I got to take this game home for a week for getting questions right back when I was a kid going to church. The game punished me for merely walking into a bar. In retrospect, that should have been my first sign.
This is so great! Thank you for reviewing this one. When I was young, my family was pretty religious. But I had a friend who's family were *very* religious. He couldn't have games that involved shooting or any other violence, so pretty much everything was off limits. When we hung out we were restricted to Tetris and other such games. But, they did allow the Wisdom Tree games... So, I legit played all their terrible games back in the day for many hours. When Spiritual Warfare came along it was like magic! "You mean we can blow people up with the WRATH OF GOD, and your parents don't care?! Absolutely we are gonna play this game!" And it was sooo good! It wasn't Zelda, exactly, but close enough. We played it enough that we had to start mixing it up to keep things interesting. Try the 'banana only challenge' sometime!
My pleasure! This game has had my interest for a very long time! I think it's so funny that your friend could explode people and that was fine, but no fictional guns or other weapons were allowed! Wow! Would you believe I never found any bananas? I would love to replay this sometime and use a guide to find more weapons. I hear the bananas are like the apples, but just faster. I could've used some of that towards the end of the game before getting the sword!
my mom wasn't as bad, but her reason why I got an NES rather than a 16-bit console as I initially desired was because wisdom tree games were available on it. Had to at least have those as an option. I rented this one and found it completely baffling... but King of Kings was great! A genuinely fun and deep and challenging platformer that I could still actually beat if I tried hard. Well, the wise men game, that is. The other two on that cartridge.. not so great.
Personally, I found playing Wisdom Tree's Noah's Ark game and bashing various animals unconscious with heavy hay bales to be quite cathartic. You'd always look for opportunities to nail multiple critters with a single throw and carry them all off in an improbable stack of cows, horses and squirrels eight feet tall LoL. It was a great laugh!!
@@hungrygoriya I suspect there were more fruit in different ports of the game. I was playing the computer version and I do remember bananas (as well as the savefiles instead of just passwords). Either way, it was a really fun game to max out :P
Apparantly, the main reason Color Dreams turned into Wisdom Tree was because Nintendo blackmailed stores from stocking unnoficial Nintendo games, so they skirted around it by going for a religious angle and selling their games in bookstores. Nintendo had no power there and would look bad if they went after a religious publisher.
In addition, Nintendo forbade the subject matter of these games on their platform. This gave Wisdom Tree an untapped and in demand niche that proved successful for awhile.
Luckily for me, I took Monty Python's Self-Defense Against Fresh Fruit course, so no conversion for me. Anyway, great job highlighting a mostly overlooked NES game.
Honestly a super campy very literal adaptation of this into a movie would be really funny. Straight up pelting people with fruit to convert them, an angel scolding you for going into a bar even with a seemingly good reason, a chase scene with invulnerable soulless animals. It offers a lot to work with!
Still have my copy of this game and a NES to play it on, I revisit it now and then. This game's "fruits of the spirit" representation did result in an embarrassing Sunday School moment for me, though. The teacher asked us to name some fruits of the spirit, and I said "banana." She thought I was smarting off, and berated me in front of the whole class for it. 😆
It's cool that you still pick it back up once in a while! And that's hilarious about Sunday school... I would've also said something from this game because why not, right? Oh dear!
This was my favorite game when I was growing up. Whenever my brothers or I would get grounded, we were only allowed to play the "religious" games. So many good memories watching this.
I just finally purchased this game after going 20 years since playing it as a kid, I'm 31 now! My parents were church goers aswell so my dad bought us these games to play as kids. After deciding to build back my childhood gaming collection I had to start by getting this game, even before getting zelda! The gameplay is so gratifying and fluid to play and progresses just lovely! Just as you said tho some bosses can take a bit of guesswork but once u grasp the tricks and puzzles involved it actually makes the game as a whole seem pretty thought out. They all have some sort of easy way to beat them, it's just a matter of figuring it out. Every section of the game is connected beautifully. One last thing I can not remember tho is how to unlock the first secret path under the pond to the right of where you start the game! You will see a blocked off entrance/pathway right of the entrance to the first boss room. I thought it would become available after the final boss but I remembered wrong. If anyone knows what I am talking about please let me know! Great review!
It's awesome that you picked this one up right away... it must've made a pretty big impression on you! Spiritual Warfare was so much fun and kept me on my toes in every way, especially with those boss fights. It was way better than fighting another Aquamentus every other dungeon in Zelda, for sure! I wish I had answers for you about your question, but maybe someone here will eventually. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
I played this game on stream before and I must say it was super creative to have the devil's lair hidden beneath a rioting prison. That was just genius.
Clobbering people with fruit, going to sinful casinos, what more could you want in a game? Thank you for sharing this unique gaming experience with us!
Preach, Sister, preach! I'm sure thousands of non-believers will be converted by your profound message. You're the Mahalia Jackson of the UA-cam retro-gaming community.
I miss these sorts of crazy things we used to get on the NES, even better when it's actually quite playable and somehow with depth. Impressive. With mega-quirky games having gone to the wayside after the PS2 I believe the best bet is Dreams on PlayStation, surely someone's had my idea of making a game where you clear out the temple as J.
I wholeheartedly agree. I had the NES version as a kid. A friend of mine have given me the SEGA Genesis version recently, which I beat. The graphics are a slight upgrade from its NES counterpart, and some things were fixed on it.
It's not from this one. It's from The Magic of Scheherazade on NES, which is also a great game. This one unfortunately didn't have much music variety at all.
WoW! excellent review . I started going to church and reading the bible a year ago . I also can't unlock my mind from remembering how much fun I had in the early 90s playing NES. Your review is truly a blast! 🌎🚀
I never thought I'd heard the phrase "Christian-themed platforming", but today is the day. Thanks for playing the games I never want to, and for putting all your time into these reviews.
HG it was a lot of fun seeing this on stream. I remember the bad password issue and that could’ve been a deal breaker but you kept on going. Is looked like a fun game and the morality system reminds me of some other games you played (Ultima).
Yesssss, New video. Yet again thank you for the upload. Also good to see a more neutral approach to others I've seen on these vids. Like Bible Games series from AVGN (which yes I know he plays on hyperbole for laughs and a caricature) or other similar content creators.
I'm not sure how to be anything but objective. I have no character to play into for my videos, so I'm just a regular person playing games and trying to highlight the ones I enjoy or really don't. James Rolfe's Bible Games video was what originally put this game on my radar all those years ago, and his videos on these games are some of my favourites. I always like to give games the benefit of the doubt.
Oh my... I have never heard of this one, although I have heard of a few other Wisdom Tree titles. The levels you featured with the ladders, look pretty active and difficult. Like you would have to lose a few times and think of how you're going to solve that puzzle and get across the screen. From what I seen those levels or sections of the game appeared like very Advanced Donkey Kong scenarios, a lot going on. Despite how others speak of anything produced by Wisdom Tree, you did a very healthy and proper review of this for what it is "a game".. looks like a pretty interesting one, thank you for sharing
Thanks very much! I try to talk about my own personal experience with the game, and in this case, I had fun. It was a little heavy-handed on the religious themes but the gameplay was challenging and interesting. I hope more people give this one a try versus writing it off as just another Wisdom Tree game.
I was baffled at how this made it past Nintendo's restrictions until I saw it was unlicensed. But honestly this is a pretty well thought out game. At least it seems to have a lot of effort put into it. Always nice to see religious influence enforced by tasty fruit!
I mean, tasty fruit's probably the nicest way to be compelled into religious practices. Especially if you get invited to eat it! It's pretty good! The only downfall is the soundtrack but I barely noticed it after a while. Everything else was fun!
CORE MEMORY UNLOCKED!!! Wow, I had no idea this was originally an NES game. I played this a long time ago on one of those cheap direct to tv game systems. I thought this game in particular was the best of all the ones included. I played it for hours. Then the game system crapped out. But I remember the Bar, and I was SO confused for being punished for just entering. I was like 12, I didn't want to drink, I wanted to share the Gospel with all the drunks and get more dove points! Man, I'll have to find a rom for this or something. Wow, what a nostalgia trip. Thanks for sharing!
Oh nice! Glad to somehow help you remember something tucked deep away in your memory. This game was such a funny experience and I hope you can find a way to play it again. The bar was so perplexing to me but I couldn't help tempting fate elsewhere! Enjoy if you give it a whirl!
1:44 Is that guy coming at you with a Switch Blade or an AIDS Needle?! But good review. I only hear people slagging on Bible Games but most are just Bible Colored version of popular games so it can't be all bad. Funny thing about the company though: The Wisdom Tree was the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil, which is the one thing The Lord told Adam and Eve to have nothing to do with. So naming a Bible Games company after it is kinda Ironic. I had an idea for a game based on David that's Contra but with Slinging Stones instead of a Pea Shooter and you face Lions and Bears. The Screen Nuke can be an Angel Blast and Goliath can be the Final Boss like the Super C End Guy with aiming at the head. Also could be a Beat em up with Samson busting Philistines like Altered Beast or Last Battle.
