#Nightshade

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Episode 87
Nightshade Part 1: The Claws of Sutekh is a point and click adventure game, similar to Maniac Mansion or Deja Vu, but this game has a twist! Instead of just solving puzzles, sometimes you'll have to actually fight the enemies in a Street Fighter type battle!
Because this game didn't come out until 1992, it's often overlooked. Many would call it a Nintendo hidden gem! You may be surprised to learn that this game is absolutely massive, with more than DOUBLE the number of rooms as Maniac Mansion!
The game features a fun story about costumed super heroes that could have been ripped from the pages of a classic comic book. Nightshade is a vigilante crime fighter, but he doesn't have the resources of Batman. At one point in the game he finds a "seriously large wad of cash" and can blow it all on a single pizza! Still, someone has to stand up to Sutekh, the mastermind controlling Metro City's criminal underground!
So how did this game get made? In today's episode we'll find out then we'll dive deep into the gameplay where we'll learn:
* How to get EVERY ITEM! Fill up that inventory with the best stuff!
* Where to get the Staff of Ra, so you can launch FIREBALLS!
* MAPS of every area!
* How to ESCAPE EVERY DEATH TRAP!
* The best way to defeat every enemy type, even the Ninja, Mummy, and Ratman enemies!
* Why is the Statue of Sutekh the Destroyer missing? Understanding how the game works!
* The FAST way to raise your POPULARITY so you can unlock Vortex HQ!
* How to protect ALL FOUR TREASURES!
* Everything you need to do to get 100% and become Bonifide Legend Material!
* How to talk to cats and birds! Lots of crazy secrets!
* The best way to defeat EVERY BOSS, even SUTEKH himself... AND MORE!
Thanks for watching!
Tips will work on both the original NES and Nintendo Switch versions.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[@nesterus83]

In the room that leads to the room where the list item is there is a pipe that drips green drops of acid on your head if you stand on the doorway at top of the screen. You can use the gum item on the pipe to stop the droplets.

[@leezybreeze1299]

I ran to comments to find what the gum was for ! Thank u

[@belowboyt9876]

Actually never knew that. Cool still learning things about this game all these years later!

[@cannabiscovepnw]

Did not know that. Whoa.

[@postplays]

Nice. I'm a huge fan of Nightshade and I didn't know this.

[@scottmclennan9231]

Oh yeah i forgot about this use for the gum. I think you can get multiple gums im playing today

[@alkristopher]

What a game. I really appreciate how you dig deeper in the NES library and show off some of the more obscure games, rather than sticking with the same tired Top Twenty. Also, do me a favor and give Kylo an extra treat. I was able to beat Cobra Triangle thanks to his advice!

[@youkai3785]

Give him ANOTHER treat for me. He made the unbeatable TMNT 1 beatable with his advice.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

That's awesome, Cobra Triangle is super hard!!

[@alkristopher]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames Don't get too excited, I used save states and Game Genie to give myself infinite lives. Now if you want a game that makes Cobra Triangle look like a baby game, pop in Pocky & Rocky.

[@johngavalas74]

​@@alkristopherPocky & Rocky is so damn hard but man is it awesome

[@birdonline2751]

I think I may have mentioned this on a previous video, but Beam Software was a very talented developer who made an extremely advanced Lord of the Rings text adventure that told super well and got screwed when the publisher took the profits and sold Beam off, leaving Beam in a position where they had to work almost exclusively on cheap licenses and ports, many of which are infamous now. Nightshade was one of the few times they got to show what they were actually capable of.

[@helikestv]

Shadowrun for the SNES too, which they basically started on right after they wrapped on this.

[@Solsta]

I have very fond memories of this game. My grandparents took me to a department store and for some reason I decided to select this out of the glass case. Took me getting to high school to actually finally beat it 😂! Thank you, love your videos and keep up the great work! Still waiting for Super Metroid 😏

[@420gaiden]

Oh yes. I agree. Super Metroid too please.

[@Solsta]

@@420gaiden It's my favorite game of all time!

[@Psianth]

I vividly remember every death trap and their solutions, and literally nothing else about this game. I guess that pretty much sums up the experience I had with it as a kid.

[@wjb4578]

Another vote for Super Metroid.

[@StarkMaximum]

Not a lot of video game walkthroughs include the phrase "pick up the Necronomicon to raise your popularity", but not a lot of video games are Nightshade.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

🤣🤣🤣 so true!

