Left in Japan 4 + Twin Famicom Review - Game Sack

Episode 71 - More goodies from Japan that we never got to enjoy abroad in their time without importing. And a look at the Twin Famicom system by Sharp!
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www.gamesack.net

[@djcactus]

The text in castlevania 2 being in Japanese make no difference considering the English text was warbling nonsense anyway

[@GaryPhelpsII]

The gag about the loading time got funnier as it went along.

[@VBshredder]

Regardless of any cultural differences, I'm sure a few these systems were thrown out of japanese windows after seeing that.

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

Watch in 0.5x speed for ultimate hilarity.

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

@@VBshredder Lots of Japanese windows have grates on them.

[@VBshredder]

@@DasAntiNaziBroetchen Of course! This is the kind of rage that lasts long enough to grab your tools, unbolt said grate, and still be mad enough to chuck it out.

[@PikaLink91]

In Zelda, the microphone is only used to kill Pols Voice (Rabbit Heads), in some of the dungeons. What I find cool, is that that function came back for Phantom Hourglass on the DS.

[@A-Monkman]

hahahahaha that ending was great :D

[@hdofu]

the mic is used in the legend of zelda to kill digdoggers and pols voice

[@yourpoodlebobthefish]

Just got my twin famicom the other day. These load times are amazing. Way of the future i tell ya

[@GameSack]

I think we'd need PAL versions of consoles so that we could show the speed difference in unoptimized games. I'd also like to show the increased border in said games. Fortunately I can record PAL stuff, I just don't have the consoles. I have a few PAL games but they run at full 60Hz NTSC speed and act like any other NTSC game.

[@nights1515]

"we're running out" meanwhile.... Left in Japan 9

[@HipsterBlackMetalOfficial]

Oh man Castlevanina 2 with screen loading time AND the day to night transition

[@GiordanDiodato]

Hipster Black Metal at least it has a save feature.

[@garfiduper5822]

Giordan Diodato The Famicom Disc System version is all-round not as good. The save feature isn't even that big of a deal as the cartridge version has a password system.

[@GiordanDiodato]

Garfi Duper yeah an extremely long ass password.

[@garfiduper5822]

Giordan Diodato Still, much more appealing than the load times.

[@retrogaminginsanity7585]

yah but u know how long passwords were for it dipshit extremly long and no its not moreapealing than load times long password is worse and there more sound channels on famicom than nes o so do ur research befiore u talk shit on famicom :P

[@BoshMind]

my friend just got one of these and the loading times are not as bad as in the video. Did you clean the lens? That can effect load times

[@ouka6686]

Man, I'd love it if you guys could review the Sharp x68000. But that system goes for thousands and the games are even more rare. But it's such a cool system to even just talk about.

[@GameSack]

We did! We have an entire video dedicated to the X68000!

[@ouka6686]

Oh man! I feel stupid now because I couldn't find it. Good work and I'm glad you guys are doing this series. It makes showing stuff I grew up with a lot easier.

[@retrogaminginsanity7585]

not even close to all games in japan and wii u is complete shit

[@SapphireDensetsu]

I remember some strange dream I had where I saw Left in Japan 5. All I can remember is that the scripting is top notch, it was really humorous, and iS: internal section for the PS1.

[@kaksikymmenta3]

What loading time? I grew up with a C64 Datasette.

[@Shorai_3]

In The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu the Famicom microphone was used to kill the enemy called the Pols Voice. According to both the Japanese and English manuals, the Pols Voice can't stand loud noises. So if the microphone picked up a loud noise all Pols Voice on the room would die instantly. I've been told that blowing into the microphone gives the same effect.

[@MordecaiWalfish]

Do Re Mi Fantasy has more than just a passing resemblance to Bubble Bobble. The character looks like one of the kids you turn in to at the end of the game, its got the bubble mechanic, and candy is a powerup, just like it was in Bubble Bobble.

[@valgalder]

The Simon's Quest loading part had me rolling... as usual, great episode!

