Okay that was more of a major hiatus, but we’re back for the second half of Hey You, Pikachu! and what amounts to the boss: Abra’s shop.
Also, in case you didn’t see it, BrennaOkazaki drew an amazing piece of sleepy Pikachu fanart! She also drew another piece of fanart for Part 8, which I’ll post when that goes up next week.
Let’s Check Out Hidden My Game By Mom Clones
A video essay is in many ways like a Let’s Play! And also this is my thread so I make the rules!!!
The Google Play Store is filled with intrusive ads, sinister microtransaction models, and worst of all, rip-offs of more popular games. As someone who spends more time on the storefront than the average consumer, I decided to take a look at a number of games that take inspiration from one of my favorite series, Hidden My Game By Mom. I wanted to see how these titles stacked up against the original, what they did to distinguish themselves from the original, and to find out if any of them are fun!
Hey You Pikachu!
Part 8: Pikachu Decided This is the End of the LP
It isn’t actually the end of the LP, but it might as well be.
Thanks again to Brenna for some great fanart! (linked as it’s a slightly gorey spoiler)
Ripping off what chorps and Jay do, here’s an indie game one-off I did. Jotun is a very pretty game about being a dead viking who must slay giants to impress the gods, but you’ll spend most of your time exploring the unique environments.
Hey You, Pikachu!
We found a speedrun guide for the game, so it’s time to run through the minutiae we never would have guessed we’d have to do to unlock the endgame.
Part 10 END: Go Away, Pikachu!
I’d feel worse if you weren’t the worst, Pikachu.
That’s all for HYP, so next time we get the chance to all stream together, we’ll be returning to the fertile nonsense well of Sonic with Sonic Heroes!
Back when sports celebrity was all the rage, Shaquille O’Neal was a stand-out athlete, full of charm and charisma. Not only did he start a moderately successful hip-hop career on the side, he also got a video game to his name released on all of the contemporary consoles! Shaq Fu is a one-on-one fighting game with a lot of attitude and a very strange development story, which Jay, FutureFriend and I explore while also finding out which one of us truly belongs on the court with the champs! It’s time to get competitive!
Let’s Check Out Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament Rumble
Before the likes of Mushiking and King of Dinosaurs took over arcades with their collectible card systems, Bandai produced the DATACH add-on for the Famicom. Gamers were meant to go out to stores and buy booster packs to collect cards compatible with select Bandai games, then swipe them through the DATACH to collect new characters and moves. One of these games was Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament Rumble, a late-era NES title that, despite the limitations of the console, was able to fit a lot of character and flavor into its cartridge. Each character has a decently sized set of super moves that fit right in with the character, and each of them have simple but thematic commands to use them. The sprites are very simple but also charming, and the breadth of characters and design seems unheard of for a game of its era. So let’s check out the game and see what makes it so special!
Let’s Review Jingle Cats: Ai to Yuujou no Neko Monogatari. ~Love Para Daisakusen no Maki~
In 1992, the first single by the Jingle Cats, “Jingle Bells”, was released to radio stations nationwide and became an overnight sensation. In 1993, their first album, Meowy Christmas, was released to rave reviews, and quickly climbed to the top of the charts for its kitschy aesthetic and joyous playful attitude. The success of the Jingle Cats would soon make it overseas, where Sony Japan eventually grabbed the rights and created a PlayStation game based on the novelty act. One part pet sim and one part music video theater, Jingle Cats: Ai to Yuujou no Neko Monogatari. ~Love Para Daisakusen no Maki~ takes the Jingle Cats and turns them into certifiable mascots, each with their own personality and relationships to the other cats. This game captures a real spark of joy and charm that you might not expect out of a licensed title, particularly one based off on an idea so straight-forward. But Jingle Cats for the PlayStation goes above and beyond in creating an experience that while mechanically simplistic is full of character and detail. Let’s explore it together!
And when you’re finished, check out the full song and cutscene video I put together as well!
Meowy Christmas, everyone!
Welcome back, casual gamers!
