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.
PS Vita
Simulation
Drops players into the zany world of Osomatsu kun with the array of madcap characters from the series causing chaos. Makes great use of the license with the stars full of colour and backed up by fine voice acting.
Merchandise
DVD
Highlighting exciting releases of the era with Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo 4 and Siren just a few to whet the appetite in the 90mins of footage.
Merchandise
DVD
Coming with Guilty Gear X Plus PS2 game in which Sammy proves its no schmuck using Dreamcast based technology to produce an arcade armada in Guilty Gear with which to plunder SNK and Capcom’s war chests. The smooth conversion to PS2 sits proudly as possibly one of the series finest 2D fight fests and this anime DVD is just as slick, albeit fairly short at 5mins.
Wii
A Bit Special
Nine various games to ground you in the skills required to play the console to its full potential. Nintendo takes you by the hand through a Duck Shoot style blast, a round of ping pong, a rack of pool – mimicking the cue action, a race with a herd of cows, a spot of fishing and a game of air hockey amongst others. All good, clean fun and an excellent starter title.
Merchandise
DVD
Television adverts (or commercials), trailers and opening sequences from Japan, America and Europe for Square Enix games from Last Remnant, Star Ocean and Infinite Discovery.
Famicom Cart
Sports
Zippy race game from Konami’s arcade roster with very impressive speeds. Sharp reflexes are required to avoid traffic, oil clicks, bikes that seem to target your car, whilst still trying to collect bonuses. Delays will prevent the players car getting to the check point in time.
Famicom Cart
Action
Astro Robo has its own USP in that Sasa utilises its gun to manoeuvre round the screen collecting the items required to clear the level. The momentum physics are excellent and it deserves its success due to its innovation.
Famicom Cart
Platform
One of those Japanese titles which never has even heard of the term mass market and goes out to please its native audience. As such its levels look superb with Mount Fuji and Hiroshige style clouds in the background as Oniisan (older brother) jumps over toori gates and avoids mini samurai in the platform sections.
Gamecube
Rhythm
Takes the Bongo controller on a new level by using it to control the platform action. Tap left and right to move the direction, both togther to jump and clap to perform actions. Levels are set against the clock but a minimum number of bananas need to be collected to progress to the next stage. Add to that lush jungle graphics, a score bonus for good use of chimp gymnastics throughout the level plus some frantic tub thumping when delivering blows to the bosses and you have a real storming title.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Highly impressive dog fight game which convinces of depth very well as you lead your squadron into the screen. The cloud formation and perspective combine very cleverly and give a real sense of motion. A beady eye must also be kept on the sea in order to drop a skimming bomb into enemy vessels to give them a few problems to deal with rather than taking pop shots at your fighter plane.
PS2
Platform
Spikey, vibrant hero unleashed in a 3D world to explore and utilise its resources such as the electricity charge. Packed with innovations and the packing keeps ticking along nicely bringing Sony a mascot it so desires.
Playstation
Action
Many fine gaming moments have been provided through improper gameplay: playing he game not quite as intended. Crash Bandicoot Carnival has the feel of such a game as players crash crates on top of opponents heads and scrap it out for power-ups in the arena based mash-up melee.
PS2
Action
Sony shows its understanding of the 3D action genre with simple lines in its space theme and good character sizing and camera angles to be able to judge jumps, rather than rely on leaps of faith. The Iron Man mecha level is great fun as players don the Tetsujin 28 suit to wrestle the Ninja Robot.
PS2
Rhythm
Feisty festival title that brings not just the sound but the heat and colour of a Japanese festival to life on the PSP. Buttons (or ideally the drum sticks) must be tapped in tune to the on screen action. Control soon become intuitive though and there is a wide spectrum of songs that are bound to raise your spirits and get you shouting Wasshoi in joy. Undeniably bizarre but when it brings the spirit of a Japanese festival into your home it can’t be bad.
PS2
Action
The stealth requirement distinguishes Metal Gear from more action orientated titles as players slip in and out of the bushes. Kojima deserves notoriety for such dedication to the project, not known since Miyamoto san.
PS3
Action
Konami utilises its experience of all out action titles to good effect combining it like an expert chef with gothic decay and organic backgrounds as players face colossus proportioned bosses (without wishing to give too much away) alongside what looks like an extra from Colossus besides swinging across cliffs. Hats off.
PS3
Action
Snake is starting to develop that thousand yard stare that a veteran of so many conflicts is in danger of. Yet the gameplay is invigorating and far from jaded as it once again ups both the gameplay and visual ante with seeming ease. Granted the action ante has also been upped and some will bemoan the lack of stealth. May will have little chance to notice amongst the strafe and shrapnel.
Mega Drive
Puzzle
Puyo Puyo is Japanese onomatopoeia for something soft to touch, such as the jelly like balls that fall from the sky to be aligned with similar colours in this saccharine soaked, kawaii puzzler.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Straight from the arcades comes this forced scrolling shooter featuring the Journey to the West Legend and starring Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and Tripitaka. Well Monkey and Pigsy at least as the others have been kidnapped. The pacing is good and the characters nicely realised. And with Monkey in it.
