Lester the Unlikely

Last updated
Lester the Unlikely
LestertheUnlikely boxart.png
North American cover art by Michel Bohbot
Developer(s) Visual Concepts
Publisher(s) DTMC
Asmik Ace (Japan)
Designer(s) Jeffrey J. Thomas
Programmer(s) Brian Greenstone
Composer(s) Byte-Size Sound:
Matt Scott
Mike Cihak
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • NA: January 1994
  • JP: September 16, 1994
Genre(s) Platform action game
Mode(s) Single-player

Lester the Unlikely [lower-alpha 1] is a 1994 platform video game developed by Visual Concepts for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Contents

Gameplay

The game has a unique engine in which the protagonist, Lester, is easily frightened early in the game and will act reluctantly when faced with animals, heights, etc. For instance, when the player guides Lester towards a turtle in the first stage, he will at first scream and run in the opposite direction; when the player makes him walk towards it a second time he will slowly creep towards it. This coincides with one of the major themes of the game being Lester facing his fears, and these instances happen less and less as the game goes on. The game also has an item and weapon box, allowing Lester to hold both of these things. The first part of the game depicts Lester as a very cowardly character. Every time he encounters a new creature, he runs away in the opposite direction with a scream (temporarily removing the controls from the player's hand). Upon approaching the creature a second time, Lester walks slowly, protecting himself with his arms. Once a certain type of creature has been defeated, the player will be able to walk to this type of creature without any further sign of fear. At the beginning of the game, Lester walks in a very lazy, laid-back stance, suggesting weakness and lack of courage. However, after saving an indigenous girl from a huge gorilla, the girl gives a kiss to the hero and he is suddenly changed. In the following levels, Lester has a very upright and courageous stance.

Plot

It begins with a "geeky" teenage boy named Lester who is reading the latest issue of the Super Duper Hero Squad comic book at a dock. He falls asleep at a cargo crate and gets accidentally picked up by a cargo ship. As the ship sails off, it gets hijacked by pirates and immediately sinks. Thankfully, Lester finds a life jacket and swims to a nearby tropical island.

Arriving safely at the shore, Lester desperately tries to find help. As he timidly fights small creatures along the way such as turtles, crabs, seagulls, and bats, he finds a "Guardian Tiki" who advice him to seek Hector, the island's leader, who lives in a village beyond the haunted burial ground. Lester manages to fight his way to the village and meets Tikka, Hector's daughter, who warns him that pirates have not only taken over the island but also kidnapped Tikka's father. Lester courageously volunteers to save Hector for he is "Lester The Heroic," but Tikka doubts it as he is more "Lester The Unlikely" because of his weak physique.

Lester redeems himself after defeating a giant ape that was causing problems in the jungle. Tikka kisses Lester and it boosts his confidence and agility, to the point where he no longer exhibits his "geeky" postures and now stands and runs with a bigger stride. With Tikka's assistance, Lester makes his way to the pirate's ship and confidently defeats them with swordfights. He finally rescues Hector who praises his courage and bravery.

Back in the village, Hector rewards Lester with a seaworthy surfboard that can be used to get him out of the island. Using the giant waves created by an atomic test at nearby Bikini Atoll, Lester surfs his way back home. The ending shows Lester retelling his adventure to two beautiful women on a beach.

After the credits, the game hints at a sequel, stating "watch for Lester, he will be back!"

Development

Bill Stanton was the lead artist on the project and handled backgrounds, tiles, sprites and adapting rotoscope animations. Michel Bohbot created the cover art. Eric Browning, a lead artist for Visual Concepts (as well as the voice of Lester), acted as the rotoscope model for the lead character. Browning described it as "one of those games that starts out way too ambitious, and ends up merely adequate." [1] Lester the Unlikely was one of six SNES games programmed by Brian Greenstone of Pangea Software. [2] On the Pangea website, Greenstone wrote "Lester was a game I never liked. Don't wanna talk about it." [3]

A conversion for the Atari Jaguar was in development and planned to be published by DTMC, but it was never released. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Critical reception

VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine celebrated Lester the Unlikely as a "bizarre, but fun twist to an over-used genre." [11] A review from Nintendo Power scored it a 3.7 out of 5, praising the animation that they noted similar to Prince of Persia and the difficulty. They did, however, dislike the limited number of continues for a game that would require the player to experiment a lot in order to beat it. [9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Odekake Lester: Lelele no Le (^^; (おでかけレスターれれれのれ(^^;, Odekake Resutā: Rerere no Re (^^;).
  2. ↑ GamePro gave Lester the Unlikely two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound and two 3.5/5 ratings for control and fun factor. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Another World</i> (video game) Action-adventure video game

Another World is a cinematic platform action-adventure game designed by Éric Chahi and published by Delphine Software in November 1991. In North America it was published as Out of This World. The game tells the story of Lester, a young scientist who, as a result of an experiment gone wrong, finds himself on a dangerous alien world where he is forced to fight for his survival.

