Topic: JonLeung's Requests

[JonLeung]

zagato blackfist keeps the NES train going with two games I'm surprised haven't been mapped before: Nightshade - Part 1: The Claws Of Sutekh Maps and Star Wars (J).

The first is a point-and-click adventure with action elements and humour.  One of the most unique and notable things about this game is that you don't have "lives" in the traditional sense, but that when you get captured, you are taken to a room (as seen in the "Captured!" map) where you do have a chance to escape so you can continue your adventure.  At least, until you get to the inescapable room, then it's really "game over".

The Namco version of Star Wars is different than the JVC/Beam version.  It features the planet Hoth (seemingly "early") as well as the water planet Iskalon (featured in comics and other books).  This game is infamous for its bosses that initially appear to be Darth Vader, but are supposedly illusions, which explain why they transform into a scorpion, Wampa, shark or pterosaur!

Thanks again for the work that you do, zagato!  It's great to check these two off!

[JonLeung]

Another NES request fulfilled by zagato blackfist is for Conquest Of The Crystal Palace.

Since April 2016 we have had maps of its Japanese version, Matendouji (J), thanks to Lex-05.  But it is one of those games that I believed might have some differences.  I didn't really look into it, though, but it turns out I was right, as zagato noticed himself as he mapped them.  He relayed those interesting changes to me, and I'll let him explain if he wants to here on the forums, but one of the biggest differences that's hard NOT to notice is clear when even just glancing at the maps for Matendouji's Stage-3 and Conquest Of The Crystal Palace's Stage 3.  That Japanese version... yikes!

This game is one that I've always been fascinated about since seeing the ads which show off the box art with the big armoured purple guy busting through the frame. I don't think it was one I got around to renting - it wasn't at the usual stores we rented from, though I did see it once at another place that for whatever reason we wouldn't be able to rent from, because of time or convenience, or maybe it was just rented out.  So I think it was one of the games I got into early on in my emulation journey, back when I was using NESticle.  I got stuck at an undefeatable mini-boss in the last stage, seen here in this longplay video at 33:09 and a couple other times shortly after that.  Try as I might, it just wouldn't be defeated or even fly away, as this video shows he should do.  I think it's like the time I played River City Ransom on an emulator (probably NESticle again), and one boss, Turk, was simply undefeatable.  I don't know these were a bad dumps, or something up with the emulator, maybe an overuse of cheat codes or hacks, that somehow created these indestructable bosses.  Well, I've beaten River City Ransom a few times, I'm sure, even before that and on an actual cartridge, but I should revisit Conquest Of The Crystal Palace one of these days, so my brother can stop mentioning that "invincible green and orange guy" as an inside joke about games I've never finished.

Thanks yet again, zagato!  Keep up the great work!

[JonLeung]

I just noticed today, coincidentally, as I was adding Alley Cat (an MS-DOS game from my childhood) to my request list, that I had Alone In The Dark on there, but I hadn't actually recognized that VGCartography had already mapped it, and its two maps were submitted on August 22 and August 24... in 2022.  As today is August 23, 2024, that was two years ago.  Whoops!

I'm appreciative when people fulfill my requests, so this is a grievous oversight on my part.  So, a long overdue thanks, VGCartography! 

It was recognized as the Maps Of The Month for March 2024, but even so, I should be better about expressing gratitude, especially at the time!

[JonLeung]

Yet another NES request checked off by zagato blackfist, this time for Spy Vs Spy.

This is one my brother and I rented more than once and enjoyed once we understood it.  It's definitely a lot more fun as a two-player game.  Is this game considered niche, or did others play this back in the day too?  There's a Master System version and some sequels on computers that I might want to check out sometime.

Thanks again, zagato!

[John Brain]

JonLeung, you also have Stargate in your SNES requests, but, like with Daze Before Christmas, Genesis version is the same, as you can see by comparing these two maps, so this request is also completed. 

[JonLeung]

JonLeung, you also have Stargate in your SNES requests, but, like with Daze Before Christmas, Genesis version is the same, as you can see by comparing these two maps, so this request is also completed. 

So, the request for Stargate is specifically for the Super NES version, as it is one of the requests for maps of games that appear on covers of Nintendo Power between 1988-1996.  The game appears on the cover of the magazine for April 1995, and obviously wouldn't be the Genesis version.

However, I certainly do appreciate the effort of mapping the Genesis version, and as you mentioned, its maps are practically identical to the Super NES version's.  I would guess there might be some palette differences, but navigationally, they still work more than well enough.

