Nintendo Secretly Made a Snoopy Game

[@MarioQuinteroo]

Okay, even though some of the gameplay looks clunky, the graphics in this one I think are amazing. It has that hand-drawn feel à la Yoshi's Island, and looks better than a lot of the games in the system.

[@TheNamekianClown]

Based on the fact that Snoopy is on the far right, followed by Charlie Brown, and obscure character Rerun is on the far left, and that this game is Japanese after all, it was pretty obvious to me as soon as I saw the select screen that the intended order to play in was right to left, not left to right. So you'd play the slower paced levels first, then learn the new mechanics with Schroeder, then use those mechanics with Linus, and then Rerun ends on something gimmicky and different.

[@bintobox]

Also the fact it was made in Japan where stuff is read right to left, it'd be obvious for it's intended market

[@occamsaturn]

Jon always looks like he's just left his deadend desk job and instead of heading to the pub he comes home to tell us about Nintendo games

[@michaels4917]

Man, the Peanuts style works really well in 16 bit.

[@isetmfriendsofire]

Yeah...imagine what indies could do with it

[@alchemistofsteel8099]

Earthbound

[@SMCwasTaken]

Imagine a Peanuts RPG featuring Yoko Shimomura as composer

[@erikharrison]

It's... remarkably pretty. The SNES pixel art matches up beautifully with both Schultz's scratchy detail and the animation work on the TV specials.

[@mr.whimsic6902]

Imagine being the person to have developed both F-Zero and Snoopy's Concert

[@AmethystLeslie]

It's a paycheck.

[@onehorseopensleigh]

Nintendo doesn’t completely run away from their legacy; there’s a Snoopy Game and Watch on display in the NYC World of Nintendo store.

[@JeskidoYT]

Yet only at their NYC store 🤔

[@purplemist7]

For all we know, it could be on display somewhere in Japan, but it was just a random Peanuts game, not one of their IPs

[@escargoat8552]

"completely run away from their legacy" lol what

[@ZombifiedDuder]

9:17 'Did they expect everyone to go "yup, let's start in the middle, the natural starting point"?' Well, since it's a Japanese game, maybe they expected people to go from right-to-left, starting with Charlie Brown, and ending with Rerun. This would make sense, with how difficult Rerun's level is... it would make more sense as a final level.

[@IronBlaze77]

5:49, 6:02: “Rerun, no! [...] Snoopy, no!” I had a good laugh at the Rerun mini game section of this video, especially when Snoopy abducted Rerun. The delivery of both lines were on point.

[@coffeebeans5460]

Oh yeah, Snoopy (and by extension the Peanuts franchise) is as fairly huge in Japan as it is in the states. As a Peanuts fan, I never knew there were so many Peanuts games such as this one, but that honestly shouldn't have surprised me. XD Might have to give this game a shot someday.

[@MeesterTweester]

What's amazing was that Peanuts was never in Japanese newspapers, it got popular purely from merchandising other media. It was only recently that the entire series of comics was translated and published.

[@SerialK1986]

Yup, Kill Bill Volume 1 reference that, lol.

[@amirgarcia547]

I guess it now makes sense why Mother 1’s style and character sprites were largely inspired by Peanuts.

[@podracer35]

9:25 Might be because Japan reads Right to left, so you may have to start with Snoopy The fact that this game exists is fascinating. I didn't know there was a SNES Mouse. Is playing with a regular controller even possible?

[@MeesterTweester]

The game does have controller support. I would highly recommend the mouse instead though, the game was built around the mouse so being locked into 8 directions from the D-pad is hurting you. You can also move the mouse fast or slow, while you can't do that with a controller. SNES Mouse is probably most famous for Mario Paint, a game that bundled in the Mouse

[@Eu023]

Jon video = like

[@Nay089]

Steve uncovered something big with this game 🤣

[@Scoptimus7]

In terms of playing the characters in order, seeing as how this was produced and developed for the Japanese market, wouldn't it make sense for people to play right to left then? So you would learn how to run in Schroder's game first, THEN you'd get to Linus? And the character order then was lost in translation? (As so many game often were in the 90's)

[@MeesterTweester]

I played this game a lot and never realized this. The sections do get more action-based the more left you go.

[@jamespy2857]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@NightFlyStudio]

Videos like these are what keeps me glued to this channel. I love learning about weird and obscure games but in a format that's really genuine. Not just done because you have to.

