NES PAL Exclusives: BANANA PRINCE (Nintendo Entertainment System Review)

PATREON ► / bigolewords
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BANANA PRINCE ► Let the innuendo commence!
#retrogaming #nintendo #nes
The introduction video I made discussing the PAL exclusives for the NES can be found here: • NES Games That Were Ex...
Banana Prince | 1992
Similar Games: Trolls in Crazy Land
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Intro drawing by Ashley Anderson: pressstarttobe...
After years of focusing on the best games for the NES, I decided to change gears and focus on lesser known cartridges that have, for one reason or another, generally escaped the public discussion and general nostalgia. This series highlights many of the relatively unknown, obscure, and unloved titles in the Nintendo Entertainment System's library. Some of these games are at best mediocre. Many are painfully bad, some of the worst NES games around. Most are hilarious for all the wrong reasons! Occasionally, OCCASIONALLY, a handful of them are actually good, borderline hidden gems.
While you won't find any of these on the NES Classic, some of these titles have managed to make their way onto the Nintendo Switch, so if you don't have an original Nintendo console or ROMs escape you ethically or technologically, there are several ways to play them.
Want more? Me too! Until then, lots of other articles where the pictures don't move and words have to be read can be found on my website(s):
top100nesgames.com​
/ awinnerisyou
/ bigolewords
nes, nintendo, retro gaming, retro games, gaming, video games,
nes games, 8-bit, old school, nintendo entertainment system, famicom, family computer, 8-bit games, nintendo games, Nintendo gamer, 8-bit gaming, 8 bit, 8-bit gamer, 8-bit music, chiptune, chiptunes, retro gamer, 80s, 90s, 80s video games, 90s video games, game collecting, game collection, retro game collecting, retro game collection, game room tour, gaming tour, NES Hidden Gems, Bad NES Games, Funny NES Games, Nintendo Hidden gems, aladdin, disney nes games, disney movies, iago, jafar, the genie, robin williams, lion king, gaston, belle, disney princess

[@alexhydell3608]

How are there still games I haven't heard of? Bloody amazing

[@BigOleWords]

To be fair, outside of Germany who has heard or it? ;)

[@Ruudos]

@@BigOleWords Well some of their neighbours like me I guess.

[@KC-135RT_BoomOperator]

No kidding! It seems like every week I hear of some new kick ass game that I've never known about.

[@DemonyxsLair]

@@BigOleWords The game was originally released in Japan under the name Bananan Ouji no Daibiuken and was distributed on pirated cartridges in the countries of the former USSR. The German version looks, in my opinion, worse because of the redrawn character sprites. In the original design they looked more interesting. Well, for me, playing both Japanese and German is the same thing, I don’t understand anything) It would be possible to finish it, if it didn’t require knowledge of the language due to the mandatory quizzes that bosses of some levels arrange for you. To skip them, you can use the password to the next level. There is a translation into Russian.

[@user-is4jf8yr4z]

I am from Germany and got this game in 1992. Loved it to death but believe me even as a native speaker those questions are way more confusing than you'd think 😂

[@BigOleWords]

Haha really?!

[@Esirre]

What are the questions about? Super curious; love the art style and bizarre nature of this game.

[@wilhelmschmidt7240]

This game reminds me of Adventure Island quite a bit with it's style. I would have loved this one growing up if it was around.

[@BigOleWords]

Definitely a bit of that vibe

[@ironheadrat3420]

I played the English rom hack a while back. It said it was originally German, so for the longest time I was thinking, "this is the most Japanese thing Germany has ever made, what pros". The trivia worked in the hack but the other minigames were bugged.

[@diskoBonez]

I was confused too, I was thinking this game looks way too anime to be made by Germans. Game was made in Japan for the Famicom, and the original title was Bananan Ouji no Daibouken (バナナン王子の大冒険)

[@BillyReplies]

This looks like a really fun game. It's almost seems like a cousin of Little Nemo meets Joe & Mac.

[@BigOleWords]

Can definitely see a bit of both!

[@joshuabidelspach9260]

I thought little Nemo as well when talking about the colour pallet

[@DemonyxsLair]

The old guy is a weapon. Up, Down+B (Down, Up+B, I dont remember...) makes him spin around you.

[@BigOleWords]

I had no idea!

