Saddle Up for Adventure: The Wild World of Cowboy Kid on NES

By Mike Hummerson
Saddle Up for Adventure: The Wild World of Cowboy Kid on NES
Saddle Up for Adventure: The Wild World of Cowboy Kid on NES

Hold onto your ten-gallon hats, pardners! We're about to mosey on down memory lane and explore the rootin' tootin' world of Cowboy Kid, a hidden gem in the Nintendo Entertainment System's sprawling library. This ain't your average cowboy tale, so grab your lasso and let's wrangle up some fun facts about this rare NES classic!

The Sheriff's in Town: Introducing Cowboy Kid

Yeehaw! Cowboy Kid galloped onto the scene on September 13, 1991, courtesy of the fine folks at Visco Corporation. This action-packed adventure puts you in the dusty boots of Sam, a young cowpoke with a thirst for justice and a mean throwing arm.

Fun Fact: Cowboy Kid's composer, Masaharu Iwata, went on to create music for big-name titles like Final Fantasy Tactics. Talk about a meteoric rise from the saloon piano to the orchestra pit!

Two-Gun Tango: Gameplay That'll Make You Say "Yee-haw!"

Cowboy Kid isn't just another lone ranger – this game's got a posse! Grab a friend and saddle up for some two-player simultaneous action. While you take control of Sam, your sidekick can play as Little Chief, proving that even in the Wild West, teamwork makes the dream work.

The game's a spicy mix of side-scrolling shenanigans, beat 'em up brawls, and even some RPG elements thrown in for good measure. It's like someone took a fistful of your favorite NES games, tossed 'em in a cauldron, and out popped Cowboy Kid!

Striking Gold: The Value of Cowboy Kid

Hold onto your wallet, partner, 'cause Cowboy Kid ain't just rare – it's rarer than a vegetarian at a barbecue! This little cartridge has become the Holy Grail for many NES collectors, with prices that'd make even the richest cattle baron blush.

We're talking anywhere from $445 to a whopping $1,265 for a shiny copy! That's more than some folks paid for their first car! But hey, can your first car let you lasso bad guys and play blackjack in a saloon? Didn't think so!

Fun Fact: Only about 200,000 copies of Cowboy Kid were ever produced, making it scarcer than water in the desert. No wonder it's worth its weight in gold nuggets!

High Noon Showdown: How Cowboy Kid Stacks Up

Now, I know what you're thinkin' – is Cowboy Kid all hat and no cattle? Well, let me tell ya, this game's got more substance than a prairie dog's got dirt!

Fans of the game praise its catchy tunes, varied gameplay, and co-op mode that's more fun than a barrel of monkeys at a hoedown. Sure, it might not be as polished as some of them fancy big-name titles, but it's got more charm than a snake oil salesman and twice the entertainment value!

Riding Off into the Sunset

Well, folks, our tour of Cowboy Kid's dusty trails is coming to an end. This little NES cartridge might be harder to find than a needle in a haystack, but it's a bonafide piece of gaming history that's worth its weight in gold (quite literally, given those prices!).

Whether you're a die-hard collector, a retro gaming enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys a good old-fashioned Western romp, Cowboy Kid's got something for everyone. It's a reminder of a time when games were simpler, pixels were bigger, and the Wild West was just a power button away.

So next time you're browsing through a yard sale or digging through your attic, keep an eye out for this hidden treasure. You never know – you might just strike it rich in the most unexpected of places! Subscribe

Want to dive deeper into the world of Cowboy Kid?
Download the full Cowboy Kid NES manual here!

FAQs: Everything You've Been Itchin' to Ask About Cowboy Kid

  1. Q: Why is Cowboy Kid so darn expensive?
    A: Well, partner, it's rarer than a singing cactus! With only about 200,000 copies ever made, it's become a real collector's item. Plus, it's actually a pretty fun game, which always drives up the price faster than a stampede! Cheaper alternative here.
  2. Q: Can I play Cowboy Kid on my newfangled Nintendo Switch?
    A: Sorry, buckaroo, Cowboy Kid hasn't moseyed its way onto the Switch yet. For now, you'll need an original NES or an emulator to get your Wild West fix.
  3. Q: Is Cowboy Kid worth the high price tag?
    A: That depends on if you've got more money than a train robber or if you're as broke as a prospector's mule! For serious collectors, it's a must-have. For casual players, you might want to watch a playthrough online instead of selling the farm.
  4. Q: How long does it take to beat Cowboy Kid?
    A: If you're quicker on the draw than Billy the Kid, you might finish it in about 30 minutes. But for us regular folk, expect to spend a couple of hours exploring every saloon and canyon.
  5. Q: Is Cowboy Kid related to any other game series?
    A: Eagle-eyed gamers might notice it shares some similarities with the Japanese Ganbare Goemon series. It's like they took a samurai game and gave it a ten-gallon hat makeover!