16-Bit Gems - #26: Super Adventure Island II (SNES)

[@thefitnerd5116]

Man, I miss this show. This kept me entertained while working and college.

[@StoneMonkWisdom]

Please return and make more 16-bit Gems episodes. You can see the progression of the videos improving, and I would love to see what you enjoy playing, especially games that may not quite be in the public eye of course.

[@grumpypoof9648]

StoneMonkWisdom I know this series was great. I wish he was still doing them man...

[@michaelromeo9567]

I'd love to see the rest of the story. Wonder Boy 3 the 8 bit Zelda killer Wonder boy 5 and 6 (Monster world 2 , 3 and 4 in Japan.) on MegaDrive So beautiful and colorful compare to Zelda Snes. It's a shame they stopped doing sequels for such an amazing action RPG.

[@LunDruid]

His frequent use of "ironically" in this video is just such a perfect summation of his style of comedy. Hope you're doing well wherever you are, Roo!

[@Ferrior_]

This is one of my most nostalgic and favorite SNES games I own. Awesome review of it, Roo!

[@Zaekk]

Fun fact: waku-waku is an onomatopoeia for the sound of your heart's pace quickening, makes sense considering the story that occurs there.

[@Horzuhammer]

Cool fact: The character that in the west came to be known as Master Higgins, was originally based on a real life person. Or at least his likeness. Adventure Island is known in Japan as "Takahashi Meijin no Bouken" a.k.a. "Master Takahashi's Adventure Island." Takahashi Meijin, or Master Takahashi (real name Toshiyuki Takahashi) was an executive of Hudson Soft back in the day. He's most well known for hitting the fire button on a Famicom Joystick 16 times in one second (pretty amazing feat if you ask me!) and having godlike skills in Star Force and Star Soldier. If you google an image of "Takahashi Meijin", you can easily see the resemblance between the real person and the game character!

[@mikedx42]

9:22 "the ironic, free-roaming aspect" Roo, you slay me

[@kennethbarnes1933]

Zelda II: Adventure Of Link + Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair = Super Adventure Island II. That's awesome.

[@Lupucillo]

This is my all-time favourite Adventure Island game! And the music, gawd, it had one of the best sound tracks ever made. Just play the theme song for Fuwa-Fuwa island in the background and feel the awesomeness!

[@shinny_grimmy]

Zelda II had an interesting gameplay style, so it's good to see another game implement it.

[@nintenjoel]

This video convinced me to get this game and I was lucky enough to score a CIB copy from a friend... thanks for the awesome review as usual!

[@HoneyMike]

Zelda II also had a guess the right door maze with Mt. Doom

[@misternarrator]

Great review, I love the series. Your videos are always very well produced and informative.

[@nave0]

Holy shit I love Super Adventure Island 2. I could spend hours playing Run for Doe and Flash N Cash, listening to all the great level music, and beating it over and over. Truly a game of my childhood.

[@patryksg]

I love you, Roo. The "ironic" bit, and the misuse of the word throughout the video, made me laugh. Great review as always. Man, I can't be the only one who's watching it for the third time now, am I? First on Retrowaretv, then on COTGW and now here.

[@johnnyscifi]

I never really got into this game myself, but remember both my little bros really getting into it. The Zelda 2 comparison makes perfect sense!

[@kennethbarnes1933]

To junta21st: There's the light sword, light shield, light armor AND life bottle you could get (that's in Curly's Island Casino, at Puka-Puka Island and there's probably more items to get in that casino, I just can't remember what they are at the moment) and there's the Cure and Recovery spells you could use (assuming you got enough of the magic bottles, which Cure takes 8 magic bottles to use and Recovery takes 2 magic bottles to use). I use Cure and Recovery spells when I'm low on health FOR the final boss. One more thing, that stuff at Curly's Island Casino is expensive (I think it totals OVER a hundred thousand coins) so be prepared to either grind for money (which would take years) or play the game "Run For Doe", which takes a lot less time (though it still took me at least half an hour to an hour, at least to get ALL the equipment, because it's hella expensive) than grinding for money (like fighting enemies).

[@DragonRaiderX9]

I remember going to a game store with my mom as a kid. I wanted Donkey Kong Country, but she told me to pick something cheaper. So I picked this game, Super Adventure Island II, since I had seen it in Nintendo Power. I do not regret this decision. I love this game.

[@ClanOfTheGrayWolf]

@suicidalparrot You are quite correct. When reading up on the series, I saw that this was the only game that strayed from the platformer formula. Obviously, they must have been only talking about the games released in America. And, not being familiar with AI4 personally, I didn't catch that. It does seem like an interesting one to check out, though.

[@StevenCampbellFitness]

Tenacious d chip tunes = best things I've experiences so far in 2014!

