Secret of Mana 2 (SNES)

Pub & Dev: Square Soft | September 1995 | 32 MEGS
Pub & Dev: Square Soft | September 1995 | 32 MEGS

As I write this, it’s Saturday, September 30, 2017. That marks 22 years since Japan was graced by the presence of Seiken Densetsu 3 (AKA Secret of Mana 2). Sadly, it never received an official release in the US. This was due to the fact that by the fall of 1995, the SNES was on the (rapid) decline despite a number of smash hits still yet to come. 32-bit war machines were starting to become all the rage, and it would take months to translate Seiken Densetsu 3. So it was never meant to be. It infuriated dedicated SNES owners who saw previews of the sequel in their favorite magazines but knew they would never get to play a proper translation. Thankfully, the “repro” scene changed that when a fan released a fan translated version of the game. It was a special moment for all Secret of Mana fans who longed to finally play the Japanese only sequel. I really like Mana but I am not one of its biggest fans. However, I’m all about the sequel. It’s f*cking awesome!

We certainly are... and to be continued indeed...
The wait is over. At last, Secret of Mana 2 is here…

THE HEROES

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One of the biggest differences between this game and its predecessor is that while Secret of Mana forces you to use a specific character, Secret of Mana 2 gives you a choice of six. After selecting your main character, you pick two allies. The game employs various changes depending on the characters you select. It increases the game’s longevity significantly and is an awesome improvement. Some characters may even fall in love or find themselves embroiled in a lack of mutual respect. It makes the many different combinations you can form all the more interesting and invites you to experiment and beat the game several times.

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Each of the six characters represent one of the six countries. The game begins with three countries at war and three as neutral territories. The relationship between the three characters you select for your party will evolve as the game progresses. Also new is remember how in the previous game there were eight different types of weapons? Now each character can only wield their specific weapon. I didn’t mind this as I felt the weapons in the first game were a bit of an overkill and I found the US translation lacking. I much rather have a complicated storyline with layers and a simple weapon system than a complicated weapon system with a basic storyline.

THE STORY GOES…

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Combat is improved. Say bye bye to that annoying meter from Secret of Mana. Instead, your character won’t be able to strike for a brief moment. No need for a stinking meter, especially one that didn’t properly ration the damage ratio.

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Another improvement: unleash a powerful blow after your bar is full.

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"Why hello there, son..."
“Why hello there, son…”

Steve’s father, Loki, served the kingdom of Forcena as one of the elite “Knights of Gold.” But at a time in Steve’s young days, Loki went away, never to be seen again… meanwhile, Steve’s mother was battling an illness. After losing his mother, Steve was raised by his aunt, Stella. Though he hardly remembered his father, swordmanship ran in his blood. With this skill, he came to serve King Richard as a mercenary for Forcena.

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Steve’s eyes grow heavy and weary as he drifts off into past memories…

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Steve’s father goes on to explain how this tribe is the most powerful faction of all. Loki remains confident, however, thanks to standing alongside Prince Richard. Time passes and one night Prince Richard rushes to address Loki’s wife, Simone. Sadly, Loki and the Dragon Emperor both fell into a bottomless pit after Loki rushed in to save Prince Richard from certain doom. Prince Richard and his men stayed for a week after, searching for Loki but to no avail. Simone was crushed but proud of her husband to be a Knight of Gold to the very bitter end.

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Although Steve can barely remember his father, he remembers his father’s final words. Steve took the task seriously but was devastated when his mom faced a deadly illness. Simone’s sister, Stella, pleads with her why she didn’t seek help earlier? Simone, with a heart of gold, explained how if word got out that she was sick then surely Loki would have rushed home to tend to her. She didn’t want to be a burden and so she kept things mum. In her dying request, Simone asked her sister Stella to look after Steve and Wendy. Stella honored it to the ends of the earth.

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Pandemonium breaks out while Steve is snoozing. A loud commotion awakens him and chaos ensues.

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Wizard may not be the most creative name out there but he’s certainly no joke.

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Wizard sends a fiery column blast your way to quickly confirm the severity of his powers. Luckily for you, the Wizard tends to other business and spares your life… for now.

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Fortunately, one guard managed to escape within an inch of his life, Loki’s son, Steve. It appears as though Altena is sending spies to Forcena. Perhaps an invasion is in the works…

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Sibling bickering begins. But underneath it all is love.

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Fortune Teller and Steve have their own bickering session as well.

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Another huge change in this sequel is changing classes.

She aint gonna take your shit
She ain’t gonna take your shit

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Steves willing to do anything
Steve is willing to do anything

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Before Steve can leave, Aunt Stella stops him. She knows better than to argue or plead, but she knows she can offer Steve a parting gift…

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Continue the legacy of your father.

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Additionally, Aunt Stella lets you know that she’ll let Wendy know and to talk to King Richard before leaving. This is a touching moment and symbolizes what Secret of Mana 2 excels in: storytelling and having a TON of heart!

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Determined to redeem himself, Steve sets out to find and kill the Wizard.

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Combat as mentioned earlier is vastly improved. I found the haphazardly implemented meter from the previous game to be a nuisance. Thankfully that’s gone and now waiting between strikes somehow feels a lot smoother. Battles happen in real time and slain enemies grant you experience points in order to level up. When an enemy is nearby, your character automatically assumes a battle stance. A power bar allows you to deliver an extra powerful blow.

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There’s a load of different locales to traverse throughout the journey. It helps keep things interesting. I also like how the characters are well defined and you grow rather attached to each one of them.

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Secret of Mana 2 has this epic sweeping feel to it in spades.

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Square lends Seiken Densetsu 3 a very slick almost theatrical presentation.

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Presentation is such an underrated component of these type of role playing games. A game that nails it can really suck you into its world and take you on a magnificent journey. Secret of Mana 2 got it so freakin’ right.

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Peaceful times this ain’t. You find yourself in the middle of war.

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[Classic Steve. Thinks he’s so sly but no -Ed.]

Um, pardon? They do?!?
Um, they do?!?

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Sweet
Sweet

Yet another massive change is the brand new day-evening-nightfall transitions. This isn’t merely cosmetics, either. Similar to the Breath of Fire games, certain events can only occur at certain portions of the day (or night, as it were). I especially love seeing your character entering a door during nightfall. It’s super atmospheric, particularly when playing on a late evening with the lights turned off.

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Transitioning from early evening to late nightfall is a thing of beauty. It adds a whole new sense of wonder (and strategy) to this game which simply did not exist in the previous game.

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Rabites are sleeping, vulnerable to attack during the night, for example. In other instances, certain events can only be unlocked during a certain time of the day (or night). Back in 1995 this was truly mind-blowing. And even today it impresses me. It’s stuff like this that occasionally blurs the line and makes me forget, even if just for a second, that this is a real breathing world.

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Leveling up is a classic staple of the (action) RPG. I like how this game makes you pick one category at a time to specifically level up.

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[Story of Steves life... -Ed.]
Hey, you’re one to talk, lady!

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There’s some callback to Secret of Mana as seen here with the innkeepers.

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Remember the infamous cannon traveling method? It’s back.

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Flammie returns to transport you as well, in addition to a brand new sea turtle creature. He looks rather ridiculous but there’s something oddly endearing about him and that includes his bizarre name, Booskaboo.

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Traveling at night is always super atmospheric, thanks to being able to see the bright yellow lights down below.

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Encounter many different enemies throughout. Best of all, the three player option has been retained. Now this is a sequel done right.

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Gigantic boss monsters abound. The action is intense and the visuals are fantastic to boot!

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They’re intimidating as hell!

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Sending you the best of wishes…

Whoa!
Whoa!

Just in time for Halloween, Secret of Mana 2 is ideal to play around this time of the year.

Speaking of Halloween and creepy...
Speaking of Halloween and creepy…
The fabled sword!
The fabled sword!
YOU MUST NOT KNOW 'BOUT THIS!
YOU MUST NOT KNOW ‘BOUT THIS!

MAGIC AND MORE

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

One of the best Super Play covers ever created
One of the best Super Play covers ever created

Secret of Mana 2 fared extremely well with most everyone who has been able to play it. Super Play loved Secret of Mana when it came out so it was no surprise that they worshiped and championed Secret of Mana 2 as well. Consensus seems to be that most people prefer this game over its predecessor. It had a better story, more playable characters, improved combat and the list goes on and on. Truly a shame that this game never saw the light of day in the USA. If they really wanted to, they could probably have rushed a translation in time for that holiday season of 1995, but it was probably deemed a lost cause because of how fast the gaming landscape was changing as 16-bit began to wane and wane. Then again, with the amount of characters and dialogue, this probably turns it into a first quarter of 1996 release. Sadly, it was perhaps doomed from day one to stay in Japan.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

One of the best action RPGs you could ever play
One of the best action RPGs you could ever play

Seiken Densetsu 3, or Secret of Mana 2, is one of the finest action RPGs in 16-bit history. It’s sad that Super Nintendo owners back in 1995 didn’t get to experience this gem, but fortunately fan translations have somewhat rectified past sins. If you enjoy this type of game and you haven’t played Secret of Mana 2 yet, then make it a point to do so ASAP. The visuals are stunning. Seeing still pictures is one thing but seeing it in motion is entirely another. I love the art direction — it’s very Chrono Trigger-esque. Seeing the screen explode in flames is downright breathtaking. I don’t consider myself a graphics whore but Secret of Mana 2 has some of the sweetest visuals I’ve ever seen in any Super Nintendo game. The sound and music is equally as impressive. But the main thing is the game plays like an absolute dream. Whereas I felt Secret of Mana felt a bit clunky at times, this one gets it almost perfectly right. From having six characters to select, smoother combat, more unique bosses and day night transitions just to name a small handful of positive changes, Square shows us how to program a sequel right (and then some).

High praise indeed. But it's earned it!
This game has carved a special place in my heart

Secret of Mana has a ton of fans and rightly so. I enjoyed it a lot as well, but I’m not its biggest fan. Although I gave it a rousing 9 out of 10 score, to me it’s a low 9. Something about it always felt a bit missing or lacking. Secret of Mana 2, on the other hand, nails it out of the park. The replay value here is higher than most other games from the genre thanks to the multiple endings and party choices. And if you happen to have two friends on hand, you can even experience the awesome three player mode. A proper sequel should build on everything from the previous game as well as fix its shortcomings. This is a shining example of exactly that. Not only is Secret of Mana 2 one of the finest action RPGs on the SNES, but it’s one of the best SNES games, period.

It's a work of art, really
It’s a work of art, really

Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 9.5
Gameplay: 9.5
Longevity: 9.5

Overall: 9.5

Double Gold Award
Double Gold Award

 

 

 

Now go beat it with the five other characters ;)
Now go beat it with the five other characters ;)
Um, uh, that's a wrap y'all! See you next time!
Um, uh, that’s a wrap y’all! See you next time!

Secret of Mana (SNES)

Pub & Dev: Square Soft | October 1993 | 16 MEGS
Pub & Dev: Square Soft | October 1993 | 16 MEGS

Today is September 29, 2017. It marks the launch date of the wildly popular SNES Classic Edition. One of the 21 classic SNES games on that device is none other than Secret of Mana. Therefore, I can’t think of a better time than now to review this heralded SNES fan favorite. My brother adored Secret of Mana back in 1993 as did an entire generation of gamers. I didn’t care much for it back then as I wasn’t a big fan of the genre. But my tastes changed (I like to think they’ve matured) over the years and I finally played Secret of Mana nearly 20 years later in 2010. Did the game live up to its massive hype? Let’s take a look…

TIMES (AND TASTES) CHANGE

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I went from hating RPGs without cause to loving the genre without abandon. Talk about a major switch. I guess you could say I matured as I grew older, or at least, my gaming tastes did. Right around 2003 was when the shift happened. I came to appreciate the “story telling” aspect of these games, as well as their ability to sweep you away to another land far away. I trekked my way through Terranigma in late 2010 and loved every second of it. There’s nothing like playing an (action) RPG during the cold chilly winter months. There’s just something magical about those early darkening afternoons and bitter cold nights that’s conducive to playing these adventures by a cozy fire. No other genre in my book is more enjoyable to play than the (action) RPG during the winter season. So after finishing Terranigma and being blown away by what a magnificent game it was, I knew my next game had to be the one and only Secret of Mana. Coming back to the Super Nintendo in early 2006 (January 17, 2006) allowed me an opportunity at gaming redemption. There were so many awesome SNES games I missed out on. One of the biggest games I had yet to play was Secret of Mana. The stage was set, then, for one epic adventure…

Glad they went with the name Secret of Mana!
Glad they went with Secret of Mana

THE STORY GOES…

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THE BASICS

The infamous ring menu. Access is quick and easy
The infamous ring menu. Access is quick and easy
Learn magic and power them up as you go
Learn magic and power them up as you go
There are eight weapon types in all
There are eight weapon types in all
Gotta reforge them all...
Gotta reforge them all…
Watts is the man to see to upgrade your weapons
Watts is the man to see to upgrade your weapons
This made Mana stood out back in the day for sure
This made Mana stood out back in the day for sure

THE CAST

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Glorious Mode 7 galore...
Glorious Mode 7 galore…

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Timothy: Shh! That Steve idiot is coming our way!
“Shh! That Steve idiot is coming our way!”

