Adventure Island [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Manga4life

12-03-2012, 09:26 PM

turboswimbz

12-03-2012, 09:56 PM

Manga4life

12-03-2012, 10:02 PM

Yes it is a great game, you should look into all the wonder boy series games (as well as the adventure Islands clones) There are some great games on the PC engine/turbografx-16 as well as some the other systems. My favorite in the series I've played so far are adventure island, New adventure Island and Dragon's Curse. Check out alll the games here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fom-TkLgS0I

Well, once I beat Adventure Island I will most likely hunt down 2 and 3 for the NES and see if I can beat those, unfortunately I don't have much interest in hunting down a TG-16 at this time. I'm thinking I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time on Adventure Island as I can't seem to make it past the 4th stage in the 8 or so times I've played the game, but I'm up for the challenge......or at least my Game Genie may be if I can't do it alone.

turboswimbz

12-03-2012, 10:12 PM

no worries, the NES has some great variations on the wonder boy series. can't go wrong with Hudson. the SNES has a few too if I recall correctly as did the SMS.

Jack_Burton_BYOAC

12-03-2012, 10:52 PM

It was only just recently that I discovered that Adventure Island is a Wonder Boy clone.

All those memories:puppydogeyes:

And to top it all off, this great classic NES game was essentially made by SEGA.

Edmond Dantes

12-03-2012, 11:05 PM

Adventure Island is good, but hard.

Fun fact: The original Adventure Island is actually just a graphics hack of the original Wonder Boy. The "Adventure Island" series mostly kept to the WB1 formula (except for the occasional divergence into Metroid-esque or RPG) while the Wonder Boy series became more like sidescrolling RPGs.

"Dragon's Curse" is actually Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap. But for some reason, the Japanese PC-Engine version is called... Adventure Island. Confusing, no?

treismac

12-03-2012, 11:18 PM

I've got much love for Master Higgins/Takahashi Meijin being the Hudson fanboy that I am. The first one in the series in both brilliant and difficult and is one of my favorite platformers of all time along with the amazing Turbographx-16 version, which takes the series to an amazing height of awesomeness. Two and Three on the NES are fun, but they are almost identical to each other and lose something of the feel of the first one's sense of panic which makes the game so special. The WiiWare edition is decent enough, but I hate the graphics deeply. Retro gamers like pixels- not a hard concept to grasp. The SNES versions feel the most off to me, and I have consequently not spent much time with them. The first Wonderboy rocks too, but I don't care for the sequels that totally desert the run and eat fruit or die formula.

And to top it all off, this great classic NES game was essentially made by SEGA.

It [Wonderboy] was published by SEGA, but it was developed by Westone Bit Entertainment. In my book Hudson had as much right the game as SEGA, plus the fact that Master Higgins is the North American localized name of the flesh and blood, non-bee mascot of Hudson, Takahashi Meijin, authenticates Adventure Island beyond the SEGA series that strayed from the formula in later sequels. Speaking of Adventure Island and Wonderboy, enjoy this comparative video of the two games by the delightful Rinry, who breaks down the history of the split series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHCzE7BAUAA

Kiddo

12-03-2012, 11:22 PM

Adventure Island fans may also enjoy looking up the anime seires Bug-tte Honey (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?149651-Bug-tte-Honey)

kedawa

12-03-2012, 11:44 PM

Wonder Boy in Monster Lair is also really good.
It's basically an Adventure Island run&gun, with flying levels and boss fights.
It also retains the 'eat fruit or die' gameplay mechanic.

buzz_n64

12-04-2012, 12:07 AM

If you want to play a true "adventure" Adventure Island game, you must play Adventure Island IV for the Famicom. It's the best Adventure Island game in my opinion.

Jorpho

12-04-2012, 12:39 AM

Super Adventure Island 2 for the SNES is also rather similar to Adventure Island 4 in that they are both completely unlike the rest of the series, and quite possibly better off for it.

Rickstilwell1

12-04-2012, 02:00 AM

Good luck beating the level where you have to jump from moving platform to moving platform very quickly. I died so many times there even using savestates. If I were you I wouldn't make being able to beat Adventure Island 1 or not hold you back from buying the sequels. The sequels have a chance that they could be easier.

Manga4life

12-04-2012, 07:30 AM

Oh I plan on getting 2 and 3 for the NES regardless of whether or not I finish the first game, I'm pretty sure the store I bought the game at had the sequels for like $10 each so I'll grab them once I've had my fill of the first game. Its funny, as an adult I'm discovering certain NES games for the first time despite having known of their existance for the past 20+ years or so but I'm just now getting around to play them. The NES is and will always be the kind of system where you can find new gems decades after their release and I love that about the nes so much.

