Do You NintenKnow: February 2025
Below is a set of clues for games that have a notable US release date anniversary (5, 10, 15, etc.) in the current month. See if you can figure out the title before clicking the blurred image to find out if you were correct! Head down to the comments when you’re finished and reminisce about the personal memories that were dredged up. Remember that these are going by the release date in the United States. Have fun!
February 1990
This iconic NES title from Nintendo was showcased in the motion picture The Wizard, generating massive levels of anticipation. It helped that the plumber mascot was back to more traditional roots after the second game in the series strayed a bit from the conventions set forth in the debut title. This was also the first instance of the Tanooki Suit which has become a series staple!
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Na na na na na na na na…(redacted)! Step into the cowl of this caped crusader in this NES platformer from Sunsoft. All the gadgets you would expect are there and the hero can even do a wall jump. Fight your way through five levels on the way to defeating the Joker…all while jamming out to a killer soundtrack!
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February 1995
Nintendo released this SNES puzzler starring their pink puffball, but it was really just a re-skinned version of the Japanese Super Puyo Puyo. Line up your blobs and try to send rocks to the player on the other side of the screen. Interestingly, this is the only title featuring the always-hungry pink hero that was not released in Japan.
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Looks like February 1995 was a good time to be a pink puffball fan, as he got not one but two new games. This title was another spin-off, an isometric take on miniature golf. There was no ball here as our pink friend was the ball! Launch him towards the hole, hitting enemies and collecting power-ups on the way.
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February 2005
Konami took a stab at the monster catching RPG genre with this pair of Game Boy Advance titles starring a young “witch doctor”. Yes, they did the Pokémon thing by releasing two versions with exclusive spirits to catch. You don’t throw a ball this time…it’s a tablet instead. One cool wrinkle is that as the main character, Yoh, gains experience he’s able to merge spirits which create combinations that can’t be acquired elsewhere in the game.
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After his “adventure” earlier on the GameCube, Mr. McCloud was back in his Arwing for this Namco-developed title. Well, that’s not entirely true as he can also drive the Landmaster or rely on his own two feet, depending on the mission. The usual crew are back including the ever-annoying Slippy Toad. And Krystal makes an appearance here too, you freaks.
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This Nintendo DS title brought the garlic-loving anti-hero and his minigames to the platform after three Game Boy Advance iterations. The gameplay made good use of the DS touchscreen and microphone in interesting ways like connecting the correct wires to a battery to light up a bulb. Of course, you have to work fast and complete the stages before the timer runs out. Series favorite character, Ashley, made her first appearance in this title.
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February 2015
Wait, a third game starring the pink puffball this month?? You bet! This Wii U outing was a follow-up to a 2005 Nintendo DS title where you use the stylus to draw a path on the touchscreen to help our rolling buddy reach the end of the stage. You can also draw loops to give our hero a speed boost or touch the character to unleash a spinning attack used for enemies. Maybe remembering ROY G BIV will help you on this adventure?
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