Japan's Exclusive Zelda Clone: Gunple Gunman's Proof - Region Locked Feat Dazz (Gameplay & Analysis)

[@LarryButz]

Guys, play this game! I played this game in Japanese a long time ago, when I was like 10. SOMEHOW, I managed to play through the game with no information or any of the techniques understandable. When I discovered the fan translation more than 5 years later, I totally took a double-take. This is legitimately a great game, with really addicting combat and a weird humor, like Earthbound (also child abuse). Please, get the fan translation and play this game, everyone. It's really, really good. This isn't one of those weird, terrible knock off games made by unknown, independent foreign companies, but it's an actual, fully fleshed out game with a story and everything. And taking some ideas from LTTP isn't exactly a bad thing. It... gah, just go play it. It's wonderful.

[@MrDmoney156]

^ Agreed 1000%!! God knows how many times i've played this on a emulator lol. Btw, how did you got ahold of this game back in 1997? Through one of those SNES Game Doctor Floopy disc backup unit devices or had a video game import store near you at the time?

[@LarryButz]

MrDmoney156 Well, it wasn't at the time of the release. It was at like... 2008-ish, maybe before, and my sister's Japanese boyfriend (now brother-in-law) loaded up almost a hundred Japanese SNES games for me to play on emulator. Another memorable game was Spriggan Powered, and the old E.D.F. (Earth Defense Force) shooters.

[@Chaos89P]

Maybe once I get an SNES (emulator), I'll try it out.

[@faizalf119]

Maybe the game is much more fun and simplified perhaps? I mean it's not like we have to collect triforce anymore.

[@Melkac]

Played it when I was younger (aka lower standards). It wasn't that good.

[@NanaKyoto]

One can only imagine what a Zelda game with guns would be like.

[@turoknork8983]

Nana-Kyoto it would be like this.

[@GmodPlusWoW]

I honestly wouldn't mind a Zelda game where one of the dungeon items was some sort of gun. Hell, if the next Zelda had a "spaghetti western" sort of setting, they could replace the Slingshot with some sort of old-timey sixshooter.

[@Dingalow]

There was a time when Zelda fans were absolutely furious at the idea alone. Who'd have thought it had actually happened already with this game.

[@LimedGreen]

Link's Crossbow Training

[@noiiret2654]

Nana-Kyoto also links crossbow adventure

[@The-64th-Gamer]

They really need a shared thumbnail system for all these videos. When I see the thumbnail I think its just some random video, It'd be better if the Region Locked logo was on there.

[@jonathanvukaj2198]

The 64th Gamer Definitely a good idea.

[@nothingtoseehere6142]

But when they post on Sunday, you can be sure it's Region Locked.

[@Aven2334]

yeah that's what It thought too

[@aguchamp7766]

Seriously adore this series. Great job and good luck towards the future!

[@PokettoManStar]

I expected an older Oceanhorn. Instead, it's this pseudo-Earthbound. Love it!

[@thewhatness]

Oh man, this game looks incredibly charming. Wish the fan translation existed on a GBA cartridge, I would gladly play it in that form on the go.

[@homelessEh]

theres alot of earthboundishness to this as well

[@TDOMMX]

As a professional game localizer, I feel I should point out that the "Gunple" part of the title is an awkward shorthand version of the game's title (awkward in English, at least). The kana in the game's logo (「ガンプル」 / "ganpuru") is an abbreviation of the Japanese rendering of "Gunman's Proof" (「ガンマンズ・プルーフ」 / "ganmanzu puruufu"), making it "Gun-Pro" or "Gun-Proo" in English. It's also supposed to be a nod to the protagonist's name (thanks for pointing that out, Momo Lagaf!).

[@lrgogo1517]

I wish it were explained in the video what "Gunple" meant.

[@CarbuncleMotha9]

You might be the one who got it wrong, and going on a limb without context. In the Japanese version (not the fan-translation, perhaps due to the hard 4 character limit) the default player name ingame is indeed ガンプル, romanized as "Gunple" ("Gunp" in the fan translation) since it's the closest to a human kid's name it could reasonably get. So besides the "Gunple" being a stylized contraction for the title (like DraQue, FamiCom, etc...), it also doubles as the hero's name. I would say this makes it a relevant part of the game's title. This is not a Culdcept situation. Even if it were, it's still the official Japanese name (that would have remained in the event this was localized, short of a complete change), and I don't see what's "wrong" with it or people referring to the game using it. That styling idea "G.P." however... is what made me reply. You might have thought it's clever, but to put it mildly, I disagree. It reminds me of the nineties era of localisation, and not in a good way. Specifically, Konami's Batman & Robin (1994) game for the Super NES, clearly made in Japanese first (though unreleased, much like the Shaman King games) and then translated by Jeremy Blaustein. The awkward one word questions repeating some obvious key word from before are a dead giveaway. One riddle later in the game whose answer is "brain" (just two characters in Japanese, のう) and you had to input the letters, wasn't reprogrammed properly for English, and the result isn't pretty. "H.B." (with the later explanation that it stands for Human Brain. The fuck?) and you can't even choose all the letters in the alphabet (and that's not on Nintendo's swear filter requirements judging from the available letters).