[@DemonyxsLair]

@@BigOleWords I have to apologize for the wrong information. To make the old man spin, you need to hold Up for 2-3 seconds, then press Down + A. Be careful, you might slip down from an edge. And if you hold Down for 2-3 seconds, and then press Up + B, then a girl character will appear and perform Chun-Li's super move Spinning Bird Kick from Street Fighter II.

[@HaydenTheHistorian]

I remember seeing this game on ROM sites and always being confused why it was only in German. Honestly I think an episode dedicated to games that were only released in one country could be interesting. Thinking about how Gimmick was only released in Scandinavia for example

[@BigOleWords]

Those are the only two i can think of but I’m sure there’s more!

[@goatbone]

That is actually a good topic idea, although I do have to point out that Scandinavia is not a country. Aussie Rules Footy and Cricket for NES were Australian exclusives. Nintendo of Europe was (is?) in Germany which partially explains why this and some other games seem to be only released there.

[@Ruudos]

@@BigOleWords Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque and Dragon Ball (well there's Dragon Power in the US) were only released in France (with French screen text). I believe Devil World was also only released in Scandinavia.

[@rashidisw]

There also Japanese version of this game which I play first. And then when I play the German version I immediately notice some graphical changes. Pepper dragon and final boss looks a bit different, the two females also look different.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

It is truly exceptional just how many NES games are still out there. Of course what I mean to say is Famicom as many games were never translated or a localized for the west or elsewhere.

[@BigOleWords]

Yeah there’s probably a video in the works where I break down the Famicom vs NES distinction.

[@geraq0]

Wow, even in my wildest quests for rare NES games I've never heard of this one. There is no better way to learn a foreign language than getting stuck with a non-translated game.

[@BigOleWords]

Haha that is one way to learn it for sure!

[@OGBuddah]

That game looks like a lot of fun, never heard of it either. The real star of the show of that shirt tho. Damn that artwork looks amazing.

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks! Yeah they really got a fresh Guardian cover in Japan

[@zeliardforty-two4692]

Never liked trivia in my games but this looks pretty fun that I could ignore it! Always love seeing some of these other titles you just didn’t get here in North America. Love the fact it’s playable with a cheat sheet lol

[@Tydorell]

I'm from Argentina and played this game in japanese when I was a child. The trivia part was pure hell since I couldn't understand anything of it. I learned after A LOT of frustation that the questions start repeating after a while, so it's just a matter of memorizing the correct answers since they are always in the same spot.

[@BigOleWords]

That’s amazing. Same for me with the German, after a while I’d answered the same questions so much that I started to recognize the answers.

[@user-is4jf8yr4z]

If I remember correctly, when you press up and down repeatedly the floating old guy rotates around your head smashing enemies.

[@BigOleWords]

I had no idea!

[@josephskiles]

I haven't thought of princess tomato and the salad kingdom in years.its one of those games where I'm pretty sure I rented it at some point but definitely remember reading about it in Nintendo Power

[@BigOleWords]

I never get too far in it, but I love the idea of it!

[@andrewdowell6474]

NES games sure could be a fever dream sometimes.

[@BigOleWords]

Ain’t that the truth!

[@villain253]

Dude, You have a crazy addictive channel, been binging for awhile now... Definitely my favorite retro NES channel BY FAR. You seem like a super chill dude. Well done my friend! I'm in for the long haul!

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks so much, I’m glad your digging it :)

[@VisiV]

Man this looks REALLY good. The exact best kind of NES crunchy.

[@BigOleWords]

It’s a good one!

[@8bitneslife1985]

You're the Banana King, Charlie!!!

[@rashidisw]

Completing the island in the bonus world increases your max HP by 1 each. The password system for this game also easy to bruteforce as its only have 65,536 possible combinations.

[@BigOleWords]

Ohhhhh that makes sense! So I guess it was worth it…

[@JK-lj4lp]

You'd think Banana Prince would sleep in a hammock.

[@BigOleWords]

Haha Heyo!

[@mr.g4990]

KID redeeming itself after the Trolls' fail.

[@BigOleWords]

Indeed!

[@reignick1133]

There is a fan translation patch for this game, and it's pretty darn good.

[@BigOleWords]

Sweet!

[@zakidz6716]

this game was the best game i played when i was a kid. it was a great time enjoying this game without thinking about the future or anything just thinking about drawing the banana codes of each level in a paper and keep it safe 😂

[@BigOleWords]

You were lucky, Banana Prince is great!

