Episode 525: Worlds of Power
Added 2023-04-03 11:00:00 +0000 UTCAs the NES gained popularity, so too did the Nintendo-themed Worlds of Power books written by the entity named "F.X. Nine." Kids rejoiced. Parents, not so much. Adults who already had Nintendo coming out of their ears could do without seeing Mario at Ye Olde Scholastic Bookfairs, but one fact remains undeniable: Even picky readers loved the endearingly cheesy "novelizations" of games like Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Mega Man 2, Ninja Gaiden, and others.
This week on Retronauts, Nadia is joined by Duckfeed.tv's Gary Butterfield. They leaf through the entire Worlds of Power line-up, reminisce about its history, and marvel over how a few of the books even dragged kids into the video games' worlds. Isekai narratives have always walked beside us. When we look back at the genre's history and see one set of footprints, it's because that's when isekai carried us. (Into Wallachia.)
It's true that any schmoe can discourse about Worlds of Power, but only a handful have the talent to write a convincing '80s school grade narrative of their own. Gary talks about the modern Worlds of Power books he's written, and the challenges of writing totally rad dialect in this futuristic age of video games.
Music this episode
- 09:25 - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest: Message of Darkness
- 19:05 - Shadowgate (NES): Courtyard
- 29:49 - Mega Man 2: Boss Theme
- 38:32 - Bionic Commando (NES): Area 12
- 43:15 - Blaster Master Zero 2: Jason & Eve
- 52:24 - Dark Souls: Gwynevere, Princess of Sunlight
- Closing - Metal Gear (NES): Return of Foxhounder
Comments
This was a great episode the audio quality for me was rough.
2023-04-05 19:46:43 +0000 UTCEveryone should be more offended by the lack of Infiltrator representation in the music anyway!
Retronauts
2023-04-04 14:04:38 +0000 UTCI got Worlds of Power mixed up with those VHS guides where the guy in a dry voice would tell you how to beat Ninja Gaiden. Looking it up, I wonder how canon the Metal Gear novelization is now.
SilverHairedMiddleAgedTuxedoMask
2023-04-04 06:48:28 +0000 UTCWith there being 10 titles in the Worlds of Power series (all of which come up during the conversation - even Bases Loaded II) and this being a 63 minute episode, I knew from the outset that I would not be able to fit in a musical excerpt from each of the associated NES games. I'm personally a big fan of Ninja Gaiden; it just didn't work out as the most natural choice for musical accompaniment to any of the breaks we had on this occasion.
Greg J
2023-04-04 05:52:01 +0000 UTCThe only one I've read was Ninja Gaiden which was decent as I remember it. They changed the ending, but overall seem faithful to the game. Why wasn't any Ninja Gaiden music played in an episode where one the topics was about Ninja Gaiden?
private
2023-04-04 03:24:43 +0000 UTCI was also born in 1980 and live in Portland, Oregon (no beard though, shockingly) and somehow, these books passed me by, but I did get one from a friend a few years ago when he gave me his Nintendo magazine collection so I may have to finally check it out.
littleterr0r
2023-04-03 17:52:22 +0000 UTCThis was a great one : ))
Everyday Patrick
2023-04-03 17:11:01 +0000 UTC
