Is Power Piggs of the Dark Age Worth Playing Today? - SNESdrunk

Every video has at least one thing I misspeak and don't catch until much later. This time it's, "Would anyone notice if this game never existed?" Obviously, no, nobody would ever notice, but it'd be cool if this game turned out to be some kind of weird Mandela effect thing. But no, it exists, for some reason. Also, I forgot to point out that the music sounds just like something you'd hear in some generic sports game.
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[@alexdemoya2119]

Liquored up Lemurs of Lincoln, Nebraska kill me 😂

[@Chriscovelli1]

Comedic gold! Besides, have you ever gone to the zoo and tossed the lemurs a bottle of whiskey? Good times my friend!

[@joshoshea3194]

Was just about to say the same thing! 🤣🤣

[@oonegro82]

As long as it's starred King Julian...🤔 I would most definitely buy it and play it 🧐

[@solomonstillthebest5737]

I'd watch this.

[@CobaltContrast]

I'd probably play that

[@KinkESizemore]

Wow he finally got around to this one…that’s when you know he’s dug DEEP

[@MoxJet629]

"SNES. You fear to go into those games. The SNES drunk dug too greedily and too deep. You know what he awoke in the darkness... pigs and doughnuts."

[@rustylasagna]

Wow, I can’t believe the developers were generous enough to include a free copy of Hong Kong 97 in the game!

[@ericjohnson6634]

Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng Wǒ ài Běijīng Tiān'ānmén, Tiān'ānmén shàng tàiyáng shēng (You get the idea)

[@sjake8308]

XD

[@Legsman258]

I know it’s easy to just shit on a game like this, but from watching the footage I have to say that the art and animation in this game look pretty good, like a lot of love was put into it by what was probably a pretty small and overworked team. Both the sprites and the levels have a lot of character to them. It’s never been easy to support yourself as an artist and we shouldn’t forget real people made this kind of thing and are probably still around and proud of their work even if it’s packaged within a rushed and generic game.

[@maverick_loneshark]

I agree. He even said so himself that the controls are responsive and that after just watching 5 seconds of footage you could tell the animation was pretty smooth. If I had to guess it wasn't the developers fault the game feels like it is unfinished. It was whoever was in charge of the release date.

[@tonyhell]

I always felt like this game was heavily inspired by Aladdin on the Genesis, but undercut by Radical's ineptitude (at the time) and Titus' cheapness.

[@sjake8308]

Hard disagree, the game looks absolutely awful, especially for one released so late in the SNES's lifetime. I mean, it pales in comparison visually to the first SNES Goemon game, which was released about five years before this.

[@servomst3k]

Agreed with your take. These piggies need more love and uplift, not shame and criticism courtesy of SNES tipsy 😊

[@emaheiwa8174]

Proud of a generic rushed game? Lol😂

[@carn9507]

Gummi Bears came before the TMNT cartoon. And was a very important success in modern animation. With all the games Capcom made of the other Disney animated TV shows of that era on the NES I wish they'd done a Gummi Bears game. Characters who actually have legit reason to jump really high would fit a solid platformer. The show ran from 1986 to 1991 and Capcom released Duck Tales in 1989 so could have happened. Not sure why it didn't. Perhaps someone will someday make a 'what if' Gummi Bears NES game... and release the rom... only for Disney to be dicks and have it taken down.

[@BainesMkII]

Even though it came after the TMNT animated series, I doubt The Adventures of Don Coyote was trying to copy TMNT either.

[@jessragan6714]

Yeah. Gummi Bears was a reach. I get the feeling it was more of an answer to Smurfs than anything else.

