This actually looks pretty cute! It's nice that the main character can shoot straight up. Imagine how much nicer Milon's Secret Castle would've been if that were an option!
@@quwebs I will love Milon enough to cancel out your hate. I'm just convinced you and I are opposing forces in the retro gaming world. We cancel one another out, haha
@@quwebs 🤔But I also like that one. So I think we come out on the positive side. We can go with your singularity theory though... that sounds way cooler.
lol, always love those blooper outros. I remember playing this game when I was young, and enjoying it for it's simplicity. As an adult it's really hard to come back to and enjoy the same way.
I've been looking for the name of this game for decades! Thank you! I remember renting this a few times back in the early 90s and my brother, who was really young at the time, named one of the enemies in the underground sections "Turkey" for some reason. That, and the "you can't swim!" screen when you fall in the water are things that have been stuck in the back of my mind for over 30 years now.
I'd never heard of this one! And yes before you even said it, all this hidden block breaking had me thinking of Milon's :D Nice job with the review dude!
Never played this one, but the Milon's similarity is pretty hard to ignore. I used to call Taxan "Copy-an" back in the day since so many of their games were clearly inspired by other (usually much better) games. But at least they had a few originals to keep things interesting.
I still have my original copy of this game (as well as Milon's Secret Castle), oddly enough. Back then, I definitely put WAY more time than I should have into it; then again, I was a child who loved to play through/beat video games, so I guess it was just the principle of the matter. Still though, seeing the game clips on your video... man, I accepted a hell of a lot of oddball games as a kid (which supports your theory at the end of the video). The music is decent enough though - mainly the castle/underground music, to be honest.
I will say I enjoyed playing Mystery Quest if only for the novelty of it: I had never even heard of this one growing up so experiencing it was kinda cool!
I have never played this one. In fact I don’t even remember the name at all. It actually looks fun, and certainly better than Milon’s, but same as you: if I finish it there’s no way I’ll do it again just to get another ending, unless there’s a different boss battle or something besides a different ending screen.
This one I have in my collection mostly because I use to rent it. They never had the manual so I had to figure out what I was even doing. To me it really was a mystery! Despite the nostalgia though, it isn’t anything astounding. It is however very playable for those looking for something different
@@quwebs haha ya I recently got a new copy, plus a manual! yes it does mention the momentum thing with jumping, but it’s vague. So you’re still fumbling around till you get a feel for it
@@zeliardforty-two4692 I know this comment is buried but i love the fact that all these years later we are all still basically supplying one another with tips they might have given out on the Nintendo tip line back in the day
6 or 8? No, my friend; it's 16. There are FOUR LOOPS. My sister and I decided to tackle this whole thing one morning, and it was at least late afternoon by the time we'd finished. I seem to remember something being different about the second loop (nothing major), but the third and fourth are just the first and second again. I do like this game, especially for how fascinatingly weird those tougher enemies are, but I don't think I'll be doing all THAT again. The Famicom Disk System version has a slightly longer overworld and 6 different castles, but only 2 loops, and some of the music in that version is a little... ear-bleedy? Pick your poison, I guess.
This is another one I've never heard of. I think the most stand out thing to me is the shockingly bland title. Also, a game that mandates multiple playthroughs that don't meaningfully change anything is a nope from me -_-
I wonder if the copy pasted castles were due to memory limitations? Also, I feel like I shoul watch this video 2 more times to fully get how you feel about it. :D
Hm. At first I was like "Why havent I heard of this one? It looks fun." Then I find out about health timers (NO! Most obnoxious mechanic ever. That stuff should have died in the arcades and never made it to console!), having to hammer b to reach top speed, castles being identically duped, and having to beat the same exact game multiple times to get the "true" ending Hard pass on this. Think Ill stick with my Legacy of the Wizard. Glad you played it so I dont have to!
Near the beginning of the video I asked myself, I wonder if Milon's Secret Castle stole from this or the other way around. And the question was answered. Excellent documentaries.
This actually looks pretty cute! It's nice that the main character can shoot straight up. Imagine how much nicer Milon's Secret Castle would've been if that were an option!
The graphics are cute! I am a notorious Milon hater - I had that game as a kid and it drove me nuts.
@@quwebs I will love Milon enough to cancel out your hate. I'm just convinced you and I are opposing forces in the retro gaming world. We cancel one another out, haha
@@hungrygoriya I really like the SNES follow up however! Does that reverse the poles and result in a quantum singularity?
@@quwebs 🤔But I also like that one. So I think we come out on the positive side. We can go with your singularity theory though... that sounds way cooler.
lol, always love those blooper outros. I remember playing this game when I was young, and enjoying it for it's simplicity. As an adult it's really hard to come back to and enjoy the same way.
I had never even heard of this as a kid, so I'm glad I got a chance to play it as an adult. I love discovering all these "mystery" games 😊
I've been looking for the name of this game for decades! Thank you! I remember renting this a few times back in the early 90s and my brother, who was really young at the time, named one of the enemies in the underground sections "Turkey" for some reason. That, and the "you can't swim!" screen when you fall in the water are things that have been stuck in the back of my mind for over 30 years now.