[@johngavalas74]

The first enemy you fight looks like an updated version of the cop from Keystone Kapers for atari lol

[@StrikerZero6]

This is honestly one of my most favorite NES games of all times, this game is so underappreciated, even to this day... (also, the gum is used to stop the acid leak in one of the pipes near the cats)

[@ericbob5360]

One of those hidden gems of a game from the late NES era. Also, in the beginning of the game, after you pull the self destruct switch, if you examine it again it tells you "guess you didn't fall for that one". This game was just full of great one liners. Thank you for this.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Oh, that's funny! i agree, just great writing

[@user-hr2sd4cv7p]

This is simply the best gameplay + retrospective channel on the internet. I, and I'm sure many others, look forward to this every week.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thank you!!

[@Exaar]

As a PSA this game is currently on sale on steam for $2.44 USD until Aug 1st.

[@katiepersons6575]

Goon: "We did it! Nightshade is unconscious. You want we shoot em?" Sutekh : "No. Tie him to the ultra elaborate death trap I meticulously devised with pulleys, conveyor belts, moving walls and spikes. " Goon: "What? But that's so complicated. Look, we can just shoot him right n-" Sutekh: " NO!!! "

[@Danarchy3]

Let me tell you a little story about a man named Shhhhh!

[@autobotstarscream765]

Also Sutekh: "Bullets attract cops!"

[@The16bithero]

Every time I see this game I can't help but remember JonTron's video, "the claws of HEUGH!" I was always curious about this game, so thank you for covering it!

[@FFXI_Addict]

I completely DIED at "I Am Weasel Flakes." The extra effort you put into these takes me back to the beginning days of screenshot Let's Plays where every last detail was throughly examined and curated. You do these games an immense service, and you do it darn well.

[@jonus28]

I look forward to seeing what your new game is every Saturday. Such an entertaining treat, even when it isn't a game I played.

[@mrrandom55951]

This game had to have come out before 1992. I got my genesis in 1989 and pretty much abandoned the NES for it. But I remember renting this game and being blown away by it... I never rented NES games after I had the Genesis... so something is weird.

[@PikangsFutaba]

I had to see it to believe it... this game on Steam (Edit: Funny thing about this... it was on a deal the very same day the video was ready to watch... coincidence? maybe? maybe not? I dunno, and I don't care)... just wow... anyway, I didn't know about that treasure protection part was involved on the boss rush at the end to make it a NOT Boss Rush, this guide really shines out of all playthroughs I have saw of the game when it comes to 100%. Nicely done. Edit: Nightshade has one kind of a cool 1-liner if you use the fight command on Sutek at the end instead of 2 times talk (which by the way... Sutek is plain stupid to reveal that he takes quite the damage with the staff proyectile the 1st time you use the talk command... not that if matters really much as it is better to just punch him up to 3 times per-summoning cycle) or aproaching him like most of the enemies of the game.

[@Steelflight773]

I beat it years ago and I thought the purpose of protecting the treasures was to weaken the last boss. I had no clue about the boss rush.

[@americanmeowth3336]

Excellent video; easily in your top 10, in my opinion. I never would have seen this game coming, but your delivery style and additional jokes work so well with this game's sense of humor! You can really feel the roots of the SNES Shadowrun being planted here, with the mix of puzzle solving, progression and real time gameplay. ...also, puppy!

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thanks!! If you say its in my top 10, that definitely means something because I know you've watched most, if not all of my episodes. 😀

[@tsukikagenoknight7915]

0:12 Wait a second, is that Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom in the upper left corner? Jesus I know so few people who know about that game I thought I hallucinated the thing.

[@ZorotheGallade]

Ay yeah, Nightshade the Claws of HEUGH. Love how it's basically a hybrid between a point and click and a beat'em up, a bit clunky but has some cool tongue in cheek humor. Especially love the elaborate deathtrap game overs that let you escape and continue.

[@PelenFuzzlefurr]

Parent: "Which game did your brother have yesterday?" Me: "Nightshade." Parent: "Don't you mean Lampshade?" Me: "That's a joke in the game but no, Nightshade."

[@samalcis]

This video is amazing. I attempted this game last year and I feel like I did everything wrong. I remember going straight to fighting Lord Muck after completing the first area of the game only to find myself struggling to defeat him. Little did I know that even if I did win, I missed protecting the treasures first and would’ve had to defeat him all over again!

[@RyanRead]

Been waiting for this. Friends who had the game and old Nintendo Power could never figure out how to avoid being killed at the end.

[@rtyuik7]

oh boy, Claws of HEUGH! im glad you included the Crowbar Snapping In Two part, too...i mean, fool me once, I'm mad; fool me twice, how could you...fool me three times, youre officially That Guy, okay?

[@KarmaJolt]

I played like an hour of this game and it was really funny. Couldn't get far, so I've been waiting for you to make a video about it.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

I hope you enjoyed it!