I played quite a bit of Adventire Island last night and made it to the 6th stage before dying, that's further than I've ever made it previously.

kedawa

12-04-2012, 08:37 AM

I only discovered Air Fortress a few years ago, so I know the feeling.

bigbacon

12-04-2012, 11:16 AM

wish I had stores that just sold lots of old games..

only place I can use is ebay or some local flea markets where the old people selling them just want crazy prices because they can't let go of anything...

Nz17

12-04-2012, 02:12 PM

Anyone have any experience with the GameCube's Adventure Island?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWSA4OG7A20

Greg2600

12-04-2012, 02:49 PM

I have always preferred the straight run and jump platforming of Adventure Island. That said, Wonder Boy on SMS is far better than the Hudson NES Adventure Island 1. The Wonder Boy RPG's are fine, but I wish SEGA had kept making the platformer. AI 2 and 3 are decent on NES, and I like Super AI on SNES.

The Gamecube and PS2 got a game called Hudson Selection Volume 4, but only in Japan. :(

bigbacon

12-04-2012, 03:03 PM

least on the NES side, I like AI2 WAY more than #1. funny thing it as kid I could tromp through AI2 no problem. Tried playing again like 2 days ago, and sucked it up big time.

SpaceHarrier

12-04-2012, 08:41 PM

Adventure Island is a bit vanilla for me, but I love 2 and 3. Super Adventure Island is my favorite, but I just can't get into the second one at all.

notoriusvig

12-04-2012, 08:59 PM

I really liked the PS2 version and would recommend it to AI fans. It feels like the TG16 game.

jperryss

12-04-2012, 09:27 PM

Anyone have any experience with the GameCube's Adventure Island?

I really liked the PS2 version and would recommend it to AI fans. It feels like the TG16 game.

I played through it on the GC a few years back and enjoyed it. I believe it's a remake of the original NES game.

Jorpho

12-04-2012, 10:01 PM

Superman

12-05-2012, 03:19 AM

Someone linked to the Game Center CX video a while ago. Adventure Island NES seems like one of those utterly balls-hard games that I'm glad I didn't feel obliged to finish as a young'un.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NAJ_g5r1izU#t=3133s

It's not Battletoads hard, but at times, it can get close to it.

I remember playing Adventure Island at Toys R US and thinking it was just like the arcade. When I came across a copy years later at a flea market, I picked it up. I played it and had quite a bit of fun on the first few levels. After awhile, however, I was glad I wasn't putting quarters in a machine!

Since I love platformers, all the Adventure Islands I enjoyed. Of course, the first is probably still my favorite.

I also didn't think I would enjoy an action rpg Adventure Island game, but I was wrong. My friend got me a copy for Christmas one year. I tried it out, not expecting much, but it was much different (and much better) than I expected. I played it through over a couple of months, as I was commuting to school at the time, so my gaming time was limited, but I enjoyed playing it when I could.

It sounds like you're getting there, Manga. But just wait until you get near the end of the game, particularly level 8-3, I believe. There's lots of pits, bats, etc. It's kind of like playing Ninja Gaiden, except you have to keep moving!

Manga4life

12-05-2012, 08:56 PM

treismac

12-05-2012, 10:45 PM

Well, I finally beat Adventure Island tonight around 7ish after 4 or 5 unsuccessful runs in the morning, I feel so accomplished right now and I'm looking forward to taking another stab at it again someday soon! Now it's time to move onto Adventure Island II and see how that game is compared to the first, I hope I love it just as much as I've come to love the first game.

Congrats!!! You are made of far sterner stuff than me, sir. I've made it to 7-4 and said to heck with it because I was going out of my mind. I have, however, beat the game on emulation using save states, but that doesn't really count.

Greg2600

12-06-2012, 06:54 PM

I failed to mention Adventure Island on NES was one of the games taken and hidden from my cousins and me when we were kids. It was so frustrating that we'd often take turns screaming and throwing things at the TV. Grandma and Grandpa weren't pleased.

Flam

12-06-2012, 09:18 PM

So, I've always been aware if the Adventure Island games ever since I was a kid but recently I picked up the first one on a whim while visiting a local mom n' pop video game store and I am so very glad that I did. Everything from the music to the fun side scrolling gameplay has been totally enjoyable and this game has really got me hooked right now, in a very similar fashion to how I was hooked on the Mario games as a kid. Anyone here a fan?

