Yakuman (video game)
{{Short description|1989 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Yakuman
| image = YakumanBoxShotGameBoy.jpg
| developer = Intelligent Systems
| publisher = Nintendo
| composer = Hirokazu Tanaka
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|April 21, 1989|CHN|1995}}
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| genre = Board game
| platforms = Game Boy
}}
{{nihongo foot|Yakuman|役満|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} is a 1989 Japanese mahjong game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Game Boy, exclusive to Japan. One of the first four games released for the system, it was also the first to utilize the Game Link Cable for multiplayer functionality.
Background
Nintendo had released Computer Mah-jong Yakuman a handheld electronic mahjong game in 1983. Satoru Okada, assistant director of Nintendo Research & Development 1, the team behind the Game Boy, had worked on the device, which allowed two machines to connect via a cable for competitive play.{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=Satoru Okada talks Game & Watch, Game Boy and Nintendo DS development |url=http://www.japanesenintendo.com/post/155107688449 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101232208/http://www.japanesenintendo.com/post/155107688449 |archive-date=January 1, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |website=Issue 163 |publisher=Retro Gamer Magazine}} Recognizing the potential of a similar feature for the Game Boy, Okada strongly advocated for the inclusion of a link cable, despite skepticism from the development team.{{Cite news |last=Aetas |date=July 15, 2022 |title=ゲームボーイの生みの親・岡田 智氏が任天堂での開発者時代を語った「黒川塾 八十八（88）」聴講レポート |trans-title=Attendance report on "Kurokawa Juku 88" where Game Boy creator Satoshi Okada talks about his time as a developer at Nintendo |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20220720007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331032353/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20220720007/ |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |work=4Gamer.net |language=ja}}{{Cite book |last=Voskuil |first=Erik |url=http://blog.beforemario.com/2011/03/nintendo-computer-mah-jong-yakuman-1983.html |title=Before Mario: the fantastic toys from the video game giant's early days |date=March 19, 2011 |publisher=Omaké books |isbn=978-2-919603-10-7 |publication-date=November 20, 2014 |chapter=Mah-jong Yakuman |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509192145/http://blog.beforemario.com/2011/03/nintendo-computer-mah-jong-yakuman-1983.html |archive-date=May 9, 2024 |url-status=live}} He personally spearheaded the development of the Game Link Cable technology,{{Cite web |last=Kurokawa |first=Fumio |date=2022 |title=Satoru Okada – 2022 Retrospective Interview |url=https://shmuplations.com/okada2022/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |publisher=4gamer.net}} which was first implemented in Yakuman for the Game Boy.
Summary
File:YakumanScreenshotGameBoy.png
Released on April 21, 1989, Yakuman was one of four launch titles for the Game Boy in Japan, alongside Alleyway, Baseball, and Super Mario Land.{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Drew |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Remembering the Game Boy's Launch Titles |url=https://gamerant.com/game-boy-launch-title-retrospective-tetris-super-mario-land/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} Unlike the others, it never saw a wide international release and was only released outside Japan in China in 1995.{{cite web |title=Yakuman CHN |url=https://www.game-boy-database.com/game-105-4486-CHN.html |access-date=March 16, 2025 |website=Game Boy Database |language=en}}
The game features both a single-player mode where players choose one of five unique computer-controlled opponents and a two-player versus mode, which requires two Game Boy consoles connected with a Game Link Cable. The game supports several different mahjong rule variations.{{Cite web |title=Yakuman (1989) |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/53696/yakuman/ |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=MobyGames |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=役満 |trans-title=Yakuman |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/mjj/ |website=Nintendo |language=ja}}
Japanese mahjong is a four-player, tile-based game where players compete to form winning hands by drawing and discarding tiles, earning points from their opponents. A "Yakuman" refers to a class of rare, high-scoring hands that follow unique tile combinations.{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2016 |title=Japanese Mahjong Scoring |url=http://www.ofb.net/~whuang/ugcs/gp/mahjong/mahjong.html.utf8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816025533/http://www.ofb.net/~whuang/ugcs/gp/mahjong/mahjong.html.utf8 |archive-date=August 16, 2016}} Yakuman for the Game Boy adapts this game into a two-player variation.
Legacy
Yakuman was the first entry in a series of first-party Japanese mahjong games on Nintendo systems, with versions later released for the Famicom,{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2008 |title=役満天国 |url=https://w.atwiki.jp/famicomall/pages/435.html |website=「FCのゲーム制覇しましょ」まとめ}} Game Boy Advance,{{Cite web |title=どこでも対局 役満アドバンス |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/ayaj/index.html |website=www.nintendo.co.jp}} DS,{{Cite web |title=役満ＤＳ |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/amjj/index.html |website=www.nintendo.co.jp}} Wii,{{Cite web |title=役満Ｗｉｉ 井出洋介の健康麻将 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/waqj/index.html |website=www.nintendo.co.jp}} Wii U,{{Cite web |title=役満 鳳凰 | Wii U | 任天堂 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/20010000007586 |website=任天堂ホームページ}} and 3DS.{{Cite web |title=役満 鳳凰 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/dl/aghj/ |website=www.nintendo.co.jp}}
The Yakuman player, as depicted on the game's cover art, has made cameo appearances in other Nintendo games, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.{{cite web |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/guias-trucos/super-smash-bros-ultimate/todos-espiritus-super-smash-bros-ultimate-347581 |title=Todos los espíritus en Super Smash Bros Ultimate |work=Hobby Consolas |last=Hernández |first=David |date=December 21, 2018 |accessdate=January 26, 2024}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/mjj/ Official website]
{{Intelligent Systems}}
Category:Intelligent Systems games
Category:Japan-exclusive video games
Category:Nintendo mahjong video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Nintendo Classics games