I hope there's a part 2 coming - I know this wasn't as popular as the Dark Souls content but I loved the dissection of this weird old game. It's inspired how I approach game design too.
"BLACK HOLE" is a reference to the notoriously bad game Mystery of Atlantis, where going through a certain door will lead you to a screen that contains nothing but the text "BLACK HOLE!" where you fall to your death until you run out of lives
@@8Kazuja8 It's the signature used by a programmer at Sunsoft who dummied out Tomomi Sakai's name from the title sequence, the evidence for this comes from an uncovered prototype of the game, which had the "anti-piracy" say 'INCORRECT VERSION'
Oh, something maybe important I forgot to mention in the video. Stefan's full interview with Sakai-san isn't publicly available yet to my knowledge. I was given permission to cite as much as I wanted from it, but it's not out there just yet! Just in case you're wondering where those quotes are coming from-- they're citation-less at the moment (but are legit). Most responses were written in English as well and haven't been translated.
Gimmick just got re-released on modern consoles! I'm finally able to play it, and it is even better than I thought. Thank you for introducing me to this game.
53:49 "In a future _Part 2_ episode..." >uploaded 1 year ago >still no part 2 >; _ ; (jokes aside, amazing video! it's very nice seeing my favorite NES game get recognition like this. lookin forward to part 2, if you still plan on making it!)
Shame this video isn't more popular. It's one of your best. I would have never known about this gem if not for you, also absolutely insane that the game's getting a re-release.
Just realized that at 37:35 - 37:50 the little Ohagi controlling the robot will either start moving slowly when you are hit and will move more frantically when you hit the robot (presumably celebrating when you are hit and freaking out when the robot is being damaged) This game is just chock-full of neat little details, I adore it.
I memorized Naoki Kodaka's name early on when I wanted to know who did some of the most badass soundtracks for the NES, but good god... Masashi Kageyama's contribution is like seven consecutive hattricks. Most games are lucky enough to have one piece of memorable boss fight music, but Kageyama made TWO, both worthy in the hall of fame of boss tunes. All of this was very enlightening. So much detail I thought was there for no reason. (I blame the stage 3 cave you can't enter.) Excellent work 👏
I hope you haven't decided to give up on Episode 2, because even though I really enjoy your Souls videos, this was my favorite video you ever produced. I'd watch a whole series like this!
I'm watching this for the second time, just wanted to say what a superlative treatment of the game this is; it's wonderful to be able to experience and appreciate and gain knowledge about something unique and magical like this that I may not ever personally play.
24:06 Oh, this area is DEFINITELY Nausicaa inspired. The insect designs and background are absolutely Nausicaa's toxic jungle, specifically the petrified lower area. e: which you mentioned a bit later. Interesting that that inspiration also (probably)shows up in Ash Lake. I feel like the visual design of the final floating castle, plus the blue crystal that powers it, may also be inspired by Laputa from Castle in the Sky.
I can't believe he never mentioned how the 3rd stage miniboss is a COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT parody of Totaro! Something tells me this Sakai dude's a diehard Hayao Miyazaki fan, the hardest core there is Like those guys who name their kids after their favorite baseball players
They're gentle giants! The sound effect of them walking is SO cool! and their bird friends... Wouldnt be surprised if they're based on the robots from Castle in the Sky, since you ARE in a castle in the sky after all
This is so cool. I love your dark souls videos, but I enjoyed this even more honestly. I hope you do another sometime, that is, if you have an interest. The love you put into this video is so clear with stuff like the text being alike to the annotated video. I would really like to see more, honestly, but I’m not going to demand it. I just really appreciate the work put into this.
The same thing totally applies to the soundtrack. When people try to make chiptune style soundtracks they mostly use square waves even though square wave constituted less than half of the NES sound chip. Then this game goes and gives 3 more of them so it really has the same style.
@@corncobjohnsonreal especially titles like this and summer carnival 92 recca. There's so much depth that its insane how small they really are in ROM compared to games of today
Absolutely delightful dissection! I can't believe my eyes at so many easter eggs, secret mechanics, unique behaviours, you can PLAY AS a random enemy??? It's all insane, what a fantastic game, thank you for covering it!
I have to admit, when I saw this in my feed I was really disappointed that it wasn't soulsborne related. Now that I've watched it, I'm going to be disappointed if the next video from you isn't part 2. It's an absolute and utter travesty this game didn't get more exposure and success. It is without a doubt one of the most impressive achievements ever made in gaming. The music, the art style, unique characters, sprites, mechanics, everything. By a team of 4. Thank you for enlightening me on this glistening, radiating gem buried beneath bedrock, Mr. Wall.
