Mega Man 3 Has the Power… Video Power
Now here’s an interesting blast from the past: Video Arcade, the television show hosted by one “Johnny Arcade.” It began as a video game tips and previews/reviews show which would bookend a Captain N-esque cartoon starring various characters from Acclaim-published NES games, The Power Team.
But in following seasons, the format changed, and the show became more of a game show wherein contestants would play video games and answer trivia questions for a chance to make a run through the “Prize Round,” a pseudo-obstacle course filled with games, peripherals, and the like that they would get to keep. In addition, there would be a potential bonus prize, often consisting of systems such as the NeoGeo and the like.
The show was a lot of fun to watch back in the day, and one of the Blue Bomber’s titles managed to make its way into the video game playing round. Courtesy of Protodude’s Rockman Corner, here is the portion of the show in which the contestants attempted to best what announcer Terry Lee Rotok calls the “hardest” level of Mega Man 3, Dr. Wily’s Skull Fortress. Of course, this is only the first part, so the claim of it being the “hardest” is naturally disputable:
You can learn more about Video Power on Wikipedia, while I sit and wonder to myself if they might ever bring the run of the show to DVD.
Filed under: Community Developments
Love the commentary in this.
‘…Taking down the enemies he sees’
We had a show just like this in Australia that was very similar to this, called TimeZone (I think, it was something similar anyway) and there was a video game round where the kids would play SNES, usually Super Mario Kart, Donkey Kong Country, Plok, or Bubsy (surprised I remember these names, actually).
The winner of the days’ show got a Game Boy Pocket, among other, less cool things.
That show was awesome…
Sadly, the show will likely not make it to DVD, if for no other reason than the cost for every game represented there. Plus, I don’t think gameshows ever go on DVD.
Wow, this is mildly amusing, especially when the losing kid doesn’t turn around for about 10 seconds. Then, at 2:31, that guy just does this ridiculous dance.
Ah, the old days..
“I hope you have a Game Gear, bud!” (pushes kid away) Lol!
- Omar
@SeraphMan I guess that’s what GSN (Game Show Network) is for. They have an archive of some of the interesting game shows.
Wow, I remember this show. It’s so hilarious now to see it again. The announcer looks like the guy from Full House, the audience kids are stuck behind a fence screaming like they need to be let out, everybody is so freaking hyper, they give away crummy Tiger handhelds to the runners up, and Holy Cow – I forgot about the color blind guy strapped with a guitar! lol
This was the stuff that kid dreams were made of.
Canada had something like this as well, known as Video & Arcade Top 10. I somehow missed the episode where everyone was playing Mega Man 7, though…
Anyway, I like how one of the sponsors was BATTLETOADS.
Maybe it was just me, but those buster shots looked HUGE.
SeraphMan: If I couldn’t get all of it, I’d settle for the pre-game show era. Of course, I’m not sure they’d have to license the games for this, I think there is some kind of fair-use clause which may cover stuff like this, not unlike how there are a million unofficial Mario guides or whatever, and Nintendo can’t really stop people from telling others how to get through their games.
I’m not positive, though. I would think it might be sort of like product placement in a movie; I’m not sure whether re-releases or not have to deal with all the red tape of the original production.
LanceHeart: I remember that show, sort of miss it. I like how their theme was the music from Crash Man’s stage.
–LBD “Nytetrayn”
Oh man, this is SO “corny 90′s kids gameshow”
It’s so damn nostalgic, I LOVE IT
MORE
. . . and the losing child never picked up a MegaMan game ever again.
“And right now we’ll like to take a few commercial considerations…”
**BATTLETOADS!** LOL!
I liked Nick Arcade better, probably because it looked like it wasn’t shot in someone’s basement! XD;
Um so I can’t contain myself…the weekly gift art is great, especially the bottom line of the internal error screen.
Hello Themmnetwork it doesn´t to wit the theme about that but i have a queastion why you don´t buy the artwork books of the megaman games and put does pictures in the gallery(sorry for my bad english but i think is okay right?)
Ps:Or anyone of you guys eh???
(sorry to put that comment later)
We do.
Wow, I was born in ’89 and I never knew this show existed. This show looks hilariously cheesy. Just within that clip I wanted to take a hammer to the head of that jumping dancing idiot.
The only video game-themed show I remembered watching as a kid was Nick Arcade on Nickelodeon, which Wikipedia says aired between 1992-1993. That was a fun show and I wish it would’ve been around a lot longer.
Nick Arcade was alright… Video Power was must-see TV, though.
–LBD “Nytetrayn”
Jesus, that host was excitable. And why was the announcer dressed like Howie Mandel?
Why do you put ‘ –LBD “Nytetrayn” ‘ at the end of your comments when your name is already and always directly above it. Seems pretty unnecessary.
Haha I love how the hosts are way more excited than the kids:
“ARE YA READY BUDDY!?”
“yea”
O, a pointer to a buffer is part of the request. ,