Do You NintenKnow: November 2023

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!

November 1988

This NES title from Sunsoft puts you in the role of Jason who follows his pet frog, Fred, into a hole and finds a tank to take on alien races. At least that’s what the Western release would have you believe! That story is played out through an opening cutscene that wasn’t in the Japanese release. In fact, the character is named Kane Gardner in Japan and the planet – not your tank – is named SOPHIA the 3rd…with no frogs to be found! Gameplay features both sidescrolling shooting and platforming action while inside SOPHIA, along with top-down action when Jason leaves SOPHIA and enters doors. Just don’t fall from anything higher than a baby jump with Jason because he’ll die.

November 1998

After already successfully transitioning Mario into the 3rd dimension, Nintendo set its sights on doing the same with their fantasy-inspired series. How would sword fighting work in 3D? By introducing Z-targeting of course! That was only one of many innovations from this game that would be “borrowed” for countless other titles and are still relied upon today. This title helped to define what 3D games should be and is still widely considered one of, if not THE best video game ever created. I might be biased, but I agree. It also went back to the gold cartridge as a pre-order bonus. I also need to shout out the Gerudo Valley theme as one of the best video game tracks of all-time!

November 2003

After learning about Roy and Marth from Super Smash Bros. Melee, we were finally able to play a game from that series with this Intelligent Systems title for the GBA….even if we couldn’t actually play as Roy or Marth. Instead, this tactical RPG featured Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector. Actually the seventh installment in the series, this was the first title to be localized for international audiences. Don’t come for the waifu relationship building because that wouldn’t come to the series for many years.

This GBA farming sim title from Marvelous Interactive was a remake of a PlayStation title from the same series…that was actually kind of a remix of the N64 title, featuring the same characters with different personalities or relationships. Not confusing at all, right? As usual, you take control of a young farmer who needs to whip an old farm back into shape. Grow crops, raise animals, and try to woo the love of your life. Generally regarded as one of the best games in the series, this title also offered some connectivity with a GameCube title from the series by using the GBA link cable. If you wanted to play as a girl, you had to wait a few years for the “female version”.

What’s better than racing around a ridiculous track throwing random items at the other racers? Being able to do that with an extra racer on your vehicle! This Nintendo GameCube title allowed players to do just that. Characters had their own special items, creating an extra layer of strategy when choosing your combinations. This game also supported LAN play for up to 16 players with the Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter, which I’m sure was feasible for at least 0.01% of players. A bit of personal advice here. If you regularly find yourself in last place when racing with your friends, keep choosing Baby Park. That introduces plenty of chaos and evens the odds.

Ubisoft went back to the well with this action-adventure platforming title for the GameCube (and other platforms) to reboot a classic Jordan Mechner series. Take control of a king’s son who obtains a time-altering dagger as you parkour and swing your way through some truly beautiful locales. Farah is there as well to “help”, but she sucks most of the time. The dialogue between the two characters is quite entertaining at least. Take down the Vizier and try to turn back the clock to a time before everything went to pieces. Fun fact – I spoke at my high school graduation and opened with a variation of a line from this game. “Time is like a river flowing swift and sure in one direction…”

November 2013

Did you ever want to see Nintendo’s famous plumber wearing a cat suit? If so, this Wii U title is for you! Introduced here is the Super Bell power-up which gives your character “cat powers” including the ability to climb walls and use a scratch attack. Speaking of characters, there were four to choose from…the same four from the “second” game in the series featuring Wart. Similar to their appearances in that game, each selectable character has unique abilities and controls differently. Calling to mind earlier titles and the one on 3DS, the levels in this game contain timers and a level-ending flagpole. Meow where did I put my Wii U GamePad?

Here’s another entry in Nintendo’s famous fantasy series, but this one is a 3DS title that revisited the world from their landmark SNES title with a twist. In this pseudo-sequel, the map is very familiar but there are plenty of changes, none of which are more important than the ability to “wall merge”. Using a special bracelet, the hero can merge onto a wall like a painting and move around through cracks or around pits. It allows for some excellent puzzle solving and is vital for one of the best boss fight “gimmicks” of the entire series down in the Thieves’ Hideout. It’s both a love letter to the SNES game and a more-than-worthy successor. Find a way to bring it back, Nintendo!

Bonus x2

This handheld revision – or is it a separate platform? – was released on November 18, 1998. No longer were we forced to see our games only in hues of green or black and white! To many youngsters out there, this probably doesn’t seem that special, but I assure you that it was absolutely mind-blowing! There were games that could only be played on this handheld which were easily identifiable by the translucent cartridge. Find a way to bring translucent hardware back too, Nintendo!

This accessory was released on November 16, 2008 and allowed for voice chat on the Wii. Instead of a headset, it was like a conference call where anyone (or anything) in the room could be heard. Exactly what everyone was asking for! This accessory was sold separately, but also included in an Animal Crossing: City Folk bundle. There weren’t many compatible titles, a whopping 13 in total. Needless to say, this wasn’t very popular unless you wanted to yell at the peripheral from across the room while playing The Conduit.