Cool World (SNES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Ocean's 1993 license-based platformer for the Super Nintendo, Cool World.
I remember Cool World coming out when I was a kid, and I also remember that I didn't really care too much. It looked like a lame rip-off of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Granted, being ten or so when the movie came out, I wasn't really part of the target audience, but the movie's sales seem to suggest that I wasn't the only one entirely apathetic to it.
I saw it much later on, and it was okay. It wasn't a total train wreck, but it was indeed a lame rip-off of Roger Rabbit. Less funny, less clever, and worse production, but the general idea was clear.
And unfortunately, the game seems to adhere to the qualities of the movie pretty rigidly. It's not bottom-shelf as far as SNES games go, but it certainly bites off far more than it is able to chew and generally falls short in everything it does.
The graphics and sound are nice exceptions, though, like they are in most of Ocean's games based on movie licenses. The Amiga-style graphics use an odd mix of elements both cartoony and "realistic", relatively speaking. Your character looks like a normal guy (anyone else think he looks just like the guy from the Darkseed games?) and he creates a neat contrast with the super cartoony enemies that are constantly swarming him. Most of the backgrounds have a ton of detail to them, and bright colors are flung like unicorn farts across the screen quite regularly. In most cases, it's a very good looking game. The music is also excellent with fantastic sample quality and compositions that manage to swing from energetic to moody in an instant without being corny or distracting. It's not the type of thing you'd listen to outside of the game, but it does its job well.
The gameplay leaves quite a bit to be desired, though. The game rarely provides you any explicit direction on what it expects from you, and any attempts to explore or figure things out quickly become frustrating thanks to the inconsistent and touchy controls, merciless roving enemies, and the limited number of coins the game will provide. I would argue that there was a lot of potential in the general framework built here - stylish, license-based fetch-questing can work when done well (again, see Roger Rabbit...), but the game never fulfills that potential. It's far too difficult for its own good, and there are limits as to how far presentation alone can carry a title. Cool World stretches those limits more than it should.
Cool World grazes mediocrity, but once the the novelty of the graphics and sound has worn off, your patience won't be far behind.
As some wise sort might have suggested at some point (but I don't know if they ever did): Big cartoon jugs alone do not a good game make. But if that's a selling point, at least include them regularly throughout the game.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@NintendoComplete]

As is so often the case with Ocean's movie-based platformers, Cool World looks and sounds great, but it is better experienced without a controller.

[@Invidente7]

Did you liked the untouchables? At least they tried something different there

[@NintendoComplete]

@@Invidente7 It was okay, but I wasn't super impressed with it. I did like Addams Family and Jurrasic Park, though. Robocop 3 on the PC was pretty sweet too.

[@ChibiFighter]

@@NintendoComplete try out Jurassic Park 2 on Gameboy, pretty solid fun little run & gunner

[@NintendoComplete]

@@ChibiFighter Oh yeah, I forgot about that one. Been ages since I played it last, but I do remember having fun with it. That reminds me, I've been meaning to record JP2 on GB :)

[@Jac2Mac]

Cool World for SNES was actually made by Paint By Numbers, the same guys who did those awful NES games based on Robocop 2 and Darkman.

[@BratzBoyMax]

11:48 "Holli has become real and gone over to your world where she might damage the whole interworld matrix or something" The way the game based on the movie is unclear on what the plot is just as much as the audience was.

[@0utrunner237]

"Cuties in sweet places won't stop for anything but milkshakes." This is some real life advice

[@rcblazer]

As a kid, I spent way too much time figuring out how to beat this game than I probably should have.

[@NintendoComplete]

Yeah, it's a little ridiculous that you never really know what you're supposed to do without guessing

[@Deadhart72]

Same here, but I gave up long before I ever figured it out.

[@grantcole1898]

Here’s a little fun fact. When Ralph Bakshi was making Cool World. It was supposed to be an R-rated horror movie. But Paramount Pictures changed the whole movie behind Bakshi’s back, turning it into his worst film ever .

[@bronysimpson3250]

I actually thought the film was awesome the way it turned out. in fact, it was the first Ralph Bakshi film I ever saw. not only that, it was the film that introduced me to him.

