Hudson's Adventure Island & Milon's Secret Castle retrospective: The Hudson proxy | NES Works #087

Famicom mainstay Hudson finally makes its American debut this week with two sizable hits from Japan. First, Adventure Island brings a little taste of Sega to NES by converting Wonder Boy with a thinly veiled graphical overhaul. Milon's Secret Castle goes a different route, abandoning linear action for a hunt-and-explore adventure inside a castle full of monsters and annoying hidden objects. Both games share a single trait: They're designed to be obnoxiously difficult without cheat codes. Yeah, I Game Genied my way through this episode. I am very old, and there's just not enough time left in my life to deal with this nonsense. Production note: NES footage captured from ‪@analogueinc‬ Nt Mini Noir. Arcade footage captured from MiSTer (special thanks to ‪@MiSTerAddons‬). SG-1000 footage in this episode was captured from a combination of Sega SG-1000 II with (with Card Catcher; RGB amp mod by ‪@iFixRetro‬ ) and ‪@analogueinc‬ Mega Sg with card adapter module and DAC. Video upscaled to 720 with ‪@retrotink339‬ 5X. Video Works is funded via Patreon (  / gamespite  ) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more!

Jackal / Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy! retrospective: I'm givin' up, Don Pardo | NES Works #088
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Jackal / Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy! retrospective: I'm givin' up, Don Pardo | NES Works #088

Bionic Commando retrospective: This machine-arm kills fascists | NES Works #100
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Bionic Commando retrospective: This machine-arm kills fascists | NES Works #100

What its like to own an Arcade in 2026
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What its like to own an Arcade in 2026

Metal Gear retrospective: Metal Gear?! It can't be! (But it is.) | NES Works #080
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Metal Gear retrospective: Metal Gear?! It can't be! (But it is.) | NES Works #080

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom & Rampage retrospective: Smash’n grab | NES Works #101
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Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom & Rampage retrospective: Smash’n grab | NES Works #101

Life Force & World Class Track Meet retrospective: Vic boss | NES Works #084
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Life Force & World Class Track Meet retrospective: Vic boss | NES Works #084

Skate or Die! and Paperboy retrospective: Pre-teenage wasteland | NES Works #099
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Skate or Die! and Paperboy retrospective: Pre-teenage wasteland | NES Works #099

Dr. Chaos & Superman retrospective: Injustice for all | NES Works #096
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Dr. Chaos & Superman retrospective: Injustice for all | NES Works #096

Milon's Secret Castle 100% in 25:45
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Milon's Secret Castle 100% in 25:45

Contra retrospective: Alien Predator vs. Commandos | NES Works #074
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Contra retrospective: Alien Predator vs. Commandos | NES Works #074

Nintendo's 32bit SNES CD: CANCELLED
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Nintendo's 32bit SNES CD: CANCELLED

The Contentious History of Captain N: The Show Nintendo Wishes You'd Forget
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The Contentious History of Captain N: The Show Nintendo Wishes You'd Forget

Mickey Mousecapade/ Joust/ Millipede/ DK Classics retrospective: Slip ’em a Mickey | NES Works #092
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Mickey Mousecapade/ Joust/ Millipede/ DK Classics retrospective: Slip ’em a Mickey | NES Works #092

Legendary Wings / Xevious / Galaga retrospective: Recursive loop | NES Works #086
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Legendary Wings / Xevious / Galaga retrospective: Recursive loop | NES Works #086

Adventure Island: It's HARD
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Adventure Island: It's HARD

New to the Saturn? Play These Games First to Understand Why it ROCKS!
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New to the Saturn? Play These Games First to Understand Why it ROCKS!

Bomberman / Othello / RoboWarrior retrospective: Boomed to obscurity | NES Works #104
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Bomberman / Othello / RoboWarrior retrospective: Boomed to obscurity | NES Works #104

Street Fighter was born from a war, a bug, and two crazy devs | The story of Street Fighter I & II
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Street Fighter was born from a war, a bug, and two crazy devs | The story of Street Fighter I & II

Ghosts ’N Goblins retrospective: The delicate art of self-flagellation | NES Works #032
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Ghosts ’N Goblins retrospective: The delicate art of self-flagellation | NES Works #032

1943: The Battle of Midway & Bump'N Jump retrospective: Flight risks | NES Works #095
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1943: The Battle of Midway & Bump'N Jump retrospective: Flight risks | NES Works #095