Octopus as video game characters

[treismac]

I got to thinking about octopuses as characters in video games- retro in particular. Off the top of my head, I can think of the following games that have octopuses:

Super Mario Bros.
Zelda
Adventure Island
Parodius
Genji Tsuushin Agedama (a really delightful PC-Engine platformer/shooter with a rail gameplay system that was based on an anime- check it out)

Can you think of any others not listed? Thanks!

[Cornelius]

Technicality police checking in...

The SMB characters are really more squid than octopus.

I'm not sure there is any such thing in Zelda. The Zora is in the water, but looks more like a fish-headed monster. Then there is the Octoroc, but that is the most basic enemy, on land, and doesn't look like an octopus.

The rest I either don't remember or haven't played.

edit: I can't think of any to add. Dolphin on VCS had a squid as the main antagonist. Seems like Ecco probably would have, but I can't recall.

[Gameguy]

Final Fantasy VI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTKBh4u_k0

Suikoden II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiABEJQGug0

Super Mario RPG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3AtYfA-Mvw

Muramasa: The Demon Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETtH9izE87M

Ecco the Dolphin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPs-nSKYmV0

[Tupin]

If you count takoyaki, then this is a big one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFr5CscTMxM

[SpaceHarrier]

Do robot Octopi count?

Mega Man X - Launch Octopus

Also, Stinger on the NES had an Octopus boss. Or at least I thought it was one. Maybe it just looks like an octopus. That game is weird!

[Dire 51]

Name This Game (VCS) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMzQiA8_6N0

[treismac]

Muramasa: The Demon Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETtH9izE87M
]

Dude! I had to stop watching the video because I've beat the game with Kisuke but I haven't even started Momohime's game yet, so I didn't want to see the spoiler. After I take the GACE (Georgia teaching qualification test) I'm going to get back on that horse.

[aryoshi]

The octopus from Dolphin on the Atari 2600. I could be mistaken as it might be a squid, but it always looked like an octopus to me.

[treismac]

The SMB characters are really more squid than octopus.

Yeah, you're right- technically. The squid is like a cousin to the octopus so I feel like they're close enough to sqeeze 'em in there and look the other way.


I'm not sure there is any such thing in Zelda. The Zora is in the water, but looks more like a fish-headed monster. Then there is the Octoroc, but that is the most basic enemy, on land, and doesn't look like an octopus.

Ahhh!!! Come on! [ ;)] Even apart from their name, the Octorok looks just like a Japanese anime depiction of an octopus. Here is the octopus from Konami's Parodius:

http://www.spriters-resource.com/snes/parodiusda/octopus_icon.png

and here are two other examples of a stylized-cutesy Japanese octopus:

http://www.richard-seaman.com/Travel/Japan/Misc/Food/Restaurants/HasegawaFastFoodOctopusRestaurantSign.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cbE59wjT-Pw/TQ2Za-Hz2-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/tEamRILF6_U/s1600/Special+Balloon+-+Octopus+Japan+2.jpg

Now compare that to this later version of the Octorok:

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/images/games/tmc/enemies/octorok.gif

Surely you detect some resemblance.

Finally, take a gander at this image from the Zeldawiki that purports to be from the instructional manual and then tell me that the Octorok doesn't look like an octopus:

http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/c/cc/Octorok_Artwork.png

[treismac]

The octopus from Dolphin on the Atari 2600. I could be mistaken as it might be a squid, but it always looked like an octopus to me.

Hell, on the 2600 it could have been a swimming camel for all we know.

[Parodius Duh!]

Soap Octopus from Im Kid Dracula! (Boku Dracula Kun)
Dark Octopus from Symphony of the Night
Donpachi, Dodonpachi (I think), and Dodonpachi Daioujou all have some huge robot octopus boss...



....weird topic.

[treismac]

....weird topic.

Maybe.

[kupomogli]

Startropics

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln3dful16Q1qbzzgco1_500.png

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110811161647/nintendo/en/images/f/f2/ST3_-_Octopus.jpg

[Parodius Duh!]

Maybe.

Definitely.