So, thanks, John Brain!  You have contributed a lot of Genesis stuff, and though I am a Nintendo fan, I have frequently stated my desire to see more Sega stuff on here, in some attempt to balance things out, so you should get more praise for the stuff you have contributed!

I will consider that request fulfilled (as the Genesis version) here in this topic (though I think I will still leave that open in the Nintendo Power topic).

[JonLeung]

Today, we got maps from zagato blackfist, this time for the Japanese Famicom game, Majou Densetsu II: Daimashikyou Galious (J).

This is one that is originally a little indulgent, but I think there are more fans than myself.  I haven't ever gotten far in this, part of why I would like these maps.

The indulgence I speak of is that this was just an old memory of mine, and for years I didn't know what this was.  Back in the day, for whatever reason, I think my dad had just travelled somewhere, and he came back with some loose Famicom games as sort of a long-distance borrowing (? ? ?).  There were three games at least (for some reason I think there might have been four), and after maybe a month or two my dad had to return them.  I didn't find out until much later what those games are.

We turned on one game, and was pleasantly surprised to see the tank from Blaster Master, but in a different setting.  As we already owned Blaster Master, my brother and I got excited at the prospect of a sequel!  But a mere two seconds later, it turned out to be the same game!  Turns out it is Chou-Wakusei Senki Meta Fight (J), the original version with a totally different story - no pet frog here! - which explains why the intro and - a rude surprise later - the end part of Area 4 is different.  In that part, you have to grab a small piece of ladder after a blind jump, it's little ridiculous, so it was changed to a series of platforms for Blaster Master.

Another game we got was a definitely-Japanese game with characters that I would later recognize immediately when I saw The Legend Of The Mystical Ninja for the Super NES.  The Famicom game at the time turns out to be Ganbare Goemon 2 (J), which my silly young self referred to as "Yummy 2" because I couldn't read it other than the "2" on the label.  I most definitely remember the robot sumo boss seen here at 6:40.  I realize I didn't actually request it yet, so now it's added to the list. 

So, Majou Densetsu II: Daimashikyou Galious (J), for the longest time I had no idea what it was.  It's not something that was localized or had recognizable characters.  I didn't give it a weird name like "Yummy 2", so I think my brother and I just called it "the castle game" or "the knight game".  In the years since, I might have seen some random screenshots, but only got its name for sure from reading The NES Anthology from Geeks-Line Publishing, which I reviewed here.  It's a challenging dungeon game, and I didn't get far.  If it's dependent on knowing the Japanese language, that might be part of it.  I especially remembering the ladders, and how weird it is that they don't extend one more block higher - as it is, it looks like all ladders are under the platform that you can actually climb up into, or down.  I guess this hides ladders that would go down from the bottom of the screen, if that's intentional or not.

My dad had to return the games at some point, but just the short time I had with them cemented some memories that make Blaster Master, Goemon/Mystical Ninja, and "the knight game" some kind of weird trilogy.

Anyway, that's a lot of ranting that no one else except my brother might find interesting.  But, in any case, thanks for helping to preserve my childhood memories, zagato blackfist!

[Cyartog959]

JonLeung, if I may, I found a whole map of "Alwa's Awakening", courtesy of 2 people responsible for charting this neat Metroidvania NES influenced adventure, Duckfist, for the whole map, and Stubbsy, for updating it to include secrets and making the map more complete. Its straight from a Steam Guide posted a long while ago. Sprites of all bosses and enemies included. Didn't need to do any ripping for this. I just only found it.

The map's link's right here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/10vPv7HfbtoaqKg4-E8AzPhjgWmRJiX1r/edit

It was rather fun, but I loathed having to travel to all the areas without making backtracking more lenient, especially with the slow speed I've had to endure the whole adventure.

Thankfully, "Alwa's Legacy" eased it all up. I can only hope we get to see "Alwa III" sometime soon. Elden Pixels made great games! They even recently released their newest game, "A Void Hope". Rather different, but, still, sounds rather fun to look at.

[JonLeung]

JonLeung, if I may, I found a whole map of "Alwa's Awakening", courtesy of 2 people responsible for charting this neat Metroidvania NES influenced adventure, Duckfist, for the whole map, and Stubbsy, for updating it to include secrets and making the map more complete. Its straight from a Steam Guide posted a long while ago. Sprites of all bosses and enemies included. Didn't need to do any ripping for this. I just only found it.

I sent Stubbsy a message, as I'll need their permission to put it up.  Let's hope that pans out.

