Legendary game company “Sun Electronics” NES developers “Laughing Roundtable”…!

The world is currently in the midst of a “retro boom. Sento (public bathhouses) and “Sharundesu (photo album)” are all the rage. The same is true in the video game industry.

The other day, Sunsoft, a game brand of Sun Electronics Co. The company is releasing a new online version of the classic game “Ikki.

Ikki” was an action game for the Famicom (NES) released in 1985. At a time when robots and fighter planes were the mainstream, the game attracted attention for its uniqueness in that it featured a farmer as the main character, and for its worldview that featured a ton of revolts led by just two people. Ikki” was the first game to be called a “beloved game” or “shit game.

When I visited Sun Electronics in Konan City, Aichi Prefecture, what awaited me was the original illustrations used in the packaging and promotional materials of the time. Along with these treasures, we asked the developers about various episodes of the Famicom boom of the 1980s.

First, let’s talk about “Ikki. Why did you make a game in which farmers were the main characters?

Akito Takeuchi (programmer): “ At first, I was making a (modern) war game in which soldiers shoot guns and other weapons at each other. But it was not well received. The team leader came up with the idea of changing the setting from a battlefield to a peasant revolt. It was a crazy idea (laughs). (Laughs.) We had to redo the background and everything.

Ikki” was a game that could be played by two players, but that was not the case at first.

Takeuchi: “ At first, it was a novel style in which two characters were played by a single player. You switch between characters by pressing buttons, but it was impossible to do that while defeating enemies. When one character moves forward, the other character is left behind and disappears from the screen (laughs). (laughs) It was too difficult to control, so I gave up.

First, a large arcade version of “Ikki” was released for use in game arcades, but even here problems arose.

Takeuchi: “ The title of the game at the time was ‘Peasant Revolt. But when we did a location test at a game center, we were asked, ‘Are you sure you want to use this name? We changed the title because we didn’t want to cause a recall or anything like that.

The arcade version of “Ikki” was a big hit, and when it was transferred to the Famicom (NES), it was also a big hit. The arcade version of “Ikki” was a huge hit, and when it was transferred to the Famicom (NES), it was also a big hit.

Bugs” are forbidden words

Next, Sunsoft released the adventure action game “Mystery of Atlantis. With 100 stages, this epic game was also a huge hit. The catchphrase at the time was, “It’s beyond Super Mario! The catchphrase at the time was, “It’s even better than Super Mario!

Takeuchi: “ I was the main programmer. The side-scrolling game “Pac-Land” was fun, and I wanted to make one myself. Then “Super Mario” came out, and it became an influential work (laughs). Is it that catchphrase? Hmmm… I can understand if customers say it, but to say it ourselves is …… (laughs).”

Mystery of the Atlantis” is famous for being full of mysteries. Let us ask about some of the mysteries that have been whispered about.

The main character is weak. Why does he die just from being hit by bat droppings when his profile says he is a “strong man with great training”?

Takeuchi: “ Well, …… I didn’t think about this at all when I was making it (laughs). (Laughs.) Fans followed up by saying things like, ‘There are actually rocks and poison in the feces. Also, the moai statues appear in the background, and I got a lot of comments like, ‘Why are there moai statues in Atlantis?

No. 2) There is an “unreachable aspect. Why are there aspects of the game that cannot be reached even if you proceed normally?

Takeuchi: “ I realized this later, too. The publisher of the game’s strategy book contacted me and said, “There are about three aspects that you can’t get to. (Laughs.) After the game was released, I received calls from people asking about it, but it would have been very difficult to recall the game, so I told them that it was just a specification. The word ‘bug’ was forbidden.

In fact, Takahashi Meijin, who led the NES boom in the 1980s, once said, “There are no bugs in the NES. In fact, Takahashi Meijin, who led the NES boom in the 1980s, once said, “There are no bugs in the NES. It’s a subterfuge.” ……

The only thing you see when you clear 100 levels is the word “Congratulations” on the screen, and there is no solution to the mystery. There are whispers like an urban legend that there is a true ending.

Takeuchi: “ The end is also halfway through. The truth is that we had planned to return on a balloon after completing the 100 levels. But we ran out of time and capacity. ……