[@Michael_Beanflip]

Fun fact: tRump lost the election

[@OdaSwifteye]

I don't believe the film Ralph wanted to make would have made it a better film. Ralph was going to make an R rated film in an era where animation wasn't allowed to even be PG-13.

[@grantcole1898]

@@OdaSwifteye Okay, I see where you’re coming from. Also, another interesting little tidbit: Kim Basinger(the actress who played Holli Would in Cool World) wanted the movie to be for children so she could show it to sick kids in the hospital.

[@functionatthejunction]

@@OdaSwifteye Ralph had made tons of R rated animation.

[@bronysimpson3250]

I have absolutely wonderful memories of this game. I played the hell out of it back in 2007-08 during my mid teen years and I loved it.

[@InsideOutAnus]

That's so weird to me, this game seems kind of... convoluted. What was so appealing about it to you back then?

[@bronysimpson3250]

@@InsideOutAnus I just loved it for what it was.

[@AAAAAAAAA1]

@@bronysimpson3250 i dunno who this @InsideOutAnus is but you tell them to shove off

[@manuefeli]

​​​​@@InsideOutAnus as you can see he played hell out of season but in 90s basically this is just a game for renting (or like paper magazines will tell you: "only for true fans of this movie")

[@manuefeli]

​@@bronysimpson3250in 90s basically this game is for renting or for hadcore fans of the movies; because zelda, fzero, mario all stars, final fantasy

[@GardevoirBoy]

Contrary to the name, Cool World wasn't really appealing enough. It was intended to be just as good as "Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?" but it didn't work out. I played this as a child but I couldn't beat it. Thank you for avenging my childhood!

[@Johnlindsey289]

What about the original concept?

[@cilonrs]

20:52 A deep "what am i doing with my life moment"

[@LeRepulseBR]

Momento Ronaldo

[@kurtsydavis7517]

😂😂😂

[@OdaSwifteye]

This game has such a captivating feel. It's almost unnerving the way it's unlike anything else you would have seen on an SNES at the time.

[@SlantCarson]

soundtrack is absolutely iconic and the game itself is fascinating if not incredibly flawed. one of the few examples I can think of where id consider the game as more or less essential while also being much better to watch a longplay of than to ever play yourself

[@badpuddytatt]

Wow. I have been trying to figure out the name of this game for a while now. I remember being 3-4 years old and playing this. I can still remember scenes of the game in my head. I’m 32 now. To see and hear the game again is so nostalgic!!!!!!! I want to play this game again!!!

[@gjolinares23]

Almost the exact same deal with me

[@Machete87]

me 2 good times man

[@Jamesamong007]

Hated that dude in the red tuxedo, if he grabs you he shakes all of your coins and items out.

[@knuclear200x]

0:33 *MODE SEVEEEEENNNNNN*

[@professors84]

I really dig the music in this

[@danalong1237]

It was composed by Dean Evans and Keith Tinman, who were uncredited.

[@zebare726]

Same here.. the music give some wibes from an begun time.

[@VitalikNerdChannel]

The music is really good, but the sound effects aren’t very good!

[@omar_syrinx2112]

@@danalong1237 the same ones of Lethal Weapon game too.

[@thatkiddavidpalacio]

Does the intro use mode 7

[@JFJD]

11:35 This reads like a protest in disguise. That, and the description at the end saying the game is “paint-by-numbers” (in other words, generic and formulaic), shows the fact that the team weren’t happy being forced to make another shovelware tie-in game. I feel for them.

[@NintendoComplete]

Ah, that's actually the name of the developing company that created the game for Ocean. Iirc they also did Hook, Darkman, and one of the Robocops on the NES.

[@JFJD]

NintendoComplete You don’t say. I can’t help but wonder if that name was somewhat prophetic, then.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@JFJD I didn't think it was good, but I always thought that it was a bit novel in how it was put together. Despite how sloppy the mechanics are, there are some fun ideas here. I really wanted to like it because it stands out to me as trying to do something "more" than the typical movie game, especially in how it has a graphic-adventure feel. It actually reminds me a bit of the amazing Beavis & Butthead Genesis game. If only the game mechanics had been somewhat less half-baked, I think it could've turned out really well.