I remember getting this game when kid. I can say is the only RPG game I ever loved playing cuz I not an RPG lover. Like you say it wasn't a problem for me to enjoy it since I grow up in a Christian house and the mix between christianity and gaming
Great review. I wonder which version of the armor of God is canon though. The box art features the pants-less version, which I'm guessing allows for *maximum* mobility. But the manual DOES feature a more modest armor of God that covers the whole body. :D
Oooh! Ooh! I know this one! The pantless Armour of God is cannon because there are biblical references to a everything in that box art image but not to pants so The Pantsless Crusader(tm) is the correct and cannon version.
@@hungrygoriya If it were a different developer, I'd think that having to buy your items back was a sort of commentary on religious hypocrisy, but WT are much too earnest for that.
@@hungrygoriya I remember the moses game where you collect the animals. I played that one alot. I wanted this one but my mom thought it was too violent for 9 year old me. Funny looking back comparing what we have now.
This... actually looks like a pretty interesting game! I might have to check it out sometime. Thanks for taking the time to review it! Incidentally, what's with the pitch-shifted Crystalis music you used in the background? Were you specifically going for a slightly off-kilter mood with it, or is that how Crystalis' field theme sounds on your cursed NES? ;)
It's a surprisingly "complete" experience, if that makes sense. Especially compared to other Wisdom Tree games! I just slowed the Crystalis music down a little... same with the song from Faria. The whole soundtrack is made up of music from games people always tell me are Zelda clones but don't actually have much in common with it. I hoped it might add to the confusion a little, haha
I can't believe how many backgrounds and levels there are to this and how much it's made to resemble the modern world while being a zelda tileset, and it's something that was on the nes and not a modern joke romhack
I still think the most epic Wisdom Tree moment is the last level of David and Goliath on Bible Adventures, where you finally get to take down the Philistines with your trusty sling. But I also played this one as a kid. I got stuck eventually, but I’m sure it would be fun and easy to return to.
Yeah, while he's laughing at you the whole time up there? The shield guy's way harder to take out! I hope you'll give Spiritual Warfare another try sometime. It's definitely fun!
Never heard of this one. This is quite interesting especially considering how religious games were at that time. That part about answering Bible questions and them getting really obscure reminds me of a really bad joke that I'll share and already feel bad about it as I should. Three Nuns die and goes to Heaven. They're greeted by Saint Peter at the Gates of Heaven. They ask if they may enter Heaven? Saint Peter tells them no one enters Heaven without answering a question. The Nuns look at each other nervously. Peter then says that given their devotion to the faith they should have no need to worry. He asks the first Nun to step forward. He asks her: "How many days did it take God to create the Earth?" The first Nun answers: "Six days with one more to rest." Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the first Nun. Second Nun approaches. Peter asks her "Tell me the names of the first Man and Woman." She answers: "Adam and Eve." Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the second Nun. Saint Peter thinks for a moment and says: "You know... those were questions I'd ask an ordinary person. You're all Nuns who have devoted your lives to all this. I'm going to ask you a better question than I have." The third Nun nods in understanding. Saint Peter says: "What was the first thing Eve said to Adam?" The third Nun nearly faints! She feels fear in her gut and heart. She asks Peter "Is there a time limit for my response?" "No." He replies. "But you may not ask anyone for help." The third Nun repeats the question over and over again to herself. Thinking about everything she's ever read or heard about the creation story and the Garden of Eden. After a good long time she gives up and says: "My God! That is a hard one!" Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the third Nun.
The plot about finding the pieces of the Armor of God always made me feel like this game was the prequel to the Christian TV series Bibleman. Which is a riot, BTW. If you've never seen it I strongly recommend the episode "The Fiendish Works of Dr. Fear"
@@hungrygoriya I'll just say.... what I got was not what I expected (Although again, I recommend starting with the Fiendish Works of Dr Fear episode, as from what I've been told that's where the show "hits its stride").
I grew up in a religious household and about half of our total NES games were from Wisdom Tree. I tried to make myself like the others but Sporitual Warfare was by far the best. A solid game that almost no one ever tries
I used to own this game back in the 1990s. I loved how it was based on the Zelda 1 formula of gameplay. My great aunt, who used to often take me to church as a kid, gifted me this game along with a gameboy port of Joshua. My only gripe with the game was the password system. At the time, the tv I had during the 90s had horrible sharpness for small print. It was an older, pre 90's tv that could only connect with a RF switch, so it had the worst sharpness and clarity possible for reading small text. I often found myself getting far into the game and trying to read and write he password down when I had to stop, but having alot if problems writing down the characters correctly due to my tv sharpness problems. I would later find out that I couldn't return to the progress that I had made, because I got the password wrong. Some of that frustration turned me off from playing the game again after spending hours and hours with it. I had this same problem with other games like Faxanadu. I otherwise loved the game and regret I never finished it.
Awww what a lovely present from her! I'm sorry you struggled with the passwords. I definitely did as a kid as well, but nowadays I just snap a photo with my phone and I'm good to go when I pick it back up. I still usually put something in wrong even with a photo, so they're definitely not intuitive by design. Sorry you never made it through, but maybe someday?
I love a good comedy. It actually looks like a solid game. It's gotten good reviews before. I was raised Catholic too (Italian), so whilst watching playthrough it surely cracked me up.
I was raised heathen, so I didn't have the familiarity with Christianity coming into this. I did grow up in Rural Pennsylvania, a time and place where it was just sort of a fact of life, so I got all of the basics, but that was about it; given that his was also not a time and place that was any kind of tolerant to anyone or anything outside the norm, I didn't exactly grow up with a high opinion of it. I say that only to say that I was still able to enjoy this as a solid game; I was able to see all of the Christian elements as just a kind of lore, no different from what you'd find in any other game, though I didn't play this during my younger, angrier days. It's so easy to overlook, but I think it's a worthy adventure for any fans of the genre, regardless of faith. Also, the final battle against Satan is one of the most metal things I've ever seen in an NES game.
My mom was a devout Catholic and we went to mass every weekend without skipping a beat so it was something fairly ingrained in my day to day growing up. It's an interesting perspective to look at it as lore though. I like that!
I thought about playing this. I went to Christian school and Wisdom Tree had a video game fair sort of thing and this game looked awesome to me, but i had no money.
i remember playing this like a forever ago, when every other kid my age was playing on their xbox 360s i had a beaten up nes way obsolete by the standard at the time, and a silly game about christianity. this game was rad as fuck. i remember playing it for long nights after school trying to figure out all the puzzles and progress, and i was never able to beat it but i got pretty damn far and i remember this game through mostly hazy dream, but i finally got reminded of it now, and it was just as good as i remember.
My friend had somebody wisdom tree games when we were kids. I like the wiseman game on the king of kings cart. You got to ride a camel and spit a banana at enemies like a boomerang. It was funny back then
Also as Jew I love old Christian media. Remember walking in downtown Toronto and seeing a TV playing the little drummer boy. I was 8 and I said to my dad, "look, that little boy in the move is wearing a kippa (yarmulke), this must be a Jewish movie". Apparently it was not. 😂
Awwww what a funny little memory! I'm assuming it's a Christmas movie, yes? There's that whole song about the little drummer boy that played for Jesus, so I think that's a safe assumption...
@@hungrygoriya haha yeah. It's this stop motion move from the late 60s I found out years later. Little me was not yet privy to the concept of the whole Jesus was a Jew thing haha. But the movie is pretty interesting actually in terms of aesthetic. Much more religious than Nightmare before Christmas (which I think we can all admit is the best stop motion Christmas movie). 😅
Exactly! I love how it plays and the religious overtones add a level of charm for me personally. I know it's not for everyone but it's was definitely a curiosity when I was looking into the NES library.
I borrowed this game from a friend when I was young unaware that it was a Christian game and after awhile had a lot of fun with it in spite of its' dogmatic nature.
It's a lot more fun than I was expecting, definitely! I found the Christian ties pretty entertaining but as a game, Spiritual Warfare has a lot of great things going for it.
I think it's biggest problem, besides religious symbols that Nintendo doesn't like, is it seems to be a hack of The Legend of Zelda. I'm going to give it a shot though, looks like a fun playthough.
Always had a soft spot for this game. Wasn't much of a church-going kid growing up, but something about this game charmed the heck out of me. I never played the first LoZ as a kid, but I beat this game multiple times and loved it. Oh, and screw the password system!
Spiritual Warfare was so fun. I laughed out loud so much playing and it was honestly a great challenge! The password system is really mean. I love a detailed password that keeps your exact progress but it was trouble sometimes as well. I'm glad you got to play this when you were younger!
Wow, props to you for sticking this one out, I barely gave it half a chance. Not that the biblical stuff bothers me, I just thought it was a stinker. I really appreciate how you bring the appreciation to some of these games that I always thought were crap and seem to have a unanimously bad rap (like Friday the 13th). --btw, the occupations involving those most far-gone spiritually, acc. scripture: Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Politicians, Priests. --Any surprise?
