Line #16 VideoGame/JoeAndMac


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joe__mac_title_screen_3269.png]]
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3	A series of {{Platform Game}}s developed and published by Creator/DataEast. The series began with the 1991 UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame ''Caveman Ninja'', known as ''Joe & Mac: Tatakae Genshijin'' ("Fighting Cavemen") in Japan. Set in {{Prehistoria}}, the objective of the game is to [[DamselInDistress rescue the titular duo's harem of cave girls]] from a rival band of Neanderthals and their dinosaur pet bosses. ''Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja'' saw quite a few home ports (with or without the subtitle), namely the Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem, Platform/SegaGenesis, Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem, Platform/GameBoy, Amiga, DOS, and Zeebo.
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5	It was followed by two SNES sequels: ''VideoGame/CongosCaper'' (1992) and ''Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics'' (1994). There was also an arcade spin-off in 1994 titled ''Joe & Mac Returns'', an EliminationPlatformer similar to Data East's ''VideoGame/TumblePop''.
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7	On November 6th 2009, French developer Golgoth Studio (which earlier remade ''VideoGame/{{Toki}}'') announced that they were working on a [[http://golgothstudio.com/devblog/category/joe-mac/ remake of the first game]]. Lack of updates since then placed this ''Joe & Mac'' remake squarely in DevelopmentHell until the company's demise. On October 14, 2021, publisher Creator/{{Microids}} and developer Mr. Nutz Studio picked up this remake; it was released in December 2022 on consoles and PC as ''New Joe & Mac - Caveman Ninja''.
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9	!!''Joe & Mac'' provides examples of the following tropes:
10	* AbhorrentAdmirer: [[spoiler:If you go down the middle and lower paths after the final boss, the ending will show you being chased by either an overweight middle-aged cavewoman or a male neanderthal in a drag. Though Joe and Mac have the same scared reaction when they're being chased by groupies.]]
11	* AdaptationSpeciesChange: In the 2022 remake:
12	** The animated dinosaur skeleton is changed from several random bones to a complete giant theropod dinosaur skeleton (possibly a ''Giganotosaurus'').
13	** The penultimate boss is changed from a carnivorous dinosaur with a long snake-like neck to an actual giant snake.
14	* AndYourRewardIsInteriorDecorating: In ''Lost in the Tropics'' players can spend money to decorate their hut.
15	* AndYourRewardIsParenthood: In ''Lost in the Tropics'' both Joe and Mac can get married and have a baby with their respective wife.
16	* AttackOnTheHeart: [[spoiler:The only way to beat the final boss is to attack the giant beast's heart, thus weakening the boss' attacks on you.]]
17	* BambooTechnology:
18	** Mook neanderthals riding foot-powered wooden helicopters. They throw bombs at you, for some odd reason. The SNES version removed the helicopters, but features ''motorcycles'' (whose sprite is based on the aforementioned helicopters).
19	** In the village in ''Joe & Mac 2'', a primitive telescope and pulley are present.
20	** The final boss of ''Joe & Mac Returns'' is a wooden GiantMecha. When you destroy it, the rider continues fighting you in one of the wood helicopters.
21	* BoundAndGagged: The cavegirls, all tied up in various forms during boss fights. This [[{{Bowdlerise}} was removed from the SNES version]] for obvious reasons.
22	** The redheads and brunettes are tied to poles.
23	** The raven-haired ones are under UnwillingSuspension.
24	** The blondes simply have their hands tied behind their backs.
25	* ChargedAttack: If you take too long to fire, it will tire your caveman out, and you'll take damage.
26	* ChivalrousPervert: In ''Joe & Mac Returns'', when the two heroes aren't out rescuing cavegirls, Joe and Mac try to peep at them while they're bathing, blow their bikini tops off, or just outright steal their bikinis.
27	* ColorCodedMultiplayer:
28	** Joe (Player 1) - green
29	** Mac (Player 2) - blue
30	* CompanyCameo: The Creator/DataEast logo can be seen on the rocks of the first [[LethalLavaLand volcanic level]] of the first game.
31	* DoppelgangerAttack:
32	** Only in the arcade version, it's the duo's only "ninja" attack.
33	** The FinalBoss in the first game ''sort of'' does this, but the doppelganger transforms into one of the other cavemen to attack.
34	* FamilyUnfriendlyViolence: The mammoth boss loses his trunk, and both of his tusks through the course of the battle.
35	* FlameSpewerObstacle: Stage 4 in the original has flames coming out of lava.
36	* ForTheEvulz: The first level in ''Joe & Mac 2'' would have ended without a boss fight, if it weren't for some random neanderthal whacking a sleeping ''Stegosaurus'' on the head ForTheLulz.
