The Adventures of Lolo
Encyclopedia
Adventures of Lolo is a puzzle game
released in 1989
by HAL Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. It is based on the Japan
ese Eggerland video game series. It is available on the Wii
's Virtual Console
in all territories.
and published by HAL America for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. It was released in North America on 20 April 1989 and in Europe in February 1991. A Nintendo representative commented that Nintendo was "trying to stretch the kids' imaginations" with Lolo. It was re-released for the Wii
's Virtual Console
on 8 June 2007 in North America and on 6 August 2007 in PAL regions.
. Game, Set, Watchs Todd Ciolek called it the "leader of the [block-shoving] movement", garnering a cult following. IGN
called it one of Satoru Iwata
's successes, describing it as something that was "all about fun, appeal and simplicity over an abundance of bells and whistles". Toronto Star
listed it as one of their recommended NES games for children. Eurogamer
's Dan Whitehead praised it for not being "yet another cutesy platformer", calling it a "diverting casual game". He stated that it wasn't a "classic title that everyone should rush to own", but it was still a quality title. Writer Justin McElroy commented that he had fond memories of it, and has no worry of how well it has aged since its release on the NES, feeling that puzzle games stay "enjoyable forever"; however, he criticized the music, saying that its looping drove players "ever closer to the dark edge of madness". GameSpot
's Frank Provo called it addictive, commenting that the gameplay holds up in the current day. He added that while the characters were cute, the graphics were simple, and that the game could be finished in one day. Wired
's Chris Kohler called its Virtual Console
release a "tempting choice". IGN's Cam Shea said that it wasn't worth paying for, though it had more value than lots of other Virtual Console titles. IGN's Levi Buchanan named it one of the best Virtual Console titles, stating that it will last for hours.
Author Steven A. Schwartz called Lolo is a strategic game, and that players who have successfully done logic problems in magazines would have an easier time with this game. Similarly, Dennis Lynch of the Chicago Tribune
called it a "challenge of logic, not brute force", as well as "addictive". He also noted that Lolo was a game that would appeal to both genders. Author Andy Slaven called its puzzles creative. 1UP.com
's Jeremy Parish called it a great puzzle game, calling it "highly recommended" due to its combination of its complexity and simplicity. IGN's Lucas M. Thomas felt that it would be intriguing to fans of puzzle-action games, calling it "simple on the surface, but deceptively complex once you get going". GameSpy
's Benjamin Turner commented that it was "hard as hell", and would "put any MENSA
member to the test". Fellow GameSpy writer Christian Nutt bemoaned HAL for abandoning Lolo for Kirby
. Video game developer John Harris listed Lolo in his article on 20 difficult games, commenting that anyone who could figure out the "Snakey Displacement" technique, a technique that requires players to cause an enemy to move to a place where they normally cannot go, was not a genius, but rather insane. Nintendo Life's Darren Calvert called its level designs "ingenious", commenting that they will "tax the old grey matter
". Nintendo World Report
's Michael Cole commented that its gameplay remained fresh in its Wii release, as well as "approachable".
Adventures of Lolos gameplay has been compared to several other video games by critics. GamePro
s Heidi Kemps compared Ivy the Kiwi?s gameplay to Lolos. Selby Bateman of Game Player magazine compared the adventurous experience of Lolo to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
, calling the former more sophisticated. 1UP.com's Kevin Gifford compared it to Wrecking Crew
. IGN compared Kickle Cubicle
to Lolo, though noting that it was easier. Writer Danny Cowan compared the video game Roll Away was similar to the "find the key/find the exit" gameplay of Lolo. It has also been the inspiration for other video games; video game developer Ryan Clark attributed the inspiration for his video game Professor Fizzwizzle in part to Adventures of Lolo. LIT
developer Adam Tierney drew inspiration for LIT from Lolo.
- Adventures of Lolo 2
and Adventures of Lolo 3
in 1990 and 1991 respectively. A Game Boy
follow-up was released in 1994 with the same name (it is known in Japan as Lolo no Daibouken).
Lolo and Lala, the game's protagonist
s, have appeared in Kirby's Dream Land
and later Kirby Super Star
under the monikers Lololo and Lalala, where they play a more antagonist
ic role. Both game series are made by HAL Laboratory, Inc. A different pair of characters called Fololo and Falala appear in the cartoon Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
, acting in the capacity of supporting characters to Kirby.
