I forgot The Karate Kid was developed by Atlus. Also, I played this game as a kid and got so frustrated with it. But now, I'm realizing that Daniel-san wasn't really very good at Karate in the movies either, so maybe they were going for some kind of realism with the game đŸ˜†
The Karate Kid can definitely be frustrating, especially in the last level. Daniel-san needs to watch himself, otherwise the evil ninjas will juggle him like crazy.
In Japanese, the game is known as Kaiketsu Yancha Maru, which roughly translates to "The Wonderful/Amazing Wild Boy." This title feels much more appropriate, haha.
First of all, it's fascinating that Atlus developed these LJN games. That might be the most improved reputation of a game developer from NES era to present-day: from licensed slop merchants to kings of the JRPG. But to be fair, much worse licensed games (and LJN games) exist than these.
Westone, meanwhile, were makers of the Wonder Boy games, so Jaws isn't exactly their finest hour, but they seem to have faded away in more recent times.
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Karate Kid - I will never forget this one as holding the title of first game that I ever beat on a weekend rental. I absolutely loved the movie and I think I was too young to realize the game wasn't very good. It had just enough links to the movie for my love of the movie to keep me engaged throughout. Contrast with a game like Top Gun, which has no relation to the movie except F-14s and the theme song.
I tried to play Karate Kid maybe 15 years ago as an adult and I didn't think it was THAT bad, but I wasn't exactly about to invest the time to finish it.
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Jaws - This was one that I tried renting as a young kid in perhaps 1988 and really struggled to understand the gameplay at that age. I then had a chance to play it as an older kid circa maybe 1991 -- I want to say I was at a cousin's house out-of-state -- and I actually had a fair bit of fun with it. I was into RPGs by then and so recognized and could enjoy the grind in this game.
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Kid Niki - First of all, I did not remember that box art, and it's kind of ridiculous! This might be one of the most extreme examples of a light-hearted anime Famicom cover (which basically captures the game's actual vibe) getting a "dark and edgy" American makeover.
I know for a fact I rented this game. I also know there was a time in my childhood when seeing the phrase "radical ninja" would have gotten me thoroughly pumped. But I remember nothing except that weapon. Don't think I've played it as an adult, either.
Seriously though, what a great phrase. Made me actually lol at work.
But yes! Atlus' journey is pretty amazing, all things considered. Westone working on Jaws... well, I guess Wonder Boy didn't always pay the bills, unfortunately.
Karate Kid and Jaws are both mediocre, but they're not terrible. They're playable. Jaws in particular is very unique, in my opinion. It doesn't offer much in the way of gameplay, but what's there is interesting.
But yeah, I remember renting Jaws as a kid and having no clue what I was supposed to do. No instruction manual included? No idea.
So much "ninja" action back in the late 80s and early 90s. TMNT, 3 Ninjas, Surf Ninjas, etc. I hear ya, "radical ninja" would have had me doubled over with excitement back in the day, but there's not a whole lot to Kid Niki, unfortunately.
I was trying to think of when ninjas really took off. The TMNT pilot was apparently in December 1987. I think that was what really set off the ninja craze. Though Shinobi predated it slightly. So Kid Niki is coming out right on the cusp of all that.
But I know there was ninja stuff around in the early/mid 80s, which TMNT was initially sort of parodying. I recall that our Blockbuster Video had this R-rated 1983 film in its collection, which I begged mom on multiple occasions to let me rent, but I've still never seen to this day.
Hmm... perhaps the ninja craze reaches further back than we think. I feel like I remember this movie too, part of the low budget, but still wildly popular violent action movies sprouting up everywhere in the 80s. Like you, I never saw it either. I doubt we missed much, but who knows!
I forgot The Karate Kid was developed by Atlus. Also, I played this game as a kid and got so frustrated with it. But now, I'm realizing that Daniel-san wasn't really very good at Karate in the movies either, so maybe they were going for some kind of realism with the game đŸ˜†
The Karate Kid can definitely be frustrating, especially in the last level. Daniel-san needs to watch himself, otherwise the evil ninjas will juggle him like crazy.
Ah yes, ninjas. Well known for their *checks notes* bright yellow tanktops, no masks and giant swords. Radical indeed!
In Japanese, the game is known as Kaiketsu Yancha Maru, which roughly translates to "The Wonderful/Amazing Wild Boy." This title feels much more appropriate, haha.
First of all, it's fascinating that Atlus developed these LJN games. That might be the most improved reputation of a game developer from NES era to present-day: from licensed slop merchants to kings of the JRPG. But to be fair, much worse licensed games (and LJN games) exist than these.
Westone, meanwhile, were makers of the Wonder Boy games, so Jaws isn't exactly their finest hour, but they seem to have faded away in more recent times.
---
Karate Kid - I will never forget this one as holding the title of first game that I ever beat on a weekend rental. I absolutely loved the movie and I think I was too young to realize the game wasn't very good. It had just enough links to the movie for my love of the movie to keep me engaged throughout. Contrast with a game like Top Gun, which has no relation to the movie except F-14s and the theme song.
I tried to play Karate Kid maybe 15 years ago as an adult and I didn't think it was THAT bad, but I wasn't exactly about to invest the time to finish it.
---
Jaws - This was one that I tried renting as a young kid in perhaps 1988 and really struggled to understand the gameplay at that age. I then had a chance to play it as an older kid circa maybe 1991 -- I want to say I was at a cousin's house out-of-state -- and I actually had a fair bit of fun with it. I was into RPGs by then and so recognized and could enjoy the grind in this game.
---
Kid Niki - First of all, I did not remember that box art, and it's kind of ridiculous! This might be one of the most extreme examples of a light-hearted anime Famicom cover (which basically captures the game's actual vibe) getting a "dark and edgy" American makeover.
I know for a fact I rented this game. I also know there was a time in my childhood when seeing the phrase "radical ninja" would have gotten me thoroughly pumped. But I remember nothing except that weapon. Don't think I've played it as an adult, either.
Atlus: Licensed Slop Merchants, no more!
Seriously though, what a great phrase. Made me actually lol at work.
But yes! Atlus' journey is pretty amazing, all things considered. Westone working on Jaws... well, I guess Wonder Boy didn't always pay the bills, unfortunately.
Karate Kid and Jaws are both mediocre, but they're not terrible. They're playable. Jaws in particular is very unique, in my opinion. It doesn't offer much in the way of gameplay, but what's there is interesting.
But yeah, I remember renting Jaws as a kid and having no clue what I was supposed to do. No instruction manual included? No idea.
So much "ninja" action back in the late 80s and early 90s. TMNT, 3 Ninjas, Surf Ninjas, etc. I hear ya, "radical ninja" would have had me doubled over with excitement back in the day, but there's not a whole lot to Kid Niki, unfortunately.
Ha, glad you found that funny!
I was trying to think of when ninjas really took off. The TMNT pilot was apparently in December 1987. I think that was what really set off the ninja craze. Though Shinobi predated it slightly. So Kid Niki is coming out right on the cusp of all that.
But I know there was ninja stuff around in the early/mid 80s, which TMNT was initially sort of parodying. I recall that our Blockbuster Video had this R-rated 1983 film in its collection, which I begged mom on multiple occasions to let me rent, but I've still never seen to this day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Ninja
Hmm... perhaps the ninja craze reaches further back than we think. I feel like I remember this movie too, part of the low budget, but still wildly popular violent action movies sprouting up everywhere in the 80s. Like you, I never saw it either. I doubt we missed much, but who knows!