossBee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHnvkfhScaSpWScqgToWxLRjJKmuh1kVyWpfXl3mSxPE_xEZBwafdV1wHyNiAyD0qvTlD-skUjxx4C848M7AiuZVd2b00KysJ_FmnF_ZZ9mRKLdjYSHrZlJTNwWjEQ14nUvSC4hIJ93IWS4sj32XbdTsrZcFtScmaok8YEx7OE0us2dEcfRDVBNoiBg/w200-h156/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_BossBee.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">It'd be disingenuous to call Konami's <i>TwinBee: Rainbow Bell Adventure</i> on the Super Famicom a <i>Sonic</i> wannabe as that would take away from what it set out to do, but its occasional sense of speed is unequivocally owed in no small part to Sega's three-plus decade old franchise, but I thought I would bring it up as it felt apropos. In that regard, however, combined with the jetpack gadgetry of Konami's own <i>Rocket Knight Adventures</i>, the look-around feature of Accolade's <i>Bubsy</i>, and the open-ended map structure* and alternate exits of Nintendo's <i>Super Mario World</i>, I do find it to be the best alternative to speed-oriented platforming while at the same time doing enough to give it its own identity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I have not played the European SNES version <i>Pop'n TwinBee: Rainbow Bell Adventures</i>, but I'm fully aware of how Konami changed it to be a more linear experience, probably to save on cost for localization</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztAnXyp-cGskOvtxf3MXdHl1Xt21bFwU-e5FmWTb93frmURo8zg6h4DE9Pa8vEglyun80-kkvHQPtvqH4XlNakakp0tZ-GFbL2EhwzLDfaIJKOjPqxgYaRG2QZqoo_nQNIGO0k4R8bBz_WQmhtNSh0B9C00QWV1TGftfm6_Hk__nm0deifhGwZGXRhA/s387/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Swimming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztAnXyp-cGskOvtxf3MXdHl1Xt21bFwU-e5FmWTb93frmURo8zg6h4DE9Pa8vEglyun80-kkvHQPtvqH4XlNakakp0tZ-GFbL2EhwzLDfaIJKOjPqxgYaRG2QZqoo_nQNIGO0k4R8bBz_WQmhtNSh0B9C00QWV1TGftfm6_Hk__nm0deifhGwZGXRhA/w200-h156/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Swimming.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEH3PAHgxuhSEoT3faDTyqS0EbovqCe0IVAZXrct7bOSrwU-JKJRiLeHtSie0q4iIjF_rcAKieEmfNaYWpyu0Jb0Sm-gnGeFgZVWp1oNTu22fPM2C6x3khPaWhagEpRXR-9lCT9v8nXBq9UHVUM83gfkuridvZtDiM0DGW34oIIXkBA-0j9qD2COSqQ/s387/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Running.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEH3PAHgxuhSEoT3faDTyqS0EbovqCe0IVAZXrct7bOSrwU-JKJRiLeHtSie0q4iIjF_rcAKieEmfNaYWpyu0Jb0Sm-gnGeFgZVWp1oNTu22fPM2C6x3khPaWhagEpRXR-9lCT9v8nXBq9UHVUM83gfkuridvZtDiM0DGW34oIIXkBA-0j9qD2COSqQ/w200-h156/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_Running.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">With its fun and enjoyable gameplay, adorable pastel-toned visuals, lightheartedly cute charm, multitude of secrets, different number of endings, and sheer amount of exhilarating replay value, <i>TwinBee: Rainbow Bell Adventure</i> is as great a spinoff installment to the <i>TwinBee</i> cute'em series as it is great on its own merit. One of my favorites from Konami.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OViB-lTNdfiT3VSEYPtUvVjZj4L92kWoKYDEJn3wxcgjTj1UPwmI3794H3TgrsSDJY75HxXKB4135XXFK_6zWmux9bFJKegRBsxjVYNJiPvw2i6tWvCN8j5ovnJQdbLoIU7dpn2AEku9kkEllBgZ7qnflLBsxbCavbWXTt9PQVXzPHTktsX_au6mjA/s62/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleTwinBee.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="62" data-original-width="59" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OViB-lTNdfiT3VSEYPtUvVjZj4L92kWoKYDEJn3wxcgjTj1UPwmI3794H3TgrsSDJY75HxXKB4135XXFK_6zWmux9bFJKegRBsxjVYNJiPvw2i6tWvCN8j5ovnJQdbLoIU7dpn2AEku9kkEllBgZ7qnflLBsxbCavbWXTt9PQVXzPHTktsX_au6mjA/s1600/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleTwinBee.gif" width="59" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLf4TaNQWgIIXacO8yhoTv7D3xoLcaevavITcYUncQOwTBQ1QrbCDNUg3_fSibVOLw5mVrbWTOk7R_3ViJieZNm0YTwygYqHx5auY0PH2tHcCYq8KNWN-Jh_mEgpg7QeEl2eps1AtGhhyrvamVxPaIqOUtUmVtX5PRw1HdkrI7M5zDL05Xc7CKGZKDw/s62/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleWinBee.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="62" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLf4TaNQWgIIXacO8yhoTv7D3xoLcaevavITcYUncQOwTBQ1QrbCDNUg3_fSibVOLw5mVrbWTOk7R_3ViJieZNm0YTwygYqHx5auY0PH2tHcCYq8KNWN-Jh_mEgpg7QeEl2eps1AtGhhyrvamVxPaIqOUtUmVtX5PRw1HdkrI7M5zDL05Xc7CKGZKDw/s1600/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleWinBee.gif" width="62" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEqj0R_Az0WGlVgMTNcp1wP8lrhhCr7_glcD9AvZBeZMm3SaTa-LUKRtf3ykkDgrvlBpqUq-BE4x1hjiItSs1QktubZp3aEiHEUGF06uC2rDWY527bGNTWXU_grI8bMOarZh0xs-0ih4EontugQ22gg3IaG53Dr4pOSh428o6YLaq3SrAzAM2gm6bUA/s62/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleGwinBee.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="62" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEqj0R_Az0WGlVgMTNcp1wP8lrhhCr7_glcD9AvZBeZMm3SaTa-LUKRtf3ykkDgrvlBpqUq-BE4x1hjiItSs1QktubZp3aEiHEUGF06uC2rDWY527bGNTWXU_grI8bMOarZh0xs-0ih4EontugQ22gg3IaG53Dr4pOSh428o6YLaq3SrAzAM2gm6bUA/s1600/TwinBee-RainbowBellAdventure_IdleGwinBee.gif" width="62" /></a><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Everyone, do the Happy Bee!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDBWtIZJznHPwnk00lsyVGXaC5Ief8A2D0_nfrPbfiJAvI1elsSsQXUO1ULI0LL3EEj10HxCIkFE-Ur5isXjEdK6_ud4wPgOc6DNx3YVYLhkpYq9JauDh-6k7ufvvt3heVbLNcVacm2Sb-CyiXi3LhS6OnN_fq3wNoAffINXolZ8EMPqdckjuNPsaJg/s385/Zool_ToyRobotBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDBWtIZJznHPwnk00lsyVGXaC5Ief8A2D0_nfrPbfiJAvI1elsSsQXUO1ULI0LL3EEj10HxCIkFE-Ur5isXjEdK6_ud4wPgOc6DNx3YVYLhkpYq9JauDh-6k7ufvvt3heVbLNcVacm2Sb-CyiXi3LhS6OnN_fq3wNoAffINXolZ8EMPqdckjuNPsaJg/w200-h156/Zool_ToyRobotBoss.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n9RkSo9sCV3qBzaQa6-1UvsnfQY2tlGhyuVUDi0hEPhIo6s_bOCmAJQ2hlD2IeSkurIhluup7LiibBihHwjyft7_WUlfLcbu132MhnspHaaLR0gtHsH4jK9lnKjX2YbrUubFPz7_bU3xr5ZOM8dvYBVfb_WJK9rlqYaNsE84e9tmHEqlXUg3AuiiAQ/s385/Zool_Climbing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n9RkSo9sCV3qBzaQa6-1UvsnfQY2tlGhyuVUDi0hEPhIo6s_bOCmAJQ2hlD2IeSkurIhluup7LiibBihHwjyft7_WUlfLcbu132MhnspHaaLR0gtHsH4jK9lnKjX2YbrUubFPz7_bU3xr5ZOM8dvYBVfb_WJK9rlqYaNsE84e9tmHEqlXUg3AuiiAQ/w200-h156/Zool_Climbing.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Eight-way missiles launched by that toy robot | Right: Climbing</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">If you look hard enough you'll come across a circular "S" item which will grant you access to the present land's bonus segment once you defeated the current boss and serves as a decent break from the normal platforming routine. In said bonus segments you guide Zool around in his spaceship in a horizontal shoot'em up manner through, I guess, the blood stream as you shoot at red blood cells and have to maneuver around bones and easily destructible surfaces which is finished when you either make it through or crash your ship into something. It's like Konami's <i>Salamander</i>/<i>Life Force</i>'s first stage if it was even more surreal and insane sans the golem brain boss at the end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG0qIne5t3oxxYWMzQUIK3J9XovQ-3bur_MgUG0ykypMeRrDeNAlLew0_NxwzWyUA-aX8bibYnlhZjovd97jGSWYa3vAr7cBsgeHnHd67hDq2bcqUtY9Xf0LxHvV5ovCtYmbYrfpI87juFEw32Gq2DR_ISLHh8FO6_RRb9ge_X7mch23-0Ez_XZDOvQ/s385/Zool_FlailingCactusArm.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG0qIne5t3oxxYWMzQUIK3J9XovQ-3bur_MgUG0ykypMeRrDeNAlLew0_NxwzWyUA-aX8bibYnlhZjovd97jGSWYa3vAr7cBsgeHnHd67hDq2bcqUtY9Xf0LxHvV5ovCtYmbYrfpI87juFEw32Gq2DR_ISLHh8FO6_RRb9ge_X7mch23-0Ez_XZDOvQ/w200-h156/Zool_FlailingCactusArm.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvstmlKck0ZnVe7Su1FqAd0Mj119rPloBinrclG56gJzgqeeMZXg1yVS7AGGTQpT-if9GGVe2uyxpDYpmkRCYhMroNH-yScFfCP0Lb-MmE-LUXKU84A8m8Q5GVtqIg2jWHA7F9TMgveII3f7TYibGVYLFwgspIAayrRujz0VpjcK1UjGlCHCXkbfvsg/s385/Zool_SlideAttack-Oasis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvstmlKck0ZnVe7Su1FqAd0Mj119rPloBinrclG56gJzgqeeMZXg1yVS7AGGTQpT-if9GGVe2uyxpDYpmkRCYhMroNH-yScFfCP0Lb-MmE-LUXKU84A8m8Q5GVtqIg2jWHA7F9TMgveII3f7TYibGVYLFwgspIAayrRujz0VpjcK1UjGlCHCXkbfvsg/w200-h156/Zool_SlideAttack-Oasis.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Deadly flailing cactus arm</b> 🌵<b> | Right: Sliding across as a means to defeat certain enemies</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">I find it ideal to hold the left shoulder button any time to make Zool jump up in the air as he performs his sword spin attack as it can easily decimate airborne foes, and it can immediately vanquish certain ground foes that are big in size where your normal projectiles simply split them into two smaller versions of themselves. You could even fire off your nigh unlimited projectiles while you're simultaneously spinning your sword in midair if you so choose.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDAMYxAcIimNk0JhzTaes6Cqr2aEp-VHNots9eUGNR1BmZIb_W2ly9ll0bJkVHeuWmGPVL_hFfZpVv7NteDn5tt3rzOeb6po4Xopo145OL5EbxI6ljJcQqXf7S8fvCVGqAliJ6-2YYiAigMHamlvOoa-gpHc2xGUiWuXih7IzKRFNBzJcg6RAePPVgA/s385/Zool_Flipjump-Oasis.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDAMYxAcIimNk0JhzTaes6Cqr2aEp-VHNots9eUGNR1BmZIb_W2ly9ll0bJkVHeuWmGPVL_hFfZpVv7NteDn5tt3rzOeb6po4Xopo145OL5EbxI6ljJcQqXf7S8fvCVGqAliJ6-2YYiAigMHamlvOoa-gpHc2xGUiWuXih7IzKRFNBzJcg6RAePPVgA/w200-h156/Zool_Flipjump-Oasis.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFCc622e84YQLtA_OgI0r9DPrHHLkuU7_pm0lvFaIdYd1GUem-UyJzk8yK0DRJ7m2apBp6-Ap3Lp147wENMlJYezft3Vh7DgW7SAMFoRRTKtSGEsZMYo5h-oRLEeDJvTYEDKi3Tsl4TwB5nwZS6oZD3wzbBBjzSjOnoLn-td4wjmtQs7jyw8iqc1XxA/s385/Zool_Tipping.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFCc622e84YQLtA_OgI0r9DPrHHLkuU7_pm0lvFaIdYd1GUem-UyJzk8yK0DRJ7m2apBp6-Ap3Lp147wENMlJYezft3Vh7DgW7SAMFoRRTKtSGEsZMYo5h-oRLEeDJvTYEDKi3Tsl4TwB5nwZS6oZD3wzbBBjzSjOnoLn-td4wjmtQs7jyw8iqc1XxA/w200-h156/Zool_Tipping.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Doing yet another backflip jump | Right: Tipping at the edge</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">And while Zool does largely control well, there are moments when you'll have to be careful to control your sense of traction since you don't want him to go <b>too</b> fast lest you absolutely have to, there is this one moment in tool land where you must jump from one side of a platform and carefully maneuver yourself in midair to cling on to the other side of it so as to not take damage from spikes at the top, you'll have to be mindful of the drills from within when climbing up certain walls in tool land as well,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TNz2cNpCvmb4X3-6EYIY96vcH0uPMnnKIasRBP7oh_6kFnuuN576y4jPH75vL3I9_6UcenwAvavaMVIBuW4o_E2TQPIEikZdRHinfnuSTkuLnfmsbd5353zxN0mLfGdHFN0QOur8smdDQ_Z-Q7VqfMKxxEOxU2Z8A_pYXC_5QlAJzH6SkfKa02svdg/s385/Zool_Flowers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TNz2cNpCvmb4X3-6EYIY96vcH0uPMnnKIasRBP7oh_6kFnuuN576y4jPH75vL3I9_6UcenwAvavaMVIBuW4o_E2TQPIEikZdRHinfnuSTkuLnfmsbd5353zxN0mLfGdHFN0QOur8smdDQ_Z-Q7VqfMKxxEOxU2Z8A_pYXC_5QlAJzH6SkfKa02svdg/w200-h156/Zool_Flowers.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWzwRrqTcvSiPn2rhdsQdMmJfBRnLftiYzUI2IrjWRo_ctlSuNjXDLwDgca4pBC_AGf2sRhaH0vGom9RXYX_RfAm8g7i1_zu6HWhzuA57_V9SeTmwqx_Sm67jRSjyQOeFl5JAy4Lo4UL8zZyg6jIDuv2Prl-0GKlidOS-XPdStT6tjMPjg-71bnW3xg/s385/Zool_CactusBoss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWzwRrqTcvSiPn2rhdsQdMmJfBRnLftiYzUI2IrjWRo_ctlSuNjXDLwDgca4pBC_AGf2sRhaH0vGom9RXYX_RfAm8g7i1_zu6HWhzuA57_V9SeTmwqx_Sm67jRSjyQOeFl5JAy4Lo4UL8zZyg6jIDuv2Prl-0GKlidOS-XPdStT6tjMPjg-71bnW3xg/w200-h156/Zool_CactusBoss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Collecting a colorful assortment of flowers along the way | Right: It's not often you find a boss that simultaneously keeps a straight serious face while also looking physically pained what with the tears in their eyes, guess its spiked nature doesn't aid matters</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">and there are certain lands where you'll have to pay attention to your surroundings because of certain obstacles rising from the ground and receding back (such as the stereo in electronics land, carrots who spew out projectiles at you in mountain land, and giant clown heads in amusement land) which is something to keep in mind if you don't want to lose health from colliding onto them easily; it's okay, take your time. The boss fights themselves are manageable when you figure out where to avoid their projectiles and figure out their pattern (so long as it's not jumping or firing you can walk through the toy robot boss' mono-leg), and they put up a good fight on hard mode.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcT3s_AbPLmetWZLLIa_vuR2WhHHTWBeFTOgZSShMOgo36sIjUMHa5bDi8ngLYhbxOocw4n-RuUwgZjtfVF6O7y1F6ypE78-1xsSRH5bTMTsxv4bZ-RaIER45MBuz33_sKiHD-29yXWw5uil79ZkFTaGnZYQwae6lB4oLdl3qQIqThdJo5nv194wJyVQ/s385/Zool_Bell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcT3s_AbPLmetWZLLIa_vuR2WhHHTWBeFTOgZSShMOgo36sIjUMHa5bDi8ngLYhbxOocw4n-RuUwgZjtfVF6O7y1F6ypE78-1xsSRH5bTMTsxv4bZ-RaIER45MBuz33_sKiHD-29yXWw5uil79ZkFTaGnZYQwae6lB4oLdl3qQIqThdJo5nv194wJyVQ/w200-h156/Zool_Bell.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNNhGvdkGY3nzN_jAvR5gWqJ-MIrP6eAjpXd3VZXdtNaS3hCIhPdM6lELe_LsIup1-uM95hcd8xnGVJQ5WQL9k2BLUwoWnb5HyM5qpO5-tmyIUu4e9WogU8qIurLhTir7nQlowhUuG3cv69dHcJxgt0ebHfU7gIc2Yt7j5_uAFZZSnPxexvWwsII5JQ/s385/Zool_Tower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNNhGvdkGY3nzN_jAvR5gWqJ-MIrP6eAjpXd3VZXdtNaS3hCIhPdM6lELe_LsIup1-uM95hcd8xnGVJQ5WQL9k2BLUwoWnb5HyM5qpO5-tmyIUu4e9WogU8qIurLhTir7nQlowhUuG3cv69dHcJxgt0ebHfU7gIc2Yt7j5_uAFZZSnPxexvWwsII5JQ/w200-h156/Zool_Tower.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Ding</b><b> | Right: Scaling a tower</b></span></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Any time you reach a boss everything from your score, time remaining, and number of lives will be rendered invisible much like whenever you reached a boss in Konami's Nintendo 8-bit converison of <i>Salamander</i>/<i>Life Force</i> and when you confront the final boss in Quintet's <i>ActRaiser 2</i>, except for your health (or what's left of it). It's not really a big issue in this case unless you forgot how many lives you had (what with focusing on collecting items and contending with a barrage of enemies) should it be a difficult boss, particularly the rotten banana and prickly cactus bosses.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgFaR8STK-u72dpVQhD8kcfK9wFxFHf6o0t-ogni8wUIH37o-9cz_vae5s5Dh3JLFqo0fetW9QRUaVvmhilFBN8uZp5spVtcLVJZQRkElEOdmipOyrRb6RLjBDg_eiBPF4o1Gm0bJ-FTRES4UD8yPn8k__bvdArL61AhQeDGdjNq1Mr_MsmI55YcoPw/s385/Zool_RubberDucky.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgFaR8STK-u72dpVQhD8kcfK9wFxFHf6o0t-ogni8wUIH37o-9cz_vae5s5Dh3JLFqo0fetW9QRUaVvmhilFBN8uZp5spVtcLVJZQRkElEOdmipOyrRb6RLjBDg_eiBPF4o1Gm0bJ-FTRES4UD8yPn8k__bvdArL61AhQeDGdjNq1Mr_MsmI55YcoPw/w200-h156/Zool_RubberDucky.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H0DJtGWQaGAFKdkDKILwjbSxad3b4eSfDNnaansjKtGL-yluD-iYS--o6uYRyBY3r-3pMwKyeDAxs06U6irTRurejrcx4iV5SLBYcAfI6reZnSNCDHOwrKZONnWcVj_sZcRFrquZWTcyKkv0gxvSRq__9mDVWYr_6WKit76t4Dn6SYtG5DSuPus6CA/s385/Zool_BumperCar.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H0DJtGWQaGAFKdkDKILwjbSxad3b4eSfDNnaansjKtGL-yluD-iYS--o6uYRyBY3r-3pMwKyeDAxs06U6irTRurejrcx4iV5SLBYcAfI6reZnSNCDHOwrKZONnWcVj_sZcRFrquZWTcyKkv0gxvSRq__9mDVWYr_6WKit76t4Dn6SYtG5DSuPus6CA/w200-h156/Zool_BumperCar.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: *quack quack* "Did you see the new water starter Pokémon? Sure resembles Donald Duck quite a bit, huh?" *quack quack* | Right: Greeted by an antagonistic bumper car</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">And while I do enjoy largely playing this game, there are times when it feels like there are so many enemies than you'd normally see in a game of this genre (which is not something I normally say about platformers, but leave it to <i>Zool</i> to challenge that notion, I guess), most of which respawn if you left a certain segment of an area and then came back after the fact (some of the bees in candy land appear immediately after you disposed of one) and considering there are obstacles to overcome (namely spikes) and/or projectiles you have to evade, not to mention making your way to the exit on time, it can admittedly feel like the proceedings get a bit chaotic when that happens.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv3qlmkBjcSmpSRKp_pGxfpYqeptg_50zcr5cCxBAKxb739Mzja7ku6Plw7s91IW0DMBRoRfhJhNoSM7qlAM1xhXu35tGA69CzjnTNFFAPjI4x5DEafeI-QX_sP4jQ3UD5s8wgmPZXMVEtlXV9iKYIyxALVbb722t600gGDvqH188uwHaKYhN1ISfBw/s385/Zool_InvincibilityTime.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfv3qlmkBjcSmpSRKp_pGxfpYqeptg_50zcr5cCxBAKxb739Mzja7ku6Plw7s91IW0DMBRoRfhJhNoSM7qlAM1xhXu35tGA69CzjnTNFFAPjI4x5DEafeI-QX_sP4jQ3UD5s8wgmPZXMVEtlXV9iKYIyxALVbb722t600gGDvqH188uwHaKYhN1ISfBw/w200-h156/Zool_InvincibilityTime.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_cGMGKK_9MExqihN3t2AIJhwkocFRVzWvg71-mpQFZkW_r9lt_ROaSaj8rqlq05iVw9NNIvFdsDuv4xlvlb2qUoabjT-qcsC8BMfnS8AoQI3lzp7mMGTzKdwK93R2P_Kh2NWG-A__czcV-9h7eFzgnjEFc71A1lKuwd2i3uVYpYCiiUaDo8uieFP_Q/s385/Zool_Mallet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_cGMGKK_9MExqihN3t2AIJhwkocFRVzWvg71-mpQFZkW_r9lt_ROaSaj8rqlq05iVw9NNIvFdsDuv4xlvlb2qUoabjT-qcsC8BMfnS8AoQI3lzp7mMGTzKdwK93R2P_Kh2NWG-A__czcV-9h7eFzgnjEFc71A1lKuwd2i3uVYpYCiiUaDo8uieFP_Q/w200-h156/Zool_Mallet.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Zool the invincible ninja | Right: Provoking the wrath of a sentient mallet with a stare down</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">Another thing to point out is that whenever Zool runs and jumps he takes up approximately two-thirds of the screen (similarly to how Yūko does in Shin-Nihon Laser Soft's <i>Valis II</i>) which, if you're not careful, might result in not seeing an enemy until it's too late which is why you should always be on the defensive and not go too <b>too</b> fast lest the coast is clear (either fire your projectiles, do the sword spin attack, or slide across to do the enemies in). Being careful means you're less likely to lose health by carelessly running into enemies, but luckily the action in these open-ended lands is fast paced so you don't have to worry about the game losing its sense of fun and flow.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tv-q-A1YRwl33iKWM2NrnDrqtaapLtqA7peqNqyoaNhNCcD7NQx3y84tDcWAyCiTJ8duaN2tJUYdjZmq-N7OXYfnJlLvQ87t1sQ2u9iwruX2R3Q0JZBxFml__QtK-GKD0nfA2LkZ2idt0Xtlzg84T82abEiWU4RtO0ijctkm-IsJHTvo0nh-Y3Ea8Q/s385/Zool_WallDestruction-Park.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tv-q-A1YRwl33iKWM2NrnDrqtaapLtqA7peqNqyoaNhNCcD7NQx3y84tDcWAyCiTJ8duaN2tJUYdjZmq-N7OXYfnJlLvQ87t1sQ2u9iwruX2R3Q0JZBxFml__QtK-GKD0nfA2LkZ2idt0Xtlzg84T82abEiWU4RtO0ijctkm-IsJHTvo0nh-Y3Ea8Q/w200-h156/Zool_WallDestruction-Park.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82A3qWWzODj_BkCJ-ddbaqTSdEPqFu33lh8bfLzMeqsh6qc0vtqlqJJ3xFe1sQCqKMiZM6xgt-9Q9Bb_UVBwIaE3aks6R2CP6KvTGa_EEC0HPzqiHxRCTlS2bDGwW6nPtSlOj2IHe-rojm96JrdOzCkR1tGfe1QWr_VLDNWVWOZQawD_K0gqYB6F6dg/s385/Zool_Krool.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82A3qWWzODj_BkCJ-ddbaqTSdEPqFu33lh8bfLzMeqsh6qc0vtqlqJJ3xFe1sQCqKMiZM6xgt-9Q9Bb_UVBwIaE3aks6R2CP6KvTGa_EEC0HPzqiHxRCTlS2bDGwW6nPtSlOj2IHe-rojm96JrdOzCkR1tGfe1QWr_VLDNWVWOZQawD_K0gqYB6F6dg/w200-h156/Zool_Krool.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Destroying property in the name of progressing through the area | Right: Confronting the surreal googly-eyed evil that is Krool</span></b></div><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;">It might not hold a candle to Sonic Team's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> in terms of speed-based platformers (much like the Blue Blur's other competition) but considering the other options available, this game <b>is</b> the closest it comes to achieving the 1991 classic's level of quality and enjoyment. While not without its problems, <i>Zool</i> is enjoyably surreal and solid fast-paced ninja fun while it lasts. I recommend it if you're a fan of action platformers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7BlVsfOiMrdRygwVbHd3JduifPUp8FbX-Es3Qe2LR7GYBgtYJqqs3aAs6czEFq0Z8gAnTVmUhHl93YpaKW3nTKjrNMEueDSRhjasNeGzSNca8qadRDLXf_qAI2gdxt4XUx2ryLAVXCtbiIGKDIcrbUEirc5pkEaYpa36XpbCHn4h0rthvB3tchbQQ/s285/Zool_Zool+Zooz+Zoon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="285" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb7BlVsfOiMrdRygwVbHd3JduifPUp8FbX-Es3Qe2LR7GYBgtYJqqs3aAs6czEFq0Z8gAnTVmUhHl93YpaKW3nTKjrNMEueDSRhjasNeGzSNca8qadRDLXf_qAI2gdxt4XUx2ryLAVXCtbiIGKDIcrbUEirc5pkEaYpa36XpbCHn4h0rthvB3tchbQQ/s1600/Zool_Zool+Zooz+Zoon.png" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Zooz: </b>"Our work here is done."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Zool: </b>"But you haven't <b>done</b> anything!"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Zooz: </b>"Sure, I have. I... offered moral support."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Zool:</b> 😒</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span>-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 7.0/10</span></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0IrlPfQEmtnckRJi6w8EenaZ1ahlLLK6ZWvqqiAvyi5A8kLCNIqYQYHTwKZJQDVNvQ9CmhtjCOdejieIXFS92EiXqGNgX56NkIWvCUf4ky9NrZX7dQn6KFWR6y8lb9STJNrc9WqY1LrXDn-rwmL79ZKqh_7zrYgK4boP_Y94HgxXp1od07NTH0greA/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0IrlPfQEmtnckRJi6w8EenaZ1ahlLLK6ZWvqqiAvyi5A8kLCNIqYQYHTwKZJQDVNvQ9CmhtjCOdejieIXFS92EiXqGNgX56NkIWvCUf4ky9NrZX7dQn6KFWR6y8lb9STJNrc9WqY1LrXDn-rwmL79ZKqh_7zrYgK4boP_Y94HgxXp1od07NTH0greA/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWX0VNTKadj2PHCmkRGA_iD7BRbp2sb2L2yaJjlz_x_lc0-wyrkY0Or9_GTklAJLlffOH8JQeXL4s09QNgnbsXDZnjUptLDA-PQ_7M1oabvrwfHUQOtDOg0VfeqEG-58XjXSGnHe5-s4CWjm8KSqmNdVBV6QE57MnKdxN1gzP4ToiO28wKB8ugEuo3g/s130/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWX0VNTKadj2PHCmkRGA_iD7BRbp2sb2L2yaJjlz_x_lc0-wyrkY0Or9_GTklAJLlffOH8JQeXL4s09QNgnbsXDZnjUptLDA-PQ_7M1oabvrwfHUQOtDOg0VfeqEG-58XjXSGnHe5-s4CWjm8KSqmNdVBV6QE57MnKdxN1gzP4ToiO28wKB8ugEuo3g/s1600/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)b<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● In the past whenever I reviewed more than one game from the same year that celebrated its milestone anniversary, I would use the same anniversary ribbon I drew. But this time, I figured I would try to add variety and make a different 30th anniversary ribbon for this game in lieu of uploading the same one I awarded Nova Games' <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2022/03/xandra-no-daiboken-valkyrie-to-no-deai.html">Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</a></i>/<i>Whirlo</i>, and I will do the same for when I review more 1992 games.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I wanted to make an effort to not have the "Paused" message show up much (if at all) for the screenshots I took of this game, but whenever I captured a screenshot there were certain ones where I noticed only after the fact that the "Paused" message unscrambled back to the score on both corners of the screen randomly when you unpause (hence why certain times letters got replaced by numbers in the first second after the fact the moment). I picked the best screenshots I worked with, I think, even there were certain good ones I wanted to use (if not for it completely saying "Paused" 100%).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● I apologize if the last three paragraphs of this review proper weren't as well-written as all the paragraphs before them, I was struggling to find the right words to use (I would've gotten it out earlier too if not for that).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Irrelevant to video games: while it was free to watch on YouTube, I watched the last movie directed by Mel Brooks, <i>Dracula Dead and Loving It</i>. I've only seen five movies directed by him, but for what it was I thought it was fine (not great, but not awful like its critical reception suggested either... if Seltzerberg "comedies" existed in 1995, I believe people would've been more lenient on this film because I don't think critics realized how low the comedy/parody genre would stoop back then until <b>those</b> arrived). The cinematography and matte paintings were really striking (the lighting, too), I liked Brooks' straight take on Abraham Van Helsing, Leslie Nielsen was an amusing Dracula (we truly lost a comedic treasure, RIP), I thought it was great to see Lysette Anthony outside of Peter Yates' <i>Krull</i> (at least she wasn't dubbed over this time) and I liked Amy Yasbeck in both this and <i>Robin Hood: Men in Tights</i> (I found it interesting how both Mina and Lucy swapped hair color), and I also enjoyed whenever it spoofed Francis Ford Coppola's <i>Bram Stoker's Dracula</i> (a movie I love). There were a few jokes I found chuckle-worthy (the Mina/Essie scene, "She's <b>Italian</b>??", Dracula's daymare sequence); I think there are worse comedies you could watch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>Zool</i>, you earned it!!!!</b> 🥳</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aff00; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care! </b>🙂</span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-87777762166226749162022-03-31T22:10:00.008-05:002022-05-10T17:40:27.780-05:00Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai (SFC) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">💗 <b>Received: March 8th, 2014</b> 💗</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">💗 <b>Written: February 24th-March 31st, 2022</b> <b>💗</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhetvuqD0JwZJ31l2Mv5RIxBS2HBxSos-3c2HtHCq_a_JKA8i8LzPSJFzzBTU5sX6s_Dr7re2UFocabYCkRhuyYcl-Faiik8umO8w7E3CvJdw_v9f_VwY-sJiGKYAdW2wGA0FiWu-BnTXUyYUt7-kEtYB2wO_L1TTvtR8sDZyZwf2lrPBOc4OhUu0PosA=s359" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhetvuqD0JwZJ31l2Mv5RIxBS2HBxSos-3c2HtHCq_a_JKA8i8LzPSJFzzBTU5sX6s_Dr7re2UFocabYCkRhuyYcl-Faiik8umO8w7E3CvJdw_v9f_VwY-sJiGKYAdW2wGA0FiWu-BnTXUyYUt7-kEtYB2wO_L1TTvtR8sDZyZwf2lrPBOc4OhUu0PosA=s16000" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #00ff6e;">Alternate Title: </span><i style="color: #00ff6e;">Whirlo</i> <span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[</span> </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span><span style="color: #00ff6e;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">]</span></span><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Year: 1992 | Developed by Nova Games</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #00ff6e;">Published by: Namco | </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">[</span> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">⬤</span><span style="color: #00ff6e;"> </span><span style="color: white;">]</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Disclaimer:</u> I bring forth many .gifs, might contain spoilers</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Hello, readers and gamers, welcome to my blog and thank you for taking the time to tune in today, I really appreciate it. 1986 was a big year for iconic female protagonists in the video game medium at a time that it mostly starred boys and men:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqULz5CIEZuiEcZcEzp-dR-uXvoN1R-cNFUPKx2hV3Li5Zq8C68yHZxWyEZJk02_pGihzR3hPPI3tq9_Pp0Qk7ifWqjY_kl8McsYFLroFBOpz7SnjxOt6dq_C6mIWLv6LXJ9ax_JRCCVYaKpslZiWOj1ZBHby1PTtmJYA-3Y8y2YxSNrUtw5h5otWowg=s1076" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="1076" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqULz5CIEZuiEcZcEzp-dR-uXvoN1R-cNFUPKx2hV3Li5Zq8C68yHZxWyEZJk02_pGihzR3hPPI3tq9_Pp0Qk7ifWqjY_kl8McsYFLroFBOpz7SnjxOt6dq_C6mIWLv6LXJ9ax_JRCCVYaKpslZiWOj1ZBHby1PTtmJYA-3Y8y2YxSNrUtw5h5otWowg=w400-h126" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">the space bounty hunter Samus Aran made a big impression in Nintendo's 8-bit oriented </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Metroid</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> which had an atmospheric environment heavily influenced by Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Alien</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">, then Taito crafted the Feudal Japan-themed arcade game </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">KiKi KaiKai</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> which starred a Shinto shrine maiden named Sayo-chan who had to use her scrolls and wand to defeat spirits and monsters from Japanese mythology (which would receive sequels developed by Natsume and Altron and get localized as </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Pocky & Rocky</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">, with "Pocky" being adopted as the Western name for the Shinto priestess), and finally blue-haired high schooler Yūko Asō would get thrust into taking the role of the Phantasm Soldier carrying the Sword of Valis in Dreamland's dire time of need in Wolf Team's </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Mugen Senshi Valis</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> published by Telenet Japan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Each of them would go on to become franchises in their own right (some lasting longer than others), but there was one other iconic video game heroine that year.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjebZ243mzBngmTcvbXuxJCleAUtZUd7ncwPiKw-UHOHgTInWfQFCB6aSz3fS3zVan8AZoNHcm89rTzXIp1ONfRrVE7HUaiByEr_Tb8Aq0yS1i93pc-eeM76LDYCmACQNZp_8XoPeot-uDbjpqCy-2J6RXkGSA7bfnEZAmv9HPg67OcgxATbFRKavssvg=s364" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="364" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjebZ243mzBngmTcvbXuxJCleAUtZUd7ncwPiKw-UHOHgTInWfQFCB6aSz3fS3zVan8AZoNHcm89rTzXIp1ONfRrVE7HUaiByEr_Tb8Aq0yS1i93pc-eeM76LDYCmACQNZp_8XoPeot-uDbjpqCy-2J6RXkGSA7bfnEZAmv9HPg67OcgxATbFRKavssvg=w200-h163" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-Xh8vMftVPbzmpUIQJrZkfZ-d8_Qew1jxzP_gaQw1yTjOP4MQpgRVTMEiaRJC2spJjfnVOq1eeXz8UtX5q1QvHa32FtODRyUYkHSz74Bxvj4XHofasjLJ-GPRUSHM1gq26WrK6HpIZIfa9gojMSGoaEy2l0sRDhDHscFBEhQyhA8HZTJvrC5aJfqcfQ=s364" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="364" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-Xh8vMftVPbzmpUIQJrZkfZ-d8_Qew1jxzP_gaQw1yTjOP4MQpgRVTMEiaRJC2spJjfnVOq1eeXz8UtX5q1QvHa32FtODRyUYkHSz74Bxvj4XHofasjLJ-GPRUSHM1gq26WrK6HpIZIfa9gojMSGoaEy2l0sRDhDHscFBEhQyhA8HZTJvrC5aJfqcfQ=w200-h163" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">After the release of Nintendo's <i>Zelda no Densetsu: The Hyrule Fantasy</i>/<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> it became a huge success and would end up serving as one of the major templates for the action-adventure genre of the time. Following their Famiconversions of classic arcade games <i>Puck-Man</i>/<i>Pac-Man</i> and <i>Xevious</i> <b>Namco</b> would create games specifically made for the console (seeing the Famicom as the next evolution in video games), and one of them was the virtually dialogue-free <i>Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu</i> which drew elements from Norse mythology and was one of the first video games to be worked on by college graduate character designer Hiroshi Fujii, where you took control of a female warrior named Valkyrie who had to travel through Marvel Land and battle a variety of creatures under the evil influence of the dark wizard Zouna.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW03q9LK4zO3xur-edrhZhdryV5AcnmeceUTz-prr4JDfvAaSqNhEfuv3qssdfcEp39MIwcakaEyW0fUcjfUInfV3vD_9walFMqchNWi4SYPiU-IThChsW63nykVUqMuPE8vqQfVS9ayQEa6KHnosX0NexLjBoMjq3WB6Wd9zrmqfVmqSAJTbU10PvnQ=s43" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="30" data-original-width="43" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW03q9LK4zO3xur-edrhZhdryV5AcnmeceUTz-prr4JDfvAaSqNhEfuv3qssdfcEp39MIwcakaEyW0fUcjfUInfV3vD_9walFMqchNWi4SYPiU-IThChsW63nykVUqMuPE8vqQfVS9ayQEa6KHnosX0NexLjBoMjq3WB6Wd9zrmqfVmqSAJTbU10PvnQ" width="43" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Valkyrie would end up gathering items that helped along the way such as keys, potions, lamps, sailboats, and secondary weapons, as well as learn magic, et al, sometimes dropped by enemies she defeated while others are inside chests or out in the open, this was also one of the first video games to incorporate a password system in order to resume your progress so you wouldn't have to go at it in one go (sadly it's of the long and complicated variety). At the Enen Desert she would be combating amphibian-like creatures called Xandras (or Sandras) left and right, including one named Krino (or Kurino) whom Valkyrie liberates from Zouna's curse and helps her out in return for her kindness. <i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i> only ever saw a release in Japan that August of 1986 but would be subsequently rereleased over the years (on Nintendo's downloadable eShops) including the 1998 PlayStation One compilation <i>Namco Anthology 2</i> alongside its remake and would be remade again for Japanese mobile phones in 2006.