The band My Parents Favorite Music also uses LoLo as their logo.
Computer puzzle game
Puzzle video games are a genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles to be solved can test many problem solving skills including logic, strategy, pattern recognition, sequence solving, and word completion....
released in 1989
1989 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* October 3, Brøderbund releases the Prince of Persia game, the first in a series of games, noted for its advancements in animation....
by HAL Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System
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...
. It is based on the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Eggerland video game series. It is available on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
in all territories.
Premise and gameplay
Adventures of Lolo begins with Lala being captured by the villain, King Egger, requiring Lolo to go to Egger's castle to rescue her. This castle has several floors, each of them requiring players to collect hearts that open a treasure chest. Once this chest is opened, players may then proceed into the next room. After four rooms, they will find a stairway leading them upward. The levels get progressively harder, and have several varieties of enemies; the earliest is called Snakey, which does no harm to Lolo. More difficult enemies include the Medusa, which will instantly kill Lolo if he crosses its path, assuming no objects such as blocks or stones are in the way. Lolo's primary gameplay mechanic is the ability to move objects, primarily blocks. Lolo can also move or destroy enemies by shooting at them, transforming them into movable eggs. If an egg is shot, it disappears, causing the enemy to remain off of the screen for a period of time. If Lolo is touched or attacked by an enemy, he will die. If players get stuck in a stage, they can push a button to cause Lolo to die and the stage to restart.Development and release
Adventures of Lolo was developed by HAL LaboratoryHAL Laboratory
is a Japanese video game developer that was founded on February 21, 1980. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Its name comes from the HAL 9000 computer in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The company is most famous for its character Kirby, the protagonist of the eponymous game series, as well as...
and published by HAL America for the Nintendo Entertainment System
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...
. It was released in North America on 20 April 1989 and in Europe in February 1991. A Nintendo representative commented that Nintendo was "trying to stretch the kids' imaginations" with Lolo. It was re-released for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
on 8 June 2007 in North America and on 6 August 2007 in PAL regions.
Reception
Adventures of Lolo has received positive reception from critics and fans alike. Lolos success was surprising to its developer HAL LaboratoryHAL Laboratory
is a Japanese video game developer that was founded on February 21, 1980. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Its name comes from the HAL 9000 computer in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The company is most famous for its character Kirby, the protagonist of the eponymous game series, as well as...
. Game, Set, Watchs Todd Ciolek called it the "leader of the [block-shoving] movement", garnering a cult following. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
called it one of Satoru Iwata
Satoru Iwata
is the fourth president of Nintendo, succeeding the long-standing previous president of the company, Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002. He was responsible in great part for defining Nintendo's strategy both before and during the release of its Nintendo GameCube video game console in 2001, a vision which...
's successes, describing it as something that was "all about fun, appeal and simplicity over an abundance of bells and whistles". Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
listed it as one of their recommended NES games for children. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Dan Whitehead praised it for not being "yet another cutesy platformer", calling it a "diverting casual game". He stated that it wasn't a "classic title that everyone should rush to own", but it was still a quality title. Writer Justin McElroy commented that he had fond memories of it, and has no worry of how well it has aged since its release on the NES, feeling that puzzle games stay "enjoyable forever"; however, he criticized the music, saying that its looping drove players "ever closer to the dark edge of madness". GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Frank Provo called it addictive, commenting that the gameplay holds up in the current day. He added that while the characters were cute, the graphics were simple, and that the game could be finished in one day. Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's Chris Kohler called its Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
release a "tempting choice". IGN's Cam Shea said that it wasn't worth paying for, though it had more value than lots of other Virtual Console titles. IGN's Levi Buchanan named it one of the best Virtual Console titles, stating that it will last for hours.