I really wish I would have rented this game as a kid or played it at a friends house or something because I would have totally asked for this for a birthday or something back in the day, at least I have it to enjoy now. Awesome stuff!

OK, this is going to sound like a stupid question since you really seem to love this game, but is it really THAT fun. It's been on my raidar, but after watching some YouTube of it, it comes across as potentionally being over rated.

.... on a side note I'd like to take the opportunity to pimp Mr. Gimmick. I got my copy in last week and it's definately worth the $50 I paid for the repro. It's the perfect balance of graphics, music, and skill. Def. one of my top three games, put this on your Christmas list if you don't already own a copy.

Manga4life

12-07-2012, 08:47 AM

OK, this is going to sound like a stupid question since you really seem to love this game, but is it really THAT fun. It's been on my raidar, but after watching some YouTube of it, it comes across as potentionally being over rated.

.... on a side note I'd like to take the opportunity to pimp Mr. Gimmick. I got my copy in last week and it's definately worth the $50 I paid for the repro. It's the perfect balance of graphics, music, and skill. Def. one of my top three games, put this on your Christmas list if you don't already own a copy.

Yes, it was really "that fun". I had a blast playing it like mad over the last few weeks and beating it felt like an accomplishment, I actuallg played it for a bit this morning before work too.

Lady Jaye

12-07-2012, 09:11 AM

BTW, Sega only had the rights for the name, not the game sprites. In other words, Hudson could have released a pixel-perfect port of the various Wonder Boy/Monster World games in everything but the name. That's what a Hardcore Gaming 101 interview with Ryuichi Nishizawa (co-founder of Escape/Westone and one of the main designers of the Wonder Boy series) revealed a few months back.

Can you elaborate on the relationship between Westone and Hudson? Did Sega actually own the Wonder Boy character? Many of the Wonder Boy games were released on non-Sega platforms by Hudson, but starring different characters, like Takahashi Meijin, Bikkuriman and the beetle guy in Dynastic Hero.

"Wonder Boy" is only a trademark that Sega owns. My company owns all of the copyrights. Therefore, there is no problem in letting the Wonder Boy character appear in any game that Hudson releases. However, Hudson almost always changed the character...Why was that? I once politely asked the staff at Hudson, but they would not tell me.

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/wonderboy/wonderboy-interview.htm

Tony Lama

12-09-2012, 06:45 PM

Years ago my friends across the street owned a Sega Master System. I had an NES. We used to go back and forth trying to one up each other on which console was better (Black Belt vs Kung Fu, Ghost House vs Castlevania, etc.) But one day they came home from Toys R Us with Wonderboy and showed it to me. I was BLOWN AWAY!! The graphics, the gameplay and the MUSIC was so charming, fast paced and "arcadey". Stuff we all LOVED back then. Later that month I got my issue of Nintendo Power and saw that a game called ADVENTURE ISLAND was coming out for the NES. It looked EXACTLY like Wonderboy!! I was so excited that I bought Adventure Island the second I saw it at Kay-Bee Toys (at a whopping $59.99!!) When I got home, I was disappointed. Not with the graphics or the game play. But the music was all DIFFERENT than Wonderboy. It wasn't bad, but definitely not the bouncey hop n bop tune I loved from the Sega game. Needless to say my friends saw Adventure Island as a Wonderboy rip off and I guess I had to concur. I still love my NES and have all my games including Adventure Island. But Wonderboy will always be the game that proved to me that the Sega Master System really had something going for it!

treismac

12-09-2012, 07:03 PM

... Wonderboy will always be the game that proved to me that the Sega Master System really had something going for it!

Ditto. My neighbor had the game, and it proved to me that the Master System had real and, in fact, awesome games. Originally, I saw Tom Tom from Wonderboy as Sega's binary opposite answer to Nintendo's Mario. Years later when the Sonic hit the Genesis I scratched that theory.

Manga4life

04-24-2013, 11:36 PM

So, as of tonight I'm revisiting Adventure Island after playing the hell out of it earlier in the year and late last year. Man, everything from the music to the controls and the simple graphics make this a wonderful platform game, the action gets so intense that you can't help but to just get lost in time while you're playing it. Like I said earlier in this post, I really wish I had jumped on this game back in the day instead of getting something different, I really think had I done so that this would have become one of my all-time favorite NES titles. But all in all I'm just glad I get to experience it now, between my time spent with it earlier in the year and in late 2012 (not to mention now) this has become a "New Classic" to me and could move up my top 100 with time.

treismac

04-25-2013, 12:19 AM

Well, once I beat Adventure Island I will most likely hunt down 2 and 3 for the NES and see if I can beat those...

