I have a few questions about Wai Wai World 2 for the Famicom.

[Urzu402]

Can you play it without knowing Japanese?
Does it use an extra sound chip that Konami used in some Famicom games?
Also lastly is it good and fun and how long is it?

[Ed Oscuro]

yes. Ｙｅｓ．　イェス

I don't know how long, let's find out.

[bb_hood]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfSVK7k6Rew

good games for sure

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Can you play it without knowing Japanese?

The first game has a tiny hurtle and is best played with a walkthrough, but that's also due to the age of the game. The second one though doesn't need any Japanese knowledge.



Does it use an extra sound chip that Konami used in some Famicom games?

No. It uses Konami's VRCIV mapper, which is roughly equilent to Nintendo's MMC3 just with more address lines but does not actually feature additional sound channels as the famous VRCVI and VRCVII do. This also means without mapper hacking it cannot be reproduced, given it's custom mapper. The same is true of other games like Parodius Da, Gradius II, Bio Miracle Upa, etc.




Also lastly is it good and fun and how long is it?

Both Wai Wai World titles tied for a position in my Top 100 NES/Famicom editorial I wrote last year. I suggest you read what I had to say about them.

http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/top-100-nesfamicom-games-list-49-40/

[Kitsune Sniper]

Can you play it without knowing Japanese?

Maybe! (http://www.foxhack.net/trans/wai-wai-world-2-sos-from-parsley-castle/)

I just started replaying the game a few days ago and it's kicking my ass, -hard-. What a difference 10 years make...

[Urzu402]

I just got the game today, I love it, it's great. But I can't get past the Twinbee stage because I am horrible at shoot em ups. I feel ill have a hard time on the Gradius level too.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I just got the game today, I love it, it's great. But I can't get past the Twinbee stage because I am horrible at shoot em ups. I feel ill have a hard time on the Gradius level too.

Keep shooting the clouds so they release bells, and shoot the bells a few times so they change color. One of the colors makes your ship faster, and others give you better weapons. Keep practicing, I hated those Twinbee levels.

[Urzu402]

I also find the Bill, the Contra guy, makes the game real easy. It's because he has the best attack range of all the characters.

I also don't know what any power ups besides the med kits and c's do.

[Urzu402]

Question, if I used an adaptor, would this game work on a North American NES? Or will the sound not work due to the mappers?

[SparTonberry]

Wai Wai World 2 uses a Konami VRC4 mapper, which doesn't have enhancement sound, so it is just fine.
(only VRC6 and the VRC7 version in Lagrange Point use extra sound).

(and games with sound enhancement mappers will still play on an NES with an adapter, the extra sound channels just won't play)