Willow (NES) Playthrough
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- A playthrough of Capcom's 1989 license-based fantasy action-adventure game for the NES, Willow.
Capcom's Willow for the NES, not to be confused with the excellent arcade game ( • Willow (Arcade) Playth... ), is one of my favorite action-RPGs on the NES. It follows a lot of the trends set by the original The Legend of Zelda, but it feels closer to Crystalis with its added emphasis on magic and on plot.
The story is a bit different from the film's, but the goal is the same: Spirit messengers endowed with power of magic were sent to protect the people of the world. Queen Bavmorda becomes hungry for power and transforms Fin Raziel into an opossum in order to claim the world as her own. This doesn't sit well with a Nelwyn named Willow, who, with the aid of Fin Raziel’s magic and Elora Danan’s Crest of the Spirits, travels toward Nockmaar Castle as the world’s last remaining hope against the wicked queen.
The world is nicely fleshed out and filled with NPCs, but since Willow is an action-RPG, its exploration and dungeon crawling focuses on battling with hordes of monsters. Willow’s strength is based on his experience level and the sword that he is using, and many enemies are immune to specific weapon types, making it impossible to power through every situation with the strongest sword at hand. Willow also acquires several magic spells that'll allow him to heal himself, shoot fireballs at adversaries, transform into monsters, and more. You have to be careful, however, since without the correct spell and sufficient experience, Bavmorda cannot be beaten in the final showdown.
It's not a particularly difficult game, but there's enough here to keep you exploring for quite awhile. The battle system gives you a lot of options, and as long as you are keeping an eye on your health, you aren't going to die too often thanks to the useful healing spells. You aren't sent back very far when you die either, so the frustration level is usual pretty low. (I just wish we could save! Those passwords are too long!)
While Capcom's efforts saw an amazing amount of success on the NES, I can't help but feel that Willow is among the most impressive. It's beautiful for an NES game. I know I can't be the only one who is still sometimes taken aback by the battle scenes. When you wander into a clearing and the wind starts blowing around the trees, grass, and water as the dramatic battle theme begins - I thought it was the coolest effect as a kid, and I still find myself impressed by it. The music is just as good as the graphics, too - Harumi Fujita's soundtrack really knows how to set a mood. I swear I could go fifty years without touching the game and I'd still remember every song without difficulty.
For a perfect example, check out the cutscene at 1:47:52 and its follow-up at 1:54:20. It's crazy that an NES game could set a scene so effectively.
Willow for the NES is great. I'd have to say that I actually prefer it to the film that it was based on!
One last note - nothing has been edited out of this recording. All the grinding is shown, but most of it is consolidated to a single segment beginning at 1:01:38. If you want to skip it, the game continues on from 1:40:53.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
![[TAS] NES Willow by TDrop in 52:52.66](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Z54BRtND-8/mqdefault.jpg)
Honestly, this is an underrated classic that should be ranked alongside Crystalis as one of the great action RPGs on the console. It was ahead of its time, and almost plays like a 16-Bit game. The graphics and music are phenomenal. One of Capcom’s crowning achievements.
Totally! I didn't even know this was a game when we had an NES as kids. So happy to be able to watch it. Would have loved to play it!
There were some tricks it did around the edges to cheat on memory/storage like repeating rooms in dungeons, but honestly, as much as I loved all the great 16 bit action RPGs, I feel like they left slightly less of impression on me from Willow already doing the same awesome things in the 80s
I definitely agree. As far as a licensed video games go this is absolutely top tier.
💯
Yeah I loved playing this as a kid. Thought the graphics and sound were great especially for 8bit nes. I found the game really challenging initially like crystalis but so good I couldn't stop playing it.
Willow is one of the great NES licensed games. I actually like it better than the movie!
It couldve easily been an SNES game too, not that it shouldve been
As a kid, one of the things I liked most about this game were the great "cutscenes" like at 46:00. They were a nice touch.
In the immortal words of Crow T. Robot: "Hey, I liked Willow!"
@Jaeger19Ultima Nice. I miss all those great small mom/pop video stores or even renting games at my local supermarket (they had NES and Sega Master System games for rent). I actually rented a NES in a huge suitcase along with Castlevania. Good times.
Borrowed music from what other game?
For an 8-bit game, the graphics and gameplay were on point. We even thought that then.
Classic ominous NES music. 😌 Audio 10/10
I played this game back in the 90's and was so hooked. It was the best thing I ever played at the time. I didn't even know there was a movie until like decades later. The world was so different before the internet got big.
Nockmaar Castle theme song is so awesome to listen to. Nostalgia at it's finest!
such a beautiful looking nes game
Very
Man this soundtrack just threw me back.
Willow was one of my favorite movies as a child. I saw it the first day it came out in theatres and it was a huge premiere event. To this day, it is still one of my most memorable movie going experiences; up there with Batman and the first TMNT movie. The theatre had hired actors in costumes and had memorabilia, clothing and other items for sale from Willow in the theatre main lobby. My mother bought me a white Willow shirt with General Kael on it and that became one of my favourite shirts for years to come. Willow was also one of my most beloved NES games and it is vastly underrated and underappreciated, much like the movie Willow itself. Willow was a magical movie from a magical era to grow up in. Anyone else have a premiere event for Willow in their town or own one of those sweet white character t-shirts from the movie?
