Is Whirlo Worth Playing Today? - SNESdrunk

Also known as サンドラの大冒険 ワルキューレとの出逢い, or Xandra no Daibouken: Valkyrie to no Deai...
New SNES-related video every Tuesday, and something else (Genesis, Game Boy, whatever) on Thursdays
SNESdrunk and NESfriend team up for a podcast, DrunkFriend, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many other platforms: link.chtbl.com/OxWjbR12
SNESdrunk's Patreon page, if you're into that sort of thing: www.patreon.com/snesdrunk
Binge watch SNESdrunk: kzbin.info/aero/PLib8CA6AKJM8KLkWy4JGGYP0d4E-JYZOa

[@james441]

Honestly at this point Nintendo needs to co-sign your channel because the work you’ve done for SNES is unlike any other on KZbin

[@trevorduna7666]

Really tho

[@Dufhuebktdb]

They'd be more likely to issue him a takedown notice.

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

The only problem is he often suggests to "play it however you can" (the wink wink version of saying "download the rom"). He often says this for rare carts or ones that are expensive on eBay.

[@james441]

@@thebasketballhistorian3291 and rightly so, since Nintendo aren’t reproducing carts & if you buy a second hand game no profits are exactly going towards Nintendo.

[@kingboobs20]

@@thebasketballhistorian3291 How is that a problem?

[@thenostalgiafactor5023]

Total length of video: 375 secs. Total length of "SNES Drunk": 6.5 secs. 1.73% of the video was spent listening to "SNES Drunk".

[@manc_crow]

you really outdid yourself once again @The Nostalgia Factor, another great video. Oh crap, I forgot, of course you aren't SnesDrunk in disguise (wink wink). But anyway, I come for the video and stay for the stats. Thanks again for your consistent and tireless work old friend. Until next time...

[@ExtremeWreck]

Nice to see you again.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

I have absolutely never heard of this game before- which just goes to prove that even games that were exclusively released in "the PAL regions" still screwed over Australia. You have no idea how crappy I had it growing up as an Australian gamer.

[@mark6302]

I remember hearing like 20 years ago that Australian games are like twice as expensive than what we pay in the USA

[@YASYTU]

I played a lot of SNES in Europe and I never saw this game, back in the day. I have yet to ever find a physical PAL copy, but in Japan I saw this multiple times. Probably a rare PAL title. I hope you find some comfort in knowing that PAL gaming sucked everywhere. ;-)

[@ThoroughlyBaked]

Hey you guys got Terranigma and I'm still bitter about it.

[@goatbone]

@@ThoroughlyBaked yeah but we didnt get Final Fantasy, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, etc.

[@Giant9460]

Whirlo is a 100€+ game (cart only) here. Most european also never heard of this game, it's really obscure.

[@thegreen8172]

Your videos are so fun to watch. I like that you've slowed down how fast you talk. You don't sound rushed anymore and it's really good.

[@laowhy86]

Absolutely love this game. I try and beat it every year, and I have yet to do so. I only get worse at it the older I get, as well. Great video sum up of it. Very underrated, often overlooked game.

[@trevorduna7666]

Gotta use save states and give yourself checkpoints. Totally worth it. The ending is a tear jerker

[@3xperiment8]

You described me trying to finish Battletoads since I was 7

[@auralunaprettycure]

It’s so cool that the Legend of Valkyrie series is tied to it as well. A great arcade and nes series, that also has this spinoff platformer with one of the characters. And it’s such a high effort spinoff.

[@arostwocents]

Agree, it's fantastic. Completed it recently after playing it blind and being stunned..it's amazing.

[@thiagodeandradeneves4585]

Oh man I've waited so much for you to make this review. When I was a kid my mom bought me this cartridge in japanese and I loved it despite it being too hard. The dark endings, the amazing soundtrack and the great graphics got me.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

Brazilians have such interesting classic game stories because of the crossover with Japanese culture and licensing issues.