Oh I plan on getting 2 and 3 for the NES regardless of whether or not I finish the first game, I'm pretty sure the store I bought the game at had the sequels for like $10 each so I'll grab them once I've had my fill of the first game.

Now it's time to move onto Adventure Island II and see how that game is compared to the first, I hope I love it just as much as I've come to love the first game.

Well??? Whatcha think of II and III? :)

Manga4life

04-25-2013, 12:23 AM

Well??? Whatcha think of II and III? :)

I have Adventure Island II and really like it, but there is something about the first one that I enjoy a lot more. I do like that in Adventure Island II you can ride the dinosaurs and whatnot, the gameplay is basically the same as the first as well, so there is a lot to like but all in all the first one is still my favorite. I've yet to play the third.

I will play part II more once I've had my fill of part 1 again, I just feel drawn to the first game lately and I can't really explain why....

treismac

04-25-2013, 09:43 AM

I have Adventure Island II and really like it, but there is something about the first one that I enjoy a lot more.

I prefer part one as well. The game is more satisfying to play and creates the perfect amount of pressure/panic to finish the levels as quickly as possible. The two later installments are fun but they both lack that original Adventure Island vibe. New Adventure Island, on the other hand, is every bit as amazing and more so than the original. If you have a Wii, you HAVE to pick this one up. Trust me, Manga4life. You'll thank me later. ;)

I've yet to play the third.

Honestly, other than being able to duck (well, you actually lie down on your belly), the third Adventure Island is nearly identical to the second. Apart from the difficulty increase and new direction in level design, III is like the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2

ccovell

04-25-2013, 10:27 AM

Polygon

04-25-2013, 10:28 AM

Like you, I never playing it growing up. It is on my wanted list though.

treismac

04-25-2013, 11:13 AM

Adventure Island II and III were developed not by Hudson, but by "Now Production", the same developers as Wagyan Land and Yo! Noid (which is one reason why they all share a similar art style (and a similar genericness as platform games.) I still kinda prefer the style of WB/AI1 over AI II and III as well.

Now Productions also developed New Adventure Island on the Turbografx-16, which does not feel generic, but, rather, is an enriching platforming experience. It's based heavily on the original Adventure Island, so they would have had to go a out of their way to mess up the formula too much.

I still kinda prefer the style of WB/AI1 over AI II and III as well.

I definitely hear you. I think we can all agree, however, that the art style of all of the NES versions is far superior to the damn 2.5d style crap on the Wiiware version and the Japanese Gamecube and Playstation 2 reboots. Wretched. Simply wretched.

Jorpho

04-25-2013, 06:23 PM

Adventure Island II and III were developed not by Hudson, but by "Now Production", the same developers as Wagyan Land and Yo! Noid (which is one reason why they all share a similar art style (and a similar genericness as platform games.)Not that I have any reason to doubt you, but where did that information come from?

For that matter, who did the Game Boy versions of II and III (renumbered I and II, just to confuse everyone) ? There's a huge difference between them � it's like comparing Super Mario Land 1 and Super Mario Land 2.

ccovell

04-25-2013, 07:01 PM

One trustworthy source is: http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Now_Production

(Wikipedia will probably point back to GDRI anyway.)

Jorpho

04-26-2013, 12:07 AM

Ah, GDRI. Of course. Unfortunately, there's no entry for Adventure Island I (Game Boy), but considering the game has no credits, that is probably not too surprising.

Interesting how Adventure Island 4 was also done by Now Productions, but Super Adventure Island 2 was done by different people entirely. I always figured they were both done by the same, but entirely different, team.

Zing

04-28-2013, 09:20 AM

Must you find that bee hidden in the first level to "unlock" unlimited continues?

I just noticed that the manual mentions nothing about continues.

treismac

04-28-2013, 08:21 PM

Must you find that bee hidden in the first level to "unlock" unlimited continues?

I just noticed that the manual mentions nothing about continues.

Yes, I believe so. Such a strange secret, really. Not only do you have to find a hidden item to unlock the continue option, but you also had to hold right then press start to activate the continue. I swear Nintendo must have insisted developers tuck these crazy secrets into their games to necessitate a subscription to Nintendo power.

gameofyou

04-28-2013, 09:06 PM

New Adventure Island is one of my favorite PC-Engine games.

Scissors

04-28-2013, 11:55 PM

I just noticed that the manual mentions nothing about continues.

