After asking ol' Fizzlebottom (who leaves comments here now and then under the name Kaze) how much the copy of Banana was going for, he replied that it was "around $30" and then rather preciently added, "Would you like me to snag it for you if it's still there tomorrow?"
Because I'm a firm believer that you can't own too many copies of this charming, Famicom-based puzzler, I told Fizzlebottom/Kaze something along the lines of, "Yes, please--if it includes the game's instruction manual and if the whole package is, indeed, $30 or less." (OK, so my actual response was closer to "YES!!!!!")
So, how does this tale end? With me obtaining a complete-in-box copy of Victor Interactive's Banana (which does include its manual, thank you very much) for just $14.99. And, I have to say, what a gorgeous box it is--even if it does show a bit of wear and tear.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aV5KysmbzbH3MWflUGPVavHmgSVXD01h-weweePJtppjjT74GbmTDbuNk1-y869M_lLU0rCWHzSwpTwFobDyC5Wm93S8ihBBqrp9Y1Mpg7AzJpA56pGmNKEkMhcuyl3ge4vk/s400/Banana_Famicom_box_003a.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdrb2Q38j48DnGpzL6i2KJEeOsQ2En0i11-UGYOEQqeWHtbuVb0nBdDV42-t5nUNzVkk5QrLeoa9spg7bleADvazQU7ccU8NosoJTb3mzxNG5oiyuKLp9XaJ8nQ4ZQ967umh-/s400/Banana_Famicom_box_back_006a.jpg)
I especially like the adorable illustrations that appear on the box's flaps (see the pair of photos below for evidence).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6L0xyVQiSMyXPgI-sNONwjPh_x4PGHagt1UqFn78XHW7QDgkLGV0rgVtNejoRFBryRyJfqA-skF6g2DiQ55L5o-zw-E2eT6_zcbxmnIpUf9XSrMSbm-7YedGFfzaxf9fMdC1/s400/Banana_Famicom_box_flap_009a.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CVB0FjrXsZQa5ICTjHfsva0K8cMAYmNRLMI9gw8PzxhqH-gRy8dv1ZK0GnRcRPGvLYlyvZdVkOE97XEs_V0wEbAwlMCoAYEAG7CGnYaiIDZyVKIjtmFxU35xq3J1asnFS3Ha/s400/Banana_Famicom_box_flap_014a.jpg)
Although I've already thanked Fizzlebottom/Kaze a number times for thinking of me while waltzing through Pink Gorilla's PAX Prime booth, I'm going to do so again here because, well, I think he deserves as much praise as I can heap upon him at the moment.
Thank you, Kaze!
See also: 'Additional proof that I have awesome readers,' 'Additional proof that Kimimi (of Kimimi's Blog) is an awesome chick' and 'Additional proof that Darwin Yamamoto is a pretty awesome dude'