Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Jetsetter: Korea mixes a dash of Final Fantasy with its Mario Bros.

By

From the time that I could understand what New Year’s Resolutions were to today, I’ve always made the exact same one: Live awesomely. What else do you really need to resolve to do besides living a super kick ass life? In years past, though, there was no Jetsetter! Digital Trends’ weekly column devoted to the international video game scene deserves a resolution of its very own for 2013. Then how about this: To live awesomely and to discover the weirdest video games from around the world that you likely don’t know about.

Seriously, have you ever heard of Desi Adda: Games of India for PlayStation 2? Do you even know who the developer Gamesharta is? Of course not. That’s why you have Jetsetter as your travel guide.

Recommended Videos

Join us as the whole world shakes the holiday sleep from its eyes and looks forward to a vast planet of games in 2013. This week: We’ve got a quick look at some sweet Korean Game Boy Advance bootlegs mixing up classic NES games, a look at Disney Japan’s bizarre miscalculation involving silly ol’ bears, and some congratulations to one of Britain’s most-celebrated game makers.

* Final Fantasy Mario?

Related

We here at Jetsetter love the website Siliconera, a blog covering the Japanese gaming scene that we’ve been reading for nearly seven years now. If you want to know what weird dating RPGs are coming out for the decade-old Sony PSP, look no further! This week, though, Siliconera posted up a selection of screenshots from some truly obscure Korean Game Boy Advance bootlegs. The best of the lot: Final Fantasy Mario. These hacks are just the original Mario Bros. platformer but with the hero of Final Fantasy replacing the pudgy plumber. Not obscure enough? Another version had Maria from the Japan-only Final Fantasy II for NES. Nicely done, Korean GBA hackers! Wait a second: If evil turtles hit Maria, does that mean she can take multiple hits on the next level? I never got Final Fantasy II’s leveling system. Pretty nice of those Final Fantasy characters to do Mario’s job for him. Last time they got together, all those warriors of legend did was school Mario in 3-on-3 action. White Mage got game yo.

* Winnie the Pooh is too hard!

Bet you thought it was okay to sit around making fun of Pooh bear, huh? You think it’s hilarious when he gets his fat butt stuck in a hole, eh? Well stop laughing! Winnie has had enough of your crap, and he challenges you to defeat his brutal browser-based baseball game! Made by Disney Japan, Pooh Home Run Derby requires some insane precision to play, as documented here. Nailing a home run, the whole point of the game, is almost impossible. Try it for yourself, but make sure you curse like Shohei Otani when you lose to keep it nationally appropriate.

 

* Eidos founder named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

There would be no Tomb Raider without Ian Livingstone, which means video games would have never had their first sex icon, which means no one would have ever gotten to shoot a t-rex in an underground cavern. No Deus Ex, no Thief, no Just Cause. The world would be a dimmer place without Livingstone’s game company Eidos. There would also be no Games Workshop! Ergo, no Warhammer 40,000. Also no Fighting Fantasy RPGs. The guy’s important to video games. The United Kingdom has appropriately rewarded this son of the empire by making him a CBE, the third highest rank of the chivalrous Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, “for his services to technology and innovation.” “I’m genuinely humbled to get something,” said Livingstone, who then rolled a 20 and did crit damage to the BBC’s reporter.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Anthony John Agnello
Anthony John Agnello
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Anthony John Agnello is a writer living in New York. He works as the Community Manager of Joystiq.com and his writing has…
How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

You're given a good bit of leeway during battles in Baldur's Gate 3 before you or a companion actually bites the dust for good. While in battle, if a teammate does take enough damage to drop, they aren't dead then and there. Instead, they will be downed with a chance to roll every turn to get back up. If they roll successfully three times, the battle ends, or you use another character to pick them up, they're good. If they fail that roll three times, however, they will be completely dead. That can be harsh when you've become attached to certain characters and want to further their stories, so you'll be looking for any way you can to bring them back. Thankfully you do have a few options for reviving companions in Baldur's Gate 3, but just like respeccing, they aren't so obvious.
Pay Withers to bring them back

Withers is a friendly undead you can find in a secret room in the Dank Crypt found inside the Overgrown Ruins. After finding and speaking to him in his sarcophagus, he will offer you various services, one of which is bringing back any dead companions. He won't do this out of the kindness of his heart (probably because it isn't beating) and will charge you a heavy fine of 200 gold to do so. Still, that's a small price to pay to bring back a beloved character. Once paid, that character will appear in your camp where they would normally be, so there's no need to go back to their corpse and find them.
Use a scroll of Revivfy or learn it

Read more
Every video game delay that has happened in 2023 so far
The player skates toward the moon in Skate Story.

Few things feel as inevitable in the video game industry as delays. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, game delays have only become more and more common as developers find previously set timelines unrealistic and adjust their release plans accordingly. More than halfway through 2023, we've already seen some notable AAA games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Skull & Bones, and Pragmata delayed pretty heavily. Because video game release date delays are so common, it can be tough to keep track of every game that has had its launch date shifted in some way.
That's why, just as we did in 2021 and 2022, Digital Trends is rounding up every game delay that's announced throughout 2023. Here are the high-profile ones that have happened so far, listed chronologically by their new intended release dates.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR (March 16)

As Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is one of the best games for PlayStation VR, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, Supermassive Games' PlayStation VR2 successor, is a highly anticipated launch title for the upcoming VR headset. Unfortunately, it will no longer make PlayStation VR2's February 22 launch and will instead be released on March 16. On Twitter, a message from Supermassive Games says this delay will ensure that players "receive the most polished, terrifying experience possible" at release. The game was released on that date to mixed reviews.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (March 24)

Read more
Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?
Three characters shoot at a boss in Remnant 2.

Aside from the focus on firearms and integrating some randomly generated environments, the Remnant series sets itself apart from other souls-like games mainly with its focus on co-op. Both titles encourage you to team up with two friends to fight your way through the mutated monsters that await. After so many years of progress in terms of multiplatform games incorporating full cross-platform support, you might assume Remnant 2 will follow suit and let you make a group with anyone regardless of what platform they're on. However, the truth may be a bit more disappointing. Before you make plans with your squad, here's what you need to know about Remnant 2's cross-platform support.
Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?

Unfortunately, Remnant 2 does not have cross-platform play between PS5, Xbox Series X or PC -- and there's no word about it being added in the future.

Read more