Are you sure about that? I don't have a manual handy, but I remember it saying how to continue and that the item you need to continue is in the first stage.

treismac

04-29-2013, 12:21 AM

Of relevant interest:

NintendoAge 2013 Weekly Contest Presents: Adventure Island (http://nintendoage.com/auth/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=31&threadid=101802)

In case anyone wants in, this is what you're up against:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/417859_10152826849315294_1713481422_n.jpg

j1e

04-29-2013, 05:19 AM

Are you sure about that? I don't have a manual handy, but I remember it saying how to continue and that the item you need to continue is in the first stage.

Yes, it's mentioned on the last page of the manual. The "Continuing Option" is pressing right + start once you find the "egg containing the BEE somewhere in Round 1 of Area 1."

Zing

04-29-2013, 01:54 PM

Are you sure about that? I don't have a manual handy, but I remember it saying how to continue and that the item you need to continue is in the first stage.

I just double checked the manual and you are correct. I missed it because they put it on the very last page after the FCC regulatory statement and warranty pages. Sneaky!

treismac

05-01-2013, 02:36 PM

I'm playing the hell out of Adventure Island for the NA weekly contest, so I have Takahashi Meijin/Master Higgins running through my head all day. With such being the case, I wanted to share this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2FZ6E64Au4

Zing

05-14-2013, 08:38 PM

Yes, it's mentioned on the last page of the manual. The "Continuing Option" is pressing right + start once you find the "egg containing the BEE somewhere in Round 1 of Area 1."

Actually, now that I have the physical manual on my hand, no, it doesn't say anything about continues or the bee. I have the first release manual, which you can determine by its round seal of quality. It appears the page referencing the bee and continues was added to the second production run, which has the oval seal of quality. This explains why that page is after the FCC notices. They just replaced the blank rear cover with that text.

Flam

05-14-2013, 09:52 PM

BricatSegaFan

05-14-2013, 10:42 PM

Ebay is a better place to find games than most stores

Sad but slowly becoming true

Flam

05-14-2013, 11:47 PM

Sad but slowly becoming true

Agreed, sad but true. I'm the type of person that doesn't mind paying a few more dollars to support local business. But when I see game priced consistently more than ebay that is a problem. When I look to buy games locally I usually try to factor what shipping would cost me off ebay, if the local price is still more I'll tack on about a dollar or two. If it's above that then I'm out of there.

BTW as far as books go, I will go so far as to use Amazon to read book reviews, then call in my local mom & pop book store and have them order it for me, just to support them. All this to say I'm all about buying local, but when I see a game dealer just trying to gouge it pisses me off.

bb_hood

05-14-2013, 11:58 PM

Sad but slowly becoming true

This may be true, but why is it sad?
If I can get something cheaper shipped directly to my door, i dont see the downside. Who cares where it comes from?
Most of the time local stores dont have anything I really want, and used stuff is plastered with stickers.

Flam

05-15-2013, 12:28 AM

This may be true, but why is it sad?
If I can get something cheaper shipped directly to my door, i dont see the downside. Who cares where it comes from?
Most of the time local stores dont have anything I really want, and used stuff is plastered with stickers.

Sad because I want to live in a community that has boutique stores, run by enthusiast, which are eager to recommend stuff and know their clientele personally. As opposed to some form of pure transaction sale over the internet for which there is no personal connection that doesn�t support the local community.

BTW I am an Econ. major, so I understand all the arguments for eBay, none-the-less I still want to live in a world that pays higher (slightly) to support local.

treismac

05-15-2013, 09:39 AM

Sad because I want to live in a community that has boutique stores, run by enthusiast, which are eager to recommend stuff and know their clientele personally. As opposed to some form of pure transaction sale over the internet for which there is no personal connection that doesn�t support the local community.

I'm with you on this. Having a good rapport with a flea market vendors and store owners, in addition to helping me get more than a few bucks knocked off of the final price, makes shopping a pleasure and a social event rather than a "pure transaction sale."

In addition to these points, I like to physically browse through video games, books, or what have. Until my consciousness is uploaded to a computer, I still like to make occasional use of my physical sense and various appendages.

TheRetroVideoGameAddict

05-17-2013, 10:33 AM

This game is one of those games that is insanely fun but insanely hard at the same time. Personally, I love Adventure Island and I've played the hell out of this game in 2012 after not touching it for a while, but man is this game a ball buster in the later stages. Still, it's a classic and it was one of those games that I remember people talking about back in the day when it was in it's prime, I didn't own it until a little while back but I did play it at friend houses and I believe I may have rented it a time or two in the early 90's. As it stands today it has a comfortable spot in my personal collection where it's safe and well taken care of, and that's where it will stay forever more. :)