1986's Forgotten Mascot Platfomer

[NeoZeedeater]

The mid 1980s saw an explosion of cartoony side-scrolling platform games being made in Japan. Pretty soon many were being seen as mascots for game systems and companies. The already famous Pac-Man headed into the genre with Pac-Land. Super Mario obviously became the biggest name while Wonder Boy and Alex Kidd gathered cult followings for Sega.

There was another, more ignored jumpman. It was Toru-kun, star of Wai Wai Monster Land for the Epoch Super Cassette Vision console. He didn't have much of a chance for success given that the Famicom was crushing the SCV in sales and Epoch was close to discontinuing the system by 1986. The game was never released overseas as far as I can tell. Yeno had released the system in France but it was already dead there by that time.



So what was the game like? Well, I certainly wouldn't go in expecting anything SMB-quality but I still consider it one of the gems of the SCV. It pushed its hardware quite far but was still at a technological disadvantage among its peers. As was common for the genre at time, the physics were floaty and controls were momentum-based. Some might consider it dated because of these things but being a fan of mid '80s platformers, it doesn't bother me. Besides resemblance to games like SMB (e.g. hidden items), I would say it was also similar to Ghosts 'n Goblins with its monster theme and projectile-based attacking (you threw crosses at enemies; when powered up it auto-fired).





One thing I loved about Wai Wai Monster Land was the multiple route choices. At the beginning of the game and end a level, you could choose what direction to go. You could also decide whether or not to fight bosses or jump past them. Attacks only worked on them if your crosses were powered up enough (done by collecting enough items in the level). The advantage of having a powered up character at bosses was that quickly killing them was usually safer than jumping past them. And for a 1986 platformer, there was a good variety of enemies and bosses.





So anyone else played it, or want to play it, or just thinks it looks like anal crevice and want nothing to do with it? For anyone wanting to try it out without having to track down a real system, there's the emulator MESS. There are a few graphical glitches and the music sometimes cuts out temporarily but other than that it plays fine.

[Zz Badnusty]

I can dig it. It would be pretty radical to play this on a real Super Cassette Vision.

[Gunstar Zero]

I think the most interesting thing about this is when you look at the sprite art you can see what they really wanted to do. I'd love to see this game on 16 bit hardware - and I know this is blashemy but specifically the SNES. It just looks like the kind of game that would fit well on that platform.

[gamevet]

I've only heard about that console, but I really don't recall seeing many games for it though. I might have even read about it in the old Computer Games and Electronics Entertainment magazine.

[StarMist]

I've only heard about that console, but I really don't recall seeing many games for it though. I might have even read about it in the old Computer Games and Electronics Entertainment magazine.

Damn. I was sure you'd have something to say about this and am rather disappointed, you're my rock of knowledge*. NZE's obviously very knowledgeable too but you're more opinionated and therefore better. Even I'd heard of this game. Though if you'd asked me to name the console it was on I'd've been up a tree beside a hysterical cat.

* this opinion excludes the PS vs PS2 debate since you're on the wrong side there--I saw that old thread.

@ OP = the gameplay sounds good and some of the sprites are presentable but others along with the majority of the bright staticky backgrounds represent nascent eye trauma. I'll pass until there's an NES port.

[gamevet]

NZE is a fountain of historic gaming knowledge. Most of my gaming knowledge is from first-hand experience during the era. NZE likes to try out a lot of older obscure titles, while most of what I've played is pretty well known from the time.

[Melf]

When Neo posts a thread, I make sure to read it, as he's sure to drop knowledge bombs about retro gaming that always make my day to read. I'm really glad he's posting here more often.

[NeoZeedeater]

Thanks guys. I can't believe I have known you two online for over a decade now. I wish I had gamevet's first-hand experience of 1970s gaming or been the head of the best console fansite like Melf.

@ OP = the gameplay sounds good and some of the sprites are presentable but others along with the majority of the bright staticky backgrounds represent nascent eye trauma. I'll pass until there's an NES port.

I imagine on a real system/TV, the colours wouldn't contrast as much. They probably aren't completely accurate. I don't think the game would stand out as much on NES. It could play as well, if not better, but a lot of what I find fascinating about this game is that it's on a system that doesn't really have other stuff like it.

And I consider myself opinionated.

[CRV]

[Benjamin]

I love platformers, and this has me curious. Would you say the Epoch is worth buying for its platform games? I see there's a Mappy game, but I'm looking for original platformers I can't find on other systems.

[NeoZeedeater]

I originally made this thread a long time ago. I didn't think to check if there was a video of the real thing. Cool.

I love platformers, and this has me curious. Would you say the Epoch is worth buying for its platform games? I see there's a Mappy game, but I'm looking for original platformers I can't find on other systems.

I have no idea how much the system sells for but it seems weak for platformers. Miner 2049er is good but that's not an original one.