[@Skullodream]

I always liked this game, I had the japanese version (PAL is too expensive). The bad endings only appear if you answer wrong a very easy question, and after watching them (some are very funny) you can continue with the password, so is not a big deal.

[@3xperiment8]

There are repro carts of PAL converted to NTSC. There are converted Roms available on the web too

[@rellyrell043]

Lol I've never heard of this game until this channel good find tho 👍🏾

[@arostwocents]

Yeah the bad endings are for being selfish.

[@IkesDaddelbox]

The way you approach a platformer can really affect the difficulty. Like The Oddworld games or even the first Crash Bandicoot. You can't just run through at full speed, you have to take your time and learn patterns. I've never heard of this one but it's exactly my cup of tea, I like these methodical platformers. Thanks for digging deep and sharing these obscure games.

[@3xperiment8]

Those kinda games are a pain in the ass

[@arostwocents]

This is fantastic. You have a huge range of abilities and all are needed.

[@MB-gl2bl]

I appreciate these vids because it lets me relive those days where I could think about nothing but playing my SNES RPGs and gems and my best friend was the best 2nd player you could ever ask for lol video gamers make the best friends.

[@greensun1334]

True - now I'm 39 and it still always makes fun to play with an good old friend on my SNES classic... Old school!

[@iplaysdrums]

Love the Jethro Tull reference. I just listened through Thick As A Brick the other day! Also, this game looks amazing, but way too hard for me

[@myfunnyusername5626]

Haha... I didn't expect to hear that name in one of these videos

[@matttherrien9608]

Jethro Tull played lead, right?

[@DrCorndog1]

@@matttherrien9608 Yeah, with Pink Floyd on bass.

[@the_hiroman]

This guy appeared in he NamcoxCapcom rpg as a playable party member. Had no idea about him before.

[@cilonrs]

"Part of Valjyrie series" and i just though of "Assault Valken" series. I was like "man, Japan is high AF..."

[@Protoman85]

This is one case where the japanese character is frowning and the european box cover character is smiling... it's reverse Kirby

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Yeah that still such a weird thing. I have to say though based on that cover I thought he was like a turtle or something. I never would have guessed he's some kind of sentient glob of lime jello.

[@WalrusFPGA]

Love the Valkyrie series. Thanks for the reminder to play this one- long overdue for me.

[@ultimateman55]

An explosion that covers the world with a poisonous ash? I'm gonna go with "radiation sickness" instead of plague on this one. There was some event in Japan's history that just makes me think...

[@crithitjace]

World War II? Or the Castle Bravo disaster?

[@devotion3037]

We also have a lot of volcanic activity here. Tokyo lives under constant threat of Mt Fuji exploding. Japan treats the bombings very seriously and certainly doesn't reference them in games marketed at children. You're overthinking it

[@edgeninja]

@@crithitjace Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[@thepants1450]

@@devotion3037 that makes me feel better

[@jakenastysnake]

Looks like Machop before he landed his big roll on Pokemon.

[@TobiAnimados]

I love this game! The music is so beautiful, yes it's hard. I need to make some time to finish it.

[@momijistudios8387]

This is one of those really cool, interesting games I just happened to stumble upon as a ROM when I was a kid. That was one of the coolest times in my life - just finding obscure games or ones that never came to the US.

[@MusicVersa]

Jethro Tull references thrown in with your usual obscure 90s hockey player references? Oh SNESdrunk, you have the keys to my heart.

[@riffsnoleads]

The music clip at the end sounds like it was written by Crispin Glover

[@MarioIgnazioCigna]

Oh Yes! I remember this one. Had the japanese Version back in the days. It was a budget title from a German games dealer, where you had to phone them to order (90s, baby!). Loved it for the graphics and music, the overall look and feel was superior. But I never managed to get past the first level.

[@rjjm88]

So it's the Dark Souls of hop n' bop platformers?

[@indefatigable8193]

1:27 “saving your family from a plague” is just another Saturday night these days

[@myfunnyusername5626]

Turn the news off mate. Everything you're doing makes it drag on

[@andrewharper8995]

Yay, shout out to the PAL region. Still sore from us getting screwed on so many games back in the 90's. Still, we did get Pop'n TwinBee and Terranigma so it wasn't all bad news.

