"Keith Courage in Alpha Zones" - Turbo Views 19 (TurboGrafx-16 / Duo game REVIEW!)

[@Aristocards]

I love how you always show pictures from the game booklets. It's great to see because so few people have any of the original packaging from retro game. Well done!

[@spida1a]

He was packed in with the Bonk Super Set (much later when the game was finally released). But, Keith continued to be packed in with the regular console, up until the Turbo Duo arrived. Such...a weird decision. Ha ha. Thanks for watching. :)

[@jeremygregorio7472]

Keith Courage was the pack in because it sold crazy well in Japan. NEC thought it was because of the game, and didn't stop to think that maybe it was the license that did it.

[@spida1a]

Sometimes KZbin doesn't "import" my saved text after it is uploaded. I don't know why. Hopefully should be fixed now. Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

@IvoryGecko1993 Thanks so much for the compliments my friend. Usually I get "hate mail" because I sort-of bash Keith Courage. Ha ha. So, it was nice to read a positive compliment! :) Thanks for subbing and watching!!

[@spida1a]

@drakon32 Thanks Drakon. I tried to be honest...but fair with it. Most people disagree with me, it's all good. :) Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

I know what you mean. Although I must say that in 1989, a game like Altered Beast was impressive (at least to me) because of how "close" it looked to its arcade counter part. You know? So at least that decision made some sense. Bonk was part of the "Bonk Super Set" but KC remained the main pack-in.......plus by the time they packed in Bonk specifically, it was a little too late. :(

[@spida1a]

In my opinion, and I agree with you, AB was a pretty good game for its time. The best part about it, however, as a pack-in was it showed off the Genesis' capability for "arcade quality ports." You know? That was such a HUGE thing for kids my age back then. KC just didn't cut it. :) Thanks for watching!!!

[@spida1a]

I hated to give it a below-average rating (because I "knew" that a lot of people nostalgically would be attached to it). But, it just isn't that good of a game. You know? And just like you, I was thankful that the next batch of games I received were ones I really enjoyed because it proved I made the right choice in the Turbo. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@CyborgNinja7]

I always felt like this game has some of the most memorable sound effects and music for the era. It's always stuck in my head, and I don't know why. It goes from cutesy to cool.

[@spida1a]

Thanks for watching. :)

[@spida1a]

@johnlovesbridge I was always disappointed slightly with this one as well (as you can tell from my review). Though, I get a lot of flack for it! Ha ha :) Thanks for watching.

[@spida1a]

@redheaddavey Ha ha. I tried to be "fair" and not review it with rose-covered glasses like everyone else does. You know? Ha ha. I get a lot of flack for it. LOL! :) Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

I guess they were screwed either way. Not putting a platformer in as a pack-in wasn't "smart" and neither was choosing Keith Courage (which is a below-average one, at best) AS that platformer. So....the Turbo never had a chance. LOL! :) Thanks for watching!!!!! I appreciate your support!

[@spida1a]

Thanks for watching! I really appreciate it! KC is definitely not a horrible game. And yes, I'm knocking it down a 1/2 star because they "packed this one in" (normally I would have given it an average 3/5). But, truthfully.....after playing through it again this time around....it isn't a "great" game by any stretch of the imagination. It's boring as hell and the platforming part of it, as I mentioned in the review, is so lacking of any diversity that it wouldn't sell anyone. IMHO :)

[@spida1a]

There are two points I would like to make. First of all, the show is called "Turbo Views." Therefore, it leans more toward the TurboGrafx-16 American system. I tend to be a bit more lenient and "bias" with the games as I'm comparing them to other games on the same system. Secondly, I give them the review that I feel it should deserve. Keith Courage is not as bad as some of the games I have given a 1 or 1 and 1/2 to. I am as "honest" as I feel I need to be and hell, it's "my" show. :)

[@spida1a]

Too late! :) I "kind of" liked it as a kid as well. But, only briefly. Hee hee. Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

@hobocamptheater I got a lot of "beat down" due to my review on this one. I'm glad you see what I mean about it. Ha ha. Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

Sweet. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching my video and long-live the Turbo!

[@biggerchris20]

Dude this game was awesome, I loved it!! The colors, graphics, and speed showed this systems' true abilities. It took about 2 years b4 another TG16 game could hold a candle to it, everything else was equal to NES.