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5tHJ7EAEXqAw8KmasIPLyrrkpmdwhySQBmqHo3AjozJzxVuKef7kKv5ww0hVhStOmhWVffuVVJp1OzAi7oa6VAMym66_Qhb0RaAMnlP59iyanusngk2na7GypHxCxpE48znyoZeydPyCQc5bQNkxDyeJXDvxeBXtu6YDCkuZF6YRjY3sKfOp8bR_yMg=s388" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5tHJ7EAEXqAw8KmasIPLyrrkpmdwhySQBmqHo3AjozJzxVuKef7kKv5ww0hVhStOmhWVffuVVJp1OzAi7oa6VAMym66_Qhb0RaAMnlP59iyanusngk2na7GypHxCxpE48znyoZeydPyCQc5bQNkxDyeJXDvxeBXtu6YDCkuZF6YRjY3sKfOp8bR_yMg=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This arcade flyer art would be used as the interior art for the NTSC US copy of Tose's <i>Namco Museum Volume 5</i></span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Less than three years after <i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i> came out a sequel was created exclusively for arcades with <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> in 1989, created by Namco's character artist Hiroshi Fujii under the pseudonym "Koakuman" ("Quarkman")</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4gRPsgEGnOH22dQZzJ_hb9b6t4f30PmtaQEB9yvDIFQcerTBPSCVRCqjt60P6frx8BYllofKHSBnqniFXNuIn04EmrsPJuscNcuHow0_tBAwY_cM7E_2l65M0GBby5scaP8he2yiBtLFSlOTyaPqyFrO6dzfGAdPlYieFNQyBH5iLUOVAFDdF3BxcLg=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4gRPsgEGnOH22dQZzJ_hb9b6t4f30PmtaQEB9yvDIFQcerTBPSCVRCqjt60P6frx8BYllofKHSBnqniFXNuIn04EmrsPJuscNcuHow0_tBAwY_cM7E_2l65M0GBby5scaP8he2yiBtLFSlOTyaPqyFrO6dzfGAdPlYieFNQyBH5iLUOVAFDdF3BxcLg=w173-h200" width="173" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmd9f2WZhOluNnFyK-a_WBhWXjB-1wAaqo84z2EPyRznrBNkOD0MaBdqAqFDf4tPAh3Pr8_NR-VFZ6dbypRO6myIWGYTV9e7vOXe3XkIYa3htQThd3nKpOn4kQcLAyHzCJCmihfx7TvWN-SkBQihh7Eo5PMh_1imRxfVhNDrAZAH_h37rYxiaauauwjQ=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmd9f2WZhOluNnFyK-a_WBhWXjB-1wAaqo84z2EPyRznrBNkOD0MaBdqAqFDf4tPAh3Pr8_NR-VFZ6dbypRO6myIWGYTV9e7vOXe3XkIYa3htQThd3nKpOn4kQcLAyHzCJCmihfx7TvWN-SkBQihh7Eo5PMh_1imRxfVhNDrAZAH_h37rYxiaauauwjQ=w173-h200" width="173" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Namco originally had plans to make this a four-player affair much in the vein of Atari Games' <i>Gauntlet</i> with a cabinet-linking system similar to Namco's own <i>Final Lap</i>, but got scrapped in favor of an experience that could be played up to two players</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">with Valkryie making a comeback (player one) this time accompanied by the amphibian-like Krino Xandra (for the first time in the series appearing as a playable character, albeit as player two) whom she freed from Zouna's curse as they're on a mission to retrieve the Golden Seed which is said to grant the wishes of anyone who drops it in the Northern Spring and prevent it from falling into the hands of the warlord Kamooz (or Kamuze) who plans to use it for his destructive end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD4RrAji-AWhl-QMAp20cnMHoaIvZEzXBKblE-kdIUS4ay4ivIzH1szFNve9ozqng5a9ODA8F8INQhNLuvvNoSznKL2p0nO0i_csz8p-mlhuWYxiQIn9MSjbHYL6w1gy3IU2vmbIP9PAXFXSVXy-fwv7ST6lS6gtokpvy9DJzJWVj49LFu0Ta0DlekZw=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD4RrAji-AWhl-QMAp20cnMHoaIvZEzXBKblE-kdIUS4ay4ivIzH1szFNve9ozqng5a9ODA8F8INQhNLuvvNoSznKL2p0nO0i_csz8p-mlhuWYxiQIn9MSjbHYL6w1gy3IU2vmbIP9PAXFXSVXy-fwv7ST6lS6gtokpvy9DJzJWVj49LFu0Ta0DlekZw=w173-h200" width="173" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr7d5MfjxWBfrFuvvKxqMAbllfb7YsyUUpxK5eg48wiS07dxCQozo6Qu-S7YLSUM4VQCIp15aTNS7u0kPCqSEb3tPEqTFPjKH-TDPgFhO1jkkzaOn84OtUTNFTx7SYAcVnG1MW7fugMFtxrVxBR46aJzfzVVz1AdAluMYyf-eg44_CwE-W1_ABtJWAXQ=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr7d5MfjxWBfrFuvvKxqMAbllfb7YsyUUpxK5eg48wiS07dxCQozo6Qu-S7YLSUM4VQCIp15aTNS7u0kPCqSEb3tPEqTFPjKH-TDPgFhO1jkkzaOn84OtUTNFTx7SYAcVnG1MW7fugMFtxrVxBR46aJzfzVVz1AdAluMYyf-eg44_CwE-W1_ABtJWAXQ=w173-h200" width="173" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Viewed from a bird's eye view, much like its predecessor was, this sequel had a comparatively straightforward action flavor to it as you combatted swarms of enemies, occasionally helped out NPCs, learned new magic attack spells, and gained helpful items along the way all while maintaining a level of fun and challenge to the proceedings. Characters introduced in the first game (and this one) were given more depth and personality (a choice inspired by Victor Fleming's <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>) to make them "colorful", Valkyrie was made to be strong-willed and uncompromising with a strong sense of justice,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBl4BqnBPBv4jZEIW0z-yGvM9UDXvjLVZIUzzjbQ_3SQx2vwAghXYGT2klXvo99covfuAb9RgPq9VbRJBhSxR-e4ZVgvx2Bn23xQAINfDxygLC1JX97ouqzRgIefzcD1x-JWFUPDs92tY5SgjrM37gbZ2m9wWozvJfkGFAvPWND7y4V0e7zcI_FteE1w=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBl4BqnBPBv4jZEIW0z-yGvM9UDXvjLVZIUzzjbQ_3SQx2vwAghXYGT2klXvo99covfuAb9RgPq9VbRJBhSxR-e4ZVgvx2Bn23xQAINfDxygLC1JX97ouqzRgIefzcD1x-JWFUPDs92tY5SgjrM37gbZ2m9wWozvJfkGFAvPWND7y4V0e7zcI_FteE1w=w173-h200" width="173" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlJKpWXPm_DCzRWFFqheNTvr9HOidlfZ6Lmvr9HrukKbMiA9xW12QQTZAfg24JPdKd6c3xTVUOGYI1gOCLaJPyT4jxAphhkQf2Omi2Rhkq3txhrlUkRwYtLIpft_FeLIk-D9PZn0EX52KiCXDWamomdX2HdaoMStYqA7WAIrUsGYf_iM-y5CtKq_BoYQ=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlJKpWXPm_DCzRWFFqheNTvr9HOidlfZ6Lmvr9HrukKbMiA9xW12QQTZAfg24JPdKd6c3xTVUOGYI1gOCLaJPyT4jxAphhkQf2Omi2Rhkq3txhrlUkRwYtLIpft_FeLIk-D9PZn0EX52KiCXDWamomdX2HdaoMStYqA7WAIrUsGYf_iM-y5CtKq_BoYQ=w173-h200" width="173" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Marvel Land had a sense of "magic" in-between with its locales being inspired by ancient Europe and the Middle Ages, and it had a gradual increase in difficulty along the way (which is keenly felt near the end). Another success story from Namco, <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> would see a reportedly downsized home conversion on the NEC PC Engine in 1990, and for the first (and only*) time it would see a localized release outside of Japan</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* <u>4/13/2022 Update:</u> Back when I wrote this review that was the case anyway, for HAMSTER is releasing it under their <i>Arcade Archives</i> catalogue on the Nintendo Switch on April 14th, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5vqiyl6u8TOnQq1uLJno6zY1hzBR1FpSi6IEbfUOfo9bvUEv6mPaE7_PNwRKBnvco-I920aAsSBTbBNzf6jaLvPOddZlTcTLCfoyJy1Z6s8HG_hxzDomWm3FuoehOgNhYGKjiQz0zn7KeFuvrAFaLX8N45Uj-av_GT1dwCFbYl9IDFIxV8Ye_XlJDZA=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5vqiyl6u8TOnQq1uLJno6zY1hzBR1FpSi6IEbfUOfo9bvUEv6mPaE7_PNwRKBnvco-I920aAsSBTbBNzf6jaLvPOddZlTcTLCfoyJy1Z6s8HG_hxzDomWm3FuoehOgNhYGKjiQz0zn7KeFuvrAFaLX8N45Uj-av_GT1dwCFbYl9IDFIxV8Ye_XlJDZA=w173-h200" width="173" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4SlgFFhGdpIC3E8PBvk89xVRysuilR4K2k5nawBA9BQhQyQXY47kPc1SFD5fqeUi3v287IqJx4Stqrc6hVOzTjUGc6ReYEeoQO4VY02oKMaFblDEyfXWgb0qx4TmtBr2IEpLH-cIlqAIW5uV1WaGEqm6Mgx7khk_r79q2ffLzPEiBwg0I7IjpwTWWDQ=s349" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="301" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4SlgFFhGdpIC3E8PBvk89xVRysuilR4K2k5nawBA9BQhQyQXY47kPc1SFD5fqeUi3v287IqJx4Stqrc6hVOzTjUGc6ReYEeoQO4VY02oKMaFblDEyfXWgb0qx4TmtBr2IEpLH-cIlqAIW5uV1WaGEqm6Mgx7khk_r79q2ffLzPEiBwg0I7IjpwTWWDQ=w173-h200" width="173" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I'm genuinely reminded of Zoom's <i>Lagoon</i> in regards to some of its occasionally darker contrasted colorization and visuals (be it background or character), which is strange since neither game share the same graphic artists (let alone had the same people involved)</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">as one of five games included in Tose's 1997 PlayStation One compilation <i>Namco Museum Volume 5</i> with an official English translation retitled as "The Legend of Valkyrie", which might partially attribute to that collection's high price tag as it is highly sought after among retro video game fans and enthusiasts (especially those of the obscure variety).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR3t6V6AnoJOl3LdFqF1rlMRUO0goSUG45WsboIb87qTZ0PEpp2stMMztR5ZRqkPTJOOZWzQObIhd-DZ01O8OtSC3b57mf1bieAGWCeAmatX3byonGmoCI29nWNq6LOII8prLWfx74S6kIw3vgK3a38r0EIXOLXbkNe4biBBgsy5HIWdM-baVw-pMPoA=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="288" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR3t6V6AnoJOl3LdFqF1rlMRUO0goSUG45WsboIb87qTZ0PEpp2stMMztR5ZRqkPTJOOZWzQObIhd-DZ01O8OtSC3b57mf1bieAGWCeAmatX3byonGmoCI29nWNq6LOII8prLWfx74S6kIw3vgK3a38r0EIXOLXbkNe4biBBgsy5HIWdM-baVw-pMPoA" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">But what circumstances led up to the fateful encounter between Valkryie and Krino Xandra? What was <b>Krino</b>'s story and how did it tie into the events of the first game?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3T8uqO_FjfTqVPGfdwPsonXQvJRTNjs7NJIHNtBaAXTK-0o2Vx8ymwxYyNFXFdgMXqcUzpR7YqDePyigDrxy37PcFJhX6beeW3qmErLwZCBVoI4g-W0zmLOG4wdXq2sNMeVBiDoVZlbpSxgykhOlkv-Ntj3NQFJ2Qw-eosPou6cPf3TnpEaKO5VWNAQ=s1147" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3T8uqO_FjfTqVPGfdwPsonXQvJRTNjs7NJIHNtBaAXTK-0o2Vx8ymwxYyNFXFdgMXqcUzpR7YqDePyigDrxy37PcFJhX6beeW3qmErLwZCBVoI4g-W0zmLOG4wdXq2sNMeVBiDoVZlbpSxgykhOlkv-Ntj3NQFJ2Qw-eosPou6cPf3TnpEaKO5VWNAQ=w357-h640" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image </span></b><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">from GameFAQs; I love the little detail of Krino sticking out his head to make up the </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>ン ("N") kanji symbol in the title, that is such an adorably clever touch</b></span></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Those questions would serve as the basis behind the making of <b><i>Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</i></b> (or <i>Sandra no Daibouken: Walküre to no Deai</i>*, which translates to "Sandra's Great Adventure: Encounter with Valkyrie") which was released for the Super Famicom in Japan on July 23rd, 1992. Programmed by Carrot Ogawann** and Shin, map edited by Matu, with "puppet operation" by Ogawann and Moon Side (who also worked on the "enemy operation" but with Shin), and written by Hiroshi Fujii under his "Ippadeitayo Koakuman" pseudonym and someone by the name of "Mars 89-92", this game would be published by Namco and developed by <b>Nova Games</b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* I bring these alternate English spellings of Japanese names up to show there is no right or wrong way to spell them in English, I simply choose to address them this way</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>** Hence the carrot selection icon in the title screen as there are no such vegetables anywhere in the game proper</b> 🥕 <b>Fun food for thought fact!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvCvKPpvj01XystGsjD7dgAfMqv9wT6MQT9PWEONylOEKkeDlVVuH5DIpywkdQKy7FzrzkdmNkcgo5V7-n5VMTT6pxMeTYbNE8fMag1Vu2-BEpKcNv_DDpl584A44AoRRTaVQUmBf_5AB2TyAM2CEhQVvKSc3fGLYcusuSwgjxmhc45rGFwm6enqGYKw=s388" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="388" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvCvKPpvj01XystGsjD7dgAfMqv9wT6MQT9PWEONylOEKkeDlVVuH5DIpywkdQKy7FzrzkdmNkcgo5V7-n5VMTT6pxMeTYbNE8fMag1Vu2-BEpKcNv_DDpl584A44AoRRTaVQUmBf_5AB2TyAM2CEhQVvKSc3fGLYcusuSwgjxmhc45rGFwm6enqGYKw=w200-h138" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZYcmNXVOn73MXoPOlUmZ8AVwFzKG1g39eHDbc069PkMCFvx_YojgdV2CSntohMpU7VAOU6A5x_3tgoJjGuwebJrNBKzivWE_UcexRNtC3iNz8Pf3yIznrXtuPOlq1FrO65iTAJynGjKB5w9vIBTUalEx9tsErPt1gI2jM9jFgWkCBTDa_rPg8PWIQg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="389" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZYcmNXVOn73MXoPOlUmZ8AVwFzKG1g39eHDbc069PkMCFvx_YojgdV2CSntohMpU7VAOU6A5x_3tgoJjGuwebJrNBKzivWE_UcexRNtC3iNz8Pf3yIznrXtuPOlq1FrO65iTAJynGjKB5w9vIBTUalEx9tsErPt1gI2jM9jFgWkCBTDa_rPg8PWIQg=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Nova Games was a Japanese company who had their hands in developing notable video game properties during the '90s such as the MegaDrive/Genesis version of Namco's <i>Burning Force</i> and the Game Boy version of Tomcat System's <i>Battle City</i> (a Namco IP), the horseracing Super Famigame <i>Battle Jockey</i> (published by Virgin Interactive), the Super Famiconversions of the first two iterations of SNK's tournament fighting <i>Garō Densetsu</i>/<i>Fatal Fury</i> franchise (both released by Takara), </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPFnAbY2yVVD2X6ksd9xgxN7x0KLq1MKYnE0psdQV0wA87xAyfpyO5EHkaeEEbb6QTziqsBABa_j1dPkYx0m1eoFH5Os4LtjVYHmcUuP70bXeNizCw1q9PkcA3DeSyUcLdX37OBhkCCvQ3p4F3QR8UgOZ5WTg_C9iKsS3MFxoHQUM598Z6kwrJNwuZZg=s388" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="388" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPFnAbY2yVVD2X6ksd9xgxN7x0KLq1MKYnE0psdQV0wA87xAyfpyO5EHkaeEEbb6QTziqsBABa_j1dPkYx0m1eoFH5Os4LtjVYHmcUuP70bXeNizCw1q9PkcA3DeSyUcLdX37OBhkCCvQ3p4F3QR8UgOZ5WTg_C9iKsS3MFxoHQUM598Z6kwrJNwuZZg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6KO0W6VFLjVVdbI7Voe5F47TFwuuUd_vWylEDHI0RMlhfE1NCJLKjFIpVILDefd0igBZucfojrXQ1_XIRXDxGsxZqomiDfGrbeuAiHe21NKEVO0gWAc0Rh9YQBJTLI0p2k7Oeq0RGgzDPaElBmXjqc-Jd-1g6FGH4TSVXS6IYvbkTY6THneo5m3SuA=s388" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="388" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6KO0W6VFLjVVdbI7Voe5F47TFwuuUd_vWylEDHI0RMlhfE1NCJLKjFIpVILDefd0igBZucfojrXQ1_XIRXDxGsxZqomiDfGrbeuAiHe21NKEVO0gWAc0Rh9YQBJTLI0p2k7Oeq0RGgzDPaElBmXjqc-Jd-1g6FGH4TSVXS6IYvbkTY6THneo5m3SuA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>In hindsight, it should've been obvious that both it and today's game shared the same developer as they do share a somewhat similar sense of visual aesthetic... anyway, cute little sea lion, d'awwwww! </b>🤗</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">the Takara-published Super Famicom adaptation of Hiromi Morishita's <i>seinen</i> manga and anime series <i>Shōnen Ashibe</i> with <i>Goma-chan no Yūenchi Daibōken</i>, and <i>Battle Dodge Ball II</i> (released by Banpresto), to name some examples.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3lWxsx64-aVedDnocdBDiS0NHdHD4JQMYavpaWPQHOJdi9d9-RwxuWSc5aig2FW2fXM-8BgZQ-k1oZuWgi1LOkJN76HMhHW5ILij9MnVtqe21k6XifyCfVY414qg7kRz2FYDK6kwcYqrxRspU8wHQdKjkgtmJIm_-CUth0yz0NbkL4ecIaqwV98Y7_A=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3lWxsx64-aVedDnocdBDiS0NHdHD4JQMYavpaWPQHOJdi9d9-RwxuWSc5aig2FW2fXM-8BgZQ-k1oZuWgi1LOkJN76HMhHW5ILij9MnVtqe21k6XifyCfVY414qg7kRz2FYDK6kwcYqrxRspU8wHQdKjkgtmJIm_-CUth0yz0NbkL4ecIaqwV98Y7_A=w200-h120" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBoFFUNPi3dYRvx81-PTMbs2KcymCZcNmDA_I6auhTN2k6YZQYX-HLDcNhuC0ZNBiKXxBWFihRdOODjefX4vXUwPxXdHP6sjddlcu7mMV5eJuWDFeC4Cs17OfKXjjuSzYDOaoEJ9u1YmVS7XbO55hejKuZBKQAVIZs2cokfTKlY2X9wZEJ36GGVP073g=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBoFFUNPi3dYRvx81-PTMbs2KcymCZcNmDA_I6auhTN2k6YZQYX-HLDcNhuC0ZNBiKXxBWFihRdOODjefX4vXUwPxXdHP6sjddlcu7mMV5eJuWDFeC4Cs17OfKXjjuSzYDOaoEJ9u1YmVS7XbO55hejKuZBKQAVIZs2cokfTKlY2X9wZEJ36GGVP073g=w200-h120" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Marvel Land was in a state of tranquility and peace, right down to the Xandra Clan's home in Sandland Village, unfortunately it would be short-lived as the volcano at Mount Alsandra beside it suddenly erupted causing a violent earthquake and for the land to slide and sink beneath the earth. Chaos ensued.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9IMqQIaEwtZSpfp65buV2mS_H0WqWxH5jRbbWPJ87w06C_5f1CuLzadU1RZnSlgWvGj_UrYQQFl4cyNirhOmdxpoegiYHK0g-0TR82NxNGimhlSSt_GIfnB8rdPmeweCyqAkgdf3_s1L1xCaBUwO5M28sW6XxnugI0KAD7S2xCZJ7aeyCFJXNIJguPw=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9IMqQIaEwtZSpfp65buV2mS_H0WqWxH5jRbbWPJ87w06C_5f1CuLzadU1RZnSlgWvGj_UrYQQFl4cyNirhOmdxpoegiYHK0g-0TR82NxNGimhlSSt_GIfnB8rdPmeweCyqAkgdf3_s1L1xCaBUwO5M28sW6XxnugI0KAD7S2xCZJ7aeyCFJXNIJguPw=w200-h120" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbS3LDbqZklBFsr_x3jZpQ5Y4TuAnuofpq2hE6uY-0GO1LrU5yzMxWvjC8N0PskmedPUGi2XJvaiwkWJb7S77cM2hmoFYTBo1rMBKijCein6oT41SlGgSfLfzC0yhx5-eq5_i4mzOs1bSswOKKCiuLBtu9MpAmdMeNXMteQsPy3ET602IGcoZT1Sr7tw=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbS3LDbqZklBFsr_x3jZpQ5Y4TuAnuofpq2hE6uY-0GO1LrU5yzMxWvjC8N0PskmedPUGi2XJvaiwkWJb7S77cM2hmoFYTBo1rMBKijCein6oT41SlGgSfLfzC0yhx5-eq5_i4mzOs1bSswOKKCiuLBtu9MpAmdMeNXMteQsPy3ET602IGcoZT1Sr7tw=w200-h120" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">[To the tune of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"]</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">🎵<b> Zouna is eee-vil, Zouna is eee-vil, Zouna is eee-vil, ye-ess he iiiiis </b>🎵</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Zouna, a dark wizard, relishes his newfound freedom after being sealed for so long and plans to use his powers to rule over Marvel Land as well as punish those who attempt to oppose his might. Sandland and its inhabitants were the first to feel the wrath of Zouna's magic as he conjured up a plague via his Ashes of Despair which turned the land into a drab gray, withered their crops, polluted its waters, and turned any unfortunate soul who was outside to stone. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPMrIbJdV4351uF8TtrroTrBK852ik2ntXMkdd9_KkUWbZP-7k7NURwdapvZdcrS654HmcUfJY7gxEDlmVZ5C5LfiLJgoniPxkpX7L41Qb1yjXJOqhu00BzqVGsYJWvGJ6rfZYDE7PvxQHpyL4yIjq2-ougnZa7rUV-8H8dNgVKTCP5QcVv0g2negzEg=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPMrIbJdV4351uF8TtrroTrBK852ik2ntXMkdd9_KkUWbZP-7k7NURwdapvZdcrS654HmcUfJY7gxEDlmVZ5C5LfiLJgoniPxkpX7L41Qb1yjXJOqhu00BzqVGsYJWvGJ6rfZYDE7PvxQHpyL4yIjq2-ougnZa7rUV-8H8dNgVKTCP5QcVv0g2negzEg" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Worse, Krino Xandra's infant child too was stricken by the deathly plague, becoming weaker and weaker by the minute. Not wanting to stand idly by and do nothing, Krino ventures outside of Sandland (while his wife is taking care of their child) and goes to see the Elder for he might know the solution to this dilemma.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoqDYfoJTWfKZz_5raFnGYomrLEIBBN1UY1bmq0u080Prl0wxkvVU5wg24nhxxWDDvuvNGXTsPG1pfzQgmB6wtTjRgcB4S7MIufSpviIyqEZUHcEw54JZoF81m-ojFObUPBRJ6J2RLI1gYF7wFv80_k1MIqucybfyDz6h4aJwjMZvIhBj3Qwt1OXVdeQ=s101" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="91" data-original-width="101" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoqDYfoJTWfKZz_5raFnGYomrLEIBBN1UY1bmq0u080Prl0wxkvVU5wg24nhxxWDDvuvNGXTsPG1pfzQgmB6wtTjRgcB4S7MIufSpviIyqEZUHcEw54JZoF81m-ojFObUPBRJ6J2RLI1gYF7wFv80_k1MIqucybfyDz6h4aJwjMZvIhBj3Qwt1OXVdeQ" width="101" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Once arrived at the Elder Xandra's tree house Krino tells him about his son being sick as well as his fellow Xandras and consults with him about what to do. The Elder tells Krino about the Sun Cure and how this legendary elixir is said to cure any ailment, but in order to acquire it he'll need to gather seven light crystals (individual fragments of a star that fell long ago) and hold them up to the sky. Willing to go above and beyond regardless of the dangers ahead of him, Krino will stop at nothing to find the Sun Cure and secure his infant son's future; fortunately, the Elder just so happens to have the first light crystal inside his giant knapsack and gives it to him for his quest. Now only six remain to collect.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4AfnbmbuY9BEDsN3CgMEg0mnOXo8DM-EAGEAJCMdkHC6SK2u9MpWb-Wud2lJuBlTGDhgUShay7BWZMi7z9uTkYo0VQI6VclxcvpR7t2jWtK26t_Xvy-87TCgwS6d58YaW46D-3VgS9udyPodgeJpUQW3-EcvrnuvrhEWC-QhssfSAnYIbI4MHc8fs0A=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4AfnbmbuY9BEDsN3CgMEg0mnOXo8DM-EAGEAJCMdkHC6SK2u9MpWb-Wud2lJuBlTGDhgUShay7BWZMi7z9uTkYo0VQI6VclxcvpR7t2jWtK26t_Xvy-87TCgwS6d58YaW46D-3VgS9udyPodgeJpUQW3-EcvrnuvrhEWC-QhssfSAnYIbI4MHc8fs0A=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4IIqbp7P15sTL9HLRqSXq6SlVOkYfhRbq4T9JNB06JKcZXPHlxJiHsYRplMUFF5iT-AL92Av9bvGvKdZUXFnZVpKK3V9DxZ0HvpT4tzYw60Nfx9oOb48SVcCKNJeQLaw_fX-6sy4gzFlJIHNUiy9akq5ag7R6-9JmZfHXHKJtYIEsaWkRZp_0BKoXEw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4IIqbp7P15sTL9HLRqSXq6SlVOkYfhRbq4T9JNB06JKcZXPHlxJiHsYRplMUFF5iT-AL92Av9bvGvKdZUXFnZVpKK3V9DxZ0HvpT4tzYw60Nfx9oOb48SVcCKNJeQLaw_fX-6sy4gzFlJIHNUiy9akq5ag7R6-9JmZfHXHKJtYIEsaWkRZp_0BKoXEw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Defend the territory from incoming Tatta attacks | Right: Some more Tattas to dispose of along the way</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action platformer <i>Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai</i> you take control of the amphibian-like humanoid Krino Xandra of the Xandra Clan who's got a variety of abilities at his disposal. He can run left and right, climb a rope up and down, enter a doorway by pressing up in front of it, do a normal jump with the B button which has a limited altitude, do a leap jump by lightly pressing the A button as he runs, perform a high jump by holding down the A button for a half second if not a full one or more and then letting go to have him gain a higher vantage point in the air (but do not hold the button any longer than you need to lest you wish to tire Krino out),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihZfem4-FUZ9tZo2IRxk9bq8o7nrXg0xWrlU2Nk84ms9B6uZyj4IfveUEHeuBuSYW_AphBx_8TcnWwTE2bxpd_boHOyTBwsYQ1-kKyMn1qnidFje_whh9Juf_9TSUnOtbxhmqhzug8xA80afaolVc1WrRNDF-G3C3MXdvzw6eqBIArOA915z4KLmrAdQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihZfem4-FUZ9tZo2IRxk9bq8o7nrXg0xWrlU2Nk84ms9B6uZyj4IfveUEHeuBuSYW_AphBx_8TcnWwTE2bxpd_boHOyTBwsYQ1-kKyMn1qnidFje_whh9Juf_9TSUnOtbxhmqhzug8xA80afaolVc1WrRNDF-G3C3MXdvzw6eqBIArOA915z4KLmrAdQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisfPkhzZO5s-ziCRHH_Wafj9E92QPDH0eiIuAKPVtmohXBKxXQGQWQjxSRt5ZZZM6GckQHs3ze1ab0UXmU7HtLte40m91LAxMw0947_uXTrzBvBQLDRXLWBaDRnenlRiERApt8ID5r1Oae4aorDBUC9nIHilTufVJK5wBL71tOsD_P6_TCofe1Y6f7Tw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisfPkhzZO5s-ziCRHH_Wafj9E92QPDH0eiIuAKPVtmohXBKxXQGQWQjxSRt5ZZZM6GckQHs3ze1ab0UXmU7HtLte40m91LAxMw0947_uXTrzBvBQLDRXLWBaDRnenlRiERApt8ID5r1Oae4aorDBUC9nIHilTufVJK5wBL71tOsD_P6_TCofe1Y6f7Tw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Skipping across a gap in front of a haunting figure | Right: Spinning around in the air wielding a pitchfork against that propelling pincer... crab... thing</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">and by holding down the X buton Krino will vertically position himself high up in the air to wind up a Whirlowind Attack which so long as you keep the button pushed down you'll slowly lower yourself to the ground whilst winding the punch; by letting go of the X button at the precise spot you're at in midair, be it an enemy target or narrow space, you'll propel yourself across like a whirlwind up to a point. The secret to gaining a higher jump than normal when it comes to the last two jump types is to go the opposite direction for a half a second only to <b>immediately</b> turn back to the direction you're aiming to go while simultaneously holding down the A or X button and letting go at the opportune time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs6wSmrxFJy6uwGvh8E5fQoyYBXAt_mehVcXrlktdZXdM9TMBOW5jmUomb1-RuC-hXDqhp6BtYHZ7j5fYp2AU2z48op9bAksRMQNe6nuhaxWXoVERuDmJgNd9iBycsawbt4LSCQXVvnn7jGphMcr0AFjMNe0HCBpDdRAS1sUfDeRVHaVMzeNaOQFH7dg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs6wSmrxFJy6uwGvh8E5fQoyYBXAt_mehVcXrlktdZXdM9TMBOW5jmUomb1-RuC-hXDqhp6BtYHZ7j5fYp2AU2z48op9bAksRMQNe6nuhaxWXoVERuDmJgNd9iBycsawbt4LSCQXVvnn7jGphMcr0AFjMNe0HCBpDdRAS1sUfDeRVHaVMzeNaOQFH7dg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzsxbo-t0E0ejQXNkuqVuwWr43J_ZW706NmCtvbvasqDVjWCPnaVoIG9I_aNYPR0LiAFcRohgkpIFm7q12h8F1NnN7BsWA_ADuC6FRLCWaGF45WHIt1bUy30JkNIhPC0368u9k9-1RSiDevcxqjo2QBb5fWPs-SwhFp7CQZG0iM0Ue9w4d93Bdzca8RQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzsxbo-t0E0ejQXNkuqVuwWr43J_ZW706NmCtvbvasqDVjWCPnaVoIG9I_aNYPR0LiAFcRohgkpIFm7q12h8F1NnN7BsWA_ADuC6FRLCWaGF45WHIt1bUy30JkNIhPC0368u9k9-1RSiDevcxqjo2QBb5fWPs-SwhFp7CQZG0iM0Ue9w4d93Bdzca8RQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "</b><u style="font-weight: bold;">OW</u><b>!!! It's annoying enough being stepped on by that stupid treasure hunter [Pitfall Harry]</b><b>, this is taking it a step </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">too far</u><b>!" </b>😡<b> | Right: Poof</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Armed with pitchfork in hand you attack your enemies with it by pressing the Y button, either while standing normally facing an enemy in front of you or while holding onto a rope, in midair which makes Krino spin around so long as you hold down the button, and strike it downward while also in midair as you hold both Y and the down arrow together; should you have the pitchfork face down as you touch the ground Krino will try to get himself unstuck (how long it takes for him to do so depends on how high he fell down from).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim3SdOlhenUsI863iEjtIK6WJ_ZyCHbvdkqyNyqW4TY3Bu4_uwRO1dKDDgSFovB3vMxUYqOcKtOuaHlhtLBg_iYn-nPBo5cBfa-3ysBQcXWqk6yVhZmRyKhqQNYThXKJkK6dw7qDbl9xXgeuh58WWf4ZNQ_3Wx0LDplSYyEqDWf354TbrqL_-dfEoC5w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim3SdOlhenUsI863iEjtIK6WJ_ZyCHbvdkqyNyqW4TY3Bu4_uwRO1dKDDgSFovB3vMxUYqOcKtOuaHlhtLBg_iYn-nPBo5cBfa-3ysBQcXWqk6yVhZmRyKhqQNYThXKJkK6dw7qDbl9xXgeuh58WWf4ZNQ_3Wx0LDplSYyEqDWf354TbrqL_-dfEoC5w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaY-ocldojZgUMnAv69TbHQaw6m22uKEt3O-uNJpbyLbZGOq4un-0ex5HBxKDfJ8YfD_kYeojojTOQjHK1AfSHtyccP_0-sNk4Gm2W10ZlEmQlVyOljol76XZZ7ecSgTTRWklIIA8IE5-ijQoq3nRsQ_9aNmjukp-Tm4wFI0CcQ5IN0o_KnkQk5YP1dA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaY-ocldojZgUMnAv69TbHQaw6m22uKEt3O-uNJpbyLbZGOq4un-0ex5HBxKDfJ8YfD_kYeojojTOQjHK1AfSHtyccP_0-sNk4Gm2W10ZlEmQlVyOljol76XZZ7ecSgTTRWklIIA8IE5-ijQoq3nRsQ_9aNmjukp-Tm4wFI0CcQ5IN0o_KnkQk5YP1dA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Hard bouncy fall | Right: Poof squared</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">There are three different potency levels to using Krino's pitchfork: there's the normal lunge on the ground and on the rope takes more hits to defeat an enemy or boss (naturally), the downward strike is roughly double the damage of the normal pitchfork attack (which is helpful to know during certain spots), but the most powerful pitchfork attack comes from the Whirlowind Attack as it deals a huge amount against your foes (in some cases it's mandatory provided you timed it right).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfc-77Ljd8JyvvoyfviStRVTOxoG3ht6C4c_NuY4YiUpRt9LKFQVYINXYwjABJB6y02fx8FU9CTY1JM3OpdxPgQnbjQc2cj9dF_uSiJ0VfIvq9IRCNzb7e9syWid9bDdPEBnIkkD_J09yDw0Ul6yYkEgw14jWpdgjHipMfjvMaVJv9UCzRcoDPPCG08w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfc-77Ljd8JyvvoyfviStRVTOxoG3ht6C4c_NuY4YiUpRt9LKFQVYINXYwjABJB6y02fx8FU9CTY1JM3OpdxPgQnbjQc2cj9dF_uSiJ0VfIvq9IRCNzb7e9syWid9bDdPEBnIkkD_J09yDw0Ul6yYkEgw14jWpdgjHipMfjvMaVJv9UCzRcoDPPCG08w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYjz8GHCR4O5Q_GbLzcvgABdyJxO-ufGDLACaZIXxjTQIR7rJfnEwhyUmuvSyHLAWja6gVn10XSxFuXGVA7Ih8tte8FfkS3Y9sM2vhJbNomkgKN8_PsLeu1yJRmYRWz-qiNrEL2y2Sdbi1OnwZ5Ho6MAOvgIgxLRYXwj51gJ4JpJ_b4v3tGc_4WBD5-w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYjz8GHCR4O5Q_GbLzcvgABdyJxO-ufGDLACaZIXxjTQIR7rJfnEwhyUmuvSyHLAWja6gVn10XSxFuXGVA7Ih8tte8FfkS3Y9sM2vhJbNomkgKN8_PsLeu1yJRmYRWz-qiNrEL2y2Sdbi1OnwZ5Ho6MAOvgIgxLRYXwj51gJ4JpJ_b4v3tGc_4WBD5-w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Talking with the Elder Xandra | Right: Incoming boulders</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Should an enemy or its projectile come into contact with you, fall offscreen, or land on spikes, you will lose a life as in this game you die in one hit; each stage is divided into segments, so should you lose a life you'll be brought back to the beginning of a segment, its midway point if said segment is long, or at the start of a boss battle. Any time you begin the game or resume from your last progress via password you'll start with seven lives (none of which can be regained once lost), which is perfectly reasonable, and once you've reached the end of a stage (or lost all your lives) you'll be given a sixteen-symbol password to pick up where you left off; certain stages will bookend themselves in a boss battle.