THIS POSSUM GOES BALLISTIC! - Rocket Knight Adventures Re-Sparked Collection

[@emilysong2000]

Fun Fact: if you defeat the giant mech at the beginning of Rocket Knight Adventures 2, you win a magical sword...one of seven swords hidden throughout the game. If you manage to find and collect all seven swords, Sparkster will transform into Golden Sparkster! Yeah, you could say that Konami was...um...inspired by a certain blue hedgehog who tends to turn into a superpowered golden hedgehog after collecting a certain set of magical jewels...

[@davidwaller3541]

So that makes their foes bacon and eggs?

[@mboone137]

Which itself was directly inspired by DragonBall. Toriyama's blessings never ceas

[@SorcererLance]

The rewind feature is SUCH a godsend... The harsh reminder of "let's make the games EVEN HARDER because Blockbuster Video's rentals are potentially killing our sales" era immediately sucker-punched me after level 2 of most of these games

[@scottnotpilgrim]

That is one awesome possum

[@BogusMeatFactory]

No that would be the actual Awesome Possum who has been known to kick Dr. Machino's Butt.

[@Average_Brad]

Glad someone else had the courage to make that joke... lol

[@VBrancoPT]

Awesome Possum: "I'm gonna clean up this world yet." Dr. Machino: "You're not so awesome!"

[@keironhiggspoet]

how can one not love the first rocket knight adventures game? its presentation, stellar soundtrack and as Matt quoted has that "konami difficulty" that makes a long-player. I've never beaten it but have come close on the occasion. the second game(s) do indeed feel like a different experience looking back. that animated intro makes me pine for a proper sparkster series now, although been a UK citizen as stated we did get a shortlived Sparkster comic in the fleetway Sonic comic.

[@bookerplayer01]

Goggles on animals is peak character design. Facts.

[@zdavisgenki243]

"If you loved this game growing up, then I love YOU." Man, even when he hates a game, Matt's still such a nice guy, huh? 😊

[@stuartlittle281]

He may not have gotten his own cartoon, but he did have a strip in the UK Sega-based "Sonic The Comic"

[@Sealbinder]

I had completely forgotten about this until i saw the thumbnail. It just triggered some great memories of the early '90s.

[@Kramdaddy]

I rented the original Rocket Knight so many damn times as a kid, could never beat it. Wasn't even aware there were sequels. Also you bet your ass if there's a rewind feature I'll be using it. Gamers be weird with that shit, but it's the closest thing I have to cheat codes these days.

[@tonybarnes2920]

I LOVE the first Rocket Knight on Genesis. The SNES games are... "fine", but definitely not the same. Rocket Knight feels right up there with Contra and Gunstar heroes, while Sparkster feels like, "we have Rocket Knight at home". Also, you can constantly hold down the charge while moving and then unleash it without pushing a direction. That makes you spin in place and do a ton of damage while being invincible. Lastly, FUN FACT: the Plasma Catapult air dash in Strider 2014 is directly influenced by Rocket Knight. As a matter of fact, there are bosses in Strider that were influenced by Rocket Knight, too... including the snake boss at the end of Rocket Knight's first level and the Millipede boss (Archispirostreptus Gigas) in Strider. Good stuff!

[@saltyhobnob1074]

Saw Korone, guessed the editor. Good stuff as usual Matt.

[@Chaz4543]

Konami really knew how to get the most out of the Genesis sound chip. Its such a sharp contrast to all the western developers who used the horrible Gems sound driver.

[@thefroyukenfiles3641]

You wouldn't find a Japanese dev caught dead using GEMS over FM Synthesis or their own in-house sound drivers.

[@xRocketzFighterx]

So glad my aunt introduced me to the original game back in around 2000s she also had all the streets of rage games n i would beat them in coop. Also got introduced to Phantasy star online, skies of arcadia, shining force 1 n 2 I would play all of these for hours. Rocket Knight series for kid me did kick my butt back to the title screen. I didn't know the sequels existed till 2008 and I went crazy for these and I love them just as much even tho they're not better than the first game.

