Chronsega Episode 1

# S01.02

# 📽️ Chronsega Title Sequence

🐢🍊♪ "Legend of the Gunstars" ♪

Dr. Sparkle Presents

Transcript ⌨️ in English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 from
koopaloop 🐢, Lily Mwangi 🍪, and Nate Lawrence 🏮

Index ☰️ + Captions ⏱
in English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 from Nate Lawrence 🏮

"CHRONSEGA
Episode 1"

# 🗨️ A Brief Introduction to Sega

[While] Sega [hasn't] been around as long
as Nintendo has, they are still one of

the oldest companies
in the video game field.

Of the two console giants, Sega [has] always
seemed to be the more Western-orientated of

the two, and they have had more success
outside of Japan, in places like the Americas

[and] Europe.

Perhaps this is not surprising, since Sega
was founded, not in Japan but in the [United]

States, in Hawaii in 1940 by Martin
Bromley as 'Standard Games', [providing

amusement machines] for U.S. soldiers.

In 1951, [reportedly] due to governmental
restrictions, Standard Games moved to Japan,

changing [its] name to 'Service Games',
and [flourished primarily] as a [distributor]

of [jukeboxes, slot] machines, pinball machines,
and so on, eventually merging into a Japanese

company called Nihon Goraku Bussan .

Meanwhile, Brooklyn-born businessman David
Rosen had become quite successful importing

arcade machines [into] Japan with
his company, Rosen Enterprises.

In 1964, Service Games [and] Rosen Enterprises
merged, with Rosen becoming the C.E.O..

Rosen remained as head of Sega until 1983,
when he became the C.E.O. of Sega of America.

In the 1960s, the newly reorganized Sega
began manufacturing Arcade games themselves,

with their first big hit
being "Periscope" in 1966.

Having become [quite successful], Sega ended
up being [purchased] by the American media

conglomerate, Gulf [and] Western, who were
also the owners of Paramount Pictures.

Up [until] the mid-1970s, Sega continued to
make the kind of mechanical Arcade games

were [quite popular] in both
the West [and] Japan.

But had [also] begun manufacturing "Pong"
clones, [and later] on in the decade [it

started producing] "Space [Invaders]" clones.

As the video game [market] exploded, Sega
[continued to produce] more games [and] [introduce]

the now familiar Sega logo.

By the early '80s, Sega had several huge Arcade
hits under their belt, such as "Frogger"

and "Zaxxon" one of the first
isometric perspective games.

[Throughout] the decade, Sega continued to
[produce] innovative new titles [and] *made

a big impression* on Arcade gamers with their
pioneering 3D [effects in] games such as "Hang-On",

"OutRun", [and] "Space Harrier".

Sega games [often stood out in] the arcade
with their [impressive] cabinets.

Many of Sega's big games were [designed] by
leading [designer] Yu [Suzuki], who [might]

be considered, [sort] of, Sega's
answer to [Shigeru] Miyamoto.

# 🗨️ 1981: S.G.-1000 Released

Even as Sega positioned itself [to] be one
[of] the leading Japanese Arcade game [manufacturers],

they [began] looking [at] the home market.

In 1981, during the height of videogame
mania, Sega [released] its first home console,

the S.G.-1000 in Japan, followed by very
limited [releases] in Europe [and] elsewhere.

The S.G.-1000 was contemporary with the Atari
[2600, and] the Intellivision [but was quite

powerful] for [its] time.

A [decent selection] of games were [released
for] the system, including a [port] of Sega

Arcade titles such as "Zaxxon", Arcade
[ports from] other companies [such as] "Elevator

Action", [and] "Bomb Jack", Computer games
[such as] "Lode Runner", Sports Games, [and

even] a [port] of the early
Japanese R.P.G., "Black Onyx".

# 🗨️ 1983: Sega Ports for Atari 2600

In 1983, Sega [began] releasing console
games in the U.S. for the [2600 and] the

Intellivision.

Unfortunately, the U.S. [market] collapsed
[around] this time.

# 🗨️ 1985: S.G.-1000 Mark III

By 1985, Nintendo's FamiCom [had] become
very successful in Japan [and was] soon

be [released] in the U.S..

The S.G.-1000, [while only] four years old,
seemed a little old-fashioned, so Sega

greatly [improved] on the system's hardware
[and released] the Sega S.G.-1000 Mark III

on October 25th 1985.

The Mark III was completely compatible [with]
the old S.G.-1000 SG-1000 Mark II

games [but] the [capabilities of] the system
were far beyond anything seen in the home

console market at this time.

As a comparison, the Mark III had 16 kilobytes
of video RAM [and] could display 32 colors

on screen [at] once.

[Whereas] the FamiCom had [only] 2 kilobytes
[of video] RAM, some additional sprite RAM,

[and] could display 16 colors [at] once,
in addition [to] having a slower C.P.U..

# 🗨️ 1986: S.G.-1000 Mark III Released
overseas as Master System

Additionally, [Sega] wasted no time [getting]
the Mark III [onto] the U.S. market, [hitting]

the shelves in June 1986, shortly after
the N.E.S. become [available nationally].

In the U.S., the system was dramatically redesigned
[and renamed] the Sega Master System.

Eventually, the Mark III [would] be [renamed]
the Master System in Japan as well.

Despite the system's technical [superiority],
the Master System never really took off

in the U.S. either.

Numerous theories have been
[floated] as [to] why this is.

Maybe [it was] the lack of good games, or
the [fact that] third-party publishers were

[prevented] by Nintendo [from putting] games
[out for] the Master System.

Maybe [it was] the horrible box art [and]
generally bad marketing by Tonka, the system's

U.S. [distributor].

For whatever reason, the Master System is
considered a failure in both Japan where releases

[were reduced] to a [mere] trickle by [late]
1988 and [in] the U.S., where new titles

ceased [to] come out by 1990, right during
the height of the N.E.S.' popularity.

However, the Master System did take a
life of its own elsewhere in Europe, Brazil,

[Australia and] New Zealand .

The Master System conti...--...tinued [to]
sell [in] those markets [until] the mid-'90s,

when many Mega Drive or Genesis games
were ported [to the] Master System.

Amazingly, official [releases] continued
in Brazil until 1998 - well [into] the PlayStation

[and] Saturn era, thus giving the system
a respectful lifespan of around 13 years.

Altogether, the system sold around 15 million
units, a fraction of what the N.E.S. sold,

but more [than] the Saturn [or] Dreamcast
[and enough to keep the] system from being

considered a complete failure.

Sega launched the Mark III with two titles,
"Hang-On" and "Teddy Boy Blues", but they

did manage [to get another] seven [titles
out before] the end [of] the year, all [published]

by Sega themselves and
on the Sega Card format.

The Mark III had both a cartridge slot
and slot [for] the smaller flat cards.

These cards [had also] been used for the earlier
S.G.-1000 games, the Sega Cards could hold

256 kilobits whereas, by comparison, many
Nintendo [cartridges] at this time held

320 or even 512 kilobits.

# 🎮 Hang-On

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 October 20
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Sega kicks off the Mark III, [just] like
Nintendo did, uh, [for] the FamiCom two years

earlier, with a [popular] Arcade title
- in this case, "Hang-On".