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLMpTNgsorq12xxO5XSDc7YripZW_CqPRq86TtOLVRlTdKrm4FItGEf1dAr1dBsSKUgTMDsEDVliVaP_j8OV7Stbfi_ri0QEijAxkkQfKTzqCcEzK0PMOzjxKVIwMd6CbzHx7BXX1Gj8eDQc_fJOeas5VmSaTD5j_2P_5j820WwqEXFmNqC-abboNqmQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLMpTNgsorq12xxO5XSDc7YripZW_CqPRq86TtOLVRlTdKrm4FItGEf1dAr1dBsSKUgTMDsEDVliVaP_j8OV7Stbfi_ri0QEijAxkkQfKTzqCcEzK0PMOzjxKVIwMd6CbzHx7BXX1Gj8eDQc_fJOeas5VmSaTD5j_2P_5j820WwqEXFmNqC-abboNqmQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif9BxtpQlNl0tV1YOIGyw7nUVLjHly_mTLL9kakQwoFvqD3WuQ4c9UgeiAahx4kzSbqkHWSTAbrJnxCRYl-t8YImqB6__AD6XvYqtMlMyFOs2EA2Qwli6s6l553vUjLeZbxq_LfznwK39kDX8aigj1Ih-AULbkN5vX8CPXlEUZlLFFpNKEIR9e_cZ75Q=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif9BxtpQlNl0tV1YOIGyw7nUVLjHly_mTLL9kakQwoFvqD3WuQ4c9UgeiAahx4kzSbqkHWSTAbrJnxCRYl-t8YImqB6__AD6XvYqtMlMyFOs2EA2Qwli6s6l553vUjLeZbxq_LfznwK39kDX8aigj1Ih-AULbkN5vX8CPXlEUZlLFFpNKEIR9e_cZ75Q=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Plopped halfway through the ground after a long fall | Right: To think the Shezas (or Scissors) act as enemies in the other games bearing the <i>Valkryie</i> moniker, guess this one is going to spare Krino for granting it nourishment</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> has got a very visually appealing aesthetic in terms of its color palette, soft touch plus delicate strokes, and sense of detail; the graphics were worked on by Nabe, Q, Kanebow, and Maru Su (Choppiri Su) with art concept/character designs by Yarinage and animations provided by Ben the Great as they were credited under their pseudonyms (I know not what their real names are). Marvel Land has a good variety of locations designed with a sense of endearment that Krino ventures through, and on occasion your eyes are treated to areas that are very beautiful and striking to look at, for they all have their individual sense of atmosphere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjueBDk8C3vWHKZ7ueZTZTYrkQvIfaXc_fFZxmgOWdhWNmnc2TBRX63EBG6tn_pFFI5oxaXsCq7dcrxw7IYUQjRmY0B1bDV650cIpb5rFMAMAKtEoI4MUTJsmn3SOIZ7iD0XVTLcec5n4z6fALgdjcryqk6sZ_LXuHtdyFa2DZRklaE8Equ5GHKYxxZyg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjueBDk8C3vWHKZ7ueZTZTYrkQvIfaXc_fFZxmgOWdhWNmnc2TBRX63EBG6tn_pFFI5oxaXsCq7dcrxw7IYUQjRmY0B1bDV650cIpb5rFMAMAKtEoI4MUTJsmn3SOIZ7iD0XVTLcec5n4z6fALgdjcryqk6sZ_LXuHtdyFa2DZRklaE8Equ5GHKYxxZyg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-hDonePC6gAlXK1t15wn57w-F7fivzfuKVbUwUTWOKtUaGsaIVebYuAimDIMxgcKo7qKWCsHtenek8QOQ_sawt5q9BH1K2f_4qPIgVG4wpTvy75YBikYgnzmes-B12kS0bWKPyhzRlFMUb6ajIS34G5H7rIlW2c8SyK9QpRsrxR492Y1mrqxGDBP-w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-hDonePC6gAlXK1t15wn57w-F7fivzfuKVbUwUTWOKtUaGsaIVebYuAimDIMxgcKo7qKWCsHtenek8QOQ_sawt5q9BH1K2f_4qPIgVG4wpTvy75YBikYgnzmes-B12kS0bWKPyhzRlFMUb6ajIS34G5H7rIlW2c8SyK9QpRsrxR492Y1mrqxGDBP-w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Meeting the wandering merchant Zuhl | Right: Fighting against the Quarkman matriarch Andy</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">When you start the game at Sandland you see its houses shrouded with ashes with its crops withered as the Ashes of Despair slowly and gradually fall from the sky (it <b>almost</b> resembles snow) for you can see the rest of the village loom in the distance (especially after having visited the Elder Xandra) underneath a darkened sky, on the way to the Elder you go through a waterway in the forest that looks so haunting and breathtaking with the specters pouring stars down the body of water and occasionally see constellation of horses sauntering in the backdrop, on the way to the Quarkman's village</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht5BRtVnLJccBz4J4o7ycOlaf45QHHiNDBmEVgbIiI02603P_72tmX1u4oq-EcgPfKWa9kEtA_BiPbmuGfMGIchiPf-synInCny54LCBUqIanhqedvDMuNLnCCgUPtZXut954yxPhGq9zPLvyj19bIk1CK27FSeE2J0wYnoym3ksbFnaEd350zZlAzXQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht5BRtVnLJccBz4J4o7ycOlaf45QHHiNDBmEVgbIiI02603P_72tmX1u4oq-EcgPfKWa9kEtA_BiPbmuGfMGIchiPf-synInCny54LCBUqIanhqedvDMuNLnCCgUPtZXut954yxPhGq9zPLvyj19bIk1CK27FSeE2J0wYnoym3ksbFnaEd350zZlAzXQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT4JqWxj0G4Ck3_gTvCsqGe5EnaS_AWOMdfbGJFIMtZp6AMSirgKpZY-87cuFyva14ZteJnBBp0AqWjAdPAQCembv26ymMJ3oDwIeGxuMpJ2U53IWbdAlv1Fv_tBssW_qxJw03ZrpI_H88EVRVJPa3aoI8TR0UzNTPGC24-K-9G5l96KZ50Fg-Jl7vew=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT4JqWxj0G4Ck3_gTvCsqGe5EnaS_AWOMdfbGJFIMtZp6AMSirgKpZY-87cuFyva14ZteJnBBp0AqWjAdPAQCembv26ymMJ3oDwIeGxuMpJ2U53IWbdAlv1Fv_tBssW_qxJw03ZrpI_H88EVRVJPa3aoI8TR0UzNTPGC24-K-9G5l96KZ50Fg-Jl7vew=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Runaway fireball dead ahead | Right: Oh no, those poor Quarkmen</b> 😟</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">there is a subtle change of the sky as it slowly turns from blue to orange as it goes along due to the rampant runaway flames as you also contend with devious trees who've got branches on top of them creepily resembling a hand, the inside of the cave residing at Mount Alsandra is lightheartedly ominous with its infernal shades of red and creepy rock-formed faces, Toadstool Cave is all luminescent inside its purple and turquoise corridors adorned with eerily laid out mushrooms and fungi,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxsiAAgH3Ua4C6RDBNYZAZgIvT6xRwVzojiRQOACFVZlbwH8uoG9ExU0svnSDRiFrNgbSlWCfKbi-aluKR40SB06jSQmNrhS1W5voSyTGbMrE6cDvzuJg8yMyGnMZRhVvuiZgf4pKIMitRLurKfpjy95zq2dg4kyTWXUoE4WjopL6E-cAj-7Je-s-aQA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxsiAAgH3Ua4C6RDBNYZAZgIvT6xRwVzojiRQOACFVZlbwH8uoG9ExU0svnSDRiFrNgbSlWCfKbi-aluKR40SB06jSQmNrhS1W5voSyTGbMrE6cDvzuJg8yMyGnMZRhVvuiZgf4pKIMitRLurKfpjy95zq2dg4kyTWXUoE4WjopL6E-cAj-7Je-s-aQA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixFvGfegN6zWSNvAqkF79Z6OmIzQGIEdgar133pTo0Gkt620UKbZdCW42trYOR5v8-tL3xMtd5QdoYNQbTUpWOhIKqAg0RDhryemsvjQPjAXw02yO79AgOfsKSnlCwVhYeeMu5L5Ypbo_osYRDhjadv4M7MB-CaYvf_52hSHgLByCdx36HT2rDBK4DpQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixFvGfegN6zWSNvAqkF79Z6OmIzQGIEdgar133pTo0Gkt620UKbZdCW42trYOR5v8-tL3xMtd5QdoYNQbTUpWOhIKqAg0RDhryemsvjQPjAXw02yO79AgOfsKSnlCwVhYeeMu5L5Ypbo_osYRDhjadv4M7MB-CaYvf_52hSHgLByCdx36HT2rDBK4DpQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Yeah, <u>teamwork</u>! | Right: Destroy the rock head so it doesn't spew out flames anymore</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Tree Island is atmospheric in that there are many trees surrounding the location with plenty looming in the backdrop to give it some atmospheric depth, there's a solid series of parallax scrolling clouds upon moving around in Neverland, and the last stage is colorfully and imaginatively varied in terms of theme and design; my all-time favorite segment of the game is when Krino undergoes the Test of Courage set in a star-studded backdrop where his family and friends' faces brighten and darken here and there in the form of constellations whilst there are shooting stars, it's one of those many elements that make the experience endearing and all its proceedings worth it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsCut5_dAva8bKE7iBCEAgarbP7obru83Pk-7XJf07ovzoHU7fMjPGQBgV9LbKD31qqs1tKzR72HQXY6GEfzrA5oMmf-Val8CDgCCStmbRGaPa-MWdE1PYqvCjrAa54aS3OppXHE9-02gw7Rc9TyM_PcRyCALcSPtC8z7KqNUW2nl8HSyxw6t1nRAmiw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsCut5_dAva8bKE7iBCEAgarbP7obru83Pk-7XJf07ovzoHU7fMjPGQBgV9LbKD31qqs1tKzR72HQXY6GEfzrA5oMmf-Val8CDgCCStmbRGaPa-MWdE1PYqvCjrAa54aS3OppXHE9-02gw7Rc9TyM_PcRyCALcSPtC8z7KqNUW2nl8HSyxw6t1nRAmiw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7MxhgmmbE4a8RCnMVzLIMg6DK36RTbjArBQWkEDkQ-m1tLPz7u58Ip_ZXcNYzqzX6Xqra-GCDgv62_8OC0UYkIWKpzax1AHKUJnQP28qu5_-3tBL1gASDX9WUfU72z4YU0Drj1ZVTS0PoOgNjiK9MfV1AS_FtRdeL5lmMGxaUuCq6UuAgpaJvhYK-jg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7MxhgmmbE4a8RCnMVzLIMg6DK36RTbjArBQWkEDkQ-m1tLPz7u58Ip_ZXcNYzqzX6Xqra-GCDgv62_8OC0UYkIWKpzax1AHKUJnQP28qu5_-3tBL1gASDX9WUfU72z4YU0Drj1ZVTS0PoOgNjiK9MfV1AS_FtRdeL5lmMGxaUuCq6UuAgpaJvhYK-jg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Coincidental timing with that sentient flame locking in on Krino's position while the pillar of fire is temporarily risen up</b> 🔥 <b>Flambé! | Right: Taking care of that horned devil from above</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The characters and enemies are designed in a solid and charming manner, and their sense of animation is limited but effectively paced that it works just right. Krino Xandra is adorably designed as he's wide eyed and expressive depending on whether he's attacking enemies with his pitchfork or winds up his Whirlowind Attack (with a determined glare), clenches his teeth as he's trying to get his pitchfork unstuck from the ground, gets happy when he hears good news, spins his eyes around momentarily after becoming dizzy from flying against a wall or pulling off a Whirlowind Attack towards thin air, at certain points later on he has a shocked and a concerned expression (in that order one time), and I like the way he nods his head during certain conversations and the way he holds the light crystal aloft once he procures it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhub7Wm0Si9cDugufbd2o3mTKVXhqvYjCRPf8BUjfosaJ0CwZQMiX0jneaDobo45g-mFoRiSGSL3medpMXXyctN5ElMOe_c5psMtRHMGALphskcFa14JnYTkTXPbeHaJaNtx6RLZUAzRN1hjoPV6bWxRvKB3biDv0P9dWe4EQRwCFiiuyue3XVIftvEDA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhub7Wm0Si9cDugufbd2o3mTKVXhqvYjCRPf8BUjfosaJ0CwZQMiX0jneaDobo45g-mFoRiSGSL3medpMXXyctN5ElMOe_c5psMtRHMGALphskcFa14JnYTkTXPbeHaJaNtx6RLZUAzRN1hjoPV6bWxRvKB3biDv0P9dWe4EQRwCFiiuyue3XVIftvEDA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8NDzWlBqlsaUqSEFnzFAYHKjfzPL-Qth-WbRnUDwdH-2QiGZgOz_V8wEBCgwkM24mVx0bd-9KTyc06CpnZb0YzkKjoeiW0nE2zSdtBYHwjX4i3gI42StlXQd8XC1EoUMx4gWyt8GAMecnwjHxTH1kITAElo0f6uPdzl7MBbwvJYiUtL2OmaYa7VmVVw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8NDzWlBqlsaUqSEFnzFAYHKjfzPL-Qth-WbRnUDwdH-2QiGZgOz_V8wEBCgwkM24mVx0bd-9KTyc06CpnZb0YzkKjoeiW0nE2zSdtBYHwjX4i3gI42StlXQd8XC1EoUMx4gWyt8GAMecnwjHxTH1kITAElo0f6uPdzl7MBbwvJYiUtL2OmaYa7VmVVw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Krino must knock the Crescent Moon King out of the platform with as many Whirlowind Attacks as needed in order to gain another light crystal and rescue... | Right: BABY SABINE, <u>AWWW</u>!!!! She's so <u>tiny</u>!</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Whenever Krino uses his pitchfork in midair he spins around so swiftly, and I like the little dust effect that appears when he skids as you make him turn a direction after running and whenever he makes a leap jump (good sense of detail). He's even got different animations for when you lose a life depending on how it happened; most are lightheartedly comedic (like when his body instantly gets singed from his feet up to his head with a shocked incredulous reaction when come into contact by fire) but there are a couple in particular that I find a bit disturbing (when he appears lifeless upon drowning in water and when he gets electrocuted by a Robotian's laser you can see his skeleton as it flashes black and yellow).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #00ff6e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1gtAaVr-CnAcuh6Sw8azx1BNNwiorV9gAhB75GjnvzvAZmV3YbiOg0gsyUkjZLPtirFAK5y7_ZloAyw2_IIbtWtSM9pV5wUqsoZxOwg7427QtWe9E_jyWLKgx2DKzPiKLfGdT2-f6Oq8uRlyZ-YJjakT7HQGPMloxUv7DLQxluMn9b67yMxF1dYWpPg=s389" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1gtAaVr-CnAcuh6Sw8azx1BNNwiorV9gAhB75GjnvzvAZmV3YbiOg0gsyUkjZLPtirFAK5y7_ZloAyw2_IIbtWtSM9pV5wUqsoZxOwg7427QtWe9E_jyWLKgx2DKzPiKLfGdT2-f6Oq8uRlyZ-YJjakT7HQGPMloxUv7DLQxluMn9b67yMxF1dYWpPg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dnoLMUykMZEYpZPl_MsJ-f0YnSihei5a1PXHjND36QAtcwgj62uRDBS5Bsje9zHP8EhjNe75jxeGR7mEu249flSDCeqAZMWvT80_3R5qT1Sgtfn8tPfgzddsAWInO39FhaSAMJXGrC4cn9HvSPefH-4Tksz_qQkUFI-E7OVO6Ol6lItLrbSlSLDm5A=s389" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dnoLMUykMZEYpZPl_MsJ-f0YnSihei5a1PXHjND36QAtcwgj62uRDBS5Bsje9zHP8EhjNe75jxeGR7mEu249flSDCeqAZMWvT80_3R5qT1Sgtfn8tPfgzddsAWInO39FhaSAMJXGrC4cn9HvSPefH-4Tksz_qQkUFI-E7OVO6Ol6lItLrbSlSLDm5A=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;">Left: Finding myself at a flooded Caldera | Right: Meeting Grady the toolman and Peppy</span></b><br /></div><span style="color: #00ff6e;">Among the enemies Krino contends with are the cavemen-like Tattas, the toros, the bouncing Quarkmen (before Andy agrees to help you), the horned devils, vultures, square-shaped Robotians, green and tan-colored winged imps, pirates, and sand creatures, et al, and the bosses you fight such as the salamander and Zouna are all big and imposing in size and design.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyueV0nXS2X9p-JQ2LLAOF0taastKNJt7I6h8EVyNJcRCCK0nIYM-yjDUZHDQkPCCLnaOdmWWCB8w6_0lUrtbMoIgpIPZWehnG5SIK5VYjrMGpJIYh8A4meJLyov81n4Y8M3ZfUBucU41XHKGByBDzymz5vL8zUb0PccT-s96rEgh_kKawhXQqt3oCA/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_ToTreeIsland.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyueV0nXS2X9p-JQ2LLAOF0taastKNJt7I6h8EVyNJcRCCK0nIYM-yjDUZHDQkPCCLnaOdmWWCB8w6_0lUrtbMoIgpIPZWehnG5SIK5VYjrMGpJIYh8A4meJLyov81n4Y8M3ZfUBucU41XHKGByBDzymz5vL8zUb0PccT-s96rEgh_kKawhXQqt3oCA/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_ToTreeIsland.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogK4y-smyauO3LL_yElsJgBavm7qD6h35zuuZqAzNSPAlOw7TyIrM3uI6dhbc0QNmfRVsQzPqMdhEd82GjF2H1njH50YESiZyh1g_H-mpkWImbi5hoH-uqz0SkzAWFkNoNR2JPBHWsmtiLu8ytR-ldNtOmZ94HicXs6m0l7jBSH2dtWpanlCL_vyBug/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_Neverland.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogK4y-smyauO3LL_yElsJgBavm7qD6h35zuuZqAzNSPAlOw7TyIrM3uI6dhbc0QNmfRVsQzPqMdhEd82GjF2H1njH50YESiZyh1g_H-mpkWImbi5hoH-uqz0SkzAWFkNoNR2JPBHWsmtiLu8ytR-ldNtOmZ94HicXs6m0l7jBSH2dtWpanlCL_vyBug/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_Neverland.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e;">In-between stages are very well drawn cutscenes (a few of which have got limited animation) that do a good job of telling the story visually, all having that Hiroshi Fujii touch viewed inside an endearingly designed frame.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulN-dOO8FvisUviyiaaXVgziTCpYSoq5JJv8Pcu4NPQb-Kv6fMaPig97QtU4Lq-RH21_ry_1rNACG7KaDbUbbN1vdDZqjbD0ynAQ9LqcetRkSnTLhxYh8M1YpsoLUr1Qz9IDOn8zfXneZh15nTuCtQOOXpX6gnMMCmCxVm6ePXe4i48kck3eOgOfSMA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulN-dOO8FvisUviyiaaXVgziTCpYSoq5JJv8Pcu4NPQb-Kv6fMaPig97QtU4Lq-RH21_ry_1rNACG7KaDbUbbN1vdDZqjbD0ynAQ9LqcetRkSnTLhxYh8M1YpsoLUr1Qz9IDOn8zfXneZh15nTuCtQOOXpX6gnMMCmCxVm6ePXe4i48kck3eOgOfSMA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieZ8re_lBAKXjUiBTK7Xm8zoQUzxPC1Slq1TKXZSjQr2JCrKFwKT-cTSngVp6MngQIAiJFO8gRkY4ROyoMSQopVoLx_Ygdn27MvH_-kbfSjP032vn-wAkeQbvokE1GdwV7Im6QgQB-BjQSqrT7y9xj1awCOByj3NvRyKSK7iA-m_sqdNobi5OhE1kCag=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieZ8re_lBAKXjUiBTK7Xm8zoQUzxPC1Slq1TKXZSjQr2JCrKFwKT-cTSngVp6MngQIAiJFO8gRkY4ROyoMSQopVoLx_Ygdn27MvH_-kbfSjP032vn-wAkeQbvokE1GdwV7Im6QgQB-BjQSqrT7y9xj1awCOByj3NvRyKSK7iA-m_sqdNobi5OhE1kCag=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Oh no, not the Gatekeeper! 😧</b> <b>Hope the Keymaster is not around... | Right: Introducing the knife-juggling pretty boy Buck</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Responsible for <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i>'s sound unit was Norihiko Togashi, Nakanobu Tarō (real name Nobutake Nakamura), and Hiroshi Ebihara; Togashi in particular (credited under his "Noririn" pseudonym) is notable for he's got several video audio credits under his belt (largely for Nova Games-developed and/or Namco-published fare) such as N.H. System's NEC PC Engine conversion of Namco's <i>Märchen Maze</i> and the Sega 16-bit port of Namco's <i>Burning Force</i>, Nova Games' Nintendo 16-bit version of Bandai Entertainment Company's <i>Ultraman</i>,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoxVAQt1iTA7i5nLYXJexJ3PF74LsaFxTajtCgkoxRHP1JlbBx90OjtyABPT2B76M3V0wqvJTMPOEnyuCuxWmqg7FQMTQG3-2F7DDcxScoGCv-lEthjLZo5GHIPOJL7L7Hto1OGElYcIE5P8kU_BDWw17ILR9vMd-PSaACYOTSSWNP6laIOw3dcWd02A=s385" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="385" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoxVAQt1iTA7i5nLYXJexJ3PF74LsaFxTajtCgkoxRHP1JlbBx90OjtyABPT2B76M3V0wqvJTMPOEnyuCuxWmqg7FQMTQG3-2F7DDcxScoGCv-lEthjLZo5GHIPOJL7L7Hto1OGElYcIE5P8kU_BDWw17ILR9vMd-PSaACYOTSSWNP6laIOw3dcWd02A=w200-h155" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh27aD_9o4xWf_Nqlax37INwEW1wOJzAYWonOyuailj3289ofwLrvT3wpuE7GX5MnpO92Wy9OviI75FF01FJbgjJ_AglhdauBOWefzTISMMXX_kyQn4mNkHFSkT1AzDaTRMx2gQsXoKuy_ovpwXXtBzbIGn8eagoWeOifgHS2mPa4I_KlKdhsrQqEHebA=s385" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="385" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh27aD_9o4xWf_Nqlax37INwEW1wOJzAYWonOyuailj3289ofwLrvT3wpuE7GX5MnpO92Wy9OviI75FF01FJbgjJ_AglhdauBOWefzTISMMXX_kyQn4mNkHFSkT1AzDaTRMx2gQsXoKuy_ovpwXXtBzbIGn8eagoWeOifgHS2mPa4I_KlKdhsrQqEHebA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">the Namco-published Super Famiplatformer and puzzler <i>Super Wagyan Land</i> (also developed by Nova Games), Nova Games' contribution to Capcom's long-running iconic Blue Bomber franchise with <i>RockMan's Soccer</i>/<i>Mega Man Soccer,</i> and sadly went uncredited (like much of the staff) for his audio work on Capcom's Nintendo 16-bit take on <i>Bonkers</i>/<i>Disney's Bonkers: Hollywood Daisakusen!</i> based on the Disney animated series, meanwhile Ebihara had also worked on the sound department for Nova Games' Nintendo 16-bit ports of SNK's first two <i>Garō Densetsu</i>/<i>Fatal Fury</i> games.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB0WB1Me3byfIY9zE8sXCIhqisYKlg61X-ojH1pbBcNJ1waaW4reQJkxIAdr_FPW2jscAepY63YlJrQhyCKXT-H2aBIiWvLXeEfhCYod9hF8UWmvXEcxhe7ogAKNSWju_2znCRhb84Nxq-gOMExIcLALZX6_OChHg9hefSK8X7W0tHLPxCCk9OXw948w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB0WB1Me3byfIY9zE8sXCIhqisYKlg61X-ojH1pbBcNJ1waaW4reQJkxIAdr_FPW2jscAepY63YlJrQhyCKXT-H2aBIiWvLXeEfhCYod9hF8UWmvXEcxhe7ogAKNSWju_2znCRhb84Nxq-gOMExIcLALZX6_OChHg9hefSK8X7W0tHLPxCCk9OXw948w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisAWJs50DgwbdeXlNncx-yp5xDdSPZHDROxQiyEfnaWheKpdb6ye3KcZepiV75WBfmmFwMjbfxc41U559xfrc0XNHavBN81UjXkgAjRNb45NY5RKoncpR3-Le9n_IptInzGk1khBkxa-70gZxkOeOW9BDPFCARMR7eQdZE6xO_B90IpL9aICw-7JRlQQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisAWJs50DgwbdeXlNncx-yp5xDdSPZHDROxQiyEfnaWheKpdb6ye3KcZepiV75WBfmmFwMjbfxc41U559xfrc0XNHavBN81UjXkgAjRNb45NY5RKoncpR3-Le9n_IptInzGk1khBkxa-70gZxkOeOW9BDPFCARMR7eQdZE6xO_B90IpL9aICw-7JRlQQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: I love how Krino is floating on the body of water formed up by Princess Tiana's near endless amount of tears, though I'd rather have that than see him drown | Right: Run away from the water!</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i>'s soundtrack is absolutely captivating from the start, it's fantastic across the board, grips you from the word "go", it does an impeccable job at capturing the proper tone and emotion of the situation and succinctly complements the atmosphere for each place you go through. Despite the simple usage of notes the lightheartedly sad tone of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=136s">cutscene theme</a> brings a sense of immediacy and importance to the story, whenever you meet up with a (new) friend there is an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=374s">endearingly composed theme</a> that has got so much heart and warmth that evokes a strong feeling of empathy, when journeying through the forest (and when treading on an icy path) there is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=527s">beautifully haunting melody</a> that's perfectly fitting while simultaneously giving off a sense of atmospheric wonder,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYKgYUGi86PzqpmaYoJkDGoBacMTMMqO_0xvp01YLz8O3TGZdzNLsSmgcKkq0yhDH_dJMJfxmMvVHMyI_Ej2htb3FKYqJyzBPpBckmwSzX26tmxfGhj-g2k-LYTVx_2ATGadLmrGjtXFTvFH8twt7QvHDykAg-7ww-EQWtSnRQtIR7dKo-qQ-xDSRlWA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYKgYUGi86PzqpmaYoJkDGoBacMTMMqO_0xvp01YLz8O3TGZdzNLsSmgcKkq0yhDH_dJMJfxmMvVHMyI_Ej2htb3FKYqJyzBPpBckmwSzX26tmxfGhj-g2k-LYTVx_2ATGadLmrGjtXFTvFH8twt7QvHDykAg-7ww-EQWtSnRQtIR7dKo-qQ-xDSRlWA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGdukzrZB1KPRRAm0OMH0tpCNr6Os0nIwo5IlZ6yNa8J_r2brQmRVBrN_4e592vYVB7H3yq3rs0bco4_CWCEoe0l3lAUCM0hXambpqamRlVL31h55wzx5q9aiiIlph2P1xS_8egorNQGatS0N2nYozZaPONaMX5dIlCIW_GfrqA1jAbK400w1XmBmzzw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGdukzrZB1KPRRAm0OMH0tpCNr6Os0nIwo5IlZ6yNa8J_r2brQmRVBrN_4e592vYVB7H3yq3rs0bco4_CWCEoe0l3lAUCM0hXambpqamRlVL31h55wzx5q9aiiIlph2P1xS_8egorNQGatS0N2nYozZaPONaMX5dIlCIW_GfrqA1jAbK400w1XmBmzzw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Krino meeting a cute little family after narrowly escaping Caldera Castle's flooded basement | Right: (</b><u style="font-weight: bold;">SHHHH</u><b>, </b><strike style="font-weight: bold;">Sabine</strike><b> that mysterious Quarkman is <u>sleeping</u>!) </b>🤫</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=719s">music</a> that plays in the depths of Mount Alsandra and at the Enen Desert sounds impending and relentlessly foreboding, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=874s">Caldera Castle's theme</a> is lightheartedly elegant while the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=1001s">Nick Clan theme</a> sounds enjoyably playful (which is apropos as their segment <b>is</b> riddle-based), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=1137s">Toadstool Cave's theme</a> is intimidatingly ominous-sounding throughout, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=1473s">Tree Island's theme</a> sounds wholesomely atmospheric and on occasion quite bouncy, if you choose to have Krino help Nubs learn how to play the viola you're greeted to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=1741s">very relaxing melody</a> that is soothing for the soul, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=2268s">boss theme</a> is ceaselessly hectic, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=2099s">Zouna's theme</a> (heard whenever you lose all your lives, after you defeated him at the end, <b>or</b> during any bad ending scenario) has a pessimistic air about it to the point that it saps out all hope.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGdkSxpQdkjSdYmU_QV4LX7sDKQngFkDozP6g033DY8gh8FvWJivmSF5nPaGMLZJo3vJGFZWhL4-oCpzxXKzjHKlk9eZeL6IYEPiQejTuYOnTg_v80jhPfR-gf5vExu397il4AqVXZEhoDAcDxkDECMA-kO7Qp70oui9LHgSnMWuaRMlbAqNlG6htxVw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGdkSxpQdkjSdYmU_QV4LX7sDKQngFkDozP6g033DY8gh8FvWJivmSF5nPaGMLZJo3vJGFZWhL4-oCpzxXKzjHKlk9eZeL6IYEPiQejTuYOnTg_v80jhPfR-gf5vExu397il4AqVXZEhoDAcDxkDECMA-kO7Qp70oui9LHgSnMWuaRMlbAqNlG6htxVw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiGy4DjPd9YkOAsRTpYmjnX-WrDGCudXIxeOtsfndV6VBbBBak2HTt5lgjI_YVUrvFVnypaQgrwlKLpkicg5CLM1BvP17wwmbbGeEQX6pAWhtzDv_UISqxmBTUFu527jA3O3XnS5kRl8nMdh-2CSdq62kxg5tghgplF-AJt_7Mt9kTdmtBeyiyjXKIYg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiGy4DjPd9YkOAsRTpYmjnX-WrDGCudXIxeOtsfndV6VBbBBak2HTt5lgjI_YVUrvFVnypaQgrwlKLpkicg5CLM1BvP17wwmbbGeEQX6pAWhtzDv_UISqxmBTUFu527jA3O3XnS5kRl8nMdh-2CSdq62kxg5tghgplF-AJt_7Mt9kTdmtBeyiyjXKIYg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Buck upping the ante to his knife juggle act by going at it blindfolded | Right: Standing at the foot of Toadstool Cave</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=196s">"Sunny Skies"</a> is the standout theme of them all as it's played throughout the majority of the game (including during the ending credits, which I'm very grateful for), and my favorite in the entire soundtrack, it's <b>sort of</b> similar to the main theme you hear in <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> only here it's more inspiring and hopeful to listen to, the fast-tempo orchestration is on-point (the swells... 😭), and it fits Krino to a <b>T</b>; in fact, this theme is like a character in of itself, it gets me pumped every time I hear it (I could listen to it for such a long time and never get tired of it, it's that good), not to mention it is <b>so empowering</b>! <b><u>I love this theme SO MUCH</u></b>, it's <b>*chef's kiss*</b>! 😙</span><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">🎔</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNSu6mo02_N87EuLEMzkgaeE81FucFX0vl0vKlHHCV3fGpEh0iLAKEEsoVi-qo347p2Un3sBFkMofF303MZGIm1ByhKQjqHVTP5v38dni7vG1wZADgQuaDAQwYvXTjSIyLa_JtwduBIzv71zjFSNnu1y2PgUGsjLgzR_vs8r51r9XFkB910jfhauLtqg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNSu6mo02_N87EuLEMzkgaeE81FucFX0vl0vKlHHCV3fGpEh0iLAKEEsoVi-qo347p2Un3sBFkMofF303MZGIm1ByhKQjqHVTP5v38dni7vG1wZADgQuaDAQwYvXTjSIyLa_JtwduBIzv71zjFSNnu1y2PgUGsjLgzR_vs8r51r9XFkB910jfhauLtqg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC-wXodNlsFbeG_jhqbkoyKgpIAXqOHfbPcFgXN7mkz03G8m-CZH9qvgtbol5L77mfZ8ZWd9vzgVj1SATheXrHGIydp-CNp-ZBJC2JbLc37h5Hip3TAOqR-rg9Y8Rm9FSc_7Bb21thJSa9Fiu6eG6-WlSE1_Puj_YccSh-kCAi4Gxq9Z4jyQ6_Kr30Ow=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC-wXodNlsFbeG_jhqbkoyKgpIAXqOHfbPcFgXN7mkz03G8m-CZH9qvgtbol5L77mfZ8ZWd9vzgVj1SATheXrHGIydp-CNp-ZBJC2JbLc37h5Hip3TAOqR-rg9Y8Rm9FSc_7Bb21thJSa9Fiu6eG6-WlSE1_Puj_YccSh-kCAi4Gxq9Z4jyQ6_Kr30Ow=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: What's worse than pollen? Sprinkling spores that will absolutely <u>shock</u> you to the touch, that's what! | Right: Jabbing that dopey-eyed tan-colored imp</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The Legendary Tower has got an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=1927s">epic powerhouse theme</a> which is equal parts emotional and empowering as Krino nears the end of his journey's aim and is a perfect theme to hear while undergoing its three tests, and finally before the credits kick in you hear an incredibly rewarding and breathtaking take on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-gztU-jeM&t=2428s">Valkyrie's theme</a> (first heard almost six years prior in <i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i>) and is such a wonderful way to bookend the story of Krino's first venture as the two finally meet, and its top-notch sound quality makes it impactful to absorb once its concluded. The sound effects are lightheartedly cartoony, I like the sound of the impact made by the pitchfork, the sound when Krino revs up his high jump and Whirlowind Attack, the timpani drum (I think?) sound for when Krino makes a hard landing and bounces up into the air as a result, and when a boss lets out an echoic grunt upon being defeated it sounds super satisfying.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU322OBmTaAcX_iaxD7stYhSb_D2R99fIyDDVzI0TNufhOlM0UjI0OPubhaoAauzGMiolWVylzygJ_79OD3aRl6oPC2uii_ch6eHMKjlOrMGnezmV2udjcUs36BE74px0NQVmblHZ2m4ea3c1wDNzi5D6Vz4G_L2G1uVw4KQdUVbff70Suvk_vxpEumQ=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="640" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU322OBmTaAcX_iaxD7stYhSb_D2R99fIyDDVzI0TNufhOlM0UjI0OPubhaoAauzGMiolWVylzygJ_79OD3aRl6oPC2uii_ch6eHMKjlOrMGnezmV2udjcUs36BE74px0NQVmblHZ2m4ea3c1wDNzi5D6Vz4G_L2G1uVw4KQdUVbff70Suvk_vxpEumQ=w400-h286" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">At an unspecified date in 1992 gamers who owned a Super Nintendo console in Europe and Australia got to play the localized version of </span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> but as <i>Whirlo</i> (with <b>it</b> being adopted as the main character's name likely in reference to his Whirlowind Attack) albeit in <b>very</b> limited quantity, and... I have a sincere apology to make. 😔 Responsible for the PAL cover art was Gregory James Martin ("Greg Martin" for short) who was an American freelance illustrator and artist for Disney and Hanna-Barbera properties during his start,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uNjfzb6gI-BxNdWfdLF-930ou3a5tYCY6aABKaNIuK13nwh7sw3amIc2WqKPL5j3K0x97nM2f5IsHnniDlI-oUeshRDh1U0xWXEeATCR03JCh8ME9BL43XIXb5pSAGlxeLXkMP8Mo4u19fa8W1MprrsHRi6-pCVxw8Is6mDaYaUX-JnM7WYAfVVZWQ/s1800/GregMartin_BoxArtCovers+.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uNjfzb6gI-BxNdWfdLF-930ou3a5tYCY6aABKaNIuK13nwh7sw3amIc2WqKPL5j3K0x97nM2f5IsHnniDlI-oUeshRDh1U0xWXEeATCR03JCh8ME9BL43XIXb5pSAGlxeLXkMP8Mo4u19fa8W1MprrsHRi6-pCVxw8Is6mDaYaUX-JnM7WYAfVVZWQ/w400-h266/GregMartin_BoxArtCovers+.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">but would become more popular as the cover artist for the North American versions for a lot of iconic video games released during the '90s, especially Sega's <i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> franchise for the first half of the decade,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidatkhBPbtz8Hq1XLkdqcw0h-fzNlLjQ7SpPZhmr9BEezqZkIxdQmFsTkW12BFfkl6Y2ZdLm2rEDo0D85LW1rdR44VajrvBIQ0PWIDM9njqS01ICtwTSSxzCXnCj1HyqdFBvnSitS8ALtjS7fpH-V4xAiOq1NWYDMQlmZqV8-jg5ZtO12kHklwa6DHRg=s533" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="533" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidatkhBPbtz8Hq1XLkdqcw0h-fzNlLjQ7SpPZhmr9BEezqZkIxdQmFsTkW12BFfkl6Y2ZdLm2rEDo0D85LW1rdR44VajrvBIQ0PWIDM9njqS01ICtwTSSxzCXnCj1HyqdFBvnSitS8ALtjS7fpH-V4xAiOq1NWYDMQlmZqV8-jg5ZtO12kHklwa6DHRg=w200-h113" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaG15SzczF8Gu_W6Rqp4-Fi_cW5iuwM54MhFQU7vPoPApAzIWVznhlwKwEXX5FHnh3BCAbpLPUZbK-JJEhvsfb02pi2QoRzru7cRbL0vau6ruDwVELsLdwVWK4mfFDOaFPOF3_1_HfnIH8g0K4-_l9-19DQL2ZpwbrBW-NxoyuLRMsib_jA2JXgidkig=s511" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="511" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaG15SzczF8Gu_W6Rqp4-Fi_cW5iuwM54MhFQU7vPoPApAzIWVznhlwKwEXX5FHnh3BCAbpLPUZbK-JJEhvsfb02pi2QoRzru7cRbL0vau6ruDwVELsLdwVWK4mfFDOaFPOF3_1_HfnIH8g0K4-_l9-19DQL2ZpwbrBW-NxoyuLRMsib_jA2JXgidkig=w200-h114" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>One of the reasons I wanted to cover this game again was because in January while I was at work I thought of </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Whirlo</i><b>'s cover art and in the back of my mind I subconsciously made a connection to </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Super Adventure Island</i><b>'s cover art before verifying for myself to see if both shared the same artist through Google, and they did (not going to lie, I'm a little wigged out that I managed put two and two together on my own</b> 😲<b>); it's the expressiveness, purposefully animated nature, and delicate brush strokes that tipped me off, also the <u>eyes</u></b> 👀</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">the American cover for Produce's sole contribution to Hudson Soft's <i>Takahashi Meijin</i>/<i>Adventure Island</i> franchise supervised by Westone with <i>Takahashi Meijin no Daibōken Jima</i>/<i>Super Adventure Island</i> and the cover for the Iguana Entertainment/Iguana UK co-developed sequel to Sunsoft's former American mascot <i>Aero the Acro-Bat 2</i>; he sadly passed away on May 21st, 2013 at the age of 56 but wasn't made publicly known until the start of 2014. When I first saw <i>Whirlo</i>'s cover, however (post-giving this game another chance in January 2016, and ending up learning to love it the further I went along) my initial reaction was... not all that positive, and the reason why was because I had grown very fond of Krino Xandra as a character and his selfless resolve, so for me to see his European counterpart Whirlo cradling gold in his arm and appearing to look at it intently (almost with a sense of avarice) didn't particularly sit well with me given his sense of altruism and felt very out of character.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDa6pvw3npbiry7Sjc5FrJ2E-mvXxtOQI-uRAXw5QZTMtuyWvCI7qoBnHZ-vnq7bUm5ay7_YKTRLjJtPMpSuGBb_llKdmquQ28tDrhEVj3GfEpbvOnDgFvyEBEm8LdaplRj_rKoJ72j_0xXK4B0nEt40PdbLqm3l8dCgH9Kf1AQfaWu8RX_ufonKDhVQ=s114" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="114" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDa6pvw3npbiry7Sjc5FrJ2E-mvXxtOQI-uRAXw5QZTMtuyWvCI7qoBnHZ-vnq7bUm5ay7_YKTRLjJtPMpSuGBb_llKdmquQ28tDrhEVj3GfEpbvOnDgFvyEBEm8LdaplRj_rKoJ72j_0xXK4B0nEt40PdbLqm3l8dCgH9Kf1AQfaWu8RX_ufonKDhVQ" width="114" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Even if he <u>was</u> in it for the riches, no amount of gold--no matter how generous--is going to help anyone out of a plague</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">But years have passed, I'm turning 31 on April 5th, I've learned to mellow and accept that this has happened. It's no big deal. Alas, I've brought up my displeasure of <i>Whirlo</i>'s cover on a few occasions on my blog (and, I regret to inform, on a couple websites) and one time took it so personally (again, I love the main character) that in hindsight I fear I may have crossed a line. <b>*pauses, breathes in, breathes out*</b> When I Google searched Greg Martin's artwork (not knowing anything about him until these recent months) back in January to see if he shared a connection with both <i>Super Adventure Island</i>'s and <i>Whirlo</i>'s cover art (he did), I was alarmed to discover that he had since passed away all these years ago. Alarmed because I thought of those times I was harsh on the cover art and portrayal of the main character, not having realized that Martin was no longer among the living; learning of his passing changed everything. I felt like I had needlessly soiled on this artist's legacy in hindsight when I shouldn't have, all those times of feeling like I was improving little by little as a reviewer only to wonder if I was actually getting worse (giving me pause over whether I had improved at all) and <b>this</b> was one of those instances.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihNmtC90y4IbK0M2fMGWQzIzQpF4LGnt9RpGAq0FNgeXkocEZuuMFHFM-HduY3-yrH_JiXjGKjWpt68B3cGA0yJ6Ht5ZHELM1aVUXvL2Y1hJfpsEPzjQkwJCs8qbicUxXQjeq4lzosCEtbXhX2q96wH0X-wnh4y1wbuaHA_wtQHSI1oY79weFaRDs-Sw=s1010" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1010" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihNmtC90y4IbK0M2fMGWQzIzQpF4LGnt9RpGAq0FNgeXkocEZuuMFHFM-HduY3-yrH_JiXjGKjWpt68B3cGA0yJ6Ht5ZHELM1aVUXvL2Y1hJfpsEPzjQkwJCs8qbicUxXQjeq4lzosCEtbXhX2q96wH0X-wnh4y1wbuaHA_wtQHSI1oY79weFaRDs-Sw=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching MovieClips' <i>The Elephant Man</i> clip, property of Paramount Pictures, on YouTube; that introspective movie line is so iconic</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I'm sorry, Greg Martin. 😔 I'm sorry I didn't realize what an impact your art had for those who gamed during the '90s. I'm sorry I expressed my distaste for your <i>Whirlo</i> cover the way I did (more than once) in years past, it was wrong and inexcusable; I'm sorry I went hard on it when I should not have. I'm sorry for not having known that you had died all these years ago, I've felt horrible about it since. I'm sorry for possibly tarnishing your legacy with my harsh words from the past without even realizing. I'm sorry for everything. Some thoughts rushed through my head upon learning of his passing: how could I <b>possibly</b> continue reviewing (knowing what I had done) and how I should've approached it with more empathy (if critiquing gives off the air that one lacks empathy, what is even the point in doing it?)? ... I <b>need</b> to do better, and I'm going to start <b>here</b>. 👇</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3TVCPgcUFc-2QvZhK8_KAPXc2JPH8K0PlWBOMEu5Sf99M_RZysLfDfQ3xbp6r72_ntGlPCJSq0qpQffZhNvm26xW0x0g4cfaqi5clUaOHnDeGIYxRhUzMh4KCLU7F-xr9xD4tkniDBG1Oh05Yh-yqqdyO8KLr6pbazEtM24ZsH_OX_a7B5jv_6zXeXg=s265" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="245" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3TVCPgcUFc-2QvZhK8_KAPXc2JPH8K0PlWBOMEu5Sf99M_RZysLfDfQ3xbp6r72_ntGlPCJSq0qpQffZhNvm26xW0x0g4cfaqi5clUaOHnDeGIYxRhUzMh4KCLU7F-xr9xD4tkniDBG1Oh05Yh-yqqdyO8KLr6pbazEtM24ZsH_OX_a7B5jv_6zXeXg" width="245" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLNa5lyls9JdSj3xdOlbi4363lImsi_pr-TEG6OBhzSTXmy0yxjO7BhmcEu5jjJCmPVgaSttbp9j8XHg-nhFySPWX4g0EDAH9_RebS-yEpILSB-_IyA8SxLrSewLYMtwb1czuyjw4OgP1Bd0Tz4PLuezin2WNa2AtYPw_b1jkci634x8lvNXsFCfLKuw=s140" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLNa5lyls9JdSj3xdOlbi4363lImsi_pr-TEG6OBhzSTXmy0yxjO7BhmcEu5jjJCmPVgaSttbp9j8XHg-nhFySPWX4g0EDAH9_RebS-yEpILSB-_IyA8SxLrSewLYMtwb1czuyjw4OgP1Bd0Tz4PLuezin2WNa2AtYPw_b1jkci634x8lvNXsFCfLKuw" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Images of the back of the Japanese box and from the front of the European cover from GamesFAQs, cropped by me; wait, you're giving an affable presence like Krino Xandra in-game angry eyes, Namco of Europe? You're giving... </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Whirlo</u><b>... angry eyes? </b>🤔<b> I can't help but feel that this decision may have been a bit counterintuitive, even if it's only on a surface level and doesn't reflect his personality one bit (which is kind and giving)</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The gameplay, structure, and overall quality is pretty much identical in both versions, the first stage added some extra lines of dialogue teaching you its controls, and certain characters were given name changes: Quarkman was changed to "Cualkman", Zuhl was now known as "Slick", Andy's gender was changed from a mother figure to a father figure, Andy's daughter Sabine was changed to a son named "Steven", and the main villain Zouna became a villainess named "Malix"*. But the most notable change of them all was the main character being given angry eyes as a neutral (albeit purely surface level) expression, which is very baffling that Namco of Europe would go in this direction (especially since the cover art shows him being happy). I'm not <b>as</b> disdainful that this happened like I was in previous years due to my affinity for Krino Xandra as a character, perhaps Namco's PAL division** didn't feel the game would be taken as seriously with a wide-eyed expression (as if the opening wasn't gripping from the get go), but I do find that it showed a lack of cognizance on their part and likely applied this visual change purely out of culture bias.