Hah! I'm glad I could help bring back some of those memories B B! ❤️
You have introduced me to quite a few games I have never heard of before! This one looks like a fun time :)
I'd never heard of this one! And yes before you even said it, all this hidden block breaking had me thinking of Milon's :D Nice job with the review dude!
Thank you refraction! ❤️
Man, I played this one when I was little and I had ~no~ idea what was going on at all
Never played this one, but the Milon's similarity is pretty hard to ignore. I used to call Taxan "Copy-an" back in the day since so many of their games were clearly inspired by other (usually much better) games. But at least they had a few originals to keep things interesting.
Taxan games always have that "Oh wait you have to beat the game 3 times" thing too!
It definitely has that Millon’s Secret Castle / Alex Kid vibe going around on
Oh gosh, don't get me started on Alex Kidd 🙄
It's got a really strong "Black Box" look to it.
I agree! You can just tell this is an early NES title.
I've made like three runs at this cartridge on separate occasions and never figured out you could run faster.
Right????!
I still have my original copy of this game (as well as Milon's Secret Castle), oddly enough. Back then, I definitely put WAY more time than I should have into it; then again, I was a child who loved to play through/beat video games, so I guess it was just the principle of the matter. Still though, seeing the game clips on your video... man, I accepted a hell of a lot of oddball games as a kid (which supports your theory at the end of the video). The music is decent enough though - mainly the castle/underground music, to be honest.
I will say I enjoyed playing Mystery Quest if only for the novelty of it: I had never even heard of this one growing up so experiencing it was kinda cool!
I have never played this one. In fact I don’t even remember the name at all.
It actually looks fun, and certainly better than Milon’s, but same as you: if I finish it there’s no way I’ll do it again just to get another ending, unless there’s a different boss battle or something besides a different ending screen.
This one I have in my collection mostly because I use to rent it. They never had the manual so I had to figure out what I was even doing. To me it really was a mystery! Despite the nostalgia though, it isn’t anything astounding. It is however very playable for those looking for something different
I don't own the manual either, so maybe that's where out foibles begin together!
@@quwebs haha ya I recently got a new copy, plus a manual! yes it does mention the momentum thing with jumping, but it’s vague. So you’re still fumbling around till you get a feel for it
@@zeliardforty-two4692 I know this comment is buried but i love the fact that all these years later we are all still basically supplying one another with tips they might have given out on the Nintendo tip line back in the day
@@quwebs awesome fact lol
And here I thought getting a degree was a chore.
6 or 8? No, my friend; it's 16. There are FOUR LOOPS. My sister and I decided to tackle this whole thing one morning, and it was at least late afternoon by the time we'd finished. I seem to remember something being different about the second loop (nothing major), but the third and fourth are just the first and second again. I do like this game, especially for how fascinatingly weird those tougher enemies are, but I don't think I'll be doing all THAT again. The Famicom Disk System version has a slightly longer overworld and 6 different castles, but only 2 loops, and some of the music in that version is a little... ear-bleedy? Pick your poison, I guess.
Omg you're kidding?! I thought it was 3 loops!! Congratulations on taking it down! You have far more patience than I do!
The esoteric 2. I'm wondering what other qualities a 2 might have.
I may be missing out on a deeper explanation here. Care to expound?
@@quwebs You gave it an "esoteric 2 out of 5". Could another game have e.g. a gregarious 2? or a mischevious 2? There are so many possibilities.
@@Sakanakao They absolutely could! There really are so many possibilities.
Awesome
Thanks Bimmy
Pretty good review, Quwebs. You're not a real wizard, though.
I'll do my best to repeat this comment four times to ensure my wizardness
@@quwebs I'm sorry to be so harsh, but it is the only way.
This is another one I've never heard of. I think the most stand out thing to me is the shockingly bland title.
Also, a game that mandates multiple playthroughs that don't meaningfully change anything is a nope from me -_-
I wonder if the copy pasted castles were due to memory limitations?
Also, I feel like I shoul watch this video 2 more times to fully get how you feel about it. :D
Haha, first thing that came to my mind was "Huh, Milon got a new hat" :)
Milon could never be a real wizard! 😆
Hm. At first I was like "Why havent I heard of this one? It looks fun."
Then I find out about health timers (NO! Most obnoxious mechanic ever. That stuff should have died in the arcades and never made it to console!), having to hammer b to reach top speed, castles being identically duped, and having to beat the same exact game multiple times to get the "true" ending
Hard pass on this. Think Ill stick with my Legacy of the Wizard. Glad you played it so I dont have to!
Legacy of the Wizard is such a fun game. I should add that one to the list. It's just different experiencing it for the first time though.
Near the beginning of the video I asked myself, I wonder if Milon's Secret Castle stole from this or the other way around. And the question was answered. Excellent documentaries.
Thank you for allowing me to introduce Mystery Quest to you!
I had never even heard of this game until today. Based on your review, I think I'm going to skip it!
I think you should give it a go for yourself! You never know, you may end up loving it!
Another great review!
First I see this game ever
Thank you Fern!
Here I thought becoming a wizard meant scoring 50,000 points in Double Dragon 😅
Great review! What is your favorite roll of magic? I like hoagies and crescent rolls a lot
Thanks Mr Buckets! Do Swiss Rolls count? 😅
@@quwebs of course!