T&C Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of LJN's 1988 license-based action game for the NES, Town & Country Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage.
This video shows my reaching Round 26 before getting a game over. There is no ending and once you've gone far enough the stages start to repeat. I'm playing as the Tiki Man/Kool Kat team.
In one of the more unusual instances of brand-licensing for an NES game, this Atlus-produced cart isn't based on a TV or movie tie-in. Rather, Wood & Water Rage is a game based on the characters that appeared on t-shirts sold by Town & Country Surf Designs, a Hawaiian surfboard and clothing manufacturer and retail operation.
It's a multi-event "sports" game in the same vein as California Games ( • California Games (NES)... ) and Caveman Games ( • Caveman Games (NES) Pl... ), but this one features skateboarding and surfing. Either event can be played in isolation or in the "Wood and Water Rage" mode that alternates between the two.
The skateboarding sections take place on a cluttered up deathtrap of a street. You have to weave around stacks of boxes, animals, oil slicks, and toys as you collect coins, grind rails, and use ramps to launch yourself over giant holes in the road.
The surfing sections have you pulling tricks for points as you fight to stay ahead of the wave while avoiding birds, fish, and characters floating by on inner tubes.
The skateboarding is my favorite of the two modes. The controls are easy and simple, the objective is clear, and it's fun to see your scores improve as you learn the track variations. That pink sky sets a nice mood, too.
But somehow, the surfing event manages to be even more frustrating than the one in California Games. The game doesn't make it clear what it expects you to do, and the manual's explanation of the controls is completely useless. As a kid, I struggled so much with this mode, and it wasn't until years later that lucked into figuring it out enough to make some headway.
For anyone that never figured it out, here's my take on it. The stage is an auto-scroller and the main goal is to just survive until the end. To keep ahead of the wave, first, hold A to build momentum and hold up to move up the wall of water. Then, while still holding A, hit down to pick up speed, and when you're about halfway down the screen, hit right to propel yourself forward. You can also jump the wave by holding up and B at the top of the wall which is useful for avoiding the animals. It's fairly easy to pass the event once you know how to do it, so hopefully that explanation will spare some poor soul a bit of torment.
Wood & Water Rage seems to be a fairly polarizing game. There are many, like me, who absolutely love the game for its awesome skateboarding levels and the killer soundtrack, and there are many who utterly loathe it because of the ridiculously unintuitive surfing controls.
The skateboarding alone was always enough to keep me hooked, though. I had no idea what T&C was as a kid, but it didn't matter. I loved the game anyway.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@MrAndromedean]

i always wondered if there was an end to this game. Now that Ive seen this, I know there is not.

[@MrOrthopedia]

What can one expect from a game by Laughing Joking Numbnuts?

[@cinedelasestrellas]

I distinctly remember that the screenshots on the back of the box showed some sort of trophies on the bottom of the screen so I played and played to try to see how to get them to show up. I got pretty good at the game and cleared so many of those skateboard levels and I never saw them!

[@vegetaian1]

😂

[@jackstar6018]

@@cinedelasestrellaslol😂

[@aguaflo6767]

Cult classsic if you are here you know a true ‘OG’ of gaming. As many; surfing stages blew yet this was my most fav rage quit as a kid…

[@aguaflo6767]

Comparing to apps this game is an og to platforming and tap tap originals.. true classic… ‘seeeeeegggggaaaaaa’

[@grundlebutter5624]

Man the surfing was so hard for me to pick up.... plenty of rage quitting with this game even back then but this game was epic for sure...

[@MrOrthopedia]

Considering it was made by Laughing Joking Numbnuts.

[@ghostcasper3185]

I don't think i ever beat the first board of surfing in this game back then.

[@logoninternet]

Loved this game. The cat surfing in a tux has gotta be the coolest videogame character ever.

[@freddyvidz]

Kewl Kat

[@MrOrthopedia]

Considering this game was developed by Laughing Joking Numbnuts.

[@Captain_Crayzay]

Yep! Was always my go to😅

[@MrStickman1997]

But... why surfing in a tuxedo...?

[@edwardgarcia3731]

Paid homage to Bodie from Point Break!

[@NintendoComplete]

The skateboarding is great, the soundtrack is primo, and you get to do extreme sports as a cat, a monkey, and a dude in a cannibal mask. Wood & Water Rage is pretty sweet... for the most part. (Shame about the surfing, though!)

[@darlenegeloso3164]

announcement for you NintendoComplete teenage mutant ninja turtles the cowabunga collection is coming to Nintendo switch ps5 Xbox one and Stream August 30th after Artemis 1 rocket lifts off August 29th

[@NintendoComplete]

@@darlenegeloso3164 Awesome, thanks for the heads up!

