Nintendo's Portable Power: Super Mario Land & Zelda

Developing for portable gaming devices came with strict limitations but this also made it an area in which creativity could really shine. The creative mindset inside Nintendo let to some unique portable titles like Super Mario Land and Link's Awakening.
//Support the channel
All your views, likes comments and shares are really appreciated! This video is part of a bigger series. I set up a patreon for those who would like to financially support it: / strafefox
//Narration by Steven Kelly
/ stevenmkelly
//Music and Sources
For the complete track-listing with time-codes skip to the end of the video. Sources used for this video are also listed there.
//Chapters
00:00 Game & Watch
01:54 Gameboy
02:35 Super Mario Land
07:02 Super Mario Land 2
08:43 15:49 The Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening

[@alainchristian]

The greyscale nature of Game Boy made some graphics look nicer or even higher fidelity than NES. Link's Awakening felt to me like I was playing an SNES game. The best way I can explain it is the limited palette of the NES meant you couldn't really do nice shading unless you picked the blues and purples. Think the Batman games. But on the Game Boy every sprite can have an outline, shading AND highlights. Your brain fills in the gaps. It's harder to do with something already colored like NES. Also it's funny how Link's Awakening has you collect 8 different instruments to play a song when it only has 4 channels. But young me swore he was hearing all 8 of them playing at once! Haha

[@ZipplyZane]

The smaller screen also helped. Compare Super Mario Land 2 to Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. They would use larger sprites than on NES, even though the resolution of the Game Boy was lower. And they had less to render on screen. The SNES also played with larger sprites than the NES commonly used.

[@ZipplyZane]

Oh, and with careful arranging, you probably were hearing eight parts. They just interlocked in ways that only four played at the exact same time.

[@FuzzballRenakitty]

@@ZipplyZane What was also neat were games that made use of the LCD lag time to display flickering graphics as transparent- I always thought that was so neat

[@GuyDude-hk8uy]

@@ZipplyZane Indeed - counterpoint is a wonderful thing! Also, you can imply multiple voices even with just one voice by e.g. alternating a sustained higher note with moving lower ones, giving the impression there's a higher melody repeating a single note and a lower one moving around. I've always loved the idea of "limitation breeds creativity" and older consoles embody that really well.

[@Moonchild1607]

Or just poor eyesight..

[@terriblecoughing4767]

I don't often drop everything to watch a newly released KZbin video but I do for strafefox

[@weeraanmelden]

Agreed, the visuals are amazing, and most of the times very rare footage added as a bonus. (on top of the great story telling)

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Exactly. This channel is so goated and underrated.

[@juiceala]

7:07 "Developing puzzle games like *Dr Mario which is perfect for the system*" Look, I love Dr Mario but the fact they made it work on the monochrome Gameboy is a miracle considering it's a game that's all about matching colors.

[@darkcoeficient]

Damn straight

[@weirdboo]

They created the third color with dithering, it was nothing new at the time. It’s what they do on newspapers to give the pictures shading

[@cashnelson2306]

And they got it notably wrong, too, the red pills and red viruses use different shading.. definitely a bad line!

[@demonpugo]

Dead right. Dr Mario was a terrible choice to port over. There’s a ton of puzzle games on gameboy, Dr mario ended up being the line between this game sucks and this game is just barely playable.

[@nyguesswho]

Bro you got a fuckin point 😂

[@RetroHousecr]

To this day Link’s Awakening is still one of the best TloZ games

[@hieioni3354]

Link's* is* still Zelda games*

[@echobase6372]

It will always be my favorite one. It's unique in ways that haven't really been duplicated, it's charming and quirky, and the story and tone are fantastic. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it was one of the first games I ever beat

[@RetroHousecr]

@@echobase6372 back in the day some of its puzzles and dungeons got me going in circles for weeks. The story is one of the best the franchise ever had, I’m still getting the chills to this day

[@hieioni3354]

​@@RetroHousecrI'm* still

[@kalliopeffxi]

I'm usually good at pointing out AI voices... But damn, I can't tell! Editing of all your videos are amazing!!!

[@hassiebassie19]

When you get a notification of a Strafefox video! Can't wait to get home, make dinner and enjoy the best channel. So much quality!

[@BlazeHeartPanther]

I love how you go that extra mile with these by doing a lot of 3D animations and stuff in your little documentaries.

[@fu102]

most underrated gaming history channel on youtube

[@ricardocantoral7672]

You deserve a billion more subscribers!

