Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Nintendo DS
RPG
A real triple A title that brings to mind the delights of Goemons romps with a feudal Japan setting. The graphical look is innovative and feels like an animated New Years greetings card with such delightful execution. Played as the young wolf setting out on an epic adventure which we would hate to ruin. A real treat for lone wolfs from start to finish and worthy of higher accolades.
Super Famicom
Sports
Cast a few lines off your boat with newly acquired tackle from the shop and the screen cleverly splits to the above and under surface views. Patience and good tactics are a requisite but the lovely water flowing effect and the chance of bagging a big bass will appeal to the fisherman in all of us.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Four fabulous shooters from the coin-ops of old whose charm would no doubt lure you in through the tobacco smoke and neon. Operation Wolf needs no introduction and its sequel Operation Thunderbolt is also included which is like Wolf but as driven along in a 4×4 wheel drive. Space Gun is also a light gun game, but with self-explanatory out of this universe setting. Night Striker is a real gem cherished by many of the Playstation and Saturn as what looks like Michael Knight’s KITT car takes on the role of drive and gun blaster.
🏆Brilliant!
Switch
Shooter
Four fabulous shooters from the coin-ops of old whose charm would no doubt lure you in through the tobacco smoke and neon. Operation Wolf needs no introduction and its sequel Operation Thunderbolt is also included which is like Wolf but as driven along in a 4×4 wheel drive. Space Gun is also a light gun game, but with self-explanatory out of this universe setting. Night Striker is a real gem cherished by many of the Playstation and Saturn as what looks like Michael Knight’s KITT car takes on the role of drive and gun blaster.
PC Engine HU Card
Shooter
Nicely done conversion of the arcade smash, unfortunately missing the Uzi controller. Uses a cross hair marker instead of light gun in a similar vein to the Neo Geo classic Nam 75. The gun toting hero is hard as nails.
Famicom Cart
Shooter
Nicely done conversion of the arcade smash, unfortunately missing the Uzi controller. Uses a cross hair marker instead of light gun in a similar vein to the Neo Geo classic Nam 75. The gun toting hero is hard as nails.
Wii
RPG
Poor, rotund Opoona has been split up from his folks and the aim of this unusual quest is to get back the happy family. Various skills are obtained through hard work such as a detective or pop star and the varied nature of the quests ensures gameplay is always fresh. Add to the mix the graphical skills of Dragon Quest developers and a twist of the aural pleasure from the Final Fantasy series and the results are a fine release from the Koei stable.
Playstation
A Bit Special
A unique, refreshing experience in gaming: play as a chef in a variety of restaurants from Chinese to fast food having to prepare dishes correctly to keep the customers happy. Drunken salarymen and cockroaches provide the hazards.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Platform
Tomba is full of mischievous spirits and tumbles around on screen belly laughing, riding around on unsuspecting creatures, balancing on ledges whilst peeking round the corner in fine, early 2.5D platform fashion. Full of innovation and sheer gaming joy that makes the series a really treasured retro romp now revived from the Playstation original to make the Switch.
Merchandise
DVD
Sing along to the saccharine sweet J-Pop songs as you strut your stuff alongside the computer generated images of Love and Berry. Nice tunes and locales to appreciate their charm.
Nintendo DS
Rhythm
Bottom Biting Insect might be a good translation of the title, but we are not too sure what the spam detectors will make of it. The NHK phenomena was so big that the song guested on the New Years celebration programme in Japan. Not a good tune to get stuck in your head, but theres great musical variance here as players tap away in very colourful environs to witness the successful bottom bite at the end providing the stages are cleared. Very enjoyable and great for a quick tap rather than an epic adventure.
PS Vita
Simulation
Drops players into the zany world of Osomatsu kun with the array of madcap characters from the series causing chaos. Makes great use of the license with the stars full of colour and backed up by fine voice acting.
PS Vita
Simulation
Drops players into the zany world of Osomatsu kun with the array of madcap characters from the series causing chaos. Makes great use of the license with the stars full of colour and backed up by fine voice acting.
Playstation
Puzzle
From hardcore gamers much loved Takumi, which was created (along with Cave) from the fallout from Taoplan’s demise, comes this distinctive puzzler. Usually more at home with shmups like Gigawing and Mars Matrix, Takumi demonstrates another string to its bow as you work to match weather symbols with some delightful characters. The symbols can be slid along sideways to make combo’s, but it keeps it nice and frantic not having to concentrate purely on the top line as in Puyo Puyo et al. Very refreshing. Also known as Weather Tales.
Nintendo DS
Puzzle
Also known as Fairy Musketeers, players get to tackle the puzzles with a definite slant on action rather than anything heavier. The frillier side of the game is also explored in the costume section where new outfits are adorned. Konamis style is certainly present in abundance as the presentation and pointy ear, maid and fantasy protagonists have had every effort made on them.
