#ManiacMansion

Check out our website, UCanBeatVideoGames.com for announcements, episode lists, and official merchandise!
ucanbeatvideog...
Join our Patreon! / ucanbeatvideogames
Episode 35
Maniac Mansion is one of the most ambitious Adventure games ever made for the NES! There are 7 different characters you can play as, and just as many different endings!
So how did this PC game make its way to the NES, and what "offensive" things did Nintendo insist on censoring? In today's episode, we'll find out!
Unlike some other point-and-click adventure games, Maniac Mansion is one where you can definitely mess up so badly that you'll have to start the game over from the beginning. Some of the puzzles are extremely devious, but after watching this video, you'll be an expert! We'll learn:
* What are ALL of the important items? Which can be avoided?
* How to complete the game with ANY characters!
* Fun ways to blow up the house or kill off your characters!
* The SECRET trick to lock Nurse Edna in place!
* How to haunt the Mansion as an INVISIBLE GHOST!
* The EASY way to escape the dungeon!
* How to get EVERY ENDING, even the one that requires a very specific combination of characters!
* House Key, Silver Key, Yellow Key, Card Key, Glowing Key, Rusty Key, Small Key - EVERY KEY and what it opens!
* The SHORCUT to completing the game's final puzzle!
* The secret way to KILL the EVIL METEOR instead of just sending it to space... AND MORE!
Thanks for watching!
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[@shannonhill3356]

This channel basically puts out the equivalent of Saturday morning cartoons for 35+ yr olds 💕💕💕

[@Rockstago]

Lol- yeap...and way better than "Starcade" or "The Video Game", the TV shows of the time that tried to take advantage of the video game popularity of the time.

[@ElazulsCore]

^THIS. Along with Chrontendo.

[@shannonhill3356]

@@Rockstago agreed. I do enjoy the channels "SNESDrunk" and "Sega Lord X" as well. They're mainly software and hardware reviews and dives - one for SNES and the other includes all Sega systems and arcade boards - but they're both great content creators at the type of content they create. Snesdrunk is a bit more short form style videos, but I certainly think they're both worth checking out

[@solidus3168]

I’m 41 and I approve this message.

[@boodro2122]

Fair enough

[@mrmcspiff4014]

"Dave has no special abilities" I think his theme music would beg to differ

[@joshuaoverbey7998]

Based on the opening, I like to believe you're just doing the voice-over, and the dog is providing the gameplay footage.

[@joshuaoverbey7998]

@Craig Adams I always new golden retrievers were an exceptional breed, but wow, that's next-level.

[@bryanx0317]

What if told you I'm actually K9? Well we'll learn all that today.. AND MORE.

[@Rockstago]

For sure- I think that Golden Retriever is unstoppable with an NES Advantage!

[@Hardridge]

Notice how he says we instead of I when talking

[@zachariahscott6648]

That is a plausible statement, and it is possible that these Nintendo game walkthroughs are provided by the doggy. I'll tell you all a quick story. This is a true story. Once upon a time (roughly a little more than a decade ago) in a part of Toronto, Ontario, where I'm from, there lived a fellow that ran for the office of city councilor in the beaches area of East York! He ran for that office with a little twist, he put a picture of his dog's face as the candidate! No word of a lie. Amazingly, he almost won too! 😁😂🤣 Many folks enjoyed the idea of an actual dog in city council or at least of it representing an office in it, but the only reason why he or the dog didn't win the seat, was just because the candidate that won, ran a much better campaign!

[@RetroCheats]

My favorite NES game ever. I played it many many times.. legit runs, glitched runs, using Custom Game Genie Codes & playing as the Villians. This game just hooked me.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

that would be cool to play as Weird Ed or Nurse Edna. Sounds fun!

[@RetroCheats]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames Weird Ed & Edna works the best, but you got to swap due to ed not being able to walk through the security door.

[@bennel3588]

@@RetroCheats I remember seeing that video. They even use their own theme. About the characters that can only be played with the Game Genie, do all of them have their own themes?

[@bennel3588]

@Lets Play Minecraft I'm suprised it still works. My mother has opened a locker that seems like it had not been opened in years, and an Excite Bike game for NES was found in there. When I was trying to start it up, it seems like it does not work. When I looked from under it, it seems ruined.

[@RetroCheats]

@@bennel3588 weird ed has his own music. Don't remember the rest

[@13lood13ath]

"You'll want to turn on the red light. It's not Roxanne though." Lol, those days are over. She's doesn't have to sell her body to the night.

[@iami3rian394]

@Brian Babin r/woooosh

[@Hellwyck]

@@iami3rian394 maybe he was just being sarcastic and he actually got the joke!?

[@iami3rian394]

@@Hellwyck I mean, anything is possible.