And today, we got maps for one of the PC games I requested!  I always find it odd that the PC map requests rarely get fulfilled compared to requests for maps for games on consoles.

Anyway, eishiya has sent in a full map set for The Mummy Demastered.

It's by WayForward, so I know it's good, it's just surprising to see a good movie tie-in game.  And it's a good-looking Metroidvania, too.

It reminds me of the interesting trivia that Tom Cruise (who starred in The Mummy (2017)) hasn't allowed the use of his likeness in toys or video games.  Though he did allow it for the Mission: Impossible character of Ethan Hunt for LEGO Dimensions, interestingly, which is a combo of toy and video game!  Perhaps the LEGOification was enough for it to be acceptable.  According to this article on bloody-disgusting.com, it is speculated that the cancellation of the Funko POP! figure of Nick Morton (Tom Cruise's character) may have been due to Tom Cruise himself, so I guess an abstract version is not enough to get by that stipulation.  Maybe LEGO is just that cool?

And on a side note, it's kind of too bad that The Mummy didn't really get Universal's "Dark Universe" of connected films going.  After a false start with Dracula Untold (2014), they wanted to try again with The Mummy (2017), but its commercial failure put an end to that, at least as a cinematic universe.  I'm not a huge monster movie fan, but I like the idea of interconnected movies, and it seems sad for this to flop not just once, but twice.  Now "Dark Universe" is the name of the Universal Monsters-themed section in the upcoming Epic Universe theme park in Florida, let's hope for their sake it doesn't fail a third time...

But, in any case - at least we got The Mummy Demastered game out of it.  Thanks, eishiya!

[eishiya]

I liked Dracula Untold. I'm not a fan of the interconnected movie concept, but I'd have liked a direct sequel to that one, Charles Dance as an old scheming vampire is exactly what I want in a monster action film xP Dracula Untold could've made for a neat Soulslike or Metroidvania too, shame we didn't get one.

Glad to have filled one of your requests, even if unintentionally! That game caught my attention when the environment artist posted about it on Pixel Joint in 2017, it just took this long to be able to get it.

As for mapping PC games: (2D) retro console games at least are often easier to map than PC games due to emulators having tools to toggle layers, view tile data, etc, whereas with PC games, you generally have to do it the hard way. No idea what the situation is like for more recent consoles, but I'd imagine they'd have the same challenges as PC games - the rendering methods are much more varied than on older consoles, so visual debug tools are rarely available.
On a related note: I was surprised to see Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the request list! I see now only the first few maps are on the site. As a GBA game with fairly small maps, it should be fairly simple to map using the map view in an emulator like VBA, and I mapped some of the early areas that way myself years back. I'd recommend that one to someone relatively new to mapping, as with only a few image exports from the emulator, you should be able to grab all the separate layers for each map.
I also mapped a good chunk of Black Matrix Zero, another GBA tactics game, that way back in 2007, but I unfortunately never finished that game because I got stuck on a battle I can't win.

[Cyartog959]

I liked Dracula Untold. I'm not a fan of the interconnected movie concept, but I'd have liked a direct sequel to that one, Charles Dance as an old scheming vampire is exactly what I want in a monster action film xP Dracula Untold could've made for a neat Soulslike or Metroidvania too, shame we didn't get one.

That game caught my attention when the environment artist posted about it on Pixel Joint in 2017, it just took this long to be able to get it.

As for mapping PC games: (2D) retro console games at least are often easier to map than PC games due to emulators having tools to toggle layers, view tile data, etc, whereas with PC games, you generally have to do it the hard way. No idea what the situation is like for more recent consoles, but I'd imagine they'd have the same challenges as PC games - the rendering methods are much more varied than on older consoles, so visual debug tools are rarely available.
On a related note: I was surprised to see Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the request list! I see now only the first few maps are on the site. As a GBA game with fairly small maps, it should be fairly simple to map using the map view in an emulator like VBA, and I mapped some of the early areas that way myself years back. I'd recommend that one to someone relatively new to mapping, as with only a few image exports from the emulator, you should be able to grab all the separate layers for each map.
I also mapped a good chunk of Black Matrix Zero, another GBA tactics game, that way back in 2007, but I unfortunately never finished that game because I got stuck on a battle I can't win.

Yeah. That would've been a cool game adaptation of Dracula Untold. I can imagine if if we had such a game. Soulslike or Metroidvania, I'd kinda been cool with either one and had a great time playing it.

You've done well with your maps, as before, and I was kinda astounded about their overall map sizes.

