Budget Basement
All games listed under £12 are to be found in this basement section. All games are in stock and ready to ship
All budget items in stock. Use the menu to narrow your search.
Playstation
Action
A interesting take on Bomberman as he busts out of his maze to take on 3D isometric levels which need some degree of bad guys and blocked paths clearing before the goal can be reached. As such it is more suited to a one player story mode than its usual incarnations and looks mighty fine in its graphical approach.
Playstation
Shooter
Every early adopter of a new, exciting system ends up playing their limited releases to death and Kileak was no exception in Genkis experience. Dank, dim tunnelled areas are explored in a mecha suit solving basic puzzles and firing off volleys of projectiles to any unwanted company.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Fine sequel that pushes the boundaries with isometric backgrounds and good variation in the setting with skyscrapers brushing the players vessel, carvings from Aztec era South America, dense jungles and blue lagoons. Players disembark to explore the levels properly and the on foot action is well complimented by the bash and blast shooting.
Super Famicom
Sports
Full of Kunio class right from the start as a knock of the ball causes one off the players to take one in the firecrackers. The players are always full of mischief with plenty of expression on their faces in the true Technos style of the series. Anime cut scenes crank up the tension in a school baseball based precursor to the hit Rookies series with solid slugging mechanics.
Nintendo 64
Action
Rare really warmed to the N64 and they got off to a flier with this highly original demolition extravaganza known as Blast Corps in the West. Smashing variety in the vehicles from dumper trucks to robots which must be used to clear a path for the explosives truck to pass.
Sega Saturn
RPG
Quite experimental work coming from Sega, but we can’t expect perfection everytime. Certainly has it’s moments to recommend it to RPG fans. The appearance of Crow man ‘Kuroyasha’ being one of Genki’s favourite.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Sports
Enjoy the fierce rivalry of rather over competitive football between Japanese high school teams. Similar to the Neo Geo classic Soccer Brawl in terms of the violent challenges possible.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
One for the collectors with the networks sadly defunct. Yet it delivered to a gaming public the happy days of chat with fellow Dc users, email, the additional contents of Dricas, the Dreamcast Home Page and of course those epic PSO battles and friendships.
Dreamcast
Sports
Hugging the tight corners of the Monaco course with its lavish apartments right on the roadside really recreates the rev head feel of the Formula One sport. Not that Genki has been a F1 driver yet… Seventeen courses to keep a budding Hamilton busy and eleven teams for Alonso to move between with plenty of modes including classic car, sim mode with tyre changes and refuelling plus a fast paced arcade mode which should keep drivers plenty to savour.
PS2
Sports
Each wrestler makes a dramatic introduction complete with visual razzmatazz to get the adrenalin flowing pre-bout. Plenty of care and attention has been laden on the gameplay rather than just on each wrestler’s persona making for a fluid grapple. Square’s RPG eye for detail remains firmly intact with spots of blood remaining in the same place during the bout. And as innovatively as ever the controls are implemented by the analogue sticks making pulling off a special an achievement rather than a piece of cake adding much reward to a victory.
PS2
Sports
Any game with that boasts Cha Kato in his underwear and glasses cant take itself too seriously all the time. Plenty of tight pants and tight spots with clearly distinguishable wrestlers each having their own signature moves to help manipulate your spine into impossible contours. Known as WWE Smack Down in the West.
Sega Saturn
Sports
A tasty piece of programming making the PlayStation eat humble pie. Crisp graphics running a a high frame rate truly brought the arcade experience home. But gameplay is what counts – the developer’s extensive rally car physics research oozes from every powerslide.
PS2
RPG
3D RPG allowing you to draw your own characters to play with in game and as such limited only in the scope of your imagination. An innocent theme and colourful, vibrant graphics with some light RPG elements. Also known as Magic Pengel, prequel to Graffiti Kingdom.
Playstation
Sports
Delightful tennis from Namco given a neo Tokyo, super fly make over, but the zany courts are an ever present – be in the Great Barrier Reef, the Houses of Parliament or the Theme Park complete with Splatterhouse attraction. In fact the game is full of self references – Namco certainly appreciate their rich heritage. Plays like a dream without the need for flash polygons.
Playstation
Simulation
Interweaves different time zones from the past, present and future very cleverly to make for a seamless anime adventure with tasty cut scenes as seasoned anime veterans may expect with those fine production values overflowing into the game too.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Subtitled: Darkstalkers’ Revenge. The Saturn was made for titles of this ilk: wonderfully balanced characters hammering it out in 2D bliss. You can feel Capcom’s spark return in this Saturn classic.
PS2
Platform
A fine 3D platform escapade with the manga coming to life complete with speed lines and stretchy limbs. The look is 3D, but the action is more 2.5D making it both playable and full of clever gaming twists that bring the vibrant series kicking, screaming and yelling to the PS2. Known in the West as One Piece Round the Land.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
A dream title for Sega fight fans which sees the creme of Virtua Fighter pitched head on against the elite of Fighting Vipers. Choc-a-bloc with hidden eggs which gives the game longevity comparable to VF’s Shun. Mention must go to Kumachan, a Genki legend.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
The Tokimeki phenomena is absolutely immense in Japan and as such fan service releases such as this go down a treat there. But Konami have kept an eye out for the growing band of overseas fans with some English language messages and menu translations when accessed via a PC. On the Saturn the disk is crammed with media with music video clips, art gallery presentations even the chance to play paper, scissors, stone with your favourite Tokimeki character.