You might enjoy this:

http://youtu.be/spQqP1hauEA

[Emperor Megas]

When you say 'characters', do you just mean making appearances in games? If so, then there are probably hundreds, though I can't really think of that many at the moment. I know there are octopus in:

The 2D Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Phantasy Star
Pokémon (Octillery)
Tactics Ogre

[kupomogli]

I decided to throw a few more up here.

Tactics Ogre Knight of Lodis and the PSP version of Let Us Cling Together have them, the PSX version of Let Us Cling Together does not. (EM added TO but I decided to put a bit more detail.)
Ogre Battle March of the Black Queen.
Final Fantasy 4. Octomom or Octomammoth, plus other variations of FF4 like the After Years and Complete Collection which include a color variation of Octomom, Kraken from FF1, and Ultros from FF6.
Final Fantasy and all of its variations which all include Kraken.
King's Field includes Kraken at the very beginning.

[Queen Of The Felines]

I know you said retro but Octodad is a great choice.

http://www.octodadgame.com/

[NE146]

One of my favorites when I was a kid (i.e. a simpler time LOL) was Taito's "Marine Date". You had 3 or 4 tries to spin a trackball to make the Octopus reach his girlfriend at the end of a maze. It's in Mame but I don't think it's a game that emulates too well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/marinedate.jpg http://www.arcade-history.com/images/game/1562_1.png

[treismac]

Oh yeah... add Adventure Island's fraternal twin, Wonderboy on the Sega Master System, to the list. Sometimes my Master Higgins fanboying makes me forget that there ever was a Wonderboy. :P

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c74/TheSL/VC-HigginsFight.jpg

How pointless would a crossover have been? Eh, f*ck it. I'd have bought it on ebay for under $10.

[Haoie]

Eight Leg Umbrella from G-Darius is apparantly a Japanese pancake octupus, whatever that is.

[Parodius Duh!]

Boxing Octupus in Level 2 of the Japanese only Beat em up 'Nekketsu Oyako'

[k8track]

Swordquest Waterworld.

Also, Fruity Oaty Bars.

[treismac]

Definitely.

You might enjoy this:

http://youtu.be/spQqP1hauEA

Oddest thing I've seen in a minute. :) Thanks, man!

[Flack]

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/8/40/4ce16342aa01d/detail.jpg

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/951/951930/muramasa-the-demon-blade-20090206100921490_640w.jpg

[skaar]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cbE59wjT-Pw/TQ2Za-Hz2-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/tEamRILF6_U/s1600/Special+Balloon+-+Octopus+Japan+2.jpg

is that thing shoving a cigarette in my face?

[Robocop2]

Miracle world was already mentioned but there is also an octopus in Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.

There is also a robot octopus in Turbo Sub on the Lynx

Oh and the Tentacle Beast of Tramm from Eat Lead:TROMH

[treismac]

is that thing shoving a cigarette in my face?

Looks like it, doesn't it?

[snes_collector]

Donkey Kong Country has octopus baddies

[cheesystick]

Yeah, the DKC series has lots of them. I still remember the sound they make; it sounds like someone winding up a top three times. I'm also pretty sure there is an octopus boss in the new Donkey Kong Country Returns, although I haven't gotten that far yet.

Also, although I'm not positive on it, there are probably octopi in both Endless Ocean games and Aquanaut's Holiday on PS1. I guess we can also include the original Octopus Game & Watch, which they re-released on one of the Club Nintendo Game & Watch collections for DS.

BTW, there is no octopus cooler than launch octopus. He is the f*cking man.



Edit: I was so curious, I found some more. Apparently the Legend of the Mystical Ninja has one and Mohawk and Headphone jack has one on the bloody cover. Go figure. Too bad I will never play that game long enough to see it.

[Emperor Megas]

Edit: I was so curious, I found some more. Apparently the Legend of the Mystical Ninja has oneWhat, you didn't believe me? :)

[Swamperon]

If you're including Krakens in this (and why shouldn't you? Krakens are just a more awesome octopus :P) you can add Shining Force II and Shining Force III Scenario 2.

Azure Dreams has Octopi and Krakens!

[Smashed Brother]

One of the 'ships' you can use in the Parodius games is an octopus!