[@Indie-A-tom]

@@BainesMkII I think that was kinda of the joke. Or he never watched any of the shows. I mean, Swat Katz copied tmnt? lol

[@BainesMkII]

@@jessragan6714 Gummi Bears was a bit weirder than that. Tad Stones, an editor and producer for the series, has talked about it in an Animation World interview. Disney had avoided making animated TV series, but Michael Eisner had a background in TV animation. Within Eisner's first week as Disney's CEO, Eisner called a meeting to discuss Disney starting to make animated TV series. When Stones pitched a Mickey series, Eisner liked the idea but felt Mickey was "too special" for TV. Eisner pitched a gummy bears show because Eisner's kid loved gummy bear candy.

[@brianlinden3042]

​@Indie-A-tom Swat Katz was absolutely an attempt to ride the coat-tails of TMNT's success. The fact that, unlike many of the other examples cited, it's actually a good show, with basically no plot similarities to TMNT, doesn't change that fact. It was still marketed to the same audience, with the same gimmick. Hell, Gargoyles was another TMNT pastiche, and it was better than TMNT has ever been, including the original comics. Doesn't make it any less of a TMNT pastiche, though. (Though, as others have said, SNES Drunk has no idea what he's talking about when it comes to Gummi Bears or Don Coyote.)

[@Waffletigercat]

Okay but seriously, Don Coyote and Sancho Panda is a FANTASTIC anthro-themed pun on Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

[@timothykohout9503]

And I now know what the hell that show was called after something like 25 years! For the last decade I was convinced it was a damned fever dream.

[@RenanElifas]

As a Brazilian, I appreciated the whole "The Mediocre Mallards of Manaus." That was a pleasant surprise. When people think of Brazil, they seem to only think of either Rio or São Paulo. Props to you, sir.

[@gabrieldias3479]

No, no. People think of a big jungle (Amazon jungle, which fits Manaus pretty well), with half naked mulatas dancing samba with the Christ The Redeemer in the background. Other than that, I approve the Mediocre Mallards of Manaus hahaha

[@BrunoMacRose]

That was really crazy right? I never expected a gringo talk so randomly about Manaus like that hauahuahau. Cheer for you and your awesome work Mr.Drunk!

[@Jikkuryuu]

I remember being utterly fascinated by the donut powerups and thinking this would be a good game. Nintendo Power had a real talent for showcasing the art when the actual game was bad. Glad I missed this one back then.

[@Justforvisit]

Okay, now let's create a 90's antromorphic animal cartoon show for every letter of the latin alphabet: The awesome Apes of Albuquerque The baffling Bees of Berlin The charming Cheetas of Chelsea The devastating Dolphins of Dheli The egregious Elephants of Ethopia The fantastic Foxes of France The genious Gooses of Gibraltar The happy Hounds of Houston The incredible Iguanas of Idaho The joyful Jaguars of Jersey The knowledgable Kangoroos of Kansas The legendary Lizards of Los Angeles The marvelous Mice of Montana The nonchalant Narwhals of Netherlands The optimistic Ocelots of Oslo The powerful Pelicans of Paris The quick Quokkas of Quebec The radical Rats of Rio The super Swines of Sacramento The tenacious Tanukis of Tokyo The undying Umbrellabirds of Uganda The veritable Velociraptors of Vladivostok The wonder Weasles of Wales The xenophile Xerus' of Xiamen The youthful Yaks of Yorkshire The zesty Zebras of Zurich

[@AnonymerVIP]

I already see the cross over episode between The fantastic Foxes of France being in feud with the powerful Pelicans of Paris

[@mightyfilm]

You think the cartoons that came after TMNT were bad, that's NOTHING on the deluge of bad self-published black and white indie comics that had their own terrible TMNT half parody/half ripoff stories when the Turtles took off as an indie comic.

[@tailfin6595]

>uses France for F >doesn’t make the animal frogs

[@joeyparkhill8751]

The Salmons of Seattle?

[@baalfgames5318]

​@@tailfin6595 I'd play every one of those.

[@samexists5776]

Love to wake up and see another SNES game I’ve never heard of. Keep up with the great content!