[@ahirunakamura9592]

No wonder I love both Snoopy Concert and Earthbound (Mother 2)! They share more than some graphical similarities but never realized that!

[@luckybeast1234]

Correction Most of the music are arrangements of Vince Guaraldi tracks that he made for the classic 60s and 70s specials and David Benoit tracks for the late 80s and 90s specials

[@shigerumiyamoto9612]

Jon, didn't we speak directly to you for not sharing this info since we... you know... PROMISED TO NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT AGAIN?

[@mystman1210]

I've been listening to this soundtrack quite a bit ever since I first found out about it a while back. Peanuts music on the SNES (Especially as well done as it is here) is something I never knew I needed until discovered it!

[@SMCwasTaken]

Imagine a Peanuts RPG with Yoko Shimomura as composer

[@pietrosala1728]

Aren't you supposed to play the levels right to left since that is how they read in Japan? That would have let you play the Schroeder tutorial before Linus and leaving Rerun's odd gameplay for last... And I mean that without disrespect. Loved the video

[@chanhjohnnguyen1867]

John has a case of RFI. Read the F*cking Instructions

[@MeesterTweester]

The levels do get more action-based the more left you go!

[@RC32Smiths01]

I'm a simple man, I see Jon and Snoopy, I click.

[@maccamachine]

i love the style of this game you always find some cool pretty unknown stuff to talk about

[@Luie_Claudio]

That Rerun mini game kinda reminds me to a WarioWare boss game

[@CrowTRobot]

Peanuts was really special. I remember finding all the books in my library as a kid and pouring over them and really loving some of the actual arcs, like Snoopy looking for his birth mother (tear-jerking) and Charlie Brown actually finding popularity and confidence at summer camp. I just wish they could get a good game. Though I seem to recall a Star Fox clone on XBLA??

[@isetmfriendsofire]

Yeah, Snoopy Vs the Red Baron. My brother had it on ps2. Pretty fun, all things considered.

[@jordanwhite352]

That extremely awkward moment when you realize that you are a good amount older than Jon when you thought both you were the same age. 👴 (1987)

[@garfreeek]

I was like 27?!!! The way he talks about games as if he's played them during the 90's. Turns out it probably wasn't! 😂

[@SMSBJM1981]

I was in my mid teens when I got donkey Kong country 2.

[@zefasoda]

Yeah, it caught me off guard for a sec when I realized I'm older than him

[@StudioInkblot]

We're the same age and I have similar shock

[@coneg2714]

Very glad you made a video about this after the "worst Nintendo games" video and Steve put everyone down the Snoopy Concert rabbit hole. Definitely looks like a flawed game, but competent enough and extremely charming. Still can't get over Chip Tanaka embedding his style into the classic Peanuts tunes, it just fits perfectly

[@ColonialSun-mg6tq]

I’m glad this got a full video

[@juiceala]

Antdude: “Let’s make a video about Nintendo’s Hamtaro games” Jon: “Hold my beer”

[@ShayminPunk64]

I love that Hirokazu Tanaka just looks like a Japanese Snape

[@Julayla]

The Peanuts Co. needs to re-release this game and other Peanuts games for the US fans one day.

[@MeesterTweester]

Yes!

[@VideoGamer110]

Today I learned that Jon was born in 95. I always thought he was older! I dunno, maybe because I'm about the same age but Jon just seems so much more professional and grown lol

[@Froge0]

Babe wake up, new Jon Cartwright video

[@paperdawn]

So glad you made a video showing this game off! Was a little bummed it was dismissed in your "worst nintendo games" video! Its so unique and charming, especially as a life-long Peanuts fan! There arent many great Peanuts games out there, so this game deserves way more attention for being so well done!

[@connorbeith3232]

Now i'm wondering if there's a Totaka's song Easter egg hidden in this game somewhere. Plus it's kinda weird that a game based on a very western property like Peanuts would be Japanese exclusive.

[@mattdog1000000]

Sanrio produced Snoopy products in Japan, thus it made Snoopy incredibly popular in the country. It's not all that surprising, honestly.