Playstation
Sports
Tennis games have never needed over eloborate graphics as the cartoony, highly playable Smash Court remonstrates with panache. Some highly imaginative courts including inside a stately home, an ornamental garden complete with arcade machine and a beach!
XBOX
Action
Combos doesn’t really go far enough as opponents are more dissected in air with a samurai sword. Yet quick reflexes are a requisite with some enemies using more modern weapons than the traditional ninja. Puts back the fear into the word boss.
XBOX
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in.
PS2
RPG
An epic series with a monumental story – like a beautifully woven tapestry the way the threads come together. Cel-shaded sprites blur the boundaries between anime and gaming. A real pinnacle in terms of the series.
PS2
RPG
A vast world to explore, but led gently by Namco’s fair hand with cut scenes and stirring orchestral score to crank up the tension. A JRPG series with a dedicated following.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
With graphics as fluid as old man Shun’s drunken style kung – fu, jaws dropped over the huge leap from the predecessor to make this the series finest hour?
Sega Saturn
RPG
Fans of the great Shining Wisdom series will not be disappointed with Working Designs great update. The sickly sweet sprite world draws you in for an epic, Zelda like adventure.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Could the Saturn have beaten the Playstation had this release been the version ‘Remix’ was? Still sold by the bucketload. AM2 flexing it’s Naomi board porting muscles.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Tekken’s success led to its big budget feel in terms of introducing the bouts and its slick presentation. The fight mechanics have been well-worked on as much as the elaborate backgrounds, be it jungle, shopping centre with excited shoppers or the urban, underground car park complete with appropriate acoustics for a concrete fight. Not forgetting the showdown in the ring too…
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Plays like a Jackie Chan film without the excessive fighting as players take the role of a Chinese detective on the trail of a murderer in downtown Hong Kong. Plenty of signs to set the scene and a great stereotyped chief with cigarette never too far from his moustached mouth. Plenty of friction between the player and his lovely assistant but its all in a good days work for Kowloon’s finest.
Sega Saturn
Action
Booming Bond song in a karaoke style announces the arrival of the big budget Gundam juggernaut with slick intro with high production values evident in the nostalgic anime intro. The action is perfectly accessible as hulking mechs smash chunks out of each other following some suitably heated avatar exchange.
Playstation
Simulation
Train up your chose Chocobo from cute little fledgling to champion race stallion in this twist on the horse racing game. Great for fans of Squaresoft.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Arcade port is almost perfect with stirring orchestral score and dazzling, fluid special moves and combo’s. Still remains one of the finest fighters ever to grace the console scene.
Playstation
Shooter
Light gun game full of fun and a real pleasure to play as a result. The conversion doesn’t betray its arcade roots and the levels are zippy with players being thrown into the fray to stop a car heading straight for them, keep a can up in the air in a shooting version of keepy upy or shooting the fleeces off poor sheep that scamper by. Known in the West as Point Blank 2.
PS2
Sports
‘Feel the sports emotion’ as Square tackle real world physics of racing with a plethora of Japanese sports cars. Includes the Suzuka and lesser known Tsukuba circuits.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Sequel to the original 94 release and mean fighter, but actually the first conversion to the PSX. Plenty of specials and a guest appearance of Neo Geo Land, Japan as one of the stages. The dark and moody Korean stage with rain lashing down and burning tree gets Genki’s vote though. The game zips along even if the loading times aren’t quite as fast missing the Saturns extra cart.
PC Engine HU Card
Sports
King of the ring slug fest from the dark destroyer Cream, with the bonus of a side scrolling beat ’em up thrown in there for good measure like Legend of Success Joe on the Neo Geo in which you hunt down your father’s killers. Some cool and mean pugalists and trainers to choose from including Cutie Ann and the Yakuza look a like Mr. Ran. Training is also possible in the gym with medicine balls tossed at you to test your reflexes along with bag work.
Super Famicom
RPG
Traverse the lands in your merry band with battles never too far away. The classic Enix fight interface is never celebrated more than in the Dragon Quest series and it remains a cherish memory in many a Japanese household.
Super Famicom
Sports
The essence of Nintendo’s brilliance captured in a piece of software that draws in the beginner gently but demands hours of dedication to fully master the power slide turns. Perfect controls plus simple mode seven graphics equal the definitive Mario Kart version. Even the battle mode would beat other rivals as a stand alone title as you stealthfully attack fellow competitors. A seminal title and a lesson in programming guaranteed to give prickly armpits and sweaty palms on latter levels.
Famicom Cart
Action
Battle against various other animals such as rats, bats and cows to knock each other out by rolling balls along the tabletop. Each character has their own unique characteristics making them difficult to beat.
Game Gear
Simulation
Gundam in Japan is huge in both popularity stakes and sprawling stories. Humans enter the cockpits of giant mecha robots to fight with other suitably proportioned mecha robots.