Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
GameBoy Color
Action
Bomberman uses all his nous to clear the screen of enemies and whatever needs clearing to complete the mission such lumps of meat on the Neanderthal level. Tactical positioning, use of power ups and quick thinking are a must to stay alive. Subtitled Yami no Senshi.
Playstation
Action
Isometric take tried to drag the PC Engine success of Bomberman into the 32bit world, but the new improved graphics add little to gameplay in Genki’s humble opinion. A must for fans of the series though with highly amusing story mode.
Playstation
Action
A interesting take on Bomberman as he busts out of his maze to take on 3D isometric levels which need some degree of bad guys and blocked paths clearing before the goal can be reached. As such it is more suited to a one player story mode than its usual incarnations and looks mighty fine in its graphical approach.
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Genki has whittled away many an hour playing Bombuzal. Sadly not so many hours are on offer to whittle away, but it it one of those games that could prove not all hours pass at the same rate. The reassuring lift music may help, but the crux of the action involves detonating all bombs on screen. Action can be viewed from an isometric or overhead viewpoint to ensure the detonation doesn’t take out the player too or that the crumbling path that can only be crossed once is the right order to proceedings.
Merchandise
Figure
Full colour manga book of the school girl pig plus special cover and figure on stand. A great gift set for the manga fan in your life.
Mega Drive
Sports
Ten pin bowling very well represented with the screen split into three: the bottom half showing the progress of the ball against the skittles and to line it up, the top two halves show the remaining skittles and the players avatar. This adds a good bit of emotion to the sport and the set up works very well.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Brings to mind the beautiful 16 bit era of shoot ’em ups with its pastel shading all the bells and whistles. Detachable boss limbs, arachnoid bosses, scaling in and out adversaries and what looks like extras from the Salamander series – there are many a nod from its knowledgeable developers to what has gone before in the shoot ’em up fraternity.
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Brings to mind the beautiful 16 bit era of shoot ’em ups with its pastel shading all the bells and whistles. Detachable boss limbs, arachnoid bosses, scaling in and out adversaries and what looks like extras from the Salamander series – there are many a nod from its knowledgeable developers to what has gone before in the shoot ’em up fraternity.
Super Famicom
RPG
From a golden era of role playing games and managing to stand head and shoulders on the podium above many of the crowd with its luscious illustrations and stirring soundtrack. A real work of art, appreciated by those in the know.
Sega Saturn
Quiz
A good test of reading skills for budding kanji students, this quiz game is introduced by a youthful Colonel Sanders lookalike. Answering is multiple choice.
Super Famicom
RPG
Genki frequently harks back to the golden era of SFC RPGs, but its hard not to indulge in some rose tinted nostalgia when you hear the familiar soundtrack to exploring caves and dungeons and spot the familiar cracks in the wall that require further investigation. A happy RPG journey as Koei leads you by the hand through the fantasy world of Brandish.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Riding on the mighty sweep Street Fighter II unleashed on the 16Bit gaming world, Brass Numbers would have a good swing at Capcom’s cash cow. Telenet’s idy parallax scrolling is complemented by a few touches of its own in players being allowed to choose their next opponent and also being able to use their rewards earnt in bouts to boost their vital stats. Known as Doomsday Warrior in the West.
Playstation
RPG
Very interesting results of Square focusing purely on the action RPG and platform gameplay of this title, without the CG graphics we have come to expect. The results are an incredibly playable title – a real joy to savour with plenty of humour. The bosses are skillfully crafted and the use of the clock to alter playing environments a clever touch.
GameBoy Color
RPG
Very sweet graphical style to this little known off shot of the Brave Saga series with the look of the Mother series in its prime. Plenty of scrapes along the way, but the very friendly user interface makes combat enjoyable rather than a chore.
PS2
Rhythm
Refreshingly original title playing most like a rhythm action titles except this time players take the role of a conductor about the town. As in a rhythm action title such as Samba De Amigo, the backgrounds shift according to players performance so the conductor soon knows if they are hitting the right notes. Rather than simple button presses though, the degree of pressure applied is the important factor in keeping the orchestra together. Bravo indeed. Known as Mad Maestro in the West.
Playstation
Sports
British gamers will get their strawberries and cream in a twist over this Ocean developed tennis title. Solid polygon sprites battle it out for on-court supremacy.
Sega Saturn
Puzzle
Clear the screen of coloured blocks by detonating them in chains to reveal the picture behind capturing various cityscapes and world-famous locales. Tactical thinking is required to generate the right chains and clear the screen. Strangely compelling.
Super Famicom
RPG
Stunningly beautiful in a sprite based Super Famicom way, Capcom proved it had more to it than mere fight fests in this masterpiece. The artwork for the box is well worthy of mention too. Still the title is a little more linear than the work of its rival: the mighty Final Fantasy series, but Breath of Fire at least manages to singe its Chocobo feathers. (It’s no shame to say it doesnft quite hold a torch light to Link. But Genki has always had a glint in its eye for the Super Famicom Zelda.) Plenty of hours gameplay on offer and a well woven story line.