"Hang-On" was a Sega Arcade [hit] released
earlier [in] the year, [and] was noted

[for] the [fact that] you played [it] sitting
on a Motorcycle that actually tilted back

[and] forth.

These [kinds] of Super Deluxe arcade presentations
were [starting] be seen in the mid-1980s.

Here's the Arcade version [designed] by Yu
[Suzuki].

"Hang-On" was clearly modeled after "Pole
Position" [except] with Motorcycles instead

of cars.

The pseudo-3D technology was quite
impressive [at] the time, [and] this, sort of, thing

would go on become,
[sort] of, a specialty [for] Sega.

[Note what] appear [to] be all the in-game
advertisements for Shell [and] Bridgestone.

And of course, the game feature very impressive
fiery explosions when ya crashed.

Now, here's the Mark III version.

Obviously, [it can't] replicate the Arcade
graphics, but it's still very nice-looking.

As a point of comparison, let's look at Nintendo's
"Mach Rider" which was released [around]

the same time.

The FamiCom really struggles with the [3D]
graphics [and] the game is [pretty] choppy.

"Hang-On" is silky smooth next [to] "Mach
Rider", and it's much easier [to] play.

The sprites [are] more detailed [and] the
color [is] much brighter.

The Mark III was [capable] of ...sp... -- displaying
more colors [than] the FamiCom.

Now, [what about] the game itself?

Well, it's [your pretty] basic 'drive [your]
vehicle [around curves and don't hit] anything'

kind of game.

Ya need [to complete] each course
in a [set amount of] time.

Crashing [your] bike [will not] kill you,
[but it] does [waste valuable] time.

The collisions are not nearly as spectacular
as the Arcade versions, but they still look

reasonably cool.

The controls of "Hang-On" are
basic and effective.

[Perhaps] the [only] complaint is [that]
the animation of your bike when you lean

is a little rough.

Each area has, [sort] of, a [different] theme.

Here we're in the Seaside, uh, Level.

Now, we've moved on to Monument Valley.

[Certainly] the environments [are] a lot
more detailed convincing than those

in "Mach Rider".

So, "Hang-On" [is] a rather simple game
and -- [but it's] fun [to] play and certainly

demonstrates what the
Mark III is capable of.

# 🎮 Teddy Boy Blues // Teddy Boy

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 October 20
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

A rather nice [little] music theme there.

Here's the Mark III's other launch title
"Teddy Boy Blues", a [port] of Sega's recent

Arcade title (seen here).

The console version is missing the nutty musical
intro.

Uh... We'll discuss [that] music in [just]
a sec.

"Teddy Boy Blues" is [probably not that] well
[remembered] in the United States, but [it]

must [have] been [pretty popular] in Japan.

The music is rather catchy, [and] the title
actually comes from a 1985 song by a Japanese

singer named, Yohko Ishino.

That was Yohko you saw singing in the [introduction
to] the Arcade version a [second] ago.

Apparently the song was [popular] enough to
name a videogame after [it].

Now, what's a "Teddy Boy" ya wonder?

Well, in the U.K. in the 1950s Teddy Boys
were, [sort] of, well dressed rock [and] roll

[fans] who usually sported elaborate hairstyles.

They didn't get along with mods apparently.

Teddy, by the way, [refers] to the Edwardian
period clothing they wore (velvet collars

[and] whatnot).

What does all this [have to] do
[with] the game itself?

Nothing, [as] far as I [can] tell.

"Teddy Boy Blues" [is] a typical Platformer
the mid-'80s; you go around shooting

enemies that then t... -- cause them to ch...
-- [shrink] down [into little] balls which

you must then collect.

Enemies emerge [out] of boxes, uh, which
all contain a certain number of enemies, you

can tell how many [are] left by the number
of dots on the side [of] the box.

The game is well [designed but] also a [little]
bit frustrating [in] places; [only] so many

enemies [will] be out [of]
the boxes [at] any one time.

[While] this sounds helpful, [it] means
that [enemies] pop [out] whenever you collect

a ball.

The balls often land on the boxes, making
[it] dangerous to collect them.

And on some levels enemies have a [tendency]
to land on you, since they jump out quite

a ways when jumping off a platform.

I routinely [got hit] by enemies, uh,
thinking they'd be landing in front of me.

Of course, as in a game this vintage
there is a Bonus Round.

You go around collecting various little
items found hidden in [the] boxes.

Oddly, while "Teddy Boy Blues" [and] "Hang-On"
were both released on the Mark III's launch

day, "Teddy Boy..." is, I suppose the official
first release [for] the system, since it

has a catalog number 501
whereas "Hang-On" is 502.

Though [as] far [as] demonstrating the
Mark III's technical capabilities, it certainly

seems to [have] taken a backseat.

I guess this game must [have] been [pretty]
[popular] in Japan in order for Sega to

release it on the Mark III's launch day.

# 🎮 Great Soccer

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 October 27
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Released [just] a week after launch,
"Great Soccer" is Sega's first original game [for]

the Mark III, (assuming, of course, [that]
you [can] consider something as basic as this

sort of Soccer Game [to] be 'original').

It was also the first in the Sega Sports series
[for] the Mark III - all with the name, uh,

'Great...' in the title.

[Obviously], this brings Nintendo [to] mind
with their earliest [releases for] the FamiCom

all being either Arcade ports or Sports
titles.

I guess that is actually [pretty] standard
for new consoles.

Now, [what can we] say [about] the game [itself]?

Well, calling any game 'Great'...

([And] I should [point out fact] this
stadium has [an] advertisement for 'MILK',

uh, behind the, um -- the goalposts there.)

Um... Calling any game 'Great', uh, is, [sort]
of, asking [for] trouble, especially with

a quickie title like this.

Sega does -- they deviate from [Nintendo]'s
"Soccer" format by having the field positioned

vertically, not horizontally.

So, "Great Soccer" actually looks, sort of,
like "10-Yard Fight".

Rather than the realistically [proportioned]
guys from the Nintendo game, we have these,

uh, rather ugly [little] super-[deformed]
guys, all of which are cross-eyed.

Now, this game [does] have an easily visible
red arrow [that] points the player

[that] you [are] currently controlling.

[And] [that's actually] a rather nice touch.

If ya wanna pass the ball, a white arrow
[will designate the] player [that] the ball

[will] go to.

[And] naturally you [can], uh, kick the ball,
pass it, the usual stuff.

Uh... Just like real Soccer, the scores tend
[to] be low since it's much easier [to]

have a goalkeeper catch the ball, 😄 than
[it] is to actually, uh, make, uh, a point.

Uh... Scoring a goal is pretty difficult.

The graphics [and] sound [are pretty] unimpressive
[and] "Great Soccer" is certainly not a, uh

-- [what you'd] call a demonstration [title
for] the Mark III.

In other words, while "Great Soccer" is [not]
bad for a very early release, it certainly

[doesn't] look, um, like a [lot of] time [and]
effort [went] into it.

Hell! Maybe this was originally developed
as an S.G.-1000 title.