Timothy: Oh hey Steve. What’s up? Funny, we were just talking about you!

Steve: Oh yeah? What were you guys saying?

Elliot: Good things only, of course.

That clumsy Steve
That clumsy, clumsy Steve
"See ya later, Steve!"
“See ya later, Steve!”

Timothy: WUH OH!

Elliott: I didn’t see that…

Timothy: Neither did I…

Elliott: LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!

"OOF!!"
SPLAT — “OOF!!”

Steve, fortunately enough, lands safely in the water. He yells for help but oddly enough, no sign of either Elliott or Timothy. Imagine that. Dazed and confused, Steve dusts himself off and crawls for land in the life-threatening thigh-high water.

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"Gee, if only I had... like... A LEGENDARY SWORD..."
“Gee, if only I had… like… A LEGENDARY SWORD…”
Like a shining beacon of light in the dark...
Like a shining beacon of light in the dark

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Eat your heart out, King Arthur!

Just another day for our hero, obviously
Just another day for our hero, obviously

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Unlike combat in most other action RPGs, you can’t attack repeatedly without suffering the ill effects. A meter keeps you honest.

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After swinging your weapon, the meter will deplete and then charge back up to 100%. Any blows delivered before the bar is back at 100% results in reduced damage. This is awesome in theory. Unfortunately, it was mishandled a bit in execution. Even attacks at 95% aren’t much different from attacks made at 50%. If only the damage ratio was more accurate. Oh well.

Some helpful items to grab along the way
Some helpful items to grab along the way

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The sword not only cuts down enemies, but overly long grass blades as well. Shame there are no treasures to be found here, though. A slight missed opportunity, if you ask me.

"Hey, why do you always assume the worst of me?" "Your track record speaks for itself, fool!"
“Hey, why do you always assume the worst of me?”
“Your track record speaks for itself, fool!”

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“Hey Steve!”

“Sup Pradeep. Got anything new for me?”

“Nevermind that Steve, I heard the Elder is looking for you! Better see him ASAP!”

“Oh, that’s no biggie. The old man isn’t upset or anything. Relax.”

“That’s not what I heard… you better go see him.”

“Fine… by the way, why do you keep dancing? I always get motion sickness when I’m around you.”

“Sorry, not my fault. It’s the DAMN tourettes, man!”

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“Ooooh Steve, I heard you in BIG trouble!”

“Silly Prudence! Uh, where did you hear that from?”

“Some old lady walking these parts. She’s probably still wandering around here somewhere…”

“You shouldn’t listen to strangers. And I’m not in trouble, you little pop-fart.”

“LIAR, LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!”

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Elliott: Well, if it isn’t our lovely town hero himself!

Steve: Hey guys, what was the deal back there?

Timothy: What are you talking about? The bridge thing? We don’t know what you’re talking about.

Steve: Elder, what’s going on here?

Elder: My apologies, Steve. There’s nothing I can do…

Steve: Hey, watch where you be sticking that thing!
Steve: Hey, watch where you be sticking that thing!

Steve: Whadaya mean?

Elliott: He means, your goose is cooked! Done, finito!

Timothy: Yeah! Hit the bricks, pal!

Elliott: Go on, get outta here!

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Elliott: Yeah and don’t ever come back, ya hear!?

Steve: So much for our Thanksgiving plans…

Prudence: Haha, I knew it Steve! I told ‘cha you were in big trouble…

Steve: SHADDUP PRUDENCE!

A huge quake shakes the land
A huge quake shakes the land

Jema: Whoa!

Prudence: Duck, cover and roll! No wait…

Steve: AHHHH!!!

Jema: Hey, who is that kid?! I saw him earlier…

*Steve falls down the hole*

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Our hero quickly discovers he isn’t alone down there. Meet the first boss, the Mantis Ant!

Hey, you gave it the old college try
Hey, you gave it the old college try

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This is the first of over 40 bosses. Some say it’s overkill. And perhaps that’s so when considering that many of them are just palette swaps. Shame we didn’t get 40+ unique bosses, but hey, what cha gonna do?

Nice try, bub
Nice try, bub
The infamous pixie dust fist pump celebration!
The infamous pixie dust fist pump celebration!
"Can't get rid of me that easily!"
“Can’t get rid of me that easily!”

Jema: What happened down there?!

Steve: Well –

Elliott: Man, it was awesome! See, this towering mantis monster was about to eat Steve, but then I came swooping in to the rescue. The monster had to be 200, maybe 250 feet tall. But he was no match for the great Elliot!

Jema: Uh-huh…

Elliott: Yeah, I surprise myself sometimes.

Jema: Right…

There goes one delusional lad
There goes one delusional lad

Elliott: Well, I gotta get back now and tell the others what happened. Bye!

Steve: What a joke…

Jema: What’s your name, kid?

Steve: Uh, it’s Steve.

Jema: My apologies, Steve, for the way I treated you back in the bar earlier.

Steve: ‘Scuse me?

Jema: I know you were the one who pulled the sword out, and I also know you were the one who defeated the great beast down below. Come see me and Luka in the Water Palace later. But first, take care of your business here. We’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.

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"Alright alright, take a chill pill, Ned Flanders"
“Sure, whatever you say, Ned Flanders”
The infamous means of transportation
Who could ever forget this?
More Mode 7 madness
More Mode 7 madness

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Jema: Here he is, Luka, THE ONE.

Luka: That’s it?

Steve: Whadaya mean, “that’s it?”

Luka: I mean as in, where’s the rest of ya?!

Steve: Very funny.

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Luka: Only one way to find out. If the Mana Seed reacts to him…

*Steve steps up to the shrine and a blue glow suddenly bursts forth*

All: WHOA!

Jema: You see?! Steve is the chosen one!

Luka: We’re all f*cked.

Steve: Um, this has been one hell of a day….

Jema: I guess it has, eh?

Steve: If you don’t mind, I’m going to Neko’s Inn.

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Steve always takes the time to hear people's needs
Steve always takes the time to lend a listening ear
"One time they experimented with my brain..."
“One time they experimented with my brain…”
"And then the time they all played NEKO JAM..."
“And then the time they all played NEKO JAM…”
The Super Play-Neko gimmick was good stuff
The Super Play-Neko gimmick was good stuff

“But probably the cruelest, most heinous act of all was when they gave me Ms. Neko. It took me a whole two weeks before I figured out she was just a blown up farce!”

"Good night, Steve..."
“Good night, Steve…”

As Steve prepares to retire for the night, a thick cloud lingers over our hero’s head. Thoughts of saving the world, his lost mom, his “family” banishing him from Potos, and for some reason Steve keeps daydreaming about a girl he’s never met before. As the waning light gives way to dusk, an inexplicable burden has befallen the land. The innocence of childhood has passed, like sand slipping through the hourglass…

Steve had a crazy dream that fateful night
Steve had a crazy dream that fateful night…

Each night Steve is haunted by the same visions. He couldn’t make sense of it but he knew something big was bound to go down. These harrowing images were only the precursor of great and horrifying events to come…

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The dreams always started with a vision of a fair young lady. She sported huge ring earrings, red parachute pants and long flowing golden locks. Steve had never seen this girl in real life before but every night she infiltrated his dreams and thoughts. Although he had no clue who she was or even if she was real, he had a sneaky suspicion that if they ever met they would form a powerful team to save the world from calamity and terror.

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In his dreams Steve would always see the two of them gazing up high at something truly breathtaking…

The Tree of Mana was a source of great hope to all
The Tree of Mana was a source of great hope to all

It was no ordinary tree. It was the sacred Tree of Mana, a majestic sight and one of the eight wonders of the world. It never failed to leave Steve breathless, even in his dreams. A strange robotic creature stood alongside Steve, but it was a simple mix-up and he would later appear in Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is one of the best 16-bit games ever
Chrono Trigger is one of the best 16-bit games ever

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Then the dream suddenly shifts. In the robot’s place stands a strange dwarf. Flamingos fly overhead. You can feel a palpable sense of wonder lingering in the air.

Why am I so drawn to the Tree of Mana??
Why am I so drawn to the Tree of Mana??

The dream shifts yet again. Only this time, there seems to be an element of grave danger looming over the horizon…

Somehow, the three always ended up at Neko's Inn...
Somehow the three always ended up at Neko’s Inn…

Steve: Huh?! NEKO!??! What are you doing in my dream?

Neko: Hey, you’re in MY dream, buddy!

Girl: Stop bickering like two little girls!

Sprite: Steve and Neko sitting in a tree…

Steve: *gasp* THE TREE!

Could the legend of the Mana Dragons be real?!
Could the legend of the Mana Dragons be real?!

And as just as quickly the dream switches to the sprite befriending a cuddly white dragon. Steve heard about the legend growing up… but surely dragons were just a myth?

The dream then turns into a nightmare by the end
The dream then turns into a nightmare by the end
Steve's no longer dreaming. This is real!
Steve’s no longer dreaming. This is real!

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Goblin 1: Let’s kill him!

Goblin 2: Let’s eat him!

Steve: Let’s free him!

Goblin 1: Yeah, let’s free him!

Goblin 2: Errr, wait a second…

Steve: Tee-hee… can’t blame a guy for trying.

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Goblin 1: Let’s go check on the Rabite burgers.

Goblin 2: Sure. He ain’t goin’ nowhere! HAHAHA!!

Steve: God, it’s been a while but…

Girl: Hey! You!

Steve: Eh??

Girl: Over here, ya git!

Steve: Wow. That was fast. Thanks, God!

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Steve: Who are you?

Girl: Does that really matter right now?! I’m here to save your scrawny little ass! Now c’mon, let’s get the hell outta dodge.

Steve: Thanks! Hey wait, you look familiar… *gasps* You’re the woman of my dreams! I mean, the woman IN my dreams…

Girl: *nodding* Yeah, I have to admit. I do get that a lot.

Steve: Oh wow, the destiny and legend is coming true! We’re the ones who will rescue the land and bring peace back to all!

Girl: Uhhh, yeah. Well, I’m off to see my dad. Nice savin’ ya! Maybe we’ll run into each other again some day…

Steve: I hope so! I mean, yeah, you know, whatever, heh.

Girl: Boy, are you weird…

As you can see, Steve is a natural hit with the ladies
As you can see, Steve is a natural hit with the ladies

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[What a realistic video game... -Ed.]
[What a realistic video game… -Ed.]
Multiplayer Mana with friends is where it's at
Multiplayer Mana is where it’s at

MORE SCENES

Remember leveling up here early on? You know you do
Remember leveling up here early on? Yeah, you do
Things begin to get a little tougher later on
Things begin to get a little tougher later on

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Neko: Stevie! Welcome back. Oh, and you’ve brought some new friends!

Steve: Sup Neko. Yes I have.

Girl: Hey Neko, nice little place you got here.

Sprite: Yeah, I dig it too.

Steve: I’ve seen this before somewhere…

Neko: Mi casa su casa!

Girl: Sweet!

Sprite: Bitchin’!

Steve: *gasp* This is my dream come true — it is!

Neko: Oh come on Steve, it’s a nice inn and all but not THAT nice.