Super Famicom
RPG
Stunningly beautiful in a sprite based Super Famicom way, Capcom proved it had more to it than mere fight fests in this masterpiece. The artwork for the box is well worthy of mention too. Still the title is a little more linear than the work of its rival: the mighty Final Fantasy series, but Breath of Fire at least manages to singe its Chocobo feathers. (It’s no shame to say it wouldn’t hold a torch light to Link. But Genki has always had a glint in its eye for any Zelda title.) Plenty of hours gameplay on offer and a well woven story line.
GameBoy Advance
RPG
Stunningly beautiful in a sprite based Super Famicom way, Capcom proved it had more to it than mere fight fests in this masterpiece and have released another masterful GBA conversion. The artwork for the box is well worthy of mention too. Still the title is a little more linear than the work of its rival: the mighty Final Fantasy series, but Breath of Fire at least manages to singe its Chocobo feathers. (It’s no shame to say it doesn’t quite hold a torch light to Link. But Genki has always had a glint in its eye for the Super Famicom Zelda.)
Super Famicom
RPG
Makes big improvements over the already accomplished prequel bolstering the size and randomness of the quest as it follows a twisting path. Visually engrossing with excellent battles requiring every member of the team to be working together to fully utilise their spells or weapons. And there are a potential of eight distinct characters available to join your merry men. All with the epoch defining level of RPG presentation and establishing team play as the future of RPG’s.
Playstation
RPG
Capcom shows how it can update its Breath of Fire series with the extra processing power of the Playstation, whilst remaining faithful to the pretty glint in the eye of its first love and remaining true to its isometric roots. Lusciously lavish.
Playstation
RPG
The attention to detail is stunning and the pastel shaded look to its isometric graphics works a treat. Aurally pleasing too with beautiful sound effects and emotional music. There are plenty of times the heart strings are strummed like a violin.
PS2
RPG
Plenty of freedom of movement and no random battles as you can see the ogres coming as Capcom makes some bold decisions to keep the franchise’s Breath minty fresh. Some fan boys had their noses point out of joint with Capcom’s save facility: a token is required for a proper save. Whilst there is a temporary measure, it can only be used once so it prevents wiping over any unfortunate turns of events. Life like character design – thats if you live in a new age anime world, but the players are totally believable and soon have you immersed in their world.
Playstation
Simulation
Plenty of Konami polish in this Winning Eleven version of horse racing. Yet players have to put in the hard yards training to get anywhere close to the winners enclosure.
Playstation
RPG
Fantasy strategic RPG based in a kingdom of knights with impressive 3D battles and an immense potential of depth to draw players into its world. The monsters have solid AI and behave in an unpredictable manner. And with five different kingdoms to choose from the replay value is very high. Also known as Brigandine The Legend of Forsena.
Super Famicom
Platform
The huge Sonic Mario Rivalry of the 90s had a cost on the many fronts the battle was fought. Busby was an attempt to gain a mascot for Accolade, no doubt the start of the bean counting men getting involved in programming. Despite his lack of charisma, Busby has enough abilities to endear himself to gamers as he speeds through the levels Sonic style grabbing balls of wool instead of rings. Sonic in wolfs clothing for the Super Famicom. Full Western title is Busby in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Platform
Clever side scrolling platform action where players must use their cunning in order to add to the screens in extra platforms, moving ramps and dissolving blocks to help the builderman get across the screen. Enjoyable and not too taxing, but still gives plenty of satisfaction when a plan comes together.
PS2
Puzzle
The buildings demolition business may be under represented in the console world but there remains a bed partner to Biru Baku in Bomber Hehhe on the Dreamcast. Gameplay involves using the limited amount of TNT efficiently enough to take down the building – a case of planning and placing dynamite in the right formation. Its possible to move back a couple of spots in order to correct poorly planned moves – that is before the big plunger gets pressed. Battle mode allows multi-player match ups with the first to take the building down winning the kudos. There is also a challenge mode which requires players to keep within the strict time limits, though using less moves or sticks of dynamite rewards the demolition expert with a few precious extra seconds for the next level. Part of the ‘Neo Trance Puzzle Game’ genre according to the cover.
PC Engine HU Card
Sports
King of the ring slug fest from the dark destroyer Cream, with the bonus of a side scrolling beat ’em up thrown in there for good measure like Legend of Success Joe on the Neo Geo in which you hunt down your father’s killers. Some cool and mean pugalists and trainers to choose from including Cutie Ann and the Yakuza look a like Mr. Ran. Training is also possible in the gym with medicine balls tossed at you to test your reflexes along with bag work.