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Malix takes fifteen Whirlowind Attacks in order to defeat in the end whereas Zouna required <u>twenty-four</u> Whirlowind Attacks in all, making for a comparatively easier fight in the PAL version; I know this because I recently got to play the NTSC SNES repro cart of <i>Whirlo</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>** I have not seen any indication that this game was ever officially slated for an American release, but given that Greg Martin generally designed the cover art for the <u>North American</u> region's version of a game, I'm curious if it may have been a possibility and whether the changes in the PAL version were influenced by Namco's American division</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmvHc_cL-KbyV0BbUXH-gW9_zLk6LTInZ0phbePILHbiiQf_04X7P92lmY89yb05w8bRVTEZ58yWs5Syq7BVzE3daTQrZtu-ohXg0hfqE25EeslS86LN9jf-bteP9Sld35MNXr03EHkJV0CJ8RKIMBsD9UDQFW0HNr3NOvxOzjMmdGykT1udxOHubkUA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmvHc_cL-KbyV0BbUXH-gW9_zLk6LTInZ0phbePILHbiiQf_04X7P92lmY89yb05w8bRVTEZ58yWs5Syq7BVzE3daTQrZtu-ohXg0hfqE25EeslS86LN9jf-bteP9Sld35MNXr03EHkJV0CJ8RKIMBsD9UDQFW0HNr3NOvxOzjMmdGykT1udxOHubkUA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ0wuV1bDFh_lRP4rwr2R_Y6CTjco9yfVJWprYTfrVi2ZL62rGiHzA166HOkZmlhAPcXKfQahhQElVSUlpM87yLoSJevKm5Mo9momIFT6UMv6Xf8RT_Wy-K12tCj6VgdMrP-5NSCyAcRwE5Ztgxl-XF35cC9_d-mfe3PqUMiAQ7nYm0GiA3rlSi2TtBA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ0wuV1bDFh_lRP4rwr2R_Y6CTjco9yfVJWprYTfrVi2ZL62rGiHzA166HOkZmlhAPcXKfQahhQElVSUlpM87yLoSJevKm5Mo9momIFT6UMv6Xf8RT_Wy-K12tCj6VgdMrP-5NSCyAcRwE5Ztgxl-XF35cC9_d-mfe3PqUMiAQ7nYm0GiA3rlSi2TtBA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Slowly locking in on the target that is Robotian before releasing the powerful attack | Right: Contending with green-colored imps</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Both <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> and <i>Whirlo</i> were given generally mixed reviews upon release: <i>Famitsu</i> handed it a 24 out of 40 (one point higher than they would give Polestar's <i>Magical Pop'n</i> less than three years later), <i>Joypad</i> gave it a 51%, and <i>GameFan</i> a 249 out of 400 as they didn't feel all that strongly for it, on the other hand you had <i>HobbyConsolas</i>, <i>Super Play</i>, and <i>Superjuego</i>s who were <b>highly</b> receptive to it as they awarded the game an 89 out of 100, 88%, and a 93 out of 100 respectively. It certainly split critics down the middle, but fortunately those among the audience who played it had a higher sense of appreciation for it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiveA17lyN_-qPu7693kX6u--brnIvaDLSjAzpAZNrKkoNdr5tujlDSBpNRrPNoo9TonXpHN5MjEQTo_S4-3e-dUdyFz9kE4iYTjorXEmAJETRqAQsULwfEM5GeF92u7XdeItNgoZda7RvDP-NgfAJOusa1GY6TWTILr6IbZlcQSRwSUi-ywwhsoEtSsQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiveA17lyN_-qPu7693kX6u--brnIvaDLSjAzpAZNrKkoNdr5tujlDSBpNRrPNoo9TonXpHN5MjEQTo_S4-3e-dUdyFz9kE4iYTjorXEmAJETRqAQsULwfEM5GeF92u7XdeItNgoZda7RvDP-NgfAJOusa1GY6TWTILr6IbZlcQSRwSUi-ywwhsoEtSsQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxQKEVpmHHmM8y7XYNvlSwNDm7fawBxIH73_F1ZPf6ABQOtVpi_8FRuhymbL3e3SIHSXW14eDhwrwDRShb1rtXHIxpHOntOOtibWrY6X6IQDYdnwwCrvA8LvZB8QfOEc2CAACm4SFonpF5ZyURiX0tIW95D6Rzx8ZDwmyLJkW2p3uuy8YIXViYNVwJEw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxQKEVpmHHmM8y7XYNvlSwNDm7fawBxIH73_F1ZPf6ABQOtVpi_8FRuhymbL3e3SIHSXW14eDhwrwDRShb1rtXHIxpHOntOOtibWrY6X6IQDYdnwwCrvA8LvZB8QfOEc2CAACm4SFonpF5ZyURiX0tIW95D6Rzx8ZDwmyLJkW2p3uuy8YIXViYNVwJEw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Those Dadatta enemies could almost easily come from a <i>Druaga</i> game (also a Namco IP) | Right: Battling that salamander</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I first learned of today's game less than fourteen (!) years ago while browsing RVGFanatic's website (hi 👋) back when I stumbled across his website back in 2008 and sometime afterward I looked it up on YouTube and saw a short gameplay video by Gonçalo "ShiryuGL" Lopes (also hi, if you stumble across this review 👋) and I remember what screenshots I saw of it looking interesting back then, but wouldn't get to play it for myself until March of 2014 back in the days when I played Super Famicarts on a RetroDuo*. I struggled my way through the first two stages, taking awhile to learn their layout and enemy patterns, which was all well and good... and <b>then</b> I got to Caldera Castle's waterfall vertical scaling segment for the first time which is when things took a turn.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>* This was over a year before I asked for a Super Famiconsole for Christmas in 2015, had I known that American <u>and</u> Japanese products shared the same outlet plugs I would've gone for <u>it</u> at the start; I still feel sheepish to this day not having known that initially</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTeB-UhzNwo48TO1ALYDI1QXxlBE4jOaAsht-nxHazdPvPvS11ysBMcTA3h39iC6Z-HCp99IOZSpdJX2gZAChfeCrRzVhsGomDuO0c_WgWCxtTi4tzdt3vbjGh_5R9TzC8eyV9QPq9LM-W6QrE-giV0M4iKvUSVHZ_ZgEqRA4f48bcEBsBRACoHO92Dg=s104" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="104" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTeB-UhzNwo48TO1ALYDI1QXxlBE4jOaAsht-nxHazdPvPvS11ysBMcTA3h39iC6Z-HCp99IOZSpdJX2gZAChfeCrRzVhsGomDuO0c_WgWCxtTi4tzdt3vbjGh_5R9TzC8eyV9QPq9LM-W6QrE-giV0M4iKvUSVHZ_ZgEqRA4f48bcEBsBRACoHO92Dg" width="104" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji8cSoP_j1k-C-0rcLT_nbo1oB97HYncUzUK70iKw9DoKnaKgOhlCcBJnooxX-2_H_tfTVr6v9kmUMnlBsYtXUxtkjWYI8XOSF4ofx2wnFKmeoUZi7XeraSxkIxM0nHTpBkxUq60fCQgOxcsDFPBiDt8BZLmxPv6Dn3ChG0UPr-lIHHwkYFrMm306RdA=s109" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="87" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji8cSoP_j1k-C-0rcLT_nbo1oB97HYncUzUK70iKw9DoKnaKgOhlCcBJnooxX-2_H_tfTVr6v9kmUMnlBsYtXUxtkjWYI8XOSF4ofx2wnFKmeoUZi7XeraSxkIxM0nHTpBkxUq60fCQgOxcsDFPBiDt8BZLmxPv6Dn3ChG0UPr-lIHHwkYFrMm306RdA" width="87" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">It could be because of the wooden material they're made from, but whenever I see these two rising platforms I always think of the wooden puppet Pino from <i>Toy Pop</i>,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVov98oabl_nuPVqAfMyZYtzluRifFwYHfj5kzN0wrcukOWGTNE5fGElpGQ6T5suSnZeKN1ELRb_rEOIXA5bF9t4ksDzoCJjKPibZL7BNXERCpRgfUsdgpDgA7j2e1lZa42-l06cjw56MLPbDcGriQTbJvJmcKdBAIasn6_2J8VIoY487L55GAT3MKMg=s347" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="347" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVov98oabl_nuPVqAfMyZYtzluRifFwYHfj5kzN0wrcukOWGTNE5fGElpGQ6T5suSnZeKN1ELRb_rEOIXA5bF9t4ksDzoCJjKPibZL7BNXERCpRgfUsdgpDgA7j2e1lZa42-l06cjw56MLPbDcGriQTbJvJmcKdBAIasn6_2J8VIoY487L55GAT3MKMg=w200-h173" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkaEH7wW6Zyb3H4B6OtRoXz_nXjAtMfnAIWQhkRcyW6FAIq90RtwIbQJKgQgZlDy1hHOg10du0_8QD_o1J5PxUyQBDJLu-iUguDzUAVdRG5bEPzI1h-A6DJt5Zwuh5dTR2mMcOlfRpwYOOs8VETPhH9Vuz8THWZ6bOPbwJ5sgkaTbBxy-UiRB77WvsSg=s347" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="347" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkaEH7wW6Zyb3H4B6OtRoXz_nXjAtMfnAIWQhkRcyW6FAIq90RtwIbQJKgQgZlDy1hHOg10du0_8QD_o1J5PxUyQBDJLu-iUguDzUAVdRG5bEPzI1h-A6DJt5Zwuh5dTR2mMcOlfRpwYOOs8VETPhH9Vuz8THWZ6bOPbwJ5sgkaTbBxy-UiRB77WvsSg=w200-h173" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Namco's colorful Japan-exclusive fun and obscure 1986 arcade game made available to play in the West for the first (and only) time in Tose's compilation <i>Namco Museum Volume 1</i> for the PlayStation One during the following decade.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFzoBLksX30ez_xIQAF6-NyBoEtPXZxxz8mZfj8HPT4dNk3UuOglvdaAEhU4rtCn1l2N67YamjScjGRkJPCceHj04I1IlQC5MKKJMY2peZoWqy1HdpofCUioPEDHJ09BeUN3VirYqHb_LfwgQOJFgliG84Igt8C7fTEyKVALtrpict-zVBcluy2kcbpA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFzoBLksX30ez_xIQAF6-NyBoEtPXZxxz8mZfj8HPT4dNk3UuOglvdaAEhU4rtCn1l2N67YamjScjGRkJPCceHj04I1IlQC5MKKJMY2peZoWqy1HdpofCUioPEDHJ09BeUN3VirYqHb_LfwgQOJFgliG84Igt8C7fTEyKVALtrpict-zVBcluy2kcbpA=w200-h154" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMf59CLZszWsoSJIKfFUHhYUCOIb6t_oeRaBbftmxU4CPZWBKMxilIvS89gtlsXtD4iW08YY6dGjDVoxWpBnck3h49T9aDG50pFiKXdl77L-s0_gVC-E9zCeXzCRRahpv-FIfc8E8MpG9eGqYJQXyKgxgwlOwPWK_5Bmg6foyDMnYlHyMv-bJWE0mN_w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMf59CLZszWsoSJIKfFUHhYUCOIb6t_oeRaBbftmxU4CPZWBKMxilIvS89gtlsXtD4iW08YY6dGjDVoxWpBnck3h49T9aDG50pFiKXdl77L-s0_gVC-E9zCeXzCRRahpv-FIfc8E8MpG9eGqYJQXyKgxgwlOwPWK_5Bmg6foyDMnYlHyMv-bJWE0mN_w=w200-h154" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Since September 2021 with Square-Enix's impromptu release of Sonic Powered's <i>Renaissance</i> remake of Quintet's <i>Actraiser</i>/<i>ActRaiser</i>, I've become resigned to the notion that Square-Enix </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">does not care</u><b> about Quintet unless it involves their well-made but in my opinion aggravatingly overexposed inaugural game; it honestly makes me feel both saddened and disheartened that they continue to give </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">it</u><b> special treatment (using <u>its</u> popularity as justification for doing so) </b><b>while this sequel, the <i>Gaia</i> trilogy of games, and <i>Slapstick</i>/<i>Robotrek</i> get <u>nothing</u>?? Nothing post-initial release on a console that is well over three decades old (one not everyone has the luxury to own and afford)?</b> 😞 <b>It's! Not! Fair!</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The irony had been lost on me until near the end of my first playthrough six years ago that I ended up thinking of Quintet's <i>ActRaiser 2</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigxVO81aqFO1FjzC4SPfkVpkKUbwblzd9O69IrvHcsI2D_hWWfltYJ4eYdKkQsUAVUD3d9TXtGtwWmb8ESXsb5h9TQu99hvM_RGCDQfV-kCOBkSpdIBzdMDl-smbJiNMgnq1k8A01PanRgexfrcx0eWA_qUcpylZji0ciFvGhYrm-F4_k_LtSJzZ4UCg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigxVO81aqFO1FjzC4SPfkVpkKUbwblzd9O69IrvHcsI2D_hWWfltYJ4eYdKkQsUAVUD3d9TXtGtwWmb8ESXsb5h9TQu99hvM_RGCDQfV-kCOBkSpdIBzdMDl-smbJiNMgnq1k8A01PanRgexfrcx0eWA_qUcpylZji0ciFvGhYrm-F4_k_LtSJzZ4UCg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcPYKgtx5l_OUCAyJiIvTNo36UQhh5sM5Uccg3H6sWLjKA0cMLzP8maLImc1zqGQMItHv_nnrjQ9h6KKdOsH5xnqUx0IDLXfT13QLPxK4GALmtERkHY_4GX2hrlGlpyD54lvc6vuNLpypxbCVNRyRNZjh4XeSvzy8GZnXONgSgmhSCNLNR7T08GhRqEQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcPYKgtx5l_OUCAyJiIvTNo36UQhh5sM5Uccg3H6sWLjKA0cMLzP8maLImc1zqGQMItHv_nnrjQ9h6KKdOsH5xnqUx0IDLXfT13QLPxK4GALmtERkHY_4GX2hrlGlpyD54lvc6vuNLpypxbCVNRyRNZjh4XeSvzy8GZnXONgSgmhSCNLNR7T08GhRqEQ=w200-h154" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>One of my biggest fears is dying out of fatigue, hence this particular screenshot; fatigue from wanting to be everywhere <u>and</u> do everything all at once but is physically impossible, fatigue from sometimes feeling like I have to stop doing that one thing to do another (sometimes through my own doing, but mainly help when asked for it) going back and forth sometimes frequently (worrying at times that it gets in the way of getting the one thing I'm doing done), not saying anything out of fear of being perceived as selfish or only caring about myself (I don't), feeling guilt for having these feelings to begin with... it's called being a </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">human</u> 😩 <b>*sigh*</b> <b>Such is adulthood</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">It might seem weird that I'm comparing these games to each other, but hear me out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDEgrmhdxc6dbQQpa5CsOupTSzCnJw4zmC5h9NPI-7gDpf2_SW_tkRq3bTPSmFzQoODvjIjjT0NGR_qrFcOAEcO0CjN8VyDinV2mVkSXlF6elbyTqKO-QiTY8CGGMDrFLKgdosbxkhsKr0-vmgPsU8F_ihU_T2qmoL0jZiEg-Dz5XgYGODo7cqpZXHFw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDEgrmhdxc6dbQQpa5CsOupTSzCnJw4zmC5h9NPI-7gDpf2_SW_tkRq3bTPSmFzQoODvjIjjT0NGR_qrFcOAEcO0CjN8VyDinV2mVkSXlF6elbyTqKO-QiTY8CGGMDrFLKgdosbxkhsKr0-vmgPsU8F_ihU_T2qmoL0jZiEg-Dz5XgYGODo7cqpZXHFw=w200-h154" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUFMXHx6nNNcn6lXOUYGsiHnE-LNlTxIn67KB0WoTYtgkgr_goHTUhdyIX3wRoChtqySYO5lbyhrAPwk0DKOvs0mDN8xjCZA5ySv9K-ZI7A8xxzpR_e2OvsBHlqsZUMVJhVBbQhtsVOVn9yyStVwO-XZreFqIxN7wAHSQmUcUB_hiqkQwI9cMhHQl5Nw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUFMXHx6nNNcn6lXOUYGsiHnE-LNlTxIn67KB0WoTYtgkgr_goHTUhdyIX3wRoChtqySYO5lbyhrAPwk0DKOvs0mDN8xjCZA5ySv9K-ZI7A8xxzpR_e2OvsBHlqsZUMVJhVBbQhtsVOVn9yyStVwO-XZreFqIxN7wAHSQmUcUB_hiqkQwI9cMhHQl5Nw=w200-h154" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Back when I first played <i>ActRaiser 2</i> all the way back in October 2011 I was drawn to its gameplay, and no matter how hard it got I stuck with it until the end of its three difficulties for I did not give up on it (and I know there are plenty who had); I did not give <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> the same due back in March 2014 because I was having difficulty with the upscaling waterfall segment and fell prey to the Fox and the Grapes Syndrome because after several attempts and failing that portion I gave up on the game altogether. This game was my <i>ActRaiser 2</i>. After giving up on the waterfall segment, though, I made the grave mistake of prejudging this game's quality as a whole after only having played through over a quarter of it as a middling game that was depressing--that was also wrong of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd1pDXCKchRUkHZgfBlaX0cel9SINTXl7mdw0eycLbp5_241hmD54rzWGiAkndIQtJVY0c8urx_v5Gmyc-2JdpcPRymKsMylyjYfoK7VJhXW62faNutjBaoPyDMBoU_RuN9nx8PwJfL1ynhkeSTKECRYapFWkQ9_gL37D-GQ_pYvq4wLykU8k7ziZOGA=s288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd1pDXCKchRUkHZgfBlaX0cel9SINTXl7mdw0eycLbp5_241hmD54rzWGiAkndIQtJVY0c8urx_v5Gmyc-2JdpcPRymKsMylyjYfoK7VJhXW62faNutjBaoPyDMBoU_RuN9nx8PwJfL1ynhkeSTKECRYapFWkQ9_gL37D-GQ_pYvq4wLykU8k7ziZOGA" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>SABINE, NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!</b> 😫</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> is not depressing in the slightest (though if you only got up to a point where you saw its dark intro and worked so hard to reunite Andy with Sabine only for them to get separated <b>again</b> after the Crescent Moon King exacts revenge upon being defeated, you'd probably be hard-pressed to think otherwise), things do get better from there. The sad truth was my initial feelings derived from bad timing: in my last year of college, I remember one of my professors being visibly upset that only four of his pupils (among them, me) were passing his class while the rest weren't and didn't hold back on his disappointment one iota (as 3D modeling was his passion), to the point that he asked the whole class, "Do you want to end up like <b>van Gogh</b>?!"--i.e. unsuccessful in life. I remember feeling shook up, scared and uncertain of my future, it kind of affected my mood a bit, compound that with me seeing the cutscene with Andy and Sabine split up <b>and</b> having no patience for the upward scaling waterfall segment feeling like I failed the game altogether (and Krino's infant child)...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVXEqkWgBC4YcTRcXmqNbdVocsjqUIAH8smF6G-zV6__P8gzDuvkCEvFk_oSMo4uiAmUQhcqLEAGcnovpoDOcr_uQBo7uTmmBfWgz49ilUkuii6zP0pq5oLPky0sR5vF18RXo1-PLvM6BOdHNN3m4o417-W-W93ABXy1HCHoFRf3B1g2NOoSL2JWVQQ/s60/XandraNoDaiboken_PainedExpression.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="60" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVXEqkWgBC4YcTRcXmqNbdVocsjqUIAH8smF6G-zV6__P8gzDuvkCEvFk_oSMo4uiAmUQhcqLEAGcnovpoDOcr_uQBo7uTmmBfWgz49ilUkuii6zP0pq5oLPky0sR5vF18RXo1-PLvM6BOdHNN3m4o417-W-W93ABXy1HCHoFRf3B1g2NOoSL2JWVQQ/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_PainedExpression.png" width="60" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">a disastrous recipe, if I do say so myself. If I had played this game for the first time literally during any other point in my life (I mean, </span><b style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">any</b><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> other point), I hope that I would have been kinder on it. 😔</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigLSoiOSsjJz12SlB2b8ya6q9wfEZbv_ZE_bY277c8rRyRg8H_WJyArmEQdGl24pBo8LnEEiqacDcG3j4MV3-drOTfyuX9iYyQ1JPgZ5nWxaT_JqKFY1h4OqJThKsBTOLCoC_1CoYIIJ8Il6MuOQvs84YUpIpadaa1rH192tE2LV7geuqoGax7bsFY0A=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigLSoiOSsjJz12SlB2b8ya6q9wfEZbv_ZE_bY277c8rRyRg8H_WJyArmEQdGl24pBo8LnEEiqacDcG3j4MV3-drOTfyuX9iYyQ1JPgZ5nWxaT_JqKFY1h4OqJThKsBTOLCoC_1CoYIIJ8Il6MuOQvs84YUpIpadaa1rH192tE2LV7geuqoGax7bsFY0A=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO_sCkGCpnT96pRTr-hM9B-Ra-XKPTj8ZdEQNTJp-QNDJNCojijEV4vjU1WQXsnA7VDpA3LyW8ZVM1Gsx7EDGt47CmhDrpYUvLBKlG10L8d952-Mx12klDpatEPO84g9RviUjVAekxnWJfjPy7Lg2HvvuYymnBG0_BGtCdGNZozrkXRyRrbrGJ_Tzcuw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO_sCkGCpnT96pRTr-hM9B-Ra-XKPTj8ZdEQNTJp-QNDJNCojijEV4vjU1WQXsnA7VDpA3LyW8ZVM1Gsx7EDGt47CmhDrpYUvLBKlG10L8d952-Mx12klDpatEPO84g9RviUjVAekxnWJfjPy7Lg2HvvuYymnBG0_BGtCdGNZozrkXRyRrbrGJ_Tzcuw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Rafting across | Right: It's <strike>Sabine</strike> that mysterious Quarkman again, this time holding a staff sitting down under an ominous thundering sky</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Once I got a Super Famicom console for Christmas on 2015 I promised to myself to give </span><i style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Xandra no Daibōken</i><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> another chance on January 1st, 2016, sort of like a New Year's resolution, only this time I was going to stick through it 'til the end no matter what; I did not want to repeat the same mistake. After learning to get my timing right and go with the flow (with each step you make on the opposing platforms with a well-executed high jump, the faster they start to operate), I finally managed to surpass what I first thought was impossible which made me happy; not only that, the further I went along (despite the challenge value) the more the game grew on me, I got to appreciate and recognize its many strong qualities, and for that became one of my favorites. <a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2016/01/xandra-no-daiboken-sfc-review.html">I reviewed it</a> back in January 2016 and gave it an 8 out of 10, which I still feel is a fair score (but this time I wanted to articulate myself in a better and levelheaded manner and be up to date with the information as I got a few things wrong), and in the years since I caught up with the Valkyrie-led games in the series <i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i> on a 500 in 1 plug-and-play NES-like system (since one of my mom's friends knew I was into retro gaming) in Christmas of 2018, and <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> I would play on the compilation <i>Namco Museum Volume 5</i> on January 2020 (<b>the</b> highest I've ever spent ordering a game on eBay to date). And in the years since I've played through <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> several more times (and caught up with <i>Whirlo</i> via an NTSC SNES repro cart this year... it's okay, they can coexist in the same room together). 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmlVzklqAKLMB2X_JfAAFWvGI3dUjA8x_bnRAfzZ4ufIBOWtrjRABjjjrTi93dZ1Gd9TOERgDlbC2OfuhcUYMYDg5USE-LGYlGsR3QiTysPhSTAx_Bia5BmDemIp8dAOSB6GoctG53rS17_5D_EHkxOKdwmkyPnCl7TEC3V9Uy8JWWaKUyd5uFk-4dQ/s280/XandraNoDaiboken_StorePassword.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="280" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmlVzklqAKLMB2X_JfAAFWvGI3dUjA8x_bnRAfzZ4ufIBOWtrjRABjjjrTi93dZ1Gd9TOERgDlbC2OfuhcUYMYDg5USE-LGYlGsR3QiTysPhSTAx_Bia5BmDemIp8dAOSB6GoctG53rS17_5D_EHkxOKdwmkyPnCl7TEC3V9Uy8JWWaKUyd5uFk-4dQ/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_StorePassword.png" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">This password only works for the Japanese version, it is not yet known what the European version's password for this segment is</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Shortly after the first time I beat this game in 2016 I learned via a YouTube video (due my obsession with the music track "Sunny Skies") that there was a password that led to the inside of the store in Tree Island that is normally inaccessible during the normal game, immediately placing you there but without any preceding cutscene.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNbKr3ATzpX5eYsnOKHY9CTjRkCTKumaV25ZRqZI_XlLjBWnumr11Fw_wi5VCtSr0dbohxm3hazynxYhy5yIyiOPCA6k-iis2Dmo38sV3-WK-iTLOg8fSN9fM10EhZH5WN_R6_fuEGw6nTepwnNe_pJuJWGPR2fAp-pbaMTuEUtnCggnZ9UgJX1fUmQ/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_IcySkid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNbKr3ATzpX5eYsnOKHY9CTjRkCTKumaV25ZRqZI_XlLjBWnumr11Fw_wi5VCtSr0dbohxm3hazynxYhy5yIyiOPCA6k-iis2Dmo38sV3-WK-iTLOg8fSN9fM10EhZH5WN_R6_fuEGw6nTepwnNe_pJuJWGPR2fAp-pbaMTuEUtnCggnZ9UgJX1fUmQ/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_IcySkid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUE9N4IHm6USl-sqv-It2CsIlg9WN8FhN2GR2buPQhHjGpOC1s9mteW3Nox1S_mnkphRUBV8JcMAqx9H484fuqSUGPF9LETiOshG8T6fyTukMRbG0odAui5WTHwbgdC9vW560AeKSKoavMpIkeWeC-KD7yfQ8Jwc9m3brD_0T9YxRmRepE705rSODQ/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_IcyWhirlwind.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUE9N4IHm6USl-sqv-It2CsIlg9WN8FhN2GR2buPQhHjGpOC1s9mteW3Nox1S_mnkphRUBV8JcMAqx9H484fuqSUGPF9LETiOshG8T6fyTukMRbG0odAui5WTHwbgdC9vW560AeKSKoavMpIkeWeC-KD7yfQ8Jwc9m3brD_0T9YxRmRepE705rSODQ/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_IcyWhirlwind.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Noticeable right off the bat is the light crystal count being down to zero, which certainly makes the whole accessing the Legendary Tower at the Enen Desert a bit problematic</b> 😖</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Essentially it is one vast elongated segment devoid of enemies where you start at the top and must venture all the way to the bottom until you exit through the door with the leaf motif on it, but it is not as simple as it sounds though.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2fZcplkNCzx1KK7djOGn85qvYv97xr7352F0uxHEajZpk3L74dXDzG0vzSJeaq5eAXwaRZnIqgLxwcWUMN6ocZbXfQQ_9Pk36pTqBDn5KnP-RrNVGHD_R7UzoGVIdvAZQlp4GwMfmM7dZ2lu_wjhj6xcPP2QQ2Gfvq765Gj4jBZ4ZaJoQYfHTyDM4g/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_ForkedIce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2fZcplkNCzx1KK7djOGn85qvYv97xr7352F0uxHEajZpk3L74dXDzG0vzSJeaq5eAXwaRZnIqgLxwcWUMN6ocZbXfQQ_9Pk36pTqBDn5KnP-RrNVGHD_R7UzoGVIdvAZQlp4GwMfmM7dZ2lu_wjhj6xcPP2QQ2Gfvq765Gj4jBZ4ZaJoQYfHTyDM4g/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_ForkedIce.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz8JsogA-f1k-txLvFK-x-aZzUEJq_zct3bY5KcNNhpiBIOfWyEI72TM5s6z5VbgS2C9VLwmiGjR1keiK6w_x3R9Qx9ziCxxlSuIYKFXz3MxbUPxcaHxVJXUwh-oYmSXYyqqh4yhegqy__M_h1-Vetm4b-Sd114ZYxPjKQmDvW8aSygJWkQy_3hCpig/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_SharpDeath.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz8JsogA-f1k-txLvFK-x-aZzUEJq_zct3bY5KcNNhpiBIOfWyEI72TM5s6z5VbgS2C9VLwmiGjR1keiK6w_x3R9Qx9ziCxxlSuIYKFXz3MxbUPxcaHxVJXUwh-oYmSXYyqqh4yhegqy__M_h1-Vetm4b-Sd114ZYxPjKQmDvW8aSygJWkQy_3hCpig/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_SharpDeath.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Due to everything being frozen in place the grounds are a bit slippery, it is replete with frozen icicles above <b>and</b> below certain platforms that will easily cost you a life if you're not careful, it's got lots of inclines that you occasionally must bypass via a Whirlowind Attack, sometimes you'll have to strike the pitchfork downward to ensure you don't accidentally bounce off a platform below you (potentially unto icicles) should you fall down a certain distance, and unlike other prolonged segments where they at least had a midway point after losing a life you must tread lightly and carefully do it in <b>one go</b> otherwise you have to start over again no matter how far you got. Entering the door with the leaf motif will instantly take you to Neverland without any cutscene in-between and wind up skipping the opening conversation with Walter altogehter.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIJxRiV0dyC6Q7xKN359ZeJieD3OhkUGizTM1UUu-YatUCzfhRyxZmygtViww7VIgM3ctP7m8wbVwMMptpeD2ppqrSTtmjBadNVf88Ppdi7-uUEsMUqrezxMnyDqIVwu3jISWSp0GcvwiFeOi8TvX2yBO-E37DD8r1LnC9UIEJm6_Vk4j0vtie4Z-sw/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_StoreOwner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIJxRiV0dyC6Q7xKN359ZeJieD3OhkUGizTM1UUu-YatUCzfhRyxZmygtViww7VIgM3ctP7m8wbVwMMptpeD2ppqrSTtmjBadNVf88Ppdi7-uUEsMUqrezxMnyDqIVwu3jISWSp0GcvwiFeOi8TvX2yBO-E37DD8r1LnC9UIEJm6_Vk4j0vtie4Z-sw/s16000/XandraNoDaiboken_StoreOwner.png" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The only proof in-game of this segment's existence is the leaf motif door and frigid indoor environment upon entering Tree Island's store through its window with the store owner trapped inside. I can certainly see why Namco removed it from the game proper, it is a bit overlong and can get a bit steep even for its difficulty plus the prospect of having to undergo it all in one go lest you start over is not exactly an appealing one. The icy store segment is definitely a manageable curiosity if you take the time, but not one you would particularly miss when it's over.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgL43HEAGQeKbjAKQsVwM6-QJJ6klj_uDj29-keGv-eBsguAAbOfcTmv7IX-0eFvNsxlIt3m7VWMOXYX9AYQ7ftpYSXVz-YPU6EhQzcpLurXS7WM1SwDCWCLygoMDvJ7rkwM2XJDLwD5CUb8pka3P6jkRxiOHV1CYUD1dtjsWMG9pDsN5zfrKiA0D4Q/s280/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapPassword.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="280" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgL43HEAGQeKbjAKQsVwM6-QJJ6klj_uDj29-keGv-eBsguAAbOfcTmv7IX-0eFvNsxlIt3m7VWMOXYX9AYQ7ftpYSXVz-YPU6EhQzcpLurXS7WM1SwDCWCLygoMDvJ7rkwM2XJDLwD5CUb8pka3P6jkRxiOHV1CYUD1dtjsWMG9pDsN5zfrKiA0D4Q/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapPassword.png" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">According to The Cutting Room Floor, this password works for both <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> <u>and</u> <i>Whirlo</i></span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">And during the past year I learned that there was another special password, this time taking you to its test map.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXybKC_o3g-PUg6-hj8djNI7iwy7n9Y-C7yr9I6oYIT-s8xDi6YURPjmLwFK_07N-7aIpZtm3N1Zg33n5TnX037FRdyZB7DxMcUxs6jvVXchKlyJd3pWQhJ8ngf2hfNoN-zeWPiyZJmNdVnYnksKgH4A81zGFOhAOlwMldS0KqAi31cVex_DTRehKI1g/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapMarker1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXybKC_o3g-PUg6-hj8djNI7iwy7n9Y-C7yr9I6oYIT-s8xDi6YURPjmLwFK_07N-7aIpZtm3N1Zg33n5TnX037FRdyZB7DxMcUxs6jvVXchKlyJd3pWQhJ8ngf2hfNoN-zeWPiyZJmNdVnYnksKgH4A81zGFOhAOlwMldS0KqAi31cVex_DTRehKI1g/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapMarker1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9DVAPe_J-My0GyAkbCp-FeLAuSPCisfjStTmiReLXm2pDK2YxO53QbCIFwvOBZRmDVfKCzimVVCl7p_7He-xRL-aOAdOQfIIeQIn6wJpEsj2gwSXSCzd90dk3f9Z2kT2-SvhGgZ_Yj3XM4makuP0U2GHdg1dYsjV8lG2_ukDtQuAE491NKdT7Bm7JA/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapLeapJump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9DVAPe_J-My0GyAkbCp-FeLAuSPCisfjStTmiReLXm2pDK2YxO53QbCIFwvOBZRmDVfKCzimVVCl7p_7He-xRL-aOAdOQfIIeQIn6wJpEsj2gwSXSCzd90dk3f9Z2kT2-SvhGgZ_Yj3XM4makuP0U2GHdg1dYsjV8lG2_ukDtQuAE491NKdT7Bm7JA/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapLeapJump.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">It's always a pleasure to listen to "Sunny Skies" which serves as its background music, absolutely devoid of enemies but has got a varied layout design so as to get acquainted with Krino's multiple jumping controls,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pws0fRLbGx9Udjj8xQ5kPX_RwcVEFX67uDfDwoMsZvoJuvIhKeEdv5YvBZM2d0V7scZzK0GlaAZB12eQYFgEf28Pf58RFwPRyTHQWQH7SeRyyQZU8_xt56VEM_9YevBVIpZsEGJLgbAQEmaSZRd_wr-edgOe-LQKQXbZ5G_h6ansyBUDdFFBFHpw1w/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapSkid.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pws0fRLbGx9Udjj8xQ5kPX_RwcVEFX67uDfDwoMsZvoJuvIhKeEdv5YvBZM2d0V7scZzK0GlaAZB12eQYFgEf28Pf58RFwPRyTHQWQH7SeRyyQZU8_xt56VEM_9YevBVIpZsEGJLgbAQEmaSZRd_wr-edgOe-LQKQXbZ5G_h6ansyBUDdFFBFHpw1w/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapSkid.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KGcpSLbgW4MPudSCgfNqtlLKqhyep8Xo7aCm6Bofey5MrtFrnQRwUajhohMrT89AusnNo0G2G64PQJj_o75nO8zGsSF-gQ-y0QCeJ75GsrgTnL7QVoTMOqkvrR28Zg67m2dF8Zu7Ve09FiHULninxdrCwdkZyQnFC01GgA5CnmdFR762bTnccgoCzg/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapMarker2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KGcpSLbgW4MPudSCgfNqtlLKqhyep8Xo7aCm6Bofey5MrtFrnQRwUajhohMrT89AusnNo0G2G64PQJj_o75nO8zGsSF-gQ-y0QCeJ75GsrgTnL7QVoTMOqkvrR28Zg67m2dF8Zu7Ve09FiHULninxdrCwdkZyQnFC01GgA5CnmdFR762bTnccgoCzg/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_TestMapMarker2.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">up until you reach the end of the line and cannot progress any further. The Krino title sprite serving as a placeholder for presumedly the start of the map doesn't do anything as far as I'm aware (trying to jab or hit it won't do anything either), and like the frozen store area it is a curiosity to experience if you've got the time. And since there is no way out the only way to exit is through shutting the console off or doing a soft reset to return to the title screen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIGHDGlIkMSqU55xLIVo9rkglNLYbzhbRv4cSb3fO5CtCC9zbbxv2obrBHHNMiIVP6nd2GY4YKOfFkkwT-nmHrh8ZflFXiep9sTYbfWzTc_VHaV8NdgDaMz1XEL2AjH_S3qx2S_e111NApuBTP_6sKv1jklkE1DHBqe7XWKF-tID-MzlPLlsv_Odl52w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIGHDGlIkMSqU55xLIVo9rkglNLYbzhbRv4cSb3fO5CtCC9zbbxv2obrBHHNMiIVP6nd2GY4YKOfFkkwT-nmHrh8ZflFXiep9sTYbfWzTc_VHaV8NdgDaMz1XEL2AjH_S3qx2S_e111NApuBTP_6sKv1jklkE1DHBqe7XWKF-tID-MzlPLlsv_Odl52w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ7TZXA7UfoIC12G1PKDbfsFzGVXXP44AV-Mw54LJ6hdV9rR7r4oUA3aDAxhKJGcHnzDie_dAxgxz2uV1WarQibQQXW8F5FhyEMyEUMgDGZNQMCV-J0SW0VAvKsSyif0jOOkOwxKcNHJ4jtyY7cLCVeUNUvgrwLxQXXfQTOLh-WJGyrs6n8zL8q-4hSg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ7TZXA7UfoIC12G1PKDbfsFzGVXXP44AV-Mw54LJ6hdV9rR7r4oUA3aDAxhKJGcHnzDie_dAxgxz2uV1WarQibQQXW8F5FhyEMyEUMgDGZNQMCV-J0SW0VAvKsSyif0jOOkOwxKcNHJ4jtyY7cLCVeUNUvgrwLxQXXfQTOLh-WJGyrs6n8zL8q-4hSg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: That poor defenseless whale needs help getting out of its icy conundrum and back in the water | Right: Free the whale!</b> 🐋</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Krino Xandra is such an endearing kindhearted character, so compellingly written in his selflessness and his resolve to save his family and fellow Xandras is inspiring. He doesn't have much experience outside of Sandland and <b>yet</b> he would go far and beyond to find the Sun Cure to lift the curse of those unfortunately afflicted by Zouna's Ashes of Despair, and one could opine that he might be a bit in over his head due his inexperience but he's doing it out of a noble and selflessly bighearted cause. But what makes his story incredible is that it starts off simple but along the way he meets many a character whom he helps out during his journey, and in return they help him, as suddenly the proceedings become larger than life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhuYpvaDkh8sJTFGggedHwuV7-d8scxC6eZuyTWWhAMls1nN-kx0lSkWMztHU7OTIvI2RGcclxnaAKDfiTKDIQu85NroY5TFGkwOwSmcfidynbzBuBWO6TLKseINYYz4Rx5IsXwLWjP-nWrBqBvoZ0qonl62u2Qxp7jdUtolsFgpbH40xmfxreMeKvw/s70/XandraNoDaiboken_Trip.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="70" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhuYpvaDkh8sJTFGggedHwuV7-d8scxC6eZuyTWWhAMls1nN-kx0lSkWMztHU7OTIvI2RGcclxnaAKDfiTKDIQu85NroY5TFGkwOwSmcfidynbzBuBWO6TLKseINYYz4Rx5IsXwLWjP-nWrBqBvoZ0qonl62u2Qxp7jdUtolsFgpbH40xmfxreMeKvw/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_Trip.png" width="70" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4H0vQPhccBWE7dfiENfF4zCJCsBSBIGQTcllkwQB8hlmoMknriOJcrkursnUAR7p5OjPJFU0-aqBNTMfSrYo2aw3YQfxSKLieKmUPvhtevpP_6NwmzgcfxaV8iVf9pzVzDiqmABa9nJm3suYsxFqqXek3wjJzmIwq2RoikPVhQfEorf5sxX0IoCrBg/s85/XandraNoDaiboken_BlushingKrino.