[@OriruBastard]

Funny thing, I sorta learned German without knowing any german at all just by playing German copy Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Words were literally so interchangeable down to a grammar that just figuring out what words meant "and" and "or" made it easy to figure out the rest of what the game wanted from me.

[@BigOleWords]

Nice! I didn’t even try, but I can see how it might not be that daunting to try!

[@rampageny]

Strong Bonk vibes on this one, lots of fun - thanks for sharing!

[@BigOleWords]

I can see it!

[@MrMegaManFan]

Also released in Japan, although it’s hard to search since there’s also a Famicom game named “Banana” that’s not the same.

[@BigOleWords]

Yes it was, but I have not played Banana, sounds great!

[@GoodVibeCollecting]

Another game NA didn't get for whatever reason. If it was released here, it would be one of those late NES titles and worth alot. The japanese box art for Guardian Legend is so good. Highly influenced by H.R. Giger.

[@BigOleWords]

Agreed and agreed!

[@dieinfire920]

Never heard of this game before. Thanks for adding such discovery to my data brain!! Definitely I’ll have to try the game “somehow” :) I don’t know why I got some flint stones vibe on it, and yes I can definitely see the Kid’s representative palette choice. I’m very happy finally somebody is giving such an underrated developer like Kid a fair treatment.

[@BigOleWords]

It does have a little Flintstones feel to it!

[@dc9662]

Neat game! It kinda reminds me of the NES Bonk.

[@BigOleWords]

I can see it for sure

[@Mari_Izu]

I love the Guardic Gaiden shirt!

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks so much!

[@Jackrost01]

I think not many players know that this game have secret shortcuts at each islands(often in last level). They hidding outside of bounds of level(like in upper part near waterfall or in pool in tomato factory). You meet holla hoop girl. But this shorcuts cost money

[@BigOleWords]

Word? Yeah I had no idea!

[@Jackrost01]

@@BigOleWords Well, I just trying searching places that looks like it can have something or looks unique. Oh, I remember another one that I saw on some stream not long ago(but streamer don't check it) - in carrot tower levels with outside walls and cannons. There was wall on the right and at some point of level(i think it was middle) a wall distinct bright color

[@Jackrost01]

@@BigOleWords And yeah, European version also censor this character

[@Biscuit-Triscuit]

Found your channel the other day and I cannot stop watching! I love the weirder NES games and you do such a great job at covering ones I didn’t know about! You have a great mix of humor and information/reviewing, along with having a really good variety of content. Definitely subscribed and I’ll probably be on Patreon soon!

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks so much, I’m glad you’re into it :)

[@GermanPeter]

Worth mentioning is that the German in this game is pretty broken at times. Like at 3:01, it says "Gefunden Bana Armor", with "gefunden" meaning "found", but it should come at the end of the sentence, not at the start. Or how weirdly formal and verbose everyone speaks, like instead of saying "Yeah, I did it!", they say "Yes, I have done it!". There's even spelling errors, like "Olimpiade" (Olympics) at 5:16, which should be "Olympiade". As if they wrote all this text exclusively using the dictionary instead of employing an actual German translator. It's understandable, just very... off. Also, BANANA prince? Hmm...

[@BigOleWords]

Man that sounds rough! I though English was the only language getting butchered in these translations!

[@Jshsprngr]

The Translation App on iPhone does a decent job translating text from live images, kinda cumbersome, but you can hold your phone up to the screen and it will look for whatever language you set it to look for. It translates and replaces all the text in the image on the phone.

[@goatbone]

Looks decent, shame it never got an English release. I think I would have loved it back in the day.

[@BigOleWords]

It is pretty damn good even as it is :)

[@adamkaneshiro]

wow that game is amazing! we really missed out on this one in the US😢 i have a small understanding of german so i enjoyed seeing words i knew and games like this would help me practice more to get better. thank you for sharing this wonderful game with us! def going to check out that shirt too!😊

[@BigOleWords]

There you go! If Banana Prince improves your German this video was successful:)

[@adamkaneshiro]

@@BigOleWords your videos have always brought the most obscure title to light! between hidden gems like this one with graphics i never thought available on the nes to some stinkers that never should have been created. your talented portrayal of these games are a blessing to my day! thank you and hope you have a great day!

