Today is Friday the 13th. This is considered an infamous day that may bring bad luck and misfortunes more than your average day. This next game could not be reviewed on a better day. Ghoul Patrol is the unnamed “sequel” to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, one of my favorite two player SNES games back in the day. Growing up, Ghoul Patrol was one of those games I always wanted to play but never did. I finally quelled that curiosity seven years ago (October 2010). I wish I could say it was a worthy follow-up but sadly, it falls a bit short of that. It’s not terrible or even bad by any means, but it’s a rather forgettable effort that should have been so much more.
ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS
“Oh Susie — we’re JUST DYING to meet you!”
In the fall of 1993, Zombies Ate My Neighbors thrilled 16-bit gamers and proved that there are few things more satisfying than killing zombies and mummies alongside your best friend. ZAMN graced the covers of gaming magazines, earned high scores and accolades, and there was no end in sight to its popularity. It became something of a cult classic. A two player zombie romp, players were madly thrust into numerous B-movie inspired levels battling mutant spiders, werewolves, evil dolls, martians, chainsaw wielding masked maniacs and even a towering titanic toddler. It was a brilliant pastiche of various gaming genres; hell, you could even say survival horror. Along the way there’s plenty of camp, gags and dark humor that endeared itself to gamers all around the world. Not only was it one of the best SNES games released in 1993, some say it’s one of the best (two player) SNES games ever made.
Containing over 50 levels of sheer mayhem, I love how each level has a clever name of sorts. This one, I Was A Chainsaw Maniac, is my favorite one. Set in a giant crate factory, you must locate several keys in order to rescue cheerleaders and drooling babies. It sounds easy until you factor in all the unrelenting masked maniacs out to get them (and you)! Nothing gets the pulse beating quite like hearing the revving of chainsaws in the air and seeing two burly mad men give chase as you zip, bob, dodge and weave through the hellish factory! Good times.
Back in the day, my best friend Nelson and I played the crap out of this game. We would huddle around my 27 inch Sony TV, shouting and laughing. Such was the diverse range of emotions ZAMN delivered. One second you could be bowling over in laughter at the slightly perverse humor, and the very next second screaming in pure anguish as innocent lives perish at the hands of the various monsters. I can’t think of too many games that takes you on such a wild roller coaster ride as this one does. It’s still good as a one player game but the real magic happens with two. Even to this day, it’s one of the most beloved games on the SNES. Like the many horror movies it freely borrows from, Zombies Ate My Neighbors has developed quite the cult following over the past quarter century. I can’t help but smile whenever this game happens to cross my mind. It just reminds me of a simpler time. A time where you and your best pal spent the weekends gaming and didn’t have to worry about bills or work. Needless to say, a sequel sure would have a LOT to live up to.
GHOUL PATROL
Somewhere, Chris Tucker is smiling
A “spiritual sequel” of sorts to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Ghoul Patrol features Zeke and Julie in a brand new adventure. I was so curious about Ghoul Patrol back in 1994 but I never got to play it. One vivid memory of Ghoul Patrol that stands out to me to this day came some time in 1995. I was at Software Etc. when I spotted this game marked at the low price of $19.99 — all the other SNES games were $50+. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I even flagged down an employee to confirm. “Is Ghoul Patrol really selling for just twenty bucks?” The clerk nodded. At a time when SNES games were going for $49.99 up to $79.99, $19.99 just seemed crazy! Unfortunately, I didn’t capitalize on the deal but I remember going home that day with the game on my mind. I mean, being the “sequel” to Zombies Ate My Neighbors, it was already on my mind. But on top of that, $20?! My young mind rationalized that maybe the game had only like three levels… I don’t know… like a “shareware” version or something. Or worse — what if the game totally blows? I remember thinking immediately, “No way. That’s just crazy talk!” Fast forward some 15 years to October 2010. I finally played Ghoul Patrol. While it doesn’t totally blow, a big part of me is glad I never got to play it back in the day. I’m not sure 11 year old me would have been able to handle the disappointment…
THE STORY GOES…
THE GHOUL PATROL
Zeke and Julie from Zombies Ate My NeighborsDoesn’t quite have the charm of the original, eh?
WEAPONS
The first game had a ton of weapons and they were all rather silly which added to the zany campy fun. Chucking silverware and tomatoes aren’t exactly serious weapons. In Ghoul Patrol though, you only have five weapons and there’s no humor behind any of them. But due to having only five weapons, you thankfully don’t have to scroll through 87 weapons. Another good thing: the crossbow has unlimited arrows. Ammo in Zombies Ate My Neighbors was always an issue of concern but never here in Ghoul Patrol.
WORLD ONE: THE METROPOLIS
Still gotta collect keys. Chicken refills your health
Although the victims aren’t as charming as the neighbors in the first game, this unlucky old bloke is quite a hoot. Some folks just have all the (bad) luck, eh?
Someone was a fan of Ghoul Patrol…You’re tempted to leave him but don’t, obviouslyLove the improved look to the exit doors, thoughGone mostly is the campy fun of the monsters“How about you borrow some Old Spice first?”“Uhhh, where’s that bus? I’ve been waiting so long…”Like one of them giant robot toys I had in the ’80s
Each world contains three or four stages followed by a gigantic boss. This is another big difference from the first game. Ghoul Patrol is much more straight forward while Zombies Ate My Neighbors had all sorts of secrets. The somewhat stiff control makes a clean boss fight sadly suicidal. Thus, boss battles are of the gimpy “consume invincible potion and hack away” sort. The first boss is a towering robotic warhead. Use your items to defeat him.
Oh yeah. Brings back memories…
WORLD TWO: ANCIENT CHINA
Here’s a good time to bust out the new slideSAFE!Well, not for long. Run along, Zeke boy!Ahhh… this brings back memories
And neither is this!Ah, saved by the stones. NiceYes, homeboy is chowing down a bowl of rice
Each time period has its own unique victims. As stated earlier, they’re just not as charming as they were in the first game. They’re just… kinda there. Sure it’s a small thing but it all adds up in the end.
Observe… the worst feeling in this gameGrab one quick before that victim bites the dustCrap
When keys run low, the time taken to secure the next one can make all the difference between life and death. Although you should be fine on keys if you’re playing from level one. If you’re continuing off a password however, then all bets are off. The enemy AI here isn’t as relentless as it was in the first game. Those samurai skeletons are pretty savvy but most other enemies kind of just meander around, even with victims in the vicinity. A bit odd but it benefits the player for sure.
Mighty big sword. Compensating for something, sir?
The second boss is the Demon Warlock. The bosses definitely look nasty but they’re all essentially the same. Time to power up!
WORLD THREE: CRAZY CARIBBEAN
Thanks, GamePro. But seriously, don’tRolling barrels will smash into walls, or worse, youPoor Julie. Caught in the jaws of life [You’re fired -Ed.]If you have the red potion then you can…I miss the beast from the first one but this is cool too
I think Death skipped Kindergarten… He’s great at busting walls, though!Use the blue potion to be invincible. Shoot. Repeat
WORLD FOUR: MEDIEVAL MADNESS
Show off your new found jumping skills
The Castle World cranks up the difficulty quite a bitQuite possibly the prison from hell
A friend can join the fray. As a one player game, I find Ghoul Patrol more manageable than Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Not saying I like the “sequel” better but the enemies aren’t as ruthless at killing victims, so I actually get more game time out of the one player mode in Ghoul Patrol than I do in ZAMN. Two player mode is fun but it doesn’t hold a candle to two player ZAMN. And as you can see here, the later jumps in Ghoul Patrol get a bit ridiculous! It certainly put a damper on things as the jumps bring back haunting flashbacks of NES Double Dragon…
OK maybe not as bad but still…
After defeating Sir Raleigh MacSpirit, you’re off to the final world: Ghosts and Demons Land! It’s a world flowing with lava, Grim Reapers and that “funky Demon dude” that you’ve unleashed from an eternal slumber.
GAME OVER, MAN!
Zombies Ate My Neighbors featured a purple slime sliding down the screen whenever you Game Over. It was supposed to be red for blood but Nintendo nixed that. Ghoul Patrol has a black slime rolling down. Hey, at least it kept to tradition somewhat.