[@spida1a]

@Chantumon Honestly, I didn't notice a difference. Ha ha. But, some people might have actually paid attention to that (I always just purchased it and was able to continue the game.....you know?). Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

@bartsimpson83 Ah, Metal Storm. Now that is A GREAT game. I beat that so many times as a kid. Love it. Thanks for watching!!

[@spida1a]

Hey there!!! Thanks for watching! Funny thing is that KZbin used to "cut off" the description unless you opened it up. So it was nice and hidden. You know? Now they show the whole thing.......sigh. :(

[@spida1a]

I can see your point, definitely. :) And, keep in mind, this isn't coming from a professional game reviewer, marketing guru or specialist of any kind. You know? Just an old-school hardcore gamer who had EVERY system out there (and ended up a huge fan of the TurboGrafx). So, I'm just voicing my opinions as I saw them back then and....I like to think....as a member of the original target audience (whether I'm full of it or not, which I might be....ha ha!). Thanks for the great discussion!

[@spida1a]

Oh man, VTG. Love me some robots. Ha ha! Thanks for watching, commenting...always supporting the show, all that great stuff. :)

[@spida1a]

Wohoo!!!! Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

Cool! Thanks for watching. I actually played it a lot as well. But, always found it about "average" personally. :)

[@spida1a]

@stale3411 Ha ha. Well...if they read this one...they'd laugh their a*(es off. :) Thanks for watching.

[@CyborgNinja7]

I actually like the sound effects in this game. They're really unique. Some of the overworld sound effects can get grating, but I still like it.

[@spida1a]

Nice to always meet TG fans from childhood. That's why I started the show...love the memories. :) :) :)

[@Infinity2008]

how could you not like this game? As a TG16 owner, I loved it!

[@spida1a]

Very cool. I am glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@spida1a]

Ha ha. I don't hate the game...but 'aint a big fan. ;) Thanks for watching my friend!

[@spida1a]

I agree. Thanks for watching.

[@jonathandavila5825]

I remember seeing the TG16 next to a NES at the local Walmart for anyone to play. One thing that stood out was the game play of Keith Kourage but what made me a fanboy of the NES was the simple color pallete of SMB.

[@Sinn0100]

Great video review as always. Please allow me to play devil's advocate for a second. In 1989...your parents ask you which new console did you want for Christmas. Now, you already have an Nes and Sega Master System but have no idea which way to go. My parents were not willing to buy me both at the same time so I had to pick one. Thankfully, my best friend at the time got a Genesis from his parents shortly before Christmas. When I saw what that thing could...I thought "finally, just like the arcades actually means something...." That weekend my mother went shopping at the mall and usually I avoided that place like the plague but this time I had a mission. I wanted to see if they had a TG-16 kiosk and what luck, one of the stores had both machines running. I saw Kieth Courage running vs. Altered Beast and as the latter was a hit arcade title I knew what I wanted. Essentially it was Kieth Courage that pushed me towards the Sega Genesis. Even though the TG-16 was/is an excellent machine it will always be second to my Genesis. That Christmas I received the Genesis w/Altered Beast, Ghouls N' Ghosts, and Space Harrier 2! I wound up getting Phantasy Star 2 almost a month later with my Christmas money...that was my 1989.

[@spida1a]

@SweepTheLegYo Ha ha. Love the screen name man. :) Thanks for watching!

[@SpaceJaicen]

I have to say, as a kid, I had a lot of fun playing this game. Turbo Grafx 16 was a fantastic system. I nearly lost it when my brother sold our Turbo Duo with all of our games at a garage sale for $20 about 10 years ago.

[@spida1a]

@InAnimateGamer Thanks for watching my friend. I enjoyed your "honest" review of the game (verse others who just like to bash me because they LOVE the game........most of whom, I'll bet, haven't played it since they were five and are just reviewing through rose-colored glasses). ha ha. :) Thanks again!

[@spida1a]

Awesome man! Thanks for watching and commenting. :)

[@joshuawick5382]

I love Keith Courage. The game is very fun to play through quickly if you don’t want to dedicate a whole day to playing it. It definitely impressed me when I first bought a Turbografx 16. I personally enjoy it more than Blazing Lasers.

[@spida1a]

@VecTron5 Cool, thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

@Code1D10T Totally! Which is pretty much what happened to me (definitely not with this game, ha ha). Thanks for watching!!!

