Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Super Famicom
Platform
Fun and colourful platforming escapades. Genki particular holds a flame to the level which zooms out making the platforms look smaller so the speed players can zip through. Plenty of challenges from some unusual ghosts and animals including random game of snap help the series humour shine through.
Super Famicom
Sports
Players select various techniques to go had to head against lycra and leather clad ladies in this sanitised version of the PC Engine girl on girl wrestle sim. Plays like a turn based wrestling RPG with well drawn sprites in a strangely sparse genre. Reaches quite a premium on the PC Engine.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Table mahjong seems to sttract a lot of bunny girls and guys in shades and this anime based board game is no exception. Draws on the source material well to keep things lively with expressive avatars and even some quiz questions on the show.
Famicom Cart
Action
That famous tune belts out on the chip set and stirs Superman into platform based action. Power ups are used to add to the hero’s special powers. But progress is hard when turned into the weaker Clark Kent, looking very much a salaryman.
PS2
A Bit Special
Super gal Haruhi once again stars with a voice to melt the Cadbury’s Caramel bunny in this love adventure where players also get to make their own game. Superb high standards to the figure that comes as part of the package too matching the voice acting.
Wii
Rhythm
An all gal adventure with plenty of rhythm action on the way as the remote is swished around with the grace of the girl band Perfume. The band members encourage each other along and a bit of paper, scissors, stone distracts and settles any tension quickly.
Wii
Sports
Utilising the Wii controller like a golf club might get you admiring glances from the neighbours, but its likely you’ll be too engrossed in trying to obtain that new costume for your player in this cartoony golf game. As you’d expect from Tecmo the hemlines are unlikely to win the approval of the old course members, but looking this good there’ll be few other complaints. Fine array of characters including a possible guest appearance from Kasumi, warming weather effects and plenty of Nintendo style sunshine throughout. A fine back nine.
Mega CD
A Bit Special
Sega’s humour may not be to all tastes, but this release proved successful enough to warrant a PS2 remake. Known as Panic in the West.
Mega Drive
RPG
Enjoyable RPG with well-drawn visuals and a pleasant soundtrack. Uses the first person perspective outlook well blended with standard third person perspective aswell to keep the visuals varied. The Mega Drive isn’t over burdened with RPG’s and Vermillion makes a welcome addition with imaginative bosses and dramatic battles.
Super Famicom
Action
The video game version of Blade Runner as players and their Matrix style assailants engage in inter governmental espionage to complete the missions by stealth and by force in a futuristic setting. Well ahead of its time and a very ambitious project that deserves a second look.
Famicom Cart
Simulation
Basic commands such as talk, take, search and move help our beloved seal Goma and his faithful companion skilfully travel to Nepal with one or two scrapes along the way.
Playstation
Action
Realistic gaming world to charge around gun toting with plenty of break rolls to avoid getting shot before coming up guns blazing like a hero from a John Woo film. The graphical style is reminiscent of the much-loved Dynamite Deka on the Saturn, but the gameplay is definitely shooter based.
Virtual Boy
Sports
Only contains one course, but as such alot of thought has gone into positioning bunkers and water hazards. The shot power meter needs good reflexes to be stopped correctly, followed by the cursor on the centre of the ball to avoid slicing into the trees. Crisp digitised sound effects and speech hint at the VB’s potential.
Super Famicom
Sports
Football simulator as coaches drill their players before unleashing them on the opposition to wreak havoc in the opponents box. Well thats the theory anyway. A window at the top of the screen shows the action unfurling in a similar style to Formation Soccer. The view below shows the player monitoring, just like the Opta index.
Super Famicom
RPG
Political uproar and war are the themes of this strategic RPG from ex-3DO developer Riverhill. Complemented by clever isometric view of the action.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Players are encharged on a fresh planet with a team of three robots: demolisher, lumberjack and builder. Players then built tress, cut them down to build houses and suitably disrupt opponents plans to dominate the planet, whilst keeping an eye on your team of grafting robots. Simple eh?
