Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Super Famicom
Platform
Old and new clash as the honourable samurai travels into the future on a mission of vengeance allowing the developers to use the best of both worlds. In an interesting twist to the platform hack ’em up the samurai lead character loses his sword after taking a certain amount of damage. Full health is then restored, but the attack meter completely depleted and its only through defeating sufficient enemies with bare hands that it can be restored and the sword returned. Its also possible to summon various spiritual powers to help on your quest in another distinguishing feature.
Sega Saturn
Sports
So confident are the developers of this fishing sim. into making you want to head off for a wee fishing holiday, it is sponsored by Japan Airlines and Nikko Hotels! Four modes: lake fishing, boat fishing, competitive match fishing and fishing in Saipan!
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Features six of the most popular voice actresses in Japan to bolster the blocky early Virtua Fighter polygon graphics. Follow up to the saucy Pretty Fighter X.
Famicom Cart
Side Scrolling Beat Em Up
Reminiscent of Master Karateka’s rotoscoped sprites, Ken journeys through a post-apocalyptic world dishing out a few well-timed sweeps and high-kicks like Kung-Fu Master. Boss patterns have to be quickly memorised or the fear is the end of level bad guys will be using the phrase on Kenshiro himself.
Famicom Cart
One on One Beat Em Up
Kenshiro faces up to some mutant size bosses, as if living in a post-apocalypse wasn’t depressing enough. Delivers the tough battles and gritty settings of the source and famed anime, proving the Famicom is far from already dead.
Super Famicom
RPG
Kenshiro et al are well suited to the three quarter perspective view RPG world as they are such an intriguing bunch of bad dudes. Hot in pursuit of abducted fair lady, but best not to be too keen as a boulder tumbles down to hinder your mission. Battles take on the side of fight perspective as various martial commands are executed with expert panache.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Plenty of hearty shouts of ‘kiai’ as Kenshiro pummels into his somewhat rotund opponent Heart, and he does require some pummelling. Backgrounds represent the decay causes by a nuclear meltdown and have a feel of decay and destruction. Good representation of a license whilst sticking to Nintendo’s family policy of the time.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Early adopters of import formats in the UK may also have had their fingers on the pulse regarding the early anime releases over here (confusingly on the Manga label.) As such gamers of the era may have seen heads exploding in the post apocalyptic anime with Kenshiro as many times as they have seen Akira. The sheer scale of some of the opponents has been well represented as has their varied appearances and a suitable amount of special techniques dished out to each combatant.
PSP
One on One Beat Em Up
Creates a 3D fighter in the Naruto mould using cel shaded sprites that literally make the manga comes to life on the PSPs crisp screen. Thankfully the gratuitous violence the series is famous for is missing with this being a Cero A release, but it doesn’t
distract from the gruff, moody atmosphere. Destructible environs add to the excitement of bouts. Arc System Works has quite a CV of fight titles and it adds another title to its burgeoning belt.
Famicom Cart
Action
The deceptively cute Flappy bird must get the blue rock to the goal but other rocks and birds must be negotiated with careful thought to succeed.
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.
Playstation
Action
Fun 3D platform escapades from shooter stable Xing which is done in that much loved Playstation style. Bold colours and sweet anime styling with the obligatory Japanese octopus complete with bandana making an appearance. Well worth a look for those that missed it first time round.
PS2
Simulation
Subtitled ‘Radio Contolled Adventure Championship’ involving flying your little helicopter through various missions which is great fun.
Playstation
Sports
Plenty of hard work is required in getting the shoulder barges and sliding tackles in to get the ball in a decent shooting position. A real battle of attrition in two player mode. The midfield general of football titles.
PC Engine HU Card
Sports
Real test of stamina as getting the ball in the onion bag involves a fair amount of sweat and toil. Arcade style action comes into its own in two player mode.
PC Engine HU Card
Sports
Real test of stamina as getting the ball in the onion bag involves a fair amount of sweat and toil. Arcade style action comes into its own in two player mode.