Thank you so so much! I wanted this to double as a sort of "show and tell", since my Souls stuff is mostly designed for people who are already fans I was hoping I could make this interesting for newcomers. I do have a Souls video at the top of my to-do list unfortunately, but hopefully the wait for part 2 won't be too long! :)
@@illusorywall It's us, the viewers, and the developers of the game that should be thanking you. You really did great with this one, as you always do. Looking forward to seeing you upload; no matter the topic :)
You can really tell a lot of care and attention went into this game. What a wonderful thing it is. Thank you so much for this video - nearly a full hour of little delights and surprises.
This is my absolute favorite game of all time and this was an amazing video! I thought I already knew a lot about this game but I learned a ton from this video. Thank you so much for this!
Perhaps you'd like to watch an hour and a half of a random SNES game you've only maybe heard of? th-cam.com/video/M5fIGlzDGpY/w-d-xo.html I was not expecting to love it when I started, but what a surreal ride. Passion projects can be so darn cool.
When is Part 2 coming out? Its been 9 months. I don’t want to express impatience but this video is such a treasure! Hopefully you’ll talk about the Exa-Arcadia remake that came out not too long ago.
great video!! i'd never even heard of this game and it absolutely blew me away with it's innovation, creativity, and uniqueness (especially at the time but even in todays climate). can't wait for part 2
If not for the sprite flicker I'd never have believed this was an NES game. This looks and sounds like an indie game from the last decade. I can't even believe how beautiful the sprite work is, and that soundtrack is like chiptune butter. VERY good video
I LOVE when people talk about lesser known games they love. This game looks really charming and great and I probably wouldn't have even known about it let alone appreciate it this much if you didn't go into such intricate detail on it.
Looking forward to part 2! Not only have you helped me beat dark souls, you also made my favorite video on one of my favorite games. I hope you haven’t given up on it.
im glad you made this video. the original annotated commentary was good but not only did you cover all of his cool details, you actually highlighted several new ones that i had no clue even existed. this game is nuts!
I'm glad I found you, in my opinion Gimmick is a highly underrated game and deserves alot more than what it got. Heck if I was born back then, I would of bought it before it became rare
I know I'm late, but here's a tip to beat the 2nd boss while yes you can do what illusory's doing or do this: 19:56 When you try to approach the boss, it will back away moving to the other side of the screen will cause it to jump when it does that now's your chance to attack it Sometimes the boss will jump repeatedly towards you, so attack again. Edit: To beat the 4th boss use the same trick I said for the 2nd boss it will back up and jump whenever its at the other side of the screen.
Never seen this game before, but it's fascinating how much was put into it. All the little details that make it seem more alive, and done with the limitations of the time is incredible. Definitely glad you're looking into other games you enjoy and sharing this!
I'm so glad to finally learn what your old avatar was from! And thanks for turning me onto such a great game with a great soundtrack. I'm a sucker for the NES, its a shame it took me so long to hear about this gem.
man, i wish there was a part 2! this was a fantastic video! while i love your souls content, i also love seeing you passionate about lesser-known gems like this one. thanks for making this!
What a fascinating game. I like that there is no killed-enemies-respawning-bullshit and that there are so much variation in sprite work - but not of all, I am impressed by the enemy A.I.; that some of the "enemies" do not approach mindlessly or stay in place all the time but actually react to player character's actions. I do not remember that kind of programming used in any other NES game.
I personally would have preferred a full voice over, instead of text notes. We can read an article anywhere, but hearing you talk about it is what I come here for. Very cool game!
Thanks for sharing this hidden gem. What enjoyable detail and worldbuilding. It really shows how the kind of immersion that we appreciate in the souls games really isn't anything new. This is also one of the "cleanest", sharpest NES games I've ever seen. Looking forward to your follow-up video!
Looks like one of the first attempts at what I call an "Ambient platformer" - it's as much about the locations and little machines and ecosystems than it is about getting to the boss. Please for making part more!
I absolutely adored their philosophy to world design for this game. Im gonna have to play this myself! Thanks for the introduction, I’m super looking forward to part 2
17:04 For the cannonball section, there is actually a secret method to landing on it, roll the cannon onto the drop as usual but aim a bomb towards the front of it, the bomb will knock the cannon backwards and give you a stepping space so if you mess up the timing, youll only get hit by the cannonball at worse rather than falling into the water.
What an amazing well put together video on such a cult gem; Never knew about Mr. Gimmick but I was taken back by how creative and technical its design is; I also have to mention the soundtrack sounds great.