Thank you! I'm just happy that this game didn't suck as bad as some of the other Wisdom Tree games, though I do find some of them a guilty pleasure to enjoy. I play Baby Moses more often than I care to admit! And you're absolutely right about the occupations! They definitely fit the bill but those poor beach-goers! Bathing suits are super scandalous, apparently!
@@hungrygoriya HAahah yeah come to think of it I've played Baby Moses a little more than one would think, it's pretty hilarious throwing the baby all over the place xD the graphics & controls aren't too bad either.
@@bazdaniels7420 I honestly find it to be so ridiculous that I just bust out laughing every time I play it. Any game that makes me laugh like that is good in my books.
You should try Noah's Ark (NES) by Konami one of these days. It's... bizarre, to say the least, but in their style more or less. I also remember quite distinctly this one FPS game from the early 2000s, Catechumen... it wasn't that bad of a game, but it sure was family-friendly. :P
Yeah! That's the PAL game eh? I keep meaning to try to find a copy since I could probably play it in a top-loader. The speed would be wrong but I could probably manage! I haven't heard of Catechumen... a family friendly FPS you say? I'll check into it. Thanks!
A game based on Ephesians Chapter 6. Pretty cool, haha. Funny presentation, thanks for the review. I never had this one, but I did have Bible Adventures. Believe it or not we used to play that one with some regularity.
Yeah the manual has the passage written out... it's a pretty neat way to make the bible come alive, that's for sure! Bible Adventures is something I play often enough. I think Noah's Ark's my least favourite one on there but Baby Moses and David and Goliath are quick and always make me laugh. Did you like those games growing up? I've only played them as an adult but I think I would've enjoyed them as a kid too.
@@hungrygoriya yeah I did....we had a TV in the van and would play it during long road trips. It was usually good for about 45mins-1hr of playtime before we'd switch. I'd always stack as many sheep on my head as I could
I actually beat this game as a kid. Completely loved it. I also grew up in a very religious family so none of this stuff struck me as odd back then haha. I am very interested in experiencing it again some day now that I am no longer religious. I'm sure a lot of it will strike me very differently. I still bet it is a pretty great game though if you can look past its religious heavy-handedness and look at it like the lore of any other fantasy rpg type setting. A total underappreciated gem imo. Definitely a favorite from childhood. I also wound up coupling up the grapes with the sword as my primary weapon combo for late game. I remember only the apples made the final boss (Satan himself) vulnerable though
It's a really well thought out game. It has it all: weapon upgrades, a feeling of progress, puzzles, etc. I'm glad you got to experience it as a kid. Definitely play it again sometime if you have a chance. I'm not religious either these days but having those foundation principles from elementary school etc. made coming to this game really interesting for me. Grapes and sword were mine as well! I think I used the pomegranates on the final boss since the apples were too slow for my tastes.
I was really impressed to say the least. I also have a soft spot for Bible Adventures especially because it's so ridiculous, but Spiritual Warfare was actually a legitimate quest.
This game tries to be so serious about its religious references that it becomes (unintentionally?) hilarious instead. I laughed at several spots watching your video. Unfortunately this game wasn't released in Europe, but I might give it a try with my everdrive.
I hope you'll give it a whirl. I feel the same way... it's so out there that you start to wonder if some of the things were meant to be funny. I'd love to see the pitch meeting about the jawbone item.
For a game called "Spiritual Warfare", I expected you to be a paladin fighting off demons with a mystical sword, not running around slums throwing apples at plumbers.
My dad brought this home one day, but it was for the Sega Genesis. Seems to be the exact same game though. I remember taking it over to a friend's house as a laugh, but then we played it and ended up finishing it. Kind of a weird surprise. Definitely would have been a better game without the religious context and a bit more polish.
I think it was also released on the Genesis! The graphics were probably a little nicer on that console. It surprised me with its fun factor as well. Glad you two finished it that day!
It's actually not surprising that your game malfunctioned like that, as I could actually tell that u had a bad connection from the way the graphics were flashing around the ladders & such. This usually means one of the pins had a dirty connection with the system & that ur game was basically a ticking time bomb for locking up. Am surprised nobody in your live stream had the sense to mention it.
Is it me or does that first instance of background music sound like a heavily modified version of the Legend of Zelda theme? That closing music too. And I wonder if Nintendo is as aggressive in taking down ROMs of Wisdom Tree games?
@@hungrygoriya Yeah, the cart was black with a label that was poorly applied (the cartridge sloped inward for some reason) and the teeth of the cart just hung out the bottom. It is a strange looking thing.
@@alexh2790 That's really unfortunate! I haven't ever seen a Game Boy cartridge in the flesh so I had no idea. The NES one is a lot more well-made at least.
@@hungrygoriya I more mean it feels like the game was originally more a Zelda type like game and then later christian adapted. I think the wisdom tree did that with some games.
Some of it is! So many people came into the streams going on about how this was just a Zelda clone when it's a lot more than that, so the entire soundtrack to this video is music from games people casually call "Zelda clones" when they actually aren't really at all!
@Hungry Goriya it is so much more than zelda! Just because it's over head with weapons doesn't mean zelda. Heck would that make zelda a hydlie clone? Crystalis is one of my absolute favorite nes games. Only Faxanadu and Simon's quest beat it!
@@BigBearHgX Yeah, it's quite a pet peeve of mine to put everything into these couple of boxes like Zelda Clone, Metroidvania, etc. We have better ways of describing games and qualifying them! Crystalis is the review I'm currently working on, so you're in for a treat!
As a kid I genuinely loved Noah's Ark. Baby Moses and D&G left a bit to be desired. Never had the chance to own this but figure Bible Adventures was a much more common title.
I've only tried Noah's Ark as an adult and it makes me mad... I just want all the animals to understand I'm trying to help them and stop resisting! Baby Moses just makes me laugh... my famil watched The Ten Commandments movie every Easter growing up so seeing the video game twist on that story always gets me!
Amen! Of all the Wisdom Tree games for the NES, this is one is by far the best and most fun. The game also has a surprising amount of secrets and hidden areas. You can find 4 of each fruit but good luck actually finding them all. I appreciate that the game is overall lighthearted and not overly preachy. Well, except for punishing you for going into the bar & casino, which is more hilarious than anything else. As for enemies, the Hare Krishnas at the airport crack me up. This game is definitely NOT politically correct and that only makes it funnier. One thing that annoys me is that the trivia questions reset every time you start the game, even with a password. So you'll end up getting the same easy questions over and over again. On the plus side, that makes it easy to get tons of Spirit Points, but it also makes it very dull. You have to play non-stop if you want to see the harder questions, and there's something like 250 total.
I'm surprised more people haven't given this one a try despite the religious foundation. Like you said here, there's a lot to explore and a lot of fun to be had if you just look past the surface. I think I'd forgotten about the questions resetting, but now that you mention it, I do remember that happening and being happy about it because the questions I was getting into were too hard for me. 250 total and getting more difficult with each one seems like it's not very achievable for kids anymore.
This game looks insane! As someone who loves to study different religious forms of expressions, I need to play this! Its so bonkers I keep thinking that some of the devs are maybe being ironic without letting their christian bosses notice? Idk the bible is also pretty bonkers so maybe not, but someone on that team definitely had a sense of humor lol Great video, thank you for your work!
It was my pleasure to play and review this game. Are you aware of the company Wisdom Tree? They made a whole bunch of games for the NES that were based on the Christian bible, so hopefully if you haven't heard of them, you'll find some nuggets looking through their back catalogue. It's hard to tell whether some of these things were seriously intended or not... I definitely had a good chuckle at many aspects of the game, and whether or not that was what they were going for, that was the effect!!
@@raioh4747 Good luck and happy researching! Their game collection is on Steam (I think?) and they also released a plug and play console a few years ago called The Arkade and did a Kickstarter campaign for it. I hope this is helpful!
@@hungrygoriya yeah. I'm thrilled every time I see you videos come up. You pick a great selection to talk about. Very informative, and entertaining so much appreciated!!
I was introduced to this game when my mom decided that final fantasy would lead to the devil, so she got this game. Thinking now I’m like I don’t think I can do anything in real life that is in final fantasy. But I can get various fruits to throw at people, go into airports and prisons- and still go into strangers home and take whatever is in a random box. All stuff I could do in real life. Hmmm….🤔
You didn't get the banana? Best fruit of the spirit out there. You get it on the screen shown at 3:43. The NPC says something about being patient and if you wait a few seconds without moving one of the cars will drive away revealing a room where you can get the banana.
@@hungrygoriya Remember patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. If I remember correct that is the first place you come across it. Don't ask me where the others are. I played this game to death as a kid but haven't revisited in in quite a few years. You are supposed to be able to find 4 of each fruit except I think there are only 3 pears.