Steve: Oh my bad, Neko. I was just going on about something else… nevermind. Hey color me shocked to see you here! I thought this is the time of the year where your cousin takes over so you can head over to the Super Play offices for your monthly “assignments.”

Neko: Yeah, about that. I been doing some meditation exercises, you know, on top of my therapy… and my therapist and I agreed that it just wasn’t a healthy working environment for me over there. So I QUIT!

Girl: Hey good for you!

Sprite: Hi-five with the guy with nine lives!

Steve: About time! Have some respect for yourself.

Neko: Yeah, I even left them a note and all. Those bastards. That’s the last time they beat up Neko!

Stand up for yourself. Never let others walk over you
Stand up for yourself. Never let folks walk over ya
It's all around the world. La La La La La
It’s all around the world. La La La La La!
Which one is your favorite season?
Which one is your favorite season?

Not only will you travel all over the world but you will also travel through the four seasons as well. How many SNES games can claim that? I mean, this isn’t SHENMUE but it’s still very cool especially for its time. By the way, I just love playing (action) RPGs during the fall and winter seasons. No better time to be playing these adventure games! Something about those early darkening afternoons and frosty nights that provide a perfect backdrop to playing these games. Speaking of which, check out my Christmas Memoirs if you want to read more about my Christmas-SNES memories. And speaking of Christmas…

Santa of Mana: yup, even St. Nick makes a cameo!
Santa of Mana: yup, even St. Nick makes a cameo!
Yeah, what is the secret anyway? Play it to find out!
Yeah, what is the secret anyway? Play it to find out!

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There’s much more but I’ll let you discover the rest on your own!

Happy adventuring!
Happy adventuring!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Super Play adored Secret of Mana = understatement
Super Play adored Secret of Mana to the moon

Secret of Mana graced several magazine covers and earned the accolades of mostly everyone who played it. Combining elements from both the RPG and action genre as well as providing a huge world to explore, Secret of Mana won the hearts of many. To top it all off, throw in a unique three player option and its fate as one of the most beloved Super Nintendo games of all time was sealed. This is evident by all the favorite lists the game has made over the years (and decades). EGM awarded it Game of the Month honors with scores of 8, 9, 9 and 9. GameFan gave it ratings of 86, 90, 91 and 96%. Super Play rated 94%. They ranked Secret of Mana as the 8th best SNES game on their top 100 Super Nintendo games list (February 1996).

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EGM was king and ruler back in the day. My brother was a subscriber in ’94 and I always looked forward to that glorious day each month where the latest EGM issue would be sitting pretty in our mailbox. If there was one thing that my brother loved more than EGM it was definitely Secret of Mana. I remember watching him play it for hours on end. Even though there was a chance for me to jump in, I never did. As I said before, growing up I didn’t care for the genre. Looking back on it now, I wish that I had joined my brother on one of his binge Secret of Mana sessions.

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Well, it’s funny how life works. When I finally played Secret of Mana 17+ years later in December of 2010, my brother and I ended up having a little playthrough. We were no longer kids now but we sure felt like it (for two hours at least). Afterward I introduced him to BS Out of Bounds Golf, one of my perennial favorites. He loved it, too. He and I had a cutthroat battle that came down to the last stroke. It was a glorious gaming afternoon. Super Nintendo — bringing brothers together and reminding us of the innocence of childhood :)

EGM's classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly box
EGM’s classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly box
Nobody worshiped Secret of Mana like Super Play did
Nobody worshiped Secret of Mana like Super Play did

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It's as majestic and sweeping as the game itself
It’s as majestic and sweeping as the game itself

After hearing all the hype about this game for years on end, it was nice to finally sit down and quell a 17 year folly. Everything about Secret of Mana, from the visuals to the music to the gameplay, screams quality. Sure, the CPU-controlled allies are not too smart but the game is easy enough so their lack of AI never does become a glaring issue. It’s a treat playing this with a friend (or two). It’s not everyday that an action RPG affords you that chance. Secret of Mana is no doubt a Super Nintendo classic but one question remains…

Whoa, slow your role, Super Play. Three, not four
Whoa, slow your role, Super Play. Three, not four

Did the game live up to the massive hype for me? Not quite, actually. While I do like Secret of Mana a lot, I was expecting to wholeheartedly love it. Super Play was obsessed with this game and they made it seem like it was the Holy Grail. The combat system didn’t totally work for me. As I stated earlier in this review, the damage ratio is not to par, which took me out of the game at times as a semi-glaring oversight. Attacking at 90% didn’t produce much damage difference from say, 11%. Also, there wasn’t enough NPC interaction for my liking. The game had interesting dialogue early on but it seemed to go away completely in the middle of the game. There weren’t as many plot developments as I’d like, either. For a long while there I felt like I was just hacking and slashing, leveling up but with no big story advancement. It’s long been confirmed that the game is incomplete; it was originally intended to be released with the ill-fated SNES CD add-on. English translator Ted Woolsey admitted that’s why some areas, in addition to the lack of dialogue, appear to be missing. It’s such a shame because as great as I found Secret of Mana to still be, another part of me felt like it was missing that little something that would have taken it to the next level. Don’t get me wrong, Secret of Mana is certainly worthy of the title “SNES classic” but is it the greatest 16-bit Action RPG ever? Try the sequel Seiken Densetsu 3 (AKA Secret of Mana 2) first before you answer that question!

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 9

Award4Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

 

We certainly are... and to be continued indeed...
We certainly are… and to be continued indeed…

Soul Blazer (SNES)

Pub: Enix | Dev: Quintet | August 1992 | 8 MEGS
Pub: Enix | Dev: Quintet | August 1992 | 8 MEGS

Back in April of 1992, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past thrilled countless SNES gamers. The excursions and exploits of one, Link, proved to be one of the grandest 16-bit adventure games ever created. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past set an incredibly high bar and took us on a rousing, unforgettable journey. Four short months later, Soul Blazer graced the Super Nintendo. While it’s no Link to the Past, it stands as a remarkably notable action adventure that all SNES owners should experience. So grab your Master Sword, er, Soul Blade, dust it off and enter the adventures of the Freil Empire. The fate of an entire nation depends on you!

THE STORY GOES…

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Dr. Leo reluctantly constructed the machine to summon Deathtoll. When Deathtoll was summoned, the King told him he wanted nothing more than to obtain the wealth of the entire world. And to that, Deathtoll presented the greedy King with a most grave proposition…

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LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

Don't try to flatter me, bub!
Don’t try to flatter me, bub!
Grab the sword inside the chest and get to hacking!
Grab the sword inside the chest and get to hackin’
Be sure to monitor your status screen occasionally
Be sure to monitor your status screen occasionally
Gotta collect 'em all
Gotta collect ‘em all

There are five souls to meet up with throughout your journey. These souls will make life easier and are represented by a blue ball encircling the Hero.

The Soul Blade is the baddest sword in town
The Soul Blade is the baddest sword in town

Here at the sub screen you can select which armor, weapon, magic and items you wish to use. A total of eight different magic spells can be unleashed. These spells are highlighted below.

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Performing magic attacks will cost you some gems. Gems can be acquired by killing enemies and opening treasure chests (but beware of the fake ones which attempt to ambush you). Should you die, kiss all your gems bye bye.

They never learn...
They never learn…
Your first magic attack, the Flame Ball, in action
Your first magic attack, the Flame Ball, in action

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Killing enemies is important not just for acquiring gems, but gaining experience points as well. Your health automatically recovers and increases each time you level up. Whew, check out what a close call this was!

General gist
I like the ability to power up and regain health

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Hitting enemies with the end of your sword will inflict more damage. Very cool, subtle effect!

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You can also thrust the sword by holding onto L or R. It’s not as strong as the sword swipe but you can walk backward while inflicting damage. This proves to be quite useful in certain situations.

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Kill all the bad guys in each given section to clear the square. Otherwise, the monsters will continue swarming after you. The decimated town or village is restored bit by bit each time you clear a square. Sometimes this leads to a special animal popping up while other times new buildings will be formed. It’s up to you to restore all the towns that have been ravaged by Deathtoll.

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Clearing a square at other times may simply open up a closed section directly in the action world.

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Another possibility of clearing out a square is it may reveal a bonus treasure chest in the nearby area.

GENERAL GAME FLOW

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Changes in town? Yes, as mentioned earlier, clearing squares, or monster lairs, in the action world will piece together the ravaged villages in the town section. Check out an example below…

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Did you know that Quintet, the developers of this game, were absolutely INFATUATED with a certain ’80s song? 1985 to be precise. In fact, they were so infatuated that this city building gimmick that runs rampant in Soul Blazer was based off that song! It’s a very obscure fact and one that very few know about. Take a look (and a listen) below, and you’ll see what I mean…

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Tesla, eh? I always thought it was that bloke, Marconi. You learn something new each day! And say, how much did it take to rake in Mr. Freeman, eh? [Zero, it was his dying wish… -Ed.]

Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List (2007)
Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List (2007)

Dear Edward,
I’ve gone back and forth the last few days trying to decide whether or not I should even write this. In the end, I realized I would regret it if I didn’t, so here goes. I know the last time we saw each other, we weren’t exactly hitting the sweetest notes. It certainly wasn’t the way I wanted the trip to end. I suppose I’m responsible and for that, I’m sorry. But in all honesty, if I had the chance, I’d do it again. Virginia said I left a stranger and came back home a husband — I owe that to you. There’s no way I can repay you for all you’ve done for me, so rather than try, I’m just going to ask you to do something else for me. Find the joy in your life. You once said you’re not everyone. Well, that’s true — you’re certainly not everyone, but everyone is everyone. My pastor always says our lives are streams flowing into the same river towards whatever heaven lies in the mist beyond the falls. Find the joy in your life, Edward. My dear friend, close your eyes and let the waters take you home. -Carter Chambers

VILLAGE PEOPLE

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[Hey, what are you doing, Steve?! -Ed.]
[Hey, what are you doing, Steve?! -Ed.]
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Oops, wrong game...
Oops, wrong game…

The Dream Rod allows you to enter people’s dreams. You can even sneak into the dreams of animals. Who knew animals could even dream? Quintet teaching us educational stuff left and right! It’s all a bit weird but then again, that’s Soul Blazer in a nutshell. Just watch out for ol’ Freddy…

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Such a smooth cat, that Steve... [Riiight -Ed.]
Such a smooth cat, that Steve… [Riiight -Ed.]

THE GOAT?

I mentioned how weird this game is, right?
Well, it’s about to get even weirder…

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*cue flashback*
*cue flashback*
*Back to the present*
*Back to the present*

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Talking goats for pete’s sake! Too weird, EVEN for me!

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I HAVE A DREAM…

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"WAIT! I can do much more, I'll show you!"
“WAIT! I can do much more — I’ll show you!”
WHAT THE -- !
WHAT THE — !

Um, let’s just move on…

ACTION JACKSON

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Venture across the bridge in Grass Valley to forge on ahead. What terrors lurk beyond?

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Along the way you’ll meet some jewel fairies. They assist you by offering to send you back to town so you can stock up on supplies, gather more information, save your game and so forth. They also might grant you with experience points, helpful items or simply dispense invaluable advice.

Take the lift up to uncover new monster lairs
Take the lift up to uncover new monster lairs
"YEAH! RIP EACH OTHER APART!"
“YEAH! RIP EACH OTHER APART!”
"WHOA WHOA TAKE IT EASY!"
“WHOA WHOA TAKE IT EASY!”

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No joke. Some goats will share any secret, provided you have some goat food on hand. As you can see, it’s weird piled on top of weird. And what’s this “swallowed up in a painting” business, anyhow? Hmm. Something to investigate, then…

House on Haunted Hill?
House on Haunted Hill?
It ain't no Bob Ross piece of art I can tell you that!
It ain’t no Bob Ross piece of art I can tell you that!
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Only fools rush in
Only fools rush in
Enemies can come in many forms
Enemies can come in many forms
I find they often appear just in the nick of time
I find they often appear just in the nick of time
"Yes, two eggs, sunny side up.  Hold the bacon"
“Yes, two eggs, sunny side up. Hold the bacon”

Entering a teleport marker will whisk you back to the Master’s Shrine. From here you can save your progress, recuperate lost health or head back to town for more clues and items. This is also where you can move to the next town after having cleared the current town’s boss. You may also backtrack (which proves to be necessary at times).