[@GMAV3RICK]

Gotta love the skyfall scenes - Mode 7 at its finest. 👁👃🏾👁👌🏾

[@DavideGendo]

Out of curiosity, I looked for videos of the Cool World game for computers I played many years ago, the DOS version precisely. It looks nice (even better than the Amiga version, because it can take advantage of more colors thanks to the VGA palette), I recall it handled fine as well, but is very limited and repetitive, and the time it took to be completed wasn't worth the effort. This SNES game looks to be slightly better and more varied, but what they have in common, is a lame "congratulations" ending.

[@rodrigoloreto6476]

very lame ending :(

[@Dorelaxen]

So, I actually really like the movie, being a fan of Bakshi's work. I also kiiiinda like the game? It's not good by any means, but the music is awesome, but I have a bit of a soft spot for these clunky types of games.

[@Johnlindsey289]

What do you think of the original concept for the movie?

[@gnocchidokie]

This movie is a rough watch, especially considering it came out after Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I wasn’t old enough to see the movie, but we rented the game and had zero fun, I didn’t even know you could jump on the buildings. It was around this time that rental stores stopped letting people take the game booklets home, and it was required to know what the hell to do in this game. Thanks for getting past the first screen so I can see what I “missed out” on!

[@omar_syrinx2112]

I don’t understand the ending, it supposed that Jack Deebs stopped Holly and he goes in Cool World, but here 27:40 seems like he is going out Cool World (when he is supposed to be in the real world)

[@inceptional]

If nothing else, it has some great use of parallax (in some levels) that would put the Genesis to shame.

[@omar_syrinx2112]

The composer’s of the ost of this game are the same of the snes game Lethal Weapon (another production by Ocean)

[@Kr0nicDragon]

Saw the movie, thought I was on drugs. Rented the game, thought I became the drugs.

[@mattsivits9834]

I saw this movie with the flu and a 103 temperature… now when I see it I get sick to my stomach and leave immediately

[@vincently1995]

Happy 30th Anniversary to Cool World!

[@AHorseThatIsARadish]

The ost in this game is pretty chill not gonna lie.

[@erikabright2996]

This game worked on my nerves as a kid. I was a gamer chick back then. I play everything from Madden to MK...but this was the one game I could not figure out.

[@ShowDonkeys]

I remember not being able to figure out much in this game.

[@iSimp4Val]

Same

[@redferne4576]

+1

[@TUM_Toons]

This is close to my vision of an amazing cartoon based game. My vision is a 3D platformer where you play as a cartoon character. You can learn different toon skills like bounce in the air with spring legs, turn into a ball and roll over people, stretch your arms out to grab higher ledges, Rev yourself up and run really fast for a short time, bring out a bunch of cartoon props while in battle like a mallet or boxing glove, you can imitate people you befriend with cheap disguises, and the best part is... it's set in a city of edgy cartoons, so you can bounce on rooftops and ricocheting off of walls and run through the streets. It really feel like this would be a fun game.

[@LegionIvory]

10:18 It took me so long to get through this game that I originally thought this was the final part. I was so pissed upon discovering it wasn't. lol

[@rogeliolarronda]

I wonder if there’s any other game in which you control Gabriel Byrne…

[@jonkerrmusic]

Thanks for finishing this one; it haunts me from being a kid confused by what it wanted of me, and I've never gone back.

[@kurtsydavis7517]

😂😂😂

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

*Holli Would* if she could, but she's not bad, she's just drawn that way. Ah, yes, if you think about it... *Cool World* is all about an artist who falls in love with his own creation, a fictional cartoon woman...Hey...This is the *original waifu story!!* 😱 Holli is the _original_ waifu! ❤️

[@supermariofan03]

The Real Sean W. Stewart Even though originally it was supposed to be about a cop and a cartoon character giving birth to a little girl who is a psycho killer traveling in both the cartoon world and the real world. But Paramount said “Nah we’re gonna go Spider Man 3 on this project.”

[@Johnlindsey289]

The original concept would had been nice and creative and wish bakshi went to new line instead of paramount

[@MFields2178]

I recorded this game on vhs and it’s still terrible. I wasn’t very good at it. However the game made me want to see the film and it wasn’t that great. In fact, it was pretty forgettable. I’d rather see Roger Rabbit.

[@NintendoComplete]

That's always been my thought, too. Roger Rabbit was a classic. Cool World was an under-produced wannabe.

