Super Sushi Pinball - Lost Sony NES Game Revealed

[@GameHistoryOrg]

Having orthodontic work done, be nice please.

[@lpjunior999]

Was too busy staring into your beautiful eyes to notice

[@rTTnCRAFT]

As a fellow person with messed up teeth. your self confidence & courage in being able to put yourself out here on video is inspiring. As well as all the hard work you all are doing at VGHF! Merry Christmas

[@bradlauk1419]

It's ok bb we still heart u

[@fearinmotion]

I think it's the first time I have seen you (insert credit listener), and I don't see any issues. Really enjoying your videos 😄

[@DrBagPhD]

Didn't even notice my dude

[@196cupcake]

Super Sushi Pinball is hands-down the BEST sushi-themed pinball game ever developed for the NES.

[@nickwest932]

That's a bold claim. The competition was grueling in that era.

[@Fan-lq6uv]

@@nickwest932 IKR, there had been a grand total of one sushi themed game vying for NES release.

[@davidgood840]

Hands down !

[@quiet451]

What about Nigiri Knockers?

[@196cupcake]

@@quiet451 Nigiri Knockers is trash and everyone knows that.

[@CorporalDanLives]

Holy crap i can't believe you guys tracked this down, I'm losing my mind here. That photo of Ed's stash is like looking at the lost treasures of El Dorado

[@Lifesizemortal]

It blows my mind how after all these years we're still finding new NES games. Cheers!

[@wooloo2652]

What you said about "someone" made this, is so true. You can feel that they put personal effort into this and it wasn't just some quick gimmick. Glad that at least now due to your efforts, their work can be seen and appreciated!

[@gwalla]

That list of sushi terms is kind of fascinating. Some of them are pretty different from the words I'm familiar with in Japanese for the same things. Like, the usual word for soy sauce in Japanese is /shōyu/, while /murasaki/ means the color purple. Maybe this is some sort of sushi bar jargon? /Zuke/ (or /tsuke/) generally means pickle, but apparently /zuke maguro/ is tuna specifically soaked in soy sauce (originally to make it keep longer) and is used as a sushi topping. Not one you find in the States too often! I had to look up "agari", because the usual word for tea is /o-cha/. Apparently agari is a particular type of green tea traditionally served at the end of a meal of sushi as a palate cleanser. Again, not a part of sushi culture that really made it across the Pacific (though the article I read said that a lot of places will serve it free of charge if you ask). Hikarimono (literally, "sparkly thing") turns out to be a category of fish that includes mackerel and herring. The definition of "gari" looks like a mistake. Gari is the sweet pickled ginger (not radish), sometimes colored pink, that is frequently served alongside sushi. There are radish pickles in Japanese cuisine but none of them are called gari AFAICT. I thought "gyoku" might also be a mistake. The usual word for egg in Japanese is /tamago/, however, the kanji for /tama/ can also be read as /gyoku/ (kanji is weird like that) and so maybe whoever transcribed the text goofed. But I've found a list of sushi terminology that says that "gyoku" means egg omelette. Still, I've only ever seen that called tamago, both in the US and Japan, so maybe/maybe not. The same article also listed /murasaki/ as sushi bar slang for soy sauce. The funky numbering (pin, ryan, geta, dari) is also apparently a thing. The article I found confirming this also says that menoji means five, and ends with "and so on" which is pretty helpful since this is completely different from either of the normal numbering systems in Japanese and has no pattern that I can discern. So I guess they succeeded. I learned some things about sushi!

[@TheGreenMeanie]

Great job Frank, from all of us old Lost Levels members! We're behind you all the way!

[@DaussPlays]

Incredible work, thank you for preserving these materials. I had no idea the archive was so interesting and had such one-of-a-kind materials in it.

[@fluffy_tail4365]

Incredibile find. I find it fascinating that the localisation people (person?) Decided to add more foreign character to the game instead of renoving it like it was customary at the time for US releases.

