Kato and Ken 30th anniversary!

[kenomac78]

One game I've always loved was JJ and Jeff. It was literally the first TG16 I had, save for Keith Courage. Of course it's known the Japanese version Kato and Ken had some differences. Well I went out of my way, found the Kato and Ken tv show, watched it and made comparisons of the show and game and the regional differences. The games birthday is November 30! So if you ever played it, you'll surely want to see it.

[SignOfZeta]

I loved it. Lots of cool info.

[Arkhan Asylum]

This is a fun game, despite the fact our version just features two random dumbasses.

It's still odd to me that they localized the game but I am glad they did, because it was great.

This was a cool video.   I like the background music usage, facts, and the fact you don't sound like you are deepthroating the mic while talking.  Thank you for that.

[ginoscope]

Yeah I always enjoyed this game when I first got my turbo.  I don't understand all the hate it gets.  I enjoyed finding all the secrets in the game.  It was one of my first games with Bonk and Keith back in '90.

I always wondered why they localized it as well.  Only thing I can think of was that they wanted more platform games since they were popular at the time.

[NecroPhile]

Fun video, thanks for sharing.  I don't hate JJ & Jeff but neither do I particularly like it.  The controls are slippery, the hidden switches aren't usually cleverly hidden or particularly fun to find, and the warps backwards make it feel cheap hard.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I always wondered why they localized it as well.  Only thing I can think of was that they wanted more platform games since they were popular at the time.

And at the time, there were limited options.

Doing a larger re-do of art/etc. probably was out of the realms of possibility because of the games setting.

What else are you going to put in alleyways/buildings/streets?

The names could've been less stupid maybe.

JJ and Jeff sounds like some characters that appear in a comic hanging on a dentist's wall.

[SignOfZeta]

Back then code alone was valuable. Look at how many games were completely redone graphically back then just to get some 17 year old programmer's perfect game.

Street Smart for SNES is a great example. Being originally a Ranma 1/2 fighting game the only thing good about it was the art and it was all completely replaced for Street Smart.

[Gredler]

Great video, thanks for sharing! I subscribed and have the "Binge Watch" playlist on at work today. Nice work!

[Arkhan Asylum]

Back then code alone was valuable. Look at how many games were completely redone graphically back then just to get some 17 year old programmer's perfect game.

Street Smart for SNES is a great example. Being originally a Ranma 1/2 fighting game the only thing good about it was the art and it was all completely replaced for Street Smart.

Sometimes it just sucks.

like Wanwan Panic --> Chubby Cherub.

What a mess.

[nopepper]

Great video! Subscribed.

Although I love Adventure Island, I've never been able to get into this game. I probably should give it another shot some day, as it seems there are peeps that like it even more than New Adventure Island, which kinda boggles my mind.

[exodus]

I too enjoyed this video!!!

[nopepper]

Wow, just watched the episode on Altered Beast and Matthew Sweet. Really informative and high production values. I might be binging on your channel while working out the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for sharing!

[kenomac78]

Thanks everyone who liked it! Im glad you enjoyed it. There are actually dozens of episodes of the show online, if you search in Japanese. some of them well.. most of them have a lot of half naked women in them ahah.

also great to read other people memories of the game, as I always wondered who else out there had a TG 16 back then and actually played it!

[Arkhan Asylum]

naked women?

FUCK YEAH.

[ccovell]

Street Smart for SNES is a great example. Being originally a Ranma 1/2 fighting game...

Worse still, it was actually called Street Combat.

Good video!  My 2c: the game is a bit repetitive, but has a great early-'80s platforming challenge for hardcore gamers wanting to hone their reflexes.  It gets far too cruel near the end of the game.
Kato and Ken (the entertainers themselves) can go hang; I never liked their brand of humour.

[SignOfZeta]

Oh yeah...


Man, Street Combat is a mega generic brand sounding name now that I think about it. I don't know why they didn't call it Street Combat II.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Street Fisting


a missed opportunity.

[nopepper]

naked women ?

FUCK YEAH.

God, I love that movie.

Also, something tells me there are a lot of Dale Dovaks and Brennan's in this board.

[esteban]

One game I've always loved was JJ and Jeff. It was literally the first TG16 I had, save for Keith Courage. Of course it's known the Japanese version Kato and Ken had some differences. Well I went out of my way, found the Kato and Ken tv show, watched it and made comparisons of the show and game and the regional differences. The games birthday is November 30! So if you ever played it, you'll surely want to see it.

Yet another video to add to my list!

I am very happy to see all of the "presents" and "gifts" folks have left in the forums over the past few weeks!

Needless to say, I have watched some sketches from the Kato & Ken show years ago...but, personally, I actually prefer the US "80's dudes" to Kato & Ken. Having absolutely no pop-culture connection to Kato & Ken, it's pretty easy to understand how I went from dismissing JJ&Jeff as generic/lame characters to charming embodiments of the era.

Plus, to be honest, I have problems. JJ&Jeff are my friends at this point. I have conversations with them. They represent every hope and every disappointment I had with TG-16 in NA.

PLUS, I actually prefer the spray paint. It's not scatalogical, but it actually fits the 80's theme far better. Forward-facing spray paint is more intuitive for the average player, IMHO.

I enjoy both games, so I love the little differences in the mechanics....I don't think it changes things too much...

[Koa Zo]

Well I went out of my way, found the Kato and Ken tv show, watched it and made comparisons of the show and game and the regional differences.

Hey this video just came up while I was watching youtube, I hadn't seen it before, and was thence quite entertained and enlightened as it commenced.
Thought to share it here; and surprise surprise, the search function reasonably works on this forum, there's already a thread.
Great work on the video, kenomac78. Comprehensive, watchable, and informative.
Every Turbo Lover should give it a view.

[geise]

Subscribed! Fantastic vid! I really enjoyed it! Thank you.

[TheClash603]

I had no idea those characters weren't generic, that was a great watch.  Also never knew I was pronouncing Kato wrong til now.

[gilbert]

And if you haven't already known yet (and if it's not mentioned in any of the linked video, which I obviously didn't watch). The show America's Funniest Home Video was inspired by some segments of the Kato & Ken variety show. If you read (or pause) fast enough at the end of each episode of AFV there is actually an acknowledge about this, even to this day, after the show has been on air for decades and most people still don't know(or care) about its origin.

[esteban]

I love this thread for reminding me about all this info.... and tying it all together.

A bunch of loose threads are slowly being woven into a barely-cohesive narrative of how pop-culture spreads and evolves... it's actually an excellent "case study" that hits many different areas that are a treat for me (from niche/obscure to mega-mainstream).



UPDATE: And I had to watch this video a few more times, just to absorb all the goodness.