[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Magical Nipples of Solstice

April 26th, 2010 by Benj Edwards

Solstice NES Ad - 1991Our hero stands alone in a dungeon, screaming profanities at the ceiling.

You might remember our intrepid hero, a loincloth-bedecked body builder, from last year’s VC&G Halloween Costume Ideas. This beefcakey portrayal of Solstice’s main character is as amusing now as it was then, so I figured it deserved its own RSOTW.

The character’s name is actually Shadax, if you’re interested. If you’re not, I don’t blame you. He’s not normally like this, I swear. Shadax wears a modest, body-enveloping robe throughout the entire game. He only gets naked when he’s had too much of the ‘ole Green Fairy.

[ From Video Games and Computer Entertainment, April 1991, p.75 ]

Discussion Topic of the Week: What’s your favorite NES puzzle game? For bonus points: what’s the most obscure NES puzzle game you can name?



6 Responses to “[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Magical Nipples of Solstice”

  1. Multimedia Mike Says:

    That image is actually pretty close to the final cover art:

    http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/solstice-the-quest-for-the-staff-of-demnos/cover-art/gameCoverId,15623/

    Most obscure NES puzzle game off the top of my head: Kickle Cubicle. But Solstice was a really nifty puzzle game as well. The Adventures of Lolo series still holds a special place in my heart.

  2. MadPlanet Says:

    I didn’t play a huge number of NES puzzle games but I was always a fan of Klax.

  3. Geoff V. Says:

    I watched an uncle play and lose at a game called Solomon’s Keys or something like that in the early 90’s. He would let my brother and I play, but we couldn’t get past the third or forth level.

    I played a port of it on a friend’s Wii a couple months ago and found it to be even harder than I remembered.

  4. TheSaintOfPain Says:

    I still play Pipe Dream like crazy, and it’s been my favorite on the NES since I can remember the game being around.

    For the most obscure, I’d have to vote for a Japanese game called Wit’s. It’s a really weird, but fun puzzler, where you have to guide a character you pick from a selection of superhero-looking characters to victory. It plays similarly to the old Snake games, except you’re building blocks behind you as you move, and you have to force your opponent, either COM or another human, to run into your blocks to win a round.

  5. wigglesworth Says:

    I remember this art from EGM or Nintendo power, and, even at 7-8 years old thinking “Something is definitely ‘teh ghey’ about this”

  6. Internetlad Says:

    i’d have to say solomon’s key, either that or yoshi’s cookie/wario’s woods, but those might be more well known because of the star power involved. Solomon’s key was a solid puzzle/platformer that i still play today.

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