Sega themselves apparently didn't think too
highly of "[Great] Soccer" and they never

released [it] in the U.S..

Instead, they published another better Soccer
Game, "World Soccer", and then [released]

that in the U.S. [under the title] of "[Great]
Soccer".

# 🎮 Fushigi no Oshiro Pit Pot // Pit-Pot

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 14
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

After taking a break [for] a couple months,
Sega released a new [title] in mid-December.

[And, just like "Great] Soccer", this is
an original [title for] the Mark III, "Fushigi

no Oshiro Pit Pot".

While "...Pit Pot" isn't really spectacular,
it is interesting [title] in the way

[that it] bears a superficial resemblance
to "...Legend of Zelda", which would be

released about two [months] after this.

There's the top-down interior viewpoint,
the foreshortened walls [and] doors, the

keys required to unlock the doors - all
this [appeared in] "...Zelda".

Though, of course, none of these elements
are really completely original.

Still, [it] is [an interesting] coincidence.

"...Pit Pot" has you controlling a very [short]
knight [that] actually, uh, (from the behind,

at least) bears [an interesting] resemblance
to the Prince from "Katamari Damacy".

You need to rescue a Princess, [but] a rather
strange one because [your] main objective

is [to collect] the [boxes of] treasure
scattered [around the] castle.

Collecting all the treasure in a room [will]
sometimes [net] you a key, [but] other

times you'll [have to perform] some [kind]
of special task [in] order [to get] the

key.

Now, [despite] being a knight, [your] weapon
is [not] a sword, [but] rather a [giant]

mallet, which you [can] use [to] crush
enemies [and] knock [out] the grey blocks.

The gold blocks [are] anchored [and can't]
be knocked out.

You [can] cause a [large] section of the
gray blocks [to] drop [into] the pit by

knocking out all the blocks [that are] connected
[the] stationary gold blocks.

However, in a [lot] of cases this is difficult
do, [simply because] there's a [lot]

of blocks.

There're, of course, various objects [to]
pick up.

Uh... Their meanings are [not] always obvious.

For example, the [heart will] freeze all
enemies on [the] screen.

Later games would tend [to] use something
(oh) [that] makes a [bit] more sense like,

say, a stopwatch [for] this.

[While] "...Pit Pot" is a [cute little] Puzzlish,
[sort] of, game, I [get] the impression this

was knocked [out pretty] quickly by Sega.

The graphics [are] very simple [and] really
this could've been done on the FamiCom.

I guess "...Pit Pot" falls [into] the same
general -- general category as "BomberMan"

(which was [in] fact [released] for the FamiCom
[around] the same time as [this] - I think

maybe a week [or] two [later]).

Unfortunately [for] "...Pit Pot" the Hudson
[title is actually] a [lot] more fun [to]

play.

[And] "...Pit Pot" suffers [from] a rather
unfair ending.

When you reach the Princess, if ya haven't
collected every single treasure... the greedy

bitch kills you! Game [Over]!

[Definitely not] the way [to make] gamers
happy!

So, "...Pit Pot" - interesting game, but really
hardly [superior to] the, [sort] of, things

[that] were being released on the FamiCom,
[at] this time.

# 🎮 Great Baseball

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 15
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

"[Great] Baseball" (the [second in] Sega's
earlier Sports series) was released the day

after "...Pit Pot".

So, [it] appears [that] Sega has embarked
on a spree of [putting out] games [for] the

1985 holiday season.

Of course, the same thing was happening with
the FamiCom with Namco, Taito, Capcom, Irem,

Bandai, Enix, Hudson, [and] others all [releasing]
games [right] before the year's end.

The FamiCom certainly had superiority in numbers
with 17 [releases] as compared to the Mark

III's six.

As for Sega's "Great Baseball", well, this
is the Japanese game - actually a *different

game* [than] the one [that] came [out in]
the U.S. [under] the name "[Great] Baseball".

Or rather, [that] game was a [substantially]
we... -- reworked version of this one

with [completely different] graphics.

However, upon playing "[Great] Baseball",
ya might realize [that it] could pass as

a reworked version of Nintendo's "Baseball",
one [of] the very first games [for] the FamiCom,

back in 1983.

I guess, uh, the very ideas behind a Baseball
video game hadn't really changed much since

then.

The gameplay [and] controls [are pretty]
similar.

[Select] one [of] the generic teams.

Then ya have one of [your generic] players
swing the bat.

The C.P.U. is [pretty] good [at] catching
[and] fielding, though [you will] get

lucky sometimes.

The timing of the swings is a [little] different.

The swing felt a [little] slow [to] me,
[but] I [didn't really] play "[Great] Baseball"

[enough to get] a good feel for it.

Ah! There is [one of the] times I [just got]
lucky on [that] hit.

Now, [while] pitching, you have some basic
options, fastball or slowball.

[And] you [can throw to] the bases if the
other team is tryin' [to] steal.

While [fielding, ya] use the D-Pad [to select]
which base [to] throw to.

It's all very [similar] to Nintendo's earlier
game.

Okay, now here my team is pitching.

Except [that unlike] Nintendo's "Baseball",
you [can] control [your] own outfielders

[while you're] running [to] the ball.

Like [many] team Sports Games, you control
[a group] of players all [at] once.

As you [can] see there, they're all moving
in exact unison.

What this means [is that it] can be a [little
bit difficult to get your hands] on the ball

sometimes.

If you [think] the ball [is going to land
between] two players, if ya move one towards

the ball [you'll] be moving another player
away [from] the [ball].

Like a [lot of] these games, it's kind of
difficult [to] know exactly where the ball

is going [to] land.

So, this can occasionally cause you [some]
trouble.

[And] of course, the ball also tends to be
hard [to] catch, [often] passing [right] between

[your] legs.

On the positive side, [it] seems the ball
can kill an umpire.

[That] guy doesn't seem [to] be getting up.

So, as a rule, [like] these Baseball Games,
fielding is the most [difficult] part.

Now, one more complaint:

[Not only do your outfielders] move very
slowly, as they -- they tend [to] do but

they throw very slowly!

The ball actually moves at [about] the same
speed as the runner.

[Obviously], this doesn't [make] real sense,
um, [and most] Baseball Games tend [to]

have the ball move much faster [than] the
guy [you're] running.

[But in] a case [like that] when [you're]
tryin' to, uh -- you [are] throwing the ball

[and] the guy is running [in] the same direction,
there's no way [you're] gonna [get him] out.

So, as I said, I didn't really play "[Great]
Baseball" [enough to] master the controls.

[But it] seems [to] me that calling [it]
maybe 'Good Baseball' or perhaps even 'Average

Baseball' [might] be a [bit] more accurate.

It really just is Nintendo's "Baseball" with,
uh, slightly, uh, better graphics.

# 🎮 Satellite 7

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 20
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Everyone likes Shoot-'em-Ups, right?

Scrolling Shooter games must [have] been quite
[popular in] Japan [at] this time.

There certainly were [enough of] them [released
for] the FamiCom.

So, naturally, Sega chose [to] release [not]
one but two Shoot-'em-Ups in a row [for] the

Mark III.

The boringly titled "Satellite 7" is the
first [and] lesser of the two.