[@MeesterTweester]

Yeah, even with the comics themselves no being in Japanese newspapers

[@MeesterTweester]

Hooray, I'm a big fan of this game! The sprite work and soundtrack beautifully adapted from the Peanuts cartoons makes this worth taking a look at. Snoopy Concert has F-Zero's director and the composers of EarthBound and Super Metroid, what's not to like? Strangely one of few games developed by Nintendo, but not published by them. I started playing this game last year and I like it a lot, I also have the Any% speedrun world record in this game, I liked it that much! 6:17 The "crash!" actually says "crush!" Rerun's section is entirely predetermined and not random (even the food thrown at you), so if you memorize the patterns it becomes much easier. However the slide puzzle is entirely random, even the missing piece and layout is different with the same picture. To help long-term, I printed out all five of the layouts and learned how to solve slide puzzles fast. Japanese reads from right to left, maybe that was the the intended order? I actually didn't realize that until now. It does get more action-based the more left you go.

[@TheCoops119]

You heard about this in the discussion and decided not only to play it, but buy it, and also make a full ass video, respect.

[@MeesterTweester]

Yeah I'm overjoyed right now!

[@jgodden8022]

Imagine covering Japanese games for a living and not realising that right-to-left would be a more logical way to parse the level selection.

[@MergonTheShade]

Delightful video! I really love cheerfully narrated edits of weird old game playthroughs. Reminds me of old JonTron content... *squints at that name, chuckles* - Great work Jon :D

[@maliciousbugman]

The graphics absolutely also scream Earthbound. I don't feel like checking and comparing credits, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that there's also overlap on the graphics personnel between the two.

[@FennekinFox326]

Oh yeah, I bought this game for like 5 bucks at a convention. The game is really hard.

[@mechashadow]

Eyy, my comment on perhaps KK Slider character's look is based on Snoopy and his time working on the games came to fruition at the end.

[@isetmfriendsofire]

The graphics are INSANELY charming!!!

[@escargoat8552]

RE: the lack of tutorializing Doesn't the manual explain all of this? We're still in that era of the manual being required reading for many of the controls and mechanics.

[@MeesterTweester]

Yeah, the game has a manual.

[@TaliesinMyrddin]

"Someone check on the kids who grew up playing this, they can't be okay" Why does that sound so familiar...

[@Sparkys_World-0]

I’ve always owned this game and thought the music was shockingly faithful to the actual tunes. Had no idea it was designed for the mouse. No wonder it’s so insufferable to play for me. The aesthetic and charm factor really showed promise for an actual 16-bit Peanuts adventure. If this game was localised and given a bit more care, it would probably be remembered as the very best SNES mouse game.

[@guguig9746]

I love how each of those videos feels special

[@flaregamer64]

I actually think you were meant to play the sub-games right to left, which is why rerun has the hardest stage. You are meant to play it last.

[@BlaizeTheDragon]

I'm sorry, I'm older than Jon? What? I'm 1993 so not by much I know but Jesus I was not prepared for that plot twist. Though this was a super interesting video. I always find lesser known games being developed by big name developers a fascinating topic.

[@realroforb7676]

Someone should take Mario’s Time Machine and make it like Sonic CD

[@thomasstewart9752]

of course it was directed by isshin shimizu, did you not feel the f-zero vibes during the rerun section?

[@MeesterTweester]

If you push the cart to max speed it really is. I haven't beaten the full level with max speed the entire time yet

[@StevenUlyssesPerhero]

Jon talking about how the game doesn't teach you things in a relaxed setting 'until the third game' reminds me of someone I once talked to on Discord who hated Mega Man 2, because he went through the stages in rigid clockwise order and insisted that's the only way to play the game that makes sense, surely everyone must have done it that way. I get the feeling Snoopy Concert was designed with a similar mentality, you're not actually meant to stick with one game 'til you beat it. The designers intended for you to hit a brick wall or get bored and jump around to the different games on offer.

[@Peringon]

I can't explain how much I needed to know this game exists!! it's so adorable and I want it

[@mikeyboombox]

Great video, I was intrigued when Steve brought this up in the recent podcast

[@Julayla]

The Snoopy games definitely need a US release officially

[@GamingWithMe]

That genuinely looks interesting. Love the variety of minigames. Great video!

[@FluffyEmmy1116]

I saw the podcast, and I'm glad you actually got a copy and made a video. But the REAL question is... is Totaka's song in there?