<i>Soccer Kid</i> 1993 video game

Soccer Kid is a 1993 side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Krisalis Software in Europe for the Amiga. The player assumes the role of the titular main protagonist who travels across several countries around the world to repair the World Cup by retrieving pieces that were scattered by the alien pirate Scab, the main antagonist who failed to steal and add it to his trophy collection in a robbery attempt. Its gameplay mainly consists of platforming and exploration elements, with a main single-button or two-button configuration, depending on the controls setup.

<i>Aero the Acro-Bat</i> 1993 video game

Aero the Acro-Bat is a 1993 video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft. It was released for both the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Aero the Acro-Bat, a red anthropomorphic bat, was created by David Siller. In 2002, Metro 3D released a version of the game for the Game Boy Advance, with a battery back-up. The GBA version was titled Aero The Acro-Bat - Rascal Rival Revenge in Europe and Acrobat Kid in Japan. The Super NES version of the game was released on the Wii's Virtual Console in the PAL region on July 23 and in North America on July 26, 2010. The Super NES version was announced to be re-released on August 2, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, alongside a new localization in Japanese made by Shinyuden as Aero: Acrobat Kid for the Nintendo Switch users in Japan.

<i>Rayman</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Rayman is a 1995 platform game developed by Ubi Pictures and published by Ubi Soft for MS-DOS, Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation. It is the first installment in the Rayman franchise. The player controls Rayman, who must recapture Electoons and the Great Protoon from Mr. Dark. The gameplay involves rescuing Electoons and gaining new abilities throughout the game.

<i>Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure</i> 1994 video game

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a side-scrolling action-platform video game developed by Activision in conjunction with Kroyer Films and originally published in North America and Europe in 1994. The fourth installment in the Pitfall! franchise, players assume the role of Pitfall Harry Junior as he embarks on a journey through the Mayan jungles of Central America in an attempt to rescue Pitfall Harry, his father and the protagonist of previous entries in the series, from the evil Mayan warrior spirit named Zakelua. Its gameplay mainly consists of action and platforming mixed with stage-based exploration using a main six-button configuration.

<i>Total Carnage</i> 1992 video game

Total Carnage is a multidirectional shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Midway in North America in January 1992. Set in the fictional country of Kookistan during 1999, players assume the role of Captain Carnage and Major Mayhem from the Doomsday Squad in a last-ditch effort to overthrow dictator General Akhboob and his army of mutants from conquering the world, while also rescuing POWs held by his military force.

<i>Legend</i> (1994 video game) 1994 video game

Legend is a side-scrolling hack and slash beat 'em up video game developed by Arcade Zone and originally published in North America by Seika Corporation in April 1994 and later in Europe by Sony Electronic Publishing on December 21 of the same year for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the first game to be solely developed by the duo of Carlo Perconti and Lyes Belaidouni at Arcade Zone, who both would later go on to found Toka and HyperDevbox Japan respectively.

<i>James Pond 3</i> 1993 video game

James Pond 3: Operation Starfish is a 1993 video game for the Mega Drive/Genesis. The game was also released for the Amiga and Amiga CD32 platforms, the Super NES and the Game Gear. It is the third and last game in the James Pond series. It is also the only one that was only released for AGA Amigas: the Amiga 1200, the Amiga 4000 and CD32.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> (1994 video game) 1994 video game

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a 1994 adventure game developed and published by Spectrum HoloByte. The game features strategy and puzzle-solving elements. The game was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis and the Sega Game Gear. It takes place in the Star Trek universe, spanning Federation space and the Romulan Neutral Zone, and centers on the appearance of the IFD, an artifact machine of unknown origin that, as its name suggests, allows its user to reshape matter and energy. It culminates in the IFD Trials, three tests undertaken by representatives of any races that are present when the Trials are held, and failure would mean the destruction of the Federation and the enslavement of countless worlds by the Federation's enemies.

<i>Barkley Shut Up and Jam!</i> 1994 basketball video game

Barkley Shut Up and Jam! is a basketball video game originally developed and published by Accolade for the Sega Genesis on North America in March 1994 and later in Europe in April 1994. The game is the first entry in the Barkley Shut Up and Jam series, featuring former NBA MVP Charles Barkley prominently and as one of the playable characters.

