41 replies to this topic

[PlayerOnePhil]

This week's game is Konami's The Legend of the Mystical Ninja for the SNES, the game that introduced Western gamers to Goemon. Of course, Americans were afraid of crazy Japanese names back in 1992, so he was renamed "Kid Ying" for this release (and his sidekick Ebisumaru became "Dr. Yang").

It's a strange mix of platforming, adventure, and mini-games, so dig in. Be sure to try the multiplayer mode, too.

You can play Mystical Ninja on your SNES or on the Wii's Virtual Console (800 points). If you're really hardcore, you can play it on the Japanese-only GBA re-release, which contains the first two SNES entries in the series.





Videos:
Gameplay footage
Goemon - 20th Anniversary
Ending song from the Goemon anime

[Indy aka Rex]

I loved the Goemon games on the SNES and the N64 release. They were some of my favorite games.... of course I never finished any of them... still!

Oh and... that's odd... I didn't know Solid Snake had an SD version who ran amok as a ninja in feudal japan...

[Losername]

I prefer my ninjas radical.

[mrplaid]

Cool. I played these back in the day, too. Never really got anywhere with them, though. I hope you take the time to mention the kewl music from the N64 game (which I never played, either).

I AM IMPACT (with lame subtitles).

[PlayerOnePhil]

I prefer my ninjas radical.

Man, don't get me started...

[Indy aka Rex]

Man, don't get me started...

Where do you get those wonderful toys?

[JDUB X]

I love the hell out of this one

[JDUB X]

Cool. I played these back in the day, too. Never really got anywhere with them, though. I hope you take the time to mention the kewl music from the N64 game (which I never played, either).

I AM IMPACT (with lame subtitles).

Here is as it really happens in the game

[PlayerOnePhil]

Where do you get those wonderful toys?

The arcade board, bezel, and marquees came from eBay. The three Famicom games and the Game Boy game were bought in Japan. One of the NES carts was bought used at a GameStop a few years ago. The boxed NES and C64 versions are mine from back in the day.

But back on topic...SNES Mystical Ninja!

[Jeff]

I played the N64 game and enjoyed it (from what I remember).

I feel bad because I haven't been able to participate in the past few Game Clubs because I'm broke.

[Tron]

The SNES box cover is so fucking creepy. His face gives me the nightmares. I'm actually going to try and play this one, since I've never played, or even heard of it before.

EDIT: Who is Goemon?

[PlayerOnePhil]

EDIT: Who is Goemon?

Seriously?

He's the game's main character. The little ninja fellow with the spiky blue hair (ignore how he looks on the SNES box art). He's (very) loosely based on Ishikawa Goemon, a legendary bandit in Japanese history.

Goemon has starred in a ton of games in Japan, but only a select few have been released in the U.S. Legend of the Mystical Ninja was the first game in the series to be released in the U.S., and in it, Goemon was renamed as Kid Ying. In the other titles that came out afterwards, Konami kept the characters' original names.

This is one of the reasons why I wanted to do this title in Game Club. In Japan, it's a very popular franchise by a major game publisher, but it's practically unknown in the U.S.

[Tron]

Thanks for the lesson, I was completely serious. Are you a collector of these games, too? I yearn to see your room of shame.

[probune]

Another great Game Club - I've always wanted to see what this game is, but I've never really had a reason. Now, I'll boot it up and play a little while.

[brokenFUN]

This cant be one of them JAPANESE!!! games can it????????///??

[Outlaw Moogle]

While I've known of him for years, the only game I can say I've played that had Goemon in it was Konami Wacky Racers, a launch GBA game.

[marshallbanana]

All right! I have a lot of fond memories of this game - it was a favorite of mine around the time I was first becoming obsessed with everything Japanese. Time to download it on VC - I have been meaning to anyway.

[PlayerOnePhil]

Thanks for the lesson, I was completely serious. Are you a collector of these games, too? I yearn to see your room of shame.

I usually try to withhold my opinions of the Game Club games until the show, but what the hell...here's a hint:

[Tron]

So...... a fan, then? I'm breaking into your house, and I'm checking out your room.

[probune]

I love how incredibly "Americanized" this game's cover is. It's especially hilarious when you view it in Phil's collection

[marshallbanana]

Phil are you actually meticulously laying out these collections to take photos for replies or do you have a set of photos of your collections for just this reason?

[Outlaw Moogle]

That's not a healthy obession Phil.

[JDUB X]

I usually try to withhold my opinions of the Game Club games until the show, but what the hell...here's a hint:

OMG

This makes me even more angry that Konami refuses to release more of the games in the US

Do you have this? I picked it up at Best Buy for $20 a while ago but have only watched the first episode

[PlayerOnePhil]

Phil are you actually meticulously laying out these collections to take photos for replies or do you have a set of photos of your collections for just this reason?

I took those pictures a while ago for some "show off your collections" thread on NeoGAF.

OMG

This makes me even more angry that Konami refuses to release more of the games in the US

Do you have this? I picked it up at Best Buy for $20 a while ago but have only watched the first episode

http://ecx.images-am...8RL._SS500_.jpg

I bought the anime DVDs when there were released as separate volumes. I've considering buying that collection just to be a nerd collector, but I've held off. The top row of my collection picture is the five individual volumes. That framed picture in the middle is an animation cell from the show.

