Special delivery: Kaneko's Peetan for GameBoy

I don't think I've ever mentioned this here or anywhere else, but for some time now I've dutifully--some would say obsessively--maintained a list of "Holy Grail" GameBoy titles.

Basically, the games named on it are ones I desperately want to own before I kick the bucket.

The list used to be pretty long. I've been able to lop a number of games off of it in recent years, months and weeks, though, thanks to some timely perusals of eBay, Yahoo Japan Auctions and the like.



A few of the titles that have made the transition from my handy text file to my grubby little hands: Tumblepop, Totsugeki! Ponkotsu Tank, Taiyou no Tenshi Marlowe, Snow Bros. Jr., Painter Momopie, Noobow, Bubble Bobble Junior and Astro Rabby.

Oh, and Kaneko's Peetan.

Tracking down and acquiring a complete-in-box copy of that 1991, Japan-only release has been more difficult than you might think. After all, the game rarely pops up on any of the auction sites or online shops I eluded to earlier, and when it does, it usually goes for an obscene amount of money. (Here's a good example.)

So, when I came across the far-cheaper-than-four-hundred-dollars copy of Peetan showcased in the photos found throughout this post, you can bet I jumped on it.

It's not perfect. The colorful outer box is ever-so-slightly torn on its rear side, and the instruction manual is a bit crumpled. Still, it's complete and the game cartridge works like a charm, so I'm more than satisfied.

If you've never played, or even heard of, Peetan, the gist is that it's a lot like one of those old Game & Watch titles Nintendo produced during the 1980s. How so? Well, the whole she-bang is depicted in black and white (or black and green, if you're using an original GameBoy model), for starters. Also, each and every stage sticks to the confines of the brick-like handheld system's screen.

Beyond that, Peetan's gameplay is refreshingly simple. You control a mama chicken who patrols the top fifth of the play area. Below her are a trio of helpless chicks as well as a bunch of seesaws. Throwing a wrench into the works: a hungry mutt (or wolf) who has his eyes--and terrifying chops--set on the above-mentioned hatchlings.

As he stalks your offspring, you press the GameBoy's directional pad to move left or right and jab its A or B buttons to drop eggs that either knock the canid on the head or catapult your chicks toward safety (aka the top of the screen).

It's all rather stressful--something that probably isn't obvious in this Peetan gameplay footage--although the boppy tunes that percolate in the background help cut the tension a bit. (But only a bit.)

Would Peetan have earned a place on the "must buy" list mentioned early on in this post if its gameplay weren't so compelling and exciting? Honestly, I think it would have. Look at that cover art and tell me you wouldn't say the same--if you had any interest in collecting GameBoy titles, I mean.

This Inter State-made game's instruction manual's quite a looker, too, although I hesitate to compare it to its cartridge label. (Don't take my word for it; flip through the Peetan manual yourself.) Still, I'm sure you get the point: that Peetan's packaging is top notch all the way around.

What do you think? Also, have any of you played this old game? If so, what did you think of it?

See also: 'Nu-Bo, Nuubou, Noobow, New--oh, whatever...'

This one's for you, Sean

I couldn't help but think of Famicomblog proprietor Sean upon seeing this morning's addition to the Retro Treasures blog, which turned followers on to an eBay auction for a complete-in-box Donkey Kong Pocketsize Game & Watch system.

That said, I can't see Sean handing over the kind of cash that's surely going to be needed to win this particular auction. After all, the bidding's already up to £720 (approximately $1,120) and the auction doesn't end until around this time on Thursday.

All of this could be yours for $1,000 (or more)!

Although I'm sure that's way more than anyone reading this post is willing to spend on such an item, the eBay listing (here) is still worth a look if you're at all interested in Nintendo's Game & Watch products--especially since it includes a number of additional photos of the system taken from different angles.

(Via retro-treasures.blogspot.com)

'Adventure is on the horizon!'

You've just got to love this "classic" Game & Watch commercial.

I mean, it features the Mary-oh brothers (I've always gotten a kick out of that pronunciation), twins dressed in matching outfits and a reminder that the multi- and wide-screened systems can be used to tell time. (I guess that's where the "watch" part of Game & Watch comes into play, huh?)



See also: 'The Great Gaymathon Review #31: Game & Watch Collection (DS)'

The Great Gaymathon Review #31: Game & Watch Collection (DS)

Game: Game & Watch Collection

Genre: Action

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

System: Nintendo DS

Release date: 2008

It's a good thing Game & Watch Collection is "free" (to those who have earned enough Club Nintendo points). I don't say that because I think it's a crappy game; I say it because I don't think it includes enough content to be worth whatever the folks at Nintendo surely would have charged for it had it been sold in stores. As it stands, though, 800 Nintendo Points (or whatever they're called these days) is an acceptable enough price to pay for this package of three rejiggered Game & Watch titles: Donkey Kong, Green House and Oil Panic. The first one's probably the best of the bunch, but each of them are worth a few minutes of your time if you're a child of the 1980s (or earlier) and if you have a fond recollection of Nintendo's pre-NES--or pre-Famciom, if that's how you roll--era. Everyone else should stay far away, as the games included on this diminutive DS cartridge require a healthy dose of nostalgia to be fully enjoyed.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Those lucky bastards

Here's what Japanese Club Nintendo members will be receiving for achieving Platinum status this year:

Actually, the photo above was posted on NeoGAF this morning, so obviously some Platinum members have gotten their grubby little mitts on this prize already.

Anyway, as much as I'd love for Nintendo to offer Game & Watch re-issues to North American Club Nintendo members, I'd prefer it if they localized and released Exclamation Warriors (aka Zekkyō Senshi Sakeburein) or Tingle's Balloon Fight.

(Via NeoGAF)

Apparently the first Game & Watch titles were aimed at Japanese yuppies

At least, that was my first thought after watching this commercial from 1982:



Silly/sad fact of the day: I watched the first five seconds of this ad (Announcer: "Konpakuto?" Lady in pink: "No!") about 10 times before I wrote this post.

(Via inside-games.jp)

Is it the title of a game or a gay porn flick?

The title in question belongs to one of Nintendo's latest Game & Watch DSiWare releases: Manhole.

Sadly, it seems the game isn't anywhere near as kinky as its name suggests. According to Nintendo's official description of the 200-point title, players are tasked with using their manhole covers "to prevent the pedestrians from falling through the holes. Pedestrians appear from the left on the upper path and from the right on the bottom path. Earn a point every time a pedestrian walks safely over a covered manhole, or receive a mistake icon for every pedestrian who falls down an uncovered manhole. Receive three mistake icons and it's game over!"

When the PR folks at Nintendo say "manhole covers," they're referring to something like this and not something a bit more personal (and pervy), right?

I know, I have the mind of a 5-year-old.