Actually, this game is more of a Don Doko Don clone than a Bubble Bobble or Fairyland Story clone, but I'm sure most of you understand where I'm coming from regardless.
As for which game I'm talking about in the headline and sentence above: The Berlin Wall.
Specifically, I'm talking about the 1991 Game Gear port of this Kaneko-developed and -published quarter-muncher.
I'm not sure how or why, but I only learned about this game last week while perusing my bank account's least favorite website ever (aka eBay).
The premise of this single-screen platformer, for those of you who are in the same pixelated boat: Players are placed in the shoes of a boy who must use his hammer to break the blocks that form the platforms that fill each stage. The resulting holes act as traps for the many enemies (including penguins and porcupines) that patrol said stages--as in, after a baddie falls into a hole, the player can bop them in the head with his hammer and send them crashing into the platform or floor below.
Strangely (or not, if you're at all used to the single-screen platformer genre), that last bit causes the defeated enemy to transform into various power-ups and food items that can be collected.
As is the case with many of these Bubble Bobble/Don Doko Don/Fairyland Story clones, The Berlin Wall is almost insultingly easy at the beginning but the difficulty quickly ramps up--about halfway through the second world, in my opinion--to a level that can only be described as "maddening."
A little trivia for anyone who cares about such things: Kaneko basically re-skinned and re-released, in 1992, this game for the Sega Mega Drive. Called Wani Wani World, this single-screener stars a green crocodile who wields his/her hammer against a bevy of platform-stalking baddies.
See also: 'You say Bubble Bobble clone, I say Fairyland Story clone'
It's like the best of Lode Runner meets the best of Bubble Bobble! I'm in!
ReplyDeleteOhhh yeah, I remember this one, thanks for reminding me - I'll have to add it to my 'single-screen platformers' feature soon :P
ReplyDeleteYes, Justin, it is kind of a mash-up of those games. Also, it's pretty fun and *very* cute. So glad I came across it :)
ReplyDeleteHey there, Simon! You reviewed Wani Wani World at one point, didn't you? Regardless, it's funny that the folks at Kaneko reskinned the game as they did -- you know, rather than just releasing a port of the arcade version of The Berlin Wall for the Mega Drive. Oh, well, I really like Wani Wani World's croc protagonist, so I'm not complaining!
ReplyDeleteI own this! I bought it completely blind just because it was the only import GG game in the shop and it turned out to be a really nice surprise :D
ReplyDeleteAh! That's great, Kimimi! My experience with the game is similar, although I obviously came across it on eBay. I can't even remember what game I was searching for, but whatever it was led me to an auction for this game, which I'd never heard of. I liked the box art, though, so I did some digging -- and discovered that it was right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteI ended up winning that auction, by the way. The game hasn't arrived yet, but I'm expecting it to sometime later this week or next week. I can't wait!
How many GG games do you have at this point, anyway? This isn't your only import, is it?
It's not my only GG import, but it was my first :)
ReplyDeleteI currently own 16 GG games and 10 of those are imports. So not a lot, but enough for now I think.
Hey, 16 GG games -- 10 of which are imports -- sounds pretty good to me! At this point, I can't imagine I'll own more than about 10 when all is said and done, although you never know with me :P
ReplyDeleteWell GG games are so cheap it's easy to end up with more than you intended to buy ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true. Although not ALL GG games are cheap -- especially when you want CIB versions :|
ReplyDeleteThat just looks like Space Panic crossed with Space Panic to me! Came out in 1980, 3 years before Lode Runner, and it didn't have the puzzle elements. Those penguins are straight out lifted from Pengo, too. But it sure is cute, and looks like fun, too.
ReplyDeletewarp: Yeah, I saw on the Berlin Wall Wikipedia page that it was inspired by Space Panic. Sadly, I've yet to play or even see videos/screens of Space Panic!
ReplyDeleteAs for the penguins looking like those in Pengo: I agree! Of course, Pengo was made by Sega, as far as I know, and this game was made by Kaneko.
Anyway, yes, it is both cute and fun -- I can assure you!
Wow, you've never even seen a screenshot of Space Panic? I love that game! It's a true classic, and supposedly the first platformer ever (even though there's no jumping). I think I first played an Apple II port of it.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to a screen of the arcade game: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/Space_panic_version_e.png
Nope, never heard of it or seen a screenshot of it before now, warp. (Er, well, before I visited the Berlin Wall's Wiki page, I guess I should say.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it certainly looks like The Berlin Wall, that's for sure! The Berlin Wall is loads cuter, though :)
Hi Bryan :) No, I've not reviewed Wani Wani World yet but it's in the queue :)
ReplyDeleteHuh. I swear I've seen you mention it on your blog in the past. I guess I'm thinking of some other site/blog? Anyway, I'm glad to hear it's in the cue and I look forward to reading your write-up on it.
ReplyDeleteI'd buy a copy of it myself, BTW, if I owned a Mega Drive. I'm sure I'll get back to that system eventually, though :)