Each marker here serves a specific purpose
Each marker here serves a specific purpose

Every Master’s Shrine is the same. Once you’ve unlocked all four blocks, they follow this pattern:

  • The top yellow tile is used to save the game or to move to another town
  • The right and left blue tiles will take you to certain areas in the action section
  • The bottom blue block transports you to town

On a side note, I love the haunting church organ that plays here. It’s awesome.

The first boss. Gotta love the classic flashing
The first boss. Gotta love the classic flashing
I DON'T RECOMMEND DOING THIS!
I don’t recommend this!

It’s a sure fire way to die fast. Stay on the conveyor belts and employ the ol’ hit and run tactic! I recommend using the middle conveyor belt only as your attack point. Lure him left or right, wait until he commits, then charge up the middle belt to score some hits. Retreat. Repeat. See below.

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You can easily evade his fireball attack thanks to his deliberate delivery. He also has a slow recovery rate so you have plenty of time to score some hits. Always lure him left or right, then attack from the middle. Retreat and repeat!

He throws these on occasion to keep ya honest
He throws these on occasion to keep you honest
It's not as intimidating as it may initially look!
It’s not as intimidating as it may initially look!

He’s easy but he certainly doesn’t lack in health points! Be patient, be smart and he’ll be lucky to nick you even once. The thrusting technique will take you longer but allows plenty of control as you can moonwalk while damaging him.

WHO'S BAD?!
WHO’S BAD?!

Congrats. You’ve saved the good fair citizens of Grass Valley and have brought restoration to their lives, animals and plants. Now you can graduate to the next town in need of your aid, GreenWood.

But this isn’t goodbye to Grass Valley. More of a see you later. There are a couple lairs in Grass Valley that still need to be cleared and cannot be until you acquire the Zantetsu Sword.

Don’t forget to locate the Master’s Emblem in Grass Valley by the way, as well as pick up the Brown Stone. You’ll need all six stones to open up the gate to the Dark World where Deathtoll awaits.

GREENWOOD

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Welcome to GreenWood. Legend has it that this town was developed by a dog named Turbo. He built this peaceful village to offer protection and serenity to all animals. That is why, once rescued, all you’ll find in GreenWood are critters and creatures.

"Have you seen my nuts?"
“Have you seen my nuts?”

Such as this squirrel, who will ask you for delicious seeds. If you have them and choose to offer it to the little guy, you’ll be awarded with a mighty grand prize… the Psycho Sword!

How bizarre, how bizarre!
How bizarre, how bizarre!

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For over a decade I’ve wondered what “it” is. “Everytime I look around, it’s in my face” as the song by OMC goes. It wasn’t until I played Soul Blazer that I understood what “it” is: the blue soul ball that encircles our hero. Because everytime he looks around, everytime he looks around… IT’S IN HIS FACE!

[I have no words -Ed.]

See? The legend is true...
See? The legend is true…

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Classic moment, this is. As Turbo takes you on a quick tour around GreenWood, he asks if you’d like to see what’s on the restaurant menu. This all occurs while the peaceful and serene music of GreenWood is playing. But as soon as you select yes, the music suddenly stops without warning. It’s followed by a dramatic pause before Turbo answers, “YOU!” Of course he’s joking but part of me was hesitant for a second the first time. Nicely done, Quintet!

"I know a great place to drop a load"
“I know a great place to drop a load”

I love that Turbo dog. [We all saw very disturbing proof of that earlier on -Ed.]. It’s a well known fact but did you know the “sequel” to Soul Blazer is Illusion of Gaia? Though the protagonist to Illusion of Gaia is a different character, there is reference made to ol’ Turbo.

New monsters await in GreenWood
Hey, it’s Mudlup from Teddy Ruxpin!
Mudlup (Teddy Ruxpin)
Mudlup (Teddy Ruxpin)
Beware those pesky water dragons
Beware those pesky water dragons
"Nice try guys, but you ain't no BUSHMAN!"
“Nice try guys, but you ain’t no BUSHMAN!”
R.I.P. infamous Bushman of San Francisco
R.I.P. infamous Bushman of San Francisco
Sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire
Sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire
That's definitely no Bushman...
That’s definitely no Bushman…

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Things start to heat up with scorpions and Lizard Men!
Things heat up with scorpions and nasty lizard men
And watch out for that alien crystal skull there! [Where's Indiana Jones when ya need him?! -Ed.]
And watch out for that alien crystal skull there!
[Where’s Indiana Jones when ya need him?! -Ed.]
Two stones down, four to go!
Two stones down, four to go!

THE SUPER SIX

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RANDOM SOUL BLAZIN’

The path switches from cold to hot without warning
The path switches from cold to hot without warning
You need Bubble Armor to pass these rolling waves
You need Bubble Armor to pass these rolling waves
Poseidon guards the mountain and is my fave
Poseidon guards the Mountain and is my favorite
You can't just rely on brawn. You need wits, too!
You can’t rely just on brawn. You need wits, too!
Moments like this are good for a chuckle
Moments like this are good for a chuckle

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With all eight of the Master’s Emblems in your possession, you’ll earn the Magic Bell. This grants you unlimited magical attacks! You can still defeat Deathtoll without the Magic Bell but it’ll be a much tougher task. Some of the Emblems aren’t so easy to locate. Remember to backtrack to places with sections that you previously could not pass.

Can you make it to Magridd's Castle?
Can you make it to Magridd Castle?

You’ll have all six Stones if you manage to get by the fortress. All towns will have been restored. The gate to the Dark World will open and the final battle will begin. Don’t forget to find the Soul Blade and Soul Armor before confronting the demon. Good luck!

THE PERVERSE WORLD OF SOUL BLAZER

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Quintet... such dirty minds over there [*sighs* -Ed.]
Quintet… such dirty minds over there [*sighs* -Ed.]

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

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Soul Blazer was well received by critics. Many praised it for being a top-notch action RPG, especially during a time where there weren’t many choices being represented on the Super Nintendo. EGM gave it scores of 8, 8, 8 and 9. Super Play rated it 89%. Fan reception has also been overwhelmingly positive. It’s rarely acknowledged as one of the system’s best games, but almost everyone I know who has played it has largely enjoyed it. And most people will tell you that it’s one of the “unsung heroes” of the vast SNES library, especially for fans of the genre.

Mighty high praise from EGM!
Mighty high praise from EGM!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS...
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS…

Super Play pretty much hit the nail on the head when they called Soul Blazer “an excellent and slightly weird game.” The game definitely stands out from the pack due to its odd (but endearing) nature. It’s not quite the epic game Link to the Past is but hey, few games are. Soul Blazer will take you on a fascinating and strange journey. From conversing with goats in Grass Valley to visiting mermaids in the rolling waves of St. Elles, you’ll see and do much before all is said and done. And that’s just the town portion of the game! The action sequences are well done and the balancing act between thumb-pounding action and using your old noggin is handled beautifully. The bosses deserve a shout out as well. Sadly, it’s too bad the game presents minimal challenge.

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Graphically, the game does a pretty good job of bringing the towns and temples to life. I love the clouds scrolling overhead in Grass Valley. The dark and decrepit underground chambers in GreenWood are nicely executed. And who could ever forget the fiery blazes of the Dark World? Unfortunately, there are some ho-hum bits scattered in there, such as the islands in St. Elles or the model towns in Dr. Leo’s house (both of which leave something to be desired).

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While the visuals are a bit hit and miss at varying times, the music on the other hand is fantastic through and through. A stellar soundtrack puts you right in the heart of whichever region of the game you happen to be in. From the Master’s Shrine’s haunting church organ to the serene and adventurous theme in Grass Valley, the music men behind this game deserve a big round of applause (Yukihide Takekawa, Kazz Toyama and You Himeno). The battle themes are perfectly suited and the dream theme that plays during any dream sequence possesses an incredibly dreamlike quality to it, making you feel as though you’re in a dream yourself!

"I do NOT snore!"
“I do NOT snore!”

I really like the aspect of restoring each village to prosper once again. It’s instant gratification. When you clear a monster lair, the game may fade back to town to show you what people, animals or buildings you have resurrected. The liberation of a city is a wonderful feeling. The game plays well and I always wanted to play more to see what denizens or creatures I might unearth next. It kept me going and moved along at a brisk pace. I also enjoyed the various NPC’s scattered about. Some are just silly while others provide helpful tips. Others may tell a juicy story that helps add to the game’s mystique. It made me wish for more character interaction as I don’t think there’s enough.

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While I never felt the game did anything particularly special or extraordinary, it was all executed extremely well. More than enough to keep any action RPG fan occupied for a weekend or two. There are puzzles along the way but nothing too tricky I don’t think. It’s just a fun little game to pop in and get lost in. You’ll find many swords, items, armor, magic spells and more in your quest. You’ll help many animal friends in need and traverse a wide range of locales, from creepy dark dungeons (make sure you have the Soul of Light) to the snowy mountains that reside high above the Freil Empire. Hell, you’ll bear witness to a snail race (tough to beat that) and even catch a glimpse of the majestic Northern Lights! And did I mention talking goats?!

Can you dethrone Deathtoll?
Can you dethrone Deathtoll?

It took me 16 hours over two weeks to beat Soul Blazer. A seasoned veteran of the genre can probably do it in 10 to 12, maybe even under 10. The game won’t last you terribly long, but you’ll probably enjoy every last second of it. I’m not sure “quirky” even begins to describe the game. Talking with moles, goats and tree stumps? It’s almost like an acid trip. Soul Blazer is a game every Super Nintendo fan should experience. It’s got a legion of fans for damn good reason. And after finally playing it over 10 years ago back in the summer of 2007, I can see wholeheartedly why. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.

Graphics: 7.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 8.5
Longevity: 7

Overall: 8.5

Double Silver Award
Double Silver Award

 

 

 

I may not be Zelda but hes no Link, either!
I may not be Zelda but he’s no Link, either!

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Adventures in Africa

It was the adventure of a lifetime
It was the adventure of a lifetime

Today is September 21, 2017. It marks the last day of summer 2017. Tomorrow officially marks the first day of fall. I can’t think of anything more fitting to write about now than the summer adventure I had in Kenya, Africa seven years ago. I found myself at a missions meeting at my local church in May of 2010. I felt a tugging on my heart strings when they spoke about the Africa trip. GO, the inner voice proclaimed as clear as day. It’s kind of like the “voice” from Field of Dreams, except you don’t actually hear it audibly. You hear it in your spirit. And that day I knew beyond a shadow of doubt, by the grace of God, I would be serving the good folks of Kenya later that summer.

"Go to Kenya" said the voice. Or the MC at least
“Go to Kenya” said the voice. Or the speaker anyhow

May, June and July were crazy months indeed. We had a team of a dozen and we spent those three months in the States getting to know each other. After all, we were going to be stuck together for two weeks in close proximity 24/7. We sent out support letters to friends and family, hosted many fundraisers, got our necessary shots (big fun that was) and we prepared our hearts and minds for the exciting journey ahead. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. Violence and protests broke out in Kenya a couple months prior to our arrival date. The US Embassy even urged us NOT to go during the dates we had targeted. That’s crazy now that I think back on it! We had a few members step down from the trip due to the warning and political unrest. It was a decision that each of us had to make on our own accord. I forged ahead and am so thankful I did.

Happy 27th to me!
Happy 27th to me!

Late July 2010. The day we boarded our flight was actually my 27th birthday. It also marked the first time I would be leaving the good ol’ US of A. Yup, Kenya was my first trip outside the US. I’m not much of a traveler as you can see, but I appreciated the love they gave me (champagne on the house).

Finally, we were there!
Finally, we were there!

I’ll never forget landing after a long 24 hour flight (including layovers). I was sitting next to a Kenyan and we had been talking the final half hour of the flight. He was visiting his family from his new home, Chicago. “You’re going to love Kenya,” he said. “The people here are very friendly and we love to just talk. It’s not like how it is in America, you know. In Kenya, people can sit and talk for the whole day. Try that in America and see how far you get!” We wished one another well as we exited the plane. I remember thinking to myself if everyone in Kenya is like this then what an awesome trip it’ll be. As we waited for our Kenyan hosts to pick us up, we converted our US dollars to the Kenyan currency (shillings). Then we waited outside in the cool of the night, at around roughly 11 PM, anticipating our hosts.