Not often that you get more than three characters!Passwords are thankfully only four characters long
ZEKE’S BIG ADVENTURE
One of my favorite films from the ’80s
I instantly fell in love with Pee Wee’s Big Adventure when I first saw it back in the late ’80s. It’s a bit kooky to say the least — it’s got chills, thrills and plenty of cheap frills. In that way, it has a bit in common with Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Both have a good amount of charm and both are cult favorites. So why am I bringing up this old Tim Burton film, aside from my own sick perverse pleasures? Ghoul Patrol pays homage to the epic Pee-Wee movie! What, you don’t believe me? You say there was absolutely NOTHING from the game that in any way, shape or form gave a nod to the 1985 cult classic? LOOK AGAIN!
One of my favorite scenes from the film. Classic!So ridiculous that it’s awesome
Zeke: “Please don’t kill me — WAIT! Don’t I get a last request?” *activates the jukebox*
Hmmm…Roaring laughter, hi-fives and FaceBook adds ensueThis spooked me out so bad when I was five…
Of course, the best scene hands down is the infamous Large Marge highway truck scene. It gave me the heebie-jeebies as a kid. I love Pee Wee’s comment “Some night huh?” as he boards the terror truck. The payoff came with this creepy shot. The proceeding diner scene sealed it as one for the ages. The whole “HER GHOSSST” line did me in. And the way the one guy said, “It was 10 years ago… ON A NIGHT JUST LIKE TONIGHT…”
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
Not the scream Zombies Ate My Neighbors was
Ghoul Patrol, unlike Zombies Ate My Neighbors, didn’t grace any gaming magazine covers. Nor did it earn any “Game of the Month” honors. People weren’t singing its praises from the rooftops. Nevertheless, it didn’t do too badly in the presses. EGM gave it ratings of 7, 8, 8, 8and 8. GameFan scored it 70, 78 and 79%. Super Play rated it 82%. I have yet to meet one person who prefers this game to its predecessor. It is objectively nowhere near as good or memorable.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
ZAMN fans deserved so much more
Some may say it’s a bit unfair to compare Ghoul Patrol to Zombies Ate My Neighbors but it goes with the territory. And as such, Ghoul Patrol falls short. It’s missing the camp, charm, frenetic sense of urgency, secrets and that inexplicable “Ooh, I can’t wait to see what’s next!” factor. Ghoul Patrol is instead played straight forward and seriously which just doesn’t work for me personally. That’s not to say it isn’t a decent game. I believe that it is. Viewed entirely on its own, it’s decent enough to provide a solid weekend or two of ghoul-blasting mayhem. Graphically, it fares better than Zombies Ate My Neighbors. The huge bosses are a sight for sore eyes and their level of detail go beyond anything you saw in the first game. Zombies Ate My Neighbors smokes Ghoul Patrol in every other area. But that’s not to say I didn’t have fun with Ghoul Patrol. I like the ability to run, jump and slide. Still a shame though that LucasArts didn’t implement a much needed lock or strafe feature, which the original game could have benefited greatly from having as well.
Ghoul Patrol jumped the shark [HAR HAR -Ed.]Speaking of missed opportunities, Zeke and Julie still don’t play any differently. To make matters even worse, control is less responsive than the first game. It almost feels like you’re caught in mud a bit. This causes some frustration as you’ll eat unnecessary damage from the quick ghouls and whatnot. Also, it was a poor design choice to make the run button the same as the shoot button. Yikes. Who thought that was a good idea? But hey, taken for what it is, Ghoul Patrol provides a decent two player zombie romp. It’s a bit more forgiving than the original, which was balls tough. The enemies here (for the most part) don’t chase down the victims you need to save and the victim count doesn’t drop for the next level. In other words, the game does not penalize you for lost victims. Trust me, I’m not complaining about that! It’s really not a bad game at all. Just don’t expect the camp, charm or playability of Zombies Ate My Neighbors and you’ll be fine. Like any decent movie or game sequel, Ghoul Patrol won’t win any awards but fans won’t exactly curse its existence as much as they will express a certain level of overall disappointment. But that doesn’t mean they still can’t enjoy it to some degree. And being that it’s Halloween season, Ghoul Patrol is a welcomed two player foray into the macabre. Sure you could just play ZAMN instead but variety is the spice of life, is it not?
Graphics: 8 Sound: 8 Gameplay: 6.5 Longevity: 6.5
Overall: 6.5
Missing from Ghoul Patrol but we’ll always have this!
Remember all those great late night horror movies? And how you stayed up to watch them even when your parents told you not to? Remember how you told yourself you wouldn’t look away? And how, when the scary music hit, inevitably you found yourself always cowering behind the family sofa? If you do, then this is the game for you! Relive all your favorite horror B-movies in Zombies Ate My Neighbors! Being that it’s October and Halloween season, I can’t think of many other SNES games I would rather reminisce about right now than this one. But has it stood the test of time nearly 25 years later? Let’s take a closer look…
A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
Before it became ZAMN, it was MONSTERS
Originally titled MONSTERS, LucasArts flaunted its eclectic game at the Winter CES in January 1993. Incorporating elements from various gaming genres; run ‘n gun, action, adventure and puzzle to be specific, MONSTERS is a clever pastiche of all the horror movies you’ve ever seen, from the supernatural Hammer Film efforts to the timeless rubber-suited alien invasion shockers of the McCarthy-ite era. It borrows freely from such directors as George Romero, John Carpenter, Roger Corman and a host of others. Everything from the 1950s to the early 1990s…
Now throw all of that into a two player game with a quiet American suburb as its backdrop and some kickass tunes. It was clear that LucasArts had one of the most memorable SNES efforts of 1993.
LucasArts needed a publisher and a title change…
All they needed was a publisher. Konami was the winner when the dust settled, having acquired the rights to MONSTERS. Only now it was no longer to be known as such… thankfully it was rebranded as Zombies Ate My Neighbors. And the rest is history.
DO THE MONSTER MASH
The monster BIBLE of our childhood
Growing up, my best friend Nelson and I loved (and I mean LOVED) monsters. In the early 1990s my dad bought this monster book for me at Suncoast of all places. I fondly remember spending that entire evening flipping through the book with my best pal, Nelson. We loved those campy old Godzilla flicks, we loved horror movies (the Halloween series in particular) and we drove people nuts with our constant monster chatter. We believed in ghosts, aliens, Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. Hell, we even did Bloody Mary one time. So when we saw magazines such as EGM and GameFan previewing Zombies Ate My Neighbors in the late summer of 1993, it was as if the game was made specifically for Nelson and me. It was on an idyllic Saturday in September of ’93 that I rented and brought home Zombies Ate My Neighbors. I immediately called Nelson and before I could even hang up the big guy had rode his bike over. This was big time. This was serious business. This was indeed a happening.
Nearly 25 years later, I still remember the swirling title screen as if it happened only yesterday. It was cheesy, sure, but right away the game set the mood proper.
I was always Zeke. Sorry Nelly. My house, my rules!
Zeke and Julie play exactly the same, which is a bit of a shame when you think about it. For example, Zeke could have been stronger (two extra energy bars) while Julie could have been slightly faster. Nonetheless, it’s a riot with two players and the game almost has to be experienced in this way.
A LOOK AT SOME OF THE 55 LEVELS
The game opens with 10 neighbors to rescueBoy, if I could just take this fork and… [Zeke! -Ed.]Toggle the map on / off with the shoulder buttonsContinue exploring or head for the exitStarts out easy… gets absolutely brutal later on
“C’mon man! How intriguing could zombie shit be?”What goes up…… must be savedMissed opportunity at black cats jumping out!Keys, hostages, perhaps your local strip bar…
[Did Michael Myers show up here or what? -Ed.][Clever AMHAIN bit. OK, you’re re-hired -Ed.]
D’oh! Hate when that shit happens
[What’s my mother-in-law doing here?!?! -Ed.][Oh whew, it’s just a zombie. THANK GOD -Ed.]
Thriller… one of the true classics from the ’80sHey, when you gotta go, you gotta go
This remind you of anything? It should…Well, if you were a child of the ’80s, anyway
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is filled with nods to classic horror movie icons, such as Chucky from Child’s Play. A supernatural horror movie, Child’s Play follows the exploits of the “Lakeshore Strangler,” Charles Lee Ray. Moments before croaking in a toy store, Charles Lee Ray does a demonic ritual to transfer his soul into one of the “Good Guys” dolls.
