The Lawnmower Man (SNES) - Guest Post

This week on Super Adventures, virtual game reviewer mecha-neko has returned with a quick look at perhaps the best video game to ever have the word 'lawnmower' in the title. It's probably better than a lot of games with 'man' in the title as well, like Superman 64, the DOS version of Mega Man, that Amazing Spider-Man game from 1989, and The Running Man. Though this and The Running Man would both make it onto anyone's "Top 10 Video Games Based on a Stephen King Story" list, because as far as I know there's only ever been five of them.

By the turn of the millennium a technology known as VIRTUAL REALITY will be in widespread use. It will allow you to enter computer generated artificial worlds as unlimited as the imagination itself. Its creators foresee millions of positive uses - while others fear it as a new form of mind control...

Developer:

The Sales Curve

|

Release Date:

8th November 1993

|

Systems:

SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy

---

Hello, everyone! I'm going to take it easy and play a 16-bit movie license today. This game was recommended to me because it has flashy graphics and fancy effects. The person recommending it to me hadn't actually played it themselves, but what can you do?

I'm not going to go in-depth talking about the original film. In fact I played the game before having seen it! But I'll warn you about potential spoilers for it anyway now if you'd rather not read anything like that.

The Adventures of Star Saver (GB)

Developer:

A-Wave

|

Release Date:

1992

|

Systems:

Game Boy

---

This week on Super Adventures, something a little less colourful.

The Adventures of Star Saver is a Game Boy game... and that's pretty much all I know about it. I just saw the name and realised it had to get played. My best guess is that it's a management sim based around running a discount supermarket chain, but I'm not going to completely rule out the possibility that it's a platformer.

Either way no one wants to stare at 300 black and white screenshots so I'll be keeping it short this time. This'll be a Regular Adventure rather than a Super Adventure.

Super Mario Land (GB)

Developer:

Nintendo

|

Release Date:

1989

|

Systems:

Game Boy

---

Today on Super Adventures, Mario Marathon Month drags on even longer with Super Mario Land, for the Game Boy! There's our heroic plumber up there on the top of the sign in fact, shaking his fist at the sky and yelling at strangers to get off his Marioland.

This was the fourth Super Mario game in Japan and Europe, but the third to come out in America. It doesn't count as part of the main Super Mario Bros. series though because Luigi hasn't bothered to turn up this time. Can't give it the Bros. label without Mario's bro around.

Though if it was a Bros. game it would've been the first Mario Bros. produced by Gunpei Yokoi since Mario Bros., and the first created without the involvement of Shigeru Miyamoto. It's also the first developed for a proper cartridge-based handheld system, and if you're wondering where you've heard the name Gunpei Yokoi before, it's possible that you remember him as being the designer of the Game Boy itself. Super Mario Land was a launch title for the system and was originally intended to be the first pack-in title until Nintendo was persuaded that Tetris would have more universal appeal... because it's Tetris.

Can't really disagree with that logic, especially as 25 years later I still haven't even really played Super Mario Land yet, but it says that it's "his best adventure yet" on the box, so I'm pretty hyped.

Pokémon: Red Version (GB)

Today's 'P' game is POKéMON: Red Version! Okay there's no way I'm writing it out like that for the rest of this. I'll let it keep the acute accented é but that's where I draw the line.

I was surprised to find (because I know astoundingly little about the series) that the game is not called Pokémon in its native country. I mean I get that it's a portmanteau, but I assumed the name originated in Japan, like with 'Tamagotchi'. In fact the original Japanese title for this is basically just pronounced as 'Pocket Monsters'; so someone took a sensible English title and then mangled it up for the English release. It's a perfectly likeable mangled up name though, so I ain't complaining.

007 Games Part 7: GoldenEye 007, James Bond 007

Super AiG's Guide to Every (old) James Bond Game Ever, Volume 7

It's another Super Adventures James Bond special event! I've already played through the first 10 years of 007 games (click the Game Series button then scroll down a bit to find them), and this week I'll be playing through the second decade after James Bond: The Duel brought the 16-bit era to an end, from GoldenEye to Nightfire. Well, to be honest it's more like 6 years actually (there was a bit of a gap).