Making memories right off the bat
Making memories right off the bat

It wasn’t long before a big bus pulled up and a whole bunch of friendly Kenyans jumped out eager to shake our hands and embrace us with a big ole hug. They were our hosts. We climbed aboard and each team member sat next to a Kenyan. I sat next to Jeff who reminded me of a dear old college friend back in the States. You know how you instantly bond with certain people? That was the case for me and Jeff. As we passed by the busy roads, Jeff shared with me that we were going to pass by his ex girlfriend’s house coming up soon. “I was ready to propose to her,” he reminisced. “But I kid you not, the day before, she dumped me. It burned in my heart for a long time.” And then, there it was. In the dead calm still of the night, I spotted Jeff’s ex’s house. An idea flashed excitedly through my mind. “Hey Jeff tell you what. YOU. ME. A BAG OF EGGS. THAT HOUSE. 3 AM TONIGHT.” It was met with the greatest and loudest laugh I’d ever heard. James, sitting three rows back, yelled “PARTY UP IN STEVE’S ROW!”

I'll never forget that first night in Kenya...
I’ll never forget that first night in Kenya…

A pastor that my church back home partners with hosted us in his lovely home. The goal of our trip? Work with the orphans of Kenya and spread the love of Christ through Bible stories and worship over the course of the next two weeks. We unloaded our things and met our host family. The pastor, his lovely wife and three children — two high school boys and a girl about to enter high school. We took bucket showers which was a major adjustment, but it wasn’t too bad once you got used to it. The guys slept in one room while the girls slept in another.

KenyaBeds

I’ll never forget lying in bed that night alongside four other team members. Our flat single beds were on the ground next to each other in a cramped little room. It was 1 AM. Everyone was dead tired and had already crashed, but I was wide awake. And that’s when I heard it. A cacophony of various wild animals howling and hollering. Dogs barking, roosters crowing (Kenya roosters’ clocks are all messed up), cats screeching, maybe even wild coyotes. It sounded like bloody murder out there. And for the first time, it REALLY hit me… Toto, we’re not  in Kansas anymore! I closed my eyes and fell off into a deep sound sleep. Early the next morning, we woke up at the butt crack of dawn. One by one, we shuffled off into the restroom like zombies. We all had jet lag but there was a quiet sense of excitement in the air. We gathered at the breakfast table where the pastor spoke to us. On the agenda? Trek out to the local schools, introduce ourselves to the children, and advertise that we’d be working with them throughout the next two weeks.

School #1
School #1

The 12 of us, along with three Kenyan guides, walked to the first school. It was about two miles away from Pastor’s house. Instead of riding the bus, we wanted to take in the sights and sounds. It was a long dirt path. Along the way we saw Kenyans out and about, and everyone waved to us. I’ll never forget turning the corner and seeing all the children jumping and cheering for us on cue. They treated us like we were rock stars! They even sang a song to us in Swahili. They didn’t know us but they treated us like we were kings and queens. It was a timely reminder of how lucky I was. We introduced ourselves, advertised our program and performed musical skits for them. They watched on with great interest and clapped loudly whenever one of us spoke. It was pretty surreal. They treated us like we were movie stars!

Everywhere we went we had adoring fans
Everywhere we went we had adoring fans
School #2
School #2

It didn’t take long before the whole room was filled! More songs and musical skits ensued, much to the delight of the children. They were crammed in there like sardines. Yet they all seemed so joyful. It reminded me of the many things we sometimes complain about that aren’t really that big a deal.

School #3
School #3

The next school we visited was easily the most affluent of the lot. The little children were all dressed warmly and the school was the nicest looking one.

They sang a song for us and we returned the favor
They sang a song for us and we returned the favor
Gotta love the kid with the glasses
Gotta love the kid with the glasses

I loved the looks on their little faces as we performed our various musical skits advertising our program in the weeks to come.

School #4 (gotta love the yellow jacket rebel there)
School #4

The next school was much smaller. They wore lovely red uniforms, except for that one badass rebel there! :D

Shouting it loud and proud
Shouting it loud and proud

These kids stepped up one at a time to declare their future aspirations. Answers of doctors, teachers and nurses filled the air. The session ended with all of us dancing with the children. It was a great time! Then, my two team leaders were called to be at another school at the same time our 5th school visit was scheduled, so they needed a proxy. They appointed me. I was set to be the MC for the next school visit. Wow. I felt anxious and apprehensive, despite having a public speaking and theatrical background. One thing’s for sure… I will never forget that 5th school visit…

School #5
School #5

It’s been said that the Lord has a sense of humor. So of course the 5th school, the one I was responsible for MC’ing, had to be the rowdiest of the day!

The calm AFTER the storm
The calm AFTER the storm

From sheer chaos to a nice calm scene. We finally had room to exhale. Our day of work had concluded and it was back to Pastor’s house for dinner preparation and more planning for the following day. I took a moment to take in this scene before heading back to our team bus. To remember the madness that filled this area not five short minutes ago, and how peaceful it now was.

Samosa

After heading back to Pastor’s house, we hung out in the living room. The two main facilitators were still out on business, so I led the debriefing session. It was a great, crazy day for all of us. Then some of us headed into the kitchen to help Joy, Pastor’s wife, with making the samosa. Man, I love me some samosa!

Their home cooked meals were SO good
Their home cooked meals were SO good

This was a typical meal during our stay. Joy is a mean cook, believe that! Although we craved American food, I can’t complain and we always got seconds!

PASTOR LEE: ENTER THE PIMP

Oh Pastor Lee, what a character you are...
Oh Pastor Lee, what a character you are…

After dinner, one of our dear Kenyan host friends, Pastor Lee, called all 12 of us over. It was a classic scene. He sat there in the middle of the living room, in this single person desk (rather random and a bit peculiar right off the bat). He briskly signaled for us to come over. We all thought he had something serious to share. Maybe something deeply spiritual. Maybe he just wanted to pump us up for tomorrow. We all waited for what seemed like forever as he just stared at each of us silently, caught in deep thought, his mouth agape. And then, the most unforgettable line came hurling out of his mouth… “How do you turn girls on?”

We all paused and looked at each other like, “Whoa, did he JUST say what I think he just said? No he dih-ent!”

“How do you turn girls on?” he asked once again, like a child asking for a cookie. In his little desk no less, which looked slightly too uncomfortable for a man of his size to be sitting in…

After the initial shock wore off, one of the girls fielded his inquiry. “We love a man with confidence. That, a sense of humor and poise is very big to us. It says a lot about the guy.”

“Pastor Lee, what do YOU think turns girls on?” one of the guys asked, playing along.

“Well, I use this…” he fumbled around in his pocket and for a second there we all kind of gave each other a funny look like what shenanigans will this be. Lee isn’t a small guy and he barely fit in the desk. His face strained as he reached deep into his pocket. It was quite comical. Finally he pulled out a pen and held it high in the air with a grin plastered from ear to ear, like a knight in shining armor upholding his mighty sword after slaying the vicious dragon.

“That’s your great trick?!” everyone asked.

“Not a trick my friends but a deadly weapon indeed when wielded in the right hands… it is the mighty pen.”

I wish I could find the words to describe the following moments justice. It’s one of those “you just had to be there” scenarios. All of us were looking like “what the hell is happening right now?!” or as the cool kids supposedly say, “Is this real life?!” What a funny, strange man! His verbiage and mannerisms are classic. Add in his Kenyan accent and it’s like Night at the Comedy Club with Lee :P

“You see,” he continued. “When I have this, this pen I’m holding right here, yes, this one… when I have this, when I am wielding this pen you see here, it is not merely an ordinary pen. Suddenly… it becomes… something entirely more… than just… a regular pen… you see?”

He is what you would call a grade-A classic character. He shared his legendary pickup line: “Hi m’am. Do you have one second? I’d like to show you this cool new pen I have… or perhaps I could entertain you in letting you borrow it?”

Ironically saw this when I got home. Lee lives!
Ironically saw this back home a week after Kenya :D

He had us rolling in stitches! The girls tried to give him a few pointers in the right direction but Lee was adamant on keeping his pen routine. He claimed it yields him great success all throughout the land of Kenya. It was hard to tell whether this was part of his shtick, whether he was dead serious, or if he was just plain crazy. I guess that’s what makes Lee so special and endearing. You never knew what he’d say but whatever it was, you could be sure of one thing. You’ll be laughing. Sometimes with him, but most often, at him. And I think, that’s the whole point ;)

The best part though was when Lee left and we asked Pastor a burning question…

“Pastor, is Lee a pastor?”

“Lee?! Oh no. Good grief, NO.”

“Oh? We’ve been calling him Pastor Lee all night, and he never once said anything…”

“Of course not. Lee just likes having that title, and he’ll take it from anyone who gives it to him.”

We all looked at each other like “MAN! Bamboozled, by THAT fool?! F*cking Lee!”

The trip was sure to be memorable before Lee. After meeting Lee, I knew I would surely never forget these next two weeks…

Say hi, Lee! The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Say hi, Lee! The Man, The Myth, The Legend

BACK TO SERVING

These kids arrived even earlier than we did!
These kids arrived even earlier than we did!

Early the next morning we headed to a local church to work with the children there. They looked up to us as though we were rock stars. It was very humbling.

A tour of the place
A tour of the place

Walking through these cramped bare hallways reminded me quickly of how good I have it back home. And the small stuff I sometimes find myself bitching about? It’s nothing in the grand scheme of things.

A peek at one of the rooms we'll be teaching in
A peek at one of the rooms we’ll be teaching in
Reminded me of how much I take for granted at home
Reminded me of how much I take for granted at home
The slums of Kenya
The slums of Kenya

Our Kenyan helpers then took us to the rooftop where we saw the slums stretch out before our very eyes. It was a crazy sight! Later that day we visited the slums and sat in one to speak with one of the ladies. It was maybe 10×10 with no electricity. She lives with her five children all jammed up in there. Insane. The craziest part was when I spotted a baby crawling around in the mud on the road with no parent in sight. Being there in the slums really shifts your perspective. It just reminded me not to take things for granted and not to bitch over the small stuff too much as we humans sometimes have a proclivity to do.

Something a picture just doesn't fully capture
Something a picture just doesn’t fully capture

I’ll never forget sitting in one of those slum shacks. We were squeezed in like sardines. I was only there for 15 minutes. I can’t imagine living there. It was a good reminder that the next time I feel like complaining about little inconveniences (i.e. lack of parking spots, light just turning red, etc.) I really should think twice and be GRATEFUL instead. You see this stuff on TV but it doesn’t hit you until you walk through it in your own two shoes.

Love that kid's Michael Jordan impersonation!
Love that kid’s Michael Jordan impersonation!

While we were taking photos, some of the kids below spotted us and played to the camera!

Bless their little hearts. "WHAT UP LITTLE MAN?!"
Bless their little hearts. “WHAT UP LITTLE MAN?!”

They were so happy to see us. We were greeted and (in some cases) mobbed everywhere we went, like we were the Second Coming. It was nuts.

It's story time!
It’s story time!

It wasn’t long before our room filled up with kids. Manning this station was me, Jeff and Theresa. Our station was the Bible story telling hour. The kids were so well behaved and eager to hear us talk. We shared Acts 12:1-19 with them and acted out the story. I played Peter, Theresa played the angel and Jeff, bless that Kenyan’s good heart, played Rhoda the female servant, complete with girly voice and all. Needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids!

Jeff's quite the little thespian!
Jeff’s quite the little thespian!

The story tells us that Peter was in prison. Back home his people were praying for his safe return. When he actually did, Rhoda answered the door and was so excited that she ran back to let everyone know of Peter’s miraculous return. They told her she was out of her mind. You have to love the irony…

TAKE A CHILL PILL

Party riding back to Pastor's house
Party riding back to Pastor’s house

On the car ride home I sat in the back of the bus with one of our Kenyan friends. I love this dude. We called him E and he’s got the greatest laugh — well alright, it’s tied with Jeff. I just love how Kenyans have this fire and zest for life and laughing. So, E and I were just chilling in the back of the bus. We ended up sharing our testimonies to each other on the ride back to Pastor’s house. The topic moved to girls and E was sharing his angst (at age 20) to get a girlfriend.