[@HazzardousEco]

18:22 Was not expecting Korone there =D

[@kamenrangerzeo8251]

I remember playing this back in the day of the console wars (Super Nintendo Vs Sega Genesis) and the rocket knight was a fun game I had enjoyed, music, characters, boss fights the works.

[@DerivativeWorker]

It may seem hard but you get tons of Iframes when using your rocket powers.

[@iLO80]

Sparkster should’ve been on Smash.

[@thefroyukenfiles3641]

Or a Spirit at least.

[@TitanKaempfer]

I remember that I submitted Sparkster as a character in the polls back when they asked for which character to include in Smash.

[@DSMTheEditor]

I'm happy it's available for a new generation of players, hooray classic game preservation

[@That_Lady_Charlie]

​@@IncognitoActivadoemulation is also a lot cheaper

[@DRCEQ]

wasn't expecting a random Korone clip in the middle of this video.

[@Sturmfall1]

I'm really surprised at how good the environmental storytelling is in the first game. Years ahead of its time.

[@samwill7259]

If this character was never in the Archie Sonic comics, someone screwed up

[@SorcererLance]

Archie only had the rights to Sonic and Megaman (Sega and Capcom respectively), Sparkster couldn't risk even getting a cameo or else getting the attention of Konami's legal team

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

We did get a crossover with Megaman Viewtiful Joe, Billy Hatcher, Amaterasu from Okami. And Bunch of other characters except Dante or even Donte from DMC

[@SorcererLance]

@@bearerofbadnews1375 all of which were exclusively Sega and Capcom properties, none of them Konami

[@brentbechtold7352]

He did show up in the UK Fleetway Sonic series for the record.

[@Sparkster2600]

I am so happy to see you play and enjoy this series! I understand the frustration with RKA2, I like the game personally but it’s not as polished as RKA or Sparkster SNES. It also looks like the general consensus is that RKA 1 is the best, and I have to say, I agree with that notion, it really feels polished and that there’s no bad section with that game. Hopefully this collection will help more people experience the game. It really is a win-win when stuff like this gets rereleased on modern platforms!

[@SapphireDragonDX]

Sparkster was certainly one of those diamonds in the rough of videogame mascots back in the early 90s. While you can argue that he was Konami's attempt to cash in on the "animal mascot with attitude" craze that started with Sonic the Hedgehog, there was something about that possum that felt more genuine. I guess it's because his games were actually really solid, especially compared to most other mascot platformers at the time. It's a shame that Sparkster didn't get the opportunity to have his own Saturday morning cartoon series and whatnot. lol

[@magitek09]

Most people I see trying rocket knight advebtures don't get past the train boss, it's like the first big wall of the game

[@kenterminateddq5311]

I didn't know the Rocket Knight Collection already came out. I'm looking forward to purchase and download it to my Switch so thank you, Matt McMuscles.

[@rodneylanning2529]

I loved this game on the genesis as a young lad, and played the hell out of it. Although I don't recall ever beating it, the game will always have a place in the nostalgic parts of my mind palace. Seeing this also makes me want to revisit it for sure. Thank Mr. McMuscles you're the best.

[@Kenoji8]

Love me some Rocket Knight Adventures. One of my favorite "platformers" growing up...with JETPACKS!!!! It was a really cool concept and I enjoyed the story and universe. Sadly, I never played any of the other Rocket Knight / Sparkster games apart from the Genesis game, so maybe I'll look into this.

[@thefroyukenfiles3641]

Looking at the initial release dates, a part of me wants to believe most of the team behind the original Rocket Knight Adventures went on to form Treasure. Gunstar Heroes would release the following month. Since the Mega Drive Sparkster released half a year after RKA (and a month before Castlevania: Bloodlines), it had to be a B-team behind development. Konami mastered the SNES tech by the time its Sparkster game released so its exceptional quality's to be expected. The art assets and the game feel makes me think the Mystical Ninja team were behind development.

[@Lidavel]

Sparkster always reminded me of Sonic, especially in the snes version with the hair coming out. I always thought he was so cool but the snes one was so hard lol.