Urban Yeti! is a North American-exclusive action game released in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance by Cave + Barn Studios. Sold directly through mail and online orders through the developers, the game puts the player in the shoes of the titular Urban Yeti, a creature living in hiding amongst the humans of a bustling city, desperate for love and belonging. One day, while out on a stroll, he hears the call of a single female yeti, his chance to turn things around in life. Urban Yeti will do whatever it takes to prove he’s a suitable mate, and it’ll take all his cunning if he wants to find the girl of his dreams.
Cave + Barn was an odd developer, mostly known for their work on licensed titles. Their major original project before this, an FMV title called Duelin’ Firemen!, would never see the light of day, but displayed their interests as a game company in creating experimental and unconventional interactive experiences. Urban Yeti! would be the only original title the studio would release, but it spoke to their philosophy through its odd humor and eclectic gameplay. Urban Yeti!’s early GTA-style open world is really a hub for conflicting AIs to cause havoc while you navigate into awkward but charming minigames, which all help to push its strange story forward. The focus is definitely on its humor rather than truly coherent gameplay, but it finds a balance where the actual game is competent enough to enjoy.
I, ChorpSaway, and my friends TheJayOfSpade, Taoc and FutureFriend will be taking a journey through Urban Yeti! to marvel at what it is: a game unrestrained by things like marketability, that really speaks to a developer’s sense of expression.
If you’d like to know more about this game, I encourage you to check out this review from Bad Game Hall of Fame, which also does a deep dive into the history of Cave + Barn Studios and their other projects!
I for one, am Ready to Yeti.
FINAL UPDATE TIME!
Just as quickly as we started our journey, it’s time to seal the deal! Our proficiency at the yeti discus tournament has caught the eye of a single female yeti, but it’ll take more than physical prowess to prove ourselves a worthy mate. First we have to brave the dangers of public transport to reach the suburbs, and make ourselves presentable once we get there. Then, it’s time to prove we can match the female yeti’s entrepreneurial skills, as we get introduced to her home business! Will the Urban Yeti be able to prove himself a suitable mate, or will love die here in the middle of the neighborhood?
Thanks for watching!
I for one, am Ready to Yeti.
Are any of us, truly, ever ready to yeti?
I wonder where Urban Yeti is now… do you think he urban regrettis any of his choices in life?
Nine months ago, I made this video (with artwork by ToonPirate and footage by Jaffy) celebrating the joyful union of two gaming icons!
Nine months later… well, we got this.
Thanks again ToonPirate… I may have some regrets…
Part 1: Sonic & Spyro’s Sassy Son
Part 2: Bombs & Blasts
Part 3: The Movie Pitch
Part 4: Tongue Lashing
Part 5: Giant Enemy Crab
Part 6: Trypophobia
Part 7: Imagine Ambush Dragons
Part 8: Aquatic Sphincters
Part 9: Done Dirty - FINALE
(Huh, I did a misclick and I have no idea how to make my post not be a reply? Go watch @D_W’s Slay the Spire videos anyways, they rule!)
Dipping our toes into this game’s central gimmick: transformation!
Moving up in Hollywood baybee!!
Why is this level so terrifying?
This’ll be the last part I’ll bump the thread with! I’ll put the last few parts of it in the original post as it drops!
Let’s Check Out Quarterback Attack with Mike Ditka
Madden may be the king of digital football, but in the early days of video games there was another personality who wanted to take him throne. Mike Ditka had a series of video games based around his likeness that may not have ever taken off in the same way that Madden did, but pushed for a more complicated and in-depth sports simulator. While not quite as advanced, Quarterback Attack is no less innovative, putting the player directly in the helmet of a new star quarterback and seeing if he can survive one big game of live-action FMV football madness! The amount of footage is staggering and helps to alleviate some of early FMV gaming’s biggest shortcomings, while also being highly entertaining and responsive. Let’s see if we have what it takes to stay in the big leagues as we dodge the defense, complete some passes, and try to keep Mike and the rest of the team happy with our performance!