[@Johnlindsey289]

Do you think heavy metal, fire and ice, watership down, wizards, American pop, fritz the cat, plague dogs, ninja scroll etc are better adult animation movies?

[@Lorenzo3K]

Wow bro you are a God of gaming to actually beat this game. I remember as a kid trying to figure out what to do in this shit and being very frustrated and I prided myself on being able to get through games like this as a kid but this was the one game where I was like yeah fuck this bruh I'm out. You the best my guy 😁👌

[@rodrigoloreto6476]

really, lack of the instructions

[@erikabright2996]

I was the same way with this game.

[@yusakug]

Cool World is the first movie I saw that I ever wanted to walk out of. The plot makes no sense whatsoever, there are gaping plot holes, and the movie is just awful. If you read the behind the scenes story behind the movie, you'll find out why. The whole project was a bomb from the beginning. That being said, this game isn't terrible. Like others have said, the graphics are decent, and the music is actually pretty good. It's amazing that they actually managed to make a semi-competent game out of a movie that lacked any basic narrative structure. Fun fact: Sega was also set to do a Cool World game for the Sega CD, that was going to combine cartoon characters with full motion video actors, but it got canceled, most likely due to the fact that the movie bombed at the theater.

[@Johnlindsey289]

Do you think the original concept was better than what we got?

[@andrewmullens9715]

Damn, You are good. I never got past getting caught by the police.

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks! It totally wasn't worth the effort, though. I promise you missed nothing lol

[@DaviddeBergerac]

Preeetty sure this game gave me nightmares as a toddler

[@mage4516]

I like the sound the text box makes

[@BleedingEdgeOfProgress]

What part is the thumbnail from?

[@NintendoComplete]

The intro when he's free falling toward the city

[@Escape_Raz]

The music is so good

[@DSMTheEditor]

The music in Ocean software deserved much better games

[@FuriousFredo]

Even after watching somebody beat the game, it still seems incomprehensible. A "wtf is going on" game if there ever was one.

[@edgargerardoalarcongonzale4404]

Does anyone knows what are the other things in store used for⁉️

[@Peter_Morris]

I think I was right in the target audience for Cool World. I remember going to see it with my best friend, since we had recently turned 16 it was one of the first movies we could see without direct parental oversight. And I remember being fairly disappointed by it. I think what we didn’t like was how weak and lame the main character was. And Holli was just trailer trash. I didn’t even know there was a video game for it. Ha! I bet that’s one we never would’ve even thought about renting, even if it was the last game in the store.

[@Johnlindsey289]

Lonette, Jessica and Taarna were better eh?

[@johns8369]

I watched the whole video and still have no idea what's going on.

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Music by David Bowie

[@maverickhuntermeta4954]

I'm fairly new about Cool World. As I'm aware this is a movie based game that the movie itself is a Who Framed Roger Rabbit knockoff, but was the story to the movie going to be a Live Action/Animated horror movie that Raplh B originally planned to make?

[@dragnalus787]

i really get a kick out of the game title being in all lowercase on the win screen

[@DeadlyTowersSux]

Okay, so I have the Spike, and am waiting to be transported to Vegas for the final segment. Problem is, the game LOVED to send me to Vegas at the worst moments, i.e. when I was trying to get a key item. And now that I actually WANT to go to Vegas, it just won’t send me. Are you sent to Vegas a limited number of times, and once you’ve been sent the last time, you’re screwed? I’ll be really pissed if that’s the case

[@Admin-qy4zi]

How did you get pass the turnstile in the slash club?

[@2cmamais483]

yeah... They tried to build a game..only tired

[@firemario8126]

Can someone say to me what this code at the end of the game does ? 27:55

[@DeadlyTowersSux]

If you enter the code in numerical order of the labelled buttons while on the title screen, you get to see the credits again

[@HellpeneGeek]

😂the music Is from xxx movie? I love it😊🎉❤

[@Markop-jk4mz]

This cart and a snes console over the switch with cuphead sd, anyday. ❤❤

[@gordyowl9455]

0:33 each time I play fortnite when I drop off the battle bus

[@maverickhuntermeta4954]

The sound and music to this game sounds pretty good and also... 0:33: MODE 7 BAYBEH!