ADE DUE DAMBALLA…
It was good campy fun that frightened the shit out of the five year old me back in 1988! Coming up on 30 years? GAWD DAMN!
Happy almost 30th, Chucky!
On a side note, the Child’s Play franchise continues to this very day. The latest entry in the series, Cult of Chucky, is released officially on October 20, 2017. I’ve seen it and found it to be only OK, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless to see the old Chuckster still kicking and screaming nearly 30 years after his initial appearance.
This shit creeped me out as a kid!
The Zuni Warrior doll first appeared in Trilogy of Terror, which aired on ABC in 1975. A sequel was made nearly 20 years later. Trilogy of Terror II aired on October 30, 1996. I remember staying up to watch it. The little guy even graced the cover of TV Guide that week. Possessing the spirit of a Zuni Warrior, he springs to life to kill if the gold chain adorning his neck ever comes off. Lots of camp value and a true guilty pleasure on a stormy night!
He deserves a comeback!Chucky would be proud
Tommy the Evil Doll, in another nod to Chucky, may give chase even after death! Remember the apartment finale from the first film? Or the factory finale in the sequel? Cinematic masterpieces! Er, maybe not, but you really oughta watch them if you haven’t already, if nothing else but to appreciate ZAMN even that much more.
They don’t make ‘em like they used to
[No sir, they don’t -Ed.]
Loads of campy fun
This stage legitimately spooked me as a kidNelson’s MASKED MANIAC come to life!
Back in the early ’90s, Nelson told me a story that resonated with me so deeply I’m crazy enough to retell it on a Super Nintendo gaming blog a quarter of a century later. In our old hometown, according to Nelson you see, there was a maniac on the loose. On the prowl. Believed to be… at large. Again, according to Nelson, mind you. This maniac wore a white hockey mask and wielded a deadly chainsaw. He was… THE MASKED MANIAC. Of course, I knew Nelson was just bullshitting, but there was a small part of my nine year old being that latched on to the story. The Masked Maniac became our little inside joke over the years, and these days whenever it gets brought up, we still laugh about those good old days… to be young again, eh? Anyway, so imagine our shock (and delight) when we first came face to face with Stanley Decker. HOLY CRAP!
But of course it was a combo of Jason Voorhees…… and Leatherface. Same thing Nelson did!
THE MASKED MANIAC, ER, I MEAN, STANLEY DECKER!
Chainsaw Hedgemaze Mayhem legitimately spooked me as a 10 year old kid playing this back in late 1993. Wherever you go, Decker pursues you relentlessly. And not just one but several. The first time I saw one cutting through the hedgemaze I nearly crapped my pants. Very few levels have ever made me feel as tense as this one did, especially back in those olden days.
Who will get to the baby first? I can’t watch…
Thank God you can’t hit each other in co-op mode
Stalked wherever you go. The AI was absolutely relentless, like ants on sugar.
Killer man-eating plants and debris nearby? Call upon the ever handy weed whacker. Just a shame it uses up “ammo” so fast. Rescue the cheerleader down there before they can get to her.
Pyramid scheme? More like pyramid scare! Am I right? Sorry, I’ll see myself out.
Check behindTa-da!
I always got a kick out of seeing what lies behind those clumps of dirt. Sometimes you get something good, other times not so much. This is also the first level that takes you outside your suburb. It’s good to see the variety. Expect to see a lot more.
Shout out if you remember this too
That Zeke boy, I tells ya, such a photogenic lad
Many terrors await. You’ll hafta find out for yourself
[Something tells me we would get along, Dr. Tongue -Ed.]
Redefines the saying big crybaby eh?
One of the most memorable villains in 16-bit history, this baby is nothing but bad news. He’s double tough, fast and annoying as hell. Forget about using your water gun here. Even the almighty Bazooka doesn’t work well — it’s just too damn slow. No, the best way to handle this gigantic goober is by…
… turning into a monster yourself!
Denied! Sorry pal, you need to find the Skull Key first
Somehow, Zeke manages to rip off one last shot from his bazooka cannon in this life or death tussle.
Whoa baby! No pun intended…Sure, “easy stuff” alright
Watch out for them jelly blobs, Julie
Relax, Snoop. Your stash is safe. Fo shizzle. [Don’t EVER say that again -Ed.]
The ’80s produced some of the craziest shit, eh?
Do you remember watching this film in the mid-late ’80s? I do. The plant gave me the creeps. The shit the ’80s got away with!
The stuff nightmares are made ofSpeaking of NIGHTMARES…
Doctor Tongue, you’ve got it all wrong. Pimpin’ ain’t easy.
More madness from the ’80s!
Interesting flick, this one. I remember watching it on TV in the late ’80s. They were hyping the national broadcast debut of the film on the TGIF lineup during the commercials. Years later, around 1997 to be precise, I was introduced to the wonders of the internet. There I poked around for the title of this film as it had slipped my consciousness over the years. All I remembered was there being red, yellow and blue alien-like monkey creatures and some pool scene. Bless the internet — 23 minutes later my memory was validated. I knew I hadn’t gone bonkers (yet), and I dropped by the local rental store to relive a blast from the past. Er, let me just say some things are better left in the past!
Shit was bizarre even for the ’80s, and creepy
Nothing like exiting just in the nick of time
Terrifying to the bone? I don’t know, Doc, have you ever seen teenage girls at the mall before? It’s more like their play pen…
The ’80s strike yet againSHOP TIL YA DROP…
What’s worse than facing Tommy or Decker? Facing them both at the SAME time. It makes for some tense moments and as a kid it was the closest thing to a dream (nightmare?) Child’s Play-Friday the 13th crossover as you were gonna get!
I need a change of underpants…
They been dateless for 500 years. Can ya blame ‘em?
Disappointed I didn’t see any of these guys!Spoiler: probably not
[Sounds like an exciting Saturday night -Ed.]
So creepy…Run, bitch!Where’s a giant magnifying glass when ya need oneOf course, a bazooka will do, too
Must be one of them “9 to eternity” jobs
I reckon notI reckon so
Another classic from the ’80s
Too bad we don’t get a Freddy Krueger-inspired monster, though.
But hey, we got this. So yay?
Good shit came out in the ’90s as well!
TREMORS was a fun little horror comedy monster film that ushered in 1990 with a bang. The movie centered around a small Nevada town being hunted by a group of large burrowing man-eating monsters dubbed “Graboids.”
[Looks like my mother-in-law in the morning -Ed.]Tremors developed quite a cult following for its simple, easy-to-get-into premise and memorable characters. It spawned several sequels, but the original will always be #1 and fondly remembered by B-Movie fans everywhere. For what it’s worth, Tremors currently has a very respectable 7.1 rating on IMDB. Besides, it’s got Kevin Bacon. And if there’s one thing everyone can agree on: you can never go wrong with a little bacon.
Here’s a Snakeoid in action. No relation, obviously*GULP*You know where it is…
Gawd damn, where’s Godzilla when ya need him?!It’s up to Zeke now
Zombies Ate My Neighbors was almost meta at times and it was one of the earliest games that I can remember feeling like it broke the 4th wall…
It that you, Dr. Tongue? *transmission cuts out*
GAME OVER, MAN!
One of the best game over screens around
I loved (and hated) the way the purple ooze would slowly drip down your TV screen each time you bit the dust. Of course it couldn’t be red…
PAYING MORE HOMAGE
It was all part of the fun
It was clever, it was neat, and at the time it was a breath of fresh air. It never took itself too seriously and it was fun with a capital F. Just making it to the next level just to read the next zany title was all part of the game’s charm. And seeing with your friends who got the various references and who didn’t. The ones who didn’t were unmercifully mocked, naturally. Good times.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE LEVEL
With over 50 levels, you have no shortage in choice. I absolutely adore this stage. Nothing beats the rush of dodging, weaving and outwitting Stanley Decker and friends, all set in a giant crate factory warehouse. This level feels like the grand finale of a horror film — except this time you get to decide how it all plays out!