37	* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The first game has two final bosses, depending on which version you play. Most versions feature [[spoiler:some sort of caveman-dinosaur hybrid that attacks by leaping at you in rapid somersaults, and spitting up larvae-like creatures. The NES game's manual identifies him as 'The Fabled Sagileocorn', whatever that means.]] The SNES version instead has [[spoiler:a BigRedDevil, complete with pitchfork and demonic cackle, who turns into a more challenging blue form when you beat him.]] Both of them count; even moreso since they are both fought inside of a snake-necked ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', for some reason.
38	* GRatedSex: In ''Lost in the Tropics'', after getting married if Joe or Mac buy flowers for his wife, a soothing music will play followed by a text message saying that he "feels very happy", the next time he visits his wife a baby will be with her.
39	* HeadSwap: Joe and Mac themselves, plus the redheaded and brunette cavegirls. The two ''Tyrannosaurus'' bosses from the first game count as well. One is a normal ''T. rex'' while the other is a red variant with a long, snakelike neck.
40	* InventingTheWheel: One of many weapons in the game is a rolling stone wheel.
41	%%* KillItWithFire: One of the stronger weapons in the game.
42	* MamaBear: The first boss, a ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', awakens once you hurt its offspring.
43	* MammothsMeanIceAge: In the both the first game and ''Joe & Mac Returns'', a Woolly Mammoth acts as a boss in the [[SlippySlideyIceWorld ice-themed level]].
44	* ManEatingPlant: The second boss, which bears an [[LawyerFriendlyCameo incredible resemblance]] to [[Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors Audrey the second]]. It can [[TentacleRope grab]] and eat you, which is an instant kill. In the original arcade version and NES port, the plant will actually spit out your bones. This was removed from the Genesis port, Game Boy port, and SNES arrangement.
45	* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: In ''Congo's Caper'', an almost literal example of this trope are the four caveman bosses you must fight after the intro stages. Two of them are actually a ninja and pirate, respectively. One is technically a vampire, but is nonetheless undead like a zombie, and the last guy isn't a robot, but he is a MadScientist who builds a dinosaur robot out of ''[[BambooTechnology wood and stone]]''.
46	* OneWingedAngel: [[spoiler:In ''Lost in the Tropics'', when you beat Gork at the final level, he summons the Chief's stolen crown and gains nigh-indestructible powers from it.]]
47	%%* PaletteSwap: The cavegirls and some of the enemies.
48	* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: Despite the title, Joe and Mac don't have any ninja powers except for the DoppelgangerAttack.
49	* PowerupMount: Two water-based levels have your cavemen ride on either ''Pteranodons'' or plesiosaurs. In ''Joe and Mac 2'', you encounter three ridable beasties as well, all of which have a BreathWeapon. The treetops stage has a friendly-looking fat ''Pteranodon'' that can spit seed-like projectiles from its beak, and the swamp stage has a the other two. The first is a small ''Styracosaurus'' that spits tiny fireballs and the second is a chubby little ''Plesiosaurus'' that spits concentrated bursts of water.
50	* SequelNumberSnarl: ''Joe & Mac 2'' is known as ''Tatakae Genshijin 3'' in Japan and ''Joe & Mac 3'' in Europe. The Japanese title makes sense, since ''Congo's Caper'' was ''Tatakae Genshijin 2'' over there, but the change from ''Joe & Mac 2'' to ''Joe & Mac 3'' is a bit more puzzling (unless they were counting ''Joe & Mac Returns'' as "Joe & Mac 2", which came out almost at the same time).
51	* ShoutOut:
52	** Upon defeating one of the bosses, your player will [[VideoGame/BadDudes pump a fist in the air]].
53	** Also, there's Cola as a collectible food item, which was common in Data East games.
54	* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Both the first game and ''Joe & Mac Returns'' have an ice-age themed level. ''Lost in the Tropics'' also has one based on the GrimUpNorth.
55	* SmoochOfVictory: After every boss fight, the rescued cavegirl will kiss your character on the cheek, restoring his health. If two players are playing, only the one who dealt more damage to the boss gets it (much to the other's chagrin).
56	* TemperCeratops: A ''Triceratops'' acts as the boss of the [[SlippySlideyIceWorld snow level]] in ''Lost in the Tropics''.
57	* WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath: If either Joe or Mac lose all their energy, they transform into winged souls and fly off in the series (averted in ''New Joe & Mac'', though).
58	* WizardNeedsFoodBadly: It's possible for your caveman to fall over dead from starvation in some versions, such as the arcade version, where your life gradually decreases (most versions, such as the SNES version, don't have this feature); or, more hilariously, fall over dead from starvation soon after surviving an attack with one HP left. This is lampshaded when Joe or Mac suddenly clutches his stomach and says, "I'm hungry!" before dying from starvation.
59	* WombLevel: The last level of the original game is inside the ''Tyrannosaurus'' you defeated in the penultimate level.

Context VideoGame / JoeAndMac