Spanky's Quest

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Spanky's Quest
Game Boy Spanky's Quest cover art.jpg
North American Game Boy Cover Art
Developer Natsume
Publishers
Programmers Toshiyasu Miyabe (GB)
Satoshi Yoshikawa, Kenji Furuya (SNES)
Artist Tomoko Okamoto (GB)
Composers Hiroyuki Iwatsuki (GB)
Kiyohiro Sada (SNES)
Platforms Game Boy
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
ReleaseGame Boy
  • JP: 26 April 1991
  • NA: July 1992 [1]
  • EU: 1992
SNES
  • JP: 27 December 1991
  • NA: July 1992 [2]
  • EU: 1992
Genre Puzzle-platform
Mode Single-player

Spanky's Quest is a 1991 puzzle-platform game developed and published by Natsume for the Game Boy and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Known in Japan as Monkey Reflections: The Adventures of Mr. Jiro [a] on the SNES and Lucky Monkey [b] on the Game Boy, the player controls the monkey Spanky as they try to escape a tower created by the witch Morticia. Players are tasked with clearing rooms by using the help of a magic ball to progress. Depending on the console version, the way the player clears rooms changes.

Contents

Spanky's Quest has received mixed reception from critics. In 2021, the SNES version of the game was added to the Nintendo Classics service.

Gameplay

GB Spanky's Quest (Rakki Monki).png
SNES Spanky's Quest (Hansei Zaru - Jiro-kun no Daiboken).png
Top: Game Boy version screenshot.
Bottom: SNES version screenshot.

Spanky attacks by throwing a small purple bubble. He can then bounce the bubble on his head. Every time he bounces the bubble, the bubble grows and changes color. The bubble can then be popped, depending on its size and color; different types of sports balls will fly out of the bubble, destroying enemies they touch. For example, a purple bubble will release a baseball, and the largest orange bubble will release several basketballs. If an enemy is touched by a bubble, he will simply be stunned and unable to move for a moment.

There are five worlds, each with ten levels. After clearing each world's ten levels, the player must face the main boss. After defeating all five bosses, the player fights the witch herself. In the SNES version, levels are cleared when the required number of keys unlocks a door; in the GB version, levels are cleared when all the enemies have been destroyed. The enemies in the game are generally different types of fruits, with the notable exception of the witch.

Plot

The SNES game has a storyline in which Spanky, while walking into the woods to go on a picnic, is trapped in a tower by an evil witch named Morticia. Spanky has to defeat Morticia and find his way out of the tower. Along the way, Spanky has to deal with Morticia's minions (which are shaped like an apple, pineapple, watermelon, peach, and grapes, respectively), who also make the fruits in Spanky's knapsack sprout arms and legs and try to kill him.

Development and release

The Super NES game is known for its very upbeat jazz soundtrack by Kiyohiro Sada. [3]

The Game Boy title is somewhat similar to the SNES version but differs quite a bit. [4]

The SNES version is a tie-in game between Taro Murasaki, a Japanese monkey showman, and his monkey, Jiro.

In May 2021, the Super Nintendo version of the game was re-released on the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo Classics service. [5]

Reception

Spanky's Quest on the Game Boy garnered mixed reviews from critics. [6] [11] [16] [22]

Super NES

The Super NES version also received a mixed critical reception. [7] [9] [8] [28]

Other media

Spanky, the main player character, makes a cameo as the red corner in the Famitsu Comic '92 Barcelona Olympic. [29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese language: 反省ザルジローくんの大冒険, Hepburn romanization: Hansei Zaru: Jirō-kun no Daibouken
  2. ↑ Japanese language: ラッキーモンキー, Hepburn romanization: Rakkī Monkī