I also grew up Catholic and I would see these games in Christian bookstores or shops when I was younger. Going to parochial schools for most of my life and then studying the Bible in college - games like this eluded me as either being called "blasphemous" when I was younger and would pick up a box to show my parents, to laughable/ridicule comments when I was a bit older and now are in the realm of hidden/rare Retro. Nice to have a light shone on them to see what they actually are and this one seems like as you said a fun Zelda like. Some of those Biblical references in the game you showed made me either roll my eyes in disdain or laughter. I don't think I could play this 🤣 Great review though, I especially appreciate you adding the bit with the corruption/glitch - I always look forward to those parts.
I'm glad this was an opportunity for you to see what they're all about, though based on what else I've played from Wisdom Tree, this one's the cream of the crop. And I completely agree on the eye rolling effect of this stuff. Sometimes I couldn't tell if the references were unintentionally funny or intentionally funny. Were the people behind this game actually devout people that wanted to bring these messages to children, or people using it as a means to poke fun? It could go either way and that line's very blurry in my opinion! And it wouldn't be a playthrough for me if something didn't go horribly wrong with the capture/setup/equipment somewhere along the way! I always wonder if I should include those mishaps, but they're really part my own lived experience. It's hard not to share those ridiculous moments with all of you! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments here, and on the other videos you've watched as well. I really appreciate it!
Love this BASED content! Always hated when games took out crosses and references to Christianity in order to not annoy some imaginary person. I want crosses, angels, Bible verses, churches, demons getting BTFO, I want it all! I lol'd when Satan had to glitch your game to keep you from destroying him.
Is based good? I'm not up to speed with this new-fangled lingo. Satan only succeeded temporarily by messing up my password and not allowing me to kill him. He went down eventually!
Hardly anybody ever actually reviews this game at all, let alone plays through and evaluates is fairly. It usually just gets lumped in with all the Wisdom Tree stuff and ridiculed as one of those awful bible games.
I've been interested in playing this one for almost a decade but didn't find a copy until about two years ago or so. I had a great time with it. I truly think people would enjoy it if they gave it a chance.
1st game I saw someone beat(specifically Noah's Ark)! It was my mom, who hates video games, and called it trash. Beating Noah for me is more of an I need a video game win. Then I toss baby Moses in the water a few times and I'm good.
@@hungrygoriya pretty much his fault for having such a frustrating game. But seriously, don't throw babies in rivers, just not cool. The rams in David and Goliath and evil birds in Noah's ark remind you that doing so is not ok
As a person who grew up with and loathed the heavy-handed religious theming, this was an oddly compelling game to chip at. Its like someone took the original Zelda, and made a linear game with surprisingly good pacing from it. This set a bar no other 'divine' product could see let alone reach, besides 'maybe' Captain Bible and the Dome of Darkness.
... Captain Bible and the Dome of Darkness is an intriguing title. I might have to look into that! I agree with you though. There's nothing really inherently bad about this game and how it plays. I liked it a lot!
@@hungrygoriya Captain Bible is a novel enough premise, but basically a series of mazes solved via collecting and contextually using verses to argue. It can see the bar, not 'quite' reach it, like playing a religious Captain Planet. The higher difficulties require a lot of stretching and religious 'circular logic', so don't jump in too deep if you get to try it.
@@hungrygoriya I ran across your channel a bit ago and really appreciate the in-depth, considerate and unique perspective you bring to some of these old games! 👏
@@LordNazerous Awww thank you very much! That's very high praise. I'm coming to a lot of these games for the first time in adulthood, so I'm glad to offer a bit of a different perspective that usually comes nostalgia-free!
@@Dedicatedtolivinginthepast I am so glad! I don't mind quiet reviews but I also think it's a good way to showcase some of the soundtrack's best work! In this case, there was just one song that played almost the entire game, and a different song when you pause... I had to outsource, haha
I thought that the music from the magic of scheherazade was from somewhere in spiritual warfare and when I listened to the soundtrack I was very disappointed On a different note I really enjoy your retro game reviews and have been watching them since your legacy of the wizard review and I have watched all of them before and after that one they are fun easy to listen to content that is good for listening while playing games or doing chores!
@@Dedicatedtolivinginthepast Oh right on! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. I have another one rendering and I'll be releasing it this evening when it's done, so stay tuned for that! It really means a lot that people are checking out what I'm doing here. And also, sorry to disappoint!
I got to take this game home for a week for getting questions right back when I was a kid going to church. The game punished me for merely walking into a bar. In retrospect, that should have been my first sign.
It's a funny game. Testing where I was allowed to go was one of my favourite parts.
"Oh, come on!! All I did was STEP inside the bar, it's not like I ordered an adult beverage! I just wanted to see if the locals had any useful info!"
This is so great! Thank you for reviewing this one.
When I was young, my family was pretty religious. But I had a friend who's family were *very* religious. He couldn't have games that involved shooting or any other violence, so pretty much everything was off limits. When we hung out we were restricted to Tetris and other such games. But, they did allow the Wisdom Tree games... So, I legit played all their terrible games back in the day for many hours. When Spiritual Warfare came along it was like magic! "You mean we can blow people up with the WRATH OF GOD, and your parents don't care?! Absolutely we are gonna play this game!" And it was sooo good! It wasn't Zelda, exactly, but close enough.
We played it enough that we had to start mixing it up to keep things interesting. Try the 'banana only challenge' sometime!
My pleasure! This game has had my interest for a very long time! I think it's so funny that your friend could explode people and that was fine, but no fictional guns or other weapons were allowed! Wow!
Would you believe I never found any bananas? I would love to replay this sometime and use a guide to find more weapons. I hear the bananas are like the apples, but just faster. I could've used some of that towards the end of the game before getting the sword!
my mom wasn't as bad, but her reason why I got an NES rather than a 16-bit console as I initially desired was because wisdom tree games were available on it. Had to at least have those as an option.
I rented this one and found it completely baffling... but King of Kings was great! A genuinely fun and deep and challenging platformer that I could still actually beat if I tried hard. Well, the wise men game, that is. The other two on that cartridge.. not so great.
Personally, I found playing Wisdom Tree's Noah's Ark game and bashing various animals unconscious with heavy hay bales to be quite cathartic. You'd always look for opportunities to nail multiple critters with a single throw and carry them all off in an improbable stack of cows, horses and squirrels eight feet tall LoL. It was a great laugh!!
@@hungrygoriya I suspect there were more fruit in different ports of the game. I was playing the computer version and I do remember bananas (as well as the savefiles instead of just passwords). Either way, it was a really fun game to max out :P
Apparantly, the main reason Color Dreams turned into Wisdom Tree was because Nintendo blackmailed stores from stocking unnoficial Nintendo games, so they skirted around it by going for a religious angle and selling their games in bookstores. Nintendo had no power there and would look bad if they went after a religious publisher.
In addition, Nintendo forbade the subject matter of these games on their platform. This gave Wisdom Tree an untapped and in demand niche that proved successful for awhile.
Luckily for me, I took Monty Python's Self-Defense Against Fresh Fruit course, so no conversion for me. Anyway, great job highlighting a mostly overlooked NES game.
Thanks for taking the time to watch! I'm glad you have your fruit shield, haha
But what if someone comes at you with a pointed stick???
😆
I was unable to join that class because I was too busy being a member of the Society for Putting Things On Top of Other Things.
*unluckily
Honestly a super campy very literal adaptation of this into a movie would be really funny. Straight up pelting people with fruit to convert them, an angel scolding you for going into a bar even with a seemingly good reason, a chase scene with invulnerable soulless animals. It offers a lot to work with!
I agree! I don't even really watch a lot of movies and I would watch an adaptation of this!
Still have my copy of this game and a NES to play it on, I revisit it now and then.
This game's "fruits of the spirit" representation did result in an embarrassing Sunday School moment for me, though. The teacher asked us to name some fruits of the spirit, and I said "banana." She thought I was smarting off, and berated me in front of the whole class for it. 😆
It's cool that you still pick it back up once in a while! And that's hilarious about Sunday school... I would've also said something from this game because why not, right? Oh dear!
Ray Comfort would agree about the banana, though.
I never thought that there could actually be a "good" wisdom tree game, but this one seems legit.
It has a lot of well-implemented layers and mechanics! I hope you like it if you try it out sometime.
I fondly remember this game, it was hard, but actually a really well made product
This was my favorite game when I was growing up. Whenever my brothers or I would get grounded, we were only allowed to play the "religious" games. So many good memories watching this.
Awww right on! I would've been happy growing up with this one. I would've especially loved it as a punishment game. It's so fun!
I just finally purchased this game after going 20 years since playing it as a kid, I'm 31 now! My parents were church goers aswell so my dad bought us these games to play as kids. After deciding to build back my childhood gaming collection I had to start by getting this game, even before getting zelda! The gameplay is so gratifying and fluid to play and progresses just lovely! Just as you said tho some bosses can take a bit of guesswork but once u grasp the tricks and puzzles involved it actually makes the game as a whole seem pretty thought out. They all have some sort of easy way to beat them, it's just a matter of figuring it out. Every section of the game is connected beautifully. One last thing I can not remember tho is how to unlock the first secret path under the pond to the right of where you start the game! You will see a blocked off entrance/pathway right of the entrance to the first boss room. I thought it would become available after the final boss but I remembered wrong. If anyone knows what I am talking about please let me know! Great review!
