Ristar - Black Mage Benjamin

[@ilikecurry2345]

Why don't I pull a Fuse Man and just mush both versions of the story together? The hero from Flora married the star goddess Oruto, and together they had a baby named Ristar.

[@BenjaMage]

I'm accepting this as canon now.

[@symantares9171]

Sounds plausible to me

[@SpeedStar1642]

That sounds awesome, dood!

[@CarvedDaWarped]

Oh my YES!!

[@misterzygarde6431]

Kinda like how Blaster Master Zero took elements from the original Metafight games and the western continuity such as the Worlds of Power book.

[@jaketaller8567]

25:33 The fact that Ben calls Ristar a happy bean gives me life.

[@Knuxfan24]

By far the BEST reason to own the Mega Drive Classics pack on Steam is the fact that the ROMs are just given to you in the game's folder. I wish MORE companies did that, let us buy ROMs of your old games damn it!

[@GameFreak2467]

I don't see how that really matters

[@bubbles46853-ep9if]

@@GameFreak2467 mods, my friend. Mods.

[@LsAdventurer]

@@bubbles46853-ep9if Another upside (at least for me with my garbage PC) is being able to put them in another emulator that has less input lag so the special stages in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3&K are actually playable

[@Pingwn]

​@@GameFreak2467 Mods, for one thing. But also, just being able to use it how I like it? What if I don't like the emulator the company gave me? I can just take the ROM file and use a different emulator, no need for piracy.

[@StephanieSparda]

Ristar seems like the absolute purest boy. c:

[@liaminator4950]

Little guy...babey

[@Flamestar320]

If there's a plushie of Ristar out there I'd love to get one!

[@MochiJelly4877]

⁠@@Flamestar320no official ones to my knowledge and the only merch I can find is a pin sold from my knowledge only on sega shop uk for some reason.

[@kirbyvskirby]

Before I went to bed I started working on a Ristar Pixel art (physical pixels I gotta individually insert, like perler beads but more pixely and no holes) portrait to hang on my wall because it's my favorite Mega Drive game. I wake up and find this video about to premiere.

[@RetroPiero]

This may be the most visually impressive and beautiful game on the Genesis. So much effort was put in this game and it shows. Ristar deserves more recognition.

[@adventuresteamstudios242]

"Sega does what Nintendo can't" Black Mage being savage, nice move👍

[@angiemontgomery4712]

*nintendon’t

[@charliemartin-k7m]

He is speaking the Truth on that.

[@goldenbomber9770]

I would like to assume that Kirby and Ristar are best friends. It would make sense considering Mario and Sonic colab a lot. Both pure hearted beans with a tendency to murder everything in their path...and the star theme :D

[@dylanalexander4393]

RiStar feels like the competitor to the original Rayman on PS1. Funny enough, both games came out the same year

[@HugoPegler]

Honestly, that headcanon isn't too far off, considering the Japanese version had Ristar look happy during regular stages, only to switch to a more determined look (aka Ristar's default expression in the English release) during boss fights That being said, I find it funny how they gave Ristar the American Kirby treatment, only to go the opposite direction with the ending

[@HugoPegler]

@@oddballjake229 Yep, that's why I said I find it funny how the English version made the ending happier

[@nebuchadnezzar8683]

Ristar to me Is more then just an underrated "star" of my childhood and It Alex Kidd himself can truly make a special comeback alongside with Toejam and Earl, I honestly don't see why not they can retool his gaming mechanics and Re-Imagining his entire origin story. *Ewah!*

[@DavidDumbedDown]

Don't you mean toejam and earl instead of rodham and earl?

[@nebuchadnezzar8683]

@@DavidDumbedDown It was typo since my hands are too big to press the keys on the phone. I'll fix It.

[@IamaPERSON]

@@nebuchadnezzar8683 oof, ik how that is

[@grinbrothers]

It's rather funny that both the water levels and ice levels in this game, usually some of the most awkward in video games, are some of the absolute best in Ristar. Planet Freon is definitely my favourite in this game; it's fun to traverse, has a great mini-boss and boss battle to it and is just brimming with charm in all it's small details. Great coverage of this game by the way; glad to see Ristar get some love and to even learn some additional trivia about this game.

[@isenokami7810]

Me: “Oh hey, I remember Sonic Mega Collection! That’s how I played (but never got far in) the classic Sonic games, and I have fond memories of Sonic 3D Blast of all things on it. Never unlocked anything except Flicky, but maybe one day I’ll actually beat those classic Sonic games and-“ Ben: “You unlock games by booting up the ones you have 20-30 times.” Me: “…I’m sorry, what?”