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="52" data-original-width="85" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4H0vQPhccBWE7dfiENfF4zCJCsBSBIGQTcllkwQB8hlmoMknriOJcrkursnUAR7p5OjPJFU0-aqBNTMfSrYo2aw3YQfxSKLieKmUPvhtevpP_6NwmzgcfxaV8iVf9pzVzDiqmABa9nJm3suYsxFqqXek3wjJzmIwq2RoikPVhQfEorf5sxX0IoCrBg/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_BlushingKrino.gif" width="85" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>He's so humble and modest, ahhhhhh! </b>😭</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I also adore his expressiveness when it comes to the dialogue and when performing his abilities, it adds so much to his character and adds to his already likable personality (I also like the way he tumbles down if he's falling for a long time); a couple moments I like are the last time he runs to Caldera Castle's throne room to talk to Princess Tiana he trips on the way, and when Andy refers to Krino as a warrior he ends up blushing as he never thought of himself that way.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4y4kTqUugxSuoPNVhiby4aaczA5UqtrBR6L4cJBypx2jrxbQY05yQRYCg3Da4ENetNiY3ifeYNZ-1hkEHfDSG44W3UOsvWKmxmFav7QBGW3mQBP4TkoGAHM8JhnmRQtUCrT4kXRlVTrxZcTH32pXEswnBbHS8msK_3lgq1lkaGCws-hCcbNdpjsPgQ/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_Tiana+Nick-Reunited.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4y4kTqUugxSuoPNVhiby4aaczA5UqtrBR6L4cJBypx2jrxbQY05yQRYCg3Da4ENetNiY3ifeYNZ-1hkEHfDSG44W3UOsvWKmxmFav7QBGW3mQBP4TkoGAHM8JhnmRQtUCrT4kXRlVTrxZcTH32pXEswnBbHS8msK_3lgq1lkaGCws-hCcbNdpjsPgQ/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_Tiana+Nick-Reunited.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWYGJWoLHaoR5zR-gOrcEXPcituaZrt3tr6HF6SbfuUf--6OkxGNrcLqK6E6bAkM3uv9O8SNu1WV1AOHl25vY4ljjcggaIWX71dB2s_cXiNbUbW2ra3e0IHZ92QNmBA-NtcRFwcbfTUvxGhRLNDu7Yo3MsdJua5TzTZUVVFiqe283URoVq5e07afWLA/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_Sabine+AndyTogether.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWYGJWoLHaoR5zR-gOrcEXPcituaZrt3tr6HF6SbfuUf--6OkxGNrcLqK6E6bAkM3uv9O8SNu1WV1AOHl25vY4ljjcggaIWX71dB2s_cXiNbUbW2ra3e0IHZ92QNmBA-NtcRFwcbfTUvxGhRLNDu7Yo3MsdJua5TzTZUVVFiqe283URoVq5e07afWLA/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_Sabine+AndyTogether.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">He is like a beacon of hope in these dark times personified as despite his inexperience he helps those along the way in a way that makes a difference, gives good advice to Peppy and Nubs about following their heart and dreams, helps reunite key characters together, and is very resilient in his resolve to find the Sun Cure to save his family;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0fPjynIujoC65VUNUmtZPfzGqotrnBbeeynh24sVpmZKRvdCs5mthKxPqr7UgkbShs4HbA1BzqzD8_qZ8JOuQ_fuhJmYHaz3imu0Xax5tVGyLBA9indrtRxsd-GTNUR_hzgV3_lWyTO7MEHin5efqcm0fV0oqqg7JZf1Ujo23TpGL3NlomZzUSiAMg/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_SunCure.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0fPjynIujoC65VUNUmtZPfzGqotrnBbeeynh24sVpmZKRvdCs5mthKxPqr7UgkbShs4HbA1BzqzD8_qZ8JOuQ_fuhJmYHaz3imu0Xax5tVGyLBA9indrtRxsd-GTNUR_hzgV3_lWyTO7MEHin5efqcm0fV0oqqg7JZf1Ujo23TpGL3NlomZzUSiAMg/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_SunCure.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">You just <u>want</u> him to succeed</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">that's a </span><b style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">real</b><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"> hero right there. I don't know what we did to deserve this strongly written character, Hiroshi Fujii, but I am glad he exists the way he does. He's so underrated too, I kinda wish he appeared in more games (nothing against Valkyrie, I just like Krino Xandra more).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfX0BbAw4YJx5iH-Y8JdMSXMRhXv3fOt2pXc9YSC944Fv_uyJDBF6Qn1N8cb_PGeELOwmbHlQpyeKsM4zaLnwnY8sYDHqWDwQLO4rvqghAdab0WDbyCJ1yvXzO7KygMAburqaA7yPE0JZdtprB2rpWpk9gMy5DxNGMwJf8W4NXpFdAiJ6rDpYpsZwIg/s780/NamcoXCapcom_Krino+SabineVsRedArremerAce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfX0BbAw4YJx5iH-Y8JdMSXMRhXv3fOt2pXc9YSC944Fv_uyJDBF6Qn1N8cb_PGeELOwmbHlQpyeKsM4zaLnwnY8sYDHqWDwQLO4rvqghAdab0WDbyCJ1yvXzO7KygMAburqaA7yPE0JZdtprB2rpWpk9gMy5DxNGMwJf8W4NXpFdAiJ6rDpYpsZwIg/w200-h113/NamcoXCapcom_Krino+SabineVsRedArremerAce.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT1q1t42_wyIb7vKaXXvdj9aRIRf5DxrhIgHe_FqUJ0sxByPwLGMYx8yZQ5bJsLW7wWnldltyCT3w83t756Vfl53kHgbdhgoGlClpXfArq-S14zTQ0UtyUgYCZDLeak9DcAPqmfZ7dx_UlgktYgMC-pivk1dPCnNz4_dyJeTPwK9TgAfx1ypRdpmYwA/s808/GloryOfWalkure_KrinoStoneToss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="808" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT1q1t42_wyIb7vKaXXvdj9aRIRf5DxrhIgHe_FqUJ0sxByPwLGMYx8yZQ5bJsLW7wWnldltyCT3w83t756Vfl53kHgbdhgoGlClpXfArq-S14zTQ0UtyUgYCZDLeak9DcAPqmfZ7dx_UlgktYgMC-pivk1dPCnNz4_dyJeTPwK9TgAfx1ypRdpmYwA/w200-h113/GloryOfWalkure_KrinoStoneToss.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Screengrabbed while watching SteelSeven Playthroughs' </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Namco x Capcom</i><b> and Phosphobos' </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Glory of Walküre</i><b> gameplay footage on YouTube respectively; look at him with that golden armor, he looks positively amazing, <u>MAHVELOUS</u> even!</b> 😆</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The last time Krino appeared as a playable character in a video game was Monolith Soft's 2005 large-scaled crossover tactical turn-based RPG <i>Namco x Capcom</i> on the PlayStation 2 (with the young Quarkman Sabine as his companion), and in 2007 Bandai Namco (following Namco's merger with Bandai) created the open-ended sidescrolling action adventure <i>The Glory of Walküre</i> for a tiny segment of the game as he searches for an antidote for Valkyrie after she becomes poisoned following a battle in the desert created exclusively for Japanese mobile phones (and would be released again in 2012 for Android smartphone users). Neither game was released outside Japan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrvbALiIGhTBUi0QkEep56iv9FQPtvFIOEe4hHLxpaqK693xjdlwiZcFPxOOVy03_IFdjsONVhgxL0IyH7e1xhA76Y9_xjkyWKfXfXCxbysP1J9aK8r7EQMn4TbbLxE8XfVRoyIJswGAF2Gnt9PYkdZMfe4_98gB5X4yO2jSHmXuhfjFilqBbx77aA/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_ValkyrieVsKrinoShowdown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrvbALiIGhTBUi0QkEep56iv9FQPtvFIOEe4hHLxpaqK693xjdlwiZcFPxOOVy03_IFdjsONVhgxL0IyH7e1xhA76Y9_xjkyWKfXfXCxbysP1J9aK8r7EQMn4TbbLxE8XfVRoyIJswGAF2Gnt9PYkdZMfe4_98gB5X4yO2jSHmXuhfjFilqBbx77aA/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_ValkyrieVsKrinoShowdown.png" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">His high likability is the main reason I don't like seeing him succumb to Zouna's dark spell upon losing all his lives and after having defeated him at the end (or so you thought), losing his heart and soul in the process.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYGD7_u2BFvNfb_sYP7N2lgDZNndpEvJOp0ZlQD4gaH4B9KeG-2W0Jpog4aFxbBqXjb6A-2ErM_s_dqulLgHr165pptj1u_Vw_ikXtVO0qF81xJcOc9p2pKpQy9Fyu1EvdKFodnDHu4LSTLQ-yiTPXbd9hoPLFThF26LaDb-UXLNrLfE5X2z-QfcJCA/s130/ValkyrieNoBoken_BlackXandra.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="130" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYGD7_u2BFvNfb_sYP7N2lgDZNndpEvJOp0ZlQD4gaH4B9KeG-2W0Jpog4aFxbBqXjb6A-2ErM_s_dqulLgHr165pptj1u_Vw_ikXtVO0qF81xJcOc9p2pKpQy9Fyu1EvdKFodnDHu4LSTLQ-yiTPXbd9hoPLFThF26LaDb-UXLNrLfE5X2z-QfcJCA/s1600/ValkyrieNoBoken_BlackXandra.gif" width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmJbEa0f9BwPxcXRl0nINKUbXmymhmru91c-qmim7PTnTpo7PMiJBKc_aJLYU6F5PijR2k93VVqQDA3HBIQs2SLBysyZnJ3x4hZW7CwkOhF-7d97pp4fQu89MrrqU4CCeEu3J0Rb_A8bvxLi0iFWY9_k_KznQH2ZnOFNbyKQfqTImQWilh4UcBE9kvw/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_CurseBroken.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmJbEa0f9BwPxcXRl0nINKUbXmymhmru91c-qmim7PTnTpo7PMiJBKc_aJLYU6F5PijR2k93VVqQDA3HBIQs2SLBysyZnJ3x4hZW7CwkOhF-7d97pp4fQu89MrrqU4CCeEu3J0Rb_A8bvxLi0iFWY9_k_KznQH2ZnOFNbyKQfqTImQWilh4UcBE9kvw/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_CurseBroken.png" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I know it's done to bridge the gap between the events of this game and <i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i> as it <b>is</b> an important moment of the <i>Valkyrie</i> franchise, and it does it well, leading up to the fateful encounter with her compassionately breaking the spell and returning Krino back to normal. I guess it's a fair tradeoff, I just wish we didn't have to witness the body horror he had undergone as he got turned evil. 😱</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMo3k_N6nOJQll7A8ZqfvFWfA6ZFZHfJPB0liXweXWI4iq-gHmCvkK6xXhzu6sjRTsasrTGKskPhv9_1Onrai42cDe3oAJVNSJZxWgPqy2vwufBFe8R1MwIF54rMAO86VY9bjYJhmW-umYRCZJn7sX9rOs6WfNeJ8QOVdZ3McWSHk0W1zUJdm4rsGiAg/s385/SuperWagyanLand_Icy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="385" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMo3k_N6nOJQll7A8ZqfvFWfA6ZFZHfJPB0liXweXWI4iq-gHmCvkK6xXhzu6sjRTsasrTGKskPhv9_1Onrai42cDe3oAJVNSJZxWgPqy2vwufBFe8R1MwIF54rMAO86VY9bjYJhmW-umYRCZJn7sX9rOs6WfNeJ8QOVdZ3McWSHk0W1zUJdm4rsGiAg/w200-h155/SuperWagyanLand_Icy.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZYB_F7yYyjXDmEv8yXHHWYjNTd27OEzC_rtgS7bXtViPOlgmJf2gof3FfbscoMhh1xqhVWPq02m7zjQjAFMbm8GauOuTddEFthhEL4XeH-zIvLOt7l-2trfjZTmiwB5LFvoYkTAqT1v0Tk2xbBoZ8H7fgee_K0guwfrjHirjYcYaA35_NFtoYFJipw/s385/SuperWagyanLand_Son+DrDevil.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="385" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZYB_F7yYyjXDmEv8yXHHWYjNTd27OEzC_rtgS7bXtViPOlgmJf2gof3FfbscoMhh1xqhVWPq02m7zjQjAFMbm8GauOuTddEFthhEL4XeH-zIvLOt7l-2trfjZTmiwB5LFvoYkTAqT1v0Tk2xbBoZ8H7fgee_K0guwfrjHirjYcYaA35_NFtoYFJipw/w200-h155/SuperWagyanLand_Son+DrDevil.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Love that </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Super Famicameo</u><b> in the final stage, Nova Games and Namco, </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">nice</u><b>!</b> 😄👍</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I also love how, much like Wagyan before him in <i>Super Wagyan Land</i>, Krino is a father who would do whatever it takes to save his son (albeit from highly different circumstances).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pL0fTuxHuGXiuJeyN-4FoAYzcsLkFkZ5S6CBhQw4ngyD9gy6AXDjDCPsYiVcNHr7N63puDaCaIh1lILBNIzb4Y5OFzVNFpIcKTS7MUy6APNSxoSdwRmUlRLalAZ0nUYwhSwKE64WG_teqZLLCfOufuwxAXxgykrsYyQ-Lqii6csPMCaBgE5dBD300A/s631/SuperWagyanLand+XandraNoDaiboken_Carts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMKJSFsT9cvl96vBYPbnQiS2Jy8Npte1fE-Ql8zCWbpHpJHv3Zy0lgbixgy5xm2WYHqQrpHNgHT8NccTdULciQzizvur64tUpEPXZRuA7DcyYny1Qr6RN6-2o1K1pPptaWVTkRHcFdNXLZ8JDxtJHtgnqeJlG-p6_ZNfygQ0g5EEmfM_M17tTUyXY5g/s631/SuperWagyanLand+XandraNoDaiboken_CartsUpdate.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="631" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMKJSFsT9cvl96vBYPbnQiS2Jy8Npte1fE-Ql8zCWbpHpJHv3Zy0lgbixgy5xm2WYHqQrpHNgHT8NccTdULciQzizvur64tUpEPXZRuA7DcyYny1Qr6RN6-2o1K1pPptaWVTkRHcFdNXLZ8JDxtJHtgnqeJlG-p6_ZNfygQ0g5EEmfM_M17tTUyXY5g/w400-h189/SuperWagyanLand+XandraNoDaiboken_CartsUpdate.png" width="400" /></a><br /></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Yeeeeah, <b>Green Father Squad</b>!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNjf45XHUe8KsQz1lKCzKWpVB-K9XTur-M_atfPancakE9C3zeiJqci2G90pBiCZQYpPKs5vh8A4Kwj0fsyfHiDFYh01YxELjMl5yZcwRnfUFxdGxQYjxtQ_tWFTfAaC9nigTt7o_1yNjP_Of8ucLWFoEguPlW7m8-hk9s9tZ85Dd-_actOVlyo6RTKg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNjf45XHUe8KsQz1lKCzKWpVB-K9XTur-M_atfPancakE9C3zeiJqci2G90pBiCZQYpPKs5vh8A4Kwj0fsyfHiDFYh01YxELjMl5yZcwRnfUFxdGxQYjxtQ_tWFTfAaC9nigTt7o_1yNjP_Of8ucLWFoEguPlW7m8-hk9s9tZ85Dd-_actOVlyo6RTKg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhywB1eTZyTd7w-PvI2d_Mqc_jLg4lwL6DqXU0C5r9k0kkAkhGiALqcSdWLDw3akCwdqFJLy-aluVAPsbpeNakFqjLIBfCMjB8P0zknD1DqipoeIPNiESdQUuZzCzacRcsGnz5vUpcrwXnXuOX4Pj4dq4tLVhhN2Xz-P_TnMw5GLP0smIMoSnBPmLzRMg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhywB1eTZyTd7w-PvI2d_Mqc_jLg4lwL6DqXU0C5r9k0kkAkhGiALqcSdWLDw3akCwdqFJLy-aluVAPsbpeNakFqjLIBfCMjB8P0zknD1DqipoeIPNiESdQUuZzCzacRcsGnz5vUpcrwXnXuOX4Pj4dq4tLVhhN2Xz-P_TnMw5GLP0smIMoSnBPmLzRMg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Chain-linked weight puzzle | Right: Be wary of those archer pirates above you</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">There's plenty of elements that set this platformer apart from other titles of its ilk at the time: while hardly the only platformer to do this (others include ASCII's <i>Ardy Lightfoot</i>, Polestar's <i>Magical Pop'n</i>, SAS Sakata's <i>Donald Duck no Mahō no Bōshi</i>, Ukiyotei's <i>Kuri Skunk</i>/<i>Punky Skunk</i>, and HAL Laboratory's <i>Kirby's Dream Land 3</i>/<i>Hoshi no Kābī 3</i>) it is not score-based, which always pleases me as I play platformers not for score but for the fun and enjoyment. Krino's main objective is to gather light crystals, but aside from that there is not a single power-up anywhere for him to utilize (no power enhancements and nothing to temporarily make him invincible); it's partially to do with the one-hit system, but I saw this to be a pretty unique and commendable quality. Krino doesn't <b>need</b> power-ups, he is <b>his own</b> power-up and can pretty much hold his own without one considering it's his first adventure, for his versatile abilities are enough to carry him through his arduous journey.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRb07uPRIodj0PsOPMbl93_OrAA3Swot_zLr_qyWhNQCjp_LUB1D4Ew0tROpoei-6caKsFGLkPhgGAQV6lDUC8zaxktMmlZh3kcfn2PRgkHH9GVhl43WVhqXutC4XtL8hX4vgVyLebwGoKT1HbiQcM-AZ9nv0qLJpFP1xUbzBpSxBJmYBWBv-DTV69ww=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRb07uPRIodj0PsOPMbl93_OrAA3Swot_zLr_qyWhNQCjp_LUB1D4Ew0tROpoei-6caKsFGLkPhgGAQV6lDUC8zaxktMmlZh3kcfn2PRgkHH9GVhl43WVhqXutC4XtL8hX4vgVyLebwGoKT1HbiQcM-AZ9nv0qLJpFP1xUbzBpSxBJmYBWBv-DTV69ww=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhce1dsFPRShRtV6886XVdOt95tCaGmytmj7LQkmHF3xAfz-Bm4zn4Uabi_CYbqidhY0MJbFKAL4oGlQypg0BAe9LYQXILpoPxsUVYwvJqnkV0meTEl1BSN33NS6TWzdWG7VX8oFO3PpL18dNKlIQ0p6kuMeMdi5EmftPTrmKXAhS3SKjcOblLxD80y_w=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhce1dsFPRShRtV6886XVdOt95tCaGmytmj7LQkmHF3xAfz-Bm4zn4Uabi_CYbqidhY0MJbFKAL4oGlQypg0BAe9LYQXILpoPxsUVYwvJqnkV0meTEl1BSN33NS6TWzdWG7VX8oFO3PpL18dNKlIQ0p6kuMeMdi5EmftPTrmKXAhS3SKjcOblLxD80y_w=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "I will never join you! Get the </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">point</u><b>?"</b> 🔱<b> | Right: Krino bringing an unconscious Fairy (who may or may not make an upcoming cameo appearance in Nova Games' </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Super Wagyan Land 2</i><b>) to Tree Island's resident magic doctor</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Generally in the platforming genre the number of jumping types is limited to at least one (if not two) with your gained altitude normally dependent on how hard or how lightly you pressed the jump button, but with this game having <b>four</b> jumping controls making up the bulk of the gameplay it makes the proceedings rather exhilarating and can be quite effective when handled with impeccable timing, precision, and accuracy (it's all about learning the present area layouts' ins and outs, when to lightly tap the A button to leap jump, gaining a higher vantage point of the literal variety when performing the high jump immediately after turning around while in the process of running, plus how much time is appropriate to charge your high jump to reach your desired altitude). </span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I also love how this platformer places emphasis on its plot as you'll occasionally meet up with and talk with other characters (I like how you can pause the game even mid-</span><b style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">dialogue</b><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">, that's awesome) making for a nice break from the action, and the in-between cutscenes do a good job at propelling the story forward. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxvfADZyRzh11B-vC2c-s_0Y-9AWtgxq5IsYt1152Jiuvedq_Avic5GWC8ISePZZMP18MGyYb3nhS8XiwZljRozPJvIHu79FNlOphx6ZgNx9EL0pQ6ud0eRbkV5x0_uyDAavFUf7H39wGZeoyu6xx0mJfqaVykkhFydk-nf15a6KQwJv36lDb2828kkw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxvfADZyRzh11B-vC2c-s_0Y-9AWtgxq5IsYt1152Jiuvedq_Avic5GWC8ISePZZMP18MGyYb3nhS8XiwZljRozPJvIHu79FNlOphx6ZgNx9EL0pQ6ud0eRbkV5x0_uyDAavFUf7H39wGZeoyu6xx0mJfqaVykkhFydk-nf15a6KQwJv36lDb2828kkw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXTNj0BR-6Tw-B10YC0jMBrgm7FPmRtzDcxQj7hRHKrdHSLFanlr4XCPGxI6bdWHadsQpzODTCHF4TUpkoZaJ0Aiy5RvcRFLxQpTUlfxT8DJTXXEk-BzVrK7LItSG7vf0LNBiepAj-jPanOzpbPN4XjTwFHoeyRFk8H6wtHjqwJu0KfA_U-ZceMyeeCA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXTNj0BR-6Tw-B10YC0jMBrgm7FPmRtzDcxQj7hRHKrdHSLFanlr4XCPGxI6bdWHadsQpzODTCHF4TUpkoZaJ0Aiy5RvcRFLxQpTUlfxT8DJTXXEk-BzVrK7LItSG7vf0LNBiepAj-jPanOzpbPN4XjTwFHoeyRFk8H6wtHjqwJu0KfA_U-ZceMyeeCA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Cucumber storage | Right: Bounced up, accidentally sending Nubs' viola flying</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">One other thing that sets <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> apart from other platformers? <b>Multiple</b> bad ending scenarios. Before having played this game I knew from its Wikipedia entry that it had bad endings, but it didn't really elaborate any further than that; the normal (oft seen) bad ending scenario occurs when you lose your set of seven lives and Zouna turns Krino into his evil servant after your last life is lost, gives you the password for the present segment, and adds one count to evil Krino's HUD icon. </span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I presumed that having a single evil Krino count by the time I reached the end would result in seeing a bad ending, so in lieu of the password I got from the game over I'd usually start the stage over from the in-between password to stay on the safe side just in case if it meant getting the good ending; then earlier this year when I lost my last life but didn't feel like starting the stage over I decided to see what would happen if I used the password given to me after a game over... nothing all that bad it turns out, it just takes me back to the recent segment of the game and really amounted to nothing more than a lost continue--so I admit I kinda made the game harder for myself in the past, but it <b>was</b> thrilling and/or rewarding to see how long I would last with each set of seven lives. 😅</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZoBOg-b86uw2VEZ9L-c0vMqr_MFN6V9Hgxxtchus2oEHKXRQf4qOsQITawllDka0-l5UT0W53bQ3hZfRfFqsTf1LtFK38ENUWNzN-FfCwcVwpe-xAaICUCkQoiLwRt2_29UI5SHEnoF4ddEU4WX4zhbjGVu0PlD4XaStXG9fHtxK3mvlKHBSd8qO4A/s113/XandraNoDaiboken_BlackKrinoXandra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="113" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZoBOg-b86uw2VEZ9L-c0vMqr_MFN6V9Hgxxtchus2oEHKXRQf4qOsQITawllDka0-l5UT0W53bQ3hZfRfFqsTf1LtFK38ENUWNzN-FfCwcVwpe-xAaICUCkQoiLwRt2_29UI5SHEnoF4ddEU4WX4zhbjGVu0PlD4XaStXG9fHtxK3mvlKHBSd8qO4A/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_BlackKrinoXandra.png" width="113" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>I saw the bad endings on YouTube out of morbid curiosity, I don't want to see them firsthand on my TV... at least, not anytime soon; there's even an obscure bad ending where Krino meets up with an uncharacteristically intoxicated handsome-bod Nick at the end of Toadstool Cave when normally he's weakened from poison, and the direction it went was not what I expected at all</b> 😳</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Sometimes during a dialogue sequence you'll be given one of two options to choose from, generally the first one is the way to go (with one, maybe two exceptions) as attaining the good ending requires Krino to agree to liberate Zuhl from the Quarkman's cage, decline Zuhl's offer to betray Princess Tiana's trust, deny the pirate captain's (and Zuhl's) insistence that he join his crew, show generosity to Nubs by giving him the golden viola (and not be dissuaded by Zuhl's avarice in the slightest), pour kindness from the heart in the Test of Compassion, and thrice refuse Zouna's offer of help even when things seem dire. Doing the opposite of any one of those things will bring the game to a halt and enable the bad ending scenario, none of which have pleasant implications if you stop to think about them too long (in fact, a few of them just feel downright <b>evil</b>, like seriously), making for a grand total of <b>ten</b> possible bad endings. They won't get you anywhere but they're there for anyone who's morbidly curious and just comes to show how some actions have harsh consequences.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoEDfKZdS5pV3XyJ0QIF0PIQf1Du6cD8qHPIy7AMdiyURCZSzYSq6qFBwhdBT9phtEIB-dy9IRaRGnVtRBKCwc-olUGEKwt4xpVD4rFTaK3F22LpIyYci4-3R-8-gZTmxs3aZnKCGnt-_RgsuH2yAZXOKc9woUsczrPJMA4m-_KwxycuPgeAEqR7JPA/s56/ValkyrieNoBoken_Xandra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="56" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoEDfKZdS5pV3XyJ0QIF0PIQf1Du6cD8qHPIy7AMdiyURCZSzYSq6qFBwhdBT9phtEIB-dy9IRaRGnVtRBKCwc-olUGEKwt4xpVD4rFTaK3F22LpIyYci4-3R-8-gZTmxs3aZnKCGnt-_RgsuH2yAZXOKc9woUsczrPJMA4m-_KwxycuPgeAEqR7JPA/s1600/ValkyrieNoBoken_Xandra.png" width="56" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyR4xCiE07tZhKxR5jS_mkvvQ8z9CBbrF5OBrD3VcbQJi9RIXUT26-eUljNfpi3u2hVny3fZcJdQoHdMTnWKPZJIN0B1eN2W-In5o57mxiJAxj1WozDoRg39zwu1y9pn7sXdnBJNSnc78_cxbcWLgn3j1PCtLvrjBaQ6yVnmveYgv4AGf7wecoMC0uQ/s51/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_Zuhl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="32" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyR4xCiE07tZhKxR5jS_mkvvQ8z9CBbrF5OBrD3VcbQJi9RIXUT26-eUljNfpi3u2hVny3fZcJdQoHdMTnWKPZJIN0B1eN2W-In5o57mxiJAxj1WozDoRg39zwu1y9pn7sXdnBJNSnc78_cxbcWLgn3j1PCtLvrjBaQ6yVnmveYgv4AGf7wecoMC0uQ/s1600/ValkyrieNoDensetsu_Zuhl.png" width="32" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmSMZkXxNEWJc9cA6LF7X31kjqf4X-ZrIsfboHUvK-S40qOStOgRrE9Ii7F75MC4zYfbYlB1C-hgmJ-59ISP0qCalXcOXmqbCygDzWNb3B3747WI2PTrE2hFoVi02DLG3FgvRNcM5whpl45uk5Ad8S4QC6f83fMszjo0lMsPmWQUHeftgx1Yz7Ef-mg/s56/XandraNoDaiboken_BouncyZuhl.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="56" data-original-width="39" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmSMZkXxNEWJc9cA6LF7X31kjqf4X-ZrIsfboHUvK-S40qOStOgRrE9Ii7F75MC4zYfbYlB1C-hgmJ-59ISP0qCalXcOXmqbCygDzWNb3B3747WI2PTrE2hFoVi02DLG3FgvRNcM5whpl45uk5Ad8S4QC6f83fMszjo0lMsPmWQUHeftgx1Yz7Ef-mg/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_BouncyZuhl.gif" width="39" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">And since I bring up Zuhl so many times, did you know that before he entered the scene in <i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> it was the <b>Xandras</b> who kept shop in </span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Valkyrie no Bōken</i>?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivkAYHDKi7ae7A0NexZcnYLKXSPdJyct1KcbVrZy6rWx3D1bwBMQBm00AggJWaCHc9ox8CbTR7pYS3OUNgN0OxvEOA8kNV8k2bnXqdwCI7pZ3E701DkLcym2tMO9qD0DqCT_VgjGhP-NhtnVJZuLcWNERNTBM1QzB-7eZGW6xCEKBYQed4WT45NbXzAQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivkAYHDKi7ae7A0NexZcnYLKXSPdJyct1KcbVrZy6rWx3D1bwBMQBm00AggJWaCHc9ox8CbTR7pYS3OUNgN0OxvEOA8kNV8k2bnXqdwCI7pZ3E701DkLcym2tMO9qD0DqCT_VgjGhP-NhtnVJZuLcWNERNTBM1QzB-7eZGW6xCEKBYQed4WT45NbXzAQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieSu2dgZaIerseJ3J8BsnkdL68u999JEBn9stebrSFpUAfBSOs_gNFL1nFE_QDYUV1LRBVcCnkTv5-sMNHORZQc5iIOd65GKiB_3PP29I0g6Whnw-rRPT86Fx7uRzCL6ov-ZyLbnA30Sb5YYiWq_GKErPSz9c99Z69_j0Smscx8XSe7XiPX0FBdrB3fw=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieSu2dgZaIerseJ3J8BsnkdL68u999JEBn9stebrSFpUAfBSOs_gNFL1nFE_QDYUV1LRBVcCnkTv5-sMNHORZQc5iIOd65GKiB_3PP29I0g6Whnw-rRPT86Fx7uRzCL6ov-ZyLbnA30Sb5YYiWq_GKErPSz9c99Z69_j0Smscx8XSe7XiPX0FBdrB3fw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Krino's friends seeing him off to Neverland | Right: Engaging in a conversation with <strike>Sabine</strike> the mysterious Quarkman whom you've crossed paths with on more than one occasion</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Most of the game is structured in a straightforward and linear manner, though the segment with the Nick Clan and the bulk of Tree Island act as a hub in which you can go wherever you want in reasonably nonlinear fashion up to a point. While the Nick Clan portion didn't use to be my favorite, I grew fond of it with each subsequent playthrough, especially once I've gotten down pat what I need to do to in order to locate the right Nick (and which one, </span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">it helps in both Princess Tiana's request to learn of handsome-bod Nick's whereabouts and when deciding to find the viola master for Nubs</span><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUlqzIfs7RGy2yIXvbM5W9_1YUrq5RTp6x1KfrOo9O5BRv5xuJqc-HxH5DZ6iSQ77V1W_S_PxLDNcAicgrXPWA05jSSlT9SDiRFydms-gK9P7FWiPztf07XLJ0ImE8k_1JhZoaBwDsv3npkoZ6m204Gj1bkkKAYgPRCifgd3IMsgcs7NpiJQWOPVdXQ/s176/XandraNoDaiboken_ConsumedTea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="176" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUlqzIfs7RGy2yIXvbM5W9_1YUrq5RTp6x1KfrOo9O5BRv5xuJqc-HxH5DZ6iSQ77V1W_S_PxLDNcAicgrXPWA05jSSlT9SDiRFydms-gK9P7FWiPztf07XLJ0ImE8k_1JhZoaBwDsv3npkoZ6m204Gj1bkkKAYgPRCifgd3IMsgcs7NpiJQWOPVdXQ/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_ConsumedTea.png" width="176" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5tAyNvJnTGXy4RLQ7y66-FSUtT_hJ1KGCQN_97GoDfRZDlvC3GB_VDkE42v_DYZyckJ0Qx8B2nD9_SF90bNbK9il8rXAV-09qnKelMkeSi-qMdp2-cCyPiWbe4M10z-yvPuDfkJLN3wN-U6e08oFTLNVd2bTCaKFJ-gz0EZ31-DaTHGKCCiPlLSirw/s173/XandraNoDaiboken_DrunkFromTea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="52" data-original-width="173" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5tAyNvJnTGXy4RLQ7y66-FSUtT_hJ1KGCQN_97GoDfRZDlvC3GB_VDkE42v_DYZyckJ0Qx8B2nD9_SF90bNbK9il8rXAV-09qnKelMkeSi-qMdp2-cCyPiWbe4M10z-yvPuDfkJLN3wN-U6e08oFTLNVd2bTCaKFJ-gz0EZ31-DaTHGKCCiPlLSirw/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_DrunkFromTea.png" width="173" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">I find it humorous how any Nick you ask one of three questions becomes red in the face after dunking down a whole cup of tea, I've never known for it to have that kind of effect (I'm a coffee person).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuoPyao6I8BzJInWISy1fSahtd7sPO7EFys4-AhWvMoNO94dv28lpArahP-l9wJCtF6RXQqnW47sq0lA5iUpnZugQBJj8IGygRZ7iI-4Boo0WW_YQnIwVDrTlr7Z79RTlm9Vn01sT0SSojdau_quLCjxBX43P0adXah7Nc_wouJI-Grpdvwx1uHUCFpQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuoPyao6I8BzJInWISy1fSahtd7sPO7EFys4-AhWvMoNO94dv28lpArahP-l9wJCtF6RXQqnW47sq0lA5iUpnZugQBJj8IGygRZ7iI-4Boo0WW_YQnIwVDrTlr7Z79RTlm9Vn01sT0SSojdau_quLCjxBX43P0adXah7Nc_wouJI-Grpdvwx1uHUCFpQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ_juLZClB9H9avsxz3MxLJINYi2WoQRsBOBI9UMQQAmXXusG2A1MY-2ePg2vBig1yvn6HvAndCGeIchcxefxUSJFsDXEmiMSGGFzz7H48gl1CHrW0IyDwe0QhUW29TK0xvdf3eNFOwGfZsbzO8mjpXa2o-sG48yzueujdf2MXPluMXCrW9VShbtFpkg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ_juLZClB9H9avsxz3MxLJINYi2WoQRsBOBI9UMQQAmXXusG2A1MY-2ePg2vBig1yvn6HvAndCGeIchcxefxUSJFsDXEmiMSGGFzz7H48gl1CHrW0IyDwe0QhUW29TK0xvdf3eNFOwGfZsbzO8mjpXa2o-sG48yzueujdf2MXPluMXCrW9VShbtFpkg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Flying through the narrow gap | Right: Pushing the goblin eggs over the edge</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> is largely import-friendly and manageable to playthrough even if you don't know any lick of Japanese, and there are some moments which give it a good sense of replay value: inside the pirate ship the key is hidden inside a random vase every time you revisit (or after losing a life to an evil ghost that comes into contact with Krino after breaking the wrong vase) and the layout for the Test of Courage is randomized. One other element that adds a replay value is a crucial moment in Tree Island</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4mUVII4U9HCCM6ZUDk_rn11ViSwNd8RT-iL0VzJvOi3mie9Nfny2HQ7K8QVKWzfqSc0zBaf9SLNLXoyeh-9rZ06hBeBqbEOTtg1rRBDS1YsDBbdBu1pMPvoSrxKhn6AZAvgiKyXIY_1EMnM5Im-t1lxsLeIIwM2QKwfEBQIoii71QuCAW_0r1_LwJw/s179/XandraNoDaiboken_PleadingPeppy+Nubs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="179" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4mUVII4U9HCCM6ZUDk_rn11ViSwNd8RT-iL0VzJvOi3mie9Nfny2HQ7K8QVKWzfqSc0zBaf9SLNLXoyeh-9rZ06hBeBqbEOTtg1rRBDS1YsDBbdBu1pMPvoSrxKhn6AZAvgiKyXIY_1EMnM5Im-t1lxsLeIIwM2QKwfEBQIoii71QuCAW_0r1_LwJw/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_PleadingPeppy+Nubs.png" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>No, not the pleading eyes, not the being put in an uncomfortable position by having to disappoint someone by choosing to help one over the other, that's so cruel!</b> 😫</span></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">when Krino learns that the poisonous barbs in its trees can be removed through one of two ways: the blade of health which is possessed by the knife-juggling Buck and the golden birds which can be summoned by the Nick's viola. When he lets Peppy and Nubs know that he saw Buck in the pirate ship and Nick at Toadstool Cave, he's put into a difficult position for he has to make a choice:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofktgici5aBNGkPyuY1zdZBB3QFcKOmYbV_BGoxjlbJytmlLjPfOpJ-ep4uSzi0peKknx7-BhNTp5Tmw9L67X3rUAEwmQByeGw8nAugsskAErRiq-atRYXULNLk-RIEj_OXXouktd8lVI1G5RLPIq3isVMt6ZdUdCXnqAGQrllSZoBvjotZlLUSwXuA/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_Sharks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofktgici5aBNGkPyuY1zdZBB3QFcKOmYbV_BGoxjlbJytmlLjPfOpJ-ep4uSzi0peKknx7-BhNTp5Tmw9L67X3rUAEwmQByeGw8nAugsskAErRiq-atRYXULNLk-RIEj_OXXouktd8lVI1G5RLPIq3isVMt6ZdUdCXnqAGQrllSZoBvjotZlLUSwXuA/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_Sharks.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a8LaHrJho5Kr7UrCr7PisgAL5LQoYu92xgaXe2sRFyXK7uY_gIemm6ySkSgzERyMjmBx4kqCR6PfRR3l2zVxZRuYpjPMcwG7vXahVnfeoQz0VslfF2cm02PnZON21LV_o9nZ9PXzGLcZGKZDCPobG6fJrFsJBf7szIuc2gIp0IbM0m4QExOXNzpcng/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_ViolistNick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a8LaHrJho5Kr7UrCr7PisgAL5LQoYu92xgaXe2sRFyXK7uY_gIemm6ySkSgzERyMjmBx4kqCR6PfRR3l2zVxZRuYpjPMcwG7vXahVnfeoQz0VslfF2cm02PnZON21LV_o9nZ9PXzGLcZGKZDCPobG6fJrFsJBf7szIuc2gIp0IbM0m4QExOXNzpcng/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_ViolistNick.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">rescue Buck who's been stranded in the shark-infested waters after the pirate ship sunk at the Sea of Sirrah, or help look for Nick the viola master back at Caldera Castle.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YNoXJHo4ZCud16xuqWFJmCVOWPo29VOntymn5MUfMg5PEC5NxJ50yuusikXgiGhaWBvnBAQRvoLi0qcYtny2pYVLzFPu4ybKr6C4K3w5swzrU_X0cKiQlfLokwmCFPMDvjKWfDszSbTepN5Gbio_B4IQEbd6G1HiZhRA6EqRrNoxyI32ybF5Jo7g5Q/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_NubsOrchestra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YNoXJHo4ZCud16xuqWFJmCVOWPo29VOntymn5MUfMg5PEC5NxJ50yuusikXgiGhaWBvnBAQRvoLi0qcYtny2pYVLzFPu4ybKr6C4K3w5swzrU_X0cKiQlfLokwmCFPMDvjKWfDszSbTepN5Gbio_B4IQEbd6G1HiZhRA6EqRrNoxyI32ybF5Jo7g5Q/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_NubsOrchestra.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnGFSrhqSGw4lF5mJnr3NgI_mhDeaL5VroCICassrvzUHVqzjBtPwcjMyT1Sj1ORFo-0FZZ5CtwbomdZogzsaK0k26Os10K8ZPMxoB8u7yYFXFnJCbXL_QuDjKhFy1Qm-ZWDaBtECB2YYuuJU2HJkWocC7jB8gfqfGy1c8TjbTcqpEcuCmMkALqcgtA/s389/XandraNoDaiboken_Peppy+Buck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnGFSrhqSGw4lF5mJnr3NgI_mhDeaL5VroCICassrvzUHVqzjBtPwcjMyT1Sj1ORFo-0FZZ5CtwbomdZogzsaK0k26Os10K8ZPMxoB8u7yYFXFnJCbXL_QuDjKhFy1Qm-ZWDaBtECB2YYuuJU2HJkWocC7jB8gfqfGy1c8TjbTcqpEcuCmMkALqcgtA/w200-h156/XandraNoDaiboken_Peppy+Buck.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">But don't worry, regardless who you decided to help out Krino will still give Peppy and Nubs good advice and both show their gratitude when you see them again in Neverland; Nubs even sends you off with his own orchestra, which is so endearing. 😃 Krino undergoes a lot of challenging obstacles in the name of finding the Sun Cure to save his family: including running away from a giant rolling snowball after performing a Whirlowind Attack to release it, going up to a higher platform the moment Mount Alsandra's flames rise up and go down when they recede in prompt fashion, constantly alternating between two platforms that amp up their speed with each one being stepped on, narrowly escaping from a flood in the castle basement, riding up on a couple of automatically rising platforms while contending with winged imps, evading oncoming boulders, jumping from raft to raft on the Sea of Sirrah, bravely fighting his way through a horde of pirates, maneuvering around an elaborated set up as the screen automatically scrolls in Neverland, and using his wit and heart and bravery in the Legendary Tower's three tests to prove his worth.