Virtually Overlooked Special: A bunch of NES games I get mixed up with each other
by JC Fletcher 
{ May 31st 2007 at 4:40PM }
Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.
Last week, I asked for reader suggestions for this week's Virtually Overlooked. One reader suggested The Guardian Legend, and I thought that was a perfectly reasonable suggestion. The Guardian Legend was one of the biggest sleeper hits of the NES era, and something that is definitely worth checking out, especially for fans of Ys and Faxanadu.
It was only later that I realized that I was thinking of Legacy of the Wizard. I get those two mixed up a lot. They both fall into that "sleeper" category, they were both published by Brøderbund, and they both have "Leg" in the title. They're practically the same game, except that one's a hybrid vertical shooter/Zelda-style adventure developed by Compile, and the other is a side-scrolling action RPG from Nihon Falcom. But other than that, the same game.
Inspired by my inability to keep two similar things separate, I thought this week we could look at some more NES games I get confused about, either because they're so similar or because I'm so dumb.
Kickle Cubicle and Adventures of Lolo
Both of these are top-down tile-based puzzle games with adorable characters. I should be able to remember that Kickle Cubicle is the one with kicking, but I never can. I always hated these character puzzle games, which is why they all run together. I'm sure I'll get kicked out of Nintendo fandom for not liking Lolo.
This is just not fair. Look at the hats. I'm never going to be able to get these straight. I think Mystery Quest was specifically designed to confuse people into thinking it was Milon's Secret Castle. Maybe Taxan figured that was the only way it would sell. Anyway, saying I get it mixed up with Milon's Secret Castle is probably the nicest thing I can say about Mystery Quest. That's like complimenting someone's hair by saying that you confused it for your neighbors' 14-year-old cat.
8 Eyes, Magician, and Faxanadu
Faxanadu is a genuinely good game, but it also looks just like every other side-scrolling RPG ever put on the NES. Maybe a little browner. 8 Eyes is kind of unique in its non-uniqueness: it's actually a Castlevania clone that also manages to look like these other games. I actually don't remember Magician at all, except for the fact that I rented it at least twice when I meant to rent Faxanadu.
Kabuki Quantum Fighter and Phantom Fighter
These games aren't similar in the least-- they just happen to both be side-scrolling action games that involve East Asian themes (kabuki in the former, jiangshi in the latter). Also they both end in -um Fighter.
I hope someone out there sympathizes with regard to at least one of these. Otherwise, I'll feel stupid and very exposed.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ken @ May 31st 2007 6:25PM
Wooo! I see Legacy of the Wizard in there... that's awesome.
Faxanadu is an amazing game too... man, memories! too many!
Alisha Karabinus @ May 31st 2007 6:52PM
Haha, poor JC loves so many old games that he can't even keep 'em all straight!
Rubang B @ May 31st 2007 8:20PM
I'm not mad at you for not liking Lolo. I played me a zillion hours of both, but I preferred Kickle Cubicle. And in one of the Kirby games you get to fight Lolo and the girl thing. I forget which game it was, but if you find it you can take your aggression out on them.
theLoneYoshi @ May 31st 2007 8:26PM
I didn't know Lolo had his own game... The most random Kirby character to have his own game... I'd expect a King Dedede or Meta Knight game instead... I'd personally love for Meta Knight to have his own game, given that it was good, of course (and no, the Meta Knight mode in Nightmare in Dreamland for GBA does not count).
JC Fletcher @ May 31st 2007 8:29PM
Lolo predates Kirby by three years.
Also, HAL Lab had the laziest character design ever.
theLoneYoshi @ May 31st 2007 8:40PM
"Lolo predates Kirby by three years."
Really?? So Hal just used Lololo and Lalala as a reference to that game then... LET ME GUESS!! Lolo pushes blocks to solve the puzzles and thus the Kirby boss Lololo pushes blocks through the boss room... Ooooo... Connections... You really do learn something new every day... XD
Rubang B @ May 31st 2007 8:40PM
Hm, I looked it up and apparently Lolo and Lala are villains in more than one of the Kirby games, as Lololo and Lalala, and they're in the Kirby cartoon as Fololo and Falala.
Anyway, the moral of the story was, Faxanadu was awesome but too brown. Reminds me of a lot of recent games that aim for too much realism and make everything brown and grey.
Oneiromancer @ Jun 1st 2007 12:08AM
The Guardian Legend is one of my favorite NES games...up there with Blaster Master and Bionic Commando. All 3 of those will be must-buys for me if they come out on the VC. Faxanadu was great too but I don't know if I would buy it.
Almadi @ Jun 1st 2007 9:57AM
There are many virtually overlooked games. But the problem is trying to distinguish between a game that is sellable to today's crowd and a game that may have some nostalgic value to you. I would love a release of ESWAT, Cybernator, Saturday Night Slam Masters, or any NeoGeo game. But I'm not sure everyone else would like those games.
And RPGs...WHERE ARE THE RPGs!?!?!
Hoop @ Jun 2nd 2007 12:59PM
What about the whole Cobra Triangle VS Cobra Command
Cobra Triangle Has got to be one of my MOST favorite NES games EVARRRRRR!
RARE buts out an AWESOME Pro-Am engined Boat Racer complete with power ups and the classic RC Pro am sound effects, VS Jaleco's Bad Chopper command Remake