Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
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.
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.
PS Vita
One on One Beat Em Up
Here is the formula for Shinovi Versus: play as a pretty lady with some serious weaponry, such as pigtails with rotating blades. Clear a small section of the stage by taking on hordes of adversaries, often fellow ladies. Progress through the level to meet the boss. Power up and reveal (via an anime sequence) a skimpier outfit and seemingly boosting your stats other than your vital stats. Give boss a good beating and cause her to lose items of clothing (again via anime sequences.) Defeat boss, end level. Stylishly done with a real aplomb and an appreciation of the mass market as much as the doujin title. Hats off (and not just to protect the boss’ modesty.) Its more chefs hats in Dekamori as players button press to the onscreen rhythm helping the girls whisk up a culinary storm whilst bizarrely losing their clothes at the same time. Some even being squirted with chocolate sauce. An unusual combination of ladies and the Japanese love haute cuisine.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Build and run your very own high school. Thought must first go into the building planning, then into how to make the students improve in the subjects they are struggling in. Sports days allow or some good old button bashing and holidays mean for trips to the seaside.
PC Engine HU Card
A Bit Special
Paperboy style action in that you run around town on a bicycle or moped delivering items to the good folk, but freer than Paperboy as there is no forced scrolling. The bike needs pedalling via the joypad and is slower, but it doesn’t require fuel stops like the moped. As expected, its not a simple task of getting from A to B: the police, the obligatory oil slicks, traffic and obasan’s on mopeds conceive to hinder your progress. Known in Japan as Kattobi Takuhai Kun.
Neo Geo Pocket
Simulation
Colourful slot machine game with Mexican themed reels including obligatory sun, sombrero and tequila symbols. Gamble your nudges.
Merchandise
Merchandise
Draw string bag featuring Nezuko from the hit anime series with elegant Japanese print design and a generous size to make it practical for use.
Merchandise
Merchandise
Very tasteful kimono shaped pouch with acrylic charm on the zip for ease in opening. Perfect for the Demon Slayer fanatic.
Merchandise
Merchandise
A very nicely designed A4 file to reward those preordering the sword slashing, supernatural game in Japan. Japanese inspired design with Tengu and fox masked character illustrations. Full title of the game: Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles.
Merchandise
Magazine
First issue as the Dreamcast takes up the Saturn’s baton. The adverts are very well drawn and Saturn games still feature. Sonic Adventure, Sega Rally 2, Kita e, D2, Frame Gride, Blue Stinger, Climax Landers, Evolution, Incoming, Aero Dancing, Buggy Heat, Power Stone, Seventh Cross and Tetris 4D all feature along with a briefer look at upcoming releases at the time. Virtua Fighter 3tb, Pen Pen Triathlon, July and Godzilla get play guides along wit a couple of Saturn titles.
Merchandise
Merchandise
Anime poster awarded as a preorder gift in Christmas 2010.
Gamecube
Quiz
A quiz game including Bingo and Roulette that is great for gamers looking to boost their Japanese ability and kanji count, alongside a good bit of general knowledge. With questions as varied as from Cambodian temples to chemicals of the brain, the mic fitted with button adds to the authenticity. I will have a B please Bob.
Playstation
Simulation
Live the childhood dream and put on your white drivers gloves and kick back in your drivers cabin as you ferry the good citizens of Tokyo around the Yamanote Line amongst others: the busiest and most famous train line in Japan with 30 stations. Keep to the timetable with varying light and weather conditions including some torrential downpours. Brings a new dimension to on the rails gameplay and adds a new aspect to the series with full motion captured graphics.
PS2
Simulation
Great weather effects as drivers whiz through suburban and metropolitan Japan ensure the workers and schoolchildren get to where they need to be on time. Its crucial to keep up speed, but signals and stopping distances must be observed in a land where trains stop to coach markings on the platform. Highly unusual.