Virtual Adaptation: Games Based On Journey to the West - Kim Justice

[@Kim_Justice]

There's been a few comments, but here's why I decided not to include Dragonball... First off - this is kind of a test run more than anything, so there's going to be some calibrating here and there - especially when it comes to deciding what to include and what not to...I kinda wanted to stick as close to purely video games as possible (although the game based on Monkey Magic did get in) while devoting the right amount of time to the essentials, the Super Monkeys and Enslaveds and what have you. That sort of thing's WIP, but I should find the sweet spot soon enough. Secondly...hell, Dragon Ball is a biiiig franchise. The amount of games that's based around Dragon Ball absolutely dwarf the number of games based on this novel - there's tons, and the connection to Journey is only one part of that...indeed, it's such a big franchise that it could warrant an episode of Virtual Adaptation entirely on its own. While it was likely an oversight to not mention Dragon Ball at all (merely covering it in "focusing on video games as opposed to TV/movie adaptations of Journey"), I don't think it'd be possible to do Dragon Ball justice in a short segment here. Will said Dragon Ball video be made?...who knows. I don't really plan these sorts of things out! Anyhoo, there ya go - hopefully that explains everything, and thank y'all for the good response. Keep chucking ideas out there!

[@benjaminkellog7311]

In addition, the Dragonball franchise greatly outgrew its "Journey to the West" roots over the years. Only the first arc had any similarity to the original story (Balls replace Buddhist writings, Goku and his various companions/villains resemble characters from the novel even if in name only), and after that once it became clear that the manga was becoming insanely popular, it was decided to take the adventures in a different direction. In terms of games, I'd point to Dragonball Advanced Adventures on GBA and Dragonball Origins on DS for decent playable versions of the most novel-like part of the story.

[@Minastir1]

It would've been nice to mention it even in passing as it is one of the most popular adaptations of the story.

[@djaevlenselv]

Thanks for the explanation, Kim. Your reasons were pretty much what I expected, and they make good sense. Hope to see more of this series in the future (and more or your work in general ofc).

[@triplestar100]

so, by this I take it it'll be a WHILE before (if ever) you decide to go for the almost-countless adaptations of "Romance Of The 3 Kingdoms", right? if anything, everyone and their mother here in the west already know of Tecmo-Koei's long-running series along with the "Warriors" spinoff, but my interest in it stems from games as well-known as Capcom's "Dynasty Wars" and its far superior sequel "Warriors Of Fate" (both in Japan under the "Tenchi Wo Kurau" series) to more obscure titles like I.G.S. masterful "Knights Of Valour" series for arcade. in either case, the vast amount of research on that alone would make me understand if you choose not to make a 'Visual Adaptation' vid on it anytime soon! Stay pretty, stay awesome Kim!

[@Larry]

There was a 1 on 1 beat em up on the PS1 that used Journey to the West characters, combination of digitised and stop motion characters. Bought it back in the day disc only from CEX for a few quid, Magic Beast Warriors or something I think it was called :S

[@doctorcraptonicus7941]

Hang on....That voice -this is just you on helium isn't it.

[@Tubeite]

Larry Bundy Jr Are you sure it wasn't the original Dynasty Warriors (Western release). That was a 1 on 1 beat 'em up, although it used Romance of the Three Kingdoms characters, not Journey to the West.

[@agrypnias1212]

that was also the first thing i thought of, but turns out that larry is correct. the game is called 'gokuu densetsu - magic beast warriors'.

[@yewles1]

@Tubeite DW1 on PS1 was all 3D, Tekken style.

[@richardfan7157]

Here's an article of it: www.hardcoregaming101.net/kusoge/kusoge-gokudensetsu.htm

[@tazong]

I am kind of a new comer to your reviews and history of video gaming - but i have to say i am really blown away - fantastic history and superb funny and witty narration.Your episodes are well written and narrated and very well made - well done to you sir/maddam - you have a new subscriber :-)

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

This is why I dig your stuff so much. Well produced and with a hook I don't see anyone else using. Love it.

[@pkaulf]

One that you missed is Monkey Magic. I had it for the Commodore Plus 4 and it was a pretty lame shoot em up in the vein of Cloud Master. Looking it up today and I've discovered that as always, the C16/Plus 4 version was significantly cut back compared to the C64 and other incarnations, which look a bit more interesting.

[@marathongaming1000]

The three new Robot Masters in Mega Man: The Wily Wars are Journey to the West-inspired as well!

