Let's recap: Doremi Fantasy (SFC).

[Recap]

Doremi Fantasy ~Milon no Doki Doki Daibouken~ (SFC, Hudson Soft, 1996.03.22)


The latest years of the SFC era brought us some very special games. People only put the attention on the 32 bits systems, ignoring how the SFC catalogue increased with top quality titles. Doremi Fantasy is more than just "top quality".

Not many platform games reach the magnificence of Super Mario World. It's not just a matter of good level design and pretty graphics. Milon is one of the best characters ever seen in a platform game. He uses a Bubble Bobble style method to finish his enemies (we could speak here about the loving Taito flavour the game has) and controlling him is a real pleasure. He gains special abilities as he progresses, too. Lot of work was put to make the main character so memorable.

The game is long (not as much as the usual Mario game, though) and was intended to make use of continues and passwords (you need to find certain items to fight bosses, so you'll find yourself re-playing stages frequently). Mini-games are also present, as is the life-per-collected-items system and the map which allows to go back if required.

Of course, graphics are stunning. Not in a Yossy Island sense, but in a PC Engine / Taito fashion (Mizubaku Adventure, did I hear?). No technical achievements, but splendid design, colors and game speed.

[Captain Vegetable]

I love sprites.

[skelly]

Just discovered this recently -- I had Milon's Secret Castle as a kid so it was cool to find it had a sequel of sorts. I was disappointed that Milon could talk, though; I thought it was cool how he couldn't speak the kingdom's musical language in Secret Castle, effectively making him handicapped.

I'm hoping ferricide can track me down a copy in Japan this week, but I don't imagine it's especially common. What's a good price, you think?

[Wilykat]

Argh, I've been looking for a copy of this for far too long. Even a bare cart seems hard to come by. What I've played seems terrific, though. I love the music and the entire style of the game.

[Recap]

The game is RARE, but PaCrappa should know more than I.

[Mzo]

Balls, now I want it, too.

[PaCrappa]

Best game ever. On my top ten anyway. I think good ol' JAPJAC mentioned it once and I liked the sound of the name. I told my buddy in Japan to look for it and he found it on his first trip to Aki. He charged me $25 for a complete one in minty fresh condition. I have since tried through him and others to locate more (everybody that sees me play it ALWAYS wants one, and I'm talking nongamers here too), all to no avail. Markinjapan once said he had a loose cart for me but that never materialized. Having never been to Japan, I'd feel like a liar if I claimed I knew how "rare" it is.

But like I said, this game absolutely rules. Even though I'm a big fan of The Big N, this is more fun than any Mario I've played except Paper. The music is as perfect as the animation, color, art and gameplay. If you can't find it for reals, rush to the nearest emulator!

Pa

[Diff-chan]

I hate anyone who calls it "Yossy Island" with a passion. But this game looks kinda neat.

[PaCrappa]

Why? That's the original name and it says so on the SFC cart. Some folks played that one and since it was released previous to the US rellease that you know as "Yoshi's Island" it makes perfect sense for these people to call it the only name it had when they played it.

Pa

[Diff-chan]

For the same reason why I hate people who speak English and say "Miyamato-san" or "Kojima-san": because its fucking stupid.