Looking sharp there, ZekeA key AND Skull Key? Something must be up…“OUTTA MY WAY, BITCHES!”Deploy Pennywise the decoy when in a pinchJeez, not even walls are safe!If this isn’t survival horror, I don’t know what isI call this simply, “Deer In A Headlight”Credit Pennywise for the assist. Now grab that key!The tension, THE DRAMA…Um, I hope you didn’t bet on ZekeWhoa…
Upon further review it’s clear why Decker is so effective. Is it his raw, brute strength? No. Is it his sharp, loud chainsaw? No. Is it his deadly ass crack? Most definitely. It’ll get ya every single damn time.
TIPS
This is not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, due to a high potential shortage of weapons and neighbors to rescue, the later levels can be downright BRUTAL. So then, some tips for ya…
Keep an eye out for suspicious looking shrubbery. If you spot a hedge facing out of the screen, try firing your Bazooka. Chances are you’ll find a handy item for your troubles. Likewise, the grilled windows in the malls can be blasted to bits. You can see whether there’s anything of worth behind windows. Be thankful for small favors!
If enemies get to the neighbors before you can — sometimes you’ll just hear a nearby scream indicating a neighbor’s demise off screen — then you need to try a different route. Perhaps one that may even take you through walls and over rooftops… hint hint.
Speaking of the neighbors, the more points you earn the more bonus neighbors you’ll rack up. If you already have 10 neighbors, you’ll get an extra life instead!
It doesn’t take much to kill the Martians but they are agile bastards. They also shoot fast and if nailed, you (or the neighbors) will be imprisoned in a bubble. Plus, Martians tend to hang out in packs which makes them 10 times as worse. Keep your guard up and keep moving!
One tip that really helps with Martians is shooting them at an angle. This eliminates the chance of their bubble gun damaging you (their shot only goes straight). Keep in mind though, you have to be running about in order to shoot from an angle. This game really could have used a strafe and lock button.
The same strategy applies for zombies. You’ll find them clawing their way up from the ground beneath your feet if you remain idle for even just a few seconds.
Check under giant plants for any additional items (usually keys). It’s very easy to miss them. To check, of course, means to kill these plants.
Some weapons, like fizzy cans and tomatoes, can be thrown over walls and other obstacles. Over the counter, through windows, over desktops, etc. This lets you eliminate foes from a position of relative safety before dashing in, or in some cases dashing out.
These tiny spiders are easy to kill but sometimes hard to spot. The surroundings may obscure their position so tread carefully. And always keep in mind that every second wasted could mean the life of one of your bratty neighbors!
Thanks to their agility, spiders are a major pain in the butt when you’re busy battling the bigger baddies! Be weary of spiders swooping in like vultures to sap your precious health.
Don’t waste your time looking for weapons until you’ve saved all the neighbors. Try using a pair of Speed Sneakers at the start of a new level to bomb around the stage and rescue the victims before the monsters can get to them.
Credit to Thanwe from spriters-resource.com
Use the landscape to outrun pursuers. Being chased and have to cycle through your inventory to find the right weapon? You’ll need all the time you can buy. So duck into houses, nip through gaps and generally weave about to make life tougher for the incoming undead.
As long as you have one neighbor to save, the game goes on. However, for each neighbor lost, the neighbor count on the next level goes down a notch. Having only one to rescue becomes impossible in the later stages.
The inflatable clown decoys come in very handy but only work on some of the dumber monsters.
“ZAMN” right they are [D’oh. Really?? -Ed.]
A slime blob attached to your head eats up three health points. Be sure to use the medi-kit (if you have one) when you get down to your last three energy bars in any area that has been compromised by slime blobs.
There are bonus levels galore! Can you find them all? Day of the Tentacle, f’rinstance? Can you reach MARS NEEDS CHEERLEADERS with the full complement of 10 neighbors? Also, look for bonus ?-boxes throughout the game. Can you find the son of Dr. Tongue?
Save your monster potions for bosses or really hairy situations.
Extra challenges for the weekend warrior
GAME GENIE CHEATS
While the game provides you with a password every fourth level, it’s still a damn tough cookie. These cheats may come in handy if you just want to mess around:
Ancient Artifact
—
This talisman produces a fire that encircles and protects you, destroying the monsters it touches. Hold down for sustained use. Great on werewolves and everyone, really, but it eats up ammo fast.
Weed-eater
—
Mows down deadly ground debris as well as the monsters. Particularly effective against plants, werewolves and spiders
Fire Extinguisher
—
Freezes baddies temporarily. But can kill Jelly Blobs.
Martian Bubble Gun
—
Captures enemy in a bubble. Try it on ants…
ALTERNATIVE TITLES
Monsters!
Grave Consequences
Zombie Invade Suburbia
Zombies Need BBQ Sauce
Suburban Zombie Bake-Off
Don’t Build That Mall Here!
Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun
Please Don’t Feed the Zombies!
My Zombie, Make BIG Mistake
The Zombies Wrong Turn At Alpha 6
Michael Barone and the Zombie Hunters
Return of the Teenage Son of the Bride of a Zombie, Part 2
ALTERNATIVE BOX ART
I much prefer this to the one we got. Needs some Julie, though.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
High praise indeed
Zombies Ate My Neighbors turned out to be one of the most notable 16-bit games released in 1993. The critics ate it up. For its time especially, it was considered a work of art. Brilliant, ingenious and a tribute to all B-Movie horror fans everywhere. After all, when Anita Placetohide endorses your game, it simply doesn’t get any better than that.
I still vividly remember the GameFan issue with the Zombies Ate My Neighbors cover. Zombies, killer dolls, chainsaw wielding masked maniacs and titanic toddlers — what’s not to love? LucasArts had a mega hit on their hands. EGM rewarded it with “Game of the Month” honors, doling out scores of 9, 9, 9 and 9. GameFan scored it 88, 89, 90and 93%. Super Play rated it 89%. Konami was wise to slap their name to this product. Even to this day, some people still confuse Konami as the developers to ZAMN. Hell, look at the GameFan cover above. But I see you, LucasArts. I see you…
CLOSING THOUGHTS
“But Susie, we’re JUST DYING to meet you!”
I have to admit, Zombies Ate My Neighbors strikes an incredibly nostalgic chord with me. I remember spending countless evenings playing it with my best friend, Nelson, all throughout the fall of 1993. If you were a fly on the wall back then you would hear our hooting, hollering and cries of joy and agony as the game punished us as much as it rewarded us for our perseverance. ZAMN is a veritable melting pot of all those great (and not-so-great) B-Movies, low budget affairs and rubber-suited cheesy flicks we grew up on as kids. I think back to that fall of ’93 very fondly. Nelson and I were huddled around my 27 inch Sony TV monitor blasting Martians, mummies and mushroom men back to the stone age. All those sinister bedraggled figures shambling towards us through the half-lit haze… there’s something beautiful about it. Intensely atmospheric, ZAMN does a great job of sucking you in and may well provide for some sleepless nights…
The sheer joy of popping a zombie’s melon with a salad fork, or saving the teacher right before ole Tommy boy can chop her to pieces, is a great feeling. On the other hand, the pain of Frankenstein’s electric personality, or thinking you’re in the clear to rescue that cheerleader right as Decker comes out of NOWHERE, is absolutely crushing. There are so many mood swings one will encounter while playing through any given level in this game, and that is something that cannot be said for many games to the degree in which ZAMN pulls it off. You’ll go through the ups and downs, the peaks and valleys. You almost feel like you’re Zeke yourself, right down to the geeky 3D shades and Punisher t-shirt. OK, maybe just me then. But there’s no doubt ZAMN becomes super bloody fun when playing alongside a like-minded friend.
Cycling weapons sucks…
It’s not perfect, though. The weapons, while there are plenty to pick from, are excessive. Too many of them feel a bit useless and only clog up the inventory. The silverware serves its purpose against the werewolf but the football, plates and tomatoes seem like a waste. It wouldn’t be that bad if cycling through weapons were implemented better. Sadly, you can only switch weapons with button B which means there’s no backtracking through your weapon inventory. Miss the weapon you want by one? Sorry, you’re out of luck. There’s no way to backtrack — you have to cycle through your inventory another time. And no, you can’t pause the game to cycle through your many weapons. I mean, do we really need both L AND R to toggle off the map? A missed opportunity there. It sucks running away trying to get to the right weapon because of some thoughtlessness on the part of the programmers, but maybe that’s just me being nit-picky. A strafe or lock button also would have been nice. As great as this game already is, these features would have made it (in my opinion) one of the top 20 SNES games of all time. You can’t help but feel it’s not QUITE as polished as it could have been.
