Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Animal Crossing Figures
Figure
Resetti is often regarded as a mole on a mission. He’s not really angry – just keen to ensure the good folk of Crossing get a fair reward for their efforts digging fossils and catching sea bass by saving their progress.
Animal Crossing Figures
Figure
Known in Japan as Mamekuchi, this young chap will gladly serve you plenty of items you don’t really need for your abode. A fine apprentice to Mr Nook. Happy times await in Animal Crossing.
Animal Crossing Figures
Figure
The coolest dawg in the town strums up a few bars whilst you relax in the coffee shop sipping the pigeon milk skinny latte. What a gaming legend KK Slider is…
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
Not a game (though there is a quiz), but an educational compilation of various animals for younger ones to savour viewing. Giraffes, bears, dogs and monkeys are all in Kawaii form with plenty of footage of each.
Japanese title: PD Shuppatsu Doubutsu Tankentai.
Gamecube
A Bit Special
Something rather special from the Big N: an evolutionary title leading the way as ever. The goal is to become the animal leader by evolving into a beast with the ability to take on and defeat the current leader. To do this you have to attack other animals of the right sort required – a successful assault will allow you to evolve up the evolutionary scale. Yet progress comes at the price of being a bigger fish, so to speak, and catching the eye of the other predators out there. Appropriate music and even purple blood add to the emotional involvement of protecting your animal. Beautifully designed gaming world made entirely of cubes adding to the surreal feel of this off beat Nintendo cracker.
Miscellaneous Hardware
Handheld
Also released as a GameBoy Advance game, this handheld asks users a hundred and twenty questions to assess their character types (and which animal they are most like.) There are also seven mini games. Users in Japan could swap data to a mobile phone too to compare their suitability to each other.
Miscellaneous Games
Simulation
A simple art package allowing players to compose basic sentences but also muster up masterful pictures to illustrate the day out for example. Very cute and cuddly with a good opportunity to practise hiragana script.
Miscellaneous Games
Platform
Released as the third instalment of Alex Kidd in the West, Anmitsu is a bit of a rascal princess who takes on platform ninjas in a blend of old Japan plus a few new bits of the modern world such as cake shops. Plenty of fun and good, early Sega gameplay roots with a nice blend of action and chit chat between levels.
PS2
Action
Massive battles and ginormous towering mecha that dwarf certain robots make this a must for the Macross or Gundam fan. Expertly executed gaming world with devastating weaponry to help rip it up. Vast variety of mecha and missions with some unlockable make this a titanium top tip for the import enthusiast.
Playstation
RPG
Set in real life modern day Japan, you must guide accident victim Hitomi, not playing as her, but as the voice in her head. Its important to not lead her astray or she’ll stop listening to you. Beautifully realised in FMV, Square once again comes up trumps whilst changing the rules of the game.
PC Engine HU Card
Sports
Gate ball is the sport of croquet more or less and with some fine, Japanese style theming, players must not only whack the ball through the gate, but also think about the dangle of the angle for their next shot. Works well on the Engine.
PS2
Action
Based on a Japanese CG animation show, Aqua Kids does a formidable job of replicating the show’s distinct look which is similar to a Dreamworks production. There are two modes of play: a battle mode where players take on all comers and a quest mode where players search for the parts missing from your robot friend Daibo. Colourful action title.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Not so much a game, more a demonstration of the CD format and its capacity to display aquarium style tanks on your TV in line with company receptions of the era. It also permits ventures into more uncharted waters to see dolphins and sting rays.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Successful series which enjoyed an update to the PS3 as players build up their reef with different species of fish. Swimming with the stingrays and clown fish is a relaxing pastime.
Famicom Cart
RPG
Culture Brain takes inspiration from a pipe dream of Persia in this Middle Eastern infused RPG. The combat is full of action and gets the sabres swinging around and great use of colour brings the vibrancy out.
Playstation
RPG
The rendered sprites look a treat keeping that affinity to the characters which the 16bit RPGs used to generate. Arc is a bit of a lad, but the scrapes encountered make him worth sticking by.
Playstation
RPG
Plenty of pomp and circumstance to this epic RPG which entails good use of skills to progress through the turn based combat.
PS2
RPG
Humans and Deimos (evolved from monsters) battle for the five spirit stones and play is possible from either camp. Painstakingly lush graphics bring the fantasy to life.