What a wonderful gem of a video game and an equally wonderful video essay about it!!! Never heard of this one before today. Goes to show that limitations of hardware are no match for a creative team, hardwork and imagination.
Man, Gimmick! is my favorite game of all time since there's always some new detail to notice every time you replay it, and you represented it beautifully in this video. I seriously never noticed that bug on the wall before, or knew about that hidden area in Level 2. Kudos for an amazing video man, immediate sub from me, really looking forward to part 2 and whatever else you got coming down the pipe.
I need you to know how much that Wizard fight stressed me out. I love this game, and I think the Wizard fight is one of the best designed bosses on the NES. You get to see the bubble attack first, with nothing else to really dodge, and get the feel of sneaking hits in. You then get the ice attack, and can see what it does, before being forced to deal with both at the same time. If they had just dumped the last Wizard on you right away, it would have felt cheap and unfair, but you learn on the way so it feels natural. Plenty of games do this, but I think this is one of the few that does it with bosses, and it's another touch that really shows the thought that went into the design of this game. This was a fantastic dissection, and I'm excited for the next one in the series.
25:25 That simulated transparency tho I put this game on my backlog a few years ago just so I could watch this video after playing it. I finally finished it today. You really make it look easy in your video. I struggled quite a bit to get the good ending on my first playthrough, requiring a lot of reloads from the beginning of each level.
Just wanted to throw my two cents in here and say: I know this wasn't as popular as your Souls content, and you're more known for the Souls stuff, but I still absolutely loved this. I think I'd love watching you do anything 'Dissected', really; I love your voice and your style in delving into these games. I hope you consider doing more Dissected non-Souls content in the future, even on games I normally wouldn't care about; it's just really pleasant to hear these deep-dives. :) EDIT: Just finished rewatching too! (Watched 2 years back when you released this, but thought to come back today because why not?) I forgot entirely that this video was supposed to have a part 2. Since it seems abandoned now; what was the additional details you were gonna go into?
my favorite nes/famicom game, and one of my favorite games of all time. it's such a great game, i love how much care there is put into everything. "authentic entertainment realistic another world" initially felt like a sort of 'english to be cool' thing like japanese games often have, but it feels like an apt description for how lovely and in depth things feel. i've easily played this game 30+ times, and can now play without dying after initially requiring save states on every level when i first got the best ending. i've even ripped a good chunk of the sprites that are on the spriter's resource page... and need to stop putting off all the level tiles and stuff. thanks for the video!
This was awesome and super informative! You totally bring the same level of depth and enthusiasm that you bring to your Souls content and now I'm totally fascinated by this game! It's a little strange, something about the slightly dark story, combined with the impressive technical level of this game for an NES title, and the amount of hidden content and tiny added features and mechanics, give this game kind of... like an eerie quality to me? Like somehow I get a certain vibe from this game like it's some kind of retro creepypasta project, like Petscop & the like. It's actually super interesting!
I just realized that the bird at 19:20 starts with its neck behind you, then bends it and wraps it back to move it in front of you. That's an amazing detail!
This is one of the best gaming videos ever made, absolute tragedy it doesn't have more views. I'm a game developer and when this came out I was thinking of abandoning game dev entirely. Watching it on launch day rekindled my love for making and creating and now almost a year later I'm hard at work on my game. This inspired me so much and filled me with motivation, what a cool game and an incredible channel, thank you so much EDIT: rewatching, still working on my game and this video is still underrated
Wow, thank you so much for this video! I fell in love woth the design of Gimmick! just by watching it... now I want to see more from the same game designer and/or sunsoft
Hope you'll return this series, really loved this video. It's not as popular as DS/Elden Ring, but I like the long walkthrough format with occasional pauses, though more explaining with voice instead of text would be nicer. Also you introduced me to this game's banger OST, and I'm forever greatful for that)
this NES game is super underrated. it’s got possibly the best NES soundtrack out there because it’s cart had an expansion chip for extra sound channels. that blows my mind! not to mention the charming graphics and balls-to-the-wall hard gameplay that fits the console
If you told me this game released today I'd believe you 100%, it's got so many little details and so much love put into it that it does really seem like a new game developed to look old
Never knew about this game, but it's totally the best-sounding best game I've ever heard! Fascinating, I wonder what the other classics would have sounded like with 8 channels.
I'm really grateful for you to put up a video like this, I think Gimmick! is what games should aspire to be and seeing more people becoming aware of it and spreading the word means a lot to me. Looking forward to more information on the interview with the dev, it's a travesty he left the industry shortly thereafter.
fantastic video, enjoyed it the whole way through. i've had that annotated playthrough in my favorites for a long, long time. was surprised to rediscover this game via a Dark Souls-focused channel!
