JJ & Jeff

[DragonmasterDan]

Dracula X also rewards you for randomly jumping off cliffs and into pits. Both games encourage you to do so once you discover that it's actually a thing and from then onward, you lose a lot of lives experimenting. At least it's easy to stock up on lives/continues(?) in JJ & Jeff.

The whole hitting random spots in the background to discover things aspect is also a signature feature of Wonderboy, Capcom, Castlevania and SMB games.

Some people just love to hate on games like this for the sake of it.

Agreed.

Games of yesterday don't spell out for you exactly what to do, and game secrets are secrets for a reason. Trial and error, tales shared among friends on the playground, game magazines and possibly hint books were the way to get through these games back in the day.

[Sadler]

Two things:

1) I don't hate this game. It's ok. It's not a good game, it's not a bad game. It's just ok.

2) Finding secrets and power ups by jumping in the right spot or attacking the right wall or whatever is awesome. Requiring the player to do so in order to actually progress in the game, requires more skill on the designers' part to pull off well. There's a whole spectrum here. Games like Super Metroid do this much better than JJ & Jeff.

[esteban]

Two things:

1) I don't hate this game. It's ok. It's not a good game, it's not a bad game. It's just ok.

2) Finding secrets and power ups by jumping in the right spot or attacking the right wall or whatever is awesome. Requiring the player to do so in order to actually progress in the game, requires more skill on the designers' part to pull off well. There's a whole spectrum here. Games like Super Metroid do this much better than JJ & Jeff.

I agree about Super Metroid being, essentially, AWESOME.

HOWEVER, don't forget that...

 

[Gredler]

For some reason, this came to mind

[Punch]

I just think that the frustrating warp backs are just what Hudson thought it would be 'funny', as in "HAHAHA back to level one because you falled in this specific spot" funny. Other than that and the slippery character you can choose this game is very underrated. My favorite part about the game is the music! I don't know the name of the tracks but my favorites are the one playing in the sewer levels at the beggining and the sky level (2-3).

[esteban]

I just think that the frustrating warp backs are just what Hudson thought it would be 'funny', as in "HAHAHA back to level one because you falled in this specific spot" funny. Other than that and the slippery character you can choose this game is very underrated. My favorite part about the game is the music! I don't know the name of the tracks but my favorites are the one playing in the sewer levels at the beggining and the sky level (2-3).

I know the songs you are referring to

There are videos on YouTube where the original composer (+ friends) play a bunch of Kato Chan & Ken Chan songs! You might enjoy the craziness.

For some reason, this came to mind

Hahahhahahajja.

[Galder]

I have never tried it but that was because these two guys look completely DISGUSTING!  :-"

[esteban]

I have never tried it but that was because these two guys look completely DISGUSTING!  :-"

JJ & Jeff are pinnacle of 1980's archetypes.

Therefore, they are not disgusting, but cliched and hackneyed.

Now, you have permission to love them!

[Black Tiger]

I have never tried it but that was because these two guys look completely DISGUSTING!  :-"

Are you sure you aren't confusing it with KC & KC?

[Galder]

I have never tried it but that was because these two guys look completely DISGUSTING!  :-"

Are you sure you aren't confusing it with KC & KC?

That's even worse-looking. Bosses' sprites look horrible too. I guess it is simply not my cup of tea. I may give it a shot in the near future though while I am exploring the turbografx world more. At least I like the fact that it has in-game secrets to find.

[Otaking]

I adore the game, but I've never played much JJ & Jeff as I've always prefered the uncensored Kato & Ken.
Back in the late eighties Kato & Ken was the first PC Engine game ever I heard about, I have so much nostalgia for it.

The fart duel!!!
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=12397.msg240534#msg240534

[esteban]

I am still suffering seizures from those Ken Chan Ramen commercials.

  

[Otaking]

lol

[mitsuman]

After reading through all of this, I guess JJ & Jeff (or Kato & Ken) will be the next game for me to get.

[Keith Courage]

Love me some JJ and Jeff.