PC Engine HU Card
RPG
Played from the cockpit of a Mech with the view being out into the tunnels in which scores are settled with alien and enemy troops. Its possible to visit the shop to stock up on new kit, get a few repairs with the mechanic or even get oiled at the bar. Success mean the release of a Playstation version too.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Collectable sample version that draws on legendary Chinese characters and a couple from its own silk sleeve of fighting titles to add extra characters and soup up the graphical appearance. Fine fight mechanics and a good ol’ 2D game of fisticuffs.
Mega Drive
Sports
Open freeways with freedom of choice in the route to take, at least for those in control of the car enough when the fork in the road comes around. Highways are all set in different countries this time adding to the variety as you kick back with the radio blaring out and wind through your hair. Also has two player option.
Playstation
Action
Genki had to face the death sequence scene a few too many times, but it is a case of trial and error at times as players tackle the puzzles. But at the end you end up kicking yourself at the solution that was staring them in the face all along. The challenge if more forgetting the death sequence scream.
Playstation
Action
Overblood’s missions involve platform hopping, key locating and a few run and gun ins along the way. It’s the variety of the power ups items that make this stand out: a grappling hook to reach new heights, heat resistant clothing to wade through the fire, a variety of TNT to blast through to previously inaccessible areas, crystals to freeze over or evaporate away water… The levels often seem to have more than one solution to getting through them adding to this game’s unusual charm.
Switch
Action
Plays like a souped up King of Monsters with giant kaijyu tossing opponents into skyscrapers that they dwarf. As with all gaming, its great to be able to enjoy a bit of improper action in tossing around the various items in the city arenas.
Mega Drive
Shoot Em Up
There’s a certain magic to a plane based shoot ’em up – maybe its the giant enemy planes that must be taken down or the ginormous warships that scale across the screen? But what a Mach speed flight of fancy this treat is being a canned Jaleco 90’s shooter from back in the hey days of the 16Bit wars.
Super Famicom
Platform
Pac Man is nicely rendered in 3D form as he romps around the levels collecting Pac pills. His versatility comes to the fore as he swings around levels and swims to the depths to get that hidden pill.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Pac Man is the height of retro chic. Plenty of ghosts to avoid and water pumps to jump on in this brightly coloured classic. (What is it with platform games and water pumps?!) The name Pac comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia from the sound of munching away, as our little friend tends to do.
Famicom Cart
Action
The ghost AI remains as fierce some as ever. One to show your grandchildren as to why your reflexes have been shot through.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Action
A request from Shigeru Miyamoto lead to the orginal creator of Pac Man producing this update where in a novel twist the player can control the ghosts. Available only as a demo disk from Club Nintendo, Pac Man is reinvented by controlling the ghosts making for amazing multiplayer matches. The way it works is to have Pacman play via the GameBoy Advance link up so that the ghosts cannot see Pac’s position, only that of the 3D maze on the television screen.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Namco does a heroic job of reinventing its yellow pill muncher making use of the DS to innovate and originate. Play begins by drafting a quick sketch of our little yellow friend who then trots off to the bottom screen. Pacman is then controlled by the stylus on the upper screen with appropriate flicks taking him where required. Skills honed in early stages are soon called on in full as the action heats up, such as being able to draw arrows or bombs. Boss encounters provide an opportunity to demonstrate a bit of lateral thinking adding much to the overall experience. As an extra there is a sketch book to enjoy seeing what happens when a few creative doodles are produced. Pure gameplay, highly original and exactly the kind of title Nintendo preached the DS stylus would deliver.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Namco does a heroic job of reinventing its yellow pill muncher making use of the DS to innovate and originate. Play begins by drafting a quick sketch of our little yellow friend who then trots off to the bottom screen. Pacman is then controlled by the stylus on the upper screen with appropriate flicks taking him where required. Skills honed in early stages are soon called on in full as the action heats up, such as being able to draw arrows or bombs. Boss encounters provide an opportunity to demonstrate a bit of lateral thinking adding much to the overall experience. As an extra there is a sketch book to enjoy seeing what happens when a few creative doodles are produced. Pure gameplay, highly original and exactly the kind of title Nintendo preached the DS stylus would deliver.
PS2
Simulation
Genki is just pleased its more than a slot or fruit machine simulator with Ken and the post-apocalyptic scenes adding to the atmosphere, rather than just menacingly crunching their knuckles and waiting to mutter the immortal words of the series.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Visit the slot machine and pachinko parlours of Japan under the master guidance of the king of spin Sammy. Genki wont be held responsible for anyone developing a pachinko habit and hanging around outside parlours exchanging prizes for cash.