[@Ruudos]

Now I own this game and for the first time I wonder why the title of the game is still in English because in Germany they do change movie titels (for example Die Hard = Stirb Langsam or Home Alone = Kevin Allein zu Haus).

[@BigOleWords]

Yeah it’s a weird one!

[@RetroPixelLizard]

Been over nine years since I played (And beat) this game. (Even god a video of the final boss+ending) and It has a translation patch too.

[@BigOleWords]

Awesome!

[@jefflindquist6138]

This game looks cool. 🙂 The Big Ole Words shirt is Awesome !!!

[@BigOleWords]

Thanks Jeff!

[@robertdanker6193]

Great video! Never knew about this game! Gives me some Wonder Boy in monster world vibes.👍👍

[@BigOleWords]

I can see it for sure!

[@CountryAzHell]

I’ve never heard of this game crazy 😮thanks for the video bro!

[@BigOleWords]

You got it!

[@csikocska]

Ah-ha, I remember this NES game I played in my childhood. 😀 Although I didn't understand Japanese texts, I enjoyed the various selection of weapons. 🙂 I played through this game using an English patch.

[@BigOleWords]

Oh nice!

[@chrismeulen8108]

as fun as this game might be, i'd like to mention that as of 2023, a loose copy goes for around 100-150 euro's depending on condition and seller of course, so it's def. not a game a casual player would ever pick up just for playing purpose.

[@BigOleWords]

Unfortunately yeah. Definitely recommend finding other methods to play it ;)

[@Wineman3383]

Love the tee shirts. Now I'll have to get one.

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks!

[@miketate3445]

Wow. A game I've actually never heard of! And it's a good one.

[@BigOleWords]

Who knew?!

[@manuelparra2801]

recuerdo que tenia una NES y compré este juego en cartucho y venia en japones no me importó es un juegazo una obra maestra

[@BigOleWords]

¡La sección de trivia debió ser imposible!

[@archiep9162]

Would love to see all the kid games

[@BigOleWords]

I think I’ve reviewed all of them except Rock N Ball which I could think of anything to say there. One day I’ll do a review on KID as a whole

[@FarelForever]

I knew the title sounded familiar to me! ...... can't believe I actually played a game in German as a kid, but probably thought at the time that it had to be Japanese or something

[@nathanhoffmeyer9931]

Always awesome to see a new video.

[@Riz2336]

Looks actually pretty cool. People should do a fan translation for this

[@BigOleWords]

There may be one out there I’m sure!

[@carn9507]

@@BigOleWords Romhacking has one that was done in 2003 and addendum in 2008. :) Maybe stream potential?

[@BenWard29]

Shirt is dope.

[@BigOleWords]

Thanks so much!

[@TheL1arL1ar]

I saw the words “du hast” from that server chick….commence head banging.

[@BigOleWords]

Haha that’s what I did too!

[@caiusmadison2996]

This game looks like a Game Boy color game. Pretty great game graphically, but it's a lot like a GameBoy Color setup for colors IMO.

[@INFPGamer]

apparently there's an English romhack so maybe I'll check it out sometime

[@BigOleWords]

Nice!

[@dylan.t180]

Love these reviews

[@BigOleWords]

Hey thanks!

[@samusvikerness661]

I saw "Du hast". lol. I know that from Rammstein.

[@BigOleWords]

You know it!

[@mariusamber3237]

Oh, I know this one. This is a really charming, late Famicom game. It's really odd that it was only released in Germany though. I 'think' this is the only case of that in the entire NES library? Quite an odd occurrence for sure. We in Europe generally tend to get fewer games on Nintendo consoles; especially when it comes to RPGs and such. Of course, you'd have a manual if it was released officially in English... sometimes I miss the old manuals and guidebooks.

[@BigOleWords]

Yeah I’m not sure why this was German exclusive. My copies of Turrican and Over Horizon also came with German manuals!

[@funsimpledrawings8233]

Moon Crystal next :)

[@BigOleWords]

Maybe one day!

[@SabinFigaro]

As stylish as your boy here...haha nailed it!

[@HylianFox3]

Have you done a review of Kick Master? That game is nuts.

[@BigOleWords]

Yes I have! NES Hidden Gems: KICK MASTER kzbin.info/www/bejne/haDOmZWDi7-ed7s

[@duhmez]

Guardian Legend is the best third pary nes game, FACT.

