Small Consolation 4: Console Video Games Quiz

Answer: Samus Aran ("Metroid")

The answer is Samus Aran of "Metroid". Even referred to as "he" in the game's instruction booklet, the revelation that Samus was female was a bold move by Nintendo back in 1986. Some might feel that a space mercenary character would be a rare example in gaming of a woman who wasn't overly sexualised, except that she was then represented in a pixelated bikini.

Squall Leonheart is almost definitely a guy, as well.

Answer: Leaf

The blue shell (spiny) was introduced in the N64 "Mario Kart" as a means of attacking whoever was currently in 1st place (and somewhat leveling the playing field between players of different abilities). The banana skin causes anybody driving over it to briefly spin out of control, and the feather allowed players to "jump" over walls on the original Super Nintendo game.

While the leaf is an important symbol in the "Mario" Universe, it did not appear as an item in any of those games.

Answer: Orange and blue

"Portal" is well known not only for its challenging and enjoyable puzzles, but also for charismatic and hilarious villain GLaDOS, who sings 'Still Alive' over the ending credits. "Portal" won 'Game of the Year' at the 2008 Game Developers' Choice Awards.

Answer: Vice City

Released in 2002 and set in 1986, "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" is steeped in the culture of the American 1980s. Until 2006, it was the best-selling Playstation 2 game of all time!

Answer: "Splinter Cell"

Sam Fisher, star of "Splinter Cell", does not drive cars during the game. On the other hand, "Spyhunter" involves driving a car/bike/boat, in "Stuntman" you have to drive a variety of vehicles, and who could forget the tank level in "Goldeneye"?

Answer: Japan

Japan is the main setting for "Tomb Raider" and "Dead or Alive 5", as well as inspiring "Okami" with its culture and mythology, and serving as one of many levels in "Tomorrow Never Dies". Being the home of the video game industry, Japan naturally appears in hundreds of other games as well!

Answer: Dragon

The original game, "Spyro the Dragon", came out in 1998 - since then, the series has had over a dozen sequels. For those that don't know, the games are platformer-adventure titles, and have cropped up on Playstation, Nintendo and Microsoft consoles.

Answer: Steelix

Metapod, Poliwrath and Dewgong are all first generation Pokemon, so it is Steelix (Onix's evolution) that was not introduced until "Pokemon Gold" and "Pokemon Silver". Metapod is a cocoon pokemon, Dewgong is a sea lion Pokemon, and Poliwrath is the final evolution of Poliwag (a tadpole Pokemon). Perhaps they missed the opportunity to make its final evolution a frog?

Answer: Max Payne

"Max Payne" has had a number of sequels, as well as being adapted into a film starring Mark Wahlberg as Max and Mila Kunis as Mona. The games are heavily influenced by the Hong Kong action genre, particularly the work of John Woo.

Answer: 120

In the original "Super Mario 64" there are 120 stars, although Nintendo added another 30 for the DS version, taking the total up to 150. "Super Mario 64" was one of the first mainstream 3D games, and silenced critics who were worried the success of the "Mario" games would not transfer to a three dimensional format.