Each level is packed with atmosphere + great music
Thankfully, that’s pretty much where my complaints ceases. ZAMN has incredible atmosphere, it’s great at being a pick-up-and-play game, and the tunes are simply awesome. The music ranges from a carnival atmosphere to haunted houses and ancient Egypt all depending on the level you’re currently on. It’s eclectic and highly memorable. Some of the music and sound effects are firmly embedded in my soul even nearly 25 years on.
And who could ever forget that monster cast? Although it makes me long for even more, the enemies here are among some of the most memorable in 16-bit history. It’s a marvel to see some of those giant monsters muck about with zero slowdown in sight. The giant spider and titanic toddler in particular are a real doozy to behold!
And you thought your baby was a monster…
Other than weapon cycling and a lack of strafe/lock option, there’s another way ZAMN could have been enhanced. I wished there were extra modes of play. Imagine if each stage had an exit and it played just like Doom. Saved no neighbors? No bonus points but you still can advance to the next level. The other option would be to kill every monster in a level in order for the exit to appear. This mode would be for the macho action heads out there, or when you’re simply in the mood to blow shit up without worrying about the neighbor count. Of course, that’s just me. The game gets difficult as nails and very unforgiving as you progress — I wished they toned it down a bit or like I said, gave you these extra modes to enjoy. But I digress.
Props to Liquid Night Shade for this epic art!
It’s hard NOT to like Zombies Ate My Neighbors. The list of positives run high. It plays well and has a killer two player mode — ZAMN often appears on “Best Two Player SNES Games” list and rightfully so. It features tons of levels and secrets, a memorable cast of villains, terrific sound and a ghoulish atmosphere that will appeal to anyone who ever loved monsters… or still do. Sure it’s not without its flaws but there’s a reason why Zombies Ate My Neighbors is considered a classic and a staple of the vast SNES library. While I admit it has aged perhaps not as perfectly well as I would have liked, it’s still a top-notch effort and one of those games that truly brings out the 10 year old in me still to this day.
Meta before meta was cool!Somewhere, Chris Tucker is smiling
Oh and speaking of ZAMN 2, or Ghoul Patrol, proceed at your own risk. It’s actually not that bad but as far as “spiritual sequels” go, it should have been a lot better. Oh well… at least we’ll always have Zombies Ate My Neighbors…
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!
The wait is over. At last, Secret of Mana 2 is here…
THE HEROES
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.
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…
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.
Another improvement: unleash a powerful blow after your bar is full.
“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.
Steve’s eyes grow heavy and weary as he drifts off into past memories…
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.
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.
Pandemonium breaks out while Steve is snoozing. A loud commotion awakens him and chaos ensues.
Wizard may not be the most creative name out there but he’s certainly no joke.
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.
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…
Sibling bickering begins. But underneath it all is love.
Fortune Teller and Steve have their own bickering session as well.
Another huge change in this sequel is changing classes.
She ain’t gonna take your shit
Steve is willing to do anything
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…
Continue the legacy of your father.
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!
Determined to redeem himself, Steve sets out to find and kill the Wizard.
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.
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.
Secret of Mana 2 has this epic sweeping feel to it in spades.
Square lends Seiken Densetsu 3 a very slick almost theatrical presentation.
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.
Peaceful times this ain’t. You find yourself in the middle of war.
[Classic Steve. Thinks he’s so sly but no -Ed.]
Um, they do?!?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hey, you’re one to talk, lady!
There’s some callback to Secret of Mana as seen here with the innkeepers.
Remember the infamous cannon traveling method? It’s back.
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.
Traveling at night is always super atmospheric, thanks to being able to see the bright yellow lights down below.
Encounter many different enemies throughout. Best of all, the three player option has been retained. Now this is a sequel done right.
Gigantic boss monsters abound. The action is intense and the visuals are fantastic to boot!
They’re intimidating as hell!
Sending you the best of wishes…
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…The fabled sword!YOU MUST NOT KNOW ‘BOUT THIS!
MAGIC AND MORE
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
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
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).
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.
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
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 Secret of Mana
THE STORY GOES…
THE BASICS
The infamous ring menu. Access is quick and easyLearn magic and power them up as you goThere are eight weapon types in allGotta reforge them all…Watts is the man to see to upgrade your weaponsThis made Mana stood out back in the day for sure
THE CAST
Glorious Mode 7 galore…
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
“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, clumsy Steve“See ya later, Steve!”
Timothy: WUH OH!
Elliott: I didn’t see that…
Timothy: Neither did I…
Elliott: LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!
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.
“Gee, if only I had… like… A LEGENDARY SWORD…”Like a shining beacon of light in the dark
Eat your heart out, King Arthur!
Just another day for our hero, obviously
Unlike combat in most other action RPGs, you can’t attack repeatedly without suffering the ill effects. A meter keeps you honest.
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
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 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!”
“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!”
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: Whadaya mean?
Elliott: He means, your goose is cooked! Done, finito!
Timothy: Yeah! Hit the bricks, pal!
Elliott: Go on, get outta here!
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
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*
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
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, bubThe infamous pixie dust fist pump celebration!“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
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.
“Sure, whatever you say, Ned Flanders”Who could ever forget this?More Mode 7 madness
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.
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.
Steve always takes the time to lend a listening ear“One time they experimented with my brain…”“And then the time they all played NEKO JAM…”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…”
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…
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…
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.
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
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
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??
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…
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?!
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 endSteve’s no longer dreaming. This is real!
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.
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!
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
[What a realistic video game… -Ed.]Multiplayer Mana is where it’s at
MORE SCENES
Remember leveling up here early on? Yeah, you doThings begin to get a little tougher later on
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 folks walk over yaIt’s all around the world. La La La La La!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!Yeah, what is the secret anyway? Play it to find out!
There’s much more but I’ll let you discover the rest on your own!
Happy adventuring!
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
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, 91and 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).
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.
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 boxNobody worshiped Secret of Mana like Super Play did
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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
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!
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…
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…
LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN
Don’t try to flatter me, bub!Grab the sword inside the chest and get to hackin’Be sure to monitor your status screen occasionallyGotta 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
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.
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…Your first magic attack, the Flame Ball, in action
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!
I like the ability to power up and regain health
Hitting enemies with the end of your sword will inflict more damage. Very cool, subtle effect!
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.
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.
Clearing a square at other times may simply open up a closed section directly in the action world.
Another possibility of clearing out a square is it may reveal a bonus treasure chest in the nearby area.
GENERAL GAME FLOW
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…
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…
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)
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
[Hey, what are you doing, Steve?! -Ed.]
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…
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…
*cue flashback**Back to the present*
Talking goats for pete’s sake! Too weird, EVEN for me!
I HAVE A DREAM…
“WAIT! I can do much more — I’ll show you!”WHAT THE — !
Um, let’s just move on…
ACTION JACKSON
Venture across the bridge in Grass Valley to forge on ahead. What terrors lurk beyond?
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“YEAH! RIP EACH OTHER APART!”“WHOA WHOA TAKE IT EASY!”
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?It ain’t no Bob Ross piece of art I can tell you that!The Man, The Myth, The LegendOnly fools rush inEnemies can come in many formsI find they often appear just in the nick of time“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
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 flashingI 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.
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 you honestIt’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?!
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
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?”
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!
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…
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 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.
Hey, it’s Mudlup from Teddy Ruxpin!Mudlup (Teddy Ruxpin)Beware those pesky water dragons“Nice try guys, but you ain’t no BUSHMAN!”R.I.P. infamous Bushman of San FranciscoSometimes you just have to fight fire with fireThat’s definitely no Bushman…
Things heat up with scorpions and nasty lizard menAnd watch out for that alien crystal skull there! [Where’s Indiana Jones when ya need him?! -Ed.]Two stones down, four to go!
THE SUPER SIX
RANDOM SOUL BLAZIN’
The path switches from cold to hot without warningYou need Bubble Armor to pass these rolling wavesPoseidon guards the Mountain and is my favoriteYou can’t rely just on brawn. You need wits, too!Moments like this are good for a chuckle
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 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
Quintet… such dirty minds over there [*sighs* -Ed.]
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
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, 8and 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!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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.
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).
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 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.
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?
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.
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 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!
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!
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
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…
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.
