Release Date: April 20, 1989
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: HAL Laboratory
Puzzle games have always held a special place in my heart. Whenever the adrenaline rush of shoot-em-ups and the story of a good RPG paled, I would always relax by taxing my mind with a puzzle game. The mental stress was taxing yet soothing. It was my way of chilling out. While my ex-wife was in labor with my son, waiting to dilate fully, I sat in the room with her playing Tetris, getting in the zone. She still gives me shit about that to this day.
The NES had its share of puzzle games. Some were great games, like Solstice and Dr. Mario. Others were pure tripe, like Bubble Bath Babes (more porn games). But the Adventures of Lolo series lorded over them all.
The series, named Eggerland in Japan, starred the titular character, a blue ball with arms and legs. This game, the fifth in the series in Japan, tasks Lolo with trying to save Princess Lala, a pink version of Lolo, from King Egger. He enters Egger’s castle, a tower arranged in ten floors of five rooms each, each room a puzzle filled with enemies, traps, and obstacles. The following gameplay will test even the brainiest puzzle jock.
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In order to progress through the tower, Lolo must collect all the hearts in each room. Doing so will open a treasure chest which contains a gem. Collecting the gem will eliminate all opposition and open up the door to the next room. Getting the hearts, however, will pose the player with some of them best – and most painful – puzzle gaming the NES could dish out.
The enemies Lolo comes across are as cute as they are problematic. From the adorable Snakey, a snake with two antennae who just looks at Lolo and smiles, to the Medusas, who will shoot Lolo dead on sight, each enemy is strategically placed to either hinder or exterminate our blue hero. They all present their own obstacles, and the player must learn to navigate each room, using the environment or their wits to succeed. Capturing some hearts may give Lolo some shots. Lolo can use those shots to encase Snakeys inside an egg and shoot them off the screen temporarily, opening up a path. Other enemies may require Lolo to push blocks in front of them or just outrun them.
Each room is set up to test the player’s problem-solving abilities. The further the player progresses, the more twisted the brain twisters get. Some rooms won’t kill you; they’ll just trap you. Fortunately, the player can escape with a handy “suicide” button. The game also has unlimited continues should poor Lolo run out of lives. That, course, is no solace for you if you’re playing the game. By the time you reach the fifth floor, the curses will flow fast and furious.
Some of those curses will spew forth because of the soundtrack. Adventure of Lolo’s main tune is catchy and happy…but it also does not change. After dealing with it for hours, any right-minded player will become a babbling, rage-filled maniac. Think Bubble Bobble, only the tune sounds like it’s goofing you for not progressing. This game will teach you to hate and be angry. At least the game looks good. The visuals are bright and cartoony, with emotive characters all around. Lolo is a pretty – and pretty frustrating – game.
The game would see two more releases on the NES. The third U.S. title was the first to not follow the Eggerland series. Instead, Adventures of Lolo on the Game Boy was the follow-up to Adventures of Lolo 2 on the NES. The series is, in my opinion, some of the best puzzle gameplay to be had on Nintendo’s lovely gray toaster.
Does the game still hold up? Absolutely! The 8-bit sprites and chiptunes may be antiquated to some, but the gameplay will stand up to even the most jaded contemporary gamer.
Nowadays, it’s easy to pick up the game. It’s available on the Virtual Console for the Wii and Wii U. For puzzle game lovers, Adventures of Lolo is a must-have. For any gamer who thinks they have skills, I suggest you try this game out. If after two hours of this game, you are not throwing things and yelling in Klingon, you have no emotions!
Good: Bright, colorful visuals; great gameplay; awesome puzzles
Bad: The puzzles with hurt your brain; the catchy but repetitive tune will grate on your nerves two hours in
Final score: 8/10
