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Everybody do the Shift!

Devil World is a Maze Game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was one of the many simple games created for the console in its early years, and was the first game designed by the partnership of Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka that would go on to create Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. The game was released in Japan in 1984 and brought to Europe in 1987. It was later re-released on the Virtual Console in both regions for Wii in 2008, then on Nintendo 3DS in 2013. North America had not imported the game (presumably due to its religious themes) until October 2023, when the game was made available as part of the NES catalogue for the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, this time worldwide.

Tamagon, a cute little fire-breathing dragon, has a devil of a problem. He has been trapped in a box within the maze of the Devil's world. The Devil's assistants are shifting the box up, down, right, and left, threatening to squash Tamagon between the walls.

Tamagon's task is two-fold: eliminate the boa-boa dots that are the source of the Devil's evil power, and then use four bibles to seal away the Devil's icon.

The Devil would later appear as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Not to be confused with the Konami Arcade Game also known as Dark Adventure.


Tropes appearing in this video game:

  • Auto Scrolling: Subverted, the Devil directs his minions to kill you by moving the maze
  • Big Red Devil: The Devil has the standard appearance, but strangely enough, he's blue.
  • Bonus Stage: The "Bonus Box" at the end of every round, where Tamagon searches for a 1-Up hidden in one of six boxes. As the Devil has flown away, Tamagon can for once control the direction of scrolling by stepping on arrows.
  • Breath Weapon: Grabbing a cross or Bible gives Tamagon the ability to blow fire at his enemies.
  • Color-Coded Multiplayer: Player one is a green Tamagon, player two is a red Tamagon.
  • Deadly Walls: They are okay to touch but don't be caught between them
  • Edible Collectible: Tamagon gets bonus points from eating fried eggs or ice cream cones.
  • Endless Game: The game keeps repeating the same stages over and over again. Eventually the level counter overflows and begins again from zero.
  • Excuse Plot: Attack The Devil's World! (that is it)
  • Instant Roast: Tamagon can breathe fire on a cyclops to turn it into a tasty fried egg. (The Japanese term for fried egg literally means "cooked eyeball.")
  • Mascot Villain: The Devil, to the point of representing the game as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
  • Monster Modesty: The Devil wears nothing but a red speedo.
  • No Plot? No Problem!: The intro scene shows nothing more than the game's characters and the message, "Attack the Devil's world!" No actual plot exists beyond this.
  • 1-Up: In the form of green eggs for scoring enough points or for doing well enough in the bonus box. If Tamagon dies an egg will fall to the stage and hatch a new one.
  • Public Domain Soundtrack: The "game start" music is arranged from the Nutcracker March.
  • Timed Mission: The Bonus Box
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Tamagon likes to eat ice cream cones, though they do nothing in the game but give points.
  • Respawning Enemies: Doesn't matter how many you burn, they keep coming back for more.
  • Voluntary Shapeshifter: The Devil turns into a bat when he loses.
  • Wings Do Nothing: Tamagon and the blue enemies.
  • Wrap Around: The maze itself, trying to make Tamagon do this will just get it squished.

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