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
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 fansSchool #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
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 favorGotta 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
The next school was much smaller. They wore lovely red uniforms, except for that one badass rebel there!
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
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
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.
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
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…
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
“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 back home a week after Kenya
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
BACK TO SERVING
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
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 inReminded me of how much I take for granted at homeThe 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
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!
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?!”
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 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!
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
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
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
“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
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!
EVERY TRIP NEEDS A LITTLE DRAMA…
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.
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
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
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.
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 dudeYou kick ass, James
From James’ sisterThe female team leaderTheresa, my fellow story teller station buddy
From one of the guys, Cool JoeThe male team leaderFrom Little Miss Dancer, SharonHa! Classic Tim!
From my dear sweet friend. Lee loved you didn’t he?He sure didThanks for the love, Lee. No, I don’t need your pen!
Wow, her note really touched me. Much love!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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 DOhave 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.
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
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…
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
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 livesThe 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!
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 jet black cart?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 cool one
KICKING IT OLD SCHOOL
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
THE FIGHTERS
At least this Ryu clone doesn’t have a palette swap!
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.
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
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!
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
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!
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?
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!
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!
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.
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
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.
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…
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!
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…
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.
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!
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…
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…
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?
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
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.
Eyedol is one tough cookie who dishes out MASSIVE damage. Good luck.
“DANGER! DANGER!”
They’re tamer than the ones found in Mortal KombatIt’s kinda like Scorpion’s infamous FatalitySome are rather tepid[You chose to show this one instead?! -Ed.]Most of them are generic and unmemorable thoughF’rinstance, keep this animation in mind…Yeeeah…But this one is actually pretty coolBut just like that, we’re back to MEHThis one looks odd. But the blood gushing out is neatNot similar to Chief Thunder’s at all…
Just like the Pit Fatalities from Mortal Kombat
Spiraling down to a painful demise!
BONUS STAGES
The codes to pick your stage in 2 Player Mode
“I’LL TAKE THE COMBO MEAL, PLEASE”
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!
It’s got nothing on Combo City!
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
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, 95and 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 GameFanSuper Play, on the other hand, was less enthused
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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…
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
Overall: 9.0 Gold Award
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!
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 remember seeing the ad in an EGM issue and being absolutely intrigued.
I was fascinated by the screenshots — the captions really resonated with me.
STRATEGY GUIDE
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 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.
MEET THE CAST
This is Remeer… or “STEVE”
Give me a chance to answer!
Damn right I am, Kashian
This old geezer knows it allA mysterious but valuable ally
THE STORY GOES…
The plot had me right away.
I was sold.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Developed by the same folks that made The 7th Saga.
Remeer, er, STEVE, finds himself reminiscing of days gone by. His mind takes him back 10 years to when his father was still alive…
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.
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…
Fairies are your friends. They aid you in battle and even level up.
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!
Doesn’t sound one bit ominous in the least…
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.
Playing Brain Lord is probably the closest you’ll get to experiencing a Super Rygar on your 16-bit SNES.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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!
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.
Blasting the monsters from a safe distance feels so damn sweet. Plaques give you tips and clues to heed.
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.
Misjudge a leap though and it’s back to the beginning you go. Thankfully, the game only deducts one health bar whenever you fall.
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.
Disappearing floors all part of the menu.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Boomerang spins around and attacks much faster than the Bow. Finding a treasure chest is always a blessing.
Scorpions lurk everywhere in this dank cave.
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.
Virtual Boy on my SNES?! Find the light switch and beware the voltage spots.
Uhhhh, OK then… *slowly backs away*
These robotic Cyclops are a tough out.
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?Oh, you thought that was it? Nope
This handy pack-in sheet came with the strategy guide. Nice of Tim Rooney.
Remeer’s best weapon is the Morning Star. It’s a spiked yoyo that packs a mighty punch.
Morning Star makes Brain Lord feel even more like a Super Rygar.
Disappointed still after all these years we never got a Rygar sequel on the SNES.
There are no more SNES Classic Editions anywhere!And you surprise me with your poor spelling, KashianMalpractice abounds!Here one second…… gone the next![Are we talking about the same STEVE here? -Ed.]Jackpot!You and me both… does it come with a Monkey Paw?You’re not as wise as you say, are you?Try saying that fast five timesWhy, what are you planning… OHHHH…Funny. Myself, I find it oddly soothingLet us listen togetherVery funny…I think he might be having a strokeI’m surrounded by big balls in the dark. This is not goodThat’s not creepy in the leastIt’s the infamous Dragon!Where’s the Orkin Man when ya need him?!I wonder if those statues will come to life…Caught between two worlds, what’s a guy to do?His smoke and mirrors don’t scare me!Bring it, Finn Bálor!Hey, this final boss looks mighty familiar…Brandish! Brain Lord came first
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
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 gradersStill my favorite joke from Super Play lore!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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 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.
The original Breath of Fire, released in the US 23 years ago this month (August 1994), was fairly well received. Despite the original Japanese release coming in April of 1993, Breath of Fire managed to still stand toe to toe with the big SNES blockbusters released that summer of 1994. The fact that RPGs were a bit sparse in North America definitely helped, as any decent RPG was lauded in that time when the pickings were rather slim. Capcom, no stranger to sequels, followed up on the success with Breath of Fire II. Originally released in Japan December 1994, SNES owners in the west had to wait an entire year for the American translation. Sadly, by December 1995, the SNES was nearing the end of its lifespan and many folks had moved on to the 32-bit war machines. As a result, Breath of Fire II sort of got lost unless you were one of those diehard SNES players who stuck by the system until the very bitter end. Thankfully, as is so often the case, over the years people have had the luxury to go back and right past wrongs. While no Final Fantasy III or Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire II is definitely worth trekking through.
Play this version instead!
But wait! Not only did Capcom make those of us in the US wait an entire year, but the NA version of Breath of Fire II is notorious for having one of the worst translations of all time. So much so that it prompted “Ryusui” to release a “retranslated” version on April 30, 2009. It’s how I played through Breath of Fire II and how I recommend you do so as well.
Thank you for this amazing effort, Ryusui
MEET THE CAST
THE STORY GOES…
Well… at least the girl didn’t get kidnapped for a change…
Thanks for the painful reminder. But she’s got a point. The world is going to need you, after all…
Dragon? Note to self: avoid the back mountains. Note to self part two: knock before you open the bathroom door next time…
Being an adventurous lad though, you can’t help but explore them back mountains. Not only do you find your wandering little sister and the mammoth dragon, but you’re also greeted by a nasty little critter for your troubles.
Luckily, the Beak is mere cannon fodder. Good thing you were there to save your little sister, Yua.
Dangerous? Not for the likes of me, you see! Your father, Ganer, grants you the respect you crave. He is your idol, after all.
“Sometimes I wish you simply had imaginary friends instead, Yua.”
Look… it’s one of many typos you’ll encounter if the play the North American version. Like I said, the retranslation is the way to go!
Breath of Fire II resumes the original’s classic day-night cycle.
Converse with all the locals. One of the cool things about this game is the inclusion of the “Dragon Tears.” The different colors represent the various emotions that the NPC is currently feeling. Pretty neat stuff.
It’s a small touch, but it adds that extra little bit to the game
Loyalty is his game, Bow is his name. He’s the first ally you’ll meet up with and he’s great at hunting. A most welcomed asset to the team. He’s a bit of a kleptomaniac, though.
Downpour soon comes raining down on our plucky heroes. It’s not quite the same “ooooh, ahhhh” effect as seeing the rain lashing down from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but it gets the job done.
Quick! Take cover in the cave there before you die of pneumonia. Sometimes it pays to steal, as you can see here. And who says video games aren’t educational?
Spooky cave, init? Um, what was that?!
Guessing purple doesn’t stand for warm fuzzy feelings… I mean, I’m just going out on a limb there.
Sadly, our hero is no match for this monstrosity at this early point in the game. We then find out his father (Ganer) and sister (Yua) have gone missing. He dreams a terrible nightmare of a towering monster ripping him limb from limb. In his dreams, a demon also screeches to him, “YOU ARE THE ONE.” What could all this mean? Was this all just a bad dream? Somehow, you know it isn’t…
Seasoned into a hardened warrior over the past 10 years, you’re ready to find out some answers…
Forget eye of the tiger — it’s the eye of the dragon!