[@gooniesneversaydie8350]

Hey Game Sack, guy from the future here, you in fact did do a Left In Japan 5. In fact, I think you’ve done 11 of them now. Thx

[@i-am-goonie]

I had never heard of Wai Wai World before, but I LOVE that idea! And having a playable Goonie is always a plus. 🙂

[@JimPlaysGames]

Oh man the ending is hilarious. No spoilers :D I seriously love your show. It's always really well produced and entertaining. The sound effects for the console action is brilliant. It can't be said enough, you have the best retro games review channel I've seen.

[@BocaRetroGames]

Tks for another great episode! I stopped playing games when I was 15 (just turned 29 yesterday), but after watching you guys, I'm buying all that old Retro consoles all over again! Greetings from Brazil!

[@Godsgood111]

It's pretty cool to see a left in Japan episode featuring a console. Also that Konami crossover game is a great idea, it's a shame we never got it here.

[@nickolasecker9596]

I bought A Sharp twin Famicom because of this video, I had no idea that this thing existed prior to watching, but I took one look at it and decided this was a must. Famicom Disk System games have the best instruction manuals I have ever seen, especially the original Zelda, Castlevania and Metroid games.

[@recorderdude]

Hoorah! Someone finally mentions Gekibo! It's my favorite game for the TG16. There's an english translation of the story, which is actually dark. While in photo school, the parents of the character (named David Goldman) die in a plane crash. He almost drops out in despair, but the Dean of Students (old guy) offers to let him pass if he takes certain pictures. The game gets REALLY crazy and challenging in later levels. There was also a sequel on the PS2 to it called Gekibo 2 - check it out!

[@tetrisdave]

Thanks. It's funny to see how we've evolved over the past, almost 2 years. We're learning as we go.

[@MrDrop442]

the Mic use on zelda is for the Orange muse head looking things that jump around. when you tell into the Mic they all die. cinnemascre showed it in one of their Monday play videos.

[@Bigdog302V8]

Dracula X for the PC Engine super CD Rocks,still one of my favorites in the Castlevania series. it is also a shame the Arcade card for the PC Engine CD or Duo was not released here and there is a few great games on it,Sapphire and the SNK conversion fighting games and Kabuki Itouryodan are some great games. the SNK Arcade card conversions flat blow away the Genesis and Super NES versions! there is some videos on the Arcade Card games here on KZbin. I played the Arcade card games on my Turbo CD with a Arcade Card Pro and a Japanese to USA converter.

[@TheManofDew]

Actually laughed out loud at the twist ending. 😃👍 You guys make great content...which sounds oddly dirty.

[@Rogueofmv]

The Famicom Disk System, its FM sound chip, and its disks were patented here in the US. They never made it to domestic production, and we ended up with passwords and battery backups in the end instead. Many speculate that it was meant to be an attachment that would utilize the unused underside expansion slot on the NES.

[@henrydave6603]

At the time this post was left, there is 7 "left in Japan" episodes now lol Shows you guys keep finding awesome games :)

[@Wyrdwad]

Don't know if you still check comments on your older videos, but I recently discovered a game you guys might want to consider for a future Left in Japan episode: "Undeadline" for the Mega Drive. I've been playing the original MSX2 version of it, and it's absolutely fantastic -- it's a horror-themed shmup where you control a person rather than a ship, and the sheer number of weapons, weapon power-ups and special items is just insane. You also get to pick one of three characters to play, each of which plays differently AND can be leveled-up along the way by finding and rescuing fairies AND has his/her own unique ending if you manage to beat every stage. The stages can even be played in any order you want, save for the last one. The game was ported from the MSX2 to the X68000 and then the Mega Drive, and to my knowledge, those are the only three versions that exist. The X68000 version seems really faithful to the MSX2 version I've been playing, but with better graphics and less slowdown and flickering, unsurprisingly -- as well as a couple new levels. But the Mega Drive version... man, they changed a LOT in that one. The levels are all redesigned, the music is all new, and from the looks of it, the game is way harder with the addition of minibosses and a much smaller health bar. I don't know how much I'd like that, but the MSX2 version is easily one of the best games I've played on the system to date (despite all of its technical issues), and the game just OOZES atmosphere -- it's like playing the overhead Contra stages, but with a Castlevania mood and Castlevania music. So I'd love to give the Mega Drive version a try sometime, and I think you guys would really love it too -- it seems right up your alley. Just be prepared for one insanely hard game, because the MSX2 version is already hard enough (on easy mode!), and the Mega Drive version looks like it's WAY harder!

