Joe & Mac Returns (Arcade) Playthrough

A playthrough of Data East's 1994 arcade game, Joe & Mac Returns.
Played on the machine's default settings.
Joe & Mac Returns, the fourth and final game to star Data East's lovably simple-minded "cavemen ninja," was an arcade exclusive title that wasn't afraid to take a few risks. Rather than create yet another bog standard hop-and-bop platformer, Data East chose to break with series' tradition and shifted to a different genre altogether.
The gameplay will instantly feel familiar to anyone who has played Tumblepop, Parasol Stars, or Snow Bros. It's a single-screen action game in which the goal is to clear the screen of enemies while grabbing as many items and points as possible. You club your enemies to stun them, and once you have them seeing stars, you can stuff them in a sack which can be rolled into other enemies to knock them down like bowling pins. The action is simple but fast-paced, and it's every bit as addictive as the old-school classics it's derived from.
But what really makes this one so memorable, and what sells it as a true Joe & Mac game, is its presentation. Every inch of the screen is packed with color and detail, the sprite work is fantastic, and the character animations are brimming with little flourishes that breathe a ton of humor and personality into the game. The Karnov and Mizoguchi cameos were nice surprises, and I especially loved the hilarious interstitial cutscenes with the bathing ladies. (You certainly wouldn't see that type of humor in a game nowadays!)
The sound is great, too. The sample-based music goes heavy on rhythmic caveman chants and tribal drum beats, and while most of it isn't super memorable, it is a lot of fun to listen to as you play. The same goes for the voice work - the goofy Tarzan yells and one-liners (like the super derpy, "I got a power up!") are pretty funny the first hundred-or-so times you hear them.
I wonder if Charles Martinet was a fan of this game back in the day. That "let's a go!" that kicks off each stage sounds awfully familiar, don't you think?
Joe & Mac Returns is as good as a send-off as a series could ask for. It manages to recapture the magic of the first game that was missing from Congo's Caper and Lost in the Tropics, and it's a helluva lot of fun. If you liked any of the earlier games, this one is worth going out of your way to play.
If you're interested, it can be bought from GOG, Steam, and the Switch eShop. I think it's well worth the asking price.
I miss you, Data East!
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@BB-te8tc]

This was way better than I was expecting. I impulse bought it on Switch a couple years back and was surprised it was a Tumblepop/Snow Bros type game.

[@NintendoComplete]

Joe & Mac Returns was the last game in the series, but what a high note to go out on. This one really reminded me of how much I loved Data East's craziness.

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Wish they had more time with the Marvel license

[@rjcupid]

I had never seen this game, thanks for posting it. The music is great.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@HrvojeGrahovac Ooh, I would've loved another Avengers game, especially another fighter in the same vein as Avengers in Galactic Storm.

[@saloriumtoledo6623]

I love Two Crude Dudes from Data East! Played so many times and still time to time. They loved to mix kinda serious and dramatic topics with humorous details. What made me laugh everytime.

[@NintendoComplete]

​@saloriumtoledo6623 That one was great too. Have you ever seen Trio the Punch? That game's totally insane.

[@TheNei]

Nice game and nice graphics!!

[@Dorian_Scott]

I've only heard of "Joe & Mac 1," "Congo's Caper" and "Joe & Mac: Lost in the Tropics." Not this one. It looks pretty good, though - especially the visuals. The bright, flashy colors really pop and the chibi sprites are adorable. I also admire Data East's risky move here; a "Snow Bros" game with a "Joe & Mac" theme. I would've expected something more akin to "Congo's Caper."

[@Backhoe-Youtube]

27:15 Balloooooooon

[@UssViscaelBarca]

Nice!

[@gamet2004]

26:50 ... why is Mizoguchi from Fighter History an Enemy in this game?!

[@Bloodreign1]

Because Data East is why, they loved doing wacky things in their games.

[@korntarokorn]

20:33 Karlov Say Balloon

[@grir672]

"I GOT A POWER!"

[@TheDutchGhost]

This looks more like a Joe and Mac version of Snow Bros or Tumble Pop rather than the platform style gaming of the first.

[@MusicalMinerdude]

Definitely great to see this on PC. But be advised: the actual Data East PC ports' emulation kinda sucks. Just slip into the files, nab the ROM, and use it in a better emulator instead. You aren't missing any achievements or leaderboards or anything in the default wrapper anyway.

[@NintendoComplete]

Oh, that really sucks that the official release's emulation isn't up to snuff. I used Mame to record this.

[@karnovjunior]

Even though vastly different and more of a clone of Snow Bros in prehistoric skin it's still better game than the original IMHO.

[@rjcupid]

This is like a Caveman version of Snow Brothers. What are they saying?: “I GOT A BALL-AHH!!”

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Pow-Up

[@NintendoComplete]

Hahaha I think he's saying, "I got a power up!" For the longest time I thought he was saying, "I got a bottle!" I dunno what the woman says though, if she's even saying real words. I always hear, "Muad'dib!" but since this isn't Dune, that's probably not right 😅

[@rjcupid]

@@NintendoCompleteAll I know from working in an arcade back in the day is that this is one of those games that would drive you nuts hearing the character screaming the same thing all day. I GOTTA BALLA! I GOTTA BALLA!

[@NintendoComplete]

​@@rjcupidOh man, I could imagine some sounds would wear thin really quickly if you had to hear them constantly like that.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I hear "I GOT A BOTTLE!"

[@korntarokorn]

Ninja Enemies Says Yabadabidah

[@randy7894]

Almost as awesome as Tumblepop. Cool gameplay though :)

[@Fargusno7930]

Bosses: Triceratops, Woolly Mammoth, Mosasaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Pteranodon, Skellorex and Evil Scientist

[@Backhoe-Youtube]

27:16 Balooooooooon

[@user-pz5ps8zq5k]

😂 good

[@korntarokorn]

Monk & Monk Enemies Inflation Says Balloon

[@yosoychontex]

Where is the link to play the game, or download

[@NintendoComplete]

Steam, Gog, or the Switch shop.

[@PotbellyPunch]

It kind of sounds like hes saying something that is quite crude and would get you in trouble at the start of every stage 😮

[@Backhoe-Youtube]

Karnov Running 27:17

[@korntarokorn]

Ninja enemies say yabadabidah dookechi 26:49

[@heitorsantos7046]

Are Mizoguchi from Fighters Story, an game who copied Street Fighter 2

[@reubenguttenberg7405]

Shortly after lion king was released the same year

[@korntarokorn]

Monk Enemies Say Balloon🎈 27:16

[@Backhoe-Youtube]

27:14 Why Is Karnov from Grandfather history an Enemies

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

Ballsy game

[@Backhoe-Youtube]

Karnov Balloon 27:18

[@mariaceliaperezperez4188]

I think joe AND Mac returns Is not longer a kids family friendy game 10:8