From Software's Kuri Kuri Mix

[Guyra]

About half a year ago I was looking through PS2 games at the local Gamestop, since they were having a sale. Amidst crappy titles and even more crappy sports titles, a familiar logo stood out: From Software. The makers of the Armored Core, Souls, Shadow Tower, and ofcourse, King's Field series. But what's this? "Kuri Kuri Mix!"

When I think of From Software, this is generally not what comes to my mind:



But yes, this is actually a game developed by From Software.

So a few weeks ago, a friend was visiting, and we wanted to play a co-op game. Sadly, I don't have too many co-op games, but then we found this game in my shelf. So we figured, why not just give it a try? And I must say, I'm really glad we did!

The game lets you control the two rabbits Chestnut and Cream as they try to find the moon, which - according to a rooster - has vanished from the sky. And without the moon, there will be no festival! Oh no! So our two rabbit heroes take it upon themselves to find the moon!

Each player controls their own half of a vertically split screen. You have to get from the start of the map to the goal at the end of an obstacle course. The obstacles are different for each of the two players, and they have to help each other out by doing actions in one player's obstacle course which affects the other player's obstacle course. Sometimes you also get to control a vehicle of sorts together, for example an airplane where one player controls left and right movement, and the other player controls up and down movement, or a boat where you each have one oar to row with. As it says on the back of the cover, "love is optional, but co-operation is essential ..."

The graphics reminds me a lot of N64 graphics, similar to Banjo Kazooie, and the like(although slightly better). Which is weird, considering this game is for the console generation after that. Also, the audio is just plain weird! Lots of strange sound effects, and the music is just plain crazy! And I actually consider that one of this game's highlights!

The gameplay is simple: One control stick moves your rabbit around, while you've got one button for jumping and one for using stuff on the map. You can play this game with a single controller, controlling one character per controller half, but even though i haven't tried it myself, I think this might be a bit hard. And much of the fun in this game comes from playing together with a friend.

My friend and I completed this game today, our third evening playing it. Probably spent a total of 12-15 hours in it - it could be quite challenging at times, but we eventually got through it every time. I highly recommend trying this game out! I can't remember how long it is since I last played a game that was so much pure fun!

This game has pretty much made me come to the conclusion that From Software is able to create any kind of game and make it a complete gem!


Note: The game is known as "The Adventures of Cookie and Cream," in North America.

[Holy_Diver]

From Software is or was actually a publisher in Japan with many games like this under its belt (https://en.\<span> site blocked, contact your administrator/wiki/From_Software)

It looks like this game was released in the US as The Adventures of Cookie & Cream (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Advent..._%26_Cream)

The PAL boxart here is so much better.

If you look at the Japanese boxart and intro screens you will find that most of the games like this were really done by outside studios, that From would either support or take under its wing to help bring the game to market. It seems like From would publish just about anything that might make some money but that's just my impression.

If you play the games they don't seem to have the same qualities as what seems to be the core franchises and I would be surprised if there was ever more than horse trading overlap personnel or even office space wise.

I'm not sure about the many Armored Core and King's Field like gaiden. Frame Gride, Eternal Ring, Metal Wolf Chaos. I think Otogi was the in-house team just because of its stature but I've never played it. Chrome Hounds seems like a legitimate effort. And I've always assumed that Echo Night was on the same level as Shadow Tower. Usually an inhouse game will have a Moonlight sword Easter egg. Evergrace for example. Not sure about the sequel.

I don't think From was able to resuscitate the Tenchu franchise. At least I am pretty sure I would've heard about it from someone if so. I'm not sure how it came into their lap. The first game was wonderful, I think it had some Japan only expansions. I have the one with the submitted fan made levels around here somewhere.

[Guyra]

Yeah, I know they've published a lot of stuff, but this one's actually developed by From Software. :) And yes, I don't like the US box art, either. I'm glad I live in Europe. ;D Also, they changed the name of one of the rabbits from Chestnut to Cookie.

I really like the Tenchu series, although honestly I've only played 3 and 4. From Software have only developed one of the Tenchu games, though, and that was the XBLA only Tenchu game. Personally, I really want to try the first couple of games in this series.

Eternal Ring was a let down in my opinion. It felt rushed, and it probably was as well, to make sure they'd make the deadline for having a launch title for the PS2.

