Oh Balloon Fight, you NES darling. One of Nintendo’s early successes, it’s managed to keep a lower profile than most recognizable titles in their portfolio. Sure it’s available on pretty much every Nintendo system since the GameCube (thanks Animal Crossing!), but it just never became a notable franchise even with a Game Boy sequel and its return in Nintendo Land.
That prevalence and comparable purity might have something to do with Satoru Iwata himself having programmed the game. From Melee on it also managed to be a Super Smash Bros. staple, with that (still subdued) presence growing to the point it has a stage of its own.
1985年のきょう『バルーンファイト』ファミコンで発売!!
アーケード版は、時期が近いけど少しだけ前に出ています。 pic.twitter.com/HPlJh2F8bY— 桜井 政博 / Masahiro Sakurai (@Sora_Sakurai) January 22, 2021
What better backdrop for a commemoration of its anniversary? Balloon Fight was released in Japan on this day back in 1985. It made its arcade debut a year ahead of that and wouldn’t come stateside for another year after, but has kept that timelessness about it.
After all, who doesn’t love a Balloon Trip?
Written by Ricky Berg
When he isn’t writing for Nintendo Wire, Ricky’s anticipating the next Kirby, Fire Emblem, or if the stars ever align, Mother 3 to be released. Till then he’ll have the warm comfort of Super Smash Bros. to keep him going.
