Also to add, one of the segments of that same Kato Chan and Ken Chan show got adapted into America's Funniest Home Videos, and that Bakatonosama character (who cameos in this game) did also have a Mahjong game on the Neo Geo. (RIP Ken Shimura)
They still give them a by-line in the ending credits because, apparently, they're still paying royalties to TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) for use of the format.
There’s an interview on the pc engine mini site and one developer mentions he only beat this once as if it’s some nightmare to beat. Of course it’s true
Four episodes in and we're already at my favorite game for the system. I honestly love both versions of this, and if I were to ever get a TurboGrafx I'd add JJ & Jeff to it (though I'd also go with an Everdrive since Turbo/PC Engine prices are too much for me.) For 1987 this is quite a great game. It's no wonder people were excited about this little system... in japan.
I always did have a hard time getting into this game. I grew up with the US version, and recognized that it had some merits, but it's just not completely "there". One interesting comment I saw recently from someone was that they wish that the Super CD Game Yoshimoto Comedy would have been released in the west as JJ and Jeff 2. That might have actually worked quite frankly
I like how at this point half the PC Engines library has Wonder Boy energy. One being a retooling of Monster Land and this one borrowing Wonder Boy's depleting health bar and general feel. Your research on these games is commendable. Lot of cool facts I never knew about this game. I especially like how butchering the localization of this game had the weird effect of saving it from a preservation standpoint. Pretty ironic. This game looks janky, but I really appreciate it's style, and the sprites are really impressive for 1988.
Despite the issues with this one, I still enjoy this one a bit. Decent take on the Adventure Island/Wonder Boy 1 formula. Also I did not know about the character differences, can't believe I was playing hard mode this whole time! I feel like I remember a lot of Americans hated this game but I'd have to check again.
I would best describe J.J. & Jeff as a Famicom Boom-era platformer with, what I assume was meant to be a next-gen art style. It's a very much product of its time (I bet if it was released just one year later it would play differently) but honestly, I kind of dig it.
We've hit the first game on the system that I own. I roughly agree with the assessment: it's an extremely weird game, more for the theming than anything of the design decisions, and that makes it worth playing at least once. But it's relentlessly difficult in a way that's sometimes very deliberately unfair, which means it's nowhere near as fun as it could be and you're probably not going to play it that many times.
if i recall Decapattack is rereleased instead of Magical Hat but i may be wrong as i heard this info during the Wii era so it might be early internet rumor
Probably the most notable case is Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic, which Nintendo initially modified into the US version of SMB2, being released in Japan as "Super Mario USA" long after Nintendo lost the license to use the Dream Factory characters.
Don't know why they localized this since the main draw of the game was to be able to play as famous celebrities. It would at least make sense if they replaced them with American celebrities instead of two OCs. Stuff like this is probably why the PC Engine bombed over here.
Maybe that's what I call foreshadowing between Konami and Hudson Soft for what eventually happened to Hudson's fate in the late 2000's. Well... Kato's appearance in Hyper Sports and Hudson's bringing Pooyan to the Famicom courtesy of Konmai.
This always felt like Hudson's real sequel to Adventure Island, and Adventure Island was a fantastic game in its time. This, not quite as much so, but it's still a very good game.
And yet neither of them will ever be as good as Narimaro's appearance in Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter or Bobby Ologun's appearance in Matrimelee.
I did fire this one up in an emulator, I mean a weird game based on Japanese comedians? It was quite bizarre indeed. Not sure it's one I'd set out to finish, but it's an interesting oddity for sure.
That localization change for the US was indeed very helpful, licensed games tend to get doomed from any re-releases for the reason of not being able to get the license many years after the original game came out. Anyways as for the game itself, I like it but one thing not mentioned in this video is that the game employs several required secrets in order to progress. You either figure out what to do or look up a guide and because of that I end up getting a bit frustrated revisiting this one.
So, one of the launch titles is a port of a Wonder Boy game, while one of the earliest titles uses mechanics from the first Wonder Boy. And yet, Adventure Island is nowhere to be seen. Kinda odd, actually. Although it seems that it will come later, at least.
there was an MSX clone of Pac Man called OH SHIT! released in 1985 when released in the Netherlands complete with digitized speech. It was changed to OH NO! when released in the UK with the speech being accordingly. Edit: I realized you said platformer so while there isn't a settled on many people say it belongs to an Atari PORN (yes i do mean PORN) game named Custer's Revenge where you walk to right as a naked General Custer (a real historical figure who fought in the American Civil War) dodging arrows so that way you can RAPE (for points) a naked Indigenous woman who stands in front of a cactus. I only know of that game because the AVGN (angry video game nerd) reviewed it alongside other Atari PORN games (there's like 15-25 (depending on how you count the games as some were released in both male & female player variants back when the system was actively sold)) back in the day (sometime between 2007-2009 as it is no longer on TH-cam & my memory is being faulty)
I think this -- a lowly talent game -- and Shanghai -- largely a static image -- are actually better flagbearers for the system than The Kung Fu. The Kung Fu looks like That Kung Fu (now with big guys edition), but This Talent Game looks like a new generation (& Shanghai looks like a stack of mahjong tiles). Also, I can explain why jumping on crabs doesn't hurt. You see, crabs are food, and they know it. Please don't extrapolate this to the other enemies... or the dung balls...