The Moonlight Sword easter eggs are really nice, and I just had to use the swords in both Souls games. ;)

[Holy_Diver]

Yeah, I know they've published a lot of stuff, but this one's actually developed by From Software. :)

I don't know how to tell the difference myself. I just know an inner circle From' game when I see one. I wouldn't bet money this was done by the same people that developed any of the KF and Armored Games if that is what you mean.

It would be actually useful to have a resource somewhere concerning From's office culture. What people have worked on what games? Do the same people tend to work together? Is there such a thing as legitimate From' games versus the fluff games that tend to get put out on the side? Etc.

Surprisingly From' appears to have a track record of consistently putting out games that are doomed to be commercially unsuccessful despite the fact that they are probably some of the best games there are. For the last decade From' is about the only firm still producing games that I am personally able to recognize as games in the familiar sense. To me that suggests that someone is making decisions based on principals over profit.

The only thing I have ever heard about From' is that it is the most conventional game studio to work for in Japan and is really stingy about air conditioning in the summer. In other words the offices look like a stereotypical Japanese office uniform dress code and all and is probably a fairly conservative place to work.

I really like the Tenchu series, although honestly I've only played 3 and 4.

The first game is widely praised. It's a classic stealth game on par with MGS. The sequel (2) is unplayable, the game play is not even of the same genre. The first game was definitely not developed by From'. It was published by Sony in the US. It may even have been a first party game, or as close as Sony ever gets to that... something like Ico. At some point From began publishing Tenchu. I'd have to look back on Wikipedia to figure out what sequels From' has published. There have been many Tenchu games published by From either way.

[Guyra]

I don't know how to tell the difference myself. I just know an inner circle From' game when I see one. I wouldn't bet money this was done by the same people that developed any of the KF and Armored Games if that is what you mean.

Well basically, if the game says "developed by From Software," then it is. If it has been developed by a different studio, they have to state that. In addition, if you look up the programmers, 3D designers, etc. who have worked on this game, you'll find that they have(in total) worked on all main King's Field games, Eternal Ring, several Armored Core games, Shadow Tower, Echo Night games, Dark Souls, EverGrace, etc.

It would be actually useful to have a resource somewhere concerning From's office culture. What people have worked on what games? Do the same people tend to work together? Is there such a thing as legitimate From' games versus the fluff games that tend to get put out on the side? Etc.

At least MobyGames lists the people credited in games, and you can check what other games they've been credited for as well, like this: https://www.mobygames.com/game/ps2/adven...am/credits

The first game is widely praised. It's a classic stealth game on par with MGS.

I'm definitely going to play this, then! ;)

[Holy_Diver]

Eternal Ring was a let down in my opinion. It felt rushed, and it probably was as well, to make sure they'd make the deadline for having a launch title for the PS2.

The Moonlight Sword easter eggs are really nice, and I just had to use the swords in both Souls games. ;)

I always assumed Eternal Ring was a Dreamcast exclusive, though I definitely remember playing with it in a store and having/getting the impression that it would not be very good. That said it came out in 2000 which was the year I graduated... there is a big chunk of my life when I was not paying attention to popular media because I was all rearing to take on the world as a young adult the way college age kids are told they are supposed to. It took me a few years to figure out that the world wasn't worth the bother

I feel like Aaron Swartz probably wouldn't have opted out of the land of the living if there was more of a culture of balancing out things in life. There's just too much stress and tumult in being a modern day model social animal. It's a minefield for people prone to depression.

I would totally pick up Eternal Ring if it shows up on PSN... I'm just too lazy to torrent it and load it onto my PS2 harddrive. Though I might see if there is a direct download on the internet somewhere. In fact the PS2 games on the PSN have actually been pretty glitchy, so I may stop buying them period.

I feel like Dark Souls would probably be a better offering if it was character driven like Eternal Ring, but there would be no multiplayer then I suppose. Gotta server the 1% of players that want that I suppose. I bet the PS3 Castlevania a while back was really awful, but From could probably make an awesome 3D Castlevania. The controls are the worst thing about Demons' Soul's but if they were simplified they would probably work pretty well for a Castlevania.

[Guyra]

It took me a few years to figure out that the world wasn't worth the bother

Hahaha, indeed! xD

I would totally pick up Eternal Ring if it shows up on PSN... I'm just too lazy to torrent it and load it onto my PS2 harddrive. Though I might see if there is a direct download on the internet somewhere. In fact the PS2 games on the PSN have actually been pretty glitchy, so I may stop buying them period.

