The best april's fool joke is the fact that there aren't any in here. I fell for it. Great video!

I think a lot of the hatred for the game was also the style of the game compared to what a typical NES game is. It's quite alien to console gamers. Beam Software were previously known as Melbourne House and would often be commissioned by British publishers to make games based on movie licenses, there was a trend in the UK that movie licenses would be more multi level mini games, so it would tie in closer to scenes from the actual movie. So years of doing that, obviously led beam to make a similar game, it was in their heritage. Same with Back to the Future II & III, it's very much like old UK platformers like Jet Set Willy, Technician Ted Etc. The NES BTTF is a lot more fun than Electric Dreams' version of the game which is closer to the movie, but also makes for a very boring game too.

I was convinced this was an april fools day episode when I first saw the link. After watching it... I'm still not sure this isn't an april fools day episode. Great, regardless.

THANK YOU! It's great to see a video like this that explains more about the history, the game, LJN company, and developers Beam Software behind this infamous title! I have always liked this game, sure it can be unfair at times and wouldn't make a Top 100 NES games list (go figure), but there is enough to give it its chance. Plus, like any video game, its subjective, some will like it, some will hate it, in the end, its a video like this that highlights aspects about the game to shun away unnecessary or uneducated hate. But of course, nothing gets me more giddy then when you talked about the music, just hearing the composer/arranger and programmers name is what I love to hear in such detail. And much like how I am an NES music enthusiast, I will say I enjoy the tracks, even at there high tempo! :)

Ive witnessed roo play this game and beat it in one sitting multiple times. I agree its not as bad as its been touted

Oh my god this is a fantastic video. Great job Roo. Love how well you pointed out the game for its mechanics and gameplay. The shootemup label really pulls it together for me.

Wow, fantastic video. I love contrarian looks at video games like these, especially when they are so well thought-out!

Loved the history, thanks for making this!

Love these videos! Great job Roo!

Loved the video. I really hope to see more videos of the Gems series coming,

yes i was stoked to see that you were doing BTTF! you killed it during the marathon a few weeks ago! i also enjoy the game as well, perfect timing though! Me and my girl just watched the trilogy :) thanks for another great video Roo! ill see you at the next ESL.

That was a damn great historical count of the movie and game. Great review!

good to see youre still doing stuff like this

I don't want to jinx it by stating that CotGW is actually starting to upload more frequently, so I will just be super glad that we have a new video c: (Welcome back, Roo. Plz don't leave again D:)

Man, I forgot how great the "gems" videos are. I wish they were still made on a consistent basis. A lot of the current reviewers on KZfaq have the exact same things to say about the same games. I love that this review took the time to point out what worked and compared each level to classic games.

Awesome vid have been waiting for a new 8 bit gems.

Roo great job!! I do like this game so it was nice to hear some good things about it for once. Thank you again for making this show!!!!

Even when it's meant to be a joke, it's still so educational. Amazing.

The slowdown version of the music blew my mind. Thank you D:

Very well done as always, Roo

Woot. Glad to see two videos back to back :D

8 bit gems! Easily one of my favorite youtube shows. Just wish they came out more frequently!

Thanks for giving this game a fair shake. It's about time someone did. And you've actually inspired me to sit down and play it for real, which I haven't done since around the time it first came out. Oh, and by the way, your title card is seriously creeping me out. I may see it my nightmares tonight. I hope not, but we shall see.

Glad to see you making videos again...

I hit my youtube subs knowing the first result would be some unfathomable horseshit. And I swore I wouldn't fall for it. But I wasn't expecting a CotGW upload.

Great to see more Roo content!

YAY!!!. MORE GEMS!!! I miss this show…. happy to see its back in somewhat full force again

That was really interesting man, never actually played the game myself but watching this makes me want to play my brothers copy perhaps someday.

This video is the best April Fools Joke EVER!

Damn you are one insightful and humorous reviewer! Please keep up the good word!!!👍🏼👌🏼✊🏼

when do we see more of these episodes? I love them!

Excellent video! I love me some video game history!

Nice review on this one, Roo. I might take a more fair look on bad games from now on. BTW, That Moon Theme ending!!! I wantz moar!!!

Thanks for putting us in the know... and knowing is half the battle!!!

"Fish under the sea dance" Nicely done.

Nice to see you back,,,,

Roo you are amazing!! Holy crap. Crazy review

I bet this one was a challenge for you to write Roo; it's hard to balance "popular" opinion with your own reactions. Very well balanced and articulate as always; glad these are coming out a bit faster Lego Hair!

Great review, Roo!

Thanks for doing this.

My brother rented this when it came out. I always loved the graffix.

Who's remix of the moon level from ducktales is that at the end?

Absolutely fantastic. I actually enjoy this game and I have finished it several times. People need to understand...it's a game! Of course they had to change things to make it game like.

If Beam is an Australian company, my guess is that the music is at the right speed, but since Australia runs PAL systems, it's 50mhZ as oppose to your 60mhZ NTSC copy. It may have never been adjusted to sound correct for NTSC systems.

Well that explained a lot. Thanks, Now I realize things I hadn't known about it before although I did know the music is a sped=up version of The Power Of Love (Thanks, Mad Mike)

This was excellent Roo and mirrors my thoughts on the game exactly......great job

Wonderful video as usual roo, quick question tho.. for some reason the intro music for the retroware logo is making my brain hurt. It sounds so familiar but I can't put my finger on it, can you relay the information on where it comes from? Thanks

Great review Roo!

