Remeber "Aviod the Noid" for the NES? Well, this one is on the same level. Our hero, "UFO Mask Yakisoban" must battle the evil Kettler to save the world from bad instant yakisoba. This cart was only available by saving up and sending in the stickers on specially marked packages of Nissin Foods' UFO Yakisoba (a popular brand of instant noodles). The "UFO Mask" character and "Kettler" became popular in a series of TV commertials and some one in Nissin's marketing department decided it would be a good idea to make a Superfamicom game depicting the ongoing struggle between these two mortal enemies.
The game is full of Japanese puns. The hero's name is a combination of "yakisoba" + "man" = "yakisoban". One of the enemies is "tsumayojin" which is the word for toothpick, "tsumayoji" and person, "jin" combined. In your battle against Kettler, you will also encounter "Chopstick Woman", "Mister Fork", "Pie men", "Rollerskate Man", and "Specter 1, 2, & 3" before you reach the evil Kettler himself.
For those Japanophiles reading this, you
might get a kick out of the fact that Dave Specter played the part of Kettler
in the commertials. For those of you unfamiliar with Dave Specter,
he is best explained as the most pathetic example of "gaijin tarento".
"Tarento" are TV personalities who are famous just for being TV personalities.
They don't have to have a skill or a career, they don't have to be clever,
witty or much of anything besides alive. Mr. Specter has bleached
blond hair, a pulse and can speak Japanese, other than that, no one knows
why or how he gained popularity on Japanese television. While he
does not normally appear in public with a kettle on his head, perhaps he
should.
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| How can you fault a video game made by
a food
corporation? |
A sample of the thrilling action battling
the
Specters. |