This Famicom game's instruction manual gives it the old college try, though, and that alone makes it worth checking out.
Said instruction manual's cover certainly is adorable--and pink--enough, don't you think?
I'm skipping the manual's first two pages, by the way, because they're pretty boring. (They basically show players which buttons do what. Yawn.) The next few pages, though, are anything but boring thanks to a number of nice illustrations that seemingly help tell the story behind this pastel-splashed platformer.
After a few more yawn-inducing pages that feature lots of text and a smidge of screenshots, the manual gets interesting again.
Which of the images above is your favorite? Mine is the one showing Kirby spitting air (or is it water?) out of his mouth while swimming.
More Kirby illustrations on the next two pages. I'll bet the folks at Nintendo of America really love the "angry Kirby" that appears on the left-hand page.
I don't know about you, but I think the drawing above--of Kirby dressed up as a cowboy--should appear in dictionaries alongside the word "saccharine." (Don't worry, I mean that in a good way.)
The page above isn't all that interesting, really, but I decided to include it here because of the illustration of Kirby holding onto one of his precious "Maxim Tomatoes."
A few more rather uneventful pages full of screenshots (sorry, this manual's just too long to post every single page) leads to those seen above. I'm guessing the page on the left shares a few pointers with players while the one on the left, well, I can't even guess what it's promoting. A guide book, maybe? (Feel free to chime in if you know Japanese and are willing to assist a dumb gaijin.)
See also: Previous 'Manual Stimulation' posts
The japanese manuals are almost always more cute than the european or american ones. I really love how Kirby is portraited in this one. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWow, the pink blob sure dominates that manual doesn't he?! He's an amusing-looking pink blob though so it's good! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy li'l Kirby with a hammer might be my favorite!
ReplyDeleteLinnea: Yes, I like how Kirby looks in this manual, too. I can't say how this manual compares to the Euro or North American ones, though, as I've never seen them. I'd love to know if the imagery is the same or different!
ReplyDeleteSimon: Yeah, there's a whole lotta Kirby in this manual! Just remember that I left out a few pages that only had text or screenshots, so the little pink blob isn't on EVERY page. Just most of them :)
ReplyDeleteJustin: Oh, yes, the li'l Kirby with a hammer is cute, isn't he? All of this Kirby talk has me itching to play the game again, BTW. Such an amazingly cute game :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a strange coincidence, because I was playing this just an hour or so ago!
ReplyDeleteNintendo's 8 and 16-bit manuals were always a pleasure to look through, and this is no exception - I love the story illustrations at the start! :D
Y'know, I never got into Kirby as much as some of my friends, but... this manual is absolutely adorable! Maybe I would have been into this game more if I had seen this first! Thanks for the fun share!
ReplyDeleteone word: that cool!
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny, Kimimi! This is one of the few Famicom games you have, right? Or am I remembering incorrectly?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, yes, Nintendo's 8-bit and 16-bit manuals are great, especially after a certain period. (The manuals they made for their earliest releases are a bit boring, IMO.)
Matthew: Oh, I hear you. My first experience with Kirby was ... Canvas Curse for the DS? Honestly, I don't think I played a Kirby game before that. Strangely, the character just never appealed to me before that.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, though, I've since become quite a fan of the cute little guy. This game, in particular, is such a joy to play--and to look at, too. If you've never fully given it a chance, I suggest you do so soon.
Regardless, I'm glad you were able to enjoy the manual. It certainly is chock-full of cuteness, isn't it?
Marco: I won't argue with you! Cool, cute, absurdly adorable (and pink)--all of these words describe the manual well, in my opinion :P
ReplyDeleteIt's actually the only Famicom/NES game I own ^^~
ReplyDeleteI always remember when I was younger spending ages looking through SNES manuals - they hard proper artwork! And colour pages!
...I say that half-mocking, but thinking about it manuals now have really gone down the drain again :/
Cute nothin'! This game is tough as nails at the end!!
ReplyDeleteHa! For some reason I love that Kirby is your only Famicom game, Kimimi :)
ReplyDeleteAs for game manuals going downhill in recent years: I agree, sadly :( That's why I started this series--to recognize all of the great manuals folks like Nintendo and Sega used to produce.
I know scans of these manuals can be found elsewhere, of course, but I wouldn't feel right "stealing" them. Plus, I really want to focus on games I actually own.
You didn't ask for that info, I know, but I wanted to share it with everyone anyway :)
Justin: Well, it can be both cute and tough as nails, can't it? I sure think it can! I agree with you, BTW. It starts off as a complete cakewalk, but by the end it's anything but...
ReplyDeleteI wish I had my old NES manual to compare this with.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Adam! I may have to do some searching on line, as I'm sure it's out there somewhere...
ReplyDeleteA ha! It's actually pretty similar. In fact, all of the illustrations appear to be the same with the exception of the ones at the very beginning.
ReplyDeleteHere's a scan of the NA version of the game (KIrby's Adventure), in case anyone is interested: http://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/nes/Kirby's%20Adventure.pdf
Oh, Bryan, I didn't know you knew Japanese! ;) You're right, the page with all the yellow at the end on the right is an advertisement for the guide book! The bit on the left is the regular warnings like "please play this while maintaining a safe distance from you TV, blah blah."
ReplyDeleteI love that cowboy Kirby! And you taught me a new word, too! Now I'll always remember saccharine = cowboy Kirby.
Hey there, Anne! So, I was right about that last page? How funny! It was a total guess, of course. As for the other page being the typical warning messages: That's kind of weird, isn't it? Are such things usually in the front of a manual?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm glad you like cowboy Kirby, too. And, yes, from here on out, saccharine will always = cowboy Kirby (or, hell, pretty much any other Kirby) in my mind :)
That is a really good one. I don`t have Hoshi no Kirby CIB, but now I kind of wish I did. The cart is pretty nice too, I like ones that make such bold uses of one color. If there is ever a trivia question that asks `what is the pinkest you can make a game?` the answer will be Hoshi no Kirby.
ReplyDeleteSean: I really like this cart, too. And the box! The box is one of my favorites when it comes to Famicom games. The book is nice enough, but it doesn't really compare to the cart or the box in terms of awesomeness, IMO :)
ReplyDelete