I can imagine when this video originally uploaded, the miss-mentions of MCA as RCA would have likely been corrected via annotations

Great video, Roo. I'm right there with ya. Still, this is one tough game!

over a year later, I just realized this is was released April First. *bangs head on desk*

nice. a new episode. your dragon warrior vidz have got me on a huge DQ kick.

Wow, I would've never looked at this game from this perspective if it wasn't for this video.

Anyone know what the music is that's playing at the end of the video?

A. GREAT Video. B. Listening to "The Power of Love" of with that music slowed down at the same time was one of the strangest musical experiences of my life.

Love the GOT reference.... god I love those books.

A gaming historian shirt,nice! That dude rules

Welcome back.

Fantastic observation!

Damn you Roo for interjecting logic and research into a subject the gaming community had been so dead set on hating. Honestly though, great video and thank you for not making a April Fool's episode.

I honestly want this now.

Hey Roo, Just a thought here.. (and please feel free to correct me if I might be wrong but my technical knowledge is limited) but due the fact that NES systems in Australia run at 50hz PAL is it possible that the music was running as intended on PAL systems but inadvertently sped up when converted to ntsc?

Alright! You got a lego DeLorean also. I had to buy one as soon as I saw it.

Damn it Roo, its been over a year now, make another episode already XD

OH! So that explains your Tweet from last week. When you tweeted about the music being a sped-up version of the movie theme.

Great review!

but where does the bar serving game match up with the movie, I don't see very much

Hahahaha Well done!!!!! You could sell ice to eskimos. Vertical shooter!!!! loved your earthbound history/reveiw videos And the Clock tower videos. Please make more Videos Mad respect.

Great deadpan. You almost got me.

>tfw the last 8-Bit Gems (and 16-Bit) was released more than a year ago. Roo please come back ;A;

Wooot! Roo uploaded a video. You're a year too early Mr.

Wait. You're saying the AVGN-ers are exaggerating? *gasp* no way. Thass just crazy. It's easy to make anything look as good or bad in video video youtube show form. And this video is pretty truthful. Done the research, explain almost everything. ...and it really is a passing grade game!

Great retrospective, though I did keep waiting for an "April fools" reveal.

Just because AVGN says it is...doesn't mean it it's terrible. Simon's Quest gets dumped on too, it's a great game.

This man is clearly a wizard! Strike him down! No one beats Lou's Cafe!

The only good thing to come out of April Fool's day.

3:15 And that's what people fail to understand. LJN NEVER made a video game. In fact, one of the games they published, The Karate Kid, was made by Atlus. Yes, THAT Atlus. Famous for publishing the first Disgaea on PS2 and for the SMT/Persona series.

I never thought this game was great, but I too felt it was always hated more than it should of been. I feel this video articulates a lot of the reasons why, thanks!

It's good to see a logical perspective given on this game. I will admit it's not exactly the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's not exactly the unplayable mess many make it out to be either.

Holy mother of Gaia! He's alive!

after the LONG time we waited for the rpg videos(western and japanese rpgs and dragon quest nes trilogy) after they were over we got conistancy in the episodes...short but fun

Roo is the best gaming youtuber even if his channel is dead.

Still Watching these 👍👍👍

New 16-bit gems? This better not be a cruel April fool's joke!

Come back to us Roo!

will u ever do 32 bit gems?

I miss you Roo

"a steady stream of insesty goodness" :D

I love that xx-Bit Gems is the opposite of all the 'Angry' video game reviewers in the KZfaqs. Since when has anger = comedy? It can definitely be used to supplement comedy, but gets old if that's the only note used throughout. Meh... I always enjoy the slower paced, more thoughtful humor and insight of this series. Also, was this one recorded on some sort of tape instead of digital format? Especially artifact-y compared to past videos.

I don't know if this is Roo being Roo, April Fools or him being serious... I'm so confused!

Where did the Roo go

I thought for sure this year the joke was going to be that there was no new episode.

I'm glad to know this is real content you made and not some stupid joke video for April fools, because man was i pretty annoyed and pissed with all the stupid joke videos in my subscriptions made that wasn't even worth watching

You said Fish Under the Sea Dance, it was the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance, unless this was a reference to Linda's line at the dinner table.

A more practical answer as to why Marty had a black shirt probably has to do with sprite/color limitations, as NES sprites support only three + transparency. To me it seems Marty's sprite is already made out of two or more sprites laid on top of one another, much like how they made Mega Man's face in the NES titles (I can count four + transparency on Marty's sprite). Thus adding red to the mix may have needed some additional work. On top of that, because it's a vertically scrolling STG affair, you may want to keep the sprite count low to avoid flickering.

10:10 No no NNNOOOO!!! ENCHANTMENT Under the Sea Dance! 😎

Roo! I know you got a day job but when you going to get some more of these awesome "Gems" videos. It's killing me :)

Maybe you could review the Super Back to the Future 2 for the Super Famicom in the future. It might be the best game with the Back to the Future license.

You should do El Dorado Gate, it's so hard to find info about those games :s

I remember renting this cause I loved the films as a kid...I was so disappointed =)