These Are THE SAME GAMES? Same Game, Different Name
159Remasters and graphical updates to games are already good even labeled as such, but what if you're pitched a game as an all-new adventure or new entry in a series and it's really just a reskin of another game? We all now know that what we got in the USA as Super Mario Bros 2 was actually a game released in Japan as Doki Doki Panic. While that's one of the best known examples of same game, different name is not the only time it has happened.
Hudson's Adventure Island/Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy and Adventure Island are connected, but also distinct! They stem from the same 1986 arcade game called Wonder Boy, developed by Escape (now Westone Bit Entertainment). However, there are a couple of key differences:
Regions: Wonder Boy was the original title released for the Sega Master System. Adventure Island was a port of Wonder Boy for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and MSX2 computers. Since Sega wasn't a major player in the North American market at the time, Adventure Island became the more recognizable title in those regions.
Content: Adventure Island made some changes to Wonder Boy to avoid copyright issues. The main character was renamed Takhashi for the Japanese version (Master Higgins in the West) and some enemies and level designs were altered.
Star Fox/Star Fox 64
Star Fox and Star Fox 64 share a lot of core elements that make them feel like similar games. Here's a breakdown of their similarities:
Story and Characters: Both games feature the Star Fox team, led by Fox McCloud, piloting Arwing fighters to defend the Lylat System from the evil Andross. They also share the same cast of characters like Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and Falco Lombardi.
Gameplay Core: At their heart, both games are rail shooters with players piloting the Arwing through various stages, blasting enemies and dodging obstacles. They both emphasize maneuvering and using the environment to your advantage.
Mission Structure: Both games have branching paths where your performance determines which stages you reach later. This replayability encourages players to try different strategies and achieve different endings.
Tone and Style: Both games have a blend of action, humor, and cinematic storytelling. The iconic "do a barrel roll" line from Star Fox is present in both games.
While Star Fox 64 is considered an evolution, it retains the core aspects that made the original Star Fox fun.
Castlevania/Kid Dracula/Super Castlevania IV
Kid Dracula is a spin-off with a lighter, more comedic tone and focuses on Alucard, Dracula's son, and his mischievous side. It also features power-ups that transform Alucard into different creatures.
One of the funnest things about Kid Dracula is how they have incorporated levels from the very first Castlevania game into this title. You basically go through the entire first game in the first level, with terrific nods and references to the original game. You can tell that it was done out of love, but it was still lifted from another game.
Super Castlevania IV is generally considered a more refined and polished version of the original Castlevania with improved graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics.
What games have you noticed are remakes or Sprite swaps of other games? there's a ton of games from Japan that got different licensing and characters here in the US. Let me know some of your favorites in the comments.
#retrogaming #dokidokipanic #supermario2 #castlevania #Starfox