PC Engine Super CD ROM
RPG
Beautiful RPG where participants get to choose their character and their accomplices, but perhaps the local Inn is not the best place to round up focused fighters.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A great learning tool for intermediate aficionados of the Japanese language which has simple problems and multi choice answers to make the most of the stylus. Nicely illustrated too and the interactive nature of the DS with effects and instant feedback make studying fun rather than a chore.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
The title translates as Pacific Storm and features as you no doubt guessed, a take on the events of the Pacific Ocean during World War II. The scene is set with grainy footage of the war (and that’s nothing to do with the Saturns video capabilities.) Cut scenes use computer modelling to replicate the action. Saturn completists will no doubt value the authentic appearing, canvas booklet which replicates war time document holders.
PS2
Rhythm
Bash out some beats to the eternal rhythm of the Japanese festival which celebrates life itself. Coaches players gradually before letting them loose in a drum sticks frenzy.
PS2
Rhythm
The sequel to the genre defining title brings a welcomed save feature and plenty more mini game madness including a Galaga style shoot em up where tapping the drum skin fires shots (Namco not being one to forget its rich gaming roots) and drum rolling to blow up balloons – a tap on the rium when done. But the crux of the fun remains the songs – from Doraemon and Anpanman anime songs to Beethoven via J Pop from the likes on Mini Moni.
PS2
Rhythm
Feisty festival title that brings not just the sound but the heat and colour of a Japanese festival to life on the PSP. Buttons (or ideally the drum sticks) must be tapped in tune to the on screen action. Control soon become intuitive though and there is a wide spectrum of songs that are bound to raise your spirits and get you shouting Wasshoi in joy. Undeniably bizarre but when it brings the spirit of a Japanese festival into your home it can’t be bad.
Playstation
RPG
Played as a dog piloting a mecha suit in order to round up rogue felines who have been getting a bit aggro, Tail Concerto is a real treat and not just for the canine club. The game tags on some RPG elements but the emphasis of the action is most firmly placed on the 3D platforming sections. Still its always good fun to rummage through someones possessions to try and find a useful item, even if not recommended in real life.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Players take on the role of caveman and explore the landscape building up their own and the tribes abilities allowing them to swim or boost the fertility rate. The aim is to build a tower of mammoth tusks towards the sun. Highly original from an era when anything seemed possible in gaming terms. Known in Japan as Taiyou no Shippo.
Game Gear
Simulation
Popular Game Gear Mahjong series with an intriguing roster of characters with which to lay down tiles.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Takahashi is the star of the Adventure Island series and fans of that and Wonderboy will be right at home. The fairy character tosses projectiles out to help clear a parth through the colourful levels from an innocent age of gameplay. Plenty of opportunities to savour the Break Out style bonus levels. Proper title: Takahashi Meijin no Bug tte Honey.
Playstation
RPG
The painstaking attention to detail and the respectful nod to its Super Famicom forefathers in not radically dragging the RPG into the Playstation era ensured the superb series continued on from strength to strength.
PS2
RPG
Supreme, pastel shaded isometric sprites with the lavish game world brought to life. Avatars announce its PS2 status and the voice acting is of a high standard to draw players in to the gaming world. Top notch.
Playstation
RPG
Namco maintains its impeccable standards as it fill the disks with sublime graphics complete with reflections and amazing attention to detail. Yet it is the slick and seamless combat and emotional involvement, no doubt boosted by the vast amount of voice acting, which ensures this flies like a bird.
PS2
RPG
Any game in which you can go into a bar and shout ‘Give me a whisky!’ can’t be bad. Add to that music from Every Little Thing and the game is off to a flier. Then comes the hands-on approach to combat with players controlling their boss battles rather than just selecting a magic to unleash. Its easy to see why this series flourish in a crowded genre.