[@Luchiop]

this game is amazing and i love the main character. look at that determined face...GO WHIRLO.

[@fernandogaragnani]

Watching your videos makes my morning happy!

[@Bluematchhead]

I like your program but you sent me over the edge with the Jethro Tull reference. Fantastic! Keeper coming!

[@AS-fu1kd]

So many uploads from my favorite youtubers today

[@deftones8717]

I’ve never heard of this game before somehow, but I really adore the art style a lot! Man, I love 2D games/sprite work/pixel art … I’m so happy that so many modern games, particularly indie games, are still being created in this kind of style. 9 times out of 10 I tend to gravitate towards the lower budget indie games as opposed to the high budget, graphically advanced, triple A titles. So many indie games just intrigue me more cuz they’re so damn charming and the art just evokes so much nostalgia for me as well. But yeah, sorry .. I know I’m totally off topic here. I just really dig this type of look in games. I’m surprised I’ve never seen or even heard about this game. Thanks for putting me on man. This channel has introduced me to quite a few amazing games that somehow unfortunately flew under my radar growing up.

[@apollolux]

Whirlo looks like the Pokemon Machop :) Also, hearing you describe the more measured platforming style reminded me to ask if you've covered Xardion on this channel yet. I remember renting it a few times as a kid before we got Super Metroid, so it's one of those games that always stuck with me.

[@003angel]

this game was my childhood! thank you so much for doing a video on it! :)

[@rockguitarist931]

Thank you for introducing me to this game. I bought a reproduction of this game from eBay a month ago and I absolutely love it.

[@replecon1408]

Hello snes drunk!!! I've missed you old pal... I actually thought about you recently and then bing bam boom You popped up in my feed! Lucky me! Happy New Year!

[@rocko7711]

Keep up the good work Love your reviews

[@DaedalosC9]

Incredible find, a must play definetly

[@paulhiggins6433]

I'm super late to this video, but this is the first time I've heard a content creator mention 3x3 Eyes. That's an anime we definitely missed out on in the mainstream. It was awesome

[@Jigglysaint]

The multiple endings reminds me of Phantom 2040 where you have to make choices and there is a specific path to the best ending.

[@chocolatiel9162]

I'm trying to clear ActRaiser 2 and it feels like that puzzle platformer style too! Love/Hate it lol Thanks for the awesome content dude ❤️

[@KCUFyoufordoxingme]

Play hard difficulty. Do deathfield first.

[@tripphines432]

Loved the Jethro Tull reference. Made my day, thank you. 😊

[@Yantryman]

Thank you mate and never stop, please!

[@Ghostflowers]

The music sounds great! Hopefully I can play this one eventually.

[@raphaelfp]

Another game I haven't ever heard about, and it looks neat. There were not many with multiple endings at that time, I like that!

[@TheMegaallan2]

Hi, you may not know me. I watch your channel with great interest. Your channel helps me a lot especially your snes drunk and sega drunk channel. it helps me pick out titles for my super retrogade retrobit library. thanks to your channel. it has helped me to keep challenging myself. its even helped me to learn about games that never had a u.s. release to also get these games and the english patch to go with them. I also wanted to ask you if you would make a video on the lesser know japanese game tekkaman blade. it also has an english patch. the game plays like the anime. try it you won't be disappointed.you are one of my favorite channels on youtube. i am also 1 of your greatest fans. your also 1 of the greatest jokers of all time keep it up. don't stop challenging me i love the challenge of good old retro games. keep up the good work.love you channel.

[@SuperXzm]

The only game where cute protag actually has "the angry brows"

[@TekMerc]

Whirlo is very much available in Spanish (ESP PAL) form. It will cost you way more than you would want to spend on it however.