[@Reecer77]

Reminds me of how much marketing and branding for Tetris' earliest releases at this same time focused super hard on its Russian origin (when there was almost no evidence thereof in the source material), but at least in that case, Russian video games weren't and aren't a common thing.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Yes, that's what I was thinking. So many localized games at that time ruthlessly scrubbed any Japanese culture. Even to extremes, like redrawing a ton of art in River City Ransom to make it look more like a US city. (And heaven forbid the name Kunio-Kun sully the eyes of sensitive American kids! 😝) It's nice to see someone tried to do the opposite.

[@StevenQBeatz]

Unreleased games and prototypes are so fascinating to me! For the past year, I've been doing some digging and documentation of Sweet Home's prototype rom! I've discovered A LOT of awesome stuff and differences from the final release of the game!

[@glowbush]

Thank you for all the work you do to preserve gaming history. There are so many prototypes that would be forgotten and fascinating stories that would never be told without your efforts and all the help from supporters. ❤

[@hernantrigomogro1941]

I followed your articles in Lost Levels for years, still occasionally go back and reread some of them. This is my first time watching one of your videos, and it's very nice to finally put a face to the name. Warm greetings from Argentina, and kudos to you for your amazing work, Mr. Cifaldi!

[@Weneedaplague]

i love how its just "here's some sushi history, we dont know why but here it is"

[@nensondubois]

So sad Super Sushi Pinball wasn't officially released, but at least it is now preserved!

[@italjahcorntrashroller]

My teeth r shot from years of throwing up. Its cool ur not alone by far.

[@Daniel-be6cj]

1:34 That Sonic's packin' a straight up dumptruck

[@marccaselle8108]

Lol sonic the dumphog 🤣

[@shorty1k]

Oh my god you found it, you actually found it!! I played the heck out of the Japanese version

[@JohnRiggs]

Great work, all involved!

[@colefitzpatrick8431]

Every speedrun of this game must contain at least three servings of onigiri between levels. Proper form as dictated by the closing cutscene will be evaluated by a team of spectators

[@zeromusura3497]

Hi frank Im' been lurking around since the early days on lost Levels website. Thanks you & the team, for the involvement on making all these thing possible. Merry christmas!

[@red-rax]

This is so cool! I remember reading about Super Sushi Pinball in Console Wars, and it has always been in the back of my mind ever since. I never thought I would ever be able to play it myself online. Kind of disappointing that the boards aren’t themed around sushi like I imagined though…

[@videostash413]

it's much cooler that they are not!

[@tuff_lover]

That's fucking awesome, they even included the instruction how to use chopstick, what a mood! Thanks for that, Boss.

[@doctjoe]

I really appreciate what you and this organization does and stands for. I'm tight on money right now but when I'm sitting more comfortably I'll be sure to contribute.

[@Sparkbomber]

Extremely cool that you found this one. But yeesh, I'd have loved to look through that basement myself.

[@retropulse03]

Imagine how much of the early history of this medium is straight up gone, lost to time. How much more would we know if this good work was being done 10, 20, even 30 years ago.... We'll never know, but we also won't have to ask that exact same question, with a 40 or 50 on it in the decades to come. Thanks to the VGHF.

[@DhinCardoso]

Holy crap i can't believe you guys tracked this down! EPIC IS EPIC ♥

[@Wavebeam64]

As always, I find your work to be astoundingly refreshing and IMPORTANT. Thank you for all you do. I love this video, everything about it; the pace, the important documentation of lost video game history, and the way it goes through all sorts of aspects of the ways games were made(or often not).

[@Obscusion2]

Excellent story & find. But watching this video I noticed another game in that lot check paper: Zeta Gundam from Bandai. Now the VGHF has to find the prototype of Zeta Gundam: Hot Scramble's unreleased English localization!

[@darktetsuya]

Had never heard of this one! Pretty sure I started reading EGM too late to see any ads for it. Major props for doing what y'all are for game preservation, definitely going to fire this one up when I get a minute.

[@Feral_gatr]

Releasing the ROM to us as well is true gigachad behavior

[@ExtremeWreck]

Agreed 100%

[@GameHistoryOrg]

We did! Check the description.