Right off the [bat], here's a problem.

If you die while a wave of enemies is on
the screen, you can respawn [right] in

the middle of [that] wave (with enemies
right on top of you).

Now this situation captured on video here
isn't really that dire.

But there have been times when I have died
and respawned [right] on top of [an] enemy,

thus getting the dreaded Double Death.

[And] I've even encountered the Triple Death,
on occasion.

[And], of course, in Shoot-'em-Ups this is
really considered [to] be [not] fair.

In general, though, "Satellite 7" is [just]
not a very good Shooter.

[Your] ship (or tank or [whatever] it is)
moves sluggishly, [and] the game lacks much

variety.

There are [little] power-ups here, uh,
which are [gotten] by [collecting] the stars;

[get enough] of a certain color [and you'll
get] a power-up.

Green, [for] example, makes you [temporarily]
invincible.

[I'm not] sure [what] the other stars do.

I never [actually got around to collecting]
another color.

Um... One thing though, in general, we [don't]
like on [Shoot]-'em-Ups is temporary power-ups.

I somehow can't imagine [that] the other power-ups
[are] very spectacular, however.

"Satellite 7" is clearly modeled after Namco's
"Xevious".

[And] like many of the post-"Xevious"/pre-"Gradius"
[Shooters, it isn't] really a [lot] of fun.

The big black borders [and excessively] large
sidebar [certainly don't help] much.

It really gives the game a feeling of, like,
one [of] those old computer Shoot-'em-Ups.

You [also] have bombs [but] they [don't
have a very] big blast range.

[And ya need to get] -- basically be an exact
hit when ya use 'em.

The first boss is [kind] of weird.

He actually has a counter on [him] that
tells me any -- how many more hits ya need

[to] kill him.

Unfortunately, once you [get] rid of him,
he [doesn't] actually explode [or] do anything

cool like that.

He [just sort] of, slinks away.

Ah. Yeah, there we go.

That's all there is.

[Kind] of a shame, really.

So, while this game has [colorful] graphics
which [are pretty] typical [of] the Mark *III,

nothing in the game (the, uh, backgrounds,
enemies, weapons, anything) has any* sorta

character.

I'm [not even] really sure [if your] vehicle
is [ground]-based [or] air-based.

[I'm] gonna [have to] call "Satellite 7" a
[disappointment].

[Even] by 1985 standards, [it] was way [behind]
the times.

# 🎮 Astro Flash // TransBot // Nuclear
Creature 🇧🇷

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 22
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

I promised [you] two [Shooters] in a row.

[And] here's #2 "Astro Flash" (known [as]
"TransBot" in the U.S. [and for] some reason

"[Nuclear Creature]" in Brazil).

Released a mere two days after "Satellite
7", it is [certainly the] better title

of the two.

[Your] first [impression will probably] be,
'Wow! This game looks really nice, much better

[than] the boring [and] ugly "Satellite 7"!'.

[And] check out that really awesome parallax
scrolling!

I could be mistaken [but] I don't think
we've really seen this impressive a use

of parallax in a console game [before].

[It] really gives the [feeling] of speed [and]
depth missing in earlier Shoot-'em-Ups [for]

home systems.

And additionally, "Astro Flash" even has
power-ups!

Shooting the livvle -- little, uh, delivery
van there will cause a Power Orb [to] fall

out; grabbing the Orb [and hitting your] second
[button will select] a power-up.

Now, you [can't] exactly choose your power-ups.

[It] cycles through the [available] power-ups
very, very quickly [and will] stop whenever

you [hit] the [button], so a [certain amount]
of luck is involved.

[Unfortunately], the power-ups [are] all temporary
and [will] run [out] of time when the Arm

Meter goes all the way to the left.

Also, you can take multiple hits and
will [only] lose a life when the Power Meter

runs out.

Among the five power-[ups] available are a
couple [that will] turn you into a [robot],

as we've [already] seen.

Viewers of 'Chrontendo' [will] know [this
is already] a [bit] of a video game cliche,

[with] several FamiCom [titles], uh, featuring
robot to, uh -- and ship [transformations],

starting with, uh, "Formation Z" all the way
back in early 1985.

Now, those Power Orb vans arrive [pretty]
frequently, so ya really [won't] go too

long (if [at] all) [without] power-up.

Here we've reached the second area, which
is a more, [ya] know, futuristic type city

again with [pretty] nice scrolling.

So, even though this game seems like a vast
[improvement] over "Satellite 7", it's still

far from perfect; it's -- it's not exactly
"Side Arms...".

The levels [and] enemies are [pretty] repetitive
([and] literally so); this level [will]

loop infinitely [until] ya destroy one
[particular] enemy.

[Unfortunately], this enemy [can only] be
destroyed by one [particular] weapon: the

missiles.

So, if ya don't have the missiles [and]
you encounter [it], you'll have [to] repeat

the entire level [and] try again.

Obviously, this game [will] piss you off
[quite] a [bit until] ya figure [it] out.

Oh, here's one [of] the coolest power-ups,
[right] here.

Strangely, the Japanese release has a
catalog number of 503, making [it] sequentially

the third Mark III game.

However, [it] was [released] after numbers
504 [and] -- through 407.

So, [Mark] III games weren't always [released]
in numerical order.

[It] was given a U.S. [release in] 1986
(unlike "Satellite 7"), [but] under the

name "TransBot" with a Transformer-like [robot]
on the cover (obviously [an] attempt to

cash in on the popular toy line).

And as a weird coda [to] all this, in
[1986] Sega [released an] Arcade version

of "Astro Flash", this time known [in] the
U.S. [as] simply "Transformer".

For the Arcade version, the whole, uh, 'shooting
the [supply] ships' has been eliminated.

And you [can] simply transform back [and forth
between] a jet and a robot [at] will, thus

giving [it] a "Formation Z"-[like] quality.

Unfortunately, the Arcade game isn't really
[that] much better than the console version,

as far [as] I [can] tell.

# 🎮 F-16 Fighting Falcon // F-16 Fighter

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 22
💾 Developed by Nexa | Sega
📦 Published by Sega

[As] we approach the end of 1985 we have
another Shooter of sorts "F-16 Fighting

Falcon".

[Note] the name Nexa in the credits.

This was [released] in Europe as "F-16 Fighter".

You [can] choose [the difficulty] level, [right]
off the bat, by the number [of] enemy [fighters].

Once the game starts, you [might] be [surprised]
by the rather unimpressive graphics.

This [definitely] looks a few generations
older [than] the Mark III.

This [definitely] has the [most limited] color
palette we've seen for the System III, uh,

black, white, two shades of blue, green, red,
[and] yellow.

If this doesn't look like the typical Sega
game, well, it's not.

[This is] actually the [first] Mark III release
not developed by Sega.

([Oops], I [just got] myself blown [up immediately],
there.

I scored zero points.)

This game was [developed] by Nexa (though
Sega [presumably ported] the game).

"F-16 Fighter" is the [port] of a 1984 M.S.X.
Jet [Fighter] Simulation game.

This version looks almost [exactly like]
the M.S.X. version.

