It’s cool, but I figured the guys who were answering the toll help line were just other gamers who worked for Nintendo. They sat around playing the games all day (while helping players) because that helped them get better and in turn, be able to help gamers. I mean sure, they probably had an FAQ direct from the programmers (e.g. White Sword requires 12 heart containers, an a deeper tip would be where it is (graveyard), and an even deeper tip would be how to get there (Lost Woods sequence).

Could you tell what he was playing? My first thought was Wizards & Warriors, but I wasn’t really looking. The second time, struggling to get up the vertical shaft, made me think of Metroid, but I don’t think that was it. There is a tan/orange vertical shaft in Metroid, but Metroid was darker. And I feel like Kid Icarus was brighter.