“Yeah Steve, I can’t help it man. It’s been on my mind 24/7. I just want a girlfriend. Right now!”

“Man, just chill. You be alright. I tell ya, what I wouldn’t give to be 20 again. You got your whole life ahead of you… you’ll be just fine. In the meantime, trust me, take a chill pill on the ladies.”

“Good points there. I like you Steve. I like you a whole LOTS! *laughs his big laugh* Say, by chance do you have a chill pill?”

I pretended to dump a chill pill in his outstretched hand. “Need some water?” I added.

Right on cue, James, who sat one row ahead of us, offered E his water bottle without looking back. Amazing comedic timing! E and I burst out in laughter and one of the leaders up front said, “Sounds like they’re having a PARTY back there!” Good times.

SWITCHING IT UP

Spending the night at a new place
Spending the night at a new place

Later that night our team split up and slept in different places. We were working with different churches the next morning so pockets of us left to different locales that evening. It was just me, James, E and Isaiah who stayed at this other pastor’s house. It was a rainy night. This new house was much smaller and unlike the previous Pastor’s house we stayed at, this one was void of any electricity. We had to use flashlights to navigate our way around the house after dark. I really felt homesick that night. Nearly all of my team members were somewhere else and I had gotten used to the first Pastor’s house. This new place felt like we had stepped back into the Dark Ages. Before we headed off to bed, all six of us sat in the pastor’s living room area. We were cloaked predominantly in darkness outside the flickering of a few candles. Heavy rain whipped outside. It set quite the mood! I sat across from Isaiah and he started to share his testimony with all of us. I’ll never forget this. Isaiah is one of those guys who has a booming, commanding voice. He’s a big guy, too. The type that people naturally stop and listen to whenever he talks. I couldn’t see his face in the dark, but his booming voice reached out to all of us as we sat in that small dark living room.

Isaiah began sharing his testimony with us
Isaiah began sharing his testimony with us

“About three years back, I was hanging out with the wrong crowd. I was doing things I shouldn’t have done. Smoking things I shouldn’t have smoked. Taking things I shouldn’t have taken. One day my friends and I got into a fight with a rival group. Before I knew it, the silver glint of a 9mm gun blinded my eyes. Then I found my legs carrying me. I heard shots being fired off. They zipped right past my ear. I heard my friends crying out and the sickening THUD of their bodies hitting the floor. But there was nothing I could do. Nothing except run. I don’t know how I managed to escape with my life that day, except by the grace of God. At that moment, I knew God kept me alive because He still has plans for me to carry out. I gave my life over to Christ and made it my mission to work with the youth, help show them the right way from the wrong way. I know that’s the calling God has placed on my life and I’ve been happily living it out these past three years.”

Wow. Quite a powerful story. The heavy rain lashing against the windows, darkness all around us, it all enhanced the atmosphere. I could only just hear his booming voice. We’re so bombarded with visuals and technology. It was actually nice to just sit in the darkness and hear Isaiah share his story. It felt like I had stepped into a time machine as it did not feel like 2010. I no longer felt homesick after hearing his moving story. It’s amazing how a little light can brighten up even the darkest of rooms…

Nothing like the smell of  a brand new early morning :)
Nothing like the smell of a brand new early morning :)

The very next morning proved to be damp and moist thanks to the heavy rain throughout the night. It felt surreal just standing in the middle of the road, in this country, so far away from the comforts of home. On today’s agenda: we’ll be heading over to the local church to help hand craft some items for the kids to take home with them. We made thousands of them.

Each one was stuffed with cotton. Super mini-pillow!
Each one was stuffed with cotton. Super mini pillow!

EVERY TRIP NEEDS A LITTLE DRAMA…

Hello there, Rocksteady
Hello there, Rocksteady

During our two week trip we had one day off for pure sightseeing. We went to the museum, the zoo and we even did some shopping for family and friends back home. This was another crazy day because later that night during our daily share time before bed, one of the girls voiced her displeasure that we “wasted” a day where we should have been working with the kids to “make a difference.” I guess no trip is complete without a little drama and internal strife. It was dead silence in Pastor’s living room that night after she shared. After the initial shock of the raw comment wore off, we all shared our thoughts and it was actually quite the breakthrough. We were one week into our trip at that point, with one week left to go, and that night proved to be the catalyst for us bonding like a real team should. Something happened that night. And we realized we really needed to band together as a team to finish what we’d started.

One day sightseeing. Too much?
Sometimes you just need a day off to recharge

Later that night, in the privacy of guys’ room, James, the male team leader and I stayed up til 3 AM talking about it. The other guys had already passed out. James, T and I just laid there on our beds talking in the dark. James and I encouraged our leader, who was under extreme duress. The next morning an amazing thing happened. Around the breakfast table we were all laughing and talking excitedly about the day ahead. Not once was a word mentioned of the previous night. It was an unspoken catalyst that drew our team closer together. After all, if you can’t be honest with the folks in your fox hole, then who the hell can you be honest with?

FINISHING OUR MISSION STRONG

Compassion abounds in Kenya
Compassion abounds in Kenya

Our trip ended with a bang. One of my favorite memories was our last day working with the kids. In this story telling hour we reenacted Acts 3:1-10 where Peter heals a lame beggar in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It was awesome because we had one of the boys volunteer to be the beggar. He sat there shaking and begging. But the best part of it all? The kids began coming up to him to offer whatever they had. That was NOT in the script! It showed the abundance of compassion these kids possess and how truly big their hearts are. Gotta love the little boy there looking on with a concerned look ready to lend a helping hand. I’m not ashamed to admit that witnessing this gave me goosebumps!

Farewell my friends! Until next time
Farewell my friends! Until next time

Our last day in Kenya was a bittersweet day. At the end we just played with the kids, did Red Rover and danced. I felt like I was 10 years old all over again. Before we piled into the team bus, they all tried to prolong the day. Some even asked if they could come back to the States with us. I’ll never forget their joyful faces and unabashed spirits. It’s an image that’s stuck with me ever since.

Each team member wrote appreciation notes for all
Eat your heart out, Shaolin Soccer

The night before we left Kenya we made envelopes for each other and taped them to the wall. Here we could write little notes of appreciation to one another. I felt like a six year old kid on Christmas Eve. That night we all sat around in Pastor’s living room, our last night together, writing our appreciation notes to one another. The only rule was you couldn’t read them until you were on the airplane. One of the girls drew this up for me, because well, I developed a certain reputation on the team. One day I was playing soccer with the Kenyan kids and I scored the winning goal with a mid-air karate kick. Didn’t mean to! I saw the ball flying in the air and I instinctively leaped, karate kicking the ball into the opposing net for the victory. Everyone was cracking up and the soccer karate kick stuck. Hey, I can think of worst things!

Good ol' James! Good dude
Good ol’ James! Good dude
You kick ass, James
You kick ass, James

SteveNote3

From James sister
From James’ sister
The female team leader
The female team leader
Theresa, my fellow story teller station buddy
Theresa, my fellow story teller station buddy

SteveNote4A

From one of the guys, Cool Joe
From one of the guys, Cool Joe
The male team leader
The male team leader
From Little Miss Dancer, Sharon
From Little Miss Dancer, Sharon
Ha! Classic Tim!
Ha! Classic Tim! :D

SteveNote6

From my dear sweet friend. Lee loved you didnt he?
From my dear sweet friend. Lee loved you didn’t he?
He sure did :P
He sure did :P
Thanks for the love, Lee. No, I dont need your pen!
Thanks for the love, Lee. No, I don’t need your pen!

SteveNote8-A

Wow, her note really touched me. Much love!
Wow, her note really touched me. Much love!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Kenya was awesome. Loved the kids!
Kenya was awesome. Loved the kids!

The missions trip to Kenya back in the summer of 2010 was one of the best adventures of my lifetime, bar none. I was amazed by the sense of tight knit community the Kenyans have over there. They don’t have much technology but what they DO have is a tremendous amount of unwavering faith and love for one another. I was also insanely humbled by their hospitality and affection. They were so good to us and I like to think they taught us more than we taught them.

They love God and each other so much
This kid is working it!

This picture in some ways captures the essence of Kenya to me. They love God and each other so much. Their faith is inspirational. Take this little boy for example. He’s jotting down notes about a Bible lesson and he’s taking it all in. I was blown away. If you’ve never been on a mission trip before but have always considered it, or maybe you’ve been on the fence, then I hope this story inspires you to push through. And even if you don’t have any interest to go on one, I hope this story touched you in some way. I’m a big believer of paying it forward. Acts of random kindness makes this world such a better place for all involved. Be blessed, stay blessed and bless others! Cheers.

Thanks. And everyone else too :)
Thanks. And everyone else too :)

This song was all the rage at the time of our Kenya trip. It’s stuck in my head to this day and whenever I hear it still, I can’t help but think back to my times in Kenya over seven summers ago…

Killer Instinct (SNES)

Pub: Nintendo | Dev: Rare | August 1995 | 32 MEGS
Pub: Nintendo | Dev: Rare | August 1995 | 32 MEGS

August 30, 1995. It’s been a little over 22 years since Killer Instinct came home to the Super Nintendo. Its impending release over 22 summers ago was heavily touted everywhere you looked. Although 16-bit was rapidly on the gradual decline by the late summer of 1995, the home port of Killer Instinct arrived with tons of buzz and hype. Throw Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat in a blender, top it off with insane combos galore, and you might get something similar to Killer Instinct. And on a personal note, Killer Instinct on the SNES was truly the “last game of my childhood.” As such, it forever holds a special place in my heart. Best of all, considering the hardware limitations, it’s an admirable (if not downright impressive) port!

THE DYING DAYS OF OUR CHILDHOOD

The year was 1995
The year was 1995

It was the summer before junior high, and my best friend Nelson and I, as always, were determined to make the most of it. A lot was changing in our lives, though. It’s amazing how much things can shift in just one short year. The previous summer saw the best summer of my life. We finished 5th grade and were on the cusp of being the oldest students at our elementary school. All the seniority perks were soon to be ours. The SNES was in its prime and 1994 was an epic summer that gave me some of my greatest memories. Fast forward a year and suddenly the SNES had gone from dominant to rapidly aging, and Nelson and I were gearing for our biggest life transition yet… junior high. I find it fitting that as we were graduating from one school to the next, video games were graduating from 16 to 32-bit. Evolution. You can’t stop time, but you sure can make the most of it. And that’s what Nelson and I did that summer. We stayed up late. We binged on horror movies, junk food and SNES games. On August 30, 1995, Nelson bought Killer Instinct on launch day. Over 22 years later it still remains one of the most vivid memories I have from that awesome summer — the last of our childhood, as it were. We ended it with a bang, for sure.

For Nelson and me, it was a special time in our lives
For Nelson and me, it was a special time in our lives
The hype was real
The Killer Instinct hype was real

I remember the release of Killer Instinct like it were only yesterday. I remember feeling that summer like it was a time of transition. 32-bit systems were slowly but surely taking over and it was clear that the SNES was in its waning days. Speaking of transition, Nelson and I were going from elementary school to junior high. It was a crazy time where our world was quickly changing. But on that Wednesday of August 30, 1995, it wasn’t about a changing of the guard. It wasn’t about an uncertain future. Rather, it was all about Killer Instinct. I remember watching Nelson firing up Killer Instinct for the first time on that fateful Wednesday late afternoon. As he played his shiny new game, I found myself lost in the latest GameFan issue. But it wasn’t so much Killer Instinct that I found myself drawn to. It was World Heroes Perfect. World Heroes was my favorite fighting game franchise at the time and I was insanely curious about the latest entry. Believe it or not, even more than SNES Killer Instinct which was right there live in the flesh!