[@GustavoValdiviesso]

A longer intro makes my day a happier one 😉

[@mattb6522]

I've never heard of this game in any capacity. Yeah, I would have assumed this a cute, charming, and easy platformer from the box art. I'm wondering how many kids picked this up and were just frustrated (and terrified) by this game? I wonder if there were specific reasons this game was never localized in North America?

[@Thiagomii]

Me, lol. The game over actually scared me a ton.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@Matt My gut instinct is because it was just too hard and they said it'll never sell. It doesn't seem to have any of the usual stuff otherwise that would keep it from getting localized. Not an excessive amount of text or anything like that. No need to make a lot of changes to localize it or anything either.

[@BAKU2K2]

One possible reason is that none of the Valkyrie titles had made it outside of Japan at that point, so not that many western gamers would've understood it's connection. Another possible reason could be that they couldn't find a publisher to release it stateside.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@BAKU2K2 It is still odd that it made it to the PAL regions though cuz that means it actually got localized properly more or less you think with the work done they would have gone ahead and brought it over to the US but who knows things happen, deals fall through etc etc.

[@jpoliver7]

Ian Anderson! Saw Jethro Tull way back in 94. For that reference alone, you will receive an upvote, good sir.

[@BenWard29]

Thanks for the Jethro Tull reference- it is appreciated!

[@MisterMiller]

Whirlo for Smash with that moveset.

[@steamedauroraborealis8208]

Never heard of your channel before, but saw you post on a Mr. Bungle video. Any fan of Bungle is someone I'm a fan of.

[@joesshows6793]

You keep finding them!

[@auralunaprettycure]

Everything I know about the Valkyrie series is that, brutally dark stories is perfectly on point. Just the fact that, this adventure is something Whirlo had to go through, contextualizes the plot of the Famicom game (which involves a ton of his own kind, and literally every other monster species, all getting turned into those minions to serve the bad guy). And yea, in the process of saying the day in that famicom game, many of these completely innocent monster species having actual casualties. Dark, fascinating series

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@ethanpat1]

I’m glad you left the music at the end.

[@davidt3563]

Never heard of this game. Thanks for the great video!

[@ianparker1]

Great video

[@johntowner1893]

Cool looking odd game with such an unsuspecting style of character

[@topchief1]

I have a US boxed copy of this that my local game store had, that someone did a limited repro run of 60 copies. Doubt it's worth much but it was a cool addition to the collection

[@Ostnizdasht206]

I'll have to check it out.

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

If you're looking for Ian Anderson, you can find him . . . *SITTING ON THE PARK BENCH*

[@MikeFrench101]

When I played this game, I got the ending where ya get testicular cancer. It was a bad ending but I was satisfied enough that I settled for it.

[@The_SOB_II]

Lol. You know, I may be being a little gullible, but I'm going to go ahead and believe you.

[@darktetsuya]

I was not surprised by the revelation that this was in the Legend of Valkyrie universe, the protagonist looks just like the green 2nd player character! had no idea this game even existed though it seems interesting! may have to look up the Japanese version to add to the collection!

[@natejoe9924]

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving

[@MrRudePolite]

that jethro tull quip shook me

[@VioStarclad]

This game actually looks really charming. I like how Whirlo looks so determined and going into battle with just a farming implement. Think this game would do well with a modern version that makes it less esoteric and eases up on the difficulty.

[@JIF882]

Come for the reviews, stay for the Jethro Tull reference.

[@landonpuckett1767]

Never thought I'd hear a Jethro Tull reference when talking about retro platformers haha

[@SonicDMonkey]

Jethro Tull reference! Another game I had never even heard of before, but it looks pretty interesting. I'd love to give it a whirl (pun most definitely intended).

[@heavysystemsinc.]

Very interesting ideas here.

[@joshoshea3194]

Love your videos mate. Josh England.

[@rocko7711]

Such a great series

[@huitersantos8905]

Yeah, I remember seeing this little dude as a playable character in NAMCO X CAPCOM. Very badass seeing he had his own game :)

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Wait so is this a namco game?! Wow and also wow at a game seemingly this obscure being referenced all the way in the PS2 days.