[@furrybogard9724]

Years later, she's still walking the streets for money, whether it's wrong or if it's right

[@tomceltic9259]

The right?

[@pokepress]

They really crammed a lot of content into that cartridge.

[@cadeanderson422]

Its pretty crazy what they could do with 256kb of data. Nowadays we are very wasteful with data space. A small text file is the same size as an entire NES game.

[@SternButFair]

it's all basically if then statements and while loops

[@28Pluto]

@@cadeanderson422 Your comment is so dumb it's silly. You clearly have NO idea what you're talking about. A 100kb text file will always be a 100kb text file. No matter when it was made. But yes, people are very "wasteful" (your incorrect term, not mine) because you kids need your texts to be in HD quality with shit emotes. Instead of 5kb text which works just fine. Every text on every phone could be the smallest fraction of kb... But kids these days cry like babies if they don't have HD. Meanwhile, people are still making NES 256kb NES games, AND they are able to do so much MORE than developers could in the 80s. The 256kb games made now look even better than the original ones. Get a clue, kid.

[@cadeanderson422]

@@28Pluto someone sure is bitter. Who hurt you? 😂

[@davidh8271]

@@28Pluto Having a bad day, were we?

[@shadowledastray]

One of the most memorable games from my childhood. Always wished there was an official remake on modern consoles, but Thimbleweed Park is a fantastic spiritual successor!

[@inkedenvy4205]

It’s on steam and online.

[@thokdesign]

agreed

[@kbarn4]

You’re doing life right my friend

[@Rockstago]

This channel always does a EXTREMELY thorough review/ playthrough of games. But on this one, he REALLY went above & beyond to show ALL of the optional & unique facets of Maniac Mansion- requiring 4X+ the time & effort. Thank you! We really appreciate him showing all the storylines on the NES's most cryptic title.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thank you!! This one really did take some extra effort

[@JadenMoon1475]

​@@UCanBeatVideoGames: Pressing a big red button blows something up?!? Please, for the love of 8-Bit/16-Bit/80s/90s video games, keep Dee Dee from Dexter's Laboratory *AWAY* from that pool!!!

[@JadenMoon1475]

​@@UCanBeatVideoGames: *You:* "When characters die in this game, they're dead permanently" *Me:* "Well, yeah, because as a reflection on reality, since people die permanently IRL.... Or do they?? Reincarnation?? Anyone??"

[@UnkleKlumsy1353]

This is one of those old NES games I get super nostalgic for. I was terrible at it as a kid, but I loved Maniac Mansion

[@cryan8373]

This was so amazing. Maniac Mansion and The Legend of Zelda are the first games I played and got super into when I was kid. And IDK why but I swear once or twice a year I just randomly recall this game. Today that happened and I was like oh I wonder if people still play or remember that game. So I looked for it on youtube and found this. What a gem!

[@Jazz5777]

Yes, in 46, the game randomly pops into my head every year, or other. Spooky stuff drives deep within you I guess .

[@katiepersons6575]

I can't even imagine being thrown into this game in the 80's and being able to figure it all out. There's just a mind boggling number of things that can an has to be done in specific combinations. Items that have to be gained and used together with other items in specific times and certain situations... holy crap.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

I remember getting a lot of info from the "Counselor's Corner" section of Nintendo Power. As a kid I beat the game with Michael - you don't have to mail anything, and his solution felt the most intuitive to me.

[@jeffreydean7556]

Now image playing it for the Commodore 64, where every room needs to load, taking upwards of 30 seconds any time you want to go to a new area. To be fair, the C64 version of this game had better graphics and was uncensored, but that loading time was hell.

[@SireSquish]

There were a lot of games like that, where you have to just figure things out. Don't discount the usefulness of schoolyard discussions about these things either.

[@lukasketner]

@@SireSquish Exactly. I'm from the NES/Myst/King's Quest generation where finding and conspiring with other gamers was a really useful resource. It wasn't uncommon to spend an entire birthday sleepover with like ten kids all offering their know-how to beat the first Zelda.

[@daveyclysm483]

We played this game a thousand times and it wasn't a heavily covered topic in magz. Aiaiai

[@MrJibaku]

This Saturday upload is great it makes me feel like a kid again.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

😁 Thanks!!

[@luciahaskins3170]

The pepsi can be given to the green tentacle without him taking it and satisfying his drink need. "12 FULL OUNCES, THAT'S ALOT!" Ed can also be befriended using the hamster. Another thing to note- moving the hamster without retrieving the card key will result in Dr. Fred receiving the key when that cutscene where he enters Ed's room would have played. Resulting you being immobilized, and even attempting to save the game will result in a message that reads "The meteor is in control and he says no saved games!"

[@eddypeacock4005]

Yup and if you find Ed's plans he will storm the lab for you!

