tomatoadventure

[tomatoadventure]

Tomato Adventure - Part 1

Hey everybody, welcome back to the title screen! Before we kept going with the misadventures of Woodstock and the Muppets I wanted to checkout the different options here on the title screen, which can be accessed by the arrows. 

From what I can tell, the option to the right is the option to delete files, and the next is a new game option. So yeah, make sure to not accidently erase the lives and experiences of these precious characters too early. Their excapades don't need your lack of understanding to ruin it. Think of the children, cause they’re yours now. Don't fail them.

From where we left off, our blue hatted hare is raring to go.(I think he's a rabbit.)

And right off the bat, we're met with tyranical and militant oppression, forcing these youth to take shelter here, in the spill way. This game is really good at laying it on thick. This poor girl just wants to get to the big towns, so my motivation for the rest of this game is to allow her to live her dreams. I'm doing it for you...orange chipmunk gal. What do you have to say, Ms. Purple Sunshine?

Well, after saying we need to see Celemo ASAP, we're told to take sometime to explore! Sweet! I always love this part of a game. The best part is that there's a run button! Just hold B.

She said that since it’s the Tomatoversary, the local residence might be allowed to leave. This is just getting sadder by the minute. Poor...pink rabbit girl? She actually might be human.

The Teddy Bear is the home of the Chipmunks, who I will name Orange and Cutie.

I have a girlfriend? Is it perhaps the pink one from the intro? (Yes, it totally is.)

We ascend the ladder to the second level of the lower class residence.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE TRANSLATION ENDS! OH BOY! I'm sure she too was talking of the menacing Heinz Empire.

Strawberry shortcake exclaims, "In the village we take many forms, but our fate as lowly peons to the superiors fruit remains the same." Some heart warming stuff, folks.

I actually think she is. That or she's saying how disgusting is it to leave a ripe tomato outside in the sun as a lawn ornament.

From these words alone, it is clear she will lead the rebellion.

Oh hey, someone who can speak English! But seriously, what kind of dystopian condiment themed game is this? People who oppose the empire are called Droppers? I wanted some wholesome family fun with my sentient fruits thank you very much. This is like Vegetales written from the point of view of a dictator. This episode is getting way more upseting by the minute.

The house across the way once again returns to Japanese, but the ladder to no where is beckoning us.

So, is this game going to get cannibalistic?

"The succulent innards of the enemy will heal your wounds. It's take very delicious and sweat!"

What's up, game?

Oh, it looks like Celemo is in! We'll have to talk to the green kid later.

DeMille jumps to a start, flailing wildly in the greatest tizzy you have yet to see.

Celemo calms him, though.

But he is shocked to find his television failed!  He starts jumping like a demented moonshoe. (I know it does look like he’s actually jumping, but trust me he is.)

After a conversation, that I guess wasn't about the TV, Celemo grants our hero the Gear YoYo to help in finding his girlfriend.

And a combat tutorial? Sure!

"We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness." Actually, he shows us that encountering enemies is similar to Earthbound! No random encounters, just on field sprites.

The battle system itself is pretty simplistic. The attacking option is "Gimmicks", where you can select an attack to use. But, each attack has limited uses so you have to use it strategically. Not using strategy at all works too.

Select the enemy and then BAM an action command! Yep, this is the precursor to Mario & Luigi.

Once you're ready, hit the A button to stop the blue bar. For the most damage, hit it right is the center! Perfect. What happens though is that the boxes above light up. I'm not totally sure if it hinders you if you wait, so we'll have to experiment as we go.

And that's it for training! Let's go punt a tomato into the street with my toy yoyo.

Wait, we have to discuss the menu.

Here we see our health and attacks, and the level of our weapon? I'm not too sure. 

It looks like we can lessen it at will, but it does something.

I went back to figure somethings out and I guess the more you power it up the less accuracy it has. Or maybe, it's the games difficulty judging by the "Diff". We can test the weapon by pressing start so, maybe we can see for sure here.

Yep! It's difficulty. I guess the higher you set it, the more damage it does, but it's a lot harder to hit. Well, it's there if you ever need a little extra challenge.

I'll keep it set to four for now. (Also, if the boxes all fill up you miss! So that's another mystery solved.) 

Before we leave, there's an item on the bed to get!

It's a ring, but I'm not sure what they're used for.

The instant we leave, we find out our girlfriend was never actually kidnapped! Good. (I'm sure she will be at some point.)

I guess we'll be escorting her for the Tomatoversary! Yeah. I'm sorry, that word makes me hurt.

We'll end it here for now and continue our adventures later in the world of Tomato Adventure, the hair raising sequel to "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"! With more literal social oppression than ever.

[tomatoadventure]

Tomato Adventure - Introduction

Hey everyone! 

Today I'm playing a game made by the same guys who made Superstar saga! (Yeah, they did some other really great stuff.)

Starring a squad of sentient muppets, including the much more dapper relative of Kermit! These guys are going to go on a mystical journey and learn the true value of love, friendship, and integrity. (Yes, they do have names, and I will cover them to the best of my ability.)

And here we are! Tomato Adventure, an obscure RPG from 2002 that was never released outside of Japan despite its critical acclaim and influence on the Mario & Luigi franchise. I'll be trying my best to document my personal experience with the game with handy screencaps and my best interpretation of what is going on. So, let's get started.

Oh hey, we get a default name! I don't understand it, but I know the plucky hero’s name is DeMille!

Of course, the game gives you the option to put in your own name, but the default is probably much better than "JOSH".

We're thrown right into the frying pan with a sentient tomato providing context to the plot I don't understand. He's name will be Tuesday, and to me he says the following: 

"Once upon a time.”

“It was tuesday.”

“As I am a tomato, it is my honor to announce the arrival of our great and powerful overlord, the Killer Tomato, best known for their leading role in one of the best B-movie horror flicks of all time, 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'." 

This is a very loose translation.

As he leaves the screen fades and we're left with this, the news that that movie's true twist was it being propaganda to entice the tomato civilization to rebel against the evil that is humanity. God help us all.

This blog was a mistake.

I'm a soothsayer.

I've never been so right about something in my whole life.

"Fellow humans of the Gore Kingdom!"

Yes, grammar. Before we continue, you're probably wondering, "Josh, why is there english? You said it was never released outside of Japan! Are you trying to instigate you're own anti-tomato agenda by lying about their imposing threat?"

No, who even would do such a thing? Last time I checked, I wasn't running for president.

But, the reason for that is because this game was partially translated by a man known, ironically, as Mato! He worked on the MOTHER 3 translation and started work on this, but dropped it due to lack of time to actually continue the project. But yes, partially. We won't have this luxury the whole time.

Anyway...!

They created a device to allow them to not...age? Huh! Looks like this game is going to discuss the idea of growing up and undertaking responsibility. This be nice if we could get to understand all of it. Maybe one day.

Here that Chara? There's hope even after you escape.

And the blast promptly ricocheted off the weird laser tag-esque padded walls and destroyed the camera. Kids are great.

With that, we're launched into the world of our protag, Woodstock.

Oh, I guess the laser didn't do anything. Oh well.

Our young hero seems to have found a solution.

By punching it. Good call.

Aw yes, mindless destruction. I'm glad we're back on track.

We exit, and here we are! In the world that's ready to be explored!

The menu is standard fair, but I really want to know more about the friends and the relics!

Let's save for now and start the adventure next time!