I am not sure what I was doing during the premier; my parents probably hogged the tv, so I missed it. I would have loved a t shirt though - probably would be too small for me to wear now though haha
@@duranduran6415 Ya I think a grown man wearing a children’s size medium Willow shirt wouldn’t work! 😀
@@rjcupid Haha yeah definitely! What is your strategy with beating General Kael on the Willow game?
@@duranduran6415 Go to ~3:13:32. I do the same thing and attack him from the side. Have a good day.
We have a Willow mantle in the arcade room. My friend had a VHS copy of Willow with a little figure of Willow next to it. We hung up a figure of Madmartigan in a cage.
Very impressive game for the time. I loved the arcade version. Its a really great licensed game for such an amazing fantasy film.
Wanna thank this guy for these memories. I sit and watch these at 45 because I could not afford any of these games until the 90’s but I wanted them all. And even then I never got the games I wanted. I bought Nintendo power just so I could experience them. This brings me joy to see all these games get beat.
I'm sorry you couldn't afford these. I was blessed to have my parents buy this and maybe others for me. So I'm glad you get to enjoy the nostalgia here
Capcom always put their best foot forward, even for movie tie-ins. Great game!
1:02:03 to 1:40:36: Are we having fun yet?
Solid action rpg from an often overlooked movie.
You seem to have a decent rap taste…
Outta subject but yea, it’s my guess
And now the series is out on Disney +
@@frostgiant1070 have you watched it yet?
This game's combat always gave me _Golvellius_ vibes because they're so similar. I'm biased towards the latter slightly but this game is still one of the hidden gems of the NES in my eyes.
Cool to hear someone mention Golvellius. I really enjoyed that game as a kid. I used to play that, Y's, Phantasy Star and Master of Darkness on my Master System. Those were all great games.
I legit played through this last night. Such a solid early action rpg up there with Crystalis and Scheherazade. I’ll prolly play through it again tonight now lol.
Both of those are great too. I have a real soft spot for Scheherazade especially.
The Magic of Scheherazade is awesome. I remember liking the little jokes in the dialogue of that game. I think there was a man you would talk to who was waiting or complaining about something in all time periods, even underwater. Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember that character being hilarious.
A favorite of my childhood (once I got past my fear of the skulls, the second enemy you ever encounter.) Sadly, a game I never completed back then because the fight with General Kael was beyond my comprehension at the time.
My fear was those monkey monsters that jumped at you. Always made me panic as a kid
I really want them to put this on the switch online. Game was really good. very advanced at the time.. good days..
Loved this game as a kid. I especially liked how in battle scenes the wind blew so everything moved, and then it became quiet again when you defeated the enemies.
this game was released in 89. 89!!!!! man, wtf. amazing
Like, definitely *at least in Japan* it was a post-Mario 3 game so that tracks in graphical fidelity, but there were like 1992-1993 NES games where everyone knew all of the console's tricks inside and out that still didn't look this good
I remember playing this when I was a child it was a classic
I’ve always have and always will love this game and The Willow Film
This was one of my favorite games growing up. This, Faxanadu, and Simon's Quest. LOVED the movie, and though Willow wasn't a swordsman, I still loved this neat idea they made with the property. The music was SOOOO good me and my buddy recorded it onto cassette tapes and played it. So much nostalgia!!!!
*_"YOU HAVE THE MAGIC ACORNS!!"_*
i didnt even remember i had played this back in the day until that world music started playing.
This is one of those games that I should have played back when it was released; I always thought that it looked like a great adventure game. I had a Sega Master System though and only had sporadic access to play the NES via a friend at the time where I still did plenty of NES gaming done but a lot missed also, and by 1989 moved over to the Sega Genesis and Turbografx, so it just wasn't in the cards. Great candidate for a digital remaster though.
Thank you so much for posting this. It brings so much childhood memories. I actually play the music by humming as I watch the video 😊.
Watched the movie and then beat the game! What a classic game and movie! Thanks for the guide!
I miss this game SO much. I really wish it could be added to the Switch. I played it so much as a kid, but I never beat it. An extremely overlooked and underrated game. Great graphics for the NES as well.
This right here is an underrated gem on the NES. The graphics, the controls, the plotline, the music, it's all so amazingly tight. I love this game.
Oh my God I remember this movie and game awesome gameplay
I was too young to really advance very far in this game, but I loved it. Such an underrated classic
Thanks for this classic playthrough!
A beautiful game, I played the game first and years later I knew this game came from a movie!! Then I watched the movie and, I felt in love much more with this videogame, the characters, and scenarios. Really beautiful game and movie.
Loved this game, though the trolls from the movie gave me nightmares.
I owned this classic as a 10 year old nes gamer. I never quite finished the game it was set aside for my Ghost N Gobblins. Thanks youtube for this video to fill the void of my childhood accomplishments. 😀
I rented this once and finished it. It stands out as one of my favorite playthroughs.