[@machadragonii145]

27:28 As someone who is a firm lover of this game I hull hardy agree with you because I'd love see a series blossom from this star kid

[@jasonfleming1020]

Y'know, I remember watching one of your earlier video back in the day and I remember that one of them was a Top 10 video that had one of the Ristar bosses. And now years later you've actually made a review video on the game you mentioned years ago. Man time flies fast.

[@lilbinky9463]

I’m currently working on a Ristar sequel comic. Honestly Ristar has made such a creative impact on my life. I always love watching commentary on the game.

[@Olivetank7]

It's been shown that despite being a child, ristar holds a lot of power. Imagine how powerful his father is!

[@markelcraig5042]

Ristar is basically SEGA’s equivalent Kirby

[@yellowlad5968]

Yeah basically. I really want to see this little guy make a come back one day. He really deserves it.

[@kirbysuperstar5494]

an adorable star child who wants to protect everyone yeah seems right

[@tonysonic456]

I need to play this game, and I want to see Ristar come back!

[@judahbeeisrael1446]

Me too

[@codename618]

I was honestly hoping you would mention a potential connection in Sonic Unleashed. 👀 It's not confirmed or anything, but imagine if Ristar was an inspiration for the Werehog.

[@Ryda124]

If so, look how they massacred my boy

[@yellowlad5968]

I thought i was the only one that thought of this. It really feels like the werehog was inspired by ristar. Shucks now i want a ristar game with the werehog gameplay but better.

[@chrisrockett5897]

I remember that.

[@goldenlightning8842]

Tho I was also born in the 2000's era and played GameCube and Wii as well I still will say right now that Ristar is my favorite game of all time all I do is study this game constantly and play it over and over I love this game soooo much I'm currently on play through 54 and I still love it Glad to see another amazing video breaking down Ristar and this year I've noticed lots and lots of Ristar love this year with a bunch of fan art being drawn on Twitter a bunch of Sega accounts talking about it and just fans coming out of the wood works left and right

[@Bowser6495]

This was an awesome video I am glad this was thing you decided to do you keep being awesome Ben.👍

[@blueythedragonknight3949]

Ristar seems like a game that would've at least have a sequel or two. But instead it became another neglected Sega IP. Hell Vectorman got a sequel and that game was the fucking bomb. Though I've tried Ristar in the past and i should give it another go.

[@mockinghyena960]

Amazing video! Makes me feel like playing the game all over again! I first played Ristar in the Sega Mega Drive Collection released for PSP and I've loved it since

[@justinnzamora5366]

Nice job on the review, Black Mage Benjamin. Also #ReviveRistar

[@whateverandapathystudios9736]

I was really hoping the holding an enemy thing would come back with Ristar choking Greedy to death.

[@bubbles46853-ep9if]

That Simon Says boss always gets me. When you get it wrong, you hear a loud “OOOOOWW!!!” And it’s the exact same one from when you play Bop-It! I burst out laughing when I first got it wrong. BTW, the “squid” enemy you mentioned is actually a nautilus.

[@RenoKyrie]

To me Sega has.... soo many IP's that have much larger potential than Nintendo IP's are but never got the chance because Sega were only thinking Westren Market with Sonic at the time Thankfully Sega IP are having a constant revival arc unlike Nintendo Puyo Puyo Tetris, Yakuza 0(And the remasters in general), Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, Virtua Fighter 5 Remaster, and recently Super Monkey Ball They even making their IP's appear a lot more for each other Sonic Colors Ultimate have pretty much all major Sega IP as Icons And New Monkey Ball has Sonic, Tails, Beat, and Kiryu

[@Flamestar320]

About the newer Sega Genesis Classics compilation, I've heard a fair few people call it a pretty bad collection. I really don't know why. Sure, console versions don't have something like Sonic 3 and Knuckles but you've still got gems like Ristar, the Streets of Rage titles, the Genesis Phantasy Star titles, The Revenge of Shinobi, and Gunstar Heroes, the last 2 of which haven't had a re-release in this fashion until this release. I've also heard that the PC version allows you to add and play mods, at least for the Sonic titles.

[@lasagnalookingcrisp5224]

Had a dream the other night that they were making a new Ristar. You can imagine my disappointment when I woke up

[@tanookiplayer]

Ristar is a great game so when I heard you were doing a review of the game I was pretty excited. ^_^

[@Artemus973]

I remember playing the heck out of this game when I was little via the Sonic Genesis Collection on the XBOX 360. Sucked balls at it but I still found it am oddly charming game

[@solowingmobius3873]

Welp, guess it's time for me to get the Genesis Mega Collection on Steam just so I can experience this game too. Great vid as always, Ben! I'll be honest though, I expected a little more salt to be thrown at Awaueck given how you ripped into him in the past, but it's good to see nothing's changed between you and him.