It's awesome that you picked this one up right away... it must've made a pretty big impression on you! Spiritual Warfare was so much fun and kept me on my toes in every way, especially with those boss fights. It was way better than fighting another Aquamentus every other dungeon in Zelda, for sure!
I wish I had answers for you about your question, but maybe someone here will eventually. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
I played this game on stream before and I must say it was super creative to have the devil's lair hidden beneath a rioting prison. That was just genius.
Very fitting!
Clobbering people with fruit, going to sinful casinos, what more could you want in a game? Thank you for sharing this unique gaming experience with us!
It was my pleasure! Hopefully you'll play it yourself some day >:)
Preach, Sister, preach! I'm sure thousands of non-believers will be converted by your profound message. You're the Mahalia Jackson of the UA-cam retro-gaming community.
I wish I had her voice!
I miss these sorts of crazy things we used to get on the NES, even better when it's actually quite playable and somehow with depth. Impressive.
With mega-quirky games having gone to the wayside after the PS2 I believe the best bet is Dreams on PlayStation, surely someone's had my idea of making a game where you clear out the temple as J.
Post apocalyptic Zelda bible game XD It was fun watching your stream of this game!
Thanks for being there in the streams. And totally... the sin meteor struck Earth and we're the only ones who can save ourselves and everyone else...
It’s been soooo long!! I love your content.
I thought this was a pretty short upload gap for once! Thanks though! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel.
I wholeheartedly agree. I had the NES version as a kid. A friend of mine have given me the SEGA Genesis version recently, which I beat. The graphics are a slight upgrade from its NES counterpart, and some things were fixed on it.
Oh nice! I've only seen a little bit of the Genesis game, but it looks a lot cleaner and nicer in many ways.
8:45 Is the song here from the game ost? It sounds really nice
It's not from this one. It's from The Magic of Scheherazade on NES, which is also a great game. This one unfortunately didn't have much music variety at all.
WoW! excellent review . I started going to church and reading the bible a year ago . I also can't unlock my mind from remembering how much fun I had in the early 90s playing NES. Your review is truly a blast! 🌎🚀
Thanks very much for stopping in and for your kindness. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@hungrygoriya I am going to look for NES meetups in Los Angeles, if you have recommendations - feel free to share, if not, that's cool too . hugs.
I never thought I'd heard the phrase "Christian-themed platforming", but today is the day. Thanks for playing the games I never want to, and for putting all your time into these reviews.
My pleasure! Surprisingly there are a lot of those very games out there for your enjoyment >:)
Shoutout for the amazing review. Recently became a devout Catholic so it’s awesome hearing it from you. Also a life longer gamer.
Hey thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Had never heard of this title before this review! Thanks for featuring it! :-)
My pleasure! It's a funny game and I think about it pretty often still.
HG it was a lot of fun seeing this on stream. I remember the bad password issue and that could’ve been a deal breaker but you kept on going. Is looked like a fun game and the morality system reminds me of some other games you played (Ultima).
Thank goodness morality blunders could be repaired or else we'd still be paying off our gallivanting.
Still paying off the gallivanting sounds like my credit card bill.
Yesssss, New video. Yet again thank you for the upload. Also good to see a more neutral approach to others I've seen on these vids. Like Bible Games series from AVGN (which yes I know he plays on hyperbole for laughs and a caricature) or other similar content creators.
I'm not sure how to be anything but objective. I have no character to play into for my videos, so I'm just a regular person playing games and trying to highlight the ones I enjoy or really don't. James Rolfe's Bible Games video was what originally put this game on my radar all those years ago, and his videos on these games are some of my favourites. I always like to give games the benefit of the doubt.
Oh my... I have never heard of this one, although I have heard of a few other Wisdom Tree titles. The levels you featured with the ladders, look pretty active and difficult. Like you would have to lose a few times and think of how you're going to solve that puzzle and get across the screen. From what I seen those levels or sections of the game appeared like very Advanced Donkey Kong scenarios, a lot going on. Despite how others speak of anything produced by Wisdom Tree, you did a very healthy and proper review of this for what it is "a game".. looks like a pretty interesting one, thank you for sharing
Thanks very much! I try to talk about my own personal experience with the game, and in this case, I had fun. It was a little heavy-handed on the religious themes but the gameplay was challenging and interesting. I hope more people give this one a try versus writing it off as just another Wisdom Tree game.
I was baffled at how this made it past Nintendo's restrictions until I saw it was unlicensed. But honestly this is a pretty well thought out game. At least it seems to have a lot of effort put into it. Always nice to see religious influence enforced by tasty fruit!
I mean, tasty fruit's probably the nicest way to be compelled into religious practices. Especially if you get invited to eat it!
It's pretty good! The only downfall is the soundtrack but I barely noticed it after a while. Everything else was fun!
I picked up this game because of your review. This game really is very good. Thank you!
I'm so glad you're enjoying your time with it!
CORE MEMORY UNLOCKED!!!
Wow, I had no idea this was originally an NES game. I played this a long time ago on one of those cheap direct to tv game systems. I thought this game in particular was the best of all the ones included. I played it for hours. Then the game system crapped out.
But I remember the Bar, and I was SO confused for being punished for just entering. I was like 12, I didn't want to drink, I wanted to share the Gospel with all the drunks and get more dove points! Man, I'll have to find a rom for this or something. Wow, what a nostalgia trip. Thanks for sharing!
Oh nice! Glad to somehow help you remember something tucked deep away in your memory. This game was such a funny experience and I hope you can find a way to play it again. The bar was so perplexing to me but I couldn't help tempting fate elsewhere! Enjoy if you give it a whirl!
Very good review. I played this a lot as a kid and loved it. I'll be watching more of your yt vids!
It's a great little game. I hope more people give it a shot.
And thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the rest of the channel!
1:44 Is that guy coming at you with a Switch Blade or an AIDS Needle?! But good review. I only hear people slagging on Bible Games but most are just Bible Colored version of popular games so it can't be all bad. Funny thing about the company though: The Wisdom Tree was the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil, which is the one thing The Lord told Adam and Eve to have nothing to do with. So naming a Bible Games company after it is kinda Ironic. I had an idea for a game based on David that's Contra but with Slinging Stones instead of a Pea Shooter and you face Lions and Bears. The Screen Nuke can be an Angel Blast and Goliath can be the Final Boss like the Super C End Guy with aiming at the head. Also could be a Beat em up with Samson busting Philistines like Altered Beast or Last Battle.
Sounds like you have a game to make!
You know, I never put the wisdom tree = tree of knowledge together. That's actually hilarious!
I remember getting this game when kid. I can say is the only RPG game I ever loved playing cuz I not an RPG lover. Like you say it wasn't a problem for me to enjoy it since I grow up in a Christian house and the mix between christianity and gaming
I was surprised at how much fun I had playing this one. Glad you got to enjoy it too!
Who knew pears were so powerful! xD Excellent review! A game I would never give a try without wonderful videos like this!!
So when's the playthrough?
@@hungrygoriya that would require me.to own the game! 😂
Great review. I wonder which version of the armor of God is canon though. The box art features the pants-less version, which I'm guessing allows for *maximum* mobility. But the manual DOES feature a more modest armor of God that covers the whole body. :D
Good point... I'm inclined to go with the cover art just for the pantlessness, haha
Oooh! Ooh! I know this one!
The pantless Armour of God is cannon because there are biblical references to a everything in that box art image but not to pants so The Pantsless Crusader(tm) is the correct and cannon version.
What an incredible find! Had me cracking up when you lost the belt.
I was shocked at what was happening in that moment. I expected a boss and instead I got my wrist slapped!
@@hungrygoriya If it were a different developer, I'd think that having to buy your items back was a sort of commentary on religious hypocrisy, but WT are much too earnest for that.
@@jonothanthrace1530 Oh dear, haha
I was raised Lutheran, so this definitely cracked me up seeing this again. The church we went to had bible games like this for rental.
Oh yeah? Did you ever play this one when you were younger then?
@@hungrygoriya I remember the moses game where you collect the animals. I played that one alot. I wanted this one but my mom thought it was too violent for 9 year old me. Funny looking back comparing what we have now.
@@bananajoe9951 Oh yeah, Bible Adventures with Noah's Ark! I love the Baby Moses game on that cartridge the most. It makes me laugh so much!
This... actually looks like a pretty interesting game! I might have to check it out sometime. Thanks for taking the time to review it!
Incidentally, what's with the pitch-shifted Crystalis music you used in the background? Were you specifically going for a slightly off-kilter mood with it, or is that how Crystalis' field theme sounds on your cursed NES? ;)
It's a surprisingly "complete" experience, if that makes sense. Especially compared to other Wisdom Tree games!