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ken-chan, and presumably Jeff.
Also to add, one of the segments of that same Kato Chan and Ken Chan show got adapted into America's Funniest Home Videos, and that Bakatonosama character (who cameos in this game) did also have a Mahjong game on the Neo Geo. (RIP Ken Shimura)
They still give them a by-line in the ending credits because, apparently, they're still paying royalties to TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) for use of the format.
I was about to say...
never realized AFV was a localized version of the Kato Chan and Ken Chan show but after watching episodes back to back i finally see it
RIP Bob Saget
There’s an interview on the pc engine mini site and one developer mentions he only beat this once as if it’s some nightmare to beat. Of course it’s true
Who could ever forget J.J Kato and Jeff Ken? Iconic characters.
Great to finally learn what all these early PC Engine games are after seeing their distinctive imagery so many times.
There were a bunch of TV cop shows in the late 70s / early 80s but I believe their detective skit is specifically a parody of Abunai Deka.
Four episodes in and we're already at my favorite game for the system. I honestly love both versions of this, and if I were to ever get a TurboGrafx I'd add JJ & Jeff to it (though I'd also go with an Everdrive since Turbo/PC Engine prices are too much for me.) For 1987 this is quite a great game. It's no wonder people were excited about this little system... in japan.
I always did have a hard time getting into this game. I grew up with the US version, and recognized that it had some merits, but it's just not completely "there".
One interesting comment I saw recently from someone was that they wish that the Super CD Game Yoshimoto Comedy would have been released in the west as JJ and Jeff 2. That might have actually worked quite frankly
It's like Mario Bros. at Home except you play as Japanese Funny Men!
Remember when the Blues Brothers were Marioing around?
I like how at this point half the PC Engines library has Wonder Boy energy. One being a retooling of Monster Land and this one borrowing Wonder Boy's depleting health bar and general feel.
Your research on these games is commendable. Lot of cool facts I never knew about this game. I especially like how butchering the localization of this game had the weird effect of saving it from a preservation standpoint. Pretty ironic.
This game looks janky, but I really appreciate it's style, and the sprites are really impressive for 1988.
The article on the title screen: What about me?
RndStranger: Nope, boxart only, go home.
Yeah, I saw it while editing and I stuck by Kato-Chan Ken-Chan because that's how it's known in Japan. 😄
Arguably qualifies as a kusoge
Despite the issues with this one, I still enjoy this one a bit. Decent take on the Adventure Island/Wonder Boy 1 formula. Also I did not know about the character differences, can't believe I was playing hard mode this whole time! I feel like I remember a lot of Americans hated this game but I'd have to check again.
I would best describe J.J. & Jeff as a Famicom Boom-era platformer with, what I assume was meant to be a next-gen art style. It's a very much product of its time (I bet if it was released just one year later it would play differently) but honestly, I kind of dig it.
Famicom boom era games with (at the time) next gen art is basically what the PC Engine was
Wow, I did not know about the continue code. Very useful.
Very nice and evil game with great soundtrack
Yeah, sure, add another game into the Adventure Island series of games that may or may not be sequels or ripoffs. Won't make things confusing at all!
We've hit the first game on the system that I own.
I roughly agree with the assessment: it's an extremely weird game, more for the theming than anything of the design decisions, and that makes it worth playing at least once. But it's relentlessly difficult in a way that's sometimes very deliberately unfair, which means it's nowhere near as fun as it could be and you're probably not going to play it that many times.
6:50 WTF, that’s instant game over in real life !?
Yeah, definitely get why it’s difficult to know which enemy can be stomped and cannot.
Finally, JJ & Jeff makes sense now. It was so confusing as a kid.
Ah, yes, Hudson’s 4th PC Engine game to be released, Volume 6. Why are all of their early volume numbers so out of sync with the release order?
watch the episode on THE Kung Fu/China Warrior it explains that many of early games were numbered so weirdly
@ I did and I’m still really confused about it XD
@@The1SunshineFeeler The problems with the production run of The Kung Fu just screwed everything up. Hudson shuffled things around as they fixed it.