Every hero has to start somewhere. And sometimes, heroes are born from very humble beginnings.
Interact with the environment and villagers. Tips may be provided and you can also unearth helpful items.
Sometimes you’ll read silly dialogue but it’s all part of the fun.
Occasionally you’ll see random things pop up on the world map. This includes a traveling circus.
Fishing is also in play as well as a spot of hunting. For the latter, be sure to position Bow in the front.
Breath of Fire II resumes the classic ¾ perspective of the original game.
Enemies can prove to be tough early on. Thank goodness then for this healing fountain. This is a good place to level up
Encountering a new enemy for the first time leads to a “?” for their health. It adds slightly to the drama and tension and I found it to be a nice little touch. Head up this mountain to face Palo, Peach and Puti.
They’re tough, the bastards. Peach and Puti (on the sides) have 40 HP while the middle one, Palo, has 80 HP. I recommend targeting and eliminating Peach and Puti first before tackling Palo.
Battle a family of cockroaches later on. It’s a nice nod to the original.
Speaking of honoring the original Breath of Fire, you can morph into a dragon later on.
Fans of the original will appreciate thisNo relation to Hamlet from Illusion of GaiaI certainly wasn’t prepping to eat her…If it weren’t for bad luck, he would have no luck at allAlright you twisted my arm but sure, I’ll do itREMEMBER? You and girls? It never goes well…Where have I seen this before?Oh yeahI’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel. Uh, nevermind my pet hereDoesn’t sound the least bit kinky at allI like being able to see the characters through the boxMore kinky shenanigans ensuesI love when RPGs log your playing timeI also love having different text box optionsIt’s my party and I can CHANGE if I want to…Sure, a “plant person.” Not a drug dealer at all…Wait a second, I could have sworn I saw this before…Lennus II, AKA Paladin’s QuestIIWow. Similarities are undeniableUgly freaks await… and big monster bosses, tooWhat’s the plant person’s connection to this tree?Can’t be an RPG without some epic mountain sceneHow could we tell you Milli Vanilli were lip synchers?GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUEThis is awkward…But we totally shared the same Capri Sun straw!Gotta love the retranslated versionSERIOUS BUSINESSAll in a ranger day’s work!ATTACK!!!Gotta love Rand — he’s easily my favorite of the lotHis heart is even bigger than his armsSomeone was a fan of Breath of Fire II, clearly…Mom to the rescueOh shitI like the sound of that. It has a certain ring to itBig bad monsters await[PUH-LEASE -Ed.]Gossip and rumors run amokNothing like a good old flashbackBoy, Firebrand sure gets around!Demon’s Crest is such a sick game[What a terrible way to go… -Ed.]Now you’re playing with SUPER powerTreasure chests always a welcomed sightThat can’t be good…But healing fountains definitely areOh snap, one of the best drops everLin’s attack stats just jumped by 55 points!Holy crapGood luck partner
EXTRAS
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
What some said about the game’s translation…
Breath of Fire II received pretty solid scores. EGM gave it ratings of 7, 7.5, 7.5and 8. Super Play rated it 81%. However, the US translation was not so well received. It features some of the worst translated text in all of 16-bit history, making the retranslation almost a necessity. For example, you know things are bad when you talk to the innkeeper and he refers to his inn as a motel, despite having an INN sign hanging nearby. Want to go fishing? Then equip your lod. Ouch. Also, get ready for awkward looking abbreviations. Thankfully, the retranslation fixes these silly errors and provides for a much more authentic experience.
Beautiful. This version is the only way to play it
CLOSING THOUGHTS
A fun cast of rag tag heroes and freaks
Breath of Fire II is a very strong entry in the stacked SNES RPG library. While it may not quite stack up against the likes of a Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy III, it does its job more than reasonably well. The graphics are very colorful and the details on the various sprites are fairly intricate. Some of the music is extremely catchy, though a few are somewhat underwhelming. That final boss theme though! There’s a ton of things to do in this adventure — it took me 50 hours to beat and I didn’t even scratch the surface of the Shaman system. However, not all of those 50 hours is pure bliss. There’s a shit load of random battles (thank God for the auto battle option) that can drag the game down a bit, not to mention artificially inflate its playing time. There’s also some annoying backtracking and the difficulty veers on the cheap side on occasion. It’s definitely not perfect, but it’s more than playable.
Two very respectable efforts. Not bad, Capcom. Not bad
I enjoyed playing through both Breath of Fire games. They may not be world beaters, but they are very enjoyable if you’re a fan of that JRPG style. The day-night system is a unique feature for its time, even if it comes with its flaws. I think both games are more than good enough to warrant at least one playthrough. Breath of Fire II is the better game, but the original has its merits as well. Just remember to play the retranslated version of Breath of Fire II. Trust me on that one. Or should I say, lust me on that one. Whoa, wait a minute. Something got lost in translation there…
Graphics: 8.5 Sound: 8 Gameplay: 8.5 Longevity: 8
Overall: 8.5
Double Silver Award
WARNING!!! SPOILERS BELOW!
Breath of Fire II features multiple endings. Here’s the less than good one…
This ending tugged at my heartstrings Though it dragged at times, I really liked it a lot
Back in the mid ’90s, Capcom was most well known for their Street Fighter and Mega Man series. Capcom tried their hand at the RPG genre when they released Breath of Fire in Japan on April 3, 1993. It took 16 months for the game to hit North American soil. SquareSoft was an established firm with a penchant for translating JRPGs for American audiences, and they took on the unenviable task of converting the game over. There wasn’t an abundance of RPGs on the SNES back then. Thus, Breath of Fire instantly found a diehard fanbase. It wasn’t great by any stretch but it was plenty solid enough. And for the time, solid did just fine.
WINDS OF CHANGE
For me, RPGs went from the outhouse to the penthouse!
I couldn’t stand RPGs growing up. To be precise, it was more like I couldn’t care less. My brother, however, was obsessed with them. He played them all the time it seemed. I didn’t care for RPGs back in the day because I couldn’t see how a slower-paced, turn-based game could be any fun to play. I was a young boy who wanted instant gratification. It wasn’t until much later — around 2003 — that my view on the genre began to shift. Suddenly, the thought of conversing with the locals to dig up clues or just hear some wacky nonsense became massively appealing to me. The turn-based combat went from yawn-inducing to an obsession to level up and earn more gold so I could upgrade my weapons and armor. Today, I consider RPGs among one of my most favorite genres. Go figure. So I don’t really have any big back stories to share about Breath of Fire growing up. I remember, however, being impressed by the magazine previews. Although I didn’t like RPGs then, the game looked quite colorful and even, a bit intriguing. But I figured it to be another in a long list of games I would never play. Little did I know, over a decade later, I would find my way back home to the Super Nintendo for a second chance at 16-bit gaming redemption.
The GameFan preview is embedded in my heart
THE STORY GOES…
Sara turned them into statues to save ‘em
[Whoa, one of the better? More like above average -Ed.]
MEET THE HEROES
MEET THE BAD GUYS
This gets me every damn time. Love Super Play!Awesome monster chart. RPG packaging always #1!Monster chart was, err, off the charts [*sigh* -Ed.]This helpful map was also included in the package
THE QUEST BEGINS
Now unfrozen, you step out into the cold light of dayLame. You better not make any mistakes!
Select the sword option and it opens up even more options.
Hooray for awkward abbreviations!NO SEX, NO DRUGS, NO WINE, NO WOMEN, NO FUN, NO SIN, NO YOU — NO WONDER IT’S DARK!
Fight, heal yourself for free and level up. RepeatNot earth-shattering or anything, but it’s solidLittle details always make me smile
“Let me go and I’ll never eat another frog leg again!”Breath of Fire utilizes a neat ¾ perspectiveLeave it to Capcom to use energy bars in an RPGCritical strikes in RPGs is like rolling a 12 in MonopolyAs a result, boss fights can drag on a wee bit
Nothing like leveling up three times at once!It’s perhaps most well known for its day-night cycle
Breath of Fire uses a unique system where day passes into early evening before giving way to nightfall. It’s pretty cool, especially the first time you see it. Not just cosmetic, either! There are things you can only do in the dark… giving the game an air of clandestine intrigue…
Quite brilliant, yes, but also at times annoying…Eat your heart out, SOLID SNAKE!