[@Feral_gatr]

Oh yup I saw, I'm saying you are gigachads for having done so 💪 @@GameHistoryOrg

[@GameHistoryOrg]

Whoops, misread your comment, sorry! (A bunch of folks missed that we did!)

[@mikethered123]

I remember CGQ+ Chris talk about how this sounded interesting when he came upon a small ad for it in a gaming magazine, but never saw the light of day.

[@McAster99]

I really appreciate the end section, explaining how you found or were given the sources. Very informative all on it's own.

[@zero.the.prototype]

Amazing work. I am an instant fan. Just wish i had realized you were doing productions sooner. I'll be watching from now on! BRAVO!!

[@jamisondonald384]

Those numbers for strider don't make any sense. That game is broken as hell (I paused on that quality sheet from Nintendo that accidentally got taken home) Also, thank you so much for your hard work! These videos are great

[@awogbob]

Insane level of detail on this one frank ty

[@stifflol]

Didn’t know Frank Cifaldi was to be found here. What a Christmas treat. ❤

[@Takato]

I wish more people cared for the history of videogames like you do lol

[@RaymeCVinson]

Fantastic work, all of you. Thanks for this, and for all the other days this month!

[@KoopaMedia64]

One of my most favorite things, another unreleased NES game being found, thanks so much Frank, from another Lost Levels lurker.

[@ZakkHung]

What an honor it would be to play a one of a kind prototype. Extraordinary! 😃

[@AlKaseltzer87]

When we were kids in the early 90s we were happy to get any game no matter how cheap. Even those Tiger handhelds.

[@videogameobsession]

Merry Christmas, Frank. I bet you sleep in that magazine room. I know I would. :) -Matt

[@joyconboyz1409]

This is so cool! What a nice Christmas surprise!

[@darkreyule]

Ahhh EGM. My entry to their RPG Maker contest was mentioned in an issue! Yay me!

[@Write-Stuff]

That's awesome. I won letter art of the month once myself. I miss EGM. Those were the days.

[@bangdingow1414]

Thanks bud, another video pinball game for the collection.

[@BartHubbard]

What a fascinating story and peek into the Nintendo gaming industry!

[@goldenpp72]

Great video, will have to dig into your channel more!

[@3DJapan]

Super Dodge Ball was one of my favorite NES games.

[@KattKirsch]

This is so lovely! I'd love to try this eventually, and I'm so thankful there are folks preserving our history

[@Juganawt]

Thank you for preserving such an interesting title. Merry Christmas

[@tyboy158]

It would have been hilarious to actually see this game released, but I can see why they didn't.

[@RabbitEarsCh]

Genuinely amazing the knife edge that so much of this history sits on. But hey - you're sitting ont hat edge and I'm glad to be chucking y'all money a couple times a year.

[@fusionspace175]

Why do I feel like the guy who made this and the guy who made Ninja Baseball Batman met up and talked in a bar?

[@Yumegipsu]

Thank you Ed.

[@gabbahey42]

Anyone else remember TheRedEye? Great video!

[@newmusicmark]

Best NES opening of all time 2:45 -- Statue of Liberty making some tuna sushi!

[@topchief1]

He didn't like California Raisins. I'll gather the torches.

[@chuckbanzai]

I am so incredibly inspired by your hard work and passion. I wish I had an ounce of your determination and dedication. Thank you for being you.

[@greymatter77]

I'd like to know more about that Nintendo internal check list. What are the 2 different averages for? Are there more of those papers somewhere? Who decided on an added sushi theme and why? Great video and excellent journalism.

[@MrGrokthis]

Goddamn, Frank, what you do is sofa king awesome. Love all the videos and the vghf podcast.

[@user-vi4xy1jw7e]

I had the hardest time thinking of who you reminded me of. Then I remembered: Jacksfilms.

[@polynektar]

this is amazing! loved the history section of the vid at the end.

[@PersonaSama]

Love the story behind this! I know for certain if this game released, there would have been so many more sushi-literate kids growing up who all learned how to use chopsticks from the ending. We missed out 😔 Always happy to support the foundation and I’m glad to see every neat lost discovery y’all dig up! Cheers and happy holidays!