[@brendalynave6997]

Man I'd love it if you guys could review the Sega Genesis But that system goes for thousands and the games are even more rare. But it's such a cool system to even just talk about.

[@brendalynave6997]

Can I Ads heere

[@abra95lz]

this video series has been great, and that all chapters have a great production and a great retro game review

[@Tommylop1982]

I liked the throw away your instant loading Castlevania cartridge joke, and is it just me but I do believe we got a better sounding version of "bloody tears" in the American version.

[@x7heDeviLx]

11:24 smuggling hams In those jeans boys got some cake

[@GameSack]

Yup! I actually modified my NES and 60-to-72 pin adapter to properly play that game.

[@souio]

Uncensored topless Dave better be a special feature on your DVD!

[@doom4067]

In Zelda you can shout into the microphone to kill the pols voice. That enemy is impervious to arrows in the Japanese version.

[@Raven_Enforcer]

The Famicon 2nd player controller with an intercom for Zelda is for Pols Voices and Digs. It works, but you have to either have it close to your mouth, or yell

[@kamiboy]

Best episode yet. Saw lots of cool looking games that I had never heard of before, very informative.

[@bastardtubeuser]

i get an empathic feeling when loading a gamesack video with no heavy advertising. ive seen hardcore adds on "shows" where men do nothing but show and talk about their shopping lists. cheers gamesack hope you make some bucks, deserve it due to the production quality.

[@GameSack]

We use Final Cut Pro to edit and the idea for Castlevania 2 came to me when it actually happened. So I had to bear through it again when recording footage for the video. :)

[@scenepointnazi]

The speaker is used in Zelda to kill the Pol's Voice in dungeons. The rabbit head looking things. In the US instruction booklet it said they "hated loud sounds", something the American audience would never get.

[@BhChicagoTVStationhistoriesand]

I wanted to write a nice, complimentary post for the show here and thought this video would be a good place to do it. First, you should know I’m really not a dam of many of these gaming KZbin channels at all but this one is extremely well done. Some incredibly interesting topics in some of these episodes and spotlight on some publishers not many give credit to but should. The format and layout work very well. Also, I’ve seen so many try sarcasm in these videos and fall flat on their asses but in the episodes I’ve seen it comes across well. As for the individual games presented in this episode, I strongly recommend the Konami Wai Wai World games if you can get a hold of them. They sure as hell do some interesting things not really done before at the time! I had a tough time with Wai Wai World 1 so I didn’t get terribly far in it. Wai Wai World 2 was a total different story! Controls and plays great! I can’t remember if I finished it, if not finished I got really damn far in. The music is honestly bitchin’, using the more advanced Konami sound chip. If you’re interested in both but only have time for one of them, play through KWW 2. I’m dumbfounded at least 2 never came West, it really should’ve. It’s one of the best late Famicom/NES games for sure! I really hope maybe they’ll get it on the NES/Famicom Switch App because folks really shouldn’t pass on it. Anyway, great work! For me to praise this show says a lot with my disdain for most of the gaming KZbin shows and personalities.

[@HiroPlaysGames]

I'm impressed with just about every aspect of this episode. EXCELLENT work, guys! :)

[@thepopemichael]

That ending had me rolling on the floor laughing!

[@yoteca]

great episode, that baby really is a bio miracle...there are so many awesome titles that never saw release outside of japan.thanks for making that mini series.it really opened my eyes to some hidden gems ! big up from Bulgaria

[@necrom99]

One of the major differences in the Kid Icarus for the FDS is that in the final Medusa stage; you have to continuously press the jump button to fly. This was removed for the NSTC version. Thank goodness. Firing and flying at the same time...sheesh!

[@B33FY2011]

another great episode best retro channel on the internet period

[@MrGregory777]

This was uploaded on my birthday. thanks gamesack

[@OR2891]

Another great episode guys. I really do enjoy your shows that feature import games. Wai Wai World looks insanely fun.

[@TheDeeplyCynical]

The sequal to photograph boy was released in Japan and Europe as Polaroid Pete on the PS2

[@TheSaskOtaku]

I think a neat game you should check out is Sweet Home on the Famicom. It's pretty fun and it's one of the few games that has a reproduction cart available

[@michaelboffs3340]

Your one of the few who has inspired me and my video reviews.