[@eddypeacock4005]

And returning the hamster will cause him to never send you to the prison again, unless he catches you stealing something

[@SlyBeast]

The "stunned Edna" trick also works at the very beginning of the game in the kitchen. I remember finding it out by accident. If you're quick enough switching to another kid and switch back to the kid in the kitchen, she'll be gone. I use it almost every playthrough.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Oh, that's cool! Very interesting!

[@magicwordxyzzy]

You can also send a kid to the kitchen faucet and change characters, then whenever you go back to that kid it'll be scrolled over far enough to see if she's still there without the kid being close enough for her to notice. I don't generally have a "dungeon kid" so I usually do this to determine when it's safe to go to and past the fridge.

[@dinoflagella4185]

I loved this game. I always played as razor. I loved her background music. I played this game for hours at a time trying to figure it out. I found a walk through and was able to get a good ending after blowing the house a few times.

[@Dorelaxen]

One of the best games ever made. The soundtrack by George "The Fatman" Sanger and David Hayes just made it even better.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Totally agree!!

[@cnkclark]

That soundtrack is MONEY.

[@TerraEsperZ]

Even though I prefer the graphics of the improved PC version, the soundtrack of the NES port pretty much makes that version the definitive one for me.

[@feiwong3634]

Actually it is called David Lawrence, and yes, the soundtrack is one of the best ever made for the NES!

[@inkedenvy4205]

Yes!!! The soundtrack is everything!! Can still hear it in my head randomly to this day.

[@featherpony]

"The purple tentacle is the artist in the family." No, that purple slime leading to the crate belongs to the purple Meteor (who was the subject of the painting as evidenced by the circle drawn on a crate in the painting.) Its likely Dr. Fred is the painter.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Oh, that does make sense! Good call. I suppose any of them could be the artist in that case, but Dr Fred makes sense, as I don't think anyone else would have the authority to move the Meteor.

[@featherpony]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames Not only that, but Dr Fred loves the Meteor... while Edna, Ed, and Green tentacle resent the attention Fred gives the Meteor.

[@piratepop7115]

That reminds me of the twins in the past of DOTT they were artists

[@zeroDOTjon]

I played this on PC back in the early 90's. There was no music other than the opening theme. (and on IBM 286 the theme song was fucking BANGING) The silence other than your character's footsteps, or the ticking of the grandfather clock was IMO integral to the mood. It made the house way more scary.

[@yerk55]

I've replayed MM for decades and never knew you could feed the meteor to the plant. Or about the special Bernard-Wendy ending. Thanks!

[@sweetsmcgee1823]

The steel security door was where you'd have to do the manual lookup anti-piracy check on pc (and probably amiga). That's why it just open on the NES version.

[@k1dn1ce76]

I remember the numerous door codes to get to the top floor were printed on special paper that was impossible to photocopy...

[@ruination777]

@@k1dn1ce76 I remember the DOS Castlevania had black text on dark, blood red paper. Forget photocopying, I couldn't read the damn thing on the legit copy.

[@TyphinHoofbun]

There's a hidden keypad in the hallway just behind it (near the base of the wall where the tastefully nude statue was removed), presumably meant to be the one for the door. But since the "security symbol" keypad doesn't exist in-game, it uses the same "numeric" one everywhere else. There's no code that it'll accept as valid and since there's no penalty for using any the legitimate keypads with the wrong code, there's no way to cancel, meaning the moment you select "Use Keypad", you're doomed.

[@DavidRomigJr]

The keypad apparently does have a valid code but you need a memory viewer to find it and you’ll probably never guess it. Since the copy protection was disconnected from the door, all entering correct code does is stop the countdown timer and the house from exploding.

[@Jazz5777]

Yes, they had the same security paper for the first simcity black on dark red

[@besotoxicomusic]

I remember playing this game when I was a wee young lad. Played it at night in the dark in my uncles room at my Grandmas house. Which out in the middle of nowhere in the desert. Outside was nearly pitch black minus the starlight. Coyotes were howling and earlier in the night we had a big ass snake break in the house that my grandpa had to axe to death. Was supposed to go to bed but instead turned on the NES and started playing. Freaked me out so much when I got chased that first time that I didn’t touch the game again for a week. Which is funny because there’s nothing really horror about this game.

[@feiwong3634]

I remember being scared as fuck by Edna the first time i saw her in the kitchen, but as time passed and played a lot more i found out that you can actually scape her if you are quickly to click on the left are of the screen and leave the kitchen.

[@Alucard24601]

@@feiwong3634 you can also escape Edna in the kitchen by switching to a different character for a few seconds, and then switch back to the one who was caught by her. She will be gone after switching back

[@HeyInternetErichere]

This is my favorite game ever for the NES. I love the theme of it being like a 1950s horror/sci-fi movie. So cool you showed all different endings and ways to die. There's also a bit where you can send a cassette recording of the high pitched noise to Mark Eeter and it shatters his window. Great video!