[@TDOMMX]

You have a point: I hadn't considered that the kana might also be the protagonist's name (it's not that common, but it does happen). In that case, I retract my "G.P." suggestion in light of that new information. Aeon Genesis's "Gunp" sounds to me like a pretty good localization choice for hero's name, regardless of the hard-character limit. I still disapprove of "Gunple", though, since the "ple" part strikes me as unfaithful to what the creators intended (I'll readily retract that statement if I'm shown official concept art spelling the character's name out in English). I think you can understand why I dislike the other romanizations I've seen slapped onto reproduction carts as well ("Ganpuru", "Gumple", etc). Going off of what I currently know, I'd drop that part of the title in English (using just "Gunman's Proof" as the English title) in the same way I'd drop the "D.O.A." in "D.O.A.: Dead or Alive" since I feel it's redundant and doesn't add anything meaningful to the title. If the portmanteau had an additional purpose, though, I'd insist on finding a way to retain it that flowed naturally in English. Whoa, the Batman & Robin example you cited sounds terrible. I can understand why you'd react strongly to my suggestion. This is one reason I applaud companies that make a point of reprogramming games appropriately to support the target language instead of insisting on working within the original version's constraints (especially when, for example, text is oriented vertically or written in massive fonts).

[@TDOMMX]

Nitpicking translations is my day job. As in, what I'm paid to do. How about you?

[@faizalf119]

So someone with bilingual ability (or know more than two languages) are a loser? Wow Einstein you sure is a genious.

[@drakomanzx]

wait a second!... those 2 aliens look like daft punk!?

[@TheCreepypro]

this is why I love this show always something new and interesting

[@ShinoSarna]

The funny part is that "Zelda with guns" could've sold pretty well in the West, maybe good enough to save the company if they would've made that gamble.

[@lxndrsldn4827]

I'd like to believe this game is canonical with the Zelda series.

[@ywnrnf6028]

This deserves a sequel.

[@tchitchouan]

Never gonna happen, the company is long gone and the source code is lost and the trademark is way expired.

[@truepatriot3768]

It already had two sequels named . . . . . . . . Red dead redemption & 2 😂😂😂😂😂😝😝😝😝😝

[@eze2645]

The Mini Aliens look like Daft Punk

[@pepetru]

The color just too fit to not recognize them. xD

[@BrainBoltG]

This game honestly looks fantastic.

[@tomi_tittums]

The entire game reminds me of Mother 3. Anyone else?

[@Dare1C]

Yep. Total Mother 3 vibes

[@sonicmario64]

Yeah, they were even able to point out something like that at 3:36 in the video. ;)

[@Protoman85]

Except it came out two years after Mother 2, not 3

[@blacksunshine7485]

Gunple 2 - Gunmans Pride. Ps2 sequel where the protagonist is now an adult and watches over his ranch. However, the alien that was once a part of the protagonist has unknowingly been transferred to his son through birth and now has a new objective.. sounds legit right? Shame it doesn't exist!

[@burlapbadger7195]

4:11 It looks like he has a ladle on his eye. Designer, scenario writer, master chef

[@kingGreen1235]

this seems like an earthbound game

[@kaizoaudio1798]

This looks really fun! I want to play this right now.

[@electricmastro]

Also, for those who don't know, Lenar also developed Deadly Towers on the NES, so it's quite impressive how they managed to go from that to this.

[@electricmastro]

I did some researching and was surprised to find out how late Nintendo had been publishing SNES games, like Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 in 1999 and Metal Slader Glory: Director's Cut in 2000.

[@0DarkEagle]

This looks like it would have been a fun game. Imagine if it became a franchise?

[@ItsZorroDood]

Cowboys vs Aliens: The Game?