Nexa was an American company, uh, [that]
released a few games [in] the mid-'80s [and]

was founded by the noted Silicon Valley
personality, Gilman Louie, - a fellow who

is, quite frankly, more [interesting] than
this game.

As you saw there, I [just] blew up [one of]
the [enemy fighters] with my missiles.

You [have] two forms of weapons here, missiles
or the 20 millimeter machine gun.

As you [can] see by the [little] readout there
on the left-hand side I currently have the

gun selected.

Louie seemed [to] specialize in F-16 Simulation
Games and, uh, r... -- actually ran a few

different video game companies, [including]
one called Spectrum HoloByte.

While [with] them, Louie [secured] the U.S.
rights [for] an obscure Russian video game

called "Tetris".

I assume he made some money off of that.

He's nowadays more known as a financier
[and] actually does investment work for the

C.I.A..

As for "F-16 [Fighting] Falcon", well, like
a [lot] of Aircraft Simulation Games, [it]

has [an] overly-complicated display [and]
controls.

In fact, you actually have [to] use two game
controllers.

The D-Pad on the one controls [your] speed,
[and] the D-Pad on the other controls your

direction [and] then the [buttons] do various
things.

The main challenge of this game is to, [sort]
of, master the, uh, complicated controls and

figure [out] how to actually use 'em [to shoot]
things down.

[I'm] trying to right now, uh, speed up [and]
catch [that] guy, [right] there.

I suppose [that aircraft] freaks [might enjoy]
this, [sort] of, thing, [but] probably [everybody]

else [will] find [it] a [little bit] boring.

some [reason, I just can't] seem to
lock on...

There [we] go.

Um... [The fact that] Nexa was the first third-party
developed game [for] the Mark III indicates

what a major lock Nintendo had on the video
game developers [and] how far afield Sega

had [to] go [in order to find] companies willing
[to] work with 'em.

# 🎮 Great Tennis // Super Tennis

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1985 December 22
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

"Astro Flash", "F-[16] Fighting Falcon", [and]
this game, "Great Tennis", were all [released]

on December 22nd.

[And] this will [conclude] 1985 for the Mark
III.

So far, Sega seems be taking the same
path as Nintendo did when [it released]

the FamiCom [in] 1983.

A few Arcade ports, some Sports Games, a few
[original titles].

I earlier remarked on the [similarity] of
"[Great] Baseball" to Nintendo's early

"Baseball" game.

[And] the same holds true for "Great Tennis".

It's really [just] Nintendo's "Tennis" [with
brighter] colors.

Now, there seems [to] be some confusion over
the name.

The box says "Great Tennis" [and] the screen
says "Super Tennis".

In the U.S. [and] Europe, this game was [released
later] as "Super Tennis".

Just like the old Nintendo "Tennis" game,
[it] doesn't really advance on the gameplay

of the old Atari 2600 "Tennis" game.

Run [up to] the ball [and] press the [button
to] swing the racket.

I [didn't] really care for [the] Nintendo
game [and] I [don't] really [like] this one

either, [mostly] due [to] the controls seeming
[just] a [little] off.

First of all, serving can be difficult, the
ball [frequently] either hits the net or

[lands just past] the service line.

I've [actually] lost entire games [strictly]
through [hitting] too [many] faults.

However, once ya [get] the ball in play,
"[Great] Tennis" [doesn't] really seem [that]

bad, even though the hit detection sometimes
[is] a [little] wrong.

At times the game seems [very] generous
as you [hit] balls that seem outside your

racket's range.

Other times the ball seems [to] pass [right]
through [your] racket.

One thing [that's, uh, a little bit] of concern
[while] playing this game is [your opponent]

there.

Uh... [What exactly] is he wearing?

[While] you seem [to] be having s... -- your
[sort of] standard Tennis shorts, he seems

be wearing some kind of bikini brief
bottoms.

Like a [lot] of early Mark III titles, Sega
seems to [have, sort] of, phoned this one

in.

Nintendo's "Tennis" [seemed pretty] impressive
in 1983 but by [late] 1985 a game [like]

this would seem a [little behind] the times.

Sega may be suffering from the same problem
Nin(h... --)tendo had [in] the early [days

of] the FamiCom; they had [to] develop every
single title themselves.

Fortunately for Nintendo, they quickly
picked up a [lot] of third-party developers

[and] publishers [for] the FamiCom.

Sega would [not] be so lucky.

So, 1985 [hasn't] really been [that successful
for] the Mark III.

The [only] really game I [can] recommend [without]
any reservations is "Hang-On".

"Astro Flash" is [not that] bad.

Uh... The other games all seem... (well,
"...[Pit Pot]", I guess, has its moments).

[But for] the [most] part, [not] a [lot of
great] games for the Mark III.

Hopefully 1986 [we'll] see better luck.

# 🗨️ The First Year of S.G.-1000 Mark
III

In 1986 (the Mark III's first full year) a
mere 16 titles [were released in] Japan,

again, all [published] by Sega, due mostly
[to] Nintendo's, uh, having pretty much every

major Japanese publisher [and] developer in
their corner.

Still, Sega did take a step [forward]
by ditching the Sega Card format [and releasing]

games in the Cartridge format, (most [of]
which held one megabit, [at] this time).

[In] June, Sega released the Sega Master System
[in] the U.S., though [we'll discuss that]

more next time.

# 🎮 Seishun Scandal // My Hero

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 January 31
💾 Developed by Coreland | Sega
📦 Published by Sega

1986 kicks off slowly, [but it] does with
another Arcade port; this time it's "Seishun

Scandal" (or 'Youth Scandal').

This is, sort of, very early Beat-'em-Up
- rather curious [little title].

[It] was originally a 1985 Arcade game,
in which you travel across town [to] rescue

[your] girlfriend who [was kidnapped] by
some thugs.

In the U.S. [it] was known [as] "My Hero".

Here is the Arcade version here.

[Pretty] much the same [plot as pretty] much,
well, every Beat-'em-Up, going [back to] "[Spartan]

X"/"Kung-Fu Master".

The Arcade game was released by Sega but
[developed] by a company [called] Coreland.

Coreland was later bought out by Bandai
in the late 1980s, [and] their name was

[changed] to Banpresto.

Nowadays they do g... -- a lot of games based
on [licensed] properties.

Here we are [back] to the Mark III version.

[While] the Arcade game was a decent [little]
time waster, the Mark III port ([presumably

ported] by Sega [themselves]) is a whole
'nother story.

While it superficially looks very [similar,
it] plays very differently.

As you may have noticed from the gameplay,
uh, video here, [it] is impossibly [difficult

and] you [will] keep dying.

There [are often] a [lot] of enemies [on]
the screen [at] once.

In the Arcade game you [can] just tear right
through them quite easily [with your punches

or] kicks (quite similar to "Kung-Fu Master").

In the home version, there seems be
some [sort] of, like, [little] lag whenever

you attack [and it] requires much more precision.

You'll [frequently find] yourselves being
[hit] by the enemies [before] you [can

hit] them.

As a [result], "Seishun Scandal"...

(Well, we just saw [it right] there; [I]
walked up [to] the guy [and], 'Bam!', he [just

knocked] me out.)

