Jeremy Parish

Metroidvania Works 18: Clash at Demonhead & X•Z•R (Patreon)

Published:

2023-06-28 11:36:32

Imported:

2024-04

Tags:

clash at demonhead exile metroidvania nes telenet vic tokai

Content

A personal favorite arrives this week in Clash at Demonhead. Truth be told, this was one of a handful of games that prompted me to launch this series to begin with. Of course, I ended up not going into the depth I originally intended in this video, because somewhere between launching Metroidvania Works (née Metroidvania Chronicles), I ended up embarking on NES Works (née Good Nintentions). So I need to save something for my January 1990 coverage in order to justify going absolutely nuts in that upcoming Clash retrospective.

I also touch on the very strange X•Z•R this week, which I wasn't able to play for myself but which seems intriguing. Handily, I had quite a bit of footage available for the game thanks to those VHS tapes I've been ripping. See, it all comes together.

Files

The Routes of all evil: Clash at Demonhead and X•Z•R | Metroidvania Works 18

We take a look at one of the most daring, out-of-left-field NES action-adventure titles of all time this episode with Vic Tokai's Clash at Demonhead. A rambling, raucous, frequently bizarre game that appears to be based on a shounen anime that never actually existed, Demonhead's goofy exterior belies some clever game design and surprisingly well-thought-out mechanics. I suppose it only seems fitting, coming from the same company that gave us Golgo 13; Vic Tokai seemed to specialize in great concepts beneath some decidedly shaky programming and visual design. But even if the visuals seem a little behind the times for 1989, the overall design of the game is decidedly forward-thinking. Also this episode, a quick look at another daring title in the action-RPG vein: Telenet's X•Z•R, aka Exile. Featuring time-travel and, apparently, a plot that involves assassinating the American president, this Zelda II-inspired hybrid spawned several sequels that eventually saw Western localization. The original here, however, has been lost to time... 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! Why watch when you can read? Check out the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works, available now at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books)! Look forward to SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I in August and Metroidvania Works Vol. I in 2024. NES footage captured from Analogue Nt Mini. Video upscaled to 720 with xRGB Mini Framemeister.