<i>Troy Aikman NFL Football</i> 1994 video game

Troy Aikman NFL Football is an american football video game originally developed by Leland Interactive Media and published by Tradewest for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System first in North America on August 1994. Officially licensed from the National Football League, it prominently features former NFL player Troy Aikman, who became the first member of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys to have his namesake in a game, followed by his teammate Emmitt Smith in Emmitt Smith Football.

<i>Alien vs Predator</i> (SNES) 1993 video game

Alien vs Predator is a 1993 beat 'em up video game for Super Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Jorudan and published by Information Global Service in Japan and by Activision internationally. An arcade game of the same title was released by Capcom eight months later, but the two games are different and their storylines are unrelated to each other.

<i>Vortex</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Vortex is a 3D shooter game developed by Argonaut Software and released by Electro Brain for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in September 1994. Titled Citadel during development, it is one of a few games designed to use the enhanced graphics of the Super FX powered GSU-1.

<i>Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a fighting video game developed and originally published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in Europe for the Sega Genesis in June 1994. It is based on the 1993 film of the same name, which is a semi-fictionalized account of the life of Hong Kong-American actor and martial artist Bruce Lee. Following the events of the movie, players take control of Bruce Lee across several stages that takes places in different time periods of his life and fight against some of his adversaries.

<i>Brett Hull Hockey</i> 1994 video game

Brett Hull Hockey is an ice hockey video game developed by Radical Entertainment and originally published by Accolade for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in January 1994. It prominently features former Canadian-American NHL player Brett Hull and is officially licensed from the NHL Players' Association.

<i>Fever Pitch Soccer</i> 1995 video game

Fever Pitch Soccer, known as Head-On Soccer in North America, is a soccer video game originally developed and published by U.S. Gold for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1995.

<i>The Shadow</i> (video game) Video game

The Shadow is a video game based on the 1994 Universal film of the same name. It was planned for release in 1994 on the Super NES, alongside other systems, but was canceled.

<i>Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls</i> 1994 video game

Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls is a fighting game developed by Leland Interactive Media and published by Tradewest for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis in 1994. A port for the Atari Jaguar developed by Telegames was released the following year. It is an American-produced sequel to the Double Dragon series by Technōs Japan, who had little to no credited involvement in the development of the game outside of licensing the IP to the publisher outside Japan.

<i>Magic Boy</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Magic Boy is a platform game developed by Blue Turtle and published for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS by Empire Interactive in 1993. A Super Nintendo Entertainment System version was published in 1996 in North America and Europe by JVC Musical Industries.

<i>Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales</i> 1994 platform video game

Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales is a platform video game developed by Imagitec Design and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar in North America on December 1994, and Europe in January 1995. The third entry in the Bubsy series, the plot follows the titular character, who ventures through a realm of fairy tales to restore order and protect children all over the world from creatures and antagonists of corrupted fairy tales, which appeared after Mother Goose was captured by Hansel and Gretel.

References

  1. ↑ "Snes Central: Eric Browning Interview". www.snescentral.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-19. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  2. ↑ "The Covert Gaming Corner - Interview: Brian Greenstone". legacy.macnn.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  3. ↑ "Pangea Software: Other Games". www.pangeasoft.net. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  4. ↑ "Action Feature - Jaguar Previews - The Jaguar moves in". Atari ST User . No. 99. Europress. April 1994. pp. 64–69.
  5. ↑ "The Game Fan 32Bit System Shoot Out - Who Will Lead Us Into The Next Generation?". GameFan . Vol. 2, no. 7. Shinno Media. June 1994. pp. 146–147.
  6. ↑ "Update Games News - Atari ooze confidence at ECTS - Jaguar Developers". ST Format . No. 59. Future plc. June 1994. pp. 56–57. Archived from the original on 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  7. ↑ "CVG News - Jag attack... eyes down". Computer and Video Games . No. 154. Future Publishing. September 1994. p. 9.
  8. ↑ Devon, Doctor (January 1994). "Lester the Unlikely". GamePro . No. 54. p. 92.
  9. 1 2 Nintendo Power . February 1994. Volume 57. pp. 104, 107.
  10. ↑ Ricketts, Ed (April 1994). "Lester the Unlikely". Super Play . No. 18. p. 62.
  11. 1 2 "Lester the Unlikely". VideoGames: The Ultimate Gaming Magazine . No. 62. March 1994. p. 78. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.