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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

8 Bit Observations #2

I think all Nintendo fans have come down from their Switch high so let's get into some more 8 Bit Observations. It snowed in New Jersey this past week so I'm going to talk about some of the better Winter/Ice/Snow levels in gaming. I may leave some off this grouping and it may seem all Nintendo but that's what I like and here we go!

Let's start with the Super Mario franchise. I consider the 6th level as one covered in snow. It's dark, it's cold( I assume) and there is snow covered platforms and a gray castle. All those signs point to snow! Mario 2 has the 4th level with the enemies that look like curling rocks, the Flurries. Tough jumps and whales to deal with make it some

 kind of winter setting. Maybe it wasn't a dream at all, maybe Mario and friends are in Vancouver. Then there's the ice level, also level 6 in Mario 3. I enjoy the over world music on this map. This level is one of the longer maps in the game and there are some tough levels.Super Mario 64 has some snow levels as well. I think of the iconic moments is having to race the penguin in Cool, Cool Mountain. You also had to deal with the ice and cold water in Snowman's Land. It looks like Nintendo has something they like and stick to it and that something is snow levels.

Snow Brothers is one of my all time favorite games for the NES. I can remember going to Blockbuster video and renting it all the time. Then it was in the bargain bin at Blockbuster and I knew I had to get it. The game doesn't have snow/ice levels in theory but you play the role of a snowman, who can throw snowballs. If that doesn't scream winter/ice/snow I don't know what does. In another instance, there aren't snow levels in Pokemon but there are plenty of ice type Pokemon.

Ducktales has some of the best music the NES has to offer. The snow level of the Himalayas has those pain in the ass rabbits and goats to jump over. You could also find Bubba to gain extra HP so there was your reason to explore. The Remastered version of the game keeps the toughness and good music and adds to it. The Snow Monster boss is larger than the NES version and is tougher too.

Mario Kart always has snow levels and it started with the SNES version, with Vanilla Lake. Back on the Super Nintendo, most of the Mario locations in Super Mario World were named after food or drinks. Vanilla Lake made it tough to get around the course with ice blocks and water all over the course. You could fall in the water and lose the race by a split second. Sherbet Land has become a mainstay in the Mario Kart games where the snow made it tough to steer. Penguins were in the way as well and could keep you from winning the race.

The Legend of Zelda has plenty of snow and ice levels. The Ice Cavern in Ocarina of Time was where you got your hands on the Blue Flame as well as the Iron Boots. Majora's Mask has you traversing to the city of the Gorons and you had defeat Goht to thaw out those Gorons. There was an ice dungeon inside the Dark World in LOZ: A Link to the Past inside Lake Hylia. A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time are two of my favorite games and had to be here.

That does it for these snow/ice levels in regards to the winter cold of New Jersey. Have anything ideas for a new 8 Bit observations or anything you feel I left off this list. When it snows again, I might be having this same conversation!







  

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