[@e.l.4409]

Games that were born from an egg on a mountain top. The funkiest monkies to ever rock.

[@luckystarz6472]

Vermouth Brilliantine nah 1986 one was perfect 😆

[@mcsteee]

Great video! I think Star Trek would make for an interesting future video of Virtual Adaptation. There are a ton of characteristics of the franchise that are antithetical to what makes games popular. Combat is almost never the first option, communicating with and understanding the perceived enemy is essential, and when all else fails, you science the shit out of the problem instead of hitting something with a bigger stick. An exploration into the compromises each of the old games made in how to approach these concepts and where they succeed/fail could make for a remarkably substantial video.

[@Ephraim225]

There were also two bosses in the Mega Man series based on Wukong. Buster Rod G in Wily Wars on the Genesis, and Hanumachine in Mega Man Zero. Xiba from Soul Calibur V also seems to take cues from Wukong, weapon and all. Anyhow, interesting idea for a series. I know I could write a feature-length film on the Harry Potter video games. But I think you're at your best when you go for more obscure stuff.

[@Real_The_Goof]

Cloud Master For the Master System came out in the US as well. I got it one Christmas from my Aunt when I was 8 I believe. I remember it clearly.

[@Brunzal]

This is a really damn good video and as someone currently reading the unabridged Anthony Wu translation I very much appreciate it. I love that you didn't go the path of least resistance and oversaturate with DB ganes. One small correction tho: The impetus behind the historical priest and the fictional hero of Journey to the West going to the Western Heaven to find the scriptures differs. While the historical Xuanzang defied an imperial decree to cross the border out of China, the fictional hero of the novel acted on behalf of the emperor to return from India with the true scriptures of the Buddha. The novel's historical revisionism exists to affirm the divine mandate of China's royal line and also to marry Buddhism with the other Chinese relgiions of Taoism and Confuscianism. Sorry to nitpick. This is fantastic and I can't wait to see what you take on next.

[@DodderingOldMan]

Nice! Always loved Journey to the West, and Chinese literature and mythology in general.

[@treboryello]

Brilliant as always Kim. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@Klonoa7H]

Don't forget that Sun Wukong is a demon in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/megamitensei/images/3/3d/SeitenteiseiSMT.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080706003024 He's very useful in Nocturne, having some of the best physical abilities in the game. Seeing a video on the Tiny Toons franchise might be interesting.

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Is there any world mythology that SMT hasn't touched?

[@luckystarz6472]

Perfect video I've always wanted a video like this and now we are getting a monkey king game my dreams are coming true it's always cool to see what the west think about this story as I grew up with it hopes to see more videos like this! Cheers!

[@SteveGeary52]

This is a great idea. Can't wait to see what you cover!

[@anumeon]

The punishing with the headband. That inspired the StarZinger creators i think. Jan Kugo had a headband that the princess used to hurt him when he disobeyed her... :)

[@callme_Sweetpea]

Insanely well-made video, as always, Kim! :D

[@BADC0FFEE]

there are much more games, I know two on the snes that are based on a manga that is loosely based on Journey to the West, there's also Dragonball itself, the most famous thing to ever draw inspiration from Journey to the west, Sun Wukong's japanese name is often Son Goku

[@marcinagy6468]

There's a simple sidescrolling brawler for pc by Taiwanese developer Panda (they made the Sango Fighter games), called West Adventure

[@yewles1]

A PS4 adaptation of the animated Monkey King films voiced by Jackie Chan was just announced for global release.

[@662kev4]

Your channel is absolutely brilliant.

[@farhanatashiga3721]

👍 Suggestion: virtual adaptation of European medieval history.

[@meromex]

Saiaku journey west was a really good strategy game back in the ps era, i remember playing that, ff tactics, disgea and some that name escape me now.

[@theshitpostdumpster91]

the watara supervision and Bandai wonderswan got adaptations as well, which you didn't mention.

[@Zallestial]

Didn't even knew about journey to the west buit now I recognize lots of referenses from japanese anime. :) for instance the character Cogo in starzinger fights with a staff and has a metal headband controlled by the princess. There is also the 3rd Hokage in Naruto that has a monkey god as his main summonable contracted creature/spirit that can also transform into a huge staff.

[@IanThunderbolt]

If you've never heard of it, the Chrontendo series Kim mentions is absolute gold, It's one man who is documenting every singe NES/Famicom game in release order and giving information about all of them. and Yeah there are some pretty dire early Famicom stuff if anyone want's to watch more really bad 8-Bit Nintendo games.