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2MHTCDXcER4u59m1vrjoQ7sW24HW4RXgkldqK_mRrAPCesDN9JEW5-33bEVob0QPDIh8j2p_DnCWOCqBY-4wvIjoeuUGF0TJII3oiAD6ZAn0572llzCzpMdAbFn6c5u-91g4cIzEp09akUU5FbkPfltmrKH4Oy21AdGc3Euq1DgE5MmgzjhKnNDh1A/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_Rest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2MHTCDXcER4u59m1vrjoQ7sW24HW4RXgkldqK_mRrAPCesDN9JEW5-33bEVob0QPDIh8j2p_DnCWOCqBY-4wvIjoeuUGF0TJII3oiAD6ZAn0572llzCzpMdAbFn6c5u-91g4cIzEp09akUU5FbkPfltmrKH4Oy21AdGc3Euq1DgE5MmgzjhKnNDh1A/s1600/XandraNoDaiboken_Rest.png" width="288" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Video game father of the year right here, he deserves a long rest after going through all that... well, on days he's not out adventuring with Valkyrie, that is.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFpMiHu12kFnVhyM72L2wTcrK1p71mzkkhvotpPUG3zZe6t6WJRfLp5deeFwyKRGRMk3rs3UucVZ3eIMIJUCtoGAeEKdV3nmtUvtw-ANzKEr8vZDrYvkkMjPgLvB99am8sVUDpy8vCO9Yp39ZfQQHpQrX_WyKwF9aB5TMKnMNbr5SMZYziMOtTEUQvQg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFpMiHu12kFnVhyM72L2wTcrK1p71mzkkhvotpPUG3zZe6t6WJRfLp5deeFwyKRGRMk3rs3UucVZ3eIMIJUCtoGAeEKdV3nmtUvtw-ANzKEr8vZDrYvkkMjPgLvB99am8sVUDpy8vCO9Yp39ZfQQHpQrX_WyKwF9aB5TMKnMNbr5SMZYziMOtTEUQvQg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVDL8B8pgHTNmzkGEmTUEChbc78ptPXn738rMFo8hpXobYE94Z8Nan7gSsbHFkQcOrJfsw42w6_LLOfO_8wblWpy3qGGc0Q_wCLGt2r_nLTB59blnABRpj6CejSnQvq_amvW4G5_JxDGTmffbz8lT4L1jWdQwjLdz5E28mcLnAVS-8Vm9Ht4eyKdKh7g=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVDL8B8pgHTNmzkGEmTUEChbc78ptPXn738rMFo8hpXobYE94Z8Nan7gSsbHFkQcOrJfsw42w6_LLOfO_8wblWpy3qGGc0Q_wCLGt2r_nLTB59blnABRpj6CejSnQvq_amvW4G5_JxDGTmffbz8lT4L1jWdQwjLdz5E28mcLnAVS-8Vm9Ht4eyKdKh7g=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Gathered the seventh and final light crystal and saved Andy thanks to Sabine's help | Right: In the Enen Desert because Zouna teleported Krino there</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">So what causes the great divide in regards to this game's reception? Sadly, it all boils down to its gameplay; when applied with proper timing and planning and accurate precision, Krino's four jumping controls can do wonders and they will take you places, make it possible for you to see things through to the end. Admittedly, the controls can feel a bit awkward when mistimed and/or misused at an unfortunate spot, and with the overall area layout design being so nuanced and largely set up with the multitude of jumping controls in mind, it might not appeal to everyone's gaming sensibilities. It's not for everyone, which hurts to say when it comes to polarizing games like these when I'm on the side of the fence that finds enjoyment from playing it as there is a lot to like and enjoy about it, but sadly I imagine the gameplay might act as an impediment to some circles of gamers' enjoyment. Your mileage may vary.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vB3UVyw5GxuXLWTMTZ-g0nksUAApDOFFFcllyO1BH13kaxn7wky51iBYlpnqqYheV2EX8qHgAGMozlanIywtxWMMpDALQNGiW80_7rHBQiGWhTRHsvqf3yrGuGMUlFI6E2coWWQO42MTsCFf6lGo84Im2HaFTKJe2aCfcFULbajPbKYaCS7QdODp8Q/s389/ActRaiser2_Avarice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vB3UVyw5GxuXLWTMTZ-g0nksUAApDOFFFcllyO1BH13kaxn7wky51iBYlpnqqYheV2EX8qHgAGMozlanIywtxWMMpDALQNGiW80_7rHBQiGWhTRHsvqf3yrGuGMUlFI6E2coWWQO42MTsCFf6lGo84Im2HaFTKJe2aCfcFULbajPbKYaCS7QdODp8Q/w200-h154/ActRaiser2_Avarice.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jqgiDAcey1ZtqmSZ5tEaUgXweph-u00QUV2jRuqGZZnelFRol5L1zX07FA_ThCkMwRDAOSO8aN720M5ca--gB_k3yXdOj7RAQTIJ9VBB8CXdo7eMFfkXe8xMJeSFakDMxZdqR7tcULrBtL0JmsnWjYjMLomSdNe3TZyztSl3xKdQNM2prrqgUs9q-w/s389/ActRaiser2_GhostFight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="389" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jqgiDAcey1ZtqmSZ5tEaUgXweph-u00QUV2jRuqGZZnelFRol5L1zX07FA_ThCkMwRDAOSO8aN720M5ca--gB_k3yXdOj7RAQTIJ9VBB8CXdo7eMFfkXe8xMJeSFakDMxZdqR7tcULrBtL0JmsnWjYjMLomSdNe3TZyztSl3xKdQNM2prrqgUs9q-w/w200-h154/ActRaiser2_GhostFight.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">You thought I was playing the American version's Easy mode, didn't you? While I own that version too, I played the Japanese version's Normal mode (hence the five lives and purple Picasso ghosty having horns on its head)</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">The aforementioned <i>ActRaiser 2</i> by Quintet has got a breathtakingly detailed and atmospheric visual aesthetic, its dark tone gels appropriately with its heavy themes and religious symbolism, Yuzo Koshiro's symphony-laden soundtrack complements the occasionally haunting scenery, you have a variety of controls for your sword and magic, there's a great deal of nuance to its proceedings, honestly there <b>is</b> a lot to like here; unfortunately, not everyone might be receptive to the slow pacing and winged controls, and its hefty challenge value might pose as a complete turnoff for some circles of gamers. It's not for everyone, and some have even balked at it (exclusively) for removing the town micromanagement element that its predecessor in name only was known for incorporating in-between the action. Your mileage may vary.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQfP0-Jw1LrH28cWhjnS3nAVMxE39vham4f0_bzDYE_KwU7zDusNnK1_0xV_6o7I-f6m1X9bQMAW9x-D1tbMYJtL0Uv_Z0AZc7krqqTctD9Q8gUnjfiZmaayXrw9tPXV9eDDiXDMZwmglJ26l7s9rZPrDsW7sZlUucZI2ImssTJvdtSAKCZ-eznTA6g/s387/Equinox_Atlena.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="387" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQfP0-Jw1LrH28cWhjnS3nAVMxE39vham4f0_bzDYE_KwU7zDusNnK1_0xV_6o7I-f6m1X9bQMAW9x-D1tbMYJtL0Uv_Z0AZc7krqqTctD9Q8gUnjfiZmaayXrw9tPXV9eDDiXDMZwmglJ26l7s9rZPrDsW7sZlUucZI2ImssTJvdtSAKCZ-eznTA6g/w200-h155/Equinox_Atlena.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKT61VWpjAnOvU0_Ti0412O_hDrY5Yp0LE1vaCs7N6dhku46xSdhIzqkGqxb8RJy-IBZiUOUJPQ3Fp_yjl3wB1Wdr2vCrPnD5wYgl3RkOikDmQQvT4ecx2OFsFJKpw6XC29OuRe2j_nQTWVzE_eSgvi4YSOahsSaRGThgbEqMF3gz0EutoJO1zgYePA/s387/Equinox_Afralona.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="387" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKT61VWpjAnOvU0_Ti0412O_hDrY5Yp0LE1vaCs7N6dhku46xSdhIzqkGqxb8RJy-IBZiUOUJPQ3Fp_yjl3wB1Wdr2vCrPnD5wYgl3RkOikDmQQvT4ecx2OFsFJKpw6XC29OuRe2j_nQTWVzE_eSgvi4YSOahsSaRGThgbEqMF3gz0EutoJO1zgYePA/w200-h155/Equinox_Afralona.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">Software Creations' isometric action-adventure <i>Solstice II</i>/<i>Equinox</i> is another example of a video game that split those who play it down the middle. It's got a beautiful, lavishly designed world with wildly diverse dungeon designs, a complete ambient sound design that augments each dungeon's distinctive sense of atmosphere to an exceptional degree which makes the proceedings either relaxing or eerie or engrossing, a labyrinth-like layout with the occasional secret door and differently operating platforms, very solid and nuanced play control, and a multitude of rooms with a diverse sense of puzzle solving. There is a lot to like and savor here, alas, it's not for everyone--which is a shame, since it's my favorite isometric video game of all time--for like a lot of games with this perspective at the time there are no shadows which causes some of the isometric design to be deceptive, it's easy to get lost during a couple of its middle dungeons, the difficulty can get pretty hard because of its one-hit system, and Glendaal's cat-like shriek upon losing a life might annoy some people. Your mileage may vary. There are plenty of games that polarized people that I ended up enjoying personally despite what problems they might have; in the end, whether or not I like and enjoy a game is all a matter of subjectivity and personal taste, it's my opinion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde7MNjubz36m8igowpcStDoIX9jkc5XKpVpovJOtTq6dH2xTsV9nVEoXfCew3u-JkVar56z3DrVD324Gy-KjMEBq_RvUmCvD9quKj22J-IgRkyo_l_-ZeSfEhk0uehwN2QwH-Eu-WG6oVTKgLqjebwLZt4hunUFszbJhaCvqPcDwM3tQO7B-lqQ5TUw/s387/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_KingdomOfJugpot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="387" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde7MNjubz36m8igowpcStDoIX9jkc5XKpVpovJOtTq6dH2xTsV9nVEoXfCew3u-JkVar56z3DrVD324Gy-KjMEBq_RvUmCvD9quKj22J-IgRkyo_l_-ZeSfEhk0uehwN2QwH-Eu-WG6oVTKgLqjebwLZt4hunUFszbJhaCvqPcDwM3tQO7B-lqQ5TUw/w200-h155/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_KingdomOfJugpot.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxRdL1BEfkheimoVi8OteEIDr00Rn62iOWjFwtBIdyOs5M1ry1SwCrp3uHTFwnxup-kquwkkeWp76re2cEGRlhpx14DN2M4nA-A4Hhp_kZF2AoOxDkr4f2RIiQpqf5IqHKejwiw3NIuWwiu8fTeog2OzsuAdE1IBFXU2O9GbF-l4rQjGI9nI_khe13A/s387/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_Baladium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="387" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxRdL1BEfkheimoVi8OteEIDr00Rn62iOWjFwtBIdyOs5M1ry1SwCrp3uHTFwnxup-kquwkkeWp76re2cEGRlhpx14DN2M4nA-A4Hhp_kZF2AoOxDkr4f2RIiQpqf5IqHKejwiw3NIuWwiu8fTeog2OzsuAdE1IBFXU2O9GbF-l4rQjGI9nI_khe13A/w200-h155/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_Baladium.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>This Summer everyone's favorite cabbit Klonoa's console platformers are seeing a remaster on the Nintendo Switch; I don't need to buy a PlayStation 2 console to play </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Lunatea's Veil</i><b>, <u>YAAAAY</u>!</b> 😄</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">An easier and slightly more palatable alternative to Namco's story-driven platformer is their very own 1997 PlayStation One cult classic <i>Kaze no Klonoa</i>/<i>Klonoa: Door to Phantomile</i>. It's got a simple yet intuitive play control that's good, a visually appealing aesthetic with imaginative worlds, an engaging and enthralling narrative with charming and endearing characters, well thought-out moments of puzzle solving, a largely facile sense of difficulty and takes roughly two and a half if not three hours to beat, but above all it's enjoyably fun while it lasts with a fantastic soundtrack and an unforgettable ending.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ3HxalXhyIGFhBLzlMB6W2aqEFjEJS7zkIDbg_lnrR64vQ1FKV8NhNkDGe4FqvvoBSuIuQRI-QJ-PtRKY2JHzfKg1oqMpqGb5wK-xl5CiN-gZ8oUn5KxQHmJGIcFXScPBV4Qc7yN0f7MUhkVMAV747LrKfLco79VBmZnLb2DtaUpgW_WPvp2BFFPXA/s389/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_StartledAwake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZ3HxalXhyIGFhBLzlMB6W2aqEFjEJS7zkIDbg_lnrR64vQ1FKV8NhNkDGe4FqvvoBSuIuQRI-QJ-PtRKY2JHzfKg1oqMpqGb5wK-xl5CiN-gZ8oUn5KxQHmJGIcFXScPBV4Qc7yN0f7MUhkVMAV747LrKfLco79VBmZnLb2DtaUpgW_WPvp2BFFPXA/s16000/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile_StartledAwake.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>On the year of Klonoa's 25 years, </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">too</u><b>? Bandai Namco, your timing is</b> <u style="font-weight: bold;">iconic</u><b>!</b> 😃</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">🎵</span><b style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> Is this the real life? Is this just <i>Phantasy</i>?</b><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">🎵</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeHqrDJUUMnfdykLjZOLAsfzfJFv2jQskOxK1fUKRNlok3My-E7_JrdvWeCAFwH9zACHIGU4erQWUhTwbujcmKNm24QDgc_kpxvUMBN3AgrXM3l4k1zAhBG3o8TH1Isdpmrr6n_yOG_2Vu9y7sxOgfltxv6TQbNJJz8HU3WcS3vGVSoiQIrMZLvbzqkQ=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeHqrDJUUMnfdykLjZOLAsfzfJFv2jQskOxK1fUKRNlok3My-E7_JrdvWeCAFwH9zACHIGU4erQWUhTwbujcmKNm24QDgc_kpxvUMBN3AgrXM3l4k1zAhBG3o8TH1Isdpmrr6n_yOG_2Vu9y7sxOgfltxv6TQbNJJz8HU3WcS3vGVSoiQIrMZLvbzqkQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4GPc0jp1HrdDiAXNArHG8szYim-bLpAcUaQt-WhljpB9CL9Kei3OlDogfvSeXRK9Nj-vNmllgBMCPs9zxZUeQg_pPVvwa9EbSA4vsZ-f-lXiZPZB_Q_eduPDNZKG8lMff12QisyJaHJVnT7EAlbr62Diu69uM8p9G_F0HnSKNX4Vc1HTPtje02y4SsA=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4GPc0jp1HrdDiAXNArHG8szYim-bLpAcUaQt-WhljpB9CL9Kei3OlDogfvSeXRK9Nj-vNmllgBMCPs9zxZUeQg_pPVvwa9EbSA4vsZ-f-lXiZPZB_Q_eduPDNZKG8lMff12QisyJaHJVnT7EAlbr62Diu69uM8p9G_F0HnSKNX4Vc1HTPtje02y4SsA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Test of Knowledge | Right: Test of Compassion</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> can be played through in one sitting and depending how you play it and/or how long it takes you to overcome certain obstacles (that waterfall segment, for one) it takes roughly sixty, seventy, eighty, maybe <b>ninety</b> minutes to beat if not more; you might lose some continues along the way, but it <b>can</b> be done if you have the requisite amount of time; but if you don't, at least the password system helps. If one day I ever decide to part with my Super Famicollection, this would be one of the games I would keep, it just means so much to me and is one platformer I always look forward to revisiting.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-E8swSLvq1AMAIROE4cp6ewZXRgRRYu26DSlpyp7vdoIXrV6hFOHQ6iBjjtz5MsSJnIRNkSZqlt3khtOtAi90jDyXk5Z14xi_nBD1NgdVI0MKBX7sXn6vm5XkF58IM4ZGj39JPU5V4maUWQv64oNrbzpVMw3iZ_f4MQM7xXlz3r3FGW_hK2EItPz70g=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-E8swSLvq1AMAIROE4cp6ewZXRgRRYu26DSlpyp7vdoIXrV6hFOHQ6iBjjtz5MsSJnIRNkSZqlt3khtOtAi90jDyXk5Z14xi_nBD1NgdVI0MKBX7sXn6vm5XkF58IM4ZGj39JPU5V4maUWQv64oNrbzpVMw3iZ_f4MQM7xXlz3r3FGW_hK2EItPz70g=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht97bcLg0vy_7xpyJ9lNffPAKQd7OgtmKVM8tLTiwDhypB1KWMzDER1ze4rfitwS1ngui-PclNPekYSUV62IR63Ld06CsUFh4MiY6UF2JRwgpt1rSrpIKcQKml-NkgFYVGTRx3l-LBwBTfITSBUnQKpB2DA7kLonqUxtKKDzoFxkKdJ0i5Ws9pLdshYg=s389" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="389" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht97bcLg0vy_7xpyJ9lNffPAKQd7OgtmKVM8tLTiwDhypB1KWMzDER1ze4rfitwS1ngui-PclNPekYSUV62IR63Ld06CsUFh4MiY6UF2JRwgpt1rSrpIKcQKml-NkgFYVGTRx3l-LBwBTfITSBUnQKpB2DA7kLonqUxtKKDzoFxkKdJ0i5Ws9pLdshYg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Test of Courage | Right: For placing children's lives in danger, Zouna must pay for his crimes</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;">If you're in the mood to try out a narrative-driven platformer I think <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> will satisfy you a lot in that regard as it is one of its strongest qualities, though if you're averse to challenging difficulty and platforming or if you feel the controls might be awkward you may want to opt for something a little easier, though if you're into games with a bit of challenge I think you'll find the game quite rewarding to play through 'til the end and would happily recommend it. It may not have appealed to everyone <b>because</b> of its play control, and I can respect that, but for me it not only makes for a good installment in Namco's <i>Valkyrie</i> franchise but also works just as well (if not more so) as a standalone. Krino Xandra's great adventure, if you own a Nintendo 16-bit console, is one worth looking into if you're into challenging platformers for you won't find another in the same genre quite like this one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDBdpDAADSviTf1518rMUUwFo27jpqEA-Fc-UJQ_Egj9fjfWUPGOIxvlwRK9DR5GXcYd_FizLuf9Ke8OnzXYxtxIi-4NXRjWbYivB5EjOm0GfmFPSBsQVpoft6dc9EIPyz-p0pyTTDObgIro2WQE1ZMFVfg34hWzNi9Khpq-IuGI8MqLk-gbfu58r4A/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_HealthyBaby.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDBdpDAADSviTf1518rMUUwFo27jpqEA-Fc-UJQ_Egj9fjfWUPGOIxvlwRK9DR5GXcYd_FizLuf9Ke8OnzXYxtxIi-4NXRjWbYivB5EjOm0GfmFPSBsQVpoft6dc9EIPyz-p0pyTTDObgIro2WQE1ZMFVfg34hWzNi9Khpq-IuGI8MqLk-gbfu58r4A/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_HealthyBaby.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaDW90Y4Uie4KMlFC07gsNCV2inbI3Eqo18ZcO4LTK6l63lMUmJ_akawLHaV0D_e4JG9PoZa58jRQS1UFDbkzPtVkokOXlNpgps4NRNge3QhUn7bQEJtHQwuumoCzFl6OQbLJdKstH1-I9k9ebtnn35hT63iSPMjQn4c3nDvtRmGosqd9KWnhtUwa5A/s288/XandraNoDaiboken_Epilogue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="288" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaDW90Y4Uie4KMlFC07gsNCV2inbI3Eqo18ZcO4LTK6l63lMUmJ_akawLHaV0D_e4JG9PoZa58jRQS1UFDbkzPtVkokOXlNpgps4NRNge3QhUn7bQEJtHQwuumoCzFl6OQbLJdKstH1-I9k9ebtnn35hT63iSPMjQn4c3nDvtRmGosqd9KWnhtUwa5A/w200-h120/XandraNoDaiboken_Epilogue.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><b>My Personal Score: 8.0/10</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMJt7LtfLjjEjdswzPiXJdgIlAvFJ31lqhi_CQcAHM0VA-7kVzbYcgZRVbREE4GLqRhipLqcPVsWF5bxHDym676l1d57mIT3fCi_Kvs5FYm7--mNN9Cwfaz0SEfhoWUbNhq9ag4tF8wCzqbwGg9QjZSX0gcazDQpwhFBMGk9_lxj7JVF1QFjDIU_8Yg/s200/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMJt7LtfLjjEjdswzPiXJdgIlAvFJ31lqhi_CQcAHM0VA-7kVzbYcgZRVbREE4GLqRhipLqcPVsWF5bxHDym676l1d57mIT3fCi_Kvs5FYm7--mNN9Cwfaz0SEfhoWUbNhq9ag4tF8wCzqbwGg9QjZSX0gcazDQpwhFBMGk9_lxj7JVF1QFjDIU_8Yg/s1600/Emoticon_OneThumbUp.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWSkHpalIidB9wiRHFKS4ychXE3IjnuEpngkDMXZhaPv7t-KVTfe1emjiyDcYiNwMtTeo6QztTa-if9DnKSTQORwcfel_oP6Q2y3-h8TcVJaFF4qyk92gO-soGCDFAdu1zQAa0rahiWIDHvxbgSwtkVr2emsl2PZrVMb0KrDqGo8eCiSr8kKzmEfYIQ/s130/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="130" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWSkHpalIidB9wiRHFKS4ychXE3IjnuEpngkDMXZhaPv7t-KVTfe1emjiyDcYiNwMtTeo6QztTa-if9DnKSTQORwcfel_oP6Q2y3-h8TcVJaFF4qyk92gO-soGCDFAdu1zQAa0rahiWIDHvxbgSwtkVr2emsl2PZrVMb0KrDqGo8eCiSr8kKzmEfYIQ/s1600/2022_30thAnniversaryRibbon.png" width="130" /></a><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><b>d(^-^)b<u><i>TO EACH THEIR OWN</i></u>d(^-^)b</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Regardless of your feelings for the game and whether you played it or not, I recommend checking out <a href="http://www.devimension.com/dvp_doc_database/dev_docu001.html">Demivension's page</a>, as it tells the entirety of the game in the form of a story. It's a bit lengthy but it is a good read, I <b>wish</b> I could write this good.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Something that's never occurred to me until I translated the last line of one of the bad endings from the Japanese version I saw on YouTube via Google Translate (as it was worded in the first person) out of curiosity: was a large percentage of this game's story narrated by <b>Valkyrie</b>? ... That actually makes so much sense, and is another good way of making a connection to the franchise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● There is a part of me that wants this to be my swansong review, because I learned of cover artist Greg Martin's passing and feeling bad for not being kind when it came to his <i>Whirlo</i> cover in the past without even knowing, but I know there are other games I still want to talk about, so think not of this as the end of my video game reviews but merely a new beginning. A renewal, per se, of my video game reviews hence why I'm not linking to past reviews.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Random thoughts naught to do with today's game or video games in general: Frank Oz's <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> is an underrated musical, "Suddenly, Seymour" is such an excellent song; and on Disney+ I've watched Joe Johnston's <i>Honey, I Shrunk the Kids</i> and Randal "Director of <i>Grease</i>" Kleiser's <i>Honey, I Blew Up the Kid</i> in preparation for Johnston's latest directorial effort and newest installment in the franchise <i>Shrunk</i> when it comes out on Disney+ and I hope it's as good as (if not close to the level of) the first film as I found it endearing and enjoyable with most of its effects still holding up well to this day (the second film is okay, I found it at its strongest during its final act).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Happy 30th Anniversary, <i>Xandra no Daibōken</i> and <i>Whirlo</i>, you both earned it!!!! </b>🥳</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you enjoy this review?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did you find it informative and enlightening?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Did it make you curious to try the game?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you read this again when given a chance?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Would you recommend this review to anyone?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW is allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, and take care!</b> 😃</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOH0KLO-OrQ2Ki3EysnoNFsZKj70whzVJd009kxu7JKWkdbrq-x5MaQtIb2kcLMRztHgYlRe1SCBoecGLl75wcbTyUrQDBNaWlNllwP5xC5qZHCaGhesUgCM_DxYa1KJl0q7ek-F2dy2DusMp-XjYRpFRrjMkGxhMeqjN9h76Jba5YgjiPM3SQk_IA/s389/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOH0KLO-OrQ2Ki3EysnoNFsZKj70whzVJd009kxu7JKWkdbrq-x5MaQtIb2kcLMRztHgYlRe1SCBoecGLl75wcbTyUrQDBNaWlNllwP5xC5qZHCaGhesUgCM_DxYa1KJl0q7ek-F2dy2DusMp-XjYRpFRrjMkGxhMeqjN9h76Jba5YgjiPM3SQk_IA/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily1.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc-slQTabNk23lMM5qAo5M4c378rDuj1MKZgYuLXVJGh6t5C0U8MtGqmXCLj6R0FZWy4t1xCGbMyMnWEnBB_CS4OyxtmMlnwLXqL7xmzCeWtvOMu4y31b1vuLn5T2trJ8XzVuyrfj8dybmNgsSHcXmInss1wceNubmos48g_pcbggRkmcZAibSwYuPA/s389/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc-slQTabNk23lMM5qAo5M4c378rDuj1MKZgYuLXVJGh6t5C0U8MtGqmXCLj6R0FZWy4t1xCGbMyMnWEnBB_CS4OyxtmMlnwLXqL7xmzCeWtvOMu4y31b1vuLn5T2trJ8XzVuyrfj8dybmNgsSHcXmInss1wceNubmos48g_pcbggRkmcZAibSwYuPA/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily2.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBstT4EVnMMP-zJrLciUBv1gAWLnIH_m4-95qD4oTFdtPauxQd-cnQlfKzDsNNmdnDHrOWiPKGexLJHJzoKG8kHyEbCgGi3hyiYr9QtCo7cKC6CseDHtcdZcfLzgKU1dDyg_QIqAUOpXxYlahxs25bfR2ey24Ypjptt2WkOxTUbYh_0NnHoT4WZJQxw/s389/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBstT4EVnMMP-zJrLciUBv1gAWLnIH_m4-95qD4oTFdtPauxQd-cnQlfKzDsNNmdnDHrOWiPKGexLJHJzoKG8kHyEbCgGi3hyiYr9QtCo7cKC6CseDHtcdZcfLzgKU1dDyg_QIqAUOpXxYlahxs25bfR2ey24Ypjptt2WkOxTUbYh_0NnHoT4WZJQxw/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ePokuJjXyLZ5GZ7rluc02Rto333dYuXO7alIUmcwqZ44IvRnCmcMkxNYQ-i719LmYIASZjtbUZ35BYKAJ-8QpMX1J9T3cgJE7GsB9lt5EEzcSKTKgENLL6gmbinJkxtvvvyIkdiNSXYZe-2C40e6QiQslXMg3gAdYn2wAbW54WjtyDoiMf5l8aHd0g/s389/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="389" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ePokuJjXyLZ5GZ7rluc02Rto333dYuXO7alIUmcwqZ44IvRnCmcMkxNYQ-i719LmYIASZjtbUZ35BYKAJ-8QpMX1J9T3cgJE7GsB9lt5EEzcSKTKgENLL6gmbinJkxtvvvyIkdiNSXYZe-2C40e6QiQslXMg3gAdYn2wAbW54WjtyDoiMf5l8aHd0g/w200-h158/NamcoMuseumVolume5_KrinoFamily4.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ff6e; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Awwwww, that is so <b>heartwarming</b>! 🤗 <b>This</b> was worth the compilation's $100 price tag!</span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872415740442296055.post-52332476626377402312021-12-17T18:31:00.012-06:002023-07-23T15:54:09.932-05:00The Smurfs (Genesis Repro) Review<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><b>Received: February 12th, 2021 | Written: December 3rd-17th, 2021</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35cNA7_CDP_1rc4rPaaRTo1Tef45CpZ_pCZUXZ3OJo3aP9dfHXSlV6L5YR6xycUB748HDBkhIgcuFxzXnwQznycMR4aNep0-J9AeXGhBIsSJNvZIpb_ffqGYnECOWX7tz70hyphenhyphen7Vy3Uze4/s145/TheSmurfs_Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="58" data-original-width="145" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35cNA7_CDP_1rc4rPaaRTo1Tef45CpZ_pCZUXZ3OJo3aP9dfHXSlV6L5YR6xycUB748HDBkhIgcuFxzXnwQznycMR4aNep0-J9AeXGhBIsSJNvZIpb_ffqGYnECOWX7tz70hyphenhyphen7Vy3Uze4/s0/TheSmurfs_Title.png" width="145" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-size: large;"><b>Year: 1994, 1995 | Developed by: Virtual Studio</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #00ccff;">Published by: Infogrames | </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">[</span> <span style="color: #f1c232;">◯</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">]</span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Hello, my readers and gamers alike, welcome to my blog, and thank you for taking the time to tune in today; I know it's been some months since I've last published a review and I have not been as active on my blog this year as I have in the past, but rest assured I am still alive and well (just I've been busy in real life, I have passions outside of gaming like I've mentioned once before, and I just wanted to get into the right mood for the review). I cannot promise I'll update in as frequent a pace as I've managed in the past (I apologize in advance and hope you understand), since I'm not getting any younger, but I will update a review once in awhile (I'll just go at my own pace, I set a high standard for myself for when I write my reviews as I aim to write better today than I did yesterday, and to write better tomorrow than I have today which I hope I've been accomplishing these past few years; thank you all for sticking around). Now having said all that, let's hear it for <b>salt</b>! </span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;">🧂 </span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">... Confused? I promise there is a relevancy to it and what I'm covering today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">In 1947 a Belgian artist named Pierre Culliford, mainly recognized by his pseudonym "Peyo", created a Medieval-based sword-and-sorcery comic strip series called </span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Johan</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"> which had its name extended to </span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Johan et Pirlouit</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"> (translated in English as </span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Johan and Peewit</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">) several years later after the latter's introduction for Dupuis and Dargaud's </span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Spirou</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"> comic magazine.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRA-h9Q7LqarYasgUZe_Bk3D3CQNX-gTAfFhFkzttaa2HLVELtNeZrkfZuiSLgU-Hvkgvy7GeAMm4U-ES5yp2tFzWXhsRdZNsxJuYNT1r6WAO1lj0FbKzvuFZRjvp9_73jHSy_sPV7HPovviH9zjzvLQS5LYOhQw6cVJDBpFaM9PtFRMhZiUfQxGEkMA=s418" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRA-h9Q7LqarYasgUZe_Bk3D3CQNX-gTAfFhFkzttaa2HLVELtNeZrkfZuiSLgU-Hvkgvy7GeAMm4U-ES5yp2tFzWXhsRdZNsxJuYNT1r6WAO1lj0FbKzvuFZRjvp9_73jHSy_sPV7HPovviH9zjzvLQS5LYOhQw6cVJDBpFaM9PtFRMhZiUfQxGEkMA=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from the <i>Smurfs</i> fandom wiki</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">One of the dynamic duo's adventures led to the encounter of a small humanoid creature with a blue body on October 23rd, 1958.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The names of these creatures, as well as their term and language, derived from a dinner conversion Peyo had with his friend and colleague André Franquin (creator of <i>Marsupilami</i> and <i>Spirou et Fantasio</i>) at a Belgian coast; because of a momentary brain fart, Peyo forgot the word "salt" so he asked Franquin in French to pass the <i>schtroumpf</i> (pronounced like the German word for sock, "Strumpf") to which he jokingly replied "Here's the <i>Schtroumpf</i>--when you are done <i>schtroumpfing</i>, <i>schtroumpf</i> it back...". This in turn led to the two speaking in "<i>schtroumpf</i> language" for the rest of the weekend, and thus a name and language for these small blue humanoids was born which would later be translated in Dutch as "Smurf", which the English language would adopt.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The Smurfs would gain a lot of popularity, so much so that they got their own comic stories devoted to them starting in 1959 and over the years would become a hugely successful franchise inspiring a lineup of miniatures and toys, five movies (1965's <i>Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs</i>/<i>The Adventures of the Smurfs</i>, Belvision's 1976 animated film <i>La Flûte à six schtroumpfs</i>/<i>The Smurfs and the Magic Flute</i>, Raja Gosnell's 2011 live action/CGI film and 2013 sequel, and the 2017 computer animated film <i>Smurfs: The Lost Village</i>), two TV series (the 1981 Hanna-Barbera series that lasted nine seasons until 1989 and the 2021 computer animated Belgian series taking place after the events of the latest movie), and especially video games.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Their video game foray came in the form of the Coleco-developed ColecoVision and Atari 2600 title <i>Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle</i> in 1982 which did well at the time, and it got followed by a few more games for these formats.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwudHvbVqB-mEcnfMaO4G1nvVl6GtMTCKzbjon0C3fPuxqVaZ3sWGGfLz_So5AYphtEnI9Z9X_87BoiS_ktBRJ5szZ5myrCEgZQ-TJoKXisIUni_4T8ru3QWrTuj1qDFFvNa0izDKyy4b/s215/Infogrames_Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="215" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwudHvbVqB-mEcnfMaO4G1nvVl6GtMTCKzbjon0C3fPuxqVaZ3sWGGfLz_So5AYphtEnI9Z9X_87BoiS_ktBRJ5szZ5myrCEgZQ-TJoKXisIUni_4T8ru3QWrTuj1qDFFvNa0izDKyy4b/s0/Infogrames_Logo.png" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">RIP Infogrames, 1983-2009</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Over a decade since their last video game excursion, and who better to handle Peyo's beloved license for the '90s generation than <b>Infogrames</b> who by this point have made a name for themselves with licensed properties, especially when it's European comic-based video game entertainment?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNQqXgfHN47o0I6loq_GwVIUDIgskvIe9K3jULBR1IwK2KNYjmfd8iPl-3kaqPM4c3tMXr3Ce_IHGOcAOt6bqa2WWbm6nr0oyiUPuwjptOcsBkY7i8eBsulfsgyUUqbhXtG6AqgnmEGkw/s896/LesSchtroumpfs_MD-Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNQqXgfHN47o0I6loq_GwVIUDIgskvIe9K3jULBR1IwK2KNYjmfd8iPl-3kaqPM4c3tMXr3Ce_IHGOcAOt6bqa2WWbm6nr0oyiUPuwjptOcsBkY7i8eBsulfsgyUUqbhXtG6AqgnmEGkw/w286-h400/LesSchtroumpfs_MD-Cover.png" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Image from GameFAQs</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">In 1994 PAL SNES gamers got treated to <i><b>The Smurfs</b></i>, which received a Sega MegaDrive and Mega-CD conversion by <b>Virtual Studio</b> the following year in 1995, then in 1997 it got ported by East Point Software to the MS-DOS and Windows computer formats, and finally it saw a Game Boy Advance port on October 2002 courtesy of Bit Managers but as <i>The Revenge of the Smurfs</i> (for... some reason, I don't know). For this review I'll focus solely on the Sega 16-bit version which was programmed by </span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Frédéric Bibet, Lionel Laissus, and Emmanuel Régis, designed by Stéphane Baudet (who also acted as the game's director), Xavier Schon, and Vincent Pourieux, produced by Infogrames founder Bruno Bonnell, executive produced by Benoit de Maulmin, with Beate Vigliano-Reiter handling the translation work, and Edith Protiere who worked on publishing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWyOC_u8h7EVws7t-ssQxXB4flqav8r9Zg8x9BK7jGuRXW1i8Wv4fya7MRRXvhAk_Y_m9e96ZDjFCseE7IM2whP716iKBQ_npM_RzKBN9P1fOhEQ3N-P7mAmB_c8Byfy4sIzG9J9WHnYn/s295/TheSmurfs_LanguageSelection.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="156" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWyOC_u8h7EVws7t-ssQxXB4flqav8r9Zg8x9BK7jGuRXW1i8Wv4fya7MRRXvhAk_Y_m9e96ZDjFCseE7IM2whP716iKBQ_npM_RzKBN9P1fOhEQ3N-P7mAmB_c8Byfy4sIzG9J9WHnYn/s0/TheSmurfs_LanguageSelection.gif" width="156" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">And as this is a European-developed game catered towards its multi-language continental audience, given the multitude of countries inhabiting it, today's game has a language selection prompt prior to beginning the game proper for you can decide to play it in French (</span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Les Schtroumpfs</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">), in English (</span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The Smurfs</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">), in German (</span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Die Schlümpfe</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">), in Spanish (</span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Los Pitufos</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">), or in Italian (</span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">I Puffi</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">). ...err, wait: that's the... </span><b style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Italian</b><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">... flag? 