[@rekc_bcq4816]

OMG YOU ACTUALLY MADE A VIDEO ON IT

[@Jaxv3r]

Weren't you playing the characters out of order anyways, since Japan prefers right to left?

[@NintendoForceMagazine]

Had absolutely no idea about this game. Fascinating work, Jon!

[@dikinebaks]

Snoopy is a quirky earthbound inspired rpg?

[@josephtaylor9081]

This game looks brutal.

[@jkitty542]

Love a new Jon video in the morning.

[@beauvogames]

I look forward to the sequel video where you're able to find Totaka's Song 😊

[@FollowMe4REP]

My dumb ass has thought for who knows how many years that Totaka did the music for Earthbound

[@_ericc.]

Damn dude I thought you were like 6 years older than me, not 1. You are such a poised guy.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Definitely a charming hidden gem from some of Nintendo's greatest talents! EarthBound's composer worked on it, too, and that's pretty much all I need. My day is made.

[@morksisnthererightnow8738]

Keep up the great stuff Jon I’ve loved every one of your videos on here so far.

[@jonathanwilson7949]

Jon has a beard. Jon has a beard!

[@HackerAtesh]

Jon was born in 1995...? This feels so weird for me to type out

[@FoxJ10027]

This game controls like Poptropica

[@joelikespotatoes8321]

Didn't know Japan liked Peanuts so much, neat.

[@RyanParreno]

So what I'm wondering is if it's a legal matter that Nintendo didn't credit themselves as creators of this game, even if their staff and studio are credited. Did King Features work out a deal via Dentsu to pay for the whole thing?

[@deepmind5318]

Handsome, cute, Gay, adorable.

[@Taydar]

John brings the class

[@Calaveso]

JON'S ONLY A YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME?!

[@LimeyOtoko]

I don't know if you're a Star Trek fan, but if you enjoyed Virtual Springfield you should take a look at the Virtual Voyager mode for Star Trek Elite Force.

[@isetmfriendsofire]

Jon always looks so fancy in the thumbnails. What slayer.

[@Firebro999]

We need a wave of Snoopy and Captain Falcon crossover fanart now

[@matthewmincey8822]

this game is the textbook definition of the black sheep of the family. no wonder why Nintendo went "Allen smithee" or whatever the term is for directors who wish to remain uncredited. (sorry! not a film buff) good vibes to all. also that concert at the end was a banger! 😂

[@mimikyu1317]

8:14 Gary Oak???

[@That_Lady_Charlie]

"Rerun"?? I thought that kid was *Linus* !?

[@MeesterTweester]

Rerun is Linus and Lucy's toddler brother. He does look like Linus.

[@awesome2927]

this game's spritework is so well done wtf

[@dangerismybrothersmiddlena1145]

These videos are really helping my Scott The Woz withdrawal

[@oscarzxn4067]

I guess the closest thing to a Nintendo game not published by them are those Bandai Namco games developed by Monolith Soft for the DS ands 3DS.

[@andrewjohnson2714]

I like your aesthetics. Tie and shirt plus accent and pretty blue eyes👌🏼🥰

[@leeartlee915]

Dude, Nintendo has so many weird skeletons in their closet.

[@Zegaexiron]

Jon vs Peanuts

[@FletcherReedsRandomness]

Why on earth does Rerun of all characters have his own minigame? I know he was decently prominent in the later years of the strip, but being chosen over Lucy? That’s a weird decision.

[@MeesterTweester]

It is odd, but the single-level stroller idea works. Lucy is heavily featured in Schroeder's section, so she's there.

[@CrazyHomelessWeirdo]

Yeah I bet that mouse is not the only balls you play with

[@arielsoriano8530]

It Is such a good-looking game tho

[@mayanightstar]

That's not Snoopy... Is someone gonna tell him?

[@smashmaster12]

Wild to me that Jon and I are the same age

[@nicogreco4053]

Love your videos john !!

[@Ashkihyena]

Weird how all these big names worked on a Snoopy game.

[@nelson-haha89]

Wow the art looks great.

[@Pacmanfan-po9rn]

Jon looks extra hot here

[@monmagog]

😳 5:11

[@pgj1997]

Who's Rerun? Never heard of him.

[@billcook4768]

Linus and Lucy’s little brother. Most of his comics are him philosophizing while riding in a seat on the back of their mother’s bicycle.

[@gulawolf]

Jon the legend