Recommended
Recommended games and hardware - our favourites from the last couple of weeks.
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.
Famicom Cart
Board Game
A fine collectable and curio for the Famicom combining board game and video game in one very fine package. The attention to detail in the production is staggering as up to four players traverse the game world and board map simultaneously.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Famicom Cart
Platform
The Nyankies instead of Yankees comes from the sound a cat makes in Japanese. Captures a cheesy Eighties feel with ease as the cat heroes swing through downtown Manhattan. The game is full of innovative touches such as hoover feet and being able to grab on to platforms, Bionic Commando style. Known as Rockin Kats in the West and also abbreviated to NY Nyankies.
GameBoy Advance
RPG
Nintendo demonstrates its lighter side in this Japanese tongue in cheek take off of the RPG obsession amongst gamers. Set in America with unique, cartoon-like graphics reminiscent of Charlie Brown and his chums. Known as Earthbound in the West.
Dreamcast
Shooter
Sega does Bond with some fine tongue in cheek humour as you choose from two sleek spies to take out the bad guys in a flurry of trigger finger action in classic light gun style. Has a few moments to interrupt the trigger happy action though, such as a chance to shoot a key or bunging up a toxic gas leak which keep you on your toes and alter the games course. Not too many gun games on the DC making this one to really savour especially in two player mode.
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.
Dreamcast
RPG
Beautiful action RPG – think a 3D Princess Crown with an elliptical world, with fine attention to detail and platform action sections with tight jumps and steady nerves a prerequisite. Subtitled ‘Arsia in Day Dream.’
🏆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.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
A treasure hunt title known as Yukawa Otakara Sagashi in Japan that was a promotional disk, but could also be bought. Players at the time were lucky enough to be able to win ten thousand Yen to allow them to order the likes of Border Down or Space Channel 5.
Virtual Boy
Shoot Em Up
Assume control of the Rangnarok ship in the battle to regain control of a rogue space colony. 2D vertically scrolling blast fest given a 3D element by the ability to shift between different planes. Relatively short, but the usual shields, weapon and pod power ups and detailed backgrounds make this a blast worthy of the Hudson Soft brand.
Nintendo 3DS
RPG
Bowser comes to the fore as Mario & Luigi negotiate through his body whilst Bowser himself happily romps around terra firma. Colourful, clear graphics help eagle eyed players spot the key to progress. Lashing of the Big N, triple-A polish.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Club Nintendo title that could only be obtained in Japan by those holding sufficient points which should no doubt add to its collectability in years to come. Transforms your DS into a Game & Watch machine in which Nintendo first cut its handheld teeth complete with clock. Two titles are included this time: Octopus and Parachute to help while away any waiting lounge.
Famicom Cart
Action
Plenty of tributes to its mighty back catalogue in game for the discerning gamer. Taking out tanks that appear in the maze means keeping a keen eye out for where they will appear, if in control of the skirmish. Otherwise it means grabbing those freeze power ups or blasting a whole in the maze to sit in, perhaps even behind camouflage.
Famicom Cart
Action
A beautiful taster of what was to come in Parodius et al. The Penguin hero of the title piles on the pounds with each hit and therefore gets less likely to make the time limit controlled end of level. Full of colourful, Konami fun and humour and a real gem of a Famicom game.
Famicom Cart
RPG
Combines the first two adventures on the series on one rather large cart. Also includes a fold out map with the layout of the two worlds along with a paperback guide book/instruction manual in full colour with plenty of screenshots and illustrations. Highly collectable.
GameBoy Color
Simulation
Off-shoot of the mega series with authentic avatars and card-based combat as players explore the Shin Megami world and meet its mystery inhabitants.
GameBoy Advance
RPG
Nintendo unleash their fine and healthy imagination in Ketchup World in this tomato themed action RPG really looking the colourful part. Surely a classic of the future and deserving of a wider audience.
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.