Brilliant
Here we have all the games in the Brilliant Section.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
With some many titles crammed onto each memory card, it is testament to the vast array of 100 Mega Shocks released over the years that here we are in the tenth instalment. The King of Fighters 97, Real Bout Garou Densetsu 2, 2020 Super Baseball, Samurai Shodown Zero Special, Metal Slug 3, Stakes Winner, Sengoku Legend 2, Pop’n Bounce, Ninja Masters and Magical Drop 3 bring home the ultimate coin-op experience to Switch fans.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
The colossus SNK back catalogue is the gift that keeps on giving with no let up in quality as we hit the fifth instalment. The retro roster reads The King of Fighters 2002, Art of Fighting 2, Real Bout Garou Densetsu, Twinkle Star Sprites, Slash Rally, Burning Fight, Aggressors of Dark Kombat, Sonic Wings 2, Super Sidekicks and Cyberlip. The Future is now!
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
Including games never released on the home formats really gets the pulse racing for fans of cult developer SNK. This sixth instalment features: The King of Fighters 98, Samurai Spirits III, Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special, Last Blade 2, Over Top, Ultimate 11, Football Frenzy, Sengoku Densetsu 2001, Sonic Wings 3 and Operation Ragnarok (aka Zed Blade.)
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
It is some roster to be able to plunder for SNK – a veritable booty of treasure. The ninth slice of paradise weighs in with some big hitters: The King of Fighters 2001, Fatal Fury 3, Samurai Shodown 2, Super Sidekicks 3, King of the Monsters, Magician Road, World Heroes, Fighters History Dynamite, Magical Drop 2 and Dunk Dream.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant PS4
Shoot Em Up
Granted most modern shooters end up in a screen full of rainbow coloured bullets (though that said old school shooters were never short of a projectile or two.) But Cave has certainly grabbed Genki’s goat in going for a World War style of isometric background buildings as detailed polygon biplanes float into place having caught the eye with a neat bit of scaling. Plenty of on ground action as pilots fly their female characters through the on-screen onslaught. Superb stuff demonstrating Caves rich arcade heritage.
š„Game of the Week
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Gamers of a certain vintage will be purring having lapped up the Cybernator action which sees the weighty mech feel every tonnage as it lands on the platforms and then utilises booster to jets to glide through the side scrolling shooter sections. Such a work of love with incredible attention to detail and another must-have Superdeluxe delivery for gamers who know their claret from their Beaujolais.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Brings to mind the beautiful 16 bit era of shoot ’em ups with its pastel shading all the bells and whistles. Detachable boss limbs, arachnoid bosses, scaling in and out adversaries and what looks like extras from the Salamander series – there are many a nod from its knowledgeable developers to what has gone before in the shoot ’em up fraternity.
Brilliant PS4
One on One Beat Em Up
A real fight fest for fans of the genre with both incarnations of Capcom vs SNK, Rival Schools, Fighting Jam, Street Fighter Zero 3, along with Star Gladiator plus double incarnations of Power Stone for a bit less-intense, more chuck away action. A real treat for those that appreciate Capcom’s eye for detail and spit and polish. Just hope you aren’t spitting teeth after a run in with some of these bad boys.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Platform
Another irresistible Superdeluxe offering going back to Konami’s Gothic opus this time with a cracking array of titles from the much loved series. Includes the original Akumajo Dracula, a graphically enhanced remake version, Castlevania II Simon’s Quest, Akumajo Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu II, the rare Mega Drive Vampire Killer and Akumajo Special Boku Dracula Kun. Don’t have nightmares!
šBrilliant!
Brilliant PS4
Platform
Another irresistible Superdeluxe offering going back to Konami’s Gothic opus this time with a cracking array of titles from the much loved series. Includes the original Akumajo Dracula, a graphically enhanced remake version, Castlevania II Simon’s Quest, Akumajo Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu II, the rare Mega Drive Vampire Killer and Akumajo Special Boku Dracula Kun. Don’t have nightmares!
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Another Switch update: this time of the fantastic, funky Super Famicom version. Roughly translating as ‘Super Big Brother’, this is the closest you get to the Village People on a console. Highly imaginative, very wacky digitised graphics to the point where you’ll wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms the creators have been having in their miso soup. Drifts away from the shooting action of its predecessors for a one on one fist fest taking place in mid air – even with female characters too. Although the fart attacks are certainly no way to treat a lady.