Great video! Oh, how many tries i've made in my early 90's, having a pirated cartridge and no info whatsoever. Tried jumping in many ways, or riding enemy. Really nice game, so much effort developers did put into it!
wow; it's been three years! but just tonight I did a casual fun replay of gimmick for my streams and shared alot of the bits and details from here; we kinda just ended up watching this video together afterwards haha. still looking forward to part 2!! it's funny to think your channel caught my attention not because of the soulsborne content (that stuff is stuff I'm interested in of course) but because of your Yumetaro icon back then!
i definitely watched that annotated gimmick playthrough a number of years ago that will distress me if i think about it too hard, but watching this now im just, floored what a perfect game this is. the sheer number of details that just absolutely don't need to be there and most people wouldn't notice, but that add so much charm and personality and show just how much love and care went into this as a passion project. also absolute fucking banger of a soundtrack it does make me a little sad about the state of game development today, where 'mainstream' games are projects that demand teams and budgets and production time rivaling blockbuster movies, and the strict timelines and budgets and universally grossly overworked staff, on top of how the way we play and view and create games and the things theyre trying to achieve have all changed so much, mean there's just.. not much room for things like an area that exists solely to relax and show off your seagull noise tech, or a guy whose legs will keep moving and push you along if you flip them over, or an enemy you can just randomly control with a second controller, or an "enemy" that's just out walking his dog, who will play fetch with you... but i am glad that this perfect little capsule exists and has been preserved, and i'm grateful for all the small indie teams out there who are still working to make things that they love
I skimmed through this to find all the segments you did voice-over for, and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, due to small brain syndrome, I struggle to pay attention to the text parts.
Randomly decided to get this game from Limited Run and wow it's such a great game, I got a platinum trophy a few days ago but it's crazy how there's still so many secrets and small details I never knew about.
I hope there's a part 2 coming - I know this wasn't as popular as the Dark Souls content but I loved the dissection of this weird old game. It's inspired how I approach game design too.
what do you mean part 2
@@welovethesnorks did you even watch the video to the end?
Heck, not even to the end of the video. It's literally called Part 1 in the thumbnail 😅
@@azukar8 oh you mean Retro Games Dissected Episode 2. Not Mr. Gimmick Episode 2
@@taldintheamazing oh you mean Retro Games Dissected Part 2, not mr. Gimmick part 2
"BLACK HOLE" is a reference to the notoriously bad game Mystery of Atlantis, where going through a certain door will lead you to a screen that contains nothing but the text "BLACK HOLE!" where you fall to your death until you run out of lives
Funny, because that game was also made by Sunsoft.
@@8Kazuja8 Could be, there's also the possibility that Gimmick's devs were poking fun at the team that made Mystery of Atlantis, but it's less likely.
@@8Kazuja8 It's the signature used by a programmer at Sunsoft who dummied out Tomomi Sakai's name from the title sequence, the evidence for this comes from an uncovered prototype of the game, which had the "anti-piracy" say 'INCORRECT VERSION'
Oh, something maybe important I forgot to mention in the video. Stefan's full interview with Sakai-san isn't publicly available yet to my knowledge. I was given permission to cite as much as I wanted from it, but it's not out there just yet! Just in case you're wondering where those quotes are coming from-- they're citation-less at the moment (but are legit). Most responses were written in English as well and haven't been translated.
Gimmick just got re-released on modern consoles! I'm finally able to play it, and it is even better than I thought. Thank you for introducing me to this game.
53:49 "In a future _Part 2_ episode..."
>uploaded 1 year ago
>still no part 2
>; _ ;
(jokes aside, amazing video! it's very nice seeing my favorite NES game get recognition like this. lookin forward to part 2, if you still plan on making it!)
Shame this video isn't more popular. It's one of your best. I would have never known about this gem if not for you, also absolutely insane that the game's getting a re-release.
you know it's a good analysis when it's double the length of a casual run through the full game
This was incredible to watch from start to finish, thanks for the great video!
Thanks so much, and I'm just now realizing who left this comment! I've watched a bunch of your Mario maker vids. :)
Just realized that at 37:35 - 37:50 the little Ohagi controlling the robot will either start moving slowly when you are hit and will move more frantically when you hit the robot (presumably celebrating when you are hit and freaking out when the robot is being damaged)
This game is just chock-full of neat little details, I adore it.
I memorized Naoki Kodaka's name early on when I wanted to know who did some of the most badass soundtracks for the NES, but good god... Masashi Kageyama's contribution is like seven consecutive hattricks. Most games are lucky enough to have one piece of memorable boss fight music, but Kageyama made TWO, both worthy in the hall of fame of boss tunes.