Famicom Cart
Shoot Em Up
Players charge along the lunar or desert landscapes with a keen trigger finger a requisite to progress. The impression of motion is very nicely done and the land based sections are spliced with horizontally scrolling shoot em up levels.
Playstation
Sports
Fine interpretation of the sport that left many behind in its slipstream with its fine handling and impressive draw distance.
PS3
Sports
Sonys Liverpool office attains F1 nirvana with this amazingly accurate representation of the sport only missing the smell of burning rubber and fuel fumes. Not only is the game almost indistinguishable from the Sunday afternoon sport, but the cars handling is true to the laws of physics making for smooth handling Ea mistake is always the drivers fault (or one of the keener competitors!) Includes a career mode to play from the humble beginnings up to the podium with all the official F1 data included from the 2006 season. Attaining new echelons of excellence.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Worthy of purchase for the box artwork alone if it weren’t for the well designed mecha waiting their turn to attack each other inside. A lesson in strategy combat titles thats truly absorbing and well worthy of the Squaresoft label. Praise due to the Cybernator creator Toshio Tsuchida’s work on the mecha design.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Worthy of purchase for the box artwork alone if it weren’t for the well designed mecha waiting their turn to attack each other inside. A lesson in strategy combat titles thats truly absorbing and well worthy of the Squaresoft label. Praise due to the Cybernator creator Toshio Tsuchida’s work on the mecha design.
Playstation
Simulation
One of Square’s finest moments sees the Front Mission series return to gallant form with excellent isometric battle scenes, slick intro, inspirational regimental soundtrack, a two player mode, genius proportion character designs and plenty of options to turn your mish-mash of robots into a lean, streamlined battalion. All this plus gameplay that runs very deep.
Playstation
Simulation
Fantastic attention to detail, particularly with the mechs that battle it out before your eyes in this fine continuation of the series that sells itself to non strategy fans due to its gradual learning curve. Visit towns to chat and bulk up your firepower at the local shop with some serious kit on offer.
PS2
Simulation
Fine history to this hard hitting mech series right from the Super Famicom days and the fourth installment heads out to South Africa and Germany. As you’d expect with Square the attention to detail is immense and moody, sometimes grim lighting effects add to the destructive, apocalyptic atmosphere. Great weapons with a real weighty feel to them.
PSP
Action
Steampunk inspired fast-paced fight action with over the top special moves and a plethora of speed lines.
PS2
Action
Atmospheric anime fight fest with cel shaded sprites seamlessly making the transition from cut-scene to the battle arena. The size of the arenas adds to the gameplay allowing for jump attacks from the obligatory stack of crates. High production values to this accomplished tribute to the source material.
PS2
Action
Genki is certainly grateful Alphonse is on our side: a definite first pick in the playground such is the tough exterior of our robotic chum with a human heart. Some great scenarios such as bombing along on the back of a train like in all great Westerns. Hats off to this all action cowboy. Subtitled Tobenai Tenshi in Japan.
PS2
Action
More action orientated than a one on one fighter with a plethora of platforms to leap onto or simply get propelled smashing through. The real highlight is the Venetian style level as players leap from gondola to gondola view low hanging bridge. The specials are also a bit tasty too and override the on screen action by bringing up players in a small screen whilst the pyrotechnics get unleashed. Nice cel shading graphics and some snazzy anime cut scenes. Happy days for the import PS2 fan.
Sega Saturn
RPG
Well loved series that spanned the console generations successfully with its fine, fantasy RPG gameplay and plenty of emotive moments that pull on the heart strings as much as the orchestra has pulled on the cello strings.
PS2
Action
Samurai sword fighting with skill required to master yielding the blade properly rather than just hack and slash. Worthy opponents have to be lured into making a mistake, before the steel blade swooshes in. The atmosphere is well-set with feudal Japan cut-scenes, beautiful buildings and obligatory cherry blossom.