Game 16 - GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Formats: Nintendo 64.

It was four long years after The Duel before James Bond finally made a return to video games with an adaptation of the seventeenth Bond film, GoldenEye. Though the game actually came out the same year as the next Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies.

I've actually already played this one, and I have no idea what else I can say about it. But I suppose I should give it another look anyway, to save leaving the most important Bond game off the Bond game list.

Donkey Kong (GB)

By request, I have (finally) gotten around to playing Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. I don't see any barrels or damsels in distress on this title screen, so maybe I'm actually playing as Donkey Kong himself this time.

Mickey Mouse - Magic Wands! (GB)

Today, by request, I'm playing Mickey Mouse - Magic Wands! Or Magic Wand, if you're going to believe the title screen.

I've gotta admit I haven't got my hopes up. But someone asked me to play it, and they seem to like it, so I might as well give it a shot. Can't be any worse than Fantasia at least. I hope.

McDonaldland / Spot: The Cool Adventure (GB)

Super Adventures in McDonaldland - Game 3

Yeah, this is called McDonaldland again, like some versions of M.C. Kids., but it's actually a different game.

In fact it's two different games, because in the US this is known as...

Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)

For some reason I always assumed Metroid 2 was a NES game like Zelda 2 or Castlevania 2. But no, the franchise jumped to the Game Boy for one game, so I'm stuck showing black and white screenshots again. Sorry.

Castlevania Legends (GB)

Castlevania Legends, the final Castlevania released on the original Game Boy, tells the story of the first Belmont to defeat Dracula. Or at least it would have, except that it's been declared non-canon, and no longer part of the official chronology.

It's nice to know that if I fuck up, I won't be ruining the timeline or anything. The Castlevania universe will be safe from my ineptitude for once.

Final Fantasy Adventure (GB) - Guest Post

Suddenly, jrpg expert Ocean appears from out of nowhere with a look at another classic Square game: Final Fantasy Adventure, aka Mystic Quest or Seiken Densetsu.

Despite the name, Final Fantasy Adventure is the actually the first game in the Mana series. I figured it'd be a better idea to go over this one first before playing the remake, Sword of Mana.

Here is Final Fantasy Adventure then! I have to say, this is one of the games I've probably replayed the most.

The Flash (GB)

You know, I think this is the actual theme to the TV series playing right now. It's no 'Batman theme' but it's all right.

Alfred Chicken (Amiga)

I've played this one before, on an Amiga, but I never really got anywhere in it. And I can't remember why.

Hey, I've just had a sensible idea! I'll play every version released for every system at the same time. There can't be that many of them, surely.

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (GB)

Not to be confused with Castlevania II: Simon's Quest on the NES.

15 years after the first Game Boy Castlevania, Christopher Belmont finds that his son has been kidnapped by Dracula and turned into a demon. This makes him a very unhappy Belmont, and he sets off on a roaring rampage of retribution.

Castlevania: The Adventure (GB)

The first Castlevania game released on a handheld system, and I'm guessing not the best of them. But you never know, I could be wrong.

Wario Land II (GB)

Damn, is there a space between Wario and Land or not? How am I supposed to write about these games if I can't even get the name right?

Batman - The Video Game (GB)

SIX PART BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1989) SPECIAL, part 3.

Not a very interesting title screen, but I'm liking the music.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (GB)

Adventures in Jurassic Park, part 13.

Presented in Super Game Boy-vision, to save us having to look at green monochrome again.

Jurassic Park 2 (GB)

Adventures in Jurassic Park, part 11.

It doesn't quite have the same visual impact as having the number scratched in with dinosaur claws.

Jurassic Park (GB)

Adventures in Jurassic Park, part 2.

Jurassic Park on the Game Boy is virtually a monochrome carbon copy of the NES version.