[@Adam-qv2bd]

I was just going to post this lol. It's too funny. Sad that he didn't show it. But he did show some things I never saw before.

[@tahustvedt]

Dave: "What is my purpose" Rick: "You push a brick" Dave: "Oh my god!"

[@drhumupower8570]

I'm glad that you weren't a tunahead and went ahead and showed us multiple endings.

[@tasselhoff1293]

Love this game! I loved this so much, that i actually taught myself Dave's theme on guitar when i was a teenager and I hum it often at work. So many great memories

[@JeffisWinning]

I always found it awesome that you could kill a character, yet still move them around.

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

This channels brilliant. A mini doc followed by a complete walkthrough on each title. Who knew the dad from American Pie won an Emmy?!

[@neilmello2007]

I don't know if KZbin has some kind of awards... best New gaming channel or something this is tremendous

[@featherpony]

In the PC version, when Syd takes the exploded hamster out of the microwave, he says, "Shall I take white meat or dark meat?"

[@TyphinHoofbun]

I never played the PC version, but the NES version has a hidden bit. If you have Bernard pick up the Exploded Hamster, he'll comment "I'm glad I wore my pocket protector!"

[@dikaiosune8314]

"Wendy is, shall we say, 'sleeping with the fishes'." Almost made me spit out my coffee...

[@CarletonTorpin]

Thank you for demonstrating this game so thoroughly. It feels like the mansion is really alive, with all the real-time events that take place throughout. :)

[@rhannah7873]

My preferred method of looting weird Ed's room is having someone outside ring the doorbell and when he leaves to answer the door, you switch to one of the other kids and loot his room while he is gone.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

makes sense! I think it only works if he doesn't have the package, but that's a totally legit way to do it!

[@andrewneedham3281]

That or just time looting his room to him answering the doorbell for when the package comes. That was another option.

[@redmoonbloodmoon3161]

I think if worse comes to worse, you can always get caught with one kid, and while that kid's being taken to the basement/dungeon, you have another kid ransack the room (and/or go through the room to another room, in the case of edna, though there's some things in her room to get as well too)

[@MasterBelch]

and for nurse edna you can click new kid. so, enter her room. select a new kid. and then wait a little bit. and then switch back to the kid in nurse edna's room. she be standing there but wont capture you. you can interact with her and she still wont capture you. its a glotch and not really a thoughtful strategy, but it works very well.

[@feiwong3634]

I always did that! it was the most intuitive way to enter his room besides when he was going to the kitchen for food.

[@hazeyclouds8149]

What an awesome game, so many great memories. I had Michael's music as my cellphone ringtone for the longest time... Thanks for the video and I dig your Golden...they are the best dogs

[@eppskevin]

Man I LOVE Michael’s theme..

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Aww thanks! He's a really good boy!

[@tophie79j]

My Saturday isn't complete unless I watch "U can beat video games." This was an amazing and huge beast of a game to cover! Just wanted to say thank you for all your work and being so thorough. I appreciate the work but I'm slowly realizing I'm just here for the jokes.

[@sonicexe700NJ]

The amount of detail you go into with these walkthroughs are amazing.

[@ninjacape]

Holy shit!! I never knew you could feed the Meteor to the plant!! Mind Blown!!

[@saltyarmy6386]

Even though I could barely read or even knew what I was doing in this game... if my local video store didn't have Ninja Gaiden or Mega Man 2 or 3, I would ALWAYS choose Maniac Mansion or Ice Hockey lol.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

I love stories like these. Renting games as a kid was so exciting

[@saltyarmy6386]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames Good old days! My favorite video store was a mom/pop gas station that tripled as a mini grocery, game room in the back, but the biggest area was the video store section. The floors were warped, ceilings were cigarette stained, lights were dim, old 70's/early 80's wood paneling walls, and if a movie/game hadn't been rented in a while, it had dust on it lol. That was favorite one to go to though! It was even better than Blockbuster (mostly for the nostalgia feeling). I went back there a few years ago and somebody bought it and turned it into a restaurant and rebuilt the interior from the floor up and EVERYTHING was modernized... it was kind of depressing seeing it that way but I ordered some food and a couple beers anyway. I never went back though.

[@cnkclark]

Maniac Mansion *still* fills me with this soaring sense of nostalgic adventure like anything is possible when you're playing it.

[@sweetsmcgee1823]

Dave does have a special ability; he 's the loose brick pusher. Always has been. BTW the scumm language is clever enough that you can even use the key in front door without getting it first. It's a neat trick but it's rare that you can use an item like that on the same screen that you find it.

