138 · DR. CHAOS

September 25, 2020 · 48 min

The warp zone experiments of the brilliant Dr. Chaos have gone horribly wrong. They've unleashed armies of bloodthirsty creatures, trapping him in his remote research facility. Now only his brother Michael can rescue him.

To succeed, Michael must brave a haunted house filled with vicious monsters. Can he fight his way through dangerous passageways? Track down the concealed weapons? Find the secret vials of strength? And assemble the ultimate weapon, Canbarian?

SHOW NOTES

Dr. Chaos Longplay

The Real Dr. Chaos

Show notes

Do you dare open the doors to doom?
Introductions
- What a title
- Joseph Konopka
  - American citizen who served 16 years of a 20-year prison sentence for two felony acts of conspiracy to commit acts of terror
Story
- Dr. Ginn Chaos, a mad physicist, has invented an Interdimensional Warpgate which grants access to another world. Unfortunately that portal invites a world of monsters into the castle. His younger brother Michael shows up just in time to notice his brother DR. CHAOS is missing.
- Does that mean his brother is named Michael Chaos?
Gameplay
- Blood dripping title screen
  - Skull shows up on the O
  - Lightning makes it all disappear
- Why do enemies re-spawn immediately?
- Exploring the castle
  - It is possible for a Room Monster (Big Lady, Omen, or Franken) to appear from any doors you leave open if you return to the screen at a later time.
- Progression
  - Finding the first Warp Zone
  - Nintendo Power #7
  - Backtracking
- The hallway, the rooms, and warp zones
  - Did first person improve over the goonies
- How playable is Dr. Chaos?
- There are 11 Warp Zones in all. At the end of each of the first 10 Warp Zones, Michael must fight a large monster that carries a piece of the Laser and guards a valuable piece of equipment
Development
- Kunihiko Kagawa - Producer
  - Bards Tale
  - Ultima VI
  - Pool of Radiance
- Seishi Yokota - Designer
  - Never again
EGL
- A series of confusing design decisions are really what puts this off my essential games list. I welcome longer games on the NES, but not when long also means tedious.
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