🤨</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje7D46EXPwfhvRS9o71ZzSu9Y6i15qx2sUGhvuQFGMvBpK6FuYHkPtPAfmAN5YRtYtI_rGghQCY6t85JqC_1pWTxZ91Dd83_16xDDqfrNotEopbPBQTucPD-6ErSmyRJ6xlZKUvlqc-kIXtJc4vXjubJp-e2MGfor2wWlS_P1tvn2Kg34ecDHHmc599w=s140" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="140" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje7D46EXPwfhvRS9o71ZzSu9Y6i15qx2sUGhvuQFGMvBpK6FuYHkPtPAfmAN5YRtYtI_rGghQCY6t85JqC_1pWTxZ91Dd83_16xDDqfrNotEopbPBQTucPD-6ErSmyRJ6xlZKUvlqc-kIXtJc4vXjubJp-e2MGfor2wWlS_P1tvn2Kg34ecDHHmc599w" width="140" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You silly French company, <u>this</u> is Italy's correct color order: <span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: #6aa84f;">[ </span><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: white;">|</span></span><span style="background-color: red; color: red;"> ]</span></span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">I don't think so, fam.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2AcinrqoXXNsGAlJfhU0T1jzodfGIsbjXLOZyzKBqdh83NzfLVGkqGWBKNkn6B0rg_zGLFk6tGuf8IfZO5iSHq0J3W4wCQIvdtPT1JMItU3jTQoetlR7ux2OqF-_v6GYKbJf_6qw9dXQ/s376/TheSmurfs_GargamelManor.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2AcinrqoXXNsGAlJfhU0T1jzodfGIsbjXLOZyzKBqdh83NzfLVGkqGWBKNkn6B0rg_zGLFk6tGuf8IfZO5iSHq0J3W4wCQIvdtPT1JMItU3jTQoetlR7ux2OqF-_v6GYKbJf_6qw9dXQ/s16000/TheSmurfs_GargamelManor.gif" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The evil sorcerer Gargamel has concocted a plan to capture every single Smurf, small and blue humanoid creatures "three apples high" who reside in the forest in a village comprised of mushroom-shaped houses who wear Phrygian (or liberty) caps on their heads, so that he can have them all for dinner (again). This is smurfeous news indeed, as four of them have already been captured.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1cdcRUTXgX6YvoPtL46kvoA2HazopEWFz3cwN8bS_bEXnrDkrds0vCoYc3rWBkLQlS1KTvsOgMlvS_aAlBDLHIV_Inj1Fp_PsmPBlMbnJWJOFADb-qRyhcwqzwSLWDzSDyJS7cJoLUfJ/s376/TheSmurfs_Conference.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1cdcRUTXgX6YvoPtL46kvoA2HazopEWFz3cwN8bS_bEXnrDkrds0vCoYc3rWBkLQlS1KTvsOgMlvS_aAlBDLHIV_Inj1Fp_PsmPBlMbnJWJOFADb-qRyhcwqzwSLWDzSDyJS7cJoLUfJ/s16000/TheSmurfs_Conference.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Inquisitive Smurf (second to the right) relieved to not partake in an adventure... <u>yet</u></span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Papa Smurf, elder and wise leader of the Smurfs, appoints and entrusts the brave and strong Hefty Smurf to journey out of Smurf Village and rescue Jokey Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Greedy Smurf, and Smurfette from the clutches of Gargamel before it is too late; it'll be a tough road ahead, but only he can undertake this important mission. Good smurf, Hefty!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjSOMJTAZO4f5idHkFjLycRzezZS8BAAB8eLucTeuX5qFxfg_yEYo_oDvZUSJ1bRZX3lIYnQx71TrUtdV-452yriJnHo43EtPGSVhDRMpv7d5fIgv6Akwco3jPVqYEEw1ooqgQUQECtHj/s377/TheSmurfs_Options.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjSOMJTAZO4f5idHkFjLycRzezZS8BAAB8eLucTeuX5qFxfg_yEYo_oDvZUSJ1bRZX3lIYnQx71TrUtdV-452yriJnHo43EtPGSVhDRMpv7d5fIgv6Akwco3jPVqYEEw1ooqgQUQECtHj/s16000/TheSmurfs_Options.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Enjoy this background image of Brainy Smurf politely rescinding the offer to have a sample of Greedy Smurf's cake followed by Lazy Smurf unable to keep himself awake with Jokey Smurf laughing and Grouchy Smurf expressing sheer annoyance at Harmony Smurf's trumpet playing</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">In the options screen you can select your difficulty level, choose one of two control schemes by pressing left or right on the joypad, choose whether to have the background music play or not, and toggle between the different areas' music for a nice little sound test.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEBb6DozPGpgqnOUZY_zH596iRJj9SrGaCDLcP3TfwP5TJstHAt3cqyJzh6k9q-juojmSqOQZ50Bq125f2c_xKaf-N4H_B1724prh7_-sqD_OBSo9W-_YmA2cn_u97o15OpgQGBbTRYAJ/s377/TheSmurfs_ChimneyRocket.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEBb6DozPGpgqnOUZY_zH596iRJj9SrGaCDLcP3TfwP5TJstHAt3cqyJzh6k9q-juojmSqOQZ50Bq125f2c_xKaf-N4H_B1724prh7_-sqD_OBSo9W-_YmA2cn_u97o15OpgQGBbTRYAJ/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_ChimneyRocket.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDpkG5qLnZHuNJCuGxiuHO_bHdNkNWTlu07RlNRzUyG41IHEvDGzHdQR_RrTpxd3y3YTB65VJ-QrBfZV6nC5yhUiWlMzlvF59Kzh54XzG_VZ9X6lZ6z1NHTh0B2Zc6KksUyw5eseEWxXs/s377/TheSmurfs_BagOfWeights.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDpkG5qLnZHuNJCuGxiuHO_bHdNkNWTlu07RlNRzUyG41IHEvDGzHdQR_RrTpxd3y3YTB65VJ-QrBfZV6nC5yhUiWlMzlvF59Kzh54XzG_VZ9X6lZ6z1NHTh0B2Zc6KksUyw5eseEWxXs/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_BagOfWeights.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Entering a house just to shoot himself up through a chimney, logic | Right: Waiting for the coast to be clear so I don't run into the bag</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">In the sidescrolling action-platformer </span><i style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The Smurfs</i><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"> you largely take control of Hefty Smurf whom you can move left and right, press up to enter through a door (but only in the Smurf Village), duck down, crawl on his elbows to fit through tight spaces by holding down while moving in either direction, pick up a sarsaparilla spring (or a key to free a Smurf from inside a cage) by pressing down beside it and carry it around with you until you decide to place it back down by pressing down once more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX3geSglUhhwkwBhyphenhyphenHKMRsL8JH34iTIXq9Vri6NTaRBHsyL3sg99qRpOFFuUL17k3sg7_ViVL3-h-MPmyi9tbURUjEr2Rp2yvwkfka8t5RatLkAmjpMgmHW6AZhBj9JKavMNBFLjliqCl/s377/TheSmurfs_FarmerSmurf%252BSnail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX3geSglUhhwkwBhyphenhyphenHKMRsL8JH34iTIXq9Vri6NTaRBHsyL3sg99qRpOFFuUL17k3sg7_ViVL3-h-MPmyi9tbURUjEr2Rp2yvwkfka8t5RatLkAmjpMgmHW6AZhBj9JKavMNBFLjliqCl/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_FarmerSmurf%252BSnail.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5qPJKhrGbfJe2S7EaSdev8M6BCx-u_ThK8sKweLcL7eiY9OpfhLIzD5S265pNGiVFaOmJRye3R3q3r3tp6IGWAhaRaVhojPeESvI-Wfl1ADby8YT1lAaiiAwDDUUZSIwPVSoBXAEgYf_/s377/TheSmurfs_FlyingSmurf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5qPJKhrGbfJe2S7EaSdev8M6BCx-u_ThK8sKweLcL7eiY9OpfhLIzD5S265pNGiVFaOmJRye3R3q3r3tp6IGWAhaRaVhojPeESvI-Wfl1ADby8YT1lAaiiAwDDUUZSIwPVSoBXAEgYf_/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_FlyingSmurf.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Careful not to get hit by the granular emanating from Farmer Smurf's worker snail </b>🐌<b> | Right: You know, there's just something fundamentally funny and ironic about starting a game where you have to avoid sustaining damage from your own kind before the adventure proper commences, watch out for Flying Smurf!</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">To jump up in the air press the B button (or the C button if you went with the alternate control scheme) with your gained altitude based on how hard or how lightly you pressed the button (and should you hold down the jump button when bouncing off of a sarsaparilla spring you'll propel yourself up high), if you wish to move faster hold down the A (or B) button which will add a sense of traction, and the C (or A button) button will allow you to toss the item you're carrying ahead of you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht38DUg1dMOFz5ELSyAMesWlWMteu-gq4C5pkLIKPxSoPCXaGicXoAMJ5ytggI4BUrdQTqdQqEkVpNah01x4K7bfWles00Hy5svdDssEMFCiaRn0j5E5SpqVzRbcbyDP1Zz4cw3PUae_O7/s377/TheSmurfs_Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht38DUg1dMOFz5ELSyAMesWlWMteu-gq4C5pkLIKPxSoPCXaGicXoAMJ5ytggI4BUrdQTqdQqEkVpNah01x4K7bfWles00Hy5svdDssEMFCiaRn0j5E5SpqVzRbcbyDP1Zz4cw3PUae_O7/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Forest.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZuQKsawKHpp-QJRfur_HnWOHhDtVrAoVHZnbR5dupwaGRseB55GonBxmHz4irm3uW51NAB1t3lQ8nBpF6oYS3q8BJ1N4shEr-Ni6WPGRIryP7jlKrCEhnuWgjiA1bT8Z_nRSg7JGPYkX/s377/TheSmurfs_LeafyPlatform.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZuQKsawKHpp-QJRfur_HnWOHhDtVrAoVHZnbR5dupwaGRseB55GonBxmHz4irm3uW51NAB1t3lQ8nBpF6oYS3q8BJ1N4shEr-Ni6WPGRIryP7jlKrCEhnuWgjiA1bT8Z_nRSg7JGPYkX/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_LeafyPlatform.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Traversing through the forest | Right: Slowly fluttering and falling leaves can serve, with precise timing, as good platforms </b>🍃</span></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Throughout the course of the game are items for you to gather (either in the air or inside a tiny mushroom which you must jump on to split open) such as sarsaparilla leaves, smurfberries to replenish your health by one heart (the capacity being four), bonus stars, and a Smurf doll to gain a new life (which you could also gain by collecting twenty-five sarsaparilla leaves). Also littered throughout are enemies and obstacles, the former of which (unless they have quills or spikes on them) are mainly disposed of by hopping and bopping on them while the latter you have to steer clear of as best you can, and at the end of every fourth Act (three after Act 12) is a boss fight which requires that you damage them just enough times for them to relinquish the key that allows you to free the Smurf they are guarding, at which point you'll be granted a four-character password that allows you to pick up from that point.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0b6wNvpwa4nNuUYwtr3uyGBQsoLOsBYtnsR72poyVm8Cj-POCbjg8k9vu6lmw8VbQuwnYJFrum8Zuxw9ntJ2Wa1uBcYvnICurYgixJbnIMF2zKcwaAtGJ7KAQVtGYpGABvGerVVN28ALF/s377/TheSmurfs_Tree.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0b6wNvpwa4nNuUYwtr3uyGBQsoLOsBYtnsR72poyVm8Cj-POCbjg8k9vu6lmw8VbQuwnYJFrum8Zuxw9ntJ2Wa1uBcYvnICurYgixJbnIMF2zKcwaAtGJ7KAQVtGYpGABvGerVVN28ALF/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Tree.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktKZioggr0FC67gK5IDdQfJPaV84fVl5B-rmZ-8RCyZCQkgVD9zwfnI0x0hmlLpOG4oWpKPDPG4JlKvXxkNhaNmlx4hLTzg4t5L63UOHp9Rd-9aRGNLVJxiFx6NsopBYlvRv-WiXpwq-0/s377/TheSmurfs_Bridge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktKZioggr0FC67gK5IDdQfJPaV84fVl5B-rmZ-8RCyZCQkgVD9zwfnI0x0hmlLpOG4oWpKPDPG4JlKvXxkNhaNmlx4hLTzg4t5L63UOHp9Rd-9aRGNLVJxiFx6NsopBYlvRv-WiXpwq-0/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Bridge.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be mindful of those acorn-dropping squirrels as you scale up that tree | Right: Walking on a stable portion of a bridge</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Once in awhile you'll take control of the Smurf you had freed like Jokey Smurf who lobs his unlimited arsenal of explosive gifts at his foes, Brainy Smurf whose spectacles allow him to explore the dark cave with a candle in hand, and Greedy Smurf who tosses his unlimited array of cakes to his enemies, but just for that one Act or two before you return to play as Hefty. It's a nice way to change things up a little while it lasts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAs2dAecPqhkwwCTS7v4znT5PYkKF3PPXWINiYJ5Ro6XZdkcYB_I82EbDP9DDtV57IOJBUwqOg1WqmhJT-B_dCPxLtQEISAO1_r6L3Z_y8v8brwkqGES8VCaBvxiCX9tRGHBMXsOjcOCP/s377/TheSmurfs_LeapingFish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAs2dAecPqhkwwCTS7v4znT5PYkKF3PPXWINiYJ5Ro6XZdkcYB_I82EbDP9DDtV57IOJBUwqOg1WqmhJT-B_dCPxLtQEISAO1_r6L3Z_y8v8brwkqGES8VCaBvxiCX9tRGHBMXsOjcOCP/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_LeapingFish.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ4Sk1_D79VWM3nbtSJv2bT79DaYGbMBtQWYgwca_Ga-TR40VSyJmUt8DQeLsawFLNoc-rttx8RnvtNlz7BBxCELuu26OIMjYFJbLV-K_04GWNuVeWXP0kzqKGUviNR91YfI0UB1aWlvC/s377/TheSmurfs_BirdPlatforming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ4Sk1_D79VWM3nbtSJv2bT79DaYGbMBtQWYgwca_Ga-TR40VSyJmUt8DQeLsawFLNoc-rttx8RnvtNlz7BBxCELuu26OIMjYFJbLV-K_04GWNuVeWXP0kzqKGUviNR91YfI0UB1aWlvC/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_BirdPlatforming.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Leaping fish | Right: Platforming on easily weighed down birds with considerable tact and nuance</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">You lose a life in one of four ways in <i>The Smurfs</i>: by having all your health depleted by enemies and/or obstacles, by falling offscreen (or in the water or swamp depending on what Act you're in), by being touched by a Purple fly or Purple Smurf therefore making the Smurf you're currently controlling become one in the process therefore losing all your health at once, or if the timer on the upper right corner goes all the way down to zero, at which point you have to start the Act (or if there's more than one portion of said Act, the portion you made it up to) or boss fight from the beginning, but should you lose your last life you'll get a game over and will be sent back to the title screen as there are no continues. The main goal of each Act is to make it to the end in the allotted amount of time that you are given, at which point your score will get tallied up based on how much time you had remaining and how much health you've had by the time you got there plus it will let you know how many bonus stars you gathered up to now in total.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCs0zSoR4ZNT2-ENdpjqecREebNNvGNdsrYkEU17jXyt1tp4XPze4dWbh3dtd_otOZthV8n2fQnANGml2YTFIooku1jaeWBbYOK7l3ZgrFkqSo1Q5jfO1jVLG4U59AzPZLCR0mKO9pAH8/s377/TheSmurfs_SarsaparillaFruit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCs0zSoR4ZNT2-ENdpjqecREebNNvGNdsrYkEU17jXyt1tp4XPze4dWbh3dtd_otOZthV8n2fQnANGml2YTFIooku1jaeWBbYOK7l3ZgrFkqSo1Q5jfO1jVLG4U59AzPZLCR0mKO9pAH8/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_SarsaparillaFruit.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKHfdWTrO9q-vUfeXV8fMATTIUAiUeS2A14I-GpPAs87Ha1mMFYzoPEmAUFcuJTRuub41htgwFOLhi9HeihBNj1e_Frgt7KHCXDiTQmfX0RbH2PVo-s1HB4dRyTf0QT1o-3RiOYERxQKL/s377/TheSmurfs_Afloat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKHfdWTrO9q-vUfeXV8fMATTIUAiUeS2A14I-GpPAs87Ha1mMFYzoPEmAUFcuJTRuub41htgwFOLhi9HeihBNj1e_Frgt7KHCXDiTQmfX0RbH2PVo-s1HB4dRyTf0QT1o-3RiOYERxQKL/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Afloat.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Splitting open a mushroom to reveal its contents | Right: So long as you don't fall in the water should you fall off of a bird or a loose portion of a bridge you'll be fine</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><i>The Smurfs</i>' visuals were worked on by Nicolas Pothier, Xavier Schon, and Jean-Marc Torroella and it is a very vibrant and colorful-looking game with a good sense of detail, very pleasant to the eyes. I like how the Smurf Village is bustling with Smurf activity with their mushroom houses in the backdrop, the forest is fittingly dark with very little light and highly detailed grass and trees (especially those adorned with mushrooms), the lake is so serene looking with its clear water while its second half devolves to nighttime with a haunted setting and creepy faces on gigantic sword hilts stuck on the floor occasionally sprouting its evil energy from its eyes,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG13B_06zNEL_QMD1jGvEkGAaGVUyxqC2f210KX9QLWiDtkaEuQV_U4SawKqc5Im72pnJ_a1f0iuis-4FIlB0HbpksFZ4xKQvsy9gUKTo99fdaqOcJOGOEPk8SOk5BaAtewcNBMBxmdFxD/s377/TheSmurfs_PurpleSmurfPounce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG13B_06zNEL_QMD1jGvEkGAaGVUyxqC2f210KX9QLWiDtkaEuQV_U4SawKqc5Im72pnJ_a1f0iuis-4FIlB0HbpksFZ4xKQvsy9gUKTo99fdaqOcJOGOEPk8SOk5BaAtewcNBMBxmdFxD/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_PurpleSmurfPounce.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPL428FrT1xjkFZ5w4g7LhCdVcTAsJ1lSAp31PC4jw_lVb2BJgDqT99sAbUKijDf3HNgqQdPVDo65FqesHMR8go6AUAQJ58MxVS4lVh_I3b07CTFNRI8EwlaRBqaahbJVWvrtey2woVRA/s377/TheSmurfs_BecamePurpleSmurf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPL428FrT1xjkFZ5w4g7LhCdVcTAsJ1lSAp31PC4jw_lVb2BJgDqT99sAbUKijDf3HNgqQdPVDo65FqesHMR8go6AUAQJ58MxVS4lVh_I3b07CTFNRI8EwlaRBqaahbJVWvrtey2woVRA/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_BecamePurpleSmurf.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: The Purple Smurfs are like the Boo ghosts in Nintendo's <i>Super Mario Bros.</i> franchise in that they'll try to approach if you're looking away from them, but here be sure to hop and bop on them when they're close to you | Right: "GNAP! GNAP! GNAP!"</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">the fields are laced with deep green foliage and occasional drops of dew, the swamp has an appropriately dreary color palette, the mountains have got a neatly designed rocky setting with a cloudy backdrop the farther up you go, and the inside of Gargamel's manor house is foreboding with its eerily bricked up structure and all the deadly apparatus laying about. I love how when you boot up the game the clouds open themselves up to reveal the map with a Smurf riding on Feathers the stork into view which lends it an endearing sense of scale.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQakUo2Tu19DP5ESQyidMWXof71Wj-1k5BiCV_IX3Jx_MvYaMvxmxciyBMkmziTV5cNusu7fYbfCWH2U1mfVG-BiphRvbJytD2GHlrW4EK02FYwaZ22sYWJemi8WNyRsB21fMxXfoPmNYH/s377/TheSmurfs_FallenFruit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQakUo2Tu19DP5ESQyidMWXof71Wj-1k5BiCV_IX3Jx_MvYaMvxmxciyBMkmziTV5cNusu7fYbfCWH2U1mfVG-BiphRvbJytD2GHlrW4EK02FYwaZ22sYWJemi8WNyRsB21fMxXfoPmNYH/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_FallenFruit.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMujNnON0ZpulDcNK8QRMzwLE6GA8qlKoBFHPG_rq4UoDjPKV5Pfv-GiRKPTHGX7R5-HmAbj23SvqieAGA1lXiILvoy_cYbBY1oqNnTFwOYVLYcoZCMSxcAHGWCVHbDST8g6nzKqJ6uIlS/s377/TheSmurfs_CarnivorousPlant.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMujNnON0ZpulDcNK8QRMzwLE6GA8qlKoBFHPG_rq4UoDjPKV5Pfv-GiRKPTHGX7R5-HmAbj23SvqieAGA1lXiILvoy_cYbBY1oqNnTFwOYVLYcoZCMSxcAHGWCVHbDST8g6nzKqJ6uIlS/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_CarnivorousPlant.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Just narrowly sauntering past a fallen squash that's dropped into position | Right: Battling a carnivorous plant while simultaneously being mindful of Purple Smurfs passing by</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The titular Smurfs themselves are designed really good with their vibrant baby blue skin and white Phrygian caps, Infogrames' design team has done an affable job at ensuring that this platformer's visual aesthetic captured the charm and spirit of Peyo's creations throughout. The walking, jumping, throwing, and elbow crawling animations are all solid, and I like how depending on the Smurf you're controlling their facial design and life icons are different, plus they each have their own distinct sense of idle animation if you hold still long enough: with Hefty Smurf covering up his mouth when letting out a long and visible yawn, Jokey Smurf (who has a mischievous eye) casually standing by his explosive gift while peering around, and Greedy Smurf (with his tongue sticking out) having a sample of the cake in his hand and eating it too. They also have a cute "yippee" cheering pose when reaching the end of an Act.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6T321pi_hUv9mWYc2IFceHrS0ZeZEsd_pB5NFbm2q7CRUrLpXUgtvGsOX91aXdyNfV8apZTtSm0zwh4DIqGwqtj_qfvAp6AJXYXTRWQjk7DrnV6SbZCqKsWxXxcMmNeOuB876PrhD_Ay/s377/TheSmurfs_DuckRiding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6T321pi_hUv9mWYc2IFceHrS0ZeZEsd_pB5NFbm2q7CRUrLpXUgtvGsOX91aXdyNfV8apZTtSm0zwh4DIqGwqtj_qfvAp6AJXYXTRWQjk7DrnV6SbZCqKsWxXxcMmNeOuB876PrhD_Ay/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_DuckRiding.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv2YyX5CX7fxZ0q3y6ItOM4Vlfp-vb005TiMVOscQlxLV4dG2of4a699kH2M9PUdaMCiWfA-YKTt1t7TqEjz2f2idN2kJnrbNuVk7PNm6B2Gw020JhUyB1oVCVTBURT5nNa7Xq_XOxLN4/s377/TheSmurfs_DuckToDuck.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEv2YyX5CX7fxZ0q3y6ItOM4Vlfp-vb005TiMVOscQlxLV4dG2of4a699kH2M9PUdaMCiWfA-YKTt1t7TqEjz2f2idN2kJnrbNuVk7PNm6B2Gw020JhUyB1oVCVTBURT5nNa7Xq_XOxLN4/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_DuckToDuck.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Now playing as Jokey Smurf riding on a duck | Right: From duck to duck</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The enemies the Smurfs have to contend with as well as ones serving as platforms are all drawn nicely too, with incredulous reactions upon being ousted, comprising of giant worms, Purple flies and Purple Smurfs with their unwaveringly threatening expression on their face, leaping frogs and mosquitos, spooky ghosts, those cool-looking dopey-eyed swamp spider creatures and their occasional tendency to suck the swamp into their system, hopping rabbits and crows (the former of which cover up their eyes with their ears upon being jumped on and the latter losing all their feathers), and Gargamel's loyal cat Azrael at the end is drawn nicely and on brand.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTGEwnkdaow_hw59JoFUIyB-ke_fPT7X4S9RJSNa-UgcsHuzzeog9bS_CHbmzWvaYuBCy23pLqqUUSYLYGZimp8puIMBgUonbq8WOL9Xqeo4ACZPK1-lEnoJmsuWxJgJYR3XRAotBqrOc/s377/TheSmurfs_GiftTossing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTGEwnkdaow_hw59JoFUIyB-ke_fPT7X4S9RJSNa-UgcsHuzzeog9bS_CHbmzWvaYuBCy23pLqqUUSYLYGZimp8puIMBgUonbq8WOL9Xqeo4ACZPK1-lEnoJmsuWxJgJYR3XRAotBqrOc/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_GiftTossing.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUtDrkzLm1h6euRH17ZSFfAUFN8oNK-9LRRRPtlBKytLFtr_Bp8amu3U5JAjL2ucQHVG7FXONfbqdqpCrV_QDo5h6domvuIBGCHicl-1q3You3CwnIcIWhqBixWwIdqaQrFttUIta81hE/s377/TheSmurfs_BlownUpFrog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUtDrkzLm1h6euRH17ZSFfAUFN8oNK-9LRRRPtlBKytLFtr_Bp8amu3U5JAjL2ucQHVG7FXONfbqdqpCrV_QDo5h6domvuIBGCHicl-1q3You3CwnIcIWhqBixWwIdqaQrFttUIta81hE/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_BlownUpFrog.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Heads up, frog, you got a gift!"</b> 🎁<b> | Right: "One that's sure to </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">blow you away</u><b>, heeheeheeheehee, I'm <u>funny</u>!" </b>🤪</span></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">All the bosses are big and imposing in size next to the Smurfs, like the carnivorous plant in the Black Forest, the deadly snake that coils around a substance and lets out an intimidating hiss upon you being locked on as its target in the swamp, and I like how Gargamel tries to run towards you in the final battle against him with his mad grin and towering stature. I love how anytime you reach a new Act on the map screen there is a dotted trail followed by a couple of angel-winged Smurfs looming into view from the bottom of the screen pulling on each side of the scroll to reveal the name of the Act, and there is something quite ominous about the added lightning strike when looking at Gargamel's manor house upon receiving a game over.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsNCNHv3ScxTNCV_k2BA5RB9FDQmb-ReWBKYDTx84vXVjD7KRDlSl3shrZuTPv7fyu8rl7HUEfVPJvOI9qB97hGsfd0zBNfTvQKyWoJVsxm5P1Hu9hRDQITUgzEQmxUTf1q74TXKkaH-W/s377/TheSmurfs_JokeyWaiting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsNCNHv3ScxTNCV_k2BA5RB9FDQmb-ReWBKYDTx84vXVjD7KRDlSl3shrZuTPv7fyu8rl7HUEfVPJvOI9qB97hGsfd0zBNfTvQKyWoJVsxm5P1Hu9hRDQITUgzEQmxUTf1q74TXKkaH-W/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_JokeyWaiting.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXVyJX1QRK17o3-T_keBQrRPQLn0lnE_EzRQRE0Vpl4ZcigHB4TE_6Whey3fruuUd3iwxiDgxjNyj5v4hO3-KkViJVw1-iW3_YhwdmHPuHqgDO0v4iT9DQG0nCzc2WJUyYrKylZBVdGsd/s377/TheSmurfs_Ghost.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXVyJX1QRK17o3-T_keBQrRPQLn0lnE_EzRQRE0Vpl4ZcigHB4TE_6Whey3fruuUd3iwxiDgxjNyj5v4hO3-KkViJVw1-iW3_YhwdmHPuHqgDO0v4iT9DQG0nCzc2WJUyYrKylZBVdGsd/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Ghost.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "Gee, this place sure got spooky all of a sudden, why can't </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Hefty</u><b> do this part instead of me?" | Right: Run away, it's a ghost! </b>👻</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The music was composed by </span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Frédéric Mentzen, having frequently contributed his music composing skills with Infogrames for properties such as <i>Drakkhen</i>, <i>The Light Corridor</i>, <i>Continuum</i>, <i>Eternam</i>, the iconic and influential <i>Alone in the Dark</i> 3D horror franchise, and licensed venues such as the MegaDrive/Genesis platformer <i>Fantasia</i> based on the classic 1940 Disney movie, <i>Toxic Crusaders</i> based on the short-lived animated series, and the SNES incarnation of <i>Astérix</i> based on the French comic book series by Goscinny and Uderzo, and for <i>The Smurfs</i> he has crafted a good soundtrack that does wonders for the atmosphere and tone that it lends to the proceedings.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGu8uxWKSzvjxReKsZ72U5EZjvjAADJS4edfWVy0mBjVOuU71L5VHnvoJRGLlKg_g3ZTSmM7AR5clmolfmm3gEwYGLV67wQSid5y49zpeBtAAvh4TdbqcNcdi_5hEliVB8vVnm1LIupqlf/s377/TheSmurfs_Hourglass.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGu8uxWKSzvjxReKsZ72U5EZjvjAADJS4edfWVy0mBjVOuU71L5VHnvoJRGLlKg_g3ZTSmM7AR5clmolfmm3gEwYGLV67wQSid5y49zpeBtAAvh4TdbqcNcdi_5hEliVB8vVnm1LIupqlf/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Hourglass.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbSNRugJ1zasSdVodlbL7cocPI37QoZQaXh315KleqN9OEJhs3zWEGQuy0HCMrkdjD11jolbdMy9q76_f_c3kliM2ZALjw274cFAx8Z6M4Aj1-qHeRYjKNu4qarWshxO5TZ6UF8f7izcI/s377/TheSmurfs_WaterDrops.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbSNRugJ1zasSdVodlbL7cocPI37QoZQaXh315KleqN9OEJhs3zWEGQuy0HCMrkdjD11jolbdMy9q76_f_c3kliM2ZALjw274cFAx8Z6M4Aj1-qHeRYjKNu4qarWshxO5TZ6UF8f7izcI/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_WaterDrops.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: Blowing up an hourglass to access that exit </b>⌛<b> | Right: Be careful not to have any dewdrops fall on you </b>💧</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=1370s">title theme</a> has got a nice and catchy rendition of Hoyt Curtin's well-known "La La Song" (sans lyrics) that segues into a deeper composition as you learn the plot (or watch the attract demos) if you don't press Start long enough, the first part of the lake theme has got an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=452s">upbeat and empowering leitmotif</a> for it that lends it an adventurous flair while the second half of Act 5 vies for a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=525s">spookier and darker rendition</a> in its opening notes paving the way for an aptly creepy composition given its shattered glass and haunted aesthetic. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=5s">theme</a> that plays when you start at the Smurf Village is so endearing and full of character, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=311s">bridge and dam theme</a> is bouncy, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=620s">music</a> for the sarsaparilla fields is atmospherically immersive, and I like the zany instrumentation of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=733s">swamp theme</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizWsZ8_400Kc3ZGBV9SEjZvJ2SJZ4HJFuPUUmOk0ZMuZ0XiC8FFwhjGKzBbksIVRMNU4j48EkTcMBS6UyiTIrutL5rMrOz1WegymMksJe3VsuF0t4yQfoluVHEPGwlZXQr0pY20Bo8H7Y-F6IjIVZZZXyco_tEf8zHlD15b2fa0PqRlfry3YxoQeyeqg=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizWsZ8_400Kc3ZGBV9SEjZvJ2SJZ4HJFuPUUmOk0ZMuZ0XiC8FFwhjGKzBbksIVRMNU4j48EkTcMBS6UyiTIrutL5rMrOz1WegymMksJe3VsuF0t4yQfoluVHEPGwlZXQr0pY20Bo8H7Y-F6IjIVZZZXyco_tEf8zHlD15b2fa0PqRlfry3YxoQeyeqg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHnXHo8pxCcVh3JA4uHQEkHZDj6HTLHLxfYgEb9du8ub7EK82aSE7Gdi40MhNIWHq_KMcSGnBmTSY5JZV_kOInwgGdDNS8H7S86lx14ybiG-s0LmFM6N3famN5Ljo5rgBnigc43w-qHBEmjjav9btXudFmXd_zISC4v9nQ9kHtPiAPLl8JvHkMk8f2QA=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHnXHo8pxCcVh3JA4uHQEkHZDj6HTLHLxfYgEb9du8ub7EK82aSE7Gdi40MhNIWHq_KMcSGnBmTSY5JZV_kOInwgGdDNS8H7S86lx14ybiG-s0LmFM6N3famN5Ljo5rgBnigc43w-qHBEmjjav9btXudFmXd_zISC4v9nQ9kHtPiAPLl8JvHkMk8f2QA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Elbow crawling through the fields | Right: Picking up and carrying a sarsaparilla spring</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The forest and cave Acts have got <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=154s">one of my favorite themes</a> in the game because of the atmospheric composition and the light sense of threat as the song progresses further, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=868s">mountain theme</a> sounds majestic in its splendor as you reach the heights, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=404s">boss theme</a> sounds a bit intense, this game has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=946s">nicely playful rendition of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee"</a> with an added <i>The Smurfs</i> flair during the mine car and sledding Acts, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOvAaRBJQFA&t=1254s">final Act theme</a> on the way to face off against Gargamel on the rooftop is relentlessly foreboding.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhmY50_ZwuRY-JMMRtoZ5AnExM5RbiMWx9UlWkgCI68Jy7_5jNTWghH6tTZPNzj-w5GZWWNjJn4t5wfhMGZ_r3VNm2Ai_mLj8emPe1YuaAvH5ogrqKx_vGEZ58AhLamrk4DO9wV1zaXa8a9M2fHXDaJbwTnfWrmsQITgBxtBghpE8_7i4le4a9d5FfMw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhmY50_ZwuRY-JMMRtoZ5AnExM5RbiMWx9UlWkgCI68Jy7_5jNTWghH6tTZPNzj-w5GZWWNjJn4t5wfhMGZ_r3VNm2Ai_mLj8emPe1YuaAvH5ogrqKx_vGEZ58AhLamrk4DO9wV1zaXa8a9M2fHXDaJbwTnfWrmsQITgBxtBghpE8_7i4le4a9d5FfMw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFcFRws3347Jhm-JY0ROIztHy6qi07ILjtOM3fKKT5o52UCIQkwtqQY0LsRmZYYABn2GgPeJ_kfnV8jZyWFLlbAsqJS42UlIA-km8ZO-y6oP-Ur6h16jG5ZGnjuLdr8UPCfuJavAlSOn_J2rAIqOgtFxKGvanGxKMDCCx5RBVVNaLcw9B0BTbVpKNCmw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFcFRws3347Jhm-JY0ROIztHy6qi07ILjtOM3fKKT5o52UCIQkwtqQY0LsRmZYYABn2GgPeJ_kfnV8jZyWFLlbAsqJS42UlIA-km8ZO-y6oP-Ur6h16jG5ZGnjuLdr8UPCfuJavAlSOn_J2rAIqOgtFxKGvanGxKMDCCx5RBVVNaLcw9B0BTbVpKNCmw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Slipping down a dewy vine | Right: Entomologists, what <u>is</u> that swamp spider thing? I would like to know, because that's a fascinating design (that or its dopey expression is what does it for me)</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The sound effects are solid across the board, such as the splashing sound for when you get in the water, the pronounced "sproing" sound for when you jump on an enemy or when the rabbits bounce back and forth in the mountains, the buzzing of the fly enemies, the booing of the ghost enemies, and the hissing of the snake boss. I also like the digitized audio bytes of the Smurf's "Yippee!" upon completing an Act, Azrael's meows sound fairly realistic, and Gargamel's evil cackle upon you sustaining damage reminds me of Jafar's evil laugh from Virgin Interactive's adaptation of <i>Disney's Aladdin</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X1lvtbZ7lJgixXyTMDWzl57P56D87uUlo6fI1tNERvgdv2Q3Fjex0q77X6-IlPDo4PQ3WZlFtpJ0PilKExKxScZ2TLJiK2t4FdwX_oAWFk5gKvYGqL7hDxmHRmEFqPSfzIBw9SPXban4/s377/TheSmurfs_Raft.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X1lvtbZ7lJgixXyTMDWzl57P56D87uUlo6fI1tNERvgdv2Q3Fjex0q77X6-IlPDo4PQ3WZlFtpJ0PilKExKxScZ2TLJiK2t4FdwX_oAWFk5gKvYGqL7hDxmHRmEFqPSfzIBw9SPXban4/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Raft.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-ze2mY7Ym0gEmr3ViI1BhzFI9b0YzzLnE1Em5LRNoitny3BezrQoguwlA0H4Anls0sQsvWg6WbvZdQMMnufmROJdeEwiLG37Fr9XPDnSFFiIUiH_wpdEo0lhbSqeADWdqPJ6FT3m7DBe/s377/TheSmurfs_Stork.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-ze2mY7Ym0gEmr3ViI1BhzFI9b0YzzLnE1Em5LRNoitny3BezrQoguwlA0H4Anls0sQsvWg6WbvZdQMMnufmROJdeEwiLG37Fr9XPDnSFFiIUiH_wpdEo0lhbSqeADWdqPJ6FT3m7DBe/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Stork.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Over the course of <i>The Smurfs</i> you'll be gathering bonus stars, some in more inconspicuous locations than others, which the end of each Act will keep track of how many you had gotten up to that point. Should you have gathered at least twenty-five of them by the time you finish a subsequent Act you'll be taken to an automatic scrolling bonus event where you get to pick up as many sarsaparilla leaves, smurfberries, and Smurf dolls as you can manage by maneuvering around on a raft in the rapids (Acts 1 through 8) or by riding on Feathers the stork high above the mountains (Acts 9 through 15) until you either reach the end or if you get stuck in front of an obstacle and are pushed to the left offscreen by it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWiXOQS0wrOXUkQ5o7j8fOqeCIzLsskQ6BeyLgyG46YUctS-5gfzY07CUXXysqJvq89W46uguSdo7vpxcoIOoCP2NZYpJlqhtVFuh7aEhN5yAZDQp2mOookJ6kwuq_-DFagdFUayjsjkX/s567/TheSmurfs_DOS-Village.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="567" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWiXOQS0wrOXUkQ5o7j8fOqeCIzLsskQ6BeyLgyG46YUctS-5gfzY07CUXXysqJvq89W46uguSdo7vpxcoIOoCP2NZYpJlqhtVFuh7aEhN5yAZDQp2mOookJ6kwuq_-DFagdFUayjsjkX/w200-h119/TheSmurfs_DOS-Village.