Recommended
Recommended games and hardware - our favourites from the last couple of weeks.
Game Gear
A Bit Special
The bizarre Crayon Shinchan world gets an appropriately off-kilter selection of mini games to savour in that unique graphical style like a child’s doodles. Great variety: from pumping balloons to a fun fair shoot out via digging for treasure on the beach.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Turtles on platform this time avoiding blokes with chain saws – usually a good policy in Genki’s humble experience. Makes good use of the turtles nature and taking to underwater sections. April’s always on hand to offer support.
Famicom Cart
Action
A Jidaigeki is a historical drama as Kunio takes a trip back in time to enjoy some of Japan’s rich feudal history with samurai and chonmage hairstyles. Our Kunio fits the bill just fine though: equally at home fighting bad dudes down the game centre as unhinged bullies trying to capture his girl.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Cheerful chip tunes and big, bold sprites, plus the character of Kai ensure this is a well treasured Famicom title. Collecting keys and potions, avoiding fire breathing dragons and escape to the door out of the level by the skin of your teeth are the order of the day. Translates as Kai’s adventure. Also known as The Quest of Ki.
Playstation
Simulation
A nice curio for the Playstation that comes with cable to link players phones to the console to be able to use the home and phone version of the virtual pet Toro’s games.
Gamecube
Action
A quest based adventure as the mouse everybody loves seeks the pieces of the broken mirror to get back home. The gaming world looks a treat, as if Disney would have it any other way but with the added Capcom polish it really shines with a sparkle. In game events can set off a frantic button bashing sequence to overcome the challenge. And the mini games such as flying a plane around collecting items or snowboarding down the slopes provide a good clean fun diversion.
Can be linked to the GBA through the link cable (game and cable sold separately) to change around the Magical Mirror world.
PS3
One on One Beat Em Up
Warming the cockles of side on scrapper starved gamers comes the sequel to the anime expose to satisfy the most demanding of fight fans. The all female cast is reminiscent of the seminal Asuka series, but unfortunately such high-res graphics were never a possibility on the humble PC Engine. Presentation is spot on with a wee nod to the doujin fan and a fine story mode with pre-bout banter between the cat like ladies. The title comes from the Arcana power which is chosen to help each character get through the bout. Great to see the ladies are still doing it in 2D. Keep them coming we requested and our pleas have been answered.
Dreamcast
Sports
Beautiful weather and water textures add to the natural healing that comes from cruising the lakes in the great outdoors, dropping a line every now and then. The boat can be manoeuvred to a favoured spot on the lake adding an extra dimension to gameplay, particularly with the boat being equipped with a depth monitoring device. Spiritual healing for the urban oppressed.
Super Famicom
Simulation
A nice Mario collectable with picture related puzzles and animated pictures all created with the ease of a Nintendo user friendly interface. The naughty Wario pops up adding a bit of mischief to the arty mix.
PS2
Rhythm
Gyrate to the beat with the sexy Space Channel reporter Ulala. Just don’t ask about the story! Unique feel to graphics, full of futuristic frolics.
GameBoy Advance
Sports
Compilation of two Kunio Kun games: dodgeball and basketball. Dodgeball is similar to ‘kingy’ in the UK: throw a ball at your opponents. Hit them and they take damage until turning into an angel and floating up to heaven. Unfortunately each team has a big bruiser far from being an angel, complete with powerful super move. Kunio and his motley crew add a great deal of fun to an otherwise limited genre. Starting under the gaze of Mount Fuji and the cherry blossom, a victory brings a trip to Naxat International for a flight (on Naxat Airlines) to London complete with Beatles style chip music. Next: a trip to Iceland complete with penguins. The basketball is set at a US Military base and being able to kick and punch somewhat changes the flow of the games a crucial times. And with multiple baskets, being able to score in your own net and teams with teleport powers, theres never a dull moment. Feels like a title made by gamers for gamers though.
Mega Drive
Simulation
Players build up their civilisation encouraging them to construct dwellings and mine resources, before raising an army to battle other countries. Known as Tyrants in the US.
PC Engine HU Card
Action
Any title combining ninja’s, kunoichi (female ninja’s), shadowmen, snipers and fire ninja’s can’t be bad. Ninja Warriors is a fine conversion of Taito’s late eighties coin-op smash with the only feature lacking being the Darius style three sectioned screen.
PC Engine HU Card
Action
Packed with cultural references in the form of geta wearing devils, machine gun wielding octupuses and Chinese lions. Play as the phallus shaped Honey. Hopefully the designers had the ancient Japanese clay ‘Haniwa’ images in mind when designing this action title which uses a clever pseudo-3D. Well ahead of its era.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Sports
Pretty difficult to track down as the games star and biker gang look-a-like Kunio Kun has a strong following. Various track & field events spiced up by the ability to throw punches, bottles and even bowling balls during your rivals attempts.
Famicom Cart
Simulation
That early twinkle in Lucasart’s eye can be seen here in the walking tentacles of Maniac Mansion. Fun touches throughout the game as players explore the bizarre mansion keeping a keen eye out for clues and unusual items to aid progression.
Famicom Cart
Action
Genki lacks the will power to resist a retro game that comes with gaming mat and plastic mallet to bash to moles that appear on screen on the corresponding spot on the game mat. Great fun and a wonderful kitsch release. Title translates as Super Mole Bashing.
Mega Drive
Action
Captures the prohibition era feel of the gangster flick well as Mr Tracy goes after the mob. The levels scroll along and the tommy gun and old knuckle sandwich are used to progress. But an eye must be kept on underground activity in the background as gangsters take pot shots at our main man. The machine gun is used to take up an into the screen perspective to dish out some rough justice to these shady background scene shifters. Enjoyable bonus levels ensue where the quick witted private eye must distinguish between good and bad in a split second and dispatch one of them using the A, B or C buttons depending on their position. A nice film tie-in.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
Famicom Mini Series capture the imaginative packaging and the unforgiving, old school gameplay of the source material from the Nintendo Famicom Disk Drive – never released outside Japan. The Series was commissioned to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Famicom or NES. Old school barrel jumping action reminiscent of the playground smash Game & Watch title.
PSP
Sports
Sony turns its fair hand to tennis with its more familiar to the golf world Minna No engine. The sun shines as wide-eyed players tackle a variety of courses with patchy grass being one; and an array of locales such what looks like a university. The RPG mode is great fun and players can customise their outfits to add to their distinction.
PSP
Sports
Keeps up the series impeccable presentation with the cute characters, over the top reactions to success or defeat and some devilishly designed courses looking ever so stunning on the small screen. You can almost feel the sun on your back teeing off on a sunny day with the birds singing. Thankfully includes a putting practise mode to hone your skills on. Best shots can be saved too a la Virtua Striker allowing you to show off your eagle. Perfect way to whittle away long journeys. Known also by its English name of Everybody’s Golf.