[@bigfest6498]

Omg I started playing this on the switch and it's one of those games I loved playing as a kid even though I didn't know what the heck I was doing. Part of the fun was figuring out how to play as it was my first point and click adventures. Edit: Starting the game explaining the death traps was 👏🏽

[@donskiver]

This was such an odd game. Couldn't figure it out as a kid. Glad to see it finally taken apart by you. Speaking of Shadowrun, you really should do an episode on it some day. Was one of my favorite games as a kid.

[@CC-bm3wb]

He did Shadowrun and Deja Vu already! Go check them out :) We're all just waiting for Uninvited now

[@ggbetz]

He didn't do shadowrun, he did shadowgate, very different games!

[@PabstOban]

What a cool game so many people slept on. It really is a Maniac Mansion with some neat-um-up elements.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Agree 100%

[@jamesvanderwire4667]

Speaking of Shadowrun...that may be a good one to do

[@tonydeluna8095]

I really appreciate what you do, U Can Beat Video-games! Keep it up!

[@blip3337]

It’s like a Rorschach game, reminds me of the watchmen

[@zogmorp]

this game did a good job of making it feel like a big living world on the NES when I was a kid. I liked how it let you go anywhere and interact with stuff. I also loved Maniac Mansion, River City Ranson, Deja Vu, Roger Rabbit kinda,.... I was drawn to open world games way back in the NES days. The only open world games I remember from the SNES was Shadowrun, Zelda, ... and not many others. I didn't care for JRPGs so never played SNES Final Fantasy.

[@chasonlapointe]

All right, the weekend has officially started!

[@tynyetv285]

I love Shadowrun, it's an amazing game for both SNES and Sega, I like the Sega one more though, it gives me a harder challenge. The PC versions are awesome as well.

[@popejoeii]

Sega Shadowrun was legit amazing.

[@tynyetv285]

@@popejoeii I still own the cartridge for that one.

[@rodneylives]

I don't know what it is, but KZbin decided to put a ton of ads in this video, like at least six ad breaks, two ads each, and most from the loathsome PAC Citizens For Prosperity. Sure KZbin, obnoxious political ads go well with old NES game walkthroughs. (rolls eyes)

[@retrobution1262]

Hey, glad to see someone with some reach talkin' about Beam Software! This was a great game, Shadowrun on SNES was a spiritual sequel of sorts, both being directed by Paul Kidd. Hope he comes back and does a new indie game someday. Good job matey

[@JG-hd4cr]

thank you sooooo much for your videos! We really have the same taste in retro games! I saw the Princess Tomato and Uninvited cartridges in your intro, hope you do videos for these ones too. Nighshade is one of my all time favorite retro games along with Maniac Mansion, Battle of Olympus, Crystalis, Deja Vu, Shadowgate, Faxanadu. thank you very much for your hard work!

[@ggbetz]

Waiting on both of those as well!

[@stacypare7955]

Still have my original copy from the early 90's this was a masterpiece. Never beat it as kid however. Great video as always ! Long time subscriber here 😁

[@smoothALOE]

I missed this one. For shame! I got my SNES in December of 1992 and that was basically it for my NES until many years later.

[@oodo2908]

"Flares will come back in style! Wooden nickels will become legal tender!" This writing is AWESOME!

[@troybilko]

I can see the common ground between this and shadowrun on the snes. It’s the writing in both games. They have a funny punch to them that suits both games in a way.

[@Kinkajou1015]

Mance is an absolute cutie patootie. Glad Kylo is taching his apprentice the ways of the gamer.

[@soul-vatzu]

😁 I hope some day you beat GOLGO 13 saludos amigo

[@Genzaijh]

Just want to say I really like your series!

[@wesleyoldham4222]

🎵Sutekh Evil Incorporated! 🎵 Sutekh: "Oh, the mysterious superhero from my deathtrap." Nightshade: Puts on fedora Sutekh: "NIGHTSHADE the mysterious superhero from my deathtrap?!"

[@ggbetz]

Another great video on something I'd never heard of except by name. Might be the first point n click I go for. My wife loves the new intro, we 2nd the comment on both dogs at the end. I liked the map in the upper left corner, cool touch! This game makes me hope you do Rocket Ranger, but I'm sure there are so many better games to do. I never beat ANY games as a kid, so this channel is awesome!

[@domibomb3891]

You can use the gum on the leaky pipe on the left side of the map Edit: Leaky Pipe at 37:00

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Ok, that works! Do you know if plugging that pipe does anything?

[@domibomb3891]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames From what I could tell, it just stops the dripping. The drip does damage you, so I guess it's useful to stop it.