[@XboxfanJones-yv8xw]

Wow this is putting me to sleep I rather get trapped in the in a world like that like cool world

[@soldadito34]

Bionic Commando + Who tricked Roger Rabbit? = This

[@RenegadeX28]

I remember renting this game a bunch of times and never knowing what to do. The music rocked though.

[@MS-fh4sz]

This game is ''god'' awful!!! I'm glad I saw this video before wasting money on it on Ebay.

[@zartdart]

What the hell are those end credits

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

It's up to jack to save the world from evil Holi would

[@raimywinter2309]

Yessss!

[@travislizer9581]

Wow, clearly My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult didn't do the music for the game.

[@theimmensegamer3367]

Clementj64 mentioned this game as his first ever Let's Play series.

[@pablozamarripa1120]

UN JUEGO .......... SUPER ABURRIDO ..... !!!

[@Johnlindsey289]

Did you know the movie had a different concept about a flesh and blood artist who makes love to an animated chick and she gave birth to a flesh and blood/animated hybrid who grows up to be a killer to get her father? An ingenious concept. Too bad Frank Mancuso jr fucked it up by trying to be like roger rabbit. Holi and lonette were hot though. If I wanted adult animation I’ll take watership down, heavy metal, wizards, fantastic planet, liquid tv, aeon flux, fire and ice, American pop, Pink Floyd the wall, classic Simpsons, futurama, Bojack Horseman, duckman, love death and robots, undone, Rock and rule, fritz the cat, hey good looking, ninja scroll, Akira, waltz with bashir, princess mononoke etc

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Candi Milo Kim Basinger Brad Pitt Charlie Adler and Maurice Lamarche

[@omar_syrinx2112]

Don’t forget Gabriel Byrne (Jack Deebs)

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

@@omar_syrinx2112 that too

[@NJASZN]

This game reminds me so much of This other game…what was it…top gun? It had a white and black dude as the main characters lol

[@NintendoComplete]

Lethal Weapon?

[@user-vr7pw1hp1z]

I Beat This Game. It's Called Gane Guys. Lol.

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

27:32 Holli Would: ✏️ Dork

[@itsjustagamechannel]

One of the stranger SNES games for sure!

[@GardevoirBoy]

Don't get me wrong, Cool World is a joke. The game is a joke. I feel bad for them making this awful peace of spit.

[@SlantCarson]

it’s not a joke it fucking rules lol

[@SlantCarson]

virgin mario fan versus the chad cool world snes enjoyer

[@ScorpionVermelho3134]

The most weird game Yes or yes?

[@bluebugaboo3344]

That’s not what happened in the movie!

[@bluebugaboo3344]

@@mquiroz90 But why the hell did they do that?

[@jlatzss1457]

This game is one big acid trip

[@jesusisraelflorescarrillo2733]

Lo Jugué En Un Emulador De Super Nintendo Para La Consola Xbox Clasico

[@W4lmartbag]

The only good thing of this train wreck of a game is the music,it sounds kinda playstation 1ish tbh And the movie is also a train wreck WHAT A COINCIDENCE XD

[@califaern3sto]

Bought this game at a yard sale when i was a kid, couple years later i threw it out along with fighters history. Shitty games

[@Kyo.11]

Someone please tell me if the chick in white dress actually appears in the game. Thanx in advance.

[@NintendoComplete]

Yeah, she does.

[@omar_syrinx2112]

Yes! And she is the “final boss”

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Officer Frank talks like Sinbad from DreamWorks Sinbad and will the krill from happy feet two

[@user-vr7pw1hp1z]

Hey Is A No Brad Pitt Talking To A Bird He Jamaican He Is This Crazy. Yes Him.

[@RighteousMinds974]

Why do These A.I. opponents sound like they're some mob boss's henchman lol

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Perhaps, it is time to pursue other avenues

[@jesusisraelflorescarrillo2733]

Me Gustó Eso Juego De Cool World Que Jugar Con Jack Deebs El Creador Dibujante De Cool World Me Uberia Gustado Que Poniera A Detective Frank Harris El Héroe Solo Salió De Las Consolas Nintendo Nes Game Boy Y Amiga No El Super Nintendo

[@INDLIS]

26:11 26:15

[@Michael_Beanflip]

This game is so hard it's stupid

[@babadook3523]

what a trip