[@IanThunderbolt]

This is what I get for writing comments at 2am

[@liquidgeorge]

How about the clear influences of 'Daedalus; or, Science and the Future' as an idea for a video in this series?

[@James-fo8rf]

Loved the video! Yeah some have already suggested, dragonball was could have been included. For some reason I have soft spot cloud master. There have been a few remakes including the PC Engine and Wii versions.

[@Oneflip2]

There was an old korean top down shoot em up game based on journey to the west but with modern weapons and cartoon artstyle i used to play as a kid, trying to find it rn

[@PAKA62]

Oriental Legend (and all its sequels, Arcade) Sun Wukong/Goku is a hidden character in World Heroes Perfect

[@monolalia]

Had a hunch, and yes... that terrible, terrible C16 game Monkey Magic was related to all this, too. At least I know now why it had a monkey on a cloud shooting bugs with a wand.

[@sakalak]

Kim. Just by the title - AMAZING.

[@Supernerdland]

If there are more than just the handful I can think of, I think Heart of Darkness would be a great topic!

[@ZioName]

Very good video, but you forgot two games (unless it was due to being adaptation of a manga based on JttW), the two Saiyuki games on PS2, a tactical jRPG and a fighting game.

[@chocodog991]

im glad i discovered your channel. subscribed.

[@mpixel2058]

Nice video, Kim.

[@TheLocalFuzz]

I look forward to more videos in the series!

[@GeoNeilUK]

What does it say about me that the way I'm familiar with Journey To The West is from the 1970s TV series *Monkey* and its dub job that would be seen as problematic nowadays and Tripitaka being played by a woman and that I absolutely *LOVED* that series! And there _must_ have been characters from the novel in at least one beat em up. Please tell me there's a fanslation of Super Monkey Daiboken! I wouldn't play it myself, but seeing some playthroughs or reviews on KZbin would be funny! Monkey and Trip, do we meet up with Piggy and the Sandman in Enslaved? Perhaps we were going to meet them in the cancelled sequel.

[@mibri]

vintage kim justice stuff here. thanks!

[@CarlosElDiablo1774]

Good pilot episode ;) How about games based on Homer's Oddysee, Theseus and the Minotaur or other Greek myths.

[@janbundesen]

Dear Kim Justice. What is the lovely tune, You almost use every time at the end? Did You do it Yourself?

[@TheDeviantGent]

AAAAAAAAAAAATATATATATATATATA IVE GOT A HEADACHE Also, excellent video, looking forward to further entries in the series.

[@Bannerman1903]

Lovely stuff as always Kim. the Monkey tv program was a firm favourite of mine as a kid. Weekdays 6pm BBC2 IIRC. Or was it 6:30?

[@googleboughtmee]

Interesting vid. I remember that Monkey game on GCCX, and still have a strange desire to buy it.

[@itsaPIXELthing]

Awesome vid, Kim! Thanks! :)

[@Horzuhammer]

Shouted "SUPAA MONKEY DAIBOU-KEN!" when I saw the thumb. :P Had a weird ifatuation (that's probably a wrong word) for the game a long time too..

[@OmegaEnvych]

In Shin Megami Tensei series Sun Wukong appears by his japanese name Seiten Taisei as recruitable demon as well as persona of Chariot arcana in Persona series. Also, who in modern world won' remember japanese translation of Sun Wukong's name 3(Son Goku) and won't instantly recall Dragonball?

[@alfan0079]

also not to mention all of dragonball action adventure based game, the non fighting beat em up game. Also Saiyuki Reloaded games

[@DemonTomatoDave]

Oh, this is a lovely idea!

[@MrLondonGo]

Born of an egg on a mountain top buy monkey magic at your local shop fly monkey around ...... and have some fun. Print advert for Monkey Magic CBM64 circa 1985

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Great series. This was an amazing watch.

[@doloresdebeauvoir4960]

8:30 I am confident to air this whole thing wide in the open because only I speak English in my family. :D

[@kaksikymmenta3]

Wouldn't all Dragon Ball games count as adaptions of Journey to the West?

[@anactualmotherbear]

Your videos are SO good.

[@madblank]

Journey to the west for DOS from Panda Entertainment is a good beat'em up.

[@stockicide]

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? might make a good subject for a future "Virtual Adaptation" episode. Great vid as usual, btw.

[@scrublordfinesse4359]

stockicide other than the blade runner game what else exists?