[@DoctorSproingle]

Just a note saying I'm very much enjoying the Region Locked series, keep it up

[@mraaronhd]

Can you do an episode about Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean for the Super Famicom, please? Both of these games were never released outside of Japan, they were both made by the same development teams (Wolf Team for Tales and TriAce for Ocean, who is composed of former members of Wolf Team after the hectic development of Tales), they both share some gameplay similarities, and they are amongst the largest games ever released on a SNES cartridge. Neither of these games were originally released in the US until the remakes on other consoles. They would make a perfect Region Locked episode.

[@KratosAurionPlays]

That would require Didyouknowgaming to actually acknowledge the Tales series. Considering they completely forgot about that poll they did with it on the Chrono Trigger episode forever ago.

[@SenelsChannel]

This looks like a good game and I really enjoy 2D shooters

[@jamesGamezZz]

This looks amazing! Imagine a open world version as in the latest Zelda!

[@Roge9]

woah this game actually looks cool, huh.

[@apollothunderflame]

Those "Space Sheriffs" kinda look like Toei's Space Sheriffs

[@jp77757]

Apollo Thunderflame Gavan!! uchuu keiji Gavan!!!

[@ShadyNine]

Thank you for not screaming at me

[@AirshBornely]

Anything that looks like ALTTP is always a game I'm gonna try out. I just adore it to death.

[@KnightTrowel]

Old-School Enter the Gungeon.... Noice

[@mostlyghostly6615]

daledenton1132 babby's foist KZbin account

[@jOoomOooo]

very cool, i really like the concept

[@Ernireg3]

As a Zelda fan that I am... I NEED to play this game!!!

[@ivanb4681]

Keep it up with these japan exclusives!

[@Derikimi]

I like the cute minimalist art style and the silly animation that goes along side it.

[@GoldenJLR]

will you do a region locked about games exclusive to Brazil? like Mortal Kombat 3 on Sega master system, street fighter 2 on master system and Phantasy star(Brazil and Japan)

[@Tracks777]

Lovely content! Keep it up!

[@StrawHatPuffy]

Looks like Zelda with a gun but with the art and quirkiness of Mother 3. I'll give it a look later

[@EarthboundX]

Played this years back with the fan translated patch, really cool game.

[@GoatTheGoat]

The map screen is similar. You spent the other 5+ minuets of the video discussing features that are nothing like Zelda: A Link to the Past. How is this a Zelda clone?

[@frycopy2746]

2 goddamn years and im still waiting for a new episode of luigi easter egg hunting.

[@MrLateXD]

Always nice to see a new region locked video. One question though: Why is the Super Metroid footage from the rotation hack?

[@pattongilbert]

I love this series way too much.😄

[@lrgogo1517]

I t ' s S T R A N G E W O R L D ! !

[@abhimanyu_patil]

Looks like a cool game.

[@matteste]

Speaking of Aeon genesis, will region locked ever do a video on Shin Megami Tensei II?

[@Thezombiefactor]

This is the first obvious rip off I've seen that actually looks super fun

[@Igorcastrochucre]

I wonder if it is possible to know what happened to Lenar, there little information about them other than the games they made. At least most of companies were merged or sold before dropping off the map, they just disappeared after this game.

[@djgamer5546]

Hope we eventually get an episode for Radical Dreamers. When I Livestreamed it a couple weeks ago I was surprised by how many people were unfamiliar with it, given how it was the original sequel to Chrono Trigger until it got retconned by Cross.

[@monstersociety3360]

I’d love to see an episode of Region Locked episode on *Godzilla: Kaijuu Daikessen* for the Super Famicom

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

I played this game very recently and I highly, HIGHLY recommend it to absolutely EVERYONE. PLAY IT. *NOW.* THIS GAME IS *_AWESOME._*

[@whywyatt376]

Aww, it has blackface in it though.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Yeah! I know, it's great. And there's even a little bit of domestic violence at the beginning too! Ah, they don't make 'em like they used to in Japan!

[@Dorelaxen]

I played the translated version of this game years ago, and it was pretty damn fun, despite it not being what was originally intended. GREAT music, too.

[@p0stboyANIMATION]

this game looks like it would be fun with 4 player coop

[@kyleraccoon6195]

Ive been playing through the Translated Rom of this... Its pretty good so far

[@densmorde4520]

They should do more gunple, with puzzles in the dungeons.

[@Igorcastrochucre]

Could you guys talk about Telefang, the game that most Pokémon fans know what it is, but don't know anything about its origin, concept, whether or not it was popular, or the unfortunate closure of its studio. I'm serious, look up Telefang studio and look why they shut down, it has to be seen to be believed.

[@clairemadeinheaven]

Space Sheriffs, FUCK YEAH!

[@TafJaf]

a remake of this would end up looking like Enter the Gungeon

[@Benjamillion]

Ooh, I have this on my homebrewed Wii!

