Fun things only found in the manual

[J T]

Manuals are usually pretty boring these days and just include a lot of legal mumbo jumbo (don't pirate, this is a license, seizure warning), but they used to have some fun stuff in them. I always liked when a game company took the time to add a little flavor to the manual and included some jokes, or a little extra bit of story or concept art.

Since many of us are collectors who own manuals (which are increasingly hard to find these days), I thought it would be fun if people would share some of their favorite tidbits from manuals. You can just type up a description, but it would be great if you would scan it so others can have the experience of what it looked like on the original page.

I'll start with some choice selections from The Adventures of Bayou Billy for the NES. You can 'right click' and 'view image' to get a full-sized, high resolution image. I like how this manual tries REALLY hard to present an authentic Louisiana southern feel... too hard. haha.

For example, in the stage summary section it makes sure to let you know which stages involve Gun Shootin' and Car Drivin'.

There are also some choice phrases throughout the story summary such as "Annabelle" your girlfriend is "the sweetest honey this side of a bee's nest", and when she is kidnapped and Billy receives a ransom note, he decides to "crumple up the note and holler like a riled gator." It's cheesy, but I love this stuff.

[ExedExes]

I was wondering where the daily J T thread in General Gaming was yesterday, but you made up for it today.

Yeah, Konami manuals are famous (or infamous) for their American audiences to have really silly manuals. Like an enemy called "Tanaka-U-Out" in Legend Of The Mystical Ninja.

Anything from Jaleco, especially their NES stuff is also a good read, check out Totally Rad for example, the "babe" on page 11 turned out to be an American division employee.

[Ack]

Very righteous, ExedExes.

[J T]

That Totally Rad manual is AMAZING!

I love when marketing teams over use slang in the most awkward of ways.

[Anayo]

I'm having way too much fun reading all these, but I don't know of any to contribute. Maybe someone can do some research and submit an article about it to cracked.com.

[Ziggy]

How about an article for Racketboy.com?

[J T]

Here's a blast from the past. I pulled out my original Super Mario Bros manual. Remember how they used to give you a blank page in the back so you could take notes? My 8-year-old self apparently thought it was important that I document my accomplishments in Super Mario Bros. I also couldn't decide how consistently to use cursive.

I also scanned some of the concept art just because I like the simple way in which Mario was drawn in 1985. He looks a tad pathetic, but has a very friendly approachable 80s vibe about him.

[J T]

The story to DOOM 64 reads a bit like angsty teen goth poetry:

[Tanooki]

I guess it's off beat but counts -- TMNT II the Arcade Game
Back page -- free food! Pizza! Kind of expired though, but given the oily garbage they put in Pizza Hut food, it's probably near immortal like Mc'Ds hamburgers anyway.

[Michi]

This thread inspired me to go re-read a couple older manuals.

In Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Tanya is both referred to as Wonder Boy's best friend and his girlfriend on the same page. I know they're not mutually exclusive, but I find it odd they couldn't pick one.



Also, did you know his full name was Bock Lee Temjin. I sure as hell didn't.