[@mncdssctn9110]

@@lefthookouchmcarm4520 You drag away the mat, select ”use” and then the key, and then select front door. It makes you open the door and get the key in one sweep, rather than first picking up the key and then using it on the door.

[@cueball981]

Your videos take me back to the days when my brother worked at Nintendo of America's headquarters in Redmond WA as a Game Play Counselor. He played so many games and created many of the walk-thru's that he and other GPC'S used to help folks calling in. You've got a good thing going...keep up the great work!

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thank you!!

[@memyopinionsche6610]

1977? That's when STAR WARS premiered in the movie theaters.

[@scootkompute3086]

There's also a secret hidden keypad that you missed in Hallway 2 (right by where the statue was removed). If you enter '0000' it'll blow up the house

[@abrahammaldonadobarrios3393]

I came to the comments section just to write that, here is something you miss too: there is a different port for Maniac Mansion in Japanese, I'm allways wondered what are the differences from the LucasArts version.

[@DavidRomigJr]

That’s left over copy protection from the DOS version. The door was changed to a steel security door and a keypad added that you had to use to open the door. In the NES version they disabled the check and removed the keypad graphic, but left the steel security door and keypad object (though in an odd place). Once you use the keypad, you have a fixed amount of time to enter the correct code before the house explodes. Enter the incorrect code too many times or all 0s and the house explodes. There is a correct code but it only stops the house from exploding and there’s no way to know what it is on the NES version without a memory viewer and you probably won’t guess it.

[@bennel3588]

@@DavidRomigJr Does copy protection mean to stop people from copying the game?

[@DavidRomigJr]

Generally. Early copy protection was an attempt to stop unauthorized copying. Modern copy protection is more often an attempt to slow unauthorized copying down long enough for developers to realize earnings from first sales. Copy protection using pack in items can be fun. Poor copy protection can, unfortunately, make pirating a cracked copy a more positive experience.

[@bennel3588]

Some games have anti-pirating screens, so if the games get pirated, they are unable to play. I was told that playing the games on a pirated machine would also give the same results. Pirate Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3, and you'll be unable to play the game. I read about Mega Man X game will go crazy if you pirated it, and then someone says that it's not an anti-pirating protection, it's a glitch. I'm not sure what to answer because when I made a post that was not correct, I got cussed out and criticized by a kind genius who knows how naughty it is to get things wrong, and getting things wrong is not a typo, it's criminal. Another reason for him criticizing me is because I been mean to everybody, so everybody has the right to criticize me. I will not report anyone who criticizes me, but I need to get reported for criminal cases I been doing.

[@MattUpdike]

Love this game. I still give a play every once in a while. Bernard 4 Life! I'm glad someone else uses Dave as the dungeon doorman.

[@busupshot83]

I also used Dave as dungeon master.

[@markstultz383]

Me too lol

[@rustyjones7908]

About all he's good for

[@MattUpdike]

Glad we all see Dave as equally worthless lol

[@busupshot83]

I’m not going to front though: Dave song be banging.

[@Jamie-nx2cg]

Thanks for walking me through a game I never had. I can live vicariously through you and your dog.

[@Hellwyck]

Get it the PC or Amiga version and play it through ScummVM.

[@originalsleepyjon]

Thank you SO MUCH for covering one of the games I've requested in the past! Can't wait to see you cover other classics! You're the best thing to happen to Saturday mornings since cartoons! Keep up the great work!!!

[@Rockstago]

Totally agree. These reviews are amazing & this guy has some SERIOUS skillz!

[@johnmorey720]

I need Wendy. My editor tends to give me suggestions like, "Don't make your main character Jewish," "The demon should talk about Donald Trump," "Twenty feet sounds like too long range for a shotgun," and "Didn't Rick Riordan create Hades? Don't use copyrighted characters.""

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

🤣🤣🤣 And she works for FREE!

[@cnkclark]

You need *anyone* but your editor.

[@johnmorey720]

@@cnkclark I'll be fair: 99% of the editor suggestions are fantastic, it's the 1% that are ludicrous.

[@Riner79]

I’ve been playing this game since forever, but I learned about the Bernard-Wendy double-secret ending only last year.

[@youknuckle]

You're rad, your dog is rad. You'll have millions of subs eventually dude.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thanks man, I hope so!!

[@Mythirdeye85]

@@UCanBeatVideoGames you’ll make it beyond that for sure. It’s just a matter of time. Keep doing what you do.

[@brightmark777]

But no rad racer?!

[@snipercable]

This channel needs waaay more views. The time to make these long ass videos is relentless. This is one of my favorite games on the NES. So unique at the time maybe not so much for PC, but NEs for sure

[@Yonah_144]

If you enter "SUPINI" in Game Genie and pick the first three characters, you can play as all three girls.

