NES Works Gaiden #031: Adventure Island IV

NES Works Gaiden #031: Adventure Island IV

Author: Jeremy Parish February 14, 2022 Duration: 16:00

By request of They Call Me Sleeper, here's one last Wonder Boy game until Segaiden gets to the Master System stuff: Adventure Island IV for NES. Or rather, Takahashi Meijin no Boukenjima IV for Famicom, as Hudson has never localized this one in any capacity. That's a shame, because Adventure Island IV belatedly but capably brings Master Higgins' island adventures in line with those of Tom Tom's, transforming the linear Adventure Island series into a free-roaming exploratory adventure. You know. A metroidvania. It's a fine send-off to the Adventure Island series (which would see only one more proper new entry before riding its dino pal off into the sunset), to the Famicom, and to the 8-bit metroidvania format until portable and indie games revitalized the genre a decade later.

 

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Production note: NES footage captured from  @Analogue  Nt Mini Noir. Arcade footage captured from MiSTer (special thanks to  @MiSTer Addons ). SG-1000 footage in this episode was captured from a combination of Sega SG-1000 II with (with Card Catcher; RGB amp mod by  @iFixRetro  ) and  @Analogue  Mega Sg with card adapter module and DAC. Video upscaled to 720 with  @Retro Tink  5X.


Jeremy Parish's Video Works by Jeremy Parish is a curated collection of his long-running projects diving deep into the history and design of classic video games. Rather than a single focused series, this podcast serves as an archive and hub for several distinct endeavors. You'll find episodes from Game Boy World, which meticulously documents every pre-Game Boy Advance handheld title in chronological order, offering a unique historical perspective. Another strand explores the interconnected world of "Metroidvania" games, analyzing the design principles that define this beloved subgenre. The Anatomy of Games segments provide thorough, thoughtful critiques of classic game design, breaking down what makes these titles endure. Each episode, whether originally audio or adapted from video content, carries Parish's knowledgeable and considered commentary. This podcast is for anyone with an appreciation for gaming's foundations, presented not as dry history but as an engaging exploration of the artistry and innovation that shaped the medium. Tune in for a consistently insightful look at the pixels and philosophies behind the games you might have played-or always meant to.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Video Works by Jeremy Parish
Podcast Episodes
Segaiden #27: Graphic Tablet / Wonder Boy / Champion Billiards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
The penultimate set of SG-1000 games arrives as the system does its best to remain current and competitive in the medium's changing landscape with technology built around the expectations of an earlier generation of game…
Segaiden #26: Ninja Princess / Super Tank / Champion Kendou [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:05
A brief break in the SG-1000's strong run of final releases with a set of titles that will remind you of the not-so-good ol' days when the console's library was generally pretty rough. This trio earns most of its points…
Segaiden #25: C-So! / The Castle / Gulkave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:14
The SG-1000 didn't have much going on during 1986, with Sega's attention focused primarily on the shiny new Mark III console, but what little did make its way to the older console was pretty strong. After an indifferent…
NES Works Gaiden #31: Chack'n Pop / Dig Dug / Flappy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:43
A real sense of deja vu this week as we look at three games that have all appeared on this channel in other versions. I would like to say that these iterations are all the superior works, but Mom taught me not to be a li…
Segaiden #024: Mark III / Hang On / Teddy Boy Blues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:56
Continuing on from last week, we go from Hang On II to just plain ol' Hang On. But this in no way feels like a downgrade; quite the contrary. With Hang On (and Teddy Boy Blues), Sega brings its home hardware into line wi…
Segaiden #023: Hang On II / Bomb Jack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:26
This week bring us the first of a two-part episode—or should that be "the second"? Sega's imprecise SG-1000 launch date documentation makes it difficult to know if Hang On II did in fact debut before or after Hang On (no…
NES Works #086: Legendary Wings / Xevious / Galaga [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:10
This week is a bit of an ouroboros: While the primary feature here is Capcom's Legendary Wings, this episode also touches on the NES release of Xevious, the game that very clearly inspired Legendary Wings (not to mention…
Segaiden #021: Rock'n Bolt / Elevator Action / Soukoban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
A bit of an emphasis on day jobs this episode, but fortunately one of these games offers more than mere workmanlike effort. Activision's Rock'n Bolt stands out this week as one of the SG-1000's most appealing puzzlers—ce…