[@charlessegale6493]

It's always interesting to hear about how other people have discovered this hidden gem. I was Team Nintendo with a side dash of Sony as a kid (for context, I was born in '91, mere weeks before the release of Sonic 1), so I didn't really play too many Genesis games until the Mega Collection on GameCube. This game, shall we say, *grabbed* me in a way that the Sonic games (which I loved, for the record) simply didn't. Despite its slower pace, it had a surprisingly frenetic flow to it that made exploring places incredibly fun. And I and many, MANY other people would have never have known about how great this game was if it was never re-released! This is why I'm so thankful that Sega does a good job with game preservation. PS: I am fully convinced that the Sonata level was *instrumental* in the production of Music Plant in Sonic Advance 2.

[@andrewhaase1826]

Actually, I think that giant squid you mentioned is actually an Ammonite.

[@Aberyyyy]

The biggest Ristar related cardinal sin was the fact that he got demoted to Flagman in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. Also good lord please check out Dynamite Headdy that game is amazing.

[@Ryda124]

No better surprise than new Ristar content popping up out of nowhere on my feed

[@silverthecatastrophic5270]

"Can this game do no wrong?!" Round 6: Planet Automaton For that, good sir, you've earned yourself a subscribe

[@LucOfLegends]

Man, I got a taste of this game on a Genesis Plug and Play my family got me once, but I didn't get too far into it. Maybe I should give it another try.

[@AnthonyMtheGamerArtist]

Ristar is basically Sega’s Kirby. Serious when he needs to be, but total baby energy outside of that.

[@Flamestar320]

That's literally what I thought when I first saw Ristar. I wish that Sega put out more Ristar games. Hopefully they will license the property to another developer to have a new game. I think it is possible, considering the successes of the other series that Sega have licensed out not long ago.

[@kaxcommentssomethingREAL]

@@Flamestar320 ri-star in some way reminds me of spark, the electric jester

[@dylanalexander4393]

It’s more like Sega’s Rayman. Both games came out the same year so it makes sense why both games look relatively similar in their visuals and gameplay.

[@SenatorArmstrong2018]

Ristar... Altered Beast... Vectorman... Eternal Champions... Arrow Flash... Gunstar Heroes... So many games that are better than Sonic in every way.

[@17manup]

Are you talking about the first game or the entire trilogy?

[@SenatorArmstrong2018]

All of them.

[@hijster479]

None of these games are directly comparable to Sonic. Only three of them are even platformers.

[@SenatorArmstrong2018]

@@hijster479 I wasn’t comparing them based on gameplay style. I was comparing them on how much better the games themselves were.

[@DARS_04]

That looks kinda iffy. Although I can vouch for Ristar, Gunstar Héroes and maybe Vectorman.

[@Thegamingtrouge]

Well done i love the video Have you ever played Evolution on the Sega Dreamcast its a JRPG but its a classic that i don't here others talk about

[@bryantlebron6163]

Imagine if they meant to have you go through the final levels in reverse order.

[@Nathan-rb3qp]

One of my favorite games.

[@isaacpetersongamer]

I think it's nice that you have the option to change between the different versions of the game in Sega Genesis Classics for the Switch.

[@alexandrpeterberg390]

12:22 Planet Freon? Now that's very interesting. Cause Freon was the name of your man antagonist of Spark 1 and 2. BenjaMage did a video about the Spark series. Edit: Although there is one letter difference between Ristar Freon zone and Sparks antagonist which is Freom.

[@erikapalacios4500]

I love ristar and I got it on steam with the sega genesis classics, however it would be nice if we could choose between the US and JP sprites/version of the game (similar to how you can choose the soundtrack on sonic CD android port) I like ristar's smiling face and the enemies goofy appearance, plus the cat boss from world 5 is hillarious!

[@garrymoloney9570]

A gem on the genesis A gemesis you could say

[@larkprof]

Thumbs up bro. This was one of my favourite game too. I was a kid in the 90s who got a used copy from bandito video in the Thunder Bay mall back in the 90's. Actually got the genesis and game gear versions used copies the with box's(manuals were lost or fucked) for maybe $20. I still like to play it from time to time, but unfortunately now via emulation.