I kinda wonder how many licensed games like these got the unlicensing treatement to continue being rereleased even inside of japan
if i recall Decapattack is rereleased instead of Magical Hat but i may be wrong as i heard this info during the Wii era so it might be early internet rumor
Probably the most notable case is Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic, which Nintendo initially modified into the US version of SMB2, being released in Japan as "Super Mario USA" long after Nintendo lost the license to use the Dream Factory characters.
Wow this really does look like adventure island.
Don't know why they localized this since the main draw of the game was to be able to play as famous celebrities. It would at least make sense if they replaced them with American celebrities instead of two OCs. Stuff like this is probably why the PC Engine bombed over here.
amazing video!
Very wonderboy'ish/adventureislandesque game. Well, at least Hudson RPG from early 1988 differs from Momotarou Densetsu :D
Maybe that's what I call foreshadowing between Konami and Hudson Soft for what eventually happened to Hudson's fate in the late 2000's.
Well... Kato's appearance in Hyper Sports and Hudson's bringing Pooyan to the Famicom courtesy of Konmai.
This always felt like Hudson's real sequel to Adventure Island, and Adventure Island was a fantastic game in its time. This, not quite as much so, but it's still a very good game.
Imagine George Carlin game... Sheesh.
Soooo...
This is Japan's Bart vs the Space Mutants.
Broken, but interesting with a touch of nostalgia.
80s Japanese comedians are weird...
Especially when they last into the 90s
And yet neither of them will ever be as good as Narimaro's appearance in Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter or Bobby Ologun's appearance in Matrimelee.
8:07 And then press what?
"Say 'Start' again, I dare you!"
Not Kay-toh chan, it's Kah-toh chan.
Pretty bangin tunes in this game.
I did fire this one up in an emulator, I mean a weird game based on Japanese comedians? It was quite bizarre indeed. Not sure it's one I'd set out to finish, but it's an interesting oddity for sure.
That localization change for the US was indeed very helpful, licensed games tend to get doomed from any re-releases for the reason of not being able to get the license many years after the original game came out. Anyways as for the game itself, I like it but one thing not mentioned in this video is that the game employs several required secrets in order to progress. You either figure out what to do or look up a guide and because of that I end up getting a bit frustrated revisiting this one.
So, one of the launch titles is a port of a Wonder Boy game, while one of the earliest titles uses mechanics from the first Wonder Boy. And yet, Adventure Island is nowhere to be seen. Kinda odd, actually. Although it seems that it will come later, at least.
You'll get your fill of Adventure Island and it'll just make things more confusing.
Silvio Santos?
Estava procurando um comentário assim, por que pior que parece ele
@@beatrizkassar123 Parece mais o Silvio do que o cara que era pra ser kkk
Kato is now 81, Ken died at the age of 70 in 2020 by pneumonia caused by covid.
Sad.
Their legacy of watching home movies viewers submitted did give us America's Funniest Home Videos.
Right, you can't just add an ampersand to the title! That would be like calling Banjo-Kazooie "Banjo to Kazooie"!
Is this the first platformer with Toilet Humor?
there was an MSX clone of Pac Man called OH SHIT! released in 1985 when released in the Netherlands complete with digitized speech. It was changed to OH NO! when released in the UK with the speech being accordingly.
Edit: I realized you said platformer so while there isn't a settled on many people say it belongs to an Atari PORN (yes i do mean PORN) game named Custer's Revenge where you walk to right as a naked General Custer (a real historical figure who fought in the American Civil War) dodging arrows so that way you can RAPE (for points) a naked Indigenous woman who stands in front of a cactus. I only know of that game because the AVGN (angry video game nerd) reviewed it alongside other Atari PORN games (there's like 15-25 (depending on how you count the games as some were released in both male & female player variants back when the system was actively sold)) back in the day (sometime between 2007-2009 as it is no longer on TH-cam & my memory is being faulty)
@@toastrave7820 I meant Games with Toilet/Crude Humor not Games with Adult Humor
Basically Farting/Toilets/Feces/Urine/Burping and all that Jazz.
@@JaxRetroGamer i will continue my detective to see if anything pre-dates JJ & Jeff
I think this -- a lowly talent game -- and Shanghai -- largely a static image -- are actually better flagbearers for the system than The Kung Fu. The Kung Fu looks like That Kung Fu (now with big guys edition), but This Talent Game looks like a new generation (& Shanghai looks like a stack of mahjong tiles).
Also, I can explain why jumping on crabs doesn't hurt. You see, crabs are food, and they know it.
Please don't extrapolate this to the other enemies... or the dung balls...
vol 6!?
The controls are really tight and responsive in this game. The gameplay, though, is kind of bland.