[@ManiacRiverRat]

The wolfs in drag attacks crack me up🤣🤣

[@viniciuspolicena]

I recall seeing Power Piggs of the Dark Age played in a rental store in some year between 1996-1998, but I was not aware of the name of this title until seeing this video, I even thought it could be a PSX title. I had the image of the pig with a sword, the platforming sections, and the death animation with the pork cut, but never took the time to look for the title name, so thanks for helping me understand that old memory.

[@nerrickk9024]

SNES Drunk is apparently amazingly apt at alliteration.

[@ShinYaguchiSama]

👏

[@AsAventurasdeGui]

I see what you did there...

[@Jabroniville]

It makes me want to watch the Scintillating SNESdrunks of St. Paul.

[@Hanokaze]

I think my first (and only) interaction with this game was seeing it in Nintendo Power back in the day. No clue why I would remember something like this though.

[@The16bithero]

Man, I swear I thought you already talked about this game. I guess it was a fever dream that it had, like this game

[@nick-playercharacter8583]

I'm surprised this never got an animated series. Not that it deserved it, it's just that everything got a cartoon around that time.

[@retrogamelover2012]

Honestly, this seems like it was a tie-in game for a cartoon, almost. Hey, I mean, I can imagine a show like this working as possibly an action comedy, that sort of spoofed a lot of medieval and story book stuff.

[@ExtremeWreck]

I actually assume that this was perhaps based off a really obscure animated pilot that never got off & Titus managed to snag the rights to make a video game out of it. The rushed quality of the game definitely leans into that for me & a few other folks.

[@ArkThePieKing]

Funny enough I remember reading about this game in Nintendo Power and being the 90s kid I was I thought it looked SO cool lol. I'm glad I never ended up playing it, I would have been so disappointed.

[@wantspizzadaily1316]

Power Piggs has always been one of my favorites! I bought a copy from Blockbuster when they were selling off all their SNES games!

[@hadeishadeis7462]

Another good point (one of few). He has a proper length sword, that's rare for that time period. Usually melee weapons are far to short. I'm presuming it's to fit within the animation box or something. Glad to see this game got at least that right

[@officegossip]

I really appreciate the simple reviews with none of the overproduced and overly edited crap you see everywhere else on here.

[@rickpgriffin]

I mostly remember this game from its coverage in Nintendo Power. From the maps and powerups, they made it sound a lot more interesting than most people rate it

[@Jabroniville]

I never trusted Nintendo Power because I always suspected it was a shill. Turns out I missed a pretty good magazine with more "inside" knowledge than most, but stuff like this reminds me of that.

[@JoshuaJacobs83]

I remember this vaguely. So glad you're covering it

[@TrippyCommentaries]

Already working on my Sassy Snails fan fic. They'll be named Sammy, Samuel, Sampson and Sam. Their arch nemesis will be the Salter.

[@stevenjackson9312]

As someone who lives a few miles from Sunderland (really, the UK city near Newcastle), I've been over both of those bridges. We definitely have sailors and snails, but I don't remember much sass, though to be fair we might have the sassiest snails on planet earth, and it's just passed me (and the rest of humanity) by 😉 Anyway, thanks for all the great videos, from someone who has more experience of Sunderland's resident snails than most (never thought I'd be saying that)

[@nugamer2475]

Sailor Moon Cosmos will be released in Japanese theaters in just a few days. I'm hoping Snesdrunk will read this just so he can upload at least just 1 Sailor Moon review even if it's those puzzle games probably know one played. 😅

[@zaneseibert]

Legit surprised he hasn't talked about the fighting game considering it's actually good and that it has some historical value since it was the first fighter Arc System Works made.

[@nugamer2475]

@@zaneseibert I commented back around 2020 I believe. 😅Must be in the back burner on his long list. I guess I'll just have to keep commenting just like what I did with Justing Wong. Got at least 2 request he did with Spectral VS Generation and X-Men Mutant Academy 1 and 2.

[@charlesex8191]

I like the candy cane trees. The art has a "point and click adventure" feeling to it.