[@corjonbett]

If you look at the self destruct lever after pulling it, the message reads "Guess you didn't flal for it. Oh well."

[@BB-te8tc]

There's some cool hidden text in the game's code, too. I haven't gone through it in a while but it seemed to suggest you could donate money to the Museum or Gallery (I tried this ingame and it didn't work), alongside some other stuff I don't quite remember.

[@kaynesantor8136]

I'm almost 40 and I thought I knew all the nes games. Yet here we are. This is the third game you've done that I've never even heard of. And it kicks ass. Also, I'm glad to see the puppy.

[@mesquiteaviation]

This is the only game I can of where you have to earn your continues by solving clever puzzles. Bionic commando lets you run through a gauntlet for continues, but this game made you use your brain.

[@zerocool1ist]

So he works with Encyclopedia's and can afford to drive a Lamborghini. OK? Prob the easiest thing to swallow about the games plot.

[@skootdiggity1301]

Beam Software's greatest accomplishment was Shadowrun for the SNES.

[@greyfox37]

Underrated game. First saw it in an issue of Nintendo Power. Still have my copy to this day. Great humor too. Gum plugs the dripping acid pipe on the west side of town

[@briancomiskey3232]

This channel is like a security blanket, and I don’t ever want it to go away. VT loves you bud!

[@locke103]

i forget how i even found this dude, pretty sure i had to have been researching something. but i'm ultimately glad to have found him, such an underrated channel.

[@JazGalaxy]

@@locke103 KZbin wouldn’t stop recommending his videos to me. I finally cracked and watched one. I was like, “okay KZbin, you know me too well. I love this.”

[@locke103]

@@JazGalaxy I think that was it, the recommendations. I kept seeing several that looked enticing. Never clicked a sub button so fast, this fellow is a scholar and a saint.

[@medleysa]

23:10 I think the Book of the Dead references a similar Egyptian artifact that details ancient Egyptian burial rituals, not the Necronomicon.

[@Murdoc_rusche]

I absolutely love that you examined this game. I still remember JonTrons' review of it years ago. This one I have never played, but was always curious about.

[@thecunninlynguist]

Played this for the first time with NSO. Pretty fun. I would've loved it as a kid, since it's an actiony point and click game / adventure

[@ashleyvanhammer3448]

Looks like Sutek didn't spring for the "self-destruct upon supervillains defeat" evil-lair package. 😁

[@ShaelRiley]

TIL all our world's problems are caused by being in the reality where Sutek won.

[@QueenAleenaFan]

Nightshade being stuck as an NES game and not being on the PC is so sad. It's a sad thing this game's adventures ended here!

[@codprocamp4690]

Too many of these to watch through anymore, but I immediately give a like, so dedicated this guy.

[@apathy7711]

All I can think of while watching this is "I AIIIIINNNNN'T HAVIN THAT SHIT!" Thank You for the memories Jon Tron.

[@portalseverus]

Did you ever do a video on Shadowrun? If not, that should be fixed immediately.....chummer!

[@Diego_Aracena_Kovacevic]

Great video! I am your new suscriber! Greetings from Chile! :)

[@J0SHUAKANE]

Werewolf: The Last Warrior please🙏

[@DemitriosX]

I LOVE this game! I still own it! It was so far ahead of its time with its action play, rpg play, point & click and multiple endings.

[@actually_paid]

As someone who works on a bunch of GSN shows, I really loved the game show jokes at the end.

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

If I saw some dude in a trench coat who's bright orange from head to toe, I'd treat him like an alien trying to fit in as human too.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

True story!

[@Darth_Nerd]

You should see if you can get a video of Mance sleeping next to Kylo at the end of the video. You have him in the opening scene so it makes perfect sense. Lol. Also just wanted to say Super Mario RPG for some reason. Lol

[@ggbetz]

I feel the same about both Mance and SMRPG

[@edparadis6685]

i love the text in this game makes it so unique. If they ever make this game they can make the controls a little easier and update the music but keep the same classy goofy text

[@corjonbett]

If you don't mind losing some popularity, you CAN steal the ladder the painter is on at A, he ends up dangling there fpor the rest of the game if you do.

[@ThEjOkErIsWiLd00]

I was wondering when you wee going to cover this one! Even when I was a wee lad I could recognize how this is one of the most unique NES titles out there, but even as an adult, the combat was just too frustrating for me to finish it, so I'm sure this guide will help me with that. I need to take a break from The Binding of Isaac: Repentance anyways, and this looks like the perfect opportunity.