[@diegordi1394]

11:20 The story: David Goldman travels to LA to become the best photographer, but his parents die in a plane crash. When he was going to become a depressed person, the principal gives him 8 tests to graduate in the academy. Found the story in Wikipedia.

[@DeathToJihad]

What a horrible night to have a Famicom Disk System...

[@MewtwoGenetic]

Something I love in videogames, is the difference in regions, like censorship or changes from Japan to English

[@Captain_Neckbeard]

Great episode. I may download some of these.

[@isnotsparta]

Ha ha ha. I have that same shirt, guys. Have you noticed that they swapped the positions of the A and B buttons for some reason? Not exactly Nintendo Seal of Quality material.

[@GameSack]

Yes it's pretty weird. Admittedly, that's how the controllers themselves should have been in the first place!

[@Iliek]

+Game Sack The buttons are swapped like that I believe since written Japanese is read from right to left so naturally when they created the controller the letters start on the right.

[@nex1788]

+Iliek Written Japanese is read from left to right, but when the characters are written vertically then read them up to down from right to left. And video game controllers have NOTHING to do with that.

[@danusty]

gamesack makes sunday mornings awesomer!

[@TheZombiePimpernel]

Thanks for the section on Umihara Kawase! I played a ROM years ago, having no idea what it was (since it was Left In JapanTM) and I was blown away. A very cool game, one they should really have brought to the US.

[@Jellycakelap]

The accessory slot was also used for the Hudson JoyCard - I'm no gaming guru, I saw it on GameCenter CX - they use it when Arino can't beat something that needs turbo shooting or what have you. Apparently, the JoyCard defaults the controller to the first player slot using that input. Weird, right?

[@lmpst7915]

"Running low" and "will there be 5?" Up to 10 currently

[@GameSack]

Yes, if you remove the tabs from the SNES cart slot you can play any Super Famicom cartridge game without issue. I haven't encountered any hurdles otherwise doing this.

[@thevoicefromyournightmares]

Thank you. Sure I will. I'm kinda new to it but learn fast. I really feel like doing something like this to share my collection and not only let it lie here as it does now.

[@Euro-H.E.V.]

I remember that baby game. Way back, my local renting place had it for rent under the name, Baby Mario. XD

[@knartfocker_]

EuroHEV Sneaky false advertising..

[@caligoclarus]

Great demonstration of why we never got the disc system. There was really no point in the device. A few months after this video posted, Wai Wai World became available in English with a fan patch. www.retrogamenetwork.com/2013/05/28/konami-wai-wai-world-gets-english-translation/ Oh, and finally in 2015 the Umihara Kawase series received and official western release.

[@thevoicefromyournightmares]

That was exactly what happened to me too when I left that town in Simon's Quest but I was determined to get back out again. I did manage to get past without getting hit by that fireball the 2nd time so I had only 3 loading screens. I am playing on the original Famicom Toploader with the Disk System attached to it.

[@dragonsoftproductions5685]

Hey Guy's I just wanted to tell you that one of your subscribers is turning 16, and I like watching you guys to get recommendations for games.

[@ZPEntertainment]

I love the Twin Famicom. I don't have one, unfortunately, but everytime I see and play one is a great experience: such a great combination of technologies! Great video, guys! :D

[@RichardCraig]

Geez, I never know what to expect at the end of your shows... hilarious!

[@ciprianmogosanu7169]

I AM FROM THE FUTURE.Left in Japan 5 was the best episode,things went down at Left in Japan 6

[@chikknlipps2058]

The game is called "Mickey no TOKYO DISNEY LAND Daibouken" (Mickey's Tokyo Disney Land Great Adventure) and it looks like stages are based on attractions at Disney Land (which are mostly based on movies, anyways). So, that's why "there are a few .... references to Disney Land", by the way. Yeah, I live in the land of moon-people.

[@halloweenzombie]

Its always a good day when i get a new game sack:D thanks for an other great show

[@settingbros]

You guys make the best internet show on this planet! Everytime a new episode is released you deliver even better than the last time! Please make an episode about my favourite genre: strategy games! Or just do what you want I´m still happy! :D Langrisser 1 and 2, The Hybrid Front, Fire Emblem, Famicom Wars and so on! Amazing music and nice gameplay!

