Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Son Goku is the Monkey God made famous here in the UK by the screening of the NHK classic series. This game brings mahjong into the equation (no doubt Pigsy’s doing!) As the story sees our intrepid travellers journey to the west.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Very traditional Japanese take on the tile game with koto music in the background and characters such as geishas and looking like Buddhists priests, if of course their vows would allow them to partake in the game.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Simulation
Chinese board game spiced up by the addition of scantily clad bunny girl opponents. The staple of any Japanese game centre or arcade.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Full of sunshine being set on a tropical island with three delightful hostesses to play mahjong against. Utilises FMV and polygon players plus its Variable Impression and Personality System to create a solid take on the table sport with a few colourful extras.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Puzzle
The classical Chinese title game made infinitely more easy on the eye with an abundance of beach babes. Be warned though – these ladies will try anything to distract players from making the right moves.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Stimulation
A nicely presented mahjong game with anime characters who lose a layer or two of clothing when defeated with the sword of the title.
Miscellaneous Games
Simulation
Mahjong on the Mark III with some superb characters to enliven the action.
Playstation
Simulation
Excellent characterisation and Konami’s slick presentation ensured this became a massive title in Japan that was followed up on the PS2. Colourful ‘Kappa’ green disk.
PSP
One on One Beat Em Up
Based on and true to the anime where HIME stands for Highly Advanced Materialising Equipment – basically meaning the female protagonists can conjure up what they like from (near) thin air making for some mental specials. This version includes a plethora of mini games – mostly on a rhythm action variation but looking very tasty on the PSP’s clean screen. In a nod to the fans in some serious lip service each character voice acted by the original anime stars. Plenty of hidden extras with bonus characters, unlockable footage and extra costumes.
PSP
One on One Beat Em Up
Based on and true to the anime where HIME stands for Highly Advanced Materialising Equipment – basically meaning the female protagonists can conjure up what they like from (near) thin air making for some mental specials. In a nod to the fans in some serious lip service each character has a standard costume, kimono costume and cos play variation to keep you interested. Plenty of hidden extras with bonus characters, unlockable footage and yet more costumes.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Or Majyo no Otcha Kai as it is Romanised on the cover which translates as Witches Tea Meeting. Plenty of kawaii sparkle and broom snapping tempers to enforce the player to choose their riposte with a good degree of caution.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Super Famicom
Platform
Redesigned packaging to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of this still stunning Super Famicom platformer with gothic overtones, stunning shafts of sunshine and fleeting shadows. A rare SFC title in the mould of such sublime titles as Demons Crest and Nosferatu with a twist of the graphical skills of the Actraiser teams. Some of the in-game assailants and bosses are more than a bit twisted looking like they just broke out of the Splatter House. The main hero can thankfully upgrade his skills as the supernatural bosses are dispatched – all the way up to the big hoedown with the Demon King. And these transformations help even if the concept of becoming a demon to beat them doesn’t sit too nicely when surrounded by such creepy creatures.
Super Famicom
RPG
A seemingly everyday kid setting to this RPG, if it wasn’t for the legions of fly crossed with men like adversaries. Things quickly get more and more bizarre as Genki is reaching for the Helen McCarthy guide to the cultural references.
PS2
Action
Based on the story of ordinary farmers rebelling against their unjust samurai leaders with plenty of slicing and dicing in this historical epic.
Dreamcast
Shooter
Quite a rarity in a first person perspective shooter on the Dreamcast. Atlus certainly don’t do saccharine sweet kawaii graphics found in other adventures as this brooding affair proves.
PC Engine CD ROM
Simulation
High school life can be complicated enough as it is without being catapulted into an alternate supernatural parallel universe. Also known as Devil Hunter Yoko.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Mamoru Kun has a dedicated following from its Xbox 360 days and its easy to see why with appealing artwork, colourful characters and pick up and play shooting gameplay that hides devilish edge. Well worthy of reviving for the Switch – a haven for shoot ’em up fans.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Mamoru Kun has a dedicated following from its Xbox 360 days and its easy to see why with appealing artwork, colourful characters and pick up and play shooting gameplay that hides devilish edge. Well worthy of reviving for the Switch – a haven for shoot ’em up fans.
Soundtracks
Soundtrack
Fresh, funky tunes from the Grev master blaster. Tracks are aptly named: Blossom Shower, Tropical Pirates and, in Genki’s case, The Curse Again. Twenty three tracks of sick beats to savour. Reminiscent in parts to YMO tunes. Full title: Mamoru Kun wa Norowarete.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Good, family Famicom fun as players use their pea shooter like weapon to run amok through the cities (and its sewer system when not quick enough to avoid the tumbling manhole.)
PS2
Action
D3 Simple games are true to the name in having a simple premise: fun. Often feeling like playing a game using improper gameplay ie doing not what your meant to be doing, such a driving a tank down downtown New York with turrets blazing.
Famicom Cart
Simulation
That early twinkle in Lucasart’s eye can be seen here in the walking tentacles of Maniac Mansion. Fun touches throughout the game as players explore the bizarre mansion keeping a keen eye out for clues and unusual items to aid progression.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Search the spooky mansion for the evil spirit. With plenty of ghouls to meet along the way. Gameplay involves drifting around the spooky mansion with its high ceilings trying to discover the grim secret behind the death of the Mansion’s owner. Yet as in most Japanese spooky stories there is a twist in the tale. Also known as Shinsetsu Yume Miyakata.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Search the spooky mansion for the evil spirit. With plenty of ghouls to meet along the way. Gameplay involves drifting around the spooky mansion with its high ceilings trying to discover the grim secret behind the death of the Mansion’s owner. Yet as in most Japanese spooky stories there is a twist in the tale. Also known as Shinsetsu Yume Miyakata.
Famicom Cart
Action
The sort of title that works a treat as Nyamcot (as the cat crooks of the game would say) brings its vintage arcade formula to the Famicom. Players star as a wee mouse that must retrieve stolen goods from the platform levels with the help of trampolines from the bad cats. Pairing up hot goods results in a higher score and adds an extra tactical dimension to the gameplay. A real cult classic.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Old school platform action executed with a dab hand with a fine game engine masked by the cutesy sprites. Keep an eye out for guests from Rolling Thunder in the mini games that add variety to the platform hopping and bopping.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Cat and mouse platform action as players traverse the platform levels with cat often right on your tail before dispatching them Itchy and Scratchy style with a rolling cannon ball or tactically placed bomb. The format was made for such titles.
Dreamcast
Puzzle
Bringing the mahjong mass market to Western players is worthy of commendation and allows gamers to access the vast array of Japan only mahjong titles. The strangely zen meditative properties of clearing the on screen titles is a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon pastime. Independently produced Dreamcast title.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Based on the anime exploits of a school student who visits a wonderful land in his sleep whilst spending his days playing RPG games when not at school. (Marchen is German for ‘fairy tale.’) Yet in this enchanted land our young protege finds his strength massively increased – a good job considering this is a fight fest. Graphics are beautifully cel shaded and the gameplay reaches the mighty plateau you’d expect from high riding Konami.
Sega Saturn
RPG
A psychological thriller in the mould of ‘D’ with disturbingly realistic rendered graphics and an equally unsettling, in a Silent Hill manner, plot. Subtitle translates as The Reason You Were Born.