[@drumjod]

I was thinking the same thing! Except now it's 2015.

[@Ardhamon5000]

Tenacious D reference Roo? What more can you do to make me love your stuff even more than I already do?

[@DingusDoon]

Another 16-Bit Gems video! (shoves hand in popcorn) WOOOO!!! (Shoves popcorn in mouth)

[@ThePieManOfDeath]

I love how an 8-bit version of Tenacious D's "Wonder Boy" is playing in the background in the beginning.

[@kennethbarnes1933]

That's 106,075 coins for all that stuff in that casino. 1450 Coins - Life Bottle. 9950 Coins - Light Shield. 14750 coins - Boomerang. 29975 Coins - Light Armor. 49950 Coins - Light Sword (the most powerful sword in the game). Total # of Coins it takes to buy that stuff in Curly's Island Casino - 106,075 Coins.

[@AzumGaming]

what's the song in the end. I remember it but I just can't put my finger on it

[@HatredEternal]

7:50 was the racer on the lowest lane a fox who was flying with his tail?

[@hicharlie883]

Is the song played in the background from the actual game cause it sounds very similar to the song Wonderboy by Tenacious D... If that is from the actual soundtrack that would be cool of Tenacious D.

[@GameTiem]

I loved how there was Tenacious D music playing throughout this

[@Bliced]

lol at the ironic joke at the end. These jokes are why i love your videos, that and they are very informative and very well done.

[@eperger]

ah so great to see one of these again

[@Spokes84]

how many takes to get the hat to land on the cam?

[@PhilosopherGaming]

lol love the midi wonder boy in the back ground, almost didnt realise its tenacious D

[@321cheeseman]

Super Adventure Island II isn't the only Adventure Island title that stands out. Adventure Island IV went with an action adventure gameplay style as well.

[@monumentalbasser]

lol I absolutely love how he used a midi version of Tenacious D's "Wonder Boy" for that portion. brilliant.

[@SaxcatGamingCorner]

I miss this show.

[@pubesz]

Throwing the hat at camera was a nice touch :)

[@icarus212001]

@ClanOfTheGrayWolf Oh man, thanks for the heads up! Also, thanks for all the great videos. Keep up the awesome work!

[@Jeffmetal42]

love the midi Tenacious D music!!! Wonder boy was a GREAT series!!!

[@Atamoss]

Good as always Roo, keep up the good work !

[@DjSamination]

This came seems to take more cues from Wonder Boy (2/3?): Dragon's Curse(/Trap?) than it does from Zelda 2, especially the menu system is the exact/very similar, and that pyramid stage in your video resembles the pyramid stage in Dragon's Curse/Trap Someone have probably mentioned this already, but still :P

[@DrVonBoogie]

Why not put the stuff from the last minute of the video at the beginning of the video?

[@cubs2084]

I really hope the future Wonder Boy game is Wonder Boy in Monster World. Most people feel that Wonder Boy 3: Monster Lair is the best of the series. I for one would love to see you give its much under-rated sequel some exposure, especially since I personally feel it's far superior.

[@BrenTenkage]

I miss this guy :(

[@suicidalparrot]

@ClanOfTheGrayWolf So thanks for showing me another great game to track down and play

[@overcastandhaze]

My childhood.

[@SputTop]

That guy looks like Mario

[@slimdabby]

What's the song at the end?

[@mclockwork777]

Where did u get those awesome earthbound figures?

[@nothingislogical]

8 bit version of "Wonder Boy" by Tenacious D playing in the background. Well played, sir.

[@V4Now]

Is that an 8-Bit version of Tenacious D's "Wonder Boy"? Brilliant :)

[@suicidalparrot]

This is awesome. I'm a big fan of the wonder boy games (And Zelda II) and not so much the Adventure Island games so i'll have to check this out. Adventure Island IV on the famicom also went with a formula close to that of Wonder Boy.

[@DoctorStrangeFate]

Best reviews in KZbin!

[@kradlyn]

On my drive to work I always pass a car with plates that say "Roo". Always make me wonder when your next video is coming out.

[@koopakape]

Speaking of spiritual successors to Zelda II (which I personally do love, as well, sadly unlike the majority); the new Adventure Time game (Ice King, why did you steal our garbage? I believe is the subtitle, haha) for DS is going to be, as well. It's coming out very soon, and what footage does exists for it prove this to be true. Exciting.

[@GlitchCrunch]

lol didnt get the alton brown bit in the beginning till now.

[@suicidalparrot]

@ClanOfTheGrayWolf It's definitely worth a look if you enjoy this game or any of the games in the Wonder Boy series. In my opinion the Wonder Boy games outclasses the Adventure Island games Especially from Wonder Boy III: Dragon's Trap to Monster World IV. I think I just enjoy the action adventure element to the straight forward platforming. I had no idea that Super Adventure Island II shared this formula, and if it weren't for this video I'd probably have never given it a second look.