[@featherpony]

If you accidentally befriend Weird Ed with the package before you get the hamster/keycard/dimes, you can still get him out of the room by ringing the doorbell. If you keep ringing the doorbell it annoys him and he says, "I'm coming! I'm coming!"

[@Verbalaesthet]

I remember that the security door was actually shut in one of the early versions and I think you needed a password to enter which came with the game's manual or so. In later versions the door is unlocked by default.

[@AsmodeusMictian]

I think you're referring to the PC version, which had copy protection. If you failed it, I do believe you were jailed as a thief and the game ended >_

[@edgardogho]

@@AsmodeusMictian I think the mansion blows up if you miss the code several times. When I was a kid I had a photocopy of the code sheet. It was all squares missing lines and you had to select the correct combination...since my photocopy was awful I usually missed the correct code and the house blew up.

[@tomfrost6049]

I played this game non stop since I got it on the NES for my bday in the early 90s. I had finished the game every way and thought I had uncovered every secret... but killing off Wendy or using the space police AND Wendy? I never thought of that, so I've learned something new. Also in the PAL release of the game you couldn't microwave the Hamster, it wasn't until I emulated it years later I found out the results of that "fun"....

[@Jman19781]

I remember stumbling through this game after renting it once. Don’t know I ever finished it. Thanks for the walkthrough. Love these videos. Scratches that nostalgia itch.

[@azimuthclark462]

God, does this bring back memories. I love this game. One of my favorite games of all time. I wish they would remake this game.

[@joeytwotimes9586]

Bark...Bark Bark Bark... Bark Bark Bark... Mew

[@Ocyla]

The meteor police always cracked me up! Looking back I don't even know how we figured out several of these endings with no internet or guides!

[@questionsfrog1918]

Because in a way,it follows a logic you can pick up ZackMcKraken however was so complicated,i don't know anyone who even got far without walktrough

[@gamehulk]

Dude, you make great videos. You're like the Bob Ross of finishing NES games. Told all my Discord buddies about your channel. Great stuff!

[@RubenLra]

Dude I was around 10 when I rented this game and I had no idea what I was doing. After watching the madness you played I would have never figured any of that out on my own. Very fun watching your playthroughs as it brings me back to a simpler time as a child. Keep up the awesome work!

[@Nightweaver1]

Yep, I was 10 as well when I found this at the rental store and gave it a try. Absolutely no idea what I was doing. It was far too cerebral for a kid like me.

[@carlobighouse5434]

Let's do this! #SaturdayMorningGames Edit: Wow 1:43 this game must be serious bizness

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

yeah it is!

[@Yonah_144]

What's cool about this game is that I actually spoke to George Sanger over e-mail in real life who was the music director. That's actually the only person I've ever had contact with that did work on a video game.

[@brotherray3899]

I have so many memories from this time, I appreciate your content.

[@ericjohnson6634]

12:40 The tentacles have no hands or arms - at least not until Day of the Tentacle - so whoever the artist was, it wasn't Green or Purple. I believe the slime is from the meteor breaking out of its shell(?) while they were painting a picture of it.

[@Ismcant]

I was never patient enough to actually sit down and play through this one, so it was nice to finally actualyl see what happens in it :p

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

😁

[@boodro2122]

I share your sentiment.

[@7Zealot]

I remember wanting to play this game as a kid, but my parents said no for some reason. Which might be just as well, because seeing how complex it is now, I probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere in it. This was a great video! You really had to go through a ton of steps and explanations, and you had to think about what order to present everything in! It must have been a lot of work, and we really appreciate it!

[@justinbremer2281]

I once had this game so memorized, I caught myself playing it in my head. Full playthroughs, too. And I was still slower than speedrunners, even in my mind! :p

[@Pop_Shepski]

I used to play VICE CITY in my head like that on the bus to school and my friend would get so mad at me

[@notrab13]

I was too young for command prompt adventure pc games in their heyday, but I was gifted my NES when I was seven years old. My dad bought us Maniac Mansion for some odd reason. I was too young to understand so many of the Gen X ideas and humor, but I was so taken with the sheer scope of the emergent gameplay. I never once got a good ending as a child, but the music, story, and introduction to point-and-click adventure games stick with me more than 30 years later. Lucas Arts formed the bedrock of so much of my tastes to this day with amazing releases like this, Loom, Grim Fandango, Tie Fighter, and others.

[@Zeiru]

Thank you so much for this video! I don't know how you whip out such incredibly detailed, long videos in a weekly basis. Your consistency is amazing. . . . . Insert demand to take my money (As with every week) here.

[@CreativeOne0829]

42 here. This game was so much fun as a 10 year old. This game had so many puzzles and it allowed me to use my imagination and the game didn't disappoint.

[@Luef25]

Awesome, great choice this week.