[@atomicbrain9401]

banana

[@CardboardBots]

Looks fun

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

Congratulations on being in Family Guy this past Sunday! If you have a way to watch it, you'll see what i mean.

[@BigOleWords]

Haha now I’m curious!

[@johnreeves5152]

This game is definitely one I would have picked up, if I spoke german

[@BigOleWords]

For sure!

[@HugThePrettyCactus]

Is anyone else having trouble ordering one of those shirts? The item's link to the Spring storefront or whatever does absolutely nothing

[@BigOleWords]

Hey I’m not sure what you mean. I clicked on the store tab, then the item, then it said view on spring and that worked. Let me know if you can’t get it to work!

[@mattsweeney3790]

Thats a really BUSY life display at the bottom. Man, that really would distract the heck outta me

[@BigOleWords]

Haha yes it is, and very very unnecessary

[@toddburgess5056]

🎼I just checked this sh*t ouuuuuuuuut 🎶🎙️

[@BigOleWords]

Hooray!

[@toddburgess5056]

@@BigOleWords🎙️ 🎼You knowwww it, my mannnnn!🎶🎶

[@TheBLBShow]

I had this game on a bootleg NES Mini and always assumned it was a Homebrew made in the 2010s So are the developers of the game a german company?

[@BigOleWords]

Nope they’re Japanese!

[@rschmidt9495]

Too bad we didn’t get more games like this and less trash from the likes of LJN. Oh well, at least we have the magic of emulation.

[@BrainSlugs83]

Aww come on, not the US Guardian Legend cover art? 😅 Also the word you're looking for is Chibi. That's when the characters have tiny bodies, but their heads are big and overly expressive.

[@BigOleWords]

Chibi, you’re right good call!

[@elmoreoocyte]

Every time you talk about loving Kid, I keep expecting you to say Klown, and I wonder why you'd like it so much. Then I remember it's a SNES game and you're not talking about it and my blood pressure goes back to normal.

[@BigOleWords]

It’s also an NES game! I’ll get to it at some point!

[@famicom_collecting]

Great game but it had a famicom release first

[@BigOleWords]

That’s true of most NES games!

[@duhmez]

I missed aponnt can ui splainme what company makes htis you said rthey made a bunch of gre tgames I wana eeek these games out and saort them all in one folder so I cal p[lay them all

[@anthonybernero9720]

What is the game you showed between GI Joe and Kick Master?

[@BigOleWords]

Isolated Warrior

[@anthonybernero9720]

@@BigOleWords 👍 Thanks

[@arvinrunstein5707]

Bro, how have I not heard?

[@BigOleWords]

This is about as deep cut as it gets!

[@Scribblerjohnny]

Okay, English patch when?

[@BigOleWords]

Here you go! www.romhacking.net/translations/5049/

[@andrewnaeseth8490]

Yea

[@thegreatbritishgamer751]

Banana Prince? Meh not a touch on Banana man. 80's/90's British kids should know.

[@BigOleWords]

I remember bananaman!

[@yamatodamashii1179]

A lot looked semen themed.

[@BigOleWords]

Haha if you say so!

[@joshwalters3178]

Hahahaha what??

[@joshuabidelspach9260]

So great..you are my new favorite gaming channel! Really well done friend!

[@BigOleWords]

That's awesome, thanks so much!

[@sailorphilumber]

my first bootleg

[@infernicide666]

This looks pretty awesome! Will it work on a regular old school NES? Or only the top loader?

[@BigOleWords]

The PAL NES games only work on the Top Loader and even then some of them are not compatible. It’s honestly not the most ideal way to play these titles but it’s all I got till the AVS arrives :)

[@infernicide666]

@@BigOleWords Damn that sucks! I recently got that PAL version of that Smurfs game but haven’t gotten around to playing it yet. Guess I’ll have to get a top loader then. What is the AVS?

[@BigOleWords]

@@infernicide666 It's basically a very fancy all in one console that can play all regions at their correct speed, output in HDMI, and is compatible with all the weird Famicom add-ons. Sadly the production is slow, and I've been waiting over a year: www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?products_id=78

[@nesgimp6099]

I have the famicom version of this game it was released December 20 1991. Just wanted to say it’s not a german game which was released in February of 1992.

[@YoureNotAlexander]

Great title for a hentai game. 😏

[@BigOleWords]

Heyo!