References

  1. ↑ "Game Boy (original) Games" (PDF). Nintendo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Super NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Yoshida, Kiyohiro (12 February 2013). "Spanky's Quest(SNES)　Spanky's Questは、スーパーファミコンソフト「反省ザルジローくんの大冒険」（ナツメ）の北米版。1991年の開発。長い間、北米版の存在を忘れてたが、先日来、筒美サウンドのルーツの洋楽を追っているうちにふと思い出した。ソフトの内容は「反省ザルジローくんの大冒険」とほぼ同じだが、オープニングデモが追加されている。私にとって初のＳＦＣ開発であり慣れてなかったとはいえ、今あらためてＢＧＭを聴いてみると稚拙な部分が多く恥ずかしい。恥ずかしいがあえて「反省」せねばなるまい。①矩形波・鋸形波を多用しすぎ。「音色データの途中ロードはしないで」との要望からサイズ圧縮に努めたが、頑張ればまだ音色は増やせたと思う。②エコーのかけすぎ。音色のチープさをエコーでごまかそうとしたのかしれない。その他色々「反省」はいっぱいあるが、ゲーム音楽にソウル＆ファンク系の要素を取り入れたいという試み。その熱意だけはあったように思う。" [Spanky's Quest (SNES) - Spanky's Quest is the North American version of the Super Famicom game "Hansei Zaru Jiro-kun no Daibouken" (Natsume). Developed in 1991. I'd long forgotten about the North American version, but I suddenly remembered it recently while searching for the Western music that inspired Tsutsumi's sound. The game's content is almost identical to "Hansei Zaru Jiro-kun no Daibouken," but an opening demo has been added. This was my first SFC development project, and I wasn't used to it, but when I listen to the background music again now, I'm embarrassed by the many immature parts. Embarrassing as it is, I feel compelled to "reflect" on it. 1. I used too many square and sawtooth waves. I tried to compress the file size in response to a request to "not load sound data midway," but I think I could have added more sounds if I'd tried harder. 2. There was too much echo. Perhaps they were trying to cover up the cheapness of the sounds with the echo. There are many other "reflections," but I wanted to incorporate soul and funk elements into the game music. I think that enthusiasm was the only thing that was there.]. Facebook . Archived from the original on 19 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Spanky's Quest". Super Adventures In Gaming. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Bryant, Paul (19 May 2021). "Caveman Ninja, Magical Drop2, Spanky's Quest, more join free Nintendo Switch Online library". Gaming Age. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 Matthia, Mark (August 1992). "Game Boy Corner: Wilde Früchtchen". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). Vol. 7, no. 8. Tronic Verlag. p. 151.
  7. 1 2 Matthia, Mark (November 1992). "Konsolen: Spanky's Quest (SNES)". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). Vol. 7, no. 11. Tronic Verlag. p. 149.
  8. 1 2 Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X (June 1992). "Review Crew: Spanky's Quest (Super NES)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 34. Sendai Publishing. p. 24.
  9. 1 2 "New Games Cross Review: 反省ザル ジローくんの大冒険". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 159. ASCII Corporation. 3 January 1992. p. 40.
  10. ↑ Slate, Chris (June 1992). "Review: Spanky's Quest (Super NES)". Game Players Nintendo Guide . Vol. 5, no. 6. GP Publications. p. 70.
  11. 1 2 Prézeau, Olivier (November 1992). "Game Boy: Spanky's Quest". Joypad  [ fr ] (in French). No. 14. Challenge SARL. p. 157.
  12. ↑ Prézeau, Olivier (November 1992). "Consoles News: Spanky's Quest (Game Boy)". Joystick (in French). No. 32. Sipress. p. 147.
  13. ↑ Scamps, Olivier (June–July 1993). "Tests de Jeux: Spanky's Quest (Super Nintendo)". Player One  [ fr ] (in French). No. 32. Média Système Édition  [ fr ]. pp. 80–81.
  14. ↑ Buxton, Chris (December 1992). "SNES Round-Up: Spanky's Quest". Total! . No. 12. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. p. 68.
  15. ↑ Hoogh, Eva (August 1993). "SNES Test: Spanky's Quest". Total! (in German). No. 3. Germany: MVL Verlag. p. 32. Archived from the original on 2 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  16. 1 2 Barysch, Jan (July 1992). "Test: Spanky's Quest (Game Boy)". Video Games  [ de ] (in German). No. 8. Markt & Technik. p. 83.
  17. ↑ Knauf, Andreas (February 1992). "Test: Monkey Giro (Super Famicom)". Video Games  [ de ] (in German). No. 6. Markt & Technik. p. 90.
  18. ↑ Neumayer, Manfred (August 1993). "Rom Check - Super Nintendo: Spankey's". Video Games  [ de ] (in German). No. 21. Markt & Technik. p. 81.
  19. ↑ Walnum, Clayton (June 1992). "Video-Game Reviews: Spanky's Quest - For the Super NES". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment . No. 41. Larry Flynt Publications. pp. 43–44.
  20. ↑ West, Allie; Simmons, Alex (November 1992). "Review Control: Spanky's Quest". Control. No. 3. Maverick Magazines. pp. 24–25.
  21. ↑ Greaves, Sharon (October 1992). "Reviews: Spanky's Quest". GB Action. No. 5. Europress. p. 12.
  22. 1 2 3 Roberts, Nick; Rowley, Carl (November 1992). "Reviewed! Spanky's Quest (SNES); Reviewed! Spanky's Quest (Boy)". N-Force . No. 5. Impact Magazines. pp.  72–73, 74.
  23. ↑ Menne, Oliver (July 1992). "Marios Magic: Spanky's Quest (Game Boy)". Play Time  [ de ] (in German). No. 14. Computec. p. 84.
  24. ↑ Weitz, Volker (August 1991). "Videospiele / Tests: Lucky Monkey (Game Boy)". Power Play  [ de ] (in German). No. 41. Markt & Technik. p. 128.
  25. ↑ "Guide Directory Enquiries". SNES Force . No. 1. Impact Magazines. July 1993. pp. 92–97.
  26. ↑ O'Connor, Frank (November 1992). "Super Review: Spanky's Quest". Super Action. No. 2. Europress. pp. 20–21.
  27. ↑ "A-Z of Import Games". Super Pro. No. 1. Paragon Publishing. December 1992. pp. 94–97.
  28. ↑ Sinfield, George; Noel, Rob (June 1992). "Now Playing: Spanky's Quest (Super NES)". Nintendo Power . Vol. 37. Nintendo of America. p. 105.
  29. ↑ Ryan (29 July 2021). "'92 Barcelona Olympics - Translated Famitsu Comic". Metroid Database. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
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