The game really is, uh, a bit of a drag
and, uh, even playing through...

(See? There's another cheap death [right]
there.

[Right] as I walked up [to] the guy [and hit]
him, he threw a [little] mine up in the

air [that hit] me [and] killed me.

[That's really] hardly fair.)

[Well], the Arcade version actually has
three [different] levels.

There's a second one; third one have like
a Historical theme [and], like, a Science

Fiction theme.

The Mark III version [just]...

(Again, uh, the platforming is a [little]
strange; [it looked like] I, [sort] of, jumped

[right] through, uh, [that little platform]
there.)

[In] the U.S., this was [released] as, uh,
"My Hero".

Unfortunately, they [changed] the [title]
screen [but] nothing else; it doesn't actually

play any better [than] the Mark III version.

And, as [I] was mentioning, the, uh -- the
home version [only] has one level basically

[that, sort] of, [repeats] over [and] over
again.

So, unfortunately, "My Hero" - [while] it's
nice see Sega doing another Arcade

port this game is [pretty] unplayable.

# 🎮 Comical Machine Gun Joe

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 April 21
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Next up is a Sega-[developed original title
for the] Mark III, "Machine Gun Joe" (or

"Comical Machine Gun Joe", as [it] is sometimes
called).

Video game publishers seem take a [little]
break after [the] busy holiday season, [at]

least [in] terms of their release schedule.

Sega [is] no exception; "Machine Gun Joe"
came out over four [and] a half [months into]

the year.

"Machine Gun Joe" is [not] a bad [title]
- very simple [but an improvement] over

"Seishun Scandal".

You play this [cute little] gangster guy
[that] everyone wants [to] kill.

[Just as], uh, "Seishun Scandal" predated
games like "Renegade" "Double Dragon",

"Machine Gun Joe" [predated] "Cabal" by
two years.

[Your] character moves left [and] right along
the [bottom of the] screen shooting enemies

[in] the background.

(Though, if ya think about [it], this
style of game is [really just an updated]

variation on "Space [Invaders]".)

Joe [can] fire [in] five directions: straight
up, left, and right, as well [as] a 45 degree

angle.

[At] the end of every level you encounter
one [of] these fast moving bosses.

He's [either] this guy [in] red or a Japanese
schoolgirl.

[Ya do have] a power-up in the form of
Red [Hat that] allows you [to shoot] faster.

There [are] pigs [that will drop] bombs
which [can] clear [the] screen [of] enemies.

[And like] couple other Sega games, "Teddy
Boy Blues" and "Seishun Scandal" (the Arcade

version), enemies [don't] die [but] rather
[shrink] down [into] li'l versions of themselves.

[These little] enemies [are not completely]
harmless; they [can] attach themselves

[to] your sides [and] slow ya down.

As you may [have] noticed, there [is] a [pretty]
healthy dose [of] nonsense in "Machine Gun

Joe".

I guess [that's] why the guy in game
is called "Comical Machine Gun Joe".

Aside from oddball enemies [like] pigs [and]
spiders [the] levels have, oh, um -- [get]

a [little] weird [as] the game progresses.

The harbor seems like a [natural enough] place
[for] gangsters [to] hang [out, but eventually

ya] move on [to] this graveyard, [and] then
to a fairy tale like [forest] setting.

So, "Machine Gun Joe" is [an] example
of the Japanese humor game aesthetic.

Uh... Sort of, mixes inappropriate objects
together [in weird] random ways.

Other examples would be "Twinbee" or the 'Parodius'
series.

Either way, it's certainly nice [to] see Sega
come up [with] something a [little] different

[and] unusual for the Mark III.

# 🎮 Ghost House

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 April 21
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Next up is another Mark III original,
the unimaginatively titled "Ghost House".

As ya [might] guess it's a [Horror]-themed
game in which you traipse [your] way through

a monster-filled mansion [with] the intent
[to] find [and] kill Dracula.

If [that] sounds like some other better
game from Konami, well, the idea is similar,

[but] the execution couldn't be more different.

"Ghost House" did come [out] a few months
[before] "Castlevania", so [it] gets points

[for] being first [at] least but certainly
not [better].

"Ghost House" is, uh, more of [an] old-school
Platformer.

Kinda reminds me of "Mappy" or games of [that]
ilk, but [with] some newer gaming [elements]

added in.

[For] example, you [can] punch monsters as
they approach you or you [can] kill [them]

by jumping on them.

You have a Life Bar (not too common at this
time), Health Refill items, a weapon upgrade,

[and] a few other tricks.

Despite all this, the game does feel [decidedly]
old-fashioned.

The object is simply to survive long
enough to [find] Dracula's casket.

Um... Or rather [to find] the real Dracula,
as he apparently employs Dracula lookalikes

as decoys.

Once you've killed all the vampires, [ya]
move on [to] Stage 2 [and] so on.

Here's one [of] the caskets [right] here [and]
Dracula has emerged; he's [that] rather large

bat [floating] around.

[Any] time you touch a casket, [he'll
rise out and] attack you.

He [spends most of his] time in [bat]
form [but] occasionally, uh, goes down [into]

a human form [or] vampire form, as you see
there.

[Hitting him enough] times [will] kill him
but usually you take some damage yourself

[upon] making contact.

Now, [at] last, I understand how smart Simon
[Belmont] was to, uh, take [that] weapon

with [him].

There's various other monsters in the mansion,
uh, including (well, let's see, uh) blue ghosts,

lots [and] lots [of] bats, fire breathing
trolls of some sort (um, all [of] which [are]

pretty annoying and, uh, [can] be [kind] of
a pain [to] kill).

However, you do have a, uh, rather nice
(though highly unlogical) trick [that] you

[can] use.

Jumping up [and hitting] a [light] bulb
[will], uh -- with [your] head [will] cause

all the [monsters to] freeze [for] a few
moments.

Oh, yes, [and] there's the, uh, key you need
[to] actually open [up the] caskets.

Here comes another one.

As I mentioned, uh, [hitting the light]
bulb [will] cause [everyone to] freeze.

You [can] then walk up [to] the stationary
Dracula [and pretty] much, uh, [hit] him

to his heart's c... uh -- [your] heart's content.

And, uh, hopefully kill him [without] taking
v... -- very much damage.

So, uh, "Ghost House" is full [of] weird
[little] nonsensical things, uh, such [as],

uh, jumping in [front] of one [of] the candle
holders [will] cause him [to] throw a knife

[at] you.

Uh... [But] if you jump [and] land on
the knife, you [can] then use [it] as a weapon.

[Just like] a real knife, you [can only]
stab [someone with it] a few times before

it simply disappears.

Oh yes! And you [can only] use the [light]
bulb trick a few times each level [before

it] stops working.

So, "[Ghost] House" is a reasonably well
presented game [and] can be fun [at] times.

(Oh, as you [can] see here, the, uh, reason
his [bat] form he can be rather difficult

[to] kill, as [he] keeps whacking you over
[and] over again.)

Now, one thing I [don't] like about the
game is the fact [that], even though you

[can] jump, you can't really seem [to]
jump over much.