[@spida1a]

Cool. Thanks for watching! :)

[@Kr3mloc]

I loved that game

[@spida1a]

Hey, thanks for watching and commenting! I must respectively disagree. I think a great game packed "into" a system really helps with initial hardware sales, which is somewhat more important in my eyes. Maybe Atari didn't have it right back then. But, Colecovision, Nintendo, Gameboy......all of them figured it out with excellent titles that helped sell the system (all of which probably could have sold well on-their-own). I expected something great and instead got something "average-at-best."

[@pinballprincess]

I have a soft spot for the goofy sounds and the game overall. It's one of my earliest platformers, back when I was young enough to be juuuuust learning how to game.

[@spida1a]

@CyborgNinja7 Cool. Thanks for watching.

[@keef3po]

I loved Keith Courage.

[@Video-Games-Are-Fun]

loved this review. very well written. i enjoyed hearing that classic title screen intro music. 100% reminds me of turbo grafx at launch time and the turbo express as i used to play it on that however this game was just too difficult. it was ok in terms of fun but so hard. it didn't show off the system either. legendary axe was. great game to show it off ala rastan from its arcade glory days. i can imagine if other monster arcade hits like double dragon would have come to this system in '89 even though double dragon was a star in '87

[@spida1a]

@keef3po Very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@spida1a]

@gothhydran Thanks for watching!

[@Omondii]

Ah, I understand. Thanks for making it! Very entertaining!

[@spida1a]

Very cool! Thanks for watching.

[@nattyca78]

what? this game was the best ! i used to love playing this game and i loved my turbografx 16,

[@spida1a]

Thanks for watching.

[@spida1a]

I don't know. There have been systems with Non-platformers packed in before. The goal of pack-in games is to "show off the capabilities of the system." And, back then..arcade-quality was a huge. BL showed us that the system could recreate an arcade quality shooter. Bonk wasn't out yet when the system showed up (and even then was only packaged with the Bonk Super Set, not the regular system where they still stuck with KC). LA would have been great though, yes.

[@spida1a]

Very cool. I'm glad you love it my friend. Thanks for watching. :)

[@bongo870]

wiow,,, flash back! I remember cracking my new tg-16 and playing that game. Still have my system with add on cd player and 50 games!

[@ScrewAttackEurope]

Yah, that was the US pack in game. We had Road Avenger, That Helicopter one and a Sega "Classics" collection, which was a load of MD games.

[@bigphil0005]

i actually didnt mind this game ;D i still have it on my turbo.

[@josephging2616]

This game killed my favorite system. If they would have just forgone some profits, and packed in Bonk, we'd have a totally different story. It's too bad. This system had a John Carpenter soundchip and a Cronenberg color pallete.

[@mrdante361]

I did find it average especially since I got legendary axe and bonks adventure the same Christmas, but I always figured it was just because it was a pack in game. Love what you do for us turbo fans. Now get my Veigues Tactical Gladiator review out there. LOL

[@spida1a]

Ha, which was SWEET! I loved that combo. Gate of Thunder just freakin' rules! :)

[@spida1a]

Oh yes, definitely. Devil's Crush, Blazing Lazers, Splatterhouse.....Pac-Land.....ahh, the memories. :)

[@presicion25]

You were right in the Bonk Review. In my opinion, It wouldve probably helped the system sell a little more If they had put Bonk as a pack in game On another note, why is the Bonk 3 Hucard so damn expensive nowadays! Great Video by the way!

[@revolutionoftheclassics3630]

I got this console for Christmas as a kid in 1990 and As a kid I have to admit I loved this game I thought it was dope and I liked the Robot stage It wasn't as nice as Bonk But it was cool for a free game

[@spida1a]

Blazing Lazers is coming in the future. Definitely. I'm a huge fan of the Hudson shooters. It's not the "best" shooter on the system overall but truly fantastic (and for a "launch title," to me........should have really been associated with the system, IMHO). :)

[@Ragtime4]

Bonk's Adventure and Bonk's Revenge were included as a pack in with the Turbo Duo along with Gate of Thunder and Bomberman on a 4-in-1 Super CD Rom.

[@spida1a]

No kidding. That's interesting. Both of those are pretty awesome. :)

[@Folklorigin]

We all must must pitch in to get you your own show on the G4 channel! it would top all the damn cheat code shows! I'll write them a letter about you Chris!

