With five new additions to Nintendo Switch Online's catalogue of NES and SNES games arriving today, we decided to review these new/old releases to help you decide which to play first. Enjoy!
In the late 1980s, a simian named Jiro was one of the most popular monkeys in Japan, becoming famous for his 'reflection' pose. He also became the star of this early SNES action game from Natsume, which was renamed Spanky's Quest elsewhere around the globe, much to the delight of snickering middle-schoolers.
The game is similar to titles like Bubble Bobble and Snow Bros., with each stage being fairly small, and filled with platforms you can jump through. Each area is filled with fruit-themed baddies, many of them juggling the keys you'll need to grab in order to reach the next stage. Spanky attacks by tossing a bubble upward at a short arc, which will only stun enemies on its own. At any point, you can pop the bubble, which will turn it into a sports ball that will actually damage enemies. You can also bounce the bubble on Spanky's head, which will not only cause it to become larger, but will also change the type of projectile that pops out when you burst it. If you pop it without juggling, it only reveals a single measly baseball — which isn't all that powerful — but upon further bouncing, it can turn into a stream of soccer balls, a group of volleyballs that spiral outward when they hit an enemy, or a group of basketballs that have incredible spread. All of these attacks can be used to take multiple enemies, if utilized correctly.
It's an unusual system since there's no direct way to attack enemies, as even hitting them with a bubble requires some distance between Spanky and his foe, and it's very easy to get trapped. Since the bubbles float downwards, the best strategy is to get the high ground and then rain attacks down from above, but not all of the levels have the space that allow you to juggle safely.
The boss battles that occur every ten stages also complicate things a bit since you need to study their attack patterns and counterattack appropriately. It's more challenging than it initially seems, and there are occasionally some cheap deaths and questionable hit detection, but that hidden depth makes it all the more rewarding. It's easy to run through your allotment of lives (assuming you're swearing off the Nintendo Switch Online Rewind feature), though there are checkpoints after even ten stages. It's not a very long game though, with fifty stages total (plus boss battles) and a password system. Alas, while most of these types of games have two player co-op, this game is single player only.
Spanky's Quest is the ideal Nintendo Switch Online game. At first glance, it's a pretty average title, and it's hard to imagine that many people would pay much money for it. But as a game bundled with a subscription, it's fun to mess around with, and there's a bit of unexpected charm beneath its eccentricities, especially thanks to the jazzy soundtrack by former Konami composer Kiyohiro Sada. Some players may not find more than some temporary amusement, but anyone who's clamoring for Switch releases of games like Diet Go Go or Rainbow Islands may find themselves with a new favorite.
Comments 28
Yeah, I played this one for like 20 minutes. It’s rubbish. The ‘attack’ is not fun at all, the stages are short and there’s just a general lack of fun to be had.
More fun than spanking a 🐵
mmmm....... pass, how bout TMNT in time on NOL/SNES??!!!
@Papichulo Nah, spanking the 🐵 seems like a better use of my time than this.
This reviewer should never play a real arcade game lol
This was one of the early games I played when I had my SNES (I still remember vividly when I bought it with my mom), so this game does have a nostalgic presence in my heart. Surprisingly, I enjoyed playing it today more then I did as a kid. I may try to finish the game.
The toss-up attacks are different but they're not fun.
@Ulanda I THINK he might have played one or two. 😄
switch online subscribers : we want earthbound
nintendo: youll get spankys quest and like it!
Played the first stage and hated it.
@karatekid1612 Dude, this has been explained a billion times. TMNT is a licensed intellectual property and that's why you pretty much never see any re-releases of the classic Konami TMNT games. Believe me, pretty much any of us old fogies who grew up with the those games wants them on our Switch. Frankly, you're better off buying the real hardware and carts or using not so legal emulation methods if you want to play them.
Copyrights can really suck some times, but it is what it is.