The bats move up [and] down while flying,
[kind] of like the Medusa Heads [in] "Castlevania".

My first instinct is [to] try to jump over
them [but] this generally does [not] work

[and] ya do [get hit] frequently in this
game.

[It's], more [or] less, unavoidable.

Luckily, [your] health decreases [pretty]
slowly and there're Health Refills all over.

Still, getting hit [in] this game [kind]
of pisses me off.

So, I guess "Ghost House" [is a] halfway
[point between] "Mappy" [and] "Castlevania".

[I never thought I'd] be saying [that about]
a game, but here [it] is.

# 🎮 Fantasy Zone

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 June 15
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

So far, 1987 [hasn't] been too impressive
[for] the Mark III [but] all [that's] about

[to] change [with] this release - the
fun frantic [Cute]-'em-Up, "[Fantasy]

Zone".

"[Fantasy] Zone" is a [port] of Sega's Arcade
game, which was relatively new [at] this

time.

[It] actually [hit] arcades in March;
the Mark III version was released in June.

In "[Fantasy] Zone", your ship is Opa-Opa.

You must destroy a series of enemy spawning
bases using [your] twin laser beams or

bombs.

The premise is [really not that] far off
from "Teddy Boy Blues".

Here's the Arcade version here.

[It] has fantastic presentation, awesome
music, multi-layered backgrounds, huge bosses

- really everything you [could] want in
a [Shoot]-'em-Up [of this] era.

The Mark III version has obviously been
graphically downgraded.

The [limited], uh, [vertical] scrolling found
(as you [can] see here) in the original

version has been eliminated.

Here's the [first] boss [from] the Arcade
version.

Again, fantastic music.

One thing [about "Fantasy] Zone" [is that
it] lets you buy [items from] shops.

You [collect] gold coins throughout the
game [and can] then buy various upgrades [to

your] engines [which will] make [you] faster.

Various sorts of weapons, more powerful bombs,
even extra [lives], which [obviously]

come in [quite] handy as the [game] is, uh,
[quite] difficult.

Now "[Fantasy] Zone" somehow [managed to
get] away with breaking a [lot of] the [cardinal]

rules of [Shoot]-'em-Ups.

[For] example, the weapons are all temporary.

As you [can] see, my wide beam [just] ran
[out] there.

They [only last about] 15 seconds.

Of course [most of them are] so powerful
that they would [sort] of [break] the game

if you [could] use [them until] ya die.

Odd [that], uh, "[Fantasy Zone]" came out...

(Ah! Here's the 7 Way [Shot] - far [and] away
the [most powerful], uh, laser in the game.)

[It's interesting that] this game came [out
right around] the same time (uh, [at least]

the Arcade version) as "...Legend of Zelda"
[and] both, sort of, feature the ability to

buy [items in] shops - [sort] of an R.P.G.
style idea that, uh, became increasingly popular

[as] time [went] by.

Now, prior [to] this game, all [of] the
Mark III games had been [released] in the

Sega My Card format.

"[Fantasy] Zone" [is the] first cartridge
[for] the system.

The carts [can] hold more than the My Cards;
"[Fantasy Zone]" was 1 Megabit (uh, [pretty]

impressive in those days).

Sega would release a couple more of the
My Cards after this, [but] they were phased

[out pretty] quickly.

As I was mentioning, this game is [not]
quite as impressive-looking as the Arcade

version, [but it] certainly has the very
wonderful [bright] colors of "Fantasy Zone".

One thing [that] was changed [is] the
bosses now all have separate screens; you

[don't fight them] on the main level.

This guy here you have to, uh, [shoot] the
[little] three [orbiting] planets out through

the spaces in the outer ring of planets
there.

Uh... [These -- All these] bosses don't look
that difficult ([they] seem like the idea

of, uh, killing 'em is [pretty] simple) but
[the] thing is, they all have time limits.

If [ya don't] kill [them] quickly enough,
they will [start] moving [around] the screen

towards you and, uh, kill you actually
[pretty] quickly.

[So, you're, sort] of, frantically tryin'
to, uh, get these guys [as] quickly [as]

possible.

Using power-ups [during] the boss fights can
be helpful.

[Now, one thing about "Fantasy Zone": it]
looks cute, but [it] is tough; it can

be very tough [at] times.

Enemies [will often] materialize [out] of
nowhere.

Like these guys which are [incredibly] ni...
[annoying].

They actually, uh, try [to] close in on
you as [you] move left [and right].

[And] they follow you [so] you have [to]
quickly dash [between them].

I've probably lost more lives those [li'l]
orange things [than] any other enemy in the

game.

In fact, enemies following you around [and]
tryin' to ram [your] ship [are actually

pretty] common.

I said this game breaks a [lot] of [Shoot]-'em-Up
rules [but] somehow [manages to get] away

[with it].

Even though the game is hard, [it doesn't]
really seem 'cheap'.

[Despite] the [fact that] enemies [will
occasionally] follow [you] around, speed up,

[and] then ram you [while your] back [is]
turned.

So, in conclusion, "[Fantasy] Zone" is [pretty]
awesome - [definitely] the [best] game [of]

the Mark III so far.

[And] probably [the best] [Shoot]-'em-Up on
a home [console system], so far.

[Despite] many [Shoot]-'em-Ups being, uh,
[released for the] FamiCom, uh, they were

[not] very good ("TwinBee" meebe -- maybe
being the best so far).

[Definitely] an early high [watermark] for
the system.

# 🎮 Gokuaku Doumei Dump Matsumoto // Pro
Wrestling

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 July 20
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

[1986] is halfway over [and] there really
[haven't] been many Mark III games [released]

yet.

We're almost ready [to] wrap up this episode.

[But] first here's Mark III's Wrestling
Game, "Gokuaku Doumei Dump Matsumoto" released

in the U.S. under the more [generic title]
of "Pro Wrestling".

Unlike most other Wrestling Games, "Gokuaka
Doumei..." is a female Wrestling Game (ladies

wrestling being [quite popular in] Japan,
[at] this time).

[It's also a port of] this Sega Arcade game
called [just] "Dump Matsumoto" (or "Body

Slam" in the U.S.)

This was ([just] like "[Fantasy] Zone")
a new game!

I wonder [if] Sega [wasn't] developing, uh,
Arcade games and their Mark III ports [in]

tandem, [at] this point.

The Arcade version [has] a typical nice Sega
System 16 graphics [and pretty] cool music!

So, you may be wondering what is 'Dump
Matsumoto'?

Well, she's a real-life Japanese wrestler
[and] 'Gokuaku Doumei' was her wrestling team.

I could be wrong, [but] I think the
Fresh Gals were based on rival team / pop

singers, the Crush Gals.

While U.S. female wrestlers tend [to] be somewhat
glamorous, in Japan, they often go the

opposite route, with crazy hair [and] makeup
giving them [an almost] demonic look.

Obviously, this Mark III version has taken
a [pretty] big [graphical] hit, as [well

as] a stylistic makeover.

The more [realistically proportioned] figures
are now [your], uh, typical super-deformed

style characters.

[Your] wrestler [can] throw punches [and]
kicks [and has] a few special moves, performed

while the opponent is either down or flying
off the ropes.