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thanks Johnny!

[@gbrown932]

There's a neat trick that works on Edna in her room that wont get you caught. If you switch to another kid for a moment after entering her room, wait a few seconds and switch back, she will be in her station and you can interact with her. Offer her a pepsi!

[@zalden2565]

This game eluded me as a child. I can imagine the scope of it being mind blowing at the time and the quirkiness would have kept me hooked. It’s a shame it took me so long to find this, but I appreciate that your video(s) took me back to the past! Really, I appreciate the work you put into these.

[@Starborn3000]

dude i cant tell you how much i played that game and how much fun it was, could never beat it but it was always fun! lol

[@senseicorey9979]

Just found this channel and you've already covered my favorite NES games. Really enjoying Subscribed !

[@Slagomancer]

I watch a lot of Speedrun content, so seeing the other side of things with the casual completion content is a delight. Great idea for a channel, Dog Lord.

[@Ziggy405]

I can't imagine the work that went into this. Well done and thank you!

[@UCanBeatVideoGames]

Thanks man!

[@Rockstago]

FOR SURE! This had to take more than 10 hours just for all of the playthroughs w/ different characters combinations. Then add editing & game history research- hope the dog helped-

[@Harry_Eyeball]

So many late nite thrills with this at my buddy's house, who had a pc, when i was a kid! 😊

[@warmachine68]

This was an amazing walkthrough! Never played this and as an adult I would never have gotten any good endings

[@chuckfaber7521]

I only played this game from the version that was included in "Day of the Tentacle" when you click on the computer in Weird Ed's room.

[@BlackKoiRecords]

Please do Roger Rabbit for the NES. That game honestly terrified me as a kid

[@rustyjones7908]

I got to judge doom and couldn't beat his first form.

[@RancidAim]

Roger Rabbit was GREAT! Loved that game!

[@arcturionblade1077]

Man, I spent many an hour as a kid playing Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

[@Nightweaver1]

I rented this when I was a kid and I just couldn't figure it out, but it was so cool to me at the time. Video games back when I was 8-12 years old or so seemed magical, like they were a portal into another world with its own style and set of rules. It's hard to explain, but if you guys played games like Maniac Mansion as a kid, you know what I mean.

[@Jazz5777]

Ive said almost the same words . This game especially . I imagine millennials and all other generations feel similar about games they played as kids. But we were the first gen to really experience it, w variety

[@jayf6206]

I absolutely love Bernard's dialogue if you give him the Exploded Hamster: "It's a good thing I brought my pocket protector." I would also set impossible time limits by trying to beat the game after activating the tiny security pad on the second floor hallway just to the left of the security door.

[@alexisgs8800]

This is the game I've played with the most when I was a child (I was 9 years old when I got it, I believe). I spent so many hours and days on Maniac Mansion, I was almost hypnotized! I then played Day of The Tentacle, and more recently Thimbleweed Park. I obviously finished them all. I'm still a hardcore fan of these games and I wish Ron Gilbert would have made many more like it. He doesn't seem interested in a new sequel, but I pray he changes his mind. If I was a rich man, I'd be willing to pay a million dollars for another one of these!

[@scruggy3337]

Maniac Mansion makes me appreciate my Sane Trailer.

[@MurderWho]

"Oh man, I'll definitely learn a lot of things from this!" I . . . didn't? I always felt like the game was hiding a lot from me that I never figured out, but the only things you've shown me are the arcade, (never knew why that was (supposed to be) important!), and feeding the meteor to the plant! I spent a lot of time with this game, it was one of my first adventure games :) I would later go back and play many of the classics I missed out on, but naturally this and DOTT stick with me still

[@HylianFox3]

I love how Dave, the "hero" of this game is useless and is best kept in the dungeon for the entire playthrough.

[@JohnVullo]

Glad you included giving the meteor to the man eating plant. Also, just to see what happened, once I took the meteor to the kitchen and then used the radioactive water in the microwave and killed myself while still holding the meteor. You die of course but the house still blows up. Im sure you can also do it by drowning the player in the pool holding the meteor too.

[@grantorino2325]

No, that won't work. The player must *switch kids* to drain and refill the pool. But the "new kid" command doesn't work during the game's climax.

[@JohnVullo]

@@grantorino2325 Oh yes you're right! Brain fart. Thats probably why I did the radioactive water since its the only way. You prob could give Ed the exploded hamster. Ill have to try that later.

[@alkristopher]

Speaking of Shatterhand, is there any chance you could cover that one, too? I've been having a lot of problems finishing it.

[@martymcfleece2456]

Aha I see Ron Gilbert reused the "pour toxic water on a carnivorous plant" in Thimbleweed park. Thanks for the walkthrough!

[@Hugh_Ganus]

God I loved this damn game. Also first.

