Jack Bros. Game Sample - Virtual Boy

Original Air Date: July 11th, 2009

What can really be said about the Virtual Boy? Well, it gets hated on a lot, mostly for good reasons, but I'm not going to get into all of that. What I will say is that it's a very underground system these days and one that could use just a smidge more attention.

There's only about a handful of games for the system... cool. The emulation scene isn't brewing with excitement over the device, which is why you'll find VERY few videos for VB games, because the emulation present is still somewhat lacking. Some were brave enough to take a camera inside of the helmet (including ourselves), which produces simply awful results, cutting what appears to be every other frame from view, creating almost seizure-inducing flickering. On the other hand, VB emulators have sound and graphic problems from time to time and can't properly replicate the depth perception of the unit. Basically, there's no good way to introduce the darn thing.

We will attempt to improvise. We'll be uploading videos of VB games we own with decent audio/video (as close to the original as possible) as well as with some sample tracks from the games ripped straight from a real VB. The catch? We can only rip what is possible, so not everything will be converted (for example, games without a sound test and with sounds forced at points during the music). This way, you can see VB games in a good fashion and hear samples of what the games are really supposed to sound like.

Jack Bros. is one of the better Virtual Boy games, but it's also one of the rarest VB games in the U.S. This game is a very rare novelty because it is the first game in the U.S. to incorporate characters from an at-the-time Japan-only RPG series, Shin Megami Tensei. Being made in 1995, it predates games like Persona, but it is a spin-off. The game introduced U.S. gamers to a few "Jack" characters, most notably Atlus' mascot, Jack Frost. The others are Jack Lantern (Pyro Jack) and Jack Skelton (Jack the Ripper in Japan). The game involves the three main characters having to get home to Fairyland before midnight on Halloween, otherwise they will lose their powers and disappear forever. They are each aided by a kind Pixie, who gives them useful advice.

This game is a race against the clock through numerous dungeon floors littered with enemies and traps, each with a boss at the end who will try to give you a hard time. Each character has strengths and weaknesses, as well as a special ability. Frost is weak but can freeze enemies (he is sorta the hardest to use). Pyro has average abilities and can burn enemies. Skelton is fast and powerful and can kill all enemies with his special, but he has a slow attack speed. The game is challenging and delivers a simple start and finish. This game wouldn't have sold the system even if it wasn't rare, but it's a great novelty for Atlus fans and collectors. Enjoy.

Notes: Music sounds good, but it sounds like it's missing something, like a sound channel.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Jack
• Bros.
• Atlus
• ジャック・ブラザース
• Frost
• Lantern
• Skelton
• Ripper
• Overhead
• Action
• Virtual
• Boy

[SandersonCallum]

how was you able to record this??? even the avgn nerd struggled

[Vysethedetermined2]

@SandersonCallum Not to be an ass or anything, but you do know that the AVGN is just a person at the end of the day like everyone else, right? Whenever I hear about him, it's as if he's up on a pedestal and always has the best answers or opinions. If he struggled, one can assume that he may have not thought of every possible alternative or not have access to the same technology.

[Vysethedetermined2]

@SandersonCallum That being said, I used an emulator for the game recordings and I ripped music from my game cart that I own as stand-alone uploads. It should be noted that it's not entirely faithful to original hardware as I compared and contrasted between the real and the emulated. They are close, but the sound seems to be missing a channel on the emulator (which I pointed out) and the game slows down at times.

[htdmc2010]

@SandersonCallum thats not it. I think becouse he is someone who hates pirate games becouse he has a huge game collection. It could also be that becouse of his contracts with several sites he uses original games and he records them that way. People are overdoing it by praising or saying stuff about him but to be fair he makes a good job and is funny but as as said the people should calm down i agree on that with you.

[Vysethedetermined2]

@htdmc2010 Good analysis I must say, though for the gameplay portions without sound, no one would've told the difference anyway as the majority of the video is edited. I don't know if I'd say he hates pirates; a lot of his collection was "given" to him and my collection is honestly larger than his, but you have a point about possible contracts.

[LanaGame]

Jack Frost is so cute I wanna take it hooome! I'm a big fan of Jack Frost hee hee!

[stitch1993]

anybody else think they should remake all of the virtual boy games for the 3ds? or atleast the good ones like this game and teleroboxing

[hugo182]

Where is the 3D????

[drunkenone11]

avgn brought me here

[wylecoyote65]

my parents thought i was looking up porn when they saw me type up "jack bros. virtual boy" -_-

[FrogJam95128]

I saw this game today at a vintage gaming store, they were selling it for 200$, I was like what da frick!!??

[webhead37]

Omg... this actually looks like a great game!!..... And it had to be on Virtual Boy??!!!!

[videogamecollecto100]

you know for a virtual boy game and a rare one i kinda like the music

[LeGigify]

@pat20105

This was the first SMT game released in english I believe.