[@Bannandorf]

Honestly when comparing the SNES Sparkster to the Genesis version the Genesis version had more consistent albeit above normal difficulty. While the SNES version had a lot of "gotcha" instant death moments, also their kinda opposites in control. SNES version focuses more on Sparkster's movement but the rocket become awkward, Genesis version focuses more on the rocketing but made Sparkster more awkward.

[@FlyingDuckMan360]

Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked is one of three Konami compilations for modern consoles I had been hoping for . The first, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection was released in 2022. The third, a compilation of Konami's Tiny Toon Adventures games, is sadly never going to see the light of day as long as the evil David Zaslav is running Warner Bros. (I made an entire video rant on that subject and I recommend seeing it).

[@Gravadel]

Oh man, this collection flew under my radar! The original Genesis and SNES game were so awesome, and me and my brothers just kept replaying it. The music, animations, and mix of gameplay modes was just perfect. I kinda prefer the Japanese version of the Genesis game, if only for the intro with the pigs attacking, and the mini orchestra playing at the start of the stages.

[@DoctorInk20]

Used to make art with the sprites from this in Photoshop back when I was a teenager. Never played it, but I may just do that now. 😁 A friend of mine actually worked on in-betweens for the animations on this.

[@ziplockcreations2313]

The two main games I had on the Genesis, growing up in the 90's, that no one else in my group of friends had(or even wanted to play) was Rocket Knight Adventures and Landstalker. Landstalker was the poor man's Legend Of Zelda.(at least, that's how I looked at it lol) Still one of my favorite games for the Genesis.

[@videogamerzero1schannel]

I really dig playing all these games when I got this a month ago this really was Konami's answer to Sonic & it would be really dope if Wayforward can be the one to make a new game like how they made a new Contra game

[@dnakatomiuk]

I love the Rocket Knight series I found Sparkster in a 2nd hand store once didnt even know they made a sequel. I managed to get my dad to buy me it and i couldn't wait to get home from my holiday. But when they added the corkscrew booster move i was like freaking out lol. But RKA1 was seriously hard to get true endings in both games you have to complete hard mode

[@Endocrom]

Getting a cartoon? Yeah, that would be nice, but what I really think when I see Sparkster is cereal mascot.

[@CornyPuddle]

Such a underrated character

[@SonicItachi]

I love this collection! I grew up on the Genesis original, but never played any of the other games. Rocket Knight 1 is still the GOAT! Sparkster on SNES was really good, but I hated the mech fight in space. Sad that boss is at the end of a vertical shooter stage which was amazing for this franchise! Rocket Knight HD actually wasn’t that bad on my playthrough of the whole series last week. Rocket Knight 2 is okay at best. It is definitely the weakest one, but I did like the horizontal movement after an air rocket boost, which was kept in the HD game. So glad that we have this collection! #1 - Rocket Knight Adventures #2 - Sparkster #3- Rocket Knight #4 - Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2

[@Stinger420]

Maybe consider playing Magic Sword on SNES sometime?

[@xboxclown8922]

I had the original Rocket Knight Adventures growing up. I knew about Sparkster on Genesis from old gaming book. Years later I found out about Sparkster on SNES. Along with Marvel vs. Capcom and Gex, this is one of the last collection games from my childhood I was waiting for. Unless they bring back Ready 2 Rumble Boxing series.

[@wraithcadmus]

Matt's allergy to using the rocket dash in RKA forced me to watch this in shifts 😅. I do like Sparkster's constant regen, it makes the game so fast when you get the hang of it, you barely touch the floor, just bouncing constantly into enemies and using the i-frames. I think it's one of the reasons I like Freedom Planet 2 so much.

[@reignfire85]

I only played a bit of the first game as a kid because another boy on my street had it, but then we stopped being friends. Now that this has been remastered I can finally beat it (and enjoy the art and music).

[@theycallmejojo6090]

I always loved how the Konami Genesis games had their own unique vibe compared to the SNES games. If the SNES Konami games were the Criterion Collection, then the Genesis games were Arrow video.

[@Sparksterchan]

These games are some of the reasons I want get rid of my old consoles. I'm a huge fan and I'm not ashamed to say Limited Run got a stupid amount of money out of me for the game and the merch. 😂 Sparkster deserves more love, thank you for showcasing this collection, Matt!

