Silent Sanctum Manga: June 2023

6/2/23

The SSM! Arcade #3: Mitsume Ga Toru

The SSM! Arcade #1: Crazy Taxi: https://silentsanctummanga.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-ssm-arcade-1-crazy-taxi.html

The SSM! Arcade #2: Dynamite Cop: https://silentsanctummanga.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-ssm-arcade-2-dynamite-cop.html

We've been obsessing about this game for the last few days.
It's a NES game called Mitsume Ga Toru or The Three Eyed One by the legendary mangaka Osamu Tezuka.

It's not on anyone's TOP 10 NES LIST due to how difficult and unforgiving this
platforming game is.

In fact, you'd be dying mostly from miscalculated jumps, spikes, or unblockable/unkillable enemies.

But enough about the bad, let's talk about the good!
This game has a clear and concise intro that tells you all you need to know even to those
unfamiliar with the story/characters.

Now that we've been properly debriefed with the story and plot of the game. Let's begin!
"Mitsume.." has huge Chip n' Dale-styled sprites/ color scheme and with Megaman styled gameplay. You are initially equipped with a normal projectile and a spear(called Red Condor) that you could upgrade by collecting coins dropped by slain enemies.

You could increase the value of these coins by shooting them with your projectile.
These coins can then be used in the shop that appears within the game.

There are also hidden pathways, alternate routes that would give you either
access to the shop or this weird "chicken-looking thing"

that rewards you big-ass coins.

Enemies range from tribal kids, fireflies, Moai statues, alien monks, to harmless-looking puppies.

Chillax lang, Jerry Lawler!

Boss characters on the other hand ranges from cute
to Lovecraftian.

Most of which are not properly represented during the in-game cutscenes.

Stage designs are quite imaginative/creative as well.

You get to explore caves, pyramids, and ghost ships.
Did someone order a roomful of eyes?
Well, there you go!

There are a total of 5 stages. With Stage 5 being the most futuristic-looking of them all.
It's easy to get lost in the visuals.

Some of the backgrounds/enemies are at times straight-up very Megaman-like.

But alas, this is where we stopped and died repeatedly on our bootleg Gameboy.

But with the magic of a little bit of cheating and save states.
We could finally see the ending ourselves. Yes, an actual animated and Megaman-styled ending
and not just a generic congratulatory message.

I'm glad that Maria Ozawa,

Crayon Shin-Chan

and A.xie

got to program this game.