KillIn3

I drooled at the review of World Heroes Perfect as Nelson booted up Killer Instinct. Nelson urged me to watch but my eyes were fixated elsewhere. Finally, after 15 minutes, Nelson was pulling off some sick 20+ hit combos in the practice mode. I finally looked up long enough to take notice. It was then that I truly saw Killer Instinct for the first time. Watching those incredible Ultra combos Nelson pulled off with the greatest of ease was like an awakening to me. I couldn’t help but join in. He kicked my ass hard but I had a blast nonetheless. Looking back on it all, I fondly recall how Nelson and I spent the very last week of that summer playing Killer Instinct to death. It was as if we were trying to hold back the hands of time. Not a bad way to spend the final days of our last summer of sheer unadulterated childhood :)

Who could ever forget that sleek, epic black cart?
Who could ever forget that sleek jet black cart?
It was the end of an era
It was the end of an era

All things have a shelf life. As the final hours of our last childhood summer were rapidly ticking down, Nelson and I had one last KILLER (sorry) Killer Instinct romp. Although Nelson and I were worried about where we’d hang out at lunch time and the potential for awkwardness having to change clothes in public, we popped in Killer Instinct to spend the final night of our last summer of true innocence in grand fashion. It’s true that video games can serve as a form of escapism. While tomorrow would bring a litany of headaches and worries, TONIGHT was all about going out with a bang. This was it. The last night of summer. And Nelson and I pushed the closing of that memorable summer to its very limit. We played Killer Instinct until well after dark. Finally, home beckoned as my mom called me to get my ass back to the house. But before I left, Nelson and I exchanged a look — it was a silent pact to never forget these days no matter where life may take us. Junior high was a whole new ball of wax and we were facing an uncertain future. But whatever happens, we were gonna face it together.

Thanks KI for making the summer of '95 a good one
Thanks KI for making the summer of ’95 a cool one

KICKING IT OLD SCHOOL

My SNES collection circa January of 2006
My SNES collection circa January of 2006

Before I bought boxes and manuals for my entire SNES collection and displayed them properly on the shelf, I had this. This was my SNES resurrection collection from around late January of 2006. Killer Instinct was featured all by itself on one of the smaller lower shelves. Seeing this picture never fails to bring back to mind that crazy innocent time of running from shop to shop and town to town reclaiming bits and pieces of my childhood. Oh and who could forget that Killer Cuts CD that came packaged with Killer Instinct? Rare and Nintendo really went all out!

Indeed it has
Indeed it has

KillIn7

KillIn8

KillIn9

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THE FIGHTERS

At least this Ryu clone doesn't have a palette swap
At least this Ryu clone doesn’t have a palette swap!

KillIn14

Jago wages war in the middle of his Tibetan courtyard. The head of a huge golden tiger statue is proudly displayed. Birds casually pass through in the distance.

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Fireball? Check. Dragon Punch? Check. Some sort of thrusting kick? Check. While his Wind Kick may only connect once, it is a good lead-in move to set up a flurry of various combos. Also, it allows Jago to safely pass through projectiles (eat your heart out, Ryu). All this plus Jago’s Laser Sword is another great linker.

If Predator and Robocop had a love child, err, thing
If Predator and Robocop had a love child, err, thing

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Brings back memories of Donkey Kong Country eh? Hey, Rare did develop both. The SNES port had swinging lamps added in. Not bad for a nice little home bonus. That lighting effect was sweet, too!

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Fulgore is a beast, er, machine. Ah you know what I mean. He can fire up to three consecutive laser shots, reflect enemy projectiles, possesses one hell of a Dragon Punch and oh yeah, he can even teleport for good measure.

Created for all the horny teenage males out there :P
Created for all the horny teenage males out there :P

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This city rooftop (complete with a shameless plug on Rare’s part) may not look impressive today, but boy did it look badass 20+ years ago. Hell, you can even knock your opponent off the roof at the end of the match!

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Orchid has some neat moves. This includes a flashy fireball, some nice combo chains and best of all, she can briefly morph into a fire cat. Her infamous “strip” fatality is faithfully retained as well.

Yo T. Hawk -- WHO'S YOUR DADDY?
Yo T. Hawk — WHO’S YOUR DADDY?

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By far my favorite stage in the game. It’s aged like fine wine too! I absolutely love the bits of swirling mist, that blazing orange soaked sky, and even the way the bridge moves and reacts under the competitors’ weight. Good stuff!

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Thunder has a neat looking fireball. For a 42 year old guy who nearly tips the scale at 280 pounds, he’s quicker than you might think. His Spinning Axe is a devastating combo attack and he’ll knock you out of the air just as quickly as he’ll come raining down on your ass.

Originally scrapped from the port. What a close call!
Originally scrapped from the port. What a close call!

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It’s certainly not one of my favorites. There just isn’t much going on or anything to marvel at. On the bright side, you can send your rival spiraling to a gruesome death being that it’s a “roof-type” stage.

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Cinder thankfully made the SNES final cut after all the hoop-la that he was going to be scrapped due to (lack of) memory. It just wouldn’t be Killer Instinct without the bastard. After all, who wouldn’t want to play as an ex-convict turned scientific experiment freak? Besides, he’s got one hell of a Flash Kick and a sick torpedo charging attack. PS- Screw you, Ken Lobb, for calling Cinder a wimp!

No arcade zoom out makes him even deadlier than ever
No arcade “zoom out” makes him even deadlier

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Welcome to Glacius’ Ice Temple. The stinging cold air is offset by the heat of the battle. Don’t worry, he will gladly shed your blood to help keep you warm and toasty.

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Glacius’ fireball bounces along the ground. He gives new meaning to the term “giving you the cold shoulder!” Also beware his stiff Blade Arm and his teleporting uppercut.

No, he's not Balrog and Jax combined at all...
No, he’s not Balrog and Jax combined at all…

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T.J. Combo spends his days buried in a gym. The one he frequents is a bit rundown, but it’s got the soul that most of the newer gyms lack. His gym is chock-full with history, blood, sweat and tears. Just the way he likes it!

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Combo’s impressive arsenal of tricks include nifty running strikes, a sweet rolling multi-hit attack and a flying knee that changes angles based on the button strength you choose. I love when fighting games offer variations of the same special move based on which button you end up using. It almost feels like it’s two different special moves for the price of one.

The "freaks" come out to play...
The “freaks” come out to play…

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This stage is awesome. I love how you can see the reflections of the fighters on the canvas. The blood-stained floor is a lovely and sinister touch all at once.

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Riptor has some rancid ass breath! Like most “oddball” fighters, Riptor isn’t the most novice-friendly character on the roster. Use her at your own discretion.

First a dinosaur. Now a werewolf. I'm sold!
First a dinosaur. Now a werewolf. I’m sold!

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Battle it out in the candle-lit study of Sabrewulf’s castle. What a great looking stage. The portrait hanging to the right is hauntingly realistic. Love the lighting as well.

Gives me the heebie jeebies...
Gives me the heebie jeebies…

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Sabrewulf’s Flaming Bat actually flaps its wings. You truly appreciate the little details when you see the game in motion. At least I do, anyhow. For an extra boost of power, try howling. And when in doubt, you can’t go wrong slicing and dicing with his razor sharp claws.

A raptor, a werewolf and a skeleton walk into a bar...
A raptor, a werewolf and a skeleton walk into a bar…

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Of all the roof stages, this is my favorite one. I’m a sucker for any night time stage featuring a moon in the background. It gets me every single time. As expected, you can knock fools off the roof at the end of a match. It kind of puts a nice bow on things, ya know?

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Spinal can absorb projectiles and then fire them back at his opponent. He knows how to swing a mean sword, too. He can even teleport in a pinch.

THE FINAL BOSS

Meet your maker
Meet your maker

Eyedol is a freak of nature. By the way, if you wish to play as Eyedol then apply the following code:

Select Cinder. At the VS screen, hold right and press L, R, X, B, Y, A.

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Eyedol is one tough cookie who dishes out MASSIVE damage. Good luck.

“DANGER! DANGER!”

They're not as visceral as Mortal Kombat, though
They’re tamer than the ones found in Mortal Kombat
It's kinda like Scorpion's infamous Fatality
It’s kinda like Scorpion’s infamous Fatality
Some are rather tepid
Some are rather tepid
[You chose to show this one instead?! -Ed.]
[You chose to show this one instead?! -Ed.]
Most of them are generic and unmemorable though
Most of them are generic and unmemorable though
F'rinstance, keep this animation in mind
F’rinstance, keep this animation in mind…
Yeeeah...
Yeeeah…
This one is pretty dope, though
But this one is actually pretty cool
But just like that, we're back to MEH
But just like that, we’re back to MEH
This one looks odd. But the blood gushing out is neat
This one looks odd. But the blood gushing out is neat
Not similar to Chief Thunder's at all...
Not similar to Chief Thunder’s at all…

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Just like the Pit Fatalities from Mortal Kombat
Just like the Pit Fatalities from Mortal Kombat

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Spiraling down to a painful demise!

BONUS STAGES

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BonusKI

The codes to pick your stage in 2 Player Mode
The codes to pick your stage in 2 Player Mode

“I’LL TAKE THE COMBO MEAL, PLEASE”

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What differentiates this game really is the combo system. You can string together over 25 hits and only have to press a few buttons. Knowing the chain command is key to pulling off some crazy ass combos. There are also Combo Breakers (cue “C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!”) to break up the action, keeping everyone on their toes. Thankfully, the SNES port includes a handy practice mode where you’ll find yourself busting out 10, 15, even 20+ hit combos soon enough with a wee bit of dedication.

Eat that, Brock. Suplex City my ass!
Eat that, Brock. Suplex City my ass!

SuplexCityBrock

It’s got nothing on Combo City!

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Observe. Here’s a simple five hit HYPER combo from Jago. I love the part where Jago’s kick sends Spinal reeling. While Spinal’s still hanging in mid-air, bust out Jago’s fireball to show him who’s boss!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Nintendo Power ranked it #72 on their top 100 list
Nintendo Power ranked it #72 on their top 100 list

The SNES port received major hype in the late summer of 1995. The port had some fans split. You had one camp that ate it up and thought to itself, “How was Rare able to squeeze so much of the arcade spirit into a relatively tiny 32 MEG SNES cartridge by comparison?!” But others say it didn’t come close to replicating its arcade original. Killer Instinct didn’t exactly garner the best of scores. EGM gave it ratings of 7.0, 7.5, 8.0 and 8.5. GameFan, in their typical hype-selling fashion, rewarded the game with scores of 90, 95 and 96%. Super Play praised it but didn’t quite give it their full endorsement. It earned a very solid yet somewhat unremarkable 85%. I’ll admit that time hasn’t been particularly kind to this game graphically, but it still holds up damn fine from a gameplay standpoint.

Mighty lofty praise from GameFan
Mighty lofty praise from GameFan
Super Play, on the other hand, was less enthused
Super Play, on the other hand, was less enthused

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Not arcade perfect but Rare did the best they could!
Not arcade perfect but Rare did the best they could!

I’ll always remember Killer Instinct as the “final video game of our childhood.” This game will always have a very special place in my gaming heart. All those sessions Nelson and I had leading up to the finale of that summer, the combos we cranked out, and the good times we shared is something that stays with you for the long haul. Junior high came and went as did the SNES, but the memories we carved are etched in our heart of hearts forever. While not arcade perfect, it was never going to be on the SNES. I admire Rare for getting as close as they even did. It is truly an impressive feat considering the hardware. It brought home a slice of the arcade and for its time, that’s all we could ask for.

Gazing deeply into my soul...
Gazing deeply into my soul…

I always saw Killer Instinct as a mix of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. That holds true to this day. The combos are fun to pull off, there are some really interesting fighters to pick from and you gotta love that crazy announcer with calls such as ULTRA! and C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!!! The visuals are a bit rough in places but they do an admirable job. The sound is hit and miss; some grunts are repeated often and can get annoying after a while. The music, however, is pretty damn good. It’s Rare, after all! The gameplay is what counts most though, and Killer Instinct still plays very well even to this day. The AI can be cheap at times but Rare did an awesome job translating such a big arcade game to such a tiny jet black SNES cartridge. I wouldn’t claim it’s the best fighting game on the system, but it’s definitely one of the better ones and a “must-have” if you own a Super Nintendo and fancy yourself as a fighting game aficionado. Killer Instinct on the Super Nintendo is a reminder of the good old days and a special time in my life when everything was rapidly changing for better and for worse. I still play it on occasion and it always takes me back to the last few days before Nelson and I entered the hallowed halls of junior high. Good (and awkward) times. Killer Instinct, I salute thee!