Like I said before this is a bunch of monkey vomit. Are we going to get anything else besides SNES and NES games ?Then when we get the so-called games their meh 😒.I have nothing against Spanky and if you like him good for you. You have to admit that slow drip is just flat out ridiculous.They’re probably going to put GameBoy games on next if they even put another console on there. That’ll last for another two years. I’m not renewing my subscription. I don’t really play online anyway.
Funny, that me and a good friend had totally, more adult combination to the word "spanky" when we were in our early 20s.😂
@NeonPizza I recently restored my old NES and started playing my old games on a CRT TV that I got from my neighbor’s trash bin. I think it’s the best way to experience these games. I’m now game hunting for games with my dad and brothers to build a collection and when we’re “finished”, I plan to repair my old SNES or Genesis and start collecting and playing those games all over again.
@dartmonkey hmm... nah.. don't believe it lol
@Slowdive just because someone writes a book doesn't mean anything. I can write a book too, you know
Nice review, it helps to have further explanation of the mechanics of attacking. The short history and info blurb that Nintendo provides for each game or special version of a game is nice, but not enough in Spanky's case. I've been enjoying Magical Drop 2 and Baseball 2000 (or whatever). Ninja jajamaru is fun, but quite choppy, and I have the import cartridge for Switch with all those NES games and the awesome new version of Ninja Jajamaru with it's slick 60fps visuals and banging soundtrack.
I gave this game the benefit of the doubt and gave it a try. No, no one would pay for this and I don't even want to play it when it's 'free'. Pretty typical of a lot of what they dump onto this service.
Yeah this game caught my attention a little bit when it was announced this was coming to the SNES lineup. I’ll play for a bit.
I often rented this as a kid and always enjoyed it. Looking forward to trying it again! I'd forgotten about it completely.
Just played through it for the first time since I was a kid, took me about 50 minutes. I still contend this is an underrated gem. The unique attack mechanics offer strategy and variety in how you thwart enemies. The music is still catchy as heck. The levels are extremely short, but sweet. Finally, the enemies are unique, being food-based and all.
@speedyboris Agreed. I actually like the bubble mechanic. Deciding which balls to use, juggling the bubble while avoiding hazards, timing the pops just right... it’s a satisfying and fun mechanic. Graphics and story is cute and charming. Music is bopping. It’s definitely a gem.
Loving the obscure reference to Diet Go Go. I’m sure many people will buy this now that you mentioned that well-known title. 😃
BTW, for new players: If you don't want to sit through the lengthy opening cutscene every time you start the game, just go to Password and hit Start- the first level password is 000.
@vio already own it on cart (cost me £70 but worth every penny). I already know/appreciate there is licensing issues, however it would be great to see it get remastered for the switch or re-released!! Anyway at least we have Shredders Revenge coming soon, so I'm really pleased for that little gem coming our way!!
@karatekid1612 Gotcha. Funny thing I just realized too is that even if Konami still owned the rights, they still wouldn't release the TMNT games for the NES & SNES Switch Online! They'd surely release a collection like they did with Castlevania and Contra. Although that would still be very welcome! It appears after the Virtual Console on the Wii and Wii U, Konami and Capcom realized they can make more money by just releasing their own collections on the eShop. Heh.
@vio yep absolutely, that is the financial way forward for these companies. The problem with TMNT In Time is there maybe up to 3 companies who have a dip in the rights and that to me spells legal minefield!! However, if people aren't talking about games like this, then they may just get forgotten and left in retro gaming history. I would say looking at the interest, TMNT Shredders Revenge generated (and I'm sure game sales will match when it comes out), it could be a potential money spinner if they can get through the legal red tape??? Here's hoping eh!
This game is awesome. I played it for the first time on NSO and was immediately enamoured with the style and music. The gameplay was very fun as well with how the physics flowed and such.
If there's one thing I hate about it though, it's the final level: a boss rush against every boss you've previously faced ending with one of the most infuriating final bosses in history in that damn witch. AND there's no breaks in between to replenish health or lives.
Spanky's Quest for me is very much like Streets of Rage 2: one of my favourite retro games ever so long as you ignore the final level.
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