Recommended
Recommended games and hardware - our favourites from the last couple of weeks.
GameBoy Color
Sports
Gives the sport a more exciting translation to the handheld as it doesn’t try to be too realistic and can be easily picked up and played, such is Nintendo’s way.
Dreamcast
Rhythm
Pop a couple of maracas in the hands of a non-gamer and sit back and enjoy the show. Mould breaking, pure distilled fun from the Sonic Team.
Animal Crossing Figures
Figure
Looking very dapper in top and tails, Jack’s deadpan expression reveals his character. Fine tribute to a wonderful series.
XBOX
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in.
Super Famicom
RPG
Sadly not the 776 release which attracts pension funds, such is its year on year value inflation. But true gamers will cherish this standard version of the Nintendo RPG just as much. As ever, Nintendo’s standards set the bar which others must attain and this fine piece of programming could only be called a flop in terms of the Fosbury Flop, such as it raises the bar. A beautiful gaming world and a moving gaming experience.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Shoot Em Up
Seven levels in all in this verticle blaster with a well crafted organic feel in contrast to the usual space stations. The sea level is also worthy of a mention for squeezing every drop out of the Engine hardware so well. Some cracking power ups but they are drip fed to you in game to make sure they are fully appreciated. The ship is capable of bulking up to looking more like a mechanical cicada insect. A very tidy, if little known, shooter underlining Telenet’s cult popularity.
Sega Hardware
Controller
Stylish Dreamcast keyboard. Great for the typing games. Includes handy wrist rest.
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.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Action
Classic title from a golden era of gaming where players take on the role of knight tasked with clearing mazes. Set apart by Namcots flair for appealing sprite graphics and some fine gameplay blending quick thinking and fast pacing to create a title as loved today in updates such as this and on virtual consoles.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Action
A request from Shigeru Miyamoto lead to the orginal creator of Pac Man producing this update where in a novel twist the player can control the ghosts. Available only as a demo disk from Club Nintendo, Pac Man is reinvented by controlling the ghosts making for amazing multiplayer matches. The way it works is to have Pacman play via the GameBoy Advance link up so that the ghosts cannot see Pac’s position, only that of the 3D maze on the television screen.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
Platform romp with distinct Japanese humour and cultural references aplenty, including a cheeky boss run in reminiscent of Ghouls and Ghosts. If the cliché can be forgiven, a hidden gem, or possibly more a hidden whoopee cushion.
PS2
Shooter
Gungrave Overdose proves you can’t have too much of a good thing with its overhead third person perspective adding to the gameplay and adrenalin. Not that it need cranking up: the tension is high from the very off with the introduction. The story is full oof twists and intrigue – not that there’s much need to ponder it. Top end (Red) Entertainment.
Famicom Cart
Action
Cherished action RPG that takes a martial arts theme skilfully blending tough looking avatars, hit points and actual fight sequences in the martial arts mecca Temple of Shaolin itself.
Famicom Cart
Platform
The Battletoad games are very collectable and its easy to see why in this Rare crafted version. Cliched some of the locations may be, but when the execution is of such high standard its easy to see why they become much imitated and rarely bettered. Fun, wholesome action that squeezes every iota out of the hardware.
Playstation
RPG
Konami’s cult Mirumo world looking mighty fine on the Playstation with four adventure quests to savour full of brightly drawn fairies, luscious green backdrops and plinky plonky chip tunes matched and blended perfectly to the in quest action.
PS2
Action
Eidos goes out on a limb to show the Tomb Raider developers diversity in creating an almost Nintendo-esque shepherding game. Animals need guiding back to their pen, but certain creatures will sink in water or be unable to jump adding to the lateral thinking of the shepherd. Very enjoyable and underrated.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Sports
Minna no Golf style graphics with fine attention to detail such as the rainbow after the shower and weather sound effects adding to the uber kawaii look and feel good factor, yet its the unique control system untilising the analogue stick to make shots that makes Wai Wai head the leaderboard. Proper course design with realistic 3D so you can visually judge the run of the greens. And the cussing and yelping of the players helps endear you to the game further. Four player mode with just a single controller too.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Mega Drive
Action
The original cart is a rather rare side scrolling beat ’em up from Kemco with solid 2D visuals and gameplay that they don’t make quite like they used to. Each character has their own special move – the hand grenade can certainly have its use at times. Simultaneous two player mode adds to the enjoyment of this very playable romp.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Battle mode where you can take on anyone or Story mode full of scene setting cinematics where you play as Yuka chan. Very tasty graphics improving over the Super Famicom prequel. Also includes special moves that can only be utilised when on your last legs, evening up one sided bouts.
🏆Brilliant!
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.
PS2
Sports
Puritans will head straight for the Arcade mode with its accurate and unforgiving top down conversion of the vintage coin op. Those less familiar with the original will find much fun and frolics wading around in the Grand Prix mode which features the ability to power up to a massive mobile, or to increase jump potential. Ambulances smash their way through the drivers to get to stricken drivers and there are more on screen calamities than Wacky Races. A fine claret that has matured to near arcade perfection.