[@wingnutmcmoomoo494]

the minecart sequence always looks so much like one of the sections from tiny toon adventures on the NES

[@Nediablo]

How have I only just heard of this?!!!! Off to buy this I go!

[@nampapunk]

Always good when the video starts off with a DSP diss.

[@OtakuDeCarnitas109]

WAIT, THIS IS A THING!?

[@zubizuva]

A jellyfish with goggles, wish it real

[@Harotham]

The train boss was always the part where I'd quit too

[@TevorTheThird]

I do wish collections like this contained the "bad ones". What does it hurt? They'll never sell it on its own again, it has no value as product, so why not just add it this for the sake of posterity. I know that'd take time and effort but why not. Anyways this is one of those Konami games that smacks of "We left soon after to found Treasure" :p

[@flophouseplays]

Again, there is the technological issue too. The front end engine used for this collection is very specific, and you can't just throw a random 3D game that was made decades later on there and have everything run correctly. It's why other collections from Capcom and Konami do not include 3D games.

[@TevorTheThird]

@@flophouseplays No game is easy, I don't mean to suggest they could "just put it in". But it's not like you couldn't port a PS3/360 game forward. Hence the time and money thing. There is a limit. I wouldn't ask them to spend half the projects budget on porting a bad game just to be a glorified extra. But it'd be worth looking into. Architecturally it should be a relatively "simple" port as far as these things go. If financially viable I think it'd be worth the include.

[@89blacksoldier]

Soo, he shines, he rockets himself into the side of a castle and has to fight a knight in black. (cough) dark tower

[@ImYourS3npai]

When I was a kid, this game was HARD. It took me like a month to beat it!

[@kvarinsunermidst2629]

SEGA Genesis was so peak.. So many classics.

[@ghostmutton]

Rocket Knight Adventures was a favorite on my Genesis. His marsupial cousin, Awesome Possum … Not so much.

[@Carls493]

Now THIS an awesome possum!

[@psychwardfare]

30:38 I thought you soundclipped in that adopted kid from the thornberrys for a second lol

[@taym510Oak]

I never got to play the original game I always wanted to but I kinda forgot about it I missed out but now I’m going to by this game for the PlayStation

[@cubansupreme]

I'm surprised that the 2010 Rocket Knight game wasn't included in this collection. Was it a bad game back than or what?

[@flophouseplays]

Most fans didn't like it, it lost a lot of the charm of the original series. But more so than that, it's 3D engine would have been really tough to emulate in this particular collection.

[@SuperXzm]

It was a really really really boring game just by itself without any comparison

[@cubansupreme]

@@flophouseplays That's a shame. From what I've seen of it here on YT, it looks ok but I can see why it doesn't compare to the 2D games in the series as far as charm is concerned. Thankfully it's still on Steam and somehow on the PS3's Playstation Store. I can't speak for the Xbox 360 though.

[@SorcererLance]

@@flophouseplays having watched footage of it online, I'm kinda glad it wasn't included. I prefer the 90's style and sound the originals had

[@worsel555]

I had no idea that this was released...

[@Arehexes]

A real awesome possum

[@MoogleEmpMog]

Love the original Rocket Knight Adventures. Of all the post-Sonic animal mascot platformers, I think it's the best. The sequels, um... the SNES one isn't awful, at least.

[@Sniper_T_2x]

You can glitch the bosses with multiple hits at a time

[@ToranosukeEdo]

Awesome games- the perfect mix of kawaii and cool stylings from 90s Konami. It would be great to see the series return in the way Streets of Rage did

[@busterdagger4797]

I had this game on Genesis

[@chrismc3483]

At 18:25 is that split second picture of the "Happy Video Game Nerd" suppose to be there? (thought I was seeing things)

[@ohnoesknowsnonose]

There's also a black screen 3 seconds later but YT loves marking my comments as spam for some reason

[@TaisonSphereNo.4]

6:25 scallop(yes they have eyes)

[@ridleyrage5283]

