Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Super Famicom
Platform
Cracking Irem platform fun in their tie honoured tradition that sees our hero utilise his punk mohican hairstyle well in detaching it to use like a shuriken when the appropriate spray power up has been located. Bounding between cars as bald headed bad guys fire off volleys on machine guns in this pure, platform frolic.
XBOX
Simulation
Koei really made its name with such battle simulations as this: taking charge of fearless Nobunaga’s men to wage war against those who fail to fall under the control of the mighty warrior.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Nobunaga was an iron fisted shogun known by the famous haiku ‘If the bird doesn’t sing, kill it!’ This is a strategy war based game involving seizing control of ancient Japan.
PS2
Simulation
Based on the hit manga series that was made into a popular live action drama starring the young conductor and the affections of Megumi Noda or the Nodame of the title. The game involves conducting the orchestra with a few choice clicks making for perfect swishes. The quirkiness of the manga shines through in the adventure sections with the studious Chiaki the attention of more than just Nodames attention.
Nintendo DS
Rhythm
Based on the hit manga series that was made into a popular live action drama starring the young conductor and the affections of Megumi Noda or the Nodame of the title. The bulk of the game involves conducting the orchestra and the stylus is utilised to near perfection for controlling the innovative rhythm action. The quirkiness of the manga shines through in the madcap mini games – such as running across the moon avoiding falling comets or the funky Taiko no Tastujin tribute taking advantage of the Bandai Namco connection.
Game Gear
Sports
Very solid slugger for fans with enough to recommend it to those not so into the World Series. Newspaper back pages are often dedicated to the man Nomo (despite him plying his trade in America), so it’s only natural that we have a realistic Sega Sports title, packed full of Major League players and stats in his honour.
Sega Saturn
Sports
Newspaper back pages are often dedicated to the man Nomo (despite him plying his trade in America), so it’s only natural that we have a Saturn game for him. A realistic Sega Sports title, packed full of Major League players and stats.
Sega Saturn
Stimulation
Red label warning in this hentai adventure known as ‘The People of Nonomura Hostpital’. One for the nurse fans then. These kind of games don’t get translated for Western markets, so if you wish to play invest in a kanji dictionary!
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Nontan is a children’s book in Japan and Game Freak have kept it colourful with simple icons of frogs, fish and apples that need pairing up to clear your screen. Simple and innocent hiding devilish gameplay. Quite a collectable.
GameBoy Color
RPG
Explore the town and cast a line or two to try and land the dream fish on endless summer days. The game features a lesser-known rumble feature to help with bite detection and, as such, the cart and box are a special design.
Famicom Cart
Action
Competitive platform action to help rescue the damsel, or egg, in distress. Wholesome, heathy gameplay by the lashing.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Enjoy the company of a dog and cat in the garden by feeding them, playing ball or even sending out a remote control car for them to chase round and round.
Famicom Cart
Platform
With cheery chip tunes to accompany the on screen platform action, the closest companion Genki can think of for those unfamiliar with Q Taros charms would the the New Smoo. Yet with our loveable ghost being able to float, the action more resembles a shoot em up as shots can be fired in between gobbling rice balls. Sadly a floating ghost was deemed too much for Western gamers and a cherub was used to replace him.
Known as Chubby Cherub in the West.
Wii
Action
One of the most beautiful games imaginable from the Odin Sphere team that looks like a Hiroshige woodprint brought to life with all the colours of a summer kimono. An absolute treat of a game too with fluid platform slash action make for the most essential of Wii releases. Makes you drool its so lavish and feels like Princess Crown studying at the Ninja Dojo. Bon appetite.
PS2
Platform
Absolutely lush backgrounds feel like they are bringing a fairytale to life in this spiritual sequel to the much vaunted Princess Crown on the Saturn. Items and experience are important as magical spells are released with a fair heap of graphical gunpowder. But at its core its good old fashioned 2D platform fighting and this cat is lapping it up. Absolutely huge quest with some nightmare inspired bosses.
PS2
Platform
Absolutely lush backgrounds feel like they are bringing a fairytale to life in this spiritual sequel to the much vaunted Princess Crown on the Saturn. Items and experience are important as magical spells are released with a fair heap of graphical gunpowder. But at its core its good old fashioned 2D platform fighting and this cat is lapping it up. Absolutely huge quest with some nightmare inspired bosses.
Merchandise
Merchandise
A beautiful game such as Odin Sphere is a work of art and this hardback book shows off the lavish extent to which the in game artists have gone. Truly gorgeous.