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8.5
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 9

Award4Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

 

The Day of Reckoning had at long last arrived
The Day of Reckoning had at long last arrived

Tuesday. September 5, 1995. The first morning of junior high. Nelson and I walked to school together the last four years. For the first time in our lives, we were gearing to board the junior high bus. Yes, the dreaded junior high bus. It was survival of the fittest. It was a crazy morning, full of butterflies and trying to look and act cooler than we actually were. You could feel the shift. Childhood was now in the rear view mirror and life would never be the same. Nelson and I waded through a sea of unfamiliar faces as we boarded the bus. At least I had a best friend to brave it with. Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise was the hit song at the time and I remember it blaring on the bus speaker as we rode from our familiar stomping grounds near that bus stop to the scary foreign world of junior high. As nervous as I was, still to this day, I recall rocking out to Gangsta’s Paradise. “TELL ME WHY ARE WE… SO BLIND TO SEE… THAT THE ONES WE HURT… ARE YOU AND ME. They been spending most their lives in a gangsta’s paradise.” That song haunts me still whenever I hear it. It brings me back to that precious time of my youth — the first day Nelson and I faced a brand new frontier.

We were heading into uncharted territory all right
We were heading into uncharted territory all right!

Brain Lord (SNES)

Pub: Enix | Dev: Produce | August 1994 | 12 MEGS
Pub: Enix | Dev: Produce | August 1994 | 12 MEGS

The SNES boasts an incredible library. There’s no denying that. Everyone knows about the classics, but there are tons of solid titles lurking below the surface. These games aren’t nearly as well known but you could easily waste a weekend or two playing. Brain Lord definitely qualifies as such an example. Released over 23 years ago, it largely flew under the radar as more popular games basked in the spotlight. It’s funny — as a kid I couldn’t care less for (action) RPGs but Brain Lord captivated my imagination when I saw it featured in EGM and GameFan. There was something about it that spoke to my soul. Sadly, like so many other SNES games, I was never able to play it until my SNES resurrection in 2006. Though not quite a hidden gem, Brain Lord is plenty solid and well worth checking out if the like the action RPG genre.

CAPTIVATED

I'll never forget the ad...
I’ll never forget the ad…

I remember seeing the ad in an EGM issue and being absolutely intrigued.

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I was fascinated by the screenshots — the captions really resonated with me.

STRATEGY GUIDE

This is the version I own
This is the version I own

The Brain Lord strategy guide, written by Tim Rooney, was released with two different covers. The one you see above is less common and reflects the Japanese Super Famicom box art. The second version, as seen below, mimics the less than stellar Americanized box art.

I'm glad I have the other version
I’m glad I have the other version ;)
Oh c'mon. I don't look THAT bad!
Oh c’mon. I don’t look THAT bad!

I bought the guide back in 2006 and it’s a neat companion piece to the game. Brain Lord has its share of puzzles but it’s a straight forward game. You won’t really need a guide to beat it, but it’s nice to have to look at or if you’re simply a completionist like I am. Plus it’s a really nice guide to boot, in spite of being in black and white. I really like the look and style of it. Here’s a small sample below.

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MEET THE CAST

This is Remeer... or "STEVE"
This is Remeer… or “STEVE”

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Rein
Give me a chance to answer!

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Damn right, Kashian
Damn right I am, Kashian

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This old geezer knows it all
This old geezer knows it all
She
A mysterious but valuable ally

THE STORY GOES…

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The plot had me right away.
I was sold.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

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Developed by the same folks that made The 7th Saga.

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Remeer, er, STEVE, finds himself reminiscing of days gone by. His mind takes him back 10 years to when his father was still alive…

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Steve is snapped back to reality by a stern bartender who can’t afford to let his business suffer on account of whimsical daydreamers. But Steve is far from that. He finds a job listing nearby and takes it on with gusto.

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Before heading out though, Steve takes time to stock up and visit with the locals. He’s a bit of a cheeky deviant, that Steve. Kashian finds that out right away…

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Fairies are your friends. They aid you in battle and even level up.

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Toronto, you say? So much for made up city names! I like how you can jump. Not too many Action RPGs allow you to jump. Clearing fences feels satisfying. Screw walking around!

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Doesn’t sound one bit ominous in the least…

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Dragons are a recurring theme throughout Brain Lord. But are they really extinct? Later on, you can help a lady clear out her mice-infested attic and earn a couple handy prizes.

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Playing Brain Lord is probably the closest you’ll get to experiencing a Super Rygar on your 16-bit SNES.

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Remember Rygar on the NES? I was always sad we never got a sequel on the Super Nintendo. Certain parts of Brain Lord remind me of Rygar, though.

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Nothing fancy here. It’s straight forward and fairly fun. Jump, solve puzzles and hack away at the monsters. It’s good enough to entertain you for a weekend or two.

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Fairies assist you in battle. You can even name them after your failed crushes over the years. I mean, doesn’t everyone do that in these type of games? Um, moving on, then…

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JENNIFER the Crimson Jade (and my personal childhood version of Winnie Cooper but that’s neither here nor there) launches a singular fireball at nearby enemies. Think of the Fairies as those “option helpers” in SHMUPS.

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Along the way you’ll even gain magic skills. The first being this simple magic shot. Simply hold the attack button until the bar can fill. Stronger magic attacks have a longer bar naturally. Once you acquire multiple magic spells, you can press L or R to toggle between them on the fly as opposed to selecting them through a menu. NICE!

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Puzzles abound, hence the title of the game “Brain Lord.” They usually involve pushing objects onto plates to activate locked doors. Puzzles start out simple but gradually get trickier and trickier.

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Blasting the monsters from a safe distance feels so damn sweet. Plaques give you tips and clues to heed.

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Watch out for deadly traps like sensor spikes! And since you can jump, there are some sections where you’ll need to jump from platform to platform. It definitely adds some variety and increases your evasive and strategic choices.

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Misjudge a leap though and it’s back to the beginning you go. Thankfully, the game only deducts one health bar whenever you fall.

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Puzzles start getting tougher and require some thinking. If you mess up, simply leave the room for a reset. Brain Lord works the, er, brain a bit.

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Disappearing floors all part of the menu.

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Puzzles never get too hard to solve, but some will take some time to suss out. Be on the lookout for those Springs of Life. They rejuvenate weary warriors.

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Access new weapons and spells as you progress. The Bow is good for long distance attacks while the second magic skill you gain launches a triple shot.

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Instead of finding a dragon at the top of the Light Tower, you find a terrible mutant cockroach! It sends its little babies scurrying after you as the creature scampers about the top Tower floor. It changes to a red shade as you weaken this abomination. And you thought your college dormitory was bad!

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Upgrade to the Ax after heading back into town. I love how you can chop up just about anything with the Ax! Counter tops, boxes, jars and so forth! One NPC even asks you to please not break his jars. Which, of course, only makes me want to break them even more. I love it when games allow you to do these silly little things. There’s just something really satisfying about it.

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Graphics are a bit subpar overall, but I really like the visuals here. Only the Ax can break those rocks, which opens up the next area.

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Boomerang spins around and attacks much faster than the Bow. Finding a treasure chest is always a blessing.

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Scorpions lurk everywhere in this dank cave.

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Maybe it’s just me but the conveyor belts remind me of Super Bomberman and those towering blue demons remind me of the Barons of Hell from Doom.

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Virtual Boy on my SNES?! Find the light switch and beware the voltage spots.

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Uhhhh, OK then… *slowly backs away*

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These robotic Cyclops are a tough out.

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You’ll be wise to find the second Fairy, a Light Jewel, that helps light your path. By the way, Brain Lord has more keys than the Bellagio in Vegas.

See?
See?
Oh, you thought that was it? Nope
Oh, you thought that was it? Nope

This handy pack-in sheet came with the strategy guide. Nice of Tim Rooney.

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Remeer’s best weapon is the Morning Star. It’s a spiked yoyo that packs a mighty punch.

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Morning Star makes Brain Lord feel even more like a Super Rygar.

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Disappointed still after all these years we never got a Rygar sequel on the SNES.

There are no more SNES Classic Editions anywhere!
There are no more SNES Classic Editions anywhere!
And you surprise me with your poor spelling, Kashian
And you surprise me with your poor spelling, Kashian
Malpractice abounds!
Malpractice abounds!
Here one second...
Here one second…
... gone the next!
… gone the next!
[Are we talking about the same STEVE here? -Ed.]
[Are we talking about the same STEVE here? -Ed.]
Jackpot!
Jackpot!
You and me both...
You and me both… does it come with a Monkey Paw?
You're not as wise as you say, are you?
You’re not as wise as you say, are you?
Try saying that fast five times
Try saying that fast five times
Why, what are you planning... OHHHH...
Why, what are you planning… OHHHH
Funny. I find it oddly soothing, myself
Funny. Myself, I find it oddly soothing
Let us listen to them together
Let us listen together
Very funny...
Very funny…
I think he might be having a stroke
I think he might be having a stroke
I'm surrounded by big balls in the dark. This is not good
I’m surrounded by big balls in the dark. This is not good
That's not creepy in the least
That’s not creepy in the least
It's the infamous Dragon!
It’s the infamous Dragon!
Where's the Orkin Man when ya need him?!
Where’s the Orkin Man when ya need him?!
I wonder if those statues will come to life...
I wonder if those statues will come to life…
Caught between two worlds, what's a guy to do?
Caught between two worlds, what’s a guy to do?
His smoke and mirrors don't scare me!
His smoke and mirrors don’t scare me!
Bring it, Finn Bálor!
Bring it, Finn Bálor!
Hey, this final boss looks mighty familiar...
Hey, this final boss looks mighty familiar…
Brandish!
Brandish! Brain Lord came first

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Nice one, Super Play
Nice one, Super Play

Though Brain Lord didn’t arrive with a great deal of fanfare, it received its fair share of previews and positive reviews. EGM gave it scores of 7, 7, 8 and 8. GameFan scored it 80, 80 and 82%. Super Play rated it 81%. It was viewed as a very competent Zelda clone.

A very respectable score from those hard graders
A very respectable score from those hard graders
Still my favorite joke from Super Play lore!
Still my favorite joke from Super Play lore!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Perfect to play in the fall!
Perfect to play in the fall

Brain Lord is a competent and solid action adventure worth playing through at least once. It doesn’t do any one thing in particular extremely well, but it does most everything adequately enough to entertain you for a weekend or two. I wouldn’t quite classify it as a bonafide hidden gem, but I definitely recommend it as a lesser known SNES game that you might have overlooked. The different weapons and magic spells are fun to implement and the puzzles help differentiate it somewhat from your typical Zelda clone. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll be doing plenty of hacking and slashing, but be ready to exercise your brain a bit as well. There is some slowdown here and there when the screen gets a bit hectic but overall, the game plays fine and should run you between 12-18 hours.

I couldnt have said it better
I couldn’t have said it better

Graphically, Brain Lord is a bit lacking. A lot of the colors seem a bit drab but there are some nice looking areas mixed in. It does have that 7th Saga look to it, but that’s not surprising considering how it was made by the same developer. Regardless, you expect a bit more from a Super Nintendo game released in mid-late 1994. The sound is a mixed bag as well. Some of the music sounds great but other tracks are forgettable. The sound effects are downright comical. They either don’t match the enemy or one breed in particular seems to say “F*CK!” whenever hit. I guess it’s good for a laugh, though. On the bright side, Brain Lord is pretty tough and not a complete cake walk. I like the variety of weapons and I love how you can switch spells on the fly by using the shoulder buttons rather than accessing them through a cumbersome menu (although you can do that too if it tickles your fancy). Some of the puzzles are really fun to solve and I like the ability to jump. I wish there were more enemy types but at least the enemy AI is pretty legit — they’ll even chase you! Brain Lord isn’t the kind of game you need to rush out and play, but chances are, you probably won’t regret it if you gave it the time of day.

Graphics: 6.5
Sound: 7
Gameplay: 7.5
Longevity: 7

AwardOverall: 7.5
Bronze Award

 

Good times
An underrated ad for an underrated game!