[@strafefox]

Thanks so much! :)

[@ricardocantoral7672]

​@@strafefox Thank you for your awesome videos! 😊

[@Cellfix]

This channel and "Gaming Historian" are my two favourite video game documentary channels... you guys are the best!! Such high quality!! A masterpiece of a video!!!

[@matteosoncini9627]

I will never stop thinking that "Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins" and "The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening" at a programming level are eucharistic miracles 😅, they are still great to look at and play today ...excellent work as always!!!

[@TheInternetIsDeadToMe]

All these games have a special place in my heart. This brought back memories of sitting in the back of my parents car, playing Links Awakening hoping my batteries didn’t run out. Or me and my two childhood friends beating Tatanga and watching the Super Mario Land credits with a glowing sense of achievement. Thanks so much for paying homage to them with such wonderful videos.

[@bradystardust7708]

your videos have a quality that makes them relaxing and easy viewing that I dont find in other videos. I think part of it might be the professional narration, combined with a tight script. The visuals are always top notch, and are the most important thing to me, but the combination of the well done narration and script make them always incredibly pleasing. This is really high quality stuff.

[@BladedEdge]

The best part of those gameboy Zelda and Mario entries is that the devs felt free to completely throw out everything associated with mario and zelda. Whole new tone, whole new weird settings and enemies and style. It was fantastic.

[@saschaberger3212]

Hearing the soundtracks for the first time in decades but still humming them besides.

[@executor45]

Strafefox uploads a video Day AUTOMATICALLY GETS BETTER!

[@CocoHutzpah]

I'm reminded of the days I would play my mom's gameboy. She had Tetris, Super Mario Land, and a mahjong game I could never figure out. Kids these days need only wait a few hours to recharge whatever it is they're playing with, but I remember all too well the days or weeks I had to wait for my parents to buy me some AAs, not to mention the chores I had to do for them.

[@matamarcianos7596]

A new strafefox video makes a Monday feel like Saturday

[@EffySalcedo]

Always a pleasure to watch these cultural revolution presentations 📺

[@paultapping9510]

these two games are the atomic core of my gaming experience. Zelda particularly was an incredible piece of storytelling made even more poignent by it having taken me literal years to complete (I didn't even know walkthroughs were a thing back then). The ending is still one of the most affecting and emotive pieces of ludo-narrative I've ever had the pleasure of engaging with.

[@Vornakk]

Another masterpiece! The amazing animation and level of research continue to amaze me. Thank you so much!

[@strafefox]

Thanks so much! Really awesome to read!

[@leeartlee915]

One of the classiest retro gaming channels on KZbin. Another banger, of course.

[@RandomGuyyy]

1:22 SNES Pilotwings Hang glider theme

[@BlueCollaredGrit]

My mom bought me a Gameboy (with links awakening) because my older brother would never let me play the NES. That was the day my love for handhelds began. It wasn’t the NES but it didn’t matter. My friends and I experienced so many great Gameboy games in those days. It was magical

[@Bedlam83]

Omg ... my childhood flashing before me right now. These masterpieces gave and still give me the feels.

[@Yo_DynamoJoe]

The original monochrome Game Boy, and specifically these three titles, will occupy a place in my heart until my dying day. They also are the only three video games that my mother ever beat, besides finding the "ending" to Tetris long before I was skilled enough to do so. Link's Awakening and the Mario Lands are *my* Mario and Zelda games. Sure I've played and love the rest, but those feel like home.

[@JanetStarChild]

I have such a soft spot for the Gameboy; everything about it is charming and endearing. It's the little console that could.

[@dawnstar5294]

I consider myself extremely lucky to know about this channel, by far the best gaming documentary content on KZbin and it blows my mind that the algorithm doesn't promote it at all. You deserve better!

[@animatedstill4729]

Just sat down with my lunchtime sandwich and this pops up on my feed - its going to be a good day!

[@ArtofZenDigital]

Coming into this video as a graphic designer, your impeccable use of complimentary colors is stunning. They don’t overpower the simple, yet charming, monochrome Game-Boy graphics. You also have some nicely understated bevels that vary in color depending on the gameplay you show, increasing in complexity when you display SNES gameplay. Throughout the video you always show what you’re talking about, which is something that even recent movies forget to do. On top of all of those high tier visuals, you then layer an on an informative and smoothly delivered script to round out this video. The end result is something that’s far beyond everything else on TV and KZbin in terms of gaming history. Thanks for another great video!