Wii
A Bit Special
The genius of the Made in Wario games reaches new echelons with the Wii controller adding a new dimension to the already innovative gameplay. The mini games remain as refreshing as ever to the very soul of jaded gamers: be it stir frying the wok, doing squats with the remote on your head, driving, balancing, sawing… There are too many highlights to fully recall including controlling an elephants trunk to move fruit, saving a damsel in distress from plumetting to her doom – even the nose picking level makes a welcome return. All nicely wrapped up in the series street wise characters with smooth intoductions and cinematic sequences. Welcome to Wii.
Nintendo 64
Simulation
An immense experience is available in this strategic RPG with such fine attention to detail in spite of the limited capacity of carts. Every character seems to have the variables needed to bring them to life in relation to others and this created the feel of a living world in which to send out troops in different formations to succeed in battle. A lavish amount of detail makes this a truly believable experience.
Neo Geo Pocket
Simulation
Fruit machine simulator with a fireworks festival theme complete with the stickers to transform your Neo Geo Pocket into pachinko slot paradise. Very popular title in Japan.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
A dating simulation with many ladies to meet but be warned: hell hath no fury like a dating sim lady scorned.
Super Famicom
Sports
Okamoto san pulls out a blinder in this officially licensed update and congratulations must go for being able to bridge the generations from Master System to Super Famicom in her releases. Realistic approach and plenty of Hawaiian sunshine.
Sega Saturn
RPG
Quite a cheesey title adding to its retro charm with the trio of heroines possessing the power to change into the Omakase (leave it to us) Savers. The FMV acting is all very tongue in cheek, but beneath the FMV gloss lies a very sound RPG which sees the schoolgirls soon deep in adventure.
GameBoy Color
Simulation
Enjoy the escapades of Monkey Luffy, a pirate with potent powers from eating the cursed Gum-Gum Fruit, and his hearties in this game packed full of maritime frolics and high jinx just like its anime counterpart. Bizarre doesn’t begin to explain the action with beautiful animation as expected from a giant of the anime world. Subtitled ‘The Phantom Grand Line Adventure.’
Playstation
Action
More high jinx on the seven seas between Luffy and crew with a catapult and stretchy arms thrown if for good measure. All very nicely animated with sunshine settings and tasty beer and rice ball power ups capturing the energetic spirit of the manga. Each character is portrayed accurately with their own unique trait such as Zoro’s three swords. Gameplay is like Power Stones madcap action clashing with Super Smash Brothers arcade style fight mechanics. Any chance of a Captain Pugwash release in a similar mould?!
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Captures the anime’s vibrant energy and off-kilter nature as represented by Pandaman with his shark special moves. The locales are suitably zany with players exploring the whole arena such as the giant crab set in the desert with onlooking camels.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Including a character named Tony Tony Chopper, you’d be excused for thinking this a 70’s top flight football game. Yet as anime experts will be well aware, One Piece is based on an invigorating nautical quest to find the legendary treasure. Grand Battle 3 boasts sixteen playable characters and seven stages all full of the series high tension energy. The arenas open up as the fight requires and the look is distinctive and very slick. A title to treasure.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Including a character named Tony Tony Chopper, you’d be excused for thinking this a 70’s top flight football game. Yet as anime experts will be well aware, One Piece is based on an invigorating nautical quest to find the legendary treasure. Grand Battle 3 boasts sixteen playable characters and seven stages all full of the series high tension energy. The arenas open up as the fight requires and the look is distinctive and very slick. A title to treasure.
PS2
Action
Plenty of land lubbing high jinx in the One Piece pirate world as every sea dog worth his salt scours the Seven Seas in pursuit of Golden Roger’s treasure. Monkey Luffy is the leader of the motley crew of sailors and his strectchy limbs come in handy in a tight spot, yet the whole cast is worthy of mention such are the rich characters on show. Its possible to select a back-up character too so the fine designs can be savoured some more. Deliriously fine cel shaded graphics sit at ease with the background splendour. Special moves are simple to initiate and power ups pop up at random giving this a feel of Power Stone with its all action gameplay. A variety of innovative mini games gives players the opportunity to unlock hidden extras such as animation clips or sound bites from the hit series.
Wonderswan
One on One Beat Em Up
Colourful and fluid animation as you’d expect for a game based on the unpredictable, pirate anime. Shows the raw potential of the Wonderswan in the right hands. Full of maritime frolics and high jinx just like its television counterpart.