[NE146]

Surprised no one's mentioned good ol' Game & Watch OCTOPUS. :p

http://images.wikia.com/nintendo/en/images/c/c5/G%26W_Octopus.jpg

[FABombjoy]

The Goonies for the C64 / Atari 800

[brandonsh]

Do Octopus statues count?
http://images.devs-on.net/Image/u8csKv7uuPJWUSp-MOTHER2vsEarthBo.png

[treismac]

Do Octopus statues count?
http://images.devs-on.net/Image/u8csKv7uuPJWUSp-MOTHER2vsEarthBo.png

Yes, sir, they sure do. ;)

[Crystalian]

Dragon Warrior series. King Squid, Squid Kid, Tentacular, etc. Also, the first one that popped into my head was Ultros from FF6, but it was already mentioned...one of Relm's few shining moments in the game, hahahaha.

[BlastProcessing402]

The Goonies for the C64 / Atari 800

Also Goonies II on NES

[Drixxel]

There's the grossly pixelated octopus in El Viento:
http://www.unlimitedzigworks.com/images/viento5.png

[Haoie]

Sonic 2, Oil Ocean Zone.

[Cryomancer]

Not sure if this is totally relevant to the original post, but in the upcoming Saints Row The Third, there is a bazooka that fires off octopi. They attach to people's heads and mind control them into fighting for you, and I think will also explode after awhile or by trigger or something.

[treismac]

Just last night, I found a giant octopus in Kirby's Return to Dreamland in level 3-3. I am fairly certain it was an octopus and not a squid. As far as the cousins of octopus go, there is the Squishy character in the Kirby series.

http://kirbysrainbowresort.net/games/avalanche/screenshots/kirbyavalanchescreen17.PNG

[Shinobi]

Its actually an IKA ( Squid ) not a TAKO ( Octopus )

Octopus Characters you can find in almost every Konami Game ( Parodius, Gradius, Goemon, Wai Wai world, etc ) due its one of the cute "characters" you can see in Japan on every kids scribblebook./ schoolpaintings or even signs in the city. In Europe they paint bunnys, mouse and dogs - in Japan Squids, octopus cats and piggys.

[treismac]

Donkey Kong for the Gameboy has an octopus- a really annoying octopus.

[treismac]

Just found an octopus in Super Mario Land for the Gameboy in level 2-3.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/poC0bynq1c0/0.jpg

[jammajup]

Mega Turrican has something similar for a boss although it does not have 8 tentacles.

http://www.jammajup.co.uk/forums/mega-turrican-octopus.gif

[Guyra]

If you're including Krakens in this (and why shouldn't you? Krakens are just a more awesome octopus :P) you can add Shining Force II and Shining Force III Scenario 2.

You can also add King's Field: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ibG-XnUUAU

[Schiggidyd]

Mega Turrican on Genesis, Octopus boss!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74JaxEyEV8k

EDIT: Aw man someone beat me to it!

[treismac]

Just found another to throw onto the pile. This is from Saiyuuki World 2- Tenjoukai no Majin, the Famicom version of Whomp 'Em.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/538692_10152109155680294_467719586_n.jpg

[tom]

Treasure Below (VCS) Video Gems

[Tron 2.0]

Also Goonies II on NES
Also in the goonies for the famicom to.

[Dr. BaconStein]

Just found an octopus in Super Mario Land for the Gameboy in level 2-3.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/poC0bynq1c0/0.jpgLand 2 has one as well, it's the boss of Turtle Zone. S/he makes smaller octopi that get in your way.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8m5a52okf4

(@ 1:50)

[samspade]

Nekketsu Oyako which is kinda similar to stuff like Final FIght, has bipedal Octopus characters wearing boxing gloves. That's just the beginning of all the weirdness in that game. Also, don't forget Parodius!

[treismac]

A new fun puzzle game for the Ouya, Android, and iOs:

http://media.indiedb.com/images/games/1/24/23545/box-shot.png

A decidedly not fun puzzle game for the Wii:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gmPgflnIL.jpg

[Lictalon]

Final Fantasy VI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTKBh4u_k0


"Uncle" Ultros - my favorite.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night had an octopus enemy in it, so I bet a lot of the other Castlevania titles must too.