"Balloon Fight" - NES/Famicom
----- Introduction -----
On some level, I'm actually starting to wish we could get into the really crappy NES games, but I'll stand strong. I'm a strong boy.
Balloon Fight is a strong title. I already know that I like it, and have played it a fair bit, but I have to do this anyway because everyone in the world is counting on me.
Basically just a rip-off of the arcade title Joust (sorry, it is), Balloon Fight was an arcade title originally released for Nintendo's VS. system, for a couple of months, before it made home port status in 1985 (this is our first 1985 game, by the way!) on the Famicom. Wikipedia says that the VS. version was released in the US in 1984, which sucks for US players since the NES wouldn't be releasing until October 1985. Suckers.
As far as notable people, the designer on this one is Yoshio Sakamoto, who I didn't point out before, but is the designer from Donkey Kong Jr. (I'm going to put an aside here to keep from putting two periods next to each other (I just made you read that (DANCE, MONKEY!))).
For music, we have the now-well-known-to-us "Chip" Tanaka, whom we last saw on Urban Champion. For programmer on the title we have Satoru Iwata, who is also well known to us by now, and we last saw on F-1 Race, which I only found out by looking at the Japanese Wikipedia, because ours sucks.
Anyway, let's fight some balloons (?).
Balloon Fight is a strong title. I already know that I like it, and have played it a fair bit, but I have to do this anyway because everyone in the world is counting on me.
Basically just a rip-off of the arcade title Joust (sorry, it is), Balloon Fight was an arcade title originally released for Nintendo's VS. system, for a couple of months, before it made home port status in 1985 (this is our first 1985 game, by the way!) on the Famicom. Wikipedia says that the VS. version was released in the US in 1984, which sucks for US players since the NES wouldn't be releasing until October 1985. Suckers.
As far as notable people, the designer on this one is Yoshio Sakamoto, who I didn't point out before, but is the designer from Donkey Kong Jr. (I'm going to put an aside here to keep from putting two periods next to each other (I just made you read that (DANCE, MONKEY!))).
For music, we have the now-well-known-to-us "Chip" Tanaka, whom we last saw on Urban Champion. For programmer on the title we have Satoru Iwata, who is also well known to us by now, and we last saw on F-1 Race, which I only found out by looking at the Japanese Wikipedia, because ours sucks.
Anyway, let's fight some balloons (?).
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| Put your dukes up, helium filled rubber menace! |
----- Playthrough -----
Balloon Fight gives us a staggering three modes to select from, except B mode is just two player again, so really it's a staggering two modes. Which is a whopping one more mode than most early Famicom games have given us, so I'm appreciative.
Game A, "1-Player Game," is the mode that I never wanted to really play as a kid, so it's fun to try it more as an adult. In this mode, there are enemy birds (?) everywhere on the screen blowing up balloons to fly in the air with. Your job is to go around making sure nobody gets to experience the majesty of flight but you and yourself, and you do this by dickishly popping all their balloons and maybe feeding some of them to the giant fish.
Did I mention the giant fish?
Game A, "1-Player Game," is the mode that I never wanted to really play as a kid, so it's fun to try it more as an adult. In this mode, there are enemy birds (?) everywhere on the screen blowing up balloons to fly in the air with. Your job is to go around making sure nobody gets to experience the majesty of flight but you and yourself, and you do this by dickishly popping all their balloons and maybe feeding some of them to the giant fish.
Did I mention the giant fish?
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| UAAAAAGGBLBHGGHGHG! |
It's weird that the fish has teeth.
Anyway, that's pretty much it. As mentioned in the intro, if you've ever played Joust you pretty much get this already-- the idea is that whomever is positioned higher on the screen will pop the other person's balloon on contact with their feet. You have two balloons, because you're The Protagonist, while enemies have one balloon.
Along the way, you'll encounter a few random other obstacles, such as that spinning stick with the balls on the end that was popularized by Super Smash Bros., and clouds that shoot lightning which bounces around the screen and will kill you in one hit. You can also get eaten by the giant fish by the way, so don't go down there.
Every two or three stages you'll be given a special stage where your task is to pop all the balloons flowing out of four pipes before they exit the screen. Get them all for a PERFECT!!! SUPER BONUS!
Anyway, let's check out Game C.
Game C is basically like a more fun, less frustrating version of Flappy Bird, and to be honest I wouldn't be shocked if the person who made that was inspired on some level by this game. The screen scrolls automatically, so you're only responsible for guiding yourself within the context of the screen to hit the balloons.
