Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Famicom Cart
Platform
One of those Japanese titles which never has even heard of the term mass market and goes out to please its native audience. As such its levels look superb with Mount Fuji and Hiroshige style clouds in the background as Oniisan (older brother) jumps over toori gates and avoids mini samurai in the platform sections.
GameBoy Original
Action
Miyamoto magic at hand here yet somewhat slipped off the radar due to a certain yellow monster that radiated strange rays from its eyes. The bespectacled mole is out to rescue his poor folk kidnapped by the tough, gruff farmer. Levels are puzzle is style and players seek out a way to dispatch the bomb to move onto the next challenge. Bosses a plenty, but it’s the ability to dig that help players get out of a tight spot and takes the game onto a different level. Its Japanese name is Mogura Nya.
PC Engine HU Card
A Bit Special
Enjoy the legend of Momotaro which is a well known fairytale deep in the Japanese psyche and rich in oni demons and intriguing cultural references. Just keep an eye on Momotarou as he pops to the local ladies onsen.
Sega Saturn
Board Game
Draws strongly on Japanese culture with traditional, cheery tunes filling the air as Momotarou makes his way round the gaming board. Features a fine opening sequence as our hero takes on the giant Kabuki mask wearing Momotarou monster.
Dreamcast
Sports
Hugging the tight corners of the Monaco course with its lavish apartments right on the roadside really recreates the rev head feel of the Formula One sport. Not that Genki has been a F1 driver yet… Seventeen courses to keep a budding Hamilton busy and eleven teams for Alonso to move between with plenty of modes including classic car, sim mode with tyre changes and refuelling plus a fast paced arcade mode which should keep drivers plenty to savour.
Dreamcast
Sports
Hugging the tight corners of the Monaco course with its lavish apartments right on the roadside really recreates the rev head feel of the Formula One sport. Not that Genki has been a F1 driver yet… Seventeen courses to keep a budding Hamilton busy and eleven teams for Alonso to move between with plenty of modes including classic car, sim mode with tyre changes and refuelling plus a fast paced arcade mode which should keep drivers plenty to savour.
Nintendo Hardware
Accessory
A very useful cable, that may not boast stereo sound, but can be used with the New Style Famicom, Super Famicom, N64 and GameCube as Nintendo helpfully points out on the box reverse.
Nintendo Hardware
Cable
A very useful cable, that may not boast stereo sound, but can be used with the New Style Famicom, Super Famicom and N64 as Nintendo helpfully points out on the box.
Nintendo DS
Action
Power up the coloured spheres on the bottom screen to unleash their super-charged protons on the top screen which is frequently overloaded with marauding monsters. Easier to play rather than explain and compelling, frantic gameplay perfect for the hardware and its dimensions.
GameBoy Advance
Simulation
Strangely compelling to train up a sprite-based creature and let them do battle with other monsters down on the farm. Its easy to get attached and hard to watch if taking a pummelling.
Figures
Figure
A fine pre order gift with high product values to these resin style figure heads which would look good in any cabinet. The Monster Hunter phenomena really swept Japan as much as Ryu did back in the day.
Nintendo 3DS
Action
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan so it is with some pride Nintendo bring it to the 3DS. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye and making the very most of the hardware. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
Nintendo 3DS
Action
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan so it is with some pride Nintendo bring it to the 3DS. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye and making the very most of the hardware. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
Merchandise
Guide Book
Nintendo 3DS guide to the 4G incarnation of the epic Monster Hunter game which is certainly one which needs to give gamers extra help. Fine illustrations to highlight the art of the game itself when seen on paper.
Wii
Simulation
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan so it is with some pride Nintendo bring it to the Wii. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye and making the very most of the hardware. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
PSP
Simulation
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
PSP
Simulation
Beast battling game with quite a legion of followers in Japan. Its easy to see why though with expertly rendered ogres to lay into with precision planned armouries all looking very easy on the eye. Oozes with the Capcom polish of a triple A release.
PSP
Action
Epic proportions to Capcom’s tasty slice of monster battling with a posse of well designed beasts and some mean armour to bring them the cold justice of steel. Graphically very polished as one might expect from a series that is building up quite a following in Japan. The attack patterns have been improved and with it being possible to miss attacking through lack of player skill; there’s plenty of variety and substance to keep players going for a good while.
PSP
Action
Epic proportions to Capcom’s tasty slice of monster battling with a posse of well designed beasts and some mean armour to bring them the cold justice of steel. Graphically very polished as one might expect from a series that is building up quite a following in Japan. The attack patterns have been improved and with it being possible to miss attacking through lack of player skill; there’s plenty of variety and substance to keep players going for a good while.
Figures
Figure
Delightful off shoot from Capcom’s mammoth Monster Hunter series. Ten different figures to collect: five different types, each in a different costume. Nice blend of modern and new Japan in the designs.
Nintendo Hardware
Memory Card
Very smart as one might expect from Hori with 64GB SD micro card, mini Monster Hunter Rise themed SD card holder and also themed card case to hold up to six games. Also includes some very cute themed stickers.
GameBoy Original
Simulation
Explore the peaceful town and build up a repertoire of rapid monsters to race against each other.
GameBoy Color
RPG
Play as monster trainer Kabin who has been called to restore order to the monsters running rampage throughout the Iraldi Kingdom. Armed with a torch you hunt down these naughty beasts before tackling them. But bolster your power before taking on the worst fiends.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
A Konami art style title that lets budding Rolph Harris add features to faces and various outfits to create monster high school girls or samurai themed gangsters. All good clean fun on a little known platform and Konami release.
PS2
Shoot Em Up
Part of the ‘Ore Tachi Gamesen Zoku’ series (We are the game centre gang – sounds tougher in Japanese!)
Dreamcast
Simulation
Morita sensei teaches a mean game of shogi in this Dreamcast collectable.
PS2
A Bit Special
Innovative, if a little off- kilter, ‘Ka’ is played through the eyes of a mosquito trying to get a good feed. The much-maligned insect can fly freely within the room to close in on a human occupant and try and hit one of the sweet spots suitable for feeding. Unfortunately the family living in the house are aware of your humming presence and will lash out if flying too close or the blood isn’t efficiently pinched with a tight joypad rotation. Interesting scenarios with the mother preparing dinner and the slightly voyeuristic section with a lady in the bath. Sony again delivers another genre bending title. Just keep away from the smoking mosquito coils, no matter how tempting they look.
PS2
A Bit Special
Innovative, if a little off- kilter, ‘Ka’ is played through the eyes of a mosquito trying to get a good feed. The much-maligned insect can fly freely within the room to close in on a human occupant and try and hit one of the sweet spots suitable for feeding. Unfortunately the family, on holiday in Hawaii, are aware of your humming presence and will lash out if flying too close or the blood isn’t efficiently pinched with a tight joypad rotation. Interesting scenarios with the mother preparing dinner and the slightly voyeuristic section with the hot weather. Sony again delivers another genre bending title. Just keep away from the smoking mosquito coils, no matter how tempting they look.
GameBoy Advance
RPG
Nintendo demonstrates its lighter side in this Japanese tongue in cheek take off of the RPG obsession amongst gamers. Set in America with unique, cartoon-like graphics reminiscent of Charlie Brown and his chums. Known as Earthbound in the West.
GameBoy Original
Sports
Kickstart for the GameBoy with daring loops that require a power up to negotiate. But its not just full throttle: players must keep the bike at the right angle or flip off the handlebars, losing valuable time.