[@halwakka504]

EVERY Radio Shack that I saw back in the day had a TG-16 prominently displayed at the entrance of the store... with Keith Courage running. I wasn't impressed at all with the system when I saw it at RS, then I went over to a buddy's house and was absolutely blown away by Blazing Lazers, Alien Crush and Legendary Axe. Seeing as how prominent Radio Shack was in every mall back then and the mall was where kids went, I wonder how differently the TG-16 would have fared if they showcased something that wasn't absolute shit.

[@spida1a]

Sure did . Reviewed all three. :)

[@spida1a]

Definitely!

[@spida1a]

Thanks a mill!!

[@starsoldier1]

I totally agree. Even Dungeon Explorer and Legendary Axe would have been great choices for the pack in game besides this.

[@spida1a]

Oh definitely. There are SO many other choices that would have definitely been better games to sell the system.

[@andresguitron4126]

I do believe that Keith courage was not so bad. It includes a comic book, and it is creative to jump from a "mario world" to the deep earth with the armor. Actually I was sad no sequel from Keith in other place arrive. Remember Atari2600 came with combat not pacman. BONKS would be nice to be the game to be included.

[@MrEyebrowz]

this was one of my favorite games as a kid and still is :) i guess its all opinion.

[@spida1a]

Thanks a lot!

[@cryingzombie]

hardly an argument for owning a TurboGrafx-16, but, bearable

[@Code1D10T]

Kids just love the crap out of the bizarre, or anything that had plenty of gore. Okay, well, that was me as a kid, anyway. But, had I seen a demo of the Turbo Grafx 16 playing either Splatterhouse, or Alien Crush, or R-type, and I would've been SOLD!

[@spida1a]

Cool, thanks for sharing. I wish I had those wonderful impressions as a kid that you did. I appeared to be in the minority as I found it "average" then and "average" now. :) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@presicion25]

Most people judge these games by todays standards. Keep in mind the time Altered Beast came out. I remember getting a Genesis when it came out and Altered Beast kept my attention for awhile. Not that youre wrong about Altered Beast, but it was pretty good for its time.

[@spida1a]

.....Keith Courage II, Keith takes a nap! :)

[@spida1a]

Interesting. Thanks!

[@mhc12k]

WHAT R U TALKIN ABOUT!! Keith Courage was great and the B.A.D. vs N.I.C.E. was sooooo clever. If only they made a sequel...

[@shorty1k]

I can understand the thought process of packing it in. Consoles of the time always seemed to use platformers as their pack in...but hello? They had freakin' Bonk! Why wasn't BONK packed in if you just HAVE to go with a platformer. Keith Courage stunk!

[@drackbolt]

I agree with you in theory... I just personally never though any of those games stacked up. Most were decent, but none of them could have been blockbusters (in my mind). For instance, a game like Halo would never have been debuted as a pack-in for a starter Xbox. Margins are so much higher on games (even back then), I think companies have always invested more in driving hardware sales by having better titles available. I still would have given KCIAZ less than 2.5 stars though. :)

[@bogercs]

1: The "Alpha"mega! 2: Everyone with courage plays this game.

[@gothhydran]

UGH! This is the only TG 16 game I have that I haven't beaten. Whats worst is that I have two copies of Keith Courage. One from my first system that my sister broke (We lived in Germany at the time and she plugged it into the wall socket which was not electronically compatable); and the another from my second system given to me on my 12th birthday back in '91.

[@SupahLinkio]

Blazing lazers/ Gunhed was a pack in game in the PAL region. I know because I have one and it came with it :)

[@spida1a]

Cool thanks!

[@RocMegamanX]

So NEC basically shot themselves in the foot when they launched the TurboGrafx with this pack-in game? Shame...Blazing Lazers WOULD HAVE been a better choice.

[@Mushtaco]

Haha I seriously can't see this game without thinking of Nova Frank from Pat the NES punk's Flea market madness videos.

[@spida1a]

I don't think Bonk was quite out yet, was it? It came out in 1990, I believe. But you're right, the minute it WAS released, their entire marketing strategy should have changed. :)

[@ScrewAttackEurope]

Blazing Lazers was the pack in game for the UK model. But in all fairness, the Genesis had Altered Beast as a pack in game and that wasn't that hot either. It really should have been Alex Kidd or Revenge of Shinobi. Did they ever have Bonk as a pack in game?

[@HanMono]

love your reviews. Keep it up!

[@PaleDeth]

the euro release had either blazing lazers or alien crush as pack in games (you didnt get to choose) they came loose in plastic sleeves under the system in the box.

[@spida1a]

Agreed!

[@spida1a]

I love that you love it. :) :)