Well, it's worth playing through once just to see how it is and such. Personally, I don't buy PS2 games on the PSN, since I'm a game collector and want all my games to be in physical copies. And PS2 is one of my main points of interests in that area, as well as PS1. So I play my PS2 games on the good, old PS2 console. :)

I feel like Dark Souls would probably be a better offering if it was character driven like Eternal Ring, but there would be no multiplayer then I suppose. Gotta server the 1% of players that want that I suppose. I bet the PS3 Castlevania a while back was really awful, but From could probably make an awesome 3D Castlevania. The controls are the worst thing about Demons' Soul's but if they were simplified they would probably work pretty well for a Castlevania.

I tried the multiplayer in Dark Souls a few times, and it was an interesting enough experience. But I'm mainly a singleplayer type of gamer, so I don't really care that much about it, in the end. As for the controls in Demon's Souls, I really liked them.

I had completely forgotten that they were making a PS3 Castlevania game, and didn't even notice the release. But then again, I never did play Castlevania until 2011, where I almost completed a Castlevania game for the SNES. In any case, the game seems to get good reviews - although, I have learned not to really trust reviews, anyway. :P

[Holy_Diver]

I would be surprised if there is not a lot of overlap between Castlevania and King's Field fans. I'd personally like to see Castlevania games being made with Sword of Moonlight. It would certainly be a great way to encourage artists to add a lot of solid monsters to SOM.

PS2s are no longer being produced in Japan. I am pretty sure backwards compatibility was halted in all regions a long time ago too. You think this was done to force people to buy games from the PSN store. Not that there are even that many titles--in the US store. Never mind the fact that they suffer from visual glitches.

My PS3 has PS2 hardware in it, but it is region locked for Japan. All of my games were Japanese until this generation when the locks were done away with and I started to care so little for the games that I'd just assume bite at the cheap games in the bins headache inducing English writing and vocals and all. But it probably won't last forever.

I am nearly convinced that I won't be purchasing a PS4. Not at least until the last game is made for it. But I might change my tune if it is fully back compatible. Still there is the problem of discs. What boggles me is why video games are not constantly being remastered and re-released just like a movie is whenever a new format is introduced. The companies apparently don't even think to keep the development files for the games around. I assume the games not in the PS Classics area of the PSN are not there because they are tied up in licensing hell because the companies that ported them to the US are now defunct or whatever. Japan doesn't seem to have the problem so much except with non-Japanese games. I can't believe parties are holding onto them because they think they can sell an enhanced version for more money or something. It's pretty dismal all around.

[Guyra]

Castlevania games made with SoM would be cool, indeed. Now, I haven't tried my hands on SoM personally, but I would bet you could pretty much make any kind of first person type of game. From KF type of games, to Quake like FPS, or Echo Night and Shadowgate 64 like adventure games. Am I right?

Yeah, backwards compatability was halted a long time ago in all regions. And Sony recently completely stopped making PS2s as well. And yes, you're not the only one who've thought that thought - not only PS2 games on the PSN store, but also the PS2 HD remake games, like Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, etc. Wouldn't surprise me if that was the case, to be honest. At least partially - I'm sure the costs of having extra hardware or software emulation, and constantly working on getting it to work as it should, weren't minimal.

As for the PS4, I won't buy that until way late. The PS3 is more than enough for me right now. I've got enough games on that, as well as for the PS1 and PS2, that I want to play, and improved graphics doesn't really interest me. Nor does new gimmicks(couldn't give a rats ass about Kinect when that came out, for example), or technology that makes AI much more realistic, etc. I'm into the games, not everything about them. :P

Also, I just watched the first episode of a Let's Play of the first King's Field US release, and I noticed there were actually enemies missing from what I'm used to in the European release. Like, at the start of the game, in the room where you pick up the Iron Mask from a barrel, there's supposed to be a kraken which wasn't there. Same thing with the room next to it, the one with the healing spring. That room contains two krakens in the European versions. That's three enemies missing from the start of the game in the US release - or three additional enemies in the European release, depending on how you look at it. I wonder how it is in the original Japanese release.

[dmpdesign]

I'd personally like to see Castlevania games being made with Sword of Moonlight. It would certainly be a great way to encourage artists to add a lot of solid monsters to SOM.

100% agree. I thought about making one, but I will be producing a 2d clone instead at some point, hopefully this year.