Developer Obscura Vol. 3: Natsume - Lost NES/SMS Games

[CRV]

The games you never heard of, the games you never knew they made...

Nintendo Famicom/NES

Choujin Sentai Jetman; Published by Angel (Japan Only) (1991)

Based on the 15th entry in the Super Sentai TV series (the basis for Power Rangers). The stages play like Shatterhand (you might already know that the JP version of that was based off a TV show, too), but the boss battles are quite different (if you played Mazin Saga on the Gen/MD, you have an idea of what you're in for). Unfortunately, they kinda bring the game down.



The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper; Published by Taito (1992)



Mitsume ga Tooru; Published by Tomy (Japan Only) (1992)



Quarter Back Scramble; Published by Pony Canyon (Japan Only) (1989)

Was supposed to be released in the US, but never was



World Boxing; Published by TSS (Japan Only) (1990)



Sega Master System

A while ago, I did an investigation over at SMS Power. As it turns out, Taito outsourced some of their SMS ports to Natsume. These remain the only known games Natsume ever made for a Sega system.

Renegade; Published by Sega (1993)

Best version I've ever played. Great graphics, great audio, tight control.



Sagaia; Published by Sega (1992)

Despite a bit of slowdown and numerous stages missing, this was a well-handled port.



Special Criminal Investigation; Published by Sega (1992)



For a more comprehensive list of all Natsume works, consult:
http://vgrebirth.org/games/company.asp?id=85

[7th lutz]

It is nice to have them mentioned.

I heard of the company and I was planing to do a favorite game developer or publisher thread on them with the thread I created soon.

They are not well kown outside of harvest moon.
I heard of the sms games, but I didn't have a chance to get them yet. I am after sagaia for the sms. I am a bit surpised with the sms they were involved with the games.

[Xexyz]

Natsume, they seem to have a good relationship with Taito. After all, they made 3 Poky & Rocky titles (2 SNES, 1 GBA) and even published them themselves. And then there's their masterpiece, Ninja Warriors for the SNES.

I really wish they would update something from their past like Shatterhand or make a new action title. Harvest Moon is getting quite stale now IMO. They need more variety.

[CRV]

Sorry to spam, but...

I don't plan on updating this thread again, so in case someone finds it, I would like to point them in the right direction (to Game Developer Research Institute, where the research rolls along).

For GDRI's latest findings on Natsume, go here.

[j_factor]

These remain the only known games Natsume ever made for a Sega system.

Does Reel Fishing for DC somehow not count? And also I'm pretty sure they made a mahjong game for Saturn.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm, bookmarking/account creation time.

[CRV]

GDRI has admittedly not delved into any systems from the Playstation/Saturn onward as far as Natsume is concerned.

Does Reel Fishing for DC somehow not count? And also I'm pretty sure they made a mahjong game for Saturn.

Natsume just published it in the US. The Reel Fishing series was originally called Fish Eyes in Japan and was published by Pack-In-Video/Victor. The developer of the DC version was Westone, apparently.

Natsume published Pyon Pyon Kyaruru no Mahjong Hiyori for the Saturn in Japan, but it was developed by Natsu System (name is merely a coincidence).

[Xexyz]

Here's a good question, does Natsume even have game developers anymore? Everything we get in the West from them these days is developed by someone else, and many times, it's a game Marvelous published in Japan. Did they call it quits with developing games after the 16-bit era?

[djsquarewave]

Here's a good question, does Natsume even have game developers anymore? Everything we get in the West from them these days is developed by someone else, and many times, it's a game Marvelous published in Japan. Did they call it quits with developing games after the 16-bit era?

As recently as a few years ago they were still making GBA games, so it's reasonable to assume they're at least making DS games...and a quick glance at SIT says they did DS Spongebob and Fullmetal Alchemist games. Marvelous is the same company that used to be Pack-In-Video, so that's a long-running relation going back to somewhere in the mid-'90s.

They've made quite a few shovelware GBC games and a handful of PS1 games as well. Not sure about any more recent consoles. Harvest Moon is done by a team at Marvelous AFAIK.

EDIT: I should have said this earlier, but if you're interested at all in what 8/16-bit stuff Natsume did, look at CRV's link. They worked on nearly 20 NES/Famicom games and a whole slew of SNES/SFC ones as well.