[Wenny]

I excited about this Game Club. I bought this on VC when it was released but never got around to playing it. now I have the perfect excuse to set aside some other games to get my money's worth on the purchase. I'll have to make room in my fridge first....

[osu tatakae aaron]

Great pick! I, too, downloaded this on the VC immediately since I never had a chance to play it. Having played a bit single and multiplayer I have to say it's easily among the best Virtual Console games available.

Now to go play it some more and come back with impressions.

[SlimX]

The question is, who would win in a fight between the Radical Ninja and the Mystical Ninja?

Also:

American's were afraid

I hope you're not becoming an English teacher, Phil.

[PlayerOnePhil]

The question is, who would win in a fight between the Radical Ninja and the Mystical Ninja?

The consumer.

Also:
I hope you're not becoming an English teacher, Phil.

Cripes! How did that happen. Consider that fixed.

[Brennzky]

I too picked it up on the VC a while ago but it got back logged. I have the german version so the translation is a little akward. But in any case its a fun game, and it has good music like most konami snes games did back then. I really want to try to play it multiplayer, but unfortunatly most of my friends do not play games, they suck.

The n64 versions has to get a mention, as i really loved that game as well. It really filled the gap for an action/adventure while I was waiting for Zelda.

Good series, maybe a new game will be coming to the Wii?

[Chairman Steve]

Legend of the Mystical Ninja is an awesome, awesome game. I remember staring fondly at the box at my local Blockbuster long before I even had a Super NES, and when I finally got to play the game, I was not disappointed. It was so nice to see such an unabashedly Japanese game make it overseas at the time, and fortunately the gameplay was every bit as fun as the zany humor and characters.

I hook up my SNES every now and then just to play Mystical Ninja, and year after year, I'm surprised by hell fun it remains.

[BeauRosser]

I haven't played this one before, but I have played the 64 version of Goemon. In my almost a decade old glasses, I thought that game was good. They should put that one on VC. Maybe I will go download this game though.

[thorbahn3]

I never played the SNES game but because for the longest time I only owned a N64, I played the N64 version. One thing I can still remember is playing this feudel Japan like game when all of the sudden, for no reason a giant fucking robot shows up and you battle it with your giant robot. It pretty much the video game version of Kevin SMith's giant spider story:

[drasle]

Congratulations, you've managed to dredge up some traumatic memories from my childhood.

When I was a kid there was a game rental place down the road called "Videots." That place ruled. They had every NES/SNES/Genesis game you could imagine for rent. On the cheap! I remember getting this week after week, trying mostly unsuccessfully to conquer it in co-op mode with my cousin. I mean, eventually we beat it, but still... Oh yeah, the traumatic memories. Aside from one unfortunate incident that took place inside Videots (which i'd rather not discuss here), this is the first game that frustrated me to the point that I broke a controller playing it, and is still the only SNES title to hold that honor.

Anyway, yeah, this game was fun, but nothing special. I see the N64 version getting more praise here, and rightfully so, as that game was fucking genius. The graphics, the gameplay, the laugh track! It's beautiful. The writing was so comical, it strikes me as almost Katamari-style. Nonetheless, that's not the focus of this game club.

Someone mentioned it was surprising to see a game that was "so japanese" released here (albeit with a horrible americanized box art), but more surprising to me was how referential it was of japanese folklore, in particular the ending, where you find out the main boss is a powerless old man operating with the help of a mythological Kitsune. I wonder how many kids got that reference, because it wasn't explained at all in the game. They'd have to be pretty sharp, Antonio. I know I wasn't.

Anyway, we shall meet again. Bye for now, Fernandez!

[dammitmattt]

I seem to have the opposite opinion of many people here. I absolutely adored the SNES version, but I felt that the N64 version was nothing more than a mediocre Mario/Zelda hybrid clone. Of course, it's been 10+ years since I've played either version, so I need to check them out again to confirm my memories.

[Chairman Steve]

Someone mentioned it was surprising to see a game that was "so japanese" released here (albeit with a horrible americanized box art)

The box art is horribly americanized, but it's almost hypnotically bad/bizarre. I mean, seriously... even in this thread, I can't look away!

[marshallbanana]

After playing for a few hours, I now remember that I never really got far in this one as a kid! I mean it's no Ninja Gaiden, but I don't mind putting many frustrating hours into that because I expected it to be the hardest game ever. I didn't remember this Goemon being so difficult.

I'm gonna get my younger brother (the one I used to play with) to join me later this week to enjoy it as it was meant to be played and then maybe call in. *gasp*

[PlayerOneCJ]

If you planned to call in and comment on this Game Club you have but FOUR MORE HOURS to do so before the cut-off. 713-893-8069.

[marshallbanana]

Aww crap. Sorry guys I forgot. Got too busy with school crap. Well, most of how I feel about it so far is in this thread. I haven't gotten a chance to play co-op yet unfortunately. That was always the most fun way to play.

[Tron]

What is with this friday recording shit? I was planning on calling in today =(

[Jonnjonzz]

Some great info from one of my favorite sites.
http://hg101.classic...emon/goemon.htm