[@joshoshea3194]

I can't believe that you mentioned Sunderland it's just down the road. Which also makes them one of our biggest sporting rivals 😤

[@Denny-Thray]

Lol, the angst level of SNES Drunk is high in this one. Speaking of Ninja Turtles, I feel like most SNES Drunk videos are Mikey telling me about a game, and this one is definitely Raph.

[@Bolsty7]

Hearing Sunderland out of nowhere blew my mind. People in England haven't even heard of Sunderland.

[@FUNKnnFLY]

Never in my life did I think SNES Drunk would reference my hometown in England. Looks like I am a Sassy Sailor Snail from this point onwards.

[@AmuroRae]

Just when I thought I knew the SNES library... you come along with a video like this that shows me I really, really don't. Props for managing to still find these obscure titles after all these years. And for managing to make your viewers laugh while talking about them

[@wjrandonx]

nothing but good memories of renting this game back in the '90s.

[@kenhammscousin4716]

Alright I want to thank you for making this video and hope you have a great rest of ur day

[@foxsong4508]

Out of all the clones of tmnt I have to say that swat kats stands out on their own very well too bad they didn’t get a third season. Love the channel keep up the good work

[@Llukario]

Awesome video! I really enjoyed this!

[@MagitekOmega]

I can recall a local mall having a copy of this game that just sat there for years at a KB Toys that no one bought, and seeing it now, I can't blame them one bit.

[@buffaloj0e]

This review is gold, well done! 👍

[@neonshadow5005]

I dunno, it doesn't look that bad. It seems like if anything would really hurt the game, it'd be floaty movement or sketchy hit boxes or both. But I wouldn't lump Gummy Bears in with the rest of that stuff, that cartoon was basically a personal request of Disney and was really good. Definitely a "which of these does not belong" kind of things.

[@kingp05]

Ikr plus The Gummi Bears came out 2 yrs before the TMNT cartoon

[@shelbyherring92]

Yeah, the hitboxes are probably the worst offenders in this game. That is some certifiably dubious jank.

[@KyokujiFGC]

It's not that bad. It's just thoroughly mediocre.

[@mademedothis424]

@@kingp05 There's an implication that cartoons about anthropomorphic animals going on adventures started on TMNT, which is nuts. Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds dates from 1981, three full years before the TMNT comics and six years before the animated series. And I bet I could find earlier stuff on that track. If I can go outside of TV, Disney did "Robin Hood but it's a fox" all the way back in 1973. I'd argue probably part of why TMNT was able to be sold and sanitized as widely as it was is that TV execs of the 80s could absolutely wrap their heads around "anthropomorphic animals going on adventures, but it's cool and a bit edgy now".

[@WhitePointerGaming]

Gummi Bears pre-dates the TMNT cartoon so yeah it's not really fair to lump it in with those other ones. However what I would add to that list is Samurai Pizza Cats.

[@mattb6522]

Great review! I vaguely recall hearing about this game way back when. I never played it or read reviews, but figured it was another "me too" mascot action game. It looks like something someone would have quickly cobbled together with like Game Maker or Flash. For the record, I would watch/play the Liquored Up Lemurs of Lincoln Nebraska!

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

Nice Power Pig reference. Orson would be proud

[@Alianger]

I appreciate this game for telling the other side of the story for Rocket Knight Adventures.

[@mrdeadscott8270]

I remember playing this as a kid and feeling ripped off by the rental store, but then ended up hunting it for years when I was an adult to add it to my collection. You are right no one remembers it and its not a good game, I had to explain that to many people and retro stores while looking for it. Loved the ideas you came up they are all super funny and I would play/watch them at least once if given the chance. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who remembers this game 🤣

[@vincentlamontagne7639]

The way the pig moves and attacks, it reminds me of Aladdin on the Genesis more than anything else.

