Recommended
Recommended games and hardware - our favourites from the last couple of weeks.
Dreamcast
One on One Beat Em Up
Until released it never was truly believed that such an otaku’s dream of Ryu vs Terry Bogart battles would actually become a reality. Two of the giants of the 2D one on one combat world locking horns has never been such fun.
Dreamcast
One on One Beat Em Up
Genki would love to diverge more details if only the plot of Hirohiko Araki’s suitably named manga made sense… Recommended to fans with Capcom’s solid fighting engine and JoJo’s insane animation skilfully blended together. The special moves are the cocoa dust on top to fans of the series.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Ryo continues on his quest for revenge to Hong Kong and the mountains of China. Incredible cinematic experience that incredulously never received a North American release: such craft deserved the widest possible audience.
Sega Hardware
Controller
Stylish Dreamcast keyboard. Great for the typing games. Includes handy wrist rest.
GameBoy Advance
RPG
A splendid, sprawling epic cocooned in a wonderful threads of Shining Force story. Lovingly crafted sprites reminiscent of the halcyon era of the Super Famicom.
Dreamcast
Rhythm
Intriguing twist on the rhythm action style of game with J Pop music that adjusts to your skill level. Protaganists Amp and Spica must dance their way through the colourful Cool Cool Town using their dancing skills to appease yellow werewolves and diffuse bombs. Gameplay is similar to Space Channel 5 and Neo Geo Pocket link up is possible in this last import only SNK release for the Dreamcast. This link up lets you unlock instruments in the Pocket version which can then be used in the Dreamcast version
Nintendo DS
Action
A Japan exclusive and special release in that Club Nintendo members were the only ones able to obtain a copy. A tribute to the classic title and very tasty Game & Watch making good use of the DS’s merits and with clever single and multi player modes to extend the games longevity.
Famicom Cart
One on One Beat Em Up
A classic case of a brilliant game released late into a hardwares life scale and as such some what slipping under the radar. A one on one fighter with some quirky differences that makes it a bit of a genre bender and all the more enjoyable for it. Anyway check out the Hardcore Gaming guide for a fine assessment… Virtua Fighter for the Famicom.
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.
Dreamcast
Shoot Em Up
Developed by Takumi who produced Gigawing, Mars Matrix encourages you to build up piles of cash to upgrade to new weapons. Collecting in succession has a multiplier effect encouraging paint scorching near-misses. Only grizzled shmup veterans need apply, but the shield option does provide some respite – especially when it fires back enemy projectiles or even doubles as a smart bomb; not without a price of course. And its due to this recharge period that the shield must be tactically used. Lovely Battle Garegga proportion attention to detail with molten shrapnel wizzing past.
Dreamcast
Action
Full of Sega’s arcade prowess making it to the DC via the Model 2 arcade board with a few cosmetic enhancements. Multiple routes are possible but this is just like its Hollywood counterpart Die Hard in that action comes above all else.
GameBoy Advance
Action
Update of the futuristic Super Famicom classic with jumps, power boosts and plenty of mad machines such as Hot Violet, Stingray and Crazy Horse making it a great gaming universe.
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.
Nintendo DS
Shooter
A National Treasure gets a worthy update to hopefully woo more with its charms. Full of tongue in cheek humour as you’d expect from this developer and some very funny English translations. Huge title with plenty of levels and even a level editor for the DS version. Cunning counter attack method involves waiting until your ship is in imminent danger before launching the counter, and the results are the more spectacular depending on the level of danger. And based on the experience of past competitions, Treasure have made data transferable via sound so that another DS can upload it or even it can even be sent onto the net for the real high rollers.
Famicom Cart
Action
Players ride on bikes like the speeders from Return of the Jedi and try to knock opponents into the on screen traps, such as laser beams. The speeder also has a gun to shoot itself as the screen forces the battle onwards.
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.