All of this was very enlightening. So much detail I thought was there for no reason. (I blame the stage 3 cave you can't enter.) Excellent work 👏
OK NOW WE REEEEALLLY NEED A PART TWO. I DID NOT HAVE GIMMICK COMING BACK AFTER 30 YEARS OF OBSCURITY ON MY 2022 BINGO CARD.
I hope you haven't decided to give up on Episode 2, because even though I really enjoy your Souls videos, this was my favorite video you ever produced. I'd watch a whole series like this!
I'm watching this for the second time, just wanted to say what a superlative treatment of the game this is; it's wonderful to be able to experience and appreciate and gain knowledge about something unique and magical like this that I may not ever personally play.
Laughed at 2:34 hearing that deep lore Souls sound effect in the context of this video.
24:06 Oh, this area is DEFINITELY Nausicaa inspired. The insect designs and background are absolutely Nausicaa's toxic jungle, specifically the petrified lower area.
e: which you mentioned a bit later. Interesting that that inspiration also (probably)shows up in Ash Lake.
I feel like the visual design of the final floating castle, plus the blue crystal that powers it, may also be inspired by Laputa from Castle in the Sky.
I can't believe he never mentioned how the 3rd stage miniboss is a COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT parody of Totaro!
Something tells me this Sakai dude's a diehard Hayao Miyazaki fan, the hardest core there is
Like those guys who name their kids after their favorite baseball players
Wait... This is the guy who makes the excellent DRG videos! DRG, Miyazaki, Gimick!... A man of impeccable taste I see.
@@iancharles1571 he don d ride like that just a silly lil homage
The white tooth-like creature in the last level is just... Perfection. So much character in so few pixels.
The best thing is how it turns around and just looks at you for a moment if you attack it. You can almost hear the "wtf man?"
Mushrooms bois from dark souls
Lol I thought of it too
It’s like the Minecraft iron golem but if the Minecraft iron golem was perfect
They're gentle giants! The sound effect of them walking is SO cool! and their bird friends... Wouldnt be surprised if they're based on the robots from Castle in the Sky, since you ARE in a castle in the sky after all
heck yeah, gimmick! definitely want to see more of this kind of content from you in the future! a surprisingly welcome change of scenery
this game has some of the cutest sprites ive ever seen
This is so cool. I love your dark souls videos, but I enjoyed this even more honestly. I hope you do another sometime, that is, if you have an interest. The love you put into this video is so clear with stuff like the text being alike to the annotated video. I would really like to see more, honestly, but I’m not going to demand it. I just really appreciate the work put into this.
yo this doesn't even look like a NES game it looks like an indie game trying to emuate NES graphics! really really impressive tech!
You need to check Moon Crystal then.
The same thing totally applies to the soundtrack. When people try to make chiptune style soundtracks they mostly use square waves even though square wave constituted less than half of the NES sound chip. Then this game goes and gives 3 more of them so it really has the same style.
Late nes games are so odd looking because they have so much polish behind them
@@corncobjohnsonreal especially titles like this and summer carnival 92 recca. There's so much depth that its insane how small they really are in ROM compared to games of today
I thought exactly the same, I was surprised to see a game like this with some many mechanics and animations was released in 1992
Absolutely delightful dissection! I can't believe my eyes at so many easter eggs, secret mechanics, unique behaviours, you can PLAY AS a random enemy??? It's all insane, what a fantastic game, thank you for covering it!
I have to admit, when I saw this in my feed I was really disappointed that it wasn't soulsborne related. Now that I've watched it, I'm going to be disappointed if the next video from you isn't part 2.
It's an absolute and utter travesty this game didn't get more exposure and success. It is without a doubt one of the most impressive achievements ever made in gaming. The music, the art style, unique characters, sprites, mechanics, everything. By a team of 4.
Thank you for enlightening me on this glistening, radiating gem buried beneath bedrock, Mr. Wall.
Thank you so so much! I wanted this to double as a sort of "show and tell", since my Souls stuff is mostly designed for people who are already fans I was hoping I could make this interesting for newcomers.
I do have a Souls video at the top of my to-do list unfortunately, but hopefully the wait for part 2 won't be too long! :)
@@illusorywall It's us, the viewers, and the developers of the game that should be thanking you. You really did great with this one, as you always do.
Looking forward to seeing you upload; no matter the topic :)
@@illusorywall "hopefully the wait for part 2 won't be too long" it's been almost 4 years T_T
@@ukranian_deadbeat right? T_T
You can really tell a lot of care and attention went into this game. What a wonderful thing it is. Thank you so much for this video - nearly a full hour of little delights and surprises.
