Super Mario Bros. 2 In Reverse: A Mishmash of Localization, Product Placement and Chocobo Too!
389In 1992, a port of the Commodore 64 game Nebulus made it to Japan. Here’s how it all happened. (Chapter markers, production notes and more below...)
0:00 Muh Sponsers
0:18 Julius Cares!
0:26 GTV ID: Balls of Fun for Everyone!
0:35 Prologue: Super Mario Bros. 2 in Reverse
1:55 Act 1: Nebulus, Tower Toppler and Castelian
6:38 CM 1: Buy! Buy! Choco Ball!
6:56 Act 2: Choco Ball and Kyoro-Chan
16:04 CM 2: Colorball!
16:22 Act 3: Chocobo's Genesis
18:13 Cho Lucky Kue!!
This video originally started as three ideas. So you might noticed it looks almost like three videos put together. When I was gathering these topics, I was thinking about the few games that did go eastward. As well, I also found advertising in games quite interesting as I am sure you know if you've been around for a while. Also I thought the origins of Chocobo were amusing. As time went on and I researched more, I realized all three of these points would collide, and as such this video came about.
Episode Information
GTV 138 "Kyoro-Chans Nebulus Journey" Season 7 Episode 16
Original Airdate: October 7, 2022
Produced September 20-27, 2022
Recorded at Butsudan Studios and edited on my a14” MacBook M1 Pro! Edited and produced with Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, which my job paid for, but apparently, not for much longer. It’s ok I’ll just pay for it next year.
Here are some other great videos that are for things only in Japan
Giga Big Mac https://youtu.be/wnDnRxGwG1E
Waterway Restaurant https://youtu.be/R18qInJGVus
You Can’t Afford Her… https://youtu.be/BMueIi65xro
Pikachu Outbreak https://youtu.be/ML1g9KHwCG8
Akihabara Streets https://youtu.be/w3SMAhF4QMc
Kit Kat Chocolatory https://youtu.be/GKz2NRYAGVI
Rational Ebullience https://youtu.be/z6psyKzdY4s
Pepsi Woman Toys https://youtu.be/-pxEw1MchV0
Final Fantasy Fried Chicken https://youtu.be/Wn9QDKeklZM
Monster Strike L Cups https://youtu.be/Kl64vAlp8Jo
Monkey Magic https://youtu.be/V5nmAnmOe7g
Pac-Man Mini https://youtu.be/gQ--3BZEz-g
The Legendary Mother https://youtu.be/7mpAdSpXb0E
The Taito Trio https://youtu.be/YE8DnORv4Lc
Oshiri Tantei Returns! https://youtu.be/Ayyzub_fBY4
Yakiniku Bugyou https://youtu.be/5KUWr6f11eE
Partial transcript
In the world of classic games there is a direct motion from Japan to the rest of the world, almost like a coastal trade wind. The games always seem to go in one direction: East to West. As you may know, many undergo a transformation along the way. Translation, obviously. Some get a major overhaul.
Hey, here’s something I bet you didn’t know! A Japanese game named Doki Doki Panic, became Super Mario Bros. 2? No, seriously!! That happened! Ok, ok. Well I can’t tell if you're laughing, rolling your eyes or both
Over the many years that GTV has been around, I often get questions, asking if the opposite has ever occurred. If somehow, a non-Japanese game has ever made its way to Japan.
The answer is yes! Though not many. Most, like Tetris or the Ultima games, had the rights negotiated, then a Japanese team built the game from scratch.
But there was at least one game in Japan that received the old switcheroo like our favorite game, Super Mario Bros 2.
Our story begins in 1987. That year a simple, cute game was released for various computers all across Europe. Nebulus. Created by John Phillips for Hewson Associates, the game involves a little green frog named Pogo climbing towers that have been built in his habitat, with the intent of bringing these towers down to restore the balance of nature. Nebulus features a novel and very impressive pseudo 3D rotating effect that built the basis of the game.
Pogo moves left and right, but is really moving in a circle, 360 degrees around the edge of each tower. Pogo can enter doors, which will take him to the other side of the tower, essentially moving through the center. There are objects blocking the way. Some can be taken out with a shot from pogo, while others can’t. If Pogo gets hit, he falls down to the nearest platform underneath, meaning if you land in a safe zone you can keep climbing back up. Only falling in the water costs a life. However there is a running clock, so Pogo must make it to the top before time runs out.
All of this creates an interesting blend of puzzle and action that is frustrating at first, but quickly becomes satisfying after the correct path and actions have been memorized.
When Pogo reaches the top, the tower comes tumbling down! Then it’s off to the next stage, traveling to the next tower via submarine, catching tasty shrimp snacks along the way which increase the timer on the next stage.
For 1987 the 3D effect was amazing. It’s not truly, “real” 3D nor is the tower an actual rotating object. It’s all just an optical illusion. In all, Nebulus was released for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Zed-X Spectrum and a few others across The United Kingdom and the many nations of Europe.
Other Videos By GTV Japan
Other Statistics
Nebulus Statistics For GTV Japan
Currently, GTV Japan has 5,811 views for Nebulus across 1 video. His channel published less than an hour of Nebulus content, making up less than 0.58% of the total overall content on GTV Japan's YouTube channel.