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p2tlFQKHgyd94sKirYfV1od3Tfdtj0J6PgdJicnyUuxmhoRkrVf4Wh06iMqYJPAHfogPoCacyLgmbPz7U-a01RQNSN7k44TR-3rlvgGwAkt6vWXgYdZ5tywr4ZaqA5eAhtAAmuXTB-Uj/s567/TheSmurfs_DOS-Forest.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="567" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p2tlFQKHgyd94sKirYfV1od3Tfdtj0J6PgdJicnyUuxmhoRkrVf4Wh06iMqYJPAHfogPoCacyLgmbPz7U-a01RQNSN7k44TR-3rlvgGwAkt6vWXgYdZ5tywr4ZaqA5eAhtAAmuXTB-Uj/w200-h119/TheSmurfs_DOS-Forest.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Screengrabbed while watching Dosgamert's Longplay of <i>The Smurfs</i> MS-DOS edition on YouTube; outside of the game, I have childhood memories of <i>The Smurfs</i> growing up, I saw episodes of the Hanna-Barbera series on VHS if not on TV, I remember playing with the miniature toys along with my cousins, and for a while there was this lineup of <i>Smurfs</i> miniatures at this ice cream parlor adorning its entrance wall by where one of my dad's relatives lived across from a beach</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">If you grew up in Europe during the '90s chances are you may have played a game or two based on a property that was hugely popular in the continent, and that was certainly the case for me having lived in and grown up in Italy during my first eleven years until 2002. Aside from the PlayStation One and Game Boy handhelds I sometimes played games on my dad's Microsoft Windows computer, and one of the games I played on it was East Point Software's conversion of <i>The Smurfs</i> (which was the first game I played that had Infogrames' name attached to it) which I remember finding fun at the time but I didn't get very far in it; the farthest I had gotten was the beginning of the third Act on my last set of lives as it was pretty difficult (of course, I was in my single digits when I first played it, not to mention my gameplay skills were not yet fully developed).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Many years had passed since I last played it, I didn't realize until I had gotten older that this game was never released in American shores (obviously because the IP was not as popular here as it was in Europe). I was also surprised upon learning that this 16-bit take of <i>The Smurfs</i> was also available on the SNES, the MegaDrive, and the Game Boy Advance, but alas they were all PAL exclusive. There came a point last Summer that I really wanted to replay it again, regardless of format; sometimes when I shop on eBay I browse to see if there are any repro carts of games never officially released in America for the SNES and/or Genesis at the time out of curiosity and if there's anything I find interesting,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IK-baCmBGH93jKjH_z5bVJ55I9S2q0pwOjATmDDWBnTFEGqE1XU_hefFuNxM4Sw_I-0lxwwNR205N6aSQd5MuawHWrXfo8vEAAPslWytCtOpWcztVkbFkjaFEYj2ZbVHJ1S_arNR5gYt/s379/TheSmurfs2_SnowballKicking.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="379" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IK-baCmBGH93jKjH_z5bVJ55I9S2q0pwOjATmDDWBnTFEGqE1XU_hefFuNxM4Sw_I-0lxwwNR205N6aSQd5MuawHWrXfo8vEAAPslWytCtOpWcztVkbFkjaFEYj2ZbVHJ1S_arNR5gYt/w200-h156/TheSmurfs2_SnowballKicking.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6OF5X42M3WABMBeqOnlI9tOE8hq1SKOaOQtjyB85RJOAw0c9f0ddW8x7PI22OFyDZKJRfD6Et76T0IKEC5QccqfvA00ver9SjTd8lAkW15vesE_7Z1r9B0s0QEVbjjuhEsjuM0M5FKgu/s379/TheSmurfs2_AustralianWildlife.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="379" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6OF5X42M3WABMBeqOnlI9tOE8hq1SKOaOQtjyB85RJOAw0c9f0ddW8x7PI22OFyDZKJRfD6Et76T0IKEC5QccqfvA00ver9SjTd8lAkW15vesE_7Z1r9B0s0QEVbjjuhEsjuM0M5FKgu/w200-h156/TheSmurfs2_AustralianWildlife.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">but as far as games concerning Peyo's characters go, the only one that usually ended up floating around for the Genesis repro cart was the Virtual Studio-developed sequel <i>The Smurfs Travel the World</i> (I didn't learn until I got older that there even <b>was</b> a sequel), which don't get me wrong: I like that American audiences are slowly, slowly getting a chance to catch up with previously Japan and/or Europe-exclusive titles via repro carts over the years, but I much desired to play its predecessor a lot more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO7eBh5XLTGDZL9_1lgQY-eDIi8xaYUOhk7iD2facaVIpZ_OpEZVkZp7RBZgzJWiuE1qxB1q3U5Ax_KJG_ximMtPR3V0Z1vnvW1jUxzgBU_hp4XVGtOXIN1UxQUNwFv3m0BYodzUIKmrFEd66AsoapcpxZPgJodvkNwRmF4-OHhIjADHZ1StGqa5Ae3A=s455" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="365" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO7eBh5XLTGDZL9_1lgQY-eDIi8xaYUOhk7iD2facaVIpZ_OpEZVkZp7RBZgzJWiuE1qxB1q3U5Ax_KJG_ximMtPR3V0Z1vnvW1jUxzgBU_hp4XVGtOXIN1UxQUNwFv3m0BYodzUIKmrFEd66AsoapcpxZPgJodvkNwRmF4-OHhIjADHZ1StGqa5Ae3A=w161-h200" width="161" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie-CLjaza46hECPiq5O2j0E0OloNz7_DceAhOMLwv1z0Ychm7PuqyiKZQBxExLWlVSv9b3HCoy3hroK0a0o-myRjaCH1RNv29KLNztX1wXGdrvMviJlI0CBd04CpfxNoetp7GsmZ81ocQGJILCXCJLamJei7wwHVpaGXwUflEbhCoV_JtbM3zrX21zZA=s440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="440" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie-CLjaza46hECPiq5O2j0E0OloNz7_DceAhOMLwv1z0Ychm7PuqyiKZQBxExLWlVSv9b3HCoy3hroK0a0o-myRjaCH1RNv29KLNztX1wXGdrvMviJlI0CBd04CpfxNoetp7GsmZ81ocQGJILCXCJLamJei7wwHVpaGXwUflEbhCoV_JtbM3zrX21zZA=w200-h182" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">I love the presentation here: <i>The Smurfs</i> would've definitely been given a "K-A Kids to Adults" ESRB rating had it been released in American shores in 1995 as the "E for Everyone" rating wasn't a thing yet, and I love how the plastic clam shell case is colored blue like the titular protagonists which is an adorably fitting aesthetic choice</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Then on one fateful February day this year (a week before SNOVID-21 hit my home, the coldest day I've experienced in a long time, the first time I've seen so much snow so early in the year where I live) I decided to look up if there was a repro cart for <i>The Smurfs</i>, and lo and behold there it was, at which point I was like, <b>*gaaaaaasp*</b> 😯 "Oh my God, t<b>here it is</b>, and there's only <b>one</b>!" 😮 "... I might never get a chance like this again! ...... I must <b>have it</b>!" For the first time in almost two decades I was going to play 16-bit <i>The Smurfs</i> again, albeit this time on a Sega format. Within the same hour (or two) of finding out about the repro cart I went for it (with the aid of a couple eBay gift cards to curb the spending), this was the second most amount of money I've spent on a game (<b>with</b> gift cards), with <b>the</b> costliest game I bought being Tose's <i>Namco Museum Volume 5</i> for the PlayStation One which had a price tag of $100 almost two years ago (which also entailed gift cards).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXlScBXArWD4jV2nTfhqpo5y8sb8vDwAb7LvokKIGpe15SYrWQVaYdyKQIG2U44yI5j50LuKpMYsLhuFVJRbljjrL8Fk2ygZQ_ncObZvZYeaI6Qx5GYey0-aNNlVPELe2psrVGjcdnwjiH7wstVccH4NQB8g8F4PYVZeT4-B_yzz5XZlOhQ-uNt62LnA=s575" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="575" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXlScBXArWD4jV2nTfhqpo5y8sb8vDwAb7LvokKIGpe15SYrWQVaYdyKQIG2U44yI5j50LuKpMYsLhuFVJRbljjrL8Fk2ygZQ_ncObZvZYeaI6Qx5GYey0-aNNlVPELe2psrVGjcdnwjiH7wstVccH4NQB8g8F4PYVZeT4-B_yzz5XZlOhQ-uNt62LnA=w400-h296" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>They didn't have to go out of their way to produce a manual, but I'm glad they did as it harkens back to a simpler era of gaming (only every instance of "MegaDrive" is replaced with "Genesis"), and just </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">look</u><b> at that atomic game cart! All purple and a little see-through, I <u>love</u> it, one of my most cherished cartridges in my Sega Genesis collection--and it helps that the game is good, too!</b> 😄</span></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Sure, I got this repro cart purely on impulse and because I wanted to revisit 16-bit <i>The Smurfs</i> after such a long time, but you know what? It was money well spent, in my eyes! 😃 What made it better is that I got this game a lot sooner than I expected to because when I ordered it I was told that the estimated delivery date would've been a week and a half from that day but imagine my surprise and excitement upon it arriving just <b>two</b> days later. 😲</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eavH5oLb8lpOZHztJtJ3S9gG8OG6N2uExhCTRAnpAgROBBtR8kpLzvwzPit_zPkU_wLWYGQtIVPVO-ExnZWP1zCD43O6b4cLgcqfQwhRQzN7e_c4nQeeBBGRRjONZ0iQ6QNM7FEIHOSF/s379/CrystalBeans_Witch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="379" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eavH5oLb8lpOZHztJtJ3S9gG8OG6N2uExhCTRAnpAgROBBtR8kpLzvwzPit_zPkU_wLWYGQtIVPVO-ExnZWP1zCD43O6b4cLgcqfQwhRQzN7e_c4nQeeBBGRRjONZ0iQ6QNM7FEIHOSF/w200-h156/CrystalBeans_Witch.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJQGWEFG56dsGJGMo1yzNmMwDpjYHQmgVItRFdiaglYvtO24B3_dt5RgxLXDMl69AfYSoDvR2Ki_g75plcldSHRkLtZ4w8-lhDK14kdvFt9f3MkozO6Q8Bbg5Hp7-UGYsRIHOzZG6Deix/s378/MoryoSenkiMADARA2_OverworldBattle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="378" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJQGWEFG56dsGJGMo1yzNmMwDpjYHQmgVItRFdiaglYvtO24B3_dt5RgxLXDMl69AfYSoDvR2Ki_g75plcldSHRkLtZ4w8-lhDK14kdvFt9f3MkozO6Q8Bbg5Hp7-UGYsRIHOzZG6Deix/w200-h155/MoryoSenkiMADARA2_OverworldBattle.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHt3MnrpHzyt3nieIIY9X5atBiHRgPoBiyTQBT28XaNWVq0wu6BHZwFH-3zHGEiMOd9_HQXi9MN9VlB2ltfmZbzSrFoXC9ynyySlQBRcSwY2oZfxMBgUDYN52lMXj9-akkGZjar4dhehw/s380/Area88_ForestFlight.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="380" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHt3MnrpHzyt3nieIIY9X5atBiHRgPoBiyTQBT28XaNWVq0wu6BHZwFH-3zHGEiMOd9_HQXi9MN9VlB2ltfmZbzSrFoXC9ynyySlQBRcSwY2oZfxMBgUDYN52lMXj9-akkGZjar4dhehw/w200-h156/Area88_ForestFlight.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">The only other instances where I got a game just two days after I ordered it on eBay were the Super Famicom-exclusive Birthday's action-adventure <i>Crystal Beans From Dungeon Explorer</i> and Konami's manga-licensed turn-based RPG <i><a href="http://starboy91.blogspot.com/2017/03/moryo-senki-madara-2-sfc-review.html">Mōryō Senki MADARA 2</a></i> (both of which I ordered at the same time) on mid-October 2016, and one other time at the beginning of June 2017 with Capcom's Super Famiport of the manga-based arcade sidescrolling air force-oriented shoot'em up <i>Area 88</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1U0_OsdDPW_5huTRe7by9SSBoKPO4GiE9MwgNAqIxcuFYslIUQA0IAXhQZxj2qh6lRxbtgLWJdnROtV9TcMBRAQRi_cdLKCeSBfY3_08DD2ZscyI5RZqJVfHh1tDaYgwLWciZflcSdjbdt0fM2BRpA_jEzK9Eri_IUnU0_NaaaJ84TAAQ7VW5QHoyZA=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1U0_OsdDPW_5huTRe7by9SSBoKPO4GiE9MwgNAqIxcuFYslIUQA0IAXhQZxj2qh6lRxbtgLWJdnROtV9TcMBRAQRi_cdLKCeSBfY3_08DD2ZscyI5RZqJVfHh1tDaYgwLWciZflcSdjbdt0fM2BRpA_jEzK9Eri_IUnU0_NaaaJ84TAAQ7VW5QHoyZA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzvQlwyh3hGnLqDGgIcZhcpbj-2fbZzFS4SDYucau6kpzJcMj97GfBkd61T7JG-l4x4HDE29XQhICQJ6lA-GXJr9RELFsZks05EqO9JxUokCkSeA3I7CohChYaHp3LEbNxOJXH_Wu-mFfBf9-kJIevYrAP2r9C1ofvAgitPlH_bhq1bCF6b-dJ0d5Z6A=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzvQlwyh3hGnLqDGgIcZhcpbj-2fbZzFS4SDYucau6kpzJcMj97GfBkd61T7JG-l4x4HDE29XQhICQJ6lA-GXJr9RELFsZks05EqO9JxUokCkSeA3I7CohChYaHp3LEbNxOJXH_Wu-mFfBf9-kJIevYrAP2r9C1ofvAgitPlH_bhq1bCF6b-dJ0d5Z6A=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>Left: "AAAARGH, <u>SMUUUURF</u>!!!!" </b>😱<b> | Right: Rescuing Brainy</b></span></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">This video game adaptation of <i>The Smurfs</i> is an enjoyably good and well-made platformer replete with lighthearted charm that does an affable job at conveying the spirit of Peyo's franchise, it's largely polished throughout visually <b>and</b> in regards to its gameplay which is easily intuitive, has got a fun sense of area design, and I also like that there are many different challenges and obstacles to overcome which lends it a sense of variety and fun.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimyU1kKNGEmNho6jiIgq_m3A4FeVTmP-ifLB8kaXQDt4sq80IjYxZ8ilcxDKA-yylCuKvy8pECVGqvDiOKa1UTwYNdDx58Kwl4_VCyCj8urN5iPKhnRzcpELI51vYDC9i7_vHzKG5UUD3REDITSud3C9PJJFs2NUyN4vNAR3wpvM03O6LwF7KVpysMTA=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimyU1kKNGEmNho6jiIgq_m3A4FeVTmP-ifLB8kaXQDt4sq80IjYxZ8ilcxDKA-yylCuKvy8pECVGqvDiOKa1UTwYNdDx58Kwl4_VCyCj8urN5iPKhnRzcpELI51vYDC9i7_vHzKG5UUD3REDITSud3C9PJJFs2NUyN4vNAR3wpvM03O6LwF7KVpysMTA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidrL6Vre9TZGOARCl_PuMJK_cRq9bQXQvI6W7cAL528canBvUsynPkUPwGsE4kCp6ZoW4XQzkRQJ3aXi5RMVzjn-z_d1WljIniq-7CFakVZ2kapUM77oAtHt2OZSOlNxqHqVkTxcE2MDpjcd5JLAJuNPKAM3d5ZkoZs18CuVIWMHpYQ6VUwljNeNlEmQ=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidrL6Vre9TZGOARCl_PuMJK_cRq9bQXQvI6W7cAL528canBvUsynPkUPwGsE4kCp6ZoW4XQzkRQJ3aXi5RMVzjn-z_d1WljIniq-7CFakVZ2kapUM77oAtHt2OZSOlNxqHqVkTxcE2MDpjcd5JLAJuNPKAM3d5ZkoZs18CuVIWMHpYQ6VUwljNeNlEmQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Hefty tired of just standing idly | Right: Walking along a collapsible, crumbling gap filler of a bridge</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Depending on what mode you play you might begin or pick up from an Act via password with more (five on easy) or less (three on hard) lives, there being a varied number of enemies littering the location, easy mode reducing the length of certain Acts (2, 6, 9, 10, and 12) to its first portion while the subsequent difficulty modes make the other half accessible, bosses take a varied number of hits in order to be defeated, and the eleventh and thirteenth Acts with the mine car and snow sled involve going through a differing amount of loops in order to surpass them both and eventually reach the respective exits.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf2kUu2r7vVZAJ3LYS_1Kj_Qj8R9hi5lQMZcsol9RjpyX_qbc7nMMScM3thjRBJh8VuvhVDAD8-RBeuQUIgZyRr-JHDj2xWrqlfu-w_xyfA3NhfTHHR9qMqkPQ6U5M_3ovFW-PINilWE-lcKr8sqXfYpSNvz8_oRSm-RviHcpLFmXSQTqQQMzdlMIG9Q=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf2kUu2r7vVZAJ3LYS_1Kj_Qj8R9hi5lQMZcsol9RjpyX_qbc7nMMScM3thjRBJh8VuvhVDAD8-RBeuQUIgZyRr-JHDj2xWrqlfu-w_xyfA3NhfTHHR9qMqkPQ6U5M_3ovFW-PINilWE-lcKr8sqXfYpSNvz8_oRSm-RviHcpLFmXSQTqQQMzdlMIG9Q=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiETXM3yKL3DG1vXVlo3YBP99tctS0ETQXlRpm75HUV-83yPer2uIpiCqTM7mli3q-kEX4yyKvJ6q8XEm7lEhEfqOQ73QSgzwm0WLuqxsG9gGYRN3RIYd3-Kn045yKSGaqx8CL5F5VYractXqL4mlwoK7VBMk-q89ko5_bT1FNScDRAFTt0ZGjKw6i_-A=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiETXM3yKL3DG1vXVlo3YBP99tctS0ETQXlRpm75HUV-83yPer2uIpiCqTM7mli3q-kEX4yyKvJ6q8XEm7lEhEfqOQ73QSgzwm0WLuqxsG9gGYRN3RIYd3-Kn045yKSGaqx8CL5F5VYractXqL4mlwoK7VBMk-q89ko5_bT1FNScDRAFTt0ZGjKw6i_-A=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Pouncing a rabbit | Right: Scaling up the mountain</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">There's also a good sense of challenge flow as it slightly amps up the farther you go along, especially when playing on the harder difficulty settings. Examples being fluttering leaves which could be used as temporary midair platforms, making your way across the incomplete bridge by jumping on birds that get weighed down by standing on them forcing you to jump off and getting back on them but making sure not to fall down to the water due to the temporary makeshift platforms' occasional jitteriness, riding on and occasionally jumping from duck to duck,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMGP1A2_qPG6PTBSCzrbE-Vw2f6Q54Qruz-edfCyT9m0M3aAkvD81YoaOGdAZNullJpvz2In7JLDdV0UAD5L_kErd1KwwqJhM_LKCD0cQE4SHg3tQC5cLV-tp4jcEVduHiDT9d8bPajxoCkItKneF6cOiL-SbTyAaQL8m9MVp1ckEGd5LezuhhMfEOSw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMGP1A2_qPG6PTBSCzrbE-Vw2f6Q54Qruz-edfCyT9m0M3aAkvD81YoaOGdAZNullJpvz2In7JLDdV0UAD5L_kErd1KwwqJhM_LKCD0cQE4SHg3tQC5cLV-tp4jcEVduHiDT9d8bPajxoCkItKneF6cOiL-SbTyAaQL8m9MVp1ckEGd5LezuhhMfEOSw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1xbTee5oWwS-hHBV9BNGr5gYrygq2sfUsyVr_PKEYqs0BNcKgimzsfGrVHozTxImlhvgasuuHOBDdSW-cMLrm9z7ljncrGwILmgxzodo0uCC-M-cGDX0qGI5GSf6nQQuFkSJaU25V8UUcjELSobr5LHhhHuRPZVr2Ave7G2jFqCnXacWXtkC0jFIsBQ=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1xbTee5oWwS-hHBV9BNGr5gYrygq2sfUsyVr_PKEYqs0BNcKgimzsfGrVHozTxImlhvgasuuHOBDdSW-cMLrm9z7ljncrGwILmgxzodo0uCC-M-cGDX0qGI5GSf6nQQuFkSJaU25V8UUcjELSobr5LHhhHuRPZVr2Ave7G2jFqCnXacWXtkC0jFIsBQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Jumping on a detonator in order to open up a previously blocked path | Right: Crawling behind a waterfall</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">blowing up hourglasses, evading dewdrops falling from above you as you roam around <b>and</b> while you're crawling, at one point near the end of an Act you must carry a sarsaparilla spring to a specific spot so you can reach it while simultaneously evading the acorns dropped down by the Howlibird as it constantly hovers over you, making sure to jump on half-submerged frog heads with precise timing before it sinks its head down,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN9KGidSEc5Et0Oq373yK6eMLYwjb9iPQn1b3IehmIEqwqGGeMQTCQXXg-5p72HynLLi1aQNqztexH3szIfm9YZGxkivtN84LmWFpfe5y32GsWB0onqlF-DMfTvGyXzhDDsNpLtavq1FWRKiYyHQA_Ac3133id7p_xeDckWv_Zb4Q0J3NJ_ejKVRiTiw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN9KGidSEc5Et0Oq373yK6eMLYwjb9iPQn1b3IehmIEqwqGGeMQTCQXXg-5p72HynLLi1aQNqztexH3szIfm9YZGxkivtN84LmWFpfe5y32GsWB0onqlF-DMfTvGyXzhDDsNpLtavq1FWRKiYyHQA_Ac3133id7p_xeDckWv_Zb4Q0J3NJ_ejKVRiTiw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsuzCCnhUQAv121QJkfLFv8wyRSSQpka30ANOmwxq7Ci7YYHLYTkC4jfWZEl1yjOheIgDNW7nQbiMVKiNfiGiUhd7nH18pDyZr8grhukaCkabJG6vG0v5x9bVtqGIXYA4VVf-CWOoBoX1rA2mOlpwbbZqzgFRtbG7mPpnQKenKDEdt-Z7b3_0s8YEwhg=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsuzCCnhUQAv121QJkfLFv8wyRSSQpka30ANOmwxq7Ci7YYHLYTkC4jfWZEl1yjOheIgDNW7nQbiMVKiNfiGiUhd7nH18pDyZr8grhukaCkabJG6vG0v5x9bVtqGIXYA4VVf-CWOoBoX1rA2mOlpwbbZqzgFRtbG7mPpnQKenKDEdt-Z7b3_0s8YEwhg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Slipped on the snow | Right: Jumping up from a snow ramp while riding down on a sled</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">searching thoroughly and occasionally backtracking in order to find bomb detonators to open up previously blocked passages, making your way up the volcano as its lava rises, and heading up the stairs while doing your best to evade bats as well as apples and books falling down each step, et al.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE2lUi3rFm5KENIxvTIJ1p8Tf0lC6JTWuNwvkf1ACa7f3YJvnJtS3XDOaV6_zqHiNUEltpsp6eFcokPCppUMv8xBOBbP4VTf4vtsAA2QfIQ22AQYe0iX0UwIwEi3R1SFdJb1xeNxaCnfdfwwla0liVkAobG6wyfbs_DYGbbtuLqPLegFkm18nIa36XdA=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE2lUi3rFm5KENIxvTIJ1p8Tf0lC6JTWuNwvkf1ACa7f3YJvnJtS3XDOaV6_zqHiNUEltpsp6eFcokPCppUMv8xBOBbP4VTf4vtsAA2QfIQ22AQYe0iX0UwIwEi3R1SFdJb1xeNxaCnfdfwwla0liVkAobG6wyfbs_DYGbbtuLqPLegFkm18nIa36XdA=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUIvUKni2wbAWuY7sO2Gn6naSi8W0AJphfHE03bGhjCYLphAqVU1SY_fovbfoXZW9yj5q-D4hrKB0qwFcGIbx8IYWU5MPORLpPCzWYwC8eDgEtlSjf6D0SA6cH_4sQ6HWYp-qL9X2SQO3cGwm9CsXzVH9khOOOGiFUGiPQ7AA4TNS7wRgDWbbpP65HpQ=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUIvUKni2wbAWuY7sO2Gn6naSi8W0AJphfHE03bGhjCYLphAqVU1SY_fovbfoXZW9yj5q-D4hrKB0qwFcGIbx8IYWU5MPORLpPCzWYwC8eDgEtlSjf6D0SA6cH_4sQ6HWYp-qL9X2SQO3cGwm9CsXzVH9khOOOGiFUGiPQ7AA4TNS7wRgDWbbpP65HpQ=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Be careful of the snowballs occasionally rolling down the hill | Right: Be mindful especially of the occasionally snowboarding by Abominable Snowbeast who'll attempt to bump you off course</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">I like that sometimes you play as Jokey Smurf and Greedy Smurf who have their moments to shine plus they've got a long range (albeit an arched one) as they toss their items at foes, a nice break from controlling Hefty (pretty much the de facto <i>Smurfs</i> video game protagonist) as brief as those moments are, and the snow hill Act as you ride down from the mountain is a sweet deviation from the platforming action. I do feel that Brainy Smurf was a bit underutilized by comparison, though (they each had two Acts devoted to them while the bespectacled Smurf only had one which doesn't seem fair).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj843oAv_MifTMaLsKY_xLNLRhlEX8z8RrcGmwv8-yOmUDYc_suj_Bo8nNHGOtIoYNXSrVZEzfomQCfeYLmkc-ugCxgzu4_n52MfW9i-TihBMzTIA9Qf1tY7YHXTUJDHjQ-55D5S3bLXyi2yGlNwsLZB6OOBoigIMTbKEpymLrThSWTAinsnnj8ybwrvw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj843oAv_MifTMaLsKY_xLNLRhlEX8z8RrcGmwv8-yOmUDYc_suj_Bo8nNHGOtIoYNXSrVZEzfomQCfeYLmkc-ugCxgzu4_n52MfW9i-TihBMzTIA9Qf1tY7YHXTUJDHjQ-55D5S3bLXyi2yGlNwsLZB6OOBoigIMTbKEpymLrThSWTAinsnnj8ybwrvw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5JSCR5PP0e8J4FvQ61Bl9ub7jo5P6A6r24lTgaQQY5LkdKH2c0Rld7nwEz4jrSIo93evq8C593xjsvE6tEzTqzlRop72e37cOWKWwzDXwkODC16uQd4uxCPtt2T0PguZoQ5FblUaX2PmJpHhF73B38i22bKz_Kd4Hh2weD5lm9cGXe0i46OKw_1Vpcw=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5JSCR5PP0e8J4FvQ61Bl9ub7jo5P6A6r24lTgaQQY5LkdKH2c0Rld7nwEz4jrSIo93evq8C593xjsvE6tEzTqzlRop72e37cOWKWwzDXwkODC16uQd4uxCPtt2T0PguZoQ5FblUaX2PmJpHhF73B38i22bKz_Kd4Hh2weD5lm9cGXe0i46OKw_1Vpcw=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">Now, I understand the reasoning: his Act entailed having him go through a dark and dimly lit cave where his field of vision was aided by his glasses hence why he was holding a burning candle in his hand, so having him go around in the daylight with one would've not made as much sense, but he still felt like he had the short end of the stick (but then again, that was also true in the series, so... it's faithful in that regard). I did love how he acted as the language option cursor in front of the language you selected, and how if you got a game over after playing for a long time you're treated to an amusing moment where Brainy suggests you take a break so as to not "ruin your smurfsight" 'til Jokey tosses his gift from offscreen until it promptly lands beside him and blows up making him fall backwards. It's nothing game damaging nor does it affect my enjoyment of the game, just a personal nitpick of mine.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIBie_NvOYEnlI7YpLzsT5XoL7a407rNzaokCWnx1DaIxkG4UGDIQYUVRZy1HzEuycdgroUNSqT265P1YRzF7OWwHMqpxBWs5EmZ9YPSz6Zn3lRoZDpHorqZwrNTrVb6dtnLuCiG0mFWQ2LaO82Cq9BSjVBPGrFPqUWVG6DPst2bKA85pxYKiMCPz-7g=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIBie_NvOYEnlI7YpLzsT5XoL7a407rNzaokCWnx1DaIxkG4UGDIQYUVRZy1HzEuycdgroUNSqT265P1YRzF7OWwHMqpxBWs5EmZ9YPSz6Zn3lRoZDpHorqZwrNTrVb6dtnLuCiG0mFWQ2LaO82Cq9BSjVBPGrFPqUWVG6DPst2bKA85pxYKiMCPz-7g=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNrnLxtgIVcObLBT2FKRY2VXgA62AhGR490X4Xz063n-ni9e89ddnsiXvzmfzJqcn9P4AJBZmXnTGr59_-c73iXzyFsjfYAn8A5IksGleCtbZXxvhOOIXc2MAvh3cV6CC2gW54P0qWYKw934F2thndIGnvLyb4Kqhdl_YrrmE1XEO1dtpQz8vlPYJgqg=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNrnLxtgIVcObLBT2FKRY2VXgA62AhGR490X4Xz063n-ni9e89ddnsiXvzmfzJqcn9P4AJBZmXnTGr59_-c73iXzyFsjfYAn8A5IksGleCtbZXxvhOOIXc2MAvh3cV6CC2gW54P0qWYKw934F2thndIGnvLyb4Kqhdl_YrrmE1XEO1dtpQz8vlPYJgqg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Greedy tasting a sample of his cake | Right: Carefully timing when to jump should the log above the cliff be rolling</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">As perfectly manageable as this game is once you learn to overcome its challenges while still leaning towards the hard side, there are some moments that will continue to be challenging after the fact: in the sarsaparilla fields you'll stumble across agitated porcupines that tend to bounce around and ricochet off the edges of its confined space at unpredictable speeds and in random directions, being careful not to go too fast as there are ghosts lingering around that cannot be disposed of lest you lob an explosive gift at them that blows them away with accurate timing (though that's optional),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJLvqHUFy37we5uOXxMegz8SlpgRZvfIioCCOkL487mN8DS54mkRWy6X4bWdq0Xjv6B1qCmDl1Qj0sMfv6TuLn23r2Og3ijjno1Jn5UfMaVT1ePIuDLJ6nRK9CoJI1d6iMcqaHDTLCuA8fr7xh0SmVpUSkwWOuUUskIZL2FOxs0Vk6_BaadNLDQfj6Xg=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJLvqHUFy37we5uOXxMegz8SlpgRZvfIioCCOkL487mN8DS54mkRWy6X4bWdq0Xjv6B1qCmDl1Qj0sMfv6TuLn23r2Og3ijjno1Jn5UfMaVT1ePIuDLJ6nRK9CoJI1d6iMcqaHDTLCuA8fr7xh0SmVpUSkwWOuUUskIZL2FOxs0Vk6_BaadNLDQfj6Xg=w200-h156" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFpfnQUFm70HeV7W40ueG5dP29dtbc-V3tDILgiTtZjRrvOXTaqmBJ1F5MEMqiIOQ1liFeot5CxzYGMbNvsWoP0mNmeXXk3C2EQeakQ5e6Zr6ZHFZc72UzayXb6Dl6xljUnu3qqPqsvsB1IHrvkqnKkIgxoe5W7kL4rU70-aFsKxlr0MRlQdraCJp_4Q=s377" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFpfnQUFm70HeV7W40ueG5dP29dtbc-V3tDILgiTtZjRrvOXTaqmBJ1F5MEMqiIOQ1liFeot5CxzYGMbNvsWoP0mNmeXXk3C2EQeakQ5e6Zr6ZHFZc72UzayXb6Dl6xljUnu3qqPqsvsB1IHrvkqnKkIgxoe5W7kL4rU70-aFsKxlr0MRlQdraCJp_4Q=w200-h156" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Carefully guiding and maneuvering a bubble through a tree with thorny branches to get to the window of Gargamel's manor house | Right: That fly's about to get caked</span></b></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">the mine car sequence is like a rollercoaster in that it goes from slow to fast really quick especially as you veer downward as you must duck down arches unless you want to lose damage and must make absolutely sure to press the button beside an oncoming lever to stay on course as failure to do so will result in you crashing on a wall and forcing you to start over again (God help me if I can get through this Act <b>without</b> resorting to pausing and unpausing constantly because of how swiftly things become), at the beginning of the final Act you must float around in a bubble and maneuver it around in as delicate a manner as can be managed through thorny and twisted branches as failure to do so will result in you having to do it all again (it may happen once or twice, so try not to lose your cool here for you've got all the time you need), and the final bout with Gargamel requires you to get into the proper rhythm as you mustn't break the concentration with the Howlibird and where you're placed as it drops its innumerable amount of acorns down towards you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdakAl5qLWVESy6SdxGKPmnH-V6FdUCGsg0aA8eYOGZMJkIPMiTGxscSXet_UtWkqkrxrRE5zcEpvAjRA6-f2SAIUIu_a2ejx-hrCVG6JQOlEy6iLTUEPr6lonnL5fwgfRmOr09GCM_6Fk/s377/TheSmurfs_Stairs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdakAl5qLWVESy6SdxGKPmnH-V6FdUCGsg0aA8eYOGZMJkIPMiTGxscSXet_UtWkqkrxrRE5zcEpvAjRA6-f2SAIUIu_a2ejx-hrCVG6JQOlEy6iLTUEPr6lonnL5fwgfRmOr09GCM_6Fk/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Stairs.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bSdqnIapkgRM0P3WoE7oQJUN1J2kz65jnO_I9vdDSKymvzPkVcisCE7E6xPe-MRZUvEFtnoV6NtzEsVx8LlmQgNgXAY4uJxzPWwjZ612Ie9X5wPdM5ahiHLKkRPSZRi4XkbZmizXozNs/s377/TheSmurfs_Gargamel.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="377" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bSdqnIapkgRM0P3WoE7oQJUN1J2kz65jnO_I9vdDSKymvzPkVcisCE7E6xPe-MRZUvEFtnoV6NtzEsVx8LlmQgNgXAY4uJxzPWwjZ612Ie9X5wPdM5ahiHLKkRPSZRi4XkbZmizXozNs/w200-h156/TheSmurfs_Gargamel.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Left: Going up the stairs and ducking down until the bat flies away | Right: Gargamel standoff</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;">As video game platformers starring Peyo's Smurfs that were made during the '90s go, I feel that this 16-bit take is among the best of them (alongside the 8-bit edition developed by Bit Managers for the Game Boy, which is also an enjoyably good platformer in its own right), if not <b>the</b> best. As simple as it is compared to what would follow during that same decade, there is a beauty in <i>The Smurfs</i>' simplicity and is a fun fifty or sixty minutes to play while it lasts (or more depending how you play) with a solid sense of area design and well thought-out challenges (even if some will still get to you after you feel you've figured them out the first time), but most importantly imbued with a sense of charm and spirit that made the property so beloved in the first place. If you live in Europe and own a MegaDrive I recommend playing it, but if you live in North America and own a Genesis console if you get the chance as (and if you can afford it, for it only shows up once in a blue moon) I recommend buying the repro cart to see what American gamers missed out on at the time. Good smurf, Infogrames. 😃</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi52P0W_zPnFloiVB8zkevEXmf0J0P4SyfSzfQJQqIrSo5b-Tv4LJ0WIdhW1m5XzHpr2y2xtUfskeTQevcYKbplnwQk1ZOhZAtsw7acvzp6E9irnc1eVK5aP82WJZEbDvzOz3AmflLy9XB5g4V1r-MJpJ-7SRxUsfWa2DEo5LPBw918f2pzbBOcC5TVDQ=s355" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi52P0W_zPnFloiVB8zkevEXmf0J0P4SyfSzfQJQqIrSo5b-Tv4LJ0WIdhW1m5XzHpr2y2xtUfskeTQevcYKbplnwQk1ZOhZAtsw7acvzp6E9irnc1eVK5aP82WJZEbDvzOz3AmflLy9XB5g4V1r-MJpJ-7SRxUsfWa2DEo5LPBw918f2pzbBOcC5TVDQ=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Personal Score: 8.0/10</span></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0HLE8t0UO9SZI7hp_IhA4Ffga2VgyrEx30AEF8vr60aT7sCzMmP-OmbWOfxr02pgd1w0SZhQ3tkt1XdhyEas-U1DHEdsPwUnjRgmVUITNz3lDDVDDUYGseLRV-rxkthuD2ZG0C2_L_y-Aaj2AU2fKNy_U0O9JoGug0wkkvrLRpsZzGi2cqEQbMXnZQg=s200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0HLE8t0UO9SZI7hp_IhA4Ffga2VgyrEx30AEF8vr60aT7sCzMmP-OmbWOfxr02pgd1w0SZhQ3tkt1XdhyEas-U1DHEdsPwUnjRgmVUITNz3lDDVDDUYGseLRV-rxkthuD2ZG0C2_L_y-Aaj2AU2fKNy_U0O9JoGug0wkkvrLRpsZzGi2cqEQbMXnZQg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">d(^-^)d<i><u>TO EACH THEIR OWN</u></i>d(^-^)b</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Something to note is because of the repro cart being made for a region where games ran at 60Hz speed, it has been upscaled by approximately 16.7% in regards to the tempo of the background music (click on one of the links for a theme and change the playback speed under the settings to 1.25 to have a good idea of what I'm talking about) which I admit was a little weird at first but over time I learned to get used to it--and because of that the title theme now comes across like a beatbox rhythm which I've got no complaints about, it's catchy! 😄</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● For this review I looked up the list of characters and took the liberty to rewatch several episodes of the Hanna-Barbera series officially uploaded on YouTube (mostly Season 1) to refresh myself on <i>The Smurfs</i>' lore as I have not seen the show in such a long time, but also because I'm an animation enthusiast (animation is my jam) and honestly: I found what episodes I've caught up with to be endearing to watch, so many different storylines (including one which covered sign language when one of the Smurfs was rendered mute, so well-handled).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Send your thoughts and prayers to the families recently affected by the recent tornado outbreak, and even though it's been almost a month also send your thoughts and prayers to the families of those who got hurt in Waukesha, Wisconsin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">● Hope you have a good weekend, everyone!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for reading my review, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think (neither spam nor NSFW allowed); hope you have a great day, be a nice human, keep yourself protected during this pandemic, and take care! </b>😃</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKGNavCJlNkQy8N-OwGW4HfVoivN3Li89qtrok9xAKrNbmUIhIFInJORhmj10AVELdiD-GdG2e-SB_7Ud9wDBJTV8nzCBbbo9gITFxzTnQ4O46H-8swWBiMwupvav1J9jxaexYH1nq7ZsJ0PeOEVFNIZnBbUyf-v9TgSurKJ8Mwi0SfbGIQ3TYWSeNzA=s230" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="230" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKGNavCJlNkQy8N-OwGW4HfVoivN3Li89qtrok9xAKrNbmUIhIFInJORhmj10AVELdiD-GdG2e-SB_7Ud9wDBJTV8nzCBbbo9gITFxzTnQ4O46H-8swWBiMwupvav1J9jxaexYH1nq7ZsJ0PeOEVFNIZnBbUyf-v9TgSurKJ8Mwi0SfbGIQ3TYWSeNzA" width="230" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZKlDKCcz6mZuJxBb3ALZR5iHdGNgYZG61mVPqNnesdRqNM5n23UZW3P19UpYNbMyqlJ1AQKC3HiBa9MpFpKqRTUPoQTLr8OrkTZhwyrrvRuukUBLm-bTr-u_HzK79sScTxH3hv2OdMxOMMIgN2pKOnIfN7ylHivbIPWXSGvtQ1a2iIaLVQyln_xJqUQ=s194" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="70" data-original-width="194" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZKlDKCcz6mZuJxBb3ALZR5iHdGNgYZG61mVPqNnesdRqNM5n23UZW3P19UpYNbMyqlJ1AQKC3HiBa9MpFpKqRTUPoQTLr8OrkTZhwyrrvRuukUBLm-bTr-u_HzK79sScTxH3hv2OdMxOMMIgN2pKOnIfN7ylHivbIPWXSGvtQ1a2iIaLVQyln_xJqUQ" width="194" /></a></div><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">Man, who smurfing <b>knew</b> Papa Smurf could be such an <b>enabler</b>?</span></div></div>StarBoy91http://www.blogger.com/profile/02783969656106266457noreply@blogger.com0