XBOX 360
One on One Beat Em Up
Warming the cockles of side on scrapper starved gamers comes the sequel to the anime expose to satisfy the most demanding of fight fans. The all female cast is reminiscent of the seminal Asuka series, but unfortunately such high-res graphics were never a possibility on the humble PC Engine. Presentation is spot on with a wee nod to the doujin fan and a fine story mode with pre-bout banter between the cat like ladies. The title comes from the Arcana power which is chosen to help each character get through the bout. Great to see the ladies are still doing it in 2D. Keep them coming we requested and our pleas have been answered.
XBOX 360
One on One Beat Em Up
Warming the cockles of side on scrapper starved gamers comes the sequel to the anime expose to satisfy the most demanding of fight fans. The all female cast is reminiscent of the seminal Asuka series, but unfortunately such high-res graphics were never a possibility on the humble PC Engine. Presentation is spot on with a wee nod to the doujin fan and a fine story mode with pre-bout banter between the cat like ladies. The title comes from the Arcana power which is chosen to help each character get through the bout. Great to see the ladies are still doing it in 2D. Keep them coming we requested and our pleas have been answered.
PS3
One on One Beat Em Up
Warming the cockles of side on scrapper starved gamers comes the sequel to the anime expose to satisfy the most demanding of fight fans. The all female cast is reminiscent of the seminal Asuka series, but unfortunately such high-res graphics were never a possibility on the humble PC Engine. Presentation is spot on with a wee nod to the doujin fan and a fine story mode with pre-bout banter between the cat like ladies. The title comes from the Arcana power which is chosen to help each character get through the bout. Great to see the ladies are still doing it in 2D. Keep them coming we requested and our pleas have been answered.
PS Vita
One on One Beat Em Up
Colourful eye candy masking a brute of a fighting engine as Arc System get hands on to show off another addition to their fine fighting works. Another superb scrapper on their CV of many: the developer has really honed their fight engine to be awarded master status. The saccharine sweetness continues on in the anime presentation. Top of the class.
Mega CD
RPG
Produced by the legendary Wolfteam comes a classic fantasy RPG making fine use of the CD quality music and intros. All very well drawn and with a lush, retro feel of the Mega CD format.
Super Famicom
RPG
Sweet, sprite-based world with immense attention to detail including illumination from the crystal and wave effects, all accompanied by the stirring orchestral score.
PS2
Shooter
Its surprising how intuitive controlling a massive mecha can become and, with a good range of movements to master, players soon can strafe with the finest before unleashing a powerful rocket into an opponents mid rift.
PSP
Shooter
Its possible to pick up and mash a few buttons in this superb incarnation of the Formula Front series. Yet to truly prosper players must pilot their mech to its strengths whilst being aware of its weaknesses. The fact Genki likes to hit and run may reveal too much about our character.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Neo – Geo classic giving the SFC architecture a full body work out. Mana from heaven for old school 2D grapple fans. Pushes the hardware to near breaking point, and whilst in can’t quite match the mega memory cart and sprite handling capabilities of its Neo Geo counterpart, KAC have pulled out all the stops to at least give it a black eye and thick lip. Play as Ryo or Robert on their quest to rescue Yuri from the clutches of bad guys in South Town.
Playstation
Sports
Massive title in Japan as the driver steers a massive truck against a rival firm to be the first to deliver the consignment. The ‘Battle’ of the title comes from the dirty tricks required to cut off the rival driver to win the race. The ‘Art’ comes from the delightful designs that can be added to the truck with a few bob in your pocket complete with flashing chilli lights for the dashboard – a sign of good taste on the highways of Japan. Creative truckers can also spend some time creating their own designs. Full title: ‘Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Art Truck Battle.’
Sony Hardware
Controller
Ascii are up there with Hori in producing quality peripherals and really knowing their market. Its little wonder they both have so many devotees with such superb design and production values realised in this piece of pad perfection.
Nintendo DS
RPG
A huge two Giga memory card goes some way to explaining the extraordinary level of detail Nintendo have attained in this tactical RPG that looks more like Panzer Dragoon Azel than a DS RPG. The fantasy setting has been painstakingly realised with outstanding effect and Nintendos pursuit of perfection.