I just slowed the Crystalis music down a little... same with the song from Faria. The whole soundtrack is made up of music from games people always tell me are Zelda clones but don't actually have much in common with it. I hoped it might add to the confusion a little, haha
@@hungrygoriya Nice subtle touch. I like it. ;)
I can't believe how many backgrounds and levels there are to this and how much it's made to resemble the modern world while being a zelda tileset, and it's something that was on the nes and not a modern joke romhack
It's a pretty deep game! I was also really surprised by it.
Thanks now im picturing the protagonist wandering through a busy city with 250 doves in his pockets
Sounds about right...
I still think the most epic Wisdom Tree moment is the last level of David and Goliath on Bible Adventures, where you finally get to take down the Philistines with your trusty sling.
But I also played this one as a kid. I got stuck eventually, but I’m sure it would be fun and easy to return to.
Yeah, while he's laughing at you the whole time up there? The shield guy's way harder to take out!
I hope you'll give Spiritual Warfare another try sometime. It's definitely fun!
Never heard of this one. This is quite interesting especially considering how religious games were at that time.
That part about answering Bible questions and them getting really obscure reminds me of a really bad joke that I'll share and already feel bad about it as I should.
Three Nuns die and goes to Heaven. They're greeted by Saint Peter at the Gates of Heaven. They ask if they may enter Heaven? Saint Peter tells them no one enters Heaven without answering a question. The Nuns look at each other nervously. Peter then says that given their devotion to the faith they should have no need to worry.
He asks the first Nun to step forward. He asks her: "How many days did it take God to create the Earth?" The first Nun answers: "Six days with one more to rest."
Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the first Nun.
Second Nun approaches. Peter asks her "Tell me the names of the first Man and Woman." She answers: "Adam and Eve."
Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the second Nun.
Saint Peter thinks for a moment and says: "You know... those were questions I'd ask an ordinary person. You're all Nuns who have devoted your lives to all this. I'm going to ask you a better question than I have."
The third Nun nods in understanding.
Saint Peter says: "What was the first thing Eve said to Adam?"
The third Nun nearly faints! She feels fear in her gut and heart. She asks Peter "Is there a time limit for my response?" "No." He replies. "But you may not ask anyone for help."
The third Nun repeats the question over and over again to herself. Thinking about everything she's ever read or heard about the creation story and the Garden of Eden. After a good long time she gives up and says:
"My God! That is a hard one!"
Bells ring, horns blare, and the Gates of Heaven open for the third Nun.
Oh noooooo hahaha! I can't say I've heard this one before, but thank you for sharing!
The plot about finding the pieces of the Armor of God always made me feel like this game was the prequel to the Christian TV series Bibleman.
Which is a riot, BTW. If you've never seen it I strongly recommend the episode "The Fiendish Works of Dr. Fear"
I can't say I'm familiar with Bibleman, but based on your description, it sounds like it might be an interesting watch.
@@hungrygoriya I'll just say.... what I got was not what I expected (Although again, I recommend starting with the Fiendish Works of Dr Fear episode, as from what I've been told that's where the show "hits its stride").
I grew up in a religious household and about half of our total NES games were from Wisdom Tree. I tried to make myself like the others but Sporitual Warfare was by far the best. A solid game that almost no one ever tries
I completely agree with this! The other games are alright but this one's definitely a standout!
I used to own this game back in the 1990s. I loved how it was based on the Zelda 1 formula of gameplay. My great aunt, who used to often take me to church as a kid, gifted me this game along with a gameboy port of Joshua. My only gripe with the game was the password system. At the time, the tv I had during the 90s had horrible sharpness for small print. It was an older, pre 90's tv that could only connect with a RF switch, so it had the worst sharpness and clarity possible for reading small text. I often found myself getting far into the game and trying to read and write he password down when I had to stop, but having alot if problems writing down the characters correctly due to my tv sharpness problems. I would later find out that I couldn't return to the progress that I had made, because I got the password wrong. Some of that frustration turned me off from playing the game again after spending hours and hours with it. I had this same problem with other games like Faxanadu. I otherwise loved the game and regret I never finished it.
Awww what a lovely present from her! I'm sorry you struggled with the passwords. I definitely did as a kid as well, but nowadays I just snap a photo with my phone and I'm good to go when I pick it back up. I still usually put something in wrong even with a photo, so they're definitely not intuitive by design. Sorry you never made it through, but maybe someday?
I just started collecting for the NES. I'm very interested in this game. I'd like to find a copy to buy.
I hope you can track one down. It took me a while to find my copy but they're out there.
@@hungrygoriya I’m going to try eBay first. Then my local retro video game store. After that I’m not sure.
"And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, begin pelting unbelievers with apples."
... yep, pretty much!
@6:16 ah, so that's how you *DRINK OF WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD* in SMT Nocturne.
Didn't know this was secretly another Megami Tensei game. Cool.
Tadaaaa
I love a good comedy. It actually looks like a solid game. It's gotten good reviews before. I was raised Catholic too (Italian), so whilst watching playthrough it surely cracked me up.
I had so many laugh out loud moments that probably weren't meant to be funny, but then again, maybe they were!
I was raised heathen, so I didn't have the familiarity with Christianity coming into this. I did grow up in Rural Pennsylvania, a time and place where it was just sort of a fact of life, so I got all of the basics, but that was about it; given that his was also not a time and place that was any kind of tolerant to anyone or anything outside the norm, I didn't exactly grow up with a high opinion of it. I say that only to say that I was still able to enjoy this as a solid game; I was able to see all of the Christian elements as just a kind of lore, no different from what you'd find in any other game, though I didn't play this during my younger, angrier days. It's so easy to overlook, but I think it's a worthy adventure for any fans of the genre, regardless of faith. Also, the final battle against Satan is one of the most metal things I've ever seen in an NES game.
My mom was a devout Catholic and we went to mass every weekend without skipping a beat so it was something fairly ingrained in my day to day growing up. It's an interesting perspective to look at it as lore though. I like that!
I thought about playing this. I went to Christian school and Wisdom Tree had a video game fair sort of thing and this game looked awesome to me, but i had no money.
You can still play it!
i remember playing this like a forever ago, when every other kid my age was playing on their xbox 360s i had a beaten up nes way obsolete by the standard at the time, and a silly game about christianity. this game was rad as fuck. i remember playing it for long nights after school trying to figure out all the puzzles and progress, and i was never able to beat it but i got pretty damn far and i remember this game through mostly hazy dream, but i finally got reminded of it now, and it was just as good as i remember.
It's honestly a fantastic game. I wish I would've gotten to experience as a kid just for the fun factor. It was a pleasant surprise!
My friend had somebody wisdom tree games when we were kids. I like the wiseman game on the king of kings cart. You got to ride a camel and spit a banana at enemies like a boomerang. It was funny back then
I like King of Kings quite a bit as well. The camel game's my favourite one from that bunch.
I haven’t thought about this game in a very long time
It's a fun time. I'd like to replay it someday and see if I can find everything this time.
10:29 Nes Gauntlet can also give you a password that doesn't work. And boy was I more than flustered, after plugging a few hours into it.
Seriously? That's so horrible :(
People dismiss it because of the Biblical ties, but it's far more playable than most of the Color Dreams/Wisdom Tree library!
Absolutely! No question that this is the shining star of the bunch.
I would get so far, then Legion would always kill me in the prison.
Also as Jew I love old Christian media. Remember walking in downtown Toronto and seeing a TV playing the little drummer boy. I was 8 and I said to my dad, "look, that little boy in the move is wearing a kippa (yarmulke), this must be a Jewish movie". Apparently it was not. 😂
Awwww what a funny little memory! I'm assuming it's a Christmas movie, yes? There's that whole song about the little drummer boy that played for Jesus, so I think that's a safe assumption...
@@hungrygoriya haha yeah. It's this stop motion move from the late 60s I found out years later. Little me was not yet privy to the concept of the whole Jesus was a Jew thing haha. But the movie is pretty interesting actually in terms of aesthetic. Much more religious than Nightmare before Christmas (which I think we can all admit is the best stop motion Christmas movie). 😅
When I read "fruits of the spirit" I didn't quite think it'd be so literal
Me neither! The literal interpretation of some of these things into a video game's reality is what really makes this especially funny!
The game play of this game is actually not bad. It's cheesy as can be in terms of content, but that also arguably adds to its charm.
Exactly! I love how it plays and the religious overtones add a level of charm for me personally. I know it's not for everyone but it's was definitely a curiosity when I was looking into the NES library.
I borrowed this game from a friend when I was young unaware that it was a Christian game and after awhile had a lot of fun with it in spite of its' dogmatic nature.
It's a lot more fun than I was expecting, definitely! I found the Christian ties pretty entertaining but as a game, Spiritual Warfare has a lot of great things going for it.
Fair warning: Super Adventure Island 2 has a casino, and chat WILL urge you to go inside it!
Oh dear... I suppose we'll have to deal with that when the time comes!
I think it's biggest problem, besides religious symbols that Nintendo doesn't like, is it seems to be a hack of The Legend of Zelda. I'm going to give it a shot though, looks like a fun playthough.