[@stockicide]

I kind of assumed there were multiple adaptations. Guess I was wrong - although there is apparently a Blade Runner game for the Commodore 64 in addition to the more famous PC game. And if you stretch out to games "inspired by" the story, you find things like Snatcher and Deus Ex, but that's probably outside the scope of a single video.

[@scrublordfinesse4359]

stockicide yeah this seems like its focusing more on adaptations even if they arw very loose ones not just elements taken from a film although a new game in the blade runner universe would be kinda kick ass. I'd make it l.a noire esqe if i were to do it i think that'd be neat

[@nobel11]

Cool video. Very informative, and entertaining.

[@KTP200]

The ABCs of games that don't require a license because they're based on public domain stories

[@MrNegativecreep07]

I really wanted to love Enslaved, but couldn't. It does indeed look beautiful and it well written, but the camera and controls frustrate since they often don't do what you want them to

[@Valkian24]

Loved Enslaved, even with it's flaws. Sad that it didn't become the big hit that it could have been.

[@boblowes]

Great idea for a series - and one you could take in SO many different directions. There is a remake of Cloud Master for the Wii, simply entitled The Monkey King:: The Legend Begins, which is apparently also quite hard to come by these days. www.nintendo.com/games/detail/ygbBPtNZahTkcQZh4wtTTVYzPkBo7cdz Enslaved: Oddest to the West is simply magnificent. Even the Pigsy DLC is beautiful separate campaign with completely different gameplay mechanics. The whole game main & DLC is absolutely worth playing again, and has magnificent voice acting and cutscene animation. The gameplay is great fun, the writing superb. I guess Andy Sekis has really got his moneys worth from setting his performance capture studio.

[@cjcottell]

Was hoping for a mention of Kung Fu Chaos

[@Michirin9801]

0:16 A person? Please do Jackie Chan games! Please do Jackie Chan Games!!

[@RodrigoMeazzi]

Love it! Keep going!

[@AmahlAmahlAmahl]

You missed Son Goku in World Heroes Perfect.

[@butcherax]

I thought Alex Kidd was based on Monkey, but maybe it's just aesthetic.

[@DoneRandomLee]

"If you watched contindo" i assume i'm misspelling it cause i can't find any video series with that spelling. Can anyone help me find it?

[@Hoss19930]

A bit late but Kim is referring to Chrontendo, a series made by a youtuber called Dr Sparkle that chronicles every single famicom game in order of release date.

[@TheKeyser94]

You missed the Hallmark channel miniseries and Dragon Ball.

[@doctorcrankyflaps1724]

I love you Kim.

[@waynehickman8317]

There's also a couple of crappy home computer games too, Monkey Magic on the C64 which is a clone of Chuka Taisen and Monkey Magic on the Atari 8-bit which is a crap single screen platformer and a crap Chuka Taisen mixed together

[@TheUKNutter]

I have the crappy port of Son Son. This explains why I sucked at it

[@bhlaab]

Suggestion: Twin Peaks. Pretty much every japanese game is heavily inspired by it

[@mibri]

dig & spike volleyball?

[@lilliputmoss]

I adore Twin Peaks and many things that are inspired by it but I don't see many Japanese games that are, It's hard to think of any not named Mizzurna Falls or Deadly Premonition. (and links awakening, kind of)

[@CarozQH]

Even DoA Xtreme Beach Volleyball?

[@lilliputmoss]

That's based on a cut scene from FWWM where Laura and Not Donna go to the seaside, The Log Lady shows up and slams the ball with a spinning log strike.

[@Painocus]

Equalizing Distort: Silent Hill is not particularly coy about it's TP inspirations either.

[@eila2088]

I think the monkey king side scroller got wii remake that is quite a bit better.

[@danieltracy1052]

I would like to see games based on blade runner.

[@Tubby_brewster82]

There great guitars to modify like you've done 200 odd pounds for me add new tuners pickups and bridge if it has a tremolo Floyd or standard I've seen loads of different copies the Chinese copy's have copied great for making your own mutt

[@LIONREV7]

Cool section

[@Kenadian2006]

Dragonball? No coverage on Dragonball at all?

[@spiderjerusalem100]

Nice one!

[@hellfire6112]

watch ed the 3 movies not long ago, the 2nd 1 is the best , the 3rd 1 came out this year but wasnt all the gd & the 1st 1 with donny yen was a bit long

[@bastardtubeuser]

crondento sees everything via nes tinted sunglasses. by the time the MS came out no one really gave a shit about the NES.. otherwise i like,

[@keeperofthetriforce7]

you forgot about the wii game