1996 · Japan System Supply · Action · Puzzle

Bound High!

Nintendo exclusive

Originally developed by Japan System Supply, Nintendo liked the game idea of Bound High! and took over the project later. The game was, besides Dragon Hopper, going to be one of the games, which should have saved the system with a relaunch, but it was delayed again and again until it was cancelled because of the lack of success of the Virtual Boy. At this time, the game already was completely finished.

Released: 1996
Platforms: Virtual Boy
Genres: Action Puzzle
Developers: Japan System Supply
Publishers: —
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English

About

Bound High! is an unreleased action-puzzle video game developed and published by Japan System Supply for the Virtual Boy. It was planned to be released in 1996 in Japan and in North America by Nintendo. In the game, players take control of a transforming robot named Chalvo through a series of levels riddled with hazardous obstacles to avoid across multiple worlds, while destroying or knocking out alien invaders off the area. The project was first conceptualized by designer and programmer Hideyuki Nakanishi, who wrote the idea on paper and placed it within a wall inside the offices of Japan System Supply, with his manager eventually greenlighting its development after seeing it.

Although showcased at various trading shows and completed for release, Bound High! was ultimately shelved due to the failure of the Virtual Boy itself. After its cancellation, a follow-up on the Game Boy titled Chalvo 55 was released only in Japan in 1997. Despite its cancellation, a ROM image of the complete game was leaked online in 2010 by the hobbyist community at Planet Virtual Boy, allowing for it to be played.

Keywords

unreleased
canceled games
password save
completed but unreleased game

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Bound High! is a top-down action-puzzle game where players take control of Chalvo, a robot who transforms itself into a bouncing ball. The game's objective is to destroy or knock out enemies from the playfield and figuring out the best way to dispatch them while avoiding hazardous obstacles. Falling out of the playfield results in a lost life and all the previously defeated enemies are respawned. If all lives are lost, the game is over.

Bound High! , Random Game and Pocket and Cushion. Adventure of Chalvo features multiple sets of levels, with a story centered around Chalvo defending Earth from aliens. Power-ups are also available which help players defeat enemies more efficiently.

Development

Bound High! was conceived by Chameleon Twist creator Hideyuki Nakanishi at Japan System Supply, who worked as one of the designers and programmers on the project as an undergraduate student. Nakanishi had looked at game plans on the desk of the company's president and found them uninteresting. This led to Nakanishi creating a summary for Bound High!

and leaving it on the wall for the president to find. This led to the project being greenlit. One of Nakanishi's co-workers handled the sound programming along with composer Takaaki Oka, while Nakanishi handled everything else. More members eventually joined the development process.

Reception

Prior to the discontinuation of the Virtual Boy that led to Bound High! being cancelled, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi called the game as "the most promising title" during his keynote speech at Shoshinkai 1995. In a preview, Nintendo Power referred to its design as "fiendish." They later praised it, noting that it had the potential to be one of the best Virtual Boy releases.

com's Todd Ciolek regarded it as a notable cancelled game, praising its use of the Virtual Boy's visual design. Retronauts writer Jeremy Parish speculated that the release of Star Fox 2 on the SNES Classic could lead to Bound High! seeing a proper release as well. Writing for Time Extension, John Szczepaniak proclaimed that "No other game in the library showcases the potential of the Virtual Boy like Bound High!