Do You NintenKnow: July 2024

Below is a set of clues for games that have a notable US release date anniversary (5, 10, 15, etc.) in the current month. See if you can figure out the title before clicking the blurred image to find out if you were correct! Head down to the comments when you’re finished and reminisce about the personal memories that were dredged up. Remember that these are going by the release date in the United States. Have fun!

Bonus

Usually, I put these at the end, but I have to start with it this time…trust me, it will make sense in a bit. This handheld Nintendo console released on July 31, 1989, and immediately became a “must-have” road trip item. I hope you had plenty of AA batteries to keep the green-hued gaming going!

July 1989

This Game Boy launch title – see why I had to have that bonus out front this time? – brought Nintendo’s famous plumber to the handheld with some interesting changes. The Mushroom Kingdom is replaced by Sarasaland as the setting, Princess Daisy makes her series debut, and there are shooter-style levels interspersed with the regular platforming. Maybe these changes were the result of Shigeru Miyamoto not being involved in the development? That was instead headed by Gunpei Yokoi who invented the Game Boy.

Here’s another Game Boy launch title which was bundled with the handheld in both North America and Europe. This puzzler is a portable version of Alexey Pajitnov’s “falling block” masterpiece. Try to create solid rows across the screen with the different shapes, making the lines disappear and increasing your score. This title also allowed for multiplayer fun using the Game Link Cable – provided both players had a copy of the Game Pak. I’m not sure if you can still play a version of this game online for free – you’d have to consult Josh Grobot for that!

July 1994

What originally seems like a Game Boy port of the famous arcade game with Jumpman and the big ape, unfolds into a sprawling puzzle-platformer where Mario must rescue Pauline from their simian nemesis. The goal is to find a key and carry it to a locked door to complete each stage. There are also battle levels mixed in, which offer a boss fight but still require platforming acumen. This is another beloved classic from Nintendo and arguably hasn’t been topped by the successors that continued the general premise.

Argonaut Software’s SNES foray into racing (?) showcased 3D graphics with the use of the Super FX chip – which is a big hint for the name. There are regular racing tracks, obstacle courses, time trials, etc. for you to get your 16-bit 3D racing on! Seriously, you had to be there to realize how big of a deal it was to see polygons like this in action as opposed to the usual 2D racing. Did it make the game better? Debatable. At least the vehicles had some neat Rare-style googly eyes!

July 2004

This GameCube title isn’t really a game at all…it’s more of an extra storage facility for captured “monsters” from the Game Boy Advance third generation main series titles. It was only sold in North America through the New York [redacted] Center and its online store. Hence, it’s extremely rare and one of the most expensive GameCube titles today.

Namco developed and published this RPG following the journey of Lloyd Irving to save his world of Sylvarant – which has some unintended consequences. Fans loved the battle system and considered it one of the best in the RPG genre at that point. The game was later released on the PlayStation 2 with extra content but ran at 30FPS as opposed to the 60FPS in the GameCube version. Then, there was a remaster for the Nintendo Switch which disappointed fans since it retained the 30FPS from the PS2 version. Did they lose the source code for the GameCube version or something?

July 2009

This Wii real-time strategy simulation RPG was co-developed by Cing and Town Factory and published in North America by XSeed Games. You take control of Corobo, the new child monarch in Alpoko. It’s a “Pikmin-like” where you amass a group of subjects and point them in the direction of objects or enemies instead of taking them on yourself. Granted, you can do that, but Corobo’s attacks are very weak. Upgrade your citizens and facilities to gain strength as you expand your range by unifying six other kingdoms under your rule. Hopefully you like classical music since the game’s main background music is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9…which is immeasurably more enjoyable than Mighty No. 9!

July 2019

This kind of a strange one, as the Switch was the only platform to receive this third title in the dungeon-crawling-style co-op superhero (not-DC) action RPG series. I guess it makes sense since the Team Ninja-developed title was published by Nintendo but it’s still a little weird as the first two games appeared on multiple platforms. Thanos and his “children” are up to no good and it’s up to a whole host of heroes to stop them. The playable roster leans heavily on the X-Men but also has representation from Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy among others. Really, who wouldn’t want to see Rocket Raccoon team up with Elektra and Wolverine?

Man, has it already been five years since Intelligent Systems released this strategy RPG featuring a trio of separate, yet connected stories? As Byleth, you’re the new professor at Garreg Mach Monastery and eventually choose a path from the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, or Golden Deer. Oh, there was also DLC that revealed a secret, fourth route hidden underground following the Ashen Wolves. As if three weren’t enough!