I don't know that it is... you can move diagonally and none of the assets are the same. I hope you enjoy the playthrough though!
Always had a soft spot for this game. Wasn't much of a church-going kid growing up, but something about this game charmed the heck out of me. I never played the first LoZ as a kid, but I beat this game multiple times and loved it. Oh, and screw the password system!
Spiritual Warfare was so fun. I laughed out loud so much playing and it was honestly a great challenge! The password system is really mean. I love a detailed password that keeps your exact progress but it was trouble sometimes as well. I'm glad you got to play this when you were younger!
Wow, props to you for sticking this one out, I barely gave it half a chance. Not that the biblical stuff bothers me, I just thought it was a stinker. I really appreciate how you bring the appreciation to some of these games that I always thought were crap and seem to have a unanimously bad rap (like Friday the 13th).
--btw, the occupations involving those most far-gone spiritually, acc. scripture: Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Politicians, Priests. --Any surprise?
Thank you! I'm just happy that this game didn't suck as bad as some of the other Wisdom Tree games, though I do find some of them a guilty pleasure to enjoy. I play Baby Moses more often than I care to admit!
And you're absolutely right about the occupations! They definitely fit the bill but those poor beach-goers! Bathing suits are super scandalous, apparently!
@@hungrygoriya HAahah yeah come to think of it I've played Baby Moses a little more than one would think, it's pretty hilarious throwing the baby all over the place xD the graphics & controls aren't too bad either.
@@bazdaniels7420 I honestly find it to be so ridiculous that I just bust out laughing every time I play it. Any game that makes me laugh like that is good in my books.
You should try Noah's Ark (NES) by Konami one of these days. It's... bizarre, to say the least, but in their style more or less. I also remember quite distinctly this one FPS game from the early 2000s, Catechumen... it wasn't that bad of a game, but it sure was family-friendly. :P
Yeah! That's the PAL game eh? I keep meaning to try to find a copy since I could probably play it in a top-loader. The speed would be wrong but I could probably manage!
I haven't heard of Catechumen... a family friendly FPS you say? I'll check into it. Thanks!
A game based on Ephesians Chapter 6. Pretty cool, haha. Funny presentation, thanks for the review. I never had this one, but I did have Bible Adventures. Believe it or not we used to play that one with some regularity.
Yeah the manual has the passage written out... it's a pretty neat way to make the bible come alive, that's for sure!
Bible Adventures is something I play often enough. I think Noah's Ark's my least favourite one on there but Baby Moses and David and Goliath are quick and always make me laugh. Did you like those games growing up? I've only played them as an adult but I think I would've enjoyed them as a kid too.
@@hungrygoriya yeah I did....we had a TV in the van and would play it during long road trips. It was usually good for about 45mins-1hr of playtime before we'd switch. I'd always stack as many sheep on my head as I could
I actually beat this game as a kid. Completely loved it. I also grew up in a very religious family so none of this stuff struck me as odd back then haha.
I am very interested in experiencing it again some day now that I am no longer religious. I'm sure a lot of it will strike me very differently.
I still bet it is a pretty great game though if you can look past its religious heavy-handedness and look at it like the lore of any other fantasy rpg type setting.
A total underappreciated gem imo. Definitely a favorite from childhood.
I also wound up coupling up the grapes with the sword as my primary weapon combo for late game.
I remember only the apples made the final boss (Satan himself) vulnerable though
It's a really well thought out game. It has it all: weapon upgrades, a feeling of progress, puzzles, etc. I'm glad you got to experience it as a kid. Definitely play it again sometime if you have a chance. I'm not religious either these days but having those foundation principles from elementary school etc. made coming to this game really interesting for me.
Grapes and sword were mine as well! I think I used the pomegranates on the final boss since the apples were too slow for my tastes.
What a great and fair review of a well-built and clearly agenda-motivated game. I literally lolled at the bar scene. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I loved this one!
I remember this cart at my Sunday School, never got to play it. But have to give it to them to make "The Legend of Jesus".
I was really impressed to say the least. I also have a soft spot for Bible Adventures especially because it's so ridiculous, but Spiritual Warfare was actually a legitimate quest.
This game tries to be so serious about its religious references that it becomes (unintentionally?) hilarious instead. I laughed at several spots watching your video. Unfortunately this game wasn't released in Europe, but I might give it a try with my everdrive.
I hope you'll give it a whirl. I feel the same way... it's so out there that you start to wonder if some of the things were meant to be funny. I'd love to see the pitch meeting about the jawbone item.
For a game called "Spiritual Warfare", I expected you to be a paladin fighting off demons with a mystical sword, not running around slums throwing apples at plumbers.
That could've also been a very cool idea for a Spiritual Warfare game... alas, haha
My dad brought this home one day, but it was for the Sega Genesis. Seems to be the exact same game though. I remember taking it over to a friend's house as a laugh, but then we played it and ended up finishing it. Kind of a weird surprise. Definitely would have been a better game without the religious context and a bit more polish.
I think it was also released on the Genesis! The graphics were probably a little nicer on that console. It surprised me with its fun factor as well. Glad you two finished it that day!
It's actually not surprising that your game malfunctioned like that, as I could actually tell that u had a bad connection from the way the graphics were flashing around the ladders & such. This usually means one of the pins had a dirty connection with the system & that ur game was basically a ticking time bomb for locking up.
Am surprised nobody in your live stream had the sense to mention it.
That's the beauty of playing on hardware I guess. It was fine the entire game until the end... I think it was just a little glitchy.
Is it me or does that first instance of background music sound like a heavily modified version of the Legend of Zelda theme? That closing music too.
And I wonder if Nintendo is as aggressive in taking down ROMs of Wisdom Tree games?
It's actually some Zelda music in reverse since everyone insists on calling this one a Zelda clone. Good ear!
@@hungrygoriya I played this and it is actually pretty good, period. A little weird, but pretty good.
I had this on gameboy when I was a child, the connection pins were totally exposed and I was afraid if I touched them it would destroy the cartridge.
Oh man... was that how it came from the manufacturer?!
@@hungrygoriya Yeah, the cart was black with a label that was poorly applied (the cartridge sloped inward for some reason) and the teeth of the cart just hung out the bottom. It is a strange looking thing.
@@alexh2790 That's really unfortunate! I haven't ever seen a Game Boy cartridge in the flesh so I had no idea. The NES one is a lot more well-made at least.
An interesting game to say the least! Well done as always Hungry. :)
Thanks very much! I hear there's a Game Boy version of this game if you ever feel so inclined...
6:15 The Holy Hand Grenades of Antioch?
True Christian heroes do not wear pants is the motto here.
Though this game feels like it was originally a Zelda clone that was christianized.
I think it's got enough in it that makes it very different from just another "Zelda clone".
@@hungrygoriya I more mean it feels like the game was originally more a Zelda type like game and then later christian adapted.
I think the wisdom tree did that with some games.
Is that back ground music crystalis?
Some of it is! So many people came into the streams going on about how this was just a Zelda clone when it's a lot more than that, so the entire soundtrack to this video is music from games people casually call "Zelda clones" when they actually aren't really at all!
@Hungry Goriya it is so much more than zelda! Just because it's over head with weapons doesn't mean zelda. Heck would that make zelda a hydlie clone? Crystalis is one of my absolute favorite nes games. Only Faxanadu and Simon's quest beat it!
@@BigBearHgX Yeah, it's quite a pet peeve of mine to put everything into these couple of boxes like Zelda Clone, Metroidvania, etc. We have better ways of describing games and qualifying them!
Crystalis is the review I'm currently working on, so you're in for a treat!
@@hungrygoriya yay!!! I look forward to it.
holy shit, it looks like a combination of final fantasy and faxanadu
As a kid I genuinely loved Noah's Ark. Baby Moses and D&G left a bit to be desired.
Never had the chance to own this but figure Bible Adventures was a much more common title.
I've only tried Noah's Ark as an adult and it makes me mad... I just want all the animals to understand I'm trying to help them and stop resisting! Baby Moses just makes me laugh... my famil watched The Ten Commandments movie every Easter growing up so seeing the video game twist on that story always gets me!
Amen! Of all the Wisdom Tree games for the NES, this is one is by far the best and most fun.
The game also has a surprising amount of secrets and hidden areas. You can find 4 of each fruit but good luck actually finding them all.
I appreciate that the game is overall lighthearted and not overly preachy. Well, except for punishing you for going into the bar & casino, which is more hilarious than anything else.
As for enemies, the Hare Krishnas at the airport crack me up. This game is definitely NOT politically correct and that only makes it funnier.
One thing that annoys me is that the trivia questions reset every time you start the game, even with a password. So you'll end up getting the same easy questions over and over again. On the plus side, that makes it easy to get tons of Spirit Points, but it also makes it very dull. You have to play non-stop if you want to see the harder questions, and there's something like 250 total.
I'm surprised more people haven't given this one a try despite the religious foundation. Like you said here, there's a lot to explore and a lot of fun to be had if you just look past the surface.