The total size from The Mummy Demastered's London map kinda surprised me. I mean, sure, it doesn't come close to largest Metroidvania game/any game map yet, which is still Hollow Knight, unless proven otherwise, but the maps' layouts seem quite a bit more straightforward compared to others being more labyrinthine and complex.

Comparably, I've seen prior Castlevania games' Metroidvania maps, and they looked complex at that time.

Blasphemous' world map of Cystodia, on the other hand, I can definitely see a bit more complex in their locations' layouts. They were well-made and a bit more complex.

Sorry you were stuck in that battle on Black Matrix Zero. I hope you'll win it and continue on with that game and mapping it sometime soon, when you can.

Whatever maps you decide to do next, I look forward to seeing them.

[JonLeung]

zagato blackfist is really whittling down my NES/Famicom requests!  We've got Captain Skyhawk and Transformers: Convoy no Nazo (J).

I've always though Captain Skyhawk's unique look was intriguing, with that sort of isometric thing looking on.  Also, he looks like a typical pilot in a typical fighter jet, yet... he can go into space?

And of course, I've always been a Transformers fan.  Though "Convoy no Nazo", starring Ultra Magnus, isn't that good...  I still appreciate the maps, don't get me wrong!  But gameplay-wise, it leaves a lot to be desired!  This is a Japanese Famicom exclusive - I've always wondered why no Transformers game came out for the NES.  After all, both Nintendo and Transformers were very popular and had their peak from the mid-80s and into the next decade.  It seems like it would have been a perfect match.  Ah, well.

Thanks again for coming through, zagato!

[Cyartog959]

JonLeung, I know the two games aren't on your request list, but, I just saw Ori and the Blind Forest and Will of the Wisps up on the Atlas, and they're already done by G.E.R., here. Of course, you already know, anyway.

I never expected those games' maps to be up on VGMaps, though, I briefly had thoughts about them, but, those are amazingly good Metroidvanias. The amazing visuals, their own storytelling methods, the ever charming and emotional music, well... I don't know what else to say.

At least we can give thanks to G.E.R. for mapping them. Definitely will help for those having trouble exploring both Nibel and Niwen and finding everything in them.

[JonLeung]

zagato blackfist is takes down another NES request!  Well, actually, it's a Famicom one: Power Blazer (J).

I wanted maps to be able to compare with the Western version, Power Blade, but it's really so different that I really wonder if they should be considered variants of the same thing or as two separate games.

(Both versions of the sequel, Power Blade II / Captain Saver (J), actually are the same, other than the language and the title.  Since the Japanese audience wasn't familiar with "Power Blade", Taito came up with the new name of "Captain Saver".)

Thanks again as always, zagato!

[JonLeung]

Though appreciated as always, it's hardly a surprise that zagato blackfist smashes another NES request!  The Incredible Crash Dummies I know is an unusual request, but there we have it.

There are a number of different platforms with The Incredible Crash Dummies games; some are similar and some are different.  The NES one, as far as I know, is unique.  I could have sworn that the Game Boy one was similar, but upon checking the screenshots on MobyGames, it's not.  But the Game Boy game is similar to the Game Gear and Master System ones.  And the Super NES and Genesis ones look like each other.  And the Amiga one looks like the one for the 16-bit consoles but with different backgrounds for some reason.  It's kind of confusing.

Speaking of confusing, The Incredible Crash Dummies is featured in Nintendo Power, Volume 48 for May 1993.  Its feature is right before Super Turrican for the NES, which did not end up getting a North American release.  When The Incredible Crash Dummies is summarized in the "Now Playing" section at the end of the issue, it's erroneously titled "The Incredible Crash Test Dummies".  That's right, the "Test" shouldn't be in there, at least in this context for the brand of the toys and media at the time.

I wasn't big on action figures as a kid (unless you count Transformers?), and I was probably of the age when I should grow out of them, but for whatever reason, I recall my brother and I having a handful of these toys.  I don't recall what the appeal was for us, but there we go.  I'm pretty sure we had Spin, Daryl, Spare Tire, Skid The Kid, and one of the vehicles, though I'm not 100% sure which one.  I think it was one of the bikes, as I never did get one of the cars, which is odd.

Didn't expect to be going down memory lane when it comes to the toys.  But, anyway, remember to wear your seatbelt.  (The YouTube animator "TheOdd1sOut" says something to that effect at the end of many of his videos, doesn't he?)

Thanks again, zagato!  Not many NES games remaining of my own personal requests...