[@RSK412]

NC! I always thought it was a luchadore mask I guess it could go either way really! 🤣

[@darlenegeloso3164]

@@NintendoComplete no problem

[@NintendoComplete]

@@RSK412 Oh haha, I could see that. I just assumed cannibal with the whole islander thing going on. He made me think of the cannibals in Monkey Island, just without the lemon.

[@rickardcr8770]

Pure nostalgia. Great childhood memories with this game 👌🏻🕹🎮 😀 👍🏻

[@ChrisCrazyHouse]

It took me so long to figure out how to surf 🏄‍♀️ in this game

[@dwightdixon8508]

Oh wow i used to watch my older brother play this game & he seemed to be pretty good at it. I gave it a go and I was terrible so I would just watch him play it. I’ve given it another go a few times and to this day I’m still terrible at it

[@yatazaq6621]

Same 😂 this game was so hard

[@BenJabituya]

I never understood the surfing levels. BTW, It sounded like Double Dragon music!

[@jackstar6018]

no it doesn't 😕

[@Itjustdontaddup]

Friday and Saturday Good times man through in the Goonies 😂 💯🔥💯

[@donbasuradenuevo]

Game is 35 years old. 35 YEARS OLD !!!

[@gwicks]

Ive been playing the skateboard portion of the game on actual hardware with a flash cart in order to use savestates to see how many levels there are. I finally got to level 99 with points maxed out at 999999 (and no, the points didn't roll over to zero). When I beat the lebel, the level counter became 00, and the level after that is 01, but they maintain the more complex level layout of the later stages. I was hoping for a special end game screen or something but didn't really expect one; the game developers probably didn't expect anyone to get to that high of a level.

[@TheCureThatKillz]

The nostalgia is so heavy with this I can hardly stand it

[@JayInDecent]

I played this game as a kid im 46 years old bring back memories

[@depmaudoofal74]

Lol! ❤😊

[@lionyleftwich4418]

I remember my oldest bro when he was 14 at the time had this game on his 1st gen Nintendo when i use to play it while he was at school when i was only like 4yrs old back then

[@jeremy2684]

This brings back soooooo many memories.but what was wrong with dude face? 😂 😂 😂

[@orinhill9097]

It's a mask

[@raulshiro6239]

Its a mask

[@amso7169]

Jesus christ that stage theme goes hard.

[@RSK412]

Ah yes I remember this game handing my ass to me every time I played it as a kid. Is it broken? Or did I just suck. Probably both

[@IndysGameplayVids]

Fun fact: the same person who wrote the music to this game, Tsukasa Masuko, is the same composer for some of the older Megami Tensei/Shin Megami Tensei games. There's a similarity between this theme and Megami Tensei 2's "Explorer", for example.

[@Soulful_Chaos]

THIS WAS MY GAME!!!!!! They need to stop playing and add this to switch online...

[@spoonshiro]

One of those games everyone you knew as a kid had or at least rented at some point. Don't know how many of them actually liked it, though!

[@justman4891]

I owned it and hated it lol

[@datdudecollins]

Rented! God, that's so funny, now, isn't it??

[@Taylor.Dude.]

It was an appealing game when you didn’t own it. Then when you owned it, you played a few times before only playing it once in a while. It seemed mediocre next to your favorite games.

[@OutNAbout415]

I love this game one of the first ones i ever owned. I never knew till I went to hawaii it was a real brand. I only thought it was only a game.

[@rogerstephenroth8073]

I enjoyed skateboarding and surfing on this game in the NES. It brings great memories form my childhood, and it is a under rated classic.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

This is mesmerizing for some strange reason. What is there to say, this game actually looks kinda fun.

[@mezmerizer0266]

Fun and frustrating. This and Skate or Die were the best skateboard games for Nintendo.

[@radeonrose]

I used to play this a lot when I was younger, and it was fun.

[@MrAndromedean]

I think it's the music. @_@

[@Trh1]

Game is brutal!

[@MrOrthopedia]

It does have that Laughing Joking Numbnuts vibe.

[@Darkness8536]

I remember how much fun this game was once you got the hang of it. One of my favorite NES games.

[@DallasCowboyDuo]

Oh man played this as a kid, don't think I ever made it passed the surfing 😂 iconic music for sure lol

[@skygalvan1880]

Dear Strongbad, How do you skateboard with boxing gloves on? Crapfully yours, Homestar Runner The Stick, Strongbadia

[@thecunninlynguist]

some how I played this often...but I never rented it. Either cousins had it or friends. It was fun for what it was

[@NikeaTiber]

This game kicked the crap out of me when I was six.

[@depmaudoofal74]

Lol! ❤😊

[@dontewilson2378]

One of my favorite games when I was little. Loved the shirts too

[@shawnfromportland]

I used to play the skate level FOR STYLE over and over, i was mean at it. Also T&C 2 has got to be the number 1 or top 5 game for NES for me

[@TheDemoniusX]

Used to play the street skate session and just jam the music, which could easily fit in a Double Dragon game. I got to round 25 before biting it.

[@alexkidd8772]

Wood and Water Rage sounds like something you get when you're pregnant

[@NintendoComplete]

Maybe it's what it feels like to go to the bathroom after eating a bowl of ice cream slathered in onions.

[@shanerobinson3455]

Brings back memories, Skate or Die was a good one too

[@MrWolfTickets]

That's funny you mention it, i bought skate or die and this cart from another kid in 4th grade(1988). Had a lot of fun with both

[@shanethomasdonovan6033]

Yes it was!! Skate or die was awesome, but hard! I remember like it was yesterday that I got Skate or die for my 11th birthday in 1989! Played the shit out of it! Sequel wasn't great!

[@eugenehills8371]

Surf board 🌊🌊 turn around summer 🏝️ Looks out 1000 Points finish line ball Jump skateboard 🛹 controller 🎮 all right

[@anatta467]

my 4 month old makes a sound like that seagull, geezus Im old 🤙

[@m.a.packer5450]

Remember my cousin getting this when it came out. Was so freaking hard

[@dadventures714]

These graphics are off the original Nintendo?

[@MrDark086]

Grew up on this one but was absolutely dog water at it. Jaysus i'm old....

[@LeahElisheva]

I loved this game as a kid. I wonder if it’s on the NES classic mini

[@Warrioroflight-ns4pl]

Skate or Die or T&C was the favorite games back then they were in the top five for sure ❤❤

[@jeffreylieberman1668]

This, 720 (arcade version), and Skate or Die were the best back in the day.

[@Metalman200xdamnit]

The skateboarding was actually good but the surfing sucked. Remember,to even have a shot at the later levels,you needed to earn the time freeze.

[@snoozy04]

I never understood this game when I was 4 but loved it.

[@hansjavis5854]

This dude got this game for his birthday and had to play it all year long, cause he had no choice.

[@donaldsmith8648]

Kick Push and coast

[@robloxvids2233]

Fun game but the skateboarding was way easier. I never got the hang of the surfing.

[@metalmacabre9991]

This game definitely tested a person's reflexes, especially the skateboarding doesn't give much time for reaction. I loved this game when I was a kid, got for Christmas of 88. I was in a group of game traders, it was cool, it was one for one. If a person felt their game was worth 2 games for what he was trading, then he could negotiate, but we all tried to keep it one for one. The reason was to keep parents out of it. We would gather at someone's house, that way we could all make sure each game was in working order. That way we had witnesses, nobody could come back later on saying the game didn't work or some bullshit, and there was always crybabies that would regret their trade, but it was too late. If you traded a game and regretted it later, that was just tough shit, and there wasn't anything their parents could do to change the outcome of it. The minute someone pulled that shit, they were kicked out of the group, that only happened about 9 or 10 times, which isn't bad because we all used to meet up every other weekend.

[@Dorian_Scott]

Gotta be honest here, this actually doesn't look too bad for an LJN published game.

[@pronouncedgooglewithat]

Probably the best game they ever published.

[@amso7169]

@@pronouncedgooglewithat nah, that’s undoubtedly spider man maximum carnage

[@publicanimal]

It was one of the most popular NES games at the time.

[@xxHUNGRY4THETRUTHxx]

Can't believe that I can't find a metal remix. I'd give a hearty donation for someone with that talent to make it happen.

[@pronouncedgooglewithat]

Nestalgica used to do some hard covers of NES music. Don’t know if they’re still uploading though.

[@nofuneral1790]

The band Thrice used this music a the foundation for their song "T & C". Not metal, but it's still pretty good.

[@twyz0ne]

Loved this oddly thought up game for some reason even though it was repetitive as fuck 😅 Oh and surfing was pretty damn tough from what I recall.

[@Nostalgia9478]

Love this game. Wish theyd put it on Switch

[@TrojanStrikeAnimations42069]

sounds like something you'd catch while pregnant

[@ExecutionDbl9]

The music in this game has no business going that hard

[@highdef718]

I like the part where he jumped over the thing

[@jonathanganske]

I never understood how to control the surf board lol

[@RC51Legend]

Fun to use the "B" team instead of Joe Cool and Thrilla Gorilla??

