Yo! Noid
Encyclopedia
Yo! Noid is a platform
video game released in the United States
for the NES
by Capcom
during November, 1990. It stars the Noid
, the claymation mascot
of Domino's Pizza
in the late 1980s, going through fourteen different side-scrolling levels throughout various locations of New York City
(including an 8-bit rendition of Central Park
) to battle his evil duplicate, Mr. Green, for the public good, and for the massive pizza
reward. The game is a modified version of an earlier Japanese release called Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru.
for offense, but can gather magic point
s by collecting scrolls and use them for screen-clearing special attacks or very rare power-up
s, both kinds of which are found in large scrolls opened with the yo-yo. Extra lives
are awarded for every 20,000 points scored. Most levels are traveled on foot, but one features a skateboard
, two a gyrocopter, and a part of one level features the "Pizza Crusher," as seen on the "Avoid the Noid" commercials, and the front of the game box—a cross between a large weight and a pogo stick
.
As was the case with many Capcom
games based on cartoon characters, Yo! Noid had detailed cartoon graphics and sound effects for its time. The back cover of the instruction manual included a $1 off Domino's Pizza coupon
.
game released by Capcom in Japan on March 16, 1990. Much of the presentation was changed. However, none of the game mechanics were changed. The localized game was released in the rest of the world as Yo! Noid. In the process, the game gained coherence in locations but lost it in plot and character design. Pizza-eating contests were originally card-based battles. Most of the game's music was re-used for Yo! Noid, though a few tunes were changed. A few new tracks were written for the latter to reflect a more American atmosphere. Before Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru got released, the Wagan Land
engine was used as a base for the game itself. And Namcot (now Namco/Bandai) published the Wagan Land series while Capcom published Hanamaru and Yo! Noid.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
video game released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
during November, 1990. It stars the Noid
Noid
The Noid is an advertising character for Domino's Pizza created in the 1980s. He was a villainous red-suited character with red rabbit ears who attempted to ruin Domino's pizza but was constantly thwarted. The Noid was created in 1986 by Group 243, the advertising agency for Domino's Pizza and was...
, the claymation mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
in the late 1980s, going through fourteen different side-scrolling levels throughout various locations of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(including an 8-bit rendition of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
) to battle his evil duplicate, Mr. Green, for the public good, and for the massive pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
reward. The game is a modified version of an earlier Japanese release called Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru.
Gameplay
The Noid has no life meter, and loses a life by either making contact with an enemy or running out of time before completing a level. He's equipped with a short range yo-yoYo-yo
The yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of twine looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool...
for offense, but can gather magic point
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
s by collecting scrolls and use them for screen-clearing special attacks or very rare power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, both kinds of which are found in large scrolls opened with the yo-yo. Extra lives
1-up
1-up , pronounced "one up", is a term in console video gaming that commonly refers to an item that gives the player an extra life, to complete the game. In certain games, it is possible to receive multiple extra lives at once...
are awarded for every 20,000 points scored. Most levels are traveled on foot, but one features a skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
, two a gyrocopter, and a part of one level features the "Pizza Crusher," as seen on the "Avoid the Noid" commercials, and the front of the game box—a cross between a large weight and a pogo stick
Pogo stick
A pogo stick is a device for jumping off the ground in a standing position with the aid of a spring, used as a toy or exercise equipment. It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole...
.
As was the case with many Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
games based on cartoon characters, Yo! Noid had detailed cartoon graphics and sound effects for its time. The back cover of the instruction manual included a $1 off Domino's Pizza coupon
Coupon
In marketing, a coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product. Customarily, coupons are issued by manufacturers of consumer packaged goods or by retailers, to be used in retail stores as a part of sales promotions...
.
Development
Yo! Noid is a localization of , a Family ComputerNintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
game released by Capcom in Japan on March 16, 1990. Much of the presentation was changed. However, none of the game mechanics were changed. The localized game was released in the rest of the world as Yo! Noid. In the process, the game gained coherence in locations but lost it in plot and character design. Pizza-eating contests were originally card-based battles. Most of the game's music was re-used for Yo! Noid, though a few tunes were changed. A few new tracks were written for the latter to reflect a more American atmosphere. Before Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru got released, the Wagan Land
Wagan Land
is a platform game series released produced by Namco that has been sold exclusively in Japan. The seven initial games in the series were released for the Family Computer, Game Gear, and Super Famicom from throughout . Some of the games were re-released in later years for mobile phones and on the...
engine was used as a base for the game itself. And Namcot (now Namco/Bandai) published the Wagan Land series while Capcom published Hanamaru and Yo! Noid.