Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Enjoy some fine lift music for shogi as the lady very respectfully announces each move on the board reminding players of the sense of honour behind the game.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Play your words right and avoid a slap in this dating sim with plenty of locales around the town such as the clothes shop (complete with gangster looking proprietor) and cafe. As a word of warning though: its best not to be too friendly with all the protagonists.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Ticks all of Genki’s boxes: fighting blokes in rubber suits, cheesy 70’s soundtrack and our Kamen Rider himself looking like a big-eyed fly. Superbly captures the essence of the series.
PS2
Action
Its no use being all fingers and thumbs when the rapid combination button presses are required in order to unleash the latex clad special moves from our masked hero. A superb license that savours Japans great super hero tradition and the lashing of action have translated across well to the PS2.
Famicom Cart
Action
Simple puzzle based platform sections with the odd switch combined with an unusual, turn based battle sections. Kamen Rider has a cult following and it does certainly have an abundance of characters in latex.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Very fluid animation and the screen zooming in and out add much drama to the proceeding as the fly like Kamen Rider puts paid to many a latex loving bad guy and ensures a legion of armchair followers in the process. Very smart backgrounds too: impressive performance levels from the PSX.
Figures
Figure
Sofvi Sculpture Studio tribute to the famed Kamen Rider to adorn any desktop with pride.
Merchandise
Merchandise
The bug-eyed Kamen Rider world has stood the test of time due to its intriguing characters and these figures are a fitting tribute to its charming cast.
GameBoy Advance
Simulation
Trading card game with Konami’s class shining through like the beams of sunlight in its European style fantasy world.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Not a game as such but an electronic dictionary with writing recognition thanks to the DS stylus. The equivalent machine would cost significantly more than price of a DS and this cart making it a serious alternative to the Casio WordTank for the budding linguist. Includes Game and Watch titles that can be unlocked as rewards for your hard studies making this the perfect balance between work and play. Also features a kanji quiz such as the different characters for country names. And the writing recognition works well assisting in progressing studies as its simple to look up a kanji character. Both Japanese to English and English to Japanese modes. Great for those import gamers looking to attain the next level.
Dreamcast
Simulation
A winter’s romance on the main shopping streets of a Japanese city with five different outcomes depending on the in-game choices. Beautifully presented with exquisite avatars.
PS2
Rhythm
Winter theme to this instalment of the chance to shine like the Christmas star of wonder (or finally make the neighbours move out.) Plethora of 90’s J-Pop with Chemistry, Globe, Dreams Come True, Kiroro and X Japan amongst others.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Much-cherished Milestone shoot ’em up gets a Switch reboot and there are Hitchcock overtones for this crow related shooter. Utilises power ups for the shot, sword and shield giving it a strategic element. Known as also ‘Crows’ and ‘Karous’.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Shoot Em Up
Much-cherished Milestone shoot ’em up gets a Switch reboot and there are Hitchcock overtones for this crow related shooter. Utilises power ups for the shot, sword and shield giving it a strategic element. Known as also ‘Crows’ and ‘Karous’.
Famicom Cart
Action
Master piece in animation moving as slickly as Prince of Persia on your quest to rescue the kidnapped princess. Hardcore old school difficulty ensures you must be able to block your opponents assaults as well as dish out your own flaying fists. The ultimate showdown with Master Karateka will have your palms sweating, but the thought of having to fight all those tough nuts again to get to him will spur you on.
Soundtracks
Soundtrack
The appropriately named Sakura Flamingo Laboratory takes on the popular Dreamcast shooter Crows and adds its own flamboyant twist to the STG action. The crack developer unit takes influence from many forms of media and the soundtrack is in keeping with its experimental style.
GameBoy Original
RPG
A rare Starfish release for the GB which features a delightful dinosaur theme with players band being joined by capture prehistoric creatures.
PS2
A Bit Special
Title translates as ‘Lump Spirits’. Play as a pile of rubbish that builds up as you roll around the screen. As your proportion grows so does your potential to swallow up people, animals, buildings… Converserly the gaming area seems to shrink. Shamefully over looked for a Western release. Clinically insane, but in a good way.
PC Engine HU Card
Platform
Zany platformer with the stars of a Japanese variety show Kato Cha and Ken Shimura. Bizarre goings generally centre around toliets: birds drop ‘unchi’ from the sky, the pair can fart to dispatch enemies – even energy power ups come shaped as toilets. Interestingly, the American version had the fart attack removed proving toilet humour may not be universal after all.
GameBoy Original
Sports
Fish the beautiful village getting tips from the elderly ‘ojiisan’ and interact with the townsfolk to savour the good life. Choose the right bait and peg and away you go in this GameBoy equivalent of Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing. Known in the West as the Legend of the River King.
GameBoy Color
RPG
Enjoy the simple life of living a frugal existence fishing in a small Japanese town. A delightful series which captures the spirit of community in such fishing villages as players battle the elements to bring home a prize fish in time to celebrate another timely arrival in the family. Just make sure you pack enough rice balls for your fishing trip. Mention must go to the fine chip tunes too with traditional roots that sooth your worries away. Known as Legend of the River King 2 in the West.
GameBoy Color
Simulation
Feed, give water, encourage your cute, little hamster top use the wheel, watch it play and wish it a good night in this strangely compelling hamster owning simulation.
Playstation
Platform
Fine 2.5 dimension platform romp with Klonoa being able to utilise its ears to float back to earth. Its the way Klonoa inflates enemies to utilise then to bounce to higher platforms or hit switches that really makes this stand out though. Buzzing around with the propeller unit is a joy too. Very underated, possibly down to the lead character?
Merchandise
Guide Book
Guide to the GBA game Empire of Dreams with 127 pages of tips and tricks to the deceptively retro Klonoa game.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Sepia tinged graphics and soothing music as players interact with the ladies of the town through its various locales including main shopping street and Japanese temple. Quite a desired title in Japan.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Nice Playstation curio coming with disk and cable that allows it to be linked to a Japanese mobile phone. Once hooked up, users can save their data from their phone or play around with a few new melodies on the console.
PS2
Action
Traditional sword fighting in the ancient Japanese way with tactics required to live to tell the tale. Highly atmospheric with tatami mats and sweeping temple roofs.
PS2
Action
Fine sequel to the popular traditional sword fighting game in the ancient Japanese way with tactics required to live to tell the tale. Highly atmospheric with tatami mats and sweeping temple roofs.
Famicom Cart
RPG
The frog star manoeuvres around the screen to collect power ups but with the hazard of tiles of the like that slide players in one direction. As such switches have to be tweaked to be able to negotiate the full course and head to the exit. Certainly alot more intuiative to play than we’re making it sound. Known in Japan as Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken.
Gamecube
A Bit Special
The ‘Kero Kero’ of the title comes from the onomatopoeia for the sound a frog makes. But no wonder the frog is squawking as it gets hammered around the course in a game of croquet with frogs instead of balls. Various conditions to consider too like in golf such as the wind direction or the fact that the ball is a frog and will jump off spiders webs or launch at passing flies. Comes with a really enjoyable four player mode to take full advantage of the hardware.