The front guard of Nanai is vigilant during the day but falls prey to exhaustion once the sun goes down. Only at night time can you sneak by him. If a soldier spots you at any point, it’s back to the beginning. It was a clever little way to add in some stealth action to the typical RPG formula. If nothing else, you have to give Capcom some credit for that. I love the small details seen here. Everything from the guard’s snoring bubble to the very atmospheric yellow lights that lends Nanai a brilliant glow. Be sure to explore a bit and not just rush for the exit as there are plenty of good items to be found in chests and large cabinets. Money is tight early on so collect all the free items that you can.
Early on, the day-night system is used quite well
Not exactly world-changing stealth action but it’s thereNice looking game even by August 1994 standardsThere’s a certain magic to them that I just loveMakes the high encounter rate a little more bearable“Coz there’s so many fukken random battles!”
[You’re, ahem, fired -Ed.]Leave it to friggin’ Capcom, eh?Funny whenever RPGs offer you an obvious choiceWeapons that hit multiple enemies are simply the bestWhat unspeakable horrors lurk deep below?Surprisingly decent for a horror film aimed at youthNina is the first of seven allies to join. Head to TantarUm, OK. I think you’re also the master nutjob, palVarying skills made each one feel critical to successResident Evil is a true Capcom classic
Our heroes have been reduced to the size of mice!Save the mice clan from deadly cockroaches[Sometimes… man IS the monster… -Ed.]“Do you come from another world? Or from some distant star?”Aw, sorry, Cerl. If only we could go back to the futureGood point. Endearing son of a gun, though“SOMEBODY SAY BACK TO THE FUTURE?!”The night time scenes are super atmospheric
Another cool feature is the hero’s ability to morph
Meet the Goddess of Destruction. Meet TYRJeez…
COOL BUT USELESS EASTER EGG
No bearing on the game but it’s a fun fan service
SOME INVALUABLE TIPS
Failing to do either could result in sheer frustration
As allies join, use their skills to open up new areas
BREATH OF CONFUSION
Not uncommon to get stuck without a guideNot the game’s best moment…
An old man tells you about the I. Claw near the end of the game. You need to find it or you cannot advance. The problem? There is no clue whatsoever as to where this elusive I. Claw could be hiding. Combine that with a massive world and well, you get the idea. The game forces you to do a ridiculous back-and-forth letter exchange between a weapons’ collector and an old lady stranded on some obscure tiny island in the middle of friggin’ nowhere. Discovering this without any help was pure dumb luck. Breath of Fire doesn’t even give you a damn clue like, “Hey, I heard there’s a lady living somewhere on the east region who loves weapons…” It was simply, “You need an I. Claw” which essentially translated to “Good luck finding it on the large world map, mwahahaha!” Brutal. While some RPGs (i.e. Super Mario RPG) held your hand too much, Breath of Fire was a little TOO obscure at times. I like a happy middle ground — not too obvious but not too obscure, either. A game that did an excellent job of balancing the two was EarthBound. You always got a sense of what to do next but you were never 100% sure. But the key was the game always gave you a sense. Those are the best RPG experiences. Sadly, it’s not quite the case here.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
Wil Overton’s art covers killed it. This is one of my faves
Breath of Fire was met with rather strong reviews. Despite the near year-and-half delay for the North American version, it still managed to stand toe-to-toe admirably with the big SNES summer blockbusters of 1994. EGM gave it scores of 7, 8, 8, 8 and 9. They praised it for its excellent visuals and sound. GameFan rated it 90, 90and 94%. GameFan lavished heaps of praise on it for its artwork and animation, its length and its stunning music. Super Play was less enthusiastic, however, giving the game a respectable but not remarkable rating of 80%. They called it lightweight. Leave it to those Super Play chaps to calm the rest of us down. They didn’t hand out 9s and 90s willy-nilly like EGM and GameFan did!
Nintendo Power ranked it #82 on their Top 100 list
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Thanks for the PSA
Breath of Fire is a solid RPG. It did many things right. These include brilliantly animated sprites, amazing sound and music, a unique day-night system that affected gameplay, and skills unique only to certain characters which made all eight protagonists serve a key role. But with the good comes the bad. The game starts out on a high note — it introduces you to each new ally in a meaningful way, allowing you to hunt and fish for health items, shrink down to save a family of mice from deadly cockroaches and there’s even a cool little stealth action. Sadly, at some point it felt like the developers lost a bit of their ambition and vision. The game begins to drag a bit in its second half. And damn, is the game long. It took me 40 hours to beat and I felt it lost a little steam in the latter half of the journey. The ridiculously high random battles didn’t help it any, either. There’s no run button so our heroes move like snails in mud. The lack of character development in the latter half was also disappointing. Sometimes clues were far too obscure and left you wandering around wondering what the hell to do next. The day and night system, while promising early on, later proves to be a bit of a pain in the ass. In order to advance in certain areas of the game, you had to talk to a specific person in town who only appeared at a certain portion of the day (or night). This actually ended up hampering the experience for me as it made it tedious to play at times. Sure, the day and night engine starts out as a fun quirky novelty, but it quickly morphs into an annoying hassle. This is definitely not the kind of RPG that holds you by the hand. Some will like that open-endedness, but I prefer a balance. You won’t find much of one here.
It’s far from perfect but it’s good enough to satisfy
Nevertheless, for all of the blemishes I brought up, I really did enjoy my time playing through Breath of Fire. It’s got a certain charm to it with its bright and colorful visuals that melts my 16-bit heart. The music is haunting. The melodies fit each region of the game to a tee whether it’s soothing, ominous or action-packed. I enjoyed using the eight characters’ unique skills, such as Ox smashing through barriers and Karn opening locked doors. But at 35-40 hours, it’s just too damn long for not being an epic RPG. It’s also a bit too obscure with its clues. Be sure to have a guide ready. Also, I didn’t like how too many of the NPCs repeated the same phrases. I know they were trying to save memory, or maybe they were just lazy, but these moments often took me out of the moment. When too many NPCs repeat the same thing I just read from someone not two feet away, it really hurts the game’s ability to truly immerse you. Having said that, I would recommend Breath of Fire to any RPG fan with a Super Nintendo. It’s far from a classic, but it’s an enjoyable adventure with a few unique twists along the way that makes it worth going through at least once.
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 8
Longevity: 7.5
Overall: 8.0 Silver Award
Game store ads were, once upon a time, so damn coolThe sequel, Breath of Fire II, is notably better
![Poor Julie. Caught in the JAWS of life [You're fired -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GhPa34.jpg)
![Ghoul Patrol jumped the shark [HAR HAR -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GhPa54.jpg)
![Boy, if I could just take this fork and... [Zeke! -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN6.jpg)
![[Did Michael Myers show up here or what? -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN14.jpg)
![[Clever AMHAIN bit. OK, you're re-hired -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN15.jpg)
![[Whats my mother-in-law doing here?!?! -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN16.jpg)
![[Oh its just a zombie. THANK GOD -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN17.jpg)
![[No sir, they don't -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ChuckyBurn2-e1507668293804.jpg)
![[Looks like my mother-in-law in the morning -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN115.jpg)
!["ZAMN" right they are [D'oh -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ZAMN149.jpg)
![[Story of Steves life... -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SoMa2-43.png)
![[What a realistic video game... -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SoMana78.jpg)
![[Hey, what are you doing, Steve?! -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SoulBlaz51.jpg)
![Such a smooth cat, that Steve... [Riiight -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SoulBlaz56.jpg)
![And watch out for that alien crystal skull there! [Where's Indiana Jones when ya need him?! -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SoulBlaz106.jpg)
![Quintet... such dirty minds over there [*sighs* -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SoulBlaz122.jpg)
![[You chose to show this one instead?! -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/KillIn48.jpg)
![[Are we talking about the same STEVE here? -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BLEx5-e1505101476698.jpg)
![[PUH-LEASE -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BoFIIExtra34-e1504247165318.jpg)
![[What a terrible way to go... -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BoFIIExtra38-e1504247208996.jpg)
![Monster chart was, err, off the charts [*sigh* -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BoFRe33-e1503036046245.jpg)
![[You're, ahem, fired -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BoFRe65.jpg)
![[Sometimes... man is the monster... -Ed.]](http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BoFRe77.jpg)