There is no grappling in this game - something
[that] would become standard in [most] Wrestling

Games later such as Nintendo's "Pro Wrestling"
(which was released [about] three months after

this).

Still, "Gokuaku Doumei..." is [pretty]
advanced for its time.

Consider [that its predecessors] on consoles
were the really, really super awful, uh, 'Kinnikuman'

[and] Technos' "Tag Team Wrestling".

You [can] even occasionally find a chair
[to] use [as] a weapon.

Now, in the [United] States, uh, this game
was [released] under the name "Pro Wrestling"

with the wrestlers being changed to more
generic-style male wrestlers.

I guess really scary-looking female wrestlers
[wouldn't] fly with Western gamers or [just

really wouldn't] make any sense [to] them
- them having nothing [to connect it] with.

This nice [li'l] intro has been added
of the wrestlers jumping [into] the ring,

[but the] game [itself pretty] much plays
the same.

Either way, this game can be difficult
[and] a [little] unfair.

First of all, ya have [to] play a [lot]
of [rounds to] win the championship.

[And] the C.P.U. [almost] seems [to always]
have the upper hand.

Your punches [and] kicks [often] miss [while]
the C.P.U. seems [to] be able [to get] a [lot]

more hits in.

Their special [moves can also] be [performed]
much more quickly.

So, [while] this is [an] interesting, uh,
entry from Sega, I -- I [wouldn't] really

consider [it] be a classic and there
[certainly would] be [better] Wrestling

Games.

# 🎮 Hokuto no Ken // Black Belt

♪ "Fantasy Zone Boss Theme" ♪

🗓️ Released 1986 July 20
💾 Developed by Sega
📦 Published by Sega

Whoa-ho! [That's] a rather [dramatic little]
intro there!

[Our] last game [in] the first episode of
'Chronsega' is "[Hokuto no] Ken", which

was based on the popular comic, T.V. series,
movie, [et] cetera known as "Fist [of] the

North Star" in the West).

The [plotline] is somewhat complicated.

[It] involves this guy, Kenshiro, who
[lives in] a post-apocalyptic world - [and

can hit] guys so hard they explode.

How? By [hitting them] on their pressure
points.

[Japan] was [apparently] in the midst of
a '[Hokuto no] Ken' blitz because [about]

two weeks [later] this game came out.

"[Hokuto no] Ken" by Shouei System for [the]
FamiCom - one of the all-time worst FamiCom

games.

Normally the name "[Hokuto no] Ken" strikes
[terror in] the hearts of sensitive video

gamers.

[But] the Sega game really [isn't that]
bad by comparison.

Of course being [better than] the FamiCom
"[Hokuto] no Ken" is [sort of like] being

taller [than] a midget.

[It's] really [not] saying much.

This game is [your] standard early [Beat]-'em-Up:
'walk right [and] kill guys' ([not] really

that much [different than] "Kung-Fu Master").

You [have] a punch, a kick, a leg sweep,
a low punch, and (if you kick while jumping)

a flying kick.

Every so [often] ya face a sub-boss - and
[at the] end of each level a main boss.

All this adds up to a game [that] is decent
(if repetitive) [but] there [at least] some

variation in the boss fights.

If nothing else, Sega could [create] a [decent]
boss [fight], as proven by earlier games,

like "[Fantasy] Zone", which had really
rad bosses.

Compared [to] the FamiCom game, these guys
[don't] explode quite as entertainingly.

They [just, sort] of, fly [into] various pieces.

[Alright], here's the [first] boss.

[Apparently] all this follows [the plot]
of [a] [comic] book.

In a nice touch, the boss fights [take]
place [in] their own [little] areas [and]

they actually have bigger [sprites]!

Sort of like Konami's soon-to-be-released
"Castlevania", each boss has a pattern,

[and] you [must] find his weakness [and]
exploit it.

Simply ...t... -- attacking [mindlessly] [won't]
work.

Once you drain a boss Life Bar, you then
proceed [to] whip the [shit out] of them.

[But] he [doesn't] explode [for] some reason.

Then it's on [to] the next level with, uh,
[slightly] more [difficult] enemies and

so on.

And here we go.

These guys jump occasionally, as [opposed
to just] walking forward.

Though, doesn't '[Hokuto no] Ken' [take]
place [in] Japan?

What's [with] all the Old West style saloon
doors [in] the buildings?

Now, [in] the U.S. where "Fist [of the North
Star]" wasn't [really] very [popular yet],

Sega pulled a Bandai [and released] the
game s... -- sans-[licensed] characters as

"Black Belt".

The gameplay [is] the same, [but] the [sprites
and backgrounds have] all been *changed [to]

more generic Kung-Fu dudes [and], uh, Chinese
[settings*].

[And] of course, the high [quality] of the
somewhat ridiculous [artwork] on the Japanese

version has been [replaced] by one of the
[most] notorious examples of bad video game

cover art.

You're wondering why the Master [System didn't]
sell over here?

[Well, seriously], looking [at that] cover
[art], would you buy the game?

One change [is] now there [are little sort]
of power-ups [or] Health Refills [that

float] by [occasionally].

Ya have [to execute] a special jump to [get]
them [and it] seems like they always appear

when [you're] surrounded by enemies.

The bosses [have] all been changed from
'[Hokuto no] Ken' characters to the, uh,

more generic [karate] dudes, [but] they
[mostly] behave the same.

As [you'll] see on the [first] boss they,
sort of, changed [his] hairstyle.

So, "[Hokuto no] Ken" - a decent Arcade-style
game.

[But], Sega, this is 1986; games [are]
changing.

You need [to get with] the times!

# 🥇 Episode 1 Wrap Up

Well, there ya have [it].

[That] was the first 10 [months] of the Mark
III.

[While] th... -- Sega's system was a [technically]
impressive console, software-wise [it] was

still [in its] infancy.

The Mark III was [not particularly successful]
in Japan where, by late 1985, the FamiCom

[dominated] the market.

What Sega lacked was (in modern terms)
a 'killer app'.

Nintendo [certainly] had this [with "Super]
Mario Bros.".

Sega was (ironically) the more [experienced]
video game [producer], but yet hadn't

been able [to] make a really good console
game.

[To] see how [different and] innovative the
FamiCom was, think of the original games

released during this same time period.

"[Super] Mario Bros.", "Portopia...",
"...Legend of Zelda", "Mighty Bomb Jack",

"Dragon Quest" - not [to] mention the many
ports of such games as "Makaimura" and "Gradius".

Additionally, Sega had a rather relaxed
[release] schedule.

Six games in the [first] seven months
of 1986, as opposed [to almost] 40 games

[for the] FamiCom?

No wonder o... -- no one [bought] the Mark
III!

Sega had [quite] a ways [to] go before [it
could] catch up to Nintendo.

Hopefully [we'll] see [some improvement]
in "Chronsega Episode 2".

# 🎞️ Episode 1 Credits

♪ "Skylands" ♪

Thank You for Watching
"CHRONSEGA

Episode One".

Please visit us at
http://chrontendo.blogspot.com/

Produced by
👨🏻‍🏫 Doctor Sparkle ✨

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