Jeremy Parish

NES Works Gaiden #37: Zippy Race / Super Arabian / Front Line (Patreon)

Published:

2022-04-06 12:23:00

Imported:

2024-04

Tags:

Taito famicom irem nes works gaiden sunsoft tose

Content

I've made amends for last week's chronological goof here by returning to Irem's actual first Famicom game. I'm not sure it does any favors for their reputation, though. Zippy Race on Famicom might actually not be as good as the SG-1000 version, despite the fact that the Famicom could generate much nicer-looking graphics and supported the smooth scrolling so essential to a proper racing game. Not unlike TOSE's work with Chack'n Pop, they seem to have tuned the A.I. and controls to be way more difficult here than Sega did, to the point of frustration.

Sunsoft's console debut, Super Arabian, doesn't fare much better. I flung myself at that horrible flying carpet stage for entirely too long to no avail. At least there's Front Line, a middling and compromised but at least somewhat interesting conversion of a seminal arcade work.

Don't worry, though. There's a treat ahead for everyone next week, assuming your tastes line up with the general Video Works ethos. And why would you be here if they didn't?

Files

Zippy Race / Super Arabian / Front Line retrospective: Iffy origins | NES Works Gaiden #37

OK, this week we have the actual debut of Irem on Famicom, but it's hard to say TOSE's take on Zippy Race makes for a splashier debut than 10-Yard Fight would have. At least 10-Yard Fight had the benefit of not having been shown up by a conversion of the same game to technically inferior hardware more than a year earlier. TOSE also helps a second publisher make its debut here with Sunsoft's first Famicom release: A similarly underwhelming arcade-to-console conversion of the game Arabian. If you love Ice Climber's jump physics (spoilers: you don't), you'll love Super Arabian (spoilers: you won't). Finally, wrapping up the episode, we have another arcade port from Taito. Front Line more or less invented a genre, but does that mean this version has any value besides its place in history? (Spoilers: it doesn't.) Yes, it's dark times for Famicom. Production notes: Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! SG-1000 footage captured from a combination of Sega SG-1000 II with (with Card Catcher) and @Analogue Mega Sg with card adapter module and DAC. Vintage hardware mods courtesy of @iFixRetro. NES/Famicom footage captured from @Analogue Nt Mini Noir. Video upscaled to 720 with @Retro Tink 5X.