This week's Famicom Fridays dives into one of Nintendo’s most obscure and bizarre early titles: Devil World! Released exclusively in Japan and parts of Europe, this 1984 Famicom game was the brainchild of two legendary figures in the gaming world—Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the same creative duo behind Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Despite this pedigree, Devil World never made it to North America due to its heavy use of religious imagery, which clashed with Nintendo of America's strict content policies at the time.
👾 What is Devil World?
At first glance, Devil World feels like a spiritual sibling to Pac-Man, but it adds its own unique—and downright strange—twist to the maze chase formula. You control a small green dragon named Tamagon who battles the titular Devil by navigating mazes, collecting dots, and grabbing Bibles and crosses to gain power. But here's the kicker: the Devil at the top of the screen controls the direction the screen scrolls, making each level a dynamic battle against not just enemies, but the environment itself.
Without a cross, Tamagon can’t even pick up dots, and without a Bible, he can’t fight back. This spiritual weapon system, combined with constant scrolling, adds both strategy and urgency to the gameplay. It's cute, weird, and undeniably Nintendo.
🕹️ Why You Should Play It
Devil World is a fascinating piece of Nintendo history. It marks the first console game directed by Miyamoto and is a glimpse into the experimental era of early Nintendo. The gameplay is tight, the visuals are colorful and charming, and its unique mechanics still stand out today. For retro enthusiasts, it’s a must-play title that shows just how creative Nintendo was even before their mainstream hits.
📺 Did You Know?
-
The game was never released in North America due to its religious themes, even though Nintendo was already establishing a foothold in the region with the NES.
-
Tamagon, the little dragon, never appeared in another game—making him a true one-off oddity in Nintendo lore.
-
Devil World saw a re-release on the Wii Virtual Console, allowing more modern players to finally experience it.
.png)
0 comments:
Post a Comment