[@Krendall2]

If you listen to the commentary on the remastered "Day of the Tentacle" game, you can get the canon lineup. Dave is in your party by default, and "Day of the Tentacle" reveals Bernard was officially there. However, the commentary for that game reveals they had intended the player to be able to choose from six characters, rather than have three by default. Had the additional three characters been added, Razor was going to return as a character choice. So, that would make the canonical team of the first game Dave, Bernard, and Razor. The useless Security Door was a remnant of the PC version's copyright protection. In that version, I believe the player was asked to type a certain on a specified page of the game manual. Type the wrong word and I think the game crashed. I've never played the early PC version (other than the one bundled with "Day of the Tentacle," which has that door always open), so I'm not entirely sure how it worked. I know you're only covering the NES version, but it should be noted that if you're playing "Maniac Mansion Deluxe," you have to fix the electricity and get Fred's score from the arcade machine. The 0000 trick won't work. Incidentally, an alternative to getting Ed out of his room is to have one of the kids (preferably with the key to the front door) ring the doorbell. Ed will leave the room thinking it's the package he's waiting for. Even if her sees a kid at the door he won't kidnap him/her, but he will close and lock the front door. It's been awhile since I've played the game, so I don't know if this will still work after he's gotten the package. Also, even if you're not going for the "Commando Ed" ending, it's not a bad idea to have one of the kids give him the package (once the stamps are removed, if needed). It gives one less Edison to worry about. 30:00 The line in any non-NES version of the game is "The Meteor is going to be PISSED!"

[@RyanRead]

Forgot that the plant will eat the meteor too. Great memories, I played and pretty much got all the endings when I had the game originally.

[@wolffiegaming]

dude. this game owned me as a kid! I spent so much time messing around this game and never came close to a victory lol

[@masta_fu7280]

I cannot wait to sit down and watch this whole damn video when i get a chance.

[@feiwong3634]

One of my all time favorite videogames, as a teenager back in the 90s, i played this non stop!! the music and the mansion is engraved into my brain like fire!

[@dragoneye6229]

Did I just see Nightstalker, Deja Vu, Uninvited and Shadowgate? You really did get your hands on my NES games! Man this channel deserves more attention.

[@ChrisGirard]

I remember another way Dave doesn't get shown at the end is if another kid puts the photo developer in the tall plant while Dave is in the telescope room, it kills the plant and he is forever stuck up there.

[@everythingpony]

Yep

[@starofjustice1]

I just tried that, and Dave did show up in the ending. At least, in the NES version Maybe I'll try that in the one packed with Day of the Tentacle sometime.

[@beavinator]

I like how you include images right out of Nintendo Power explaining some of the tricks. Exactly how I first learned them...I never would have finished this game back in the day without that magazine.

[@biz0unc3]

Putting batteries in the fridge was a myth people in the 60s-80s people did thinking it extended the life of them.

[@emilyapricot1313]

I beat this game (The Original PC Version) with Bernard and Wendy in DOT Tentacle (iOS) after watching this with their endings and I also used the writing contract as a pass and launched the meteor into space to get that ending. This game is so cryptic, you don’t have a chance without guidance. This epic win was a lifelong dream come true. I was also equipped to do it myself with known solutions in mind without consulting a guide every few seconds (a pet peeve of mine) after watching. This channel is amazing ! One small difference in the PC version - getting out of the dungeon with the loose brick takes extremely fast reflexes, so I preferred to keep Dave with the rusty key in the dungeon hallway hiding behind the pipes for style. He never seems to get caught there unless he shuts the power off. Note that the old rusty key can be used to get out of the dungeon with one kid too. Also, I wasn’t able to glitch Nurse Edna to get a lot of time in her room in the PC version with the Weird Ed simul-capture glitch or a long phone call. I called her with Bernard and used Wendy to rush in and get the key and rush up the ladder while Edna gave chase. The house blowing up after cutting the power is really fast in the PC Ver too. I had to make sure to have a kid waiting to fix the wires with the flashlight and do it right away. If purple catches the person in the basement before they can turn the power back on, it’s pretty hopeless. That’s where Dave hiding out down there (a second kid in the hallway) really comes in handy. The puzzles were basically the same, there were just some really twitchy speed sections. I used a bluetooth mouse with iOS. I don’t think I could have done it with touch ! I think the variety in this game is what made it so influential. There were other comedic adventures, although few this whacky, and the multi-kid mechanic is not just a gimic; it’s useful or required for many of the puzzles. Also, having twitchy speed challenges, although brutal at times on the PC version, was yet another innovation rarely seen in adventure games. Lucas Arts of this era were real creators; not satisfied to put out another cookie cutter game.

[@chico510]

I've always wanted to play this and never had a chance. So thanks for providing me one.