[@strafefox]

Thanks so much! It's really cool that you recognize the design work I do on these videos :) Along with writing the scripts, this is the aspect I spend the most time on each video. And yes presenting the Gameboy gameplay was a bigger challenge compared to the Snes or Mega-Drive themed episodes. I always want the backgrounds to ad some extra immersion and feeling but also completing the gamescreens and not taking away the focus.

[@brainwheeze6328]

I recently played Link's Awakening (DX) for the first time and it still holds up. It's such a marvelous gem!

[@FuzzballRenakitty]

Most people cite the original SMB as their first Mario game- but for me it was actually Super Mario Land! My sister had the double pack with a yellow Gameboy and both SML and SML2! Before I had a Gameboy of my very own I would sneak into her room after school and play on hers~

[@Timewarp84]

Geweldige video weer! Jaren lang plezier gehad van super marioland 2 in de auto richting zuid-frankrijk. Bedankt Jeroen.

[@strafefox]

Dankje! Bedankt weer voor het kijken! :)

[@MrBenedictHeyer]

Another banger in the books. Link's awakening is one of my all-time favorites. I was nine when it came out. Two of my friends also had a copy and we raced each other who could finish it first. 😂

[@mwahahaha]

I comment this every time, but damn it’s worth repeating. Best gaming channel on KZbin - no question. Another masterpiece Jeroen, thank you!

[@strafefox]

Thanks so much! Really appreciated!

[@P5ychoFox]

Summer 93 will always be about me getting excited about Link’s Awakening. It finally got released in October 93 in my area of the UK and I was blown away. A masterpiece.

[@BingBangPoe]

It's always hype whenever you upload!

[@strafefox]

Thanks! That's really cool to hear!

[@nicolaselhani]

One of the only channels I have notifications on. Can’t wait to watch this!

[@adiel_loiola]

Another masterclass video production, keep it up guys 👏👏

[@boltonrb]

Super Mario Lands OST is fantastic. Great video as usual!

[@f.k.b.16]

I do like the music and it looks good too. The game itself is fun but seems like a knockoff Mario. The gameplay just seems clunky. I'm not saying it's a bad game... Just different from nearly all other SMB games.

[@ClaudioFirsoff]

OMG when the KZbin warn me about something new about Strafefox, makes my day!!

[@nerdloftgaming]

The original Game Boy will always have a place in my gaming heart 😭 just like Strafefox will, too haha! I really do hope you guys release your videos on physical media format. The work and production quality that goes into these episodes deserve to be on disc!

[@AllTimeScary]

Peak has returned!

[@kalythgaming]

Came to the channel to share the Donkey Kong and Killer Instinct video with a friend, stayed for the new video. As usual, a great small documentary. Thanks!

[@xinistri]

Easily KZbin's most underrated channel.

[@FelipeLiraDias]

What a beautiful Monday.

[@jamesquinonez3914]

Wake up, babe. New Strafefox video!

[@videostash413]

The backyard: Can I play outside? We have outside at home.

[@Themasktrooper]

Mario Land deserves a remake

[@simontaneous]

Glad to see not only these videos coming but the raise in subs and viewers. Your attention to detail is top notch to say the least.

[@NicodemusT]

I'm not a 3D guy but I can tell whomever makes these videos enjoys it. The effort is noticed.

[@tripdefect87]

I don't think I've ever been as fascinated by a game like I am Six Golden Coins. While it is slower compared to the home console iterations, it's a wonderful game and I'd love to see Nintendo give it the remake treatment like they did with Link's Awakening

[@thommccarthy1139]

Mario Land is great but Link's Awakening is in the GOAT conversation

[@juarezamorim]

I wonder if Nintendo someday will remake the Mario Land series as they did with Link's Awakening.

[@tidepoolclipper8657]

Link's Awakening DX is my favorite version of the game due to the addition of color to an already nice art style, fixing a nasty bug involving Link getting teleported into an inescapable water area, and you can no longer get trapped inside Angler's Tunnel.

[@Phoenix7786]

2:11 "Instead of rushing it to the market, they took the time to develop..." Immortal fucking life lesson here, folks.

[@mscottjohnson3424]

Link's Awakening is my favorite Zelda game. I've come back to it several times in my life, and aside from some small annoyances, it still holds up great.

[@BeakFoundry]

I always wanted a gameboy when I was a kid, I can't believe how compelling these games still look today.

