Ultra Hand SP
Ultra Hand SP is an interactive exhibit at the Nintendo Museum that brings the classic Ultra Hand toy from 1966 to life, but with a Pokémon touch to it. The exhibit celebrates Nintendo's early innovation, highlighting how the original concept inspired later products and game mechanics, while also exploring a visual history of inventions in the A Succession of Ideas 「アイデアの継承」 showcase[1]. Visitors can use an updated version of the Ultra Hand, enjoying the creativity and simplicity that were central to Gunpei Yokoi’s original design.
The game is designed for a single player. When using the Ultra Hand, the arm extends as the grip is closed. Participants are challenged to swiftly grab moving balls, specifically Voltorb, Electrode, and Poké Balls, that are attached to strings gliding along the lanes. Players must securely grasp a ball and place it into the pipe in front. Successfully dropping a ball into a pipe earns points and triggers Pokémon-themed fireworks on the screen above. The outcome varies depending on the size of the ball, adding an element of surprise and enjoyment resonating the original toy. The experience is further enriched by the nostalgic Pokémon Gold and Silver soundtrack playing in the background.
History
The original Ultra Hand was the first toy created by Gunpei Yokoi, who later designed notable Nintendo products like the Game Boy and the D-pad. Released in 1966, the Ultra Hand used crisscrossed plastic parts in a "lazy tongs" mechanism. Pulling the scissor-like handles extended the arms, allowing users to grab items with two bowl-shaped grips. The original packaging included three colored balls with stands for users to practice grabbing. The toy's design used weights to prevent the "hands" from opening too early, adding a challenge to the gameplay.
Yokoi developed the toy during his time at Nintendo, and it was released for ¥600[2]. It sold over 1.2 million units[3], an impressive figure for that era when 100,000 units was considered a strong success. The toy's popularity established Yokoi's career as a product developer and helped position Nintendo in the toy market, and its success led to the creation of other Ultra-series products, such as the Ultra Machine and Ultra Scope. Its design continues to be referenced in various future Nintendo games and products.
Cultural Impact and Appearances in Games
The Ultra Hand’s influence stretches beyond its original release. Many Nintendo games have incorporated the extending arm concept, showing how Yokoi’s original idea has shaped game design over the years. Some examples, where the Ultra Hand has influenced a mechanic or been given an homage to, include:
- The "Magnesis" ability from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the "Ultrahand" ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which both allow Link to manipulate distant objects.
- The arm-stretching mechanics in the fighting game ARMS[4].
- In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, it's included as a collectible item and serves as a nod to Nintendo's classic toy.
- In the WarioWare series:
- WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! and WarioWare: Touched! feature the Ultra Hand in the microgames, where players use it to grab items.
- In WarioWare Gold, the Ultra Hand's packaging is referenced in the boss games.
- In the Mario Kart series:
- Mario Kart Arcade GP and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 give Wario an exclusive item called 「ビヨヨーンパンチ」 "Biyoyon Punch," modeled after the Ultra Hand.
- In Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a structure similar to the Ultra Hand holds up part of the GBA Mario Circuit track.
- In Mario Tennis GC, Wario’s defensive special shot, "Ultra Hand Receive," uses a racket attached to an Ultra Hand.
- In Mario Party 5, the Super Duel Mode includes a part called the "Bowser Punch," which looks like the Ultra Hand[5].
- In Wario: Master of Disguise, Dr. Wario uses a punch glove modeled after the Ultra Hand.
- In the Super Smash Bros. series, Bowser Jr. uses an arm like the Ultra Hand to perform a grab attack from his Junior Clown Car.
External Links
References
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |
