Whirlo[a] is a side-scrolling action-platform released by Namco on July 23, 1992 in Japan for the Super Famicom video game system,[1][2] and in Europe and Australia later during the same year. The game was re-released on August 1, 1998 in Nintendo Power flash RAM cartridge format.

Whirlo
Developer(s)Nova Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s)Namco
Composer(s)Hiroshi Ebihara
Norihiko Togashi
Tarō Nakanobu
SeriesValkyrie
Platform(s)Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • JP: July 23, 1992
  • PAL: 1992
Genre(s)Action-platform
Mode(s)Single-player

The game is a prequel to Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu and features Whirlo (known as Krino Xandra in Japan), a secondary character from the first game, in a starring role. While the character designs by Hiroshi Fuji give the game the appearance of a picture book, the degree of difficulty is high, and there are many "bad ending" scenarios.

Gameplay

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Gameplay screenshot

Whirlo is a side-scrolling action-platform game.[3]

Plot

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The game is set in a time when the actions of the Valkyrie have become legendary. The story tells of events leading up to the initial meeting between the Valkyrie and Krino Xandra. At the beginning of the game, Xandra is living a peaceful and happy life deep in the countryside with his wife and son in the Land of Marvel.

One day, a huge explosion is heard throughout the land and a deadly dust falls from the sky, causing many people across the Land of Marvel to begin dying from a withering disease. One of those to be afflicted with the disease is Xandra's son, causing Xandra and his wife to be at a loss as to what to do. After overhearing talk of a marvelous curing medicine, Xandra sets out on a journey to find this medicine and save his son.

Reception

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Whirlo was met with mixed reception from critics since its release, but fan reception was positive: in a poll taken by Family Computer Magazine, it received a score of 21.8 out of 30.[12]

Notes

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  1. ^ Known in Japan as Xandra no Daibōken: Valkyrie to no Deai (Japanese: サンドラの大冒険 ワルキューレとの出逢い, Hepburn: Sandora no Daibōken: Warukyūre to no Deai, lit. "Xandra's Great Adventure: Encounter with the Valkyrie")

References

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  1. ^ a b "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: サンドラの大冒険 〜ワルキューレとの出逢い〜". Famitsu (in Japanese). ASCII Corporation. 1992.
  2. ^ Kindaichi, Wazahiko, ed. (2000-12-01). "スーパーファミコン". Kōgien (広技苑) (in Japanese) (2000年秋 ed.). Mainichi Communications. p. 219. ISBN 4-8399-0447-2.
  3. ^ Kalata, Kurt (July 20, 2010). "Whirlo". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  4. ^ Halverson, Dave; Brody; Stratton, Tom; Cockburn, Andrew (January 1993). "Viewpoint - Nintendo - Whirlo". GameFan. Vol. 1, no. 3. DieHard Gamers Club. p. 11.
  5. ^ García, Marcos (April 1993). "Lo Más Nuevo - Super Nintendo: El Gran Héroe Verde - Whirlo". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). No. 19. Hobby Press. pp. 106–107.
  6. ^ "Les Daubes Du Mois: Super Famicom - Whirlo". Joypad (in French). No. 13. Yellow Media. October 1992. p. 159.
  7. ^ Demoly, Jean-Marc (October 1992). "Console News: Super Famicom - Whirlo". Joystick (in French). No. 31. Sipress. p. 153.
  8. ^ Lopes, Gonçalo (12 July 2016). "Whirlo Review (SNES)". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  9. ^ García, Marcos (July 1993). "Consolas - En Pantalla: Whirlo - ¡Se han fundido los plomos en Sandro!". Superjuegos (in Spanish). No. 15. Grupo Zeta. pp. 34–38.
  10. ^ Brookes, Jason (November 1992). "Import Review: Xandra's Big Adventure - Encounter with the Valkyrie". Super Play. No. 1. Future Publishing. pp. 50–51. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  11. ^ Knauf, Andreas (November 1992). "Test: Es Grünt So Grün - Sandra". Video Games (in German). No. 12. Future-Verlag. p. 114.
  12. ^ "90年11月から'93年6月21日発売までの323本を収録!! Super Famicom All Catalog '93 8月情報号特別付録 - サンドラの大冒険 ワルキューレとの出逢い". Famimaga (in Japanese). No. 16. Tokuma Shoten. August 1, 1993. p. 13.
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