[@GLASSGHOSTHUNTERS]

This game was so much fun! Puzzles, fighting, humor, mythology.. this game was a masterpiece that flew under the radar. If any game needed a reboot, it's this! I got this brand new, in the box, still shrink wrapped, for Christmas in 1997. It was from Kmart and this was when they were phasing out their NES and SNES games and systems.

[@Zouszz]

57:08. I didn't expect a Fawlty Towers reference. Noice.

[@nervaaugustus7089]

I'm pretty floored that you did this one. Nightshade's a rare gem of an NES game, and very well-made despite being on a humble 8-bit platform. I recently played through it myself on the Nintendo Switch, and while the combat is a little jank, it's very solid as a character-based adventure title.

[@bryantnonya8704]

This game actually looks incredible! I was blown away when I seen that it even had a combat system! A good way to break up the game play and I will most definitely be checking this one out! Imagine if Nintendo revived this franchise with the Metroid dread engine...

[@1stdrive]

An interesting game but not including a way to save your progress was a massive error. Maybe one of the unusable objects like the gum somehow allows you to save the game :-/

[@endykun]

So....this means you're doing "Shadowrun" soon, right? I remember playing Nightshade as a kid, never got more than a couple rooms into it (I rented it for a couple of days). I should've gone back to it years later after playing lots of Sierra and Lucasarts adventure games, I likely would've figured more of it out. Good to see it here!

[@B_B-420]

Can't believe UCBVG hit us with a "deez nutz"... Lol.

[@the1ucidone]

I beat this so long ago in like '93. I forgot how to beat it now so this is gonna be a fun refresher. I'm watching this for the rest of the night. Have a great Sunday tomorrow everyone!

[@maximusdecimusmeridius8888]

You are awesome, easily my favorite retro reviewer ever… fantastic job like always… I’m still in shock there is an ending to GAUNTLET!! Blew my mind thanks to you I know it exist! I applaud you on being so good at all these games!!! FLAWLESS VICTORY!!!

[@KainDrake]

In a basic sense, the plot of this game almost sounds like Watchmen.

[@mesquiteaviation]

I think about this game all the time. It was one of the few NES games I never could beat. I was hoping you’d cover this game. Thank you!

[@EsperHubb]

28:53 - Got 'em Always love the humor in your videos.

[@SilentSam69]

Another hit! If I've said it once, I'll say it again: you make entertaining and educational videos! You have a really unique and fun way of presenting video games, and it's obvious you really enjoy making these videos!

[@nadaworldrecords]

Hi. I've only been watching the channel for a month, but you've been a tremendous help. The screens, items, and tips on the side of the gameplay are fantastic and remind me of old Nintendo Power guides. Keep up the good work and thanks for helping us beat the classics

[@KubuntuYou]

I still have a factory sealed copy of this. Picked it up with Ninja Turtles II in a Louisiana Walmart in 2002.

[@axelwulf6220]

Maybe you should try your hand at Shadowrun? Eh, Chummer?

[@apeman505]

This game is freaking hilarious, I love it! Here's hoping that someone makes, like, a kickstarter sequel to it on Steam or something.

[@sauceboss6045]

I found this game like I'm sure most have on the NES emulator on Switch and it ended up being a very special game and experience for me. Cannot properly tell you how happy I am to see you cover this video. So excited!

[@michaeloffgrid]

Saturday night, I just walked back from 7-11 with some drinks, and your new video posts! Perfect timing!

[@SleekNostalgia]

Yes Nightshade in his white van named the Abductor and if you need to find him just follow the oil leaks...

[@ZekeZanzibar]

THAT'S A LOTTA NUTS!

[@medleysa]

This is quite a unique game, and it made for quite a unique play through! I especially liked the map you have on the left side. Entertaining as always!

[@jgregoire5315]

I'm so happy that someone is doing justice to this game. When i was younger i managed to complete this at 100% but there are still things i never knew. Amazing job! Keep up the great work.

[@earlthepearl6414]

Hell yeah! I'm so pumped you're actually doing this game!!! Your NES walkthroughs are my favorites.

[@CeeJayThe13th]

I wish that bad guys in real life had the decency to just call themselves Evil Inc.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Truth! 🤣

[@garou1911]

I mean, Nightshade is- OMFG PUPPY

[@susanfit47]

Although Nightshade is an action/adventure game from Ultra has a side-scrolling perspective, the gameplay is reminscent of of role-playing such as CSG Imagesoft's Solstice, Kemco-Seika's Shadowgate and Deja Vu.

[@caseysmith7283]

The Book of the dead didn’t work because you didn’t say the three words exactly.

[@johnsmith-po9gt]

And you don’t even get a boom-stick