[@WolfRider2002]

I actually first heard of Ristar through the flash game Sonic RPG, though in that game he was protecting a sapphire that held a lot of power, kind of like the master emerald. That game also introduced me to NiGHTS and because of that, I gained a big interest in both Ristar and NiGHTS. Though being a flash game it wasn't exactly the most accurate representation of either character

[@GatorOne-in7hk]

When I finally unlocked this game on Sonic Mega Collection, I was not able to get past the first level of Planet Scorch. Thank goodness for the Genesis Online service! I got to experience this entire amazing game without having to worry about being defeated by the more unfair parts of the game!

[@Amit7.]

‏‪17:31‬‏ OMG 😂 CATS 🐈

[@rowanakamiya185]

12:22 - 12:25 Good to know. 'Cause World 5 is my favourite level in the game, too.

[@Flamestar320]

I'd love for Sega to release a new _Ristar_ installment someday. They've licensed _Alex Kidd,_ _Wonder Boy_ and _Streets of Rage_ to different developers and they've all been pretty darn successful and enjoyable. Whose to say it would hurt to do the same for Ristar?

[@supersonic32x96]

I honestly hope they remake it with a gorgeous hand drawn arts style simmiler to mania's

[@earthboundian4871]

You think unlocking Ristar ONCE in Sonic Mega Collection is tedious? My old Gamecube memory card ended up corrupting and wiping data several times, and it took me way longer than it should have to do the rational thing and buy a new card. I willingly went through that ludicrous unlocking process MULTIPLE TIMES just so I would always have Ristar available. So yeah, I really like this game. XD

[@williamchubrick7770]

God Damn, Those Graphics are gorgeous! 😍

[@matthewgaming2408]

Ristar isn't actually a Sonic Team game. It was made by a completely different team at Sega, but I don't remember which.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

Planet Sonata kinda reminds me of that music based level from Sonic Advance 2! I guess Sonic Team was paying homage to that particular world in Ristar? I mean Ristar does do the twirling when bouncing off a drum like how the characters in SA2 do...

[@hugofarias9150]

Nice vortex,the universe mainworks mechanism.knowledge is power,n power is the truth who rules everything.

[@mightymanatee5342]

I was first introduced to Ristar via the old Sega Channel module.

[@supersonic32x96]

better than mine i was first introuduced to it from one of those atgames genesis clones

[@RyansChannel0203]

Splash Down is my personal favorite Ristar track.

[@MizfitZer0]

I highly recommend you play and review rocket knight adventures and its sequel, sparkster on the sega genesis. You have missed on some amazing platform games on sega, with some of the most amazing 16 bit music

[@shindousan]

Best review of this great game

[@KingNerdius]

Idk, I kinda love when Sega underutilizes an amazing series with lots of series revival potential

[@chrisrockett5897]

I like it when they at-least make sequels for it to see what more can get added to a formula. Imagine something like Sonic 1 or SoR not getting sequels. (That said, Comix Zone needs a return and Vectorman, Chakan, and Dynamite Headdy need to be in a crossover or something.)

[@kikicallahan3662]

Can you review Treasure's games like Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Mischief Makers, Silhouette Mirage, Radiant Silvergun, Bangai-O, Sin and Punishment and Ikaruga?

[@zaylynndavis3189]

Nice video also uranim Ionis and greedy don't die when they were yellow they were escaping the fortress wanted to point out great vid also to me uranim looks huggable

[@ibilesfighter3.16]

I'd love it if you did other genesis games such as: Comic zone, ooze, vector man etc... So many good games.

[@erindelgado9639]

Ristar is quite an interesting game and I did play it on the Sonic Mega Collection Plus, tough but fun and it is very underrated. ^^ I agree with ya on the review and Ristar deserves more attention. ^^

[@bamban_garcia5562]

Would love to hear your thoughts on Tearaway Unfolded

[@pale9819]

My first exposure to this game was actually the Game Gear version. I enjoyed it until world 2’s boss. That freaking boss was impossible when I was 11 and it still sucks so I never got past the 2nd world.

[@SicklySeraph]

Im glad we all agree Ristar's baby

[@zaylynndavis3189]

Good video also uranim Ionis and greedy don't die keep it up with your vids

[@GlitchanBlack]

Looks like Knuckles' Chaotix has competition in terms of background visuals (I actually want to see a review of that game from your POV now). Also, I love how you say you usually don't have any appreciation for ice levels, and yet you used Ice Cap Zone as the introduction song for this video. XD #ReviveRistar

[@BenjaMage]

I actually haven't played Knuckles' Chaotix before. I may not care for ice levels, but they do tend to have really good music. XD

[@GlitchanBlack]

@@BenjaMage The easiest way to play the game nowadays is off an emulator. Finding a physical copy of the game is easy on eBay, but... it can be pretty pricy depending on which person you want to buy it from (lowest pricing is $76 dollars), and adding on to the fact that a 32X is even pricier on eBay as well (lowest pricing for a 32X on eBay is $104.50, and lowest pricing for a Sega Genesis in comparison is $20 dollars), I think it's just easier to just get a ROM of the game & a Sega Genesis emulator. Honestly, my favorite snow level (well, snow TRACK to be more precise) is Rosalina's Ice World from Mario Kart 7. The music just has this sort of vibe that feels like you're playing a good snow level. Fitting, since Mario Kart 7 was also the first 3DS game I ever played.

[@deciduous_reaper]

Vectorman, Ristar, Shinobi and Decap attack was my favorite Genesis I’ve played in emulation

[@IamaPERSON]

I’ve played those through Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection.

[@mrwii5741]

Ristar Is a really good quality Sega Genesis Game! Its a shame we never got a follow up game after this game was released! Even though this game is more slower paced than the Sonic The Hedgehog Games! This games core gameplay is really good!

[@trzy]

I wonder if Kaiser Greedy is a play on Kaiser Söze. I would not say Ristar is particularly obscure. I think it was fairly well advertised in 1995, received very favorable reviews, and IIRC, may even have been used in some kiosk demos. I had definitely heard of it, even if by then I had sold my Genesis for a Playstation.

[@MasterAwakening749]

Hey, I was just wondering, what happened to the Personal Picks, I loved those

[@jimmytheechidna]

This game was my childhood.

[@magmastone808]

Ristar is THE guy!

[@turboDrowsy]

Good review.

[@Drawboy66]

My favorite games of the Sega library are Shining Force 1 and 2! Though I gotta admit..... I am torn with its return.

[@kikicallahan3662]

17:57 also known as his Hadouken

[@matarthekiller6614]

Finally this underrated gem gets some love

[@IamaPERSON]

IKR

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

I first heard of this game because of the Gaming Historian. Or 16-Bit Gems, one of the two.

[@derrickhaggard]

I loved this game.

[@DARS_04]

The emulation in SEGA Classics Collection kinda sucks. In regards to the music and the input lag. Génesis emulation Is weird.

[@eropandasennin13]

Ristar doesn't get any sequels or a reboot yet Bubsy got 2 new games? The world is a cruel place...

[@openinginawe5518]

I wonder what a 3d restart looks like

[@smashfan2719]

Aren’t you still in the middle of your Crash Marathon? It’s not even September yet.

[@Princess36621]

He is taking a break from that because Activision has done some disgusting crimes.

[@BenjaMage]

What God's Little Princess said. I didn't feel comfortable doing more Crash videos following everything that came out about Activision, so I'm taking a bit of a break video-wise from the series.

[@smashfan2719]

That’s far.

[@zaylynndavis3189]

For the last time they don't die they escaped before it exploded

[@Nathan-rb3qp]

Why does literally no one even talk about Monster Boy & The Cursed Kingdom?!

[@Princess36621]

13:05 - 13:10 You really jinxed yourself there, didn't you?

[@symantares9171]

Sure it's been 20 years, but people are actually taking about him again, so maybe Sega will notice

[@BenjaMage]

Fingers crossed.

[@spudwilkins9440]

Ayy! I was 3 at that time!

[@justinnzamora5366]

24:58 I think you meant American Kirby is Hardcore but hey, the way you described it isn't that far off the mark. I spend too much time on TV Tropes. Bite me.

[@chrisrockett5897]

Nah, I binge read TV Tropes articles too.

[@justinnzamora5366]

@@chrisrockett5897 Ah. Good to know there are others like me.

[@Speed_311]

Ristar is fricking awesome

[@misterzygarde6431]

Let’s be honest, Ristar and Rayman would be perfect guest characters for ARMS. Also even if I didn’t beat the game, I had fun every time I played it on those online emulators Something I felt like mentioning when playing Blaster Master Zero and how it took from the Japanese MetaFight canon and the American Blaster Master canon. If Inti Creates got their hands on the Ristar IP, I could imagine Oruto and the Legendary Hero being a couple. Also check out Blaster Master Zero and its sequels

[@zaylynndavis3189]

Actually I think Uranim is a cyborg that looks huggable to me

[@hijster479]

Kaiser Greedy already disliked.

[@HarbingerYT]

Did you know that there was a Game Gear version of this game?

[@bluestreaker9242]

Call me cliche, but hey, wish upon a star enough and your wish may one day come true. I'm sure there's someone out there looking to bring this obscure gem back. ;)