Holy shit, the dude grinded from 1:00:00 to 1:40:00. It's like 1/5 of the entire thing.
Link to the past got a lot of Inspiration from this game
Hated playing this game as a kid because it was crazy difficult for no reason. I think i quit and restarted more times than I can count. Watching it now brings back found memories of the best times of my life. Nintendo hands down.
I hated playing this game as a kid because it scares me a lot.
I had this game, no clue where it came from. Loved it!
I gave the movie an honest chance and I didn't enjoy it but I will totally go to bat for the two licensed video games this NES game and the arcade game are both excellent standout games
That's about the only time that you knew it was safe to buy or rent a licensed game. If you saw Capcom or Konami on the box or cart.
The movie may have been boring but the game looks fun
Mi juego favorito de NES, le eché horas horas y de niño. Un mundo mágico, vasto, enorme. Era imprescindible ir usando la magia de curación de puntos de vida porque si cuando estás avanzado te matan si no. La magia del thunder me encantaba, la mejor, infalible y destructiva contra todos. Un juego a la altura de Zelda
YOU ARE GREAT!!!! Awesome game! I played when I was a kid and still remember it being so much fun.
I followed your walkthrough and was able to beat the game finally. Thank you very much for your video.
Np, glad it could be of use!
ngl, that moment when he dropped to 2 hp had me chewin my lip lol
This is one of my favorite games ever. 🔥
I got this game yesterday. While I have never seen the movie it’s based on (nor do I intend to for that matter) I think it’s a pretty good game. It reminds me of The Legend of Zelda.
Favorite game all time back in 1990 as a 10 yr old..and then final fantasy and gi Joe's also😊😊
This game is awesome and a cake walk compared to the arcade one. Entering the passwords was a little tedious at times, but this is a true classic.
Better than the original Legend of Zelda by far, imo, and the music was just sooo good. I don't think I ever played another NES rpg this many times as a kid.
Wached all the walkthrough like an interesting movie, thank you!
It's funny they can't use the word wand but cane instead because it's Nintendo cracks me up
I liked this more than the legend of Zelda as a kid.
always loved this as a kid.
I've played this game alot but never finished it. It is a great game just never been that amped up to finish it. I think it's my time knock this game off my list.
I really loved this game as a kid, though I remember grinding for XP outside of the bar, it seemed like it took forever. It was kind of funny to see the 40 minute grind in the middle of this playthrough, but I guess there isn't any way to level up quicker.
Anyone else realize how close the over world theme is super close to a the theme for a summer place?
I actually still have my 1989 issue of Nintendo Power with full coverage of the first part of Willow that I've had since I turned 10. It's a little beat up but still plenty readable.
That 8 bit music is the best…..
The Legend of Link
I hated how the caves were a little unforgiving when you died at first. If you didn’t get out you lost your items until you got the magic of “fleet”
Splendid video.
This was my very first RPG (ARPG to be precise) 😅
to me this is the best nes game ever made
Great movie great game
Wow, this game looks so cute!!!
Awesome game, even better than the movie imo.
This looks pretty dope
- Caught Willow Boomeranging
- Caught Willow Boomeranging Bloodger
- 50% Fuel Teeter
- 50% Fuel Psycho Teeter
- Jolly Carcass
In the Pal version the cane is useless on the final boss, i dont know why, she cannot be killed.
Is Willow a jump and run game or an I want to fight game? From what I've seen so far, you dodge every fight and run through the game! I'm now at timestamp: 50:65. I'll watch a bit more, but if it continues to suck just running through I'm gone!
Flawless
This game reminds me of NBA Jam the Arcade version.
I love this game❤
Damn, for three hours!?
It's about the same length as the film then lol
Those graphics aren’t bad for NES!
This looks like A Link to the Past before A Link to the Past.
::CORE MEMORY UNLOCKED::
i wonder how can i play this now.
I could never figure out how to get to the other part of the 1st town where the game begins. Can see the other houses but could never find out how to get there. Is there some kind of hidden path somewhere? Anybody know?
My favorite game D&D that game 4 me 🤘🏾😁🤘🏾
It actually looks decent for a 8-bit game. But the audio is absolutely awful
the pixel art is Wonder🎉
Do u have to be lvl 14 to change him back?
For Fin Raziel? 13, I think.
@@NintendoComplete ty I'm replaying this game on my android
IS WILLOW ANY FUN??
51:06
Willow is a great title nes finding other titles with level like cart-nes
Dragoon warriors, final fantasy and other tiltes are great . Nes ❤ hp lv mp and tps should look for great-nes gamboy sp mini 😊 out
Sword of mana legend of mana screat of mana are other great simliar sidescrolling games
Also look for switch nintendo
Classic on nes snes wii nes and gameboy switch nes😮
1:58:56 blight town
Reminds me Pokemon RPG.
It like lagend of Zelda
I and the Father are One John 10.30 praise Yeshua Yahweh
👩👧😍❤🏳️🌈
Nothing on legend of Zelda, in fact zelda could kick willows bottom
Sprite kinda looks like a fat TotK Link.