If you are a fan of the Nickelodeon cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show, you may fondly recall a video game inspired by the series that debuted on the Sega Game Gear in 1993. Interestingly, Tectoy, Sega’s Brazilian publisher, exclusively brought the game to the Master System in 1993 for the Brazilian market. This game, titled “Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren Hoek & Stimpy,” stood out as one of the standout Game Gear titles of that year.
Developed by Realtime Associates for Sega of America, “Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren Hoek & Stimpy” was a captivating 2D platformer. The storyline revolved around Ren and Stimpy embarking on a quest to find their beloved shaven yak, Yipper, who had carelessly left his hooves behind during the previous Yak Shaving Day. The game featured five distinct levels, each with its own unique theme and setting: The Blacker than Black Forest, Stinking Dry Desert, Stinking Wet Bayou, Perilous mount Höek, and The Great Frozen North. Players had the option to control either Ren or Stimpy, each possessing distinct abilities and weaponry. For instance, Ren could execute a super jump, while Stimpy could perform three short jumps in quick succession (we still haven’t found any use to that move yet). Ren regular weapon is toothbrush. Stimpy use hairballs. Special weapons could be found throughtout levels like a toast, a remote control sending lightning or bar of soap allowed to create floating bubbles for attacking enemies.
It’s shoot away game. It’s easier if you keep shooting all the time. Even when there’s nothing to shoot at. A few transporters to reach higher platforms and items such as a bonus points bag of money only appear if you shoot them.
At the end of The Great Frozen North you’ll have to fight against the last boss a snowball thrower Yeti. Apparently, we can only damage the Yeti when he is standing on the top platform and about to throw the first snowball.
I completly miss.
Drawing inspiration from the zany Nickelodeon cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show, which aired from 1991 to 1996 and was created by John Kricfalusi, the game faithfully captured the show’s offbeat humor, gross-out gags, pop culture nods, and controversial themes. It featured the original voice actors, music, and sound effects from the series, along with numerous references and characters such as Mr. Horse, a toast special weapon paying homage to Powdered Toast Man, Muddy Mudskipper, and Wilbur Cobb.
“Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren Hoek & Stimpy” was exclusively available for the Sega Game Gear, a handheld console that rivaled Nintendo’s Game Boy. While the Game Gear boasted a color screen and superior graphics compared to the Game Boy, it suffered from shorter battery life and a more limited game library. Despite receiving acclaim from critics and fans in North America, the game failed to gain traction internationally and was never released in Europe or Japan. In 1993, Tectoy adapted the game for the Sega Master System, a popular home console in Brazil at the time, with minor alterations in graphics and music from the original Game Gear version.
Resources
– [Retro Game Mania page](Play Ren & Stimpy – Quest for the Shaven Yak, The for Sega Master System II Online (retrogamemania.net)) where you can play the Master System version online
[GameFAQs page](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/sms/939363-quest-for-the-shaven-yak-starring-ren-and-stimpy) where you can find a guide, cheats and screenshots.