[@NaveedMohebbi]

This game is great! Picked it up a couple years ago and played through it. It's got so much heart! Another one of those late Super Famicom games that got left in Japan unfortunately.

[@electricmastro]

Agreed, along with Seiken Densetsu 3. EarthBound and A Link to the Past over a Western theme definitely sounds interesting.

[@ukrpgfan4029]

Love this game..nice one for telling ppl about it..

[@IkeSan]

Talk about that Mecha game only released in Japan for Xbox

[@DomyTheMad420]

Defntly gon' play that fan translation ^.^ thanks!

[@Xbob42]

I always wonder how people call changes like "combat is now ranged with strafe-firing" minor. That's a fundamental change to the Zelda formula, not a minor little tweak.

[@Swordsmage]

No mention of how the carrot powerup was seemingly reused in The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventure?

[@evaunit2005]

It's about damn time this game gets respect. I heard about this game through an ex boss I worked with at a retro game shop. Enjoyed this game a lot and I'm glad you guys are covering it!

[@mjstory1976]

Awesome video

[@npthedarkside27]

That's a LOOOOT of blackface, woo boy I still want to play this though, looks interesting, at least

[@srwapo]

I wonder if the video was just hoping no one would notice.

[@hr-g4640]

Really? Who the fucks care about that? Stop being a pussy and just play the game, I literally watched the entire video not noticing that, meaning your head is full of bullshit for only thinking about stupid things as "blackface"

[@christophthiele3212]

This game ist amazing! I love it 👍...

[@DarkReaperK97]

Well, I just found a game to play this weekend.

[@iornhide132]

Is it just me or is there a dog barking in the background for the first 20 seconds?

[@caseyjohnston1504]

okay not going to lie this game looks awesome

[@RJis9001]

I understand that there's a lot of Zelda influences simply by the look of it, but god, it seems that there's a ton of Earthbound influences too

[@johnspartan15]

I played the hell out of this on my phone emulator. lots of fun.

[@songoku9348]

I would've loved this! Really sucks we don't get these games.

[@senseicorey9979]

Just played this , it's really great! It's like earthbound meets zelda

[@MidgarMerc]

This looks awesome

[@niespeludo]

reminds me a bit of James Bond Jr. on the GB more so than anything else.

[@williantozzi5951]

Aeon Genesis and Dejap... good times bro.

[@lrgogo1517]

I was expecting Dazz to suggest the video on Marvelous.

[@mokats11]

Am I the only one who thinks the two aliens sprites look like daft punk

[@ProLaytonxPhoenix]

This game looks so cool!

[@xLink95]

I just beat this and really liked it! It's a very straight forward and fast game. I didn't like the final boss but it was a pretty funny, weird experience. Thanks for showing me it~

[@TheT3rr0rMask]

Looks like a really good game! I wanna play it now

[@itaybron]

will you guys do a did you know gaming episode on kairosoft?

[@bumbruh]

This game reminds me of Mother for some reason. Maybe it's the simplistic art style.

[@FullmetalSonic260]

Yoooooo, this game looks really good!

[@MissAmazingZoe]

Hi DYKG! :)

[@Pfaeff]

This game looks great.

[@DogratDavis]

Zelda meets Earthbound meets RDR meets Dragon Ball?? Downloading this right now lol

[@JustThomas1]

4:14 His spoon is tooooo big!

[@shadow1w2]

Heh, found the translation long ago and be playing the game a few times. I can see now why it feels a little clunky sometimes but heh. It would be great to see the concept remade as it had some great ideas.

[@UnownDepth]

This should come out Gunple of The Wind for Switch.

[@harizotoh7]

What's the source for Tomisawa's quote? l

[@livinglie5598]

Toby Fox: I need my Earthbound fix!!

[@aurafox1]

What makes it a Zelda clone? It has health? It's top-down? It's 2D? It has a pause screen that, by a stretch, vaguely resembles the one from aLttP? The only thing I see that's notably "cloned," is the map screen.

[@necrowondo]

the whole game is structured like alttp with +8 dungeons scattered in a overworld you have to explore, with bosses at the end of each dungeon, its basically alltp but with only ranged attacks and a much bigger focus on action rather than puzzles.

[@pez1850]

It looks really fun

[@cookiebandit18]

I'm actually pretty for this game. It sounded dumb at first, sure, but the bullet dodging elements seem like they could do good things for the gameplay.

[@007MrYang]

I wouldn't really read the title as "Gun Pull". It says ガンプル (Gan Puru) and I think it's just an abbreviation of Gunman's Proof.