Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Unsolved NES Mysteries #1 - Taboo: The Quest for The Velvet Bag



FOREWORD
"As per the ancient method of storage of Tarot cards in a square of black silken cloth to free it from all stray influences and vibrations, black being a neutral color, your TABOO cartridge has been covered in a black silken velvet, a cloak of velvet to free the cartridge from outside influence both negative and positive.  Whether this tradition has any significance is obviously open to debate but should any psychic vibrations try to operate on your cartridge when not in use then this velvet will protect its neutral balance, promoting unbiased readings for all users." - Taboo Instruction Manual

In 1989, game company Rare Tradewest invoked a new experience for play on the NES.  But this was no ordinary game, for it was a divine through the use of the Tarot. 
Nintendo Power Article:

As we can see, Taboo was supposed to come packaged with a black silken velvet cloak.  What ever happened to this? 
Or was this all a big sham, and this black cloak was just the regular black dust cover for the cartridge?