[@pointlessfailure]

Awesome, I was wondering when there would be more Gem videos! Kind of a side question, you seem well educated (by the way you speak and edit your videos) what type of degree (s) do you have?

[@MiningforMac]

i havent seen one of these in so long! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ArthurHakhverdian]

01:34 Master Higgins? I could've sworn it was Ron Jeremy!

[@RealSpiralSage]

Wasn't Adventure Island 4 for the fami kinda like Super Adventure Island 2? I remember reading that 4 was also a Zelda 2-like game.

[@Caztro72]

I found a loose copy of this game at a Gamestop years ago. Never finished it. I hope the lithium battery still works! This video makes me want to play it again!

[@sayastra]

the sword aspect (ie the fire sword/armour) reminds me of Crystalis for the NES.... but that game is my ARPG of choice for 8 bits.

[@Wrim]

It reminds me more of Wonderboy III (the equipment selection menu) and Ghosts n' Ghouls (The armor) and Rastan (downward/upward swordthrust).

[@ChefKilo]

This will seem to be one of my favorite games on the snes as the adventure of link wad hard

[@thorterra]

6:27 That is a squid!!!!!! Not an octopus. sorry if somebody already said that, but i couldn't let that go unnoticed.

[@FreddPhucks]

11:37 Ash Ketchum hat. *Hippie's voice* Whoaahhhhh!

[@XxVicistxX]

Love the midi wonderboy, ....thats teleconisis kyle

[@afficial83]

nice review! I'm going to have to check this out, loved me some zelda 2

[@mikef5386]

You gotta mention that the Japanese version's character was Takahashi Meijin!

[@Luigifreakout123]

Love the Adv. Island review. Also I subscribed

[@ABlackFalcon]

Doesn't the fourth Famicom game also have an open-ended design?

[@DProulx19]

This videos are great, keep it up!

[@Americanbadashh]

The meaning of words and their proper use is far more important than whether or not someone uses Your or You're correctly. Plus Irony isn't that hard of a concept to grasp.

[@Padoca]

Master Higgins looks more like leisure suit Larry in this game XP

[@LoveHateBlame]

oh my goodess..wonderboy is the music tenacious d used in theyre song wonderboy! wooow

[@samsultan4436]

Actually gambling IS big in Japan but it's even more regulated than the states. Most gambling is stuff like Pinochet machines or claw grabbers.

[@TwinGrimm]

You are awesome. Nice hat toss by the by.

[@RetroDamm92]

New 16-bit gems video! FUCK YEAH!!!

[@AaronSmith369]

DAMN YOU HIGGINS AND YOUR MARIO HATNESS! BRING BACK WONDER BOY!

[@chozo69]

this game was awesome growing up

[@jacktsang05]

great review, definitly want to play this now :D

[@treebomb]

6:25 "this octopus" that is actually technically a squid hoiven maiven!

[@Eddn102]

I winced every time Roo said "ironically". I know that's the joke, but it is painful.

[@sphinx200]

Thanks for the great video as always

[@valoricintake]

You should totally do a video about Plok!

[@stargazerblue186]

now that was my game of the day

[@joseluki]

MSX was also popular in some european countries...

[@Peartato59]

6:26 That's definitely a squid.

[@ivancito7790]

You know, there's a limit to how far you can take things, and you've definitely crossed the line dude. I'm all for correcting idiots on the internet on their grammar, but this is what you call "trying too hard."

[@Piesonscreations]

Great review! I knew about this game, but not much :D

[@Draco04]

Wonder Boy...in no affiliation with Wonder Boy in Monster World. :D

[@Michirin9801]

Damn I miss this show...

[@grinrause]

the real irony is begin the review commenting on the creation of wonder boy and never talk about WONDER BOY 3 on the SEGA master system or the TG16. A far better gam;made years beffore Super Adventure Island II (SNES); a true 8bit gem.

[@svamppi]

No mention of Takahashi Meijin?

[@matahimdef]

There's one on the game cube too

[@jackatejill]

thanks for sharing i had fun watching this.

[@1supermike1000]

Good thing Adventure Island made it above the mucky muck.

[@BakerBoys95]

Nice touch with the hat. :3

[@chase4926]

Run for doe. Run fordoe. Run Frodo. Whoa! It's a LotR reference!

[@looshkin66]

WONDER BOY.....What is the secret of your power? WONDER BOY wont you take me far away from the mucky-muck now?!?!?!?! i too have mind bullets

[@pieternaude1469]

Tenacious D!