Touch even one electric ball (or whatever), and it's instant death. So the goal is to see how far you can get in the field with the highest points. I have no idea if it ends, I couldn't even beat the default high-score.
This used to be the only mode I wanted to play as a ~5 year old kid. Man, I had grit back then. This is hella hard.
Anyway, that's pretty much it. As mentioned in the intro, if you've ever played Joust you pretty much get this already-- the idea is that whomever is positioned higher on the screen will pop the other person's balloon on contact with their feet. You have two balloons, because you're The Protagonist, while enemies have one balloon.
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| I'm better than all of you. I am King Balloon. You are my subjects. |
Along the way, you'll encounter a few random other obstacles, such as that spinning stick with the balls on the end that was popularized by Super Smash Bros., and clouds that shoot lightning which bounces around the screen and will kill you in one hit. You can also get eaten by the giant fish by the way, so don't go down there.
Every two or three stages you'll be given a special stage where your task is to pop all the balloons flowing out of four pipes before they exit the screen. Get them all for a PERFECT!!! SUPER BONUS!
 |
| 20,000 points!? That's like... 20,000 points! |
Anyway, let's check out Game C.
Game C is basically like a more fun, less frustrating version of Flappy Bird, and to be honest I wouldn't be shocked if the person who made that was inspired on some level by this game. The screen scrolls automatically, so you're only responsible for guiding yourself within the context of the screen to hit the balloons.
Touch even one electric ball (or whatever), and it's instant death. So the goal is to see how far you can get in the field with the highest points. I have no idea if it ends, I couldn't even beat the default high-score.
 |
| This is kind of the bane of my existence, actually. |
This used to be the only mode I wanted to play as a ~5 year old kid. Man, I had grit back then. This is hella hard.
----- Review -----
Innovation:
Does the game show anything not yet seen on this system/ever before?
This weird flapping style of gameplay is as-of-yet unseen on the NES, but it has been done in Joust by now in the arcades. I think Balloon Fight probably has more overall polish, though.
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This weird flapping style of gameplay is as-of-yet unseen on the NES, but it has been done in Joust by now in the arcades. I think Balloon Fight probably has more overall polish, though.
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Spitting Rage:
Does the game make you want to tear your own organs out of your body?
The star mode is tough, and it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to make it farther and farther. The main mode, however, is pretty chill, and more likely to make you laugh than be frustrated, I think.
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Intuitive Design:
The star mode is tough, and it can be a little frustrating if you're trying to make it farther and farther. The main mode, however, is pretty chill, and more likely to make you laugh than be frustrated, I think.
Intuitive Design:
How easy is it to intuitively understand the game?
I'd say this is another fairly easy one to grasp. Pressing A or B does the same thing: flaps your arms, which makes you rise on the screen. Combine this with movement of the d-pad and you're off to the races. If you don't understand how to pop the enemy's balloons, you certainly will soon, because I guarantee they'll pop yours, and then you'll have all the knowledge you need.
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Satisfying Gameplay:
How rewarding does playing the game feel?
Popping the balloons on the enemies effectively is really satisfying, actually. It's super fun and makes you feel cool when you accidentally (or intentionally, if you're a beast) bounce into 3 or 4 in a row, popping all of them.
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| UWA-CHAAA! |
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Game Depth:
How deep/long is the game?
It's not that deep; it's an arcade style game, after all. It's still fun, though.
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Sound Design:
How's the sound?
"Chip" Tanaka's music is in full swing (or full BLULULULULULU, as it were) here. Balloon Fight has some of my favorite music on the Famicom so far of all the things I've reviewed. The balloon popping sounds and game sounds are also generally good. There is an annoying high-pitched sound in the middle of the levels I don't like, but it can be forgiven.
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Graphics:
How's it look?
Good enough. The characters look stylish considering the small amount of real-estate they take up on the screen, and in general things are fairly recognizable and easy to distinguish from one another. Nothing here is going to blow you away though. Except that they bothered to give the fish teeth.
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Personal Chord:
Does the game have that undefinable "something" for me?
Yep! Nostalgia might be partially responsible but this is also the most fun I've had with any of the games I've reviewed so far as an adult. I'd definitely wear a t-shirt with this one on it.
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Should You Play:
Is there a reason to even bother with this one?
Play it! This game's fun. There's a reason it's known as a Nintendo classic, even if it doesn't have the star power of a Super Mario or a Zelda game.
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