Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Classic shooter Darius gets a PS4 version having proved popular on the PCVita to get those trigger fingers twitching more than a freshly dispatched robotic cat fish boss. The darkness of deep space contrasts beautifully against the ships pyrotechnics as blast after blast illuminates the action beautifully. And of course the multi route selection remains adding plenty of replay value to those who can stick at it like a limpet.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Based on G Darius and Darius Burst, Taito takes its famed 2D shooter past the kicking and screaming fans and into the third dimension. The hardware is more than capable, but the mindset many need more manipulation. Yet this is no hardware demonstration gimmick: Taito knows how to make an STG and none of the recipe has been skimped on for the sake of a graphical show boat. The Darius fish never looked so fluid.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Based on G Darius and Darius Burst, Taito takes its famed 2D shooter past the kicking and screaming fans and into the third dimension. The hardware is more than capable, but the mindset many need more manipulation. Yet this is no hardware demonstration gimmick: Taito knows how to make an STG and none of the recipe has been skimped on for the sake of a graphical show boat. The Darius fish never looked so fluid.
Sega Saturn
Shoot Em Up
Shooters are where the Saturn far excelled itself and Darius is thankfully no exception. A very unique feel. The robotic cat fish is a Genki favourite.
Mega Drive
Shoot Em Up
Solid conversion of the eternal shmup with some clever parallax. Whilst mutiple routes mean there are only seven levels to get through, the replay value is massive with twenty eight levels to savour. There must have been some catfish in the Taito office at the time judging by all the aquatic themed and highly imaginative enemies you need to take down.
Super Famicom
Shoot Em Up
Solid conversion of the coin – op with all the wonders of the seven seas contained in its mechanical marina. Darius shows why it has remained a classic shmup from the Taito stable of thoroughbreds.
Super Famicom
Shoot Em Up
Solid conversion of the coin – op with all the wonders of the seven seas contained in its mechanical marina. Darius shows why it has remained a classic shmup from the Taito stable of thoroughbreds.
Super Famicom
RPG
Spooky, gothic RPG for old hands Enix in which merely moving through the play area drains your health so you must kill to keep up your soul meter and stay alive. Playable as knight or devil with separate routes adding to the longevity, as does the masses of hidden areas. Oozes atmosphere.
Famicom Cart
Action
RPG elements in the way the mystic, spiritual world is explored inter-spliced with side scrolling boss levels where the demon must be levelled by the sword. Known in Japan as Ankoku Shinwa.
PS2
Action
Solve the mystery of why Chief O’Leary is determined to stop boarders on Mount Garrick conveniently through nothing more than snowboarding down the mountain mission.
XBOX
Action
Solve the mystery of why Chief O’Leary is determined to stop boarders on Mount Garrick conveniently through nothing more than snowboarding down the mountain mission.
Mega CD
Simulation
Deep and involving strategy battle game in a similar vein to Masters of Monsters. Demands dedication from the player, but rewards well with sparkling Sega polish on the massive gaming engine. Plenty of characters to select and being able to shape them adds to the attraction. A sprawling epic.
PS3
Action
3D battle all out action as New York seems to once again take the brunt of the meteor shower and rampaging giant monsters (but I suppose Tokyo has had more than its fair share of those.) Impressive results from the PS3 hardware and nice pacing to the relentless action.
Mega Drive
Shoot Em Up
Sega performed an admirable conversion of the Data East arcade original in 1990 to boost the software available for its 16Bit baby. Vertically scrolling, power ups make the ship mutate and morph into a more souped up beast.
Mega Drive
Sports
Basketball legend who was named rookie of the year and won gold in Barcelona with a basketball game to live up to his mighty name. Passing is smooth and its soon possible to flow down the court mimicking the speed of the real game. Another string to the sweet sounding Sega sports bow.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Kazumi and co lock horns in the original Dead or Alive. Makes good use of the grapple feature which can be timed to counter act an attack. Revisited by Team Ninja for a make over proving well balanced gameplay withstands the test of time. There’s nothing too well balanced about the female protagonist’s chests however…
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Tecmo’s Team Ninja finest hour comes bouncing onto the Playstation 2 with Kazumi and Ayane in full costume glory. As the theme song advises though: ‘Hide your drastic desire!’
PS3
One on One Beat Em Up
A fine fight series to see off the competition through the many battles over the years. The rock soundtrack pumps the adrenalin with intuitive combos and fun, varied fight arenas.
Sega Saturn
Shooter
Claustrophobic answer to Kileak the Blood on the Playstation as the dytopic future is invested with plenty of firepower from the mechas armoury. The first person, cockpit view from the mech works a treat and adds to the tension with nice attention to detail as interference affects the monitor view.
Dreamcast
Action
Sequel to the Saturn title improving on the graphics as the camera twists and turns away for you to face a fresh batch of gun fodder. With a story mode following on from the prequel and an arcade mode for the trigger happy.
XBOX 360
Shoot Em Up
Feels like there is a Treasure influence at times with vehicles nipping along just as you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more onscreen action. Highly imaginative too with spooky old tree bosses yet a comforting feel of the assuringly familiar zipping over the ruins of what looks like Altered Beasts levels: the mark of the developers Hardcore credentials. Really establishes a fine pacing perhaps a little too fast when being chased by a Bull or two, but we wont ruin it any more. A definite thumbs up.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Cave’s creation shows it still has plenty to offer with its unique Gothic graphical look that feels different to other shooters. Superb package to bring it to new platforms and display its charming attributes.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cave’s creation shows it still has plenty to offer with its unique Gothic graphical look that feels different to other shooters. Superb package to bring it to new platforms and display its charming attributes.
Sega Saturn
Sports
ST-V arcade athletics fest made a real impression on the Saturn with smooth polygon graphics and all the button bashing thrills and spills of the arcade. Where as running events are simple button bashers, timing on the hurdles for example requires precision jumping and a break from frantic button pummelling. Comes into its own in multiplayer.
PC Engine HU Card
Shoot Em Up
Unusual horizontally scrolling blaster set underwater taking on all manner of marine related anemones.
Famicom Cart
RPG
Old school first person dungeon exploration adventure with imaginative adversaries and chip tunes that crank up the tension.
Sega Saturn
Shooter
Cavernous underground tunnels and sprawling over land arenas to explore in this fine 3D shooter with exploratory elements. Picked up quite a following in the day.
Game Gear
RPG
Middle Eastern themed RPG quest with great realisation of the gaming world in its Eastern splendour. As chats with guards soon reveal, all is not well in the State of Denmark, well Arabia at least. Plenty of sailing the high seas and sword swash buckling in this very tidy adventure. Known in Japan as Sadam Crusaders.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Similar to the passport disks, this was an interface to be able to enjoy surfing from the comfort of your Dreamcast.
Neo Geo Pocket
Simulation
Slick slot machine sim with baseball themed reels and stickers to turn your Neo Geo Pocket into a handheld fruit machine.