Do You NintenKnow: December 2022

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!

December 1987

Capcom developed and published this NES title starring the “blue bomber” in his first appearance. Take on six main stages that end in boss fights with a Robot Master under the control of the villainous Dr. Wily. The hero gains the use of powers from the Robot Masters bosses which can be used to defeat the others more efficiently. The box art for this one is legendary and looks nothing like the actual character.

December 1992

Another Capcom developed and published game, this time for the SNES starring possibly the most famous anthropomorphic rodent ever created. The hero – let’s call him “Ricky Rat” – must platform his way through six levels and utilize four outfits to try to find his dog who was kidnapped by Emperor Pete. This game was remade for the GBA in 2002 and added “Ricky’s” love interest “Rhonda Rat” as a playable character.

Guess what? The third Capcom developed and published game in a row! Another NES title here and it’s actually part of the same series from the first game above featuring the “blue bomber” once again. The Robot Masters in this outing include Star Man, Stone Man, and Napalm Man. Which entry has Spoon Man?

December 1997

Midway published this N64 spin-off title from their classic fighting game series which delved into the backstory of its iconic ice-wielding combatant. This was the last game in the series to use digitized actors – a staple of the series to that point. Midway Games developed the PS version, but Avalanche Software developed the N64 version. Is that why it sucked? Probably not since the PS version is also regarded as quite awful.

December 2002

HAL Laboratory developed this GBA remake of the excellent NES game featuring the lovable pink puffball. Besides updated graphics, the remake includes new sub-games and some changes in the mechanics of the copy abilities. Multiplayer support was also added for up to four players…but who really connected that many GBA’s together??

Another blast-from-the-past GBA game with four player multiplayer support? Yup, this time featuring Nintendo’s sword-wielding hero. The game is a port of the wonderful SNES title with an additional multiplayer-only adventure added where two to four players work together (or not) to clear stages and see who collects the most rupees. Hopefully you had friends to experience the anger and vitriol caused by the added multiplayer mode!

LucasArts developed and published this GameCube title set in the famous intergalactic media franchise starring one of the most recognizable side characters – the jetpack wearing, blaster pistol toting Jango Fett. Hunt down targets and capture them dead or alive to get rewards. Find the hidden feather in each level to unlock bonus footage.

December 2007

Sonic Team developed this Sega Saturn sequel for the Wii where two children enter a dream world and get the help of a character there to stop Wizeman from escaping into the real world. The main goal over each of the seven levels is to fly through rings and acquire keys to move on to the next stage. The game was thought to be just “ok” with many reviewers finding the motion control scheme awkward and difficult to master.

December 2012

Activision published this Wii U title based on the famous British secret agent franchise to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the film series. The game includes missions from each era with those actors lending their likenesses and voices in some cases. It was the last game in the series published by Activision and was pretty terrible by all accounts. Maybe that’s why the Wii U release never made it to Australia?

December 2017

Monolith Soft developed this sprawling JRPG sequel for the Switch that diverted from the mechs and focus on realistic graphics from their previous Wii U title in favor of a more anime style featuring big eyes and big b…bosses. Explore the sprawling world as the main character tries to take his anime waifus to Elysium. Is there a dirty joke in there? You be the judge of that.

Bonus Gift

The final issue of this iconic Nintendo Magazine was published in December 2012. The last issue, Volume 285, featured paid homage to the original cover substituting New Super Mario Bros U for Super Mario 2 from Volume 1. The spirit of this magazine lives on today in podcast form.