Author Steven A. Schwartz called Lolo is a strategic game, and that players who have successfully done logic problems in magazines would have an easier time with this game. Similarly, Dennis Lynch of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
called it a "challenge of logic, not brute force", as well as "addictive". He also noted that Lolo was a game that would appeal to both genders. Author Andy Slaven called its puzzles creative. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
's Jeremy Parish called it a great puzzle game, calling it "highly recommended" due to its combination of its complexity and simplicity. IGN's Lucas M. Thomas felt that it would be intriguing to fans of puzzle-action games, calling it "simple on the surface, but deceptively complex once you get going". GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
's Benjamin Turner commented that it was "hard as hell", and would "put any MENSA
Mensa
Mensa meaning table in Latin, may refer to:*Mensa International, an organization for people with high IQs*Mensa , a southern star constellation*Mensa , a term used by geologists to refer to an extraterrestrial mesa...
member to the test". Fellow GameSpy writer Christian Nutt bemoaned HAL for abandoning Lolo for Kirby
Kirby (series)
The series is a fantasy video game series developed by HAL Laboratory and Nintendo, and produced by Nintendo. The gameplay of a majority of the games in the series consists mainly of action, platform and puzzle-solving elements...
. Video game developer John Harris listed Lolo in his article on 20 difficult games, commenting that anyone who could figure out the "Snakey Displacement" technique, a technique that requires players to cause an enemy to move to a place where they normally cannot go, was not a genius, but rather insane. Nintendo Life's Darren Calvert called its level designs "ingenious", commenting that they will "tax the old grey matter
Grey matter
Grey matter is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil , glial cells and capillaries. Grey matter contains neural cell bodies, in contrast to white matter, which does not and mostly contains myelinated axon tracts...
". Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report is a Nintendo-specific video game website that covers Nintendo's current consoles, the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, and Wii.-History:...
's Michael Cole commented that its gameplay remained fresh in its Wii release, as well as "approachable".
Adventures of Lolos gameplay has been compared to several other video games by critics. GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
s Heidi Kemps compared Ivy the Kiwi?s gameplay to Lolos. Selby Bateman of Game Player magazine compared the adventurous experience of Lolo to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, released as in Japan and often mistakenly called The Adventures of Link, is an action role-playing video game with platforming elements. The second installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment...
, calling the former more sophisticated. 1UP.com's Kevin Gifford compared it to Wrecking Crew
Wrecking Crew (video game)
is a action game developed and published by Nintendo. It was designed by Yoshio Sakamoto and released as a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System.-Gameplay:...
. IGN compared Kickle Cubicle
Kickle Cubicle
Kickle Cubicle, known in Japan as , is a puzzle game developed by Irem for the arcades in 1988 and then ported to Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Gameplay is somewhat similar to the Adventures of Lolo series.-Story:...
to Lolo, though noting that it was easier. Writer Danny Cowan compared the video game Roll Away was similar to the "find the key/find the exit" gameplay of Lolo. It has also been the inspiration for other video games; video game developer Ryan Clark attributed the inspiration for his video game Professor Fizzwizzle in part to Adventures of Lolo. LIT
LIT (video game)
LIT is a video game by WayForward Technologies for WiiWare. The game is directed by Adam Tierney and co-designed by Tierney and Mark Bozon...
developer Adam Tierney drew inspiration for LIT from Lolo.
Legacy
Adventures of Lolo was followed by two sequels for the NESNes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
- Adventures of Lolo 2
Adventures of Lolo 2
Adventures of Lolo 2 is a puzzle game released in 1990 by HAL Corporation for the NES/Family Computer. It is based on the Japanese Eggerland video game series. It was the second game released in the U.S...
and Adventures of Lolo 3
Adventures of Lolo 3
Adventures of Lolo 3 is a puzzle video game released in 1991 by HAL Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is based on the Japanese Eggerland video game series. It was the third and final installment of the Adventures of Lolo series released in the U.S...
in 1990 and 1991 respectively. A Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
follow-up was released in 1994 with the same name (it is known in Japan as Lolo no Daibouken).
Lolo and Lala, the game's protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
s, have appeared in Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land, known as in Japan, is a 1992 third party developed platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America. It is both the first video game...
and later Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star, known as Kirby's Fun Pak in Europe and as in Japan, is a 1996 platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game console. It was first released in Japan on March 21, 1996, in North America on...
under the monikers Lololo and Lalala, where they play a more antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
ic role. Both game series are made by HAL Laboratory, Inc. A different pair of characters called Fololo and Falala appear in the cartoon Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Kirby: of the stars, known in Japan Kirby right back at ya!', is an anime series based on Nintendo's Kirby franchise. The series was produced by Warpstar Inc., a company formed between a joint investment between Nintendo and HAL Laboratory, Inc.The series, which takes place in a village called...
, acting in the capacity of supporting characters to Kirby.
The band My Parents Favorite Music also uses LoLo as their logo.