This is my absolute favorite game of all time and this was an amazing video! I thought I already knew a lot about this game but I learned a ton from this video. Thank you so much for this!
Didnt expect this to be my cup of tea but this is a great video showing off a great game, hope you do more stuff like this
Never thought I'd watch an hour of a random japanese nes game I've never heard of and enjoy it but here we are
Perhaps you'd like to watch an hour and a half of a random SNES game you've only maybe heard of?
th-cam.com/video/M5fIGlzDGpY/w-d-xo.html
I was not expecting to love it when I started, but what a surreal ride. Passion projects can be so darn cool.
I read your comment as the video was wrapping up and realized how long it was and just how long I had been sitting here mesmerized by it. Wow.
When is Part 2 coming out? Its been 9 months.
I don’t want to express impatience but this video is such a treasure! Hopefully you’ll talk about the Exa-Arcadia remake that came out not too long ago.
I looked for part 2 too. Well, he got me to hit the bell that's for sure.
great video!! i'd never even heard of this game and it absolutely blew me away with it's innovation, creativity, and uniqueness (especially at the time but even in todays climate). can't wait for part 2
If not for the sprite flicker I'd never have believed this was an NES game. This looks and sounds like an indie game from the last decade. I can't even believe how beautiful the sprite work is, and that soundtrack is like chiptune butter. VERY good video
I LOVE when people talk about lesser known games they love. This game looks really charming and great and I probably wouldn't have even known about it let alone appreciate it this much if you didn't go into such intricate detail on it.
Looking forward to part 2! Not only have you helped me beat dark souls, you also made my favorite video on one of my favorite games. I hope you haven’t given up on it.
im glad you made this video. the original annotated commentary was good but not only did you cover all of his cool details, you actually highlighted several new ones that i had no clue even existed. this game is nuts!
I'm glad I found you, in my opinion Gimmick is a highly underrated game and deserves alot more than what it got. Heck if I was born back then, I would of bought it before it became rare
this was amazingly done, honestly your quality is up there with gaming historian, genuinely keep up the hard work.
I really hope you do another one of these man, I watch this video at least once a month
I know I'm late, but here's a tip to beat the 2nd boss while yes you can do what illusory's doing or do this: 19:56
When you try to approach the boss, it will back away moving to the other side of the screen will cause it to jump when it does that now's your chance to attack it
Sometimes the boss will jump repeatedly towards you, so attack again.
Edit: To beat the 4th boss use the same trick I said for the 2nd boss it will back up and jump whenever its at the other side of the screen.
Never seen this game before, but it's fascinating how much was put into it. All the little details that make it seem more alive, and done with the limitations of the time is incredible. Definitely glad you're looking into other games you enjoy and sharing this!
I'm so glad to finally learn what your old avatar was from! And thanks for turning me onto such a great game with a great soundtrack. I'm a sucker for the NES, its a shame it took me so long to hear about this gem.
man, i wish there was a part 2! this was a fantastic video! while i love your souls content, i also love seeing you passionate about lesser-known gems like this one. thanks for making this!
What a fascinating game. I like that there is no killed-enemies-respawning-bullshit and that there are so much variation in sprite work - but not of all, I am impressed by the enemy A.I.; that some of the "enemies" do not approach mindlessly or stay in place all the time but actually react to player character's actions. I do not remember that kind of programming used in any other NES game.
Love your content.
I personally would have preferred a full voice over, instead of text notes. We can read an article anywhere, but hearing you talk about it is what I come here for. Very cool game!
Thanks for the feedback. The eventual part 2 will be all voice-over, though I might have a couple Dark Souls videos to make first!
Thanks for sharing this hidden gem. What enjoyable detail and worldbuilding. It really shows how the kind of immersion that we appreciate in the souls games really isn't anything new. This is also one of the "cleanest", sharpest NES games I've ever seen. Looking forward to your follow-up video!
Returning to this video because of the Gimmick 2 announcement, very excited
incredible breakdown and this has been my favorite nes soundtrack for a long as i can remember. what an absolute masterpiece
Looks like one of the first attempts at what I call an "Ambient platformer" - it's as much about the locations and little machines and ecosystems than it is about getting to the boss. Please for making part more!
Excellent video and also video game. My mind was kinda blown away
I absolutely adored their philosophy to world design for this game.
Im gonna have to play this myself! Thanks for the introduction, I’m super looking forward to part 2
17:04 For the cannonball section, there is actually a secret method to landing on it, roll the cannon onto the drop as usual but aim a bomb towards the front of it, the bomb will knock the cannon backwards and give you a stepping space so if you mess up the timing, youll only get hit by the cannonball at worse rather than falling into the water.