[@kirbyhero256]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu Yes, this game was published by Namco. The ending of this game ties into the main Valkyrie series where Whirlo/Xandra becomes a recurring ally to Valkyrie.

[@TheManoberry]

Great work!! Please do Cool World when you can!

[@ImmortalThanos]

You get my upvote for the Jethro Tull reference.

[@lhfirex]

I never heard of this game or its franchise before, but this review's definitely made me interested in trying it out. The name change from Japanese to English is pretty big, but makes sense to me. If this is the only one released outside of Japan, going with the full Japanese title is kinda strange (and probably spoils the good ending). And since the JP name for the guy is pretty close to Sandra, that's also a weird name to keep for a videogame hero who looks like he does.

[@gordemn]

It's always a good day when the 16 bit alcoholic uploads

[@joeyhadorn1295]

I feel like this would probably make a good Super Adventure Island 3 if you swap the booger green main character with Master Higgins.

[@ghkillah1995]

This game is tons of fun, finally got a copy a few back, it is sooooo tough. I could only imagine the younger version of me flailing in Uber rage from dying or completing it finally only to get a shit ending and mom telling me to stop, only for me to say something like "You don't understand how hard they make these games!! It's almost like they don't want you to finish!!" 🤣

[@WorldWithOEnd]

One of my favorite games

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

0:36 - 0:59 My brain shut off at this point. I had no idea about anything he was talking about. 🤣

[@Gragthor]

This is the kind of stuff that needs to be released on SNES Online.

[@shulkash8799]

You know sometimes whenever SNES Drunk review a game it, then randomly it gets added to switch online, and because Nintendo adding random games this one maybe likely.

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Ssccchhhnnnneezzz drunk Hey jamieson drinker. Been with you as much as I've been with Joe from ball......gamesack and guru Larry...(well actually been with him since the 90s technically but whatever) Glad to see you still finding snes games that I can download and emulate as I grew up on sega. Best wishes and much love!

[@usmanchughtai1751]

This game looks dope. Despite my extensive research, it remained under my radar. Thanks SNES

[@Tolbat]

Had never heard of this and the screens would have turned me off anyway. That said this actually looks like a cool game. Thanks for the video.

[@doblelariat9387]

Men I´ve grown up playing this game, I´ve never understand all 100% because it was on japanese, but this explains a lot of why do I always have this itch for plataformers, great game

[@kylesweet6998]

A Jethro Tull reference? Have my like 👍

[@alexh2790]

Another Tull reference, nice!

[@3xperiment8]

The exactly game I've been playing for days. Even with risk of some spoilers I can't miss a Snesdrunk Review. Oh, I can't

[@opaljk4835]

This looks sick af

[@MixMasterLar]

I love Legend of Valkyrie but haven't played this one yet. I need to, though

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

It might be a fun exercise to take these old games and adjust the parameters so that they aren't quite so hard but also not trivial. Someone does a series of videos where they examine 8 bit mechanics and code and mess with them to see how it affects the game. Might be nice to take that same idea and go back and try to make too hard games into ones that are just hard enough *pause*.

[@GustafStechmann]

Wait... Did you just invent "Ianrolling" ?? My new favorite internet meme

[@arostwocents]

This game is freaking awesome. Feels like Nintendo quality. Had an AWESOME time completing this on Retroachievements. 9.5/10

[@Sazime]

Man, Ian Anderson? I can't be the only one that got a chuckle out of that...

[@LocoToCrazy]

You should do a video reviewing the most expensive SNES games and whether or not they’re any good!

[@myfunnyusername5626]

Ian... Anderson! Haha bloody hell

[@spookerd]

I found the Super Famicom version of this in Arkansas of all places. You should review Jissen Pachi-Slot Hisshouhou Twin Vol. 2 next as I also got that in Arkansas.

[@jamesmoss3424]

This game is new to me. 😀👍🎮

[@shorterrecording]

Really tried to get into this one. It looks great. I don’t mind the difficulty level per se - I just find the controls to be a little finicky.