[@TheBalloga]

games like these is the reason im taking japanease as my language in highschool

[@FoxBoy1992]

The ending was wonderful. Thanks for that.

[@munk109]

I watch this show religiously

[@GameSack]

On the Famicom there is. And I played it on my NES for comparison's sake.

[@NightSprinter]

Mike, Joe, not sure if someone mentioned it yet but a few disk games had different uses of the microphone on the second controller. Kid Icarus used it in the merchant shops (think of it as Up+A on the NES version to attempt to get a discount). Zelda 1 ONLY used it to kill the enemies that looked like cat faces in the dungeons (which the english manual referred to by "hates loud noises").

[@GameSack]

It is region locked by way of a 72-pin connecter whereas the JP carts are only 60 pin. You cannot fit the cart in without an adapter. Wether the NES 2/Jr/whatever has a 10NES chip or not I do not know, I assume that it does. But the converter contains its own 10NES chip so the NES2/Jr/whatever is just as "region free" as the original NES.

[@GameSack]

I DREAM of having one of those!

[@KVGerudo]

wow, 23 minutes just flew by! that means I was interested! keep up the great work guys, loving it.

[@thepirategamerboy12]

It's sad that Gillian Seed couldn't be in Konami Wai Wai World. :P Speaking of Gillian Seed, for some reason, I really wonder if Snatcher could have been possible on the Famicom Disk System (it would be based on the MSX2 version).

[@kinmanyuen]

that fishingline game looks cool

[@sven416]

You guys have come a long way since your early videos. Back when GameSack was new I was put off by the wooden acting and forced delivery but now I can't wait for each new episode; You play off each other really well and the show now feels natural and funny. Well done.

[@SegaFanatic5188]

Where Metroid uses the Disk System's audio is in Enemy sound effects and the Title Screen Music, the End Credits music, and the Game State and Get Item jingles. Other than that it sounds the same as the NES version.

[@brutravain]

Hot Dave in the final segment. Woof!

[@djpeterabreu]

I find both of them pretty hot

[@retrovideogamejunkie]

the best part of this video 03:27

[@thevoicefromyournightmares]

What is funny is that I was thinking about doing a youtube gameshow with my collection by inspiration of you guys and was gonna put that part in my first video with the Disk system and Simon's Quest loading in exactly that town. I have a feeling you read my mind there so now I need to come up with something new along with all other things I had in mind.

[@fandenivoldsk]

Great ending to a great episode.

[@maddestmike5791]

The ending made me chuckle. XD

[@tonylenzi166]

+gamesack polesvoice is what the enemies u kill with the license in zelda

[@null1023]

The FDS's extra sound channel isn't actually FM [it's actually a custom wave channel], but most games did try to sound that way. It's actually just like like one of the PC-Engine's sound channels. Metroid has a handful of sound effects that use FDS sound, that's it. Wai Wai World really should have come over here, a Konami crossover like that would have been amazing. Also, Mario and Wario seems to be the direct inspiration for Mighty Switch Force, haha. Neato.

[@ZeroWalker26]

Great video as always and informative as always love it.

[@mohammedganai9636]

Howard Philips vetoed Bio Miracle. (The version we got was the eventual cartridge rerelease, which somehow redid the music without the extra sound chip.)

[@BruceCantarim]

Bio Miracle is awesome, I played the cart version in a friend's house not too long ago. For the next Left in Japan, I suggest you guys check Samurai Pizza Cats for the Famicon, if you can. 8 bit ninja goodness, you can select multiple characters and switch then on the fly. A shame that the game never saw an US release. Love the show, keep up the good work!

[@VirtualVernon]

In the legend of zelda you can kill Pols Voice the rabbit head by yelling into the mic. You can also kill the 5th castle boss by yelling as well, as there is a hint that says sound hurts him. In the american version you would use the flute

[@robsmors]

Watching this after Left In Japan 10, Feeling futuristic AF lol!

[@deaditefuckgirl]

I've wanted a sharp twin since I saw one in the retro section of an EGM back in like 2002. I need to get one, and now.

[@GameSack]

Wow, I made a few typos in that post. Please forgive.