What an amazing well put together video on such a cult gem; Never knew about Mr. Gimmick but I was taken back by how creative and technical its design is; I also have to mention the soundtrack sounds great.
What a wonderful gem of a video game and an equally wonderful video essay about it!!! Never heard of this one before today. Goes to show that limitations of hardware are no match for a creative team, hardwork and imagination.
Man, Gimmick! is my favorite game of all time since there's always some new detail to notice every time you replay it, and you represented it beautifully in this video. I seriously never noticed that bug on the wall before, or knew about that hidden area in Level 2. Kudos for an amazing video man, immediate sub from me, really looking forward to part 2 and whatever else you got coming down the pipe.
Nice to see you focus on other game series as well. You do great work 👍🏻
So interesting! Looking forward the next retrogames dissected!
Dude this video is incredible. So much work went into it. I loved it so much. Kudos!
I need you to know how much that Wizard fight stressed me out.
I love this game, and I think the Wizard fight is one of the best designed bosses on the NES. You get to see the bubble attack first, with nothing else to really dodge, and get the feel of sneaking hits in. You then get the ice attack, and can see what it does, before being forced to deal with both at the same time. If they had just dumped the last Wizard on you right away, it would have felt cheap and unfair, but you learn on the way so it feels natural.
Plenty of games do this, but I think this is one of the few that does it with bosses, and it's another touch that really shows the thought that went into the design of this game.
This was a fantastic dissection, and I'm excited for the next one in the series.
The final boss is better
I really feel like a well designed game soundtrack can just make or break a game for me, and this is pure fire
This is such a beautiful game, and a wonderful documentation. It deserves so many more views than it has gotten.
Thanks for covering such a cool topic! I wasnt expecting this from a souls channel but I'm very happy you made it!!! I can't wait to try this game!
Theory: is the final boss an action figure?
I’d guess so too. An action figure left at the bottom of the toybox that the girl almost never played with…
@@vidjenko8349 That is my headcanon now.
25:25 That simulated transparency tho
I put this game on my backlog a few years ago just so I could watch this video after playing it. I finally finished it today. You really make it look easy in your video. I struggled quite a bit to get the good ending on my first playthrough, requiring a lot of reloads from the beginning of each level.
this is your best video yet man, keep em coming, I love this f*ing game!
I was astonished on how much personality and charm they could give the characters back when this game was made almost 30 years ago
Just wanted to throw my two cents in here and say: I know this wasn't as popular as your Souls content, and you're more known for the Souls stuff, but I still absolutely loved this. I think I'd love watching you do anything 'Dissected', really; I love your voice and your style in delving into these games. I hope you consider doing more Dissected non-Souls content in the future, even on games I normally wouldn't care about; it's just really pleasant to hear these deep-dives. :)
EDIT: Just finished rewatching too! (Watched 2 years back when you released this, but thought to come back today because why not?) I forgot entirely that this video was supposed to have a part 2. Since it seems abandoned now; what was the additional details you were gonna go into?
my favorite nes/famicom game, and one of my favorite games of all time. it's such a great game, i love how much care there is put into everything. "authentic entertainment realistic another world" initially felt like a sort of 'english to be cool' thing like japanese games often have, but it feels like an apt description for how lovely and in depth things feel. i've easily played this game 30+ times, and can now play without dying after initially requiring save states on every level when i first got the best ending. i've even ripped a good chunk of the sprites that are on the spriter's resource page... and need to stop putting off all the level tiles and stuff. thanks for the video!
I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE BUGS FLYING INTO THE HOLY, HOLY CRAP! this is why i love GIMMICK! so much: i'm still finding out new things about it like that
This was awesome and super informative! You totally bring the same level of depth and enthusiasm that you bring to your Souls content and now I'm totally fascinated by this game!
It's a little strange, something about the slightly dark story, combined with the impressive technical level of this game for an NES title, and the amount of hidden content and tiny added features and mechanics, give this game kind of... like an eerie quality to me? Like somehow I get a certain vibe from this game like it's some kind of retro creepypasta project, like Petscop & the like. It's actually super interesting!
honestly, might be one of the most underrated retro games ever made.
I was really impressed with the star jumping mechanic! Thank you for shedding light on this cult classic!
52:20 "Mom said it's my turn on the xbox"
This video was quite impressive, editing and timing-wise. Hats off to you!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
I just realized that the bird at 19:20 starts with its neck behind you, then bends it and wraps it back to move it in front of you. That's an amazing detail!
