Recommended
Recommended games and hardware - our favourites from the last couple of weeks.
XBOX 360
One on One Beat Em Up
Seemingly having done a lot of homework, Arc System Works infuse their Guilty Gear skills along with Akiba, sleek styling, gothic, Harajuku fashion, huge scaled opponents of the quintessential Capcom, Saturn era classic X Men, even what looks like a ghost from Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. The depth in detail to the backgrounds with exquisite lighting is a sight to behold. But the all important engine, where fight titles are swept mercilessly to the floor or soar with a flying foot into the opposition, has been honed with the teams years of experience.
PSP
A Bit Special
Clever use of word linking in the title as players get to savour the delights of the otaku’s Mecca (or should that be mecha?) That is Akihabara. Its possible to explore the game shops, electrical stores, anime haunts and obligatory maid cafes with authentic realism in terms of layout. Plenty of fliers and Aikiba info can be viewed. Battles also ensue and those taking a beating tend to lose their dignity instead of getting a cauliflower ear in an intriguing take on the Yakuza series, hence the title. A clever concept covering all bases and uncovering a few surprises.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Genki Gurus will be more than aware of our unhealthy penchant for ninjas. Still at least it doesn’t result in donning ninja suit and heading for the local park to test our skills. Yet few would be able to turn down Kage’s charms as or hero runs through the snow laden forests taking down opponents as you may clearing a path through the bamboo. Indoor levels show off some beautiful screens and more varied adversaries donning big bowled hats of a pilgrim. Yet rescuing the kimono clad princess makes it all worth while.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Classic old school shooter from the kings of the Famicom era Hudson that ruled the roost with fast paced, arcade shooting action, to paraphrase from the era. Superb box art and good, wholesome gameplay.
NEO GEO CD
One on One Beat Em Up
The Jet of the title refers to the extra speed in movement added to the mix to make a very tasty fight fest with a few extra specials thrown in for each character just to keep you on your toes and fleet footed. The graphics are the pinnacle of the series on the AES and the results are up there with the finer fight titles on the system – no mean feat amongst such refined company.
Famicom Cart
Shooter
Nicely done conversion of the arcade smash, unfortunately missing the Uzi controller. Uses a cross hair marker instead of light gun in a similar vein to the Neo Geo classic Nam 75. The gun toting hero is hard as nails.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
This disk has four demos from Bomberman SS, Sakura Wars, Virtua On and Tengai Makyo. A nice curio for the dedicated Saturn conehead.
PSP
A Bit Special
Intriguing project that exudes Sony chic on the PSP. Basically a compilation of mini games pulled together on the premise of the rise in part-time work in modern Japan. Players save their very hard-earned cash to buy strange gashapons in the hope of unlocking another job, whilst chatting to their fellow part-time friends via the in game emails to pick up tips. An initial four games are available: catching baseballs to try and get up to a thousand. Putting pen caps on biros with an unhinged soundtrack to really feel the daily grind and mess with your sanity. Crossing the road frogger style avoiding the high speed cars. Finally counting pedestrians as they dart across a busy street. All executed with great style. A surprising unknown cracker in the PSP world.
Playstation
Simulation
A cracking title in which you get to become a master crane operator through the various stages and challenges including pulling out fish as in the child’s toy fishing game. There is also an expert course to graduate aswell as the grind of work mode where going about your duties is strangely gratifying. Only in Japan, but well worth a spin. Known as Crane Master ni Narou in Japan. See also Shovel Master and Machine master in the Kenki Ippai series.
Famicom Cart
RPG
Rescue the Tomato Princess and receive the praise of the Broccoli King to become a fine, upstanding cucumber. Possibly the strangest way to encourage salad consumption, but a wonderfully crafted adventure and in friendly Hiragana for those budding students of Japanese: be in language or culture. Known in Japan as Salad no Kuni no Tomato Hime.
PS3
Simulation
Special title capturing the hopes and mainly fears of a late twenty something stuck in a cycle of not wishing to work too hard in a part time position but suffering the lack of financial stability that results in. The ever pressing fear of pregnant girlfriends and the alluring yet foreboding Catherine prey heavily on our protagonists mind as the character interaction plays out with a wealth of mini games. One such involves shifting platforms to climb to the top of the tower and success in these is linked to progress in the special game.
Dreamcast
Rhythm
Updated version of the arcade smash with plenty more tracks to choose from including a rock version of A-Ha’s “Take On Me.” Also includes Hustle mode where moving the maracas around in time to the beat is the central premise as opposed to hitting the beats. Then there’s Love Love mode where success is measured by how many beats you can hit together with your partner. Preach no more: this is the game to convince non gamers to get involved and samba. Bursting with colour and sunshine – at least when you’re hitting the beats.
PS2
Platform
Absolutely lush backgrounds feel like they are bringing a fairytale to life in this spiritual sequel to the much vaunted Princess Crown on the Saturn. Items and experience are important as magical spells are released with a fair heap of graphical gunpowder. But at its core its good old fashioned 2D platform fighting and this cat is lapping it up. Absolutely huge quest with some nightmare inspired bosses.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Plethora of zany characters from the anime hero Dam Dam to a fish head on legs which have to jump on each others shadows to win the bout. A glimpse of the creativity Sony harnesses when its developers are given a free reign.
Nintendo DS
Rhythm
Update of the GBA original which became a big hit. The use of the stylus adds an extra dimension to the refreshing concept. Combines the refreshing delights of the Made in Wario series with funky, fly beats therefore taking the gameplay on to a higher plane by combining demands on visual and aural reflexes. With such delightful gameplay its hard to put down but unless you got rhythm you wont see the credits roll.
PS2
Simulation
Live the dream: drive your bus around the big T not forgetting to announce the stops and shut the door before departure. Oh and buses run on time in Japan. White drivers gloves not supplied. Conversion of the much loved Dreamcast classic.
Playstation
Puzzle
From hardcore gamers much loved Takumi, which was created (along with Cave) from the fallout from Taoplan’s demise, comes this distinctive puzzler. Usually more at home with shmups like Gigawing and Mars Matrix, Takumi demonstrates another string to its bow as you work to match weather symbols with some delightful characters. The symbols can be slid along sideways to make combo’s, but it keeps it nice and frantic not having to concentrate purely on the top line as in Puyo Puyo et al. Very refreshing. Also known as Weather Tales.
Dreamcast
Sports
Masses of Japanese, American and European cars to choose from each with unique handling as Sega steers away from its arcade rally races and gets realistic in this Gran Turismo style racing game. Good graphical attention to detail seen for example in the whirl of red light left behind when a car jams on the anchors at night.
PS2
Rhythm
Trial version in which players transform into the uber funky Giatroo Man by picking up an electric guitar and strum some riffs to dispatch of your adversaries in a unique twist on the rhythm action genre. Get in the groove and react in sync and the music plays along more smoothly. As exquisitely colourful as a trip to Shibuya and full of Eastern insanity making this a must have purchase.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Subtitled ‘The Start of History’, one might expect more familiar titles than Son Son, Higemaru, Exed Exes and Vulgus. Exed Exes is probably the pick of the four, but with Son Son containing NHK Monkey’s exploits it will always be the apple of Genki’s eye.
Wii
A Bit Special
A little bit of a different experience with the games main protagonist and hero Minon being able to alter the domino action world. Fingers crossed this can be as enjoyable as No One Can Stop Mr. Domino on the PSX. Eight stages to enjoy with a battle mode and two player play possible.