Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Absolutely crazy fighter with some of the maddest moves in manga martial mayhem the video gaming world has seen. An absolute must for fans of Rumiko Takahashi san’s gender bender and well worth a look for those after something graphically different to the usual Street Fighter II clone. Genki is a fan of the father transformation who turns into a panda and can only communicate with signs.
GameBoy Original
RPG
Big, bold sprites allow the gender bending Takakhashi manga to come to life on the GameBoy. Plenty of exploring and a dash of fisticuffs in this fine conversion of the intriguing source material.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
As interesting as a game as a cultural study having been given a makeover to Street Combat for the Western audience. The subtle martial artists were transformed into robots and rejects from an Arnie movie. But the original has plenty going for fans of fight titles with a Japanese slice of lime of the side with an unusual control system with the buttons being used for jumping and blocking and all the wacky manga characters.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
As interesting as a game as a cultural study having been given a makeover to Street Combat for the Western audience. The subtle martial artists were transformed into robots and rejects from an Arnie movie. But the original has plenty going for fans of fight titles with a Japanese slice of lime of the side with an unusual control system with the buttons being used for jumping and blocking and all the wacky manga characters.
PC Engine CD ROM
Simulation
Absolute gem for fans of Takahashi’s gender bending Ranma. Digital comic style gameplay captures the essence of the very humourous series with some very bizarre goings on.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
One on One Beat Em Up
Excellent cinematics make this a must for fans of Takahashi’s mad Ranma universe. All the favourite characters are present with their unusual, incredibly wacky special moves. Starts off innocently enough at the local public bath before mayhem breaks out battling a bath stool tossing Jiisan, then its off to the gym to take on sempai’s sister in a gymnastic martial fest. All nicely interspersed with animated sequences. Just steer clear of gambling with the King of Hearts who pops up – he knows the cards too well.
PC Engine CD ROM
Shoot Em Up
Data West works wonders with the Engine creating great effects such as parallax, multidirectional, dual playfield scrolling all at light speed – its just a shame you’re not given an inch to appreciate them. Or maybe Genki has been weaned too much on modern titles recently? On second thoughts, maybe not. This is one tough cookie. Only for the hardcore.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Happy days are here again with this sublime compilation full of awe and thunder as Taito raids its back catalogue and pulls Rayforce, Raystorm, Raystorm Neo HD, Raycrisis and Raycrisis HD out of the hat. The originals fit like a nice par of slippers whilst the HD versions demonstrate the raw power of the Taito tech heads with retina burning lasers looking truly stunning.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Happy days are here again with this sublime compilation full of awe and thunder as Taito raids its back catalogue and pulls Rayforce, Raystorm, Raystorm Neo HD, Raycrisis and Raycrisis HD out of the hat. The originals fit like a nice par of slippers whilst the HD versions demonstrate the raw power of the Taito tech heads with retina burning lasers looking truly stunning.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Happy days are here again with this sublime compilation full of awe and thunder as Taito raids its back catalogue and pulls Rayforce, Raystorm, Raystorm Neo HD, Raycrisis and Raycrisis HD out of the hat. The originals fit like a nice par of slippers whilst the HD versions demonstrate the raw power of the Taito tech heads with retina burning lasers looking truly stunning.
PS2
Sports
Enjoyable boxing blast with tongue firmly in cheek. Each pugilist enjoys their own entrance to the ring with some style kept going in bout throw the facial expressions of winks and blowing kisses right through to the final pose and toothless grin. The training mode is also enjoyable with a certain group of combos required to build up the boxers stats before the big one, with other training methods such as aerobics available in mini games to extend the longevity
Sony Hardware
Controller
The real king of kings with spacious layout and vast size compared to the more compact Fighting Sticks – almost harking back to the days when SNK and Hubba Bubba ruled the arcades. A dream for fight fans with a very comfortable layout but Genki can’t see an opponent allowing such an advantage in two player mode without blaming the lack of stick for their defeat themselves. Features Turbo modes.
Sony Hardware
Controller
A real work of ergonomic art, such is Hori’s achievement that it has hardly changed throughout the decades. A real must for fight fans of a certain vintage.
Sega Hardware
Controller
Hori has some track record when it comes to bringing the game centre experience into the home and this sturdy contender brought out to complement Virtua Fighter 2 really feels the part. The usual high spec production values and sturdy finish make for a very pleasurable and finger cramp free joystick.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
An excellent version – moving backgrounds such as the underground station (and outdoor scenarios with appropriate sunshine in the day and lights at night plus interactivity where you can send your opponent through the stage barrier to meet their maker), blood will please the SNK fans of uncensored Japan version gaming and intelligent AI that seems to not take too kindly to a pummelling. Add to this the tight control aspect and you have a winning formula.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
A real curiosity in that its a game with no graphics having been released after Warp’s president Kenji Eno san received letters from blind gamers requesting some of his D inspired magic. A love story set in Tokyo.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Demo version of a real curiosity in that it’s a game with no graphics having been released after Warp’s president Kenji Eno san received letters from blind gamers requesting some of his D inspired magic. A love story set in Tokyo.