I love both this video and this game, A+ mate. Easy to tell this video was as much a passion project as Gimmick itself.
Really awesome video. I love how you are able to break down a game and highlight the art found within video games!
This is one of the best gaming videos ever made, absolute tragedy it doesn't have more views. I'm a game developer and when this came out I was thinking of abandoning game dev entirely. Watching it on launch day rekindled my love for making and creating and now almost a year later I'm hard at work on my game. This inspired me so much and filled me with motivation, what a cool game and an incredible channel, thank you so much
EDIT: rewatching, still working on my game and this video is still underrated
Likewise, I am a game dev and the passion put on this game blows my mind. Glad you didn't give up, hope to see your game in the stores one day.
Wow, thank you so much for this video! I fell in love woth the design of Gimmick! just by watching it... now I want to see more from the same game designer and/or sunsoft
Now is the perfect time for a part 2. As now gimmick will officially come to the west on all modern platforms
Hope you'll return this series, really loved this video. It's not as popular as DS/Elden Ring, but I like the long walkthrough format with occasional pauses, though more explaining with voice instead of text would be nicer. Also you introduced me to this game's banger OST, and I'm forever greatful for that)
this NES game is super underrated. it’s got possibly the best NES soundtrack out there because it’s cart had an expansion chip for extra sound channels. that blows my mind! not to mention the charming graphics and balls-to-the-wall hard gameplay that fits the console
If you told me this game released today I'd believe you 100%, it's got so many little details and so much love put into it that it does really seem like a new game developed to look old
Awesome to see you branch out into other genres! This was a great video.
Hey thank you, glad you liked it!
Never knew about this game, but it's totally the best-sounding best game I've ever heard! Fascinating, I wonder what the other classics would have sounded like with 8 channels.
I'm really grateful for you to put up a video like this, I think Gimmick! is what games should aspire to be and seeing more people becoming aware of it and spreading the word means a lot to me. Looking forward to more information on the interview with the dev, it's a travesty he left the industry shortly thereafter.
fantastic video, enjoyed it the whole way through. i've had that annotated playthrough in my favorites for a long, long time. was surprised to rediscover this game via a Dark Souls-focused channel!
Totally can't wait for part two amazing video
Great video! Oh, how many tries i've made in my early 90's, having a pirated cartridge and no info whatsoever. Tried jumping in many ways, or riding enemy. Really nice game, so much effort developers did put into it!
Just wanna say I really love this video. Hope to see more in this vein from you.
wow; it's been three years! but just tonight I did a casual fun replay of gimmick for my streams and shared alot of the bits and details from here; we kinda just ended up watching this video together afterwards haha. still looking forward to part 2!! it's funny to think your channel caught my attention not because of the soulsborne content (that stuff is stuff I'm interested in of course) but because of your Yumetaro icon back then!
One of the best videos I've seen in a while
Really nice commentary and a really interesting game. Cheers m8, can't wait for part 2.
This was a wonderful video, I love how many extra little details this game has
i definitely watched that annotated gimmick playthrough a number of years ago that will distress me if i think about it too hard, but watching this now im just, floored what a perfect game this is. the sheer number of details that just absolutely don't need to be there and most people wouldn't notice, but that add so much charm and personality and show just how much love and care went into this as a passion project. also absolute fucking banger of a soundtrack
it does make me a little sad about the state of game development today, where 'mainstream' games are projects that demand teams and budgets and production time rivaling blockbuster movies, and the strict timelines and budgets and universally grossly overworked staff, on top of how the way we play and view and create games and the things theyre trying to achieve have all changed so much, mean there's just.. not much room for things like an area that exists solely to relax and show off your seagull noise tech, or a guy whose legs will keep moving and push you along if you flip them over, or an enemy you can just randomly control with a second controller, or an "enemy" that's just out walking his dog, who will play fetch with you... but i am glad that this perfect little capsule exists and has been preserved, and i'm grateful for all the small indie teams out there who are still working to make things that they love
I'd love to see more content like this in the future man, it's so good.
Sending energy to the hope of getting the second part, and potentially other retro dissected videos. Its criminal that this has so few views.
im in love with this game, thank you for introducing me to this & all of it's intricite details!
I skimmed through this to find all the segments you did voice-over for, and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, due to small brain syndrome, I struggle to pay attention to the text parts.
Fantastic video homie! Can't wait for part 2!
Randomly decided to get this game from Limited Run and wow it's such a great game, I got a platinum trophy a few days ago but it's crazy how there's still so many secrets and small details I never knew about.
Aw man, I'm really looking forward to part 2! Instant sub.
i was enthralled from start to finish, amazing