[@otakuman1231]

It almost looks like they stole some of the animations

[@ytp4lifetds]

The ironic part of the tmnt craze was it started with the comics

[@NachtKaiser666]

The Manicured Manatee of Montreal would be my version I guess. I tried to come up with a better adjective than manicured, but then I figured that would be too much effort and missing the point 😂

[@matthewmosley4219]

Masticating?

[@greatheightsu]

You actually kinda sold me on this game. Looks competent!

[@tokufan22]

lol love the fact that you referenced Garfield and Friends for a second

[@ArtDocHound]

There was an Android game called Aporkcalypse. No one else has heard of it. The game was like Barnyard Commandoes in a block style puzzle game.

[@NickEnlowe]

Well, I have. I'm sure others here have, too. And I own Barnyard Commandos.

[@sunderark]

I can confirm. Where I am from sassy sailor snails abound.

[@elmg]

You hit close to home lol. Love those liquoered up Leemers.

[@anon_y_mousse]

Well, you've sold me. I never knew this game existed but thanks to you I'm going to find a copy to play. And I wish you would make a game, something retro inspired. Who knows, it could be the best retro-ish game ever.

[@JCDetona]

Yay! Brazil mentioned! And my city where I live! 🥳

[@MrKanjidude]

90s games executive in a slightly too large power suit: "Hey, write that down! Write that down!"

[@jeremysteelman2900]

I remember studying the Nintendo power with this game and renting it from the video store to be drastically disappointed.

[@frog_stomp]

I've actually been waiting for you to review this game. 😂

[@nicocchi]

Ok I've never heard of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda but that's peak level pun and it can hardly be topped

[@Jabroniville]

Okay, this is wild- I was watching your review of "Kabuki: Quantum Fighter" for a thing I was doing on old games, then was preparing to work on a "Power Piggs" article... and then THIS pops up at the very end of the video I'd just seen. You literally polsted this as I was planning to look it up XD. Very good work, and I agree- it doesn't look like it's actively sucking but it's just one of these ill-thought-out games shat out by some developers looking to make a quick buck in the dying days of the SNES (seriously, this was in *1996*!). You can tell someone had some animation skill when producing this, but the level design is so unconsidered that they just throw in those huge gusts of wind to push you along, lest they have to put in more platforms and design elements!

[@stevepm3369]

Random shoutout to Sunderland. Nice.

[@171285harvey]

Long time fan and now you mention Sunderland, not far from my home town. You have gone up even further in my estimation

[@8thaccount535]

Just based on the video, it looks pretty good.

[@jaymethysell5111]

While TMNT was created first in niche comic book form (1984), the Gummy Bears show (1985) came before TMNT hit the mainstream with its own cartoon (1987), and they were fairly successful and popular. They were not a TMNT knock-off while they were bouncing here and there and everywhere. The Gummy Bears show was ripping off the Smurfs.

[@thecunninlynguist]

that theme song was catchy. I remember it came on before winnie the pooh on ABC

[@derrickmarsh50]

I love how the new DuckTales had a whole episode dedicated to an evil spy group trying to recreate the GummiBear secret formula to be undestructable bouncing everywhere super powers. No GummiBears were shown, but the nod to the show made an hilarious episode! 🤣

[@AFnord]

@@thecunninlynguist If you think the original version of the theme song is catchy, wait until you've heard the Norwegian version! Norwegian just sounds so happy, and it's a perfect fit for that theme song.

[@bildo1977]

Radical Entertainment was anything but, at least in the third and fourth generation of game consoles. They were involved in the development of Scarface: The World Is Yours, so they eventually got better as developers.

[@arostwocents]

The pig looks clinically insane 😂 his facial expression is actually gonna give me nightmares 😨

[@alkristopher]

How dare you insult those liquored-up Lemurs from Lincoln, Nebraska! That was my whole childhood, man!

[@Gecko1993HogheadIncOfficial]

I believe you because I actually remember reading a preview of it in Nintendo Power.

[@ProctorSilex]

Holy smokes! I haven't thought about Orson Pig from U.S. Acres since it was on air.