Playstation
Sports
Utilising the guide of Pilotwings, pilots follow the trail of balls in this super fast plane racing game which would no doubt be sponsored by Red Bull if it was released now. The guide helps to avoid a wrong turn on the ravines and caves as shooter stable Xing dabbles in a bit of break neck speed.
Virtual Boy
Shooter
Plays like Star Fox done in vector graphics – all the levels and enemy ships to shoot at are made up of red lines, but it works well to give a fast flowing, fully 3D environment with the developers showing a fine eye for attention to detail. Various camera angles have been implemented to find the best one for enjoying the challenging levels and boss fights. Plenty of work has been put in on the controls too making them inherently intuitive with evasive rolls and tight turns. The player’s ship not only takes damage to the shields, but also runs low on fuel requiring pilots to posses a ruthless hit and fly streak to flourish. Mention must go to the atmospheric intro too.
PS2
Rhythm
Konami’s initial RPG for the PS2 sees you playing as young vagabond called Mouse. The story begins with Mouse, having composed music for a royal wedding, being inruiged as to why the bride looks so glum. Compatible with the ‘Guitar Freaks’ guitar (not supplied.)
Super Famicom
RPG
Dripping with atmosphere: be it the fogged over, damp, mushroom kingdom or the dank depths of underground cavernous warrens lit up by the cosy, warming naked torch. Captures the Japanese spirit of community with its friendly character interactions.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Japan exclusive that was followed up on the PS2 with player friendly front end to ease you into controlling a friendly robot. It soon becomes second nature to control the robot and gameplay is full of the delight a mechanised friend would bring. Innovative and enjoyable, a refreshing title.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Japan exclusive that was followed up on the PS2 with player friendly front end to ease you into controlling a friendly robot. It soon becomes second nature to control the robot and gameplay is full of the delight a mechanised friend would bring. Innovative and enjoyable, a refreshing title.
PS2
Side Scrolling Beat Em Up
So many games owe so much to Renegade, yet Kunio is held with the respect he deserves in Japan, despite being a ‘yankee’ style high school scrapper. True to the original arcade co-op all the way, even down to the pulverising sound effects and tough nut difficulty. Still sitting on your adversaries whilst giving them a good biffing helps relieve some of the tension. Proper Japanese title: Nekketsu Kouha Kunio Kun. Part of the ‘Ore Tachi Gamesen Zoku’ series (We are the game centre gang – sounds tougher in Japanese!)
Mega Drive
Action
The title refers to the services of a super hero who can be hired to grapple against Godzilla and Mothra look a likes wherever they may be causing havoc in this gaming equivalent of a B movie. Also has some RPG elements in the setting up of battles between our super hero and the varing kaiju. Except to be truthful our man hasn’t quite obtained super hero nirvana: he is just doing these odd jobs to pay for his lycra suit such as opening a bank account. Followed up on the Dreamcast and Xbox.
Nintendo Hardware
Accessory
Official loose DS stylus that has the advantage of being able to be slipped inside the stylus holder as opposed to the pen type one. Hopefully meaning it wont get lost.
PS3
Action
Western developed first person shooter set in an alternate universe in fifties Britain where WWII never took place. Instead the brainwashing Chimera have seen to the destruction of most the world and their powers over humanity can only be resisted by the few – thats the players cue. In setting the game as such Insomniac cleverly utilises the popular World War II theme but scripts for a few extras that wouldn’t look out of place in War of the Worlds. If War of the Worlds was remade once again utilising the astounding graphical prowess of the PS3. Also features multiplayer mode where you must breach your opponents reactor leading to a few sweaty palms as you leave your core reactor unguarded. But its the co-operative two player mode that really gets the gamers going.
Miscellaneous Hardware
Console
Ten titles from Athena, a dozen from master baker Capcom and sixteen from Coconuts Japan make up the bulk of these forty two pieces of gaming history that could give a lesson to some of todays snowflake software. Strider, 1942, Ghouls and Ghosts, Knights of the Round, Captain Commando, Sword Master, Biometal: the list of big hitters is superior to the World Series Baseball team sheet.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Table top simulator doing a good job of converting the game of Othello to the Dreamcast.
Nintendo DS
Rhythm
Update of the GBA original which became a big hit. The use of the stylus adds an extra dimension to the refreshing concept. Combines the refreshing delights of the Made in Wario series with funky, fly beats therefore taking the gameplay on to a higher plane by combining demands on visual and aural reflexes. With such delightful gameplay its hard to put down but unless you got rhythm you wont see the credits roll.