[@starofjustice1]

Gorillas are mid

[@Poobyskates]

HOW??? THE SURFING....THE DAMN SURFING

[@Channel-s9j]

😂

[@iciouailleurs1977]

A great game that reminds me of my childhood. I sometimes replay it from time to time thanks to an emulator

[@priestmorrison6564]

!!I DO DO HATE!?! *when a..SOUND board, can PRODUCE Awesome Tracks Like THYS And"WE" end up wit'Da DRIVEL they come up with Today....how THYS held up....'ASTOUNDING!?!'

[@spiritchild9101]

This was one of my favorite Nintendo rentals in the 1980’s. I bought it for 5 bucks in the late 90s when mom and pop video stores were going out of business.

[@jasonhill8414]

this game sucked. i wanted to love it. i think i liked the arcade version (or the idea of it) but gameplay on nes was weak. surfing is lame, skating was repetitive and too hard. i traded a lot of video games w friends. nobody loved this game.

[@sharnechaparrish8928]

Man this game was fun back in the 90s late 80s on to the 90s I remember playing this game in 1995 in the summer time spring break school's out 😊 video 📹 game 🎮 systems all.week long

[@JohnSmith-gu3ub]

The surfing was next to impossible. I'd never actually seen a level completed until now.

[@mezmerizer0266]

Loved this on NES and Atari Linx

[@Omarencarnacion1]

cool game

[@zippymufo9765]

LOL I had this shitty game

[@JFK-ir7yz]

They’re making a movie based on this game.

[@jackstar6018]

heck yeah!

[@Ricardo23228]

i was 8 years old playing this game in 88 .. i had a lance mountain deck slimeball wheels and tracker trucks 🤙

[@Atreus21]

Always associated this game with childhood vacations. The beach setting.

[@skippypeanut3025]

Pitbull - Greenlight (with Flo Rida feat. LunchMoney Lewis) -

[@skippypeanut3025]

Eden McCoy: NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - T&C SURF DESIGNS: WOOD WATER RAGE.

[@juanvelazques4380]

The OG Subway super 💯

[@SESSHOMARU3INUTAISHO]

So pretty much this game is just for the sake of endurance and not much else huh?

[@josephwillard6461]

omfg! i remember this game when i was a kid!!! played it in the 90s

[@TheSpaceCoupe57Chevy]

T&C still around you can order skateboard decks and clothes online

[@brianwilliams5121]

The game never ends. Input game genie codes for infinite life and time.

[@Ghadente]

this is one of the nes games i always remember when thinking about the old system

[@robloxvids2233]

And Goonies II I bet.

[@AerialEscape]

Damn I totally forgot about this game! So hard and yet so fun!!

[@nicksandz3209]

Not sure why i had this game mixed up with California games

[@briandavidson8319]

Does anyone know if this game will ever be on switch?

[@bradhedgehog12]

29:53 KOHPLUH!!

[@woodsperson8078]

for some reason I thought the pier would change its layout or you'd hit it, it's been like 30 years is I played this.

[@Channel-s9j]

Right?!

[@takokola]

I recently saw this on cadicarus's channel

[@JuroJack]

I remember playing this game ONE TIME away from home when I was younger, far too young to understand what to do. I don't think I even beat a single skateboarding section, that's how young I was. But somehow I remembered the basic riffs of music and I couldn't be more overjoyed that I identified this game at last! As crappy as the Surfboard controls may look and be, it still looks cool as hell and I'm sure the peak feeling in this game is skateboarding at top speed with time stop.

[@ianborukho]

BROOOOOO

[@martonyomchale342]

This music scared me when I was a kid.

[@socalrcguy1]

Now its even more fun and more nostagia on the modern linux handheld devices

[@Channel-s9j]

Agreed

[@SpeedyDePalma]

Know what always bugged me? The back of the box had screenshots from what appears to be the game in beta you can see a two player skateboard mode with an unused character.

[@MichaelRyanNewell]

Is this on Switch Online?

[@therealhardrock]

Strong Bad on a skateboard.

[@thesleepygenius]

Why didn’t you ever push forward on the dpad? Dude was just pushing the whole time.

[@jaredhammonds8255]

I never could get tye hang of the surfing level

[@Channel-s9j]

Same lol 😂

[@miamimagicians]

Very mean game no ending

[@TheBlueprintsOrlando]

Oh no not this game 😢

[@pablozambrano5709]

What a Bad Game was this

[@MrOrthopedia]

Another classic Laughing Joking Numbnuts game.

[@skankbowlfight]

E1M1 vibes

[@datdudecollins]

I loved doing rail slides for some reason.

[@martonyomchale342]

The music scared me when I was a kid. 😂 Still creeps me out.

[@jackstar6018]

I dont see how, i love man! 🤘🏾