[@videostash413]

not really. pinball games are rarely huge sellers

[@IceLexicon]

5/5 will watch again.

[@mattmyers9351]

Super awesome you found this game!

[@hideokojimajr]

Merry Christmas, Frank.

[@RadikAlice]

Speaking of Imagesoft, it's funny how one of their releases can serve as an almost direct bridge between Pre and post-PlayStation Sony, and let's not forget. It was Sony who made the Super Nintendo sound chip so in a way, this game being found is more monumental than it might seem, another point in the bridge Oh yeah, before I forget. Game in question was Jelly Boy 2, western release for it was dropped

[@Phantoon]

You're doing important work. Thanks for this.

[@uhhh_adam]

Every time I think I'm done looking out for NES roms I'm proved wrong lol

[@Reoko77]

Truly the most sushi game of all time.

[@Game_Hero]

Anyone else remember Sushi Striker : The way of Sushido?

[@Zulf85]

You'd have thought they'd save that text crawl for the manual of the final product, or at least make it skippable lmao. I can't imagine having to sit through all that every time I wanted to play.

[@mattsephton]

Awesome work Frank and team!

[@DrUSB]

I remember hearing about this game in the console wars book, I didn’t know it actually existed!

[@kazinwho]

I legit think the teaching of Japanese culture to American kids in the late 1980s is amazing. I wish this would have come out.

[@AintNobodyAtAll]

I would love to know more about those internal quality reviews.

[@Evilpr0tagonist]

Great video! Thanks for all you do!

[@ladiesman2048]

It's not so hard to believe Nintendo would reject game that has intro and ending that are totally unrelated to the actual gameplay...

[@OMG-ws6lx]

Great content! Love to watch this! Tks

[@AfterBurnerTeirusu]

God, I'm going to have nightmares of ballsack Sonic.

[@PointZoneTelephone]

He looks AI generated but he is real and can hurt you

[@adult_witch]

have not watched video yet but That issue of Black Enterprise Magazine leapt out at me immediately!

[@Kabopple]

Amazing as always!

[@ericdleon]

Don't normally hear the name Ed Semrad in a positive light.

[@atarileaf]

It's basically super pinball on famicom

[@Game_Hero]

1:28 This Sonic is going to haunt my dreams for the rest of my life

[@fireaza]

Was sushi even popular in the 80s? Sure, it's mega-popular now, and re-theming a game to make it sushi-themed would probably work today. But in the 80s? I dunno, it seems like that would make things worse.

[@PandaXs1]

the 80's is when sushi started becoming popular in America, kids here may not have eaten sushi but they would have at least known about it and knew it was something very Japanese.

[@LukeDodge916]

Can you please do a video around the office space? Show off the magazines and go through what you have there? Please 😁 -From a video game magazine junkie (formerly)

[@MJFallout]

Yos! New full-fledged Pinball game for NES!

[@hardkoregamer1981]

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year Godspeed

[@videostash413]

I remember CGQ talking about this game. Sushi is such a stupid food

[@Lugamo94]

Thanks, Frank.

[@SinKillerJ]

An intro rivaled only by Mister Mosquito.

[@VitalikNerdChannel]

Merry Christmas!

[@nuclearmonster]

great video and research, wow!

[@dw9932]

That's crazy to find it

[@ak2112]

Ed Semrad!

[@lpjunior999]

Were you not able to contact Blake Harris? It used to be that you only had to mention Console Wars on Twitter and he’d reply.

[@axelprino]

What a weird creative decision, to change the theme of a pinball game from sport cars to sushi but keeping the sport cars graphics in the tables themselves.

[@ButcherGrindslam]

Imagesoft... "Mickey Mania". Epic - "Super Rescue" was released in Japan and was widely pirated.

[@OMG-ws6lx]

Well done!!

[@PandaXs1]

I dunno, I can imagine NoA refusing to make this game despite passing their tests. given how some games had their Japaneseness completely localized out they probably weren't super keen about reminding consumers that they were buying a foreign product from a foreign company.