Brilliant Mega Drive
Platform
Brings back the gaming fun from the Famicom era with a unique twist on the platform genre in that it is played by a car. Drivers must cover as many of the platform levels as possible and in doing so complete the road they drive over. Some mightily impressive sprite rotation techniques as the players car changes direction or it fires a bullet into the pursuing police cars to spin them out of control. Nice backgrounds too with the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben guesting. Well worth its revival on the Mega Drive – a true labour of love from Habit Soft converting the arcade version with features not possible on the Famicom plus a few bonus extras.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Action
A huge license in Japan based on the classic manga. You play the role of Mr. Saeba – a bit of a Japanese bond, fond of both ladies and firearms. Good advise would be to keep em peeled for the helpful nurse on each level. Reminiscent of Rolling Thunder in parts. Brought back for the modern era thanks to a fabulous live-action film on Netflix.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Contra Anniversary Collection celebrates the series that demands gamers to be cut from a similar ilk to the legendary game heroes. Ten titles: Contra (arcade), Super Contra Alien Strikes Back (arcade), Contra, Contra (US version), Super Contra, Contra Spirits, Contra (91 version), Contra The Hardcore, Super Probotector Alien Rebels and Probotector. Serious run and gun gameplay for the equivalent of a gaming marine.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Super Famicom
Shoot Em Up
Graphically pleasing with liberal use of colour as you guide Willow on her broomstick quest for wish-granting sweets accompanied by her fairy friend Silk. Success is rewarded with an appropriately off kilter end of level tea break. Intriguingly Willow gets to select her favourite weaponry before the offset and in game Silk can be used to attack along with the fire dragon, star frenzy or lightning assaults depending on which crystals have been collected.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant PS2
Simulation
A more modern gaming genre in the shape of a game aimed at ladies dating. Plenty of bishonen style young men to chat to in this visual novel.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
Demonstrating that video games can indeed be high art comes these coaster inspired by the Darius series.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
A beautiful work of art highlighting the creativity of the Darius series in this soft key ring. A very cool octopus boss with eight mechanical legs to keep you at bay.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
Captures the beautiful designs and the comical expression of the Dragon Quest universe monsters and they brighten up any spot you may locate them to show your Square Enix loyalty and appreciation.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
Captures the zany spirit and epoch defining designs of Akira Toyama’s ever popular DragonBall characters. A fine tribute to the series.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Action
Always one of the most unlikeliest names for a video game hero, Earnest Evans Collection contains his a fore named game Earnest Evans from the Mega CD era, besides the seminal MD El Viento and the cult classic from the Mega CD Anett Futatabi. Telenet always had such devoted followers and these three titles demonstrate why.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Mega Drive
Platform
Action varies from New York to surfing on the back of dolphins with the green haired heroine able to use an exploding boomerang to repels attacks. Bizarre bosses ranging from a tank to a jelly monster hidden away in a cave. A cult classic well recommended to fans of the Valis series.
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
Classic Famicom coloured designed bag, officially licensed coming with the piece de resistance of the controller side pocket.
Brilliant Nintendo Hardware
Controller
Sticks to the fine layout of the SFC original, but also has a special mode for use with Garou Densetsu 2 to allow simple execution of special moves. Overall a very smooth pad is jet black finish.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
The fun, stunned expression of Cactuar captured in this delightful festival mask from the eternal Final Fantasy series.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
To truly celebrate the 40th anniversary of Gradius (or Nemisis) comes this mighty compendium tribute to the master blaster with Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius II, Life Force, Salamander, Salamander II and Salamander III. A true labour of love for the series fans with the different regional versions plus plenty of modes included such as training, easy mode and a tour of the graphics that make up the series.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Figures
Figure
Nobody does it better than Kotobukiya and this tribute to Treasure’s fabulous Ikaruga shooter captures the fine form of the players ship. The stand really shows off its fine design. 1/144 scale. 15.5cm.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Highly unusual graphical style with psychedelic characters and brash colours make this feel like a manga dream gone awry. Full of vibrant fun and originality from first credit to game over.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Truly crazy psychedelic shoot ’em up – think Jet Set Radio meets Shibuya street style with some seriously colourful colour schemes thrown in for good measure as Mebius throws a full roster of projectiles at players. A real cult following since its Wii days and well worth a look for those looking for a shooting blast off the usual scale.
šBrilliant!
Brilliant Merchandise
Merchandise
Superman, Batman, Flash, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern make up the five super heroes and heroines realised in cute, cartoony, binary art form in these soft toys.