I think I'd forgotten about the questions resetting, but now that you mention it, I do remember that happening and being happy about it because the questions I was getting into were too hard for me. 250 total and getting more difficult with each one seems like it's not very achievable for kids anymore.
Where did you stream this?
I looked on your Twitch channel but couldn't find it in the archive.
My vods disappear after 2 months.
I loved this game and its world! I always looked forward to obtaining the Sword of the Spirit.
It's pretty great, I agree! There was something really fulfilling about finding my way through this one.
This game looks insane! As someone who loves to study different religious forms of expressions, I need to play this!
Its so bonkers I keep thinking that some of the devs are maybe being ironic without letting their christian bosses notice? Idk the bible is also pretty bonkers so maybe not, but someone on that team definitely had a sense of humor lol
Great video, thank you for your work!
It was my pleasure to play and review this game. Are you aware of the company Wisdom Tree? They made a whole bunch of games for the NES that were based on the Christian bible, so hopefully if you haven't heard of them, you'll find some nuggets looking through their back catalogue.
It's hard to tell whether some of these things were seriously intended or not... I definitely had a good chuckle at many aspects of the game, and whether or not that was what they were going for, that was the effect!!
@@hungrygoriya this video was the first I heard of them, gonna check out their work for sure, starting with this gem haha
@@raioh4747 Good luck and happy researching! Their game collection is on Steam (I think?) and they also released a plug and play console a few years ago called The Arkade and did a Kickstarter campaign for it. I hope this is helpful!
really enjoyed this when i was a kid. i played it on pc because my dad had it on a bootleg diskette lmfao
Ha! That's amazing!
UA-cam asked me if this video was a good recommendation for me. It's too bad they didn't have a "hell yes" option.
Awww that's very nice of you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
@@hungrygoriya yeah. I'm thrilled every time I see you videos come up. You pick a great selection to talk about. Very informative, and entertaining so much appreciated!!
@@alwaysasn It's uplifting to know that people are looking forward to what I'm working on. Thank you for telling me that!
@@hungrygoriya Absolutely!! Keep doing what you're doing. It's much appreciated on my end :)
I was introduced to this game when my mom decided that final fantasy would lead to the devil, so she got this game. Thinking now I’m like I don’t think I can do anything in real life that is in final fantasy. But I can get various fruits to throw at people, go into airports and prisons- and still go into strangers home and take whatever is in a random box. All stuff I could do in real life. Hmmm….🤔
These are all great points. I hope you eventually got to try out some Final Fantasy as well since those games are awesome.
@@hungrygoriya
Yeah, but not until Final Fantasy 7 on the PS1
You didn't get the banana? Best fruit of the spirit out there. You get it on the screen shown at 3:43. The NPC says something about being patient and if you wait a few seconds without moving one of the cars will drive away revealing a room where you can get the banana.
No kidding! I had no idea where to find it. I'll keep that in mind if I replay it again down the line because I wanted to unleash that ultimate power!
@@hungrygoriya Remember patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. If I remember correct that is the first place you come across it. Don't ask me where the others are. I played this game to death as a kid but haven't revisited in in quite a few years. You are supposed to be able to find 4 of each fruit except I think there are only 3 pears.
@@hungrygoriya Also did you find the secret room? It is hinted at 6:26
@@goatbone Maybe? I'd have to go back and check my playthrough.
I also grew up Catholic and I would see these games in Christian bookstores or shops when I was younger. Going to parochial schools for most of my life and then studying the Bible in college - games like this eluded me as either being called "blasphemous" when I was younger and would pick up a box to show my parents, to laughable/ridicule comments when I was a bit older and now are in the realm of hidden/rare Retro. Nice to have a light shone on them to see what they actually are and this one seems like as you said a fun Zelda like. Some of those Biblical references in the game you showed made me either roll my eyes in disdain or laughter. I don't think I could play this 🤣 Great review though, I especially appreciate you adding the bit with the corruption/glitch - I always look forward to those parts.
I'm glad this was an opportunity for you to see what they're all about, though based on what else I've played from Wisdom Tree, this one's the cream of the crop. And I completely agree on the eye rolling effect of this stuff. Sometimes I couldn't tell if the references were unintentionally funny or intentionally funny. Were the people behind this game actually devout people that wanted to bring these messages to children, or people using it as a means to poke fun? It could go either way and that line's very blurry in my opinion!
And it wouldn't be a playthrough for me if something didn't go horribly wrong with the capture/setup/equipment somewhere along the way! I always wonder if I should include those mishaps, but they're really part my own lived experience. It's hard not to share those ridiculous moments with all of you!
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments here, and on the other videos you've watched as well. I really appreciate it!
Love this BASED content! Always hated when games took out crosses and references to Christianity in order to not annoy some imaginary person. I want crosses, angels, Bible verses, churches, demons getting BTFO, I want it all! I lol'd when Satan had to glitch your game to keep you from destroying him.
Is based good? I'm not up to speed with this new-fangled lingo.
Satan only succeeded temporarily by messing up my password and not allowing me to kill him. He went down eventually!
@@hungrygoriya Heck yeah based is good! Loving all your videos by the way.
@@FiggsNeughton Hooray on both fronts!
Hardly anybody ever actually reviews this game at all, let alone plays through and evaluates is fairly. It usually just gets lumped in with all the Wisdom Tree stuff and ridiculed as one of those awful bible games.
I've been interested in playing this one for almost a decade but didn't find a copy until about two years ago or so. I had a great time with it. I truly think people would enjoy it if they gave it a chance.
I liked Bible Adventures, we used to play that one a lot.
1st game I saw someone beat(specifically Noah's Ark)! It was my mom, who hates video games, and called it trash. Beating Noah for me is more of an I need a video game win. Then I toss baby Moses in the water a few times and I'm good.
@@ggbetz Sounds like a win for everyone involved, except Baby Moses, of course.
@@hungrygoriya pretty much his fault for having such a frustrating game. But seriously, don't throw babies in rivers, just not cool.
The rams in David and Goliath and evil birds in Noah's ark remind you that doing so is not ok
That background music... oh my.
I stand by my choices, haha
As a person who grew up with and loathed the heavy-handed religious theming, this was an oddly compelling game to chip at. Its like someone took the original Zelda, and made a linear game with surprisingly good pacing from it. This set a bar no other 'divine' product could see let alone reach, besides 'maybe' Captain Bible and the Dome of Darkness.
... Captain Bible and the Dome of Darkness is an intriguing title. I might have to look into that!
I agree with you though. There's nothing really inherently bad about this game and how it plays. I liked it a lot!
@@hungrygoriya Captain Bible is a novel enough premise, but basically a series of mazes solved via collecting and contextually using verses to argue. It can see the bar, not 'quite' reach it, like playing a religious Captain Planet.
The higher difficulties require a lot of stretching and religious 'circular logic', so don't jump in too deep if you get to try it.
I had this as a kid. I never understood why a bar was a dumb place to go on a quest to convert sinners .
My intentions were good going in... I just wanted to talk to a few people, throw some fruit around...
I saw this at a gaming store and was debating to get it. Wish I did now.
Maybe it's still there :(
Great review!
Thanks for taking the time to check it out!
@@hungrygoriya I ran across your channel a bit ago and really appreciate the in-depth, considerate and unique perspective you bring to some of these old games! 👏
@@LordNazerous Awww thank you very much! That's very high praise. I'm coming to a lot of these games for the first time in adulthood, so I'm glad to offer a bit of a different perspective that usually comes nostalgia-free!
Clobber them with holy fruit!! LOL Holy crap I laughed my ass off. This was fantastic. :D
It made me laugh a lot... I can't wait to revisit it sometime.
@@hungrygoriya Can't believe I never knew or this game. It's super out there lol. Count me in for a revisit lol
nice touch faria music :)
Faria's a great game! I really enjoyed it.
By the Five Bunnies this game doesn't look half bad
What is the background music starting at 8:45 ?
It's a tune from The Magic of Scheherazade for the NES!
Thanks! I really enjoy your use of background music in your videos!
@@Dedicatedtolivinginthepast I am so glad! I don't mind quiet reviews but I also think it's a good way to showcase some of the soundtrack's best work! In this case, there was just one song that played almost the entire game, and a different song when you pause... I had to outsource, haha
I thought that the music from the magic of scheherazade was from somewhere in spiritual warfare and when I listened to the soundtrack I was very disappointed
On a different note I really enjoy your retro game reviews and have been watching them since your legacy of the wizard review and I have watched all of them before and after that one they are fun easy to listen to content that is good for listening while playing games or doing chores!
@@Dedicatedtolivinginthepast Oh right on! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. I have another one rendering and I'll be releasing it this evening when it's done, so stay tuned for that!
It really means a lot that people are checking out what I'm doing here.
And also, sorry to disappoint!
As a non-practicing atheist this game didn't upset me the slightest.
Did you do StarTropics yet? I'm almost sure you did but I can't find the video.
I haven't played Star Tropics yet actually! It's on my very long list of games to eventually get to.
@@hungrygoriya It is very special that one.