I owned RKA and Sparkster on Genesis many years ago, grew up with em. They also both hold significance to certain life events that happened. I played the SNES Sparkster afterwards and thought it was meh, I strongly dislike/d that horrible camera-zoom that follows Sparkster, it makes speeding disorienting. Also of people like this version, I dont much care for it. When I saw this collection was coming out, I had to get it day one, so I did. So far, I managed to beat RKA on Normal 1CC, and Sparkster (GEN) 1CC with ease, since Sparkster (GEN)'s Normal mode is basically RKA easy mode. Ive beaten Sparkster (GEN) on Hard years ago and I'll attempt it again, but man, Hard on RKA should be called "Very Hard" or "Sparkster May Die" haha, I'm good at RKA, but 1-hit kill and 1 continue(?)...a bit rough, not gonna lie. Working through SNES Sparkster as well, but again, the camera zoom and movement to me feel awkward. Still, very good game all round

[@calebpribyl5152]

Is there any Konami games worth checking out (that’s on arcades?)

[@flophouseplays]

Yeah, plenty.

[@awakeningofevolutiontheiro1057]

@@calebpribyl5152 The Simpsons Arcade game, the X-Men Arcade game and the Bucky O'Heir Arcade game!

[@calebpribyl5152]

@@flophouseplays I have played a few of them that simpsons arcade game was PERFECT!! I forgot I got sunset riders and have you played the Parodius series? I love the parodius games!

[@stephenaremu78]

I just got this yesterday

[@MashieMutt]

When is Konami making a bloody roar collection?

[@VBrancoPT]

Konami? Giving a damn about their old IPs? Am I dreaming? Meanwhile... Bring back Bloody Roar, Konami!

[@nickgarcia1292]

Hey Matt! I wanted to suggest a game called fallen aces. It's a pretty cool fps that's in early access. Has an art style similar to father forgive me but the themes of the game are different.

[@powdertoastman83]

I see you with the DSP clap backs lol 😏

[@fakeigniz13]

Actually prefer Sparkster on the genesis, once you get into it it's pretty good.

[@flophouseplays]

I can understand it being pretty good if it's the only one you played. But yeah, to me, it's a night and day contrast between it and Rocket Knight.

[@philplaysgames13]

Wait is this out!!!

[@HansAlRachid]

So is the collection as such a worthwhile purchase? It seems _really_ expensive to me for what's in it.

[@Hillthugsta]

What was so bad about the 360 arcade version?🤔

[@Biggi87]

Genesis Sparkster has it's moments but it's absolutely the weakest of the bunch. Not bad, but expectations were high for a sequel to RKA.

[@jaredwright2553]

Not feeling the love so much, but yeah, I guess I'm that guy. I'd give the edge for best game to the OG Rocket Knight too, and while SneSparkster is closer in gameplay to Rocket Knight, (though significantly worse because it's trying to recreate blast processing speed for SNES and all that does is barbed wire-molest your eyes) my favorite is absolutely Genesis Sparkster. Despite having a slower early game instead of the original that had a late endgame imo, and despite losing the projectile for your sword, (copying Link instead of Sonic btw) your best option for damage was still the rocket attacks throughout each game- usually the netural rocket spin dash, which you should be in their face to maximize damage on. Plus you still have the ability to stack up on damage big time for abusing enemies 'mercy invincibility' (see the Rocket Knight content of this video, where attacking through the speeding cars protected Spark from taking damage) with even the regular attack. It's the best way to lead into neutral rocket anyway. Genesis Sparkster is also the only game that you actually have multiple rocket jumps midair without having to touching the ground, instead of having one rocket jump b4 plummeting to wherever you resigned yourself to flailing about like a derpfish out of the mercury water. And you don't even have to manually charge the jetpack by holding down attack - it does it for you and uses a different button than attack. I srsly love Genesis Sparkster

[@RogueRotte]

9:44..... O_o

[@Average_Brad]

Goggle octopus is a downgrade.

[@quentinanderson3470]

8:54 that's the easiest part of the game 😂

[@Mikon595]

Rocket Knight Adventures: God! Sparkster (SNES): Pretty Damn Good! Sparkster (GEN): Slow and bad

[@PunkRockMohawk]

First?

[@awakeningofevolutiontheiro1057]

Sweet Baby Jesus! He's finally talking about the Rocket Knight collection!