[@cmedtheuniverseofcmed8775]

To be fair, the music seems to be pretty cool. Has almost a funk feel to it.

[@E__millz]

I couldnt wait for you to review this! I saw this game years ago and bought it (which I have until this day.) Although it’s not a good game, it sure did cost a lot of money 😂

[@wantspizzadaily1316]

I think the music in this game is fantastic, it's some 70s spy music that would fit right in the movie Shaft

[@gabriest]

I never thought I would’ve hear Snes Drunk making any reference to “Manaus” (a city in Brazil) hahahah

[@EmilForsberg_GRYBO]

I've been waiting for this, got this game in the box

[@Wyldfyre.84]

After seeing the title, my mind also went straight to Power Pig from U.S. Acres.

[@raphaelfp]

Holy shit, I had to pause immediately and get to the comments as I heard a MANAUS reference? As a northern brazilian, I wasn't expecting that, but I would watch that show for sure 😂😂😂

[@QuwehShunMark]

Now i actually want to see the sassy sailor snails.

[@goon5544]

I like this look of this game, it seems to have it's own style.

[@matthewstone5310]

This looks like another obscure animated series that needs to be parodied on "Robot Chicken." LOL

[@sojiro856]

I remember seeing this game in Nintendo Power. The game got a few pages devoted to it.

[@MrMegaManFan]

Those lemurs get liquored up when the mob is at Memorial. I know. I’ve been there a few times. 😂

[@chrissymc886]

Since I am from Scotland I will thrown in one of our animals: Pine Marten Palladins of Power.

[@michaelsanner3374]

I actually bought a complete copy of this online to try on my PAL SNES system in the states, ended using the Retro Bit Trio instead. Didn't play too much, but some short gameplay really intrigued me. Plus it was pretty cheap!

[@jacobp1189]

I vaguely remember seeing the show. And that one show/game of Arthur and the knights of the round table. (Football team goes back in time).

[@istrasci]

You should make the "Awesome Aardvarks of Albuquerque".

[@StevenMorris]

all these years i never knew this one existed!

[@charleseschmann7566]

I still own this game from when I was a kid. It got super hard by like the 3rd level

[@jasonz7788]

Thanks great video

[@wraithcadmus]

And how could we forget the greatest attempt at cashing in on TMNT, the Cheetahmen!

[@keatonmay9685]

Got this game for my brother recently, he was stoked

[@dhakir]

The character animation looks like it's been based on Aladdin's (especially the jumping animation).

[@valentinmarinescu6445]

Swatkats was a fantastic cartoon.

[@MrPicklecopter]

Street Sharks were Jawsome!

[@AdamLeisemann]

It's actually kinda funny how I see a video about a game based on a Ninja Turtles cash-in, while in real life I'm writing a tabletop role playing game inspired by TMNT cash-ins (and not just the anthro animal ones, you can count Toxic Crusaders in on this list as well). I know there was no way this situation could have been predicted, but I still find it amusing.

[@SamWeltzin]

I actually knew this game existed and even brought it up recently when we were talking about terrible attempts to make mascots. I was NOT aware that you can only play as one of the three characters. That's hilarious.

[@natehoustman]

The 90's were a mood. I watch this and I flashback to stressing out over homework. This is not escapism.

[@andrewbalenko]

One small correction. Adventures of the Gummi Bears was 2 years before TMNT.

[@mikaelsza]

The Pig Game!! This one was hard when I was a kid.

[@gamesthatiplay9083]

This game seems to have a resurgence with speed runners discovering it 2 or so months ago and beating the world record.

[@DanPantzig]

I occasionally saw this one at the rental stores, and being that I was 14 when it dropped I def knew better than to even try. I may try for my let's play channel though, because as you said it's a game made for content creators' nightmares.

[@SegaCDUniverse]

I have some strange memory of this you unlocked

[@mikesilva3868]

😊great review

[@paulsylvester5977]

The gummi bears cartoon came out before the tmnt cartoon hype