StarTropics comes to VC, letter not included

by Alisha Karabinus { Nov 30th 2007 at 11:24PM }

While this isn't yet confirmed for the U.S., it takes naught but a whisper of StarTropics on the Virtual Console to encourage us to break out the fine champagne and get our celebration on. The NES classic turned up on Australia's OFLC website, and if it's coming to PAL regions, surely they won't deny the experience to U.S. gamers!

They'd better not, at least. We're not afraid to riot. Get the torches!

Siliconera's Levi raised an interesting question about the title, which was never released in Japan. With games never before released outside Japan heading to new territories, will the same thing happen here? If any game is worth a translation, it's StarTropics, certainly.

Tags: australia, hell-of-awesome-games, nes, startropics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

stephenv @ Nov 30th 2007 11:44PM

747, bitch.

(right?)

gphoenix51 @ Nov 30th 2007 11:49PM

Yeah, I remember calling the Nintendo Game Counselor's tip line when I got to that point. I'd bought my copy from Blockbuster, and apparently Blockbuster has a policy of throwing the instruction booklets and other stuff out. So all I got was the game and no letter, and I couldn't find my Nintendo Power with it in it.

747, just like the Airplane (that's how I've always remembered it since then :P)

stephenv @ Dec 1st 2007 12:35AM

cool. it's been so long i can't believe i remembered. but, yeah, it's only cause it's the same as the airplane.

Shadow31 @ Dec 1st 2007 12:00AM

Forgive me, I never owned an NES... what genre of game is this? I hear it's good, but I wanna know what I'd be getting into...

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 1st 2007 12:49AM

Imagine Earthbound... Wait you probably wouldn't know that then either... How about Contact?...
It's a wacky Nintendo RPG OK?

Shadow31 @ Dec 1st 2007 11:09AM

I know Earthbound, I never owned an NES, but I've played NES games, after unlocking Ness in the first Super Smash Bros, I had to see what he was about. If it's an RPG, I'm sold. Especially one as off the wall as Earthbound.

Leo @ Dec 1st 2007 3:13PM

It's nothing like Earthbound.
It's an action/adventure game like Zelda.

gphoenix51 @ Dec 1st 2007 3:15PM

Startropics isn't an RPG. It's an adventure game, and while that word has been used to describe many many games, in this case it's actually true. You don't gain levels but you do explore the different islands in the Startropics world. It starts as a Zelda like overhead map view; for Island Exploration, finding Heart Containers and visiting the various villages you run across. Then it switches to a close up sorta third person view for the combat levels. Basically you have a dungeon to explore, enemies to kill with your Yo-Yo (I kid you not, it makes an awesome weapon though) and puzzles to solve.

So now that I think about it, it is more related to the original Zelda games. If you liked the Zelda games on NES, you'll like StarTropics

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 1st 2007 4:13PM

Oops. Since I've only heard about StarTropics in Earthbound/Mother topics, I just assumed it was the same. I guess it's more like Zelda I and II.

Strike Man @ Dec 1st 2007 1:57AM

Soaking Dr. J's letter in a sink was one of the coolest devices used on the NES to smash down the fourth wall. I still have that letter in my Star Tropics box too.

In all honesty, I wonder how Nintendo will get around that to the average consumer who may decide check this game out, but may not know of resources like GameFAQs for problems like this.

DomoBraden @ Dec 1st 2007 2:25AM

Oh god yes.

Alisha, I must say that your mention of riots was well deserved. If this doesn't come to the US I'll have my picket signs and make-shift explosions ready....okay, probably not...but I'll definitely THINK ABOUT IT..

Also, did you say this never made it to Japan?! Wow, those poor bastards. Granted, they get all the good games first and sometimes are the only country to get them whatsoever..but still, it makes me feel bad. Japan better get a shot at it on the VC also.

Now they just need to bring Crystalis to the VC...

Mr Khan @ Dec 1st 2007 10:57AM

They'll either have to put it in the digital operations guide or chop that part out of the game

Or require an address for everyone who downloads this game, so that they can mail the instruction manual to you...

CJC @ Dec 1st 2007 11:50AM

If I remember correctly the first password was 1492 (Columbus' voyage) and the next one was 1776 (Declaration of Independence.)

gphoenix51 @ Dec 1st 2007 3:21PM

Those passwords were for the Submarine, Sub-C. The first password was the start-up code to activate Sub-C at the end of Area 1. The Second password was found in a letter in a bottle on a beach in Area 2 that activated the diving ability, without which you could have never made it through Area 2, much less the rest of the game.