[@zaxlor]

A *SINGLE* person was the pixel artist for Link's Awakening? Amazing ♥

[@SlimXG]

Thank you for covering the LCD ghosting on the original Game Boy, a topic omitted in most videos about the system

[@FatehBenMerzoug]

As usual, Jeroen you outdid yourself! I watched it twice while traveling on the Shinkansen, thank you very much!

[@brownandbloom]

So glad I get that notification. Absolutely professional-grade narration and presentation.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Another great piece of work! I particularly liked all your 3D replicas of the Game & Watches.

[@mimmikibilly]

I liked how tiny the boxes and coins in Super Mario Land were, they looked like precious small chests, rather than storage unit boxes. I still like both styles.

[@Nolasco.]

Nintendo can really do magic with their own ip's and limited hardware. Thanks mr Fox 👍🏼

[@NeonIceyy]

Didn't expect both Mario Lands and Link's Awakening to share such a similar development story and direction, but it makes a lot of sense. All three of them strived from hardware and colour limitation to different new creative heights. Another outstanding video as usual!

[@mugenmarshal01]

Great monday everyone!

[@BloodoperaBlackvomit]

These are amazing! Keep on going, we love these vids. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@ArpeggioPegasusMusic]

Every new video from this channel is simply magical. It reminds me of why I enjoy retro gaming so much. :)

[@strafefox]

That's awesome! Thanks so much!

[@Styrophoamicus]

Always a good time when a new Splash Wave video drops. Kudos to your dedication to high production values. Even if it does take longer to make, it's much appreciated and has definitely garnered you a lot of fans.

[@VBrancoPT]

Super Mario Land. The game that introduced Princess Daisy.

[@mole28]

Cool video! I hope that SML 1 will come to the Switch someday! Link's awakening is to this day my most favorite Zelda game, even better in it's fantastic remake!

[@ricofilm]

One of the best game history channels!! How on earth do you make so many great 3D assets for your virtual sets? They’re beautiful

[@strafefox]

Thanks so much! I've slowly built a big library of 3d settings and models over the years. So in addition to creating new models for an episode I always can re-purpose some of my older models too, which helps out a lot :)

[@ricofilm]

@@strafefox it’s wonderful! It really makes your videos stand apart and you can see the care you put into them.

[@kenny9648]

Another quality video. Thanks! 🤩

[@corycourtney8923]

How lucky we all are that your uploads have become so much more frequent! Strafefox, you and your team NEVER disappoint.

[@hieioni3354]

Great insight into the development of Super Mario Land and Link's Awakening!

[@MegaManNeo]

Super Mario Land is still one of my favorites which I can easily pick up and play. That's what I love about most GameBoy games in general. Also a hooray for Link's Awakening!

[@digitalchewie]

Love it. Can't wait to watch the entire thing when I get home from work. Keep these awesome videos coming.

[@strafefox]

Thanks Dean, that's really cool to hear!

[@randomcat1]

The CG rendering here is next level

[@MrFoxInc]

Another well researched and informative video with so much love put it into it that it made me feel all giddy inside while watching it. Thank you, Strafefox!

[@strafefox]

Thanks! That's cool to hear!

[@Liam3072]

Insane production value and very well documented as always. Another incredible video!

[@tonytwonukes7272]

The greatest most underrated channel on KZbin

[@Derevirn]

Great video as usually! 👏

[@PrimitiveOs]

Amazing video! As always

[@Blizzard91]

Underrated channel.

[@VideoGameStoryTime]

Excellent video!

[@shikarbabulall3897]

This was great , great editing as well

[@AmazingFrenchman]

I'm still amazed after all these years that this channel still is not followed by more people.

[@user-ex9kh3hy8c]

great video! good job!

[@Dirk1Steele]

Excellent content as always.

[@musicaldude9429]

how did i miss this masterpieces release

[@mullenio4200]

Great video again. Thanks.

[@lucidx88]

I always look forward to your videos. Thank u so much

[@sahaprocks7751]

Amazing and high quality video as always!

[@DirectorToby]

I was missing this channel! Another superb video!! Loved it!!

[@rulo6017]

Great video, very informative.

[@Sir_Him]

Another great video. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@luissoto4273]

Great video as always, Thanks.

[@NotDoggiMations]

its a good day now 🔥

[@Rayito_]

Your videos are great in every way. I love this

[@Reenfoque]

Stunning, amazing inspiring work as always!!! thank you for all your hard work!!!!