Famicom Cart
Action
Master piece in animation moving as slickly as Prince of Persia on your quest to rescue the kidnapped princess. Hardcore old school difficulty ensures you must be able to block your opponents assaults as well as dish out your own flaying fists. The ultimate showdown with Master Karateka will have your palms sweating, but the thought of having to fight all those tough nuts again to get to him will spur you on.
Famicom Cart
Side Scrolling Beat Em Up
Reminiscent of Master Karateka’s rotoscoped sprites, Ken journeys through a post-apocalyptic world dishing out a few well-timed sweeps and high-kicks like Kung-Fu Master. Boss patterns have to be quickly memorised or the fear is the end of level bad guys will be using the phrase on Kenshiro himself.
Super Famicom
Platform
Yoshi’s Island was a late Super Famicom release around the debut of the Playstation in Japan, yet its timing seemed to ask what all this 32Bit fuss was about. The crayon-like, colourful gaming world is charming with delightful, forgiving gameplay that relies on ability without any cheap shots from unseen enemies or blind leaps of faith. Yoshi’s flexibility came to the fore with eggs being launched using the intuitive targeting system to reveal secret areas – all very well providing Baby Mario didn’t stray for too long. A superb way to bow out for the SFC; a veritable ace up the sleeve from the former Kyoto playing card maker.
PS2
RPG
Fantasy style space adventure (or should that be Phantasy with its similarity to PSO?) The group battles are intense and the plot woven with the extreme skill of a games company with a wealth of experience. Very emotive soundtracl perfectly suited to the on screen action.
Nintendo 3DS
Action
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan so it is with some pride Nintendo bring it to the 3DS. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye and making the very most of the hardware. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
Nintendo 64
Action
Genki’s weapon of choice is a craftily dispatched red turtle shell. A poison chalice to follow up the mode 7 marvel that was the Super Famicom original, yet utilises the additional processing power of the 64 well with mud tracks and other vehicles on the circuit.
PS2
Shooter
Its surprising how intuitive controlling a massive mecha can become and, with a good range of movements to master, players soon can strafe with the finest before unleashing a powerful rocket into an opponents mid rift.
PS2
Rhythm
The sequel to the genre defining title brings a welcomed save feature and plenty more mini game madness including a Galaga style shoot em up where tapping the drum skin fires shots (Namco not being one to forget its rich gaming roots) and drum rolling to blow up balloons – a tap on the rium when done. But the crux of the fun remains the songs – from Doraemon and Anpanman anime songs to Beethoven via J Pop from the likes on Mini Moni.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Cheery, department style tunes and equally happy avatars accompany the doe eyed mange inspired characters as players interact to as best win over their favour and at worst avoid a slapped cheek.
PS2
Action
Third and possibly final installment of the samurai slasher seeing refreshing new backgrounds with the addition of Parisien Jaques played by Jean Reno (Leon, Wasabi.) Whilst never cynical, Genki is very envious of the angel who teaches Jaques to speak Japanese in an instant. Reaches new pinnacles on the PS2 with fully rendered scenery in glorious 3D including beautiful forests and marvellous magic effects. A true samurai would only play with the sword controller though.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Cracking fight title with clear, arcade style arrows making sure players know which one their fighter is in the middle of a melee. Four player bouts are a real scream, but the multi player action works just as well alone adding an extra dimension to the bout in having to keep an eye firmly focused on opponent fighters. The anime license adds a real varnish of classy sheen to an already well polished, triple A title.
Nintendo 64
Sports
Water physics so realistic you feel the brine in your face with every wave smashing into your jet ski pushing you off course. Feels so good with responsive controls via the analogue stick. Nintendo’s raison d’etre.
PS2
A Bit Special
A real treat as Sony goes out on a limb requiring the player to voice act to the various in game scenarios: be in horror movie, comedy scene or Western to great comic value.
Merchandise
Merchandise
Straps to attach to face masks to make them more comfortable. Also comes with an accessory charm. Great for the gaming or anime convention.
PS2
Sports
Konami’s crack Major A outfit worked wonders on the PS2 achieving very near perfection in this fluid football game and plays a posession game for the top of the league spot. A real treat to feel like scoring is possible from any position, not just set places on the pitch. Total football.
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.
Figures
Figure
Pop out 3D figure from Dragon Quest in this Derumurin Island version tribute to Dai no Bouken. The effect works very well to bring it to life.
Nintendo Hardware
Accessory
Sticker sheets with eyes and letters to customise Labo creations besides colourful tape.
Super Famicom
RPG
A delight from start to finish no matter how many times you savour its entwining story with luscious visuals and recapture the powerful emotions stirred by in game events with a moving musical score. Gameplay is nicely balanced between action and exploration with a solid array of weapons to power up and spells to cast. Best to put everything else on hold before entering this enchanting world. Japanese title Seiken Densetsu 2.
Super Famicom
RPG
Truly epic and immense adventure that you know has the high Squaresoft assurance of quality from the very outset. With excellent characterisation thanks to the endeavours of Akira Toriyama of DragonBall Z fame and the input from the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest producers add an extra A to this triple-A title. Aurally it delights too with Yasunori Mitsuda’s genius imprinted all over the soundtrack that is appropriate to each era.
Famicom Cart
One on One Beat Em Up
Take on the deft of foot Oolong or the brute Chain in this grandmaster of martial arts antics. Gameplay is like a vintage port that only seems to improve with age. Hot fighting history indeed.